Litux Blog

DRM Sucks (what’s new?)

Bruno Rodrigues — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:46:07 +0000

In short words:

The Apple TV won’t let you play Rental Movies unless you do have a pristine DRM activated Apple TV, and much more worrisome, it doesn’t work without a proper DRM-enabled HDMI connection cable.

Yes it’s true. And I’m not even talking about HD movies.

It doesn’t work at all over HDMI-DVI cable. (It DOES seem to work over composite, but that’s going back to the crappy analogue times.)

But iTunes Store still makes you wait and wait and wait so it can then charges you for nice unplayable gigabyte and a half download. It even gives you a beautiful 99% error message: “Download Error (-42177)”.

After some struggle with the thingy, I finally got a more sensible error message, namely “AppleTV is not authorized to play the movie”, and an “Error” button instead of the “Rent” one on the movie details page.

And people still wonder why there’s so much piracy in the world. Is it that hard to understand that it’s not about the price, it’s all about the quality of service and the feeling of not being completely screwed.

Dear Apple et all, if you want my money, don’t screw me with stupid DRM.

Time to go back to the past and just rent the DVD.

Links: TidBits :: DRM Foils iTunes Movie Rentals for Some Apple TV Owners, AwkwardTV :: Take 2 Safe Update Talk page.

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What a mom says in 24 hours

Ligia Rodrigues — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:14:14 +0000

condensed into 2 minutes and 55 seconds

(Video)

“The Mom Song”

Get up now
Get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepyhead
Here’s your clothes and your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now! Get up and make your bed
Are you hot? Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where’s your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and gloves and your scarf and hat
Don’t forget! You gotta feed the cat
Eat your breakfast, the experts tell us it’s the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at 3 today
Don’t forget your piano lesson is this afternoon so you must play
Don’t shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside, don’t play rough, will you just play fair?
Be polite, make a friend, don’t forget to share
Work it out, wait your turn, never take a dare
Get along! Don’t make me come down there
Clean your room, fold your clothes, put your stuff away
Make your bed, do it now, do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn? Would you like some hay?
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone! Get off the phone!
Don’t sit so close, turn it down, no texting at the table
No more computer time tonight!
Your iPod’s my iPod if you don’t listen up
Where are you going and with whom and what time do you think you’re coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You’ll appreciate my wisdom someday when you’re older and you’re grown
Can’t wait till you have a couple little children of your own
You’ll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now I thank you not to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew, would appreciate
Take a bite maybe two of the stuff you hate
Use your fork, do not burp or I’ll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A, get the door, don’t get smart with me
Get a grip, get in here, I’ll count to three
Get a job, get a life, get a PHD
Get a dose of,
“I don’t care who started it!
You’re grounded until you’re 36″
Get your story straight and tell the truth for once, for heaven’s sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you jump, too?
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said at least a thousand times before
That you’re too old to act this way
It must be your father’s DNA
Look at me when I am talking
Stand up straighter when you walk
A place for everything and everything must be in place
Stop crying or I’ll give you something real to cry about
Oh!
Brush your teeth, wash your face, put your PJs on
Get in bed, get a hug, say a prayer with mom
Don’t forget, I love you
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom’s work never ends
You don’t need the reason why
Because, because, because, because
I said so, I said so, I said so, I said so
I’m the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom, the mom!!
Ta da!!!

Nacht der Museen 2008

Bruno Rodrigues — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:14:30 +0000

Saturday, the 19th, is the “Night of the Museums” in Düsseldorf. For €11, visit all the museums you can, from 19h to 2h in the morning. Read more on the Nacth der Museen website.

Blu-ray for Mac

Bruno Rodrigues — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:52:54 +0000

Dear lazyweb (yes, every day I’m getting lazier and more overwhelmed with the amount of information out there), can you please advice us on a Blu-ray burner that is proved to work in the Mac? It’ll connect to a Mac mini intel. We don’t care if it plays movies or burns toasts or does anything else. We just need to store a lot of photos in a more sensible number of discs.

It must be a device available in Europe (Germany even better), and have a sensible price. It can be a standalone external box (usb or firewire), or an internal one if it could work with a IDE 5.25 external case (which I doubt, isn’t everything SATA today?).

Please do help. It’s getting hard to burn at least two DVD’s per weekend. RAW is great, but takes a lot of space.

Flickr Video is a go

Ligia Rodrigues — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:18:44 +0000

Javascript madness - link list

Bruno Rodrigues — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:09:08 +0000

* Super Mario in 14kb Javascript (blog.nihilogic.dk)

* Time Machine Javascript (jovianskye.com)

DTM Düsseldorf 2008

Bruno Rodrigues — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 09:32:45 +0000

DTM presentation is back to our hosting city, for the third year.

Update: Videos: Audi Donut, Burning Stunt Car, Stunt preparation, Blue and more Blue Stunts, Moto Stunts, No driver Stunts, Roof driving Stunts and More burning. Photos: here and here.

The program:

13.00 pm: start of the DTM presentation at the Königsallee, presentation of drivers and interviews on the show stage.
(n.e. the stage this year seems to be next to the Graf-Adolf-str., on the T-Com building. It’s boring (as it’s in Deutsch), and can be seen in any big screen around the track.)

13.30 pm: Demonstration rides DTM.
(n.e. just the cars going round and round in slow motion, burning some tires from time to time.)

13.35 pm: “Start presentation box” on the Königsallee with Grid Girls, flag parade, DTM pilots give autographs along the route
(n.e. a big parade. Also includes kids representing the city logo)

14.35 pm: classic car parade (approximately 20 historic cars)
(n.e. e.g. old audis)

Around 14.45 pm: Live concerts by Jennifer Paige and Revolverheld.
(n.e. boring. go shopping)

Around 15.40 pm: DTM demonstration rides, DTM pit stops, start-demonstration.
(n.e. in 2006 we thought it had ended, so we haven’t seen any of these)

Around 16.40 pm: Stunt Show.
(n.e. is this the donuts?)

Around 16.55 pm: Demonstration rides framework series: Formula 3 Euro Series, Porsche Carrera Cup, Leon Supercopa SEAT, VW Polo Cup.

Around 17.10 pm: DTM taxi rides.

Around 17.40 pm: Last round of the DTM drivers on the track.

18.00 pm: End of the event.

(from RP-Online and Center-TV)

Microsoft Maps do not exist!

Bruno Rodrigues — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:45:50 +0000

Dear lazyweb. Let me re-do the same question I did six month ago:

Is there anything like Google Maps, or Yahoo Maps, but from Microsoft? I heard about some kind of Virtual Earth or something, but I still can’t find what it is and what is the URL to access it.

I’m trying to find out a certain satellite image that is either newer or older than the Google version.

Flying garfield

Ligia Rodrigues — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:53:35 +0000

“Flying garfield“

Schnee! Snow! Neve! Neige!

Ligia Rodrigues — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:11:28 +0000

It’s not “everyday” the city gets to be white :-))))

(webcam images, but photos will follow :D)

Assorted Links

Bruno Rodrigues — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:52:24 +0000

Just cleaning up the bookmarks toolbar of my Safari…

* Practical PHP Programming (hudzilla.org/wiki)

My original book has been online over two years, and in print as PHP in a Nutshell for one, so now I’m taking it a step further: all the content is available on this site as a wiki. Not only will this make it easier for me to keep the content up to date (as and when I have the time - no promises!), but it also means that you can make changes yourself.

* Asterisk Server DB configuration (schools.coe.ru.ac.za/wiki)

Using ODBC/MySQL for RealTime (Configuration and Dialplan, etc.)

* Make Web 2.0 Icons in Photoshop (webdesign-guru.co.uk/tutorial)

This is a tutorial on how to make glassy icons. This is just one of many ways to create web 2.0 images. I have tried to keep it simple but it assumes you know your way around Photoshop.

* Glassy Buttons (netdenizen.com)

free online glass button generator

* FlickrBits (flickrbits.com)

I now have a total of 147 applications and plugins in the database, all of which utilise the Flickr API in some way.

* iPhone Toolchain VMWare Debian Image (hackint0sh.org/forum/)

Whats included?
All; the complete working toolchain. The heavenly and all source files are in /root/ for later research

* iPhone WebSDK samples (groupaware.mobi)

Windows, Buttons, Canvas, Fonts, Orientation Hooks, Debug Console, iPhone App Integration, Non-HTML Documents, Audio/Video Content
Design Patterns, Hacks

* Google Adwords Keyword search (adwords.google.com)

Use the Keyword Tool to get new keyword ideas. Select an option below to enter a few descriptive words or phrases, or type in your website’s URL.

* Google World Forum (webmasterworld.com)

“Google Search News”, “Google News Archive”, “Google Toolbar, Desktop Search, and Search API”, “GOOG : Google Finance and Business Operations”, “Google AdWords”, “Google AdSense”, “Google Product Search (Was Froogle - Google Base)”, “Google Gmail Advertising”.

* Dicas de cozinha: Pontos de Açucar (kitchenet.aeiou.pt/aleph)

A calda de açúcar é uma das partes mais importantes da doçaria, quer como base fundamental, quer como elemento de ligação.

* Portugal Além do Bacalhau (cozinhacriativa.com)

“Polvo à Vinagrete com Batatinhas ao Murro”, “Petit Gateau de Ovos Moles”

the new generation - be ashamed

Ligia Rodrigues — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:02:06 +0000

this is an example of the behavior of some kids today during school.

(Video)

Alarm für Cobra 11 - Die Autobahnpolizei

Bruno Rodrigues — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:01:56 +0000

Alarm für Cobra 11, according to Wikipedia (Alarm für Cobra at English Wikipedia), is a long lived series (1996?) about two cops and a lot of car explosions. For our Portuguese friends, it’s like the Austrian “Rex, the dog police”, also with Gedeon Burkhard, but with more destroyed cars.

What is interesting is that this series has been, in the recent years, filmed here in the nearby region, namely in Düsseldorf, Köln (Cologne) and in the special autobahn reserved for movies in Aldenhoven (Aldenhoven Film Autobahn TestZentrum (German)).

Last weekend when we went outside for our weekend walk through the river, we saw a huge amount of people in one of the streets right behind the Rheinturm (the TV Tower) and the Vodafone parking place, with a lot of camera men, security guys in fluorescent shirts, and a Mercedes C class going back and forth and doing a huge breaks at the end of the road.

Then all stopped for half an hour. And then this happened:

And the video: myvideo.de/watch/3613761.

The second interesting thing is that the series is produced by the national television RTL, and that the amount of money we have to pay for the TV Tax seems to be well spent, as some of the TV programs are available online, for free (mostly the national production ones), in HD (1024×576), and at the same time as it goes live on TV. Check out at RTL NOW.

Not far from reality

Ligia Rodrigues — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:37:46 +0000

(Video)

Bowie meets Lindemann meets Apocalyptica

Ligia Rodrigues — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:41:07 +0000

Heroes - David Bowie (1977)

(Video)

Helden - Apocalyptica ft. Till Lindemann (2007)

(Video)

NHAC!

Ligia Rodrigues — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 07:37:24 +0000

(Video)

Red

Ligia Rodrigues — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:54:40 +0000

It’s not everyday we see this

should be an interesting weekend.

trip down to memory lane - 1992

Ligia Rodrigues — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:33:29 +0000

this reminded me of this

(Video)

Eddie Vedder at his best.

I multiply spam

Ligia Rodrigues — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:45:54 +0000

well, take three of this soap opera

Now I’m receiving spam mails from companies with whom iCreate has set a partnership.
Does this mean that iCreate has given away contacts to companies without prior consent ?

Fun facts:
- no way of removing the email from the list in this new spam
- and I actually can say I had Spam for lunch.
- and this is no fun anymore.

Apple TV Take 2

Bruno Rodrigues — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:58:09 +0000

Get your hacked Apple TV 1.0 (without YouTube) or 1.1 (with YouTube) and follow the simple instructions at Awkward TV Wiki :: Take 2 Safe Update.

Advantages compared to the official upgrade:
- SSH keeps working.

Disadvantages:
- Lack of airtunes working. I’ve managed to get it showing on itunes, but can’t select the Apple TV as the remote speaker. Need to copy some additional file.
- Lack of firmware update, and thus lack of 1080p (i?), which I don’t care nor need.
- Plugins, Perian, etc. will probably not work, which I also don’t care as all our library is all on H.264 (and AAC), and we just care about TV, Movies and music on the Apple TV.

New stuff on “Take 2″:

- Bad: the main menu looks like a quick and dirty hack completely unmatched to the rest of the menus.
- Undecided: the new menu structure makes it easier to jump from one shared computer to the other, but also makes it more complicated (more clicks) to jump from one kind of content to the other on the same computer. Some say it’s all about promoting the iTunes store as the one-click storage.
- Good: streaming is much more fluid now.
- Excellent: Flickr integration kicks ass. Much more than YouTube did in 1.1.
- Unknown: the iTunes integration. Our ISP has a broken cable or something and I can’t reach most of Apple this weekend.
- Mostly bad: no more top tv shows nor top tv movies, the only item remaining is theatrical trailers. Maybe those items are back after logging in to the itunes store.

Jar Inspector and Java Decompiler

Bruno Rodrigues — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:22:27 +0000

Jar Inspector is an easy to use yet powerful jar file editor. It allows you to effortlessly view, edit and decompile the contents of jar files.

Wow!

Link at Codeland :: Jar Inspector

Happy Valentine’s day

Ligia Rodrigues — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:58:59 +0000

“Happy Valentine’s day“

Celebrating love is not just for lovers but for friends too. Whether you’re married, have a companion or are single, may your days be always valentine’s day.

Background on this day:
Every February, in North America and Europe, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why is this holiday celebrated? The history of Valentine’s Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailer’s daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed ‘From your Valentine,’ an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It’s no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

fact

In the UK, Valentines day is also National Impotence Day, an annual health campaign that highlights impotence, a much stigmatized sexual problem that affects most men at some time during their lives.

“I create spam”

Ligia Rodrigues — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:21:49 +0000

spam in Portugal is not spam

One day these will be sad memories

Ligia Rodrigues — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 22:54:26 +0000

International :

GY!BE call it quits.

meh !

National:
as some of you know Karkov (Rui Carvalho) has left Blasted Mechanism as of the beginning of the year.

double meh!

I was happy to see both bands live in several occasions.

GY!BE

The Dead man blues

(Video)

the mythic “Moya”

(Video)

Blasted

The Atom Bride Theme

(Video)

and while I’m at it, another memory

Primitive Reason when Brian Jackson was the frontman (not that I don’t like Guillermo)

(Video)
never heard of Brian again…

Yael Naim - New Soul

Ligia Rodrigues — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:56:18 +0000

(Video)