I bought my beloved Flip Video Ultra just over a month ago, and have used it to make many a short video. Of course, now that I have one (and convinced Ted, Caley and Maxcine to buy one), they take a page out of Apple’s playbook and release a newer, smaller, sleeker version that fits in your front pocket… the Flip Mino.
Some other cool features of this new version are a internal rechargeable battery that can be charged via USB, a child safe mode so that kids cant accidentally delete the videos on the camera, and did I mention it fits in your pocket?
Thanks to vmcNetflix, that is. This app runs on my Windows Media Center, and allows browser-less access to the Netflix Watch Instantly library from my Xbox 360. It’s insanely cool, and has both Shelly and I hooked on watching stuff while Lane naps on the weekends.
We’re both hooked on the first season of Dexter, and I’m nearly done with the first season of 30 Rock. I think that we will finally start watching Lost in the near future…
I’ve long envied Apple iPhoto users, because they could easily upload photos to Flickr straight from their beloved photo management application. Now, finally, I can do the same thing from my app of choice, Windows Live Photo Gallery (WLPG).
WLPG is an updated version of Photo Gallery, which shipped with Vista, and while the app is still in beta, it has been rock solid for me in the month or so that I have used it.
In a really cool move on MS’s part, IMO, the app runs on both Vista and XP. Giving a really good, much improved, free photo app to all the XP users, and showing them just one of the things they have been missing out on with Vista.
If you want to get in on the action, you simply have to do two things…
Microsoft sure is getting better at naming their products! Windows Live SkyDrive is sure better than Windows Live Folders (the previous name of this service in the earlier betas), or Windows Live Online Data Repository Home Edition…
Even though I was registered for the earlier betas, I never really paid too much attention to it until they announced the name change earlier this week. I kicked the tires by using it to send share some files with Lance, and am now storing some application backup files there. I’ve got nothing but praise for this thing. Simple UI, easy to use, 500 MB of disk space, permissions, Windows Live Messenger integration… what more can I say?
While the product is still in beta, they have opened this thing up and are allowing pretty much anyone to register. Go check it out, and put some data up in the sky… or just check out the Windows Live SkyDrive team blog.
Next time you find yourself trying to fix your [insert name of consumer electronics device here], and you’re about ready to throw it out the window… try and remember to check out FixYa.
FixYa has user guides, user-generated advice for fixing problems, and you can even submit questions to get help from others. Heck, I was able to find manuals for a few items I have here at home that no longer have a company to offer me support. I’m pretty impressed with it.
There is also a program where you can earn money helping others. Their premium tech support program offers $5 for every successful problem that you help a user solve. Just sign up and start browsing the active problems looking for solutions.
