PlaybackTime

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Sorenson Squeeze 4.3 update now available

    Sorenson Squeeze is a very nice, multi-format encoding tool. This almost-entirely-Flash-focused update… * Adds alpha channel support for the On2 VP6 codec * Adds On2 VP6 Pro plug-in support for Macintosh * Allows you to create embedded cue points for Flash * Improves Flash Player skin templates for SWF and FLV * Lets you create…

  • Play Windows Media files with QuickTime Player (free!)

    Today, two more signs of the forthcoming apocolypse. (1) Apple announces the first Macs with Intel Inside, as Steve rubs “man, can you believe how friggin’ **slooow** the PowerPC was?” salt into our collective wounds several times during the keynote. (Wouldn’t want to be [Kottke](http://www.kottke.org/06/01/letter-to-apple-support “Doh!”) right now…) (2) With somewhat less fanfare, Microsoft delivers…

  • Essential Firefox extensions

    These are the [Firefox][Firefox] extensions I can’t do without: #### Everybody needs… #### * **[CustomizeGoogle][CustomizeGoogle]** lets you turn on Google Suggest by default, adds lots of other links to many types of search results, and more. * **[DownThemAll!][DownThemAll!]** is a fast replacement for Firefox’s built-in downloader, and lets you quickly download multiple links and images…

  • Windows Media Encoder 9 users: Read Me

    If you do Windows Media Video 9 or Windows Media Audio 9 encoding, you **need** the Windows Media Format 9.5 SDK. Although it isn’t documented anywhere that I know of, the SDK includes these very important updates: * The new [Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile](http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/codecs/video.aspx#WindowsMediaVideo9AdvancedProfile “Learn more about the WMV9 AP codec”) video codec…

  • Welcome back to PlaybackTime

    Hey, welcome back! It’s been a while, I know. I hope you’ll join me again for daily digital media news, analysis, opinion, and interesting links.

  • First baby-step to MPEG-4 DRM

    ISMA (Internet Streaming Media Alliance) has completed its MPEG-4 Content Protection Specification, and it’s now available for peer review for experts in network security, content protection and cryptography. The encryption method chosen for the new specification is based on the National Institute of Standards & Technology’s (NIST) 128-bit AES encryption standard. Importantly, this method is…

  • Sun's Scott McNealy doesn't get .NET

    According to News.com, the CEO of Sun Microsystems recently told the Singapore press: > Sun ONE runs on every system and processor. .NET runs only on Windows. It’s mankind versus Microsoft. .NET is a joke. Wow, you can practically smell the desperation, can’t you? First, Sun ONE hardly runs on “every system and processor”. For…

  • Verizon to introduce next-gen wireless data network

    Verzon has announced that they’re introducing a CDMA 2000 1xEV-DO (Evolution Data Only) wireless data network in the San Diego and Washington, D.C. areas later this summer. 1xEV-DO is considered a 3G technology. During preliminary tests that Verizon Wireless conducted in an area from Falls Church [Virginia] to Rockville [Maryland], people could download files while…

  • An iMac epitaph

    Here lies iMac No more they’re makin’ A great design Saved Apple’s bacon iMac — 1998-2003 News.com story

  • First ARM-based, Palm-powered smartphone

    Late in January I posted an entry about Kyocera’s new Palm-powered smartphone, the 7135. I was hoping to upgrade to it from my 6035, but it’s still not carried by any major carrier, and now Samsung has a phone that looks a lot more interesting than the 7135. The SGH-i500 is a smart-looking smartphone with…

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