Now for our latest video, the Nintendo DSi Disassembly. This stop-motion sequence shows one of these hot, new, hand-held gaming systems taking it's self out of the box and automatically disassembling. With the help of our lead game system technician, Ivan Villanueva, the DSi goes back together in record time, for the whole world to see.
Assembled from a thousand seprate photographs (or exactly 1,304 in this case), the animation process starts with me unboxing the device. I can get a little tricky with my photography here, making booklets seem to float by stacking them on unseen supports etc., because it's not very technical.
Once the disassembly segment begins, I soon require the expertise of a technician (basically, so that I don't break anything). Also, remembering the rotation and velocity of each animated part is hard enough without having to keep track of where all the screws and other parts go. (c; Unlike the process of an ordinary repair, during a stop-motion shoot, the technician is constantly interrupted as I ask them to pause so I can snap a frame, or give me a few minutes to animate parts leaving the field of view.
The reassembly scenes are shot in time-lapse style - partly because it's interesting to see but, mostly, because the tech and I are too fried to spend another 8 hours animating the parts coming back together. In fact, some of the earlier videos don't even have a reassembly sequence, for this very reason. However, after being inundated with requests to show the reassembly (in order to prove that the device still works) I decided that showing the skilled hands of the technician at work was the perfect way to finish this type of video.
After all of the frames are shot, I download them and process them all in photoshop to enhance the color and contrast. After that, I combine them into one huge, 1600x1200 pixel video, in Quicktime Pro, at 15 frames per second (an animation standard known as "shooting on twos," since there are 30 frames per second in video). Using a great Italian freeware program called MPEG Streamclip, I crop and resize the video down to widescreen, 720p HD (1280x720). From there, it's off to iMovie HD, where I add the titles, music and sound effects - the latter requiring hours of scrubbing, frame-by-frame to precisely place the sounds.
And that is how the TechRestore videos are made. Once again, I hope you enjoy the show and please let me know if you have any questions, comments or requests!
Ever wondered if artistic style translates into the digital realm? Find out, by watching our latest time-lapse video, From Canvas To Modbook. In this video, painter Anthony Riggs demonstrates how his unmistakable style is equally impressive when applied to a Modbook instead of the traditional canvas.
Why should writers have a monopoly on undo and cut-and-paste? A modbook gives you the ability to explore different variations on the same composition, with the ease and power of a word processor - not to mention every color in the universe in your palette (Tony's favorite feature). See the press release here.
The iPhone or iPod Touch may not have the same super readable, e-ink display as the Amazon Kindle but their size and price do make them a compelling option for reading e-books. After all, think of how much more micro-reading you might do, in line at the bank or supermarket or, um...other places (oh c'mon, don't tell me you don't read when you're in the can). Kindle For iPhone is available, for free, on the iTunes Music Store.
On the down side, you can't browse or buy e-books from Amazon, directly from the iPhone (you buy in a browser and then transfer from your computer). On the up side, all of your book marks pass back and forth between your iPod/iPhone and Kindle (if you have one). Worried about squinting to read on your iPhone or iPod? Rotate it sideways and/or increase the text size! Color book covers and quick page swipes are other advantages that the Apple hand-helds have over the Kindle. All in all, this app provides yet another reason to join the iPhone revolution!
Here's our latest stop-motion video: an unboxing and disassembly of a 2nd gen Amazon Kindle, compared along side an original Kindle (also being taken apart). Special thanks to Chet Mallory for his help and patience in taking these apart.
Here, you can clearly see the difference in display quality, design and size. The much touted 'ideal' asymmetrical shape of the original kindle has been ditched in favor of a iPod-stye case, complete with metal backplate. Likewise, the ergonomic thumb-keyboard has been replaced with a simple grid layout. Most importantly, the joystick-style '5-way' controller replaces the thumb wheel, facilitating the built-in dictionary's word lookup, as well as the clicking of hyperlinks in web content. The built-in speech feature is also very cool - almost as good as the latest Mac OS voices, as you can hear in the video. Check it out...
Don't forget, you'll always see these stop-motion videos here (or on our YouTube channel) before the show up on other sites, because I'm the guy who makes 'em. (c; Also, you can download them, for viewing on an iPod or iPhone, from our free Future Shock video podcast on the iTunes Music Store.
Ever wonder what's behind your PSP screen? Here's a wallpaper image of exactly that! As you can see in the video, it looks even better on a PSP with clear faceplate.
Lance's PSP now shows even more of it's inner workings. You can download the same past-modern wallpaper image to use on your own psp right here:
PSP Wallpaper Installation Instructions
First, drag the image above onto your desktop or right click on it and save it to a desired location.
Next, follow the instructions below for USB or WiFi:
Using a 5-Pin USB Cable or a Memory Stick Pro Duo Card Reader
1. Connect your PSP or Memory Stick Pro Duo to your PC. (If using a USB Cable, plug it into your PSP, boot up your PSP, then go to Settings, and scroll down to USB Connection) 2. Go to My Computer -> Open the new Removable Disk that has appeared. 1. If you are using a mac the memory stick will appear on your desktop! 3. Create a folder named "PSP", inside that folder make a new folder named "PHOTO". 4. Now take the PSP wallpapers you have downloaded and transfer them into the "PHOTO" folder.
Using available WiFi Internet Access
1. Boot your PSP to its Main Menu. 2. Find the "Network" section and click on the "Internet Browser" 3. You should see a Blank Page. Click the "Triangle" button, then click on the "File" button, and finally click "Address Entry". 4. Type in the url/address to your PSP Wallpaper image and click "Enter". (If you have an available network setup and ready it should connect to it wirelessly automatically or it should let you choose which one you like to use. If not you will need to set one up in Network Settings) 5. You will notice that the image should load up. Now click "File" and click "Save Image". 6. Destination should be set to "/PSP/PHOTO/" and "File Name" can be whatever you wish. Once set click "Save". Once finished it will say "Save Complete".
Setting your Wallpaper on your PSP
1. In the PSP Main Menu go to "Photo" and click on the Memory Stick. 2. Now you will see you image. Select and open the image you would like to use. 3. Press the "Triangle" button and then go to "Set as Wallpaper" button and click it. 4. It will ask you if you would like to set as wallpaper or overwrite current wallpaper. Click "Yes". 5. Now go back to your PSP Main Menu and you should have the new custom wallpaper as your background.
Our Modbook upgrade video is quickly becoming one of our most popular videos, with over 88,000 views so far! In light of all this attention, a few common questions have come up - so here's a quick FAQ on the Modbook technology and upgrade service:
Q: Where's the keyboard? How will I write email without one? A: The Modbook doesn't open, there is no longer a physical keyboard, after the tabletconversion. The Axiotron Quick Clicks application provides resizable, on-screen keyboards of various styles, as well as hand writing recognition and gesture controls. Personally, I just plug in a USB keyboard, if I have much typing to do, but a bluetooth keyboard would be even better.
Q: Can the Modbook only be used, lying flat on a table or lap? A: Axiotron is currently developing a quick-release bracket with standard vesa mountung holes, which will enable you to use a variety of monitor stands and arms. In the meantime, your best bet is a cookbook holder, if you want to prop it up like a monitor.
Q: Will my hard drive and data be erased, during the upgrade process? A: When you send you MacBook to TechRestore for an overnight upgrade, we will not erase your data or format your drive, unless you specifically request it.
Q: Why is it so expensive, when I'm providing the Macbook? A: Actually, a Modbook upgrade is about half the price of a pre-upgraded Modbook ($1149 before March 6th) and this tablet upgrade is comparable to the price of a Cintiq tablet, but offers complete portability and GPS! Also, Google Earth is way more fun when you use a pen to pan around. (c;
Q: Does the Modbook work with a Windows bootcamp partition? A: Windows will probably work fine, and you can use the Windows on-screen keyboard for text input but, technically, Windows isn't supported.
Q: That upgrade looks easy, can I do it myself? A: Dan does a good job at making things look easy in the video, but the process of disassembling the MacBook, transferring the camera, and reconnecting all of the various cables in the correct place and order is far from simple. Currently Axiotron does not offer a do-it-yourself kit, for warranty reasons.
Q: Do I get my old keyboard and screen back? A: On all Modbook upgrades, salvage of the palmrest (keyboard + trackpad assembly) and LCD screen is figured in to the price of the upgrade, which is part of the reason that this service is so affordable.
Q: Why wouldn't I just buy some cheap tablet PC to have this kind of functionality? A: The built-in Wacom pen digitizer, senses 512 levels of pressure at 133 updates per second and 20x the resolution of the screen - features unsurpassed by any tablet computer. The Modbook is not for showing power-point presentations without opening a laptop, it's a 21st century alternative to drawing on paper and scanning your work. True digital art creation requires the responsiveness and precision of quality components.
Q: Who would want a Mac like this anyway? A: To most, the Modbook upgrade may be little more than a novelty but, to an artist, it is essential, since the service transforms a MacBook into a powerful, portable drawing tool. Not being anchored to a desktop, means that the Modbook can be used in studios for figure drawing, on the street for doing people's charicures, or out in nature to paint landscapes - the possibilities are endless (and the GPS will ensure that you find your way back).
I've finally finished the world's first Modbook upgrade video, with help from Dan's technical skills and Lance's music. This newest stop-motion animated video shows the complete conversion process, from MacBook to Modbook. I think it's our best video yet (but be sure to voice your opinion in the comments are ratings). As usual, this video is brought to you in wide-screen - optionally 720p HD format - that's nearly twice the resolution of a standard DVD, so you can see it as though you were watching a blue-ray disc, even on YouTube. (c:
If you haven't seen one yet, let me just tell you that this is the must have service for artists. With 512 levels of sensitivity, and a screen surface designed to feel like paper, this touch-screen out-performs any other tablet on the market - not to mention the fact that it's a Mac! The best part is, that you don't have to buy a whole new system ($2249 for a complete Modbook), just upgrade the MacBook that you already use, for half that price ($1149), and it comes back with all of your data and programs intact - sweet. Click the link below for details.
I'm pushing to get all of our tear-down videos updated to HD, so that I can work on a new video. I can't tell you what it is yet, but it will be exclusive to TechRestore. No else even has photos of the inside of this device, let alone a video of it - muhaha! {evil laugh}
Our fourth most popular video, happens to be the first stop-motion take-apart video that we ever did, unless you count the brief blip iniPod mini Madness (which, sadly, I shot in low-res, not upgradeable to HD). Now you can see the iPhone insides in even greater detail, with better music and sound effects! I had to cut the unboxing bit, since it didn't fit the widescreen format, but I know you really want to see the device it's self. (c;
Here's our latest HD video remaster. The MacBook Air Dissection is our third most popular video, with over 46 thousand views. Now you can see it in amazing detail, with new sound effects and better music! All of the videos on our YouTube channel are also available as downloads, via our free video podcast on the iTunes Music Store, as well.
TechRestore's HD revolution continues! Here's the HD remaster of our second most popular video, the unibody MacBook Pro disassembly. The image quality in the embedded player below looks good, but it still doesn't show all the detail. Click here to watch it full size (and don't forget to click the 'watch in HD' option!
Today, I have posted TechRestore's first widescreen, high-definition video on YouTube! As long as you have a fast internet connection, you'll be amazed by the level of detail - even in fullscreen mode. The player below has been customized to play only HD but, when you're on youtube, you'll want to select the 'watch in HD' option.
Our lead game system hacker, Lance, wanted me to pass along some info about the 'red ring of death' on the X-Box 360. Apparently, there's an easy way to tell if a 360 needs service, or just a simple fix that you can do at home! Here's the quick version:
Full circle - AV cable may need to be cleaned, plugged in better or replaced.
Three quarter circle - Try powering down, unplugging and replugging all cables. If that doesn't work, try starting the X-Box with no hard drive attached and then re-attaching the drive and starting normally.
Half circle = System Overheating. Try letting the X-Box cool down and moving it to a more open space, where the vents are not obstructed.
Quarter circle = Hardware failure. Use the link below to get instructions for retrieving secondary error codes. Having this information can help determine if your X-Box can be fixed at home, needs to be sent in for service, or is so damaged that it's not even worth repairing.
This year we made a big splash at Macworld Expo! Our booth was mobbed with people, eager to see our new delivery vehicle, the DeLorean time machine. People were impressed with the idea of getting their repairs back, before their laptops and iPhones even break (via time travel courier) but skeptical about how happy they'd be receiving a bill for a repair that they didn't yet need - so we're shelving that idea for now, and sticking with overnight repairs and upgrades. (c;
Our new Matte Finish LCD Upgrade for the 15" unibody MacBook Pro also got a lot of attention. We were so busy answering questions, entering people to win the MacBook Air, giving away hand-outs and throwing T-shirts to the masses, that I never even had a chance to go look around and check out the other vendors! Thankfully, there was plenty of online coverage of the show, to inform me of what I missed (see below for coverage of TechRestore). If you also missed most of Macworld, you can watch the video of our booth:
Here are some rave reviews of our booth and new LCD upgrade debut, at Macworld Expo 2009:
And, finally, an Imfamy Award, from RoughlyDrafted Magazine, for plastering the DeLorean with logos and hand-outs! Hey, any press is good press, right?
Take a ride with Shannon and I as we drive the DeLorean time machine to Macworld Expo! Watch, as we discover where the gascap is and navigate the underground maze of Moscone Center. Here's a map of the route that we took.
The DeLorean time machine has landed! After a short journey through time and space, the Back To The Future car has finally arrived at our warehouse, ready to travel to Macworld, where all expo attendees will be able to view it, in all it's noisy blinking glory! If you still haven't registered for tickets, there may still be a few left - if not, it'll be well worth $25 to get in and pickup free schwag and prizes. Check out our latest video to see what it looks like up close.
For those of you who would like to visit us at MacWorld Expo, and see the Back To The FutureDeLorean, we have a limited quantity of free passes available (a $45 value)! To get yours, register online. You can also get a 15% discount on select conference programs here. When visiting our booth (#2644), you'll also be able to win free T-shirts and a free MacBook! Check out the virtual brochure, to plan your visit and get the most out of the Macworld Conference & Expo.
We're on iTunes! Future Shock, TechRestore's video podcast is now live on the iTunes Music Store - and it's free. Now you can have high-quality versions of our animated videos on your iPod, iPhone or computer, without having to be online while you watch them. Better yet, by subscribing to our podcast, they will be automatically downloaded, so you can be showing them off to friends, on your iPod, before they get picked up by the big gadget blogs!
Here it is, our first non-Apple product tear-down video, the PSP 3000! Not to be outdone by Chet, one of our game system techs, Lance, took this unit apart and put it back together, while I snapped video frames. This baby sports an extra bright screen, smudge-proof case and a built in microphone (for free PSP to PSP Skype talk and other apps). Check it out and see for yourself:
I've upgraded TechRestore's YouTube channel to include annotations that label all of the parts in our tear-down videos and created a DVD-style menu, with animated button/links:
Stay tuned for the PSP 3000 tear-down video, coming soon!
The long overdue animated AppleTV take-apart has finally arrived! In other words, I've finally created one. You see, we posted all kinds of sexy photos of the device's innards, when it first came out - but that was before I started doing the stop-motion dissections. So, go ahead and check it out...
Here's our latest animated tear-down video: a look inside the brand new MacBook Pro! As an added bonus, by popular request, I got footage of Chet putting it back together.
These new MacBooks Pro are amazing! The whole trackpad is a button, which doesn't seem all that much better than tap clicking, until you go to drag stuff, which is sooo much better this way! The four-finger Expose controls are wicked too.
With Macworld Expo just around the corner, it's time to promote our booth and announce to the rest of the world that we'll have the Back To The Future DeLorean on display! Here's the ad copy that I just sent off to Macworld and Mac|Life magazines:
Here's our latest stop-motion animated tear-down video: a look inside the 4G iPod nano! For size and design comparison, I've included some 2G and 3G nanos as well. Check out the first cross-dissolve to see how the screens are the same size on the 3G and 4G.
Here's the cliff-notes on the new iPod announcements from Apple today: * Tall, oval shaped nano with screen turned sideways and accelerometer to rotate movies/photos, like the iTouch
* New shake to shuffle feature and more colors for nano - 8GB $149
* Slimmer iPod Touch with built-in Nike+ and speaker - pushed as "best portable device for playing games" (look out PSP) - 8GB $229
* iPod Classic available in 120GB only, at $249
So there ya go. For more details see the play-by-play blog of Apples 'Let's Rock' event at engadget.
It's time to start getting ready for Macworld Expo SF, once again, and I have to tell you that wehave a treat for you this year. We will be displaying the actual De Lorean used in Back To The Future! Actually, it's one of six that were used in the film, but it's far more impressive than the one on display at Universal Studios, since you'll be able to get up close and even see inside! On top of that, it lights up like a Christmas tree. You can only get about three feet from the one at Universal, due to the metal barricades, and I hear that it doesn't even have a flux capacitor, let alone opening doors - where as our is complete and even functions as a real vehicle. In fact, it will be traveling forward through time even as you look at it - amazing! You can get your photo taken with the time-machine, and enter to win free T-shirts and other prizes (I'm not sure if we'll be giving away an iPhone, MacBook, or what , just yet)
Check out this video to see the actual car that we will have on display.
Keep an eye out for free passes to Macworld - we'll post 'em here in our blog, as soon as they arrive. Now if I could just transport myself to the point in time where all of my trade-show prep was done...
Ever wonder what a black MacBook would look like with a white keyboard and track-pad? Well, wonder no more. This client of ours is sure to be the only person on their block with such a unique MacBook...
Hot tubs are so 20th century. For a truly rejuvenating experience, skip the chlorine bath and submerge yourself in colorful acrylic polymers instead! I actually haven't experienced this since I was about 10 but I'm seriously considering the installation of a ball pit, now that I have access to a calculator that will determine how many balls it takes to fill any given space. By the way, the geeky comics at XKCD are hilarious too!
Are those plain white earbuds of yours making you feel like one of the indistinct denziens of the underground world of THX-1138? If so, Budclicks are here to add pieces of flair to your otherwise drab and uniform appearance! Smiley's, bio-hazard symbols, and just about any other well known symbol are ready to adorn your ears for about $6-$16. Audacious ear ornaments for men and women - how's that for Future Shock?
searchme.com is still in beta, but you no longer need to sign up to access it! If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth a look. Imagine thumbing through web sites as if they were in cover-flow, on a Mac or iPod. Not only does it look slick but, on the practical side, it allows you to visually search for the website that you want (eg. that game site with the red background that you don't remember the name of). In addition to that, SearchMe also let's you thumb through stacks of photos or videos online. I have yet to try it out on an iPhone or iPod touch, but I'm guessing that it looks great!
Ever wonder what would happen if you drove over an iPhone. Wonder no more. This iPhone was run over by a car and all that was damaged was the screen, which has since been replaced. The iPhone that you see here is now restored to complete functionality!
It's a big news day for the iPhone. The 2.0 Firmware for all iPhones was released (sadly none for the iPod touch yet), the iTunes Music Store has iPhone applications for sale and, the first 3G iPhone take-apart photos have hit the net!
The 2.0 iPhone firmware update allows the installation of 3rd party applications on the iPhone and comes with some other minor updates, such as 3D buildings in Google Maps. Get the details on downloading and installing the free update here.
Once your iPhone is updated, head over to the iTunes App Store, to check out all of the cool games, communication and productivity software! Apps of interest include Smug Shot (a kind of Photo Booth that uses the iPhone's camera), Enigmo (an amazing 3D puzzle game), and Type Pad (a mobile blogging app).
If you don't yet have an iPhone, or you want to see how the new 3G iPhone differs from yours, check out the first 3G iPhone take apart in New Zealand (yes these guys flew halfway around the world to be the first to crack one open)!
It's time, once again, for another stop-motion TechRestore video! Today, we get a rare glimpse of group laptop behavior, as a line of MacBooks and MacBooks Pro perform a synchronized stadium wave, just like enthusiastic spectators at a sporting event!
In this era of digital entertainment, computer media centers make more sense than ever - after all, shouldn't your entertainment system do everything that an iPod does? The only thing keeping your Mac from becoming the center of attention in your living room is remote control. While the new Intel Macs come with remotes, chances are that a machine that powerful has it's own desk, if not it's own room. However, an older G4 Apple makes a great Apple TV substitute! With the addition of remote control, any machine that runs OS X will turn your TV into a hi-tech media center.
Here's what you need to remotely control your old Mac:
* An Apple Remote * A third party IR receiver (eg. the one made for Windows Media Center) * A shareware program that enables the remote, like Mira.
If you're running Leopard, then you can use Front Row, just like any Intel Mac - if not, then Mira has a launch menu that the Apple design team would be proud of.
Last night, I saw Crystal Castles live, at a small venue called the Independent, in San Francisco. The opener was a math-rock band called DD/MM/YYYY, which sounded a lot better live than they did online. Their odd time signatures and mathematically generated melodies were unique and fun. As for the headliner, Crystal Castles rocked and they knew it - otherwise the crowd would have rioted when they split, without an encore, after playing such a small set (barely an hour). The shy couple never appeared in full light, preferring the mystery of strobes and colored spots, but their performance was energized and flawless. Were it not for a few improvised lines and sound-effect breaks, I might have even suspected that they were just lip-syncing to their album. I think these guys are going to be big - at least as big as a band that sounds like an '80s video-game can get.
iPod CPR You'd think that, after repairing a thousand or more iPods and, after taking hundreds of tech support calls on iPod problems, I'd be able to take my own advice and reset my own iPod. Mine wouldn't turn on, it wouldn't mount when connected to my computer and it didn't appear to charge either. Although I was convinced that the thing had died, I resigned myself to go through the motions of following Apple's trouble-shooting steps, so that I would be able to qualify for some warranty service. Sure enough, plugging in my iPod and doing a two-button reset, snapped it back into shape! So, when in doubt, don't forget to hold down the center button and the menu button for a few seconds, no matter how dead your iPod seems.
There are few better indicators of success than gift baskets. When someone sends you a fancy package of overpriced food items, it's usually because you're involved in some kind of big-money deal with them. Here's a photo of the basket that we received upon moving in to our new building. Since we didn't get anything for our last building, I'd say we're movin' on up! (c; Seriously though, our new facility is doing wonders for the growth of the company. Just as fish grow larger in a bigger tank, so does TechRestore.
iLounge's new iPod & iPhone Book is hot off the virtual press and ready for free downloads. As usual, they have lots of fantastic product reviews and, this time, there's a great iTunes guide, that covers everything from basic to advanced usage! Get your PDF copy here.
It's time, once again, for my annual music recommendation! There's plenty of great bands out there but, every once in a while, one with a particularly innovative sound stands out. This time, it's Crystal Castles, a group who's sound, like it's name, is inspired by 80's video-games. Check 'em out on YouTube, or in the iTunes Music Store.
Our move is now nearly complete! We're pretty much down to sweeping out the old place. To give you an idea of how much we're growing, here's an aerial photograph illustrating the amount of space that we've gained (as you can see, the moving trucks didn't have to drive far). Aside from the cavernous ceiling of the new warehouse, you'd hardly even know that we have all of this additional space though, since our new, off-shoot company, ReBound, suddenly burst into fruition during the move. It's starting to feel like Amazon over here!
Today will be the first company BBQ at our new facility and, to mark this special occasion, I am preparing a vegetarian dish (at least, I'm pretty sure that the chickens were vegetarians*).
* We do respect the philosophy of vegetarians, in regard to eating low on the food chain and improving health, but meat just tastes too good for most of us to give it up!
The secret's out. TechRestore's amazingly inexpensive repair prices and lightning fast turnaround times are made possible by employing intergalactic aliens. Well, technically, they aren't employees, since they work in exchange for old parts (I understand that they have a fairly sophisticated recycling program out in Alpha Centauri...but I digress). This e-mail was sent in by a customer who discovered a couple of stow-aways in his RestoreBox:
Date: May 21, 2008 12:32:03 PM PDT To: help@techrestore.com Subject: Missing employees
These guys hitched a ride with Fedex to my place. Can they stay?
Things have been crazy around here. In addition to launching our new miniRestore and GameRestore services, we're upgrading to a larger facility! Here's a sneak peek of our new building (post-realist rendering courtesy of Shannon and Renee's kids):
Want to make your BitTorrent downloads 24 times faster? Here's an easy trick to make it happen. The idea is that by forwarding a range of port traffic (rather than a single port) to your download client, you can exponentially increase the number and speed of downloads! And, if you're looking for a place to find some movies you can check out mininova - just remember to only download non-copyrighted content, unless you want the FBI knocking on your door. (c;
The border between our virtual lives and our AFK lives (away from keyboard) is rapidly dissolving. We can access web sites through our phones almost anywhere - but who has time to log on to Twitter and update their status throughout the day? With Jott (a site/service that Shannon showed me), it only takes a minute to let the world know that you're "going shopping," or "taking a nap." By calling the toll free number, and telling the Jott computer "who" and "what," you can update your status, dictate a quick blog post or to-do list - even send a text message or email to a friend without typing (or thumb-typing) a single word! Check out the supported sites to see all of the useful possibilities. Now we're one step closer to being online 24/7.
Wow. The past three weeks have been crazy! TechRestore is expanding and launcing new programs. Not only are we in the process of moving to a larger facility, but we're expanding our services as well. Our new Game Restore service include overnight repairs and upgrades for X-Box, Sony PS2, PS3, Nintendo Wii and DS - it's not just for PSPs anymore! Also, we will soon be offering these same industry leading overnight services for Mac minis and Apple TVs.
HAN (Human Area Network) OK, back to the business of blogging. While scouting the horizon for Future Shock, I spied this gleaming gem: Firmo human area network systems, by NTT. Users carry an iPod sized device that transmits and receives data in the form of an electrical field on the wearer's skin! Imagine transmitting business cards with a handshake, or syncing digital photos with a hug. Conducting metal surfaces, such as door handles, could be loaded with information relevant to the room or building that you are about to enter. Unlike wireless networks, HANs begin with a phisical connection, immediately establishing relevance. For example, standing next to a car, might put you within range of the cars dashboard wireless network but, making contact with the electrodes on the steering wheel make it clear that you are intending to drive the car, so it will naturally download your user preferences for seat, mirrors and radio (rather than making adjustments for every passer by who walks within range of the wireless signal). It looks like humans are one step closer to merging with machines!
TechRestore is expanding it's presence in the virtual world, through social networking sites! We invite you to come help us make the internet a better place and let people know what kind of experiences you've had with us. You can share stories, photos and even videos. As a token of our appreciation, everyone who adds TechRestore as a friend on one of these sites, will receive a special discount code that may be used as often as you like!
Below you will find TechRestore's contribution to the MacTech DVD (which will accompany the April Issue). These are the same shorts previously featured here in Future Shock and on our YouTube channel, but in downloadable iPod video format!
Download: Laptop Drop!, 4.6MB An artist's PowerBook meets an untimely demise in the studio. Thankfully, TechRestore can fix it - overnight!
I just finished TechRestore's latest video promotion, which is the first in a new series of pieces that will depict laptops being destroyed. This poor PowerBook meets it's end for lack of the Mag-Safe power adapter technology enjoyed by his decendants.
Beware, no gore has been edited out, and the terrible crashing sound of Mac hitting concrete is entirely real!
It's time, once again, for TechRestore's round-up of the best shareware games. Even if you're not a big gamer, few applications show off your computers abilities like a game. The problem is that there's a lot of games out there that simply aren't worth downloading, but you won't know that until they're installed, so it takes a lot of time to find the gems. The games listed here are some of the best around though - enjoy!
We'll start with the geek favorite, Darwinia. In this graphically stunning strategy game you navigate a darkly futuristic virtual world to destroy viruses. The controls are pretty simple, though you will need to follow the help menus to figure it out. Download Darwinia, for Mac or PC.
In contrast, Plobb! is a game that is so simple that you can jump right in to the action. Basically, it's Asteroids with bubbles. But don't let the game's cute veneer fool you, this one's still a fast paced challenge. Download Plobb!, for Mac or PC.
Speaking of Asteroids, my favorite clone, Argonaut 2149, has been updated to work in Leopard. In this free-ware reinterpretation of the classic, shooting rocks is a form of mining, but watch out for pirates! Download Argonaut 2149, for Mac
Islands Mini-Golf is, a fantastic, super playable, 3D game - 'nuff said. Download Islands Mini-Golf, for Mac
Biofilm is a unique real-time strategy game, where you lead a set of microbes to petri-dish conquest. It's cuter than it sounds, and very addictive. Download Biofilm, for Mac
My favorite game on this list is an amazingly inventive interpretation of Breakout, called Break Quest, which propels the brick breaking genre to previously un-thought of dimensions (including moving Space Invader bricks that shoot)! Download Break Quest, for Mac
It's time for another MacBook Air video! This time, he's not on the operating table but, instead, break-dancing like a Rolly! Check out the stop-motion animated video on our YouTube channel and let us know what you think, here or there.
Sunday, I went to see the Olafur Eliasson Take Your Time exhibit at SFMOMA, with a friend. There were some fascinating installations there, but viewing them required quite a bit of waiting in line. One piece involved peering into a dark hole in the wall. This hole was about the size of a window, so viewers leaned on the ledge and bent over to check out what was inside. I joked that the real exhibit was everyone inadvertently displaying their rear to the people next in line. Inside the hole was a black wall and four opposing mirrors (on the floor, walls and ceiling). We saw hundreds of copies of ourselves peering into the darkness from glowing rectangular openings, for miles in every direction. If you've ever seen the movie 'Cube,' this looked the same as when the protagonists reached the boundary of their puzzle-like prison and peered out into the gap between the Cube and the endless wall that enclosed it, just a few feet away. I think I'm going to build a small version of this simple but stunning optical illusion at home.
Remember how much better video games were in the '80s? OK, if you've run MAME recently, you know that they weren't really better at all, but time has a way of making our memories of things seem better than they actually were. However, if those old vector-graphic arcade games had lived up to our fond recollections, they'd be sure to look like Neon Tango, the latest release form Freeverse Software, which they previewed at Macworld Expo in January. The graphics and sound are nothing short of amazing, and the game play is compelling, in spite of the simple controls. If you have a Mac, you can download a 3-level demo, and if not, you can get a Mac from us!
One day, watching films and video on flat screens will seem barely more engaging than a silent movie and, if you've sat through the full two hours of Metropolis, you know how taxing that can be on the attention span, (especially for someone from the ADD generation). The future of video is likely to be far more engaging and interactive. We're still a long way off from recording and playing back brain-waves, but Immersive Video is the next best thing. You've probably experienced a form of this technology in Google Maps' Street View, but actual video footage is far more engaging. It's like a moving Quicktime VR panoramma. You can look in any direction during the video, and even look around, up and down while playback is paused:
This is impressive technology even when viewed in a tiny window on a computer monitor, but just imagine how real it would seem, if viewed with motion-tracking video glasses!
Ever needed to convert a file from one format to another and been without the proper utility? Inevitably, I always seem to be in a hurry when I'm in this situation, so scouring the internet for shareware utilities is the last thing I want to do. Here's a few email addresses that you can send attachments to and get converted files emailed back to you:
pdf@koolwire- Converts Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint files to PDFs. Like the other Koolwire addresses below, it accepts files up to 10 MB in size.
doc@koolwire.com- Convert PDFs to DOC (Word or Rich Text Format files).
Our MacBook Air arrived today and our lead technician, Chet, promptly reverse-engineered it. It's amazing how small the screws are in this thing - it's like a big iPod. A lot of folks are dissing the, seemingly small, 80GB drive, but it wasn't that long ago that stock PowerBooks shipped with 80GB drives. I think that the Air is a fantastic innovation and bound to be the slickest mobile computing option available (until the tablet Mac comes out). Below is my stop-motion video of the unboxing and take-apart. Enjoy!
iTunes Movie Rental Review I rented my first digital movie from the iTunes music store the other day. Since it was a new release, it cost me $3.99 - about the same as a DVD rental at Blockbuster, if I remember correctly. It downloaded in a similar manner as purchased content, except that the transfer started immediately, rather than sitting in my shopping cart first. Once the movie was on my laptop, iTunes created a separate category, called "Rented Movies," so that it wouldn't be mistaken for a movie that I had purchased. I was also informed that I had 30 days to watch the movie, before it expired. As soon as I clicked the play button, iTunes told me that I had 24 hours to watch the movie (later it would tell me how many hours still remained before the movie would disappear from my iTunes). Naturally I was curious what would happen at the end of that 24 hours - would the movie stop playing, if I exceeded the rental period while watching it? The answer is no - and yes. As long as you don't pause the movie or otherwise change play settings, it will continue playing. Otherwise, the video greys out, and you only hear the soundtrack. I assume that iPods treat rentals similarly, though I didn't have one to check it on. The quality was exceptional, though I did miss the surround sound and special features. Perhaps Apple will offer these, the way they did on VHS tapes, before DVDs took over or, better yet, they could be encoded into a new format that supports interactive content! Value wise, Netflix or your local video rental kiosk is a better deal but, like pizza delivery, you can't beat the convenience and instant gratification of ordering from home (and, unlike pizza, these movies are delivered 24 hours a day).
Macworld Expo was an amazing success! We got to see tons of satisfied customers, who dropped by to say hi and tell us what a great job we do, as well as connecting with people who've never used our service before. You can see the TechRestore booth (and our friends from eunitech) in this Quicktime VR photo from Macworld '08. By now, you've no doubt heard of Apple's new roll-outs, including the MacBook Air (soon to be on our dissecting table) and the update to the iPhone and iPod touch that simulates GPS tracking by triangulating your position based on nearby WiFi hotspots! Exciting stuff.
Our Macworld booth is nearly ready! Today, we're putting on the finishing touches. This year, were in a ritzy neighborhood, by the Microsoft Blogger's lounge. Here's an early glimpse (a la phone cam):
Macworld Expo pass update: Our registration code keeps running out of free comps just as fast as IDG can up our limit. While I'd like to think that it's just because TechRestore is so popular, more than likely the code has been reposted elsewhere so, at this point, the best we can offer is a $10 registration, unless IDG ups our limit again. It's still a great deal though, with all of the amazing exhibits that there are to see and, by the look of the show floor so far, this year is going to be stunning!
iPhone 2.0 vs. FlatBook Pro Rumors about the announcement of a second generation iPhone, at Macworld Expo abound. Perhaps it will have GPS and record video but, either way, it's not all that exciting. I mean, as far as I'm concerned, the iPhone is to small for computing and too big to be a phone. I think the bigger announcement is going to be a tablet version of the MacBook (Pro), that makes use of the touch screen technology seen in the iPhone and iPod touch. Hopefully it will operate somewhat like the Microsoft Surface. Of course you can already get a ModBook, but it requires a pen and, besides, everything's more appealing once Apple reinvents it.
Everyone knows that GPS trackers are available, but few suspect how easy it would be for someone to secretly plant one on you or your vehicle, just like they do in the movies. The Super Pocket Track ($270) will log a hundred hours of GPS data and, once retrieved, the USB device plugs into your PC, where you can view the 3D path in Google Earth! If you want to be even sneakier, the Pocket Track Pro has a built-in magnet, that will keep it securely hidden in the wheel-well of any vehicle! Check out the video or Google Earth demo to see how it works.
Hello, I'm Brian, from the Future Shock blog. In the future, you will find my blog posts here, along with the with some other great voices within our rapidly growing company. The Future Shock blog will remain online, to facilitate access to the archives, while we combine our blogging efforts into something bigger and better! Once again, Macworld Expo is looming, are we are hustling to put on a good show. Get a FREE PASS and come see us at booth number S-845 (in the main hall, towards the left, on the side opposite the entrance). We'll be giving away T-shirts all day long, as well as a free iPod every day of macworld Expo!
After spending a few days with the iPhone, we've put together a quick stop-motion dissection video for your enjoyment. Take a look and look for more news soon about service for the new device.
