The Spam Thread!

[cpd2009]

Re: Max not being able to set 1366x768: Yeah, that's annoying. If you use a DisplayPort-to-DVI converter or a HDMI-to-DVI converter, then you can choose 1366x768, but if you use pure HDMI, then you're stuck with only the standard HDMI resolutions (1280x720 and 1920x1080). This is happening on Kiki as well. Although since I have a 1080p display hooked up via HDMI to Kiki, it doesn't bother me as much, but yes, I can see where you're coming from. Better to get a KVM that handles DVI video and use that with a pair of HDMI-to-DVI adapters instead (yes, you can do that).

You don't want HDMI-to-VGA adapters. Really. Because, stupid HDCP DRM may block certain media from playing.

Max dates from 2008, and he has no HDMI ports. He only has one component, one composite/S-Video shared input, antenna input, and a VGA input. If I were to use him, I would be limited to VGA anyway. Since Lilly and Audrey would be used for specific purposes, I think I can get by with the FPD1730 display since Greta is meant to be my main PC anyway. The vertical resolution does help out with Adobe Premiere and Audition, especially with multi track views. I could get a higher res display, but since I'm fine with my current display I don't see a need. I also have the HP on standby if that need would arise someday.

I still plan on giving Max a test run, but I would have to relocate Connie's printer first since his plastic bezel is so large. That shows how old he is. He still works good though.

Last sunday I went to watch Penguins of Madagascar movie.

I'm a type of person who watches movies to the very end, credits included. Because such trait is very uncommon here, I almost always end up sitting alone in the theater room while the cleaning crews do their duties.

Just at this one occassion, they decided to shut down the machine about halfway through the credits. I got upset and scolded the crew there, saying that I paid for the ticket and I have the right to watch to the very end.

In the end, I got to watch the entire credits, but seeing them having to fire up the machine again just for me, I feel like I'm a bad person.

Am I in the wrong for what I have done?

No, not at all. Movies are likely the only place where you can still see all the end credits in full, and while I don't really watch all the credits in movies, there are those that do like you Sandy. At best, the projectionists might have got annoyed at your request, but you were in the right to request that the rest of the credits be shown.

For me, the place where I am most interested in end credits is TV. In recent years, I have been getting rather annoyed at any attempt to alter end credits in TV broadcasts. Programmers here use what is known as "credits crunch", where the end credits are shoved to 1/4th of the screen while the rest is used to promote the next show or in some cases, the next show actually begins while the credits run unreadable in the lower right. Disney Junior is a horrible offender. Most shows have ending credits themes ruined with credits crunch along with their visuals. Poor Charlie & Lola and PB&J Otter. Not only did they get shafted (PB&J got shafted after only three weeks in May! ) they had their unique credits ruined by pointless promotion.

[RAMChYLD]

Max dates from 2008, and he has no HDMI ports. He only has one component, one composite/S-Video shared input, antenna input, and a VGA input. If I were to use him, I would be limited to VGA anyway. Since Lilly and Audrey would be used for specific purposes, I think I can get by with the FPD1730 display since Greta is meant to be my main PC anyway. The vertical resolution does help out with Adobe Premiere and Audition, especially with multi track views. I could get a higher res display, but since I'm fine with my current display I don't see a need. I also have the HP on standby if that need would arise someday.

Put that way, you could probably get away with a USB+VGA KVM (which is orders of magnitude cheaper than a DVI or HDMI KVM, btw, because they didn't have to license HDCP).

Case in point: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://amzn.to/1BfvGpe">http://amzn.to/1BfvGpe</a><!-- m -->

You'll need a DisplayPort-to-VGA converter for Lilly tho, which is going to be more expensive than the KVM (this out of experience- I actually bought one to accommodate Kiki's time on the VGA KVM. Although 1280x1024 is unusable for XCode - yeah, XCode's optimized for wide screens and using it on a 1280x1024 screen is nothing but a big headache).

[cpd2009]

Max dates from 2008, and he has no HDMI ports. He only has one component, one composite/S-Video shared input, antenna input, and a VGA input. If I were to use him, I would be limited to VGA anyway. Since Lilly and Audrey would be used for specific purposes, I think I can get by with the FPD1730 display since Greta is meant to be my main PC anyway. The vertical resolution does help out with Adobe Premiere and Audition, especially with multi track views. I could get a higher res display, but since I'm fine with my current display I don't see a need. I also have the HP on standby if that need would arise someday.

Put that way, you could probably get away with a USB+VGA KVM (which is orders of magnitude cheaper than a DVI or HDMI KVM, btw, because they didn't have to license HDCP).

Case in point: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://amzn.to/1BfvGpe">http://amzn.to/1BfvGpe</a><!-- m -->

You'll need a DisplayPort-to-VGA converter for Lilly tho, which I assume you already have.

No, I don't. I just have an HDMI to DVI. I could order one from Apple, or save money and go get a third party clone from eBay. I got a cloned Apple remote that works well, so a third party DisplayPort to VGA would likely work just fine. Once I have that adapter, I should be good to go.

[RAMChYLD]

No, I don't. I just have an HDMI to DVI. I could order one from Apple, or save money and go get a third party clone from eBay. I got a cloned Apple remote that works well, so a third party DisplayPort to VGA would likely work just fine. Once I have that adapter, I should be good to go.

Hmmm, normally I'd advise against ordering a third party one, but seeing how dirt cheap they are and how people are saying that it may work, I don't see why not. Getting a cheapo DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter and a cheap USB+VGA KVM may be a viable option for your setup. Just be careful and read reviews before making your purchase - apparently some third party DisplayPort-to-VGA adapters can interfere with the Mac Mini's onboard WiFi.

[cpd2009]

No, I don't. I just have an HDMI to DVI. I could order one from Apple, or save money and go get a third party clone from eBay. I got a cloned Apple remote that works well, so a third party DisplayPort to VGA would likely work just fine. Once I have that adapter, I should be good to go.

Hmmm, normally I'd advise against ordering a third party one, but seeing how dirt cheap they are and how people are saying that it may work, I don't see why not. Getting a cheapo DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter and a cheap USB+VGA KVM may be a viable option for your setup. Just be careful and read reviews before making your purchase - apparently some third party DisplayPort-to-VGA adapters can interfere with the Mac Mini's onboard WiFi.

Hmm... good point. I guess I will have to find one on eBay or Amazon that is affordable, but not dirt cheap. Same goes for the KVM as well.

I just looked up the price of Apple's official Mini DisplayPort to VGA and it's $30. And earlier, I realized I confused MiniDP with DVI when referring to Lilly. In the end, it's all sorted out.

[cpd2009]

I noticed earlier in our previous discussion that you have a Philips Fidelio 5.1 soundbar. I'm not sure if I recall if you told me about that, or I never asked, but how is the sound from it, and what features does it have? I know it has a two port HDMI switcher already.

As for me, I did find a sound solution to replace my former AV receiver setup. The receiver began to include a very audible hiss from the speakers while powered on and ruining the ambience of low volume scenes. For awhile, I had to deal with Anna-Lena's and Nanouk's built in speakers, which compared to the old receiver sound tinny and muffled respectively.

The search was on. Last year, Dollar General had one of those sound tower things. They brought it back as a pre-thanksgiving special, and I got it on sale for about half price.



As you can see, it's an entry level sound tower. It's a sound bar in vertical format essentially. And it even has a built in colored LED light show you can toggle on and off. The sound quality is nowhere near that of the Philips Fidelio 5.1, but for me it sounds far better than either of my TV's built in speakers and the bass is acceptable. I lost the stereo separation, but I don't mind.

Another interesting feature is Bluetooth capability. I was able to pair the tower with Hazel and stream audio and it works well. The tower also has two audio inputs; one is a standard Red/White phono plug and the other is a 3.5mm jack. Anna-Lena and Nanouk have their audio out go to a switchbox (really a repurposed AV switchbox) and from there it goes to the tower. That way the 3.5mm jack can be used for an MP3 player if I so choose.

Oh, Greta also got a similar speaker which in her case is a well deserved improvement over her built in speakers which sound worse than either of my TVs. It also has the built in disco lights as well, but I leave them off since they are brighter and far more tacky looking.

[huckleberrypie]

Everyone, please be reminded that I'm not a robot, and too many jobs on my queue is a tad too much to handle.

Sincerely yours,
Your youngest sibling.

[RAMChYLD]

Hmm... good point. I guess I will have to find one on eBay or Amazon that is affordable, but not dirt cheap. Same goes for the KVM as well.

I just looked up the price of Apple's official Mini DisplayPort to VGA and it's $30. And earlier, I realized I confused MiniDP with DVI when referring to Lilly. In the end, it's all sorted out.

Well, a cheapo KVM is fine (and VGA KVMs are cheap because not only because VGA is considered low-end, but because the manufacturer don't have to pay licenses for HDCP, and VGA is an open standard. Yeah, HDCP's another blatant cash grab by the MPAA). A cheapo MiniDP-to-VGA adapter tho, yeah, read the reviews before buying.

I noticed earlier in our previous discussion that you have a Philips Fidelio 5.1 soundbar. I'm not sure if I recall if you told me about that, or I never asked, but how is the sound from it, and what features does it have? I know it has a two port HDMI switcher already.

Well, the sound is quite good. Aside for the features tho, it's somewhat minimal- there's no LCD/LED/VFD display on it, only a bar of white LEDs. Aside from the two HDMI ports, it also has a coax in port (hooked up to Helen's AuzenTech Prelude 5.1 card, but rarely used), an optical port (hooked up to Quetzal III. Needed because a Wii U will be connecting direct to Quetzal III's third HDMI port instead, and Helen sends audio through HDMI to Quetzal III by default. And for some reason Quetzal III lacks HDMI ARC capabilities), a pair of RCA connectors (left dormant for now), and Bluetooth (which I've paired Tessa and Eve with).

Aside from that, detachable wireless surround speakers, and wireless subwoofer. And remote. That's about it. The only button on the soundbar itself is the power button, everything else is set from the remote.

[cpd2009]

Well, a cheapo KVM is fine (and VGA KVMs are cheap because not only because VGA is considered low-end, but because the manufacturer don't have to pay licenses for HDCP, and VGA is an open standard. Yeah, HDCP's another blatant cash grab by the MPAA). A cheapo MiniDP-to-VGA adapter tho, yeah, read the reviews before buying.

Will do.

Well, the sound is quite good. Aside for the features tho, it's somewhat minimal- there's no LCD/LED/VFD display on it, only a bar of white LEDs. Aside from the two HDMI ports, it also has a coax in port (hooked up to Helen's AuzenTech Prelude 5.1 card, but rarely used), an optical port (hooked up to Quetzal III. Needed because a Wii U will be connecting direct to Quetzal III's third HDMI port instead, and Helen sends audio through HDMI to Quetzal III by default. And for some reason Quetzal III lacks HDMI ARC capabilities), a pair of RCA connectors (left dormant for now), and Bluetooth (which I've paired Tessa and Eve with).

Aside from that, detachable wireless surround speakers, and wireless subwoofer. And remote. That's about it. The only button on the soundbar itself is the power button, everything else is set from the remote.

My sound tower also has a remote. It's one of those credit-card sized remotes and it allows you to adjust bass and treble as well as toggling the colored LEDs. I forgot to mention the tower has a built in FM radio, but since it too lacks any sort of display, it's the autoscan type.


Greta's speaker also has Bluetooth and FM radio, but that FM radio allows you to tune a frequency directly since it has a compact LED display. I have yet to try Bluetooth on that speaker, but it should work the same way since both speakers are from the same company. Another feature that is typical of such small portable speakers at the moment is the ability to play MP3 or WMA files off an SD card or USB drive. I probably won't use that feature much myself as Greta would handle those if I end up being on the road somewhere, but it's still rather interesting. One last thing... the speaker is rechargeable, lasting about 5 to 7 hours on one charge. Battery is a BL-5C.

[RAMChYLD]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/04/cheapo_androids_prepwned_with_mobile_malware/">http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/04 ... e_malware/</a><!-- m -->

Looks like someone's on a crusade to destroy Android's rep >.>