Zion

User Group: Members
Join date: 23-Sep-2004
Last activity: 28-Nov-2025
Posts: 2,001

Post History

Post: #308407
Topic: News from MacWorld
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/308407/action/topic#308407
Time: 28-Jan-2008 6:15 PM

You can use just about any mouse on a Mac. It doesn't have to be made by Apple. I use a logitech MX518 "gaming" mouse and G11 "gaming" keyboard on my Mac Pro. Technically, neither of them are supposed to work because Logitech doesn't make OSX drivers for them, but they work just fine without installing anything.

Like I said, try out the mighty mouse at the Mac score, but if you find that the more ergonomic mice made by say Microsoft or Logitech to be better then get one of those.

Post: #308105
Topic: Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/308105/action/topic#308105
Time: 25-Jan-2008 5:10 PM

I saw on TV the other day that in Japan, Blu-ray had 90% of the HD player market between October and December last year. Here's the story.

Post: #308088
Topic: News from MacWorld
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/308088/action/topic#308088
Time: 25-Jan-2008 1:16 PM

Be sure to try out a mighty mouse at the store before you decide you really want one. I got tired of mine after a couple weeks when my hand would get sore after using it for a long period of time. Sometimes a right click registers as a left click as well. But if those things don't bother you they're pretty cool.

Post: #307714
Topic: H.264/AVC/MPEG-4
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307714/action/topic#307714
Time: 23-Jan-2008 12:58 AM

The download link on that page isn't working for me. Though I did find a thread over at Doom9 with some good samples. It looks as though the sample files I tried out played OK in Media Player Classic, with a little choppiness. They played flawlessly in PowerDVD though. I'll have to check, but I'm guessing right now that either the files from my DVR are too high in bitrate for MPC to handle, or there's something actually wrong with them.

Post: #307682
Topic: The Dark Knight (Batman Begins Returns Again)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307682/action/topic#307682
Time: 22-Jan-2008 8:39 PM

The actor was Brandon Lee, son of the legendary Bruce Lee. He was accidentally shot on set and died hours later.

Post: #307543
Topic: H.264/AVC/MPEG-4
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307543/action/topic#307543
Time: 22-Jan-2008 3:43 AM

I need to do some more tests on my HTPC to figure out if it's just the files transfered from my DVR that don't play, or if it's all H264 files. I wonder if there are any places to download good test files.

Post: #307541
Topic: Info: Fanboys doc?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307541/action/topic#307541
Time: 22-Jan-2008 3:28 AM

Yeah, I was going to say, "we have footage?" I know I saw about 40 minutes of footage at C4, so I guess it's possible that got out somewhere...

Post: #307537
Topic: Video Games - a general discussion thread
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307537/action/topic#307537
Time: 22-Jan-2008 3:22 AM

I wonder what WOW players think of games like that. Isn't there supposed to be a new Star Wars one coming out too?

Post: #307534
Topic: Video Games - a general discussion thread
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307534/action/topic#307534
Time: 22-Jan-2008 3:14 AM

I'm not one to ever buy strategy guides. But I considered buying the Mario Galaxy strategy guide early on because I thought I'd never figure out most of the secret stars and such. I thought it might be one of those games where it's almost impossible to find everything without consulting either the internet or a guide. I guess I was wrong.

I popped in my GC copy of Sonic Mega Collection the other day and realized that I had never played Sonic 3 or Sonic and Knuckles before. So after quickly playing through the first two games, I decided to give them a try. Much to my surprise, they both seem a lot different than the first two. The first thing I noticed was that "better graphics" in these two games usually meant "more detailed". I personally loved the simplicity in the graphics of the first two games and in my mind they actually look better than the pixel-fest that is Sonic 3. Knuckles is a better game I think, but I'm only about half way through either one. They are both definitely harder and more challenging than 1 and 2 combined.

Post: #307532
Topic: News from MacWorld
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307532/action/topic#307532
Time: 22-Jan-2008 3:05 AM

Originally posted by: PSYCHO_DAYV
I HAVE FIREFOX INSTALLED, AND I USE IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. THE THING THAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT T IS THAT IT LOOKS TO MUCH LIKE SOMETHING YOU WOULD FIND ON WINDOWS. HOWEVER, THE ADD-ONS FOR FIREFOX ARE PRETTY COOL. THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT MADE IT SO POPULAR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I HONESTLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL USING IE. IT'S BECOME SO OUTDATED. THERE ARE A LOT OF WEBSITE THAT REQUIRE EITHER FIREFOX OR SAFARI. IF YOU TRY USING IE YOU'RE SHIT OUT OF LUCK.

I think something like 75% of all computers use IE to browse the web. It used to be a lot higher before Firefox came out. The problem with IE (and this is the reason I've despised it for the past 10 years) is that it doesn't conform to W3C web standards like Mozilla browsers, Safari, Opera, etc. do. IE instead uses their own coding and standards, which is why web sites optimized for IE don't work correctly with any other browser. Any site that says it's optimized for Firefox or any other browser usually means that it conforms to web standards and therefore will work the way it was intended to on any browser but IE. That's not to say such sites, or even IE optimized sites won't work in other browsers, but usually are missing certain functionality or features.

Anyway, back on topic.
I heard the other day that the iPhone still can't send multimedia messages, and despite the upgrades to the interface, people are still peeved at Apple for not including a feature that is standard on pretty much any other phone today. Is it true that you can "hack" your iPhone to enable pic and movie messages?

Post: #307301
Topic: News from MacWorld
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307301/action/topic#307301
Time: 21-Jan-2008 3:32 AM

Firefox is my browser of choice, but I'd rather use Safari than IE. I'm not sure if this is still true, but in the days of IE 5, the Mac version was better and more compatible than the Windows version.

Post: #307127
Topic: Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307127/action/topic#307127
Time: 20-Jan-2008 4:14 AM

I was actually surprised as well when I found out I could network my Mac and PC together without using any additional software. Eventually I hope to transfer my own Blu-ray authored projects to my HTPC or PS3 if I end up getting one.

Post: #307120
Topic: H.264/AVC/MPEG-4
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/307120/action/topic#307120
Time: 20-Jan-2008 3:30 AM

I haven't seen a lot of discussion on this around here so I thought I'd start this to get some of your opinions on using these codecs and playing them on your computers and home theater systems.

First of all, a little background on my experiences. As you may or may not know, I have been in film school for about a year now and have edited a dozen or so short films. In addition to authoring these films to DVD, I've also encoded my HD projects in H.264 using Final Cut Studio 2's Compressor application. Other than my own films, I've accumulated a lot of MPEG-4 HD programming from my DVR that has been transfered to my HTPC.

I've recently set up Vista's Media Center on my HTPC along with FFDShow/Haali Splitter/etc. to optimize video playback of any and all formats that are on my PC. What I've noticed though, is that playback of HD MPEG-4 content seems to be a lot more stressful on my system than a comparable HD MPEG-2 file. In fact, I haven't really gotten it to play back correctly on my system yet. Episodes of The Office that I've transfered over from my DVR (.TS files) play back perfectly in PowerDVD, but don't play right in Media Player Classic, Media Center, and VLC, if at all.

Has anyone else run into problems like this? I'm guessing that the problem has to do with FFDShow, but I could be wrong.

Regardless, I'm planning on converting all my MPEG-2 programming to H.264 to save on precious disk space. Is anyone else doing anything similar, or planning on releasing their stuff in H.264?

Post: #306661
Topic: News from MacWorld
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/306661/action/topic#306661
Time: 16-Jan-2008 11:47 PM

Even with all the great things Mac software can do with video, I still can't live without my VirtualDub/AviSynth and all the great scripts that are out there. Still, I'll probably never edit a film on a PC again.

As far as the Macbook Air goes, I found it interesting that it doesn't come with a firewire port. I guess if it was only going to have one port, the USB 2.0 would be the way to go. But it still would have been cool to see a FW800 on there. Personally, I've never really been a fan of portable electronics (iPod aside), but if I was ever in the market for a laptop, I'd want to get something like this.

Post: #306653
Topic: News from MacWorld
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/306653/action/topic#306653
Time: 16-Jan-2008 11:21 PM

I can't remember if I was one of those Mac supporters in that old debate, but I certainly am one now. Being able to run OS X and Windows on the same system is just awesome. There are still a lot of things I wish were different about the Mac, but I can't really complain very much.

Post: #306214
Topic: Video Games - a general discussion thread
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/306214/action/topic#306214
Time: 12-Jan-2008 6:39 PM

There are mods online if you really want to do it. But I'm pretty sure you need to do some soldering. One of these days, I'm going to do mods to my Genesis, SNES, and N64 to add component video connectors.

Post: #306138
Topic: LOST
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/306138/action/topic#306138
Time: 11-Jan-2008 9:26 PM

I'm still waiting for an explanation on how Ethan got super-human strength...

Post: #306137
Topic: Moth3r is a daddy again
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/306137/action/topic#306137
Time: 11-Jan-2008 9:21 PM

Congrats man.

Just be sure to teach her how to work an R2 unit.

Post: #306045
Topic: Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/306045/action/topic#306045
Time: 10-Jan-2008 11:49 PM

Sure, there'll be a lack of competition between formats, but not a lack of competition between brands and models. Prices will go down because of the competition and introduction of cheap no-name players just like with DVD. Anyone remember when the Apex DVD player hit the market back in 2000? (You know, the one with the secret menu to disable macrovision and region coding.) That thing started at a then-ultra cheap price of about $169, and by Christmas, it was a door-buster selling for just $69. I bet a year from now we'll be seeing the same thing happen in the Blu-ray market.

Post: #306034
Topic: Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/306034/action/topic#306034
Time: 10-Jan-2008 8:55 PM

I told myself a while back that once Blu-ray drives were around $200, I'd look into getting one. The only problem with that right now is that the software players (PowerDVD) aren't very good yet. I think I'd rather buy a stand-alone player once they're in that $200 range and then buy a BD burner once their prices and media prices are reasonable. As a filmmaker, I'd love to be able to author Blu-ray discs for my own projects.

Post: #305795
Topic: LOST
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/305795/action/topic#305795
Time: 8-Jan-2008 7:15 PM

Unions aren't perfect either.

Hey, did anyone see that Lost commercial with Charlie at the end? I wonder if it's another one of those vision things a la Boon. Or could it be he's returned from the dead like eye-patch man?

Post: #305715
Topic: Video Games - a general discussion thread
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/305715/action/topic#305715
Time: 7-Jan-2008 7:53 PM

Yeah I had trouble with those things too. I think the viewing angle had a lot to do with it.

Post: #305711
Topic: Video Games - a general discussion thread
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/305711/action/topic#305711
Time: 7-Jan-2008 7:27 PM

The spin move is your friend. Especially when you're about to fall into a hole or fall short on a jump.

Post: #305707
Topic: Getting My First Mac this Weekend
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/305707/action/topic#305707
Time: 7-Jan-2008 7:21 PM

Actually, I think 85 pounds is it's packing weight. It's probably closer to 75 pounds.

My main monitor is a Sony FW900 - one of the best monitors ever made. It is a 24" widescreen CRT with an unbelievable picture. Today's LCD monitors can't hold a candle to it. They don't make 'em anymore but this thread has some good pics and a ton of info.

Post: #305698
Topic: LOST
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/305698/action/topic#305698
Time: 7-Jan-2008 6:48 PM

Wow. Am I the only person here who understands what a union does and why they are necessary? Let me ask you this. Imagine your favorite fast food chain suddenly doubled all their prices. Would you get pissed at the restaurant, get pissed at the beef distributors nationwide who are causing the price hike, or perhaps you'd just say, "fuck those stupid cows, it's their fault because they taste so good."

Anyway, I can't wait for Lost to come back on January 31st. It wouldn't be so bad if they weren't showing the commercials every 5 minutes on ESPN.