VUDU Introduces HDX

If you have not yet experienced VUDU Internet streaming of movies.....now may be the time.

As you may know, I am a big fan of VUDU and now even more so. Check out my review of VUDU here.

With over 6000 movie titles in Standard Definition and High Definition....VUDU has recently introduced a new high definition technology they call "HDX".

Since I have an older HDTV (how did time go so fast?) with less resolution, I figured HDX would not give me much improvement over their HD offering or even SD which I consider better than my upconverted DVD player.

I was wrong. HDX is simply astounding.

Since I cannot take a picture (or a movie) that would do it justice (but I gave it a try...see below), the best comparision I can make is this: Go to your nearest Best Buy and watch a full 1080p Blu-Ray movie being played. HDX is just like that! Even on my less than full resolution HDTV, the picture quality is a major step up from HD and worlds better than SD. And our Bose sound system captures the robust audio from HDX like nothing we have yet experienced.



I can't wait to earn enough $ (remember...starving blogger) to get a full 1080p TV.....hmmmm, anyone need a decent videoconferencing guy?

A look at the VUDU "Most Watched" list shows that people with VUDU agree. The HDX movies are at the top of the most watched list.



The only downfall is that we have to wait about 8 hours for the HDX movie to download. With SD we can watch it instantly, and with HD we have to wait a couple of hours. So some pre-planning on our part is needed. I could always upgrade my Internet service, but, oh rats, starving blogger.....

I know I sound like a VUDU commercial....but....

Our lives with VUDU have changed. We have not gone to Blockbuster in months. We have not purchased a DVD in months. Where we once planned on buying a Blu-Ray player and start a collection of Blu-Ray movies...that plan is on hold. We are perfectly happy with VUDU spending about $5.99 for a movie rental and about $20 for a purchase. What could be better?

Tel Bit Consulting says: Internet video can (will!) change the way the world watches movies. I only hope that the Internet remains open and unrestricted.

Garmin Nuvi 350 Review

Rating: 4 WaterTowers

To help my wife navigate with out reading a map (like she can do that) and without me....we purchased a Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS (Global Positioning System....hmmmm, in the old days is was Satellite...oh well) "Personal Travel Assistant".

This can be setup in your car or it can be taken with you on a walking or biking trip. Very cool.

The Nuvi is very easy to use...just turn it on lift up the antenna and the satellites are found and your location identified. Once the device knows where you are, you are golden.

There are many features, of which we use but one. Directions. I have taken a look at a few more options including the screen that gives us the statistics on the trip we are taking. Very interesting knowing the average speed, the time you were at a dead stop, your speed....all from the satellite system. Scary and cool.

We have used the Garmin several times now and have always gotten to our location. No more Streets and Trips for us...all we need to do is enter the name of the place we want to go to, or the address of the location, jump in the car and follow the voice prompts.

As an example of how we use this amazing device, I made a YouTube video of a trip from our house to "Wal Mart".



In short, the Garmin Nuvi has changed the way we drive and the way we navigate around town and the U.S. We are very happy with it and plan to use it often. In fact, the next time we go into the big city (our annual day after Thanksgiving homage to the great shopping establishments)...San Francisco....we will carry it with us to see how it works on our walk.

UPDATE Dec 3 2008:  I could not get satellite connection in the City.  When we got to the Pier 39 area (where it is more open) we finally got it.  

Teaching Update

After 8 full weeks, my long term sub position has ended.

What an experience!

We were all sad it ended even though we all knew this day would come. I have learned a lot about teaching (do I still want to teach as my "encore" career?.....YES!) and have learned what not to do, what to do differently, and how to manage a class (well...I am still learning this), so I will be better prepared the next time I get this chance.

But.....this class will always be my first, and will always be special. The mix of kids in the class was amazing...all of them were absolutely terrific, full of life and wonder, and energetic about learning and about school. Where a lot of classes I have subbed in a lot of students were absent, it was a rare day when we had one absence....

Over the last few days, I received so much appreciation for our time together, it is amazing. (By contrast, I got barely a goodbye when I retired from my engineering job).

In short...teaching is a very tough profession, but, the rewards are tremendous.

To my first class.....you definitely ROCK! And no...I will never forget you!

And thanks to all the teachers who helped me learn...you know who you are.


PS: I want to evaluate / review technology for the classroom. If anyone reading this has a new product..please contact me.

Trinity Global LLC Mobile Videoconferencing

I have recently (hmmm, for the past ten years) had the opportunity to be involved in the development of a new twist to an old technology.

Until now, videoconferencing has been tied to your desktop or to a conference room.

No more.

Now you can videoconference, with very high quality (much better than 3G), up to 25 miles from the closest Internet connection.

The applications for this new capability are limited by only your imagination.

Imagine meeting with a golf pro from the 18th hole, or a Professor in the middle of a vineyard showing how grapes mature, or you are an architect needing to communicate with a construction site, or a doctor helping a critically ill patient miles from a hospital....

For some great ideas or more information on how to implement this technology, call John Sachau, President of Trinity Global LLC at 732 925-2009 or visit Trinity Global LLC's new web site here.

In the meantime, watch the video I took of a meeting showing the value of mobile videoconferencing for Fire Departments.