Once upon time, video codecs and formats were really only the concern of AV nerds, anime freaks and hardcore not-so-legal movie downloaders. Now, even the most part-time of geeks has to deal with them, whether they're trying to stream a flick across their house with an Apple TV, dump some video onto their phone or just trying to grab last night's episode of Dexter because they, uh, forgot to renew their Showtime subscription. It's messy and annoying, but we're here to clean it up. Take a deep breath.
You might recall our discussion about video bitrates earlier, or how much data is packed into a file. As a general rule, more bits per second translates into more betterer quality audio and video. The variable in that—the other part of the equation—is how the content is compressed and de-compressed. Better compression techniques—the zen of knowing what bits of data to pull out to make big data chunks smaller—make for better quality video while taking up less space on your hard drive. Basically, the part you need to know is that codecs are the software that make that magic happen.
Standard Standards • H.261 is not a term you have to worry about, but it's the technology that most video standards and codecs were originally based on. Originating in 1990, it's the first major digital video compression standard, and like other "H" standards, it was developed by the International Telecommunication Union. This one was primarily for teleconferencing over ISDN lines, and as such, it looks like ass.
• MPEG-1 Part 2 is another oldie, developed by the Movie Picture Experts Group and approved in 1991. (BTW, the whole "part" thing is because video is just one "part" of each MPEG standard.) Based quite a bit on H.261, MPEG-1 was designed to take VHS quality video and squeeze it down to a bit rate of about 1.5Mbps, optimized for CD transfers. No surprise, it's the standard used for all VCDs (which can play in most DVD players), but not a standard you would see hanging around today.
• With MPEG-2 Part 2, approved in 1994, we're finally talking decent vid. Also known as H.262, since it was developed jointly by the ITU-T and ISO, MPEG-2 is an extension of MPEG-1 that delivers better resolution and higher bit rates (3-15Mbps for standard def and 15-30Mbps for HD). It's the video codec used by DVD and digital television, though now it's slowly being replaced by the more efficient MPEG-4, except on DVDs, where it'll ride out that disc format's lifetime.
• MPEG-4 is where we really stand right now. It has a much broader scope than past MPEG standards, aiming to tackle both the low end (crappy cellphones on a crappy network) and the high end (Blu-ray). It's still developing, so it's not-so-coincidentally where this whole story gets messier. There are two relevant parts of the MPEG-4 standard for our myopic video purposes: Part 2 and Part 10—which is also known as H.264 or Advanced Video Coding (AVC). To be clear though, even though they're both part of the MPEG-4 standard, they're totally different formats. Nevertheless, both are more efficient at compression than past MPEG codecs, delivering better quality using less space.
• Okay, so if you've ever frequented a Torrent site, you've actually watched tons of videos that use MPEG-4 Part 2, though it's not like they would've had a flashing sign telling you so. MPEG-4 Part 2 actually has different "profiles"—the two that matter being Simple Profile, for low bitrate, low-res stuff, and Advanced Simple Profile. The latter profile is what's used by movies you would download in formats like DivX or XviD or 3ivx—which are all codecs that are essentially just differing implementations of the MPEG-4 Part 2 standard.
• MPEG-4 Part 10, the other part, was actually co-devopled by MPEG and the ITU-T, so it's also known—in fact, more commonly known—as H.264. It's more efficient than MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 Part 2, delivering the same quality video in as little as half the space, making it suitable for the low and high-end. Because of this, it's quickly becoming the standardest standard. It's part of the HD DVD and Blu-ray spec, replacing MPEG-2 in digital TV (like with satellite services and AT&T's U-Verse IPTV) and supported by pretty much every portable video player on the planet from the iPod to the PSP. Apple has a decent, if Kool-Aid flavored, FAQ about H.264.
• VC-1 is essentially a Microsoft developed alternative video codec to H.264 released as a standard by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, though it descends from the same H.26X/MPEG family. (It essentially started life as WMV9, but then Microsoft shopped it to the SMPTE to make it an industry standard, and now it is.) It too, is part of the mandatory Blu-ray and HD DVD spec, and is the official video codec of the Xbox 360. It's pitch is the same as H.264's—trying to deliver better quality using less space, like HD video in 6-8Mbps.
Free-Floating Codecs Okay, so all that stuff up there are industry-wide standard video codecs. On top of all of those, various entities love putting out their own spin on those standards. As we mentioned before, DivX (proprietary) and XviD (open source), for instance, use MPEG-4 Part 2 (more specifically, MPEG-4 ASP) compression, meaning stuff that'll natively play back MPEG-4 ASP will also play back DivX. Like the Xbox 360, for instance. There are a ton of MPEG-4 ASP-based codecs, actually, like FFmpeg, 3ivx and others, but DivX and XviD are the most common. Same deal with H.264: Some well known codecs that use it are Apple's Quicktime H.264, x264 and Nero Digital. You've also got Windows Media Video (WMV) codecs, which are Microsoft's proprietary twists on industry standards.
Containers aka Wrappers Alright, well you've probably noticed that none of your video files have the extension .h264 or .vc1 or the like. That's because videos are packaged in containers or wrappers that stuff things like the audio, navigational info, etc. along with the video in a single pretty file. Naturally, there are about as many of them as there are codecs. To be clear, you would take a video encoded with, say, H.264, and wrap it up as a .mp4 or .avi file.
So, in order to play a video file, your setup has to be able to handle both the actual video codec and the container. It's why you can try to play an AVI file and Windows Media Player laughs at you, even though it totally played one a minute ago— the container was no problem, but it didn't have the right codec. Or conversely, even though an iPod could play back an H.264 encoded video, if it was wrapped up in MKV, it won't be able to read it.
Okay, my brain hurts. Hopefully this will make yours hurt less when it comes to dealing with pesky videos. If you'd like to do even more homework, Wikipedia, as always, has a more in-depth discussion. And Doom9 is always an amazing resource for all things digital video.
Something you still wanna know? Send any questions about codecs, kitties or pad thai (but not RealMedia) to tips@gizmodo.com, with "Giz Explains" in the subject line.
By Andi Wang The Home Chare—yes, that's chare, not chair—is a combination wheelchair for the disabled and for Jabba the Hutts. This device not only can be adjusted into a bed and standing aid, but also can double as a toilet via a replaceable seatless cushion. We can't see how this toilet design is convenient though, unless, of course, you rode around in this wheelchair pantless or in a pair of asschaps. Since the Home Chare is currently not on the market, we hope this will give them time to fix the restroom-accessibility situation. [Product Page via Yanko]
Here is the real news of the day. In a unanimous vote, MLB owners today approved Hal Steinbrenner to assume control of the Yankees at the request of his father.
“I realize it’s a great responsibility,” said Hal Steinbrenner, who turns 40 on Dec. 3. “My dad is, needless to say, a tough act to follow.”
Hal and Hank Steinbrenner have been listed as co-chairpersons. But it has been obvious for months that it is the younger brother who runs the club. Hal Steinbrenner has been in New York dozens of times to meet with Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, Randy Levine and Lonn Trost. He also has ably represented the team at assorted events and made the majority of the decisions according to team officials.
It is uncertain whether there was any sort of power play between the brothers for this position. But within the team offices in Tampa and the Bronx, this will be welcome news.
UPDATE, 1:53 p.m.: This statement from family spokesman Howard Rubenstein:
“At the MLB meetings today, the clubs approved Hal Steinbrenner as the control person for the New York Yankees. This is consistent with George Steinbrenner’s desire and commitment to have his sons assume the day to day responsibility of operating the club. George Steinbrenner will remain as Chairman of the New York Yankees, Hal and Hank Steinbrenner will continue as Co-Chairmen.
“Hal was designated as the control person because he is responsible for the overall business and financial operations of the Yankees. Hank will continue to oversee the club’s Baseball Operations.”
Titles aside, it has been Hal Steinbrenner who comes to the Bronx and meets regularly with Cashman and Girardi and just last week said how he planned to start building relationships with agents. At the end of the day, one person has to be in charge and it’s him. —————— Mike Mussina will conduct a conference call at 4 p.m. Check back later for a report and hopefully the audio.
This entry was posted on Thursday, November 20th, 2008 at 1:49 pm by Peter Abraham.
So says CBS Sports Dan Dierdorf about one-legged wonder Carl Joseph. Now Carl's unprecedented exploits have been memorialized in this video, using old game footage that had been lost to Carl for the last 29 years. The video shows why Carl Joseph was a legend in his own time. From sacking quarterbacks to dunking basketballs, he didnt let the mere absence of a leg stop him from competing as an equal and even excelling in high school sports. His story of faith, courage and heart inspired millions on TV in the early 1980s. For more information: http://www.greatsportstory.com
Rico de Souza rode the 30ft (9.16 metre) board for ten seconds before being tumbling into the water at a beach in Rio de Janeiro.
The 55-year-old needed several attempts at the record as he struggled to build up enough speed to propel the 16st board which he had designed himself.
He eventually spotted a powerful wave and managed to clamber to his feet and keep his balance long enough to claim his record.
Afterwards he said that the ride had been a thrilling experience. "It was an exceptional wave, the wave was shaky, the board was jumping, but I managed to stand firm," he said.
Asked about his future plans, he said that he only wanted to enjoy life and do good deeds.
"Life is a joke and we have to take advantage of our passage through earth in the best way possible," he said.
Mr de Souza set the previous record on a 25.6ft (8 metre) board in 2006. Since then he has made several design improvements to the board.
He had been due to attempt the new record this weekend, but managed to achieve the feat during his own practice session on Monday.
Mr de Souza organised another record in September this year, when 88 people surfed the same wave for over ten seconds – up four from 2007.
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) -- Victoria Gaspar left her job at a bank's telephone call center more than a year ago with dreams of starting her own private cleaning business.
Her goal of becoming her own boss collapsed when her husband lost his job at a manufacturing firm. Despite registering at multiple employment agencies in two states, Gaspar has struggled to find even temporary work. Now living with her in-laws, she left a state-run job search center yesterday still desperate for a regular paycheck.
"There's just nothing out there at the moment," Gaspar said. "Now things are really tough."
Unemployment in Rhode Island reached 9.3 percent in October, its worst showing since 1983. The rate of joblessness in Rhode Island is equal to Michigan, which has been battered by a flailing auto industry. Both states have far surpassed the national unemployment rate of 6.5 percent.
Gaspar and about 15 other people spent yesterday searching through job postings a few strides from Samuel Slater's revolutionary cotton-spinning mill that launched the Industrial Revolution in 1793. Manufacturing began in this corner of New England, but it has not thrived here.
Over the past year, Rhode Island lost 3,200 manufacturing jobs, about a fifth of all job losses.
Janusz Nowinowski, 54, worked for a quarter century at a wire manufacturer in neighboring Attleboro, Mass., until he was laid off two weeks ago.
He was mainly worried about finding health insurance when his current coverage expires in January. A survivor of prostate cancer, Nowinowski needs regular checkups. The doctor's visit and related tests cost more than $2,000.
He wants to send his twin 17-year-old children to college but wonders about paying the tuition. Help-wanted advertisements have dwindled in local newspapers.
"Years ago, it was a few pages of information ... but today it is only one page or half a page," he said.
Rhode Island's economy skidded off the rails more than a year ago - long before the current meltdown on Wall Street. The state has long grappled with a declining manufacturing sector, but it was stung when a bubble in housing prices suddenly burst. Homeowners began defaulting on their mortgages and construction stopped.
Governments sometimes soften the blow from economic downturns by ramping up public spending. Rhode Island's state government, however, is hampered by massive budget deficits and has little room to maneuver.
Bryant University economist Edinaldo Tebaldi predicts unemployment will crest at 10.3 percent in 2010 before the state starts gaining jobs the following year.
In the meantime, Marlon Berroa, 21, said he is considering returning to college to gain the professional and education skills needed to find work. He has a high school equivalency degree and spent the past year working temporary jobs.
Berroa said the scarcity of work has been stressful since he has an infant daughter at home.
(Fortune) -- Dear Annie: I've been working with a recruiter on finding my next job, and he just told me that one possibility (an opening for a manufacturing manager with a midsized company) will require that I undergo a panel interview, meaning an interview conducted by a group of prospective colleagues and bosses, all in the room at the same time. I've never been interviewed by a group before. Is this unusual? Do you have any advice on how to succeed at it? -Stage Fright in St. Louis
Dear SFSL: Panel interviews, an import to the business world from academia, are getting more common all the time. The reason is twofold, according to executive coach Susan Whitcomb (www.careercoachacademy.com), author of Interview Magic (Jist Works, $18.95). First, meeting everyone you'd be working with at once is a big time-saver for everybody. But more important, meeting your whole team gives everyone a better idea of how well (or not) you'd fit into the group.
"When there are half a dozen or more people observing you at the same time, it's a lot easier to compare notes and reach a consensus" about you than in several different interviews, Whitcomb notes.
Whole Foods Market, No. 16 on Fortune's 2008 list of the Best Companies to Work For, has been subjecting all applicants to panel interviews for several years now.
"It was the most difficult job interview I've ever been through," says Ben Friedlander, 34, who was hired last spring as marketing coordinator for the retailer's Rocky Mountain region, based in Boulder. "But it was also the most interesting."
His panel was made up of 11 people, including the regional president, some store employees, the vice president of purchasing, and "basically everyone who would have significant contact with me," he recalls.
The panel chose Friedland out of more than 150 applicants for the job. Friedland admits he was nervous about facing so many interlocutors in one fell swoop but, he says, "You can choose how you're going to approach it - either be intimidated, or embrace it."
To help you with the latter, here are a few tips:
Know your interviewers. Don't be shy about asking the person setting up the interview, "Who will be on the panel, and what are their job titles?" Friedland got this information from the headhunter who was helping Whole Foods (WFMI, Fortune 500) fill the job -- as well as each panelist's e-mail address -- so he could send prompt thank-you's afterward. Also, gather as much background on each panelist as you can, starting with a Google search, Whitcomb suggests.
Be ready to take notes. "Jotting notes, as you would in any business meeting, will help you remember important points," Whitcomb says. Writing things down may also buy you an extra moment or two to come up with an answer to a tough question.
Take it one question at a time, one person at a time. "Address each of your responses primarily to the person asking, while also making eye contact with the rest of the panel," Whitcomb advises. A focus on one questioner at a time may help calm any stage fright.
Look for the key decision-maker on the panel. "He or she is often the last person to arrive, or the person to whom all heads turn when an issue arises," Whitcomb says. Make eye contact with this person somewhat more often than with the other panel members, but without overlooking anyone else. If you do end up getting an offer and you want to negotiate the terms, Whitcomb notes, "it helps to know who has the authority to approve changes."
Ask questions. At Whole Foods and elsewhere, candidates are judged as much by the depth and intelligence of the questions they ask as by the answers they give to panelists' queries. Your questions, then, should show you have studied the company and its customers carefully.
Ask at least one question of each panel member, Whitcomb advises. "You're really trying to find out what they're seeking in the ideal candidate for this job," she says. "You can put it in results-oriented terms and ask, 'Six months from now, how will you know you've hired the right person?' Then, if someone says, 'Our XYZ business will have grown by 20%' or 'Costs will have dropped by 10%,' you can focus on describing experiences in your past that can help you achieve that goal."
Before Friedland's panel interview, he spoke with many Whole Foods employees, and did a survey of 400 customers, so he'd be prepared. "Don't come up with ideas in a bubble," he says. "Listen to as many people as you can."
Since joining Whole Foods, Friedland has sat on dozens of panels himself, so he now sees the process from both sides.
"When you have 10 or 11 people questioning you, you can't sneak anything by them, the way maybe you could with a single interviewer. It's really obvious who's done their homework and who hasn't," he says. "So make sure you understand the company -- its industry, its culture, what people there are most proud of, and where they want to be headed."
A crucial last step: After the meeting, send an individual "thank you" to each panel member, and vary the wording a bit with each one. "It's amazing how few people do this, but it can give you a tremendous advantage, by distinguishing you from your competition," says Whitcomb.
Friedland couldn't agree more. He e-mailed each of his 11 interviewers immediately after meeting with them -- and included a link to a URL he had created, with a short video summing up his marketing vision for the company. (Want to see it? Go to http://www.makeitwhole.com.) "I wanted to make one last positive impression," he says.Good thinking.
Note to job seekers: You may be one of LinkedIn's 14 million members, but do you know how to make it work for you in a job hunt? Career coach Rita Ashley has written a useful e-book - illustrated with step-by-step screen shots - on how to make the most of LinkedIn to help you find your next job. Download it for free here.
Readers, what do you say? Ever been interviewed by a panel -- or been a panel member? What do you see as the pros and cons? Got any tips for candidates or panelists? Post your thoughts on the Ask Annie blog.
Thumbs up: The PS3, which can be upgraded to Profile 2.0 via high-speed Internet, offers an excellent picture (1080p output via an HDMI port) and top sound quality (7.1 Dolby TrueHD audio). Even DVDs look great on this machine. Along with the Pioneer, it was the fastest we tested at loading movies.
Thumbs down: You need an adapter to use a universal remote, as there's no infrared sensor. If you're over 30, you'll hate the joystick controller. Also, the PS3 eats power.
The big picture: This isn't a toy - it outperformed or equaled pricier rivals. For the price, it can't be beat.
We're only two-thirds of the way into the regular season and this has already been one of the most bizarre, most ludicrous seasons on record. Read why.
#7. The officiating is so bad, the referees are writing apology letters.
After completely blowing a call during the Chargers-Broncos Week Two shootout, Ed Hochuli felt so terrible he actually wrote an apology letter, telling fans, "I failed miserably. Although it does no good to say it, I am very, very sorry." And he might not be the only one to issue a mea culpa this year. In Week 10, the zebras blew a call in the Packers-Vikings game, then another one at the end of Week 11's Steelers-Chargers game. Consider this: Pittsburgh was called for 13 penalties in last Sunday's game, while San Diego was called for just two. Toss in the spread being four-and-a-half points, the overruling of an apparent Pittsburgh touchdown at the end of regulation, and an 11-10 final score... Let's just say some folks lingering around the Vegas sports books were none too pleased about that one. Never before has the officiating -- or lack thereof -- been such a part of the weekly NFL discussion.
#6. A recovering alcoholic who was labeled a racist is the veteran leader of the NFL's dominant team.
People are calling Kerry Collins' emergence as the starting quarterback for the 10-0 Tennessee Titans a "comeback." But in truth, this is actually the second so-called "comeback" of Kerry Collins' career. In 1997-98, he apparently called Muhsin Muhammad a racial slur while drinking with teammates at a bar, had his jaw shattered by an illegal hit from Bill Romanowski, and got rung up on drunk driving charges. Collins was basically out of the league by 1999 -- an unrestricted free agent with few suitors. The Giants gave the former first round pick a second chance, and in 2000, he led them to a Super Bowl berth -- ushering in his first official comeback. But after New York drafted Eli Manning in the 2003 NFL Draft, Collins was on the chopping block again. A league vagabond, he then hopped from New York to Oakland to Tennessee, compiling a not so impressive sub-.500 record as a middling starter and backup. Now, in 2008, his fourteenth year in the league, the 35-year-old is having his best season ever. This isn't a comeback. We've heard that story before. This is fascinating -- a comeback after a comeback.
#5. Seventh-round fantasy draft picks are easily outplaying everyone drafted in the first round.
Go through the list. Unless you drafted Clinton Portis and Adrian Peterson, just about every other 2008 first round fantasy football draft selection has been putrid. LaDainian Tomlinson is 13th in the league in rushing, Brian Westbrook is 23rd, and Joseph Addai's nowhere to be found. Marshawn Lynch is losing touches to a guy who went to Coe College, and Tony Romo, Tom Brady, and Steven Jackson have all been sidelined with injuries. The big receivers -- Randy Moss, Braylon Edwards, and Terrell Owens -- are ranked 23rd, 29th, and 39th respectively in receptions. Both Larry and Chad Johnson have been AWOL for most of the season. Your best fantasy bet this year? Drafting the Tennessee Titans defense, a bunch of rookies at running back, and a decent kicker. Or just taking Kurt Warner.
#4. Two guys who usually carry luggage for the veterans are carrying their teams to the playoffs instead.
Go through the annals of NFL history and you'll find only a few rare occasions in which a first-year quarterback has led a team to the postseason. Ben Roethlisberger guided the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers to a 15-1 record and a postseason berth, but even he only got the nod after veteran quarterback Tommy Maddox went down with an injury. Current ESPN analyst Shaun King led the 1999 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the NFC Championship Game, but prior to King, no rookie quarterback had started an NFL playoff game since 1991 (Todd Marinovich, Oakland). Yet, this year, we not only have one rookie quarterback steering a team towards the postseason -- but two. Both Baltimore's Joe Flacco and Atlanta's Matt Ryan have started every game for their respective teams, and both are playing at an All-Pro level for squads with records better than .500. That's not supposed to happen.
#3. Twenty-five percent of the NFL's starting quarterbacks are over the age of thirty.
Though Flacco and Ryan may be having great success in their first NFL seasons, the real quarterback-related story in 2008 has been how many old farts are playing the position for competitive teams. Scan the league standings and way too many dudes over 30 -- let alone guys over 35 -- are starting at quarterback for good squads. Jeff Garcia (38), Brett Favre (39), Kurt Warner (37), Jake Delhomme (33), Gus Frerotte (37), Kerry Collins (35), Chad Pennington (32), and Peyton Manning (32) are all the signal callers for potential playoff teams. Early bird specials, stealing sugar packets from diners, and the NFL playoffs -- it's all the rage in Boca Raton these days.
#2. The Arizona Cardinals are going to host a home game in the playoffs. No, seriously.
With a win over the New York Giants on Sunday and losses from the Seahawks and 49ers, the Arizona Cardinals can clinch their first ever NFC West title -- in Week 12. The Cards haven't won a division title since 1975 and have only made the playoffs six times since 1946. The franchise, considered by many as the least successful team of all the four major American professional sports leagues, has just a 2-5 record in playoff games during that 62-year-span. Imagine being a fan of a team that's won 2 playoff games in six decades? (We're looking at you, Will Leitch.)
Well, good times are here. 38-year-old quarterback Kurt Warner is having an MVP-caliber season, a rookie from Richmond is starring at running back, and a host of unsung role players are anchoring the league's 11th ranked defense. The Cardinals can smell the playoffs, and that's just plain weird.
#1. We're seeing scores never-before-seen in the history of the NFL.
Last Sunday's controversial 11-10 Steelers-Chargers finish marked the first time in 12,837 NFL games there was such a final score. It was the first 11-10 game ever.
C’mon, folks. That’s full moon stuff.
It's been a bizarre season. A bizarre season, indeed.
Of course, the Lions are still winless.
I guess it's good to know at least some things are still somewhat normal.
An 11-year-old girl who was struck by a car had her life saved by her school bag, her family has said.
By Richard Savill
Ayse Kinsman was walking home from school with her twin sister, Jasmine, when she was hit by a blue Peugeot 206 estate.
It struck her on the hip, throwing her over the bonnet. She escaped with cuts and bruises because the bag took the full impact.
The purple, white and pink rucksack was slung over her shoulder and resting on her hip, the spot where the car made contact with her.
It contained her PE kit and trainers, a pencil case, school books and three packets of crisps which were squashed flat.
Ayse, of Bodmin, Cornwall, said: "It was like wearing a bullet proof vest. The car had hit my bag and all the stuff inside had taken the full force."
Her mother, Sally, 37, said: "The ambulance crew said her school bag took the full impact, saving her life. Sometimes I tell Ayse off for having too much in her bag and for not carrying it properly on both her shoulders, but I am so relieved now that she did not listen.
"Kids always carry their bags on one shoulder, apparently it is more fashionable."
Mrs Kinsman added: "Jasmine witnessed it all and said it was like a scene from a film. But in the end the bag saved her. Her gym trainers were in there, they are new and very well made. They played a part in cushioning her from the blow."
South Western Ambulance Service said Ayse was "very lucky" to escape with minor injuries.
From Apple’s App Store to creative productivity tips, the corporate iPhone user now has a world of useful options.
By Kaan Etem | November 19, 2008
It’s official: The Apple iPhone just passed the Motorola RAZR to become the top handset in the United States, according to NPD Group Inc. It takes only a few Google searches to discover what an extensive ecosystem is developing around this game-changing smartphone platform. Apple Inc.’s iPhone App Store, for instance, introduces new applications every week.
But what about the iPhone as an essential business tool? For mission-critical enterprise applications that require a robust and secure operating system, a recent Gartner Group study suggests treading carefully. On the other hand, the iPhone just hit the top of J.D. Power's satisfaction ranks for business smartphones, so some enterprises will undoubtedly find it useful. Perhaps the question should be: Can the iPhone make you more productive when you’re mobile? The answer is clearly yes.
To help launch your quest for mobile productivity, here’s a list of useful tips, applications, sites and more to keep you moving forward while you’re moving around.
Productivity Applications
1. Stay organized. The Economist magazine wrote, "Zoho is the most comprehensive suite of web-based programmes for small businesses ...". Now that it’s available for the iPhone, you can bring your office wherever you go. Torch also offers a project management app that lets you organize all of your communication, files, tasks and more in one place.
2. Send email. The iPhone supports both Web-based and corporate email systems, including Microsoft Outlook, so you can stay connected no matter your location. You can even sync your iPhone with your PC email by using the IMAP application. And if you get frustrated by having to compose emails in portrait view, turn things around with one of the apps in this review of wide-format email apps. Wide Mail Keyboard and MailType are additional offerings in this category.
3. Manage tasks. Strange but true: the iPhone doesn’t come with a Tasks app. But you can create to-do lists in your notes, or you can use apps like 43 Actions (allows updates via email, Twitter or Jott) or do.Oh.
4. Leverage productivity tools. Create and manage charts using Charts; create, view and share presentations with Keypoint; and export your PowerPoint slides to your iPhone using Mac Office 2008.
5. Track time and expenses. The iPhone version of Harvest allows you to track your time, enter expenses and more.
6. Calendar your time. If the iPhone calendar doesn’t do it for you, try Google’s or 30Boxes’.
7. Take notes. There are lots of choices here, including GlueyNotes, Evernote, RemoteNote, Thumb Jot and of course the one that comes standard with the iPhone.
Road Warrior
8. Access files remotely. If you need access to your computer while you’re on the road, you could do worse than use SugarSync, which CNET has dubbed “the most useful sync tool ever.” Another way to upload and share your files is to use in.solit.us. According to BusinessWeek, LogMeIn provides "simple and secure access to your computer from just about anywhere." And with Google Docs, you can access your documents wherever you are.
9. Get directions. You can always use Mapquest or Google Maps to get directions, but the iPhone’s keyboard is not the optimal input device. Instead, you can send yourself directions from your workstation. Send Google Maps directions to your iPhone’s email address, and they’ll open in your Google Maps app.
10. Improve your language skills.Translate on the go is a simple app that offers a quick translation between two languages. Learning a language is a bigger commitment but you can listen to free language courses from iTunes on your iPhone.
11. Find things to do. Use an app like Outalot or Where Traveler to see what sort of restaurants, shops and other fun places are around. Schmap offers free travel guides that are optimized for the iPhone. StreetFlow lets you find good restaurants near where you are and rate them, plus see the ratings of others. If you want to order food quickly and easily on your iPhone, try CityMint.
12. Locate free wifi hotspots. Just what every road warrior needs: A directory of free wifi spots around the U.S., plus some international locations.
13. Pay the right tip. If you need help with calculating the right tip — or splitting the bill with friends — try CheckPlease.
Tips and Tools
14. It’s not just for photos. The iPhone camera has many uses, starting with whiteboard capture. Just snap a picture at the end of the session and go to the next meeting. The same applies to business cards, receipts and even the parking space you just came from (was it E7 or F7?).
15. Make your iPhone vibrate first. Prevent your iPhone from interrupting by setting it to first vibrate, then ring. Conversely, Escape Pod lets you bail from a phone conversation. With Escape Pod’s 29 prerecorded sounds (and the ability to record your own), your excuses can now sound more authentic. Choose from ER background, doorbell ringing, smoke alarm and many more.
16. Change your email signature. It’s true that “Sent from my iPhone” tells the recipient that you’re on the move, but some consider it showing off. You can create a custom email signature on your iPhone with this tip.
17. Get cut, copy and paste. Incredibly, the iPhone does not have cut and paste (in usable form). Use Quasi Clipboard to get copy and paste functionality on your iPhone.
19. Optimize your Web surfing. With the iPhone 3G’s enhanced Web browsing, you’ll be spending some serious time on the Internet. Useful tools to take with you include Bookmarklets, pieces of JavaScript that do everything from looking up words in a dictionary to finding a specific term on a page; and iWebSaver, which saves Web pages for viewing offline.
20. Get reading. Once you get used to the form factor, you can get a lot of reading done on your iPhone. It helps to have a reader app, though. Check out Google Reader for a basic tool. Reader and Instapaper are two other offerings. And the iPhone’s free Stanza not only allows you to read but has a library of free books for you to download — including children’s books.
News and Information
21. Get the news from Google. Google brings its clean interface to the mobile version of Google News, where you’ll find the latest headlines from multiple sources.
22. Read leaflets.Leaflets is a fun, useful application optimized to bring Search, Feed, Flickr, Newsvine, The New York Times, del.icio.us and more to your iPhone.
23. Digg it up. Check out Digg on the iPhone to get the latest buzz.
24. Use Wikipedia. Get all of Wikipedia on your iPhone, with access to millions of encyclopedia articles.
26. It’s all about apps. Apple’s iPhone App Store is teeming with interesting and useful apps and is constantly expanding. From there, you’ll find links to iTunes and the rest of the Apple universe.
27. Your life as the iPhone.IPhone Life is a meta site listing the best online spots for news, application directories, tips, how-to’s, forums and much more.
28. Indulge your cravings. AppCraver is a Web site that is “obsessively dedicated to iPhone applications and to the emerging iPhone app economy.”
29. Touch it up. TouchTip is a blog that offers some of the best information about the iPhone world. And another heavyweight offering reviews is CNET’s iPhone site.
30. Scout it out. AppScout is brought to you by the editors and analysts of PC Magazine, who scour the Net in search of the best software, sites and Web apps.
31. Keep it fresh. FreshApps adds a twist: Members can keep tabs on apps they like or have downloaded, submit comments and application reviews and vote for the apps they find useful or fun.
32. Find new apps. Lockergnome is a Digg-like Web tool that allows other iPhone users to find new iPhone apps, vote for the ones they like, vote against the ones they hate and comment on their favorites.
On the Home Front
33. Keep it all straight. If you’re a super multitasker, you may need some help with the basics, like remembering your keys and wallet. Try Before You Leave the House.
34. Budget your finances. Create your budget and track your expenses in your iPhone with myBudget.
35. Cook up something good. Check out the iPhone recipes on 101 Cookbooks to find recipes and ingredients when you’re on the go. Simply Recipes for iPhone offers hundreds of tested, family-friendly recipes for the home cook. And Recipes lets you add your own to the mix.
36. Entertain your kids. Gain a few precious minutes by mesmerizing your kids with Bubble, BubbleWrap or Lightsaber. Or let them record their ABCs using iTalk.
Escapes
37. Stream music to your iPhone. Use Simplify Media to stream your iTunes library to your iPhone (and anywhere else). Use Pandora to stream radio.
38. Manage your movies. Use iFlix to manage your Netflix queue.
39. Indulge your inner sports junkie. Get up to the minute access to scores, standings, stats and news for most major pro and college sports with Sportacular.
40. Catch up on podcasts. Upload podcasts to your iPhone and listen during your downtime.
41. Clear your mind.Ambiance allows you to create a “workspace in your head.” If there’s too much of the wrong kind of noise around you, select ambient sounds such as rain, waves, airplane, heartbeat and a plethora of others to surround yourself with.
42. Spread your wings. Wings is a flight virtualization tool that lets you experience the exhilaration of flying wherever you may be. Soar over a variety of beautiful virtual environments in four different seasons or crank up the fun with a couple of barrel rolls.
Accessories
43. Create a car dock. If you’re a DIY kind of person — and it’s only those people who are going to be interested in this — use these simple instructions to create a car dock for your iPhone.
44. Create a stand. Impress your clients by making a stand for your iPhone out of a business card, and then launch into your PowerPoint presentation with your iPhone at a comfortable angle.
45. Improve your iPhone’s car integration. Make your iPhone more productive in the car with this upgrade from iLounge.
46. Get an earbud case as a keychain. Now, as long as you have your keys, you’ll have your earbuds too.
If you haven’t jumped on board with the iPhone, there's still some goodies out there for you. Check out Inside CRM’s Blackberry tips for more useful information.
Autumn in the Midwest means cold cider and warm doughnuts to a lot of folks, but for the C/D staff, it also means the weeklong rousing of a few quiet burgs as we descend on a rural route about 30 miles from our Ann Arbor office in search of the coming year’s 10Best cars.
This year, our home base changed—we upgraded to a location with a paved parking lot in the interest of floor-mat preservation and real bathrooms in the interest of staff sanity—but the roads traveled did not. Our traffic violations numbered zero, a nice change of pace from last year’s record total. Our judging criteria and the rules, however, remain constant.
Cars are judged on three points. The first is how well they perform their intended functions—sedans and hatchbacks should be spacious and versatile, economy cars should be frugal (but not punishing), and sports cars should be responsive and satisfying. Secondly, we consider how engaging a car is on an emotional level—do we emerge from a drive with a smile, and does it hold our gaze as we walk away? Finally, we look at how competitive a car’s pricing is for the levels of versatility, practicality, and fun it offers. We recognize value when we see it and we highlight those cars that possess it.
Eligibility for 10Best is determined based on newness and past 10Best success. All cars either new or significantly redesigned are allowed. Additionally, cars that made the list in 2008 are automatically invited back for 2009, providing they still clear our price cap—2.5 times the average new-car transaction price for all light-duty vehicles sold through August of the previous year, or $71,000 this time around.
If a car fails to make the list its first year on the market, it’s out of contention until a significant redesign renews its eligibility. Conversely, if a car consistently impresses us enough to be voted to the list year after year, it can remain on the list indefinitely, even if it receives no updates. But all eligible cars must be available for sale no later than January 2009.
Read on for 2009’s 10Best. While Car and Driver is staffed by enthusiasts, the 10Best cars are not just the ones we recommend to our hotfoot readers. These are cars we recommend to everyone.
2009 BMW 3-series / M3
Three’s still the charm.
What are the key elements of automotive perfection? From our perspective, the list of qualifications includes eager responses, supple ride quality, smooth power, supportive seats, athletic proportions with limited front overhang, attractive styling with familial features that endure through the generations, a car that is always entertaining to drive.
For us, the sum of those attributes is epitomized by the BMW 3-series. Not only is this true for 2009, the addition has been coming out the same way now for 18 years: a string of consecutive 10Best Cars appearances that’s unique in the 27-year history of these awards.
Renewed in 2006, the U.S. line of the 2009 3-series includes the broadest array of models in its history: four body styles, including folding-hardtop convertibles; four engine options, including a 3.0-liter, turbo-diesel inline-six and, a first for this family, a V-8. The latter is the 414-hp, 4.0-liter V-8 that propels the latest M3 coupe, sedan, and convertible to the threshold of supercar territory. There are even three transmissions, including BMW’s first dual-clutch automated manual gearbox.
Is this perfection? History has shown that there’s always room for improvement. But even so, in our view, no current family of cars comes closer to that elusive target.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine; rear- or 4-wheel-drive; 4–5-passenger; 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible, 4-door sedan, or 5-door wagon
Last year, the redesigned CTS was the second Cadillac to win a 10Best Cars award (the first was the 1992 Seville), and this year, it’s the first Caddy to become a 10Best repeater. We were impressed with its dynamics, its upscale interior, the performance of its optional 304-hp, 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6, its slightly softened but still distinctively edgy styling, its overall refinement, and the fact that it offers manual as well as automatic transmissions.
We’re still impressed. But impressed is a tame descriptor for our response to the V version of this car. Overwhelmed is more like it. Like the CTS, the CTS-V is far more refined in its second generation. But that’s not the first thing that grabs the driver’s attention, particularly if his right foot is flat to the fire wall and he’s rowing through the six forward speeds.
When that’s happening, the center of the driver’s universe becomes the super-Caddy’s 6.2-liter, supercharged V-8, which is busily churning up 556 horsepower. And if the road is challenging, the driver’s reward includes amazing agility and response.
Cadillac has created many memorable cars. This one is unforgettable.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear- or 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
BASE PRICE: $36,880–$59,995
ENGINES: DOHC 24-valve 3.6-liter V-6, 263 or 304 hp, 253 or 273 lb-ft; supercharged and intercooled pushrod 16-valve 6.2-liter V-8, 556 hp, 551 lb-ft
TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 113.4 in Length: 191.6 in Width: 72.5 in Height: 58.0 in
Curb weight: 3900–4300 lb
The big news in the Corvette camp this year is obviously the ZR1supercar, the 638-hp rocket that’s the capo di tutti capo of Vettes. We’re seduced by Chevy’s new missile, but we can’t include it in our 2009 awards because it has a base price that’s some 34 grand north of our maximum base price of $71,000 (2.5 times the average transaction price for all light-duty vehicles sold in 2008). That cutoff (down $1000 from 2007) also eliminates the Z06, an ’08 listee whose ’09 base price has crept over the line.
But never mind. Extensively updated last year, including a useful infusion of horsepower, the standard Corvette coupe and convertible continue to deliver a level of performance and style that’s unbeatable for the money.
Beyond its credentials as an outstanding high-performance buy, we’ve also been impressed by the ongoing improvements in Corvette assembly quality, materials, and everyday comfort.
Cadillac coined the “American Standard for the World” mantra, but in the world of sports cars, those words describe the Corvette.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 3-door targa or 2-door roadster
BASE PRICE: $47,895–$52,550
ENGINE TYPE: pushrod 16-valve 6.2-liter V-8
Power (SAE net): 430 or 436 bhp @ 5900 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 424 or 428 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm
TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 105.7 in Length: 174.6 in Width: 72.6 in Height: 49.0 in
Curb weight: 3200–3350 lb
“A remarkable automobile from a remarkable automobile . . . company.”
That summary is from our January 1983 issue, when the Accord won a spot on our first 10Best Cars list. And it’s clear, 27 years later, that the praise still applies.
It’s equally clear that the Accord has evolved steadily to maintain its position as a mainstream pacesetter. From the compact sedan that won inaugural 10Best honors, the Accord has gone through seven generations en route to today’s coupe and sedan lineup, cars that are much bigger, much more refined, and much more powerful than their honorable ancestor. Indeed, in its makeover for the 2008 model year, the Accord sedan expanded to large-car status according to the EPA definition, which is based on a car’s interior volume.
Bigger is better from a family point of view, and we’re happy to report that the increase in size hasn’t diluted the crisp responses and exacting path accuracy that have always made Accords so satisfying to drive.
One proof of the Accord’s ongoing excellence is that through all those generations of models over 34 years, Honda has never felt any need to abandon that brand name. Another proof: 23 10Best trophies in 27 years. Outstanding barely describes this achievement.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan or 2-door coupe
BASE PRICE: $21,445–$29,475
ENGINES: DOHC 16-valve 2.4-liter inline-4, 177 or 190 hp, 161 or 162 lb-ft; SOHC 24-valve 3.5-liter V-6, 271 hp, 251 or 254 lb-ft
TRANSMISSIONS: 5-speed auto, 5- or 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 107.9–110.2 in Length: 190.9–194.3 in Width: 72.7–72.8 in Height: 56.4–58.1 in
Curb weight: 3250–3600 lb
The name and the face are familiar, but this isn’t the same HondaFit that rewrote big sections of the subcompact playbook when it made its U.S. debut in 2006. Known as the Jazz in other world markets, that car had been around since 2001, making it due for a major makeover, and that’s exactly what it got. It’s essentially a brand-new car—longer wheelbase, a little bigger overall, slightly roomier within, a little more mass, a little more muscle, a little more hustle, with the same fuel economy.
We were impressed with the high-quality appointments and design that distinguished the interior of the first Fit, but the makeover raises both elements of the inner car by a couple of notches. It also improves the usefulness of this amazingly voluminous small car. For example, the rear seatbacks flop forward with a single flip of a lever. Honda has added an adjustment for steering-wheel reach, as well as rake, and there’s also a nav-system option.
The best part is that Honda’s updates haven’t diluted this car’s warrior spirit at all. The Fit won’t contort facial muscles at full throttle, but its agility ranks at the top of the econocar charts. If there’s a better combination of thrift, practicality, and fun-to-drive, we haven’t seen it yet.
Although BMW still rules this class—entry-level luxurysports sedans and coupes—Infiniti keeps edging closer to parity with the Germans. A 2003, ’04, and ’07 10Best winner, the G returns for ’09, thanks in large measure to the sedan’s new 3.7-liter V-6 rated at 328 horsepower, an increase of 22 over the previous 3.5-liter six.
We’re not immune to the appeal of more power, of course, but there’s more to the G’s story than increased muscle. The powertrain team also improved the refinement of the V-6 and the engagements and feel of the six-speed manual transmission, putting it on par with, if not ahead of, the gearbox in BMW’s 3-series. Similarly, the chassis engineers have maintained the G’s agile handling while simultaneously taking the hard edge off the ride quality, a particularly welcome improvement in the firmer Sport edition.
The G coupe and sedan haven’t changed much visually (though a convertible version is due in mid-’09). But that’s not a demerit; styling has never been a weak suit. And the quality of interior appointments and features compares well with any car in this class. Also, the G37 still enjoys a price advantage over corresponding BMW 3-series models. Think 335i performance for 328i money.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear- or 4-wheel-drive, 4- or 5-passenger, 2-door coupe or 4-door sedan
BASE PRICE: $34,065–$36,715
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve 3.7-liter V-6
Power (SAE net): 328 or 330 bhp @ 7000 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 269 or 270 lb-ft @ 5200 rpm
TRANSMISSIONS: 7-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 112.2 in Length: 183.1–187.0 in Width: 69.8–71.8 in Height: 54.7–57.8 in
Curb weight: 3650–3850 lb
In our first hands-on report concerning this new car [March 2008], we described the XF as “an athletic five-seater that defies ancient traditions.” That’s a key point, because Jaguar had been mired in a styling rut, perpetuating past designs to the point of irrelevance. We’ve heard a few pundits suggest the XF “doesn’t look like a Jaguar.” To which we say: Right, and none too soon.
Although there are elements from the XKsports car and the S-type sedan, the XF is essentially a new unibody, with distinctly higher platform rigidity than the S-type. It’s a little bigger than the
S-type, on the same wheelbase, and a little roomier. Interior furnishings are quietly upscale, and there’s a sense of tailored comfort that’s common to high-end European sports sedans.
As pleasant as it is to behold, the XF’s most compelling attribute is outstanding dynamics. Power, from either the standard 4.2-liter V-8 or a supercharged 4.2-liter V-8, ranges from sufficient to stimulating, and the Jag’s responses to zigs and zags are gracefully feline.
This is the first Jaguar to appear on our 10Best Cars honor roll. We suspect it won’t be the last.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Mazda modernized the concept of the classic British roadster with the original Miata in 1989, and two decades later, the process is still in progress. Suspension tuning strikes an inspired balance between everyday comfort and track-day readiness, there’s enough power to make a track day rewarding, the transmission is race-car crisp, and the steering provides that rare sense of connection that makes the car an extension of the driver’s will.
Although it’s a two-seater with no superfluous sheetmetal, the Miata is roomy enough for two adults (NBA players need not apply), with enough space in the trunk for a couple of duffels. The convertible top has long set the standard for simplicity of manual use—it can be operated with one hand from the driver’s seat—and Mazda also offers a power-retractable hardtop. Like the softtop, it’s a gem, folding up or down in just 12 seconds.
Because it’s civilized enough for everyday use, the Miata is more than a track toy. And because it’s affordable—pricing starts at about $22,000, and even loaded with every option, it just crests $30,000—this is sports-car fun almost anyone can afford.
2009 Porsche Boxster and Cayman
Sports-car purity.
The hallmark of a true sports car is how well it involves its driver in the driving. Although the Boxster and the Cayman differ in character—roadster versus hardtop—they’re alike in terms of how well they communicate every nuance of mechanical information to the pilots and how accurately they convert driver inputs into response. This is the essence of the car-and-driver connection, and few sports cars do it better.
Neither of these mechanically identical mid-engined cousins can be called inexpensive. Pricing for a basic Boxster, with a 245-hp, 2.7-liter flat-six, isn’t much under $50,000, and a loaded Cayman S easily surpasses $70,000. But we have yet to meet an owner who thinks his car isn’t worth the money.
This is the 10th 10Best appearance for the Boxster, and the third straight for the Cayman. Aside from several electronic comfort/convenience options—XM satellite radio and Bluetooth, iPod, MP3, and USB connectivity—both cars enter the 2009 model year unchanged. However, direct injection and dual-clutch automated manual gearboxes are expected to be on the list of mechanical particulars sometime in early ’09.
VEHICLE TYPE: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door roadster or 3-door hatchback
It’s been a quarter-century since the first GTI put an exclamation point on Volkswagen’s Rabbit lineup, and 25 years of continuous development through five generations have yielded a car that still defines the class it established in that other century.
VW’s robust 2.0-liter turbo four provides ample thrust, driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission (standard) or, our choice, the slick paddle-shifted dual-clutch DSG automated manual.
But it’s the GTI’s rigid unibody that makes it such an agreeable partner, whether it’s the daily commute or a weekend back-road blast. Exemplary chassis rigidity allowed the development team to tune the suspension for a blend of precise response and smooth ride quality reminiscent of a car wearing BMW badges.
As an added bonus, GTI ownership includes an exceptionally high practicality factor. Like the Rabbit/Golf series on which it’s based, the GTI has grown over the years, growth that’s magnified by the versatility that’s shared by all hatchbacks. The option of three- or five-door body styles augments the practicality factor.
Practicality and fun in a small-scale, sporty Germanhatchback. It doesn’t get much better.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 3- or 5-door hatchback
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All you art collectors out there. Here is a chance to get a Giclee copy of some of Ian M Sherwin work. Ian is planning on doing a whole series of Marblehead, Massachusetts paintings. His work is amazing.
The Home Chare—yes, that's chare, not chair—is a combination wheelchair for the disabled and for Jabba the Hutts. This device not only can be adjusted into a bed and standing aid, but also can double as a toilet via a replaceable seatless cushion. We can't see how this toilet design is convenient though, unless, of course, you rode around in this wheelchair pantless or in a pair of asschaps. Since the Home Chare is currently not on the market, we hope this will give them time to fix the restroom-accessibility situation. [
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