Mar. 21st, 2007
Just found this application that lets you control other programs with your Apple Remote (that comes with the more recent Macs). Remote Buddy.
I've been kind of looking at the new Apple TV to add to our AV equipment in the house. I'm still not sure if its worth it, since most of our video content is downloaded in DIVX format. I would need to convert the video to an Apple TV compatible format with something like the Apple TV Video Converter software, which could take a lot of time.
An Apple TV box costs $299. That's half way to the cost of a Mac Mini, which starts at $599. On the Mac Mini, I could also run Sling Player to play video from the second DVR in the Theater (it isn't there now, but we could move it there).
But before I move the Sling Box down to the theater, I need to find out what's causing the cable TV there to look slightly green. I think it has to do with the coax cable running to that room. I think there are at least to coax cables going there, so I'll see if I can switch to a different cable.
Joe's going to argue that I don't need to get another Mac, since I have my old PowerBook that I could use. I might start with that to get things working, but it's a bit underpowered to run Sling Player full screen.
Joe's also going to argue that we don't need anything like the Apple TV because we already have the D-Link Media Lunge 520. It works really good for playing the files off an attached USB drive, but it only works so-so for streaming the DIVX files from my PC. It often drops its connection to the PC mid-way through the show or movie. Anyone want to buy my 520 from me? Amazon is selling it for $230. I would sell it for less.
I've been kind of looking at the new Apple TV to add to our AV equipment in the house. I'm still not sure if its worth it, since most of our video content is downloaded in DIVX format. I would need to convert the video to an Apple TV compatible format with something like the Apple TV Video Converter software, which could take a lot of time.
An Apple TV box costs $299. That's half way to the cost of a Mac Mini, which starts at $599. On the Mac Mini, I could also run Sling Player to play video from the second DVR in the Theater (it isn't there now, but we could move it there).
But before I move the Sling Box down to the theater, I need to find out what's causing the cable TV there to look slightly green. I think it has to do with the coax cable running to that room. I think there are at least to coax cables going there, so I'll see if I can switch to a different cable.
Joe's going to argue that I don't need to get another Mac, since I have my old PowerBook that I could use. I might start with that to get things working, but it's a bit underpowered to run Sling Player full screen.
Joe's also going to argue that we don't need anything like the Apple TV because we already have the D-Link Media Lunge 520. It works really good for playing the files off an attached USB drive, but it only works so-so for streaming the DIVX files from my PC. It often drops its connection to the PC mid-way through the show or movie. Anyone want to buy my 520 from me? Amazon is selling it for $230. I would sell it for less.
Member management
Mar. 21st, 2007 10:52 pmI'm trying to find a good online membership management service to help manage Atons members online. This would allow us to handle membership renewals and other related services online.
Here are a couple services that I've found that might work:
Wild Apricot
Club Express
Run My Club
and maybe Club Runner
Some online forum was saying that I could do this using Joomla (a CMS), which has a One Click Install on Dreamhost, which means that they have an automatic script that installs it all for me. But I looked around the Joomla site and didn't see an obvious member management solution there.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Here are a couple services that I've found that might work:
Wild Apricot
Club Express
Run My Club
and maybe Club Runner
Some online forum was saying that I could do this using Joomla (a CMS), which has a One Click Install on Dreamhost, which means that they have an automatic script that installs it all for me. But I looked around the Joomla site and didn't see an obvious member management solution there.
Any thoughts or suggestions?