Are you Digital Ready?

It is no secret that television in Australia is changing from the old analogue signal used since 7:00pm on 16 September 1956 when Australia's first TV broadcast was made by TCN Channel 9 in Sydney.

The new digital signal rolling out across Australia provides a better quality image, superior sound and the possibility of many more new channels. You may have noticed channels popping up like GEM, 7Two, OneHD and ABC3. Community television (TVS) has even moved to channel 44. So the question remains;

Are You Digital Ready?

To answer this question we need to examine what is required in your home or business to make you digital ready.

A digital installation consists of an antenna, cabling, splitters, amplifiers, wall plates and fly leads leading to the digital reception equipment (e.g. TV, set-top box).

 

Problems with receiving digital services may occur in one or more parts of the antenna system.

An initial assessment should be made of each part of the existing system to find out whether

an upgrade is required. The level of upgrading necessary will vary depending on what

equipment is used in the existing antenna system. This initial assessment is best performed by an antenna installer who specialises in digital installations and upgrades, but if you are a capable DIYer, then you may be able to access each individual part of your tv antenna system and determine what is required for yourself.

 

If you decide to take on the task yourself, why not take a photo of each part of the installation so it will make it easier for you to discuss your requirements with your chosen supplier I prefer Jaycar or JR Turks but any electrical or electronics supplier can help.

 

When purchasing new televisions or television equipment always make sure it is labelled with the new digital ready logo or ask the sales assistant if the product is digital ready.

 

When do you need to be ready?

 

Helensburgh like many regional areas receives television signals from two areas.

For those who receive the Sydney channels the changeover is set for December 2013 and for those who receive the Wollongong / Illawarra regional signals the changeover is set for the first half of 2012 so we effectively have 12 months to changeover if you have not already.

 

Need more information?

 

www.thetechnologist.com.au or http://www.digitalready.gov.au/

 

www.helensburghdistrictherald.com.au

So what is round, has 32,256 LED lights and 2688 Waterford Crystals yet when dropped does not break!!!.......give up

It’s the 2011 New Years Eve Ball in New York City....

The Facts

·         The Ball is a geodesic sphere, 12 feet in diameter, and weighs 11,875 pounds.

·         The Ball is covered with a total of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles that vary in size, and range in length from 120mm to 150mm per side.

·         For Times Square 2011,

288 of the Waterford Crystal triangles are emblazoned with the new romantic Let There Be Love pattern that blends a modern cascade of hearts with diamond cutting;

288 crystal triangles feature the Let There Be Courage ribbon medal design:

1,152 crystal triangles sparkle with the Let There Be Joy design of an angel with arms uplifted welcoming the New Year.

The remaining 960 triangles are the original Let There Be Light  design of a stylized radiating sunburst.

         

The 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles are bolted to 672 LED modules (groups of LED Lights) which are attached to the aluminum frame of the Ball.

The Ball is illuminated by 32,256 LEDs (lights similar to those used for Christmas lights).

Each LED module contains 48 LEDs - 12 red, 12 blue, 12 green, and 12 white for a total of 8,064 of each colour.

The Ball is capable of creating a palette of more than 16 million vibrant colours and billions of patterns producing a spectacular kaleidoscope effect atop One Times Square.

The “Ball” drop history

The first New Year’s Eve Ball lowering celebration atop One Times Square was in 1907.

This proud tradition is now a universal symbol of the New Year.

The New Year’s Eve Ball is the property of the building owners of One Times Square.

The first Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration was held in 1904.

Over the past 102 years, seven versions of the Ball have been designed to signal the New Year.

The first Ball was made of iron and wood, weighed 700 pounds, and was covered with 100 light bulbs.

In 1920, a 400 pound iron Ball replaced the iron and wood Ball.

In 1955, a 150 pound aluminium Ball with 180 light bulbs replaced the iron Ball.

In 1995, the aluminum Ball was upgraded with aluminum skin, rhinestones, and computer controls.

In 1999, the crystal New Year’s Eve Ball was created to welcome the new millennium.

 

In 2007, modern LED technology replaced the light bulbs of the past for the 100th

Anniversary of the New Year’s Eve Ball.

In 2008, the permanent Big Ball was unveiled atop One Times Square where it sparkles above Times Square throughout the year.

                 

 

                Happy New Year everyone from The Technologist.....have a great 2011.

             

Apple® today announced that the Mac® App Store℠ will open for business on Friday, 7 January.

By bringing the revolutionary App Store experience to Mac OS® X, the Mac App Store makes discovering, installing and updating Mac apps easier than ever.

The Mac App Store will be available in 90 countries at launch and will feature paid and free apps in categories like Education, Games, Graphics & Design, Lifestyle, Productivity and Utilities.

“The App Store revolutionised mobile apps,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We hope to do the same for PC apps with the Mac App Store by making finding and buying PC apps easy and fun. We can’t wait to get started on 7 January.”

The Mac App Store lets you browse new and noteworthy apps, find out what’s hot, view staff favourites, search categories and read customer ratings and reviews. Like on iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad™, you can purchase, download and install apps in just one click and start using them immediately.

Purchased apps can run on all of your personal Macs and updates are delivered directly through the Mac App Store so it’s easy to keep all of your apps up to date. The Mac App Store is available to Mac OS X Snow Leopard® users as a free download through Software Update.

The Technologist Top Ten for Christmas – Number One

Here we are at Number One… I can’t believe it here already!!!!

I have left my absolute favourite toy for 2010….for the number one spot.

The IPhone 4 is absolutely brilliant as either for social media, fun, family, business, communications.

The Iphone 4 comes with a 5 meg camera, a more than capable video camera and all the features you love with your IPod.

With the huge range of apps on the app store (200,000 and counting) there is a tool, game, function, ring tone, multimedia or social app for everyone.

It is reliable, easy to use and can be used adapted to any environment.

There was some talk about its poor reception when it was launched earlier in the year but it seems to be more about the communication provider than a fault with the IPhone 4

Grandmothers & grandfathers will love it as a brag photo album, mothers would love it for its camera features, dads would love to get the footy scores and the teenagers can update their social media.

In Summary

·         Lots of Apps…banking, games, post office

·         Access to email

·         Great camera

·         Great video camera

Available from your mobile phone provider (Vodafone, Optus, Telstra)

Product: IPhone 4

Price:    Free on $79.00 plans (Vodafone)

 

Score

Overall   10 / 10

 

 

The Technologist Top Ten for Christmas – Number Two

So we had the Standup Paddle Boards at Number Seven, another “no tech” option designed to get you and your family out in the fresh air for some much needed post Christmas dinner exercise.

Mountain bikes are great, relatively inexpensive and last for years. They can be used at home, on holidays, at a friend’s house, in a triathlon (if that’s your bag) or in one of our many great national parks.

In researching what is out there, I was pleasantly surprised at the range, price and features of modern mountain bikes.

Mountain bikes come in various sizes, with or without suspension and there is even models with disk brakes…how cool is that.

Did you know there bike frames come in many sizes based on the wheel size and the frame size….I didn’t but thanks to some bike experts (Bike Hub Warrawong) I do now

In Summary

·         Girls, Guys, old, young,  Kids or teenagers

·         Healthy living

·         Family Activity

·         Outdoors

·         Plenty of social groups

·         Plenty of options for future present - Bike Computers, Bells, Lights and of course spokie dokies for dad…)

Available from Bike Hub,, Rebel and many other sporting outlets

Product: Mountain Bikes

Price:  Start from $199.00 (Bike Hub – Rebel)

 

Score

Overall     9.5 / 10

 

 

The Technologist Top Ten for Christmas – Number Three

Are you, your partner or your kids into the DIY craze, they might be a tradesperson or just need a drill every now and then well let me tell you they all need a Ryobi One + kit. This ingenious series of cordless power tools have been manufactured by Ryobi and distributed through Bunning’s and various other power tool outlets

.

The Idea is that you have one charger, a couple of rechargeable batteries and a choice of many, many tools apparently there are over 25 on offer, that use the same batteries…and therefore the same charger. Ryobi have even been kind enough to make the new batteries compatible with the old tools. So whether you buy the new 18v Lithium batteries or have the old Ni Cad batteries they all work with the Ryobi One + range… as I said Ingenious!!!

You don’t need to buy a new battery and charger every time you need a new tool.

In Summary

Great product, good price point, Can be used by DIY a tragic or a tradesperson, Lots of variety and many options…..

·         Interchangeable Lithium batteries

·         Lots of tools to choose from Drills, circular saws, radios

·         Kits

·         Buy tools without batteries

·         Buy Batteries without tools

Available at Bunning’s and many other power tool stores

Product: Ryobi One + Cordless Tools

Price:   <$200.00 (Bunning’s)

Score

Overall      8.5

The Technologist Top Ten for Christmas – Number Four

So you don’t know what to buy someone.... you have bought them a tie, some socks, a shirt, undies and lets not talk about the year you bought the remote control belching machine!!! Never fear Red Balloon is here.

Red Balloon have taken the stress and guess work out of purchasing a gift.

Simply decide on a budget and purchase a certificate from their website.

The recipient can choose between Skydiving, Pilot lessons, Hot Air balloon flights, Baskets of chocolates, Cooking lessons, golf lesson, wine whatever tickles their tickly bits!!!

I am not usually a fan of the gift voucher but these are gift vouches with grunt…. There is no age, sex or thrill limitations as there is something for everyone.

Red Balloon Vouchers – Start from $32 and go up (Online)

·         Do anything from buy a hamper to skydiving

·         All types of adventures and gifts

·         Spa treatments

·         Flying Lessons

·         For all types of people

In Summary

Great for all ages , men, women or children. Can suit your budget prices start from about $32.00 but are only limited by the recipients imagination

Product:    Red Ballon Gift Voucher (Red Balloon Online)

Price:    Start from $32.00

 

Score

Overall      7/10

 

The Technologist Top Ten for Christmas – Number Five

Looking for a serious piece of kit….you can’t go passed the Apple IPad. The Apple IPad is built with the usual Apple quality, reliability and ease of use. The Apple IPad comes in 3 memory sizes (16, 32 & 64 GB) your choice will depend on budget and use. If you want to load lots of pictures or video go bigger….The Apple IPad also comes in 2 models:

1.       Wi-Fi option for use where there is wireless networks (public Hotspots like McDonalds or home wireless networks)

2.       The Wi-Fi + 3G version which can access the internet & email via wireless networks or wireless internet provided by an Wireless Internet Service Provider (Telstra, Vodafone, Optus & many More)

There are now over 200,000 Apps (applications) that can be used on the IPad including Banking, Australia Post services, Swimming Pool service advice, Games etc…. In fact I am convinced there is an app for everyone out there.

So what do people use the IPad for? I know CEOs who use it for their speeches instead of a notepad, Pilots that use an IPad for flight planning, Presentations, Email, Taking notes, watching videos, The daily Telegraph in Sydney now distributes their paper for the IPad (at a subscription rate).

The uses seem to be endless…

I love the idea of the IPad and Apple has certainly delivered a great product.

·         Very portable

·         Plenty of apps specific for IPad

·         Use with or without mobile access

·         Use as a photo frame

·         Web access

·         Long battery life

·         E book reader

·         Daily Telegraph

In Summary

Great product, many uses, very reliable and very well made.

Product:   IPad

Price:  <$1000.00 (Big W - Domayne – Apple)

Score

Overall       9.5 / 10

 

The Technologist Top Ten for Christmas – Number Six

Over the last 12 – 18 months Camcorder (video Camera) technology has advanced further than we could have imagined. Camcorders now have better image quality, advan

ced stabilisation features meaning the good old camera shake is down to a minimum and they even record your position via satellites.

The new Sony range of Camcorders are feature packed, providing HD imaging and yet very easy to use.

They have designed a fancy new electronic imaging chip that performs in low light and makes it a better choice.

In the Sony range they have a camera for all budgets ranging from economic choices for under $1000.00, the consumer range for under $1500.00 or the new NEX range which has interchangeable lens and advanced sound technology for under $3500.00

Some other features you will find in there range of cameras

• Wide-angle “G” Lens with 12x Optical Zoom
• Optical Steady Shot (Active Mode)
• 2.7” Slim LCD with wide viewing angle
• Automatic geo tagging of clips and photos by GPS
• Face recognition

In Summary

Camcorders are a great choice for Christmas as they can involve the family, be used for hobbyists or for your budding new TV star. Available through Bing Lee or any other electronics / electrical appliance store

Score

Overall      8/10

The Technologist Top Ten for Christmas – Number Seven

My next suggestion for Christmas is one of the “No Tech” options for Christmas, We live in a fantastic country and should spend as much time as we can outside.

You may have been to the beach or a river and seen the latest craze on the water, Stand Up Paddle Boards. The boards resemble a large longboard and come with a paddle used to propelle yourself through either still water or even over waves. It can be used for exercise, building core strength and upper body strength or simply just for fun.

There are companies out there such as East Coast Stand Up who can help you select a board and show you how to use it.

I think you will be seeing many more of these great boards on the water this summer

Available from East Coast Stand Up for under $1800.00

In Summary

Product: Stand Up Paddle Board

Price:  - < $1800.00 (East Coast Stand Up)

·                  Good for core exercises

·                  Use in still water

·         Overall   9/10