Questions and answers

Questions and comments are always welcome. When time permits, I answer personally. If the question seems to have general interest, it eventually makes it onto the program. That's the case with a question this week about how to obtain the MP3 file of the week's program without using any software from Apple.

TechByter Worldwide with Your MP3 player

I've received a couple of questions about how to listen to the MP3 version of the program without using Itunes or any other podcast player. "How can I download an mp3 version, e.g., without going through Apple's QuickTime. Maybe you can explain to others as well as myself. I want to play it using Windows MediaPlayer or WinAmp. I do NOT want to mess with Apple. They gave me enough trouble in the years I was Apple only before I switched to PCs and still messed with my computer with QuickTime mess." There is a way to do this, but you'll want to know a bit about my numbering scheme and maybe about RSS (really simple syndication) feeds in general. RSS uses extensible markup language (XML) to provide a link to text and audio files. Most news-related sites and blogs now carry an RSS tag that you can use.

Keep in mind that the TechByter Worldwide podcast is available on Sunday morning, usually no later than 8am.

Google (of course!) offers an RSS aggregator application. If you subscribe to Google Reader (more about that in a bit), it will automate the process for you and it also appears to take over your primary browser. If I give Firefox (my primary browser) the URL for the Techbyter Worldwide RSS feed (http://www.techbyter.com/rss/tc.rss), Google Reader opens and I'm offered the opportunity to add the feed to my Google home page or Google Reader, but Firefox will no longer take me to the Techbyter Worldwide RSS page. (Thanks, Google!)

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Because I've already added the feed to Google Reader, I can just go there (and see that the RSS description still calls it "Technology Corner"). From there I could play the RSS feed if I wanted to listen to myself. That's one way to listen.

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Another option, if you haven't installed Google Reader (as I haven't on Internet Explorer 7) would be to just visit the URL for the RSS feed (http://www.techbyter.com/rss/tc.rss). From there, you can listen by clicking either the title of the program or the MP3 link below the description. Or you can right-click either link and save the MP3 file to your computer.

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Yet another option requires that you know where I store the MP3 files. They're in a directory called http://www.techbyter.com/podcast/. Because I believe in making information as widely available as possible, I allow visitors to see an index of this directory. If you use that URL, you will see a list of MP3 files. You can left click any file name to listen to the file with your default MP3 player or right-click it and save it to your computer.

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The names are easy enough to decode. "Pod20070218.mp3" for example is the podcast from February 18, 2007. The files (generally) begin with "Pod" followed by the 4-digit year, the 2-digit month, the 2-digit day, and the MP3 extension.

So there are the ways you can listen to the podcast without having to deal with Apple's Itunes or one of the other applications (although I still think Itunes is the way to go for podcasts).

So what's an RSS feed?

RSS gives providers of sites with changing content a way to push that content to those who want it. You might routinely check a dozen or so websites or blogs. The problem is that not all of them change every day or even every week. Maybe you want to know when there's something new, but you don't want to visit each site every day (or every hour) just to see what's new. That's where RSS comes into play.

If you use an RSS aggregator such as Apple's Itunes, Juice, or Google Reader, you have what is the equivalent of a website in-box (like your e-mail in-box). The aggregator programs scan all of the RSS feeds you've subscribed to at specific intervals and display them to you.

Check out some of the services that track RSS feeds for you. I think you'll like how it works.

Revisiting Vista

Last week, I cited several reasons that I won't be installing Vista right away. Among those reasons was this one: The system I have works just fine the way it is. This is the weakest of all possible reasons. When cited as a reason for avoiding change, "we've always done it this way" infuriates me, so it's odd that I've listed this first. I've always enjoyed change and the challenges change brings, so the only way this can be a viable reason for me is for it to be related to other reasons. That is, in fact, the case: I know that some applications I need don't currently work quite right with Vista. Until those problems are worked out, I prefer to continue using an older operating system that works.

"I think you under rate the fact that what I have is working for me as a reason not to go Vista. I submit that there is not reason to change to something more wonderful UNLESS it addresses things I cannot do and need to. Otherwise I trash money and experience and invite upgrade-frustration that I don't need to experience what I do now, only experience it differently. I rode the upgrade wagon when customers kept coming in with files that I couldn't handle for several years. I never really saw significant improvement in performance; stuff crashed and locked up in each and every 'upgrade' just differently from the last version. And it always took a bigger machine to use it. At this point I do not have things I can't do [except for some Photoshop capabilities not built into 'Elements']. Why would I trash things I do without needing to think about them to take up a system that trashes everything I know? Mr Gates will need to show me something I don't know I need to be able to do to sell me on this one. But he doesn't seem to be working very hard at telling me why to supply his need to give money to worthy causes."

One word: Security.

Vista is more secure than XP and there's no question about the need for security in my mind. The problem is that Vista is sometimes so secure that, when it's installed, the user cannot connect the computer to anything. (Yes, that was a cheap shot, but it has happened.)

Vista probably will be like radial tires and disc brakes. We drove cars for a long time without them and, because we hadn't experienced them, we didn't know that we might like them.

I imagine that Microsoft would be delighted if every computer owner went out and bought a copy of Vista today, but management knows that won't happen. Vista includes refinements and improvements that aren't compatible with earlier versions of the operating system. As programs that take advantage of these new features come to market, the buying decision will have been made for you. Of course, there's no reason to upgrade if the machine you have now with the applications you have now continue to do everything you need to do.

I knew a guy in the 1960s who continued to drive a Ford Model T to work. He didn't have to drive very far and the Model T was reliable enough to get him there. It was a Model T with with a crank starter, too—not one of those silly newfangled push-button starters. I remember that the car had several levers that had to be set just right to get the engine to start, that the car made a lot of noise, that it smelled funny, and that it wasn't very fast. But it was all this man needed to do what he wanted to do.

Computers, operating systems, and applications work the same way. If what you already have fits your needs, there is no need to change.

Wireless questions

Can wireless coexist with my dial-up account, temporarily at least?

Yes, you can have many network connections. For example, you could have a wired connection that connects directly to a router, a wireless connection that connects to the same router, and a dial-up connection active simultaneously. I don't recommend this, but having dial-up and wireless connections simultaneously isn't a problem.

What are the wireless options for dealing with e-mail? G-mail and other Web-based options seem to be the main possibilities. I have everything organized to my liking with Outlook Express and would love to avoid a complete overhaul, at least for a couple of months. Is this possible?

If you have a domain name, your Internet presence provider probably offers the ability to create one or more e-mail accounts. If not, services such as GoDaddy.com will allow you to set up some accounts for a nominal annual fee. Your current dial-up e-mail account will continue to be available via dial-up for as long as you pay for it. It will probably also be available via the wireless connection, but you'll need to check with your Internet service provider. G-mail and other Web-based systems will continue to be available as in the past. You may also be given an e-mail box by the wireless provider. You should confirm that the wireless system provided is not an open system—that is, that it encrypts connections and requires a user ID and password or some sort of pass code to use. This is particularly important if you plan to use the wireless connection for any financial transactions or you're planning to overthrow the government.

What do I need in the way of hardware and software, and how do I tell if my desktop, less than three months old, running Windows XP, already has it?

The network software will all be present. Desktop computers rarely have wireless hardware built in, but you can obtain an adapter. My preference would be to obtain one that has provisions for an external (outside the computer box, that is) antenna.

For antivirus and general security, so far I've done fine with common sense and AVG. Do I have to start thinking about firewalls and all that jazz?

Any computer (even dial-up systems) should have a firewall. Windows XP comes with half a firewall. I recommend turning off the Windows half-a-firewall and obtaining the free firewall from Comodo.

He finally did it!

If you're one of those people who first heard TechByter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) on WTVN Radio, you probably heard Joe Bradley talk about buying a new computer. He talked about it a lot, but he just couldn't bear to part with that Sinclair Z80. (I'm being [slightly] facetious.) Well, he finally did it. His computer is now a product of the current century.

On February 16, I received this news bulletin: I finally did. Yep, actually bought a new computer!!! Got it the other day. Dell. Dual core 2.8 Ghz. Nothing fancy, but it is new. Now...to transfer files from the old to the new. I was wondering which you think is more efficient....null modem cable or just transferring through file sharing in windows?

I suggested the network cable version of a null modem cable and hear from Joe again on February 18: As you have been informed,although may not fully believe, I did actually purchase a new computer. I also purchased a crossover cable. I now need to figure out what I need to do in order to transfer some files from my WIN98SE computer to the Vista computer. Somehow just connecting the two together via cable seems way too easy. There must be something else I will need to do, right? I only need to copy data files (mostly media files) so it should be fairly straightforward. Any suggestions about things to look out for?

It's been a while since I've done this, but I believe it's almost that easy. Almost. Each machine will need a static IP address. All that matters is that the first 3 triads be the same because they won't be on the Internet at the time, but you might want to use 129.168.1.002 and 129.168.1.003 just for grins. Once you've done that, you'll need to share the drive on the old computer and map the drive from the new computer. At that point, you should be able to drag and drop. Or is that drop and roll?

In the final analysis, Joe chose to buy an external USB drive and use that for moving files. That's a quick, easy solution and the external drive can be used for backup, too.

Jet Blue (This section has nothing to do with technology)

I'd planned to fly Jet Blue from Columbus to JFK on Monday (February 19), but on Sunday morning I received a call from Jet Blue telling me that the flight was being canceled because of ice storms in the East. That wasn't good news, but it's better than showing up at the airport only to be told that the flight has been canceled or that the equipment isn't available and you'll be bussed to another airport. (Been there. Done that. Have more than one T-shirt.) I ended up rebooking on Delta, but I'm still impressed by Jet Blue.

When I received the call from Jet Blue on Sunday morning, I was told that I could take the same flight on Tuesday (the option I accepted initially), receive credit for a future flight, or receive credit to my credit card for the flight. Initially I decided to fly on Tuesday, but later realized that wouldn't be acceptable because of a mid day meeting on Tuesday, so I canceled the Jet Blue flight and booked a Delta (Comair) flight to JFK.

Later, I realized that Jet Blue had charged me a $25 "change" fee. I suspected that was an error and sent a message requesting clarification. The response: "Thank you for contacting Jet Blue Airways. This message is being sent to let you know that due to the weather disruptions in the Northeast we are experiencing a longer than usual response time and you can expect to hear back from us within the next 3-5 days.

"If you need immediate assistance with your reservation, please call us at 1-800-JETBLUE; however, please be aware that our hold time to speak to a Reservations crew member is longer than usual. The fastest way to get answers to your questions is to click here http://www.jetblue.com/help/ to search our online Help section."

Jet Blue's honesty is unusual. I've flown enough to know that when there are problems, you can't expect a straight story from anyone. When I asked the Jet Blue caller if I could re-book to the airline's earlier flight on Tuesday, he told me that the plane used for the early flight was scheduled to come in on Monday and sit overnight in Columbus. "Because all the flights are canceled, that plane may not be here," he told me.

I returned to Columbus on Jet Blue and the service was as expected. While I was in New York, I received a personal apology from the customer service folks, an automated response from the customer service folks, and an e-mail from the company president. On the plane back to Columbus, two guys in front of me were giving the flight attendant a ribbing but both of them concluded by saying that Jet Blue was still their preferred airline.

Oh—and Jet Blue promptly refunded the $25 cancellation fee that had been accidentally added.

Nerdly News

Is bigger better or just bigger?

XM (the one I selected because it offers Bob Edwards) and Sirius (with Howard Stern) seem to be on the verge of a merge. If it happens, the Stern fans will be able to hear Edwards and the Edwards fans will be able to hear Stern, but what about the hardware. Sirius and XM use different satellites in different orbits to provide programming to mutually incompatible hardware. At least when the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with New York Central to form Penn Central, both companies were running railroads. And we all know how successful that merger was.

XM and Sirius both offer 100+ channels of music. Most listeners probably pick 2 or 3 that they listen to. There are sports channels for baseball and hockey (yawn). Even NASCAR (double yawn). I'm willing to pay $13 per month for an hour's worth of Bob Edwards Monday through Friday, along with the occasional trip to the 60s channel, XMPR, and the BBC. But what happens when we have SiriXM or XMius? Without competition, the company is largely free to set whatever price it wants for basic service and charge extra for "premium" content. Does this sound like your cable company? For $50 a month, you get basic service, but if you want something that might actually be worth watching, you pay extra. Is this where XMius is headed?

I like the XM service, but if costs rise sharply I can just as easily go back to listening to my Ipod in the car. And now that podcasts are more than just an amusement for people who have too much time on their hands, the podcasting segment is a more robust threat to radio, both terrestrial and satellite. In other words, maybe satellite radio's 15 minutes of fame has expired.

Apple and Cisco make nice, but can they make phones?

This week the companies settled their lawsuit over the Iphone (which they style as "iPhone") trademark. Cisco had sued Apple, claiming to have previously trademarked the name in 2000 (true) and that it had been using the name for its line of Internet telephones (somewhat questionable).

Apple and Cisco say that they will dismiss all suits and counter suits, that Apple may continue to use the Iphone trademark, and that they will cooperated to make Apple's Iphone (a cellular device) work in conjunction with Cisco's Internet Iphone. And they pledged to cooperate on security issues.

That's about all we'll hear about it. The agreement was secret. Whether Apple paid Cisco for use of the name wasn't disclosed. Apple’s Iphone is scheduled to go on sale in June for AT&T Wireless customers (formerly Cingular).

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