The Google Car Drives Itself!?!

Yeeeaaah! I don’t think I would trust it yet! Can you imagine a blue screen of death being a REAL blue screen of death? Yeeshh!

Google Car Test Drive

“You didn’t actually think that you’d need to drive the next wave of cars, did you? The seemingly all-conquering Google has announced that it’s road-testing cars that steer, stop and start without a driver. The cars use video cameras on the roof, along with radar sensors and a laser range finder to ‘see’ other traffic. The aim? To ‘help prevent traffic accidents, free up people’s time and reduce carbon emissions’ through ride sharing and ‘the new ‘highway trains of tomorrow,” project leader Sebastian Thrun wrote Saturday on Google’s blog. Engineers told the New York Times that venturing out to the highways was pretty much incident-free, save from a bump when the car was reportedly hit from behind at a traffic light. The cars have so far covered 140,000 miles, taking in the likes of San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge (as well as the city’s sloping streets) and Lake Tahoe.”

“The Doctor Does R&D” Edition of the Dr. Bill Netcast #158!

Dr. Bill Podcast – 158 – (10/10/10)

Netcast/podcast? Emails say keep going, Doc! A segment on the 10Zig Linux-based Terminal and VMware View 4.5 Virtual terminals, the virtues of R&D! Using a Droid X to shoot the 10Zig segment! All the clients in the 10Zig’s firmware: Citrix XenApp Plugin, Mozilla Firefox, 2XClient, Citrix XenDesktop Client, VNC Client, Ericom WebConnect, IDS Client, Kawiza, Leostream Connect, No Machine NX Client, ProPalms Client, Quest vWorkspace Client, RDesktop, Shell Script, SSGD-EE, VMware View Client, PuTTY, X-Window Client. Sending emails to remind yourself of things! The Rev3 Remote Android app. Advanced Kill Task app to save you power! You must have Frozen Bubble! Saving the Space-Time Continuum yet again! The M4A to MP3 Converter Geek Software of the Week! Todd Cochrane has re-stated me in the TechPodcasts Netcast Network!


Start the Video Netcast in the Blubrry Video Player above by
clicking on the “Play” Button in the center of the screen.

(Click on the buttons below to Stream the Netcast in your “format of choice”)
Streaming M4V Audio
 Download M4V


 Download WebM
Streaming MP3 Audio
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Streaming Ogg Audio
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Available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk1jPg4-UFU

Geek Software of the Week: Free M4A to MP3 Converter!

OK, here it is, as promised in the most recent Video Netcast! Now, the Space-Time Continuum is safe! (Listen to the Video Netcast for an explanation!) Check out this neat software… free, and VERY useful! Now you can easily convert your M4A (such as from iTunes) to MP3s!

“Do you need to convert AAC to MP3? M4a to MP3? MP4 audio to MP3? Your favorite player doesn’t support M4a audio? Then take a look at the new tool from ManiacTools, Free M4a to MP3 Converter.
The program supports a number of input formats, like the above mentioned AAC, M4a, MP4 audio, M4b (audiobooks), and some other MPEG-4 based audio formats. You can convert those types of audio files to MP3 or uncompressed WAV. The latter can be used as an intermediate format for further converting (with tools like AudioConverter Studio).
Free M4a to MP3 Converter combines professional quality with high speed and user-friendly interface. You can simply drag and drop your M4a or AAC files from Windows Explorer and then hit “Convert” (or F5 on your keyboard). On the other hand, it is also possible to fine tune quality parameters for output files. The program supports full range of MP3 settings: bit rates up to 320 Kbit/s and sample rates up to 48 KHz. This way, you can get high quality audio files along with the portability of MP3 format (which is supported now by virtually every player, hardware or software).
The program has also a built-in audio player, which allows you to listen to your AAC and M4a files even without converting them.
And last, but not least: our converter is distributed as freeware. No need to register and to enter codes. Just download and start converting your AAC and M4a files to MP3.
Main features of Free M4a to MP3 Converter:
AAC to MP3 converter.
Convert M4a to MP3.
Audio books M4b to MP3 converter.
MP4 audio converter.
3GP audio converter.
AAC, M4a, M4b player.
MP3 quality settings up to 320 Kbit/s, 48 KHz.
Drag&Drop.
Batch processing of multiple M4a, AAC, M4b, MP4 etc. files.
User-friendly multilingual interface.
Meta information (ID3 tags) is copied from source files. Converted files contain all necessary data: title, artist, album (if the data was present in the source files).
AAC to WAV converter.
M4a to WAV converter.”

M4A to MP3 Converter

“The Doctor is Confused!” Edition of the Dr. Bill Netcast #157

Dr. Bill Podcast – 157 – (10/04/10)

My new DroidX Android based phone, social networking, how to reach the Doctor on Twitter and Facebook (drbillbailey) Pandora internet radio, we don’t know what the Geek Software of the Week is due to time space continuum issues! Also, Dr. Bill talks about his new Visio Blueray with Vudu network movie access built-in, VMware and Thinapp, plus some confusion over the Thinapp name… and the future of Citrix. Another plea as to whether we continue the Netcast… again! My wife, Belinda saves the day! “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” movie references… gotta love that!


Start the Video Netcast in the Blubrry Video Player above by
clicking on the “Play” Button in the center of the screen.

(Click on the buttons below to Stream the Netcast in your “format of choice”)
Streaming M4V Audio
 Download M4V


 Download WebM
Streaming MP3 Audio
 Download MP3
Streaming Ogg Audio
 Download Ogg

Available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bpDY_Rvlk8

Geek Software of the Week: MagicDisc!

“MagicDisc is freeware. It is very helpful utility designed for creating and managing virtual CD drives and CD/DVD discs. For anyone who deals with CD-based programs – it is a MUST. MagicDisc allows you to use almost all CD/DVD image without burning them onto CD or DVD in order to easily access your favorite games, music, or software programs —- It works like a real CD/DVD-ROM: You can run programs, play games, or listen to music from your virtual CD-ROM. Allowing you to run your game images at over 200x faster than from a conventional CD/DVD-ROM. MagicDisc is a powerful utility that uses a unique combination of options to ensure a perfect back-up every time. Partner with MagicISO, Your original games/program discs can be safely stored away, MagicISO mean that you always have your expensive media stored safely as CD/DVD image file on your hard drive, and use them with MagicDisc just like using the original discs. At the office: Program discs and many other applications generally require the original disc to be in the computer’s CD-ROM drive. This restricts the amount of people in your office who can have access to the same software at the same time without the cost of additional discs. MagicDisc virtual drives resolve that problem for you. No more hunting around the offices for that elusive disc you need to run your application, everything you require is just a click away.”

MagicDisc ISO Drive Mount Utility

Awesome! This really helped me out when I needed it! I had a computer with no DVD drive, but I could move the ISO of the DVD to the computer, mounted it with MajicDisc, then, boom! I had the data! REALLY handy!

A FEW Reasons Why Android Beats the iPhone

Here’s a FEW Reasons Why Android Beats the iPhone (iOS)

“On iOS, you can’t move a picture from a friend’s computer onto your phone.

On iOS, you can’t shoot a movie with a video camera, move the SD card onto your phone, and copy the movie onto your phone.

On iOS, if you’re in a hurry and need to move a song from your computer to your phone quickly, you still have to launch iTunes and sync, because iOS doesn’t allow drag and drop from a computer folder.

On iOS, you can’t move your Word/Excel/Powerpoint document from your computer, work on it on your phone/device, save it, and move the updated document back onto your computer.

On iOS, you can’t use your phone as a storage device.

On iOS, you can’t say ‘Dial Blockbuster near [your zip code]’ and have your phone go to the web, find the number, and dial it, all without typing anything.

On iOS, you can’t make your own song, or use your own remix, as a ringtone.

On iOS, you CAN have a browser that’s slower at showing a web page.

On iOS, you can’t use Flash for your internet. Therefore, you can’t see content on BILLIONS of web pages, from videos, to animation, to games.

On iOS, you can’t use SWYPE, the Guiness world-record holder for fastest way to text.

On iOS, if you don’t like your touchscreen keyboard, you can’t download an app to replace your touchscreen keyboard.

On iOS, you can’t have your touchscreen keyboard vibrate everytime you type a letter to give you better feedback.

On iOS, you can’t receive notifications about your apps, your texts, and other usage items unless that app is on.

On iOS, you can’t check the weather without launching an app, because widgets are not allowed.

On iOS, you can’t turn on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, by clicking on a customized screen button, or widget. You have to go into settings.

On iOS, you can’t see updates to your social networking websites, like Facebook, unless you launch an app, because iOS doesn’t allow widgets.

On iOS, you can’t pick a different size screen.

On iOS, if you want a real keyboard, you can’t get one.

On iOS, you can’t get a phone with a faster processor.

On iOS, you can’t get a phone with more RAM memory.

On iOS, you can’t get a phone with an HDMI port so that you can connect your phone to your TV and watch a movie you downloaded from Netflix/Blockbuster in HD.

On iOS, you can’t have more buttons in case you’re faster with buttons.

On iOS, you can’t use your device as a wireless internet router so your laptop can get online. Hot-Spot capability is unavailable.

On iOS, if all your family and friends are on wireless carrier [X], you can’t use that carrier, because your phone/device is available on limited carriers.”

(From a post by “Ahmad” on an Android forum)

Based on my Droid X (which I just upgraded to Android 2.2 [Froyo,] I would have to agree!)

Playing With Dragon!

This is a test… How can you type without using your hands? That’s a good question. The answer is Dragon NaturallySpeaking! I’m currently using the version 10 edition of Dragon NaturallySpeaking and it is very accurate and it works very well. The amazing thing about using the software is, in fact, how easy it is to use. Once you get into the style of speaking slowly, and clearly, and ending using punctuation marks… then you begin to get into a “flow” of using it… and I can see where something like this would make it easy for writing short articles of things that normally you have to type. You can just talk!

So, the key to using Dragon NaturallySpeaking is both to train it to recognize your words correctly, and to train you to speak clearly, to enunciate well, and to use punctuation marks. And, as a matter of fact, I’m using the software to write this article right now. So, there you go! The amazing world of voice recognition! Indeed, what will they think of next!

By the way, Dragon NaturallySpeaking is a product of Nuance, and I have provided their website address below:

https://www.nuance.com

The “Is the Doctor Back?” Podcast – Dr. Bill #156

Dr. Bill Podcast – 156 – (09/18/10)

Bill explains protecting your passwords with Keepass and the use of Dropbox! And, is the Doctor back? It is up to you!


Start the Video Netcast in the Blubrry Video Player above by
clicking on the “Play” Button in the center of the screen.

(Click on the buttons below to Stream the Netcast in your “format of choice”)
Streaming M4V Audio
 Download M4V


 Download WebM
Streaming MP3 Audio
 Download MP3
Streaming Ogg Audio
 Download Ogg

Available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-DLBMyoUlA

Geek Software of the Week: Keepass!

This is the software I describe in the Netcast on the site… check it out!

Keepass Password Software

What is KeePass?
Today you need to remember many passwords. You need a password for the Windows network logon, your e-mail account, your homepage’s FTP password, online passwords (like website member account), etc. etc. etc. The list is endless. Also, you should use different passwords for each account. Because if you use only one password everywhere and someone gets this password you have a problem… A serious problem. The thief would have access to your e-mail account, homepage, etc. Unimaginable.

KeePass is a free open source password manager, which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way. You can put all your passwords in one database, which is locked with one master key or a key file. So you only have to remember one single master password or select the key file to unlock the whole database. The databases are encrypted using the best and most secure encryption algorithms currently known (AES and Twofish).”

Geek Software of the Week: Microsoft Security Essentials

I know, the end has come. Dr. Bill is recommending a Microsoft security product! Yes, it has come to that. I used AVG for years, but they recently started “dunning me” on their free version to buy the full version. Over and over again! Man. Anyway, I started looking around, researching and such, and guess what? M$’s own FREE security, anti-virus, and anti-spyware system is actually good! M$ bought Giant Software some time back… and this has led to MSE – Microsoft Security Essentials … Again, I gotta admit… a recent good product, totally free, and it updates regularly. So… maybe M$ is coming around!

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