Comments from toddgarvin

toddgarvin commented on Most AT&T Phones On Sale for a Penny on Amazon (Not the iPhone, Natch)

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:16:58 EDT

@BBanzai: Maybe that's something new. I've had my phone since August 2007. Never even got an email from amazon regarding this. Glad I got mine for a penny. :o)

toddgarvin commented on Most AT&T Phones On Sale for a Penny on Amazon (Not the iPhone, Natch)

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:24:02 EDT

Here's a clever way to get your new expensive phone for less than $100 from Amazon if you already have AT&T wireless. First, you buy the 1 cent phone with plan on Amazon. AT&T allows you to cancel your contract within the first 30 days without a termination fee. But you WILL have to pay your first months bill which includes an activation fee. So what I did was to buy a BB Pearl for 1 cent with new activation. Used the phone for 3 weeks. Cancelled the contract. Paid the 1st bill. Kept the new phone. Transfered my old Palm SIM card to my new phone. So that $350 phone ended up costing me less than $100 and I don't have a 2-year contract. I've done this so I know it works.

toddgarvin commented on Proof Satellite Sucks: Dish and DirecTV Get FCC Approval to Downgrade HD Channels Until 2013

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:35:02 EDT

I'm wondering if you pixelation issues are a product of your TV. My first HDTV couldn't keep up with the signal and I would get pixelation even on OTA HD signals. Since I purchased a new set 18 months ago, I never see it anymore. I love DirecTV and would always recommend it over the quality of cable most of the country gets. If you're a big on-demand watcher, then I agree, satellite is not for you. I get my movies through Netflix, so PPV is never used at my house.

toddgarvin commented on Proof Satellite Sucks: Dish and DirecTV Get FCC Approval to Downgrade HD Channels Until 2013

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:30:53 EDT

ok, why are all the posts disappearing??

toddgarvin commented on Proof Satellite Sucks: Dish and DirecTV Get FCC Approval to Downgrade HD Channels Until 2013

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:27:06 EDT

I get 10x more HD channels with DirecTV than I ever got (and still can) with Time Warner in Cincinnati. Not sure what pixelated crap you're referring to, but my channels look no different on DirecTV than on Digital Cable. However, I watch almost no SD channels any more thanks to DirecTV. Plus, for most people, you can't beat the price with a stick. ;-)

toddgarvin commented on Apple TV vs. Vudu vs. Xbox 360: Video Download Battlemodo

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:46:03 EST

Since every device has a bit of a difference in its output, I'm curious as to why the Apple TV shots we left so dark? Also, I know the Xbox is probably component cables, but what about the other two devices, HDMI? It is striking to see the contrast difference between the Apple TV and the other 2 devices. I've never noticed my Apple TV looking any different than my DVD player or my DirecTV box. I would say the Xbox's video is probably tweaked to be a little brighter, more saturated because of that being a benefit for games. I own both an Xbox and Apple TV and don't have to adjust my TV between the two in order to get a great picture. Anyway, based on the photos used here, the Xbox appears to have a much better picture.

toddgarvin commented on Sony Announces PSP Cradle

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:19:38 EST

Actually, you can get something similar to this at Game Stop for $10. Its a cradle that charges and allows you to watch movies. This thing is WAY too much. Even iPod docks are cheaper than this thing.

toddgarvin commented on Lenovo's Official X300 Comparison vs. MacBook Air Shows Why It's Better For Business Dudes

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:52:01 EST

Reading the specs of the IBM, it appears that it only has an 800MHz processor. Is that correct??

@chibimagic: I agree, why is the thicker laptop listed as thin and vice versa. That's just silly.

toddgarvin commented on Apple TV 2.0 Review

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:39:27 EST

@Marcelo: My understanding is that the TV content has not been updated to HD at this point. As for the HDMI vs Component, either one will get you 720p (or more) without any problem. :o)

toddgarvin commented on Apple TV 2.0 Review

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:53:45 EST

@kingsnake: Although I agree your frustration with the rental pricing and unrealistice 24hr watching period, keep in mind that Hollywood is dictating those terms, not Apple. I agree that Netflix is unbeatable for its service, but if you combine Netflix with Handbrake and Apple TV, you have an unbeatable Movie media center that even the grandparents/babysitter can operate.

toddgarvin commented on Apple TV 2.0 Review

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:49:19 EST

Has anyone else noticed how much slower the UI is when you're going through your personal movie list? Its "click" wait 3 seconds "click" wait 3 seconds, etc. You used to be able to click click click your way down the list. I know you can click and hold for a quick scroll, but if your movie is on the bottom of the current screen, it will take you 20 seconds to get to it.

I love the movie rental interface but was disappointed that the personal movie UI is still the same as before (only slower). I was looking forward to seeing a screen full of box art for my movies rather than the old UI.

It's GREAT getting to watch HD trailers now. The difference between the SD Batman trailer and the HD version was amazing. Now we just have to get the Handbrake guys to allow us to transfer our DVD collection with a better picture and 5.1 surround. Then this thing will totally rock.

toddgarvin commented on AT&T's 3G Network Gets Faster, Finally Coming to a Neighborhood Near You (Just Need a 3G iPhone Now)

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:19:36 EST

@blitzcat: Here's the link to the cities where 3G currently exists. [www.wireless.att.com]
I couldn't find a listing of where its getting added. :-(

The 3G iPhone will be the one I buy. I'm glad I waited. :-)

toddgarvin commented on Apple TV Take 2 Impressions

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:04:58 EST

One thing that no one is mentioning here is that Apple isn't controlling the rules this time. The movie industry is calling the shots on this one. Without coming to that kind of agreement, Apple wouldn't have any studios on board and therefore no movies for you to rent. Remember NBC? So although I agree that NetFlix isn't going anywhere (i'm a member too), you can't blame Apple for the movie studio's shortsightedness. I'm sure their just getting their feet wet to see how this online/streaming/rental process is going to benefit them.
I do agree that 24hrs is WAY TOO SHORT for us family guys to watch a movie. 48 hours would work better. With that said, I don't understand why am I limited to how long I have to watch it once I start. Blockbuster gives you 5 days for an actual disc. Why am I only allowed 24 hours for a file that they can delete at any predetermined time? The movie industry needs to catch up to the technology. Hey, at least their trying. By this time next year, we'll probably see a whole new ballgame.

toddgarvin commented on Apple TV Take 2: $229, No Computer Required, Direct Rentals (Netflix Is Screwed)

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:58:57 EST

I do agree that 24hrs is WAY TOO SHORT to watch a movie. For those of us with kids, its a rare night that we can dedicate 2 hours of non-stop time to watch a movie. It would be nice to pickup where you left off on the following evening, but you can't even do that. Must have at least 48 hours. I also agree that if you're paying the "rental fee", then why am I limited to how long I have to watch it. Blockbuster gives you 5 days for an actual disc. Why am I only allowed 24 hours for a file that they can delete at any predetermined time? The movie industry needs to catch up to the technology. hey, at least their trying. By this time next year, we'll probably see a whole new ballgame.

toddgarvin commented

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:40:50 EST

I was wondering the same thing. Why are they showing it only in a window. I want to see it full screen HD. Does it work with the Apple Remote? How does this compare to the Elgato EyeTV Hybrid? And, the big IF, based on these photos... Does it work with Leopard??

toddgarvin commented on Dell Teases Us with One A2010 PC, Forgetting We Have Pictures of It Already

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 17:01:21 EST

Man,no matter how you slice it, Windows machines sure are ugly.

toddgarvin commented on Our Unabridged Apple OS X Leopard Test Notes (24 Hours and Counting...)

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:03:00 EDT

I've been having an issue where my MBPs airport card will stop working. It will just disconnect without any warning. When I try to reconnect, it can't find any (of the three) wireless networks I have available to me. The only way to fix the problem is to reboot the computer. Has anyone else experienced this?

toddgarvin commented on Our Unabridged Apple OS X Leopard Test Notes (24 Hours and Counting...)

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:57:29 EDT

@erichg14: quicklook does NOT work with any CS3 documents. It only shows a larger version of the standard icon. There is no preview, even if the doc is set to have PDF compatibility. Even Tiger would do that. ??

toddgarvin commented on Phantom Phone Vibrations Afflicting BlackBerry Addicts, Giz Crew

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:01:39 EDT

Actually, I had this happen several times when I was using my Treo 650. Since switching to my Blackberry Pearl, it hasn't happened again. Whew! It's nice to know that I'm not nuts.

toddgarvin commented on Leopard Introduction Movie Shows Time Machine Theme

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:20:13 EDT

Believe it or not, this is the real deal. The current build rocks!