scattered technology news

TiVo WiFi Adaptor 1

TiVo has just released a “TiVo Branded” 802.11g wireless network adaptor aimed at Series2 owners. (compatible with 802.11b) This network adaptor enables users to use TiVo To Go (TTG), Multi-Room viewing, Music and Photo sharing, and Online Scheduling. This unit will cost $49.99 if purchased through TiVo. There are plenty of other units that offer same results, but are much cheaper such as Linksys or Netgear adaptors. (TiVo’s unit, however, ensures compatibility) Unfortunatley if you purchase this unit it will not function with PCs or Macs, just TiVos. Therefore, the advantage of purchasing 3rd party devices enables using the adaptor with units other than just TiVos (and is usually cheaper). Either way a 3rd party Wireless Router will be required for this to actually function unless you are only using your TiVo for local file sharing and multi room viewing.

Links: TiVo Gear | Linksys | Netgear
Related: Yahoo and TiVo Team Up
Recent: Yahoo Widget Engine | Agent18 Video Shield

Yahoo! Widget Engine 3.0 1

On Monday, 12/12/05, Yahoo! launched the Widget Engine 3.0 which is based off Konfabulator, a company they boughtout in July 2005. This is the first new version that has been launched since the acquisition. The original name of Konfabulator has been changed to Yahoo! Widgets. Along with the update comes nine new Yahoo! Widgets, which are all connected to Yahoo services in one way or another. The product has been downloaded over 1.5 million times since it was acquired by Yahoo! and over 10 million widgets have been downloaded since then. If you don’t know what widgets are, they are small items that appear on your desktop that can display all sorts of information such as weather, news, time, battery life, and more. This program runs on both Windows and Macintosh machines and both have about 2,000 widgets available to download.

“Yahoo! Widgets allow consumers to always have the information and content they want close at hand and is just one example of the ways we’re able to make Yahoo!’s services and content available to users when, where and how they want,” Jerrell Jimerson, VP of Connected Life at Yahoo.

Some New Widget Features:

• Yahoo Maps – allows accessing Yahoo maps directly from your desktop.
• Picture Frame – can access Flickr, Yahoo Photos, and desktop photos.
• Search – a simple Yahoo search form.
• Mail – displays the number of unread messages in your Yahoo Mail.
• Notepad – syncs with Yahoo! Notes to create and save notes.

Link: Yahoo! Widgets | Widget Gallery | ChangeLog
Related: Skatter Tech Widget (dl)
Recent Posts: DoNotCall | Free PS3s

Do Not Call 0

Tired of sales calls?, well just register with the National Do Not Call Registry and you won’t receive another sales call for another FIVE years. Once you register both your home phones as well as cell phones, 3 at a time, you will be added into the directory after 31 days. (if you need to register more of your own numbers go back after your first round and you can still use the same email) Before your number can be registered you will need to verify your account by clicking on a special link provided to you through the email you entered. This service is run by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and put into service on January 1, 2005. After signing up if you do wish to start recieving sales calls again you will have to delete yourself from the registry. To do so just call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to delete. After the call is complete you will be removed from the registry in another 31 days.

Link: DoNotCall.gov | Register Now
Related: FAQs | File a Complaint
Recent Posts: Yahoo! buys del.icio.us | Autofill v.25

Yahoo! acquires del.icio.us 0

On Friday, 12.09.05, del.icio.us announced that they had been acquired by none other than Yahoo! del.icio.us is a “social bookmarking site,” which is completley user run. Yahoo! is planning on linking this new service with Flickr a “photo sharing site” which they purchaced in March 2005. They also plan to expand the current features of del.icio.us and also create a support fourm. del.icio.us will also start to use “@yahoo.com” very soon to make more services available from the same username. (Flickr’s original login service has been replaced with Yahoo logins.) Yahoo will also be implementing their search features into del.icio.us to make finding items faster and more reliable. del.icio.us was founded in 2003 and has become one of the most popular bookmarking sites. They have been funded my many giant corporations such as Amazon.

“I look forward to continuing my vision of social and community memory, and taking it to the next level with the del.icio.us community and Yahoo,” Schachter – del.icio.us Founder

Link: Yahoo! | del.icio.us (my acccount)
Coverage: del.icio.us blog | BetaNews | digg
Related: Yahoo + TiVo Team
Recent Posts: Autofill For Firefox 1.5 | Free PS3s

Autofill v.25 for Firefox v1.5 31

Autofill is one of the simplest form filler extensions available for Firefox. The last version released by the creators was v.2 in August 2004. This edition was originally created to only work with Firefox releases before version 1.0. I opened up the extension and made a few tweaks to enable it to work with Firefox 1.5. We have not had any bug issues since we started to test it out, but please report any in the comments or directly contact the creator. Autofill’s offical webpage is autofill.mozdev.org. If you have upgraded to Firefox v1.5 and Autofill v.2 has become a faded item in the Extensions list you can just click install on this site and it should overide the old version for your. (allow skattertech.com to install this extension or just save it)

Autofill v.2 and v.25 Feature List:

• Auto highlight of all fillable forms
• Unlimited custom profiles
• Toolbar Button
• Credit Card filler (w/ password protection)
• See the offical website for full list

Install (or save): autofill_25.xpi
Link: Autofill HomePage | Mozilla Update
Related: Firefox v1.5 Released | Best FF Extensions
Recent Posts: Agent 18 iPod Video Case | NeWs Up^2-DaTe (29)

Update: Autofill v0.3 Offically Released w/ Firefox 1.5 Compatibility

Read More

Agent 18 Shield for iPod Video 13

Skatter Tech recently reviewed the Agent 18 case for the iPod Nano and now the same company has released a very simliar shield for the iPod Video. There are two versions available: one for the 30GB model and one for the thicker 60GB model. Both models will cost $24.99. Although Apple includes a softcase with the iPod (video) now, it is still worth buying an extra case because you will need to constantly be removing it from the case to control your unit. The Agent 18 Video Shield will protect all of the iPod, including the screen. They have left cutouts for bottom connector port, the hold switch, headphone slot, and the control wheel. Another case, for the iPod Video, that has recieved a good review is the Belkin Kickstand Case. (See links for images, info, and more…)

Link: Agent 18 | Video Shield
Related: Belkin Kickback Stand Case (White)
Recent Posts: NeWs Up^2-DaTe (29) | Gmail AntiVirus

NeWs Up^2-DaTe (29) 0

Skype 2.0 | TiVo Online | Software Updates | Recent

1) Skype 2.0 BETA now has Video! – released to public on 12.01.05. There are major changes including thousands of features, changes, and bugfixes when comparing it to the current v1.4. (See Full Change Log) There were many 3rd party addons to enable video, but Skype has offically added it into the program themselves at last. (v2.0 BETA only available for Windows)
Link: Get Skype 1.4 | Skype 2.0 BETA | Full ChangeLog

2) TiVo has offically launched “TiVo Online Services,” which brings broadband enabled users live data from Yahoo and other providers. Starting now information from Yahoo Photos, Weather, Traffic, and other services such as Live365 Radio and Fandango will be available to everyone for FREE. (+ Podcasts) It may take a few weeks to recieve the update, but if you are in a hurry to try it out, submit your TiVo service number into the Priority List and you will recieve your update within three days. (Only for broadband enabled Series 2 units)
Link: TiVo Online Services | Priority List

SoftWare Updates:
a) VideoLan v0.8.4 has been released. Tons of features since v0.8.2.
Link: VideoLan | Download VLC | (See Full ChangeLog)
b) Azureus (Java BitTorrent Client) has been updated to v2.3.0.6
Link: Download Azureus | Java Required | (See Full ChangeLog)

Recent:
Gmail AntiVirus Soon? – gmail might get a virus scan soon
Mozilla Firefox v1.5 – a new major update for Firefox
Playstation Portable v2.6 – adds WMA and RSS support
Free PS3s Conga Line – get a free PS3 from FreePay