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Drobo released an SDK today. Developers can build apps to make Drobo do more after joining the Drobo Developer Community.
Fontstruct is a free, Web-based app for future typography rock stars. I want the creator of the next Helvetica to be a GeekBrief.TV viewer.
GoLive2 is releasing a Wiimote inspired series of controllers for PC gaming and they’re calling them Stix.
Philippe Starck designed a small wind turbine that might generate 20% to 60% of the energy needed to power a home. I skeptical, but definitely interested.
149 Series Mitsubishi HDTVs will include 16-point speaker systems that simulate 5.1 surround sound.
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July 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 am
Can’t you attach something to the axles under the bus? Probably a pretty heavy mod though.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:55 am
wrong podcast has been uploaded, it sayd 385 on the headline as well as the written description but the podcast is actually 384!
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:33 am
Yes, I agree with Xabi – this is certainly not Brief #385!
Hoping to find the right one here soon!
Love the show – keep up the good work.
Thanks.
keyJ
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:49 am
Do not attach windmills to the outside of your bus! -It will work, but it will cost a lot of gas. It is much better, i.e. efficient, to use separate generator in that case. (Windmills to extended and be used when the bus is stationary is another thing – that is both a fun and useful idea!)
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:45 am
My impression is that a windmill would only be efficient if used when you park. I would think the alternator/generator already in the bus would be more efficient for charging when you drive, as it would be:
engine -> alternator -> generator,
As opposed to:
engine -> wheels -> air ‘motion’ -> spin windmill -> generator
Though you could look into trying to upgrade to a better generator.
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:02 am
Hey Cali,
Have you considered solar power? With a big bus you have tons of roof space for nice array of solar panels. If they are done right, they should not add any air resistance and provide you with ample power (only during the day though).
Love your show.
Marcin
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 am
Sorry about the Flash player playing the wrong Brief! It’s fixed. :)
@Marcin: There has been a lot of discussion on http://www.BigTrip.tv about solar panels. The short answer is yes, I think we’ll have a few, but it’s not the most efficient way to run a bus. For just a taste of what I mean, take a look at Sean’s comment here (7th one down):
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6208406&postID=5550847186156078296
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
As already stated, the batteries are already being charged while the engine is running. Adding external turbines only increases drag and lowers your fuel efficiency.
Solar panels would be nice…but. If the bus is already nearing max vehicle height, the first thing to happen when going under a bridge or canopy would be that the panels would get sloughed off. Solar panels are best in stationary installations with LOTS of square footage.
Since you’re planning on being pretty mobile, keeping the batteries charged shouldn’t be a problem. And then there’s using shore power through an extension cord when you are stopped for longer periods of time.
That’s my two cents…
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
Cali,
As others have said, wind turbines while moving would just increase the amount of drag, and therefore your fuel costs.
While parked, they can do some useful work. Consider that you are more likely to spend more time parked than driving on a 1 year trip. Another great advantage of wind turbines is that they can produce energy at night when you need it for things like lighting. By producing energy at the time of use, it reduces the need to store it. This reduces the battery storage capacity required, and that reduces battery weight, and that increases your fuel milage.
In parked mode, a mast can be erected to get the turbine into the the stronger wind flow above the ground. Consider a tilt up mast on top of Barney, the length of Barney, could get your turbine 40 feet or more off the ground.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
To diverge from the power talk… good to here about drobo! I’m going to take a wait and see. Good announcement, but if nothing comes of it, I’ll be disappointed. I want a media box to serve media, but I want it universally accessible. Not going to get it from Apple unfortunately, and I tire of doing custom boxes.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
The Apple shirt your wearing are the sleeves just real long or do they form a mitten at the end?
July 4th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Any chance Cali could get some answer from Drobo on why they’ve blocked forum access to non drobo owners? It sounds like this SDK is just what I’ve been looking for from Drobo, but I can’t get any details straight from the forums. They’re recent change to drobospace requires a serial number to access!
July 4th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Dear Cali,
Could you please do a small review of these new mini digicams such as http://www.theflip.com. I just read about them now and really want one. I think they’ll be huge. But there are already a couple of them out and I don’t know which one to choose??
Many thanks!
Your biggest Belgian fan!
Franky (male)
July 4th, 2008 at 8:05 am
@Richard: It’s just a forum, so there really isn’t a way they could block access to non-Drobo users. If you go to http://www.DroboSpace.com, click Register, what happens? Do you get an error or something?
@Franky: I’ve used a Flip before, and I think I’ve briefly mentioned them. They’re nice. A lot of people like them. I have to say I’m kind of indifferent. I think they’re great because of the ease of use (with the USB drive attached), but I know a few people who have had issues with that part of it too.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Hey Neil, I’ve really liked the lighting on the past two episodes, looks very professional. Keep it up!
July 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
@Cali
I’ve already registered, hoping that the rumor I heard about a serial number being required wasn’t true. Unfortunately, even after being registered and logged in, access to the forums are restricted to Drobo owners with a serial number.
Going to http://www.drobospace.com/forums won’t let you go any further w/o a serial number.
There was even some discussion about it in the comments on their article titled ‘New Features in DroboSpace v2.0′. Unfortunately they’ve pulled the article and have made no comments about the new access restrictions.
http://www.drobospace.com/article/11748/New-Features-in-DroboSpace-v2_0/?page=2#11053 comes up access denied.
Their decision to close access to their support forums and lack of information from drobo about this has been disappointing. I’d like more information from other drobo users before dropping almost $700 on a drobo and droboshare.
And, to not be only negative, I’m a recent Geek Brief watcher and really anjoy the show. It took me a few episodes to get hooked, but now I appreciate your humor and spin on tech news. Great job and good luck with the big trip.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Hmm…interesting. You’re absolutely right. I can shoot an email off to ask, but I can’t promise a response. I’ll post here if I hear anything.
Thanks for watching, btw! :)
June 26th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Neat info.. Will come back soon:
June 27th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Incredible content. will visit soon.