NASA Wake Up!

NASA, wake up!


I just read an article on CNN about a lady who's baby monitor is "picking up audio and video transmissions from the Shuttle".

Hogwash.

Her proof? A video of the baby monitor showing the audio and video transmission.

NASA's already said she's not getting it from the Shuttle... that it's coming from another source.

The manufacturers are already "investigating" this issue.

Wanna know what they're going to find? SIMPLE. One of her neighbors (probably her closest one, definitely the geekiest one) has a device that transmits video wirelessly from a source to a destination that just happens to be on the same frequency as the baby monitor. You can buy those for under $100. It's signal is just higher.

Why is this news?

Move on... nothing to see here.

~Andy

Google Video Is A Security Risk

Google Video Is A Security Risk

One of our main products is VideoPaste, that allows a person to quickly and easily convert video from any source to flash, and stream it on their website for pennies a day. Because of that, we're often asked what makes us different/better than the other folks doing video conversion out there today.

While we have a "stock" answer to that question, today I get to modify that answer.

An alert user has noticed (and provided proof to such) that if you use Google Video, to store your video, and then publish it to a social network such as MySpace, that your username and password are sent over the Internet in plain text for the world to see.

Wow.

Now, while I am sure Google will take steps to correct this, why would they allow it to happen in the first place? Who missed the meeting on privacy and security and user trust?

One of the things we strive for here is to keep our users information private and as secure as possible. Thankfully, our player doesn't require you to pass any sensitive information.

I encourage you to read the full article, complete with screen shots, over at http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/013820.html

~Andy

A working class hero won american idol: Jordin Sparks

A working class hero won american idol: Jordin Sparks


So, like a lot of the world, I watched the Idol Finale last night. It was an "ok" show, with some "ok" performances... I think this whole season has pretty much been a wash since Jordin sung her first note.

I can recall Scott and I sitting down one night and laying out step by step the elimination process and calling Jordin the winner... long time ago.

But, it is what it is. And that's what America is talking about today: Idol.

Meanwhile, I've got to go to Scott's office and wire up a new color laser printer and a VOIP phone... my work is never done. ;-)

~Andy

The Secret To Winning On American Idol Is Dance With The Stars On The Lot

The Secret To Winning On American Idol Is Dance With The Stars On The Lot

Andy Stetzinger

OK, so, it's a wild guess on my part. I've never been, nor ever will be on any of those shows. Ain't gonna happen.

However, you're here, reading this, so it proves that keyword rich headlines work like a charm. Really.

You can jump over to google trends and take a look at the biggest searched terms for the day, and make your own traffic drawing headlines if you want to. It's pretty easy to do.

Anyhow...

Enjoy.

~Andy

The week ahead!

The Week Ahead

Scott's out on vacation, enjoying a week at the beach. I made sure he took the EVDO router with him, though... just in case.

I'll have a little catching up to do, as Fri/Sat/Sun of last week was spent at a convention with my family. The hotel's "free wireless hotspots" were not working, so, I didn't have the access I had anticipated. That, and the scope of this convention was larger than I thought... it would have been hard to work there anyhow.

The office is relatively clean, so, that's good - at least I can find my desk...



Yes, that really is my desk, and yes I do have a need for each of those systems... To be slightly geeky, there are 7 different Operating Systems pictured there... like I always tell people, I am OS Agnostic.

I'd best be getting some coding done now...

~Andy

Sunburned and happy!

Wendy and the kids and I went out to the beach this past weekend. We got burned. I left the camera in the car, so, no videos or photos. Probably just as well, since I'm burned to a crisp. ;-)

Blogging The Trip Northward.

Blogging The Trip Northward!
3/9/2007

The Trip
Wendy's Dad, whom I call "Pops", is turning 60. The family is getting together for this occasion... in Fairfax, VA. It snowed there yesterday... and we're heading that way!

[0430]
I'm up. Wendy's up. The kids are still asleep. Here shortly, I'll begin loading up the CRV and getting things organized. When I woke up, I thought of about three things I should have done yesterday evening... oh well! Once we're loaded and on the way, things will become routine. I just wonder how scared Scott is... after all, I coded ImmediateProof.com in 7 hours... this is a 14 hour trip!