Downloading, streaming, or encoding music and movies.
Media
Is there a way to watch the NFL on the Roku?
Episode 975
Nick from
Nick has AT&T U-Verse and a Panasonic Viera TV. He wants to completely cut the cable cord and watch all of his favorite sports online. Leo says it depends on the sport because some professional sporting leagues have a more open approach to the internet than others. Nick likes football, and Leo says that the NFL is gradually moving toward streaming. The SuperBowl was streamed live this year and last year.
How can I capture images from a DVD? (Part 2)
Episode 972
Steve would also like to capture images off of a DVD, but it won't let him do it. Leo says that is an antipiracy measure. DVD players won't allow it. There's always a way around it, though.
He can go into his video card properties setting and turn off video acceleration. Then Cmd-Shift-3 will capture it. Another option is to use VLC Media player to play his DVDs.
Technology Proves to Be Two Edged Sword in Boston Bomber Case
Episode 971
While it's likely that the terrorists learned how to build their bombs from information found on the Internet, it was the high resolution security cameras, thermal imaging, and personal cellphone cameras that helped identify the Boston Bombers to ultimately bring them to justice.
Privacy advocates are very worried that there's no more privacy in a society that has security cameras everywhere, but Leo says that maybe we have to rethink that since those cameras were instrumental in finding the Boston Marathon bombers.
How can I license music affordably for business?
Episode 970
Petros has a fitness business with bootcamps and he has locations all over the world. He wants to deliver a monthly mix tape. Leo says that copyright won't allow that and he'll have to license that music in order to play that in his business.
One way he can bypass it is to use Pandora. Pandora has a business version starting at $25 a month that takes care of all the license fees. XM Satellite radio also has a business service.
How do I download videos from YouTube?
Episode 970
Carlo is currently using RealPlayer to download videos, but he's having a hard time with it. Leo says that's really old software, and there's better options now. Carlo wants to download videos off of YouTube, but YouTube doesn't have an option for that on the site*. There are plenty of third party plugins that will do this, though:
Is DRM a good idea for eBooks?
Episode 964
Chris has created a new website called Cruise Port Insider, which gives the inside track of what to do when you're "in port." Leo says that's a great idea and wonders if Chris crowd sources the data. He's also created eBooks for cruisers to download. On Amazon, it asks about digital rights management so he's wondering if DRM a good idea for eBooks. Leo says he doesn't like DRM. It doesn't protect the content creator from piracy, because the pirates can always defeat it. All DRM does is frustrate legitimate readers.
Is there a way to get around the DRM on iTunes movies?
Episode 963
Ray bought some movies from iTunes and would like to strip the DRM off them. Leo directs him to this LifeHacker Article, which uses a utility called NoteBurner M4V Converter Plus to convert them. It's $50. Leo then advises not buying movies from iTunes anymore, and to go with Amazon instead.
How can I do my video podcast without YouTube?
Episode 962
Adam started a movie video podcast with his daughter called Piper's Picks TV and they've been doing it for years. They're moving to YouTube because they can monetize it, but YouTube is starting to take down videos because of complaints from others.
How can I get my iPod Touch to start playing podcasts where they left off?
Episode 960
Bob from
Bob has an iPod Touch connected to Ford Sync via USB. When he stops the car, he loses his place in the podcast he's listening to. Leo says iTunes and the iPod is set up so that if it stops in the middle of a song, it would start over, but if it's an audiobook or podcast, it would start where it left off. It does this based on hidden data in the file to tell the iPod what type of file it is.
How can I watch DVDs without needing a TV?
Episode 960
Roseanne from
Roseanne doesn't watch TV and her new iMac doesn't have an optical disc player in it. She'd like to watch both her DVDs and her VHS tapes. Leo says that DVDs are just the VHS tapes of today. The real trends are towards streaming online via services like Netflix and Hulu+.