How much you want to bet this is the unit TiVo is going to recommend for those of us on a SDV system? Now let’s hope for:
1. A bug-free unit
2. Cooperation/compatibility with the cable companies (that means you, Time Warner)
3. Full compatibility with HD TiVo / Series 3
4. Affordable price
5. Ability to tune into two channels (for those of us with dual tuner TiVos)

TiVo and Motorola, if you’re listening, I’d love to beta test! I want my ESPN2 HD and Universal HD back!

TiVo-Compatible SDV Tuner May Enable Video on Demand

Amen, Meeker. As development continues, the developers need to be paying for the increased usage of infrastructure, utilities, etc. This is a no-brainer, especially in the face of multiple droughts over the past few years, along with increased traffic, etc.

Meeker Wants Raleigh Impact Fees Doubled

So a lot of my disdain and dissatisfaction for using my iPhone with my email has faded away now that Gmail is supporting IMAP. Previously, I’d go into my iPhone, delete messages and then I’d get to my work or home computer and have to delete them all over again. Google gives some basic directions for setting up IMAP on your iPhone (or other mobiles). Use that, but then I highly recommend reading over this page to get all the ins and outs of how to use some of Gmail’s more unique features on your iPhone. It’s all pretty simple and straightforward, but it’s still at the same time, very very useful.

I’m also a huge fan of Gmail’s spam filtering. I’d say it catches 99% of all spam. I run my ryankeefer.com email address through there, and the massive amount of spam has completely gone away thanks to Gmail’s awesome spam filtering algorithms. This is another must have, as the iPhone’s mail app has no spam filter.

So with the holidays, my sick Xbox 360 was a little delayed getting to the Microsoft service center down there in Texas, arriving at the facility this past Monday. But I was unexpectedly surprised to find that as of Tuesday, it had already shipped. Late last night, the UPS tracking number started showing movement. Strangely, I do not have a estimated arrival date yet. I hoping that will appear later today. Regardless,

I’ve gotta think that with the quick turnaround time, I’ll be getting a refurbished Xbox, rather than my own repaired. We’ll see though. I’d be surprised if the serial number of the one shipping to me matches the one I shipped out. I’m hoping if I am receiving a new/refurb that it’s one that has an HDMI output – not likely, but I can hope. Regardless, bravo to Microsoft for owning up to this red ring issue and getting the process efficient. I’ve gone through a bit of withdrawal, but I’m thinking within the next few days that will all be alleviated. Hopefully, the audio dropouts I was getting when running it through my receiver will be fixed as well with my “new” 360. Before the red ring, I’d been running it through the TV’s speakers… totally not the same as 5.1. I’m hoping I’ll be able to crank it again through the home theater and be able to go to 11 when I get Rock Band.

So Durham has under two months of water left. How about some more rain? I really thought that in Durham, all outdoor watering was already banned. In fact, I thought it went into effect just days or weeks after we spent all that time and money aerating and seeding our lawn.

Regardless, we’re in dire need of more rain throughout the region.

New Durham Water Restrictions Could Limit Watering, Business Use

So the trip down to Florida went too fast – as always. We made it down there Wednesday in about 9 hours. Amanda got to see several old friends from high school and I got to ride some miles without bundling up in layers.

Thursday morning (Thanksgiving), I rode by myself, just doing a straightforward out and back course. Then Friday, I did a longer and faster ride with the Bakers’ neighbor, Brian out of Lake Mary with probably a dozen or so others. It only further confirmed that my legs are strong enough to keep up with the pack, even in the off season and that I really need to get to more training rides with my teammates down in Chapel Hill (or at least with the more local Gyros of North Raleigh).

When we got home last night, I figured out how to upload my GPS data to Motion Based, along with Garmin’s desktop software (which I already had been using). View my courses below, with a bunch of data on everything. Love this Garmin 305!

Fairbanks Solo Training Ride
Lake Mary Group Ride

Anyway, we had a great Thanksgiving over at my brother in-law’s future fiance and wife’s parents place. Lots of great homemade food!

We hung out with Amanda’s high school friends the following two nights and had a good time. Other than that, it was just hand around with the in-laws. We set them up with wifi, and tried to revive their lemon of an iMac G5, but had no luck. We did finally convince the Apple Store to replace the machine’s motherboard. Hopefully, that will alleviate all their issues. I’ve never seen a Mac have so many problems and it’s unfortunate, cause it was their first Mac, and maybe their only now.

Bongo was great throughout the trip, including the drive down I-95 up and back. He slept the majority of the time and was completely easy to travel with. This marks his second trip down to Winter Park with us and it was a repeat of the first. He made himself at home at Amanda’s parents, and was a perfect little hound.

The drive back was right at 10 hours. People need to learn how to drive in traffic on the highway. Let off the accelerator, not accelerate then brake hard. It was aggravating Amanda and I both, and maybe even Bongo.

Anyway, we’re back and almost have a full day’s work already done – great trip to Florida. Too short, and it’s unfortunate that it was right back to the grind this morning!

I’ll be watching this very very closely. We upgraded to a HD TiVo with a multistream cable card a few months ago, and we recently (Nov. 16th) lost a couple of our high definition channels to switched digital video (sadly ESPN2 HD was one of them )

The question though is this going to be something we have to rent from the damn cable company that they can gouge us for, or can I buy the and own the little USB-powered guy without being raped by Time Warner?

Switched Video on Cable Coming to TiVo in 2008

Does anyone out there that reads Keefer Madness (or has stumbled upon this post) know anything about Black Tree Software’s Quicksilver? It’s a great little application that’s been in perpetual beta, but over the past few weeks, I’ve been unable to download updates or new plugins from their servers. Anyone know what’s going on with them?

Please leave a comment if you know anything. I hope it’s a temporary downtime thing, cause it’s a great little application to help work faster and smarter.