Barb's Connected World

It does not work on X64.

http://nikonimglib.com/nefcodec/

 So I wrote to Nikon tech support. And Nikon replied:

Discussion Thread
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Response (David D.) - 01/27/2007 09:03 PM
HI

Thanks for the question. The current codec is only for 32 bit versions of Vista. At this time we do not offer support for the 64 bit version. Sorry.

-David

Thanks for using Nikon products!

So why does Windows Photo Gallery keep prompting me to get an update? Did Microsoft think there would be a 64 bit codec?

At CES, I was wowed by this new generation picture frame from i-mate called Momento. It’s slick, Vista friendly in the extreme, and even can setup the wireless network with Windows Connect Now using a USB flash key.

 

 

I’ll have more to say about this one soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice surprise. Just run Windows Vista and get free access. Press promotions starting next week. Go here for details.

C|Net declared Windows Vista “Best of CES 2007” and then decided

“The bottom line: Windows Vista is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use. “

Clearly C|Net exhibits blanket anti Microsoft editorial style on a consistent basis that I take with a grain of salt, but don’t these guys and gals talk to each other? And is there some sour grape mentality coming through?

“Microsoft sent hundreds of bloggers (not including CNET) free copies of Windows Vista Ultimate; Microsoft did not send boxed copies, rather the software giant sent top-of-the-line Acer Ferrari laptops with the operating system preinstalled. So even Microsoft seems to admit that the best performance is only available on top-of-the-line machines manufactured within the last year or so. “

I don’t think they get it. With every new OS, Windows and Mac, the hardware bar is higher. And yes, it does run on older machines with older hardware. Sure the best performance is on the latest and greatest state of the art hardware. In the automobile world, this happens all the time. Even my dentist has better equipment than he did 5 years ago.

I'd be remiss if I didn't say that I've been slowly solving all the puzzles from round one/box 1 of the vanishingpoint game. I have to admit that I couldn't think clearly while I was traveling and got behind. The ice and sleet here gave me a few hours to concentrate, so I finally got through the first 12 puzzles. There's a LOT of money being spent on this one. Both on PR and on prizes. I've received a puzzle box and various notes from Loki (like so many others). There was even one in the bottom of the box that the Velocity Micro Vista computer was packed in.

What does it all mean? Some lucky person will have the thrill of a lifetime flying to the edge of space. That's the grand prize. Yes, I'd love to win. But the chances are, well, less than striking it rich in Las Vegas. The big difference is that I don't gamble and didn't throw money away while in CES, but I am playing the "game". The water fountain spectacle is now online at www.vanishingpointgame.com so if you have somehow missed it, go take a look.

Pretty impressive.

All the geeks are playing the game. Somehow I hope that a normal non nerd wins this one. Meanwhile, I'll continue to play the game and hope for the best.

I was at the MS booth early on Monday. 7.30am in fact. I spent a couple of hours at the Memories booth (Vista Photo Gallery, etc.). BillG was coming through and was going to use one of the display computers. Someone had installed a program that had hijacked the jpg extension and there was panic in the air. I checked the registry, identified the issue, fixed the damage and all was well again. Yeah.

 

I'm in digital photography heaven having just seen an incredible presentation from Art Wolfe. Received a personalized autographed book of his photography "Edge of the Earth * Corner of the Sky".

The photos and the HD video were amazing. Here's a sample from the slide show he presented of his work. Not only is his work stunning beyond belief, but he is a polished and engaging presenter. I can only dream about some of the places he's been. He's documented the beauty of nature elegantly and it's never been truer that a picture is worth 1000 words.

Great stuff coming, Dreamscape desktop, Live for PC's (gaming), a great Photo editing Ultimate Extra for Vista Ultimate. And another peak at the home of the future 5-6 years from now with interactive walls and more.

This is the city that never sleeps and lack of same is getting to me. Tomorrow is the first day where I'll see some of the cool new toys at a special preview.

On the residential networking side, lots of new devices (and hopefully old devices via firmware upgrades) work transparently with Vista over the network using LLTD and other Windows Rally technologies. I've seen cameras, photo frames and wireless routers so far.

Saw a demo today at a private showing of WCN Simple Config using my favorite router, the D-Link DIR-655 (GigE, Draft N, what could be better?). This Window's logo'd router will be on display at the CES 2007 Partner Pavilion. It supports configuring a new SSID with WPA2 over a wired connection using a vendor supplied 8 digit authorization key. I wrote about this last year. And now the finished consumer routers are available. It's great news for the unexperienced consumer.

I'd be remiss if I didn't make mention of two issues with the new dream pc.

First off, as others have been reporting, the onboard IR receiver that is the enabler for the MCE remote and keyboard was not functioning when I set up the machine. As a work-around, I borrowed an external eHome USB IR receiver from one of my other machines and plugged it into one of the rear USB ports (and I also contacted Velocity Micro). After an interchange of emails where I learned that VM was not pre-advised that MS would be installing the 64 bit version of Vista, and pointers from VM to "beta drivers", I checked and investigated further and found that MS did install the drivers for this device, but that device manager reported them unsigned. You can press F8 on each boot as a work around for unsigned drivers, except in this case the included keyboard was an MCE keyboard that requires the IRtrans device to be operational (and as I recall it does not work until the GUI is booted anyway). Chris Morley tells me that he is chasing signed 64 bit IR drivers with a vengeance and will provide them ASAP.

The other problem that I have is that the two front USB ports are not working. I found that strange since the X in 1 Media Reader is working fine. I have not cracked open the case yet to investigate (and won't until I return from CES), but this is not a showstopper.

I spoke with Chris Morley this morning. Great guy. And this is still a great machine.

(Homage to Technology)

As I sit here watching High Definition TV, I reflect on how quickly we've moved from CRT based black and white TV's to today's LCD and Plasma based flat screens. It wasn't that long ago that I purchased my very first color TV. I was one of the last people I know to get one. A 13 inch RCA. The year was 1983. It was beautiful. And I was living in a one room studio nearly without any technology at all save a small transistor radio and wind up alarm clock. It was shortly after that when I bought my first computer, a Tandy 1000 SL. Circa early 1984. And yes, Radio Shack still keeps docs for these relics online. Look at the features of this beauty! And look at all the setup options. I remember buying the SmartWatch add-on to avoid having to type in the time and date at every bootup. In 1989, I purchased my second computer and it was mobile love at first sight. This state of the art portable was a 13.5 lb. luggable Tandy 1400 FD convertible pc. Equipped with a whopping 768K of RAM, it had a switchable clock speed of 4.77/8.16 MHz and an 8026/7 Intel 8 MHz processor..

I realized that I'd discovered technology. And nothing has been the same since.

Fast forward to 2007. Windows Vista 64 bit computing and all the multi media is state of the art. We've gone from DOS to Windows and skyrocketed beyond what I could even imagine back in the "olden days". And as I sit here typing this blog entry on Ferrari 5000 Vista x64 computer watching TV using MCE on a Velocity Micro 64 bit Vista home theater desktop computer I reflect on how far I've come. And how lucky I am to have the opportunities that have come my way.