Miro just came out with version 4.0. and its a clear hit. If you believe in supporting open source application, you have to try Miro. Miro is a open-source music and video player. It has been around since 2005 and was originally known as the Democracy Player. It is a part of The Participatory Culture Foundation a nonprofit foundation. You can use it download, watch, and listen to video and audio podcast. You can also add sites such as YouTube and Ustream and watch them within Miro. It is available for the Mac, Windows, and Linux.

With the newest update to Miro 4 it has become even better. The ability to buy mp3 and applications directly from the Amazon or the Google store within Miro has been added. Music stored in your Amazon Cloud Player can also be played within Miro. You can also add your iTunes music and movie library to Miro. Adding these libraries to Miro has no effect on ITunes, Miro simply points to the appropriate folders. If you have an Android device you can convert and sync music and applications to these device from Miro. I can see Miro being use with any Android device as iTunes is used with iOS devices. You can play almost any video format within Miro including HD video.  You can also use Miro to convert videos into mp4/h264 formats which are playable on most portable devices. If you have Miro installed on multiple computers within the same network you can now stream and transfer media between these computers. YouTorrent is built right into Miro and is really fast. You also have access to media that is available from ClearBits which provides hosting and distribution for open license media.  These are just some of the features that are available within Miro.

When upgrading from Miro 3.5 to Miro 4 I did run into a problem, when I added my ITunes library. It imported the library itself rather quickly, however it did take awhile to import the metadata. In fact it froze up a couple of times, if you have a slower machine like mine (Mac Mini 1.66 Ghz Intel Core Duo) I would recommend deleting the application and then downloading Miro 4. This seemed to fix the problem. Before you do this make sure you export your podcasts as an opml file, so they are easy to add back in. I have been using Miro since before it was Miro and I have always liked it, and it gets better with each version.

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Show Notes:
Firefox Release Schedule!
AT&T and Verizon told to Share!
iPad O’Scope.
BitTorrent grows up.
Microsoft and Toyota.
Robot gets Shot?
F35 Ejection Seat Test.
Computer Screen Chapstick.
UK Seizing Domains!
China says no more Time Travel?
Tethering stealing?
Fed Gov’t Shutdown?
Want Bonus get Social.
Chrome to add Malware detection.
Google Travel only if Feds can Monitor?
Samsung 1 Million to Schools.
64 Bug Fixes on Patch Tuesday!
Signal Phone Boosters to get Regulated.
Hacker says he was working with Feds.
Windows Phone 7 Update Cautions.
81 Billion Light Year Explosion.
Space Shuttle Images.
ISS Gateway to Mars.
Jailbreak it?
Vulkano TV Streamer.
Websites for iPad.
MPAA loves to Sue and little else.
Seizing Domains to Continue.
Verizon keeping iPhone users connected.
2 Million iPad 2′s.
Facebook Open Source Servers.
Sushi Blocks.
Topener!
Mini Coffee Machine.
New Fire Extinguisher.
Dish + Blockbuster = Store Fronts.
March Madness digital results!
YouTube Organizing!
ESPN Goes Live!
Vortexbox!
Vending Box
HitPad customized news.
Gmail Updates.
GoFlex Sim Review.
100 Atari Games for Ios
Homeland Security Updated via Facebook?
Time Warner off to Court.
WHS 2011 Available.
Pandora spying on you?
LinkedIn and Android.
Skype Linux Update.
Bing iPad App.
Nook Apps?
Verizon 2yr contracts only!

A headline from a news article on AppleInsider, FCC investigates Apple, AT&T for Google Voice app rejection, reminded me of my secret wish.  I wish Apple would lose some anti-competitive lawsuits.  I don’t wish lawsuits on anyone, but sometimes it is the only way to shake a company loose.  So here are the questions of a Mac fan boy:

1) How is it legal for Apple to refuse any stand alone 3rd party browsers or mail clients for the iPhone? Would Apple redo how they allow software to be sold for OS X  now that most software is downloadable?  An app store for OS X maybe so they could keep any programs from duplicating their own functionality?  Hmm.

2)  How can a company that has it’s OS foundation built on an open-source technology, be so stinking proprietary? “Hey everyone we think you all should adapt the open-standard mini display port!  It will help all the consumers.”  “No, you cannot install our open-source core Unix software on any hardware but a mac.”  “No we will not license out the Magsafe power adapter to other companies for their products.”  Why do that?  It would only make you more money, while saving the electronics of the families you say you serve.  Time to release the death grip.

I must admit that on days like this I really want Apple to lose an investigation.  Not so that big government tells free businesses what to do, but so they begin to act fairly and openly.  Turn the corner Apple, play it straight.  Open up the company, release developers, license out the technology that people need.

I discuss a very disturbing email I received and also cover some of the hurricane preparations here in Hawaii along with all of the usual Tech News

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Show Notes:
ISP Throttling
World’s Oldest
Hitachi 1 Terabyte Review
Best of July
China Toy Recall Boss no More
File Sharing Kids
AACS DRM Tentacles
Skype on iPhone
Fallen Astronaut
Death Valley Od Things
iPhone Bill
Broadband ISP Fear
Pligg the Open Source Clone
Podcast NYC
Cool Way to take a Picture
Google Traffic Loss?
Multiple Windows Patches coming Tuesday
Alexa Junk Data
SCO Stock Dives
Walk and Make Money with Google
Search Engine Privacy
ISS and Shuttle News
Hotmail Storage Boost
Linux Command Line Tips
Sony Mini HD Camera
Google Gmail Storage
China Astronaut

Great Friday show I have this thing packed from one end to the other with great stories, links and commentary. Thanks to all the Ohana out there — your support keeps this train rolling.

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Show Notes:
Google Earth Pics
Tech at Target?
HDMI Cable Part III
Email Self Destruct
Vanishing Swimming Pool
Top 10 Gmail Applications
Wireless HDMI
NASA Sabotage
uTorrent Mobile
Grim Reaper Cat?
Backup Google Apps
XP on a Stick
SK Telecom to buy Sprint?
NYC Cabbies and GPS
Dvorak and Mac
Apple Anti-Theft
FBI – SL and Gambling
BSOD Craziness
VelvetPuffin
Twitter Financed
SP2 why Secret
Microsoft Open Source?
Microsoft Silverlight
HotSwap Used Cars
YouDeparted.com!!
Sprint and Google Mobile Portal
Kids Cell Phone Tracking
Mojave Accident Scaled Composites
Vista Activation needed over Driver Update?
Updating EULA Notifications
Lifelock Circus
SnagIt to OneNote
DTV Transition and Elders
Google Bid for Spectrum WWW III
Space Walk Images
Dell + Linux = Growth

I upgraded one of my network file servers, yesterday. I replaced a hard disk that was setting off occasional error notices, and, while while I was at it, I replaced the current operating system (Mandrake Community 10.1) with Knoppix 3.7. Knoppix is the Linux distribution that I use in class to demonstrate how simple Linux is to use, because Knoppix is a fully-functional operating system with common applications that can boot from a single CD. So, with the bootable CD, I can quickly convert any computer to Linux without the risk of deleting any existing files from the Windows operating system.

The installation was much quicker than I expected. I usually set aside three or four hours to install and configure a server’s operating system, but Knoppix cut that time down to 30 minutes. I then tinkered with a few minor configuration options (screensaver, background colors), but the necessary functionality was up and going in well under an hour.

If you’re interested in trying Knoppix, yourself; download it from either the developer’s website or LinuxISO.org. When you’re burning the single-file download to a CD, pay attention to be sure to you properly configure the CD to accept the ISO image, otherwise the CD won’t have it’s self-booting property.

BTW, Knoppix is free for both personal and commercial use.

The State of Massachusetts has implemented a policy toward software purchases that favors open-source applications and open standards for state-owned computers.

When evaluating both new purchases and system upgrades, the state will now give preference to open-source applications, such as those that make use of XML (Extensible Markup Language). The policy’s goal is to take advantage of interoperability and minimize the limitations imposed by proprietary applications and file formats.

When proprietary products are clearly superior, they may continued to be purchased.

Dave’s Opinion
Following in the steps made by Munich, Germany, Massachusetts joins a growing list of governments that are opting to no longer rely on Microsoft applications for all computing applications. Interestingly, Microsoft says that Massachusetts’ policy could discriminate against software makers. How so?, I wonder.

Call for Comments
What do you think? Leave your comments below.