David Vielmetter

Adventures in stupid technology

  • Timelapse photography the easy way

    I’ve always wanted to create my own time-lapse movie, but never had the money to invest into the equipment. With the CHDK firmware add-on for Canon’s Digic II, Digic III and Digic IV cameras it is now possible for anyone with a Canon camera to do it. The CHDK firmware add-on has been around for…

  • iPhone mutes calls on headset mode but works on speakerphone

    So far I have found four people with this identical problem. They all purchased an iPhone outside the USA (where in some cases laws have prevented Apple from locking the iPhone) and use it with either a pre-paid 3rd party provider or with an existing non-iphone contract AT&T sim card. The issue they have is…

  • Windows7 x64 a few months later

    It’s been a few months since I installed Windows 7 RC1 x64 and the initial glamor of the latest and greatest operating system from Microsoft has worn off. Although Windows 7 is both easier to use and more useful than ever, there are still some issues with 64bit computing that need to be worked out.…

  • Get more maps onto a Garmin StreetPilot c550

    I’m traveling to Germany in a few days and wanted to use my Garmin StreetPilot c550 to help me navigate the streets of Berlin. I got a used 2008 European Maps SD card off of Amazon for a few bucks and figured why don’t I try getting the maps onto my Garmin GPS. But somehow…

  • Creepy abandoned USA Gas refinery

    On a recent weekend trip to Ojai I drove by this abandoned USA Oil/Gas refinery and stopped to take a few pictures. The site looks like it was initially picked over for parts, but then abandoned and left to rust for years. The entire site is like a ghost town with scattered abandoned homes in…

  • Windows live movie maker

    One thing I was surprised to find amiss in Windows 7 x64 was Windows Movie Maker. Well, it turns out that some people have managed to get WMM 2.6 (the version supplied in Windows XP) to work in Windows 7. But in the spirit of trying beta software, I thought I’d give the new Windows…

  • Customize your Toshiba phone system

    This article contains information on how to change common settings on Toshiba Strata CIX 40 digital VOIP telephony systems and handsets. If you need to learn how to change the system time or set a particular ring tone on a handset click the read more link.

  • iTunes x64 on Windows mission impossible?

    Today I spent two hours trying to get the 64-bit version of iTunes to work in 64-bit mode. Apple has been distributing 64bit versions of its iTunes software since version 7.4, but somehow no one can get it to run in 64-bit mode on Windows VISTA/7. The quick time symlink trick, the orca launch condition…

  • Great tasting BBQ Baby-Backs

    My all time favorite BBQ Ribs will always be at Houston’s Restaurant in Pasadena. This recipe, however comes close to the their popular Knife and Fork ribs with Cole Slaw and String Fries at a fraction of the price. It takes some prep work, but if you are planning on being home for most of…

  • Use ATI Remote Wonder II for SageTV

    The ATI Remote Wonder II is an excellent RF remote especially for HTPC systems. Rather than depending directional infrared signals, it operates using x10 radio frequency signals (~433 Mhz) that can penetrate walls and greater distances than infrared. This makes it much more responsive than than traditional remote controls especially in situations where you need…

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