San Francisco Metblogs » sf_pt

San Francisco-ize an iPod

sf_pt — Fri, 05 May 2006 23:21:51 +0000

I use an iPod for testing videos and writing how-tos, and when I travel, play ripped DVDs on the hotel TV or watch them on bus/plane. For music stuff, the counterfeit iPod shuffle is pretty good, records audio and has a FM tuner – but it’s kinda flimsy. That said, if you have an iPod you can do a lot more than listen to music on them. Most iPods can view Notes & Calendar entries and the newer ones can view photos. If you’re traveling to a new area or want to have a ton of local information, here are some links to “city-ize” your pod – these are for San Francisco. Might be useful to a few folks out there, one day I’m going to get around to finishing up a more detailed how-to on all this…

Links:

Super-quick video review of San Francisco Pod CityGuide – Link.
San Francisco Pod CityGuide. Register and then download (drop the files in the calendar and notes folders) – [via] Link.
iPod subway map (San Francisco BART) – Link.
San Francisco Chronicle podcasts – Link.
PodBop audio (San Francisco) – Link.
iPod tour guides – Link.
How to “Photocast” & San Francisco photo pool – Link.
Pirate weather podcast feed (MP3) – Link.

“iJacking” Strong-arm laptop robberies

sf_pt — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 19:46:04 +0000

Spotted on the Raw Feed – There’s likely a bit of sensationalism that will happen because of these stories and events regarding laptop/Powerbook theft, but it doesn’t hurt to be a bit (more) aware when you’re out and about doing work at a cafe. Once and awhile I work out of one of the places that got hit by the stabbing laptop bandit – it’s on Mission and 22nd, it’s bad enough to get your laptop stolen, but stabbed too? That’s messed up.

Laptop thieves descend upon wireless cafes. Grab-and-run robbers find pricey computers easy to resell by Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writer -”A San Francisco finance manager stopped in at a Mission District cafe and was tapping on his laptop as he enjoyed his coffee just before noon on a Thursday. Suddenly, he was under siege. “I looked up, and I saw this guy leaning into me as if he was asking a question,” he said. “I leaned forward, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone fiddling with the computer cord. I tried to stand up, and as I stepped back, he stabbed me in the chest. Police say normally quiet cafes are becoming hunting grounds for laptop bandits.” – Link.

and…

iJacked. Strong-arm robberies of laptop computers are on the increase by Charles Russo – San Francisco Bay Guardian. GRAND THEFT LAPTOP “It is obviously a trend,” Lt. John Loftos of the SFPD’s Robbery Division told the Guardian. “We are seeing crimes that we have never seen before, based on a cultural change. The crime trend is following the wireless trend.” – Link.

Some solutions – Laptop locks, chain your stuff so someone can’t take off with it, and there’s also this application, but I’m not sure it will stop anything. My Powerbook is laser etched, so it’s not valuable as a resale – no one would want this on their laptop but me. Lastly, encrypt / backup, a lot, but you’re doing that anyway right?

GarbageScout – San Francisco, CA

sf_pt — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 17:56:55 +0000

Spotted on the DorkBot list – Finally! We have one for SF! GarbageScout – Found treasure map – a recycler’s dream, a cheapskate’s best friend, and a dumpster diver’s companion.

From your phone, email a picture of your find to “street@garbagescout.com”,

In the body of the email type a description @ location.
For example: furniture old chairs@123 East Broadway
computer monitors look good @ west 79th street & broadway
bike wheels and parts @ 345 west 21st.

For more information, see the FAQ. – Link.

Cabspotting – Real time views of where the taxi’ at

sf_pt — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 17:49:54 +0000

Spotted on Waxy.org – Here’s another data visualizer for San Fran, real time tracking of cabs from The Exploratorium, Yellow Cab, and Stamen Design – “Cabspotting traces San Francisco’s taxi cabs as they travel throughout the Bay Area. The patterns traced by each cab create a living and always-changing map of city life. This map hints at economic, social, and cultural trends that are otherwise invisible. The Exploratorium has invited artists and researchers to use this information to reveal these “Invisible Dynamics.”" – Link.

Previous: Real-Time San Francisco Bay Wind Pattern (Streaklines) – Link.

Once there is enough data visualizers and we can overlay them all, I bet there will be a few freaky things discovered.

Real-Time San Francisco Bay Wind Pattern (Streaklines)

sf_pt — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 16:25:09 +0000

Wow this is neat (clicky through, it moves) – “While this may initialy appear to be a time-series animation it is instead a dynamic rendering of particle streaklines. Rather than evolving through time the animation is describing the flow of the wind at a given time.” – Link.

Rain overload

sf_pt — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 17:24:35 +0000

It’s going to rain forever.

BART cards demagnetizing – zoinks, a mystery

sf_pt — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 00:08:37 +0000

Here they are – 4, count them 4, demagnetized BART cards – it’s up to $100 worth, a freaking BART401k savings account. One lasted a meager 40 feet from purchase to demagnetization. The BART employees say you can go to their special station and get the value back, but who has time for that, and, I would need to to buy another ticket to get there! it’s a trap! Further testing is needed, I’ve tried to demagnetize them with cell phones and credit cards purposely (this is what the BART employees say kills the cards) – but in a controlled enviroment I cannot reproduce what seems to happen when I actually need to go somewhere and don’t have time to play Magneto. Developing story…

Resources and reference:

BART cards – Link.
3 BART cards demagnetized 6/2005 – Link.
“BART tickets are easily demagnetized (by credit cards) and destroyed by water.” – Link.
Eel skin wallets and credit cards, Mythbusters – Link.
Magnetic Stripe – Link.
MTC Transit connectivity study (they note card demagnetization) – Link (PDF).
Google – “Demagnetized BART cards” – Link.