Convert VHS to DVD Before It's Too Late

Production Stops On Last-known VCR Production Line. Convert your family treasures to DVD before it's too late! Remember that box of old VHS tapes you have in the closet?  The magnetic material that makes up your tape is slowly rotting away.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.  This happens due to fluctuations in temperature, humidity and normal wear and tear.  The tape is gradually disintegrating with every use and slowly losing it's magnetism.  Eventually you will start to see signs of this in the form of noise and distortion in your audio & video signals.  Check out the video above to see which VHS to DVD video conversion method is best for you.

Joe was awesome enough to let me feature his old VHS tape in the video.  I'm glad he did.  I think we all can agree it made things a little bit more fun.  This is my first ever YouTube collaboration video and it was a blast!  Joe and I go way back.  In middle school and high school we played in a garage band called Unauthorized Use.  Joe is stilling rocking out.  If you're in Boston, look for Joe Greaney & The Chasers playing live music at John Harvards Brewery.  Looking forward to doing more collaboration videos in the future.  Send me a message or leave a comment below if you have any good collaboration ideas.

Get My DVDs In iTunes!

Importing, also known as ripping, DVDs to a computer or file management system such as iTunes isn't new. Up until now I have known about ripping but never really found a solid method of doing it for many DVDs. Even though this is not new I figured I would share some of the information I have learned with you as well as my preferred method of saving DVDs as a digital movie file. Recently I was talking about this with my coworker Mark.  He said,

"Why is it so hard to get my DVDs into iTunes?"

"I payed for them already I should be able to import them some how, right?"

(That's the clean version adapted for all audiences)

iTunes would prefer that you buy your favorite DVDs again conveniently from the iTunes store. Paying for a movie twice is crazy, although it might be one of the easier methods, I have a better recommendation that will save you money.  I can't blame them, but the film industry has gone to great lengths to ensure content protection.  Without getting too technical, content protection makes sure no one can copy a VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray or any type of streaming media.  As a result people with good intentions that may want to import their movies into iTunes for convenient viewing around their home get stuck. Maybe you'd like to save Frozen to a tablet so your kid can have something to watch on a long road trip. I have personally run into this problem over the past few months.  Go figure my two-year-old daughter loves Frozen.  Today I was able to import Frozen into iTunes.  I was also able to save it to my hard drive, smart phone, and tablet.

"Yoou Whoo!  Hi Family!"

The topic of DLNA servers, DLNA compliant devices, and UPnP apps is closely related to this but not always necessary. I'll save that for another post.  Just be aware that DLNA will allow you to store all your media in one location and allow you to stream that media simultaneously to multiple device on your home network.  It's pretty slick.  But I digress.  Back to the topic at hand which is ripping DVDs.

Are There Any Super Simple & Free Software Packages That Can Do This For Me?

Nope. There are free software downloads available like Handbrake or Mac The Ripper.  But they are not super simple and I can't recommend them to non-tech-savvy people.  I have come across a super simple software package to solve this problem but it costs money.  The price is equivalent to buying roughly three new Blu-Rays. Having software that is simple and easy to navigate is important here.  If you have a degree in computer science you can ignore this recommendation. For everyone else I think paying for this software is worth your while. I have been using it since late 2013 and I think you'll like it. In fact I have been in contact with employees of MacX DVD Ripper Pro to ask questions. And guess what? They have actually written back with answers. None of the free software download methods come with tech support.  You're on your own with those guys. I'll post my email exchange below with Alice where I learned a good tip for ripping Frozen. In short, there is a feature called "safe mode" that proves to be a great feature. I even made a YouTube video series about the DVD ripping process and how to use this specific piece of software. Look for that video series in the embedded player below.

Wait! What About Services Like...

Vudu, Digital Copy & UltraViolet?

Some DVDs and Blu-Rays do come with something advertised as a "Free Digital Copy".  That's great if you have constant access to the internet everywhere you go (see road trip example above).  The truth is Vudu, Digital Copy and Ultra Violet don't actually give you a digital copy.  They give you permission to stream. I've used Vudu and Digital Copy and as far as I can tell they don't actually give you a copy of the movie file to store on your hard drive. The problem is if you want to go for a long road trip or live anywhere with limited internet access those services won't help you. If you need a simple way to convert your DVDs into movie files that can be viewed on multiple devices and stored locally on a hard drive of your choosing I have a recommendation to make. I've done my homework and now I'd like to share my solution with you to make your life a little easier. If you scroll down to the bottom of this post you'll see two download links.  One that works for Mac and the other works for PC.

Wait! Are You Some Kind of Software Salesman?

Not really, but I guess I kind of am now... If you read my about page you will see I started creating how-to videos on YouTube back in 2011.  My main purpose for creating content on the internet is to help people.  I started making how-to videos that I thought people would find informative and helpful. I have never sold software before. In fact I work full time in Pro AV as a system designer.  I'm not really the sales type.  But I will say that if you click on this link and buy this software for your Mac or PC I will get a small commission. I gotta be honest with you. I don't "sell software" for a living but as a blogger and Certified Technology Specialist I do recommend this specific piece of software to folks who don't know where to begin and are looking for an easy solution.

They Actually Have Tech Support

As mentioned earlier the free software available for ripping don't offer tech support. They tend to be good for very tech savvy people who have no problem downloading proper codecs, calculating bit rates, and determining file sizes and resolutions. For everyone else trying to import their DVDs into iTunes or any other type of media management software I would recommend avoiding the configuration hassles and buying MacX DVD Ripper or WinX DVD Ripper.  You'll be able to easily choose a predetermined output profile based on your intended use and desired file size.  Here is a brief but helpful email exchange I had with Alice of Digiarty.

What Product Download Works Best For You?

I hope you found this information helpful. So far I have ripped 34 DVDs and I'm currently working on 35 (Zero Dark Thirty) as I'm writing this post. You can read more information about these DVD ripping products for Mac and PC by clicking on the respective links below. The product pages will go into more detail about the supported file formats and specifications. Thanks for reading my blog :-) Now I'd like to hear from you. How would you personally use one of these products? In the comments section below tell me what product you would pick and what devices you would use to view your movies. How would software like this make your life easier? For me it's all about convenience. I'm always just a couple clicks away from watching any of my movies. No disc required.

Convert VHS To DVD: 3 Methods

Convert your family treasures to DVD before it's too late!  Remember that box of old VHS tapes you have in the closet?  The magnetic material that makes up your tape is slowly rotting away.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.  This happens due to fluctuations in temperature, humidity and normal wear and tear.  The tape is gradually disintegrating with every use and slowly losing it's magnetism.  Eventually you will start to see signs of this in the form of noise and distortion in your audio & video signals.  Check out the video above to see which VHS to DVD video conversion method is best for you.

Joe was awesome enough to let me feature his old VHS tape in the video.  I'm glad he did.  I think we all can agree it made things a little bit more fun.  This is my first ever YouTube collaboration video and it was a blast!  Joe and I go way back.  In middle school and high school we played in a garage band called Unauthorized Use.  Joe is stilling rocking out.  If you're in Boston, look for Joe Greaney & The Chasers playing live music at John Harvards Brewery.  Looking forward to doing more collaboration videos in the future.  Send me a message or leave a comment below if you have any good collaboration ideas.

Nokia Lumia 822 Windows Phone 8

I have completed 1 full week using a Windows Phone 8.  I made the switch from Android just to check it out and because I was eligible for a free upgrade.  I ended up getting the Nokia Lumia 822 which replaced my almost 4 year old LG Ally.

I can't really write a good comparison article between WIndows Phone 8 and Android since my previous Android phone was so old and it was not anywhere near the latest version of the Android operating system.  The standard processing power and memory alone have improved dramatically across the board since my last phone upgrade.  So this phone is a huge improvement for me and that's great for all of us who love technology.

Despite being a self proclaimed geek, I have never been the type of person to run out and get the latest and greatest new gadget, especially when it comes to phones.  It's just not worth it to break a contract, or pay a ridiculous early upgrade fee.  Plus you never really want to rely on the very first release of any new technology.  Well seasoned techs know that the first version of anything will undoubtedly have some bugs.  I always wait until the market has had some time to adjust to the new technology and then I typically get the less expensive or in some cases free upgrade when it comes to smart phones.  I do the same thing when it comes to buying HDTV's and other electronics.

There are so many bells and whistles available when it comes to smart phones.  The truth is I only care about a few key features.  Namely the ability to call someone and access to maps so I can find my way around. Texting, email, calendars, YouTube and all the other apps are great and I use them all the time but they are not essential to me when I pick out a phone.  What I look for in a smart phone is the calling functionality and navigation system.  The 16GB hard drive and all the apps are just icing on the cake.  I am very much into technology and use pretty much every Google service out there but I made the switch from Android to the Windows Phone 8 and I have been quite happy so far with the Nokia Lumia 822.

Money Saving Tip:

I live in the state of Massachusetts where they collect sales tax.  I am also a Verizon customer.  I went to BJ's Wholesale club to shop for phones since they have a Verizon store inside.  After 2 years of having a Verizon phone you are eligible for a "free" upgrade.  Up until last year "free" used to actually mean free.  Before I get to my money saving tip you need to be aware that there is now a $30 free upgrade fee per phone.  I have been a Verizon customer since 2003 and it never used to be like this but that's the way it is now.  My tip for you when upgrading phones is to ask about sales tax on free upgrades.

At the Verizon store inside the BJ's they were going to charge me sales tax on a free phone.  In Massachusetts the sales tax is 6.25% and the free phone has a value of $600 so after the upgrade fee of $30 and the sales tax of $37.50 the total cost of the free upgrade would have been $67.50.  However the same Nokia Lumia 822 was also available at Target and Target does not charge sales tax when giving out free upgrades.  My advice to you is to shop around and ask about whether or not you will be paying sales tax on a free upgrade.  It probably won't be advertised so your best bet is to make some phone calls and save yourself some money.

Remote Control Battery Cover Fix

My Book Live Read/Write Speed Test

You're Missing Out: Personal Cloud Storage

This is a network drive so it is designed to connect to a router or directly to your computer with an ethernet cable.  The big advantage of a network drive or NAS (Network Attached Storage), is that once it is on the home network, files on the drive are accessible from any computer or device on the home network.  That means your files can be accessible from smart phones, smart TV's and other networked devices like the Logitech Revue.

You can even set it up so that you can access your files remotely with a username and password.  If you don't like Drop Box or Google Drive you can setup your own personal cloud storage with this product from Western Digital.  And you don't have to be a geek to do it.  The setup wizard walks you through the process.

DLNA compliant devices on your network will recognize the Western Digital My Book Live as a media server so that you can view pictures, movies and listen to music.  It's probably a good idea to make sure your home network is fast.  I would recommend connecting this drive to a gigabit router like this Buffalo Air Station.  This will ensure that your read/write speeds are optimized and streaming to multiple computers or DLNA displays around your home simultaneously will look crystal clear.

How To Get Google TV

Google TV 2.0

Review Of The Logitech Revue

You can get the Logitech Revue for pretty cheep on Amazon.  When it the product was first released in 2010 the cost was $300.  Mark Hachman has written a few interesting articles about the Revue for PC magazine including Logitech CEO calls Google TV Box A 'Mistake of Implementation'.  In my opinion the concept is definitely a winning idea.  The problem seems to be delayed consumer adoption of this concept.

In response to the PC Magazine article above, I think people have a very strong association between TV in their home and cable/satellite service.  Now here comes the invention of Smart TV's, Smart Blu-Ray's, Smart Phones and Smart Streaming Boxes like the Roku, AppleTV and Logitech Revue.  It's almost as if there are too many choices and too many options so people just stick with cable or satellite for the most part.

Whenever I attempt to explain the differences between streaming boxes to a non-tech-minded person their eye's glaze over.  Let's be honest, it's confusing.  That's the problem right there.  If people don't understand what they are getting when they buy a streaming box they are likely to return it when they take it home, plug it in, and discover it doesn't carry cable channels.

Couple the functionality confusion with an awful user interface and it's going to be a slow process of getting the average non-tech-geek to adopt.  Some of these so-called "smart" devices are painful to navigate with.  I do want to give the Revue credit for having a full size keyboard and great navigation.  Many similar devices do not have user friendly navigation and data entry.  One bad experience trying to login to facebook with a crappy "smart" TV might be enough to keep people satisfied with a cable box.

How To Tell People You're Expecting A Baby

How To Get Free HDTV

I am a cord cutter.  The only TV channels I watch are delivered to my home for free over the air.  I made this video because I talk to people every week that are unaware of this money saving alternative to cable & satellite.  To make this work all you need is an antenna, ATSC Digital Tuner and an HDTV.

In this video the ATSC digital tuner happens to be built into a DVD player.  However, today many new HDTV's have ATSC tuners built into them.  For example this 90" HDTV by Sharp comes with a tuner so all you need to do is connect an antenna directly to the TV.

Depending on where you live in the United States your channel selection will vary.  Over the air channels are broadcast digitally in high definition from your local TV stations.  If you're thinking about trying this in your home, I would recommend looking up the available channels in your area first.  AntennaWeb.org is a helpful resource that allows you to see what channels you can get based on location.

What's A Cord Cutter?
Technically I still have a "cord" coming into my home delivering a high speed internet connection.  But when you hear the term "cord cutter" it is usually referring to canceling cable TV service in order to save money.  Now-a-days there is an abundance of free media available for streaming online.  Do you really need to pay for cable?

Sony DCR-HC28 Trouble Report

Flip Ultra HD Power Button Fix

Flip Ultra HD Power Button Not Working

Well it turns out my dad is an electronic troubleshooting genius, more on that later.  Fixing my Flip and creating a video about it motivated me to start a how-to channel.  I had been thinking about starting up some kind of YouTube channel for a while but I hadn't figured out exactly what to do.

At the time (April 2011) this was my only functioning video camera so when the power button broke I got desperate and posted this low quality video describing the malfunction.  I was hoping someone out there would see what happened and offer a solution with a comment or video response.

In the mean time my dad offered to take a look at the broken camera.  Taking the Flip apart to diagnose the problem was a bit of a delicate procedure, but I had nothing to lose.  After about 30 seconds of examining the circuit board inside my dad realized the problem was a loose electronic component that had broken off.  After a little soldering the camera was functioning properly again.

Here is the solution video I made: Flip Ultra HD Power Button Fix.  After going through the process of creating my first tutorial I decided to dedicate my channel to how-to videos.