Almost a year ago, I bought a Bose Lifestyle 235 home theater system. I connected it to my DirecTV box, Blue-ray player, Sonos sound system and iPod. Everything worked fine with one big exception. I could not use an HDMI interface between my DirecTV box and the Bose console. It worked at first and then wouldn't work.
In frustration, I finally just gave up on the HDMI and after hours on the phone with Bose, connected the DirecTV box using bulky component cables and a very slim fiber optic audio cable. I still had an HDMI connecting the Bose and my TV. But, it was frustrating that I couldn't use HDMI for the whole setup.
Well, I was in the local Bose store today looking at a new SoundLink portable speaker Bose just introduced last week. I happened to mention that I had the 235 and that it worked fine with the exception of the HDMI issue. The salesman told me it had now been fixed.
Bose ships a USB thumb drive with the 235 to allow firmware upgrades. I did one right after I got it, but forgot about it after that. As it turns out, Bose finally figured out why the HDMI wasn't working and made the appropriate firmware upgrades to fix it. So, tonight, I came home, downloaded the upgrade and installed it. After a few bumps on the reset of the Bose unit, it now works with an HDMI cable. And, I swear, the picture and the sound are better.
Lucky I stopped into the Bose store and happened to mention the HDMI problem. Also great that Bose makes its products so they are user upgradable. So, I was able to eliminate some cabling and probably will get a smidgen better performance out of my entertainment equipment.
26 September 2011
11 September 2011
Linfield sends warning: We've reloaded
It was another historic day at Maxwell Field in McMinnville yesterday. Linfield opened another football season and from the looks of their solid play and improvement, this is going to be yet another amazing Wildcat campaign. Less predictable and more fun.
Let met set the stage: Linfield comes into the game ranked 7th nationally against 16th ranked California Lutheran University. The rankings mean nothing. Linfield is ranked 7th strictly off its finish last year (9-2, advanced to second round of NCAA Division III playoffs). Linfield is rebuilding, particularly at quarterback, where they lost an All-American. Defense projected to be solid, but also lost an All-American.
And, CLU was projected to be better than their ranking and possibly better than what showed on paper, which was very good. I was fully prepared for a lessons-learning opening loss, not something Wildcat fans suffer lightly, especially at home. And, it did not start out well. Linfield went three out on their first three series and looked, in a word, bad. Meanwhile, CLU marched down the field in its first possession and scored with ease. Uh oh! This could have been a long afternoon.
But, the amazing thing about Linfield historically, is how well they are coached and how well they adjust. Major kudos to Coach Joe Smith and his staff. The fake punt call in the second quarter was pure brilliance and superbly executed. It was the turning point in the game. And, let's hear it for the Wildcat defense! They kept us in the game early and then slammed the door shut on CLU's comeback attempts late.
QB Mickey Inns started out slow and finished like a house on fire, aided significantly by his offensive line who did not allow a sack. He's got a ways to go, but showed visible and major improvement as the game progressed. He's going to be more than adequate, especially if he demonstrates the same kind of improvement throughout the season. Despite two picks, Inns was solid, solid, sold.
And, then there was Josh Hill. The Portland junior ran for 164 yards and two TDs in one of the best performance by a Linfield running back in years. He is exactly what the spread offense needs to be killer this year. Speed, quickness and smarts. Josh is our LaMichael James and will make our passing game even more effective.
This is a team to get excited about. I haven't been excited about a "new" Linfield team since Bret Elliott showed up on the scene in 2004. I was all prepared for a tough season of weekly hand-to-hand combat. I don't think so after watching the superbly entertaining and well played opener yesterday. I've watched a lot of Linfield football in the past 34 years and this year is unlikely to disappoint.
Let met set the stage: Linfield comes into the game ranked 7th nationally against 16th ranked California Lutheran University. The rankings mean nothing. Linfield is ranked 7th strictly off its finish last year (9-2, advanced to second round of NCAA Division III playoffs). Linfield is rebuilding, particularly at quarterback, where they lost an All-American. Defense projected to be solid, but also lost an All-American.
And, CLU was projected to be better than their ranking and possibly better than what showed on paper, which was very good. I was fully prepared for a lessons-learning opening loss, not something Wildcat fans suffer lightly, especially at home. And, it did not start out well. Linfield went three out on their first three series and looked, in a word, bad. Meanwhile, CLU marched down the field in its first possession and scored with ease. Uh oh! This could have been a long afternoon.
But, the amazing thing about Linfield historically, is how well they are coached and how well they adjust. Major kudos to Coach Joe Smith and his staff. The fake punt call in the second quarter was pure brilliance and superbly executed. It was the turning point in the game. And, let's hear it for the Wildcat defense! They kept us in the game early and then slammed the door shut on CLU's comeback attempts late.
QB Mickey Inns started out slow and finished like a house on fire, aided significantly by his offensive line who did not allow a sack. He's got a ways to go, but showed visible and major improvement as the game progressed. He's going to be more than adequate, especially if he demonstrates the same kind of improvement throughout the season. Despite two picks, Inns was solid, solid, sold.
And, then there was Josh Hill. The Portland junior ran for 164 yards and two TDs in one of the best performance by a Linfield running back in years. He is exactly what the spread offense needs to be killer this year. Speed, quickness and smarts. Josh is our LaMichael James and will make our passing game even more effective.
This is a team to get excited about. I haven't been excited about a "new" Linfield team since Bret Elliott showed up on the scene in 2004. I was all prepared for a tough season of weekly hand-to-hand combat. I don't think so after watching the superbly entertaining and well played opener yesterday. I've watched a lot of Linfield football in the past 34 years and this year is unlikely to disappoint.
06 September 2011
The disaster in Dallas
I haven't written a blog entry in eons. Guess I've not had a lot to say or at least anything to say that rocked my world. I did manage a blog on my decision to give Windows Mobile Phone a concerted try, then backed out of that one. Just couldn't give up on the iPhone based on the productivity it was providing me. I'm still fascinated with WP7, especially with Mango imminent (probably before iOS5 even). I still use it on WiFi, but haven't gotten up the courage to take it to the AT&T store and have my account switched over to it again. Maybe after Mango.
Just back from the Oregon-LSU game in Dallas. Well, the trip was fun, but the outcome was so distasteful that I'm not sure it made the trip worthwhile. Until now, I'd resisted attending any of these big Oregon games -- partly because the track record is so abysmal. What a surprise, the got bamboozled again by the SEC.
While some disagree with me, I do believe Oregon is being out coached in these big games. LSU's speed was a major factor in helping "create" the turnovers. Did you also catch the time when LMJ was overtaken in the backfield by a very fast LSU defender.
This was a sobering lesson in humility (once again) for the Ducks. They may think they're ready for Primetime, but not that Primetime. LMJ's Heisman Trophy quest is over, which is a good thing. Now, maybe Oregon can shed all the hype and focus on winning the Pac-12, no small task. The bright spot was the defense, until it just got tuckered out in the second half.
The LSU fans were mostly nice, but also appropriately arrogant. But, they can legitimately claim arrogance when they have the kind of talent they have and perform the way they did against a favored Oregon team. With the glamour gone, maybe the Ducks can get back to a workmanlike approach to football. This will be their big test for 2011.
Can Oregon regroup, run the table and land in a nice BCS bowl game in Pasadena or elsewhere?
Just back from the Oregon-LSU game in Dallas. Well, the trip was fun, but the outcome was so distasteful that I'm not sure it made the trip worthwhile. Until now, I'd resisted attending any of these big Oregon games -- partly because the track record is so abysmal. What a surprise, the got bamboozled again by the SEC.
While some disagree with me, I do believe Oregon is being out coached in these big games. LSU's speed was a major factor in helping "create" the turnovers. Did you also catch the time when LMJ was overtaken in the backfield by a very fast LSU defender.
This was a sobering lesson in humility (once again) for the Ducks. They may think they're ready for Primetime, but not that Primetime. LMJ's Heisman Trophy quest is over, which is a good thing. Now, maybe Oregon can shed all the hype and focus on winning the Pac-12, no small task. The bright spot was the defense, until it just got tuckered out in the second half.
The LSU fans were mostly nice, but also appropriately arrogant. But, they can legitimately claim arrogance when they have the kind of talent they have and perform the way they did against a favored Oregon team. With the glamour gone, maybe the Ducks can get back to a workmanlike approach to football. This will be their big test for 2011.
Can Oregon regroup, run the table and land in a nice BCS bowl game in Pasadena or elsewhere?
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