Podcast Producer

Description: Podcast Producer is a feature of Mac OS X Server

What it can be used for: It uses the server space to upload podcasts. Podcasts can be audio, video or file podcasts. Once the podcast is made using Podcast Capture, it is automatically transferred to Podcast Producer where it automatically encodes the format into MPEG-4. The podcast then can be published to a series of places, including blogs, iTunes and iTunes U.

What you need: Mac OS X Server and a mac with Mac OS X Leopard.

Ease of use: Easy to use like any apple device.

Why it is important: Allowing schools to use server space to host podcasts instead of each individual paying for Mobile Me will encourage teachers and students to create podcasts. The server is also used as a central place where all of the school podcasts are stored, making it easier to manage them.

Personal opinion: If you're a school owning a Xserve, then I highly recommend to enable this feature. But if you're an individual and you're thinking about buying a 360,000 yen server just for podcasts, forget it. Instead, use other pay sites or for the best ease-ability, use Mobile Me instead.

Project 10: Replace SuperDrive of a 17-inch Aluminum PowerBook G4

Project Description: To replace a broken SuperDrive of a 17-inch Aluminum PowerBook with a new one.

Cause of Project: A teacher requested me to exchange the broken SuperDrive.

Difficulty: Hard

Length of Project: 2 hours

What I did: I followed the steps in disassembling the PowerBook to get to the SuperDrive from this manual. Although very easy to follow, the manual misses a few key points:

1) There is a magnet next to two of the screws on the inside of the place where the battery is usually placed. This causes the screw(s) to stick onto the magnet, and becomes very annoying when you have to screw it back in. Especially if you have short nails. Plus, who's stupid enough to put a magnet next to a hard drive??

2) It tells you everything you need to know to disassemble the PowerBook and how to take out the old Superdrive, but it doesn't mention one thing on how to install the new one other than "To reassemble simply follow the directions in reverse order."

3) As a result of 2, it doesn't say that you have to reattach the ribbon on the new super drive.

4) As a result of 2, it doesn't say where in the casing to put the trackpad ribbon through when reassembling the PowerBook. So when you try to put the casing back on, it can cause you to squish/sandwich the trackpad ribbon between the casing and logic board. However, it does say how to reattach the trackpad ribbon back to the connector.

Challenges: Replacing the SuperDrive was easy as pie. It was getting to it that was the hard part.

Status: Completed. I inserted a DVD disk into the SuperDrive and it worked perfectly fine.

Other: If you're not good with your hands, don't attempt this. 

Project 10: Replace SuperDrive of a 17-inch Aluminum PowerBook G4

Project Description: To replace a broken SuperDrive of a 17-inch Aluminum PowerBook with a new one.

Cause of Project: A teacher requested me to exchange the broken SuperDrive.

Difficulty: Hard

Length of Project: 2 hours

What I did: I followed the steps in disassembling the PowerBook to get to the SuperDrive from this manual. Although very easy to follow, the manual misses a few key points:

1) There is a magnet next to two of the screws on the inside of the place where the battery is usually placed. This causes the screw(s) to stick onto the magnet, and becomes very annoying when you have to screw it back in. Especially if you have short nails. Plus, who's stupid enough to put a magnet next to a hard drive??

2) It tells you everything you need to know how to disassemble the PowerBook and how to take out the old Superdrive, but it doesn't mention one thing on how to install the new one other than "To reassemble simply follow the directions in reverse order."

3) As a result of 2, it doesn't say that you have to reattach the ribbon on the new super drive.

4) As a result of 2, it doesn't say where in the casing to put the trackpad ribbon through when reassembling the PowerBook. So when you try to put the casing back on, it can cause you to squish/sandwich the trackpad ribbon between the casing and logic board. However, it does say how to reattach the trackpad ribbon back to the connector.

Challenges: Replacing the SuperDrive was easy as pie. It was getting to it that was the hard part.

Status: Completed. I inserted a DVD disk into the SuperDrive and it worked perfectly fine.

Other: If you're not good with your hands, don't attempt this. 

UStream TV

Description: UStream TV is a web application that allows you to show videos on their website, Live. You can also just record videos and show them later.

What it can be used for: It can show live footage just for anything; meetings, races, concerts or basket ball games.

What you need: A digital camera, a computer, a wire connecting the two, and internet 

Ease of use: Simple, easy to set up, and free. However, advertising does occasionally pop up on videos.

Why it is important: Parents, students and teachers can watch school events they can't make (eg; because of it's location or no more space,) without actually being there, and can see it all happen Live. It can also end up as a way to connect with other family members who don't visit often. And don't forget to mention that is can be used as an effective video storage device, since there is no limit on how much space you can use.

Personal opinion: Best deal you're ever going to get. You can host as many videos as you like, whether they're live or not, and it's all for free. Advertising usually isn't a problem, especially since it's the thing that is keeping hosting on the website free.

Project 12: Setting up audio and longer video cables

Project Description: Set up audio and longer video cables for the language building.

Cause of Project: So computers can play their audio on the TV.

Difficulty: Easy

Length of Project: 2 hours

What I did: Set up longer video cables at first, because I realized that the Stereo to RCA cable can not be used since the TV did not have a RCA input that worked together with the VGA input. The IT Lab ordered RCA to Stereo adapters, and a few days later, I set up the audio cables.

Challenges: Properly recycling the packaging into the correct bins

Status: Completed