AVI to MPEG4 conversion

Given the huge size of AVI files being produced by my digital camera even for 2-3 mins videos (ranging around 45+MB in size), I need to figure out if there are better compression algorithms out there. Looks like MPEG-4 may be a better choice, however my camera (Canon A510) doesn't record in that format.

While I still have to completely understand all the various formats and their pros/cons, I decided to check out conversion utilities available out there. Most of them are substantial $$, mediacoder is freeware and uses a good amount of conversion encoders freely available.

Now to the interesting part - I tried converting a 50MB AVI file to MPEG-4 format and the conversion period started increasing from 600hrs to 1200hrs to 2000+hrs on an intel mobile centrino 1.6GHz processor with 512MB RAM. I just gave up - understandably.

Either I'm missing something, the tool is wrong, estimation is screwed up, or it's just not worth doing it in software.

Anyone done this earlier and has better inputs/insight ?

Online calendars - Scrybe ...

Back in Apr-2006, I'd posted my take on Google Vs Yahoo calendar.

FWIW, I still use Yahoo calendar for all my personal reminders. Infact, I've extended the usability by
* importing the events into my Nokia 6233 phone (albeit not as frequently updated as I wish it'd be),
* using yahoo calendar widget to view the events on my desktop (it's really cool and easy)

Anyway, coming back to why this post now, I recently read a Wired review on few online calendars - The Web's Best Calendars. I found Scrybe listed amongst them to have ultra-kewl capabilities. The demo video just makes you drool :) Enlisted myself for the beta, waiting in the queue now !

Back to the wonderful beast called Firefox

Call it a state of mind !

Back in Dec-2006, I'd written about my problems with Firefox. However, I just couldn't convince myself to stay with IE as my default browser for a long time (Internet Explorer Unsafe for 284 Days in 2006).

Have switched back to Firefox. Did a complete uninstall, wiped out install directories, nuked the profile directories. Reinstall has worked like a charm. No more 100% CPU utilization/freeze problems, albeit it will still be a nasty memory hog. This time, I'm making it a point not to go firefox extension crazy :)

I must admit that I didn't do proper debugging earlier. While I did do a complete uninstall, deleted installation directories, I didn't bother about the profile directory. Guess that's where the problem was (what/why it was, I don't know).

Glad to have a "normal life" now :)

Problem with Firefox ?

Ever since I was on FF version prior to v2.0.0.1 (and now on it), I've been seeing strange problems with Firefox (on Windows XP SP2). CPU utilization shoots to 100% quite frequently for no apparent reason (while doing plain scrolling, opening new tab, etc). FF freezes and fails to respond for a brief period during such times. I've got so sick of it that I've almost effectively migrated to (gasp!) Internet Explorer. My only "consolation" is that I'm using the "savior" Yahoo! Toolbar for tabbed browsing.

Don't think the FF problem is related to virus/trojans, however, who knows ?!!! Need to run a full scan on my machine. Probably now is as good a time as any else.

Lemme know if you've heard/come-across this and/or know of a solution to the problem (other than migrating to IE, Opera, ...) :)