8BitKid: Living Bit by Bit

I have found myself recently spending a fair bit of time in hotel rooms, and am certainly not a fan of the standard sub-par programming, nor do I want to line LodgeNet’s pockets by paying for their content. Luckily, I had the right equipment around to create my own portable VCR of sorts.

The main components are:

1. an iPod with video compatibility
2. Handbrake conversion software
3. a video output cable
4. a universal remote

The first thing you need is stuff to watch. You can get a great deal of content from the iTunes store, but Handbrake helps you get your DVD’s ready for the road by converting them into an iPod-friendly format (I should point out that while Handbrake could be used for the forces of evil and cause the MPAA to come break down your door, you should only use it in legal, law-abiding ways). Handbrake has a variety of settings to help you quickly jump into the world of video transcoding, but feel free to play around to get the quality you want.

Once you have your videos ready, you can load them onto your iPod through iTunes. Then you can hook your iPod up to your hotel room’s TV with a video output cable. These can be purchased at any Apple Store or through their website, as well as at many electronics retailers. Not every hotel offers auxiliary video input on their televisions, and so this is why it is critical to choose your hotels based on the TV models in the rooms.

Now, here is the clever part: bring your own universal remote. This is key, because many hotels use proprietary remote controls that lack the “TV/Video” button that you need to switch the input. You can use any old universal remote, but this “spy remote” looks especially cool.

Well, there you have it. Go forth and enjoy being liberated from the shackles of crappy hotel programming.