Video Volunteers needed for Graduate Research Cafes

A new series called Graduate Research Cafés is being planned for Spring 2013.  Each informal gathering will feature two graduate students speaking about their research. As part of this experience, they will be videotaped delivering a very brief “on location” summary of their research for the web. They are in need of advanced video production volunteers to help implement this aspect of the program. These students will be mentored as they light, shoot, manage sound, and edit the video profiles. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Barbara Garland (bbg@imagevisions.net) with the following information: you name, major, year of study, program advisor, email, and telephone number. Also briefly describe your experience with news interview-style video production.

Graduate Research Cafés will be scheduled three times per semester: February 11, 2013, March 18, 2013, and April 15, 2013.

Sponsors of the project include: University of Delaware Office of Graduate and Professional Education, the Center for Science, Ethics and Public Policy, Delaware EPSCoR, the Interdisciplinary Humanities Research Center, and NSF. 

Turn Your iPad Into a Hand-Held Dark Room

Apple's iPad isn't just a fun tablet where you can play Angry Birds or check the news. The iPad can also be your very own dark room. Using a simple USB connector to the iPad, you can transfer over your photos from any digital camera into the iPad in a flash. The iPad is much more portable than any laptop so it makes editing photos on the go that much easier.

The cables to connect the camera to the iPad range from about $10 to $30. There are also many apps that have been developed ranging from about $5 to $20. With the simpler apps, you can change the contrast, brightness or saturation. Apple's iPhoto application also lets you apply filters like sepia for a "vintage" look. The more advanced apps offers controls such as layering, curves, and the ability to add text.

Obviously, the newer iPads with retina display will be the best choice when it comes to editing because it gives such a clear picture. However it does come with a hefty price tag. With the combination of high quality photography from the cameras at the SMDC, and the knowledge and practice of the photo editing apps on the iPad, amazing creations are sure to come.

For more information see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/technology/personaltech/apps-and-accessories-help-make-the-ipad-a-scaled-down-darkroom.html?ref=personaltech

Music Rights of the Future

Everyone knows the controversy of copyright infringement involving music, especially in the age of downloading and sharing via the internet. With the closing down of peer-to-peer sharing sites like Limewire, illegal downloading has become of way of the past. Now people are going towards legal alternatives like Pandora radio. But, ever since Spotify, people have been able to listen to whatever they like whenever they like, for free! Of course the occasional advertisement keeps it legal, but Spotify is revolutionary as it is basically an unlocked iTunes. How are they competing and how are the artists feeling about this? The main fear is that this will take money out of the pockets of independent musicians, but mainstream artists also are complaining. Taylor Swift and Coldplay have both forbid Spotify access to their new albums and think the website is destroying the value of music. But, as Spotify becomes more used and more socially driven (an update is coming that is transforming Spotify into a Twitter-like fashion of followings and followers), artists are also waving the white flag and allowing access. Metallica, who were famous for their Napster hatred, have given rights to spotify along with ACDC and other bands who have typically kept away from internet access. What is the correct way to deal with music copyright law? Especially in the age of internet-everything? Is it fair to give access online in a perfectly legal way or is it taking away from the sanctity of music, making it readily available for anyone with an internet connection? As we see the transformation of music and other multimedia rights continue through the 21st century, these legal and moral questions arise. Before, we knew Limewire and Piratebay were bad, and we stayed away (hopefully). But now we are at a crossroads with music. And for the first time, we actually don't know for sure what the right things to do is.

News Flash

The microforms scanners and the mapping station are connected to VendPrint.  Directions for releasing the jobs can be found at all four stations.

iPad's Made Simple

I've been amazed at all of the new things they have created for ipads.On the other hand I was concerned that it would just be another piece of apple technology that needed a day worth of manual reading to figure out or it would still contain some of the same issues as phones and computers. Thankfully I found out about some helpful tips on how to control the little things that tend to annoy people.

First is turning off the wifi pop up screen that alerts you whenever new networks are available. Now you can get rid of this feature but still be able to access all of the ones that are available by simply turning it off in your wifi settings.

On the new ipad instead of having to go into your settings to turn the volume off all you have to do is hold down the volume button and it will go all the way down to mute it completely.

You can also stream media right onto your TV with your ipad whenever the "Airplay" icon is available. There's no need for cables and whatever you play on your ipad will play on your TV screen for better viewing.

Those were just a few of my favorites but I learned a lot of new cool things from this website -

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/mobile-computing/tablets/50-really-useful-ipad-tips-and-tricks-688556

New Lytro Camera in Circualtion

If you haven't had a chance to check out this new gadget before leaving for break make sure you do when you get back. The Lytro is a camera that captures the entire light field of an image and allows the user to refocus on different parts of the image after it has been captured.The opportunities are endless.

Did Pod Casting Drive you Crazy this Semester?

This semester seemed to overflow with students needing to make Podcasts for classes! If your like me, you've never had to make one thus far in your life, so why the sudden craze for these Podcasts? Personally, I still have no idea, maybe convenience for our facility members, or an easier way to integrate a creative aspect into an assignment ? I have no idea really, but it has been an on going trend!

Luckily our wonderful staff here, such as Hannah Lee, have successfully navigated students this semester on how to create their own Podcasts! These students had an amazing opportunity to learn first hand from Hannah, but if you were not in a class that she taught, don't worry we can still help you!

The great thing about SMDC is that if you need one to one help on a project or how to navigate an unfamiliar program, just call email/call us and arrange an individual session with our staff!

Also don't forget that at the beginning of every semester SMDC offers free classes on our software, equipment, and the many, many different ways to use them!

To learn more about Podcasts I found this great site: How Stuff Works "How Podcasting Works"

Three reasons a Windows 8 laptop leads, MacBook lags

We're all aware of the touchy subject of Mac vs. PC. You have many people that feel strongly one way or the other on both sides. Apple has seemed to be the leading innovator for a long time now, however times may be changing. I personally love my MacBook Pro, but the new HP EliteBook Revolve looks like it may be the future of laptops. A unique design, built-in 4G, and a touch screen are what sets this laptop apart from the others. A more complete description of the features of the HP Revolve is given here.

End of an era

Sony will be discontinuing to manufacture the handheld tape recorders in 2013, but they still plan on selling boomboxes with CD/tape deck combos.  Convert that media now before it's too late.

How to Play DVDs on Windows 8

With the launch of Windows 8, you may have noticed you are no longer able to play DVDs. This is because Microsoft chose to remove free DVD playback from Windows due to licensing costs. Therefore, if you wish to play a DVD you must first upgrade to Windows 8 Pro using the Windows 8 Pro Pack. Once you are using Windows 8 Pro, install the Windows Media Center Pack. After installing the feature pack, you will be able to play DVDs in the Windows 8 Media Center. Other options for how to play DVDs on Windows 8 include installing a third-party DVD player or using a licensed DVD player.

Learn more at http://www.howtogeek.com/127774/how-to-play-dvds-on-windows-8/

Enjoy!

It goes "ding" when there's stuff.

Well, somewhat. Actually, it lights up. I'm referring to the blink(1), which technically is just an LED you plug into a USB port. But that's the beauty of it. When does it light up? Whenever you want it to. If you know how to make a program track it, you can make a blink(1) respond to it. To start they have a few demo applications, picking a color for it, making it flash to music, but it also includes a program that just tells a blink(1) "light up like this" as well as code for using it in Java and C. Already included is a program that will light up whenever a phrase is matched on Twitter, and the concept could be easily applied to something else, both with full programs and with little scripts. The blink(1) is available for preorder from ThingM here.

A Paper USB Drive

 

Well I think it's safe to say that this is the craziest, most out-of-the-world idea that I've ever seen.....so naturally I must blog about it. Intel has recently developed 'Intellipaper' which is a paper USB drive. The storage device is literally composed of only two things: paper and a silicon chip. Acting as a normal USB drive, Intel believes that people will eventually start attaching these to business cards, pamphlets, tickets, etc. Its seems that the possibilities for this kind of technology are endless. Maybe one day we will even have these hanging from our Student Multimedia Design Center posters instead of QR codes, who knows!

You can read more about the paper drive here: Intellipaper

Enlighten Me

We illuminate our lives every day with a variety of things: the sun, new knowledge, friendships, laughter, and, of course, light bulbs! No matter where you go, fluorescent and halogen bulbs glare down at you from the ceilings and the walls. Scientists have spent many years devising energy-efficient bulbs that are environment-friendly, and the search for a truly unique and viable light bulb is ever continuing.
               

Phil Bosua has invented such a light bulb, named “LIFX.” These LED light bulbs can be programmed for any color, dimmed as need, and come with a variety of effects. The fascinating thing about these bulbs is that they are controlled directly from your smart phone. External controllers are unnecessary, as LIFX simplifies things to make all of the features accessible in the palm of your hand. LIFX can also be programmed to match the beat of music being played in the room, and is a useful addition for anyone trying to turn any boring old room into a party just waiting to happen!

These bulbs have a life expectancy of about 40,000 hours, and can last for up to 25 years with average use. They are not on the market as of yet, but the project has received ten times the funding that it requires to get off the ground (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/limemouse/lifx-the-light-bulb-reinvented). Predicted prices are $69 for one, $119 for two, $196 for four, $294 for six, $392 for eight and $490 for 10. Below are two links: the first of which is an article describing the product, and the second is the product’s website at which you can pre-order some of these fantastic new glowing orbs!

http://www.geekologie.com/2012/09/lifx-the-color-changable-wi-fi-enabled-2.php
http://www.lifx.co/

Tips for fixing PowerPoint "nightmares"

Here are some ways to avoid PowerPoint "nightmares" that could happen. Many of these problems arise when people are trying to use PowerPoint created on their own computer on another one. We've had audio issues before (#6). Some of these tips are good to know such as the formatting text around the image issue.

Photoshop CS6 Retina Support

When Apple introduced the new MacBook Pro with retina display last summer, they also promised a Photoshop that would be retina compatible to follow within the next couple months. However, we did not see a retina compatible Photoshop this fall. But there seems to be good news... the latest Adobe video shows a new MacBook Pro running Photoshop CS6. This video is advertising Adobe's Create Now Live event which is scheduled for December 11, 2012. We will just have to wait and see if the promised retina compatible Photoshop CS6 will be included in this announcement.

Here is Adobe's video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NaTV3FlCxQ

What To Look For In a New Laptop

With the holiday season here, people want to buy. Even though gifts for this holiday season may range from scented candles to assorted cheeses, when it comes to getting a new laptop it isn't that easy. Shelves are now filled with shiny new PCs and Macs and its hard for consumers to pick what to get. Here is a guide to making the buy a little bit easier.

Windows or Mac?
The first choice may not be as easy you think. It could be a personal choice depending if you want an elegant and reliable Mac, or a Windows computer that offers much greater variety and lower prices. Apple has kept the traditional laptop approach with a touch pad and keyboard. Windows 8 has changed it up by offering a traditional Windows desktop mode, and another Start screen which is like a tablet and best used with touch screens. If you want a familiar laptop, focus on a Mac. If you want to switch back and forth, pick a Windows 8 laptop.

Storage:
Windows 8 takes up a lot more storage space than Windows 7. Make sure you get at least a 500 gigabyte hard disk or a 256 gigabyte solid-state drive.

Price:
The least costly Mac is the 11-inch MacBook Air and it is still $999. In general, you can expect to spend between $600 and $1,000 for a well-equipped thin and light touch-screen Windows 8 laptop.

Bottom Line:
Make sure you know what you're getting and why. Wade through the confusing options and get what you need.

Will Mario and Luigi Be Able to Keep Up?

This month Nintendo released a new version of its Wii game console to stores nationwide.  The new Wii, called Wii U, was released in the hopes of becoming a huge comeback for Nintendo games.  The Wii U looks like a combination of an iPad and a traditional console, with a touch screen in the middle.  Industry creators are starting to realize that younger generations of gamers favor a multi sensory gaming experience, with data accessible from their television, computer, tablet and cell phone. 

Since the arrival of mobile games such as Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Temple Run and other inexpensive games, Nintendo has suffered greatly in sales and popularity.  Additionally, as free Web and Facebook games become more popular people are becoming accustomed to cheaper entertainment alternatives.  More expensive, traditional games are no longer in high demand.  Traditional games also take minutes to get up and running after turning on all the necessary equipment.  A web or cell phone game is ready for game play within seconds of opening the application.  Game players are attracted to the immediacy of these new games.

To remedy this issue Nintendo could potentially license their beloved Mario characters to other operating systems such as the iPhone and gain revenue that way.  However, Nintendo has chosen not to sellout their original creations to other gaming platforms even if it is a missed financial opportunity.  Nintendo hopes that the Wii U will make up for this years revenue loss.

As multimedia technology advances in all areas, companies must stay relevant and be aware of present competition.  Hopefully Nintendo will be able to keep up with these changes so iconic game characters like Mario and Luigi do not disappear from the gaming world.   

Photography Tips for Smartphone Users

Since the majority of college students now own smartphones, I thought that this article I found recently could be interesting and beneficial to many. Smartphone cameras have become increasingly impressive over the past couple of years. So much so that, it has become common to solely bring one's smartphone everywhere rather than taking an additional device out such as a camera to take pictures with. Therefore, find out ten tips on how you can make the most out of the pictures you are taking with your smartphone by reading the article listed below. The tip I found most interesting in the article was to ditch the flash. I had never realized before that many smartphone flashes are nothing more than glorified LED lights and can often cause your image to be both blurry and terribly lit. Which tip do you find most interesting?

http://www.popphoto.com/gallery/10-tips-making-your-smartphone-photos-look-they-came-real-camera

Enjoy!

Pixlr: Photoshop's Free Little Stepsister

I recently found the coolest photo editing website ever! Pixlr is a free website that lets you edit pictures in a couple different ways. 1. You can use the simple and fun editor that is kind of like Instagram to do basic effects and add borders. 2. There is an efficient option that combines the playful with the more professional. You can crop, adjust color, remove red eye, whiten teeth, add effects, add borders, etc. 3. The final way you can edit is in the professional mode. This mode is almost exactly like Photoshop! Many of the tools found in Photoshop are also in the Pixlr professional editor. If you want to edit some photos and don't want to pay this is a great option. You can also download the app to your iPhone. Play around with it, it is a lot of fun!

Windows 8 first impression

Over Thanksgiving break I got my first look at Windows 8. It's been out since October 26th, but I didn't really pay mind to the OS update until I visited the Windows Store at the Christiana Mall. Windows 8 seemed fitting for the tablet/laptop hybrids featured in the store, with a distinct new interface that the user could customize. However, on my new PC (Black Friday woop),  I found the interface a little strange. I had to enter the "Desktop app" in order to access the Control Panel, and not may programs showed up on the desktop. My guess is that the new OS is geared toward use with touch-based devices and syncing different devices together. However, I'm still optimistic about the benefits of a long-needed update when I return home for winter break. Has anyone else tried out Windows 8, and if so what are your thoughts on it?

Sony HRX Camera 60p Work Around!

Hey Everyone!
So this is some helpful information that I wish I had a couple weeks ago!


So I accidentally set our new Sony HRX (the new advanced camera kit) to 60p, or 60 Frames per second, and I was very frustrated to find when I was trying to import the footage, NONE of the programs you typically use were recognizing the audio.  The video would be laggy and a bit jumpy, but there would be no sound whatsoever. Once I double checked that my videos and audio were fine on the camera I knew it was a problem with the software I was using.

After Diana and I worked through and tested every video-editing software we have available to us.  We finally came down to Final Cut X.
Thankfully, it was able to read the extremely high definition sound that the Sony HRX uses to capture sound at 60p. After using Final Cut X to import the video, it converted everything into a workable .mov file so I could then transfer all my footage into Premiere or Final Cut 7 to start my editing process!



So this is for anyone that is interested in using the Sony HXR, or if you ever hear someone come up and say they can’t get the audio to import with their videos.  Here is your workaround!

Step 1) Locate Camera and a computer with Final Cut X

Step 2) Import all footage you need through Final Cut X and add it to an event.

Step 3) Locate that Event in the computer files. (Should be something like Final Cut Pro Events)

Step 4) Inside the “Final Cut Pro Events” folder there should be an “Original Media” (This folder will contain converted clips of the footage you just imported

Step 5) Copy the converted clips you need to whatever External Harddrive you’re using and enjoy editing!

Need to share a large file? Google has you covered.

After reading some articles on CNN I happened to come across one about storage which I think has been important because of saving data. The article states that Gmail now allows users to send 10 GB of files using Google Drive, which is very helpful in light of the past couple days where there have been few if any hard drives at the Student Media Design Center. I myself always wished to send a file sometimes greater than a GB to myself whenever I forgot my usb.  Also the article asserts that you can purchase 25 GB of storage for the low price of 2.49! That is a great deal considering that some 16 GB usb are around 10 bucks.


heres the link to the article

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/28/tech/web/gmail-google-drive/index.html

Animating with Google Docs?

In light of Brandon's previous post about using the best piece of software for the job, I'd like to endorse that principle. It is generally a good idea to use software for what it is intended, but sometimes, there's an imaginative user out there who pushes the limits we all assumed were there.

With great resourcefulness, diligence, and downright cleverness, a team of three created The Most Awesome 450 Page Presentation Ever. It looks like a Flash animation, but in reality their piece is made up of hundreds of slides with meticulously arranged objects that they successively moved and transformed, slide by slide. I imagine that none of the suite's developers anticipated this sort of creative, subversive use of Google Docs. Check it out slide by slide by following the link above, or watch it in action right here.

Making Full Use of Microsoft Publisher

Many students in the SMDC have been utilizing Microsoft Office programs like Word and PowerPoint to create fliers, brochures, and other kinds of specially formatted documents. They can serve that purpose but their intended purpose is to to create written documents and slide show presentations. Publisher has a wide variety of templates that would make creating handouts much easier. Inputting pictures, creating a trifold brochure or poster boards, and lining up text for different articles. Unfortunately, Publisher is only offered on our Dell computers but it wouldn't hurt for mac users to familiarize themselves with the program. I would say proficiency is this program would cut down project production exponentially.

All in one Laptop

Hey Guys!

So I was looking around at potential laptops for my friend and stumbled upon this awesome creation. The Fujitsu Lifebook 2013 i, is a laptop, phone, camera, and tablet all in one. Yea, its that awesome. Unfortunately it won't be out until 2013, until then, check it out!

fujitsu-lifebook-2013-a-truly-all-in-one-concept-device

- Taylor

Nook vs Kindle vs iPad

Cost

Of course, the  first question on anyone’s mind would be: “How much does it cost?”

The iPad ranges from $329-$829.
The Kindle line is just $69-249.
The Nook brand totals to $99-$299.

Design 

                        Nook/Nook Tablet                   Kindle Fire        iPad(3rd Generation) Screen (in.)   
/Resolution:      6/800x600                                     7/                              9.7/
                           E Ink/                                           1024x600                  1024x768
                           7/1024x600                                  LCD                           LCD

Color:                16 shades gray/16 mill. colors  Yes                            Yes
   

Size (in.):            6.5 x 5.0 x 0.47/
                            8.1 x 5 x 0.48                               7.5 x 4.7 x 0.45         9.56 x 7.31 x 0.34

Weight(lb):          0.47/ 0.88                                    0.89                           1.3-1.35

ebook Format:    ePub & PDF/ePub,                     Kindle,                       ePub,
                             PDF, Doc                                     PDF, MOBI                Kindle, PDF

Performance

                         Nook/Nook Tablet                    Kindle Fire       iPad(3rd Generation)

Storage:           2GB/ 8GB or 16GB                       8GB                 16GB - 64GB

Web browser:        Limited/Yes                             Yes                         Yes

Connectivity:             Wi-Fi                                    Wi-Fi                     Wi-Fi/ 3G

Connectivity Cost:      free                                    free            Optional, $15-$50/ month

Audio/Video:             audio +

                                 images / yes                          Yes                          Yes

Games:                        Yes                                     Yes                          Yes

Sources:

http://ipod.about.com/od/ipadcomparisons/a/comparing-ipad-kindle-nook.htm

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_366177422_1?ie=UTF8& docId=1000846051&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-6-2&pf_rd_r=081WVZDGVXGT8FSD989R&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1412997322&pf_rd_i=B0083PWAPW

                 

How to Be Safe on the Internet

As many of you are aware, the head of the CIA has recently had to resign because his email was hacked and personal information was leaked. If this can happen to the man in charge of the CIA, it can easily happen to you. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself online! This list includes some great advice that everyone should be aware of. One important strategy that not too many people practice is to make sure you turn off file sharing and network discovery when using a public wireless network. Be smart, and don't let others access your private information!

stock.xchng - free stock photography

Though I imagine you'd be hard pressed to find anything free on most stock exchanges, that isn't the case for this massive collection of free stock photography.

When a quick Google search isn't giving you quality images and if you're concerned about violating copyright, head to stock.xchng and make a free account to download images (though you can search and browse without one).

What's great about free stock photos?

What is great about stock.xchng is that users can appropriate any uploaded photo for creative projects as long as they abide by a set of reasonable usage guidelines. It's important to honor these contributors and credit them for their work (some users have specific requests, so take note of these under the "availability" heading to the left of the download button).

So how do I use them?

To use the photo above, I had to leave a comment explaining where I was using the work. For we users, this is a minor obligation if it means getting excellent—and free—photos for our projects! For someone who isn't all that savvy with Wall Street, this is one stock.xchng that I can get excited about.

Free audio services

The following are examples of free audio creation services where you can experiment with your creative side and make some new music to use in your videos -or just share with others. Most can be used without a download or login. Beat Lab: http://www.beatlab.com/ There are twelve default sounds provided in the Beat Lab grid which you just click and drag across to use. You can add more sounds by selecting "add more sounds" and choosing from the huge catalog of sounds or upload your own sounds. I found this a little slow and not as easy to use. Soundation http://soundation.com/ is similar looking to GarageBand; it provides five tracks on which you can place music clips and sound effects to mix together.You can also pick from a gallery of 400 free sounds, upload your own sounds, or record new sounds using the instruments and keyboard built into Soundation. UJam: http://www.ujam.com/ujamstudio You can sing and it will try to create music to go along with what you sing (No, I didn't try it since I'm not singing at work...) :) Incredibox: http://www.incredibox.com/en/#/application --I had SO much fun playing with this application. It almost made me feel like I do have an ounce of musical talent! If you like the human beat box style, you will like it too.

UD Library now checking out eBooks!

Welcome to the Brave New Library World! The UD Library is making eBooks available for loan. Read this UDaily article for details. They can be read on a variety of devices including iPhones, Android phones, Windows and Mac computers. They are searchable through DELCAT and one can also choose eBooks as a Library Collection to search. I won't keep adding links, you can see them in the article. It's possible we will get questions down here about them. I assume (unless Shelly indicates otherwise) that Circulation will handle questions relating to circulation issues, and Reference other in depth questions regarding this new resource.

Tricks for Your Project Success

Recently we all handed in our project mock-ups to be assessed so that when we get them back we can make them the best we can. This project was the first time I had worked with Photoshop and it took a lot of googling and trial and error to reach my final product. Since we all want our projects to come out perfect and this definitely won't be the last time we work with Photoshop I thought I'd share a few cool tricks I just learned.

1. If you want to warp an image, for example make it look like it's bent or dancing, you can use the Puppet Warp button. Simply go to edit-puppet warp. The image will become covered in lines moving in different directions and you will need to place at least two "pins" among the lines. You can make active pins (the ones you want to move) that are symbolized by a yellow dot with a black one in the center and inactive pins (the parts you don't want to move) that are just yellow dots. This allows you to play with the parts of the image you want to warp while leaving the other areas alone.

2. I did a lot of things while creating my poster that I probably wouldn't have been able to duplicate later without this trick. Simply click on they layer that  you want to save for future use (if you made a design that you want to use again) and click on the tab at the top of the layer called "styles." Then all you have to do is click the "new style" button and name it something you will recognize.

3. When choosing a font for my poster I struggled to find the buttons that would help me adjust it exactly the way I wanted.
     Command + Shift + B = Bold (if your font has a bold)
     Command + Shift + I = Italic (if your font has an italicized form)
     Alt/Option + the up and down arrows and Alt/Option + the left and right  arrows will alternate between the font's weight (if it has a set one) or add a faux weight style to it.

Good luck fixing up your projects to perfection!

"Microsoft to Kill the Messenger"

Yes, you read that right! Microsoft is planning on ending Instant Messenger (IM). When I read the article: Microsoft to Kill the Messenger, Supplant It With Skype by John P. Mello Jr., it took me back to the start of the home personal computer trend. I remember clearly how fun, convenient, and instant, Instant Messenger (IM) was for that time. It was a wonderful advance and one that this writer remembers spending hours chatting to friends because my mother didn't want me tying up the phone line! This was during the days of dial-up, pagers and payphones were still on every block...Not that I am saying that any of those are bad, just a different time than what we live in now.

So you might be asking, why? Because last year Microsoft purchased Skype and plans to replace their old-time service with something that's more advance. IM'ing has been on the down slide being replaced my texting, social media and Skype.

Here are the potential benefits (direct from the article) on Skype being purchased by Microsoft:

More Power Under Umbrella

By moving to Skype, Live Messenger users will be able to avail themselves of a new set of robust features, such as the following:

• support for more devices;
• consolidation of functions -- video, landline and mobile calling -- into a single application;
• sharing of screens;
• video calling from mobile devices and through Facebook; and
• group video calling.

 For more information please check out the full article  Microsoft to Kill the Messenger, Supplant It With Skype

Want to Skpye? Come by the Student Multimedia Design Center and ask to reserve our Skype studio!

Soon to be Unveiled: Sony HDR-PJ710V

For at little bit we've had a new camcorder in the back.  It will be a replacement as some of the cameras start to die.  I figured now would be a good time to get acquainted with it.  It is the Sony HDR-PJ710V.  I found a good review of it here at http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-HDR-PJ710-Camcorder-Review.htm (minus a multitude of ads).  Basically one of the coolest new features on this gadget is a built in projector.  WOW!  Well it remains to be seen how that will function since I haven't got to see it in action yet.  I'm not sure it will be be all-end all of projectors, but I am at least excited for the possiblities!

Gangnam Style UD!

OK so I'm sure all students and most staff have heard of "Gangnam Style" (yes even middle-aged people have heard of it ;-). There was a flash mob performing this on campus recently. There are three videos on Youtube. Besides being fun, any suggestions for camera technique? Unfortunately I don't feel any of these are the best in that regard. Looks like they could have benefitted from using a tripd. Also Memorial Hall in the background looming over the dancers seems distracting. What do you think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrpzfLGw0uo "Official" video with some split screens, interview at begnning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDUszg7-SZ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNJfYpHuH8w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COZFltha-QM This one was done with a phone. Actually looks a little better than some of the others.

Look Beneath the Surface

The newest Windows tablet, the Microsoft Surface, was released approximately a week and a half ago. This exciting new tablet device was the first such device to be released with Windows RT (a version of Windows 8 specifically designed for tablets using ARM technology), and as such generated a large amount of public speculation regarding its nature, functionality, and malleability. Approximately 90% of computer users utilize Windows as their operating system of choice, making the dual release of this new OS/tablet quite a big deal. The tablet is offered in two different sizes: 32GB and 64GB.

However, as with all devices with removable storage, the 32GB/64GB label is not all that it seems. Many of these supposed “free gigabytes” are actually taken up by various tools and built-in software. The 32GB Surface is in fact 29GB in binary that is used in computer storage informational systems. 5GB of the initial 29GB is space that is reserved for Windows recovery tools. Another 8GB is used to support the OS, Microsoft Office, and the pre-loaded apps that come with the tablet, leaving the user with only 16GB of the originally stated 32GB.

If a user is looking for storage space, Microsoft recommends using Cloud storage (SkyDrive), microSD cards (up to 64GB), a USB flash drive, or an external hard drive.

In short, beware if you are planning on purchasing this sleek and shiny new automaton, as it may be less desirable than you may have originally believed.

Properly Donating

In light of the recent hurricane, Delaware was shown mercy when it came to damage and strife that could have been dealt. Many people in the greater New York City area as well as those who inhabit the Jersey Shore region were not so fortunate. Gov. Chris Christie and President Obama toured the aftermath on Thursday and the President promised the full support of the United States government. The Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg even canceled the annual New York City Marathon, which is rumored to produce more then 300 million dollars of revenue for the city. Getting to the actual point of this post is where to go to ensure that any donation you wish to make goes to the people who actually need it. It was a huge problem after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, that many shell corporations were set up to swindle people out of their funds. The best and most trusted way to donate is through the Red Cross or the Salvation Army. With vast improvements in multimedia, the Red Cross has made it so simple to donate. The most traditional way is to visit there website, which will be at the bottom of this post. Simply enter your information into their secure site, and give whatever amount you are capable of. Then, as I was watching a basketball game the other night, I saw a way to simply text a pledge for 10 dollars to the Red Cross. They partnered with all cell phone carriers, and they simply add a 10 dollar charge to your next months bill. Finally the American Red Cross recently developed an application for the iphone, so you can make a donation straight from your phone. With the Red Cross' multimedia integration it is now even easier to help the people of New York and the Jersey Shore get back on their feet.

http://www.redcross.org/

Invasion of the Tablets

During the month of October both Google and Apple released details of their newest tablets. Apple with the iPad mini and Google with their  new set of Nexus 7 and 10. The new tablets from both sides seem very impressive with exceptional displays and speeds. I've come to wonder if libraries would convert to renting out or offering more tablets in the library with all the books that it has on the shelves. I think it would be very helpful to students who need to look up a page or chapter in a book  faster than trying to find the book. Also if they need copies it would just be a simple print job instead of attempting to use a copier. If the library would consider purchasing more tablets which should they choose? Here is a list of possible tablets along with some of their features.

iPad (Library owns 4 of these so far)
Fast running speed
Good display
itunes store (widest variety of apps, movies, games etc)

Google Nexus:
Exceptional Display
Fastest processor
Multiple account access
Android OS

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
Photoshop and also comes with tablet pen
Polaris Office (basically Word, Excel, and Powerpoint)

Do you think it would be a good idea for the library to own and offer more tablets for student use?

What Lens Would You Pick?

With the introduction of the new Zoom Lens Kit to the Multimedia Center, I thought a blog post on different types of lenses compatible with the DSLR cameras we have would be beneficial.  Standard lenses are commonly used for documentary and street photography, where photographers need to move quickly and capture an interesting point of action.  A wide-angle lens is most commonly used for photographing landscapes, architecture and large groups of people.  A medium telephoto lens is used mostly for portrait photography.  This type of lens is ideal for framing the head and shoulders.  Zoom lenses make it easier to achieve a variety of compositions or perspectives.  This advantage is often critical for dynamic subject matter, such as photojournalism.  A fisheye lens is an ultra wide-angle lens that produces strong visual distortion for a quirky photograph.

Overall, different lenses can give you a plethora of artistic options when it comes to photography.  Knowing which lenses work best for the type of shot you want to achieve will give you professional results you cant get without exploring the options of lenses available.  

Separating vocals and instrumental from an audio track.

Ever wanted to separate the vocals and instrumentals in a song for karaoke or mixing purposes? There is a pretty quick and easy way to do this through Audacity. The link below is a tutorial for this process and there are other videos like it on Youtube. The simplicity of this method can risk sound quality as a result and some tweaking may have to be done to enhance the clarity of the modified audio track. Also, remember to make appropriate use of copyrighted and creative commons material.

iPad Mini... Is It Worth It?

The Student Multimedia Design Center has a couple iPads (1st generation) that have become available for students to check out and use. Some of you may have already tried them out, and as many of you may know by now, the new iPad Mini and iPad "4" (4th generation) will be released tomorrow. With  iPad 4 (which I will refer to from here on out as just the iPad)  only $170 more expensive, is it worth the lower cost for a smaller size? Let's compare the two and find out!

So Apple came up with the iPad mini as a way to compete with smaller sized tablets such as the Nook and the Kindle, which both have versions that are currently around 7 and 9 inches. The iPad is at 9.5 inches and the mini will weigh in around 8 inches. So, not too much of a size difference.

Now looking at the mini and the iPad side to side lets look at all aspects and see if you get more bang for your buck from one over the other.

Capacity
 The mini and the iPad both come in the same 3 standard sizes of 16Gb, 32Gb, and 64Gb.

Price
The mini costs $329, $429, or $529 (with respect to the sizes above) and the iPad comes in at $499, $599, and $699.

Size
The mini will come in (in inches) at 7.87 x 5.3 x 0.28 while the iPad will be 9.50 x 7.31 x 0.37.

Display
As for the display, the regular iPad has a retina display while the mini does not.

For those of you who don't know quite exactly what the retina display is, it is what apple refers to if their product has such a high pixel density that the human eye can not see the individual pixels from a normal viewing distance, thus providing a clearer sharper image.

Chip
The mini runs on dual-core A5 chip, while the iPad runs on a dual-core A6x chip with quad-core graphics.

This means that the iPad has an easier time running and displaying higher quality graphics, and Apple actually claims that it will at least double its graphic and processing speeds compared to the A5.

Camera, Battery, and Siri
Both versions have the same Facetime HD and iSight cameras and both allow 1080p video recording. Both have the same battery life, and both have voice assistant Siri, so no competition here.


Ok now that that's over, lets see if the iPad is worth the extra money. Strictly speaking in screen size and lets say the 64GB price, if you were to take no other factors into account, with a mini you are paying about $67 per diagonal inch. For the iPad you are going to pay about $72 per diagonal inch.
-So only about a $10 extra for screen size.

So for $170 more you get an increased sized, retina display, and also the A6x processor. For me personally, I would choose the full sized iPad. The A6x processor would be worth the price for me and also the clearer display is a big plus when watching movies, playing games, or really viewing anything. Maybe, the iPad is too big for some people in which case, the mini is a good choice. However, I believe that if size is not important when choosing a tablet then the full sized iPad is the way to go.