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