Show off your summer

Every day from Aug. 5-9, the University of Delaware is awarding gift card from the Barnes and Noble University Bookstore.  Just shoot some video showing off your summer and upload it to Vine for a chance to win.  Read more here.

University of Hawaii's Guide to the Sony HXR-NX70u Guide

Here's a helpful guide I found from the University of Hawaii's media lab about using the Sony HXR-NX70u.  It's a nice quick reference guide.

http://www.communications.hawaii.edu/mlab/supported_courses/study_guides/SONY-HXR-NX70U-Study-Guide-small.pdf

Chromecast

Google announced yesterday that it will be releasing a new product called Chromecast.  The product allows you to broadcast from your phone, tablet or computer onto your TV. It currently works with Netflix and YouTube but more apps are coming and you can effectively play anything from your Chrome browser (minus Quicktime or Silverlight videos) using Chrome's Tab Projection feature.  This is sort of in the same vein as Apple TV but at the much smaller cost of $35.  A Wired article on the product reveals that it is painfully slow in actual performance if you do not have a strong Wi-Fi connection.

Google Blog Release: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/from-tvs-to-tablets-everything-you-love.html

Wired Article: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/07/chromecast-is-googles-miracle-device/

Edit:  Wired actually has their initial reactions after playing with it for a bit.  They take back their comparison to Apple TV.  http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/07/one-night-with-chromecast/

What resolution makes a scan useful?

Many people scan materials in the Student Multimedia Design Center but few ask about resolution.  Resolution values are often expressed in dots per inch (dpi).  A 300 dpi resolution may produce a very readable image of a text article.  Scanning a color photo or passport page at 600 dpi will create a larger file size but generally produces an image that shows fine details.

The article You Say You Want a Resolution: How Much DPI/PPI is Too Much? discusses scanning resolution issues as they relate to archiving.  As the Center's scanner/copiers default to 300 dpi but may be set to 600 dpi, it's may be helpful to ask users how their scanned images will be used and help them to choose an appropriate setting.  The Center will offer a workshop on Digitizing Old Formats: Photos and Video in the Fall semester that addresses these issues.

GoPro - not just for sports

GoPro video cameras aren't just good for capturing extreme sports.  Their compact size and portability allow them to be held aloft or placed in tight spaces where other cameras can't go. 

GoPro released "Virtuoso Violinist" to show how a crisp video can be shot using multiple cameras and angles.  Today a GoPro (and its vented back door) was borrowed to record interviews with people who might be intimidated by a large unblinking camera.  The vented door is recommended by GoPro to improve sound quality in dry situations and speeds of less than 100 mph.  

The sealed plastic case works well for hazardous environments, like the entrance of this bee hive.  Has anyone tried using this versatile camera for an application other than sport photography?