Windows
Scott Kelby Releases 2nd Annual Gonzo Holiday Gear Guide
Monday, November 12, 2007
“It’s here: the long awaited, unabated, triangulated, amalgamated, 2nd annual edition of Scott’s Gonzo Holiday Gear Guide!
This year’s expanded in-depth guide includes nothing but the coolest, personally hand-picked gear for the photography and Photoshop freak on your holiday list.”
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Just Back from PowerPoint Live
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
I just got back from the PowerPoint Live Conference in New Orleans. The show was a lot of fun and I got to meet some great folks who are trying to make PowerPoint more useful. Here are the materials from my sessions.
• Video in PowerPoint | PDF | PPT
• Putting Your Presentation on DVD | PDF | PPT
• Broadcast Graphics with PowerPoint | PDF | PPT
An Amazing Website for the Land of Oz
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Sci-Fi Network has a very cool series that "re-imagines" the Land of Oz. The show is called Tin Man, and while the show looks fantastic, it is an amazing promo site that deserves mention. They have created a really unique sub-site called The Infinite Oz which offers a virtual reality experience. What I like is how immersive and creative the website is. It also features the work of several up and coming 3D artists. Go take a look... really!
Notes from Podcast Expo
Saturday, September 29, 2007
If you came to either of my classes at Podcast and New Media Expo. I just wanted to offer you the handouts and resources. Heck.. even if you missed the show you might like these.
CLASS ONE – Field Production Strategies for Video Podcasting
The rules of the studio don't apply the same in the field. In this session you will learn how to properly capture your video content outside of a controlled environment and unpredictable lighting and background noise. You also learn how to achieve the best results when encoding files for various output devices. See how the experts retain overall quality with an overview of the latest methods and technologies. This session will also share best practices for multi-camera productions.
• Slides
• Multicamera Advice for FInal Cut Pro
• Production Resources
CLASS Two – Creating a Graphic Identity for Your Podcast
Designing a look and feel for your show is essential. Here are some slides with work samples included. We took a look at the following Shows – Final Cut Help, Understanding Adobe Photoshop, Secrets of Style with Kim Foley, On Software, and Photoshop for Video.
• Slides
• Reference Books
Adobe Premiere Elements and Photoshop Elements Released
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
If you are a Windows user who likes to fix up their photos and video... then you should check out the new releases from Adobe. There are very solid releases with a lot of cool features. I created a few free tutorials on Premiere Elements (I love the YouTube publishing feature). You can check them out here and also learn more about Photoshop Elements.
New Tablets from Wacom
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
On the Subject of Type – Foundries!
Friday, August 03, 2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
Windows and Mac Users Agree – Type is Good
Friday, August 03, 2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
Dock Options
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
New Podcast Series on Microsoft Emerging Technology
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
My company
recently produced a new podcast series called
OnMicrosoft (and yes, its about Microsoft). Here's
the official blurb.
OnMicrosoft—Each week, we will talk to some of the IT Pro and Developer community's leading experts about a wide range of programming, systems, and software issues. Our interviews include talks with Microsoft’s Program Manager on the .NET Framework- Brad Abrams, Connected Systems Division Architect at Microsoft- Chris Anderson, Wintellect Co-Founder- Jeff Prosise, and Group Product Manager at Microsoft- Brian Goldfarb. With discussions on topics including ASP.NET AJAX, Silverlight, PowerShell WPF, Orcas and SharePoint, we have something for professionals working in every part of the industry.
You can check it out in iTunes by clicking here – Video Feed or Audio Feed.
OnMicrosoft—Each week, we will talk to some of the IT Pro and Developer community's leading experts about a wide range of programming, systems, and software issues. Our interviews include talks with Microsoft’s Program Manager on the .NET Framework- Brad Abrams, Connected Systems Division Architect at Microsoft- Chris Anderson, Wintellect Co-Founder- Jeff Prosise, and Group Product Manager at Microsoft- Brian Goldfarb. With discussions on topics including ASP.NET AJAX, Silverlight, PowerShell WPF, Orcas and SharePoint, we have something for professionals working in every part of the industry.
You can check it out in iTunes by clicking here – Video Feed or Audio Feed.
Producing Video and Animation for Multiformat Delivery
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
iMix #4 - Radio & TV
Monday, July 30, 2007
Radio & TV features some songs for those who work in the film/video/broadcast industry. A little satire, a few good beats, and some nice instrumentals. Seems that all my iMixes run with a theme... but I guess all good mix tapes do.
Cool Free Fonts
Sunday, July 08, 2007
The Lockergnome Makes Its Picks
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Terms of Service Comparison for Video Hosting Sites
Online Spreadsheets for Collaboration
Blog2PDF & deskFlickr for Windows
Starter set of 10 Tweaks for Windows Vista
FontRenamer for Windows
Sharable Web-based Whiteboard
Hope you enjoy...
Great New Laptop Cases
Saturday, January 13, 2007
The cases are sized to fit all models of Mac laptops perfectly... in fact its a very snug fit and offers peace of mind that the laptop is well-protected. You can choose from four colors: Mocha, Silver, Red, and Black. The cases are very reasonably priced – $24.95 to $29.95 which seems plenty reasonable. I've been plenty happy with it and invite you to check them out.
Free Chapter on Layout and Design
Thursday, December 28, 2006
I hope you all enjoy it, you can download direct or visit the resources page. If you'd like to order the book (it ships in a few weeks) click here.
For Geeks with Bad Caffeine Habits
Monday, December 25, 2006
The device works, doesn't seem to draw much power, and it runs silently. I know you're jealous, so if you're significant other didn't get you one, than stop over to www.thinkgeek.com and pick one up.
How to Wow for PowerPoint is On the Presses
Thursday, December 14, 2006
I'm trying to get a sample chapter up this week. If you want to order it, put a pre-order into Amazon or directly at Peachpit. This way you'll get it first (heck we might even get the book out before Microsoft gets the software out).
Holiday Shopping Guides for Gadget Loving Geeks
Sunday, November 19, 2006
First, you have Scott Kelby's “Gonzo Holiday Gadget Guide.” This free PDF features a ton of cool digital photography and photoshop related goodies. All the products have been tested by Scott himself, which is cool as he certainly knows his stuff. You can download it from http://www.planetphotoshop.com.
The other guide is from Terry White (who is a true road warrior who works for Adobe). The 2006 Holiday Gadget Gift Guide is an interactive PDF links to some of the coolest gizmos out there. Terry covers everything from digital video to frequent traveler to music lover. His choice are really very good.
A Truly Amazing Comic (On Copyright)
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Asking for Your Help - American Diabetes Association
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
I will be walking this weekend to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. If you are able to, would you consider making a small donation to the cause? Every dollar raised goes to help in the fight against diabetes. Someone is diagnosed with diabetes every 21 seconds, this is quickly becoming the leading cause of death in America. America's Walk for Diabetes is my chance to give back (and yours as well). If you find this blog helpful or entertaining, please consider making a $5 donation. Thanks!
-Rich Harrington
New Freebies for Video Pros
Saturday, October 28, 2006
• Background Textures from Digital Anarchy
• NTSC Test Image (For use with Photoshop's Video Actions)
• Power Window/Vignette to enhance Film Look
• Over The Shoulder Data Sets Template
I hope you enjoy. If you spot any problems, please let me know.
New Film/Video Group in NYC
Thursday, October 26, 2006
While at NAB New York, I had the chance to catch up with some industry pros. I just found at that the New York Final Cut Pro User Group has evolved into a broader focus. The group is now called The Motion Pictures Collective.
"The Moving Pictures Collective fosters our professional filmmaking community to enhance their abilities and broaden their overall knowledge and skills to reach their career goals. With post-production as our core competency, we will share techniques, tools, and best practices in all competencies including editing, directing, writing, producing, and shooting. We will also promote member collaboration by sharing our work in a supportive environment and create opportunities for our members to flourish.”
If you live near New York City, be sure to check out one of their great events.
New Rotoscoping Solution Previewed - Motor from Imagineer Systems
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
At NAB New York, I had a chance to take a look at a new rotoscoping product that is truly unique and fast! Imageneer Systems showed off motor, which looks to speed up the tedious process of rotoscoping by 3 times. The tools is designed for both video and film work. It is a standalone product, but it can export matted clips or mask data to other programs. The product works using 2.5D planar tracking technology where the user defines basic objects or planes (like body parts). The system then supports variable edge width and the ability to refine edges with far fewer keyframes. The product is currently in beta testing (but release looks to be soon).
The Real Reason for Windows Vista Delay
Sunday, October 22, 2006
So I went to hear (and see the latest). But it seems that the Microsoft rep couldn't get the system to boot up using Windows Vista. The audience was good natured, but still after multiple reboots and attempts, it just wouldn't work). So, the unaltered photos you see here are what the audience got (at least the demo guy had a sense of humor).
So, has Vegas started taking odds on Apple vs. Windows as to who will get their operating system out the door first? What are your plans about Windows Vista?
Insert Flash or YouTube into PowerPoint
Friday, October 13, 2006
Here’s a preview of a useful tip on how to insert a Flash file or YouTube video into a PowerPoint slide.
Put Flash in a Presentation
Inserting Flash animations into a slideshow can significantly extend the animation abilities of PowerPoint. However, the task is NOT easy. In order to unlock this feature, you literally need to unlock the software. This feature is tricky, and if you are of the faint of heart.
1. Enable Flash Technology
There are several preferences you must modify to enable Flash files. You may need to adjust your security settings to allow ActiveX to run (this is the portal for Flash). To activate ActiveX, it is best to view the PowerPoint help file, enter the text “Enable ActiveX.”
Next, make sure that the Shockwave Flash plug-in has been loaded on your system. For maximum compatibility you should download the latest version from www.adobe.com. You should also install the latest version of Flash Player on your system.
2. Enable the Developer’s tab
The Developer’s tab contains several advanced elements that let you customize a presentation. Most of these are for developers, that is those individuals who are actually using PowerPoint as a programming environment to create interactive programs.
To enable these tools, click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click PowerPoint Options button. Next, click Popular, and then under Top options for working with PowerPoint, select the Show Developer tab in the Ribbon check box B. To apply the change, click OK.
3. Add the Flash Control
On the Developer tab, go to the Controls group, and click More Controls. In the new dialog box, select Shockwave Flash Object from the list of controls B and click OK. Draw on the slide to insert the control. Drag from the top corner to the bottom corner (covering the entire slide). A white box with an X should now cover the entire slide.
4. Locate the Movie
Unfortunately, the Flash control does not have a browse function to locate the movie. You have to know the actual file path (this is a long string of text such as C:\Documents and Settings\RHED Pixel\Desktop\Chapter 4\Sources\Video\Flash_Title.swf). Be sure to figure out the location of your file.
5. Modify the Control Container
Now that you know the location of the file, right-click the Shockwave Flash Object on the slide and choose Properties A. On the Alphabetic tab, click the Movie property (this specified the file). In the value column (the blank cell next to Movie), type or paste the full drive path B, including the file name or URL to the Flash file that you want to play.
You can also set options such as looping by modifying settings in the Properties dialog box.
6. Test it Out
Lets see if it works? Press Shift+F5 to Preview the current slide. Did it work? Flash animations are a quickly evolving feature inside of PowerPoint, so keep an eye on the built-in help menu to see if future updates streamline embedding a Flash file. If the above steps seem too in-depth, then be sure to check out PFCMedia, which makes this process a few clicks.
7. Want YouTube?
If you’re clever, you can get a YouTube video to work in PowerPoint. It’s not easy (but its pretty cool!) The trick is to harness the power of Flash (see Put Flash in a Presentation). The only difference is you’ll insert a web URL for the movie you want. For example if you found a movie like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RysNrUP5MqA you would view it on the page. What you need to do is modify the web link. Instead, use http://www.youtube.com/v/RysNrUP5MqA to create a direct link to just the media file and none of the web page navigation. When you launch your presentation, click once to start the clip. If you click the screen again it takes you to the YouTube website. Instead, click the space bar to advance the slide.
5GB of Free Online Storage for PC Users (and Very Patient Mac Users)
Sunday, October 01, 2006
“With your 5GB of secure online storage there's plenty of room to keep backup copies of digital photos, all your important documents, e-mail attachments, and other files — and still have space leftover for your music collection. It's the best way to keep computer crashes from becoming disasters. Think of it as hard drive insurance.”
In that vein, it gets even better. When I logged in, they upped it to 50 GB for free. They offer free software for Windows users that lets you mount the Xdrive as a volume on your desktop. But Mac users can still access the service through a slightly more clunky web interface.
Lost Fans or Casual Bystanders... Catch Up!
Saturday, September 16, 2006
So iTunes and ABC are doing something cool. You can download the season finale of Lost (as well as Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives) for free. The first Million viewers can pull down the show as well as "The Lost Survival Guide" so you can catch back up.
As a podcaster, it's an interesting concept. Making something free, but 'exclusive' (if you consider a million to be exclusive). Still, I like free TV as much as the next creative type.
Be sure to check it out.... it's free after all!
Paralells Gets Even Better
Friday, September 15, 2006
Long
time readers will know that we are big fans
of Parallels Desktop
solution
for running Windows on a Mac. No need for multiple
partitions or rebooting, you can have both
Operating Systems going at the same time. Plus you
can install the optional Tools that allow you to
copy and paste between systems and even access
folders on your Mac.
The good news... their trial is still available and a new update has been released.
Recent improvements include:
- Support for new quad-processor Mac Pro towers outfitted with up to 3.5GB of RAM
- Experimental support for Windows Vista
- An improved Parallels Tools package
- Better video output improvement and acceleration
- Added isochronous USB devices support (including WebCam devices)
- Keyboard support improvement: Eject CD key support and more
- Clipboard synchronization tool
- Sound playback and recording improvement
Microsoft Kills Virtual PC for Macintosh
Monday, August 07, 2006
At this time is corporate speak for never, in fact never ever. Recent competition from Parallels and VMWare have made the Windows on a Mac space a bit cluttered. Additionally, Microsoft alluded that rewriting Virtual PC to run on Intel Processors would mean having to essentially rewrite the program.
"The (Macintosh business unit) still recognizes that customers need access to Windows applications from their Intel-based Macs and feels confident that alternative solutions offered by Apple and other vendors, combined with a fully packaged retail copy of Windows will satisfy this need," the company said.
Anyone else find it ironic that Microsoft which started as a company that made Mac software, has decided that it is too difficult to get their software to run on Intel chips. Go figure. Guess they're too busy getting Vista out the door.
For more details, head over to CNET.
Windows Media Works on New Macs... Finally
Friday, July 28, 2006
Join Me in Discovering PowerPoint 2007
Monday, July 03, 2006
Windows vs. Mac – the OS Showdown
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
With a sense of humor firmly intact, New York Times columnist David Pogue reviews Microsoft Windows Vista. David takes a look at several of the new features in the latest version of Windows (set to ship next month). His mission... prove that “Microsoft did not steal ideas from Mac OS X.” Does he succeed? It all depends on your perspective so you'll want to judge for yourself. You can take a look at the quick video for free online.
