The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Hardware that supports iPhoto '09's geotagginghttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/07/hardware-that-supports-iphoto-09s-geotagging/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/07/hardware-that-supports-iphoto-09s-geotagging/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/07/hardware-that-supports-iphoto-09s-geotagging/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I spent yesterday afternoon like many of you: Hunched over my keyboard in a posture-defying mound, my eyes locked on 1440 x 900 pixels of real-time information and fingers tapping keys like so many coked-up woodpeckers. A Mountain Dew and Cinnabun stood at the ready, should I need refueling. I was a gold-encrusted invitation to hypertension if you ever saw one.

As Phil Schiller gave his demonstration of iPhoto '09, with its face recognition, fancy travel books, themes and "Places" feature, I was most impressed by the geotagging.
If shot with the right hardware, iPhoto recognizes where a given photo was taken, and places it on a Google map. If the photos in an event span several locations, it notices that, also. The built-in maps are very attractive and handy, as you can search your entire library by geographic location. As I watched all of this, one thought was echoing in my mind.

I don't have single piece of hardware that can do this.

It's what I call a Mario Batali Moment. I'm a real Mario fan, but every time I watch his show, I get a little depressed. As Mario sits down to a small family table in Umbria, olive trees and screeching cicadas in the background, I think, "There's another incredible Italian salami I'll never get to try."

A brief Google search turned up good news. I didn't have to spend several hundred dollars on a GPS-aware camera. Here are several devices that will get the job done without breaking the bank.

  1. The Wolverine GEO connects to several Nikon and Fuji DSLR's and embeds GPS coordinates in an image's metadata (EXIF) during exposure. Just click and you're done. The Wolverine GEO costs $149.99US.
  2. The GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr is a small GPS device that you carry around as you shoot photos. As you take pictures, you camera records the time. The PhotoTrackr also records the time and the GPS location. The included software merges the two. Small, tidy and $129US (the "lite" version is $99US).
  3. Similarly, the Amod AGL3080 GPS Data Logger connects to your Mac via USB port, allowing you to grab the recorded log in standard NMEA format. Mac-compatible software is included. The AGL3080 will run you about $70US.
So there are three relatively inexpensive options. Yes, I realize that the 3G iPhone will tag photos with GPS information, but it isn't the greatest camera in the world. You can also add this information by hand, but who wants to do that? Instead, there's good news:

iPhoto geotagging needn't be your forbidden salami.

Update: Our readers continue to offer additional suggestions. Keep them coming, folks! Here are a few from the comments.
  • David notes that "...the GISTEQ product does NOT support geotagging of RAW images," so keep that in mind. His solution: "I ended up using the iTU4l.pl perl scripts from http://www.schimmelnetz.de/projekte/iTU4l/ and HoudahGeo ($30US)."
  • jadam points out another solution: "If you have a standalone GPS that supports track logging, turn tracking on and bring it along with you on your next photo shoot. Then once you are finished, use the free GPSPhotoLinker (Free) to geotag your photos."
  • Tim suggests the SD GPS Data Logger ($125).
  • John Fischetti and a couple of others suggested the Eye-Fi Explore Wireless card ($99US).
  • John suggested the Jobo photoGPS (couldn't find a price for some unknown, frustrating reason), which mounts on your camera's hotshoe.
Others have recommended iPhone/iPod touch Geo Tracking software, like OnLocation ($2.99US) [App Store link] and Trails ($1.99US). Thanks, everyone! Keep the great suggestions coming.

Hardware that supports iPhoto '09's geotagging originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Hardware that supports iPhoto '09's geotagging originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>geotrackingilifeiphoto 09Iphoto09macworld09Dave CaoloWed, 07 Jan 2009 13:15:00 ESTTUAW Macworld Video: HP Products for Machttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/07/tuaw-macworld-video-hp-products-for-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/07/tuaw-macworld-video-hp-products-for-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/07/tuaw-macworld-video-hp-products-for-mac/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you were one of the many people who were expecting Apple to announce some sort of Mac mini-based home media server yesterday, you weren't alone. We talked about another media server solution, HP's MediaSmart Server, a small Mac-compatible device that can be used for Time Machine backups, iTunes and iPhoto library storage, and more.

I visited with Rick Spillers, HP's Mac-connect Worldwide Product Manager, at the HP booth yesterday to talk about HP iPrint, printer and scanner solutions, and other products from their Mac group. Also on the video is Glen Roberts, who discusses the MediaSmart and how it works well in homes with both Macs and PCs.

The video is after the break.

Continue reading TUAW Macworld Video: HP Products for Mac

TUAW Macworld Video: HP Products for Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW Macworld Video: HP Products for Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>hpmacworld 2009Macworld2009mediasmartmwsfprintervideoSteven SandeWed, 07 Jan 2009 12:30:00 ESTiPhoto, iMovie guided tours availablehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/06/iphoto-imovie-guided-tours-available/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/06/iphoto-imovie-guided-tours-available/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/06/iphoto-imovie-guided-tours-available/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With new software from Apple comes new guided tours hosted by clean cut, well-dressed Apple employees in the requisite uniform.

The iPhoto guided tour can be found here and features John, whom we've seen in other guided tours. It's a fun way to check out the new features that were demonstrated during the keynote, as well as others that didn't make the presentation.

The iMovie tour can be found here, and again features our friend John. We must admit that the animated map is pretty cool, even though we expect it to be heavily abused in the next few months.

Additionally, you'll find tutorials for the new versions of iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb and iDVD here. Check them out and decide if you're willing to pay the $79US upgrade fee.

iPhoto, iMovie guided tours available originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iPhoto, iMovie guided tours available originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ilifeilife 09Ilife09macworldmacworld expomacworld09MacworldExpoDave CaoloTue, 06 Jan 2009 15:30:00 ESTGoogle releases Picasa 3 for Machttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/06/google-releases-picasa-3-for-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/06/google-releases-picasa-3-for-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/06/google-releases-picasa-3-for-mac/#commentsFiled under: ,

Picasa 3
iPhoto haters rejoice! Google recently released their popular photo management and editing program, Picasa, for Mac OS X. In my early testing, it didn't crash or seem sluggish, but like many Google offerings, this version still bears the "Beta" designation.

Picasa integrates nicely with Google's online photo-hosting service, Picasa Web Albums, by allowing album syncing, uploading, and access control. Album syncing allows you to change a photo (by retouching, changing the caption, cropping, etc.) and have the changed photo appear in seconds on your web album.

Your iPhoto library can be viewed in Picasa in "read-only" form. If you want to make edits to photos in your iPhoto library, you'll have to let Picasa make a copy of the photo and then edit it. Picasa also lets you upload photos to Blogger, create videos of your photos, and create a collage.

It's nice to have a solid option aside from iPhoto to manage our photo collections locally and on the web. Picasa is a free 17MB download.

Google releases Picasa 3 for Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Google releases Picasa 3 for Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>iPhotophotographyPicasapicasawebalbumspicturesTodd RitterTue, 06 Jan 2009 15:00:00 ESTSlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone / SlingPlayer for Mac HDhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/06/slingplayer-mobile-for-iphone-slingplayer-for-mac-hd/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/06/slingplayer-mobile-for-iphone-slingplayer-for-mac-hd/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/06/slingplayer-mobile-for-iphone-slingplayer-for-mac-hd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Our sister site Engadget is reporting that Sling Media, maker of the Slingbox, is going to be demonstrating SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone at Macworld Expo 2009 this week.

Sling had produced a proof-of-concept back in June of 2008. Now the word is that the app will be submitted to the powers-that-be at Apple for certification and acceptance into the App Store sometime before the end of March, 2009.

If you're not quite that into watching your Slingbox streams on an iPhone, Sling Media is also demoing a prototype of SlingPlayer for Mac HD. This application enables Slingbox PRO-HD owners to zap HD streams to their Macs. This Mac app is expected to be available free of charge, while pricing for the iPhone app has not yet been determined.

Stay tuned for our continuing coverage of Macworld Expo 2009, where you'll find news, photos, and video of the flood of announcements coming out of Moscone Center.

[via Engadget]

SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone / SlingPlayer for Mac HD originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone / SlingPlayer for Mac HD originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>macworld 2009Macworld2009mwsfSteven SandeTue, 06 Jan 2009 02:00:00 ESTEyeTV Hybrid hardware gets a performance boosthttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/eyetv-hybrid-hardware-gets-a-performance-boost/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/eyetv-hybrid-hardware-gets-a-performance-boost/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/01/05/eyetv-hybrid-hardware-gets-a-performance-boost/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Elgato's EyeTV Hybrid has long been the standout among the Mac options for HD television tuners, in large part because it comes with the excellent EyeTV software for program guide info, scheduling and recording. This week, the product gets an overhaul with refreshed hardware (including an FM radio tuner) and the new 3.1 version of the application with a bundled copy of Toast Basic for DVD burning; the combo is impressive. The revised software swaps out the TitanTV electronic program guide source for the more detailed (and, after the first free year, $20 paid-subscription) TV Guide data. The new EyeTV Hybrid is immediately available in the USA and Canada for US $149.95 and works on Mac OS X 10.4.11 and higher; decoding HD content requires an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. EyeTV 3.1 will be released as a free update for existing owners in the coming weeks.

Update: Several commenters noted that earlier versions of the hardware allowed for decoding HD content with a Core Duo (as distinct from Core 2 Duo) processor, and questioned whether anything had changed. Per the specifications page for the new unit, a Core 2 Duo chip is indeed required for 720p or 1080i content.

EyeTV's hardware has always packed some impressive functionality into a small USB dongle; however, the previous units (designed and built by OEMs like Pinnacle and Hauppauge for bundling with the EyeTV app) didn't always shine when it came to holding onto weak HDTV signals, and recordings were sometimes plagued with dropouts and jitter when used with borderline-adequate antennas. The new hardware design has been insourced to EyeTV's team and custom-built with a focus on improving signal handling; the results are pretty good.

In my preliminary testing with the new unit I got much better signal on some stations that had previously been on the fringe, and the picture is still crystal-clear (HD sporting events on a 24" iMac screen are a revelation). The only annoying quirk I saw in the EyeTV 3.1 app was a propensity for the video aspect ratio to flop between 16x9 and 4x3 as commercials or other standard-ratio content interrupted a widescreen program. Other than that, it works quite well, even with a $12 pair of Radio Shack rabbit ears.

The new TV Guide program info is quite a bit more detailed than the Titan TV or over-the-air ATSC listings, with full cast and capsule review data available. EyeTV now allows for a 'season pass' preset that will capture all episodes of a particular program, and parental controls are now implemented to allow responsible adults some control over the viewing and recording habits of the household. Recording a show is still just as easy, although you need to maintain a Titan TV account to do remote scheduling; the iPhone and iPod conversion and WiFi sharing capabilities remain as before, and can be supercharged via the turbo.264 outboard compression dongle. As always, be sure to keep plenty of hard drive space available if you want to maintain a library of HD recordings.

We'll be stopping by Elgato's booth at Macworld Expo this week for a video tour of EyeTV 3.1; if you're at the show, you can catch them at booth #2126. See the gallery below for some views of the new hardware and software.

Gallery: EyeTV 3.1

EyeTV Hybrid hardware gets a performance boost originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)EyeTV Hybrid hardware gets a performance boost originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>elgatoeyetvhdtvMichael RoseMon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 ESTSo you just got a camcorder -- now what?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-camcorder-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-camcorder-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-a-camcorder-now-what/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

All day on December 25, TUAW presents "Now What?" We've got first steps and recommendations for all the gifts you (hopefully!) found under the tree today. Happy holidays!

Did Santa leave you a camcorder for Christmas? If he did, you probably did what most people do -- ripped open the package, slapped a battery pack on it, and started recording the fun. Hopefully you're reading this post before you've succumbed to that temptation, so you can avoid issues later on. Here are some hints to make your future as a filmmaker as trouble-free as possible.

1) Read The Manual. Most people tend to toss out the manual with the wrapping paper, but for something as complex as a camcorder it's a good idea to keep and read the manual. Sure, with a point and shoot camcorder like a Flip Mino you can get away with giving the camcorder a quick charge and then going to town recording the kids bouncing off the walls in a sugar-induced frenzy. But if you were really good and Santa got you a high-end HD camcorder with a powerful zoom lens, image stabilization, and other cool features, you'd better learn how to use them.

Continue reading So you just got a camcorder -- now what?

So you just got a camcorder -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)So you just got a camcorder -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>camcorderFeaturesflip minoFlipMinohow-tovideoSteven SandeThu, 25 Dec 2008 16:30:00 ESTMac vs. PC - More than meets the eyehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/23/mac-vs-pc-more-than-meets-the-eye/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/23/mac-vs-pc-more-than-meets-the-eye/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/23/mac-vs-pc-more-than-meets-the-eye/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We're late to the party on this one, but it absolutely still deserves attention. Created by Nick Greenlee as a short visual effects piece, this video depicts what would happen if Apple and Windows laptops were sentient Transformer robots who wanted to destroy each other.

This could be a whole new spin on the "I'm A Mac" tv ads. What would John Hodgman transform into? I imagine a slide rule functioning as his prime weapon. As for Justin Long ... he'd overwhelm enemies with The Smugness.

Nice work, Nick. It's a great video.

[Via TechEBlog]

Mac vs. PC - More than meets the eye originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Mac vs. PC - More than meets the eye originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>mac adsmac vs. pcMacAdsMacVs.PcwindowsDave CaoloTue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 ESTBeta Beat: BlackBerry Media Sync for OS Xhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/22/beta-beat-blackberry-media-sync-for-os-x/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/22/beta-beat-blackberry-media-sync-for-os-x/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/22/beta-beat-blackberry-media-sync-for-os-x/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Back in September, we started hearing rumblings that RIM was developing native OS X utilities for Mac BlackBerry users. Finally, RIM has released a preview version (on 12/19) of its BlackBerry Media Sync utility for OS X. It's no Desktop Manager, but at least it is a start.

BlackBerry Media Sync is designed to let you easily sync iTunes playlists (minus any DRM files) with your BlackBerry device. In August, PocketMac added a similar feature to its software, which is available for free from RIM's web site for all BlackBerry owners.

Basically, BlackBerry Media Sync will let you use your BlackBerry as an iPod shuffle (again, with the caveat that any iTunes DRM songs will not transfer to your BlackBerry). You can sync specific playlists or just have the free space automatically filled by your music collection.

There are some things you need to be aware of:

  • If you have another BlackBerry syncing utility, like PocketMac or The Missing Sync installed, it will stop working after installing BlackBerry Media Sync. You will need to uninstall BlackBerry Media Sync and probably reinstall your other software to regain functionality.
  • It is slow. At least in my tests, syncing using the BlackBerry Media Sync app was slower than just dragging an album/playlist over to the BlackBerry's Music folder in Finder.
  • When you sync, it seems to re-transfer playlists all over again, even if they haven't changed.
Still, we finally have a native RIM utility for OS X. Hopefully a full-fledged Desktop Manager is in the future.

Thanks Justen!

Beta Beat: BlackBerry Media Sync for OS X originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Beta Beat: BlackBerry Media Sync for OS X originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>blackberryblackberry media syncBlackberryMediaSyncmissing syncMissingSyncpocketmacRIMChristina WarrenMon, 22 Dec 2008 17:00:00 ESTmotionVFX: 40% off for TUAW readershttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/22/motionvfx-40-off-for-tuaw-readers/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/22/motionvfx-40-off-for-tuaw-readers/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/22/motionvfx-40-off-for-tuaw-readers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Since we last wrote about them, motionVFX has expanded their selection of high def templates for Apple's Motion significantly. The website is just as easy to navigate as it was before, but there's a lot more content fit for professional video work or great starting points for custom titles, intros and menus.

As a special Holiday treat, motionVFX is offering a coupon code to TUAW readers, good for a 40% discount on all of their Motion templates. : Enter coupon code X9HQVV at checkout to receive your Holiday savings. A big thanks to motionVFX for the generous gift!

motionVFX: 40% off for TUAW readers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)motionVFX: 40% off for TUAW readers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>motionmotionvfxmultimediatemplatesvideoBrett TerpstraMon, 22 Dec 2008 11:00:00 ESTGift guide for amateur video producershttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/17/gift-guide-for-amateur-video-producers/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/17/gift-guide-for-amateur-video-producers/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/17/gift-guide-for-amateur-video-producers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We all have a friend of family member obsessed with posting videos on YouTube. Their cats, dogs, babies and whatever else are all fodder for two minutes of teh funny. This holiday season, help them improve their craft and produce the next big viral hit with these gift suggestions.

Software
Quality editing software is not cheap. So it's surprising, actually, that Final Cut Express 4 is reasonably priced ($199US) for the amount of power it packs. I recommend this over cheaper options like iMovie for two reasons. First, it's an extremely capable application that isn't missing much from its much pricer big brother. An amateur video producer won't quickly grow bored of its capabilities. Second, and more important, if the person you are giving this to has any ambitions of becoming a professional, familiarity with the Final Cut way of doing things will be a huge advantage in the marketplace.

We are all too aware that the iPhone, in its unjailbroken state, doesn't record video. That doesn't mean it can't be used as a tool in video production. Slate is a simple application that replaces the iconic clapping chalk slate used for years throughout Hollywood. Reviewers in the App Store have some legit complaints about it, but it's still a fun application with a bunch of potential.

Hardware
Let's face it. You're not going to drop almost $5,000US on this badboy. (Note to wife: want!) But how about under $150US for a camera that captures 60 minutes of video, at decent quality, requiring no tapes or memory cards, and fits in your front pocket? Enter the Flip Video family of cameras.

These little machines aren't going to do it for professionals, but for amateurs looking to record precious family moments or spontaneous news events, it'll do the trick nicely. And it's called a Flip for a reason -- it has a USB connector integrated into its design. It flips out and, with a little bit of adjusting (a dozen or so business cards tucked under one side of a MacBook) it connects easily to just about any computer.

Flip Video last month announced a high-def version of the camera called the MinoHD. It sells for about $229US. There's also a competing Kodak camera, the Zi6, that has a fanbase of its own.

One of the best presents you can give an aspiring video producer -- besides a gig at LucasFilm -- is more hard drive space. Digital video consumes sick amounts of storage. Luckily, hard drives in the terabyte range are coming into the realm of affordability. A quick poke around Amazon.com shows a few options for under $150US. Some of these may not cut it for actual production work, as speed is of the essence, but for nearline storage, they'll do the trick quite nicely.

Stocking Stuffers
Last-minute shoppers rejoice. There are many cheap, easy-to-order products out there with which you can fill your aspiring video producer's stocking.
  • Mini tripod -- Shaky video is distracting when it's not intentional. A tiny, tabletop tripod is very handy for any videographer to have in his bag of tricks; newer Flip Video cameras have a tripod mount built in.
  • Personal telepromter -- I saw this demoed last year at a conference and I was blown away. It works great with any Mac laptop with a built-in iSight camera, it's cheap, and it's very cool.
  • Snowball -- No, not the frozen kind. The Blue Snowball mic is one of my favorite pieces of post-production kit. It's great for laying down voiceovers, and works equally well for recording audio for video podcasts. It's a USB mic, so it's not going to hook up to a camcorder, but for studio work it gets the job done in style.

Gift guide for amateur video producers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Gift guide for amateur video producers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>camerafinal cutfinal cut expressFinalCutFinalCutExpressflipgift guideGiftGuideholidashminoproductionvideoDan FelliniWed, 17 Dec 2008 10:00:00 ESTTiltShift brings miniature faking to the iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/tiltshift-brings-miniature-faking-to-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/tiltshift-brings-miniature-faking-to-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/tiltshift-brings-miniature-faking-to-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If you're looking for a quick way to add that "miniature" effect to photos from your iPhone, TiltShift is for you.

While not as powerful as using desktop image editing software, it can quickly doctor your images to give them that tilt-shifty look, or just apply a dreamy vignette around the edges.

TiltShift comes with a library of photos to try, but you can also use photos from your iPhone or iPod touch's camera roll. If you have an iPhone, you can take a picture directly from the app.

The app works in both portrait and landscape modes, which makes it easier to transform wider photos. Rotating the screen was a little strange -- it sometimes didn't recognize when my iPod touch was rotated, and I had to sort of jiggle it to make it rotate properly.

The results are pretty good: It takes a fair bit of fiddling to get it just right, and a small screen size (and no zoom support) makes very detailed manipulation difficult. On the scale of "do you want it good, or do you want it fast," TiltShift definitely leans toward "fast." Nifty, nevertheless.

TiltShift is $1.99, and is available in the App Store.

Gallery: TiltShift for iPhone

TiltShiftTiltShiftTiltShiftTiltShiftTiltShift

TiltShift brings miniature faking to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TiltShift brings miniature faking to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeAppStorefakingiphoneminiaturephotographytiltshiftRobert PalmerTue, 16 Dec 2008 21:00:00 ESTPerian 1.1.3 now available, provides lots of fixeshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/perian-1-1-3-now-available-provides-lots-of-fixes/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/perian-1-1-3-now-available-provides-lots-of-fixes/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/perian-1-1-3-now-available-provides-lots-of-fixes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

On Monday, Perian 1.1.3 was released. Perian is a Preference Pane that provides QuickTime with a ton of extra codec support, including: AVI, DivX, and FLV. Version 1.1.3 updates the following aspects of Perian:
  • Enabled Indeo 2/3 decodecs
  • Added external idx/sub (VobSub) support
  • Added support for H.264 and H.263 in FLV containers
  • Apple's decoder now handles Baseline/Main Profile H.264
  • Fix inconsistent importing for multi-channel audio
  • Reduced memory usage for packed streams
  • Added sanity checks on all preferences
  • Enabled hack to show subtitles in Front Row
  • Fixed negative values in SSA \frz tag
  • Fixed VSFilter bug-compatibility for \an
You can learn more about Perian, and download the new update, by visiting the Perian.org website.

Perian 1.1.3 now available, provides lots of fixes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Perian 1.1.3 now available, provides lots of fixes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>codecPerianQuickTimesoftware updateSoftwareUpdatesupportupdatesCory BohonTue, 16 Dec 2008 16:00:00 ESTRecord a multi-participant podcast with GarageBandhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/record-a-multi-participant-podcast-with-garageband/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/record-a-multi-participant-podcast-with-garageband/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/record-a-multi-participant-podcast-with-garageband/#commentsFiled under: ,



A few months ago, I started recording a podcast with some friends. At that time, our process was to gather everyone into one Skype call and record the session with WireTap Studio. That worked reasonably well, but there were a few problems.

The quality of the end result was dependent on everyone's Skype connection. Throw in a bad rainstorm, a large download or an iffy wi-fi connection and quality suffered. The other issue was people talking over each other. Even the most disciplined podcasters do it occasionally. Since the raw audio was a single track, editing the overtalking out of the final show was difficult, if not impossible.

A few episodes into it, we read Dan Benjamin's tips on recording a podcast with participants in multiple locations. He and John Gruber use a time-tested method called a "double-ender" when recording The Talk Show. As they talk via Skype, John and Dan record their own audio locally, and those two files are edited together as separate tracks. We've adopted a similar method using GarageBand, and it's been working wonderfully. Read on for details on our setup.

Continue reading Record a multi-participant podcast with GarageBand

Record a multi-participant podcast with GarageBand originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Record a multi-participant podcast with GarageBand originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>garagebandilifepodcastingDave CaoloTue, 16 Dec 2008 09:00:00 ESTTV exclusives taking movies off of iTunes?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/12/tv-exclusives-taking-movies-off-of-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/12/tv-exclusives-taking-movies-off-of-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/12/tv-exclusives-taking-movies-off-of-itunes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Has your favorite movie gone missing from iTunes or Netflix lately? The reason could be television, says CNET -- apparently a slew of movies on iTunes and Netflix's streaming service have recently fallen prey to television exclusive agreements. With the onset of Apple TV and apps like Boxee making it possible to stream Netflix, TV networks with exclusive showing agreements have made sure that while they've got a lock on a movie, we can't watch it anywhere else.

Of course, as CNET notes, it's about the money (isn't it always?). If studios can make more money from the TV networks than they can from online rentals, then obviously they're going to go with television. The only problem with that, however, is that with an exclusive agreement, they'll never know, will they?

And of course the other issue here is the actual definition of places like iTunes and Netflix -- obviously, retail stores aren't barred from carrying these movies, so does that mean that Netflix and iTunes are actually content channels rather than retailers? Tough issue. You have to think that it'll eventually be settled in favor of digital distribution (what consumer wouldn't want to watch a movie on their own time rather than sticking to a TV network's schedule), but until studios are convinced otherwise, exclusivity agreements will likely be the rule.

[via Apple Insider]

TV exclusives taking movies off of iTunes? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TV exclusives taking movies off of iTunes? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>agreementboxeecnetdealsexclusiveitunesmoviesnetflixnetworksstudiostelevisionMike SchrammFri, 12 Dec 2008 08:00:00 ESTiRingPro offers "professional" ringtoneshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/05/iringpro-offers-professional-ringtones/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/05/iringpro-offers-professional-ringtones/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/05/iringpro-offers-professional-ringtones/#commentsFiled under: ,

Like many of you, I love the convenience and fun of owning a mobile phone. However, I detest loud and obnoxious ring tones, not to mention the disappointment of a great conversation interrupted by an ear-shattering rendition of The Hamster Dance.

I'd prefer it if people used their phone's (least annoying) default tone, but I know that some users can't resist fiddling around. Here's hoping those people will check out iRingPro.

Billed as "...smart, attractive, livable alerts," these aren't your nephew's ringtones. Instead, you get a serene but noticeable series of notes that won't elicit strange looks in the board room. Additionally, the pause between repetitions is longer than most, eliminating that sense of "I've got to answers this now!" urgency. There are few samples you can check out on the site, and they're quite nice.

A collection of 21 tones in M4R format will run you $9.95US. Please, if you're the downloading type, consider iRingPro.

Alternatively, you can try your hand at making your own classy tones with GarageBand.

[Via The Iconfactory]

iRingPro offers "professional" ringtones originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iRingPro offers "professional" ringtones originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>iphoneiringproringtoneDave CaoloFri, 05 Dec 2008 16:00:00 ESTFlickr videos now iPhone compatiblehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/flickr-videos-now-iphone-compatible/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/flickr-videos-now-iphone-compatible/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/flickr-videos-now-iphone-compatible/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The folks at Flickr have released some good news today. Specifically, their mobile site at m.flickr.com has been improved to include, among other things, video support for the iPhone and iPod touch.

It seems to work by playing a Quicktime version of your clips, thus getting around the whole lack of flash support. The folks at Flickr note that the iPod touch and iPhone are the only mobile devices that can play the movies for now, but others will be added soon.

Other improvements to m.flickr.com include the option to comment on photos and add them to your collection of favorites. I found the site to be very fast indeed over WiFi and no slouch over EDGE, either. Those of you with later model iPhones (and iPod touches) will have to tell me how your experiences have been.

Thank you to Flickr and the Yahoo! Video Platform group. Now if only some others would follow suit (we're looking at you, Hulu).

[Via Daring Fireball]

Flickr videos now iPhone compatible originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Flickr videos now iPhone compatible originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>flashflickrhuluiphoneipod touchIpodTouchvideoDave CaoloThu, 04 Dec 2008 21:00:00 ESTBoxee releases new alpha, adds Netflix supporthttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/boxee-releases-new-alpha-adds-netflix-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/boxee-releases-new-alpha-adds-netflix-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/boxee-releases-new-alpha-adds-netflix-support/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



It's a pretty awesome day to be a Netflix fan. Not only is the Watch Instantly service officially available for OS X, it's also now working via boxee, my favorite media center application!

Boxee pushed out an impromptu update last week for Apple TV owners, specifically to address issues with the 2.3 firmware update. Today's update is targeted at all boxee versions and adds a host of new features, including the big dog: Netflix support for US customers. Note: Netflix support is currently only in the Mac version of boxee. The boxee team is working hard to bring it to the Apple TV, but they need to work around some of the hardware limitations. They'll be posting updates on the boxee blog on their progress.

Here's the rundown:
  • Netflix support for Mac users
  • Improved Hulu performance and a new Hulu interface, including access to your personal Hulu queues
  • Access to TheWB.com (US only unless you use a proxy)
  • The Boston Globe's Big Picture blog - amazing photos from around the world
  • MTVMusic - songs/artists in your collection are now linked with music videos
  • New YouTube interface, improved performance and .h264 support
  • Custom interfaces and improved playback for CNN, Flickr and Picasa
All in all, this is a pretty stellar update. When I talked to the team from boxee last week, they made it clear that Neflix was the #1 priority. That they got Netflx running in boxee in under two weeks is nothing short of amazing. Yes, I do wish that support would be extended to Apple TV users, but I can be patient.

If you haven't tried boxee, you can go to http://boxee.tv/tuaw and get an invite. You'll need an Intel Mac running OS X 10.4 or OS X 10.5 or an Apple TV. Boxee is also available for Ubuntu 7.10 and 8.04, though I'm unsure if the team was able to implement Netflix support for Ubuntu yet.

Give it a shot and tell us what you think in the comments!

Boxee releases new alpha, adds Netflix support originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Boxee releases new alpha, adds Netflix support originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple tvAppleTvatvboxeeHTPChulumedia centerMediaCenternetflixxbmcChristina WarrenThu, 04 Dec 2008 11:01:00 ESTLivestation iPhone app promises live TV over wifihttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/livestation-iphone-app-promises-live-tv-over-wifi/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/livestation-iphone-app-promises-live-tv-over-wifi/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/livestation-iphone-app-promises-live-tv-over-wifi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We'll believe it when we see it, of course. Livestation is a service that claims to be "Slingbox without the box." Once subscribed, you can watch television streamed to your computer, via peer-to-peer, from anywhere. And now they're apparently set to announce an iPhone app that will do the same thing. Like we said, it seems like a great idea -- who wouldn't want to watch some TV while waiting for the train or sitting the doctor's office -- but investment money and promises do not a working iPhone app make.

Even the Livestation rep says it's still in development right now, and he won't give a date other than "soon." I have no doubt that we'll soon see streaming TV on the iPhone -- with the growing popularity of sites like Hulu and Netflix's own streaming video service, and a similar promise of streaming shows from i.TV, it definitely seems like that's where media is headed, even portable media. But this isn't something to hold your breath for quite yet -- I'm happy with Weatherbug's already-working video weather reports.

Livestation iPhone app promises live TV over wifi originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Livestation iPhone app promises live TV over wifi originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>announcementiphonelivestationp2ppreviewslingboxstreaming-tvvideowifiMike SchrammThu, 04 Dec 2008 10:30:00 ESTNetflix Streaming officially comes to the Machttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/netflix-streaming-officially-comes-to-the-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/netflix-streaming-officially-comes-to-the-mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/netflix-streaming-officially-comes-to-the-mac/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Update: As the commenters have noted -- this service is currently only available for US customers. I truly apologize for my US-centric slant.

Last month, Netflix finally started to roll out its Watch Instantly service to Mac users. You needed to opt-in to use the feature, but it was available for those who wanted to access it. Today, Watch Instantly is available for Mac users without having to opt-in -- as long as you meet the minimum system requirements (Intel Mac running OS X 10.4.8 or higher, and at least one GB of RAM).

Watch Instantly is a great way to catch up on a movie, TV show or documentary without having to wait for the movie to come in the mail. You don't get the extra features or super surround sound, but it's fast, the quality is good and it is free to use. If you have a Netflix Unlimited plan, you can watch as many movies a month as you want. If you have a limited plan, the number of films you can stream is also limited.

You can access Watch Instantly from the tab on the main Netflix page and browse through the selection of movies and TV shows. You still need to install the Microsoft Silverlight plugin, if you don't already have it installed. Watch Instantly works in Firefox 2 or higher and Safari 3 and up.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Netflix Streaming officially comes to the Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Netflix Streaming officially comes to the Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>macmoviesnetflixrentalssilverlightvideowatch instantlyWatchInstantlyChristina WarrenThu, 04 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST