Archive for January, 2009

Microsoft’s Touchscreen Computer

by tomskowronski | January 30th, 2009

microsoft-office.jpg Just wanted to direct everybody’s attention to Microsoft’s latest computer interface design.

Imagine if you will, a coffee table that works as a computer interface, with out the use of a mouse and keyboard… Now imagine if this was real. How would it effect how you will end up editing video? And for that matter, would it just be limited to a coffee table or would it be installed along the wall? Don’t just take my word for it, by all means take a look for yourselves.

Digital Switch Returns

by tomskowronski | January 28th, 2009

digital-transition-208x139.jpgEven after yesterday’s rallies, the House defeated the bill to put a delay on the all-digital transition to June 12. This means that the original date, Feb. 17 is still the landmark starting line for a new all-digital television era… After all the relaxing, it’s time to start stressing about what TV to go after yet again. The Washington Post reports on the bill being defeated here.

 

Digital Switch Delayed

by tomskowronski | January 27th, 2009

shift_digital_sam.jpgFor those of you who were worried about the switch to digital and haven’t yet upgraded your television, it looks like you have another four months to choose one. Yesterday, the Senate voted unanimously to delay the switch until June 12. According to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.,“Delaying the upcoming DTV switch is the right thing to do, I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition at this time.” With the original date of Feb. 12, there was fear that viewers weren’t technically ready for the switch and the extension gives more people who have expired digital converter coupons, time to request new ones. Looks like penny pinching last minute consumers like myself, have at least four more months to pick out the right TV… Wait, that’s it?

Erase Youtube

by tomskowronski | January 26th, 2009

youtube_logo.jpgEveryone of us have done it. There you are posting away about how dumb a video you saw on Youtube is, you click post… And then you realize wait, I misspelled… EVERYTHING! Now you are the one who looks dumb. Well now we can all save a little face, because Youtube has just included the option to erase those comments. We came across this blog post, which explains it all and finally now, we can get back to deleting those comments!

Flip Mino HD

by tomskowronski | January 23rd, 2009

rca-camcorder.jpeg Please take a look at Top Ten Reviews‘ blog post on the how Sony and RCA are jumping on the Flip Mino HD bandwagon! Small, affordable and oh so pretty! These little guys have been putting a dent in the consumer market and this is a very interesting story on how some big names will soon be joining them.

Check out the blog here

Two-Way Television

by tomskowronski | January 21st, 2009

Running across the screen with your eyes doesn’t normally result in watching two of your favorite shows, at exactly the same time. However, in this case by simply adjusting the position from which you watch the television-you can see a completely different channel! No really, check out this video brought to us by way of technology-clip.com

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JVC’s new Everios online video

by jburkhart | January 20th, 2009

Our favorite guy from JVC, Allan Holland goes over the new 2009 Everio line in this YouTube video:

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SOC Awards

by tomskowronski | January 19th, 2009

logoJust wanted to point out a very important award show coming up: The Annual Society of Camera Operators Awards. Which is an award show that honors the unique contributions of camera operators in the cinematic experience. Here’s a little more from their press release.

Will Arnot, SOC (Milk), Stephen Campanelli, SOC (The Changeling), Robert Gorelick, SOC (The Dark Knight), Kim Marks (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) and Martin Schaer (Eagle Eye) are the finalists in the feature film category of the Annual Society of Camera Operators (SOC) Lifetime Achievement Awards Camera Operator of the Year competition. The recipient will be named during the awards celebration at the Leonard Goldenson Theater of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on February 21, 2009.

“The Camera Operator of the Year Award enables our peers and the industry to realize the importance of the Camera Operator’s contribution to the Cinematography, the Director’s vision and the story to make the films the success that they are,” says SOC Past President and Awards Event Producer David Frederick, SOC. “It establishes an arena where individual contribution of below the line crafts are recognized and awarded the credit due.”

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Dark Knight are also nominated this year for Cinematography Achievement awards by the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) for their Directors of Photography.

“Camera Operators have long since remained the quiet force behind the lens in support of the Director of Photography and the Director. It is now, more than ever, important that the Operator is recognized by the industry and the public for their critical contribution to the success of every film or television program,” adds Frederick. The process of selection, nomination and final choice of the winner falls upon the shoulders of the active members of the Society of Camera Operators. “The SOC has shown its support and charity to the Vision Center of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for more than 20 years. This contemporary contest helps to draw more attention and attendance to our event that is a principle fundraiser to aid in the treatment of Children’s eye care. It is a noble and worthy effort by the members of the Society which is in turn graciously supported by the industry sponsors of the event.”

For more details on the event and the Vision Center of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles please visit www.soc.org

Gateway FX i7

by tomskowronski | January 15th, 2009

fx-series.jpgGATEWAY SUPERCHARGES ITS FX SERIES GAMING PCs WITH NEW INTEL® CORE™ i7 PROCESSORS

New processing technology breaks barriers with extreme performance for intense gaming and high impact entertainment

Gateway announced two new models in its FX Series of desktop PCs featuring Intel’s fastest desktop platform technology to date, the Intel® Core™ i7 processors and the Intel® X58 Express chipset.  The new Core i7 processors feature faster, intelligent multi-core technology that automatically applies processing power where it’s needed most, delivering an incredible breakthrough in PC performance.

An unrivaled value at just $1,249.99, the Gateway® FX6800-01e means the world of extreme gaming and turbo-charged fun isn’t limited to high-priced systems costing thousands of dollars.  At its heart lies an Intel Core i7-920 processor, providing gamers with the critical horsepower to pwn even the most worthy opponents.  Partnered with an ATI Radeon HD4850 video card, 3GB of DDR3 triple channel memory and high definition audio, it delivers the performance, graphics and audio necessary for those who want to experience their digital entertainment full throttle.

“The new Gateway FX6800-01 featuring the Intel Core i7-920 Processor is another example of our commitment to bringing high-performance PCs into the mainstream price range,” said Glenn Jystad, senior manager, desktop products for Gateway.  “The screaming performance this desktop delivers is more than enough for most gamers, and leaves them with a lot more money for games, as well as the ability to play them better than ever before.”

Hard-core gamers who crave white-knuckle rushes and heart-palpitating action will find the Gateway® FX6800-05 delivers all that and more.  Aggressively priced at $2.999.99, it is fueled by the even more powerful Intel Core i7-940 processor, making it the ultimate holiday gift and game crusher.  Realistic heart-stopping, jaw-dropping visuals are provided by ATI Radeon HD4870 X2 graphics card and 6GB of DDR3 memory for spine-tingling fun.

And the excitement doesn’t stop there.  In addition to its massive 1TB hard drive, Gateway takes it to the next level, adding a revolutionary new high-speed drive — an 80GB Intel High Performance Solid State Drive.  This industry-leading drive can’t be beat for drive-intensive applications with extreme performance needs.  Devoid of moving parts, it provides faster and more reliable data storage than traditional hard drives, with less heat and noise.

“Solid state hard drive technology on a gaming PC will make a huge difference in the fun factor,” continued Jystad.  “Currently used in mission critical environments, users are seeing boot up times that are two to three times as fast and they are running cooler and quieter, and without data fragmentation, all of which are hugely valued by gamers as well.”

“Fueled by the best desktop processors on the planet — with Intel Hyper-Threading and Intel Turbo Boost Technology — the new Gateway FX Series desktops will transport gamers to a new level of performance and PC enjoyment,” said CJ Bruno, vice president, sales and marketing group and president, Intel Americas, Inc.  “Not only can the new Intel Core i7 processor handle today’s most complex and immersive games, but it’s also powerful enough to handle tomorrow’s gaming advances, ensuring these new systems will continue to meet customers’ needs for years to come.”

In addition to their powerful engines, the FX Series desktops offer numerous user friendly features that add convenience, flexibility and value to their overall proposition.

Hidden pop-out doors keep ports tucked away, out-of-view and free from dust and debris.  A pop-up on the top of the system provides convenient access to media ports and the Smart Copy button, which simplifies the storing of digital photos.  A hidden pop-out on the front hides the i/o ports most often used for temporary items such as a microphone, headphone, and IEEE 1394 cables.

Touch-sensitive media control buttons make it easy to control DVDs, music play lists and TV functionality.  Both the models can include Blu-ray Disc™ optical drives.

The FX6800 PCs come standard with two internal hard drive bays.  Customers can also quickly and easily add a third and fourth hard drive by simply sliding out a tray located on the front lower section of the chassis.  A completely tool-less process, users simply insert the hard drive into the tray and Vista will immediately recognize and configure it for use.

A backup button on the front of the system is tied to the backup feature found in Microsoft Windows Vista.  Using this button, consumers can quickly and confidently copy their files to any storage location they choose.

Specifications, Pricing and Availability

Gateway® FX6800-01e:  Available now at leading retailers for a MSRP of $1,249.99.

  •   Intel Core i7-920 Processor (2.66Gz Quad-Core w/ Intel Hyper-Threading & Turbo Speed Technology, new 8-thread CPU architecture with automatic acceleration up to 2.93GHz on a single core)
  •   Intel X58 Express Chipset
  •   ATI Radeon HD4850 w/ 512MB Discrete Video Memory
  •   3GB (3072MB DDR3 1066MHz Three Channel Memory [3 x 1024MB])
  •   750GB SATA II hard drive (1) (7200RPM, 16MB cache)
  •   18X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive featuring LabelFlash™ Technology(2)
  •   15-in-1 High Speed Digital Media Card Reader with Smart Copy Button
  •   Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit with Service Pack 1
  •   (8) USB 2.0 Ports, (2) PS/2, (2) IEEE 1394a, (2) eSATA, RJ-45, RJ-11, (8) Audio Ports, (1) Serial Port
  •   HDMI Connector v1.3 (via DVI-HDMI dongle)
  •   500W Power Supply

Gateway® FX6800-05:  Available now at leading online retailers, with an MSRP of $2,999.99.

  •   Intel Core i7-940 Processor (2.93GHz Quad-Core w/ Intel Hyper-Threading & Turbo Speed Technology, New 8-thread CPU architecture with automatic acceleration up to 3.20GHz on a single core)
  •   Intel X58 Express Chipset
  •   ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 Graphics w/ 2048MB Discrete Video Memory
  •   6GB (6144MB DDR3 1066MHz Three Channel Memory [3 x 2GB DIMM])
  •   1000GB SATA II hard drive (1) (7200RPM, 16MB cache)
  •   80GB SSD (Solid State Drive)
  •   18X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive featuring LabelFlash Technology(2)
  •   15-in-1 High Speed Digital Media Card Reader with Smart Copy Button
  •   Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit with Service Pack 1
  •   (8) USB 2.0 Ports, (2) PS/2, (2) IEEE 1394a, (2) eSATA, RJ-45, (8) Audio Ports
  •   HDMI Connector v1.3 (via DVI-HDMI dongle)
  •   1000 Watt Power Supply

The Machines of Yesterday

by tomskowronski | January 14th, 2009

s-4000-side-500.jpegI recently began to edit some video on my old Avio Casablanca and the thought came to me, “Does anybody remember this thing?” I have been using a good ol fashioned Casi off and on since I began editing video in my early teens. At the time, my high school was offering a video production course and due to the budget being weak, we had to learn by using Casablancas instead of newer digital programs. We didn’t have access to Adobe Premiere and Final Cut didn’t exist yet. I made the transition into editing on a Mac, and then PC after years of working with a Casablanca and boy was my world turned upside down. First off, there were way too many options and everything looked so intimidating.

I came across an interesting sell for the Casi earlier today that sparked my interests on where they’ve been and if they’re still being produced.What I found was bleak, but it seems Casablancas can still be purchased from a few locations. Most are refurbished, but if you’re interested there is other options out there that one might want to consider that may suite your unique individual needs better than what you’re currently using. One such location is McNally’s Plug and Play. Who offers older factory refurbished models as well as newer products and accessories. Another is Hughes Pictures which provides the Casablanca S-4000 models, that can edit 1080i HD.

For all of cinemaniacs out there, this is a very interesting piece in editing history to track down and look at. What do you guys think? Will there ever be a resurgence of stand alone editing systems? The technology is there, so why not? I think the main issue is the level of ease that an entry level editing program can have… first of all you can just head down to any local retailer and probably find something. It’s relatively cheap and most consumers aren’t looking to make the next Star Wars. However, call me old fashioned but I really appreciate the fact that the stand alone box was so easy to use and the experience it provided was much different than what you might expect. I challenge everyone who reads this blog to take a look for yourself and see if a Casablanca, is worth some attention.

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