Chet Davis - Your Technology Tutor

My own first-hand experience benefitting from a UPS

So glad today that I have my computers and video editors connected to a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply).

I had a layered effect rendering on my editor while I was doing some website work on my computer - I heard a buzz come from my UPS and thought "that's odd". I heard my son downstairs comment that the power went out, with our audio system and lights shutting down.

The power came back up quickly but if I hadn't been connected to my UPS my computer/editor would have received a voltage spike and/or simply shut down and stopped the projects I was working on. So - before you really NEED it I recommend you start using a UPS for your computer station. I have the Model #ES 550 from APC. 

Here's my affiliate link to the specific model I use - you may find another  model that works best for you... but my recommendation is to get a UPS working soon in your computer set-up!

WIndows PPT to Video... yes, if you are 2010+

Essentially, this was the topic of my webinar yesterday.  Where I presented to video producers some important functions in the PowerPoint program and how to transfer or move a PowerPoint presentation from your computer into a video editing application or device.

I shared several fundamentals that video producers may need to access like how to modify the background (style) of a slide show, the font or colors to better present on a finished video.  

Then the real focus was how to move or convert a PowerPoint presentation over to a video editing application or appliance (like the Casablanca video editor).

I demonstrated clearly why your better choice over JPG is to export slides as PNG files if you are exporting single slides to re-create the presentation in your video editor, I also showed the easy use of 3rd party conversion applications - built just for this purpose like the ImTOO PowerPoint conversion tools.  

And I demonstrated how to export a PowerPoint presentation as a video file directly from the PowerPoint application itself.  A note of clarification - in follow-up research it turns out this option to export as a video/movie file is only available on the 2010 and higher versions of Microsoft Office if you are on the Windows platform. 

If you are using Microsoft Office/PowerPoint on the Mac - you'll find that option to export as MOV file even going back to the 2004 versions of Microsoft Office (If you can explain that logic to me, please let me know in the comments below...how Microsoft did not include this option until 2010 while it had it available to Mac users for 6 years prior)

PowerPoint for Video Producers - Free Webinar

PowerPoint for Video Producers
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT

In this free on-line classroom Your Technology Tutor Chet Davis will provide an introduction to the Microsoft PowerPoint software, with an emphasis on what Video Producers should know.
You'll get an overview of the presentation software and how you can take a client's prepared presentation (or your own) and best transfer that show to video. Chet will details the different means to export the presentation; as individual slides transferred to images (both JPEG & PNG), as a 'live' presentation recorded as a video, and as a PowerPoint Movie.

The recording of our session will be available to those who sign-up in case you cannot make the live session or if you wish to review the information. Register now at  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/14280297

Thinking About a New Laptop Comptuer? Wait...says Walt Mossberg

In what may be a very helpful column for some - Walt Mossberg (Wall Street Journal's Head Tech Writer) posted his Annual Spring Laptop Buyer's Guide this week.  

He mentions that it is very likely a good time to wait to buy a laptop unless yours is on the verge of dieing and you really need a replacement now.

Among the salient points he mentions, Windows will have a new Operating System... Windows 8 that he claims will be "the most radical version of Windows in years" but not until summer or Fall. So radical it will really take advantage of touch-screen navigation that won't be accessible with most of today's available Windows laptop computers.

And for those who are considering a new Mac laptop - this summer promises the release of a new Apple OS - Mountain Lion.  As Walt points out, not as dramatic a difference in OS versions as on the Windows side but he also points out that Mac is about ripe for a revamping of it's laptop products, particularly the MacBook Pro.  You can read the details in his article here: Permission to Procrastinate: Wait to Get a New Laptop

Apple Makes Available the JAVA Update for Mac OS 10.6 Users

If you are running a Mac Computer with the 10.6.x (x = any number) Operating System you should install the new JAVA update if you have not done so already.  To check which version of the Mac OS you are operating under, click on the Apple icon at the top left corner of your computer monitor - and select 'About this Mac'. On the small menu that pops up you will see the 'Version' beneath the shiny apple and the Mac OS X.

To install this software update (that eradicates those computers infected with the Flashback malware and protects against this vulnerability in the JAVA software) - click on the 'Software Updates' from the same Apple menu. The system should automatically check for new software updates and show you the screen at right (if you have not performed software updates in some time you may have additional updates ready for you... you can click to add or remove updates you do not wish to install)

Then simply follow the instructions to download and install the update. It only takes a few minutes and provides you with a more secure computing environment.  If you wish to read more about this update - check the Apple Tech page here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5242?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

 

Flashback Botnet - Check to Ensure Your Mac Computer is Not Infected

Anyone with a Mac computer running Mac OS X would be wise to check to ensure your computer is not infected with the latest Malware that has been confirmed in some 600,000 Mac computers (with 50% of them in North America). You can do so with fairly easy to follow instructions on this page on the Digital Trends Website

Scroll down to the section 'Am I Infected?' (beneath the world map) and follow the few steps. They even tell you where to find the 'Terminal' application which you'll use.  I checked our 3 Mac computers and we're clean in this household!

The above article also recommends you disable Java. You may find that even though they suggest that Java should be disabled.  But if you find you need/want Java, Apple this week also released a Java patch (update) that is secure.  You will find this update here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1516

Cloud Based Data Storage... What's The Best Plan?

A client today asked me if I know anything about a cloud basec company called OpenDrive. 

 

I believe my reply may be of interest to others as well... what do you think? Share your thoughts and experience in the comments below.

 

A quick look, it appears to be a good solution. I do not know anything about the company, it's longevity, etc.

As you likely know there are a number of solutions similar to this company.
I believe what sets companies apart is perhaps their history, their ability to stay in business (with your precious data), and what features they offer that would be important to you (remote access, sharing across devices, etc).  If it were me I would also select a service that is platform independent... in other words that works on both Mac and Windows comptuers.

With the recent government crackdown on Megaupload, the provider in New Zealand accused of internet piracy - a lot of other innocent, law abiding folks had their data become unavailable , if only for a few days.  I am afraid to say that the best option is to not only store precious data in the cloud with a reputable firm but also locally, on an external HDD (Hard Disk Drive) in perhaps a safe deposit box.

Anyway, that's my 2-cents -- what's your opinion, or experience with cloud-based storage?

A Day Made of Glass 2: An Intriguing Look Into Our Possible Near Future with Technology

Wow! This afternoon I saw a video that was very cool, intriguing and exciting. I honestly never thought how a glass company (Corning) was so heavily involved in technology implementation but with all the touch-screen tools, it's obvious to me now!

It was one year ago that Corning released a video on YouTube called A Day Made of Glass showing off future technological innovations that revolved around high-tech glass surfaces, etc.

And they're just released a follow-up video called A Day Made of Glass 2. If you're ready for an exploration in how technology might play out in our near future... this 11-minute video will open your mind.

And here is the video that Corning released in January 2011 - A Day Made of Glass (1)

Helpful List of Symbols Availalbe On Your Computer with the ALT Key

A friend discovered some of the symbols available by using the ALT key on your computer keyboard, and wondered if there was a good resource that showed the many symbols available to us. 

Yes, indeed - I found a list of the 255 symbols available by using your ALT key in conjunction with the numerals 0 through 255.  Here's a sampling of these codes (compatible on your Windows OS computer)

You'll find this handy chart on the Alt Codes web site

A Satirical Look at the Power of Photoshop in the Advertising & Fashion Industries

There has been increased concern and scrutiny in recent months about the effects of models and celebrities who are 'Photoshopped' to look even more beautiful (or perfect) than they already appear.  It's no huge secret inside the fashion and advertising industries that the use of photo retouching software (like Adobe Photoshop) have been used for quite some time to give the image just the 'right look'. Even the American Medical Association has expressed concern about the effects of this practice: American Medical Association Pushes to End Photoshopped Body Images in Ads

I do share some concerns about how media impacts our society - especially the great impact such practice can wield on younger people and affect their self-esteem, etc.  Here's a fun way to poke at this issue - with praise today for filmmaker Jesse Rosten, who produced the following 2 minute video titled 'Fotoshop by Adobé'.

According to Jesse's blog "I was watching TV one sleepless night and stumbled upon an infomercial for some beauty product. The commercial showed before and after portraits, that to my eye, looked like the same photo just photoshopped. I laughed to myself. Then I made this video."