Stabilize with YouTube

Did you know that Youtube has a "stabilize" feature in it's video editing mode? I didn't. This is how it works.

It's pretty simple. I could imagine this being really helpful for videos shot with a phone that you don't want to have to import, edit, then export through an additional editing program.

iPad 2

Come try our brand new iPad 2! We already had an original iPad, so feel free to try them side-by-side to compare them. (The white one with the fancy lime green magnetic cover is the new one, and the black one is the original model.) We've already added the new GarageBand and iMovie, which are very cool to use. Let us know if there are specific apps you'd like to see and we'll do our best to install them for you to try. Enjoy!

showmypc.com

Do your parents ever call you up with mundane computer questions? Do you ever have a hard time walking them through something because they don't know what the "Desktop" is. Well your prayers for a simple solution have been answered. There have been many ways to remotely connect to a computer in the past, but showmypc.com is about the easiest one out there. This is a free service that allows you to connect to a pc, a mac, even devices running Android. Showmypc.com not only allows you to view other people's screen, but it allow you to control their computer remotely. It does have a slight delay, but it is completely functional for most needs.

Firefox 4 Released Today!

Mozilla Firefox 4 was released today. Check out the details and new features at http://www.tomsguide.com/us/mozilla-firefox-firefox-4,news-10563.html

Mozilla likely will start prompting Firefox 3.x users to update following the first major update, currently scheduled for some time in April.

Playstation Kinect Hacking

There has been a lot of enthusiasm in Techie/Hacker communities lately about Sony's Kinect device. The Kinect used a series of cameras to track figures in a room, turning people's bodies into video game controllers. So instead of pressing a button on a controller to kick a soccer ball in a game, you simply kick your foot and the game responds. Sony has had mixed feelings about people ripping open their hardware and using it for their own uses, but recently they have been more open to the idea. Most of the modified uses of the hardware use custom software, and are not reliant on the Playstation 3, as was the initial intent. Here is one of the more entertaining examples of this technology being put to use.



Check out http://kinecthacks.net/ for some more examples.

Capcom, Zynga, Sega Donate Game Profits to Japan Aid

Gaming companies Capcom, Sega, and Zynga have announced that they're donating the profits from games like Streetfighter IV, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and Cityville to relief efforts for victims of the Japanese tsunami for the next week.

See details and links:
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/03/street-fighter-japan-donation/

Gadget Day this Friday

Come to our annual Gadget Day this Friday, March 18.

This year we'll be demonstrating a mixture of hardware (iPad 2.0, LiveScribe pens, Smart phones) and software (Evernote, Facetime).

For more information, including a detailed schedule, see:
http://wic.library.upenn.edu/wicshops/gadget03182011.html

Just Add Maggots

Come see Colette Copeland's new multimedia installation, "Just Add Maggot" at International House. The opening reception is tomorrow from 7-8pm. See you there!

Refreshing

We're in the process of refreshing all of the software on the lab workstations. This means we'll be wiping them clean and then reinstalling a fresh copy of everything. We'll be upgrading some software (Welcome to Microsoft Office 2011!), and we're also hoping that this will fix the occasional quirkiness we've experienced on certain machines in the lab.

If you want to get a head start on the new version of the machines, Ask the lab consultant to put you on workstation 4A or 5A, which have already gone through the process. Let us know of any questions you have or problems you encounter.

Dropbox Apps

If you follow this blog or have been to the media lab, then you probably know that we're fans of Dropbox. If that's a new term for you, Dropbox is a service that can seamlessly sync your files across multiple computers and also provides features like shared and public folders. This allows you to share/sync only the content you want to be synced with the other computer. Translation: Dropbox can act as a backup system for your files. You can also transfer larger media files using this service. You can sign up and immediately have 2GB worth of space for.....free. Zero dollars. Goodbye Yousendit, Zshare, and all those other annoying ad-heavy file sharing sites.

Here's a couple tips that can improve Dropbox's functionality. Well worth a gander.

iPad 2.0 details

Apple held their iPad 2 event yesterday, unveiling the new device. It has some spiffy new features:
-Front and Rear cameras for use with Facetime and recording HD video
-A slightly awkward looking, but impressively designed cover
-Integration of Photobooth, GargageBand, and iMovie (yeah... iMovie)
-A thinner, lighter frame
-More speed
-so on so forth

Check out Apple.com for all the details.

They have also reduced the price of the iPad 1.0 by a significant amount. You can check here at the Apple store to find the 16GB WiFi model starting at $350