Tuesday, August 4, 2009

How to tame a pile of tangled cables for $5

Yes, many of us have a box of audio, video, and data cable spaghetti, maybe at home, maybe at the office, maybe both. Go ahead and admit it; you're not the only one.

We don't really want to throw away all of those cables because they might come in handy--who wants to spend $7 at Radio Shack one day in the future for a cable that was sitting around for years until we needed it? And yet, the cable mess keeps looking more and more impenetrable and it seems to grow like a dust bunny.

Don't waste your money on a five-pack of colored velcro cable ties for $4. You can pick up a FIFTY-pack of velcro cable ties at OfficeMax or Lowe's for $5 (OfficeMax Item #: 20822371).

Once the cables have been velcro-ed, you can just take out the cable you need, and leave the velcro tie attached while you use it; when you are finished, wrap it neatly, press the velcro, and you'll be able to pull it out of the pile without fighting tangles next time.

...and maybe, just maybe, that spaghetti will start to make sense (or at least look more like linguine).

Monday, August 3, 2009

Why CDs and DVDs are gradually on their way out (VHS and audio cassette tape is already there)

(photo by nate steiner)

Media Services encourages you to share your audio and video recordings without burning to disc (CD or DVD) or recording to tape (like audio cassettes or VHS) whenever possible. Why?
  • Sharing audio and video files online or using removable (often USB-connected) drives makes it easy to make virtually unlimited numbers of backup copies, often with just a few clicks of your mouse.
  • CDs, DVDs and all forms of tapes can easily become scratched, worn out, lost or stolen. By contrast, a digital file can quickly and easily be backed up to multiple computers, external hard drives, network drives, or online backup services so that even if one copy is lost or deleted, you have multiple redundant copies, just in case.
  • Sharing files online or with removable (reusable) drives is often more environmentally friendly, at least in terms of avoiding unnecessary waste. Think of how much space in landfills is taken up by old discs, tapes, cases, packaging, etc.
  • There are a wealth of highly effective ways to post audio and video online (iTunes U, YouTube, etc.) and instantly share it with a world-wide audience.
  • There are plenty of tools available for sending large files from one place to another, even files too big to email. My favorite method is to use the Public folder feature of Dropbox (free accounts available with 2GB storage; pay accounts have much more storage). Why wait for a CD or DVD to make it through the mail or pay for FedEx (which could still get lost or damaged) when you can send a file to someone miles away and he/she can download it within the hour? You can quickly verify that it was received and save money at the same time!
  • Sharing and/or buying files online is where the trends are going. Digital download sites like the iTunes Store or Amazon's Mp3 Music Downloads are taking market share from CDs, DVDs and the like. Even Netflix, which built its business on DVDs-by-mail, is adding more and more instantly-available movies via internet.
Are there still times when physical media like CD, DVD or VHS are useful or even necessary? Absolutely. Despite all the advantages listed above, there will still be plenty of situations in which it is easier and/or cheaper (in terms of time spent, at least) to use good old pieces of plastic to share audio and video. But, I predict (knock on wood) that these formats will increasingly become anachronistic.

Creating chapter markers in iMovie '08

photo by udt_greenberet1123

In iMovie '08, Apple did not include the ability to add chapter markers to movies, a feature present in previous version of iMovie. Perhaps Apple was trying to encourage users to share movies online instead of using physical discs, but for those that needed to burn their movies to DVD, adding chapters (for easy navigation of the finished DVD) was an essential feature and sorely missed.

iMovie '09 restored this feature, and improved upon it: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1884949

If you got your MacBook from SU's new iMLearning program, you have iMovie '09 and therefore can create chapter markers from within iMovie.

However, if you purchased your Mac (or the iLife suite) in the last couple years, you may have iMovie '08. Not sure which version you have? Simply open iMovie and go to "iMovie-->About iMovie." The version will be displayed in the popup window.

Media Services encourages you to share your audio and video recordings without burning to disc whenever possible, for a number of reasons. Read this related post for more information.

So, what if you have iMovie '08 and you really need to burn a DVD with chapter markers? One intrepid blogger has posted detailed instructions on how to do so: http://imovie08.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-add-chapter-markers.html

...as well as an addendum from the resulting blog-comments conversation: http://imovie08.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-add-chapter-markers-addendum.html

Just for fun: hacking an old VCR to feed your cat while you are away

cat
see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Are you a weekend tinkerer? Here's an entertaining--and potentially useful--look at how to re-purpose an old VCR as a vacation cat feeder: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/01/maker_workshop_vcr_cat_feeder.html (From Make: online magazine)

Death by PowerPoint

photo by HikingArtist.com

Normally, creating PowerPoint presentations is IC's area of expertise, but I've just got to share this excellent advice on how to not bore your audience to death when using presentation software: http://www.slideshare.net/thecroaker/death-by-powerpoint

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