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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Tonight: Boston’s Mashable Social Media Day at Seaport Hotel



When: 6/30 at 6:00 PM

Seaport Hotel Exterior at Dusk

Where: Boston Seaport Hotel, Lighthouse Room

Social Media Day Boston Panelists
Social Media Day Boston Panelists

Top Row (l-r)
Brad Blake, Steve Safran, Cody Damon
Middle Row (l-r)
Ja-NaƩ Duane, Erin Hines, Dan Zarrella
Bottom Row (l-r)
Mike Petroff, Chef Ben Knack, Thomas Edwards

More details on the Boston Meetup are at Boston Tweetup.

Sign up.

Find a Mashable Social Media Meetup in your city.

Watch the live stream on Wednesday night:



Watch Boston's Live stream on UStream.

Watch Worldwide Social Media Day Live Streams

ARCHIVED VIDEOS

Boston's Social Media Day: Archived Videos

Learn how to Live Stream:

Monday, June 28, 2010

Share iPhone 4 HD Movies to YouTube Using QuickTime Player X


How to share iPhone 4 HD videos from iPhoto, directly to YouTube, without having to go into iMovie.

TWO STEPS
1. After connecting your iPhone to your computer and importing your movies into iPhoto, doubleclick the movie, from within iPhoto.

This opens the movie in QuickTime Player X.

2. Then in QuickTime Player X, choose Share/YouTube...

Sign in with your YouTube username/password, add title, description, tags and category. Share.


House of Shields - Closing


It's a sad day in San Francisco. House of Shields is closing.

I know it as my friend 'Schlomo's Bar."

House of Shields Closing Party - 27
House of Shields Closing Party photo by Chris Heuer CC BY-NC-SA

The last time I was there was for my Get Seen Book Release Party during Macworld 2010.

Get Seen Book Release Party SF at Macworld 2010
Fun at House of Shields

Over the years I could count on Schlomo's Bar for being a great place to meet friends and videobloggers.

I'm sad to see it go.

House of Shields Closing Party - 20
House of Shields Closing Party photo by Chris Heuer CC BY-NC-SA

On the web:
House of Shields Changing the Guard
House of Shields making last call
Last call for House of Shields? (Update)
Last Night at House Of Shields - Our Closing Party
NYC chef Livio Velardo joins Team Leary
Say Goodbye to the House of Shields’ Old Guard Tonight

God Bless House of Shields. RIP 6am and we are ghost. Love you, SF.Sun Jun 27 13:09:18 via Twitter for iPhone

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Old Man at Pops in the Parks




Panorama - Pops in the Park - Jamaica Pond

How To: Create Side-By-Side Video with QuickTime 7 Pro

I'm figuring out how to record, edit and upload 3D video to YouTube.

The instructions I've found on HOW TO: Create YouTube Videos in 3D say that you need to upload a video that has two videos combined, side-by-side.

Side by Side Video Created with QuickTime Player 7

Note:
This is just a screen shot of the video in QuickTime Player 10. You can't use that version of QuickTime Player to create side-by-side videos.

The easiest way I've found to put videos side-by-side is to use QuickTime 7 Pro.

I followed the instructions for using QuickTime in this post, Two side by side panes in iMovie HD, and modified them.

Here are the settings I used to get two videos to sit, side-by-side in one QuickTime Video.


QuickTime Settings: Video Track 1


QuickTime Settings: Video Track 2

Here's the video:



Note:
I flipped the left hand video to make this one more interesting. When I finally shoot in 3D, I won't do that.

Video attributes:


Next up shooting a video using two Kodak Zi8's with an iKan rig.

(2) Kodak Zi8's and iKan Rig for Shooting 3D Video

Friday, June 25, 2010

Social networking triggers the release of the generosity-trust chemical in our brains

A man checks Twitter on an iPhone. CC BY-NC-SA

Social Networking Affects Brains Like Falling in Love:
...social networking might reduce cardiovascular risks, like heart attack and stroke, associated with lack of social support. But there's even more to our findings. "Your brain interpreted tweeting as if you were directly interacting with people you cared about or had empathy for," Zak says. "E-connection is processed in the brain like an in-person connection."

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Comcast DCH3416 IR CABLE

I'm not sure why I had an IR Cable Extender in the house, but I figured that it might help me control my Comcast DCH3416 HD Box.

The box is on a shelf down by hte floor, so to control it you have to point the remote down at the floor instead of at the tv.

I plugged one end of the IR Extender cable into the 'Serial - Service only' post, and then stuck the receiver on to the bottom right hand side of hte tv.



It worked as an IR extender.

Now I can point the remote at the TV.

Here's and IR extender on Amazon.com:

Infrared Receiver Extender Cable for HD DVR STB's

Stop & Shop: That's Not Right

I don't usually shop at Stop & Shop, but went in to the Swampscott store yesterday to do some shopping. I noticed a few things that weren't right.

Not Duracell: Smart Living
Image: Smart Living batteries in Duracell product displays

Stop & Shop put Smart Living batteries in Duracell product displays. I can't find any connection between Smart Living and Duracell.

That's not right.

Save 30 cents - NOT Really
Image: Save 30 cents

Under many products in the store there are tags similar to this one that says: Save 30 cents!

My wife asked me, "Is that on sale?"

I replied, "Yes. Save 30 cents."

She came over to take a look and told me to look more closely. It isn't on sale. The only way it's a savings of 30 cents is if you normally shop at Shaws and decided to shop at Stop & Shop that day.

That's not right.

Save $10 - NOT Really
Image: Save $10

Each $50 VISA certificate has a '$5 and change fee.' $3.95 fee when you buy the certificate with a VISA card.

Note:
My mom called Stop & Shop corporate headquarters about this and got updated dollar amounts.

You really don't SAVE $10 off your next shopping order when you roll in the cost of buying the VISA card.

In the end, you pay more.

That's not right.

BTW, Stop & Shop store gift certificates have NO service charge.

Now you can email Full Size Photos from iPhone iOS 4


Best iPad Bag: Urban Explorer Canvas Shoulder Bag

I wanted to get a bag that was smaller than my old standby LL Bean backpack for my iPad. There are many choices available. Many of them look like man bags, purses or pocketbooks.

I didn't want one of those. Other options are for old ammo cases that you can get at Army Navy stores or online.

I was on the path to get one of those, when I found the perfect iPad bag, the Urban Explorer Canvas Shoulder Bag by Rothco.

Best iPad Bag

It's made of heavy weight 22 oz. cotton canvas and measures 12" x 10" x 4". Although the bag can't be zippered shut at the top, that's ok since when you flip over the top of the bag, there's a nice closure.

Great online price too at under $15.

Update:
The bag has lots of room in it too. This weekend I fit the iPad, 2 books (Power Friending: Demystifying Social Media to Grow Your Business
and Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose) [affiliate links], WSJ Magazine, iPad and iPhone chargers, Playsport camera, + earbuds.

Grapefruit INCREASES Drug Effect, NOT ENHANCES.

In today's Wall Street Journal, Shirley S. Wang writes, When Food and Pills Clash - Fresh Concerns on How Diet and Medicines Interact, From Pepper to Pomegranate:
Grapefruit is one of the most extensively studied foods for its impact on medication. Compounds in the fruit can increase the potency of statins and other medications to potentially dangerous levels by inhibiting cytochrome P450, a family of enzymes that break down the drug. Research indicates that drinking just one eight-ounce cup of grapefruit juice a day increases the strength of the drug.

Recently, animal and laboratory studies have suggested that other fruits, including pomegranates, oranges (especially those from Seville), cranberries, grapes and black mulberries, could have a similar, although less robust, effect on statins in the body. Pomegranates and cranberries are frequently touted as healthy foods because of their high quantities of antioxidants, which supposedly remove free radicals from the body and slow the onset of disease and aging.
Clearly, as already known, you should not eat grapefruit while taking statins.

The problem with the article is the graphic.


Bad Pairings Image Courtesy WSJ
Copyright © 2010 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

As you can see in the graphic, the title is Bad Pairings, but hightlighted in Yellow are foods that "CAN ENHANCE DRUG EFFECT."

To me, ENHANCE means to make better.

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:
Enhamce: heighten, increase; especially : to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, or attractiveness
It's a poor choice of wording. Especially since the wording used on the other side of the graphic is "CAN DECREASE DRUG EFFECT."

They probably should have used, "CAN INCREASE DRUG EFFECT."

On the web:

Drugs.com - Lipitor:
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Lipitor and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Charice - A Star Is Born

Friday, June 18, 2010

Goat Island Lighthouse - Close up


Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog Screens Tonight at The Coolidge Along with Live Cast like Rocky Horror


Image Coutesy The Teseracte Players of Boston

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog screens tonight at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, Followed by "The World Shadow cast Premier of Commentary! The Musical."

From the Globe, Carrying the Flame:
At the Coolidge Corner Theatre, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,’’ tonight at midnight; “Serenity,’’ tomorrow night at midnight.
Tickets: $15 in advance; $20 day of show. A two-night combo ticket $25, advance only.

Dave Adams, "We’re going to show “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,’’ a musical comedy about a wannabe villain who wants to rule the world and have the girl at the same time. There will be a live cast acting out the film, a la “Rocky Horror Picture Show.’’"
More:

New England Browncoats:
On Friday, June 18th we will be screening Joss Whedon’s award-winning Internet musical sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog featuring a shadowcast performance by The Teseracte Players of Boston.
The Teseracte Players of Boston:
We are a Traveling Shadow cast, performing for charity events, colleges and all sorts of venues all across New England! Shadow Casting isn't just for Rocky Horror any more. The Teseracte Players now produce 3 different shadow shows, with more in development!
Dr. Horrible - Official Site

Thursday, June 17, 2010

5 Things that Bother Me about my iPad

Hillel Fuld just wrote a blog post entitled, 11 Things That Bother Me About My iPad. I have 5 things to add.

Steve Garfield's Video Blog on iPad

5 Things that Bother Me about my iPad

1. I don't have enough of them.
LIke Martha Stewart, I'd like an iPad in every room of the house so I don't have to move it around.

2. Speakers
I find my self cupping my hand around the speakers to get the sound to be louder at times. The Apple case partally covers the speaker. I use headphones sometimes.

3. iTunes
I'd like to ba able to see my iPad as a hard disk and not have to go through iTunes to move files around.

4. Applications
I haven't tried out the apps yet because I've heard of some incompatabilities. Haven't had time to check them out although I'd like to use the iPad as a presentation device at conferences.

5. iPhone Apps
Applications like the Apple Store App that are just iPhone apps, and not ported to the iPad, are lame.

First Promoted Trending Topic: Toy Story 3, Sends you to a Facebook Mystery Meat Navigation page

This is the first time I saw Twitter's new ad model show up. At the bottom of Trending Topics in Boston I saw this:


Toy Story 3 Promoted.

So I clicked on the Toy Story 3 PROMOTED link and at the top of the list I see this.



Clicking on www.disneyticketstogether.com, sent me to Facebook, where I saw this:

Request for Permission
Disney Tickets Together is requesting permission to do the following:

Access my public information
Includes name, profile picture, list of friends, and all other public parts of my profile.
With all the recent uproar about privacy on Facebook, I wonder why Disney would put thier promotion behind a Facebook page that requires me to allow Disney Tickets Together to Access my public information.

I don't know what Disney Tickets Together is, although I'm sure it's a colorful 3D movie magic experience.

I'd suggest posting an intermediate page that actually explains what you'll get when you agree to share your information, right now it just looks like another mystery meat navigation page to me.

What do you think?

Update:

Just as I posted this, the promoted tweet changed.

Now it's this:



Clicking http://nku.me/ToyzNoize sends you to this video on YouTube, Pogo presents Toyz Noize:



Much better. Although the link: http://nku.me/ToyzNoize is still mystery meat navigation. It would be better if it wasn't shortened so people would know that they are going to a YouTube Video.

The description on that video, then tells you more about the Facebook link:
DisneyPixar — June 14, 2010 — You can now buy your movie tickets directly on Facebook to see "Toy Story 3" at http://DisneyTicketsTogether.com
Want to see "Toy Story 3" with your best friends? You can organize a movie party and buy tickets on Facebook. Find out more about Disney Tickets Together today!
That's better.

Update 2:

The wording of the promoted tweet changed again. Hmm... I wonder if these promoted tweets are set up to constantly change.



Interesting.

Update 3:

Yup. The promoted tweet is constantly changing...



Note:
Changed title from Promoted Tweet to Promted Trending Topic

Elsewhere:
Twitter tests new Promoted Trends feature with 'Toy Story 3' from Disney's Pixar:
“As we have always said, we plan to test different advertising and promotional models in these early stages of our monetization efforts. As part of this effort, today we began testing Promoted Trends, which is an extension of our Promoted Tweets platform,” a Twitter spokeswoman said. “These Promoted Trends initially appear at the bottom of the Trending Topics list on Twitter and are clearly marked ‘Promoted.’ As conversations about the topic increase, Promoted Trends may move up the list.”

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The Bui Brothers: Same day edit fusion wedding video



Great shoot and edit by Lan Bui. Read how he planned and executed this same day edit fusion wedding video.

Music by Paul Dateh.

Congratulations Jake Shapiro. PRX StoryMarket $75,000 Knight Foundation 2010 News Challenge Winner


Jake Shapiro, originally uploaded by Knight Foundation. CC BY-NC-SA

PRX StoryMarket: Knight Foundation 2010 News Challenge Winner

Award: $75,000

Winner: Jake Shapiro, PRX

Web URL: www.prx.org

Twitter: @jakeshapiro

Location: Boston, Mass.

Summary:

Building on the software created by 2008 challenge winner Spot.us, this project will allow anyone to pitch and help pay to produce a story for a local public radio station. When the amount is raised (in small contributions), the station will hire a professional journalist to do the report. The project provides a new way for public radio stations to raise money, produce more local content and engage listeners.

Bio:

Jake Shapiro is CEO of PRX, The Public Radio Exchange, an online marketplace connecting stations, producers and the public. Since its launch in 2003, PRX has been a leading innovator in public media, pioneering new digital distribution models and social media applications. In 2008, PRX received the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. Prior to joining PRX, Shapiro was associate director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, where he remains on the Fellows Advisory Board. Shapiro is also an independent musician and has recorded and performed on guitar and cello with numerous groups, most frequently with original rock band Two Ton Shoe.

$2.74 Million Awarded to 12 Grantees Who Will Impact Future of News

Get Seen on .tv!

Skype Voice Calls Work on iPad with Freetalk Everyman Headset


I'm testing out the Freetalk Everyman headset on an iPad using USB adapter and Skype. Works great. I called my mom and she didn't complain about sound quality.

Disclosure:
Freetalk Everyman headset is demo unit.

Goat Island Lighthouse


Beavertail Lighthouse


Has J.Crew Heard of The Iron?


Sunday, June 13, 2010

Nissan Leaf Electric Car Sounds

Nissan released the sounds that their new electric car, the LEAF, will make when going in forward and reverse.

These videos screamed parody.

Original Forward:


Parody Forward:


Original Reverse:


Parody Reverse with alternatives:


Read more here:
Electric Car Sounds Warning
Nissan LEAF Sound Revealed
Nissan LEAF Electric Car Sounds Revealed
Video: The Nissan Leaf Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians

Saturday, June 12, 2010

I'm Power Friending!


Power Friending by Amber Mac



www.ambermac.com/book
www.ambermac.com

Ping Test Results: Grade A



Line Quality: A
MOS: 4.38


An excellent result! Expect all Internet applications to work very well assuming you have sufficient bandwidth.

MOS greater than 4.37 (Example - a ping below 50 ms with 0% packet loss)

The Mean Opinion Score (MOS) is an indication of the quality of a voice conversation. The MOS ranges from 1 to 5 with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best.

Ping: 28ms

How long it takes a "packet" of data to travel from your computer to a server on the Internet and back.

Jitter: 12 ms

Jitter is the variance in measuring successive ping tests.

Packet Loss: 0%

If you have anything less than complete success in transmitting and receiving "packets" of data then you are experiencing this problem with your Internet connection.

Test your internet connection at PingTest.net

Update:

Concast has a SpeedTest on their site now.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Upgrading a Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G to a Netgear WNR1000v2 Wireless-N on Comcast

I just upgraded my Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G router to a Netgear WNR1000v2 Wireless-N router on Comcast.

The Netgear WNR1000v2 Wireless-N router is free for Comcast customers who currently lease a High-Speed Internet modem or a Digital Voice modem from Comcast. All you have to do is pay for shipping.

Check this page, Get online anywhere in your home, with a wireless router from Comcast, to see if it's available in your area and if you qualify. Router availability varies by area.

Netgear WNR1000 Wireless-N Router

I was concerned about making the swap, but in the Netgear configuration mode I just put in my existing network name and password, and everything still works. :-)

I'm starting to test out the new speeds and here's the speed from my laptop that's directly connected to the new router via Ethernet cable.

Here are the new speeds:



Insane!

Compare these new speeds to the old speeds:



And I haven't even tested wireless speeds yet.

Update:
Unplugged the direct cable and turned on Airport WiFi.



Need to check that I have Wireless-N in this MacBook. How do I do that?