Under: The Influence

by Brian Underdahl

Prepare to be impressed. I recently popped one of the new Verbatim PhotoSave DVDs into my PC and almost couldn’t believe how perfectly it worked. In less than ten seconds the software that’s preloaded on the DVD launched, found 2576 digital photos, and offered to burn them to the disc with one click. So I clicked the button and less than five minutes later all of my digital images were backed up. It was simple, it worked perfectly, and there was nothing complicated at all. Why can’t everything work like that?

By the way, these DVDs could be the perfect gift for your somewhat less than technical relatives who have a digital camera but don’t really know too much about computers. After all, the way these work is so simple even a caveman could do it (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Oh, and reading this review probably took more time than backing up the photos.

by Brian Underdahl

Today’s video editing tools are really great. It’s become very easy to create a professional looking video from your video footage or even your digital photos. Most of the programs even include easy methods for you to grab audio from your favorite CD or to generate a music track automatically. With a little work almost anyone can feel like they’re an expert. But there’s a little problem (or two). (more…)

by Brian Underdahl

If you’re a public television fan you certainly know who Ken Burns is. His productions such as The Civil War have created a new term in the video editing arena which is called “the Ken Burns effect.” Basically, this is a technique where you use still photos in a video but you make them move, zoom, or otherwise create the illusion of motion.

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In Star Trek, everyone talked to the computer. It justed seemed like the natural thing to do, didn’t it? Just tell it what you want and off it goes-no typing involved. Now days most of carry a small computer (in the form of a cell phone) around with us, but we’re still using keys to tell it what we want. There’s an easier way. (more…)

This is not a review, but I wish it was. I would have enjoyed seeing those home movies.

Bob built our place. After a hard day’s work, he would sit in the unfinished house with my husband and me drinking scotch. He also ate cigarettes; that’s what killed him, but it’s another story.

Bob loved to talk about his family. There was great residual affection for his ex-wife, a beauty and good sport, until “whatever-it-was”ended the marriage. (more…)