GeekSugar

The Canon DW-100: Portable DVD Burning Made Easy

GeekSugar — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:20:46 -0800

Do you have hours of video footage that you wish you could easily transfer to DVD? Thanks to Canon and their new DW-100 DVD recorder, you can instantly burn your videos onto DVDs by simply connecting your video camera to this device. According to Akihabara News, this type of recorder is not new, although it is one of the first to record high-definition videos with AVCHD codec. You will also be able to plug the burner into any PC or MAC via a USB connection. Unfortunately you won't be able to pick one up before Christmas since they are set to be released in March 2008. No word on pricing just yet.

The Latest Windows Live Movie Maker Has Arrived

GeekSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:43:52 -0700

Listen up Windows Vista and Windows 7 owners, Microsoft has just released its latest version of Windows Live Movie Maker, so you can get your movie video editing on. With the functionality to render a 1080p widescreen video, add transitions, and rearrange the order of slides, the new version is worth taking a look at. Once your video is finished, you have the ability to send it to YouTube, save to your hard drive, or burn to a DVD - directly from the software. Now I'm an Apple iMovie gal myself, but by the sounds of it, Live Movie Maker is pretty similar. I'd love to hear feedback from someone who has used both.

How to Fold a Piece of Paper Into a Makeshift CD Case

GeekSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:06:09 -0700

Need to give someone a CD or DVD you've burned, or have long lost the case for? Don't buy a new case - just follow this tutorial by DIY Maven for how to make a CD case with a simple piece of white paper.

All you need is a sheet of standard 8.5-by-11-inch paper, and to follow these super simple folding steps.

Even though I'd throw it together in a pinch, you could do as the post suggests and print a design on paper or use a sheet of already-printed or colored paper.

Bringing the Party With the Apple TV

GeekSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:05:41 -0800

When I first told you how much I was enjoying the Apple TV, I mentioned that I thought the device was best suited for party people. And I am party people. No, not in a frat-boy Brody Jenner way, but in that I love hosting people at my house.

The most basic hostessing rule is making sure people are entertained, and the Apple TV brings that in a couple key ways. My absolute favorite thing about the Apple TV - and I am aware of its many talents - is its slideshow feature. That's because my boyfriend and I take a ton of photos, and the people in the photos are usually the attendees of our parties, so they get to reminisce about other events while enjoying a new one.

To see why the Apple TV's slideshow is different than others, read more.

Though it's true that other devices can display photo slideshows on your TV - I have used most, but they all have limitations: The PS3 requires you plugging in a thumb drive, an iPod has to be plugged in as well, a burned DVD demands much prep, and you usually end up with the same kind of visual effect; that is, one photo cycling at a time. The Apple TV's visual is much more dynamic, showcasing several photos at a time, so your guests don't experience awkward lulls of you and your lover gazing into each other eyes on last year's vacation. And you get to see all the photos on your hard drive, because Apple TV connects to your home network.

Likewise, because of that connection, you have access to your entire iTunes library with the Apple TV, thereby giving you the other thing every party needs: music. Don't hook up a stereo, don't futz with trying to figure out how to play music and the slideshow from the TV - the Apple TV manages it with ease, and your guests will love using the remote to treat it like a jukebox.

Plus, these days it seems that people spend more money on speakers for their TV rather than a traditional stereo system, so it makes sense to use your TV as your home music player.

Plus, the Apple TV can save a party - when things get dull, suggest movie night and start downloading a film right away.

Music, photos, entertainment - the Apple TV won't pop your popcorn or mix cocktails, but it will free you to do those very important things!

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The Practical Girl's Guide to Apple TV

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0800

Call waiting, cell phones, TiVo . . . all technological conveniences that you told yourself (I definitely did) at first you didn't need; until of course, you had them, and they became indispensable.

This is now how I feel about Apple TV. Our friends at Apple sent me the mighty little movie streamer, and I've been learning to live with this new gadget.

For the uninitiated, Apple TV ($229) is a box-top digital media receiver - basically, a home theater enhancer that functions as a movie or music player. To hear my first impressions, and to whom I would recommend an Apple TV, just read more.

First impressions:

First of all, set up of the Apple TV could not be easier. You plug in the HDMI cable (or component, if that's how you roll), and it's just a few minutes to be all set up. It was truly one of the most painless gadget setups I've ever been through.
The most impressive thing about the Apple TV? Its abilities as a media hoster. That's right, hoster, not player, because player is so limiting. The first thing I did was connect my computer and iTunes account to the Apple TV, and bam, all my photos and music were available. The screensaver slideshow of photos (with several photos onscreen at a time) mesmerized my friends and me.
The movie watching experience is great, but I didn't expect it to be difficult. With no skips for obvious reasons, it's as smooth and easy as using a PS3 for viewing Blu-ray movies.
The 160GB of space is awesome; we watched a DVD the other night, and it skipped, so we ripped it to the Apple TV and watched it from there (effectively saving movie night and my nerves). Not only is it a better way to watch, you can rip your DVDs to the Apple TV's hard drive, and then never have to deal with those discs again.
Watching a movie directly from Apple TV is ideal, and way better than renting or buying from your computer (whether you'd watch it straight from your PC or transfer it from there to the Apple TV). Where downloading a two-hour movie onto my computer from iTunes takes me about an hour, it takes about 20 minutes from Apple TV and we were able to watch it before it had fully downloaded.

Who is the Apple TV ideal for?

Movie Junkies. This is the obvious one, but very true. Having the Apple TV means you can rent or buy movies and TV shows from iTunes (stay tuned for my impressions of that) anytime - no having to get out of your PJs or into the rain to get a new movie.
People who want to digitize their movie collection. You have 160GB of space to fill up, so you can divide that among quite a few movies and then sell those discs or just consider the file on the hard drive a back up.
People who entertain a lot. My favorite part about Apple TV is not movie watching, but photo viewing and music playing. Normally we play slideshows on our TV, but we either have to burn a limited number of images to a disc, or run it from the PS3, whose slideshow isn't as cool looking. Apple TV runs my whole photo library and looks amazing doing it.
People who are resisting Netflix, but sick of actual movie stores.
People who want a movie streamer. There are other streaming devices, but Netflix's Roku doesn't do anything besides movie streaming, costs $99 plus a Netflix account, and you could do it with an Xbox, but you'd have to have an Xbox and an Xbox Live Pass. No subscription is necessary with Apple TV.
People who are not ready for Blu-ray (or think it won't stick around). If you rent or buy directly from the Apple TV, movies are available in HD, and they look pretty clear.
Gadget junkies. Enough said.

This is just the beginning of my experiences with the Apple TV, so if you have any questions or curiosities about it, let me know in the comments below and I'll try to cover it all in the followup!

StarTech InfoSafe External Drive Review

GeekSugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:05:38 -0800

If you're planning on buying a MacBook Air, then you may be considering purchasing an external drive, due to the lack of optical drive in the Air. The Star Tech external DVD-RW drive is an option - even if you're not buying a MacBook Air, this drive works with PCs as well. It also comes with Nero (DVD burning software) and can burn dual layer discs.

Slim and pretty small, this compact drive can easily fit in your laptop bag and would definitely be great for on-the-go as well as on your desk. . .Right next to your pretty little MacBook Air.

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Do You Suffer From Video Game Burn Out?

GeekSugar — Sat, 24 May 2008 13:11:59 -0700

As I was tidying my DVD and video game library in my bookcase at home the other day, I kept seeing game titles I haven't played in forever. "Ohhh, let's play Jeopardy! Tetris! DDR!" I squealed. My renewed interest is totally due to the fact that I burned out on all these games approximately two weeks or so after buying them - which makes me fearful for my upcoming personal Wii Fitness challenge, a little.

Wii games usually stay perennially fun because even if you're bored of them, guests will come over and get you back into it. But even with my favorite games, I eventually tire of them, especially hot ones that I get and play the hell out of at the beginning. I liken it to watching the same movie over and over again. Burn out is only natural, right? What about you? Is this your occasional affliction too?
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How to Make Your Wedding Slideshow

GeekSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:03:39 -0700

In your wedding planning mania, don't forget the touches to the wedding that are distinctly you - and one way to remind your guests of what is you, literally - is photo slideshows! Slideshows are awesome for weddings, whether you want one to show at the wedding, the reception, rehearsal, and showers - as well as making one from the wedding and honeymoon itself, to have for you and your honey to keep for yourselves.

Luckily, software and tech helpers have evolved, preventing your slideshow from being a cheesy affair - remember the days of photo collages at weddings?

To see wedding slideshow tips and ideas, just read more

The Pictures

As far as photos, you can do a slideshow of photos of your life together so far, or you can start with baby pictures and work your way up chronologically.
Decide what story you're telling, and think about that in accordance with how long you want the show to be. If it'll be something guests see as they arrive or will just visit briefly, then a shorter show (75-100 for about 10 minutes) may be what you want, so everyone can see all the pictures but not create a distraction. In that case, it's fine to set the photos an a shuffle setting. If you want to show the slideshow to everyone as a main event of the reception, like during the meal or drinks, then you could go longer and set the photos to go in a certain order.
Consider the quality of each photo you're including - but they don't all need to be high-res because they'll be projected - use old black and white, vintage-y looking shots for a nice mix.
Have any old home movie clips, or short video you've taken with your cell phone? Insert that somewhere in the slideshow to keep the audience on their toes!

Getting It Done

If you'll be able to use your computer and project it at the event, then it's achingly easy to upload your photos to a photo-sharing service like Picasa or flickr (pretty much any photo-sharing site does this) and set it to slideshow mode. Just arrange them how you want, and they'll flow in that order. If you want something fancier (like transitions between each picture), you can use a program like iPhoto. Watch the tutorial here.
Want it done for you? DVD Photographs slideshows start at $79.
Make sure your venue has a projector (or be sure to rent one) and a way to hook up your computer, or burn the slideshow onto a DVD if you want to screen it on a TV there. Can't do it yourself? Walgreens can help.

To see more wedding-planning coverage, don't forget to check back on IDoSugar!

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Eco-fy Your Wedding!

GeekSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:30:12 -0700

In honor of Earth Day (and wedding planning week here on the Sugar Network) I thought it would be a grand idea to serve you up some easy and simple ways to make your wedding just a bit more earth friendly from a geek's perspective. These days, getting down with protecting Mother Earth can be simple.

From your wedding shower, to the big event and to all the details in between - from flower and utensil selection to reducing your meal's carbon footprint by choosing local food and beverages - little changes like this can certainly help our planet and our pocketbooks! Making your wedding eco friendly has never been more simple (and surprisingly) cost effective. Besides, wouldn't you rather spend all that extra cash on the honeymoon, or better yet? That flat screen HDTV you've been eyeing? Go, Earth!

Invites - We've already talked about some great wedding websites like ewedding that you can set up at little or no cost. The best part, since all of your ceremony and reception information is in one place, no one will be losing the details on your big day. And since your guests can RSVP directly on the site at any time, there really isn't any need for paper invites anymore. Another option is to create a DVD wedding invite - high tech, yet super simple to make! However, if you are a traditionalist and want to send out your dream monogrammed paper invitations, make sure your paper is 100 percent recycled or even paper free like what's offered at Atlanta based Earthly Affair, who offer recycled invites as well as eco friendly printing and shipping.

For a few more tips, read more

Favors - No more mint candies in little bags from the earth friendly couple! There are lots of online options for some pretty unique and planet saving wedding favors. For example, The Arbor Day Foundation offers gift trees for your guests to plant, and nurture, just like your marriage! Or, you can send your guests away knowing that you have donated funds in their name to a charity of your choice, with the help of great charities like I Do Foundation.
Go Green With Transportation - Why take separate vehicles and burn all those fossil fuels when you can double, even or triple-up in something like a stretch limo? Or better yet, rent lots of hybrid cars instead of getting that earth un-friendly hummer your hubby has been longing for.
Rings - Sorry to be a "Debbie Downer," but If you haven't seen the film Blood Diamond, I suggest you take a gander before purchasing that rock you've dreamed of since you were a little girl. Times have changed and it's imperative that you make sure you aren't getting a diamond at the cost of someone's life! Research where your diamonds come from before you buy, whether it's online or from a store, or even consider going for a man made gem. Also, since mining for gold does a number on the earth's ecosystems, consider recycling your old rings that you aren't wearing, and turning them into a new piece that you can enjoy forever through a company called GreenKarat that does just that. By reusing gold or silver you already have, you can make your new rings as geeky, or as traditional as you'd like, and help reduce mining damage!
Go Digital! - Why do it the old school way and waste tons of rolls of (toxic) film when you can go digital?! With digital cameras, you can easily email your captured memories to friends and family, or upload them to lovely digital photo frames! Simple, easy on the environment and super cheap!

For more wedding coverage, check out I Do Sugar.

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Choosing a Videographer For Your Wedding

GeekSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:00:51 -0700

In the planning stages of your wedding, you've no doubt established that you want to commemorate the day the best way possible. Amazing photography can really take you back into the day and the feelings you experienced, and so can a video of your event! If you want a moving (literally and figuratively) way to keep the event going, then think about supplementing your still shots with video - and I'm here to guide in finding the right videographer to best suit your needs.

Like selecting your wedding photographer, you should take care in looking at the professional's body of work - in this case, demo reels, to see if the style (and skill) of the videographer matches your vision. For the rest of the tips, read more

Picking the Videographer and the Cost

As with any vendor, find out what is included in the videographer's package, like the burning of DVDs and how many DVDs are included. Find out if the videographer uses an assistant, because that will have an obvious cost impact but might make a difference to you. . . both in the sense that the videographer's set-up may be more efficient, and also that it's another body to have present (and if they are working the reception, possibly feeding as well).

To find a videographer from scratch, use a reputable source, such as the Nationwide Directory of Event Video Professionals, and don't forget online review sites like Yelp as a source, too. If your venue offers a videographer in their package, that's great, but be sure you can view their work and meet the person, just the same as if you were hiring an outside vendor (and also because the venue might be charging more because they can).

It may be tempting to have a guest film the event, but just remember that they'll be working, rather than enjoying the wedding, and from a professional, you can expect fancy stuff like DVD menus, extras and great editing. You also have recourse if it doesn't turn out how you expected.

Be clear about your expectations! Meet with them in person to get a feel for their professionalism, and if it's important to you, be clear about what you want them to wear, etc.

Style and The Finished Video

In fact, let's talk about style. Think about what you want before you meet with anyone, because that will be a big factor. If you want video that's chronicling the event, but not necessarily with close-ups and high editorial input, then that's easier to find and your videographer may be less of a distraction. But on the flip-side, if you want a more involved video and close attention to detail, be prepared to look (and pay) more for skill and accept that your videographer may be distracting from the actual action at the wedding to your live audience.

Also, decide which events you want your videographer to attend - maybe you just want the ceremony on film, and maybe you want the whole shebang - rehearsal, pre-ceremony preparation, and reception. This will have an effect both on the content of the finished video and a big impact on cost. If you can't pass up video to really re-live the wedding but are on a budget, consider having only your ceremony filmed.

Sound and Lighting

Sound is a big thing to think about - if you want your whole video set to music, then let them know so they don't record sound. Or maybe you want sound only at the ceremony, and the rest of the time you want set to music, let them know, and then provide the selected music to your videographer.

Ask about lighting - ensure they'll have enough at each site you'll have filmed, and possibly have them visit your sites, otherwise you may have to have lighting kits provided, which can add cost and possibly visibly distracting equipment.

Good luck, and have I told you congratulations yet? Congratulations! And don't forget to check out all our wedding coverage on IDoSugar!

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