Andy TaylorLeave a commentFeatured, software, , , , , , , , , , ,

New Video FX Plugins – Great Price and Features

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NewBlueFX - Easy to Use and Inexpensive

I was fortunate through my years growing up to have attended a high school in Southern California that offered a video production class to which I became a TV Nerd spending time before and after the actual class creating shows and segments for the TV news-feed at school. We had much fun creating Wipes and Dissolves and getting our fellow classmates in front of the Blue Screen and Chroma Keying them into strange backgrounds. It was very basic but fun to do. Our editing was done on a Sony RM440 3/4 inch system, much different that what is available today.

With the lower cost of Digital Video cameras and the availability of faster computer systems, the classrooms of today create productions that not only tell a story but also are visually competitive to programs you might find on cable television. When a student leaves school, they can either move on to college or try to get a job professionally in the industry with some of the skills they can pick up in the schools. For a short time before moving out to Tucson, I taught Computer Education at a night school for parent of children wanting to learn what makes them tick. Many adults in the class that wanted to learn about the computer also wanted to see where they could go with it and what great presentations they could create. Video and Photo editing was one of the areas I was questioned about often. 

It seems as thought the numbers are growing and consumers would like to use Video programs and create DVD’s or Online Videos to share with friends and family but haven’t had access to programs that could do more than just basic edits. Many of these users have wanted to incorporate video effects and features to give the videos a step above in the quality of the finished product. But as times have changed since when I started working with video to where the basic user is now, software can now do more with even the good home editing programs we have.

Adobe, Sony, Avid and Apple both have delivered great video editing platforms for the Consumer and the Professional. Many consumers have looked at whats available for the Pro users and have wanted these features in the lower cost home suites. All of these companies have worked hard to include as many features as possible and have done a great job at it. To extend features to the user on both skill sets is NewBlue Inc with its NewBlueFX line of products for professional looking Video Effects.

The most recent product from the company NewBlueFX Video Essentials IV offers 10 different effects with over a hundred different types of presets for a desired look and feel. We talked with Vice President of Marketing of New Blue Inc about the latest suite of effects and what can be achieved with the plugin’s which work into not only professional software packages but also the consumer level users.

Tune into TechtalkRadio and Listen Now to the Audio interview with Sandy Berman about how these features work and how you can save a few bucks ordering online. Need to Shoot at daytime but need it to look like night? Put a Clock on your screen to wind down to a particular event? Easily remove wrinkles and blemishes of your host or talent? The NewBlueFX package is capable of doing these and many other features.  Listen in at http://www.techtalkradio.com/software/newbluefx.html 

Be Sure to Visit the NewBlueFX Blog for Tutorials, Demos and Tips at

http://www.newbluefx.com/blog/category/tips-and-techniques.html

For a Limited Time, Check out the Online Coupon to Save 15%

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Great laptop cooler/stand for notebook computers

We received the USB 3.0 version of the CM Storm Strike Force SF-19 laptop cooler…
Until it’s removed from the box, it’s not apparent how sturdy it is!  Made of plastic, metal mesh, and thick rubber…I expect this can take a beating.
Notebook computers of up to 19-inch notebook can fit on it.  The SF-19 is 1 foot 7 inches wide at its top.  On the left side is a “LED ON/OFF” switch, a “MULTI-LIGHT SHADER” switch…and a speed control for the fans, which can also turn them off.  On the right side is:  the 12 volt power socket, four USB ports, and a port for the the UBS 3.0 cable.  The USB 3.0 cable is supplied to connect the cooler to a computer.  The cable is 3.5 inches long, has a Type A plug at one end, and a Micro-B plug at the other.
Installed in the unit are two 140 mm fans, which can be replaced with 120 mm fans.  Air is blown upwards towards the computer.  To access the fans, turn the SF-19 upside-down and open the access door located on the bottom.  Inside are four power connections for fans, two on each side.
An AC-to-12 volt power adapter is included.
The “MULTI-LIGHT SHADER” switch allows for the activation of seven LED colors that illumate at four locations on the bottom. (Not being an art student I can only identify:  red, green, blue, purple, and what appears to be aqua).
The rubber components of the SF-19 keep computers from slipping off, absorbs shock to protect it from damage, and are designed to assist with cable management.
Often I have complained about how flimsy other laptop platforms for notebook computers are.  The SF-19 is the ultimate solution.
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Whats Happening today at TechtalkRadio

A Few Days Left to enter the Contest for a Copy of System Mechanic 10 from iolo technologies, today around 3pm we’ll give you a chance to win with a trivia question on our Twitter Account http://www.twitter.com/techtalkradio Thats Today Around 3pm Pacific! Also – later this morning tune in for new Audio from Outsourced at we talk with Actor Ben Rappaport and we talk about trends in business with CNBC. We will also feature a new Plug in software for your Video Editing from New Blue!

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In Like Flynn

Power Surge

Greetings Programs. Let the Gladiator Games Begin!

On October 28, 2010 Disney Parks Blog hosted a free Meet-Up for the new experience called ElecTRONica. This exclusive event was invite only, but if you follow the blog or @Disneyland on twitter, you will get updates like this one on occasion. All you needed to do was send them an email with your first and last name and a certain subject in the space and you and a guest of your choice were “In like Flynn.”

So, I used my ipod touch to send a quick email with my name and a friend of mine did the same so we could take our significant others. When it came time to find out who was chosen, she got in and I did not. NOT FAIR! So like a good friend, I convinced her to take me and leave her husband at home. She did! (Actually her husband didn’t really want to go.)

The party was limited to 1500 attendees and a guest of their choice who each received a commemorative Flynn’s Arcade token and exclusive park entry from 4:00pm until 11:00pm. Attendees were also granted special access to the creators of TRON: Legacy by lining up early. The first 200 people were able to meet them and obtain autographs.

One of the highlights was the Power Surge Show where we saw a team of dancers perform in their 80’s style jean jackets and denim pants tucked into their slouch socks. We also learned the End of Line Dance to Daft Punk’s “One More Time.” When the time was right, there was a huge clock which counted down to the presentation of ElecTRONica.
“10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1!” the crowd roared.
“Let the Gladiator Games Begin!” he announced.

Dj spinning Daft Punk At End Of Line Club

Upon entering the spectacle in a mass of 2998 other participants, we were greeted by huge video screens and large beams and structures flashing grid like patterns and playing small clips of the movie.

When we reached the end of the street, we were faced with a huge Recognizer that identified me this time as “This program has no disk.” “Great!” I thought, “My identity disk water pack has been erased.”

We then headed into the area of the dance party. There was a he DJ spinning many of Daft Punk’s hits and other remixes as programs were dancing the night away. Many of them were imbibing in their favorite glowing beverages and meeting new friends.

Directly behind the dance floor was a special showing of the Laser man where he seemed to bend light with his hands and body at times. It was quite popular as well.

In the far corner was the gem of the night. Flynn’s Arcade. Well, a remake of the original, complete with 80’s music, token machines that spit out special coins to play the arcade games, and neon lights all around us. We found the GALAGA machine and I called “We got next (game)” as my friend Amy slammed her token on the machine while the other player was playing their last round. HA! “It was a trip and was like the world didn’t exist for a brief moment in time,” she claimed.

To the right of the Arcade experience they had a special room dedicated to movie paraphernalia and posters filled with some of the concept art before the film was made. We spent a few moments browsing some helmets, posters, and a full body gladiator suit from the film which appeared to have a very life-like manikin inside. The best of all though, was a white cloak worn by “Flynn,” Bridges himself in the film. It had never previously been seen in public until now.

As we left the arcade as we had drained our pockets of tokens, there was a Tweet Up announced from Mouse Planet, a third party blog and forum that many of us frequent to attend scavenger hunts and the like at Disney parks. We hung out for a few moments and then spotted Heather, the writer and main blogger of the Disney Parks Blog. We went over to meet her and she was kind enough to offer us an exclusive Blog Pin for our lanyards. It was very awesome!

We then went back to chatting about new TRON merchandise that I had spoken to a CM (Cast Member) about earlier when I purchased my official TRON: Legacy T-Shirt. He said they had the merchandise in stock but were not allowed to release it until November. (BOO!) Adrienne, the “big cheese” of Mouse Planet said she had seen some hats that said “ElecTRONica” on them and was thinking they should sell them at the park. (They currently only sell TRON embroidered hats.)

The Cloak worn in the film by Bridges

As we were chatting about it, I spotted a CM wearing one and beckoned him to come over and let us inspect his hat and Jacket which had an embroidered Identity Disk on the back. “When and where can we buy these?” I asked. He said he wasn’t sure but asked “Which one of you wants to be in some games?” Amy, my friend, pushed me into him practically and said,” She’ll do it.” “Great!” I thought to myself. So I waited with anticipation with the other 7 “Gladiators” to play the new Wii Game TRON: Legacy for a chance to win prizes.

As the time grew closer, I was starting to get shaky. Thank goodness they let us practice once before we had to play in the tournament. Oh, but get this, Amy, my friend was asked to play too. He called “Gladiators to your podiums!” and we ran with smiling faces. I was up against a college age guy… piece of cake! I took him in round one. “SWEET!” Amy won her heat as well. The announcer asked, “How are you doing? I said, “Great! I am sooo getting my TRON on!” My competitor said, “In like Flynn!”
Heat two began and the guy I was against kept my light cycle to the wall. I crashed 3 times and was out. Well, it was amazing while it lasted!

The last stop was the TRON: Legacy Sneak Peak 20 minute clip from the film. It was almost in 4D because it was held in the Muppet’s 3D theater with special effects all around us! It was a blast!
Overall the experience was quite a spectacle and I would highly recommend checking it out. The portal is open from 8:00pm until park closing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Nights at Disney’s California Adventure theme park. Check out my videos of the experience here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEGpBqdn9nM

End of Line.

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Congratulations to our Winners of System Mechanic 10

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TechtalkRadio is back with some great Contest! Congrat s to our Winner Stuart W of Tucson who won a copy of the System Mechanic 10 Software and to Rey in Phoenix who won while listening to the show. We also gave away a copy of the Software on Wednesday to a follower on Twitter, Leonard L in New Jersey!

The Software for the PC is designed to speed up and correst issue in your system that can slow down start up time and cause problems with programs to run. Both Slick and Andy Taylor recommended this program for optimizing your computer system, especially for those that aren’t familiar with the inner workings of the System Registry, Startup and File Fragmentation. Let System Mechanic 10 do it for you.

Andy Taylor talked with System Specialist Abbas Mehdi about the Program and some of the features that can be found in this new release of the software as well as those that can be found in System Mechanic Pro 10. Both Andy and Slick agree with the idea that households are continuing to add PC’s in the home and the new Licensing scheme for System Mechanic 10 allow the program to be installed on as many computers that are available in the home. You Can listen to that interview on the TechtalkRadio Site.

We have more Contest Coming to TechtalkRadio, Be sure to Visit http://www.techtalkradio.com/contest.htm TechtalkRadio hopes to continue to have Downloads, Services and even Hardware and DVD’s  for visitors to the site to Win. Be sure to follow us on Twitter as well for a chance through the week to also Win.  Good Luck and we promise to look into some cool programs we can make available for our Mac Friends!