If you’re like me, and SVN “update -t comma space trunk branch add diet coke” means a mild-migraine and a whole box of kleenex, then rejoice in Versions. Versions is delightfully “mac-like” subversion GUI that’s free… well free for now anyway. So far it’s passed the rigorous “Does Jeff like this” test, which includes the following criteria:
1. Launches in under three seconds: check
2. Sexy dock icon: star
3. Looks like iTunes: check
4. Intriguingly pressable icons: uh-huh
5. Preference pane has under 10 tabs: yup
Bonus: Domain name has the suffix “app”: bingo!
Well folks, looks like we have a winner. Check it out on the internet today!
While working on a new client project (Mase Engineering), I slowly became obsessed with finding a new Video Cam to use on new projects. I’ve always wanted to buy a video cam but the ones that actually did anything resembling film always cost about 3k or more. That doesn’t even include the software or hardware needed to power a video editing setup. We didn’t have 5k to spend on this setup, but we did have about 2k.
About a year or so ago, Canon released the HV20 Video Cam. It was an HD Camcorder capable of producing 1080i output and most importantly film in 24p (gives it the film look). Before this camera came out, you had slim pickings in the sub 1k level for getting this level of video quality. Like I mentioned before, most cams capable of producing video like this were in the 2 - 3k + mark. So it was great to see Canon push the market and release a great camera like this for us normal folk.
Here’s one of the more famous examples of what’s possible with just the stock camera:
Now, that alone would be enough to make me want to buy this camera but it gets better. People have taking a liking to this camera and have come up with some serious hacks/work-flows to extend the abilities of the camera to almost match those more expensive 3 - 5k range cameras (Hence the Honda Civic reference). DOF Adapter Hacks, Slow Motion Processes, Viewfinder Additions, etc etc. The list goes on for days. You can make this camera as simple or as complex as you need it to be. All with an affordable base foundation. Can’t get any better than that.
The folks over at Font Shop have developed a sweet little application to make your own modular bitmap fonts called FontStruct. The toolset is rich, with over thirty different blocks for creating counters, stems, and crossbars. After you’re done you can share your font with the FontShop community, and even download the font and use it in your own work.
I first heard of this product back when I was up in Boston in the Viximo office. Its a slick piece of software that allows you to stream any audio source from any application to an airport express or Apple TV. I personally use it to stream Pandora downstairs to my Apple TV (Thanks Shaun) and it works like a charm. Now if only my Apple TV would remember my wireless network info it’d be seamless.
Anyways, this is a great piece of software and well worth the $25.
Personally, I don’t think the future of television lies soley in the realm of a browser based delivery, or even in the sometimes cumbersome flash player. However now that hulu is a few weeks into it’s initial launch, I can honestly say that at least three nights of the week I am doing just that. With my eyes glared over the subtle ambience of my backlit keyboard, I catch up on what I normally considered to be bland network television. SNL, House (FTW), The Office, Ghost Hunters, Conan and now even movies, all delivered “on demand” to my browser, with very few breaks in content for commercials. And did I mention it’s free?
Like hulu’s lush library of programming, it’s interface seems extremely considered. The search function does just what you want, finding shows and even related clips based on your query. A number of these clips are even broken up into highlighted subject matter, skipping a lot of the fluff which normally plagues the typical television experience. While the video player is the heart of the monster, it comes in a close second in terms of overall utility to that of TED’s video player. Delivering a rather sweet full-screen and “lights out” mode, the widescreen player also has nice little bookmarks highlighting all the areas of possible interest.
All in all, I have very little to complain about in how these mediagiants are delivering their 2.0 television experience. Apart from not being viewable on my iPhone or with little hope that it may be included in some of the newer web based television components, hulu has a bright future in my living room. But should my remote be scared that he and his media stand companion have met it’s match? Nope, but at least now we’ve got options. And it’s good to have options.
