Tag: MacBook

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Panasonic HDC-SD5 Video Sample

As promised, I finally get to edit a short video clip taken using Panasonic HDC-SD5.

  • Stage lighting
  • Imported and edited using iMovie ’08 with 1920×1080 resolutions
  • White-balanced (in camera)
  • AVCHD
  • 1080i

Carlos Alazraqui - AVCHD Screen Cap

Get it here (960×540 – 20.5MB)
Carlos Alazrazqui, Live at Hollywood Improv, Nov 17 2007 – 11:00 PM set.

Carlos is scheduled to perform at the Ice House in Pasadena, California. Carlos will be performing on the following date and time:

Ice House Comedy Club
http://www.icehousecomedy.com/

Carlos Alazraqui
http://www.carlosalazraqui.com/
http://www.myspace.com/carlosalazraqui/

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Carlos Alazraqui, AVCHD, Panasonic HDC-SD5, Macs, and iMovie ’08.

I finally finished the first project involving Carlos Alazraqui, AVCHD, Panasonic HDC-SD5, Macs, and iMovie ’08. I learned a lot from this project, from using the Panasonic HDC-SDC camera, importing AVCHD movie clips, using iMovie ’08 even further, and the hardware requirements for this project.

First, I’d like to thank Hollywood Improv for giving the permissions to film Carlos Alazraqui’s stand-up sets.

I do realize that my personal MacBook Pro Core Duo is a little bit underpowered in handling AVCHD movie clips. For certain, it took a long time to import the AVCHD clips, and it took even longer to export the HD clips.

I do learn a lot of tricks in using iMovie ’08. I originally was going to use Final Cut Pro to edit the clips. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to install Final Cut Pro on my MacBook Pro, after I clean installed Mac OS X Leopard on it. In addition to that, I have yet to acquire Final Cut Express 4 which now supports AVCHD format.

I will post my review on Panasonic HDC-SD5, my experience with iMovie ’08, and what I learn about AVCHD format.

As a preview, please take a look at the following screen capture taken using Panasonic HDC-SD5.

Carlos Alazraqui, Hollywood Improv, 2007.11.17 - 3

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I Need New Macs

For the past 7 years I have been purchasing at least one portable computer each year with the exception of 2007. It is now November 2007, and I have yet purchased a computer. OK, I did get a new Core 2 Duo PC from the office. It is currently running Windows XP, take that Windows Vista. I can’t bear using Windows Vista at all. The PC itself is more than powerful enough to run Windows Vista Ultimate, but up to this moment there are some softwares that wouldn’t run properly on Windows Vista. In addition to that, the networking stack in Windows Vista does not play nice with other Operating Systems. I have not reinstalled Windows Vista back on any computers I have in my home office.

I have recently acquired a new AVCHD camcorder, Panasonic HDC-SD5. I just finished recording Carlos Alazraqui‘s stand up sets at the Hollywood Improv. It is roughly an hour of raw footage, and recorded in High Definition at 1080i. Working with AVCHD format requires a lot of processing powers. It takes 2 hours to re-encode an 11-minute of edited footage on my 2GHz MacBook Pro Core Duo. I am sure that it would take significantly less time if I have a Core 2 Duo Mac (or better). I am hoping that the 64-bit CPU and Operating System (Mac OS X Leopard) would be able to handle the HD encoding better and faster.

Anyway, I am waiting for the next version of MacBook Pro sometimes during Macworld 2008. I was talking to a friend who wanted to do movie editing on MacBook Pro in High Definitions, and I did convince her to wait until the next version of MacBook Pro is released.

I am thinking about getting an iMac or even a Mac Pro for all the multimedia projects I am working on right now. As of this point I can’t justify spending the money for any of them. I personally prefer using portables such as MacBook Pro. Maybe I can convince the office to get me new Mac or Macs.

One other thing in mind is for me to somehow contact Apple and get them to donate a Mac or two. It’s a wishful thinking. If you’re working for Apple Inc., please let someone know at the corporate office that I need new Macs and the Pro-Apps.

One can dream……..

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Mac OS X Leopard: Apple Remote Pairing

An Apple A Day Gallery – 2007.11.10
Mac OS X Leopard: Apple Remote Pairing

Apple Remote Pairing custom icon
Apple Remote comes with every Intel-based iMacs, MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. To prevent other Apple Remotes controlling the your Mac, you can:

  • Disable remote control infrared receiver. Open System Preferences > Security. Check the “Disable remote control infrared receiver. OR,
  • Pair an Apple Remote to the computer.

To pair an Apple Remote with your Mac:

  • Press and hold the “Menu” and “Next” buttons for a few seconds until the Apple Remote icon flashes on the screen.
  • After doing so, the your Mac can only be controlled using the paired Apple Remote.

To unpair the Apple Remote:

  • Open System Preferences > Security.
  • Click on the “Unpair” button.

System Preferences Security Apple Remote Pairing

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AppleInsider: iPhone Software 1.1.2 is Available but Not Yet on iTunes

AppleInsider reports that iPhone Software 1.1.2 has been posted on Apple’s download server. It weighs in at 160MB.

I am restoring my iPhone software to version 1.1.2 as I type this.

For those who jailbreak or unlock their iPhones are recommended to wait until more info surfaces regarding this update. Apple is expected to patch numbers of security holes found in iPhone Software 1.1.1, which one of the exploits is used to jailbreak the iPhone.

More to come.

iPhone Software 1.1.2

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AirPort Issues in Mac OS X Leopard

AirPort Utility icon small

Numbers of users reported that they were having problems with AirPort in Mac OS X Leopard. So far I have not personally encountered any problems with AirPort.

I installed Leopard on the following machines:

  • 1.25 GHz PowerBook G4 (Aluminum PBG4 1st generation) – Clean Install
  • 1.67 GHz PowerBook G4 (DDR) – Clean Install
  • 1.67 GHz PoWerBook G4 (DDR2) – Archive and Install
  • MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.0 GHz (1st generation) – Clean Install
  • iMac Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz (Aluminum) – Upgrade

None of the machine above has any AirPort issues. I included the installation method to see if there’s any correlations with the said AirPort issues.

I’d certainly recommend Clean Installations of Leopard instead of upgrading. I found some weird issues with the Archive and Install method on the 1.67 GHz PowerBook G4 (DDR).

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