Tina Wood

Zune 2.5 Spring Update podcast with Q and A - unedited

Tina Wood — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:12:00 GMT

Today is a new day Zuners....you get your spring update 2.5 style at Zune.net. Yesterday we spent the day chatting with the Zune team and tossing them questions about the new update and the future of zune software, hardware, the social and web experience. This is an unedited podcast and the Zune team was thrown some tough questions and you may be suprised with exactly how they responded.

What do the guts of a zune look like?
What about a walk-through ?

Zune Spring Update 2.5 - The Video

Tina Wood — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:48:00 GMT

Terry Farrell from the Zune team stopped by the Channel 10 studios today to give us a walk through of exactly the changes you can expect in the new Zune Update. We've brought you screenshots and cute commercials but Terry delivers the goods. He takes us through the new zune.net and dives into the software.

Zune Guts

Tina Wood — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:00:00 GMT

At Zune Blogger Day today we got an inside peek inside the Zune and I mean an inside peek. We were there to celebrate the Zune Spring Update Version 2.5 but the Zune team got a bit creative and threw us a few other tidbits. Here's a look at all things "inner" Zune.

Zune Spring Update Version 2.5 - the info

Tina Wood — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:59:00 GMT

Gapless playback

Zune users will now be able to listen to an album without the brief gap between tracks, both on their Zune and the Zune software. Now play the album and the feature is automatically turned on. This is especially important for the continuity of live or electronic music albums.

Improved Sync

When your Zune is close to full, you’ll be able to manage the content to sync or remove with an easy to understand display, which highlights items taking up the most memory.

Organize Your Collection

In addition to sorting your music collection by artist or album, you cannow sort by genre. While browsing by genre, you can further sort your music by artist, album, or release year.

Editing Album and Trac k Information

Want to change the artist name on a song? Drag and drop the song to the artist. Want to change the genre of an album? Drag and drop the album into the new genre – the Zune software will update to reflect your changes.

The advanced metadata editing features make it easy to edit multiple tracks or survey album and artist information. Display info about any album in your collection; right click and select ‘find album info’ and quickly find the song names, the release year, the genre and more. You can quickly and universally apply these changes.If you have an image saved to your clipbook, you can paste that image toreplace the album art on any album in your music collection. You can click multiple albums and edit them all at the same time – just select them and the software will guide you through it. By right-clicking on any given song, you can quickly edit the artist, album, song title, genre and more.

Sync Groups

Sync groups allow you to have the benefits of automatic sync, for specific sets of content. When you drag and drop an album, artist, a Zune Card, or playlist from your Zune software to your Zune, a sync group is created. Your Zune can always have the latest versions of the media you love, because now you can create sync groups to control the content that syncs with your Zune. These are based upon rules that you specify (much like auto playlists) so that when you connect your Zune, any content that matches one of these rules will be added or removed from your Zune automatically.

Gapless playback

Improved Sync

Sync multiple Zune players at once – convenient for households with multiple Zune owners.Drag and drop to queue up content ready for syncing with an unconnected Zune. Once that Zune is connected or comes into range of a trusted Wi-Fi network, the content will automatically update to your Zune. When your Zune is close to full, you’ll be able to manage the content to sync or remove with an easy to understand display, which highlights items taking up the most memory.

Organize Your Collection

In addition to sorting your music collection by artist or album, you can now sort by genre. While browsing by genre, you can further sort your music by artist, album, or release year.

Popfly: On Set with Halo Master Chief

Tina Wood — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:28:00 GMT

We all know the success that Master Chief has had with Halo but sometimes you just need a change. I mean, saving the Earth and all is cool but what about just a simple life. One that doesn't involve the covenant or cortana. What about just a life with Latte's and nice health care benefits?

Thank goodness there's Popfly.

Check out the Full Video Here.

Popfly: Auditioning for the role of PUNCHOUT boxer

Tina Wood — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:27:00 GMT

Okay, so I don't know if you have ever been on a casting call but the idea is that you go on an audition for a role that you are "right" for. Check out the cast of freaks that showed up for the role of "Wired Boxer" for the old school game Punchout.

Thank goodness there's Popfly.

Check out the Full Video Here.

Popfly: On Set with Mario

Tina Wood — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:26:00 GMT

Oh Mario...what a sensitive little guy. We hired Mario because of his experience. He's been a Doctor, he's been Super...but what we didn't know is that he's tired of it all. His agent mentioned that over the past couple of years Mario has been a bit tougher to work with. He's a great guys, nice guy, just a sensitive guy.

Thank goodness there's Popfly.

Check out the Full Video Here.

Popfly: On Set with the Tetris Pieces

Tina Wood — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:26:00 GMT

Working with "real" tetris pieces just sucks. I'm serious. First off, I ordered four pieces but apparantely the square and T piece were on strike because of the high gas prices. I know, makes no sense to me either. Anyway, you would think that after working together for so many years everybody could just get along. Not so much.

Thank goodness for Popfly.

Check out the Full Video Here.

Popfly: On Set for the Gangsta Game

Tina Wood — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:25:00 GMT

Working with thugs isn't all it's cracked up to be. And don't get me started on female pimps, they're the worst. We hired a thug and pimp to help create our gangsta game and well, they were just totally into other things. We needed them to sell crack, and throw bricks through windows maybe even backhand a few hookers...but we got nothing.

Thank goodness there's Popfly.

Check out the Full Video Here.

Popfly: On Set with Frogger

Tina Wood — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:24:00 GMT

I'm sure you've all heard by now that Frogger has been on a downward spiral since he was booted as sexiest frog alive by Kermit. He started drinking, cursing and ran off to Vegas for a quickie marriage with Peaches. Who can blame him I mean...is Kermit really that sexy?

Thank goodness there's Popfly.

Check out the Full Video Here.

Popfly: On the Set of Pong

Tina Wood — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:23:00 GMT

People make fun of Pong all the time. Oh, it's just two paddles and a ball - it's boring, you don't kill anybody and there's no animated hero that is preparing to save the world. Well, Pong is actually brilliant. It's simple, addictive and is probably older than you are. But, trying to make the game is no easy task especially when the wrong ball shows up.

Thank goodness there's Popfly.

Check out the Full Video Here.

Making Games...before Popfly Game Creator

Tina Wood — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:02:00 GMT

The Popfly Game Creator offers a fun and easy way to create and share personalized games. Creating a game with Popfly is as simple as selecting actors, specifying a scene, and then defining behaviors that bring the game to life. With just a few clicks and some creativity you can author your first game- all without writing any code!

But wait! What was life like before Popfly Game Creator? We have all heard horror stories about what these legendary game characters were like to work with....but is it true? Was creating games before Popfly really as hard as people say. See for yourself.

Links to individual popfly pieces:
Pong
Mario
Gangsta
popfly videos over at popfly.

MSN Video/Soapbox Vista Sidebar Gadget now available

Tina Wood — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:17:00 GMT

David Cronshaw and I chat about the new MSN Video/Soapbox Vista Sidebar Gadget which is now available for download.

The official MSN Video/Soapbox Vista Sidebar Gadget is now available for downloading and installing:

http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=b4ea67a2-5cb6-4a15-8ae1-048cccaf8ffc&bt=1

Some of the Highlights of the MSN Video Vista Sidebar Gadget:

Display Localized MSN Videos with links to MSN Video Destination Site
Display Soapbox Videos and play natively Inline
Localized for over 30 countries and languages
Top-Level market Navigation
Numerous Sort-by options
Display Search terms
Display Related Videos
Customize number of thumbs and pages to show
Auto-scroll Pages at defined intervals
And much more……

Office Labs: Project "InkSeine"

Tina Wood — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:06:00 GMT

The goal of the InkSeine project is to completely rethink the user interface for tablet computers. Some people have described InkSeine as "Windows Journal on steroids." But InkSeine goes well beyond Windows Journal, particularly in its features to search from ink and to easily drag hyperlinks for documents and web pages into your notes.

Many people ask us how InkSeine relates to Microsoft OneNote. InkSeine is complementary to OneNote. OneNote is a great tool with many useful features that you will not find in InkSeine. But InkSeine's user interface is like nothing you have ever used with your pen before. It takes inking on your Tablet PC to a new level.

Check out Office Labs: Community Clips too.

Office Labs: Project "Community Clips"

Tina Wood — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:31:00 GMT

Community Clips is a portal for viewing, sharing, and discussing informal "how-to" videos (screencasts) on Microsoft Office products. It also includes a client application for easy recording of screen views and voice.

RoboChamps: My robot is bigger than your robot

Tina Wood — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:34:00 GMT

Welcome to Robochamps...where you have an opportunity to wage war in a simulated robotics competition that will cost you nothing. Robots aren't just for rich people anymore. Using Visual Studio, Robotics Developer Studio 2008, and some unique open world environments you get to program your bot to kick some virtual butt.

PeopleVancouver.com

Tina Wood — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:06:00 GMT

Okay, sometimes we just need to share the love. I met a student named Nadia Aly at the GNWC in Vancouver a few weeks ago. She is working on her masters in digital media. She was half of the duo that brought us Second Life "How to get Started" and the blended reality piece. She was taking me through a personal site she built peoplevancouver.com. I think it's a great site with the feel of FaceBook but the flare of Vancouver. Check it out if you get the chance and if you or somebody you know has created a cool website let me know in the comments section of this post and I will check it out.

"Crossing" - an animated piece nominated for a Webby Award

Tina Wood — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:12:00 GMT

I sat down with McKane Lee from the Masters of Digital Media program at the Great Northern Way Campus and he gave us a quick lesson on rendering using a short film he and his team produced titled "Crossing".

"Crossing", a film and animation piece produced by MDM students (in the school's first term in history!), was just short-listed for a Webby Award!

Team Members: Stephen Danic, Tarek El-Eryan, Yangos Hadjiyannis, Matthew Jenkins, McKane Lee, Mike Torillo, Karthik Venkateshan, Aerlyn Weissman.

Take a look at "Crossing"

Rendering - What exactly is it?

Tina Wood — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:47:00 GMT

Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model, by means of computer programs. The model is a description of three dimensional objects in a strictly defined language or data structure. It can contain geometry, viewpoint, texture, lighting, and shading information. The image is a digital image or raster graphics image. 'Rendering' is also used to describe the process of calculating effects in a video editing file to produce final video output.

I talked to student McKane Lee at the GNWC Masters of Ditigal Media program a few weeks ago and he gave us a little demo of how he rendered parts of his short film Crossing. And today, I share that demo with you.

Iron Man for the Xbox 360 - May 2nd

Tina Wood — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:33:00 GMT

SEGA is excited to present the first Behind-the-Scenes video from the upcoming blockbuster video game - Iron Man. Focused on the origin of the game, this new video features key members of the Secret Level development team talking about how they created the Iron Man game and what inspired them to go in the direction they did. This new video also features commentary from the Marvel Interactive team.

Iron Man is a fast-paced action shooter featuring Marvel's iconic Super Hero - Iron Man. Coming out at the same time as the movie, Iron Man will be available on May 2, 2008.

Iron Man will be available for Xbox360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS, and PC

Second Life - How to get started

Tina Wood — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:42:00 GMT

As most of you know Second Life is an online virtual 3D world that anybody can join. It's even got its own CSI: NY Flickr group, you can hang on the Titanic and of course buy and sell your Linden dollars. But that's just the beginning. When I was at the Great Northern Way Campus in Vancouver Nadia Aly and Joanna Robinson gave me a quick guided tour of how to get started in Second Life and how to find them at the Masters of Digital Media program at the GNWC in Vancouver. In case you missed their impressive blended reality piece you can click here.

Last year Laura took a trip down to Linden Labs in Northern California. Check out her good time here.

Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm - Sneak Peek

Tina Wood — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:35:00 GMT

SEGA of America is releasing all new gameplay from the upcoming downloadable game Happy Tree Friends:False Alarm and some hilarious behind-the-scenes stories of how the devilishly fun Happy Tree Friends series came to be. Available for download on April 21st for PC and Xbox 360, Happy Tree Friends:False Alarm is a bright, colorful and grotesquely bloody platformer that no Happy tree Friends fan or gamer can resist! Here's a sneak peek.

Blended Reality: A look at bringing Second Life into Real Life

Tina Wood — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:08:00 GMT

What's it like to share a real-life stage with your Second Life avatar? We've seen the use of a green screen in real life for quite some time now. Newscaster pretends to be stuck in the middle of a Hurricane. Star Wars and a fight to the death with light sabers. As technology has progressed so has the quality of this video trick but what I haven's seen much of is using a green screen in a game like Second Life to port virtual characters into Real-Life. I was in Vancouver last week hanging with some of the students at the Great Northern Way Campus who are working on their Masters in Digital Media. Nadia Aly and Joanna Robinson are these really creative women who have done some amazing things with Second Life. You have to see this.

Silverlight Rehab - You're not alone

Tina Wood — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Trying Silverlight can lead to an addiction. We know this. But you're not alone. Whether you're a Developer, Designer or just a web junkie...there's people out there just like you. Don't be afraid to come forward. Share your story with us. It's okay. In a unique move, we decided to allow cameras into one of our Silverlight Rehab meetings. Brace yourself it's not easy to watch.

How to: Shoot and Edit a Time-Lapse Video

Tina Wood — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:00:00 GMT

We see it all the time. The passing of the night sky in an episode of "Survivor". The quick steps of pedestrians making their way through a crowded street corner. I've been asked by a few poeple about shooting Time-Lapse video, and just for the record I'm no expert but I can tell you how I shot and edited this video.

First, I wanted to film something that had an ending. It doesn't have to have an ending but I find it more interesting. So I threw some birthday candles in a skinny cow ice cream sandwich. With the knowledge that both the candles and ice cream sandwich would eventually melt and thus, giving me an ending. I mounted my Panasonic DVX100B camera onto a tripod and set up my shot against some tile in my kitchen. You want your shot to be as still as possible so I suggest either using a tri-pod or set your camera on a pile of books or something else flat.

I lit the candles and then recorded the candles and ice cream melting in a normal speed. It took roughly 30 minutes for both of them to melt.

Almost all digital video cameras have the ability to do an interval recording. And this is the most common way of shooting a Time-Lapse because who wants to sit at there camera for two days and watch a flower bloom while switching tapes and batteries. You might record every 20-30 seconds and record up to 2-3 seconds of video each time. I didn't need to do this for this piece because it was so short to begin with.

I then imported the footage into Premiere Pro 2.0 because that is what I use to edit.

I then brought my footage into the time-line. Then I right clicked the clip I wanted to speed up and then I chose speed/duration...I then chose to speed up the footage by 7000 percent. I tried many different numbers but this particular percentage seemed to have the best effect.

I then went to soundrangers.com and searched for a tune that set up the melodramatic vibe I was going for.   Once I found it, I then imported the MP3 into the video. I then exported the entire movie and there you have it. A thirty-seven second movie that tells a story. Time-Lapse style.

I've never shot a true time-lapse using a still camera, but Nic Fillingham is our resident digital camera expert so maybe he can give us a quick tip on how to do it.

If you have any other tips or I missed something feel free to chime in.