tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52616552010-03-21T14:49:25.666-07:00News, tips, and other tidbits about iTunes, iPod, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, iWeb, and iLife in general.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.comBlogger420125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-49200581047449387992010-03-21T14:08:00.000-07:002010-03-21T14:49:25.688-07:00

Hi, everybody! Yes, it's been a few months since I've posted here. But that doesn't mean I've disappeared. My new job as the content manager for Photoshop and photography video courses at lynda.com has been keeping me busy.I'm still spending lots of time on Flickr. And like much of the rest of the solar system's population, I'm posting a lot over at Facebook. In fact, my Facebook links page is

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-9619517921529683712010-01-04T16:22:00.000-08:002010-01-04T16:23:44.215-08:00

Happy New Year!Eirik Solheim shot segments of video from the identical location over a period of 12 months, then put them together into a kind of video timelapse movie.Check out it out.How he did it.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-55212391773396536632009-10-07T11:58:00.000-07:002009-10-07T11:58:51.414-07:00

You want to use the Places feature in iPhoto '09 to organize your photos by location. You don't have a camera containing GPS, but you do have an iPhone.My Macworld colleague Rob Griffiths has the answer for you in this tip. In a nutshell: When you go to a new location, snap a photo with your iPhone, then tuck the iPhone away and shoot with your schmancy camera.When you get home, transfer your

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-16529635201725151902009-09-24T11:44:00.000-07:002009-09-24T11:59:51.121-07:00

Last night, on the computer radio show that I co-host, I had the pleasure of interviewing photographer Chase Jarvis, who has just released a new book of photographs taken with his iPhone.But the book, called The Best Camera is the One That's With You, is so much more than that. It's also one leg of a tripod that includes a fantastically cool iPhone app, called Best Camera, and a companion website

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-71584409037020158872009-08-27T20:20:00.000-07:002009-08-27T20:22:48.881-07:00

Popular Photography has published a fascinating and fanciful article on what photography will look like in 2060.It is Sunday, July 18, 2060:Old-Timers' Day, Yankee Stadium.You're here with your old photoglove, getting some action shots from your seat in the upper deck without even putting down the $40 beer in your left hand. What would look to us like normal sunglasses are in fact camera-equipped

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-87143679187176192532009-08-18T13:50:00.000-07:002009-08-18T13:52:54.360-07:00

Apple has released iPhoto 8.1, and the new version introduces a larger-than-ever hardcover book size: 13 by 10 inches. (The 11 by 8.5-inch hardcover designs are still available.)The new update also introduces some new book and greeting card themes.As I say in my book, "Don't just print your photos. Publish them."

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-77955853479134390032009-08-12T10:43:00.000-07:002009-08-12T10:47:58.299-07:00

"Hanging artwork on the wall without a frame is evil. It's like arranging roses in a vase without water."So writes my friend Elin in London in a blog post that has inspired me to print and frame some of my favorite photos. I have a stack of unused frames, all victims of my profound ability to procrastinate. No more.It's a good lesson for all of us who take thousands of photos that never appear on

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-4872511214640153042009-08-07T13:03:00.000-07:002009-08-07T13:05:49.138-07:00

Popular Photography's web site has published a great gallery of vintage photography ads.I actually remember seeing some of these when they ran. But I won't tell you when that was.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-12065468269481272792009-08-04T14:33:00.000-07:002009-08-04T14:35:26.884-07:00

As a slobbering Flickr addict, I'm thrilled to read this: Flickr search finally gets smart.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-26330758135932307982009-08-04T13:04:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:27:54.325-07:00

The big news is the ability to add track effects and Audio Units to guitar tracks, but there are other improvements, too. Grab the GarageBand 5.1 update.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-36132522046871957452009-08-04T08:20:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:27:30.633-07:00

Now this is something completely different. Nikon's just-announced Coolpix S1000pj is a point-and-shoot camera that contains a built-in projector capable of projecting on a screen up to 40 inches across. Crazy!I like the camera's specs, too: 12.1 megapixels, ISO speeds up to 6400, and VR image stabilization. It lists for $430 and hits stores in September. Engadget has published the press

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-35033923504759953342009-07-21T11:53:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:28:13.199-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Chuck Joiner, who, among many other things, hosts and produces the MacVoices podcast. In a wide-ranging, 45-minute interview, we chatted about the design philosophy of my book and about iLife '09, focusing in particular on iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand.To stream the interview or download it, visit its page on the MacVoices site.It was great chatting

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-28276006912269197892009-07-17T08:13:00.000-07:002009-07-17T08:16:18.468-07:00

Popular Photography has published a short but interesting article about scanners.I knew a couple of the items, particularly the "scanning film is better than scanning prints" item. Indeed, I write about this in the section of my book that deals with getting old photos into iPhoto.But the "CCD sensor is better than a Contact Image Sensor" business -- I did not know that. More research is needed.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-53082495779559081352009-07-11T11:22:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:51:13.866-07:00

This fantastic video from 1969 depicts a future where each of us has a "home post office."It's amazing stuff.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-42579697690889145992009-07-06T11:22:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:28:47.648-07:00

My friend and colleague Jeff Carlson, who did most of the revisions to the iMovie chapter of my book, has written a nice collection of tips for iMovie '09 and iDVD.I highly recommend Jeff's book, which you can order through his iMovie blog--which I also highly recommend.And while I'm recommending (and while you're ordering), permit me to humbly suggest that you grab your own copy of The Macintosh

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-64609718165806582692009-07-06T09:46:00.000-07:002009-07-06T09:53:42.095-07:00

Naw, I'm just kidding. I stumbled across this video over the weekend and had to share. I'm not sure the Vinyl Killer is the best thing for your precious vinyl records, but it sure is cute. I want one. They sell for about $99US.While researching (that's another word for "procrastinating") the Vinyl Killer, I came across a video showing an incredibly cool optical "turntable" that's able to play

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-83052570524543865212009-07-02T08:14:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:27:30.634-07:00

Every year at this time, as the US Independence Day nears, photography magazines and Web sites run articles on how to photograph fireworks.This year is no exception.Have a safe and happy July 4, no matter where you live!

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-56645137000676018802009-06-25T08:54:00.000-07:002009-06-25T08:56:16.640-07:00

The always-wonderful Photojojo e-newsletter has a tribute to Kodachrome, the venerable slide film that Kodak is going to be discontinuing.I haven't shot a roll of Kodachrome in at least ten years, but I shot many hundreds of rolls of it before that. Now I'm inspired to scan those old slides.There have been a lot of great homage-to-Kodachrome articles and blog posts this past week, but I'm still

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-13675360809577393572009-06-22T16:14:00.000-07:002009-06-22T16:15:21.766-07:00

How good is the camera in the new iPhone 3GS? Quite good.This shot, which illustrates the tap-to-focus controls in the camera, is particularly impressive.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-76954438955847339252009-06-15T08:18:00.000-07:002009-06-15T08:22:26.554-07:00

Tired of using the same old sound effects in iMovie? Want some exotic new backgrounds for your iMovie titles or iDVD menu backgrounds?A company called FootageFirm is giving away massive collections of sound effects, stock video footage, and motion backgrounds. They're charging $8.41 (USD) per DVD for shipping, but other than that, there doesn't seem to be a catch. You can even use the stuff in

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-31631770160754066252009-06-12T15:51:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:27:30.635-07:00

Popular Photography's 20 Easy Techniques For Improving Your Photos is a nice little collection of, um, 20 easy techniques for improving your photos.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-69217798970400218072009-06-09T10:37:00.000-07:002009-06-09T10:37:33.483-07:00

The folks at iLounge have assembled a detailed look at the new features in Apple's iPhone OS 3.0.I'd love to get an iPhone 3GS when they ship, but it appears that AT&T has me over a service-plan barrel until July of 2010.If only phones didn't require phone companies. Sigh.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-40966158870841320592009-06-03T12:13:00.000-07:002009-06-03T12:22:15.595-07:00

As the iLife '09 edition of my book rolls off the presses, I've started making some updates to this site.For starters, I've updated the About page to include PDFs of the book's table of contents and a sample spread.When the book ships, I'll post more excerpts. *Excited*. :-)Share the joy: pre-order your copy.

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-16698479405048613272009-05-29T18:17:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:28:47.649-07:00

My friend and colleague Jeff Carlson is giving away the iDVD chapter of his book, iMovie '09 and iDVD Visual QuickStart Guide.Jeff is a long-time Mac and technology journalist and the managing editor of the legendary TidBITS newsletter. He has also helped me revise my book for the last couple of editions, expertly tackling the iMovie and iDVD chapters.Grab his iDVD chapter and buy his book. And

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261655.post-63480050958852049412009-05-21T10:01:00.000-07:002009-08-05T11:51:22.347-07:00

Don't like to read long articles on the Web? You aren't alone.Readability relief is at hand, thanks to an incredibly cool tool named, incredibly enough, Readability.Using it couldn't be easier. Make some settings (the default settings worked fine for me), then drag its button up to your browser's bookmarks bar.When you arrive at a Web page containing a lengthy article, click the Readability

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03428872897251631609noreply@blogger.com0