The Techzine
Record your memories
How many of you have been on holiday and spent half of it recording what people got up to? Used up 3 hours of film and never looking at the tapes since? Sound familiar? If that’s you then you might want to read on, as we will tell you how to relive those memories, over and over again.
Uploading the video footage
Once you have the raw footage recorded, the first thing you will need to do is upload this to your computer. The chances are that you going to have a modern camcorder that records to either a mini DV tape, a mini DVD or internal solid state memory. If you are recording to a DVD then you can place this in your computer’s DVD drive and drag the files to your computer, otherwise you can use Windows Movie Maker to transfer the video content. If you are using Window Movie Maker then the best 
way to transfer the content is by using a FireWire cable, also known as an IEEE1394 cable for the techies amongst you. And, if you want your final video to be at the best possible quality then you will need to import the footage as a DV AVI file. But be aware, 1 hour of uncompressed DV footage takes up about 12GBs of hard drive space!
Editing the raw footage
Windows XP and Windows Vista both come with a basic video editing program called Windows Movie Maker. This allows you to import your raw footage, cut out the bits that you want and place them into a timeline for rendering later. At any point in the timeline, you can insert titles and import images too. If you want to be a little more 
creative, then you can add video filters such as black & white and video aging. You can also apply transitions between one movie clip and another and add music too.
If you want to push your skills even further then you can go for more advanced video editing software like Adobe Premier or Ulead Media Studio. These types of programs allow you to edit raw footage over multiple video & audio timelines, create picture in picture scenes, apply audio filters to clean up the sound and apply chroma key for green screen special effects.
The only downside to these programs is that they can be quite expensive, but well worth the investment if your thinking of turning into a semi professional videographer.
Creating the video file
Once you’ve edited your masterpiece, you’ll want to render the video so you can watch what you probably spent the last month creating! Don’t be disappointed if there are a few transition issues or the music doesn’t quite fade in time, you’ll only really find these problems once you’ve made the first draft. If there are problems, you can quickly rectify them and re-render the video.
When rendering the video you’ll need to think about where the final video is to be viewed. If it’s just for your PC then you can created a more compressed file using the “high quality video (large)” setting 
in Windows Movie Maker. If you are using a different video editing program then you may want to use a compression codec like DivX. DivX allows you to control how much compression you want to use on the video, so that you can create your desired file size without compromising the quality of the video too much. A good bit rate to use for compression is 4000kbs at a variable bit rate (VBR). Another determining factoring in the overall file size is the resolution of the video. For a PC, 640x480 or 800x600 would be a good size to use.
If you are producing a video that is intended to be copied to a DVD, to be viewed on a TV set then you will want to create a PAL DVD file (MPG or WMV). PAL is the standard used in the UK and has a resolution of 720x576 pixels. These files will be a lot bigger than those compressed with a DivX codec as much more of the detail is kept to give you a better quality picture. When using Movie Maker, select the “High quality video (PAL)” option for the best quality for DVD, if you are using a different program, try and select PAL DVD MPG where possible.
Creating the final DVD
Once you have your final video file, you’ll want to put it onto DVD for everyone to see! If you have Windows Vista then this is very easy to do as there is a program called Windows DVD Maker. This program allows 
you to place a menu on your DVD with your video. The menu can be customised to play audio in the background or a different movie clip until you have selected the video you want to see.
If you don’t have Windows Vista then there are plenty of low cost alternatives like Ulead’s DVD MovieFactory for example. This allows you to do everything that Windows DVD Maker can but with the added benefit of creating really attractive DVD menus that you will find on the likes of professionally produced films. Once your family and friends see your creation, they won’t believe you made it!
One last thing, when creating a DVD disc we recommend that you use DVD-R discs, as these are compatible with the majority of DVD players. To be 100% sure, check your DVD's user manual for advice on which discs are supported.
Bravia W4000 series TV
Manufacturers have to do some pretty special things to make their TVs stand out from the crowd, and Sony has done just that with their Bravia W4000 series LCD TVs.
To start with, it has full HD 1080p for amazing movies, video games and photos. Movie buffs will appreciate the 24p True Cinema Mode which allows movies to be watched at 24 frames per second (the same rate they are shot at) instead of a higher frame rate like most other TVs run at.
The Picture Frame Mode is a fantastic feature which turns the TV in to a massive digital photo frame. You can watch the 6 pictures that come built-in or you can load your own via a USB port on the TV. Picture Frame Mode uses 35% less power than TV viewing mode but if you want to save even more power, you could just turn it off.
The W4000 series has Bravia Sync technology embedded in to them. This means you can control your compatible home theatre system and video camera all with the TV remote. No more looking for three different remotes, it’s all controlled by one.
One of the best add-ins that this series has is the HDTV Tuner, which alongside the AVC-HD decoder, allows you to not only watch all your digital channels, but all your HD digital channels as well. When HD Digital comes to your area, you won’t need to upgrade your set-top box if you have one of these.
In short, this TV has all the latest and greatest technology on the inside while giving you a stylish and sleek exterior that would look great in every home.
When recording your video footage, it’s very important not to move around too much with what we like to call ninja snapping. This is where you try and capture a 360 degree view of your surroundings in about 3 seconds! You may think 
it’ll look good but once you try and edit it, you’ll see otherwise. The best way of recording is to make each one of your scenes at least 10 seconds long and try to stay as still as possible. When you come to edit it, you will probably lose a few seconds trying to splice the clip in, but you’ll get at least 8 seconds of quality footage. If you want some panoramic shots then hold the camcorder steady and move with it slowly.
Most people will remember Windows XP Service Pack 2. It was a significant update but Microsoft wants to restore Service Packs to what they were originally intended for, which is a cumulative update to improve security, stability and performance. Windows Security Centre, included in Windows XP SP2, was a unique addition and Microsoft state that adding features isn’t the main point of Service Packs. This means that you may not visually notice a difference after installing Windows XP SP3.
If you have ever had to reinstall Windows before, you’ll know how long it takes to download the updates. There are 100’s of them! Upgrading to Windows SP3 is recommended as it contains all of the currently available fixes and updates so it will save you having to download as many and it makes Windows XP more secure.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 will mainly improve the networking and security features of Windows XP. One of the more notable additions is support for Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2). WPA2 is the latest standard in wireless network security and is extremely secure.
You can find out more about Windows XP Service Pack 3 on Microsoft's website. The release date for SP3 has been slightly delayed, but its not far off.
Sony Handycam
HDR-TG3E
Home movies don’t have to be shot in the home. Recording just about every second of the day is becoming increasingly popular for anyone wanting to blog about, and show, their daily experiences. It's safe to safe that the age of the citizen journalist is truly here.
The Sony Handycam HDR-TG3E is the smallest and lightest (at the time of writing) of these gadgets. But, don’t let its small size fool you though, it still sports a 2.7 inch touch panel screen to view and control your videos and has 5.1 channel surround sound and full High Definition recording. It also comes with a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, which will give you over an hour of video (LP mode) and if you are feeling flush, you can purchase a 16GB stick for loads of recording time. The handycam features a “Quick On” which means you can start recording about a second after you open the touch screen.
The build quality is sturdy despite only weighing around 285 grams. This
is because it is made from titanium, which is 40% lighter than steel and has double the strength of aluminium. Covering that is a premium hard coating, which protects the camera from everyday scratches.
The Sony Handycam is feature rich and there are additional functions available if you have other compatible Sony hardware. It has Intelligent Face Detection and can recognise up to 8 faces in each scene so nobody gets left out of the picture. Focus, exposure, and colour balance can be automatically adjusted so you get realistic video all the time. To burn to a DVD is really straight-forward. You just plug the camera into the supplied Handycam Station, connect that to your PC, and push the Disc Burn button on the Handycam Station. Alternatively, you could backup your movie and picture files on the hard drive of your PC.
If you have a compatible Sony TV, you can make use of BRAVIA Sync technology. Basically, once you have connected your Handycam to your Bravia TV, it gives you the ability to control the camera via the TV remote control. You can play, pause, rewind & view your photos, all by using the TV remote.
If you’re looking for a section on a webpage but don’t fancy scrolling through a labyrinth of text, then there is a simple solution.
- Press CTRL & A to highlight all the text.
- Press CTRL & F to open a find window/box.
- Type the keyword that you’re looking for and press enter.
This will take you straight to the part of the page that you need.
Ok, if you thought the Wii was cool, check out what else you can do with it. A man going by the name of Johnny Lee has worked out how to modify your Wii-mote to turn your monitor in to an interactive touch-screen. Oh, and he also shows you how he can make a regular display appear in 3D.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/245
He has also been kind enough to show you how to make your very own. Please be aware that you only need the Wii-mote, not the entire console and any projects undertaken would be entirely at your own risk.
Playstation 3
After you have made your home movie and burnt it to DVD, you’ll want something to play it back on. With the High Definition war over, the victor, Blu-ray, has seen sales (and sometimes the price) of compatible DVD players skyrocket. One of the cheapest ways to get a Blu-ray player is to buy a Sony PS3.
The obvious bonus is that you are getting one of the best games consoles around. To justify paying the small, initial extra expense of buying a Sony PS3, as opposed to a slightly cheaper conventional Blu-ray player is easy. The Sony PS3 performs very well and upscales regular DVDs to give the viewer an enhanced picture. As far as playing Blu-ray discs, well, it works a treat. With its HDMI port, you can watch Blu-ray films in true 1080p format to 
give you the best viewing experience possible. To please your ears, simply connect the audio out on the PS3 to your Hi-Fi or surround sound system and enjoy the ride. Don't forget the HD gaming too!
What you need to be aware of is all the other bits you’ll probably end up buying like another controller, games, cables, the PLAYSTATION®EYE (a webcam designed for the PS3) and anything else you might fancy. The good news is you can buy those items gradually, so you can budget accordingly.
Click here to buy from PC World.
If you accidentally deleted the Recycle Bin from the desktop in Windows Vista then don't worry, you can easily get it back. Simply right-click on the desktop and select Personalize and the Personalization window will open. At the top of the left-hand column, select Change desktop icons. Now tick the box next to the Recycle Bin and click Apply then OK.
Playing games has, for a long time, improved hand-eye co-ordination and map reading skills. Now, based on research done by the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at East Carolina University, children and parents everywhere can finally play games to relax. They found that by playing casual games, one’s overall mood can be improved. In fact, over the 6 month trial, results showed improvements by over 300% in all cases.
That was really lucky because the research was funded by Popcap games, the largest developer and publisher of casual games in the world. The next stage of the research looks at prescribing casual games to patients to improve their health. “Actually, I’m not feeling very well right now……where can I get my hands on Bejeweled 2?”
There are some people that you give your address to, some people you let in your front gate and some you let in to your house. Boundaries are great tools to protect your privacy and the same goes for when you are online. You can keep your friends close but keep your enemies a very long way away by not revealing any personal information on social networking sites.
It’s not a great idea to post your name, address, phone number and then tell every man and his dog you are going on holidays for two weeks! If you are unsure what details are visible to everyone, check the privacy settings on your social networking account today.
Dazzle Video Creator Platinum
Whilst you are enjoying your new home movies, you probably can’t stop thinking about the old ones gathering dust. Your VHS player may be long gone but you’ll probably still have some of your favourite tapes or even home movies stored in your video cabinet or loft. You could pay someone to transfer them to DVD for you, or you could use the money instead to buy yourself a Dazzle Video Creator Platinum.
To transfer content from your tapes is easy. Simply connect your VCR to the special converter that you get with the pack and connect the other end of the converter to your PC and run the software. You will 
need a composite or s-video output from the VCR but even if you don’t have one, you can get a converter for your scart cable.
The Dazzle video creator is really versatile and you can record straight to a DVD if you want to. You can also convert the video to play on your iPod or PSP using the MPEG-4 option or create an AVI file. You don’t have to limit yourself to just using a VCR, any device with a compatible video input will work including video cameras.
The software also provides editing facilities so you can add effects, backgrounds, titles, music and trim the video to the desired length. You will need a fairly good PC to run the software though. Nothing less than Windows XP with Service pack 1 will do and you’ll need at least 512MB of RAM, although 1GB is better. If you meet those requirements then there’s no reason not to convert your old videos into a DVD archive!
Click here to buy from PC World.
May 2008
- The 10 second rule
- Searching web pages
- Lost your Recycle Bin in Windows Vista?
- Windows XP Service Pack 3
- More things to do with your Wii
- Play games to relax
- Anti-social Networking
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