Apple to Announce More Apples
10/16 Will See New iPad and Etc.
Apple is having another event! They are titling it "It's been way too long," although we can only speculate about what this means. What we can expect is the official launch of Apple Pay for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, a new iPad, and the release date of OS X 10 Yosemite. There is also speculation around the Apple TV. The Mac Mini is due for a refresh, and with the Mac Pros being a year old, we could see hardware upgrades there, too.
But as with all things Apple, we won't know until Thursday. If you want to watch the event you can see it live here: http://www.apple.com/live/
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| Get Ready for OS X 10 Yosemite
From the Oceans to the Mountains
Did you just finish your upgrade to OS X Mavericks? Well, there's a new operating system for Macs on the block and it looks like Apple is set to announce the official release date this Thursday the 16th. I got my hands on an early release and have been working with it for a while now. There is a lot I like about the new operating system. It follows the look and feel of iOS 8 on the iPhones and iPads, has even tighter integration with those devices, and iCloud Drive is a great step forward for iCloud, as it improves on Apple's former iDisk offering.
A word of advice: If you use your computer for business everyday, or if you don't have a compelling need to upgrade right away, I'd wait a few weeks before moving to Yosemite. It's always best to see how things shake out when a new major operating system is introduced.
To find out more about Yosemite, you can click here: http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/
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Three Tips for Better Videos
Shaky Cam is the Easy Part
Okay, so you either waited in line, bribed an elected official, or traded your house for one, but you secured a brand new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Congrats! Well, one of the best features of both new phones is their ability to take astonishing videos -- the only limitation being the budding cinematographer holding the phone. Now, we can't all be a Jan De Bont or Janusz Kaminski, but these three little tips can get your videos higher on the watchability scale.
Hold it Sideways
Take a look at a modern HD TV or movie screen. They are longer on the top than on the sides. It confounds me how many people take videos holding their phones vertically. Countless "eyewitness reports" featured on the news tend to be from folks shooting videos that appear as if we are peeking through a cracked closet door. If you hold the phone sideways not only can you capture more action, but it's easier to control the head space. Plus, your final product will look smashing on your TV, computer, or other device.
Light Your Subject
The key to great filmmaking is great lighting. It can be difficult to sort out, but you want to light your subject so that he, she, or it stands out from the background. This may mean moving to a different spot to get a better angle, but the subject is the reason for the video, so make sure that your subject can be seen. Want to add a touch of Hollywood? Try lighting the background, too. It adds additional separation. More Hollywood, you ask? Introduce a back light behind your subject. It helps add a three dimensional effect in a two dimensional space.
Give Yourself Room to Edit
Roll a couple of seconds of film ... uh ... video before and after the action. If you want to edit in a tool like iMovie or one of the versions of Final Cut it will make it much easier to splice in transitions and avoid abrupt changes in action.
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