Nike Fuelband Round 2

It's another Wednesday and another attempt at getting a elusive Nike FuelBand. I'll let the pictures tell the tale...

For my thoughts you can check out the rant here

Overthinking the Fuelband

Given the extended wait for more FuelBands I figured i'd help the time pass with my thoughts. For anyone wondering when more Fuelbands will be available here is a quote from NikeFuel's twitter:

"We’ll have more Nike+ FuelBands in limited quantities on 2/29. We'll tweet the link at approximately 5p EST."

But until then let's look the Nike FuelBand in relation to the 6th generation iPod Nano.

I'd like to preface this blog by stating that, at the time of writing, I own neither a iPod nano or a Nike Fuelband. It is currently my desire to obtain a Fuelband for personal use although I doubt that will happen any time soon. I have no affiliations with Nike or Apple.

Now then, if you read my previous blog you know my thoughts on how ridiculous Nike was with last week's Fuelband release. I don't plan on beating a dead horse and I don't wanna pick on Nike here but I'm inclined to be a little interested in this devices future when you really think about it.

Many other articles I have read have began comparing the Fuelband to other health tracking devices. It was articles like those that peaked my attention toward Fitbit, and I may share my thoughts on that at a later time. My reason behind todays comparison though is because I see a foreshadowing of a possible future, in this particular market, between two companies, Nike and Apple.

Let's begin by looking at the relevant product statistics of Nike's Fuelband and Apple's iPod Nano:


For this comparison I want to completely ignore the fact that the iPod also is a music player.

Nike+ Fuelband (size: medium) 

1.06 oz
accelerometer
4 day battery life  

Nike's Description:"Nike+ FuelBand tracks your activity through a sport-tested accelerometer, then translates every move into NikeFuel. Nike+ FuelBand tracks running, walking, dancing, basketball- and dozens of everyday activities. So put it on and get moving."

iPod Nano 6th Generation (without optional wristband) 

0.74 oz
accelerometer
24 hour battery life (music) 

Apple's Description:"The built-in accelerometer in iPod nano gives you real-time feedback on your workout, and you can upload data to the Nike+ website. There’s no need to connect a receiver or use a shoe sensor to track your steps, distance, pace, and time."

Both devices are light, have accelerometers, and without music playback the nano can possibly get more than the advertised battery life.With so many likeness in one device, as well as a preexisting partnership, why does it look like Nike or Apple are attempting to distance themselves from each other?

Only recently has the Nano had the ability to track steps using an accelerometer without the additional nike+ shoe device. This, however, was not a marketed feature of the Nano, but instead, an added feature through firmware update. Then, not too long after that, Nike introduces a device that doesn't rely on the shoe dongles either, the FuelBand. Is it possible the dongles were Nike's tether to a popular Apple product and without it, Nike could suffer? If this was the case then two things would secure Nike profits, having it's own device that utilized accelerometer tracking like the Nano, and "NikeFuel."

"NikeFuel" in my opinion is what is going to make or break the Apple/Nike relationship. Baised off of Nike's explanation of it, any health device should have the ability to display Nikefuel, it's a matter of taking pedometer readings and displaying results using a different formula, Nike's formula. If it catches on then it could become the new "currency" of health and fitness.

Think about it, Nike has already announced sensor equipped shoes, and they will no doubt utilize NikeFuel to decrease on confusion between products. Anything that doesn't use NikeFuel, including the Nano, will end up taking a back seat as Nike pushes it's line of devices forward. A win for Nike, (kinda.) After all, they stand to make more off of $149 Fuelbands then they do off iPod Nanos that no longer need Nike's $19 sensors.


Of course this is nothing more than speculation. But until I see iPods displaying NikeFuel, then i'm inclined to believe that there's more to this FuelBand/NikeFuel fad than meets the eye...

Seriously, how hard would it be for Nano's to show this?

The Nike Fuelband Quick Rant...

Yeah I'm gonna sit here and rant for a minute...

If you plan to release a high demand item then make sure your site can handle the traffic!!! I was on paypal confirmation at 5:01pm and what do I see after final confirmation? "SOLD OUT!" How many of these things did you make? Fifty?! Fabricated shortages went out of style with Nintendo Wii's and Apple products. I hope you realize that people are not buying Fuelbands for their unique innovation. It's for the name! In no way do i think that's a bad thing.

But it really goes on to say a bit more about a company that really doesn't care about the individual consumer. In my opinion they really made no effort to do anything aside from make money.

Lets use the Nintendo Wii as a example:
It was ridiculously overhyped and  made in limited quantities, which in the long run, probably helped sell more than originally expected. Yes, people were vary upset at availability but Nintendo gave the impression that they did what they could. They released production numbers, something Nike didn't do. They also released the Wii from as many online and retail locations as they could, (or so they say.) In the end, if you missed out on a preorder or a restock you could end up feeling as though you just didn't try hard enough, not that the odds were unfairly stacked against you. Nike, on the other hand, relied on twitter links, use of the term "short supply", and a website infrastructure that can't handle more than 5 people at a time. Everyone that was able to get one of these fuel bands today should also go out and buy a lotto scratch off because your on fire.

Why am I wasting time with this angry rant? Because this is exactly what Nike wanted. They wanted people mad and angry. Angry people are vocal, vocal people stir interest, interest creates buyers, buyers make them more $$$$$. After they get their fill of ego inflation for creating another product that "sold out" in seconds, then they will open that warehouse door, start filling orders, and all of a sudden, people won't be so angry anymore.

So I say let's just get the ball rolling...

CONGRATULATIONS NIKE FOR MAKING ANOTHER SELL OUT PRODUCT!
OMG! CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY SOLD OUT IN SECONDS!!!
YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK THATS A NEW RECORD!!!

Now restock so the rest of us can #MakeItCount...

But you know what would be real funny? If Apple decided to make a similar device, (yeah I know it wouldn't happen because Nike and Apple are already sleeping in the same bed,) but the thought of an even more overhyped company blowing them out the water for dragging their feet on restocking would probably make a few of us smile right now...


Update - 7:00pm
Just received this twitter response:

"We appreciate you reaching out to us. Just to let you know, we encourage you to follow @NikeStore for updates and assure you that we will be the Nike+ FuelBand inventory regularly."

Whether this is a auto reply to anyone who tweets about their frustration or a direct reply to my blog is currently unknown, (my money goes to auto reply.) Lets see what their definition of "regularly" is...

DV Test Collection 1: Ike and Tina

Your in for a treat. Season 2 of "DV Tries" is still in production but with a little free time, instead of relaxing, I'm getting better acquainted with the new updates to Final Cut Pro X.

Now that multi cam support is finally introduced into FCPX, it's time to put it to the test.
Enjoy the final results!



In the end, the multi cam implementation is excellent. This clip used synchronization based on audio and I think it couldn't have been better. Two completely different cameras were used and you start to see slight differences on the auxiliary view due to the fact that the Nikon D90 maxes out at 720p while my regular camera can record at 1080p. The resident color matching features were also put to the test and differences can be seen, so my suggestion to anyone that plans on using multi cam setups, is to do as much color correction before recording instead of in post. Of course maybe that's just a tip for amateurs like me...

(As a side note this video was attempt number 7 at doing a simplified multi cam setup for the past 4 years. With its "success" I'm ready for an even larger test with a lot more details to follow but volunteers will be needed. Don't call me, i'll call you...)

Wanna see more? I'll see what I can do... See ya next blog!!

Verbal Abuse is not Ok

Whats happening in 2012

Picking up where 2011 left off we continue to be plagued with verbal abuse and bullying in our society. Even as I type this blog the next door neighbors are arguing so loud that you'd think the walls were paper thin. Cartoon Network has made efforts in the past months with "Stop Bullying" commercials. With the advent of  Youtube and other similar video sharing sites, more and more incidents of verbal and physical are posted for all to see. In a effort to further educate I decided to compile some info as well as do a little experiment of my own. But first lets properly define "verbal abuse." And by "properly define," I mean do a wiki search...

Verbal abuse (also known as reviling or bullying) is best described as a negative defining statement told to you or about you; or by withholding any response thus defining the target as non-existant. If the abuser doesn't immediately apologize and rarely indulge in a defining statement, the relationship may be a verbally abusive one...

...A person of any gender, race, culture, sexual orientation, age, or size may experience verbal abuse. Typically, in couple or family relationships verbal abuse increases in intensity and frequency over time...

...Despite being the most common form of abuse, verbal abuse is generally not taken as seriously as other types of abuse, because there is no visible proof and the abuser may have a perfect persona around others. In reality, however, verbal abuse can be more detrimental to a person's health than physical abuse. If a person is verbally abused from childhood on, he or she may develop psychological disorders that plague them into and even through adulthood.

People who feel they are being attacked by a verbal abuser on a regular basis should seek professional counsel and remove themselves from the negative environment whenever possible. Staying with a verbal abuser is damaging for a person's overall well-being; and all steps to change the situation should be pursued.

Ok, with the definition out of the way lets try this. Below is a detailed list of types of verbal abuse. If you have at one time or another regularly suffered from that type of abuse add the corresponding 5 points to your total score. In the end, take your remaining score and vote to your right. You can also leave a anonymous post below with your number score, or if you really wanna help inspire and let friends know they are not alone, post or even tweet this page along with your score to friends. With all the stupid number games on Facebook lets attempt something that could really educate for a change...

(BTW- My score is 50, the majority of which came from school, with absolutely none of that coming from my wife. Had to head off the rumor mill...)

Types of Verbal Abuse

Belittling - 5pts

Belittling "puts down" the victim and invalidates her opinions or feelings. Or it may be designed to tell the victim that her concerns or accomplishments are insignificant. Belittling statements may be patronizing put-downs such as, "Well, that's nice that it gives you something to do."

Some belittling statements include:

• You can't take a joke.
• You're too sensitive.
• You don't know what you're talking about.
• You're making a big deal out of nothing.
• You always have to have something to complain about.

Countering and Correcting - 5pts

Countering shuts down the discussion and opposes denies the victim's reality. The abuser argues against her thoughts, her opinions, and her reality. By negating her views, the abuser feels he is maintaining his control and dominance over her.

Abusive "Jokes" - 5pts

Put-downs disguised as jokes often refer to woman’s gender, to her mental abilities, or to her competency. This can include statements such as:

• You need a keeper!
• What else can you expect from a woman?
• You couldn't find your head if it wasn't attached.

Holding Out - 5pts

The abuser who refuses to share himself with his partner, who ignores or refuses to listen to her, or who refuses to share information is violating the premise of a relationship. Holding back emotional support erodes confidence and determination. Holding out includes refusal to communicate, and statements such as:

• There's nothing to talk about.
• You wouldn't be interested.
• It's none of your business.

Side-Tracking and Shutting Down - 5pts

Forcing the discussion off track, shutting it down, or changing the subject are ways to control and frustrate the conversation. Sometimes accusing and blaming are used to hijack the discussion and throw the victim off balance. Some shutting-down statements are:

• You're just trying to have the last word.
• I don't want to talk about it anymore.
• Just drop it!

Transferring Blame - 5pts

Many abusers blame their partner for their anger, irritation, or insecurity. Telling the victim that the abuse is her fault confuses her and puts her on the defensive. An abuser may accuse the victim of the very actions done by the abuser himself. (This can be very "crazy-making.") Some blaming phrases include:

• It's all your fault.
• You're just trying to pick a fight.
• If you weren't so...

Faultfinding - 5pts

Most statements that begin with the word "you" or "always/never" signal abusive faultfinding and criticism. Faultfinding veiled in help or advice is abusive.

• You’re always so….
• Why can’t you just…?
• You should just let me do that.

Intimidation - 5pts 

Intimidation can come through words or actions that threaten or imply harm or loss. It is designed to control and gain power through fear.

Insulting and Labeling - 5pts

Insulting names and personal "labels" are abusive, as are demeaning sexual references.

• Dingbat, air-head
• Slut, bitch, broad
• Stupid, ugly, fat

Selective Memory - 5pts

Abusers may "conveniently forget" or alter the facts. This selective memory can be used to deny, twist, and rewrite reality (this is also "crazy-making"). Selective memory is signaled by statements such as:

• I don't know what you're talking about.
• I never said that.
• You're making that up.

Commanding - 5pts

When someone commands or demands instead of respectfully requesting, he/she denies the worth and independence of the victim.

Lashing Out - 5pts

Lashing out at someone is never justified. Angry verbal attacks, yelling, raging, and temper tantrums can be effective ways to intimidate and control others.

So what now? Don't ask me. I'm only here to educate. I'm no doctor. But talking about it is always a start...

Amazing Blazblue Videos

For a dude that's always begging for his own content to be shared I haven't been sharing as much content as I used to before focusing on my own channel, but after checking out these Blazblue related vids that had to change.

(Note: If you don't know what Blazblue is then "see ya next blog!" because the following will all sound Greek to you... Speaking of Greeks, you gotta me know i you've seen these George. Ragna vs Hakumen FTW!!!)

(Note 2: Videos are not my creations nor do clicking on the embedded links direct you to any content owned or maintained by me.)

This first one Is a parody of the Continuum Shirt 2 opening



The second video, although in Japanese, is just awesome. This dude took the in-game sprites and FMV and gave us the animated ending we all wanted to see from Calamity Trigger...



That does it for this impromptu post. See ya next blog...

"Ace's Day Out" Leaves Youtube

Ok here's the deal...

My youtube channel has gotten the most daily traffic ever since I originally joined in 2006. We're not talking thousands or millions of views here, but enough to have my channel appear in more searches and queries. For anyone with aspirations of making a few dollars on youtube that is a good thing, but all your work could go down the toilet with two simple words: "Copyright Infringement."

With the recent monetization of my Youtube account I have had to be cautious to make sure I have permission from respective sources before uploading copyrighted content. This affects me the most in the way of background music as many of my older wedding clips use copyrighted songs. That is why you'll notice newer videos using royalty free songs as well as original compositions by me.

In the "Accounts" section of my Youtube settings I am plagued with the constant reminder:

"You have videos that may contain content that is owned by someone else."


This shows up because Youtube's Content Identification Service made 2 claims against my videos.
The first was a unreleased wedding promo, and the second was the first video I ever posted, "Ace's Day Out" The content owners reserve the right to remove the audio, keep the video from being played in certain countries, or even have it completely removed from Youtube, the last option sometimes resulting in a permanent strike against your account.


So, to keep my account in a positive standing I decided to remove mentioned videos. But never fear, the video can still be viewed below though a embedded Facebook link:

Ace's Day Out


Thank you for the 48 views it achieved in the year it was on Youtube! Ace will return...

Additionally, what this means is that if I create certain videos containing copyrighted music, with the exception of one particular source, you probably will never see them on the DVDeluxe Youtube channel.

I'll go into details in a future blog if needed but I'm getting kinda tired of talking about stuff like revenue sharing, monetization and ad clicking so just continue to show your support in the ways I mentioned so many times before and I'll see ya next blog!

November Wedding Promos

Congratulations to all the November newlyweds! This blog, like the previous, features the promo video(s) from my November 2011 events. For September's promos click HERE and for October's click HERE

Remember it's never too late to check for availability and schedule to have your special day captured by the Professional Services of Dennis Vice.

B&V Wedding Promo

(Special- If this clip is shared enough, a bonus promo will be added)
UPDATE- Bonus Reception preview has been added below enjoy!

B&V Recepion Preview

UPDATE- New preview has been added below enjoy! 


M&D Wedding Promo

Special thanks to my clients who gave permission to have their teasers posted!

As always, thanks for reading, watching, and clicking on ads to get me paid :)

See ya next Blog!!

Composing music for videos

Well with all the stress and deadlines I've had here and there, it's nice to take a few hours and work on something completely voluntary.

As you may be aware, I have been attempting to make some change with revenue sharing. You know, you click on a ad from this page and I get money. Simple huh? YEAH RIGHT... Anyway I now qualify for Youtube revenue sharing but here's the problem, not all my content is 100% original.

What I mean is, some of my most popular videos usually have traces of copy-written music. To get around this issue I have considered making my own music tracks for my videos, (That's right, I write music...) I've done his once before with my commercial video. Below is my recent attempt at writing a simple tune for some older wedding footage I had lying around.

J&G Wedding

Also if you somehow never saw my commercial here it is:

DV Commercial

Hope you enjoyed them as well as my other vids. Like, +1, tweet, retweet, ANYTHING! Help me out here...

See ya next blog!

Geek Squad is Worthless Sometimes

OK I'm seriously disgusted with Best Buy, Geek Squad, and Precision Camera right now...

Why?

I share my  abbreviated complaint with you below:

I bought a $1,200 camcorder a few years ago with a black tie premium plan. I've been a loyal customer with best buy since 2002 and I ALWAYS get the extended warranties. Sometimes I end up needing them and I've been impressed with the service for the most part.

Last month, however, I needed to use the camcorders service plan for a repair and it's been a NIGHTMARE. October 5th I took my camcorder in because the internal hard drive was having problems and I kept cutting off. That was the only problem at the time. I was extremely concerned with the timing of this problem because I record weddings and in a little over a week I was going to be recording another wedding. Geek Squad assured me that within 7 days they would hear back from Precision Camera (the company handling the repair) on whether the camcorder would be repaired or if a replacement was in order. Also of note is that this is the second time i have had to go to Geek Squad for this problem on this camcorder. Well they took the camcorder and I waited. 7 days later (October 12th) I received a email from Geek Squad saying my product "was in good hands". Upon using the service order number given to me I discovered that the only entry was that the device was checked in and awaiting shipment on October 5th!

I called Best Buy and Geek Squad assured me that the device had been shipped and gave me the direct number to Precision Camera to see for myself. I called the number and using the service order number given to me I was told that the device had been repaired and sent back to me back in 2009! upon further inspection they discovered that the same number was referencing a older camera I had repaired in 2009 and that they had no record of my current camera.

I went to Best Buy in person to explain the entire situation and Geek Squad sent a "Escalation" to find out what happened. Two days later the site updated and said that on The 14th my product was received. The same day It was assigned to a tech.

In the mean time I had to borrow money to buy a temporary camcorder to film the wedding and a $500 camcorder cannot compare to a $1200 model.

On the 18th the site updated with the status "Final Inspection, Awaiting Shipment" followed by "Picked up and Closed" and I immediately became panicked because I received no phone call and did not pick up anything. I went to the store and they told me that in they're system UPS delivered it to my house, a delivery that I DID NOT ask for. They then noticed that the delivery was post marked for the same day and that it would be impossible for a Texas to Baltimore MD delivery that quick, so they found a tracking number to give me. The next day my camcorder came in the mail and it was in worse condition than when sent. the LCD screen flickered badly and from the looks, the hard drive was worse too. With another event days away I was VERY irritated.

I took it to best buy and Geek Squad said all they could do was send it back out. They said they would escalate it and it would be their the next day to get repaired.

I had to once again buy another camcorder and pray or the best. According to the website it was shipped on the 19th and Received on the 24th (not next day as promised.) On the 25th it was assigned to a tech and as of November 3rd I still wait.

I have a larger event this weekend and no decent camcorder and I have lost all trust in Best Buys protection plans.

Don't get me wrong Geek Squad seemed very helpful but they can care less about the fact that you are without a product that you invested long and hard for over a month, and that they're only solution is o come up with more money to buy a temporary solution. If I was that rich I'd already own 2 thousand dollar cameras!

Rant over... update to be posted whenever this is resolved...

Interesing Apps Episode 4 - My Sketch

Here comes another interesting app I've been meaning to mention for some time now.

It's a simple app that takes a picture taken on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad and converts it to a sketch drawing. That's it. Results can be cropped and tweaked with two sliders, and can be saved in 3 different sizes and uploaded to Facebook, Twitter or emailed. The only issue i've noticed is the final result sometimes looks like it was additionally cropped at the top. Here's a few sample with pics I took...

Granted these are nothing more than "filters" but since he app is free at the moment its not a bad download to fool around with...

If you've found or use a better app for this price i'd love to hear about it and do my own comparison.

See ya next blog!!

FIX IT!

Ok any of my regular readers should know by now that my release schedule for blogs changes at the drop of a hat. But I have a excuse this time, honest!

It would appear that chicken noodle soup and keyboards just don't mix (big surprise). In a sloppy attempt at self medication, alongside playing "catch up with video editing," I spilled some soup on my keyboard...

Sucks I know...

I thought I avoided the worst but in the end it appears my "T" and "F" buttons are not very responsive anymore. They DO work but it's hit or miss. You can imagine how hard it is to try and type long sentences when you constantly have to check whether or not your t's and f's went through.

AKe a look a a sample o how bad yping on a broken keyboard could look if I don' consanly check behind mysel... Very ime consuming indeed...

But never fear that's what I have a iPad for. I'll just open up Blogpress and keep it moving right?

...

Right?

...

Well apparently Blogpress doesn't want to work for me either, and chicken soup had nothing to do with it this time. While I'm not 100% certain I'm fairly sure the problem stems from the recent iOS 5 update. Blogger has recently update their site but I doubt that would affect the app itself. As soon as it opens it crashes, not a good look for a paid app. What this means for now is that I don't have access to the rough drafts of a few of my blogs.

Sadly this is not the first issue I have had with a app not working with iOS 5. While free apps can be a nuisance if they don't work with iOS 5 paid apps are a little more serious because you paid money for something that you no longer have access to.

Welcome to the FIX IT blog!

I hope this will prove to be a beneficial segment for apps that don't work properly on iOS 5. Consider it a stop sign for those who updated and are interested in certain apps, or a warning for those that haven't updated to the new Os in fear of incompatible older apps.

In order for this to work well I need reader participation. In the comments below feel free to post problems you have had with PAID applications in iOS5. As for me I'll be updating with issues I find as well as when said apps are fixed.

• Update #1 November 2, 2011

Blogpress 

As I mentioned earlier, this app won't even start. Fortunately the people behind this app are pretty good with updates so I don't think this will be a issue for too long...

X-Men Arcade 

When I went in the app store and saw the X-Men Arcade game for 99 cent I knew it was a "download now!" unfortunately this game freezes midway through the first level and crashes on iPads with iOS 5.
"But Dennis! That's probably just because you have a first generation iPad and that game needs the faster processor of the iPad 2." not true. This game was also tested with a 4th generation iPod touch with iOs 5 and the same problem persists. KONAMI FIX THIS!!! Till then, don't waste your dollar...

That's all for now but as a final note, be a smart shopper. Check the reviews. Remember that these are NONREFUNDABLE purchases so do your homework before shelling out cash, unless of course you got money to throw away, and if that's the case, I could use some help with these bills...

See ya next blog!

"Waiting" (With Bonus Content)

It's been almost a week since I posted my first self directed short film "Waiting" and I'm pretty happy with the end product as well as the overall reception.

My "DV Tries" video's are nowhere near as popular as my wedding promos but I expected as much. I only hope you give my personal projects a chance. And a HUGE thank you to the 2 people out of 340+ readers in the past two weeks that clicked on a ad to give me a few cents of revenue. It truly meant a ton!

"Waiting" was originally a project I was putting together for a film competition that went a lot deeper into my psyche than the final version you saw. In a last second change of heart I omitted scenes and footage which ended up greatly affecting the final results (thus the reason for the supplemental ending...) The entire decision to rewrite lasted months. Eventually the project took a back burner to other videos until recently, when shooting resumed and the final project was released.

A few of the original clips were used but most had to be reshot. The most interesting reshoot came in the way of the scene of myself. You can really see the weight difference in my face! Well, since my camera is in the shop and filming for my next project doesn't begin until this Saturday enjoy a few extra clips that didn't make the cut for one reason or another, as well as the side by side comparison of me before and after my hospital visit and weight loss.

(Note: this is a embedded video that can ONLY be viewed via links such as the one below. Consider this a easter egg of sorts for taking the time to read my blogs!)



Thanks again and see ya next blog!! (2 rants on the way!)

P.S. Almost forgot to ask. If you like seeing bonus footage like this and would like to see additional footage of the previously posted wedding promos let me know. I may be able to fulfill your wish (no guarantees!)

October Wedding Promos

Congratulations to all the October newlyweds! This blog features the promo video(s) from my October 2011 events. For September's promos click HERE

Remember it's never too late to check for availability and schedule to have your special day captured by the Professional Services of Dennis Vice.


L & R Wedding

Special thanks to my clients who gave permission to have their teasers posted!

As always, thanks for reading, watching, and clicking on ads to get me paid :)

See ya next Blog!!

Photoshoppin' Part 2 - Have some cake

I may be semi-retired but that doesn't mean I can't blow the dust of my camera, which is for sale btw, and get some good shots of my friend's wedding. Can't say I'd do it for just anyone, but for as long as I can remember we've been friends. Being pretty much the longest friend I've had means a lot, to me at least.

I'm sure they're far better pics to be seen from others so I decided to post the few I lightly edited here, where they can be downloaded at no charge and at a slightly better quality. (If your wondering why I don't put them on my website then you really should read my blogs more often.

Anyway, enjoy...















Comments are welcome, and if you really wanna be nice, take a few seconds to click on a ad.

See ya next blog!

Photoshoppin' Part 1

Welcome to a new segment called "Photoshoppin'"

Every now and then I get requests for photomanipulations that far exceed the normal, "brighten" or "sharpen" tasks. Here is where I take you behind the curtain on some of my best work. Since I guarentee the privacy of said jobs, many of the pictures used are recreations of the original processes used for past photomanipulations. And now onto the first project...

So which is the original? The difference is obvious but without a side by side comparison, would you have been able to tell any editing was done? Comments or questions welcome.

Let's Play- Help Wanted

Blog site... Check...
YouTube channel... Check...
Web series... Of course!

Last June was supposed to be the beginning of production of my web-based series of "Let's Play" videos.

Let's PlayOne or more people, usually from message boards, that record themselves playing video games through screenshots or captured video (Mostly the latter)..." -Urban Dictionary

"But there are a ton of Let's Plays already floating around the net. Why make your own?"

"Because I want to..."

I doubt the direction I take with this show will be 100% original but everyone needs a hobby and mine is film and video games, so I'm gonna try something new for me, even if it may not be new to you. But I digress...

Production was postponed due to health and work but after a series of tests I'm ready to begin with the pilot episode. The hardest part of this project will be trying to avoid scheduling conflicts with my revolving co-hosts so I decided to post the pilot season filming schedule for those that wanted to reserve their spot for a specific episode.

Pilot Season schedule.
Nintendo World Cup- NES
Pictionary- NES
Revolt- N64
Mario Party 3- N64

Each episode will need a crew of 5, 4 hosts and one camera operator. Message me ASAP with the episode(s) you want to be a part of.

These games will be played on their original systems but feel free to practice on any other versions if you need to. Also, as tempting as it may be to copy other reviewers comments or jokes, please attempt to keep your material original.

That's it for now. See ya next blog...

September Wedding Promos

I know what your thinking. "Hey, shouldn't this stuff go up on your business website?"

Well recently my hard drive crashed and one of the few things I didn't back up was the layout for my website. This means that to do any kind of update, I'd have to rebuild the site from scratch (yeah that sucks.) On top of that, last summer it was announced by Apple that their MobileMe service would be discontinued and that web hosting would cease June of 2012. Although the site address will be the same I have not secured a new host yet so I'll keep you updated on the future fate of www.vicephotos.com.

Moving on...

Last month I had the opportunity to offer my videography services to two couples and the individual teaser videos have been getting a lot of traffic on Youtube (which is a good thing.) It makes me wish I embedded them here first (which would have been a better thing)

If you have yet to see them they have been embedded below. If you are interested in hiring me for a future event submit inquiries to DVDeluxe@msn.com.

A&C Wedding


J&E Wedding


Do you have a favorite? I'd love to hear your comments below.

Hmmm, anyone notice more video content than pictures recently? See ya next blog...

I Try

Back again! Actually, I didn't go anywhere. I still post weekly content, it just hasn't been here. I'll explain more on why in a future post. Anyway, if you don't already know, I have a Youtube channel, that's right, I got a Youtube Channel...

To date, 22 videos have been uploaded although only 16 of them are viewable to the public. Which leads me to a quick point I want to make; Just because you see me recording doesn't mean I'm trying to throw you on youtube! I take my profession seriously and although I try to entertain, I don't try to embarrass. I try very hard not to post unscripted footage without consent. Moving on...

I decided to make a mini series called DV Tries, and below is a brief episode guide:

Check out the very episode, "DV Tries a Crab Cake"

For achieving 2000 hits I decided to post "DV Tries DANCE CENTRAL"

Learning Motion 5 brought new challenges and I decided to throw something together, literally... in "DV Tries Special Effects"

My nephew is making his uncle proud, playing football in high school. I couldn't wait for the opportunity to get out the camera and get some footage. Footage from his first game is found in "DV Tries Fooball Coverage"

Ever since I bought a iMac I never shelled to the 20 bucks needed to buy a plug-in to view MPEG2 videos (I'm cheap like that.) What that meant though, was that I couldn't work with any of my older recorded footage. Well I sill don't have the plug-in but I found a free work-a-round. Here's the first of some of the old footage in "DV Tries Poi"

OK so thats 5 episodes in two months, with a 6th one going live today. Check them out. Comment. SUBSCRIBE. Your views and input mean a lot to me and it makes me embarrassing myself worthwhile...

See ya next blog!

UPDATE - Latest Video can be found HERE

Interesting Apps Episode 3 - Splashtop vs Teamviewer

I'm probably late to the party once again but if you remember my Teamviewer blog, then you know how useful I think remote desktop apps can be. Since the writing of that blog, Teamviewer has been a staple app on my iPad as well as on my android phone. It's worked so well for me that I never bothered examining the competition, after all, you get what you pay for, and being free i've been content with the few adjustments working with Teamviewer from a iPad or phone. To be honest, I'll probably still continue to use Teamviewer for the foreseeable future but i couldn't help but be impressed with a new app I discovered that does the same thing. Allow me to introduce you to Splashtop.



Now I'm not gonna rehash the benefits of using a remote desktop, so instead i'm going right into the differences and similarities of these two apps.

The similarities...

Both are very easy to set up. Download the app. Download the server program for your PC. Connect. Done!

Both have decent security measures and can support connectivity from other sources as well.

Both apps stream at a excellent display resolution, but more on this later.

Both provide mouse and keyboard control.

Both apps are free, (kinda)

The differences...

Back to display resolution. The resolution Teamviewer uses depends on the connection speed. This can be overridden but then the refresh rate is affected even more. The resolution on Splashtop is constant and the refresh rate is a whole lot smoother. So much so that you could stream video from your PC or Mac straight to your iPad. This leads me to the next big difference...

Sound! Splashtop also streams sound from your PC/Mac to your iPad. This is not a feature of Teamviewer. This opens up a whole new set of possibilities.

Although both apps have mouse and keyboard control, they are done differently. Teamviewer essentially turns your screen into a large trackpad. You move the mouse using the whole screen in this manner. Splashtop uses more touchscreen support. You just tap what you want to select to select it. Multitouch gestures control scrolling, zoom, etc. It's a little confusing when your used to Teamviewer but its a great feature. the only problem is when some precision is required in clicking. My big fingers have a problem sometimes closing windows/minimizing windows, or selecting text.

I mentioned that both apps are free, and to a certain extent they are. Teamviewer is free to use unrestricted, but wants you to "play fair" and pay $99 dollars if you plan to use the app for business. Splashtop has a free version of the app that is limited to 5 minute connections while the $10 regular app has a unlimited connection time.

The wrap-up

Splashtop probably deserves a dedicated review to cover all it's features, as well as tests on how well it streams with various connection speeds but this blog has dragged on long enough. I'm sure someone else has already reviewed it anyway, (I'm too lazy to search...) Both are excellent apps. I'm still a Teamviewer fan because I also have the option of using my Android phone to connect in addition to my iPad (in contrast to popular belief, i don't carry my iPad everywhere I go...)

I know there are other remote desktop apps out there and if they have free versions, i'll probably try them out too. (Hey money is too tight right now to be paying for what I can do for free.) I do however think that $10 could be worth a remote desktop app with multitouch support, high res display, and sound, but only for those that could really benefit from the added features.

Give it a try, and see ya' next blog...