Tag: 6

Video on the Web

I recently wrote a post for the British Users of Mac Podcast about video on the web. I wanted to share it with my blog readers too, so here’s the original post:

I have done a lot of video work in these past year. I have learned a lot, and been upset about the outcome, but this is all a learning experience. British Users of Mac Podcast is a great podcast, but I want to see more video conversations (which is why I am writing this post), and I also want to show you another side of Apple. We all know about video, and all that good stuff, but the real question is: Do you know how to maximize it?

Trust me, I have asked myself this question numerous times! As of now, I don’t have a definite answer to this. There are so many services on the web that incorporate this, but don’t necessarily maximize video. One of my favorite streaming companies on the web is UStream.tv, which is a live interactive video broadcast platform. It enables anyone with a web cam and a fast Internet connection to quickly and easily broadcast to a global audience of unlimited size. In less than two minutes, anyone can become a broadcaster by creating their own channel on Ustream, empowering them to engage with their audience and further build their brand. I have worked with UStream.tv in many ways, from blogging to podcasting and even working! UStream.tv is just as great a service for “desktop streaming.”

In my opinion, one of the best companies is Qik, who enables you to share moments of your life with your friends, family and the world – directly from your cell phone! Keep your world in the know, share a laugh, tell engaging stories. Just point your cell phone and stream video live to your your friends on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, etc. OR use your cell phone like a camcorder and stream hours and hours of video without worrying about storage on your cell phone. The things that Qik does are amazing, not because I work there. I’ve held that belief ever since my friend and top blogger Robert Scoble showed Qik to me. Qik really maximizes video from cell phones, and I can’t wait to see where this takes me and Qik!

Now, Apple also has a say in video. Probably not a front-end view, but surely a back-end view. Most of us know Apple because of their amazing hardware and outstanding operation systems, but they also have amazing software. Here is some of Apple’s Video Software:

  • Final Cut Express 4
  • Final Cut Studio 2
  • QuickTime 7 Pro for Mac OS X

(Editors Note: iMovie)

I use two of these three applications:

QuickTime Pro for recording my videos, and starting soon, Final Cut Studio to edit the footage.

Most Apple computers that you can buy from Apple’s online store include an option to buy Final Cut Express 4 and/or Logic Express 8 (Logic Express is Apple’s semi-pro digital audio workstation application).As you can tell, Apple has a nice presence in the video community, but I want to see more! This was my rant about video.T ell me what you think by either leaving a comment, or send an email to daniel@bumpodcast.co.uk.

~Daniel Brusilovsky

Producer & Host, Apple Universe Podcast

Also, remember that Apple Universe is re-launching on Saturday February 16, 2008 at 8:00 PM PST! We will be streaming on Ustream and giving away software, games and having a great time!

Apple Universe Launch!

The time will be arriving soon! Apple Universe is almost ready for launch! The Apple Universe Team is very pleased to announce that on Saturday February 16 at 8:00 PM PST, Apple Universe will open its doors to a new web site, and a wide open future! We have been working very hard on this new site, and I definitely think that everyone will enjoy it.

If you want, check out the countdown timer at www.appleuniversepodcast.com, which will be ticking until right before the launch!

Don’t be mistaken, there’s going to be a great big pre-launch party – I will be streaming the whole day on a dedicated UStream.tv channel at www.ustream.tv/channel/apple-universe-launch, and we will be giving away free programs and games for the Mac!

Once again, I would like to thank the entire Apple Universe Web Team for making this site the best. If you want to follow the launch, visit the web site and subscribe to the RSS Feed when the site is live. The site goes live on Saturday February 16 at 8:00 PM PST, and I hope to see everyone in the UStream chat watching the new beginning of Apple Universe!

Thanks,
Daniel Brusilovsky
Host and Producer, Apple Universe Podcast

The Future of Apple Universe

Apple Universe has gone very far, and something that I noticed as more people listen is that I need to up the ante on my production system. When I was recording on my Windows machine, I did more post production work, and since I moved to the Mac platform, Garageband does the work for me.

That said, from Apple Universe episode number 101 and on, I will be doing a lot more production work using GarageBand, Levelator, and iTunes. Maybe I will even start using Logic Pro, but keep in mind that all of the work that I do for Apple Universe comes out of my pocket. I do have amazing sponsors, like GoToMeeting and BitClamp (and soon to be more), but once again, the new web site was paid for with my own money.

If you know about audio editing programs for the Mac, please drop me a line at info@appleuniversepodcast.com, and pass along a link or two.

Thank you all very much.

Daniel Brusilovsky

Apple Universe Podcast

As you all know, I love podcasting and blogging. One hundred episodes of Apple Universe have been released, and we need to move to bigger places.

One thing that I decided to do is get my own domain name and hosting plan. I think this is a giant step for Apple Universe, and I think this will help.

For those of you who don’t know, Apple Universe now has a domain and hosting service from 1and1, who claims to be the biggest hosting company in the world. The new web site is now and running, so go ahead and check it out! The theme is i3Theme 1.5 (Right Edition) 1.5 by Mickey Cheong. WordPress theme designed by N.Design Studio, columnized by MangoOrange™, supported by Web Hosting Geeks, sponsored by Web Hosting Reviews & Free Coupons and Web Hosting Companies.

We also have new email addresses. If you would like to contact Daniel, please drop a line by daniel@appleuniversepodcast.com. If you would like to contact Richard Escobedo, the designer who customized the theme, send him an email at richard@appleuniversepodcast.com. For all other inquriries, like interview requests, PR, or just saying hello, fire one by info@appleuniversepodcast.com. If you, or your company would like to sponsor Apple Universe, this blog, or any of my other podcasts, please use this email address.

I hope everyone likes the new site, and that it becomes a smashing success!

~Daniel Brusilovsky

Macworld 2008: Day 1

Macworld 2008 has started, and it couldn’t start better off for me! This following blog post will be no ordinary blog post, I will by time, tell the readers my journey to Macworld 2008: Day 1.

5:00 AM- Wake up. At around 5:15 I eat breakfast, and get all my stuff ready for the days journey to Macworld 2008.
5:30 AM- Leave house to BART Station.
6:00 AM- Arrive at BART Station and board train to San Francisco!
6:50 AM- I arrive in San Francisco, and walk to Moscone Center West.
7:10 AM- Get my Super Pass, and go inside of Moscone West.
7:20-8:45 AM- Wait in line until they let us in the keynote room. At this time, I meet new friends, and talk about the Apple Universe podcast recording that night, and stream some live video on Qik.
9:00-10:30 AM- Steve Jobs Keynote! I get my seat, and take LOTS of pictures, and videos. A blog post coming up about the announcements from the keynote.
10:45 AM- THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY!!

At this time I want to talk about what happened after the keynote was over. I had no where to go, since I was waiting for a friend, and I decide to walk to the stage. What I didn’t know, was that the press were taking a lot of pictures. I didn’t know what they were taking pictures, and knowing that I was small enough, I went through some people to find Steve Jobs in front of me! YES! STEVE JOBS WAS IN FRONT ON ME!! Steve needed to go, so he turned around and turned in my direction. I talk to Steve and SHAKE HIS HAND! I SHOKE STVEVE JOBS HAND!!!!

Steve is a really idol to me, it was a great experience to shake Steve Jobs hand. After that, I meet with some Apple Executives like Jonathan Ive, and some iPhone person, that I don’t remember his name 🙂

Going back to the actual story:

11:00 AM- Meet with iPhoneAlley Founder, and Editor-in-Chief, Michael Johnston. We talk about the keynote, and talk, like us all 🙂
12:00-1:00 PM- I go out to lunch with a really good friend of mine, Eric Willis. Eric is now in San Francisco, and I have him a pass to Macworld 2008. We went out to lunch, and had a good time talking nothing other then Apple!
1:00-1:30 PM- Go to Eric’s office, and relax for a little bit before going back to Macworld 2008.
1:50 PM- Meet with Robert and Patrick Scoble in Moscone Center.
2:00- 4:00 PM- Walk around the expo floor with the Scoble’s and Mike Cohen of MacMegasite.
4:15- 5:45 PM- Set-up for my Apple Universe Episode #100 event at Zeum!
6:00- 8:00 PM- Apple Universe #100 with Robert Scoble, Dave Sifry, Shooby, iJustine and Cali Lewis! There will be a blog post about this event coming up.
8:30 PM- Leave the Zeum, and go home after a very long day.

This was basically my day at Macworld 2008. I am still in disbelief that I shook Steve Jobs hand! Apple Universe #100 was great, and I hope my parents let me go back to Macworld later this week, and if not, I had a great time at Macworld 2008!

Apple Universe #100 should be out soon.

Starting a Podcast

I have been podcasting since April of 2007, and I wanted to share my version of how to start a podcast. For purposes of this article, let’s say you’d like to start a pretty basic podcast. To start off, you’ll need access to a few items and services.

  1. You own Web site or podcast hosting
  2. A headset, or headphones and a microphone
  3. Topics of discussion

For beginners, a cheap headset will do, and you can one get for as little as about $10.00 USD (like the Cyber Acoustics Stereo Headset/Microphone). This was my second mic, and my first headset. If you want much better quality (and spend more money), you can buy podcasting kits that include a pro-grade microphone, a mixer, and some type of computer audio interface.

For recording software, you can’t go wrong with free (as in speech) Audacity. Audacity is an open-source audio recording/editing program. I used Audacity for numerous episodes of Apple Universe, and occasionally I’ll find a use for the program. (Editor’s note: For much more advanced recording and mixing than Audacity handles, try Kristal Audio Engine, a free program similar in functionality to Adobe Audition.)

Once you record and edit your podcast’s episodes, you need to get them out to the world. For publishing your podcast, you can use web space you currently have access to, or take advantage of one of the numerous free podcasting services. I started out with, and still use, MypodCast.com, a free podcast host. Their service provides you give you a home page, hosting for unlimited episodes, and an RSS feed for listeners to subscribe to. The only catch (which isn’t even so bad) is that MyPodcast will insert or append a short ad spot (somewhere around 30 seconds) at the beginning or end of each episode you publish.

Perhaps the most critical element of your podcast is the topic you discuss. With my podcast, I started out thinking I would talk about Apple news, which I still am. However, now Apple Universe is covering Apple rumors and events, and many people have been interviewed on my podcast. I stayed with one topic, but expanded the idea. If you have a topic, there is no limit on how wide you can extend it.

Podcasting is quite possibly the hottest media of today, and I hope this article convinces you to join the revolution.Head out and pick up your first microphone, and sign up on MyPodcast.com and start podcasting! There is no limit to where podcasting can take you.

Apple Universe Episode #92

As many of you readers are also Apple Universe subscribers, I would like to give you an update. Apple Universe has recorded episodes up to 93, and should record another 2 today. The reason I am recording a lot of podcasts at once, is because I am recording Apple Universe Episode #100 January 15th, 2007.

Now, Apple Universe Episode #92 has been re-recorded but the audio quality is very bad, and will have to be re-recorded once more. I once again apologize for this, and I hope to get the episode out soon.  Dave Sifry is the guest on this episode, so when Dave and I get a time straight, we will re-record.

Thank you for understanding,

Daniel Brusilovsky 

MacWorld 2008 Predictions

MacWorld 2008

MacWorld 2008 is just around the corner, and thousands of people are hoping for some great things from Apple. In this blog post I will talk about what I would like to happen from Apple coming up at the MacWorld 2008 Conference and Expo.Personally, I’d like to see a slimmer 12-inch MacBook, with a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a hard drive holding up to 250GB. It would also be nice if Apple would come to the show with a new line of cheaper, brighter and better Cinema Displays that would include a built-in iSight camera. The Cinema Displays haven’t been updated in over 2 years, and I think it is time Apple refreshed those products.

A fellow blogger, Wesley Yendrys, wrote a great post today about what he would like to see at MacWorld 2008:

I’m hoping for an iPhone release date in Canada, either at MacWorld, or some other time between Q1 and Q2 of 2008. May is when my parents are going to allow me to have an phone, and so, I want to be able to buy an iPhone straight away, rather than waiting for Apple to release one in 2012, when the iPhone has gone through 10 generations. Although, I don’t think we’ll see an iPhone Canada release date, it’s just wishful thinking.As far as software goes, this would be around the time where iLife and iWork ‘08 would be released, but we got that last August. I do think however, we might see some iTunes updates. Maybe even iTunes 8.

There’s the scoop on what I’d like to see at MacWorld 2008. Please remember that Apple Universe will be recording LIVE during MacWorld at the Zeum from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Please RSVP at Upcoming.

Apple Universe at MacWorld 2008

2008 will be a very special year for Apple Universe. On January 15th, 2008, I will be recording the 100th episode of the Apple Universe podcast LIVE during MacWorld 2008! I’ll be joined by a panel of guests, including Robert Scoble, Cali Lewis, iJustine, Shooby and several other friends. There will be a microphone in the seats so people can ask questions to the panel. This live event will take place at the Zeum, a short distance away from the MacWorld conference.Event details:

Victor Cajiao on Apple Universe

Today, Victor Cajiao was on Apple Universe (click to view or download the episode). Victor is the host and producer of a podcast called Typical Mac User Podcast, which I regularly listen to. We talked about about MacWorld 2008 predictions and Apple’s future!

Also, Apple Universe is having its very first contest! Here are the rules:

Make a video that tells me why you need and/or want iShowU, the best video capturing software for Mac OS. The video must be less than five (5) minutes in length. If you can, upload that video to YouTube, and send me an email with a link to the video. If you can’t upload it to YouTube, email the entire video file to appleuniversepodcast@gmail.com.

The contest will run until Apple Universe episode number 95 is released, giving everyone plenty of time to make their videos. May the most techy man win!