How-tos
WWDC ‘08: Boinx + TheCodingMonkeys = BoinxTV
We heard from TheCodingMonkeys last week, and there was mention of a joint project with Boinx Software. Being a big fan of Boinx software (iStopMotion, Mousepose, Fotomagico), I couldn’t wait to see what they had up their sleeves. The project is called BoinxTV, and it’s going to be an invaluable tool for a wide range of video production applications. It allows for on-the-fly camera switching, transitions, lower thirds, graphics, logos, crawlers, graphs, title, you name it. And when you finish a run, you’ve got a QuickTime movie that requires no post production (unless you really want to). Oliver and Dominik share more about its audience and development in the video after the jump.
If you’re interested in hearing more about the beta and staying up-to-date on the current status, check out http://www.boinx.com/boinxtv. I’ve been asked to emphasize that BoinxTV is pre-release. Many aspects of it, including the UI pictured above, are constantly changing and improving.
[Viddler link|QuickTime format]
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iPhone 101: Headphone issues
Recently, my iPhone was having issues. Specifically, it thought headphones were inserted when they weren’t. I first noticed the problem as I was typing and didn’t hear that familiar “click” that normally accompanies a key press.
I thought I had accidentally toggled the ringer mute button (which I seem to do often), but no, it was set to ring. I inserted some headphones and heard everything - the clicks, music, etc.
I placed a call and tried turning the speaker on and off to no avail. Next, I rebooted the phone. No dice. I connected it to my Mac and performed a sync with iTunes and still, there was no sound.
I reset the phone by holding down the power button and the home button. Still, there was no sound without headphones. At last, I got a can of compressed air and gave a couple of short blasts into the headphone port. That did it! The phone must have been interpreting the junk that had collected in there over the past year as headphones.
A simple solution that, hopefully, will save you some time.
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Mac 101: Finder window preferences
As we know, the Finder offers four ways to display your files. Namely icon view, list view, column view, and Cover Flow. Perhaps you prefer one over the others (let’s say column view), but your windows open to icon view by default. That can be annoying but here’s how to fix it.
First, open a new Finder window. Next, select your preferred display method and then close the window without doing anything else. Don’t open a folder, drag an icon, nothing. Now subsequent Finder windows will default to your preferred setting.
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Text from your iPhone for free
Have you been enjoying the 200 free, monthly text messages that accompany your 1st generation iPhone? Then don’t upgrade to iPhone 3G, because those same messages will cost you $5US per month, unless you know this trick.
Dave Merten at Macsimum News has posted a simple, four-step process that will allow you to get free texting out of your 3G iPhone that you should really check out.
Kudos for Macsimum News for posting the trick. Sure, you’re only saving $5 a month — the cost of one Venti latte from you-know-where or approximately 1 gallon of gas — but it all adds up, my friends.
[Via YourMacLife]
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Simplify media transcription with hotkeys and AppleScript
I’ve found myself transcribing different types of media lately; primarily recorded Skype conversations and footage from interviews. I do a lot of work in Scrivener, an application so enjoyable that it makes me want to write a lot more than I do. Scrivener allows for a split pane editor with a QuickTime media file loaded in one pane, and your current document in the other. While you type you can hit Shift-Space to start and stop the media. I loved it, but I wanted to take it to another level. There are applications specifically designed for this, but why not have a system-wide, works-with-anything solution?
Find out how I did it after the jump.
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