Geek News: Latest Technology, Product Reviews, Gadgets and Tech Podcast News for Geeks


BlackMagic’s Pocket Cinema Camera and Production Camera 4K

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 12:51 PM on April 10, 2013

BlackMagic BlackMagic is introducing a lot of great products in 2013 including

The two products that has me looking at my finances are the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K . The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera is extremely small. It is 128mm across, 66mm high and 38mm thick and weighs only 355 grams. It has an extremely high-resolution 3.5″ LCD screen. At the bottom if the screen the camera status is displayed including record status, shutter angle , time-lapse interval and more. Despite its small size this is a true digital film camera. It produces a true film look with high-end television commercials and feature films quality. It has a super 16 size 1080HD sensor with 13 stops of dynamic ranger. It offers various lens mount options including a Micro Four Thirds™ for low-cost lenses and an adapter for Super 16 Cine lenses. By using the Super 16 lens plus the Super 16 sensor size and the 13 stop dynamic range you can shoot like you are shooting Super 16 film. Switch to larger lenses and you are ready for bigger jobs too. It has a built-in 3.5mm stereo mic and headphone jacks. You also get a 2.5 mm jack connection for LANC remote control. The micro HDMI output lets you connect to electronic viewfinders, monitors, external disk recorders and more. The Blackmagic Pocket camera has a built-in SD card that captures stunning ProRes 422 (HQ) and lossless compressed CinemaDNG files to SDXC cards. The solid grip handle holds a removable Nikon EL-EN20 battery. The battery charges within about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera supports true open file formats so you can use what ever editing software you want. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera will be shipping in July for $995.

The Blackmagic Production Camera 4k is the first ultra HD products this year. It has a Super 35 size sensor with global shutter. It offers great shallow depth of field and the ability to shoot fast motion shots. It has an EF compatible lens mount. It records to solid state disk using CinemaDNG RAW and ProRes 422 (HQ) formats. It has built-in Thunderbolt and 6G-SDIoutput allowing Ultra HD video out. It’s sensor features 12 stops of dynamic range. With the Blackmagic Production Camera 4k you can use 6G-SDI output to allows for monitoring on an Ultra HD displays. The user can down convert to regular HD for viewing on a smaller monitor. The Blackmagic Production Camera is great when used with the new ATEM Production Studio 4K. The Blackmagic Production Camera will be available in July for $3,995.

Blackmagic is showing off these and their other products off at NAB and will be releasing them all this year. Allowing independent film makers to produce great quality products.

Red Digital Cinema : Red Dragon is Here

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 11:45 AM on April 9, 2013

Red Anyone who is interested in working with videos or professional still photography has heard of Red Digital Cinema. When the Red camera was first announced many “experts” said it was vapor ware or a scam.

History has proven that this was far from true. Movies such as Thor: The Dark World and series such as House of Cards were made using the Red Camera. Magazine such as Vogue are using it to shoot their still photos. Well Red Digital Cinema is at it again, introducing Red Dragon at NAB. The new Red Dragon sensor shoots 6K resolution at 100 frames per second. It translate at 9 times the resolution of HD at over 19 megapixel. These upgrades are going be available to Red Epic and Scarlett owners. Coming with the upgrade is REDCINE-X PRO a post-production advance coloring toolset, integrated timeline and post effects collections program. This is one area were being an early adopter definitely has its advantages.

Ustream is Introducing Some Additions to their Pro Broadcasting Service

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 9:09 AM on April 9, 2013

Ustream Pro One of the growing trends among the online video services including YouTube and Ustream is to offer pro services. During NAB Ustream is introducing some additions to their Pro Broadcasting service Ustream Cloud Platform including:

  • live playlist
  • hd–enabled web broadcasting console
  • video on demand upload
  • new player technology
  • live close caption

The Ustream’s Pro Broadcasting service also now includes a linear programming capability which allows the broadcaster to take a recorded program and then run it on a continuous loop 24/7 or schedule to broadcast at a specific time. Ustream also has an integrated social stream, which allows the broadcaster to moderate a chat while the viewers can chat using either Twitter and Facebook.

The Ustream Pro Broadcasting Service has over 5000 global customers. One of the new partners for the Ustream Pro Broadcasting is Discovery Communication which will offer a 24/7 broadcasting of Animal Planet Live.

Ustream’s CEO Brad Hunstable will be moderating a panel at NAB “Re-inventing 24/7 Broadcast Media with Live Video Streaming Solutions” in South Hall Room S224 on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. If you are there it will be a panel worth going to.

NAB Live Show Day 2 Coverage

Posted by geeknews at 9:24 PM on April 8, 2013

Lightworks by EditShare

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 9:28 AM on April 8, 2013

lightworks-monitor-gui-new2EditShare is introducing the Mac version of Lightworks. Lightworks is a cross–platform film editing software. Lightworks has been used by some of the best film makers over the past two decades. It now works seamlessly on Mac OS X.  Film makers who love their Mac’s, will now have the option of using it for their film editing. EditShare will be showing off the Mac version at NAB and will be starting the new alpha program in the near future.

EditShare is also releasing the full version of the new Lightworks version 11.1 for Windows on April 30, 2013. The Linux version has successfully completed the Alpha program of version 11.1 and will begin the public beta on April 30, 2013.

EditShare is already working on Lightworks version 11.2 which will add:

  • Added support for AJA I/O hardware
  • Support for screen capture using the record panel
  • An improved import panel: now behaves similarly to bins, mark/park clips before import
  • Native H.264 MOV playback
  • Added curve effect to FX color correction effects

If you are or want to be a film maker you owe it to yourself to take a look at Lightworks, by EditShare. If you are at NAB they will be at booth SL9010 showing off the new Mac version of Lightworks.

New Tek Lowers the Price of the TriCaster 450: Are They feeling the Heat

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 7:01 AM on April 8, 2013

NewTekNewTek has lowered the price for the TriCaster 455 by $6000, it is now $9995. The TriCaster 455 is described as “the affordable, integrated solution to produce your 4-camera, 14-channel, HD live show with maximum creative firepower—but with minimal proportions.”-(NewTek) Within the podcasting community the TriCaster was made famous when it was first used by Leo Laporte and TWIT. For the longest time if you were a podcaster and wanted to do your shows live, the TriCaster was the way to go. Now though there is a new player in the field, LiveStream which offers the LiveStream Broadcaster, and the Studio Family of Products. The Livestream Studio™ HD50 is $6,999 and the Livestream Studio™ HD500 is $8,500. Both which offer similar options that the TriCaster offers for a much lower prices.

If NewTek the maker of the TriCaster is feeling the pressure than this is good for the live video podcasting community. True competition is always good, it leads to lower prices and better products. If this means a new TriCaster is on the way, well that is even better, either way it is good news.  The TriCaster 455 is an excellent product and this offer is only good until June 27, 2013.  If you are thinking of buying a TriCaster this is the time.

Welcome to The Gadget Professor Show #100 hosted by Don Baine, produced by Mike Baine.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! The Gadget Professor will be broadcasting “LIVE” from NAB next week. Check out TPN.tv to watch him live along with his co-host Todd Cochrane Monday-Thursday

Metro Vac’s “Green Power” Blows Off “Canned Air” This newest addition to Metro’s proven DataVac® line has been completely redesigned from the ground-up. It is much more compact and comfortable to use than previous models and features a new, almost unbelievably powerful 500-Watt motor that literally blasts dust, dirt and debris off expensive computer/electronic equipment to keep it running at peak efficiency. The new DataVac® Electric Duster® is positioned as a “greener”, more effective and cost-efficient alternative to the controversial “canned air” products currently dominating the category. Available in 110 volt and 220 volt models.

Product Features
All steel construction
500 watt motor, .75 HP, 120 volt, 4.5 amps, 70 CFM air flow, weights 2.75 lbs.Packaging: Plain Remailer Carton
Includes air pin-pointer, air concentrator nozzle, air -flare nozzle and micro-cleaning tool kit, 12 ft power cord
More effective than canned air
More economical than canned air, and safer than canned air

Plus, our regular software & apps features and some interesting interesting news items this week.

Sit back and relax while you watch The Gadget Professor.

We welcome our new sponsor LiveStream.

For a limited time mention the code: “The Gadget Professor” and receive a free monitor or a blue microphone with every Livestream HD 500 + Free Shipping in the USA.

Visit The Gadget Professor on Facebook www.facebook.com/gadgetprofessor – check it out and LIKE him!

The Gadget Professor is produced on the Tricaster. For more information on the TriCaster call 480-422-1645, be sure to mention The Gadget Professor and you will get an extra super deal! Make sure to visit www.gadgetprofessorpromo.com for special pricing on great gadgets!

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Sign up for the Newsletter be sure to choose Gadget Professor

Follow @gadgetprofessor on Twitter
Contact e-mail thegadgetprofessor@gmail.com
Sign up for the Newsletter be sure to choose Gadget Professor

The Gadget Professor wants to hear from you,
email him at:TheGadgetProfessor@gmail.com
Twitter: @gadgetprofessor
Look for The Gadget Professor every Thursday here at Geek News Central.
Audio version NOW AVAILABLE!!

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No Open Ports

Posted by tomwiles at 10:28 PM on March 29, 2013

It started out with me not being able to remote in properly to multiple devices on my home network while I was traveling for work. I got home a week and a half later, thinking I’d probably just need to reboot my DSL router and perhaps a few other network devices and everything would quickly be back to normal.

Well, not so fast. It seems that my trusty and heretofore reliable telephone-company-provided Siemens Speedstream 4200 DSL router had somehow lost it’s configuration data – things like the phone number, the username and the password. I put all of that back in, and everything seemed to return to normal. That is, until I decided to see what would happen if I pulled the power plug. To my chagrin, it suffered yet another total identity crisis. Something must be wrong with it.

Hummm. The DSL installer had given me a second modem just in case the first one didn’t work when he initially got the DSL installed a couple of years ago, a unit designated as Sagem Fast 1704. I pulled it off the shelf and plugged it in to my system. This one is not nearly as user-friendly as the Siemens Speedstream 4200. After an extended amount of wrangling with it I got it working, but I still couldn’t get my remote IP camera, a Loftek CXS 2200 (an excellent inexpensive IP camera by the way) to work. I was doing everything exactly right, and it was still no go. The Loftek IP camera could not connect to the outgoing email server, and no matter what I did I couldn’t remote in to the camera itself from outside of my home network.

After wasting hours trying to determine what I might be doing wrong, I finally got the idea of going to a website where I could scan my home network IP address for open ports, and I immediately discovered what the problem was. Even though I was enabling port forwarding in the Sagem Fast 1704 DSL router, virtually ALL ports were closed. No matter what I did, unless I’m missing something, the ports cannot be opened on this router.

The moral of the story is if you are having problems with your router and port forwarding, potentially save yourself a bunch of time and go to a site such as http://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/open-ports/ and find out if the ports you are working with are actually open or not.

Additionally, I took advantage of Geek News Central’s DynDNS discount offer and quickly set up an inexpensive account that enables me to easily view my Loftek IP camera without messing around with finding what my dynamic IP home IP address has switched to.  With a camera app on my phone and other mobile devices, I can simply open up the app and always get a live view without having to go through any additional steps.

TGP – # 99 ActionTec 500 AV Powerline Network Adapter Kit

Posted by Gadget at 8:26 PM on March 28, 2013

Welcome to The Gadget Professor Show #99 hosted by Don Baine, produced by Mike Baine.

Use Actiontec’s 500 AV Powerline Network Adapter to connect home theater devices like your Blu-Ray and Gaming Console to the home network. These powerline network adapters use the latest in HomePlug AV technology to turn any power outlet on the same circuit into a high-speed network connection. Here’s how it works. Simply plug an adapter into a wall. Then take an Ethernet cable and plug one end into the Adapter and the other end into a device like your Blu-Ray Player. Get the 2nd adapter, plug it into the wall and connect the other end to your Router. And that’s it. Your Blu-Ray player is instantly connected to the Internet. You’ll get a high speed connection that’s good enough for gaming and HD videos wherever there’s a power outlet…even in the garage or basement.

Plus, our regular software & apps features and some interesting interesting news items this week.

Sit back and relax while you watch The Gadget Professor.

We welcome our new sponsor LiveStream.

For a limited time mention the code: “The Gadget Professor” and receive a free monitor or a blue microphone with every Studio HD500 + Free Shipping in the USA.

Visit The Gadget Professor on Facebook www.facebook.com/gadgetprofessor – check it out and LIKE him!

The Gadget Professor is produced on the Tricaster. For more information on the TriCaster call 480-422-1645, be sure to mention The Gadget Professor and you will get an extra super deal! Make sure to visit www.gadgetprofessorpromo.com for special pricing on great gadgets!

Subscribe Today: Video
Download the Show File

Sign up for the Newsletter be sure to choose Gadget Professor

Follow @gadgetprofessor on Twitter
Contact e-mail thegadgetprofessor@gmail.com
Sign up for the Newsletter be sure to choose Gadget Professor

The Gadget Professor wants to hear from you,
email him at:TheGadgetProfessor@gmail.com
Twitter: @gadgetprofessor
Look for The Gadget Professor every Thursday here at Geek News Central.
Audio version NOW AVAILABLE!!

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Yurbuds Ironman Series Earphones

Posted by KL Tech Muse at 12:58 PM on March 18, 2013

Yurbuds Spring is coming, which means a lot of walking outside. I like to listen to music or podcasts when I am walking. The problem I have is my ears get sweaty and when they do I have trouble keeping most earphones in. I could wear over the ear headphones, but then I can’t hear what is happening around me and since I have to walk on the side of the road that could be dangerous. When I try to wear most ear buds they are constantly falling out as I am walking. Which means I am continually trying to stick them back in or they end up dangling down in front of me and I can’t hear the music. Either way it is very frustrating. I wanted to try to find a solution for this problem before the spring weather comes into full swing and I think I have.

Yurbuds slogan is “Developed by Athletes for Athlete” and according to the box they are guaranteed to never fall out. They come in a small box and inside the box are the headphones , a small carrying case and a card with instruction on them. The earphones are kidney-shaped and fit snugly inside the ear and then “lock in”. The hardest part is getting them in right, which is key to them not falling out. Once they are in they stay in. I wore them walking on the first warm day of spring and although I was sweating they didn’t fall out. The true test though will come in the summer when it is humid and its 80 degrees, while I am walking. My other complaint is the fact that the cords do get tangled up if you just throw them in your pocket.

The earphone are made of a soft silicon and they feel very comfortable in my ear. The audio sounds fine. I was listening to a workout music playlist from Songza and the bass beat was good, not great but good. The upper and middle tones sound fine. If you keep the volume down to a reasonable level you can hear what is going on around you, which I appreciate. Overall I am happy at this point that I purchased Yurbuds Ironman Series.