Sandy: June 2010 Archives

LogMeIn Ignition is an app made for iPad or iPhone that lets you remotely access one or more of your computers from anywhere, at anytime.  You can directly control your desktop, all your apps and all your files, with just a simple touch.  LogMeIn is not new to the remote access world, however, now with the availability to iPad, the entire screen of the remote computer can be fully viewed and users can get a lot done with minimum amount of zooming in and out; a difficult task on the previous iPhone versions.  The iPad app also displays different resolutions of the remote computer, making it easier to fit on the screen.  LogMeIn Ignition also supports the two-finger tap for right-clicking, which saves you from having to manually switch between click functions on the app's tool bar.  All you have to do is install the LogMeIn software on any Mac or PC that you want to control, and then log into it from LogMeIn Ignition on your mobile device.

So imagine you've left an important document on your computer at your office, and you needed to work on it at home for an early morning meeting; no worries, just log in remotely with your iPad and LogMeIn Ignition, and you're all set.  Even though it is one of the more expensive apps out there ($30), you now have access to all of your computers in one handy spot!

AddMovie is a free utility used for connecting several files into one single movie.  You can also use AddMovie to batch convert a collection of movies to another format.  It supports various input file formats, including QuickTime movies.  And you can extract movie frames, split movies at certain points, set the movie's poster frame, and extract sound track into an AIFF file.

There are several preferences available such as, choosing export format, making a "self contained" or reference movie, chapterizing, and automatic software update checks.  To edit preference settings for AddMovie, simply select Preferences from the AddMovie menu, or click the Options button.

It's really pretty easy to use AddMovie; just follow the steps:

• Add Files:  drag files or folders from the Finder into the File List window's list box, or use the Browse button to navigate the file system for your selections.
• AddMovie reads all the files that are supported by the QuickTime components installed on your system.
• Reorder:  once you have added your files to the file list, you can re-arrange them to determine the position they will appear in the movie.  You re-arrange files in the list by dragging them to their desired location.  Files are added to the movie from top to bottom in the file list.
• Add chapter titles:  If you are connecting the movies, and your output format is selected as QuickTime .mov files, then you have the option of chapterizing the movie.  Click the Options button to open the Preferences window.  Click on the Chapterize button, and AddMovie will let you choose default chapter titles, or you can edit the chapter titles that appear in the File list window.  To edit a chapter title, double-click on a title to edit.
• Concatenate the files:  click the AddMovies button, and a dialog box will display asking for a name and location for the movie.  The appropriate extension for the file will be attached for you.
• Export the files:  you can click the Export Movies button and each movie will be exported to the format you select in the Preferences window.
• You can download the free utility from AddMovie's developer, Limit Point Software, website.
  

CrumplePop recently released Metal, a new titling tool to help you create awesome metallic titling effects in Final Cut Pro.  Metal is great for busy editors who want to save time, but still get high-quality metallic titles into their project just by typing text and rendering.  It works right on the Final Cut Pro timeline, without having to go into other titling applications.

CrumplePop's Metal titles have that steely, diamond plate look, to give your project that mean, blockbuster look to them.  Text that looks like it was chiseled from heavy guage metal plate.  You can also use Metal with logos to give it that "dipped in steel" feel.  With Metal, you have four different choices such as, Steel, Copper, Chrome-plated steel, and Steel Diamond plate.  Also included is built-in transitions that allow you to explode the titles into and out of the frame, and keyframeable lens flares.  It even comes with "whoosh" sounds to accompany your titles.  Check out the demo at CrumplePop's website and give it a try!

Boris Continuum Complete brings over 200 filters to Mac & Windows versions of Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro CS5, CS4, and CS3.  Version 7 features 11 new filters including a 3-way color grade filter with built-in keying and masking tools, a new video noise reduction tool, a spline-based warp filter, an audio-driven keyframe generator, a new OpenGL particle engine, and still and video morph technology.  Each Boris Continuum Complete filter has been re-engineered for 64-bit operating systems and OpenGL acceleration. 

Boris Continuum Complete gives compositors and editors the most complete and useful plug-in suite ever.  Includes 3D objects, image restoration tools, time-based effects, and generators such as Snow, Rain, and Fire, lights such as Glint, Glare, and Glitter, wipe transitions, keys and mattes including Motion Key for automated foreground object removal, colors and blurs, and film, glow, and cartoon effects.

CleanMyMac is an advanced all-in-one utility that helps keep your Mac clean and in good condition.  With just two simple clicks you can delete useless files that basically pile up and waste your valuable disk space.  CleanMyMac allows smooth system performance combining features of lots of different utilities all in one application; utilities such as Clean Caches, Application Uninstallation, Clean Unneeded Languages, Killing Trash Left from Buried Applications, and so many more.  Save gigs of space on your hard drive and enhance your computer speed.
Applications running on your Mac leave numerous support files, which don't go to Trash once you've removed the app.  CleanMyMac will locate and erase all "leftovers" from your system files to enable you to easily install and uninstall new programs whenever you need to.  And the more junk files stored on your computer, just makes it work slower, so give it a try and clean up your Mac, you'll be glad you did!

Back on my plug-ins kick this week.  SupaWipe produces some extraordinary object transitions for Final Cut Pro without having to use keyframes.  These fresh new wipes can give your productions a little more zip.  Effects that would normally take time keying and working in many layers are now in a neat little package.  As well as the wipe, two object images can be on screen at once.  Both can have their own independent controls such as scale, rotation, etc which can give the editor a diverse artistic capability.

Today's free plug-ins for Final Cut Pro comes from Luca's Plugins.  Luca's Plugins comes with filters, generators and transitions, including Vignette Combo, Image Adjust, Old TV Mask, Flicker Wipe, Intermittent Flash transition, and more.  This free bundle of plugins can be routinely used and has line and frame generators, sophisticated video effects, image and color temperature adjustment tools, and new stylized transitions.

Note that after downloading the bundle, you will have to move the folder from your Downloads to your Application Support, following this path:

HD > Library > Application Support > Final Cut Pro System Support > PlugIns

and then make sure to restart Final Cut Pro.  By not following this path, you might not be able to see the transitions in the Effects Tab, nor will any other users on your computer be able to use them.  You can refer to this article regarding where to install Final Cut Pro plug-ins.  Check out Luca's website to get a detailed description of each plug-in as well as video samples of each.