This is a Sponsored guest post written by Matt Ryan on behalf of Lenovo for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% the writer’s own.

Lenovo is known the world over as one of the leading PC manufacturers out there. From nettop systems to high-end servers, Lenovo has a firm grasp on the PC market. But did you know that Lenovo also makes some of the most innovative accessories on the market?

A couple of years ago, I was working in a studio where multiple smaller systems were needed to power various screens located on set. These systems needed to be extremely quiet, small, and powerful enough to play video at 1080p. We decided on the Lenovo Q150, a handy little Atom-powered system capable of handling just about anything we threw at it. We were even able to use one as a backup live video streaming solution.

Despite being great little systems, one accessory in particular caught my attention. The Lenovo Enhanced Multimedia Remote with keyboard allowed us to control various systems in an adjoining room from a device that weighed practically nothing and fit in one hand. These remotes allowed us the capability of solving issues in the studio without breaching the sound-proofed room or distracting the host to do so. In short, they were probably one of the most appreciated gadgets we’d come across, and they came with the computer.

Fast forward a couple of years. Lenovo has taken into consideration all the feedback it received from its users and created something even better. The N5902 is the next generation, and it has a number of remarkable improvements on what was already a useful device.

What is the Lenovo N5902 Multimedia Remote with Keyboard?

Simply put, the N5902 is a second-generation all-in one remote that extends your ability to control your PC or game console without having to rely on a flat surface, bulky keyboard, or clutter-inducing cables to do so. Your keyboard and mouse are both infused in a single handheld controller that can be used from 30 feet away. A small (very small) USB receiver plugs into your PC, PS3, Xbox, or Wii, and starts working as soon as you turn it in.

In fact, this little device works natively on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. I even got it to work on my wife’s Mac mini, though keep in mind that it’s a Windows keyboard natively, so some key bindings may be different.

The mouse component of the N5902 is a combination of a ribbed scroll bar and a tiny optical touch pad that you move your finger across to control the cursor. A left and right button set is placed under the keyboard component to allow you more functionality.

How Well Does it Work, Really?

First, this is not intended to replace your keyboard and mouse on a primary machine. You’re not going to enjoy this product if you use it to browse the Web all day or attempt to accomplish a day’s worth of tasks. The Lenovo N5902 shines most when using on a media center PC or game console. It’s intended to give you a quick and easy keyboard with full functionality (including a dedicated Ctrl+Alt+Del key) to allow you to check the Web, navigate Windows, and get those quick and dirty functions done without having to reach for a bulky keyboard and mouse combination.

Using the Lenovo 5902 is fairly natural. My wife, who is a much pickier user than I am, was able to pick up on it and start using it almost immediately. It took a moment to adjust to the way the cursor control worked, though after a minute or two, it’s a fairly natural control mechanism. You can opt to click the touch button or the dedicated left-click button to select an on-screen window or option.

The backlit keys are a big help in a dark media room. With the lights totally out, navigating the Lenovo N5902 was easy and intuitive. For any multimedia PC controller to be worth the price of admission these days, backlit keys are a must. This begs the question of why so many manufacturers that deal in multimedia controllers and remotes don’t add this feature on their hardware.

What Can I Use it With?

The drivers the N5902 uses are native to Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. You can also use it on the PS3, Wii, and Xbox without having to deal with any setup hassle. While it isn’t built for the Mac, it worked just fine after I set it up through the setup process in OS X.

The entire time of setup on Windows is literally a few seconds. All it needs to do is identify the keyboard (which can be pretty instant on most machines) and activate it. Once that’s done, you’re ready to start controlling your PC from across the room.

Final Thoughts

I’m a huge fan of this little gadget, and not just for its multimedia applications. The media keys available along the top of the built-in keyboard make it easy to control media players from across the room. When I’m cleaning the apartment, this little device can go around the house with me, making switching between songs or pausing a movie as easy as hitting a single key.

Between you and me, I’ve even used it to play a practical joke on the missus from the other room. This is a fun little gadget, and one that can be used in a variety of settings from professional to casual and all points in-between. Professionals will love the sleek look and seamless integration, home users will appreciate its space-saving profile, and geeks will love its ability to connect you with your PC from across the room. In my mind, that’s a win-win.

You can find the N5902 at your favorite electronics retailer at a suggested retail price of $79.99.

How to Control a PC or Game Console with a Single Remote

Some would call it an unhealthy obsession – I would prefer to refer to it as a hobby.

LEGO isn’t for some. Those who cannot accommodate bricks must continue to put up with people like me (who, by the way, are not responsible for gigantic minifigs washing up on Florida shorelines). We need some kind of creative outlet, and at least this activity is more interactive than outmoded options like zoning out in front of a radio or television for hours on end.

Building LEGO sets has been my zen. Combine that with the crazy possibility of someone eventually producing an Apple Store model constructed entirely of… it happened. Oliver Burridge from our community asked if he could create a “Day in the Life of Chris Pirillo” for our YouTube Channel and I happily agreed to support the endeavor. Part of the “plot” will be spent within an Apple Store, apparently – and this scene has already been recorded:

I believe that LEGO is increasingly embracing the idea of allowing their community to control the destiny of various sets. In light of the LEGO trademark falling to the wayside, perhaps we’ll see better pricing for these custom constructions?

So, maybe we’ll inspire a passionate brick enthusiast to upload a DesignByMe set for any of us not-so-Master builders to buy one day?

I’m running out of room around here; without a dedicated LEGO space somewhere in my home, I’ll soon be swimming in bricks (and they’re quite sharp around the edges if you hadn’t already noticed). Perhaps it’s better that I stick to collecting minifigs and disassembling the sets once I’ve done ‘em?

Is There a LEGO Apple Store Set? Kinda.

After watching Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich / Samsung Galaxy Nexus launch live on YouTube last night (and providing running commentary in my Google+ Profile all the while), I’ve come to one conclusion: Android 4.0 (“Ice Cream Sandwich”) will be awesome. But, to that end, did anybody really expect it to be worse than what we’ve seen before? That would have been more of a surprise.

With any luck, carriers will push out the long-awaited OS update to capable devices within a short matter of time (and short, in this case, is extremely relative). It’s difficult enough for the average consumer to keep up with the cavalcade of new Android devices that seem to drop every other month; why must carriers further burden a customer’s decision-making process with a questionable software update calendar / no OTA updates?

So, yes – the bottom line? If you can get a phone with Ice Cream Sandwich on it today, you should absolutely do it. With it will come countless new features and refinements:

• Easier way to manage your widgets
• iOS-like folder creation
• The ability to add “people” directly to your home screen
• A Calendar app that enables you to zoom in to reveal appointment details
• “Visual Voicemail” with an audio-speed slider
• Easy screen shots (finally)!
• Closer-to-real-time voice dictation feedback
• Get up to 16 “tabs” in Browser.
• Deep-level data usage charts
• Android Beam – allowing you to share data with another Android Beam user

And Dan Morrill further goes on to highlight Upload Settings, Disabling Apps, Camera Controls, Improved Download Manager, Support for Encryption for Phones, and Audio Effects. Is that all? Hardly.

I hesitate to speak too much about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus – since I haven’t touched it or tried it, and I’d be hesitant to trust opinions from those who also have not – but the screen sounds delicious: 1280×720 resolution at 316ppi! Compare that to the iPhone 4/4S’s resolution of 960×640 at 326ppi. To quote Yoda: “Size matters not.” He never said anything about resolution or pixels per inch, though – and that’s what really matters with these pocket computers. That’s right: I called ‘em pocket computers. If you’ve got a problem with that, take it up with the definition of “computer” and “pocket.”

For a healthy marriage, hardware and software must work together seamlessly. Theoretically, this is possible. What works well for some seemingly does not for others. Consider this thorn from ThisIsMyNext (don’t shoot the messenger with bigotry):

As to overall performance, we saw a good deal of stutter in the Galaxy Nexus before us. Taps were not always recognized and there were occasional delays in performing an instruction, though in Google’s defense, it was a phone fully loaded with running tasks and the software is being continually improved and optimized (i.e. it’s not yet fully baked). That having been said, it unfortunately remains the case that Android isn’t as swift and responsive as iOS or Windows Phone (or even MeeGo Harmattan on the N9). Or at least it wasn’t on the demo phone we got a look at. The subtle, pervasive lag that has characterized the Android UI since it inception is still there, which is not a heartening thing to hear when you’re talking about a super-powered dual-core device like the Galaxy Nexus.

Let’s hope they keep tweaking it to perfection. This industry needs healthy competition, and I’m happy to see Ice Cream Sandwich looking like a more-than-viable option.

Android 4.0 – Ice Cream Sandwich: Hot or Cold?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nuance. All opinions are 100% mine.

Did you know that software is available that will enable you to not only dictate to your Mac, but control it with the sound of your voice? Imagine sitting back in your chair and saying exactly what you want your computer to do, and having it carry out those commands without needing to touch a keyboard or mouse. Dictating email, articles, and other lengthy documents can also be done with the same software.

Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5 is the latest in a long line of speech recognition software that is aimed at making your life a little easier through giving your hands a break and allowing you to turn ideas into written records without the burdens of typing and constant use of the mouse.

So, what makes Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5 really different? Dragon speech recognition software has been around for many years, and the folks at Nuance have mastered the art of creating learning software. After a few minutes of teaching Dragon Dictate your voice, it will learn and adapt its recognition algorithms to meet your own speech patterns. The more you use Dragon Dictate for Mac, the more accurate it will become.

As you speak, a small window may offer alternative wording suggestions in cases where common phrases and similar-sounding words may be easily confused. If what’s jotted on the document doesn’t match what you intended, you can easily swap out the phrasing with a simple command. At any time during dictation, you can make adjustments and corrections, change your wording, and issue program commands such as save and close.

You can also use your iPhone or iPod touch as a microphone, allowing you the freedom to walk around without having to stop what you’re doing. The Dragon Remote Microphone app is available on the iTunes App Store absolutely free, and allows you to dictate to your computer from virtually anywhere within Wi-Fi range.

What’s really cool about Dragon Dictate for Mac is how easy it is to get up and running. Within minutes, you could be controlling your Mac with commands like “Reply to this message” or “Open Safari” or “Jump to Google.” All it takes is a few simple training exercises and Dragon is ready to go.

Another cool feature introduced with Dragon Dictate 2.5 for Mac is social integration. With a simple command, you can post directly to Facebook and Twitter without having to touch a mouse or launch a special program. This makes updating your status really easy.

Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5 is also completely compatible with Microsoft Word 2011 as well as many Apple applications including Mail, iCal, iChat, TextEdit, Pages, Safari, and more. Pretty much anything you need to get done on the Mac can be done, or at least made easier, with Dragon.

If you purchase the retail box, you’ll get a high-quality USB headset that works perfectly with the software. Want to save some money, or already own a quality USB headset? You can go with a direct download copy for less and get started almost right away. There is also a wireless option that includes a Bluetooth headset. Students and teachers can also pick up Dragon Dictate at a discount.

The Dragon family of voice recognition software has been around for almost 30 years, and it keeps getting better.

Over all, Dragon Dictate 2.5 for Mac is perhaps the most powerful voice-recognition and control systems currently available on the market. With Dragon Dictate 2.5 for Mac, you can put your fingers to rest and focus on content, rather than typing.

What’s Cool and Useful About Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5

This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Samsung; the opinions represented are 100% my own.

Being away from the warm glow of your computer’s monitor is typically considered roughing it for some geeks. A night without some time in front of the computer can feel a lot like camping. So, how do you stay connected when venturing out into the wild world, far away from the comfort of your desk?

A recent video released by Samsung demonstrates how you can enjoy the many conveniences of a larger desktop computer with a device as light and compact as the new Galaxy Tab 10.1. Online shopping, staying in touch with friends and loved ones, playing games, and even checking your stocks are all made possible without the need of a bulky laptop or desktop computer.

The new Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is pretty impressive. Both thinner and lighter than the iPad 2, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 takes full advantage of everything Android (3.1 Honeycomb) has to offer. This boost to mobility doesn’t come with a sacrifice in screen real estate either; the 10.1″ WXGA display offers a full 1280 x 800 pixels, making it both spacious and detailed.

The UI has also undergone some refurbishment from previous versions of the Galaxy Tab series. For example, Live panel gives users quick access to their favorite apps and features from the home screen. In addition, mini apps can be applied that give basic functionality to the user without the hassle of having to launch a full-fledged application. Couple that with some impressive browsing and media management tools, and you’ve got a solid tablet that’s easy to travel with.

Thanks to 3G and 4G technology now being made available built-in with tablets, such as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 from Samsung, you can essentially carry all of your computing needs in a single device that takes up less space than a small textbook without having to be tethered down to a local network.

With a larger screen and more processing power than even the most powerful smartphones, having a tablet with you can certainly alleviate many of the discomforts of being away from your desk, even if you aren’t roughing it deep in the woods or working on a dude ranch.

How to Rough It with Technology

I wanted an iPad before I knew I wanted an iPad. It was probably the first product from Apple that I purchased without hesitation – not because I needed one, but because the iPad was so radically different from anything else in the industry that I was drawn to it (magnetically, perhaps).

Years later, I’m sitting on top of hundreds of installed iPad applications. I get many of them for free not because I’m reviewing them, but because I watch for iPad software discounts to float across my social media radar. I tend to share and reshare the good ones, too.

The community constantly asks me: what are my favorite iPad apps? I don’t even know if I have a favorite iPad app (singular)! There are just so many of ‘em out there, and each one of those applications does a great job independent of any other iPad app. That’s what makes the iPad work, ya know? It’s not some kind of complex computing tool that allows you to see dozens of open programs at any given time. No, instead, the iPad excels at providing a near-perfect platform for today’s various needs.

Each iPad app has the potential of being my favorite app – depending on what it is that I’m wanting to do. In many cases, I can likely find an app that will do what I’d like to have done. Doesn’t that make it a favorite for the task at hand? I believe so.

Mind you, I don’t use every single iPad app every single day. I don’t even use a single app regularly (beyond the web browser and email clients)! I know: you still want to know what I’m using on my own iPad this year. It’s for that reason we decided to do a live walkthrough via YouTube earlier this week (in conjunction with an iPad 2 giveaway, courtesy of a sponsor):

By the time the third-generation iPad rolls off the assembly lines and into my hands, I’m sure I’ll have hundreds more apps to show you. Maybe we’ll do this again next year? If you have the patience to sit through this hour-long video iPad tour and you noticed I have a few missing apps, please make your Favorite recommendations in the comments thread.

Favorite iPad Apps?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Parallels. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you’ve recently made the switch from a PC to a Mac, are considering making the switch, or if you took the leap a long time ago and have been searching for the best way to run those Windows-only programs without having to leave OS X to do so, you’ve probably heard about Parallels. Did you know that Parallels Desktop 7 is coming out? With more features than ever, now is a great time to consider Parallels as a great alternative to running Boot Camp and losing access to your OS X apps while working on Windows programs. With Parallels, you can do both, and the new features in Parallels 7 make it even easier than before.

OS X Lion Integration

You may already be a Parallels user. If so, you’re probably wondering why you should upgrade when Parallels 6 is already capable of handling quite a bit. Well, if you’ve recently upgraded to OS X Lion, you’ll be happy to know that Parallels Desktop 7 is built to integrate seamlessly with Lion’s new features. Full screen, Mission Control, Launchpad, and more are made available to Parallels 7 users that take advantage of Coherence mode. In addition, app developers can run another instance of OS X Lion inside of OS X Lion for testing without risking any damage to your primary files and/or applications.

While Parallels Desktop 7 has been tweaked to integrate into Mac OS X Lion, it will run just fine on Leopard and Snow Leopard, as well.

Speed Improvements

One of the biggest time spenders when loading Windows in a virtual machine is the time it takes to boot. Parallels Desktop 7 has improved boot time by up to 60 percent compared to Parallels Desktop 6. This faster boot time is very noticeable, especially when you’re in a hurry to get a specific task done.

In addition, some tweaks have been made to how Parallels Desktop 7 handles 3D and graphics. This means that programs that work with 3D environments, like games, could see a performance increase of up to 45% above the already fast speeds of Parallels Desktop 6. Part of the reason for this increase is based in the 64-bit Cocoa code that makes up the entire user interface.

Usability

The overall look and feel of Parallels has been modified to enhance the user experience and make everything more intuitive. Many of these changes can be seen in how Parallels Desktop 7 takes advantage of the latest features of OS X Lion. The goal of Parallels (especially in Coherence mode) is to make the entire experience as seamless as possible. By allowing your Windows programs to run side-by-side with OS X applications, Parallels enables you to enjoy both operating systems inside of one consistent experience.

The Parallels Wizard makes the creation and management of new virtual machines easier than previous version. I say this because having the ability to buy and download Windows 7 within the wizard and install everything in one single process instead of having to run to the store means you can be up and running faster and easier than before. Like previous Parallels versions, you can also create virtual machines with Ubuntu, Chromium OS, and other Linux operating systems without any technical know-how required.

Shared Resources

In addition to sharing your hard drive, CPU, and RAM, Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac enables you to access your iSight and FaceTime HD webcams across both operating systems. In addition, you can still access the virtual machine’s start menu, documents folder, and hard drive within OS X. Copy and paste is synced as well, allowing you to take a snippet of information from Mac OS X to Windows without having to go through any additional hassle between the two.

Mobile

This is probably my favorite feature of Parallels Desktop 7. Using the Parallels Mobile app, I can control my virtual machines and the entire Mac from an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. For less than the price of a burger and fries, I can essentially run Windows (and Ubuntu, Chromium OS, etc.) on my mobile device. I can even play back audio and music files remotely and watch Flash video on my iPhone or iPad. With Parallels Mobile and Parallels Desktop 7, you can even copy and paste text directly from your mobile device to your virtual machine from anywhere.

Parallels Desktop 7 will be available on September 6, 2011 and is expected to have a retail price of $79.99 with an upgrade price for existing users of $49.99.

All right, I’ve explained why I’m excited about the new version of Parallels, but there’s more. The folks over at Parallels would like to offer you a chance to get a MacBook Air, absolutely free. All you need to do is watch for any tweets that go out on my primary Twitter account (@ChrisPirillo) between now and September 6, 2011. Each day, I’ll be sending a different tweet out about Parallels Desktop 7 and when you retweet them, you’ll be entered to win. Good luck!

What’s New in Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of MobiTV. All opinions are 100% mine.

We’ve all had it happen at one point or another. There’s something you really wanted to watch on TV, but you’re either on the road or someone else is hogging the set in your living room. Do you wait patiently until you can grab the remote control and relax, or do you take matters into your own hands with a mobile solution?

Enter the new AT&T U-verse Live TV app for iOS. This app actually delivers live television to your mobile device using your 3G or wireless Internet connection. In a method similar to your home DVR, the AT&T U-verse Live TV app delivers both live and on-demand programming to your mobile device with great clarity and very little, if any, buffering issues.

AT&T U-verse Live TV is a free app, but in order to take advantage of the service you will need to sign up for a monthly recurring $11.99 fee. When compared to some comparable services that deliver television shows to mobile platforms, this rate is very reasonable, especially when you consider that almost none of them deliver live television from popular cable channels including Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, ESPN Mobile, Disney, ABC, and more. In terms of value for your investment, it would be hard to find something that delivers as much content on these platforms.

New channels are constantly being added to the app, which currently supports a wide range of live and on-demand channels. Here are some of the channels currently supported on the iPhone:

Live Channels:
FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, ESPN Mobile TV (featuring live MLB, NBA and college sports), Disney Channel, ABC Mobile, NBC Sports Mobile, FOX Business, ABC News Now, Saturday Morning TV, Comedy Time, and Ataku.

Full-Episode, On-Demand Channels:
ABC Mobile, NBC, FOX News, FOX Business, Comedy Central, Spike, MTV, VH1, CMT, MTV Tr3s , NBC News Mobile, ABC News Now, ESPN On Demand, NBC Sports Mobile, FOX Sports, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon en Español, Teen Nick, and ABC Family.

10 music video channels are also included and made available to AT&T U-verse Live TV app subscribers. Channel availability varies per device.

Just because this app is brought to you by AT&T U-verse doesn’t mean you have to be an AT&T iPhone user to take advantage of this service. Both AT&T and Verizon iPhones and iPads will work perfectly with this app. In fact, and iPod touch, with no direct ties to any carrier, can run AT&T U-verse Live TV as well.

There are a couple of points to keep in mind. First, you’re going to want to use this app on a Wi-Fi connection if at all possible unless you have an unlimited data plan. Video, no matter how well compressed, is bandwidth intensive and can eat away at your monthly cap very quickly. You’ll also want to be aware that the monthly fee is automatically recurring, and in order to cancel your commitment, you will need to do so through the app itself.

Over all, AT&T U-verse Live TV is a great way to stay connected to major news channels in times of emergency when you don’t have power, keep kids occupied with their favorite shows in the car, and otherwise free you from having to be on the couch while you enjoy your favorite television programs. This could be a very popular service for people working out at the gym who want something to take their mind off their 10-mile hike on the treadmill.

How to Watch Live TV on the iPhone

LED monitors and televisions are beginning to become cheaper and more budget-friendly. They typically promote much higher contrast ratios and lower power use than traditionally lit LCD screens, but they may not be the best option for video editors. Why is that? What is the difference between LCD and LED screens?

The difference between the two technologies actually lies in the way the screen is backlit. All LED screens are LCDs, but not all LCDs utilize LED technology. With an LED-based monitor, backlighting is spread across a grid of tiny lights (LEDs) that is spread from one side of the screen to the other. Unlike the fluorescent lighting behind a common LCD screen, LEDs cover the entire space in order to provide even lighting from end to end. The extra contrast comes from the ability the monitor has to detect areas that are intentionally darker and dim or turn off the tiny LED light directly behind the dark points. This creates what’s called a dynamic contrast which can create much darker blacks as the screen is essentially off in areas that are intentionally dark. This can become a problem in cases where you have a starry night sky and tiny white points of light need to be lit brightly while the surrounding mass is pitch black. Because of this, the stars may appear dimmer than they normally would as the tiny light is dimmed to compensate for the majority of the space being black.

Another advantage to owning an LED-based television or monitor is the ability for the screen to have wider viewing angles. With normal LCDs, you will notice a much sharper change in contrast and clarity as you look to each side. LEDs still drop off as you move to each side, but the change is noticeably different. This is due in part to the complete coverage of backlighting that isn’t present through fluorescent lighting schemes.

The typical lifespan of an LCD monitor or television before the lights start to dim and go out is 4-6 years. LED technologies last quite a bit longer, giving an expected 100,000 hours of light versus 60,000 hours provided by fluorescent lighting.

For the majority of users, an LED screen is a brilliant solution to that offers higher contrast ratios with a significantly lower energy usage. If you do movie editing or a lot of color-accurate detailed work, you may prefer to go with a more traditional LCD monitor.

What is the Difference between LCD and LED Screens?

Video tutorials are very popular on YouTube due in part to how much easier it is to learn something if you actually see it done in front of you rather than just reading about it somewhere. Some tutorial videos absolutely shine above others because they approach the process in a way that is slightly more refined than others. Here are some tips on how to make a great video tutorial:

Identify a Problem Early in the Video

In order to keep the attention and help your audience determine if they’re watching something that can be of use to them, it’s important to identify a problem your tutorial helps solve early in the video. In some ways, this could be thought of as a tease – and rightfully so. Information-heavy shows (especially in the tech realm) often start by asking the audience a few questions in a way that identifies a problem and tells them that the solution is ahead. Problems can range from a lack of understanding about a subject to overcoming difficult obstacles during a complex process.

Plan Ahead

Doing a tutorial on the fly is extremely difficult and rarely a good idea. Make sure you know exactly what you need to say before you hit the record button. Having a set of bullet points written out and displayed in a place off-camera is a great way to keep your speech and your thought process on track while walking people through the process.

If possible, you can even script everything out word-for-word and use it as a script. This is a great way to combat frequent uses of “umms” and “ahhs” while speaking.

Use Editing Tools to Enhance the Experience

When editing your video, you should consider utilizing some of the tools of the editor to help you when need be. Clipping out spots where you get confused or need to repeat a step, speeding up the video through long and otherwise boring tasks, and adding descriptive text to the video can help enhance the experience for the user and make your video more entertaining to watch.

In the video below, Oliver from TheGeeksPlace goes over the process of speeding up segments of video for this very purpose:

Name your Video Appropriately

Naming your video is one of the most important factors in bringing people to your page. If you give it a gimmicky name that really doesn’t have much to do with the problem or solution presented in the video, the chances of someone finding it in a search are slim. Keep the title simple, and directly related to the most important part of the content.

Consider what people are searching for when you title your video. If you’re making a tutorial on cooking spaghetti, a title like “How to Make Spaghetti” has a much bigger chance of being noticed than simply calling it “Spaghetti”.

Speak Clearly

Nothing will kill an otherwise useful tutorial faster than inaudible or difficult to understand speech. If the audience can’t hear or comprehend what you’re saying, they’re far more likely to turn your video off and move on to the next than rewind the clip over and over to try to understand what you said.

Take your time and speak clearly. While it’s a good idea to be quick and to the point, it’s never advisable to rush through a tutorial at a pace that makes it hard to understand. This information is generally better received at a steady pace than rushed, anyway.

Video tutorials are extremely helpful tools for your community. They can draw new people in to the rest of your content and provide a useful service as well. If they’re done right, they can provide a great incentive for viewers to take a look at your blog, social media pages, and other content. In addition, adding them to your blog posts can do a lot to help the overall value of your content.

How to Make a Great Video Tutorial

Have you ever been watching television and suddenly the commercials come on and you’re jostled by the booming voice of someone trying to sell you something? Why do commercials sound louder than the television show?

Advertising is typically talking head (one or two speakers and not a lot of music or sound effects) content that benefits from audio compression. Bringing everything to an even tone allows to speaker to sound consistent and avoids imbalance between two speakers that use their voice at varying volumes.

Audio present during television shows has more dynamic range, and rightfully so. Dramatic pauses, sudden surprises, and hushed whispers all need to have varying volume levels in order to draw the viewer in and keep their attention. If audio is compressed during a dramatic show, it’s done at varying degrees.

The audio levels between a television show and a commercial are actually matched as they’re sent over the airwaves (or cables) to your television. This is part of a limit required by law (at least in the US). The change in volume you notice is actually a perceived volume difference because where a television show saves the higher volume levels for action scenes, the commercial maintains that level constantly throughout the program. It does this thanks in part to compression present in the audio channel.

Here’s where your television comes in. Automatic gain controls and other nifty little tools allow the television to unintentionally do the advertiser’s work for them by automatically boosting a signal to a high point if it appears to be hitting a ceiling below the expected line. Your television will actually take audio levels that are set to the average amount of the television show and boost it all by itself.

While the FCC is flooded with complains from people claiming that the network is boosting commercials intentionally, this is actually the result of some clever engineering by the makers of the commercial and an unfortunate side effect of television technology intended to make everything sound even.

Why are Commercials Louder than the Television Show?

Composite and component video cables are far too often confused with one-another due in part to their slightly similar name and purpose. LockerGnome’s Brandon Wirtz sat down with me recently too break through the confusion and explain exactly how different they really are.

Composite cables typically have a yellow RCA connector on either end that carries a video signal from source to destination with a single connection. Unlike component, the composite cable carries a single line-level signal that contains all of the video information in one go. You can often see composite cables paired with audio cables as they don’t carry an audio signal.

The signal composite cables carry is a combination of three source signals that are commonly referred to as YUV (or Y’UV). Y stands for luminance which carries the brightness settings as well as the information needed to synchronize the picture. For monochrome displays, this is all that’s really required. The U and V carry hue and saturation information which defines the color of the image displayed on the screen. The maximum resolution on a composite cable is 480i NTSC, which is commonly referred to as a standard definition image.

Component cables carry a significantly higher resolution image allowing for 1080p signals to run across them without issues. The types of signals they carry can vary depending on the scheme used by the equipment. For example, RGB connections refer to red, green, and blue signals being sent through the three associated wires that make up the component cable. In some cases, the green wire carries brightness information (Y) while the red and blue wires share the responsibilities of transferring the color information. This scheme is known as YPbPr and is commonly used in consumer electronics today.

To simplify things, one yellow connection is composite and three colored connections is component. Neither of them carry audio signals and you may see an audio cable attached in some cases for the purpose of saving you from having to run an extra cable from point A to point B. Component is capable of higher resolutions, and is used more widely today as most televisions sold are HD capable.

What is the Difference Between Composite and Component Video?

How can you tell if the plug (or port) on the end of your cable is male or female? While it may seem like common sense in most cases, some cables can pose a bit of a challenge when determining the sex.

The tradition of labeling connectors either male or female exists throughout the electronics and mechanics industries dating back to the early days. Essentially it describes a mated pair of cables by how the corresponding parts fit together. The male cable’s active component is generally shaped as a protrusion that is coupled with a matching female port that the male plug inserts into.

In the video below, LockerGnome’s Brandon Wirtz instructs me on the finer points of determining the gender of various cables:

Based on some of the information presented by Brandon, not every male cable is easily identified as such. Sometimes, the basic shape of the connector itself can be deceiving. The important part is the functional component that actually sends an electronic signal from one component to the other. All a cable needs to be identified as male is a single tiny wire that carries the current protruding in a way that allows it to fit securely on its female counterpart.

In many cases, the sex of the cable can tell you more than just what it needs to be paired with. In the case of electrical cables, the gender of a given cable or port is determined by guidelines that help maintain a directional transfer of energy between one component and another. Should two power sources be connected to one-another improperly, the result could be hazardous.

For cables that simply transfer data from one point to another, gender changers can help in situations where you have two male ends and you need to form a connection between them. In this case, a male to female gender changing adapter could come in handy. These are usually easy to find at electronics stores and are commonly used with audio, video, and low-powered data components.

It’s not uncommon to see a cable that is both male and female. The termination at one end being male and the other female. As mentioned before, this is most common with electrical cables in order to avoid the possibility of an accidental connection between two sources. A computer or monitor power cable would be an example of this. Another common example can be found in extension cables that are intended to add to the possible length between devices.

Determining the gender of your cable is important when you’re undertaking a project that requires multiple connections between devices and can help you avoid embarrassing repeated trips to the electronics store to find the right connector for the job.

How to Determine the Gender of your Cable

Taking one HDMI signal and bringing it to two screens sounds difficult, but it isn’t very hard if you have the right splitter. Sewell makes a self-powered 2 port HDMI splitter that allows you to successfully split a HDCP signal and send it to two destinations, simultaneously.

The difference between a splitter and a switch in relation to HDMI is based on whether you’re using it to split an output or double an input. A switch will allow you to go between two sources going in to a single destination, as mentioned in a previous blog post. A splitter, on the other hand, gives you the ability to take a single source and feed it to two destinations. The 2 port HDMI splitter made by Sewell is HDMI standard 1.3b compliant and capable of feeding both audio and video of up to 1440p resolution to two places.

Because the hub is powered by its own 5v power supply, the standard 16 meter HDMI cable barrier between source and destination is thrown out the window. Sewell’s site features a video boasting a 100-foot range from source to screen while feeding the same HD signal to another screen at 56 feet, without the aid of a separate booster. Whether or not this is a typical occurrence is yet to be seen.

The metal enclosure appears solid enough to withstand anything normal home usage would entail. In professional environments where use and abuse are part of everyday life, this may work in a fix, but a more professional-grade solution would be in order.

Because the splitter is HDCP compliant, both devices need to be HDCP compliant as well in order for it to work. Reviews at Amazon have indicated that standard definition signals require a little tweaking on the monitors to get right. This splitter can carry a 3D signal up to 24 FPS, so it doesn’t work with all 3D content.

Overall, the Sewell 2 Port 1×2 Powered HDMI Splitter is a standard HDMI splitter at a reasonable price. Available for under $25, it should be capable of filling the needs of any home user that would like to have two televisions carry the same audio and video. If you’re looking for something a bit bigger, you might want to look in to their 1×4 model.

Sewell 2 Port 1×2 Powered HDMI Splitter Review

OS X Lion came with quite a few changes that adjusted the visual aspects of the operating system including how its built-in Mail client looks and feels. While their attempt to make the client look more like it does on the iPad, many users (including myself) have grown fond of a more traditional experience. The good news is that you can adjust the settings of the mail client so it better meets your needs.

First and foremost, the animations are a bit much. While I can understand the need to add a little gloss to the product to make it seem shiny and new – this change can be pretty annoying. As a result, I posed the question to the community of how to turn these things off. Thankfully, Adrian and @_Motor12345_ responded and a write-up on how to turn these distracting animations off was posted on LockerGnome.

Animations aside, you’re probably reading this post because you’re interested in changing the layout the Mail client back to how it appeared in previous versions of OS X. All you need to do here is hold command and , which brings up the preferences pane for Mail. At this point, you just need to click on the Viewing icon on the top of that window and select the Use Classic Layout option. This will take away the left-right view made popular by the iPad client and bring back a more traditional layout.

If you like the new look and just want to add photos or an indication as to whether or not a message was sent directly to you or as a CC to the sidebar, those options are available just below classic layout in that menu.

If you’re wondering where the sidebar went, all you need to do is find the Show icon on the far-left portion of the toolbar.

Hiding your Favorites Bar or Toolbar can be done by selecting these options through the View menu located on menu at the top of your screen.

If you have any tips or tricks in relation to OS X Lion’s Mail client, please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know.

How to Change the Look of the Mail App on OS X Lion