Monday, May 30, 2011

Chronolapse Creates Time Lapse Videos Using Your Screen or Webcam [Downloads]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5806458/chronolapse-creates-time-lapse-videos-using-your-screen-or-webcam

Chronolapse Creates Time Lapse Videos Using Your Screen or Webcam Windows: If you've ever watched a tutorial or walk-through that's been sped up, or a minutes-long video that seems to span hours or days, you've seen a time lapse video. They look great, and while they're usually created by stitching together hundreds or thousands of snapshots, Chronolapse is an app that makes it easy.

Chronolapse can help you create time lapses and stop motion videos using images taken periodically from your screen, or snapshots from your webcam, or both. The app supports picture-in-picture videos, so you can show off your screen in your video, and then superimpose your webcam in a corner so your viewers can see what you were doing at the time.

The app also has support for dual monitors, and gives you tools to annotate your video with comments for your viewers to see while the scenes speed by. Even if you took your snapshots in a different application or on an actual camera, Chronolapse can help you stitch the images together into your final product. Best of all, it's completely free for personal and commercial use.

Chronolapse Creates Time Lapse Videos Using Your Screen or Webcam Chronolapse | Google Code via Keeyai


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Five Best Set-Top Boxes for On-Demand Video [Hive Five]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5806570/five-best-set+top-boxes-for-on+demand-video

Five Best Set-Top Boxes for On-Demand Video There are more ways than ever to watch television on your own terms. With the set-top boxes available today, you can save your favorite shows to watch later, stream them from the Internet, and even download video anytime. Here's a look at five of the most popular set-top boxes that cater to your entertainment needs.

On Thursday, we asked you which set-top boxes you preferred to give you the entertainment you want when you want it. You responded, and we tallied the votes. Now we're back to highlight the top five set-top boxes you nominated. Photo by Andrew Currie.

Boxee Box

Five Best Set-Top Boxes for On-Demand Video The Boxee Box is a set-top streamer built by D-Link that runs the Boxee media center software. The Boxee Box was a long time coming, but now that it's finally on store shelves, one can be yours for $199 at retail. The box has all of the same features the software does, and lets you stream shows from the web, from Boxee's own massive library of movies and TV shows, and access Netflix, Vudu, Pandora, Major League Baseball and National Hockey League games. If you're not sure whether you should buy a Boxee Box or build your own, check out our article on how to get the best Boxee Box for your money.


Xbox 360

Five Best Set-Top Boxes for On-Demand Video In addition to being an incredible gaming console, the Xbox 360 supports Windows Media Center as a media extender. If you're an Xbox Live subscriber, you can stream Netflix, Last.fm, ESPN, and Zune music. The Xbox 360 also makes a great DVD player, even though it doesn't have a Blu-Ray drive. For most people, the Xbox 360 may as well be a free media center they already have in their living room, or that they get with the purchase of their game console. Depending on the one you want, you can expect to spend $199 to $399 for an Xbox 360.


Roku

Five Best Set-Top Boxes for On-Demand Video Roku started out as just a set-top box that brought Netflix streaming off of your computer and to your television. The market's changed since then, but the Roku has grown with it. Roku boxes offer Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora Radio, Crackle, MOG, live sports, and hundreds of other channels and video podcasts on a tiny, easy-to-configure box. Roku's only weakness is that it can't stream video from shares on your home network. Roku boxes start at $59.99 and max out at $99.99.


Apple TV

Five Best Set-Top Boxes for On-Demand Video Apple's approach to the TV experience has been described as "magical" and "a hobby," depending on who's discussing it. The second-generation Apple TV retails for $99. It's the only device in the roundup that supports wireless audio and video streaming from other devices on your home network using Airplay, Apple's own protocol for it. The Apple TV also brings Netflix, Major League Baseball, YouTube videos, Flickr photos, and more to your HDTV. It also gives you access to video rentals and purchases from iTunes. Unfortunately, the Apple TV only supports 720p video, unlike some of the other devices in the roundup. Still, it's ideal if you live in a mostly-Apple household.


HTPC

Five Best Set-Top Boxes for On-Demand Video You also have the option of rolling your own home theater PC (HTPC) and configuring it to do whatever you choose. Building your own gives you the ability to run whatever set-top box software you choose, and frees you from the limitations of all of them if you build it to do what you need. Some of you suggested building an HTPC to install Boxee, others suggested installing XBMC. Whatever you choose to install, building your own HTPC is likely the most expensive of the options, but the price you pay gives you the most possible control over your media experience. If you want a primer on building your own, check out our guide to building a powerful HTPC for less than $500. Photo by Karen Dalziel.


Now that you've seen your favorites, it's time to vote on the winner.



What's the Best Set-Top Box for On-Demand Video?online surveys

This week's honorable mentions go to the PlayStation 3 and the Mac Mini. The PS3 gives you many – if not all – of the same media center features that the Xbox 360 has, with the benefit of a Blu-Ray player as well. The Mac Mini gives you a form-factor that fits well in an entertainment center, HDMI output, and all of the same features the Apple TV has with the bonus of being a real computer with a full OS you can tweak and modify.

Which one do you prefer? Did your favorite not get enough nominations? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.


You can follow Alan Henry, the author of this post, on Twitter.

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DIY Surveillance Camera Responds to Your Email with Photos [Video]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5806566/diy-surveillance-camera-responds-to-your-email-with-photos

Keeping an eye on your home when you're away doesn't have to be an expensive project. We've shown you several ways to turn your PC into a home surveillance system. If you don't want to leave a computer running or would just rather check in on your home periodically than monitor it with a live stream, here's how.

This surveillance camera looks like a Death Star and is designed to sit quietly somewhere in your home until you send it an email. When you do, the camera will take a snapshot and respond to your message with the image as an attachment. It's not a live security camera, but it does satisfy the occasional "I hope everything is okay back home" thought that comes up when you're away.

If you build it the way the project describes, you'll need a tiny JPEG camera, a microSD card for storage, a micro-controller and integrated circuit (get your soldering iron ready,) and a GSM modem so the end-product can communicate without relying on your home network. The breadboard layout and steps involved are laid out at the Google Code page for the project, including the source code required to make the camera work.

Sure, the builder could have used a Wi-Fi card instead of a GSM modem, and they could have chosen a different, more secretive form-factor, but that's a matter of taste. It might be a little overkill, but peace of mind when you're on vacation can be priceless. Have you built your own DIY home surveillance system? How did you go about it? Let us know in the comments.

DIY Surveillance Camera Responds to Your Email with Photos Surveillance Camera | Google Code


You can follow Alan Henry, the author of this post, on Twitter.

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The First of Lady Gaga's Polaroid Range is Up For Pre-Order [Photography]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5806694/the-first-of-lady-gagas-polaroid-range-is-up-for-pre+order

The First of Lady Gaga's Polaroid Range is Up For Pre-OrderClub-goers and porn-pushers are still awaiting the glasses Lady Gaga modelled at CES (and supposedly designed), but one product from her Grey Label collaboration with Polaroid is available for pre-ordering, for $170/£120.

Photos can be sent over Bluetooth from smartphones (excluding iPhones) and other devices, or over USB, and they'll be printed in under 45 seconds. If you happen to have an Android phone, you can download the free Android app and customize your Polaroid photo borders, or print with or without the white Polaroid border.

Available for pre-ordering from Firebox for £120 or $170 from Polaroid's own website, the GL10 printer will ship out in June. [Polaroid and Firebox]

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You Can Run Either MeeGo or Windows 7 On Asus' Eee PC X101 [Laptops]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5806697/you-can-run-either-meego-or-windows-7-on-asus-eee-pc-x101

You Can Run Either MeeGo or Windows 7 On Asus' Eee PC X101This is novel—Nokia may not have released any MeeGo phones in the end, but Asus' Eee PC X101 dualboots both Nokia and Intel's beleaguered MeeGo OS, or Windows 7. No ubiquitous Android or Linux here, folks.

Weighing 1kg, the X101 runs on Intel's 1.5GHz Oak Trail processor and has a GMA 600 graphics card. Measuring 10-inches, the laptop will also come in red and gold, and will cost $199 upwards. [NetbookNews via SlashGear]

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