Jake Ludington's Digital Lifestyle

Porting Fax Number to new Internet Fax Service

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:40:47 -0800

"I'm thinking about switching from my current Internet fax service to a new fax solution. Is there any way I can port my fax number the way I did with my cell phone when I switched from Verizon to AT&T?"

I mentioned switching from eFax to MyFax not too long ago. The one thing I couldn't do was take my eFax number with me. The rules for number portability with online fax services are different than the FCC number portability rules that apply to cell phones.

Remove Audio from Part of a Movie Maker Project

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:19:42 -0800

"I seem to be only able to have audio or video for the entire movie, no trouble editing just can't seem to have both. I would like to hear my daughter talking, but not all the time. Music as well."

You can segment your video so that audio only plays some of the time, but that requires splitting the video on the editing timeline each time you want to mute the audio to create clips from your larger video segment. Follow the steps here to customize your audio track.

Delete a Video Someone Else Uploaded to YouTube

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:31:15 -0800

"How can I delete a video if someone else uploaded it to YouTube?"

If someone else uploaded a video to YouTube, there is no way you can directly delete it. Only someone with access to the username and password for the YouTube account that uploaded the video can delete the video. If the video infringes on your copyright, if someone included you in their video without your permission, or if the video you want deleted violates the YouTube terms of service in some way, there are a few other actions you may be able to take.

Sound but No Video in Windows Media Player

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:02:41 -0800

"I downloaded an a movie and tried to play it in Windows Media Player. I can hear sound, but the picture is just black. Is there something wrong with the movie?"

Hearing sound from a video but not getting a picture is a fairly common occurrence. Playing a video file in Windows Media Player (or any other media player software) requires two software components called codecs. One codec handles the video portion of a movie file, the other codec handles the audio portion of the file. When your computer is only playing the audio, that means you have the required audio codec, but your computer lacks the necessary codec to make the file play properly. To solve this, you need to first identify what codec is required, then download and install the missing codec.

Can I use AVCHD-Lite with Windows Movie Maker?

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:24:05 -0800

"I am considering buying a Lumix DMC-FT1. I want to be able to still use Movie Maker on Windows. Will I be able to do so with AVCHD-Lite which the camera records video in?"

AVCHD-Lite, which is a subset of the AVCHD format popularized by hard disk camcorders from Sony, Panasonic, and Canon, uses h.264 video coupled with AAC audio for recording movies. Neither of these two codecs is directly supported by Windows Movie Maker in either Windows XP or Windows Vista. There are 3rd-party solutions that work with varying degrees of success in allowing you to work with AVCHD video in both versions of Movie Maker, but for the most part you are safer in assuming AVCHD and AVCHD-Lite will not work with either the XP or Vista versions of Movie Maker. If you are willing to convert the files to WMV or MPEG-2 before editing, you have more options, but generally speaking if you need to convert the AVCHD video before editing, you are better off starting with an editing program designed to edit AVCHD. You have several choices you can make as alternative editors.

How to Photograph Fireworks

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:20:37 -0800

Each year I get several questions about photographing fireworks around the 4th of July and again around New Year's. I always intend to post an article on shooting fireworks photos, but the holiday seems to conspire against me and I never get it done. This year, I've managed to pull it off. While I can't promise you'll be the Ansel Adams of fireworks after reading these tips, I'm confident you'll take better photos than you did last year.

Tom Bihn Bags - Made in Seattle

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:02:39 -0800

You can't have as many computers as I do and not care about how you transport them. I'm constantly on the look out for new bags I can use for various modes of transportation. I keep coming back to one company that's based here in Seattle, WA about a mile from my office. The quality is outstanding and the company is constantly innovating to make their bags just a little bit better with each cycle.

I first discovered Tom Bihn around the time of the first Mind Camp in Seattle and have been a huge fan ever since. They were a sponsor of my trip to DEMO China in 2006 and provided bags for one of the frequent giveaways I do for newsletter subscribers. But the real reason I'm a fan is because they make fabulous bags. Read on for more details and a video demo.

Put Music on Xbox 360 with no PC Network Connection

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:58:20 -0800

"I am trying to get music from my PC to my Xbox 360. The problem is that my PC is an older model so it doesn't have an Ethernet port. Is there any way to do this?"

There are basically two ways to get music files from your PC to your Xbox 360. Option one is to use your home network. If your computer doesn't have an Ethernet port, this option is out unless you feel comfortable adding an Ethernet port. Option two is to use physically transport the files from your PC to your Xbox 360 using some kind of storage media.

Digital Camera Document Scanning

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:11:57 -0800

"I almost never need to scan documents, so I don't own a scanner. Today I need to scan in something I signed, can I just use my digital camera as a document scanner since a scan is a picture?"

There have been many occasions where someone needed me to sign a document and fax it back when I was no where near a fax machine or a scanner. In those cases, my solution has always been to take a picture, clean it up with photo editing software and upload it using an online fax service like MyFax. So the answer to your question is yes, but I'd also like to share something I found that makes it easier.

How to Fix the iTunes library.itl file is locked Error

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:06:45 -0800

"I have a problem in opening my iTunes. When i double click the icon, a box written with "The iTunes library.itl file is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have write permission for this file" came out and it prevented me from running my iTunes. What should i do?"

Fortunately problems with opening iTunes don't happen very often, but when they do a feeling of panic can set in. What if you can't access your music. There are a number of potential causes for this error, which makes it hard to narrow down the exact cause. In most cases the solution is one of two things.

Sync Netbook files to Your Home PC

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:02:21 -0800

While I've seen a few people use a Netbook as their only computer, for the most part people are buying Netbooks as a second more portable companion to their primary PC. For me the HP Mini I own has become the computer that goes everywhere, while my full sized notebook is the one doing all the heavy lifting for video editing and entertainment.

When you use two computers regularly, you suddenly realize how vital it is to make sure all your files are properly synchronized. In the early stages of using multiple computers I was constantly using convoluted solutions to retrieve files I'd left behind.A bunch of different software companies are creating tools to address this very problem, but most of the Netbook makers haven't jumped on board to include this necessary file sync component. HP is bundling Syncables with their new Mini 110 line of Netbooks, which you can see demoed in this video.

Back-to-School Laptops Lineup from HP

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:34:03 -0800

One of my more recent projects has been work on creating a series of videos for HP, providing education about key product features. In the first of these videos, I walk through features of their back-to-school lineup of notebook computers, including the Pavilion dv6, Pavilion dv2 and Mini 110 line. I do not currently own any of these units, although I do have a dv2 on loan from HP and love it. I spent enough time with each of the three notebooks to feel confident in recommending all three for a number of use cases as back-to-school options for college students. I have previously purchased Pavilion dv5 and HP Mini 1000 line computers and use both almost every day. Watch the video for a quick rundown of notebook features.

Is Email a Viable Alternative to Faxing Documents?

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:08:59 -0800

"Instead of a fax machine, if a document is scanned and saved can it simply be attached to an email and sent rather than using an online fax service? Providing, of course, that you have the email address for the destination of the document."

Emailing documents is definitely a viable option for replacing a fax, although there may be reasons why you would want to fax a document instead.

How to Save Audio from PC to Cassette Tape

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:35:20 -0800

"Is there a way to record music from my computer's hard drive to an cassette tape deck?"

Recording music from your computer to a tape deck requires a few very simple steps. Aside from needing a cable with stereo RCA connections on one end and a mini-plug on the other end, all the software you need is probably on your computer.