My ASP.NET Blog

Review: TechSmith Camtasia Studio 6.01 January 06 2009 Ok. So for years now I’ve been using TechSmith’s Camtasia Studio. I’ve always thought their software was great to dictate and record the screen. Now they’ve gone completely silly. Oh, and I mean in a good way. About two weeks ago I asked their Evangelist Activities Coordinator, Kristina, about their support for editing MP4 files. It was quite simple. I just picked up a new Flip MinoHD camcorder and wanted to edit the clips I recorded in Camtasia by inserting screencasts. At the time, she told me I couldn’t do it. So, I converted my video using Adobe Premiere Pro. I got this bloated piece of junk out and into Camtasia. It ended up working for what I needed, but I was very disappointed. Earlier today, TechSmith announced Camtasia Studio 6.01 which provided this functionality. They’ve also cleared up 99% of the open issues in the product. I’ve never witnessed a video editing software that loads, captures, edits, and saves as fast as this. I’d give this 6 stars out of 5! Here is what is included in the Camtasia Studio 6.01 maintenance update: General: Added the ability to include and edit .MP4 files on the timeline. Added the ability to include and edit TechSmith video .SWF files on the timeline. Added a short-cut key for a "Play from beginning" control in the Editor preview window. Added a Help menu option in Editor to allow online registration of the product after it has been purchased. Added the Audio Setup dialog into Camtasia Recorder. Added an option to change the key frame interval for MP4 productions. Added an option for changing from a bit rate encoding setting for MP4 to a quality encoding setting for MP4 productions. Studio: Fixed an issue where Zoom and Pan keyframes would not be carried across splits or extended frames when placed just before the split. Fixed an issue with undo requiring multiple steps to undo a single step when using a hotkey for transitions or callouts. Fixed an issue in Record Camera and Voice Narration where a blank frame would added. Fixed an issue in iTunes production settings where some settings would get reset at the wrong time. Fixed an crash that would be caused by producing to the .MP4 format with a 2 frame per second video setting. Fixed an issue where a first frame file was being generated when it should not be. Fixed an issue where the preview window in Editor would not correctly display the project dimensions when switching between projects. Fixed an issue where the produce project location would update to be the same as a zipped project location after the project was exported. Fixed an issue with auto-save not working when moving a project from Windows XP to Windows Vista or from Windows Vista to Windows XP. Fixed an issue where audio production options would be available although there was no audio on the timeline. Fixed an issue that would cause an inaccurate message to appear when cancelling production while producing to the .MP4 file format. Fixed an issue that would cause the playback in the preview window to stop or start playing when toggling the Shrink TO Fit setting. Fixed an issue that would cause the Screencast.com plug-in to not allow a different log in to be used during the production process. Removed the verification field for e-mail address from the Screencast.com log in process. Added the system tray icon to be displayed during the upload process to Screencast.com. Fixed an issue when choosing a single video with TOC template would cause callouts not to be shown in the produced video. Fixed some indexing issues in the AVI file format that could cause unexpected editing results, incomplete productions or corrupt projects. Fixed a crash that could occur when entering a very large duration for Title Clips. Fixed an issue that would cause PiP clips to be placed at the start of the timeline instead of where it was supposed to be placed. Fixed an issue that was causing the first frame to not be displayed correctly on Screencast.com. Fixed an issue that would cause the last folder used would not be recalled and used correctly when uploading to Screencast.com. Fixed an issue that would cause cuts on the timeline to not behave as expected. Fixed an issue that would cause the preview window title to not update correctly after multiple undo steps. Fixed an issue that would cause the audio clips to stop responding to move commands on the timeline. Fixed an issue that would cause the Upload to FTP feature to not work as expected. Fixed an issue when making certain selections on the timeline would not respond correctly when trying to zoom in on the timeline view. Fixed an issue with the option to "Auto-extend last video frame" would not be properly enabled. Fixed an issue with an incorrect video frame being displayed after adding a clip to the timeline. Fixed an issue that would cause a crash when choosing to change the production dimensions when using the MP4/SWF format. Fixed some program crashes that were related to some conflicting files from other software vendors. Fixed an issue that would cause callouts to be placed in the improper locations in a produced file. PPT Add-in: Fixed an issue where you would receive an out of date .camproj file when recording from the PPT Add-in. Recorder: Fixed an issue with the Minimize to system tray setting did not react to the user setting. Fixed an issue where the ALT+SPACE+N shortcut would not minimize the Recorder application. Added the functionality of the Effects tool bar opening when using the ScreenDraw hotkeys. Fixed an issue with some Recorder effects not being able to be turned on while recording. Added an option to change whether a video is added to the timeline and clip bin when choosing to edit after recording. Fixed an issue with the Capture, Tools and Help menus being truncated when the Recorder is placed above the selected area during recording. Added some text for when the mouse is hovered over the Recorder system tray icon. Fixed an issue where the Tools > Options menu in Recorder would not update correctly based on the system dpi setting. Fixed an issue with the recorder UI repositioning unexpectedly when recording Microsoft Excel. Fixed an issue where Recorder would not properly record applications when the preview window is undocked. Fixed an issue that would cause the record settings to not be retained between instances of Recorder. [TOP]

Technology Highlights of 2008 December 31 2008 What fitting way to end 2008 than a list of my own version of technology-related highlights of 2008. Dell’s Acquisition of Equallogic – Ok. So technically this happened in November of 2007. But the acquisition wasn’t completed until early this year. After review of the devices, they are definitely a cost-effective NAS solution. What a great way to introduce storage solutions to small businesses. ASP.NET MVC – Again, this technically happened in 2007, but my first experiences really happened this year. What a great, clean way to build web applications. Flip MinoHD – When Pure Digital introduced the Flip Ultra, they introduced new competition to the digital media market. Now their pocket-sized camcorder sold over 1 million units during this year. Then, they introduced the device with a 1280x720 resolution. Silverlight 2.0 – One of the highlights of the year is the performance of Michael Phelps at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Millions around the world watched. In the US, NBC covered the Olympics on both TV and the web. Their web content was delivered using a custom beta (yes, I did say beta) version of Silverlight 2.0. A true success for the dev team at Microsoft. Android – Rumored for a couple of years, Google released their competitor to the iPhone called Android. Nope, it’s not a phone. Rather, it’s Google’s own mobile operating system. Several manufactures have signed on to build phones to support Android and it is assumed that this will only increase over the next year or two. Apple iPhone 3G and iPhone App Store – Apple continually releases “cool” technology. This year they’ve released a new version of their iPhone with enterprise technology built-in including Exchange 2007 ActiveSync support. They also made strong improvements in their iPhone App Store. Look for them to continue the coolness into 2009. Netflix Streaming – Move over Blu-ray. Netflix is taking control of the movie market. Adding to their Roku support, Netflix now offers streaming over several devices including the XBox 360, Tivo HD DVR, and a Blu-ray player from Samsung and one from LG. The “Netbook” – With Cloud computing becoming increasingly popular, end users needed a device to access web applications from all over. One of the downsides of traditional laptops have been their size and weight. The “netbook” is the answer. Many companies have made top selling devices including Acer (Acer Aspire One) and Dell (Dell Inspiron Mini). Social Computing Takes Off – Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace continue to grow. LinkedIn added applications. Sites like FriendFeed and TripIt take off. This will more than likely continue through next year and beyond. Nintendo Wii Fit, etc. – Nintendo is smart. Very smart. Finally someone out there realized that there happens to be a large crowd of mothers that aren’t gamers. So what does Nintendo do? They introduce Wii Fit. They also released Personal Trainer: Cooking to help capture that market. -- Honorable mentions – XBox 360 Experience, SlingBox improvements, SlySoft Blu-Ray/HD-DVD backup Preview of 2009 Here are a few things to watch for as they progress in 2009: Eye.Fi – Need to download photos from your camera and are too lazy to sit behind your PC? Would you like an “endless” SD card? Try this. It’s a wireless memory card. Plastic Logic – This is neat. An 8 1/2” x 11” tablet that will compete against the Amazon Kindle. It’s lighter. It’s bigger. They’re also rumored to be building a flexible digital screen. Internet Car Radio – Last.FM. Pandora. Just 2 of the Internet radio sites/applications available. It’s only a matter of time before they come to automobiles. We may be looking at the end of Sirius/XM. My Personal Technology Interests of 2008 Here are a few of the items that I purchased this past year. Light-O-Rama – I recently picked up a Light-O-Rama light controller to help me with my Christmas light display. Can’t wait to add onto it for next year. Keurig Platinum B70 (review) – What a great way to get a single cup of coffee. Especially when everyone in your household enjoys different flavors. The Keurig system also allows for teas, iced beverages, and even the ability to use your own coffee using the My K-Cup filter. Flip MinoHD – see above To all, have a safe, and happy new year and we’ll see you in 2009! [TOP]

MD5 Encryption Considered Harmful December 30 2008 A group of 7 researchers have been able to successfully hack an MD5 encrypted security certificate. While this is a critical security risk, most security certificates do not use MD5 encryption in their generating processes. The more common security certificate and digital signature encryption type is SHA-1. The full explanation of their findings can be read at http://www.win.tue.nl/hashclash/rogue-ca/. [TOP]

Review: Keurig Platinum B70 Home Brewing System December 29 2008 While we’re still around the holidays, I figured I’d continue my break from actual dev content and review one of the gifts I received this holiday season. My wife picked up a Keurig B70 (Platinum); a single cup coffee/tea brewing system made by Keurig, a subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee. I wasn’t sure what to expect being that I’m a huge Starbucks fan. However, I was quite surprised. Here’s my quick wish list for Keurig: Additional Brands such as… hmmm… Starbucks? Or Seattle’s Best? Currently, I’m stuck with Green Mountain brands only (or tastes generated or packaged by them). The Tassimo system actually has a better variety. My wife got the Keurig for a good reason though. If the single-cup phases out, the My K-Cup still allows this device to be functional. I’ve tried it with Starbucks already, and it’s not the same as a true K-Cup. I’m not the only one asking for this. Just check out My Starbucks Idea at http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaSearchResult?s=K-Cups. So the Platinum has an Iced feature much like the Flavia system. But unlike Flavia, there’s no Raspberry tea. I think they should re-invent the home brewing system idea. Why not have the ability to brew beverages such as raspberry tea, sweet tea, lemonade, etc? Also, why is the iced only in a 4oz size? Why not offer “plain” tea brands such as Lipton? My wife likes a nice cup of decaf, plain, black tea and that’s too difficult to find. While we are on the Flavia system, let’s talk about their Indulgence flavors. They have several chocolate drinks much like the Keurig. But, they also have a creamy cappuccino-like topping. Where is the creamy topping at Keurig? That would take this system to the next level too. Way out there – What about the system having 2 holsters for K-Cups? This would allow those of us that have 16oz-20oz cups to maximize our system. It would also allow for us to add in a chocolate drink and a creamy topping in the same cup without lifting the lid twice. This one isn’t as big of a deal, but you get the point. Here are my gripes: When the system is in auto-off mode, the system doesn’t recognize when the lid is opened and shut. So, if I put a K-Cup in the system and then realize I need to hit the power button on to wake it up from sleep mode, it won’t realize that I’m ready to brew. I have to lift the lid again and close it again. This is just an inconvenience. The Green Mountain hot chocolate is not that chocolaty regardless of the size. In fact, when I use a smaller size, not all of the powder is absorbed. Hopefully the other flavors are a bit stronger. Number 4 above is not that far fetched. I have a nice 20 oz cup that would fit under the Keurig. Why can’t I brew 20oz in one shot? Also, what about a 10oz iced beverage? I haven’t made an iced beverage yet, but I don’t see why I can’t make a larger iced beverage. The iced option should work for all sizes. Marketing, marketing, marketing. This holiday season, I saw these puppies for sale in every ad I picked up. Why is it so tough to find the coffees in the stores? I live in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I can find a few in Price Chopper, Shurfine, and Foodtown stores, but for any selection, I have to visit Macy’s, Kohl’s, or Bon-Ton. Also, where are the hot chocolate or teas in the stores? They’re no where to be found. I’m also having a tough time finding decaf flavors.  If anyone at Keurig comes across this, please feel free to respond here to my wishes by posting a comment or by contacting me directly. Overall, I’d still recommend this system to anyone. There’s lots of improvements to be made, but right now, no one in this market space is taking the reins. [TOP]

So What Happens When Technology and Holidays Come Together??? December 22 2008 This is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s a busy time of the year, but it’s fun. If you’re not into the holidays, chances are you’re too busy and you need a vacation. Even the busiest individuals can enjoy the holidays. Since I was little, I was always fascinated with Christmas lights and decorations. (1980’s photograph will be inserted at a later date) There’s nothing like seeing the faces of the young and old when they see the glow of Christmas lights. Over the years, things have changed quite a bit. We’ve gone from C7/C9 bulbs to more energy-efficient LED lights. We’ve decided to save on space by eBay’ing our classic, plastic blowmold figures to make more room for our collapsible wire frame deer and Airblown inflatables. Over the past 5 years or so, I’ve started my own collection of items. I’ve grown to have over 10,000 lights including 33 blowmold figures, 3 inflatables, and over 1200 feet of extension cords. Recently I decided that wasn’t enough. I needed to fancy my inner-geekness. This is where synchronized lighting fit in. There are a couple of different ways to get a synchronized light display as well as various different technologies to take you from start to finish. 1) Mr. Christmas Lights and Sounds (Better known to brand-name shoppers as the GE Lights and Sounds) – These devices are already pre-built and contain basic functionality. They can control between 6-10 channels and have 20 built-in songs. However, they limit the amount of lights and customization that can be handled by a single box. For $50-$150, they’ll get you started. (I used one last year and have it available if anyone wants it.) 2) From Scratch (ie: Phidget Interface Kits) – Brian Peek from ASPSoft wrote a very good article over at the Coding4Fun website. In his example, he uses a Phidget Interface Kit and C# 2008 to build his display. This is great to learn how the system works, but again, you are limited to the number of channels you can utilize. I really wish Phidget would release some higher power boards. I’d love to be able to control my lights from within a .NET application. That would be too cool. 3) Using the Experts – Controlled lighting isn’t new, it’s just new(er) to Christmas. In fact, many of the “experts” just began to support the classic controlled lighting interface known as DMX. There are quite a few companies out there, but I’d recommend Light-O-Rama, D-Light, or Animated Lighting. I personally own a single 16-channel 1602 controller from Light-O-Rama. Most of the synchronized displays that you see use Light-O-Rama hardware and software. Although, D-Light is picking up ground especially in some “virtual Christmas” communities. So, what does this all mean? Well, if you’re into the holiday season as much as I am, you better get started. Want to know what I’ve done this year? Hop on over to my holiday blog at mylightdisplay.com. Over there I talk a little bit more about my specific display including how to setup an FM transmitter, using the Light-O-Rama software and system, and much much more. If you’re in the Northeastern Pennsylvania area, be sure to stop by my display. You can also find local displays by visiting the Display Links at SynchronizedChristmasLights.com. If you’d like to participate further in the Christmas talk, hop on over to MyHolidayDisplays.com. I’ll leave you with a link to the video of my house on YouTube. Have a safe and happy holiday season! [TOP]

Holiday Challenge – Donate or Help Out December 10 2008 User groups, blogs, and community forums exist because of the community. Our User Group, .NET Valley, alone has received thousands of dollars worth of software, books, food, and more over the years to attract members and thank them for coming to our events. It’s time for us to collectively do our part. Many of my colleagues including Scott Watermasysk and Steve Andrews have already issued similar requests and the response has been great so far. It’s been extremely tough this year for many. A few have lost their jobs, a few even their homes. But much like a user group, we need to stick together and help out like a community. So, here’s my challenge: Pick a charity to donate to. Donate money, materials, or services. Scott had asked folks to sell stuff on eBay and donate portions of the proceeds to charity. Steve asked individuals to drop stuff off for Toys For Tots. How about helping out one morning at your local soup kitchen? Or donating your old coats or shoes (or your kids) to a charity? As a group, let’s do something. Trust me, it will make you feel good. You may not see it, but your gracious donations won’t come unnoticed. Even if December is a tough month because of the busy schedules, the purchasing of gifts and food, and other things because it’s the end of the year, maybe January will work. Not sure what kind of charity to donate to? Visit give.org. Think you can help? Post back here or send me a direct message if you’ve like to share what you’ve done. If you don’t, that’s fine too. I’d like to make another post at the end of January to summarize what’s happened during this period. I’m going to ask that everyone in our user group bring in a donation or donate online to Toys For Tots. I’d also recommend Feed The Children, the Jimmy V Foundation, or your local Red Cross Chapter. You may also want to check locally to see what organizations help out your community. [TOP]

2 Great ASP.NET Podcasts December 04 2008 I’ve been quite busy working on a side project in which I’ll post more details very soon. However, I came across the two latest ASP.NET Podcasts in which I thought I’d share: Caching with ASP.NET 3.5 SP1 ASP.NET AJAX with JQuery [TOP]

Installing Remote Desktop, Remotely November 18 2008 Have you ever needed to connect to a PC using Remote Desktop to either check something out or to install a better remote connectivity software like VNC? A couple years ago, IntelliAdmin created an application to install remote desktop from a remote PC. I’ve used it several times and it has come in quite handy. Download it at http://www.intelliadmin.com. [TOP]

Win a $50,000 Technology Makeover November 17 2008 The Microsoft Small Business Solutions team is at it again. There will be several events in the Mid-Atlantic region through March of 2009 that will have some content. You can find out more by visiting the official website at http://sbstechnologymakeover.com. Kudos to Michael Murphy and the rest of the SBS team for getting this together. [TOP]

Summary of the MSDN Freedom Roadshow November 17 2008 For those not at the MSDN Freedom Roadshow in Scranton, PA today, you are missed a good show. Here’s what happened: David Solivan – David presented a talk called UI, UX, U confused? The purpose was to show the various options we have and to explain when one option may be better than another by stepping through the design process. There’s a URL he had mentioned during his talk that will show your best options. Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/59vk7b. Lindsay Rutter started off by talking about the PDC 08. She mentioned that all should come out and attend the MSDN Conference in New York City. The best part is that PDC was between $2000 and $3000 per developer. The MSDN conference is $99. Furthmore, Lindsay plugged our user group, .NET Valley. If you are not a member, join today! Also, register for the MSDN Flash newsletter. It’s a great way to get the latest news on events, news, and more. Lindsay then decided to build an ADO.NET Entity Framework based on David’s proof of concept app he spoke about earlier. Dani Diaz followed up Lindsay by showing how to use a WCF/REST solution for connecting to the Entity Framework and serving up the data. He also showed how to use MVC, jQuery, and Json during his talk. Dani recommended following Rob Bagby’s and Dan Rigsby for more information about WCF/REST. Lindsay came after Dani and talked about how XAML and WPF works for developers and designers. She also showed off the final product including the UI/UX decisions, EF stuff, WCF, and WPF that we saw throughout the day. Finally, Dani wrapped up the day by talking about IE8 development. Great work team! I hope the MSDN team visits Scranton more often! [TOP]