Smart Objects

This week's class in Deigital Media Skills is on "Editing Graphics". I can't wait! This following video is just a small taste of what lies ahead. It tells how to make non-destructive transformations using Smart Objects. Take a look:

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The Street Corner

Here's an EXCELLENT example of a classic sociological study of urban design. This one-hour digitized movie by William Whyte shows "The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces".

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Music Worldwide

Hey, this is fun! I can get music from around the world. Check this one out (and then tell me what it says!):

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Music from the Web

Downloading music from the Web is something I haven't done very often. However, in light of the class I'm taking (Digital Media Skills), I'm beginning to explore my options. Today I discovered this song on the website Jamendo. What do you think?

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HP Tests Laptops

Here's a video that says it shows workers in China (Chongqing?)testing HP laptops. The reason I'm interested? I just got notice that the HP laptop I ordered from Costco is shipping from CHONGQING, CN.

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Here's what the blog poster wrote:

i noticed something wierd. The computer were already installed and ready! I didn't need to make any choices or wait for it to install anything, it was already done. I looked around among the documents and files in the computer and found this funny clip! Its some kind of video recorded from the HP factory when they are testing the webcamera software. You can here a wierd opera singning lady in the background and watch the very focused worker testing my computer. He must have forgotten to reset the computer after the tests!

Whether it's a bonafide video of HP laptops being tested, it is interesting enough to realize this computer connects me to the world - in more ways than one! Here's the original article I came across: http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2012/08/10/video-appears-to-offer-peak-inside-hp-factory/. For more recent news about HP in China, check this out: http://www.simic.net.cn/news_show.php?lan=en&id=129720.

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Switching back to CCSF

I am currently enrolled at CCSF, in BCST 119, "Digital Media Skills", taught by Arthur Pines. It's kind of a fluke that I'm here. I much prefer the quarter to the semester system, and I've been very happy with the classes at Foothill College. However, for reasons unknown to me, they have simply "dropped" their web development classes. An entire department (or more) has simply disappeared. Meanwhile, I saw an article by the owner of Bird and Beckett bookstore that encouraged people to help City College by enrolling in classes. So, I checked into the online classes, because I do believe it's an institution that is essential to the lifeblood of San Francisco. Lo and behold, I found web classes that allow me to continue on the learning curve.

SO - here I am, back at CCSF!

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How Much RAM?

An upcoming assignment for class is to design our "Dream Machine". Well, that sounds easy enough, but it has turned out to be quite a challenge. For one thing - I don't have all the time in the world to do this: I actually need a new computer NOW. So, I have a lot of pressure on me to get results fast. I have narrowed my choices to two computers - a MacBook Pro with retina display, and a Windows 8 touch screen. But that is just the beginning decision. The real challenge is to figure out what comes with it; what size should it be; and how much RAM should it have?

Here's a video that demonstrates the differences between 4,8, and 16 gigabyte of RAM. I can't say I understand much of it, but the bottom line for me seems to be that 16 is better than 8. Why? My purpose is to do web development, photo processing, and video editing. Knowing my habits, I like to do everything at once. As I've found out so often, speed of response (and lack thereof) is the thing that drives me nuts. SO - I think I've answered this question.

Take a look for yourself. Here's "A Little Byte of Tech" by Jayztwocents:

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