Sunday, April 29, 2012

Apple : Apple omits Android searches from Chomp app

Apple : Apple omits Android searches from Chomp app


Apple omits Android searches from Chomp app

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Apple omits Android searches from Chomp app

While it's hardly a surprise, Apple has removed the ability to search for Android apps from its recently-acquired Chomp service.

Back in February, Cupertino snapped-up the San Francisco-based start-up, with a view to improving application search and discovery within its own App Store.

SInce then, the web-based version of the service has still allowed users to search for Android applications as well as iPhone and iPad apps.

Not anymore.

Making the Genius smarter

The Chomp application has also been removed from the Google Play store.

It is still unclear what Apple plans to do with Chomp long-term, but the company will surely find a way to integrate the tech within the App Store and perhaps improve Genius recommendations.

Tutorial: How to use iMovie chapter markers

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Tutorial: How to use iMovie chapter markers

How to use iMovie chapter markers

Back in the day when Apple was interested in DVDs and pioneered the creation of iDVD discs, iMovie was tightly integrated with that program.

This enabled you to add chapter markers throughout your project so that your viewers could easily skip to the next scene while watching the film on their widescreen TV.

How to use iMovie chapter markers

But just because iDVD is on life-support and Apple is more interested in online digital distribution, it doesn't mean that chapter markers are no longer of any use.

Yes, that feature was notoriously absent from the re-imagined iMovie back in 2007, but it made a comeback and it's better than ever - although you wouldn't know it by glancing at the interface. The features are hidden.

That's because Apple designed iMovie to be perfect for novice editors. Everything they need is at their fingertips without overwhelming them. However, it's worth enabling the advanced features to get more control over your editing; these will keep you engaged with the app after you've mastered the basics.

Here we'll show you how to enable and make use of markers in your projects.

1. Advanced Tools

How to use iMovie chapter markers

iMovie's interface is relatively bare. You can import clips into Events, browse iPhoto and Aperture libraries, add a part of a clip to one of your projects, and insert titles and basic effects. But the most interesting features are concealed by default. To reveal them, you need to go to iMovie > Preferences (or use the Cmd +, shortcut), select the General tab and tick Show Advanced Tools.

2. Brown bubble

How to use iMovie chapter markers

With a project open, you'll notice two new icons, top-right of the Project section: a brown speech bubble and a red one with a white arrow inside it. Click the brown one and drag it onto your project. As you do so, it'll offer you '1' as its basic title, but you can overwrite that simply by typing. Hit the Enter key to set the change.

3. A comment

How to use iMovie chapter markers

This is not a chapter marker but a comment - useful if you have more than one person working on the same project and you want to leave notes about the edit. Don't worry if you forget to remove them since they won't be exported into your finished product. They're there to help you with the editing process for complex projects.

4. Red bubble

How to use iMovie chapter markers

Drag a red bubble onto your project. You'll notice that it offers you '2' as a default title if you hadn't altered the comment's one. That's because the numerical values for the comments and chapter markers are linked, which could be a little confusing if you're not careful, since brown and red are quite similar when glanced at rapidly.

5. Move around

How to use iMovie chapter markers

Wherever you've added your markers isn't set in stone: you can drag them to any position. If you wish to be more precise, click on one to select it, then use the left and right arrow keys to move your comment or chapter marker back or forward one frame. This enables you to place it perfectly within your project.

6. Anchored markers

How to use iMovie chapter markers

Notice that your marker has a small line to its left, pointing down onto a clip. This shows you where the marker is located since a long title can make it hard to see where it's supposed to start. It's also anchored to that clip. This means that if you were to move your clip to another place in your project, the marker would move along with it.

7. Marker removal

How to use iMovie chapter markers

Since a marker is linked to a specific clip, deleting that clip will remove the marker. To delete a clip, click to select a portion of it (four seconds by default) then go to Edit > Select All (or press Cmd+A). Once the yellow highlight covers the entire clip, hit the Backspace key to remove it. To remove just the marker, click it and hit the same key.

8. Save chapter markers

How to use iMovie chapter markers

Exporting your film is done via the Share menu, but not all options will preserve chapter markers. Sending it to YouTube for instance will remove them from your film. If you want to be certain your chapter markers are preserved, use Media Browser, iTunes, Export Movie or Export Using QuickTime.

Open up your finished film in QuickTime and you'll be able to access those chapters. You can do the same in iTunes or on your Apple TV.

And if you upload the video to an iPhone, you'll be able to see and access those chapters by tapping on the menu to the left of the playback controls. Markers definitely have many more uses than just being a DVD tool.

Tutorial: Get started with Messages for Mac Beta

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Tutorial: Get started with Messages for Mac Beta

Get started with Messages

By now you've no doubt heard about OS X Mountain Lion, Apple's upcoming update to OS X Lion. Among the many new features that provide a far more iOS-like feel is Messages. This turns the humble iChat application into a more iCloud-focused messaging centre that stays in sync across all of your devices.

As part of its testing of the new platform, Apple has made a beta version of Messages available as a free download for anyone to use. Of course, beta software isn't the most robust and you may encounter some glitches, but if you want to get a taste of Mountain Lion before it arrives then this is the best way to do it.

You'll need the latest update to OS X Lion to run Messages Beta, as well as an iCloud account or an account with another messaging service such as Google Talk. To fully appreciate the benefits of Messages, however, an iCloud email address and an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch are best.

Get started with Messages for Mac Beta

As long as your Messages account is using the same iCloud account as those on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, your conversations will be available on all of your devices.

For example, if you begin a chat on your Mac and then want to resume it while you're away from your computer, iMessages on your iOS device will show the same conversation and show any additional messages you might have received. When you return to your Mac, these messages will have been updated so your chats will always remain in sync.

This goes for photo, video and file attachments too. iMessage can be set up from the Settings app within the Messages section. The email address you supply will initially need to be verified for use .

In this tutorial we'll show you how to download and install Messages Beta on your Mac as well as how to add your existing iCloud and instant messaging accounts.

1. Download the Beta

Get started with Messages for Mac Beta

First download Messages Beta from Apple's site. Make sure your Mac is running the latest version of OS X by running Software Update from the Apple menu and install updates as needed. Next, go to the Message Beta webpage and, when the file is downloaded, locate and run the Messages installer to continue. Once the software is installed, you will be asked to restart your Mac.

2. Enter your details

Get started with Messages for Mac Beta

Launch the Messages app. Click through the opening screen until you're asked to enter your Apple ID. Fill in your email address and password into the fields provided or click the Create Apple ID button if you don't have one. Next you'll be asked to include any other chat accounts such as Google Talk and AIM.

3. Additional accounts

Get started with Messages for Mac Beta

Messages should automatically use existing iChat accounts associated with your Apple ID; check this by clicking on Preferences from the Messages menu. From here you can click on the accounts tab to view all of the accounts you've set up to work with Messages, and add or remove accounts using the plus and minus buttons.

4. Send a message

Get started with Messages for Mac Beta

You can now use Messages to chat to contacts regardless of whether they are using their Mac, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Click the New Message button at the top-left of the screen then click the plus button at the top-right to add a contact from your Address Book that you wish to chat to. Type your message and hit Enter.

5. Emoticons

Get started with Messages for Mac Beta

In the same way you can add emoticons to iChat and SMS messages, Messages enables you to do the same from your Mac. Click the face at the right of the message input area to view a menu that includes the images and their corresponding trigger symbols. Emoticons can be viewed on all devices using iMessage or Messages.

6. Pictures, videos and files

Get started with Messages for Mac Beta

To send a picture or video in a message, simply drag and drop the file onto the message input area. You can even include documents and other file types. The recipient sees images and video on any of their devices as if it were a normal picture or video message. They can also open other file types using compatible apps they own.

7. FaceTime

Get started with Messages for Mac Beta

At any point in a Messages chat you can initiate a simultaneous FaceTime call from within the app by clicking the button at the top-right of the interface. From here you can select which assigned address or phone number you're chatting to, and use it for FaceTime before the FaceTime interface appears and begins your call.

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