magic

Fun video editor

Video Magic's 123 VideoMagic Pro uses green screen technology to create Hollywood-type video effects on your PC. While its results are hardly professional, this simple and fun program can insert you into any almost scene with ease.

The program's interface is impressively simple, with a three-step process that provides onscreen direction. A Help file that's actually helpful offers further instructions. The program can record or import video, although the publisher neglects to mention that imported video requires a green screen to work. The recording portion requires a video input such as a camera equipment. The program performs … Read more

ILM steps in to help finish 'Avatar' visual effects

Update (11:49 a.m.): Weta Digital has been contacted for comment, and this story will be updated when and if the company responds.

SAN FRANCISCO--About a year ago, with James Cameron's science-fiction epic "Avatar" well under way, it became clear that Weta Digital, the visual effects studio doing much of the computer generated imagery, or CGI, on the project, was a bit in over its head.

At that point, the movie, which opened Friday, was about 40 minutes longer than it ended up being, and what was needed to finish the project was another company that … Read more

Options for customizing Magic Mouse and Trackpad input

Apple has done a great job at implementing multi-touch technology in their input devices, and the new Magic Mouse and MacBook trackpads are hits for most people who've tried them. Despite this, there are some limitations to the devices which prevent them from being used at their full potential.… Read more

Magic Mouse misbehaving for Mac users

Apple's Magic Mouse is causing some mishap for users lately as it seems to be having Bluetooth connectivity issues. Many users are complaining that the Magic Mouse continually connects and disconnects while they are attempting to use their Macs.… Read more

Apple Magic Mouse now works on Windows PCs (unofficially)

Windows users still drooling over Apple's multitouch Magic Mouse might finally have an excuse to step into an Apple store, thanks to "a little hackery" by UneasySilence.

The hack exploits a vulnerability in Apple's latest Bluetooth Update, uncovering Magic Mouse drivers for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows from XP to 7. We've yet to put it to the test ourselves, but users online are reporting success with full use of the Magic Mouse's vertical touch-scrolling. Leave a comment and let us know if it works for you.

We should mention that since this is a … Read more

Livescribe pen gets an app store

It took a little bit longer than the company had hoped, but the Livescribe digital pen now has its own app store.

The store, which requires pen owners to upgrade their desktop software to the new version 2.0, offers a mixed bag of new applications that range from free programs to one that costs $99.

The programs, which all work without a computer, include games like video poker and hangman, along with utilities like a Spanish-English dictionary. The one that caught my eye the most was the priciest app--the $99 Magic Yad application, which works to help those studying … Read more

Slow Tracking speeds for the new Magic Mouse

Yesterday we touched on bluetooth problems that people were experiencing with Apple's new Magic Mouse, which have sounded more like problems with the bluetooth reception than anything to do with the mouse. There is another Magic Mouse problem some people are having, which is slow tracking movement that seems to be inherent in the new devices.… Read more

Sluggish Magic Mouse performance with Mac Pros--old bluetooth problem?

A number of people are experiencing poor tracking performance with Apple's new Magic mouse when using it with Mac Pro computers. While the same mice work well with iMacs and laptops, it seems some signal power or interference issue with certain Pro desktops is causing the mouse to have jittery traction.… Read more

Apple releases Magic Mouse software update 1.0

Apple has released a software update for people who have purchased their new wireless "Magic Mouse" pointing device. The update allows your computer to take full advantage of the features in the new mouse, and is a recommended installation for all Magic Mouse users.… Read more

Google adds more personalization to Reader

Google has added new personalization features to Reader, its RSS feed aggregator, the company wrote in a blog post Thursday.

One new feature is dubbed Popular Items. Using algorithms, Reader will "find top-rising images, videos and pages from anywhere (not just your subscriptions)." From there, the app will lump all those pieces in the new Popular Items section. Based on a user's subscriptions and what someone is reading, Reader orders those stories by what it thinks a person likes best.

Reader's recommendations have been moved to the app's Explore section. Google also renamed it Recommended … Read more