Sunday, August 29, 2010

Netflix Now Streams To iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch


Adding a feature Apple junkies have been clamoring for, Netflix upgraded its App Store application to allow it to stream movies and TV shows for subscribers.

MacRumors reports Netflix keeps track of where you left off on our viewing escapades, so you can start streaming a video at home and then pick up where you left off on the iThing as you take the train into work.

Pocket Netflix streaming opens up a wild new frontier here. If you plan on using Netflix streaming on your iStuff, how will it change the way you operate?

As discovered on Consumerist.com

Friday, August 27, 2010

Hulu versus Hulu+

This is an interesting article in which the title says it all, "Over 88% of Hulu Plus Content is Already Available for Free on Hulu.com." Read more of it here.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Recent Acquisitions in Film Noir at Media Services!
















Here at Media Services our film noir collection has grown considerably. Over the summer we included tons of classic film noir titles to our collection like Armored Car Robbery - HU DVD 7323 and Human Desire - HU DVD 7296. See a list of all our recently acquired film noir titles below.



















Scarlet Street - HU DVD7275
The Hitch-Hiker - HU DVD 7276
Contraband - HU DVD 7277
They Made Me a Fugitive - HU DVD 7278
Strange Impersonation - HU DVD 7279
Born to Kill - HU DVD 7301
Clash by Night - HU DVD 7302
Crossfire - HU DVD 7303
Dillinger - HU DVD 7304
The Narrow Margin - HU DVD 7305
Act of Violence/Mystery Street - HU DVD 7306
Crime Wave/Decoy - HU DVD 7307
Illegal/The Big Steal - HU DVD 7308
They Live by Night/Side Street - HU DVD 7309
Where Danger Lives/Tension - HU DVD 7310
14 Hours - HU DVD 7315
The Sniper - HU DVD 7291
The Big Heat - HU DVD 7292
5 Against the House - HU DVD 7293
The Lineup - HU DVD 7294
Murder by Contract - HU DVD 7295
Human Desire - HU DVD 7296
Pushover - HU DVD 7297
The Brothers Rico - HU DVD 7298
Nightfall - HU DVD 7299
City of Fear - HU DVD 7300
The Killer that Stalked New York/Two of a Kind - HU DVD 7311
Bad for Each Other/The Glass Wall - HU DVD 7312
Night Editor/One Girl's Confession - HU 7313
Women's Prison/Over-Exposed - HU DVD 7314
Twilight Women/The Slasher - HU DVD 7316
Desperate/Cornered - HU DVD 7321
The Phenix City Story/Dial 1119 - HU DVD 7322
Armored Car Robbery/Crime in the Streets - HU DVD 7323
Backfire/Deadline at Dawn - HU DVD 7324





Monday, August 23, 2010

Home Use Loan Period (and Faculty Loan Period) Have Been Extended to 3 Days!!!

That's right, the Home Use Loan period has now been extended to three days! Now you've got a little more time to watch your favorite films and TV shows. Don't worry, you're still able to bring DVDs back the very next day if you're burning through them and are ready for a fresh title or a new episode. We hope this change in service will improve your borrowing experience at Media Services!

The default loan period for AU faculty members is now three days for any video.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Obit: Bruno S. , 78, famed for Werner Herzog's The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser; Stroszek


Not that I knew he had still been alive as he'd clearly lived a rough life, but it's still sad news to hear of the passing of Bruno S (proper name: Bruno Schleinstein). His natural and naive demeanor gave him a powerful screen presence. Both of his films are available in Media Services and are highly recommended.


The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 3541

Stroszek HOME USE COLLECTION DVD 3546

NYT obituary

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Happy 67th Birthday, Mr De Niro!!




























Today, August 17, Robert De Niro turned 67 years old. We've got tons of great De Niro films in our Home Use Collection. See a long list of them here, or check out this short list below:

1900 - HU DVD 2008
King of Comedy - HU DVD 739
Raging Bull - HU DVD 1876
Bang the Drum Slowly - HU DVD 2180
The Mission - HU DVD 1664
The Godfather II - HU DVD 2542
Deer Hunter - HU DVD 1706
Mean Streets - HU DVD 1813
Sleepers - HU DVD 2005
Wag the Dog - HU DVD 1652
Ronin - HU DVD 1973
Taxi Driver - HU DVD 904
Brazil - HU DVD 360
Untouchables - HU DVD 996
Goodfellas - HU DVD 378



Film/Video Citation Guide updated and available on the new library website

Need to cite a film, a TV show, or a YouTube clip for a paper, take a look at our citation guide for examples using MLA 7th, APA 5th, Chicago 15th, and Turabian formats.

link

Friday, August 13, 2010

Happy Friday the 13th!


We've got hundreds of scary movies here in Media Services to satisfy your urge to get spooked today or any day. Here are just a few:

Friday the 13th - HU DVD 859
The Orphanage - HU DVD 639
Chronos - HU DVD 6087
Hellboy - HU DVD 5311
Hellboy II: The Golden Army - HU DVD 5312
Nightmare on Elm St - HU DVD 864
The Ring - HU DVD 1547
Bug - HU DVD 6119
Scream - HU DVD 6
Scream 2 - HU DVD 7
The American Nightmare - HU DVD 998

DMS Help - Broadcast Yourself and Podcast with Audacity


Need to create a podcast for a class? Think your opinion on something (or everything) needs to be heard by the masses? Well, here's how...

This series of free videos will show you how to use Audacity to record, edit and export your podcast. It's never been as easy as this to learn how to edit digital audio.

Files edited in Audacity and then exported as .wav or .mp3 can be used in iMovie or Final Cut Pro. This means you can easily create a voice-over track or custom music track for your video.

DMS Help - Record and Edit Audio with Audacity

Ever wanted to make you own podcast? Have all this amazing stuff on your computer that you've recorded, but have no idea how to edit it?

Well, here's your chance. Download the free audio editing software Audacity (for Mac and PC) and start broadcasting yourself.

Got it already and don't know how to use it? This easy-to-follow tutorial manual, written by the Audacity folks, can help you understand digitized sound and how you can use Audacity to edit sound.

Todd's Tips - See Audio Waveforms in the Final Cut Pro Timeline

Often times when editing you want to see the audio waveforms in the audio tracks (as pictured to the right). This can allow an editor to more easily edit to audio and is particularly useful when creating music videos.
Final Cut Pro's default setup is NOT to show these waveforms on the audio tracks. However, setting it so that it does is a very simple process, though finding the proper place to change the setting can be a bit hairy. But, if you follow these simple steps, you'll have no problem in making this change:

**Please note that these changes will only take effect in NEW sequences of the timeline. Therefore, after you make the changes, you will need to create a new sequence from the File menu. As such, this procedure is best done BEFORE you begin editing.**

1) Once Final Cut Pro is open, go to and click on the "Final Cut Pro" menu; it's the one to the right of the apple and to the left of the "File" menu.

2) Select the "User Preferences" menu item.

3) Select the "Timeline Options" tab.

4) On the left-hand side of the panel there is an area designated "Track Display."

5) In the track display area, find the check-box for "Show Audio Waveforms" and check it.

6) Click the "Ok" button on the bottom right-hand side of the panel.

7) Create a new sequence from the "File" menu and when you add media that has audio you will see the waveforms displayed on the green audio tracks.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

DMS Help - Make A DVD with iDVD: Simple Tutorial

Need to make a DVD of your media project? Don't know how? Try iDVD and learn to use it with this tutorial from Apple.

This tutorial came out when the program was originally released. It combines text instructions with a short video for each step of the tutorial (navigated via the box-menu on the right side of the page).

DMS Help - Getting Started with iMovie HD

iMovie HD tutorial from Apple!

If you need to learn how to get started with iMovie HD for a class project, this is for you.

This came out when the program was originally released. It combines text instructions with a short video for each step of the tutorial (navigated via the box-menu on the right side of the page).

DMS Help - More Than 200 After Effects Tutorials

Here again Creative Cow has created more than 200 tutorials on AfterEffects basics. Their topics range from simple tool use to more complex digital effects.

Click here to see the list.

These tutorials are searchable via the field on the top of the page.

DMS Help - 30 Great Advanced Final Cut Pro Tutorials

These 30+ video tutorials from Creative Cow cover a number of advanced topics relating to Final Cut Pro and are geared mainly toward color correction and video capture:


The tutorials are searchable via the field at the top of the page.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tech Fair 2010


Are you new to AU or do you need a refresher on computer and library resources? Stop by the first floor of Bender Library between August 14th and 27th to ask technology questions, request assistance, attend walk-in class, or have your laptop configured to use AU's wired and wireless networks. Hours for Tech Fair 2010 are Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Call x3847 or e-mail libevents@american.edu for more information.

Monday, August 02, 2010

TONIGHT! This Summer's Final Screen on the Green - Bonnie and Clyde


Tonight, in a few short hours, will be the final Screen on the Green for the summer. Tonight's film is Bonnie and Clyde. Media Services has this classic on DVD and we also have a Blu-ray version. See Screen on the Green details below:

What It's About:
Meet Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. They rob banks. Explosive (if romanticized) crime drama, set during the Depression, follows the Barrow gang's crime sprees from Kansas to Texas. Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty were blessed with their juiciest roles yet, but Oscars went to the cinematography and to supporting actress Estelle Parsons. A career launcher for Parsons, it also showcased another newcomer, Gene Wilder. Director Arthur Penn made his markwith one of the most influential movies of the 1960's and that legendary climax became the stuff of cinematic lore. (Warnder Bros., 1967) 111 Min.

Where:
The screen is located off of Constitution Avenue, between 4th & 7th Streets.

When:
Tonight at sunset (around 8pm). The movie will play unless there are extreme weather conditions. For weather updates call: 877.262.5866

Nearest Subway Stop:
The Smithsonian stop (blue/orange line)

What to Bring:
Blankets, snacks, beverages, umbrellas, bug spray, warm clothes. You can pack snacks and non-alcoholic drinks for a picnic vibe.

What Not to Bring:
weapons, drugs, alcohol, and tall chairs are among the forbidden items.

Official site:
http://www.nps.gov/nama/












Sunday, August 01, 2010

Faculty Loan Forms Are Now Paperless!














Hey AU Faculty, AU Library Media Services is now a bit greener! As part of Media Services green initiative, and in an effort to make your visits with us more efficient, we will no longer print out receipts for faculty checkouts. So now when you check out items from Media Services, we will ask for your department and class size and print out a paper-less receipt to PDF for our records.

This will not only speed up your checkout process, it will also enable Media Services to reduce its ecological footprint! Of course, if you would like us to print out a receipt, just ask and we'll be happy to do so. Thanks!