AnywhereMan

In an effort to improve my AnywhereMan video workflow, I picked up a new Logitech QuickCam Pro webcam for around $80 which allows me to produce 720p video right at my desktop. So far I love it, and today I talk about this camera as well has the rest of my video setup.  Still tweaking the audio level with the webcam (sorry about the clipping in a few spots!), but I’m really loving the video quality for the price and how it handles the lighting arrangement in my office.

NOTE: So I recorded this video, uploaded it to Vimeo, and had some issues with the frame rate. The audio worked great, but the video took forever to load and after it did I was super choppy. I guess the Logitech software records at 15 fps by default, and Vimeo prefers 30 fps. Trying to figure out whether I need to find 3rd party software to record 30 fps from the webcam, or if I should just start using YouTube over Vimeo from now on.  I will keep you posted. I love Vimeo, but I also love a quicker process!

CONFIRMED AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH: The QuickCam Pro for Notebooks cannot do 720P at 30 fps, just 15 fps. Why don’t they tell you this stuff ON THE BOX? The picture quality still looks great though.  I will stick with this until Microsoft sends me their new LifeCam HD to review on this site.

Shop Online

• Logitech QuickCam Pro for Notebooks from TigerDirect
• Logitech QuickCam Pro for Notebooks from TechDepot
• Logitech QuickCam Pro for Notebooks from Amazon
• Canon Vixia HV30 HDV High Definition Camcorder from TechDepot
• Sony Vegas Pro – ( v. 9 ) – complete package from TechDepot

 

Red Rock Sunset by seantoyer

When I was a kid, my brothers and I were often asked the same questions on holidays every year. For Thanksgiving, it was “What are you thankful for?” For Christmas, it was “What does Christmas mean to you?” My guess is that my family was not alone in this tradition.

I’m going to start applying that type of questioning to all holidays, starting with Labor Day.  What does Labor Day mean to me?  

Two years ago I would have answered that question with a simple “day off of work!”  However, the day has a completely different feel for me now that I’m running my own freelance business.  Actually, I look forward to working on Labor Day now. Think about it: no phone calls, no client due dates, and nobody else working.  If that’s not a formula for a productive day, I don’t know what is.

That being said, I still probably won’t put in a full day like normal, but I do plan on taking advantage of the optimal working conditions for at least part of the day. 

What are your plans for Labor Day?  (don’t worry – I won’t judge you if you’re actually going to take the day off. You deserve it!)  And have a great holiday weekend everyone!

I’m passionate about my hatred of traffic and anything traffic-related. This includes an annoyance for road construction, slow-moving farm equipment, and people who have no clue how to drive in snow (and consequently end up in ditches, thus producing “gawker slowdowns”).  

My first remedy for this hatred was a move to rural northern MN, and then ultimately said goodbye to traffic altogether with an upgrade to the Anywhere lifestyle and running my own business from home.  

Today I discuss my thankfulness for my current work situation, and I also talk about some of the added benefits of a movement towards teleworking.  

Do you share my total disgust with a rush hour lifestyle? Any good road rage stories?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Google Maps Will Now Show You Traffic Conditions On The Back Roads (techcrunch.com)
• Would Motorists Pay 15 Cents a Mile for No Traffic? (streetsblog.org)
• Upside to the Economic Downturn: Less Traffic (wired.com)