Camtasia 2023 Released Today!

See some of the new neat features in the video below:

Logitech: Bringing People Together with Video

Logitech put together a little brochure that describes their focus on video conference systems. We use Logitech cameras in quite a few of our solutions and we are quite happy with their quality and over function with many of the video conferencing software packages that are out their. If you are interested in seing this brochure you can download it here.

If you are interested in one of our team members working with you on creating a video conference solution for your organization please don't hesitate reaching out to us at sales@paconnect.com or call call us at 724-838-7526.

TechSmith's Camtasia

With all of the changes that have occured in the past 6 months one of the biggest is providing different methods of providing information to our clients and employees. While you may have become a master of using online video conferencing like Zoom and Teams, being able to create presentations that are more on-demand may be something that you want to have available to share.

You have probably dabbled with PowerPoint presentations and while they can be good live making them into on-demand content may be more desirable. A product that I like to use is Camtasia by TechSmith. This product is used by thousands of presenters, trainers and teachers to capture screens, present ideas and automate/capture your presentation. 

See Video Overview Below:

SnagIt 2018 is now available

Overview Video:

Upgrade Video:

YouTube TV now available in the Pittsburgh Area

I just signed up for the trial version last night and was suitably impressed at the connection speed and resolution of the image stream. This service is just $35/month and provides basic cable channels for you with unlimited DVR functions. If you are only interested in local sports and news this is a great alternative to other TV options. I’m currently looking at a $250+ bill each month for my current Comcast account. If you are thinking about cutting the cord then let’s look at the math.

Looks like a no brainer to me. The only thing I am loosing that I touch once in awhile is HBO. So…

If you decide that this is something you want to consider, you will probably want to purchase a couple of ChromeCasts for your TV’s around the house. This gives you the ability to access YouTube TV right from there without a problem.

Shared YouTube TV memberships & family groups

Create a family group to share YouTube TV—as well as other Google apps and services—with up to 5 other people.

How family groups work on YouTube TV

• If you've purchased a YouTube TV membership, you can create a family group to share your membership with up to 5 people at no additional cost. When you create a family group, you become the family manager.
• As the family manager, you can invite family members (ages 13+) to join your family group. 
• As a family group member, you can build your own personal library of content in YouTube TV. Your viewing preferences and DVR are all your own—we won't share your library or watch history with your family group.
• Sharing YouTube TV as part of a family group also lets you share other Google services with the same people. Learn more about family groups on Google

Watch YouTube TV on multiple devices

You can use YouTube TV on up to three separate devices at the same time. For example, if you're watching YouTube TV on both a computer and a mobile device, this counts as two of the three available devices—even though they’re being used by the same account.

This looks very tempting to me except that two of the channels my wife watches PBS and Hallmark, are not included and for local sports we are missing Root for the Penguin Hockey games and Pittsburgh Pirates. I have another eight months on my current Xfinity Contract so hopefully we will see some other changes over the next couple of months.

C2G Mini DisplayPort Adapter

This is a pretty neat device that one of our vendors just sent us information on. Priced at $49.95 it allows you to convert your laptop/notebook mini-display port for use with HDMI, DVI-I or HD-15 VGA.

Marketing Information:   Send a video signal from a tablet, laptop computer, or another source device with a Mini DisplayPort output port to a projector, monitor, or HDTV with an HDMI, DVI or VGA input port. This compact all-in-one converter is an ideal solution for use in schools, conference rooms, or other work spaces that may utilize assorted displays with varying inputs in multiple rooms throughout a building.
On The Go Enhanced - Be prepared for any meeting, presentation, or event with the full confidence that you have the right connections in an ultra-compact design. The Mini DisplayPort to HDMI, VGA, or DVI adapter allows you to connect a Mini DisplayPort-equipped laptop or tablet to a projector, monitor, or HDTV with an HDMI, VGA, or DVI input port. The compact design of this adapter converter makes it a perfect fit for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) applications in education or corporate environments.
Straightforward Install - This simple plug and play adapter converter does not require drivers for install and the device is powered through Mini DisplayPort bus power, so no additional power adapters are needed.
Port Protection - The dongle-style adapter converter reduces strain on the video port. The cable between the Mini DisplayPort connection and the adapter converter provides strain relief that protects the port from strain damage as cords are moved.
Note: This adapter converter will output signal to one video port at a time. This adapter converter is not designed to output multiple video signals simultaneously.

Technical Information

• Cable Type:   DVI/HDMI/Mini DisplayPort/VGA
• Connector on First End:   1 x Mini DisplayPort Male Digital Audio/Video
• Connector on Second End:   1 x DVI-I Female Video
• Connector on Second End:   1 x 15-pin HD-15 Female VGA
• Connector on Second End:   1 x HDMI Female Digital Audio/Video
• Supported Resolution:   3840 x 2160
• Limited Warranty:   3 Year

Have you looked at YouTube Red yet?

So what is YouTube Red? Here is another add-on service for YouTube content that provides Ad-Free content for $9.99/month. It also gives you the ability to save the content off-line (stored on your device) so that you can watch, listen or play even when you don’t have internet access. It also let’s you play your content in the background so you can be using a different app then the player at the same time, even when the screen is turned off. You also get a Google Play Music Subscription at no additional cost if it is available in your country. However, this service does not extend to any paid services that you are currently subscribed to. You can cancel this subscription at any time.

For more information look here.

Cord Cutting–Is YouTube TV an alternative for you?

Do you live in Chicago, San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles, New York or Philadelphia? Then you have an alternative to Cable TV. YouTube TV is now available in the areas mentioned above for just $35/month. The channel line up is okay but doesn’t have a lot of what my family watches at this time. YouTube TV is planning on adding more options as well as locations as time goes on and if you sign up and are out of the current supported areas you will be notified when the service is available in your area. The best thing is that if you don’t like the service there is no commitment.

Currently you can purchase Showtime ($11/mo) and Fox Soccer Plus ($15/mo) as add-on channels. You get 6 accounts and everyone in your household gets their own login and personal DVR library. Also, the DVR storage is unlimited so you can save to your heart’s content. There is also no limit to the number of simultaneous shows that you can capture as well.

My only issue is that some of the stations that my wife watches all of the time are not part of the selection. But in time they may show up. I was sort of surprised that HBO isn’t available as an add-on nor are Hallmark or PBS available as part of the lineup.

For more information look here.

Office 365 Streams Update: Embedding to outside source location

Just as an aside this again is created in Adobe Spark

Wanting to use Amazon Prime Video to help cut the cable?

Amazon Prime users can opt into some of the prime cable channels (HBO, STARX and SHOWTIME) on a subscription basis. Amazon is providing a 7 day free trial to check it out for yourself. After the trial period you be looking at paying $8.99/month for STARZ, $14.99/month for HBO and $8.99/month for SHOWTIME.

If you want to see all the channels available on Amazon Prime click here.

Microsoft Stream for Office 365

Microsoft Stream capabilities vary based on the Office 365 subscription and the below table highlights Microsoft Stream functionality differences by subscription. The Microsoft Stream Plan 2 Add-on is available for Office 365 E1, E3, and E5 subscriptions to enable full Stream Plan 2 functionality.

You can also purchase the Stream License on its own. There are two Plans, Plan 1 is $3/user/month and Plan 2 is $5/user/month. The feature comparison is below:

Microsoft’s Video Application Stream released today

This has been a natural progression from the SharePoint Video library application to a richer more YouTube like application that has deeper integration into the Office 365 Application Library of programs.

This service was designed to make it easier to share Corporate Video. This service provides a secure method of discovery and sharing in the Corporate Environment. 

The basic premise behind the tool is that in a controlled environment, employees can easily upload, share and discover internal videos through one site. The goal of the service is to take the ‘work’ out of sharing video internally and make it accessible to all employees while also maintaining the high levels of security that the enterprise demands.

This application will be available through the following Office 365 licenses:

• Office 365 Education
• Office 365 Education Plus
• Office 365 Enterprise K1
• Office 365 Enterprise K2
• Office 365 Enterprise E1
• Office 365 Enterprise E3
• Office 365 Enterprise E5

If you don’t see it in your Office app launcher, you should see it in the near future.

As part of the announcement today, Microsoft will begin transitioning Office 365 Video to Stream which will be a complicated process. Microsoft outlines the process here and it is worth reading as the transition has potential implications on how you currently use Office 365 Video inside your company.

These major features are offered in Office 365 Video but are currently not available in Stream:

• Videos and channels showing up in Delve, SharePoint Enterprise Search, SharePoint Home, and SharePoint mobile apps
• REST API
• Video view statistics
• Spotlight videos & channels
• SDN support for caching videos from 3rd party solution Hive

Enterprise Mobility + Security Training Video

Published on Mar 24, 2017

Learn about Microsoft's Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) solution from Brad Anderson, Corporate Vice President of Enterprise Client & Mobility, as he covers all things EMS and shows you the capabilities in action.

Need more storage for your NVR unit?

Western Digital is introducing their brand new Purple^TM 10TB drive. Built for 24/7, always-on, high definition systems rated to support and annual workload of up to 180TB/writes/yr and support up to 64 cameras. The WD Purple drives are optimized for surveillance systems.

The Purple Series is currently available in distribution from 1TB- 8TB sizes the 10TB drives are SKU’d and should be available shortly. They should be priced in the $450-$500 range. Spindle speed is 5400RPM, SATA interface and has a 256MB buffer to help with the data stream. It does have a 5 year limited Manufacturer's Warranty.

WD’s Marketing Blub:

The right drive for the right job.
WD Purple™ drives have been engineered specifically for surveillance, so they're able to withstand the elevated heat fluctuations and equipment vibrations within a NVR environments. An average desktop drive is built to run for only short intervals, not the harsh 24/7 always-on environment of a high-definition surveillance system. A disruption to a drive could result in a failure that impacts multiple users, your security archive, or even the entire system. With WD Purple™, you get reliable, surveillance-class storage that's tested for compatibility in a wide-range of security systems.
Industry-leading storage. Surveillance you can trust.
WD is a worldwide leader in the hard drive industry. With WD Purple™ surveillance storage, you have a drive engineered for high temperature, always-on surveillance systems so you can rely on quality video playback when you need it most. Whether you're protecting loved ones or monitoring your business, WD Purple™ offers performance you can trust.
Wide compatibility. Seamless integration.
WD Purple™ hard drives are built with compatibility in mind, so you can quickly and seamlessly add capacity to your surveillance system. With a wide range of industry-leading enclosures and chipsets supported, you're sure to find the DVR or NVR configuration that's right for you.
Not sure what drive is best for your system? Use our compatibility tool to find the perfect storage for your DVR or NVR.
Expand your view to 64
Each WD Purple™ drive is optimized to support up to 64 cameras. With so many options, you have the flexibility to upgrade or expand your security system in the future.

GoPro Karma drone is available again

When this first came out I was very interested in it because not only was it by the company that I trusted their camera systems for the ruggedness and high-quality imaging, but the pricing to the in the ballpark of what I was going to spend. The fact that it came in a nice protective travel case made it even more appealing. Especially if I decided to keep it available in the back of my vehicle for spur of the moment photo shoots.

However, the product has had some problems with the battery latch which caused GoPro to recall its newly released Karma drone. On Feb 1st it posted that it was again available for purchase with the fixed battery latch cover.

I tend to wait a long time to see how things settle in before jumping on them. So I will wait to see if the changes in this product work and if any new revisions to the Karma finally put me over the edge to fork over some money. It looks interesting though and I'm getting closer to opening up that wallet.

Update on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 8:00AM by Bob Appleby

I liked the idea of this unit but I haven't flown one myself. Here is an article that tilts me even further from ever purchasing one of these units. http://www.diyphotography.net/2017-karma-reviews-coming-second-worst-drone-ive-ever-flown/

Should you be in the market for a dash cam?

Why would you want one? Accidents can happen to anyone at anytime. A dash cam can be helpful to drivers in the event something goes wrong while driving your vehicle. Consider that a dash cam is more of a protective device. And if you have one, hopefully you will never need to take advantage of pulling the footage from it. Since that is the case, it may be hard to justify the purchase of one. But if you do, it can be worth many times the initial cost of the unit.

If I have peaked your interest, you may want to take a look at the following article that discusses what you should consider when buying a unit and comparing several of the dash cams that are on the market.

A Washington State News Show recently made good use of Microsoft’s Surface Hub and Power BI technology.

Microsoft posted a blog entry that describes how KING 5 used some of their new technology “to usher in a new era in News Reporting”.

The station was able to drill down into the results of Washington state’s May 24 presidential primary and share insights county by county, as votes were tallied, by using Microsoft’s Power BI data visualization tool, displayed to viewers on a large Surface Hub touch screen as well as through an interactive report online. The new capability is a prime example of gains made in the accessibility of data and the technology to analyze and share it.

Want to see more?

Comcast increasing data caps from 300GB to 1TB in June

While we here in Pennsylvania have enjoyed not having our 250GB data cap even being turned on, I am glad to see that Comcast is taking the initiative to increase is bandwidth cap to 1TB so when they do begin enforcing it we have a greater chance of not being billed for overages. If you do go over the limit Comcast plans to bill you $10 per each 50GB’s of overage. If you want to add unlimited data to you plan this cost is rising from $35/month to $50/month.

So what does 1TB allow us to do? Comcast says: "You can stream about 700 hours of HD video, play 12,000 hours of online games, and download 60,000 high-res photos in a month." Comcast stated that as of late 2015 8% of their customers are now exceeding the 300GB cap and this increase is to help lower that percentage.

Comcast says that the caps isn’t really a cap at all. Customers are allowed to go over them though they have to pay extra when they do. AT&T is also stepping up its enforcement of their caps as well it is being reported.

Amazon is unbundling Prime Video for $8.99 per month`

I guess Amazon figures our New Math can't make sense of this. Let me see... $99/year for prime and $8.99 per month for Prime Video $119.88/year. That's my math and you lose all of the other services associated with the Prime Membership. Hmmm....

Compare that service to Hulu, $7.99 and NetFlix $7.99 and what are they thinking? I really don't fine Prime Video as that great of a source of video options so I think they really missed the mark on this one.

They are also going to offer the full Prime Services as a monthly option for $10.99 per month. That comes to $131.88 per year. That's $42.88 extra over paying it annually. That's a pretty big premium! But I understand budgets are tight and this may allow you to afford the service when you can't afford the annual fee. However, that is a pretty big premium.

Apple Confirms that QuickTime for Windows is at End of Life

As with all End of Life products that means that there will be no more updates to the software. The main concern is that there will not be any more security updates and this piece of software can become a big hole in the security of your system. So you will need to consider alternatives to QuickTime if you haven't already. For most of us using a Windows System this is not a big deal since we don't really care about the Apple Centric World, we like the availability of choice and that is exactly what you have. Most everything that is being produced today will run on media player or groove, and if you want to get more sophisticated there are plenty of programs to choose from. So don't worry, no big deal!

However, even the government is getting in on suggesting that you uninstall QuickTime after two bugs were found in the current version that could be exploited. See article.