The Anova iPhone Controlled LED Video Light “Lights” Up NAB

Before we went to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show this year, I was on the lookout for the Rotolight Anova LED EcoFlood light. I had seen an ad for it and I knew it would be on display at the B&H Audio Video booth, so we headed over there to take a look. I wasn’t disappointed as it was there front and center, surrounded by other people equally as interested as I was.

Why the buzz? Well, there are some state-of-the-art features that are very impressive. Watch this video to see:

• How you can change the light output without affecting the color temperature, making this light perfect for a studio situation. You can also change the color temperature without changing the light output;

• What you can control wirelessly (from your iPhone no less!);

• How you can create an output/color temperature setting and duplicate it repeatedly and in additional units.

While the price point is a bit steep, $2,355 without the barn doors, the Rotolight Anova LED EcoFlood is definitely worth a look and will revolutionize video lighting. Obviously, I was not disappointed in this fantastic light and hope that we’ll be seeing this technology in less expensive units.

WordPress Attacks: How to Keep Your Blog Safe and Running

Millions of WordPress blogs are summarily being attacked by botnet scams, which are compromised computers controlled by profit-minded crooks. Once a WordPress has been successfully attacked, it becomes part of the botnet. Then, the newly strengthened botnet continues its quest to grow even bigger. Currently, over 100,000 websites have been subsumed by the botnet estimates claim the botnet is testing up to 2 million passwords hourly, according to www.Internetproviders.com. Although these attacks are scary, there’s no reason for bloggers to despair as there are countless steps you can take to protect your WordPress blog.

Drop the “admin”

According to Huffington Post, the WordPress botnet is targeting blogs that have “admin” as their username. This is the default username provided by WordPress, and surprisingly, many users never bother to change it. If you haven’t changed your username yet, you may want to do so immediately.

Two-step authentication

Just before the botnet started to wrack havoc on WordPress blogs, WordPress actually strengthened their security systems. Users who are interested in having a more secure experience can choose two-step authentication provided by WordPress.

In order to use this approach, you’ll have to download the Google Authenticator app onto your smartphone. When you sign into your WordPress account, you’ll be prompted to enter a number which you will find on your app. Because the numbers are almost reissued every thirty seconds and because you have to use two different devices, it’s a sure fire way to avoid attacks.

If you want to take advantage of two-step authentication, you simply need to find the security tab on your WordPress account. This is located on the account settings. You can select this option manually, or you can work your way through the setup wizard to ensure that everything is arranged correctly.

Alternatives to WordPress

Taking the right security steps can make your WordPress blog safer than ever, but in spite of that fact, many bloggers are looking for an alternative to the content management services that WordPress provides. With the right knowledge, you can easily setup a website that does everything that WordPress does, but accomplishing that on your own can be difficult if you’re not a techie. Luckily, there are user- friendly, web content management sites that you can turn to if you’re tired of WordPress.

Adobe Business Catalyst charges a nominal monthly fee, but they also offer a wide range of e-commerce tools, in addition to content management tools. Unfortunately, Adobe Business Catalyst is not as easy to use as WordPress, and you may even want to brush up on your HTML before you try this program.

Plone is a completely free alternative to WordPress. Although it’s easy to use, it’s backed by fairly complicated technology, which supports a range of features. Most users will find it to be similar to WordPress, but it has a few user creation processes that are superior to what WordPress offers. If you want something similar to WordPress, you may want to consider Typo. Of all the content management programs, this one seems the most like WordPress, so it’s an easy switch for most bloggers to make.

Whether you are worried about security threats or just ready to try something new, it’s important to note that WordPress isn’t the only fish in the sea. However, before giving up on WordPress, you may want to try a few of the protection strategies listed above. They may be just what you need to protect your current blog.

Padcaster – Turn Your iPad Into a Mobile Video Production Studio

One of the things I love best about going to the annual NAB Show is discovering new video production tools…the Padcaster was one of those finds this year.

I shot this short video with the creator of The Padcaster, Josh Apter. Watch it to see why I was so excited about this new aluminum frame for the iPad. Not only does Josh take you through the features, he also shares:

• the only way to shoot video on an iPad (Hint: it’s an app that gives you manual controls (at the 3 minute mark),

• one of the coolest features of editing with the iMovie app (at 4 minute mark),

• and how this strong yet lightweight aluminum frame goes beyond being a simple tripod mount turning your iPad into a mobile video production studio!

If you use your iPad for video, definitely consider The Padcaster to give you the advantages of shooting video on an iPad without breaking it.

As CNET states, “If you’re serious about producing videos with an iPad, the Padcaster is a must-have case.”

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