Ethan Liew Technology Blog: 04/01/2008

Apr 24, 2008

UBUNTU LAMPP Is Case Sensitive

Just notice that LAMPP on Ubuntu is Case Sensitive.

Which means when you deploy your application containing folder path or file path,
do takes note the folder or file name.

Show Ruler In Microsoft Outlook 2007

Today my college asks me where is the ruler in Ms Outlook new email composer.
Wow.. Good question, I take sometimes to search around and finally found it there!

A small icon :P

Apr 23, 2008

Create favicon via Photoshop ICO Exporter

Create favicon for website via photoshop ico exporter.

Get a free download copy of plug in here.
http://www.telegraphics.com.au/sw/dl.php3?file=ICOFormat-1.6f9-win.zip

Recently trying to research which tool is great to create video tutorial.
Personally I feel that video tutorial is much more better than text base in perspective of user understanding.

Let's watch this video, created by me :P

Apr 13, 2008

Gigapan - Experiece the panoramic view

http://gigapan.org

The Gigapan process engages with you in four steps:

1. Explore

Starting right now, you can search, browse and explore all of the panoramas that are available on the GigaPan sharing site. Dive into the panoramas to explore for yourself, or explore other users' snapshots to see what others have found.

2. Discover

As soon as you create your free user account, you can not only explore, but you can also annotate and share your discoveries by creating new snapshots and describing what you have found. This is a way to take part in the GigaPan community even if you have not done panoramic photography yet.

3. Create

We are beta-testing prototypes of the Gigapan robotic mount, which attaches to your small digital camera to create a fast and easy-to-use high-resolution panorama capture device. We are growing the beta process and are negotiating concerning general release and sales of the Gigapan camera. You will be able to purchase these low-cost robotic mounts and take several hundred or thousand images at a time to create panoramas with one billion pixels and more.

You don't need specialized GigaPan hardware to take your own panoramas. If you have lots of patience, a high-quality digital camera, and a good tripod (or very steady hand!) you can take hundreds or thousands of overlapping, zoomed-in pictures for a gigapixel-scale panorama, then use off-the-shelf stitching software to combine the images into one very high-resolution panorama for upload.

4. Share

Once you create your free account, you can download our free upload tool to enable you to take any panoramic, high-resolution image and add it to the GigaPan sharing site for community exploration, annotation, and discovery.

In Gigapan, you can use the toolbar on the left to pan the view you like.
You can submit own photos and use gigapan to help you create the panoramic experience,
then you can share it to your friends.

Panoramic view able to let user experience the real scene and environment than a normal static images.

You can add Gigapan service on Google Earth too. Here is what I read and try out!
Below is the example of Meteor Crater, Let's click on the link below the title.
You will be zoomed to the point and you can take a look how large the crater and environment around the crater!

Use the pan tool on the right top or drag the box on the top right to pan around!

Using Adobe After Effect To Key Out Green Screen

Was busy with several "hobbies" past few weeks to refresh back my 3D skills with 3D Max, Adobe After Effect, Ulead Video Studio, Adobe Flash, Adobe Photoshop, Goldwave and etc.

Here is the given story where character was shot infront the Green Screen ( I use 3D Max to render the Green Environment to create the Green Screen Effect. In fact, for real charactor should take the shot in studio. )

Noted that the recommended colors to be key out are Green (0,255,0) or Blue ( Blue ). It depends on your colors on the video.

I would like to use Adobe After Effect to key out the Green Color and make it transparent, so that I can overlaps my charactor video on top of background video.

There are actually a lot methods to do that, you may use Ulead Studio ( Chrome Features ) too.

But this example, I am using Linear Color Key under Effect Control > Keying menu.

When I have more times, will show you all my works :)

Enjoy creating your creative movie.

Happy Songkran with Microsoft Thailand

Today 13 April is Songkran Festival of Thailand again!
For past two years I was in Bangkok and really enjoy playing powder and water on the road!

This year only able to wish my Thai friend Happy Songkran and receive the holy water and blessing from each others!

Here is an interesting Microsoft Thailand Silverlight wishes!
Very nice! Take a look!