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Making of webOS (r)evolution commercial

I know what you are thinking, “how did my wife create that amazing (r)evolution commercial?”



I would like to take a couple minutes to share with everyone how she made it, and what software I used to help her edit it.
First of all here was the setup.



She started with a piece of poster board paper taped to our kitchen floor. Then added a microphone boom with a mini tripod zip tied to the end of the boom. This allowed her to take pictures from the same height every time and also gave a little flexibility in moving the camera around. Finally she added two small halogen lights to either side of the paper to light the “stage”. When taking pictures she took a picture of the whole piece of paper every time and we used software to edit the photos later.

For the commercial she needed 3 full size webOS cards and 6 smaller phones. She started with making the phones.



The phones were made so well it was almost painful to do this to them. The animation was made by crumpling the phones and then playing the animation backward in the commercial.



The cards were pretty easy to make. The hardest part was the animation of the media player. To animate the media player we had to cut slivers off of each album art and then tape them back together one piece at a time. It was time consuming but we were very pleased with the result. The calendar was intentionally longer than the other cards to compensate for when it would be folded.



Once all of the pictures were taken we needed to figure out how to manage 1000+ pictures to make a 1 minute commercial. To start we split up the pictures into folders labeled for each scene and numbered them in order 01_dynatac, 02_nokia, etc. We then used Phatch to trim off edges of each picture and essentially “zoom” into each picture to the size we wanted. Once the pictures were trimmed Métomorphose renamed all the pictures in sequence and then Stopmotion stitched all the pictures together into one video file. To add music and narration to the commercial I used Audacity to record the script she wrote for me and then OpenShot and PiTiVi to match up the audio and video and then export to a finished file. We could have just used one video editor, but OpenShot had a weird white frame at the end of the video so we tried PiTiVi and didn’t have a problem.
We hope you all enjoy the video and I just wanted to take the time to show a little behind the scenes for everything that went into making it. If you listen to mintCast you will know how impressed I was with this finished product, and the fact that it was made entirely with free and opensource software.
If you get a chance, head over to webOS Roundup and vote for the commercial.

MR2 Head Job

On my way home one day I downshifted in my 1987 Toyota MR2 going up a big hill and downshifted a bit too far. I over-revved the engine and the engine died on me. I was able to get the car running but there was obviously something wrong. I did a little bit of troubleshooting the next weekend and found I had lost all compression in my number two cylinder. I didn’t have the time/money/place to fix it so I just let it sit for a couple months while I decided what I was going to do. However, with my DMV renewal quickly approaching I realized I had to do something. Last month I brought the car to a friend of my dad who does some mechanic work on the side. He quickly narrowed the problem down to something wrong with one of the the exhaust valves and I left the car with him to fix it. Of course this meant pulling the head, replacing gaskets, and obviously doing some head work. While he was going to be doing that, I gave him a few other things to look at since I knew the car would be there for at least a couple weeks.
I just got the car back last week, after many trips dropping off parts and getting status updates, and I don’t think the car has ever run this well since I have owned it. I just wanted to share a couple before and after pictures of the head in case anyone else is planning on having head work done on their own cars. In total the head machining cost $210 and included 2 valve replacements, a 3 angle valve job, and decking the head (making sure it is level). Enjoy the pictures, I think I might go for another drive!

Twitter updates

• at disneyland california adventure today. No big lines getting in today so we are off to a good start. #
• 155,200 on Toy Story ride. Not too shabby and really fun. #
• I am excited for all the new technology that is going to be announce/released this week. Zune HD, Palm Pre, PSP Go just to name a few. #
• @erinlynneh It was new, according to wikipedia the next 2 weeks will be new episodes too. Sadly it is cancelled after that though. in reply to erinlynneh #
• NBC why you got to suck so much? You show the first two games of the stanley cup and then don’t show the last 5!! Not all of us get VS chanl #
• @geektonic IMO MS/Sony are competing with a dead console. Nintendo needs to come out with a new console next year if they want to live. in reply to geektonic #
• @erinlynneh ae you l looking for a job so you guys can move out? in reply to erinlynneh #
• Getting ready to record the next mintCast #
• Holy crap…is youtube down? #
• I am out paintballing today. The gun I am borrowing is insane!! #
• this is awesome. The whole field is just for our group. Friday’s are definitely the day to go. #
• @c_welker lets just say it had a setting for fully automatic. 20 paintballs per second. in reply to c_welker #
• I’m at the pick a part today looking for an exhaust manifold for my mr2. It is packed because its is a 1/2 off weekend. I hope I find it. #
• Penguins got PWND tonight. #

Twitter updates

• Finally going to go see Star Trek. #
• who would win: Gandolph vs. Dumbledore (#vs my first hashtag) #
• @Karolis I can see what I can do. To be honest I never looked for that setting before. in reply to Karolis #
• @Karolis I just changed the settings. That should work a lot better now. in reply to Karolis #
• Yay! My Logitech PS3 adapter is all set up and running. Now I truly have a universal remote. #
• tip of the day: if you are taking apart a mac mini for the first time, let it run for 30 min to warm up. It makes the plastic easier to pry. #
• tip of the day 2: don’t forget to plug in the front cable next to the speaker on the mac mini or your fan will stick at full speed. #
• @erinlynneh I will be down by you on saturday. I am going to bring you guys a new computer so I hope you are around. in reply to erinlynneh #
• @erinlynneh I am getting down there early to fix my car. Hopefully I will be done in the afternoon. in reply to erinlynneh #
• #vs who would win: mini me vs. willow #
• I could really go for some HDMI on my TV right now. I really want to play computer games on my TV but don’t want to get out 3 adapters. #
• WTF!! Antz on my computer!! #
• Holy holy crap! Top Gear is on Zune marketplace. That rocks! and it will look great on the Zune HD http://ping.fm/G63tZ #
• I am starting up Team Fortress 2 if anyone wants to join me. This is my first time playing. My steam account is xrothgarx #
• @erinlynneh dad knows a guy that is going to help me out. So I will be at his place most of the day. in reply to erinlynneh #
• Looks like the problem isn’t my piston ring after all. I probably floated a valve and bent it. At least it is a cheaper fix. #
• Am I the only one that didn’t know Pushing Daisies was on tonight? I must have missed something cause I don’t know what is going on. #

Twitter updates

• At Kohl’s trying to find new clothes; Remembered I don’t like clothes shopping. #
• Getting ready to record the next mintCast. #
• Listening to TuxRadar podcast episode 8. One of my favorite Linux podcasts. #
• Looking over training material for Red Hat certification. I have never used Red Hat though :-/ #
• LOL, just finished their Pre-assessment Questionnaire. Conclusion: Your knowledge of the materials at this skill level is spotty. #
• Daytime nighttime, anytime. Things go better with rock! –Autograph #
• Watching Total Recall on Scifi…classic! #
• Thanks for the C0D4 guys. It brings back lots of good memories. #
• @DownloadSquad if all you do is update what is on you site I am going to stop following. I already have RSS for that. Who’s with me? in reply to DownloadSquad #
• Yay for going home early! Boo for not being told to go home early till 30 minutes after everyone else already went home! #
• Catching up on Fringe using the fantastic @SecondRun program. #
• Working on the new mintCast website. Trying to transfer over all the old posts. #

Twitter updates

• Any of my friends watch NHL? This playoff series has been fantastic. #
• Which would you pick? Unlimited data/txt or unlimited voice on you cell phone? I think I would pick data/txt. #
• hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to disneyland I go #
• disneyland is having problams printing tickets. Stuck in line #
• Fnally got inside #
• Indiana jones is broke, going into the tiki room instead. #
• Finally home again. Disneyland was good times. #
• Good game Ducks. That was one of the best series in NHL that I have seen for a long time. Now lets hope my Penguins can stay in it. #
• Getting ready to take my Vista certification test right now. #
• Passed my Vista certification. That was much harder than expected. #
• Porto’s café in downtown glendale is pretty fantastic! #
• I just opened up the mintCast group on http://www.linux.com If you have some feedback or just want to show your support come join the group. #
• Just bought hockey for dummies for 50 cents. Yay thrift stores #
• Cherry on top, it’s colder than cheap stone. #
• Trying out ping.fm to update all my social networks. Also just signed up for a Identi.ca account. This is getting ridiculous. #

Twitter updates

• Ducks and Red Winds!!! I don’t know who to root for. I guess GO DUCKS!!! #
• Yay, the PS3 is back from repair. The UPS guy immediatly asked if I play Xbox. He was suprised when I told him it was a PS3. #
• @mintcast good times recording the podcast together. my kitchen heats up to like 32 C when I am in there for too long, feels good to get out #
• @jungaar I never cared for the GTA series. Only games I own are C0D4, LBP, Rock band (1+2), and UT3. Plus a few PSN games. in reply to jungaar #
• @erinlynneh sucks to hear about dad’s car. I am sure he will fix it though. If anyone can fix it, he can. #
• Happy Cinco Day Off-o! Oh wait, that’s just me. #
• Taking my OSX re-cert part two. #
• Passed. #
• LOL @Linux_Mint I love that RTFM is not a command. Every Linux distribution should have that! #
• The Matrix on Blu-ray, popcorn, A/C, and my wife. Today rocks! #
• @jungaar I don’t know anyone w/ a vaio FW. I read that most of the hotkeys were supposed to work now though. I will try my tt sometime later #
• @bear89103 I didn’t want to see it this weekend. Beth did, but I wanted to wait. Theater crowds != my thing. in reply to bear89103 #
• @bear89103 thx for the rockin party last night, but my drums just don’t seem good enough any more ION drums FTW! #

Twitter updates

• After washing my hair twice, I can still feel where the paintball broke on top of my head yesterday. #
• @geektonic do you have a walkthrough on setting up a movie library in media center? Trying to get thumbs and meta data set up in WMC7 #
• @geektonic Does that require movies in folders and the xml data? or does it do it automatically like XBMC? #
• http://twitpic.com/4ch0t – A nice buick in the apu parking lot. #
• @rothgar oops, i said buick, it is for sure a dodge. in reply to rothgar #
• Eat the World is at Argentinean tonight. Looking forward to some steak. #
• I found out tonight that I do not like blood sausage, and while sweetbread wasnt terrible, the thought of it still is kinda gross. #
• Catching up on the Stanley Cup playoffs I missed this morning. And using DVD Flick to make a DVD for my dad. #

Twitter updates

• Just got off the phone with Sony after my PS3 wouldn’t play Blu-ray or games. Had to turn off the media server to get it to work. LAME! #
• had to make another call 2 Sony. My PS3 needs repair because the movie only played another ~10 minutes. err msg 80029906 or 80010514 = $150 #
• @mintcast I was watching top gear so I lost track of time. I’d say about 30 min though. in reply to mintcast #
• @mintcast It was a pleasure working on the mintcast podcast with you tonight. For our listeners we have a treat for you this week. #
• VZW opened to allow users reviews of their phones. Let the sw/hw bashing begin. Starting w/ the HTC Touch Pro and its lack of ram Stupid VZW #
• Preparing my PS3 to send it in for repair. I have to backup all my stuff, deactivate my accounts, and format the drive. What a hassle. #
• HP Mediasmart server upgrade 2.5 is out now!! Get it before their servers get slammed. #
• I am using a HP 2140 for the next couple of weeks. Anyone have questions or suggestions? #
• @tuxradar My full first impressions http://tinyurl.com/c9u72n twt size: no support for dock, doesn’t live up to hype. still better than 8.10 in reply to tuxradar #
• It is a good thing the NHL isn’t the animal kingdom. Otherwise the ducks would have NO chance tonight against the sharks. #
• Does anyone know what band has the most recorded albums ever? I am curious and my Google powers are lacking today. #
• @pOshahantos I was thinking that too. According to Wikipedia Beatles only have 19 studio albums, rolling stones=24, rush=19. Any more bands? in reply to pOshahantos #
• It makes me happy to have a MythTV system working again. Now for weeks and weeks of tweaking. #

Twitter updates

• Mmmm…Capri deli for dinner. #
• Put our first bid on a house and reached 10,000,000 fans in rock band 2. It has been quite a night. #
• Just snagged my digital copy of the Matrix. Looks to be a little lower than DVD quality. Now how to strip this DRM… #
• @jungaar watching on a 4 yr old samsung 43″ dlp. I notice the difference with blu-ray. 10.6 will be out this year but wait till june macwrld #
• Working on a problem on my tablet with ubuntu 8.10 and wireless. wireless is disabled and I can’t enable it. I can’t wait for 9.04 next week #
• I shouldn’t be looking at Craigslist. I don’t need to buy a Vouge just so I can run Android on Verizon. Although it would be fun to play w/ #
• @jungaar I mainly want to upgrade 4 ext4. It should help a lot with my mythtv recordings and makeshift SSD drives. http://tinyurl.com/c2yb2h #
• Taking my Apple Re-certification test. Any tips? #
• Just passed my test, missed 1 question. Yay for staying Apple certified for 1 more year. #
• I feel like I am wasting bandwidth downloading a release candidate that will have a final release on Thursday. I am just excited. #
• I just realized why my machine has been running so slow. I left it in “Power Saver” mode which throttled my CPU down 50% #
• tip of the night: don’t start a ubuntu 9.04 install at 0022. I am just so excited to try it out. #
• Just now starting my Ubuntu 9.04 install, lets see how long it takes. #