Gadgets

  • So Bad, It’s Good

    Microsoft has a new product that people use to create a new genre of really bad music.  I have to admit that I enjoy it, even though it's like watching a train wreck.

    Microsoft just released Songsmith, a product where you sing the words as best you can, and its software supplies computer-matched musical accompaniment. The truth is that it probably has some pretty advanced technology.

    It has become trendy to take a vintage rock video, strip out the instruments, and then let Songsmith process the classic song in "unexpected" ways.  So, if you want to hear the Police's song, Roxanne, differently than you had before … Songsmith is the right tool for that job.

    To make things worse (or better) Microsoft's promotional video for Songsmith is so bad that it is painful to watch.  It is so campy I suspect it was done intentionally to generate buzz. You've got to see it to believe it.

    Here is the direct link. 

    For the record, I'm a fan of Microsoft.  It may not be a popular
    position to take, but I like and use lots of their software.  They come
    up with many innovative things.  The ad, above, may not be their best
    effort. So watch and listen for yourself?

    Here is the result of Songsmith processing the classic Police song, Roxanne.

    Remember, you get to choose lots of options, like tempo, style, and instruments.  So, someone wanted it to sound like this.  Still, it speaks for itself, doesn't it?  Here is the direct link.

    Here's one with a slightly better result … Oasis' Wonderwall.

    Here is the direct link.

    Here are a few other links worth checking.  Remember, real music sounds better when this stops.

  • So Bad, It’s Good

    Microsoft has a new product that people use to create a new genre of really bad music.  I have to admit that I enjoy it, even though it's like watching a train wreck.

    Microsoft just released Songsmith, a product where you sing the words as best you can, and its software supplies computer-matched musical accompaniment. The truth is that it probably has some pretty advanced technology.

    It has become trendy to take a vintage rock video, strip out the instruments, and then let Songsmith process the classic song in "unexpected" ways.  So, if you want to hear the Police's song, Roxanne, differently than you had before … Songsmith is the right tool for that job.

    To make things worse (or better) Microsoft's promotional video for Songsmith is so bad that it is painful to watch.  It is so campy I suspect it was done intentionally to generate buzz. You've got to see it to believe it.

    Here is the direct link. 

    For the record, I'm a fan of Microsoft.  It may not be a popular
    position to take, but I like and use lots of their software.  They come
    up with many innovative things.  The ad, above, may not be their best
    effort. So watch and listen for yourself?

    Here is the result of Songsmith processing the classic Police song, Roxanne.

    Remember, you get to choose lots of options, like tempo, style, and instruments.  So, someone wanted it to sound like this.  Still, it speaks for itself, doesn't it?  Here is the direct link.

    Here's one with a slightly better result … Oasis' Wonderwall.

    Here is the direct link.

    Here are a few other links worth checking.  Remember, real music sounds better when this stops.

  • Resonant Chamber

    This Animusic video is mesmerizing.  The animation is better than what you find in many video games and adds something to the music, which is pretty good in-and-of itself. 

    The video was not animated by humans.  Instead, the studio that created this video invented an animation engine that analyzes the notes in a piece of music and the engine's algorithms animate from there.

    Fascinating; check-it-out for yourself.

    Here is a direct link to the video on YouTube.  Animusic has their own YouTube Channel.

  • Resonant Chamber

    This Animusic video is mesmerizing.  The animation is better than what you find in many video games and adds something to the music, which is pretty good in-and-of itself. 

    The video was not animated by humans.  Instead, the studio that created this video invented an animation engine that analyzes the notes in a piece of music and the engine's algorithms animate from there.

    Fascinating; check-it-out for yourself.

    Here is a direct link to the video on YouTube.  Animusic has their own YouTube Channel.

  • Data Visualization of President Obama’s Inauguration Speech

    Here are two interactive ways to look at and understand what was said.

    090120 Obama Speech Word Cloud

    Go to Wordle's site to make one yourself.  You can choose colors and layouts to get the look you want.

    Also, here is a Word Tree from IBM's Many Eyes site.  I like this type of tool because you can interact with the data.  Type in any word you see in the Word Cloud above.  This will show you every instance of that word, in context.

    090120 Obama Speech Word Tree Also, here is an embedded link to a version you can interact with yourself.  I suggest you start with words frequently used in the speech like: Nation, People, Today, New and Must.  You can also try phrases like "We Will".

    The Word Tree tool is interesting and useful. Also, I can see how it will work in a business setting with business plans, proposals, marketing material, etc.  This is very cool; and it is easy to build a word tree on your own data at Many Eyes.  Have Fun. 

    Other Links:

    • Word Clouds of Inaugurations Compared (Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Lincoln). (Read Write Web)
    • Hand-Drawn Mindmap of Obama's Speech. (Agerbeck)
    • Photosynth Image of Inauguration site. (Mashable)
    • Another Inauguration site panorama with incredible detail. (Gigapan)
    • Pictures of Obama's Inauguration from Space; puts things in a different perspective. (GeoEye)

  • The Onion Reports That Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

    Just what I needed. Watch the video.

    Very clever reporting from The Onion.

  • The Onion Reports That Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

    Just what I needed. Watch the video.

    Very clever reporting from The Onion.

  • Photology – A New Way To Find What You’re Looking For

    Overwhelmed by too many photos?  Too busy to sort and tag them?  Try this.

    Photology helps you navigate the flood of digital photos on your computer by finding photos using simple and intuitive filters like faces, sky, color, location, and time of day … automatically.

    081226 Photology Picture Finder

    Can't find the photo of you in that pink silk jacket from the 4th of July party on the beach a few years ago? No problem, even with seemingly endless folders of random photos.  You know the expression, "finding a needle in a haystack," right? Thanks to Photology, haystacks of photos will get a lot smaller, making it much easier to find the "needle" you're looking for – even if that needle is an a pink jacket.

    How do you do it?  Well, like this.

    First stop questioning why you own a pink silk jacket.  Then start remembering what you can.  It was a few years ago (probably 2006).  The photo was of faces.  It was outside.  You were wearing pink.  And It was sunset. 

    Photology Search Made Easay

    You can also combine, mix, and match any or all of these tidbits from your memory to find your photo.  It is fast, fun, and very easy to use.

    Try it yourself with this online demo.  After the demo launches, try the filter options on the left.

    I paid this software – and it was worth it.  Now it is free; an even better value proposition.  I'm still going to use Photoshop Elements for the heavier lifting … Still, Photology has its place in the toolbox.

    So click here to download the software.

  • Photology – A New Way To Find What You’re Looking For

    Overwhelmed by too many photos?  Too busy to sort and tag them?  Try this.

    Photology helps you navigate the flood of digital photos on your computer by finding photos using simple and intuitive filters like faces, sky, color, location, and time of day … automatically.

    081226 Photology Picture Finder

    Can't find the photo of you in that pink silk jacket from the 4th of July party on the beach a few years ago? No problem, even with seemingly endless folders of random photos.  You know the expression, "finding a needle in a haystack," right? Thanks to Photology, haystacks of photos will get a lot smaller, making it much easier to find the "needle" you're looking for – even if that needle is an a pink jacket.

    How do you do it?  Well, like this.

    First stop questioning why you own a pink silk jacket.  Then start remembering what you can.  It was a few years ago (probably 2006).  The photo was of faces.  It was outside.  You were wearing pink.  And It was sunset. 

    Photology Search Made Easay

    You can also combine, mix, and match any or all of these tidbits from your memory to find your photo.  It is fast, fun, and very easy to use.

    Try it yourself with this online demo.  After the demo launches, try the filter options on the left.

    I paid this software – and it was worth it.  Now it is free; an even better value proposition.  I'm still going to use Photoshop Elements for the heavier lifting … Still, Photology has its place in the toolbox.

    So click here to download the software.

  • Can A Beautiful Mind Create a Beautiful Face?

    Beauty Function 470p
    A team of scientists recently developed software that, using a carefully tested and proven understanding of facial proportion, greatly improves the attractiveness of your face without damaging your defining features or whether people will recognize that the picture is of you.

    Ever seen a picture of yourself that was a little too good? You’re still you, just a tiny bit better than the real-life you. That’s what this software supposedly does. 

    The inventor says this technology could become a product or web service where people upload their photographs and have them enhanced or beautified by the software. 

    So, if there was an “optimize portrait” button on Facebook, would a lot of people use it? Probably.

    Here is a short video.

    Here is a direct link to the video.

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