Rainy Auckland Winter Day


The video above is a short video I made this evening as an experiment. I wanted to see how easy it was to make a video using iMovie on my iPad. On the whole, it was pretty easy.

I shot some video of the rain this afternoon with an idea that I might make a YouTube video with it. This evening I was playing with my iPad, remembered that it had iMovie on it, and I wondered how hard it would be to use.

The first problem was figuring out how to get my footage onto my iPad. It turns out, my videos don’t automatically share to iCloud (probably a setting I made at some point). So, I uploaded them to Dropbox, then opened Dropbox on my iPad and saved them to my photos on my iPad (often called a “Camera Roll”)

After that, it was just a matter of figuring out how to assemble everything. I expect phone and tablet apps to teach me how to use them as I use them, but sometimes I get stuck. Apart from having to Google how to get video onto my iPad, this time I had very little trouble figuring it out.

However, there were a few things I haven’t figured out yet, like how to shorten the duration of onscreen titles and how to adjust the level of the music track (the levels in the video were automatic; the music was included with iMove, by the way).

If I’d edited the video on the Mac, I’d have no trouble with any of those things, and I would have edited out the camera shake in a couple spots. But I wanted to see what was possible—or, at least, obvious—to do on the iPad. Some day I may shoot some video and want to get it uploaded quickly (interestingly, one of the templates was for CNN’s uploaded videos from amateurs).

So, all in all, it wasn’t too bad, though I’ll use the Mac for editing nearly all the time. Still, it was kind of fun.

This was my second video so far this year, and this video is actually part of the “soft re-launch” of my YouTube Channel. I’m posting similarly short videos up until the actual relaunch, which is coming soon.

And all of that will be shared here on this blog. Of course.

The Technical Stuff: The video was shot using a 20.3MP Samsung DX 1000, and the still shot of water drops at the beginning and end was shot with an iPhone 5c. The video was edited on an iPad2 using iMovie, a built-in template and built-in music. The final video was saved as a 1080 HD video, then uploaded to YouTube directly from the iPad (which takes a lot longer than from a desktop computer, BTW).

This is one of those rare crossposts with AmeriNZ Blog, something I forgot to share here, too.

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AmeriNZ 310 – Winterish

amerinz_podcast_150x150After a little bit of weather talk, I begin the first topic, a recap of my periodontal procedures. More recently, I had a gout attack in my hand. Sigh. Then, I talk about a couple things in the New Zealand news and one from Australia, too.

Check out the new AmeriNZ Facebook Page!

There are several ways to send me an audio message—this earlier post lists them.

Links for this episode
“Tooth tales” – My post on the first procedure
“Root of my problem” – the second procedure
“Dictating the future” – My blog post where I talk about the gout attack
“A crime in the neighbourhood” – My blog post last year on the murder
“Blessie Gotingco trial: Guilty of rape and murder”Stuff
The NZ flag – your chance to decide – NZ Government page on the referendum
“[Australian] Labor [Party] to introduce bill legalising gay marriage”The New Daily


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AmeriNZ 295 – Waiting

We’re waiting for stuff, especially a three-day holiday weekend. We’re doing some stuff, may do other stuff. I was a grumpy Kiwi the other day, which gives me a chance to talk about some items in the New Zealand news—including a cat fight, a story that was reported internationally. I update the hosting search and also tell you about my pushing for a better deal for podcasters.

A new 2Political Podcast episode is scheduled for next week.

There are several ways to send me an audio message—this earlier post lists them. (http://amerinzpodcast.com/?p=1549)

Links for this episode
Grumpy Kiwi – my blog post on three NZ news stories I mentioned
Cat fight – A NZ news story that went international
The annual increasing number: 54 – my blog post on my birthday
The birthday message I played is from the Big Fatty Online podcast
Fourth Anniversary – my blog post on the fourth anniversary of our civil union.

Please leave a written comment, an audio message using the SpeakPipe widget, or on Audioboo or Skype (user name on both is AmeriNZ), or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com (you can email me an audio file, too, if you want).

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Another guest spot

I was a guest on another podcast, Pink Wheelnuts Garage. The episode is: PWNG-019 Commonwealth Attack. I was there with Mark in Canada (an American expat in Canada), Scotty the Little Aussie Battler, That Peter G (the only one in this show living in the USA), and the host, The Fey Driver, who is Canadian. It’s an eclectic show, and was a lot of fun to be part of. Check it out!

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AmeriNZ 288 – Mutiny

This is not a typical podcast—recorded by a guest host, and very short. But it was all done with good intentions. A normal episode next week.

Links for this episode
Quake threat in Wellington lower than thought – NZ Herald
Remember Auckland before the Sky Tower? – NZ Herald

Please leave a comment, ring my US Comment Line on 206-666-5172, or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com.

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AmeriNZ 285 – Better

This is just an update podcast: Today and this week are both better, and even the weather got better. Yep, had some good developments this week—and one not so good one that still turned out okay. Once again, comments let me expand on topics. There’s even an easter egg this episode.

Links for this episode
Arthur and Paul Talk – our new podcast. The site has subscription information.
Roadshow lessons – My blog post on the Adobe Roadshow

Please leave a comment, ring my US Comment Line on 206-666-5172, or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com.

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AmeriNZ 239 – Fifteen

Today is my 15th expataversary and anniversary, so I talk about that first. Then, updates to a couple topics I’ve talked about on the podcast before I move on to the main topic today: Comments. They’ve piled up a bit, so today I clear out the inbox. You’ll see why I NEVER use a written script. Yeah, that’s a good thing. Still, that lets me comment on a bunch of different stuff. Finally, I tell you a bit about the transition to the new Auckland.

Join me for the next AmeriNZ LIVE podcast on Pride 48, scheduled for Thursday, November 4 at 8:00pm EDT Americas (1:00pm Friday, November 5 NZ time). This is subject to change, however.

Splash Home

Please leave a comment, ring my US Comment Line on 206-666-5172, or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com.


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AmeriNZ 175 – Where was I?

amerinz_podcast_150x150It’s now been nearly two and a half weeks since my last “normal” AmeriNZ Podcast. But, things are back to normal (so-called) now. 2Political Podcast is now fully spun-off, so those episodes won’t prevent me from doing two AmeriNZ episodes per week.

In preparation for resuming a normal podcasting schedule, I update some things I’ve talked about (it’s easy for these sorts of updates to pile up). I start with an update on needed changes to NZ criminal law. Then, it’s on to why I won’t provide any immigration advice. The NZ Prime Minister, John Key, is in the USA and will deliver the Top Ten List on David Letterman. The new Auckland Council has been established by Parliament.

The next AmeriNZ Live group show podcast is Thursday 8pm North America time, 12 Noon Friday in New Zealand on Pride48.com.

Links for this episode

New Zealand Immigration Service.
Blogger told to stop advising on immigration.

Please leave a comment, ring my US Comment Line on 206-666-5172, or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com.


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AmeriNZ 170 – 070809

Today is 07/08/09 in this part of the world and I have to observe such an auspicious occasion, which is apparently a once-in-a-lifetime event. After that, I talk about something that’s killing dogs. Then, Dames and Sirs—a gay man turns down a knighthood.

Links for this episode

UK article on 07/08/09
Toxic algae prime killing suspect
New Zealand’s Titles and Styles of Knights and Dames

Please leave a comment, ring my US Comment Line on 206-666-5172, or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com.


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AmeriNZ 153 – After the holiday

amerinz_podcast_150x150Easter and our holiday are over, so it’s back to normal. I begin by talking about some useless information about Easter, then a bit about our time off. Then, finally, I tell you a bit about the new Auckland, and that features some special commentary. Be back later this week with a 2Political Podcast.

Link for this episode
‘Star Trek’ on the red carpet post on my blog.
Little Aussie Battler.

Please leave a comment, ring my US Comment Line on 206-666-5172, or send an email to arthur{at]amerinzpodcast.com.


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