Hightail

Date February 1, 2015

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ABOUT:

Hightail is a both a storage and a sharing application. You do not need to be signed up for Higtail to receive files, but you must in order to share them, or contribute to them. Hightail works on the cloud and can store all your files for you, allowing you to share a high volume of files like film footage, music files, or videos. It is more for business than for school, but if you are making large multimedia projects in groups, this might be the right storage and sharing application for you.

Supported

PC, Mac, Mobile

Pros

Allows you to share large files without a need for email
You do not need to sign up for Hightail to receive files
Since it operates on a cloud system, even when your computer crashes, your files are still stored.

Cons

Since you have to download Hightail onto your device, you cannot use it from a school or borrowed computer.
Unless you password protect your files, they may not be private to you and your colleague.

EXAMPLES

Because Hightail is a sharing/storage application, it would be invasive to show a student example. Instead, here is a video about how it works:

Uses

You could use Hightail for any class that asks you to share or store large files. Hightail may be most useful to film production students, but you need not be working with that much content for it to be useful.

Dreamweaver

Date November 4, 2014

Posted by Valerie Robin

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Dreamweaver

ABOUT:

Dreamweaver is a unique website building suite with all of the new web-building technologies like HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, SQL, and many more. Dreamweaver also provides tools for porting to mobile and tablet design. It provides starter templates so websites don’t have to built from scratch. No coding experience is required for using Dreamweaver, but options are available if you wish to take the next step. Dreamweaver is part of the Adobe Suite.

Supported

Supported on Mac and PC. Due to intensive memory usage, it is not recommend for using on tablets or phones.

Pros

Great tools for easy website building
Advanced steps for coding are there if you ever want to drop in
Integration with the entire Adobe Suite for easy file transfer between programs
Live View features create easy workflow

Cons

No edit in Live View
Cannot include reactive web templates without CSS
Steep learning curve

Examples

A screenshot of Dreamweaver at work.

Uses

Dreamweaver’s main uses are for web development, but it is easy to use for anyone interested in creating dynamic and responsive web design very quickly. It’s wide base for integration with other technologies other than HTML/CSS/JS make it one of the best hybridization tools for computers today. Use Dreamweaver for any project that includes web integration and stop by CURVE for consultation services or visit the Digital Aquarium website for Dreamweaver classes.

Blogger

Date November 4, 2014

Posted by Valerie Robin

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Blogger

ABOUT:

Blogger is one of the most popular platforms of blogging on the Internet. Blogger is owned by Google and therefore integrates many of Google’s tools like Adsense and Google+. Microsoft Word documents can be directly added into Blogger posts, making it easy to format posts and share them through a Blogger account. Customized templates as well as CSS integration are available as well.

Supported

Mac, PC, mobile, tablet

Pros

Can gather lots of followers with a wide community
Easy integration with many of Google’s other services
For use on mobile devices

Cons

Very specific limitations (No html markup, 500 characters max…)
Limits on picture sizes and resolutions
New post editor is somewhat unreliable

Examples

Below is an example of a blog hosted on blogger for nerds who want to get into shape. Notice the design choices this blogger has made. He targets a specific audience, uses a fitting font and template, and matches his pictures to the content. Click on the image below to visit the site.

Uses

You can use a blogger blog in any class. You might use it to respond to reading, to organize thoughts, or to just let the world know how your course is going. Alternatively, your instructor may assign you to run a blog, and blogger is a fine place to start when choosing a place for the blog you want to create.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Date November 4, 2014

Posted by Valerie Robin

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Adobe Premiere Pro

ABOUT:

Adobe Premiere is the main video editing tool used in the Adobe CS6 Suite. It features a unique workflow experience to the Adobe Suite. You can add anything from almost any document format–image PNGs, video MOVs or WMVs, Photoshop .PSDs, and many more. Take any video and apply a wide variety of effects, compositions, or animations like image stabilization, lens flares, and audio voice-overs. Premiere is the industry-standard for video editing and is a primary skill for anyone working in the film industry.

Supported

Premiere Pro is supported on Mac, PC, and even on Tablets and phones in the new 2014.1 version.

Pros

Industry standard of video editing
Integration with the rest of the Adobe Suite
Features unique tools for editing workflow

Cons

Steep learning curve – you will need to use tutorials or classes to learn this application.
Tedious editing process
No “live edit” function where edits can be applied in real time

Examples

Adobe’s masking tools can be used to track any object through its timeline.

A video showing Premiere’s new tablet and phone app to export videos and share them

Uses

Premiere Pro is used for editing video only, unlike Adobe After Effects which is primarily used for adding elements to video. Premiere Pro can be used for video analysis frame by frame, enhancing video, or making informative videos.

tumblr

Date November 3, 2014

Posted by Valerie Robin

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tumblr

ABOUT:

tumblr is a social media that can be used in a variety of ways. It not only has blogging capabilities, but can be made to look a lot like an instagram feed, or on the opposite spectrum, a text-heavy informational feed. tumblr allows you to embed video, and images of all types. It also allows you to favorite posts, comment, and reblog other posts you want to share with others.

Supported

Mac, PC, phones and tablets

Pros

widely shareable
intuitive, easy to create platforms
variety of uses

Cons

social media aspect can be distracting
some themes can be too busy and can become distracting from a design aspect

EXAMPLES

In the example below, you can see how the authors used their tumblr page to both present and archive information that could be useful both in a presentation, or for people to visit like they would an informational website. Click the image to visit the full site:

Uses

tumblr can be used as a presentation tool, an archival tool, a blogging tool, or in many other ways. One of the beauties of tumblr is its versatility.

Weebly

Date November 2, 2014

Posted by Valerie Robin

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Weebly

ABOUT:

Weebly is a surprisingly easy way to create a unique website, blog or online store. It is a drag-and-drop system that allows you to chose from many templates, and plugins that will help you create your page. You can import images, video, and text to help you create your project and capture your audience. It’s so easy, you can even do it on your phone.

Supported

PC, Mac, Mobile

Pros

The drag and drop dashboard is so easy, even a first time web builder can do it, with no tutorial
The templates are versatile enough to create lots of types of sites
No coding needed. Ever.

Cons

Because of the ease of Weebly, it has less of a professional feel than many other site builders.
Because there is no coding involved, you are stuck with the offerings on Weebly

EXAMPLES

There are several examples of Weebly website online. Click on the image below to see a page where you can click on a bunch of different student examples:

Uses

You can use Weebly to complete several kinds of projects. It is a great place to keep a class blog, or to create a website for a presentation, or a digital portfolio.

WordPress

Date November 1, 2014

Posted by Valerie Robin

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WordPress

ABOUT:

Many people use WordPress as either a blogging site, or a website. This is because WordPress is versatile and has many features to chose from, both free, and for a charge. First, the user must chose a ‘theme’ which makes up the look and feel of the blog site. The user must then clear the WordPress settings, like the “Hello World!” post that comes with each new site. Once you have chosen a theme and written the first post, there are a number of options you have, each specific to the theme you have chosen, including but not limited to – video streaming, media hosting, static pages, menus, and a variety of widget and plugins to enhance your site.

Supported

Mac, PC, Mobile, Tablet

Pros

Multi-Use tool
Easy to use and maintain once you get the hang of it
One user may host over 10 blogs using the same login

Cons

It takes a long time to design your blog or website, and this can be a difficult experience for new users.
Some themes will allow certain actions, while others will not – or will ask for them to be performed differently. This can be confusing and frustrating.

EXAMPLES

This blog won an award in 2012 for best student blog. Consider the layout, color choice and content arrangement as you look through the example. Click on the image below to be taken to the full site:

Uses

Blogs can be used for any number of projects. A blog can be built to look like a website, or to keep a log of content like the example above.

You may be asked to keep a blog for a class, or you may elect to use the blog application to showcase a project, or keep your own personal record of your learning. The blog is only as limited as your imagination.

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