How to Use Special Effects on a Mac iSight Camera

Open iChat and start the video camera. You can do this by clicking on the camera icon next to your name or selecting PREVIEW VIDEO from the VIDEO drop down menu. Once you have started the camera, select SHOW EFFECTS from the VIDEO menu.
From the special effects toolbox simply select the effect you want to see displayed in the video preview window. Notice the ORIGINAL view is always present in the center of the selections so you can easily flip back to the normal camera view.
Scroll through the effects pages using the scroll keys. The original is always in the center. There are six pages of effects, so take your time and experiment with all of the different ones. Keep in mind that flipping through the effects can be irritating to the people you are chatting with; you have to be in a playful mood.
There are also video effects. The roller coaster and fish tank are my favorites. Notice that your image will be in the center of the video effect and the video will run behind your image. Your chat members may see you on a roller coaster or in front of Yosemite Falls. Kids seem to love the video effects, although I am not sure how the grandparents may feel about them.
You can also add your own backgrounds from image files. Simply select an image file and you will see your camera image in front of the image background. This actually has a practical use for trainers and business. For example, you could put your company logo tiled behind you, which would give the look and feel of being at a press conference. The special effects are a fun way to add a little pizazz to a business conference or to just get a little wacky when chatting with family and friends.
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How to Change the Date and Time Zone on Mac OS X

Click on the Apple Menu in the upper left-hand corner of your screen and select 'System Preferences.'
Click on the 'Date and Time' icon in the Preferences Panel to activate the 'Date and Time' preferences.
Click on the 'Date and Time' button at the top-center of the panel. The date and time can be automatically adjusted from a network time server, if your Mac is connected to the Internet, by checking 'Set Date & Time Automatically.' Your computer will adjust its internal clock to a central network server.
Set the date and time manually. If you are not connected to the Internet, de-select the 'Set Date & Time Automatically' check-box and adjust the date and time using the date and time adjustment arrows above the calendar and clock. The date can also be selected by clicking on the corresponding calendar day. The time can also be adjusted by clicking on the time displayed above the clock and entering the correct time using the numbers on your keyboard.
Select your current and correct time zone on your computer. To select the time zone, click on the 'Time Zone' button at the top of the 'Date and Time' panel. Click on the world map to select the city nearest to your location or use the pop-up box to select the closest city to your location. When you've completed your date and time adjustments, close the 'Date and Time' preference pane to save your settings.
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How to Change Your Nickname on Apple Game Center

Tap the “Game Center” icon on your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad device.
Tap the “Account” button on the main screen. Your email address is listed on this button.
Tap “View Account” when asked what you want to do with the account.
Scroll down and tap the “Nickname” button under “Game Center Identity.”
Type in a new nickname for your Apple Game Center account.
Tap “Go” to complete the process of changing your Game Center nickname.
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How to Convert MP4 to DVD on a Mac

Download and install the free Burn software program to the Mac's desktop (see link in Resources). Run the Burn software program. Select the 'Video' tab at the top of the Burn software program's main window.
Drag the MP4 video file into the open space at the center of the Burn software program's main window. Click on 'Yes' when a window pops up asking to convert the MP4 file to the MPEG-2 video format.
Click on the drop-down menu in the window that appears and select 'NTSC.' Navigate to where the MPEG-2 file should be saved and click on 'OK' to close the window. Wait as the MPEG-2 video file is created from the MP4 video file.
Click in the open column next to the icon of a disk at the top of the Burn software program's main window, and enter in a name for the DVD you are going to make.
Select 'DVD-Video' from the drop-down menu to the right of the name of the DVD you are going to make.
Click on the MP4 file in the open space of the Burn software program's main window. Press the 'Delete' key to remove the MP4 file. Drag the MPEG-2 file into the open space where the MP4 file was.
Click on the 'Burn' button on the Burn software program's main window. Wait as the DVD burner's disk tray ejects. Put a blank, recordable DVD on the disk tray. Press the 'Close Disk Tray' button on the window that appears to close the disk tray.
Wait as the DVD is burned. Quit the Burn software program when the DVD has been completely burned. Eject the DVD and watch the video you have converted from an MP4 video file on a stand-alone DVD player.
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How to Connect My Sennheiser Bluetooth Headphones to My MacBook Pro

Open the cover located on the left earcup of the headphones. Connect one end of the charging cable to the socket installed in the earcup. Connect the remaining end of the cable to one of the USB ports located on the left side of the MacBook Pro. Allow the battery to charge for three hours before proceeding.
Disconnect the charging cable from the headphones and computer. Close the cover on the left earcup. Hold down the button installed in the center of the right earcup until the surrounding LED blinks red three times. Press the button again until the LED blinks blue and red in alternating order.
Click on the Bluetooth icon located on the left side of the computer's menu bar. Select the option labeled 'Set Up Bluetooth Device.' Select the headphones from the list of entries and follow the onscreen instructions; when prompted for a passcode, input '0000.'
Check the LED on the right earcup; if the LED is blue, a connection has been established. Repeat steps one through three if the LED is blinking red. Put the headphones on and play a piece of audio to confirm that the device is working.
Locate the two buttons installed near the bottom edge of the right earcup. Press the left button if you wish to toggle the Bluetooth connection on and off. Press the right button if you wish to activate the 'NoiseGard' feature. Press the buttons installed around the LED on the right earcup to adjust the playback volume.
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How to Connect a Sanyo Pro

Locate the video out port on your computer and determine if you have a VGA or DVI connection. VGA ports are square in shape with circular holes in the center of the port while DVI ports are rectangular with square-shaped holes.
Plug one end of the VGA or DVI cable into the port on your computer.
Connect the other end of the cable into the VGA or DVI port on the Sanyo projector. Turn on the projector.
Click the Windows orb and click the 'Control Panel' option. Type 'projector' into the search box and click 'Connect to a Projector' in the results that appears. Click the 'Duplicate' or 'Extend' option in the display type field to send video to the projector.
Press the 'Input' button on the projector's control panel until the image from the computer appears on the projector's screen.
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How to Hook Up an HDMI Cable to a TV DVR

Power off your TV and DVR.
Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI output port on your DVR. The port will be on the back panel, typically near the center.
Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to an HDMI input on your TV. Most newer sets have multiple HDMI inputs, allow you to choose the best input for your DVR.
Power on your DVR and TV. Use your TV's remote to switch to the HDMI input into which you plugged the DVR. Typically this is done by either hitting the 'INPUT' button or 'HDMI' button on your remote. Once the input switches you will see the display from your DVR on your TV.
Use your DVR's remote to enter the device's settings menu. Refer to your DVR's owner's manual for the exact process. Set the output resolution on your DVR to the maximum resolution your TV will accept, typically 1080p.
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How to Find the Log Files on a Mac Computer (3 Steps)

Click on the 'Finder' shortcut on the task bar at the bottom of your screen. Select the 'Applications' tab from the left-hand side of the screen.
Scroll down the screen and locate the 'Utilities' tab in the center of the window. Click on that tab to access the next menu. On the next menu, scroll down and select 'Console' from the available options.
Launch the 'Console' application and a list of your log files will appear on the screen. The log files will tell you the exact time and date of a particular action and what the source of the action was. If you do not see a list of your log files upon opening the program, click on the 'Show Log List' option in the top left-hand corner of the screen. Scroll down the screen and locate the log file that you are searching for.
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How to Connect an iPad to an External Hard Drive

Connect an external hard drive to your PC, and then right-click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner and choose “File Explorer” from the context menu.
Right-click the hard drive, listed under This PC, on Explorer’s left sidebar, and then choose “Properties,” followed by “Sharing” and “Advanced Sharing.” Check the “Share This Folder” check box. By default, this gives all of the PC’s users read-only access to the hard drive’s contents; if necessary, click “Permissions” to change these privileges.
Right-click the Windows logo again and choose “Control Panel.” Click “Network and Sharing Center,” followed by “Change Advanced Sharing Settings.” In the 'Guest or Public' section, enable “Turn On Network Discovery” and “Turn On File and Printer Sharing.” In the All Networks section, activate “Turn On Password-Protected Sharing,” and then click “Save Changes.”
Tap “Settings” on your iPad, followed by “Wi-Fi.” Make sure that the Wi-Fi switch is in the “On” position. Under 'Choose a Network,' select the Wi-Fi network that your computer is using.
Download and install the free FileExplorer app from the App Store (link in Resources). Tap the app to launch it.
Touch “+,” followed by “Windows.” Wait a few seconds for your computer’s name to display on the screen, under Network Neighborhood.
Tap your computer’s name, choose “Registered User” as a connection preference, type your PC login credentials, and then tap “OK.”
Touch your hard drive’s name in the next screen. Use the bottom icons to search, navigate, sort, create new folders or transfer files from the drive. Tap any file to view or play it within the app. Use the arrow icon on the upper right to open the file in another app, or delete, print or email it.
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