Some things I have done for me, that might be also useful for others.
This is an experimental section. In the future I may add some more chapters. Or maybe not.
Note: this is preliminary information
The TdPCT 16i/20io-BMD is a hardware interface, software programmable, that provides contact closure inputs and outputs for use in conjunction with Blackmagic Design (BMD) Videohub video routers and/or ATEM Constellation video switchers.
The input section transmits switching commands to a Videohub router or ATEM switcher following the closure of momentary external contacts, memorizing the order of contact closure by means of a First In Last Out (FILO) stack, so as to subsequently restore the routing states in the reverse order of contact closure. It is specifically designed to be used for broadcast camera colour matching & technical control – a feature sometimes referred to as “Touchdown Preview” (when using dedicated contact buttons), while other times “Joystick Preview” or “Joystick Override” (when using the iris control lever contact closure mechanism).
The output section receives the actual status of an ATEM switcher and closes relay contacts in accordance with the video source selection on the PGM and/or PVW bus. It is therefore suitable for situations where a broadcast equipment requires a simple contact closure for its own tally system.
Unlike the Blackmagic Design GPI & Tally interface, both sections can coexist and can operate simultaneously and independently of each other and the output section can be configured to follow a combination of PGM (red) and PVW (green) tallies for where such use is preferred.
Note: the input section always use the Blackmagic Videohub Ethernet Protocol and so – when referring to ATEM switchers – it can only work in conjunction with those ATEM models that have also implemented the Videohub protocol, such as the Constellation series.
Before anything else: because of the contradictory * YOOtheme Proprietary Use License on which the Widgetkit was originally published, I prefer to NOT provide here the Widgetkit package for download. Instead, I will only provide this version as an update for those websites that are still using the original old Widgetkit 1.5 version once purchased and therefore where the Joomla! version itself is still old, such as 2.5 or 3 and who thus want it to upgrade, while still keeping the exact effects setup provided by the original Widgetkit 1.5 version.
Specifically, the Polaroid ** pictures effect. More info in the article below.
* Contradictory, because once it says “The Software is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL)” and then it states that “These Terms of Service do not grant you any right, title or license to copy, reproduce, sell, or otherwise distribute any part of the intellectual property”, a statement which effectively breaks the GPL license terms.
** Addressed to those who still know what a “Polaroid” picture is :)
Just recently I had to fix a technical trouble to an old Joomla! based website. That web site used a picture layout effect called “Polaroid” (as I found out from the page code), that turned out to be part of an old version of an extension called “Widgetkit”, developed by YOOtheme GmbH.
While I was trying to convince the owner of that website about the need to update Joomla! to the latest version (which in the end I didn’t succeeded), I investigated the availability of that extension in terms of compatibility with the latest Joomla! versions. So I found out that the Widgetkit extension still exists and is actively maintained, but to my surpise I also found out that the Polaroid effect was removed many years ago, inspite of a few random user requests for this effect to remain available in the newer versions.
The template on which this web site is based on was made years ago by the JoomlaShine company, which at some point it Officially Closes Its Door. Because of this, the development of their otherwise high quality Joomla! templates remained frozen in time at Joomla! 3 version level.
There was a lot of fuss from customers who suddenly saw themselves abandoned, many complained in various ways, but strangely no one seems to have taken any part of their original products to continue development – at least in the meaning to ensure compatibility with newer Joomla! (and PHP) versions.
Because I found myself faced with a combination of factors – such as trying to stay in line with the most recent Joomla! core development, combined with the fact that it proved quite difficult to find another actively supported Joomla! template that could be easily adapted to look just like my existing web site – I decided to take the hard way: I converted the old template code (generation 1) for Joomla! 3 and its required template framework (also generation 1) to become compatible with Joomla! 5.
Notes:
In principle, the JSN Solid PRO template provided here may be compatible also with Joomla! 4, but if it’s going to be a hassle anyway, then let it be all the way :) Maybe one day I will find time to do the same with JSN Epic PRO and possibly also with JSN Ventura PRO templates, but most likely not anytime soon.
Installing the JSN Solid PRO template provided here makes sense rather for web sites that are still using it with Joomla! 3 and must inevitably be updated to Joomla! 5, while keeping the same look and feel *.
* However, some minor tweaks within the template’s css files may be then required – therefore, not only for backup, but also for reference and comparison, it is strongly advised to have the old site reproduced separately in either way.
Just another software control panel for some * of the Blackmagic Design ATEM video switcher models. Although such thing may seem strange considering the existence of the original, powerful and freely available software control panel from BMD, surprisingly, in my particular use case, there were several reasons why I preferred to build this version of the program – but limited to just basic video sources switching.
* Currently supported models are ATEM SDI, ATEM Television Studio HD, ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K and ATEM 1 M/E Constellation.
Current Streamstar Live Sports Production And Streaming Solutions have no built-in hardware interfacing solution for “standard” broadcast camera tally light. Such an interfacing means a contact closure for the corresponding on-air camera, via GPI port connected to that camera CCU (or any other GPI-based camera tally solution). Perhaps not such a big issue for the way some studios or broadcasters are working today, but possibly a true problem for those who really need it.
The VifuLens is an interface designed with the aim to provide remote control for B4-mount broadcast lenses and PT(Z) head, using VISCA commands sent over a TCP network. It comprises of a microcomputer connected to the LAN, an analog interface that connects directly to the zoom, focus and iris (ZFI) connectors of the lenses and a RS-232 serial port that connects to the pan and tilt head (PT(Z)). While originally designed for Fujinon broadcast lenses and PTZOptics broadcast pan & tilt head combination, it can be adapted to other scenarios as well.
I started developing this hardware interface and its related software within a specific project I worked on, where a system consisting of several Micro Studio Camera 4K cameras, MTF B4 lens adapters, ZA17x7.6BERD-S6 lenses and PT-610 / PT-BRDCSTR-P PTZ heads had to be installed. The interface turned out to be a necessity, because the PTZ head controller model, which was specifically requested for that project, has been originally designed to connect to remote lens control of compact camcorders, not to independent B4-mount broadcast lenses type which usually equips ENG or EFP cameras.
Note: the PT-610 broadcast pan & tilt head appears now to be discontinued by PTZOptics, but it may be still available from the VHD company.
Ever wanted to put the 808 Pureview on a tripod and take a picture of yourself while standing at some distance from the camera ? Now this can be done even more easily than with the built‑in self‑timer !
Notes:
This article refers to Symbian^3 based Nokia mobile phones, in particular 808 PureView and N8 models.
The solution provided here is most suitable when the mobile phone is used in conjunction with a tripod, not with a selfie stick.
The solution provided here is based on a third‑party application installed on phone, used in conjunction with a Bluetooth remote control originally designed to be used with Apple devices; other particular Bluetooth remote controls may work as well, in case they happen to use the same key codes. Feel free to experiment !
It happens that I have an ASUS R700 GPS device. Although a good piece of hardware, ASUS has dropped the software support for it, leaving the users only with map updates possibility (from Naviextras site) – but even this one only until 1 May 2016, the date from which map updates support for this device has also been dropped.
The original ASUS GO GPS application provided with the R700 was from the beginning (and remained) a sort of beta version of the Nav N Go iGO GPS application, with poor or broken automatic map overview in 3D mode, occasional software crashes and skipping full support for possibly additional map features on newer map versions. The latest software update from ASUS site occurred in 2008.