SKE Stuff

Lowest new price: $34.96
List price: $59.99

HBO presents the new one-hour drama series from the fertile mind of Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) and executive produced by Sorkin, Scott Rudin and Alan Poul. Smart, topical, humorous and highly entertaining, The Newsroom takes a behind-the-scenes look at a high-rated cable-news program at the fictional ACN Network, focusing on the on- and off-camera lives of its acerbic anchor (Jeff Daniels), new executive producer (Emily Mortimer), their newsroom staff (John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel and others) and their news-division boss (Sam Waterston). Overcoming a tumultuous first day together – climaxing in a newsflash that a BP oil rig has just exploded in the Gulf of Mexico – the team sets out on a patriotic if quixotic mission to “do the news well” in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles, and their own personal entanglements.

The Newsroom has caused as much conversation about creative and cultural tunnel vision as the HBO series' creator sparks himself. Aaron Sorkin was the brains behind TV's The West Wing, Sports Night, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as well as screenwriter of The Social Network, Moneyball (with Steven Zaillian), and A Few Good Men (based on his play), among others. Wielding a sort of totalitarian imprimatur that marks everything he does, Sorkin is the subject of much adoration and derision, both of which have been heaped on a show with a distinctive voice that can be as long-winded, blustery, and full of idealistic intellect as most of its characters. The Newsroom is set in a sprawling simulacrum of the nerve center for a fictional 24-hour cable news network, with only a few segues into the boardrooms, bars, and apartments. The prime-time anchor is Will McAvoy, a vaguely Republican veteran reporter whose crisis of faith in the media and dedication to the fundamentals of journalism causes a meltdown in the premiere episode. Before he knows it, he's launched into a public diatribe about how America isn't number one, an event that ultimately drives him to form a new path for his show. Helping him craft a purer angle that's poised to cut through the noise, mundanity, and ennui in TV news is a new production team headed by producer MacKenzie McHale. She's an ex-lover who jilted Will, but who also happens to be a firebrand of passion, integrity, and battle-scarred honor. Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer as Will and MacKenzie carry much of the weight with their inherently personal skirmishes (hard feelings linger) and the speechifying that makes up most of the dialogue, usually dialed up to 10 in speed and volume. Will's arrogance is slightly tempered by MacKenzie's uprightness, but both of them represent clear archetypes in Sorkin's quest to carry his message through the medium. MacKenzie says her imperative is "speaking truth to stupid," which pretty well sums up Sorkin's attitude about the show's mission as well as his intention for his audience. The stridency flows from the top down, but the large cast includes plenty of other mouthpieces for the editorializing. All the politics and realistic newsiness is countered by the very public personal lives of the newsroom staff. Thomas Sadoski and John Gallagher Jr. play pit-bull producers with disdain for each other and a mutual attraction to Maggie (Alison Pill), an associate producer who plays ditzy and quick-witted at the same time. Dev Patel is a quietly likable presence on the research desk and Olivia Munn plays an on-air personality with multiple advanced degrees in economics, but a remarkable deficit in social skills. In the executive suite above them all is news director Charlie Skinner, brought to crafty, curmudgeonly, and authoritative life by Sam Waterston.

Sorkin told The New York Times he "thought it would be fun to write about a hyper-competent group of people," which he has certainly done. They're also just plain hyper; watching an episode can be like an adrenaline shot of sermonizing, sanctimony, sophistication, and jaw-dropping flights of fast-talking astuteness. Researching the show, Sorkin spent time embedded at MSNBC shadowing both Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews. He also dropped in on programs at Fox News and CNN that were the model for McAvoy and his Atlantis Broadcasting Network's show "News Night." The homework clearly informs The Newsroom's sense of verisimilitude, which is made even more realistic by the device of molding episodes about real news events of the recent past. The season unfolds from April 2010 to August 2011, so the action includes the newsroom's reporting on everything from the Gulf oil spill and the killing of Osama bin Laden to the teacher protest in Wisconsin and Arizona's controversial anti-illegal immigration bill. Personal politics enter the fray when the subject of the Koch brothers and the Citizens United decision come up, and there's a "News Night" uproar when the Fukushima nuclear crisis spills over into questions of ethics and personal responsibility. But for such a bunch of brilliant, zealous professionals there certainly is a lot of childish behavior, especially when it comes to everyone's love life. Biting social commentary dressed up as high-class entertainment sometimes dips into the soap opera-ish--which doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. A phone-hacking scandal that develops in the last episode will probably carry into the second season. It's also tantalizing to wonder what to expect when The Newsroom starts delving into the 2012 presidential election as seen through the lens of Aaron Sorkin's cutting pen and gift for putting lots of smart words into other people's mouths. --Ted Fry

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Honestech VHS to DVD 7.0 Deluxe

Lowest new price: $79.99
List price: $79.99
Brand: Honestech
Model: VDD7M

Videotapes can deteriorate over time. Your old videos will have color bleed, white specks, and other distortions. Don't risk this happening to your home video collection! VHS to DVD 7.0 Deluxe Provides everything you need to easily convert your videos to digital formats. All you need is a VCR and a PC with a DVD burner and, with VHS to DVD's Easy Wizard Mode, you can transfer your video to DVD or Blu-ray Disc with one click. Step-by-Step pictorial instructions guide you through the process. For more creative options, VHS to DVD 7.0 Deluxe's Advanced Mode lets you capture video from analog or HDV/DV camcorder, VCR or DVD player and more. You can also edit unwanted scenes and add transition effects, burn DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs with custom menus, convert video formats for iPhone, iPad, PSP, and more. When you're ready, you can upload video to YouTube, Facebook, or SkyDive with one click. More, you can capture still images of scenes from your video. To revive old music, use the included Audio Recorder software to convert audio from cassettes, LP records, and video tapes to create WMA files, or audio CDs.

Features:

Capture old VHS, Beta, 8mm or camcorder tapes and convert them to DVD, Blu-ray or other digital formats.
Capture and edit high-definition video from HDV camcorders. Add various special features including background music, take still images of video scenes.
Record audio from your cassettes, LP records, and video tapes to create WMA files or audio CDs.
Enhance your DVD/Blu-ray Disc menu pages by adding motion and music.
Upload to YouTube, Facebook and SkyDrive

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Honestech VHS to DVD 5.0 Deluxe

Lowest new price: $42.99
Lowest used price: $30.74
List price: $69.95
Brand: Honest Technology
Model: VDD5M

VHS to DVD 5.0 Deluxe is a powerful and effortless video conversion solution. VHS to DVD 5.0 Deluxe provides everything you need to easily convert your videos to digital formats. Honest Technology’s VHS to DVD is the number 1 bestselling all-in-one video converter software and hardware solution! VIDBOX video capture device included.System Requirements Operating System : Windows 7 / Vista / XP.

Unlock your memories trapped in old media such as VHS tapes and camcorders. With just a few clicks, you can archive your videotape collection onto DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Videotapes can deteriorate over time. Your old videos will have color bleed , white specks, and other distrotions. Don't risk this happening to your home video collection.

Offers 2 options: Easy Wizard Mode for beginners and Advanced Mode for creative options

All-in-one solution: provides everything you need to convert your video. No external power needed.

Easy Wizard Mode
Using the Easy Wizard Mode, anyone can transfer HDV, VHS, Beta, or other videotapes to DVD with just a few clicks, using step-by-step pictorial instructions that guide the user through the process. This is one of the first software solutions to support Blu-ray Authoring and burning on Blu-ray Discs, which is ideal for burning and playing high-definition video that requires greater data storage space.

Advanced Mode and Audio Recorder
Advanced scene editing tools allow users to record movies, delete commercials or unwanted scenes, and easily add special effects, titles and chapter points. Record audio from your cassettes, LP records, and video tapes to create WMA files or audio CDs.

Convert your analog video and audio into digital formats including DVD, CD, or Blu-ray Disc. You can also watch them on iPhone and iPad or upload to YouTube.

Videotapes can deteriorate over time. Your old videos will have color bleed, white specks, and other distortions. Don't risk this happening to your home video collection!

Features:

Bestselling all-in-one video converter software and hardware solution: U.S. consumer video editing category, NPD 2008 Report
All-in-one solution: Provides everything you need to easily convert your video to DVD, including USB 2.0 video capture device.
HD Editing: Capture and edit high-definition video from HDV camcorders. Supports up to 1920x1080 resolution.
Upload to YouTube: Uploading video to YouTube is easier than ever with a One-Click option.
DVD & Blu-ray Disc Creation: Burn your movies onto DVD, CD or Blu-ray Disc (requires Blu-ray writer); enhance menu pages with motion and music.

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Sony Movie Studio Platinum Suite 12

Lowest new price: Too low to display
List price: $129.95
Brand: Sony
Model: MSPSMS12000

Create movies in stunning AVCHD and stereoscopic 3D. Edit audio in Sound Forge Audio Studio, upload movies to Pixel cast, and burn to DVD or Blu-ray Disc; all with Movie Studio Platinum Suite. With innovative and powerful features for video compositing, color correction, and animated titling, professional-grade results are easier to achieve than ever. Use the surround sound mixing tools to create 5.1 soundtracks. Add style with the NewBlueFX 3D Titling and Video Effects. Complement your film with 50 Sony Sound Series: Production Music soundtracks. When you’re ready, upload completed projects to your free Pixel cast Plus* account and invite others to collaborate! *Plus account valid for one calendar year from date of sign up - a $49.95 value

Features:

Edit and produce movies with special effects and transitions
Create DVDs and Blu-ray Disc media with custom menus and graphics
Includes Sound Forge Audio Studio 10
Follow along with Show Me How tutorials and learn as you go
Share movies on Pixel cast, YouTube, iPod®, iPhone®, online, and more

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Bellini: Norma

Lowest new price: $28.09
List price: $37.98

In collaboration with Giovanni Antonini, Riccardo Minasi and Maurizio Biondi, Cecilia Bartoli restores the sound and spirit of Norma in a landmark Decca recording based on the operas original sources.

Cecilia Bartoli leads a fabulous cast in Deccas groundbreaking new recording, which presents Vincenzo Bellinis Norma in a form that is complete with the exquisite mix of vocal and instrumental colours that Bellini intended for his tragic opera. Sumi Jo, John Osborn and Michele Pertusi respectively illuminate the roles of Adalgisa, Pollione and Oroveso. The sounds of period instruments from the composers time, brought to life by Orchestra La Scintilla and conductor Giovanni Antonini, underpin and blend with the timbres of a cast carefully chosen to recreate the individual vocal qualities of the operas roles.

Cecilia Bartolis Norma evokes the style and artistry of the legendary soprano Giuditta Pasta, the operas original heroine. The Italian superstar here continues her mission to reveal lost details of expression and emotional variety in music covered by the dark varnish of later performance traditions. Norma, often portrayed as a superhuman priestess, emerges in Bartolis performance as a woman of flesh and blood, torn between duty and love.

Her interpretation was hailed by the Financial Times as a radical but convincing rethink of the part. Fonoforum wrote of the often moving and touching nature of Bartolis Norma, following her concert performance of the work in Dortmund in August 2010, while Die Zeit described the singers prayer-like account of the operas hit aria Casta Diva as great art, and also a provocation.

Deccas studio recording of Norma employs the latest critical edition of Bellinis score, painstakingly restored from manuscript and early printed sources.

Only in this way can we appreciate once more the true magic, the colour and emotion in this music, observes Cecilia Bartoli in a short essay included as part of the albums elegant hardback presentation. It was my wish, she continues, to bring Bellinis opera closer to the soundworld of the bel canto period.

Norma is set for release in May 2013 in time for the operas first staging in Salzburg as part of the city s annual Whitsun Festival. Cecilia Bartoli, in her second year as artistic director of the Whitsun Festival, will perform the title-role in company with John Osborn, Michele Pertusi, Orchestra La Scintilla and Giovanni Antonini (17 & 19 May). Moshe Leiser and Patrice Cauriers production will be revived in August during the Salzburg Festival, again with Bartoli as Norma.

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Adobe Premiere Elements 11 [Download]

Lowest new price: $82.99
List price: $99.99
Brand: Adobe
Model: 65194316

Adobe Premiere Elements 11

Easy and powerful video editing. Memorable home movies.

Use new FilmLooks to apply favorite cinematic styles to your movies.

Turn everyday videos into memorable movies.

Choose a trusted solution - Bring your photos and videos to life with a powerful solution from the makers of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro, industry-leading professional photo and video editing software.

Enhanced: Do it all with one powerful yet easy-to-use product - Use Adobe Premiere Elements 11 for all your video needs. Import and organize clips, edit them manually or use automated options, and share your movies on virtually any screen.

Enhanced: Quickly find the clips you need - Easily find your best clips or ones that meet a particular set of criteria. The Auto-Analyzer tags your footage and photos for quality and interest, and a variety of smart search options help you quickly zero in on what you need.

Enhanced: Create a polished movie instantly - Take advantage of Hollywood directors’ techniques with InstantMovie, which automatically edits together your best clips with coordinated music, titles, and effects from your choice of movie theme. New themes are included.

Save time with smart, automated options - Let Adobe Premiere Elements automatically fix shaky footage and color and lighting problems, trim away all but your best footage, and balance audio elements to give you professional-quality sound throughout your movie.

Enhanced: Add quality effects and transitions - Use FilmLooks to apply favorite cinematic styles to your movies. Easily combine elements from different scenes for entertaining results. And add hundreds of amazing special effects and transitions, including new options.

Energize your movies with music - Use SmartSound to add a variety of musical soundtracks that automatically adjust to perfectly match the length of your movie. Even sync up your scenes to the beat of your soundtrack.

Enhanced: Easily do more with video clips and photos - Make all your memories shine whether they’re captured on video or in photos. For example, enhance color in video clips as easily as you do in photos, and quickly bring photos to cinematic life using customized pan and zoom motions.

Share with convenience - Follow easy steps to create your movie once and then share it many ways. Share on highquality HD or Blu-ray Disc—and even get HD quality on standard DVDs. Enjoy your movie on virtually any screen, from your iPod to your HD flat screen TV.

Use Videomerge to easily put your subject in a new scene.

Organize

Keep track of all your memories with intelligent options that help you quickly organize, find, and view all your photos and video clips.

Edit

Count on automated moviemaking options to take the work out of video editing.

Enhance

Add professional polish with a wide range of great-looking effects, transitions, themes, titles, disc menus, and more.

Create your movie once and then quickly share it in many ways, including on discs, HD TVs, Vimeo, YouTube, and Facebook.

Features:

Organize - Keep track of all your memories with intelligent options that help you quickly organize, find, and view all your video clips and photos.
Edit - Count on automated moviemaking options to take the work out of video editing.
Enhance - Add professional polish with a wide range of great-looking effects, transitions, themes, titles, disc menus, and more.
Share - Create your movie once and then quickly share it in many ways, including on discs, HD TVs, YouTube, and Facebook.

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Sony ACID Music Studio 9

Lowest new price: Too low to display
Lowest used price: $27.99
List price: $69.95
Brand: Sony
Model: MSAMS9000

ACID Music Studio is the best way to bring your music to life and share it with others. You don’t have to be an experienced musician or producer-the included 3,000 loops and free Sound Series loop library download will have you making great music in minutes. Our tutorials will show you how to record your own vocals and instruments and add sparkle using the same effects found in professional studios. When you’re finished mixing your tracks, burn CDs and make MP3s for the Web and all your favorite portable players. Music Studio transforms your PC into the ultimate home recording studio.

Features:

Record, edit, and mix live vocals, instruments, and MIDI
Create songs with over 3,000 music loops and produce DJ-style remixes
Follow along with Show Me How tutorials and learn as you go
One-year Indaba Music Pro membership
Create CDs or load tracks into your favorite portable players

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Easy VHS to DVD 3 Plus

Lowest new price: $58.24
List price: $69.95
Brand: Roxio
Model: 251000

Roxio Easy VHS to DVD Plus - ( v. 3 ) - complete package - 1 user - Win - English

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Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3 easily transfers videos from VHS, Hi8, V8 or analog camcorders to DVD via the included USB capture device. Experience impressive results with built in video noise reduction, stabilization of shaky home videos, automatic color correction, Hollywood style DVD menu templates, transition effects between clips, and rolling text credits. Trim unwanted scenes from home movies, and automatically split and span long home movies across multiple discs. Record home movies direct to disc with the click of a mouse. Upload home movies to iPhone, iPad, YouTube or Facebook. Convert LPs and audio cassettes to CD or MP3 format.

New in this Version

Split and save home videos across multiple discs
Stabilize shaky home videos
Preview in full screen when recording and editing
Reduce video noise common to old VHS tapes
Add transitions and rolling credits

BONUS: Transfer LPs and Audio Tapes to CDs

Convert your analog LPs and cassettes to audio CDs or MP3s and identify tracks automatically and add title, artist and genre information.

Video and DVD

Go from VCR to DVD in a few clicks – the fastest way to create a DVD from your VCR home video by burning DVDs from your VCR or camcorder. You can automatically split home movies too big to fit on one disc or trim and cut video clips and burn across multiple DVD discs. Edit your video by reducing video noise common to old VHS tapes, stabilize shaky home videos, and improve color balance and lighting. Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3 allows you to produce Hollywood-style DVDs with navigation and professionally designed menus, adding transitions between videos and rolling credits to movies.

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Music

Roxio Easy VHS to DVD 3 converts your analog LPs and cassettes to audio CDs or MP3s. Auto-adjust recording audio volume for the best sound quality and add reverb and other sound effects. It can identify tracks automatically and add title, artist and genre information.

Disc Label Creation

Create personalized disc labels, DVD case inserts and booklets and choose from professional-quality templates.

Sharing

You can share your home movies on DVD or convert audio and video files to play on most popular mobile devices including iPod and iPhone. Uploading home movies straight to Youtube and Facebook is fast and easy.

Minimum System Requirements

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows Vista Home Basic (SP1), Windows XP (SP3 for 32-bit, SP2 for 64-bit)
Processor and RAM, 1.6 GHz processor and 512 MB RAM or more, or the minimum system requirements of the OS, whichever is higher
DirectX 9 compatible graphics card or higher, sound card, DVD-ROM drive
2 GB free hard drive space for installation
Windows Media Player 10, 11 or 12
DVD Writer for DVD
Internet Explorer 7, 8 or 9
One available USB 2.0 port
Minimum screen resolution 1024x768

Features:

Capture from most analog camcorders, VCRs or even DVD players
Add transitions between videos, trim unwanted content
Capture video at full DVD-quality resolution

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Cyberlink PowerDirector 11 Ultra

Lowest new price: $59.96
Lowest used price: $111.50
List price: $99.95
Brand: Cyberlink
Model: PDR-EB00-RPU0-00

CyberLink PowerDirector 11 Ultra provides the easiest and fastest way to create home videos. Packed with innovative video technologies to automate and speed up video processing time, PowerDirector 11 Ultra comes with more than 100 built-in effects and access to more than 300,000 free effects at CyberLink's DirectorZone.com online community, allowing you to create pro-looking home videos with ease.

Features:

Revolutionary Content Aware Editing: Automatically analyze and quickly retrieve & fix video footage.
High Quality Production: Import, Edit & Export videos beyond HD quality, up to next generation 4K standard.
Pro Quality Tools and Effects: Create amazing videos with 100+ built-in pro effects, download 300,000+ free effects online and define your own style with new Design Studio.
Fast Video Editing: Edit & Render videos at blazing speed with NEW TrueVelocity? 3 engine, multi-GPGPU acceleration and native 64-bit support.
Productive Working Environment: Designed for fast-paced professional video production workflow.

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Sony Movie Studio 11

Lowest new price: Too low to display
List price: $49.95
Brand: Sony
Model: MSMS11000

Create breathtaking movies that beg to be watched again and again using Movie Studio 11. Easily drag-and-drop digital photos and video footage onto the timeline and arrange them to best tell your story. Quickly edit out the parts you don’t want and then add style and energy to the rest with transitions, titles, and video effects. Watch your changes instantly to see what your finished movie will look like. Sharing your creation is simple. When you’re ready, export your movie to online sharing sites like Facebook® or post directly to YouTube from inside the application.

Features:

Edit and produce movies with special effects and transitions
Zoom, rotate, and pan across photos to animate still images in your movies
Easily import photos, video, and audio from popular devices
Share movies on PSP®, iPod®, iPhone®, online, and more
Follow along with Show Me How tutorials and learn as you go

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