Handy iMovie Trick

After wondering why videos I imported into my iPad via iTunes weren't editable in iMovie (iPad version), I decided to do some research into the matter.

Only video that is encoded as 720p (30 fps) can be edited in iMovie. So a way to ensure that video you import to your iPad will be editable in iMovies, do the following.

First, open iMovie on your Mac.

Next add the video you want to be editable in iMovie on iPad. Then in the "Share" menu, select "Export Movie" and choose "HD 720p" as your export option.

Finally open iPhoto and import your videos in it. After doing a sync in iTunes, open iMovie on your iPad and you'll find the videos you just imported!

Happy editing!

Why I hate Disqus

What I hate about Disqus is that it's very limited on mobile devices, like the iPad. It doesn't let you post using a Twitter or Facebook account, like you can on a regular computer. They want you to use a special Disqus account on mobile devices, and I don't think that's right. The purpose of Disqus commenting on websites is to end the need for multiple accounts, however requiring people to make a Disqus account defeats the purpose of Disqus. I always use my Twitter account when on websit that make use of Disqus commenting, however I am unable to when on a mobile device. One of the benefits of Disqus is that all your activity is logged, so others can see a list of the websites I commented at and how often. However, if I was to make a Disqus account, would it have the comment log my Twitter account (via Disqus) has? I won't make a Disqus account, so I have no way of knowing for sure, but I doubt it. It is beyond me, why Disqus doesn't give you the same options on mobile devices, that they give you on desktop or laptop computers.

Facebook blocking iOS devices from Chat?

As some people are aware of, Facebook doesn't have an official iPad app because Mark Zuckerberg doesn't think it's needed. Which means there are only two solutions, either use the Facebook website via iPad, or use one of the 3rd-party Facebook apps (which in my opinion, all have horrible user interfaces).

The problem with using the Facebook website on your iPad, is that you can't chat!  Pictured below is Facebook via both the default Safari and Atomic Web Browser (99¢ in iTunes App Store).

However, one of the great things about Atomic, is that you can change the User Agent (identify it as a different browser). When I change the UA in Atomic to identify it as a Desktop browser, rather than an iPad browser, you see pictured below that Chat on Facebook does indeed work.

This proves that the lack on Facebook Chat on the iPad is not a limitation of the device, it is Facebook blocking access from the device itself. What is confusing, is that if Mr. Zuckerberg is going to block access, why not make an official iPad app?