Free DME & DFIR Resources

When Windows 8 launches later this year you'll be able to upgrade to the pro version of Microsoft's newest desktop OS for just $40 for a limited time. The deal will apply to a broad base of current Windows users including those running Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Microsoft had a similar offer during the launch of Windows 7 but this one is cheaper than its predecessor. (Windows 7 upgrades ranged from $50-$100 at launch.)

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From teaching classes over the years I frequently hear that many agencies are using Photoshop 6 and 7, Paint, Photoshop Elements, Microsoft Picture It and other applications due to the lack of funds to purchase upgrades. There is nothing wrong using some of the older versions but there are several functions that the older versions do not support, like high bit depth processing, limited color space/model options and the lack of more sophisticated image processing algorithms (de-convolution, pattern removal using FFT).  I also understand that many agencies who would love to have PS CS3 Extended with all of the great plugins that have been developed will never get the funds to make these purchases.

One solution to the funding issue is Image J (http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/index.html) Image J is a free, open source application provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  I not only have used this application for case work but to learn more about digital image processing algorithms. Image J is a very robust image processing and analysis tool set that has been referred to on the FVA list serve and recently in the book written by George Reis. This write-up is not a tutorial about Image J, it is meant to provide information about the application that may assist some readers.

Encryption is all the rage, again. Politicians and government officials apparently have no problem with using fear mongering to conjure up support for backdoors to encrypted devices and data. Privacy advocates keep doing the same, basically, warning that providing big brother with backdoor access to encrypted data is like leaving the cookie jar in your wide-open kitchen window, on Sesame Street.

(The original post included a link to my complete post on this topic on LinkedIn, but those articles no longer exist.)

brite-View’s Air SyncHD/DX device, also known as the BV-2822 if model numbers are your cup of tea, is a 1080p video/audio wireless transmission kit. To put it in plain English boys and girls, the brite-View Air SyncHD/DX is capable of sending Full High-Definition signals without the need to go through physical cables, hence lowering, nay, eliminating the chances of you (or some other member of the family) tripping over it. This purchase will feature a quartet of HDMI connections and two sets of component video inputs on the transmitter side.

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This past weekend I added a direct link to the FVA FTP server via the members menu.  The FVA FTP server is hosted by Jimmy Schroering, developer of the free demultiplexing software program Camsort and member of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.  This extremely valuable FVA community resource was originally provided by Brad Doell, administrator of the FVA List-serv.  Speaking of which, I moved the link to the FVA list-serv from the Quick Menu to the main Member Menu this weekend as well.  Many thanks to both Jimmy and Brad for providing these services over the years, as well as permitting me to include them in the Media-Geek.com members area.

Additionally, I made some changes to a few script calls that should resolve most of the IE6 issues with accessing the Media-Geek.com Video Library.  There are a few other minor IE6 related issues to address, most related to the use of transparent PNG files, which I hope to get to next weekend.  As always, should you come across any issues or have any recommendations for the members area, please don't hesitate to post them to the Media-Geek.com Forums or shoot me a PM.  Thanks for participating!

A new document is being developed by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) entitled, "Best Practices for Handling Digital Photographs Taken by Law Enforcement." The author of the document is Keith Hodges, Esq., a legal instructor at the center. Keith is seeking feedback from the community regarding his document. The document is posted at http://www.khodges.com/digitalphoto/

Keith is requesting feedback be sent directly to him at the following email address: keith.hodges@dhs.gov

If you plan on buying a Blu-ray player in 2011, don't be surprised if the back panel is lacking a component video output. A surprising number of mainstream 2011 Blu-ray players, (such as the Panasonic DMP-BDT210, Samsung BD-D5700, LG BD670, to name a few) are omitting the red, green, and blue video jacks, which means buyers will have to rely on HDMI for high-def Blu-ray video signals.
It's all about AACS

We can't blame manufacturers for omitting the component out of new players. For one, it's not a huge loss, as the vast majority of buyers will be using the HDMI output for video. But there's another issue: even the new Blu-ray players that are including component video connections will only output 480i signals, rather than high-def 1080i.

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The 25th Annual LEVA Training Conference is underway in beautiful Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. A quick thank you to those who attended yesterday's Ocean Systems presentations. Moments ago I emailed a PDF copy of my morning presentation, "Fundamentals of Multimedia & Screen Capture", to those in attendance who requested it. If you were in attendance and would like a copy, simply shoot me an email.

I'll be attending the afternoon sessions today, lecturing about DCCTV Assessment & Recovery tomorrow, and attending classes Thursday and Friday as well. It's been a great turnout at a great location. Be sure to stop by and see us at the Ocean Systems booth today. Hope to see you there!

Kinesense, a Dublin, Ireland based company that provides forensic video analysis software solutions has develioped a new proprietary player management utility, PlayerManager v2. Find out more about Kinesense and PlayManager v2 by visiting their website at www.kinesense-vca.com

From the PhotoShopSupport.com blog:

Here's a free video tutorial from lynda.com — Setting Up Shop - Preferences, Color Settings, And Shortcuts — from the series Photoshop CS4 One-on-One: Fundamentals. Deke McClelland examines the essential capabilities of the application, from correcting color to retouching portraits. He also covers navigation, resolution, cropping, selecting, printing, and making web graphics. This course goes beyond basic tips and tricks and provides the in-depth information and real-world context needed by serious students who want to master the software.

View the full post & get the link to the video:
http://www.photoshopsupport.com/photoshop-blog/10/cs5-03/video-tutorial-setting-preferences.html

Sheriff John Whetsel, Oklahoma County, OK, recently sent a letter to his fellow Police Chiefs and Sheriffs asking for their support of LEVA's mobile video technology survey and the 2011 National Summit for Mobile Video Technology.

To view a PDF version of Sheriff Whetsel's letter click here.

I recently cut the cable TV cord with the assistance of the Tablo 4-Tuner OTA DVR, so I thought I'd share a few thoughts on it.

Over The Air (OTA) HDTV

First I'll point out that I don't watch a lot of TV, maybe a few hours a week; however, my family does, and likes to keep up with several TV shows. We've always been cable TV subscribers, both with Time Warner back on the East coast, and Comcast out here on the West coast. We've used the DVR hardware and services from each since they began offering the option(s).

Less than two weeks away from the official launch, and I'm making some significant progress in what will be the new, secure member's area.  This area of Media-Geek.com will not be available to the general public, as its purpose is to provide a secure place for forensic media related professionals to share information.  Membership will be open to current or retired law enforcement forensic media related professionals and prosecutors.

The new members area will provide a number of "social networking" tools, such as secure community forums, file sharing, messaging tools, a community calendar, and more.  Members will be able to submit articles, news, event information, links, and other content to share with the group.  There will be a membership directory, and users can choose what information they'd like to provide (if any).  Members can create "Connections" or "buddy lists" and use Private Messaging (PM) to communicate with any member throughout the entire site. Want to receive an email or PM when there's a new post to a forum?  No problem.  Want an email when someone sends you a PM?  Can do.  Want to keep your email address private, yet allow members to send you an email?  We can do that too!