Converting a Video File Type

If you have been following my blog, you know that I am writing a book that will be published using iBooks Author on the Mac.  I plan to use Reflector app (http://www.reflectorapp.com) with AirPlay mirroring from the iPad to the Mac to capture video demonstrating the use of spreadsheet and database software for data analysis.  The default file type for Reflector video is .mov; however, iBooks Author requires the video to be a .m4v or .m4A file type (http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2838).

The conversion was very easy using iMovie!  The first thing I did was to import the .mov video into iMovie.  iMovie allows me to add any audio or text to explain what the video is depicting.  After editing the video, you click Share > Export Movie on the menu.  Because I am a video creator novice, that was initially counter intuitive for me.  I was  looking for an export or save as option on the File menu.  The screen shot below shows that Mobile is the default option for the Share > Export Movie menu selection.

The 45 second .mov file was 2.1 MB.  However, as shown below, the converted .m4v file was 438 KB - much smaller.  That means if I keep the video clips short, like 1-2 minutes, the eBook file size will not be bloated.

To test the video output, I dragged the video into iBooks Author and it worked!  So if you are working on the Mac and have iBooks Author, the free eBook app, and iMovie, you have everything you need to create movies for your iBooks Author eBook.

Mirroring the iPad on the Desktop Computer

In a previous blog, I talked about an inexpensive ($14.99) software application that allows you to mirror the iPad on the laptop or desktop computer.  The application resides on the laptop or desktop computer, but not on the iPad.  A recent email noted that the software, Reflection, has been renamed Reflector.  The updated website is at http://www.reflectorapp.com 

To begin the mirroring, the first thing you do is to open the Reflector app on the laptop or desktop computer.  Next, double-click on the Start button on the iPad where you see the menu showing all of the open apps.  Use your finger to slide that menu to the right where you see the menu to play music.  

You will see AirPlay icon (an icon with a blue rectangle outline and solid blue triangle) located to the left of the volume slider.  Click on the icon.  All of the AirPlay available devices will appear.  As a default, the iPad will have a checkmark.  Change the view to the laptop or desktop computer name where Reflector software is open.  The iPad image will automatically appear on the laptop or desktop computer screen.

I have used Reflector in a face-to-face class to demonstrate an iPad feature or software application.

Reflector also has the ability to record changes made on the iPad.  The movie is saved as a .mov file.  That is the good news.  I tested the recording function for 48 seconds.  The file size was 2.1 MB.  I would like to use the feature to create movies for the eBook I am writing.  The next catch is that the iBooks author video has to be a MP4 file.  That means converting the .mov file to MP4.  That process is another blog.