Last week I posted about the controversial bills before Congress, the Protect IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act.

A severe call to action was made by millions across the United States and millions more followed in unity. These potentially devastating bills were successfully ceased before they could reach what would be a groundbreaking vote.

It is amazing what the power of our united voice can accomplish. Lawmakers saw and heard our pleas to protect liberty and the freedom of information through petitions, Facebook, Twitter, and those active enough to write personal letters or make phone calls to their Congressmen.

APM Studio would like to sincerely thank anyone who followed their call to action and did their part to stand up for freedom of the internet.

This is a strong way for our community to make an impression on 2012 and we succeeded. Now that we are in the midst of the first month, we can take some time to regroup from all the holiday madness. Collect all your photos and videos taken over the holidays and be sure to preserve and share those memories with APM Studio.

Our professional Videotape Transfers and stunning Photo/Image Transfers will be excellent gifts and easy to share with your loved ones. We can also preserve your memories saved directly on your camera, camcorder, or SD Card with our Digital Device Transfers.

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Preserve your memories and continue to protect our freedoms!

Living in the "Information Age" we are constantly surrounded and saturated with material from the web streamed through our computers, notebooks, ipads, phones, and even television. In an effort to stop online piracy, the US Government has put in place two bills to "counter" the issue.

In the Senate, the Protect IP Act (PIPA) is circulating while the House of Representatives holds the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). The US Government is trying to decrease the amount of pirated information and any information regarding anything that was obtained without permission. Although this seems to be moving toward a moral compass, in reality, these two acts will change the internet entirely as we know it.

Due to the controversy of the two bills before Congress, many popular websites were inactive yesterday due to protest. The Government could impose regulations to censor our internet similiar to those methods used in China. These bills will actually delete information from web pages and in cases even delete the entire web page making it un-viewable in your browser and will even delete them from search engines. 

Another harmful aspect of SOPA and PIPA is the regulations and responsibilites put onto businesses. United States internet companies would have to monitor absolutely everything that is linked or uploaded in connection with them to ensure it is not pirated material, or face potential summons and punishment, wasting more time and money than needed.

Probably the most upsetting fact about these two bills is that they will not perform the way they are meant to. SOPA and PIPA were created to end counterfiet and piracy websites except it does not attack the sites at the source. Instead of terminating these unlawful sites, the operaters will simply change their web addresses and continue their activities. The American citizen and business will suffer most from these censorship acts, and the party whom it is meant to silence, will continue their malpractice as usual. 

Please take action today to prevent these two mistakes from being signed into law. Please visit Google's Campaign:  End Piracy, Not Liberty and sign the petition today, over 3 million Americans already have.

Another way to act is to look up your local Congressman and give him or her a call. Let them know first hand the damage these acts will do and let your voice be heard! An entire list of opposing organizations can be found here.

Hurry, the vote takes place on January 25th, so act now! Help protect and take control of our freedoms as Americans, and let us never be silenced.

With Thanksgiving weekend come and gone, many of us have already started to focus on the end of the year festivities. The giving season is always very busy and it can be overwhelming making sure everything is in line in time for the holidaes.

Here at APM Studio, we want to be sure all of our clients needs are met, especially this time of year. As a result, we compiled a Holiday Order Processing Calendar to ensure order completion by the end of December.

For any local clients that may drop off or pick up their order at our studio location, please note the dates below to receive your order for the holidaes:

Regular Processing (10 - 15 business days) - Orders need to be received no later than Friday December 9th, 2011
VIP Rush Processing (Next business day - 5 business days) - Orders need to be received no later than Monday December 19, 2011

Any clients that are interested in mailing an order to us and receiving it in time for the holidaes, please reference the dates below:

Regular Processing (10 - 15 business days) - Orders need to be received in our studio by Wednesday December 7, 2011 
VIP Rush Processing (Next business day - 5 business days) - Orders need to be received in our studio by Thursday December 15, 2011

The dates above represent the adequate processing and shipping time needed to receive your order by December 23, 2011. Free gift wrapping is available for any order and will add a personal touch to your already memorable Gift Idea.

Preserve your memories and make beautiful creations this Holiday Season with APM Studio, guaranteed to inspire your loved ones. 

Today, the Monday following Thanksgiving and Black Friday, is commonly known as "Cyber Monday". This idea first emerged on November 28, 2005 and began as a campaign to persuade consumers to holiday shop exclusively online. 

Since 2005, Cyber Monday has become more and more popular, ranking as the busiest shopping day of the year in 2010. Online retailers all over the viral web drastically reduce the cost for their products and services for a short period in effort to lure in potential spenders.

Cyber Monday follows Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, also holiday shopping campaigns, and helps wrap up the busiest shopping weekend of the year. These sequence of shopping extravaganzas have consumers frantically spending for days straight annually.

Visit www.apmstudio.com  for quality media transfer and professional services this holiday season.

Our exclusive Gift Ideas Page outlines fantastic and memorable ideas that will surprise and inspire your loved ones for years to come.

Preserving your family memories is a selfless gift that keeps on giving each time you reminisce down memory lane.

Give a gift of true meaning and love this holiday season to those you care about the most and restore your happy memories.

Today, November 25th 2011, is traditionally known as "Black Friday", or the start of the holiday shopping season. Always the Friday following Thanksgiving, retail chains and stores nationwide open their doors earlier than ever for prices that, in some cases, seem too good to be true.

Usually madness of some magnitude ensues, whether it be people camping outside stores for days before any sales actually begin, civilized people reduced to fighting over merchandise, or an unfortunate circumstance that involves an injury. Every year, the tradition seems to get bigger as stores are opening their doors as early as midnight on Black Friday or in some cases, even on Thanksgiving.

Presently, a new shopping season kick-off tradition is emerging that first began on November 27th 2010 of last year. Introducting "Small Business Saturday", sponsored by American Express, that encourages holiday shoppers to stay local and purchase products from small business retailers.

This iniative by American Express began through social networking and quickly caught fire late last year. Since, the campaign has generated more than 1 million "likes" on Facebook and over 30,000 Tweets referencing #smallbusinesssaturday. Word of mouth has helped also as more than 41 politicians and small business sponsor groups have promoted and supported the initiative.

Supporting your local businesses is key to staying connected and contributing to your community's well being. Check out your local shops this weekend and shop locally online as well. 

APM Studio is proud to be a small business supported by it's community in South Florida. Check out our Gift Ideas Page for a little inspiration this holiday season. A meaningful gift is easy to find through creativity; visit www.apmstudio.com  today for media transfer and gift options perfect to preserve your memories and suprise your loved ones with a thoughtful gift.

The month of November is all about giving thanks. We are all thankful for our family, friends, provisions, and traditions. This holiday season, the Disney Badges of Fun program challenges families nationwide to start a new tradition with their loved ones, creating exciting and lasting new memories.

There are a few suggestions from the Badges of Fun program to help steer you in the right direction. To earn your Start A New Tradition Badge, simply complete one of the listed activites or put a unique spin on your own idea.

One suggestion is to be kind to others; start a tradition that as a family you can contribute and make a difference for someone less fortunate this holiday season. This will bring heartwarming charity to your family and in turn make you more thankful for the blessings you and your family already have.

Another great idea is to welcome the New Year with a different, fresh start. The kids will have fun writing time capsule letters to preserve for the future. A great way to preserve your own legacy, for your children and future generations, is with a Video Biography package from APM Studio. We will bring your family history to life with a biography that will encompass your family heritage and inspire as a family heirloom.

A final idea suggested is create edible decorations for the holidays. This is a fun twist on traditional decorations and you have a blast with your family making each one...that is if you don't eat them all!

For a more intimate idea, gather all of your old family photos and create a custom Photobook from your lineage of memories. Each family member could have a designated page to design select from their favorite photos.

If any of your old memories are faded, discolored, or torn, a Photo Restoration is an excellent gift idea for a loved one. Restore an old family portrait and take an updated portrait picture for a fun comparison.

Beginning a new tradition can be entertaining and is sure to bring your family closer as you all grow together. Be sure to preserve your memories all holiday season long and share your story for years to come.
 

On Sunday, November 6th, the 41st New York City Marathon will take place hosted by the New York Road Runners; ran every year since 1970. The Marathon is ran through all 5 of New York City's boroughs as more than 45,000 runners from all over the world travel to participate.

The New York City Marathon is broadcast internationally and draws in more than 2 million spectators every year. According to The New York Times, the Marathon "produces about $340 million in economic activity for the city". Because of the extreme popularity of the race, the New York City Marathon has been the focal point for many charities and awareness events to raise money and run for a cause.

This year, amongst many charitable runners, relatives of victims who perished in Pennslyvania on Flight 93 on September 11, 2001 will be running to keep their loved ones memories alive. They are running to raise money for the proposed memorial in Western Pennslyvania to honor the bravery of the fallen heroes that day.

On the 10 year anniversary of the tradgedy, two of the runners discovered the memorial project was a staggering $1 million short of its goal. This sparked the cause to run for the legacies of those who sacrificed their lives to save many. The runners are raising donations to reach their goal through Crowd Rise, a fundraising organization.

We must never forget the bravery of so many Americans ten years ago. Create your own custom Tribute Video for the heroes in your life and recognize their worth today. A Custom Slideshow is a great way to compile your favorite memories and create a lasting heirloom to honor your loved ones for generations.

If you would like to donate to the Flight 93 Memorial Project, follow the donation link below:

Donate To Keep Memories Alive

Halloween is traditionally known as the day that we celebrate the dead and fantasy, dressing up and gathering with friends for a good time. However, the day after October 31, is celebrated throughout the world and honors those who have passed on.

Most widely celebrated in Mexico, Day of the Dead is spent gathered with family and friends praying for and paying homage to our loved ones who are gone. Visits are made to memorial sites bearing gifts of former loved ones' favorite delights, in hope of friendly contact from the deceased. Families spend time together reminiscing about those remembered, acting jovial with jokes and stories, enjoying each other's company.

Similarly, in Western religious cultures, All Saints Day is celebrated November 1st followed by All Souls' Day on November 2nd. Both of these holidaes recognize and celebrate those who have gone before us; paying tribute and homage to the knowledge and path laid before us.

In our highly fast paced world, we could take a note from this tradition to honor those important to us while we still can. The memories you make are the most precious commodity you have. Taking the proper steps to preserve your memories is essential and will protect your legacy for generations to come.

Visit APM Studio today to browse our archiving options. For a headstart on holiday shopping, visit our Gift Ideas Page for unique and memorable gifts this season.

BOO! Did we scare you?! APM Studio would like to wish everyone a safe, fun, and happy Halloween! While you are getting ready for visitors and little "Trick-or-Treater's", consider a few ideas to help make lasting Halloween memories this year!

Create a unique Fantasy Photo of you and your family for comedic display at your party or in your home. Simply choose a picture, aquire craft materials (such as yarn, glitter, ribbon, markers, etc), and decorate your family portrait in crazy and wacky ways. Put your "scary" portrait on display for a fun Halloween decoration.

APM Studio also offers Photo Restoration and Manipulation for fun projects and ideas like these.

If you are throwing a Halloween Party this year, consider a talent show to give your guests an interactive activity. Create categories if you choose or just let the talent speak for itself! Be sure to come with a fun prize for your contestants to compete for.

The most important and easiest way to enjoy family and friends on Halloween is to be safe. Make sure children have bright costumes or reflective tape to make them visable at night. Talk to your family about the importance of staying together while "Trick-or-Treating" and only approaching houses that are welcoming. 

Preserve your Halloween memories this year with your loved ones and remember, APM Studio has all your archiving needs. Transfer your home movies to DVD today to preserve your family legacy and relive happy memories over and over again.

Have a safe and happy Halloween! 

Its that giving time of year again! The holidays are sneaking up on us and it is time to start thinking about gifts for your loved ones. APM Studio is fully equipped to provide customized gifts that are meaningful and most importantly, memorable.

Honor someone special who has touched your life with a Video Biography Package or custom Tribute Video. A production team will guide you through the life story of your loved one, creating a theme and exciting storyline to follow.

Production takes place at our studio or at your chosen location, with single or multiple camera angles for the best possible shoot. You will receive a professional quality documentary specialized for your loved one. Creating a lasting legacy for someone special is a great way to preserve and pass on their story to future generations.

A professional Photo Restoration is a unique way to suprise a loved one and relive the past. Restore old, torn, or cracked photographs back to life for a thoughtful gift that will preserve faded memories of a loved one.
 
Create a stylish Photobook with APM Studio for a classic display of your favorite photo memories. Each Photobook is completely customized by you, photo by photo, for a stunning finish you will be proud to display on your coffee table!

A Personalized Premium DVD Package is an excellent idea to preserve a special event or family movie with a personal touch. Your video and audio is digitally enhanced and mastered with an Animated Navigation Menu, custom chapters for scene selection, and apply graphics of your choice to the DVD and the full size decorative case. Preserve a wedding, family reunion, sports event, or just home movies that you and your family hold dear.

Gather old slides, photos, and negatives for digital transfer and upgrade to a Custom Slideshow for a new way to view your memories. Select one of our slideshow packages to include all of your favorite photo memories set to music with smooth transitions for a senimental multimedia experience.

Have your memories on constant display with an LCD Digital Photo Frame; custom loaded with your favorite photos set to smooth transitions. Display your memories for all to see and share your happiness with every glance.

For someone special who has everything, a Gift Certificate from APM Studio is the perfect solution. Give a gift of memories and allow your loved one the opportunity to preserve their legacy and share their story for generations to come.


Remember, here at APM Studio, preserving your memories is our passion. We are excited to begin the holiday season and help our customers create meaningful and memorable gifts for the most important people in life.

We all wish we could spend more time with our families, making memories and enjoying time spent with loved ones. Now there is a fun incentive to encourage spending close time with your family.

In June, Disney's FamilyFun Magazine launched a yearlong campaign dedicated to celebrating family fun and memories called Badges of Fun. Each family can earn ten uniquely themed badges by completing the family activity tasks outlined by each badge.

Each badge suggests interesting and unique ways to spend time with your family and create lasting memories together. This month, the featured badge is the Preserve Family Memories badge. Simply choose from one of the listed activities, create your memories, and download your family badge!

Here are the suggested activities for this badge, as well as ideas from APM Studio:

1. Organize Family Momentos - Create a custom book of memories with  a Photobook
2. Collect Family Stories and History - Produce a Video Biography, documentary or tribute bute video and pass on your family legacy
3. Display Photo Memories - Choose your favorite photo memories and upload them to a Digital Photo Frame with an attractive LCD screen and smooth transitions

Visit familyfun.com/badgesoffun for more information from FamilyFun Magazine.

Even if you don't participate in the Badges of Fun Program, be sure to preserve your memories every step of the way. Take a look at our Media Transfer Options  and transfer your memories to share with loved ones for a lifetime.

Old reel to reel to film is a media format from yester-year, but surprisingly many individuals still have home movies and videos captured in this format. It is important to preserve and archive your film by transferring to DVD or external harddrive; a film transfer will ensure the quality of your memories.

16mm film was introduced in 1923 by Eastman Kodak Company, founded by George Eastman. Initially, it was referred to as "sub-standard" and was later replaced by cheaper 8mm film. Post World War II, 16mm was extensively used by professional film makers for government, business, education, and medical institutions through the 1950's and 1960's.

Today, 16mm film is mostly used by freelance film makers, but is also sometimes used in major motion pictures; seen used in pictures such as "Friday Night Lights" and "The Walking Dead". 

Today APM Studio received a very large 16mm film order from a returning satisfied customer. Just about 11,500 feet of film were received with a bit more on the way. Each reel is either part of or the entirety of old high school football games. The games range anywhere from 1959 to 1987, all captured and preserved on these old reels.

We are excited to begin this project as we are sure it will prove both interesting and memorable for us as well as the client. 

Be sure to view APM Studio's Film Transfer Options and preserve your old time memories today!

As technology advances, our ability to gain knowledge and insight into our world improves. One of the key aspects in the fight agains Breast Cancer is the advancement of technology in early detection and treatment.

There are approximately 25 million Breast Cancer survivors living in America Today; the largest group of cancer survivors in the United States. APM Studio is proud to merge the world of memories with the fight against Breast Cancer.

From now until the end of October, customers have a choice to "Pink" their order. Once an order has been "Pinked", 10% of the total will be donated to Susan G. Komen For The Cure, South Florida Affliate. Each customer that takes advantage of this promotion will have a pink Breast Cancer ribbon printed on each of their DVDs to show their support for the cause. 

This promotion is available with any of the services we offer. Create a custom tribute video or video biography for someone who has touched your life. Photobooks are also a great way to tell your story through photographs; a great way to put your memories on display for family and friends to share. Visit our Gift Ideas Page to get ideas on unique and customized gifts meant to preserve and display your memories to their fullest potential.

Use promotion code: APMSAVES, now through the end of October, to participate in our donation.  

Have you ever bought a VHS or DVD only to have it not play correctly in your player? If so, you may be trying to play a video that is captured in a different format than your tape player. Two formats, NTSC and PAL, used alternately worldwide, are the most common forms of encoding systems for broadcast television.

NTSC stands for the National Television System Committee and is the standard format of broadcast for North America and most South American Countries. Developed originally in 1941, the first strand of NTSC format was not compatible for color broadcast. It was not until 1953 that the second, modified version of NTSC was released, allowing for television broadcast in color.

Phase Altering Line, or PAL, is the encoding format used in European countries, Brazil, Argentina, China, India, Australia, and most African countries. This analog television encoding system was unveiled in 1963 by Walter Bruch at Telefunken, a German radio and television company. It was not until 1967 that PAL began broadcast in color. The PAL format was created to combat with transmission issues created during broadcast with the NTSC format.

The major difference between NTSC and PAL broadcast formats is the line count and frame rate. NTSC broadcast has 525 individual scan lines captured at 30 frames per second (525-line/60Hz); allowing for tint control that is adjusted manually by the user. PAL has 625 individual scan lines captured at 25 frames per second (625-line/50Hz). The PAL format uses phase reversal to automatically cancel any hue errors, making a manual adjustment to the tint or color unnecessary.

On June 17, 2009 the majority of over the air transmissions that take place in the United States were switched to the ATSC format. Developed in the early 1990's by Grand Alliance, the Advanced Television Systems Committee released a broadcast format that originally only supported High Definition (HD) programming, but has now been adjusted to support both standard and HD.

APM Studio offers NTSC to PAL and PAL to NTSC video conversions for an affordable cost. Simply select the style of transfer you would like (Standard, Premium, Platinum) from our website and use the options to select that your tape is going to need PAL conversion.

Relive your memories from all over the world easily at home with our NTSC/PAL conversion options. Remember, preserving your memories is our passion; transfer your home movies with APM Studio today.

-BrieJanice
www.apmstudio.com

It is with great sadness that we tribute Steve Jobs, CEO and Co-Founder of Apple. Yesterday, a creative genius that inspired an entire generation passed away at 56 from pancreatic cancer.

On August 24, 2011, Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO of Apple. His ailing health was a factor, though kept fairly secret for a long time, and he most likely wanted to spend time with his family and loved ones. 

As CEO and founder of Apple, Steve Jobs accomplishments are that of a legendary creative genius who forever changed how we communicate, listen to music, conduct business, and stay connected. Steve Jobs understood long before most that our world was becoming more inter-connected; he pioneered the digital revolution starting in the late 1970s through today.

One of Steve Jobs' most profound acheivements was the way he revolutionized music. After the fallout of Napster, and artists all on the hot button issue of music piracy, Steve Jobs had a solution to satisfy the masses. By creating iTunes, he solved an issue that very well could have gone unremedied for some time. He decriminalized the music download industry and made it a platform for artists to launch their music and artistic vision.

Walter Issacson wrote a biography of the extrodinary life of Steve Jobs; based off of a multitude of interviews from Jobs himself and close family members and friends, he tells the story of the greatest innovator of our time.

As we tribute Steve Jobs and his revolutionary life, it reminds us all to cherish those closest to us. Remember to take time with your loved ones. Create a custom tribute video for the inspiration in your life with APM Studio and preserve the legacy of the most important people in your life.

Statement from Apple about the loss of their great leader.

Rest in Peace Steve Jobs; you have inspired millions and your creativity will be missed.
www.apmstudio.com