Video Diary

Video Mémoires is the new Mac product from Coding Robots. It's an easy-to-use video diary software.



To record video, you click a button, and after the three-second countdown the program begins recording video from your webcam (you'll get the blinking "REC" indicator in the top-left corner of the window).

You can browse your recordings using calendar, or search recordings with find-as-you-type feature.

Video Mémories is very easy to use, has a beautiful user interface, and saves your videos using the standard H.264 MPEG format. You can also export recordings from your video diary to your Desktop or any other folder for sharing with others.

Your whole library is automatically backed up if you use Time Machine, so you won't lose your videos.

Learn more about video diary software »

Download Video Mémoires Now

This Month in Diaries: New Version of Diary Software, Screencasts, and Difference Between Blogging and Keeping a Diary

Last month we introduced you to a new version of Mac diary application, Mémoires. You can read more about it and the new features in our short review. There's also a video screencast about how this software works.

As for video screencast, we linked to two of them in "Mac Diary Video Tutorials" post. If you're wondering how you can start writing your journal on Mac, or how to password-protect it, make sure to check out that post.

Finally, in "Personal Diary vs Blogging" we talk about differences between blogging and keeping a personal offline diary. Many people consider these activities somewhat similar, and while there's a bit of truth there, blogs and personal diaries are very different. Read the article to learn why.

Stay tuned for more interesting articles. If you haven't subscribed to our feed to follow updates, you can do it by clicking this link. You can also subscribe by email — see the sidebar at the right.

Mémoires 3, diary software for Mac released

Mémoires is the easiest way to keep a journal on your Mac.

Now it comes with even more features that are essential for keeping a diary on Mac.

New Features

Quick drawings. Just like in a paper journal, the new Quick Drawing feature allows you to draw sketches, doodles, or anything you like right inside Mémoires.

Printing and exporting to PDF. You can print single entry, entries for a specified period or the whole journal. The program automatically inserts dates and titles where needed.

Full screen editing. Now you can focus on writing your journal entries without distactions, because Mémories comes with full screen editing.

and more...

Overview

Mémoires allows you to create multiple entries per day, browse entries using calendar, view all entries in one list, and search diary entries.

Watch video

Download

or learn more about Mémoires, Mac diary software.

Personal diary vs Blogging

Blogging has become increasingly popular during the last few years. People of all ages enjoy this relatively new trend. However, there are some reasons why you may decide that keeping a personal diary is preferable to blogging.

First, logically, there is the element of privacy. While some people are not bothered by making every thought and action public on a blog, most people have some reservations about it. Even if you like to share most of your everyday life with your friends, it is likely that there are many things you want to keep private. You may also not like the idea of people whom you do not even know having access to your online blog.

A private diary solves this problem. Whether you choose a ready-made diary or a simple notebook, you can reasonably expect that whatever you write does not go any further than your own eyes. Even if you have an online blog, you might like to have a personal diary also, for this reason.

Second, a diary can be preserved. You might want to look back on what you have written, or pass your diary on to your children or grandchildren. Famous people have done this for generations. Even if you do not become famous, having something special, which you yourself have created, is important. You do not have this security with online blogging. It is not something that you can hold in your hand, or tuck away for the future.

Almost everyone likes to write about themselves. This can include activities, hopes and dreams, and accomplishments. It can also include your viewpoints on many different subjects. While there is much of this that you may want to share with others, there is probably also much that you want to keep private. Whether you decide to publish a public blog or not, keeping an offline diary should also be a part of your life.

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Learn Why writing an offline diary of any type is better on Mac.

Mac Diary Video Tutorials

A few video tutorials:

How to start a journal

How to encrypt your journal

These journal tutorials use Mémoires journaling software for examples.

Also check out Videos section this website.

Types of Diaries

There are many different types of diaries. Here are some of them:


Photo by by Magic Madzik

Travel Diaries, aka Road Diaries or Travelogues

Travel diaries include many records made by voyagers. Generally speaking, these diaries are centered specifically around the courses of where a person has traveled, usually including experiences that occurred along the way.



Photo by sushi♥ina

Food Diaries, aka Diet Diaries

This type of diary is basically a daily record of all the types of foods and drinks consumed by a person, usually in order to estimate calorie consumption; while tracking calorie consumption, a person can see how far he has come in his weight loss struggles.

Workout Diaries, aka Exercise Diaries

Workout diaries are the type of journals where one explains the exercise he has recently done, including the duration of the workout, and possibly other information, such as how many calories he believes he has burned, or how he felt after the workout.

Sleep Diaries

A sleep diary is a log of a person's time spent sleeping and waking, possibly including other information, usually done over a period of many weeks. Generally, sleep diaries are kept by a patient, having been given by a doctor, psychologist, counselor, etc. Ideally, they are used for diagnosing people with a sleep disorder, like narcolepsy or insomnia.

Audio Diaries

Audio diaries utilize spoken words, not written words. Many people use tape recorders or voice recorders to talk about parts of their lives that are most fascinating, with each event progressing to the current situation.

Tagebuch

German Tagebuchs are basically just diaries, although they could include workbooks or journals as well.

Personal writing diaries

In these diaries, people can write about their thoughts about anything they want. For example, someone may write about a crush he has on a girl.



Photo by sushi♥ina

Creative Writing Diary

Creative writing diaries are used to record stories, poems, lyrics to songs, or drawings. Often times, for example, people get thoughts that come to mind spontaneously, and they record them in these types of diaries.

Memory Diary

Memory diaries allow people to place precious photos, log details about their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions for events that are most important to their lives. The topics that are put into this diary are things that will want to be explored in the future.

Prayer Diary

A prayer journal diary is something that holds a person's thoughts and feelings concerning life, with the hopes that a greater being (i.e., "God") will look at it.

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Learn Why writing a diary of any type is better on Mac.

Why Write a Diary on Mac

Keeping a diary is a time-honored tradition that allows us a safe and secure outlet for sharing goals, passions, dreams and secrets. As a rule, diaries and journals have been maintained in a very simple manner: in a paper journal. What if there was a better way? What if you could further simplify the process, while making your diary more robust and powerful? With today's technology, this is not only possible but also available. If you have an Apple computer, you can keep your own Mac diary. Here are several reasons why:

Simplicity of Mac OS X

It is widely accepted that Mac OS X is by far the simplest operating system out there. Apple has gone out of its way to offer a simple, yet robust system for managing our digital lives. As a result, you can keep your diary where you browse the internet, check your email and keep in touch with family. Rather than keeping things in separate places, everything can be consolidated into one spot.

Easily Return to Memories

How much time do you spend flipping through your journal trying to find a specific memory or event? How often has there been an entry that you search for that you just cannot find? The process of search through a paper journal (or volumes of paper journals) can be both tedious and frustrating. When you keep your memories digital, however, entries can be easily organized and retrieved. By utilizing the search feature, you can look for certain words, names or dates. To make things even easier, each entry is organized by date allowing you to sort through them in several different ways.

Versatility

Take your memories with you everywhere you go, and fill your diary up in ways you never have before. Very frequently are memories best described with words alone. There are sounds, smells and images that come to mind. Why not include as many of these when you put them into writing? While smells and some sounds cannot be replicated in your computer, images surely can. Is there a certain image you want to include with a memory? Place it right alongside your entry!

Easy Backup of Diaries

With the use of a digital diary, keeping a backup is easier than ever. Imagine backing up your paper diary. How long would that take? With a simple press of a button, you can create a backup of your memories that you can transfer and save forever.

Easy Encryption/Security of Entries

While some diaries have built in locks, are they very secure? When you use a Mac diary, security is easy. Simply designate a password for you journal, and your memories will be protected by that password. To further protect them from prying eyes, the words you write will be encrypted so that nobody can read your inner thoughts without permission.

When you take all of these factors into account, it is easy to see why a digital diary is better than on paper. While it may take a little time to transition from journaling by hand, the security, reliability and simplicity will definitely make your new journal the best place to keep your thoughts.

Read more: Mémoires 3, diary software for Mac released

Hiding Diary

Interesting! I found an article on hiding your personal diary that suggests a few places where you can hide it. One of the suggestions:

"Put your diary inside a desktop computer. Most computers have lots of empty space inside the case, and very few people think to look inside them. People, and parents especially, may not be very good at dealing with technology and not even realize it can open or that there is any space inside. Just be sure not to store it somewhere where it will damage your computer, start a fire or block airflow to components that need cooling."

It's funny that they thought about computers, but didn't notice this simple fact: if you keep your diary on your computer, using diary software, you don't even need to hide it! Especially considering the fact that good software, such as Mémoires for Mac, can encrypt your diary, so only you can read it.

Please don't hide your diary inside a computer, literally. Use a better tool for a job — a software application.

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Exclusive deal: Use coupon code MACDIARY5 to get $3 off when purchasing Mémoires, easy-to-use diary software for Mac. Valid until June 10, 2010!

What to Do If You Haven't Updated Your Diary in a While

If you haven't written anything in a while in you diary, and start writing again, you may feel the urge to write about every little thing that has happened since you last updated the diary. Resist that urge, because blank spots in your diary have just as big a story to tell as your daily entries do.

Maybe you were busy. Maybe you were lazy. Or something happened. That's okay. You don't have to chronicle those lost days with recap of the events.

If you want to write about what happened, do it, but fight the obsession to describe every little detail.

Why? Mostly because this will keep you from procrastinating. When you want to write again next time, you won't be held by thinking that you'd have to write a lot to describe the past events.

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Exclusive deal: Use coupon code MACDIARY5 to get $3 off when purchasing Mémoires, easy-to-use diary software for Mac. Valid until June 10, 2010!

How to Write a Diary

- Make a commitment to write diary regularly.

- Choose tools that are convenient and inspiring.

- Just write.

- Add photos to your diary.

- Try different styles.

- Review your diary.

Read more in How to write a journal article, or watch this video:

What is a Diary?

A diary is a record (originally in handwritten format) with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. Diaries undertaken for institutional purposes play a role in many aspects of human civilization, including government records (e.g., Hansard), business ledgers and military records. Schools or parents may teach or require children to keep diaries in order to encourage the expression of feelings and to promote thought.

Generally the term is today employed for personal diaries, in which the writer may detail more personal information and normally intended to remain private or to have a limited circulation amongst friends or relatives. The writer may also describe recent events in his/her personal diary. The word "journal" may be sometimes used for "diary," but generally one writes daily in a diary, whereas journal-writing can be less frequent.

(from Wikipedia)