Category: Technology

It’s All Up To RIM Now!

Posted Apr.25, 2010 under Technology

What is RIM thinking?!?! I don’t know if anybody else has thought about this question like I have.

I was a very happy BlackBerry user.  My first BlackBerry was an 8703e I purchased used on eBay. The device was great and worked flawlessly, it was fast and gave me what technology at the time could provide, instant access to my emails and “BBSesque” Internet access and applications. To this day I wonder if the “Lord Of The Realms” blackberry game was available and I was completely oblivious. Anyways…

Then one day came a crazy engineer out of the lab in Cupertino with an Apple symbol on his lab coat screaming “I have a phone that will kick your BlackBerry’s behind!”. After the awkward silence some people just laughed and said, “Yeah right! There is no way I will give up my Crackberry, but that touch screen is kinda cool!”.  Sure enough a year later the BlackBerry faithful are presented with the “Storm” in the marketplace, complete with touchscreen. Not just any touchscreen but one you can actually push down on like a button!

Once the Storm was released I was convinced that RIM had acknowledged that Apple came up with a fantastic idea and they were going to make sure they would not be overthrown. So purchase a Storm I did. RIM released a new OS with this device, created a new “App World”, and developers were going to make Apps for the Blackberry OS just like they do on the iPhone. Oh Boy! My very own useless “Star Trek Tri-Corder” App just like all my work friends with iPhones have been showing off.  Or, Even Better!, an app that simulates a cigarette lighter! Would the storm version of the App let me “blow out the fire” by blowing into the microphone too? Gosh I hope so!

So the Storm released, the hardware worked great (after installing the “post-it note fix” behind the battery of the device to make both sides of the screen level when pressing it down). Then came the App World and all the Apps, so download away! Sure enough, in two days I ran out of “Application Memory” and had to delete or “archive” apps that I wasn’t using to make room for new ones. Not to mention finding this great app called “Viigo” which I loved but just hated that it turned the phone into a sluggish nightmare. So I deleted it.

In the meantime I watch as iPhone is starting to make friends with corporate IT folk and Exchange and one by one people start choosing iPhones over RIM corporate standard issue.

Here we are a 1yr and 3 months since I purchased the Storm and the Storm 2 is out. Improvements made to the hardware (I don’t think the storm 2 needs the post-it note fix). Oh, and they bumped up the amount of application memory, but the 16GB sd card that comes with the device can still only be used by media, not apps. I still have my storm, still slow sometimes, still needs to have the battery pulled out to reset the device from time to time, and the camera no longer works (some software error comes up saying it couldn’t start the camera). I could get this all fixed and get a refurbished replacement storm, but i just don’t want to go through the hassle and will just wait until I can switch to an iPhone (hopefully on the Verizon network).

Which brings me to my concern about RIM. I have yet to see them acknowledge and respond to the iPhone device (and now Android) in a compelling way. The Blackberry OS needs a complete overhaul. From what I have heard about the BBOS 6.0 leaks so far it doesn’t seem like any earth shattering changes are coming. Still the same BBOS 5.0 icon/GUI style, and most likely will still be built on Java ME.

A couple of earth shattering changes I think RIM needs to consider:

- Tighter integration of the OS with Social Networking APIs. Social Networking is becoming increasingly important to businesses now and if BB wants to retain their home turf they need to play nice with Soc. Nets. A widget based home screen to interface with social networking sites would go a long way here. Not even iPhone does this yet.

- Move away completely, or minimize dependence on Java embedded as platform base. BB should look at a new base OS structure and make APIs which are easy for developers to incorporate and make better use of the hardware the apps are running on.

- On a broader note with my second point, work on something to increase developers’ desire to create applications for Blackberry. This may be the hardest to work on, as developers generally follow market share and revenue opportunities and iPhone w/iTunes provide both right now.

I am not convinced RIM’s Management gets the idea on how to move forward with the iPhone eating it’s lunch in the Marketplace.  We will just have to see what RIM brings us for the 6.0 release and any new devices coming out in the near future. Can they regain the turf they have lost?

If you still use a BlackBerry currently, or, are considering a Blackberry over an Android phone or the iPhone, leave a comment. What makes you sway over to the BlackBerry side?

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Finally a Full Moon! Canon 5D Mk II Announced

Posted Sep.17, 2008 under Photography, Technology

After several days of watching a marketing teaser on the Canon official website, the camera we have all be waiting for has been announced! Destined Evolution!

The Canon 5D Mk II, 21.1 MP and a 1080 HD Movie Mode! Take that Nikon!!! =)

For a link to the Canon Website complete with sample images and all the gory details, Click Here!

Now on to watching the continuing battle between camera companies and hopefully find out price of this thing soon, then I can finally decide to either save up for this or just settle for the lens that comes with this camera on my Digital Rebel XT.

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SLR Announcements, Day Two: Nikon D90

Posted Aug.27, 2008 under Photography, Technology

Looks as if Nikon is trying to take some of the noise away from Canon’s announcements with the official introduction today of the D90. This is an update to the D80 which I think is a great camera from Nikon. Interestingly enough along with the normal improvements (FPS value, Resolution, AF improvements) Nikon has managed to add a Video feature to this camera, so the camera will also record HD video allowing you to shoot 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels or HD720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) movies at the professional smoothness of 24 frames per second in motion JPEG format! That is a neat bonus!

Click here for a link to a post about the D90 on Photography Bay.

This is a video of Chase Jarvis RAW advance testing the D90.

Pretty straight forward release, here are some of the specs:

  • New 12.3 megapixel Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with Integrated Dust Reduction System.
  • Low-noise from ISO 200 to 3200, ISO 6400 available.
  • D-Movie mode records in 320 x 216, 640 x 424 or 1,280 x 720 in AVI format.
  • Scene Recognition System based on 420 pixel RGB sensor for improved autofocus, autofocus and auto white balance, in addition to Face Detection.
  • Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus with 11 AF points.
  • 3-inch, VGA Live View LCD.
  • 4.5 fps continuous shooting, 0.15 second startup, 65ms shutter release lag.
  • SD / SDHC storage.
  • HDMI output
  • 5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0-inches.
  • 1 pound 6 ounces without battery.
  • $1,299 kit price.

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It’s Official! Canon 50D Announced Today!

Posted Aug.26, 2008 under Photography, Technology

Well it is finally here folks and with a Digic 4 Processor! It’s the 15.1 MP Canon 50D!

Here is the official page over at Canon USA.

And here is an overview of the Feature Highlights/Specs:

  • New 15.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor with improved noise reduction, wide range ISO 100-3200 (H1: 6400, H2: 12800), 14-bit conversion for smooth color tones and gradations.
  • Next generation DIGIC 4 Image Processor for faster processing, 6.3 fps up to 90 JPEGS using UDMA CF cards; 60 consecutive JPEGS or 16 RAW using standard CF cards.
  • 3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots/VGA) with multiple coatings for improved viewing and smudge-resistant protection.
  • Enhanced Live View shooting includes Face Detection Live mode.
  • 9 cross-type high-precision sensors for accurate target subject acquisition and diagonal center cross-type AF point with f/2.8 and faster lenses.
  • New Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction setting to automatically even the brightness across the image.
  • Updated EOS Integrated Cleaning System with a fluorine coating for better resistance to dust.
  • Creative Auto goes a step beyond full auto with on screen setting display.
  • HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) output for displaying full high-resolution images on a High Definition TV.
  • Compatible with over 60 Canon EF/EF-S lenses and most EOS System accessories.

Looks like a lot of great stuff from Canon! Now, the question for me is do I go with this one? Or wait for the next 5D update! =)

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Rumor Mill: Canon EOS 50D

Posted Aug.22, 2008 under Photography, Technology

Just in case you haven’t heard already by the time you read this, and you actually care and follow rumors. The latest is that the rumored “EOS 50D” has shown up on the official chinese Canon website. The link is down now however, as I am sure canon didn’t mean to do this. So for all you gadget followers out there,  Bob Atkins Photography where he has more of the details.

I am still eagerly awaiting more news on the rumored 5D follow on, as I really would like my next SLR to be full-frame, but you guys already know that! =)

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Calling all Photraders!

Posted Aug.15, 2008 under Photography, Technology
So I am thinking before even reading this first sentence you are wondering what exactly is a “photrader”? Well, I don’t know if it is an official term used by those that run the photrade.com site but I have coined that term for anybody who takes photos for fun, hobby, or business and would like to protect, openly share, and even sell the artwork they create!
And where does a “Photrader” live you might ask? Well everywhere in the world, but you will be able to locate them and view there work on photrade.com!

Picture 2

Photrade allows you to post photos and manage all the photos which you upload into a portfolio. Similar to other photo trading sites Photrade allows you to organize your photos into galleries, and assign tags and titles which will make your photos easily searchable/browsable by visitors to your portfolio.

Where Photrade differs is that it has many strengths and rolls in all features found on several photo sites into a one-stop shop. This means that when you post your photos you have a fully functional photo sharing gallery and print house with which to make your photos available to the masses along with all of the wonderful features that other photo sharing sites have and more. This is perfect for those photographers who spend way too much time uploading there photos to many different sites to both get exposure (photo sharing sites) as well as sell there photos to customers (online photo selling site).

Read More »

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Some more Canon 5D Follow On Camera Rumors

Posted Aug.05, 2008 under Photography, Technology

Looks like Engadget actually has a “real” photo of the new full frame camera offering from Canon that has been the subject of rumors and supposedly Canon’s answer to the Nikon D700. I say “real” because It could be photoshopped for all I know. But none the less, we are close to Photokina and these things tend to show up around this time.

Follow here for the story on engadget.com.

Being that this rumor is calling it a Canon EOS 7D, the box does show a “kit” with a 24-105L IS USM lens, I wonder if this camera is really a lower price point full frame camera and maybe there will be a 3D model released later that will be below the 1Ds MKIII but better than the current 5D? I have no clue, just speculating here.

It is fun following the news on a camera like this and hearing about the rumors as I am looking to upgrade to full-frame at some point.

UPDATE: This photo looks obviously fake, and the UPC code talked about on the link in the engadget post can really be added and modified by anybody. So this is infact fake and just a rumor. Bottom line, something has to be coming from Canon soon or they will let the D700 dominate this segment of the market and make a lot of canon folks think about switching (Me included). Especially if they don’t come out with some update in the Full-Frame Space soon.

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Lightroom 2: New Features? I don’t think so…

Posted Jul.29, 2008 under Photography, Technology

I am writing this post in response to the post on Thomas’ blog which does a really good job of detailing the new features in Lightroom 2 and is a really great post.

http://thomashawk.com/2008/07/10-best-things-about-new-adobe.html

 However, I am slightly confused. In previous posts Thomas mentioned he would not want to try Aperture or switch to lightroom because he is happy with Bridge and there is no compelling reason or feature to switch.

However, now these great features in Lighroom 2 are prompting him to think about switching, which is great! I think Lighroom is a great product. However, I am a strong believer that credit for the features should be given to the Apple Software UI and development team who worked on Aperture 2 for the original ideas and I wanted to make sure Aperture fans got a voice in this.

Here is a feature by feature breakdown of what I am referring to (Please read Thomas’ blog post first for reference):

1. Aperture has a Selective Dodge and Burn tool that can be used. This is done through a plug-in that comes with Aperture, however I don’t think there is anything new here that Lightroom has differently. Maybe slightly more control variations on what you can do selectively however the main concept is the same.

2. Aperture has the ability to vignette AND de-vignette photos and crops of photos to be able to fix vignetting that may be inherant in your gear, or add the effect if you choose.

3. No contest on this one. Keyword suggestion is new in Lighroom and yes a really cool feature.

4. Aperture has a similar slider called “Definition” and using the “loupe” you can watch your photo detail anywhere in your photo while applying any changes not just the sharpening.

5. Aperture has a Clone and a Healing brush tool right on the raw file, non-destructively.

6. Aperture has done this, and is integrated with a printer so that you can get order prints or books straight from inside aperture. You can organize and create books from templates or create your own book style. You can even do web galleries in the same fashion.

7. Aperture lets you export multiple versions of the same edited raw file with different Color Profiles! So you can tailor to the print shop you are sending off to. And you can always import ICC profiles from any print house into aperture to use when exporting a RAW file into a TIFF or JPG.

8. Aperture has this, it is called “Smart Albums”.

9. This is how the Aperture Rotate tool works natively. When you crop a photo and then rotate it, it shows you the entire photo and the shaded part of the photo “outside the box is what will be cropped after you rotate.

10. Aperture has an SDK for most of its features which allow developers to create new plugins to deliver even more functionality. Nik makes several as they do for photoshop for example. So I believe this is similar, although interesting to see adobe just do it for Metadata information.

Didn’t mean to make this into a rant, and my apologies to my readers if this is annoying, but I wanted to make sure that us Aperture fans got some say, as we have been using these features in Aperture 2 since it was released earlier this year. And it has been working great for me.

Lightroom is a great product, and I am happy to see it improved here for Adobe fans, I think either product is great and will get the job done. Just like camera equipment it is the photographer not the equipment. =)

I look forward to continue seeing the great photographs that come from Thomas, even if he is using Lighroom instead of Aperture. =)

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Well folks, it has finally arrived…

Posted Jul.01, 2008 under Photography, Technology

That’s right Nikon fans! It is the D700, Nikon’s sub D3 FX format (Full-Frame) camera. Here are links to the preview on dpreview, and I will look to post more about it throughout the day.

Very quickly, the imaging engine seems to be exactly the same as the D3 but in a smaller and lighter body. After looking at the pictures if you buy a vertical battery grip you will pretty much have the D3. =) I am sure there are other differences but from a looks perspective.

The sensor is a Nikon FX-Format 12MP sensor which has backwards compatibility with DX lenses and operates with those lenses at a cropped 5MP. I think this is great and I wish Canon would do this with thier EF-S lenses. With so many folks running around with 1.6 crop factor bodies in the Canon line, it would seem foolish to me if Canon did not offer a body upgrade path that supported all of the Digital-Only lenses.

So this has me thinking, I only have the digital rebel XT with the kit lens, should I just save up for the D700 and switch my entire (yet small) system and convert to being a nikonian? Or should I stick with and see what Canon can come up with in the update to the 5D. One thing to remember the 5D has had 12MP for a really long time now (since 2005) so I am surprised actually that Nikon is still at a 12MP limit on there highest end camera. You never know though, they could be better quality pixels? Maybe somebody can help me explain that?

Anyways, here is the link to the Dpreview hands-on preview! Enjoy!

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A Full-Frame Samsung DSLR?

Posted Apr.12, 2008 under Photography, Technology

It looks like the folks at Samsung have been put together a secret task force last year to begin investigating a professional level DSLR. According to this Amateur Photographer magazine article the sensor is still in the design stage and a release date is uncertain.

I currently use a DSLR with an APS-C sized sensor and have always dreamed of getting only EF lenses in anticipation of upgrading to a 5D-ish camera in the future. I am wondering however, if the DSLR future has both of these sensor sizes, what else other than wide angle shots does the 35mm sensor buy you, besides more pixels of course. Either way, I still want to upgrade eventually. =)

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