Apple Aperture 2
March 20, 2008
There are 3 things Apple want you to know about Aperture 2. It’s fast, it’s high quality and it’s integrated. I’m going to look at each of these in turn and then finish up by telling you some things I don’t like about it. I figure you can read glowing tributes about it everywhere so I’m going to declare it my job to tell you where they could improve it.
This review is going to assume you know what Aperture is and why you might want it. If you don’t then either wait for our Aperture vs Lightroom shootout or see Apple’s website.
Raw vs Jpeg: Three reasons to shoot jpeg
March 19, 2008
The RAW versus JPEG controversy has been going on since the dawn of the digital photography. Most professionals and advanced amateur photographers prefer to shoot in RAW, because the RAW format offers some real benefits that JPEG just can’t match. There are times, however, when JPEG can be the better choice.
Use Flickr? Get Piclens
February 1, 2008
Actually the title should read “Use Google Images, Flickr, Facebook or Friendster and want to make your viewing experience more enjoyable and altogether cooler? Then go and get a free copy of Piclens”.
But that was too big to fit in the title bar.
It’s actually kind of hard to explain what Piclens does. It simply transforms your browsing experience of most popular picture websites. Instead of seeing the pictures on the site you just see the pictures.
Here’s a snap of my screen when I’m browsing my photostream at Flickr.
Mouse over any picture and it enlarges just like that one of the boat. Double click it and your screen fills with the picture and a little running strip at the bottom showing thumbnails of the other pictures on the page. It’s just like one of those gorgeously designed Flash website - but without the website. It just sits on top of the website you are browsing.
Truly beautiful and totally awesome.
Go to Cooliris right now and install a copy in your browser. Currently only Firefox has the picture wall function but most popular browsers have the full screen slideshow effect.
Once it has installed, pop over to Flickr and hover over any of the pictures. When you see one you like, click the little “play” button…and prepare to be dazzled.
Hydra. HDR just got cool. And cheap.
January 22, 2008
There’s no doubt that HDR is a huge buzz at the moment. As a quick catchup it’s a method of expanding the tonal range of images captured by your digital camera - the theory is you use software to overcome hardware limitations that stop you capturing scenes as you remember them. It also makes for pretty cool pictures.
There’s been a slew of software to do this recently from the big daddy that is Photomatix to hobby applications written for specific applications. Most of them are reasonably hard to get your head round and tend to look pretty clunky. Not any more. HDR just got gorgeous - and cheap!
Mobile phone mouse
January 18, 2008
Take a look down at your desktop now (the real one not the computer desktop). Chances are there are a couple of things on it as well as your keyboard. I’m guessing there is a mouse and probably a mobile phone too. C’mon guys - this is the 21st century! Why are you still using both of those when you can combine them into 1.
Yep, as well as all the other features on your phone that you don’t use, you can now control a computer with it just like a mouse.
Faster than the blink of an eye
January 7, 2008
Some announcements about digital cameras make you go “so they finally cracked that”. Some make you go “ooo, I never thought of that”. And a few, a very few make you go “WHAT, I cannot believe that!!!!”
The Casio Exilim EX-F1 definitely falls into the last category. Definitely.
Casio EX-Z80
January 7, 2008
I mentioned earlier today that we are expecting a huge number of camera announcements this week due to the CES. However, no matter how much you expect them there are announcements that make me go “you have got to be kidding me”. One of those is the EX-Z80.
Wireless technology from Nikon
January 4, 2008
Nikon have just updated their website with a new “podcast” all about their wireless technology. It’s a good listen if you want to get your head round the ins and outs of transmitting pictures wirelessly from your camera to your computer (hint: you’ll probably need a wi-fi equipped camera…)
Huge screens on your digicam just around the corner
January 3, 2008
So you have your shiny new camera. If its a recent one then chances are the screen on the back is something more than 2 inches across. If you’re really lucky (or rich) then it might reach the heady heights of 3 inches. But I bet you don’t have a 100 inch display on your camera. Or your phone - or even your laptop.
Well, Microvision plan to change that.
