Sunday, July 17, 2011

Nokia E7: New version of Communicator Series

imageTalking about the mobile character of the business, the Nokia seems quite expert packaging. Japanese-Swedish collaboration vendors are always doing new innovations to things that are a mix of multimedia and office. So, wants to know what makes this phone special?

Design
Wrapped in aluminum solid material, which entered the ranks of mobile phone smartphone look elegant and feels solid when viewedat admission grip. Its dimensions are 123.7 x 62.4 x 13.6 mm, and weighs 176 grams is quite bongsor when pocketed.

image

Slightly different from previous designs, this time in addition to pinning the touch screen technology, includes a QWERTY keypad on the Nokia E7 with back stand on display when we do the slides, like the character design of the Nokia N97. Although the packaging comes with a full keypad, E7not minimal access switches. On the left side we find the unlock switch to the concept of sliding, across from the switch the zoom / volume enclosed by the SIM card slot (hotswap) and camera key.

Access to the most optimal range is on the top of the phone, ie a micro USB port, HDMI port, power switch, and a slot 3.5 mm universal audio jack. The face of the phone is dominated gorilla glass scratch-resistant glass that accompanied the menu access button. While the design is only displayed behind the 8-megapixel camera plus a dual LED flash as a proponent of light.

image

From the compact design, although impressed, E7 tryproviding access optimization. What is interesting is not the discovery of a micro SD slot. In addition to providing only the internal memory, E7 also do not provide access to open or replace the battery. So this phone is by default an embedded battery in it. As N8, Nokia E7 also resemble hotswap technology in the SIM card slot. E7 also pinned an HDMI port as aligning high-resolution video.

image

image

image

Comparing Nokia N8 photos vs iPhone photos

imageNokia N8 Unlocked GSM Touchscreen Phone Featuring GPS with Voice Navigation and 12 MP Camera--U.S. Version with Warranty (Gray)

Make the most of every moment, then play it all back in HD with the Nokia N8. This high-tech device offers video recording in HD, plus instant video editing, a 12 megapixel camera and the ability to upload video to share with your friends and family. The Nokia N8 also packs a 3.5” touchscreen, free* voice-guided navigation from Ovi Maps, apps from Ovi Store and an impressive design, making this the phone that has it all. Live in high definition. The Nokia N8 lets you shoot HD video in 720p resolution right on your phone, while preloaded imageediting software makes it easy to instantly edit your video. Built-in HDMI output allows you to use an HDMI cable (not included) to connect the device to your compatible TV or computer and play back your videos and other HD content on your device in breathtaking HD. Or upload your videos to your PC to share with friends and family. The Nokia N8 also features a best-in-class, 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics to capture high-quality images. Get what you want and get where you want to go. Ovi Store offers thousands of available apps, games, videos and more. Stay in touch with apps like Snaptu; experience the best in photo and video apps with Qik, Photo Twister and Snapfish; and get ready for other great apps coming soon, including Open Table, SalesForce, Pocket Movie and Accuweather. Plus, find the route to anywhere with preloaded Ovi Maps, complete with free* voice-guided navigation to get anywhere you need to go, 3D landmarks and a share location feature to let Facebook friends know where you are. Discover a new standard in mobile entertainment with a vibrant 3.5” OLED capacitive touchscreen display. Connect your device to your home theater system to take the HD experience even further with Multichannel 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound. With an eye-catching exterior to match the on-screen experience, the Nokia N8 always looks good. Connect in HD today with the Nokia N8. * Data charges may apply.

Comparing N8 photos vs iPhone photos:

  • iPhone screen is 960x640, while N8 screen is 360x640.
  • A picture when enlarged will look more blurry on the N8, compared with the same picture enlarged on the iPhone.
  • This doesn't mean the N8 camera takes blurry pictures.
  • This means the screen resolution is better on iPhone
  • This means the camera is better on N8.
    The bad quality UI complaints are mostly due to the 3rd party widgets included from YouTube, CNN, BBC, National Geographic, Paramount movie previews.


imageMy phone crashed (UI got stuck) due to some third party app, and I tried to remove the battery (as with most other phones) but couldn't.

I realized I did not need to remove the battery...just press the power button for 5-8 seconds and the phone will reboot.

BTW, if you'd ever need to replace the battery yourself, just use a small "allen key" type screwdriver.

The Nokia N8 multiple home screens are a great way to organize yourself and reduce phone screen clutter.

If you need a portrait mode qwerty keyboard, swype or dayhand maybe interesting options for you. I personally need a qwerty keyboard in portrait mode.

Keep in mind that qwerty keyboard is just a burden for most people (esp. older people in Asia). Such people will be content with just reading messages, sending a few "very short" messages with the T9 keypad...while making a lot of calls and taking a lot of pictures anytime anywhere.

Among the things I love about this phone:

  1. N8 is able to play all sorts of vdo file formats.
  2. Camera gives you 12MP pictures, and HD video! Just make sure to peel the plastic off the lens on the back.
  3. Connectivity cables included (usb to thumb drive, usb to pc/mac, hdmi to tv is flawless)
  4. Multi-tasking
  5. Long battery life
  6. Internet, Email, or Web Connectivity can be set to be via "WLAN only" or "WLAN preferred" or "3G only", etc. You can minimise mobile operator fees as you like.
  7. Combine Push Email with your choice of network connectivity via WLAN and you start to save money with the lower phone bill.

imageThis is my opinion on the iPhone vs N8 issue...
- US journalists/bloggers who write N8 reviews are mostly new to Nokia/Symbian.
So they will only "evaluate" their comfort level with the N8...for just a couple of days.
They admit (very briefly) that "I'm an iPhone user, I tried to use N8 for x days", before they start hammering the N8.
- N8 gives you the gear to lower your phone bill
- Hackers have traditionally been about lowering their AT&T phone bills. Many in Silicon Valley, including Steve Jobs, grew up with this mentality. Nokia probably realize this and gives you a choice...the press is not giving Nokia the credit for giving you the freedom.
- Nokia N8 robust hardware will still be handy after many years of use and software updates.
Part of the "UI problem" is due to the less tightly structured Symbian UI development kit, by allowing 3rd party developers the freedom to create their own look and feel.
So each app on Symbian can have a different UI structure and user's experience may not very be consistent across different apps even though they are using the same device (N8).
The less tight structure of Symbian APIs has proved to be a strength as Symbian has evolved to support a much larger variety of hardware types with different phone form factors:
- some touch screen
- some T9 keypad
- some qwerty keypad
Nokia, as a leading phone manufacturer, offers a larger choice of phone form factors for a larger customer base...that's the reason Nokia is a leading phone manufacturer.
Each form factor will be preferred by different types of users, since there is a much wider consumer base.
Many business users will prefer a qwerty keyboard.
Many users will prefer a T9 keypad and find the qwerty keyboard a distraction with too many buttons...for example, they usually do not do a lot of texting or type on a computer keyboard.
Many people like the "feel" of a touch UI...but that also means that each app is more likely to have "touch buttons" on a different location of the screen.
That means touch UI phones require the users to "look before you touch".
That means with the keyboard or keypad, users can "feel" as they "touch" the phone buttons without looking.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Olympus PEN E-P3 Retro Compact Cameras Latest Quality DSLR Successor E-P2

Olympus has just announced, Classical Style Camera / Retru Compact All Metal Premium is designed for you who like photography or seniors who want superior image quality, FAST (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) System Autofocus Tracking and total creative control within the body fairly portable to travel the world of Olympus PEN E-P3 is a successor or substituteOlympus PEN E-P2.

image

Olympus PEN E-P3 offers 35 separate focal points spread throughout much of the sensor, enabling cameras to pin-point accuracy of the focus on small subjects, wherever they appear in the frame.

For the first time, PEN Olympus E-P3 features of HD Video. Press the HD video directly to immediately start shooting your HD video with the choice between a compressed format or AVI ACVHD16-bit CD-quality stereo Linear PCM or AC3 Dolby Digital bit/44.1kHz Audio. Olympus PEN E-P3 has 10 Art Art Filters and Filter nine variations and enhancements, including color Pale Light & Color II, and 5 Art Effect Filter, including White Star Light and Edge.

image

A 12.3-megapixel Image Sensor large Live MOS provide the highest quality images. The camera is also capable of taking good photographs in low light environments thanks to a built-in flash on the camera, the AF illuminator and ISO up to 12,800.

To enhance the color and speed, the Olympus PEN E-P3 features a TruePic VI new Image Processing Engine. Image stabilization is crammedinto the camera allows the photographer to take advantage of this feature with a lens.

Olympus PEN E-P3 were able to take a dynamic 3D image in every situation from macro to landscape that creates a sense of depth from the original image.

Simply select the 3D Photo mode, shutter release, and slowly pan up to the camera automatically takes a second picture from a slightly different perspective.3D data are processed in the camera will generate the file. MPO, industrial universal 3D format for easy display on a 3D TV or laptop.

Controlling the Olympus PEN E-P3 is simple with a sophisticated three-inch LCD, touch-sensitive screen with 614,000 pixels LCD OLED.Layar this camera consumes far less energy than traditional LCDs, as well as having 176 degreeswide viewing angle and bright enough to set the picture even in bright midday sun. Look at pictures of shots a day to be easy to scroll and enlarge photos with the tap of a finger.

image

Olympus has added a dial rotation, sub-dial and two key new functions to the back of the PEN E-P3 so that photographers can make quick changes to the settings menu and maximize camera performance. Olympus PEN E-P3 is compatible with SDHC memory card, SDXC and UHS-1 for greater speed and capacity and can be used with Olympus PENPA or different Eye-Fi card forinstant wireless uploading to your favorite Web sites or social photo sharing.

image

Olympus PEN E-P3 kit will be available in stylish black, white and silver, marketable plan began in August 2011. Package includes the E-P3 PEN body, lens, USB cable, video cable, BLS-1 Li-Ion battery, Li-Ion battery charger, shoulder strap, OLYMPUS [ib] software CD-ROM, manuals and registration cards. PEN E-P3 lympus Body with MSC M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm Zoom Lens II R f3.5/5.6 will be availablea price of about $ 900.

This camera will compete with other DSLR quality miniature camera is Pentax, and Panasonic DMC-Q which are both equally GF3 ciamik! Even the Pentax Q has a size of more mini than the E-P3.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Samsung Galaxy Z I9103 Mobile Android 4.2 Inch with Dual cores.

Samsung Galaxy Z I9103  is the latest product variants with 4.2 inch LCD screen-SC and 2 Tegra chipset with dual-core Cortex-A 1GHz. 4.2-inch screen from Samsung Galaxy Z I9103 has a WVGA resolution and use the LCD instead of SC-SuperAMOLED size 125.3 x 66.1 x 9.5 mm and weighs 135g which specifications have not beat the S Galaxy II butstill quite impressive ..

Samsung Galaxy Z I9103 is powered by Tegra processor 2 is not Exynos of Samsung and its 5MP camera is only capable of recording 720p video is not Full HD, which was a bit disappointing if you expect to record 1080p video. Samsung Galaxy Z I9103 has a built-in 8GB of expandable memory via microSD slot.

image

image

Samsung Galaxy Z I9103 :

  1. General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, 3G HSPA
  2. The form factor: touchscreen bar
  3. Dimensions: 125 x 66.1 x 9.5 mm, 135g
  4. Display: 4.2 "SC-16M-color LCD capacitive touchscreen, 480 x 800 pixels
  5. CPU: Dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor, the GeForce GPU, Tegra 2 chipset
  6. Memory: 1GB RAM, 2GB ROM, 8GB of storage, microSD card slot
  7. OS: Android OS, v2.3.3 Gingerbreadwith TouchWiz 4.0
  8. Camera: 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash, face detection, geo-tagging; 1.3MP front-facing camera
  9. Video recording: Video recording 720p
  10. Connectivity: Wi-Fi b / g / n, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, FM radio
  11. Battery: 1650mAh
  12. Misc: Built-in accelerometer, multi-touch input, proximity sensor, inputsSwype text, Office document viewer / editor

Apple iPod touch 8 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL

imageCan you get by with an 8gb Touch?
Yep, based on my experience with a 3rd gen 32 gb, and on my recent local purchase of the 4th gen (this current model) in 8 gb capacity.

When using the old 32 gb, I found out that I barely used its greater storage capacity. (I don't haul around a lot of music or videos - I just transfer what I want to listen to/watch for each road trip or listening/viewing cycle using iTunes). Apps, I discovered, don't take up much space, even games and books don't take up much space, unless you want to haul substantially more of your whole collection with you. Amazon's Kindle app is esp. device friendly, since you can archive books you've finished back to Amazon instead of keeping them on the device. iTunes is a great way to manage what content you want to store on your home computer - which becomes a sort of large "docking device" - and what you want top take "to go."
imageAs a netbook substitute, storage isn't even that important. I can check my bank balance, transfer funds and execute orders on a brokerage account, listen to radio on Pandora or Slacker, watch music videos (and a lot more ) on YouTube, Skype, stream Netflix, and do a whole lot of other stuff on the 8 gb just fine.
In fact in hindsight the only real reason for me getting the 32 gb version in the older edition was to get the faster processor. But in the current generation, ALL THE 4th GENERATION HARDWARE IS THE SAME, except only for memory.
Do keep in mind on the 8gb edition you give up about a gig to systems operations, leaving only 7 gb or so for your stuff. And you need to leave from for apps and their space. I probably wouldn't put more than 6 gb of music and videos on the 8gb version. The other editions also give up the same space, but proportionately it is a smaller "hit" to your storage.
The 8gb makes a nice intersection on my personal "cheapness" and "minimalist" curves. The price doesn't get into nose-bleed territory where I start to wonder whether a netbook would makes more sense, and it's inexpensive enough to subject to the toils of daily wear and tear - keeping it handy in an outside day pack pocket, instead of more safely stowed deep inside the pack.

The quality of the screen display.
imageSimply put, this device has near-iPad screen quality in a 3.5" device. (960x640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch, vs. 1024x768 resolution at 132 pixels per inch).

That means you can get almost iPad quality video in approximately 3.6 ounces of device vs. 24 ounces of device; in a device that fits a shirt pocket vs. a device you need a separate bag for. In a device you can hold up as a reader vs. a device that tires your arms.
imageThis Touch is VERY practical for reading NYTimes articles or USAToday articles in their reader applications, optimized for this size display (crisp, large type). VERY practical for browsing the regular on-line editions of most newspapers (tap once to fit a column to a screen with nice readable type). GREAT for YouTube since the YouTube app included with the device is optimized for delivering high def YouTube content - if available, HD videos are automatically preferred. GREAT for Netflix and Hulu Plus. GREAT for gmail and ok for Facebook (I am sure FB will make its dedicated app more user-friendly in the future).
Source : image
Buy Now on Amazon.com

Lights, Camera... Nude!: A Guide to Lighting the Female Nude for Photography

imageLights, Camera... Nude!: A Guide to Lighting the Female Nude for Photography by A. K. Nicholas. True Confessions of Nude Photography: A step-by-step guide to recruiting beautiful models, lighting, photographing nudes, post-processing images, and maybe even getting paid to do it.

Product Description

Use Light to Photograph Nude Female Models
This guide shows you how to use light to photograph nude female models and create various moods and effects. From the plainspoken to the artistic, each lighting configuration is diagramed in painstaking detail. Learn the art and skill of using light and controlling shadows from the author of True Confessions of Nude Photography. For those who loved the lighting section in the first book want even more, this follow-up book concentrates purely on Nicholas' nude lighting style with updated images, text and diagrams.

imageMore than just studio lighting. From indoor to outdoor, studio to location, you'll learn what can be achieved and how to make it work for you. From just one light in a small room, to elaborate creative setups, everything is described.

Shoot Great Nude Photos
Photos you can actually create yourself. If you think that great photos require expensive lights, an enormous studio, and a team of assistants, this book will debunk that misconception. You may be surprised at how many ways you can shoot great nude photos you'll be proud of without breaking the bank. And there's plenty more you can accomplish if you do want to invest a few well placed dollars on some moderately priced equipment.  This book doesn't promise that learning is easy or quick - your results will be based on your level of effort, but it is  easier and quicker with a guide.

18 Lighting Setups with Diagrams
imageThere are sections on Equipment, Lighting Exercises, Lighting problems, Outdoor lighting, Studio Lighting. The lighting setups include the use of softboxes, umbrellas, snoots, gels, booms, diffusers, parabolic reflectors, water nudes, and a beauty dish. Techniques include isolation, backlighting, accent lighting, and fill light. Lights Camera Nude! includes an 18 lighting setups and over 80 example photos as well as a link to online bonus material exclusively for readers.

18 models, 76 example photos

From the Author
Preface
An older artist, a relative of mine whom I greatly admire, once admo­nished me not to reveal too much of my techniques to others. She wor­ried that I may lose my distinction as a photographer if others mi­micked my techniques.
imageContrary to her advice, I think a photographer's work is distin­guished by hard work and creativity, and these traits cannot be merely copied. Although creativity and imagination may not be learned, I believe they can be developed through practice.
The techniques in this guide are not the traditional "textbook" way of learning nude lighting - there are already plenty of books to teach you to light textbook nudes. These are my techniques for lighting nudes; some of my methods follow traditional rules and some do not, and I honestly don't keep track of which do or don't.
I do hope you will learn from my techniques, and through hard work and practice evolve these techniques into something that is uniquely yours.
Overview of the Book
Lighting the nude model is distinct from lighting in other types of people photography.
This book is to help those who have tried some nude lighting, but are struggling to create interesting images. The serious photographer who is new to nudes will also benefit. This guide is about reaching that next level and making nude models look their best and most interesting.
This guide is about lighting the nude, so I'm not going to make you sift through a lot of lighting techniques for non-nude modeling. There is a lot you can learn about general lighting that is not covered in this guide. This guide deals with lighting the whole figure in most cases, or at least three-quarters of the model's body. Don't look for information about lighting close ups of the face. Knowledge of portrait lighting is helpful, but not essential to begin shooting nudes.
You also won't find more than a brief explanation of general lighting concepts. I'm assuming that you already know some general photography; this isn't intended to be your first photography book, or encyclopedic. As much of the book as possible is devoted to lighting the nude. A list of suggested topics for further study, such as inverse square law, can be found at the end of the book.
With regard to models
This guide demonstrates lighting for photographing a beautiful model to bring out her best and most fascinating features. There are plenty of books that tell you how to hide your subject's flaws; this is not one of those books. You won't find any tips for making regular people look slimmer, taller, or more beautiful.
What you will find are illustrated examples and step-by-step instructions for creating photographs of beautiful nude women.
With regard to retouching
imageIn this guide I have retouched minor flaws on the models (stray hairs for example). I have also corrected some minor defects in the backgrounds or defects from lens characteristics (chromatic aberration for example). However, because this is a collection of images to illustrate lighting, I've avoided any retouching that pertains to lighting effects (such as shine on a nose or forehead). Although such lighting defects can easily be removed with post processing, I let them remain in order to preserve as much information as possible about the lighting. Just as no model is perfect, no light arrangement is perfect and you will want to retouch most of your images--though post processing is a topic for a whole other book.
How to use the diagrams
Each lighting setup has one or more example photos and a diagram of how to place the studio equipment. Because the characteristic of each studio is different, and your equipment will vary, the diagrams are a starting point from which you will want to make minor adjustments. Lights are numbered, and other set elements are identified by letters. Next to some lights is a height measurement signified by an up/down arrow indicating the number of feet above the level of the model's lowest body part (usually the floor) to the middle of the light. Also you will find a distance measurement signified by a left/right arrow indicating the distance from the front of the light to the closest part of the model.

Source :

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1456390074/?tag=amahotstu-20

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch inch LCD

image

If you're looking for a pocketable camera that has reasonably high quality images, lets you control aperture, speed and focus and shoot in RAW format, this is it. I bought mine as an upgrade from a previous small but versatile camera, a Canon Powershot S70.

The Powershot S95 was introduced in August 2010 as a slight upgrade to the S90, which was widely praised for its image quality and excellent interface but criticized for being hard to hold ("like a bar of soap in the shower") and for having a control dial that turned too easily. The S95 fixes both problems and adds a couple of other features in a package that fits in the pocket of your jeans (if they're not super tight). The case is metal, and although there are no finger grips on the body, it's not slippery at all. It feels like it's covered with super-fine sandpaper (like 1000 or 1500 grit, for those you who know what that feels like).

The second major complaint about the S-90 was that the function selection ring on the rear moved too easily. The ring on the S-95 has a slight click when you move it, and it doesn't move unless you want it to.

imageThere are a couple of other cameras of this type, including the Panasonic LX-3 and LX-5 and the Samsung TL500. They all have let you control camera functions, and like the S95 they have 10 MP sensors that are almost twice as large as a typical pocket camera, so the pixels on the sensor are larger. That lets them gather light more efficiently, which reduces digital "noise" when you shoot in dim light. Image quality is noticeably better than photos from typical pocket cameras. You can make an 8 x 10 or perhaps 11x14 enlargement, although a digital SLR will be significantly better for larger prints. They also have f/2.0 lenses at their widest angle, although the aperture closes down as you zoom in.

The Canon has two advantages over the Panasonic LX-3 & LX-5. First, you really can put it in your pocket or in a belt case no bigger than the one you use for a mobile phone. Second, the interface is a brilliant re-thinking of how a very small camera with a full set of controls should work. There's not much room for buttons on the small surface, but you don't have to get into a multi-level menu on the LCD, and yet changing settings is fast and intuitive.
For example, there's a ring around the lens that you can grip easily to control zoom, or, shutter speed, or aperture, change ISO, or manually focus. You select what you want it to do by pressing a button on the top, and when you look at the LCD screen you can see what it's programmed for. There's a selection wheel on the back for other functions, and when you move it, a clear set of choices appears on the screen. The selections are context-appropriate, so they change depending on whether you've set the camera for aperture control, "Program" control, etc.

imageThe two Panasonics have the same sensor as their Canon equivalents, but they offer a slightly wider lens (24mm vs. 28 for the S95). The LX-3 has a much shorter telephoto - only 60 mm. The LX-5, which was introduced a couple of weeks before the S95, has a 90mm telephoto, and you can buy an add-on optical viewfinder. It also has a flash shoe in addition to the pop-up flash, although you can buy a dedicated add-on flash for the S-95 to supplement its pop-up flash The LX-5 is about 25% more expensive than the Canon S95 (and 60% more with the optional viewfinder) and while it would fit in a coat pocket, you can't stuff it into a trouser pocket.

If you want a truly pocketable camera that gives you good image quality and full control over your photography, the S95 is an excellent choice.