Friday, December 28, 2012

Zooming in on the Samsung Galaxy Camera


The Galaxy Camera is almost like an Android smartphone, except you trade the phone for a hefty 16-megapixel camera. It's somewhat odd, having a camera with a network plan, but there are some great advantages too.First, a few basics. The camera has a 21x optical zoom with lots of shooting modes and options for video, and has 8GB internal memory. (It accepts microSD cards for up to 32GB external memory.) The display is 2.35″ x 4.16″, and the overall size of the camera is just over 5″ wide and nearly 3″ tall.

It also has a built-in speaker and a headphone jack. External controls are at a minimum: a power button, shutter button with a zoom dial, and a button on the side that pops up the flash. Everything else is controlled via the touchscreen. The tablet portion runs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). The camera retails for $549.99 and is available for both Verizon or AT&T, or I've spotted unlocked versions on Amazon at a premium.Now, I'm not a camera expert. For years I used various version of the pocket-sized Canon PowerShot, a fairly basic point-and-shoot that did the job.

Last year I upgraded to a Sony Cyber-shot which let me shoot HD video, but I mostly stick with the automatic settings for taking photos, occasionally switching if I'm taking shots at night or in the snow. The Galaxy Camera has auto settings or manual "expert" settings if you want to control the aperture, exposure, shutter speed, and so on. Or you can use "smart" mode to pick from a number of presets like Landscape, Macro, Waterfall, Action Freeze, Panorama, Silhouette, Sunset, Night, and Fireworks. Most of those adjust the settings to help you capture photos in particular situations — nice, but fairly similar to some of the presets I had on my PowerShot.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Snappy new camera technology

Tired of taking lousy photos? One of many new smart phones could snap up your game. Many are coming with incredibly innovative camera features. Consumer Reports says the new technology can help you solve some age-old photo challenges.For example, it can be really tough to get a good group photo. If just one person is blinking or has a bad expression, it can make or break a photograph. But what if you could get the best take of each person and then combine those into one photo? You can actually do that with some smart-phone cameras.

Here's how-after snapping a photo, you choose a person and thumb through her poses in the photos you've taken. Pick the one you like best, and combine it with the best takes of the other people in the photo. Voila, you've got the best picture possible!Phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note II, LG Optimus G, and the Nokia Lumia 920 all offer that feature.The Nokia Lumia 920 also takes care of another problem. If someone ruins your shot by walking in on it, you can remove them. All you have to do is tap on what you don't want in the photo, and the camera takes it away.

On some smart phones, you can set it to certain words such as "cheese." And the camera automatically takes the picture. It's on phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note II and LG Optimus G.And ever miss a shot because you didn't take it fast enough? The LG Optimus G senses when your finger is about to snap a photo and takes multiple shots so that you don't miss the moment.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Android Meets Point-and-Shoot Camera

The Galaxy Camera looks like a regular camera from the front, but flip it around and it looks like a big-screen Android phone. It has a 4.8-inch HD Super Clear Touch display, which looks and acts very much like Samsung's Galaxy S 3 phone. It is powered by Android 4.1 or Jelly Bean. You can navigate through the operating system just as you would on a phone. Yes, you can surf the Web, even check your email and download and use apps from the Google Play Store thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi radio and the built-in LTE. (There are Verizon and AT&T versions of the camera -- more on the pricing soon.)

You can't text message or make calls on the camera (that's not a complaint -- holding a camera up to your ear doesn't look all that cool) but you can easily snap photos and upload them to Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, Picasa or other sites. And snapping pics and sharing them is really a cinch. Kodak Sells Digital Camera Patents to Apple, Google, Other Tech Giants.While Wi-Fi-enabled cameras are a dime a dozen, the Android operating system is easy to navigate, especially when it comes to adjusting settings and selecting photos to share. If you're an Instagram fan, this is the ultimate Instagram camera. And your shots will look better than most of the others in your feed.

That's because 16.3-megapixel camera has a 21x optical zoom and takes very good still shots. Shots in natural lighting were well balanced, and while low-light performance wasn't spectacular, it was acceptable for the specs. However, the photos I took were not as good as shots I take with a $600 Canon DSLR (I've got the Canon T2i) or a micro-four-thirds camera. They were better than photos taken with the iPhone 5 or Galaxy S 3, but about the same as what you get from an average point-and-shoot.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Kodak Sells Digital Camera Patents to Apple, Google, Other Tech Giants

A group of tech heavyweights, including Apple, Google and Facebook, have joined forces to purchase approximately 1,100 digital imaging and processing patents from Eastman Kodak for $525 million, the company announced Wednesday. Once a thriving camera and photo company, Kodak filed for Chapter 11 in early 2012, hoping to restructure.

Intellectual property aggregators Intellectual Ventures and RPX organized a consortium of 12 tech companies — Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Fujifilm, Google, HTC, Huawei, Microsoft, RIM, Samsung and Shutterfly — to make the purchase. Each company will split the $525 million cost.The portfolio was said to be worth around $2.5 billion, but Kodak settled for the $525 million. Partially, that's because Kodak isn't in the position to negotiate.

But it's also because Kodak extensively licensed these patents to other companies. "That makes the portfolio far less valuable, because there's very little exclusivity when a patent has already been licensed to someone else," says Harvard Business School professor and former Kodak VP Willy Shih.According to bankruptcy court documents, Kodak has already earned $3 billion from licensing its patents. Those licensing fees made up a significant part of Kodak's revenue in the last few years.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Verizon gets Samsung Galaxy Camera with cheaper data plan

Samsung's Galaxy Camera, a point-and-shoot that runs the Android OS, has made its way over to Verizon after launching on AT&T last month.At $550, Verizon's Galaxy Camera is $50 more expensive than AT&T's version, but it does have a couple advantages: A data plan for the camera only costs $5 per month on Verizon if you're on its Share Everything plan, compared to $10 on AT&T (although Verizon says this is a "promotional price"). Also, the data itself is faster, because it uses Verizon's 4G LTE network, whereas the AT&T version only connects to slower HSPA+ networks.

Otherwise, both cameras have the same specs. There's a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 21x zoom lens, an aperture of F2.8 to F5.9 and optical image stabilization. Video records in 1080p at 30 frames per second, or in 720p at 60 frames per second.Around back, the Galaxy Camera runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on a 4.8-inch 720p display, Nikon launches D5200, entry-level D-SLR camera,and it has full Google Play Store access for downloading apps such as Instagram and Facebook. Other specs include a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for up to 64 GB of additional storage.

Verizon's cheaper data plan makes the idea of a connected camera a bit more palatable, but it still seems like a lot to pay if you're not constantly uploading photos on the road. Keep in mind that Verizon's Share Everything plans allow your smartphone to serve as a wireless hotspot at no extra charge. Most users should just skip the data plan altogether and connect the camera to their phone's hotspot to share and upload photos.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Nikon launches D5200, entry-level D-SLR camera

Nikon India today announced the launch of the D5200 D-SLR camera, a compact and lightweight entry-level model that delivers exceptional performance via Nikon's all-new DX-format CMOS sensor, which has an effective pixel count of approximately 24.1-million pixels. The Nikon D5200 will be available from December in three colors — black, red and bronze at MRP of Rs. 46,950 for D5200 body and AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Kit Lens D5200 allows photographers capture images with the swing-out-style Vari-angle LCD, making self-portraits possible.

It flaunts a number of advanced features such as 39 focus points, Scene Recognition System, i-TTL balanced fill-flash and auto white-balance control. Equipped with D-Movie function, the camera supports recording of full-HD 1920 x 1080 50i/60i movies for sharp HD movies exhibiting excellent detail. The D5200 has the ability to connect with smart devices via the Wireless Mobile Adapter WU-1a, or be remotely controlled via the new Wireless Remote Controller WR-R10/WR-T10 (both available separately).

Nikon D5200 is also equipped with Special Effects mode that enables the application and adjustment of special effects while shooting. This makes recording of original and creative still images and movies that combine the superior definition of the high pixel count with a variety of forms of expression simple and fun. The camera also sports a broad range of standard sensitivities, from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with even higher available settings; (Hi 2) is equivalent to approximately ISO 25600. T

Monday, December 10, 2012

Samsung Galaxy Camera Review

Samsung breaks new ground with their latest innovation to camera technology -- The Samsung Galaxy Camera. This camera is the first to offer total connectivity via an available data plan.SHA faulted over speed camera audit. Complete with an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, this device is far more than a point and shoot camera. The Galaxy has created a class all its own - a hybrid breed combining the best features of a camera and a tablet. Welcome -- the camlet.

Wi-Fi enabled cameras are not new, in fact, they have been around since 2005. And Samsung might not have been the first to popularize this technology, but they undoubtedly have created a product that is sure to please the social media fanatic. Based on specs alone, the Galaxy Camera soars to the top of the point and shoot genre. But good specs only paint part of the picture. The true sign of a great camera is in the ergonomics, the speed and the image quality. Does the camera do what you want it to do? Is it fun? Does it make you want to take pictures?

But to judge the Galaxy solely as a camera is missing half the picture. The Galaxy Camera is powered by a 1.4GHz Quad-core processor.  It reacts quickly to the touch or swipe of a finger. The simplicity of the user interface in unmatched at this time. The camera's intuitive functionality is observed while viewing the gallery, surfing the web or searching for apps. Once set-up, the Galaxy can automatically save your images to the Cloud Back-up feature. In addition, the Galaxy has the capability to connect, upload and share to an endless lineup of social media sites and apps. Although the Galaxy has been reported to have 3G wireless, I was able to experience 4G connectivity.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

SHA faulted over speed camera audit

Lawmakers chastised the State Highway Administration Wednesday over an audit that criticized the agency's work-zone speed camera program even as officials said that any problems with the program have been resolved.The state Office of Legislative Audits released a report last week that criticized the highway agency for failing to have its vendor's cameras independently tested for accuracy during the first nine months of the program. Auditors also faulted the 2010 process by which the SHA awarded the contract to manage the cameras to the sole bidder, now known as Xerox State and Local Solutions.

The vendor is the same company that manages speed cameras in Baltimore school zones that were found in a Baltimore Sun investigation to be generating erroneous tickets.Quickly Solve the Problems You Met in Using Spy Cameras.Senate Minority Leader E.J. Pipkin, an Upper Shore Republican, noted the auditors' finding that while bids were being evaluated, highway officials had cut the required percentage of readable license plate images from 95 percent to 90 percent. He suggested that if the minimum had been set lower earlier, the state could have attracted more bidders.

"This is a growing business, to say the least," Pipkin said.Auditors also found that during a pilot project from October 2009 to June 2010, only 44 percent of the violation photos were readable. The report found that the agency did not establish benchmarks called for in the contract with Xerox.Melinda Peters, who became state highway administrator late last year, said that after the pilot program began, officials realized that the radar-based technology initially used was inadequate for multilane highways. She said that technology was replaced with a laser-based system with a much higher readability rate.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Quickly Solve the Problems You Met in Using Spy Cameras

Most of our customers told us that the Chinese English manuals are difficult to read. Most of them will ask what TF Card is, since the maual always told you a TF Card needed. TF Card also called MicroSD Card, when are most used in our daily lives, such as phone memory cards. When you buy a hidden camera and the description don't marks the capacity that the camera needed, this shows that you should buy a MicroSD card for your camera togeter or you can prepare it by yourself. Before your using, it is important to check out whehter the memory is built in or a Micro SD card need for the gadget.

When you start your gadget and find it shut down at once or you even can't start your gadget, this status just tell you that your camera need to be charged. Since most of spy cameras shipped from China will need 10-15 working days, sometimes even longer. You should charge your camera in your first use. I highly recommended that charge your gadget first when you receive your camera, it's better to do this after a long time no use of the camera. Usually 2 or 3 hours can do a full charge. Normal hidden cameras always provide two ways for you to charge your camera, one is use adapter, one is connnect to your computer, both of the two ways are good.

The problems most users will met is that you can't connnect the gadget to your computer successfully. When you met such problem, don't worry. Please kindly do the following things, first try it on the other computer, sometimes it is only the problem of your computer. Sometimes the gadget didn't support Mac system, because most of people will only test the camera on the Windows, Mac computer is expensive to most of people who live in China. Windows is popular now.

Monday, November 26, 2012

How Leica Camera is Generating Momentum for a Passion Brand

We've been going through a phase of finding ourselves in a changed photographic market. There was quite a bit of discussion when we launched our own stores whether we were becoming a luxury brand. After all, our stores were quite reminiscent of jewelry stores.But we ourselves never considered Leica to be a luxury. The price point would suggest that it can be, for some people, but our goal is, and always has been, to produce a premium photographic tool.

We design and manufacture products first and foremost with the photographer in mind.With all the craftsmanship and engineering that goes into creating such a premium photographic tool, it reaches a certain price point.Digital Cameras Refurbished Preserving Both Money And Memories. For some customers, especially in their early years, Leica might be unobtainable. But as their income improves over the years, Leica products become more achievable for them. And when they see how our products are made by hand in Germany, they begin to understand the price point.

We know that we are not for everybody. We know that of the total photographic market, maybe only 10% would even consider buying a Leica. Out of the top 10%, only a small fraction actually will end up buying a Leica. We still consider ourselves part of that photographic market, so any product of ours has to make financial sense. At the beginning of product development, we make feasibility studies. If we feel that a potential product would price us out of the market then we won't produce it.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Digital Cameras Refurbished Preserving Both Money And Memories

When moneys tight, you cant afford to spend a lot of money on top-of-the-line digital cameras on sale to preserve the precious moments of your life. Nevertheless, you dont want to waste your money on second-hand pieces of junk that dont live up to your expectations and will fail you when you require it most. If this dilemma is bothering you, purchasing digital cameras refurbished for sale is one particular option for you to take and treasure memories whilst maintaining your budget intact.

What are digital cameras refurbished for sale? Basically place, these are digital cameras that have been returned to the manufacturer for 1 cause or yet another. It may be that a consumer located some defects in the camera, or a buyer might have modified his thoughts and simply traded in the camera for yet another one. Why purchase digital cameras refurbished for sale? Now theres a massive difference between second-hand digital cameras and digital cameras refurbished for sale: the former is basically buying a digital camera that has been used by one more person, even though the latter is acquiring a digital camera that has been returned to and repaired by the manufacturers themselves.

Refurbished digital cameras tend to be less pricey than their freshly-packaged brethren. You may worry about their top quality, but rest assured, these cameras have gone the as soon as-more than by the individuals who produced them and are now as very good as new. What should I appear for when I buy digital cameras refurbished for sale? Now when buying these refurbished digital cameras, you nevertheless have to preserve your wits about you and judge for your self the item youre purchasing.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Safety or scam? Red light cameras under scrutiny

Cameras that catch drivers running red lights are supposedly installed for safety purposes, Digital Camera Buying Guide but critics are now raising their voices -- calling them highway robbery.The Federal Highway Administration says over a period of five years ending in 2010, nearly 800 people a year on average died in red light-running accidents.

Enter the red light camera: those automated sentries standing watch at intersections, snapping pictures of all who venture through after the light has changed. The cameras are in use in 541 communities across 24 states and Washington, D.C.Ray Hunt, president of the Houston Police Union, said the issue is about safety at intersections. "The cameras create safer intersections," he said.Asked how a red light camera helps with not paying attention, Hunt said, "Red light cameras change behavior at those intersections. If the light changes to yellow, instead of hitting the gas and going through it, you are going to hit the brakes and stop."

But the cameras have their critics. Michael Kubosh calls them "scameras." He said, "They just scam the public, they're not for safety."Brothers Michael and Paul Kubosh led a successful rebellion against red light cameras in Houston. The city took the cameras down more than a year ago. The brothers say the only reason cities install the cameras in is to make money. It's estimated that Houston earned $44 million during the four years the cameras were operating.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Digital Camera Buying Guide

Is your camera old and worn out? Better yet is your camera still using actual film? If so it is definitely time to get a new camera, but which one do you choose? There are many factors that come into play when selecting a camera.The first thing to think about is the type of camera you want. Do you want a quick point and shoot camera, or do you want to take some serious pictures and have alot of manual control of how the pictures will be taken. By deciding what type of camera you are looking for will help you greatly in selecting the final camera you want.

One more thing to think about is the physical size of the camera you want. Do you want something light weight that you can put in a pocket or a purse, or do you not care if it has it's own case and weighs 2-3 pounds? The size will directly effect the type of camera you end up buying as there are cameras of both sizes with all kinds of features. Size of camera will mainly affect the quality of lens and the ability to switch them out.The color of the camera is also a big deal to most people that are buying a camera.

Even though camera color does not effect the functionality of a camera, it is an important aspect for a lot of people. For example, a girl does not want to have a camo colored camera and won't ever take pictures with it. To make sure the camera gets used often and is getting its money's worth, make sure its a color that the picture taker likes.Features are the next thing you should think about. Make sure your new camera has red eye reduction, lighting features, and make sure it takes pictures in high res. Most cameras also take HD video and have many more bells and whistles than we will mention here.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Smile for the camera

It's time to take the annual Christmas card family photo. As parent of three teenage girls, normally something like this would require all kinds of planning and official notification of the portrait subjects. But I've figured out how to pave the way for family photo success.It's called a bribe.Oh, don't make a face. We moms have all done it. I prefer to think of it as an "incentive."I have a go-to spot for such photos: the local pumpkin patch. Yeah, I know, it's been done to death. But it turns out there's something about rusted farm machinery, hay bales and pumpkins that makes for an almost foolproof family photo setting. I'm nothing if not consistent.

But first my "incentive."Who wants In-n-Out burgers for dinner?, I called out one afternoon.The Wonderful Camera Obscura,We're going to take a family photo at the pumpkin patch and those who cooperate get hamburgers for dinner, I informed our three girls. They grumbled a bit, but at least all three of them got into the car.Heading over to the patch, I reviewed the requirements for the hamburgers.I need smiles, I told them. And everyone needs to look at the camera. No crazy eyes, I told one daughter who has a habit of going all googly-eyed when photographed.

Can we get pumpkins?, they asked.Sheesh, my inner Grinch thought. Weren't the hamburgers enough for them? And weren't they a little old to be carving pumpkins?But I didn't want to lose the subjects before we even arrived at the patch. This deal could fall apart faster than you could say "Great Pumpkin."Fine, I said, but no pumpkin picking until after we take the photo.At the patch, I herded them toward my favorite old tractor. Come on girls, I said. Don't get distracted by the baby cows and pigs!, I called out as I stomped past. Photo first!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

The Wonderful Camera Obscura

The camera obscura - Latin for "dark room" - was a sort of giant camera that Victorians could enjoy along with the other delights of the seaside, for they were usually found on popular beaches or in parks - anywhere that tourists and passers-by could enjoy them.Briefly, the camera obscura works on the optical principle that when a pinhole of light is admitted to a dark room, the rays of light order themselves into an upside-down image of what is outside. The camera obscuras of the Victoria era were fitted with a lens (to sharpen the image that was created by the thin ray of light) and with a mirror to cast the image onto a horizontal viewing surface.

The camera obscura was first developed by the Islamic scholar Al-hazen in the 10th century, and was mentioned by Da Vinci in his notebooks. However, it was not until the 18th century that the portable, box version (the pinhole camera) was developed as an artist's tool, as well as the room-sized version. The 19th century was the real heyday of the walk-in camera obscura. They were popular all over the US and Europe.

The Eastbourne camera obscura dates from 1901 (some sources say 1888, however) and is the only one still in operation in the world that is located on a pier. It is well worth visiting if you go there, as long as you don't mind heights! I do, but I was so excited at the prospect of seeing one that I braved the sensation of being so far up, so far out from the land!The Eastbourne camera obscura is in a VIctorian white onion dome of a building, located at the far end of the pier. It is placed high above several flights of stairs so that one can get a good view of the pier, the beach and the ocean - and this is really effective!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Samsung Galaxy Camera Goes On Sale In The UK This Week

Remember Samsung's awesome Galaxy Camera from August? The Android-powered camera was a hot topic at IFA, but we've not heard anything about it since. That all changed today as our friends in the UK now have a solid release date.Samsung announced today that the Galaxy Camera will be launching across the UK on November 8. Those who just can't wait will be able to snag the camera a day early at any Samsung brand stores at 5 p.m. Like most Samsung devices, there's no word yet on a US release. All we know is that it's coming to the US through AT&T at an undisclosed price and date.

"The initial response to the Galaxy Camera has been amazing and we are really looking forward to offering our customers a completely new type of digital photography device," said Simon Stanford, Vice President, Telecommunications & Networks Division, Samsung UK and Ireland. "The Galaxy Camera is a fantastic example of our continued passion for innovation and we are excited to be evolving our Galaxy range even further."Use a Digital Concepts Camera.

There may be some concern that either the camera or Android component of the device will suffer from the combination, but that does not appear the case. The camera itself features a 21x optical zoom lens and a 16MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor. As for Android, the camera is equipped with Android 4.1 and 3G connectivity. The back of the camera has a 4.8-inch HD Super Clear Touch Display that should result in some fantastic looking photos and apps. It's a little disappointing that the camera only has 8GB internal storage, but that can be expanded through microSDXC.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Use a Digital Concepts Camera

Place fresh batteries in the Digital Concepts camera. Open the battery cover, insert the batteries so that the poles are aligned with the camera properly and shut the battery cover.Install the software included with the Digital Concepts camera before you attempt to connect the camera to your computer. Place the CD in your CD drive and follow the screen prompts to complete the process. Select the correct model of camera when that question appears on your screen.

Take photographs in good lighting. Push down the "function" button on the camera so that the light turns on. Look through the camera's viewfinder while you hold it steady. Press the button on the top of the camera to take the photograph. Wait until you hear the camera beep one time before taking the next picture. There is a slight lag.Use the timer to take delayed photos. Press "function" until you see the icon the resembles an "SE." Push the shutter button within a five-second window to activate a time-delayed shot. The Digital Concepts camera beeps once every second until the 10-second delay has elapsed. Wait for the camera to beep twice to indicate that the photo is complete.

Retrieve the photos from your camera with the PhoTags Express software included with your Digital Concepts camera. Plug the camera into your computer with a USB camera cable. Place the smaller end in the camera port and the USB plug into a USB port in your computer. Turn the camera on. Click the PhoTags Express icon on your computer screen and wait for the program to open. Click the tab that is labeled "Get Photos" when the program is ready. Follow the screen prompts to finish importing the pictures from the camera.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Blux Camera Is The App Rick Deckard Would Use

If Rick Deckard had carried an iPhone in the movie Blade Runner, and he'd used a camera app, that app would have been BLUX. Not only is it a pretty great iPhone camera replacement app, but it has all the bleeps, bloops, on-screen graphics a futuristic sci-fi replicant could ask for. Hell, it even has a neat computer voice that offers photographic advice.Blux takes full advantage of the iPhone 5 and the latest iPod Touch, and as such many of its features only work on those devices. These include the full retina preview for effects, and likely the neat water-ripple effect used throughout the interface.

The app has a couple of conceits. One is the P.E.A.R, an intelligent "assistant" which analyses the scene and offers recommendations as to which filter to use. Additional individuals are able to afford digital cameras.Tap the suggestion accept it, or pick your own.But switch to manual and you get to use the fancy interface. You can change the color temperature and zoom levels with on-screen sliders, you can swipe left, right, up and down to get to settings, your camera-roll, filters and image controls (saturation, brightness and so on).

There's also a live histogram and several other HUD elements which can be switched in and out, as well as a slew of different shutter options (self-timer, sound-trigger and others).But the real draw is in the interface. The sounds might be a little cheesy, but I love them, and the touch-and-swipe interface really takes advantage of iOS, arraying an amazingly complex set of features into a deceptively simple design.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Additional individuals are able to afford digital cameras

It is actually critical after you compare digital camera possibilities to know the problems of image resolution, which is measured in megapixels. Essentially, the far more megapixels, the greater the resolutions of the final image but you absolutely will need to compare digital camera pictures together with your actual needs. This is ideal accomplished in case you compare digital camera resolution using the size with the pictures which you desire to print and you'll find that a 1-mg camera can make a 3-by-5-inch (7.five by 13 cm) photo-quality print; a 2-mg camera will make a 5-by-7-inch (13 by 18 cm) print; a 3-mg camera will make an 8-by-10-inch (20 by 25 cm) print, and also a 6-mg camera will make a 9-by-13-inch (23 by 33 cm) print.

One of the other points to think about whenever you compare digital camera costs would be to look at the complete package which is supplied. Some included extras to appear for if you compare digital camera packages are if the camera contains a cable for your laptop and if it comes with image-editing software program that functions with your pc. If these are not included it can be nonetheless feasible for you to buy them separately but you'll want to permit for this once you compare digital camera prices. Yet another important point to consider whenever you compare digital camera options is always to select a camera with removable memory as well as built-in memory.

All of the cameras which you are thinking about whenever you compare digital camera capabilities should have an LCD screen for viewing images, a built-in flash, a timer, and a time/date stamp on even probably the most standard camera. You need to also appear to compare digital camera packages which have optical zoom, not digital, if you have to have a zoom capability and most midrange cameras ought to have high-quality optical zoom lenses however it is nonetheless worth checking to make positive.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Thermal-imaging camera helps Colton firefighters save lives, fight fires

When Colton firefighters arrived at a car crash one night in the early 2000s, they knew the occupants had been thrown out of the vehicle, but couldn't find them.With the help of a thermal-imaging camera, they were able to spot the victims in some nearby vegetation and get them to a hospital.Technology has advanced since then, and with the help of a $7,600 grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, firefighters obtained a new infrared camera this month.

"It's an absolutely wonderful asset for the department," said Colton fire Battalion Chief Kevin Valentin.They've already put the new device to work.Firefighters battled a blaze at a two-story home in the 500 block of La Cadena"The fire was in the wall, so we were able to use the camera to make sure the fire didn't extend up the wall to the second floor," said Colton fire Capt. Tony Horn.Security Camera Keeps your House Safe.

Thermal-imaging technology has long been used in the military and law enforcement, and its popularity eventually spread to firefighting.But Colton's older cameras, weighing about seven pounds apiece, are bulky and prevent a firefighter from doing anything but hold the camera.The new two-pound model can be held with one hand, has a temperature gauge and shows firefighters how hot a fire is by displaying shades of yellow, orange or red on its screen.It gives firefighters the ability to see fire through walls, and will help them find victims in burning buildings.







Thursday, October 18, 2012

Security Camera Keeps your House Safe

Actually, there are two types of cameras are available in the market - the wired and wireless security camera system. Before buying them, understand your requirement. Thieves are using newer and innovative techniques to rob a household. With the passage of time, they change their techniques of robbing a house. If your house is vulnerable to burglars, then you need to install wireless security camera system. If your house is located near the market, then you can prefer the wired systems as people roam near markets. Whatever you want to buy, take the help of online shops as they offer high quality security cameras at huge discounts.

Decide location while installing the devices. In fact, the placement of your security cameras is of utmost importance to avoid any mishappening. The proper placement of such devices coupled with a recorder lets you to maintain a record of many activities in your home or office, and it will also help you to easily identify a person by the clothes he or she was wearing at the time of mishappenings. Do you know to install the device? If yes, then go ahead.

In case of no, you need to take the assistance of professionals as they can easily fit it an appropriate location. Go ahead!!! Apart from high quality products, they give guarantee of longevity and durability. So, what are you planning for? All you need to do is make online search to get in touch with reputed and esteemed online shops. So, you are advised not to waste your time here and there. A high quality security camera keeps your house as well as office safe from burglars.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Workshop to offer on-camera acting training in Tiverton

Kids from ages 9 to 19 are invited to get some on-camera acting training with a casting professional. The three-hour intensive workshop is set to benefit stage actors with little or no experience in front of the camera."I'm so happy we can do this for young people," Gloria Crist said. Crist has been running Tiverton High School's theater department for the past four years. Creating a driving theater arts program for Crist means bringing in guest artists, directors and engineers. Having her friend Anne Mulhall coach the kids was just the way she wanted to kick off the fall.

Mulhall is head of LDI casting in Warwick, R.I. She has cast "Moonrise Kingdom," "27 Dresses," and is currently working on the "The Makeover" for Hallmark in Boston. Mulhall said she's looking forward to this workshop as much as Crist."We always end up discovering somebody," Mulhall said,A Simplified Guide to Buying a Digital Camera, having cast Crist's students before. "Not to make them a star, but to use them for work that I wouldn't have found otherwise."

Mulhall describes Rhode Island as "a little world that people don't leave, so I have to go to them." She plans to teach the workshop participants the difference between stage acting and acting for the camera."It's less broad. In theater you have to speak to the last row. On camera you speak to the person next to you," Mulhall said.She will actively show them what works and what doesn't work," Crist said. "Anne is very good working with theater actors and doing sudden changes."




Thursday, October 11, 2012

A Simplified Guide to Buying a Digital Camera

Before you embark on your camera buying journey, decide what you are buying the camera for. Are you just going to take pictures of your meet ups with your friends, or are you going to start a hobby in photography? Will you take pictures that you will upload on Facebook or Myspace, or are you planning to print large pictures to make banners or hang up in large frames on your walls? All these questions matter when it comes to deciding on a digital camera to buy.

If you are buying a camera, this is usually one of the most common words you will hear along the way. What is a megapixel? A megapixel is a collection of one million pixels per inch of an image. A pixel is a tiny dot of information that forms one dot of that image. So, the more information you squeeze into that inch, the clearer the image that is produced. However, do consider that more information you have in a picture, the larger the amount of space that it will take up on your memory card. You don’t necessarily need a 20 megapixel camera to have a great quality photo.

Higher megapixel cameras may only be needed if you are taking pictures which you plan to print large copies of, or you are planning to zoom a lot into later to get a cropped image. If you don’t need to do these things, it is rather a waste to buy an expensive 10 megapixel camera as the images will take up lots of space on your memory card and also in your computer. It would also be harder to upload onto social networking sites due to the large size. If you are pursuing a hobby in photography and want crystal clear perfection in your photos, then it might be worth the investment.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Ben Affleck flourishes behind the camera

Like almost every actor, Affleck had always wanted to direct. But in 2003, when Affleck was romantically linked to Jennifer Lopez, he decided to finally take the plunge. Quickly Solve the Problems You Met in Using Spy Cameras.The movie Affleck and Lopez starred in together, "Gigli," had come out to savage reviews and public ridicule, and the paparazzi's interest in the couple's engagement was obsessive, intrusive and constant.

"I just thought: 'This is so gross. It's destructive to my career, it's destructive to my soul, to my everything, I want to escape this,'Affleck recalled at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. "I thought, I've been wanting to direct for so long, if there's ever going to be a moment to take two years away from acting and shoot and release [a movie], this is the time."A few years later, Affleck released "Gone Baby Gone," his adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel that shocked critics and filmgoers alike with its astute sense of atmosphere, pacing and characterization.

Affleck followed up that promising debut with "The Town," a crime thriller set, like "Gone Baby Gone," in Boston near where he grew up that found Affleck upping his game as a filmmaker with a larger-scale story and explosive action. This week, he'll come out with his third film, "Argo," a political thriller that was an instant hit when it played the Telluride and Toronto film festivals earlier this year.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Quickly Solve the Problems You Met in Using Spy Cameras

Most of our customers told us that the Chinese English manuals are difficult to read. Most of them will ask what TF Card is, since the maual always told you a TF Card needed. TF Card also called MicroSD Card, when are most used in our daily lives, such as phone memory cards. When you buy a hidden camera and the description don't marks the capacity that the camera needed, this shows that you should buy a MicroSD card for your camera togeter or you can prepare it by yourself. Before your using, it is important to check out whehter the memory is built in or a Micro SD card need for the gadget.

The problems most users will met is that you can't connnect the gadget to your computer successfully. When you met such problem, don't worry. Please kindly do the following things, first try it on the other computer, sometimes it is only the problem of your computer. Sometimes the gadget didn't support Mac system, because most of people will only test the camera on the Windows, Mac computer is expensive to most of people who live in China.

When you start your gadget and find it shut down at once or you even can't start your gadget, this status just tell you that your camera need to be charged. Since most of spy cameras shipped from China will need 10-15 working days, sometimes even longer. You should charge your camera in your first use. I highly recommended that charge your gadget first when you receive your camera, it's better to do this after a long time no use of the camera. Usually 2 or 3 hours can do a full charge. Normal hidden cameras always provide two ways for you to charge your camera, one is use adapter, one is connnect to your computer, both of the two ways are good.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Wearable Camera Automatically Captures Your Whole Day

The Autographer is a small camera with a wide angle lens that you can wear on a lanyard or clip to your clothing. What makes it clever is a combination of software and sensors that enable it to decide when to take a picture. It recognizes changes in color, direction, motion and temperature to decide something interesting is happening. Then it takes a snap.Dark Energy Camera, new mega-eye on the sky, probes ancient mystery.

The 37.4 x 90 x 22.9mm Autographer seems to cover all the spec-bases which just leaves you thinking of a good reason for using it. The battery will last more than a day on a single charge. The 8GB on-board storage space is enough to capture a week or two's worth of snaps before filling up. It features GPS to record the location of each shot plus Bluetooth so that you can transfer images wirelessly to your mobile phone, from where you can post them direct to Facebook and Twitter via a dedicated Autographer app or send them on elsewhere yourself.

It's fairly light at 58g, it's as simple and innocuous as you could get and it rather comes off like a small Flip video camera. A touch of a button reveals an OLED reading of the Autographer's settings through a transmissive section of the plastic casing. As it goes, there's purposefully not an awful lot to choose from. You can select between three settings relating to sensitivity of the sensors and, therefore, how many pictures per day you're likely to get. You can also turn the Bluetooth on and off to save battery.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Dark Energy Camera, new mega-eye on the sky, probes ancient mystery

The first images are in from the Dark Energy Camera. A week ago, astronomers and researchers from around the world began a collaborative experiment using the super-powerful camera to create a massive three-dimensional map that delves deep into the universe.The camera at the center of the Dark Energy Survey astronomical experiment in Chile is cataloging the sky, bit by bit over 525 nights. "It will record information on over 300 million galaxies, most so faint that their light is around 1 million times fainter than the dimmest star that can be seen with the naked eye," according to the survey's website.

Galaxies up to 8 billion light-years away will be captured by the so-called DECam, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The camera can "reach wide and deep into the night sky," the lab said, thanks to components such as 62 charge-coupled devices invented at the lab.The camera -- a very sensitive 570-megapixel device -- is high in the Chilean Andes, but U.S. institutions have provided essential pieces for this unprecedented effort, including the "world's largest filter changer" from the University of Michigan and a "one-of-a-kind cryogenics system to keep photo chips at minus 100 degrees Celsius," from Fermilab in Chicago.

Each night, the state-of-the-art camera takes 400 images, says the Dark Energy Survey website, each one of those a gigabyte in size.DECam is the largest digital camera ever built, according to the Energy Department's website, and includes mirrors measuring 3 feet across. It weighs about 5 tons.The whopper-size photos this huge camera takes are sent to the National Center for Supercomputer Applications in Illinois to be reduced and stored. That facility creates "combined images," the survey site says, before the galaxies and stars that they reveal are identified, cataloged, measured and stored in a database.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Olympus Announces New PEN Cameras, XZ-2 Point-and-Shoot

Olympus has updated two of its popular Micro Four Thirds PEN cameras—replacing the E-PL3 $599.00 at Buydig.com with the E-PL5 PEN Lite and the E-PM1 $399.99 at TigerDirect.com with the E-PM2 PEN Mini. Both cameras feature the same 16-megapixel image sensor and processing engine as the OM-D E-M5 $1,279.99 at PRIMOTRONIX and touchscreen rear displays, making it possible to adjust settings, select a focus point, and fire the shutter with the touch of your finger. The top-end PEN camera, the E-P3 is not being upgraded at this point, but it does remain in the lineup.

Like its predecessor, the E-PM2 features a fixed rear 460k-dot LCD. The E-PL5 has a tilting screen with the same resolution and an improved tilt range—it can now face all the way front for self portraits, just like the display on the Sony Alpha NEX-F3 $498.00 at Dell. Sony's compact full-frame RX1 camera launches in November for $2,800.Both shoot at 8 frames per second with locked focus, but slow to 3.5 frames per second. Neither camera has built-in Wi-Fi, but they do support wireless transfer to an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet via the PenPal $48.95 at Amazon Marketplace Bluetooth adapter, Eye-Fi memory cards, and Toshiba FlashAir memory cards.

There are also a few new lenses coming for the Micro Four Thirds system. The most intriguing is a 15mm f/8 lens that Olympus is billing as a bodycap lens—at only 0.3 inches in depth, it's even slimmer than a pancake design. Even though it has a very modest maximum aperture, the manual focus lens barely protrudes from the camera body. It produces a 30mm field of view in terms of full-frame photography and can focus as close as 0.3 meters.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Sony's compact full-frame RX1 camera launches in November for $2,800

Sony (SNE) announced on Wednesday it will launch the Cybershot RX1 compact camera in November for $2,800. The unique camera blends together a full-frame image sensor usually reserved for high-end DSLRs with a body that measures only 4.5-inches wide and weighs a little over a pound. Make no mistake, the RX1′s full-frame image sensor is not a feature most people will need, which is why the camera is so expensive.

It's packed with a Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.0 fixed lens, 3-inch LCD, pop-up flash and plenty of dials and buttons to fit the professional photographer who just wants a lighter camera to tote around.Still, if money is of no object, the RX1 has a full array of hard-hitting features including 1080p HD video at 24 and 60 frames per second, ISO 100 to 25,600, and five frame-per-second shooting.

The only major caveats seem to be a lack of a touchscreen, a missing built-in electronic viewfinder and the inability to zoom in due to the fixed lens. An optical viewfinder ($450) and electronic viewfinder ($600) attachment will be sold separately.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

PENTAX Introduced the New K-5 II DSLR Camera

Pentax announced the PENTAX K-5 II flagship digital SLR cameras, designed to advance the Pentax well-received K-5 camera. The new dustproof, weather-resistant and cold-resistant camera include a newly developed SAFOX X AF sensor that delivers the broadest autofocusing EV range (-3 EV to +18 EV) in its class.16 mp Camera With 21x Zoom Launched For Rs 16,000. In addition, the PENTAX K-5 IIs is offered without an anti-aliasing filter, making it the perfect solution for photographers who practice commercial and studio photography where camera settings, lens selection, lighting, and other shooting conditions are controlled.

The new PENTAX K-5 II offer a compact, solid body that delivers high quality image reproduction, especially when working in low light conditions. The camera's new, highly sensitive AF sensor enables photographers to work with a luminous flux based on F2.8 levels in addition to F5.6, which increases the AF accuracy when using fast lenses. The AF sensor also includes an upgraded AF algorithm as well as the Select-Area Expansion feature, which automatically tracks the subject when it deviates from a pre-assigned selection point, by assessing data from neighboring sensors.

With its large sensor measuring 23.7mm by 15.7mm with approximately 16.28 effective megapixels, the K-5 II's latest-generation CMOS image sensor ensures high-speed image data readout. By coupling the sensor with the PRIME (PENTAX Real Image Engine) II imaging engine, the Pentax K-5 II delivers super high resolution, rich gradation digital images free of digital noise over a wide sensitivity range – from ISO 100 to ISO 12800 in the standard setting, or from ISO 80 to ISO 51200 when expanded via a custom function.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

16 mp Camera With 21x Zoom Launched For Rs 16,000

BenQ has launched the GH700, a new camera that employs a powerful 21x optical zoom lens along with a 16 megapixel Back-Side Illuminated (BSI) sensor for better low-light results, all at an affordable price. To make it easier while shooting at such high zoom levels, the camera is equipped with OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) to compensate for vibrations. The GH700 features a 25 mm wide angle lens to capture a large area in a single shot. In addition to shooting faraway objects, it also claims to be able to capture subjects as close as 1 cm from the lens.

While it appears very similar to the lower-priced GH600, it's differentiated by a CMOS sensor as against the latter's CCD, a high-speed DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or image processor, Full HD (1080p) recording, and better battery life.BenQ claims that through the BSI CMOS sensor and DSP, the snapper can eliminate low-light noise to a great extent, thus allowing for clear nighttime shots even without a tripod.

The image processor automatically takes several snaps and combines them into a single frame, reportedly giving you more vivid images. The high-speed DSP also enables Continuous Shooting Mode, wherein you can take 10 snaps at 16 mp or 54 shots at 1 mp all at once. Moreover, pressing the shutter halfway down results in five photos being taken before the actual image, so that you can select the best out of them. Alternatively, holding down the shutter button will keep taking pictures until released, with the sharpest among them being chosen automatically.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Sony's NEX-5R WiFi Hands On With the Viewfinder Feature

Just about anyone who's tried to take a self-portrait with a camera agrees: it's a hassle. Setting the scene, hitting the timer, then rushing into place only to find half of your head has been cut out is par for the course.If that sounds like you, a new feature that makes use of a smartphone or tablet PC as a remote viewfinder could help. One of the first cameras to offer this will be Sony's NEX-5R, which will be available in major markets in October. Instagram Camera Inching Closer to Reality.

The function, which Sony calls "smart remote control," is added to the camera as an application. With the WiFi-equipped NEX-5R, Sony includes the option for downloading applications from an online store, via a PC or from the camera's PlayMemories Store app. Users will also need to download a PlayMemories app to their handset. Sony says versions for Android and Apple's iOS will be available.

The base of the system is a peer-to-peer WiFi connection, so the camera needs to be connected with a smartphone or tablet before it can be used. A couple of button presses in the camera sets it searching for a compatible handset. In our test the process took about 10 seconds for the devices to automatically connect. Once done, the smartphone screen shows a more-or-less real-time video image that matches the camera's viewfinder. It doesn't include any of the text that is typically overlaid on the viewfinder and lags the camera's viewfinder by a fraction of a second.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Instagram Camera Inching Closer to Reality

ADR Studio is working on an Instagram-specific camera that is expected to launch in mid-2013.The first prototype of the Instagram Socialmatic camera is expected by year's end, according to ADR, which recently gained new business partners to help get the project off the ground.ADR Studio thanked private investor Artem Shishakin and telecommunications and design company Global Mobile Network, which ADR said "will be ready to create a new era in social photography."

ADR first announced plans for an Instagram-specific camera in May. The product, still in its development phases, will sport a flat touch-screen display, with a built-in printer and 16GB of storage. It will also come with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, so users can share pictures instantly.According to Design Taxi, the square, handheld device will come with two separate camera lenses – one for normal photos and another for filtered shots, as well as an LED flash.

Since its last update three months ago, ADR Studio unveiled an updated camera design, turning the otherwise beige Instagram logo into a black on-the-go camera."The realization of this ambitious project is no longer a brilliant idea or a concept," ADR Studio said in July news release. "This is a reality that will soon be flooded into the world markets almost crazy about this amazing concept."

Monday, August 27, 2012

Red Light Camera Firm Sues to Block Public Vote

A traffic camera company on Thursday filed suit in a Galveston County, Texas courthouse to prevent voters from having a say in whether automated ticketing machines are used in League City. Nikon Coolpix S800c Android camera drops for $350.Following a well-established pattern, Redflex Traffic Systems, which wants the camera program to survive, filed suit against the city asking the court to block officials from going ahead with the initiative on the November 6 ballot. City officials also support the cameras.

After residents presented a legally binding petition for a ballot measure banning the cameras immediately, the city council re-wrote the measure so that, if passed, it would amend the city charter with a provision that would not ban cameras until 2014."Effective with the expiration of the city's contract with Redflex Traffic Systems, the deployment of photographic traffic enforcement systems, and any contracts or franchises or renewals related thereto on city public rights of way shall be prohibited," the ballot measure states.

Redflex cannot afford to have the issue go to voters as red light cameras and speed cameras have lost in 23 out of 24 times in which they have been put to a vote (view list). Because Redflex, an Australian company, does not have standing in an election lawsuit, it added League City resident Joseph C. Wheeler as a plaintiff in the case. Photo enforcement opponents point out on their League City Camera Scam website that the Redflex law firm -- Collins, O'Neal and Swofford -- did not find a concerned citizen.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Nikon Coolpix S800c Android camera drops for $350

This week the folks at Nikon have revealed their next big move in the point-and-shoot camera world with the Nikon Coolpix S800c, an Android-powered shooter. This camera brings on GPS embedded within for geotagging and Android 2.3 Gingerbread will be bringing on the software we grew to love more than a year ago. This camera also has 10x wide optical zoom and 1080p video capture.

You'll find a 16 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor inside this device prepped to bring on some high quality photos right out of the gate, and a 3.5-inch OLED WVGA touchscreen sits at the back for your interactive experience with Android. The software on this device will certainly not be a hindering move here by Nikon even though it is a couple generations behind the newest Google smartphones, as most of the upgrades since Gingerbread have been on the smartphone side of the equation.

On the other hand, Nikon hasn't been too forthcoming about what Android will be doing here on this device. You'll be able to connect with a wi-fi connection to the web, which means you'll be able to instantly upload images first of all, but how and with what we'll be connecting to this device to load up apps to its 4GB internal storage is still somewhat of a situation in the dark.

Monday, August 20, 2012

A camera that can see around corners

I know this sounds like something in a sci-fi movie or a superhero comic, but this is a real-world technology we've made possible with a camera that is aware of the travel time of light, an imaging technique that can create movies of light in motion with an effective rate approaching a trillion frames per second: the speed of light.Canon recalls thousands of T4i DSLRs for allergy risk.

Before I joined the MIT faculty in 2008, I had done deep research in "computational photography," a field of new imaging techniques dramatically improving the capture and synthesis of photos. But, I knew there was more to photography than just depicting what the eye can see. I wanted to create a camera that could see beyond the line of sight. The speed of light isn't infinite: light travels about a foot per billionth of a second.

I spoke to top researchers in ultrafast lasers and photonics to understand what was currently possible. When I did, most of them asked some version of: "Why? Why spend years building a camera to look around corners when no commercial application is screaming for it and no funding agency has a call for it?" In addition, it's rare to shoot light pulses and analyze at such high speeds in large environments. Ultra-fast imaging experiments are usually limited to centimeter- or smaller-size samples.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Canon recalls thousands of T4i DSLRs for allergy risk

The popular T4i digital camera is getting a major recall, after a report from a consumer led them to discover that the rubber grip used on the camera can cause a skin rash. Approximately 68,200 cameras have the defect, but only 22,100 of them were actually distributed; the rest were held in inventory.

The culprit is a chemical used in the grip material that caused at least one consumer to develop "a minor rash." Canon employs a similar rubberizing technique on several of its other cameras, but it says that the defect is limited to a single manufacturing run of the T4i grips.It appears to be an extension of an earlier recall back in July that affected a smaller number of cameras, but as the serial numbers are different this time around, whatever problem they detected then has apparently also been found in more units.

Canon says not all of the cameras being recalled are guaranteed to have the problem, but they are pulling all the units that came off the assembly line at that time just to be safe.If you have a T4i, you can find its serial number on the bottom plate. If the second digit is a 3 or 4 and the sixth digit is a 1, you are advised to contact Canon to have the grips replaced, free of charge naturally.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Smart camera guide for sports enthusiasts

Active shutterbugs who enjoy shooting sporting events sometimes run into the problem of images turning out blurred due to camera shake. In some cases, prized moments are missed because of sluggish cameras or the lack of proper technique.

Curiosity's camera mast erected Although high-end dSLRs makes getting the winning shot easier, these cameras are typically too expensive for mainstream users. Though more affordable entry-level mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs) are capable of 5fps burst-mode shooting, there are more portable compact cameras that boast much faster burst rates.

The ideal snapper for sporting action should have a fast maximum shutter speed (1/1000 or faster) and be capable of shooting in burst mode of at least 8 fps in order to freeze fast moving action. Since you won't always have the luxury of getting front row seats, a long zoom lens that reaches 300mm will give users the ability to get a closer view of the action.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Curiosity's camera mast erected

The Curiosity Mars rover, stepping through a complex post-landing checklist in near flawless fashion, successfully raised its main camera mast and beamed down razor-sharp navigation camera views of its surroundings in Gale Crater that provide a hint of the spectacular vistas to come when the craft's high-resolution cameras swing into operation, engineers said Wednesday.

Mission manager Jennifer Trosper said the only anomaly of any significance since landing overnight Sunday -- trouble with a meteorological instrument -- turned out to be a procedural glitch and not a real problem at all. Along with erecting the remote sensing mast, Curiosity's high-gain antenna, which follows Earth across the martian sky to provide a direct communications link, was deployed and checked out after minor alignment issues were resolved. The high-gain antenna can be used to receive critical commands when two NASA satellites.

The Mars Odyssey and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, are below the horizon."We accomplished the main things of getting our high gain antenna session to work and we have now confirmed that all of our antennas and all of our links on the rover work perfectly," Trosper said. "We feel very confident that we have lots of data capacity now with all of these links. That was one of the major objectives of this first part of the mission, so that's fantastic."

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

After 3 Years Lost in Forest, a Camera Reveals Secrets to Its Home

John Noerr and his 5-year-old son were chasing snakes in the Adirondacks last month when they stumbled on a grimy, expensive digital camera sitting in a foot of water in a stream.Mr. Noerr, a 39-year-old art teacher, took a screwdriver and pried open a flap that concealed the camera's memory card. Gore Vidal's colorful career behind (and in front of) the camera.He extracted the card, cleaned it off and put it in his computer.

On it he found a mystery.There were 581 pictures. Many seemed to be from New York City, 250 miles away. There were pictures from Union Square. There were pictures of a sign that said "real estate." A woman had taken a picture of herself in a mirror. The most recent picture, from June 2009, had been taken very close to the spot Mr. Noerr found the camera, north of Pharaoh Lake.

For three weeks, Mr. Noerr, who lives in Vermont but is spending the summer in the little town of Adirondack, N.Y., searched for the owner of the camera, a Canon Rebel XT that no longer appears to work.Dead ends were many. He noticed the name "Ziggy Comeau" on the real estate sign in the photo, called the agent and spoke with his wife, who didn't know anything about the camera.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Gore Vidal's colorful career behind (and in front of) the camera

His screenwriting career took more than a few notable turns. Most famously was 1979's "Caligula," the explicit look at the tyrannical and hedonistic Roman emperor. Wild sex scenes prompted gasps through the film world, as did the drama behind the scenes -- after disagreements with the directors and others on the film, Vidal had only limited control over the final product, as the movie was re-cut (with additional sex scenes) by producer and Penthouse chief Bob Guccione.

There were also plenty of adult themes in Vidal's New Orleans-set mystery "Suddenly Last Summer," a 1959 release that trafficked in murder, mental illness and (homo)sexual explicitness. Starring Montgomery Clift, Katharine Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor, Vidal adapted the picture from the Tennessee Williams play. Despite (or because) of its racy themes, the movie went on to be a big box-office hit.

Meanwhile, Vidal's novel "Myra Breckenridge," about a transgendered Hollywood actor,  became the basis of a wildly campy 1968 movie starring Tom Selleck and Farrah Fawcett. And all this of course doesn't include a spate of teleplays as well as uncredited screenwriting gigs, with the author working as a contract writer for MGM at one point in his career.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Smart camera guide for new parents

Babies are every parent's pride and joy. Many new moms and dads arm themselves with the latest snappers in order to document each precious moment, from capturing a video of their child's first words to taking a snapshot of baby's first steps.A cool camera, sky corridors.In a child's first two years, getting sharp still pictures is usually easier as toddlers learn to walk. Beyond that age, many parents face disappointment when they realize that their cameras fall short with images looking out-of-focus due to hyperactive kids.

The ideal point-and-shoot for parents would be one that has swift autofocus speeds to capture a moving child. It should also have a fast startup time and be ready to shoot at a moment's notice. Besides being lightweight and portable enough to slip into a diaper bag, the ideal camera should feature mode settings optimized for capturing children, such as Fujifilm's FinePix F500EXR, which has a baby mode as well as in-camera processing options for portraiture

Other shooters have unique features, such as the Samsung ST700, which allows users to load cute animations into its front-facing LCD in order to capture a child's attention when taking a picture. Lastly, when the situation calls for it, the snapper should be fitted with a dedicated video button to allow for users to start recording video with a single touch in order to capture that "Kodak" moment.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

A cool camera, sky corridors

Here's an angle worth looking at: Photographer Mark Duncan has just made the first AP Olympic image shot with a controllable overhead robotic camera. He did it at the Aquatics Center, where AP will be producing imagery shot with such cameras throughout the Olympic games — both underwater and above.Airspace above North Brabant province usually is used by Dutch F16 pilots as a training area, but authorities say the Top Guns are going to spread their wings elsewhere over the country and the North Sea to make way for London-bound Olympic flights carrying athletes or spectators.

Miles of cables have been installed by news organizations and some have been inadvertently damaged in the rush by builders to get everything ready. At the hockey venue inside the Olympic Park, new fences were fitted for safety reasons — and they've damaged crucial wiring.Worst-case scenario: Major cabling damage could theoretically close off an entire venue in terms of data transmission — whether text, photos or TV images.

Technicians are being sent back repeatedly to check that everything's OK — and they're worried. Wednesday is the last day anyone's officially allowed to wire things up and yet there's potential for damage for several more days.potted at the Olympic Park McDonald's: a camera crew interviewing a cashier about the delicacies under the Golden Arches. Must be a slow news day.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Canon Announces EOS M, Its First Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera

Panasonic's new cameras aim for ambitious amateurs.Canon announced its first and much-anticipated foray into the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera space, the EOS M. Despite its compact size, the camera has an 18-megapixel APS-C sensor and a Digic 5 image processor, which were previously only found in the company's DSLRs. The EOS M also offers a beginner-friendly touchscreen interface. The Canon EOS M was announced on Monday.

PCWorld Australia got its hands on a pre-production model and reports, “…what was immediately noticeable about the EOS M is just how quickly and effortlessly it can focus. It was set so that we didn't even have to press the shutter button halfway down; every time the camera was pointed to a near object from a far object, the focus changed almost immediately and it was spot-on accurate. With the new 18-55mm kit lens, accurate focusing can be made from a distance of 25cm away; with the 22mm pancake lens, focusing can be from as close as 15cm.”

The EOS M does have a few physical buttons, but you also use its 3-inch fixed touchscreen to control the camera. The interface supports pinching, swiping, and tapping gestures that smartphone and tablet users will likely appreciate.As for still images, Canon has posted some samples that show rich colors, minute detail, shallow depth of field, and evidence that the camera handles low-light situations admirably. The video capabilities on the EOS M are also impressive given its size.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Panasonic's new cameras aim for ambitious amateurs

Panasonic has released a few new cameras generally focused on the high-end consumer market, with capabilities aimed at serious amateur photographers. Budget-minded shooters should look elsewhere, but others may find the new gear very compelling.Their mirrorless lineup has been updated with the G5 model, a modest but significant improvement over the popular G3. It has a new 16-megapixel sensor that will shoot at up to 12,800 ISO, and Panasonic claims low-light performance has been improved generally as well.

The rear articulating touchscreen has twice as many pixels as before, going from 480x320 to 640x480, though the electronic viewfinder appears to be unchanged.It'll shoot six frames per second and takes 1080p video at a fairly high bitrate, putting it on a level with nicer camcorders and DSLRs. Panasonic also says the autofocus is among the world's fastest, acquiring a subject in less than a tenth of a second.

Next is the luxury point-and-shoot, the LX7. It packs some serious glass: an F/1.4-2.3 3.8x zoom, meaning low-light shots should be a snap, even if you zoom in. It's probably the fastest lens in a compact camera today.The LX7 also has improved autofocus and video capabilities, the result of a new 10-megapixel sensor. That may not sound like a lot these days, but when the image quality is good, you don't often need more.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Create Beautiful Star-Trail Photos With Almost Any Camera

If you're a space geek like me, you know that this has been a great season. Not only did we get to witness the extraordinary transit of Venus across the sun in June,Carry Your Camera on Any Strap but we also enjoyed a spectacular annular solar eclipse in May. And more recently, NASA announced that one of the Voyager probes has finally left the solar system for interstellar space.

Such events turn my attention to astrophotography. Some time ago, I told you how to shoot the moon, and I've also explained the basics of shooting star trails by using very long exposures. This week, I'll focus on shooting star trails by taking lots of relatively short exposures and then combining the results.You have a lot of ways to capture the beauty of the night sky with a camera, but shooting star trails is among the easiest, mainly because you can do it with almost any camera.

To take a star-trail photo like this one, all you need is a camera with a manual exposure mode; such a camera will let you dial in the shutter speed and aperture setting independently. To make things easier, you'll want either a remote shutter release that you can lock (so that the camera takes photo after photo with no intervention from you) or an "intervalometer" mode, in which you can schedule the camera to take a set of photos automatically. Check your camera's menu or user guide to see whether it has such a mode.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Carry Your Camera on Any Strap

There are a fair number of clever straps available for your digital S.L.R. camera, but sometimes the last thing you want to be carrying is yet another strap.The $80 Peak Design Capture is a quick-release camera mount that can be attached to a belt or any strap — like the one on your backpack or handbag — so your camera is always accessible, not swaying and not getting tangled.

It is a very solid little device made of powder-coated aluminum with two mounting screws that you can adjust without tools. Once the screws are loosened, two plates separate to fit over a strap up to 3 inches wide and a half-inch thick.A mounting plate screws to the bottom of your camera and slides into the mechanism, which unlocks when you press a red release button.

The company claims its clip device can hold up to 150 pounds, just in case you have a camera made of pig iron.That mounting plate is compatible with Arca-Swiss-style tripod heads, so you don't have to take the mount off to pop your camera on a secure base."We said all along that the cameras were needed because of safety issues," Stevens said. "They've definitely worked — people are much more aware of the dangers of the intersection."

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Canon camera's grip could cause allergic reactions

Been inexplicably sneezing or feeling itchy recently? It could be an allergic reaction to that shiny new Canon EOS Rebel T4i camera you just bought.Canon just put out a notice telling owners of the recently released camera that some  of the units have been having chemical reactions that result in the grip changing colors and which could possibly lead to allergic reactions.

The Japanese camera company says a number of units produced between late May and mid-June contained a slightly higher amount of rubber accelerator than normal.That in turn is leading to a chemical reaction that creates the substance zinc bis, which turns the cameras' grips white and which could potentially cause allergic reactions, Canon said.Samsung Announced the EX2F All-Purpose Compact Camera.

"Please note that the occurrence of allergic skin reactions depend on the target substance, length of contact with the target substance, one's health and physical conditions, and sensitivity of one's skin structure, and not everyone will be affected by allergic symptoms," Canon said in its note.If you want to check your T4i and see if you're among the affected, check your camera's serial number. If the sixth digit is 2 or higher, you're all clear. If it isn't, enter your serial number on this page set up by Canon, and it'll notify you whether your camera is among the affected.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Samsung Announced the EX2F All-Purpose Compact Camera

B&H Photo Video is excited to share the release of the new Samsung EX2F all-purpose small digital camera, which features a wide variety of unique and creative features to always keep one creating and sharing memories. While it may look like a glorified point-and-shoot it is capable of taking 12.4 Mp photos, as well as Full HD 1920 x 1080p video.

Of course this is not new, however what does make it stand out is the fact that it can actually do both of these at the same time! Capture simultaneous photos and videos without missing a beat. Choose between timeless photographs in exchange for HD video, and vice versa. Just turn both on and catch it all.The EX2F Digital Camera from Samsung aims to be an all-purpose small digital camera, that provides beautiful AMOLED display for just that reason.

View, edit, and share all in-camera on the 3.0″ screen–or connect to a computer or HDTV instead. The EX2F's fun and creative image enhancements allows to create unique and compelling photos without the need for a computer and expensive photo editor. Shoot, edit, and display as a slideshow on your HDTV in mere moments, allowing everyone in the room to immediately see enhanced images.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Camera-inspired items

Sure, we've seen our share of weird accessories that may come across as odd or absurd, but what about the cleverly-designed items inspired by cameras? Polaroid Introduces New Z2300 Instant Digital Camera.Some shutterbugs would go to great lengths to acquire camera-inspired items to remind them of their beloved snappers. They may come in the form of cufflinks to match an outfit or a pencil sharpener resembling a vintage twin-lens reflex camera.

We've scoured the Web and rounded up some of the more interesting peripherals that may interest you, take a look. DealExtreme's handheld fan looks like a miniature version of Canon's 70-200mm ED telephoto lens. Powered by two AAA batteries, this gadget comes with two fan blades that help you keep cool during your intense photo sessions. The device is made entirely of plastic and claims to feature low power consumption for extended use. Available in black and gray, the Unique SLR Zoom Lens Shaped Handheld Cooling Fan can be yours for a mere US$5.60 inclusive of free worldwide shipping.

There are times where lens mugs just don't cut it for a cocktail party. Enter Photojojo's Shot Glass Lens Set which is a set of three shot glasses that are miniature replicas of Canons' EF 24-105mm L lens. The glasses feature intricate details such as ridges on the focusing ring and an On/Off switch to make them look more realistic. They can also be used for other applications besides containing alcohol, such as to hold toothpicks and paperclips. If you need something to hold your drink, a set of three glasses goes for US$18 on Photojojo.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Polaroid Introduces New Z2300 Instant Digital Camera

The newest addition to the Polaroid instant digital camera line, the Z2300 features an integrated printer with ZINK(R) Technology, enabling users to instantly capture, edit and in less than a minute print full color, 2x3" prints. Along with the ability to easily upload images to any social media platform, the Z2300 combines a compact form factor with a host of fun, easy-to-use features to create the ultimate social media machine. The camera is available in white and black and houses a 10 megapixel image sensor. The large 3.0" LCD display makes it easy to frame and review images and capture video in virtually any setting.

Ever since the introduction of the Polaroid Land Camera in 1948, people around the world have enjoyed the magic of Polaroid instant photography. Polaroid continues instant sharing in the 21st century with the Polaroid Z2300 camera which allows the user to take and instantly share pictures digitally and in print. "Polaroid invented instant photography, and for the past 75 years the brand has been synonymous with instant gratification, ease-of-use and fun," said Polaroid President Scott W. Hardy.

"The Z2300 represents the next step in the evolution of that proud tradition and it was designed to fully integrate the classic Polaroid instant photography experience into today's digital, social world. Portability, creative expression and the ability to share your most memorable moments in digital or print form all come standard in the Polaroid Z2300 camera's compact body."

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Samsung Galaxy S III camera versus HTC One X, iPhone 4S

The Samsung Galaxy S III and its 8-megapixel camera is coming out soon on five U.S. carriers, and you know what that means. That's right, boys and girls, it's time for another photo shoot-out! This time, the GSIII takes on the HTC One X, and iPhone 4S for a test of the best.Blacks are blackest on the One X, but the GSIII and iPhone 4S are the clear winners in terms of sharpness. The iPhone captured more of the yellow flower's crinkly detail -- just look at the top middle portion of the bloom, and the shadowed bottom left.

This shootout is all about the basics: how well the cameras did in various outdoor and indoor situations, and without any fancy modes, filters, or effects. All photos were shot on automatic mode, from the same position, and focusing on the same object. I have resized and cropped the pictures, but left them otherwise untouched. I placed the GSIII shots in the center of each trio to make it easier to compare to the camera shots above and below.

While I prefer the more saturated blue on the One X, the phone also blued-out the green sea layer between sky and land. The GSII shot has the least contrast of the three in both the leaf shadows and the characters' silhouettes.My eyes like the Galaxy S III's deeper greens in the two umbrellas. The iPhone produced the brightest shot, but also the most detail under the main umbrella. The One X has the sharper front-right corner.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Cameras eyed to catch illegal dumpers on country roads

Alberta's Municipal District of Foothills says it needs to ramp up its fight against people who dump garbage along country roads.The rural council is considering purchasing two cameras that could rotate to popular spots among dumpers. The cameras would have infrared capabilities to capture video at night.The fine for illegal dumping in Foothills is $125, but council would like to bring that way up — maybe even to $5,000.

The M.D. has just removed three loads of garbage from the edge of rancher Doug Fraser's property."Smartphone camera apps offer greater control over mobile photographs.I get very upset because people are being very disrespectful of the property and the countryside," he said. "I mean, it's beautiful."Fraser says the most recent pile of garbage dropped on the edge of his rolling ranch would fill half a dump truck."In this pile of garbage here was an abandoned barbecue and a couple of old chairs, so why would you do this?" he asked.

The load sure ticked off Fraser and his neighbour, who rooted through a bag of it and found a pizza receipt with a cell phone number. When he called it up he was hung up on.While suspicious, there is no chance of a fine anyway because no one saw the illegal dumping taking place."It makes me really mad," as he surveys another popular dump zone, one he says could be the site of a camera should council move on that.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Smartphone camera apps offer greater control over mobile photographs

Odds are, there's a powerful camera in your pocket right now. As camera technology evolved to fit on a cell phone, sharing photos with family and friends has become more widespread than ever. And while the standard camera app on a smartphone can help capture those memories worth sharing, here are a few apps that can enhance the experience.Without a doubt, Instagram is the most popular standalone photo-sharing application on the market.

It's actually so popular, Facebook decided to buy it in April for $1 billion.The app centers around adding filters to pictures to give them a "film" quality or more professional look. There are 18 different filters, the ability to add "tilt-shift" effects which blur certain parts of the picture and a quick-fix contrast button that enhances colors and shadows.

Users can "follow" friends and "like" and comment on their pictures. Plus, Instagram can instantly share the photos to other social media networks like Facebook and Twitter.Instagram is genuinely fun to use. It only takes a few seconds to snap a picture, choose a filter and upload it, and there's a small sense of satisfaction when receiving a notification that someone "liked" a picture. It's definitely the best in terms of social integration.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Of cameras, speeders and dough for the District

I feel compelled to look beyond the standard complaint that speed cameras are primarily money-making instruments rather than accident retardants. I think there is a more disturbing issue: the potential of some authoritarian eyes watching you.In the late 18th century, British philosopher Jeremy Bentham conceived of the “Panopticon,” a theoretical prison design consisting of a ring of prison cells around a single observation tower into which none of the prisoners would be able to see.

The basic notion was that the prisoners, never knowing when they were being watched, would behave well around the clock.Sony Reveals Pocket-Sized, 20MP Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 Camera with 1 Sensor. Rather than being controlled by physical force, they would be subordinated mentally, expanding the psychological partition between the guards and the prisoners.

Law enforcement cameras fall neatly into this theme, widening the civic divide between the enforcers and the enforced. While not a drastic increase in authoritarian power, these cameras are a step in the wrong direction. Paternalistic aspects of government have rarely sprouted up overnight, and this is just another incremental intrusion upon the lives of citizens.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Sony Reveals Pocket-Sized, 20MP Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 Camera with 1 Sensor

Sony has announced its latest digital camera in the Cyber-shot line called the . The new digital camera boasts a Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T fixed lens promising high image quality. The camera can shoot still images and record full HD video while providing a level manual control Sony says is unmatched by any other camera of the size.

The big new feature of the camera is the world's first one-inch type Exmore CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20.2 effective megapixels. The sensor was developed by Sony and has an area that's about four times larger than the 1/2.3-type sensors in traditional point-and-shoot cameras. The larger sensor area allows the camera to capture more light resulting in better image quality and very low noise.

As for the rear-facing camera, Kuo said Apple will likely retain the 8-megapixel camera while improving the aperture range to go up to f/2.2. The iPhone 4S has a maximum aperture of f/2.4. The analyst also predicted that the rear camera on the next iPhone will be noticeable thinner, "making it the most challenging iPhone design yet."According to his analysis, the new iPhone's rear camera will have a CCM of 5.55mm and a lens TTL of 4mm, down from 6mm and 4.8mm on the iPhone 4S. Apple's suppliers will reportedly face "unprecedented challenges" producing the rear camera component because of the changes to the design.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

OmniVision Rolls Out Wireless Skype(TM) IP Camera Reference Design for Home Surveillance

A global leader in integrated silicon solutions, today launched a wireless Skype IP security camera, designed to allow smartphones, tablets and notebooks to remotely access the camera's video feed over the Internet. Utilizing OmniVision's low-power, high sensitivity OV7740 CameraChip(TM) image sensor and Marvell's advanced application processing and network solutions, the wireless Skype IP camera enables a complete, end-to-end security package, making it an attractive solution for home surveillance systems providers.

"We've teamed up with Marvell to enable a camera that sets a new industry standard for easy-to-use home security systems," said Roy Karunakaran, senior product marketing manager at OmniVision. "Reflecting the rapid growth of mobile computing markets, this wireless Skype IP camera is designed to operate seamlessly with Skype-video enabled smartphones, tablets and notebooks. This enables users to access their cameras from anywhere through a dedicated Skype ID on their mobile devices to get live high-quality VGA video."Small Cameras That Can Switch Focus or Ride a Bike.

"Previously, IP-based home surveillance systems were difficult to install and relied heavily on complex software configurations," said Michael Kao, technical marketing manager at Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. "The new Skype IP camera is an important advancement for out-of-the-box home security system providers. Combined with Marvell's highly integrated application platform, remote access software and consumer-friendly design, I'm incredibly excited to see how providers will leverage this new technology to take home security systems to the next level."

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Small Cameras That Can Switch Focus or Ride a Bike

POINT-AND-SHOOT cameras are being assaulted on all fronts. Smartphones are threatening to make pocket-size cameras unnecessary by offering passable results on a device many people are already carrying around. Meanwhile, photographers who want better performance are likely to be tempted by mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, which are shrinking to nearly pocket size while offering features like those found on professional-level, single-lens reflex cameras.

But there is still life in the idea of a consumer-level camera that fits in a pocket and does not require much special knowledge to master. You can find some interesting and unusual cameras that will do things that a smartphone definitely will not do. THE LYTRO The most unusual piece of photographic equipment to hit the market in quite some time, the Lytro ($399 or $499, depending on the amount of memory and the color) is a strange-looking machine that takes photos in which objects can be brought into or out of focus after the photo is taken.

When an image from the Lytro is viewed on a computer screen, a user can click on the foreground and pop it into focus, causing the background to blur. Click on the background, and the focus shifts, blurring the image in the foreground. It is quite a trick.The types of photos that work best on the Lytro are those with something of interest very close to the camera and something else of interest in the distant background. The results can be striking, but capturing images that take advantage of this effect takes some practice. The company is also working on a perspective-shift feature, which will allow a photographer to adjust the angle of the picture after the fact. 

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Facebook Launches 'Camera' Photo App

Facebook on Thursday launched a photo-sharing app called Facebook Camera, which aims to make it simpler for the social network's users to upload and browse photos on smartphones.The news comes only weeks after Facebook spent $1 billion on a similar photo-sharing app called Instagram. And only days after the company's initial public offering got a lukewarm reception from Wall Street and raised the eyebrows of financial regulators.The company says the app, which will be available late Thursday for Apple iOS devices, makes Facebook photos more fun and accessible.

Instagram or Facebook Camera?Facebook paid $1 billion for InstagramCNN Explains: IPOs "When you launch the app, you'll see a feed of just great photos from the people you care about," the company said in a press release. "You can swipe to see more of any album or tap to enlarge an individual photo."The app lets users crop photos and add colorful filters. And people who use the app also can upload multiple pictures at once. "Just select the shots you want to share by tapping the check-mark on each photo and then hit post," Facebook's statement says. "You'll have a chance to add a caption, say where you were and tag friends before you share."Hidden camera shows 520 Bridge workers drinking on job.

The app gets generally good marks from early reviewers, who say it is much faster than the primary Facebook app and displays photos in a large, crisp fashion.But the comparisons to Instagram are confounding tech bloggers, who are trying to figure out to what degree Facebook was influenced by the company it purchased.Mike Isaac, a writer at the blog All Things D, calls the app "Instagram redux," since the release comes so closely on the heels of the company's purchase of that startup.While there are key similarities between the apps, he writes, Facebook "was most likely working on this product long before buying Instagram was ever a real possibility."

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Hidden camera shows 520 Bridge workers drinking on job

Drinking on the job is both illegal and potentially dangerous. But a KOMO 4 Problem Solver hidden camera investigation discovered workers drinking on the largest construction job in the state: The 520 Bridge construction project.Our hidden camera video tells the story: Numerous workers are shown with a beer in their hand, or at their desk, in the middle of the afternoon."People drink pretty heavily, I mean, it's all over the place," said our source, who asked to remain anonymous. She was at the site daily for two months, and was so disgusted by what she saw she asked us to step in. She told us people here drink every day of the week.

"Every day," she said. "On Monday through Thursday, some people have one, two, three. On Friday, it's a six-pack."But this isn't just any business, it's the project headquarters for the 520 Bridge replacement. That's a $586 million contract ultimately paying for these workers to drink on the job."You would think that somebody, some supervisor, somebody would say, 'Hey we can't do this. This isn't allowed,' " our source said.In fact, it's not allowed. State law prohibits alcohol in the workplace.

"Anything that clouds your judgment is going to be a problem," says Hector Castro, spokesman with the state Department of Labor & Industries. "State rules are very clear: Alcohol and drugs are prohibited from the workplace."KGM, a joint venture firm of Kiewit, General and Manson contractors won the bid to design and build the 520 floating bridge. It's a complex and complicated project. All the design work and project oversight happens at the Bellevue project office on 112th Avenue NE. Both KGM and state Department of Transportation - WSDOT - employees work there in what's called a "co-located" office.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Hidden cameras in pole-dancing class prompt lawsuit


A group of women who teach tourists the art of pole dancing have sued Las Vegas show producer David Saxe, claiming his staff installed hidden video cameras that captured footage of women in various stages of undress.Camera Captures Nude Stranger in Driveway Behaving Badly.The women taught Stripper 101, where, for $40, any woman can learn how to seductively shimmy and shake like the pros. The class has been held in the lounge above the V Theater at Aladdin's Desert Passage mall since 2006.

Plaintiffs Rachael Carter, Lana Stewart, Jill Sutherin, Kindra Kroll and Nicole Cherry say they discovered the discreet cameras in January while trying to move what they thought was a stage light. But when one of them moved the ceiling light with a broom handle, she discovered it was a camera, according to the lawsuit filed March 16.They discovered another camera in the area, which served as both as both a performance stage and a dressing area where "some of the customers even disrobe and get down to their underwear" because of "assurances that there are no cameras in the room," the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit, whose defendants include Saxe, his productions company and several employees, includes claims of invasion of privacy, conspiracy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.In a motion to dismiss, lawyers for the defendants said the cameras were installed as part of an upgrade in the security system.In the class, the Stripper 101 instructors show "exotic dance moves including but not limited to poses and gestures creating an erotic yet comfortable experience using pole dancing, chair moves and sexual postures" for tourists and attendees to follow, the lawsuit says.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Camera Captures Nude Stranger in Driveway Behaving Badly

It is strange, disgusting, and sick. Surveillance video shows a man was not only completely naked, but also masturbating in the driveway of a home in Allen Park at three o'clock Saturday morning. Next he moved to the street, sat on some railroad ties and carried on. At one point, he was scared off by a car, but then was right back at it."If we get this out to everybody in this neighborhood we can find this guy, and we need to get this guy off the streets," said the homeowner.He lives near Wick and Allen roads. He had put up security cameras to catch the people vandalizing his cars, but Friday night he couldn't sleep, so he went to the garage and was playing his guitar when he looked up at a monitor and he saw the naked man standing in his driveway.

"I wasn't going to shoot him or anything. I just wanted to run him off."The homeowner grabbed a gun and went outside. The naked man took off into the neighborhood."I hope he never comes back, and I hope they find this guy because... there's a lot of children in this area."That's a major concern for Allen Park police, too. Detective Allen David says he's never seen anything like this in his 17 years with the department.

"It's very disturbing. The fact that this occurred in a residential neighborhood mere blocks away from an elementary school, a church and a daycare center, it really has us very concerned."Remember, the masturbating man is bold. He's right next to a busy intersection, Wick and Allen roads. Police say he appears to be in his twenties, short blond hair and has a very large tattoo on his left shoulder blade, possibly a bird or an eagle.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Canon seeks full automation in camera production

Canon Inc. is moving toward fully automating digital camera production in an effort to cut costs - a key change being played out across Japan, a world leader in robotics.If successful, counting on machines can help preserve this nation's technological power - not the stereotype of machines snatching assembly line jobs from workers, Jun Misumi - company spokesman, said Monday.The move toward machine-only production will likely be completed in the next few years, perhaps as soon as 2015, said Misumi, although he declined to give specific dates.Japanese manufacturers have been moving production abroad recently to offset the earnings damage from the soaring yen.

And fears are growing about a hollowing-out of Japan Inc. as jobs move to China, India and the rest of Asia, where labor costs are cheaper.Seven popular Android camera apps reviewed and rated.Misumi was adamant that jobs won't be cut at Canon."When machines become more sophisticated, human beings can be transferred to do new kinds of work," he said.Toyota Motor Corp. is also working on beefing up automated production not only to cut costs but achieve better quality.In a recent plant tour for reporters, Toyota showed how welding got much faster and more precise through instantaneous laser-welding.Toyota used that technology to make Lexus luxury models move and withstand sharp turns better.

Despite growing pressure from the high yen, Toyota is innovating production efficiency to keep annual Japan production at 3 million vehicles, about a third of its global production, by reducing costs through boosting robotics use.Akihito Sano, professor at Nagoya Institute of Technology, said Japan needs to do more to fine-tune its sophisticated technology so robotics can become more practical, and was doing some soul-searching lately about practical applications.Japan has tended to focus on research and come up with razzle-dazzle humanoids and then get been beaten in simple but practical products like the Roomba vacuum cleaner by iRobot Corp. of the United States, he said.

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