canon digital camera report

And the Winner of an HP TouchSmart is…

2008-10-07T18:47:00.013-07:00

And the Winner of an HP TouchSmart is…
HP was an amazing sponsor this year for Gnomedex. Anne Finney and her team did a fantastic job. On day 2, they announced a giveaway of one TouchSmart PC to a lucky attendee. (...)

HP was an amazing sponsor this year for Gnomedex. Anne Finney and her team did a fantastic job. On day 2, they announced a giveaway of one TouchSmart PC to a lucky attendee. In order to enter, people had to write a Limerick that dealt with Gnomedex in some way, and record it. We then uploaded the videos and Limericks to my blog, and opened a poll for two weeks.

The results have been tallied, and the winner was chosen by simple majority vote. That winner is our very own Kat!!

The WordPress poll plugin that we used kept track of votes by cookie and IP address both. A full disclosure of the results will be available upon sending me an email request.

Congratulations to Kat, and thanks to everyone who entered for such a fun contest!

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And the Winner of an HP TouchSmart is…

Olympus E-520 - full review and video tour

2008-10-07T18:47:00.011-07:00

The Olympus E-520 is the successor to one of the best-selling DSLRs of last year, the popular E-510. The new E-520 takes the 10 Megapixel resolution, Live View, built-in stabilisation, and effective anti-dust features of its predecessor and adds new contrast-based AF in Live View with Face Detection, a bigger screen, quicker continuous shooting, support for wireless flash control, an extra IS mode for panning with the camera held of its side, and a new optional underwater housing. It also offers improved dynamic range and previews of many adjustments. So one of the most feature-packed DSLRs has just got better, but is it enough to compete with the latest rivals? Find out in our Olympus E-520 review and to see a demonstration of its highlights, check out our Olympus E-520 video tour. Read More

Buying a Digital Camera - Work the Controls Before Buying

2008-10-07T18:47:00.009-07:00

Buying a Digital Camera - Work the Controls Before Buying
Comparing digital cameras to buy? Familiarize yourself with the controls before making a decision.

[MODIFIED] SpywareBlaster - Disable the Internet Explorer Home Page Settings Area

2008-10-07T18:47:00.007-07:00

[MODIFIED] SpywareBlaster - Disable the Internet Explorer Home Page Settings Area
Help protect your Internet Explorer home page from being accidentally changed.

To help prevent your Internet Explorer home page from changing, either accidentally by you or by spyware, you can have SpywareBlaster apply a change that keeps the page from being altered from within the browser.

Note that this may not work against all spyware and adware as some threats can reverse this setting. However, this tweak may protect against some threats, so it is a good idea to try it anyway....

Read more at MalekTips.

Price Decrease on Nikon D200, D80, D40 and Select Nikkor Lenses

2008-10-07T18:47:00.005-07:00

Nikon Canada Inc. has today announced new lower manufacturer's recommended retail pricing (MSRP) on a number of their digital SLR cameras, including the family photography oriented 6.1 MP Nikon D40 and the Nikon D80 digital SLR for the advanced amateur. The Nikon D200 (for the serious hobbyist and professional geared photographer) has been reduced in price by $100 to a new MSRP of $1399 CAN, while the Nikkor AF 80-400mm F/4-5.6 VR zoom lens has been reduced in price by $120 to a new retail of $1579 Canadian. Nikon Canada has also confirmed pricing for their latest new lenses, including the Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II zoom, the AF-S 60mm f/2.8G ED Macro, and the PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED tilt/shift lens. See full story... Read More

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Digital Camera

2008-10-07T18:47:00.003-07:00

The Panasonic TZ3 is an 8.5 mega pixel digital camera with a 10x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom and a Read More

Price Decrease on Nikon D200, D80, D40 and Select Nikkor Lenses

2008-10-07T18:47:00.001-07:00

Canon EOS 450D / XSi - compared to 400D / XTi and rivals

2008-10-07T18:46:00.005-07:00

Canon EOS 450D / XSi - compared to 400D / XTi and rivals
As the successor to the best-selling DSLR of the last 18 months, there's no doubt Canon's new EOS 450D / Rebel XSi will shift by the bucket-load when it arrives in March / April. As always though new buyers should consider very carefully whether the new features are worth the extra money, especially since the existing 400D / XTi remains as an entry-level option in the range. So in this article we've compared the new 450D / XSi's features against both its predecessor and key rivals, many of which are now available at bargain prices. Find out which models should be on your shortlist at our Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi feature comparison.

TelecomOne un-conference day 2 and wrap-up

2008-10-07T18:46:00.003-07:00

I am back home in Wellington now, after the TelecomOne un-conference. On the second day (day 0, day 1) I attended half of a session moderated by Nat Torkington about children education and technology, and then Peter Gutman's session about cybercrime - variants, free market of information, why security forces are not doing enough, etc.

About 12pm we did a wrap-up session where we all had the opportunity to review what went right, what went wrong, how it worked for everyone and what is next.

TelecomOne was an interesting un-conference. First because it was mainly an internal event, with a few "externals" being invited. This caused a bit of friction in the wiki pages where invited atendees discussed the upcoming meetup during the weeks leading up to the actual event.

Some Telecom people were worried about an open discussion about their vision, directions, services, network in the presence of "externals". We actually even had a person from the legal department on site - but I can guarantee that everyone understood very well the implications and the rules of separation. All discussions were open and clear, with a very good deal of understanding, criticism, suggestions and discovery.

Add to this the rounds of werewolf games (on Friday and Saturday evenings), plus the late night talks and it was a very enjoyable weekend - you can see my Flickr TelecomOne set here, or search for Flickr TNZ1 tag. Also available is a series of #TNZ1 Twitters. The special touch was the "Innovation Red" wine served there...

During the wrap-up we had comments from some "externals" that were a surprise. For example one of them even said something like "... amazed to find out so many bright Telecom and Gen-i people together and certainly changed my view of the company".

Also worth noting is the presence of some high up people there - if not the whole weekend, at least attending a couple of important sessions - like Alan Gourdie (Chief Executive, Telecom Retail) who attended the session about communicating to customers and public in general where we discussed public blogging, social media, regulations and other topics.

On the way back home, all out-of-town people managed to band together again at the Air New Zealand Koru Lounge and we almost had another session there, in the corner.

Also is worth noting that Telecom provided meals and a bus from Auckland CBD to Warkworth, but "externals" (such as myself) did not receive any contribution towards the expense to attend this camp. I paid my own travel, accommodation, and car to drive to Warkworth. Actually very interesting to see a group of "externals" such as the one the organisers put together coming on their own to participate on a private camp.

Also interesting is to see the Foo Camp concept can be applied really well to private organisations.

Well done the organisers and facilitators. Well done to Telecom for being brave and accepting that people from outside your organisation can help too, by providing real criticism and constructive feedback.

Special thanks to the Mahurangi College and staff, location of Foo Camps, and now TelecomOne. On to the next one.

Carry dSLR and Laptop in Think Tank Photo's Urban Disguise 35 Shoulder Bag

2008-10-07T18:46:00.001-07:00

Urban Disguise Sales to Support Reporters Without Borders SANTA ROSA, CALIF -- Think Tank Photo's new Urban DisguiseTM 35 shoulder bag is the perfect size for photographers on the go: it holds up to a 13.3" laptop with a standard-size dSLR or up to a 10" laptop with a Pro-size dSLR with lens attached. It features a large opening for easy access to equipment, attaches to a roller and can be used as a backpack with the Shoulder Harness (sold separately).... Read More

Call for Help Blooper - in LEGO

2008-10-02T21:17:00.011-07:00

Call for Help Blooper - in LEGO
Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed LegoShark has done it again. He’s fast becoming a name in the Brickfilming world, and this newest creation is genius. (...)

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

LegoShark has done it again. He’s fast becoming a name in the Brickfilming world, and this newest creation is genius. I’m not biased, I promise! Keep your eye out for even more fantastic LEGO content from him!

I’m sure you remember that old Blooper on Call for Help. People talk about it daily in the chat room still, all these years later. I lost it, plain and simple. Something struck me as hilarious… and I couldn’t stop laughing. Hasn’t that ever happened to you?! Seriously. Don’t lie! You know it has!!

Anyhow, LegoShark took that Blooper, and made it into a BrickFilm, using LEGO bricks. Great job, and thank you!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

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Call for Help Blooper - in LEGO

SpaceX successfully launches Falcon 1 into orbit

2008-10-02T21:17:00.009-07:00

With the Space Shuttle scheduled to retire in 2010, alternative transport vessels will need to be developed to keep the International Space Station manned, and to keep options open for possible manned lunar missions. After three failed attempts, the SpaceX Falcon 1 has successfully achieved Earth orbit – the first privately developed liquid fuel rocket to do so. ..

Tags: NASA, Space Travel, Transport

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Staples: Bush Stanford Computer Desk $170 shipped

2008-10-02T21:17:00.007-07:00

Staples: Bush Stanford Computer Desk $170 shipped

Canon EOS 5D Mark II preview

2008-10-02T21:17:00.005-07:00

Today Canon made the EOS 5D Mark II official. The successor to the first 'affordable' full-frame DSLR now features a considerable boost in resolution from 12.8 to 21.1 Megapixels. This matches Canon's current flagship EOS 1Ds Mark III, but it's a brand new sensor which Canon claims delivers its best quality yet. The sensor supports 14-bit files, continuous shooting at 3.9fps and extended sensitivity up to 25,600 ISO. The viewfinder's been improved to 98% coverage, there's a 3in VGA screen, the 9-point AF system is complemented by 6 assist points, and there's even HD movie recording with sound at 1920x1080 pixels, all for an expected body-only price of $2699 USD. Unlike the original EOS 5D though the new model faces tough competition from Nikon and Sony. Find out all about the new features and how it compares to these rivals in our Canon EOS 5D Mark II preview. Read More

Adobe's CS4 gets Google search boost

2008-10-02T21:17:00.003-07:00

Google's search-ad business is a money machine, but every now and again the company manages to squeeze out a little revenue from other parts of its business. And on Wednesday, Google announced one such deal with another Silicon Valley power, Adobe Systems.

Google Site Search lets customers endow their ...

Pentax K200D First Look and Sample Images

2008-10-02T21:17:00.001-07:00

We have had the opportunity to take a closer look at the recently announced Pentax K200D, a replacement to the Pentax K100D entry level digital SLR. The K200D is designed for users who may be unfamiliar with DSLR cameras but want a camera that will allow them to grow as they learn about photography. With 10.2 megapixels and a 2.7 inch wide view LCD, the Pentax K200D features an easy-to-use interface housed in a compact (now weather protected) body. See full story... Read More

Sony Alpha A350 Compared to Nikon D80 SLR Review

2008-10-02T21:16:00.007-07:00

We have just posted a side by side comparison review between the new 14.2 MP Sony Alpha A350 digital SLR with DT 18-70mm lens versus the 10.1 MP Nikon D80 digital SLR kit with the AF-S DX 18-55mm VR zoom. To see what real world benefits the latest generation technologies and features incorporated in the Sony Alpha A350 offer in terms of image quality or enhancing the photographic experience, we decided to compare this new camera model against the Nikon D80 which remains one of the predominant cameras in the current Nikon line up. See how these two SLR cameras performed in our tests... Read More

Samsung launches recycling program for unwanted electronics

2008-10-02T21:16:00.005-07:00

Samsung Electronics America has launched a "Recycling Direct program" dedicated to the take-back and recycling of its consumer electronics across all product lines. Effective immediately, the public can take their Samsung electronic goods sold in the United States to one of 174 fixed drop-off locations across the country and have them recycled free of charge...

Tags: Consumer Electronics, Recycling, Samsung

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Canon EOS 450D / XSi - compared to 400D / XTi and rivals

2008-10-02T21:16:00.003-07:00

What AntiVirus Do You Use?

2008-10-02T21:16:00.001-07:00

Do you use an AntiVirus program? If so, what one do you run? You do realize that that may not always be enough to keep you completely protected, right? Your best bet is layers of protection. (...)

Do you use an AntiVirus program? If so, what one do you run? You do realize that that may not always be enough to keep you completely protected, right? Your best bet is layers of protection. I came across the above video, and used it to ask others what they use to keep their computers safe.

At work: Norton AntiVirus 2008, at home: AVG Free - Haggis (Sean)

My Mac ;) - Andru Edwards

Mac. Plus my Windows-on-VMware i just reuse a clean snapshot. - Glenn Batuyong

I’m on PC. I’m not using any. Was using NOD32, but opted to not renew. - Jason Shultz

Avast! The Pirate Approved Antivirus Tool! - Stephen Pierzchala

ClamAv on 1, Avast on another but usually I don’t run any antivirus - tsudohnimh

At home: AVG Free and Microsoft Defender - Alex Scoble CISSP

Nod32 on both rigs… - Live4Soccer

OS X - Brian roy

OS X. - Paul W. Swansen

Avira Antivir - Nicholas Kreidberg

Avira Antivirus, free for personal use and IMHO the best low-resource and good detection AV going. - cmiper

Currently trying NOD32 on XP Pro x64 - Jaemi Kehoe

Avast! - Molly, the Muse

None! I use a Mac with OS 10.5.5 all updated just today with the big 136MB Java iteration. Nothing installs without my password. - Siddharth Deb

Not using antivirus — haven’t had one in years. I’m just savvy enough not to open weird email attachments or IM links - JungleG

AVG - Kevin Bondelli

AVG on the laptop; Avira on the PC - Jasmin Smith

OS X. Never had one virus. - Brad Waller

Avast! - Rah(sheen)™

Brad, that you know of. - Alex Scoble CISSP

+1 Alex. And the thing of it is that AV alone isn’t enough. *shrug* Video was interesting but I’m definitely not in their target audience. - Jennifer Leggio

I am a big fan of trend micro’s products - Peter Ghosh

Symantec Corporate Edition /IBM laptop - work system - Susan Beebe

AVG works well for me. - Jason Huebel

AVG works very good for me - Joshua Smith

AVG for me as well. - Alex Vernon

ESET SmartSecurity - ChangeForge | Ken Stewart

Im just running with Windows Defender and good web viewing habits - Chacha

The reason why I use Avast! is because it’s audible and tells you when it’s updated and it warns you with a noise if you get a virus. - Molly, the Muse

So… what do you use? Are your files and data well-protected? Do you back them up regularly?

Join the Geeks Community

What AntiVirus Do You Use?

Windows XP and DOS - Printer Driver Information

2008-09-29T21:51:00.019-07:00

For diagnostic purposes, display detailed information about currently installed printers on a Windows XP system on the DOS command line. Read More

Dell Home: Dell SP2208WFP 22in Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor $280 shipped

2008-09-29T21:51:00.017-07:00

Dell Home: Dell SP2208WFP 22in Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor $280 shipped

T-Mobile Sidekick 2008

2008-09-29T21:51:00.015-07:00

Before teenagers were snapping up iPhones and BlackBerrys left and right, T-Mobile’s original Sidekick was the phone to own for fashion-savvy textaholics. The latest T-Mobile Sidekick bulks up on features without bulking up on size, making it a definite upgrade and a solid value as far as we’re concerned – even with the more crowded market for smartphones.

Read | Permalink | User Reviews | Linking Blogs

Nikon Announces Coolpix P80 with 18x Optical Zoom

2008-09-29T21:51:00.013-07:00

Nikon has today announced their first entry into the super zoom point and shoot market with the Nikon Coolpix P80, a 10MP compact camera featuring an 18x optical wide angle zoom, in camera CCD shift image stabilization, an electronic viewfinder as well as a large 2.7-inch high resolution 230K LCD rear monitor with wide viewing angle. See full story... Read More

NORDSTROM: Free shipping on any order w/ regular priced shoes

2008-09-29T21:51:00.011-07:00

NORDSTROM: Free shipping on any order w/ regular priced shoes

Microsoft Word 2007 - Insert Copyright, Trademark, Other Symbols

2008-09-29T21:51:00.009-07:00

Add symbols for copyright, trademark, and registered trademark to your Word 2007 document. Read More

Apple iPod Nano 8GB (4G)

2008-09-29T21:51:00.007-07:00

Apple's latest iPod nano continues to loom over the heads of its competitors despite players with better sound and more features from companies like Sony and Microsoft. The redesigned body almost seems like a brush of nostalgia, though it definitely improves on the previous generation and keeps the device current. We're more impressed with the new firmware, which provides the best level of polish yet on Apple's non-touchscreen devices, and the on-board accelerometer adds some pizzaz to a player some consider to be getting stale.

Read | Permalink | User Reviews | Linking Blogs

Canon SLR teaser teases more

2008-09-29T21:51:00.005-07:00

canon_5d_mkii_teaser.PNG" alt="Canon is gradually revealing more of what's most likely the successor to the EOS 5D SLR." width="580" height="398" />

Canon is gradually revealing more of what's most likely the successor to the EOS 5D SLR.

(Credit: Canon)

Canon has taken the art of the tease to a new level with its unveiling of what everyone expects to be a successor the full-frame EOS 5D SLR camera.

The ...

NewEgg: Kingston DataTraveler 150 32GB Flash Drive + Kingston 4GB SDHC $80 shipped

2008-09-29T21:51:00.003-07:00

Fuji Z10FD

2008-09-29T21:51:00.001-07:00

Fuji Z10FD
Fuji is getting with the programme, by introducing the Fuji Finepix Z10FD digital camera�which has some

miniphotokina: HP B8550 Review

2008-09-25T19:43:00.019-07:00

miniphotokina: HP B8550 Review
So what's the difference between a little 4x6 printer and a big 13x19 printer? That's the question HP designers asked themselves. It didn't take them long to realize they could stretch a 4x6 into a 13x19 and come up with an affordable 13x19 for the home or small office. So how does it perform compared to the much more expensive 13x19 printers you can buy? Well, just read our HP B8550 review for the details....

LG 42LT75 Television

2008-09-25T19:43:00.017-07:00

LG 42LT75 Television
The LG 42LT75 is a revolutionary LCD TV that has an integrated 160GB hard drive allowing you to pause

[MODIFIED] SpywareBlaster - View and Change Internet Explorer Default Pages

2008-09-25T19:43:00.015-07:00

Use SpywareBlaster to change Internet Explorer home, search, and other default pages that may have been changed by spyware / adware.

SpywareBlaster lets you change the default Internet Explorer start, search, and other pages for the current user as well as the local machine defaults. This is useful in case spyware or adware changed these pages to one not of your choosing.

Note that if your machine is still infected with malware when you make changes with this tool, those changes may get reverted. First, clean your machine up with spyware / adware removal tools, and then use this tool to change the pages back to what they used to be....

Read more at MalekTips. Read More

Adobe's CS4 gets Google search boost

2008-09-25T19:43:00.013-07:00

Google Site Search lets customers endow their ...

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard

2008-09-25T19:43:00.011-07:00

If Art Lebedev’s Optimus Maximus keyboard has your wallet crying uncle and Saitek’s Cyborg is a little loud for your tastes, Logitech’s new, ultra-slim Illuminated Keyboard might be just the ticket to bring some flavor to your desk. We found it to tasteful, comfortable to type on, and well built, making it one of the best style-minded keyboards to float through our offices.

Read | Permalink | User Reviews | Linking Blogs

miniphotokina: HP B8550 Review

2008-09-25T19:43:00.009-07:00

So what's the difference between a little 4x6 printer and a big 13x19 printer? That's the question HP designers asked themselves. It didn't take them long to realize they could stretch a 4x6 into a 13x19 and come up with an affordable 13x19 for the home or small office. So how does it perform compared to the much more expensive 13x19 printers you can buy? Well, just read our HP B8550 review for the details.... Read More

Google Chrome - View Memory Usage of Each Tab

2008-09-25T19:43:00.007-07:00

Google Chrome - View Memory Usage of Each Tab
Display how much memory Google Chrome and each tab uses in your system.

For those trying to diagnose computer problems when visiting certain resource-intensive websites, or just the merely curious, Google Chrome includes a Task Manager that displays the amount of memory used by the browser and each tab. This way, you can determine if a particular webpage is using too many system resources, possibly slowing your computer down.

And if you want extra information, a "Stats for nerds" screen shows the process IDs of each tab, virtual memory usage, and more....

Read more at MalekTips.

Crumpler camera bags - full review

2008-09-25T19:43:00.005-07:00

Crumpler camera bags - full review
A good bag is an essential accessory for every photographer. You can of course carry your camera in any bag, but one designed with photographers in mind should accommodate your specific equipment and accessories, along with giving you quick and easy access to them. In this review we'll be taking a look at two camera rucksacks by Australian bag giant Crumpler: the Keystone, a dedicated (but convertible) camera bag, and the Sinking Barge, a hybrid day-pack. See our Crumpler camera bag review for the full story.

Nikon Announces Coolpix P80 with 18x Optical Zoom

2008-09-25T19:43:00.003-07:00

Sidelined 1950s mountain-climbing technology resurrected to help patients

2008-09-25T19:43:00.001-07:00

in order to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Smiths Medical and University College London have resurrected the sidelined closed-circuit breathing system designed for a failed Everest expedition over 50 years ago. Closed-circuit devices, (also known as rebreathers), create a seal over the user’s mouth, retaining the exhaled air, scrubbing it of carbon dioxide, and allowing the user to inhale it again. ..

Tags: Design, History, Medical, Pioneer

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solargorilla portable laptop charger

2008-09-24T03:42:00.007-07:00

The solargorilla is a portable power solution for laptops and other electronic devices from UK based Powertraveller that provides an off-the-grid recharging option wherever the sun is shining. Able to work as a stand-alone device or in conjunction with the company's more conventional powergorilla portable charger, the clam-shell design solargorilla is geared for outdoor use with its durable, water-resistant, rubberized casing and a design that allows it to be attached to vehicle or tent...

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AgfaPhoto DC-1338sT Digital Camera

2008-09-24T03:42:00.005-07:00

AgfaPhoto DC-1338sT Digital Camera
The new AgfaPhoto DC-1338sT has a 3" touch screen TFT display.

Asia Online – the world’s most significant literacy project (and internet investment opportunity)

2008-09-24T03:42:00.003-07:00

Asia Online – the world’s most significant literacy project (and internet investment opportunity)
September 22, 2008 We’ve all dreamt of going back in history, knowing what we know now. Imagine it was the start of the internet all over again – to be able to make all the right moves because you knew how the web would be monetized, the importance of search and how to leverage it, which business models would work, and which ones wouldn’t. Asia Online appears to have manufactured itself that exact scenario in Asia with its new self-learning statistical machine translation language technologies which it is focusing on Asian languages – as the knowledge-deprived populations of Southern Asian countries adopt the internet, Asia Online looks set to play a huge role by providing information in the language of choice for the dozens of previously information-disenfranchised population groups – groups which will make up roughly half of the internet user base within four years. Viewed from another angle Asia Online’s work is about information empowerment. “Our goal here is to eliminate information poverty”, says CEO Dion Wiggins...

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Adobe uses graphics chip for faster Photoshop CS4

2008-09-24T03:42:00.001-07:00

Adobe uses graphics chip for faster Photoshop CS4

Adobe Systems CEO Shantanu Narayen speaks at the company's CS4 launch event.

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET News)

Photoshop is a famously taxing piece of software, but beginning with the upcoming CS4 version, it'll be able to employ the muscle of your computer's graphics chip for the first time.

The new version of Adobe's flagship software product takes its first steps in using the graphics processing unit, or GPU, said John Nack, principal product manager for Adobe Photoshop. For example, the graphics chip helps Photoshop CS4 fluidly zoom in and out, rotate the canvas so artists can reorient an image for the best sketching angle, display and manipulate 3D objects, and handle color correction.

"It's not lost on us that when you look at the rate of GPU power advancement, there's an enormous wealth of cycles we can take advantage of now," Nack said. "The rate of price drop and performance gain has been off the charts."

Using graphics chips opens up new horizons, but it poses its challenges. For one thing, graphics chips are designed to blast pixels to the screen, not back to the main processor for further work, so not all tasks can be accelerated, he said. For another, it means Adobe has to work more carefully on hardware compatibility and means some people with older machines might have to upgrade at least the video card; he recommends a card with 128MB of memory.

"Typically, when folks were building a big Photoshop rig...we never had to really concern ourselves with things like which video driver they were using. We had a very light integration. Anything was fine," Nack said. "Now that we're doing actual processing on the GPU, we have to be a good deal more stringent."

...

Nik Software Announces 'Complete Collection' of Award-Winning Digital Photographic Filters

2008-09-24T03:41:00.011-07:00

Complete Collection includes Photoshop and Aperture versions of Dfine 2.0, Viveza, Color Efex Pro 3.0, Silver Efex Pro and Sharpener Pro 3.0 COLOGNE, Germany (Photokina Hall 4.1, Stand F001) -- Sept. 22 -- Nik Software today announced the availability of its new Complete Collection of the company's award-winning digital imaging software products. This new product bundle includes all of the latest versions of Nik Software's products available at a... Read More

Adobe uses graphics chip for faster Photoshop CS4

2008-09-24T03:41:00.009-07:00

Adobe uses graphics chip for faster Photoshop CS4

Adobe Systems CEO Shantanu Narayen speaks at the company's CS4 launch event.

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET News)

Photoshop is a famously taxing piece of software, but beginning with the upcoming CS4 version, it'll be able to employ the muscle of your computer's graphics chip for the first time.

...

Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi - full review and video tour

2008-09-24T03:41:00.007-07:00

Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi - full review and video tour
Canon's EOS 450D - or Digital Rebel XSi as it's known in North America - is the company's latest DSLR and the successor to the hugely popular EOS 400D / Rebel XTi. It features a raft of improvements including higher 12.2 Megapixel resolution, a stabilised kit lens, a bigger 3in screen, Live View with the choice of two different AF systems, a bigger viewfinder, quicker continuous shooting, a number of processing features from the higher-end EOS 40D, and PC remote control software. That's an impressive list but does Canon have another best-seller on its hands? Find out in our Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi review where we'll compare it against its predecessor and key rivals including Sony's Alpha A350. And as always, for a demonstration of its highlights, check out our Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi video tour.

Nikon brings better optics to new 50mm lens

2008-09-24T03:41:00.005-07:00

Nikon's new f/1.4 lens should cost about $440 when it goes on sale in December.

(Credit: Nikon)

Nikon announced an update to its 50mm f/1.4 lens on Monday, a relatively high-speed mainstay set to go on sale for $440 in December.

The new lens, ...

TheNerds.net Coupons

2008-09-24T03:41:00.003-07:00

TheNerds.net Coupons
Hey Chris, I was just wondering if you had any coupons for the Pen Power Toota Pro USB Tablet on Newegg. (...)

Hey Chris,
I was just wondering if you had any coupons for the Pen Power Toota Pro USB Tablet on Newegg.

Thanks in advance
zazor5

I don’t have a Newegg coupon, but I did find it for $40+ cheaper at TheNerds.net (after shipping), which is still $10 cheaper than NewEgg even after their $30 mail-in rebate:

TheNerds.Net - $8 off Penpower Tooya Pro USB Graphics Tablet, only $160.99 using coupon code secret Posted on 9/22/08 and Expires on 12/31/08
TheNerds.Net - $8 off Purchase using coupon code secret Posted on 9/22/08 and Expires on 12/31/08
TheNerds.Net - $5 off $100 (requires Google Checkout) using coupon code affgoo2 Posted on 9/22/08 and Expires on 12/31/09
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Talk About, Slot Music, Talk About

2008-09-24T03:41:00.001-07:00

New York, Paris, London, Munich

Everyone’s talking about, Slot Music.

At least, it finally hit the NZ Herald today . Beaten by downloads affecting retail store sales, major record companies inlcuindg Sony BMG, Warner and EMI have decided to make their music more accessible by putting it on 1GB Micro SD Cards.

They plan to still put them into CD cases and say that with the extra space, they can include the liner, liner notes and other information. They will be DRM free and you can even play your music on your computer by using the Micro SD Card with a dongle. The music will be in MP3 format at 320kbps they say on the info site, which they say is very high quality music. Really?

The say that hundreds of millions of phones, Personal Computers and in the future lots of car entertainment sytsms will be able to listen to this music.

Well hello! Do you think we consumers are thick? Let’s go back to the future and do a different thing in the same way and charge a premieum for convenience.

So here’s the thing. Back in the day we had audio casettes and vinyl. Audio casettes were cheap because they weren’t going to last long, especially on cheap walkman units that stretched the tape if they got dropped, got hot or for lots of other reasons. Vinyl was great, you got big liner art and photos, quite often big inserts with lyrics, interviews and more photos.

Then came the CD, which they said had far greater sound and extra space to put more information on. In the future, they said, they could include music videos, interviews, games, photos and much more. Of course we had to pay more for this amazing technology but it was going to be worth it. In many cases the quality was superior, even the nice ambience of the needle was no longer there.

But the extras? Well they are the exception rather than the rule. In most cases we got less liner information, because of the size. Inserts happened sometimes but not very often and the additional material? Sometimes there was a hidden track, that was fun. Occassionally someone would add a music video and a few like BB King, put out a CD ROM with interviews, games and lots more. I still have mine, it was cool. Of course I don’t play it any more, but I felt I got my money’s worth and was chuffed that an old timer like The King could do something so modern.

So here’s my take on this. I have large quantities of CD’s and DVD’s pressed, not of my music unfortunately, but for car navigation. I also have large quantities of SD Cards duplicated, also for car navigation. Firstly, even at volume pricing SD Cards are much more expensive than CD’s or DVD’s.

Universal Music is going to release about 30 ‘Slots’ to start with, from their eLabs Digital Music Unit. Sounds more like a test to me, but anyway, I do applaud them for trying new technology. I think it’s a good idea to try new technology, given that CD’s are losing ground rapidly to downloads.

Will they add extra information to the SD Cards? Maybe for some of those first 30, but then it wil be the same old story, new media for a premium price (for the convenience) and nothing more. If they had listened to people like me 10 years ago (Netguide wouldn’t publish my opinion), they could have reinvented a format giving loads of extra value, far more than people could afford to download and created a whole new generation of fans and collectors. But no, they just wanted to increase cash flow and profit. After all, they knew far better than we consumers, what was good for us.

In my humble opinion, they created the monster we have today where people download and share music for free. And it is a monster friends, because what is happening is people are downloading music for free and the poor songwriters and performers are getting ripped off. Sure there are big bands making truckloads of money for themselves and their promotors, but they are the minority. Most of the people in your favorite bands have to work a day job in order to be able to write and perform music at night. This might not be the case if they got fair remuneration for their work.

I ask you this. Do you work for free? Do you expect to go to work and build widgets or whatever you do and expect other people to reproduce them for peanuts and give them to your mates? Will you accept a 90% reduction in your income because people have found a way to clone your products? I didn’t think so.

Anyway, after that minor digression, this is a storm in a slot. Sure they will make some of these. Then they will cry foul when people copy them (if they can be bothered). They will weep when these cards don’t get sold, except on eBay, Craig’s List or Trade Me after people have copied the music onto their computers and shared them with their mates.

I love new technology, but when I can go to iTunes and for a couple of dollars, buy the only song as a track that I like (because I am happy for the band to make some money from it), why would I buy a little SD Card that I will probably lose.

In my humble opinion, the music industry got this one wrong. Can they redeem it? Only if they figure a way to genuinely add value. They want to offer the music on iGB SD Cards. (Interesting that I struggle to even buy 1GB SD Cards anymore.) Why not do something smart and offer us real value. Do what you should have done years ago and you might find a couple of years of legs in this yet. Use 4GB cards. Load it with the music, the live performance video, the interviews, the music video, lyric sheets (the mechanical rights people can still get a share) and a personal spoken message from the band or artist. You could sell that for a premium and create collectors items that people will want to keep.

Of course when real broadband arrives, people are no longer going to buy music in hard copy. I’m sorry but they won’t. Why would you. The other day I sat down in front of YouTube an had a great afternoon watching videos and listening to music of my favourite bands of the past and the present. All it cost me was a bit of internet access (and I do have ADSL 2 from Orcon so speed wasn’t an issue.

I think the future will be:

New York, Paris, London, Munich, Nobody’s talking about Slot Music.

Adobe Labs Posts Lightroom 2.1 Release Candidate

2008-09-19T18:20:00.009-07:00

Adobe Labs Posts Lightroom 2.1 Release Candidate
The new version fixes 2.0 bugs and adds Raw support. Lightroom Product Manager Tom Hogarty announced the availability of Lightroom 2.1 as a release candidate on Adobe Labs. "The goal of this release is to address bugs that were introduced with the release of Lightroom 2.0 and provide additional camera Raw support," Hogarty explained on the Lightroom Journal. "A comprehensive list of issues fixed in this release is provided on Adobe Labs." Cam...

Mr Hetfield, grow a pair!

2008-09-19T18:20:00.007-07:00

Mr Hetfield, grow a pair!
Seriously, either get some nuts or give up singing!
Bob Rock has gone, now you need to get Lars to stop doing you in the bum!

Great album until you sing! (and who wrote the pathetic lyrics? you're not 20 anymore, tosser)

Death Magnetic... Don't get it now!

Album review.?: waste-of-money out of 5

NewEgg: SYBA CL-VEN-B8X8 80mm Case Fan - Retail $4 shipped

2008-09-19T18:20:00.005-07:00

Carl Zeiss serves up Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8

2008-09-19T18:20:00.003-07:00

Carl Zeiss serves up Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8
The folks at lens maker Carl Zeiss have been busy this week, with several new premium glass options coming from the manufacturer this week. The latest, announced today, is the Distagon T* 21mm f/2.8.

Photographers can now create virtual photography exhibitions

2008-09-19T18:20:00.001-07:00

Photographers can now create virtual photography exhibitions
New feature introduced by the UK's leading online photography magazine gives photographers the ability to create their own virtual photography exhibitions.

SQL DB? No firewall? Weak admin password? That is a trojan coming your way alright

2008-09-19T18:19:00.009-07:00

According to the Symantec Security Response Blog, a new trojan called Trojan.Eskiuel is going around infiltrating SQL servers and causing havoc:

This time we have found a new SQL threat: Trojan.Eskiuel. The main functionality of this threat is to scan the Internet to find machines with poorly configured SQL servers (i.e. with weak or non-existing passwords), gain access to them, and use their stored procedures in order to download new malware from a remote host.

Check your servers...

Nikon Announces Coolpix P80 with 18x Optical Zoom

2008-09-19T18:19:00.007-07:00

Nikon Announces Coolpix P80 with 18x Optical Zoom
Nikon has today announced their first entry into the super zoom point and shoot market with the Nikon Coolpix P80, a 10MP compact camera featuring an 18x optical wide angle zoom, in camera CCD shift image stabilization, an electronic viewfinder as well as a large 2.7-inch high resolution 230K LCD rear monitor with wide viewing angle. See full story...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ50

2008-09-19T18:19:00.005-07:00

Some things just go together like Brad and Angelina, peanut butter and jelly, Madonna and controversy. And then there are things that aren’t so buddy-buddy like digital cameras and Wi-Fi. In theory it sounds wonderful. You take your shots, find a hot spot then upload your images to friends and family. Gee, it sounds just like snapping a shot with your cell phone and zipping photos to your buddies—without tracking down a hot spot. And that’s just one of the issues—who wants to spend time uploading huge digicam files while sipping a Doubleshot on Ice to those same pals or trying to see if you’ve subscribed to XYZ hot spot just to log-on? And then there are our “friends”—those lovable SSID and WEP key numbers. With cell phones so handy, it’s no wonder Wi-Fi enabled cameras have gone nowhere as Canon and Nikon have tried unsuccessfully to foist this feature on the public. Now it’s Panasonic’s turn to see if they can overcome the many obstacles and design a Wi-Fi digicam that’s appealing to those beyond uber-geeks. At least they started off with a solid foundation—the popular TZ series of compact cameras with potent 10x zooms. Let’s see if it does the job or it’s just an overpriced digicam…

Read | Permalink | User Reviews | Linking Blogs

What’s Your Favorite Video App for the iPhone?

2008-09-19T18:19:00.003-07:00

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed Bwana is an active member of our community, and has done some video reviews for us in the past. (...)

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Bwana is an active member of our community, and has done some video reviews for us in the past. This time, he’s reviewing Poptiq… a great service that delivers videos from the internet to your iPod touch or iPhone. If you’re an avid user of the iPod Touch, then you probably have encountered situations where you are without internet connection and want to watch video from the web. Poptiq, by Metranome, Inc, aims to provide solution for this situation. Poptiq delivers personalized video to your iPhone or iPod Touch while you have a WiFi connection. When you’re out and about, you launch Poptiq and there’s your videos waiting for you. The way you customize Poptiq is simple: Just watch videos! Poptiq provides a sampling of video clips that you rate, and will personalize your profile accordingly. Poptiq ties into social networks such as Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter to notify your friends of cool videos.

Designed especially for iPod touch users, Poptiq delivers videos when you have a WiFi connection (like at home, school, or work) so you can watch videos whenever you want, even when you no longer have WiFi. That’s the cool part.

The amazing part is that Poptiq learns your likes and dislikes and delivers the best videos for you. You’ll no longer waste time searching and instead get to spend more time watching the good stuff. For added fun you can comments on and share videos with your friends on facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

To top the whole thing off since Poptiq gets videos from the internet there’s practically no limit to the videos you can watch. Most importantly no one is picking channels or videos for you.

In Bwana’s opinion, the pros include:

It’s very easy to use. The interface is very much “coverflow” like and is easy for users to pick up.
The included tutorial videos are amazing! Poptiq is doing something here that all other iPod Touch and iPhone app developers need to take note of. When you first launch the application, the introductory video tells you the quickest way to get started.

Problems he encountered:

While it’s nice that is pre-downloads videos for you over a WiFi connection, that serves as a severe limitation for iPod Touch users on the go. Since they already have this problem, it’s not really a big issue, but it’s still a limitation.
The video quality is not the best. Poptiq videos are somewhat pixelated and suffer from compression artifacts. It’s not terrible, but it could definitely be better since you’re downloading videos to the device anyway.

Overall, Bwana feels that Poptiq is a great value. The product is free until September 25th, 2008, so get your hands on it as soon as possible. It’s not clear what the price will be after this date, so we can only speculate. Poptiq is a great way to view videos on your iPod Touch or iPhone.

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What’s Your Favorite Video App for the iPhone?

Camera Labs Assignment: vote for your favourite!

2008-09-19T18:19:00.001-07:00

It's the first day of a new month which means a new Assignment in the Camera Labs forums. The theme as suggested by the winner of June's Assignment, richcaw, is 'Trees'. To enter, visit the August Assignment Submissions page. This also means submissions for last month's Assignment are now closed so you can vote for your favourite entry of Georgie2H's 'Minimalism' theme. So to vote, register or sign-into our forums and head on over to our July Assignment Submissions thread. Read More

Smithsonian adds photos to Flickr Commons

2008-09-15T09:06:00.001-07:00

The Smithsonian Institution has begun adding historical photos to The Commons, Flickr's project to host publicly held images.

Felix Nadar is one subject among hundreds from the Smithsonian Institution now visible at Flickr.

(Credit: Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian added 800 photographs from its collection of 13 million images, and 1,...

Hillarious laptop abuse - nightmare for IT department

2008-09-15T09:05:00.003-07:00

Hillarious laptop abuse - nightmare for IT department
So, I'm sitting here in the Qantas business launge of the Sydney airport, waiting for my flight back to Auckland. A few tables across from me someone has just powered up his laptop. I know it's a business traveler, because his laptop has a business c... (more in the full post)

Buy.com: Logitech Z Cinema Advanced Surround Sound System $114 shipped AR

2008-09-15T09:05:00.001-07:00

How Can You Improve Your Cell Phone Reception?

2008-09-15T09:04:00.013-07:00

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed I am getting used to having dropped calls on the iPhone 3G. This thing drops calls like clockwork. It doesn’t seem like a tower problem. (...)

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

I am getting used to having dropped calls on the iPhone 3G. This thing drops calls like clockwork. It doesn’t seem like a tower problem. I can be sitting still, and lose a call. Even if the phone shows full signal, it still will drop. I’m hoping the upcoming firmware update will solve some of this. I’ve never had a mobile device with this many issues. What’s a Geek to do to boost reception? When I was given the opportunity to review the Cell Ranger, I could choose between the USB connection, or the kind that plugs into a cigarette lighter in a car. I decided to go with USB for a couple of reasons. For one, I’ve got USB ports everywhere. For another, I have an inverter for my car that will allow me to plug USB devices in while I’m in the car.

The Cell Ranger PORT is a USB powered cellular signal booster. By plugging the Cell Ranger PORT into a USB port you can boost your cell phone signal by up to 2-3 bars. We designed Cell Ranger to be compatible with every cellular network (except Nextel), cell phone, and data card. No matter which cellular service you use, voice or broadband data, you’ll see a significant boost in signal when you plug in the Cell Ranger. In most cases you’ll get 2-3 bars more signal within a 6 foot coverage radius. In our tests, using Cell Ranger with a broadband data card can result in anywhere from 30% to 200% faster download speeds. Cell Ranger is the first truly intelligent cell booster. By using a specially programmed microprocessor, Cell Ranger carefully monitors signal and adjusts to provide optimum signal. Unlike any previous booster, Cell Ranger actively analyzes the signals that your cell phone is sending and receiving. By comparing the signal strength to different towers, Cell Ranger self-tunes to the correct channels, and amplifies only those signals.

Gives 2-3 bars extra signal for any cell phone or 3G data card.

Prevents dropped calls and improves call quality.

Compatible with every carrier in Canada and the US.

Powered by a standard USB port.

No drivers - Cell Ranger only uses USB for power. Optional AC adapter/rechargable battery available..

You don’t want to set this near any kind of magnetic media, like a hard drive. You’d want to stick this on a metallic surface before plugging it in. It will allegedly boost your signal on both 800MGz and 1900MGz reception. I will be trying this out for awhile, and then I’ll let you know how well it works. This video was mostly an introduction to tell you how it works.

A quick test in my office was interesting, to say the least. I plugged it all in, and had trouble connecting to the network. When it wasn’t connected to my iPhone, I had four signal bars. When I plugged it in, I dropped down to two! Basically, either the iPhone sucks, or AT&T does. I’m not giving up on this though. It could just be my office, and all my gadgets interfering. I am going to test it while I’m out and about. I’ll let you know how I fare.

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How Can You Improve Your Cell Phone Reception?

Hetman Uneraser

2008-09-15T09:04:00.011-07:00

Hetman Uneraser
Hardware manufacturers are increasing the size of hard drives and memory cards. When accidents happen and valuable information is lost, an efficient data recovery tool is what every user needs.

Sites to Browse - iPop Your Baby

2008-09-15T09:04:00.009-07:00

This unique clothing line allows your baby to sport the unique iPod interface. Read More

HP invites to Software Business Technology Optmisation Tour in Wellington

2008-09-15T09:04:00.007-07:00

HP invites to Software Business Technology Optmisation Tour in Wellington
Today I received an invitation that I am able to extend to you. HP is running the HP Software BTO Tour 2008 in Wellington, 2nd September 2008.

This half day event is ahppening at the Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa from 8:30am through 1:30pm.

There will be conference streams during the day, designed to give IT Professionals a more practical approach to IT Management.

I won't be attending the event though, because I will be in Auckland attending the Microsoft Tech Ed, and writing the Unofficial Tech Ed Blog while there...

Nikon Announces Coolpix P80 with 18x Optical Zoom

2008-09-15T09:04:00.005-07:00

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 with 15x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD

2008-09-15T09:04:00.003-07:00

Sony Canada today announced the latest addition to its high-zoom camera line, the 9.1-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-H50 digital camera. This new model (which is a successor to the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9) incorporates a 15x optical zoom lens with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization to capture action at a distance. The Sony DSC-H50 also features extensive manual controls, including an exposure bracketing mode that newly includes settings for white balance and color modes. See full story... Read More

The Community Speaks out About Google Chrome

2008-09-15T09:04:00.001-07:00

The Community Speaks out About Google Chrome
I recently recorded a video talking about Google’s new Web Browser, Google Chrome. I was excited about it then, and I still am. (...)

I recently recorded a video talking about Google’s new Web Browser, Google Chrome. I was excited about it then, and I still am. Google Chrome has set the bar higher for all other browsers, and we won’t allow others to lower it. I’ve received a lot of feedback about Chrome since my video aired. I wanted to share what three people had to say.

From NamelessFragger

I learned about this browser two days ago, only because someone posted a forum thread about it. I read the comic, and was totally thrilled. I then found out that the browser was released the same day.

I normally use Opera 9.52, which is generally regarded as fast. However, if Opera is light speed, then Chrome is ludicrous speed! (Of course, that could have something to do with the fact that my traditional Opera usage has hundreds of tabs open at once, whereas I think I’ve had only ten or twenty Chrome tabs open simultaneously.)

What I also like is how Chrome handles tabs. All too often, I’ve had Opera brought down entirely by one bad tab. While I haven’t had any bad tabs in Chrome yet, the knowledge that I’ll probably be able to close just that one tab while not bringing everything else down is reassuring.

I also like the fairly minimalist interface. It leaves a lot of room for whatever Web page I’m looking at. Oh, and Chrome can play embedded WMV videos without much hassle. IE and Firefox can too, but for some reason, Opera never does so out of the box. (However, I never bothered switching since I liked the rest of Opera too much…until now.)

All in all, it’s just been an amazing experience, and this browser is only in beta phase still!

From Jake

First of all, what you said in the first Chrome video about it being developed on Webkit and being fast is dead on. This thing speeds along. I barely have any add-ons on Firefox, and Chrome just goes 2 or 3 times faster. From screenshots that I saw, I thought the UI was going to look ugly, like a matte blue color and looking like a blueprint page or something. That’s not the case. Sure I don’t really enjoy the light blue color scheme, but it’s not overbearing and it’s easy on the eyes. Having the tabs at the top really streamlines the look in my opinion, as it leaves more room for the actual page. The shortcut to hide the bookmark bar really leaves a lot of room for viewing the actual page. The incognito mode is a nice little gem too. It read my Firefox bookmarks like a charm, and had to do barely any setup.

There are some drawbacks that I saw. My biggest concern is viewing picture links. I searched for a picture in Google images search and went to view full size, and it downloaded the picture to my default downloading location. I could not get the picture to appear in the browser. Instead, it made a bubble in the bottom-left corner that basically opened the picture in the Windows picture viewer. I don’t know anything about coding really, and the options are extremely vague. I couldn’t find any solution to this problem. Another feature that I used sometimes in Firefox (that I found lacking in Chrome) was a style sheet option to show no style, but obviously that’s a very minor gripe and can easily be forgotten.

Other than that, I can’t really say I have any problems with the browser yet. I’d like to see more themes and add-ons. Seems like the browser is off to a great start and hopefully it will get some add-on developers and themes.

From Scott

I saw one of your new videos yesterday about the release of Google Chrome. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that; I never saw it coming. I’m a fan of Google software, so I was naturally excited to hear that they were releasing a Web browser. I’ve been using Mozilla Firefox as my default browser now for over a couple of years, and have never found anything better for me. You name it — Safari, IE, Maxthon, Flock (which may be my next favorite), K-Meleon, Avant, Slim, Opera, Slim — I’ve tried about everything out there pretty extensively. I keep a lot of browsers installed to launch up every now and then.

First, I’ll discuss some of the things I like about Google Chrome. I find Chrome’s launch time to be noticeably faster than Firefox, which is nice (but is probably because I run FF with lots of plug-ins/extensions/themes that it must load up). Chrome’s page load times are very impressive; it’s a bit faster than FF, and perhaps even a hair faster than Safari (which, yes, I’ve found to be consistently faster than FF, even on Windows Vista). I like the “Incognito” browsing feature; I’m not sure I would use that too often, but nonetheless, a cool feature. Another thing I liked in Chrome was the way the “Find” function was designed. They did a good job with that.

Now, for the “bad stuff.” The GUI is, well . . . interesting, but I’m not a fan yet (e.g. I don’t particularly like the tabbed browsing system positioned above the navigation area as opposed to below). It might just be me, but overall, the Chrome GUI reminds me way too much of IE–yes, of course that’s a bad thing. I don’t care for the font system in Chrome, either. Compared to Safari (which I particularly like) and Firefox, it just seems bland and underdeveloped. Chrome seems to be on par with Safari or IE in terms of customization/tweaking; there isn’t a whole lot available to the user. A couple of other things I was really disappointed to see in Chrome’s GUI: The downloads are manage in a new tab? I don’t care for that at all. That just seems inefficient to me. No “Home” button? I hate when browsers don’t include simple, often-used functions *cough*Safari*cough* like the “Home” button. So far, I don’t think it’s possible to change things like that in Chrome. No spell checker in Chrome, either? Wow . . . . lame. ‘Nough said. There’s also some weird functionality things about Chrome that I don’t like (e.g., you cannot open previous pages in a new tab via click the “Back” or “Forward” button in conjunction with Ctrl).

In the end, Google Chrome was somewhat of a disappointment to me (granted, I’m still giving it a shot over the next several days). Yes, I realize that this is just a beta, but from my experience, betas just don’t improve enough to make a difference by the time they are released in their final form. I use Firefox over other browsers for a few simple reasons: It has a proven, sophisticated security system; it’s more customizable than any browser, bar nun, which means you can make it look/work exactly how you’d like it to; it’s intuitive and simple, yet it’s full of useful features that make sense to both average and power users; above all else, it just works. Mozilla’s got it right.

The Community Speaks out About Google Chrome

Windows Media Player 11 - Clear the Player History

2008-09-13T16:36:00.011-07:00

Clear the history of files opened by Windows Media Player 11. ... Read More

Nikon D700 - compared to D3, D300 and EOS 5D

2008-09-13T16:36:00.009-07:00

Nikon D700 - compared to D3, D300 and EOS 5D
Nikon's D700 is the company's second full-frame DSLR, and comes in at a much more affordable price point than the flagship D3. The new D700 takes the D3's 12.1 Megapixel FX format sensor, 3in VGA monitor, 51 point AF system and Live View, but squeezes it into a smaller and lighter D300-sized body equipped with a popup flash and anti-dust features. In our D700 preview article we'll detail the features of the new model and compare the differences between it and the D3 and D300, along with Canon's EOS 5D. See our Nikon D700 preview to find out if Nikon's found the perfect balance of price and features.

First for Panasonic

2008-09-13T16:36:00.007-07:00

Panasonic launch a interchangeable lens camera that is based on the new Micro Four Thirds System Standard. Read More

How Can You Connect SATA Hard Drives without an Enclosure?

2008-09-13T16:36:00.005-07:00

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed I have a hard drive without an enclosure, and I don’t really have any extra enclosures. (...)

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

I have a hard drive without an enclosure, and I don’t really have any extra enclosures. I need to get to the data that is on this hard drive. I either need to buy an enclosure to put it into just long enough to access my data. Or… is there another way I can get access to the information on the hard drive without putting it into an enclosure? Luckily, I have the NexStar Hard Drive Dock.

The NexStar is functionally no different than any other drive enclosure out there, supporting both eSATA and USB 2.0 connections. It nicely supports both 2.5″ (notebook) and 3.5″ SATA I/II HDDs as well as Windows/Mac/Linux OSes. It also supports HDDs up to 1 TB in size, enough for most current HDDs I’m aware of. Vantec also has included all required cables, as is usual with their products. You get a USB 2.0 cable as well as an eSATA cable, along with a SATA to eSATA bracket to use inside your PC if your motherboard lacks an eSATA port.

The biggest difference is of course, how you put the drive into the dock. There’s no need to use screws or brackets of any sort; you merely slide the HDD into a slot at the top and it slides into the proper connectors at the bottom inside, sort of like a Super Nintendo cartridge. The drive protrude out from the top of the slot and to remove it, there is a convenient eject button that pushes out the drive from the bottom so you don’t have to messily yank it out. (Again, like a SNES cartridge)

Looking at the Vantec HDD Dock, it sort of resembles a small single-slot toaster, perhaps something like you’d expect from Apple if they came out with the iToaster. It comes well-protected and sits in the middle of the package, which is good, since the entire unit is made of plastic. Aluminum would’ve been a more durable choice for the dock’s exterior, as it currently feels a little lightweight and flimsy compared to other normal drive enclosures.

It really is easy. Plug it into a power source, and then plug it into the Mac or PC via USB. Slide the hard drive into the machine until you hear it click into place. Then, you’re ready to go. Turn it on and watch your data pop up onto your screen. How simple is that?

The next time you need to access data off of a drive that has no enclosure, try out the toaster-looking (but very easy-to-use) NexStar.

Restore-Deleted-Files.com - Serious Data Recovery For Your Hard Drive!

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How Can You Connect SATA Hard Drives without an Enclosure?

QuickTime for Windows - Sound Stutters or is Distorted

2008-09-13T16:36:00.003-07:00

QuickTime for Windows - Sound Stutters or is Distorted
If audio played in QuickTime for Windows or iTunes sounds stuttered, try this tweak. ...

Ponzi’s Open Water Diving Adventure

2008-09-13T16:36:00.001-07:00

Ponzi’s Open Water Diving Adventure
Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed Ponzi recently fulfilled a lifelong dream, and took Scuba Diving classes. (...)

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Ponzi recently fulfilled a lifelong dream, and took Scuba Diving classes. Once she was certified, she was able to go on her first open water dive. As you can tell from the videos, it was an exhausting - but exhilarating - experience. I think it’s safe to say that she’ll definitely be doing this again sometime soon.

Ponzi’s Open Water Diving Adventure

Canon EOS 1000D / Rebel XS - full review and video tour

2008-09-13T16:35:00.007-07:00

Canon EOS 1000D / Rebel XS - full review and video tour
Canon's EOS 1000D, or Rebel XS as it's known in North America, is the company's latest entry-level DSLR, and successor to the best-selling EOS 400D / Rebel XTi. The new 1000D / XS shares the same 10 Megapixel CMOS sensor as its predecessor and also the same sized 2.5in screen, but now adds Live View and comes bundled with an Image Stabilised kit lens. Interestingly some specifications have actually been downgraded a little: the AF system now has 7-points to the 400D / XTi's 9-points, and the 3fps continuous shooting rate now only applies to JPEG files. But the core specification of 10 Megapixels, Live View and a lens with anti-shake at an affordable price will greatly appeal to anyone in the market for a budget DSLR. Find out how Canon's latest DSLR compares against others in the range and key rivals in our EOS 1000D / XS review, and as always you can see the highlights in our EOS 1000D / XS video tour.

GETAC's ruggedized PC incorporates anti-glare technology

2008-09-13T16:35:00.005-07:00

GETAC's ruggedized PC incorporates anti-glare technology
GETAC’s ruggedized notebooks are not deterred by rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night, (not to mention dust, debris, and shock), making them highly reliable for fieldwork. The newly enhanced V100 Notebook/Tablet PC now includes additional protection against glare from the sun - a super-bright 1200 NITS display said to offer six times the screen viewablility of competing products, without affecting battery life or affordability...

Tags: Getac, Law Enforcement, LED, Military, Rugged

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Cardboard ideas: Part I (a.k.a. This is as close to an Apple iPod dock I could ever be...)

2008-09-13T16:35:00.003-07:00

Cardboard ideas: Part I (a.k.a. This is as close to an Apple iPod dock I could ever be...)

I don't want to spend $75 on an iPod dock out there... and I only need USB connectivity to sync and charge. So who cares about spending money on a dock, when you only need cardboard?

Materials:

Cardboard from a cardboard box
Some tape
Your iPod dock connector adapter (usually supplied with many iPods out there)
Your iPod USB 30-pin dock connector

Unfortunately, because of the lightweight cardboard, you will also need a weight, or Blu-Tac (you can see some of it up there) to hold it firm onto the table (otherwise, you'll find your iPod smashing it's head out hard!)

I'm not for aesthetics - only for practicability, not that beautiful Apple products should come with good looking accessories.

Korg DS-10 for the Nintendo DS in-depth

2008-09-13T16:35:00.001-07:00

Korg DS-10 for the Nintendo DS in-depth
Inspired by their mighty MS-10 monosynth, Korg have teamed up with AQ Interactive to deliver the Korg DS-10 software application for the Nintendo DS. It borrows the simple, effective semi-modular synth design of the Korg MS-10 and MS-20 and re-invents it to exploit everything the Nintendo DS has to offer...

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Sony BRAVIA KDL-40W3000 Television

2008-09-13T04:07:00.019-07:00

Introducing the Sony Bravia KDL40W3000 from the KDL-W3000 series. As the LCD TV range has failed to Read More

You interview the CEO: Telecom NZ Dr Paul Reynolds waiting your questions

2008-09-13T04:07:00.017-07:00

You interview the CEO: Telecom NZ Dr Paul Reynolds waiting your questions
It took some time, but it happened. We now have a discussion open in our Telecom New Zealand forum, waiting for your questions to CEO Dr Paul Reynolds.

The idea is simple: people can post their questions in the thread, and after a week I will be forwarding these to get his answers. I will then post the answers on Geekzone.

We have done this before with other major telcos in New Zealand - check the answers for Orcon, TelstraClear, and WorldxChange.

Thanks to the Telecom folks who helped us get there!

Exciting news for Gen-i Wellington!

2008-09-13T04:07:00.015-07:00

Just spotted this Scoop article on LinkedIn news . . . . Telecom and Gen-i are getting a new home in Wellington at 52 Willis Street. This will be awesome, as currently we are so fragmented across the CBD (6 buildings I believe!). Looks like a funky design - go the windmills!

Windows Vista - Start Menu - Taskbar - Toolbars - Stop Hiding Inactive Icons

2008-09-13T04:07:00.013-07:00

Windows Vista - Start Menu - Taskbar - Toolbars - Stop Hiding Inactive Icons
Keep Windows Vista from hiding icons in the Taskbar notification area.

NewEgg: Creative ZEN X-Fi 2.5 Black 8GB MP3 MP4 Player ZXFI8GBBK $112 shipped

2008-09-13T04:07:00.011-07:00

NewEgg: Creative ZEN X-Fi 2.5 Black 8GB MP3 MP4 Player ZXFI8GBBK $112 shipped

Clothes Show Live

2008-09-13T04:07:00.009-07:00

Clothes Show Live
The world�s largest fashion and beauty event supports emerging fashion talent with design awards.

QuickTime for Windows - Sound Stutters or is Distorted

2008-09-13T04:07:00.007-07:00

If audio played in QuickTime for Windows or iTunes sounds stuttered, try this tweak. ... Read More

Gnomedex: Why do Geeks Gather Here?

2008-09-13T04:07:00.005-07:00

Gnomedex: Why do Geeks Gather Here?
Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed On the opening night of Gnomedex, I took a few moments to highlight the new theme of the convention and explain exactly what Human Circuitry really means. (...)

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On the opening night of Gnomedex, I took a few moments to highlight the new theme of the convention and explain exactly what Human Circuitry really means. We had an amazing time this year, and are thinking of spreading out into four events next year, all over the country!

Human Circuitry is going to be our general theme from here on out. It’s not just about Technology, nor about a relation to technology. It’s about the relation between humans and technology and how it all kind of comes together. Forget the “social media” stuff, what’s it mean anyway? Human Circuitry is simply Technology and Humanity coming together and working together.

It’s too bad if you weren’t with us at the conference. HP was an amazing sponsor, and provided many excellent prizes to attendees! We already gave away an HP Notebook, and an HP Mini. Right now, the voting is in place for one lucky attendee to win an HP TouchSmart. So get out there and cast your vote!

Obviously, you’re human, and you’re using Technology. Hopefully next year, you can join us at Gnomedex and find out what the connection between the two is all about.

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Gnomedex: Why do Geeks Gather Here?

You interview the CEO: Telecom NZ Dr Paul Reynolds waiting your questions

2008-09-13T04:07:00.003-07:00

It took some time, but it happened. We now have a discussion open in our Telecom New Zealand forum, waiting for your questions to CEO Dr Paul Reynolds.

The idea is simple: people can post their questions in the thread, and after a week I will be forwarding these to get his answers. I will then post the answers on Geekzone.

We have done this before with other major telcos in New Zealand - check the answers for Orcon, TelstraClear, and WorldxChange.

Thanks to the Telecom folks who helped us get there!

ACDSee Pro 2.5 Accelerates Digital Asset Management, Image Editing and Sharing

2008-09-13T04:07:00.001-07:00

Now organize up front, embed custom metadata and save complex searches VICTORIA, British Columbia -- Sept. 10 -- ACD Systems International Inc. today released ACDSee˙ Pro Photo Manager 2.5, a major update with new features designed to improve digital asset management and workflow, provide greater flexibility for image editing and offer even more options for presenting photos. ACDSee Pro 2 users are eligible for a free upgrade to this new version.... Read More

Sony Alpha A300 and Alpha A350 - compared to rivals

2008-09-13T03:58:00.011-07:00

The introduction of Sony's brand new Alpha A300 and Alpha A350 have doubled the company's current DSLR range - and at kit prices of $799 and $899 USD respectively, stack-up favourably against the competition. Both new Sonys feature Live View with quick AF, tilting screens for greater compositional flexibility, and like all Alphas sport built-in sensor-shift stabilisation. They're likely to be big sellers, so if you're in the market for a new DSLR, you'll want to carefully compare their features against the competition - and we've done just that for you in our Sony A300 and A350 feature comparison, where you'll discover where they fit-in with models like Canon's EOS 450D / Rebel XSi and the Nikon D60, along with Sony's existing Alpha A200 and A700. Read More

Creative Zen X-Fi 32GB

2008-09-13T03:58:00.009-07:00

Creative has been hawking its X-Fi sound enhancement technology hard in the last couple of years, putting it in everything from sound cards to headphones -- and now in a portable AV player. Aside from the usual voice recorder, FM radio, expandable storage, and audio/video playback, the Zen X-Fi is the first player from Creative to offer built-in WiFi. Like Microsoft's Zune, the X-Fi lacks a Web browser, which is a major stumbling block for a WiFi device, but it also lacks the Zune's wireless sync. It does, however, offer limited chat capabilities and AV streaming via LAN.

Read | Permalink | User Reviews | Linking Blogs

Google adds Android app for Flickr photos

2008-09-13T03:58:00.007-07:00

Google's Photostream application is for viewing Flickr photos on Android phones.

(Credit: Google)

Google released on Thursday a new sample application called Photostream that will let phones running its Android phone operating system view photos stored at Yahoo's Flickr photo-sharing site.

Although Photostream is intended to be ...

How Can You Connect SATA Hard Drives without an Enclosure?

2008-09-13T03:58:00.005-07:00

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed I have a hard drive without an enclosure, and I don’t really have any extra enclosures. (...)

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The NexStar is functionally no different than any other drive enclosure out there, supporting both eSATA and USB 2.0 connections. It nicely supports both 2.5″ (notebook) and 3.5″ SATA I/II HDDs as well as Windows/Mac/Linux OSes. It also supports HDDs up to 1 TB in size, enough for most current HDDs I’m aware of. Vantec also has included all required cables, as is usual with their products. You get a USB 2.0 cable as well as an eSATA cable, along with a SATA to eSATA bracket to use inside your PC if your motherboard lacks an eSATA port.

The biggest difference is of course, how you put the drive into the dock. There’s no need to use screws or brackets of any sort; you merely slide the HDD into a slot at the top and it slides into the proper connectors at the bottom inside, sort of like a Super Nintendo cartridge. The drive protrude out from the top of the slot and to remove it, there is a convenient eject button that pushes out the drive from the bottom so you don’t have to messily yank it out. (Again, like a SNES cartridge)

Looking at the Vantec HDD Dock, it sort of resembles a small single-slot toaster, perhaps something like you’d expect from Apple if they came out with the iToaster. It comes well-protected and sits in the middle of the package, which is good, since the entire unit is made of plastic. Aluminum would’ve been a more durable choice for the dock’s exterior, as it currently feels a little lightweight and flimsy compared to other normal drive enclosures.

The next time you need to access data off of a drive that has no enclosure, try out the toaster-looking (but very easy-to-use) NexStar.

Restore-Deleted-Files.com - Serious Data Recovery For Your Hard Drive!

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How Can You Connect SATA Hard Drives without an Enclosure?

TVNZ7 Internet Debate in association with InternetNZ

2008-09-13T03:58:00.003-07:00

TVNZ7 Internet Debate in association with InternetNZ
The TVNZ7 Internet Debate (in association with InternetNZ) will be broadcasted live, 23rd September 2008 9:10pm on TVNZ7 (Freeview).

This will be an organised debate on ICT issues, streamed live to the official website and TVNZ7’s site, directly from Avalon Studios.

The debate involves four politicians quizzed on major areas of ICT policy with questions coming from you through the online chat, a studio audience, and experienced journalists.

The politicians are Labour’s Minister of Communications Hon David Cunliffe, National ICT Spokesperson Hon Maurice Williamson, ACT Leader Hon Rodney Hide and Greens ICT Spokesperson Metiria Turei.

You can participate live through an IRC channel or by posting your questions in our Geekzone forums - we have created a special ICT Policy and Regulation forum specially for this event. There you will find the discussions for each topic (direct links below) and you will be submit questions:

     * Broadband (includes infrastructure, productivity, sustainability)
     * Convergence (includes broadcasting and mobile)
     * Copyright (includes open source)
     * Cybersafety (includes privacy and security as well)
     * Digital Divide (includes rural and TSO as well)

You need to login to post in the Geekzone ICT Policy and Regulation forums or complete our quick registration to get started.

Dell Home: Canon EOS Rebel Xsi Black 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera +18-55 mm Lens $670 shipped

2008-09-13T03:58:00.001-07:00

Dell Home: Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS 8MP 3X Zoom Digital Camera $160 shipped

2008-09-13T03:57:00.007-07:00

Nikon D90, Canon EOS 50D, D300 and D80 Compared Side by Side

2008-09-13T03:57:00.005-07:00

With the announcement of the new 15.1 MP Canon EOS 50D and the 12.3 Nikon D90 enthusiast digital SLR cameras coming on almost the same day, there is certainly a lot of excitement (and debate) happening among photographers within the Canon and Nikon communities. We have just posted a side by side comparison overview between the Nikon D90, Canon EOS 50D, and the D300 and D80 and highlighted the major differences in order to hopefully help make the buying decision process a little easier. See full story... Read More

Nikon D90, Canon EOS 50D, D300 and D80 Compared Side by Side

2008-09-13T03:57:00.003-07:00

Nikon D90, Canon EOS 50D, D300 and D80 Compared Side by Side
With the announcement of the new 15.1 MP Canon EOS 50D and the 12.3 Nikon D90 enthusiast digital SLR cameras coming on almost the same day, there is certainly a lot of excitement (and debate) happening among photographers within the Canon and Nikon communities. We have just posted a side by side comparison overview between the Nikon D90, Canon EOS 50D, and the D300 and D80 and highlighted the major differences in order to hopefully help make the buying decision process a little easier. See full story...

Leaf new medium format camera range tops out at 56 mpx

2008-09-13T03:57:00.001-07:00

September 9, 2008 Leaf has announced an entirely new family of medium format cameras and camera backs for professional photographers. In addition to offering remarkable image quality with up to 56 megapixel resolution, the new line-up delivers many new features. These include a 56 millimeter wide ‘True Wide Frame’ sensor, Leaf Verto internal sensor rotation for easily changing orientation and Leaf SensorFlex technology which lets photographers pre-select image size and capture speed. One interesting feature of the new range is the Leaf Capture Remote for iPhone app which turns wireless devices, such as the iPhone or iPod Touch, into remote image viewers. While you are shooting tethered using Leaf Capture software, a client or creative director can view images from any Wi-Fi network...

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