Category: Cameras (Page 6 of 7)

      Pimp Your Dorm Room: Everything Else Edition

      July 25, 2009 /

      So far I’ve taken you through the paces for creating a great work area and a kick-ass entertainment center. Today is the final installment of Pimp Your Dorm Room, the one where I cover all the extra devices that don’t necessarily have a specific home in your room but will make your college life that much more enjoyable. This is Pimp Your Dorm Room: Everything Else Edition.

      Phone
      iPhone 4.You probably knew I would start out here, and for good reason. Your phone will likely always be on you, and it needs to keep up with your newly active lifestyle. You’ll have more work than ever, probably more fun than ever, and it’s one of the rare times in your life that you’ll be meeting hundreds and thousands of people your own age. Having a phone that can help manage your hectic lifestyle will save you loads of time and plenty of headaches.

      As you also might have expected, I’m going to recommend the iPhone. The new iPhone 4 is simply the best phone on the market for handling college’s educational and social demands. Right out of the box you’ll have an intuitive contact management system, full email functionality, a calendar that can sync up with your Google account, a way to record quick voice memos, and an iPod. You’ll also have access to Google Maps, which will be hugely helpful for learning your new hometown. None of these things are really different from other smartphones, but for undergraduate use, they are some of the easiest to use.

      What makes the iPhone a great pick over other phones is the App Store. The iPhone dev community is still the fastest growing in the world, and the App Store is constantly adding new distractions. Whether you need educational tools or Facebook, games for some downtime or access to services like Yelp!, the iPhone has the best selection for applications to choose from.

      Did I mention you also get a camera with HD video capability? Remember, the best camera is the one you always have with you. When it’s built into your phone, how could you not? The iPhone 4 takes great pictures with the new autofocus/auto exposure and you can edit and upload video to YouTube on the fly. You’ll truly appreciate capturing video on your phone when you get footage of your friends launching various fruits across the quad from a balloon launcher or filling the campuses main arch to the top with snow. I’m not saying I’ve done these things, just positing that it might be fun.

      Camera
      nullAs much as I stress getting an iPhone, you’ll probably still want a camera for serious picture taking. The iPhone has no flash, and frankly, a lot of you won’t end up with an iPhone. Get yourself something slim and portable, something you won’t forget when you’re road tripping to visit friends or just making trouble on campus.

      For average day to day shooting, get yourself a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. The camera is small and well-built with enough features to take great pictures. It’s a 10-megapixel compact with decent lens capable of taking 640×480 video at 30fps. The ZS1 starts quickly, so you’re taking pictures just 2.5 seconds after firing it up. Average shot-to-shot time is also excellent for the class, meaning you won’t miss the moment you want to capture most. Amazonhas the ZS1 for just under $219.

      Fridge
      Deluxe Mini Fridge-Warmer.Ah, the staple of any dorm room. You will want a minifridge. Whether it’s beverages you need to chill or pizza you’ve pilfered from the cafeteria to get you through a late night study session, something has to preserve your perishables, and it won’t be the smell coming from your hamper.

      Check out the Deluxe Mini Fridge-Warmer from ThinkGeek. It can both cool and warm, which is adjustable via digital thermostat, from 44 degrees to 140 degrees. Perfect for the pizza/beverage-of-choice crowd, no? The fridge has a see-through door so you know when it’s time to restock and there’s an On/Off switch for easy defrosting during breaks. Best of all, the fridge comes in under $100.

      Alarm Clock
      Sonic Boom Alarm Clock.Several of the gadgets I’ve listed in our Pimp Your Dorm Room guides could technically double as alarm clocks, but sometimes those devices just can’t get the job done. There are few worse feelings than staying up late to study or finish a paper, only to wake up well after that class is over. Avoid the scrambling, the sprinting across campus, the nauseating amount of ass-kissing to make up for your blunder, and get yourself a decent alarm clock.

      I recommend the Sonic Boom Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker, again, from ThinkGeek. This puppy cranks out 113-decibel alarms, which even the dead can’t sleep through. If for some reason you don’t waken with bleeding ears, the accompanying bed shaker is bound to rouse you. Slip the little piece under your mattress and just when your alarm shocks you out of that restful slumber, your bed will nearly dump you as well. You can pretty much forget about hitting the snooze button. Why would you want to do that to yourself twice in one morning? The Sonic Boom will run you a pair of Jacksons.

      That does it for our this edition of Pimp Your Dorm Room and the Pimp Your Dorm Room guide series. Be sure to check out how to Pimp Your Desk and Pimp Your Entertainment if you missed those. To all of you budding college freshmen, I wish you good luck. The next four years (five or more for some of you) will be some of the best of your life. Enjoy them, and if you’ve taken anything from these guides, enjoy them in style.

      Cameras, Guides, iPhone, Mobile

      Fuji Set to Bring 3D Stills to the Masses

      July 13, 2009 /

      Fuji Finepix Real 3D SystemIn years gone by, Fujifilm was the name in digital photography. They pioneered the first digital still camera in 1988 and held almost 30% market share. That was then, and unfortunately for Fuji, now is a time in which they hold less than 7% of the market and face stiff competition from companies like Nikon and Olympus.

      Fuji is releasing a new camera with hopes of getting their mojo back. Called the FinePix Real 3D System, their new camera is (omg!) a 3D still camera, the first of its kind for a consumer market. The camera works by employing two lenses that sit approximately the width of a pair of human eyes apart. The result is binocular vision that recreates depth perception in the same way your brain does. The only problem is that the left and right images have to be directed to your left and right eye for the effect to work.

      That’s part of Fuji’s strategy for the Real 3D. As the first 3D consumer camera, they’re the first with a real need for 3D media that doesn’t involve a pair of red and blue glasses. For starters, they’re looking at a 3D picture frame, which would direct each image at the viewer’s appropriate eye, and 3D film, which functions as a lens overlay for a photo print, achieving the desired effect.

      I went to an art exhibit last year where a physical media photographer was showcasing photos he had take by sort of hacking this method. He shot the images and then put them into one of those viewfinders you see at Niagra Falls and other popular tourist destinations. The pictures were incredible, especially the dead bird splayed out on the pavement.

      Success of this kind of product really depends on the success of the media, though. If the frame and the film are overpriced, it doesn’t matter how cool the pictures are. No one will be able to appreciate them. Fuji seems to be aware of this and plans to price at least the film under the $5 mark. The camera will run you a cool $600.

      Cameras, News

      Energizer Adds DSLR/Camcorder USB Charger

      July 1, 2009 /

      Energizer's Energi To Go DSLR/camcorder USB charger.Energizer’s Energi To Go line has some pretty sweet stuff, including a solar battery charger for just $50. They’re adding another device to the line later this year that’s turning some heads – the DSLR/camcorder battery USB charging clip. I really hope they have a better name.

      This nifty little toy looks great. Two prongs hang from the top of what is essentially a chip clip with a usb stick attached. The prongs line up with the contacts on most DSLR/camcorder batteries, giving you an ultra portable way to charge on the go.

      The only setback is that the clip may require one of Energizer’s USB-equipped battery packs, but even so, it’s USB, and that’s awesome. Now if we could just get universal charging adapters for our cell phones.

      Energizer has yet to release pricing and availability for the clip, but I’d guess it’ll fall somewhere around $20. Watch for it in Q3 this year.

      Source: Gearlog

      Cameras, Video

      iPhone 3GS Pics Are Enough To Shock And Awe

      June 23, 2009 /

      little-italy-9One of the most lauded features of the 3GS is the new and improved camera, which saw a 50% megapixel bump (2 up to 3). The magic isn’t in the megapixels, though, it’s the autofocus/auto exposure functions at the tip of your finger.

      I took all of the photos you see in the gallery at a cemetery near my apartment (I realize that sounds a little odd, but it’s a historic site) or just down the street, and I was shocked at the quality. It’s not just that the photos focused well on the objects I chose, but that the camera could also automatically adjust for exposure and white balance, turning typically mediocre photos into some decent shots.

      The best feature of the whole thing is that it’s built into the phone. Sure you can take better pictures, but carrying a point-and-shoot everywhere isn’t appealing for most people. I always have my phone, though, so I’ll be able to take great shots whenever the mood strikes. Having those shots on the iPhone also means I’ll be able to share them with remarkable ease. Emailing is fast and simple, and MMS should make things even better.

      Angel shot with iPhone 3gsMy only wish now? A Picasa app, developed by Google. As it stands I can view my albums online, but there’s no uploading unless you use something like AirMe or Shozu, both of which are more complicated than they need to be. Neither of apps make clear when your photo is uploaded, and AirMe just drops the photos you upload into an album titled AirMe. I’ll do some more serious digging for this later.

      With improvements like Apple has made with the 3GS, I won’t be buying a pocket camera any time soon. The iPhone now fills the point-and-shoot gap in my life. If I want something to take truly great photos, you’ll see my with a DSLR.

      Enjoy the gallery. The photos have not been edited in any way, save orientation for the two portrait shots.

      Apple, Cameras, iPhone

      Pure Digital Thinks iPhone Users Will Still Use Their Flip

      June 17, 2009 /

      The Flip HD.Just a few days before the iPhone 3GS hits consumers, Pure Digital Technologies, who makes the Flip series of digital camcorders has updated their software for improved sharing support. The Flip has been the camcorder of choice for many, especially for YouTube enthusiasts.

      The new Flip software adds the ability for users to create channels with individual security settings, allowing them to share their videos privately, instead of relying on YouTube and other social networking sites to do so. Private sharing does not support HD playback, but for many that’s not the draw of the Flip. It’s ease of use they’re after.

      Pure Digital has also announced an app for the iPhone that will allow iPhone owners to view the privately shared videos right on the phone. It’s an interesting move from Pure Digital, particularly with the video recording and editing features available on the new iPhone. Add to that the App Store approval process, which the Flip app will have to pass before making it to consumers, and it sounds like Pure Digital is pretty worried about their market share.

      Their concern is probably reasonable, though the Flip line still offers enough benefits to keep them in people’s hands. For now, at least.

      Cameras, iPhone, Video

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