Sunday, November 19, 2006

Show #4 - 11.19.2006



[Download Show #4 as MP3]

 Introduction
  • Microsoft Completes the first version of Office in 4 years.
  • The Playstation 3 is serious game
  • We have some neat free online tools to share
  • And we get deep into digital photography

News
Hardware / Gadgets / Accessories
  • Playstation 3
    • High-definition
    • Super-computer like preformance
    • Blue-ray Disc / DVD (25 GB single-layer / 50 GB dual-layer)
    • PS2 / PS1 Support
    • Photos / Music / Movies / Videos / Internet
    • Online Gaming / Text / Video Messaging / Voice Chatting / Downloadable Content (1 GBps port)
    • 4 x USB 2.0 ports
    • 512 total RAM / 256 video / 256 system
    • Optical Digital Audio Output
    • Bluetooth v2.0 / 7 controllers
    • HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
    • 20GB or 60GB Hard Disk
    • $599 for the premium - $499 for the basic
      • Premium:
        • MemoryStick / SD / CompactFlash slots
        • Wifi Support
        • 60 GB drive vs/ 20 GB
    • HD cables sold seperately
    • PSPs, if you have one, along with other devices will likely be integrated, in a test game, "Formula One '06" the PSP was the rear-view mirror. The developers of the game have been given the creative license to come up with how and if they integrate the PSP with the PS3.
    • PS1 / PS2 Memory Cards - Additional Adapter Required to copy currently saved games, but support for virtual memory cards is already built in so if you're not worried about loosing your previously saved games no need to buy anything.
    • PS3 Online is FREE
    • Should already be out by the time this show airs (November 11th)

  • Nintendo Wii
    • Updateable Linux OS
    • Lower Quality Graphics than Xbox 360 & PS3
    • Motion Sensor Controller
    • Currently No DVD playback
    • Out on Nov. 19th
  • Punchscan - Elections made right through encryption


Software / Updates / Viruses / Bugs
  • Ziddo - YouTube but with Comcast.
  • Microsoft Completes Office 2007
    • For release November 30th (Two Thursdays from now)
    • At the same time Exchange Server 2007 & Windows Vista
  • MSN's 3D Maps
    • Comparison to Google Maps / Google Earth
    • If allowed during install:
      • Changes your Internet Explorer home page
      • Adds Live Search to your desktop and search menu inside IE7
  • Juice - Podcast / Netcast Receiver
    • Originally iPodder (sued by Apple for the iPod name)
    • Windows / Mac / Linux
    • Choose Preferred Player
    • Video / Audio
    • Easy to Use
    • Excellent Included Directory
  • Online Bookmark Manager
    • Work / Home / School / Friend's Houses
    • Firefox Sync
    • Netvibes Home Page
    • Google Home Page

Saving Money ("Penny Pinchers")

Editorial ("Power Up") - Digital Photography [Cont.]
  • Definitions
    • Depth of Field - the distance in front of and behind the subject which appears to be in focus
    • Pixel - A single dot of color which makes up a digital image, a television screen, a computer monitor, or a printed image. Each pixel has its own color and intensity or brightness.
    • CCD (Charge Coupled Device) - The device used in digital cameras instead of film that actually detects the amount and the wavelength (or color) of the light for each pixel in the scene.
    • Macro photography - Taking pictures of something an extreme detail and close proximity. For instance, a penny that fills the frame or a image of a circuit board.
    • Parallax Error - This is the difference between what you see from one point of view vs. another. In other words, parallax is often thought of as the 'apparent motion' of an object against a distant background because of a perspective shift. In photography this directly coorelates to being heavily zoomed into something very far away or taking macro photography.
  • Point and Shoot / Compact Camera
    • Most use auto-focus or focus free lenses (eg. Disposible Cameras)
    • This takes away some of the creativity and control with the depth-of-field and simplifies the actual taking of the photography
  • SLR (Single Lens Reflex)
    • Movable mirror inside the camera between the lens and the imaging device (film / CCD)
    • A type of prism allows viewing the image you are about to take through the actual lens that is about to take it
    • Advantages
      • Many of the advantages of SLR cameras derive from viewing the scene through the taking lens
      • SLR cameras provide photographers with precision and confidence
      • There is no parallax error, and exact focus can be confirmed by eye - for macro or telephoto photography
      • The true depth of field may be seen by stopping down to the taking aperture
      • Compared to most fixed-lens compact cameras, the most commonly used and lease-expensive SLR lenses offer a wider aperture range and larger maximum aperture. This allows photographs to be taken in lower light conditions without flash, and allows a narrower depth of field, which is useful for blurring the background behind the subject, making the subject more prominent. This is commonly used in portrait photography.
    • Disadvantages
      • Single-lens reflex cameras cannot be made as small or light as other camera designs
      • The SLR mirror blacks out the viewfinder when the picture is taken (unless you have a very high-end camera that has a mirror lock-out feature)
      • Digital SLRs in general cannot display a live view on their rear LCD displays
      • The price of SLRs in general also tends to be much higher than that of other types of cameras
      • There is also the obvious problem of a higher rate of breaking down due to more moving components
  • Aperture / FStop / Av (Aperature Value)
    • The main function of a camera lens is to collect light. The aperture of a lens is the diameter of the lens opening and is usually controlled by an iris.The larger the diameter of the aperture, the more light reaches the film / image sensor.

    • Like the pupil in a human eye, the aperture on a camera controls light. It does so by closing up to restrict light, and opening up to let it through.

    • The smaller the F-stop number, the larger the opening of the aperture
    • How Is A Large Maximum Aperture Relevant?

      • A large maximum aperture is preferable to a smaller one since it gives the photographer more latitude in the kind of pictures that can be taken.

      • For example, it is pretty obvious that the larger the aperture, the better your digital camera will perform in low-light situations, since a larger lens opening is able to admit more light than a smaller lens opening.

      • A larger max. aperture also allows you to use a faster shutter speed to freeze action.

  • Shutter Speed
    • The shutter blocks all light from exposing the film UNTIL you press the button. Then it quickly opens and closes, giving the film a brief flash of light.
    • The longer exposures ( like 1 second ) give much more light to the film than a 1/1000 of a second exposure. So even though the number may look bigger, don't be deceived!
    • When a fast shutter speed is used (e.g. 1/1,000 sec.), the image sensor is exposed for only that small amount of time (i.e. 1/1,000 sec.). Conversely, when a slow shutter speed is used (e.g. 1/30 sec.; some cameras allow slow shutter speeds up to 30 sec. or more), the image sensor is exposed for that longer amount of time.
  • Balancing Shutter Speed and Aperature
    • Exposure is about different combinations of shutter and f-stop settings. These combinations can drastically affect the finished picture.
    • As you increase the f-stop, or make your camera's pupil smaller, you are decreasing the amount of light, so to counteract this change a longer exposure time or a larger fraction of shutter speed is needed.
    • Here's the my cheat sheet:
      • F-Stops:
        • f2.8
        • f4
        • f5.6
        • f8
        • f11
        • f16
        • f22
      • Shutter: (in stops)
        • 1
        • 1/2
        • 1/15
        • 1/30
        • 1/60
        • 1/125
        • 1/250
        • 1/500
        • 1/1000
    • Balance Example: - To maintain exposure level: Take a stop, give a stop
      • f2.8 / 1/250
      • f8 / 1/30
      • f22 / 1
    • Reasons for balance
      • Speed of the shot - Sports, kids, etc.
      • Depth of field - Rack focus / blurry background
    • Tips and tricks
      • 1/250 is motion freeze speed
      • The darker it is, the harder to freeze action without a light source (like a flash or lighting)
  • Next week we'll talk about the half-press... What is that? and... the different camera modes on your camera. We'll also answer any of your digital photography questions. By the time we're done, you'll be a photography pro whether it's film or digital and we'll even show you some great tips on using Photoshop for photofinishing.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)