Google patent delivers close-up photos when your phone can't, Blade Runners would approve
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Cool PhotoSynth-Like Google Patent
Google patent delivers close-up photos when your phone can't, Blade Runners would approve
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Apple - iOS6 Lost in the Hype?
Apple iOS 6 maps complaints widespread
The Internet has been buzzing for the past 24 hours, filled with complaints about Apple’s new Maps app in iOS 6. Back in June, Apple revealed the app, letting folks know that free turn-by-turn navigation was coming to iOS and that they were dropping Google Maps. The problem is that Google has been mapping the world since 2005 and has a seven year lead on local search, fixing errors, etc.
No doubt Apple didn’t like sending so much business Google’s way and felt forced to make this move. But it’s sounds as if it’s going to leave a bad taste with a lot of users. Here’s a brief roundup of posts from around the Web, including some from Apple fanboys:
- Business Insider: Apple’s Maps are a disatser waiting to happen
- Anil Dash: Who benefits from Apple’s crummy maps?
- John Gruber: “The maps experience in iOS 6 is a downgrade“
- Rocky Mountain Mac Repair: Local Search in the iOS 6 Maps App is Broken
- Walt Mossberg: “a step backward from the familiar Google app“
- Gizmodo UK: Apple Maps Just Plain Sucks
- The Understatement: Quantifying the impending iOS 6 Maps backlash
Meanwhile, there are questions and suggestions about the promised Google Maps app:
- As Google Maps Disappears In iOS 6, Google Remains Cagey About Releasing Its Own App
- If I Were Google, I Wouldn’t Release A Native iOS 6 Maps App For Six Months
Finally, here’s a creative marketing response:
If you’re not happy with #AppleMaps, try @scout by Telenav. The premium version is still free through Friday! bit.ly/LAHcOv #ios6
— marybethlowell (@marybethlowell) September 19, 2012
Hat tips to Jonathan Crowe, Search Engine Land, and All Points Blog.
iPhone 5 Users = Lost in the HYPE?
Android Friends, Be Kind to All of the New iPhone 5 Users Tomorrow – They May be Lost and in Need of a Maps App
When doors open at your city’s Apple store in the morning and UPS drivers take to the streets with shipments of iPhone 5s, the number of confused and lost pedestrians, transit riders, bikers and car drivers will have increased by some 2 million people. So when I say that the Android crew needs to prepare, I’m suggesting that you put a shortcut to your Google Maps app on your home screen or quick launch bar.
Think of tomorrow (and for the foreseeable future) as an opportunity to help out a foe in need. After all, your Google Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation is free, so why not share it with those less fortunate smartphone owners. They may need confirmation that when traveling over the Hoover Dam, that they will succeed in crossing it.
To follow along in the never-ending fun that is Apple’s new Maps app for iOS 6, follow this Tumblr.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
ManPac Radio and Speed - revealed...
JetBlue Ka-band high-speed internet now arriving in early 2013, eight times faster than the competition
Monday, September 17, 2012
Kiwi - 3D... The hard way?
NZ Company Plans to Map Country's Streets in 3D
Thu, 2012/09/13 - 06:58 — argh09
A news article describes the plans of a New Zealand company, Terralink International Ltd, to capture all of the streets in the country in 3D using a vehicle mounted with a LIDAR device.
[Editor's addition] From the article: "Unlike Google, Terralink won't be giving away all its StreetCam3D street-scape for free online. Some footage may go on the web, for example to help people research homes through its property information website Zoodle.co.nz, but Terralink hopes to sell much of the data it collects to the likes of utilities and local government - for example to help plan the $3.5 billion ultrafast broadband network."
SmartPhone Camera ZTrends
New stats from GfK reflect the unstoppable rise of the smartphone – especially those with cameras in them.
GfK estimates around four out of five mobile or smartphones sold around the world have a built-in camera. It says that sales of models with a resolution above five megapixels rose from 17 per cent in the first half of 2011 to 27 per cent a year later. In Europe, these devices represent around 40 per cent of all phones sold.
The driving force behind these shipments is the ability to upload images from anywhere into social networks – and this makes them more attractive than regular standalone digital cameras.
A similar impulse is driving sales of devices with HD video. During the second quarter of 2012, one in six smartphones in Europe had this technology. A year earlier, the share was under three per cent.
On a more general basis, GfK, says more than 650 million smartphones have been sold, up 50 per cent year-on-year. Devices costing more than €150 now account for 80 per cent of global mobile phone sales.
The trend is obviously more advanced in the US and Europe, but new markets are catching up. In Latin America, for example, during the first six months of this year, one in five mobile phones bought was a smartphone. This compared with one in seven in 2011.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Nikon-Droid - You will be absorbed...
Nikon Coolpix S800c Android camera first look
| | Published Aug 22, 2012 | Product Reviews & Previews |
Preview based on a pre-production Coolpix S800c
Smartphones have quickly become the most serious challenge to face the conventional compact digital camera since they first emerged onto the market. It's no exaggeration to say that all the big camera makers are becoming desperate to develop camera models that can stand up to this challenge. Nikon's response is the Coolpix S800c - the first camera from a major manufacturer to be openly based on the Android mobile operating system.There are several reasons why smartphones have become so compelling as photographic tools: they're devices that people tend to have with them at all times and they are well connected to mobile data services to allow uploading and sharing of images. An additional benefit has come from the emergence of apps and the platforms through which they're sold which have encouraged third-party developers to create software adding new capabilities to the devices they run on. From Instagram to Angry Birds, apps have encouraged people to use their Smartphones for all sorts of things the hardware makers couldn't have predicted.
This seemingly boundless flexibility comes in stark contrast to conventional cameras, which tend to offer the same capabilities and features on the day they're consigned to a dusty shelf as they had when they were taken out of the box. The S800c is a full Android 2.3 (known as Gingerbread) device, meaning it can run any apps that an equivalent smartphone could offer - so you can run Photoshop Touch to spruce-up your images, rather than being dependent on the manufacturer-supplied processing options. For that matter, there's nothing to stop you passing the time with a quick game of Temple Run or Fruit Ninja.
Compact cameras do still have some advantages though - they tend to have larger sensors (which means better image quality, particularly in lower light), and they tend to have optical zooms, giving greater photographic flexibility. They also tend to come with removable memory, meaning you can easily expand and swap-out the storage of your camera - something most smartphones don't allow. The S800c offers the same 10x zoom lens and 16MP backlit CMOS sensor as the Coolpix S6300, meaning you get a proper compact camera as well as the capabilities of a fully-functioning tablet computer. For perspective, the S6300 had a list price of $199 at launch, compared to the $349 Nikon is asking for the S800c.
Nikon Coolpix S800c key specifications
- 16MP 1/2.3"-type BSI CMOS sensor
- 25-250mm equivalent F3.2-5.8 lens
- 3.5" WVGA OLED touchscreen
- Android v2.3 operating system
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS
- 2GB of internal memory (690MB of this for Apps)
- Up to 8fps continuous shooting
- 1080p30 video
 |
 | In addition to letting you run apps, the S800c allows you to check your mail, or perhaps browse dpreview from your camera. |
 | Unlike most smartphones, the S800c retains the ability to use SD cards and a removable battery, in this case a 3.8Wh EN-EL12. At 140 shots per charge, the camera's lifespan isn't great (and the CIPA tests do not include time spent web browsing), but at least you can slot a spare battery in if you need to. |
Hacker's delight
In addition to the intended app capabilities, a camera running such a common mobile operating system is a big deal because it opens up all sorts of unofficial customization, especially if the Android 'hacking' community takes an interest. Groups such as CyanogenMod offer custom ROMs (modified versions of the underlying firmware) for a wide range of Android phones and tablets. These versions offer modifications such as CPU overclocking and other performance and interface enhancements. CyanogenMod also usually makes the latest Android version available on many devices before the manufacturers or telecom-providers do. There’s no reason why the same thing could not be done on the S800c, so we may well see Android 4.1 ‘Jelly Bean’ running on a Nikon rather sooner than later, with the Google Now 'personalized search application' telling you what the traffic is like on your way home from your photo excursion.Handling and first impressions
Camera control is essentially via the touchscreen (aside from zoom and shutter) – our first impressions are that it’s responsive and looks quite intuitive. The camera can connect to Wi-Fi hotspots directly, and will be able to set up a peer-to-peer connection with smartphones to transfer images to them, if they're running the Nikon apps for Android or iOS. You can also run Nikon's 'My Picture Town' app to upload images directly to the company's cloud hosting service, but this makes more sense for backup than anything else.When you turn the S800c on you reach a simple menu screen with the choice of going straight to the camera. However, if you choose to go through to the Android home screen, the camera can be accessed just as the camera on any other Android device would be - by opening the camera app. Based on our use the S800c seems powerful enough to jump to the camera very quickly, though we didn't time it.
Because you've got the familiar apps for whichever social networking services you use, you can send images from the S800c to those sites just as easily as you would from any smartphone. It’s a directly-comparable transformative experience towards using a compact camera as the iPhone was for many mobile phone users. Suddenly you have a device that acts as a little portable computer on the back, and a pretty decently-specced camera on the front. Our biggest concern is the price (which is significantly higher in Europe than in North America).
Friday, September 14, 2012
More Glass
Details emerge on Google Glass interface
updated 05:54 pm EDT, Tue September 11, 2012Voice commands bring up UI, execute actions
While the Google Glass wearable computing project is still in development, Google has begun showing off some of the interface that will drive the Glass experience. The Wall Street Journal got some hands-on time with Google's face-mounted computer, and its reporter came away with a finer understanding of the way the technology will work. While some of the voice commands that will eventually drive Google Glass' interface are functional, it appears to still be very much a work in progress.
Reportedly, the device weighs only a few ounces, with two microphones as well as a battery built into one of the frame's arms. Users activate the device's functions by speaking into one of the microphones, though it is uncertain whether one needs interact physically with the microphone or whether it is sensitive enough to automatically pick up commands.
Speaking a term such as "OK, Glass" will bring up the main user interface on the small screen situated in front of the wearer's right eye. From there, one can snap a picture, make a call, or send a text message.
The Journal's reporter ultimately came away disappointed in the device, as it is still very much in the development stage and many of its most basic functions don't work yet. Text messaging and phone call functions are still in the prototype stage, as is a navigation feature that will show users maps along their trip.
Google has previously allowed members of the press to try out the device. In May, Gavin Newsom got to test out a prototype device on his self-titled program. The device Newsom tested, though, was likely less developed than the one tested by the Journal most recently, as Newsom relied on the touch interface to interact with the technology.
Google first teased the device in a promotional video earlier this year, capturing the attention of much of the tech sector. Later, at Google I/O, Google co-founder Sergey Brin came on stage wearing the device, and the company demoed prototypes of the device in an extreme sports-heavy presentation. Most recently, the technology showed up at New York Fashion Week, where an assortment of models donned the device as they walked the runway, snapping pictures as they did.
While developer units will be available at the end of this year or early next year for Google I/O attendants who preordered them, the technology isn't expected to debut on the wider consumer market until 2014. When Google Glass does debut, it will be priced as a premium product, at least initially.
By Electronista Staff
Read more: http://www.electronista.com/articles/12/09/11/voice.commands.bring.up.ui.execute.actions/#ixzz26Ur4Nt7Y
Fusion Tables are Very Cool...
Competitive advantage with free GIS tools
For years I have been advocating the advantage of matching the tools to the job, that is selecting those that are “fit for the purpose”. Nothing more and nothing less, because it is either a waste of money or you end up with inadequate solution which will not deliver expected results. Logical, but not very common approach in corporate life…
Why would you spend thousands on something that you can use for free to get the job done? Many apply this principle in their private lives but do not extend it to their business activities. There is always more than one way to skin the cat, and very often applying your “old toolbox” to new problems will simply not work (eg. big data in GIS!). In a competitive world, or where resources to accomplish the task are scarce, only the smart ones, who are able to think outside the square, will get the job done and will advance…
In particular, very often organisations buy packaged solutions, which come bundled with extensive range of functional tools, but which are rarely used, if at all. Microsoft’s Word or Excel are classic examples (not picking on Microsoft specifically but they are a good point in case that everybody can relate to). It could be argued that 80% of users utilise less than 20% of built-in functionality. But organisations are paying the full price for all of them. As an old saying goes, “No one got sacked for buying Microsoft”… because it is presumably the least risk option. The same can be extended to many GIS solutions…
It could also be argued that the larger the organisation, the less likely it is to look for cheaper alternatives. Why? It is “easy” for the IT department to deal with limited number of software, easy for buyers because they are buying “the brand”, easy for users because their skills are transferable to the next job… But spare a though for what it does to the bottom line of an organisation. Don’t get me wrong, there are many, many cases where buying the whole package makes perfect sense, even financial, but it can also be argued that in many more cases this is simply overkill. The issue is particularly relevant for smaller organisations.
What if you could get 80% of functionality of “branded solutions” (functionality you really need) for 20% of the price? The answer: you could actually end up with 4 times the functional capability of your competitors who are paying the full price for one solution!
Modern GIS, BI, reporting dashboards and similar solutions do not have to be expensive. If you are a small business, or organisation that is conscious about the costs, you can deploy solutions at a fraction of the cost of branded software used by the big business.
Take for example this single page, satellite imagery catalogue created with free Google Map and Google Fusion Tables. It includes attribute and time range filters as well as location search. It is capable of handling of up to 100,000 items:
Simple, yet delivering in full the core search functionality of bigger systems that would cost tens of thousands to deploy and maintain. It allows users to quickly determine what imagery is available for a given location and within a given time frame and under what licence. Individual scenes can be inspected to determine precise coverage extents (ie. scene footprint) as well as cloud density (ie. preview quicklook) before following up with an email enquiry about the access to the information.
The main game is not about “cutting the corners” or blunt “cost cutting”. It is all about being smart and applying “fitness for purpose” principle… You can gain a lot by talking to people who provide solutions and not only those who sell branded software.
Why would you spend thousands on something that you can use for free to get the job done? Many apply this principle in their private lives but do not extend it to their business activities. There is always more than one way to skin the cat, and very often applying your “old toolbox” to new problems will simply not work (eg. big data in GIS!). In a competitive world, or where resources to accomplish the task are scarce, only the smart ones, who are able to think outside the square, will get the job done and will advance…
In particular, very often organisations buy packaged solutions, which come bundled with extensive range of functional tools, but which are rarely used, if at all. Microsoft’s Word or Excel are classic examples (not picking on Microsoft specifically but they are a good point in case that everybody can relate to). It could be argued that 80% of users utilise less than 20% of built-in functionality. But organisations are paying the full price for all of them. As an old saying goes, “No one got sacked for buying Microsoft”… because it is presumably the least risk option. The same can be extended to many GIS solutions…
It could also be argued that the larger the organisation, the less likely it is to look for cheaper alternatives. Why? It is “easy” for the IT department to deal with limited number of software, easy for buyers because they are buying “the brand”, easy for users because their skills are transferable to the next job… But spare a though for what it does to the bottom line of an organisation. Don’t get me wrong, there are many, many cases where buying the whole package makes perfect sense, even financial, but it can also be argued that in many more cases this is simply overkill. The issue is particularly relevant for smaller organisations.
What if you could get 80% of functionality of “branded solutions” (functionality you really need) for 20% of the price? The answer: you could actually end up with 4 times the functional capability of your competitors who are paying the full price for one solution!
Modern GIS, BI, reporting dashboards and similar solutions do not have to be expensive. If you are a small business, or organisation that is conscious about the costs, you can deploy solutions at a fraction of the cost of branded software used by the big business.
Take for example this single page, satellite imagery catalogue created with free Google Map and Google Fusion Tables. It includes attribute and time range filters as well as location search. It is capable of handling of up to 100,000 items:
Software cost: $0
Infrastructure cost: $0
Maintenance cost: $0* (until Google deprecates the service)
Development cost: “a few” hours
Simple, yet delivering in full the core search functionality of bigger systems that would cost tens of thousands to deploy and maintain. It allows users to quickly determine what imagery is available for a given location and within a given time frame and under what licence. Individual scenes can be inspected to determine precise coverage extents (ie. scene footprint) as well as cloud density (ie. preview quicklook) before following up with an email enquiry about the access to the information.
The main game is not about “cutting the corners” or blunt “cost cutting”. It is all about being smart and applying “fitness for purpose” principle… You can gain a lot by talking to people who provide solutions and not only those who sell branded software.
Big Dog Geo-Google Five Million Miles and Growing
11 SEPTEMBER 2012
Google Ground Truth Projects
"We decided to start a project called Ground Truth, and this was really to build our own maps from scratch. We would start with licensed data and we would find whatever we could where we could get full rights to the data and improve it from there"
(Image from BBC News )
Ground Truth using Google own StreetView to attribute roads with street names and other locality information.
Ground Truth 1.0
The following countries are covered by the first stage of Google's Ground Truth map data project:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US and Vatican City.
Ground Truth 2.0
So far the Ground Truth project covers 31 nations - places where there was already decent data Google could license to use as the foundations for its process.
Now it is about to embark on what it calls Ground Truth 2.0, extending the system to "more difficult" regions.
Beyond Ground Truth
Google also aims to improve its service by mapping the interiors of more buildings - the current emphasis is on transport hubs, shopping centres, museums and business that pay for an approved photographer to visit them.
"The benefits of having Street View can't be under-counted," Brian McClendon says.
"We have over 20 petabytes [21.5 billion megabytes] of imagery and have driven and published over five million miles of Street View roads."
Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19536269
Monday, September 10, 2012
720p Mobile Android Video
720p Video Recording on the Google Nexus 7
Tablet cameras generally don’t live up to their potential. There are a variety of reasons for this, but most notable is that people don’t often use the camera on a tablet. A tablet is too big and bulky to be used as a camera under most circumstances, so OEMs generally don’t put much work into camera software.That said, this doesn’t mean that the actual camera units themselves are worthless. Rather, they can often be modded to produce better content. Such is the case on the Google Nexus 7, which can now record video at 720p. Installation is simple, requiring that users edit their media_profiles.xml file.
While a flashable zip will most likely come in the future, it’s fun to edit the file manually. XDA Recognized Developer hillbeast who created the guide, includes before and after videos.
For more information, check out the original thread.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Smartphone App Finds Landmines
Smartphone-powered mine detectors readied for field-testing in Cambodia (video)
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Is that an app in your pocket?
Android catching up with iPhone on paid apps
August 29th, 2012 - Charlie Edmunds
Our survey of 17,000 smartphone users, carried out with Pocket-Lint and Mobile Nations, reveals that Android users and iPhone users are becoming more alike – at least when it comes to buying apps.
In 2011 Apple were well ahead in the paid app stakes, with 39% of iPhone users having more than 20 paid apps, and only 3% having none. Android users, on the other hand, were more likely to have no paid apps at all (12%) than they were to have more than 20 (10%).
This year sees twice as many Android users having a large number of apps, while iPhone users are not quite so app-happy. 19% of Android users and 26% of iPhone users in the 2012 survey say they have over 20 paid apps on their phones. When it comes to paid-app refusers Android and Apple are now almost identical, with 6% of iPhone users and 7% of Android users having never spent money on an app.
Why do you think Android users are so much happier to buy apps? Is the quality of apps on offer improving? Let us know in the comments!
Camera Area Networking... time has come
Consumers want connected cameras
Nearly 75 percent of smartphone users who also take digital photos or shoot digital video would be “somewhat” or “extremely” interested in the ability to wirelessly transfer photos or video from their digital camera to their smartphone, InfoTrends reports.
Furthermore, 68 percent of those respondents said that having that ability would actually cause them to use their digital camera more, the research firm adds. “Many consumers own multiple photography devices and the ability to easily transfer content between these devices will help encourage the viewing, sharing, and printing of photos from both connected and non-connected devices.”
InfoTrends’ Smartphones, Tablets, and Connected TVs: Changing the Digital Imaging Landscape report analyzes findings from a survey of over 1,300 U.S. consumers about their use of smartphones, tablets, and connected TVs for a variety of business and recreational tasks.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Apple knows where you are as well as alot of others as well?
Hackers Obtain Millions of Apple Users' Information From FBI Laptop
|
Posted Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, at 10:42 AM ET
Screenshot / WhatsMyUDID.comThe hacker group AntiSec claims the FBI has compiled a database of 12 million Apple UDIDs—the unique numbers that identify every Apple device, including iPhones and iPads—many of them complete with the device owner's personal information. To prove it, the Anonymous-affiliated group on Monday published one million of the IDs, along with the type (e.g. iPhone) and name (e.g. Jane Doe's iPhone) of each device. In a post accompanying the data dump, the group says it withheld other personally identifying information, including names, mobile phone numbers, and addresses. There's no indication that bank account numbers or passwords were included.
During the second week of March 2012, a Dell Vostro notebook, used by Supervisor Special Agent Christopher K. Stangl from FBI Regional Cyber Action Team and New York FBI Office Evidence Response Team was breached using the AtomicReferenceArray vulnerability on Java, during the shell session some files were downloaded from his Desktop folder one of them with the name of "NCFTA_iOS_devices_intel.csv" turned to be a list of 12,367,232 Apple iOS devices including Unique Device Identifiers (UDID), user names, name of device, type of device, Apple Push Notification Service tokens, zipcodes, cellphone numbers, addresses, etc. the personal details fields referring to people appears many times empty leaving the whole list incompleted on many parts. no other file on the same folder makes mention about this list or its purpose.
The group suspects the FBI was using, or planned to use, the information to track Apple users. The FBI has yet to comment on the apparent breach, and it's unclear how it obtained the Apple IDs.
In a twist, the agent whose laptop AntiSec claims to have hacked appeared in a 2009 FBI recruiting video, urging hackers to join the bureau as cybersecurity experts. To AntiSec, which views cybersecurity experts as, essentially, tools of The Man, that makes him an ideal target.
Meanwhile, some security researchers are pouncing on Apple for hard-coding unique identifiers onto every device in the first place. In a post titled, "The UDID leak is a privacy catastrophe," security consultant Aldo Cortesi catalogs several of his own past blog posts warning about the potential for the device numbers to be misused.
Wondering whether your device was among those compromised? The Next Web has built a quick tool that lets you check whether your UDID matches any of the one million that AntiSec included in its data dump. The Next Web assures users that it isn’t storing the numbers they enter. You can find your UDID by following the easy steps outlined here. (Note: Even if yours isn't a match, it could still theoretically be among the other 11 million that AntiSec says it has but didn't publish.)
Wikipedia Photo Competition
Wikipedia Mounts Massive Monthlong Photo Competition
Hungry for more freely licensed photographs of notable places to illustrate entries on Wikipedia, Wikimedia is holding a gigantic photo competition.
Lasting the month of September, ”Wiki Loves Monuments 2012” is “expected to be the largest photo contest in the world by a wide margin,” according to the Wikimedia Foundation.
About 25,000 images have been uploaded since the contest kicked off on Saturday.
This is the third year of the competition, though the first was only in the Netherlands, and the second in Europe.
Last year, 5,000 volunteers uploaded 168,000 photos. Perhaps most excitingly for the project, 80 percent of the contestants had never contributed to Wikipedia before.
This year, 30 countries are participating, including the U.S. for the first time. Each country’s winner will compete for the international grand prize of a trip to Wikimania in Hong Kong next year.
To help inspire and solicit uploads, Wikimedia built an Android app that maps nearby monuments and accepts contest entries.
Lasting the month of September, ”Wiki Loves Monuments 2012” is “expected to be the largest photo contest in the world by a wide margin,” according to the Wikimedia Foundation.
About 25,000 images have been uploaded since the contest kicked off on Saturday.
This is the third year of the competition, though the first was only in the Netherlands, and the second in Europe.
Last year, 5,000 volunteers uploaded 168,000 photos. Perhaps most excitingly for the project, 80 percent of the contestants had never contributed to Wikipedia before.
This year, 30 countries are participating, including the U.S. for the first time. Each country’s winner will compete for the international grand prize of a trip to Wikimania in Hong Kong next year.
To help inspire and solicit uploads, Wikimedia built an Android app that maps nearby monuments and accepts contest entries.
Pocket Thermal Imaging... AR-FLIR by Hopeless?
This add on device is still a bit in the AR domain but apparently it does work... looks to be a $150 feature add but apparently will provide an open-source code solution? Seems pretty darned cool to me. Rob Hopeless is the wizzard -
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Paper Maps - Right?
Paper maps are shown the door in GPS era
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Of the more than 35 million Americans expected to travel by car this Fourth of July, a good chunk will probably reach for technology before they're tempted to unfold -- and in a tradition that used to bind Americans as tightly as a highway cloverleaf, try to refold -- a paper road map.
Websites like MapQuest and Google Maps simplified trip planning. Affordable GPS devices and built-in navigation on smartphones downright transformed it -- and transportation agencies around the country are noticing, printing fewer maps to cut department costs or just acknowledging that public demand is down.
The drop in sales began around 2003, when affordable GPS units became the go-to Christmas present, said Pat Carrier, former owner of a travel bookstore in Cambridge, Mass.
"Suddenly, everyone was buying a Garmin or a TomTom," he said. "That's the year I thought, 'Oh, it's finally happened.' "
Transportation departments around the country are in the middle of readjusting their spending amid times of falling revenue, and paper maps could be on the chopping block, said Bob Cullen, spokesman for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
In Georgia, officials are printing about 1.6 million maps to cover a two-year period -- less than half of what they were printing a decade ago. In Pennsylvania, where officials say public demand has gone down, about 750,000 maps are being printed -- way down from more than 3 million in 2000.
Officials in Oklahoma and Ohio also say map printing is down, and Washington state discontinued them altogether by 2009 because of budget shortfalls.
But in other states, printing has remained steady because maps remain popular at visiting centers. Officials in Connecticut, Mississippi and Nebraska say printing has remained the same.
The Paper Map Era is Over
Not that I needed to tell you, but paper maps are a dying breed:
Transportation departments around the country are in the middle of readjusting their spending amid times of falling revenue, and paper maps could be on the chopping block, said Bob Cullen, spokesman for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
I mean who really wants a paper map other than neck beards (I know who you all are)? Plotters are already the dot matrix printer of our times. They’ll stick around until they break or need more ink toner, then the plug will be pulled and we can all move on. My first job in the industry was “Plotter Operator”, don’t let that be your last.
Take one last picture with your plotter and toss it out the door
Silverlight for Andorid and iPhone? Sort of?
http://geeknizer.com/silverlight-iphone-android/
Even though Flash was self-sufficient, Microsoft developed Silverlight to create it’s own market. But it was never as portable as Flash, but the horizon seems to be changing. Microsoft already announced Silverlight for Symbian and iPhone seem to be the evident, though from Microsoft’s rival.
With Moonlight, Novell’s open source, cross-platform Silverlight implementation, inherits XNA and .NET support thereby making it possible to run Silverlight apps on iPhone and even Android.
This is the same technology that enabled Microsoft to demo the same game and evidently the same code — running on Xbox, Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7. And now Novell will make it possible to run the same game on the iPhone.
Novell is doing this without any pushes, approvals from Microsoft, obviously as Microsoft can’t restrict an Open Source project. No wonder, Microsoft might even be working on a Silverlight implementation for iPhone — perhaps Novell is taking the lead and showing off their superiority.
So when is it coming? As for the thing we heard from Technologizer, it’s as early as this Monday (tomorrow). This will enable Microsoft Xbox 360 games to be run on iPhone, Android as native apps.
Read more: http://geeknizer.com/silverlight-iphone-android/#ixzz24rpiD4Dh
SONY ActionCam - Kicks GoPro to the Dust?
Discover your sense of adventure with Wi-Fi enabled wearable Action Cam by Sony
Ultra-compact Full HD video camera for extreme sports and point-of-view shooting
- Ultra-compact, wearable Full HD camcorder
- Capture all the action with 170° wide angle Carl Zeiss® lens
- High quality images even in low light condition with Exmor R™ CMOS sensor
- SteadyShot™ image stabilisation cuts blur for smoother footage
- 2 types of HD slow-motion modes (4x/ 2x) make your action more dramatic
- Control the camera from a smartphone or transfer footage to your smartphone via Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi model only) Wi-Fi : IEEE 802.11b/g/n(2.4GHz band)
- Shoot in snow or down to 60m with supplied waterproof case
- Memory Card Slot : Memory Stick Micro™ and Micro SD/SDHC compatible
- HD Output : HDMI Out (micro)
- USB Port(s) : micro-B/USB2.0 Hi-speed (mass-storage)
- BRAVIA® Sync™ : Yes
- Microphone Input : Stereo Minijack
- Video Format : MPEG4-AVC/H.264
- Video Resolution : 1920×1080/30P (HQ), 1280×720/30P (STD,SLOW,SSLOW), 680×480/30P (VGA)
- Movie Recording Rate(Average Bit Rate/VBR) : HQ:Approx.16Mbps/SSLOW:Approx.24Mbps/SLOW:Approx.12Mbps/STD:Approx.6Mbps/VGA:Approx.3Mbps
Share via Connected Phone/Tablet
Wi-Fi®-enabled mobile phones and tablets running the free PlayMemories Mobile™ application3 can pull optimized movies and photos from the Sony® HDR-AS15 camera without requiring a special cable. Once copied, you can use your available 3G and 4G cell networks to upload your memories and share them via email or social media networks.
Wherever life takes you, get a thrilling first-person viewpoint with new Action Cam from Sony.
Weighing just 90g with supplied battery, ultra-compact HDR-AS15 Action Cam shoots detail-packed Full HD video, whether you’re hiking, biking, snorkelling, surfing or sky-diving.
If you don’t have a smartphone, or if the idea of using WiFi to connect to a remote viewfinder isn’t your thing, then Sony has a very different LCD solution for you. For $100 bucks, Sony has plans for a Handycam Adapter that works with the Action Cam. This Adapter is essentially a case with a rotatable, 2.7-inch LCD on its side. You slip the case around the Action Cam, fit a connector into the Sony-proprietary port on the bottom, and the Action Cam magically turns into a traditional (and very small) Handycam. We actually think this accessory is kind of cool, and it certainly addresses a number of the issues GoPro has with its stationary LCD BacPac accessory that fits on the back of the Hero camcorders.
Fix Action Cam to your cycling helmet or board with the supplied adhesive mounts that press easily to smooth or curved surface. Alternatively, wear Action Cam with an optional Waterproof Head Mount kit. Then just press the large, fumble-free Record button to start ‘hands-free’ shooting.
The sensitive Exmor R CMOS sensor inside Action Cam lets you shoot crisp, low-noise video footage in almost any light, from dawn until dusk.
The high quality Carl Zeiss® Tessar® lens gives an ultra-wide 170° angle of view for a thrilling sense of your surroundings – from ski slopes to mountain trails. For more comfortable viewing when you’re back home, SteadyShot image stabilisation helps keep footage clear and judder-free while you’re negotiating potholes or a tricky mogul field.
There’s a choice of five video record modes, from highest-quality Full HD 30p to VGA for extra-long shooting times. Two special slow-motion modes (4x and 2x) make it easier to analyse a golf swing or watch a BMX stunt in detail.
Action Cam comes supplied with a tough waterproof case for shooting in rain, snow or at depths right down 60m. It’s also ideal for shrugging off dirt and dust if you’re battling through a muddy trail route. Optional extras available from launch include a handlebar mount, a wearable headband, and a waterproof head mount kit for fans of cycling, hiking, surfing, wakeboarding and other marine sports.
The range of compatible accessories is expected to grow further over time. A tilt adaptor will give more options to angle the camera up or down for a different viewpoint, while Handheld Grip with LCD Screen unit adds a camcorder-style screen for monitoring and reviewing shots. There’s also an anti-fog sheet to stop condensation build-up and a Replacement Door Pack that offers different housing door options for improved picture or sound quality if you’re shooting underwater.
The camera’s memory card slot accepts Memory Stick Micro™ (M2) as well as Micro SD/SDHC (class 4 or higher) type cards. Just pick the card type that’s most convenient for you.
Install the PlayMemories Mobile app (Android or iOS) on your smartphone or tablet and transfer videos directly from Action Cam via Wi-Fi. The free app also lets you control Action Cam remotely from your mobile device.
The new HDR-AS15 Action Cam from Sony is available in Europe from mid-October 2012.
The compact and rugged Sony HDR-AS15 HD Action Camcorder with WiFi is designed for point-of-view (POV) shooting during action sports including skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, motocross, skydiving, mountain biking and other outdoor adventure sports. The lightweight, wearable action camcorder weighs only 3.2 oz (90 g) and it supports up to Full HD 1920 x 1080p video recording at 30 frames per second (fps). It also supports other shooting modes including a 2x and 4x Slow Motion Video Mode. The 2x Slow Motion Mode supports 1280 x 720p video capture at 60 fps and the 4x Slow Motion Mode supports 1280 x 720p video capture at an amazing 120 fps. Having 120 frames per second to break down video frame-by-frame makes the 4x Slow Motion Mode a valuable tool for both movie making and review of your tricks, line, form and technique.
The HDR-AS15 provides WiFi capability. This means that WiFi enabled mobile phones and tablets that are equipped with Sony's free PlayMemories app can pull optimized movies and photos from the HDR-AS15 without a cable. Once the video is copied onto your mobile device, you can use its 3G or 4G mobile broadband connection to email movies to friends and family or upload your footage to social media sites.
Sony includes a ruggedized waterproof housing with the HDR-AS15. The waterproof housing has a universal tripod mount and is waterproof down to a depth of 197' (60 m). It is also dirt and dust resistant, which makes the camera nearly impervious to mud, snow, rain, sand and grime. The HDR-AS15 also comes with two adhesive mounts that securely attach to most flat and curved surfaces.
The HDR-AS15 is equipped with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens that supports an ultra-wide 170° viewing angle. The camera also has a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor, which supports superb low light performance and Full HD video. To compensate for camera shake that's typical when shooting POV sports action, the Sony action camera features SteadyShot image stabilization with Active Mode. SteadyShot uses an innovative 3-way shake-canceling function to reduce blur caused by camera shake.
Other convenient features on the HDR-AS15 include "Press-n-Go" recording, HDMI connectivity and a built-in stereo microphone for capturing high-quality audio to go along with the Full HD video. The "Press-n-Go" recording function allows you to press a large start/stop button just once to begin recording, and the HDMI output lets you playback your footage on a large HDTV screen in 1080p Full HD resolution. The camera is also outfitted with a Memory Stick Micro and microSD/SDHC memory card slot for recording directly onto a memory card.
Compact & Rugged Full HD Video Action Camcorder
The Sony HDR-AS15 is a rugged, wearable Full HD video camcorder. Weighing in at just 90 grams (with battery), this compact and lightweight unit allows you to capture your adventures on the mountain, in the water and anywhere else life may take you as the action happensHigh-Quality Full HD 1080p
Recording
The HDR-AS15 offers 1920 x 1080p high-definition resolution letting you record your memories in exceptional Full HD quality. It supports playback via HDMI with a compatible HDTV for stunning clarity, incredibly detail and smoother playback of your video
Includes Ruggedized Waterproof Housing with Universal Tripod Mount
The HDR-AS15 ships with a ruggedized, waterproof housing with universal tripod mount that is built to handle extreme environments, allowing you to concentrate on safety and composition while capturing Full HD videos. Within the housing, the camera is waterproof down to 197' (60 m) and has dirt and dust resistant seals that help make it nearly impervious to mud, snow, rain and grime.
Connectivity
On the bottom of the Action Cam are four built-in ports. There’s a Micro HDMI cable for connecting the camcorder to an HDTV or monitor, a Micro USB port for copying files to a computer or for charging the battery pack, a Sony-proprietary connection port, and a 3.5mm external mic jack.
The Sony proprietary port is the most unusual, but the best way to describe it would be as a docking port or an accessory port. For anyone familiar with GoPro camcorders, this port on the Sony Action cam is just like the Hero port on GoPro models. For example, Sony has announced a Handycam Adapter accessory that fits into this port and provides the Action Cam with a rotating LCD. It’s assumed other accessories will make use of this port in the future as well.
On the bottom of the camcorder are four ports: Micro HDMI, Micro USB, a Sony-proprietary connector, and a 3.5mm external mic jack.
Connectivity
On the bottom of the Action Cam are four built-in ports. There’s a Micro HDMI cable for connecting the camcorder to an HDTV or monitor, a Micro USB port for copying files to a computer or for charging the battery pack, a Sony-proprietary connection port, and a 3.5mm external mic jack.
The Sony proprietary port is the most unusual, but the best way to describe it would be as a docking port or an accessory port. For anyone familiar with GoPro camcorders, this port on the Sony Action cam is just like the Hero port on GoPro models. For example, Sony has announced a Handycam Adapter accessory that fits into this port and provides the Action Cam with a rotating LCD. It’s assumed other accessories will make use of this port in the future as well.
On the bottom of the camcorder are four ports: Micro HDMI, Micro USB, a Sony-proprietary connector, and a 3.5mm external mic jack.
Built-In WiFi for Sharing Footage via Connected Phone/Tablet
WiFi-enabled mobile phones and tablets running the free PlayMemories Mobile app can pull optimized movies and photos from the Sony HDR-AS15 camera without requiring a special cable. Once copied, you can use your available 3G and 4G cell networks to upload your videos and share them via email or through social media networks
SteadyShot Image Stabilization Reduces Blur
SteadyShot image stabilization with Active Mode compensates for greater degrees of camera shake to deliver stunningly smooth video from wide angle to full telephoto shooting. In addition, innovative 3-Way Shake-Canceling adds electronic roll stability for even smoother video capture
Ultra-Wide Angle Carl Zeiss Lens (170° FOV)
With an ultra-wide angle Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, you will increase your perspective (170° viewing angle) while you venture out on breathtaking views of dynamic terrain to include ski slopes and mountain trails2x & 4x Slow Motion Video Modes in HDExtreme sports athletes and enthusiasts will enjoy HD Slow 2x (1280 x 720p at 60 fps) and HD Slow 4x (1280 x 720p at 120 fps) modes that shoot slow motion, which is ideal for studying and refining form and technique. For traditional shooting methods, the camcorder also offers several different resolutions to suit your needs including Full HD 1920 x 1080p at 30 fps, HD 1280 x 720p at 30 fps and SD VGA 640 x 480p at 30 fpsExmor R CMOS Sensor for Superb Low Light PerformanceExperience stunning low-light sensitivity with improved image clarity and drastically reduced grain thanks to Sony's back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor. Designed for compact cameras and camcorders, the Exmor R CMOS sensor relocates the photo diodes above the support circuitry, maximizing the light gathering area per pixel so you can shoot with better results in lower lighting conditionsSimply "Press-n-Go" with Large Start/Stop ButtonOperation of the Sony HDR-AS15 is as simple as pressing a large, easy-to-press start/stop button. Just press the button and you're shooting the adventure of a lifetimeMemory Stick Micro & MicroSD/SDHC CompatibleThe HDR-AS15 features a memory card slot that accepts Memory Stick Micro (M2) and microSD/SDHC (class 4 or higher) type memory cards. Enjoy the flexibility and convenience of expandable memory via the memory card (sold separately) that is most convenient and offers maximum compatibility with most computersBuilt-In Stereo MicrophoneA built-in stereo microphone allows you to capture all the exciting sounds of your adventureHDMI OutputUsing the camera's HDMI output, you'll be able to share your video footage with friends and family on your HDTV (HDMI cable not included)Includes 2 Adhesive Mounts for Flat & Curved SurfacesHands-free shooting is at your disposal. Mount your HDR-AS15 easily and securely to most flat and curved surfaces with the two included adhesive mounts
| Sony HDR-AS10 | Sony HDR-AS15 | |
| Type | POV Action Cam | POV Action Cam |
| Waterproof | To 197' (60 m) with waterproof housing | To 197' (60 m) with waterproof housing |
| Shockproof | Yes | Yes |
| Dustproof | Yes | Yes |
| Sensor | 1/2.3" (7.77 mm) back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor | 1/2.3" (7.77 mm) back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor |
| Processor | BIONZ image processor | BIONZ image processor |
| Pixel Gross | 16800K pixels (16:9) | 16800K pixels (16:9) |
| Effective Pixels | 11900 pixels (16:9) | 11900 pixels (16:9) |
| Color Filter System | RGB primary color filters | RGB primary color filters |
| Lens Type | Carl Zeiss Tessar Lens | Carl Zeiss Tessar Lens |
| Aperture | F2.8 | F2.8 |
| Focal Length (35 mm Equivalent) | 15.3 mm | 15.3 mm |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 11.8" (30 cm) | 11.8" (30 cm) |
| Angle of View | 170° (without SteadyShot); 120° (with SteadyShot) | 170° (without SteadyShot); 120° (with SteadyShot) |
| Focal Distance | 2.5 mm (21.3 mm with SteadyShot Mode Active) | 2.5 mm (21.3 mm with SteadyShot Mode Active) |
| Media Type | Memory Stick Micro; MicroSD/SDHC (Class 4 or higher) | Memory Stick Micro; MicroSD/SDHC (Class 4 or higher) |
| Still Image File Format | JPEG | JPEG |
| Still Image Max Resolution | 2MP | 2MP |
| Video Format | MPEG4-AVC/H.264 | MPEG4-AVC/H.264 |
| Video Resolutions | 1920 x 1080/30p (HQ) 1280 x 720/30p/60p/120p (STD/SLOW/SSLOW) 640 x 480/30p (VGA) | 1920 x 1080/30p (HQ) 1280 x 720/30p/60p/120p (STD/SLOW/SSLOW) 640 x 480/30p (VGA) |
| Movie Recording Rate (Average Bit Rate / VBR) | 16 Mbps (HQ) 24 Mbps (SSLOW) 12 Mbps (SLOW) 6 Mbps (STD) 3 Mbps (VGA) | 16 Mbps (HQ) 24 Mbps (SSLOW) 12 Mbps (SLOW) 6 Mbps (STD) 3 Mbps (VGA) |
| Audio Format | MPEG-4 AAC-LC (2ch) | MPEG-4 AAC-LC (2ch) |
| Built-In Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Built-In Speaker | Yes (monoral) | Yes (monoral) |
| Shutter Speed | 1/30-1/10,000 | 1/30-1/10,000 |
| Metering Modes | Multi-Segment | Multi-Segment |
| Exposure Settings | Auto | Auto |
| Noise Reduction | Yes | Yes |
| White Balance Mode | Auto | Auto |
| Minimum Illumination | 6 lux | 6 lux |
| Backlight Compensation | Yes (auto) | Yes (auto) |
| Gain Control | Auto | Auto |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes (802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz band) |
| HDMI Output | Yes (micro) | Yes (micro) |
| USB Ports | Yes (micro-B USB 2.0) | Yes (micro-B USB 2.0) |
| BRAVIA Sync | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (stereo mini-jack) | Yes (stereo mini-jack) |
| Image Stabilization | SteadyShot with Active Mode | SteadyShot with Active Mode |
| Interval Recording | Yes (5, 10, 30 or 60 sec) | Yes (5, 10, 30 or 60 sec) |
| Display Panel | Yes | Yes |
| Power Consumption | 1.7W | 1.7W |
| Power Requirements | 3.6V (battery pack) | 3.6V (battery pack) |
| Battery Type | NP-BX1 (supplied) | NP-BX1 (supplied) |
| Charging Time | 4.1 hrs | 4.1 hrs |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 1.0 x 1.9 x 3.2" (24.5 x 47 x 82 mm) | 1.0 x 1.9 x 3.2" (24.5 x 47 x 82 mm) |
| Weight (Camera Only) | 2 oz (65 g) | 2 oz (65 g) |
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