ALLENTOWN, Pa. (Vocus) December 18, 2006 -- Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR) today introduced a new product category, the Mobile Content Server, that un-tethers users from the PC and stationary storage devices. By putting control of sharing digital content where it belongs - in the hands of the consumer - the BluOnyx™ mobile content server brings unprecedented connectivity, processing and storage capability for consumers to access, back up and share their digital content whenever and wherever they want in peer-to-peer mode or over the Internet.
One major limitation of existing portable consumer electronics is that they are single function and PC-centric. They represent a class of "i"-"everything" devices in a closed system that does not allow easy interaction with other ecosystems and consumer devices. The BluOnyx server enhances and transforms the consumer's experience from "i" to "we," unconstrained by location or device incompatibilities.
Agere will be demonstrating preliminary versions of its BluOnyx server by appointment at the Consumer Electronics Show January 8-11, 2007 at Booth 68526, Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The BluOnyx server is about the size of a credit card and for the first time enables mobile users to share and stream music, video and business files to or from electronic devices ranging from cell phones, PCs, digital cameras, game machines, DSL routers and many more. The BluOnyx server is a peer-to-peer device that does not require a PC for its operations but can move content to and from a PC using USB® and wireless connectivity. This capability will finally make a PC just another consumer device instead of the center of the digital universe.
Devices can connect to the BluOnyx server wirelessly through Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi® connections or using USB cables or SD cards. The BluOnyx server can be accessed directly or through a home or corporate network where it is seen as a drive letter for easy transfer of content in familiar operating system settings. The amount of storage on the BluOnyx server will range from 1 Gigabyte to 40 Gigabytes.
The BluOnyx server has a sleek screen-free look and is controlled via its owner's cell phone. Instead of being limited to its own display like many existing products, its contents can be displayed on a cell phone, PC or TV. The BluOnyx server ends consumers' inability to transfer files between different electronic devices and removes the limitations on the choice of displays for content it holds.
With the BluOnyx server, consumers will be able to do the following easily and quickly:
• Wirelessly access and display personal content carried on the BluOnyx server.
• Create a Digital Campfire™, broadcasting and sharing content with multiple friends, gathered around a table, authorized to access the BluOnyx server through their cell phones.
• Stream videos to one or more cell phones.
• Back up pictures, music, video, emails, personal and business documents and images from cell phones, cameras and PCs.
• Enable access to the Internet for cell phones and PDAs that are not broadband enabled and cannot access the Internet on their own.
• Protect content via multiple tiers of authentication and encryption.
Agere currently is in discussions with consumer electronic device makers and cell phone service providers regarding manufacturing and private labeling unique products based on the BluOnyx server system and industrial design.
Rudiger Stroh, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Agere's Storage Division, said: "The BluOnyx server establishes Agere Systems as a thought leader focused on what matters to consumers: mobility, choice of display, a plethora of connectivity options and useful applications. We are talking to some of the leading brand names in consumer electronics to bring this product to many market segments."
With dimensions of 90 mm long by 60 mm wide and between 6 mm and 15 mm thick (depending on memory capacity), the BluOnyx server easily slips into a shirt pocket or purse and features its own rechargeable battery that lasts up to 12 hours without recharging. The 40 Gigabyte version of the BluOnyx server weighs about 140 grams, or about half of the weight of the typical smart phone handheld device.
In addition to developing the system and the software for the BluOnyx server, Agere makes key semiconductor chips in the device and is encouraging third parties to build hardware and software on this open platform.
Nik Bahram, Vice President of Strategic Marketing at Agere's Storage Division and the lead for the BluOnyx server product line, said: "The BluOnyx server opens up an entirely new world that will no longer be PC-centric or limited to one company's closed version of an entertainment device. It truly deserves to be called a breakthrough as it brings a newfound freedom to consumers through an open platform. Users can have their content with them, exchange content between their various mobile and stationary devices and share their private content with friends in social settings.
"Not to be outdone, the savvy business person looking for a highly mobile and valuable addition to their business tools will see the BluOnyx server as a must-have for quick access, sharing and presentation of their content on a number of displays with or without a PC," added Bahram.
The retail price of the BluOnyx server is expected to range from $99 to $250 depending on memory capacity. For more information and for expressing your views on our BluBlog™, visit the BluOnyx server website at www.BluOnyx.com or the Agere website at www.agere.com.
About Agere Systems
Agere Systems is a global leader in semiconductors and software solutions for storage, mobility and networking markets. The company's products enable a broad range of services and capabilities, from cell phones, PCs and hard disk drives to the world's most sophisticated wireless and wire line networks. Agere's customers include top manufacturers of consumer electronics and communications and computing equipment. Agere works to transform the performance of networks and consumer electronics by integrating systems knowledge and leading technology that enable people to stay connected -- perfecting the connected lifestyle.
Agere, Agere Systems and the Agere Systems logo are registered trademarks and BluOnyx, Digital Campfire and BluBlog are trademarks of Agere Systems Inc.
USB is a registered trademark of USB Corporation.
The Bluetooth word mark is owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
This release contains forward-looking statements based on information currently available to Agere. Agere's actual results could differ materially from the results stated or implied by those forward-looking statements due to a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our reliance on major customers and suppliers, our ability to keep pace with technological change, our dependence on new product development, price and product competition, availability of manufacturing capacity, customer demand for our products and services, and general industry and market conditions. For a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006. Agere disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/92330
Friday, October 5, 2007
Batteries and Power Accessories Now Available at BuyMemory.com for Laptops, Cell Phones, PDAs, Digital Cameras, Camcorders and Cordless Phones
Omaha, NE (PRWEB) June 30, 2006 -- The Memory Place (www.BuyMemory.com), an online store known for computer upgrade expertise since 1983, now offers batteries, chargers and power adapters and more for over 30,000 consumer devices.
Their new line consists of High-Capacity Power Products built to match or outlast the original OEM batteries by as much as 1.5 – 2 times. They also carry power related replacement parts including AC adapter cords, PDA sync cables, stand alone battery chargers and AA/AAA rechargeable batteries. An easy-to-use Quick Find tool helps visitors search for replacement batteries, chargers and power accessories for their device.
While many battery suppliers provide batteries with lower charge capacity than the original, all batteries from The Memory Place match or exceed the original manufacturer’s charge capacity. These high quality batteries commonly provide more use time per charge of 1.5 to 2 times that of the original device battery.
Most laptop and rechargeable batteries seem to have a life cycle of 1.5 to 3 years depending on their use and design. A good source for such replacement parts can save consumers hundreds, and even thousands of dollars, by replacing the worn out battery rather than the entire device. Generous warranties starting out at 12 months give peace of mind to those looking to save by taking this route.
The Memory Place has a proven reputation for customer service with the highest Customer Satisfaction Rating in the industry at Bizrate.com and Shopzilla.com. Their easy to use Quick Find tool lets you search online for your device’s accessories and pricing at any time.
Upgrade experts are available by phone and email with options to order online or by phone. The Memory Place accepts Purchase Orders from educational, government and other organizations.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/86852
Their new line consists of High-Capacity Power Products built to match or outlast the original OEM batteries by as much as 1.5 – 2 times. They also carry power related replacement parts including AC adapter cords, PDA sync cables, stand alone battery chargers and AA/AAA rechargeable batteries. An easy-to-use Quick Find tool helps visitors search for replacement batteries, chargers and power accessories for their device.
While many battery suppliers provide batteries with lower charge capacity than the original, all batteries from The Memory Place match or exceed the original manufacturer’s charge capacity. These high quality batteries commonly provide more use time per charge of 1.5 to 2 times that of the original device battery.
Most laptop and rechargeable batteries seem to have a life cycle of 1.5 to 3 years depending on their use and design. A good source for such replacement parts can save consumers hundreds, and even thousands of dollars, by replacing the worn out battery rather than the entire device. Generous warranties starting out at 12 months give peace of mind to those looking to save by taking this route.
The Memory Place has a proven reputation for customer service with the highest Customer Satisfaction Rating in the industry at Bizrate.com and Shopzilla.com. Their easy to use Quick Find tool lets you search online for your device’s accessories and pricing at any time.
Upgrade experts are available by phone and email with options to order online or by phone. The Memory Place accepts Purchase Orders from educational, government and other organizations.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/86852
Lunafire Productions Releases a Video Tutorial for the Olympus C-8080 Digital Camera
Louisville, KY (PRWEB) June 2, 2006 -- Just released, Lunafire Productions, Inc. is announcing the availability of it's first digital camera tutorial, the Olympus C-8080WZ Tutorial. The tutorial will walk you through each of the menus on the camera and then give you detailed guidance on using the settings to take real pictures.
"I had a tough time learning all the details of my new camera, and after spending six months reading the manual and searching the internet for more details, I could quickly take awesome pictures of most any subject.", said Warren Philpot,"and after seeing how many questions were still being asked by C-8080 users, I decided to create a video tutorial."
Also included on the video are detailed instructions on using photo editing software to solve tough exposure problems. According to Warren, one of the producers at Lunafire Productions, the video is geared toward both the novice camera user and the advanced user wanting to learn all of the details offered by the camera.
One of the most valuable assets any C-8080 user can own is this video to ensure full understanding of the controls. Lunafire Productions, Inc. is offering the C-8080 Tutorial video at the sale price of $42.95. The video is available at the Lunafire Web Store. For more information or to obtain a copy of the video, go to the Lunafire website http://www.lunafire.com and visit the store.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/86158
"I had a tough time learning all the details of my new camera, and after spending six months reading the manual and searching the internet for more details, I could quickly take awesome pictures of most any subject.", said Warren Philpot,"and after seeing how many questions were still being asked by C-8080 users, I decided to create a video tutorial."
Also included on the video are detailed instructions on using photo editing software to solve tough exposure problems. According to Warren, one of the producers at Lunafire Productions, the video is geared toward both the novice camera user and the advanced user wanting to learn all of the details offered by the camera.
One of the most valuable assets any C-8080 user can own is this video to ensure full understanding of the controls. Lunafire Productions, Inc. is offering the C-8080 Tutorial video at the sale price of $42.95. The video is available at the Lunafire Web Store. For more information or to obtain a copy of the video, go to the Lunafire website http://www.lunafire.com and visit the store.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/86158
Digital Camera Buying Decision Parameters
Before you buy any digital camera, you must think beforehand how you would use your camera as well as what you will do with the pictures. If you intend to buy it, you require balancing number of competing features and parameters. Obviously, your target will be to have a camera that provides you with shooting controls and image quality of your choice in a package that is quite comfortable and easy to use. Also, your ultimate decision will be based on your affordability of the particular camera. So, you can consider some of these buying decision parameters before reaching any final decision.
Making a Budget before Buying a Digital Camera
Before making your decision of buying a digital camera, it is essential that you make a budget. Setting of the budget is important, no matter whether you wish to buy the camera online or from the market. Similar to the buying of any other big item like computer, car or house, you will also get thousands of options of digital camera. It is obvious that you do not want to get stuck with those cameras that you cannot afford. Certainly, high-end camera would offer you the best zoom, more mega pixels, which are not necessarily meant for good images and some other extra features. But you need to remain careful as they cost you more than your affordability.
Especially, if you are just a beginner in the field of digital photography, then it is advised that you must not spend on buying high-end digital SLR or prosumer cameras. You can definitely have some cheaper but powerful compact digital cameras, which are easy to hold and will not add to your luggage during travel. It is the best options to become familiar with the basics of these digital cameras and thereafter only, spend your money to have high-end digital cameras.
Consider Optical Zoom
Some people would disagree but it is the fact that instead of giving too much preference to digital zoo, it must be the optical zoom that needs to be considered.
Actually, the function of digital zooming is to perform an interpolation or computer based guesswork of an image in an effort to extend the perceived zoom distance. It may result in ?fuzzy? images or the images may have less clarity. However, the optical zoom performs the function of actual ?zoom-in? and ?zoom-out ?on your subject.
It is okay that higher optical zoom camera will enable you to have a good variety of images, but it will be expensive. This is the reason that lower priced cameras would advertise their digital zoom capabilities more than the optical zoom.
Two Things to Remember
If you are planning to buy a digital camera, then you have number of choices including image quality and zoom capability. However, there are two more things that are must to consider, before buying a digital camera. These are:
Media Type: You will find numerous media types for cameras like Compact Flash, Secure Media and so on. If you have been using a Compact Flash cards earlier then obviously, you will not like to buy a camera that would use some different kind of memory, except in the case that it is providing you with some outstanding features that would compensate your loss.
Battery Type: If at present you are using rechargeable batteries, then you will have to see before buying the camera whether the new one would support the same type of battery or not. However, you may think of having one such camera that has its own custom battery provided that it offers you with double of the mega pixels, a wider zoom lens and better quality photographs.
Small is not necessarily Underpowered- There are certain advantages of buying a small digital camera. First of all, you can easily carry them with you wherever you go. Besides their features like light weight, less conspicuous, they are no more underpowered digital cameras.
It is true that they may not have features similar to digital SLRs or high-end prosumer digital cameras, but still they cannot be underestimated. Their mega pixels are matching and at times even better than their high-priced contemporaries are.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/79123
Making a Budget before Buying a Digital Camera
Before making your decision of buying a digital camera, it is essential that you make a budget. Setting of the budget is important, no matter whether you wish to buy the camera online or from the market. Similar to the buying of any other big item like computer, car or house, you will also get thousands of options of digital camera. It is obvious that you do not want to get stuck with those cameras that you cannot afford. Certainly, high-end camera would offer you the best zoom, more mega pixels, which are not necessarily meant for good images and some other extra features. But you need to remain careful as they cost you more than your affordability.
Especially, if you are just a beginner in the field of digital photography, then it is advised that you must not spend on buying high-end digital SLR or prosumer cameras. You can definitely have some cheaper but powerful compact digital cameras, which are easy to hold and will not add to your luggage during travel. It is the best options to become familiar with the basics of these digital cameras and thereafter only, spend your money to have high-end digital cameras.
Consider Optical Zoom
Some people would disagree but it is the fact that instead of giving too much preference to digital zoo, it must be the optical zoom that needs to be considered.
Actually, the function of digital zooming is to perform an interpolation or computer based guesswork of an image in an effort to extend the perceived zoom distance. It may result in ?fuzzy? images or the images may have less clarity. However, the optical zoom performs the function of actual ?zoom-in? and ?zoom-out ?on your subject.
It is okay that higher optical zoom camera will enable you to have a good variety of images, but it will be expensive. This is the reason that lower priced cameras would advertise their digital zoom capabilities more than the optical zoom.
Two Things to Remember
If you are planning to buy a digital camera, then you have number of choices including image quality and zoom capability. However, there are two more things that are must to consider, before buying a digital camera. These are:
Media Type: You will find numerous media types for cameras like Compact Flash, Secure Media and so on. If you have been using a Compact Flash cards earlier then obviously, you will not like to buy a camera that would use some different kind of memory, except in the case that it is providing you with some outstanding features that would compensate your loss.
Battery Type: If at present you are using rechargeable batteries, then you will have to see before buying the camera whether the new one would support the same type of battery or not. However, you may think of having one such camera that has its own custom battery provided that it offers you with double of the mega pixels, a wider zoom lens and better quality photographs.
Small is not necessarily Underpowered- There are certain advantages of buying a small digital camera. First of all, you can easily carry them with you wherever you go. Besides their features like light weight, less conspicuous, they are no more underpowered digital cameras.
It is true that they may not have features similar to digital SLRs or high-end prosumer digital cameras, but still they cannot be underestimated. Their mega pixels are matching and at times even better than their high-priced contemporaries are.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/79123
Buying A Digital Camera? - Here's Useful Tips To Help You!
About a week before my son was born, I bought a digital camera. I wanted to create a baby book for him that would include not only his first year sign, but also photos to capture his physical growth over his first year of life. I wasn?t sure which camera would be best so I went to Best Buy and talked to a sales representative. He helped me sort through the features and select a digital camera that would be best for my project.
If you?re a technology freak, you?ve maybe owned a digital camera for years. But for someone like me, making the switch from traditional photographs to a digital format involved a leap of faith. It?s not that I don?t appreciate technology I just wondered how good the pictures would be from a digital camera when compared to my trusty 35mm. So I bought the camera, brought it home, and began snapping pictures.
One feature about a digital camera that I love is the ability to review the pictures before printing and saving them. You can take a series of photos and then choose the best one without worrying about wasting film. But the most important feature, the one I was most worried about, was the quality, and I have to say that I was very impressed with my camera?s ability to turn out even better pictures than the ones taken with my 35mm.
Digital cameras have come a long way over the last few years, and now you can buy one with so many features that, if you?re an amateur photographer like me, you?d never even use. That?s why it?s important to talk to a salesperson when you?re buying a digital camera for the first time, so that you can decide what features you need and which features you can surely live without.
Since I would be mainly taking pictures of my family, I didn?t need a digital camera with a wonderful zoom feature. But because I would be taking photographs most every day for a year, I did need a digital camera with a good battery. These were just a couple of the features I talked about with the salesperson at Best Buy and he was able to direct me away from the high end professional cameras to the more reasonable ones without all the special features.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/79010
If you?re a technology freak, you?ve maybe owned a digital camera for years. But for someone like me, making the switch from traditional photographs to a digital format involved a leap of faith. It?s not that I don?t appreciate technology I just wondered how good the pictures would be from a digital camera when compared to my trusty 35mm. So I bought the camera, brought it home, and began snapping pictures.
One feature about a digital camera that I love is the ability to review the pictures before printing and saving them. You can take a series of photos and then choose the best one without worrying about wasting film. But the most important feature, the one I was most worried about, was the quality, and I have to say that I was very impressed with my camera?s ability to turn out even better pictures than the ones taken with my 35mm.
Digital cameras have come a long way over the last few years, and now you can buy one with so many features that, if you?re an amateur photographer like me, you?d never even use. That?s why it?s important to talk to a salesperson when you?re buying a digital camera for the first time, so that you can decide what features you need and which features you can surely live without.
Since I would be mainly taking pictures of my family, I didn?t need a digital camera with a wonderful zoom feature. But because I would be taking photographs most every day for a year, I did need a digital camera with a good battery. These were just a couple of the features I talked about with the salesperson at Best Buy and he was able to direct me away from the high end professional cameras to the more reasonable ones without all the special features.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/79010
5 Materials And Technologies That Just Might Eliminate Digital Camera Shutter Delay
Bob pushed the shutter release button and?NOTHING HAPPENED. The football passed into his son's hands and the actual photo he took was one of a cheerleader's pom-pom. Bob missed the touchdown too. He resisted an insane urge to slam the camera to the ground and jump on it.
This was his first digital camera, and Bob had just experienced an unpleasant surprise. He had used film cameras all his life, but when his Yashica went into the shop a friend loaned him a digital camera. He naively decided to take some action shots and discovered the most maddening "feature" of digital cameras ? the shutter delay.
MADDENING AND FRUSTRATING
Articles on this subject have attributed shutter delay to:
1. The camera's focus system
2. The time it takes the camera to digitally process the image
3. Reaction time of the photographer
Numbers one and three are lag times that most people using digital cameras are accustomed to. Most have used a film camera and know it needs a few milliseconds to focus.
The no-brainer solution is to reduce the aperture of the lens to increase depth of field, or aim the camera at the object you wish to be in focus and depress the shutter button half way in order to "tell" the camera what to focus on, then move the camera to center the image and depress it the rest of the way.
As far as human reaction time, well, it hasn't really changed much for users of film cameras, and people experienced in taking action shots usually get what they want.
So let's look at number 2, the time it takes to process the picture.
TIME TO DO THE PROCESSING
Processing the picture (so the camera can be ready for the next one) comes in several steps to move it from the image sensor to flash card storage:
1. Color corrections. The camera has to examine each and every Charge Couple Device (CCD) element on the photo sensor. It adds green, blue, and red to achieve the right color balance. For a 3 mega pixel camera, the processor has to make 9 million calculations.
2. Sharpening. This boosts the contrast by detecting and sharpening edges.
3. Compression. This process converts the 12 to 14 bits of each CCD sensor to 16 bits by "padding" the information and compressing it to 8 bits. This compresses the file size to 9 megabytes.
These steps require a tremendous amount of computational time. No wonder Bob missed his shot!
CATCHING THE ACTION
There are two ways of capturing action:
1. The "consecutive mode". If the camera has this mode, you can take a series of rapid shots moving through the event. This requires a camera with a large ?buffer" to hold photos for processing.
2. Anticipating shots by depressing and holding down the shutter release prior to the event. This requires an ability to predict the future, something most of us don't possess.
THE FUTURE OF FASTER SHOOTING
Obviously this would all be simplified if micro processing were faster. Even with large buffers, the speed in which data is transmitted to the processor is prohibited by the rate at which data is conveyed from the CCD. Micro processing speed is the next bottleneck.
Faster clock rates and data transfer speeds would reduce or even eliminate "shutter lag" time. There are several technologies in the wings that offer hope:
1. Nanotube and nanowire technologies. These are both the offspring of "nanotechnology", the ability to make tiny machines at the "nano" level, a billionth of a meter in size rather than a millionth of a meter (micrometer) and offer hope for a 500 GHz clock rate or more.
2. DNA Yes, you heard me right. Computing based on DNA strands in which information is stored and processed.
3. Other materials
? Gallium Arsenide with much a faster speed has been used for years for military purposes.
? Silicon-Germanium chips increase the transfer of light signals to silicon. These traditionally have worked best at ultra cold temperatures, but many computer simulations have shown that they may be made to approach 1000 GHz (1 THz) at room temperature.
? Indium-antimonide. Much faster than silicon
?Optical transistors. A glass material known as chalcogenide becomes a switch as its refracting properties are changed. No need to translate those photons into anything else.
? Coated Viruses. The latest research involves coating viruses with a conducting material. Much higher speeds at the molecular level can be obtained. This will give a new meaning to the term "computer virus".
4. Parallel Processing. As we've noticed lately with the war between Intel and AMD over the number of parallel processors crammed into a CPU, digital camera processing would benefit from parallel processors handling the focussing, sharpening and squeezing.
5. Improvement in instructional efficiency by reducing the lines of code would make the whole process more efficient.
HOLD ON AND WAIT FOR THE FUTURE
The REAL solution to this maddening shutter delay appears to be in the material the processor is constructed of, as well as advancements in the software.
But we've got awhile to wait for it. Although a few alternate materials have been around for awhile, everything else is still in the research and development phase. Even when it finally trickles out of the labs, it will probably make your future digital camera cost around $10000 - $15000.
Quite a price tag for the ability to take pictures as fast as a film camera! Still?
Except for the lag, the digital camera has it all over film cameras, once the photo is captured by the memory card. The new technology will be worth the wait.
Digital camera owners are known for their ability to wait?as they desperately punch the shutter release trying to grab the fleeting smile of their new baby, or the football that lands in his hands eighteen years later, when he scores the winning touchdown.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/78529
This was his first digital camera, and Bob had just experienced an unpleasant surprise. He had used film cameras all his life, but when his Yashica went into the shop a friend loaned him a digital camera. He naively decided to take some action shots and discovered the most maddening "feature" of digital cameras ? the shutter delay.
MADDENING AND FRUSTRATING
Articles on this subject have attributed shutter delay to:
1. The camera's focus system
2. The time it takes the camera to digitally process the image
3. Reaction time of the photographer
Numbers one and three are lag times that most people using digital cameras are accustomed to. Most have used a film camera and know it needs a few milliseconds to focus.
The no-brainer solution is to reduce the aperture of the lens to increase depth of field, or aim the camera at the object you wish to be in focus and depress the shutter button half way in order to "tell" the camera what to focus on, then move the camera to center the image and depress it the rest of the way.
As far as human reaction time, well, it hasn't really changed much for users of film cameras, and people experienced in taking action shots usually get what they want.
So let's look at number 2, the time it takes to process the picture.
TIME TO DO THE PROCESSING
Processing the picture (so the camera can be ready for the next one) comes in several steps to move it from the image sensor to flash card storage:
1. Color corrections. The camera has to examine each and every Charge Couple Device (CCD) element on the photo sensor. It adds green, blue, and red to achieve the right color balance. For a 3 mega pixel camera, the processor has to make 9 million calculations.
2. Sharpening. This boosts the contrast by detecting and sharpening edges.
3. Compression. This process converts the 12 to 14 bits of each CCD sensor to 16 bits by "padding" the information and compressing it to 8 bits. This compresses the file size to 9 megabytes.
These steps require a tremendous amount of computational time. No wonder Bob missed his shot!
CATCHING THE ACTION
There are two ways of capturing action:
1. The "consecutive mode". If the camera has this mode, you can take a series of rapid shots moving through the event. This requires a camera with a large ?buffer" to hold photos for processing.
2. Anticipating shots by depressing and holding down the shutter release prior to the event. This requires an ability to predict the future, something most of us don't possess.
THE FUTURE OF FASTER SHOOTING
Obviously this would all be simplified if micro processing were faster. Even with large buffers, the speed in which data is transmitted to the processor is prohibited by the rate at which data is conveyed from the CCD. Micro processing speed is the next bottleneck.
Faster clock rates and data transfer speeds would reduce or even eliminate "shutter lag" time. There are several technologies in the wings that offer hope:
1. Nanotube and nanowire technologies. These are both the offspring of "nanotechnology", the ability to make tiny machines at the "nano" level, a billionth of a meter in size rather than a millionth of a meter (micrometer) and offer hope for a 500 GHz clock rate or more.
2. DNA Yes, you heard me right. Computing based on DNA strands in which information is stored and processed.
3. Other materials
? Gallium Arsenide with much a faster speed has been used for years for military purposes.
? Silicon-Germanium chips increase the transfer of light signals to silicon. These traditionally have worked best at ultra cold temperatures, but many computer simulations have shown that they may be made to approach 1000 GHz (1 THz) at room temperature.
? Indium-antimonide. Much faster than silicon
?Optical transistors. A glass material known as chalcogenide becomes a switch as its refracting properties are changed. No need to translate those photons into anything else.
? Coated Viruses. The latest research involves coating viruses with a conducting material. Much higher speeds at the molecular level can be obtained. This will give a new meaning to the term "computer virus".
4. Parallel Processing. As we've noticed lately with the war between Intel and AMD over the number of parallel processors crammed into a CPU, digital camera processing would benefit from parallel processors handling the focussing, sharpening and squeezing.
5. Improvement in instructional efficiency by reducing the lines of code would make the whole process more efficient.
HOLD ON AND WAIT FOR THE FUTURE
The REAL solution to this maddening shutter delay appears to be in the material the processor is constructed of, as well as advancements in the software.
But we've got awhile to wait for it. Although a few alternate materials have been around for awhile, everything else is still in the research and development phase. Even when it finally trickles out of the labs, it will probably make your future digital camera cost around $10000 - $15000.
Quite a price tag for the ability to take pictures as fast as a film camera! Still?
Except for the lag, the digital camera has it all over film cameras, once the photo is captured by the memory card. The new technology will be worth the wait.
Digital camera owners are known for their ability to wait?as they desperately punch the shutter release trying to grab the fleeting smile of their new baby, or the football that lands in his hands eighteen years later, when he scores the winning touchdown.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/78529
A Beginners Guide To Choosing A Digital Camera
Digital photography is no longer a ?new thing?. Digital photography has flourished of late and for good reason. Gone are the days when taking your holiday snaps required buying a film, taking pictures in the hope that at least half would develop and then tripping down top the processor after your holiday or sightseeing. Now there is a multitude of options from the expensive to inexpensive that allow you to take your pictures, view the results and decide which pictures to save for future printing on your home PC or delete as unsatisfactory. All the former big boys in the camera market, such as Canon, Kodak, Nikon, Olympus and Fuji now have digital cameras to suit every pocket and every use. There are even numerous smaller companies building digital cameras to suit this ever growing market. For a first time buyer the choice can be so bewildering, so how do you choose which camera will suit you?
The basics of choosing a digital camera are to know your budget, know what type of pictures you want to take and how you intend to use the pictures.
For the beginner setting a budget on your camera purchase will soon cut down the choice to a manageable level. Ask yourself, are you just gong to take the odd holiday snap if a one off picture opportunity comes up or are you the type who likes to fully document each holiday you have, maybe you?re a habitual holiday snapper from pre digital times? If you?re the type who only takes a picture on holiday if you see something truly inspiring or just to document that you did attend then go for the lower price end. You should be able to pick up something useable for $50. If you document your holidays and most of the sights you see regularly and have maybe owned a camera for years then splash out toward the higher end of the basic models, think in terms of a $200 investment.
Once you have established your budget consider the type of pictures you?ll be taking. Are you likely to be taking pictures everywhere you go? Consider the weight and size of the camera you need. Are you likely to be taking pictures of friends and relatives on location or do you have an eye for the picturesque panoramas? Maybe consider a zoom lense, for panoramas go optical for family shots a digital zoom with flash may suffice. Are you a habitual snapper when the cameras in your hand or an opportunist clicker? Consider the size of memory you?ll require. The opportunist may not require huge lumps of memory but a habitual snapper may be different. Think about battery life. If your going to take a few shots a day you?ll need a better battery life than if you take the odd snap.
Once you have chosen the best combination of size, weight, memory, battery life and zoom for your uses, consider how you will use your pictures. If you need to print large pictures off your computer beware the more megapixels (resolution) you have the better. It is a sure thing that the higher the megapixels the more expensive the camera, so leave this choice till last. For a beginner spending your budget on a camera based on megapixels initially will lead to a poor choice with a camera that does have the other characteristics to suit your purposes. If you generally print off the more traditional photo sizes for an album do not be to concerned with the number of megapixels, most base model digital cameras will give you an adequate print.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/78052
The basics of choosing a digital camera are to know your budget, know what type of pictures you want to take and how you intend to use the pictures.
For the beginner setting a budget on your camera purchase will soon cut down the choice to a manageable level. Ask yourself, are you just gong to take the odd holiday snap if a one off picture opportunity comes up or are you the type who likes to fully document each holiday you have, maybe you?re a habitual holiday snapper from pre digital times? If you?re the type who only takes a picture on holiday if you see something truly inspiring or just to document that you did attend then go for the lower price end. You should be able to pick up something useable for $50. If you document your holidays and most of the sights you see regularly and have maybe owned a camera for years then splash out toward the higher end of the basic models, think in terms of a $200 investment.
Once you have established your budget consider the type of pictures you?ll be taking. Are you likely to be taking pictures everywhere you go? Consider the weight and size of the camera you need. Are you likely to be taking pictures of friends and relatives on location or do you have an eye for the picturesque panoramas? Maybe consider a zoom lense, for panoramas go optical for family shots a digital zoom with flash may suffice. Are you a habitual snapper when the cameras in your hand or an opportunist clicker? Consider the size of memory you?ll require. The opportunist may not require huge lumps of memory but a habitual snapper may be different. Think about battery life. If your going to take a few shots a day you?ll need a better battery life than if you take the odd snap.
Once you have chosen the best combination of size, weight, memory, battery life and zoom for your uses, consider how you will use your pictures. If you need to print large pictures off your computer beware the more megapixels (resolution) you have the better. It is a sure thing that the higher the megapixels the more expensive the camera, so leave this choice till last. For a beginner spending your budget on a camera based on megapixels initially will lead to a poor choice with a camera that does have the other characteristics to suit your purposes. If you generally print off the more traditional photo sizes for an album do not be to concerned with the number of megapixels, most base model digital cameras will give you an adequate print.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/78052
How To Shop For Digital Cameras
There has been a technological revolution over the last twenty years. From the spread of the pc to the rise of CDs, DVDs and MRP3 players; how we approach and record our images of the world is changing. One of the most significant developments to have appeared on the market has been the digital camera. Almost everyone who owns a pc also owns a digital camera. The beauty of these is that you can view your picture as it will be and then decide whether to snap or not-once snapped you can see the picture again. Pictures taken with a digital camera can be uploaded to a computer and then printed out on the special paper that you can buy; alternatively you can put them on disc and take them to a professional processor.
The digital camera is uniquely different from what went before. Prior to the invention of the digital camera, even the most high tech cameras depended on mechanical and chemical processes. Digital cameras work differently because they have an inbuilt computer that records images electronically. Basically they are filmless cameras. When they first came out digital cameras were beyond most people?s budgets-as they have become more popular, the price has dropped to the point where they are as affordable and flexible as similarly priced film cameras. The amount of images you are able to store depends on the amount of memory you have-storage can be anything from 16mb to 256mb. The memory size also has an effect on the resolution of the pictures you are taking-memory cards are removable however, and can be replaced with something that has more storage capacity.
There are three main styles or shape of digital camera, the first is small enough to fit into a pocket, it is the most sort after style and also quite expensive. Next you have the standard size, which is bigger and able to do all the things that the point and shoot camera will do. This model is good value for money. Finally there is the digital SLR which produces the best photographs. It is an extremely flexible model and you can switch lenses with this one, but these enhanced features come with a corresponding price tag.
Other information you should be interested in when buying a digital camera is pixels-briefly put, pixels are the dots that go to make up a picture. These pixels are measured in thousands of such dots; called megapixels. The more megapixels you have the sharper your pictures will be and the bigger the price tag on the camera. If all you want to do is produce 4x6 photos and maybe email some images then a 4 megapixel camera should be adequate for your needs. You need to bear in mind however, that the quality of the images you produce depends on three things; the speed of your computer, the type of software that the camera works with, and the quality of your laser or inkjet printer.
The final thing that you might want to bear in mind is optical zoom-this lets you magnify what you are shooting and gives you more control over framing the shot. The one most recommended for flexibility is the 3x optical zoom, don?t let vendors confuse you with digital zoom-it is not a viable consideration. With this information at your fingertips you should have no trouble in purchasing you first digital camera.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/75323
The digital camera is uniquely different from what went before. Prior to the invention of the digital camera, even the most high tech cameras depended on mechanical and chemical processes. Digital cameras work differently because they have an inbuilt computer that records images electronically. Basically they are filmless cameras. When they first came out digital cameras were beyond most people?s budgets-as they have become more popular, the price has dropped to the point where they are as affordable and flexible as similarly priced film cameras. The amount of images you are able to store depends on the amount of memory you have-storage can be anything from 16mb to 256mb. The memory size also has an effect on the resolution of the pictures you are taking-memory cards are removable however, and can be replaced with something that has more storage capacity.
There are three main styles or shape of digital camera, the first is small enough to fit into a pocket, it is the most sort after style and also quite expensive. Next you have the standard size, which is bigger and able to do all the things that the point and shoot camera will do. This model is good value for money. Finally there is the digital SLR which produces the best photographs. It is an extremely flexible model and you can switch lenses with this one, but these enhanced features come with a corresponding price tag.
Other information you should be interested in when buying a digital camera is pixels-briefly put, pixels are the dots that go to make up a picture. These pixels are measured in thousands of such dots; called megapixels. The more megapixels you have the sharper your pictures will be and the bigger the price tag on the camera. If all you want to do is produce 4x6 photos and maybe email some images then a 4 megapixel camera should be adequate for your needs. You need to bear in mind however, that the quality of the images you produce depends on three things; the speed of your computer, the type of software that the camera works with, and the quality of your laser or inkjet printer.
The final thing that you might want to bear in mind is optical zoom-this lets you magnify what you are shooting and gives you more control over framing the shot. The one most recommended for flexibility is the 3x optical zoom, don?t let vendors confuse you with digital zoom-it is not a viable consideration. With this information at your fingertips you should have no trouble in purchasing you first digital camera.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/75323
Editing Software For Digital Cameras
Digital cameras usually come with with editing software. They provide basic editing tools including a red-eye reduction and cropping. Some have instant fix tools that are intended to correct color and lighting, but they can damage your photos with irreversible correction where you have not saved a RAW file to return to if need be. To make the most of your photos you will need to invest in a graphics software program. Investigate the various software packages out there to ensure quality.
1. Basic Tools
The software should include basic tools like cropping or cutting a portion of the photograph in one easy step. There should be a tool to combine various elements from different images to make a collage. It is essential to have a manual adjustment tool for brightness and contrast. You will need a software editing tool that allows you to adjust the color balance and saturation. Filtering tools will ideally include custom, CC or Wratten filters. The tool that allows you to convert the image color to black and white should include several editing options. Two of the most common are greyscale and duotones.
2. Dodge, Burn, Smudge Tools
Other important Digital Art tools that will assist you in making artistic statements with your photographs include global or selective dodging, burning, blurring and mosaic. More advanced editing programs include vignetting, linen, solarizing, posterizing and embossing. Most wordprocessing and photo editing software provide image management options today that allow you to place an image in front of text, in-line with text or behind text. Sophisticated desk-top publishing software will provide text and image boxes to manually place your material.
3. Printing Options
Photo editing software should allow for a variety of print options including duplex printing and large format document prints. When buying computers and printers be sure to consider the need for a full-color photography printer ideally with CD imprint capabilities. Depending on your needs, you may want to include video editing software options that will allow you to integrate your photographs in short movies and audio-video presentations for home or work. CD and DVD burner capabilities make sharing, archiving, labeling and storing the creations you make from your photographs much easier.
4. Scrapbooking
A popular new use of digital photographs is for digital scrapbooking. It is a great way to present your photographic treasures to family and friends. Digital cameras can be used to document artifacts, art and items you want to sell on the Internet. Digital scrapbooking and gallery techniques with related software will assist you in achieving the best result.
Scrapbooking software may include tools for restoring old or damaged photographs and for retouching dirt specks and scratches. The software will have settings for sharpening and unsharp, masking, removing distracting backgrounds and creating album pages. Be sure the software includes tools for resizing images, monitoring and changing the photographs dots per inch or dpi resolutions. Resizing should provide several measurement options including per inch.
5. Placing Images On The Web
Try Java Script if you want to edit images on the internet. This allows you to manipulate your photos in a variety of ways using mini programming techniques. Java Scripting may become an artistic goal of your photography and thus inspire a variety of options while you are taking photos.
Digital photography can be shared with anyone who has internet access! That is ample motivation for presenting the best image we can produce with the time and resources we have. Become more familiar with editing programs and make the best out of your keepsakes.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/75261
1. Basic Tools
The software should include basic tools like cropping or cutting a portion of the photograph in one easy step. There should be a tool to combine various elements from different images to make a collage. It is essential to have a manual adjustment tool for brightness and contrast. You will need a software editing tool that allows you to adjust the color balance and saturation. Filtering tools will ideally include custom, CC or Wratten filters. The tool that allows you to convert the image color to black and white should include several editing options. Two of the most common are greyscale and duotones.
2. Dodge, Burn, Smudge Tools
Other important Digital Art tools that will assist you in making artistic statements with your photographs include global or selective dodging, burning, blurring and mosaic. More advanced editing programs include vignetting, linen, solarizing, posterizing and embossing. Most wordprocessing and photo editing software provide image management options today that allow you to place an image in front of text, in-line with text or behind text. Sophisticated desk-top publishing software will provide text and image boxes to manually place your material.
3. Printing Options
Photo editing software should allow for a variety of print options including duplex printing and large format document prints. When buying computers and printers be sure to consider the need for a full-color photography printer ideally with CD imprint capabilities. Depending on your needs, you may want to include video editing software options that will allow you to integrate your photographs in short movies and audio-video presentations for home or work. CD and DVD burner capabilities make sharing, archiving, labeling and storing the creations you make from your photographs much easier.
4. Scrapbooking
A popular new use of digital photographs is for digital scrapbooking. It is a great way to present your photographic treasures to family and friends. Digital cameras can be used to document artifacts, art and items you want to sell on the Internet. Digital scrapbooking and gallery techniques with related software will assist you in achieving the best result.
Scrapbooking software may include tools for restoring old or damaged photographs and for retouching dirt specks and scratches. The software will have settings for sharpening and unsharp, masking, removing distracting backgrounds and creating album pages. Be sure the software includes tools for resizing images, monitoring and changing the photographs dots per inch or dpi resolutions. Resizing should provide several measurement options including per inch.
5. Placing Images On The Web
Try Java Script if you want to edit images on the internet. This allows you to manipulate your photos in a variety of ways using mini programming techniques. Java Scripting may become an artistic goal of your photography and thus inspire a variety of options while you are taking photos.
Digital photography can be shared with anyone who has internet access! That is ample motivation for presenting the best image we can produce with the time and resources we have. Become more familiar with editing programs and make the best out of your keepsakes.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/75261
Dont Skimp On Digital Camera Accessories
A digital camera is nothing without all the other accessories that allows it to perform superbly. The memory card is the most important addition you can make to a digital camera, but a soft camera case is also very handy to have around as it will protect your camera from damage.
1. Camera Cases
A soft camera case costs $10 to 20 but it can protect your camera from damage caused by dropping or careless handling. Those who travel a lot should buy a strong camera bag for further protection.
2. Cleaning Kit
A cleaning kit is a great investment for your digital camera. You should never clean any optics of your camera using your shirt, fingers, water or breath. The kit, that costs a few dollars, includes a small blower brush, a soft cloth, a small plastic bottle containing the lens cleaning solution and a number of lens cleaning tissues.
3. Tripod
Another accessory is a tripod, that is needed to prevent camera shake especially when the shutter speed drops below 1/60 second at a wide angle shot. Some digital cameras are equipped with an LCD monitor, that flashes a blinking light as a warning when the shutter speed is likely to cause a camera shake. A tripod is necessary when you are too close to the object in macro photography.
4. Batteries
It is also advisable to buy a spare set of rechargeable batteries. This saves you the embarrassment of getting stuck with drained out batteries during the middle of a photo shoot. Rechargeable batteries last longer, and save you the bother of hunting for battery stores in desolate places.
5. Battery Charger
Batteries from the store will typically only last 30 minutes inside a digital camera - you will need NiMH batteries if you want to be able to take more pictures. These batteries carry a higher charge. Never attempt to charge NiMH batteries in a charger that wasn't designed for NiMH batteries - you could ruin your batteries - or worse - start a fire and burn your house down.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/74777
1. Camera Cases
A soft camera case costs $10 to 20 but it can protect your camera from damage caused by dropping or careless handling. Those who travel a lot should buy a strong camera bag for further protection.
2. Cleaning Kit
A cleaning kit is a great investment for your digital camera. You should never clean any optics of your camera using your shirt, fingers, water or breath. The kit, that costs a few dollars, includes a small blower brush, a soft cloth, a small plastic bottle containing the lens cleaning solution and a number of lens cleaning tissues.
3. Tripod
Another accessory is a tripod, that is needed to prevent camera shake especially when the shutter speed drops below 1/60 second at a wide angle shot. Some digital cameras are equipped with an LCD monitor, that flashes a blinking light as a warning when the shutter speed is likely to cause a camera shake. A tripod is necessary when you are too close to the object in macro photography.
4. Batteries
It is also advisable to buy a spare set of rechargeable batteries. This saves you the embarrassment of getting stuck with drained out batteries during the middle of a photo shoot. Rechargeable batteries last longer, and save you the bother of hunting for battery stores in desolate places.
5. Battery Charger
Batteries from the store will typically only last 30 minutes inside a digital camera - you will need NiMH batteries if you want to be able to take more pictures. These batteries carry a higher charge. Never attempt to charge NiMH batteries in a charger that wasn't designed for NiMH batteries - you could ruin your batteries - or worse - start a fire and burn your house down.
http://www.digital-camera-advice-tips.info/article.cfm/id/74777
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