RIM confirms PlayBook OS 2.0 delayed until February, still no BBM in sight
Not good news for fans of RIM. The PlayBook isn't selling well as it is, and delays to the new OS isn't going to help things. Native email will have to wait, and too bad if you were hoping for Blackberry Messenger (BBM). Apple released iOS 5, which includes iMessage and a bunch of other new features. Not looking good for ol' RIM.
Nikon 1 System Preview Preview
Digital Photography Review has just posted a preview of Nikon's newest cameras, the J1 and V1. There are a few image samples and comparisons to the competition. Worth a look if you are interested in these models. Me, I'm still waiting for the D800.
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikon1system
Hints of Apple Plans in Jobs Book
My copy of the book is on order and I'm looking forward to learning more about Jobs and Apple. Apparently the 'next big thing' for Apple was text books.
Source:
http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/Hints-of-Apple-Plans-in-Jobs-nytimes-1362329892.html
GoPro Launches HD HERO2 Camera
GoPro has announced a new camera, the Hero2. 11-megapixel sensor (versus 5MP for the old GoPro), sharper lens, and new remote features. Looks like a good buy, and will likely entice me to buy one myself.
2X More Powerful in Every Way 11MP Sensor
- 2x Faster Image Processor
- 2X Sharper Glass Lens
- Professional Low Light Performance
- Full 170º, Medium 127º, Narrow 90º FOV in 1080p and 720p Video
- 120 fps WVGA, 60 fps 720p, 48 fps 960p, 30 fps 1080p Video
- Full 170º and Medium 127º FOV Photos
- 10 11MP Photos Per Second Burst
- 1 11MP Photo Every 0.5 Sec Timelapse Mode
- 3.5mm External Stereo Microphone Input
- Simple Language-based User Interface
- Wi-Fi BacPac™ and Wi-Fi Remote™ Compatible (coming soon)
- Long Range Remote Control of up to 50 GoPro Cameras
- Wi-Fi Video/Photo Preview + Playback + Control via GoPro App
- Live Streaming Video and Photos to the Web
Check here for a comparison of GoPro cameras.
Awesome promotional video shot entirely with the Hero2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GUEZCxBcM78
MC Hammer launching his own search engine
Apparently, going bankrupt once wasn't good enough for MC Hammer. He is now launching a search engine called WireDoo which apparently has "deep search" capability. Call me cynical, but trying to compete with Google in the search space is a recipe for failure.
My latest digging shows Google has 65% of the search market, Yahoo 16%, and Bing 14%. Since Bing powers Yahoo search, I'll lump them together into a 30% combined share. That leaves 5% for all of the other search engines combined.
Microsoft managed to grab 30% of the search market partly by making Bing the default search in all of their products, including Internet Explorer. Many users either won't change it or don't know how so they just stick with it and it works well enough. Hammer doesn't have this luxury, so his chance of success is next to nothing. The only thing that may help is if the front page of WireDoo has an animated GIF of him doing the Hammer Dance.
MC Hammer launching his own search engine - CNN.com
Flickr May Soon Be Owned by Microsoft
Microsoft tried to buy Yahoo once before and failed, maybe they will have better luck this time around. If so, that means MS will own Flickr, which is likely a good thing.
Flickr May Soon Be Owned by Microsoft
Lytro introduces world's first light field camera
Interesting technology, remains to be seen how well it works in the hands of consumers. May become the new standard for digital sensors if they can increase the resolution.
Lytro introduces world's first light field camera: f/2 lens, $399, ships early 2012
View sample images at the Lytro image gallery.
A quick review of the iPhone 4S
Hardware
Signal strength for cellular and WiFi seems stronger. When choosing from Wifi networks, I get more options than I did with the iPhone 4 in the same locations which suggests it's picking up things further away. Also, I can pick up my company WiFi signal further away. Well done Apple, this is a change everyone will appreciate.
The new dual-core A5 processor (800MHz) is an improvement over the iPhone 4 and this phone feels faster overall, especially when using the photo app. Things render just a bit faster.
Screen is the same, but still excellent if not the best on the market.
Camera is improved, it's faster and 8MP. I haven't used it enough to comment on the performace though. I do love the fact that iOS 5 allows me to launch the camera from the lock screen, handy if you need to pull out your phone for a quick snap.
Software
Notification center is a 1000% improvement over the previous system. It's now not annoying and useful, something Apple should have done years ago.
Still no week view in the calendar app, lame.
Addition of iCloud is nice, a backup away from the computer is certainly the way of the future.
Siri, the voice assistant. I'm not sold on it yet, it worked well for some things but not others. It can't find restaurants in Canada, nor can it give directions making it less useful. It does have location and geofence capability, so for example it knows where you work and if you are currently there. I can then tell Siri to "remind me to call my wife when I leave work" and it will create a reminder that triggers when I leave the office. I think I need to live with it for a while, but it could be an interesting feature.
Overall, a good upgrade to the iPhone 4.
Canon Unveils the 1D X
Wow, Canon just took the wraps off a new DSLR. It's a blend of their previous two high end models, mixing high speed and a full frame sensor. 14fps, 18-megapixel full frame shooter, sounds like a winner if you have the cash ($6800 when it ships in March 2012).
Canon Unveils the 1D X: One DSLR to Rule Them All
If you want to see and hear what 14 frames per second is like, have a look here.
Excellent summary by Rob Galbraith
Adobe Image Deblurring Sneak Peek
Wow, this is some amazing new technology from Adobe. Can deblur a crappy image so now everyone can be a good photographer. No word on when it will show up in a product, I'm hoping Photoshop CS6.
MAX 2011 Sneak Peeks - MAX 2011 Sneak Peek - Image Deblurring | Adobe TV.
Update, October 19, 2011: More about the software from Adobe:
http://blogs.adobe.com/photoshopdotcom/2011/10/behind-all-the-buzz-deblur-sneak-peek.html