Tech Gadgets Reviews

Filed in archive Accessories by jim on March 17, 2008

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The answer is: no more or less than on traditional film cameras.

You could fill a wall sized bookcase with tomes about photographic filters; but for our purposes we'll just concentrate on three, "UV", ND (neutral density) and Circular Polarizers.

Of course you have to have a digital camera that accepts screw in filters in order to use them. But even if you don't check read through this posting because the next camera you get may have that option.

First off check out this brief treatise about 3 of the most commonly used filters for digital cameras.

OK now that you know what's being talked about and have one person's opinion here's where I stand on the issue.

I do use a UV filter, all the time, because I take a lot of distant landscape pictures and there's always some haze that can be eliminated. And, it keeps dust off the camera's lens. I'd rather clean a filter, while on the camera, rather than risk scratching the actual lens.

As for neutral density filters, I never use them, but that's just me, for you they may prove beneficial.

I do make extensive use of polarizing filters because they enhance colors, especially the sky, and when clouds are in the scene it really makes them "pop", or stand out, and I like that.

Note the difference in the sky in the above comparison photos and you'll see what I mean.

Take a camera with you whenever possible, and look around, you'll find a picture somewhere.

Source:blog.matthewgast.com

Posted Mar 17th 2008 7:20AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Laptops

Your 64GB SSD getting you down? Right, you should be so lucky. Regardless, Toshiba just updated their 12.1-inch Dynabook SS RX1 in Japan with a new 128GB SSD option. Build RX1/TAE bundles 128GB of solid state disk with internal, KDDI EV-DO data module, 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo U7600 processor, 2GB of memory, Intel 945GMS Express graphics, a 1,280 x 800 pixel panel resolution, and choice of 6.2 hour or 12.5 hour batteries. How much? Try something like ¥400,000 or more than $4,000 when it pops for Japanese retail next month.

[Via Akihabara News]

It’s been 9 long months, but games publisher Rockstar never gave up and has finally secured a release for Manhunt 2 in the U.K.

Here’s a quick summary of the journey taken to get the game released. Back in late June last year, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) refused to give the game a rating due to the violent content it contained. Then in early August Rockstar filed an appeal against the BBFC decision with the Video Appeals Committee (VAC). While that appeal was going on, a revised version of the game got a Mature rating and release in the U.S. A second attempt to get the revised game a rating in the U.K. in October was also denied by the BBFC.

At that point, it didn’t look like the game would ever be seen in U.K. shops, but then in December the VAC voted in favor of Rockstar and a release looked set to happen. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the story with a UK judge then overruling the VAC decision in late January this year after the BBFC went to the High Court.

Now, it looks like the battle is finally over, with Rockstar coming out on top. The VAC has voted again in favor of Rockstar, and the BBFC has admitted further action would not be worthwhile. David Cooke, BBFC director, commented:

We twice rejected Manhunt 2, and then pursued a judicial review challenge, because we considered, after exceptionally thorough examination, that it posed a real potential harm risk … However, the Video Appeals Committee has again exercised its independent scrutiny. It is now clear, in the light of this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but to issue an ‘18′ certificate to the game.

I am quite relieved that Manhunt 2 has finally got a release in the U.K. If it had remained banned, then it would have set a precedent that violent content–although falling within the boundaries of an 18 rating–is not acceptable in videogames in the U.K. That constitutes a two-tier system of classification and a limitation on developers trying to create games aimed strictly at adults.

As it stands now, Rockstar deserves a pat on the back for continuing to forge ahead with getting a release, and the BBFC needs to review the whole episode, adjust, and look to the future.

Read more at GamesIndustry.biz.

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There it is, the world’s smallest DSLR — the Olympus E-420 (left) — snuggled up next to its slightly bigger E-410 bro. Note that the E-420 on display at CeBIT is a near-final, fully-functional engineering prototypeWhat more can we say, it feels great in hand and the space and weight savings are certainly welcome. However, without any images to compare the best we can do is ogle the gallery until the reviews roll in.
[ Source ]

In an ultra-mobile that mimics both the Cloudbook and the Tango X, the new device that will be hitting the Japanese market offers a nice ‘upgrade’ of specs over the US released Cloudbook.

The Japanese Cloudbook features the same sized 7-inch display but offers it as a touchscreen and also includes Bluetooth and 802.11a right out of the box. In addition it retains the Via C7-M ULV processor, 30GB hard drive, 512MB RAM, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, and the 0.3-megpixel webcam. The Japanese Cloudbook is set to be released on March 22 and retail for ¥59,800 (about $600 US).

[Update] The Japanese version will take on the model number of CE1200J as opposed to the US model number CE1200V, it will also come pre-installed with Windows XP as opposed to gOS.

Via [akihabara news] Via [Ultra Mobile Life]

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Heise Security in the U.K. has found that USB sticks secured by fingerprint readers are not as secure as vendors are leading us to believe. Some of them can be accessed simply by using a free, open source piece of software.

Secure USB sticks are a combination of three major components–the flash memory, the fingerprint reader, and the microcontroller for controlling access along with pre-installed software. The microcontroller checks for a valid reading from the fingerprint sensor and then allows access to the protected flash memory.

Heise found that you do not need a valid fingerprint reading to gain access to the protected memory, however. Instead you can use the software PLscsi to send a Command Descriptor Block and switch the protected memory to non-protected. Heise also found that the microcontroller and software on the stick don’t always decide on the right to access, with that task falling to the software running on the PC’s OS in some cases.

The affected sticks use the Afa Technology USBest UT176 and UT169 controllers. Heise is recommending users do not buy USB sticks with fingerprint readers as a way of providing extra security to their data. Instead, hardware encrypted sticks are currently the best solution.

Those wanting to test their USB stick for vulnerability can download the PLscsi software and follow the instructions on the Heise Security website.

Read more at Heise-Online.co.uk.

Matthew’s Opinion

I’m surprised manufacturers can get away with selling products like this that market themselves as being more secure, but quite clearly aren’t.

Some of the responses Heise got from manufacturers are also surprising. One said the company was going to add to the manual that comes with the USB stick, saying that the fingerprint reader adds no extra security. Another said that only very professional users could take advantage of the vulnerability.

I think the point here is that the company should either be offering a working security solution or not selling USB sticks as such with a higher price than a standard stick.

Posted Mar 17th 2008 6:11AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Displays

The oft-irrational quest for thin already overwhelming television R&D budgets just hit our beloved LCD monitors. Meet the BenQ V2400W billed as the “world’s slimmest 24-inch lcd monitor.” BenQ claims that the LCD’s 2.44-inch max depth is 21% thinner than any of its chubbier competition. Unfortunately, while BenQ happily drones on and on about the monitor’s B-2 stealth bomber inspired design, it remains tight-lipped on the specifications. We know it offers a 4,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 2-ms response, touch control panel and selection of ports including HDMI, DVI and VGA inputs. However, the V2400W’s brightness, panel resolution or backlighting tech, color reproduction capabilities, HDCP support for that DVI jack, and something so trivial as price all remain closely held secrets. Nevertheless, it’ll be available at the end of this month in Asia then heading to North America and Europe in April. You know, if you can find it.

Update: Some of the specs found: 1920 x 1200, 250 cd/m2 brightness, 16.7 million colors, and 160-degree viewing angle.

[Via Fareastgizmos, thanks Strayan]

Posted Mar 17th 2008 2:40AM by Thomas Ricker

The FIC manufactured Everex CloudBook has finally made its way to Japan. What’s interesting is not its US-rooted Everex branding but the fact that the ultra-portable picked up a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and 802.11a (to augment the existing b/g WiFi) along the way without any change to the CE1200J model number. All the other specs remain true to the original right on down to the 1.2GHz VIA C7-M proc and 30GB hard disk. We’d chalk this up to a typo(s) if it wasn’t for the new, tax-inclusive price of ¥59,800 or about $600 — a stiff bump from the $399 touchscreen-less, Stateside model. Let’s see if the March 22nd release in Japan brings the additional options for North America and Europe.

[Via Impress]

Word on the street has it that the WiMAX-enabled Nokia N810 will be launching on April 1st. Sounds pretty suspicious to me, considering the benelovent date which was suggested, but hey - stranger things have happened.That’s when CTIA Wireless starts, so your guess is as good as mine as to whether this is the start of something beautiful, or just another false lead for Nokia fanboys to chase after.
[ Source ]

Posted Mar 16th 2008 10:01PM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

It may not be out quite yet, but thanks to some cloak and dagger device-getting NVIDIA’s GeForce 9800 GX2 has gotten its first round of early tests. Sounds like it’s got a few premature driver issues, but it’s still a contender. If your interests lie in the world of high res framerates, check it out.

[Thanks, Neil and Lin]