Archive for the ‘Hardware’ Category
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010
This firmware update (Version 2.0.8) incorporates the following changes and fixes.
- Fixes a phenomenon in which movies are not taken at the shooting mode registered in the user’s settings if a shooting mode Aperture priority (or Shutter priority) is registered in any of the camera’s user settings (C1, C2, C3) and the user attempts to shoot a movie.
- Fixes a phenomenon in which the shutter will not release when pressing the shutter button when the auto power off function is set to “on”.
- Fixes a phenomenon in which overexposure occurs when shooting a Live View shooting simulation with the ISO speed set to L.
- Fixes a phenomenon in which the settings of the Speedlite transmitter ST-E2 revert to the default settings when both the camera and the ST-E2 are set to auto power off.
- Fixes a phenomenon in which the Macro Ring Lite (MR-14EX, MT-24EX) and slave flash do not sync while shooting wirelessly.
5Dmk2 firmware update
The Version 2.0.8 firmware being released this time is for cameras with firmware up to Version 2.0.7. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 2.0.8, it is not necessary to update the firmware.
Tags: 5dmk2, bug, camera, Canon, eos, error, firmware, Hardware, photography, ugrade
Posted in Canon, Hardware, News, Software | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
Couple months ago I moved from Cupertino to Mountain View. In my new apartment I could not make a phone call so I decided to change cell carrier from AT&T to Verizon. It seems like instead of zero bars I got one. So making calls is not possible either. I am stuck with them for next two years so I had to by their Network Extender so we can use our phones at home. Just in case of emergency I also got us land line, you need internet and electricity to make calls so it would not not work if we got some disaster. Land line should have higher survival potential 
The second part of the story is my workplace reception. AT&T worked great there, while it is a dead zone for Verizon. I can barely send text message. I was wondering why all other carries could work in this area while “nation’s most reliable” network is completely dead. It looks like Verizon got only 2 cell towers in whole South Bay. Wonderful, even T-Mobile got more 
Verizon Cell Towers in SF Bay Area
You can visit CellReception site to check what are locations of cell towers in your area.
Tags: att, carrier, cell, celluar, coverage, phone, reception, service, tower, verizon, zero
Posted in Hardware, Internet, News | 1 Comment »
Monday, September 13th, 2010
I have noticed that AlienBees announced next generation of portable power source. Vagabond Mini Lithium is small and lightweight. weighing just 3.5 pounds including quick-change high capacity lithium battery. The unit additionally includes a light stand mounting mechanism and a convenient carrying strap.The product utilizes the very latest LiCoxNiyMnzO2 lithium battery chemistry to provide extremely high power density and elimination of battery sulfating and poor efficacy that plagued previous battery-operated systems using heavy and inefficient sealed lead acid batteries.
Vagabond Mini Lithium
Tags: alienbees, battery, capacity, chemistry, high, light, lighting, lightweight, lithium, photography, portable, power, product, quick-change, small, source, strobe, unit
Posted in Hardware, Lighting, Photo | 1 Comment »
Monday, July 19th, 2010
This is my first smartphone so I cannot compare to my past experience. I decided to have Palm device cause I wanted two from the same manufacturer after we switched to Verizon due to reception problems in our new apartment. Also I wanted a smaller form factor than most of present smartphones. My wife was not very interested in smartphone so Pixi for her was also kind of compromise.
Palm Pre
Pros:
1. It is fast. GUI is really responsive and you only wait if you are connecting to outside world
2. Multitasking. You really can do many thing at once. Did not try if you can make calls while doing other things but music playing with surfing work.
3. Works as USB drive.
4. Syncs with my Gmail address book.
5. Video. Shoots better video than point’n'shooter even if it has less megapixels.
Cons:
1. Keyboard is pretty small or my hands are too big.
2. Entering numbers is a nightmare.
3. Battery life is very short.I would say it is more like 5h instead of advertised 8h. Do I really have to switch everything off?
4. No way to filter out Facebook contacts.
5. Photo. I am not so impressed with still camera. I need to do more test but built-in flash is not very good.
Tags: 3g, Apple, att, carrier, celluar, coverage, digital, iphone, palm, phone, pre, reception, service, smartphone, verizon, webos, zero
Posted in Hardware, Palm, Software, webOS | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
I was tempted to buy new iPhone 4 but I decided to wait till end of July for resolution of all problems reported by early adopters. In meanwhile I moved to Gemello neighborhood in Mountain View just to find out that AT&T got no reception there. We got two phones there and we cannot call each other cause we have zero bars and phones do not even ring. According to AT&T map it should be good reception there but I do not think zero is good.
Gemello AT&T Coverage
The only real alternative seems to be Verizon. Their map shows that they have this area covered all in red which should be best reception for voice and digital services. In reality after switch we can talk but 3G is almost not possible to get. It’s just pathetic. In the middle of Silicon Valley both major carries got mediocre services.
Gemello Verizon Coverage
If rumors are true Verizon will have iPhone next year but now I am on two years contract and two Palm phones. So until iPhone 6 will be released I will be testing webOS on my Palm Pre phone
Palm Pre Plus
Tags: 3g, Apple, att, carrier, celluar, coverage, digital, iphone, palm, phone, pre, reception, service, smartphone, verizon, webos, zero
Posted in Apple, Hardware, Internet, iPhone, News, Palm, webOS | 1 Comment »
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
It looks like early adopters are facing all sort of problems which may be sorted out when there is no longer pressure to ship it ASAP. Apple was trying ship iPhone so quickly so they did not have enough time to let bonding agent used to bond layers of glass to dry. When it happens after few days of usage discolorations should disappear. Great, at least one problem has logical explanation. Other problem related to external antenna seems like software bug cause rather than design problem because I read than some users of earlier models who upgraded to iOS4 reported similar behavior and they do not have metal band around their devices. And finally something went wrong and manufacturer of devices cannot make white glass so this variant will not be available till end of July. Here you can read official statement on Apple site.
Tags: 4g, adopter, antenna, Apple, blotch, bug, delay, display, early, error, ios4, iphone, pre-order, problem, reception, retina
Posted in Apple, Hardware, News | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
I took a while to reverse engineer Canon batteries. LC-E6 is expensive and sometimes hard to find in stores. The Series 7 SL-E6 is a 7.4v, 1800mAh Lithium Ion battery pack which can charge on the Canon LC-E6. The SL-E6 battery also communicates with the EOS 5D Mark II and 7D digital cameras, allowing you to check the remaining capacity on the camera’s power source info screen. The SL-E6 does not have the data chip necessary to provide storeable information on the Canon 5D/7D’s battery registry screen.
SL-E6
It is available on Amazon from $56.49.
Tags: 5dmk2, 7d, bettery, camera, Canon, charge, compatible, digital, eos, replacement, third-party, unofficial
Posted in Canon, Hardware, News, Photo | 1 Comment »
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
A day after its release of the firmware 2.0.3, there are lot of reports about issue with audio functionality Custom modes. Canon is working on update to address it. They recommend to register your camera so you notified via e-mail when future firmware updates become available for download.
Firmaware 2.0.3 bug
Tags: bug, camera, Canon, error, firmware, Hardware, hd, photography, ugrade, video
Posted in Canon, Hardware, Software | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Canon today pre-announces the release of a firmware update for the multiple award-winning EOS 5D Mark II. Originally announced in late 2009, the update adds 24 and 25 frames per second (fps) recording to the camera’s EOS MOVIE video function, and will be available as a free download from the middle of March.
Tags: 5d, camera, Canon, eos, firmware, Hardware, markII, Photo, upgrade, video
Posted in Canon, Hardware, News, Software | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010
Canon introduces the new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, the most popular focal range in Canon’s telephoto arsenal and a staple lens for any professional photographer, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens provides the focal length, maximum aperture and zoom power for capturing everything from fast-action sports to studio portraits.
Tags: Canon, dslr, lens, tele, zoom
Posted in Canon, Hardware, Photo | No Comments »
