Apples Mastered for iTunes tested.

Apple's push to increase the quality of songs distributed via iTunes has been formally realized in the company's Mastered for iTunes program—but does it really make music sound better?

After our original report on the Mastered for iTunes program, some readers were skeptical that anything could be done to make a compressed AAC file sound comparable to uncompressed, 16-bit 44.1kHz CD standard audio. Others believed users should have access to the original 24-bit 96kHz files created in the studio for the best sound. Finally, some readers suggested that few people can actually tell the difference between iTunes Plus tracks and CD audio, so why bother making any effort to improve iTunes quality?

British recording engineer Ian Shepard called the entire process of specially mastering audio files for iTunes to sound more like the CD version simple "BS."
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2012/04/does-mastered-for-itunes-matter-to-music-ars-puts-it-to-the-test.ars

AR. Drone RF How To DIY

Not sure if this hack will work for the new 2.0 coming out. Sure wish parrott would sell one with RF. I have not tested this hack so not responsible for any damages.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1335257

GrPro HD Hero2 Outdoor Edition

A little follow up to the last post of things me wanty. These HD camera are tough light little buggers that give a good HD image. Seems to be the HD cam of choice for AR. Drone modders out there.

http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero2-outdoor-edition/#videoTabArea

Great AR. Drone Video from France.

 I can't wait for the new version 2.0. I will still have to modify it for RF. I can only hope the new cams are as good as the GO PRO mods.

Rare Nikon Fish Eye Lens 220 degree field of view

Yes I want this! No I can afford it but just think of how cool the next Beasty Boys video would be if I shot it with this. So what cha want. 

When it was introduced in 1970 at the Photokina exhibition, it was the most extreme fisheye lens of all time - a 10lb glass dome which dwarfs the camera attached. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2134426/Were-going-need-bigger-camera-Unique-10lb-Nikon-lens-goes-sale--wide-angle-itself.html#ixzz1tGwCvrb6

Cool Canon C300 HD video camera nice step up from DSLR

OK me wanty.
a dedicated video camera with a large sensor, interchangeable lenses, and no compromises. The Canon C300 might just be that machine.
http://gizmodo.com/5904362/canon-c300-review-for-when-your-movie-deserves-better-than-a-dslr

Free online virtual lighting studio

This free online virtual lighting studio makes for a nice quick reference guide. Still a little buggy but overall a good tool.
http://www.zvork.fr/vls/

DIY the tupac hologram for coachella

We worked with Dr. Dre on this and it was Dre's vision to bring this back to life," said Nick Smith, president of AV Concepts, the San Diego company that projected and staged the hologram. "It was his idea from the very beginning and we worked with him and his camp to utilize the technology to make it come to life."

According to a spokesperson for Dre, the lifelike image of Shakur was created by Hollywood effects house Digital Domain, the Oscar-winning CG factory that made CG images of Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Jeff Bridges in "TRON: Legacy," Kevin Bacon in "X-Men: First Class" and Rooney Mara in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." The virutal 'Pac was the vision of Dre, who worked with his longtime partner Philip Atwell of Geronimo Productions and Dylan Brown of The Yard.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1683173/tupac-hologram-coachella.jhtml

When should I upgrade my HDTV?

First I would wait for Apple displays unless you really need a new TV.

Let's say you've had your HDTV for a few years now. Let's say you can't stop reading new TV reviews. Let's say you find excuses to stop at Best Buy to stare at the wall.
OK, you want a new TV. No problem. But do you need a new TV? Are the current models really that much better than what you have?
Let's take a look.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57414446-221/when-should-i-upgrade-my-hdtv/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title

Sony PMW-100 Downsizes Broadcast-Quality Camcorders

Cars, cameras and attention spans aren’t the only things shrinking in size these days, and if you’re in the newsgathering or commercial video recording industry, Sony’s PMW-100 will undoubtedly take some of the weight off your shoulder.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/sony/announcements/sony-pmw-100-downsizes-broadcast-quality-camcorders

Photography Lighting Lesson - Remember the EGG Video

Great video help with photo and video lighting using a light and an egg.

DIY LED Cube 8x8x8

This my next project an awesome LED cube.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Led-Cube-8x8x8/

Awesome underwater pics of the Verzasca river in Switzerland

Incredible underwater pictures from photographer Claudio Gazzaroli, 38 of the Verzasca River in Switzerland renowned for its clear turquoise waters.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2125637/Water-bridge-Crystal-clear-river-clean-50ft-bottom.html

The Quietest Place on Earth Will Drive You Insane Within 45 Minutes

There's a small room in Minnesota that blocks out 99% of all external sound. That's an impressive number! Also impressive: nobody can take more than 45 minutes alone in the room before they go nuts.

The Daily Mail describes Orfield Labs' anechoic chamber—perfect for making extremely sensitive audio measurements. But also perfect for sending you into a hallucinatory hell so hellacious you'll need a chair:

http://gizmodo.com/5899502/the-quietest-place-on-earth-will-drive-you-insane-within-45-minutes

Apple Television to be Called iPanel, Launch Later This Year for $1250?

More from the apple rumor mill. The apple television rumor has been going for a year or 2 now. I can't see the price being that cheap. I am betting it will be closer to 2 grand for a 47 or larger display. iPanel does not sound like apple either. iView or iWatch seems closer. Anyways here more for the rumor fire.
http://www.mactrast.com/2012/04/apple-television-to-be-called-ipanel-launch-later-this-year-for-1250/

Shotgun Microphone Roundup

Shotgun microphones are used to capture sounds such as dialog in film and video productions, for “spot” miking specific areas on sets, stages and installations, and for creating Foley and sound effects. These microphones feature a distinctive long and vented “interference tube,” which helps reject sound from the sides and rear and focus on the sounds directly in front of them. They are very sensitive and detailed sounding, and because of their sensitivity, suspended shock mounts are almost always used to attach them to boompoles, video cameras, stands, etc. Their increased sensitivity also makes them susceptible to wind noise, so additional wind protection is mandatory for outdoor use.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/audio/hands-reviews/shotgun-microphone-roundup

Apple also has some Augmented reality glasses like googles iGlasses

From and article back a while in mac life.
In mid-April of 2008, Apple published a patent for a “Head Mounted Display System.”  The patent shows screens and fiber optics and vision imaging controls.  Would the display use pico projection or utilize OLED displays?  Pico displays could be used right now, but OLEDs might be a year out.
http://www.maclife-digital.com/maclife/201001/?pg=26#pg26

Augmented Reality Glasses from Google Video

Project Glass

We believe technology should work for you — to be there when you need it and get out of your way when you don't.

A team within our Google[x] group started Project Glass to build this kind of technology, one that helps you explore and share your world, putting you back in the moment.

Nikon 50mm f/1.4 G Review image samples soon.

Nikon invented the world's first 50mm f/1.4 lens in 1950. This is Nikon's latest innovation for 2008, and their first new 50mm optical design in over 30 years.

My 50mm f/1.4 is the lens I use most often for photographing family and friends.

The reason you want this new 50mm f/1.4G AF-S instead of the perfectly good 50mm f/1.4 AF-D that Nikon has been making unchanged since 1993 is that you can tweak manual focus simply by touching the ring. With the older AF-D lens, you have to move a switch on the camera to get between manual and auto focus.
http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/50mm-f14-afs.htm

NEX-FS700 pushes down Sony's 4K videocamera prices

The high-resolution videocamera is twice the price of JVC's 4K camera, but a lot cheaper than Sony's high-end earlier FS65. But not all 4K video is created equal.

Some folks satisfied with conventional 1080p video think the push to higher 4K resolution is silly -- but Sony is not on the list.

The company announced a new 4K videocamera today with interchangeable lenses, super-slow-motion options, and a Super 35mm-sized image sensor. Initially it'll shoot only conventional 1080p video, Sony said, but it's "4K-ready," meaning that with a planned firmware update it'll also be able to produce video imagery about 4,000 pixels wide.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-57407947-264/nex-fs700-pushes-down-sonys-4k-videocamera-prices/