d3velop... explore... comment

It's been a while... Photo links.

2007-03-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

Wow, jeepers, it's been some time since my last post... Anybody even notice? Yeah, well... If you've been visiting and noticed, sorry... It helps me know if I have an audience if you leave me a comment or subscribe to my rss feed.

I've been delving more and more into photography as a pursuit, which is both challenging and rewarding. It offers an excellent way to practice seeing all things creatively. Plus, once in a while I might capture an image I can be truly proud of... Aside from flickr being one of the best websites anywhere; I also find it truly inspirational, with so many talented photog's and stunning images. The rest of this post is basically links.

While I don't understand the appeal of some subscriber services (like Rhapsody), and wouldn't use this service, the list of plug-ins and software app's for photo editing is comprehensive. I've taken a look a few times, just to see a summary of what's out there.

This comparison is far from perfect, but still offers great insight into the difference between full-frame (1.0x crop) and APS-C sensor formats (usually 1.5x crop) for dSLR cameras. I'm still sold on the idea that if I ever do get a dSLR, 1.5x crop would be better for me than FF.

This doesn't seem to be an official Canon website, but has some wonderful info on white balance comparisons for Canon cameras. Lots more photoshooting techniques as well. Similarly, this other website has great macro shooting info.

This image speaks volumes about what you may be missing without a wide angle lens- actually an UWA (Ultra-Wide Angle) lens for your APS-C dSLR. Figure a FF dSLR (like Canon 5D) shoots a 24mm lens as a 24mm equivalent, but a 1.5x crop (Nikon D80 or D200, Pentax K10D, or Fuji S5 Pro) or 1.6x crop (Canon 30D) actually shoot a 24mm as 36mm and 38.4mm respectively- not very wide at all. This image shows field of view through a Canon 1.6x crop camera.

I am trying to learn as much as I can about photography, and that includes equipment. While I certainly realize this is not the only component (nor even the most important), I'd like my camera and lenses to not be a limiting factor in the images I capture.

If I were shopping for a dSLR, my first choice would've been a Canon EOS 40D. But Canon seemingly has dropped the ball on this one and chosen to not update the old 30D model yet. I've been looking at the Pentax K10D, which is very appealing with its advanced feature set, weather seals, sD card format, and user-customizable options. Did I mention price? Ridiculously less than others (about $900 with a 18-55mm f/3.5 kit lens).

Next would be the Nikon D200, slightly better build and image quality over the D80, and a much more comprehensive feature set- but with a higher price tag, too (about $1300 for body only). This D200 has a lot of appeal, especially since the Nikon flash system is so versatile, and a couple of lenses from the Nikon family would cover a remarkable focal range (like the 18-200 f/2.8 VR).

Lastly, is the newly minted Fuji Finepix S5 Pro. While the price tag is considerably more (about $1900 for body only), this unique offering simply cannot be ignored. Being incarnated in a Nikon D200 body means this Fuji can accept all Nikon F-mount lenses and the acclaimed Nikon i-TTL hot shoe flash system. The biggest appeal, to me, is the wide dynamic range and high ISO, shown in these photos and these photos. Thanks Hugo for posting.

But now, a friend (Marcus Ericsson) knows I'm interested in a dSLR. And he's considering selling his D200 to me so he can switch to Canon. I believe the shooter is a bigger factor than equipment, but if even an inkling of the magic of his shots is due to his camera... I could only aspire to have shots as captivating as his.

Marcus shoots all the product/images for Nike's jumpman23.com website- the Jordan product line. His images are absolutely sick, and these are from his D200. While these images are available from his website subdisc.com and his flickr photostream, I remind you, please don't steal his images. Give the man his credit where credit is due.

What's the difference in megapixels? Well, thank goodness that race may actually be kinda over. After you get to about 8-10 MP, getting an increase in resolution means jumping up "geometrically." This chart is a good example.

Wanna be inspired by the top 500 images on the internet? I'm not sure how these got ranked, but they are astonishing. More quality shots are the World Press Photo Winners Gallery 2007.

Well, I'm gonna try to get out later today to go shoot the Chinese New Year Parade. We'll see how that works out. If I get any decent captures, you can bet they'll be up on my flickr photostream soon.

Oh, and speaking of my flickr. A buddy Doug and I had set out a little competitive experiment... To see if either of us could manipulate flickr and try to get a specific image into the explore pages of interestingness. Explore basically finds the top 500 interesting images each day... And with somewhere well over 3,000 images upload evey hour (I'm not sure of stats or methods here); we figured this would be putting us up to quite a task.

Well, I can't say Doug actually uploaded anything (he didn't), I'm amazed that I actually accomplished this feat in less than four days' time from my upload! Our goal was to try to make the best "eye candy" possible, and the rules we set were simple: nothing exploitative, no spending lots of money, and no getting people we knew involved to help our cause (like getting peeps to 'favorite' or images during our campaign). This was a great exploration (pun intended) for me, and made me learn more about my camera in the process.

Here's the image I used no man is an island. In less than a week, it's had 173 views, 17 comments (including some of my own), and 3 'favorited' it.

A second photo attempt, when starfish go wild, has made my #1 interestingness ranking, but did not make it to the explore pages of flickr. With 101 views, 20 comments (some my own), and 7 'favorited,' I am truly flattered. This is all in a short four days' time since its upload. Enjoy your weekend. Cheers.

image credits: 10-28mm comparison from maartenbreda on dpreview.com/forums, Fuji S5 Pro from dpreview.com, Jordan XIX by Marcus Ericsson at subdisc.com, XX2 by Marcus Ericsson on his flickr photostream, no man is an island and when starfish go wild are my own original photos from my flickr photo gallery.

Food: Culture: Cool: and SF Events.

2007-02-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

A (fairly) quick post to mention a few upcoming things-to-do.

How exactly the Kingdom of Navarra, Spain is visiting San Francisco is beyond my comprehension. But some great local restaurants are deeming exactly this until Feb. 4th. With special menus on hand at thirteen fine SF locales (like Rubicon and B44), it's kinda like traveling... uhhmmm, without the traveling part. Visit the "Participating Restaurants" link to view.

Quick get out your wallet... (No, you're not getting mugged by me over your PPPoE internet connection). It's time for a Sample Angel sample sale this Sat. Feb. 3rd at Boom Boom Room. everything from Shu Uemura Cosmetics to some menswear, 11- 4 pm. Or you can always visit their new store at 514 Presidio at California St for 50-80% off retail (open 4 days a week, see site for deets).

Tomorrow, Sat. Feb 3rd, jazz sax legend Wayne Shorter is at The Marin Center. I was lucky enough to see him in his first-ever live performance w/ pianist Herbie Hancock a couple years back. He sounds brilliant live, but you have to get over how he "visually stutters" making him a little hard to watch... Just open your ears and close your eyes, and settle in for a great performance.

If you're tired of looking at the tired ol' Windows screensaver, you can get a FREE Planet Earth 3D screensaver. You must download AND install it today, otherwise it's not free. I did, it isn't bad, but it isn't out-of-this-world amazing. I kinda like it having a clock, even if the graphics are only okay-ish. Hey, you get what you pay for. lol.

Continuing on the freeware tip, here is a page link w/ The 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities. I'm not sure if I agree, but that's okay, it's got lots of great links (and gains credibility by listing Firefox as the premier browser of choice).

If astronomy is of interest, The Wil d Blue Yonder is playing at the Red Vic Sun 2/4 to Tues 2/6. I blogged it in my last post, but it looks interesting enough to mention again.

Maybe interstellar travel gets your stomach all upside-down (from the freeze-dried onboard meal, no doubt!), maybe just a jaunt to the W Maldives Resort would suffice. This is just one of several new resorts in the region; but, by golly, it's a W Hotel. Full article on The Cool Hunter.

While searching PBase photo galleries of shots taken w/ my camera (Canon S3 IS), I found this one of Moses by Antonio Gonzalez (by Michelangelo, San Pietro in Vincoli, Roma, Italy). This is certainly one of my favorite sculptures anywhere, and also a favorite site in Rome.

Lastly, if you're still simply using Google to search for things, you may want to try Swami. It's a search engine that continually updates items you are searching for. I've used it, and it's great- especially if you're looking for the same info repeatedly (like news on a celebrity or a new gadget release date). Registration is simple and free. Cheers.

image credits: Wayne Shorter from Yahoo! Music, Earth from gamegiveawayoftheday, The Wild Blue Yonder from wildblueyonder.wernerherzog.com, W Maldives from The Cool Hunter.net, Moses by Michelangelo photo by Antonio Gonzalez on PBase.

Movie News, Concerts and Other Local SF Events

2007-01-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've made an honest to goodness blog post. I mean, these rambling diatribes about stats and facts and specs and all just get long...

First some local events to peep. Dine About Town is winding down, ending on Wednesday, Jan. 31st. So get out there and eat! Howard Jones is playing Red Devil Lounge on 1/31, tix are sold out, but I wonder if they'll release some at the door? Hmmm. Not to worry, things can only get better. lol. The Abigail Morgan boutique store on Union Street is having a clearance sale up to 80% off, thru Sunday (1/28).
Drift Denim Essentials Boutique is where you really ought to be shopping if you're in the know and scopin' for some swank new denim. They just recently opened at 815 Washington St. in Oakland... Yes, Oak-town makes my blog for a fashion boutique no less. fer real real, don't hate.

The Castro Theatre is having a Film Noir festival (Noir City 5), showing many 19040's and 50's films that have never been panned and scanned to VHS nor DVD. Then, there will be some double features offered... And at the end of the month, Wed. Feb. 28th is a noteworthy double-bill of Alfred Hitchcock: The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes. Both are true classics shot masterfully, with plenty of Hitchcock suspense, drama, and tension. I personally think these two films comprise some of his best slightly lesser-known films.

Never to be outdone, The Red Vic Moviehouse has plenty o' goodness on tap (well, not that kind of tap)... Sun- Tues. Feb. 4th-6th The Wild Blue Yonder is showing. Use unseen footage from the NASA space shuttle program, blend it with ice-diving scuba footage at the Antarctica, and add in a score including a Senegalese singer, Dutch cellist, and Sardinian shepherd choir... That about sums up this movie- kinda. I am down like Charlie Brown with how this film sounds.

Sunday and Monday, Feb 18th & 19th, The Red Vic is screening Tideland by Terry Gilliam. This film seems And then, they move on to offer Brazil- still my favorite movie of all-time. I can't stand the revised one sheet (er... movie poster), but that's just me.

More planning ahead might just include Valentine's Day for some of you. Yoshi's at Jack London Square is featuring Branford Marsalis Feb. 12-15th. Only prollem is 2/14 shows are already sold out. All tix are $26-30, so a great deal if you like the sweet saxophone sounds of Branford and his quartet.

Now, some movie news. I've blogged about just how hot 300 is going to be, I'm saying right now that it'll make top-twenty for box office opening weekend (March 9th) release fo' sho'- prolly landing 5th-8th on the all-time records list. Rotten Tomatoes has an article claiming that 300 is now slated to also be released for IMAX! Yes, as the first IMAX feature film released for 2007. wow. See, things can only get better. lol.

So what else am I interested in? Well, along the lines of Tideland, Wild Blue Yonder, and Twelve Monkeys (kinda topic-wise here), is Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain. I was totally impressed with Aronofsky's first film, Pi, which reportedly had a budget of $60k. Well, that was before it was bought and screenplay was revised and whatever, so who really knows? Anyways, I liked Requiem For A Dream well enough, but The Fountain looks stunning. Waiting for the DVD release... There is a feature article on RT, but I must warn you: it kinda includes spoilers, if you don't wanna know too much, don't read it. Cheers.

image credits: Drift from DriftDenim, Tideland from Red Vic Moviehouse, The Fountain from imdb.com.

Interesting Sites... and Other

2006-07-18T22:16:00.000-07:00

I guess it's been a while, maybe three whiles since I've posted sites I've visited that I like. Well, here are a couple, and a few images I like.

First, is the site arthur hungry. Obviously, this guy gets out more often than me. Huh. I've been told I need to get out more often. And I'm not sure everybody always means that in a good way. Aaaanyways... He reviews restaurants and eats in San Francisco, and has great pictures of meals on his site. All the places we all wish we were going to, he goes to for us. Um. Other cities as well. Job well done, um, Mister Hungry.

Another popular foodie site is chowhound.com. Very impressive amount of participation from regular folks chiming in with where their fave meal is and where to avoid. Or where your money is/is not well spent. If you're traveling somewhere and want to find good eats, I'd look into this before Zagat.

Next up is this photoset on Flickr from Plemeljr. But first, you'll need to read these "words" out loud for me.
twa
twe
twi
two
Did you just say "tw-oh?" Is that a number? Gee, I dint know.
It has some really beautiful shots of Eero Saarinen TWA terminal at JFK airport in New York City. Now, that's a beauty. For more "reference" pics including interior shots, here.

Next, this is from Jencu's (a fellow shiba inu owner in SF, I've never met though) photoset on Flickr. This is just funny. And 'cuz I don't watch tv (no cable, no reception, just plays dvd's, so don't even ask) I never had heard about this MTV/Yahoo project called IMU. I guess "Breaking Up Is Easy" after all. Here's my new IM shortcut: DCAYCTB (Don't Catch Anything You Can't Throw Back). Um, not that I IM. Can't stand IM really. Oh well. Or texting on my phone for that matter.

Another site I like is this blog: Current Flavor, by a storyboard artist talking about the craft mostly. Since I'm so fascinated by film (and watch just about every dvd commentary/extras I can) this is kewl info. Some great artwork on this blog and the related blog too. Nice work TSM.
I just watched Ultraviolet, a film staring Milla Jovovich. Crazy visual style, but the acting was pretty flat in a lot of places (I thought). I went to the-numbers.com and checked the production budget. I am totally impressed they did all that on $30 mil. I guess that shooting practical locations in Shanghai and Hong Kong helped. And not having major principal actors (for the most part). Still, the style of the film was stunning. It seems the new sci-fi genre is modernist, and more thoughtful. Has anybody else noticed that details are becoming more important?

Ultraviolet and Firefly both use a combination of Chinese and English as the common language. It seems Hollywood is starting to look at what culture might actually become in the future, not just "making stuff up." Oh wait, they still do that; just differently.

Speaking of film, my uncle Thomas Zung, former partner of reknowned architect Buckminster Fuller, (speaking of architects) had an extras role in the film Oh in Ohio. Gee, this doesn't seem like a very recommendable film... But it's playing at the Lumiere right now. I don't really know his (extra) part, just that while it was shooting (about a year ago?) I was told he was in a Danny DeVito film. My immediate question was whether he was in Be Cool? "No, it wasn't that (sequel to Get Shorty), some weird name I don't remember," is what I heard.

A deal I found was on American Eagle Outfitters. Try on a pair of jeans and get a free movie pass for an AMC theatre. Now that the AMC Kabuki in Japantown was sold to Robert Redford's Sundance group (right?), is it still AMC? Sounds like it will be first of many new "Sundance" Theatres. oh-kay.

Another Why that retail is dead (see last blog post), BestBuy has as one of its Wednesday specials, Webroot's SpySweeper spyware app for $39.99. You know you'll prolly pay sales tax in most states too. Well to comparison shop, Wal-Mart's regular price is $29.73 and CompUSA is $49.99. Heck, Webroot's own site sells it for $29.95. 'Nuff said here.

Amazon has the PNY 1 GB Attache flash drive for $16 after a $15 MIR (mail-in rebate). If you don't yet have a flash drive, maybe it's a good time to get one. Of course, I'd suggest getting one that uses a flash mem card (whatever type your camera/phone/PDA uses) so you get more convenience and value. I use mine (Patriot sD card flash drive) for toting doc's and artwork around with me for easy printing at Kinko's or wherever.

Staples 7-day Online Savings Event has some pretty darn good prices. Check it out. Ends 22 July 2006.

photo credits: Ultraviolet image from imdb.com gallery, Zung photo from Buckminster Fuller Institute site.

Headphone Buying Guide & Info

2007-01-24T13:25:00.000-08:00

It seems (sadly) that I go through headphones pretty frequently, and with only 90-day warranties on most, I end up seeking better performers. In this instance, I am not always a fan of "expensive is better."

I can pretty much tell you, that if you look at specs prior to buying, you should be able to tell if they'll sound decent, very good, or excellent. Of course, some of it is just based on how their sound reproduction hits your ear and whetherit suits you... So I just start from here.

I'd done some research on headphones, so here is an overview of what to look for while shoppin' for new ears to rock your mp3 playa.

Three main factors are gonna make you happy (…or not):

In-Ear Sensitivity. Think of the SPL (Sound Pressure Level) rating as how loud one milliWatt of power gets. This is important stuff. You ever plug in some phones and Max Volume Level is sooo much lower than another pair of headphones? 100 dB is prolly the low cut-off in my opinion. 106-110 dB will do nicely. Over 112 dB is best right now.
Impedence. Very important for portables. If you plug ‘em in, how much current gets used by your phones? It depends on impedence. Think of it as efficiency…Lower impedance means less battery drain and longer battery life! Something like that. LOWER impedence (20-35 ohm) is better, match w/ Higher Sensitivity for best results.
Dynamic Range. You still want your small drivers to go low and hit high. Most mid-priced headphones get about 20-20,000 Hz. I want better, like 12- 25,000 Hz (for the lows to get balanced mostly). The high frequencies can tend to get “tin-ny” on headphones so I'd opt for better low response (12-18 Hz).

I'd say you couldn't possibly go wrong with the AKG K-27i (iPod) Heaadphones (above) from DJdeals.com for $58 with free shipping. 126 dBA SPL, 32 ohm impedance, and 11 Hz to 28.5 kHz!

Another solid choice is the Sennheiser PX200 closed ear headphones. 10-21,000 Hz dynamic range, 32 ohm impedance, and 115 dB Sensitivity. They are foldable, light, and comfortable enough to wear all day long, fer real. Best part, these performers cost only about $50 these days.

If you want something for home theater use that will blow your ear canals to wimpy little bits, the AKG K-181 Headphones are right there for ya. Sure, they're $164 (free shipping), but at 120 dB SPL and 42 ohms what else gets low like 5 Hz low and high like 30,000 kHz ? That's like... under-the-rug limbo low, and high like... um... Snoop Dog...ummm. Oh, never mind.

Further choices:

Do you want noise-canceling? I don’t. It’s simple… Safety demands that I have a small sound input from the outside world while walking along or whatever. Plus size/weight. Noise canceling has to generate a sound wave that counters the audible levels we are sensitive to. That means a battery. That means heavy. It also means your headphone battery may expire before your mp3/cell phone. That would suck if you can’t listen to music ‘cuz o’ your headphones. Oh, the irony of it all.
Open Air or Closed Air. Contrary to noise-canceling arguments I’ve just made… I prefer closed ear. The sound is much, much cleaner. And I trust myself to know when to turn ‘em down if I need to hear a little ambient sound from my environment.
Ear buds? No way. Unless your shelling out hundreds for the customs… They don’t fit well enough and get uncomfortable after a while. Plus, if you snag the cord on something your ear can get kinda hurt/sore… Just not for me, others like the portability of them. Your personal call here.

Other features:

I’d always prefer a shorter cord- like 3-4.5 ft. A 6+ ft cord is only good for studio (“monitor”) headphones I’ll mostly use at home.
I also would prefer a volume control on the headphone cord. Just another feature you can actually use. I find it indispensable when I get used to it.
Folding: only helpful if they are durable enough and fold into a fairly compact size. Still, a small benefit, but mostly my headphones remain on my neck when not in use, so not a big dealio.
Around the neck phones? Nah, I can never get comfortable with these. Wearing most mid-profile baseball caps pushes these HARD against the top of my ears. Wearing a knit cap/skully/beanie means these have to go UNDER them most likely. You'd look like a phreak with earPods. These can “pinch” against eyeglasses or sunglasses around the top of your ear. They also get very, very tangled around the speaker, it’s the shape of the plastic molded into something that will take lots more untangling after they’ve settled into your backpack or handbag.

There you have it, most of these stats and facts were gleaned from this webpage. Check it out if you want more deets. Oh and this site Buyer's Edge has a great price search engine for audio and tech stuff.

If you just can't do without sporting the hottest headphone on the planet, I suggest you check out the DJ headphone stylings at DJdeals.com. Their prices are amazing, and their selection rox0rz!

Just don't get the Sony MDR-V700's. Ask any DJ, they've prolly broken their first pair in no time at all. They break almost as crazily as Crazy Legs in Beat Street. They may look cool, and be fairly priced, but even their sound isn't up to par for monitor phones. Cheers.

image credits: AKG K-27i Headphones from DJdeals.com, Sennheiser PX200 headphones from PriceGrabber.com.

Nu Things I Like.

2006-07-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

Well, Target (tar-zhay) is becoming a pretty kewl spot. Their prices on dvd's is fantastic. I found Sin City and the Collector's Edition of Pulp Fiction for $10 a piece during a 4th of July sale at the Colma store location. An old classic I really liked, Sneakers, that I hadn't seen in about 5 whiles (many more than a while) is still really good and was $7.50 in-store. In fact, it's a lot less dated than almost any other tech movie I've seen (like War Games).

Still on movies, they have the Ghostbusters I & II combo pack for like 14 bucks (first was great, 2nd was forgettable). And somebody puh-leez explain how the first-ever full length animated French film Kaena is $21.99 as a standalone, but is $12.99 as a combo-pack with Final Fantasy The Spirits Within. Both are exceptional anime films that never got their due respect IMHO. I just recently watched FF: Advent Children from Netflix, and thought it lacked the story narrative for a standalone film (if you know the background it might be much better), anyways I felt disappointed since FF: Spirits Within is a top film of mine for its elaborate work.

What else to tell? I tried a few flavors of their new Bibita Italian Sodas, the Blood Orange and Lemon flavors are really delish. I'm not crazy about the Wild Berry, it tastes kinda like uhhhh... cranberry soda that's gotten a little ripe... like sat in a hot car for a few days or something... Not that I drink that kind of thing, I'm just, um, speaking figuratively here. Anyways, sodas don't seem to be rep'ed on their site, so visit your local Tar-zhay. huh.

Still on the topic of dee-vee-dee's and Tarzhay... I recently watched the entire season of Firefly. Too bad this show was cancelled so quickly, it was really entertaining. Something like a western-futuristic-Shakespearean tv-series just grabs hold of me I guess. Sorry, I dunno how to explain it, but it is really something different. Which is prolly part of what I liked 'bout it, and what the studio suits prolly dint. Well Target's got it for $35 bones for the 4 disc set (13 episodes). I'm waiting for Triplets of Belleville on my Nflix queue, seems interesting, stylistically maybe something new I'll dig.

What else is new? Well, in the two weeks since my last post (sorry folks, not that I'm guessing anybody even noticed), I've been a bit busy. I just got my spanking new Canon S3 IS camera. I didn't even realize a few of the new features it has. And it has many. But it's mostly still a smallish upgrade to the S2. But enough to definitely make it worth my while. I just posted some very unglamorous ISO test shots on my flickr gallery to show the differences in 80-800 ISO's. Anyways, I got it from Dell for like (here's the math stuff) $499.20-25% off promotion ($99.80)- $100 concession coupon (got on eBay for $68, blogged this whiles back), and a $35 off coupon from eBay for $4. Tax was AFTER discounts, so figure my total was $358.66 for a $500 camera, not bad I say. Sorry, promo was only for 450 redemptions and ended quick.

I was just checking the SF Giants website for the "Take Your Dog to the Game" night... Alas, it is still coming up on Saturday August 5th! Tix are here. But there are some interesting upcoming events at the whatcha-ma-callit Park. How about poker nite Monday, July 31st. Or singles nite Friday Sept. 8th. Or, um... (now don't be confusing your Friday and your Tuesday peeps), Tuesday Sept 12th is LGBT nite.

Lastly, my first Woot! purchase seems to be not-perfect. I've nearly cracked the Logitech Bluetooth headphones all the way through perfectly down the center (between the two headphones on the stabilizer bar/headband thingy). Doh! More customer service issues, geez...

My flickr gallery just reached 1003 visits! Cheers peeps.
(photo credits: Kaena image from Target's site, S3 image from Canon's site, Bonds image from SF Giants photo gallery)

Internet Security, Fraud and Protecting Yourself

2007-01-25T17:49:00.000-08:00

I've been dealing with some unfortunate fraud claims and figured I'd share a bit of info. I might lose some credibility here just based on the fact I've still had credit card fraud issues and my thoughts are not bulletproof in keeping the bad guys away.

For the record, I will reiterate, that I am in no way compensated for any content I provide on my blog, and have no incentives to post anything. Further, I check EVERY single site and page I post a link to. I have never linked a page I have not visited myself, and I will never do so to maintain security. I believe the links I post to be safe and accurate to the descriptions I give.

For a while I got calls nearly daily from 727-471-1418. Just a quick Google search shows that many others got these same calls. While I'd never answered the phone, I have some words of caution I would share with any/all readers (see below).

Last week I got a call from 602-624-4919 and heard nothing but dead air on the line for a few seconds before the call was disconnected. If you get any type of call like this, I'd strongly suggest you only say "Hello" or "who is this." Don't offer ANY information like, "Hello, this is Mathilda, is anybody there?" That could be the beginning of a Social Engineering structure...

I also had several fraudulent charges on my credit cards... Here's an example: Mfire Internet Services. I Google'd them to find the phone number matched that on my credit card statement. I called (use caller ID blocking here!). Here's my full conversation summarized:

Mfire rep: "Mfire Internet Services, this is Anthony. How can I help you?"
(First sign of trouble, a live "agent" answers... How many times does THAT happen with a real ISP or Domain Hosting Service... HA HA.)

me: "I'm calling to find out if you have any other names you do business as?" The idea is these days with technology, one never knows if my current internet company (ISP or domain hosts) has merged. I was trying to find out.

Mfire rep: "Hold on, I'll try to see... No, we don't."

me: "Okay, I was recently billed by you, and I figure this must be an error."

(here's where this person is trying to earn trust and confidence...)
Mfire: "It sounds like this might be an unauthorized charge we can look into."

me: "No, I'll look into it myself thank you."

Mfire: "I can check on that for you to confirm your account, if you'll give me the first 4 and last four numbers of your card."

me: "What card?" (I'd never mentioned a "card," I could've received a paper "bill"... hmmm).

Mfire: "The card you had the charge made to."

me: "No, I'll file a claim on my own. That won't be necessary."

Mfire: "If you'd prefer we can look you up to confirm your account using your last name and phone number..."

me: "No, thanks. I'll be dealing with this independently. Good bye."

Here's the deal: I do not and have not ever had an account with Mfire. From the phone service I have had with my ACTUAL ISP and Domain Hosting companies, I can tell you this... The first piece of info they ask for is your domain (your "account" number for ISP and your domain name IS usually your "account" for hosting). Only after this, would they ask you to confirm any personal info.

Here are some steadfast rules to apply:

NEVER click a link in an e-mail that is asking for financial info... I have all my financial account log-in pages bookmarked in Firefox. I go to Firefox and open a new browser page to log-in. The e-mail may be a good reminder a bill is due- especially if it coincides with your billing cycle, but why trust it when you've got your site log-in bookmarked?
Don't fill in more personal info than you need to. If a phone number is not required for a site registration, don't fill it in. It's simple really.
Be careful with your password reminders. These may give other people that learn personal info about you unknowing access to your secure info by circumventing the passwords you use.
If you EVER get a phone call that is regarding financial or personal info, find out what it is regarding (give little to no info during the conversation). Ask if the person has a phone number that you may call back before sharing personal info or financial info. Before calling back, use the internet to confirm that the number given is the ACTUAL number of the company they claim to represent. It's a simple step, and very worthwhile.
If you are using your cell phone in a public place, be EXTREMELY cautious when talking about sensitive information. A common verification with accounts is the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you can enter using the keypad, do so... Otherwise, lower your voice as much as possible. There is no reason to give out personal info over the phone to strangers (like the verification code on the back of your card, your zip code, or last four of SSN).

Understand this... E-mail links are NOT always what they claim to be. I have received many that "show" a different target e-mail address (like PayPal or Bank of America) but send to a different address altogether. I have a basic understanding of html coding, so I can glean this from the full headers in a mail message usually... It can often be a simple line of code to makes something appear to be something it is not. (see the Microsoft link below for an example).

You may think it is not a big deal when you are repeating your zip code for account verification to your stock broker or whatever over your cell phone. But many purchase points (like gas stations) ONLY require this 5 digit number to authorize your card for use. No PIN, no code off the back. This can create a dangerous situation you don't need to be a part of.

Use the internet as a research tool. If you're getting calls from numbers you don't know, or billed from companies you've never heard of... Look them up using Google or reverse telephone directories!

I would suggest using caution when making internet purchases. If one seller offers a new electronic product for 25% less than any other, I'd be kinda worried. If you have good experiences, continue using the same sites. Most likely, the price differences aren't worth fiddling with multiple shipments from multiple suppliers- all for a couple bucks.

A HUGE element is participation. Rate the sellers you use and have experience with. Not only will you gain a historic profile of those sellers (after some time you may forget if your experience was good or bad with them), you help others gain better insight. It doesn't matter if you rate them on Amazon, PriceGrabber, Yelp, epinions, ResellerRatings, Shopzilla, Smarter.com, any other site, or all of the above. Just do a small part... It really helps.

Here are a few links to recent fraud threats and useful tips:

Microsoft's advice and definitions of fraud threats, a very useful page. It defines phishing, social engineering and many of the processes people use to try to gain your trust.
A page dedicated to awareness of bank e-mail scams and phishing.
Info about phone number: 602-624-4919, and a resource for others to post about phone numbers that may be phishing threats.
Info about phone number 727-471-1418, while this link has a domain that looks iffy (like why would the "g" be missing from the key layout in the domain name?") at best, I have visited it and it appears to be very credible site.
Another site re: 727-471-1418, and dedicated to stopping junk phone calls.
Mfire Internet: from the above example that I believe is a social engineering structure.

That's it for now... Sheesh I've been making really long posts this week. I hope some find this helpful. Drop me a comment if you have something to say... I do spend my own personal time creating this blog and really do appreciate feedback. Cheers.

Apple iPhone, iPod, iTunes: I'm No Longer a Mac Power User

2007-01-25T12:35:00.000-08:00

This here post is not gonna be too Apple friendly. See, I was a Mac power-user for ages, since I was first introduced to the Mona Lisa (pre-cursor to the Classic) by David Kelley (founder of Ideo). But no longer, and I doubt if Apple could ever win me back- here's why.

This is a watershed time for Apple. Prolly the first time they have captured more than a 5% market share for computers since the late 80's. iTunes and iPods are selling like hotcakes of the grizzle fo' shizzle. But what is really going on? And why did I convert to PC's when more people are converting to Macs?

First, let's look at the history. Apple has always had a better, more user-friendly interface. It's just a fact; the drag-and-drop functionality, double-click open folders, and no command-line. Well, I'd say since Windows 2000 or certainly XP, Microsoft has emulated the Mac interface pretty well, so Apple has somewhat lost this former competitive advantage.

Second, graphics industry professionals stood by Macs. They've always been pricey, but their graphic interface held better color and resolutions than the average PC. Now, PC's are getting closer, I'd say a slight advantage still goes to Apple here. But the universality of Macs in the "professional" world is gone. Now with all the app's and hardware offering "true native" program suites like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe CS2 Premium, there is little reason to buy expensive Macs.

Apple wants to own you. The don't want you to get under the hood and upgrade a motherboard, or swap your hard drives out for 10,000 rpm drives, or try to overclock your rig. You'll void your warranty (same as PC), but... If you ever need repairs, you'll have to pay Apple to fix/modify just about anything.

This also is why Apple will prolly never offer mp3 players with memory slots. They don't want shareware getting onto their precious proprietary iPods. They don't want hacks. True, the argument can be made this is a reason it's a more secure platform, with less viruses and invasive threats... But now with Intel chips and running Microsoft OS's natively let's see if that holds true forever.

I saw this coming... When I first learned about the switch to Intel chips, I saw the writing on the wall. Let's understand something. Apple has pretty much never been about manufacturing their own technology. They've always used IBM and Motorola processors, Hitachi and Seagate hard drives, and Samsung flash memory (iPods). Now, choosing Intel was in my opinion, a step behind. I think they should've gone with AMD as a better fit, smaller guy against goliath, great performer, strong justifications for consumers.

Technologically, Apple was kinda slipping behind PC's when I was shopping for a new puter in August/September of 2005. Their bus speeds were particularly behind, bottlenecking the blazing performance of their cpu's. Memory speeds were not that fantastic either.

And again, price. A serious G5 Dual processor Desktop would've run me over $6000 with a 20" monitor from Apple. I just couldn't afford that in order to remain a Mac loyalist. The PC rig I built cost less than $2000 with 19" XGA display, XP Pro OS, and performance to match an almost-top-of-the-line G5 Dual at the time.

Now, Macs were gonna try to merge into the PC market, what they've should've done in the 80's. Understand my reasoning, IF Apple allowed "clones" at their inception (1984), they would now dominate the computer hardware market. Without question. But they dint so, let's move on.

Apple is far superior in industrial design and marketing. Here, they rule. And prolly always will. It is their Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA) as venture capitalists would say. Is iTunes the best way to own music? Far from it, you don't really own full rights to use it as you would an actual CD album. Are iPods the best mp3 players? Not a chance. No replaceable battery, the most expensive in each respective category, usually not the best battery life, and no external memory slots. Sure a better user interface than most, I recognize that.

I believe Apple has strayed from a focus on hardware. They are now selling what appeals. Their Mac Pro Desktops are now Intel machines, iTunes and iPods are their money makers... And look what's next, the iPhone. Let's get on that subject.

Here is the CNet article Thirteen Reasons to Doubt the iPhone Hype. And these are VALID reasons people. Before we get all huffy and defensive just 'cuz it looks cool (like iPod loyalists are prone to do), let's be objective here.

A full touch-screen. Yeah, just try to access anything (like dialing a phone number) without looking directly at it. Driving your car couldn't get more distracting.
No memory slot. And prolly never will be on future generation iPhones.
No full-version of iTunes. What? Can't xfer my playlists directly? This bites.
Watered-down OS X. Multi-tasking? It is said that you prolly cannot watch a video at the same time as making a phone call, or use a "desktop application" while on the phone. So where's the multi-tasking? I can drink a milkshake and listen to the mp3 player?
No replaceable battery. All I can say is you'd think Apple has learned their lesson... And they have. Consumers continue to allow them to get away with this costly consumer disadvantage, so it continues... Ughhh!
How much? At $500 for 4GB and $600 for 8GB models, it's more than a Treo or Blackberry, right? And way less user functions and features IMHO. Just don't step in this, it's not a good idea.

Once again, Apple does what they do best. Bring a new, unique product to market... In a very pretty package... Market it perfectly... offering less and costing more. I'm guessing these will sell okay-ish to early adopters, but not tremendously overall. You want to own it, until you actually own it. Then you'll prolly wish you owned just anything else.

For more info check out the Apple Discussions Boards for iTunes and iPods. Check the Cnet reviews and my CNet forum post regarding iTunes. Before deciding to buy Apple, check the alternatives for available offerings . You might just be glad you did.

Okay, you certainly don't have to agree with my rant. Feel free to drop me a comment. This is all just one person's opinion. Cheers.

image credits: iPhone from apple.com (they really need a better hand model here, those nails are just icky), Sansa e260 (a serious iPod-killer contender) from SanDisk.com.

Gadgets, Gizmos, and Old Skool.

2007-01-24T22:29:00.000-08:00

First off, you may have noticed I've added a Clustr Map to the sidebar. Now you too can see where everybody visits from. And how sadly my traffic numbers have dwindled off, oh well.

I'm not really endorsing a website, it's just that there is so much goodness there that it darn near takes over my blog. It's not like I haven't done this before (Target and The Cool Hunter come to mind)... And this time it is ThinkGeek.

C'mon, from a USB Beverage Chiller to the Logitech MX Revolution mouse... Waitasec, that quote there really got to me:

"On average, people have six applications open on their computer at any one time, and the active window switches or new windows open every 50 seconds in an eight hour day. To navigate the vast content at their disposal, people spin their mouse's scroll wheel approximately 26 feet in an eight-hour day."

Well, I always knew I wasn't average. I mean, I get whole 24-hour days, gosh some peeps really are getting cheated and oughta talk to The Big Boss.

The Super T-Amp is supposedly Class T certified and only $140 bones. Wow, "save energy, save the planet," right? Now, if I could get to using AMD Athlon 64 X2 60nm 65Watt CPU's and Class-T amps, I'd be living large on a smaller eco-footprint. Well, someday perhaps.

Saving the best couple for last... The InstantMusic Vinyl & Cassette Ripper is for those who are still on analog format and wishing to step up to the new digital age. Yup, eight track, cassette, vinyl lp's, whatever... this is taking on all comers. Uh, just be sure you know, it's only a converter, it don't include no player, playa.

The 20Q Mind Reader may not be exactly what you wanna pull out of your pocket at your next birthday party bash, but... if it's more of a LAN party, then all bets are off. I think I mentioned (re: Pl eo Designer Dinosaur), I'm not allowed to own toys smarter than me, and that certainly includes this. I mean, 20 Questions and how exactly does it come up with tank, platypus, and fetish as correct answers? That's just downright scary... and wrong.

You want Tru Old Skool? Ain't nuthin' say that better'n a Bluetooth Retro Handset. Start growing that hi-top fade out now... While we're at it, let's bring back the wall- clocks- worn- around- the- neck (a la Public Enemy).

Oh but the hits just keep on coming. You ever think of sprucing up your kitchen counter with something different? Well, this would be that. The Ex - Unique Knife Holder. I'd hate to be the model that posed for this sculpture. Ouch, that's gotta hurt, I hope they got hazard pay.

My last little tidbit is about Adobe's Photoshop CS3 Beta Release. Yup, never in the history of Photoshop has there ever been a beta available like this, nor has there ever been a FREE release available. Ever. You just gotta have a valid serial number from a previous release- and you got it chum. Cheers.

image credits: Super T-Amp from ThinkGeek.com, 20Q Mind Reader from ThikGeek.com, Bluetooth Retro handset from ThinkGeek.com, The Ex Knife Holder from ThinkGeek.com.

Muppets: Manamana Video repost.

2007-01-24T23:14:00.000-08:00


Manamana Muppets Video

I've had several visitors searching for this Muppet vid clip I posted many moons ago, so here it is again for your viewing pleasure (from Google Video). A true classic.

Digital Photography Tips and Links.

2007-01-21T11:53:00.000-08:00

I’m really missing my my Canon S3 IS digital camera. It had some prollems and is back w/ Canon for a warranty repair. The lens mechanism froze, it wouldn’t fully retract, nor would it extend. Bummer.

I’ve been trying to shoot several days every week. We’ve had amazing light here in San Francisco, with some spectacular sunsets. After nearly 7 months with this camera, I feel like I have an inkling of what I’m actually doing. And I love some of the results. This isn’t to sound boastful. I mean, anybody can take some good shots with digital, provided one is willing to spend time understanding how their camera works & what features it offers.

Here are some interesting digital photography tidbits:

Flickr is about the best, most amazing resource one can find. Free membership, photosharing, and tons of useful features- I paid the $25 for a “Pro” account. I cannot communicate how tremendous Flickr is. Search others ’ photos and prepare to be inspired by what’s possible.

I’ve gotta find a better way to upload my photos to Flickr. This is a time consuming task when selecting them one-at-a-time using the “upload” page. I’ve narrowed it down to two options.

Flock is a full web browser that has a user-interface for Flickr and Photobucket websites. Drag and Drop and batch upload images in a pinch. Just don’t expect me to leave Firefox anytime soon… or ever.

jUploadr is a photo uploader that offers rich features for flickr users. I’ll prolly give this a shot first, just haven’t yet. Remember, I need my camera back first before I have anything new to upload.

Wanna add some interestingness to your profile page? fd’s Flickr Toys can you. Go to the “Profile Widget” link and type in your user name, and cut ‘n paste the given code to your profile. You’ll have one of those swank widgets on your profile that includes your pics and some of your more interesting stats.

Also of interest is Flickr Inspector. This easy tool gives you great insight into your profile and usage… And… you’ll get a Flickr Score! oh. Not that any of us are competitive or anything… (okay, my current score is 1192). I guess scores are like golf, you’re trying to go low. lol. Anyways zee stats zat zees ”eeen-speck-tohr” offers are worth a look.

Another thing to do is GEO-TAG your pics. Put ‘em on a map and let people search them geographically. Here’s a shor t screencast video explaining how to map your pics.

If you wanna see what I’m talking about, you can always peep my flickr profile and my flickr map. By the way, I’ve had 850 new & unique visitors so far this month (total 3,350 now). Thanks for coming by!

I’ve mentioned dpreview countless times as a great resource for photogs. But I just found this article on correcting barrel distortion. Definitely visit if you’ve got a long zoom or shoot lots of wideangle.

…I’ve decided my camera is too valuable to not protect better… So, I’m getting a bodyguard for it. Yup, you read right. I’m figuring it’s time to invest a little.

Many Canon S3 IS users swear by using a lens adapter to protect the body and lens element/mechanism of this precious 12x optical zoom camera. Yeah. I’ve been reading up on this stuff. And about that 6-72mm f/2.7 lens… (quote from Luminous Landscape Canon S3 IS review)…

“The lens on this camera is a 12X zoom with a focal length of 6 – 72mm and an aperture of f/2.7 (wide end) to f/3.5 (long end). The focal length needs to be put into context with its 35mm equivalent; 36 – 432mm. This is a huge focal range, and a very fast aperture for such a long lens. If this lens had been designed for a 35mm full-frame camera it would weigh 25 lbs and cost more than most cars.”

Go ahead, argue this point if you like. The fact is: that’s some pretty fast glass, almost impossibly compact while it extends only 1.1” out of the body, and is included on a point & shoot (P&S) digital camera for under $360 from solid retailers these days. Sheesh.

But can this P&S do all I want? I dunno. But I’m planning to get a lens adapter to help make sure I don’t ever have a problem with the lens again, but I won’t get a UV lens (like most get) to cover their lens. Nah, I’m planning to go with a Hoya HMC circular polarizer. I figure we get some pretty hazy & foggy light in SF, so this should be a winner. It’s a solid performer and way less than the ($100) B+W MRC CP I’d think about if money was no object.

I also plan to get a rubber lens hood to help when shooting towards the sun. And it will further help to Cover My Glass.

Alright, it doesn’t stop there. Since I’ve got a lens adapter (uh, not yet, please just follow my stream of consciousness here)… I’m gonna use the 52mm front threads. I’ve been very interested in IR photography. That’s Infrared for those not in the know. I’ve simply gotta see this stuff happen. Tons more info about IR photography here.

While I’m not planning further upgrades, lens, or filters… I wouldn’t be opposed to considering a wide angle converter, prolly the Raynox HD-4500P .45x ($90), and maybe a Raynox MSN-202 Macro Lens ($65). But I doubt I can afford to get that carried away, maybe not even all that necessary.

So, here’s what I hope to order this week, to have in time for my S3’s return:

- Lensmate 52mm (black) lens adapter ($23)
- Lensmate 52mm slip-on lens cap ($5)
- Hoya HMC Circular Polarizer 52mm ($59)
- Hoya R-72 IR filter 52mm ($39)
- Lensmate Rubber Collapsible Lens Hood ($5)

Now, with $7 USPS Priority shipping from Lensmate totals $131. That’s a cheap “bodyguard” for a precious camera. And adds heaps of new features I simply don’t have without the lens adapter. I can’t wait to start snapping to see what I can push (-bad pun!) this thing to do. Just the thought makes me shutter (-worse pun!).

Do I need to consider a DSLR? Wow, that would be fantastic, but we’re talking a $1000 body and at least $1000 in glass. Prolly more like $1500 minimum for some relatively fast glass (like f/2.8 or better). I can safely admit, that is so NOT in my budget right now.

Anyways, I want a dSLR that simply doesn’t exist yet. But might in the next iteration of either the Canon EOS 30D (I’m thinking Canon EOS 40D here) or the Nikon D80/D200 (I’m thinking Nikon D90 here). Basically, here’s my future DSLR wish list and prognostication (I’m hoping Canon gets this right).

- 10.2 megapixel or higher. While MP’s don’t always matter, they do when you start cropping a frame. I want as much flexibility as possible.
- I’d ultimately want the Canon DIGIC III processor in this camera, I think it tops everything else on the market, period.
- Secure Digital/ SDHC card format. Dontcha know SDHC is taking over the flash mem market? Currently an 8GB Transcend 60x SDHC card is $91 shipped, an 8GB Ritek 80x CompactFlash Type I card is $132. Personally, I trust Transcend (I use them now) and I don’t know hoot about Ritek.
- 5 fps in high-speed continuous “burst” mode.
- 1/8000 shutter speed capable - I don’t care if ISO 3200 is listed, it’s prolly not gonna be usable for anything. But a decent ISO 2400 would be great indeed, and a good ISO 2000 would be fantastic. Wow, that sounds weird just saying it.

The following features would just be gravy, but less “essential” to my decision:

- I’d like to have the option of using AA batteries “in-camera.” I know Nikon currently offers an option to use AA’s in their extended MB-D80 battery pack.
- I wouldn’t be opposed to a slightly larger screen, maybe 2.8” LCD with 270,000 pixels. I don’t care if it hurts battery life a tad. Seeing what you’re shooting is kinda important IMO.
- I’m really rooting for Canon to bring this dSLR to market, so I can also wish for a swivel LCD. It’s immensely useful, when you need it. I almost can’t imagine not having this feature anymore.
- Now, get all this into a package for $995 for the DSLR Body Only. That would be something amazing. I think that’s a goal all the mfr’s have right now, stay under a grand for a solid DSLR opener, and make money continually on lenses…

I think it’s all possible. Granted, I have no way of buying this dream camera, even if it were announced at PMA 2007 at the front of March. I’m not asking for a full-frame DSLR. I’ve totally dropped my wish for the Foveon X3 chip. I’ve gotten over the fact that a $1000+ camera body comes w/ only a 1-year warranty (that sounds iPod-ish to me, which is certainly NOT good).

I also need many good reasons to buy a DSLR, like features that aren’t available on my S3: Higher ISO’s, 5 fps shooting, more megapixels, 8000 1/f… some of these features would directly relate to having a Canon DIGIC III sensor.

I’m thinking this will be the new Canon EOS 40D, you heard it here first. Basically, an EOS 30D updated with 10.2 megapixels, a DIGIC III chip, ISO 2000 and 2400, sD/SDHC card format. It might have a 2.8” LCD, I doubt it will swivel. I also doubt AA battery use in-camera will arrive.

Do I care if flash recharge time improves, or if I can get 18 RAW shots vs. the real 13 RAW shots now in continuous? If AF goes to 11-point to compete w/ Nikon D80? If Direct Print or wireless connection is offered? Nah, not much. Who uses a dSLR and doesn’t at least color calibrate (proof) their images to a printer?

For anybody shopping, the current street on a Canon EOS 30D is just over $1100 for body only, about $400 less than it was 5 months ago (? I think Canon dropped retail price a whiles back). A better deal is Costco, where you can pick up the 30D body w/ 18-55mm lens & 75-300mm lens for $1230 after $220 in rebates (includes ship, doesn’t include possible sales tax). I pretty much won’t settle for less than the DIGIC III and 10MP- and I cannot afford $200+ in CF cards (2GB + 4GB) when I have 4+ GB of sD cards already.

Hey, the last time I went out on a limb, I was prognosticating X-Men 3 and the box office returns it would do. It (pretty much) nailed my estimates (only 3 days counted in official weekend for $102.7 million, I figured 4 days would be counted for between $105-120 million). It finished at $122.8 mil for 4 days. It also holds the #5 spot on top-10 weekends of all-time. Here's to hoping anyways... Cheers.

image credits: Flickr logo from Flickr.com, Flickr Profile Widget from fd's Flickr Toys, Canon S3 IS w/ Lensmate 52mm lens adapter from LensMate, Canon EOS 30D from Digital Photography Review.