Canon EOS 5D Mark III: Reviewed

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III is designed to present you with the ultimate in quality performance. Launched in early March 2012, this digital camera maintains the quality of its predecessor, the 5D Mark II, yet is equipped with even more enhanced features. To begin, you will notice that Mark III comes with a magnesium alloy body. Professionals who specialize in outdoor photography will be glad to know that the camera can survive even the most unfriendly environments. The EOS 5D Mark III and its accessories are water and dust resistant. The new comfortably designed grip also allows easy handling with less hand fatigue. Meanwhile, the camera's shutter is made with lightweight carbon-fiber blades that are able to be used for up to 150,000 cycles of up to 6.0 fps.

The camera features a full-frame 22.3 megapixel CMOS sensor for creating clear, detailed, high-resolution pictures. This product sports improved sensor sensitivity, which brings you the best EOS camera with the highest ISO and lowest noise. Apart from that, the EOS 5D Mark III also offers 14-bit digital signal processing that creates great images under a variety of lighting conditions. The camera has adjustable sensitivity from a minimum of ISO 50 (L) to the maximum of ISO 51200 (H1) and ISO 102400 (H2). Along with the expanded ISO range, Mark III also comes equipped with automatic ISO selection that is accessible through the ISO menu.

Similar to its predecessor, the EOS 5D Mark II, the latest version also features a Self Cleaning Sensor Unit. This enhanced feature allows the camera to provide you with better dust removal, hence clearer images. The camera prevents dust buildup by utilizing infrared absorbing/ultraviolet-blocking glass to remove particles stuck to the surface.

The camera's 3.2-inch TFT LCD screen comprises 1,040,000 dots and an anti-reflective surface. The monitor also utilizes Canon's Clear View II technology, which promises bright and sharp images and video in any situation. For easy image review, the monitor is accompanied by a Magnify/Reduce button. Zooming in or out your preferred image up to 10x cannot be easier than by pressing the button within the Main Dial.

When it comes to video recording, Canon EOS 5D Mark III also has such excellent performance that cannot be compared to a DSLR camera. The HD video recorder gives you both All-I and IPB compression, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile support, and automatic split (using FAT format) when you record video having a size of more than 4GB. You can also choose to record a single moment using the Rec Run mode, or accompany it with multi-camera shooting utilizing the Free Run mode. With enhanced sound adjustment of a 64-step volume control, you will be able to shoot with professional results.

Samsung UN55ES8000 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D Slim LED HDTV

Smart TVs have more or less been the biggest gadget craze in recent years. With a smart TV, you are able to perform many tasks like doing a video chat, watching movies through online services, and also looking at your past photo galleries. The Samsung UN55ES8000 is able to perform all of these activities. In this article, we have a look at the features and specifications of this great Samsung TV.

First, one should note that this is a LED television. Compared to a Plasma TV, there are several advantages of getting a LED TV. For example, if you want to perform functional tasks on your television (e.g. browse the web), you would find a LED TV is more capable of performing such tasks. If you do not have any dark areas in your house or apartment then you may again want to consider a LED TV because they do not result in an effect called sunlight glares.

So what is so great about the Samsung UN55ES8000 LED television? In terms of its primary features, you are getting a TV that is equipped with services such as facial recognition, voice navigation, and a fitness recorder. Does that mean big brother is watching me while I am watching the television? Not at all. The facial recognition feature is there to help you log on to services quickly and efficiently. It utilizes an in-built camera which automatically recognizes your face so you don't have to type your account information using the remote control.

The Fitness feature is pretty awesome. You can maintain a healthy lifestyle watching TV (who knew this was possible?) by using the video-on-demand exercise service from the Samsung UN55ES8000. You can even track your progress by downloading an exercise app on your television.

Another feature I want to share with you is the Family Story program. Using this program, you can share your precious family moments with this smart TV. The program allows you to upload photos, chat, and even post messages. It's pretty much a television version of Facebook.

As cool as these features are, you should also take note of the technical specifications of the Samsung UN55ES8000. The television utilizes a 1080p video resolution so you can be assured that you will be watching top quality television. The Samsung UN55ES8000 also comes with 2D & 3D HD capabilities so you can watch movies like Avatar without having to visit the nearby movie theater. In conclusion, we believe this is a great television and you should definitely have it in your shortlist when you visit an electronic store.

Home Media Networking: An Overview

Setting up a home media network may seem like a daunting task at first glance, but it's not as complicated as you might think. So, if this is something you've been interested in exploring you've come to the right place. Over the next few weeks we'll examine the hardware and software options that are available for this type of solution. In addition, each article will walk you through the process of setting up the respective component. So lets get started! Here are the major topics we'll address:

Network Setup and Configuration Series

The first step in the process is to lay the foundation for your media network. Before we can start talking about media and the related hardware/software options, we need to get the actual network in place. So, this series will cover what you need to know in terms of wired/wireless networking basics.

Media Storage and Distribution Series

If you already have a network set up in your home that will suffice you can start here and refer to the first series if you run into bandwidth issues later on. This set of articles will address the online and local storage options for your media, as well as how you will 'serve' the files to your entertainment center. Some of what will be discussed here includes setting up a traditional server configuration and basic network attached storage to using providers like Amazon Music.

Home Playback Series

So, you made it through the previous two series and you're ready to start enjoying your media. Well we're almost there, but there's another step. The Home Playback series discusses how your media center and the various other devices in your home are going to receive all those files. It'll cover building a custom home theatre PC, how to make use of an existing video game console, and some media players specifically designed for this purpose.

Mobile Playback Series

If you're anything like me you are going to want to enjoy your media while you're out and about. This topic is a natural extension of the discussion on how to build a media network for you home since you'll have the ability to serve your files locally and remotely with the solutions we cover in the Media Storage and Distribution series. So, the Mobile Playback series will look at the Google, Apple, and Microsoft offerings that will turn you into a true mobile warrior.

TAGS: 802.11bgn, network, WEP, wifi, WPA, WPA2, bridge, wirelessbridge, wireless bridge, home theatre, server, home theater, HomeTheater, DNLA, NAS, app store, apps, AppStore, Android, iOS, Windows Phone 7, Vista, XP, Windows 7, Linksys, Router, Cat5e, Cat5

Boost Your Home Network: A Few Options

It's not uncommon to find yourself in the situation where your wi-fi router isn't getting the job done for your home.  Poor connectivity can be due to a number of issues from the use of electric appliances to the construction of your home.  It may also be the case that you need an extended range solution for a wired device.  Fortunately there are solutions that can solve these issues, and we'll discuss a few of them here.

Wi-fi Range Extender

The image above shows the Netgear Universal Wi-fi Range Extender.  This is a relatively simple solution, as you plug it into the wall and forget about it.  It's compatible with b/g/n networks and supports WPA/WPA2/WEP encryption.  One interesting feature is that it has an LED indicator that will let you know the best location for the device in your home.  It can also act as a wireless bridge for a single device (more on wireless bridges in a moment.

Powerline Adapters

Another possibility is the Netgear Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter if the Universal Wi-fi Range Extender isn't an option.  One scenario where this would be more ideal is if you have a relatively large home, you need internet access on either side, and you don't want to daisy-chain Wi-fi extenders across the house.  The powerline adapter essentially turns your home electrical system into a wired network.  This is an elegant solution in that you can gain access anywhere in the house that you have an outlet.  One possibility with this device, as well as the wi-fi ranger extender, is that you can connect it to another router and enable multiple Ethernet-only devices to connect to the network.

Home-brewed Wireless Bridge

The final solution for improving access to your network is home-brewed using a Linksys wi-fi router and DD-WRT firmware.  Setting something like this up is beyond the scope of this article, but stay tuned for an in-depth tutorial later.  This is a great, and cheap, option of you have an extra Linksys router laying around since the only other thing you need is a free download of the DD-WRT firmware.  Once you have the firmware it's just a matter of updating the router with it and specifying the various options in the control panel. Again, this is a bit more technically challenging than the other two options, but it allows you to to create a 'bridge' for multiple Ethernet devices wirelessly, thus combining some of the strongest features of the first two options.


TAGS: 802.11bgn, availability, bgn, dead spot, DeadSpot, extender, LED indicator, LedIndicator, netgear,netgear Universal WiFi Range Extender, NetgearUniversalWifiRangeExtender, network, plug, plug-in,price, range, shipping, Universal WiFi Range Extender, UniversalWifiRangeExtender, WEP, wifi, wifi dead spot, WifiDeadSpot, WPA, WPA2, bridge, wirelessbridge, wireless bridge

MIT Researchers To Revolutionize Battery Tech

MIT researchers are developing a radically new battery technology that may have significant implications for automotive manufacturers to power utilities.   The new tech incorporates an architecture known as a semi-solid flow cell, and is comprised of two separate physical structures for storage and for discharge.  The structure creates an efficiency in the way they are designed and ultimately manufactured.  While the flow-type architecture has been around for a while, the 'fuel' hasn't allowed for the batteries to be small enough or efficient in the storage and discharge of the energy.  The semi-solid material, affectionately known as 'Cambridge crude', addresses these issues as well as the potential cost of production.

Why is this so significant?  Well, the possibility is there for this material to exist as a kind of fuel replacement for gasoline.  Imagine pulling into a refuelling station and instead of filling your gas tank, you refill your battery. Because the material is already charged, you can be on your way in a matter of minutes.  Then, once you're done driving for the day you can simply plug the vehicle into an outlet and recharge the fuel yourself overnight.  Fascinating stuff.


SOURCE: MIT News

TAGS: batteries, battery, chemical engineering, chemicalengineering, discharge, electric car, electric vehicle, electriccar, electricity, electricvehicle, electrode, electrodes, energy, energy storage, energystorage, ev, gas, lithium batteries, lithium battery, lithium ion, lithiumbatteries, lithiumbattery, lithiumion, massachusetts institute of technology, massachusettsinstituteoftechnology, mit, oil, petrol, petroleum, power

How To Control Your PC Remotely

Remote access to your computer can prove useful in a number of situations and is relatively easy to set up.  There are many solutions that provide this capability, and we're going to discuss a few of them here.  First, lets go over some situations where you would want this set up on your PC:

1. Lets say you have a home theatre PC set up and you want to be able to control media, programs, and browse the web easily.  Well, there are a number of applications for your phone that you can set up to control media or even the cursor, you can use a wireless keyboard and mouse, or you can use remote desktop on your phone or tablet as a 'remote' of sorts.
2. You leave a file on your PC that you desperately need once you've left the house.  In this scenario you can set up an FTP server as an alternative, but remote desktop can be used by logging into the PC and simply emailing yourself the file.
3. A relative needs some basic technical support.  Here you can walk them through the install process and remote in to diagnose and fix the problem.

From here on out we're going to refer to remotely controlling a desktop as virtual network computing, or VNC.  The applications that you can use for this vary slightly, but setup and use is generally the same.  You have some kind of 'server' program that you install on the PC you want to control, and a client on the device/PC you want to use to control the former.

VNC Applications

1. LogMeIn - This is a web-based solution where you access the home PC via a web browser.  So, the only software to install is on the home PC.  One caveat, if you wish to use a mobile device like a phone or tablet, you will need to purchase LogMeIn Ignition to gain access.
2. Teamviewer - This VNC option is basically the same as LogMeIn, except that their mobile software is free.
3. TightVNC - This is another free solution, but may require some additional setup.  With this application you will have to direct the traffic to the PC on the router by specifying the IP address and open port 5900.  You will also have to open port 5900 on the PC's firewall.  The final thing to remember is that when you're trying to remote in you'll need to know the IP address of your modem (or you can set up forwarding with DynDNS).
4. Splashtop - This VNC option appears to only be for mobile devices.  It doesn't look like there is a web interface for the PC or any sort of client like TightVNC.

For beginners the best solution is going to be LogMeIn or Teamviewer.

Why Should I Root My Android?

     Image courtesy of Lifehacker

To root, or not to root: that is the question.  Well, this question actually raises others that need to be addressed prior to any modifications of your device.  They include:

• Is the risk/reward favourable?
• Do I have the knowledge and tools to root my device?
• If something goes wrong, do I have a suitable replacement for my device?

If you're confident in your ability to hack your phone, here are the reasons why you would want to:

Performance Gains

Rooting your phone allows you to install custom ROMs to your device, which are essentially customized versions of Android that can perform better than the stock OS.   They typically vary in features, but some ROMs (like Cyanogenmod) will actually allow you to overclock the processor.

Easy Wi-fi Tethering

Don't feel like paying $40/month for the ability to use the hotspot feature from your mobile carrier?  Well, rooting your device and a free wi-fi tether app will let you mobile warriors do your thing without breaking the bank.

Software Control

Fed up with having software on your phone that you don't want?  Well, rooting your device allows you to get rid of unwelcome 'bloatware.'

Quicker Access to Features

Some manufacturers like HTC overlay their own custom user interface on top of the Android OS.  In the case of HTC it is usable, intuitive, and pleasant to look at.  But this can affect the performance of the overall system and actually prevent you from receiving updates for the Android OS itself.  This is due to the fact that the manufacturer needs to update the UI to account for these changes.  Well, if you want the most current version of Android and a custom ROM is available for your specific device, this is how you can get it.