Digital Home Thoughts.com

Amazon.com Streaming Prime Instant Video to Xbox 360

Jeff Campbell — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:49:00 GMT

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.ht...&pf_rd_i=507846

"You can already stream Prime Instant Videos on your Kindle Fire, your PlayStation 3, your Roku, and hundreds of other TVs, Blu-ray players, and set-top boxes. Today, we're excited to announce that the Xbox 360 joins the fold."

About time! And you can also set up a "wait list" much like the que you set up in Netflix. Too bad they don't have it set up for iPad or for Apple TV but at least you can watch it on your Mac. Personally, the more they add to Xbox 360 the happier I get since it means I'm that much closer to getting rid of Dish Network. I'm almost there actually, between this and Hulu + and Apple TV, along with the iPad apps I use I pretty much can get all I want except for sports. And for that I can always go to a bar or a friends house, sports are more fun to watch in groups anyway right?

Windows 8 30 Best Features

Richard Chao — Mon, 28 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/374...es-of-windows-8

"This feature highlights the 30 best features we've discovered in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview - and ten features that we hope Microsoft finds time to add to its operating system before its expected launch at the end of this year."

Image courtesy of Microsoft MSDN Blog.

PC Pro UK has created a list of their 30 favorite features of Window 8. This features list was picked from the consumer preview version of Windows 8 so not all of them may make it to the final version of Windows 8.

Here are a few examples of their favorites... Interactive tiles, cross device synchronization, Metro groups, airplane mode. Click the read link to see their entire list including rationale and explanation.

Metro Style IE10 Gets Flash... Sort Of

Richard Chao — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:07:00 GMT

http://arstechnica.com/information-...de-adobe-flash/

"Internet Explorer 10 in Windows 8 will include a bundled, integrated version of Adobe Flash, and the Metro-style browser will support the use of Flash on a limited number of sites."

According to Within Windows and winunleaked.tk, the Metro style version of Internet Explorer 10 browser in Windows 8 will include an embedded version of Adobe Flash. Microsoft had previously announced the Metro style IE10 will not have support of plugins and since the Adobe Flash version destined for the Metro IE10 is integrated and embedded, they are still technically within those parameters.

The version of Flash on Metro IE10 will not be able to play all flash pages. Sites will have to be included on a whitelist in order for the site to work on the Metro IE10. If they are not on the whitelist, users will have to view it in the desktop version of IE10.

PicFrame For Making Photo Collages

Michael Knutson — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:30:00 GMT

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/picf...7528?mt=12&ls=1

"PicFrame helps you combine multiple photos into amazing looking frames that you can save to your computer or share to Facebook. With 34 adjustable frames, rounded corners and plenty of patterns, you will always have a unique look."

I added this to my iPhone a few days ago, and a version is now available for Mac OS X. More from the App Store:

"Since PicFrame was released on the iPhone and iPad we have often been requested to create a Mac version for people to use on their desktop, well here it is! PicFrame on the Mac is just as easy to use, select a frame, drag and drop your photos in, tweak the border size, give the photos rounded corners, add a color or pattern, resize the adjustable frames and save the photo or share it to Facebook.

Main Features:- 34 adjustable frames- Support for up to 5 photos- Rounded corners- Change the border size- Zoom and drag the photos around- Easy color picker for border color- Multiple patterns to use for the border- Ratios 1:1, 3:2, 2:3, 4:3, 3:4, 16:9- High resolution- Share to Facebook- Drag and drop photos into the frame "

Pretty nice for a couple bucks on each platform ... and really, really easy.

Understanding The Differences Between Core i5 And i7

Brad Wasson — Mon, 28 May 2012 06:30:00 GMT

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,281...,2404674,00.asp

"Discounting Core i3 (mainly found in budget systems) and AMD processors (another article entirely), the difference between Intel Core i5 and Core i7 can seem daunting, especially when the prices seem so close together once they're in completed systems. We break down the differences for you."

Have you ever wanted a summary of the differences between these two processor families? If so, a recent PC Magazine article may help. While both processors are infinitely capable, there are some benefits to the Core i7 family in certain circumstances. The article compares the processors along the lines of price and marketing, performance, cache, turbo boost, hyper-threading, and integrated graphics. It is not a deep-dive by any means, but it is a nice summary.

Olympus Announces M.Zuiko 75mm f/1.8 Lens

Lee Yuan Sheng — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/0...zuiko-75mm-F1-8

Micro Four Thirds shooters, there is yet more good news for you! After Panasonic's 12-35/2.8 lens, Olympus has announced a 75mm f/1.8 lens, which translates to a 150mm lens on a 35mm camera. I actually managed to spend some time with a pre-production version of the lens, and I was very impressed with it. Due to the pre-production status of the lens, along with the pre-production OM-D E-M5 it was on, I did not get any images from it, but reviewing the results on the rear OLED screen showed promise. Get ready your wallets, for this lens ships in Summer 2012 for US$900. DPReview has a hands-on at the read link.

Pentax Announces K-30 DSLR and 50mm DA Lens

Lee Yuan Sheng — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:30:00 GMT

http://www.dcresource.com/news/news...tem.php?id=4509

Pentax has announced their mid-range DSLR, the K30, which replaces the K-r. Like most Pentax DSLRs, they try to punch above their weight, with the K-30 offering a list of features such as a weatherproof body, a true pentaprism 100% viewfinder instead of a pentamirror, and frame rates of 6 FPS (both the Canon Rebel T3i/EOS 600D and Nikon D5100 are at 3.7 and 4 FPS respectively), and the very innovative sensor-based SR anti-shake mechanism. In addition to compensating for hand shake, the SR feature can be used to level horizons, adjust the composition without moving the tripod, and eliminating star trails in long exposure shots (though that last one requires a GPS for the camera to do the correct calculations). At the heart of the camera is a Sony 16 megapixel CMOS sensor with an ISO range of ISO100-12,800, like the one found in the K-5 and Nikon D5100/D7000, along with a 3" VGA LCD, an 11 point AF system featuring 9 cross points, and 1080p video at 24, 25 or 30 FPS. Three colours are available, and the camera will ship in July for US$850 for the camera alone, or US$900 with the 18-55 kit lens.

Also, Pentax announced the 50mm f/1.8 DA lens. I'm not sure what Pentax is up to. At US$250, it is more expensive than the Nikon or Canon offering, but like the Canon, features a plastic lens mount and no focus distance scale. I suppose if you are stuck on the Pentax system you have no choice, but the price seems a little high regardless. Ships in July. More photos and details at the link!

Panasonic Announces Premium 12-35mm f/2.8 ASPH Lumix G X Lens; DPReview has a Hands-on look

Lee Yuan Sheng — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:00:00 GMT

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/pa...sonic_12-35_2p8

The first of the two rumoured premium lenses has been announced by Panasonic: It is a stabilised 12-35mm f/2.8 lens bearing the X label to denote its status (again with the X; there are 25 other letters to use. I propose J), which basically means this is like a 17-50/2.8 on APS-C cameras or a 24-70/2.8 on 35mm cameras. The size, while being larger than other Micro Four Thirds lenses, is still considerably smaller than a 24-70/2.8. Unfortunately the lens will only be available in August, and there is no pricing information. I suspect it will be north of US$1,000, just like most zooms of its class. Interestingly enough, the lens is weather resistant as well. Is a GH3 coming soon?

Get Help With Your Router Troubles

Hooch Tan — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:00 GMT

http://lifehacker.com/5910788/why-d...ow-can-i-fix-it

"My router sucks. My connection goes wonky once every few days, and I have to unplug the router and reboot it (I believe this is called a hard reset) to fix the problem. Obviously, this is incredibly annoying. What can I do to just make the darn thing work properly?"

I imagine many people do not give their routers a second thought. Either bought by themselves, or provided to them by their ISP, the router is the most critical aspect of your home network. I have not seen the demands on routers significantly change over the years, with many people I know having routers that are easily 8-10 years of age. I personally suggest friends use custom firmware such as Tomato or DD-WRT, the stock firmware available with many routers usually tend to perform quite well. Our demands on routers are fairly modest, yet, like any electronic device, it can eventually die out. That is why if the Internet is absolutely critical to your existence as a human being, aside from any troubleshooting of your router, I also think it a good idea to have a backup router. Its a proven fact that most electronics die when stores are closed and no one is available to help.

Buying Electronics is All About Timing

Jason Dunn — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:00 GMT

http://thewirecutter.com/2012/04/do...tuff-right-now/

This article talks about the timing of purchasing electronics - there's always a cycle, and timing the cycle will get you the best products for your dollar. Sometimes that means buying at the end of a cycle, to save money, and other times it means holding off purchasing until the start of a new cycle so you can get the newest technology. Myself, I'm waiting for the release of the Panasonic VT50, a TV that was announced at CES to rave reviews. I've set aside money to make the purchase, and am patiently waiting for it to be released (should be any time now).

On the other hand, I per-ordered an HP Envy Spectre 14 the first week it was announced, knowing full well that Ivy Bridge would be coming out soon - I just wasn't expecting it to happen within 60 days of me getting my new laptop (HP just announced two new Envy laptops). Ultimately the new Envy laptops don't have the same screen resolution or features as mine, so my laptop wasn't replaced, but at the back of my mind I do wonder if I mis-timed the purchase...

How To Make XBMC Easier To Use

Jason Dunn — Sun, 13 May 2012 09:00:00 GMT

http://lifehacker.com/5908682/how-t...y-for-non+geeks

"So you've created a kickass, play-anything media center with XBMC, but it's a too hard for your less tech-savvy friends and family members to use. Here are a few ways to make your home theater PC so easy that your four year old could use it."

XBMC is a powerful media platform, but it's not always the easiest thing to use - especially for the "regular" types of users who weren't the ones to set it up in the first place. This article walks you through some of the ways to optimize the whole experience. Worth a read!

Multiple Computers Controlled With ShareMouse

Jason Dunn — Sun, 13 May 2012 00:32:00 GMT

http://lifehacker.com/5907028/share...-setup-required

"If you have more than one computer at your workspace, ShareMouse will let you control them all with a single keyboard and mouse, as well as copy and paste text between them and drag files back and forth."

If you're looking for a simpler way to use a single mouse and keyboard across multiple computers, and found Synergy a little too hard to set up, ShareMouse is worth a look!

Digital Photography Review Reviews the Nikon D800

Lee Yuan Sheng — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:30:00 GMT

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d800-d800e/

"When the Nikon D800 was announced, the specification that got everyone's attention was - and to a large degree still is - the massive pixel count of its 36.3MP CMOS sensor. When a moderately-sized full-frame DSLR body aspires to go toe-to-toe with medium format cameras and backs at a fraction of their price, other attributes can seem secondary."

DPReview.com has reviewed the D800, and what can I say? It's a phenomenal camera. The 36 megapixel sensor is truly state of the art, and the camera built around it is no slouch either. If you ask me, this is the FX and DX camera of the moment. Shoot it at 36 megapixel for class-leading resolution, or downsize it to 12 megapixels to exceed the D700's performance. Shoot at 15.3 megapixel for a DX crop that beats the D7000. Now, if only I can find the money for it somehow. On a more curious note, I wonder why DPReview upsampled the Canon 5DIII files instead of downsampling the D800 files; usually that makes the image that is being upsampled look a lot worse. Still, great camera. Time to raid the piggy bank, I think.

Olympus Announces Tough TG-1 iHS

Lee Yuan Sheng — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:30:00 GMT

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/0...-compact-camera

"Olympus has announced the Tough TG-1 iHS, a high-end rugged, waterproof compact camera. The main selling point of the camera is its 25-100mm equivalant F2.0-4.9 zoom lens. The TG-1 is tougher than previous Tough models, being waterproof to 12m (40ft) and shockproof from a height of 2m (6.6ft) and will have optional waterproof fisheye and telephoto converter lenses available."

What is iHS supposed to mean? Anyway, this is a new Tough camera with increased specifications from the previous models. In particular, the 4x 25mm-100mm equivalent f/2.0-4.9 zoom lens is faster than many other cameras in its class, especially at that wide end with the f/2.0 aperture. The camera has a 12 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor which is stabilised, a 3" VGA OLED screen (but in Pentile layout), 1080p video mode coupled with a 10 FPS still shooting mode at full resolution or 60 FPS at 3 megapixel, and built-in GPS. As with a rugged camera, it features waterproofing and shockproofing. The camera also promises to feature AF technology from the PEN cameras, so hopefully it will be quick (I do suspect the technology is more on the software side). Oh and what modern Olympus camera is without the Art or Magic Filters? Available in June for US$400.

Microsoft Welcomes You To Your Home

Hooch Tan — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:30:00 GMT

http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/0...e-automation-os

""More than a decade ago, Microsoft execs, led by Chairman Bill Gates, were touting a future where .Net coffee pots, bulletin boards, and refrigerator magnets would be part of homes where smart devices would communicate and inter-operate. Microsoft hasn't given up on that dream."

Desktop computers, check. Laptops, check. Gaming console, check. Mobile phone, check. Home automation... it looks like Microsoft is intent on offering services for every aspect of your life. Their latest innovation comes to you in the form of HomeOS, a home automation system. Home automation is nothing new, and there are numerous specialized companies ready to offer you fancy, expensive automation systems so you can stand outside your home constantly turning your lights on and off from your phone. If you have an appetite for tinkering, there are more home grown solutions such as LinuxMCE, that while it handles media streaming, also integrates with many other things such as automation and security. Apple is slowly approaching this sort of service as well though right now, it seems mostly just focused on media.

I think that HomeOS could go really well, especially if it integrates with Windows Home Server. It would not make sense if you needed two separate servers to handle your home server-like needs. I have to wonder if there is a great use for this, as them young ones seem to be living a much more mobile lifestyle than before, and whatever you have at home is not as relevant anymore.

Pentax K-01 Reviewed by Digital Camera Resource Page

Lee Yuan Sheng — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/p...ntax/k01-review

"Aside from its unique looks, the K-01 is also a full-featured interchangeable lens camera. It has a 16 Megapixel CMOS sensor, K-mount lens support with built-in image stabilization, lots of manual controls, a boatload of scene modes and special effects, an HDR function, and 1080p video recording."

When the Pentax K-01 was announced, I mentioned (right in the headline no less) that Pentax cannot seem to do mirrorless cameras right. Well, in addition to all the issues that come with sticking to the K-mount instead of developing a new mount for a large sensor mirrorless camera (fat body due to large flange distance for the mirror box, slow AF with some lenses not designed for contrast detection autofocus), Pentax seems to have some terrible quality control issues here. Jeff Keller has a long history of reviewing digital cameras, but I don't think I have seen him point out so many issues in one review before! Nevertheless, if you are still interested, you can read the review, where the output from the camera is actually quite good, but given all the other issues, I think there are better mirrorless cameras out there.

What Can HTPC Users Expect From Intel's Ivy Bridge

Richard Chao — Sun, 06 May 2012 20:00:00 GMT

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5773/...tpc-perspective

"The ability to cram in more and more transistors in a die has made it possible to have both the CPU and GPU in the same silicon."

AnandTech has posted their review of Intel's Ivy Bridge from the perspective of a HTPC user. They looked at refresh rates, decoding and rendering benchmarks, network streaming capabilities, power consumption, etc. Their review is pretty comprehensive and should be a must read for anyone wondering if they should update or keep what they have.

Windows 8 DVD Playback Will Require Extra Media Center Pack

Richard Chao — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:00:00 GMT

http://pureinfotech.com/2012/05/04/...ia-center-pack/

"Here is something interesting, you may already know that Microsoft plans to sell Windows Media Center as a separate paid pack, but now the company has just revealed that Windows 8 will also stop the support for DVD playback."

If you want to watch DVD movies on your Windows 8 computer in the future, you will have to get the Media Center Pack or the Windows 8 Pro Pack. The basic consumer version of Windows 8 will not include the ability to playback DVD movies. Microsoft's reasoning behind the omission is that more and more consumers are getting content from streaming sources so DVD playback is no longer on the top of the required capabilities list. No word on the pricing of the Media Center Pack yet.

Adobe's Creative Cloud Subscription Service - Worth It?

Brad Wasson — Sun, 06 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/22/ad...iption-service/

"Today is a big day for Adobe. Not only is the company officially unveiling the next versions of virtually all of the applications in its Creative Suite, but Adobe is also launching its Creative Cloud online offerings. This marks a major change in how Adobe is selling and marketing its flagship product: while the company will continue to offer a shrink-wrapped version of CS6, it's also introducing a subscription service with this update. For $49/month with an annual subscription or $79/month for month-to-month memberships, users can now get full access to any CS6 tool, including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and AfterEffects. The suite will also include Adobe's new HTML5 design and development tools Muse and Edge, and will be deeply integrated into the company's tablet apps. Users will be able to download and install these apps on up to two machines."

Adobe recently announced the newest release of Creative Suite, the sixth version (CS6). As shown in the graphic above, there are numerous feature enhancements across all the products in the suite. Upgrading even one of the Abobe apps can be an expensive proposition for most people. Personally, I have a copy of Photoshop that is a few revisions behind, but would like to upgrade it. It is probably a good time to do so from a functionality perspective. What is intriguing with this latest release of apps, is that a new option purchase option is available. Called Creative Cloud, this new purchase option is actually a subscription service. For $49/month (US) with an annual subscription or $79/month (US) for month-to-month memberships, users can now get full access to any CS6 tool. For me, this is an incredibly tempting offer.

The Read link article has all the details about the new edition of Creative Suite, and the new subscription service. Once you've had a chance to read it, drop back here and let me know if you think the subscription service is a good deal.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Reviewed by Digital Photography Review

Lee Yuan Sheng — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMT

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusem5/

DPReview.com has a review of the latest Micro Four Thirds camera, the E-M5. I'll spoil it a little: It's the best rated one yet. I have spent some time with the E-M5 and I have been quite impressed with many aspects of it, though the up-close and personal experience with what Olympus fans call the "Olympus Colour" did not leave me quite as impressed. It consists mainly of a very aggressive tone curve that pulls the upper-midtones and overall increases contrast to deliver a very punchy yet natural look. I think I prefer to process my raw files and their colours myself, thank you. The rest of the camera, including its low-light high-ISO noise, its AF speed, the user interface, were really good. My only quibble was with the rear command wheel, which being placed closer to the viewfinder meant I had to stretch my right thumb more than normal compared to the Lumix Micro Four Thirds cameras or Nikon DSLRs. Overall, a great performance. Now Panasonic, where is that GH3?