Apple has released Aperture 2.1.2, a minor update to its RAW-conversion and photo management software. The update improves the printing quality of books, cards and calendars ordered via the Aperture printing service and is recommended for users of Aperture 2.

Source: www.dpreview.com

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Carson Kressley, currently the host of Lifetime’s “How to Look Good Naked” and the style guy of the Fab Five from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” hosts Nikon’s new online video series “Look Good in Pictures.” Kressley will provide advice on how to look better when you’re having your picture taken. Topics will cover a wide range of situations including how to look good for online dating photos, in vacation pictures, for the holidays and other common scenarios.

In the near future, you’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look and watch as Carson accompanies political photographer John Harrington on the campaign trail and travels to the Hollywood Life: Style Awards to get tips from red carpet celebs.

The videos are free and can be found on www.lookgoodinpictures.com

Source: feeds.feedburner.com

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“Peniche port – Portugal – very early in the morning… A little before we’ve left for one more adventure trip…”. Taken by Rosa

Source: planetearthdailyphoto.blogspot.com

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(AP) magazine picked up Consumer Magazine of the Year, for the second time, at a glitzy ceremony held in central London on Friday night.

UK retailers and manufacturers voted for AP above many other publications in the annual awards hosted by weekly photographic trade magazine .

AP Editor Damien Demolder (pictured) said afterwards: ‘This award underlines the standing of AP within the trade and how these business people regard the magazine in comparison to the many others we compete with every week.

‘The award endorses our content, our style and our emphasis, the way we approach news, as well as the way the magazine looks, its factual accuracy and use of language.’

named the other awards winners as:

Accessory manufacturer/supplier of the year – HAMA

Film media manufacturer/supplier of the year В– Peak Development/Sandisk

Processing manufacturer of the year В– Fujifilm

Hardware manufacturer of the year В– Nikon

Independent Retailer of the year В– Park Cameras

Multiple Retailer of the year В– Wilkinson Cameras

Mass Retailer of the year В– John Lewis Online Retailer of the Year В– Warehouse Express

Independent Minilab of the year В– Bywaters Digital Camera Exchange

Multiple Minilab of the year В– Kodak

Distributor of the year В– Intro 2020

Rep of the year В– Richard Hardwicke, Canon

Retail Sales person of the year В– Clare Harvey-May, RK Photographic

Innovative product of the year В– Photo Me photobook Pro

Outstanding contribution to the industry В– Mary Walker for Focus on Imaging

Source: feedproxy.google.com

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Nikon Media Port UP300x : An article at a Dutch PhotoBlog of Elja Trum got our attention. Nikon Corporation announce the successful development of the Media Port UP, a multimedia playback headset device that also supports Internet connection. This innovative Nikon Media Port product, which incorporates display, headphones, mobile A/V player, Wi-Fi capability, high-capacity memory, and power source in a single compact unit is the first of its type. The UP allows users to easily enjoy high-quality images, videos, and music anywhere. Two UP models will be available – the high-performance Nikon UP300x and the basic UP300. The Media Port UP will be available only in Japan through the Nikon Imaging Japan Inc. online UP Store (upstore.jp/).
Nikon UP300x offers image and video experience via display
The single, compact unit allows for simple enjoyment of videos and music anyplace and anytime, while leaving the hands free to do other things. With the Nikon UP300x You can enjoy image and video viewing with a sensation equivalent to that of viewing of a 50-inch large screen from a distance of three meters. And the Nikon Media Port UP300x is extremely compact and lightweight that offers excellent image quality achieved with optics made possible through development and adoption of a new adhesion double-layer diffractive optical element (DOE) lens.

Nikon Media Port UP300x includes 8GB internal memory
The high-performance Nikon Media Port UP300x is equipped with a built-in motion sensor that allows for hands free operation, including volume adjustment, by moving the head up or down, left or right. The Nikon UP300x is equipped with an 8GB internal memory while the Nikon UP300 offers 4GB of internal memory. The UP models are designed with a high eye point and diopter adjustment so that even those who wear glasses will find the display easy to view.

Internet and Multimedia content service for the Nikon UP300x
In addition to Web browsing with the Nikon UP300x via Internet connection you can use the built-in Wi-Fi function, media contents can also be downloaded. A service for UP users that allows for the distribution of video contents will be initiated. Users will be able to easily select desired contents and download media files to their UP for viewing and listening enjoyment. As Windows Media Player (WMP) files are also supported, compatible media files saved to a computer can also be transferred to a UP for viewing and listening enjoyment.

Development of the Nikon Media Port UP300x
Nikon has a long history of development of a variety of products that allow for the simple enjoyment of high-quality imaging, beginning of course, with digital cameras. In recent years, the digital wave has led to great changes in the ways in which images, videos and music are enjoyed. Nikon recognizes the fact that modern people are now able to increase the value of time with the ability to access and enjoy information available with today’s imaging and audio capabilities using a few minutes of spare time. Sitting comfortably on the head, this product allows immediate access to a variety of information as a device that can accompany users in their everyday lives. The UP models developed by Nikon are the world’s first products of this type to incorporate all of the features available with various mobile devices, such as image and audio playback, communications, built-in memory, and simple power source, in a single unit. What’s more, these features have been incorporated into a product with the same size and weight as conventional sound-isolating headphones. High-definition image and video playback was achieved with the development and adoption of Nikon’s exclusive new optics technology for the UP display. In addition, this product was also designed with high-quality speakers and superior operation and feel. This is a new genre of product that combines the optics, human interface, and digital imaging technologies Nikon has spent decades accumulating with new audio and Internet technologies.

Origin of the UP name
Nikon has named this innovative product “UP”. This name was taken from a number of word combinations that may be used to described the broad functionality and uses of this product, including “universal port”, “ubiquitous player”, “ultimate player”, “U (your) partner”, “U (your) pleasure”, and “U (your) power”. As the first product in a brand new genre, we chose the name “UP” for both its simplicity and its presence.

Nikon UP300x design and ergonomics
The Nikon UP model is an all-in-one design that offers display, headphones, mobile A/V player, Wi-Fi capability, and Internet connection in a single unit. An ergonomic design arch form that reflects basic Nikon characteristics such as simplicity and ease-of-use, while offering innovation and a high-quality feel. The display incorporates a liquid crystal display, backlight, and newly developed optics that enable display zoom. This new technology is the result of the technologies and know how cultivated by Nikon with our development of SLR camera viewfinders and eyeglasses. Though extremely compact and lightweight, the UP allows users to enjoy clear and beautiful images, without distortion.

Adhesion double-layer DOE lens enables compact, lightweight, high-quality display
The optics adopted for UP display incorporate Nikon’s exclusive adhesion double-layer DOE lens. While most common lenses use refraction to change the direction in which light moves, diffractive optical elements (DOE) use light diffraction. A diffraction grating, shaped like the teeth of a saw with separation of tens to hundreds of micrometers, suppresses chromatic aberration to reproduce crisp and clear VGA images. What’s more, this allows for an optical system with a weight of approximately 1/7 that of conventional lens optics (comparison of Nikon designs).

Wireless communication and Sound quality
Internet connection via a wireless LAN network is made possible with built-in Wi-Fi capability. Our original online service, UP Link, enables Web browsing and download of media contents for viewing and listening enjoyment. The integration of amplifier and speakers in a single unit enables optimization of sound quality. As no external cable connection is required, noise is minimized for pure sound quality. The built-in driver unit is a highly magnetic 40 mm neodymium unit, which offers superior sound with realistic sensation. In addition, the large ear pads are made of soft, viscoelastic urethane for a comfortable and secure fit.

Nikon Media Port UP300x features
The UP300x is equipped with an 8 GB internal memory and the UP300 offers 4 GB of internal memory. The UP300x can hold MPEG-2 data of up to 160 minutes in length or WMV9 data of up to 500 minutes in length (MPEG-2 files recorded at 6.5Mb/s, WMV files recorded at 2Mb/s). Depending upon whether you are viewing images or videos, or simply listening to music, the adjustable display arm can be lowered to eye level or kept in its storage position. Further, the display arm can be lowered below eye level when primarily listening to music with occasional viewing of images or videos. The display incorporates two flexible joints and an extendable arm that allow for positioning adjustment suited to individual head shape and size, as well as eye level. This provides for comfortable viewing position and a secure fit for all users. What’s more, the arm joint can be reversed for viewing images and videos with either the left or right eye.

Operation of Nikon Media Port UP-300x
This function assists users with correct viewing and listening positioning as well as operation. When the UP is turned on, users need simply to follow the instructions displayed to achieve optimum viewing and listening positioning and learn about button operations. When viewing images or videos with just one eye with the UP, visibility with that eye is affected by external brightness visible with the opposite eye. Therefore, the UP has been equipped with a function that automatically adjusts image or video brightness according to ambient brightness. Hands free operation makes the UP a truly all-in-one device. The UP300x is equipped with a motion sensor that supports hands free operational control. With simple head movements up, down, left, or right, a variety of operations, including volume adjustment, can be controlled without using the hands.

Media Port UP specifications
• Type: Multimedia playback headset
• Model: UP300, UP300x
• Display: 0.44-in. transmissive LCOS with 640 x 480 x 3 dots and 16,770,000 colors
• Lens: Adhesion double-layer DOE lens with a diagonal of approximately 24°
• Speaker unit: Sealed dynamic type that supports playback frequencies of 3–25,000 Hz
• Input terminal: Multi connector
• Power source: 2xAA alkaline, 3xAA Lithium, 2xAA rechargeable nickel hydride batteries
• Storage medium: Built-in flash memory: 4 GB (UP300)/8 GB (UP300x)
• File formats Movie: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, WMV9 (DRM 10 compatible)
• File formats Audio: Audio: MP32, WMA9 (DRM 10 compatible), AAC2
• File formats Still image: JPEG
• Other file formats: SWF (Flash Player 7 compatible)
• Interface: Hi-Speed USB
• Wireless LAN: 802.11b/g protocols within a range of 20 m (line of sight)
• Video input(UP300x): Images: NTSC, 1 Vp-p/75Ω Audio: 500 mVrms/47 KΩ
• Web browser: HTML: HTML 4.01, frames supported, JavaScript
• Flash: Version 7
• Uninterrupted playback: (movie – 120 minutes), Audio (270 minutes)
• Operating environment: Ambient temperature: 0~40°C, Humidity: 85% or less (no condensation)
• Weight: 385 g (including supplied batteries)
• Supplied accessories: UC-UP1 USB cable, 2 Sanyo “eneloop” rechargeable batteries(HR-3UTG), NC-MDR02 battery charger, AL-UP1 angle limiter, Soft Pouch SC-UP1.

Source: www.letsgodigital.org

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