Adobe press release:
Digital Photography Workflow Solution Now Available for Windows® and Macintosh Platforms
SAN JOSE, Calif. — July 19, 2006 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the public beta of Adobe® Lightroom™ software for the Windows platform, a digital imaging workflow solution for professional photographers. Now available for both the Windows and Macintosh platforms, Adobe Lightroom beta is the efficient new way for professional photographers to import, select, develop and showcase large volumes of digital images. Windows-based photographers now have the opportunity to assist with the development of Lightroom by testing this new beta download and submitting feedback to the Adobe Labs forums at http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom .
"A significant number of professional photographers operate on the Windows platform, and Adobe Lightroom beta is designed to support their workflow needs," said Kevin Connor, senior director of product management for Digital Imaging at Adobe. "We have over 3,000 beta testers actively participating in our Lightroom beta for Macintosh forums and we're looking forward to extending this invaluable dialogue to the Windows community. Cross-platform support gives us the unique opportunity to incorporate feedback from the entire photographic community, ensuring that everyone can participate in the beta process."
Cross-Platform Support for Growing Lightroom Community
The Windows and Macintosh versions of Lightroom currently contain somewhat different feature sets, but the core of Lightroom remains consistent across platforms, focused on efficiency and quality from capture through output. As the beta for each platform evolves, the features will converge and the final released versions will be the same.
Lightroom beta cross-platform support allows photographers to effortlessly work on projects from any Windows or Macintosh computer on-location, in the studio or in the office. When combined with the editing power in Adobe Photoshop® software, Lightroom provides one clear path for taking images all the way from processing to final presentation. This allows photographers to spend less time at the computer, and more time behind the lens.
"As a professional photographer, I have to submit photos to clients digitally, usually on a very tight deadline. I need the ability to quickly share a collection on a specific subject so that editors can promptly review my work," said photographer Ann Purcell. "Lightroom beta for Windows is going to be an indispensable solution in this fast-paced world of digital photography."
Radical New User Interface
Lightroom has a modular user interface designed to spotlight what photographers care about most: the image. Photographers can rapidly scroll through hundreds of images and use Quick One-to-One Zoom to instantly magnify the finer points within the image. The Lightroom beta addresses the varied needs of photographers, including the ability to view detailed before and after comparisons of non-destructive edits and dynamically preview print output of multiple images with flexible layouts.
High-Quality Raw Processing
Leveraging the latest Adobe Camera Raw technology, Lightroom supports over 120 native raw file formats, in addition to JPEG and TIFF, and incorporates raw conversion into a single workflow experience. Adobe continues to advance raw processing technology, as evidenced by the new split-toning controls that creates richer black and white images. This extends photographers' creative control, providing new parameters for making adjustments and more freedom to deliver their photographic vision. The latest camera models supported by this beta now include Cannon EODS 30D, Epson R-D1s, Leaf Aptus 65 and Aptus 75, Olympus EVOLT E-330 and SP-320, Pentax *ist DL2 and Samsung GX-1S.
Pricing and Availability
Lightroom beta 1.0 for Windows is available for free download from the Adobe Labs Web site at http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom . Recommended system requirements are Windows XP SP2, Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor, 768MB RAM and a 1024×768 resolution screen. The final shipping version for both Windows and Macintosh will be released in late 2006. Further details around pricing, system requirements and availability have yet to be determined.
July 19th, 2006
Panasonic press release:
Panasonic Introduces Three New FX Series LUMIX Digital Still Cameras Featuring World’s First Intelligent ISO Control
Latest Additions To The Popular Sleek & Slim Line Offer Large LCD Screens and Revolutionary Intelligent Image Stabilization With MEGA O.I.S.
SECAUCUS, N.J. (July 19, 2006) – Panasonic today introduced the new LUMIX 7.2-megapixel DMC-FX50 and DMC-FX07 digital still cameras, and also the 6-megapixel DMC-FX3, the world’s first* to feature Intelligent ISO Control (IIC) to correct image blurriness caused by movement of the subject matter. The FX50 will have an MSRP of $399.95, the FX07 will have an MSRP of $349.95 and the FX3 will have an MSRP of $279.95.
All three models offer Panasonic’s exclusive MEGA Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) technology which reduces blurry photos caused by unsteady hands. The FX50 and FX07 give consumers superior lens quality in a compact camera with a 28mm wide angle f/2.8 LEICA DC lens with 3.6x optical zoom (equivalent to 28mm to 102mm on a 35mm film camera) which will allow users to enjoy the benefit of a wide angle lens when shooting indoor group portraits, expansive landscapes, or architectural scenes. The FX3 features an equivalent 35 mm lens with 3x optical zoom.
“Smart design, sleek form factor and powerful automatic features guided Panasonic’s engineers when they developed the FX series of LUMIX digital cameras,” said Rich Campbell, Director, Digital Imaging, Panasonic Corporation of North America. “And packed into the FX50 and FX07 is our new cutting edge Intelligent ISO Control technology, which focuses on the one thing the user can’t always control: subject movement.”
Panasonic’s MEGA O.I.S. is in the entire line of LUMIX cameras. And the FX50 and FX07 signal the debut of the next step in photographic technology with Panasonic’s revolutionary new Intelligent ISO Control (IIC) feature. IIC allows high sensitivity recording at full resolution (1250 ISO maximum) within the advanced image processing LSI Venus Engine III. When set to the IIC, the Venus Engine III detects the subject’s movement and adjusts the ISO setting and shutter speed to best suit the subject movement and the light condition automatically. Panasonic’s image stabilizing system allows users to take clear, crisp images in any situation, leaving everything to the camera. The FX3 features a maximum ISO 1600 high sensitivity mode for capturing images of fast-moving objects.
The FX50 features a new 3-inch LCD while the FX07 offers a more compact size with a 2.5-inch LCD. The FX50 allows dual image playback, enabling the user to see and compare any two images at a time. It also allows selection of up to nine sequential frames from a captured motion image file to be displayed as thumbnails and saved as still images. The FX3 also has a large, crisp 2.5-inch LCD.
All three cameras come with multiple scene modes that make it simple to capture great images in all kinds of shooting conditions, such as night portrait, party, food, sports, and the ever popular Baby Mode, which lets the user set a birth date for a child and automatically capture the age each time a picture is taken.
The FX50 will be available in silver or black. The FX07 will come in silver, black, blue, or red, each with a specially textured finish. The FX3 will come in black or silver. All three models will begin shipping this September.
July 19th, 2006
The Queen Victoria Building, often referred to as the QVB, was designed by George McRae. The building was completed in 1898.
The QVB occupies an entire city block between George, Market, York and Druitt Streets. The centre dome is the dominant feature, consisting of an inner glass and an exterior copper dome. Glorious stained glass windows are plentiful throughout the building. There are marvelous hanging clocks.
In 1984 QVB was completely refurbished as a shopping centre, probably the prettiest one in the world at the very least it certainly is the most stylish.
Added Stainglass Ceiling centre dome
Added Clocktower North
Added Clocktower South
Added Stained glass East
Added Stained glass-West
July 19th, 2006
iPod Curse
The weather is Sydney is less than suitable for photography thus today I’ll use a bit of recycling. This is one of my favourite photographs depicting a young and gorgeous girl submerged in her music, but at the same time isolated from the surrounding world. In fact, when I read MX it is often recommended by rail commuters to get an iPod to isolate yourself from other people who may try to talk to you or who talk aloud on her mobiles. It seems the more people there are around us the more privacy in public spaces is required. However, at one point I guess this will lead to yet another wave of social isolation. These days kids are glued to TV or their console games, they have their iPods implanted permanently to their ears. All in the name of personal entertainment. I hope they will find ways to make real friends somewhere along the line. Their hands are on automatic, texting someone every minute on their mobiles may be the only sign they do have social life.
July 19th, 2006
