Canon EOS 5D Mark-Review

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III is a 35mm full-frame digital SLR camera with a 22-megapixel sensor, 61-point auto focus system, enhanced weather sealing and Full HD video with manual control. The EOS 5D Mark III’s movie mode has been refined to offer an enhanced range of high bit-rate video compression options, with intraframe (ALL-I) and interframe (IPB) methods both supported. Variable frame rates range from 24fps to 60fps, and the incorporation of SMPTE timecode support provides greater editing flexibility and easier integration into multi-camera shoots. The addition of a movie mode switch, recording button and headphone socket offers greater usability. Other highlights include a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-25,600 (expandable to ISO 102,400), a 63-zone metering system, stills shooting at up to 6fps, a new Creative Photo button, dual CF and SD memory card slots, a silent shooting mode and a continuous silent mode. The Canon EOS 5D Mark III will be available from end of March 2012, priced at £2999.99 / €3569.99 / $3499.95.

Canon Press Release

Creativity, redefined – Canon unleashes the EOS 5D Mark III

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 2nd March 2012 – Canon today announces the latest addition to its world-famous EOS range with the launch of the new EOS 5D Mark III. The EOS 5D Mark III builds on the performance of the legendary EOS 5D Mark II, offering improved speed, greater resolution, enhanced processing power and extended creative options for both stills and Full HD movies – providing unparalleled artistic freedom for the most demanding photographers.

Incorporating feedback from photographers worldwide, the EOS 5D Mark III offers improved performance in virtually every area. A new 22.3 Megapixel (MP) full-frame sensor offers the ideal balance of resolution for stills and HD movies and up to 6 frames per second (fps) shooting, whilst a 61-point AF system and 63-zone metering provide greater speed, flexibility and accuracy. Powered by the latest DIGIC 5+ processing technology, the EOS 5D Mark III also features enhanced video functions, offering improved image quality alongside greater audio control – redefining creative possibilities for photographers and amateur videographers alike.

“The EOS 5D Mark III represents a big step forward for the EOS 5D series” said Kieran Magee, Marketing Director, Professional Imaging, Canon Europe. “The EOS 5D Mark II is an exceptional camera and we’ve listened carefully to feedback from its passionate community of users to improve performance in every area.  This camera has been designed to meet virtually any creative challenge – it’s faster, more responsive and features the tools to adapt to everything from studio photography to creative videography, while producing results of the highest quality.”

Enhanced performance
With its comprehensively upgraded specification, the EOS 5D Mark III is the ideal tool for the growing number of photographers shooting both stills and movies. It incorporates a number of the features launched with Canon’s revolutionary EOS-1D X, providing vastly improved performance, flexibility, handling and durability.

The camera’s newly-developed 22.3MP full-frame sensor provides increased resolution and finer detail, enabling the capture of a wide range of scenes, from sweeping landscapes to beautiful portraits. Higher speed continuous shooting also offers expanded creative possibilities. With an increased 8-channel read out, the camera comfortably handles a maximum full resolution speed of up to 6fps in bursts of 18 RAW images or over 16,000 JPEGs¹, without the need for additional accessories. Additionally, the sensor’s advanced architecture offers a huge native ISO range of 100-25,600, expandable to 102,400, making it possible to capture clean, high quality pictures, even in extreme low-light conditions.

The EOS 5D Mark III utilises the same 61-point wide-area AF system as the flagship EOS-1D X, providing exceptional sensitivity, precision and speed. One of the most advanced AF systems currently available, it features an impressive 41 cross-type points and five dual cross-type points, providing unsurpassed accuracy across the frame. The customisable AF pre-sets introduced in the EOS-1D X are also available, helping the capture of traditionally challenging subjects, and providing additional reliability in situations where subject movement can be unpredictable.

Highly accurate exposures are provided by Canon’s acclaimed iFCL metering system, which incorporates a 63-zone Dual-Layer sensor linked to each point of the AF system. Focus information gathered from the AF system is analysed alongside colour and luminance signals measured by the metering sensor itself, enabling the EOS 5D Mark III to deliver consistently accurate skin tones and excellent results in a wide range of shooting situations.

Creative performance without compromise
The EOS 5D Mark III features Canon’s latest DIGIC 5+ image processor, which powers a range of new functions without affecting the camera’s performance. 14-bit A/D conversion provides smoother tonal gradation and transitions between colours, while in-camera HDR shooting combines three different exposures and allows one of five preset tone maps to be applied, enabling photographers to capture all the detail in high contrast scenes. With in-camera RAW processing and editing capability, photographers also have the option to immediately begin post-processing their images while still on a shoot.

The increased power of DIGIC 5+ also enables a range of tools which contribute to higher image quality. Lens peripheral illumination correction, Lens chromatic aberration correction (lateral and axial) and high ISO noise reduction are all performed in-camera without affecting performance, allowing photographers to continue shooting without any camera lag. Additionally, in-camera image rating via a dedicated button makes it easy for photographers to organise images ahead of post-production.

The EOS 5D Mark III features a new Creative Photo button, which enables users to quickly select Picture Styles and capture multiple exposures, as well as offering direct access to the HDR shooting mode. In playback, pressing the Creative Photo button displays a new comparative playback function, displaying two images side-by-side to allow photographers to view, magnify and compare the quality of different exposures mid-shoot.

For situations where photographers want to avoid being noticed, such as weddings, the EOS 5D Mark III also features a new silent shooting mode that dramatically reduces the sound of the shutter and mirror, ensuring they can work quietly in the background. A continuous silent mode is also available, enabling photographers to capture faster-moving subjects without attracting attention.

Next generation EOS Movies
The EOS 5D Mark III builds on the reputation of the EOS 5D Mark II, with a range of new features introduced following feedback received from photographers to provide even better Full HD video performance. As well as offering the depth-of-field control loved by video professionals, the new full-frame sensor combines with the vast processing power of DIGIC 5+ to improve image quality by virtually eradicating the presence of moiré, false colour and other artefacts. The addition of a movie mode switch and a recording button also offers greater usability, enabling videographers to begin shooting immediately when movie mode is engaged.

Additional movie functions include manual exposure control and an enhanced range of high bit-rate video compression options, with intraframe (ALL-I) and interframe (IPB) methods both supported. Variable frame rates range from 24fps to 60fps, and the addition of SMPTE timecode support provides greater editing flexibility and easier integration into multi-camera shoots. Users can also check and adjust audio during recording via the camera’s Quick Control screen and a headphone socket enables sound level monitoring both during and after shooting. Enhanced processing power provided by DIGIC 5+ also makes it possible to conveniently trim the length of recorded movies in-camera.

Professional build, easy operation
The EOS 5D Mark III has been built to offer photographers easy-handling and robust build quality. Its lightweight, high-grade magnesium body offers advanced weather proofing for protection against the elements, while the construction of the shutter has also been reinforced, with 150,000-cycle durability making it ideal for repeated, everyday use. An enhanced version of the Intelligent Viewfinder featured in the EOS 7D offers approximately 100% coverage, as well as an on-demand grid display via the built-in transparent LCD.

The same reinforced 8.11cm (3.2”) Clear View II LCD screen as used by the EOS-1D X provides high quality framing and playback in all conditions. 1,040k-pixels provide the resolution to accurately check image sharpness and focus, while the gapless structure design introduced with the EOS-1D Mark IV prevents reflections and protects against dust or scratches. A headphone socket and locking mode dial have been included, while the inclusion of a UDMA 7-compatible CF card slot plus an SD card²  slot enables shooting to both cards simultaneously, auto switching when the one in use becomes full and the option to copy images from one card to the other in-camera.

Digital Lens Optimizer – new in Digital Photo Professional v3.11
The EOS 5D Mark III comes complete with the most advanced version of Digital Photo Professional (DPP) yet – Canon’s free, in-box software enabling high-speed, high quality processing of RAW images. New in DPP v3.11 is Digital Lens Optimizer – a revolutionary new tool designed to drastically improve image resolution take the image nearer to how the scene appears to the naked eye. This creates exceptionally detailed, high-quality images with highly manageable file sizes, providing photographers with maximum image quality and greater flexibility.

Digital Lens Optimizer (DLO) precisely imitates lens performance, with a series of complex mathematical functions replicating each stage of the journey of light through the optical path. Using this information DLO can correct a range of typical optical aberrations and loss of resolution caused by a camera’s low pass filter, by applying an inverse function to each shot to take the image nearer to how the scene appears to the naked eye. This creates exceptionally detailed, high-quality images with highly manageable file sizes, providing photographers with maximum image quality and greater flexibility.

EOS System compatibility
As part of the EOS System, the EOS 5D Mark III is immediately compatible with over 60 EF Lenses, including the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM – the new, essential wide-angle zoom lens from Canon’s famous L-series. The camera is also compatible with a newly-announced range of accessories designed to offer extended creativity, including the Speedlite 600EX-RT – a high performance TTL flash with wireless radio connectivity. Additionally, the new Battery Grip BG-E11 offers greater handling flexibility alongside the ability to double the camera’s battery life.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III – Key features:
• 22.3 Megapixel full-frame sensor
• 61-point autofocus
• Up to 6fps continuous shooting
• Native ISO 100-25,600 sensitivity
• Full HD video with manual control
• 14-bit DIGIC 5+ processor
• Enhanced Weather sealing
• 8.11cm (3.2-inch) 1,040,000-dot screen
• HDR mode with presets

Pricing and Availability:

The EOS 5D Mark III will be available from end of March 2012, priced at £2999.99 / €3569.99 RRP including VAT.

EOS 5D Mark III first look

The EOS 5D Mark III will be available to touch and try on the Canon stand at the Focus on Imaging Show 2012 4th March to 7th March 2012, NEC Birmingham.

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Intel playing catch-up in mobile market

It's a funny old time in the crazy world of chip architecture. Not only are companies like Nvidia, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments looking to jump head first into the Windows 8 revolution due to Microsoft's new baby including support for ARM-based processors, Intel is broadening its x86 horizons with a move into the mobile world, courtesy of its recently announced Medfield platform.

But Laurence Bryant, director of Mobile Solutions at ARM, has stated that the Californian silicon giant may be a little too late to the party and will be playing catch-up for a while.

"I think they are coming in at the moment because it's the market to be in but what they are offering at the moment is one to two generations behind," Bryant told us at a briefing at Mobile World Congress.

"It's going to be interesting to see how the dynamics play out because clearly the bigger mobile market is the place to be in the industry right now," he added. "It's natural that Intel wants to be in this space because it is the place to be, it is the place where the consumer focus is."

Bryant stated that ARM vendors hold the mobile initiative because of the flexibility of its architecture and the fact that it doesn't play into a "one size fits all" model.

"We've got 290 semiconductor vendors licensing our technology and they are all putting it together and addressing the market needs with specific solutions for certain price points and special characteristics that bring their own intellectual property and their own knowledge added on top," he said.

He pointed out that, across the various platforms in which ARM operates (iOS, Android, Windows Phone and more) that there had been 37 billion apps downloaded, 1 billion ebooks downloaded and that there is a choice of over a million apps. "It's all about this great ecosystem built around one architecture that drives us forward as an industry," he said.

But what about ARM's attempt to upset the Intel apple-cart by entering the Windows world? Bryant, again, said that its success would come as a result of the flexibility of ARM's platform.

"We've got this scalable architecture and that's what is fundamentally great about the ARM platform," he said. "We can take a solution from a smartphone and deliver that same always-on, always connected experience to new form factors and computing environments.

"That's naturally why we're in that space today and we're really excited as to what Windows on ARM will mean because I think we can create some really exciting devices."

The chip-wars are in full swing it seems and there are battles on all fronts. It will be fascinating to see what platforms prevail and which architectures make their respective hops with the most success...

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Windows 8 To Come In Nine Different Versions?

Earlier this week Microsoft released the first Consumer Preview of Windows 8, and now we have some more information on Microsoft’s next generation operating system.

It looks like there will be a total of nine different versions of Windows 8 available, which include a couple of versions of the basic, home, professional and enterprise editions.



The following versions have been discovered in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, and include Windows 8 Starter, Windows 8 Home Basic, Windows 8 Home Premium, Windows 8 Professional, Windows 8 Professional Plus, Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows 8 Enterprise Eval, Windows 8 Ultimate, Windows 8 ARM edition.

Of course these details come from the Consumer Preview version of Windows 8, so they could possibly change by the time Microsoft releases the final version of Windows 8.

Source Engadget

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LG’s budget Optimus L3 launching this Month

The smallest, cheapest and least exciting of LG’s new L-series Android phones is scheduled to launch in Europe from this month, when the L3 will arrive in Europe. LG’s also now given us some details about the phone’s processor – it all runs on an 800MHz dual-core chipset. We have no idea what to make of that.
The memory allocation’s a bit weird, too. LG says you have a near-useless 150MB of app storage space, but 2GB of RAM. Perhaps it means 2GB of additional storage? The screen is a 3.2″ model, there’s a 3MP camera onboard, while Android 2.3 is the OS.

Quite attractive for a budget model (the phone). Here’s the announcement from LG, with tech specs below:

FIRST OF LG’S NEW L-STYLE SMARTPHONES COMING TO EUROPEAN CUSTOMERS THIS MONTH
All-in-One Compact Smartphone with Superior Style
SEOUL, Mar. 2, 2012 – The LG Optimus L3, a compact smartphone with timeless style first introduced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2012 in Barcelona earlier this week, will get its European debut starting March. The Optimus L3 is the first model from the L-Style design series starting this year.

LG Optimus L3 offers users an authentic experience compromising the style and practical technologies. L-Style’s elements, such as Modern Square Style and Harmonized Design Contrast with metallic accents, are revealed on the Optimus L3, emphasizing the premium design heritage born from LG’s design leadership.
Its 3.2-inch display provides the ideal viewing experience on a compact smartphone. As an “on-the-go” socializing device, the Optimus L3 allows for longer talk times and ensures that users always stay connected to their favorite social network with its 1,500mAh battery. Customers even have a variety of options when choosing the color for their device – white, black, hot pink or blue.
“We’ve always believed in the need to offer a variety of smartphone options and many people simply don’t want to pay for a lot of extra bells and whistles.” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. “We think the Optimus L3 offers all of basic smartphone-related benefits but in a more premium package that hasn’t been seen before on a smartphone in this category.”
After its European launch, the LG Optimus L3 will make its appearance in Russia and Asia, followed by other markets around the world.
Key Specifications:
o Chipset: 800MHz Dual-Core Processor
o Memory: 150MB (Internal), 2GB (RAM)
o Display: 3.2-inch QGVA
o Camera: 3.0 MP
o OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
o Battery: 1,500mAh

o Size: 102.6 x 61.6 x 11.85 (mm)

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Panasonic Eluga vs Sony Xperia S

We see if Panasonic's re-entry into the smartphone market, the Eluga, can compete with Sony's new Xperia S.

Form
Sony Xperia S - 128x64x10.6mm, 144g

Panasonic Eluga - 123x62x7.8mm, 103g

With the Eluga, Panasonic has opted for a sheer rectangular shape with very hard edges - it's not a far cry from the Lumia Nokia 800.

The back panel is smooth and curved and apart from a neatly squared camera port there's nothing to disrupt the stretch of premium-looking bodywork. The screen really dominates the front of the handset and the bezel round the edge is minimal.

The Eluga has a couple of nifty tricks up its sleeve also. For starters it has IP57 certification, which means it is both dust and water resistant, and it's actually waterproof up to a depth of 1 metre.

From the front the Xperia S actually looks remarkably similar to its opponent, the most noticeable differences, other than the branding, are the slightly softer corners and the idiosyncratic transparent bar at the bottom of Sony's device - which we rather like.

The back panel has a much more pronounced curve than the Panasonic Eluga and the outside edges are flatter.

Generally the Xperia S isn't anywhere near as curved as its predecessor, the Xperia Arc S, but it's also a much more solid device in terms of materials used, the build quality and how the handset sits in the hand.

While the Panasonic Eluga does look nice Sony has once again illustrated that it's capable of putting a more interesting spin on the status quo and for that reason we're giving this round to the Xperia S.

Winner - Sony Xperia S

Display
The Eluga features a 4.3-inch capacitive OLED touchscreen with a 960x540 pixel resolution, a pixel density of 256 pixels-per-inch (ppi) and multi-touch capability.

Sony's Xperia S has the same sized 4.3-inch glass front, which is an LED-backlit LCD capacitive number sporting a 1280x720 pixel resolution and an iPhone-beating 342ppi pixel density.

The Xperia S's display has a huge lead over most of the competition thanks to the spectacularly clear visuals it can push out.

Winner - Sony Xperia S

Storage
Panasonic's Eluga comes loaded with 8GB of built-in storage space and 1GB of RAM but sadly there isn't a card slot anywhere to be found on the device so you're not going to be able to bump it up with micro SD.

The Sony Xperia S has a much larger internal capacity at 32GB. Onboard RAM is the same as the Eluga at 1GB and there's also no card slot here.

A lack of micro SD is disappointing but Sony's handset wins out by having a lot more space on board.

Winner - Sony Xperia S

ProcessorThe Panasonic Eluga is equipped with a dual core 1GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 processor based on ARM's Cortex-A9 architecture. It uses fast dual-channel memory, to make the most of both cores, and a PowerVR SGX540 graphics processor (GPU) clocked at 304MHz.

Sony's new Xpera S runs a dual core Qualcomm MSM8260 S3 Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.5GHz and paired with an Adreno 220 GPU. This setup features single-channel 333MHz/266MHz memory.

Both devices should give fast performance on the current crop of demanding apps and games but you might find things are a little zippier on the Panasonic Eluga's setup.

Winner - Panasonic Eluga

Operating System
Both phones will ship with Android 2.3 Gingerbread but with planned updates for Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 at a later date.

This will be a welcome improvement, while both phones will currently run Gingerbread quite well, there should be a substantial performance boost with the new version as well as a number of useful features, such as an improved multi-tasking interface and a more streamlined menu system.

In any case, both devices will be on the same level at launch and after they update.

Winner - Draw

CameraPanasonic's handset has an 8-megapixel primary camera with a 3264x2448 pixel resolution, autofocus, LED flash, touch focus, geo-tagging, image stabilisation and a digital zoom.

Sony has really pushed the boat out with the Xperia S giving it a 12-megapixel primary with a 4000x3000 pixel resolution and the company's own Exmor R sensor technology.

Video capture is 1080p for the primary camera and features continuous autofocus, a video light and video stabilisation, while the secondary 1.3-megapixel camera can capture at 720p.

Other features include geo-tagging, autofocus, touch focus, a back-illuminated sensor (BSI), face and smile detection, image stabilisation and 3D panoramic sweep capture.

This is an easy win for Sony with a much more feature-packed camera setup which should also dish out better quality video and images thanks to Sony's premium sensor hardware.

Winner - Sony Xperia S

Final Thoughts
In most areas Sony's device wipes the floor with the Eluga, however the crucial point is the processor where Panasonic's handset comes out on top.

Not by a huge stretch though, which means we think as an overall package the Xperia S will probably prove a more rewarding experience.

That's not to say the Eluga is a bad device by any means, it's still a very competent smartphone with plenty to recommend.

We just think Sony's offering is a little more well-rounded.

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Leaked: OS 7.1.0.267 for the BlackBerry Torch 9850

In the last batch of OS leaks, the missing device was the BlackBerry Torch 9850. No matter though as OS 7.1.0.267 has now also shown up for the device. This one does include the media server option as well as some battery optimizations, so have at it. Just make sure you drop by the CrackBerry Forums and share whatever else you may find within mmmkay?
*OS Disclaimer - Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you're comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base - do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *
Download the leaked OS 7.1.0.267 for the BlackBerry Torch 9850
Discuss all the findings and fixes in the CrackBerry Forums
Via: Berrylicio.us

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AT&T Clarifies Data Throttling, Numbers Are Surprising

No one likes to be throttled — just ask Shep Smith — so when AT&T started sending throttling warnings to “unlimited” customers they considered to be the “Top 5%” data hogs, outrage and confusion ensued. After multiple complaints and an online petition, AT&T was forced to clarify their throttling policy and what it means to be in the “Top 5%.”
AT&T set up an information page online to clarify their throttling policy for “unlimited” data customers. While this probably won’t appease those who feel they shouldn’t be throttled at all, it was surprising to find that AT&T’s data cap is actually quite larger than carriers like T-Mobile who begin throttling after 2GB. AT&T reported that customers who use a non-LTE 3G or 4G smartphone will begin to see reduced speeds once they exceed 3GB of data that billing cycle. Users of 4G LTE smartphones will begin to see reduced speeds after they reach 5GB of data usage. What those “reduced speeds” are remain a mystery but we’re assuming you get bumped down to Edge.
The debate over throttling continues to burn and while some believe it should be illegal and have even sued over it, others think it is a necessary evil for mobile carriers. I admit, I’m against throttling, but unfortunately the carriers get around it by standing by the fact that they are still providing customers with “unlimited” data, just not unlimited high-speed data. I think it sucks, but at least AT&T has laid it out there for its customers to see.
To read more on AT&T’s throttling policy for “unlimited” data users, follow the source link below and get all the details. What do you think about carriers throttling “unlimited” data users? Sound off in the comments below, we’d love to hear your opinions.
Source: AT&T

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