Apple today released a new line of MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops. New unibody construction technology is used to stamp out the cases from a single block of aluminum. On the MacBook line, they have lowered the entry point of the current model to $999. The new MacBook looks similar to the aluminum MacBook Pro but in 13.3" display size. Processor speeds have been increased, more DDR3 RAM is included, larger hard drives, and much improved graphics processors from Nvidia. There is now a glass touch pad with 4 finger gestures. For complete descriptions and options for the new MacBooks, please visit the Apple site. They also released a new MacBook Air and 24" Cinema Display.

The new MacBook family redefines notebook design while dramatically lowering the entry price for advanced notebook features, including all-metal enclosures, pro-performance notebook graphics, brilliant instant-on LED-backlit displays, and new large, glass Multi-Touch trackpads. The industry’s greenest notebooks, the entire MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0, EPEAT Gold, and RoHS environmental standards. Starting at $1,200, the new MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro are shipping now.

The new LED Cinema Display features a stunning 24-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with built-in iSight video camera, mic, and speakers in an elegant, thin aluminum and glass enclosure. Available in November for $899, the LED Cinema Display includes an integrated MagSafe charger, three USB 2.0 ports and a new Mini DisplayPort.

Tags: Apple, MacBook Pro, MacBook, Cinema Display, MacBook Air

At today's WWDC 2008 in San Francisco, Apple made it official. They announced the new iPhone 3G which will be available July 11th. It is now thinner, lighter, faster, and less expensive. It now has 3G for faster online access, GPS, much improved audio quality, version 2.0 of the operating system allowing 3rd party applications, half the price, and now available in black and white. For more details, check out the Apple iPhone 3G site.

Tags: Apple, iPhone, 3G, AT&T, GPS

Cadco Systems Inc is proud to announce that they are now a reseller and partner with Data Robotics Inc, the manufacturer of the highly popular Drobo external storage solution. The Drobo is the world's first storage robot that is a fully automated data storage that ensures our data is always protected. Your disk capacity is unlimited and requires no special knowledge or expertise.



Drobo is an easy-to-use desktop storage array that plugs into your Mac, PC or
Linux system via hi-speed USB 2.0. Drobo enables users to reliably store up to
16TB of data, using any combination of 3.5” SATA I or II drives - within four drive
bays. Drobo provides the data redundancy features normally associated with
RAID such as mirroring and data striping, without the complexities of RAID.
Drobo, will create one large pool of protected expandable storage, enabling you
to avoid managing multiple external drives.

Drobo guards everything on it
Even when a drive fails or data becomes corrupted, you’re protected. There are many
advanced data redundancy and integrity checks built into Drobo.

Drobo makes storage a breeze
If you can read a traffic light, you’re a certified Drobo expert. Drobo uses simple LED
lights to inform you about free capacity and drive status.


Drobo offers unlimited capacity upgrades
Use ANY drive you want, regardless of SIZE. Need to add capacity? Pop in a new hard
drive or pop out an existing one and replace it with a bigger one. Drobo has an
insatiable appetite for adding storage capacity. It can even extend to 16TB as hard
disk sizes increase.


Drobo does not require drivers or software
Use Drobo right out of the box – with zero configuration. You’ll never have to worry
about using a management console either. Drobo has the familiar benefits of RAID,
without the complexity.


DroboShare it on your network
Connect your Drobo to a DroboShare and share your data over Gigabit Ethernet (GigE).
With DroboShare, everybody on your network can benefit from the storage capabilities
of Drobo.


Drobo is Windows, OS X, & Linux Friendly
We don’t care if you’re a Mac, PC, or Linux*. We’re proud to support NTFS, HFS+,
EXT3, and FAT32 file systems. If you connect your Drobo to a DroboShare, you can
share with all three operating systems or other devices like media centers, regardless
of the file system you’ve chosen for Drobo. *Linux support now in beta.

Tags: Cadco, Cadco Systems, Partner, Drobo, Data Robotics

Mad Media is a San Diego based marketing agency that specializes in action and motor sports branded advertising and web-based viral film campaigns for sponsor companies such as: Red Bull, DC Shoes, Element Skateboards, Split Clothing and Subaru of America. Last summer, as southern California wildfires destroyed homes and businesses, many others, including Mad Media, were affected by power surges that caused damage to computers and other electronic devices.

Production came to a halt for the company when its sophisticated eight terabyte RAID storage system containing two years worth of irreplaceable video clips from major sporting events and hundreds of hours of editing work became inaccessible. The company turned to Sonnet Technologies, the manufacturer of the RAID system, for help. After determining the nature of the damage, Sonnet recommended DriveSavers.

"We can't afford to tell a client their footage is lost," said Joshua Martelli, Director of TV & Film Production at Mad Media. "The scope of work that we execute is at a very advanced and professional level. We are competing with both large national agencies and very adept production groups. Every project we work on has a deadline that we can't afford to miss."

Within two days, DriveSavers fully recovered all the data on the eight terabyte system allowing Mad Media to get back on schedule. "The data was in the identical state it was before the crash. It was as if nothing had ever happened," commented Martelli.

DriveSavers has a Digital Arts Division that caters to the growing number of artists, graphics, film and audio professionals who rely on technology to create their work. With combined expertise, proprietary tools and knowledge of the industry, DriveSavers excels in data recovery for customers working in the digital arts field and has proven success in restoring data lost in the most challenging ways.

Tags: Drive Savers

Adobe has released updates for both Lightroom and Camera Raw. According to the Lightroom team's blog, the updates include all the changes of the previous releases, but also correct a few issues. Lightroom 1.4.1 will keep the EXIF time date field of images from being incorrectly modified, and has fixes for Olympus JPEG files and also DNG conversion. And the Camera Raw plugin update also fixes the EXIF problem as well as the Olympus JPEG features. They also released ram file support for the latest batch of camera bodies including the Nikon D60, Sony A350, Canon EOS 450D, and more.
You can download the updates for both Mac and Windows from Adobe's site or check for updates from within your Lightroom or Camera Raw software.

Tags: Adobe, Lightroom, Camera Raw

Encrypted data storage devices are extremely common for businesses, government and individuals storing highly confidential or personal information on them. To understand and overcome the challenges of recovering data from encrypted drives, DriveSavers engineers have worked in partnership with all leading encryption software manufacturers and have been trained and certified by government-approved vendors to recover file and disk-level encrypted data safely and successfully.

As a result, government agencies with encrypted systems regularly rely on DriveSavers to recover their lost data. Recently, a US Army employee almost lost all his confidential data. His laptop over heated and began clicking, a symptom of electro-mechanical component failure. To complicate matters, the drive was encrypted.

To recover the data, the mechanical components in the 2.5" hard drive first needed to be rebuilt by engineers in our Class 100 cleanroom. Once the mechanical repairs were completed, a file system engineer-certified in encryption data recovery protocol-successfully created a sector-by-sector image of the data on the drive.

"I can't say enough about the professionalism that was exhibited throughout EVERY step of the recovery process," remarked the owner.

In special cases, data is so sensitive that we return the sector image back to the customer fully encrypted. The customer can then enter the decryption key to verify the recovered data in their own protected environment.

Certain customers and data loss situations require extra security procedures. DriveSavers provides customized data recovery solutions that meet the most stringent data security requirements, including the successful recovery of data from encrypted drives.

Tags: Drive Savers

AppleInsider is reporting that the Apple Mac mini will soon be upgraded to the new Penryn-3M-based Intel chip.  It may receive the Core 2 Duo mobile processor starting at 2.1GHz, 800MHz front-side bus, and stepped-up Intel graphics processor comparable to the one found in the MacBook.

Tags: Apple, Mac mini, Macintosh

Its not Tuesday, but Apple released a new wireless base station today.  The AirPort Express is now available in the "n" flavor.  You can share a printer wirelessly via USB, stream audio wirelessly via the audio mini jack (both analog and optical), setup a WiFi network when traveling, or extend the range of your existing wireless network.   All at the faster 802.11n speeds.  For more details, check out AirPort Express at Apple's site...

Tags: Apple, AirPort Express

Today Apple announced the availability of their iPhone SDK.  Now anyone can develop applications for the iPhone and iPod touch.  If you watch the iPhone Event, it will amaze you.  The iPhone truely is a Macintosh just in mini form.  The operating system and core libraries are those of OS X.  The v2.0 firmware should be released to the public in late June at no cost to iPhone owners.  For more details about this event, below are links to the Event, SDK download, and Enterprise Beta program:

March 6 Event
iPhone Developer Program (SDK)
iPhone Enterprise Beta Program

Tags: Apple, iPhone, SDK

Today I received the new Cradlepoint PHS-300 I ordered.  This is a phenominal device.  It is a personal WiFi router that allows you to plug in your EVDO or HDSPA (3G) broadband USB modem into it and then share that connection with up to 16 WiFi devices.  You can also use your cell phone as a tethered modem to provide the 3G connectivity.  You can connect to the WiFi with either 802.11b or 802.11g and includes a complete NAT with SPI firewall.  It features 64/128 bit WEP, WPA/WPA2, and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK encryption and supports all operating systems and PDAs with WiFi support.  It also includes a Lithium-Ion battery for up to 3 hours of use (ships with an AC adapter but you can also purchase a car-adapter to charge it as well).   I use it to connect my MacBook Pro and iPhone on the road allowing me to utilize the faster 3G network with the iPhone.  The best of all worlds.   

Tags: Cradlepoint, Hot Spot, 3G, EVDO, HSDPA, iPhone, MacBook Pro

All May Not Be Lost!

Recent wildfires in Southern California destroyed more than 2,000 homes and blackened 809 square miles from the Mexican border to Los Angeles. SoCal Wildfire victims may be able to recover irreplaceable digital photos, critical financial records, personal files and other important data.

DriveSavers is extending their offer of $500 off their data recovery services to residents and business owners affected by these fires if the drives are received before January15, 2008. In addition, we would like to thank the 150-plus computer service providers in Southern California that provided additional discounts and support to those affected by the wildfires.

DriveSavers has recovered thousands of burnt hard drives that looked unrecoverable. While the fire-damaged computer's plastic components may be melted, the data encased in the metal hard drive may be recoverable. When helping a client with a burnt up computer:

Do not power up a smoke-damaged or burnt computer or device
Do not attempt to clean the hard drive
Keep wet hard drives moist: store the drive in an airtight, sealed plastic bag
Do not remove the drive from a melted computer; send in the entire system

Fire damage is a bittersweet example of how important it is to back up valuable data and store the backed up data in a separate location.

Tags: Drive Savers, Data Recovery

iPhone - Data Recovery

Time Magazine named it the "Invention of the Year." It is the communication tool, camera, music player and data storage device of the future. It is technologically smart, sexy and the "gotta have it" device of today. You guessed it-it's the iPhone! And like all digital storage devices in the world today, it can store irreplaceable data and lose it too.

"The iPhone has revolutionized mobile phones to the extent that users want to store as much data as possible on them," said Scott Gaidano, president of DriveSavers Data Recovery. "iPhones can go anywhere, capturing precious moments on digital photos, gathering new contacts and downloading music. If the data is lost before it is backed up, then DriveSavers is the best option for getting data back."

The storage built into these devices is memory-based which uses less power, runs silently and is more resistant to shock than a hard drive. However, this technology can also be compromised by user error, mismanagement and failure. Already this year, we have done recoveries on a number of iPhones that lost data as a result of deleted files to crashed file systems to one being dropped in the ocean.

Any device that stores data can also lose data. You need to sync/back-up their iPhone regularly, just as you would with any storage media.

Tags: Data Recovery, Drive Savers

Frampton Comes Alive—Again

A "directory recovery" is the most common and best quality recovery that DriveSavers can produce. However, when a user has deleted files/folders, initialized or formatted a drive or, for an unknown reason, has missing documents; the data may have to be returned in a "generic" format.

If the original directory pointers (technically referred to as the "catalog and extent tree leaf nodes") are lost or overwritten, a generic recovery is a likely probability, although a directory recovery may still be possible. The directory functions like a book's table of contents, locating and accessing files stored randomly across the platters.

DriveSavers engineers have developed highly customized utilities that allow them to recover data in spite of damaged file directories. Working at the sector level, they can define and decipher hex code "headers", organize the data by file type (Word, Excel, Photoshop, etc.) and verify that the recovered files are complete and undamaged. The customer would then open and rename each file after the data is returned.

On a recent recovery performed for music legend Peter Frampton, all of Peter's files were retrieved devoid of their original titles. The artist's hard drive had held 1000 songs recorded with his audio device, a folder with song lyrics and many family vacation photos. With or without names, most of the data was one-of-a-kind if not irreplaceable. Peter and his family were overjoyed to have the files back.

DriveSavers engineers will not stop until they have tried everything to achieve a perfect directory recovery. But, if the directory structure is impossible to recover, we can still give the customer generic results. And like Peter, most customers are thrilled to get back any of their lost data, even if it means renaming the files themselves.

Tags: Drive Savers

As you all have heard by now, the iPhone 8gb price has dropped by $200 just 60 days since its release. Many Apple customers are upset including myself. I was just about to contact my store and demand a credit. If that didn't work, then you still can return the iPhone for up to 90 days from the date of purchase and pay the 10% restocking fee. Then you could purchase a new iPhone at the lower cost and still be ahead. Only problem there is having to possibly be without a phone for a short while.

Now, Steve Jobs released this statement on the Apple web site about offering a $100 credit to early adopters of the iPhone. I think its fair:

To all iPhone customers:

I have received hundreds of emails from iPhone customers who are upset about Apple dropping the price of iPhone by $200 two months after it went on sale. After reading every one of these emails, I have some observations and conclusions.

First, I am sure that we are making the correct decision to lower the price of the 8GB iPhone from $599 to $399, and that now is the right time to do it. iPhone is a breakthrough product, and we have the chance to 'go for it' this holiday season. iPhone is so far ahead of the competition, and now it will be affordable by even more customers. It benefits both Apple and every iPhone user to get as many new customers as possible in the iPhone 'tent'. We strongly believe the $399 price will help us do just that this holiday season.

Second, being in technology for 30+ years I can attest to the fact that the technology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and there is always someone who bought a product before a particular cutoff date and misses the new price or the new operating system or the new whatever. This is life in the technology lane. If you always wait for the next price cut or to buy the new improved model, you'll never buy any technology product because there is always something better and less expensive on the horizon. The good news is that if you buy products from companies that support them well, like Apple tries to do, you will receive years of useful and satisfying service from them even as newer models are introduced.

Third, even though we are making the right decision to lower the price of iPhone, and even though the technology road is bumpy, we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.

Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple's website next week. Stay tuned.

We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.

Steve Jobs
Apple CEO

Tags: Apple, iPhone

Today, Apple upgraded it's entire iPod line from top to bottom. You now get many more features for much less than before along with new design points. The entry line of iPods, the shuffle, now comes in 5 new colors. The iPod nano now is smaller and a bit wider but supports video and games. The original iPod is now the iPod classic and is thinner along with capacities up to 160gb. That's up to 40,000 songs in your pocket.

The hot new announcement today is the iPod touch. Its basically an iPhone in every way but without the phone functionality. And with capacities up to 16gb. It also supports WiFi access now and sports the Safari web browser, YouTube access, syncs with yout contacts and calendar, and more.

The iPhone, along with the iPod touch, now have a new feature, WiFi iTunes Store. You can now browse the iTunes Store, preview music, purchase, and download songs directly to your iPod touch and/or iPhone. The iPhone, via an upgraded version of iTunes software (being released tonight), now supports Ringtones and you can create your own ringtones as well from the purchased music downloads.

Apple is now partnering with Starbucks Coffee to offer free WiFi access to the iTunes Store from the Starbucks coffee shops. Now, when you enter a Starbucks, your iPod touch or iPhone will sense the Starbucks WiFi network, automatically login, and present you with a Starbucks icon on your iPod function. It will display the current playing song in the store and the previous 10 songs played. You can preview those songs and if you like it, you can purchase and download it directly from within Starbucks. Apple also surprised everyone by dropping the 4gb version of the iPhone and reducing the price of the 8gb iPhone from $599 to $399!

You can see all the lateset iPods and iPhone at the Apple iPod+iTunes site.

Tags: Apple, AT&T, iPhone, iTunes, Steve Jobs, WiFi, YouTube

Magnetic Avalanche

When a consumer buys a new high capacity, top of the line hard drive, one of the first things they think is, "Wow, I have tons of space...and it's screaming fast too!" The last thing on the happy purchaser's mind is not about how it works. After all, it is quite complicated and best left to those who develop and build drives.

Scientists have found that these rapidly-spinning drives could potentially be vulnerable to a "magnetic avalanche." In basic terms, this would be the result of electrons spinning so fast that they cause their neighboring atom's electrons to "flip bits" and thus, cause corruption.

Disk drive manufacturers have been creating new designs and using new materials to prevent magnetic avalanches from occurring. During the manufacturing process, they use an effect known as "damping" which is the process of quieting the drive down or reducing its vibration by making sure that spinning parts spin continuously at the correct rate and stabilizing the magnetism inside a drive.

The reality of having a drive suffer from this condition is slim, as it is ideally resolved during manufacturing. If, however, one did slip through the cracks and suffered a failure like this, it is unclear if the data would be recoverable.

There is nothing you can do to prevent a magnetic avalanche, and there is no way to tell if you this is the issue you are experiencing. Our advice-if you are going to sell a "screaming fast, super large drive", perhaps sell two. And teach your customer how to back up on the second one!

Tags: Drive Savers

The Doctor Can Help You Now

Corinne Cox is the office manager for Family Doctors of Vicksburg, MI, a 20-person medical facility. Like all things mechanical, her hard drive gave up the ghost one day, taking with it vital financial records including patient billing and payroll.

Corinne remained calm because she personally had a daily backup procedure in place. Every day at 5 PM, she would pull the backup tape and store it offsite for additional security and protection. When her IT people checked the backup system, they found that the server was corrupted and had not been making a back up of their system for several months. The reality began to sink in-without this data, she wouldn't be able to pay co-workers and doctors or invoice the patients.

"Our entire practice was unable to function without our data, I literally felt physically ill", says Corinne. Like many of the drives that come to DriveSavers, this specific drive suffered from media damage and required the heads and actuator assembly to be replaced through extensive microsurgery in an effort to temporarily repair the drive.

Three days later, the Family Doctors office received its data and was back in business. Of the experience Corinne shared, "The stress of losing this data was devastating. I hope other people will learn from my experience that even though you think you're backing up, it's important check and confirm that everything's working as it should."

Tags: Drive Savers

EIGHT YEARS AFTER CHANGING PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOREVER, NIKON DOES IT AGAIN BY INTRODUCING THE D3 DIGITAL SLR

MELVILLE, N.Y. (AUGUST 23, 2007) – Eight years after Nikon’s D1 camera changed professional digital photography forever, Nikon today introduced the D3 – a new digital SLR camera that is poised to once again revolutionize photography for professionals. The 12.1 effective megapixel D3 features Nikon’s new FX-format CMOS sensor, measuring 23.9 x 36mm, which is nearly identical to the size of 35mm film. With the fastest startup time, shortest viewfinder blackout time, and shortest shutter lag of any digital SLR camera as well as the capability to shoot up to nine frames per second at full FX-format resolution, the D3 is the world’s fastest digital SLR camera in its class.*



Designed with sports photographers and photojournalists in mind, the Nikon D3 introduces an astounding list of brand new features and technologies that make it the most sophisticated and advanced Nikon digital SLR to date. In addition to the new FX-format CMOS sensor, the D3 incorporates Nikon’s new EXPEED Image Processing System that is central to the blazing speed and processing power needed for many of the D3’s new features.

Images taken with the D3 reflect exceptional overall quality, broad tonal range and depth, along with extremely low-noise throughout its normal ISO range of 200 to 6400. By setting the camera to its built-in options of Lo-1 or Hi-2, the ISO range of the camera can be expanded to the equivalent of ISO 100 or ISO 25,600 respectively, offering unmatched versatility in practically any shooting situation.

The D3 also features an entirely new 51-point auto focus system with Nikon’s 3D Focus Tracking feature and two new LiveView shooting modes that allow photographers to frame a photograph using the camera’s high-resolution LCD monitor. The D3 uses the world’s first Scene Recognition System to greatly enhance the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance detection in the camera by recognizing the subject or scene being photographed and applying this information to the calculations for the three functions.

“Nikon is proud and excited to once again respond to the needs of professional photographers by introducing the D3. Nikon engineers have successfully combined ultra high-speed shooting capabilities and handling with outstanding low-noise image quality, offering professional photographers an ideal tool for a broad range of shooting disciplines,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products, at Nikon Inc. “Sports, commercial and press photographers are increasingly demanding higher ISO sensitivity, better resolution, wider dynamic range and a familiar depth-of-field in relation to picture angles. With the D3, Nikon is excited to deliver a solution that represents an ideal unification of unsurpassed image quality, high-speed operation and professional durability, without compromise. Nikon fully expects the D3 to positively affect the photographic community in a way that hasn’t been seen since the introduction of the Nikon D1.”

Nikon’s Sensor Formats: FX and DX
Nikon’s digital SLR cameras based on its DX-format sensor have been hugely successful and represent an excellent combination of high image quality, size and value. And while the DX-format has been widely accepted by professional photographers and photo enthusiasts around the world, there is an increasing demand among professionals for a digital SLR camera that features higher ISO sensitivity, wider dynamic range and offers the same relationship between picture angle and depth-of-field that were the hallmarks of the 35mm film format.

Responding to this demand, Nikon has developed the D3 as its first digital SLR camera that features the Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor to meet the real-world requirements of its professional customers. The D3 delivers full resolution 12.1 megapixel images at up to nine frames per second when used with conventional AF-Nikkor lenses. When used with DX Nikkor lenses, the D3 automatically switches to the DX-format mode that uses a cropped portion of the sensor to generate 5.1 megapixel resolution images. While in this mode, the D3 automatically masks the portion of the viewfinder that will not be photographed and enables the capability to shoot up to 11 frames per second.

Both Nikon FX and DX-formats provide their own advantages, and Nikon recognizes that both formats are necessary in order to satisfy its diverse customer demands. Based on this recognition, Nikon will strengthen its D-SLR lineup with the addition of the D3 FX-format SLR camera and a broadened assortment of Nikkor interchangeable lenses, while continuing to develop and market high-performance DX-format cameras and lenses.



The Most Intelligent Nikon Ever
The D3 introduces a range of innovative technologies and features that significantly improve the accuracy, control and performance professional photographers can get from their equipment. Nikon’s exclusive Scene Recognition System advances the use of Nikon’s acclaimed 1,005-segment sensor to recognize colors and light patterns that help the camera determine the subject and the type of scene being photographed, before an image is captured. This information is also used to improve the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance detection functions in the D3. For example, the camera can track moving subjects better in all directions and by identifying them it can also automatically select focus points faster and with greater accuracy. It can also analyze scene highlights and more accurately determine exposure, as well as infer light sources to deliver more accurate white balance.

The D3 incorporates Nikon’s new Multi-CAM 3500FX auto focus module that features an intelligent array of 15 cross-type sensors and 36 horizontal sensors. These sensors can either be used individually or in groups, with the option for Single Area AF mode and Dynamic AF modes using groups of either 9, 21 or all 51 focus points. The system also features 3D Focus Tracking with automatic focus point switching that takes advantage of all 51 AF points as it uses color and light information to accurately track the subject. Nikon's new Scene Recognition System and improved focus algorithms also contribute to the impressive performance of the new 51-point AF system.

Nikon's new Picture Control System makes it easy for users of all experience levels to select and apply adjustments to how their pictures are rendered and create optimized settings to suit their individual preferences. The same settings produce consistent picture tone, even when using different camera bodies. The Picture Control System offers four basic setting options – Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome. These can be directly modified for easy adjustment and customization of image parameters, such as sharpening, tone compensation, brightness and saturation. Photographers can customize and store up to nine customized options in the D3 and export up to 99 to a CF memory card, enabling photographers to share settings among multiple D3 cameras.

Taking a cue from the popularity of Nikon’s D-Lighting technology, the D3 features a new Active D-Lighting mode that, when enabled, provides remarkable real-time highlight and shadow correction with optimized image contrast. Active D-Lighting produces broader tone reproduction in both shadows and highlights by controlling highlights and exposure compensation while applying localized tone control technology to achieve a more pleasing level of contrast across the entire image. And because the advantages of Active D-Lighting are applied as images are captured, image editing time can be shortened.



The D3’s LiveView feature offers two modes for confirming subjects and composition on the new 920,000-dot, high-resolution 3-inch LCD monitor while shooting. The Tripod mode is designed for precise focus and accuracy when the camera is on a stable platform and the subject is not moving. In this mode, the camera focuses on the subject using focal-plane contrast and any point on the LCD screen can be selected as the focus point for the picture. The second mode, called Handheld mode, allows photographers to use the camera’s conventional TTL focusing system, with all 51-points and 15 cross-type points available. When using this mode, the camera activates focusing immediately when the shutter button is pressed, to ensure accurate focus.
The Fastest Camera in its Class
The D3 has the fastest reaction times of any camera in its class. Its shutter release time lag is only 37 milliseconds, and its start-up time is approximately 0.12 seconds. It is capable of continuously shooting approximately nine frames per second in full resolution with FX-format, up to 64 consecutive frames in JPEG, Normal compression. For NEF (RAW) files, the D3 can shoot up to 20 or up to 17 consecutive frames depending on whether it is set to 12-bit or 14-bit images. When using a DX-format lens, the camera automatically switches to DX-format mode, adjusting the resolution of the camera to 5.1 megapixels. In the DX-format mode, photographers also have the opportunity to increase the speed at which the camera can take pictures by limiting the auto exposure and going up to 10 frames per second or limiting both auto exposure and auto focus and going up to 11 frames per second.

Refined Ergonomics and Usability
The D3 reflects Nikon’s most streamlined, functional and aesthetically pleasing layout in a digital SLR camera, all designed so photographers can take pictures with less fatigue, greater accuracy and comfort.

The camera’s viewfinder provides virtually 100 percent coverage for accurate framing, while an ultra-high definition, 920,000-dot VGA LCD screen on the rear of the camera displays images with vivid color and clarity. The 170-degree wide viewing angle makes composing shots using the LCD screen in LiveView mode easy. The D3 also features a unique Virtual Horizon digital level sensor that indicates the camera’s alignment relative to the true horizon on the rear LCD screen or in the viewfinder.



The D3 also features two CompactFlash™ card slots that can be used for consecutive recording (overflow), simultaneous recording (backup), separating recording of RAW and JPEG files or even copying pictures between the two cards. Images can be displayed directly from the camera to a high-definition monitor using the camera’s HDMI port and an optional cable.
The D3 is designed for professional use in demanding conditions. The exterior of the D3 is crafted of magnesium alloy and the camera’s shutter mechanism is tested to 300,000-cycle releases. The 3.0-inch LCD is strengthened with tempered glass and the D3’s comprehensive array of rubber gaskets and seals protect vulnerable entry points from dust and moisture.

Price and Availability
The D3 will be available from authorized Nikon Professional Dealers beginning in November 2007 for an estimated selling price of $4,999.95**. With the introduction of the D3, Nikon’s current lineup of digital SLR cameras now includes the new D3, D2xs, D300, D200, D80, D40x and D40.

* As of August, 2007; among cameras featuring an imaging sensor similar to the size of 35mm film
** Estimated selling prices listed are only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

For Hi-Resolution images of the new Nikon D3, follow this Nikon Press Room link to the photos.

Tags: Nikon, D3, DSLR, Photography

NIKON INTRODUCES THE NEW D300 PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL SLR CAMERA

MELVILLE, N.Y. (AUGUST 23, 2007) – Nikon (www.nikonusa.com) today introduced its most advanced DX-format digital SLR camera, the D300. Engineered with pro-level features and performance, the 12.3 effective megapixel D300 combines brand new technologies with advanced features inherited from Nikon’s newly announced D3 professional digital SLR camera to offer serious photographers remarkable performance combined with agility.

Similar to the D3, the D300 features Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED Image Processing System that is central to driving the speed and processing power needed for many of the camera’s new features. The D300 features a new 51-point auto focus system with Nikon’s 3D Focus Tracking feature and two new LiveView shooting modes that allow users to frame a photograph using the camera’s high-resolution LCD monitor. The D300 shares a similar Scene Recognition System as found in the D3 that promises to greatly enhance the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance by recognizing the subject or scene being photographed and applying this information to the calculations for the three functions.



The D300 reacts with lightning speed, powering-up in a mere 0.13 seconds and shooting with an imperceptible 45 millisecond shutter release lag time. The D300 is capable of shooting at a rapid six frames per second and can go as fast as eight frames per second when using the optional MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Pack. In continuous bursts, the D300 can shoot up to 100 shots* at full 12.3 megapixel resolution.

“Nikon’s D200 digital SLR camera has been a runaway success for us because it embodies everything that performance-conscious photographers demand. With the D300, we’ve raised the bar with remarkable new features, greater resolution and speed, and even higher image quality,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products, at Nikon Inc. “The D300 delivers an unmatched combination of quality, performance and value that’s hard for discerning photographers to resist.”

The D300 incorporates a range of innovative technologies and features that will significantly improve the accuracy, control and performance photographers can get from their equipment. Its new Scene Recognition System advances the use of Nikon’s acclaimed 1,005-segment sensor to recognize colors and light patterns that help the camera determine the subject and the type of scene being photographed, before a picture is taken. This information is used to improve the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance functions in the D300. For example, the camera can track moving subjects better and by identifying them, it can also automatically select focus points faster and with greater accuracy. It can also analyze highlights and more accurately determine exposure, as well as infer light sources to deliver more accurate white balance detection.

The D300 incorporates Nikon’s new Multi-CAM 3500DX auto focus module that features an intelligent array of 15 cross-type sensors and 36 horizontal sensors. These sensors can either be used individually or in groups, with the option for Single area AF mode and Dynamic AF modes using groups of either nine, 21 or all 51 focus points. The system also features 3D tracking with automatic focus point switching that takes advantage of all 51 AF points as it uses color and light information to accurately track the subject. Nikon's new Scene Recognition System and improved focus algorithms also contribute to the impressive performance of the new 51-point AF system.

Nikon's new Picture Control System makes it easy for users of all experience levels to select and apply adjustments to how their pictures are rendered and create optimized settings to suit their individual preferences. The same settings produce consistent picture tone, even when using different camera bodies. The Picture Control System offers four basic setting options – Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome. These can be directly modified for easy adjustment and customization of image parameters, such as sharpening, tone compensation, brightness and saturation. Photographers can customize and store up to nine customized options in the D300 and export up to 99 to a CF memory card, enabling photographers to share settings among multiple cameras that feature Picture Control System.

Taking a cue from the popularity of Nikon’s D-Lighting technology, the D300 features a new Active D-Lighting mode that, when enabled, provides remarkable real-time highlight and shadow correction with optimized image contrast. Active D-Lighting produces broader tone reproduction in both shadows and highlights by controlling highlights and exposure compensation while applying localized tone control technology to achieve a more pleasing level of contrast across the entire image. And because the advantages of Active D-Lighting are applied as images are captured, image editing time can be shortened.



The D300’s LiveView feature offers two modes for confirming subjects and composition on the new 920,000-dot, high-resolution 3-inch LCD monitor while shooting. The Tripod mode is designed for precise focus and accuracy when the camera is on a stable platform and the subject is not moving. In this mode, the camera focuses on the subject using focal-plane contrast and any point on the LCD screen can be selected as the focus point for the picture. The second mode, called Handheld mode, allows photographers to use the camera’s conventional TTL focusing system, with all 51-points and 15 cross-type points available. When using this mode, the camera activates focusing immediately when the shutter button is pressed, to ensure accurate focus.

The D300 also employs a new self-cleaning sensor unit. Four different resonance frequencies vibrate the optical low pass filter in front of the image sensor to shake particles free and reduce the appearance of dust.

Refined Ergonomics and Usability
The D300 inherits one of Nikon’s most streamlined, functional and aesthetically pleasing layouts in a digital SLR camera, designed to enable photographers to take pictures with less fatigue, greater accuracy and comfort.

The camera’s viewfinder provides virtually 100 percent coverage so pictures can be framed accurately, while an ultra-high definition 920,000 dot VGA LCD screen on the rear of the camera displays images with vivid color and clarity. Its 170-degree wide viewing angle makes it easy to compose shots using the LCD screen in LiveView mode.

The D300 features rugged magnesium alloy construction and the camera’s shutter mechanism is tested up to 150,000 cycles. The 3.0-inch LCD is strengthened with tempered glass and the D300’s rubber gaskets and seals protect vulnerable entry points from dust and moisture.



Price and Availability
The D300 will be available from Nikon Authorized Dealers beginning in November 2007 for an estimated selling price of $1,799.95**. With the introduction of the D300, Nikon’s current lineup of digital SLR cameras now includes the new D3, D2XS, D300, D200, D80, D40x and D40.

*NORMAL – LARGE image setting, using a SanDisk Extreme IV CompactFlash 1GB card
** Estimated selling prices listed are only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

For Hi-Resolution images of the new Nikon D300, follow this Nikon Press Room link to the photos.

Tags: Nikon, D300, DSLR, Photography

Yes, that is not a typo. 39 megapixels out of this baby! This is Hasselblad's top-of-the-line DSLR. It's the world's first, full-frame, 48mm DSLR camera system. It produces images that are 5412x7212 in size. Cost is about $40K but, hey, if you want the best, you have to pay for the best.

Here are some links to samples of the images it can produce along with spec sheets. Enjoy!

Hasselblad H3D-39 Details

Hasselblad Star Quality Images

Tags: DSLR, Hasselblad, H3D

Apple announced that the iPhone out-of-warranty batteries can be replaced for a small fee. So when a year goes by and your iPhone battery charge diminishes, you can send it in to Apple for a replacement for $79.00.

Announcement

Tags: Apple, iPhone

Today AT&T announced that it will provide higher speed broadband customers free access to the nation's largest WiFi network.

Announcement

Tags: Apple, AT&T, iPhone, WiFi

Apple released a new finger tips video for the iPhone.

Tags: Apple, AT&T, iPhone, Video

Today AT&T published a store locator for the new iPhone. You can now search for only the stores that will have the iPhone available.

iPhone Store Locator

Tags: Apple, AT&T, iPhone, Store Locator

Apple released a new How-To video for the iPhone keyboard.

Tags: Apple, Keyboard, Video

Today AT&T and Apple announced new iPhone service plans. Syncing and phone activation is done through iTunes. Apple posted videos on syncing and activation. All iPhone service plans include Visual Voicemail and unlimited data (Internet and email).

AT&T Service Plans
Apple Syncing and Activation
AT&T Coverage Viewer

Tags: Apple, AT&T, iTunes, iPhone Rates

Engadget is reporting that Nikon may soon be releasing the next leap forward in digital SLR technology. Rumor has it that the new D3 will have an 18.7-megapixel full size image image sensor and that it may be available as soon as this August. Stay tuned...

Tags: Nikon, Canon, DSLR, D3

Walt asks Steve a few questions about the soon to be released iPhone and the deal with YouTube to watch videos downloaded directly to your AppleTV.

Tags: Walt Mossberg, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Digital D5, Apple, Microsoft

From the joint interview between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates at the D5 conference. They are back after two decades.

Prologue


Part 1
Steve Jobs and Bill Gates discuss their contributions to the technology industry, the qualities they most respect in one another, and former Apple CEO Gil Amelio’s seamanship.


Part 2
Steve and Bill talk about the 1997 agreement between Apple and Microsoft; whether they think their companies are rivals today; the “Get a Mac” commericals; and iPods, Zunes and music.


Part 3
Steve and Bill talk about their biggest regrets; what excites and surprises them in technology today; mobile devices; and what they feel computing will be like in five years.


Part 4
Gates and Jobs continue their discussion about the future of technology, covering such topics as mobile phones, flexible displays, Internet services and the nimbleness of large companies versus small start-ups.


Part 5
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs’ discussion with Walt and Kara turns to the entertainment industry, the transition facing Hollywood companies today and the future of computing interfaces.