Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

We thought the RAmos V8 was looking pretty sleek in render form, but now that some real pictures of the black PMP with the 4.3-inch screen and 16GB of storage have surfaced, we’re really impressed — with how much this thing looks like an iPod touch. (We’ll be here all week, folks!) Of course, the V8’s codec support is way better, but without pricing info and a look at that UI we’re not ready to call this one a winner quite yet. Let us know if you hit China next month, okay?

[Via MP4nation]

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Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

The Professor rounds up a handful of interesting and informative gadget-related science stories from the week and presents them in an easily digestible liquid form.

Having trouble keeping your fingers, thumbs, or eyeballs on the pulse of modern science? Do you find yourself in the throes of panic due to misunderstandings in molecular goings-on? Did the latest aircar, split atom, or robotic insectoid go buzzing over your head before you had time to ready a response? Don’t worry friends, The Professor is here to help. Though not an actual scientist, professor, or even a college graduate, he can help guide you through the cascading, complicated, and spasmodic visionary vistas of human invention and achievement as smoothly as a hot knife descending into softened butter.

Continue reading The Professor: GM’s new old engine tech, moon mirrors, the dangers of space war debris

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

You may well be aware of the transparent desktop crazy that’s been around a few years (we used a photo earlier this week).
People take photos of what’s behind their computer screen, then load these photos up as wallpapers on their computer desktop - then take another photo of the real world and the computer screen.

Original post by Simon Perry

Filed under: Robots

Though certainly not the first gizmo designed with aerial photography in mind, the Aeryon Scout is a notch above most alternatives. The hovering platform enables users to capture still shots and log digital video from up above, and while it can be controlled remotely, we’re also hearing that autonomous navigation isn’t totally out of reach. Currently, the device is still looking to escape the prototype stage, but its creators are already eying police forces, security firms and surveying / engineering businesses in hopes of landing a few clients. Considering the stunningly high $30,000 to $50,000 price tag, we’d say they’re looking in the right (read: only) direction.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets, image courtesy of InventorSpot]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Yesterday we kicked off our guide by starting to underline your rights as a photographer. Today we continue to look at where you can or can’t take pics.

Original post by Mike Slocombe

Udi sent us this how-to for a very high quality photo softbox - looks quite professional and worth the effort -

This is a DIY project I have had in mind for a while now. When I purchased my studio flash heads, they came with a couple of small softboxes. Although I prefer to use translucent umbrellas whenever I can (small, light, easy to transport), there are times when a softbox is a better solution. While I could use the studio head softboxes in some circumstances with my small strobes, there was no way of effectively holding the flash in place without a lot of jerry rigging. To this end, I wanted to design a softbox that would be light, reasonably strong and durable, adaptable (double diffuser, grid attachment, barn doors etc.) at a later date and have a quick and easy way to mount the flash.

Aluminum tape is oh so very handy!- Studio Photography - The Best Softbox Ever

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Original post by Collin Cunningham

A brief outline of your rights when you’re taking photos.

Original post by Mike Slocombe

This is a great video on how to set up a photo shoot for you next project. There are some really great tips that will save you a lot of money, and give you professional results. You may want to try some of these techniques next time you take pictures for our Make flickr photo pool.

Learn more about Photo Studio Product Lighting

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Original post by Marc de Vinck

MP lodges protest over increasing official harassment for street shooters.

Original post by Mike Slocombe

Perverts, stalkers and surreptitious snappers rejoice as secret sunglasses-cam announced

Original post by Mike Slocombe

Drew sent us this ring light example. We’ve seen some clever DIY versions - this commercial design uses the battery pack as a base with a handy movable arm. This could definitely be a good remake.

Related:

DIY macro ring lights

In the Maker store:

ProdMod LED Camera Light Kit v1.1

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Original post by Collin Cunningham

Sony has announced the Handycam HDR-TG3E, claiming it to be the World’s smallest HD 1080 Camcorder - and judging by the photos we’ve had through, they’re more than likely right. The thing looks tiny.
Sized at little larger than a mobile phone (33 x 119 x 63.5mm and 283g), Sony say it’s the smallest, slimmest, lightest […]

Original post by Simon Perry

Sony has announced the Handycam HDR-TG3E, claiming it to be the World’s smallest HD 1080 Camcorder - and judging by the photos we’ve had through, they’re more than likely right. The thing looks tiny.
Sized at little larger than a mobile phone (33 x 119 x 63.5mm and 283g), Sony say it’s the smallest, slimmest, lightest […]

Original post by Simon Perry

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Oddly enough, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a product proudly designed in Cupertino erupt, but it’s pretty safe to say this story could have had a much more tragic ending. Reportedly, an iPod nano owner recently awoke to a blaring fire alarm around 2:00AM, only to find his beloved PMP wrapped in flames on the bedroom floor. Thankfully, the fire was tiny enough to be extinguished without any major trouble, and no substantial damage of property or human flesh was tallied. As of now, we’ve no idea if the unit simply exploded or if surrounding circumstances are at least partly to blame, but you can bet your bottom dollar that be sleeping with one eye open (and on our media players) tonight.

[Thanks, Sandy]

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Original post by Darren Murph

BusinessWeek is reporting that Nicholas Negroponte, who serves as chief executive of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) foundation, is looking for someone to replace him as CEO, while he remains as chairman.

“He says the organization has been operating ‘almost like a terrorist group, doing almost impossible things’ for three years. Now, he says, it needs to be managed ‘more like Microsoft’.”

Negroponte, if you recall, went on a bit of a tirade against Intel, which he accused of sabotaging OLPC’s efforts with its own Classmate PC. Unfortunately, all the tit-for-tat sort of got in the way of the charitable efforts both groups set out to accomplish — even if both laptops proved to be valuable research tools for lowering the cost of the PCs, as well as seed Third World countries for future computing efforts.

In recent weeks, OLPC reorganized into four operating units, including technology, deployment, market development and fund-raising, and administration, BusinessWeek reported. So is Negroponte’s OLPC legacy just another indication that hardcore tech guys should not run businesses? Or do examples like Sun and Microsoft poke holes in that?

Image: BusinessWeek/Adam Nadel/Polaris

Original post by Mark Hachman