We’ve entered a strange territory in photography, where the software benefits & ubiquity of a mobile operating system like Android, meet the hardware of a decent point and shoot. I’ve been testing the Samsung Galaxy Camera for the last month, so I figured I’d share a few thoughts.
A smart camera.
This is, first and foremost, a large point and shoot camera. As camera software goes, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is a breath of fresh air. This is a huge win over any custom OS that attempts to reinvent the wheel. You can install any app available in the Google Play store, from Instagram to games to Wifi-tethering apps. The touchscreen is also amazing. It’s huge. With the camera app open, it makes every type of photo easy to see, frame & capture.
For a phone-less camera, it’s super connected.
Because it comes with GPS, Wifi & 3G connectivity, it makes sharing your photos while you’re on the road really easy. In fact, I’d call it a potential lifesaver. You can set it up to auto-upload to Dropbox or Google+, so if you lose your camera, you’ll still have your photos. Or you can use it to Skype the Icelandic police when you lock yourself out of your car at dusk, in a sand storm, in the middle of nowhere. True story.
Optical zoom is great. Photo quality is so-so.
At 16 megapixels, it outputs photos larger than what phones currently can, yes, but are they better? Not entirely. The lens and 21x optical zoom give you more versatility than a smartphone, but if you examine the photos below closely, you’ll see some JPEG compression and color fringing. For $500 bucks, it’s certainly not as good as you’d find in another equally priced point and shoot camera.
[Full-resolution sample]
[Full-resolution sample]
Photo editing software on Android is scarce.
The camera comes pre-installed with the Photo Wizard editing app, which is sufficient for some, but you’ll probably want to install PicsPlay Pro if you want more control & full resolution exports. It’s the best Android photo editor I can find.
Awkward to hold when you type.
You’ll be using the touchscreen keyboard just as much as you would when operating your standard Android phone, which means you’ll want to hold the screen like a phone, which also means you’ll be holding a camera in a way it wasn’t meant to be held – lens to palm. Not ideal. Thankfully this one has an automatic lens cover.
A note for heavy Instagram users…
The zoom lens opens and extends every time you activate the camera, so if you’re indecisive like me when choosing a photo to post to Instagram, you’ll find the camera opens and closes repeatedly. One of those nobody saw it coming kind of things.
Overall
There are some usability & quality issues between hardware and software that need figuring out, but the Galaxy Camera is pretty killer considering all you can do with it (hat tip to Android). It’s more camera than smartphone, but when you consider portability, smartphones may still win in the end once smaller, mobile sensors catch up in quality.
I recently acquired some concrete art form Concrete Cat. They keep impressing me with the things they are doing in concrete. From a clock collaboration with Furni to Matt Heide’s Concrete Tactile Painting to larger furniture and counter tops. I love seeing an artist evolve with their craft as they push the limits of its intended purpose.
concretecat.com
mattheide.com
Instagram: @concretecat
Posted by: Seth Hardie | Instagram: @hallwood
Today, I bring you an incredibly talented individual, Benjamin JeanJean. I am very envious of not only his work, but his surroundings and life in general. An excerpt from his own biography reads:
“Deeply rooted in the surf and skateboard culture, Benjamin JJ follows life at his own pace on the French Atlantic coast: he drives a 1965 404 Peugeot; lives in an old house he renovated himself, packed with vintage furniture and art pieces; surfs on an old school longboard and takes pictures with a medium format analog camera. Time seems timeless for him. ”
Sounds like the life, if you ask me. Benjamin is well-versed in design, surfing (both shaping and riding), and photography. In todays world, everyone uses their computer or their digital cameras (or phones) to create art, but I find it refreshing to see someone who doesn’t mind getting dirty and taking the time to really put a bit of himself into the things he creates. From pencil and paper, to a surfboard. I love the idea of creating something beautiful that you can also use and enjoy beyond just looking at it.
He has inspired me to pick up a pencil and paper, start working with my hands more, and live my life the way I want to live it.
– Tavish
Probably one of the most visually appealing mobile app icons you can buy(it’s actually free) is the Finnish Meteorological Weather Institute’s App. It’s nothing fancy it just gets the job done of telling you the forecast but in a nicely designed way.
It’s about that time when iPhone 5 rumors start ramping up. Fortunately I have one right here for you to feast your eyes upon. This iPhone 5 concept or as the creator calls it, the “iPhone Plus”, was created by the same guy who dreamed up the Instagram Camera.
Here’s a quick feature list for you dreamed up by the creator:
– Liquid metal Body: thermoformed on a single plane, no junctions needed
– Screen with double alkali-aluminosilicate sheet glass
– 4.3″ Retina Display with In-Cell technology
– A6 Quad Core processor
– Rear Camera: 10.0 Megapixel, f/2.4, 1080p Full HD video at 30 FPS
– Front Camera: 2.0 Megapixel (VGA), 480p VGA video at 30 FPS
– Rear motion sensor
– Top pico-projector to beam photos and videos on any surfaces
– Slim design for an edge-to-edge thinner profile
– New slim-dock connector
– Fully “Capacitive” home button
What do you think about this iPhone Plus concept?
The vinyl and digital of Tycho’s “Dive” single w/ remixes from Memoryhouse and Keep Shelly In Athens are out and available on the shop. Below are some details, i’d grab the clear opaque vinyl which is very limited and won’t be repressed.
Vinyl Details
The clear opaque vinyl is limited to 300 pressings, exclusively available through The Ghostly Store & ISO50.
The standard vinyl is limited to 700 pressings worldwide.
Each standard weight vinyl version features a 2-panel, 3mm spine, stock art jacket with a matte finish inserted in paper dust sleeves.
ORDER YOUR VINYL COPY HERE
Tracklisting
1 Dive
2 Dive (Memoryhouse Remix)
3 Dive (Keep Shelly In Athens Remix)
The title track on Tycho’s long-awaited Dive LP is just that—a ripple effect record that sounds like three songs in one, as if sound/graphic designer Scott Hansen just discovered prog-rock and decided to apply its winding passages to his own singular blend of sinewy synths and bleached beats. It’s also the first Tycho song to feature a prominent guest musician; guitarist Zac Brown, in this case, who paints outside the lines of Hansen’s halcyon hooks with restless rhythms and monorail-like riffs.
The “Dive” single fleshes things out even further, as Keep Shelly in Athens and Memoryhouse—both rising underground artists in their own right—cut Hansen’s cloud-scraping composition in half and slow his cruise control chords down to a crawl. The misty vocal melodies are still there, but they’re now floating through an embryonic assembly of jittery cicadas, rusty gears, and lean loops that are both welcoming and a bit woozy. The sonic equivalent of staring at the sun for too long, really, or two sides of the same cracked mirror.
POLER CAMPING STUFF makes sleeping bags, tents, bags, and accessories that are simple, good looking, well designed gear for people that are travelers, couch surfers, regular surfers, skateboarders, snowboarders, bicyclists, parents, kids, car campers and anyone else looking for something that looks good, is a good value and is all about having fun on road trips and in the outdoors.
Be sure to check out the Adventures section on their website.
And dont forget to give them a follow on Instagram as well. @polerstuff
http://www.polerstuff.com/
When I have the cash i’ll be buying an iPad 2, no shame in that. The first thing i’ll be buying is Sword & Sworcery. I’ve had a good time with Minecraft but this game looks amazing and it still does a number on me with the nostalgic graphics. I guess for any of the haters out there, you really can’t argue the fact some people really love this stuff no matter what the quality.
