Relax buddy, we can’t wait either.

Most of the features of the full game have been made available at this point, including all difficulties of AI, game modes, as well as inter-game chat with World of Warcraft players. We’re crossing our fingers but it shouldn’t be long now, see you in-game!

Source: sc2armory.com

In the days of taking photographs using film it was fairly straight forward, the standard for consumer and prosumer cameras were the 35mm film. Which is basically the film that we used to load in our cameras before taking pictures at a birtday partys.

Today film has been replaced with digital sensors either a CMOS or CCD sensors. Now to make things are more complicated, these sensors come in different sizes and mega pixels. The reason being to either keep the price down or to have the camera smaller in size.

Overview

Full Frame Cameras 35mm equivalant

- Nikon D3, D3x, D700
- Canon 5D, 5D mark II
- Canon 1Ds, 1Ds Mark II, 1Ds Mark III
- Sony Alpha 900

APS-H (1.3x Crop)

• Canon 1D, 1D mark II, 1D Mark III

APS-C (1.5x Crop)

• Nikon D40, D40x, D60, D5000, D80, D90, D200, D300
• Sony A320, A230, A350, A300, A200, A700, A100
• Pentex K20D, K200D, K-7, K10D

APS-C (1.6x Crop)

• Canon EOS 1000D, 40D, 50D, 300D, 450D, 400D, 500D

Four Thirds System (2.0x Crop)

• Olyumpus range of cameras

1/2.5″

• This is just one of the sizes of used for compact cameras (point and shoot)

Crop Factor & Focal Length Multiplication
According to the diagram above we have listed down the crop factors of the different categories of sensors. Now to show the effects of crop factors we can look at the picture below

Final Thoughts

The sensor size will also effect the quality of the picture, as smaller sensors tend to have more noise or grain. Just try taking a picture with 2 different cameras with the same mega pixels but different sensor size, you will notice that the camera with a larger sensor has less noise. Another way just use your camera phone and compare it to a DSLR or even a compact camera. This concludes the basic understanding of camera sensors sizes, hope it will be helpful.

Thumbs up to Andy of Shutterblog

Man breaking the Ring

Girls Cheering

Man punching phone

Jumpy man

Skipping peeps

Man balancing without aid (which we seriously doubt)

Now, let’s get back to the event.

A whole new concept that is, Sony Ericsson wants this to be a fuze between entertainment and work, as depicted from the event. The much-anticipated X2 was nowhere to be seen, as the center stage was a 12.1 Megapixel phone (that looks like a camera). As the thrill and forestall slowly crept up my spine, I had no knowledge on what to expect, the only word was photography, and it was constantly flashing through my doodles. The cheerleaders and the singer lead the crowd into the hall, placing everyone in their seats, cheering “Go Sony, Go Ericsson”, not that everyone was paying attention.

Moments later, a rather familiar face appeared, the Corporate Vice-President of Sony Ericsson Hirokazu Ishizuka. Everyone could see the exciting stream on his face, waiting to announce and to reveal the next step on the Sony Ericsson product line. Hiro-San proudly announced the countries that are invited to the event, the whole Asia Pacific that is.

Then on, poof comes the Sony Ericsson Aino the Ultimate AV Phone, the Sony Ericsson Yari the Fun Entertainment phone and the Sony Ericsson Satio, which is the Top-End Entertainment phone, but before he could further impress us with its features, the lights went off and models started purring through the stage with the Aino.

It was rather difficult to see which phone was being modeled, as the models were sublime, not Megan Fox hot, but hot enough. Right after, the ambassador of Sony Ericsson from Korea Lee Min-Jung shared here experience. She personally uses the Sony Ericsson C903, she is very much impressed with the camera features, as it disguises the phone as a camera (much of her liking), and the ease of use and it fits her style and fashion easily.

Not long after, Hiro-San didn’t want his precious time wasted, he then started sharing the vision of Sony Ericsson.

1. To be the leader in communication entertainment
2. AB Technology from Sony
3. Fuzing entertainment with technology

Both the Cybershot and the Walkman phone are very important in the Sony Ericsson market, as it hits what consumers really want.

To make the event hotter than chili, Cyril Takayama(the magician) appeared on the big Satio screen on stage, live from Tokyo, Japan, which looks rather pre-recorded. He basically walks up to random people in the park, showing off the AV playback with touch features, squeezing some cig’s off a smoker and then removing his top to prove that the Sony Ericsson Satio is better off than magic. Sitting there in my seat, I found something corny about the whole presentation, how can a video recording (rehearsed) prove that it’s live eh? Right after that thought, he magically appeared on stage, popped out of the phone (giant Satio).

So yes, the release of the 3 phones, Satio, Aino and Yari, stocked above all the other phones in terms of entertainment, nothing beats having entertainment fuzing with technology. As geeky as this may sound, I do reckon that the concept and the gadgets are a must have, a must have in our daily lives, as it certainly is and will be a geek magnet.

The Sony Ericsson Satio, Aino and Yari, the flagship on entertainment mobile devices.

Press Release after the Jump

Press Release:

Sony Ericsson reinforces its position as the Communication Entertainment Brand with new phones fusing the best in hardware and content to deliver unlimited entertainment opportunities for consumers.

Kuala Lumpur, June 19, 2009 – Sony Ericsson recently announced its Asia Pacific strategy for Entertainment Unlimited, the next phase of its Communication Entertainment strategy, with new mobile devices that blend the best in imaging, music, videos and gaming.  Bringing together rich content and best in class integrated entertainment experiences, Sony Ericsson is removing communication barriers for consumers and elevating the entertainment experience.

“The fusion of Sony Ericsson communication technology and entertainment will deliver the ultimate user experience for consumers in Asia Pacific,” said Mr Hirokazu Ishizuka, Corporate Vice President, Head of Asia Pacific Region at Sony Ericsson. “Offering consumers a broad portfolio of content, from the latest movies, music and games is made possible for the first time in the industry through our strategic partnership with Sony Pictures and Sony Music. Our consumer proposition of Entertainment Unlimited truly delivers unlimited opportunities for consumers to share their experiences through entertainment.”

Available at the showcase were Satio, Aino and Yari providing a preview of the new mobile phone technology that will be available to consumers starting in Q4 2009:

Satio – Visual Communication Like Never Before!: Promises the ultimate multimedia experience  with a 12.1 megapixel phone, a 3.5 inch, crystal clear 16:9 widescreen format screen and ninth High Definition (nHD) gaming. As the first Sony Ericsson phones to offer nHD gaming, Satio offers users the best in mobile High Definition TV experience.
Satio also provides access to all your media in one place – just tap directly into your favourite features with the five standby panels and you’re ready to go.
Exclusive for Asia Pacific consumers is the extensive content library where consumers can download games, movies, music videos and the latest tracks. Every purchase of Satio is jam-packed with entertainment that includes:
•         the ever-popular Asphalt Road and Prince of Persia games available in nHD format, the first nHD games on a Sony Ericsson phone
•         a choice of three movie titles from a selection of many, including Angels & Demons, Made of Honor, You Don’t Mess With the Zohan and Quarantine
•         a choice of three music videos from a library of up to 300, including the latest from well known artists like Kelly Clarkson, Kasabian, Kings of Leon, Britney Spears, Wong Leehom,  Rainie Young and Alan Kuo
Aino – Sound and Vision Set Free!: Consumers can look forward to accessing media content on Aino anywhere, anytime using Remote Play with PLAYSTATION®3. This is made possible via a local network between PLAYSTATION®3 and Aino in their homes or via the internet from anywhere in the world.
Equally exciting is Media Home, an application on Aino that pulls media content from Media Go™ on your PC over Wi-Fi™ to your phone automatically.  Users just need to insert their Aino in its charging stand and it automatically synchronizes with all the latest media content on their PC.

Exclusive for Asia Pacific consumers is the extensive content library available for download. Every purchase of Aino is jam-packed with entertainment that includes:
•         a choice of three movie titles from a selection of many, including Angels & Demons, Made of Honor, You Don’t Mess With the Zohan and Quarantine
•         a choice of three music videos from a library of up to 300, including the latest from well known artists like Kelly Clarkson, Kasabian, Kings of Leon, Britney Spears, Wong Leehom,  Rainie Young and Alan Kuo
Yari – Twist, Tilt, Turn, Smash: The first mobile phone with gesture gaming outside of the Japanese market, Yari promises endless hours of fun whether you are exercising your way to be a fitness buff, or training to be the next tennis star!

It’s the ultimate phone for mobile fun, whether it’s gaming or multimedia action with its five megapixel camera and media player.

Exclusive for Asia Pacific consumers, the choice of three games to download from a database of up to 100, which includes gesture gaming and motion gaming amongst others.

Sony Ericsson’s wide range of content that spans audio, visual, gaming and applications is made possible through its strong partnership with content providers such as Sony Pictures, Sony Music and Gameloft.

“We are delighted to be one of Sony Ericsson’s partners, and believe that their Entertainment Unlimited proposition is a great way to put the power of mobile entertainment in the hands of consumers,” said Rosemary Tan, executive director, digital, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.

“Our partnership with Sony Ericsson continues to bring new music to consumers instantly,” said Kelly Chew, senior vice president, marketing, Asia of Sony Music. “Music is a daily companion to most people and we are constantly exploring new ways of making our music accessible to consumers and in the process increase the entertainment quotient for them.”

Cyril, winner of the prestigious “Olympics of Magic” award for Grand Illusion Category given by Federation Internationale des Societies and internationally recognized as the world’s first “Cyber-Magician” for becoming the most downloaded illusionist on the internet, was featured at the regional media event.

“In partnering with Sony Ericsson, I’m able to personify the entertainment brand attributes of Sony Ericsson through my unique brand of storytelling that entertains and captivates audiences across the region,” said Cyril, internationally acclaimed illusionist.

“Our work with Cyril allows us to elevate and bring the entertainment experience to life for our consumers in Asia Pacific,” added Ishizuka.

Cyril will be appearing in his international debut TV Special on AXN Asia, which is set to hit screens across the region from November onwards.

The TV Special on AXN will see Sony Ericsson using the program as a platform for launching its Entertainment Unlimited campaign in the region, and using the magic of the program and its products to bring together millions of viewers from all walks of life in Asia including underprivileged children.  Sony Ericsson is the main sponsor of the show.

Michael Jackson left and Steve Jobs returns, a fair trade? Well, after six months of medical leave (Cancer) from Apple, El Jobs is finally back, but he will only be working for a few days in a week (in the office), and the others at home. The return should keep the shareholders at peace as this reassures them that the boss is in tiptop condition.

“Steve Jobs is back to work. He is at Apple a few days a week and working from home the other days,” Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said. “We’re glad to have him back.”

It’s been rather dull without him the past few months, Stevey, bring the spark back please!

Ps: We are glad that you are all well

Sources: CNN

It is rumored that a slimmer version of the Sony PS3 is heading its way to the shelves. It is told that the current 80GB version will be replaced by a greater 160GB. If that is so, there is a possibility that the slimmer PS3 will hold the current 80GB standard.

What’s it going to look like then? Remember the ole faithful PS2? And the slim PS2? Yes, the PS3 should look rather alike with it. We are hoping that there will be a 50% price slash on this, fingers crossed really hard this time.

Hey there people down South, Telstra and Optus have just released the Apple iPhone 3GS pricing (lucky rascals), us slabbed further up north ain’t getting any luck with that. Shucks shucks, check out these 2 links for the full pricing details. Be a good Australian, buy me one.

Telstra iPhone Pricing

Optus iPhone Pricing

Yes, flash drive prices are plunging towards the ground, and well, that’s just technology, nothing appreciates in price, the only thing that goes up is technology, thank God for that. It’s about time till the flash drive industry introduces something remarkably big that is packed in something as small as your thumb. Kingston revealed the Data Traveler 200, which is their class leading 128GB Flash Drive.

The dimensions, 2.77″ x 0.49″ x 0.89″ (70.39mm x 12.52mm x 22.78mm), read/write speed, up to 20MB/sec, up to 10MB/sec

Pricing at USD$ 547, this baby is going to sit nicely in my airtight bag, not my jeans.

Ps: This is one heck of a flash drive that’s gonna make you cry when it goes missing.

Sources: Geekologie

We don’t often get superior sound system in our move about, as often, we would be happy just to settle with a measling 2.1  system, and some would splurge thousands for a good proper system.

“Bang & Olufsen is a Danish company that designs and manufactures audio products, television sets, and telephones. It was founded in 1925 by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, whose first significant product was a radio that worked with alternating current, when most radios were run from batteries. In 2004 the company opened a factory in the Czech Republic where it employs approximately 250 staff producing mainly audio products.

Due to the economic crisis of 2008 the company experienced a sharp decline in sales and announced significant losses. A restructuring plan included 300 layoffs in Denmark on 21 October 2008, and the abandonment of development of new mobile phones, MP3 players and stand-alone systems like DVD2 and HDR2. Instead the company will focus on its traditional strengths: high quality audio and video products as well as sound systems for the automotive industry.”

As said, the main focus for this group is to focus on high quality audio and video products. The joint with Audi to produce the theatre quality system, with 14 modulated aluminum speakers accompanied by a 10GB cpu, CD/DVD Player and of course, a 7-inch screen.

The spectacular work will only be offered in Europe, for more, check it back later this year for the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Sources: Gizmodo
WiKi

The speed (processing power) shown on the Apple iPhone 3GS is remarkably faster than its successor. Calendar loads faster, game runs smoother and load time is way faster. Watch the video and be amazed.

Sources: YouTube

It’s been rather quiet recently without Steve Jobs flooding the technology realm, other than news about him dying. Mr. Jobs took a medical leave since January to treat his liver, and well, now we know that he got a new liver in Tennessee. He’s also had a medical issue on regards with pancreatic cancer.

Jobs is a vegetarian, and have been for a long time, and the pancreatic cancer he has often spreads to other organs, especially the liver. So, that certainly does cut rumors about him being an alcoholic.

According to WSJ, he is expected to return to his desk late June 2009.

Source: WSJ

GizLounge will be reporting on the what’s new and what’s not on the Sony Ericsson CommunicAsia. So what are we going to be expecting? The new Xperia X2 perhaps?  Let’s hope for something exciting to bring our bumps up! Watch out for this space at approx 4pm (GMT+8).

3:47 pm: Noted as SE will be launching the seemingly familiar media store

Urgh, we had some internet issues. Anyways, 2 new phones from Sony Ericsson, the Sony Ericsson W995 Ultimate AV Phone and the Sony Ericsson C903, the ultimate walkman phone. Stay tuned for more!

Viruses runs low in the Mac OS realm, that’s a plus, right? That does not mean the Job-lings have got a ton of time to develop extra platforms without the need to defend themselves from attackers. Apple’s sluggishness on this issue have caused some damages from attackers, e.g. allowing attackers to run arbitrary applications or processes on your machine if you visited a webpage hosting a malicious Java applet.

The fix includes the patch to improve the reliability of the security on Java.

Get it by running Software Update or through this link Java for Mac OS X 10.5 (or 10.4) update 4

It seems that the Android is beginning to flood the market, and the way they are conquering seems a tad bit familiar, just like the Windows Mobile platform, perhaps? According to sources, Dell is preparing a move into cell phones as early as next month, that’s good news then, maybe?

The news came a few weeks before the Mobile World Congress 2009 in Barcelona, that’s where most phone giants announce their new offerings.

Sources claims that the smart phone protypes includes a touch screen model and another model with a sliding keyboard.

As if 1 Terabyte is insufficient for us, Western Digital had now introduced the new 4-terabyte capacity My Book Studio Edition II dual- drive storage systems. They’ve also got it all formatted to work “seamlessly” with Mac Computers. This beauty comes with 2 HDD Drives, 2 terabyte each, and why is this so? Windows XP does not support hard drives with capacities that are above 2 terabyte, and this of course allows users of XP to enjoy the device capabilities.

The Western Digital My Book Storage System also features fast data transfer by 4 interfaces: eSATA and FireWire® 800 for maximum performance as well as FireWire® 400 and USB 2.0, no news on USB 3.0. The Hard Drives comes with the WD GreenPower Technology for power savings and cool and quiet operation.

With 4 Terabytes on hand, backing up your favorite videos and music will now be trouble free, not unless if you need more space that is. Just keep it off your teenage son; you don’t want to know what sort of content will be stored in it.

Features:

1. Massive 4 terabyte capacity;
2. Extra-fast performance with four interfaces (FireWire 400/800, eSATA, USB 2.0);
3. Cool, eco-friendly operation with WD’s drives with WD GreenPower Technology that consume approximately one-third less power than standard dual-drive external storage systems and efficient convection cooling architecture and power-saving mode and designed without a fan to run quietly;
4. Quad interface with connections for ultra-fast eSATA and FireWire 800 and for flexibility and convenience FireWire 400 and USB 2.0;
5. Automatic and continuous backup software;
6. User serviceability, enabling owner to open the enclosure and replace the drive inside;
7. Capacity gauge to see at a glance how much space is available on the system; and,
8. 5-year limited warranty.

The Western Digital My Book Studio Edition II with 4 TB will be retailed at RM 2,199.00.

Press Release:

Kuala Lumpur – 12 June 2009 – WD® (NYSE: WDC), the world’s leader in external storage solutions, today introduced its new 4 terabyte capacity My Book® Studio Edition™ II dual-drive storage systems, which are designed to seamlessly work with Mac® computers and provide an ideal blend of high performance and power conservation.

Compatible with Apple® Time Machine™ automatic backup feature and formatted for Mac computers, the new 4 TB My Book Studio Edition II external storage system’s dual-drive RAID 0 configuration and high-speed interfaces deliver high performance for creative professionals, workgroups, small offices and anyone looking for fast data transfer. The system offers four interfaces: eSATA and FireWire® 800 for maximum performance as well as FireWire® 400 and USB 2.0 for maximum flexibility. The eco-friendly system uses WD’s hard drives with WD GreenPower Technology™ for power savings and cool and quiet operation.

“Whether in the studio, at home, or on the road, I backup all my photographs and files on WD drives,” says Peter Read Miller, a staff photographer for Sports Illustrated magazine.  “I use the My Book Studio II drive and WD ShareSpace network drive at home and in the studio and always have at least one My Passport® portable drive when I’m on the road. The bottom line is they’re safe, fast and reliable. In my business I need to rely on products that will protect my livelihood.  WD’s line of products perform that task exceptionally well,” Miller added.

“The new My Book Studio Edition II is the best choice for creative professionals who require massive capacity and extra-fast performance,” said Craig Davis, Director, Sales & Marketing, Branded Product Group, Asia Pacific. “With 4 terabytes of capacity, photographers, graphic artists, videographers, and home video enthusiasts alike will have the space they need to store hours of high definition videos as well as the performance they need for demanding video editing applications.”

Lightning-fast eSATA or FireWire 800 interfaces combined with RAID 0 (Striped) yields the speed users’ need for: fast, smooth video editing; rendering complex 3D objects or special effects; and saving huge blocks of data in record time. With RAID 0, users can have 4 TB of storage in an elegant, small footprint design that offers plenty of room to store an entire digital photo library and hundreds of hours of HD movies or digital video (results will vary based on file size and format, settings, features, software and other factors).

It seems that BMW wants to take over the world, with the range of cars they are offering, redesigning airplanes and powering the Formula 1 league, now they are looking at the computer industry, maybe, just maybe perhaps. Well, with their stretched resources and the hunger to impress the world, they’ve gone mad with designing a non-commercial computer, one that could be sitting in your home desk.

It’s called the Thermaltake Tower Showpiece.

BMW Group DesignworksUSA Press Release:

The gaming industry – a sector that can deservedly adorn itself with attributes such as visionary creativity, innovation and progressiveness. However, who inspires the gaming industry and how does one set trends in a sector that is in itself the embodiment of progressive thinking and imaginativeness? BMW Group DesignworksUSA is currently giving one answer to that question, with the presentation of a design concept for a high-end gaming tower prototype that was inspired by the gaming world itself.

BMW Group DesignworksUSA, a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group, has for many years shaped the global design landscape working for a multitude of industries. In addition to creating yachts, trains, aircraft, lifestyle and IT products, the three studios in Munich, California and Singapore are also engaged with design concepts aimed at transforming visions into reality. One of these concepts is named “Level 10″ for Thermaltake, a manufacturer of computer housings and components for individually configurable high-end computers.

Design concept from another world. The “Level 10″ concept allows gamers to experience the power of their high-end computers through the design itself. In order to achieve this, iconic design is combined with optimum functionality and innovative details. By rendering the inside components visible, the design concept focuses on the architectural aesthetics which are inherent in the computers and result from each individually configurable component. The inspiration for this approach the design team took right from the computer worlds themselves – expressiveness, virtual townscapes and futuristic game components served as orientation for the arrangement and the look of individual components. These appear within the overall design in the form of an open modular structure that visually appeals to users, offering them additional functional benefits.

Each high-quality component featured by the “Level 10″ concept is enclosed within its own protective case, rendering it not only an integral part of the design but also guaranteeing interchangeability and transportability. Thus the design concept makes considerable allowances for the behavior of users who wish to use their equipment in many different places and are eager to get it there safely. The concept also has an aesthetical answer to the physical necessity for best possible cooling, this also being associated with the virtual world of the gamer. The asymmetric arrangement of the robust vertical heatsink and the horizontally located individual components creates a strong architectural statement, clearly revealing the powerful cooling characteristics of the Thermaltake Gaming Tower.

Decisive game factor: Cleverly designed details. Whilst the design concept initially appeals visually to gamers, clever detail solutions do justice to their high demands on the applications. A smart lock system facilitates the blocking of access in order to protect the valuable modules. A USB memory key was designed as an extractable “power button” that not only activates the system, but also secures personal system data, rendering it suitable for flexible use. Two ergonomically well-positioned, integrated handles allow safe and convenient transportation of the tower, a highly relevant feature in the high-end gaming tower sector. A cleverly devised cable conduit system and light features that communicate a multitude of tower functions such as temperature and memory volumes round off the design. Since the computer worlds themselves supply the context for the conceptual idea, an authentic design has been created that significantly emphasizes the functionality of the Thermaltake housing and no longer needs to be concealed inside the chassis. The prototype of the “Level 10″ tower can be seen from the 3rd to 8th of March at the CEBIT in Hannover. (Thermaltake stand hall 24 / C02).

BMW Group DesignworksUSA- Perfect design beyond the spotlights. BMW Group DesignworksUSA is a global design consultancy and subsidiary of the BMW Group. The company, which was acquired by the BMW Group in 1995, now operates globally from its locations in Europe, America and Asia. Clients turn to DesignworksUSA for brand communications, strategy, research, design development, engineering, modeling, and color, materials, and finish. Unique to DesignworksUSA, they have both an automotive and industrial design studio, enabling the transfer of collective knowledge and inspiration from automotive design to product design and vice versa. The studio represents a guiding force for the BMW Group brand design studios (BMW, MINI and Rolls Royce) and simultaneously operates as an innovation driver for the most diverse industries from IT to medical, lifestyle or aviation. Since 2004, Verena C. Kloos has overseen the strategy and operations for the Munich, Los Angeles and Singapore design studios. The designs consistently express the individual identity of a brand, so each product devised by BMW Group DesignworksUSA gains its specific uniqueness. Thanks to this approach the design studio stands out significantly from its competitors, convincing big brand names – from Nokia and HP, Saeco, Acer and Bavaria Yachts to Boeing Business Jets.