New iMac updates from Apple

Almost coinciding with the iMac's 10th anniversary, Apple has just released an updated version of their most popular computer. As updates have been appearing steadily in the last few months, it was expected that Apple would introduce some changes to one of their best-selling product lines.

As with the previous incarnation, Apple has maintained the sleek aluminium and wrap-around glass case, in the same dimensions, 21.5 and 27 inches. But now, all iMac have received a LED backlight update, as well as the introduction of IPS to a larger display. IPS, or In Plane Switching, is one of the technologies developed for the iPhone 4, which was deemed of high enough value to warrant its inclusion in desktop computers. IPS increases the angle of view of LCD monitors, allowing a similar quality of image whether from the front of the display or off to the side, providing a viewing angle of almost 178 degrees vertically and horizontally. Another interesting feature concerns  specifically the 27 inch models; the screen resolution has been increased from the default 1920 x 1050 to a whopping 2560 x 1440, a 78% increase in number of pixels between a 27 inch and 21.5 inch display.

The display improvements don't end with the actual panel. Apple has chosen to upgrade the graphic processor, providing users with two choices, either the ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256MB of dedicated memory or the ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB of dedicated memory. But for the 27 inch model, the choices are even better. The same ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB of memory or the ATI Radeon HD 5750 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory. As a side note on graphics, all iMacs now feature:

• Mini DisplayPort output with support for DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI (adapters obviously sold separately); 27-inch models also support input from external DisplayPort sources (adapters obviously sold separately)
• Support for extended desktop and video mirroring modes
• Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to a 30-inch display (2560 by 1600 pixels) on an external display

One of the expected upgrades was, as can be expected, with the processor architecture.

With the inclusion of the i5 and i7 processors in the Macbook Pro line, it was to be expected that this processor line would make it over to the iMac. The base model is now available with one of these choices:

• 3.06GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB level 3 cache; supports Hyper-Threading
• 3.2GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB level 3 cache; supports Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost
• 3.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 4MB level 3 cache; supports Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost

The 27 inch model is now available with one of these choices:

• 3.2GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB level 3 cache; supports Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost
• 3.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 4MB level 3 cache; supports Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost
• 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor with 8MB level 3 cache; supports Turbo Boost
• 2.93GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processor with 8MB level 3 cache; supports Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost

Along with the improved processor choices, Apple has also updated RAM capacities, with all iMac now coming with a minimum of 4GB (two 2GB SO-DIMMs) of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; although all machines feature four SO-DIMM slots to support up to a maximum of 16GB of RAM.

All models retain a Firewire 800 port, as well as 4 USB 2.0 ports and as with all new Apple computers:

All models have also gained an SDXC port to conveniently provide access to SD cards without the need for a separate card reader.

All in all, a well balanced set of updates. I look forward to my next trip to the Apple store to get some hands on experience with these new machines.

An iPad in the family...

Ever since the Apple iPad came out, my wife has been busy trying to determine if she should get one or not. I've watched her pour over reviews and comments, look through the Apple App Store to find applications she likes, browse various manufacturer's sites for accessories and so on. Well, this evening, she returned home with her very own iPad as well as the Apple dock for the device and an iTunes Store gift card!

In two shakes, the device was out of the box and after a few moments of fiddling, she was playing around with it.  I imagine that the next few days should provide some interesting first hand information regarding its use.

Book review: Egypt's Sunken Treasures

Browsing through books at discount prices, one often finds some rather interesting discoveries, including this fascinating book, Egypt's Sunken Treasures, which details the discoveries made by French underwater archeologist Franck Goddio, founder of the European Institute of Underwater Archeology.

With some pretty remarkable photographs of the excavation process, as well as the numerous finds which includes statues, stone tablets, jewelery and architectural elements, the book also dwells on the interactions between the cities of Alexandria, Heraklion and Canopus and ancient Greeks, and the influences they had on each other. A great book to add to you collection and especially worthwhile for anyone interested in ancient history.

The book is available in several languages and makes an excellent gift.

Wedding Photo Project - Anna and James

Another wedding project for my wife's studio, Photo Pulse; as before, I've volunteered to help her as a second on her shoot. In this case though, the client has requested a fairly limited package, so we will not be shooting as much as we did for the last wedding we did. But I'm looking forward to the session as I always love to watch my wife work.

I also enjoy getting to work on an aspect of photography that I am far from mastering. But practice makes perfect!

Inside look at the new Mac Mini

It usually doesn't take very long after a new piece of hardware is out that someone decides to take it apart. That was the case with the new Mac Mini, which iFixit was kind enough to tear down and document. Take a look at some of the pics they posted on the process:

Very nice indeed. You have to hand it to Apple, the hardware is always a step in the next direction!

Bon Appetit Lunch Box Set

I was at the art supply store Omer Desseres with my wife the other day, when I spotted an interesting looking "lunch box" (yes, I can actually find even a lunch box interesting!). The Bon Appetit Lunch Box, by Martin Blum and Dan Black, is a modern twist on the japanese bento box. Made of polypropylene and copolyester, completely BPA free and microwave and dishwasher safe, the box is a great way of packing various items for a nice lunch: The dimensions for the box and matching bag are as follows: Box: 7.5” sq / 2.25” deep.  Bag: 10.5” high / 11” wide, open as Mat: 21” length / 11” wide The box includes 2 containers, as well as a fork and a recipe book is also available separately. It's not a very large container and I know a few men that would be left feeling a little bit hungry following a lunch packed in one of the these, but the idea is very well executed and the materials are top quality. Go take a look at this and other offerings over at the site.

Pick of the week: PostSecret

This week's Pick of the week is a fantastic site called PostSecret. PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail (yes, real mail!) in their secrets anonymously on one side of a post card. There have been some very moving cards sent in and most are worthy to read. On an interesting side note, the people who manage PostSecret have developed a great relationship with the woman who delivers their mail, who herself has been quoted as being a fan of the project and site.

Worth taking a look and who knows, maybe participating in this great idea.

Kolo Albums

As my wife has been working on completing a wedding album for Gen & Dave, customers that she photographed in July, she discovered a fantastic manufacturer called Kolo, who specialize in high-quality albums and scrapbooks of all types. I was very impressed by both the designs available as well as the overall material quality:

A lot of selection available and as you can imagine, a fairly premium price, but you are paying for quality:

Have a look at their website or visit Omer DeSerres art stores, who are a licensed distributor.

Where to get ebooks?

Since I've received my Kobo as a gift, I've been searching high and low for free sources of ePub format ebooks. I have managed to find several interesting sites that provide high-quality public domain work, including:

• http://www.epubbooks.com/
• http://www.web-books.com/
• http://manybooks.net/

And of course, a great source of reading material, who is slowly providing ePub versions of their online library:

• http://www.gutenberg.org/

Enjoy many great books of the past; anyway, most of them are better than what has been written in the last 100 years!

Update on Wedding Photo Project - Gen and Dave

Well, the wedding was a great success. Elena and I shot a little more than 2500 images (although almost 500 were deleted on site for various reasons) and had a very long, but very productive day. Elena had rented some equipment, more specifically:

• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
• Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L
• Canon Speedlite 580EX II flash

I got to use the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens all day and here are a few things I would like to point out concerning this lens: it is very, very heavy for all day use! It might have been tolerable had the temperature stayed below 38C, but that was not the case. But that was really the only downside!

The image quality is out of this world. The lens is very, very sharp and produces accurate colours in most situations. It is very quick to focus and quiet as well and the IS system is really helpful when trying to handhold this lens for varying situations. I was also surprised by the reasonable minimum focusing distance of this lens, which I expected to be much further than the 1.4m that it focused at.

I got a chance to shoot a few hundred images with the 24-70mm f/2.8L and although I found it very sharp, with great colour as well, it just wasn't a focal length I was really comfortable with and that is an entirely personal thing.

Now we are going through the images, selecting the appropriate ones for the package to hand in to my wife's customer. I'm looking forward to hearing their feedback, but I'm certain they will be blown away!

PS: I've finally seen the final selection of images after some masterful editing and cropping by my very talented wife. I'm blown away and I am certain the clients will fall heads over heels in love with the images.