Happy 2012

These are family days and as you can imagine, I have little time to blog; but I wanted to post a little picture made some weeks ago, to wish all readers of the blog a very happy 2012.

Camera vs phone comparison: Fujifilm FinePix F30 vs Sony Xperia Neo V

Since this week we received new phones at home, I was curious to compare the image quality of shots taken by the Sony Xperia Neo V versus my old beloved Fujifilm FinePix F30. This is no scientific comparison whatsoever, just a trio of similar shots made at the same time with the Neo V and then with the F30, taken at our patio.

All shots were done in automatic mode, and as you can see, the F30 has a tendency to get shots more exposed than the Neo V.  But if you look at the overall quality of the images (and taking into account that the F30 has 6 megapixels, while the Neo V has 5 megapixels), I would say they are perfectly comparable.

So going to my initial goal, does it make sense to consider the Neo V as a good alternative for taking pictures on the fly?, I'd say the answer is a resounding "yes", even if it has a number of limitations regarding a proper camera like the F30: besides the lack of manual controls, it has no zoom (as it uses digital zoom only). But certainly the quality of pictures is nothing to be ashamed of, and for the times when you have nothing else but your phone in your pocket, it can clearly be used for casual snapshots and for occasions when you have a good picture waiting to be taken, but no time to get your camera.

Fighting the computer-like frenzy in the world of photography

Many fields, in the world of consumer electronics, are getting more and more similar to the world of computing: we are getting fast replacements of former models, and the new ones are often small variations with a number of improvements which might, or not, justify the jump.

The manufacturers are always selling their new models as a significant replacement, one which deserves the expense. And every year, users are confronted to new models tempting their credit cards.

Computers have been suffering this situation for a long time. But in the world photography, prior to the arrival of digital cameras, you could be fairly sure to use SLR model for many years without significant drawbacks.

And something tells me that, looking quietly, it might still be the case, despite the manufacturer's propaganda.

Let's use my personal example for description.

In 2005 I got a Fujifilm Finepix F30, after reading extensive information on its capabilities in the net. At the time, its main quality was a peerless reply to low light, and a ver high image quality in most situations, for a compact camera. It is a 6 megapixels model, and it is limited to jpeg, no raw shooting.

In 2006 I got a Pentax K10D, for many reasons, the main being the very good image quality, the large number of features, and the huge compatibility with all kind of Pentax lenses. The problems were a somehow spotty autofocus, and a less than stellar response to low light.

Since those dates, both kind of cameras, compacts and digital SLR, have made tremendous advances, so that today you have compacts which blow away the F30 and K10D. Furthermore, a new category of cameras, the mirrorless models with interchangeable lenses, has appeared in recent years, mixing the best of both worlds.

But if we go to the key question: are those new advances significant, so that I should replace those cameras? Moreover, are the prices of the new cameras going to be compensated by their better features?

I honestly am unsure, and rather I would say "no".

I am an amateur photographer, who works in different matters for a living. I shoot as often as I can, usually on weekends when we do trips to other cities, or doing sight-seeing in the countryside. Under those conditions, both the F30 and K10D keep on doing a fine job for my needs.

6 megapixels are more than enough for most of my casual pictures, taken on the fly while walking around. And the F30 really shines in low light, even if there are current models that far outcompete it. It is a pleasure to use, the focus is nailed most of the times, and it is a simple, no brainer camera to make a quick, great shoot without any further consideration. It still leaves you some manual controls, and I have done some truly stunning shoots at night using them with attention.

Something similar happens with my beloved K10D: 10 megapixels seem ridiculous in front of today's crazy contest for more megapixels in every generation. But to me it is largely sufficient, and if you add the countless possibilities of this camera, I have plenty of opportunities to play and have fun. I swear I have not yet discovered all its capabilities, despite having utilized extensively since its purchase. But for an advanced amateur, I think it easily exceeds your expectations. I could obviously do with a better autofocus, and also with an improved sensor for very dark shots. Yet I managed to make some absolutely terrific shots with it and, most importantly, it has been great fun to use and learn how to use the Pentax K10D. The picture of the Mezquita on top of the Guadalquivir river, in Córdoba, which illustrates this post, is one of my best shots and it was done on a rainy night with the K10D. Furthermore, thanks in significant part to the articles posted by Mike Johnston at The Online Photographer, and to the back catalogue of inexpensive prime lensees from Pentax, I started playing with primes and I think I have been hooked for life.

In short: the camera manufacturers will keep on trying to hook up users to switch to their very last impressive model. But yours truly is planning to contradict them and keep my cameras for a long time, before switching.

An Apple fan going Android: Sony Xperia Neo V

In a move that might surprise more than one reader of this blog, yours truly has just ordered a couple of Android phones (specifically, the Sony Xperia Neo V shown above).

Yes, that was me. Of course I dream about an iPhone 5, but their prices put the iPhone out of reach for me, and I've been using an iPod Touch for everything except phone calls. And to make phone calls, I've used a down-of-the-line potato from the Samsung brand.

But this week I learned about an offer from my phone company which basically allowed me to keep the very low mobile expenses per month I always had, and besides to get an Xperia Neo V at a very low price (39 euros). And I decided to switch.


To put this price in perspective, I just looked at the cheapest iPhone 4S (16 Gb), available with the same company, with the same kind of contract, and its price is 379 euros. Which means 330 euros more than the Neo V: that is definitely a no way for me (now).

So there you have it: an Apple fanboy just became an Android user... ah, the ironies of life!

Having said all of that, I asked the Three Wise Men to convince the Apple executives to sell their models at more reasonable prices for the time of the iPhone 5 release... who knows, maybe I am a very good guy in 2012 and get some prize.


The phones arrived yesterday, and I started using mine today. Very quick first impressions:


It was the very first time I used Android, and overall it feels better than I expected. I think it is less polished than iOS, but still very capable, although sometimes I feel it intends to overwhelm the user a bit with plenty of pre-installed apps which are not necessarily useful. Anyway you have all you need right there and I guess it is more than sufficient for 99 % of users.


I tried wifi, and it works great; I tried videos from youtube and it loads and plays fine (using home wifi). I made a few pictures with the 5 megapixels camera and they looked also better than I expected (on the phone screen: we will see when I load them on a computer for closer inspection). Thus far I did not record any video, but the Neo V can get mp4 videos at 720, which is quite impressive for the price (another question is the memory required to hold an average lenght video).


That goes for software. Going to hardware, it is light, and well designed, although a bit crowded for those like me who are used to Apple designs. What I can't avoid to perceive is a sensation of lower quality stuff, compared to my iPod Touch. It is plastic all the way and the feeling of solidity seems much stronger in the iPod.


So to put it very short: roughly speaking, I think that this phone lacks more in hardware than software. But these are very quick impressions as I told above, we will see what is my opinion after a few weeks of daily use.


For a detailed review of this phone, you can have a look here.


BTW did I say it can make phone calls?? :P

Always look at the bright side of life

Today, reading some newspapers, I discovered this beauty of tv ad. For people out of Spain, the meaning is hard to explain: there is a bunch of the best Spanish humorists from the last 50 years, paying homage to one of the best, Miguel Gila, and to his capability to put a good face in tough times. Quite a fitting message at the end of 2011.

I admit I was in tears after watching it.



And I thought this could be the best illustration for a message wishing happy holidays and all the best for 2012 to the readers of this little personal blog.

Microsoft kicked out of CES keynote

The hell has frozen:

Mystery: who kiled the Microsoft CES keynote?

Said one company insider: “Microsoft didn’t pull out of the keynote — they were kicked out. Big difference.”

Olympus: prosumer micro4/3 camera and continuation of the E series of SLR cameras

In the same Digital Camera Magazine article I linked before, dealing with Pentax news, there is also a part devoted to Olympus. Valentín Sama has posted an article in his site DSLR Magazine, in Spanish, explaining in some detail the contents of this article. The boldest news is that apparently, Olympus plans to produce a successor to their Olympus E-5 dSLR camera, which is somehow unexpected, as it was previously understood that the E-5 would be the last in the line. Besides, they announce the development of a new, mirrorless camera of the µ4/3 series with a "revolutionary" viewfinder and addressing the prosumer photographers. It seems this camera would make "good use" of the lenses available for the 4/3 system.

Saab files for bankrupcy

When a motor company with a bold personality is about to die, it is always bad news. Saab is one of those companies, with a small size but a clear signature in their products. Unfortunately, since General Motors announced they planned to sell or close down the company, the affairs have not gone the right way for Saab. And today, I just learned that Saab filed for bankrupcy. These are bad days for small companies, no matter how good their products are, or how personal are their designs.

Pentax announcing new cameras in Japanese magazine? (updated)

Since I have no idea on Japanese, I can't confirm or deny, but it seems this article published in Japanese magazine Digital Camera Magazine includes hints from Pentax representatives, indicating that new SLR cameras are around the corner, and that full frame under the form of mirrorless is also considered. The pdf file I linked was kindly provided by a member of DP Review forums, Couscousdelight.

Update: a kind member of Pentaxforums has translated the interview, so here you have the content in English.

Lana del Rey: the next big thing or the next big flop?

Judge by yourself; this is her new single, and the hype is growing bigger and bigger:

↵ Use original player

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

By LanaDelReyVEVO

Music websites in Spain: Rockdelux vs jenesaispop

As a long time follower of music, and specially modern music, I have been reader of music magazines for more than two decades, and for years I was subscriber of the best one in Spain: Rockdelux. They were not perfect but still managed to make an interesting monthly magazine, including good articles and good critics, although often getting too close to meaningless snobbery, and with an excessive tendence to follow the very last hype from the UK.

With time (and other important stories happening in my life, leaving little time to quiet reading), I stopped reading them.

So I saw with interest that their homepage online, www.rockdelux.com, started moving after many months being basically an empty place with a couple of links. And they had been posted mostly old articles from their extensive catalogue, along with some brand new reports of shows, articles, or album critics. All in all, I think it is interesting to browse their page now, and sometimes you find jewels as this very old interview with Alaska y Dinarama, a band who shamelessly went from the hypest guys in town to their current, ridiculous and ashaming show on MTV.

Another magazine I follow lately is strictly available online: jenesaispop.com, and they are, in sharp contrast to rockdelux, vigorously current: their page is much more active, there is no archive content (because they did not exist in 1984, as did Rockdelux) and have no problem in dealing with all kinds of music, from Lady Gaga to Tindersticks. All in all, I think they offer a very interesting mix of articles and possibly are more adapted to the modern internet than Rockdelux, even if Rockdelux seem to be learning on the fly.

Anyway, despite their almost opposite approaches, I wish the best to both sites. Modern music is devalued enough and we all should try to help in order to bring back quality and dignity to its world, in days where many teenagers think that music is, by definition, for free.

I can't make you love me, by Bonnie Raitt and by Prince

In 1996 I discovered this beautiful song, in the version made by Prince for his triple CD Emancipation, where for the first time, he published several versions of songs written by others. But the original was written by Bonnie Raitt:
 

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Bonnie Raitt - I Can't Make You Love Me

By BonnieRaittVEVO

YouTube

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• 240p FLV

← Replay

X

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 And here you have the excellent version made by Prince:

↵ Use original player

Prince - I can't make you love me

By TheMichaelsounds

YouTube

• 360p
• 240p FLV

← Replay

X

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Some people complain about Prince making versions of others' songs, having such an extensive catalogue of songs by himself. But in some cases I think it is fully justified, in this is one of that occasions.

The top 50 albums of 2011, according to Pitchfork

Time for more lists; this time, the very influential Pitchfork selected their top 50 albums from 2011, available here.

Jesse Johnson to leave The Original 7ven?

Recent news, based on a message from Jesse himself, suggested that he might leave the current formation of The Original 7ven, which is the same as the original formation from The Time. I have no clue on what are the reasons for this, but given the quality of their new album "Condensate", and given how tight have been their public performances thus far, I hope this is finally not true and fans can attend a future tour with the original seven members, as planned. They spent far too much effort on the new projects to forget about it suddenly, just like it might seem.

The most desirable cameras on the planet, according to The Online Photographer

We are reaching the end of the year, and so we are in the perfect time for "best of" lists of all categories: music, cameras, songs, cars, etc etc.

So The Online Photographer just decided to continue the paused listing of their list of most desirable cameras on the planet. Today, they have summarized up to number 4, and the remaining top 3 will be posted tomorrow. Fun, entertaining and interesting read.

Two new songs from Scritti Politti, performed live

 As reported in the fan site bibbly-o-tek, Green Gartside played recently a couple of new songs at the Victoria venue, during a show held on December 8, 2011:

Overcoats
Slow deceit

Chirac condemned for corruption

First it was Giscard d'Estaing and his diamonds scandals.
Now is the turn of Chirac, for contracting people in the Paris city hall as a way to pay political favours.

Presidents of republics don't seem unaffected by corruption scandals. But it seems that monarchies are playing in the same league, according to recent news in our own Spanish kingdom.

Best albums of 2011 according to jenesaispop

After the list of best songs, now is time for the best albums of 2011, according to jenesaispop
. Hint: Kate bush at 15.

Shameless politicians in Spain

These days we are seeing on tv in Spain images of the judgement of two leaders of the Partido Popular in Valencia, who are confronted to their own conversations with other people deeply involved in corruption. Yet they pretend to have nothing to do with them and keep no relationships whatsoever.

They must think we people are stupid.

Or they simply have no shame.

But one thing I tell you: people are not stupid. And someone at the top of that party should take notes and react to avoid the shaming spectacle these guys are providing for free.

Best bootlegs of 2011: poll at DaBang

The blog DaBang319 has posted a poll to select the best bootlegs of 2011 in Princeland. It seems people is quite interested as there are already quite a few votes made, and I must say that the choices available represent possibly the best material being released in this year.

Yet some of the questions seem quite hard to answer, as when people asked "who do you love more, dad or mum?". But overall, polls like this are the best evidence that the quantity & quality of sets released lately are truly stunning, and as some people say, 2011 was possibly the best year ever for fans of unofficial Prince releases.

Interview with Ivo Watts, founder of 4AD, in Tentaciones

Tentaciones, a magazine published by El País focused on modern culture, has published an interview with the founder of the legendary label 4AD, Ivo Watts. It is available in two parts, here and here.

If you know nothing about 4AD, suffice to say they were the home of Cocteau Twins and Pixies.
 'Nough said.

First authorities named by Rajoy

These days, the main gossip in the political world of Spain addresses the possible names of ministers and other authorities to be named by the just elected president of the future government, Mariano Rajoy.

I am no fan of the Partido Popular, but among people from that party, I think that Mariano Rajoy and Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría belong to the most reasonable and best part of it (as opposed to the most extremist and worst part of it, led by Jose María Aznar, Esperanza Aguirre and others in the same line). Hence I was not surprised to read yesterday that the first authorities known, the presidents of the Parliament and Senate, will be Jesús Posada and Pío García Escudero, two people who also belong to the reasonable guys. Hopefully the new government will be composed by people of the same spirit.

Top 100 songs of 2011, according to jenesaispop.com

jenesaispop.com, a website devoted to modern music with open tastes and shameless (in the good meaning of the term) to mix unknown bands with sacred cows, just published their list of the best 100 songs of 2011, with links to them in youtube. Lots of stuff to discover there, and by the way, in a smart movement, they have no separate category for Spanish songs.

If you would like to have a look, its' here.

Europe to move forward without the UK

As expected, the European Union summit of last night decided to move forward, imposing new conditions in the financial operations, which were not accepted by the United Kingdom, which will not participate in the new structure agreed by 23 European countries.

I'm not sure whether this is the beginning of the end of the euro crisis, but at least it seems that the leaders are finally doing something for real. Yet there is a clamorous lack of democracy in the decisions taken, and I wonder what is the role of the European parliament and the European Comission in all this story.

In homage of the informative services of RTVE

Now that the government is going to change in my country, and that, according to some vulgar hints, they are going to change upside down the informative services at the public radio/tv, Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE), I'd like to express my admiration for the work they have been doing during the last 8 years.

Zapatero has done things right and wrong, as any other president, but one thing he did right is to give full independence to the informative services at RTVE. They have been a model of balanced, critic journalism, where you could see accurate, really objective information, and in some programs, a mixture of journalists from left and right. It was a huge contrast with respect to the same information in the years 1996-2004, when the right party was in the government in Spain. And sadly, I smell we will see the same kind of biased, pro-right information in the coming months, returning to RTVE and demonstrating that many things did not change in the Partido Popular, despite the clear change in leadership.

Hopefully I will be proven wrong... but something tell me it won't be the case.

European banks received 1,6 billions euros from states in 2008/11

European banks received 1,6 billions euros from states in 2008/11

Now, of course, there is no money and you have to make cuts in public budgets from states, who were wasting money.

But my friend, for the European private banking, no problem: they received 1,6 billions euros from states between 2008-211. Yet they did everything right and generate no inflation or budget problems.

Now, obviously, in order to give that money to banks, the rest of us got in debts (since we are the people who supports the states with our taxes). And now, in many countries we are paying very high interest rates, which surely will be much higher than those applied to banks in those 1,6 billions.

So there you have it: when our salaries get reduced, that is the only way to move forward, to avoid wasting.

This is really shocking... long life to liberalism, as obviously, full freedom of markets allows everything to work wonderfully.

Carrier IQ: You have no privacy on your phone or the net

I've written a few times before on this, so that people on valium wakes up and realizes that, when we are using the net, or when we are using a phone, we are not in a private domain. Furthermore: we are being closely monitored.

Some years ago there was Echelon.

This week, Carrier IQ has been put to shame.
There's plenty of information out there, and John Gruber is doing great coverage. For a quick summary, look here.

In short: if you want something to remain truly private, don't do it on your computer while browsing, or on your phone. As there you are in a completely public place.