After AT&T 1 penny offer now it’s Verizon turn to tempt you.

Image courtesy of BGR

The special promotion to have 25 off any phone was revealed today on Verizon’s Twitter channel, but it seems not to work for every one.

Nonetheless, if you are looking for a Verizon device, go the following link:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/

and choose your device, contract, etc. During check out insert the following promo code:

TWITTER25

and you should save 25$ of yours.

I made a (really) quick test with the above phone and it worked, so, try and keep your fingers crossed!!

Doesn’t it seem like time just flies by? I can’t believe it’s October already!

Here in Southern California, we don’t get seasons – well, we do – we get summer and the wet bit in between January and February. It wasn’t until I was up in the mountains this weekend that I realized that autumn is upon us – the changing leaves were just beautiful and the color was stunning – orange and gold – it really was gorgeous!

And now we say farewell to the summer season – time to start wrapping up warm and think about the next couple months – Thanksgiving, Christmas – fun holiday times….and the summer is nothing more than a fond memory of good times, barbecues, sitting on the patio listening to tunes.

So here’s one last little glimpse of the season – “Toes” by the Zac Brown Band

Hey, we can all dream, right?!

New videos of the so called Microsoft Courier Booklet are emerging, but I would not hold my breath, if I were you.

Image courtesy of Gizmodo

In this new video another usage scenario of the Courier is shown in order to give us a better understanding of the philosophy behind the device. From Gizmodo:

The heart of Courier appears to what’s called the “infinite journal,” which is what it sounds like: A journal/scrapbook that is endless, bound only by storage constraints (presumably). Hopefully they will call it something less awkward. The journal can actually be published online, and it’s shown here as able to be downloaded in three formats: a Courier file, Powerpoint or PDF. There’s also a library that looks a lot like Delicious Library, where things like subscriptions, notebooks and apps, are stored.

No (on screen) keyboard is used through all the video and all the interaction is by way of the pen, with fingers used to navigate, through iPhone-esque flicks, swipes and pinches. A browser is built in the device, but used only to access online information. The camera on the Booklet is used for the same purpose.

In a previous post I wrote:

While the demonstration is interesting per se, the real device (if it exists) shall not be limited to this. A full package of some “added value contents”, to be delivered somehow wirelessly, are expected to complete the Courier, in order to make it stand over the crowd of current and future competing devices, and to contribute in pushing further the UI technology.

Regrettably, as the video goes on, no such “added value content” is demoed, and no viewing or multimedia applications seem to be included.

It’s too early to say if this is the real thing, and maybe new information will surface with a new video. However it would be a shame to miss the opportunity for the development and dissemination of the Courier interface and relegate the product to the currently not existing niche market of “infinite journals”.

After many rumors about the Microsoft Courier Booklet, now it is Apple’s turn, with the almighty iTablet, and a touch of Apple iTunes style.

Image courtesy of Gizmodo

Seemingly suffering from all the attention given to the unexpected Microsoft Courier Booklet, the Apple Tablet is back in the blogosphere, with new details.

According to iLounge scoop Apple’s long awaited device is a 10.7″ screen, runs iPhone OS, and it will come in two different versions, with and without 3G. Scoop goes further revealing the announcement will be made on or before January 19,  2010.  Regardless of technical specs, which could be subject to change and are somehow to be expected, the most relevant aspect is the vision of the device and its related business model:

[...] to expand the iPhone and iPod touch media concept to its next potential level: as a slate-like replacement for books and magazines, plus all of the media, gaming, app, and web functionality of the iPhone and iPod touch [...]

Thus, the strategy is to proceed further with the business model started with iTunes and the iTunes Store, and to add print content to music, movies and TV shows, all of which are already available on iTunes. Here Apple has an obvious major advantage over all other possible competitors, because of its own mature iTunes revenue and distribution system.

Thus Gizmodo concludes in the only way you should expect at this point:

Some I’ve talked to believe the initial content will be mere translations of text to tablet form. But while the idea of print on the Tablet is enticing, it’s nothing the Kindle or any E-Ink device couldn’t do. The eventual goal is to have publishers create hybridized content that draws from audio, video, interactive graphics in books, magazines and newspapers, where paper layouts would be static. And with release dates for Microsoft’s Courier set to be quite far away and Kindle stuck with relatively static e-ink, it appears that Apple is moving towards a pole position in distribution of this next-generation print content. First, it’ll get its feet wet with more basic repurposing of the stuff found on dead trees today.

While I am not a regular iTunes costumer (I have no iPhone or iPod), I can imagine becoming one after the iTablet, and I can’t see the rumored Courier Booklet being as successful, unless it offers this type of “added value content”.

Mamiya the producer of typically large format cameras has announced two new Professional Camera lines with up to an amazing 56 Megapixel specification and record high flash-sync speeds up to 1/1600 per second.  All I can say is WOW

Even though there are so many consumer type (instant) Digital Cameras on the market that make it difficult to miss a great shot, these consumer cameras do not allow for as much creativity as the Single Reflex Cameras of the past. 

It is very refreshing to see new Digital SLR cameras being released, especially the DM28 and DM22 which will be economically priced, however, we do not have pricing and specification details yet, as these two new camera lines were only just announced today.  Mamiya has scheduled these new cameras for release in the Fourth Quarter of this year.

Please see the press release below for details regarding the new Mamiya DSLR offerings:

Elmsford NY, October 1, 2009 – Mamiya has announced two new and exciting lines of DSLRs, plus a new series of leaf-shutter lenses optimized for digital. This introduction brings together the professional workhorse heritage of Mamiya cameras, and Mamiya’s reputation for making world-class lenses.

Mamiya 56 and 33 Megapixel Series
The new Mamiya DM56 and DM33 deliver an unprecedented range of options to photographers, resulting in the most versatile medium format DSLR series available.

With these two new models, Mamiya photographers can take advantage of record high flash-sync speeds up to 1/1600 per second via three new Mamiya leaf-shutter digital lenses. Designed and developed in conjunction with Schneider Kreuznach, and manufactured by Mamiya, the 55mm f/2.8 D L/S, 80mm f/2.8 D L/S, and 110mm f/2.8 S L/S will begin shipping in Q4, 2009.

For other shooting situations, photographers may choose from Mamiya’s current 645AF series lenses, ranging from 28mm to 300mm APO, all compatible for use with the cameras’ focal plane shutter. Combined with 30% faster autofocus, the Mamiya DM56 and DM33 set a new professional DSLR standard for the most demanding situations.

Software solutions for Raw file processing are provided with the cameras, including new versions of Leaf Capture™, and Capture One™ software by Phase One, allowing photographers their choice of workflow from the industry leaders.

Mamiya 28 and 22 Megapixel Series
The new Mamiya DM28 and DM22 each offer an unmatched value for the new professional photographer. Featuring 16-bit/ channel image quality and industry-leading shooting speeds, they will be priced at extremely attractive points.

Utilizing a range of 15 existing Mamiya 645AF focal plane lenses, the Mamiya DM22 and DM28 offer many of the features found on their higher-end siblings. They also include Raw file processing with new versions of either Leaf Capture™, or Capture One™ software by Phase One, allowing photographers their choice of workflow from the industry leaders.

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