Wildlife Photography across the Water: Hardware and Software

Friday 22 October 2010

Hardware and Software - Keeping us mobile

Well a year or so is a long time in hardware development and new bits of kit keep coming out all the time to tempt us to part with our hard earned cash. Since this blog started we have seen a couple of generations of iPhone come and go, the iPad, stacks of Android smart phones and Netbooks galore as well.

Now regular readers will know that I not a convert of styling over substance products beginning with i. The only i-thingy we have in the house is an iRON and it does a great job on my shirts even though I don't know how it works.

About 18 months ago, I bought my Netbook which is still a great little performer enabling to blog, email, Facebook, Tweet, LinkdIn and process my images. I couldn't do all that a number of all those other bits of kit above. With the exception of processing, I can do all the same on my Android phone.

Now with my change of job this year, I can now spend up to 90 minutes a day on the train, which gets pretty packed at the Birmingham end. I have seen a couple of folks struggle in the crowded spaces with the iPads, while most others have the needs in their smartphones of one brand or other. There are now a few with e readers and I am now one of them having bought the stunning Amazon Kindle - fabulous value for money, battery life of about a month and stacked full of books that I have bought and ploughing my way through. With a 6" screen it is very easy to use in a confined space, which sort of got me thinking a while back about how much more convenient the iPad would be if it were smaller and able to be used with one hand.

It was while browsing the web yesterday and came across a couple of stories that puts things into a bit of perspective. A Steve Jobs rant about competition here which gave me a bit of a laugh and this story which would explain the first one. So hang fire non i fans the answer is coming soon. Meanwhile this story indicates that tablets have a long way to go yet in terms of sales.

For the time being, I remain very happy with Netbook, Kindle and phone - but who knows what next year brings.

While I am in thoughtful mode, I will share something tat made me laugh. Possibly an epic marketing fail. The new FIFA 11 console game has an image of two football players (thats soccer to you US types) One of them is Wayne Rooney in a Manchester united shirt - how I laughed

Update: Looks like Electronic Arts marketing dept can breathe a huge sigh of relief as Wayne does a nifty bit of footwork to U-turn since I wrote this last night

Right - thats enough off topic stoff. Back next time with some more pictures .

Martin

3 comments:

mark wood22 October 2010 at 14:52
Hi Martin this ditty made me smile alright - especially the iRON and still not fathoming it out, see Jacqui still hasnt converted you to our way of thinking just yet.

Mark W
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WPATW22 October 2010 at 17:04
Haha - glad you liked it Mark. Maybe we should have an occasional Fun Friday slot on the blog for a bit of humour.

Martin
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mark wood24 October 2010 at 21:30
Ha well you know or perhaps that could follow a few beers but I think Jacqui may advise against post after drinks!
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Bio's

David Courtenay, a self taught wildlife and nature photographer, has been capturing images for over 30 years. He has had a passion for wildlife since early childhood and remembers being glued to the television whenever Survival, Wildlife on One and other natural history documentaries were shown. In the 2006 he swapped his established career for the life of a wildlife photographer, such a move demands a measure of uncompromising passion and commitment.

David has travelled extensively throughout Europe as well as spending more than 7 months in India working with local guides and trackers in search of Bengal Tiger, Asian One horned Rhino and Asian Elephant. He has also photographed Wildlife in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Africa, Canada and America. Working closely with Conservation companies he tries to raise funds to help Wildlife that has been put on the endangered list by poaching and habitation loss

Martin Dyer has had a passion for avian wildlife since childhood, particularly raptors. Photography was also another keen interest and it was with the specific availability and control of the whole process that digital offers that Martin was then able to combine the two in 2003. Based in the UK, Martin is a regular visitor to Scotland, specifically the Isle of Mull to watch the Eagles resident there. Other trips to Europe and around the UK are usually part of Martin’s agenda in a typical year.

However, as a firm believer on making the most of the local patch, Martin has spent a lot of time and hard work creating a wildlife garden which is reaping the rewards with many new species and varieties of wildlife. A keen member of a number of wildlife photographic groups, Martin is keen to expand his portfolio into other areas of wildlife, and has already established a wide portfolio of images of fungi.