Yearly Archives: 2011

The renowned remote desktop sharing application, Mikogo, makes the move to its third platform with the announcement of its native Linux client. This release now enables businesses to host and join free desktop sharing sessions from any three of the major platforms – Linux, Windows and Mac computers.

Mannheim, GERMANY – The free desktop sharing application, Mikogo, today releases the first open beta version of its software for Linux computers enabling users on Linux computers to start or join desktop sharing sessions. A significant milestone for Mikogo and desktop sharing as whole, this release now provides businesses with a free and easy-to-use application for online meetings, web presentations as well as remote support sessions, available on the three major operating system platforms.

For the last two weeks, the Mikogo Linux version has been in a closed beta stage, as it was thoroughly tested by a group of beta testers. Following positive feedback and a successful closed stage, Mikogo releases its new software openly making it available for any individual or business looking to start or join online meetings from a Linux computer.

“The addition of a native Linux client to Mikogo now means that businesses can both start and join online meetings from any of the three major platforms – Windows, Mac and Linux,” says Mark Zondler, the Co-Founder and Creator of Mikogo. “Many of our users requested this not only for themselves but for their clients who also use Linux, so it will broaden the use of Mikogo within companies around the world.”

Linux users can now visit the Mikogo website and download the free Linux application to their computers. Upon opening the program, they are presented with the new-look Mikogo user interface and are able to host a desktop sharing session as well as invite meeting attendees to join from either a Linux, Windows, or Mac computer. The new Linux client also enables people to join a session from a Linux computer, which was started on either one of the three available platforms for Mikogo.

By building the Linux client on the latest release of the Mikogo software, Version 4, provides the software with a wide range of features, including switch presenter, remote keyboard/mouse control, file transfer, chat, scheduler, recording, profile manager, and software customization, just to name a few.

This most recent achievement strengthens the already renowned remote desktop application, however is far from the end for Mikogo’s product developments. “We have plans to soon release mobile apps for our software along with further software developments in the pipeline,” explains Zondler.

The open beta release of the Mikogo Linux software can be downloaded for free from:
www.mikogo.com/download/new-version-4/

Artist Ken Murphy has used a compact camera, a Canon firmware hack, and a motorized telescope mount to create, panoramic time-lapse movies.

Murphy shot two movies, one with a Canon A590 and the other with a Canon G12—both point-and-shoot compact cameras. He installed the CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) software on the cameras, amd programed them to take photographs every five seconds. The cameras were mounted on a panning telescope mount ($250) which slowly rotated the camera 360 degrees. A full rotation took 60 to 90 minutes.

“The camera (a Canon A590 with CHDK installed) snapped an image every five seconds while the motorized mount slowly rotated, making a single rotation in 90 minutes. I assembled the images into this panoramic movie, in which each “pane” is actually the same movie, slightly offset in time. The panes combine to make a single 360-degree view.”

“For this I used my new Canon G12, also running CHDK. I used the camera’s built-in neutral density filter and shot 2-second exposures at roughly 5-second intervals, as I wanted people and passing cars to blur out a bit. The camera made two full rotations in two hours.”

Read more: http://www.murphlab.com/2011/07/07/panoramic-time-lapse-movies/

Murphy has also been working on his History of the Sky project, where an image of the sky is being captured every 10 seconds from a camera installed on the roof of the Exploratorium, on the edge of San Francisco Bay. More: http://www.murphlab.com/hsky/

Infosyncworld have posted an informative review of the Canon PowerShot S95, covering the four primary upgrades to the S95, from the s90 -720p HD video, RAW shooting, HDR (High Dynamic Range Shooting mode) along with a few other Scene modes, and Hybrid Image Stabilization, over the previous model s90.

Canon PowerShot S95

Read more: http://www.infosyncworld.com/reviews/digital-cameras/canon-powershot-s95/11424.html

Another review: http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_S95/

Infosyncworld has published “Top 5 HTC Phones – Summer 2011” with a video that reviews the top HTC smartphones, including the HTC Droid Incredible 2, HTC Inspire 4G, HTC Thunderbolt, HTC Sensation 4G and HTC EVO 3D. The article is well worth a read if you are in the market for one of these phones.

Read more: http://www.infosyncworld.com/reviews/cell-phones/top-5-htc-phones—summer-2011/12149.html

Photographer’s Guide to the Canon PowerShot S95: Getting the Most from Canon’s Pocketable Digital Camera

This book, a complete guide to the operation and features of the Canon PowerShot S95, is a follow-up to the author’s earlier guides to advanced compact digital cameras, including the Leica D-Lux 4 and D-Lux 5, and the Panasonic Lumix LX3 and LX5. The new book, like the earlier ones, explains all operations, features, menus, and controls of the camera in clear language, providing guidance not only about how to accomplish things with the camera, but when and why to use certain features. The book does not assume any specialized knowledge by the reader, but adopts a patient and helpful tone in explaining topics such as autofocus, manual focus, depth of field, aperture priority, shutter priority, HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, and RAW files.

The book’s more than 170 color photographs provide illustrations of the camera’s controls and menus, and also include examples of the various types of photographs that can be taken using the many creative settings of the camera, including the My Colors settings, which let the photographer alter the color processing of images; the Scene mode, with settings that are optimized for various subjects, including landscapes, portraits, and underwater shots; and special features such as the Smart Shutter and Miniature Effect options.

In addition, the book goes beyond the realm of everyday photography, and provides introductions to more advanced topics such as infrared photography, street photography, macro photography and creating 3D (three-dimensional) images that can be viewed with conventional red and blue 3D glasses.

The book also includes a full discussion of the video recording abilities of the PowerShot S95, which can record high-definition (HD) video with stereo sound.

In three appendices, the book provides information about accessories available for the camera, sets forth a list of useful web sites and other resources for further information, and includes a section with helpful “quick tips” that give particular insights into how to take advantage of the camera’s advanced features in the most efficient ways possible.

The book includes a detailed Table of Contents and a full Index, so the reader can quickly find needed information about any particular feature or aspect of the camera.

The book is available now in PDF format for download through http://www.whiteknightpress.com. The paperback version is expected to be available before the end of April 2011 through Amazon.com and other online sellers.

Publisher: White Knight Press, Henrico, Virginia, USA
Author: Alexander S. White
Publication Date: April 3, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-9649875-6-2
Format: Perfect bound paperback, 5.5 x 8.5 inches (140 x 216 mm)
Interior: 256 pages, 174 mostly color photographs and illustrations, full Index and Table of Contents; 3 Appendices
Retail price: $24.95 paperback (coming soon); $9.95 PDF download (available now)
Web site: http://www.whiteknightpress.com