In answer to every child’s question—”Where do babies come from?”—today’s selection is answer. Happy Mother’s Day! If not a mom, you have one. Give her a hug, or phone call. If she is gone from […]
Watch Me
I never expected to part with my Luminox 3187 (pictured), nor the Moto 360 that replaced it. But, hey, Craigslist sales happen. Both devices went to new owners this week. Meanwhile, I settle into supreme satisfaction using the LG Watch Urbane. We’re 10 days a team, and inseparable except for charging and showers—I do try to time their start together, seeing as how the Urbane comes off the wrist for either.
My initial first impressions are little changed. Overall, I prefer the LG smartwatch to the Motorola. Traditional styling, always-on screen, and satisfactory (but not exceptional) battery life are among the Urbane’s charming qualities.
Flickr a Day 129: ‘Fire!’
The best street photography, and also photojournalism, is about opportunity and seizing the moment. That’s what Ville Miettinen did on Oct. 13, 2007. “Some thick rubber mats caught fire in the building next door to my […]
Gregory Peck: The Eyes Have It
Apologies for going dark, letting Flickr a Day run on automatic (as I keep about a week’s worth of advanced photos primed to post). Wednesday afternoon, May 6, I picked up my first new pair of eyeglasses in six years, resulting in downward spiral of my vision rather than upwards. I couldn’t much read or write, which is why the absence. My wrong assumption: Customary adjustment period for aging eyes that require severe astigmatic correction and progressive lenses with bifocals. Wrong guess.
I have returned to using my old eyeglasses while the others go out for redo. I see so well, the temptation to demand refund and keep the aged pair is almost overwhelming. Almost. 🙂
Flickr a Day 128: ‘Sleepy Raccoon’
Italian Riccardo Palazzani is a Star Trek fan, not that you would ever guess from his personal website. His photostream is more down to earth, and today’s selection is typical. He prefers nature to people, […]
Flickr a Day 127: ‘Takeaway’
We conclude an unexpected trio of candid kids-on-the-street shots (see Days 125 and 126) with the delightfully composed self-titled “Takeway”. Gerry Balding captured the young ladies on Oct. 5, 2013, using the Fujifilm X10. The […]
Flickr a Day 126: ‘Don’t Move’
Continuing for a second straight day our kids-on-the-street theme, Julien Grosjean presents self-titled “Don’t Move”, captured on Oct. 24, 2014, using Fujifilm X-T1 and Fujinon XF23mmF1.4 R lens. Oh what a prime it is! Vitals: […]
Acer Chromebook 15 Display is More Than Just Big
As if my Pixel LS review isn’t enough, another Chromebook demands attention. Last week, Acer offered its maxi-model for review. FedEx delivered yesterday but I only cracked open the box this afternoon. The screen is motherfraking huge. Everything is humongous, actually.
The other big thing about the display—maybe that should be plural: IPS and 1080p. It’s the first Chromebook that my aging eyes can handle at full, native resolution. I keep the Pixel jacked down to 1440 x 956, like Toshiba Chromebook 2. Acer smartly chose a matte rather than glossy screen, which works surprisingly well. Viewing angles aren’t exceptional, but they are surprisingly good. Very, very good. Colors and contrast please, too.
Chromebook 15 isn’t the first Acer to user a matte display, but the others tend to be dim TNs. I like the company’s approach of going back to move ahead. Matte should make the IPS screen viewable just about anywhere—even outdoors in the sunlight. Reflective screens arguably give greater contrast but are overrated and way overdone.
Contextual Cloud Computing is for Everyone
Keeping with my recommendation that “Writers, Own Your Content!“, I cross-post many, but by no means all, of my BetaNews tech stories here. As explained two months ago, much of my readership engagement takes place somewhere else, which is major reason there are so few comments here. Some of them occasionally deserve additional attention.
Late yesterday I posted my review of Chromebook Pixel LS, which Google released in early March. The write-up is purposely rah-rah to impose the importance of embracing contextual cloud computing and to shake up preconceptions about Macs being the tools of the creative elite. I also call “dumb” developers who may receive free Pixels during Google I/O later this month only to then sell them online.
One reader comment, from SmallSherm, to the BetaNews version caught my attention, for accusing me of calling him (or her) stupid and for insulting readers. After writing my response, I wondered how few people would ever see the interaction, which I regard as being quite valuable, there and absolutely none her. I present our two comments for your Tuesday thought train.
Flickr a Day 125: ‘Cuba Girls’
Cuba is big news here in the United States, following the historic meeting between Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro on April 11, 2015. Four months earlier, the White House ordered full restoration of diplomatic relations with the island nation.
Photos like self-titled “Cuba Girls” come from non-Americans, because of travel restrictions that the Obama Administration is lifting. Doug Wheller lives in London. He used Canon 550D to capture today’s selection, on April 20, 2012. Vitals: f/9, ISO 200, 1/400 sec, 70mm.
Chromebook Pixel LS Review
Nearly perfect is how I describe Google’s newest, and only, computer. If you’re going to manufacturer one thing, then it should be exceptional, which is the other way I describe Chromebook Pixel LS. The company introduced the original in February 2013, available in two configurations. Twenty-five months later, the notebook refreshed—refined rather than revolutionized—beating Apple to market shipping a laptop with USB Type-C, which brings new connectivity and charging options.
FedEx delivered the costliest Chromebook configuration to my door on Friday the 13th, in March. I ordered the newest Pixel from Google two days earlier, within hours of the laptop’s launch. I use no other computer. It’s more than my primary PC and could be yours, too. This laptop rests at the precipice of future computing, for those open-minded enough to welcome it. This review is purposely preachy, which reasons hopefully will be apparent should you read all 1,800 words.
Flickr a Day 124: ‘Run Deep, Run Wild’
Sometimes plans change. I originally meant this selection for May Day, continuing the portrait-behind-water-and-glass theme started with April 30th’s “Peace“. But as the hours closed on the old month, I decided instead to begin three days (121, […]