Tag: Galaxy S24 Ultra

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 11, 202411:18 pm

The Festive Palm

We return to “The Menacing Palm” for what should have been a festive visit. His other guises include: “Be Mine“, “Hungry Bunny“, and “The Patriotic Palm“. But when attempting to write this post, I couldn’t access my website, for reason to be determined.

Chrome and Edge served up error: “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN”, which is a fancy way of saying that the domain cannot be resolved. The problem can be generated locally on the computer or elsewhere. Online, at my provider’s admin site, I found no apparent problems with hosting, so I presumed the problem must be with my laptop. But the obvious thing wasn’t the cause.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 10, 202410:01 pm

Mutt Masterpiece(s)

This afternoon, while walking along an alley in our neighborhood of University Heights, my wife expressed delight seeing some dog art hanging from a fence door. I initially passed by the display, then thought that her reaction deserved acknowledgement.

So I pulled out Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and took four quickies of varying compositions. The Featured Image is the best for presenting singly. Vitals: f/1.7, ISO 12, 1/1050 sec, 23mm (film equivalent); 2:18 p.m. PDT.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 9, 20249:23 pm

Mail Heist in University Heights

Crime is on the rise in San Diego. News reports, social media posts, and street talk among neighbors all spotlight an increasing trend. Porch pirates are commonplace. Shoplifters compel retailers to lock up sundry staples like batteries and toothpaste. Armed robberies, burglaries, and debit card skimming also appear to be on the rise.

So I suppose today’s incident here in University Heights shouldn’t surprise anyone. Late morning, my wife and I walked over to a parallel street, where we came upon a police car and our mail carrier speaking with someone who turned out to be his supervisor. Busted window and glass on the pavement revealed what happened.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 8, 202410:12 pm

Circle to Search THIS

I ignored today’s solar eclipse, which was nowhere near totality here in San Diego. Had we moved home to Maine as planned last year, well my interest would be—sincerely, ignore the pun—astronomical. While local and national news honed on Houlton, my hometown Caribou was in the path of totality.

That topic dispatched, let’s move on to the Featured Image. Late afternoon, I discovered a bug behind the bathroom door. Black color and white striations suggested spider; any eight-legger gets a free pass in this household; spiders aren’t pests, they’re pest control.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 6, 20249:13 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Kiko

Our first feline of the month also claims Caturday number one. I walked by this kitty on March 31, 2024, along an undisclosed street West of Park Blvd. The shorthair had been watching birds, but briefly turned my way for the Featured Image, which was captured using Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 50, 1/120 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 11:07 a.m. PDT.

For nickname, how about Kiko, which is Hawaiian for spot—or so claims Google Translate. Kiko is the one-hundred-twenty-seventh beastie found behind door or window since the series‘ start in October 2016.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 4, 202410:59 pm

Capturing Crown Daisies

When deciding whether to move from the Galaxy S23 Ultra to its S24 successor, I wondered if Samsung’s iterative design would be better enough. Yes! Display’s reduced reflectivity, 2600-nit screen brightness outdoors, insanely long battery life, and Galaxy AI are among the refinements that matter. That said, I am most satisfied with the photography experience.

Colors are less saturated and more accurate. Photos are no longer over-sharpened and, related, they are more natural looking. Clarity is improved, and often shots satisfy straight from the smartphone—little to no editing required. The Featured Image is an example.

Photo by Joe WilcoxApr 1, 20249:43 pm

You’re Going the Wrong Way

Strange: I have walked through this intersection countless times over the years and only today recognized the anomalous road sign(s). In the Featured Image, bikers are given distances to destinations that are behind them—meaning where they came from. In the companion capture, of the sign on the other side of the roundabout, information is accurate for everyone riding East towards Normal Heights.

Ah, yeah. Maybe you are unfamiliar with the area and turned onto Meade from a perpendicular street a few blocks away. Based on the first sign, you would be mislead to think that you’re eight-tenths of a mile (1.29 kilometers) from University Heights. The Meade-Utah traffic circle is often nasty with cars, so a biker paying attention to incoming vehicles could easily miss the second sign.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 31, 20249:08 pm

The Cats of University Heights: Ivy

Sightings are fairly rare along Cleveland Ave., which makes finding this timid tabby on the same day as Lavish so unexpected. The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 32, 1/350 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 9:46 a.m. PDT, Feb. 24, 2024.

For flora along the porch rails, this fine feline earns nickname Ivy.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 30, 20249:16 pm

She Sits Still

Words that describe San Diego: Character, personality, variety. The Featured Image and companions are examples. This charming display is more elaborate and expansive than the photos reveal. The property sits at Howard and Hamilton in North Park.

But change is afoot. Recent public policy push to add more residences—by way of so-called Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and high-rises, often where were single-family homes—transforms the look and feel of many neighborhoods. BLVD North Park and Winslow are examples of the new architectural artifices.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 27, 20249:58 pm

A Pair of Redheads Visit

The parrots sure are squawking this week, typically starting in the hours following sunrise and again before sunset. The closest coastal community to University Heights is 12 kilometers (7.5 miles)—less as the bird flies; Ocean Beach is better known habitat for the exotic fliers, so their presence is surprising but definitely welcome.

Late last month, I felt quite lucky to get photos of the birds on a neighbor’s roof. Today, a parrot pair presented in a palm that I happened to be nearby and angled into the morning sun. I pulled out Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, set the camera to 10x zoom, and started shooting. The Featured Image and companions are the result.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 22, 20249:26 pm

Cali Catnaps

This afternoon, I seized a rare opportunity to take a portrait of Cali sun slumbering on the Katris blocks in my home office. While she sleeps there often enough, the Tortie rarely so perfectly presents herself, and the illumination exposes fine fur detail otherwise obscured.

The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Vitals: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/430 sec, 70mm (film equivalent); 3:50 p.m. PDT.

Photo by Joe WilcoxMar 19, 20248:54 pm

Lilac Wall

Four years ago, I shared with you shots of lively lilacs along a wall here in my San Diego neighborhood of University Heights. What those photos lacked was context, which the Featured Image gives quite dramatically.

This afternoon, while talking to one of my sisters by phone, I came upon a young woman shooting photos of something behind me. I turned to see. Lilacs. Sis loves lilacs. So I pulled out Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, pointed, clicked, and texted. She was delighted.