Not much to say here in detail, since I have not yet had an opportunity to play with Windows 8 with the exception of the developer's preview last year, but I have read a few article with screen captures. I still have hopes that the OS will be a success. I do however have some reservations about the GUI design choices. When reading the Ars Technica hands on of the Windows 8 RTM (release to manufacturers), I was struck by the similarity of some of the settings windows (in this article, the taskbar properties) to some of the older X Windows shells form the early 90s or even Windows 3.1. I realize that the push toward simplification of operation, and by extension the simplification of the visual metaphor, is what this new Windows is supposed to achieve, but when I am immediately reminded of a windowing system that dates back 20 years, I do begin to wonder. Or is it possible that MS and the Unix shell developers got it right way back then and this is simply a return to the classic form?
I have not looked into the system requirements for Windows 8 yet, but if the graphics, and so the load on the processor to render them is reduced, does this means that lower spec machines will be supported?
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Sony Bloggie Touch: Replacement for Flip Mino HD?
I finally got around to comparing the old Flip video cam to the unit we are replacing it with, the Sony Bloggie Touch. While this is not an "official" review on my part, I thought that I might throw out some first impressions.
The Touch is much more of a modern smart phone shape than the Flip, which reminds me of the older designs for such cams, a great deal of my now antique RCA. With this come some positives and negatives. The case on the Bloggie is very smooth and reflective. This is attractive, as it looks in many ways like my Sony Ericsson phone. Since it is much thinner than the flip, it would seem to be easier to hold were it not for the slick surface. I am finding that I am taking more time to make certain that I do not drop the Bloggie than I did with the Flip. In addition to this, the finish shows fingerprints very well, so it does not take long to look as though one were eating a sandwich while using it. So even though the appearance id more modern and attractive, it requires more cleaning than the Flip.
Holding the Bloggie without covering the lens while filming is also a bit less intuitive. The Flip lens protrudes from the case, and so it is much easier to have some tactile feedback in avoiding placing your fingers over the lens while filming. In contrast, the Bloggie has a recessed lens like that of a cell phone, so one must be much more aware of of where their fingers are while shooting in landscape.
Another huge difference is in the operation. The Bloggie is a touchscreen and the Flip is not. This is a mixed bag. On the Bloggie it is very easy to set the timer for timed shots using the intuitive touch screen. Likewise the settings are easily available. One potential problem is that the zoom is also on the touchscreen instead of being separate physical buttons on the unit itself. This results in having to move a slider on the screen to zoom. Since it is on the screen, there is no tactile feedback, and so you must be watching the screen while operating the zoom.
Not only is this harder to accomplish while filming, without shaking the camera, but the slider frequently does not move the zoom in a continuous fashion. The best way that I can describe the result is as if the zoom were "catching" frequently. This means that the final product will not have the same smooth zoom into and away from an object that you will see on a camcorder or even a cell phone. I'm not sure what to attribute this problem too. Perhaps the microprocessor in the Bloggie isn't capable of keeping up with the zoom itself. Perhaps it is a problem with the software itself. The problem is further magnified (pun intended) by the focus during zoom. When zooming in, it sometimes takes up to a second for the focus to catch up with the zoom, sometimes giving one a jerky and out of focus image. Hopefully there will be an update at some point that will address this.
In terms of final video quality, the Bloggie is on par with the Flip. This seems to be totally dependent on how still the camera is held.
In summation the Sony Bloggie Touch seems a good device for shooting video in the classroom, or in other situations where zoom and stabilization are not an issue. The camera is in many ways easier to use than the Flip, especially if you already have experience with touch screen phones or tablets. The overall build quality, LCD, and feel is much like a mid range cell phone. That said, the Bloggie does have some differences in terms of use and particularly the zoom and focus.
Is it a replacement for the Flip? It is close. I like the screen, the simple timer, and the video quality in general. The zoom and focus on the camera that I am using are poor. However the Bloggie does have a tripod mount, and as long as zoom is not needed, it would make a good choice movies that do not contain a great deal of movement.
As with everything, you mileage will vary. The Flip is a hard act to follow.
The Touch is much more of a modern smart phone shape than the Flip, which reminds me of the older designs for such cams, a great deal of my now antique RCA. With this come some positives and negatives. The case on the Bloggie is very smooth and reflective. This is attractive, as it looks in many ways like my Sony Ericsson phone. Since it is much thinner than the flip, it would seem to be easier to hold were it not for the slick surface. I am finding that I am taking more time to make certain that I do not drop the Bloggie than I did with the Flip. In addition to this, the finish shows fingerprints very well, so it does not take long to look as though one were eating a sandwich while using it. So even though the appearance id more modern and attractive, it requires more cleaning than the Flip.
Holding the Bloggie without covering the lens while filming is also a bit less intuitive. The Flip lens protrudes from the case, and so it is much easier to have some tactile feedback in avoiding placing your fingers over the lens while filming. In contrast, the Bloggie has a recessed lens like that of a cell phone, so one must be much more aware of of where their fingers are while shooting in landscape.
Another huge difference is in the operation. The Bloggie is a touchscreen and the Flip is not. This is a mixed bag. On the Bloggie it is very easy to set the timer for timed shots using the intuitive touch screen. Likewise the settings are easily available. One potential problem is that the zoom is also on the touchscreen instead of being separate physical buttons on the unit itself. This results in having to move a slider on the screen to zoom. Since it is on the screen, there is no tactile feedback, and so you must be watching the screen while operating the zoom.
Not only is this harder to accomplish while filming, without shaking the camera, but the slider frequently does not move the zoom in a continuous fashion. The best way that I can describe the result is as if the zoom were "catching" frequently. This means that the final product will not have the same smooth zoom into and away from an object that you will see on a camcorder or even a cell phone. I'm not sure what to attribute this problem too. Perhaps the microprocessor in the Bloggie isn't capable of keeping up with the zoom itself. Perhaps it is a problem with the software itself. The problem is further magnified (pun intended) by the focus during zoom. When zooming in, it sometimes takes up to a second for the focus to catch up with the zoom, sometimes giving one a jerky and out of focus image. Hopefully there will be an update at some point that will address this.
In terms of final video quality, the Bloggie is on par with the Flip. This seems to be totally dependent on how still the camera is held.
In summation the Sony Bloggie Touch seems a good device for shooting video in the classroom, or in other situations where zoom and stabilization are not an issue. The camera is in many ways easier to use than the Flip, especially if you already have experience with touch screen phones or tablets. The overall build quality, LCD, and feel is much like a mid range cell phone. That said, the Bloggie does have some differences in terms of use and particularly the zoom and focus.
Is it a replacement for the Flip? It is close. I like the screen, the simple timer, and the video quality in general. The zoom and focus on the camera that I am using are poor. However the Bloggie does have a tripod mount, and as long as zoom is not needed, it would make a good choice movies that do not contain a great deal of movement.
As with everything, you mileage will vary. The Flip is a hard act to follow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)