Software : DxO Optics Pro 10 brings less noise and clearer skies |
- DxO Optics Pro 10 brings less noise and clearer skies
- Getting Ready for the Software-Defined Data Center
- Versus: Fire TV Stick vs Roku Streaming Stick vs Chromecast
- Google makes a run at your health with official Google Fit release
| DxO Optics Pro 10 brings less noise and clearer skies Posted:  Cameras aren't perfect, lenses aren't perfect. You can put up with it, or dig deep and buy better ones. Or you could take a different route, using DxO's lab-developed correction profiles to correct image flaws digitally in DxO Optics Pro. Optics Pro checks the EXIF data embedded automatically in your pictures to identify the camera and lens used, then looks them up in its database of correction profiles, which has now hit 20,000 camera-lens combinations, with new cameras and lenses being added all the time. It uses these profiles to correct all the flaws associated with that camera-lens combination, automatically, and the transformation is often startling. Optics Pro is also a raw converter, and uses the extra data in raw files to correct contrast, lighting, colors and more. This is where the new ClearView tool fits in – it detects distance haze in landscape shots, or smog in urban environments, and uses local adjustments to restore contrast and color. There's no need for selections, masks or graduated filter tools because the analysis and correction is done automatically. DxO has also improved its PRIME noise reduction tool. This is used to smooth out high ISO shots while preserving detail and textures – this is where most noise reduction tools really struggle. Previously, PRIME worked really well, but it was slow – often taking several minutes to process a high-resolution image. DxO claims it's now four times faster. But to get these new features, you'll need to get the more expensive DxO Optics Pro Elite edition. Optics Pro has always come in these Essential and Elite versions, but in the past the tools were the same in both and you only needed the Elite version for high-end or professional cameras. The system has changed in Optics Pro 10. Now, all cameras are supported in both versions, but the Essential edition lacks some of the more advanced tools. The Essential edition does benefit from the other enhancements in Optics Pro 10, however, including a claimed 10x faster startup time and 1.5x speed increase in use. DxO's Smart Lighting system has been improved so that it still brings out the shadows and highlights in your pictures, but with better automatic corrections and sharper looking detail. Straighten up with ViewPoint 2.5That's not the only new release from DxO. The company has also announced version 2.5 of its ViewPoint application. This is a standalone program for correcting lens aberrations automatically and also fixing perspective issues like converging verticals and slanting skyscrapers. It also fixes a thing called volume deformation. Never heard of it? You'll have seen it plenty, though, when someone is near the edge of the frame in a picture taken with a wideangle lens. It's what makes their head look oddly elongated. DxO is very serious about optical corrections, as you'll have gathered, and you can buy and use ViewPoint 2.5 without Optics Pro, though it does now integrate fully with Optics Pro 10 as a plug-in, appearing in the sidebar in its own panel. ViewPoint 2.5 also works as a plug-in for Elements, Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture. Go analog with FilmPack 5DxO's third announcement is FilmPack 5, a new version of its film simulation program. Version 5 adds 16 new analog film renderings, with classic films like Fuji Neopan 400 and Kodak Portra 400. These film simulations are created using laboratory analysis of real films and subjects to reproduce the grain, quality and style of the original film. Like ViewPoint 2.5, FilmPack 5 can be used both as a standalone program and as a plug-in within DxO Optics Pro. It now supports RAW files and can apply DxO lens corrections automatically. A new Micro-contrast tool can give your subjects more definition and clarity, and the interface has had a redesign too. Like DxO Optics Pro 10, FilmPack 5 is available in both Essential and Elite versions. Plug-in versions for Elements, Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture should arrive mid-November. What does it cost?DxO Optics Pro 10 Essential will cost £99/US$129/AU$145, while the Elite version goes on sale at £159/£199/AU$224. DxO Viewpoint 2.5 will cost £59/US$79/AU$89, while FilmPack 5 Essential is £59/$US79/AU$89 and FilmPack 5 Elite is £99/US$129/AU$145. But DxO is running a special offer through to November 25 2014 where you can get all three programs at a reduced price. The Essential Photo Suite (DxO Optics Pro 10 Essential, ViewPoint 2.5, FilmPack 5 Essential) will cost £149/US$189/AU$213, while the Elite Photo Suite (DxO Optics Pro 10 Elite, ViewPoint 2.5, FilmPack 5 Elite) will cost £229/US$289/AU$326. |
| Getting Ready for the Software-Defined Data Center Posted:  The Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) is at an early stage in its development, but software and hardware vendors are already lining up to sell you SDDC products. EMC recently released its Federation Software-Defined Data Center Solution, a combined software stack that it hopes will serve as a reference architecture for all future software-defined data centers, similar to the way the Java EE reference architecture is a template solution for many Java enterprise applications. The goal of a SDDC is to eliminate large infrastructure boxes and replace them with network services dedicated to and tuned to the needs of individual applications. This will allow applications to be decomposed into compute workloads, transport workloads, and storage workloads - and these various tasks can be executed wherever it makes the most sense. "Hot Content" use caseAn example of a SDDC-aware application is a Video on Demand application that uses both solid-state drives (SSDs) and hard-disk drives (HDDs) in a complementary fashion - where "hot content" that needs the fastest possible IOPS (streaming new releases or the most popular movies) can rely on performance-optimized SSDs, while "cold content" that needs the largest possible capacity for storing thousands of classic movies can use capacity-optimized HDDs. A virtualized and federated data centerThe new SDDC is built on top of these products from the Federation, which consists of EMC and its subsidiaries, VMware, RSA Security and Pivotal Labs:
The SDDC is the first of five solutions that integrate technology from the Federation, with four more expected to be released over the next few months, include Platform-as-a-Service, which combines technology from EMC, VMware and Pivotal; a virtualized data lake featuring Pivotal technology; end-user computing with VMware and EMC technology; and security analytics, which will add RSA security to the virtualized data lake. The new Federation SDDC is designed to be the base for all these future solutions. Does SD(DC) = SD (Hype)?Because the term software-defined data center was coined by VMware, it's not surprising that EMC and its partners are actively promoting the SDDC notion. SDDC is part of the latest IT industry fad to label all kinds of infrastructure "software-defined," as in Software-Defined (X), where "X" can be any number of things, including "Servers" and/or "Storage" (SDS), "Data Protection" (SDP) and "Networking" (SDN). This semantic fad has its critics, too, who are prone to dismiss SDDC as software-defined (hype) when the label is applied to data center architecture since, in their view, only companies with homogenous IT systems already in place, such as Yahoo! and Google, will be able to make the transition to software-defined data centers. The SDDC visionThe underlying concept of a software-defined data center is one where all IT infrastructure - the network, server and storage – is virtualized and offered as a service. In this scenario, configuration and control is automated and it's possible to provision, control, and manage all SDDC components with the click of a mouse on a single computer screen - the proverbial single pane of glass. This allows applications to be managed by their service-level agreements (SLAs) where things like CPU resources and network bandwidth will be automatically reserved and allocated according to the particulars of the SLA. Developing SDDC standardsAlthough the Software-Defined Data Center is not currently defined by an existing standards body (e.g. IETF, ITU, NIST), the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) last year announced an Open Software-Defined Data Center Incubator, which it calls a "forum where the IT community can discuss and develop SDDC definitions, architectures and use cases that will be interoperable via open and standard interfaces." SDDC and Open SourceOther vendors besides EMC and VMware are currently working on SDDC development including Cisco, Citrix, Dell, Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Juniper Networks, Microsoft and others, who are all contributing to the collaborative open source OpenDaylight Project. Additionally, there are a bunch of open-source technologies such as OpenStack, OpenFlow and Open vSwitch that are linked to the software-defined data center concept. We ain't there yetBy some estimates, it will take roughly a decade for the software-defined data center to become a reality. Since SDDC standards are still being defined, very few companies will be willing to rip and replace what they have in support of what many see as SDDC vaporware. It's likely, too, that when they get around to it, most companies will try to deploy open, vendor-neutral SDDC solutions that can work in a widely heterogeneous environment of new and legacy applications. The fact that the new Federation SDDC reference architecture includes solution-specific workflows ought to give EMC and its partners first-mover advantage in driving the SDDC standard forward. Interestingly, just as VMware is trying to establish its proprietary vCloud Air hybrid cloud service as a standard, VMware said it's establishing a partnership with Docker, an open source container-based virtualization framework that can be used in-place of a VM hypervisor, which is VMware's cash cow. By incorporating Docker container technology into its product mix, VMware is hedging its bets but also making it more likely that a version of the Federation's SDDC reference architecture will gain significant traction among cloud computing enthusiasts eager to avoid vendor lock-in. At that point, the idea of the software-defined data center may just start living up to its hype as the next big step in the evolution of virtualization and cloud computing. |
| Versus: Fire TV Stick vs Roku Streaming Stick vs Chromecast Posted:  Design, Remote and AppsProving the e-tailer still has a few surprises up its sleeve, Amazon announced the Fire TV Stick on Monday, a ridiculously affordable version of the set-top hardware that appears to have left little behind on its way to the shrink-ray. Of course, stick-sized media streamers are somewhat old hat by now, with that path already well traveled by Google's Chromecast and the Roku Streaming Stick - and given that Fire TV Stick won't arrive until just before Black Friday, we don't know for sure if it's as amazing as Amazon says it is. In the meantime, we've got technical specifications and other product details to go by, which is enough to pore over and see how Fire TV Stick stacks up against the competition. DesignLet's face it: There's only so much engineers can do with a device not much bigger than a stick of gum, so buyers shouldn't expect too many design miracles from Amazon, Roku or Google. The trailblazing Chromecast is easily the most shapely of the bunch, adopting a more rounded look toward the rear of its 72 x 35 x 12 mm frame, while the Roku Streaming Stick makes up for its otherwise squarish 79 x 28 x 13 mm (3.1 x 1.1 x 0.5 inch) looks by adopting the same purple hue as the company's logo. For being the new kid on the block, the Fire TV Stick is pretty utilitarian when it comes to design - it's simply a 84.9 x 25 x 11.5 mm (3.3 x 1.0 x 0.5 inch) black rectangle with the Amazon logo emblazoned on one side, a standard male HDMI Type A connector at one end, and a micro-USB (for power only) on the opposite side. Looks may be one thing, but any of these devices are likely to be unplugged and tossed into a bag or purse for taking entertainment on the road; thankfully, they're all quite light and portable, with the Chromecast packing on the most weight at 34 grams (just shy of 1.2 ozs.), followed by Fire TV Stick at 25.1 grams (0.9 oz.) and the Roku Streaming Stick at 18.1 grams (0.64 oz.). When all is said and done, we still prefer the Chromecast for a more unique design, although points could be awarded to Amazon for its ability to make the otherwise generic-looking Fire TV Stick pretty much disappear onto the back of most HDTV sets, which is more than we can say for Roku's device, which sticks out like a sore thumb. RemoteWhen Chromecast was released more than a year ago, Google was quick to point out that no remote control would be required - after all, the required smartphone, tablet or Chrome browser on a desktop computer essentially already offer complete control over playback. Roku and Amazon have other ideas about this concept, given their respective Streaming Stick and Fire TV Stick devices actually pull content from the internet only upon the command of a remote control or mobile app. That makes the Roku Streaming Stick or Fire TV Stick a better choice for viewers who prefer to hold a traditional remote in their hands, which are powered by a pair of AA batteries. Roku's RF-based remote resembles the one that comes bundled with its current-generation set-top boxes, complete with shortcut buttons for favored nation channels M-GO, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix and Blockbuster On Demand; unfortunately, Roku skimped on the headphone jack featured on its more expensive hardware. Amazon likewise cheaped out on the remote for its Fire TV Stick, which offers only basic navigation and playback buttons and none of the voice search or game controller functionality full-sized Fire TV owners enjoy. However, Amazon is separately offering both the $29.99 Fire TV Voice Remote as well as the $39.99 Fire Game Controller, each of which also happens to be fully compatible with Fire TV Stick right out of the box. For those looking to toss hardware remotes in a desk drawer and forget about them, the news is even better: All three devices can be controlled from mobile apps on iOS or Android, although at this writing Amazon's free Fire TV Remote app is a no-show on Apple's App Store. AppsAlthough Google has made great strides over the last year or so in securing the support of content providers for Chromecast, Roku continues to dominate with more than 1,000 channels, ranging from movies to TV shows, sports, news and music. Aside from iTunes Store content - which none of these stick-based devices are capable of playing - any of these sticks are capable of streaming the most popular services, including Netflix, Hulu Plus and YouTube, although there is one noticeable exclusion on Chromecast, which lacks Amazon Instant Video support. While Roku may cater to more eclectic tastes thanks to a diverse channel catalog, all three devices are also capable of streaming from the likes of Plex, software frequently used by home theater junkies to view content stored on their own computer or network-attached storage (NAS). That just leaves us with fringe services such as Walmart-owned VUDU, which is available on Roku and compatible with Chromecast, but has thus far chosen to sit on the sidelines for Amazon's Kindle Fire, Fire TV and now Fire TV Stick. We're giving the apps nod to Roku here for sheer quantity and diversity of choices, but we wouldn't count Chromecast or Fire TV Stick out for the future, as Google and Amazon continue to line up support from other content providers. Interface, Games and SpecsInterfaceIf you've already compared Fire TV and Roku 3, there's not likely to be many surprises here: Both Fire TV Stick and Roku Streaming Stick deliver the same user interfaces found on their more expensive set-top editions. On Roku Streaming Stick, the customizable grid layout is about as good as it gets - viewers can bring their favorite channels front and center and access them without drilling down into menus or (God forbid) submenus. Unfortunately, Amazon hasn't quite figured out how much we dislike the Fire TV user interface, which puts the needs of the e-tailer ahead of the viewer thanks to a noisy default Home menu, which mashes up everything into one unruly mess - and keeps the stuff we want buried in those aforementioned submenus. If user interfaces aren't your thing, Google's Chromecast is likely to win over your heart. There's essentially no UI to speak of, since everything happens from a compatible smartphone or tablet app, which is used to "cast" content to an HDTV. Although we continue to hope Amazon will see the light, for now Fire TV Stick will have to take a backseat to reigning UI champion Roku, with a second-place nod to Chromecast for choosing to just get out of the way entirely. GamesWe wouldn't necessarily recommend buying a streaming stick for even casual gaming, but Amazon handily dominates this realm at the moment, thanks to Fire TV Stick's ability to use the Fire Game Controller (available separately) originally offered with the Fire TV media streamer. While it's not going to replace anyone's PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, Amazon has bulked up its gaming content with tons of free titles as well as paid games starting at only 99 cents, including Flappy Birds Family, The Game of Life and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. By comparison, the Roku Streaming Stick completely abandons the Roku 3's ability to play Angry Birds and a selection of other titles, while Google's Chromecast was never intended to play games at all, so move along please ... nothing to see here. SpecsAmazon must be on a roll here! Much like Fire TV, the Fire TV Stick is quite the potent beast when it comes to raw hardware specifications, featuring a dual-core processor (down from quad-core on the set-top version) with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard flash storage. By comparison, both Chromecast and Roku Streaming Stick remain stuck with single-core processors and a meager 512MB of RAM; the former also includes 2GB of flash storage, while the latter looks positively skimpy with a mere 256MB. Fire TV Stick and Roku Streaming Stick also acknowledge the need for strong wireless streaming signals, since both are equipped with dual-band, dual antenna MIMO-compatible Wi-Fi, while Chromecast limps along on a single band of 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n alone. All three devices are capable of streaming up to 1080p HD, while Fire TV Stick and Roku Streaming Stick are noteworthy for supporting audio passthrough of up to 7.1 surround channels, while the former adds Dolby Digital Plus certification. Oh, and in case it's not clear, all three streaming sticks require an available HDMI port for use, along with AC power supplied by the micro-USB port on the opposite end; it's kind of the Achilles' heel of these devices. Price and ConclusionPriceLast year, Google Chromecast looked like an unbeatable value at only $35 (UK£30, about AU$39), but then Roku came along with its own Streaming Stick for only $49 (about UK£31, AU$56), which included a dedicated hardware remote control. Amazon has decided to stick the Fire TV Stick (pun intended) squarely in the middle of this streaming war by pricing the device at only $39 (about UK£31, AU$44) - and early adopters who also happened to have Amazon Prime accounts were able to score one for even cheaper (only $19) for the first few days. This one is a bit of a toss-up: On paper, Fire TV Stick comes off as the best value, but for only $10 more, buyers can get way more content from Roku - so we'll call it a tie, unless you're a casual gamer, and then Fire TV Stick is likely to be a better investment in the long run. ConclusionGoogle Chromecast is looking more and more like a niche player now that the original streaming dongle is being squeezed at both ends by larger, more established players. It doesn't help that Google has a somewhat checkered history when it comes to streaming devices (Nexus Q, Google TV), although for compatible apps, it's a pretty nice choice. That said, Roku devices tend to be on the underpowered side, causing them to more easily reveal kinks in the armor when using resource-intensive channels like VUDU, and the Streaming Stick is already less powerful than Roku 3 to begin with. Assuming Amazon can get its act together on the content and user interface side, we'd say Fire TV Stick has a pretty good shot for long-term survival when it starts arriving on November 19 - and if nothing else, the dirt-cheap price makes a great impulse buy that's likely to retain its value longer than Chromecast or Roku Streaming Stick. |
| Google makes a run at your health with official Google Fit release Posted:  Google Fit has officially arrived, and with it Google's best bet at giving Apple's HealthKit a run for its money. Unveiled at Google IO 2014, Google Fit is an app and platform that spans Android, Android Wear and browsers to track users' health and fitness across multiple devices. It also collects data from other fitness gadgets and apps like Strava, Withings, Runtastic, Runkeeper and Noom Coach all in one place. And now Google Fit is available in the Google Play store for Android devices with Ice Cream Sandwich and above. Built-in fitnessGoogle Fit uses the sensors in your various devices to track all your physical activity. "It's a great tool to discover how active you are and check in on your progress as you work on your fitness goals," Google Director of Android Product Management Sabrina Ellis wrote on the official Android Blog. She continued: "Just keep your Android phone with you and we'll make sure your activity counts - whether you're cycling up steep hills, going for a morning jog or walking the dog." Google Fit is available now from Google Play for free. |
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