Well, I am pretty excited to be able to expand the Dynamic range of the iPhone by cool software tricks and to me HDR it is a welcome feature. It is really impressive that the iphone is able to capture multiple frames in a really short burst and process them in mere seconds. This is really mind boggling. But the trick with photography has always been the ability to understand and use the camera as a tool and HDR is not an exclusion. One needs to understand there is a time and place for using it and it should be used with care (and understanding). Here is a sample image I shot, hoping HDR will help me get some details in the shadows, Here are the results.

You can click through to see reasonable sized images in  new window.

First off, the HDR version (full image) has indeed ‘brightened’ the shadow areas. Look particularly at the front wall of the church and the flowers in the foreground. But I do not particularly like the ‘processing’ the camera has captured very little details to begin with and the HDR algorithm seems to have eaten a lot more of the details. It should be noted that the processing of HDR is kind of arty-farty right now and it requires a quite a bit of judgement to merge the images to make them look natural. It is no wonder that decent HDR packages cost upwards of 100$. I am sure there will be a lot of research on improving the standard algo and in time the merging will get a lot better, but I do not like what I see now

In the second row, I picked a crop of the clouds along with a church steeple. You can see there is a little more discernable details in the clouds in the HDR. That is nice and the blues in the sky were a bit darker too. but it seems that there is  a bit of visible noise introduced in the image. You might also notice a bit of ghosting in the steeple in the HDR. This is because to capture HDR, they shoot 3 images in sequence with different exposures and merge them. Now the 3 images are shot sequentially and quickly but they are different exposures. This means that a bit of hand shake, moving objects etc will confuse the algorithm and the merging will have to guess what to keep or to average (or dodge or multiply or whatever else) the local perturbation. The result is ghosting. I found this pretty bad with people moving around. Now it is not a deficiency of the algo, I am just saying that one has to take care of this issue.

You will notice the issue pretty pronounced in the clock crop. The strong contrast seems to have messed up the internals of the HDR algo. *Geek* I am guessing there is a global translation / rotation transform that is applied at the point of merging. I can think of a slightly more process intensive solution, by applying a sequence of local corrections.. But it would take more processing time and one has to balance time with quality *Geek*. As you can see the Standard version actually preserved a lot more of the details. I am also guessing that the lens is of a standard aperture and the camera captures 3 images at the same shutter speed but different ISO which might explain the pronounced noise in the HDR image…

Lastly, the centre crop is what I shot the HDR for: A bit more details of the inside of the church. As you can see the exposure adjustment is probably not very pronounced, there is very little details brought out in the shadow. The Mid-tones have been pretty strongly influenced but the shadows are not touched at all. It is a bummer, but an understandable tradeoff, pulling a lot out of the shadows will make things more difficult for the algo to work with and the results will be very unnatural too. But when I look at the loss of details in the flowers, I regret shooting this in HDR. ugh…

I guess my point is this. HDR is a cool idea but it is not a cure all for thinking about the scene before shooting. I will use the feature but am going to switch on the ‘settings’ for keeping the standard image. Now that iPhone has implemented this, I expect every phone camera to update their software and some geeky app will allow you to tweak a lot of parameters too. The algorithm will improve a lot over time, thats for sure. But it is going to be just another tool in a decent photographers kit.

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As a geek, I had a responsibility to do some tests to narrow down the problem before heading to the service center. So I did what I could, after a bit of research from the internet of course.

1. Stopped all background notification services (including push for mail). No change.
2. Hard reset the Phone. No change.
3. Backed up data, restored the phone to factory settings and restored the data. No change.
4. Stopped using music player (assuming some short circuit in the headphone jack. No change.
5. Shutdown the phone for a few hours and restarted it. No change.

Well I would not think 0f anything else I could do except restore the phone and start the setup of the phone from scratch. I thought I’d take a slightly easy way out and called Singtel reg the service enquiry.

As it turns out, Singtel serves iPhone service queries only at their headquarters and I was asked to go there. I went there. One of the service guys looked at the orifices in the phone with lights like a dentist and the first response was.

“Sorry, We don’t fix iPhones. Why don’t you go to the hello Shop near by and buy a new unit at $350. Singtel is providing a cheaper alternate to people who want to upgrade their faulty iPhone.”

I was thinking, and explained to him, “Dude, I have not even told you my end of the story. Further, I came here to ask for some diagnostic info. If I wanted to buy a phone, I would not have come to the service centre.”

Anyway, it seems that Apple does not service iPhones in Asia and it is the responsibility of the telecom companies. And the telecom companies do not service the phone and instead provide replacement. I am OK with the idea, mind you. But I wanted Singtel to tell me to go and “fly kite”* after answering some proper questions. Is it a Software fault? Is it a hardware melt down? Is my battery dead?

As it turns out, the service people seem to be trained to push customers to sales and not equipped to answer technical questions. Pretty sad state of affairs if you ask me.

Anyhow, the guy who attended to me was competent and I managed to get through the idea that I don’t mind buying a phone if my current phone is dead. But I need to know it is really dead.

Eventually, he had to tell me that there is no way for him to find that out and I have to continue my experiments to figure out the life of the phone myself. At least, he told me to carry on with part 6 of my experiment and see if it helps.

So off I went home and promptly reset the phone and Avoided restoring the data. Instead I reinstalled the apps I need and re-setup the mail and contacts sync. I left it to charge for a while. And lo and behold, the phone is back to its original form.

The lesson is this. Singtel has a very weak iPhone service policy and I would strongly suggest DIY fixes instead of relying on Singtel to give proper advice. I am tempted to think Starhub and M1 will have similar policies too. Don’t trust the corporations.

* Fly Kite is a singlish expression.

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1. iPhones are coming…
2. iWent, iQueued, iPhoned
3. JR – service par excellence

Well that speculation is for professional rumor generators. I am interested instead on the directions that Apple might take on convergence via software.

Here is one.

Apple has a couple of product lines that do not get very much air time. The Mac Mini which is a compact desktop computer that runs Mac OSX and the other mysterious product being Apple TV.For all the amount pur on developing and marketing the AppleTV, it is intriguing that the box is simply a console to stream content (from your iTunes or Audio / Video streamed through the internet. You can also watch You Tube content, but really, who the hell wants to watch silly YouTube videos on their living room TV. The idea of Integrating YouTube is simply a way of saying, “there, we can do it too”. So I am thinking, what is possible to do with AppleTV, something that will turn into a straightforward revenue stream for Apple instead of a protracted negotiation with Broadcasters on TV rights and a piecemeal bite into the home entertainment pie.

Firstly, AppleTV is a console. A console that has a capable CPU, memory, storage and GPU that can push HD content to your TV. It is a sizable box that, with the help of hardware engineers can be easily upgraded to a mid-high end computing machine. Note, the software is ready to access your iTunes account and make purchases (even without using a PC or Mac). It works wirelessly (adding bluetooth is a matter of 5$ hardware upgrade). Now the controller for this console is a simplistic Apple Remote that is (almost too simplistic). However the Apple TV can also be controlled via your iPhone or iPod Touch.

That is the second part of the puzzle. The iPhone (and iPodTouch) can control your AppleTV. The iPhone is an absolutely stunning device that has brilliant controls with its neat touch screen and accelerometers. Tons of extremely innovative games and control schemes have been developed in the last couple of years that has shown the ingenuity of game developers and the platform.

It seems logical in my mind that it is time for AppleTV to take centre stage. Not as a movie streaming box but, you heard it first here, as a Gaming console. Imagine the possibilities. The apple TV takes centre stage in the Living room plugged to a large screen TV with tons of CPU resources. Now, if game developers start developing games that can play on the AppleTV, all we need is good game controllers. There is the iPhone in your pocket. Whip it out, connect with the AppleTV, start the specific game ‘map’ and the controls magically appear on the phone, joysticks, tilt controls, multi touch controls, all in the palm of your hand. It gets better, sync 2 or more iPhones and you have multi player gaming in your living room. Even better, the in thing in gaming is online games and Apple need not be left out of this either. The AppleTV is always online. Hah, I might have cracked a long standing enigma that is AppleTV and potentially, cracked open a new revenue stream and industry for Apple to butt their nose into and make billions in revenue (remember iTunes music sales crossed a Billion $ mark in its first year).

It gets even better, you need not have to purchase the controller ‘map’, AppleTV can stream the game controls to your iPhone when you are connected and the controls disappear when you log out. Just run over to your friends house to play a game you do not own but the controls are beamed by the Local console and you need not be left out of the gaming fun during the next party.

Sell the games via iTunes / app store and the circle is complete. Apple being Apple, will keep the games playable on AppleTV alone and not on all macs (including Mini). Well that means Mini has a different product strategy planned out. And that is ok in my book.

Now, whip out your wallets and be ready for picking up the Next Gen souped up AppleTV when it comes out.

Well if anyone in apple wants more ideas, there is lots more where this comes from, I would gladly be an advisor for product development

Now, that is fresh speculation! he heh.

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View Larger Map

Recall I mentioned I spotted the Google Street view Car a while back. Well it was fairly late in the evening and I guess unless they bring in features for day time / night time view, I will not appear. Unless, I track down the Trike or the car next time they are out and about scanning the streets.

Well we cannot have it all, but the street view is still worth it even without me featuring in it. Heh.

View Larger Map

I wonder where my “friend at Google” is…

I also realize that the street view has gotten a lot more features in the recent months. The Navigation is absolutely brilliant and now they even have images shot nearby. Neat.

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1. I might be on google
2. Now, how did I miss this job opportunity…
3. Marketing takes over when technologists hit plateau

I am wondering with my contacts in places high up, how did I miss this opportunity! You know, ride the bike around town, geek out on the trike setup, take pictures while on the job and and bring more useful information to the rest of the world. Hmmm, I should keep my ears more open

Some more information here.

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1. The swing, the miss and the chase

The focus is on setting up a power plant on the bike to generate electricity. Recently (2009 / 2010) many companies are working on products that focus on harnessing energy from the bike to charge electronics (phone, GPS etc…). Some good products coming on line are from pedal power +, B&M and Dahon. I have invested in checking out Pedal Power + and will be testing out their product in the coming weeks. The missing component in my bike is a good electricity generator.

Dynamos on bikes are very old technology and have been around for a long time now and the technology is very mature. Generally, there are 2 classes of products, side wall dynamos (good ones are from B&M) and the hub dynamos (good ones are made by SON, Shimano and SRAM). Pros and cons exist for both versions and I have decided on going along the Hub route. It is expensive option (generally) but if you get a good deal on a hub, it is a very fuss free option.

As I was procuring some components I chanced on a great deal for a Shimano DH-3N72 hub (< 60 USD) and pounced on it. I dont know much about the quality of dynamos but Peter White says that the Shimano Hubs (especially the 7x and 8x) are very good bang for the buck and a very good long term value. I received the package and the hub looks very delicious in appearance and it came with a skewer too. The electric attachment also looks pretty robust I do think it is a good value. I will have to wait for the built wheel and some riding to see if things are going to be smooth sailing.

So, the project essentially involves building a new wheel around the Shimano dynamo hub. I also found good deals on a nice head light (Spanninga Luceo) at velo orange and the entire package does not blow a hole in the wallet. I contemplated re-lacing my current front wheel with the hub but when I thought about it, I needed to get rid of the current rim tape, undo the spokes, get new spokes or try to re-tap the current ones to be used with the larger hub, build the wheels again and replace the rim tape. On the other hand, if I just got a new rim, I need not strip the current wheel and keep it as a backup or sell it to someone who needs it. That’s what I decided and I am going to get a new rim and build a new wheel around the hub. Some pictures in the blog show the new stuff and I will post pictures once I get the wheel built.

The wheels are being built by TR bikes who have built my earlier wheels too and do a great job about it. They recently have tied up with a new wheel builder and I am expecting the build to be the best one can get.

Enjoy the component porn while I wait for the wheel (should be in within the week) and I will be posting more of my experiments with the lights and pedal power + charger in the weeks to come.

Update: I realized it is not easy to find the sub 60$ deal on the hub. It is actually sold by Niagara Cycle Works and they have an amazon shopfront. A direct link to the product is here. It says DH-3N71, but they shipped a DH-3N72. According to Peter White, there is no difference between the models (except the 8x which has an aluminum axle). If you are still waiting on a hub, run there to score the deal.

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1. NWT upgrades – Drive train
2. hunt for a folding bike – part 3
3. Hunt for a Folding Bike – Aftermath – Part 1

Better form factors, newer hardware, smaller iPods, better iTunes, more features… You name it.

This time, the expectation was high but apple decided to show off better marketing instead of technology. Duh… What we have is a high capacity iPod and more features in iTunes, I am sure no one really cares about. Music is all about songs, giving off liner notes is not going to sell an album. Apple taught us that, now they are buckling under music label pressure.

So we get souped up iPod Nano. Well, the features are nice, video recording, fm radio (what took them so long?) and audio recording. But none of it for the iPod touch. No tech breakthroughs here. But a more clearer market seggregation.

iPhones have video rec, why not iPod? Well it is because iPod touch is already eating into the traditional iPod product line and nano struggles to live between the shuffle and the iPod touch. Well, marketing comes into play and attaches features to spur nano sales and makes sure the touch does not get the features to compete.

Very clever but ultimately sneaky. Not good for the consumer. If you want games, get the touch. If you want video/radio, get the nano. If you want both, go F@&$ yourself.

I wish the technologists get out of their plateau soon…

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I came across the site for PedalPower+ and since I could not find much info online on the product or about the company, I called them to clear some of the q’s I had. I spoke with the son (Nicholas Kidd Jnr) of the Inventor / boss (Nicholas Kidd Snr) and it was a pleasant. I liked the fact that he was able to answer all my q’s technical and otherwise and after debating with myself, I decided to get the Universal AC cable and a set of adapters. they also sell batteries and the V4 seems like a good one to have especially with its 5600 mAh capacity. I have a Solio and so decided against the battery purchase for now.

I will state some initial impressions here and once I have an opportunity to use the product for an extended period, I will do a follow up to this review.

1. First off, what impressed me was the fact the the product is not built as a proprietary solution, the output from the Universal AC cable can be fed to any device directly. This includes batteries like the Solio. Though pedal power sells batteries too, they do not force the sale on to you. Which is neat in my book. Additionally, since each of the product can be purchased separately, it makes for a slightly higher pricing. I paid 92 AUD for the AC cable and an additional 16 AUD for the additional set of adapters. They are a bit steep in my book but I have nothing to compare the price with. B+M is expected to sell a similar product called E-Werk which has a posted price of 140 Euros, which seems to be the same price as the Pedalpower’s universal cable + the V4 battery. Given that E-Werk is not available yet and the flexibility offered by PedalPower+, I decided to try the Ac cable option.
2. Dealing with Pedalpower was very pleasant. I called, then we discussed, made payment through paypal and received the product in 2 days. I would have preferred a cheaper shipping option, but I suppose it is something you can discuss with them.
3. The packaging is simple, though they took the effort to make sure it arrives safe and bubble wrapped.
4. The AC cable seems waterproof because the electronics are held in a moulded case and the input and output cables are also mounded into the sides. However, the ends where you are expected to connect the Hub and your device do not have any shielding from the elements. It would have been nice to provide a silicone or rubber enclosure at the ends to protect from accidental splashing. If it can be made waterproof, that would be perfect.
5. The finish does not seem to be of the highest quality and not sure how it will endure persistent rain and sun. The cable shielding are plasticky and I would have preferred a smoother overall finish.
6. The best part of the AC cable is the fact that the connection to 3rd party system is very flexible. The end hat connects to the dynamo is simply 2 wires. I will have to get the proper cable that connects to the SON (or any other dynamo). This is a good idea since they do not force you to buy their dynamo. The output from the AC cable (I presume the electronics do the job of converting AC to DC, high voltage cutoff etc…) is also pretty much open ended. They provide a standard (properly polarized, I presume) jack that connects to all their mini adapters. At first glance, the pin looks to be the same one as in the Solio’s Output,  I will have to check to confirm though. But the quality of the Output pin is something I might be concerned about. Extended use is the only way to find out if it indeed is robust.
7. The adapter set supports a variety of devices and I found ones that I might need, one for the iPod, a Mini USB, A Female USB etc… The problem is that they still do not support the latest iPhones (which require a cable with embedded electronics), but I was assured that they are working on a solution for that too.
8. The Input cable for the Universal AC is about 60 cm and probably long enough to fix it permanently in the fork. The output cable is a coiled wire  (like in old telephones) and seems to have reasonable reach. The idea seems to keep the V4 or your devices on your handlebar to charge. I might not use it this way and may need to find a better solution to install on the bike and keep it safe from elements.

Overall, I believe the product has great promise. The openness in the connectivity and the ability to pick up the product in smaller chunks makes this very appealing for people who might already have some of the products (in my case, the SON and Solio). On the flip side, I believe the cost of the AC universal cable can be lower and the build quality higher with more protection from the elements. I suppose I will have to use it over an extended period before making a call on the real life issues.

I have yet to use it, am still waiting for the SON to show up and my wheels built. As I write this, the inventor Nicholas Kidd Snr, is showcasing the product in Eurobike 2009. I have not seen any reviews for the PedalPower+ products and I hope anyone interested will benefit from these observations.

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Starting with the color and the background graphics, it looks pretty silly to have a silhouetted imagery. Everyone knows their bikes. If some one does not know, the graphics does nothing to educate them on their products. FAIL.

There are 3 Menu systems on the front page. Count 3. I think it is totally unnecessary. I prefer their original One menu system. Colors are selection is outrageous. white fonts on light green? Who chose that? FAIL.

Menus respond to Mouse over. in an eagerness to embrace Web 2.0, there is way too much javascript enabled automation. I don’t care for fancy graphics, I need the ability to know where to find things. Menus overlap, I am lost. FAIL.

Some sections in the front page are collapsed – By Default. Why put it up if you want to save space I ask? Some sections cannot be collapsed. Why? Inconsistency is the cornerstone of bad user Interface. Please take a leaf from Apple. FAIL.

Menu Hides under Images. FAIL.

I thought I was out of the era of Flickering Graphics. What do I get on the Front page? A rotating set of customer images. I preferred the previous version showcasing one image in the front page. It is easy to randomly show images whenever the page refreshes like RBW. This flashing images is making me disoriented. FAIL.

The cloud on Top right is silly. Please remove it. If you want to highlight some dealers, put it in a more structured location. FAIL.

I understand what BF was trying to do. I suspect maintaining their website was very manual and laborious and decided to jump to a database driven platform to ease their process. But what they have ended up with is a mish-mash of badly implemented ideas with no sense of design.

BF is an engineering company and I do not expect their website design to be aesthetically pleasing. At the least they should strive for usability. The old site was a bitch to navigate but I suddenly miss it now.

Please do something.

Related posts:

1. Hunt for a Folding Bike – Aftermath – Part 1
2. Bike Upgrades

The best part is, when you switch to spotlight, the app opens instantly, the cursor is in the search box and the keyboard is ready. So it reduces a 5 step operation to 1. Insane!

Additionally, I use it to search for music. looking for a specific artist or a song was painful (even though the iPod app interface is very cool and effective). Spotlight pushes the usability with a 1 step operation (2 if you have to scroll).

Really, you got to try it to realize how cool it is.

Related posts:

1. Marketing takes over when technologists hit plateau
2. I’d Love to be here…
3. designing the monolith