It seems that Nikon has again unveiled a new entry-level DSLR which was meant to replace the D40 but with features that are almost at par with mid-level digital SLR cameras. It boasts of video recording at 720p, and features similar to the highly regarded Nikon D90 (11AF Points!!!). Now that this DSLR is official (already posted in the CDSC website), let's take a look at its specs:
•New 2.7-in. 230k-dot Vari-angle monitor swings down approximately 90° and rotates 180°
•Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with 12.3 effective megapixels and Integrated Dust Reduction System
•Specially designed EXPEED image processing system
•One-touch access to Live View, which includes face priority AF and subject tracking AF
•D-SLR movie function: D-Movie, selectable from 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels or 1,280 x 720 pixels in AVI format
•19 Scene Modes that automatically adjust exposure, image processing, Active D-Lighting and other settings for superior image quality
•Scene Recognition System, utilizing 420-pixel RGB sensor, improves autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance performance and is also integrated with the Face Detection System
•Active D-Lighting for smooth tone reproduction in high-contrast environments
•Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module featuring 11 AF points provides fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame
•Picture Control System offers Portrait and Landscape options for more vibrant customized colors
•Extensive palette of in-camera Retouch Menus including several new retouch options such as Soft Filter and Color Outline
•Incredibly low-noise performance throughout a wide sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3200; can be set to ISO 100 and ISO 6400 equivalents
•Viewfinder with approx. 95% frame coverage and an easy-to-view 17.9 mm eyepoint (at -1.0 m-1)
•Up to 4 fps continuous shooting
•Built-in pop-up flash with Nikon's original i-TTL flash control
•Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module featuring 11 AF points provides fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame
•Highly efficient energy-saving design that allows approx. 510 images on a single charge of the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9a (CIPA standard, with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and flash fired at full power once every other shot.)
•Compatible with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output
•Included Nikon ViewNX software makes browsing and organizing your images easy
•Optional photo-editing software Capture NX 2 allows quick and easy photo editing
•Lightweight compact body
The SRP is expected to be between the D60 and the D90 at around Php40,000 for the kit which includes an 18-55mm VR lens. Not bad for a feature-packed DSLR!
Here are the pics:
If you want to run iWork 09 or iLife 09 (I heard iLife 09 kicks butt!), you need the newest version of Leopard. I found out that iDeneb v1.4 (OSX 10.5.6) is out, so I'll try that out in the coming days and update the post below.
This is how to install the *best* OS in the world on a PC. If you're interested in doing so, you can just take note of the hardware I bought, go to Gilmore, and build your own Mac.
Getting the Software Needed
1. iDeneb v1.3 Leopard 10.5.5 (Google it!)
2. The DS3L Kit (contains all drivers needed for the DS3L series)
3. Kext Helper (already included in the package above)
Hardware List
1. Motherboard: Gigabyte EP35-DS3L - P5,200
The most important component of your Hack Pro is the motherboard. Many onboard features may not work under OSX if your motherboard is not supported.
After months of researching, I finally found the best board for this project -- the Gigabyte EP35-DS3L motherboard which is based on the Intel P35 + ICH9 Chipset. I got this for around P5,200 (~ $110), which is quite expensive for a year-old PC component. This board is pretty good if you're into overclocking and basic computer/gaming use. It has all-solid capacitors (capacitors bulge or leak over time, but these don't), 3 PCI slots for maximum upgradability, and an 8-channel Intel HD audio with optical/SPDIF output!
2. Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 2.5GHz - P3,800
Based on the 45nm manufacturing process, this dual core processor runs faster, cooler, and yields much higher overclock than normal manufacturing processes. I got mine running at 3.2GHz @ stock voltage.
3. Memory: Team Xtreem Dark DDR2 800 2Gb (2x1GB) Dual Channel Kit - P1,900
I got this kit because of its overclocking capabilities, but if you're not into it, budget DDR2 800MHz RAMs will do.
4. Video Card: Palit GeForce 9800GT 512MB Dual Heatpipe - P6,400
This graphics chip fully supports Quartz Extreme in Leopard. if you're a gamer, this card is a must! If not, you can do with at least a 9500GT card.
5. Hard Drive: Any size. Just make sure it's SATA because you need to enable AHCI in the BIOS.
6. Any SATA DVD Drive
7. Any USB Keyboard and Mouse
8. A USB thumb drive to store all the drivers you downloaded earlier.
Installation
1. Download all the files above, burn iDeneb into a DVD (burn as image not as data), and save the unzipped DS3L Kit into your USB stick.
2. Go to the DS3L bios (press delete at the start-up screen), look for "Integrated Peripherals" and make sure the SATA Mode is set to AHCI. Also, under "Power Management", from S3 set it to S1, then press F10 and select yes and restart.
3. While at the start-up screen, press end to choose a boot device. Choose your DVD drive and wait for the iDeneb disc to boot.
4. Once asked by Darwin (Mac's version of DOS), boot the DVD in verbose mode by typing "-v" (without the ")
5. Wait for it to boot, select your language, then go to utilities, then disk utility.
6. Go to the "Erase" Tab, select your hard drive on the left, and format it to Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Wait for it to finish, then exit Disk Utility.
7. Now you're back to welcome screen. Click continue, select agree, then select the hard drive you wish to install OSX in, after that, click continue.
8. Click the customize button, then deselect everything except for the following: X11, Under FIX/SMBIOS, choose SMBIOS 800, under applications, choose all.
9. Install Leopard and wait for it to reboot.
10. After reboot, fix all the necessary components that don't work by using Kext Helper (already installed in the applications folder) and the drivers you downloaded earlier which you saved in the USB stick.
11. Enjoy your new Hack Pro! :)
Note: The DS3L board is a very popular Hackintosh board and if you get lost somewhere, I'm sure you can easily find the solution using Google. I hold no responsibility if your machine goes up in smoke (which is very unlikely to happen)!
I'm posting this because this is what I was back in college. ;) Kudos to the freshman writer. Cherish every day of your Ateneo Life.
In defense of the Atenean community.
Atenista ako. Pero marunong akong mag-diretsong Tagalog. Atenista ako. Pero marunong akong makipagtulakan sa MRT at isiksik ang sarili ko sa kakarampot na espasyo sa jeep. Atenista ako. Pero hindi ako gumagasta ng libo-libo sa isang pares ng sapatos o sa isang jacket. Wala akong kotse, wala akong driver, at lalong-lalo nang wala akong Wii o X-box o Play Station para mag-Guitar Hero at Rock Band maghapon. Pero hindi ibig sabihin nitong hindi ako singtalino at sing-galing ng ibang Atenistang meron ng mga bagay na to. Hindi ibig sabihin nitong hindi ako bagay na mag-aral sa isang sikat na unibersidad. Hindi ibig sabihin nitong hindi ako Atenista.
Madalas nababansagang maarte kaming mga Atenista dahil sa pananalita namin. Pero matalino lang ang mga estudyante ng Ateneo. Ang kapaligiran, mga propesor, ang estilo ng pagtuturo at pamamalakad ay dinisenyo para manganak at magpalaki ng mga studyanteng hindi lang napipilitang mag-aral ng mabuti, kundi ginugusto talagang maging mahusay sa akademya. Walang masamang maging magaling mag-Ingles. Walang masamang maging gamay makipag-usap sa mga dayuhan. Walang masamang maging marunong makipag-debate at ipaglaban ang pinaniniwalaan mo.
Mareklamo daw kami. Bakit, sa La Salle ba, walang nagrereklamo sa lakas ng ulan? Sa UP ba, walang nagrereklamo sa init ng panahon? Sa Benilde ba, walang nagluluksa pag walang kuryente o mabagal ang wi-fi? Hindi kami naiiba sa inyo. Sa lahat ng mga ganito pa rin ang ideya tungkol sa mga Atenista, wala pa siguro kayong nakakausap na dormer ng Cervini, na galing Cotabato at nagsisikap mag-aral ng mabuti kahit nag-iisa at malayo sa pamilya. Wala pa kayong nakikilalang scholar na minsan kailangang umutang sa OAA para lang may pamasahe papasok. Sila? Nagrereklamo ba sila?
Elitista daw kami. Pero hindi lahat ng Atenista mayaman o feeling-mayaman. Hindi lahat kami “sheltered” katulad nang hindi lahat nang Lasalista negosyanteng Intsik at hindi lahat nang taga-UP aktibista at hindi lahat nang taga-UST ay mga siokoy na lumulusong sa baha. Hindi porke’t “elite” ang school namin “elitista” kami. Hindi porke’t may dalawang Figaro sa loob ng campus namin hindi na namin nasisikmura ang isaw at betamax. Hindi porke’t malinis ang mga banyo namin pinandidirihan na namin ang mga Aeta. Marunong naman kaming manood ng Eat Bulaga at Wowowee at nabalitaan din namin ang break-up nina Dingdong at Karylle. At hindi lang usong damit at UAAP ang inaatupag namin. May pakialam din kami sa mundo. Alam namin ang tungkol sa global recession at krisis sa stock market ng Amerika. Nanood kami ng SONA at naintindihan namin yon. Alam na alam namin ang banta ng global warming, kaya nga hindi na kami gumagamit ng styro. Alam naming importanteng iangat ang estado ng Pilipinas sa mundo, kaya nga kami may JTA. Alam namin ang kalagayan ng mga magsasaka sa Calatagan, kaya nga ginagawa namin lahat ng kaya namin para matulungan sila. At oo, alam naming maraming nagugutom sa mundo, kaya nga Atenista pa rin kami.
Wala pa akong isang buong taon sa Ateneo. Pero alam ko ang mga pinagsasasabi ko. Dahil sa loob ng pitong buwan sa Katipunan marami akong natutunan, nakilala, napuntahan at natulungan. Dahil nakita ko ang puso at talino ng mga taga-Ateneo. Dahil hindi ako maarte, hindi ako feeling mayaman, hindi ako mareklamo, at hindi ako elitista, pero hindi ipinagkait sakin ang pagiging Atenista.
This was my Christmas wish list for the holidays. I received/bought 0 out of 7. :-(Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch Laptop – P153,000
Apple Macbook Pro is one of the best, if not the best, laptop Apple has ever produced. Be it on style and specifications, Apple Macbook Pro is surely THE laptop to have. It comes with 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, up to 4GB DDR3 RAM, Nvidia GeForce 9400M GT graphics card, next generation wireless 802.11n technology, and the breakthrough 8-hour internal battery with 1000 charge cycles -- not to mention that it is the thinnest and lightest 17-incher to date!
Sony PlayStation 3 – P22,000
This year, Sony announced the release of a new 160GB model of the PS3, as well as the upgrading of the 40GB version to 80GB - ensuring this gaming console with Blu-ray player a place on even more Christmas lists. The stunning HD games and movies in this one nifty package will surely tickle your fancy.
Logitech EX100 Cordless Keyboard and Mouse – P1,500
This stylish keyboard and mouse combo comes in a sexy black finish and has programmable keys that instantly take you to your favorite applications, folders, and Web pages – even from several feet away. If you want an ergonomic, cord-free work space, this is definitely a good buy.
Apple iPod Touch 32GB – P24,000
When it comes to best gadgets for this Christmas, Apple iPod can't be beat. The latest Apple innovation is the iPod touch. It comes with an above average battery, intuitive touch interface, Wi-Fi, a large selection of games and applications and, of course, the iconic sleek form factor.
Toshiba AV502 32” LCD TV – P35,000
This new entry-level 720p LCD TV series offers high-gloss black cabinet and a thinner bezel than its successful predecessor, the AV500. Plus it has two HDMI inputs and a PC input, creating a very feature rich television for an unbeatable price.
Apple iPhone 3G – P40,000
With the addition of 3G and the introduction of the color white, it’s a much stronger smartphone contender. It has made a lot of the big mobile names like Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson sit up as the user interface and minimalistic design of the iPhone are truly heads and tails above any of their current phones on the market.
MSI Wind Netbook – starts at P16,000
Netbooks have taken us by storm this year with the introduction of the revolutionary Intel Atom processor. The MSI Wind stands out because of its no-fuss, simple-yet -elegant design, and its ability to unofficially run Mac OSX Leopard with no issues whatsoever.
If I have the time and money I'd definitely try some of these. Listed in no order whatsoever.
Go to a comedy bar – we all love laughter – and it’s the best medicine. So regardless of your health condition, you’ll surely enjoy a night-out at a live comedy event.
Go to the beach – sand, sun, water, waves, curves, legs, bikini, topless.....errrr. I mean this is one of the best places to go to get a tan and have some fun!
Go to this year’s Octoberfest a get drunk – if you’ve never tried drinking free beer on a street party, then this year is your chance.
Find a new sport – it seems that you’ve been packing up that excess baggage of yours for the longest time. This year, try to get rid of it by learning and playing a new sport!
Throw a huge party – throwing a party not only gives you a reason to invite long lost friends, but it is also a good time to relax and take a time-out from work.
Watch the UAAP/NCAA live! – Keep your school spirit alive by going there to watch your school’s games with your school barkada. Isn’t that cool?
Go on a road trip – The price of gasoline is in its lowest point, so why not put the ‘joy’ back in joyriding and explore far-flung regions of the Philippines?
Go play outside – Regardless of your age, there’s simply no better way of recharging your batteries than by driving go-karts, taking photographs, racing r/c cars, playing laser tag or taking a few strokes at a driving range.
Buy that dream gadget – after weeks or even months of reading online reviews, there is no better smell than a newly opened box of your most coveted gadget.
