The power of shooting RAW

Recently a user posted a photo of a Turtle beneath the surface of some water that was producing a very bad glare of the overcast sky. Here’s the jpg version of the RAW image that was posted:

A flickr user provided the RAW version of this image as a challenge to see what could be extracted.

The photo was taken with a Nikon D90 and the challenge was to take the original RAW image and see how much of the turtle you could reveal by processing the image using Nikon’s CaptureNX software.

With somewhere between 5-10mins of work here is the result that I achieved:

Processed image from CaptureNX2

Not that I tried it, but I don’t think anywhere near as good a result would be possible with such ease if the original image had been just a .jpg. This is also a great example of how the U-Point technology in CaptureNX2 makes quick and easy localized edits possible, rather than having to build intricate masks in other types of software.

For anyone wanting to see the flickr discussion thread, it’s viewable here: flickr.com/groups/capturenx/discuss.

Uninstall eBuddy from your mobile phone

Try searching for this and you’ll see it’s barely mentioned.

Here’s the instructions for an HTC-81xx device.

Tap: Start->Programs->Tools->Java

You should now see a list off all the Java Applications on your device – hold the stylus on the eBuddy entry until the contextual menu pops up.

Choose Uninstall, Confirm it and you are done.

Outlook Command Line switches –

This was useful information for clearing an error in my work Outlook client.  If you see the error:

“This meeting is not in the Calendar; It may have been moved or deleted”

Follow the steps below and use the /cleanreminders switch.

To use switches, at the Start menu, Run command type:

Outlook /switch

Occasionally you’ll need to use the full path to Outlook, so the command line looks like:

“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe ” /switch

Notes:

Before using a command line switch, you need to close Outlook and verify it’s closed in Task Manager’s Processes tab.

Paths that include spaces between words must be enclosed in quotation marks (“) and are case sensitive. You’ll need the full path if you create desktop shortcuts.

If you use Vista, you can type the command line in the Start Search field on the Start menu or type Run to open the Run dialog. The Windows key+R will also open the Run dialog in both Windows XP and Vista.
Switches

/a

Creates an item with the specified file as an attachment.

Usage:

Outlook /a “C:\My Documents\labels.doc”

If no item type is specified, IPM.Note form is assumed. This switch cannot be used with message classes that aren’t based on Outlook.

/altvba otmfilename

Opens the VBA program specified in otmfilename, rather than %appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook\VbaProject.OTM. Use this switch when you need to run macros not in your VBAProject file.

/autorun macroname

Opens Outlook and immediately runs the macro specified in macroname.

/c messageclass

Creates a new item of the specified message class, works for any valid MAPI form.

Examples:

* /c ipm.activity creates a Journal entry
* /c ipm.appointment creates an appointment
* /c ipm.contact creates a contact
* /c ipm.note creates an e-mail message
* /c ipm.stickynote creates a note
* /c ipm.task creates a task

/checkclient

Prompts for the default manager of e-mail, news, and contacts.

/cleanclientrules

Starts Outlook and deletes client-based rules. Used by non-Exchange account users.

/cleandmrecords

Deletes the logging records saved when a manager or a delegate declines a meeting. Used by Exchange Server accounts.

/cleanfinders

Removes Search Folders from the Microsoft Exchange server store.

/cleanfreebusy

Clears and regenerates free/busy information. This switch can only be used when you are able to connect to your Microsoft Exchange server.

/cleanprofile

Removes invalid profile keys and recreates default registry keys where applicable.

/cleanpst

Launches Outlook with a clean Personal Folders file (.pst)

/cleanreminders

Clears and regenerates reminders.

/cleanrules

Starts Outlook and deletes client- and server-based rules.

/cleanschedplus

Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy, permissions, and .cal file) from the server and enables the free/busy information from the Outlook Calendar to be used and viewed by all Schedule+ 1.0 users.

/cleanserverrules

Starts Outlook and deletes server-based rules. Used only with Exchange server accounts.

/cleansniff

Overrides the programmatic lockout that determines which of your computers (when running Outlook simultaneously) processes meeting items. The lockout process helps prevent duplicate reminder messages. This switch clears the lockout on the computer it is used, enabling Outlook to process meeting items.

/cleansubscriptions

Deletes the subscription messages and properties for subscription features. Used with SharePoint alerts.

/cleanviews

Restores default views. Use with care as all custom views you created are lost.

/designer

Starts Outlook without figuring out if Outlook should be the default client in the first run.

/embedding

Opens the specified message file (.msg) as an OLE embedding. Also used without command-line parameters for standard OLE co-create.

/explorer

Opens the new window in “explorer” mode (link bar on).

/f msgfilename

Opens the specified message file (.msg) or Microsoft Office saved search (.oss).

/firstrun

Starts Outlook as if it were run for the first time.

/folder

Opens a new window in “folder” mode (Navigation Pane off).

/hol holfilename

Opens the specified .hol file.

/ical icsfilename

Opens the specified .ics file.

/importprf prffilename

Launches Outlook and opens/imports the defined MAPI profile (*.prf). If Outlook is already open, queues the profile to be imported on the next clean launch.

/l olkfilename

Opens the specified .olk file.

/launchtraininghelp assetid

Opens a Help window with the Help topic specified in assetid.

/m emailname

Provides a way for the user to add an e-mail name to the item. Use either the full address or let alias resolve. Only works in conjunction with the /c command-line parameter.

Usage:

Outlook.exe /c ipm.note /m test@poremsky.com

Outlook.exe /c ipm.note /m dianep

/nocustomize

Starts Outlook without loading outcmd.dat (customized toolbars). With older versions of Outlook the *.fav file doesn’t load.

/noextensions

Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager.

/nopollmail

Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup.

/nopreview

Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off and removes the option from the View menu.

/p msgfilename

Prints the specified message (.msg). Does not work with HTML.

/profile profilename

Loads the specified profile. If your profile name contains a space, enclose the profile name in quotation marks.

/profiles

Opens the Choose Profile dialog box regardless of the Options setting on the Tools menu.

/recycle

Starts Outlook using an existing Outlook window, if one exists. Can be used in combination with /explorer or /folder. The Outlook shortcut in the Quick Launch bar uses the /recycle switch.

/resetfoldernames

Resets default folder names (such as Inbox or Sent Items) to default names in the current Office user interface language.

For example, if you first connect to your mailbox Outlook using a Russian user interface, the Russian default folder names cannot be renamed. To change the default folder names to another language such as Japanese or English, you can use this switch to reset the default folder names after changing the user interface language or installing a different language version of Outlook.

/resetfolders

Restores missing folders for the default delivery location.

/resetnavpane

Clears and regenerates the Navigation Pane for the current profile. Removes all Shortcuts and Favorite Folders. Has the same effect as deleting profilename.xml in your user directory.

/rpcdiag

Opens Outlook and displays the remote procedure call (RPC) connection status dialog.

/s filename

Loads the specified shortcuts file (.fav). Use to load *.fav files created in older versions of Outlook.

/safe

Starts Outlook without extensions, Reading Pane, or toolbar customization.

/safe:1

Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off. New to Outlook 2003.

/safe:2

Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup. New to Outlook 2003.

/safe:3

Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager.

/safe:4

Starts Outlook without loading Outcmd.dat (customized toolbars) and *.fav file.

/select foldername

Starts Outlook and opens the specified folder in a new window.

Usage:

“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe” /select outlook:calendar

outlook /select “outlook:Inbox\Old Messages”

/sniff

Starts Outlook and forces a detection of new meeting requests in the Inbox, and then adds them to the calendar.

/t oftfilename

Opens the specified .oft file.

/v vcffilename

Opens the specified .vcf file.

/vcal vcsfilename

Opens the specified .vcs file.

/x xnkfilename

Opens the specified .xnk file

Installing and Configuring an ATI Binary Video Driver under Ubuntu 8.10

Remember Ubuntu Support will not respond to issues caused by 3rd Party Binary graphic drivers. Follow these steps at your own risk. Written for an AMD64 system.

You can read some great step by step instructions at:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=6709120&postcount=15

Reproducing some of it here for my own safe keeping.

Download the latest linux driver for your video card from amd.com.

cd to the directory where your downloaded file was saved and after making sure the file is executable, run this:

./ati-driver-installer-9-2-x86.x86_64.run --buildpkg Ubuntu/8.10


Now make sure that /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-local
contains # blacklist fglrx. The hash means it’s NOT blacklisted. Which for this file is what we want.
Add lines here to blacklist any nvidia display modules, if you have them installed.

Also check /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common if it exists and make sure it contains DISABLED_MODULES=”fglrx”
This disables the fglrx module from the Ubuntu repositories.
Supposedly not needed anymore with the new modalias .deb.

Reboot and select the recovery mode kernel from grub. Drop into root console.

Check you have networking enabled by running:
ping www.google.com
If you get a successful ping, then proceed to the next driver steps, otherwise do this orange box.

Edit /etc/network/interfaces
nano /etc/network/interfaces

There should be two line that say “auto lo” and beneath it “iface lo inet loopback”. Now beneath these lines write:

auto <interface>
iface <interface> inet dhcp


if you’re on a wireless connection, also add:

wireless-essid <network name>
wireless-key <network key>


When I say <interface> it is the interface for your (wireless) connection, something like eth0. <network name> is the name of the network you’re connecting to and <network key> is the security key for that network.

Then run:

ifup <interface>


and if wireless also run:

iwconfig <interface>


If you have an Ati driver already installed do:

rmmod fglrx

Skip if you don’t.

Now, navigate to the folder where you have those .deb files from earlier.

Run

apt-get install build-essential cdbs fakeroot dh-make debhelper debconf libstdc++5 dkms ia32libs linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Then run these lines:

dpkg -i fglrx-kernel-source_*.deb
dpkg -i fglrx-amdcccle_*.deb
dpkg -i fglrx-modaliases_*.deb
dpkg -i libamdxvba1_*.deb
dpkg -i xorg-driver-fglrx_*.deb


That should be the driver installed now.

Run

aticonfig --initial -f

If you are not upgrading from an older Ati driver xorg config

All done. Now Reboot.

ubuntu love, originally uploaded by magicfab.

Why you might want to shoot RAW

Under exposed sea – after PS!, originally uploaded by stevoarnold.

If anyone finds this here, then here’s a great example of what shooting RAW with you digital camera can buy you. This shot was initially an underexposed near black scene, and post processing the RAW produced the shot you see above. Read more of the details here:

digital-photography-school.com/blog/….

fond memories of TVNZ

the haka missing from the previous post

Setanta Sports – goodbye

Just tuned in to watch the latest All Blacks v. England rugby international match being shown on Setanta on DirecTV in the USA. The broadcast does not include the anthems or the Haka.

I am sick and tired of the pissant northern hemisphere rugby teams claiming the Haka is an unfair advantage and doing whatever they can to mess with it. Get it straight you morons – you don’t lose because of the Haka, you lose because your whole professional club structure produces crap rugby players and your teams can’t play in the same league as the Tri-nations teams.

Needless to say, I am voting with my dollars and kicking Setanta to the curb – this is the final straw that breaks the camels back with regard to the treatment non-UK rugby coverage recieves on this channel. I’ll be turning to the internet for future games – and it sure as hell will not be Setanta Broadband premium.

What did you do today?

Our day was spent at Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital with our son having surgery to correct a case of testicular torsion. While the thought of surgery and general anesthesia was worrisome enough, the worst part of the proved to be the time we spent in the recovery room, where the poor little guy was crying in pain and only half aware of his surroundings. 3 doses of medication later and they had his pain under control and he fell back asleep. We’re now home and very appreciative of the generosity of friends and family. A care package was on the front porch from his aunt and family across the country, we will soon be heating up a meal that was bought over by the Mum of one of Kelvin’s class friends. And he’s right now being entertained by the Mum of one of his other friends and the friend after they came by to visit.

42 – 6 What’s wrong with the English Rugby Team?

After watching England play to their largest loss at London’s Twickenham Stadium against a lack luster South African side, you have to sit back and ask what’s wrong with them? If you watched this match and the one last weekend against Australia (where they also suffered a large loss) it stands out as pretty obvious. My four simple reasons offered to Martin Johnson – the English coach:

Watching your team fail miserably

1.) Too small behind the front row. Players 4 – 15 just seem a lot smaller than there Southern Hemisphere counter-parts, which probably leads to the next issue…

2.) Too afraid to commit to the tackle and draw defenders – when attacking, England just shuffle the ball across field until they run out of room and hit the sidelines. Very rarely is a player seemingly willing to run at the defence and take it on with ball in hand, this leads to the next issue…

3.) They kick away far too much possession – if you’re too afraid to run with the ball, your only other option is to kick it. Against the back three of any southern hemisphere team this is a dangerous thing to do. And lastly…

4.) It seems that they can’t think fast enough – on attack or defense – if something unexpected happens then they just don’t seem to react as fast as any of the tri-nations teams, they can’t make the right decision in time and so usually make an error or complete throw away of the ball.