Archive for September, 2008

Web designers and developers are getting an increasing number of requests from clients for custom theme development, and a growing number of designers are also building their own themes to distribute for free or to sell as premium themes. With all of the WordPress development that is going on, there is a need for an organized collection of resources to educate, inspire and equip developers to improve the quality and efficiency of their work. This post provides all kinds of WordPress-related resources to do just that.

The WordPress Help Sheet
This is a nice resource to refer back to when you are developing themes. It’s a one-page collection of PHP snippets and code that will come in handy when designing with WP.

The Advanced WordPress Help Sheet
A slightly more advanced version of the help sheet.

Huge Compilation of WordPress Code
A helpful post that provides code snippets for a variety of common functions.

WordPress Template Tag Reference Guide
This is a handy guide to have nearby when you’re building a theme. It lists the various template tags used by the WP system.

Unraveling the Secrets of WordPress’ comments.php File
A good starting point for getting more familiar with how comments work in WP and what you can do with them as a designer.

48 Unique Ways to Use WordPress
Want some ideas on how you can use WP in your next project?

Theme Switcher Reloaded
For displaying demos of multiple themes on your website or blog.

Canon just rolled out a monster DSLR camera. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is not going to be cheap when it’s available in November ($2700 for the body, lenses extra), but for that wad of cash it brings along a professional feature set that’s never been seen before. Besides its hot shooting capabilities, it’s the first digital SLR to let you shoot 1080p video at 30 frames per second, nearly matching the crispy-clean picture quality of Blu-ray discs, and slam-dunking the Nikon D90 DSLR’s measly 720p HD video shooting.

Its associated numbers are astonishing, such as a 21.1-megapixel low-noise sensor, and low-light performance that lets you shoot in near-darkness with a 6400 native ISO. That beats the Nikon D300, D3 and D700’s super-clean 3200 ISO capability that’s so impressed us in low-light shooting situations. Of course, the EOS 5D has Live View, letting you use its 3-inch viewscreen to frame up your shots, and the pros will especially like its huge, full-frame sensor. Even Nikon freaks are getting tempted. Click Continue for the press release:

Canon U.S.A. Introduces the Highly Anticipated EOS 5D Mark II DSLR Camera Featuring Full-Frame HD Video Capture

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II Escalates Full-Frame Digital SLR Photography to the Next Level with HD Movie Recording Capabilities, DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor, and 21.1 Megapixel Resolution

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today introduced the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera, the long-awaited successor to Canon’s highly popular EOS 5D, introduced in 2005. Building upon the qualities that made the EOS 5D camera so successful, Canon has coupled the creative power of a full-frame CMOS sensor in a relatively compact and affordable camera body, together with groundbreaking HD video capture that opens the door to a much wider range of imaging possibilities for photographers. Along with the ability to capture full HD video clips at 1920 x 1080 resolution, Canon’s EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera features a 21.1-megapixel full frame 24 x 36mm CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 imaging processor and significantly lower noise, with an expanded sensitivity range from ISO 50 to ISO 25,600.

“The anticipation surrounding the launch of this camera model has exceeded our greatest expectations, and we believe our loyal customers will be awed by the level of innovation and features built into the new EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR. Once they have the chance to experience the camera, we believe they will agree that it was worth the wait,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

Among the many advancements in Canon’s new EOS 5D Mark II camera is the Company’s proprietary DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor that powers the camera’s fast 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion for smooth color tones and exceptional gradation. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR offers a full-frame 24 x 36mm, 21.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and continuous shooting at 3.9 frames per second (fps) for an unlimited number of full-resolution JPEGs to the capacity of the memory card or up to 14 RAW images in a single burst when using a UDMA CF card. The camera includes a 15-point Autofocus (AF) sensor with nine selectable AF points plus six additional Assist AF points (three center AF points sensitive to f/2.8 lenses) with enhanced light source detection and AF microadjustment for greater autofocus performance. The EOS 5D Mark II camera also features a large, clear 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen with 920,000 dot/VGA resolution, four times the pixel count of the EOS 5D camera’s 2.5-inch screen, for enhanced clarity and color when viewing images. The new camera is equipped with a high-performance, high-magnification optical viewfinder providing 98 percent coverage, giving a new dimension to the saying, “what you see is what you get.” Professional photographers will also appreciate the enhanced 150,000-cycle shutter durability of the EOS 5D Mark II camera.

Canon, the first company to introduce a full-frame digital camera, has improved the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera’s newly developed full-frame CMOS image sensor. Utilizing proprietary Canon technology, the Company has reduced noise and expanded the sensitivity of the CMOS sensor up to ISO 25600, which is three full stops higher than the ISO 3200 limit of the original EOS 5D camera. Although the individual pixel dimensions of the EOS 5D Mark II camera are the same as the 21.1-megapixel CMOS sensor used in the EOS-1Ds Mark III digital SLR, the new sensor incorporates an improved output amplifier and a more advanced color filter that improves light transmission while retaining excellent color reproduction. By applying the same kind of advancements in sensor design and image processing technology as the recently introduced EOS 50D camera, but at higher resolution and with larger pixels, the EOS 5D Mark II achieves the highest level of image quality of any EOS Digital SLR released to date.

With the combination of its improved CMOS image sensor and the powerful new DIGIC 4 image processor, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera provides ISO speeds from ISO 100 up to ISO 6400 in 1/3-stop increments, along with two high-speed settings – H1 and H2 – of ISO 12800 and ISO 25600, respectively, as well as a low-speed setting of ISO 50. The full-frame sensor maximizes the performance of Canon EF lenses, the world’s largest selection of autofocus lenses.

HD and SD Video Capture

Canon has taken its expertise in imaging, photography and video capture technology to a new level with the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR. Answering the question of where SLR technology is going next, the EOS 5D Mark II features 16:9 Full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 pixels and 30 fps as well as 4:3 standard TV quality (SD) video capture at 640 x 480 pixels and 30 fps, both capabilities appearing for the first time in a Canon SLR camera. Video capture is part of the camera’s Live View function, using the Picture Style that has been set for Live View still image shooting. This allows skilled photographers and cinematographers to adjust image sharpness, contrast, color saturation and white balance, and have those settings apply to the movie image. When recording video, the camera’s rear LCD screen can be letter-boxed by a semi-transparent border to match the aspect ratio of the movie recording size. Moreover, the EOS 5D Mark II camera’s HD video capability enables new levels of creative expression through its unfettered access to the complete line of more than 60 Canon EF lenses, which provide an incredible variety of visual effects including everything from ultra-wide-angle and fish-eye to macro and super-telephoto, including many large-aperture L-series professional lenses that can keep the main subject in razor-sharp focus while blurring the background beyond recognition.

The EOS 5D Mark II will record video up to 4GB per clip or a maximum continuous movie capture time of 29 minutes and 59 seconds, whichever comes first. Depending on the level of detail in the scene, a 4GB memory card can record approximately 12 minutes of video at full HD resolution or approximately 24 minutes in standard definition.1 Video clips are recorded in .MOV format using an MPEG-4 video compression and sound is recorded using linear PCM2 without compression. The new camera features an input terminal for external stereo microphones as well as a built-in monaural microphone for convenience. To help show off those fantastic movies as well as still photos, the EOS 5D Mark II camera includes an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output to display crisp, clear images on a High-Definition TV.

Live View Shooting

For both still images and video, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera features Live View, one of the most sought after features in digital SLRs today. The 5D Mark II features three Live View AF modes – Quick, Live and Face Detection Live mode – for capturing either still photos or video, each with its own attributes. Quick mode automatically sets One-Shot AF using the camera’s phase detection AF system. It also allows users to select the AF point, even while the Live View image is displayed. Although the camera’s reflex mirror must be lowered briefly to take an AF measurement in Quick mode, it is the fastest way to set focus automatically when the 5D Mark II camera is set for Live View.

Live mode uses contrast-detection AF with the image sensor and here, as with Quick mode, users can change the AF point using the Multi-controller. Face Detection Live mode uses contrast AF to recognize human faces. When multiple faces are detected, the largest face closest to the center of the frame is targeted as the AF point. While Live View is engaged users can still change settings including the AF mode (Quick, Live, Face Detection Live mode), drive mode, ISO speed, Picture style, White Balance, and more.

Peripheral Illumination Correction

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera automatically conducts peripheral illumination correction when shooting JPEG images, a function that previously could only be accomplished through post-image processing using software such as Canon’s Digital Photo Professional, which Canon supplies at no extra charge. Peripheral illumination correction evens brightness across the image field, making an image of a blue sky even toned throughout and reducing light fall-off at image edges. This new feature essentially eliminates one of the limitations of previous full-frame digital SLRs.

Auto Lighting Optimizer

Canon’s enhanced Auto Lighting Optimizer technology helps ensure each picture’s subject is clearly visible by analyzing image brightness and automatically adjusting dark areas in images so that they appear brighter. This function is ideal in high-contrast situations such as urban landscapes captured on sunny days, where the tops of buildings are brightly lit while street level details are obscured by heavy shadows. In this type of scene, the 5D Mark II camera’s Auto Lighting Optimizer technology preserves accurate exposure of the highlights while opening up the shadow areas for a more pleasing tonal rendition.

Canon’s New Creative Auto Mode

Recently introduced with the new EOS 50D, Canon’s “CA” Creative Full Auto setting can also be found on the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera’s mode dial. This setting allows users to make image adjustments such as aperture or shutter speed through an easy-to-understand navigation screen on the camera’s LCD menu, allowing them to “blur the background” or “lighten or darken the image.” These easy-to-understand image options allow photographers to experiment with image options while still shooting in an automatic mode.

Two Small RAW Formats

For photographers seeking the flexibility and creative possibilities of shooting RAW format images, without the large file size, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera offers two more manageable file size options with sRAW1 and sRAW2 recording formats. At the sRAW1 setting, resolution is 10.0-megapixels with a file size that is approximately 25 percent smaller than a standard 21.1-megapixel RAW image. With the sRAW2 setting, resolution is 5.2 megapixels at less than half the file size of a standard RAW image, retaining all of the flexibility and creative possibilities associated with full-size, conventional RAW images. Wedding and portrait photographers, in particular, will appreciate the options of variable resolution and file size which allow them to fine-tune the 5D Mark II’s operation for their specific needs.

Silent Shooting in Live View

Canon has equipped the EOS 5D Mark II with two Silent Shooting modes in Live View which will prove particularly helpful to law enforcement officials, and for behind-the-scenes shooting on movie sets. In Mode 1, the camera will shoot with the mechanical shutter open at the beginning of the exposure, using the electronic 1st-curtain function of the CMOS sensor and a reduced shutter-cocking noise, allowing multiple shots to be taken with minimal noise. In Mode 2, to minimize shutter noise during single frame photography, shutter cocking does not occur until the shutter button returns to the half-way position after shooting.

EOS Integrated Cleaning System

With the introduction of the EOS 5D Mark II camera, the entire Canon EOS system is now equipped with the highly acclaimed EOS Integrated Cleaning System. The Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II has been upgraded with a fluorine coating on the low-pass filter for better dust resistance.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera is compatible with Canon EF lenses and is scheduled for delivery by the end of November. The EOS 5D Mark II will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $2,6993. It will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $3,4994.

New EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Lens

The new EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM lens is the successor to Canon’s EF 24mm f/1.4L USM professional wide-angle lens released in 1997. Targeting professional photographers, the new EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM lens has been introduced to address the advancements high-resolution digital SLR cameras with re-designed optics and use of a new anti-reflection lens coating called SWC (Sub-Wavelength Structure Coating) to minimize ghosting and flare. Features such as dustproof and waterproof construction that have been adopted make this a high-performance lens with specifications that respond to the demands of professional users. A welcome complement to the EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera, the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM lens is scheduled to be in stores this December at an estimated retail price of $1,6995.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked third overall in the U.S. in 2007†, with global revenues of $39.3 billion, is listed as one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies in America and is on the 2007 BusinessWeek list of “Top 100 Brands.” To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/pressroom.

† IFI Patent Intelligence Press Release, January 2008

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

Specifications and availability are subject to change without notice.

1 According to Canon’s standard test methods.

2 A method of converting audio and other analog signals into digital data. It is recorded without any compression.

3 Pricing subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by individual dealers and may vary.

4 Pricing subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by individual dealers and may vary.

5 Pricing subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by individual dealers and may vary.

Pussy versus Printer

Yea, it’ll kick ass. Again. Woot.

A while ago I’d stumbled across a reference to a book written by some woman (if anyone can find it, please post the link), that was a diatribe on what she felt was a great cancer in American society – and that was that some adults were not acting like adults. Here’s an excerpt from another blog on the subject of teachers who had facebook/myspace accounts who evidentially had lives:

“I thought that this quote summed up the point of the article very well. These adults did not take their positions or age seriously. In our society, the point of growing up has not been pushed to a later date. This point in life just seems to have just disappeared. There is no longer an age when young adults are expected to begin acting like full-fledged adults.”

I’m still working on figuring out the problem. Now granted, if teachers are posting out porn videos, that’s one thing, but in the simple scheme of things with the modern connected age, people have begun to sort out that you can be a functional adult (with a productive day job, home, family), but you can actually still have a life.

Thinking back to the “adults” I knew of when I was growing up – they tended to be relatives or friends of the family. How often did they ever get together to do something? Or do anything for that matter that wasn’t something utterly inane like fishing. Now there’s nothing wrong with fishing, but if you do it as a solitary outing, every weekend, for decades, it’s a tad much. They had few friends overall, it seemed to always be superficial, and a rather lonely life.

The geeks and nerds of the late 70s to today started a trend in that when they got out of college. They didn’t stop having their friends, their hobbies, or anything else for that matter. This didn’t mean that they suddenly became dysfunctional, only that they could still enjoy life rather than simply have their best aspirations be that they would have a satisfying life.

Especially conservatives seem to have the notion that having fun is a sin on some level. That it’s improper and unseemly. Bugger that. So you can go out to the Opening Gala all in black tails and prim. They haven’t fully embraced the idea that there’s a higher level of being able to do that, then a month later go to burning man, then be back home to weekly movie and gaming nights along with western martial arts.

Ironically there’s also plenty of postings and articles about how children are growing up too fast with too much information at their fingertips. Childhood as the 20th century came to know it, was a relative aberration in child development over history. Now we can begin to look towards children knowing more, and adults playing more. Neither is particularly a bad thing, as it allows a person to be more balanced and developed as a whole. Rather than only having one or two areas of any insight whatsoever.

Notice that when you go to the annual Halloween stores that appear out of thin air each year – what’s the balance anymore between childrens costumes and costumes and stuff for grown ups. When I was growing up the holiday was pretty much an all-kids affair except for parties at the frat houses. Now it’s as much or more for adults to come together and have a party.

If anything the new predilections give adults more of a chance to NOT be solitary, but rather to be part of a number of social circles and activity groups rather than being left alone by themselves night after night. 

I’ll post more on this later, but I’d been meaning to get a start on this sooner rather than later before I forgot about it again.