TFC TV Launches!

Check out the new video content at TFC TV.

Loads of new content including How to Light a White Background:

Geek fame!

Holy crap!
I just demonstrated the iPhone app iPint to Cleo Roccos!
Apparently she's calling Alan Carr in Vegas to tell him about it.

Sent from my iPhone

Is it the end of days for Jessops?

As you can see on Yahoo Finance, Jessops' share price has fallen to an all time low (3.35p at 15:20pm today) a drop of over 25% from just yesterday and 50% in the last 5 days.
Shares in the biggest UK photographic dealer have beeen falling fast for a while now but the latest slump is brought about by their report that this year will be worse than last, and that was bad.

It'd be a shame to see them finally go and you have to hope that they don't owe too many suppliers too much money.
It'll be very interesting to see how this pans out.
JSP.L will be on my iPhone ticker front page.

TFC Website updates

Just uploaded some new Elinchrom deals, free brolly kits, 18cm reflectors and grids and Prolinca triggers when you buy certain kits.
P65+ has been up for a couple of days and has attracted huge interest.
Had a meeting with Bogen this morning, look out for Manfrotto, Gitzo and Kata on the site soon.

New three column layout

I've wanted for a long time to move to a three column layout for this blog but was absolutely dreading trying to do it without turning the page into a CSS mess.
Thankfully I came across this page on Blogger Buster which has step by step instructions on how to modify the template.
3 minutes and I had 3 columns, so that's what makes CSS cool, now I get it!

Phase One announce P65+ 60MP Back

Phase One today announced the P65+, a digital back with an incredible 60MP.
Not only that but it shoots at up to one frame per second, that's faster than most lower resolution backs.
And there's more...
The chip is near as damit full frame 645, 20% bigger than the P45+ and Hasselblad H3DII50.
So, this back is perfect for high res work AND fast shooting.

You can order one now, pay for and receive a P45+ and swap over when the P65+ arrives for just the difference in price. If, before october 1st, you decide you don't like it, you can cancel your order and you'll only be charged a rental fee for the P45+.

Also announced today is a new PhaseOne 45mm f/3.5 tilt and shift lens for the PhaseOne/Mamiya645 platform.

The Phase One Press release follows:

Phase One Announces World’s First Full Frame 645 Medium Format Camera System, based on Breakthrough Sensor Technology Sensor+ redefines sensor functionality to support pros’ investments
Copenhagen, July 14, 2008 -- Phase One A/S today announced the P 65+ digital back and the P 65+ camera system based on Sensor+ CCD technology co-developed wi th DALSA Semi conductor. This patent-pending, Sensor+ technology represents a significant advancement in image capture. The chip platform offers the most demanding photographers upgradeable CCD functions, ensuring a longer lifespan for their digital back investments.
“Photographers need real reasons to upgrade past 39 Megapixel digital backs,” said Henrik Håkonsson, CEO of Phase One. “Real value includes higher resolution but also requires new functions, faster operation, higher quality through expanded sensitivity, increased dynamic range, better results in the studio or on location and a better longer-term investment. I believe we are able to achieve this and more with our Sensor+ technology.”
Improvements and upgrades based on Sensor+ technology have been designed to enable:
-- Scaleable pixel and file size
-- Higher sensitivity & dynamic range
-- Increased flexibility for operation and capture
-- Improved capture rates
The P 65+ digital back and the P 65+ camera system are fully upgradeable, based on advancements in the chip technology, providing a competitive advantage through enhanced performance and new functions as well as a lower overall cost of operation. Such improvements have previously been available only at the cost of new chips and hardware.
The Phase One P 65+ is the first digital back and camera system to take advantage of the new Sensor+ design and is the world’s first full-frame capture system based on actual 645 film format. The P 65+ provides the largest live capture area available with coverage of 53.9mm x 40.4mm – enabling full viewfinder coverage thus no need for lens magnification. “What you see is what you get.” The P 65+ sensor format provides 20 percent more live area compared to 39 or 50 Megapixel , 48mm x 36mm chips currently delivering or announced.
Sensor resolution is 60.5 Megapixel with 8984 x 6732 active pixels achieving 180 MB, 8 bit RGB files. In addition to offering the industry’s largest live capture area and highest resolution, the P 65+ offers captures at 1 frame per second, reduction of Moiré artefacts, next generation Lens+ & Focus+ technologies and an unprecedented 12.5 f-stops of dynamic range.
Pricing and Availability
More technical details and demonstrations of Sensor+ technology will be available at the Photokina trade show in September 2008. Camera shipments with P 65+ digital back are expected to begin in Q4 2008.
The P 65+ di gital back starts at $39,900; the P 65+ camera system starts at $41,990. Advance orders are available now. For more information please contact sales@phaseone.com.

Video projector ads on the Tube

iPhone Upgrade the final chapter

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

iPhone, O2 and Apple

Why did O2 not anticipate the rush?
If I worked for a business where 200,000 customers registered interest in a product, I'd make sure I could handle most of them when I sent out a marketing message asking them to come to my website.
Apple do that, and I have to ask myself whether they knew o2 had done nothing.
Did they beg them to increase capacity to ensure a good user experience?
Did O2 not believe it's own hype?

Now, despite banging away at their website since 8:30, I still haven't been able to place an order and it appears they've run out of stock, unbelievable.

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I guess I won't be getting a phone on Friday

They seem to have sold out of 16GB iphones, quite how I don't know.
I think I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that I won't be getting one.....

O2, now completely broken!

This must be what it's like to be Slashdotted and Dugg at the same time!

iPhone, You Can Tell O2 Are In Charge This Time

I've been on hold with O2 customer services for 15 minutes so far, they stopped playing hold music some time ago.
In theory I shouldn't be on the phone at all, but having filled in their form twice, credit card details and all, just to have it tell me it failed, I gave up on that route.
As it's been nearly 20 minutes now, I'm guessing I'm not the only one with this problem.
The annoying thing is that as an existing iPhone user I have to buy from O2 to get the early upgrade (my contract doesn't expire till October). I'd far rather sit outside the Apple store for a few hours on Friday morning that sit here on hold.

Short review of California Sunbounce on TWiP

This Week in Photography has a short review of calsun.

Makes great reading.

Flash - We have it so easy, and safe!

Someone has re-discovered flash powder.

How about an "International Flash Powder Day", although I imagine it might cut down the gene pool!