May 15
I found this app today thanks to a post on Twitter. If you cannot afford the purchase of Nikon’s Camera Control Pro 2.5 for the Mac to shoot your Nikon tethered, then this is the solution for you. This free app will save you the $200.00. Its called Sofortbild and is developed by Stefan Hafeneger. I downloaded it and it works beautifully. Its based on Nikon Control Beta 3 and written in Cocoa. This version needs Mac OS X 10.5.0 or later and works with Nikon D3x, D3, D700, D300, D200, D90, D80, D60, D40x and D40. I tested this app on my D700 and D300 bodies and was amazed. You can capture images directly from the software in single shots, timed shots, bracketed shots, and interval shooting. It also supports and plots the GPS data.
written by Dennis
\\ tags: Camera Control Pro, Nikon, Sofortbild, Stefan Hafeneger, Tethered
Oct 22
Mr. Black left his product worries behind for a few days and drove from LA to the Bay area in Yellow Bird, including a shot across his favorite road in California. Final destination? Chevron’s research center in Richmond, CA, on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. Chevron had invited 15 online journalists to participate in a day of presentations and Q&A about Chevron’s fuel additive, Techron. Mr. Black has long been a Mobil man because a former Mobil CEO bought one of the race cars Mr. Black helped develop in the Nineties, one of those infamous R cars. But allegiance has changed. You can see the PDF posted to decide for yourself. Mr. Blue and Mr. Black both have their professional work scrutinized by corporate lawyers, so they know Chevron couldn’t make the claims if Techron were snake oil. Based on the research Mr. Black saw and you can see for yourself in the PDF, Chevron’s Techron additive is the real deal and can dramatically clean the injectors, valves and combustion chambers of a modern engine. Mr. Blonde was sold on it long ago, it turns out.
Duration: 16:35
Size: 13.70 mb
Format: Enhanced AAC
Direct download: ORP-Episode034.m4a
Duration: 16:35
Size: 15.20 mb
Format: MP3
Direct download: ORP-Episode034.mp3
Support Documents
Here are the PDF files mentioned in the show:
TECHRON Concentrate Plus (3.53MB)
TECHRON Tech Tour: Chevron-Richmond Technology Center (1.83MB)
To view these PDF files, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe.
written by Dennis
\\ tags: Chevron, Fuel, Fuel Technology, Techron
Aug 10
Open Road Podcast
Episode #032, 2008 Compact Trucks, Part 1
A new player enters, Stage Right. Mr Blue is a truck marketing geek. He and Mr Black discuss the potential market for a compact pickup. This is one for marketing people to listen to, or guys who know about trucks.
Duration: 33:06
Size: 29.20 mb
Format: Enhanced AAC
Direct download: ORP-Episode032.m4a
Duration: 33:06
Size: 30.34 mb
Format: MP3
Direct download: ORP-Episode032.mp3
written by Dennis
\\ tags: Chevrolet, Colorado, Compact Trucks, Ford, Frontier, Mahindra, Nissan, Tacoma, Toyota, Truck
Jul 26
I’ve been playing and shooting with the new Nikon D700 FX full frame sensor DSLR and SB-900 Speedlight today. This full frame sensor is amazing! I finally can use all my AF-S f/2.8 glass as it was intended without the crop factor. I love the fact that the D300 and D700 share the same MB-D10 Multi Power Battery Pack/Vertical Grip. This is very useful if you have a D300 as a spare body as I do. The MB-D10 makes the body feel more sold and better in your hand. Similar to the feel of a D3 but does add weight. This gives both the D300 and D700 up to 8 fps (frames per second) when using rechargeable AA batteries (NiMH).
Since the D700 has a larger view finder, the top facing LCD is about 25% smaller than the D300. But it doesn’t matter as the LCD on the back now shows even more information and quick access menu icons. I also notice that the shutter release is quicker and stronger sounding. More so than the D300. Its similar to the sound of the Nikon F5 film body.
The SB-900 is massive. Much bigger than the SB-800 but then again, its doing so much more also. Build quality is top notch. Great carrying case also. Stay tuned for more. So far I am very happy with this new body and more info will come as soon as I shoot more photos with it.
written by Dennis
\\ tags: D700, Nikon, SB-900
Jul 25
Today I received the call from Pro Photo Supply and they informed me that the goods are in. A quick rush to the shop and back and we are here. The new Nikon D700 and SB900 are just phenominal! The D300 is now the backup body. Sorry little guy. For the complete unboxing photos, go to our Cadco Photography site and check out the link “Blog“.
written by Dennis
\\ tags: D300, D700, Nikon D700, Nikon SB900, SB900, Unboxing
Jul 24
Tonight we watched Batman: The Dark Knight on IMAX. What an amazing movie. The best of the super hero movies to date. It was kind of sad to see Heath Ledger on the screen after his recent passing. Heath’s performance is breathtaking and should bring him an Oscar nomination. Great visual effects too. I think I need to see this one again and again. RIP Heath.
written by Dennis
\\ tags: Batman, Dark Knight, Heath Ledger, Joker
Jun 16
I have used this program for a while now. Its a wonderful way to stay on top of all your applications for their updates. It scans your installed applications and then goes out and compares it to the most current version of that application. If an update is needed, it will report it to you along with a link to download the latest update. Much easier than doing it yourself with each application installed. You can download this free application from the AppFresh site at Metaquark. For now its free but may change in the future once full development is completed.
written by Dennis
\\ tags: AppFresh, Metaquark, Software
May 11
Open Road Podcast
Episode #030, Inventing the Future: The Tesla Roadster
Internet entrepreneur and founder of Mahalo.com, Jason Calacanis, joins Mr.
Black, Mr. White, and Mr. Blonde to discuss his recent test drive of a Tesla Roadster.
Jason has a Tesla on order, so Tesla CEO Elon Musk loaned Jason the
demonstrator, serial number 0001, for a week-long test on the streets of
Brentwood, Santa Monica and greater LA.
The conversation inevitably roams into macro issues like energy independence
and Middle Eastern politics. It’s not just about the car this time.
Duration: 55:48
Size: 44.40 mb
Format: Enhanced AAC
Direct download: ORP-Episode030.m4a
Duration: 55:48
Size: 51.20 mb
Format: MP3
Direct download: ORP-Episode030.mp3
written by Dennis
\\ tags: Calacanis, Jason Calacanis, Open Road Podcast, ORP, Roadster, Tesla
Feb 16
Today I received the new Cradlepoint PHS-300 I ordered. This is a phenominal device. It is a personal WiFi router that allows you to plug in your EVDO or HDSPA (3G) broadband USB modem into it and then share that connection with up to 16 WiFi devices. You can also use your cell phone as a tethered modem to provide the 3G connectivity. You can connect to the WiFi with either 802.11b or 802.11g and includes a complete NAT with SPI firewall. It features 64/128 bit WEP, WPA/WPA2, and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK encryption and supports all operating systems and PDAs with WiFi support. It also includes a Lithium-Ion battery for up to 3 hours of use (ships with an AC adapter but you can also purchase a car-adapter to charge it as well). I use it to connect my MacBook Pro and iPhone on the road allowing me to utilize the faster 3G network with the iPhone. The best of all worlds. 
written by Dennis
Dec 04
Mophie is taking pre-orders on their new “Juice Pack” for the iPhone. This is an external rechargeable lithium polymer battery which functions like a non-slip, soft slip case. You can charge the Juice Pack separately from the iPhone. It can also be charged using the iPhone cable or through any iPhone compatible device with a 30-pin dock connector. Sounds like a great product. Time to order mine!
written by Dennis
