Android camera, anyone?

A quick search for "camera" yielded me 31,575 apps in the Android market alone. That is an awful lot of cameras and camera-related apps. Imagine what you can do if you have an ordinary point-and-shoot camera that can be installed with any of these apps....

Let's suppose we take an ordinary point-and-shoot camera and build it on the Android platform, complete with built-in wifi for uploading to a sharing website. We would then be able to install any app to our hearts' content, and turn an ordinary camera into the most delightful companion that any photographer can ever dream of. Just keep installing a new app and you can turn your camera into an HDR camera, a pano camera, or a retro (effects) camera. You can also do on-camera post-processing using one of the countless number of processing apps. At the same time, the basic features of a basic camera are retained, such as a good flash unit, a good-sized sensor, an image stabilizer, good battery life, dedicated shutter-release button, and movie button. Perhaps, one can even include a fully manual mode for good measure.

Out of curiosity, I googled to see if an Android camera is already in existence. To my surprise, Polaroid actually introduced an Android camera named the SC1630 (see pictures below) at the CES tradeshow in January 2012. It actually does pretty much what I have outlined above. However, not much has been heard of this camera since, which is a pity.

Personally I don't like the SC1630 design. I would like my Android camera to look more like a typical point-and-shoot camera and less like a mobile phone (for e.g. Canon SX20 and such). I would like it to have a with a large high res LCD screen. I would like it in the $300-$500 price range, so as to have a reasonably good quality lens and body. Er...., is Canon or Nikon listening?

(I have a number of camera apps on my Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone, such as Camera Zoom, Aviary, Cartoon Camera, HDR Camera, Instagram, SilentCam, PhotoFunia, Night Vision, Pho.to Lab, PicSay, FX Camera, and Panorama. In addition I have other related apps such as  Picasa Tool, QuickPic, Posing App, Photoshop Express, Photo Tools, Touchnote and Videomaker. The only reason I am not installing more is because there are simply too many good ones to choose from!)

M-Audio Fast Track to prove a theory

I have a theory that anybody who can hold a tune and sing to correct key can sound great if the singing is properly recorded.

I have just bought myself an M-Audio Fast Track Audio Controller*. It is basically an amplifier with separate controls for microphone and guitar input. The learning curve for the recording and mixing software is steep, but thank goodness, there seems to be a lot of helpful tutorials on the Youtube. So far I have only managed to install the software and successfully recorded a short audio clip with my voice and guitar. Once I have the works sorted out, I shall do a test recording to see if my theory is right.

*See: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrack.html.

Sound recording on a camera

We are spoilt for choice when it comes to good travel cameras. They are relatively inexpensive, small and light, have ample zoom, and takes great video in addition to good quality still images. You can buy heaps of storage in tiny flash memory cards. Imagine how much less baggage you need to carry these days, as compared to 15 years ago.

One useful feature is sorely lacking though: sound recording. I cannot imagine why the camera manufacturers have not seriously looked into this. I have a Sony F717 which I bought about 10 years ago. It has a feature that allows you to record a short sound clip in addition to the image, if you were to keep holding down the shutter release after it is pressed. On a sightseeing trip, you can record a short description of the image you are shooting. The voice clip filename is the same as the image filename, so you can immediately link them up. My only disappointment is that you can only record for about 10 sec.

My idea:
With the huge capacity of flash memory these days, it would be perfect if the recording is infinite, or programmable to a predetermined maximum duration. Once an image is taken and the shutter release is held down for 3 secs, it should activate the sound recording with an LED indicator lighted. The recording should continue even if you keep on shooting more images, until you turn the sound recorder off. This allows you to shooting multiple images with the same sound track running.

Applications:
This sound recording feature will be great for spicing up a slideshow. Sometimes it is better to record a series of images with a continuous background sound, rather than to do a video recording. Furthermore, videos consume much more memory and takes up a lot more computing resources.

Don't you agree this is a "sound" idea for a travel camera?

Remote controls - Part 2

Continuing from yesterday's blog....

Here's an example of what a remote control app in a smartphone can do for you:

1. A remote for any appliance
The manufacturer can design the appliance to be run by remote control, and then provide the remote control app separately in an app store. Now you can use your smartphone to remotely control your fan, oven, lights, wahing machine, computer, home entertainment units, etc. Every appliance can have an app that the buyer can choose to install or not. The manufacturer can do away with equipping everyone with a remote that is seldom used. At the same time, users are given a choice.

2. Different levels of remote control
Some gadgets require a higher level of controls to set up. After the initial set up, it is used in the most basic mode by most of the household members. Grandma and Grandpa might just install a basic operating mode, while the techie may install the full version to give him maximum control over the same gadget.

3. Everyone can have a remote
Nobody will have to live with a gadget that has outlived a broken remote. Need another remote? Just install the app.

4. Never run out of battery; never lose a remote
With remote control apps in your smartphone, a flat battery or losing a remote will now be a thing of the past.

The last chapter book

Amazon allows the first chapter of their ebooks to be downloaded for free. This must be an excellent marketing idea, as Amazon's rival Barnes and Noble also quickly followed suit. Here's another idea: how about giving away entire books minus the last chapter? This can be a good marketing strategy for certain types of books. Maybe I should call this blog "The lost chapter book."

Take exam revision books, for example. If I were to author such a book, I could put it up on the internet for free download to everyone. I could hold back on the last chapter, which will consist of worked out solutions and answers to questions. If the student likes it enough, he might be willing to pay for the last chapter.

How about mystery novels? A free download will encourage more readers to download and read the presumably very interesting novel. The last chapter might persuade him to open his wallet just to find out what the ending is like.

So why stop at just the first chapter, Amazon?

"Carbike" idea

What if we cross a motorbike and a car? We might get a "carbike" that is low in fuel consumption, useful like a car, and fun to ride like a motorbike. Imagine a motorbike with four wheels spread out from the middle, which seats like a motorbike and has a handlebar instead of steering wheel. In fact, it would look like a regular motorbike suspended on 4 wheels. When you ride it, you will get the same exhilaration as on a motorbike, with wind blowing through your hair. But you have the safety of a car in the sense that you are riding on 4 wheels (lower risk of falling over). With a little bit of imagination, you can even create a storage area. Ideally, the wheels should be spread out to the size of a small compact car. I think this would be a great recreational vehicle that is also useful for running errands.

Time for a high tech national ID card?

An identity card is very handy whenever proof of identity is required (e.g. at a bank counter). The problem is that a picture on the card is not good enough to prevent fraud. With biometric technology, it should be fairly easy to replace the traditional ID with a high tech one. A central government could provide the resources to house a database of thumb prints and other unique identifying features such the iris. Whenever an identity check is required, a thumb print (for example) can be immediately dispatched over the internet and validated almost immediately.

This is how the idea will work. Upon recording a person's biometric data, he will be issued an ID by the government. The card will have the usual name, picture and other basic information. In addition it will be able to store a list of accounts that the person has signed up with, thereby doing away with a multitude of cards (no more ugly fat wallets!) The information on the card is only for convenience and will be useless to anyone else. This is because whenever it is used, the person's thumb print will be checked via the internet. Once checked, the name of the person will be sent to the interested party. For example, if I am making a payment by Visa at a shop, the shop owner will have a scanner to read my thumb print, which will be sent out for verification. Upon verifying, the identity of the person will be sent to Visa. Visa will confirm that I have an account that can be operated by me, plus all the other business terms and conditions. The transaction will then be allowed to proceed.

Think about it: one card will be all we need. I am sure 99% of the adult population will welcome the day when one no longer needs to carry a huge, bulging wallet. This will be a simple ID card that nobody can benefit from duplicating or stealing. The card simply provides a basic level of identity, to be used where low level security is tolerated. For critical needs, a biometric check will be carried out. For extremely critical cases, this check can be extended to cover other areas like the iris of the eye, or finger prints of several fingers.

A country run by big businesses

Can you imagine if this country were run by big conglomerates who are powerful enough to pull the strings of government? In fact we are closer to that than we think. Many government policies are influenced by big businesses to make sure they will continue to rake in profits no-matter-what. Somewhere along the line, governments all over the world tend more to the needs of big businesses than the needs of the population they are supposed to serve and to protect. This is macro economics in action. "For the greater good", so they say.

This is my experience of what it is really like when a private enterprise has total control over the production of essential goods and services. My electricity box has been damaged by the meter man who comes around every other month. No knowing how to close it properly, he forced the door shut and thereby damaging the hinge and the door. When I made a complain, the company (AGL Electricity) told me they would get someone to look into it. That was two months ago and it was not done, despite a reminder from me. Today, they decided it was not their responsibility and basically told me to get it fixed myself. AGL does not have a counter service and all communications with the company are through the phone.

In Australia, many companies do not operate a counter service anymore. Since I came 7 years ago, AGL, Australian Unity, and Optus landline have removed their counter services. You need to talk to them through the phone to arrange for service. Others include many internet service providers and insurance companies. As more and more companies remove their physical presence, they become non-accountable to the public. Perhaps it is time for the government to set up a counter service for public complaints, funded by the companies that do business exclusively over the phone.

Motorized bicycles

Making cars more fuel-efficient is not the best way to reduce energy consumption. In the first place, proper town planning will go a long way towards reducing daily travel needs. However, as town planning is not something that can happen overnight, the next best thing to do is to have a more efficient means of transport. In my opinion, a motorized bicycle will be a great boon. It does not require much investment and it is not a high-tech solution. Anybody who knows how to ride a bicycle should be able to handle a bicycle that is fitted with an small electric or a gas-powered motor. Local laws and legislation can be enacted to handle widespread use of this vehicle, which I propose should not require any licensing. A network of bicycle paths incorporating rest areas, toilets, and rain shelters are something that can be built in all districts. Indeed, local councils should be challenged to take responsibility for implementing a good network of bicycle paths. This will also encourage people to take longer walks to school or to work, furthering a lower dependence on cars.

If the above sounds appealing to you, why is the state government not doing this? Instead we see the government spending millions and millions of tax dollars on studies and consultation fees to find ways to reduce congestion, to reduce carbon emission, or to build more toll roads. While the government is willing to give subsidies for building a more fuel-efficient car, it seems to have overlooked a more obvious solution. Perhaps there is no money in making a better bicycle.