World markets set for rally following Fed announcement

World markets were poised to rally Thursday after the Federal Reserve surprised some experts by announcing a modest reduction, or tapering, in its bond buying program.

Some market watchers had been holding out hope that the Fed would announce tapering after Fed chairman Ben Bernanke's tenure ends in January. But the job market has been improving and Bernanke cnn money.com/2013/12/18/news/economy/federal-reserve-taper/index.html">told reporters on Wednesday that he and other Fed officials -- including current vice chair and Bernanke successor Janet Yellen -- believe the economy will continue to create jobs.

The Fed said it will reduce its monthly purchases of mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasuries to $75 billion per month, down from $85 billion, beginning in January.

U.S. stocks surged on the news Wednesday afternoon, with the Dow and S&P 500 finishing at new closing highs. Japan's Nikkei index was up 1.5% in early trading Thursday, while Australia's ASX All Ordinaries index was up 1% and Taiwan's TSEC 50 rose 0.7%.

Related: Why tapering could be good for stocks

The Fed has been buying bonds since 2008 and many investors say the liquidity boost has been the main driver of the bull market in stocks since 2009. The Fed's decision also can be interpreted as a sign the economy is back on its feet and no longer needs as much stimulus as it once did.

Bernanke said Wednesday that the Fed could take "further measured steps" to reduce its holdings, but he stressed that it will continue buying bonds "at a rapid pace" after the taper. He also said the Fed expects to hold interest rates at historic lows past the point when the unemployment rate falls to 6%.

First Published: December 18, 2013: 8:41 PM ET

Jamie Dimon's holiday card looks like a Ralph Lauren advertisement

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and his family have sent out their annual missive, wishing family and friends happy holidays and all the best for 2014. Like last year, the card features Jamie, his wife Judy, their three daughters, a dog, and a young man who we presume is a business christmas card messages or son in law.

(The cards are panorama photos; we've included closeups of sections of them below the wide shots. And yes, Dimon and his family members appear multiple times in each panorama.)

We're not sure whether it has anything do with the fact the storied Wall Street bank appears to have resolved its impasse with the US government (albeit after incurring a record fine), but this year's card-all smiles and indoor tennis-is definitely more upbeat than last year's. "All you need is love," a printed message on the reverse side of this year's card reads.

Here's last year's, for comparison:

Debate team coach targeted in Colo. shooting

<p>A librarian and debate team coach is believed to have been the gunman's intended target in a shooting at a Colorado high school.

According to KUSA-TV in Denver, Tracy Murphy implemented "active-shooter protocols" after he learned 18-year-old Karl Pierson - whom officials have identified as the shooter - was armed with a shotgun and asking for Murphy at Arapahoe High School on Friday. Murphy then left the scene, a move Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said may have helped to limit the potential carnage.

On Friday night, Robinson would not elaborate on any possible motive except to say Pierson, who was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, had had a "confrontation or disagreement" with the teacher.

An Arapahoe County deputy escorted Murphy home to pick up a few belongings on Friday night. Murphy declined to talk about the shooting. What he has to say about his interactions with Pierson will likely be a key part of the investigation.

A 15-year-old girl suffered a gunshot wound and remained in critical condition as of Friday evening. Two other students suffered minor injuries.

On Saturday, students were able to return to the high school for the first time since being evacuated during the shooting Friday afternoon. They picked up their cars, but they were not allowed to go inside the school, which remains a crime scene.

It is unknown when students will be allowed back into the school to pick up their backpacks, cellphones or other items left behind. Classes are canceled on Monday. Finals were scheduled to start Tuesday, but those have also been canceled.

"Communication about final exams will come as we have more information, but they will not occur in any format until after the holiday break," according to a letter from the Arapahoe High School Administrative Team.

The shooting - on the eve of the anniversary of the Newtown school massacre, in which 20 students and six staffers were killed - sent scores of terrified students and staffers at Centennial's Arapahoe High School scurrying at about 12:30 p.m. Police and other first responders quickly mobilized to surround the 2,220-student school.

The gunman also brought two Molotov cocktails inside the school and exploded one, KUSA-TV reported. The other was found and removed by the bomb squad.

The incident unfolded when the armed student entered the west side of the school from a student parking lot. He told other students he was interested in confronting a specific teacher.

Many students locked themselves in classrooms until first responders arrived. Some said they heard several gunshots in a hallway near the school library.

"We were shaking, we were crying, we were freaking out,'' 9th grader Whitney Riley told CNN.

Jessica Girard was in math class when she said she heard three shots.

"Then there was a bunch of yelling, and then I think one of the people who had been shot was yelling in the hallway, 'Make it stop,' " she said.

Contributing: KUSA-TV, Denver; Associated Press

New And Exclusive Micro-Site Content

ePHOTOzine's Micro-Site Roundup - Find out what's been happening on our five Micro-Sites.

Posted:

Here's a roundup of the exclusive content we've got for you to have a read of on our five micro-sites this week:

On PENTAXPORTAL this week, you can take a look at some top tips for photographing seals with your Pentax camera, and check out some top Pentax sunset photos. Plus, the brand new K-3 DSLR has been reviewed on site this week, and there's news of new images from Ricoh Imaging brand ambassadors.

Over On EIZO ColorZone, you can learn how to perform a monitor viewing angle check and find out why ColorNavigator software is a great tool for aiding calibration. Plus, there's news of a new 3D CG colour management handbook that's now available.

Meanwhile, on Olympus Image Space this week, there are techniques on how to use blur creatively, and there's news on Olympus workshops taking place over the coming months with Damian McGillicuddy and Steve Gosling. Plus, news on the Olympus Impressions 'Fall' competition, and £100 accessory cashback when you buy an Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera have also gone live.

On Totally Tamron this week, you can learn some top tips for taking better photos of ice with your Tamron lens, plus there are some top Tamron portrait photos for you to take a look at. Don't forget to take a look at David Pritchard's blog the days zoom past, too, as he's been out-and-about with his newly acquired Tamron 24-70mm lens.

Last but not least, on Nikon Nation this week, you can check out some ideas and tips for on location portrait shoots, get creative with colour balance and lots more. Plus, don't miss the Nikon D5300 Cheap DSLR review and news of ono-to one training with Nikon School in December.

Make sure you check back to the Micro-Sites regularly, as new and exclusive content is posted weekly!

Source: Ephotozine

New And Exclusive Micro-Site Content

ePHOTOzine's Micro-Site Roundup - Find out what's been happening on our five Micro-Sites.

Posted:

Here's a roundup of the exclusive content we've got for you to have a read of on our five micro-sites this week:

On PENTAXPORTAL this week, you can take a look at some top tips for photographing seals with your Pentax camera, and check out some top Pentax sunset photos. Plus, the brand new K-3 DSLR has been reviewed on site this week, and there's news of new images from Ricoh Imaging brand ambassadors.

Over On EIZO ColorZone, you can learn how to perform a monitor viewing angle check and find out why ColorNavigator software is a great tool for aiding calibration. Plus, there's news of a new 3D CG colour management handbook that's now available.

Meanwhile, on Olympus Image Space this week, there are techniques on how to use blur creatively, and there's news on Olympus workshops taking place over the coming months with Damian McGillicuddy and Steve Gosling. Plus, news on the Olympus Impressions 'Fall' competition, and £100 accessory cashback when you buy an Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera have also gone live.

On Totally Tamron this week, you can learn some top tips for taking better photos of ice with your Tamron lens, plus there are some top Tamron portrait photos for you to take a look at. Don't forget to take a look at David Pritchard's blog the days zoom past, too, as he's been out-and-about with his newly acquired Tamron 24-70mm lens.

Last but not least, on Nikon Nation this week, you can check out some ideas and tips for on location portrait shoots, get creative with colour balance and lots more. Plus, don't miss the Nikon D5300 Cyber Monday Deal DSLR review and news of ono-to one training with Nikon School in December.

Make sure you check back to the Micro-Sites regularly, as new and exclusive content is posted weekly!

Source: Ephotozine

Nikon P7800 review

<Nikon D5300 Cheapp>

What is the Nikon P7800?

Nikon's advanced compact offering has long taken the form of the Coolpix 'P' series, with the four-digit range sitting at the top and looking to offer a suitable companion to it's DSLR range for those wanting at times to travel light. The Nikon P7800 is the latest model that looks to build on the success of the previous models in the series with a range of new features and take on the Canon G16.

But, with the growth of the advanced compact market, as well as the drop in price of competing CSCs, the question is does the P7800 remain a relevant shooting proposition, or has technological advancement rendered it obsolete?

SEE ALSO: 10 best cameras you can buy

Nikon P7800: Features

One of the core features that has made the high-end P series a success in previous generations is the fact that it features a larger sensor than is normally found in a compact, and the P7800 retains this selling point.

The P7800 retains the same 12.2MP BSI CMOS sensor as seen in the P7700, which measures in at 1/1.7-inches, as opposed to the smaller 1/2.3-inch sensor. The P7800's BSI sensor should handle noise better then the equivalent sensor technology, although it only has a native ISO 80-1600 - extendible to ISO 3200 and 6400.

Another feature maintained from the previous generation model is the 3-inch, 921k-dot LCD screen which, thanks to a side-mounted hinge, can be rotated around a 270 degree axis for viewing at a variety of angles.

SEE ALSO: 10 best DSLR cameras you can buy

The Nikon P7800 also retains the same 7.1x optical zoom as seen on the model's predecessor, covering an equivalent focal range of 28-200mm and offering an impressive maximum aperture between f/2 and f/4.

One of the standout new additions to the Nikon P7800 is sure to be popular amongst some enthusiast photographers. It now features a relatively substantial electronic viewfinder that measures in at 0.5-inches, has a resolution of 921k-dots and also features a dioptre adjustment.

Another notable feature is the Nikon video capture functionality that's better than some competing models. The P7800 captures full HD video at 1920 x 1080 and at 30fps, while advanced functionality such as wind noise reduction, in-built ND filter and manual exposure control also feature.

While there's no doubting the P7800's positioning as an advanced compact - as shown through the inclusion of PASM shooting modes - it also caters for those that might want to let the camera do the work.

It does so through the presence of an auto shooting mode, a range of scene modes and a host of creative 'Effects' such as 'Cross Process' and 'Zoom Exposure'.

One feature which is sorely missed, owing to the fact that it's now commonplace on competing cameras, is Wi-Fi functionality. Both Wi-Fi and GPS tagging are available with the P7800 although only through the purchase of optional accessories.

Source: Trustedreviews

Nikon Releases D5300 Digital SLR Camera

<Nikon D5300 Buy Cheapp>/PRNewswire/ --

The new Nikon D5300 with built-in Wi-Fi® and GPS makes it simple to share high quality images

Nikon Singapore Pte Ltd is pleased to announce the release of the D5300, Nikon's latest entry-level DX-format digital SLR camera.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131110/652912 )

The D5300 offers an effective pixel count of 24.2-million pixels and is equipped with a Nikon DX-format CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter, as well as the new high-performance EXPEED 4 image-processing engine. It is Nikon's first digital SLR camera to offer built-in wireless LAN (Wi-Fi®) and GPS functions, so users can easily share high-quality images captured with the D5300 and NIKKOR lenses via a smart device. These functions also allow users to look back on routes taken on vacation or with outdoor activities using a log feature that is part of the built-in GPS function.

The D5300 is designed with a structure made of a new material to bring about a smaller and lighter body while maintaining the necessary strength and durability. The camera is also equipped with a number of features that support various shooting situations, including a 3.2-inch, approximately 1037k-dot vari-angle monitor with a wide viewing angle for shooting from a variety of angles, a full-HD movie recording function that supports recording of smooth 1920 × 1080/60p movies, and a Special Effects mode with nine options that can be applied to photos and movies with shooting for a variety of creative effects.

The Zoom/Focus Assist Lever NAL-1 for exclusive use with NIKKOR lenses will also be released at the same time as the D5300. The NAL-1 is a lever that enables smoother zooming and focusing when attached to the zoom ring or focus ring on a NIKKOR lens and is especially convenient for movie recording.

D5300 Primary Features

1. An effective pixel count of 24.2-million pixels anda Nikon DX-format CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter, and the latest image-processing engine, EXPEED 4, for superior image quality and definition

The D5300 offers an effective pixel count of 24.2-million pixels and is equipped with a DX-format CMOS image sensor developed exclusively by Nikon. It supports a broad range of standard sensitivities from ISO 100 to 12800, as well as an additional expansion of up to ISO 25600 equivalent (Hi 1) for high-definition images exhibiting very little noise with shooting at a broad range of sensitivities. In addition, the high-speed performance of the latest image-processing engine, EXPEED 4, optimized for high-performance digital SLR cameras, provides superior results with noise reduction (NR), auto white balance, color reproduction characteristics, tone processing, and image quality at high sensitivities. The absence of a low-pass filter maximizes the superior resolution of the high pixel count and rendering capabilities of NIKKOR lenses.

2. Built-in Wi-Fi for transferring high-quality images to a smart device for ease of sharing

As Nikon's first digital SLR camera equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi function, high-quality images with an effective pixel count of 24.2-million pixels captured from a variety of angles using the flexible vari-angle monitor can be transferred to a smart device for sharing with others[*1]. This expands the ways in which images are enjoyed after they are taken by enabling immediate image transfer for sharing photos with family and friends via blogs or social networking sites anytime, anywhere.

Transfer function: Images captured by the D5300, or already saved to a memory card inserted in the D5300, can be transferred to a smart device over a wireless connection. These images can then be viewed in the smart device display, or uploaded to a blog or social networking site. In addition, the size at which images are transferred to a smart device can be selected from two options to fit the storage capacity of the smart device.

Remote shooting function: The camera's live view shooting display can be shown on the display of the smart device in real time, allowing users to accurately frame photos and predict results with remote control while shooting[*2].

Manual upload function: Users can select images to be uploaded to a smart device using the D5300 monitor display. In situations or environments that do not sufficiently support immediate image upload, or when a smart device is not readily available, the camera can be used to specify images, and image file size, to be uploaded to the smart device at a later time.

[*1] The Wireless Mobile Utility app must first be installed on the smart device (the app can be downloaded free of charge from the smart device's app store).

[*2] Effective only when AF-area mode is set to "Normal-area AF" or "Wide-area AF".

3. A built-in GPS function that records location data and tracks movement

The D5300 is Nikon's first digital SLR camera with a built-in GPS function, enabling recording of location data (longitude, latitude, altitude) with images. It also works seamlessly with ViewNX 2, NIKON IMAGE SPACE, and commercial mapping software enables display of images where they were captured on maps, as well as sharing of images with location data. The A-GPS function also makes detection of location data smoother. This capability allows users to look back on memories or track their movement, on vacations or with outdoor activities by shooting location, and date and time of capture.

4. Designed using a new material for a smaller and lighter body that is strong and durable

The D5300 is designed using a new material. As the camera cover and body are formed with a rigid, integrated structure, there are fewer joints. This enables a smaller and lighter camera with a width of 125 mm, height of 98 mm, and depth of 76 mm, and weighing just 530 g[*], all while maintaining the necessary strength and durability.

* Including battery and SD memory card; excluding body cap.

5. A 3.2-inch, 1037k-dot vari-angle LCD monitor with wide viewing angle for simple shooting from any angle

The D5300 features a larger 3.2-inch (approximately 1037k-dot) LCD monitor with wide viewing angle for a crisp and clear display. The side-hinged vari-angle monitor opens from 0 to 180° at the side, and can be rotated up to 90° clockwise and up to 180° counter-clockwise. This enables shooting from a wide variety of angles, from low to high, making even self-portraits possible.

6. D-Movie function for recording full-HD 1920 × 1080 60p movies

The D5300 is equipped with a D-Movie function that supports recording of 1920 × 1080/60p movies. The combination of NIKKOR lenses, a high pixel-count CMOS image sensor unit which does not include an optical low-pass filter, and an effective pixel count of 24.2-million pixels, enables recording of high-definition movies exhibiting superior rendering characteristics. In addition, autofocusing during movie recording is possible using contrast-detect AF. When the focus mode is set to full-time-servo AF (AF-F) and AF-area mode is set to Subject-tracking AF, the camera automatically maintains focus on moving subjects. Manual movie settings are also available, allowing users to choose the desired shutter speed and ISO sensitivity in live view mode and with movie recording. Movie frame rate with full-HD recording can be selected from 24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, and 60p. In addition to recording of high-quality sound via the built-in stereo microphone, the optional Stereo Microphone ME-1 can also be used to record stereo sound.

Toy Camera Effect: Create photos and movies in which colors have been changed and edges have been shaded so that they appear to have been recorded with a toy camera. Users can adjust the vividness and degree of vignetting (peripheral shading) from three options each to suit their individual preferences.

HDR Painting[*]: The camera shoots two frames at different exposures and combines them, with processing that changes color tones, for HDR images with a painterly effect.

7. Toy Camera Effect and HDR Painting added to Special Effects mode (total of 9 effects) for more creative expression with still images and movies

The D5300 is equipped with a Special Effects mode, with which effects can be selected and applied with recording of both still images and movies. The effects can also be previewed in the camera monitor in real time before shooting or recording begins. A total of nine special effects are available, including the seven built into the D5200 (Selective Color, Color Sketch, Miniature Effect, Night Vision, Silhouette, High Key, Low Key), as well as the new Toy Camera Effect and HDR Painting*. This allows users to easily utilize dramatic effects like those seen in art and the movies. This mode was incorporated into the D5300 to respond to the creative intent of users who were searching for a way to express their own unique style and creativity.

* HDR Painting cannot be applied to movies. Further, results of the HDR Painting effect cannot be previewed in the camera monitor.

8. Designed with a firm grip using just one hand and available in 3 colors, including a new gray option

The grip on the D5300 is designed to fit comfortably in the palm of the hand for a firm hold using just one hand, making framing via both the optical viewfinder and the monitor's live view display easier. In addition to the popular black and red colors, the D5300 is also available in a new gray option. Metal parts on the D5300, such as the microphone cover and plate over the mode dial, have also been designed with a surface finish that gives the camera an elegant appearance.

About Nikon

Pricing and Availability

The Nikon 5300 will be available in three colors (Black, Red and Gray), starting in November 2013 at the suggested retail price (SRP) of AED 3,999. For more information on the new Nikon D5300 and other Nikon products, please visit http://www.nikon-mea.com.

Nikon, At the Heart of the Image. Nikon is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognised for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Singapore Pte Ltd distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX compact digital cameras; Nikon sports optics as well as the Nikon 1 advanced cameras with interchangeable lens system in over 50 countries.

For more information, visit http://www.nikon-mea.com. Connect with Nikon and other photographers on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NikonMEA and get the latest news and information from Twitter by following @NikonMEA.

SOURCE Nikon Corporation

* Read more articles by Nikon Corporation

Source: Sacbee

Nikon D5300 hands-on review

Nikon Nikon D5300 Coupons at a glance:

• 24.2-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor
• 1.037-million-dot, 3.2in, 170° LCD screen
• Expeed 4 image processor
• 39-point AF system with nine cross-type sensors
• ISO 100-25,600
• Price £730 body only

Nikon D5300 - Introduction

While the serious enthusiast is unlikely to be swayed into buying a Nikon DSLR over a Canon model purely because the Nikon camera is newer, the reality is that at the non-premium end of the market this is how some people make their buying decisions. 'Newer' must mean 'better'.

This demand for the 'new' explains why we see such short product cycles in the camera market, and why manufacturers feel the need to introduce even small advances in technology or feature sets in cameras with completely new names - rather than a 'Mark II' type of naming format.

Those familiar with Nikon's range of DSLRs may not see the sense in the company's introduction of the new D5300, especially as Nikon will maintain the D5200 alongside this model in the range - new and old together. By doing so, though, Nikon expands the number of cameras it has on offer and the number of price points it can cover, while also being able to have a model that can carry a 'New' sticker, and which introduces new features to the price band in which it will sit.

That's not to say that the Nikon D5300 isn't different to the D5200, though, as a new processor, new body design and the integration of wireless communications do genuinely bring additional benefits to the photographer.

Nikon D5300 - Design and handling

Nikon is very pleased that it has achieved a new way of constructing camera bodies, which it describes as a 'monocoque'. Instead of there being a chassis, onto which the components and the body shell are attached, the D5300 is designed to have everything screwed to the insides of the body form itself: exoskeleton, rather then the usual endoskeleton.

Image: The top of the camera houses only a few control points, keeping the layout simple and unintimidating for newcomers. A stereo microphone lives in front of the hotshoe

The D5300's body shell is also made of a new material, although Nikon won't say what that new material is - just that it is new. The upshot is that the body is less heavy than it might have been, and is 25g lighter, including the battery, than the camera it doesn't replace, the D5200.

I'm not entirely sure that when I used the camera I could appreciate the exact weight loss that has occurred, but I was able to enjoy the fact that this is truly a lightweight DSLR, of the type that we might not mind carrying all day, over the shoulder, in a bag or in a large pocket. The body is very small too, although it is balanced with a reassuringly large grip for the right hand. It seems ironic that a small and light camera should need a large grip, but I found it allowed me to be aware I was carrying the camera, and should a larger lens be attached it will help to support the forward pull of such a weight distribution.

Image: The body styling will be familiar to those used to the Nikon 5000 series, as will the standard menu. The 3.2in flip-out screen has impressive visibility

The buttons are arranged much as one might expect, with all the principal controls falling easily to the finger or thumb. The rear 3.2in LCD is very nicely bright and clear, with its 1.037-million-dot resolution. Nikon has set the viewing panel into the glass screen, so there are no gaps or internal reflections, which produces good contrast and a clear view from a quoted angled of up to 170°. I am impressed.

In live view, the screen works well when the camera is held low or high, and I found the AF quick enough and seemingly accurate. The response of the shutter in live view also seems good.

Image: Nikon has retained its choice of layouts for the rear-screen display, with text-based and graphically expressed options to suit personal preferences

Nikon D5300 - Still to test

The principal changes in this model are of the sort that will only be proved in testing, but at this stage their potential is worth pointing out. Using the higher-capacity Expeed 4 processor, Nikon claims it has been able to reduce noise in its images through the use of more complicated calculations. A related benefit is that now noise levels are lower the company is comfortable offering a higher ISO setting - the Nikon D5300 allows ratings of up to ISO 25,600. More complex calculations also provide the potential for better white balance assessment in automatic modes via a more comprehensive assessment of the scene, and a better rendition of colour overall.

Lower noise should also lead to better resolution of detail from the 24.2-million-pixel sensor, as should Nikon's decision to do without the micro-blurring effects of a low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter. Leaving the low-pass filter off the sensor has become very fashionable, and I suspect it will be a great draw for many photographers. Moiré in images created by a sensor with 24 million pixels, even an APS-C-sized sensor, is still something that is quite likely to occur, but there is also plenty of software to correct it after the event.

The other thing to note is that this model sees the introduction of a new battery cell, which Nikon says increases capacity from 500 shots to 600 compared to the cell used in the D5200. It annoys me when companies change their battery forms, but on this occasion the new cell and that used in the D5200 are interchangeable.

Obviously, I couldn't test the battery life of the camera, but we should take the increase as good news. I will also have to wait to test the Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities of this new model, but neither can be held as negative points just for their inclusion. The Wi-Fi integration means users will be able to control the camera from an Android or iOS device, and will be able to wirelessly transfer images for viewing, editing and sending while on the go.

Image: The new battery, which is backwards compatible with the D5200, offers a longer life. There is no low-pass filter on the sensor, for extra resolution

Nikon D5300 - Conclusion

It would be easy to dismiss the Nikon D5300 for being too similar to the D5200, but that really isn't the point. There is not much wrong with the D5200, and the changes that this new model brings can only make it better. Perhaps Nikon could have called it the D5200 ll, but I'm not sure it matters one bit.

The Nikon D5300 will cost around £730 body only and be available from 14 November.

Source: Amateurphotographer

Nikon D5300 Digital SLR Wi-Fi Camera

Nikon D5300 Coupons.jpg">

Nikon just introduced the D5300 DSLR camera, which offers an enhanced 24.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor, EXPEED 4 image processing, Vari-angle LCD, GPS and the convenience of built-in Wi-Fi. The mid-range SLR is compact and lightweight (16.9 oz.), and can easily be packed for a day trip or a planned getaway. The small body of the D5300 affords the photographer the freedom to travel while still being easy to handle and comfortable to use.

The D5300 is Nikon's first D-SLR to feature built-in Wi-Fi, allowing the user to share high quality photos instantly. The Nikon D5300 sends images to the user's smart device, allowing them to share their D-SLR quality photos through e-mail and social media. The Nikon D5300 also includes built-in GPS, another first for Nikon D-SLRs. Now the user can geotag images and allow others to see where life has taken them.

The enhanced 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor delivers stunning images and HD videos with heightened clarity and detail due to the removal of the optical low pass filter (OLPF). Its 39-point high-density autofocus system with 9 cross-type sensors quickly locks onto your subject, and Nikon's unique 3D-tracking uses the 2,016-pixel RGB sensor to recognize and follow it across the frame.

Features:

• Amazing Low Light Performance - For clean, sharp details even in the most challenging lighting conditions including night games and dimly lit restaurants, the Nikon D5300 covers a wide ISO range of 100-12,800 and is expandable to ISO 25,600.
• EXPEED 4 Image Processing - Nikon's most recent image processing engine drives the rapid response and swift performance of the D5300, while maximizing energy efficiency, reducing image noise and delivering true-to-life colors.
• Scene Recognition System - To further help users capture the image they intend, the Nikon D5300 features Nikon's Scene Recognition System and 2,016-pixel RGB metering system to analyze and recognize the scene. Utilizing these systems results in adjustments to exposure, AF and white balance to deliver the best photo possible, whether it's a landscape or portrait.
• 39-Point AF System - Nikon's quick and precise 39-point AF system works with the Scene Recognition System to accurately acquire and track subjects throughout the frame, resulting in tack-sharp images. Kids too active to pose for a photo or pets chasing after a toy are easily captured in brilliant sharpness for memorable photos.
• 5 Frames-Per-Second - While using the optical viewfinder or in Live View, capture great moments that would have otherwise been missed with the D5300′s 5 frames-per-second (fps) rate.
• 3.2-inch Vari-Angle LCD monitor - Whether shooting above a crowd or getting low to capture the details of a flower, users can explore new shots from a dramatic point of view with the large 3.2-inch Vari-angle LCD monitor. This super sharp (1,037K-dot) screen allows photographers to easily make camera adjustments and read menus, while also allowing them to compose the photo they want clearly when shooting from high or low angles. The rotating LCD makes it easy to capture "selfies" at an arm's length away or frame creative perspectives when capturing still photos and HD video.
• Full HD 1080p Video Capture - Create movies fit for the big screen with Full HD 1080p video capture at 60p with built-in stereo, wide ISO range for high quality videos in any light and improved full-time AF to keep the subject in focus.
• NIKKOR Compatibility - The Nikon D5300 is compatible with Nikon's legendary NIKKOR lenses and powerful system accessories, further adding versatility and creativity.

Price and Availability
The Nikon D5300 kit with the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens will be available in October 2013 for$1,399.95. Available colors include Black, Red and Gray.

Source: Ecoustics

Nikon Unveils D5300 D-SLR With Wi-Fi

Nikon D5300 Discount-d5300.jpg?thumb=y">

Nikon didn't wait very long to update its excellent D5200 digital SLR. That camera, announced internationally last November, didn't make its U.S. debut until CES in January, and less than a year later we have its successor.

On the exterior the new D5300 is pretty much the same as its predecessor-the only notable change is an LCD that's a bit larger (3.2 inches) and sharper (1,037k dots) than the 3-inch, 921k-dot vari-angle display found on the D5200.

Despite boasting the same 24-megapixel resolution as its predecessor, the D5300's image sensor is a different design. It's the same one that is found in the D7100. That means that it omits the optical low-pass filter (OLPF). Professional medium format digital cameras have long done away with the OLPF, which saps up a bit of detail in order to eliminate the possibility of color moire appearing in images. Over the past couple years, more and more smaller format cameras have dropped the OLPF, including Nikon's own D800E and the Pentax K-5 IIs. But the D5300 is the first camera we've seen that is squarely aimed at the consumer market to take this approach.

The EXPEED 4 image processor is also new to the D5300, replacing the EXPEED 3 chip that powered the D5200. This is the first Nikon camera with this image processor, but the company promises that it will deliver improved performance in low light and faster operation overall. The native ISO range is ISO 100 through 12800, with 25600 available as an expanded option. The metering and focus systems are the same as the D5200-that gives the camera a 2,016-pixel RGB sensor for scene recognition and 39 selectable autofocus. Like its predecessor, the D5300 is rated to shoot at 5 frames per second.

The other big internal upgrade is the addition of built-in Wi-Fi. Previously Nikon D-SLR owners had to purchase the WU-1a adapter to add wireless connectivity to their cameras. This feature is built into the D5300, so you can transfer photos wirelessly to an iOS or Android device without the need for an add-on. A GPS module is also built into the camera, so your location is added to photo metadata automatically. You'll be able to look at shots on a map when using software like iPhoto or Picasa, or sharing online via a hosting service that includes a map view, like Smugmug.

The D5300 will be available in black, red, or dark gray. It's priced at $799.95 as a body only, or $1,099.95 with an 18-140mm lens. It will be available to purchase in mid-November.

This announcement comes on the heels of news of the D610, a very minor update to the full-frame D600. It's essentially the same camera, but with an improved shutter that allows for a 6fps continuous shooting rate. Many D600 owners reported that the camera has a tendency to pick up dust on the sensor after extended use. It wasn't something we saw with our review unit, and sensor dust is a common issue with all interchangeable lens cameras, but the noise that D600 owners made indicated that it was something beyond what is normally expected.

Nikon issued a service advisory for the D600 relating to the dust issue. The company is not saying that the new shutter is there to reduce the instances of dust accumulation; rather, the official line is that it improves the burst shooting rate and also introduces a new 3fps quiet continuous mode.

The D610 comes in at a $100 less than its predecessor; it's priced at $1,999.95 as a body only, and can be purchased in a kit with the 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 lens for $2,599.95.

Rounding out the Nikon announcements is a new high-end prime lens. The AF-S Nikkor 58mm f/1.4G matches the focal length of the classic Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2, but its aperture isn't quite as ambitious. The new lens features the latest nanocrystal coatings, ED and aspherical elements, and an internal SWM focus motor. It's priced at $1,699.95 and will be available at the end of October.

Source: Pcmag

Dover, Sherborn residents invited to Halloween Open House at Dana Hall

The Dana Hall School of Music will hold its third annual Halloween Open House with Musical Trick-or-Treating on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 2-4 p.m. The event is free halloween cards and open to the public.

Families with children of all ages are invites to come in costume. In addition to candy, trick-or-treaters will find a different instrument to explore behind each door, including a piano, a violin, a harp and even an Erhu. There also will be guided instrument jams with Miss Becky for children age 2 to 7. Children are also invited to participate in a musical scavenger hunt throughout the School of Music. For every instrument found, each child receives a sticker. Completed cards can be turned in for a goody bag and to be entered in a special music raffle.

An RSVP is not necessary, but would be appreciated.

The School of Music is at 103 Grove St. in Wellesley. For more information, or to RSVP, call 781-237-6542 or e-mail music@danahall.org.

The Dana Hall School of Music will hold its third annual Halloween Open House with Musical Trick-or-Treating on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 2-4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Families with children of all ages are invites to come in costume. In addition to candy, trick-or-treaters will find a different instrument to explore behind each door, including a piano, a violin, a harp and even an Erhu. There also will be guided instrument jams with Miss Becky for children age 2 to 7. Children are also invited to participate in a musical scavenger hunt throughout the School of Music. For every instrument found, each child receives a sticker. Completed cards can be turned in for a goody bag and to be entered in a special music raffle.

An RSVP is not necessary, but would be appreciated.

The School of Music is at 103 Grove St. in Wellesley. For more information, or to RSVP, call 781-237-6542 or e-mail music@danahall.org.

Source: Wickedlocal

iPhone 5s and Samsung Galaxy S 4 Wallet Cases Now Available

<5s iphone cases otterbox camo samsungp>OtterBox's Commuter Series Wallet Case is now available for the iPhone 5s and Samsung Galaxy S 4. The protective wallet case is equipped with a sliding drawer that can hold up to three cards and extra cash. The drawer features an audible click closure system so you'll always know that your personal items are safely secure.

The case also includes an interior slip cover to protect against bumps and falls, a sleek exterior shell that easily fits into your pocket, and a self-adhesive screen protector that guards against scratches and smudges.

The OtterBox wallet case for the iPhone 5s and Galaxy S 4 is now available from OtterBox.com for $45. It is comes in black, glacier and primrose.

Here is a video of the case in action.

Source: Iphonefaq

Ozoliņš: "Mums bija netipiskas kļūdas, bet Telkvists nospēlēja lieliski"

<rightimg src="http://i1.tiesraides.lv/292x218/pictures/2013-08-16/2013-08-16_ozolins.jpg">

"Šī mums bija visgrūtākā spēle, kā nekā - izbraukuma tūres beigas. Mēs domājām, ka būsim fiziski noguruši, bet izrādījās, ka esam psiholoģiski noguruši. Rezultātā - mums netipiskas kļūdas. Bija grūti spēlēt. Lieliski nospēlēja mūsu vārtsargs, tāpēc spējām paņemt trīs punktus," norādīja "Dinamo" kapteinis Sandis Ozoliņš.

"Pretinieki mums nedeva daudz iespēju uzbrukt divatā pret vienu, trijatā pret diviem un vienatnē pret vārtsargu. Tā visa praktiski nebija, sacīja Ozoliņš. ""Metallurg" spēlēja ļoti kompakti, tāpēc mums bija grūti. Turklāt pretinieks ļoti ātri uzsāka pretuzbrukumus un radīja vārtu gūšanas momentus pie mūsu vārtiem."

Jautāts vai tas, ka "Metallurg" pirms šī mača bija zaudējuši astoņas spēles pēc kārtas, iespaidoja komandas noskaņošanos spēlei kapteinis atbildēja: "Mēs arī esam bijuši tādās situācijās un zinām, kas notiek ģērbtuvē. Puiši grib uzvarēt, un dara visu, lai to panāktu. Mēs zinājām, ka mājinieki laukumā dosies ar apņemšanos uzvarēt."

"Nebija viegli apspēlēt Kuzņu," atzina rīdzinieku aizsargs Georgijs Pujacs. "Tagad vieglu pretinieku nav. Turklāt mums bija smaga izbraukuma tūre, bet "Metallurg" - ceturtā mājas spēle. Mums uzsmaidīja veiksme. Mūs guvām ļoti svarīgos otros vārtus. Plus mums labi nospēlēja vārtsargs."

Uz jautājumu, kurš no "Dinamo" spēles komponentiem spēlētājam paticis vislabāk, Pujacs atbildēja: "Labāk paklusēšu, neesmu eksperts. Neslavēšu un nerāšu. Nospēlējām savu spēju robežās. Kas attiecas uz "Metallurg", tad nesekoju, kā viņiem klājas. Tā ir jauna komanda. Varbūt kaut kur meistarības un aukstasinības pietrūkst, bet puiši ir malači, jācīnās tālāk."

Savukārt "Dinamo" galvenais treneris Artis Ābols norādīja: "Nevarētu teikt, ka esmu apmierināts ar komandas sniegumu pirmajos divos periodos, īpaši - otrā perioda beigās, taču puiši centās. Mums bija gara izbraukuma tūre, tāpēc varbūt arī tādi nesaprotami lēmumi [laukumā] tika pieņemti. Tai pat laikā ieguvām to, ko vēlējāmies - trīs punktus - tāpēc pamata satraukumam nav. Puiši malači."

Izmantotie resursi:
"СПОРТИВНЫЙ ПОРТАЛ НОВОКУЗНЕЦКА" - ХК...

Source: Sportacentrs

Otterbox Introduces New iPhone 5/5s Case With Space for Credit Cards and Cash

Otterbox has introduced iPhone case/wallet combination, the Commuter Series Wallet. The $45 case includes space for 3 credit cards and a single dollar bill, while coming in black, white/grey and pink/grey color combinations.

The new case competes against other wallet cases like TwelveSouth's BookBook, as well as dozens of other wallet cases on the market.

- Multi-layer case guards against damage to your device
- Slimline design hides contents, keeping them safe and secure
- Self-adhering screen protector guards against scratches and scrapes to the glass display
- Access drawer holds up to three cards and one bill
- Audible click closure gives you peace of mind knowing your items are securely enclosed
- Access Wallet drawer contents without turning case over

The Commuter Series Wallet case, for the iPhone 5 and 5s iphone cases otterbox pink black, is available from Otterbox and other retailers for $45.
Source: Macrumors

App roundup: Best fitness apps that use the iPhone 5s' M7 motion co-processor

The M7 motion co-processor Apple packed into the iPhone 5s iphone cases otterbox vs survivor is already seeing use from a number of fitness app developers anxious to maximize its potential, changing the handset into a new platform.

Apple didn't exactly hype the M7 when it introduced the chip last month in announcing the iPhone 5s, but among the handset's many new features, the co-processor may turn out to be the most impactful for app developers and consumers alike.

Using very little power, the M7 constantly measures and tracks motion data, keeping the information accessible to any apps that may need it. That means fitness and lifestyle apps no longer need to be active or running in the background to track user movements throughout the day, a benefit that could allow developers to harvest and utilize information on their users' daily habits in much greater detail than previously possible.

Developers on the iOS platform are already taking advantage of the M7's capabilities, with the first wave of enabled apps coming to the App Store just days after the iPhone 5s' release.

Strava Run

Strava was first out of the gate to take advantage of the M7, releasing version 3.5.3 of Strava Run just four days after the iPhone 5s was released. The new version adds an Auto-Pause feature for runners, giving them highly accurate activity level data without having to directly interact with the app. It also takes advantage of the M7's low-power constant monitoring, as the app gathers information from the chip for those times when Strava is not running.

Strava allows users to track their runs with GPS, displaying maps of their route alongside stats such as distance, pace, elevation, and calories burned. It also allows users to compete on interactive score boards, find and follow friends, and explore new places to run.

Strava Run is a free download in the App Store. The 53.7MB app requires an iPhone, iPad, or iPod running iOS 5.0 or higher.

WeatherRun

GammaPoint, too, has taken advantage of the M7 with version 2.2.1 of WeatherRun. The new version adds a step counter that draws data from the motion co-processor. Step data is logged and organized in both daily and monthly measures.

WeatherRun provides users with up-to-date weather information while they are outside being active. The app also tracks activity and compares it against weather, altitude, humidity, and temperature. It interfaces with the Pebble Smartwatch, as well as other Bluetooth 4.0 devices such as the TI SensorTag.

The latest update also includes a fix for a bug that affected deleting and sharing functions on devices running iOS 7.

Version 2.2.1 of WeatherRun costs $2 in the App Store. It is a 12.2MB download that requires an iPad, iPhone, or iPod running iOS 6.0 or higher.

Argus

Also joining in on leveraging the M7 was Azumio, which recently released version 2.4 of its Argus app. The latest iteration uses the M7 for passive step-counting when not running, meaning the app automatically pulls data from the chip once the reactivated. The update also includes a streamlined honeycomb user interface and improved visual design, including a step counter that shows up as an app badge.

Argus monitors not only user activities, but food intake, workouts, sleep, hydration, weight, and vital signs. The app is engineered to consume very little power and is designed to run in the background at all times. Users can create food diaries, observe trends over time, and track and share data with friends. Also included is interaction with a number of third-party wellness devices, like the Withings Smart Body Analyzer.

The new version of Argus is available as a free download in the App Store for iOS devices running iOS 6.0 or higher.

Pedometer

The most recent addition to the line of M7-supporting apps comes from Cross Forward Consulting, which debuted its Pedometer++ app on Tuesday. The new app functions as a simple step counter that relies on the M7's passive monitoring to log steps taken throughout the day. Pedometer++ allows users to compile their data on both a weekly and a daily basis. Like Argus, Pedometer++ can be set to display the current step count as the app's notification badge. The figure displayed in the badge will dynamically update throughout the day.

Pedometer++ version 1.1 is available now in the App Store as a free 0.3MB download only for the iPhone 5s.

Maximizing the M7

The coming months will almost certainly see more developers adding new features relying on the M7. Nike, maker of the popular Nike+ app, has already promised a Nike+ Move based on the M7's capabilities.

Apple's motion co-processor will also likely figure into apps outside of the fitness category. In addition to user motion tracking, the M7 can, even in sleep mode, tell when a user is walking or even driving. For example, navigation apps may leverage the data to switch from driving to walking directions dynamically depending on a user's speed.

Source: Appleinsider

Ducks get back-to-back Atlantic League titles as Ray Navarrete comes up big in last game

<rob zombie halloween blu rayp> BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - Win or lose, Sunday night's Game 5 of the Atlantic League Championship Series was going to be the finale for the Long Island Ducks' Ray Navarrete.

Navarrete, making his first start of the series, had a big hand in making it a win. The designated hitter's three-run blast to leftfield in the fourth inning gave the Ducks the lead for good as they defeated the Somerset Patriots, 6-4, at TD Bank Ballpark to win their second consecutive league championship.

The Ducks won the series 3-2, after dropping Games 3 and 4 in Bridgewater to extra-inning walk-offs by the Patriots, including a more than 5-hour game Saturday.

Following rightfielder Adam Bailey's series-ending catch close to the wall and the celebration on the mound, Navarrete was carried on the shoulders of his teammates to the dugout.

"We weren't swinging the bat well and we needed a spark," Ducks manager Kevin Baez said about his decision to start Navarrete. "To go out like this is special. He deserves it."

Somerset scored in the first and held that advantage until the fourth.

The Ducks' Bill Hall (2-for-4, two doubles) hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a groundout. Ramon Castro singled up the middle to tie the score. Ryan Strieby followed with a walk and Navarrete went deep with David Harden's first offering.

"I walked up to the plate and said I was going to let it go if he threw a first-pitch fastball," said Navarrete, an eight-year member of the Ducks. "That home run felt like it took two hours to get over the wall."

Long Island added two more runs in the fifth inning.

John Brownell, the winning pitcher in Game 1, pitched into the ninth inning of this game and was named finals MVP.

He got off to a shaky start, walking leadoff man Jonny Tucker, who scored on Yunesky Sanchez's double in the corner. But Brownell got out of that and settled down, allowing solo homers to Sanchez and Jeff Baisley once the Ducks took the lead.

"Brownell's been our bulldog all year," Baez said. "[Somerset] kept coming. It was uplifting for us and Brownell settled down."

Brownell said: "I just kept confident. There was a lot of game left. I trust in our hitters and defense to pick me up, and they did."

Leo Rosales came on to close out the Patriots, who had the tying run at the plate.

"That's the last time I'm going to be on the field as a player," the 35-year-old Navarrete said. "You couldn't be more grateful how it ended, like a perfect ending in a movie."

Be the first to rate:

Click to rate

Source: Newsday

Essay: First frost 'like dental floss in a Halloween bag'

Editor's note: This is an essay by Tim Torkildson of Provo, who was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has settled in Provo to be closer to his children and grandchildren.

Growing up in Minnesota, I know all about the First Frost.

It came like a funeral wreath to a birthday party; like floaties in Kool Aid; like dental floss in a halloween dvds for kids bag. The weather was always perfect prior to the First Frost. The Killing Frost, my grandparents called it glumly. The blue in the sky was brighter than a bottle of Windex, and the clouds rolled about as ponderous as performing cotton elephants. Crisp leaves square danced around the curb and gutters. I could wear my Twins windbreaker or not -- the temperature hardly registered on me at all. The sun had lost all viciousness and fell on me as a purring cat curling up on my arms. The evenings were once again full of new episodes of Red Skelton and Dick Van Dyke. I secretly had a crush on Cathy from the Patty Duke Show -- and a new fall season would reawaken my budding libido.

And then our avuncular TV weatherman, Bud Kraehling, would apologetically announce the First Frost. Indian summer was over. Everything would die back and turn black, and there would be no snow to cover the massacre for several more weeks. Just a bleak, withered landscape. "The harvest is past, the summer is over, and we are not saved." Perhaps I was overly sensitive to atmospheric conditions, but I always reverted to wetting the bed for a few days after the First Frost.

Somehow, I survived the First Frosts of childhood to grow up and bring forth a quiver full of children myself. I endeavored to shield them from the devastating effects of the First Frost. As soon as I heard the ingratiating voice of Mike Lynch forecast the First Frost, I would bound into the living room, where the kids were sprawled on the floor and couch, hobbling large parts of their brains with Nintendo games.

"Guess what, my little poppets!" I would gush at them.

They would just gaze at me, without speaking -- silently asking "What now, old man?"

"Jack Frost is coming to visit us tonight! Isn't that nifty? We'd better get ready for him, don't you think?"

They did not even try to humor me. At some silent, intuitive command they turned their backs to me in unison and went back to Nintendo Land.

All right. If I couldn't catch them with honey, I'd give 'em a little vinegar.

"Hey! You lazy bums, get off your duffs! We gotta put some bed sheets over the tomatoes so they don't freeze tonight. Move it, you couch potatoes!"

The box holding the ancient and yellowed linen sheets was in the garage -- somewhere. I made sure to put it someplace where I could lay my hands on it easily each year after pulling them off the plants, but each year it seemed like my idea of where I could lay my hands on them easily would change radically. By the time I would discover the box, thoughtfully tucked under the storm windows (oh-oh, weren't they up yet?) the kids would be gamboling through the family vegetable patch, bombarding each other with overripe tomatoes and smashing the zucchini with their insolent feet.

"Get over here!" I snarled, handing each one a sheet and pointing to the weedy tomato plant they should cover. Some of the plants were taller than the kids, and besides, these old sheets were exactly what a ghost would wear to haunt a garden, so I had to snatch the sheets from them and put them on the tomato plants myself. Inevitably, I would trip on an overlooked zucchini that had grown to the size of a watermelon and fall flat on my face. This resulted in general hilarity on the part of those lazy cretins I was trying to protect from the devastation of the First Frost. Now I felt like murdering them.

But I did not give up. The night of the First Frost I made it a habit to have plenty of caramels and apples on hand, so we could make caramel apples around the kitchen table after dinner. Unfortunately, at least one of the children would cram as many caramels in his or her mouth as possible and then begin to choke. The resulting Heimlich maneuver would shoot a gob of caramel right through a window pane. The apples were bound to be wormy anyways.

Today, when I heard the First Frost was coming, I made sure the hot chocolate stash is full, got a blanket out of the hall closet, and laid in a stock of The Patty Duke Show DVDs. Leave the tomatoes on the vine SEmD I'm going to enjoy myself.

* Tim Torkildson works as a consultant, providing content for websites such as scripturepoetry.com. His work also appears regularly in the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper.

Source: Heraldextra

Don Jon is an interesting yet humdrum look at a porn addiction

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Halloween: From Black Sabbath maze to real 'Purge,' new ways to scare

Posted: 09/27/2013 02:14:04 PM PDT

Updated: 09/27/2013 02:42:25 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES -- Ozzy Osbourne can't help himself.

While on a behind-the-scenes trek through a Universal Studios Hollywood attraction based on the recently released black halloween costumes Sabbath album "13," Osbourne spots a bloody mannequin corpse reclining on a phony altar. Without hesitating, the gruesomely theatrical Sabbath frontman leans down and acts like he's devouring the blood from the decapitated body with his tongue.

Faced with increasingly hardcore rivals and savvy visitors, organizers of such Halloween attractions this year have conjured up several new theatrical and technological innovations in hopes of licking the competition, as well as promoting entertainment fare like horror films and records. For Sabbath, it marks the first time their tunes have been turned into a maze.

"It adds another dimension to what we do, which is incredible because we've been doing it for 45 years," said Osbourne while standing inside the attraction. "It's been a remarkable year because we had our first No. 1 album in America -- believe it or not -- and now this. I've never seen anything like it. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up."

"Well, don't wake up in here," joked Sabbath bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler next to him.

For the first time since Halloween Horror Nights returned to the Universal Studios backlot in 2007, creative director John Murdy has incorporated video effects into a maze. In a room inspired by the song "Electric Funeral" within Sabbath's colorful 3D realm, monitors made to look like windows broadcast explosive 3D visuals in tandem with a wind machine.

"I just thought it would be cool to have a nuclear bomb go off and our guests be in the middle of that," said Murdy.

In recent years, Halloween Horror Nights traded warrens based on long-running slash-'em-up franchises like "A Nightmare on Elm Street" for attractions inspired by more contemporary properties, such as the "Hostel" movies, "Silent Hill"

video games and "The Walking Dead" television series.

The biggest challenges for Murdy and his team for this year's six Universal mazes included figuring out how to depict the freaked-out kid from "Insidious" constantly shivering in his bed while toy rocking horses galloped by themselves. Also troublesome was how hordes of guests could be vomited on all night long by an "Evil Dead" demon.

"They're all like little science projects," said Murdy. "No matter how successful we were the previous year, our philosophy is to always treat it like it's the first year we're back in business."

Beyond the rotating attractions at Halloween Horror Nights, a few celebrities have invested in their own haunted attractions. "Hostel" filmmaker Eli Roth opened his year-round maze Goretorium in Las Vegas last year, and Neil Patrick Harris serves as one of the producers of Delusion, an annual theatrical Halloween experience taking place this year in an old Los Angeles church.

Several spooks at this year's Halloween Horror Nights are hyping new releases from the entertainment industry. Besides Sabbath's "13," there's a "scare zone" populated by actors dressed as the nasty Chucky doll from the direct-to-DVD sequel "Curse of Chucky," and a new maze incorporating supernatural elements from the "Insidious" films.

"I think it strengthens the brand," said Jason Blum, producer of "The Purge," "Insidious" and "Paranormal Activity" horror flicks. "Because it's done so well, it also gives us a little more street cred. In the case of 'The Purge,' there's so much mythology that wasn't necessarily included in the first film, it makes it well suited to a live event."

In addition to the attractions based on both "Insidious" chapters and "The Purge" at Universal Studios, Blum and his Blumhouse production company are hosting their own Halloween event that expands on the kill-or-be-killed mythology of "The Purge" in a shuttered theater in downtown LA.

While the event will include a traditional maze in the theater's basement, "The Purge: Fear the Night" will also invite guests to freely roam around upstairs and interact with more than 40 actors portraying members of the Founding Fathers group depicted in the film. Some guests who give up their cellphone numbers may also be contacted with clues throughout the evening.

At Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., the 10 mazes that comprise the 41-year-old Knott's Scary Farm haunt are based on original storylines, not established franchises. Without such brand equity, the organizers are hoping some new tricks -- such as suspending "scare-actors" from the ceiling of a magical maze -- will attract victims.

For the second year, Knott's will also feature a special attraction called "Trapped," which requires advanced reservations and costs an extra $60 on top of a regular ticket.

Unlike the conga-line labyrinth structure of most haunts, "Trapped" strands no more than six visitors inside fear-inducing environments where they must overcome phobias or solve puzzles, such as eating bugs or escaping a giant rat cage, to progress through the attraction.

"It's an opportunity to do what we've never been able to do in our other mazes," said Lara Hanneman, director of technical entertainment for the theme park. "We're able to have many more interactions with our guests that go beyond just jumping out and scaring them."

Source: Mercurynews

By Alistair Scrutton

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Despite the rapid pace of technology that has overhauled many consumer goods, the front door lock and key is little changed since the 1800s. That is about to change - to virtual keys in data clouds, if the world's biggest lockmaker gets its way.

Assa Abloy, which makes one in ten locks worldwide, is the muscle behind brands such as Yale. But the lock technology it is now developing means consumers will be able to open doors with a tap of their mobile phones, visitors will be able to download a key online and business owners will be able to lock and unlock their premises remotely.

"I think most people will go digital. People will rely more on a secure identity than a physical key, provided over the net into your mobile phone," says Johan Molin, Assa Abloy's lean 54-year-old chief executive.

Electro-mechanical locks like key cards in hotels now account for almost half of Assa Abloy's sales compared with 13 percent a decade ago, and the company believes this is just the start of growing demand from consumers for more flexible, high-tech locking mechanisms.

At its Stockholm headquarters, some of Assa Abloy's staff are trialling different versions of virtual keys downloaded to mobile phones that open a lock simply with a swipe of the phone. The company is also working up versions where phones with bluetooth or wireless links could automatically open doors when within a certain distance. Other keys can be set to switch on at a certain date and expire on another date, meaning someone renting a flat, for example, need no longer hand over physical keys at the end of their stay.

The digital keys can be embedded in SIM cards, within software or inside the phone itself, thanks to Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, or short range wireless that within a few years may be standard in most mobile devices. U.S. research firm ABI Research has estimated that the number of NFC enabled devices will exceed 500 million in 2014.

The new key technology could also unlock higher recurring revenues. While traditional locks last on average four decades, electro-mechanical locks have lifespans of 10-15 years and software coupled with more fickle consumer electronics means these locks will need to be routinely replaced or updated.

It is a model Assa is confident that consumers used to frequently upgrading their phones and tablets will accept.

"People will have the same kind of relationship to their lock that they have to their computer. They will want to have the latest features, designs," Molin said.

Just this week Apple launched its new iPhone 5S, with a fingerprint scanner, replacing the need for passwords and PIN numbers with biometric security.

DRIVING CHANGE

But selling locks is a delicate business and the market traditionally conservative. Some consumers, especially in Europe, are reluctant to move from the security of physical keys to a more opaque system, particularly amid worries about cybersecurity. Additionally the cost involved - a digital Yale lock is about 30 percent more expensive than a traditional one - currently limits the technology to high-end households.

So Assa Abloy's strategy is to make the technology a good fit with businesses and institutions like hotels, hospitals and schools, which account for three quarters of its sales, in order to 'normalise' the new product, lower costs and ultimately drive broader consumer acceptance.

With this in mind the company has boosted research and development spending 129 percent since 2005 and in 2012 spent about $210 million, or 2.9 percent of sales, on R&D.

That 2.9 percent is around the industry average for R&D spending, analysts say, as Assa's U.S. rivals in particular, Ingersoll-Rand and Stanley Black & Decker chase the same new markets.

"The challenge for Assa Abloy is to move fast enough," said Carlo Pompili, CEO of Swedish startup firm Telcred which is working on new locking technology. "It's a huge market with many nuances. They cannot think of everything. That opens up space for other companies."

Alongside its own technological research Assa Abloy says it will continue to do deals that advance its products.

"We of course try and focus on our own innovation," says Daniel Berg, vice-president of Assa Abloy mobile keys. "But complementary acquisitions could happen if there is a start-up with a great idea."

The company has a long history of buying up competitors. More than ten years ago it bought U.S. firm HID, an early secure ID card producer, giving it a big advantage in a market providing secure computer access that subsequently boomed. It then bought up U.S.-based ActivID in 2010, adding a layer of more sophisticated digital identity recognition to that product line. With an eye on its current direction, Assa Abloy reached a deal in 2012 with Oberthur, a leading manufacturer of SIM cards, allowing it to embed its digital keys in Oberthur's cards. A consumer buying Oberthur's product need only then buy an App to get access to Assa Abloy's key code.

There are newer and smaller competitors pushing forward in this area, like U.S.-based Lockitron, which makes devices to lock and unlock deadbolts via remote control, or Spain's Salto, making lock software tailored to businesses. But in a still-developing market few can compete with Assa Abloy's reach.

"High-tech locks, using phones, etc, are the future, but the question is how fast it will grow?" said Oscar Stjerngren, an analyst at Danske Bank. "Assa Abloy are so dominant globally they can drive this transition in the high-tech lock market."

OLD & NEW

Global reach means catering to a rich mix of national nuances that in turn require a combination of products - so Assa Abloy is not turning its back on traditional security just yet.

North American consumers still spend twice as much on "emergency exit devices" such as fire escape doors than Europeans. Northern Europeans spend three to four times as much on high security household locks than North Americans.

"In America it's all about getting out. In Europe it is all about avoiding people getting in," Molin said.

The company's most recent buy was more traditional hardware - in September it acquired the firedoors business of Polish-based Mercor to give it access to growing markets in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

It is also planning acquisitions of hardware manufacturers and traditional locksmiths in China, South America and India, though demand for digital locks is growing fast in the first two of those markets.

Demand for high-tech security is particularly strong in Brazil, where violent crime is common. Not only is fingerprinting identification for cash withdrawal machines becoming popular, but banks and consumers are requesting an extra layer of security that allows the machines to analyse blood vessels in the finger to recognise whether the person to whom it belongs is alive or dead.

(Additional reporting by Johanness Hellstrom; Editing by Sophie Walker)

Source: Yahoo

amanda Knox spent four years in an Italian prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher. She appealed and was released in 2011. Italy's Supreme Court has said the appeals court judges overlooked evidence against Amanda Knox.

By Tom Brown, Reuters / September 21, 2013

Amanda Knox, the American student accused of murdering her British roommate in Italy in 2007, said on Friday that "common sense" told her not to return to Italy for a retrial due to begin on Sept. 30.

Skip to next paragraph

"It's not a possibility," Knox said in an interview on NBC television's "Today" show. It is the first time she has said she will not go back to Italy.

"I was imprisoned as an innocent person and I just can't relive that," she told "Today" show host Matt Lauer.

Knox, 26, spent four years in prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher, whose half-naked body was discovered with more than 40 wounds and a deep gash in the throat in the apartment the two shared while studying in Perugia in central Italy.

Following an appeal, Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were acquitted in 2011 and she returned to her Seattle, Washington-area home. The Italian Supreme Court ordered a retrial in March due to inconsistencies in the appeal court's decision to release Knox and Sollecito.

"There are so many factors that are not allowing me to go back - financial ones, ones where I'm going to school, ones where I want the court to proceed without distraction," Knox said.

"I was imprisoned as an innocent person. It's common sense not to go back," she added.

Knox does not have to attend the retrial and can be represented by her lawyers.

She said she expected to win acquittal again at the new trial and insisted that not traveling to Florence to face her accusers should not be seen as an admission of guilt.

"I look at it as an admission of innocence, to be quite honest," she said in the interview.

Knox maintained her innocence in a memoir released earlier this year and painted herself as a naive young woman railroaded by a foreign justice system.

Italy's Supreme Court has said the appeals court judges overlooked evidence against the accused. The high court wants a re-examination of the theory that Kercher was killed during a group sex game.

At the moment, only one person is in jail for Kercher's murder: Ivory-Coast born Rudy Guede, who is serving a 16-year sentence. ( Additional reporting by Catherine Hornby; Editing by John Wallace)

Source: Csmonitor

La Procuraduría General de la República internó en el Reclusorio Sur a José "Pepe" Díaz, un empresario vinculado a la farándula, por una presunta evasión fiscal de alrededor de 2 millones de pesos.

Autoridades ministeriales confirmaron que el ex novio de la actriz y cantante eiza González fue detenido la tarde del jueves en el DF, con base en una orden de aprehensión librada por un juez de distrito por el delito de defraudación fiscal.

Esta mañana fue trasladado por agentes de la Policía Federal Ministerial desde las instalaciones de la Subdelegación de la PGR en Azcapotzalco hasta el reclusorio.

Las autoridades aún no han especificado si la modalidad de defraudación fiscal que le imputan es o no grave, lo cual definirá si le conceden la libertad bajo caución.

En las próximas horas Díaz comparecerá ante un juez federal para rendir su declaración preparatoria.

Hace apenas unas semanas su nombre salió a la luz por ser el presunto tercero en discordia en el matrimonio de Ninel Conde.

Junto con su hermano, el empresario es dueño de los antros llamados Classico, además es socio de restaurantes en Polanco y Santa Fe.

Source: Larazonsanluis

Ashkan Karimloo

Photos by Nicholas Tsui

The electronic music scene in Santa Barbara is undergoing a shift from the familiar sounds of electro house and trap to something more experimental and soulful, yet energetic enough to get crowds dancing and jumping. On Sept. 19 at Velvet Jones, Cashmere Cat proved to be a quintessential example of this transition.

The line for entrance stretched down the street as eager music-lovers waited to hear the 25-year-old Norwegian DJ and producer Magnus August Høiberg, better known as Cashmere Cat, play in Santa Barbara for the first time. Coming fresh off of the lineup for Hard Summer this past August and approaching a performance at the Symbiosis Gathering this weekend - alongside artists such as Hudson Mohawke, Shpongle, Mount Kimbie, RL Grime, and more - Cashmere Cat was more than ready to impress the mix of college students and locals on State Street. However, his career did not simply begin when he introduced his feline moniker in 2011; in reality Høiberg has been in the electronic music scene for nearly a decade.

Prior to his productions as Cashmere Cat, Høiberg was a finalist representing Norway at the DMC World DJ Championships, a prestigious competition whose past winners include A-Trak, Craze, Switch (formerly of Major Lazer), C2C, and many more. Within the past two years, Høiberg began releasing tracks on Soundcloud under the alias Cashmere Cat, garnering critical acclaim for his adept production quality and utilization of sounds that had never been heard before. He quickly gained attention for his remixes of Lana Del Rey's "National Anthem," Jeremih's "773 Love," and most of all, for his edit of 2 Chainz's and Drake's hit single "No Lie." Furthermore, his original song "Mirror Maru" was part of Rustie's essential mix in April of 2012, accompanying the premiere of tracks that helped to define the trap and future bass genres, such as TNGHT's "R U Ready" and "Goooo," as well as Baauer's "Harlem Shake."

Høiberg's performance this past Thursday showed how far the scene has come since its mainstream introduction over a year ago. His sound consisted of a rich blend of soothing R&B to bass-heavy and drum-kicking hip-hop, trap, future bass, and Jersey club. He began his set with the smooth piano intro of his track "Aurora" and fused it with "Kiss Kiss," a song from his debut EP "Mirror Maru." At this point, the crowd was already excited and grooving, allowing Høiberg to drop a song that has garnered much praise on Soundcloud, Trippy Turtle's "Southside Deep." This song embodies the genre-busting fusion of R&B, future bass, and Jersey club that producers such as Trippy Turtle, Jaw Jam, and Cashmere Cat are gaining a following for. This was only the beginning of the set, and the crowd was growing eager to hear more.

Høiberg kept the party going with his aforementioned remix of "773 Love," which he then blended into DJ Tray's Jersey Club remix of the crowd favorite "Bugatti" by Acehood and Future. This remix serves as an example of how sounds from New Jersey have picked up momentum and infiltrated the rest of the country and abroad. Jersey club music has spread through exposure on radio broadcasts like Diplo's weekly show, Diplo and Friends, on BBC Radio 1Xtra; through the influence of artists such as DJ Sliink, Brenmar, and Salva; and now, through Cashmere Cat's set.

The hip-hop and R&B vibes continued as he played his remix of "No Lie" and mixed it into J. Holiday's 2007 R&B hit "Bed." Needless to say, at this point, it appeared as though every girl in Velvet Jones was feeling the vibe and jumping with joy. Høiberg followed with an unreleased edit of DJ Khaled's "I'm on One," which features Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne, and then mixed it with Kendrick Lamar's hit single "Swimming Pools (Drank)." At what can be considered the climax of the show, Høiberg dropped his popular remix of Miguel's "Do You..." - a track that is quickly approaching a million plays on Soundcloud and a staple in sets by trap artists like Baauer and RL Grime. Following this, he played various crowd-pleasing songs, including Kanye West's "Bound 2," Drake's "Crew Love," T-Pain's "Buy U a Drank," and jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real."

As the show drew to a close, Høiberg displayed the talent that earned him a spot as a DMC finalist by cutting and scratching Kanye's track "Power" into "All of the Lights," causing the crowd to go into a frenzy one last time before he walked off stage. There were cries for an encore, but instead, Høiberg strolled into the crowd, drink in hand, and danced with his admirers charmingly and casually as a supporting DJ spun more R&B classics. Acts like this show that although artists, such as Cashmere Cat, possess great talents and have accumulated vast amounts of popularity, they are still regular people just having fun, doing what they love.

Source: Ucsb

Stories at the intersection of tech and life from a boldly connected city.

September 21, 2013 at 9:13 PM

The five capital letters are 96 years old. They're embossed on terra cotta panels mortared into brick on the north face of the historic Bemis building in Sodo, and they're beautiful. Almost regal.

Andrea Leksen just turned them into a font.

The 249 letters, numbers and characters in the all-caps Bemis typeface took Leksen, a freelance designer and an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University, a year and a half to complete. Bemis is the first typeface she's ever put up for sale; it was the No. 39 "hot font" on online marketplace myfonts.com Friday. It's also what's known as a font "revival," script from a nondigital past made a part of our technological present.

The Bemis font grew out of a classroom assignment: Draft a font from something old you see in Seattle, Leksen told her Applied Type students last year, then joined them in the hunt.

It also grew out of creative camaraderie. In two years Leksen's missed just one "Type Tuesday," a monthly meetup of local typographers and type designers at the Third Place Pub in Ravenna. The font fans might fill half the bar with geeky quips on kerning (the space between letters) or serifs (lines attached to letter strokes); or they quiz the occasional typeface celebrity in town to consult with the likes of Microsoft. Matthew Carter had a beer with them once. He designed Tahoma, Georgia and Verdana.

Talking to Leksen and other type designers last week, I realized something. I pay attention to what the millions of words around me say, but hardly ever how they look when they say it. For years now I've typed with this particular font on this particular word processor. Today is the first time I've thought to ask: What patient, detail-oriented person took the hundreds of hours needed to design it?

Laura Worthington, another Type Tuesday regular, felt her world change on a shoe-shopping trip with her niece in 2011. When a woman at the Southcenter Skechers store brought out a box, Worthington started shrieking. The name of the shoes, "Sunflowers," was written in something called Ladybird.

"That was the first time I'd seen my font in public," Worthington said. "She actually gave me the box."

Today, Worthington lives off royalties from her 31 typeface releases. Her latest, Charcuterie, is actually a family of 10 fonts, each designed to work well with any other. The bundle costs $79, and it's at the top of the myfonts.com best-seller list.

Worthington sees her fonts all the time now, and it's always a surprise. Shelby on a CW station identifier. Funkydori in a Subway commercial. Origins, one of her most popular creations, on the package of Hillshire Farms chicken apple sausage that's sitting in her fridge - just the word "gourmet."

People sometimes want to hire her to create a font for a couple hundred bucks, which she finds amusing. Worthington is as prolific as they come, but no font takes her less than 300 hours. It's more than drawing letters and numbers. They've got to look right. Feel consistent. Include accents and symbols for dozens of languages.

They also need hundreds of little programs to resolve hundreds of little issues. A lowercase "f" next to an "i" or "l" usually needs tweaking. The "w" in a word like "awake" might throw off the weight. Typeface designers know the drill: spend hours and hours on a font editor like FontLab reviewing letter combinations, making tiny edits that make all the difference.

When I do recognize a font, it's almost always Papyrus, and it's mostly my husband's fault. Ever since I've known him he's cringed whenever he's seen the free, antique looking typeface out in the world - usually, he'll note, at a small coffee shop, spa, restaurant or yoga studio. Now I'm cringing, too. Even Chris Costello, its designer, admits Papyrus is overused.

Designer Ryan Owens was in Leksen's Applied Type class last year and designed his classroom font from a Queen Anne apartment building near Kerry Park. Whether a font on a sign or a poster is overused and shoddy or different and elegant affects how he views the business. He's a big fan of the sign over Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery in Ballard.

The letters BEMIS went up along with an addition to the original Bemis building in 1917. Judson Moss Bemis built the first structure in 1904 to house one of his many bag factories; it's now home to warehouse space and 32 artist live and work studios. Leksen, who drove by the building for a couple years before inspiration struck, was drawn to the letters' high "waist" - where the middle line of the "E" goes - and added 3/4 caps and some letter ornaments as she derived the font.

A graphic designer at a local restaurant bought Bemis a couple weeks ago. Leksen is planning to stop by a little more regularly. Who knows? Those century old capital letters might turn up on the menu.

Mónica Guzmán's column appears in Sunday's Seattle Times. Got a story about living with technology in the Northwest - or know someone she should meet? Send her an email, follow her on Twitter @moniguzman or send her a message on Facebook.

Source: Seattletimes

Monaghan native Balfe has landed the leading role in a big-budget US drama. Pictures: Cathal Burke / VIPIRELAND.COM

Ex-catwalk queen Caitriona Balfe is one in demand beauty.

She's already worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, from Arnie and Sly Stallone to Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.

And now the Monaghan native has landed the leading role in a big-budget US drama.

The 16-part series Outlander is based on diana Gabaldon's time travel books, which have sold more than 25m copies.

Caitriona (33) will play the part of Claire Randall, a married World War Two nurse who suddenly finds herself transported 202 years into the past -- the way you do.

There she meets a strangely attractive Scottish warrior called Jamie Fraser.

The series will initially be helmed by Breaking Bad director John Dahl, and filming is set to commence in Scotland later this year.

The bosses of the show said that they had spent months trawling through audition tapes looking for their perfect leading lady.

"The casting of Claire Randall was a long and difficult one because the role is so crucial to the success of our show," producer Ronald D. Moore said.

"Outlander is told from Claire's point of view and we experience the entire story through her eyes, so it was vital that we find exactly the right actor to play her.

"Caitriona wasn't on anyone's radar and she wasn't on any list. But when we saw her audition tape, we immediately knew that she was someone special."

Author Gabaldon was equally blown away by Caitriona and her co-star Sam Heughan's audition tapes.

"Hard to believe lightning can strike twice, but it surely did," she said.

"The moment that Caitriona Balfe came on screen, I sat up straight and said, 'There she is!' She and Sam Heughan absolutely lit up the screen with fireworks."

Caitriona started her career sashaying down the catwalk at fashion shows in London, New York and Paris. She also appeared on RTE's 2010 series Model Scouts as a runway mentor.

But she gave up the world of posing and pouting to become an actress and has slowly been building up her profile in Tinseltown.

She landed a role in action flick Super 8 two years ago. After that, she appeared in the star-studded Now You See Me, which featured Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo and Isla Fisher and was released this summer. Next she will star alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the upcoming Escape Plan.

"I think every credit you get and every film you have your name attached to makes things a little bit easier," Caitriona told the Herald this year.

"It definitely opens doors up, but it's still a grind. You just have to take a chance see what happens."

Source: Independent