Carl Zeiss SLR Lenses Now Also Canon EF mount

Carl Zeiss is expanding its successful line of SLR lenses: ZE lenses with EF bayonet for all analog and digital EOS camera models. As with all EF lenses, the new ZE lenses from Carl Zeiss transfer all information exclusively via electronic contacts. This means that all exposure modes such as programmed auto exposure, shutter priority, aperture priority and manual setting are supported. The camera’s automatic focus confirmation also remains available to an unlimited extent with these manual focus lenses. With digital SLRs, the lens data and all exposure data can also be accessed via the camera’s EXIF file. Even E-TTL flash metering is supported. The first lenses to be available will be the Planar T* 1,4/50 ZE and the Planar T* 1,4/85 ZE in the last quarter of this year. Further focal lengths will be added to the line within the next few months.


Planar T* 1,4/50 ZE 579 euros (incl. 19% German VAT)


Planar T* 1,4/85 ZE 999 euros (incl. 19% German VAT)

transKode Script

Convert audio files from inside your favorite music/playlist manager with transKode, a free plug-in for Amarok. If you've never installed an Amarok script, it's simple—grab the package ending in .tar.bz from the link below, head to the Tools->Script Manager menu, then hit the "Install" button and point to where you put that package.

Miro 1.0

Cross-platform, open source video application Miro is now available in a full-featured, bug-fixed 1.0 version. The program formerly known as Democracy Player plays almost any kind of video file, but its real value lies in its content fetching and organizing features. Miro can subscribe to video podcasts, grab from YouTube channel feeds or BitTorrents.

Testament at Independent in SF

Yesterday I went to San Francisco to see Testament plus Vicious Rumors / Ruffians live at The Independent club. That was my first visit in this place. Nice small club but parking was nightmare. Anyway concert was great, I liked this club and I am looking forward for next events in this place ;-)

From Testament

FLAC and OGG plugins for iTunes

Xiph QuickTime Components (XiphQT) is a set of QuickTime and Macintosh OS X plug-ins. Their role is to provide support for Xiph media compression and container formats.

If you are an end user: installing XiphQT components is all you need to start using Xiph-formatted media files in a variety of applications - for example, listening to Ogg/Vorbis files in QuickTime Player or iTunes.

Apple Computer Nike + iPod Sport Kit

Nike iPod Sport Kit and compatible Nike ("Nike Plus") shoes are now in stores. Consisting of a small, red and white wireless 802.11 2.4 GHz sensor/transmitter and an all-white iPod nano receiver, the Sport Kit tracks a runner's performance and sends data to the nano for recording and synchronization with iTunes. In order for the kit to work, the sensor must be inserted into a pocket within the shoe.

Rammstein - Rosenrot

I have been listening to new Rammstein for last two days. It's fantastic. Some ot the songs are heaviest ever. Lyrics as usual are very surprising. So far songs I most like are "Rosenrot" and "Spring" (it gives me creeps). Yeu can read more on Wikipedia page.

iPod firmware update

iPod Updater 2006-01-10 includes iPod Software 1.1 for the new iPod, new iPod Software 1.1 for iPod nano, new iPod Software 1.2.1 for iPod with color display, new iPod Software 1.4.1 for iPod mini, and new iPod Software 3.1.1 for iPod with Click Wheel. iPod Updater 2006-01-10 contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2005-11-17 for all other iPod models.

Tunebuckle - “Waist Management” for iPod Nano

It comes equipped with either a white or black to belt to match, or compliment, your iPod nano's shade. We're not even going to call these guys out on their

Google Music

Google on Thursday launched a new service intended to give searchers fast links to song lyrics, musical artists and CD titles on the main search results page.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Unrelated to Typing?

Found on Slashdot: "Carpal tunnel is caused when nerves in the wrist are pinched, however it's not caused by frequent use of a keyboard, claims the report. Instead, it is caused by heredity, body weight, fracture, or even pregnancy."

Arch Enemy

I saw them live at Slim's club in San Francisco. Great show, Angela is really powerfull vocalist.

Arch Enemy at Slim’s

I missed them at Ozzfest so I got second chance to see them next Monday at Slim's in San Francisco.



Slim's:
333 11th Street
San Francisco, California
Mon, November 14, 2005
Showtime: 8:00 PM (Doors: 7:30 PM)
Ticket price: $18/$20

EasyTag

It looks like I found software that would help me organize my collection of mp3 files:


After couple modifications to ID3 tags I can import them to iTunes and all are organized as I wished :-)

iPod nano

Yes, this is my first iPod so I am a little confused by it's user interface. So far I got iRiver mp3 player. It was small and light enough to use it in a gym. I did not have a need to carry my entire music collection to the gym with me so I did not bother buying iPod. Nano seems to be good comrpomise, it has enough storage capacity, it's small and light and it's iPod so I expected to have plenty open source solutions for it under Linux.
I just tried gtkpod and it was huge disapointment. I guess I got very old version but still it could not read iTunesDb file properly. I tried it before iTunes on Windows so later I noticed that interface is very similar. I do not like flat list representation of entire music collection. I find tree interface more intuitive and easier to navigate. I think I am too Windows-centric to appreciate iTunes UI ;-)
As far as iPod device is concerned I need to get used to wheel. It's too sensitive for me at the moment. I got same problems with laptops with touch devices so I am not surprised. I need practice. Also I t looks like I need to fix ID3 tags in my collection of mp3 files. It looks like file names and directory structure is completely irrelevant for iTunes so now I just dumped large load od unorganized crap to my iPod and I do not like it.