And here’s the best birthday present of all: Apple today releases the iPhone 2.0 software update, the iTunes App Store and, of course, iPhone 3G. I won’t be getting the 3G anytime soon as I am more than happy with my first generation iPhone, however the 2.0 update will serve me well. I already have my sights on the piano and photography apps and it blows me away [still] that free apps like AIM and Facebook will be available. There’s also a free remote application that will enable me to use my iPhone as a remote control to my Mac’s iTunes library. Cool stuff. Thanks, Apple!
I shoot digital, so having a light meter isn’t really all that necessary since I can just pop a few test shots and eyeball the exposure off the polaroid back. Of course the results are absolutely hit-and-miss. So I’ve decided to become properly scientific and get a damn light meter.
The Sekonic L-358 Flash Master is perfect for what I want since it is relatively inexpensive, durable, fires my PocketWizard-ed lights wirelessly (with the optional trigger), is easy to use, has tons of functionality and even meters for video, which I also use. Now I’m nailing every exposure. And I can really see the difference when the workflow moves into Photoshop.
Behind my new tool is a blue/gray sheet of 10×24 foot muslin from Adorama Belle Drape held up by a Photoflex ProDuty backdrop support system. All of these tools I purchased with my government-issued economic stimulus check. Thanks, IRS!
Robert Rozak of Juiced Link just sent me some information on his low-noise preamplifier for field audio acquisition for video production. Rozak claims his product records less hiss than the industry standard Sound Devices MixPre or even the popular BeachTek DXA models. He also claims that his Juiced Link product works well with the Canon HV20, a popular alternative to independent filmmakers needing to make the High Definition switch inexpensively, a claim which is apparently supported by users.
I do not personally use any indie filmmaking gear yet as I am still extremely focused on my photography. But when I do take the plunge, I will seriously consider Juiced Link for connecting XLR audio equipment to my HV20 or 30; the product looks solid and it’s also inexpensive. It also doesn’t weigh a lot so it should help ballast the tiny camera atop a Steadicam Merlin.
Check it out and tell Robert I sent ya.
Well, I finally did it. I finally submitted my application to Apple for consideration of inclusion as a content provider in the iTunes Store today. They say it’ll take a few weeks before they get to it. I also registered my name as a domain name which points directly to my music page on this site. I don’t really know what I’m getting into right now, but if all goes well, I’ll not only be submitting my music, but my independent films, as well. It’s nice completely owning my own material.
Grand Theft Auto IV is coming out next month. I had forgotten about it, placed the game in the back of my head when it was announced two years ago. I’m glad I did: two years flew by and now it’s almost here. I want to play this game. I also want to play Halo 3 and Half-Life 2: Episode Two. I finally need to buy an XBOX 360. I have all these other games from my XBOX days and it’s time to upgrade. I’ll probably do that this month, giving me the rest of March and all of April to play other games like Gears of War and Dead Rising before GTA IV arrives. I am giddy with anticipation. Tee-hee.
Update: I went ahead and bought the XBOX 360 Arcade version. It comes with everything I, a casual gamer, needs. I also picked up Gears of War and The Orange Box. Later in the month I’ll get Dead Rising and Halo 3 and that will pretty much hold me until GTA IV is released at the end of April. After that, I’ll look into buying the 120GB hard drive and join Live (which together will let me play my old XBOX games) and then I’ll start making some machinima like back in the day. Then my next order of business will be getting a giant plasma HDTV before “The Switch” in 2009.
I now have a section on that site devoted to my XBOX gaming here.
The day before the 2007 Apple Keynote presentation and frustrated with my cell phone, I lamented at how there was not a way to quickly go through voice mail without having to listen to every one of them. The next day, Steve Jobs presented iPhone.
The day before the 2008 Apple Keynote presentation and I have activated my brand new iPhone. Pleased as I was, I couldn’t help but think that it would be cool if I could make Google my home page and see the lyrics I had attached to karaoke music.
This evening I watched Steve Jobs present the new update for iPhone (on my iPhone) which does all of that, as well as present a GPS-like function that would have greatly served me last week when I was lost looking for a potential wedding client in Harlingen and had neither an iPhone or the update. The customizable home page and web clips functions will also serve me greatly and make using my iPhone even more efficient. Steve Jobs said thank you for helping make Apple rich. And I said thank you for making good product. It’s like I say to people who ask me why I prefer Apple: “It just works.”
Well, I gots me an Apple iPhone today. Went to the AT&T Store to get a pre-approval credit check, I cleared and so I bought the iPhone right there. Got a little leather clip-on pouch for it, too. Basically, I’m waiting for my Sprint PCS service to end on Monday, then I can simply activate my new iPhone and AT&T wireless service.
When they asked me if I wanted to buy the iPhone at the time, I decided to check online to make sure I had the fundage. I certainly would have on the 15th, pay day. So I decided to do a direct deposit advance to ensure I had a buffer. I do and now I have a new iPhone that I won’t be able to use until at least Monday. No matter, the Cowboys are in the play-offs tomorrow and it’s followed by a brand new Family Guy. I also met with a client this morning and they want to hire me for their upcoming wedding in August.
I also found out yesterday that a friend is having a birthday party for his girlfriend’s daughter and he wanted to hire me to shoot it. So I’m having a pretty decent weekend so far. Now, if only I had a girlfriend (then I wouldn’t have the money to buy an iPhone). Hmm…
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