Thursday, November 7, 2013

Value for money - DSLR Nikon D5200 !

One of the solid camera with excellent photo and video quality, It gives better shooting experience that makes it an excellent choice for all-around family and vacation photography.

I am not going to write on the specifications of the camera or the camera review, there are lots of websites in the web for that.

Just I want to share my experience in choosing a best DSLR camera and How I did it?


Why Nikon D5200 is a value for money ?


I made a optimal comparative study in the market before deciding on Nikon.

There were few questions I had as basis to select the right model for me.

1. Why do I need a DSLR camera ? Why not the common point and shoot with higher Megapixel ?
2. What will I be shooting most of the time if Photography isn't my profession?
3. Do I know some thing about Photography before deciding on a camera?
4. What can be my budget ? How far I can go ? Can in make a justice to the money that I will spend?
5. When more DSLR cameras and mirror-less cameras are coming to the market every 2-months, What
     should I choose (APS-C / Full Frame or Full-frame Mirror-less), Which can suite me the best ?
6. What is the amount of money I can invest on accessories (Lenses, Flashes, Memory Card, Battery,
     Tripod, Bag) ?
7. How frequent will I be travelling with the camera ?
8. Are there direct company service centers available locally in Kuwait and in India?

When I had answered all these questions, I know that I was left with only one option Nikon D5200.

1. Why do I need a DSLR camera ? Why not the common point and shoot with higher Megapixel ? 

I already own a Sony-H9 10 MP, 15 X Optical Zoom which has already served my photographic needs for more than Six years, Now I have reached to a point where I find most of the photo's that I take with my H-9 doesn't meet my expectations. I found some memorable shots which I took were unusable because of the restrictions to choose the ISO or FPS when I use the camera in Auto Mode, hence I decided to go for an better one but not the most expensive one, as still I am not a hard core photographer.

When considering the options for accessories (Lens and Flashes) and the Megapixel Count, Nikon Plays a monopoly at present.

Why more Megapixel ?

Armature Photographers will need more details on a photograph that can be edited many times to achieve an decent image, hence high megapixels will help you achieve that to an extent.  

2. What will I be shooting most of the time if Photography isn't my profession?

Most of my images are shot at places I visit on my personal or official need (means I do not travel to places for the reason to take photograph). Hence my photo's will be most on my personal album not on any photography site or competition. The subjects are to be my family, friends, relatives and memorable places. But still I need to see my photo's with decent visuals and image quality.  I prefer to have some minimal post-processing steps to be applied on some of the photographs I will take as I do not know much about professional photographic workflow.

Do I know some thing about Photography before deciding on a camera?

Yes, to say a little bit. I have a decent knowledge to play with ISO, AF/MF, FPS, Aperture, Flash and White Balance to play with my camera. Most of the times I can get a decent image by playing with these settings in Manual Mode, or at least I know what went wrong when I did not get the exact shot what I was trying.

Also I have some idea how to handle a photo in a light room with post processing effects.

This is what all I know about photography as far now, but will be keep on learning new techniques and feature.

Thanks & Regards,
S.Grace Paul Regan

Thursday, February 21, 2013

i-Phone 5 & 4G LTE in Kuwait!

The iPhone 5 adds the most wanted things in the iPhone 4S, The major change factors are:
 
1.      4G LTE
2.      A longer, larger screen
3.      Free turn-by-turn navigation by Apple & Now Google maps with turn-by-turn navigation are great.
4.      Faster A6 processor
5.      Plus - its top-to-bottom redesign is sharp, slim, and feather-light
6.      Headphone Jack moved to bottom of the phone.
The major reason for me to upgrade was the "4G LTE - (Long Term Evolution)", So far after travelling to various countries and consulting my friends in Middle East, I haven't found that there isn't one single mobile operator through "Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait & Qatar) who provides "Worth Data Plans" (data plans worth for the money you spend). Every single mobile operator was looting their customers shamelessly with a poor and exaggerated net work band width.
 
Even I was an victim of this data plan, being looted for more than three years.
 
In approx. I have spent (900 KWD = 1,75,000 INR) for the past three years just for the data plan alone (I have not included my voice calls here). I knew that I was robbed in full day light in front of everyone and was helpless because most of them around me were robbed the same way.
 
When I heard "4G-LTE" connection is coming to Kuwait, I thought its a new tool and idea for mobile operators to create a new "Rob-Plan".
 
Initially here in Kuwait "4G -LTE" connection is provided by "ZAIN Telecom". Others are also in the race but still on the way yet to provide 4G LTE connection for their customers.
 
Even though being hesitant, I thought of giving a try to Test the connection speed and package deals by ZAIN. It was quite the same pricing as it was for dead slow 3G, hence thought of switching plans if I would benefit by the speed of 4G LTE as its claimed to be 10 times faster than the previous generation.
 
I tested the connection speed (Ping Test), down load speed, upload speed from various server locations, HD Video online streaming, and Internet Threatening Connectivity speeds, exchange server large file upload /download at various intervals of time, date and location to get an average of test results.
 
The results were amazing, in average I got speeds more than 20 MPBS, at odd times I got speeds up to 50 MBPS, I have the test results with me.
 
Then finally made my mind to go for it, when considering my data plans 4 G LTE was just 1 KD more, but there was a bitter point for my purse here, I need to have an 4G LTE enabled mobile device or Internet hot-spot device for me to use the 4 G Data Plan.
 
Hence I decided to go for i-Phone 5 with 4G LTE and found to be the most reliable handset at present in the market with 4G LTE connectivity. Apart from 4G LTE, I did not have any reason to upgrade my i-Phone 4S.
 
But right now after using my i-Phone 5 with 4G LTE connection  for more than a month, I could say the i-Phone 5 is far better than 4S in addressing my internet speed issues. i-Phone 5 connectivity speed with ZAIN 4G LTE is real good so far. Most of the time I get the speed between 20 MBPS to 50 MBPS when connected through 4G LTE. I have tested the connection from different locations (Shuwaikh, Qurain, Faheel, Kuwait City, Mangaf, Farwaniya, Air Port) and also at different times.
 
Now I think my money spent on data plan is worth it!
 
But I don’t know how long this speed would be valid with ZAIN. But for now “ZAIN” has got the best data connection plan with high speed internet in Kuwait.

 
For any details or clarification regarding the “4 G LTE” connection with ZAIN you can mail me @ regan.gpr@gmail.com as a friend to get an idea before opting for 4G LTE, I am not a representative or marketer of ZAIN, I have just posted my point of view on my own experience.

Opinion differs !
 
Thanks & Regards,
S.Grace Paul Regan
 

Monday, January 14, 2013

Which is the superior mobile OS: iOS, Android, or Windows 8?

In the recent past days I have seen new Phones or Tablet hitting the market every single day from different manufacturer with different operating system, which gave me the curiosity to find which one is the best. Now a days you can hear "Android and Windows 8" more than iOS. I just wanted to check if these was an mirage created by an unrealistic hyped market or there is some thing real.

After some personal exprieance with all the three OS with different manufacturer and after reading different review from different gadget review site across the globe, I came up with some gross evaluation which I think are the reasons for the present drift in the gadget market.

The fact is that all three of these OS platforms have their strengths and weaknesses. Depending on what you’re already using and what you want to get out of your computing experience, any one of these three choices may be the superior option. Understanding your own goals and each platform will deliver the most positive experience possible. Failing to understand this will lead to disappointment. Fortunately, I’m here to try and help you make sense of the options available.

iOS

Let’s start with Apple’s mobile platform. By far and away the most polished, prestigious, and arguably popular mobile OS platform, there’s no doubt that Apple started the modern post-PC era. There’s a lot to love about iOS — it’s reliable, the hardware is gorgeous and cutting-edge, and it has the largest library of content and applications. Honestly, it’s the perfect content consumption device for end-users who simply want to absorb and aren’t interested in doing a lot of creation.

I’m not sure why so many technology bloggers want to paint the iPad as a productivity platform. Of the three platforms, iOS is the weakest in content creation and productivity. iOS is aimed squarely at average consumer markets and it’s hugely successful in reaching this group. The iPad is so simple that toddlers and chimps can pick it up and understand it. I like to tease about this, but that’s the key to its success. It’s an appliance designed to empower nearly anyone to enjoy the benefits of digital devices.

However, having an easy device comes with sacrifices, and the biggest one is that iOS is the least suited for professional use. Sure, there are exceptions. Some niche industries, most notable the medical and music industries, embrace the iPad and drive a lot of app designs. Ultimately, I think that a more powerful and flexible mobile OS platform will become equal to or exceed iOS even in those fields — but for now, Apple enjoys a lead. Otherwise, if you’re not in one of those very narrow niches, iOS is only the best choice if you want a machine primarily for consumer applications with little or no professional productivity in mind.

Android

I believe that not only is Android the most popular smartphone OS, but it’s also now positioned to be the dominant tablet and hybrid OS by the middle of 2013. It’s no wonder, because Android is (in many ways) the “Windows” of mobile OS platforms. With multiple device manufacturers competing on price, quality, features and other positions, Android devices offer a flexibility that iOS cannot match.

There’s something for every budget, goal, and desire among Android-based devices.
Android is the middle ground. With many of the features (and liabilities) of a true mobile OS, Google has tried to walk a line in offering the same kind of intuitive, light-weight mobile experience as iOS but with the power and flexibility of a traditional Windows desktop OS. They’ve done a pretty good job at this, which is reflected in the popularity of this platform.
However, the process has not been without compromise.

 In making a more flexible and powerful platform that supports more devices, Android has become less of a consumer appliance and more of a power user’s playground. While that may sound good to a lot of potential users, it means that Android is not as stable, predictable, or well designed as iOS. Things are just a little less polished.

At the same time, for true power users, Android falls just short of being able to deliver a completely satisfying experience. I’ve been using Android daily for several years, chasing a replacement for my Windows laptop. Part of my shock that iOS users are chasing this goal is my disappointment with Android in this regard. I can leave the PC notebook at home for trips and travel, but I’ve had to adjust and learn “work-around” methods that include saving the heavy lifting for a real PC. For some users, this is good enough. If you want a little more power on the road but are still okay with needing a PC to finish things up when you return, Android may be a good solution for you.


Windows 8

Microsoft has positioned themselves to compete with the encroachment of mobile OS platforms on the traditional PC, but Windows 8 is a complex platform in all its myriad forms.

Windows delivers much of the mobile OS platform nearly as well as the previously mentioned platforms, but it retains a distinct focus on corporate business productivity as its primary role. Even the ARM-based Windows RT is aimed at users who are strongly invested in Microsoft’s business platforms. If you want the strongest integration with Windows domains, Exchange, Office, and Microsoft’s cloud and intranet solutions, Windows 8 is simply worlds ahead of either iOS or Android. The business-oriented apps are also far more advanced for enterprise-oriented goals, content creation, and organization.

The sacrifice here is that Windows 8 reflects Microsoft’s philosophy on enabling powerful business applications that reward a steep learning curve with tremendous competitive advantage. This is the least intuitive touch-screen platform, the social integration is the most uneven, and the apps and consumer content are the sparsest (at least on the mobile side of the OS). You’ve also got some platform fracturing that can be confusing.

Windows RT is aimed at people who want a very lightweight device that offers a lot of the hardware features of competitive tablets, with a somewhat crippled version of Microsoft’s “Classic” Windows mode. The crippled Classic mode still offers the best corporate productivity platform of any mobile tablet device in this class for professionals in Microsoft shops.

Windows Pro devices are really just full-fledged traditional PCs with a touch-oriented GUI. They can do everything a PC can do, but they offer mobile, touch-oriented features too. These devices do not generally deliver the same true instant-on and true 8+ hour battery life as mobile OS platforms, nor the quiet fanless operation. But if you’re a heavy professional content creator in a Microsoft business and you want a device that offers many benefits of touch-screen mobile devices, there may be no better choice for you.

Remember, there’s no platform that’s truly superior to the others in this roundup. They all have benefits and compromises, so you need to select the platform that appeals the most to you. Depending on your needs and tastes, however, you might end up picking a platform that isn’t the best solution for you.

Which device platform best fits your needs? It depends upon what you actually want to do with your device and the job nature you are in to which demands you to choose from one of these OS at times.

iOS  - Most Comfortable and easy to use interface

Android - Mostly for Professional Users, still most of the applications seems to have "No Start and
                 No End" is  hanging in between.

Windows 8 - Might be useful for corporate users. If lots of MicroSoft Office sync is required.

Most of the above contents were picked and edited from various web gadget news sources as well as my own suggestions and points are included.

Thanks & Regards,
S.Grace Paul Regan