The shot above is so much simpler than you think. What would you guess that it is? Grass? Think again. This is actually a photo that I took in our little garden of Chives with my Tamron 90mm Macro. Why am I posting this? To prove that you can take a photo, especially macro that looks much more advanced than it is.

Does anyone want this as a wallpaper?

The Antenna Issues

Steve Jobs opened by again, stating that a very low number of customers are having the antenna issues, a move which can hardly be passed as surprising. On the contrary, based on Apple’s past history it was always more believable that the issues were going to be minimized as much as possible.

Jobs was not late either in pointing out the media coverage, blowing the issues fully out of proportion, a statement which I must agree with. I have read many reports that have the story right up with the oil leak and other very serious disasters. Yes, correctly said, this has been tremendously blown out of its proportions.

Now, there is no denying that there is an issue here with the antenna that affects users. Apple will be solving this for now, by giving everyone that purchases an iPhone a free bumper or one of their licensed cases, until the end of September. Furthermore, if you have already purchased a bumper, you will be given your  money back.

Apologies?

As far an apologies go, I think this is as far as Apple will go. Giving away free bumpers/cases as well as giving previous bumper-buyers a refund, albeit for a limited time, is in some way an apology saying that yes, we screwed up.

It also begs the question what they are going to do on September 30th. I would bet my money that they are trying out some new ways to insulate the little black line between the two antennas and that this will happen on new phones from now on, even if they did not make any official mention of so.

Steve Jobs did get the question afterwards, in the Q&A session for the invited media, about the choice of date for the cutoff. He clearly stated that they will be taking another look then and that they hopefully have a clearer idea of the problem, then.

This is again I think, the closest we are going to get to Apple saying: “We screwed up and we have no idea how to fix this problem in a way that is feasible for us without recalling all phones”.

Further Rollouts

Apple did close by saying that the iPhone will be available in white on July 30th. On the same date, the iPhone 4 will be available in 17 more countries. It hold me waiting patiently, because, July 30th means Swedish release and it means that I can get my hands on an iPhone 4. Yes, I am going to get one.

Why do I want this so badly?

It is a valid question, I give you that. While I want an iPad too and expect it to be that middle device for me that saves me bringing the computer, still getting a screen larger than the iPhone’s, being able to type on the iPhone with an external keyboard is packing it full with a brand new way for us to use it.

Being in school for most of the year, I do much writing. Some days, I do bring my laptop, when I know we will be doing writing in class that we are allowed to do on computers (school computers, although all Macs, are usually taken very quickly). If you have seen my bag that I bring, you would know that it is usually filled with books I need to bring weighing me down as it is already. In all honesty, the bag I have used for almost two years broke earlier this spring because of the weight all the time. Having an iPad, or the iPhone even, saves me a lot of weight just for being able to type into a computer.

How does it work?

I picked up one of Apple’s Wireless Bluetooth Keyboards (the ones in stainless steel) just before I went on vacation to Portugal last week. I had in mind that I would do some writing whilst down there as relaxing environments usually spark some of my creativity (as it turns out, I did some writing but not as much as I had thought).

Case of point, I brought the keyboard with me as I had decided not to bring a laptop. After all, it was vacation.

The combination works incredibly well. Just turn on the keyboard, turn on bluetooth on your iPhone and within seconds you will see the keyboard listed. Just pair it and you will be able to type away on the keyboard, into the iPhone. I’ll tell you, the first time I did it, it felt very unreal.

Will I use it the way I thought?

I think so. Sure, my plan is to get an iPad sooner or later, but that may not be until next year when they get a new iteration out. I can see myself leaving the keyboard in my bag most of the time, easily picking it up when I need it for typing something in school. Of course, it is still summer holidays and I have yet to try this out for real but it feels like a solid plan. I will let you know how it goes once I start using it in school.

Have you tried out the Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard with an iPhone or an iPad? How do you like it? Would this be something for you to try?

Basically, the Google Font API helps you as a web designer, allowing you to use some special fonts on your websites, without relying on the user having it installed, or some of the other techniques, like sIFR.

Just the other day, I switched the post headings on this site from using the sIFR replacement, to using the Google Font API. All you do is include a simple javascript, calling the information about the font, which you can then use in a regular font-family stylesheet parameter.

Check it out and try it on your next project. Unfortunately, the font choice is very limited, but should work fine for many purposes.

I consider the big Wohoo in the title valid here! The NoMoreiTunes Extension for Safari 5 puts an end to something that I have been annoyed at ever since the wonderful iTunes Preview was announced.

Short back story. Nowadays when you click on an iTunes link, you get a nice web interface, showing the same information as it would once it has opened in iTunes. Sadly, what it also does is force iTunes to open and open the same information in the iTunes Store, there.

This extension does one thing. Stops iTunes from opening when you click an iTunes link, allowing you to use the iTunes Preview interface on the web instead of being forced into iTunes.

The extension is free and available for download.

Last week I was doing a road trip with my dad around Germany, more or less visiting famous cities where composer, J.S Bach used to be active, ending in a couple of days in Berlin.

I have written about TripIt before, more specifically after my Photoshop World trip back in March and how it helped me keep track of flights. Well, this time I didn’t have any flights, but many hotels.

What makes TripIt so great to use is that all I do when I book a flight, transportation or hotel, is that I forward the confirmation email to TripIt and if it is from one of their many (many!) supported sites, they add it to the existing trip for those days, or create a new trip for me!

In addition, I can add activities and events myself if I want them in my travel itinerary if they aren’t supported, or does not require booking.

Short and sweet, I love TripIt and TripIt Pro, making my traveling much easier and for my favorite iPhone app to go with it, check out FlightTrack Pro and TripDeck.

photokina - 21-26 September - Cologne, Germany

Photokina is the larger photography fair in the world, this year on September 21-26 in Cologne, Germany.

photokina - 21-26 September - Cologne, Germany

Photokina is perhaps the largest photo exhibition, every two years in Cologne, Germany. This year, I have decided to attend and have a look at everything that will be released there. It is a huge show floor. The convention dates are 21 – 26 September, and I’ll be going over the weekend (24 – 26).

If you live close and have a photography interest, attending is pretty much a must. Lufthansa offers some really good flight deals, flying in to either Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/Main or Cologne (where the first two have more flights). Both Düsseldorf and Frankfurt are just a short train ride away.

Will you be going to photokina this fall?

I did a one hour live photo shoot seminar today at my school (photo above courtesy my friend Albin Thorén, taken just after I wrapped up) to show techniques to use when lighting up people using just a single light (although some multi-light effects too made it in).

My most heartfelt thank you to everyone who came, a full 30-40 people, more than I thought would show up. Perhaps I shall do something similar again in the fall but more geared as a workshop instead of an open room seminar. Nevertheless, I had a blast.

Below are some photos from the live shoot.

The reason I am writing this post is to pick your brains a bit. If you knew little about portraiture, what would you like to learn, are there any specific effects you would like to know how to do? Share in the comments, please! While I have a certain outline in mind already, I would love to hear your input!