iMac with Multiple Monitors

One can not have enough screen "real-estate" when working with photos, or while exploring your web-development skillz. So, a single display is simply not an option in my case......

Next to my 27" iMac stands a Dell 24" TFT Display. This Dell display is being abused for two things;

1. extended display for my iMac, and
2. as a main monitor for my (Windows) work laptop

using the input selector on the TFT display.

Since I'm a guy and I rock at multitasking (*cough*), I have both my Windows (work) laptop and my iMac powered on. In this scenario I have only one active display on my iMac. The second display should therefor not be used, and this is where Apple fails miserably.

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iPhone iOS 4.2 and Carrier Update Released

There's probably more than enough information on this subject, but there's something I ran into;

After the iOS 4.2 update, I also got a iPhone Carrier update through iTunes, and brave as I am, I installed it.

Afterward, several options in the Settings -> General -> Carrier menu of the iPhone were gone. Specifically, the settings regarding the Cellular Data settings, MMS. Basically, all the stuff I had to do manually as described in this blogpost.

Apple must have included the KPN Carrier settings in their Carrier Support package. Checking the default carrier profile location (/Users//Library/iTunes/iPhone Carrier Support/) showed the KPN_nl_iPhone.ipcc profile.

This does make it easier to upgrade to another iOS version, because each earlier upgrade erased the settings I had entered manually the time before. On the downside; The profile could also be updated to remove/disable tethering on the iPhone on the KPN network.

The ipcc file mentioned earlier is the one distributed on (or around) November 24th, 2010.

Awesome Holographic Imaging Application

I should think that the title says it all. Just watch the video.

Holographic Architectural Imaging by Zebra from Core77 on Vimeo.

Michael Klug of Zebra Imaging demonstrates their holographic architectural representation system.

First Paypal Spoof Ever

Today, my very first PayPal spoof/phishing mail arrived. So finally, my e-mail address has been recorded in your average cyberpunk database. Note, that the (Dutch) grammar and spelling in the e-mail is appalling. Just what you expect from a default translation program like Google Translate or Babelfish.

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Chinese Government Shows 'Interest'

It's no surprise that a lot of cyberattacks originate from the the 'excellent' People's Republic of China. Some of these attacks are funded by or even originating from the Chinese government. Well, the latter is definitely true.

My (private) ssh server is a point of interest to the Chinese government, since they are trying to get in.

Every couple minutes a possible break-in entry is recorded in my logs. I guess that they decided not to hammer the front door, in order to evade automatic blacklisting of the originating IP.

reverse mapping checking getaddrinfo for mail.zdpri.gov.cn [218.108.28.189] failed - POSSIBLE BREAK-IN ATTEMPT!

I checked the IP and it seems to host the web-mail for the Zhejang prov. Development Planning & Research Institute [1].

I guess it's time to tighten the timers on blacklisting.....

B.t.w. The reporting on the IP was provided by Splunk. Excellent tool for digging in logfiles and reporting.

Extension Tubes and Macro Photography

Soligor Extension TubesSince I have no real specialty (yet) in the field of photography I do own a macro lens (a Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG). Playing around in the macro field I find that the 1:1 representation of the subject isn't always what you want. Sometimes you need, or want more magnification. There are several ways of achieving a higher magnification ratio. One of them is using so-called extension tubes.

Taken with a Lensbaby Composer and a 36mm Extension Tube

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ThinkTank Retrospective 30 Camera Bag Review

ThinkTank Photo Retrospective 30 - BlackThe ThinkTank Retrospective camera bag series is different from the other regular ThinkTank (shoulder) bags. The normal ThinkTank bags are mainly professional looking. The Retrospective line is much more casual (not as casual as the Domke bags), and it doesn't yell 'THINKTANK'.

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Morning Walk

A couple of (highly annoyed) cows I ran into this morning during a nice morning walk. Fog and sun... a nice combination.

More photos can be seen on my flickr page.

Changing Camera Systems?

Updated on Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 14:24 by Willem

Don't know how it happened, but last night I stumbled upon several dSLR (Nikon/Canon) versus Rangefinder (Leica) comparisons. Something, I wish hadn't happen. Reading through these reviews / comparisons / user experiences made the (digital) rangefinder concept very appealing. Especially when you're a non-studio / non-portrait / non-macro / non-action shooter..... which fits my profile for about 95%.

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Beth Hart Showcase @ Amstelkerk, Amsterdam

Autographed CDMy gf won two tickets for the showcase for Beth Hart's new CD 'My California' for last Friday. I didn't quite know what to expect. I did know some of her older songs, and that's about it.

Since it was a showcase for her new CD, she didn't play much 'oldies'. Not that I cared, since her new album contains more than enough excellent material.

Below, one of her new songs 'Sister Heroine'.

Recorded with a Panasonic Lumix LX3

More photos from the showcase are available on my flickr page.