Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with digital

Best Discreet Subway Camera?

joshwa — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:00:54 -0800

DigitalCameraFilter: I am trying to find a small, discreet point-n-shoot camera that I can use on the subway to take pictures of my fellow-passengers (think Walker Evans - Many Are Called). Trying to find something that is: small (fits in pocket), quiet, sharp, can disable the rear lcd, and has minimal shutter lag. Good high-iso performance also a plus. Zoom not necessary. The Canon G-series would fit the bill, but they're rather bulky are mega-pricey for this application.

Hoping that someone here has experience with such an application and can recommend something?

Googling, as you'd imagine, is of limited usefulness. There are just too many small digital cameras and thousands of spammy spycam and bogus affiliate sites.

Help me print my photos!

mingodingo — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:02:01 -0800

My mom has mentioned wanting new photo portraits of me, my brother, and our dogs (her grand-dogs)--I know, kinda corny. But we thought that this would be a good idea for a Christmas present, so we went to the park over Thanksgiving and did a little photo shoot. What's the best way to get good quality prints of our digital pictures? We're wanting to get a good quality, large print (around 16' by 20'), as well as some smaller (8' x 10', 4' x 6'). We also want a collage of several of the photos (but I don't know whether we want a "pre-printed" collage, or just a frame with several spots for different photos).

So anyway, we're trying to figure out where to get these printed. He's in West Texas, and I'm in the Bay Area. I'm thinking the easiest option would be to go through an online service (shutterfly, smugmug, etc.). Does anyone have experience with any of these services, or other similar online digital printers? Would you recommend using "brick and mortar" printers instead? And if so, do you have any recommendations in West Texas or the Bay Area?

Thanks!

What's the best wireless audio bridge / networked digital audio receiver that works on the Mac?

nitsuj — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:27:10 -0800

What's the best wireless audio bridge / networked digital audio receiver that works on the Mac? I'm looking for a simple hardware solution that will allow me to bridge my Macbook Pro's audio-out source to my home theater amplifier. Many products like the WMB54G and Sirocco either have no Mac support at all, or have very poor reviews and cost way too much.

The Airport Express seems decent if I only wanted to stream iTunes, but I'd also like to stream from other sources, like Spotify, which it won't support.

Is there a simple, under-$100 (or close to it) solution out there?

Digital Camera Recommendations for Smoggy China

imalaowai — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:17:45 -0800

Digital Camera Recommendations for Smoggy China I know there are a lot of digital camera questions out there . . . but I did a search and didn't find anything pertaining to this. Please forgive me if this question has been asked recently.

So, last time I went to China all of my pictures turned out brown and grainy. At first I thought my camera was crap -- and then I realized that the smog was probably the main culprit. I was using a Canon PowerShot A520, which has 4 megapixels. I'm going to be going back to China next summer and I'm interested in getting a camera that will take better pictures in the smog. Are such cameras available for under $200? I really don't know anything about digital cameras -- other than how to erase photos of myself wherein I have more than one chin -- so please talk to me like I'm a 5 year old :)

I don't really have any other preferences -- though I guess I'd rather have a camera with a charger than one that takes batteries. I don't plan to do anything fancy with this camera -- I'll just be taking your typical boring tourist photos. But it would be great if they came out bright and pretty!

Thanks so much!

Need recommendations on automated checkout and download

arniec — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:38:25 -0800

I need recommendations for a web host and software to allow people to purchase digital downloads using Paypal, etc. (think Rifftrax or eBooks, etc.) I want to have a web site where I can make electronic things available for purchase. Be it software packages, MP3 podcasts, or eBooks, I want to have an automated checkout and download system where people can pay and then immediately download the item they've paid for. Credit card purchasing is a must.

In my research I've come across DigiVendor Pro at http://www.idevspot.com/DigiVendorPro.php and the software is very cheap (in price), and security and reliability is a must for me so I'm not afraid to spend more if it means a more robust, secure solution.

Has anyone done this and can they recommend a good package for me?

(as an aside, I'm a programmer and web developer not afraid to get up to my elbows in code to implement or customize the solution. And yes I asked this question: http://ask.metafilter.com/120735/Need-a-store-thats-quick-and-cheap but this one is different as it's digital download automation, whereas the last one was shipping a physical product).

DVD recorder with digital tuner recommendations?

Dolley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:50:23 -0800

I don't have cable or satellite, don't want cabe or satellite, but I want to be able to do timer recordings of TV shows to DVD. I believe this requires a DVD recorder with a digital tuner. Where do I find a good one for $150 or less? And setup tips and/or traps to avoid greatly appreciated as well.

Whose game is this?

MrMulan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:54:49 -0800

Who owns the games on Steam?(or any digital download service) Are there any online, resources, blogs, sites that are keeping track of what seems to me a big looming question regarding IP?

When I purchase a game from Steam, am I buying or renting?
What will it take for this to get litigated? What are the possible ramifications of any decision?

If I purchase a game, I am free to resell the game after I play it, be it for console or PC. I can resell most anything I purchase.
Steam says that it is against their EULA to sell your free account that you have purchased games for.
I tried going through the Steam forums, but all I get is emotional opinions on one side or the other.

Personally, I am interested because I use Steam exclusively for all game purchases for a variety of reasons, and am wondering what happens 1,10,100 years from now when I want to give or sell Plants vs Zombies to somebody.

Prosumer Digital Video camera bought in NY to take to Middle East. Problems with video formats even in 2009?

xetere — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:01:15 -0800

Prosumer Digital Video camera bought in NY to take to Middle East. Problems with video formats even in 2009? Our director of Middle East Operations wants to go to B&H and go back with a prosumer digital video camera to record interviews and the like.

This will ONLY be used to create streaming video for our Web site/Intranet and DVD.

Still I wonder in this context whether or not NTSC/PAL still makes a difference.

I searched the archives and took a look at this thread and it seemed that the answer is "yes", but that was three years ago.

So is this still so in 2009? Can you set the format in modern Digital video cameras when you set up your camera for the first time?

(I seem to remember on my home one asking me for video format.)

They'll be using something like Vegas Video and 95% of output is for the Web, with a possibility of making DVDs.

Part of me thinks why can't they pick on up in Cairo - Consumer wise, it ain't the Gulf but it is *Cairo!*, but who am I to argue? I am charged with making it happen.

Oh yes, of course we know about different electricity standards and differing plugs, we can plug in the charger to a universal outlet they have. The computers in the office come directly from the States.

Looking for a simple and ergonomic men's watch

snarfois — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:20:22 -0800

I'm looking for a men's digital watch that is simple, slim and ergonomic. I don't care much for style. For most of my life I've used a basic Casio F-91W which has all the functions I need.

Yet I'm not entirely immune to occasional pangs of embarrassment around meeting tables, and I have to admit that while my watch is adequate, it's not something I love or that really reflects my values.

What am I looking for?

First, it has to be digital. (I know that eliminates 90% of the field of well-designed watches.) Second, my arms are skinny and I work at a keyboard all day. Chunky watches look ridiculous on me, and are uncomfortable when my arms rest on a desk. Even my little Casio is chunkier than I'd like it to be. Metal is out.

Third, I work in user experience and care about ergonomics. I hate how most watches compromise usability for style. I value legibility and comfort. I like how some sports watches have large numerals, large buttons, and are sometimes even angled to be readable at an oblique glance. But sports watches all tend to be as pointlessly chunky as 80s boom boxes. While style is not my first concern, I do care about attractive typography, visual balance and colour.

Finally, functions. All I care about is hours, minutes, seconds, date and day. Stopwatch would be nice but is not essential.

So, does a watch like this exist? I consider it so unlikely that money wouldn't be an object.

Picture my sister in Nepal frustrated in an internet cafe

Pineapplicious — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:08:22 -0800

My sister is going on a 3 week adventure in Nepal and is taking a 1 year old Canon Powershot SD1100 IS. She'd like to upload photos a few times while she is away to some sort of photo sharing site (flickr, photocbucket, or even facebook). She is wondering if it is possible to do this without first saving to a computer (she'll be in internet cafes) and if so how? Both she and I (obvs) are new to this digital camera stuff.

Looking for High Res Pic of World Map

Atarah — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:57:00 -0800

Looking for a High Res. Political Map to Print on Canvas So I found this lovely Canvas World Map at IKEA. However, it's $200, and that's quite a bit over my budget.

I was considering creating my own version however. I have a friend who has access to a large HP plotter at work that can print high res. pictures on canvas.

However, I've been looking for quite a while on the internet, and I cannot find a nice, high resolution, political/geographical hybrid map, that looks similar to that shown at IKEA.

If possible, I'd like to find a map that is slightly brighter and more colorful than the IKEA one, but it shouldn't be really childish (putting it in an office). Also, it should be as detailed as most maps, but I don't need to have every city in the world plastered all over the map, with trade winds and currents, etc. Going for simple, but informative.

Something like this would be perfect, but I can't find a digital version similar to this anywhere!

Would any of you know where I could get a digital copy of a map that fits most of these requirements? Please let me know if I can provide anymore information. Thanks a lot!

Help me buy a netbook, camera, and bike.

LSK — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:18:04 -0800

Help me buy a netbook, a low-end digital camera, and a bike. These are all admittedly disjunct requests, but I'm looking to get these at around the same time when I make the excursion to the local mall (Iowa City isn't so great when it comes to these, but I'd rather buy this sort of item in person.)

Netbook: I'd like to get a small and sturdy netbook. It doesn't need to have an amazing amount of storage; battery life and sturdiness are the high priorities. I'm looking to spend no more than $400, and preferably far less, before taxes. What brands/models do you recommend, and is there anything else I should know?

Camera: I'm not looking for anything much, just a digital device to take photos with. The only photo-taking feature I'd make a decision on is the ability to set exposure length, which I know some cameras don't have. Again, though, sturdiness is the top priority.

Bike: It's probably harder to recommend bikes over the internet, but I'd like to know what to even look for in a bike. I'm looking to use it to make both short excursions and to travel between Iowa City and Chicago when classes are out of session. I used to own a bike, and can still ride one competently, but I can't remember what features it had.

Self-Portrait Burst?

jameslavelle3 — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:18:22 -0800

I'm looking for a digital camera with the ability to do some sort of "burst" mode for self-timer / self-portrait shots. Does this exist? I feel like all the digital cameras I have seen can only do single shots in self timer mode. The need for burst shots seems obvious. Any ideas? Ideally not looking for something too expensive.

Digital piano shops in Sydney

neworder7 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:58:15 -0800

Looking for shops to buy a digital piano in Sydney (or if its online, Australia wide) I live in Sydney city area. The only piano shop I know is Allans music in CBD. I would like to check out other shops to buy a digital piano.

I am looking for the obvious things like variety of products to try out and good price :) Even if you are not sure about the prices that's ok too, I just need some guide where to look.

Can you suggest a shop or two in the Sydney area? Also if there are online shops Australia wide I would also be grateful.

Thank you

Good movie driving shots for chroma keying?

wavejumper — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:30:30 -0800

Here's a fun one: can you think of any films that have good, usable -moving background- shots / tracking shots, that I could use as a fake "driving" backdrop for a movie I'm making? I filmed a green-screen shot of my friends driving and dancing along in a convertible (which wasn't actually moving) for their music video...and now I'm chroma-keying in various exotic and ridiculous moving backgrounds. I'm looking for things like: driving along a beach highway, driving along a beach itself, driving through a nightclub district or New York / Las Vegas downtown at night, driving through a jungle, anything crazy even (like boating shots over water, etc.), anything that looks cool, i't supposed to be ridiculous and fake and fun, that's fine, but we're also trying to make it look -awesome- :-). So recent or high-res, non-jumpy clips would be best. One shot I have so far is them driving through outer space, which is pretty cool looking.

Can you think of any films (or other sources) that have tracking shots like what I'm thinking of? I need two angles: one looking directly backwards out the rear of a moving vehicle, and one looking sideways off the side of the road as things go by. "Empty," purely background-only shots would be best of course, though with a certain amount of finess, I could remove another car in the shot and replace it with the one we filmed. I can also reverse shots that show forward-motion, so those are possibly usable as well. Thanks a lot!

Strange Voices

phrontist — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:02:16 -0800

Recommend some music like Bon Iver's Woods, Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek, Beardyman, and some of Jamie Lidell - which feature nothing (or very little) but the human voice modified by electronics. Augmented acapellas, if you will.

Best digital audio recording device for elderly people?

1001 questions — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:27:10 -0800

Best digital audio recording device for elderly people? I'd like to start recording some family history via digital audio devices. The recording will be done by the person speaking so I'd like to find one that is fairly simply to operate.

Some requirements:

- Easy to make recordings (i.e. no super tiny buttons that are hard to figure out).
- Doesn't matter if it's "hard" to delete a recording as they can just avoid doing deletions.
- Non-removable storage might be fine (they could simply mail me the device) but there needs to be a method for me to download the files to a Mac. Removable storage would be preferred though.
- Ability to make/record lengthy files (i.e. an hour or more).
- Decent sound quality. It doesn't have to be pro-quality audio, but on the other hand I want a fair amount of clarity. I imagine most (or all) of the recordings will take place in a fairly quiet interior location, so the device's mic will likely be used. If sound quality results are poor (or if it's easier for the person speaking) I may get an external mic.

Other options I have tossed out:

- Using a video camera. May be used in the future for scheduled interviews, but not worth the hassle for on-the-spot memory recordings when the speaker is worried about how they look.
- Recording via phone (either to voice mail or during a conversation being recorded on the other end). Sound quality is a bit lower (especially if they are using a cell phone). Recording phone conversations have their place, but it's not what I'm going for here.
- Recording to a pc. Not too convenient as they'd have to boot it up, sit in a certain spot, etc. A cheap laptop may work better, but then there are user interface issues.

I've read some past threads/questions about digital audio recorders, but they are from some years ago and I know a host of newer equipment has some out since then. So what are some good devices to look at?

Digital piano recommendations for touch and dynamics

neworder7 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:05:57 -0800

Digital piano recommendations? My priority is realistic touch and being able to produce sounds for as many dynamic levels as possible. I don't want to pay for "pretty" features to have like screens, sound effects, powerful speakers etc..etc.. I have an upright piano and I live in an apartment and it is disturbing my neighbors. So I am looking to get a digital piano.

What I am looking for :

1. Realistic touch,
2. Being able to give many dynamic levels from ppppp to ffffff :)

I don't want to pay for things like pretty features like :

1. pianos with screens,
2. sound effects,
3. powerful speakers
4. midi, digital stuff etc..etcc

Although these features don't hurt to have, if there is a cheaper option with similar touch and dynamics I would definitely go for the cheaper one.

Considering all this, I appreciate any recommendations, or your experience with digital pianos, or how it is like to go from acoustic to digital or any comments.

Thank you

Is there decent Free to Air Digital TV in Canada?

generichuman — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:05:52 -0800

What's the state of Free to Air digital TV in Toronto? I'm in the midst of moving back to Canada after a few years in the UK, and it's decision time: do I pack my digital indoor antenna or not?

I've gotten used to free (well, minus licence fee) digital television – Freeview. Living in Canada, I always had cable. This time around I'd rather not give any more money than necessary to the ghost of Ted Rogers.

Are there free digital TV channels available in Toronto? Am I in for a rude surprise when I scan for new channels?

If it makes a difference, the TV I'm shipping back is a Sharp Aquos with a built in digital tuner, hooked up to indoor amplified digital rabbit ears.

Thanks!

Hearing aid problems

unclemike — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:06:42 -0800

Can anyone help with problems with Starkey Zon.5 hearing aids. Purchased six months ago and back to vendor 5 times. Vendor and manufacturer say adjustment problem but visits for readjustment have been useless. Seem OK in vendor's quiet office but no real help in the noisy world outside his office. Feedback almost constant in left ear, almost non-existant in right ear? Left ear actually requires less "boost" and neither ear is so bad I can't carry on converstation without the aids. I am really disappointed because these things cost thousands and I can hear better at times but can't get problems corrected.

Should I buy a suspension mount for my Blue Snowball microphone?

Ian A.T. — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:27:33 -0800

I'm about to start recording an audiobook / podcast. I've settled on Blue's Snowball microphone, and thanks to previous questions here I know that a pop filter is vital. Should I also buy the Snowball's suspension mount? I'll be recording with the microphone on my desk or possibly my kitchen table. On my desk is an external hard drive, which I'll of course be unplugging during recording, though I should point out that my desk backs up to an exterior wall. I'll also be the only speaker on the recording, if that matters.

It's not terribly expensive and there are bundles available, so I don't mind spending the extra money if it'll improve the quality of my recording. Will it?

Maybe I do really want to direct.

miss lynnster — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:57:51 -0800

I want to teach myself to be more professional at digital video production. Are there any classes/seminars (online or in L.A.) that you'd recommend? If I could live in my dream world, I'd get to take the Travel Channel video course but without spending $2000 I don't have and having to drive to Santa Barbara for it. Thoughts? Yes, my questions have had a theme lately, but you guys have been helping me so much with making my new web site better that now I'm just goin' to ya for everything! :)

That movies used to look so good...

SpacemanStix — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:53:55 -0800

Would it be correct to say that with digital technology, we don't have to worry about movies and TV becoming faded and washed out over time like they used to? I've always understood that the loss of vibrancy has to do with the deterioration of film over time. If this is the case, will my children not have to suffer the same fate with their favorite shows and movies?

How to I remove metadata from a photo?

Damn That Television — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:04:22 -0800

How do I strip absolutely all information (metadata, file created on, etc) data from a digital picture? I have some digital pictures. I need to make it so that absolutely no information can be gleamed from them -- what camera took them, when they were taken, etc. Is there an industry standard/government standard for removing this information?

tagging photos in camera

machaus — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:20:43 -0800

Sub DSLR cameras that allow you to change the filename prefix or tag all photos with an alphanumeric string you can set? I've got teams of people taking photos in many different locations and then handing off their SD cards to someone who will import them. I'd like to automate the import so that human intervention of looking at each photo and putting it in a proper directory won't be required. Ideally, we'd be able to sort photos by a 4 digit code embedded in an iptc/xmp tag or in a filename prefix. Is there a camera under $300 that does this?