The Xperia Z

Monday 25th February, Found myself wandering around London waiting for the time to go to a review of the New Sony Xperia Z

I had been invited some weeks before to a ‘private photo-bloggers preview’ in which about a dozen bloggers where in attendance. a mixed bunch from different photographic backgrounds and levels, this eclectic group melded together well to view, test and comment on this new technology. helped along by the hosts of the event and with some of Sony’s PR staff we were fed and watered with an array of fine food and fluid. 

 On first sight the Xperia Z seams quite a large phone, its around 12-15 mm longer and wider than my iPhone 4S, but once in the hand feels very comfortable to the touch, the lock / unlock button along with the volume controls are ergonomically placed on the right in the middle of the right hand side of the phone

the controls / buttons are completely sealed within the unit and have a solid feel to them, the rest of the edge looks almost seamless and there’s a good reason for this, the Xperia Z is water proof to almost 1m for 30 minutes.  That is to say fresh water, salt water is still an issue, but what phone does like salt water….

During our evening we were all taking photos with the phones, playing with different settings, a few things that really had me excited were the multi spot focus which similar to a dSLR highlighted the areas you wanted and then when you let go took the shot, another was the burst mode, which will keep shooting up to roughly 900 sharp, defined photos. This is an amazing feat, simply from the processing needed to do this. shooting from my approximate about 15-20 shots a second for around 30 seconds.

By the end of the night, we were all very taken with this phone, and for an iPhone fanboy like myself that’s quite a statement.

Would I get one? Yes very much so, running the latest Android OS (Jellybean 4.1, updates already available) it’s a fast sleek and beautiful device.

ThinCharger Folding plug

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Thin Plug Video

 

Just how much is All-You-Can-Eat-Data

ll-you-can-eat data is part of our Ultimate Internet Plan, The One Plan and our All in One 15 or All in One 25 Add-ons on Pay As You Go. It’s also part of some Talk and Text plans. It gives you all the internet use you need when you’re in the UK.

With all-you-can-eat data there are no restrictions or hidden ‘fair use’ policies on the amount of data you can use. This means you can use your smartphone as you like – so you can download apps, browse the web, look at maps and check your emails as often as you like without worrying about going over a data allowance.

Note:

• All-you-can-eat data can’t be used abroad, if you use data abroad you’ll be charged for it as it isn’t included in your allowance. Find out more about data roaming costs.

• The One Plan is the only plan that includes tethering. If you’re on another Pay Monthly plan and you want to tether, you’ll need to buy an Add-on. Find out more about tethering here.
• Even if you used your phone for every minute of every day you could only possibly use, subject to traffic management requirements and policy, up to 1000GB each month.  So in a sense, there is a data limit of up to 1000GB, which is based on what you can physically use.

Talks with BT ‘LiveChat’

Today I had a chat with a colleague about our village and the lack of broadband service, the conversation turned to when infinity from BT would be arriving, so we took a look, this is the result, which in itself is a strange answer talling me I can get it now then telling me I cannot.

 

 

what happened next is the livechat, this is the unedited text.

General Info
Chat start time	Jan 13, 2013 8:07:37 AM EST
Chat end time	Jan 13, 2013 8:20:26 AM EST
Duration (actual chatting time)	00:12:49
Operator	Grace

 

Chat Transcript

info: We are now routing you to one of our chat team… info: You are now connected with Grace GOrdon: Hello Grace: Welcome to BT, the most complete broadband provider. My name is Grace. Grace: Hi Gordon Grace: How may I assist you with your order today? GOrdon: I am in MK4**** area just outside bedford and the village has just had started 600+ new houses being built, when will infinity be available Grace: May I please take your full address to check speed and availability? GOrdon: Right I have checked speed its crap my mobile phone work 6x faster and better than the landline you provide.  GOrdon: 01234766418 GOrdon: i currently have 6.8mb dl and 3.6 ul on mobile GOrdon: currently also 2/3 of the village have the pipework for fibre as it was being planned by NTL when all the new developments were being planned Grace: Unfortunately BT Infinity isn’t available in your area as of yet. Please click here to register your interest in BT Infinity. Unfortunately there isn’t a date listed when you can expect it, so I cannot check when it will be available, but there should be updates coming soon. We are trying to upgrade the whole of the UK by the end of 2013, so hopefully there would be a date available soon. GOrdon: I know that its not available….. and I very much doubt that you will get it to me by the end of this year as your plan only shows Kemptson getting it by the end of the year and thats 7 miles away GOrdon: I am talking about a village that 2000+ homes plus the new estates of 600+ and I would have thought that as the village is on a main arterial route (a421) from bedford to milton keynes it would not be that difficult to put in and I am already aware that the fibre is down on that road… (500yrd away from the village) Grace: I can check only specific address Grace: Once the houses are build Grace: then we will be able to provide our service GOrdon: so BT does not plan for future builds or builds that are on going? GOrdon: you will only consider when the houses are finished Grace: Yes GOrdon: thank you, although that is not the answer i was looking for, I can’t say that you have been helpful at all.  GOrdon: but anyway I have all the information I need,  GOrdon: Do you have a reference number for this chat? Grace: I cannot help you more Grace: I use the same checker which you can find on the website Grace: There is no ref of this chat Grace: You can email it to yourself info: Your chat transcript will be sent to gordontant@gmail.com at the end of your chat. Grace: By clicking the email option on the top of the chat GOrdon: I have and will be posting it as a blog and including the comments to the twitter @btcare and following up with the information they give me. thank you and good bye

I do find it strange that BT would even release information that they do not even look at house builds that are on going to factor in the pipework etc, I will be awaiting further info…

 

 

The FED 4 Russian Leica

The FED 4 camera, recently acquired through that famous auction site.

In excellent working condition. This now my only film camera, a rangefinder that takes the m39 threaded lens. it came with a 2.8-16 53mm lens.

It’s weird to get used to at first mainly because the camera weighs in at nearly 0.85kg, that’s heavier than my D90.
Then there’s the operational aspect, focusing is done by aligning a ghost image, you adjusting the dial to get the light meter reading, this gives you the options for shutter speed against aperture. Now here’s the weird bit – you wind on the film and then set the shutter speed as it has a completely mechanical (wound timer) shutter control. Now you can take your shot.

I will in due course post photos taken

Linccoln v. Zombies

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