MacWorld is reporting that Aperture 1.1 will be available as a free upgrade in March to Apple’s first foray into professional photography tools, and none too soon if you ask me. I preordered this, hoping for a saving grace to my 30k+ image library I currently keep in iPhoto. Well, on my Dual 2.5 G5 machine, Aperture 1.0 is continuously plagued by the spinning beachball of death. It’s frankly unusable. 1.1 reportedly improves on speed, adds some new RAW controls, among what are called ‘dozens’ of improvements – including Intel native support. I look forward to trying this one out. But for now, iLife ’06’s improvements to iPhoto are rocking my world – things will need to get much better to justify a switch over to Aperture.
Canon has announced the upgrade to the EOS 20D – the 30D, of course. Comprehensive coverage available here at DPReview.com. After several years of life, the Canon EOS 20D will soon be replaced by this new model, the most notable new feature being a larger(2.5"), wider viewing angle LCD display. Most other aspects appear similar, although the new version does feature a more robust estimated shutter life (100k exposures). It also adds spot metering (a godsend for those Zone officiant’s). It uses the same 5fps, 8.2 megapixel sensor of it’s predecessor. While it’s no 5D (what I really want), it does sound like it’s a nice step up from my current version, the 10D. And the list price of $1399 certainly is easier to swallow than the $3k for the big-bad-full-frame-5D. There’s some other good info here and here.
Not that we’d been trying to show Sam how to do this, but after taking him to Amy’s performance with the Atlanta Ballet for the children’s showing of Peter and the Wolf, he picked up on that whole ‘applause’ thing. While he remained entranced with the performers from our front-row seat (we took advantage of a no-show), he loved watching the dancers and hearing not just one, but FOUR French horns. But whenever the crowd broke into applause, he just had to turn around. So yesterday, he decided to spontaneously clap first for Mom, then again when Dad came home from work. He’s a genius, I tell you! Click here to watch the video (Quicktime required).
In a bit of a role reversal, Sam’s weekly playgroup was held on a weekend so the member’s dads could get in on the action. Amy was working (Peter & the Wolf at the Fox with the Atlanta Ballet), so Sam and dad went stag. It’s a great group of people, and a very photogenic group of little boys and girls. Here’s the gallery. Above, Henry and Sam share one of the stand-up toys. And what do kangaroos have to do with our playgroup? Well, it has nothing to do with my name. However, it has everything to do with Zoo Atlanta being here in Grant Park, so each new crop of kids joins a playgroup named for an animal at our beloved zoo – and these guys were named after the set of marsupials that arrived while Amy was pregnant.
