Digital Camera Accessories

A great digital camera requires a camera bag full of great accessories to ensure it takes photographs to its full potential. In recent decades, cameras have become more compact, cutting out the need for many expensive and cumbersome accessories. However, there are still several types of accessories the serious digital photographer should try to always have on hand. Here are some DSLR accessories you should consider buying to get the most out of your digital camera.

DSLR Tripod

A DSLR tripod is a three-legged stand on which a camera can be mounted and held steady. It performs the dual tasks of elevating and stabilizing the camera, resulting in pictures that are more in focus. Tripods are not necessarily for taking casual photographs, but they are all but essential when taking long-exposure pictures or when using a camera with a telephoto lens.

DSLR Lenses

Lenses are used to produce different types of shots from a camera. Zoom lenses allow you to focus on faraway objects, wide angle lenses increase the width of a shot, and macro lenses allow the camera to pick up a large amount of detail. All of these special lenses have specific situations in which they are useful, and storing a few in your camera bag can greatly increase the quality of photos that you take.

DSLR Lens Hood

The lens hood is placed at the end of the camera lens to block sunlight or other bright lights that might interfere with getting a perfect shot. The lens food looks like a solid black ring that screws onto the end of the camera lens. It can be unscrewed as necessary to allow more light in.

DSLR Lens Filters

Lens filters are used to achieve different effects on the finished photographs. Some allow only certain types of light - such as ultraviolet - to penetrate the camera, while others perform color correction or add tints to photographs. In modern digital photography, many of the same effects can be achieved through post-production alterations of a picture. However, some photographers still prefer the organic nature of lens filters.

DSLR Cable Release

The cable release replaces controls the shutter speed on digital cameras. In most shots, the shutter is open for just a second, allowing in just enough light to capture the photograph. However, in certain types of photography, it is necessary to leave the shutter open for a long time to create a longer exposure.

DSLR Bag

A camera bag is an important accessory for keeping your digital camera clean and protected when on the go. A padded bag can shield your camera from many common bumps and accidents. In addition, large camera bags are often outfitted with pockets to hold all your other accessories where you can easily reach them.

DSLR Cleaning Kit

A clean camera is a camera that performs to the best of its abilities. This is why cleaning kits are an essential addition to any list of digital camera accessories. These kits include soft cloths and gentle liquid cleaners that are safe for use around the delicate parts of a camera.

With the right accessories, you might be amazed by how much more professional your photographs look.

Microsoft makes source code of MS-DOS for public free access

The source code of the operating systems MS- DOS 1:25 and 2.0 and the word processor Word for Windows 1.1a can be viewed or downloaded from the website of the Computer History Museum. Microsoft handed over the source code for the benefit of future generation. With the handover of the source code if future generations can study the roots of the personal computing, Microsoft justifies his action.

The Museum in Mountain View, California, was previously also passed Apple's first DOS as well as the source of Adobe Photoshop 1.0. Microsoft's MS -DOS was commissioned by IBM. The future Windows manufacturer licensed the base of the operating system from Seattle Computer Products and developed it according to the wishes of the PC manufacturer IBM.

There it was delivered under the name PC -DOS on PCs. Other producers have launched the operating system under the name MS -DOS on their own computer. The entire assembler source code of PC-DOS 1.1 or MS- DOS includes only 1:25 300 Kbytes and 12 Kbytes needed in memory. PC-DOS 1.1 was released in May 1982, the appropriate version of MS- DOS 1:25 first appeared and in August of that same year it appeared on the double-sided diskette with 360 Kbytes.

MS- DOS 2.0 was released in March 1983, after Microsoft had largely developed the operating system. The device drivers were loaded individually, and save files in the newly created subdirectories. In addition, MS -DOS 2.0 supported 10 MB of hard drives stuffed in the PC - XT computer from IBM.

Word for Windows 1.1a was almost simultaneously published in November 1989 with Windows 2:11. It was next to Microsoft Excel and PageMaker, Adobe is one of the first applications for the fledgling operating system with graphical user interface. Meanwhile, the server of the Computer History Museum can be reached again and the source code can be downloaded. He is under a special license that allows you to compile and modify for a non commercial use.

Soft robotic fish that swims like a real fish

MIT researchers have recently created a synthetic fish made from soft robotics technology. Based on bio mimicry, this flexible and autonomous robot is able to move almost as fast as any true aquatic vertebrate. The prototype was made of silicone printed in 3D, so that it can move with fluidity to withstand shocks and collisions with other fellow species of the ocean bed. It is fully autonomous, synthetic fish is provided with a shank comprising two sections.

In addition to making quick movements, it has great freedom in its movements. It also uses carbon dioxide to "breathe" underwater. Daniela Rus, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of the MIT Computer artificial intelligence laboratory told that they are very proud of their flexible robot for a variety of reasons. With flexible robots, there is little danger of collision for the robot or the environment. But the new robotic fish was designed to explore another advantage of flexible robots. The body deforms continuously gives these machines an infinite range of configurations, and it is not possible with machines articulated according to Daniella.

Continuous curvature of the fish body flexes when it allows changing direction so quickly. Hence this robot rigid body can make continuous bending of its body. The robotic fish was built by Andrew Marchese, a graduate student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from MIT. They explained that the evolved carbon dioxide from a canister in the abdomen of the fish results in the swelling of the duct and the bending of the tail.

Each half of the tail of the fish has only two control parameters that is the diameter of the nozzle which releases gas in the channel and the time during which it remains open. In the experiments, Andrew found that the angle at which the fish changes direction is almost entirely determined by the duration of the inflation, while its speed is almost entirely determined by the nozzle diameter. This "decoupling" of the two parameters, he said, is something that biologists have observed real fish.

Fish can perform maneuvers 20 or 30 discharge, before exhausting the carbon dioxide cartridge. A new version of the fish, which must be able to swim continuously for about 30 minutes, will use carbon di oxide in the water instead of the carbon di oxide from the inflated channels, but otherwise it will use the same model design movements body than its predecessor.

Daniella plans to experiment the robot in the environment of real fish, to gather detailed information about their behavior in their natural environment information. According to Barry Trimmer, professor of biology at Tufts University, Their algorithms and control theory are almost designed with the idea that they have rigid systems and the principle of the soft robot is based on the certainty. Coping with uncertainty will still be able to control the machines, so we have much more powerful machines said the Professor. For now, the robotic fish is only a prototype but in the near future, it could be used in order to study these aquatic animals in their natural environment.

Microsoft DirectX 12 Will Be Released in 2015

The next version of DirectX and Direct3D will appears at the end of 2015, Microsoft said. The new version of the hardware interface will be closer and with better support, among other multi-core systems. As Expected first games appear end of 2015, based on the upcoming Direct3D 12 interface.

The Microsoft gave it known at GDC 2014 in San Francisco. In the coming months there will be a preview version of DirectX 12, an extensive Early Access offer for developers is planned. The new version of the graphics interface supports as expected not only for Windows PCs, but also the Xbox One and Windows Phone.

 Which versions are supported by Windows, is not yet clear and not yet disclosed. The serious question about Windows 7 is not answered. On the basis of presentation Microsoft has demonstrated, among others, 3DMark, that the new version of Direct3D brings much better support for multi core CPUs that were different from the currently issued of the interface utilized almost evenly.

Representatives of key partners such as AMD, Intel, Nvidia, Epic Games and Qualcomm have explicitly welcomed the new version of Direct3D. Microsoft will announce later this week  more information about DirectX, in  another major event instead.

Windows XP Users Will Receive $ 100 If They Opt For Windows 8

Windows XP users, who buy a new computer with Windows 8, will receive under a scheme for the amount of U.S. $ 100. Yes XP users in North America will receive $ 100 discount on a Windows 8 computer but it has too many limitations. Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows XP from 8 April 2014.

And there won’t be no more software update for the same. But all users are by far not ready for change. That's why Microsoft is offering an incentive. XP users, who buy a new computer with Windows 8, will receive an amount of $ 100.

 The offer is valid until 15 June 2014 and is aimed at buyers in the U.S. and Canada. Interested parties, can reach the Microsoft Store with an XP machine, get the discount at your order. Alternatively, Microsoft accepts old computers in its stores. The selection in their online shop is very limited.

In addition, the action is not valid for all Windows 8 products available there. On the tablet surface 2 there is no discount. Furthermore, Microsoft sells only devices in the middle and upper price range. The lowest computer goes for $ 599 on the counter.