Apple Mac: Power Mac Center Redefined Greenbelt 3 Makati, Philippines, it was Party Time...
Power Mac Center Redefined...
Party Time in Greenbelt 3 Makati
Open for Business again...but so redefined... the awesome newly renovated Power Mac Center in Greenbelt 3 Makati Manila Philippines.
Philippine All-Stars @ Power Mac Center
Greenbelt 3 Makati, Manila
It all started on Thursday the 27th of May 2010, after undergoing some major renovation the past few months PMC open its doors again with a big Bang, attended by celebrities, personalities and Press it was certainly a party to remember not to mention the great food and drinks.
Apple representatives from Singapore attended plus some "Super Heros" where walking the floor. Well, that was day one...the celebration continuous with yesterdays appearance of the famous Philippine All-Stars cool music and lots of fun.
If you need a new Mac, iPod Touch or what ever your heart desires drop in to this truly amazing...awesome new PMC and avail of up to 15% discount which is still available until Sunday. My good friend Luis Harder and Photographer did just that yesterday, walking out of the door with a new iPod Touch for his wife and a cool iMac for his office.
But there is so much more...ongoing Tutorial for GarageBand, Aperture 3 and other Apple applications check out the schedules and dates at PMC.
A cool new Classroom... and the nice redefined 1 on 1 tutorial room are now open...as a matter of fact we have an Aperture 3 Introduction on Sunday the 30th from 6 to...? Lets see, we might just make this one a bit longer, please drop by and join me and find out what Aperture 3 is all about. http://powermaccenter.com/services/training/learning_series
Todays Photos are from the last few days...however I am working on a nice fast slideshow from the event as well and we post this one later, of course it will be created using Aperture 3 and GarageBand, so please stay tuned.
Congratulations to the Staff and Management of the Power Mac Center not only for providing Manila with such a great store but for a super event.
The PMC is certainly redefined!
http://powermaccenter.com/stores
GD
Nature Photography: Wetlands & wildlife of Kakadu National Park Northern Territory, Australia
"Nature's gift to man, so easily abused,
yet seldom appreciated." GD
Strangely no tech or Aperture 3 talk today...you might wonder why? Actually very simple...going through my PhotoShelter files the other day organizing my latest Photos from India and Nepal when I ended up in my other Galleries and got stuck somehow in Australia.
© Gunther Deichmann - Whistling Ducks at Sunset, Kakadu National Park
Photos I have taken long ago, a stark reminder that we should take care of our Planet before it is to late.
Images from one of my favorite places...the wetland of the Northern Territory, immense rich on fauna and flora, but if you ever venture to this part of the world you need time.
The best time for Birds for e.g. is just before the onset of the wet season when large groups of different Birds congregate at the remaining water holes or at the edges of swamps.
White-bellied Sea-eagles, Black-necked Storks or also called Jabirus (Aboriginal word) Whistling Ducks by the thousand and huge flogs of Magpie Geese and the ever present Kingfishers and Cockatoos. (see photos below)
The end of the dry season is just buzzing with life but not only with Birds there are Reptiles and interesting insect all around at small Billabongs and water holes.
© Gunther Deichmann - left: aerial over wetlands Kakadu National Park.
right: a single flower in a swamp during the wet season with
a storm brewing on the horizon
Keep an eye out also for the Frill-necked Lizard and if you lucky enough he might just run like you have never seen a Lizard run before... on his hind legs upright almost like a human posture, comical and amusing. (see him in action below)
Then of course the ever so impressive Saltwater crocodile who makes his home just about anywhere in the Top End of Australia...so beware where you go for a swim... you never know where one of these guys is waiting.
I am leaving next week for Palawan in the Philippines, another Natures Paradise getting a break from Manila it be interesting to see what awaits me on Dimakya Island also the Home of my good friend Dirk Fahrenbach from Dugong Dive Center.
Dimakya Island undoubtedly one of Asia’s Eden, the Philippine’s Last Frontier and the Calamianes group of Islands is perhaps one of the world's best-kept secrets among travel destinations and at the same time the Home of Club Paradise.
My Blog posts and Tweets will be a bit thin starting next week, but I make up for it after my return in about a week,reporting more from this great destination in the Philippines.
See below some excepts from Wikipedia & more photographs with Links to the wetland and wildlife of northern Australia in particular Kakadu National Park and surrounding areas.
GD
Kakadu's flora is among the richest in northern Australia with more than 1700 plant species recorded which is a result of the Park's geological, landform and habitat diversity. Kakadu is also considered to be one of the most weed free national parks in the world.
The name Kakadu comes from the mispronunciation of ‘Gagadju’ which is the name of an Aboriginal language spoken in the northern part of the Park. Kakadu is ecologically and biologically diverse. The main natural features protected within the National Park include:
four major river systems:
East Alligator River,
West Alligator River,
Wildman River;
and the entire South Alligator River;
Kakadu National Park is also UNESCO World Heritage Site
The environment referred to as ‘the Stone Country’ features ‘resurrection grasses’ that are able to cope with extreme heat and long dry spells followed by periods of torrential rain. Monsoon forests often develop in the cool moist gorges dissecting the stone country. The southern hills and basins support several endemic plants that are only found in Kakadu such as Eucalyptus koolpinensis near Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge). Lowland areas form a large proportion of Kakadu National Park and are mainly covered in eucalypt-dominated open woodland with the ground layer consisting of a large range of grasses including spear grass, sedges and wildflowers.
© Gunther Deichmann - Water Lily at sunset
The floodplains, which are inundated for several months each year, feature sedges such as spike rush as well patches of freshwater mangroves (itchy tree), pandanus and paper bark trees (Melaleuca). Varieties of water lilies, such as the blue, yellow and white snowflake, are commonly found in these areas. Estuaries and tidal flats are populated with varieties of mangroves (39 of the 47 Northern Territory species of mangrove occur in Kakadu) that are important for stabilizing the coastline. Mangroves serve as feeding and breeding grounds for many fish species including the barramundi.
© Gunther Deichmann - Salt Water Crocodile at yellow waters
Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory Australia
On the tidal flats behind the mangroves, hardy succulents (samphire), grasses and sedges grow. Isolated pockets of monsoon forest grow along the coast and river banks. These forests contain several impressive trees, among them the banyan fig, which can be recognized by its large, spreading aerial roots, and the kapok tree, which has a spiny trunk, large, waxy red flowers and pods full of cotton-like material.
© Gunther Deichmann - left: White-bellied Sea-eagle Kakadu National Park
right: Jabirus at Yellow Waters Kakadu National Park
White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), also known as the White-bellied Fish-eagle or White-breasted Sea Eagle, is a large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
It is resident from India through southeast Asia to Australia on coasts and major waterways. It is a distinctive bird. The adult has white head, breast, under-wing coverts and tail. The upper parts are grey and the black under-wing flight feathers contrast with the white coverts.
The White-bellied Sea-eagle is one of the largest raptors in Southeast Asia, and the second largest bird of prey in Australia after the Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) which stands up to 1 m.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-bellied_Sea_Eagle
Black-necked Stork
Scientific name: Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus- Family: Ciconiidae- Order: Ciconiiformes
The Jabiru isn't just a large stork, it's the only Australian stork. Often seen at yellow waters in Kakadu National Park Northern Territory Australia. More on Jabirus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabiru
The frill-necked lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii), also known as the frilled lizard or frilled dragon, is found mainly in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. Its name comes from the large frill around its neck, which usually stays folded against the lizard's body. The lizard's diet consists mainly of insects and small vertebrates. The frill-necked lizard is a relatively large lizard, reaching up to 91.4 cm in length.
© Gunther Deichmann - almost human like posture,
a Frill-necked Lizard on the run
The frill-necked lizard is so called because of the large ruff of skin which usually lies folded back against its head and neck. The neck frill is supported by long spines of cartilage which are connected to the jaw bones. When the lizard is frightened, it gapes its mouth, exposing a bright pink or yellow lining; the frill flares out as well, displaying bright orange and red scales. This reaction is often used to discourage predators or during courtship. The lizard is also capable of bipedal locomotion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipedal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frill-necked_Lizard
Aperture 3 Slide show demo including Motion from Final Cut Studio & GarageBand...endless possibilities
Aperture 3 Slide show including Motion from
Final Cut Studio & GarageBand.
Multi Media Demo only. "Faces" from Nepal - using Aperture 3, Motion
& GarageBand approx. 1: 10 min.
Pls. Note: Color and brightness might vary on different screens
Also on Vimeo & YouTube
Incorporating Motion from Final Cut Studio into an Aperture 3 Slide Show is giving us some cool possibilities. I created the Motion Clips with Motion which is part of Final Cut Studio, very nice as an intro and finish for your Aperture Slide shows.
The sound (2 separate tracks) I previously created in GarageBand and had them in my iTunes Library.
Like with everything else on a Mac a perfect integration, when open Motion I had access to all my Photos in my Aperture 3.0.3 Library and could have also used my soundtracks, but in this exercise I added the sound later in Aperture 3.0.3
It was real fun messing around with Motion and creating this short demo, with endless possibilities at your fingertips you can produce a nice and cool looking Multi Media show using Aperture 3, Motion and GarageBand.
GD
Travel Photography: PhotoShelter update…latest images from Nepal uploaded…now available in the Archives & Gallery.
Photographs - Nepal...
Travel through Culture & Time
Wow it is done…just finished uploading the latest images (high resolution) from Nepal from my recent trip in Feb/March 2010.
Due to other commitments Nepal got a bit delayed, the latest Photos from India have been on my PhotoShelter Archives for some time.
© Gunther Deichmann - Sadhu Kathmandu Nepal Feb./March 2010
© Gunther Deichmann - Sadhus Chest, Kathmandu
Nepal Feb./March 2010
Nepal: Amazing – bizarre – colorful – and ever so strange, but at the same time very beautiful. Check out the selected Images in my PhotoShelter Gallery, of course there are a many more in the archives if you can’t find what you’re looking for in the Gallery just type in the Search box.
© Gunther Deichmann - Kopan Monastery Kathmandu
Nepal Feb./March 2010
© Gunther Deichmann - Kopan Monastery Kathmandu
Nepal Feb./March 2010
Animal Sacrifice – Fossils – People - Buddhist Temples & Monasteries – Monks – Cremations - Hindu Ceremonies & the ever so strange Sadhus from Kathmandu in Nepal “A true Journey through Color, Culture & Time.”
Click this LINK or the Photos and go direct to the latest from Nepal.
© Gunther Deichmann - Hmmm what is the Riot Police doing at
my doorstep?"Little Tibet" Kathmandu Nepal Feb./March 2010
© Gunther Deichmann - Red and Yellow Kathmandu Valley
Nepal Feb./March 2010
Non of the photographs have been manipulated, all photos have been processed using a MacBook Pro i7 and Aperture 3.0.3
The Photos on this Blog post are only a small taste what is stored in my PhotoShelter Archives and Galleries.
GD
Just one more... and then there was light.
© Gunther Deichmann - amazing Sun-rays lasting only a few minutes and then the light
was gone, from the top of the Monkey Temple Kathmandu, Nepal Feb./March 2010
PhotoShelter LINK
Aperture 3 & the Battery life of the 15 inch MacBook Pro i7, simulated field test… plus a cool tip on Previews.
OK. we all know the new MacBook Pro models have an incredible Battery life (8 to 9 hours) but that is under normal operating conditions. Since I travel often to remote places I performed a simple field test at home using my machine just like I would if I am on the road.
At 100% charge the Battery lasted some 2 hours before I had to plug in the charger again.
During this time I worked heavy with Aperture 3.0.3 performed some editing and even managed to export 201 files from Aperture to my Desktop for my agencies.
Aperture export settings: Full size JPEG at 12 and at 110% total export time was just on 22minutes.
My external 360 Gig Lacie Rugged Hard drive was also connected, as a matter of fact that is where all my reference file are located for this project. Connection was via Fire wire 800 drawing power from the MacBook Pro as well. No external power source was used for the external Hard Drive.
Photoshop and Pages where open in the background, plus I was on full Wi-fi through out the whole time… checking emails, posted on Twitter and checked the web.
Energy Saver Panel
I unchecked also the Automatic Graphics switching (just for this exercise) in the System preference (Energy Saver).
Extreme circumstances…and most of the time we’re not going to push it so hard, but at least I know how long I can work before looking for a power outlet when I am in a tricky situation.
Please note: I can’t be held responsible for the information above, they are based on my own personal tests results and might vary on other units or under different conditions.
Aperture 3.0.3 Tip: Previews...
If you don’t see some of your Previews in the Aperture Browser (black frame) or you have the feeling they playing up…don’t panic just perform this simple exercise:
Move your cursor on the black image field…click the right mouse button on the appearing menu scroll down to Rebuild Previews and click here. (marked with red)
However if the next menu tells you (screenshot) that the previews are already up-to-date just perform the next step and all your missing previews will be back on the screen.
“The preview for the selected item is already up-to-date. To force it to be re-rendered, hold down the option key when choosing this menu item.”
GD
Aperture 3 & the New MacBook Pro Core i7 is it faster & more efficient? My first test & impression.
Aperture 3.0.3 & the New MacBook Pro Core i7
© Gunther Deichmann - speed & motion, wild Horses
Northern Territory - Australia
I didn't use any speed test tools but my first impression running Aperture 3 on the new 15 inch MacBook Pro i7 are very good. A very nice performance increase from my previous 2.66 MBP.
We all know Aperture 3.0.3 likes power, this new Machine gives you certainly that extra performance without any doubt... I noticed big improvements during Import and Export in particular the speed increase when changing your Browser View or going up to full screen.
I really pushed it a bit the other day as I kept on toggling back and forth bringing in new Raw Photos on the screen…instantly they kept flashing in front of me.
Going from full screen to 100% Zoom is also extremely fast now, plus working with Brushes and other adjustments tools has improved dramatically.
Switching between Libraries is defiantly much faster there is almost no more waiting time.Very noticeable is also the speed increase when Aperture 3 updates the Library and Previews usually during exiting the software.
It is still too early for my final verdict but from what I have experienced up to now is already very impressive.
The other cool thing I have a lot more space on my hard drive now (comes with a 500Gig drive) great when you don’t like to carry all your external drives with you. 90% of the time I store all my Photos as reference files on external hard drives, but it is nice to know you have this extra space in times when you need it most.
As a matter of fact, a good friend of mine was so impressed that he went out yesterday to buy the new MacBook Pro i7…a hard-core PC user until now, he made the switch from his old PC to a Mac.
Please Note: If you migrating your system from your old Mac to the New one, have your Aperture 3 license handy you will be asked to enter it upon launching the software.
Other than that everything is just so much faster.
I post additional information once I have used the MacBook Pro i7 in the field and completed some more serious editing.
GD
The New MacBook Pro i7 & i5 15 & the 17 inch models are available at all Power Mac Centers in Manila.
Contact:
http://www.powermaccenter.com/index2.php
Email: info@powermaccenter.com
Please stay tuned also for the announcement of the Grand re-opening of the Power Mac Center in Makati Greenbelt 3, an amazing super cool shop that has undergone complete renovation these past few weeks.
Aperture 3 Slide show including Movie clip using GarageBand for sound, Journey Through Culture & Time
& GarageBand - Nepal & India 2010
2010 © Gunther Deichmann - Journey Through Culture & Time -
Aperture 3 slideshow 2:19 min. Also on YouTube and Vimeo.
Pls. Note: Color might vary at different Screens.
I had a little time on my hands today plus I was in the right mood...so I created this short Slide show presentation in Aperture 3.0.3 using a Video Clip which I had prepared previously and using three different soundtracks.
Everything worked flawless and I encountered no problems at all...as a matter of fact it was pretty straight forward and easy.
I like the Share or Export options in Aperture 3, you can send it almost anywhere never leaving Aperture 3, this is only a short clip but the possibilities are there.
I created the sound tracks (3 different ones) in GarageBand some time ago and had them handy in my iTunes Library.
The Globe at the beginning of the slide show (Movie .mov) I made last week, the original lengths had been some 2.5 minutes. I just dragged the .mov file into my slideshow trimmed it down with the Movie setting in Aperture 3 to approx. 37 sec.added text, images and the three soundtracks...then hit Export and I was done.
This coming week (on Friday the 7th) we have an Aperture 3 launch at the Power Mac Center in TriNoma where you can see the same presentation in high resolution on a large screen. There will also be an introduction to Aperture 3 Q & A plus Raffle & cocktails.
For more information please contact the Power Mac Center @ info@powermaccenter.com
Tel: 470 1917 - 18
May 7 at Power Mac Center TriNoma
Aperture 3 Launch with Talk and Q&A with GD
Program:
6:30 pm Registration
7:30 pm Start of Talk and Q&A
(Snacks to be served to all participants)
9:00 pm Software tryout with Melvin Tosino and Mark Agarin at 1 on 1 Tutorial Room
Raffle
GD
