“Canon Firmware Hack: Trick Your Canon Point-and-Shoot Camera into Shooting RAW Images” plus 1 more |  |
| Canon Firmware Hack: Trick Your Canon Point-and-Shoot Camera into Shooting RAW Images Posted: 10 Apr 2012 07:15 PM PDT
Canon Firmware Hack: Trick Your Canon Point-and-Shoot Camera into Shooting RAW Images I found a neat way to trick my old point-and-shoot camera to shoot raw images, and many more additional capabilities that are found in a higher end camera. It’s through the use of a firmware called CHDK. CHDK stands for Canon Hack Development Kit. Unlike other firmwares I have encountered, this one does NOT make permanent changes on the firmware of the camera. This is so because these files are saved onto the memory card and are booted by the camera’s processor whenever the camera is turned on. If you decide to disable the firmware later, then you simply get back the old functionality using the camera’s firmware. By default this Canon firmware hack doesn’t load when the camera is turned on, but this can be configured later so that this firmware loads automatically. One thing I like with CHDK is that, it enables my point-and-shoot camera to shoot RAW images in addition to the JPEG files. Many times I worked with images taken with this little camera using Photoshop, and I usually get frustrated when working with JPEG files. Working in RAW images is whole lot better because I do not lose a lot of image data. Simply enabling RAW is not enough: Photoshop’s latest Camera Raw update doesn’t open plain RAW images from my particular model, and I think Photoshop wouldn’t take their sweet time to support it. The workaround for this is to enable the DNG format, which is technically a RAW file developed by Adobe that can be read in many image software programs. With that setting I could finally open that RAW file in Photoshop. Other additional functions that I gained is that, I am able to view live histograms (RGB, blended, luminance and for each RGB channel), display the depth of field (DOF), set manual focus, continuous bracketing, set extreme shutter speeds (as little as 1/10,000 of a sec and as long as 65 seconds), and can even run scripts to automate the camera such as that time lapse, zebra mode that show underexposed or overexposed areas, ability to turn off automatic dark-fram subtraction, and plenty of others that can be downloaded from the site. You can even choose to write your own scripts! I’m overwhelmed at those additional features that it will take time for me to learn and take better pictures. My camera model is Canon Powershot A480 which I easily put in my pocket or my laptop bag. So far I’m happy to carry a small camera that contains the settings of a high end DSLR. I just have to learn to take even better pictures with the new settings.
Canon PowerShot A480 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.3x Optical Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Silver)  You can download the Canon firmware hack of this particular camera model here. If you have a not-so-old Canon camera, consider using CHDK for the additional capabilities. If you already happy with factory settings of your Canon camera, then you probably do not need this firmware. Should you decide to install this, make sure to that the firmware installed in your camera matches that one that is offered on the CHDK website. |
| Project Prey: “How Can I Find My Stolen Laptop?” Posted: 04 Apr 2012 01:52 AM PDT
Project Prey: “How Can I Find My Stolen Laptop?” Over years I had been a victim of theft, and on some occasions, I had been quite careless with my gadgets. I once lost a mobile phone on the office of my previous job, which I left on a charger on someone’s desk. I have left a scientific calculator and probably two or three mobile phones in taxis. I had been held up by a robber in a street whom I decided to turn in my mobile phone instead of risking my life. Oh, and money, sure, I had lost thousands of pesos from pickpockets on several occasions. Either I had been so careless, or I have been unlucky. Or even both! Maybe I should start seriously considering good old services of a fortune teller for lost things!
Just days ago, I came across this open source software called Project Prey which runs discreetly at the background of my laptop. This software is used to keep track of devices: laptops, desktop and tablets that run on several operating systems – Windows, Mac, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Suse and Arch. Pretty useful for someone like me who keeps on losing gadgets – either by force of by carelessness. But I think this could also be of use for those who are careful with gadgets as well. At least I have a way back to get these devices back; but that is, if the end user doesn’t know about that Project Prey. At least there is still that chance that the laptop could be returned. Signing up with Project Prey is straightforward. You can either download the software first or just sign-up at the website. Either way you need an account with them and have a software installed in your device. Once you have completed the signup, you will need to add devices onto the control panel. The image below shows how it looks like. The first button can be toggled to mark the device as missing. It’s is interesting to see that you can get screenshots, webcam shots and location of the missing device as well.
Probably the only time when this software will fail is, if the thief had erased everything on the hard disk or found out a way to disable this program. Project Prey is much of a software and not a firmware that runs when computer starts. Project Prey comes free with limited features, which includes lockdown and alarm trigger, and could wipe passwords and emails, or you can upgrade to a Project Prey Pro account for $5 per month which is actually practical to upgrade if you want a stolen or missing device back, or just want to have additional features that free account is lacking. I am using a free account for now, as I think this suffice since my laptop isn’t lost. I highly recommend this free software. However, I can’t use Project Prey to track my lost cash.
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