My 77mm Hoya Pro 1D Circular Polarizer filter (CPL) for my Canon EOS 40D’s 24-105mm lens has just arrived.

The build quality is excellent, as to be expected from one of their pro filters. The unit is very thin, and the manufacturing tolerances spot on, enabling very snug screwing into the lens. A second rim allows the filter to be turned to alter tha polarizing effect (or level/direction). It has a marker on it so that you can determine the amount or direction you have twisted the filter.

The level of polarization is easy to spot through the viewfinder when there is a marked effect. In particular blue skies turn much darker when taking photos offset from the sun.

Today I took some photos in the front and back yard, and cant believe the difference it makes - its staggering!

Click on any of the photos to load larger versions.

In each photo below, the left frame is the normal shot. The right frame is the polarizer turned such that it maximises the polarizing effect. This can, in general, easily be noticed through the viewfinder which allows rapid adjustment of the level of polarizing effect by simply turning the filter bevel in a similar movement as when focussing the camera manually.

The photos were all taken at 90 degrees angle to the sun, which means the polarizing effect is at its strongest.

In the first example, notice the much improved colour of the foliage on the tree. The sky also has a much deeper color, which on the day was closer to the real sky color than the second image. Also, its amazing how vivid the 5 power lines on the top left become - they are near invisible in the second photo.

In the fully polarized image on the left, the sky looks more realistic, and the foliage a much richer green.

The sky and foliage are both much richer. Notice the white coloured plants have significantly more detail. Of most interest to me was the amazing improvement to the visibility and color of the roof and chimney. Amazing.

The sky is richer as are the plants. In addition, the plants have significantly more detail visible.

November 9 is the big day when the iPhone is officially released in the UK, handcuffed to O2 as the exclusive, multi-year carrier. Customers will be forced to take out an 18 month plan with O2 for £35, £45 or £55 pounds (US$70-$111) - meaning customers will be up for at least £900 (US$1811) over 18 months.

The 8gig version will sell for £269 (US$542).

Customers will again be forced to unlock their phones using software and hardware hacks, but it remains to be seen if Apple and O2 will change the sale model so that you dont physically get the phone until you sign up to a plan. It is definitely expected that models that go on sale in the UK (and in the US) will start to implement new attempts to mitigate any unlocking of the phones.

Apple are believed to have negotiated to receive 40% of all call/data revenue from each handset.

The iPhone yet again disappoints with its inability to run on a modern 3G network, using legacy 2G technology instead. Many people were expecting the release of a 3G version soon, but are again disappointed.

As per normal, Apple blames others for any product shortcomings, and this time its the 3G chipsets which are labelled “real power hogs”. Its interesting how every other phone manufacturer manages to get OK battery time out of them. Apple say given the other things they want you to do on the iPhone like listen to music, surf the net, there isnt enough battery life. Amazing, because not only can you do those things on most other 3G phones, but it would seem that the issue is caused by things OTHER than 3G normal phone usage - ie music and the internet.

A 3G model is set for release late 2008 (cut a few months off that as they are always conservative so they arent put under pressure).

In a side benefit not related to Apple, O2 have said free WiFi will be available at over 7500 hotspots around the UK.

A few more European countries are expected to have the iPhone released next quarter including Germany (Deutsche Telekom AG), Spain (Telefonica which is the parent of O2) and France (Orange).

The hardware unlocks are not for the faint hearted, so for those keen to try something simpler, check these instructions out. Why pay to unlock your iPhone when you can do it free by following these instructions?

Soon an easier, graphical unlock will be coming, but in the mean time:

Note: Playing with software, firmware or hardware on an iPhone is at your own risk. It is not an operation that is risk free, especially if you make a mistake.

Whilst this solution is safer than a hardware unlock, it is not without risks. Tread carefully. If in doubt, don’t do it! If any of these steps don’t make sense to you, it may be an indicator you dont have enough knowledge to safely do it.

In addition, there is no information on what will happen if you flash your phone to a newer firmware at a later date, nor whether any other steps by Apple or any Telco may have an impact on your phone after unlocking it. I would consider not upgrading your firmware to later versions until it is well proven they work or can also be unlocked.

You have been warned! Do this at your own risk.

Instructions

Firstly, you must confirm you are running version 1.02 firmware.

Settings → General → About → Version.
Modem Firmware should also say 03.14.08_G

Your phone will also need to be jailbroken you can use iBrickr for this!

When you have iBrickr running install the following.

• Community Sources
• OpenSSH
• BSD Subsystem (might take some minutes)

Next Use WinSCP (root/dottie) and copy the the following files to /usr/bin

• iUnlock
• ICE03.14.08_G.fls
• nor
• minicom
• bbupdater

You can find your iPhones ip address by using the wifi settings and picking your network and hitting the blue arrow will reveal your ip.

Now make a folder under /usr/ called local/etc

So you upload minirc.dfl to /usr/local/etc

Now using putty log back in with your login root/dottie

and run the following commands :

cd /usr/bin/

chmod +x iUnlock

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.CommCenter.plist

iUnlock ICE03.14.08_G.fls nor

Wait a while usually around 20minutes.

After this is complete in putty run

bbupdater -v

You should see issuing +xgendata… and a lot more stuff this is good!

now still in putty type

minicom

When everything loads ok type AT it should respond with OK

If all is good issue these commands next

AT+CLCK=”PN”,0,”00000000″

AT+CLCK=”PN”,2

if it gives a response with 0 your unlocked!

Now run this command in putty:

launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.CommCenter.plist

Et voila! You are unlocked.

[Source: Adapted from information produced by freeiphoneunlock: fantastic effort guys!]

Now you can listen to your MP3’s and feel even more warm and fuzzy.

 The people over at Targus are about to release an iPod desktop cable lock, aimed at students and workers who like to listen to dodgy music in their dodgy environments.

Priced at US$29.99, the lock comes with a 6.5′ (2m) long galvanized steel cable, for securing your iPod to a stationary object. It works with any iPod with the dock connector, including 5G, nano, iPod Photo, 4G, iPod Mini, 3G.

 The combination is a three digit number, so a determined thief, given enough time, will get through it quite quickly, but still the idea is good. I wonder how long before one with a motion detecting alarm comes out? Or maybe it can just force the iPod to play nothing but ABBA if it detects a thief at work.

For the home theatre enthusiast with a serious habit…

The guys over at  Pass DIY have taken subwoofers to a whole new level of insanity, in their endeavours to hit a genuine useable 20Hz.

Each monster featuring twin 21 inch subbies rated to a whopping 800w each, 12 foot tubes, carefully measured in length to match the desired minimum frequency (and based on a whole bunch of math that I never knew about).

Of course what would a serious bass habit be without a way to get all amped up? How does 4000w per channel using a pair of amazing Pass X1000 amps sound?

I can only imagine…

 A 2.7g helicopter - ants of the world rejoice!

I dont quite know what possesses people to do this kind of thing (I’m the kind of guy who fumbles putting his keys in the ignition), but the people over at Proxflyer have created the worlds smallest and lightest radio controlled helicopter, called the Nanoflyer, weighing in at an amazing 2.7g including battery and control system.

Not happy with 1 minute of flying time, they then built the massively overweight Nanoflyer II, weighing a bloated 3g and with a 10 minute flight time.

Im not sure why they build these, but I do know that they would be great fun in the office, and I can only imagine the good times to be had once the army convinces them to put a Vulcan Chain Gun on one, although given the Gatling gun weighs 287kg, we may need to wait for the Nanoflyer III before we see that.