F2.4/F2.0, OIS and no OIS Lumia920 iPhone5 explained

A lot of has been said about OIS from Nokia on the Lumia 920 and also the F2.0 Lens compared to the new F2.4 Saphire Lens on the iPhone. Honestly, based on how light works, how camera’s work it can be worked out what will happen.

We also have to remember that both phones are using the latest generation of BSI sensors, we know that Lumia uses 1.4 micron pixels on the sensor, the iPhone 5 is 25% smaller. Now we don’t know if that is a newer way of packaging the optics and sensor or do we have smaller pixels on the sensor. If we have smaller pixels on the sensor (25% less) they would be 1.05 microns only. This has to have a negative impact on light hitting the sensor if both sensors are the latest generation BSI.

But what does it mean? See the image below, with NO OIS you would hope to keep the phone steady for 1/15 of a second

F Numbers and OIS

Same light different results

  • Shot 1: 2.5 F Number with NO OIS. iPhone simulation.
    • The Shutter speed has be kept FAST to avoid blurring from shake. No OIS.
    • The Amount of light hitting the sensor is less due to the F number blocking light
  • Shot 2: 2.0 F Number with NO OIS. Lumia simulation.
    • The Shutter speed has be kept FAST to avoid blurring from shake. No OIS.
    • The Amount of light hitting the sensor is better due to the F2.0
    • Better background blur due to the F2.0
  • Shot 3: 2.0 F Number with OIS. Lumia 920 OIS simulation.
    • The Shutter speed is slower as OIS handles the shake.
    • The Amount of light hitting the sensor is better due to the F2.0
    • Better background blur due to the F2.0
    • Better shot results as we can keep the shutter open longer and get more light.

Compare the shots, we can see the real colour, not just dull dark objects.

You could say, iPhone has better software but does it? All the shots have been processed using Auto conditions in Photoshop so yes, they have been processed to lift the image quality.

No matter software, in Photography hardware matters!

GPS MeeFo 1.5.1

Jeez, this was hard. Basically there is a new QA policy over at Nokia Store HQ which is great. However, in my case they want me to add an option to disable GPS if the user wants to.

Hang on! Disable GPS on an app that only shows GPS details? How is this going to work? Well, QA doesn’t care, I must add a button that the user clicks to enable GPS use. So instead of making it a horrible UX roadblock I tried to make it into a nice Intro Page. (I think it is nice)

GPS Logger Qt – Finally

Had the GPS Logger sitting there doing nothing. So finally thought I should complete it, currently it works on Symbian Belle. I will make the MeeGo version shortly. Few screen shots below. It includes upload to web for better viewing via Nokia Maps web API.

 

GPS Info Qt 1.4.8 to the store

Its been a while. So quickly, GPS Info Qt 1.4.8 is on the way to the store, the changes are:

  • Added Change Log in App
  • Privacy details
  • Fix for themes button
  • Option to create custom SMS
  • Option to pick numbers from contacts

The new version does not use the old LIBS way (thanks to @talv) to provide split screen view, it uses the Qt Components method for split screen input. I hope it works for all as per the code.

Screen shots:

 

GPS MeeFo 1.2 on the way to the store

Just finished updating GPS MeeFo for the N9 and N950 to be able to control theme and measurement formats. Still need to work on this to catch-up with the Symbian version which can SMS your location.

Screenshots of the new menu below.

Light Theme and other options

Light Theme and other options

GPS Info Qt 1.4.1 submitted to the store

The new version of GPS Info Qt has been submitted to the store and should be available for download in the next few days. Few of the changes are related to being able to choose metric or imperial measurements, also the ability to swap between the Coordinate being displayed as decimal degrees or degrees, minutes and seconds.

There is also a change in the power levels being displayed and an overview of the satellites in view and use. Screen shot below.

Satellite information

Satellite information

MeeGo Ferries – Sydney

This was a tough one. The problem was not as much in the coding but making a method of processing XML files that are around 90MB each to something that is usable on the phone. My past years as a Business Analyst came in handy with Excel skills, now I can automatically cut XML files into SQL updates directly for the app to use.

SQLite on the phone can now store this stream line data and make sense of it all in the app. There are still parts missing, I am currently adding Favorites section for next departures and your journeys. Lastly, I am still waiting to get approval for the latest data use.

Screen shots of the app below, there will be also the Train and Bus version to follow. Not sure if I will merge them all into one.

 

Posted in Qt

1st MeeGo Qt App. GPS Info Mee for N9/N950

It has been a while but I am happy with the v0.1 of GPS Info Mee. Plenty of screen shots below. This is limited compared to the Symbian Qt version as it cannot send SMS of your position. At the same time this has newer internal code, greater C++ integration and more satellite information.

As per my N950 Dev unit entry, all source files will be uploaded shortly.

Deb file: Save as http://preesworld.com/meego/gpsinfomeego_0.0.1_armel.deb – Please note this still an early build. No warranties, please use at your own risk.

The Symbian Qt version will be updated to have the same internal code etc, all thanks to Qt! :)