Along with a bunch of new digital cameras, Panasonic introduced seven video camcorders. One is a POV action cam and the others are full-featured video makers, including a waterproof edition.
The HX-A100 Wearable Camcorder is a bit different than the typical POV camcorder. The camera sits on an included ear hook so you can shoot hands-free without mounting it to a helmet, for example. A “Multi-Mount” option, however, is available for attaching the camera to a helmet or backpack if you’re not feeling so adventurous. It’s waterproof, too, and has built-in Wi-Fi to broadcast live video on UStream with simultaneous Full HD recording. You can upload recorded images to social networks by connecting through a smartphone or tablet.
The A100 features a waterproof design for outdoor shooting in water depths down to 5 feet for up to 30 minutes, plus it’s dustproof. Recording formats are 1920 x 1080/60 fps, 1280 x 720/120 fps, and 640 x 360/240 fps (for taking slo-mo and straight-ahead videos). It has Level Shot for automatic correction of tilting images, an image stabilizer to cut down the shakes, and 140 minutes of battery life.
Although Panasonic introduced five “classic” full-featured camcorders at the show, there are some differences from last year’s models. For 2013, far fewer have onboard flash memory, so you’ll have to use SDXC cards to save your footage. This really isn’t a big deal – it just allows the company to sell the camcorders at reduced costs.
As it typically does, Panasonic hits a number of bases, from the film student to new parents and grandparents. The 2013 lineup includes the HC-X920, HC-V720, HC-V520, HC-V210, and HC-V110. The HC-X920 has a new 3MOS System PRO with BSI (Back Side Illumination) sensor to enhance the three MOS sensors for excellent shooting performance, even in dim lighting situations. The use of the BSI sensor reduces noise to 50 percent of previous models, according to the company.
The X920, V720, and V520 all feature the new Level Shot function, which automatically adjusts tilting images, in addition to 5-Axis Correction Hybrid O.I.S. (image stabilization), which suppresses blurring. The camcorders also offer built-in Wi-Fi functions that allow live view control from a smartphone and enable real-time broadcasting via UStream.
The X920 is the star here, and caters to seasoned videographers. Along with the 3-chip system, it has a manual ring to control zoom, focus, iris, shutter speed, and white balance. A Level Gauge detects the horizontal and vertical angle of view with its internal level working with an acceleration sensor. This function corrects even slight tilting that is difficult to see with the naked eye, per Panasonic. Along with a 1,152,000-dot 3.5-inch touch-capable LCD it has an electronic viewfinder (EVF) rated 263,424-dots. Other nice features are the 29.8mm wide-angle lens and 5.1-channel surround recording.
Lastly, the HX-WA03 is a new rugged Full HD camcorder. In case you’re wondering why this product bears a resemblance to the old Sanyo Xacti cameras, we’re going to theorize that it probably has something to do with Panasonic’s acquisition of Sanyo. Designed for one-handed shooting, it’s waterproof down to 16 feet, dustproof, and freeze-proof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The camcorder can handle almost everything other than a drop onto rocks or concrete – don’t expect the durability like those in many rugged digicams. It has an 11.9MP MOS sensor so it not only takes Full HD movies, but 16MP stills using interpolation. The camcorder has nine filters to add some creative touches to your productions including One Point Color, Old Movie, Fish-eye Effect, HDR Paint, Soft Skin, Monochrome, Sepia, Vivid, and Soft. It has a new Active Digital Image Stabilizer and although there’s no Wi-Fi, it’s compatible with Eye-Fi cards.
It is illegal to talk or text on a handheld cell phone or similar device while driving under legislation passed by the 2011 Nevada Legislature.
As of Jan. 1, 2012, fines of up to $250 are being imposed for any driver using a handheld phone or similar device to talk, read or type.
Not only is cell phone use while driving banned in Nevada, but you are four times more likely to crash when driving while talking on a cell phone. In fact, driving while talking or texting can delay your reaction time as much as driving legally drunk, even if it is by Bluetooth or other hands-free method.
There are more than 3,500 distraction-related crashes in Nevada every year, and more than 60 deaths in the past five years. Across the nation in 2009, nearly 5,500 people died and half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. The number is believed to represent only the tip of the iceberg because police reports cannot always document whether distraction was a factor in vehicle crashes.
Superintendent Mike Folks reported Monday that this year has been “a real challenge” to find people certified to teach driver’s education. Typically the district has two instructors and offers classes at Wakefield and Clay Center.
Lloyd Tiffany, who is certified and willing to teach driver’s ed., classes, proposed an idea to offer virtual classes through the Greenbush Consortium for up to 60 students at Clay Center. For students at the Clay Center location, Tiffany would proctor and teach the driving portion of the class that follows once they complete the final for classroom or online portion.
A traditional option taught by Lynn Wait will be offered for district students at Wakefield School, including the driving requirement.
This proposal would allow the district to offer the class to 26 more students than it has in the past. Folks reported that “many more kids would like to take driver’s ed.,” than what the district has been able to offer in the past -- 30 in Wakefield and 40 in Clay Center.
The district offers driver ed. classes for $150 per student, “a real bargain,” Folks said, because private lessons range from $350 to $400. Greenbush charges $120 per student for the online portion, and for that reason the district may have to adjust the fee schedule in upcoming this years.
But because there is enough carry-over in the driver’s ed. fund, about $80,000, the district will be able to offer the virtual classes without raising the fee this year. With more student fees collected and more in driver’s education reimbursement, the district would end up with about $90,000 in the driver’s ed. fund at the end of the year. That ending balance is a “projected” amount “but that could change based on enrollment, salaries and whether we purchase a vehicle out of that fund,” Folks said.
For that kind of forecast – or "nowcast" – you need a lot of data, and downloads of the app were slow for the first year. Then Superstorm Sandy started heading for the U.S. Users in the Northeast posted online, asking others with Android phones to help track the storm. Sheehy said active users doubled to around 2,000 in just a few days.
"I think the combination of people desiring to help and learn about science, and help researchers, along with this sort of unprecedented event, just drummed up a lot of enthusiasm and excitement," Sheehy said.
Now, new Android phone roll-outs, online mentions and media coverage have helped boost the number of active users to about 6,000 by Tuesday afternoon, according to Sheehy.
Phillyweather.net editor and occasional Newsworks.org contributor Tom Thunstrom said barometers used in forecasting now are typically just at airports and weather stations, often 10, 20, even 30 miles apart.
"If you've got 300 users that are within two to three miles contributing data, that's going to provide a lot more relevant and real time data, especially if it comes to thunderstorm aspect of it," Thunstrom said. "Thunderstorms can be very small scale. You can have a thunderstorm in the summer pop up over Center City while in South Philly, it's sunny."
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