This Changes Everything

Announcing Lytro, the camera that captures pretty much everything - essentially a 3D image that can be rendered as such, or as a variable focus, variable depth of field 2D image. The company calls them Living Pictures, and the raw data is the Light Field. Here's an example - click around the image to change focus:



It seems to me that, for demo purposes, they've created a depth map and pre-generated three or four images there. I imagine the computation time to refocus is nontrivial, so a simple focus or depth of field slider wouldn't be very effective.

Here's the take on it from the New York Times, and CNN Tech.

Bin Laden Dies, News Media Goes Crazy

I am sure we'll all retain a vivid memory of where we were when this news surfaced. I was watching Real Housewives of Orange County (yes, really), and noticed a Facebook post querying the rumor going around online.

So I dived into the crazed world of blanket coverage of an event where not so many details are known, and it's been fascinating to see facts emerge from supposition. A mansion became a compound. Assets became agents became Navy SEALs. And, as always, everyone was scrambling to find an angle. Because if you are any kind of news site, you need to be covering the biggest story. Even if it has no relevance whatsoever to your news focus.

Doug Aamoth knows this, and covers the point with humility and honesty:

I have to drag big news into my wheelhouse when possible, whether it affects me or not.

My inside source at CNN Money, Stacy Cowley, reacted:

It helps to club it on the head first. That's our tactic. Stun the news, then BAM, own it.

Nothing more need be said.

Best In Business

Congratulations are due to CNNMoney for cleaning up five Best in Business awards from the Society of American Business Editors & Writers. Editor Stacy Cowley (who happens to be married to this writer) has her name on two of those, for her work wrangling reporters David Goldman and Annalyn Censky on two excellent feature articles.

An Artificial Sheen

Anna Holmes takes CNN's Piers Morgan and many others to task in the New York Times for less than critical coverage of Charlie Sheen and his so-called antics. Well worth a read.

British Invasion

So, which British transplant had more impact last night? Piers Morgan on CNN, or Skins on MTV? Skins drew the ire of the Parents Television Council*, sight unseen:

The marketing campaign itself makes light of lying to parents and participating in all manner of harmful, irresponsible, illegal and adult-themed behavior.

Hank Stuever of the Washington Post was equally damning of Piers Morgan, however:

Morgan's first show turned out to be a fawning and completely unnecessary interview with a successful businesswoman named Oprah Winfrey.

Positively glowing! Perhaps we should run a pool on which of these fabulous imports lasts longer...

* Note: I do not take anything the Parents Television Council says in the least bit seriously, nor do I find them a credible source for television analysis. I merely happened to notice this piece of vitriol.