360 DEGREES Weblog

When Polaroid bowed out of the instant analogue camera market in 2008, there was a huge uproar.
Today, packs of film from the last production days in the factory sell for extraordinary amounts, while the Impossible Project has done its level best to keep Polaroid mourners satisfied.
Now, in a bid to recapture the lucrative market of photographers looking for instant physical prints, Polaroid has announced the Z340.
Using the vintage styling of the classic Polaroid One, lookswise, the camera instantly appeals to fans of the original.

LCD screen
On the top of the camera is a flip-up LCD screen which you use to compose the shot, as well as review images.
In practice, it’s a little disorientating to use at first. Classically of course, you would have held the camera to your eye to use a viewfinder, which the Z340 doesn’t have, so you need to use it with arms stretched out as with most modern compacts.
Given the rather cumbersome build of the Z340 – which is an obvious necessity given that it also houses a printer – it’s a little awkward shooting with it arm’s length, but this is possibly something to get used to over time.
The buttons on the camera are few and far between – a good thing considering this is meant to be as basic and simple to use as possible.
Obviously the biggest risk with traditional Polaroid shooting is that if the picture was no good, you ended up wasting paper.
With digital photography, this problem is of course removed. With the Z340 you can even go one step further and make basic edits to a shot, such as cropping, before deciding to print it. You can also add borders, including the classic Polaroid white frame.Printing speed is one of the most important aspects of this camera, and using this pre-production model was impressive. The time from taking a photograph to holding the physical print in your hand is around 30 seconds.
The Z340 is equipped with a 14 megapixel million effective pixel sensor, but looking at the image quality from our albeit brief time with the camera indicates that it is not superb. But, who ever bought a Polaroid camera for high quality shooting? The quality is certainly no worse than the traditional prints of old and perhaps even adds to the ‘retro’ feel of the camera.
ZINK printing technology
Although you will have to purchase paper packs for the Z340, because it uses ZINK (Zero Ink) technology, you won’t need to buy ink. The process works using thermal technology to produce images, with the paper containing cyan, yellow and magenta dye crystals inside the paper that are activated when heated.
We can see this camera appealing to photographers looking for something a little bit different, perhaps the street photographer who wants to give their subjects a copy of the image, or at parties.
One of the drawbacks however is the price. At over $229 it might put off the typical ‘fun’ consumer that the product is so clearly aimed at. That said however, with availability scheduled for December it might see itself at the top of several Christmas lists.

With photography gaining popularity as a hobby and also as a profession, technology and innovation have come of age for the photography enthusiast. We recently showcased one such innovation called the Chess camera lens set which had the Nikon camera in a shade of black on the chess board. But, since various areas of the earth are being photographed especially underwater zones, Nikon has introduced the underwater camera dock station through the name Ikelite, meant for those who like capturing the scenes below water, especially scuba divers.
The dock mainly comprises of a heavy duty clear polycarbonate case which is highly durable, air tight and also completely corrosion free. It helps in keeping your camera safe to a depth of 200 feet, giving more freedom for exotic photography. This is enabled by the quad-ring seal gland that prevents water for seeping inside the dock. All functions of the camera work smoothly, expect for the diopter adjustment for which there aren’t any provisions in the dock yet.
But other advanced controls like super eye magnifier along with the LCD screen, allows for closer and a more accurate view under water. The recording and clicking is as easy as other complicated functions as most of the controlling is enabled on the side-handles which have the buttons & knobs, or the upper part of the dock, which enables easy access to controlling functions. After you are done with the dock, a few further presses of the button and you have your Nikon ready to be unloaded for viewing of the content inside.

So next time when you are planning your underwater adventure, be sure to keep aside $1400 for the Ikelite camera dock apart from your other expenses. With the multi-functional attributes, it gives extra features by enabling it to work under water. Lightweight and easy to use, it certainly looks like the perfect companion under water.

Alexander Wang’s signature downtown girl adds a little prep to her step this fall with the Anais high heel. A glossy makeover for the classic loafer in silver, gold or just shiny black. Hello girls put the Metal to the Pedal!

Alexander Wang Anais High Heel, $650;

Sugar Free is a brand of artificial sweetener. In India they communicate this low calorie product in an extreme light way. A floating billboard was created, equipped with three huge helium balloons.

Releasing this Fall 2011, is the new Converse One Star Seeker. Best described as a One Star chukka version, the mid top sneaker comes in two classic suede colorways and keeps an overall clean look.

Making toast is one of the easiest things to do in the kitchen, aside from pouring a glass of milk. The most complicated part is setting the knob to select just how brown you want your bread to be. So why not liven up your toast-making experience by getting a machine that puts something funny on your toasted bread?

This aptly-named Stupid Toaster appears to be aimed at the female population, as it can burn things like “Drama Queen” or “boys r smelly” into your morning bread. There are four different stencils that you can choose from, which might bring a smile to your morning. If burning in silly messages into your toast sounds fun, then this gadget will set you back $30.

I used to think my Trapper Keeper binder was the epitome of high-tech learning. Heck, I’m pretty sure I even had a calculator that attached to the 3-ring bindings inside. But I might as well have been carrying around a chalkboard compared to what today’s kids get to tote around at school. ZooGue’s BinderPad case is really just another iPad-friendly polyester sleeve, with cutouts providing access to the display and hardware buttons. But it sets itself apart with an extra flap punched with 3 holes allowing it to clip-in to a 3-ring binder, not unlike my old calculator used to. Except that the iPad can be used for way more than just spelling out you-know-what. $29.99, available now in black or grey finishes.

We’ve heard of rubber bands and straps before, but a rubber watch? The IWC Aquatimer Galapagos Islands Chronograph Watch ($TBA) is pretty damn close. Its 44mm stainless steel case goes through a vulcanization process that leaves it coated in matte-black rubber, which perfectly matches the black rubber strap, and compliments the black face. Of course, it also tells time, with a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement, 44-hour power reserve, date and day display, and luminescent elements on the hands, dial and rotating bezel.

Your suits are custom tailored, so why isn’t your bike? Derringer Bespoke Motorbikes ($TBA) offer serious customization for the discerning customer, as well as a moto-hybrid drivetrain, a 49cc four-strike engine that can go up to 180 miles on a single gallon, a GGB gearbox with a centifugal clutch and freewheel that lets the pedals stay stationary while the engine’s running things, a 70mm drum front brake, coaster rear brake, and any combination of paint, seat, handlebars, wheels, and other options you’d like.

This ancient Penril Modems ad features a bored and uncomfortable woman in Barabarella go-go gear hefting an enormous box containing electronics that shrunk down to an integrated component on a motherboard about ten years ago, and all but disappeared into obsolescence in recent years.

Thanks Boing Boing