sandor

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sandor
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  • What the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are really doing to your selfies

    sandorsandor
    sandor said:

    Huh said:
    Nice article but how do you explain away the smoothing with smart hdr off? The chinese phones have had this heavy noise reduction for years- they call it beauty mode . I guess you call it a new feature?
    You’re quite wrong. This photo app developer has written all about it, and his own camera app doesn’t use Smart HDR, resulting in noisy RAWs, then applies his own effects. The XS doesn’t apply the noise reduction (“smoothing”) when Smart HDR is disabled.

     https://blog.halide.cam/iphone-xs-why-its-a-whole-new-camera-ddf9780d714c
    I have a gut feeling that the explanations given by that developer should be taken with a grain of salt.

    What doesn't fit is his "high ISO introduces a lot of noise then Apple smooths the image to remove that noise" claim. I don't think he's talking based on a white paper from Apple, those are just his interpretations of the photos. That doesn't fit because with such a powerful CPU, neural engine and a brand new image signal processor, the noise issue might not have such a weight as to dramatically affect underlying algorithms and the resulting photos. Besides, with a Apple-developed image signal processor talking about noise makes no sense at all.

    "The image signal processor features a refined depth engine, which captures extraordinary detail in Portrait mode. And with Smart HDR, you’ll notice far greater dynamic range in your photos." 
    https://www.apple.com/iphone-xs/a12-bionic/

    There are no noise and no image smoothing at all, IMHO. Enlarge the XS photos to the max and watch how pixels are aligned at the borders. There are no fuzziness, no stray pixels, no "unsharp mask" outline. All pixels align perfectly and smoothly the most natural way, as if drawn by an artistic hand, which is nothing more than the image signal processor of A12.
    Noise is inherent in CMOS and CCD sensors, especially at high ISO. Having no noise would be a holy grail of sorts.

    The flaws you are looking for would arise from post-processing corrections, not signal/image processing hardware like Apple's, or Canon's DIGIC or Nikon's Expeed which are tied directly to the sensors and a inherently integral part of the A/D conversion process.
    Noise is inherent in CMOS and CCD sensors then what? The image is supplied to you by the image signal processor of A12, not by the sensor, no one has access to the sensor, to get "its noise". Between the sensor and ISP there is no image yet, just an array of bits. Apple's ISP is not tied directly to the sensor, it resides in A12.
    The film analogy would be reducing grain (noise) in the film itself, in the film processing (using difference developers/different chemical temperatures) or in the enlargement process (aka making prints)

    Absolute highest quality will come with better film (better sensors) but the development process (processing hardware) allows a direct chemical action on a latent image, so it is inherently a better time to address short comings than in the "making prints" stage (aka in photoshop, Photos, etc)
    roundaboutnowmacplusplus

  • Apple working on Canadian approval for Apple Watch Series 4's EKG tech

    sandorsandor
    Bebe said:
    Although this new series 4 Apple Watch is not as good as other ECG devices in the market (as "others" claimed), it is a good start.  Can't wait to get mine.
    But this makes sense - i would never expect a watch to have the same level ability as a "proper" 12-lead ECG (K came from Kardio - the Germans had may of the first devices)

    So i would think manufacturers of the specialized medical devices should draw a line in the sand, but i think they also understand the benefits of easily screening a population and how more general devices can capture people who would otherwise go undiagnosed, and they will then get in for "proper" 12-lead ECGs.  


    patchythepiratewatto_cobra

  • Apple discontinues sales of iPhone X, 6S, 6S Plus and SE

    sandorsandor
    ireland said:
    sandor said:
    The SE is sad.

    Simply put, i do not want a bigger phone.
    It fits in my pocket & i can easily use one hand to operate it.
    Thankfully I still have mine. I’m going to baby it until Apple bring out their new smaller phone.

    I actually just order the last space gray 128 GB SE from gazelle.  $250 seemed better than attempting to hunt one down at the apple store for $500
    My 64 GB still works well, but has taken several falls over its life, the frame & screen have shifted to the point that my olloclip lens no longer fits :)
    burnside

  • Apple Watch Series 4 is first consumer device to receive FDA clearance for ECG monitoring ...

    sandorsandor
    dunks said:
    The ECG functionality will be available at first to customers in the United States, with Apple also working to bring the feature to other markets at a later time.
    I really hope this doesn't take over a year like it did with Apple Pay.
    They will have to deal with each country's medical device regulation boards.
    Of course it will take time.
    jbdragonwatto_cobra

  • Apple discontinues sales of iPhone X, 6S, 6S Plus and SE

    sandorsandor
    The SE is sad.

    Simply put, i do not want a bigger phone.
    It fits in my pocket & i can easily use one hand to operate it.
    atomic101philboogiechris totraoulduke42entropystyler82baconstangarthurbaburnsidepulseimages