Sunday, July 10, 2016

Horology Update - Daytona / Speedmaster

Some of talk and demand from Basel 2016 has engulfed this new Rolex Daytona Reference 116500LN.
It is a great looking watch albeit not a huge change from the previous model but a very nice face lift non the less.

Thanks to Smales in Subiaco for bringing it out for me to see. Yes Perth Australia there is a black version available. Here is the catch its not going at RRP, its going up for auction!!!
As soon as I get more information I will share it.
In the meantime please contact Smales ASAP to give yourself a chance.
The auction is going towards a good cause so turn up and get what everyone wants.

Rolex Daytona Official Page

Here it is against my Omega Speedmaster. Both beautiful watches.




Please join the local Perth Horology group. HERE.
Share you time pieces, ask for advice and enjoy all the latest news.

Here is a gallery of images I've taken in my journeys around Australia's watch stores.
Watch Gallery



Sunday, April 3, 2016

Oz Comic-Con Perth 2016

The Perth Comic-Con kicked off this weekend with the final day hosting the Cosplay competition.
There was lots to see and do and everyone was great. All those who spent hours dressing up and walking around took the time to pose and entertain kids and adults alike.

I spent the final day there today and took some images that I hope will show the quality and commitment the Perth public has taken up. By all accounts this should get bigger and better every year. See you all in 2017.

Gallery
Perth Comic-Con 2016 

https://goo.gl/photos/mxHxyEqitvhbpE2e8
Groot

The official site
http://www.ozcomiccon.com/2016/perth/

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Holiday to Navini Island, Fiji.

This year we picked Fiji and specifically Navini Island to spend our holiday.
We met some fantastic people and saw some amazing scenery, some of which you will see below.

Navini Island, arriving by boat. This wasn't our actual arrival for that was at 6am. This was taken on return from one of the daily trips available for free when you stay at Navini.

Out of the 12 days we spent there all but 2 were perfect. For early December, which is the beginning of the rainy season, this was a gift we didn't waste. We spend most days going on the morning trip from about 9am to 12pm then snorkeling around the island.

The island is kept clean and maintained well and you'll notice this when you walk around it, which is about a 10min walk.

The day trips included going to unnamed snorkeling reefs, a sand quay, dolphin spotting, visiting a local village on a nearby Island and other resorts. All of this gives you perspective and makes you realise how wonderful Navini really is.

Your Bure or beach bungalow is perched just off the water's edge giving each unit privacy and a view to enjoy. 
The units had been renovated just before we got there and were really nice, new beds, new bathrooms and a room makeover. It was worth every cent. Their websites pictures are yet to be updated, as of today they are showing the old rooms. 27th December 2015. 
Here is some idea of what to expect. The new bed arrived after these images were taken and the bathroom looks great.
 









When walking around the island, here are some of the sites you can expect to see.
 Each bure has its own fixed beach or grass 'umbrella'.
 Right outside our bure, I took the camera for a swim, with a protective case and worked hard to get a this shot which I had been planning in mind since we booked.
Once you put on the snorkeling ear and venture just a little further out you can explore the local reef . It's a protected reserve so you get to see all sorts of coral and fish going about their daily chores.
More underwater images can be viewed here in the full holiday album.




There is a resident turtle, ray and a few sharks that can be seen if you stay still and quiet while swimming. Allow the current to guide you over the reef when snorkeling and always avoid stepping or knocking the coral.

Don't worry the sharks aren't interested and will mind their own business if you just observe them.
Black and white tip reef sharks are then common species of shark you will see.

Meet the locals and be as friendly as they are. When you live in or travel to a place like Fiji you'll find it difficult to get stressed about anything.

The resort is fully catered so there is no need to take any food or drink with you. The food, served 3 times a day is more than enough for the hungry ones and the quality is fantastic. The homemade bread and ice cream is a daily treat.

Sunset on the last day.

For more photos of the reef and its inhabitants as well as some of the day trip locations view the gallery and decide for yourself if it's worth the trip. 

I'll be adding images and video to my YouTube channel soon so subscribe now to ensure you don't miss out.


Sunday, October 18, 2015

Japan - Street Shots

Each image contains full EXIF metadata including GPS coordinates. 

Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. The castle is one of Japan's most famous landmarks and it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

Osaka Streets

Kyoto Bridges and Cherry Blossoms

Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera
Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda.


Thursday, October 8, 2015

Hamilton Island, Queensland

Bucket list check. Must see Hamilton Island, Queensland. There is beauty all around. #hamiltonisland #ampimages #travelphotography #travel #holiday #ampimages #greatbarrierreef #wondersoftheworld #heartreef #island #tropical #luxuryholiday #luxury

See more here -> Gallery




Monday, September 28, 2015

Sony Heaphones and Walkman Review (MDR-100AAP, NW-A25)

I recently received the below products for an unbiased review. I have tried various headsets and have an extensive and expensive home theater and audio system. 

The revolution from SD(standard definition) to HD and now 4K or UHD(ultra HD) has seen our living rooms change. Some have done it through choice and others through necessity.

As the consumer video formats have directly affected us, little has impacted or driven the change for audio. Audiophiles out there have known how to satisfy their cravings but for the average person on a budget this has remained largely elusive or unknown. 

In recent time Sony have decided to remind us of high-res audio and have come to the table with the devices we need to experience it. The two items below, when paired, form a great example of how the everyday person can enjoy high quality music.
by: AMPImages

The only other requirement is to source your music in a high resolution format. Whether your download or stream it off services like HDTracks or Tidal it is essential to have the files in one of the lossless formats. One can also rip CD's and records in lossless high-res formats with the right software.

by: AMPImages

Thanks to Sony you can now get your hands on the hardware with relative ease. It's now up to you to get the music. This is whats held back so many for converting or upgrading. The thought of re-ripping my music library which I've built up over the last 20 years. Yes mp3's have been around that long. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3

It's time for a change that will reward you
by: AMPImages

While these images show some tools to help you get there, there are many options and I employ you to crawl the web to find ones that blend with your style and taste.
Here is some information to get you started.

What is high-resolution audio? Answer!


Some smartphones these days support these formats so start there and look for a headset that can covert the wavelengths to audible information.

The Review

I'll review these 2 products in a constructive but honest write up.


Firstly the headphones. The most astonishing thing about these is the...
Frequency Response 5 Hz – 60,000 Hz
This paired with a lossless audio track like Tim Omaji - Delilah ft. Pusha T  you can without a doubt feel the bass. See how your headphones stand up to it and use it to compare in store. Every strum and bass kick on your favourite rock tunes. Digital beats and vocals have never sounded better. It makes you want to listen to everything you've every heard before. To put that into perspective, on average, humans only hear from 20Hz - 20,000Hz.

The response of these headphones crystallises the treble and higher frequency tones with ease and without fault.
I compared them to my MDR-1ADAC, Razer Megalodon's and the standard in ear headphones you get with most mobile phones these days.
The newer red MDR-100AAP held there own and performed well above their price bracket.
Coming it stores in October and estimated half the price of the MDR-1ADAC's they are an imperative buy for the music lover.

by: AMPImages

They have a slightly smaller ear cup than the 1ADACs but this wasn't a problem for me and my ears. I did notice that the cushions were a little firmer than the 1ADAC's but not to firm. Listening times of 4 hours can be achieved with ease and comfort.

Connectivity, while simple on the new red h.ear headphones, provides you all that you need using eh 3.5mm plug. The cord includes a mic so when used with a smart phone you can answer calls, pause and play music with the uni-button. It's a nice tangle free cord that feels solid and won't tear easily, unlike the standard mobile in ear sets.
by: AMPImages

An idea of the cup size. See image below. While narrow the cushions where flexible and my ears fit within them I do suggest you test them in store to ensure they fit. Like any wearable its one of those where you do need to research the product in the store.

The quality of sound from these babies should not be the deciding factor. The colour, form factor and style should be the only decision point. They fold up for travel and seem sturdy enough to take a few knocks without disintegrating.

by: AMPImages

Choose your colour and off you go.

The Walkman was as you would expect it to be. A simple, expandable and essential tool for every music lover. Most days we just use our smartphones but not all support hi-res. I personally use these digital players in my audio systems either in the car or the home theater. There are many digital audio players in the market, find one that plays hi-res audio and up scales compressed audio and you'll be in business. 


Review the websites I've linked in this review for specs on the Walkman. From my point of view I like the size and physical buttons. The battery lasts for ages, I listened every day for hours on end for over a week and never had to charge it. Its a travellers buddy and with the noise cancelling functions no matter where you are the music will be unpolluted.

It has built in NFC and bluetooth for easy pairing and streaming but don't expect to have the hi-res quality over bluetooth.

The attention to detail is where Sony makes a difference.

Video Review here -> YouTube.