What the iPad lacks – in my humble opinion

So – last week Apple announced their new iPad – essentially an enlarged iPhone at first glance. But – unfortunately – it’s not even that.

As much as I like the idea of having a lightweight communication device with a large screen with me at all times, the iPad really doesn’t make me want to leave home without my Macbook Pro. Having an e-mail client, a  and a browser (that doesn’t support Flash?!) is great, but not nearly enough.

I am absolutely dumbfounded that Apple isn’t including a real class-A GPS in the iPad, but just Assisted GPS. If it had one it would be the perfect partner for me in the car with Navigon or TomTom navigation software. In that way it would be a perfect travel-device – and as great in-car entertainment device.

The iPad lacks a camera (or two) for all those apps that need a camera to work. I have no idea why Apple wouldn’t want to include a camera in a device like this. Not that I’d want to use it to take pictures on my vacations, but because having a camera would unlock many of the features that are enabled by the many great apps in the AppStore. If you want examples then you seriously need to browse the AppStore to see for yourself. There are so many. Aside from adding a camera on the back of the iPad, I would’ve loved having a camera on the front side for video-conferencing purposes.

Also – please add the possibility of letting me answer calls on the iPad if my service provider allows it. It would be fine if it was just working with a headset or via bluetooth so I could use it in my car.

Aside from those issues – the iPad does look like a great device if you spend a lot of time commuting and don’t want to be lugging your Macbook or Macbook Pro.

Sorry, Steve. So far – the iPad is a miss for me. It just doesn’t pack enough new features to count as “revolutionary” in my book for me to consider buying it. Shoot me an e-mail when you’re announcing the iPad Pro ;-)

Disclaimer: I haven’t actually held the iPad in my own hands and all of the above is of course subject to change once that happens (though I doubt it will).

New project delayed

I’m currently working on a new in-house project – as previously mentioned – but I’m running late due to some work that came in late November/start December. I had plans to work on this over the holidays, but ended up just spending time with the family; which is what holiday is all about anyway ;-)

But – I’m counting on getting the final design ready within a few days and should have a working 1.0 version up and running in the middle of next week.

The name for the project has been decided: HDanmark / HDenmark (UK/US name).

More about a DIT and the backup procedures

Kinda dorky – I know – but I just wrote a new “paper” about some of the practices in backup up and securing footage shot on the RED. The principles apply to all kinds of digital media, though. The paper is in Danish for the time being: http://kinema.dk/dit/backup

Please send me any comments you might have. Thanks.

What is a DIT?

I just added a new page to  my website concerning the role of a DIT and how I think this new role should be perceived by producers and everyone else on set. I find that – in Denmark at least – there’s a lot of confusion about this “new” role.

As the information is mostly aimed towards productions in Denmark – the page is also in Danish and can be found here: http://kinema.dk/DIT/

Please feel free to comment.

My mantras

Everyone works under a set of “rules” or mantras – as I like to call them. Most haven’t put them down on paper, but I saw an interview with an entrepreneur recently and thought it would be good for me and help me focus. So here goes:

1) Always be honest and open

2) Follow your heart

3) Focus on execution

4) Control the time

5) Trust and Share with people

6) Inspire others to live out their dream

7) Give back

New project

In the beginning of December I will be launching a new website with the intent to document some of the most beautiful places in Denmark.

The website will allow users to map out 10 specific places in Denmark that they find to be the most beautiful place and attach photos and comments. The website is scheduled to accept entries until June 1st 2010 after which the documentation will start. The plan is to take a trip around Denmark to document these places with my RED camera and post results online, while at the same time blogging about the work and post video.

I still have no idea what to call the site, so if you have any ideas please let me know.

A fresh start

So I’ve been blogging on and off for about 2-3 years but found myself not blogging about anything for quite a while – mainly because I didn’t have a purpose. I do now. This time around I’ve decided to start fresh but primarily focus on my work as an aspiring cinematographer / filmmaker.

When I started my own business three years ago I decided to make it a goal of mine to make a feature as a DP within 5 years. So I have about two years left to make that dream come true but at this point I’m beginning to think that won’t be possible – life just gets in the way when you have to earn a living and have a family to take care of financially. I’m still determined, however – and seriously think I’m getting there.

The hardest part is to find really interesting projects with enough depth and potential for me as a DP to prove what I (think I) can do. Either there’s a super lame story or there’s no money to realize an otherwise great idea. Having no money seriously amputates any aspirations of being able to make a professionally looking piece of work, but on the other hand it’s what requires you to think out of the box and come up with creative ideas on how to get the same production value and be able to portray the story of the script in an interesting manner.

Currently I’m looking for serious film projects – so please let me know if you have an idea and want to share it with me.