Graham Hancock » Web

Seeing is believing: iPhone 4 vs. EVO 4G

Graham — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:01:51 +0000

I’ll admit, I was pretty impressed when I heard the EVO 4G could record 720p HD video. It was one of the most touted features of the 4G. However, after seeing these comparison videos I’m surprised that HTC can even get away with advertising that the EVO 4G records HD video. Watch these two comparison videos recorded simultaneously on an EVO 4G and an iPhone 4 by Chris Pirillo:

Watch a few seconds of the iPhone 4 Video:

Now, watch the same video as recorded by an HTC EVO 4G:

There is just NO comparison here. The quality of video and audio being captured by EVO 4G is awful, and could be bested by even the oldest Flip camera out there. The bitrate/compression is very low, and it seems like the frame rate is capped at below 25 fps, possibly even 15 fps. That is NOT HD video. The “resolution” may be 1280×720, but that is absolutely not high-definition quality video.

Of course, by comparison iPhone 4′s “HD” capability looks fine, but i’m noticing quite a bit of CMOS “jelly” motion when there’s some side-to-side movement going on in the frame. Not perfect, but it seems to minimize it more than most Flip devices. Another observation is that the iPhone 4 camera seems to handle very well in low-light, which is encouraging.

Followup: “Making Of” The Prius Commercial

Graham — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:14:06 +0000

Through a completely random sequence of events I was able to find a behind the scenes “Making Of” video for the jaw-dropping Toyota Prius commercial that I posted on earlier. Best of all… they used Apple’s Final Cut Studio to make the spot!

Petra Haden / Toyota Prius Commercial

Graham — Mon, 25 May 2009 06:50:14 +0000

I’ve been seeing this new Toyota Prius commercial on and off for the past couple of days, and I must say it blows me away every time I see it, but what got my attention the most was the music playing behind it. After some research I found out that the artist behind the song is Petra Haden an “all acapella” artist who has (lately) done a few great acapella covers of hit songs. A quick google/youtube search also produces some pretty awesome examples of her incredibly talented work!

Check out the “Making Of” video!

Update: The Song used in the “Harmony” commercial is a Petra Haden cover of The Bellamy Brothers’ “Let Your Love Flow”

Is Sprite the best medicine?

Graham — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:52:03 +0000

Every time I get the slightest bit sick my mom tells me to hunker down and drink lots of Sprite and I’ll feel better. I’ve always thought this was a little weird, but oddly enough it seems to work sometimes. Is this just a placebo effect? I asked this question on Twitter and got lots of really great responses. Check them out!

Do your parents think that Sprite has medicinal qualities?

@thechrisgriffin said, “My parents say the same thing, I’ve never understood it either.”
@frankramblings said, “It’s like the Windex in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”
@marcvibbert said, “If you mix sprite with root beer it makes a poor man’s ginger ale… So maybe that has something to do with it?”
@_NoDayButToday_ said, “Supposedly the carbonation settles your stomach according to my Mom, but I don’t buy that soda can be in any way healing.”
@punkylady said, “I think it has healing powers, there’s always sprite in the fridge.”
@ctr823 said, ” My parents say ginger ale.”
@lovelyboredom said, “Ginger ale usually. Flat.”
@LittleGreyGirl said, “Orange juice and ginger ale.”
@seandps said, “I have heard that too, and I always have Sprite / 7up if my stomach is a little off, guess all the burping makes me better.

This just in: Twitter is awesome.