[MF3D.FORUM:722] Palm Software Review (1)

[Tom Deering <smile@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I asked about photography software for the Palm Pilot, and Brian 
Reynolds was good enough to write about two.  I've looked into them, 
and here's what I found out.  In my next message, I will write about 
a couple I found.

On 6/8/00, Brian Reynolds wrote:
>Phil Davis (author of "Beyond the Zone System" and many magazine
>articles in Photo Techniques USA and its predecessors) has written a
>program called ExpoDev for the Palm devices 
><URL:http://www.darkroom-innovations.com/>

Wow.  This must be good software.  It's $74.95 for the basic version, 
$129.95 with graphing.  There is no demo, no screen shots, and only a 
basic description, although I am sure a person who is familiar with 
"Beyond the Zone System" would understand.  Me, I didn't, because 
there is not even a simple explanation of  BTZS on this web site. 
For this price, I would expect more info, or at least some screen 
shots.

>Bob Wheeler has written a Palm program called VadeMecum that does many
>of the things ExpoDev does, but does not keep a database of exposures.
>You can see it, and his papers on various photographic topics, at:
><URL:http://www.bobwheeler.com/photo/>.

This is available for a free download, but I wouldn't recommend it. 
It encompasses a dazzling array of 47 photographic formulas in ten 
groups.  Many only apply to large format cameras.  Once you choose a 
formula, there is an info screen that explains what parameters are 
needed.

But the going is murky at best.  Input fields are not marked in 
English, but with their optics variables.  So when the formula needs 
an f-stop, it asks for "N".  It's the same everywhere.  You'll be 
tapping the "info" button like a woodpecker to decode "NDOFu" into 
"calculated f-stop based on depth of field and distance to subject" 
and then once again for each variable. John B would have a field day. 
Many others will quietly delete the thing.

>My wife has the Metroworks
>Code Warrior for the PC and Palm environments and has been busily
>working away on her sock calculator
><URL:http://www.panix.com/~ilaine/socks.html>.

Now this is good software.  I was able to use Liz's software without 
knowing anything about knitting, and I was amazed with the results. 
Basically, you take  4 or 5 foot measurements, add some parameters on 
stitch size, and the thing spits out two pages of instructions for 
knitting socks.  It's very cool.  Besides hand knitting, it also has 
a setting for machine knitting, which frankly still looks like a lot 
of work.  I only wish photographic software worked as well.

Cheers,

Tom
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tmd@xxxxxxxxxxx    http://www.deering.org