Today, I officially submitted my Masters thesis.

I am finally done.

I almost shed a tear before leaving the local PostNet. It felt like I was leaving behind a part of myself. I was suitably, and still am, a bit emotional about it.

My Masters thesis has been a part of my life for the last few years. I have worked on it for countless hours. It became a part of my daily routine. It was my job. Now it is no more.

Although I am relieved to have finally finished, I am also incredibly anxious.

This intense anxiousness stems from the inevitably looming question: “what now”?

I hope you will join me on my journey forward as I try to find the answer.

Until the next time Milieunairs!

“Three Apples changed the world: One seduced Eve, One awakened Newton and One fell into the hands of Steve Jobs”

Steve Jobs has passed away.

My sincerest condolences to his family.

I may not have known Steve Jobs personally, although I wish I did, I am deeply, deeply, saddened by his death.

Steve was an inspiration to many, including myself, and his innovative vision and quest for perfection will be sorely missed.

Rest well Steve and suffer no more.

[I wrote a larger piece on Vamers if you are interested to read it]

If you do one thing today, do yourself a favour and watch this speech that Steve Jobs gave to graduates at Stanford University:

South Africa’s very first iPhoneography exhibition is taking place on Thursday 1st September 2011.

For those who do not know, iPhoneography is the process of taking and editing photographs with only the use of an Apple iPhone.

A few weeks ago, I submitted some of my photographs for the exhibition.

I got in.

When I submitted my photographs I did so under the guise of “why not”. The idea is new and the concept is great. So I took a chance and my photographs were accepted.

Believe me, I was truly taken aback when the email arrived in my inbox telling me that my photographs had been selected for the iPhoneography exhibition. Needless to say, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to display my photographs as ‘works of art’ – a term I did not think I would be able to attribute to any of my photographs that were taken with only a mobile phone.

I have been fortunate enough to have 17 pieces accepted for the exhibition. 16 canvasses and a single ‘unique’ creation.

Previews of some of my photographs that will be on display can be seen in the gallery below. The photograph with the ‘story’ is a teaser for my unique piece titled “Life: A Journey Through Time”.

The exhibition will be held at the iStore on Sandton Drive on ‘spring day’ (Thursday 1st September 2011). Everyone should come on down and be a part of this novel and potentially groundbreaking exhibition. I know that there will be many photographs that will absolutely blow your mind from other extremely talented South African iPhoneographers. The best part? If you like what you see, you can purchase the artworks on display.

For those who will be driving, please note that there will be road closures in and around Sandton City for the Springbok send-off. Be sure to plan ahead accordingly.

For those who, like myself, will be using the Gautrain, please note that once you arrive at the Sandton Station, you will need to catch a Gautrain bus running on the S4 route. There is a Gautrain bus stop directly in front of the driveway to the Sandton Drive iStore. For more information about Gautrain bus times, please call 010 223 1098.

For my fellow Twitter folk who attend, please be aware that the official hashtag is: #iPhoneographySA. If Facebook is ‘your thang’, you can RSVP to the event here.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Until the next time Milieunairs!

I have not officially or formally announced it, but I have started my very own video games and technology based website called Vamers.

I soft launched the site in June 2011 and I have been attempting to populate it with content ever since (along with a few other able writers). I do plan to officially launch the site in September 2011, preferably on Spring Day, and will have a Gears of War 3: Epic Edition competition to go along with it. So be sure to keep a keen eye out for future ‘Win with Vamers’ posts.

Since I own Vamers I will do some cross posting on Hans’ Milieu from time to time. In fact, this post is the very first cross post of that nature.

To help ease the Vamers brand into the blogosphere, I am giving away a single copy of inFAMOUS 2 (Special Edition) for the PlayStation 3.

For details on how to enter the competition simply follow this link:

Win with Vamers inFAMOUS 2 (Special Edition)

I hope that you will join me in helping to make Vamers a primary online  resource for interesting gaming and technology related news, reviews and journalistic endeavors.

Until the next time Milieunairs!

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend and be one of the first people in the country to play with Nintendo’s latest portable device.

My first hands-on impressions of the Nintendo 3DS and a general overview of the spectacular launch party are right after the jump!

The official South African launch event for the Nintendo 3DS was held at La Toscana in Monte Casino last night. I must say, I was impressed.

Nintendo South Africa seemed to pull out all of the stops for the 3DS launch with soothing lighting, crazy visuals, Cirque Du Soleil-esque performers (believe it), an open bar, hot 3DS demo girls (and guys) and, of course, the chance to play with the Nintendo 3DS itself!

This event was probably one of the best product launch events I have been to – kudos to the organisers, you did a really fantastic job *High Five*. However, as good as the performances, food and bodacious 3DS models were, the star of the show was none other than the Nintendo 3DS… *Cue promotional video*

Truth be told, I was skeptical about the device’s capabilities. Having read a lot about Parallax Barriers (the 3D tech used in the 3DS) I was mentally convinced that Nintendo would not be able to pull off a satisfying portable 3D experience. Boy was I mistaken!

Although I may not be an audio visual expert, I do believe that I have a fair amount of experience with the current iteration of 3D technology available in the marketplace today (I have a gorgeous 63 inch active shutter glasses Full HD 3D television that I use daily). With that said, I believe that Nintendo has done a sterling job with the 3DS. There is really something beautiful about being able to enjoy 3-Dimensional content without the need for any additional attachments or peripherals.

In terms of 3D, the 3DS uses a Parallax Barrier screen to provide a 3-Dimensional effect:

A parallax barrier is a device placed in front of an image source, such as a liquid crystal display, to allow it to show a stereoscopic image without the need for the viewer to wear 3D glasses. Placed in front of the normal LCD, it consists of a layer of material with a series of precision slits, allowing each eye to see a different set of pixels, so creating a sense of depth through parallax in an effect similar to what lenticular printing produces for printed products. A disadvantage of the technology is that the viewer must be positioned in a well defined spot to experience the 3D effect.

(Wikipedia 2011)

The only other device I have used with a Parallax Barrier screen is Fujitsu’s FinePix REAL 3D camera. Of course that was about a year ago and although the technology worked, it was still very much in its infancy (it still is actually) and was more of a gimmick than a functional improvement. The same cannot be said for Nintendo’s 3DS.

Although the Nintendo 3DS still suffers from some of the same drawbacks associated with parallax barriers, most notably with regards to poor viewing angles (goodbye screen sharing), the 3D effect provided by the device was exceptionally good. In fact, I was taken aback by how well it functioned.

Each and every unit I used, including the first device I picked up and inadvertently “broke” by unintentionally placing it into development mode by pressing the ‘home’ button (turns out the 3DS demo units were exactly that, demo units), provided a great 3D experience. Just as long as you kept the unit fairly still and within about 30 centimeters from your face; like under normal operating practices. However, I did find that any sudden jolts or moving the device further than about a rulers length away from your direct line of sight, would result in a loss of the 3D effect and cause a weird cross eyed feeling as your eyes try to adjust to “what the heck just happened”.

Although the 3D effect is very good and remains quite constant, I am still bothered by the small viewing angle within which the 3D sweet spot lies. Granted it does not make much of an impact if you are sitting or standing still, but it remains to be seen how well this 3D effect will be able to perform when one uses the device while travelling. After all, this is what a portable gaming device is all about. Thankfully the 3DS does have a 3D-Slider which allows one to turn the 3D effect off completely or boost the effect to its maximum.

Despite the issue of a 3D sweet spot, the size of the device and the enlarged 16:8 formatted screen, made the overall game playing experience both worthwhile and intensely pleasurable. In fact it made each and every game on display feel fresh and ‘alive’, whether the games were new or simply 3D remakes. In my short experience with the device, I would place the graphical fidelity of the 3DS to be roughly equivalent to that of the Nintendo Wii.

The twin 3D cameras and the internal face camera allow for some pretty cool “on the fly” morphing effects in both games and general use. However, things really become interesting when the cameras are used for more than just taking and editing photographs.

Possibly one of the coolest aspects of the 3DS is the devices ability to merge an augmented reality scenario with a 3-Dimensional experience. A perfect example of this is the demo of how the 3DS turned an ordinary playing card, which was emblazoned with a yellow box and a question mark, into a fully fledged game playing experience. The opportunities for this kind of a setup are limitless. I cannot tell you how excited I am about the possibility of an augmented reality 3D Pokémon game. Just the thought gives me a geekasm! This is the future of gaming!

Although my time with the device was short, the experience has been long lasting. In a way, Nintendo has spoiled me. For when I look at my phone or any of my other portable devices, I cannot help but wish that they too could have 3D screens. In short, I will most probably end up buying one on launch day and when I do I will offer my personal verdict on whether or not it is worth owning.

Nintendo 3DS: South African Launch Event VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

For those who are interested, the Nintendo 3DS will officially go on sale in South Africa on Friday 25th March 2011 – just three weeks from today – for a suggested pocket busting retail price of R2799. Yes, that price is quite steep. You could buy an Xbox 360 4GB (R2399) or even a Nintendo Wii (R2499) and an accompanying game for that price. Games for the 3DS are similarly priced and are suggested to sell for about R499 each. I thought it would be worth mentioning that the Nintendo 3DS will retail for about $250 in the USA and between £150 – £230 in the UK (depending on the retailer).

A variety of games will be available at launch with over 30 games being made available for the Nintendo 3DS between 25th March 2011 and June 2011.

Personally, I really like the Nintendo 3DS and I believe Nintendo have done a fine job of, once again, redefining the mobile gaming arena. However, do not just take my word for it. Make a plan and head on over to Skoobs in Monte Casino anytime from 16:00 (4pm) until 20:00 (8pm) today for a sneak peek and some hands-on action with the Nintendo 3DS!

I hope you all enjoyed this post and I look forward to hearing your comments about the device.

I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to everyone who contributed towards allowing me to be a part of such a fun filled event. Thank you!

Until the next time Milieunairs!

For the first time I will attempt to “Live Blog” the event as it happens – from 18:00 (6pm) GMT+2. Please bear in mind that I have never done anything like this before. So it remains to be seen whether or not this will be a “hit or miss” endeavour. Nevertheless, I look forward to your feedback.

If you are interested, the Live Blog is right after the jump.

I will also be Tweeting the event. So if you have a Twitter account you may follow my updates via @HansHaupt. Additionally, the official Twitter hashtag is #N3DS.

I hope you enjoyed this attempt at something new.

Until the next time Milieunairs!

South Africans are a buzz.

That’s right folks U2 is here  and, believe it or not (I still cannot), I was privileged enough to crack an elusive invitation to an exclusive behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the U2 360° Tour.

“The Claw”, or as it is known locally “The Prawn”, is a magnificent structure. I have never seen a stage construction like it before. It is so big that it actually begins to make the FNB Stadium, previously known as Soccer City, feel small. Let me tell you, that is no easy feat. Check out the video I created below for an indication of the true immensity of this structure.

Here are a few more interesting facts about “The Claw” and the U2 360° Tour:

• Before reaching South Africa, over 4.5 million people would have seen U2 360°.
• The design can support up to 180 tonnes and was conceptually designed using forks over ‘dinner’ during the Vertigo Tour in 2006.
• The steel structure is 28 meters tall with the center pylon reaching a  height of 45 meters.
• The cylindrical video screen is made up of 1 million pieces, weighs 54 tonnes, is 4300 square feet when closed and opens to a size of 14 000 square feet.
• The steel structure takes four days to build with a further 12 hours to load the screen, stage and production equipment.

Behind the Scenes VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

In addition to getting all close and personal with “The Claw” while on the ‘behind the scenes tour’, we were also extremely lucky to have the chance to speak to Jake Berry (U2 360° Tour Production Director), Paul McGuiness (U2’s Manager) and John Langford (Chief Operating Officer of Big Concerts).

In order, from left to right: Jake Berry, Paul McGuiness and John Langford.

Whether you are a fan of U2 or not, this is most certainly a show you do not want to miss. I would even go so far as to fully agree with the U2 360° Tour Production Director Jake Berry, who exclaims how being able to attend this production would be “an opportunity of a lifetime”.

360° Panorama of the FNB Stadium and U2 360 Claw

I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to 94.7 Highveld Stereo, Primedia and everyone else who contributed towards allowing me to be a part of such a privileged and incredible “behind the scenes” experience. Thank you!

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

The Optimistic lover blindly skips into a relationships and “lets the cards fall where they may”. It is all good, after all. Often expecting to “get lucky”, even if only by holding hands.

The Pessimistic lover uses a “worst case scenario” thought process in order to emotionally prepare for the devastation that will inevitably ensue once within a relationship.

The Realistic lover looks at any relationship as a learning experience, regarding it as neither good nor bad. With no expectations, the realist is ready for anything.

Take Our Poll

In December I was fortunate enough to be blessed with an Apple MacBook Air. My very first Apple computer. All who know of Apple are aware that this is the brand synonymous with photo, video and sound production. Today, I decided to put the aforementioned stereotype to the test.

I am no stranger to video production. From a very early age, I have had the fortune of being both in front of and behind the lens of my fathers camera equipment. This allowed me, on numerous occasions, to dabble in the fine art of filmmaking. Of course I am by no means a Spielberg, Kubrick or Cameron, far from it in fact, and I am very much still an amateur. Never the less I do enjoy the process. I find it a lot of fun. So I took my new camera, a Canon EOS 7D which I still have to learn to use, I headed out into the garden and I began to film whatever caught my interest.

The result? A trailer for the purely fictional and wistfully thought out independent art house film called UMFANA: the story of a boy.

The two stars of this *cough* award winning *cough* film are the handsome little tyke Sibusiso Mahlangu and the beautifully shaggylicious Chocolate Faith. Sibusiso is a real little trooper and was pretty excited to be a part of the “movie”. Both his mom and his grand mother work for us which is how I had access to this little rising star. Chocolate Faith is our Bouvier. She loves having her tummy rubbed and drinking out of the pool.

Once I had completed the trailer, a feat I feel guilty about taking credit for since iMovie ‘11 pretty much puts the whole thing together – a click here and a click there and presto, you have a movie trailer, I hosted a mini ‘screening’ on our home theatre. I gathered up everyone on the property and reserved a special seat for our new star. Everyone enjoyed it, especially my mom… who cried. But that was to be expected because my mom always gets emotional for things.

That pretty much sums up my afternoon. Instead of doing my Masters research, I ended up making a trailer for a non-existent movie. I could be the poster child for procrastination. Regardless, I feel good about it. It was almost as if I needed it. I also inadvertently proved that Apple is still the ‘shiz niz’ when it comes to video editing and I would very much like to, one day, hone my fledgling filmmaking skills on a Mac with Final Cut Pro.

“If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed”
~ Stanley Kubrick

Warner Brothers Pictures and Legendary Pictures confirmed the casting decision in a joint statement on the 30th January 2011. Zack Snyder of 300 is also said to be directing this umpteenth reboot of the Superman film franchise..

Seriously though, who saw that coming?

Like many, I thought the role would have gone to someone like Mad Men’s Jon Hamm or White Collar’s Matt Bomer. I would not have even minded if Brandon Routh was allowed to reprise the role after the ill fated Superman Returns; a movie which I, surprisingly, enjoyed (minus the terrible “Superman is a father now” scenario) but which the critics completely bashed. However, they cast Henry Cavill.

Personally I do not mind that he is the new Superman. He has the look and he can act, which is all that really matters. What I do find odd and interesting though, is that all three of America’s most iconic and truly American comic book characters are now being played by non-Americans. In fact, they are all British with Andrew Garfield as the new Spider-Man and Christian Bale as Batman.

Without a doubt, this is a perfectly prime example of globalisation!

Henry Cavill will be seen later this year playing Greek warrior Theseus in Immortals, and alongside Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver in the thriller The Cold Light of Day.

(Superman fan artwork is courtesy of RalphD)