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I keep telling ppl on forums and blogs where they blame firefox for the bad fonts that it is a problem with the Microsoft's DirectWrite API and they have to fix it.Unfortunately most of the users think that it is Firefox bug as it is a new feature in the new version.People don't realize that Firefox is using Microsoft API for HA and it is the API's fault.That is the current situation as far as i know.Anyone feel free to correct me if i'm wrong.

Then why does IE9 look so nice?

I tried out 64 bit Firefox a month or so ago .. seemed to work OK.

I'm not sure there are any advantages to using 64 bit browsers though ... are there any?

I dont think there are advantages, my impression has always been that they optimize the hell out of the 32-bit ones while 64-bit is not a priority. OS X is different though, all but one iteration of intel macs support 64 bits so they can pretty much get away with making it 64-bit and nobody noticing (though i guess they still use a 32-bit wrapper for 64-bit flash. AFAIK 64-bit flash is still a preview )

BTW, I'm getting similar sunspider benchmark in both 32-bit and 64-bit firefox latest alpha. Unlike IE9 (where it seems that the test takes 4 times longer on 64-bit)

I dont think there are advantages, my impression has always been that they optimize the hell out of the 32-bit ones while 64-bit is not a priority. OS X is different though, all but one iteration of intel macs support 64 bits so they can pretty much get away with making it 64-bit and nobody noticing (though i guess they still use a 32-bit wrapper for 64-bit flash. AFAIK 64-bit flash is still a preview )

BTW, I'm getting similar sunspider benchmark in both 32-bit and 64-bit firefox latest alpha. Unlike IE9 (where it seems that the test takes 4 times longer on 64-bit)

Yeah the 64 bit version of ie9 does not have the new ie9 javascript engine at all.

I dont think there are advantages, my impression has always been that they optimize the hell out of the 32-bit ones while 64-bit is not a priority. OS X is different though, all but one iteration of intel macs support 64 bits so they can pretty much get away with making it 64-bit and nobody noticing (though i guess they still use a 32-bit wrapper for 64-bit flash. AFAIK 64-bit flash is still a preview )

BTW, I'm getting similar sunspider benchmark in both 32-bit and 64-bit firefox latest alpha. Unlike IE9 (where it seems that the test takes 4 times longer on 64-bit)

Be cautioned that Sunspider is probably not optimized or designed to test the capabilities of 64bit broswers until they create a specific version to do so. So the comparison is quite moot, but I would definitely agree that 64bit would benefit from optimization and better use of computer resources.

?

new_versions.png

ff5_schedule.png

Central = Nightly (Trunk)

Aurora = Experimental (Alpha)

Beta = Beta

Final = Release

And new Icons http://mozilla.seanmartell.com/engagement/logos-v2.png

So are we getting a build on the 12th with that new icon? :huh: Would most likely use that - I just can't stand the current minefield branding.

Then why does IE9 look so nice?

As i said I'm not sure i am 100% right, but i have seen ppl say that some of IE9 users also get bad font rendering.It is a MS Browser after all and they may have implemented some workaround for their browser.

PS:Here are screenshots of Chromium,Firefox with HA and Anti-Alias Tuner addon,Firefox without HA and without the addon and IE9.

There are some character spacing problems when you use the GDI option in the addon,but they are not that often and i can live with them and hope they will be fixed later.

post-351666-0-53068400-1302313007.png

post-351666-0-41999100-1302313322.png

post-351666-0-36334600-1302313334.png

post-351666-0-82736000-1302313345.png

Sorry for double post,but for some reason i don't see the edit button on my first post.As you can see i have the same font rendering with FF with HA and with IE9.So it is not FF fault as far as i can see.

PS:Lol.I see edit button on this post now, but not on my first post.Is there some limit of how many edits a post can get?I edited my first post several times.

Thank you for the comparisons kilara1988.

I was considering upgrading to IE9 and making it my main browser, but after comparing the font rendering of IE9 and Fx 4.0, I don't really see any significant difference. I'm not going to bother upgrading to IE9.

Fx with AA Tuner looks the worst, GDI is not the way to go I believe.

PaulAuckNZ, that's not a browser feature, that's a website feature - and it sounds like it's broken due to some bad browser detection. The dialog sounds like "are you sure you want to navigate away from the page" style, no? Is it so hard to provide a URL? I'm guessing you refer to http://answers.microsoft.com/

Ok, funny that FF is the only browser that does it. Must be something in FF that no other browser has then. Yup thats the site you posted. Oh well, I'll live. I'll stick with Opera. Yup it was hard giving a url. Thats what Google is for

It's a site bug, some sites depend on certain Firefox bugs to work, so when they're fixed the site breaks. Look at Hotmail, it depended on Firefox's document.write() call not being standards compliant, so when they fixed it in 4.0 Hotmail broke (by continuously reloading)

And IE9 changes the gamma used for DirectWrite rendering if the user hasn't run the ClearType Tuner before, all it really results in is slightly stronger sub-pixel components though.

It seems the about window is getting themed to match the new icons.

987108556.png

I really like the new icons, although "Aurora" should have an aurora, not just a sunrise :laugh:

Wow, just amazing!

bug #?

I know this is a Firefox thread, but with people following the progress of Firefox, just wondering if anyone knew when Chrome was going to get the new font rendering like IE9 and Firefox.

They won't be using DirectWrite for some reason, but are pushing for an OpenGL implementation.

Considering the current tempo, it will be implemented in Chrome 43. Which will come out sometime this year.

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I see satellites crossing the sky above my garden most nights, and I am always looking at the moon. Yeah, I have a 200MP camera on my phone, but at 200X zoom, AI takes over and makes the pretty moon pictures that I snap, the DWARF mini does not, you get an actual true picture of what you can barely see with the naked eye. Before we start, let's share the highlights of the DWARF mini in bite-sized format: Pocket-Sized & Ultra-Lightweight Weighing just 1.85 lbs (840g), the DWARF mini easily fits into a backpack or large pocket. Its all-in-one, compact design makes it the ultimate grab-and-go digital telescope for hiking, camping, or traveling to dark-sky locations. Intuitive App Control & Built-in Sky Atlas Go from unboxing to your first shot in just 3 minutes! The DWARFLAB App provides a seamless experience with an interactive star map. Simply select your target and start exploring without the steep learning curve of traditional setups. Auto GOTO & 360° Pivot Freedom Enjoy pinpoint automated tracking with full 360° rotation. Powered by a high-sensitivity Sony IMX662 sensor (1/2.8-inch, 2.9μm pixels), it captures amazing, low-noise astro details, bringing faint nebulas and star clusters to life with stunning clarity. Pro-Level EQ Mode & Long Exposure Unlock advanced deep-space imaging with Equatorial (EQ) Mode. Supporting impressive single-frame exposures up to 90 seconds and featuring built-in light pollution filters, it easily cuts through city glow to reveal intricate celestial structures. Smart Cloud Processing & All-Ages Fun Effortlessly enhance your raw data with integrated cloud processing for professional-grade results. Perfect for beginners, kids, and adults, this telescope makes exploring and sharing the wonders of the universe an exciting, family-friendly adventure. The packaging is a pretty minimal affair with the outer box opening like a flap to reveal the plastic mould of the DWARF mini sitting in it. Below, the Sun filter, charging cable, cleaning cloth, and documentation can be found. DWARFLAB also provided a Mini Hydraulic Tripod ($89.99), and I highly recommend getting it if you plan on purchasing the DWARF mini, as it fully supports the motorized tracking feature of the telescope; plus, at 840g, the weight of the telescope, you will need a tripod that supports more than the weight of a smartphone anyway. What's in the box DWARF Mini Smart Telescope × 1 Sun Filter x 1 Type-C to Type-C Cord x 1 Cleaning Cloth x 1 User Guide With that out of the way, here are the full specs: DWARF mini Dimensions (DWH): 60.70 mm x 100.38 × 183.61 (2.39" x 3.95" x 7.23") Weight: 840g (1.85lbs) Aperture diameter: 30 mm (telephoto), 3.4 mm (wide angle) Image Sensor: SONY IMX662 1/2.8" (Telephoto) OmniVision OS02K10 1/2.8" (Wide-angle) Focal length: 150 mm (telephoto), 6.7 mm (wide-angle) Equivalent focal length: 1016 mm (telephoto), 45 mm (wide-angle) Shutter Speed: Tele - 1/10000-90s, Wide - 1/10000-30s Maximum exposure time: 90s (telephoto & wide-angle), Both in EQ mode Rotation range: Lens: 225°, Base: 360° Effective Pixels: 2.07M Maximum Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (Telephoto & Wide-angle) Built-in filters: Astro, Dark, Duo-Band (Telephoto), Astro (Wide-angle) Output: JPG, FITS, TIFF, MP4 Shooting Mode: Photos, Videos, Astronomy, Burst Shooting, Time-lapse Photography Storage: 64 GB Battery: Built-in 7000 mAh, supports external USB charging Charging Port: Type-C NPU: 1 TOPS Features: WiFi, NFC NFC One-Touch Connection Astronomy Post-Processing/Appointment Shooting/Astronomy Mosaic Wi-Fi Transmission Range: 15m (open environment) Color: Black Compatibility: iOS & Android smartphones/tablets Warranty: 2-years (24-months) MSRP: $399 Design Charge port On/off button Lens On the DWARF mini itself, it is a pretty minimal affair. On one side, there is a Type-C USB port to charge the non-removable 7000 mAh battery, and on the other side, a large button to power on or off the telescope. The button is flanked by an LED that is green when connected via the DWARFLAB app, or lights up red when being powered off. Below the button, there are four LEDs that indicate battery power. The DWARF mini does not have any sharp edges as all sides are rounded off; it has a good heft to it, but the weight of it feels quite balanced in the hand, so it isn't top or bottom-heavy. On the front there is the DWARFLAB logo which is quite small and there are no other markings on it. The tripod offers full 360° rotation of the motorized base, which allows for tracking for the time-lapse mode, but also for the 90-second captures of nearer objects in the sky, such as the Sun or the moon. Usage To get started, simply power on the DWARF mini and open the DWARFLAB app, tap on Connect, and it will scan for the DWARF mini over the Wi-Fi network. The device supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, as well as Bluetooth for discovery, so connection issues were minimal in my experience with it. As previously noted in the specs, the DWARF mini will stay connected with a phone or tablet up to 15 meters in an open environment, such as a backyard. Lighting status Powering on: The green circular light will rotate and breathe in turn Powering off: The red circular light is gradually extinguished Connecting: Green light strip rotating Connected: Green light strip solid/always on 4 lights 1= 0-25%, 2= 25-50%, 3= 50-75%, 4= 75-100% battery power To view the full lighting status, such as tracking mode and connection failure, you can check the user guide on the official DWARFLAB page. DWARFLAB app Above, you can see the steps undertaken to connect the DWARFLAB app to my Galaxy S26 Ultra. Weirdly, I got an alert that a firmware update failed to get uploaded to the DWARF mini the first time, but upon retrying, it worked. Then place the DWARF mini outside, make sure your smartphone or tablet is connected to it, and then head back inside, because you can manage it from the comfort of your home. Simply enter the Atlas tab in the app and search for what you want to capture, and then tap on the camera icon; the DWARF mini will then attempt to track the object and give you a live view right on your connected device. Results I've had the DWARF mini since April, but even though my garden is south-facing, I had a lot of trouble trying to capture a good image of the moon. In the end, it was possible after I took it with me on a trip to my parents in Southend, UK, at the end of May. Here is a capture of the moon, resulting from 20 stacked images over a 90-second exposure. What you are seeing here is not AI-assisted. A good example of what I mean is the latest flagships with their 200MP cameras claiming to capture things like closeups of the moon, and while they are not as good as the above example on the DWARF mini, the resulting image on smartphones is actually AI-assisted above 30X zoom. Here is an example of a similar shot at the moon at 200X zoom using an HONOR Magic8 Pro. The difference is clear. Next, here we have a shot of the daytime moon. Here is a shot of Arcturus, the red giant star, which is the fourth brightest in the night sky. As previously mentioned, it could be a bit clearer, but clouds passing in front of it muddied the shot a bit. The Sun The DWARF mini also ships with a sun filter, meaning you can take great shots of the sun as well. Tracking Sun Resulting (stacked) shot Live zoom The pictures themselves are limited to Full HD, and some of the examples actually came out in HD (1280x720), but this is because the standard telescopic result is in 720p while "Wide" is in 1080p. Above you can see how in the app the Sun is tracked, the resulting capture, and Live zoom. I have only scratched the surface of what is possible with this telescope; I found several examples online of shots of the Milky Way, among others, such as nebulae and galaxies. All of this requires patience and knowledge, although if you know what you are looking for, simply enter it in the Atlas tab in the DWARFLAB app, tap the camera icon, and the telescope will attempt to track it. Conclusion The good The DWARF mini definitely places itself in a price point that makes astrology accessible to anyone looking to get started in the hobby. Say you want to have a closer look at the moon, simply enter it in the Atlas, and the Live view also lets you zoom in and snap pictures. The bad Some issues I came across while operating the DWARF mini were that it sometimes failed to connect unless I held my smartphone right next to it, and finding and tracking sometimes took several attempts to get it calibrated. I discovered that it helped if I sort of positioned and pointed the telescope in the general area it was supposed to detect, but this obviously wouldn't work with objects you can't see with the naked eye; more testing is required for that. Another bit of advice is to ensure that the lens is clean. While making the examples of live zooming on the sun, I discovered that the telescope lens and sun filter were not completely clean, and only after cleaning with a microfiber cloth was I able to get a decent shot of the sun. Where to buy and a coupon Okay, $399 is not cheap for a side hobby, but nor is a $1,500 smartphone flagship that you'll most likely have for a couple of years. This is a one-time entrance into astrology, and it won't become obsolete in one year like a smartphone. It's a thumbs up from me. The DWARF mini is available to buy right now in the U.S. and U.K. at the links below. DWARF mini for $399 on the official site DWARF mini for $399 on Amazon U.S. Use the NEOWIN5OFF coupon code for an additional 5% off at checkout (expires June 21) As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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