That dart silo sounds like more of a hardware modification, poster. Maybe you should start a thread about those, too. ;-)

You guys are cracking me up. Where's you imagination?

I want my Nikon DSLR to have a built in swiss knife, a can opener and hand sanitizer dispenser. with a combo like that, you can drop me naked with just the camera in the middle of the jungle, and I will survive.

PS- I thought about it some more, and instead of a built in flash I would want to have a mini dart silo. Now that's badass!

Camera firmware is very specific software not general use one and in these digital days it is one of the main technology advantages and selling point one company can have over the others so no one is willing to go open. For example Nikon EXPEED is actually made up of software components so it would not be very good for business for Nikon to make it available to the public.
On the other hand I would like if Nikon was a bit more open to customers demands for firmware improvements, and let us hope they will be in future now when they have new software division.

LOL. Me has cheezbrgr plz?

It wouldn't have to be a virus, JorPet. You could market a lolcatz caption generator for the cat fanciers.

bmxdad said:
...A feature that uses the mike to trigger the camera, incl with adjustable time delay...

Poor Mike. Having to run around triggering everyone's cameras. Perhaps Bob and Tim could help out? and how much is time and half if you need a really long time delay?

How about a virus that puts random thoughts into the image? I could work on that one for ya...

Do a mission impossible thing and have the camera blow up after it shows a video...after taking a photo of you and doing face recognition on your retina redeye.

"oh look pretty blue smoke.."

I don't think they will go open source, either, but I think it would make it better because average people could suggest ideas like Pete is doing and someone might be willing to work on it. You wouldn't have to wait for the next firmware/hardware release to get extra functionality.

I don't know how I missed the mic trigger idea before, Pete. That's a good one. Niko could get a good self-portrait firing his sidearms Yosemite Sam-style in front of a big Texan flag. (Aaaaah hates the bleeding edge!) ;-)

Actually many things can be done if you purchase this or that, but rarely can it be done in camera. I might get a one of these called the TimeMachine to make interesting exposures

http://www.bmumford.com/photo/camctlr.html

I know Niko that Open Software will properly newer happen, but I hope that Nikon would become interested in adding new features to future DSLR's

Pete

Things up here are good :^)

All the things you listed in your post above can already be done by hooking your camera up to a computer so why would open source make it any better?

NikoDoby said:
porn apps.

Only for you Niko, how is things down there in Texas, maybe yours should give you an electric shock if you try to take pictures with above app

Pete

We'd definitely see "baby shaker" and porn apps. Or how about an app that lets you play Donkey Kong Jr. on your Nikon D4 against your friends D400.

I have a few ideas for what open software could be neat to have

A feature that uses the mike to trigger the camera, incl with adjustable time delay

A feature that allows you to preset different focus points and then fire once to take them all, then pictures can be combined in photoshop

A feature that could time delay flash trigger, now you can show motion and with rear sync have the flash fire at the end, I would like to have a set time delay, you could have flash fire in the middle of motion or past the rear flash sync point

Anyway what do you think could be made in open software

Pete

heartyfisher said:
Thats just old elitist ideas. sharing is the way to go .. imagine thousands of alphas hacking out software to do wonderful stuff with nikon cameras. All these wonderful extra functionality for free WILL drive sales !

Like Thom Hogan road on his current page http://www.bythom.com/ , Apple has a "app" for that and they are not Iphone/Touch hacked software, would you not agree that the number one reason for the popularity of the Iphone VS any other smart phone is the 'App,s"

So why could Nikon not benefit from the open software Idea, I would certainly think that Canon would be the least likely to do it, And last time I checked Nikon is trying to become number 1 in DSLR sales. So lets Imagine the neat things that could be done with each new future Nikon DSLR with open software structure. Sales of bodies would increase, incl lenses etc, Yes other brands would be cutting in, but Nikon could also be charging a small license/patent fee for using the open software.
We could purchase TTL metering studio lights, they would pay Nikon to use the Nikon open software structure etc

Pete

heartyfisher said:
Thats just old elitist ideas.

I hope you're accusing Nikon, not Soap, here! Rockbox is my love.

Thats just old elitist ideas. sharing is the way to go .. imagine thousands of alphas hacking out software to do wonderful stuff with nikon cameras. All these wonderful extra functionality for free WILL drive sales !

heartyfisher said:
LOL ... but seriously there are dozens of things I can think of to do with my camera if I can get access via software !!

Which, unfortunately, is why it won't happen. Nikon (and they're nowhere near alone) enjoy leveraging their hardware lock-in to drive future sales.

NSXType-R said:
Of course you need Tetris on your camera! It was specifically asked for by wedding photographers when they're really bored.

LOL ... but seriously there are dozens of things I can think of to do with my camera if I can get access via software !! Stick wifi on the camera and then give us control of every function via an API !!! wow !! My mind is racing !!! do you need me to name the dozen things we could develop for it !! Really !! no!

mb said:
No way Hose! Nikon and others will never reveal their camera firmware, and frankly only a handful of companies ever did that for any product unless the products or companies have gone out of market. < snip >
What would be nice is to publish full NEF specification for example.

A - The question wasn't "Will" but rather "Should".
B - Open sourcing the firmware isn't what is needed. Releasing documentation on the hardware so that firmware can be written would be helpful enough.
C - Yes, unencrypting the WB info would be nice. At that point they might as well go .DNG, but then they would have a harder time selling their propitiatory desktop software.

mb said:
No way Hose! Nikon and others will never reveal their camera firmware, and frankly only a handful of companies ever did that for any product unless the products or companies have gone out of market. Linksys for example has 2 versions of router firmware, striped down open source one and full blown proprietary. And it would be stupid to invest in software and then give it away for free. And do you really need a Tetris on your camera?
What would be nice is to publish full NEF specification for example.

Of course you need Tetris on your camera! It was specifically asked for by wedding photographers when they're really bored.

No way Hose! Nikon and others will never reveal their camera firmware, and frankly only a handful of companies ever did that for any product unless the products or companies have gone out of market. Linksys for example has 2 versions of router firmware, striped down open source one and full blown proprietary. And it would be stupid to invest in software and then give it away for free. And do you really need a Tetris on your camera?
What would be nice is to publish full NEF specification for example.

Open systems are great.. you never know what interesting things people will do with it! .. I wish I could get into me camera with software.. !

I agree 100%

I just know I'd love to play Peggle on my D90.

I would love to have a firmware update for my cameras every once in a while, like my Nikon point and shoots. I checked, Nikon doesn't have an official one out.