Nikon Rumors Forum » Topic: Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps

bmxdad on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

bmxdad — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:39:04 +0000

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

soap on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

soap — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:33:21 +0000

heartyfisher said:
Thats just old elitist ideas.

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

heartyfisher on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

heartyfisher — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:03:14 +0000

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 !

soap on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

soap — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:48:29 +0000

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.

heartyfisher on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

heartyfisher — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:43:40 +0000

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!

soap on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

soap — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:41:53 +0000

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.

NSXType-R on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

NSXType-R — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:23:12 +0000

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.

mb on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

mb — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:41:21 +0000

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.

heartyfisher on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

heartyfisher — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:02:16 +0000

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.. !

optimaforever on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

optimaforever — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:32:48 +0000

I agree 100%

jonnyapple on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

jonnyapple — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:55:51 +0000

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

NSXType-R on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

NSXType-R — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:46:17 +0000

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.

soap on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

soap — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:54:13 +0000

CHDK makes Canon P&S cameras twice as awesome. And that's 100% reverse-engineering. Imagine what could be done if the manufacturer played ball.
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

NSXType-R on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

NSXType-R — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:55:34 +0000

bmxdad said:
I think we would all be amassed of what software could be made if it was open like the Apple Apps. Yes some would be a complete waste of time, but others would not. What about IR mode pentax has it, on the same topic, software to make your IR converted camera work better. Better Flash control with wireless adapters etc

Pete

Yeah, it'd be pretty cool if some other company made flashes for another company Nikon's, but then were optimized with an app that they made so that it now works as good as Nikon's.

bmxdad on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

bmxdad — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:33:37 +0000

I think we would all be amassed of what software could be made if it was open like the Apple Apps. Yes some would be a complete waste of time, but others would not. What about IR mode pentax has it, on the same topic, software to make your IR converted camera work better. Better Flash control with wireless adapters etc

Pete

NSXType-R on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

NSXType-R — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:57:16 +0000

That'd be pretty cool. We can come up with our own firmware updates, and it would be a step in the right direction for modular cameras. (!)

For instance, I'd be able to add a time lapse feature to any camera. I wouldn't give up Photoshop just yet- it'd be nice to do HDR in camera, but I doubt the processing power will be anywhere close to being fast enough to do it in any reasonable time. Plus, a keyboard and mouse is a way better interface to edit photos than what, a couple control dials and a couple directional pads?

ted2001 on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

ted2001 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:25:48 +0000

As a long-term advocate for open source software I agree completely. Nikon has limited software resources, since they're expensive and scarce resources. Opening software and firmware puts significant additional burdens on Nikon's engineers (providing that "tack-on" framework and documentation is not trivial), but would allow hundreds or perhaps thousands of others to contribute to new solutions and methods. Standford University has received some press about their "open" camera concept. If Nikon was smart, they approach this initiative by working with various universities.

bmxdad on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

bmxdad — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:22:10 +0000

Yes like Thom said they simply can not understand the reason for doing it, Apple does and are not hurting from it either

Pete

adamz on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

adamz — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:16:32 +0000

I think it would be great if they do it, although I doubt Nikon or any other company will do it.

Demisthene Akatsuki on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

Demisthene Akatsuki — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:18:36 +0000

i read it aswell, and i think its a good opportunity for Nikon.

bmxdad on "Should Nikon have an open software structure for their Cameras, like Apple Apps"

bmxdad — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 09:12:56 +0000

Thom Hogan,s has an interesting story about how Nikon could really advance their cameras

http://www.bythom.com/

This is his current quote and below is a copy from Thom with the best part of it.

""Open the inside of your cameras to the world. Open firmware. Extensible firmware. Customizable firmware. Documented EXPEED. Documented Bayer filtration. Can you imagine how many pieces of software would be available to the world in a matter of weeks? Don't panic, you can still force a base set to remain untouched, much like the iPhone has its protected framework. But by documenting everything and providing the framework to tack on, your cameras would become the "must have" cameras. Done right, and with surprise, you'd own the serious camera market in a matter of months. Seriously. ""

I think this would be the best thing that could be ever done to the Future of Nikon Cameras, period

What do you think

Pete