Tag Archives: camera

General

How to Upgrade Your Smartphone Camera Using Apps

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Nearly all of us take photos using our phone’s camera; those who don’t are likely pro photographers with separate professional DSLR cameras and some very bulky lenses. For the rest of us, taking a good picture depends on two factors: the quality of our phone and the right apps to fill in the blanks.

Buying a good phone isn’t the harder of the two things to figure out; most of the more expensive phones come with the better cameras. Assuming you’re at the second step, you’d probably like to know which apps to use so you can take awesome photos for your Instagram account or to keep to yourself.

Look no further; here are some great apps to make your photo dreams come true.

Android Users

taking-a-picture

Camera Zoom FX

Of all the photo apps available for Android, few come with higher recommendations from professionals and everyday users alike than Camera Zoom FX. With a host of features and a friendly interface, this app helps avoid common pitfalls that default apps frequently leave our cameras suffering with, including:

  • Reducing blur with image stabilization
  • Maximizing resolution with your phone’s megapixel count
  • Dozens of filters and frames for altering a photo’s mood

Moreover, Camera Zoom FX also hosts one of the simpler control schemes, complete with voice activation and full manual DSLR options to make your camera work overtime. The professional version only costs a few dollars, and it’s sure to be a purchase worth your while. In 2014, it was Lifehacker’s choice and remains the favorite of millions to date.

Open Camera

As a huge fan of open source software, I can’t recommend Open Camera enough because it truly has the best interests of its users in mind. With full support for Android’s Camera2 API, it hosts a variety of features that seem to be growing with every passing day. Its open source nature means that the only limits the app has are the ones you impose on it.

Like Camera Zoom FX, Open Camera allows you to adjust ISO, exposure time, and focus distance manually. It also allows for GPS tagging when you take a shot and comes with a considerably better price tag: free! The downside may be that it seems to have fewer effects, but as an open source app, that’s always something that can be added down the road.

PicSay Pro

Sometimes taking the picture isn’t enough. Having a good photo editing app can complete your photographic masterpiece, and you won’t find one much better than PicSay Pro on Android.

With most of the features that a desktop photo editor has, PicSay Pro allows you to fix issues with red eye, sharpen blurry shots, and apply numerous effects and edits to spice up otherwise dull images. The free version has quite a few options as well, but with the pro version you get a much more complete package.

iOS Users

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Camera+

Not only is Camera+ an old staple, it also continues to dominate much of the iPhone photo world because it really does work that well. Thanks to Camera+’s manual option, you’ll have considerably more control over how your photos turn out. Even if things don’t look so great at first, the post photo touchup tools are enough to bring any picture you take back to life.

For Apple Watch users, there’s also support for controlling your camera from a distance.

Manual

Users seeking a cleaner, yet more technical, camera app might consider using Manual, as it not only allows you to take total control of your shots, but it also allows you to look at past photos to see the settings you were using at the time. This can be especially useful as you learn to make your phone’s options work for you.

Notably, Manual remains one of the easier to use apps despite having unique technical options.

Snapseed

While it might seem a tad ironic that one of Apple’s best photo editing apps is published by Google, it doesn’t make Snapseed any less powerful. Snapseed is one of iOS’s most popular apps for good reason: It’s easy to use for beginners, yet has features that can be fully put to work by more professional photographers.

Its filters focus on classic, tasteful touchups rather than cheesy effects. As with any editor, it has all you’ll need to fix up color distortion, sharpness and the dreaded red eye.

Best of Both Worlds

Just because Android and iOS run on separate platforms doesn’t mean there aren’t apps that work for both. For those with more than one type of device, it’s nice to be able to transition using the same app on both platforms.

Instagram

Despite being predominantly a social media platform, Instagram has really made strides since its inception in 2010, both as a powerful source of influence in the fashion world and as a genuinely decent camera app.

While Instagram may not be quite as potent as some of the more focal camera apps, it still offers enough filters and effects to liven up your photos. More importantly, Instagram also makes the transition to sharing your works of art with the world that much quicker. If you haven’t tried using Instagram for photos, it’s worth a shot.

ProShot

As versatility goes, ProShot has quite a bit to offer. Not only is it available for iOS and Android, but it also works for Windows devices as well. Like the other services above, it has all the manual options available (ISO, etc.) but also an in-between setting for convenience and less advanced users, which they call “semi-manual.”

While not specifically for photography, I’m a big fan of ProShot’s video options, which support up to 4K quality and even have options for dealing with audio problems.

Adobe Lightroom Mobile

It should come as no surprise that Adobe continues to be one of the best photo editing apps out there. With loads of professional options, Lightroom is especially unique because it works together with Lightroom CC, another excellent tool to use if you bounce between your camera and your PC.

But don’t let the integration keep you from thinking the app itself isn’t feature rich; most of what you’ll find in Lightroom CC is in the mobile version, from gradient alterations to dehazing. The only real disadvantage is the cost, as Adobe runs this app on a subscription.

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to improve your phone’s camera. Camera apps and photo editing apps are a great way to do it on the cheap, particularly if you’re not interested in buying a third-party lens.

Just don’t forget to protect your device. Particularly if you’re using your phone in an urban setting with tons of free WiFi, you should also consider a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to keep your photos secure. Public WiFi is practically a nesting grounds for hackers waiting to steal valuable data, and your photos could be a prime target. Using a VPN ensures you won’t lose out on hard work by encrypting your internet connection and keeping criminals out.

Have thoughts about mobile photography? Tell us how you take great photos on your phone in the comments section.

 

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Author Bio: Cierra enjoys taking photos on her phone daily. Between playing with filters and settings, she also writes about internet security and how best to take care of your devices and accounts in an increasingly mobile world.

Hardware, Video

5 Reasons Why Businesses need Security Camera Systems

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Don’t have any security cameras installed at your office or places related to business? If yes, think again! From strengthening safety, cross checking the stock, deterring criminals to increasing productivity –a complete surveillance system is good for real! And moreover, a business owner needs to have eyes at each and every corner of his place.

To further convince you with the benefits of an HD security system, we have listed down 5 reasons as to why businesses need to install them.

1)  Discourage Internal & External Theft

Every business whether big or small, is always under a risk of burglary and crime. And, this threat is augmented when you have employees that could add up to the list.

It would first appear shocking to hear that approximately 50 billion dollars are lost each year just because of employee theft. Such crime incapacitates small businesses. In fact, employee theft becomes the sole reason for almost 33% of the businesses to go bankrupt.

This is where you can make a huge difference to your bottom line. Install an HD security camera to curb employee theft today. A professional product like an Ultra HD system will eliminate all the blind spots, deter criminals and burglars and stamp out employee theft.

2)  Boost Productivity and Profits

When you hadn’t established your business (and probably was working for someone else) you must have come across the phrase “It’s time to play, when the boss is away”. And if you try to remember more vividly, no one ever dared to take unnecessary breaks from their work when the boss was watching over. Today, your employees might be doing the same to you!!!

If you require a set of extra eyes, an HD IP security camera can really prove its worth. You can remotely view all the nooks and corners of your office with the help of free mobile apps and software provided with such systems. All you need to have is a smart phone, tablet, or computer with working internet connection.

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3)  Protect Private and Sensitive Areas

Every business has some “restricted-access areas”. To prevent illegal entry to these off –limit areas, getting help from sleepless eyes of a night vision security camera is a wise decision. The discrete look of an IP security camera is good to trick would-be burglars and force them to think twice before committing any crime.

There are many unscrupulous individuals who leak out trade secrets or even worse, sale them for their own benefits. Every business owner should take a proactive action to protect his/her business against this trade secret theft. For that, they might get help from a professional surveillance firm to evaluate their premises and take necessary actions to protect it. 

4)  Increase Customer Satisfaction

If your customers are satisfied with your services and products, they’ll come back over and over again. Thus, they should be catered exclusively. But, you can’t be there all the times to welcome them. What you can do is, keep an eye on your employees to know how they are behaving with your customers. This will obviously help in increasing the customer retention.

Video surveillance can also help you find out the products that you sell the most and then, accordingly you can develop your marketing strategies.

5)  Protect Yourself from False Liability Law Suits

Best systems, such as Ultra HD surveillance systems, can even help solve legal/official issues to an extent. Property management firms could be the ones that can be benefited because they have to handle piles and piles of claims. Now, to curb false claims out of the pile, firm may install a cctv camera and be ready with a video proof for any and every ambiguous event.

Storage space is the next thing to be kept in mind. A crafty lawyer is well aware of the fact that after a certain period of time, data gets overwritten thereby eliminating proofs, if any. But, a system with unlimited data storage allows you to revisit the frames of any time in the past. This will surely give you the much required mental peace.

Conclusion
Clearly, there are many benefits of installing a complete system for your business. You can sleep easy when you know there are prying eyes to take care of your hard earned assets and establishments.

So, what are you waiting for? Go and get your system today!

 

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Author Bio:  Rohan Sharma is a gadget wizard, an active blogger, and an eminent speaker. With more than 10 years of experience to his credit, Rohan has always been a pertinent contributor to the security industry. He is closely associated with Revo America, a well renowned security products manufacturer and retailer. Needless to say, Rohan boasts for paramount and credible products only, with Revo’s being his favorite.

Hardware, Video

REVIEW: SpotCam HD 720P WiFi Security Camera With Free Cloud Storage

 

Home monitoring solutions have helped to curb crime levels by a significant amount. However, a lot still remains to be done before the battle against criminal activities can won completely. There are many home monitoring solutions that are available on the market thereby making it hard for customers to choose their preferred surveillance system easily. Today, a good number of householders and business setups are currently using Wi-Fi cameras to monitor the happenings at their premises of residence. However, the use of Wi-Fi cameras based on physical servers is common today. Based on this, it is a good idea to switch to cloud based Wi-Fi cameras. There are numerous features that make such systems worth going for.

Stay connected anytime on any device. Smart phone, tablet, laptop, or PC. Receive alerts by email or mobile APP, and watch real-time video whenever you are connected to the internet.

Smart phone, tablet, laptop, or PC. Receive alerts by email or mobile app, and watch real-time video whenever you are connected to the internet.

Easily setup in a matter of seconds. Setup SpotCam is as easy as setup your mobile phone, yes, there is no setup.

Connect your SpotCam to WiFi and apply an account on MySpotCam.com, then you are ready to go!

Setup can be done easily with PC/Laptop/Mobile/Tablet.

View it now and save for later.

Choose our NVR plan to store video and review video footage as long as 30 days after it happens. Server is no longer required when you are using SpotCam.

Easily setup in a matter of seconds. Setting up SpotCam easy. Connect your SpotCam to WiFi, apply an account on MySpotCam.com, then you are ready to go!

Setup can be done easily with PC/Laptop/Mobile/Tablet…

View it now and save for later. Choose a cloud NVR plan to store video and review video footage as long as 30 days after it happens. A server is no longer required when you are using SpotCam.

Camera Spec

Dimensions: Bracket Ф 7.5cm

Body Ф 4.8cm × 14.8cm

Weight: 198g

Power Input: 12V,1A

Video: Up to 720P HD (1280×720) at 30 frame/sec

Streaming: H.264 encoding

Field of View: 110 degrees (diagonal)

Audio: Speaker and microphone

Night Vision: 12 High-power IR LEDs

Warranty: One-year

Operating Temperature: 0°C – 50°C, designed for indoor use

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Live video streaming

If you want to enjoy unlimited access to the videos that are being captured by your surveillance camera, you can take advantage of cloud based Wi-Fi cameras. You can say bye to restricted access to surveillance videos. Enjoy live streaming of videos in HD. You can use any online systems to do this provided it is compatible with the camera. The system requires any internet connection that is sound enough to facilitate the live streaming of surveillance videos. This feature can enable you to monitor your home while you are out engaging in other important life activities.

Gain access to the footage from anywhere in the world

If you want to gain access to the camera videos from anywhere in the world, you can do well to upgrade to the cloud based systems. Thanks to these systems, home monitoring has never been easier. You can enjoy unlimited access to camera footage from anywhere in the world. This feature can enable you to easily monitor the security status of your home as often as the need arises.

Cameras compatible with almost any device

In order to access camera footage, you will need to use any compatible device. With this surveillance camera, you will be free to use any device provided it has a live streaming feature. You can use devices such as smartphones, tablets, PCs and any other compatible device. Today, there are also smart watches which have a live streaming feature. Such watches can also be synchronised with the camera and used to view security footage.

Use of electric cables not appropriate

If you are using the cloud based Wi-Fi camera, you will be free to enjoy wireless connections from the camera to the audio-visual system of your choice.  You simply need to setup the Wi-Fi connections to be in a position to interface between the camera and the audio-visual system of your choice.

Highly resistant to extreme weather conditions

The Wi-Fi cloud based surveillance cameras are designed to withstand any kind of harsh weather conditions. You can still enjoy unlimited home security surveillance irrespective of the prevailing weather conditions. The cameras are designed to withstand water, strong winds and any form of precipitation.

General, Video

NASA GoPro Footage Brings You One Hour Long of Incredible Spacewalk

spacewalk-earth

Have you ever wondered how fun it would be to perform a spacewalk from a Space Shuttle? Well, thanks to NASA and their amazing team of scientists, engineers, and fearless astronauts who were busy conducting different ExtraVehicular Activities (EVA) outside of the International Space Station back in February, you finally can.

As it turns out, the astronauts on the ISS were wearing GoPro cameras on their special suits to provide some amazing video footage as well as additional images from their EVA 30 and 31 missions.

Below, is the stunningly beautiful video result featuring astronaut Terry Virts performing a one hour-long of EVA spacewalk. This makes you want to join the walk, no?

Hit The Play To Watch The Video

[via Jalopnik]

General

Panasonic Lumix TZ40 18.1MP Super Zoom Digital Camera Boasts GPS, WiFi, and NFC Pairing Mode

It’s a challenge to try to keep up with all the latest technology and gadgets that come on the market these days. There’s just plenty of them out there, but when it comes to digital cameras, brand is of utmost importance. In that regard, it will be safe to say that Panasonic is hands-down, one of the top photography brands. The company is well known for making cameras that have plenty of features and great eye-caching goodness, without hurting your pockets. 

The new Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40 (known as the DMC-ZS30 Stateside) is one of their latest offering in the digital camera range, that is considered to be professional, but still budget-friendly, for the most part. This compact super-zoom camera features a powerful 20x optical zoom with a 24 mm wide angle lens from LEICA, which gives incredible magnification. The 3-inch LCD touchscreen on the back, comes equipped with a resolution of 920,000-dot pixels, and the camera includes the new 18.1MP high-sensitivity Live MOS sensor under the hood, capable of capturing more details than before. In addition, the TZ40 sports supremely quick continuous shooting, at 10fps with autofocus, and you can also shoot stunning 1080p Full HD videos at 50fps to 640 x 480 VGA quality at 25fps (either with AVCHD or MP4 formats). 

The Lumix  TZ40 compact digital camera weighs only 198g and is housed in silver, white or black enclosure, at your choice. There’s also a 3D mode option in this nice little shooter, and some other neat features such as built in GPS, Panoramic capture mode, integrated WiFi connectivity, and NFC (Near Field Communication) technology for easy pairing with other gadgets, such as tablets or top-notch smartphones. 

Other notable specs in this beautiful aluminium casing camera include up to 40x of Intelligent Digital Zoom, alongside Hybrid Optical Image Stabilization feature, and a wide range of full auto exposure modes, including Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and full manual control. 

It is priced at £329.99 / $399.99, but you now get a chance to win this superb camera, by simply following the simple steps right here on this page; however it’s for those in the UK who are over the 18 years old. 

 

General, Video

Panasonic HC-V520 Video Camera Features a Massive Intelligent 80x Zoom, With Wi-fi and NFC Capabilities

Panasonic_HC_V520_Camcorder

Videos have already become a vital part of our everyday life, as taking a footage is now a whole lot easier thanks to the popularity and innovation of intelligence mobile devices, like the iPhone for example. While shooting a video with your smartphone is comfortable, the quality is not as good as it is with a dedicated HD camcorder. And if you really don’t want to spend a ton of money on a camera but still like to get excellent results, the Panasonic HC-V520 has plenty of amenities and very cool things to offer.

This small and powerful Full-HD device, has a 1/5.8in CMOS under the hood, and a 2.51 megapixels sensor based on a backside illuminated technology. There’s also a sharp and bright 3-inch screen that enables intuitive fingertip touch-operation, and the optical zoom is supplemented by an 80x Intelligent Zoom. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?

As mentioned, there are plenty of features in this camera which is best suited for video, at which it works great (1080/50p AVCHD 2.0 format), but also as a very high quality 10 megapixels still camera. In addition to that, there’s the ability to add filter effects to your vids (such as Miniature Effect, 8mm Movie, Silent Movie and Time Lapse Recording) to further enhance your creativity, and the camera includes a 2D to 3D conversion function as well.

Want more? Not a problem! The HC-V520 is also equipped with WiFi and NFC connectivity that allows users to transfer pictures and videos wirelessly to mobile devices or computers. Moreover, the camera can be controlled remotely and can stream video to your smartphone or tablet via mobile networks and wireless internet connections.

All these goodies for only £396 or $346. 

Here’s what you get:

WiFi camera makes a great remote-photography/video streaming tool. The new range of Panasonic camcorders come with Wi-Fi interface enabled, which allows live streaming, and the option for images and videos to be wirelessly transferred. Here’s how it works:

General

Top 5 Security Technology Devices of 2012

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Home security has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Until recently, alarm systems were a luxury that most homeowners were unable to afford. Nowadays, top-of-the-line monitored security systems are cheaper, more dependable and available to the masses. As technology continues to change, the security industry continues to change with it. This progress has paved the way for tons of cutting-edge gizmos and gadgets. Listed below are five of the best:

USB Flash Drive Spy Camera

Your flash drive can now double as a hidden camera. The USB flash drive spy camera records video in 720×840 resolution, snaps 5-megapixel still images and records up to 90 minutes of video on a single battery charge. Oh yeah, and also does what any other flash drive would do – store and transfer computer files. The device has 4GB of built-in memory and is compatible on Windows ME or newer or running Mac’s OS X.

Spy Ear Amplifier

Have you ever wanted to listen in on a conversation in the next room? The spy ear amplifier allows you to do just that. The tiny device, which works in either ear, lets you hear a whisper from up to 100 feet away. It comes with built-in volume control, a decibel limiter and a recharger kit.

iStun Smartphone Stun Gun

The iStun may look like your typical iPhone, but it packs a much bigger punch. While you won’t be able to use the iStun to play Angry Birds, this device can be used to deliver 3.8 million volts of stopping power to an a surprised assailant. It also has a built-in LED flashlight, a rechargeable battery and a safety switch to help prevent accidental discharge. Remember, you should always use the iStun with caution.

ADT Pulse

ADT Pulse allows you to monitor your home remotely using your smartphone. Using top-of-the-line home automation technology, you can use your phone to arm your home security system, lock your doors, watch real-time video and more – from just about anywhere.  You can learn more about ADT Pulse here.

Dummy Surveillance Camera

In many instances, the mere appearance of security can scare off a potential burglar. That’s why it’s no surprise that dummy surveillance cameras are in vogue. There are a number of dummy surveillance camera models, and some even include flashing infrared LEDs and “real” surveillance motion to further enhance their authentic appearance. The best part about these devices: the price. You can find some imitation surveillance cameras for as little as $6 in some online marketplaces.

 

Image Credit: Photos.com

Mobile, Phones

Smart Phones and Their Influence on Digital Photography

There’s much doom and gloom spoken about the effect smartphones have had on digital photography. Although the digital camera market was still worth £598 million in 2011, this is down by nearly a third from 2006, when it was worth £843 million.

Some speculators (probably with a vested interest in mobiles) are saying that they can hear the death knell of digital cameras: here’s an example:

“I can see no reason for people to buy a digital camera in a couple of years’ time as many people have already abandoned them. Why would you pay more, carry around two devices and go through all the pain of uploading photos when you can do all that from one device that you already own? I wouldn’t want to own shares in digital camera companies right now because their industries are about to get decimated by the mobile phone.”

But we ought to look beyond the bare stats and the ravings of “the end is nigh” brigade and those who want to make in your face headlines. As newer technology continues to improve the specifications of top-end equipment, measurements like megapixel density or the top level of optical zoom possible will become all rather meaningless those consumers who want a simple good quality picture from their phones or cameras, and then want to share them socially.

When mobile phones first had a camera built in them, in the 1990s, they were poor quality add-on affairs that were more gimmicky than of actual genuine photographic use. But how times have changed. The latest top of the range mobiles have quality optics and features that rival many entry-level digital phones. But is this trend going to continue, and what are digital camera manufacturers doing in response? In a word, learn.

The big change that made cameras in mobiles so popular was the ability to not only speak to someone, and text them, but to send them an image or a video of where you are and what you are doing, that they can receive and look at on their own phone, without having to rush to plug in a computer. While there will always be purists who will compartmentalise photography as something to be kept separate from day to day human interaction on the move, the bridge should be made between those who like to take decent (even artistic) photographs and videos, but who also want to share them quickly and simply with their friends, employers, whoever.

Camera manufacturers could choose to either invest in a web service that complements captured photos or video, or to focus on including new, innovative hardware capabilities and modifications, to retain consumer interest. And go beyond that. Actually win over people from mobile phone photography to digital camera photography.

One of the big pluses of cameras being included in almost all mobile phones is that it has opened up photography to a whole new swathe of people who probably wouldn’t have thought of themselves as photographers. Many of these new converts will actually begin to be drawn in to the world of digital photography and see that it is a medium in its own right, and not just an appendage to social networking.  That means there’s a potential new set of customers for those digital camera manufacturers who can get on the beam and produce a quality digital camera, which will not only have more features than a mobile phone camera, allowing the user to grow with the product, but retain and even enhance the social sharing communication experience of mobile phones.

There is also the factor that some shots are so important that you may not want to trust mobile phone camera technology, but want to go with a dedicated camera to make sure that the shots will be the best possible and stand the test of time.

I’m thinking here of weddings, parties, even holidays. While a mobile phone with a camera can take a shot as good as an entry-level digital camera most of the time, what about if the conditions on the day mean that you need more than the built-in flash of the mobile phone camera? Or a stand/tripod? Or something to enhance a particular part of the composition? Indications are that for “important” photography, people will turn to their digital cameras, or buy one.

So what empirical evidence is there of the effect of the phenomenon of mobile phone cameras on recent digital camera manufacturers?

Canon, Panasonic, Olympus, Pentax and Nikon have in recent years launched a new kind of camera that matches the quality of lenses of a professional model with the sleek, light body of a pocket, point-and-shoot device. Although these mirrorless cameras aren’t a great deal cheaper than the professional digital single lens reflex (DSLR) model, they are lighter and more compact. More mobile phone like in fact.

A range of cameras launched in the past few months have for the first time included WiFi chips, making it possible for users to share their photos much as a smartphone user might.  With this Samsung you can share images and videos wirelessly; instantly send a photo to another mobile phone using Bluetooth. Or rely on the Wi-Fi capability to email it directly from the camera or upload it seamlessly to Picasa, Facebook, YouTube, and samsungimaging.com. You can even upload a video you just shot to YouTube. Now that’s going to make mobile phone manufacturers sit up and take notice!

Panasonic too have entered this market with their Lumix DMC-TZ50. It will let you connect to your wireless home router or a T-Mobile hotspot to upload one or more photos directly to Picasa, Google’s integrated photo-sharing website.

While mobile phones may have a zoom feature that is likely to be a digital zoom, which is inferior in quality to the optical zooms found on digital cameras. In fact this advantage is being maximised by more recent digital cameras having astonishing optical zooms built in, on even very compact phones. Take the Nikon Coolpix 100 for example, with its x26 optical zoom. Or the Panasonic Lumix FZ series with a x24 optical zoom. Even more compact is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 with a x8 optical zoom that will suffice for most shots for most people. If you want more the Lumix TZ30 has a x20 optical zoom.

Just as the camera gets smaller and more sociable, so will the mobile phone evolve and compete to incorporate features presently only available on a digital camera. The winner will ultimately be the consumer who will have more choice and more features, for both digital cameras and mobile phones with cameras, at competitive prices.

 

tablets

Apple’s iPad 2 Rumored to Have Camera, Facetime and Photobooth Support

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Oh the rumors keep flying in about the most anticipated iPad 2 for 2011. And no, we’re not surprised at all, just wanted to keep you up to date with the latest news. OK, then. So according to recent iOS 4.3 beta 2 release, you might indeed be able to take camera snapshots with Apple’s next-gen iPad tablet native camera, use it for video conference purposes with Cupertino’s most amazing Facetime feature, and even record those beautiful images you’ve taken or any other video footage via the PhotoBooth app (A Mac OS X software that Apple is presumably shifting to the iPad). Well, what do you say? I guess that leaves us with the fervent hope that these rumors would turn out to be true, no?

Update: The 4.3 beta 2 release also suggests the existence of a rear 1MP webcam, alongside a 0.3MP flavor upfront. Rumors, you know.

[via MacRumors]

Audio, Media Players, News, Video

Apple iPod Touch Prototype Surface On eBay With a Rear Camera

1 Comment

It’s been a while since we’ve last heard anything new from good ol’ iPod Touch player, but if we are willing to take these two eBay photos (recently popped in the wild for a second) seriously, then Apple’s future alleged audio lineup  – expected to be announced this summer –  is likely to include rear facing cameras – about time, isn’t it? Apparently, there seem to be two different versions of Cupertino’s next-gen players, both marked with this “DVT” caption which presumably stands for “design verification test”, an Apple production milestone.  And while both devices are said to house 32GB of storage each, the “DVT-1” model hints for that back top camera, at the time where that “DVT-2” boasts an “Apple Development Team” label, stamped behind. Other than that, they both wear that same chrome-case cover we’ve already seen on previous generations, only this time adorned with that shiny rounded camera, that somehow keeps resurfacing on Apple’s leaked images time and time again – which might indicate the authenticity of the data contained in it, but we’re just speculating here. Another image after the break.

[via 9to5Mac]

Continue reading Apple iPod Touch Prototype Surface On eBay With a Rear Camera →

Applications, Mobile, Phones

Snapture Releases a New PiP iPhone Camera App, Will It Live Up To The Expectations?

This is a guest post by Israeli blogger Yarin Hochman, who has apparently spent a significant amount of time testing every single iPhone app, ever released. In this post he shares his experiences with Snapture’s newly born PiP camera app. You can read more from Yarin on his Hebrew tech blog, TechVibe.

I don’t know about you but for me, one of the biggest pains with my iphone machine is the camera. Now, I haven’t upgraded to the 3GS version yet, I personally don’t see any substantial reason to, but still, even the iphone 3GS camera itself, is apparently provided with tiny lens, very basic features and low quality images, when it comes to comparison with average Nokia\Blackberry cameras.

Today, Snapture, which previously released a camera app for jailbroken iPhones, seems to turn “legit”, by introducing an official version that is now available on Apple’s formal app store, under Snapture app (1.99$), and has made me like it from first impression, but not without a few reservations attached.

Snapture-iPhone-app

Continue reading Snapture Releases a New PiP iPhone Camera App, Will It Live Up To The Expectations? →

Audio, Media Players, Video

iPod Nano 5th-Gen Player Announced, Video Camera, FM Radio And Bigger Screen On The Stake

Apple’s Rock n’ Roll event just went down with Steve Jobs up on stage again, this time suggesting a new colorful iPod nano lineup, available today at the online store, delivering two different storage capacities, 8GB ($149) and 16GB ( $179), to choose from. Other than that, the fifth-generation nano is now offering some neat improvements, with Cupertino unveiling a small video camera, integrated at the back of each player, allowing live video shooting in 640 x 480 video capture resolution at H.264 format, which gets up to 30fps capabilities and including 15 real-time special effects, such as Sepia, Black and White, X-Ray, 2.2Film Grain, Thermal, Security Cam, Cyborg, Bulge, Kaleido, Motion Blur and many others. Additionally, you get a bigger 2.2-inch 376 x 240 display, holding an FM tuner that has Live Pause feature underneath, sitting along with iTunes Tagging support, a pedometer element, built in speaker / microphone  and a voice over trait – all packed into a small sized 3.6 x 1.5 x 0.24-inches body frame that holds a battery which literally plays up to 24 hours of audio and 5 hours of video. Stay tuned for more to come.

Update1: Turns out the new nano camera can only handle video footage without stills. Nonetheless, it still looks pretty amazing, so hit the break and checkout the video walkthrough right away.

Update2: Hey, we know you’re all excited to take a peek at those sexy inner parts of the new nano video cam player. And as we speak, the guys from iFixit were rapidly nabbing a nice blue fifth-gen nano device, tearing it apart and showing its bowels wide. Hit the jump to watch from close, or click the link to look at the entire process done.

[Apple]

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Audio, Media Players, Video

First Legit iPod Touch 3G Footage Released?

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[digg-me]

First come the rumors, then you see the  mock-ups, and moments before any official announcement is made, some blurred and unfocused images surface up. Have you guessed already? Of course you did, it is a mandatory process for any Apple product to go through, before getting released, and make no mistake, iPod Touch next gen (AKA: iPod Touch 3G) is not different from others. And with so many “yes camera no camera” speculations floating around, It is for you to decide either these latest footage images are fake or legit. Hit the break to see the video.

ipod-touch-3g-camera_2

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Applications, Phones

Snapture Will Greatly Improve Your iPhone Camera

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Snapture is a cool freebie application (for jailbroken devices) that makes your iphone camera much better, adding tons of features and adjustments, once the software is installed. To do so, just go to the utilities section in the InstallerApp and add the Snapture with a simple click. This independent development solution provides digital functions that were absent from the original firmware, including the following:

  • Digital Zoom: up to x3.
  • Burst Mode: capture up to three frames in a row.
  • Easy Self Photo: take pictures by tapping anywhere on the screen, instead of the little button provided on the application standard.
  • Multiple Image Sizes: take photos in three different sizes: Large (1600×1200), Medium (1280×960) and Small (960×720).
  • Silence Mode: take photos without disturbing anyone by turning off audible feedback.
  • Color Modes: take pictures in greyscale or full colors modes.
  • Toggle Auto Rotation: when taking pictures.

iphone-snapture

[snapture via gizmodo]