Beck's Badinage

iPhone Camera App-The Quest

2012-02-08T20:18:00.002-05:00

Like most iPhone users, I love taking great pictures with my iPhone. The original iPhone stock camera functions were very limited. Here's a list of the various camera apps I tried, and the key features that set them apart from one another:

My first app was Camera Plus Pro. I liked that you could toggle location data on/off easily, it was both for photos and videos, a big button to take a picture (tap anywhere on the screen), and the only app I've found that can send photos to Picasa (as well as other social networks).

I then tried Camera Plus. It was supposed to overcome the camera lag by saving your photos to a "film strip." You could save to the camera roll too, but the film strip is supposed to be faster. It has a self-timer, the flash included a "flashlight" technique that lit the area so your pictures didn't get that washed out effect , and the editing tools were excellent--clarity, multiple borders with captions, and FX effects. You can import pictures to edit from your photo albums on the iPhone that you may have sync'd from your PC. Downsides were no big button option, it's very sluggish when going to the filmstrip, and it does not do video.

Most recently, I decided to try ProCamera. So far, ProCamera seems to bring the best of both of these apps. The pictures are very crisp, the application is very speedy, you can do both pictures and video, it has the big button function, pictures are saved to your camera roll, swipe left to right and you can review your camera roll pictures, you can use it as a QR Code reader, and the application is very speedy. ProCamera replaced Camera+ on Page 1 of my iPhone apps. The share function includes a Dropbox option, which I haven't seen in the other programs. The share screen itself could be improved graphically--it's a little confusing. You can't delete pictures while reviewing in ProCamera; you need to go to Photos.

Many people use Instagram, which is a photo sharing application where you take a photo, apply a vintage filter, and share on a social network (Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, FourSquare, etc.). It's not what I would consider a full-service camera app.

TurboScan for iPhone

2012-02-03T20:12:00.000-05:00

I bought a newprogram called TurboScan for $1.99. Thisapp lets you create multi-page scans on your iPhone.

You take thepicture

Adjust the frame

Select if youwant to lighten/darken

Rotate thepicture if needed

Click on Photo totoggle between black/white or color, Next

Click on the +icon to add more scan pages

Click on the penicon to name the document

Press the exportbutton (see picture).

You can email itto yourself (setup your preferred email in the settings), select PDF or JPEG,etc.

If you select “OpenPDF in…” you can choose the programs iBooks, Kindle, Dropbox, or Evernote.

The default modefor scanning is great, but it has an option to do SureScan 3x at higherresolution. I was surprised at how goodthe resolution is. This is a greatlittle program. As you scan items, itkeeps the list in TurboScan until you delete them.

Path v2 for iPhone/Android

2012-01-23T18:37:00.000-05:00

I started testing the iPhone app Path after reading these articles:

http://gizmodo.com/5872488/how-path-stole-christmas
http://loiclemeur.com/english/2012/01/path-is-where-the-a-list-hangs-out-dont-tell-anyone.html

The program itself is beautifully laid out--kind of like Facebook Timeline. You pick your profile picture and your background. It timestamps all your entries—even when you tell it you’re going to sleep and when you wake up. You have Path friends, and you have connectors to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and FourSquare. The most important thing about Path…think carefully about each person you’re tempted to add as a Path friend (if anyone). Path friends will be able to see all the activity you log within Path. When you create a "moment", you have the option to keep it just within Path, post to any or all of those outside networks, or keep within Path and set to private so just you can see it (blue lock key within the entry).

Since I've been using Path for a few weeks, I can see the benefits. I'm not giving up the other networks (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, FourSquare), but I'm using Path to direct what I put out there, or I can make an entry and keep it just in Path. Your entries can be: a picture, a friend, a place, what you’re listening to, or a thought/status update.

I find Facebook can be overwhelming by the updates from things I've "liked" as well as all the advertising. There's always that one friend that chokes up your Facebook feed with all the songs they've listened to on YouTube that morning. If you setup Path to just include those few friends you would like to keep up with everyday, it ends up being much more personal and useful than Facebook.

A few negative things on Path:

You can lose your anonymity on Twitter or Tumblr if you post a photo—it links to your “Path” page to see the photo and your Path name and profile picture show up. If you just tweet and don't include any attachment, than it keeps your regular Twitter settings. If your tweet is more than 140 characters, it will include a link, which shows your picture and Path account. Oh, and there's no character count while you're typing in Path.
Should support multiple Twitter accounts.
It would be nice if it could post to Blogger vs. Tumblr. However, Blogger typically is for longer updates not as conducive to Path.
"Listening to" should be expanded to include podcasts or look at what’s playing right then in your iTunes. Or, let me manually type in that I’m listening to NPR’s “On the Media” podcast.
It would be nice to have "Watching" for movies, TV shows, etc.
Would be nice if you could type in landscape mode.
Program is only accessible on the phone itself. The web interface lets you change some of the account connections and passwords, but you can’t create any entries via the web. It's designed to be used on the go, which is primarily your phone.

Are you using Path? What are your thoughts?

The Search for a Stylus

2012-01-23T14:18:00.002-05:00

Since I started using the iPad, I’ve been searching for a capacitivestylus to replicate that feel of “handwriting”. I first purchased the red Boxwave model for around $15—it was a littleshort. I then purchased the BoxwaveStyra model because I thought it was pretty cool that it had a regular penincluded. I still wasn’t happy with thestylus part of it, and it’s still too short.

I then looked at Acase 2^nd Generation Capacitive Stylus(around $7). The stylus seemed like itwas smaller, which would result in a finer point. Not really. I read about http://ifaraday.com/online, and I thought perhaps the specially-made netting might make adifference—it didn’t.

At Office Depot, I noticed the Vivitar Stylus (and a pen) for $24.99. So far, this is my favorite option. I think it may work better for me since it’slonger, and feels like a regular pen when it’s in my hand. Stay tuned!

The iPen looks compelling, but it’s not available for purchaseyet.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1225098940/ipen-the-first-active-stylus-for-ipad?ref=search

Notes

2012-01-21T21:27:00.000-05:00

Since I've had the iPad, I've been seeking a good notes or notebook application. I've ended up with several I would recommend:

Evernote-quick notes, snippets, or as a scrapbook
DailyBook--a date based journal which you can include pictures and use a keyboard to type
NoteShelf--a notepad, handwriting capable with wrist protection, and you can use your keyboard to type.
I also tried PhatPad that a friend sent me. I like it, but it doesn't have all the options of NoteShelf.
NotesPlus is a pretty good notepad, and you can use a stylus to write or the keyboard to type.

Noteshelf updated their program recently--the biggest improvement was the ability to create a box and use your keyboard to type versus write. You can create different notebooks, they appear on a bookshelf, you can change cover designs, and design your own paper. You can send pages of a notebook to your Dropbox or Evernote accounts (additional options too). I could see creating my own packing list, saving as a JPG, and then pulling it in as a standard form/paper for one of my notebooks. Cross things off as you pack them. I wish DailyBook and NoteShelf would sync to the iPhone at least for reference - Evernote does.

Tumblr? Blogger? Wordpress?

2012-01-18T18:20:00.000-05:00

When I started tinkering around with blogging programs, I took the easiest avenue, which was Blogger, connected to Gmail. I've heard a lot about Tumblr lately, so I poked around with it. Tumblr is a micro-blogging system in its own ecosystem where you follow other blogs and is more communal. It's more graphic and easier to do quick posts of audio, video, quotes, etc. However, the long-form articles seem much more difficult to edit. I tried with "Pages" and it was laborious to append information versus Blogger.

I'm testing the new iPhone app "Path" and it can send your entry to Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare, and Tumblr. So maybe I'll use it for short, quick thoughts and updates? I'm not sure yet.

http://becksbadinage.tumblr.com/

iTunes Home Sharing

2011-12-02T18:36:00.001-05:00

I hadn’t given much thought toiTunes Home Sharing in v10 since all of my media is on one laptop and I sync tomy iPad and iPhone. However, I watchmuch of my media via these devices (using the Apple A/V digital adapter). It gets tedious putting a certain item on thedevice to hook up via HDMI to the TV and then remove after I’ve watchedit. After talking to my friend Chuck, hepointed out if I activated home sharing on my devices, I could stream thecontent from my laptop through my device to watch on the TV without actuallyhaving to put the files on it. Sure,Apple TV would do this too, but this is an interim solution and at leastrelieves me of having to manage the content part of it. Works great!

Update, we got an Apple TV for Christmas, and it works great with iTunes Home Sharing!

Quick Tips iOS5

2011-10-21T21:58:00.005-04:00

Map all of your iMessages between your iPad and iPhone, including ones sent to your mobile phone number. Set your "caller ID" to your email address. Setup all your email addresses.

iMessage will automatically switch to an SMS/text message for people not on iOS5

Reset your passcode lock – it gets wiped away with the update.

You’ll have to utilize the iCloud to get the “find my iPhone/iPad” function. Might as well sync reminders as well. Use your Apple ID, but for one of the functions you’ll need to setup a free @me.com email address.

Photostream-take pics with your iPhone basic camera, and it will go into Photostream which can also show up in photos on your iPad. They stay there for 30 days, up to 1,000 pictures. If you go to the iCloud, you can purge the Photostream if you want to. (Photos taken with your iPhone still stay in your Camera Roll until you delete them.)

Double click on the home button on the iPhone, you'll see a little camera icon come up at the bottom. If you tap that, you can immediately use your phone as a camera and use the volume up button to take the picture.

More options for tones (text, email, etc.). Any ringtone under 30 seconds will show up in the tone list under Settiings/Sounds.

Sync’ing multiple Gmail calendars? Pick a color for each one now. All subscribed calendars show up in your notification list as well.

With the iPad, you have multi-tasking gestures under settings. 5-finger pinch brings up the home screen.

Create keyboard “shortcuts”. One is already setup – if you type “omw” space, it will type out On My Way. Setting up your email addresses are helpful like “wem” for typing out your whole work email address. I setup "aaaa" to say "I'm driving now, will respond to your text later".

Use a shared iTunes account (if necessary for shared purchases) for the iTunes store, but setup a separate iCloud account to sync individual information (photos, documents, reminders) to the cloud.

Settings/Accessibility, you can turn on LED so your phone will flash for alerts. You can also setup custom vibrations (they offer 5 & you can make your own). I don’t see the purpose of Assistive Touch.

Friend Finder is a new Apple program – a little too much information sharing for me. If you reboot your phone, right now you have to go turn LED off and back on again—for some reason it stops working.

The notification screen is kind of confusing. This Apple support page does a pretty good job of explaining the differences between banner, alert, badge, etc.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3576

France, 1990

2011-09-19T20:22:00.001-04:00

In April 1990, my dad and Marian took my sister and I to Provence, France. In an effort to correctly identify pictures, we tried to recreate the trip from memory, my missing travel diary, some of the records he had from the trip, and a video. We identified the locations of the places we visited, and the map above indicates each city/town.

TV Series Update

2011-09-16T21:09:00.002-04:00

I watched all of "Party Down" and "The IT Crowd" streaming on Netflix. I watched "Web Therapy" on Showtime/On Demand. These are great alternatives to morning news programs when you're getting ready for work! Who needs the "Today" show?

Library eBooks on the iPad

2011-01-24T19:43:00.000-05:00

Recently, I noticed a Facebook post about checking out eBooks from the library for your iPad. They utilize software called Adobe Digital Editions (free). Here is a link to the Virginia Beach Library digital editions page.

http://vbpl.lib.overdrive.com/E88C8DE1-14BB-4096-91AD-93B2E7F11D97/10/595/en/Default.htm

At this website, you can search to see what content they offer. If you find an item, add it to your cart. They let you checkout three eBooks at a time, for 21 days. Download a free app called Bluefire on your iPad to read the books. The website walks through this step by step. Each time you open the book, it will verify the load with the library. After 21 days, it will stop working. The library buys a certain number of licenses, and you can be put on a waiting list if the item you want is not available. A great way to use the city's resources.