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Archive for the ‘apps’ Category

When I am on my phone to check for email messages and read posts from social-network sites, I see something interesting in front of me that I want to take pictures. I used to carry a point and shoot camera most of the time to work and dinner with friends. I go home later to edit and post these photos onto a social-network site(s). I now have the ability to take photos as I go with my iPhone than to carry a 3 pound camera in my handbag. I have used the standard iPhone camera application to take photos and share with my friends; however, these photos are not indulging as I would edit the photos from graphic application like Photoshop and Coreal. Over a year, I have used this popular camera application called, Camera⁺ to take snapshots, edit and share with friends and family as I go. In addition, the Camera⁺ application gives me the ability to add borders, filters and text. Here are some of the pros and cons about the Camera⁺.

Camera⁺ has a unique user-ability so you are able to read and understand what each of these icons will perform before saving your photo. For instance, when you open the application from you phone, you will see your phone is ready to take a picture. At the bottom of the window, you will see the word, “MENU” on the right and photograph on the left. If you click “MENU”, it has options for you to set the sound, zoom and geotagging. The best thing about the “MENU” section is the quality. option. You can your photos optimized up to 1200 pixels or full resolution whenever you are ready to share or edit at a later time on your desktop computer.

Sharp, crisp, clean digital photos are important to graphic designers and photographers and it is tough to adapt the same visual on the phone application. With the Camera⁺ application, you can double-tap on your phone with two fingers and a second auto-focus lens will sharpened and adjust the lighting on that specific area. In addition, you can more the two auto-focus lens all the screen until you adjust the lighting by touching a dark area on the phone. You can also use flashlight or “spotlight” option to help enlighten your photos. You also have the option to stabilized or prevent shakiness on your phone while taking pictures.

I adore the special effects’ choices on the Camera⁺ application. You can use “scenes” to clarify or change the lighting on your photo. Along with these scenes, you can add FX effects for filteration such as sepia, so emo, vibrant or purple haze. If you want more effects, you will need to pay extra.

As I said earliar, I have used the application for a year but there are some down faults using the Camera ⁺. One, you have to make sure you have Wi-Fi connection or 3G network to send photos to email or social-network sites. If you don’t have a Wi-Fi connection or 3G network, you have to try to resend the photo at another time. To fix that, you need to change the quality settings to optimized and re-take the photo. Two, the border choices on the application are simple; however, you cannot change the thickness of a plain border from 1 pixel to 5 pixels. In addition, if you want to add text on the photo, the amount of characters is less than a hundred characters. I hardly use captions unless it is for a special event such as the baby shower I attend last month. Three, like other camera applications, you won’t be able to take good photos at night using the flash standing between 5 to 10 feet from the object. The photo will appear “cloudy”. To fix that, you can use scene, “clarify” to contrast the image. Last, the phone application is only available for the iPhone and it might be available for the iPad as well. It would be nice if the phone application was available for Android or any smartphone so everyone would experience good quality digital photos.

Camera ⁺ is reasonable price phone application for users who want to take and edit photos on the go. There may not be good camera applications for users to take a quick snapshot and edit photos quickly as the Camera⁺. I have used Camera⁺ for a year and the developers had done a superb job defining the clarity in the photos. I would recommend this photo application to any iPhone user if they want fair to good quality photos.

When I am in stress about a project or personal issue, I try to keep a clean mind by practicing yoga. Within the last week of September, I’ve practiced shortly after my back began to weaken and an addition to sharp pain on my right knee. I was told by my doctor and physical therapist that I need to walk daily including breaks. For a month and some weeks, I had ignored both doctor and therapist orders.

For seven days, I practiced yoga from this popular Apple application, All-in-Yoga containing programs for all levels, including beginners. The programs include step-by-step video instructions (option) on yoga positions, background music and an instructor. Most of the yoga positions for beginners that I have experienced such as the “Beginner Bala Yoga for Back and Abs (46 minutes)” are repeated but slightly longer in time to stretch out the aches. I had tried creating my custom program but the timing for each position is short – 10 seconds or less.

The main thing I like about this application is the design and user-ability. The background image of the purple hazed wooden background gives a warm welcome to the audience along with the background off-white color for the content. The menu choices are easy to touch and input information about yourself.

After a week of walking, minor jogging at my pace, and sketching, my back and right knee has improve; though, twist my body like a pretzel like yoga gurus. I am hoping to advance my ability to immediate level after two months as a beginner. Whatever it takes to reduce the pain and cracking noise, I’m all in for fitness and better health. If you are into yoga or just want to stretch out ideals, checkout the application on Apple.com. Happy painting!