Tag: Apple

Apple’s Free App of the Week – Spark Camera

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone, iPhone Apps, Photography1 Comment

Apple is marketing a new app each week. An app that will be given away for free for a limited time. This week the free app is Spark Camera. After Thursday it will be back on normal price level ($1.99)

Link to the app

Description from App Store

App Store Best of 2013 and Apple Editors’ Choice
Spark Camera supports iPhone 4S and higher.
Shoot, edit and share beautiful movies in seconds with Spark. Here’s how it works:

•Press & hold anywhere to record, release to stop
•Do this as many times as you’d like to create multiple clips
•Slide to change filters during playback
•Tap the music note to add a song from your library
•Tap the save button to save to your camera roll
•Share on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, iMessage, or email!

Spark lets you to record, enhance, and share life’s best moments through beautiful HD videos. What ignites a spark in your life? A gorgeous sunrise, an afternoon with friends at the beach, a kid’s smile… whatever it may be, the world is full of inspirational moments; capture them with Spark Camera.

Features:

•Take as many Sparks as you’d like
•Create HD 720p videos
•Add music from your music collection
•Apply high quality filters
•String together up to 45 seconds of footage
•Share via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, iMessage, and AirDrop
•Delete the last clip captured if you want to reshoot
•Have unlimited Sparks in progress
•Save to your Spark gallery as well as your camera roll

Final Cut
• Import videos from camera roll
• Rearrange clips
• Delete any clip
• Trim beginning or ending of clips

Free iPhone photo app review – Vintage

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone, iPhone Apps, iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, iPhonepics, PhotographyLeave a comment

This is quite traditional filter-app The difference between this and most of the current filter-apps may be that there are fewer filters to use, and filters that are the opposite of subtle.

I’m not the biggest fan of using filters, but when I use them I want to use them in a way that it really shows that filter’s been used. With that said, this app contains some really nice ones, if you like to use filters.

If you download the free app you’ll have to live with some ads, but I don’t think that they are too annoying.

The test photo is a photo I took with my iPhone 5. Below it, you’ll find the same photo after the Vintage app is used, and at the bottom you’ll find two screen shots.

© Pedro Hansson - Original iPhone Photo before "Vintage"
© Pedro Hansson – Original iPhone Photo before “Vintage”
© Pedro Hansson - Original iPhone Photo after "Vintage"
© Pedro Hansson – iPhone Photo after “Vintage”
Screen Shots from the app Vintage
Screen Shots from the app Vintage
© Pedro Hansson - Screen Shot, Vintage
© Pedro Hansson – Screen Shot, Vintage

One of the best new features in iOS7 – a well kept secret?

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone1 Comment

This may not come out as a new “sexy”, hot feature in the new iOS, but I think it’s one of the best; the possibility to use several networks at the same time – Multipath TCP.

Before Multipath TCP you could experience a lost internet connection when you were connected to internet through WiFi, and the connection suddenly went down. All traffic on the phone also went down, instead of just using 3G/4G. This is now possible. If the WIFI-connections goes down, the phone will  seamlessly use the fastest connection instead, of the lost WiFi-connection. Great improvement!

I guess this will result in more mobile traffic, but the user experience will improve significantly.

For a more technical report -> Click here
For a free mobile background -> Click here
For some tips on iOS7 -> Click here

iPhone iOS 7 – Some thoughts after using the new iOS for a month

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone, iPhone Apps, iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, iPhonepics, Photography1 Comment

Some thoughts about iOS7 after using it for one month

Since we’re developing apps for iOS I’m part of the beta testing team that will use their coming upgrades before they are released, and report issues back to Apple, to have them corrected.

(See also – One of the best new features in iOS7 – a well kept secret?)

iPhone iOS7

This new upgrade is both a big upgrade, at the same time as it’s not. It’s big in terms of GUI, the icons are “flat” now instead of “floating”/3D. I really don’t know if I like this more than the old one. I’ve got used to it, but at the same time I miss some of the old beautiful icons. It’s a small change in the overall usage.

Photo 2013-08-28 11 30 23

One new feature is the possibility to have more than one screen in each icon-folder, but at the same time there are fewer icons in every screen. Both good and bad there as well.

Photo 2013-08-28 11 31 13

The camera has been upgraded and I think it has gotten better with live filters, easier access to functions and some new nice features as “square” for all instagrammers (my nick is btw on instagram is @pedrohansson).

Photo 2013-08-28 11 31 42

What I thought for almost 24 hours was a big flaw in this new OS, was that I couldn’t reach spotlight to the left of my home screen. With over 600 apps installed that it was a downgrade. But of course there was a new way of doing that, that actually is better. Wherever you are in your iOS-screens you can just put your finger on the screen, hold it down for a short time and drag it down. Voila! There’s spotlight.

Photo 2013-08-28 11 45 14

The new fast access screen (that you access by dragging your finger from the bottom upwards) is also a highly appreciated function that should’ve been there years ago.

Photo 2013-08-28 11 45 05

Siri seems to have had a major upgrade. A more personalized feeling and I think a better understanding of follow-up questions. It’s starting to be really impressing.

What is really nice in the new iOS is the multi tasking screen where you can reach all apps that currently are running. This screen is now a full screen with “live shots” from each and every app running. Great GUI!

What’s more to say? Well there are many many small changes here and there and I think this is a really good new iOS. I just wonder if it’s enough to keep the Androids behind.

I will continue to use iPhone since my whole home is built around it, AND it’s always working which I think is the number one feature with the iPhone. You just start it and use. No need to turn off GPS, no need for “app killers” since they are running out your batteries and so on. So Apple, I will stick with you for a while more, but I hope we will see some new cool, mind blowing functionality, in the future, as we were used to in the past.

Free Mobile Background – iOS7 lock screen

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone, iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, iPhonepics, Photography1 Comment

This is a photo I took with my old iPhone 4S in Gothenburg last year. It’s also my current iPhone background. If you would like to use it, I’ll give it a way;  free to use. Just click on the image down below, and the source photo will be opened. Right click on the newly opened image, save image, and then it’s ready for import to your phone.

P.S If you haven’t seen the next layout for Apple iPhones / iPads (iOS) this is it’s lock screen D.S

© Pedro Hansson - Gothenburg Road
© Pedro Hansson – Gothenburg Road

Looong time

On By saarimnerIn iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, Photography23 Comments

It’s been WAY to long since I wrote a post on this blog. I guess there’s been a lot, and I think I just needed a break from it all. It’s really strange sometimes; when I receive the most cheerful wishes and, in this case, suddenly attract so many viewers than ever before It’s so easy to start to feel pressure, and with pressure it’s so easy to loose motivation. Strange huh?

Anyway, I will go back to write the things I care about, the things that matters and things that I find important, beautiful, noteworthy and of course things that I think about. In short, things that I would like to share on this blog, together with all of you who read this.

Recently I, once again, started a little project with my iPhone – Summer through my iPhone (as part of the iPhone Photography project – What I see through my iPhone lens). The project will be all about sharing some pics from the summer of 2012. I hope you enjoy it.

The first picture in this series is a picture I took on friday in a harbor in Skärholmen, south of stockholm of a “Jinny Joe” taken with my iPhone and my new little fellow friend, the Macro lens.

Image

So.. let’s talk soon again 🙂 In the mean time. Best wishes to all of you who might read this blog.

Cinemagram – great app for stills with motion

On By saarimnerIn iPhonepics, Photography4 Comments

A couple of months ago I made a post about cinemagraph‘s (pictures with parts of them moving). I think this is a really cool way to spice up pictures.

Earlier this week I came across a great iPhone-app that’s all about this technique, Cinemagram. I’ve just tried it out a little bit but I think it’s a really cool app. I think that the best results are given if you record people doing things, like reading a newspaper or just turning their heads and so on. I’ve made a few of those but with respect to those that are featured I’ll let them rest in my cam.

You can find me on Cinemagram by searching for the user Saarimner.com

This image is just an image (taken yesterday from Gondolen in Stockholm) to show what Cinemagram is (look at the roads).

Hope you have a great weekend

Cinemagram, Stockholm

Stockholm through my iPhone lens – Sunset over Lake Mälaren

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, iPhonepics, Photography12 Comments

This is a picture taken of the sunset, the 13:th of March. The view is over Lake Mälaren and the picture is taken in Stockholms archipelago.

The apps used for creating this pic is HDR Pro and Photoshop Express for reducing noise.

© Pedro Hansson - Sunset over Lake Mälaren - iPhone

Stockholm through my iPhone lens

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone-Photography - What I see through my iPhone lens, iPhonepics, Photography2 Comments

This is the first real week in Stockholm with “full spring”. In Sweden this is some amazing days. It seems like everyone just un-freezes from the Winter and there are happy people all around.

What’s also really amazing when spring arrives (as in the autumn) is the lighting conditions for photo. I can’t exactly tell you what it is but I think it get’s so much easier to get good shots, even with an iPhone-camera, so I’ve been quite busy taking pics during the days this week.

First of is a pic of Kungsgatan two days ago during lunch hour. What I like with this view is that there are very few who takes any pictures here (maybe it’s due to looking silly on a shopping street.. I don’t know 🙂 ) while I think this view holds one of Stockholm’s nicest views of great architecture.

This pic is taken with HDR and then adjusted with Photo Toaster to get a touch of an older look.

I hope you all have a have a great week!

@ Pedro Hansson - Kungsgatan Stockholm, Sweden

iPhone 4S – camera test

On By saarimnerIn iPhonepics, Photography8 Comments

Last month I upgraded my iPhone 4 to the new 4S. I couldn’t say that there is a big difference between the two.

The main reason for upgrading was the improved camera so during the last weeks I’ve taken some pictures and to be honest, the difference isn’t as big as I thought, but of course it’s better.

But maybe it isn’t about the cam when it all comes down… a good photo is always a good photo, with almost any cam 🙂

Almost all pics are taken with the app Pro HDR in Stockholm and are not edited in a computer afterwards.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Top 100 iPhone apps

On By saarimnerIn English, iPhone1 Comment

As some of you might know I’m totally addicted to new apps in my iPhone, and quite frankly I’m surprised how often I use many of these apps. The last time I counted I had 540 apps installed, and it’s increasing almost every day. A little embarrassing, isn’t it?

It’s very rare that such an app-addicted person as me finds a list with totally new apps, this great top-100 list is doing just that! Go ahead and check it out! Best iPhone-list I’ve seen so far.

-> Top-100 iPhone-app-list

 

Free app – Burst mode

On By saarimnerIn iPhoneLeave a comment

Maybe you have tried to capture a golf swing or fast flying object with your mobile cam. I guess you sometimes missed that opportunity due to the (compared to your DSLR) slow camera.

Burst mode is an app that takes multiple shots and you can then choose which one’s you wanna save. Quite handy sometimes.

The app used to cost $2 but now it’s free (for a limited time?). A little app to try out during your weekend walk? (Btw, do you notice the slight optical illusion on the right pic?)

Link to App store – Burst mode

Burst mode mzl.hyskxsks.320x480-75

iOS5, the first 24 hours

On By saarimnerIn iPhoneLeave a comment

So, the first 24 hours with the new iOS is coming to an end. At first it seemed to be a lot of struggling but I must say it’s an impressive upgrade! At one hand you hardly can’t see the difference, but on the other hand it’s so much functionality bundled together with your everyday use of the phone that I think it’s hard to go back to the old version.

The main benefits in my opinion so far:

  • iCloud is far better than I thought. When it was released I almost compared it to Dropbox, but this is so much more. To get all your pictures directly into Aperture on your Mac and at the same time get them in your iPad and so on is amazing! This actually makes my old iPad come to better use (since it doesn’t have a cam), and I guess iCloud is the best feature all over.
  • The drop down panel is also really good. I used to have a couple of Androids before and this feature is probably the one that I missed the most. You can move faster to the things that happens in your communication with others.
  • iMessage seems really neat. Works perfectly. On the other hand it almost feels like a clone to “What’s app”.
  • GUI-enhancement. It seems like GUI-enhancements have been made all over. It’s really subtle if you don’t think about it, but the typefaces in the messaging and some symbols have changed face and it actually looks a little bit more modern.
  • Finally get rid of the cable to connect to iTunes. This is one of the features that have been the most hard to understand. Finally you can drop that cable and just download things “over air”.

On the negative side I can think of two main things to complain (a little) about:

  1. The upgrade was a little bit frustrating (in Apple-terms) due to all icons loosing their old structure, even though I’m one of those that find pleasure in trying things out
  2. A little lack of performance. At first it seemed like a big drop, and after some hours I couldn’t see any drop at all but I think there is a little bit more lagging.

20111014-050554.jpg

Upgrade to iOS5 – part 2, and lion OS 10.7.2 – updated

On By saarimnerIn iPhone1 Comment

Day after upgrading to Apple iOS5; my experiences so far:

  • The phone still feels a little bit laagy. especially when I’m in app store (and if you’ve read my previous post you know that I’ve visited app store like 300 times already. If I would’ve owned a 3GS I would’ve waited for some more information on the performance.
  • My apps haven’t returned so I still have to manually reinstall them from app store. A time-consuming task to say the least. UPDATE: I’ve found a way around this. Just launch iTunes at your computer and sync the programs once more. I lost all my folders so all the apps are just hanging around but at least I don’t need to manually install every single one through iCloud.
  • iCloud feels even better than yesterday. The experience to take a pic with the phone and seconds after see it in Aperture is amazing
  • Upgrading my iMac to the new Lion 10.7.2 went really easy. The only problem I’ve got was a duplication of my calendars. That was easy resolved with just deleting one copy under preferences

After the first 12 hours after upgrading my conclusion it that I would’ve waited a few days to upgrade if I wasn’t REALLY interested in just get some experience with the new iOS and I didn’t mind struggling a bit to get there. I still haven’t succeeded in upgrading my iPad (still get an error message at the end of the upgrade process). I guess I will end up deleting it and then reinstall from my backup. UPDATE: Earlier this morning I finally (3:rd attempt) got things to work (maybe this was due to installing the Lion upgrade before?!) and it works great. The problem with the apps, like I had on the iPhone I’ve on the iPad aswell. Apart from that everything now works fine and I also think that the performance is back.

Image Stream in iOS5
Image Stream (Bildström in Swedish) in iOS5 - Image transferred by Image Stream after screen shot from my iPhone

Upgrading to iOS5

On By saarimnerIn iPhoneLeave a comment

Tonight was the night when the final release of iOS5 was about to be released. With a cup of coffee in my hand I eagerly waited for the upgrade to reveal itself in iTunes, and suddenly, there it was.

I’m a quite heavy user so my phone is stuffed with things, so I was prepared for a pretty long, timewise, upgrade. After a little more than 1 hour I was finished.

My initial reactions so far:
– I notice a slight decrease in speed performance due to the heavier OS but I’m not sure yet whether this is because I still have a lot of things to handle before everything’s up or if it just me searching for differences
– The upgrade process was pretty sleek, no bigger worries but on my iPad I’m actually still struggling. Keeps getting an upgrade error. But as always with Apple products it’s just to start all over again
– iCloud really feels like a bigger thing than I initially thought it would be. It’s actually pretty nice to have all your photos (for instance) instantly uploaded to your iPad and iMac when you have taken them
– I’ve always had some problems with “me.com” but now when the services are all pulled together, it seems like those problems have been resolved with the iCloud-solution
– The biggest problem I’ve had so far is that a large portion of my 400 app’s (yes I know it’s a little bit weird) doesn’t get installed so I need to manually press the “iCloud”-button to install those that aren’t there already. With the iCloud-button i mean the service that Apple released during the summer where all your apps are synced between your iTunes-account, your phone and iPad. Quite neat and it works perfectly. Even though the service works perfectly it’s quite time consuming to enter that button, go to the screen where the icon is, go back to iTunes and click the next one.. and do this for all my apps.
– The new reminder-app seems really good at first glance. Haven’t for obvious reasons been able to try it so much yet.

If you’ve upgraded and wan’t to share your thought’s I’m really curious about how things went.

20110917 Stockholm
(c) Pedro Hansson - Picture of Slussen in Stockholm - Photo date 2011-09-17

Part 2 of this article

iPhone 5

On By saarimnerIn iPhone2 Comments

Did Apple just introduce their “light” model due to the fact that Steve Jobs just had days left? I don’t think that it’s impossible.

Apple is one of the Worlds best companies when it comes to marketing and PR and it wasn’t hard to predict that the sad news about Jobs would outstand the news around the new model. At the same time the new CEO really needs something to “deliver” to get him moving in his new role.

So… I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ll see the new iPhone around Christmas time (or before) when the sad news about Jobs have  calmed down a little.

Just a thought…

Sad news about Steve Jobs

On By saarimnerIn iPhone2 Comments

For the last years I’ve been a true fan of Apple (as I might some of you already figured out…). I often even joking about my home as a live “Apple store”.

I’m really sad to receive the sad news about this inspiring man leaving us. A man with true visions and a clear sense of where we are going.

If you haven’t read the blog post, or seen the video in “one of the most inspirational speeches ever”, today is a good day to watch it.

Rest in peace, Steve Jobs!

https://saarimner.com/2011/10/01/one-of-the-most-inspirational-speeches-ever/