iPhone App- Camera+ Review

My iPhone is my primary blogging tool, as well as my primary camera, among all the other functions it fulfills so well.  Because my blog is as visual as it is verbal, the pictures are important.  Camera+ is one of several tools I use to make it visually interesting.

Camera+ is feature rich, and as a free lite version of Camera+Pro, it is a powerful, feature rich package that can replace the native camera and most post processing apps.  In fact, its slight shutter speed lag and its understandable lack of HDR functionality are the only reasons I went back to the native iPhone camera.  

(edit, Nov 21, thanks to Jimmy) Tap Tap Tap  is the developer, and as of now this fantastic app is no longer in the App Store.  I have no issues with the quality of this app, and they issue updates often enough to keep it clean and bug free for the most part.  Why did Apple pull it? Because it provides for the use of the volume button to activate the "shutter", a clear violation of terms for developers.  No using hardware buttons! Oddly, I have never used this feature, so habitualized am I to using the screen button.

If I had one space on my iPhone for an imaging app, this would be the one.

I first read about Camera+ on Lisa Bettany's blog, via a link from I forget where.  But it what intrigued me was that Tap Tap Tap was using a professional photographer to create the easy to use workflow and photo treatments.  

One of the best things about Camera+ is that all the photos you take with it are saved to a "lightbox", where you can decide what to do with them before saving to your Camera Roll.  At first I thought this was a hokey way to make you think you were a big time Life photographer (a good angle in Heller's Catch 22), but I came to appreciate that it was cleaner and forced me to deal with photos rather than accumulating them for work "later".  

This photo, of a cafe in Manhattan was treated with "Magic Hour", to make it warmer and more inviting than the native light.  

And inside the cafe I used So Emo just because it can be fun to do so.  This is a whimsical look that can make straightforward portrayals more dramatic and evocative.  

This old modem in our local airport was treated with Hipster, kinda period appropriate I thought.

This salad was post processed using the Food filter, which increased the sharpness and contrast, and warmed it up a touch.  It is really sensational when used on french fries.









In all, there are 27 of these FX treatments, including one called HDR, which is fun, but should not be confused with the serious HDR function of the iPhone's native software, nor apps like TrueHDR.  

Additionally, Camera+ has cropping and 11 "scenes" that you would find on any point n shoot camera, like Flash for increasing shadow exposure, Backlight, Scenery, Text and Food.

In all, Camera+ is the imaging app I find most essential to my iPhotog style.  Thank you Tap Tap Tap and Lisa Bettany!  How lucky we are to enjoy such good work at such little cost!

iPhone Apps- Seesmic vs. Tweetdeck

These two iPhone Twitter clients bring similar functionality, that make them head to head competitors.  But they have some distinct features that have me puzzled.

I am late to Twitter.  I only "got it" when someone explained to me that it is a very abbreviated blog, only more spontaneous.  With that, I got into it.  You really should follow me.

Of course, I started on my Macbook Pro, using Twitter's native interface online.  Not very spontaneous for someone who doesn't spend the day at a desk.  So it was completely normal that I would use my Blackberry to tweet.  It worked well, and my tweet count mounted.  It was functional.

The advent of the iPhone (for me), made tweeting even more of a pleasure, and I saw my counts go over 1,000 soon.  It became important to maximize the pleasure of the iPhone experience with a multitasking, Retina interface and full use of the touchscreen.

Both these apps use a set of pages to organize not only Tweets, but multiple Twitter lists, mentions, searches, messages, and Facebook.  Additionally on Seesmic you can add a page for Ping, if anyone uses Ping.  I currently have several of these columns/pages: All Friends Tweets, Facebook, 2-4 lists, a search for all mentions of @Exechobo, Direct Messages.  These vary as my needs change.

TWEETDECK

Tweetdeck is also a desktop/laptop client, and in that venue, is very powerful, indeed.  You set up columns for anything you want to track on Twitter,  trending, searches for specific terms and users, the handy and powerful RSS substitute lists, etc, etc.  Then, Tweetdeck syncs all this with your other computers and iOS, Android and presumably, Windows Mobile (whatever they are calling it), devices.  Very powerful for those who use Twitter professionally.

The black theme of Tweetdeck is crisp and eye grabbing, and the white of Seesmic really makes the text pop.   

Further, Tweetdeck is stellar at using the touch on the touchscreen.  A small swipe sends pages or columns skittering across the iPhone's screen, and a flick scrolls like a native app.  The management of columns is easy and quick.  I really like that when I open Tweetdeck all the columns are largish thumbnails but readable, and I can slide along them to see what is new (new items are light grey), and then tap a column to bring it to full size and use the column.

You can see tweets locations, and with a simple touch initiate a "Qucikfollow" of anyone you see on Twitter.

When you write a message, you can choose which accounts it will be posted to, including Facebook.  Convenient.  When creating a post in Tweetdeck, you have other options.  Like take or attach a photo, or a video, shorten a link, geo locate a post, add an address for any recent Twitter addresses, or insert a hashtag for the terms most popular, and finally, you can rotate the screen if it helps typing.  All very handy!  To search for a topic, just start a new column and it will update regularly.

What bugs me about Tweetdeck?  First, a minor one, that when I return to it, it always goes back to the start.  I have to wait to get it going, during which time all my tweets are updated, a good thing, but then the app doesn't go back to where it was.  Kinda like it doesn't get multitasking. And one more thing- How the hell do you do a simple search on Twitter for people?  You can't. That's it, you can't.


SEESMIC

Seesmic looks simpler than it is.  I haven't found a missing function yet.  I like that my tweets are highlighted.  I really like that a searchbar sits at the top of the page.

I like that I can send tweets to Evernote, an app I use alot.  This is good for saving items from my lists for action later.

The menu at the bottom of the page is relevant for Facebook and Twitter, but is absent from lists pages.

Seesmic lets you choose to which account you are posting.  As well, when posting the option to take or attach a picture, shorten a link, and geo-locate that post is easy to select.

I like that when I select "Retweets" on the menu, at the top of the next screen I can select "by others", "by me" or "of me".

When you add a page to Seesmic you get options to add certain types of pages, including Searches, Trending Topics, and Lists.

One curiosity, why add a page of a single trending topic? Now if it was all trending topics were included, that would be somethin, wouldn't it?

What bugs me about Seesmic?  They can't seem to make the touchscreen work.  This is aggravating.  Flicking from page to page is frustratingly hit and miss.  Almost always miss unless you are at the top of the page.  Now who thought that requirement up?  The pull down to refresh is expected in many iPhone apps, but in this one it bugs me.  And the ads, well they bug me too.




SUMMARY

Both of these apps are very powerful and satisfying to use.  I have a hard time deciding which is best, so I keep both handy and switch between them when the mood strikes.  Twitter's native client, Ecofon and Tweetbird are all good, but not as powerful, and don't make be admire their power with each use.  One cannot go wrong with either Seesmic nor Tweetdeck.  What a wonder that this much elegant development work can be had for no charge!

iPhone Apps

Apps reviews and lists are ubiquitous, so why add my opinions?  Because I have not seen a collection of apps on a single list that seem to be "general purpose", to address users going about all of life's varied activities.

I use my iPhone all the time.  First thing in the morning, while still in bed, to last thing at night, the iPhone is a tool and toy that serves many purposes.  Here is just a list and explanation of my apps, order of utilization, sort of:

The iPhone camera is my favorite tool.  Any review will tell you how good it is.  Because I use it so much, I also use other imaging apps.  Adobe PS Express, TiltShift Gen, Camera+, Iris and Genius Scan all let me do specific post processing that makes the camera more fun, and my pictures more entertaining, I hope.

Mail, the native iPhone app, followed closely by the Gmail app.  Mail handles all 5 of my inboxes well, but Gmail lets my use its label system to organize.

Beejive is the way to use chat apps like Gtalk on the iPhone.  I also use WhatsApp for the same thing, to suit another person with whom I like to be in continual Gtalk contact.  This is messy, but works, though if iPhone worked better to keep Gtalk running at all times, I would not use it.

Pulse RSS reader. There are three redundant ones I use, Pulse, Mobile RSS, and Google Reader.  That is the order of my preference, based on how enjoyable they are to use, and the ability to link news stories in Twitter, Email, etc.

I use a few Twitter clients, including Twitter's.  I like Seesmic best, only because it is easy to do searches.  I haven't figured out how to easily search on Tweetdeck, though it is a smooth interface.

I use the native Calendar, Phone, Messaging apps all the time.

I use Blogpress every day to make blog entries offline and publish them when I want.  I can draft several posts ongoing, and stage them to keep my blog updated once a day.

Docs to Go is essential for Excel spreadsheets that I use as data bases and to track expenses in my budget file.

Evernote replaces the native notes app, and is cloud based so I can use it from my laptop.  This is where my lists, projects and more involved notes reside.

Remember the Milk is what I use as a basic To-Do list.  It is more powerful than that, but I like it better than others I have tried.  Most are really hard to use.  That Apple has no native app for this requires all kinds of weird work arounds using Notes and Calendar, and is appalling.

The use of my iPhone for mapping is one of its most remarkable features.  Beside the native mapping program, which is quite handy to find things locally, I added Motion X's GPS Lite and GPS Drive, fantastic apps that amaze me every time I use them.  Also, the Starbucks app, and Free WiFi.  I also use Around Me, and the native compass.  A cooler compass is Commander Compass Lite, it makes me feel like a commando in a video game when I use it.

The native calculator works fine, but I like RPN calculators and more power, so use PCalc Lite.

I have Facebook and Linkedin, but use them infrequently.  They are really nice apps.

I use tideApp whenever I go fishing.

For aural entertainment, it is Pandora and TuneIn Radio to go with the iPod.

The YouTube app works well, and I marvel at it when I use it.

Kindle is the reader for me, and I am reading the memoirs of US Grant now.

There is a handy app from Columbia called WHatKnot.  I like and use knots.  What can I say?

For football, I like College FB and Football Live!  The are great.

Bing is something I use occasionally and try to like.

LightOMatic lets me use my LED as a flashlight.  Cool and useful.

Also, Box.net, Dropbox for big file access in the cloud.

Games? I actually use the iPhone for games daily.  WordPops, AC-130, Gun Range, Moxie, Word Shaker, Words Free, Sudoku, Solitaire, Word Warp, and my faves, FS5 Hockey and Osmos.  You gotta try Osmos.

Thats it, a long list of apps that really make the iPhone more fun and functional.

HDR on the iPhone

The addition of HDR algorithms to the iPhone camera was for me, the prime benefit of iOS 4.1. I use it on occasion. This set of images shows the benefit of HDR.







Can you guess which is HDR? I thought the first image was, since the areas of shadow seem to be lighter. I didn't like it. To my surprise the second image, the one I prefer has had the magic math applied. It seems more like why I saw that evening.

When I use the HDR feature, I am always careful to check the results. It is not always better. But usually, at the very least outdoor photos are tweaked so that the sky is not blown out.

Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

iPhone Otterbox Defender

Things, including your truly, were being tossed about the cabin of the boat in swells up to nine feet every 4 seconds.  It was then that I thought I maybe should have the new iPhone in a decent protective case for these situations.  The best? Otterbox Defender.

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I find it to be the kind of overkill I like.  It makes the sleek, thin Beverly Hills model iPhone into a mammoth, rugged, thick comms device.  Protection all around, sticky silicone and hard ABS plastic.  It really protects, like a hi-tech football helmet.  GRRRRR!!!  It snaps into its belt holster authoritatively, like a magazine into a 1911.  Bam!  Red Team Go! Blue Team Go!  I like belt holsters a lot of the time.  

Today I took it out of the case to clean it all up after a rainy day at the beach.  Not to worry.  The phone sighed in relief, like a warrior unbuckling armor.  It again made me smile with how thin and svelte it is.  

It must be an Amazon.  

Blackberry Remorse?

Six Weeks With an iPhone
Now past the point of no return, does the move from BB to Apple hold up?

I have been avidly reading about the upcoming 6.0 OS, and studied to August 3 event. The new BB has addressed the issues I had to a significant degree.

Most important was Internet access. Every item in a newsreader, whether Twitter, Viigo, Pulse or Google, contained a link. On the BB I was a headline browser. Now I read articles. The same with emails. Who doesn't send links to items they think the recipient may be enjoy or need? Same for Tweets. And so on...

Now, I open the link. I read the item. I doubletap and go back to where I was.

What else on the iPhone makes me glad to leave BB behind?
-memory management that works
• the camera is superb rendering it a light point and shoot unnecessary
• typing is actually better
• a screen that is so good I can see my photos and use it to read books comfortably
• apps that give me access to more of what I want-
- tides
- Blogpress
- photo editors
- silly tools like the compass and level that I use
- entertainment like YouTube and Pandora and games that work
• ability to install links on my homescreen to any site, like my favorite weather site
• a responsive touchscreen and OS that are actually intuitive

So what is there of the BB that I still find lacking in the iPhone?
• iPhone can't accept appointment invitations
• keyboard shortcuts to launch programs
• Bluetooth headset that works

And now we have the BB 9800. Blackberry's slider touchscreen/ hard keyboard, 5mp camera, OS6 totin' wonder. Does that make me a teensy bit remorseful?

No. I have made the leap from a communications tool with entertainment attributes that are just OK to an entertainment device with good communication functions, and I like it.

The overwhelming positives of the iPhone, camera, screen, web access are the things that matter most to me.


- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

Steinheil Skin Guard Review

Among Apple users there is a struggle regarding the use of skins and cases to protect the appearance of their prized possessions.   I have done a few things to protect iPods and my MacBook Pro. For the iPhone I wavered for days.  But being well acquainted with regret- the "I wish I had..." syndrome, I chose to protect it in the end.

First, I bought the bumper.  It is a good bumper.  Nice fit and quality.  The rubbery edge gives good grip and addresses the concern about setting it on a marble counter over a piece of grit.  Next the screen.  I have a couple of watches with mineral glass crystals, and can attest to their ability to survive shock and rough use.  But while those crystals have survived amazing abuse, they also scratched when addressed by sand and such.  So, I sought screen protectors, front and back.

I settled on Steinheil, based on not very much good internet information, but was intrigued by the opportunity to use a solid, faux leather cover for the back.  Like a Blackberry Bold. improved in-pocket indexing, cover the verbiage on the bottom of the back, and semi-uniquity.  There seems to be some agreement that these are tough and clear.

Application instructions don't come with the package, but are available on the company website.  Installation went as it should, and turned out well.  The only issue, the die cuts are designed to be "Bumper Compatible".  This seems to mean they are a few microns too small to go to the edge of the glass on front and back.  The bumper actually fits flush to the edge of the screen protectors, not over them.  OK, with a bumper installed, great.  Without, there is a bothersome edge I can feel just inside the edge of the iPhone screen.

The clarity is as clear as it can be, I think,  I can't perceive any difference in the Retina Display.  The faux leather back is just right.  Not too sticky but with some texture to make it a more sure grip.  But... the front screen is slightly grippy feeling, it is not as slick as the glass.  This may be a problem.  It is not enough to impact the scrolling or function in any way, but it does not feel as good.  Maybe this will "break in".

Is it worth $19 (including shipping)?  That is completely relative.  It does what it says, and does it well so far.

Update: the screen saver is a fingerprint magnet compared to the fanstastic oleophobic coating Apple uses on the glass, and the whole thing looks rather, oh, downmarket.  Like the BB Bold.  

Blogpress Review

One of the prime functions of my smartphone is to blog. My old HP Ipaq with a Bluetooth keyboard, or software input was a tool I used to blog across France in 2004. I loaded photos from my camera's SD card and did an OK job.

Then I used a Blackberry and just emailed the posts. Photos were restricted to the weakass BB camera, but writing was easy.

When I converted to iPhone I had to be sure it would work at least as well. It does. The keyboard is as good as BB, the autocorrect is as good. The better camera is a key factor that makes it even more legit. Also, I can add multiple photos to an blog addressed email easily.

I downloaded Blogpress to see if that would work to overcome the one glaring issue, the inability to write posts offline without silly work-arounds.

It does that and more.



I can edit posts. I can write and save posts, I can pre- schedule their publication, or so it says, but I found this function not to work so well.

See how it works in the real world by following my blog at http://exechobo.blogspot.com

- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

Apple Demonstrates its Mainstreet Advantage

It is popular right now to hate on Apple.  They are too successful to like anymore. But good is good, and the lessons of Apple should be informing more enterprises.  I read a column by Christopher Ryan that reminded me of one of the aspects of Apple that I relate to- the retail vertical.  Lets leave the other aspects of the company for another time.  

Apple is opening a new store in Shanghai, the first of 25 planned so far for China.  

Like the Manhattan flagship, the store is underground, with a glass staircase leading down from the glass tower entrance.  This level of commitment to a market like China is a good start, and following the recent opening of the Paris Opera store really makes a statement.  

 But what is important is what happens inside these stores.  The experience of retail is in fact the definition of the concept, and an important reinforcement of the brand itself.  There is no question that the look of the Apple Store owes some cues to the Gap people who migrated over in the 90's: austere, clean, accessible, product focused.  That is good.  Apple goes out on a limb to have its associates represent what Apple is.  Sometimes, as a 50 something professional consultant, I am not appreciative of what I see in the hires on the floor, but then they approach and disarm me with enthusiasm, service, knowledge and energy.  

The thing that really makes Apple Stores work for me is the Genius Bar.  Imagine!  A place to go where the technicians are expert, the process is hassle free and in my experience, always beyond what one expects.  Go in with a problem, armed with arguments and armored for "User error" attacks, and by the time you leave with a resolution you are bewildered by fact that you didn't have to enter into mano a mano combat to succeed.  And these people really like what they do, and that they are part of Apple.  

Now that is what's Magic.

iPhone 4 Fix for Reception Problem

I don't know where this fix idea originated, but when I heard about it I was stoked.  I wanted an official Apple band in yellow, and now I can see what it looks like.  Plus I follow Livestrong and Lance Armstrong.  I like winners,  Apple, USA, Armstrong, profitable corporations.  Very difficult to be a strong happy individual.  But I digress.  The solution to a problem I don't have is cool.  Look at it, love it.

UPDATE:  I shoulda known, the tip comes from Lifehacker

Blackberry to iPhone

The decision is made, and Blackberry has lost to iPhone 4.  The process has been a long, well researched search for the tool/toy that best serves my unique needs.

First, I decided I would remain with AT&T.  The service has worked flawlessly for me, the service has been good too.  I feel embarrassed that I have no gripes about them, and can't muster up angst about using service from a company that is big and dominant.  I wish I could be so shallow, it would make thinking easier.

Then, I decided I would have a smartphone.  I was an early Palm Pilot adopter, still have my HP Ipaq Windows 3.5 PDA, and a Motorola that used the first Windows OS for telephones.  The improvements in regular phones have not been enough to get me interested, and those in the smartphones have really made the devices do what I want.

Then, I surveyed the systems, regardless of carriers.  Android, Palm, iPhone, and Blackberry.  First to fall- Android.  Fragmented, klunky, open and fussy.  Not for me, I don't want to be a junior systems manager or developer.  Next, I was hoping the Palm Pre would work.  Web OS is quick, powerful and good looking.  But the hardware- that keyboard is dreadful- too small and hard to use.  That left Blackberry and iPhone, both slated for big new overhauls.

The RIM folks in Canada are notorious for system security and prudence.  That they have such great software built from what started as a pager OS is remarkable, and that it is so secure and appealing to big enterprises too.  The news for BB is the 6.0 OS, with a Webkit browser.  That would be the ticket, fast internet, an interface I know well, and the speed and utility of the current Blackberry.  Trouble is, RIM is noted for not being able to deliver what they promise, and not keeping the user base enthused about the product.  The looks we have had at the OS, introduced months ago, don't really show it working.  And what can be discerned is not much of a change.  So the only hope for BB is the new browser.  If and when it gets finished.  RIM has not been forthcoming about the hardware requirements to run this new OS, but it seems the existing devices will not be powerful enough to run it well, and new devices are slated for sometime in the future- not much to go on.

I really like my BB, and the newer ones are even better.  The next generation looks interesting, a slider, but nothing can beat the BB keyboard.  As well, the resolution of the screen is really good.  It is just too small to see much.  But again, nothing is better than the message functions on a BB.  As good as it is, the use of the web is bad.  And most emails, RSS feeds, and tweets have a link.  If there was not a choice, on balance, I would be happy to upgrade my BB and hope for OS 6 to solve some problems.

The only competitor to the BB is the iPhone.  So I waited, anxious to see how Apple would improve it, and hopefully address the issues I have with the last iPhone.

I won't re-hash the revelations of iPhone 4 from the Apple WWDC.  It was a major change in the iPhone.  The concerns I had, camera, screen, battery life, multitasking and interface organization were all taken care of in the usual elegant Apple way.

Now all I have to do is pre-order, select the apps I want to start out, and wait.

Uplink the files- GO GO GO!

Lets review. We have designed the website, made up a name for it, found the software to make it all work, contracted a web host, registered the domain. Now its time to put it all together.

First to learn about FTP- the way the files get from my computer to the web. Then to use it to upload the files to the host site, in a directory in my account that relates to the whole thing in ways I don't understand. Oops, nothing will work. There are a few ways to do this. More research. No solutions that work. Shut it down! SHUT IT DOWN!

Next day, restart it and do it all over, by the numbers. For some reason, my FTP program is now making a connection with the webhost in the right directory. Now what files do I have to upload? Back to the web for several contradictory bits of advice. Oh heck, lets just try to select all the files and directories in my master file on my desktop, and... hey! Its all uploading.

When done, close everything down and wait. It takes about 24 hours for the webhost to sort it all out and get it all put in place. They have a word for that, which I used several times for a couple of days, but have now forgot, or forgotten, of forgat.

Back to the computer the next day, and it works. Mainstreetadvantage.com

Hosting at the Domain

So now I had a website kinda built. It looked kinda good. Time to see about getting it online.

To do that you need a Domain Name, not to be confused with the entirely different domain file that is so important, and not easy to manage, that iWeb produces.

But speaking of that, I had begun making two websites in iWeb. I learned then that now I have one web site, that can never be separated, because Steve Jobs the demigod of Apple has decided you should never use iWeb to make more than one web site and shall alway post that website on his .Mac hosting service. So it is time to hack.

After getting my "full geek on", and holing up in my cave and working late into the night, I learned that others have done this before me. Many others. So I downloaded the handful of freeware opensource programs that make this easier. After a few dead end tests, I settle on Cyberduck and Multisite.

Now to get it up- the site up on the web. First thing is to find the right hosting company out of the several hundred out there. Price, service to newbies, servers owned by the host company, American based. The result of the multi day search effort: InMotion hosting, located in Chicago, charge $6.95 per month. They also register the domain name for free. Done, locked in.

Website Under Construction

I have dove, or dived, or diven, or doved or launched into creating websites. We need three, so I thought it worth the effort to learn how. I did a lot of research, building on the foundation we layed or lay or laid when we took an HTML class back in the height of the dot com bubble while living in the Bay area. Just being there made us software savvy. But I digress.

Looking at the options for doing a website the right way, the way anyone who gives advice on such things would do it, I soon learned there are still barriers across which the un-tech masses cannot climb. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Dreamweaver, Web Studio, and a host of other software packages that are the only way to create a website all remind one that profitability in the software segment continues to be obscene. How can software cost so much?

So have a look for "freeware" website building packages and you find several more choices, with cute and anti-Microsoft sounding names, Joomia, Homestead, Coffee Cup. Surely these offer at least one that will work. So I began downloading. I would have then started testing, but I could not figure out how to get to the first step. The byzantine instructions are dead simple to the in crowd of open source software development. But to me it was frustrating.

Not wanting to make one of those horrid and low-function web sites, I stubbornly resisted. Then I gave up. I used iWeb, built into my $79 suite of software called iLife, that includes iPhoto, iDVD, and some other things I don't yet use. Oh, Garage Band. OK, off we go.

It took a couple of nights to write the stuff we web masters call "content" and to find the photos to make it "come alive".

Phase One complete

Our Official Computer

Our preference for hardware is made by Apple. It is sometimes a challenge to get Mac operating systems to work in a Microsoft world, but here is some help for macbloggers.