Soleil Tech Princess

Review: Springpad

2012-02-10T21:20:00.004-05:00

If you are one of those people who has too many things on their to-do list, and finds it difficult to organize your tasks? If so, (or even if you just want a new way to plan projects and remember important things) I recommend Springpad. Springpad is an application where you can create notebooks to save anything you don't want to forget, from recipes to bookmarks to your favorite restaurant. And it's all accessible via the web or your mobile device.

To get started on Springpad, go to www.springpad.com and sign up via Google, Yahoo, Facebook, or Twitter, or register with your email and password. When you log in, here is the first screen you see:

My Springpad homepage. Yours may differ depending on the amount of notebooks you have.

This screen contains your profile at the left (username, settings, logout), your notebooks, All My Stuff (all the contents of your notebooks), your friends stuff (if you have friends on Springpad with public notebooks, all their content will be here), and a search box to find anything in your notebooks.

To add a new notebook, click the plus button. Then you will be shown this screen:

The "Add New Notebook" screen.

Name your new notebook and give it a 'cover'. Then hit done.
To add a new task or note, click the + button next to the search box in the right-hand corner of the screen, and in the pull down menu click "add a note" or "add a task". For this example, I will add a task.

Add a task

First, name your task. Then add a due date. Select a category provided, or create your own. Add a brief description to this task. You can also add a second due date, such as a deadline. Just below the due date button, you may also tag your tasks to find them easily, flag the task, add a reminder, and add it to a different notebook.

Next, you may add attachements: photos, videos, links, or other files relevant to your task. Additonally, you can send the task to yourself or others via email, print it out, or send it to your phone.

Adding tasks is not the only thing you can do with Springpad. You can also keep track of your favorite products. Go to the drop-down menu in the right-hand corner again, but this time click on "Look it Up". Type in a product, such as a smartphone.

Product search

If you hit 'add to notebook' you will be notified of price changes. You can also add places, movies, recipes, books, albums, wines, and people.

Those are basically all the features of Springpad I would like to cover.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the review!

Get started with Springpad here: www.springpad.com

Also, download the mobile apps:

iPhone app

iPad app -

Android app - https://market.android.com/details?id=com.springpad

Also, follow Soleil Tech Princess on Facebook and Twitter - www.facebook.com/soleiltechprincess

www.twitter.com/soleil_tech

1,000 hits! How should I celebrate?

2012-02-10T19:05:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I hope your week went well. I am writing this post to inform you all that Soleil Tech Princess recently reached 1,000 hits! This is a such a big milestone for my blog. I definitely would not be where I am today without the amazing support from my readers. You have given such great feedback and continue to read my posts. My readers have already made 2012 a good year.

So, how should I celebrate this accomplishment? Leave your comment below or let me know on Facebook or Twitter: www.facebook.com/soleiltechprincess
www.twitter.com/soleil_tech

Again, thanks everyone who continues to read and support Soleil Tech Princess! I didn't think in September when I started this blog that I would get here so quickly! The past 4 months have flown by so fast! I have enjoyed writing each and every post on this blog.

Thanks!

-Elisabeth

Follow Soleil Tech Princess

2012-02-07T16:37:00.000-05:00

Hello readers! I am writing this quick post to let you know that I am now using Twitter. You can follow me to get the latest updates on my blog and technology I find interesting. Follow Soleil Tech Princess here: twitter.com/soleil_tech or @soleil_tech.

Thanks so much for all your support! I am almost at 1,000 views! Keep giving feedback, reading my posts, and sharing STP with your friends!

Also, like Soleil Tech Princess on Facebook: facebook.com/soleiltechprincess

-Elisabeth

Free Picnik Alternatives

2012-01-29T16:23:00.001-05:00

Since 2010, thousands upon thousands of people have used Picnik to creatively edit their photos. But Google announced recently that they are shutting down Picnik on April 19, 2012 and moving their editing tools to Google+. If you use Google+, then you're in luck! If not, you will be forced to move to another web-based photo editor. Here are the ones I recommend:

BeFunky - BeFunky does the exact same thing as Picnik, and has roughly the same or a smaller amount of effects. BeFunky also produces great photos, and you can still share your photos to the same places. BeFunky also has premium features, available for $2 a month. I have reviewed the BeFunky iPhone app here: http://www.soleiltechprincess.com/2011/09/app-review-befunky.html

Pixlr - Pixlr's photo editor is very similar to Photoshop, so if you have used Photoshop before you'll feel right at home. Unlike BeFunky and Picnik, you have the option to create something from scratch instead of starting with a photo. After playing around with it some, I found it to be useful. Aside from the photo editor, there is a section for "Retro vintage effects." I enjoyed using these as well. They are fun to play around with to transform your photo. There is also a Pixlr-o-matic iPhone and Android app, which has the same functionality.

Those are the two free alternatives to Picnik I recommend. Comment below and let me know what other free photo editors you use! Remember, Picnik is only available until April 19th, and the premium features are now free! So edit away!

Thanks for reading,

Elisabeth

The Official Logo for Soleil Tech Princess

2012-01-23T12:29:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone! I have finally finished creating Soleil Tech Princess's new logo. I have been coming up with ideas and thinkingabout this for a while and I am glad I finally have a chance to share it with you. Here it is!

The main inspiration for this logo was the name. Soleil (pronounced so-lay) means sunshine in French, so that's where the bright orange tones came from. I knew I wanted more than one shape in the logo, and that a different shape each word in the blog title would be perfect. As for the font, the 'princess' part of the name came to mind. I like almost all of the scripted fonts.

I created this design in Adobe Photoshop, and it really didn't take long to make, approx. 15-20 minutes. I have some experience in Photoshop and I create projects there often. You can see a couple of them on my Flickr: www.flickr.com/pinkpaparazzi1

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Comment below and let me know what you think of the new logo, or if you have any ideas on how it can be improved. Also feel free to give feedback on Facebook: www.fb.com/soleiltechprincess

Be sure to like Soleil Tech Princess on Facebook so you always get the latest, as well as Wallpaper of the Day and other fun things I come up with!

Thanks for reading,

-Elisabeth

Sleep Cycle App Review

2012-01-23T10:53:00.000-05:00

Introduction

Good morning/afternoon/evening readers! I have a new app review for you guys today for an iPhone/iPod touch application called Sleep Cycle. This app helps you manage how many hours you sleep per night, and assists you in waking up refreshed in the morning. Continue reading for more information!

The Review

When you first enter the Sleep Cycle app, there is a welcome screen that explains how the app works. SC makes use of your iPhone or iPod touch's accelerometer to track your movement as you sleep to determine your different stages of sleep.

The second tab at the bottom of the screen opens a placement test. This makes sure that your phone can track your movements laying facedown on your bed. (The iPhone/iPod must be on during the test, more on that later...) When you press start, there is a red stop button at the bottom og the screen and a green light that illuminates and makes a noise if it senses movement. Toss and turn a little to test this out. If you hear a noise when you move, it works!

On the third tab, you can change a few settings in the app. The first setting is Alarm Sound. What makes these alarms different from other alarms is that these calmly wake you and do not rudely awaken you or jerk you as soon as the set time approaches. They still do their job, but let you awaken peacefully. You can choose from 8 of the preset alarms, of choose a song from your iPod, but I'd advise you to choose wisely, if you pick a song too loud it may cancel the effect of you trying to wake up peacefully.

The other two setting options are snooze (self explanatory), you can turn snooze off completely, or you can set a wake-up window, where the alarm rings for a 30 minute time period until you wake up, i.e. 6:30am to 7:00am.

This is another way Sleep Cycle helps you wake up feeling better. There are also some advanced settings you can tinker with if you want to.

The fourth and most important tab is the Alarm tab. This where you can actually initiate the sleep test. First, set a time for you to wake up. In the example below, I picked 6AM. Notice how the app automatically sets the wake-up window from 5:30am to 6am. This means my alarm will start ringing at 5:30am and stop at 6am. If I don't want to wake up that early, I can switch the alarm time to 6:30am, this way, the alarm rings from 6am to 6:30am.

After you have set your time, turn the volume all the way up, and press start. As soon as you hit the button, you get some important reminders on how to conduct the test. Read through these, then press OK. Turn your iPhone or iPod touch on its face so the glass touches your bed, and you may go off to sleep. Until the app senses you wake up, the test will run. Keep your iPhone or iPod plugged in because this app runs all night and uses lots of battery. I know from experience that when my iPod is unplugged and I run this test, the battery is dead by morning and I have incomplete results. Press the home button when you get out of bed, and hit "Stop old alarm".

The fifth and final tab is labeled "Statistics". Here is where you find the results of your sleep test. It will show the date of your test and the graph that shows your different stages of sleep throughout the night. The information below the graph shows when you went to bed and when you woke up. You may be suprised about when you shifted most during the night! After using the app for a few nights, Sleep Cycle calculates an average of all your sleeping times. If you are proud of what a great night's sleep you got last night, you can share your results to Facebook or by email.

Here are my results from a couple nights ago:

Click the button to the right to buy Sleep Cycle for $1.99:

I hope you enjoyed this review and that you're having a great year so far! Please share Soleil Tech Princess with your friends and like this blog on Facebook: www.fb.com/soleiltechprincess

Thanks for reading!

-Elisabeth

Like Soleil Tech Princess on Facebook!

2012-01-16T14:02:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! Happy Martin Luther King Day. Thank you so much for all your support and feedback. My readers mean a lot to me. I would love for you to continue your support on Facebook by liking my page here: www.facebook.com/soleiltechprincess

By liking the page you can follow my latest blog posts and updates each time you log in. You can also post your questions, comments, and concerns kn the page. I will try to respond as soon as possible.

Leather case for iPod touch 4th generation, from Overstock.com Review

2012-01-15T23:07:00.001-05:00

Why I Purchased this Case

I have owned my iPod touch 4th generation for over a year now, and no major damage had been done until last Sunday, January 8th, when I dropped it on its face onto a hard floor. I picked it up horrified as I saw the cracks in the screen and on the glass where the home button was. The whole iPod still worked perfectly, but no longer looks perfect. To prevent further damage to the front of my iPod, I decided to get a case that covers up the face of it. I remembered Overstock.com, which is almost exactly what it sounds like: a site where companies send their products when they have ordered too much of them and not sold enough, in other words "overstocked". I found a case that fit my needs, looked great, and was a great price. Keep reading for the review!

The Review

When I first opened the case, the leather case came in an unbranded package, wrapped in plastic, and foam was where the iPod is now. The leather had a funny smell, similar to the "new car smell". I have had it for about two days now, and the smell is gone. The leather feels like quality material, though I will have to do more research to see if it's real leather.
What originally drew me to this case is the kickstand, and the folding portion. (see pictures below)

Right side view

Kickstand

The front of the case closes via magnets on the front, surrounding the home button. I had read somewhere before that magnets can damage your device, but I have seen no effect so far.

The kickstand works well for playing games, drawing, viewing pictures, and watching videos. The stand only works in portrait orientation. However, you can the case on its side and it will stand on its own.
The case also comes with a lanyard you can wear around your neck. This is a good way to keep up with your device. (More pics below)

Front

Case comes with a lanyard too

Left angle

Back of the case

Overall, I am enjoying this case very much so far and I am hoping that this case will protect my iPod. I may follow up on how this case's quality holds up in a month or two.

You can purchase this case on Overstock.com for $3.80 at the time of this review (1/15/12), plus $2.95 shipping (constant fee), for a total of $6.75, with no tax. I ordered this case on January 8th around 10pm, and it shipped on the next day. It arrived on Saturday, January 14th around 11am. My order was shipped by the United States Postal Service, but this may not be the case for all orders.

Here is where you can purchase the case: http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Leather-Case-with-Lanyard-and-Kick-Stand-for-Apple-iPod-touch-4th-Gen/5902102/product.html

Thanks for reading this review! I enjoy your feedback, so please comment below and share this with your friends, family, and colleagues! If you decide to get this case yourself, please let me know and tell me what you think of it!

-Elisabeth

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

"At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Swagbucks

2012-01-04T17:02:00.001-05:00

Hello! Hope your Wednesday is going great.

There are lots of legit and safe ways to earn money online. But, there also lots of scams that just want your personal information.

One of the legit ways to earn money and prizes online is Swagbucks. You may have heard Swagbucks before, it's popularity is growing on the web. Swagbucks.com is a site that gives out a currency called "Swagbucks", for searching the web, playing games, completing offers and tasks, and watching Swagbucks TV. You can use these Swagbucks in the Swag Store, to buy anything from stickers to iPods. You also get Swagbucks by promoting the site via banners and referring others to the site. This site has been proven by many to be legit. I am yet another person that has had success on Swagbucks. Swagbucks does not pay me or give me Swagbucks to write about their service. I have tried the site myself, and it's safe and it works.
I already have over 50 Swagbucks and I only joined yesterday. When you sign up they don't ask for too much personal info not too much more than your name and email. You need to also pick a Swag name.

Click on the picture link below to sign up, and get 30 Swagbucks immediately!

Thanks for reading, have an awesome day.

-Elisabeth

New Logo

2012-01-03T18:09:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! Happy New Year!
I hope you had a great weekend.

I have been thinking about creating a logo for Soleil Tech Princess, something that represents my blog and the topics. So far I have only created this one:

It's very simple, but I like the orange and black color scheme and the shapes. I will be able to create better and more complicated logos/symbols once I get better at Photoshop. I will post more of my ideas for logos, then let you vote.

I am also thinking about letting my readers create a logo for Soleil Tech Princess. I will announce my decision soon.

Thank you for all your support on my blog! Keep reading and commenting, it helps me out a lot. I hope you guys are having a great year so far.

-Elisabeth

Your Favorite Tech of 2011

2011-12-30T15:05:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! Happy New Year to all of you! As the year comes to close, I would like to take some time to look back on what I think are the best new tech products and breakthroughs of this past year, and also think about what's in store for 2012. Here are my favorites in no particular order:

1. Tablets - I put these in a general category, because there are so MANY of them now. Tablets fill the gap between smartphones and laptops/netbooks. They allow you to do what you can on most smartphones like browse the web, listen to music, and install apps, but they give you more screen real estate to work with. They do not do as much as laptops, however, like heavy word processing, and tablets do not offer complete operating systems (i.e. Windows, Mac).

2. YouTube - YouTube started way back in 2007, as just a way to share videos online. It quickly blew up into the site it is today, the most popular video sharing site in the world. I like YouTube because it's a cool way to discover learn new things, from recipes to card tricks. There are also plenty of videos that'll give you a good laugh.

3. Siri - Siri has become famous (or infamous) ever since Apple added to its latest edition of iPhone, iPhone 4S. (More info on iPhone 4S here: http://soleiltechprincess.blogspot.com/2011/10/iphone-4s-will-you-get-it.html) Siri is the virtual personal assistant that will help you remember to feed your cat or go to the bank. It can also help you find nearby businesses, and all you have to say is, "I'm in the mood for a latte," or something like that. It has certainly been an attractive feature on the new iPhone, and hopefully Apple will extend it to other Apple devices, such as iPad and iPod touch.

4. Android - You may not remember, but the first Google Android device was launched in September 2008, the TMobile G1. They don't make these anymore, but it will forever remembered as the phone that started the Android craze. Android phones are popping out right and left these days. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the small, simple, and affordable to the huge, fast, and expensive. Smartphones are available on a four major US carriers: TMobile, Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T. And while everyone may not own a smartphone yet, (http://soleiltechprincess.blogspot.com/2011/11/smartphones-taking-over-no-not-yet.html) they are becoming exceedingly popular.

There are a load of other technologies that have developed this past year, those are just the ones I feel are most important.

Comment below and tell me what YOU think are the best technologies that were released or that developed in 2011. I want to know what you think!

Happy Holidays to everyone!

- Elisabeth

Flipboard for iPhone Review

2011-12-11T15:27:00.001-05:00

UPDATE: You are able to post status updates and share photos. Go to settings, then hit the compose button.

Hey guys! It's been a little bit since I have posted, but I am back with a new review for you guys.
Today I am reviewing the Flipboard for iPhone app, previously only available for iPad. This is a long awaited review, so here it is!

If you have an iPad, you most likely know what Flipboard is. On the iPad, it's sort of like a magazine, where you "flip" through all your selected content. On iPhone or iPod touch, you do the same thing, but on a smaller screen.

Here are some screenshots:

Homepage of Flipboard for iPhone

Flipping animation

Reading a story by selecting a tile on the homepage

The Flipboard user interface is simple to use and figure out. Everything is clearly labeled and laid out in front of you. The 3.5'' iPhone/iPod touch screen has plenty of room for everything. There are six tiles per page. You can pick about 18 different tiles to add to each of your three pages. If you press and hold a tile, you can delete it and move it around (similar to iOS itself). If you tap a tile, it will bring you the feed with everything most recent related to that topic. If you tap a story in the feed, you will see a picture, the title of the story, and usually a tweet related to that topic. If you tap again, you get the full story to read just like you would on a magazine website or something like that.

Also, besides stories based on topics like Design, Technology, and News, you can also get your Facebook feed through Flipboard. Just like with the Facebook iPhone app, you are able to comment and like other people's statuses, but you cannot post your own status or photos. Therefore, you still need a Facebook app or would have to access Facebook on your phone some other way. You can do the same for your Twitter account.

The Flipboard for iPhone app is available for free at the App Store here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flipboard/id358801284?mt=8&uo=4

You may also download the iPad version of Flipboard here for free: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flipboard/id358801284?mt=8&uo=4

I hope you enjoyed this review. Please comment and follow my blog, so I know what you think.

Thanks for reading!

-Elisabeth

I'm on Flickr!

2011-11-25T10:16:00.001-05:00

Hello! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I sure did!

For those of you who might not know, photography is one of my hobbies. I enjoy taking pictures for fun or for projects. Photography helps me see things differently.

I joined Flickr, a photo sharing site, back in September for my photography club at school and have been posting there ever since. I have posted a review on the camera I use here: Fujifilm FinePix AX300

I also use my iPod touch, but not as much now, because I have a point-and-shoot camera.

You can view my Flickr photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinkpaparazzi1/

Let me know what you think of my photos, and if you have a Flickr yourself!

*By the way, if you went Black Friday shopping this morning, I hope you got great deals. I never go Black Friday shopping. I personally think the deals are better after Christmas.*

Have a great day readers!

Elisabeth

What are you thankful for?

2011-11-22T16:13:00.001-05:00

Google Doodle - November 22, 2011

Well, it's that time of year already, folks. Thanksgiving is THIS Thursday! Hooray! But, Thanksgiving is not only a time of food, family and fun, but also a time to stop and be grateful for what we have. Since this is a tech blog, I thought I'd tell you the technologies I am thankful for -
My iPod touch - its like my BFF, except she can come back to life after she dies

My digital camera - I love photography! I am constantly draining the battery taking several pictures at a time.

The Internet! - Such a resourceful place to find information, a place to connect with others, and the reason my blog exists!

TV - Yes, some people would agree that we could absolutely live without TV, but it is still very nice to have for entertainment.

Light bulbs - Without them, we would all depend on candles and sunlight, like we use today only when there are power outages. Imagine that!

My cell phone - It constantly keeps me in touch with my family and friends, even when I don't want to be. Phones are getting smarter these days, and one day I believe we will be able to literally hold computers in our hands, much more advanced than today's smartphones and tablets.

So, what are YOU thankful for, technologically or otherwise? Comment below and let me know!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

Fujifilm FinePix AX300

2011-11-05T18:59:00.000-04:00

Today I got a new digital camera for my photography club/hobby. I was previously using my iPod touch for these purposes. Now, I have suitable digital camera, so I will post some test shots and video.

The camera is really lightweight, stylish, doesn't feel cheap and is simple to use. I wouldn't drop it too many times but it's still durable.

The quality of the pictures taken by the camera are wonderful, and obviously much better than my iPod touch. Let me show you what I mean -

The Fujifilm FinePix AX300 also shoots 720p, 480p, and 320p video. You are allowed to shoot in HD for about 10 minutes, 480p for around 26 minutes, and in 320p for over an hour. 480p is really nice, actually. Not better than HD, obviously, but very suitable for longer events and clips. I will post test videos soon. There are many camera modes -

Scene Recognition
Automatic
Program AE
Movie Mode
Natural Flash/No Flash
Natural Light
Portrait
Baby Mode
Smile and Shoot (smile detection)
Landscape
Panorama
Sport
Night
Night (tripod)
Fireworks
Sunset
Snow
Beach
Party
Flower
Text

As you can see from the lengthy list above, you can take pictures in almost ANY situation and have the pictures turn out great.

My only drawback for this camera at this point is that its power comes from batteries, meaning you cannot plug it into the wall and charge it, or charge via USB. While this may be convenient for some people such as those traveling, having to keep AA batteries on hand can get annoying. Buying batteries can get quite expensive, too. You can always pick up a battery tester at a camera store or something like that to make sure your batteries work.

I love this camera so far and it will now be a replacement in a more professional setting (outdoors, events) for my iPod touch's camera.

Thanks for reading!

Don't forget to comment, follow my blog, and recommend this post to others!

Have a great day :)

-Elisabeth

Smartphones taking over?!? No, not yet anyway.

2011-11-04T17:44:00.001-04:00

While it may seem like almost everyone (or at least every young person) has a smartphone that can go online, play games, and post status updates on the go, this is not entirely true.

In a recent survey, it was found that 35% of adults own smartphones, more than the number or adults who have a bachelor's degree or speak more than one language in their own homes. (http://mashable.com/2011/07/11/one-third-of-us-adults-owns-a-smartphone/)

Those numbers may not seem like much, but what really matters is the actual people using the phones and how involved they are in the consumer's lives. We all know someone who is probably addicted to their phone or other electronic device, but pretty soon we may all depend on technology more than we want to in order to get things done.

Another study done earlier this year predicts what the market for mobile technology, smartphones in particular will look like in 4 years. IDC predicted the market would grow almost 50% this year, due to a large number of "switchers" (from regular to smart phones).

IDC also predicted what the smartphone platform market would look like in four years. IDC says in 2015 Android will take the lead at 45.4%, BlackBerry at 13.7%, and iOS suprisingly down to 15.3%. (http://mashable.com/2011/03/29/idc-smartphone-market-growth/) Could this mean the iPhone's popularity won't stand as strong as it does now in 2015?

Well, those are stats and the facts. Personally, I think the biggest factor in whether or not smartphones become the majority type of phone people own is the consumer. Eventually, I am sure, smartphones will get to a point where they are pretty much available to everyone because they are inexpensive and easier to use. But currently I feel the biggest barrier for people who want smartphones but don't own one is price. If smartphones didn't cost hundreds of dollars per month is some cases, more people could afford them in these tough times, and more people would own them. However, for now, the smartphone company giants figure 35% is enough.

Thanks for reading!

Don't forget to comment, follow my blog, and recommend this article to friends!

- Elisabeth

Suggestions?

2011-10-22T15:48:00.000-04:00

Hey guys,

I really appreciate all the support you are giving to my blog by viewing and reading it. Please continue to read my posts and comment on them to stay informed.

Because the people who read my blog are the most important part, I would like to know what you guys want to read about! It can be anything tech related: reviews, opinion articles, predictions, anything! Just comment below telling me what you want to see (you do not have to sign in).

So comment away! What do want to see next? Don't be shy!

Again thanks so much for reading.

-Elisabeth :)

Have we gone 3D crazy?!?

2011-10-14T19:21:00.001-04:00

I'm sure you have noticed the 3D craziness these days. I mean, 3D technology is in almost everything these days, and not just on your movie screen at the theater. There are 3D TVs, phones, tablets, cameras, and even 3D gaming systems!

"The first patent for a mechanism which produced 3D effects was issued in the name of William Friese-Greene, a portrait photographer and an inventor in the 1890s. He played two films juxtaposed and used a stereoscope to converge them. Although advanced, his mechanism wasn’t suited to practical use in the cinemas of the day." - http://www.thegeminigeek.com/who-invented-3d/

The first 3D movie released was 'The Power of Love' in 1922. Back then, people used stereoscopes to see the movie. The film, produced by Harry K. Fairall and Robert F. Elder, was not a hit. 3D movies had not really caught on yet, and was not seen as the standard.

Power of Love, 1922 in 3D

Polarizing sheets, used in 3D glasses, was a technology brought by Edwin Herbert Land back in 1929. Carl Zeiss (now famous for the Carl Zeiss lens used in some smartphones) started commericially producing 3D glasses in 1936.

3D movies experienced an increase in popularity during three time periods: 1952-55, 1960-79, and 1985-2003. However, 3D did not go mainstream until 2003.

But...how did we get to 3D TVs, phones, and games? Read on to find out.

When 3D movies were becoming popular and making money, TV decided to embrace the new technology. The biggest shows know for 3D were Third Rock from the Sun and Home Improvement. The Third Rock from the Sun episode cost one and a half million dollars to make.

The big year for 3D was 2009. With movies like Avatar, Up, and Monsters vs. Aliens, 3D was becoming a real success and was set to stay around for a while.

Later, 3D televisions were put on the market for those who wanted to take 3D outside of the theater. Special glasses were included.

You could say that with 3D movies and TV getting all this attention, the other digital entertainment markets, like cell phones, for example might want a slice of the 3D pie too.

The first 3D phone, LG Optimus 3D, was announced on February 14, 2011. This phone shows just how far 3D has come. It offers the ability to watch 3D content, and record 3D videos without glasses, whereas back in 1912, you needed a stereoscope (pictured below). Also, there is a preview video below on the LG Optimus 3D.

Finally, there is 3D gaming. The only technology for 3D gaming right now is portable, on the Nintendo 3DS. The Nintendo 3DS was released on March 27, 2011. You can game in 3D or 2D, and you can also take 3D pictures with the 3DS's dual cameras. At the time of this post, the Nintendo 3DS is available for $169.99 at nintendo.com.

So, what do you think? Is 3D technology too much for you? Do you prefer your on-screen monsters to not look like they're jumping out at you? Do you think being able to record 3D videos and pictures is unneccessary? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Thanks for reading, I hope this was informative!

Sources: http://www.pcworld.com/article/197540/the_history_of_3d_movies_and_3d_tv.html, http://www.thegeminigeek.com/who-invented-3d
http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2011/02/15/lg-unveils-the-worlds-first-3d-phone/

Tablets vs. eReaders | Best Buy On

2011-10-08T09:22:00.001-04:00

Tablets vs. eReaders | Best Buy On

I came across this video on the Best Buy website this morning. Its simple and informational for anyone deciding on either a tablet or an eReader. Let me know if it was helpful!

-Elisabeth

Steve Jobs

2011-10-08T08:43:00.001-04:00

I actually meant to post this October 6th, but I didn't. Sorry....
As you probably know, Steve Jobs died yesterday. He created the technology for the iPhone, iPod, Mac computer, and co-founded Apple Inc. He also founded Pixar animation, the company that made movies like Finding Nemo and Toy Story. He resigned from Apple in August, then Tim Cook took over. He had pancreatic cancer, which I believe he announced back in 2004. He left behind a wife and four children.

He will never be forgotten.

RIP Steve Jobs

iPhone 4S!!! Will you get it?

2011-10-05T17:36:00.000-04:00

The long awaited iPhone 4S is finally here. It was announced earlier today by Tim Cook because Steve Jobs stepped down earlier this year due to health issues. The design of the new iPhone 4S is the same as last year's iPhone 4S. However, there are some new features.

Camera -

The new iPhone 4S sports an eight megapixel camera that shoots 1080p video. Also, there are options for tweaking the photo in the Camera app (finally!) without having to use an external application. Here is what the new Camera app in iOS 5 (which releases October 12) will look like:

Another new iPhone 4S feature is Siri. Siri is just like the Genius button an Android phone. You can ask Siri to call or text someone, remind you of an event, or tell you the weather. You can also search for resturaunts and other businesses, or give you directions. It's like a virtual assistant in your pocket.

The third iPhone 4S feature I'd like to mention is iCloud, which will be avaiable on all the new iOS devices, including iPad 2 (released earlier this year) and the new iPod touch (which I will probably talk about in a later post). This basically syncs all you music, photos, and applications between your devices and Mac if you have more than one.

The final feature I am going to mention is the A5 chip. Basically, it makes the phone's graphics smooth and the phone fast.

Here are more pictures of the new iPhone 4S!

This is iMessage. It's kind of like IM, but limited to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

So, what do you think of the iPhone 4S? Would you get it? Is it an enough of an upgrade from the iPhone 4?

The iPhone 4S will be available for pre-order on October 7, and goes on sale October 14. It will now available on Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T. T-Mobile is not accquiring the iPhone at this point.

Thanks for reading!

~Elisabeth

App Review: Camera+

2011-09-28T21:15:00.001-04:00

Camera+ is the 5th most popular paid (paid meaning its not free) app in the App Store at the time I am writing this review. I thought I might give you a little insight as to why this is.

When you open Camera+, you see what's called your lightbox, which is a collection of the photos you have edited and saved to the app. At first, yours will be empty, but once you've edited some photos, it'll be similar to this:

To edit a new photo, you can either take a new one right from the app, or edit an existing photo, already in your camera roll. Once you've selected your photo, it will go into your lightbox, from there you select your photo, hit edit and it takes you to a screen where you can start editing your photos:

Once you enter the editing stage, there are many options. The first tab, as shown above, is Scenes, here is where you adjust your photo to make it look better and clearer. There are too many scenes to go over in detail, so I'll just list them.

Clarity
Auto
Flash
Backlit
Darken
Cloudy
Shade
Flourescent
Sunset
Night
Portrait
Beach
Scenery
Concert
Food
Text

As you can see, there are a ton of different scenes you can apply to make your photo look better.

On the next tab, Adjust, is where you can rotate or flip your photo. There's not much to that one, its self-explanatory.

The third tab, Crops, give you a few options for cropping your photos. There's freefrom, original, golden, and square. It all depends on how much of your photo you want to be seen.

If you thought there were a lot of scenes, then move to the fourth tab, Effects. Here is where the fun really begins. There are 4 categories of effects: Color, Retro, Special, and Analog. All of the categories except for Analog come with the app. The Analog category can be purchased for $0.99.

Here is what the categories include:

Color -

Vibrant
So Emo
Redscale
Sunkiss'd
Cyanotype
Black & White
Purple Haze
Magic Hour
Sepia

Retro -

Lomographic
Hipster
Lo-Fi
'70s
Tailfins
Ansel
Toy Camera
Fashion
Antique

Special -

HDR
Grunge
Overlay
Miniaturize
Depth of Field
Faded
Polarize
Color Dodge
Cross Process

Analog -

Diana
Contessa
XPRO C-41
Silver Gelatin
Nostalgia
Pinhole
Helios
Expired
Chromogenic

I have tried out quite a few of these effects, and they are really fun to play around with. Here are some examples of photos I have edited using this app:

Scene: Clarity Effect: Cyanotype

Effect: So Emo

The fourth and final tab is borders. I don't really use borders since I don't think my photos need them most of the time. But there are 2 categories of borders, Simple and Styled. Each category has 9 border choices. They are:

Simple -

Thick White
Thin White
Round White
Thick Black
Thin Black
Round Black
Light Mat
Dark Mat
Vignette

Styled -

Instant
Light Grit
Old-Timey
Vintage
Dark Grit
Film
Offset
Viewfinder
Sprockets

Like I said, I don't use these borders much, but when I do they add a nice touch to my photos.

After you having finished editing your photo, hit 'Done'. It will take you back to your lightbox. Tap your photo, and it will show you sharing options. The sharing options for version 2.3.1 are Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, and email. This is where most people send their photos so I have found these options to be enough.

Overall, Camera+ is a very nice app for making your iPhone or iPod touch photos look great. The selection of effects and borders make this app unique. I have not had any problems with this app except for some occasional crashes, but that will be fixed with future updates.

Here is the link to download Camera+ for $0.99: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id329670577?mt=8&uo=4

Apple Store Trip

2011-09-26T20:39:00.001-04:00

I went to the Apple Store to get a replacement cord for my iPod. I took some pictures.

Enjoy :)

iPad

2011-09-26T20:15:00.001-04:00

I'm typing this on an iPad at the apple storeTheir keyboards are big. :)

App Review - Weather HD

2011-09-25T18:41:00.000-04:00

Weather. It's a conversation starter, and an important part of our everyday lives. You can always look out the window to find out what the weather is, but then again, there is an app for that, too. Check out Weather HD.

Weather HD is, you guessed it, an app that gives you information about the weather in your area. But what makes this app unique is its animations. For example, if its cloudy in your area, you'd see something like this:

But, Weather HD shows more than today's forecast. You can also view the high/low temperatures for the next 7 days, and the hourly forecast for the next 24 hours. You can also view the time for your area, or any other location you add. Currently, you can only view the weather for 2 cities in the free/lite version, but in the full version, you can view weather for an unlimited amount of cities.

This app is very well designed and useful. I don't use it that often myself, but when I do I get very useful information from it. I actually like it better than the iPhone/iPod touch's native weather app by Apple.

Overall, Weather HD is a great option for you if you want to try something new instead of using Apple's weather application. The interface is smooth and clean, although ads may get in the way of your experience sometimes.

Here's the link to download Weather HD for free - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/weather-hd-free/id412489722?mt=8&uo=4

Thanks for reading!