sfx
Latest
Giphy Cam wants to be the Instagram of GIFs
Everybody loves a good animated GIF but they're just such a pain to create from a mobile device. Or rather, they were a pain to create on mobile devices now that Giphy's new mobile camera app is available. The Giphy Cam is a free iOS app that allows users to create and share animated gifs as easily they do overproduced shots of their lunches.
Spotify boosts its dance music cred with a Beatport deal
Beatport might be the first place you visit if you want to hear a DJ's latest single or remix, but it's no longer quite as exclusive as it used to be. The service has struck a deal to bring its music and video to Spotify, including tunes that were previously exclusives. Moreover, this isn't just a content dump -- Beatport parent SFX is promising that it'll have a "unique program" on Spotify, and that this represents the first real team-up between Spotify and another streaming music platform.
Every ridiculous vehicle in 'Mad Max: Fury Road' is drivable
Practical effects have gotten incredibly scarce in big-budget summer blockbusters, so it's pretty refreshing to learn that every ride in Mad Max: Fury Road's apocalyptic menagerie isn't CGI -- they're all functional and drivable. Production designer Colin GIbson had strict marching orders from the movie's director ("make it cool or I'll kill you," according to Jalopnik) so he and his team scoured Australian scrapyards for donor vehicles. The 88 nightmarish results of that quest speak for themselves whether it's the Mopar-on-tank-treads "Peacemaker" or 600+ cubic-inch, dual V8 monstrosity with two '59 Cadillac Coupe de Ville bodies mounted on top of its chassis dubbed "Interceptor." The production team built some 150 vehicles and then beat the ever-living hell out of them. When all was said and done, "over half" were destroyed. How'd that happen? Catch the flick when it opens this weekend and find out.
Beatport's dance music streaming service lands on iOS and Android
There are more music streaming apps than the world needs. But there hasn't really been a streamlined experience for electronic dance music listeners until now. Most of the popular apps -– Spotify, 8tracks and Pandora -– have a plethora of dance music tracks and amateur playlists to choose from, but they're not dedicated to the fist-thumping, bass-pounding needs of a dance music lover. Beatport, the go-to stream and download site for DJs and their fans, has finally stepped up its game with the launch of iOS and Android apps today. It's the latest service to join T-Mobile's Music Freedom program, which streams music without eating into your data plan.
Daily App: Union is a powerful image blending tool for iOS
Union (U.S. $1.99) is a very well thought out tool that brings Photoshop-type power to your iPad or iPhone. It's the most impressive image blending app I've used, and it works wonders to help you create unique and compelling images. When using the app, you first load in a background image, for example a landscape photo. Then, you add a foreground image that you want to transplant on top of the background. In the next step, you enter the mask layer by choosing the Magic Wand tool, which allows you to easily remove everything but the person. The tool removes parts of the image based on similarity in backgrounds and luminance, so it is a lot easier if the background behind the person is more solid in color rather than patterned. If the Magic Wand tool doesn't do the trick, you can manually draw out the parts that don't automatically go away. Union allows you to let your imagination run wild as you are not limited to only superimposing images. You can make the layers transparent, create double exposures, and more. The app also has extensive undo-redo commands, so you can just step backwards if you don't like what you've created. The app contains tutorial videos, which are much nicer than static help pages. Photos can be exported to your camera roll, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or via email. While excellent, the app suffers from a problem that is common among this type of app -- when removing the background, your finger covers the drawing tool, making it tricky to accurately remove an element. Some apps offset the tool from where your finger meets the screen, making the job a lot easier. Despite this limitation, I was able to manage with the removal tool and created some great shots with little effort. Union is a universal app. It requires iOS 7 or later, and it is optimized for the iPhone 5. Give it a try if you want to create some unique and eye-catching compositions.
Photo Popup for iOS lets you accent an item in your photo's background
Photo Popup is a US$0.99 app for iPhone that helps you separate an item in a photo from the background, letting you add a drop shadow, and even blur the background to bring attention to the subject. Photographers have been doing this kind of work in Photoshop for years, but here's a way to do it in iOS. You start by either shooting a photo or selecting one from your camera roll. With a masking tool, you cover the item by drawing on screen. Your selection turns red. If you make a mistake, there is an "undo" command that will take you to back to your first finger stroke if you need it. If you want to fine-tune the mask, you can use the unmask tool. To make the mask easier to draw, you can magnify your photo using two fingers. The virtual paint brush size stays the same, but as the picture enlarges, you can work in smaller areas. When you are done, you can preview the image, blur the background or reduce the saturation, then create a shadow with control over direction, offset, size and blur. Your finished photo can be saved out to your photo library, or emailed. Using the app is simple enough, and there is a built-in video tutorial. My only issue is that the brush should be offset from where your finger is so you can see where you are painting. This is a common issue with iOS apps that use a brush. On a Mac, there is no problem because you can see your brush on screen while you manipulate a mouse or trackpad. On iOS, your finger covers the very area you need to see. If you are careful, and zoom in quite a bit, you can draw an accurate mask, and then apply a drop shadow or work on the background. I looked at a similar app last summer called tadaa. It cost a little more, but I thought it provided better control when creating a mask. Photo Popup requires iOS 6 or later, and is optimized for the iPhone 5, but is not universal.
LensFlare Studio is a first rate photo effects package for OS X
LensFlare Studio is a new Mac application with origins in iOS. Specifically, the US$0.99 LensFlare app from Brainfever Media. Typically, we see apps go the other way, from the Mac OS X platform to iOS. This time, the result is an interesting app with much more power. LensFlare Studio ($19.99) is an impressive way to add flares and other optical effects to your images, or start with a blank slate and create interesting lighting effects. Pro applications like Photoshop have a variety of flare effects, but nothing like the effects included with LensFlare Studio. I found I could enhance some sunset or dawn photos, or add some out-of-frame lighting to images I took in Antelope Canyon in Utah. Like any photo effect, it can be overdone, but I found the ability to control the intensity of the effects made for an enhanced image. You'll find before and after examples in the gallery below. %Gallery-176728% This app is easy to use. You chose from a variety of effects, and you have control over placement, color, rotation, artifacts and more. You can add lens flares, basic elements (like the sun or bright stars) or bokeh effects. You can add more effects in additional layers, and turn each layer on or off individually. This app is useful for existing photos, logo creation or other graphic designs. It is easy to make these optical enhancements look as natural as you like, or as outlandish. I have two things I'd like to see added to the app. As it is, the app doesn't remember the window size from the last launch. I'd like it to retain that so I don't have to keep expanding it. I'd also like to see some level or curves adjustments for the imported image. When you add the effect, you may well want to tone down the base image, and that's not possible now. LensFlare Studio packs a lot of power for photographers and I enjoyed going through my library and enhancing some of my older landscape photos. Purists often run from enhancing photos with add-in elements, but I think used subtly it can really add drama to some photos. I like the ideas behind this app and the package it has been delivered in. LensFlare Studio requires OS X 10.7 or later and a 64-bit processor.
GEAR4 BlackBox micro uses your table to enrich bass notes
GEAR4's BlackBox Bluetooth speaker is splendid for those with ample room in their abode, but where will you turn for lavish sound when space is an issue? Bose? Pish posh. The newly introduced BlackBox micro (sadly) ditches Bluetooth in exchange for a sole 3.5-millimeter auxiliary port, but it does include an integrated SFX gel base in order to use any flat surface to "provide rich bass sounds." Beyond all that fanciful stuff, you'll find another traditional driver kicking out mids and highs, and there's even a USB port for powering it with whatever computer you've got nearby. Look for this one to sneak into stores this August for £20 ($40).[Via Pocket-lint]
AddOn Spotlight: Comix - The Return
Blizzard's loremeister Chris Metzen admitted to a love of comics in an hour long podcast back in August, going so far as to admit that certain aspects of World of Warcraft were inspired by the comics he read as a kid. Hyping up the new series from Wildstorm Studios, Metzen effused about how they were forging new lore for the game. The first issue of the comic came out last November, with a preview of the second that you can check out before it hits the newsstands. Of course, millions of players are forging lore of their own everyday, even if they don't all make it to the comic pages. But if you're a fan of comics like I am, you might want to check out Comix - The Return, to make your adventures in Azeroth and Outlands more epic -- or should I say, comic. It's a bit of a memory hog as far as AddOns go, and doesn't really improve gameplay to any degree, but it sure is a hell of a lot of fun. Boing! sounds every time you jump, classic video game music when you die or enter zones, and of course -- Bam! Thwack! and Ka-pow! visual effects in the tradition of Adam West's Batman every time you hit or crit someone in melee. Updated for Patch 2.3, Comix - The Return is the perfect AddOn for comic book geeks who want to feel like they're playing a comic book hero -- without having to play another game, that is.
