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Sketches updated to 1.5
One of the first applications I used and enjoyed on my iPhone, Sketches, has updated to version 1.5. New in this version is the ability to change the alpha settings for colors (so you can change the opacity of the drawings you make on photos you take), and an edit mode for the corkboard view, to rearrange your drawings with. Additionally, they've moved uploaded photos off of a third-party server and onto their own page, so (for right now, anyway) no ads to get in the way. Not new in this app: a quality, fun, and surprisingly robust photo and image editor designed for the iPhone.We've heard from the devs that there is a version 2 on the way as well, and both this version and that one are free to anyone who's purchased the app. But if you haven't picked it up yet, it is available for $4.99 over on the App Store, well worth it if you often take and share pictures with your iPhone.
World of WarCrafts: BlizzCon photo frame
Every Thursday, Shelbi Roach of The Bronze Kettle guides you in creating WoW-inspired crafts using real world mats with World of WarCrafts.This year I was fortunate enough to attend BlizzCon, and while my experience ranked right up there with getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, there was one thing missing. A picture frame.How Blizzard forgot to include such a simple product in their stores, made to protect our memories of such a grand event, escapes me. However, this oversight has allowed me to craft a frame reminiscent of the icy chill soon to takeover what's left of our social lives, Wrath of the Lich King.Here is what you will need: Unfinished Photo Frame Balsa Wood Sticks Wood Saw Spray Paint (you may have some leftover from crafting the Cataclysm's Edge) Blue Glitter Flakes Photo Paper Overlaminate Sheet Mod Podge Click on the images below to view a gallery of step-by-step instructions. %Gallery-35161%
Wii Warm Up: What Channel? The Photo Channel?
We've been thinking: when was the last time you even used the Photo Channel? For us, trying to recall such a memory is an impossibility. We have no clue when we last touched the thing. But, what about you? Showed off some pictures from that vacation in Greece you took? Subjected friends and/or family to an endless amount of pictures of your dog? When was the last time you used it?
Carl Zeiss combines spotting scope, digital camera with the PhotoScope 85 T* FL
Esteemed lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss is breaking new ground by releasing the PhotoScope 85 T* FL, a spotting scope that also serves as a seven megapixel digital camera -- just in case "super-zoom" wasn't enough for you. With 15 - 45x magnification, a focal length of 600 - 1800 mm, a flip-out OLED display, and an IR remote for vibration-free release, it's great for birdwatchers but perhaps even better for the paparazzi. Look for it in Spring or Summer 2009 if you're planning to profit off the next Amy Winehouse meltdown.[Via PhotographyBLOG]
Third time's a charm: Jobo re-re-launches photoGPS geotagger
You've got to be kidding us, right? Since February of 2007, Jobo has been dangling this unicorn-like geotagger in our faces and threatening to launch every six months or so, and right on cue, the company is back with yet another claim of "it's almost here." This time at Photokina 2008, the outfit is asserting that its $159 GPS-packing add-on, which automatically geotags images of any camera it's docked on, is just one month away from being released in the US. Or, the Windows version at least -- Mac users will have to wait until the end of this year. Or next. Or the next. Or maybe even the next.[Via CNET]
World of WarCrafts: Raid art
Every Thursday, Shelbi Roach of The Bronze Kettle guides you in creating WoW-inspired crafts using real world mats with World of WarCrafts.With Wrath looming over the horizon, the instances we currently spend all of our time inwill become obsolete. The dusty halls of Karazhan will be forgotten and we will never have another chance at obtaining an Amani War Bear. So, here's your chance to commemorate the good times with your fellow guildies and spruce up your WoWspace. Here is what you will need: White Cardstock Color Printer Scissors Paper Cutter Xacto Knife Double Sided Tape Photo Frames (8x10) Matboard (3 for 8x10 frames) Click on the images below to view a gallery of step-by-step instructions. %Gallery-31666%
World of WarCrafts: Conjured photo frame
Every Thursday, Shelbi Roach of The Bronze Kettle guides you in creating WoW-inspired crafts using real world mats with World of WarCrafts. Mages deserve some love. Providing hundreds of biscuits and polymorphing adds for your raid is sure to take a toll on even the hardiest of magi. Not to mention removing curses, stealing buffs, and making everyone temporarily smarter. Oh yeah, there's that damage dealing thing they do too.So take some time to express some gratitude for your under-appreciated arcane ally by conjuring up this custom photo frame. Here is what you will need: Scrapbook Frame Acrylic Paint Soft Glitter Paint Scrapbook Paper Fine Glitter Gems (also used in the Voidwalker Doorknob Hanger) Mod Podge Wooden Letters Wooden Sheep Shape Ribbon Scissors Xacto Knife Paper Cutter Pencil Toothpicks Paintbrushes Click on the images below to view a gallery of step-by-step instructions. %Gallery-27243%
Rumor: Wrath of the Lich King Collector's Edition box
Here's some good Wrath of the Lich King rumor-juice for you tonight. Pictured to the right is what has shown up on the internet as a Wrath of the Lich King Collector's Edition box. I for one think it looks real. It was posted on the Paladin Schmaladin blog two months ago, although reader Allen just tipped us to it this evening.The poster over there notes that the box comes from her friend Gene, who supposedly works at a printing facility. Gene couldn't get one out of the printing factory, so instead he snapped an image of the box with his cellphone.Through Paladin Schmaladin, we're also told that the printing press had the WotLK box orders pushed back four months. This could be an indication that Lich King will be coming out later than expected, although since Blizzard hasn't really announced a release date, we'd probably never know the difference.Nonetheless, enjoy your nightly WotLK rumor. It looks to be a good one.Click the image for a larger high-res version.
Flickr mobile photo uploader comes to BlackBerry
Not even a month after RIM let loose details on the forthcoming Media Sync application comes yet another piece of software sure to keep your thumbs even closer to your BlackBerry. Available now, the free Flickr mobile photo uploader enables BB owners to snap photos and easily upload 'em to their Flickr account -- something (almost) everyone else has been doing for quite some time. Heck, you can even slot an image in a given album, tag it and adjust its size right on your handset; if you're rocking a mobile with GPS, geotagging is an option, too. Tap the read link to get your download on.
Supposed iPhone 2.0 photos
The folks at iPhon.fr have got what appear to be two photos of iPhone 2.0 in the wild. It's in keeping with the other photo we saw of a black iPhone, though the logo appears grey this time, as opposed to the bright white, and the rear of the case seems less rounded. The only thing we dislike about this shot is how scratched up the rear of the unit appears to be. My own phone is (I assume) older than this model and not nearly as scratched - and I don't use a case!Of course, we could be comparing fake photo #1 to fake photo #2 here, so take all of this with a grain of iSalt. We'll all see the real thing soon enough, and we can look back on Photoshop jobs like this and laugh and laugh.[Via Engadget]
Beta Beat: Photonic adds Leopard goodness to Flickr
I am, admittedly, a fan of desktop apps that keep me from having to wade through immense websites, especially when said desktop apps are significantly better looking than said websites. Photonic, which was just released as an open beta, is one such application. It brings beauty and class to Flickr and, at least for me, makes it more enjoyable. We covered another cool Flickr app recently called FlickrFinder, which I fell in love with for its simplicity. Photonic raises the bar by adding an uploader that is as good or better than Flickr's own Flickr Uploadr, and decidedly more Mac-like. Meanwhile, the alluring interface and a dash of Core Animation make it a pleasure to use. My raving aside, it's definitely still a beta. I had a few strange problems with the upload date that resulted in an image getting lost in the pile, and fairly frequently entire streams came up as "currently unavailable" pages. But I'll put up with a lot of growing pains for a tool this cool. You can download the beta at the Photonic website.
Quick video of Plasq's Magiq
Click To Play It's no big secret we love the funky look and wonderfully simple apps that come from the Plasq team. And there's no denying that Comic Life was a big hit for them. To follow that act they've been working on Comic Life Magiq, which we only had a taste of so far, but it looks just as funky and useful as you'd expect from these guys. Check out one of those age-old photo tasks: cutting a person out of a background. They actually make it look fun.Also on:YouTube, DailyMotion, Blip.tv, Viddler and Crackle
Wii Warm Up: The other stuff
We talk much more often about things like the Everybody Votes and Check Mii Out Channels, but rarely get back around to all that other stuff. Do you ever use it? We know some of you browse the vast space of the internet from the comfort of your couch, but what about the photo channel or other freebie extras? Now that you've (probably) had your Wii for a while, do you ever mess around with those?
Wii to drop MP3 support, add AAC in Photo Channel update
While we're sure that some Wii updates have been more highly regarded than others, it seems that MP3 diehards will want to pass on a forthcoming Photo Channel update if you just can't bear to lose support for your favorite music format. Apparently, the aforementioned channel will be revamped early next month, and while users will then be able to personalize their menu by implanting an SD-based digital image into the Photo Channel icon, gamers who previously used their Wii to play back MP3s will no longer be able to do so. For whatever reason, the Big N will be axing MP3 support and adding in AAC compatibility, and the company even goes out of its way to make sure that you realize downgrading will not possible once you install v1.1. Mark it down folks -- don't be left full of regret (if you're partial to MP3, that is) after carelessly downloading an update without reading the changelog first.[Via GameBrink, thanks J]
Wii Photo Channel gets better, worse in December
While most Wii owners are too busy playing Super Mario Galaxy or checking out Miis to care, Nintendo has announced through their web site some pending updates to the Wii's Photo Channel. Call it a bad news sandwich on good news bread. The good news: After the update you'll be able to choose a favorite picture as the channel's Wii menu icon. The bad news: MP3 music playback will be replaced with support for the higher-quality but much less-accessible AAC format. The good news: The AAC files can be played back in a random order. Mmm... sandwich.While the added features are nice, we're pretty amazed that Nintendo has managed to make the potentially-useful-but-in-practice-pretty-annoying music playback feature even worse by changing up the formats. As Wii Fanboy points out, even those with copious, iTunes libraries in the proprietary AAC format are unlikely to be able to play them on the non-Apple-endorsed Wii (and don't go restarting those pesky merger rumors -- no one is getting bought out) due to the DRM issues. But, again, unless you're one of the three people who uses the channel regularly, you're probably too busy to care. Go back to your business ... nothing to see here.
Let's see your Apple-themed Halloween costumes
Leopard isn't the only fun we'll have this weekend. Wednesday is Halloween in the US, and Apple lovers everywhere will spend the next few days constructing their Apple-themed costumes. If you're planning to make one, we want to see it!Will you be "iPod Family," with poppa iPod Touch, Mom iPod Classic and nano kids? Maybe you'll grab a black shirt, jeans and New Balance sneakers. Perhaps you'll be a giant Sad Mac or a vintage bomb icon. So scary!Whatever you create, send a photo to us at the address below. We'll pick our favorites and post a special gallery on Halloween (Oct. 31th). Now get busy! We can't wait to see what you've made.PLEASE NOTE: Be sure to read and complete our little photo release. Complete "rules" (this is not a contest or giveaway of any kind, but we still gotta have some rules) after the break.
The DS Life: Summer's last throes
The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handheld and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com.If there's anything that closes summer, it's the clement passing of August, the noblest of the middle months. Families have their last barbecues, Jerry Lewis interrupts our channel surfing to remind us about muscular dystrophy, and custodians pull blue, creased tarpaulin over neighborhood pools. Labor Day rewards us with an extended weekend, and then just like that, summer is over.
Timelapse of iSight wakeup captures
A few months back, we wrote about reader Dylan's iSight autocapture project-- he rigged up the code to have his iSight on his MacBook Pro snap a photo every time the lid was opened (and even released all of his work as open source). At the time, he mentioned eventually combining all of the photos together into a timelapse video, and seven months later, here it is.Unfortunately, he says the Sleepwatcher daemon he was using doesn't work as of 10.4.10, so the project is over until it gets updated, if ever. But he did share with us how he compiled the images together into a timelapse-- he punched out a Perl script (which is reprinted after the jump) to rename all of the pictures into sequenced filenames, and then squished them together with Quicktime's "image sequence" feature. Very nice.
Walmart Photos QuickUpload for Safari
I use Walmart's online photo service quite a bit; it's cheap and quality is rather good for the cost (if a bit too dark). The best thing about it is that that you can upload your photos from home and pick them up an hour later at most Walmart locations for 19 cents each (4x6). The downside is the web browser form-based uploading. You have to select the images one by one, which obviously takes forever if you have a lot of pictures. Naturally enough they have desktop software for Windows, but not Mac. However, I recently had a lot of photos to upload and started digging around their site for a better solution. After a lot of clicking, I finally came across a deeply buried and hard-to-find little gem: the QuickUpload plugin for Safari. If you download and install it (I've only tested it with Safari 2), it will allow you to select and upload an indefinite number of photos much more easily. So what I do is export the photos I want to print from Aperture to a folder on my Desktop, then select that folder with the QuickUploader and let it do its thing.The QuickUpload plugin only works with Safari, and frankly is rather slow. The iPhoto option you see above also does not actually read the library, but merely lets you drill down into the folder structure. Nonetheless, if you're uploading more than a handful of pictures at a time it's a real time-saver. The only thing I can't figure out is why Walmart makes it so hard to find on their website. They feature the Windows software prominently, but you really have to dig to find the Mac version of QuickUpload. It's a free download from Walmart.
American Photo and Apple team up to find the next great photographer
I am sure there are more than a few photographers out there reading TUAW (Mac users are a creative lot), so this is for you. American Photo is looking for the next great photographer by scouring the web for amateur photographers to feature in a special upcoming edition of their magazine. Apple has created a special plugin for Aperture which lets you submit your photos to American Photo's 'Portfolio Review' and get them in the running for publication (which is available for download).American Photo suggests you check out Aperture's free trail, but I assume if you have a full version of Aperture the plugin will work just fine.
