Focus 2 easily adds focus, blurring and other lens effects

Focus 2

There are days I’m in such a hurry to take a picture that I’m usually happy if it all comes out in focus. But there are times where adjusting the focal point of an object to make it jump out of the picture or purposely blurring a section for a contrasting effect, among other options, can really add to the overall impact of the image.

On many cameras today you can add effects right within the hardware or use a special lens.  You can adjust the aperture or maybe set it to take a shot in macro mode; but even then, it might not always come out the way you want.  Especially if you’re like me – a little depth of field challenged! Of course, there are apps for that. Classic apps like Photoshop can certainly do the job and then some and, although great for some people, it might be a little intimidating or overkill for others.  Read full Review at G4 TV Canada

MacPhun Phunny You Valentines Day contest

phunny you2MacPhun is celebrating peace, love and happiness for Valentine’s Day (and all of February).  As part of the festivities, they’ve put together an awesome little contest. 

It’s simple and easy to enter.  Simply submit a screenshot of yourself and your loved one.  Don’t make it serious, share some fun times, smiles, emotions and maybe a touch of craziness.

Win a $500 Gift Card

There is a gallery to view the entries and the contest runs until February 23, 2014. The best entry, selected by the Macphun Team, will win a $500 gift card of their choice.

For details visit MacPhun’s contest page.

 There’s more.

FREE SOFTWARE if you Enter

Just for entering, you’ll get a free copy of FX Photo Studio Pro for Mac.

Help MacPhun spread peace, love & happiness this month by entering and sharing  “Phunny You” contest and encouraging others to show their zanier side of life!

 

Get Set Games opts for App Store exclusive for new Mega Jump 2

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Redford and his friends are now jumping yet again in Mega Jump 2, the sequel to the smash hit jumping game Mega Jump that hit #1 in 28 countries. This time things will not only be better, they’ll be a little different or a lot different depending on how you look at it.

Read more…AT CANOE TECH BLOG

Techcessories just for her

Techcessories just for her

The ladies like their tech too, so how about creating gadgets and accessories that are not just functional, but are also attractive, stylish and designed with a lady in mind? There’s no reason not to, so here are a few items unveiled at the International CES 2014 that are just for her that would appeal to any Geekette, or Digital Diva.  READ MORE at G4 Canada

IK Multimedia announces new iRig Mic HD

irigmichd_iphone5_250srgbIK Multimedia,  today announced iRig® Mic HD, a high-quality digital handheld microphone for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac.

iRig Mic HD improves on IK’s groundbreaking and highly popular iRig Mic, by offering pristine digital audio quality and multi-platform compatibility for all generations of iOS devices and Macs, in addition to its practical handheld form factor and other convenient features.

It sports a 24-bit audiophile-grade A/D converter, a 44.1/96 kHz sampling rate, and a low noise/high definition pre-amp. It captures pristine audio that will suit the most demanding professional needs on the field or in the studio. Its accurate gain control and signal/level multi-color LED indicator make it easy to set an appropriate level for any sound-pressure situation, whether it’s a loud concert or a quiet, whispering vocal.

Universal support

iRig MIC HD supports the widest range of Apple devices via a series of three detachable cables. It’s the first handheld microphone that includes a Lightning connector cable for the newest iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models, while a USB cable allows for connection to any Mac computer. A 30-pin cable for legacy iOS models is also available.

Bundle up

iRig Mic HD works with free apps, making it easy to start recording, processing and editing vocals or any other audio source right away. For iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, iRig MIC HD works with VocaLive FREE a real-time vocal-effects processing, multi-track app, iRig Recorder FREE, a professional field recorder and audio processing app and AmpliTube FREE, a multi-effects, recording and studio app for guitarists and bass players, featuring stunning models of amps, cabinets and stompboxes. Mac users also receive a free version of AmpliTube and more to download with their iRig MIC HD.

Pricing and availability

iRig MIC HD supports all generations of iOS devices and Macs. iRig Mic HD will cost $99.99and will be available from music and electronics retailers worldwide in early Q2.

For more information, please visit: www.irigmichd.com

Apple’s famous 1984 Super Bowl commercial aired 30 years ago today or did it?

20090129_macbday01Super Bowl Sunday XVIII was thirty years ago today. And for football fans it will be remembered as the day the AFC’s Los Angeles Raiders lambasted the NFC’s Washington Redskins by a score of 38-9 in front of a massive crowd of 70,000+ at Tampa Stadium. For gadget geeks like me it was the day that Apple formally launched their iconic Super Bowl commercial “1984″.

Read more…AT CANOE TECH BLOG

Apple shatters App Store numbers yet again

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EDMONTON, AB, Jan 7, 2014/ Troy Media/ – With International CES 2014 about to kickoff, Apple jump-started this highly tech infused week by announcing some record app numbers in a number of categories, including downloads, dollars spent and monies paid to app developers.

According to Apple, December was the App Store’s most successful month in its short five-and-a-half-year history, with close to three billion downloads, And not all of them were freebies, as is reflected in the over $10 billion spent at the app store during all of 2013.

Apple, of course, showed its appreciation to those of us who dug deep into our pockets. “We’d like to thank our customers for making 2013 the best year ever for the App Store,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “The lineup of apps for the holiday season was astonishing and we look forward to seeing what developers create in 2014.”   READ FULL ARTICLE at TROY MEDIA

Sidekick mounts your smartphone to your guitar

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We’ve seen smartphone and tablet mounts for mics and mic stands, but how about for a guitar? It would seem somewhat impractical to mount a tablet to your six-string or banjo. However, for your smartphone or iPod, it could certainly make sense and that’s what Guitar Sidekick is designed for.

Read more… AT CANOE TECHNOLOGY BLOG

Worlds largest mobile network China Mobile gets iPhone 5C 5Sin January

Apple and China Mobile today announced they have entered into a multi-year agreement to bring iPhone to the world’s largest mobile network. As part of the agreement, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will be available from China Mobile’s expansive network of retail stores as well as Apple retail stores across mainland China beginning on Friday, January 17, 2014. Products will be available for pre-registration from China Mobile’s official website and customer service hotline “10086” beginning  December 25, 2013.

“Apple’s iPhone is very much loved by millions of customers around the world. We know there are many China Mobile customers and potential new customers who are anxiously awaiting the incredible combination of iPhone on China Mobile’s leading network. We are delighted that iPhone on China Mobile will support our 4G/TD-LTE and 3G/TD-SCDMA networks, providing customers with high-speed mobile service,” said Xi Guohua, China Mobile Chairman.

“Apple has enormous respect for China Mobile and we are excited to begin working together. China is an extremely important market for Apple and our partnership with China Mobile presents us the opportunity to bring iPhone to the customers of the world’s largest network,” said Tim Cook, Apple CEO.

China Mobile now has over 1.2 million 2G/GSM, 3G/TD-SCDMA, 4G/TD-LTE base stations and over 4.2 million Wi-Fi access points, providing broad coverage to quality networks for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c customers. China Mobile is rolling out the world’s largest 4G network. By the end of 2013, China Mobile’s 4G services will be available in 16 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. By the end of 2014, China Mobile plans to complete the rollout of more than 500,000 4G base stations, which will cover more than 340 cities with 4G service. The collaboration between Apple and China Mobile will give a big boost to the development of China’s homegrown 4G/TD-LTE technology. iPhone on China Mobile supports major cellular network standards, making a global phone a reality for China Mobile customers.

 

Details of pricing and availability of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c for China Mobile will be available at a later date.

For more information on iPhone, please visit www.apple.com/iphone.

China Mobile is the world’s largest mobile services provider by network scale and subscriber base, serving over 760 million customers. The Company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and was recognized on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (“DJSI”) for six consecutive years. China Mobile has recently launched a new commercial brand “and!”, literally meaning connect, and as the acronym of a new dream. a new dream aims to bring the world’s most cutting edge technology to Chinese customers in 4G era, reflecting the friendly, intimate, mutual trust, and harmonious relationship between China Mobile and its customers and the society

Apple’s holiday ad – extended footage and Edmonton connection

AppleTV Ad

If you haven’t already checked out Julia Alexander’s post Apple’s new Christmas commercial will melt your heart, please visit there first, then come back and watch the videobelow for some extended footage.

Technically, it’s not really extended footage, but another video entitled  Apple – Holiday – A Harris family holidaywhich appears to be the source of some of the excerpts the previous video Apple – Holiday – TV Ad  Misunderstood.However, in the event you haven’t seen it first, I won’t totally let the cat out of the bag.

READ FULL ARTICLE AT CANOE TECH BLOG