Monthly Archives: September 2010
HDR photo hands-on with iPhone 4 and iOS 4.1
I’ve never used one of the HDR apps, so I was eager to try out this new feature using iOS 4.1 on my iPhone 4.
Launching the camera now gives you an HDR option at the top of your screen. It’s automatically set to off. When you toggle the option on, it will automatically switch the camera flash to off.
Using HDR will provide you with two shots — one normal shot and one with HDR utilized. For my test subjects I used:
- A shot of a window from a few feet away.
- A shot of a window standing at the window.
- A dark shot using the cat lounging next to the iMac as a model
- A well-lit shot using one of the other cats, who happened to claim a kitchen cabinet as his own, as a model.
The most noticeable difference came from the window shot
iMovie updated to 1.1, requires iOS 4.1
Apple’s official iMovie app for iPhone has been updated to version 1.1. The new update requires iOS 4.1 and is compatible with the new iPod touch.
It also adds the ability to split up video clips, automatically loop music for a longer videos and updated Photos browser. There are a few other upgrades to help performance and reliability, and a new tips and indicators to help you use the app.
High Dynamic Range photography is
Games updated for Game Center (soon)
As you might have noticed if you’ve added a few friends in Apple’s new Game Center service, the backbone social components are working great. But where, exactly, are all of the games? Developers have actually had access to Apple’s service for quite a while now — it was introduced to them under NDA way back at WWDC. But for some reason, Apple seems to be waiting on approving Game Center-enabled games.
Fortunately, they’re coming, probably as soon as Apple
How to speed up your iPhone 3G (while waiting for the release of iOS 4.1)
If you’re an iPhone 3G user who has upgraded to iOS 4, you’re most likely puling your hair out in anticipation of the bug fixes expected in iOS 4.1 (due to arrive this week).
However, if you just can’t wait that long, creativebits has a few tips you might like to try to improve the performance of your sluggish iPhone 3G:
Daily App: Skies of Glory
I actually picked up Skies of Glory a while back, but it wasn’t until I finally nabbed my iPhone 4 this weekend that I got to see it running in its full, well, glory.
Skies of Glory is a World War II air combat simulator — it walks a nice line between simulation and arcade, as you don’t need to worry too much about controlling the plane (the iPhone’s accelerometer is used to great effect), but you’ll still need to keep your bearings to take out enemies.
It’s challenging, but spending the time to get your plane lined up is actually pretty rewarding, not to mention that it’s awesome to see a fully implemented air combat sim on the iPhone.
The game’s model will probably rub some