Technology has allowed us to create some truly dynamic photographs over the past decade. However, there are dozens of trick shots being invented regularly that enhance our photograph game. Many people are unaware of some of the more popular shots and how to implement them. These shots can truly help your digital marketing campaign and help you captivate your online audiences. Fortunately, we picked three of the best trick shots that we think will end up grabbing some serious attention. Let’s take a look at some of these shots and how to pull them off.

Panoramic View

Panoramic view mode is a feature that has been built into most cameras. However, many people are unfamiliar with this model and don’t always end up creating the best panoramic shots. You will need to sequence together with a scene in order to get the best shot possible. According to Digital Photography School, lighting is also an incredibly important factor that will help you create a good shot. Structure your shot and slowly pan your camera along the designated path that you have chosen. This will ensure that you create the best shot possible while using the panoramic mode.

Motion Timelapse

Motion timelapse shots are incredibly popular. Businesses have used these shots to show the progress of a project being built or how nature can change in such a short amount of time. However, there is a method to the madness in order to get the optimal results. According to Rhino Camera Gear, the first step is to create the composition of your shot which means you need foreground or some sort of blurred object in front of the camera aside from the actual view in order to exaggerate the movement of your view. Make sure to use as many frames as possible to ensure that your shot comes out as smooth as it can be.

Illusion Photos

This method is incredibly simple and can produce some hilarious results. Illusion photos make it seem like the subject is much larger or much smaller than they actually are. For example, you could stand at an angle that makes it seem like you are the size of the Eiffel Tower. Alternatively, you could stand far away from the Eiffel Tower and at such an angle that it looks like you are holding it in your hands. This kind of photo works really well if you are near some kind of huge landmark but far away enough that it looks a different size. Experiment with this type of photo style and have fun for the best results.

Photography is an incredible storytelling tool. It allows us to show our audiences what we envision in our minds. Fortunately, these trick shots will help you tell the story that you have always wanted to tell. Following these tips will make this possible and will make your Instagram feed the envy of your friends.

The term “smart home” is being thrown around more frequently than ever before as more gadgets and devices enter the consumer market every year, but what makes a home a smart home? What basic gadgets should someone interested in upgrading their house look at? This article will break down the various facets of a smart home so that readers can understand how smart homes came to enjoy such a wide consumer base and what smart gadgets will be a great start to improving the quality of living in the households.

Origins of the Term

The origin of the term “smart house” dates back to the 1980s when the American Association of Home Builders used it to describe an idealized residence where household tasks are automated by robots. Although technology was still too expensive and slow at that time to make such an ideal home anything but fantasy, the development of faster, consumer-oriented computers in the 1990s began paving the way.

As society became more mobile and prices on consumer electronics dropped, a smart home became more of a reality in the early 2000s. Technology such as computer-controlled thermostat systems, automated lights, and security systems became available and affordable to the public. The technology after 2010 has been focused on the integration of various systems into a single app so that household functions can be controlled remotely.

Types of Devices

Many different types of smart devices are now available to consumers. Here are some basic ones:

Smart voice assistants

: Smart voice assistants include Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa. Voice assistants allow you to control your smart gadgets through voice command.

Smart entertainment

: Smart entertainment can include speakers, entertainment systems and gaming systems.

Smart security

: Smart security systems are probably some of the top-selling smart technology. From smart video cameras to smart door locks to video doorbells, you can check who is on your property from your phone at work.

Smart household devices

: Smart house devices range from smart vacuum cleaners to smart thermostats to smart microwaves.

Integration

Integration is one of the main issues when it comes to building up the smart device network of your home. Many companies produce smart devices, so compatibility between the app, the voice assistant and the device itself is a major factor to ensure your smart system works seamlessly. Devices that cannot be synced to other devices or to mobile applications are only working at half their potential.

Not all security systems are smart or work with all other systems, so it can be easy to get confused. The easiest way to get started is by first choosing the voice assistant you prefer and then building your smart house system up based on your voice assistant’s compatibility list. Another way is to select the major system you want to integrate, such as a specific brand of home security, and then tailor the remaining gadgets around it.

Security

Data security and privacy have been large topics recently, especially concerning data usage and app permissions. While smart gadgets can make our lives much simpler, it is also important to understand the power of gadgets that can hear and learn about us. Every time people interact with smart devices, they are sharing information about themselves. Ultimately, how a user shares private data is up to the individual; however, smart device users should read and understand how their data will be shared and used and if there are any optional privacy settings available. For example, both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa have opt-in privacy features that are disabled by default and require manual activation.

Convenience

The convenience of smart devices can really help free up your time to focus on more important tasks. However, many people can be skeptical about trying new technology. They might assume new technology has a steep learning curve. While some products such as a fu...

In today’s increasingly connected world, it is easier than ever to stay in control while behind the wheel. An impressive array of new automotive technologies can aid the driving process and provide a more seamless and comfortable ride. As technology advances at breakneck speed, it can be challenging to stay on top of the latest gadgets and services. Here are three auto technologies that you can employ to help you to drive better.

Dash Cams

A dash cam is a compact camera that records footage on the road. According to Intact Insurance, dash cam footage can prove to be invaluable in an insurance dispute. Merely knowing that this video evidence exists encourages people to driver safer. Some of the more advanced dash cams are equipped with additional tools that aid in the driving experience. For example, dual-camera units record what is happening on the road and in the interior of the vehicle. This is especially helpful to parents of teen drivers looking to ensure that their child is practicing safe driving habits.

Smartphone Apps

According to The Law Office of William W. Hurst, major insurance companies have safe driving programs that track driving habits through smartphone apps. By understanding your driving habits, you can glean information designed to help you to become a better driver. Not only can this potentially save you a significant amount of money on your vehicle insurance premiums, but it can also equip you with the data that you need to improve your skills on the road. Some apps can even monitor the acceleration and braking of the vehicle to maximize fuel efficiency.

Active Safety Features

According to WhichCar, today’s modern vehicles are equipped with a bevy of active safety features designed to keep you safe on the road with little effort on your part. A few of these features include the blind spot monitoring system, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, cross traffic alert and more. Many of these features rely on sensors embedded in the vehicle to deliver crucial information to the driver and even possibly alert them prior to a potentially dangerous situation. Working together, these features take a lot of the guesswork out of driving.

It is not possible to eliminate all the dangers you will encounter on the road. However, with the right technologies in place, you can improve your driving experience and deliver a safe ride. You owe it to yourself and your passengers to check out these features to make sure the ride goes as smoothly as possible.

Virtual reality technology has grown leaps and bounds in recent years. Virtual reality equipment can now create a completely immersive virtual “world” that very closely mimics the real world in different aspects of our lives. This technology has many productive, real-world applications. One of these applications is training. In fact, virtual driver training courses are actually already being implemented. Below we will discuss how virtual reality is being used to train drivers and make the roadways safer.

Virtual Reality Drivers Ed

Drivers education is a very important step for young drivers. It gives them the experience to navigate the roadways safely and helps them to develop their skills. Virtual reality is a good way to make drivers education more safe and effective. It provides a student with a completely safe, and very realistic, way to practice the skills that make a good driver. This makes them even more prepared when they get out on the real roads.

Virtual Reality Training for Truckers

The trucking industry is the backbone of this country’s commerce. Good truck drivers who operate their vehicles in a safe manner are extremely important. Accidents and driving violations cost companies money. This is why extensive training is necessary for every truck driver on the road. Virtual driver training courses are actually already being implemented, with promising results. They help new truck drivers to gain a better understanding of what it is like to drive a truck. They also help experienced truck drivers to maintain their skills, especially after a long period without driving.

Early Virtual Reality Driving Experience Gives Kids More Time to Practice

Since there is no danger to virtual reality driving simulations, kids of all ages can participate. This early experience can help to extensively develop their skills from a young age. In many ways, we learn better while we are young and our brains are developing. Virtual reality has the potential to produce future generations of the safest and best drivers in history.

Virtual reality technology has the potential to change the world that we live in. It is already being used to train drivers. It allows drivers to hone their skills in a completely safe, virtual, environment. This increases safety and provides them with much more time to gain experience. The trucking industry stands to profit, and already is, from the advantages of virtual reality driver education. As this technology is more widely used, our roadways will become a safer place for everyone.

Uber ratings aren’t only important for drivers to determine if they can continue using the ride-hailing service.

Riders with low ratings could soon be banned from using the ride-hailing service, Uber announced in a blog post Tuesday, which outlines refreshed guidelines.

“Riders may lose access to Uber if they develop a significantly below average rating,” said Kate Parker, Uber’s head of safety brand and initiatives, in the post. “Riders will receive tips on how to improve their ratings, such as encouraging polite behavior, avoiding leaving trash in the vehicle and avoiding requests for drivers to exceed the speed limit.”

He also said, riders will have several opportunities to improve their rating before losing complete access to the service.

Not many riders are expected to see their accounts deactivated, Parker said, noting drivers have long been expected to meet a minimum rating threshold, which can vary from city to city.

“Respect is a two-way street, and so is accountability,” Parker said. “While we expect only a small number of riders to ultimately be impacted by ratings-based deactivations, it’s the right thing to do.”

Riders will also have to confirm they understand the updated community guidelines or they risk losing access.

According to Uber, a rider needs to take five trips before getting a rider rating. To see your ratings, open the app and touch the menu option. Your rider rating is the number displayed under your name, Uber explains on its website.

“The rating system works to make sure that the most respectful riders and drivers are using Uber,” the website explains. “Ratings are always reported as averages, and neither riders nor drivers will see the individual rating left for a particular trip.”

Uber also recently launched a new ‘Quiet Mode’ option for premium Uber riders to allow them to specify what level of conversation they’d like with their drivers during their rides. The options on the app are “quiet preferred” or “happy to chat.”

A class action suit has been filed that accuses Apple’s two-factor authentication of being too disruptive to users, taking too much time out of a user’s day when it is needed, and abusive since it can’t be rolled back to a less safe login method after 14 days. The suit, filed by Jay Brodsky in California alleges that Apple doesn’t get user consent to enable two-factor authentication. Furthermore, once enabled, two-factor authentication “imposes an extraneous logging in procedure that requires a user to both remember password; and have access to a trusted device or trusted phone number” when a device is enabled. Filing paperwork associated with the suit also alleges that harm is being done, and potential class members “have been and continue to suffer harm” including economic losses, based on a waste of personal time for an extended login process that has become a multiple-step process. The filer alleges that a software update enabled two factor authentication on or around September 2015. However, neither macOS El Capitan nor iOS 9 released in the timeframe put forth by the filer mandated two-factor authentication, nor implemented it without an explicit and multiple-step opt-in procedure requiring the user to consent. It is required to take advantage of some of Apple’s services, like Home Sharing and HomeKit Hubs, however. Brodsky alleges that the email that Apple sends after two-factor authentication is enabled is insufficient to warn the user that the setting is irrevocable. The filing calls a link in an email to a page to reset the configuration “unobtrusive” but does not specify what would have been sufficiently noticeable in a three-paragraph email. First, Plaintiff has to enter his selected password on the device he is interested in logging in. Second, Plaintiff has to enter password on another trusted device to login. Third, optionally, Plaintiff has to select a Trust or Don’t Trust pop-up message response. Fourth, Plaintiff then has to wait to receive a six-digit verification code on that second device that is sent by an Apple Server on the internet. Finally, Plaintiff has to input the received six-digit verification code on the first device he is trying to log into. Each login process takes an additional estimated 2-5 or more minutes with 2FA.” AppleInsider hasn’t been randomly presented with any two-factor authentications on Saturday even following OS updates to an iPhone XS Max, an iPhone X, and two sixth-generation iPads, but was able to force the issue on a new device. The process took 22 seconds in total to accomplish. The filer believes that Apple has interfered with the use of the device with the “extraneous login process through two-factor authentication” that has been “imposed” on the class. The time it takes to execute the extra login data is said to be “continuous, systematic and ongoing” and Apple has “caused injury to Plaintiff and Class Members’ rights to choose the level of security for Plaintiff and Class Member owned devices.” The suit is demanding injunctive relief, fines and penalties assessed on Apple in accordance with the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and is seeking “all funds, revenues, and benefits” that Apple has “unjustly received” from the action, but what precisely that entails isn’t listed in the filing documents. The filer is also asserting that Apple is violating California’s Invasion of Privacy act, but how that applies also isn’t immediately clear.

Recent days have seen the simmering tension between Apple and Facebook reach an unprecedented level, after months of back-and-forth sniping, veiled potshots and a cold war between the two tech titans that suddenly became quasi-hot. The CEOs of both companies have taken shots at the other via public remarks before, but this week saw something remarkable — Apple blocked Facebook’s ability to work on beta versions of Facebook iOS apps internally as punishment for the creepy app you may have heard about that Facebook installed on some people’s phones to monitor everything they do. Apple has since restored Facebook’s enterprise developer certificates, which returns things to the status quo, but it does raise a question. If this was a warning shot of sorts from the iPhone maker, what would happen if its pro-privacy CEO ever decides … that’s it. A line has been crossed, and Facebook definitely needs to be banned from the App Store now. What then? It’s not that far-fetched of a reality, and we actually have a good idea of what might happen next if Apple ever decides to go down that road. First and foremost, “Apple couldn’t simply ban all of Facebook with a button click,” The Verge notes in a new piece on the brouhaha. “It would have to ban every developer account that spans Facebook’s app portfolio, which means banning the accounts for Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook itself, among those for other, smaller apps. That would be an unusual move, too, since Apple typically blocks developers on a per-app basis, rather than as a full account, iOS developer Phill Farrugia tells The Verge.” Another thing important to remember right off the bat — yes, it would sting, but Facebook would keep trucking along. Android phones, of course, wouldn’t be affected by Apple’s action. Yes, the OS is more popular internationally, but it’s worth bringing up because it’s also easy to forget that of Facebook’s 2.3 billion users, the US is less than one-tenth of that total. Among specific steps Facebook could take in the wake of an App Store ban, iOS developer Kiran Panesar tells The Verge the social network could encourage iOS users to switch to the mobile web version of the app. However, it wouldn’t be as fast or as smooth a user experience. The push notifications would also work different. And Facebook would have to rethink some things entirely, given the fact that with Instagram’s mobile web experience, for example, you can’t upload new posts through it. Facebook itself discloses to its investors that there’s always a small chance of something like this happening. Public companies are required to spell out risk factors in various documentation for investors, and in a recent SEC filing, Facebook noted that any changes “in our relationships with mobile operating system partners … could adversely affect the usage of Facebook.” All of which is to say — Facebook has most definitely thought about this happening. We should reiterate that this is nowhere near a likely scenario, but it’s still interesting to think about what could happen if things ever get to that point. Per The Verge: “Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and other Facebook properties have been among the top free App Store apps for years. Analysts estimate that they’re also among the most used apps on peoples’ phones, too. Apple would have to be okay with not only angering Facebook, but also disrupting its users’ lives. Without popular apps, the iPhone doesn’t do nearly as much … Apple may not like Facebook, but it’s reliant on the rival tech giant, too.”

Google Maps may be Google’s most popular navigation app out there, but the company has a similar app that’s even better for some people, especially frequent drivers. That’s Waze, an app that Google acquired a few years ago, and it does navigation a little differently than Google Maps and other rivals. Waze packs in crowd-sourced incident reports that’ll tell drivers about the state of the road ahead. Whether it’s accidents, heavy traffic, or police, the app will notify you while you’re driving to your destination, and it’ll even suggest better routes based on this information. We’ve heard a few times already, that Google is working on bringing incidents reports to Google Maps. And now it turns out that another one of Waze’s best features may be already available to some Google Maps users. Not only does Google Maps display speed limits on the navigation screen, per Android Police, as is the case for Waze and other navigation apps, but it’ll also alert you to upcoming speed traps. Needless to say, that’s a huge deal. The following screenshots show the new speed limit icon displayed in the lower left corner of the navigation screen: Waze users are already familiar with speed trap reports, so they’ll know what to expect on Google Maps. The same Android Police reports that speed trap icons have already been spotted inside Google Maps, right alongside voice warnings. As you can see in the screenshot above, speed cameras are identified on the screen, and an audio notification will alert drivers to their presence while they’re on the road. There’s no telling when the feature will roll out to all Google Maps users. For the time being, it’s only available in specific locations in the US. While you wait for it to arrive, you can always get the Waze app from App Store or Google Play to use in the meantime.

In the latest episode of the Apple v Qualcomm battle, the Cupertino-based company’s COO, Jeff Williams, said the chipmaker refused to supply modems for the new iPhones – a move that could drastically affect the network performance of the upcoming range of Apple’s handsets. As per CNET’s report, the Apple exec said this during the US Federal Trade Commission’s trial against Qualcomm on Monday. Qualcomm is still providing chips for the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. But the chipmaker has allegedly refused to provide components for Apple’s latest iPhones, since the latter sued Qualcomm for $1 billion over shady business practices. Speaking at the US Federal Trade Commission’s trial against Qualcomm on Monday, Williams added that Qualcomm‘s royalty fee of $7.50 per iPhone is too high – it’s five times more than what the company intended to pay. Apple has traditionally sourced components from multiple suppliers. And the company intended to continue that trend last year as well. “The strategy was to dual-source in 2018 as well. We were working toward doing that with Qualcomm, but in the end, they would not support us or sell us chips,” Williams said. This tiff with Qualcomm might also impact Apple’s plans of launching a 5G-enabled phone. Many major phone makers like Samsung and LG have already revealed their plans to 5G-enabled devices this year using Qualcomm’s X50 modem. Meanwhile, Apple will have to wait for Intel to release its 5G chips, and this could delay the company’s 5G-ready iPhone. Notably, Intel is likely to release its 5G chips in 2020. It remains to be seen what this will spell for the next iPhone. A bunch of tests from four months ago have shown that Intel modems are considerably slower than those from Qualcomm. Hopefully, Intel and Apple will be able to get their act together so the Qualcomm issue becomes a moot point.

Sometime late last year I realized that I wanted my ordinary bathroom mirror to be more like the future we were promised in the movies. There doesn’t seem to be anyone selling the product I was looking for. The individual parts, however, were fairly easy to get. A number of people have done similar custom builds recently, but I had something different in mind. So I ordered myself a two-way mirror, a display panel and controller board, plus a bunch of components and arts & crafts supplies. In reality there was quite a bit of experimentation and some dead ends before I got to this set of parts, but let’s have a look at the finished — yet by no means final—result: Welcome to my bathroom. Please excuse the carefully arranged mess around the medicine cabinet and its pristine mirror surface. To the right of where my face would be we have the time and date. To the left is the current weather and a 24-hour forecast. Below are some recent news headlines. Here’s a close-up of that area: Unless the weather is cloudy, there will be a little color in the UI, but for the most part the text and icons are monochrome to prevent them from being too distracting. The code behind this UI uses some simple Android APIs (e.g. this one is neat) plus Forecast for the weather and the Associated Press for news. Other concepts I’m playing with are traffic, reminders, and essentially anything that has a Google Now card. The idea is that you don’t need to interact with this UI. Instead, it updates automatically and there’s an open-ended voice search interface for anything else. The display is only a couple of millimeters thin and embedded in a layer between the two-way mirror glass and the door of the medicine cabinet. That way it looks very clean and I can keep using all the shelf space inside. Here’s the open door at an angle and viewed edge-on: This prototype is still a work in progress and I haven’t spent much time on the software yet. The UI above is only a few hundred lines of code and I’m experimenting with different devices to run it—initially Chromecast, then Nexus Player, and most recently Fire TV Stick. That means until I settle on a platform and clean up the electronics it does look a little bit messy when you peek inside: And that’s where I am with this project so far. Looking forward to realizing some of the remaining ideas. Maybe I’ll post a more detailed making-of with the pictures I took during the build.