Tag Archives: ipad 2

SNAPSEED MY MOST PREFERRED PHOTO APP ON THE iPAD 2

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Snapseed for iPad makes any photograph extraordinary and is brought to you by Nik Software, the recognized leader in digital photographic products and technologies. With Snapseed, enhance your photos with one tap. Tweak photos to perfection with Tune Image or selectively adjust only a part of your photo with revolutionary Control Points. Add incredible effects with innovative filters like Drama, Vintage, and Grunge. Share photos with your friends and family with social network support, or print your photos directly in Snapseed. — Nik Software

I am a late adopter and as a former IT professional, I learned a long time ago to be cautious about investing in any version 1 product because first releases [of software and hardware] are usually buggy. For this reason I skipped the first generation iPad and got myself an iPad 2 a month ago and in a very short time discovered it to be life changing (not elaborating why this is so but it is very much so for me). Like many iPad users before me, I went through a number of paid photo editing Apps each offering a little something but there’s always something incomplete for the more seasoned pro.

Now, before I go on, you should know that I have worked with Nik’s products: Viveza and Colour Efex Pro and have found them to be absolutely amazing (for as long as the evaluation period remained valid). Sadly, I have also found costs to be somewhat prohibitive so I won’t be getting their Photoshop plug-ins any time soon. When Nik announced availability of Snapseed for the iPad 2 I was ecstatic and bought it right away. The Nik team managed to blow me away with a version 1 product, apart from certain useful features I would like to have, I could find no fault from a software so new that I just had to recommend a friend recently when we met for the first time. My perception of first has changed.

Snapseed App for iPad 2 from Nik Software | images © Nik Software

Be sure to read DPreview.com’s in-depth review of Snapseed if you’re not convinced.

Brightness, saturation and contrast are among a rich set of parameters that can be tweaked from a single control point. Image © DPreview.com

Below are examples of my travel photographs edited on the iPad 2 using Snapseed I’m delighted to share.

A photo of a chef at InterContinental Hotel Kuala Lumpur tweaked in Snapseed using Auto Correct for Contrast correction with Grunge effect.

Angelica Herb roasted duck lunch at VivoCity Singapore processed in Snapseed using Auto Correct and Grunge effect.

Coffee "tarek" at Food Republic, 313 Somerset, Singapore tweaked in Snapseed using Auto Correct for Contrast correction with Grunge and Organic Frames effects.

I have also been in touch with Nik Software with an immediate feature recommendation I hope to see in a future release of Snapseed.

http://twitter.com/#!/snapseed/status/85400510596780032

Because I use Snapseed very often, I also quickly discovered how it’s annoying to not be able to determine which of the 2, 3 or 5 photos of similar composition to open because the standard thumbnail box is so tiny. You know what I mean, there’s 3 shots you took, only one of them where all subjects eyes are wide open but not being to see them in the standard selection box means it may take you up to three times before getting the right one to work on. Glad @Snapseed recognizes this as ‘defect’ as an opportunity to improve.

Joikuspot Makes My Nokia E71 Relevant Again

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Not too long ago I asked my Twitter friends for their thoughts on what makes a great MIFI seeing that I had decided then that I was going to get an iPad and I was so convinced that I didn’t need a 3G version. Then I went against my better judgement and picked a 3G 64GB model with absolutely no regrets—suddenly my spare 3G data-only SIM card became very useful. But that still left the question of internet access abroad unanswered however many recommended this gorgeous Huawei E585 MIFI Router.

My Nokia E71 which is 3 years old has served me really well over the years. At times when I would dread lugging my Dell Studio 17 laptop overseas for no better reason other than to check my emails, the E71 made a great substitute. When I joined the social media rat race, once again, the E71 proved a worthy partner to post the occasional Twitter and Facebook updates from. A recent addition of an iPad 2 to the mix changed the entire game plan for me. Because the iPad 2 has sufficient processing power to handle even Canon 5D Mark II’s high resolution JPEG images easily, it is now the preferred computer to travel with for obvious reasons. When I’m home in Brunei, I get to choose between home Wi-Fi or 3G network on the iPad but when I’m abroad, I switch to a local mobile plan to avoid hefty roaming charges.  Instead of the Huawei route, I prefer to have the SIM card on my phone for good reasons:

1. I retain use of my the phone to call or text my family and friends
2. I easily post Tweets or Facebook messages when running and gunning between schedules
3. Run Joikuspot when I need a personal hotspot to get some work done on the iPad.

This clever little inverter uses one 1.5v AA battery to supply power to charge my 3.7v Nokia E71 phone

Now, we all know that turning a Smartphone into a hotpot drastically reduces its battery performance. I found out that a dedicated MIFI such as the Huawei E585 fare no better in this regard and what steered me away from considering them is the lack of power backup other than the obvious 1. recharge and 2. buy additional proprietary battery packs, likely a costly exercise. This is where the JOIKUSPOT idea hits a high note considering it’s so very easy and convenient to have continuous power to the phone. By far the simplest item I carry with me if a single AA-battery powered inverter you see pictured above. Unlike proprietary batteries, you can easily find AA batteries at any airport/convenience store or bring your own rechargeable ones. When you’re back in the hotel room, put the phone on A/C and you’re good to go for as long as you like. Also, you have an added advantage of powering the phone with a car charger while connected in the car. As I understand, this power option does not exist with the Huawei models.

Joikuspot Premium v3.1 turns my Nokia E71 into a personal Wi-Fi hotspot effectively giving me the freedom and convenience of on-the-go internet connectivity on my iPad 2.