Smartphone News

The first thing I do in a new country is get a prepaid SIM card for my phone. Sure, this means that I’m still connected, but the ability to address Google Maps, TripAdvisor, or Foursquare at any point far outweighs the negatives of being sucked back into the infinite void that is Facebook. Pre-paid SIM cards are available everywhere, and let you use your phone to research photo opportunities and share your next masterpiece in every corner of the globe. 

How many times have you been at a museum or concert only to be distracted from the sights and sounds by a bunch of folks snapping away with their smartphones? Or perhaps you are one of the offenders. Well, in news that's sure to get some folks riled up, Apple just received a patent for technology that would disable your iPhone in situations where photography is deemed “inappropriate.”

The DxO One is a pocket-sized camera module for the Apple iPhone or iPad that offers a one-inch sensor with 20MP resolution and a fixed focal length of 32mm (35mm film equivalent). The camera uses the iPhone and an app as both the control center and electronic viewfinder.

“A mobile device can display still images and video, and it can broadcast audio,” Sciorio says. “The creation point for all three of those is my camera: it shoots stills, video and records audio. So why was I using only one-third of the tools I had? Why was I trying to sell only one kind of product?”

Samsung, one of the leaders in wearable technology, may be taking miniaturization to a whole new level with a patent for smart contact lenses equipped with a camera, sensors, and an antenna with the ability to transfer images to a smartphone for processing. All you have to do is blink to take a picture!

You still have one week to pull your best images together and enter the 2016 iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS).  The competition, launched in 2007, is the first and the longest running iPhone photography competition and has engaged the creativity of iPhone users worldwide. In the past competitions entries were received from photographers living in over 120 countries.

All pets want to be the center of attention and this little gray cat named Manny (along with his other critter pals including dogs, horses and another cat) is certainly no exception.