'Frontback' App Makes Selfies Meaningful By Taking A Pic Of You And The Thing You're Looking At Simultaneously

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-use-frontback-2013-9

For the last month or so, we've had a photo app called Frontback on our radar. Despite the over-saturation of the photo-sharing space, it seems to be catching fire. It's had 200,000 downloads recently. Why?

Maybe because it takes the embarrassment — or at least reduces the egomania — out of snapping a selfie. 

The idea is simple: You take a picture of whatever you're looking at with the back camera of your phone and then get yourself in on the fun by snapping a selfie with the front camera. The app automatically stitches the two together, one on top of the other. So, "Thing," followed by your reaction to said "Thing." Your selfies become more meaningful because a Frontback image will show people what inspired the selfie in the first place.

We decided to try it out.

Like most social media sites, you have to create a username and register before getting started.

As a new user, you're encouraged to find your friends who are already using Frontback, or invite them to join.

You can see potential friends via your contact list, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Google Voice update adds short code support, warns you when you text 911

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/25/google-voice-short-code-support/

An update to Google Voice today brings a useful, if not earth-shattering, new feature: support for SMS short codes. If your primary phone number is the one associated with your Google Voice account, this means you'll finally be able to use these codes for online banking and other services without your message showing up as sent from your carrier number. Today's update also adds a warning message whenever you type the 911 short code -- a handy safeguard, if you ask us. Nab the Android app update via the source link below.

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google

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Via: Android Central

Source: Google Play

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Set up a 3rd-gen Apple TV with a tap from your iOS 7 device

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/25/3rd-gen-apple-tv-setup-with-tap-ios7/

Have a third-gen Apple TV and an iDevice running iOS 7? If you've yet to set up Cupertino's set-top box, you can do so now by simply touching your iPhone or iPad to the Apple TV. Okay, Apple's take on Bump requires a few more steps than that; you'll first need to enable Bluetooth on your iOS 7 device, then connect to the WiFi network you'll use with the Apple TV. (Your machine also needs Apple TV software 6.0 or later.) Still, it sure beats the labor-intensive process of selecting letters on-screen with the included remote. Once you've tapped your iPhone to the set-top box, prompts should appear on both the phone and the TV screen, and you're good to go. Give it a whirl for yourself -- Apple's directions are available via the first source link below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile, Apple

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Via: TUAW

Source: Apple Support (1), Apple Support (2)

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UCSD engineers develop mini wide-angle lens that's ten times smaller than a regular one

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/25/ucsd-engineers-miniature-wide-angle-lens/

What you see here, dear readers, is the image of a fiber-coupled monocentric lens camera that was recently developed by engineers from the University of California, San Diego. The researchers involved in the project say this particular miniature wide-angle lens is one-tenth of the size of more traditional options, such as the Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L pictured above. Don't let the sheer magnitude (or lack thereof) of this glass fool you, however: UCSD gurus note that the newly developed optics can easily mimic the performance of regular-sized lenses when capturing high-resolution photos. "It can image anything between half a meter and 500 meters away (a 100x range of focus) and boasts the equivalent of 20/10 human vision (0.2-milliradian resolution)," according to engineers. As for us, well, we can't wait to see this technology become widely adopted -- don't you agree?

Filed under: Cameras

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Source: UCSD Jacobs

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Google+ introduces better RAW-to-JPEG conversion for over 70 cameras

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/25/google-introduces-better-raw-to-jpeg-conversion/

If you've been paying much attention to Google+, you already know that the social network is doing its damnedest to become the go-to destination for photographers. Accordingly, it's attracted a number of RAW format enthusiasts -- thanks to the ability to store full-size photos -- and to make their lives a little better, Google+ is introducing a new RAW-to-JPEG conversion method that offers noticeably better results. Over 70 cameras from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony are supported as of today, and Google says that it'll add additional models over time. Since Google+ automatically converts RAW photos to JPEG for viewing purposes (while retaining the original), the new conversion method should be readily apparent. You can view the complete list of supported cameras after the break, and as for the improved quality of conversions, go ahead and have a look for yourself. Hopefully your eyes agree with Google's claim.

Filed under: Cameras, Internet, Mobile, Google

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Source: Ronald Wotzlaw (Google+), Nik Photography (Google+)

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