Yahoo Announces Updates To Its Mobile Developer Suite

The Yahoo Mobile Developer Conference in New York City was a very buzzy event today. Folks at Yahoo have been hard at work to make developers' experiences better. The company has announced few updates and new tools.

To show their support towards the developer community, Simon Khalaf, Yahoo's senior vice president of publisher products, today announced on-stage as well as through various blog posts that Yahoo's mobile ecosystem will be seeing a few changes and unveiled some new tools for mobile developers.

Three major mobile developer tools were announced today by the web giant. Let's tackle them all now.

The first tool has been dubbed 'Tumblr In-App Sharing'. The feature is basically a call button which can be integrated into your apps and will allow users to share anything they do with their followers on Tumblr with just one click. If someone who doesn't have the app comes across a post, the user can seamlessly download the app, says Yahoo. Another important aspect of this new feature is that app developers will now be able to keep track of engagement on content shared by their users, such as how many times it has been re-blogged, clicked on or liked.

The feature is being launched in association with PicsArt, which is a mobile photo editing app, if you didn't know already. That means that users will now be able to share the photos and collages that they've created/edited in PicsArt, directly from the app into Tumblr.

The second big announcement of the day was Real-Time Metrics. This is essentially Yahoo's real-time analytics for app usage. The service is said to work vigilantly, updating automatically every 15 seconds, allowing developers to have instant insight into app activity. The service works through Flurry Analytics and will cost you nothing, no matter how many users you host.

The third and final big service announced today was native video ads for publishers. Developers will now be able to utilize Yahoo tools to integrate native video ads into their apps. It is designed to increase monetisation by combining the best performing ad format with the best performing ad content.

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Source: Yahoo Announces Updates To Its Mobile Developer Suite

Yahoo exec: Mobile devices drive surge in content consumption

Phones set up to demonstrate Livetext are seen during a Yahoo news conference July 29, 2015 in New York.(Photo: Don Emmert, AFP/Getty Images)

Smartphone and tablet users just can't get enough of their mobile devices. Some do nearly everything with phone in hand.

U.S. consumers spend, on average, three hours and 40 minutes each day on their mobile devices, an increase of 35% from a year ago in the second quarter of 2014. And that time spent on mobile devices continues to increase, said Simon Khalaf, senior vice president of publishing products at Yahoo.

Globally there are 280 million "mobile addicts," who use apps more than 60 times daily. Effectively, "these folks are conducting their lives on mobile," Khalaf said. Regular users access apps up to 16 times daily, Flurry's research found.

Over the last six months, the average time consumers spend on their phones or devices has increased by 43 minutes, or 24%, he said. "This is the mobile revolution," Khalaf said. "There hasn't been a single industry that hasn't been disrupted by mobile and its applications."

Khalaf revealed the findings Wednesday at Yahoo's mobile developer conference in New York. The new data, also posted on the Yahoo Developer Tumblr page, came from mobile analytics company Flurry, which he was CEO of when Yahoo acquired Flurry in July 2014, and other sources including comScore and NetMarketShare. Flurry tracks 720,000 apps across two billion mobile devices.

Time spent in apps dominated user activity, accounting for 90% of mobile device time, compared to 10% spent on mobile web browsers. Social, messaging and entertainment apps such as YouTube accounted for more than half of time (51%) spent on mobile.

Time spent consuming media more than doubled from a year ago, up 108%, to 96 minutes daily. And global consumer spending on in-app purchases rose from $21 billion in 2014 to $33 billion this year. "In mobile industry, content is king again," Khalaf said. "What is even more phenomenal is that people are paying for content."

Yahoo hopes to help mobile users discover content more easily by allowing developers to include one-click sharing of content on social media site Tumblr, which Yahoo acquired in May 2013. App developers will be able to track how the content is used.

"You can create any content you want, share it on Tumblr and all of a sudden you get traffic and you get consumers," Khalaf said. "You are no longer contributing and getting nothing back."

Mobile photo editing app PicsArt is the first to get the Tumblr in-app sharing feature. The integration should help foster a "mobile circle of creativity," said PicsArt CBO Wilson Kriegel who joined Tumblr CEO David Karp onstage at the event.

"We are so exited to see more of the great original content (from) editorial teams and user-generated content created by users ... flow into Tumblr," Karp said.

In other developments, Yahoo announced the ability for app developers to add native video advertisements. And Flurry Analytics will begin offering free real-time app activity to developers.

Chief Revenue Office of Yahoo Lisa Utzschneider and Senior Vice President of Yahoo Simon Khalaf of Yahoo!, Inc ring The NASDAQ Opening Bell at NASDAQ on August 26, 2015 in New York City. (Photo: Daniel Zuchnik, Getty Images)

Better advertisements and improved feedback can help create "a defining moment between marketer and consumer," said Yahoo chief revenue officer Lisa Utzschneider.

As part of a new partnership with Girls Who Code, Yahoo is creating an app development curriculum that will go to 500 Girls Who Code clubs next month. Tumblr and Flickr, a Yahoo property since 2005, will host student project demos in the spring.

Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider

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Source: Yahoo exec: Mobile devices drive surge in content consumption

Recently documents your life via a monthly photo magazine

Talk about defying a trend. At a time when paper-based publications are looking for a way to ditch production and mailing costs in favor of digital, a new app for iOS is moving in the opposite direction. Recently, a new monthly physical magazine that debuts today, differs from the periodical pack in that it is comprised of only the newest images from your own Camera Roll in magazine format.

Recently is a subscription service — not a one-shot deal — though the price is a reasonable $8.99 per month ($7.99 if you invite a friend). It's your life as high-end art in 8 x 11-inch format.

And high-end, it is designed to be. While the magazine is soft cover, it is bound with 100-pound acid free Mohawk uncoated cover stock on the outside encasing the same genre of interior paper, printed with bright inks.

The app is free to download and paying subscribers receive 100 of their latest iOS camera roll photographs delivered to their home.

Despite the preponderance of digital imaging, people still love to hold photos in their hands. Photo books are a different, but related, commodity, but are also popular. However, in seeking to help people create photo books, many apps get overly complex with a myriad of choices that drive people to give up in frustration or lack of time.

With Recently, users can have the app automatically select photos or choose to design the layout in the app. In keeping with more recent trends that assume much of that decision-making, Recently offers a one-tap solution. "We have created a system that automates the whole selection, design and print process to alleviate the end user's issues," says developer Scott Valins.

In-app reminders make sure you don't forget about your magazine, which goes to press at the beginning of each month, with subscribers (basically, only the creators at this point) receiving copies within five to seven days. Right now, there's one magazine per user and shipping is in the US to the creator only — unless the user designates a different mailing address.

But the nagging question lingers: Why bother? According to Valins, "Globally we're collectively snapping photos at a rate of 880 billion a year, but immediately lose them to endless camera rolls or online timelines. The market for these printed creations is growing rapidly, expected to reach a market value exceeding $1.6 billion by 2016." From that perspective, the enterprise begins to make sense if your Camera Roll output is that important to you.

One thing that's critical for all photo products today: It had better be dead simple to use. Luckily, Recently fulfills that requirement nicely. Just launch, sign in and you get the last 100 photos you saved to your Camera Roll. You can remove those you don't want and rearrange the rest as you choose.

If you did not shoot that volume of photos, the app pares the selection down to the last 50 photos for the month instead — but for the same price. If you shoot less than that, you probably don't need Recently.

 The way Valins sees it, an annual subscription to Recently — which can include up to 1,200 digital photos and 600 pages in an archival magazine — sets you back between $95 and $107 per year. That compares favorably with photo books from other services, which are more costly and require a lot more work.

For example, an Apple soft cover book of similar dimensions goes for $19.99. At Blurb, a 7 x 7-inch Instagram photo book is $12.99. Shutterfly's books range from $12.99 to $65. From that perspective, Recently is a bargain.

If you're an Instagram user, don't fret. Recently is designed to work with the service, not replace it, Valins said.  "We actually think of this as a perfect complimentary app to Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and VSCO. As we become a mobile-photo-centric world, this is a perfect mobile-photo-centric way to catalog, view, market and connect with our digital selves in a tactile form."

Right now, Recently is available for one end user only — so it's not like a traditional subscription, though you can designate a friend or family member to receive the magazine. Regular subscriptions to additional viewers begins in the fall.

➤ Recently [iOS]

Source: Recently documents your life via a monthly photo magazine

New Microsoft Research App Turns Smartphone Into 3D Scanner

The MobileFusion system allows users to create instant 3D scans with their smartphones about as quickly and easily as they can text message, make a phone call or snap a mobile photo.(Photo : Microsoft Research | YouTube)

Imagine using your smartphone as a 3D scanner.

Well, stop imagining. A new Microsoft Research app called MobileFusion creates instant 3D scans with a smartphone about as quickly and easily as someone can text-message, make a phone call or snap a mobile photo. The app doesn't even require any extra hardware nor an Internet connection. The results are images detailed enough for a 3D printer, use in a video games or for instant shareable content on social media.

"What this system effectively allows us to do is to take something similar to a picture, but it's a full 3D object," Peter Ondruska, a Ph.D. candidate at Oxford University who worked on the project, told Technet.

Added Pushmeet Kohli, a principal research scientist with Microsoft Research:  "Everything happens on the phone itself." 

The way it works is simple. Open the app and point and shoot using a standard smartphone camera, as if you're taking a picture. The MobileFusion system densely tracks the device in 3D by comparing the live camera data with the previous frames. It will then take the current live frame and perform efficient stereo matching to generate a depth map. The stereo depth maps are then merged into a single 3-D mesh model. The 3D model is instantaneously captured on the user's cell phone, with the system refining it as it's being built, all in a matter of seconds.

Microsoft Research principal researcher Shahram Izadi told Technet the MobileFusion app could be used for 3D printer-ready use as well as to enhance a simple vacation shot, specifically citing the Eiffel Tower as something that can be captured and immediately shared with friends or family in 3D.

© 2015 Tech Times, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Source: New Microsoft Research App Turns Smartphone Into 3D Scanner

Photo Wagon to Host Birthday Bash Benefiting The Birthday Party Project

Dallas' First Mobile Photo Booth Turns Two; Celebration to Benefit The Birthday Party Project

Dallas, TX, August 21, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Photo Wagon, Dallas' first mobile photo booth, will celebrate its second anniversary on August 29, 2015 at the Hari Mari Studio (208 S. Haskell Ave Dallas, TX 75226) from 8 p.m. to midnight. Admission is free, however guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped children's gift. Gifts will be donated to The Birthday Party Project, an organization that works with local agencies to host birthday parties for underprivileged children in the community.

"I'm ecstatic to celebrate our second year in business, while also giving back to the community," said Melissa Mackaly, owner of Photo Wagon. "I started my business to bring joy to those celebrating special moments in their lives. Once I came across The Birthday Party Project, I knew I wanted Photo Wagon to play a role in creating special experiences for underprivileged kiddos on their birthdays."

The event will feature music by DJ Farrell Cat, DJ's Tanner and Sugarfoote &a mp; Co. Food and Drinks will be provided by the event's sponsors, which include Anhueser Busch, Deep Ellum Brewing, Tito's Vodka, TX Whiskey, Easy Slider, Emporium Pies, and Pop Stars Popsicles. After the event, guests are welcome to attend the official after party at Double Wide Bar.

Photo Wagon in the CommunityPhoto Wagon regularly pops up around town. Mackaly has donated her services at numerous community events including:-Birthday parties hosted by The Birthday Party Project-Stripped for Cancer, a Dallas-based breast cancer fundraiser-Meat Fight, a Texas barbecue competition with celebrity chefs benefiting theNational Multiple Sclerosis Society-Best of Big D party 2014-2014 rewardStyle annual Christmas party-Gypsy Wagon events

History of Photo WagonMackaly purchased the 1958 Cardinal travel trailer that houses Photo Wagon four years ago. "When I bought the trailer, I had one thought in mind – I wanted find a way to carry on the memory of my late father," said M ackaly. "He was the epitome of cool. His eclectic taste and love of life was something I wanted to share with others. Before knowing what business I was going to open, I knew what it would look like. I filled the trailer with pictures and family memorabilia. Each picture and piece of art has an amazing story, many of which begin with the talented and selfless man I had the privilege of calling Dad."

The trailer began as a mobile vintage shop. However, during the shop's short-lived existence, customers and passersby regularly stopped to snap selfies in front of the trailer, said Mackaly. That, combined with her father's passion for spreading joy, led to the creation of Photo Wagon, she continued. In 2013, Mackaly closed the shop and reopened the trailer's doors as Photo Wagon, becoming Dallas' first mobile photo booth. The vintage trailer is still decorated with Texas memorabilia, but now chic props have been added to enhance the experience of partygoers.

"I can't think of a better way to remember my father than by helping people celebrate special occasions in their life," said Mackaly. "I hope that the trailer's unique atmosphere provides guests with lasting memories and the pictures to prove it," said Mackaly.

About Photo Wagon:Photo Wagon is Dallas' first mobile photo booth, housed inside a 1958 Cardinal travel trailer. The trailer, decorated in vintage Texas memorabilia, may be booked for weddings, parties and special events. Photo Wagon provides guests with eclectic props to enhance their experience. Two printed strips with four poses per strip are included with each photo booth session.

Website: www.photo-wagon.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/photowagontxInstagram: www.instagram.com/photowagontx

Source: Photo Wagon to Host Birthday Bash Benefiting The Birthday Party Project

Mobile photo voter ID site to come to Valley

By Leah Cayson Staff Writer | Posted 8 hours ago

Area residents will have a chance to apply for a free photo voter ID in Limestone and Lawrence Counties.

A mobile ID site will be at the Ardmore Town Hall from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday. The mobile ID site will also be at the Courtland Town Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 23.

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Leah Cayson can be reached at 256-340-2445 or leah.cayson@decaturdaily.com. Follow on Twitter @DD_Leah.​

Source: Mobile photo voter ID site to come to Valley

This Is Why Instagram Is Winning Over Flickr

Instagram is an application-based mobile photo sharing, video sharing and social media company that allows its users to take photos and videos directly within the app, and then share them on multiple social networking sites, including its own. Instagram was acquired by Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) in 2010 for $1 billion.

Flickr, on the other hand, is an online image hosting and video hosting website. The company has become a popular website for users to share and embed photos, but it has found a lot of success in being used by photo researchers and by bloggers who use Flickr to host the photos they embed in posts and social media. Flickr was purchased by Yahoo (YHOO).

While both companies specialize in photo sharing, Instagram has been growing faster than Flickr due to its unique approach to social sharing. As of July 2015, Instagram has over 300 million active users, more than triple that of Flickr.

Instagram Is Better for Connecting With Friends

While Flickr does promote itself as a social sharing site where users can share photos with friends and family, its strongest business is as a photo library for bloggers and other professionals and as a hosting platform for hosting bloggers' photos.

Instagram, on the other hand, is strictly a media sharing company for photos and videos. Instagram users are much more engaged than Flickr users, and they actively seek out photos and videos of their friends. Forrester Research reports that Instagram generates 120 times the engagement per user than Twitter.

In addition to driving engagement within the app itself, Instagram also lets users share their photos on all the major social media websites, even Flickr. This means that the company can engage users when they are both on and off the app. Engaged users equal a stronger business for social networking sites, and Instagram's engagement per user is much higher than Flickr.

Instagram's Use of Hashtags

While Instagram was not the first company to use the hashtag, its become one of the most effective companies to use hashtags. Flickr has been unable to unlock the full potential of sharing and engagement through hashtags.

When a user wants to discover new and interesting photos or people on Instagram, it's natural for that user to search a specific hashtag. This increases the discoverability and engagement of the app far above the discoverability of Flickr.

Flickr is a platform for more general discovery rather than the specific discovery of Instagram. Flickr offers a library of professional-quality photos that other people on the Web can use.

Instagram, on the other hand, gives a user the chance for more specific discoverability, where users actively seek specific hashtags.

While both models work for the respective companies, Instagram's more pointed discoverability makes the app more of a utility for users, meaning that users search Instagram more often than Flickr.

Instagram Is the Best Platform for Visual Advertising

According to the same study by Forrester Research, Instagram users have been found to like a photo 58 more times than on Facebook and 120 more times than on Twitter.

These stats shouldn't be shocking, but it should be a telling sign. Advertisers need to engage users where they are most likely to be to increase the return on investment of ad budgets, and as of August 2015, that place is Instagram.

With new advertising features and the ability for brands to create their own accounts, Instagram has built an incredibly efficient medium for companies to communicate with users. This means more advertising revenue for the company, as well as an unobtrusive approach to advertising that mitigates user attrition.

Source: This Is Why Instagram Is Winning Over Flickr

Update to VSCO Cam photo app for iOS adds support for non-English languages

The language of images may be universal, but photo app maker Visual Supply Co. (VSCO) is acknowledging that non-English speaking users of its mobile photo filtering apps might need a bit more help with newer versions. An update released today to VSCO for iOS now supports 9 languages in addition to English. Similar multilingual support is on the way to the Android platform shortly.

With the new language support, VSCO says it seeks to better serve the 80 percent of users who reside outside of the US, and is taking a phased approach to which languages are added to which platforms. The first phase on iOS supports the following languages: Chinese (simplified and traditional), French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian.

The second phase will expand language support to Android with 13 non-English languages including all the ones on iOS, and adding Dutch, Italian, Malay and Thai.

The company credits part of its early international scope to the app's minimalist design and reliance on iconography. However, increased inclusion of text for the app's newer and expanded creative features — VSCO Grid​, VSCO Journal​ and VSCO Collections — made it necessary to add language localization.

➤ VSCO Cam [iOS]

Source: Update to VSCO Cam photo app for iOS adds support for non-English languages

DxO ONE Connected Camera Wins Top 2015 EISA Award for Photography Innovation

PARIS, Aug. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DxO's recently-announced connected camera, the DxO ONE, has just been awarded the prestigious EISA Award for 2015-2016 in the category of "Best European Photo Innovation". The European Image and Sound Association, composed of over 15 of the biggest photography magazines throughout Europe, praised the design of DxO's first ever camera, as well as the company's ability to go beyond the conventional approach when creating a camera of this quality.

"The DxO ONE brings a new approach to mobile photography, with top quality images from a very portable device," the EISA Jury reports.

DxO announced the DxO ONE camera in June, adding an unprecedented player to the connected camera world. At only 2.65 inches tall, it boasts a 20.2 MP 1-inch sensor, 6-element aspherical lens with an adjustable aperture of f/1.8 - f/11, and a patent-pending, pivoting Lightning connector that leverages the iPhone's large screen and internet connectivity.

"Being awarded such a coveted photo and image prize in the profession is a tremendous recognition for DxO," said Jerome Meniere, CEO and founder of DxO. "Beyond our ambitions of pushing the limits of image quality and giving serious photographers the most successful tools for fully expressing their passion, we took it a step further by adding our technology and imaging solutions into our own camera."

DxO and other EISA Award winners will be honored at the annual awards ceremony on September 4th, 2015, at the IFA in Berlin.  All Editors-in-Chief of EISA's member magazines and official representatives of winning companies will be present to receive award trophies at the start of Europe's largest and most respected technology show.

About the EISA Awards

Composed of editors-in-chief to the biggest photography magazines across the globe, the jury of the European Image and Sound Association (EISA) chooses the best sound, photo and image products in various categories. Many criteria are taken into account, such as innovation, use of high-end technologies, design and ergonomics, ease of use, and quality-to-price ratio.

About DxO

DxO develops the world's most advanced image processing technologies, which have enabled over 300 million devices to capture the highest quality images achievable. DxO's award-winning OpticsPro software lets serious photographers quickly and easily make their best photos look even better, and DxO ONE has redefined the connected camera with a revolutionary design that pairs perfectly with iPhone and iPad to capture professional quality images that are instantly available to share with family, friends and followers.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dxo-one-connected-camera-wins-top-2015-eisa-award-for-photography-innovation-300129041.html

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Source: DxO ONE Connected Camera Wins Top 2015 EISA Award for Photography Innovation

A new photo exhibition offers more than a collection of pretty pictures

Sajeev Photo Studio: A Decade Of Portraiture is also a commentary on the socio-technological trends we face

SINGAPORE — In light of the burgeoning interest in our recent history and fading trades of Singapore — just look at what has been written about lantern painters, songkok makers, snake charmers and so on — it was perhaps inevitable that someone would eventually get down to putting up an exhibition showcasing one such dying trade: Portrait photo studios. Particularly the ones in Little India.

Co-presented by Objectifs and Invisible Photographer Asia, the exhibition Sajeev Photo Studio: A Decade of Portraiture in Little India may seem, as the title suggests, to recount nothing more than the story of a Kerbau Road photo studio run by the eponymous K Sajeev Lal. But that would be missing the forest for the trees.

Formal portraits of South Asian men line one wall, while another features group portraits of couples and families. The stories behind these colourful portraits were what first drew the exhibition's curator Kevin Lee to Sajeev's studio — in particular, the social function of these portraits. Most of these portraits were used by the parents of these eligible young men to find their sons a bride. Innumerable lives have been touched and changed by Sajeev's work as a photographer, and as Sajeev himself observed: "They all find wives. They go back for their weddings and sometimes come back with their new wives for a couple portrait again at my studio."

In an age where the off-the-cuff selfie is a dominant force when it comes to photographic portraits of sorts; the very idea of sitting for a portrait might seem strangely archaic. For instance, while Sajeev's son might well be following his father's footsteps into the photographic trade, he is more about event-focused mobile photo booths than the traditional studio model.

However, it is more than just about technological change and the social shifts they cause, which have endangered photo studios such as Sajeev's. Like many business owners in this neighbourhood of Serangoon, Sajeev's photo studio has suffered as a result of the measures imposed in the wake of the violence that erupted in December 2013, including beefed-up surveillance and far-reaching bans on the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Though the link between alcohol bans and the business of a portrait studio is not immediately obvious, Lee, whose interest in the studio also extends to examining the aftermath of the riot, noted that in the past "the studio was always packed to the brim with migrant workers getting their portraits taken and pictures printed". It is a stark comparison to the 60 per cent drop in business reported by Sajeev in the months since enhanced security in Little India took effect. It would seem to suggest that a chilling effect on socialising and congregating in the area has resulted in a knock-on effect on local businesses, and not just on those selling alcohol.

Which is where A Decade Of Portraiture comes in. It is more than just taking a look back in time via a charming cultural and historical excursion, the exhibition also functions as a commentary on socio-technological trends in our lives.

Sajeev Photo Studio: A Decade Of Portraiture in Little India runs from noon to 7pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays, and noon to 4pm on Sundays until Aug 31 at Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film, 155 Middle Road.

Source: A new photo exhibition offers more than a collection of pretty pictures

Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon 820 Countdown And A Next-Gen Adreno GPU

"Welcome to the next wave of mobile gaming and graphics, and some of the newest innovations in mobile photography," read Qualcomm's proud proclamation of its latest versions of the Adreno GPU and Spectra camera ISP (image signal processor) on its blog. The new versions are poised to enhance  performance, power efficiency, and user experience to the soon to arrive Qualcomm Snapdragon processors.

The new 'Adreno 5xx series architecture' will debut with the Adreno 530 integrated in the upcoming Snapdragon 820 processor, and the high-end Adreno 510 in the Snapdragon 620 and 618 respectively.

Qualcomm states that the Adreno 530 with Snapdragon 820 can improve overall graphics performance and compute capabilities of devices by up to 40% compared to the Adreno 430. The Adreno 530 will also reduce power consumption by up to 40% the company reveals.

Now the other latest version – the new Qualcomm Spectra camera ISP, can deliver the image quality of a DSLR. Yes! A DSLR.  This dual-ISP, supports the latest 14-bit sensors for a wider range of colors and more natural skin tones. With this, the users can expect better photos through the hybrid autofocus framework and multi-sensor fusion algorithms.

The company revelas that the captured demo still images captured show a high level of texture quality, reflective surfaces, and lighting effects possible from the Adreno 530 GPU.

Tim Leland, vice president of product management for Qualcomm stated,

We're significantly enhancing the visual processing capabilities of Snapdragon to support next-generation user experiences related to computational photography, computer vision, virtual reality and photo-realistic graphics on mobile devices, all while maximizing battery life.

The Snapdragon 820 packed with the Adreno 530 and Qualcomm Spectra is expected to arrive in 2016.

Earlier on Thursday, Qualcomm Inc had announced that its subsidiary Qualcomm Global Trading  had acquired Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited, or CSR, known for its SiRFstar series of chips, which are used in many consumer devices.

The acquisition, which was completed for a sum of $2.2 billion, also saw CSR being renamed Qualcomm Technologies International Ltd.

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adreno 530 GPU, adreno gpu, Qualcomm, qualcomm new procesor, qualcomm snapdragon, snapdragon 820

Source: Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon 820 Countdown And A Next-Gen Adreno GPU

A new photo exhibition offers more than a collection of pretty pictures

Sajeev Photo Studio: A Decade Of Portraiture is also a commentary on the socio-technological trends we face

SINGAPORE — In light of the burgeoning interest in our recent history and fading trades of Singapore — just look at what has been written about lantern painters, songkok makers, snake charmers and so on — it was perhaps inevitable that someone would eventually get down to putting up an exhibition showcasing one such dying trade: Portrait photo studios. Particularly the ones in Little India.

Co-presented by Objectifs and Invisible Photographer Asia, the exhibition Sajeev Photo Studio: A Decade of Portraiture in Little India may seem, as the title suggests, to recount nothing more than the story of a Kerbau Road photo studio run by the eponymous K Sajeev Lal. But that would be missing the forest for the trees.

Formal portraits of South Asian men line one wall, while another features group portraits of couples and families. The stories behind these colourful portraits were what first drew the exhibition's curator Kevin Lee to Sajeev's studio — in particular, the social function of these portraits. Most of these portraits were used by the parents of these eligible young men to find their sons a bride. Innumerable lives have been touched and changed by Sajeev's work as a photographer, and as Sajeev himself observed: "They all find wives. They go back for their weddings and sometimes come back with their new wives for a couple portrait again at my studio."

In an age where the off-the-cuff selfie is a dominant force when it comes to photographic portraits of sorts; the very idea of sitting for a portrait might seem strangely archaic. For instance, while Sajeev's son might well be following his father's footsteps into the photographic trade, he is more about event-focused mobile photo booths than the traditional studio model.

However, it is more than just about technological change and the social shifts they cause, which have endangered photo studios such as Sajeev's. Like many business owners in this neighbourhood of Serangoon, Sajeev's photo studio has suffered as a result of the measures imposed in the wake of the violence that erupted in December 2013, including beefed-up surveillance and far-reaching bans on the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Though the link between alcohol bans and the business of a portrait studio is not immediately obvious, Lee, whose interest in the studio also extends to examining the aftermath of the riot, noted that in the past "the studio was always packed to the brim with migrant workers getting their portraits taken and pictures printed". It is a stark comparison to the 60 per cent drop in business reported by Sajeev in the months since enhanced security in Little India took effect. It would seem to suggest that a chilling effect on socialising and congregating in the area has resulted in a knock-on effect on local businesses, and not just on those selling alcohol.

Which is where A Decade Of Portraiture comes in. It is more than just taking a look back in time via a charming cultural and historical excursion, the exhibition also functions as a commentary on socio-technological trends in our lives.

Sajeev Photo Studio: A Decade Of Portraiture in Little India runs from noon to 7pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays, and noon to 4pm on Sundays until Aug 31 at Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film, 155 Middle Road.

Source: A new photo exhibition offers more than a collection of pretty pictures

Lightricks Raises $10 Million in Funding to Advance Its Mobile Photo Apps

Facetune is one of the most popular photo tools in both Apple's iOS App Store and Google's Play Store — to such a great degree that Apple officially branded the app as an "Essential" download a short while back. Facetune is known for its ability to smoothen skin, emphasize eyes, fill bald patches, reshape facial structures, brighten teeth, and much more. Now, the Jerusalem-based company behind it, Lightricks, is ready to go a step farther after securing $10 million in new venture funding.

According to TechCrunch, the company's co-founder and CEO Zeev Farbman says that the money will be utilized to help improve both Facetune and the company's more advanced photo editing suite Enlight, as well as to launch new products (presumably also photo-related). Currently, Lightricks has 30 employees, but Farbman says that they plan to double that number over the coming year.

Both Facetune and Enlight have been paid apps since they were launched, and now, with the booming popularity of the apps, that decision is paying off. Over five million copies of Facetune and Enlight have been sold so far, bringing in revenues of $10 million per year. Farbman believes that the company's success shows that users are willing to pay for high-quality tools instead of following the 'add-on' or 'freemium' model.

You can find out more about Lightricks and its products over on its website.

Source: Lightricks Raises $10 Million in Funding to Advance Its Mobile Photo Apps

The 2015 Selfie Stick That's Made of Steel

  August 13, 2015 --

Brooklyn, NY (PRWEB) August 13, 2015

ZekPro today announced that their latest product, a brand new Bluetooth Selfie Stick, is now available on the worlds leading retail marketplace.

http://www.amazon.com/Selfie-Stick-Monopod-Bluetooth-Wrist/dp/B00WFHNMXI

This announcement comes just days after the company announced they were in the final stages of producing this new accessory for mobile photography buffs and selfie aficionados. ZekPros selfie stick is based on Bluetooth technology, and wirelessly connects to cameras, iPhones, iPods and android smartphones to make self-portrait photography even better.

In addition to offering a Bluetooth wireless connectivity, the companys new product is also compatible with a wide range of smartphones and devices. The company revealed, in an email sent out to press outlets just days before the launch, that this selfie pole would support all iPhone models, including earlier versions of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s.

More so, its optimized to work seamlessly with Android smartphones, iPods, GoPro cameras and a vast number of other photography gadgets. This is great news for customers whove been searching for an all-in-one accessory that can easily and seamlessly work with all their devices.

The company advanced some of the key features in the products unique selling point as a lightweight design, wireless connectivity, extensive compatibility and extended battery life. This seems to be a full benefit pack that will likely cause a stir in the market.

Currently, Amazon is the worlds leading online seller of selfie sticks and other photography accessories. ZekPro has also strategically priced their product at $19.99, which the company says is a limited time launch price. Considered that most people evaluate the price and weigh it against the benefits while purchasing selfie poles, itll be interesting to see how this pricing point rolls out in the market.

The company has also kick started a massive marketing drive for the new product on digital channels, including Google AdWords and Facebook Ads. This is in the hopes of creating fastawareness, developing the brand name and selling over 2000 units within the first 72 hours.

Steve Harris, ZekPros Marketing Co-Coordinator, said We are delighted to announce the launch of our brand new Bluetooth selfie stick. Our design and implementation teams have been working on this product for the last couple of months. Our selfie pole is a brand new way to capture incredible snaps for self-portrait lovers and mobile photography enthusiasts. The Bluetooth implement integrates easily with a wide range of devices, including Android smartphones, iPhones, GoPro cameras and iPods.

We also have announced an introductory price of just 19.99 dollars, which will allow users to save over 60 percent on this great new accessory. As we kick start a digital marketing drive to popularize our brand and expose this great new product to as many people as possible, we hope to cause a market stir on our primary sales avenue, Amazon.com. Stay tuned as we have more coming soon.

Youtube Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57pQyG5EDPo

Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Selfie-Stick-Monopod-Bluetooth-Wrist/dp/B00WFHNMXI

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/08/prweb12902209.htm.

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Source:PRWEB.COM Newswire. All Rights Reserved

Source: The 2015 Selfie Stick That's Made of Steel

Lightricks Raises $10 Million in Funding to Advance Its Mobile Photo Apps

Facetune is one of the most popular photo tools in both Apple's iOS App Store and Google's Play Store — to such a great degree that Apple officially branded the app as an "Essential" download a short while back. Facetune is known for its ability to smoothen skin, emphasize eyes, fill bald patches, reshape facial structures, brighten teeth, and much more. Now, the Jerusalem-based company behind it, Lightricks, is ready to go a step farther after securing $10 million in new venture funding.

According to TechCrunch, the company's co-founder and CEO Zeev Farbman says that the money will be utilized to help improve both Facetune and the company's more advanced photo editing suite Enlight, as well as to launch new products (presumably also photo-related). Currently, Lightricks has 30 employees, but Farbman says that they plan to double that number over the coming year.

Both Facetune and Enlight have been paid apps since they were launched, and now, with the booming popularity of the apps, that decision is paying off. Over five million copies of Facetune and Enlight have been sold so far, bringing in revenues of $10 million per year. Farbman believes that the company's success shows that users are willing to pay for high-quality tools instead of following the 'add-on' or 'freemium' model.

You can find out more about Lightricks and its products over on its website.

Source: Lightricks Raises $10 Million in Funding to Advance Its Mobile Photo Apps

Mangaluru: Isthyaq Sheriff takes mobile photography to a new level

Clement PaisDaijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 11: In just a few short years mobile photography has reached a point where most devices are good enough to produce images for front pages of newspaper or to be used in a professional capacity at a wedding or to document major sporting events. Isthyaq Sherifff, an amateur photographer from Mangaluru, who is crazy about photography has taken mobile photography to an all new level. His photos even made it to the top 10 in International Mobile Photography Day in 2013 hosted by Nokia and he has his own collection of stunning photos in National Geographic website.

Sheriff was born in 1984 as the second child of Mohammad Sheriff and Noor Jahan in Anekere, Karkala. He graduated from Micro Business Management College in the year 2008. He began working for ABD Tours and Travels at Mangaluru Airport and currently runs a partnership business. The taste for mobile photography, which began in 2006 as a student with his Nokia 6630, has only grown over the years. Despite lack of support from his family, he has an unmatched spirit and passion towards mobile photography.

Speaking to daijiworld about his passion, Isthyaq says, "I like to travel to remote places and I have a passion for adventure. On these trips I get the chance to shoot many pictures. My favorite spot for photography is the Pilikula zoo and for bird photography I go to Muloor near Uchila.

"Many photographers do wildlife and nature photography, but the interest towards bird photography is very little, so I want to take up this challenge. Now, I am more focused on bird photography," he says.

About his collection on National Geographic website, he says, "While surfing the web, I came across a competition to select a mobile picture for the front page of the magazine. I have a profile and I submitted my photos. Many of them were liked by well-known photographers of the world.

He says his best moment was when in 2013, one of his photos was chosen among the top 10 on International Mobile Photography Day by Nokia.

Apart from this, he has also showcased his mobile photographs in exhibitions at Udupi beach festivals.

Asked he what made him take up mobile photography as a hobby, he says, "When I was a small boy, I was crazy about photography. I did not have any digital camera and began clicking pictures with the phone camera. For many years, I continued clicking photos and all editing was also done on the phone itself. My parents kept telling me I was wasting my time on photography. But I never stopped and wanted to take it up full time. However, I had no support so I set aside my passion and went on with my job at the airport. I used to travel long distance to office everyday, and despite this found time to click pictures.

"When I was in Udupi I had once attended a seminar of Press Club photographers. One of the organizers asked the audience to raise hands if they use cameras. Everyone raised their hands and I too did the same, though I only had a mobile phone camera. I was called on the stage and supported by the photographers. This gesture really inspired me and prompted me to take up photography seriously," he recalls.

His message to budding photographers: "Nowadays, mobile phones are used for selfies and chatting. But phones can also be used to capture good pictures and you can show your talent to the world through mobile photography."

Truly, Isthyaq's talent for mobile photography is rare.

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Source: Mangaluru: Isthyaq Sheriff takes mobile photography to a new level