Clifton Journal's Gem of the Week: Great snow photo of Main Avenue

Photo courtesy of Jeff Wickliffe

Photographer Jeff Wickliffe captured this "Gem" shot of Main Avenue with his cell phone camera during the snowstorm on Saturday night.

CLIFTON - Jeff Wickliffe, a professional photographer who lives downtown, was surveying his neighborhood during Saturday night's blizzard when he came upon this picturesque snowscape at the intersection of Main and Grace avenues.

"I wanted to see how bad the roads were and it just hit me as a striking scene since Main Avenue is never devoid of cars, especially at 7 p.m.," he said. "It's totally one of those random moments I live for."

As a freelancer, Wickliffe books editorial, alternative fashion and fine art shoots throughout New York and New Jersey but also has a small home studio where he cultivates his passion projects. He has also featured in successful fine art galleries in New York City and Michigan.

Ironically, the technically-savvy photographer captured Saturday's snowy scene with his HTC One cell phone camera.

"Mobile photography is something I embrace as well because the most expensive camera in the world will not help you if it's not with you when the moment strikes," Wickliffe explained. "Sometimes the right camera for the job is the one you have with you."

In addition to studio work, he dabbles in landscape photography as a way to relax. Wickliffe called it therapeutic to "get out in the world" and find beauty in things that the average person may every day taking without taking notice.

"Often my most popular shots are a stone's throw from major roads, highways or heavily trafficked areas," he said.

Wickliffe's photography career was born of necessity. In 2007, while a manager of several bands, he had difficulty getting the shots he envisioned for his musicians. He decided to buy a camera and began teaching himself. Wickliffe says he "dove" into the studio and model market, spending several years freelancing which allowed him to work with rock stars and movie producers.

More information and photos are available at jeffwickliffe.com.

Editor's Note: Gem of the Week spotlights something or someone in Clifton.

If you have a Gem, email cliftonjournal@northjersey.com.

Email: gicas@northjersey.com

Source: Clifton Journal's Gem of the Week: Great snow photo of Main Avenue

First Hand Impressions Of Oppo F1- Can It Overrule Low Priced Phones Only On Selfie Feature?

If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware.

If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices.

Source: First Hand Impressions Of Oppo F1- Can It Overrule Low Priced Phones Only On Selfie Feature?

67 pct young Indian travellers prefer smart phone photography over DSLR

Mumbai, Jan.28 (ANI-NewsVoir): Signifying the growing importance of mobile photography globally, OPPO Mobiles, a leading global technology brand, is targeting for a year of rising in India. The strategies include emphasizing its continuous focus on mobile photography via "OPPO Camera Phone", and the launch of the "Selfie Expert" F1 priced at Rs.15,990. The F1 Plus, a high spec variant of the F1 with even more sophisticated camera functions, will be available at Rs. 26,990 later in April. Also, OPPO will further expand its offline channels and is targeting 35,000 sales outlets and 180 official service centers to achieve radical development in India in 2016.
Source: 67 pct young Indian travellers prefer smart phone photography over DSLR

OPPO shifting focus to mobile photography

Mumbai, Jan.28: Signifying the growing importance of mobile photography globally, OPPO Mobiles, a leading global technology brand, is targeting for a year of rising in India. The strategies include emphasizing its continuous focus on mobile photography via "OPPO Camera Phone", and the launch of the "Selfie Expert" F1 priced at Rs.15,990. The F1 Plus, a high spec variant of the F1 with even more sophisticated camera functions, will be available at Rs. 26,990 later in April. Also, OPPO will further expand its offline channels and is targeting 35,000 sales outlets and 180 official service centers to achieve radical development in India in 2016. As of late 2015, the OPPO brand has been registered in 140 countries and is operating in over 20 markets worldwide. In 2015, OPPO has sold around 50 million smartphones globally, up 67% year on year, with over 3,000 researchers involved in developing innovative technologies as well as high quality and iconic products.  Nowa days, smartphones are taking over as personal cameras which makes camera as the most important factor for smartphone buyers in the future. For OPPO, it has constantly focusing on mobile photography.

In 2008, when OPPO launched its first feature phone A103, it had the best photography performance in the segment. In 2012, OPPO integrated the first-ever beautify function into Ulike 2, followed by many brands later. To capture amazing selfies, OPPO invented world's first rotating camera on its N series, namely the N1 and the N3. OPPO also created the first Ultra HD feature capable of shooting 50MP photos in 2014, and later the first Screen Flash feature in early 2015.  OPPO scores were almost doubled in terms of preference for camera functions compared to other global brands in a research conducted by Nielson in the first half of 2015. The accumulation of its past legacy of mobile photography technology, the increasing consumer demand towards it and the high recognition of OPPO camera functions make it very natural for OPPO to emphasize on "OPPO Camera Phone". (Also Read: Oppo launches Selfie Phone Oppo F1 in India)

As a first step, OPPO has already announced that it would release the camera-focused F series early this year.  "By officially announcing our emphasis on 'Camera Phone', OPPO reiterates the focus on mobile camera technology", Sky Li, OPPO Global VP, MD of International Mobile Business and President of OPPO India, said. "This also reflects our long term commitment to the Indian market and our resolution to grow in India."  OPPO F1, the first product of the newly announced F series, was unveiled in the presence of David Richardson, Chief Executive, International Cricket Council (ICC) and Ace Photographer Rohan Shrestha here today.  Dubbed as the "Selfie Expert", the F1 features a standout 8 MP front-facing camera with a wide f/2.0 aperture lens and a 1/4-inch sensor, a sophisticated Pure Image 2.0+ photography platform offering OPPO's Beautify 3.0 feature, OPPO's patented Screen Flash to make snapping selfies in low-light conditions, and can shoot s elfies using hand gestures and spoken commands, ensuring stunning selfies in all conditions.

The F1 also features a 13 MP rear camera with an ISOCELL sensor, the phase detection autofocus (PDAF) with a focus time of just 0.1s, and the anti-shake optimization feature which enables the camera to automatically select the clearest image from a huge buffer of image data the moment the shutter button is pressed. The F1 is specially designed with powerful software and hardware to make capturing stunning selfies a breeze, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 series Octa-core processor with 3GB RAM and 16GB ROM, all backed by OPPO's spectacular build quality with a silk feeling metal panel.  OPPO also offers one more surprise for Indian consumers who pursue supreme photography performance, by announcing that the F1 Plus, a high spec variant of the F1 with a 5.5″ FHD Screen, a RAM as big as 4GB and even more sophisticated front camera photography performance, will be available inApril at Rs 26,990.  In 2016, OPPO India is targeting a radical development and views this ye ar to be the year of rising.

To achieve that, the company will not only have the F1 and the F1 Plus, but extend its efforts to areas of marketing, distribution channels and service policies.  OPPO has renewed its brand association with Bollywood superstars Hrithik Roshan and Sonam Kapoor earlier this month to further accelerate its marketing campaign in South Asia Region. OPPO has entered into a 3-year partnership with FC Barcelona and recently announced its Official Global Partnership with International Cricket Council (ICC) for the mobile phone category for four years starting 2016.  David Richardson, Chief Executive of ICC, said, "Both cricket and OPPO connect people in an amazing way. I am delighted that the ICC is a part of the F1 launch. OPPO is known worldwide for innovation and we are looking forward to an exciting partnership in the years to come, an association that will, through ICC's events, bring fans together from around the world, creating an unforgettable experience for all in volved."  The company will also expand its offline sales outlets to 35,000 and target 180+ service centers across the country. Additionally, OPPO has also announced a 30-day replacement period and 24-month warranty policy for every OPPO product sold across India.

Modified Date: January 28, 2016 6:58 PM comment
Source: OPPO shifting focus to mobile photography

Guidefitter Introduces Brag! – a Mobile Photo Sharing App for Hunting and Fishing Enthusiasts

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Source: Guidefitter Introduces Brag! – a Mobile Photo Sharing App for Hunting and Fishing Enthusiasts

Samsung Galaxy S7 tipped to be more imaging-centric based on specs

Since Samsung is still one of the top Android device makers, people are excited about the next premium flagship. Much has been said about the Galaxy S7 and its sibling, the Galaxy S7 edge, and we're hoping it will be just a few more weeks before the official launch. We were told not to expect the new S7 variants at the MWC but we've been hearing a possible February 21 event. We don't care much when Samsung will make an announcement but we're more interested about how the new S7 handsets will impress the mobile industry.

The Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge, and the edge+ were clear winners but the company didn't hit target sales mainly because of the premium prices. Samsung has been getting a lot of competition the past few years so fans are hoping the tech giant at least lower the prices. We've been saying that's the only way Samsung would remain on top but we're hoping the S7 variants would make a better impression. Earlier, we showed you leaked images of the S7 and the camera module. This time, more information from a supposed Samsung employee.

This unloyal employee said that the Galaxy S7, all variants of the flagship phone, will boast of a black chassis, giving off a premium look and feel. What's interesting is that the smartphones are believed to have a 12MP camera instead of the previous 16MP shooter. The Samsung employee said the new S7 phones would focus more on imaging and mobile photography. The company slogan would be "On the night" which could mean the S7 is perfect to capture night photos or use even low light conditions. You see, it's not always about having the highest megapixels. Phone cameras are actually about the technology, capacity, and sensor size. We know the S7 could be a mobile photographer's best friend because it's rumored to use a dual pixel auto focus. That's something like what Canon DSLR cameras have. Such technology is described to offer more vivid colors, as well as, noise reduction.

The Samsung employee also shared the S7 will arrive in four color options: Gold, White, Silver, and Black. Phone will be water- and dust-proof and will feature a hybrid dual SIM slot and a bigger storage capacity. Should we expect the new S7 phones at the Samsung Unpacked 2016? Yes, definitely. The Mobile World Congress won't be the same without Samsung making a big announcement so let's just wait and see.

VIA: PhoneArena

Story Timeline

Samsung rumored to introduce Live Photo-like feature for Galaxy S7

Samsung Galaxy S7 sighted on AnTuTu again, this time with Exynos 8890

Samsung Galaxy S7, S5 edge spotted on an Indian website

Purported Samsung Galaxy S7 unit, camera module leaked

Samsung looking to use own touchscreen digitizer for Galaxy S7

Tags: Android, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy S7, smartphone

Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 tipped to be more imaging-centric based on specs

Study: top-ranking photo and video apps win with new use cases beyond photo capture and enhancement

January 21, 2016 --

New Suite 48 Analytics Photo/Video App Market Study provides an in-depth analysis of the top-ranking photo and video apps use cases, their developers characteristics and eight other variables.

Jan 21, 2016 -With the number of photo and video apps on the market still rapidly growing (currently at 78,000, more than twice as many as two years ago), the question is: what competitive advantages characterize the current breed of top-ranking photo and video apps? Who are they, what is their main use case, their user rating, how long have they been on the market, and what media types do they support?

To answer these and other questions the new Suite 48 AnalyticsPhoto/Video App Market Studyanalyzed the top 20 photo and video apps listed in the US Google Play and Apple iTunes stores on January 1 as free Android, paid Android, grossing Android, free iOS, paid iOS, or grossing iOS apps. Supplemented with the top 20 apps recorded for the previous two months, the study provides an in-depth analysis of a total of 146 photo and video apps.

The study reports that the most frequently addressed use case among top-ranking photo/video apps is what it calls Combine - functionality that enables the user to combine photos with other photos, video clips with other videos, or photos with videos. Combine apps also include apps that facilitate combining photos or videos with other objects, such as text, frames, stickers, or clipart. 29% of the top-ranking photo/video apps currently have Combine as the main use case, followed by 18% that primarily offer Photo Editing features.

Not only are Combine apps the largest use case category among top-ranking apps, the studys cross-tab analysis also reveals that Combine apps differ significantly from other use case categories in that, for instance, they have a larger portion of 4.5 or higher user ratings than any other use case category.

According to Hans Hartman, President of Suite 48 Analytics, the popularity of Combine apps signifies that smartphone photographers needs have surpassed plain photo editing or capture.

"As photos have rapidly become a prime communication medium through chat, messaging and other photo-centric communication tools, smartphone users increasingly make pragmatic decisions on how to maximize the visual impact of their photos, whether they combine them into a collage, mix them with video clips, or add text or graphical elements."

The 59-page report includes cross-tab analysis to determine statistically significant differences for the core segments within the following variables:

Main use caseAgeApp ratingPricingIn-app purchasing optionsTop-ranking on multiple OS platformsGeo of developerSize of developerOperating systemPaid/free offering

The multi-user premium version of the report includes an addendum with the listings of all 146 apps analyzed for this study, links to their store description, as well as the location and estimated size of their developers.

For more information:http://www.suite48a.com/apps-1

About Suite 48 Analytics

Suite 48 Analytics, the leading research and analysis firm for the mobile photography market, conducts app market analysis and research among smartphone and tablet users.

Reports include thePhoto Output App Marketreport, theMulti-device Photo World - an Ecosystem in Fluxreport, theDispersed Photo Challenge Study, thePhoto Output Product Survey Among Mobile Photographers, and thePhoto/Video App Market Analysis Report.

Suite 48 Analytics also organizes the annualMobile Photo Connectconference, an executive conference focused on promoting innovation and partnerships in the mobile photography ecosystem.

Full News Story:https://pressreleasejet.com/newsreleases/2016/study-topranking-photo-and-video-apps-win-with-new-use-cases-beyond-photo-capture-and-enhancement/

Distributed by Press Release Jet

Media ContactCompany Name: Suite 48 AnalyticsContact Person: Hans HartmanEmail: info@suite48A.comCountry: United StatesWebsite: http://www.suite48a.com

Related Keywords:Computers & Software, Professional Services, Technology, U.S, World,

Source:Copyright (c) AB Digital, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Source: Study: top-ranking photo and video apps win with new use cases beyond photo capture and enhancement

ASUS Launches ZenFone Zoom in India and Japan

ASUS announced it'll launch the ZenFone Zoom smartphoone with 3X optical-zoom in India and Japan today. Designed for mobile photography, the ZenFone Zoom features a 13MP PixelMaster rear camera and 3X lens in the body. Here's more info on this upcoming smartphone from Asus:

ZenFone Zoom uses a 3X Hoya lens in an innovative 10-element lens arrangement that delivers exceptional clarity and enables close-ups with up to 12X total magnification. With built-in optical image stabilization (OIS) to eliminate shakes and blurred shots, and powered by a high-performance quad-core Intel Atom processor with 4GB RAM for ultra-fast performance, ZenFone Zoom packs DSLR-style shooting experiences into a metal unibody that tapers to a mere 5mm, so it slides comfortably into a pocket.

ZenFone Zoom is the world's thinnest smartphone optical-zoom smartphone, with a 13MP PixelMaster rear camera and 3X lens in a body that measures just 5mm at the edges. The innovative 10-element digital eye was created by the optics experts at Hoya. Glass, synthetic and prismatic lenses are meticulously configured in a dual-prism periscope arrangement to maximize incoming light and capture the best possible photo quality. Built-in optical image stabilization (OIS) ensures sharper, steadier shots every time, even at maximum 3X optical magnification. ZenFone Zoom's OIS also gives smartphone photographers the confidence to shoot with slower shutter speeds for longer exposures, equivalent to up to four stops -- and that means clearer, brighter photos.

The rear camera benefits from dual-LED Real Tone flash to create the most natural illumination for indoor portraits, generating the perfect combination of yellow and white to capture lifelike colors and skin tones. ZenFone Zoom's re ar lens also has laser auto-focus to point and shoot with total clarity in just 0.2 seconds.

The intuitive ZenUI Camera app makes it a cinch to capture professional-quality photographs. ASUS-exclusive Super Resolution mode applies multi-frame-fusion technology to create incredibly-detailed photos. Four high-resolution 13MP shots are fused to create a single image of with clarity that's four times (4X) greater than a single shot. Night or day, ZenFone Zone captures more detail and less noise -- and Super Resolution shots of up to 52MP.

ZenFone Zoom's 64-bit quad-core Intel Atom processor carefully balances brilliant performance and superb power efficiency, empowered by Intel's sophisticated 22nm Silvermont architecture. Intel's new Tri-Gate transistors have three times (3X) more surface area than planar transistors, enabling the flow of more electrons to increase computing performance and reduce power leakage. ZenFone Zoom also has a huge 4GB of fast dual-channel DDR3 RAM, and up to 128GB of storage as an option.

Featuring LTE Category 4+ for download speeds up to 250Mbps, and a 60ms touch-response time, ZenFone Zoom delivers fast, fluid experience anywhere; and a high-capacity 3000mAh battery. ZenFone Zoom also benefits from exclusive ASUS BoostMaster technology for turbo-speed charging that takes the battery from zero to 60% in just 39 minutes.

ZenFone Zoom's expansive 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD IPS display offers wide 178-degree viewing angles, and a fantastic 403ppi pixel density to render every image in eye-popping detail. The display includes exclusive ASUS TruVivid technology, which seamlessly transforms the conventional four-layer design into an innovative two-layer construction with full lamination. Fusing the cover-glass and touch-panel layers eliminates the air gap.

The Corning Gorilla Glass 4 display offers twice (2X) the drop-damage resistance of its predecessor, a 2.5X increase in retained strength and is 85% less likely to break in daily use.

For more info visit asus.com

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Check out our latest smartphone reviews:Google Nexus 6P ReviewOnePlus X ReviewBlackBerry Priv ReviewLG V10 ReviewHTC One A9 ReviewZTE Axon Elite Review

-----MTR News

Source: ASUS Launches ZenFone Zoom in India and Japan

Lightricks teams up with Kite.ly for Enlight photo app update

You remember the photo app Enlight, the mobile Photoshop-style editing competitor that last year took the iOS app world by storm?

A new update, released by Lightricks on Thursday, makes your favorite images viewable to many more eyeballs in a wider scope of venues. Version 1.2.5 kicks off a partnership with Kite.ly, the U.K.-based photo printing startup, that now lets you use your Enlight images to decorate a host of popular consumer gift and collectible items: mugs, iPhone cases, t-shirts, wall canvases, photo books, stickers, and other collectibles, all from within the Enlight app's Print command.

Kite.ly, whose Kite SDK was featured at the Mobile Photo Connect conference last year, provides developers a way to let mobile apps offer in-app personalized printing on demand for some 250 products. Its worldwide product fulfillment and distribution network promises to deliver orders quickly to users in more than 57 countries.

Photobox interface and order pane.

When you're finished editing your image, tap the Share button and then tap Print. That leads you to the Photobox module, where you can order your poster, greeting cards, magnets, framed prints or other items. Just follow the on-screen prompts to build your creation. For every item I entered, shipping was free. Payment options included PayPal or credit card.

In addition to split screen support for the iPad, the upgrade also brings higher resolution editing capabilities for both iPhone and iPad, including up to 50 megapixels without downsampling—for the iPad Pro. You can now edit images of up to 35 megapixels on iPhone 6s models, the iPad Air 2, and the iPad mini. For the iPhone 6, 5s, 5, 5c, iPad 3 and iPad mini 2, image editing is now available for images up to 19 megapixels, again without downsampling.

Enlight is available in the App Store for $4.

Why this matters: The vast proliferation of mobile photography seems to work in inverse proportion to actual photo viewing. Enlight's expanded capacity to create new ways to view and use photos, coupled with its ability to work with higher resolution images, widens potential viewing opportunities for all photos in your Camera Roll.

Source: Lightricks teams up with Kite.ly for Enlight photo app update

VIDEO Huawei Snapys awards night Dublin

Mobile photography has never been more popular, and smartphone makers Huawei celebrated the best in smartphone snapping with their first ever Snapys awards, held in Dublin in 2015.

The glitzy ceremony took place at Dublin Castle, with 19 categories recognised including Sport, Family Music, Food, Selfie, Tech, Arts, Humour and more. The grand prize was an all expenses paid trip to China to visit the Huawei headquarters and it went to Sam McAllister for his wonderful photo here. Check out this video which shows off highlights from the event.

The Huawei Snapys will be back for 2016, and you can find out more here.

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© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved

Source: VIDEO Huawei Snapys awards night Dublin

Israeli Mobile Messaging App Viber Launches Public Chats In Africa

Viber founders Igor Magazinik, left, and Talmon Marco, right. Photo: www.park.by

Viber, a leading messaging and mobile calling app with more 664-million-plus users worldwide, has opened its latest social channel, Public Chats, to Africa and the Middle East.

Public Chats are live discussions that can be used by celebrities, public figures, social influencers, brands and organizations to reach local and regional audiences.Viber users can follow, like and share these discussions with their community, CIOEastAfrica reported.

Conversations are multi­media and include text, photos, audio, video, stickers, web links and geo­localization.

Viber calls and text messages to all other Viber users are free on Wi-Fi or 3G.

Viber was founded in 2010 by Israeli-American Talmon Marco and Igor Magazinik, who were friends while serving in the Israeli Defense Force. Viber was initially launched for iPhone in competition with Skype.

Today, it's one of the five most downloaded smartphone call and messaging apps, according to HighTechParkBelarus.

Bloomberg in 2012 dubbed Marco and Magazinik "the Skype killer of Belarus." In 2014, Japanese e-commerce billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani and his e-commerce-and-Internet company Rakuten acquired Viber for $900 million.

Before Rakuten bought the messaging app, developers claimed that Viber would never become commercial — it had no monetization plan prior to 2013, according to messaging app news source AppMess.

Registered in Las Vegas and Cyprus, Viber is run from Israel with development centers in Belarus and Israel. Much of its development is outsourced to Belarus to lower labor costs.

Viber only began turning a profit in 2013 through user payments for Viber Out voice calling and the Viber graphical messaging "sticker store." As a startup, it was funded by individual investors, described by Marco as "friends and family."

Released in beta version in November 2014, Public Chats offer "a new kind of social experience" ­– tapping into live conversations from celebrities, personalities, brands and organizations, CIOEastAfrica reported. Mobile users can discover new communities, follow interactive chats in real time and share original content with friends and contacts.

Selected partners in key African markets such as Senegalese singe Youssou N'Dour joined Viber Public Chats for the regional launch. There are local conversations in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Egypt.

Users can follow them from the Viber Public Chats explore page.

"The Viber Public Chats channel will enable my fans to follow in real time my music and artistic activities; it will also represent an opportunity for me to engage in discussions designed to forge a peaceful and open world," N'Dour said, according to CIOEastAfrica.

One of the first to join this new social channel is e-commerce platform Jumia, which opened Public Chats in Egypt and Nigeria.

"We are really excited with this partnership," said Jumia CEO Jeremy Doutte. "As new African customers discover the Internet first through their mobile, we want to address them wherever they are. Viber is a mobile-first company with an outstanding reach in Africa…Joining forces will enable both Viber and Jumia to deliver quality content and good vibes to our users."

Other pan-­African partners include Brand Africa, a non­profit movement to create a positive image of Africa and celebrate its diversity and competitiveness. Fashion influencer and stylist Louis Philippe de Gagoue is doing Public Chat along with GarethPon, Africa's top instagrammer.

"One of my many passions is to connect and grow the mobile photography community," Pon said. "I see Viber Public Chats as a great way to share, learn, explore and spread creativity of photography through mobile. I look forward to growing my Viber community."

Viber users can now follow South African actress Vanessa Haywood; Kenyan blogger Xtian Dela; Bella Naija lifestyle media in Nigeria; Filfan entertainment platform in Egypt; Live FM radio in Ghana; WIW Sport news portal in Senegal; and Ivorian Afropop musician Serge Beynaud.

Global media platforms on Viber Public Chats include Huffington Post, Mashable,BuzzFeed and the BBC; the Prime Minister of India; Popstar Pixie Lott and actor Karolina Kurkova.

Sign up for the AFKInsider newsletter — the most compelling business news you need to know from Africa and the African diaspora, delivered straight to your inbox.

Source: Israeli Mobile Messaging App Viber Launches Public Chats In Africa

New ZEISS iPhone Camera Lenses Unveiled

This month ZEISS and Fellowes Brands have unveiled a new range of iPhone camera lenses they have created to offer users a premium mobile photography accessory in the form of three new high-performance add-on smartphone lenses.

The range was showcased at the recent CES 2016 technology show in Las Vegas and consist of a ZEISS iPhone ExoLens wide-angle lens as well as a macro and telephoto lens all with optics by ZEISS.

The lenses have been designed to be used with a bracket that has been specifically created for the ExoLens range and constructed from machined aluminium. The ExoLens bracket also features a useful standard tripod mount as well as a cold shoe for mounting other accessories if required.

Currently the new ExoLens range is available for the Apple iPhone 6/6s and Apple iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus but support for more devices is expected to added in the future but no detail on device models or dates have been revealed as yet. Dr. Winfried Scherle, Executive Vice President of Carl Zeiss AG and Head of the ZEISS Consumer Optics business group explains :

The new lenses are characterized by their leading-edge design featuring smooth surfaces made of black anodized aluminum with white labeling. This is a systematic continuation of the distinctive, innovative product design that typifies current families of ZEISS camera lenses. The modern design offers excellent optic properties and the lenses meet even the highest aesthetic standards.

The lenses of ExoLens with optics by ZEISS are the best currently available on the market. We have achieved the best possible technical balance between a small size, light weight and high image quality.

Unfortunately no information on pricing or worldwide availability has been released as yet, but as soon as information comes to light we will keep you updated as always.

Source: Cool Material : ZEISS

Filed Under: Apple iPhone Accessories, Camera News, Top News
Source: New ZEISS iPhone Camera Lenses Unveiled

SKRWT Brings High-End Mobile Photography App To Android

There's a ton of photography apps for Android currently available. Most of them are fairly mediocre or even simple cash-ins that add a couple of features over the stock camera app and either cost a few cents or show ads. It's not the easiest feat to find the cream of the crop, the best camera apps that not only add value, but do something that makes them worth using over the stock camera app. Some of these allow on-the-fly editing, some allow you to apply filters and some, such as the newly released SKRWT, are focused on high-end photography using a huge range of effects and features.

This shiny new Android app has been topping iOS photography charts and making its way into top tens and best app lists since its debut in 2014, but it took a while to get it over to Android. Touted as "the missing link in high-end smartphone photography", SKRWT charges onto Android brandishing an insane amount of features with a rather catchy battlecry of "All hail symmetry". The ability to correct lens distortion and converging lines is on board as a flagship feature, as well as all-purpose lens correction that can be used to correct shots from adapters, DSLRs or GoPros. Vignette correction allows shots with a vignette to be set back to normal, just in case. Automatic cropping, an adjustable and customizable grid, a ratio option and an instant mirror filter are all waiting to tweak your photos on the fly as they're being shot. Afterward, a sorted gallery, pre-import previews, built-in EXIF reading capabilities, an option to overwrite the original with the edited and a n icely updated interface that's meant to be intuitive and non-destructive should all help to sort, stow and post-edit your pictures. The app is set to always save in full resolution and comes with what's being called a "wow effect guarantee".

The app costs only $0.99 in the Play Store with no word on any changes in price, so anybody on the fence can give it a go for less than an impulse-lane candy bar at the supermarket. If you're a photography buff, want to up your recreational picture game or you just have a buck or so in Google Play credit sitting unused, head through the link below to see if SKRWT is for you.

Source: SKRWT Brings High-End Mobile Photography App To Android

WIN TICKETS TO THE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW

StyleNest has teamed up with The Photography Show to offer not one but 7 lucky readers and their 'plus one' the chance to attend the year's most exciting photography event, absolutely free!

The Photography Show returns to the NEC Birmingham from 19 – 22 March 2016 and whether you are just starting out or you're a seasoned pro, this event offers something for everybody interested in the world of image-making. Learn the latest techniques, spark your imagination, hear from the experts, find fantastic deals and get hands-on with the latest kit from over 200 exhibitors. The Photography Show is the ultimate event to inspire creativity through imagery.

Visitors will be able to try and buy the latest kit and accessories from the likes of Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Sony, Olympus, Fujifilm, Leica, Manfrotto, Blackmagic and Ricoh Imaging, to name but a few.

The much-loved Super Stage will return for 2016 featuring international heroes of photography, inspiring the audience with case studies from their work and advice that they have picked up throughout their mesmerising careers. Expect to find plenty of hands-on workshops and live demonstrations at The Photography Show on the Live Stage, Photo Editing Theatre, Mobile Photography and Filmmaker Stages focusing on everything from capturing challenging shots in different lighting and environments, right through to dark room coaching, photo-editing and learning what your mobile device can really capture.

In addition, new features are planned, including The Wedding & Portrait Stage, where experts will provide tips and tricks for taking high quality shots in a range of settings, the Turning Pro Conference, a half-day programme for those practicing a high level of photography and thinking about taking the leap from enthusiast or student, to pro; and the Product Demo Theatre, which does what it says on the tin

As one of the most published photographers in history, Michael Freeman, photojournalist and street photographer will talk at the Beginner's Masterclass, a programme dedicated to photographers at the start of their journey. Freeman will provide insights into the Ten Guiding Rules, including the secrets of good composition, making a subject stand out and creating pictures with visual impact.

The Pro Conference programme will return for 2016, offering crucial business know-how to professional photographers, from copyright and commissions to agents and insurance. Also hosting a session at the Pro Conference on 22 March will be Charlie Waite, renowned landscape photographer, offering his tips to a pro audience on Developing Your Potential. His unique style and conveyance of a spiritual quality of serenity and calm throughout his images has driven Waite's international reputation; his work is held in private and corporate collections across the world.

New for 2016 is the Turning Pro Conference, aimed at photographers looking to make the jump from enthusiast to pro. Speakers including Wedding Photographer, Kevin Mullins, will take to the stage, sharing the skills needed to make the leap in creating a successful wedding business, and Peter Searle, Portrait Photographer, whose seminar will focus on Getting Your Business off the Ground.

StyleNest has teamed up with The Photography Show to offer 7 lucky readers and their 'plus one' the chance to attend the year's most exciting photography event, absolutely free!

To be in with a chance of winning, simply fill in the form below and you could be in with a chance of winning a FREE pair of tickets.

Terms & Conditions:

Tickets are limited to one pair per winner and valid on StyleNest only. So what are you waiting for? Send your entry today!

Offer subject to availability

This competition is valid between 13.01.16 midnight and 13.02.16 at 23:59pm.

This competition prize is not exchangeable for cash and is not to be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount or promotion.

This offer is not applicable for competition entries outside of the UK

Please click here for full StyleNest Terms & Conditions

The winner will selected at random from all eligible entries. The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

All prizes are non-transferable.Automated entries are not allowed and will be disqualified

Entry is deemed as acceptance of these rules.

Spammers will be disqualifiedThe winner will have 48 hours to respond in full to the email or another winner will be drawn

The winner will be selected randomly by StyleNest

The next edition of The Photography Show will take place from 19-22 March at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information, please visit: www.photographyshow.com  

Tickets to the show are on sale 18th November 2015 and will be available at photographyshow.com

Source: WIN TICKETS TO THE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW

Kool Tools: olloclip Studio for the iPhone 6 family

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Hex Mechs (Games)

Hex Mechs 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: In the year 2523, a large wormhole opened up on the outer limits of Jupiter's orbit. E-CON's Navy stationed on Jupiter's moon Titan... | Read more »

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Source: Kool Tools: olloclip Studio for the iPhone 6 family

iPhoneography Expert Jack Hollingsworth is Adorama's Newest Photographer

[prMac.com] New York, New York - Adorama, one of the world's largest photography, video, audio, imaging and electronics retailers, recently signed on iPhoneography expert Jack Hollingsworth as one of its newest official photographers. Jack will be producing "Picture Perfect," a new series of how-to videos for shooting professional mobile photography with an iPhone, available to all on the AdoramaTV YouTube channel. In addition to sharing some of the best tips for producing stunning iPhone imagery, Jack will highlight some of his favorite mobile photography accessories, which viewers can then shop online at Adorama.

"iPhone photography is a game changer, and it has redefined the conversation about photography," Jack says. "It has even changed where that conversation takes place, now that it's in the palm of our hands. Starting the iPhoneography journey is not about learning apps, but learning the fundamentals of photography - exposure, focus, white-bala nce and composition. We'll be covering this and over a dozen basic genres on our YouTube channel, and I'm looking forward to contributing to Adorama's educational focus in as many ways as I can."

Catch new episodes of "Picture Perfect" with Jack Hollingsworth on AdoramaTV every Friday at 10:30am.

Jack Hollingsworth, iPhoneography Expert:Jack has been a staple in the photography industry for 40 years, four of which have been dedicated to smartphone photography and videography. He is a trusted consultant for mobile photography- and app-focused companies and is known for his instructional tutorials and workshops in the iPhoneography space. Jack is followed by almost 50k photography fans on Twitter and nearly 6.5k users on Instagram, and was recently ranked in eyefi's top 100 most socially influential photographers and in Chillisauce's top 100 travel photographers of 2015. His most recent work includes his "I Found Love" video from his recent trip to India (shot with iPhone) , "See the World" featuring 30 years and 900 DSLR images in 3 minutes, and "iPhoneography by Jack Hollingsworth," which premiered at MacWorld 2013.

For more information or to see Jack's photography portfolio, please visit his official website. Shop Micro Fiber Lens Cloths and External Drives for mobile photography now at Adorama.

Adorama is one of the world's largest photography, video, audio and computer retailers. Serving customers for more than 35 years, Adorama has grown from its flagship NYC store to include the leading online destination for imaging and consumer electronics. Adorama's vast product offerings encompass home entertainment, mobile computing, and professional video and audio, while its services include an in-house photo lab, AdoramaPix; resources and gear for photographers, filmmakers, production studios, broadcasting and post houses, and recording artists through Adorama Pro; pro equipment rental at Adorama Rental Company; and the award-winning Adorama Learning Center, which offers free creative education in online channels such as the popular Adorama TV. Adorama is listed as one of the top five electronics retailers by Consumer Reports, "Best of the Web" by Forbes, Internet Retailers Top 100, and is the official Electronics Retailer of the NY Giants. All Material and Software (C) Copyri ght 2015 Adorama. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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Source: iPhoneography Expert Jack Hollingsworth is Adorama's Newest Photographer

CES 2016: Olloclip Debuts 'Studio' Mobile Photo System for Latest iPhones

Olloclip's line of Studio accessories designed to improve mobile photography on Apple's iPhones debuted in mid-2015 on Kickstarter, where the project was successfully funded. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Olloclip is ready to show off its completed Studio mobile photography system and has announced a January launch date for the product.

Created to work alongside Olloclip's line of iPhone lenses, the Studio combines an iPhone 6/6s or 6/6s Plus case with an integrated rail-mounting solution and a selection of mountable accessories.

"When designing the Studio system, we realized the user experience and application needed to be as simple and efficient as our lenses. The end result is the most intuitive and effortless way to grip an iPhone while filming and shooting photos, enabling users to be more immersed in the capture process than ever before," said Patrick O'Neill, founder and chief design officer of olloclip. "The new set of accessories and mounts are not only great for taking photos and shooting video, but also for new broadcasting applications like Twitter's Periscope and social media favorites like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat."

The main component of the Studio system is the Studio Case, which can be used with the Studio accessories or as a standalone case. It's Olloclip's most protective case, designed to protect the iPhone from accidental drops. On the back of the case, there's an integrated rail mount for attaching accessory pieces, cold-shoe adapters, a finger grip, mounts, and a kickstand.

Finger Grip - Olloclip's Studio finger grip is deal for improving stability when taking photos or capturing video. It fits over two fingers and lets the user quickly switch between portrait and orientation landscape.

1/4-20 Mounts - The Studio system comes with two standard 1/4-20 mounts, ideal for attaching the iPhone (in the Studio Case) to a tripod, a grip, or a handle. There's one mount for portrait mode and one mount for landscape mode.

Cold-Shoe Adapters - The two included cold-shoe adapters can be used to attach lightweight accessories like a microphone or a light to the iPhone.

Kickstand - The Kickstand is useful for watching a movie, editing a video, or reading a website.

Olloclip's Studio for the iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, and 6s Plus will be available from the Olloclip website in January of 2016. It will retail for $89.99.

Source: CES 2016: Olloclip Debuts 'Studio' Mobile Photo System for Latest iPhones

Letv gadgets come with most upgraded fingerprint technology

Letv, a global leader in smart device technology announced that its next generation smartphone devices will be powered by the Snapdragon 820 processor from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI), starting with the Le Max Pro smartphone.

As the world's first tech company to announce the use of the new Snapdragon 820 processor, Letv continues to demonstrate innovative product development with the ultimate in connectivity, graphics, entertainment, mobile photography and power efficiency.

"Letv has already established itself as one of the world's top innovators and our decision to include the Snapdragon 820 processor in these new devices demonstrates our commitment to creating and delivering the best technology available to our customers," said Jun Liang, chief operating officer at Letv.

"Once the marketplace sees the dramatic performance enhancements in our smartphones, we are confident they will not accept anything less."

The Le Max Pro boasts a robust set of features, including Snapdragon Sense ID fingerprint technology, the mobile industry's first comprehensive ultrasonic-based fingerprint biometric solution, providing a more secure, reliable alternative to capacitive-based fingerprint sensors.

Snapdragon Sense ID fingerprint technology now includes a new live-ness detection feature, helping to ensure that an actual finger is being used for biometric authentication, and making the solution even more difficult to spoof. The Le Max Pro is the first commercial device with Snapdragon Sense ID fingerprint technology and will be the first with the new live-ness detection capability as well.

The Le Max Pro also features Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 for up to 75% faster charging than conventional methods.

Additionally, Letv will be the first to roll out commercial devices integrating 802.11ad multi-band wireless connectivity for multi-gigabit speeds and nearly uncompressed content transfer.

"We are very pleased that Letv is first to bring compelling and advanced smartphones to consumers that are powered by the Snapdragon 820 processor and feature Snapdragon Sense ID fingerprint technology," said Alex Katouzian, senior vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies.

With an ability to move content between devices in near real-time, and with an uncompressed signal, QTI's technologies in Letv's ecosystem of products maximize the user-experience, as well as the display quality on beautifully designed mobile and television devices.

The Le Max Pro is the latest addition to Letv's Le Superphone family, which sold more than one million units last November. 

Source: Letv gadgets come with most upgraded fingerprint technology

ZEISS and Fellowes Brands Launch Mobile Phone Accessory Photography Lenses – Setting a New Quality Standard

Fellowes Brands, manufacturers of premium mobile photography accessories and ZEISS, international optics enterprise, present three new high-performance accessory lenses for mobile phones at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Jan. 7, 2016 / PRZen / LAS VEGAS -- ZEISS, one of the world's leading companies in the fields of optics and optoelectronics, and the Fellowes' ExoLensTM brand, an American innovator in mobile photography accessories, announce their collaboration in the design and development of accessory lenses for mobile phones. The companies will present the first jointly developed accessory lenses at the Fellowes booth (no. 31016) during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from 6-9 January 2016.

The first three lenses – wide-angle, telephoto and macro – are scheduled to be launched in late Q2 2016. The wide-angle and telephoto lenses offer excellent image performance with outstanding edge-to-edge contrast. The macro lens features a zoom functi on – unique for accessory lenses of this type – for flexible image composition. The new lenses can be used on the Apple® iPhone®1) with customized mounting brackets.

Partnership between ZEISS and ExoLensTM

The collaboration between ZEISS and ExoLensTM represents an important step in the development of accessory lenses for mobile phones. ZEISS has been powering optical innovation in photography since 1890. With current products, such as the professional camera lenses of the ZEISS Otus SLR lens family or the ZEISS Batis autofocus lenses featuring an innovative OLED display for mirrorless full-frame system cameras, the optics company continues to evolve and set new milestones in photography. ExoLensTM is a pioneer in the new and expanding space of mobile photography. The joint goal of ZEISS and ExoLensTM is to bring never before seen quality and versatility to this rapidly growing market.

"We are thrilled to announce our new relationship with ZEISS, who has been setting standards in optics for almost 170 years," says John E. Fellowes, Chief Executive Officer of Fellowes. "Following the launch of our new ExoLensTM mobile phone photography line last year, our partnership with ZEISS will enable unique and innovative consumer lens solutions. ExoLensTM with optics by ZEISS will redefine quality in the mobile photography space, providing professional-grade results for end users."

"The impact of an image is decisively influenced by the lens and its technical properties," says Dr. Winfried Scherle, Executive Vice President of Carl Zeiss AG and Head of the ZEISS Consumer Optics business group. "The collaboration with ExoLensTM gives us the opportunity to tap into new target groups and provide ambitious mobile phone photographers with high-quality tools to support their creativity."

ExoLensTMwith optics by ZEISS

The new lenses are characterized by their leading-edge design featuring smooth surfaces made of black anodized aluminum with white labeling. This is a systematic continuation of the distinctive, innovative product design that typifies current families of ZEISS camera lenses. "The modern design offers excellent optic properties and the lenses meet even the highest aesthetic standards," Scherle says. "The lenses of ExoLensTM with optics by ZEISS are the best currently available on the market," he adds. "We have achieved the best possible technical balance between a small size, low weight and high image quality."

All lenses incorporate the proven T*® antireflective coating from ZEISS, which minimizes reflections at the glass-to-air surfaces and improves the transmission of light.

The lenses are attached to the device-specific ExoLensTM  machined aluminum bracket using a screw thread. The ExoLensTM bracket features a standard tripod mount (1/4"-20) as well as a cold shoe for mounting accessories. At launch, ExoLensTM with optics by ZEISS will be available for Apple® iPhone® 6/6s and Ap ple® iPhone® 6 Plus/6s Plus, with the goal of adding more devices in the future.

ExoLensTMwide angle and telephoto lenses with optics by ZEISS

The jointly developed lenses turn the integrated mobile phone lens into either a wide-angle or telephoto lens. The optical design used for both lenses bears the name MutarTM. This stands for an afocal system and is therefore different from traditional interchangeable lenses for system cameras. The lens has no focal length, i.e., the focus is set at infinity. This enables photography of objects from infinity to the close-up range, the limits of which are defined only by the technical properties of the mobile phone camera. This makes this optical design suitable for both landscape and detailed photography. Distortion would impair the composition as straight lines which are not imaged through the image center would be reproduced as curved lines. This adverse effect has been offset by the use of aspheric lenses in the optical design . Both lenses therefore offer image excellence and outstanding contrast rendition right to the edges. Chromatic aberrations are also corrected. Bright-dark transitions in the image, and highlights in particular, are largely free from colored artifacts. Protection against dust and water spray makes the wide-angle or telephoto lens perfect for the challenges of outdoor use.

Dramatic perspectives, exceptional angles or portraits in which the main subject is to be clearly isolated from the background are the specialties of the two lenses by ExoLensTM with optics by ZEISS.

ExoLensTMmacro lens with optics by ZEISS

The macro lens complements the wide-angle and telephoto lenses and enables currently unparalleled close-up photography with a mobile phone camera. The optical design of the macro lens bears the name Vario-ProxarTM. "Vario" stands for the variability of the focal length (zoom), and Proxar for proximity. Like the wide-angle and telephoto lenses, the macro lens of fers edge-to-edge image excellence and no discernible distortion or chromatic aberration. It is currently also the only accessory lens for mobile phones to offer a continuous zoom function, permitting the full-frame capture of objects with diameters of between three and twelve centimeters. An optionally attachable and semi-transparent diffusor servers as a spacer, allowing light to shine evenly on the object to be photographed and enabling convenient focusing, even with a short object distance and shallow depth of field.

Availability and delivery package

Global deliveries of the first lenses by ExoLensTM to be developed jointly with ZEISS are scheduled for late Q2 2016. The lenses can be purchased with the matching mobile phone mounting brackets in selected specialty stores, Amazon.com as well as at exolens.com.

Source: Zeiss

Press release distributed by PRZen

Source: ZEISS and Fellowes Brands Launch Mobile Phone Accessory Photography Lenses – Setting a New Quality Standard

Give photos and videos some abstract flair with GeometriCam

GeometriCam - abstract geometric design in real-time ($1.99) by Giuseppe Capozzo is a unique camera app that lets you create stylish, abstract photo compositions. If you want to add some pizazz to your iPhone photographs, then this is one to consider.

Ever since I got my first iPhone back in 2008, I have been taking tons of photos whenever the need arises. It's much more convenient than carrying a separate camera around, and with the improvements made to the iPhone camera over the years, I don't think I'll ever go back to a separate device (I'm not a professional photographer anyway). While I love standard photography and editing on-the-go, sometimes I may want to have a bit more fun with my mobile photography, which is where apps like GeometriCam come in.

The design of GeometriCam is simple and clean, which means that it doesn't get in the way when you want to snap a picture. If you have used other replacement camera apps, then it should all be fairly straightforward: along the bottom will be the large capture button, toggles for a still image or a video, access to the Photo Library, and the choice of changing the abstract appearance. In the viewfinder area, you'll have buttons for a square or full size image, switching between the front and rear-facing cameras, enabling flash, and accessing a step-by-step tutorial if need be. Due to the distinctive nature of the app, it may take a bit of time to get used to, so I recommend giving the guide a look before you start. Once you get the hang of things though, it's fast to create cool images and the app is pretty flexible with customization.

As mentioned before, GeometriCam allows you to get images and video into the app two ways: by doing real-time captures with the camera or importing from your Photo Library. Regardless of the method, anything you choose to save or share will be exported in high resolution files. If you do a direct capture, you're able to switch between both cameras, toggle flash if needed, change the aspect ratio, and even adjust the image cells to be square or snap to the edges. When importing a photo or video, you'll be able to apply an abstract geometric filter on it while retaining the original.

GeometriCam features over 30 preset filters that you can choose from, which range from circles and rectangles to diamonds and triangles and anything in-between. Selecting a filter renders it on the image quickly, so you can see the results without waiting. Additionally, each filter can be fine-tuned with shape pattern settings (family, shift, levels), color options, and further adjustments for color depth and other settings through sliders. No matter what you're tweaking, GeometriCam will render changes swiftly, which is nice. Another bonus is the fact that the sliders are accurate and precise, with no annoying movement after you release your finger from the screen.

While the app makes use of buttons for changing the overall appearance, the developer made sure to include intuitive multitouch gestures and shortcuts as well. In GeometriCam, each image is laid out on a grid of cells, and you can drag horizontally or vertically to change the width or height of the cells, or pinch to adjust both at the same time. You can also tap-and-hold on the grid to give it square shaped cells or double-tap to resize the cells so the grid snaps to the frame edge. If you make edits to a preset and prefer your own version, you can save it as a user preset for quick access in the future, or tap-and-hold a user preset to delete it. There is also a mixer that combines multiple presets for a crazy surprise, which can be fun if you're willing to take a chance.

Any image or video you create in GeometriCam can be saved directly to your Camera Roll, shared via the native iOS Share Sheet, or even copied to Instagram. GeometriCam exports in high resolution so no detail is lost.

I've been using GeometriCam for just a short while, but I have to admit that it is a ton of fun. The interface is minimalistic enough so that it stays out of the way when you need it to, but there are plenty of different effects to apply to your photos and videos with a lot of customization and flexibility. The results that you can get out of GeometriCam are bound to make your images stand out among the crowd, and frankly, it's just a lot of fun.

I recommend giving GeometriCam a try if you are looking for a photo app that turns your images into works of geometric abstract art. GeometriCam is available on the App Store for the iPhone for just $1.99.

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Source: Give photos and videos some abstract flair with GeometriCam

Oppo to introduce new mid-range, photo-focused F Series smartphones

Oppo has announced its plan to introduce a new product series that will make photography its central focus. The company states that the F series is "rooted in a growing global demand for premium-quality mobile photography experiences," and that research indicates that it has a strong consumer recognition as camera-centric smartphone maker. The F series will be a core product series for the company this year. 

According to Sky Li, Oppo Vice President and Managing Director of International Mobile Business, the F series will inherit the excellent camera performance and exquisite design tradition that have earned accolades for Oppo's flagship series. The series will bring devices with impressive specs, eye-catching style and amazing prices that will have consumers doing double takes on the excellent specs and build quality. "We are very excited to introduce the F series, which will allow an even wider range of users from all around the world to experience Oppo's outstanding photography technology," said Li.

Unlike other phone makers that have driven the markets with 'value for money' or uber-budget devices, Oppo has tried to position itself as a slightly premium brand. "India is very price conscious market and people look at spec-to-spec comparison. The price is very important factor, but it is not the only factor. We have a newer approach to the market and this is just the beginning," Li added according to the report.

Tags: Oppo, Oppo F series, Oppo iNDI, Sky Li

Source: Oppo to introduce new mid-range, photo-focused F Series smartphones

Oppo announces F series for photo centric smartphones

Oppo has not revealed anything about the specs of its first F series phone.

Oppo today announced the launch of its camera centric smartphone under F series in 2016. The F series phones will centrally focus on photography. The F series is rooted in a growing global demand for premium-quality mobile photography experiences, and in research that has indicated strong consumer recognition that 'Oppo shoots great photos'.

The company says that the F series of phones will be part of the company's core products in 2016 with more attention to be paid to its camera quality and capabilities. However, Oppo has not revealed anything about the specs of its first F series phone and more can be only said on this once Oppo officially announces its F series phones.

Sky Li, Oppo vice president and managing director said, "We are very excited to introduce the F series, which will allow an even wider range of users from all around the world to experience Oppo's outstanding photography technology."

Source: Oppo announces F series for photo centric smartphones

Apple's in-store workshops offer art and photography tips

If you're looking to get some photography tips for that shiny new iPhone you got for Christmas, Apple is offering just that. The company will host mobile photography and art workshops at its retail locations next month. For iPhone photographers, the workshop will focus on techniques and accessories for improving the overall quality of images, including tips for long exposure and time lapse. If you're more of the artsy type, another tutoring session will show you how to use the iPad as a tool for sketching, drawing and painting.

The free hour-long events are part of an initiative Apple calls "Start Something New," highlighting the work artists and photographers create with the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Rather than just showing off the abilities of its gear, the company hopes you'll use its gadgets to get more creative with those New Year's resolutions. And it wants to show you how do it.

[Image credit: ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images]

Source: Apple's in-store workshops offer art and photography tips

Top 5 Most Downloaded Android and iOS Apps of 2015

Check out the most downloaded apps of the year 2015 for both iOS and Android.

With the new year, we've compiled a list of the most downloaded apps of 2015 for both Android and iOS. Hence without a wasting a beat, let's check out the most downloaded apps of the calendar year:

#1 Facebook

Building upon the success of the previous year, Facebook has again bagged the top spot for the highest downloaded app, also accounting for the largest number of users in 2015.

Facebook for iOS | Facebook for Android

#2 Periscope

With over 10 million downloads on both Android and iOS, the popular live video sharing platform has been dubbed as App of the year on iTunes. Released back in March 26, Periscope's user base has rapidly expanding with analysts suggesting that over 40 years of video are being viewed on a daily basis.

Periscope for iOS | Periscope for Android

#3 Enlight

The all in one mobile photography app has an average user rating of 4.5 on both iOS and Android. The app has been seen 1.5 million downloads, reaching topping charts as the No.1 paid app in over 120 countries including the UK, Canada, Australia, Greece, China, Japan along with France.

Enlight for iOS | Enlight for Android

#4 Hopper

The airfare predictions app has seen over 1.5 million downloads on the App Store since its launch back in January this year. While, its Android version has surpassed over 230000 downloads on the Play store. Hopper gets an average user rating of 4.5 out 5 on iTunes, while on the PlayStore it gets a 4-star rating.

Hopper now consistently makes the top 20 apps in the travel category, at times also making the top 5 putting it against the likes of Airbnb, Uber and Lyft.

Hopper for iOS | Hopper for Android

#5 Z Camera

A photography app coming out of China, Z Camera allows users to share photos and videos on popular networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others. The app was released on the Google Play store in February, and since has seen more than 8.5 million downloads.

Z Camera has also been named as the best photography app of the year on the PlayStore in around 75 countries, and gets 4.5 out of 5 stars rating.

Z Camera for iOS | Z Camera for Android

Source: Top 5 Most Downloaded Android and iOS Apps of 2015