The social filter war is officially on: Twitter adds free photo filters to Android and iPhone apps

Twitter for Android now includes photo filters

We knew good and well it was coming, and come it has: Twitter has begun its all-out assault on Instagram (and in turn, Facebook) by including its own set of (free) photo filters. As of now, just the Android version has been updated with the new lenses, but we’re expecting iOS and the rest to follow suit in short order. Much like Flickr did earlier this year, Twitter has tapped Aviary to power all of the company’s filters and effects.

As of now, users will find just eight filters — ranging from “black and white to vintage” — while the grid view enables you to preview how your image would look if any of the eight were applied. You’ll also be able to crop, as well as pinch to zoom in order to focus attention. Moreover, there’s an “auto-enhance” feature that’ll add a little whiz-bang to whatever you managed to snap, and if you’re still struggling to wrap your brain around it, there’s an introductory video waiting just after break. (As well as a (NSFW) video that speaks the truth about all of these filters.)

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Source: Google Play, Twitter Blog, iTunes (App Store), Aviary

Lytro camera gets manual controls, new colors and accessories for exacting light-field fans

Lytro camera gets manual controls, new colors and accessories for exacting lightfield fans

A frequent gripe of Lytro camera owners has been the hands-off nature of the photography, with that signature infinite focus about the only real fine-tuning that’s on tap. As of a fresh firmware upgrade, the light-field camera is much friendlier to demanding shooters. The unconventional point-and-shoot now lets owners manually adjust the ISO sensitivity (80 to 3,200) and shutter speed (1/250th of a second to 8 seconds) as well as lock the exposure or invoke a neutral density filter. Regardless of their precision demands, anyone who was already sold on the concept still gets a few perks with today’s refresh: the 8GB model now comes in Seaglass green and a Target-exclusive Moxie Pink, and there’s both a $30 sleeve as well as a $60, accessory-friendly case for those who’ve fully committed to the Lytro lifestyle. Neither upgrade will bring higher resolutions or video, but they’ll go a long way towards accommodating those who were at least on the fence. Check out an interactive sample of the shutter speed control’s benefits after the break.

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Lytro camera gets manual controls, new colors and accessories for exacting light-field fans originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redbox app for Android updated with a new UI and better filtering, no Instant streaming yet

Redbox app for Android update brings a new UI and better filtering, no Instant streaming yet

The official Redbox app for Android hasn’t seen many changes since it was first introduced early last year, but that’s changing with version 3.0. Now available in Google Play, it brings a new look that should make browsing a bit easier, plus enhanced filtering (you can sort Blu-ray discs by genre) and the ability to sort by date or alphabetical order. Finally, support for push notifications could mean unsubscribing to those weekly texts for coupon codes, and users report you can now input the coupon codes in the app while making reservations. We poked around but couldn’t find any references to its Instant streaming service, so there’s at least one thing to expect for the next update. Android powered kiosk renters can grab the app at the source link below.

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Redbox app for Android updated with a new UI and better filtering, no Instant streaming yet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 04:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube video editing brings in real-time previews, trims UI down to the basics

YouTube video editing brings in realtime previews, trims UI to the basics

YouTube’s video editing suite is officially a toddler in human years, so it’s about time that it grew a little more beyond learning how to walk and talk. By far the most conspicuous sign of maturity is a new real-time preview that shows edits and filter options as you play — you’ll now know if that effects filter at 1:37 is festive or just gaudy. The overall interface is also a little more buttoned-down with a simpler interface that cuts back on unnecessary clutter. YouTube has been rolling out the editor update in recent hours and may have wrapped up by the time you’re reading this, which we’d take as a cue to start producing that streaming masterpiece.

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YouTube video editing brings in real-time previews, trims UI down to the basics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujifilm unwraps FinePix F800EXR camera with wireless sharing to Android, iOS

Fujifilm unwraps FinePix F800EXR camera with wireless sharing to Android, iOS

If your company doesn’t have a camera with WiFi sharing somewhere in your lineup, many will say you’re not even in the photography game. Fujifilm is definitely playing: welcome the FinePix F800EXR, its first camera with wireless sharing as part and parcel of the experience. Its centerpiece is a free Photo Receiver app for Android and iOS devices that will catch as many 30 images at a time from an ad hoc WiFi camera link. The matching (if unceremoniously named) Camera Application can return the gesture by geotagging shots as well as finding existing photos on the map. Fujifilm will even pre-Instagram the photos through six new on-camera filters for those who can’t stand posting images online without at least some Lomo or tilt-shift effects thrown in.

As for the actual camera part of the camera, Fujifilm is keeping afloat in the competitive waters with a 16-megapixel, CMOS-based EXR sensor that can widen the dynamic range or lower the noise if sheer resolution isn’t all that vital. An equally noteworthy 20x (25-500mm equivalent) lens out in front will zoom in a lot closer than any phone camera — well, most of them. We’re otherwise looking at the technology we’d expect in a point-and-shoot of this class, such as full-resolution burst shooting at up to eight frames per second, 1080p video and a RAW mode for image quality sticklers. Stores should have the F800EXR in August for about $350, or about as much as the Galaxy Nexus that just might serve as its companion.

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Fujifilm unwraps FinePix F800EXR camera with wireless sharing to Android, iOS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to Avoid Spoilers on Twitter [Twitter]

Along with propagating inane hashtags like #NameYourDickAfterAMovie*, Twitter is also horribly ruthless when it comes to spoiling movies and TV shows. To prevent an unwelcome spoiler, you have to basically abstain from Twitter when a show like Breaking Bad comes on or when a big movie like The Dark Knight Rises comes out. But that’s not the only way! Here’s how to make your Twitter spoiler-free. More »