While RCA's MIT700 tablet never made it to market after a CES 2012 debut, RCA is trying out a new Android tablet that allows users to watch live television.
Announced within a press release earlier today, RCA is planning to launch an Android-powered, 8-inch tablet that can be used to watch live over-the-air television broadcast from nearby stations. The tablet houses a standard over-the-air DTV tuner in addition to the Dyle mobile TV tuner. Rather than using up data on a mobile plan, the Dyle mobile TV tuner allows users to watch live, local television assuming nearby networks are participating. For instance, people living in the Los Angeles area can watch their local FOX, NBC, Univision and Telmundo stations. The Dyle mobile TV tuner can also be found within the Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G sold by MetroPCS and Apple fans can add the Elegato EyeTV Mobile TV tuner to their mobile devices in order to access Dyle mobile TV.
Regarding the hardware, the RCA tablet sports a 1024 by 768 screen resolution similar to the original iPad. Internally, the tablet is powered by a Cortex A5 1GHz processor as well as 1GB of RAM.
The device also includes 8GB of internal flash storage, but the tablet doesn’t come with any DVR capabilities to record and store live television programs on the tablet. The tablet offers Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n connectivity, GPS capability, two speakers, front and rear cameras as well as ports for HDMI, MicroSD, MicroUSB and USB inputs. The device works with the Google Play store and includes other Google related applications like Gmail and YouTube.
According to RCA representatives, the tablet’s battery life is supposed to last up to ten hours under normal use. However, when the TV tuners are in use, battery life falls to around four hours. Weighing in at 1.4 pounds, the tablet is also heavier than other 8-inch tablets. According to the release, RCA representatives plan to show off the tablet at the Consumer Electronics Show next week. The tablet is currently slated for a Spring 2013 release at a $299 retail price point.
HTC is determined to go from 'quietly brilliant' to 'loudly brilliant' in 2013
HTC settled its patent dispute with Apple last year, but the Taiwanese smartphone and tablet manufacturer still has to overcome marketing hurdles in 2013, according to its CEO.
"Our competitors were too strong and very resourceful, pouring in lots of money into marketing," HTC CEO Peter Chou told the Wall Street Journal.
The increase in iPhone and Galaxy S3 sales has been to the detriment of HTC's Android and Windows Phone-based devices.
The company's year-over-year marketshare slipped from 2.7 percent to 2.2 percent for the third quarter, according to market research firm Gartner.
Stuck in the middle is Chou
While Apple and Samsung are selling high-end devices in conjunction with hefty marketing, Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE are having success with budget smartphones.
Many analysts believe that this leaves HTC stuck in the middle.
Chou, who co-founded HTC in 1997, doesn't agree. Instead, he sees a better 2013 for his company, chiefly because of innovation.
"Although we don't have as much money to counter [Samsung and Apple], the most important thing is to have unique products that appeal to consumers."
A luck this year?
Chou's company is on the record as having said that its patent settlement with Apple will bring about better phones from the company.
The Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, is one of the largest showcases of new technology in the world.
Hosted by the Consumer Electronics Association in Las Vegas, CES 2013 will open to press and exhibitors from every facet of the electronics industry, and TechRadar will be there.
We'll descend upon the gambling capital of the world for four days of basking in the glow of the latest computers, televisions, cameras, phones and more.
First, the show floor opened on January 9, a week later than usual. LG and Sony unveiled 55in Ultra High-Definition TVs, then the largest in the world. Intel gave us a glimpse of the touch enabled Ultrabooks we've been seeing everywhere lately.
Last and most notably, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave the company's last CES keynote, introducing the world to Windows 8's Metro interface, and announcing Xbox 360 apps for Fox, IGN and more.
To follow that, CES 2013 will be a mix of keynote razzle dazzle, sneak peeks at the latest tech, and introductions to products that will go from patently unaffordable to a given in every living room, a lot faster than you'd believe.
Before TechRadar hits the CES 2013 show floor from January 8-11, we thought we'd put together a preview of the gadget glory you can expect from our on the ground coverage.
TV tablets
Unfortunately this development is only U.S.-bound for now, but RCA's just-announced DMT580D tablet combines the cool of an Android slate with the boob tube fun of a TV.
The slate comes with a dual TV tuner that picks up DTV signals and is compatible with mobile TV provider Dyle.
Though it sounds like you have to stay in one spot while watching episodes of Dr. Who, RCA has come up with a neat way to give users all the functionality of a tablet while giving them the option to tune into their favorite shows when they're not at home.
Thought Google TV was going to lie low in 2013? Think again.
Mountain View announced that Asus, Hisense and TCL will all reveal Google TV devices during the Vegas show while existing partners like Vizio and Sony are set to demo the recently revamped service on each companies respective devices.
What "Google TV devices" mean exactly we don't yet know, but we're thinking anything from integrated screens to set-top boxes to IPTV boxes.
Asus appears ready to rev up its tablet game with leaks coming nearly every week pointing to new slate ambitions.
One of particular interest points to an Android tablet called (for now) the ME301T Memo Pad 10. The device is said to have a 10.1-inch display, Jelly Bean 4.1 and a Tegra 3 processor.
While there's no for sure until we get the official word at the show, this slate looks promising, especially for the business crowd.
Corning is going bananas with ultra durable glass, announcing ahead of the Vegas show we'll see the third generation of its Gorilla Glass system at CES.
Promising three times more scratch resistance than previous versions, Gorilla Glass 3 is built to last with nary a knick.
We'll also see some Corning fiber optic cables for Thunderbolt hit the Vegas floor, too. Needless to say, we think Corning's offerings will have us jumping for device-saving joy.
LG is clearly excited for CES 2013 if a YouTube video posted just days before the event is any indication.
Not only do we get techno music and quick cuts, we also get a glimmer at what very much appears to be a smartphone.
It's not the most revealing video, but it offers the very real possibility of a thin bezeled handset, one that could very well be the Optimus G2. The device should be a 5-in follow up to the Optimus G, packing a 1920 x 1080 resolution with 440 ppi.
Samsung is playing a mean wait-and-see game when it comes to its CES announcements, teasing Dec. 31 that the "true innovation" in TV is coming to Las Vegas sometime between January 8 and January 11.
Promising an unprecedented TV shape and "timeless gallery design," this particular Samsung television offering looks to have a translucent screen, at least according to an eerie promo pic. We could also see a bezel-less, edge-to-edge display if totally translucent isn't in the cards.
Whatever it has planned, we're mystified by Samsung's hints and hope we can wrap our heads around it come CES.
LG and Samsung are in a bit of a battle when it comes to pre-CES announcements as the former announced it will bring out a Hecto 100-inch Laser TV complete with projection unit at the Vegas show.
We're talking 1080p full HD images projected from a mere 22in away. We're talking the ultimate movie watching experience, including 3 HDMI ports, Smart TV and Digital TV functionality and a projection unit with bulbs that can last up to 25,000 hours before replacement.
Hopefully we'll get word on pricing and availability on the Hecto unit come show time, but it'll be fun to watch a flick or two nonetheless.
Samsung has let it be known far and wide that it has some monitors and new laptops in store for CES 2013, including a first of its kind.
First it revealed it will show two new Series 7 monitors come early January, the SC770 Touch Monitor and the no-touch SC750. The SC770 is the South Korean firm's first multi-touch monitor built around Windows 8.
We'll also see an enhanced Series 7 Chronos at the show plus the first Ultra in the Series 7 family. Both feature Full HD screens though only one (hint: it's not the Chronos) will have more than one processor option.
Android-packing Polaroid with interchangeable lens
Polaroid's president and CEO couldn't have made it any clearer: "There will be an Android powered, interchangeable lens camera introduced by Polaroid at CES 2013."
We saw a "smart" snapper at CES 2012, and can't wait to shoot around with this interchangeable lens version. From a leaked marketing photo, the snapper - possibly called the IM1836 - resembles Nikon's J1/J2 and features a whole host of goodies.
One of the more playful products we expect to see at the show are flexible screens from Samsung Display.
Company reps confirmed to CNET that there will be a 5.5in bendy display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 HD and a pixel count of 267 ppi. Samsung's LCD-producing spin-off company is also throwing in a 55in TV version for our viewing (and manipulating?) pleasure.
Things are going to get twisted down in Vegas, that's for sure.
Huawei has not one but two phones confirmed for the Vegas show: the Ascend W1 and Ascend D2.
The W1, as the "W" suggests, will be Huawei's first Windows Phone foray, while the D2 is getting an Android OS.
While both should be fun to put under the microscope, Huawei's CEO has expressed trepidation that the 5in D2 will be too powerful and thus too expensive for the average consumer.
It's 1080p display, quad-core 1.5GHz processor and 13MP camera are certainly specs to admire.
Samsung isn't slacking in its CES plans, as rumors surfaced December 17 that the firm was planning to unveil a 110-inch Ultra HD TV come show time.
A Korean tech site's source said the company also has OLED TV designs for Vegas, creating the perfect storm for a "my TVs are totally the best, yours' belong in a heap" showdown between Samsung, LG, Sony and even Westinghouse.
All we want to know is: can we get a 110in set for the office?
This phone was a bit of a mystery for a good 24 hours, before the CES press page gave us a helping hint at what the Chinese manufacturer's 5in handset would be called.
The ZTE Grand S is set to debut January 8 at 1:30 p.m., bringing the company's first FHD smartphone and, according to the press blurb, "the world's thinnest for 5in FHD smartphones."
It will be made of ceramic and feature "traditional Chinese style," whatever that means for a phone.
Hold onto your oversized souvenir drink - Samsung has an earth shattering announcement planned for CES.
At least that's what the South Korean company would have us believe in a teaser video it recently posted.
While short on details, the video implores the world to "get ready" for something we've all been waiting for. We've touched on the rebranding rumors, the Galaxy S4 and even a QWERTY tablet.
While Samsung could announce one, none or all three of these products, it could have a product up its sleeve that leaves up entirely blindsided. We kind of hope for that...
A recent filing at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission revealed an intriguing device illustrated with a label that read "Red Ridge."
Red Ridge is Intel's Medfield-based tablet platform, and while that news is certainly noteworthy, what makes us think a tablet could show at CES is that the device tested was reportedly a "production unit."
That means we could see a commercial model in a month's time - or just about when CES' doors open.
Westinghouse isn't being shy about it's ambitions to present the "world's largest" 4K LED TV at CES. The company said as much in a press note.
While it won't be the biggest TV out there (Panasonic's 152 incher takes that crown) it will be interesting to see how the company prices this puppy.
Though it beats out Samsung's 85in behemoth in size, because it's a lesser manufacturer, we could actually see a price tag that the non-Jay Z's of the world can afford. Either way, it'll make watching football really engrossing.
Mere months ago HTC released two killer devices into the marketplace, the Droid DNA and the HTC One X+. Apparently that wasn't enough for the Taiwanese manufacturer. If a couple of recent rumors are true, HTC has a couple more smartphones up its sleeve.
The first rumbling came back in June when a possible line-up of HTC Windows Phone 8 devices was leaked, the headliner being the 4.7in HTC Zenith. Then another WP8 device, the HTC Titan III registered on our radar thanks to a survey on Xbox Live. Now just a few days ago we caught wind of the HTC M7, which the rumors peg as a possible 5in flagship device.
If these leaks have any merit, big handsets would seem to be a running theme for HTC. After the iPhone went over 4in, everyone seems to be upsizing. Maybe this is HTC's new angle after it bowed out of the US tablet market?
LG gives CPU making a try
The rumor mill is turning even faster as the days wind down to CES 2013. One thread we keep seeing pop up is processors, and LG is the latest to jump in the mix.
A report out of Korea has the tech firm producing in-house made CPUs next year, starting with chips for its web-capable Smart TVs.
One chip could be the H13, with the H standing for home entertainment and the 13 for the year, and we could see it and others come early January.
There's a good chance we'll see a good number of tablets at the show, but there's two we've heard about recently that could really turn some heads.
Asus is reportedly working on a tablet with the model name ME172V, a slate that could reach no more than 7in, come with a microSD slot for expandable memory and flash a price that puts the Google Nexus 7 on notice.
And while Samsung's Galaxy S4 is stealing most of the South Korean company's 2013 thunder, we've heard the firm might be planning a 13.3in tablet to take on Asus' Transformer series.
The 13 incher would even feature a QWERTY keyboard dock.
Intel is supposedly prepping the introduction of a next gen processor at CES 2013: the Bay Trail-T.
The Bay Trail-T is rumored as a quad-core scheduled for a 2014 launch, though CES will see the series' debut plus info on what manufactures are building slates based off the Trail-T.
A SoC sibling is also expected at the Vegas show. Dubbed the Valleyview-T, the chip could take on Nvidia's Tegra 3 and Qualcomm's S4.
Look for long battery lives plus 22nm prowess, superior audio, boosted memory capacity and amped up graphics when used in conjunction with the Gen7 Intel GPU. There's even talk 3D video recording could be in the cards.
As the major hardware manufacturer taking up CES real estate, it's no surprise Samsung should (so far) dominate the rumor mill.
This one has a Full HD Super AMOLED display arriving at the show, but that's not all: chances are we'll see such a screen housed inside the Galaxy S4.
A Samsung source reported that the display's resolution will reach 1920 x 1080 and a staggering 441 ppi, but the real point of interest is in the ultra-thin and energy efficient AMOLED technology.
Fingers crossed Samsung decides to bring a SIV with such a screen as its CES carry on.
With Windows Phone 8 reveals by Nokia, HTC and Samsung already in the books, it was easy to forget that a fourth manufacturer received a Microsoft nod to use the new OS.
China's Huawei confirmed just a few weeks before the show that it will bring its WP8 dish to the party in the form of the Ascend W1.
Though the Ascend W1 will be the last guest to arrive, it may turn out to be the phone everyone flocks to if a cheap asking price is tacked on.
The firm may also introduce the higher-end Ascend W3, a phone with a 4.5in display that recently leaked online.
Can you say "whoa?" Samsung is about to set mouths agape with an 85in Ultra HD LED TV, "the world's largest commercialized UHD LED TV."
The company made the over eight million pixel tube official November 12, and we're looking forward to standing wide-eyed before the mondo television that probably makes the lights on the Strip look like dying flashlights.
While we don't necessarily anticipate a radical image reimagining, we do expect Samsung will take advantage of the stage (and a keynote speech) to introduce a new facet to its business identity – a refresh, as it were.
One of CES's exhibit categories is "Digital Health and Fitness," so Samsung will likely tack onto that theme with the introduction of products (or the retooling of current devices) that fit into the health and wellness category.
Samsung has reportedly hired a design team that's worked with Nike on some of that company's branding initiatives, so we'll likely see some dynamic stuff from South Korea in Vegas.
As Samsung continues to grow from an Asian powerhouse to a global one, how it sells itself to a broad international audience will be key to its future.
We expect Stephen Woo, president of Samsung Electronics' device solutions division, to set the tone of the company's refreshed self during his keynote address January 9.
The debut of Ultra High-Definition television
It took a while but CRT televisions have finally become the stuff of garage sales and trips to grandma's house, and 3D screens have just started to crack the home market. Now everyone's lovely flatscreen is about to become a little bit obsolete, thanks Ultra High-Definition.
After a brief flirtation with 4K high-definition, the CEA settled on the name Ultra HD. However, Sony, always one to buck a naming trend (remember Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD?) has said it will stick with numbered moniker, calling its pixel-dense displays 4K Ultra High-Definition (4K UHD).
LG's 55-incher, we've its since topped
Still, everyone seems to be in agreement over the spec requirements set by the CEA, defining what it takes to be called Ultra HD. According to the group, Ultra means at least 8 million pixels, with a minimum resolution of 3840 x 2160, and an aspect ratio of at least 16 x 9.
Now the question is how big will the screens at CES 2013 be? There's debate between engineers as to whether anyone can even tell the difference between UHD and regular HD on a display that's less than 100-inches. And when will these TVs become affordable? Right now they're around $20,000 (UK£12,515, AUD $19,210), keeping them firmly in Donald Trump and Richard Branson territory.
Intel introduces a new mobile processor, stakes its claim
Intel is probably one of the most recognizable names coming to CES 2013, though it's not the only chipmaker making a stand on the Vegas exhibit floor.
We expect Intel to show up big at the event, schooling the competition on how it's done, and very likely announcing a new mobile processor or two as well as some destined for PCs.
Intel is in an interesting position in terms of its mobile future: although it claims to have 20 Windows 8 tablets sporting its new Z2760 processor coming to market soon, the firm's chips are currently only found in six smartphones.
ARM and its licensees (Nvidia and Qualcomm) are making a killing in the mobile space and all are heading down to Nevada for the show, creating a perfect storm for one-up-man ship on the Strip.
ARM-based chips, while found in major money makers like the iPad and various Android tablets, aren't terribly up to snuff when it comes to processing prowess.
Yet Intel hasn't even breached the realm of relevancy smartphone space, making CES the time where it needs to stake that claim.
There's been talk that Apple may chuck Intel as its CPU provider in the coming years. Cupertino recently developed a poppy processor for its iPad 4 – the A6X – a chip that's reportedly twice as fast as those found in older iPads.
For that reason alone, Intel has got to show why it's relevant in mobile and why it deserves to be considered the top chipmaker in the world now and for years to come.
We'd love to see Intel not only announce a new mobile processor, but unveil a new partnership. It's got to prove it can work well with others (and capture consumer imagination) if it hopes to move deeper into smartphones and tablets.
Nvidia trumps out Tegra 4
Nvidia's Tegra 3 has done quite for itself this year, jumping into phones like HTC's One X+ and tablets such as Google's Nexus 7 and Microsoft's Surface.
That doesn't mean Nvidia doesn't have its eyes to the horizon, and we believe the company will introduce its Tegra 4 processor come CES.
We might see the Tegra 3's successor at CES 2013
Word of the T40 (the new Tegra's model number) got going in April, with a report pointing to early 2013 as the time the Tegra 3's successor would ascend the throne.
At the time, it sounded like the Tegra 4 would fit four new Cortex A15 ARM chips, taking it way past the A9 Cortex chip summit.
Speeds of 1.8GHz are probably going to be average for the new processor, while by the middle/end of the year, 2.0 should be its cruising GHz.
If we're lucky, we might even see an Android or Windows 8 tablet poke about with the Tegra 4 inside.
Microsoft's show no more
The Consumer Electronics Show has long been Microsoft's chance to shine. The software giant has always given flashy presentations, usually involving celebrities. Shaq, Conan O'Brien, Ryan Seacrest, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and more have all appeared to help co-founder Bill Gates and current CEO Steve Ballmer show of the company's latest tech.
Sadly, CES 2013 will be the first year where Microsoft won't be giving one of its signature keynote presentations. It gave the world plenty of notice, saying in December 2011 that CES 2012 would be its last. Steve Ballmer's last presentation at the Las Vegas trade show focused on Metro, the new Live Tile-based interface for Windows 8.
Ballmer and Seacrest present at CES 2012
Companies have moved quickly to fill the space left by Microsoft's exodus. Qualcomm has nabbed the open keynote slot. The telecommunications mogul will be giving its Born Mobile keynote on Monday, January 7. Meanwhile, satellite provider Dish and appliance manufacturer Hisense snapped up Microsoft's booth space in under an hour.
However, Venturebeat has quoted CEA president Gary Shapiro as saying, "Microsoft will have something" at CES 2013. While it's unknown what that something will be, there are plenty of possibilities. More Windows Phone 8 devices? A Microsoft Surface Pro running Windows 8? Its all in the realm of possibility.
LG unveils Smart TV platform underpinned by HP's webOS
While we expect LG to march out a bevvy of phones and TVs, including some we haven't seen before, what's really piquing our interest heading into the new year is word that it may launch a Smart TV service based on webOS.
webOS, the open source system developed by HP, could take the reigns from LG's antiquated NetCast Smart TV interface during the show, a move that wouldn't leave our jaws dropped.
HP delivered on its promise to walk out webOS to the public by September, a vow it made in January, and now it needs a big product and solid partner to get its face out there.
The marriage between the two should be equal – reports have HP providing the OS while LG will plug in its dual-core L9-powered motherboards.
If our expectations pan out, we'll likely see the death of LG's small screen partnership with the struggling Google TV service, a relationship LG championed at CES 2012 yet has since cooled.
Automotive electronics
The CEA estimates that factory-installed automotive technology will generate $8.7 billion dollars in 2013, so it's no wonder seven major car companies will be on the show floor.
Audi, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia and Subaru will be joined more than 100 auto tech companies displaying the latest in-car tech. This is a record setting presence for the automotive industry at CES.
Displays and presentations will include electric drive technology. GoElectricDrive TechZone will demonstrate electric vehicles paired with their respective charging stations, ones that can be used at homes and in public facilities. The Safe Driver presentation will show more than the typical hands-free devices, highlighting technologies that can help drivers park, watch their speed and avoid collisions.
However, not everything between automakers and car tech designers is completely sunny. With so much hardware being put into cars before they even leave the factory, will the aftermarket industry be facing an all-time low? A presentation titled "Are Automakers Running the Aftermarket Off the Road?" will address the issue.
HTC is determined to go from "quietly brilliant" to "loudly brilliant" in 2013.
HTC settled its patent dispute with Apple last year, but the Taiwanese smartphone and tablet manufacturer still has to overcome marketing hurdles in 2013, according to its CEO.
"Our competitors were too strong and very resourceful, pouring in lots of money into marketing,” said HTC CEO Peter Chou to the Wall Street Journal.
The increase in iPhone and Galaxy S3 sales has been to the detriment of HTC’s Android and Windows Phone-based devices.
The company’s year-over-year marketshare slipped from 2.7 percent to 2.2 percent for the third quarter, according to market research firm Gartner.
Stuck in the middle is Chou
While Apple and Samsung are selling high-end devices in conjunction with hefty marketing, Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE are having success with budget smartphones.
Many analysts believe that this leaves HTC stuck in the middle.
Chou, who co-founded HTC in 1997, doesn’t agree. Instead, he sees a better 2013 for his company, chiefly because of innovation.
"Although we don't have as much money to counter [Samsung and Apple], the most important thing is to have unique products that appeal to consumers."
A better year ahead for HTC?
Chou’s company is on the record having said that HTC’s patent settlement with Apple will bring about better phones from the company.
Street photographer Travis Jensen talks to us about how he uses his iPhone and Hipstamatic to document life on the streets of San Francisco.
Travis Jensen’s calling in photography started not in the darkroom but out of necessity. The 33-year-old began his career documenting extreme sports as a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. After growing frustrated with the artwork that accompanied his columns, he was compelled to teach himself the how-tos of photography. Eventually, his work would move from taking photos to accompany his newspaper copy, to writing concise captions to accompany his art.
Travis Jensen
These days, Jensen’s work is primarily shot through the lens of his iPhone. But it wasn’t until he discovered the photo app Hipstamatic did he truly embrace photography on a smartphone. In fact, when the iPhone came out, Jensen was resistant to the idea of shooting on a phone. “That’s not real photography,” he recalls thinking. “All you have to do is point and shoot. There’s no difficulty in that.” But one day, he downloaded Hipstamatic, a digital app that harks back to analog photography. Like the old-school Diana cameras, users exercise their artistic flair by swapping out different camera components, such as lens, film and flash; with Hipstamatic, these are all virtual.
His distinctive combination – the John S lens and BlacKeys Supergrain film – has been widely adopted by the Hipstamatic community for street photography. “Coupled with his keen sense of timing and astute understanding of his subject matter, it’s pretty easy to identify a Travis Jensen Hipstamatic photograph,” said Molli Sullivan, Hipstamatic’s director of communications.
Jensen’s intimately familiar with the street scenes he shoots. Inspired to join the skateboarding movement in the ’90s, Jensen, then an 18-year-old fresh out of high school, moved to San Francisco with a duffle and $800. He lived in San Francisco’s notorious Tenderloin on friends’ couches, in seedy single-room occupancy hotels, and eventually in a closet he rented for a few years.
His latest book, “Wish You Were Here,” features a collection of Hipstamatic snapshots taken on the iPhone 4 (he upgraded to the iPhone 5 shortly after publication). Proceeds of the short-run book published by Whole Foods benefits the Larkin Street Youth Services in the Tenderloin.
We caught up with Jensen before the holidays about his new book, the pros and cons of shooting on a phone, and tips for budding iPhone photographers.
Why did you gravitate toward street photography?
I think growing up as a skateboarder, it was only natural I would fall into street photography. Part of the thing I like about skateboarding is being out in the city.
Though I appreciate and admire photography of all kinds, whether landscape or long exposure, I’m really drawn to what’s going on in the street. My images, they’re not the postcard Hallmark photos you see in San Francisco. It kind of captures the city from a local perspective. Though my images tend to be a little on the dark side, I try not to shoot people who are in really helpless situations. I always try to portray people with a lot of dignity and respect. When I take these, I ask myself, what if that were me in the photo? How would I react to that?
Are people on the street open to you taking portraits of them?
Yes and no. Now, it’s getting a bit harder. When I started shooting, there were no iPhones. There weren’t as many people out photographing the streets.
It’s up and down. Some days, I’ll have a lot of good luck. I don’t always ask – shoot first, ask later, or shoot while asking. People are generally OK with it. I think deep down, people, unless they’re participating in illegal activities, they’re pretty cool with it. I’ve only had a few handful of situations that have gone really bad.
What do you prefer to shoot with?
I’m left handed, so I shoot with a phone in my left hand and film camera in my right hand because it’s very comfortable for me to have a camera in each hand. I think a lot of people get caught up on gear. A solid image is a solid image regardless of the device or app used to create it.
I never use the iPhone’s native camera app. I shoot with Hipstamatic and I use the exact same settings with every photo. This particular combination I use [John S lens and BlacKeys Supergrain film] captures what I’m seeing perfectly. The cool thing with Hipstamatic is it automatically applies a vignette and border, so you can’t crop them. That’s where I justify the level of difficulty. Sure the camera sets exposure and the app does all the settings, but you can’t crop these images, so using the phone has actually helped me work on framing and composition.
That’s kind of how we feel about prime-lens photography, that it forces you to compose instead of relying on crop.
I think good street photography is photography that’s close. Like Robert Capa said, “If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.”
You really get to feel the street in the images, and part of that is getting close. I’ll see guys walking around with huge lenses dangling to their knees and taking pictures of people across the street. To me, that’s silly and more like voyeurism. I think that if you want to shoot on the street, you should at least be clear what you’re doing.
I like to work close. I like to engage, learn more about people, what they do. If I come home with no photos and I’ve been out for seven or eight hours, I’m cool with that because chances are I learned something, discovered something.
Do you prefer the lightweight nature of a phone versus a hulking SLR?
Here are the advantages of using a phone: It’s lightweight. It’s small. It’s, for what I shoot, very unobtrusive. People feel a little more relaxed when you’re taking a picture on the phone as opposed to shooting with a big DSLR in their face. I’ve seen my own images from the phone printed at 36 x 36, which just blows me away because they look incredible. I can’t believe this little device is capable of producing images at that size. I also take notes of engagements on my phone – name, contact info, so I can send people digital copies or prints. The phone is great also because I’m using it as a pedometer since I walk so much.
Disadvantages: The phone doesn’t handle motion well, especially Hipstamatic. Shooting fast can be challenging. With a DSLR or Micro Four-Thirds camera, you can adjust your aperture or camera speed. Shooting in low light is a challenge since there isn’t control over aperture, shutter speed, or ISO. I no longer shoot much at night anymore. Though I like the square crop, I feel at times I do get bored with it. A traditional rectangle crop shows a little more context.
How do you pitch a book based on your iPhone photos?
With this book, “Wish You Were Here,” that was sort of a spin-off of a small book called “[Insert Title Here].” A friend of mine got a hold of it and passed it around at Whole Foods. Whole Foods is all about supporting local artists in the community – candles, honey, what have you – and they said, ‘Let’s do a book. We’ll pay for it. We’ll sell it here.’ Given the nature of my work and what I shoot, it would be awkward to profit off other people’s images. I’m always taking, taking someone’s picture, taking their time. So I said, let’s do it, and give the money back to the community. I’ve worked with Larkin Street Youth Services extensively in the past and seen first-hand the wonderful things it does for the youth in our community. The whole project came together very quickly.
There were 250 copies for the first run. They retail for $25, and every book is hand-made and hand-bound in San Francisco by Photoworks. There’s no machine doing the work. $10 from each sale goes to Larkin Street Youth Services, since the books cost $15 each to make at a small press. The idea is to start with this store here, the Whole Foods Franklin location, and push it in all stores in the city and then Bay Area-wide.
What tips do you have for shooting on a phone?
Don’t worry about what people are doing. Do whatever interests you.
When it comes to street photography, I would say get close, get bold, and don’t be afraid of rejection. Also, have a good pair of walking shoes.
Don’t always expect. The nature of street photography is a lot like playing a slot machine, in the sense you never know what’s going to unfold in front of your face.
Always have your camera at your ready. I walk around with the Hipstamatic app open and ready to fire. Whenever I put the phone away, even for a second, that’s when I miss a shot.
Kids are great [photography subjects]. I’m a father of two boys who keep me very busy.
Embrace Wabi-sabi, a Japanese aesthetic for finding beauty in imperfection. It’s your friend. Don’t get caught up in perfection. The best images are those that are a little off.
Finding out what makes the Z10 tick (credit: EtradeSupply)
A small handful of parts for one of the upcoming BlackBerry 10 devices have appeared online that confirm some suspicions about the smartphone's specs.
The parts, which were obtained by ETrade Supply, include the LCD screen, touchscreen digitizer, and both the rear and front housing assembly for the BlackBerry Z10 model.
The LCD screen is a 4.3-inch display, of which ETrade Supply has obtained two different versions. The two displays have slightly different sensor and camera hole placement, while one also has a larger metal rim around the screen and the BlackBerry name branded on the front.
The screen without any BlackBerry branding could belong to an earlier prototype, or possibly a separate model entirely.
Disassembled
The Z10 front casing shows slots for an HDMI-out port, micro USB port, and a diagram suggesting it will take a SIM card under the battery. The rear casing shows an SD card slot and covers most of the Z10's back, with a large gap where the battery and battery cover will be.
The front and rear casing obtained by ETrade Supply appear to be for different models based on how their screw placement aligns. Like the two screens, this could be due to parts from an earlier prototype or a second Z10 model.
The entire casing is 5.2-inches tall by 2.9-inches wide, while the casing and screen assembled are about 0.37-inches thick.
Not long now
The BlackBerry Z10 will be the touchscreen version of Research in Motion's new line of smartphones that will launch alongside the QWERTY-equipped Blackberry 10 N-Series.
Two additional BlackBerry 10 devices were recently approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Details are scarce on the two unnamed BB10 handsets, though one of them could be tied to the mismatched screen and rear casing from the newly leaked parts.
RIM is on schedule for its Jan. 30 BB10 launch, the only question is how many models will be available. At least two are currently rumored for release day in both QWERTY and touchscreen options, though that number could easily jump to four to offer a wider range of hardware.
The world's favorite bird-flinging casual game made a mint over the recent holiday season: Christmas Day alone accounted for 8 million downloads of Angry Birds titles.
When your local cinemaplex begins rolling out advertisements for the upcoming Angry Birds CGI film you may be forced to wonder how a casual game about throwing birds into walls has become such a media juggernaut. To put it simply: Sales. Even though almost everyone has played some iteration of Angry Birds, the games continue to sell at a tremendous rate.
Earlier today Angry Birds creator Rovio revealed its sales figures for the recent holiday period (December 22 through 29). In that time prospective bird-flingers downloaded 30 million Angry Birds titles on their console, computer or web browser of choice. Christmas Day alone accounted for a full eight million downloads.
There are obviously many reasons for the franchise’s intense success, but most crucially we should remember that one or more Angry Birds titles are available on almost every computing platform in existence. Combine that with the games’ low (to free) price point, the series’ incredibly simple gameplay and the timeless appeal of smashing pigs with explosive fowl, and it’s easy to see why Angry Birds would be so popular. Piling the Star Wars license on top of all of that with the recently-released Angry Birds Star Wars only served to amplify the series’ appeal, and as a result Rovio made a ton of money during the holiday season.
While we applaud the simple elegance of Rovio’s business model (create hit game, repeat with slight variations ad nauseam) and are quite impressed at the sales figures Angry Birds has generated to date, we’re starting to wonder when this phenomenon might die down. People will eventually tire of the Angry Birds formula and to date we’ve seen no evidence that Rovio is capable of creating a game outside of that single universe. We doubt the company will ever completely vanish (it’s made too much money for that), but we’re very curious to see Rovio’s first attempt to completely branch away from Angry Birds.
As LTE networks spread across the globe a new report has found that subscribers download more data, use Wi-Fi less, and are more likely to be on metered plans than 3G subscribers.
The growth of 4G really kicked into gear in 2012 with over 100 LTE networks going live in over 50 countries across the world. It seems like mobile consumers are hungry for data and that trend is set to continue into 2013.
Mobidia has been analyzing data from over 100,000 Android LTE users in the U.S., Korea, and Japan, to try and establish whether they act differently from people still using 3G networks. The results are interesting, if a little unsurprising.
For a start, LTE users are gobbling down more data than their 3G counterparts. A whopping 132 percent more in South Korea and 67 percent more in Japan. Mobidia also found a correlation between the rising demands for data on LTE networks with a drop in demand for Wi-Fi – there was a relative decrease across all markets and an absolute decrease in Korea.
The good news for carriers is that the pricing strategy reset, which has sounded the death knell for unlimited data plans in favor of metered data usage, appears to be working. Mobidia pointed to SKT LTE subscribers, revealing that only 7 percent have unlimited data plans compared to 24 percent of SKT 3G subscribers.
In a nutshell, people download more data on LTE networks, so they don’t bother using Wi-Fi as much, and they’re prepared to pay for the privilege by the GB. You can find more insights in the full white paper.
These results are somewhat puzzling, as data restrictions have gone up significantly in the last year. Though data connections are faster, its much easier to hit your limits, making Wi-Fi access all the more attractive. At least, one would assume. The numbers seem to indicate the opposite. At least, for now.
A small handful of parts for one of the upcoming BlackBerry 10 devices have appeared online that confirm some suspicions about the smartphone's specs.
The parts, which were obtained by ETrade Supply, include the LCD screen, touchscreen digitizer, and both the rear and front housing assembly for the BlackBerry Z10 model.
The LCD screen is a 4.3-inch display, of which ETrade Supply has obtained two different versions. The two displays have slightly different sensor and camera hole placement, while one also has a larger metal rim around the screen and the BlackBerry name branded on the front.
The screen without any BlackBerry branding could belong to an earlier prototype, or possibly a separate model entirely.
BlackBerry Z10 disassembled
The Z10 front casing shows slots for an HDMI-out port, micro USB port, and a diagram suggesting it will take a SIM card under the battery. The rear casing shows an SD card slot and covers most of the Z10's back, with a large gap where the battery and battery cover will be.
The front and rear casing obtained by ETrade Supply appear to be for different models based on how their screw placement aligns. Like the two screens, this could be due to parts from an earlier prototype or a second Z10 model.
The entire casing is 5.2-inches tall by 2.9-inches wide, while the casing and screen assembled are about 0.37-inches thick.
Not long now
The BlackBerry Z10 will be the touchscreen version of Research in Motion's new line of smartphones that will launch alongside the QWERTY-equipped Blackberry 10 N-Series.
Two additional BlackBerry 10 devices were recently approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Details are scarce on the two unnamed BB10 handsets, though one of them could be tied to the mismatched screen and rear casing from the newly leaked parts.
RIM is on schedule for its Jan. 30 BB10 launch, the only question is how many models will be available. At least two are currently rumored for release day in both QWERTY and touchscreen options, though that number could easily jump to four to offer a wider range of hardware.
Some analysts have said that Apple could release a smaller low-cost iPhone to oust Samsung from its spot as the top smartphone maker.
Apple and Samsung are always at odds when it comes to smartphone launches. Both companies produce what have arguably come to be known as the most popular smartphones lines on the market: Apple’s iPhone brand and Samsung’s Galaxy S series. With each subsequent handset release, both companies attempt to outdo one another. According to Strategy Analytics’ Neil Mawston, the Cupertino, Calif.-based iPhone maker could target Samsung’s Galaxy S3 Mini next. A recent report from Reuters indicated that Apple could release an “iPhone Mini” in an effort to oust Samsung from the top of the smartphone market.
Consequently, Samsung is also expected to widen its lead over Apple in the next year. Data obtained by CNET indicates that the Korea-based smartphone maker will claim 33 percent of the mobile market share come 2013, which is an increase from the 31 percent it accounted for in 2012. Meanwhile, Apple’s portion is expected to bump up to 21 percent from 20 percent, according to the report. One of Samsung’s primary advantages is that it offers more options and is therefore able to encompass a larger sector of mobile users.
“We expect Samsung to slightly extend its lead over Apple this year because of its larger multitier product portfolio,” Mawston said to Reuters.
It’s the same basic reason that Android covers a wider scope of the mobile landscape than iOS: variety. Apple may be planning to launch another smartphone, perhaps the 5S, in different screen sizes to deliver this variety to users, Topeka Kansas Capital Markets analyst Brian White said. This would essentially set the stage for an iPhone Mini in the future.
“We think Apple will have to launch an ‘iPhone Mini’ at some point over the next three years to address the hundreds of millions of prepaid users worldwide that cannot afford the current iPhone,” Mawston told Reuters. “The iPhone 5 is growing fast and profitably right now, so there is little incentive for Apple to launch an ‘iPhone Mini’ this year. We expect the iPhone Mini to be more likely next year, in 2014 when…Apple will be forced to discover fresh growth streams.”
This isn’t the first time analysts have called Apple out on their premium priced products. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek predicted in early December that a low-cost iPhone in the $200-$250 price range could be in Apple’s future.
Izik is the first tablet-oriented search engine, and it wants to be different from your average search engine.
Move over Google and step aside Bing. Blekko has launched Izik, a search engine designed with tablet owners in mind. The new search service hopes to lure in users with its much more rich and curated information, and seems a lot like Siri or Google Now than anything else.
While your average search engine will smother you with links to the most popular websites, the average desktop search service has yet to really jump too far from the directory-oriented format. Izik wants to change that for tablet owners everywhere with an experience that caters to the desire to quickly acquire information in a very visual, and touch-friendly experience. Content in Izik instead flows to the user in a series of topics including News, Images, Quick Facts, Jobs, and more. Whatever search term you enter, Izik will help you along and do some of the catering for you, so you don’t have to visit five or six websites to get all the information or the correct results you were looking for. It’s certainly nothing new; Google, Bing, and Siri all offer up curated content of all shapes and sizes, but none of them have yet to curate it exclusively for tablets, and often make something suitable for both mobile and desktop services. In the end, Izik will need to gain some serious popularity if it hopes to be a contender, and while not all tablet-only products are meant to be, if Izik can prove it’s smarter than Google or Bing, users might just bite.
Izik is available now from the App Store as well as from the Play Store – sorry Surface owners, you’ll have to stick with Bing for now.
Don't expect a Galaxy S4 announcement any time soon
Those eagerly waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S4 may have to just keep on waiting, as the Korean firm is now saying that the handset will not launch until May at the earliest.
In an oddly candid use of social media, Samsung Lebanon answered a user's Facebook question of when the company's next Android smartphone will arrive.
While Samsung Lebanon didn't exactly say when the Galaxy S4 will be available, it did at reveal when it won't not be. "The Galaxy SIV won't be released before May 2013," Samsung Lebanon said on Wednesday.
The company elaborated on its answer Friday saying, "What we said is only trivial since all Galaxy S series are released between late April and early May, yet there's no way for anyone to know the exact release date :)"
TechRadar asked Samsung Mobile USA for comment and was told, "We do not comment on rumors or speculation."
No show at CES
The post-May launch seems to be supported by another bit of rumor popping up Friday that the Galaxy S4 won't be shown at CES.
Technically, the smartphone will be at CES, but according to South Korean site MT it could be restricted to showings behind closed doors with only the top executives from various wireless carriers.
The MT report suggests that Samsung Electronics Vice President Jay Lee will be at the show conducting the private sneak peeks, where he will show the latest prototype model rather than the finished device.
The report comes on the heels of an alleged leaked photo of the Galaxy S4 earlier in the day, which could actually be a picture of the prototype if it's legitimate at all.
Most notably on the leaked image was the lack of any physical buttons on the smartphone's face, instead opting for an elongated screen with touchscreen buttons.
It was already suspected that the Galaxy S4 could be a no show at CES, and could even skip the Mobile World Congress in February as well. If Samsung is targeting May for the smartphone's launch, then anxious Android users should have some news to look forward to once April rolls around.
Don't expect a Galaxy S4 announcement any time soon
Those eagerly waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S4 may have to just keep on waiting, as the Korean firm is now saying that the handset will not launch until May at the earliest.
In an oddly candid use of social media, Samsung Lebanon answering a user's Facebook question of when the company's next Android smartphone will arrive.
While Samsung Lebanon did not exactly say when the Galaxy S4 will be available, it did at least say when it will not be. "The Galaxy SIV won't be released before May 2013," Samsung Lebanon said on Wednesday.
Today the company elaborated on its answer saying, "What we said is only trivial since all Galaxy S series are released between late April and Early May, yet there's no way for anyone to know the exact release date :)"
TechRadar reached out to Samsung Mobile USA, which responded that "we do not comment on rumors or speculation."
No-show at CES
The post-May launch seems to be supported by another bit of rumor popping up today that the Galaxy S4 will not be shown at CES.
Technically, the smartphone will be at CES, but according to South Korean site MT it could be restricted to showings behind closed doors with only the top executives from various wireless carriers.
The MT report suggests that Samsung Electronics Vice President Jay Lee will be at CES conducting the private sneak peeks, where he will be showing the latest prototype model rather than the finished device.
The report comes on the heels of an alleged leaked photo of the Galaxy S4 earlier today, which could actually be a picture of the prototype if it is legitimate at all.
Most notably on the leaked image was the lack of any physical buttons on the smartphone's face, instead opting for an elongated screen with touchscreen buttons.
It was already suspected that the Galaxy S4 could be a no-show at CES, and could even skip the Mobile World Congress in February as well. If Samsung is targeting May for the smartphone's launch, then anxious Android users should have some news to look forward to once April rolls around.
If the wintery weather and the freezing cold have got you holed up inside going slowly stir crazy then you need some high tech winter gear to warm you up.
The long, cold winter can be a depressing prospect for many. The threat of cabin fever looms large as we battle through the snow to get from one warm place to another. Sledging adventures and snowball fights offer a brief respite from the numbing, bitter cold. Braving the elements for the daily commute can be torture without the right gear. A warm coat, scarf, and hat is a given, but what can technology do to help? Let’s take a look at some high tech winter gear to keep you cozy until the spring thaw.
Everything is better with music and the right choice of tunes can transform barren, icy tundra into a winter wonderland. 180s combine behind the head earmuff designs with built-in headphones so you can keep your ears warm and enjoy good music at the same time. Your ears will feel great as they are protected by this down filled, water resistant shell with a faux Sherpa lining. The standard audio jack will work with most smartphones and there’s even a microphone for hands-free calls, which means you don’t need to get that phone out of your pocket in the cold.
There are actually quite a few options when it comes to warm gloves that will work with a touchscreen now, but these NuTouch Gloves offer great value for money. They are comfortable, they are fairly warm, and all ten tips will work well with your smartphone touchscreen. The classic charcoal color isn’t too eye-catching and the fingertips contrast in a darker color. You can wear thicker gloves over these if it’s really cold outside.
If you’ve had that feeling that your toes are going to fall victim to frostbite then you’ll appreciate the idea behind Colombia’s Bugaboots. These boots are equipped with Colombia’s Omni Heat technology. They are completely waterproof and you can press a button on the side to activate battery-powered warmth immediately. They have three warmth settings and you can get an extra battery pack to give them a boost on extended trips. Colombia also offers Bugagloves and Electro Amp core vests for men and women that work in exactly the same way. We took their electric jacket for a test drive.
Fool of a Took! If ear muffs aren’t enough, go for a beanie hat with built-in headphones. You’ll find various styles of hat available from Tooks and the headphones have a standard 3.5mm stereo plug. The nice thing about these is that you can easily remove the headphones and machine wash the beanie when you need to.
Not everyone will want to spend $250 on a pair of electric boots, so for a tenth of the price you can enjoy toasty feet thanks to these heated socks. They run on batteries, one D battery for each sock. You can set them to a low or high heat and you’ll get 12 or 10 hours of warmth accordingly. They come with a lifetime guarantee so you need never have cold feet again.
This pebble-shaped hand warmer slips easily into your pocket and can be turned on for a blast of heat when you need it. It has two heat settings offering between 3 and 6 hours of warmth. You can charge it from the wall outlet, but this one also comes with a USB cord so you can plug into a PC at work to recharge. The underside of the device heats up quickly and it’s perfect for warming your hands as you wait for a bus or train. Try Firebox for U.S. delivery.
It’s official. You can literally get anything as a USB accessory now. We’ve all experienced cold hands as we type in a chilly room. Why suffer? Grab a pair of these gloves, slip them on, plug them into your computer and warmth will regenerate those fingers. You may even find your typing speed improves as a result, but if you’re in the office expect some funny looks from co-workers.
Here’s a warm winter jacket that is all about keeping your favorite electronics close and hidden. It has 26 pockets to hold everything from your glasses and your smartphone up to an iPad. The hood and sleeves are removable for temperature control. It also features wire management for headphones. With this jacket you can effectively load up all of your electronics and keep them safely stowed about your person. The internal clear touch pockets even allow you to operate touchscreens without removing the device. We took a look at their fleece jacket a while back.
This high tech winter gear should be enough to see you through to spring. If there is any other great winter tech device or clothing that you swear by then post a comment and share.
With this book, “Wish You Were Here,” that was sort of a spin-off of a small book called “
