Technology

[Accoun]

If it was me, I probably would. However, I got it as a present...

[altuixde]

iTunes 11 has been released. In the new version, iTunes DJ is gone, at least for now. I'm going to hold off on upgrading for now, because iTunes DJ is usually how I listen to music, and Up Next doesn't seem like a suitable replacement. I'm judging Up Next without having used it, though. I really should create a separate boot partition where I can test new stuff (because it can sometimes be difficult to downgrade to a previous version after installing a later version).

[altuixde]

I've been coveting this $300 iPhone headset for a while. I've never had the intention of buying it, though, because it's not worth triple the price of the single armature version. Apparently there's this sale that's going to end in four hours where it's available for $115 plus $4 shipping. At that price, I'd buy it, but I just bought a pair of speakers so I don't really feel like I need the headset. It seems like a good deal, though, so I'm posting it here. I hope the store that's selling them is reputable.

[altuixde]

Here's another camera app for iOS that's designed to take photos with less noise. It's called Cortex Camera. It's free until tomorrow (not sure exactly when). I've been using it for months (I paid $3 for it) and it's pretty good.

[altuixde]

I haven't found an app that makes Apple earbuds sound better than they do with Dirac HD Player. Here's the free version. It may not work on iOS 7.

[redhairedking]

I came across this the other day and thought it was pretty interesting: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/word-lens/id383463868?mt=8
Once all of the bugs get worked out I think this will be awesome!

[Cien Laguoire]

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/01/07/playstation-now-streaming-game-service-coming-this-summer/

Through the magic of TECHNOLOGY, you CAN play PS3 games on your PS4! As well as the Vita and, shockingly, TVs, tablets, and smart phones.

[altuixde]

If your wireless router has Wi-Fi Protected Setup (also known as WPS) enabled, you should probably disable WPS and change your pre-shared key. I just read about a security flaw in WPS which allows your pre-shared key to be revealed in only a matter of hours. This flaw has been known for more than two years, so if you have a relatively new wireless router, or if your wireless router's firmware has been updated, you may not be vulnerable to this attack; but I think it's better to be safe than sorry.

[altuixde]

Here's a simple fix for a buzzing earbud. I was able to fix the buzzing in my Sennheiser MX980! Thank goodness... I was close to buying something new just because of the buzzing.

[altuixde]

I'm curious, what camera apps do you all find yourselves using most often on your smartphones? I have an iPhone, myself, but feel free to post about camera apps for any smartphone.

Without a tripod, I usually choose GCam by John Niclasen. In this app, the exposure is adjusted by spot metering—pointing the camera somewhere (possibly outside the shot you want) and then locking the exposure when it looks bright or dark enough. I think that spot metering provides more precise control than the method of tapping in various places on the viewfinder until you get the exposure you want (though I suppose that spot metering is possible in any camera app with an exposure lock). GCam also has a timer, which can be used to prevent shakes due to tapping a shutter button. I kind of wish it had a histogram, but the way the photo looks in the viewfinder is close to the way it comes out once I view the shot on my computer monitor.

With a tripod, AvgNite Cam by EyeTap Soft takes nice looking still photos. It averages multiple shots to reduce noise, and I think that it takes each of the many individual shots using a low sensitivity and a high exposure time.

[Accoun]

I hardly ever make photos, so I was browsing F-Droid (A FOSS Android repo) out of curiosity to see what's there and downloaded OpenCamera.

It works. Only wanted a different one because the original is connected to the image browser I had no use for and wanted to uninstall (QuickPic is far better). This was literally the first one available and since it's in FOSS repo, it was sure to be ad-free.

[Amazing_Grace]

I really, REALLY want to sing covers. I have half a million already recorded on my phone, a Capella, and I think some of them sound really gosh darn great!

Next hurdle: actually recording them on my computer with good sound quality.

Does anyone know of a good microphone to use? And while I'm on that, is there some sort of program or tool that cover artists use? Like, to get the background music and the voice to sound well, and not like you just played the music on your computer and recorded it from those speakers into a microphone?

Basically, I want to know how to sound as professional as possible. XD Anyone here know anything about that?

[altuixde]

Make sure to buy from a store with a good return policy when getting a microphone. Sometimes a microphone can pick up interference from the devices that it's connected to, and so a hum appears in your recording. If that happens, you can return it and get a different one. A bluetooth microphone would avoid that possibility altogether, but it may not be worth it because they're more expensive.

I'm not sure what program cover artists use, but Audacity can record your voice, and after you've recorded your voice Audacity can mix the resulting voice track with the background music. You can download it and try it out to make sure it does everything you want it to. When you're singing, I guess you should use headphones to listen to the background music so it doesn't get included in the voice track.

Good luck with your recordings!

[Amazing_Grace]

Make sure to buy from a store with a good return policy when getting a microphone. Sometimes a microphone can pick up interference from the devices that it's connected to, and so a hum appears in your recording. If that happens, you can return it and get a different one. A bluetooth microphone would avoid that possibility altogether, but it may not be worth it because they're more expensive.

I'm not sure what program cover artists use, but Audacity can record your voice, and after you've recorded your voice Audacity can mix the resulting voice track with the background music. You can download it and try it out to make sure it does everything you want it to. When you're singing, I guess you should use headphones to listen to the background music so it doesn't get included in the voice track.

Good luck with your recordings!

That helped a lot, actually! Thank you!

Hopefully I'll be able to get going on singing soon (after I actually get money for a mike ). iM@S COVERS. WOOHOO.

[altuixde]

You're welcome!

However, scratch what I said about Bluetooth microphones. Not many seem to exist. I must've been thinking of this (which I don't recommend for singing, it probably doesn't capture enough dynamic range).