More of a “how does this baby work” than a review. Runs 4 min
Category Archives: Gadgets & Apps
IVISII Ring Light
When I started messing around with video there were no smart phones; no YouTube or Vimeo; no social media. And while most of the gear changed over the years, my lighting was usually a couple of desk lamps that made me look like I was being interrogated.
When the pandemic hit and we started seeing lots of folks — including some professionals — streaming from their homes, I started noticing some of them using a round light that did a much better job than my little banker’s lamp. So I ordered one.
There are undoubtedly many companies making these but I went with the IVISII Ring light, based on this review:
At $150 it’s something of an indulgence but self-indulgence is what I’m all about these days. Once we get it we’ll share some video and you can decide if it was worth it.
New filters for iMovie
I’ve played with filters over the years but gather they’ve become far more popular in a social media world.
AirPods vs. “cans”
Seems like only yesterday wearing a Blue Tooth earbud/mic made you the subject of derision. A techno-hipster intent on impressing everyone with his hands-free phone calls.
Fast-forward to the Apple AirPods, which also got you some snickers. A lot for snickers. But it turns out AirPods work pretty well and I started seeing them everywhere. The FedEx guy. The crew chief that oversaw our new roof. The guy that mows our yard (yeah, yeah).
The plague hits and Zoom becomes a generic term (“I was zooming all day”). And those TV “at home” interviews? Lots of AirPods. So many that when I see someone wear a big old set of cans I think, poor dweeb.
Like these two guys being interviewed by Bill Maher. I know, I know… superior audio quality!
iPhone 11
The battery on my iPhone XS wasn’t holding a charge (I’ve had it a couple of years) so I popped for an iPhone 11 and it arrived yesterday. It feels strange to all them phones given all the other things we do with them. Mine is a camera first and somewhere near the bottom of the list is PHONE.
Barb has had one for a while and the photos she has taken are beautiful so I was eager to play with this feature. My friend George spoke glowingly of the photos he had gotten with the latest iPhone’s Night Mode. If I understand correctly, the phone takes three photos and magically combines them to come up with the best image. The photos below were just “point and shoot” on my part. I’ll probably never get around to researching and fulling understanding (or using) the many features of my new camera/phone.
First photo above using this new feature, the second photo not.
I was in San Francisco attending MacWorld (first and last time) when Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone. I didn’t understand or appreciate what a big deal it would be. I didn’t get one that first year but broke down a year later. And have had one ever since.
Here are a couple of more photos from yesterday.
I keep telling myself the iPhone I have is good enough. More than good enough, and I don’t need the latest and greatest. But look at those photos!