11 Apps That Will Become Your Every Day Favorites

Alarm Clock HD

With this free app, you can wake up to the things you love the most. With built in weather information, RSS and social media integration to sites like Facebook and Twitter, you’re now a moment away from finding out what will be happening today.

iMapMyWalk

This is the ultimate walk tracking app. Log your walks and it will automatically track your calories, current location, distance, pace and results. And if you like running, hiking, or cycling better, they have apps for that too.

Flipboard

Whether you carry your iPhone, iPod or iPad every day, Flipboard allows you to bring all your top news stories with you. Connect it up with all of your social accounts and read it in magazine format. Perfect for mornings out at the coffee shop waiting for clients.

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10 Holiday Apps You Just Gotta Try

Tis the season you’re trying to finish up last minute business items – and trying to handle all of your holiday plans too. Why do it alone? Check out these handy apps that can help you all through the season.

Packing

The Packing app is a great way to get organized when you’re heading out of town. Whether for the holidays in your hometown, or a wedding in a far away land, this app can be your friendly reminder as you remember things when you’re out and about.

Simple Soiree Party Planner

Planning an event? From a simple family dinner to a large networking event for your business, this handy app can keep you on track from beginning to end.

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What Mobile Apps Say About The Future Of Photography

Just the other day, I stepped away from the office for an afternoon, and didn’t bring “the office” with me. Meaning I didn’t bring any of my mobile devices with me that would allow me to check email, voicemail, etc.

And while it was wonderful to “disconnect” for a while, it can be nerve-wracking for clients.

“I emailed an hour ago – did you get my message?”

“I really need to make my decision today – can I get your thoughts?”

Everyone is connected these days. Every commercial you see or hear asks you to follow the company via Facebook. Every advertisement shares their Twitter address. And more and more, companies are asking you to download and use their mobile apps.

A recent ad for a local bank told me that I could now bank with them anywhere, at any time with their mobile app. If I forgot to deposit my checks before heading off for the weekend, it no longer matters. With their app, I can snap a picture of both sides of the check, and the funds are deposited. Just like that.

In many ways, this new technology is making our lives easier, simpler and much more effective. I’m in touch all the time, no matter where I am. [Read more…]

Following Trends and Using Instagram

Certain apps gain more power than others. And that is the case with the less than one year old Instagram.

Instagram is a popular iPhone app that is taking mobile photo sharing to new heights. Instagram now has more than 5 million users, which have posted collectively around 100 million photos.

What makes Instagram successful is the features this one tool has. With your iPhone, you can snap a photo, or take an existing photo from your phone’s gallery, enhance it with eleven different possible effects, and then share it on the various social networks. Instagram itself has its own social networking aspects, and has turned somewhat into a phenomenon in the photography world.

While other apps tout integration with other social networking tools, none have been able to make the seamless transition the way that Instagram has. And that is what is attracting the attention of consumers, businesses, and even non-profits ready to find new ways to tell people about what they do. And whole new niches are starting up.

Mashable recently posted a story on the booming trend of fashion, or street photographers using Instagram to create a whole new interest in what they do. Some have never worked with street photography before, and now have followers into the tens of thousands. Not bad for a few months work.

And while Instagram is a simple app that keeps things clean and simple, because of its success other apps are being developed to give more power to the Instagram app.

Carousel

Carousel gives you the ability to view your images, double click photos to enlarge and save to iPhoto, and has a variety of keyboard shortcuts to give you even more options.

Instagallery

Allows you to see the most popular photos of people you follow in gallery format, and allows you to share your photos in a number of ways.

Extragram

Extragram gives you an easy way to view your favorite Instagram photos on the web. View them in three different styles: grid, filmstrip or map view.

Statigram

Statigram provides you with metrics – find out who the most engaged followers are, filter and tag usage, like and post comments, and more.

And like many other apps out there today, its only available in iPhone or iPod running  iOS 3.1.2 and above. Androids will have to sit this one out for now.

Are you using Instagram?

8 Android Apps for Photographers

I recently read a study on the use of smart technology, including smart phones and tablets. While iPhones currently make up about 9 percent of the total cell phone usage, Androids make up around 13 percent. And while many apps are made for a variety of different technology, I thought I would provide a list of 8 popular apps specifically for Androids.

CamCalc and CamCalc Free

Go Visual, Inc offers two programs – CamCalc and CamCalc Free ($1.99 for the pay version). Ths app is designed to help photographer with exposure, and is a handy camera calculator for out in the field. It helps with depth of field, focal length equivalents, flash calculations, color temp conversion, and more.

PHOforPHO

PHOforPHO is a free set of phone tools for serious photographers. It includes an exposure calculator, hyperfocal calculator, timer, DoF calculator, and exposure compensation calculation for multiple exposures.

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3 Photography Apps If You Love HDR

HDR (high dynamic range) has a love/hate relationship with photographers. Chances are you can instantly say “I love it” or “I hate it”. Some think its way over used, and others love how it can make your images pop.

If you want to try out HDR using your iPhone, here are three apps that will get you started.

TrueHDR

Cost: $1.99

Use TrueHDR to take full resolution HDR images with your iPhone. Use the rapid autocapture mode to take HDR pictures quickly, or use the semiauto mode for greater control in choosing your exposure points. You can quickly share your images using Facebook, Twitter or email them directly from the app.

Pro HDR

Cost $1.99

Pro HDR captures an image exposed for the highlights and another exposed for the shadows. It then aligns and merges the images, giving you a 3 to 5 megapixel HDR image with amazing results.

ICamera HDR

Cost $1.99

iCamera HDR includes an advanced capture mode, full 32-bit HDR processing workflow, a range of digital photography post processing functions and awesome photo effects all in one app.