Monday, October 20, 2014

Russian photographer murad osmann takes the most incredible photos ashis girlfriend tugs him along

BlackBerry Passport demand has exceeded expectations

That's according to BlackBerry CEO John Chen who was in Hong Kong to attend the Technologies that Matter forum hosted by MIT Enterprise. It's certainly no secret that a lot of folks have had their shipments placed on back order, earlier we posted about how ShopBlackBerry shipments were now resuming, but it's also no secret the device has been selling out whenever its been made available.

It's a good thing that some people can't buy BlackBerry Ltd.'s Passport phone, Chief Executive Officer John Chen said. That means it's popular. I'm glad to have inventory issues. It shows that people want the phone, we took a very conservative approach and didn't order too many.

Rather than ordering too many Passports and running the risk of them not selling, BlackBerry had to hit a fine balance between too many and not enough, so while it has left some folks waiting a bit longer for their device to arrive, it's all good news for BlackBerry. The demands is there, the Passport is selling well and BlackBerry has better control of their inventory and will level it with demand. The smart approach.

Galaxy Note 4 Battery Life vs iPhone 6 Plus and Others

Samsung's Galaxy Note phones have a well-deserved reputation for delivering long endurance. The new Galaxy Note 4 looks to keep that streak going, packing a high-capacity 3,200-mAh battery. While good, it’s runtime isn’t best in class.

On our battery test, which involves continuous surfing over 4G at 150 nits brightness with background data and other radios turned off, the Note 4 lasted 8 hours and 43 minutesWhile the new phablet's staying power is long enough to provide all-day power for most normal users, it's behind several competitors, including the Galaxy S5 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Apple's new 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus lasted exactly 10 hours on our test while riding on AT&T 4G LTE, the same network as the Note 4 we tested. The AT&T version of the Galaxy S5 endured for 9 hours and 42 minutes, about an hour longer than its big brother. The AT&T HTC One M8 lasted 8:42, nearly identical to the Note 4.

MORE: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Review

Though there are some phones that last longer on a charge, the Note 4 is comfortably above the 8-hour and 22-minute smartphone average and the LG G3 (7:12). It's also way ahead of the Fire Phone, which didn't even last 7 hours on our test.

We don't know precisely why the Galaxy S5 and iPhone 6 Plus lasted longer, but the Note 4's larger, higher-resolution display is one likely culprit. Where the 5.1-inch Galaxy S5 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus both have full HD, 1920 x 1080 displays, the Note 4 is one of the few phones that has a 2560 x 1440 display -- and more pixels usually means more power.

What carrier you have also plays a significant role in battery life. The Galaxy Note 4 we tested is the AT&T version, but in our experience, handsets on T-Mobile's network can last as much as two hours longer.

The Note 4 has a few battery saving features that didn't improve its endurance on our test, but would help real-world users who don't use their phones continuously. Power saving mode turns down the CPU clock, stops background data and, depending on your settings, turns the screen black and white when your phone's battery gets down to 20 percent (you can also make it run all the time).

Ultra Power Saving mode is even more extreme, limiting what apps you can run in addition to turning the screen black and white and lowering the performance. Samsung claims you can get up to 24 hours of standby power.

Like its other flagship phones, Samsung's new alphabet also has a removable battery, so users can either carry a spare or purchase a third-party extended battery. More good news: with the bundled charger, the phone can go from 0 to 50 percent in 30 minutes, making it easier to juice up.

Bottom line: The Note 4 offers fairly good endurance, but if you want marathon-like battery life you’ll need to make some tweaks.

HTC Aims to Reinvent the Point-and-Shoot

Say hello to the plastic periscope point-and-shoot camera.

We're accustomed to seeing HTC go toe-to-toe with Samsung and LG in the battle for Android smartphone dominance. But now, HTC Is trying to square off against GoPro and Polaroid.

At its New York launch event this afternoon, the company revealed its vision for what the point-and-shoot camera should become. And it revealed copious new camera features to remind you that the selfie era is just getting started.

. HTC Re A camera needn't be a box anymore. So HTC made one that looks like a periscope.

Re ($199, available by the holidays) is round to fit the contours of your closed hand. Push its one big button with your thumb to shoot a pic with the 16-MP camera. Hold it down for a moment and Re begins to shoot 1080p video. That's pretty much it. The only other button on the device shoots slow-motion video.

More features come into play when you launch the Re app on Android or iOS. (Yes, HTC is making iPhone apps now.) The app auto-syncs to show you what Re has captured. You can use the app to remotely tell the camera to start recording, turning Re into a de facto webcam. It will create time-lapse movies, too.

HTC America's Jason Mackenzie reassured the assembled throng that Re has a 146-degree wide-angle lens, so you don't have to worry about the fact that you can't see what's in the frame. But after trying Re for a few moments, I have to tell you--it feels weird. After all these years of instant photographic gratification--a digital camera or smartphone's display showing what you just shot--it's strange to fire away and not know what you're capturing.

I'm inclined to like Re. It's bright and different and funny-looking. As we noted earlier this month, HTC is trying to win an emerging product category here. The Re is waterproof, and you'd probably take it places you wouldn't take your dainty smartphone. But it's not as rugged as a serious GoPro, either. So, like Polaroid's new Cube, the Re is intended to be a standalone camera that occupies a space in the market for people who don't want to spend $400 on a GoPro. Yet at $199, it's a little steep for that space. Everything Else

The other piece of hardware HTC rolled out was the Desire Eye, a powerhouse Android smartphone for people who really, really like to take pictures. The 5.2-inch phone has a flat back, unlike the round back of the flagship HTC One (M8). But the marquee feature is the camera tech: Desire Eye has 13-megapixel rear-facing and front-facing cameras.

The Desire Eye is meant to be a vehicle for the Eye Experience (not iExperience), the branding HTC is using for the suite of new camera software it revealed today. The system includes Face Tracking, which automatically keeps your face in frame during video chats; Split Capture, which allows you to take side-by-side photos showing what the rear- and front-facing cameras see; Face Fusion, which will meld a given percentage of two faces into one (for the happy couple that wants a sneak peek of their kid); and Crop-Me-In, which uses the front-facing camera to crop you into a scene where you are not. This barrage of camera features will come pre-loaded on the Desire Eye and be available as an update for HTC One users.

Oh, and HTC is bringing you the button-free selfie. Just turn the camera on yourself and it will take the photo automatically, or use a voice command like "say cheese."

Lastly, there's Zoe, a montage-making app HTC has been testing; the 1.0 version is live today in the Google Play store—and it's coming soon to the Apple Store. HTC pitches Zoe as a way to share experiences such as music festivals or art shows by stitching your video clips and pictures into a short movie overlaid by the music of your choice.

HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang concluded the event saying that "a smartphone is just the overture." Based on what we saw today, the next movement in HTC's symphony is to become a camera company.

Apple’s new iPhones have been available for around a month now, and something interesting has happened with this generation: I’m forced to revisit my original reviews and change my initial impression based on later experience. After further testing of the two devices, I find the iPhone 6 Plus has become my smartphone of choice, as a surprising first choice over the iPhone 6.

The 6 Plus initially struck me as too large for normal use; it definitely feels more comfortable to use as a two-handed device than as a single-handed gadget, which is what you’d typically expect from a smartphone. But after subsequent weeks of additional testing, I find that the 6 Plus ends up being the one I’d choose for almost any situation, despite its additional size and not-so-pocket friendly dimensions.

Why does the 6 Plus end up prevailing? Mostly the screen size, which provides you with a lot more viewing area in general applications like browsing the web or reading e-books. The screen is also amazing for viewing pictures, and the 6 Plus is also just a far better mobile camera than anything else out there, partly because of the optical image stabilization technology that Apple has built into it, but mostly just because the huge display gives you lots of viewfinder advantages and more space for working with the picture UI.

Pocket size ends up being a minor concern when you take into account using the 6 Plus in the car, as a veritable in-car entertainment system replacement. It’s not so important when you work with the device in landscape mode, giving you additional options for working with Message and Mail apps to deal with more communication quickly. It’s less of a concern when you’re watching media apps like Plex and Netflix and taking advantage of the additional viewing real estate.

My initial set of reviews put the iPhone 6 on top, and the 6 Plus as a close second; further testing suggests they might actually be better characterized as reversed in order – the 6 Plus ends up being a better mobile computing device for my everyday use habits, even if it isn’t necessarily as mobile as its other new companion. Sure, it doesn’t fit quite as nicely in the skinny jeans I generally favor, but it still fits, and it’s a much better device for typing out a post on the go, if I end up needing to do that.

Apple’s event next week will show us what’s next for the iPad in the world of the iPhone 6 Plus, and I’m very curious to see what else Apple brings to the table for its tablet, in a world where its flagship smartphone offers a lot of tablet-style love for the mobile worker.

(Via BGR) We might not always talk about it, but smartphone users have developed the habit of always using their handsets while in the bathroom. Now, a new app wants people to stop hiding behind closed doors and proudly share art they draw on their surroundings while using public and private rest rooms around the world.Image Source: Syborg Studios
We might not always talk about it, but smartphone users have developed the habit of always using their handsets while in the bathroom. Now, a new app wants people to stop hiding behind closed doors and proudly share art they draw on their surroundings while using public and private rest rooms around the world.

Toilet Art: Rest Room Gallery by Syborg Studios is an interesting concept that the bashful among us might steer clear of. The purpose of the app is to share photos snapped while in the bathroom, though the subject of the photos isn’t vulgar or unpleasant. Instead, the app encourages users to create art on their surroundings, and then share a photo of their creation. For example, many people seem to use pens to draw on rolls of toilet paper, and then they use the app share photos of their creations.

Photos are then rated by other users around the world using a 10-star ranking system.

Never get bored in the john again.

Your toilet is a place of utmost cleanness, the walls at least?
Then you should get the REST ROOM GALLERY immediately.
It offers the funniest, most exquisite and best toilet art from around the world.

You can upload art wherever you are, rate others’ or share it with your friends.
The map will give you the location where you will find it in the real world.

Toilet Art: Rest Room Gallery costs $0.99 on iOS devices and is a free download for Android phone and tablet users.

Which one of the two iPhone 6 devices should new users opt for?

The iPhone 6 has already sold 20 million units in its two guises. However, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) expecting a further 60 million sales of its flagship smartphone, there are plenty of potential iPhone 6 users who have yet to purchase the device.

With the iPhone 6 coming in two distinct models, any new purchaser of the Apple device will have a decision to make. Should they stick with the classic iPhone 6, or opt for the more phablet-sized iPhone 6 Plus? Here are some of the factors that you might wish to take into consideration.

. iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Design, size and build quality
Apple is of course renowned for the quality of design and build which it incorporates into its products, and the iPhone 6 is no exception to this rule. In all honesty, there is not a huge amount of difference between the two, except for the sheer scale of the iPhone 6 Plus. Whether or not you consider this to be a plus point or a negative would depend on your personal perspective.
Of course, a bigger phone with a larger screen size can be attractive for viewing photographs and videos. But if you have small hands, you may find that the iPhone 6 Plus does not fit easily within your palm. Try before you buy could be a useful motto. Some people also feel that the larger size iPhone 6 Plus is a little ungainly in comparison to the classic iPhone 6.

BendingAdditionally, it is just worth mentioning the supposed tendency of the iPhone 6 Plus to bend when put under pressure. It all honesty, despite the hullabaloo that has been created in relation to this issue, it is not a massive problem and not something that should really form part of your decision-making process. Weight and dimensionsThe two iPhone 6 devices measure up in size and weight terms as follows:

iPhone 6: 138.1mm (height) x 67mm (width) x 6.9mm (depth). Weight: 129g
iPhone 6 Plus: 158.1mm (height) x 77.8mm (width) x 7.1mm (depth). Weight: 172g

Many users might find carrying around a heavier device to be irritating, and would therefore opt for the iPhone 6 over the iPhone 6 Plus.

DisplayThe downsides of the iPhone 6 Plus are tolerated partly due to the quality of its screen. The iPhone 6 Plus has a large 5.5-inch screen which is capable of producing full HD images. This means that it has a superior resolution to its companion device – 1,920 x 1,080 for the iPhone 6 Plus, as opposed to 1,334 x 750 for the smaller iPhone 6. However, the iPhone 6 performs pretty well with its lesser resolution given its smaller 4.7-inch display size, and although the iPhone 6 Plus should theoretically outperform its cousin in this department, the difference isn’t quite so clear in practical terms.

Speed and performance

Apple has ensured that both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are fitted with similar internal components. Both models feature the new A8 processor chip, together with its M8 motion co-processor. This means that despite some other spec alterations, overall there is a negligible difference between the two in terms of both speed and performance.

Camera

This is an area where if you are a serious photographer, or simply take a lot of pictures, that the iPhone 6 Plus might be the device for you. Although both models ostensibly have the same camera, and 8-megapixel iSight snapper, the larger of the two iPhone 6 devices also incorporates optical image stabilization, as opposed to the auto image stabilization available for the iPhone 6. This means that the iPhone 6 Plus delivers better results in this department.

Next Generation Technology of Flexible AMOLED Display by Samsung

One of the most popular LCD and LED display creator Samsung showcase Flexible AMOLED display. Samsung showcase there next generation AMOLED display at CES 2011. The Flexible AMOLED display is ultra thin sheet that you really can’t imagine. The displays are rollable, bendable and can even survive impacts of a hammer. We surely say that it is really Next Generation display technology by Samsung. Bellow is the picture of Flexible AMOLED display taken from CES 2011.

You can also watch the video demo of Samsung Flexible AMOLED third generation technology display.

Tsunami hits japan

The tsunami triggered by the biggest earthquake on record in Japan has destroyed huge areas of the country's northeastern coast.

Devastating tsunami hits Japan

Tsunami In Iwaki, Japan

15. The Overseas Highway – Florida Keys

The Overseas Highway leaps from island to island across 42 bridges southwest through Florida Keys and it was built in 1938 along the course of an old railroad that has been destroyed by a hurricane. The highway is mostly over water and in about four hours you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and the ocean and of course, the incredible sunrises and sunsets if you come here at the right time. During holidays the traffic will make journeys through this highway a bit longer but I’m sure everyone would love to stay on this road as long as possible.

14. Red Rock Scenic Road – USA

The Red Rock Scenic Road winds through Sedona’s Red Rock Country, often called a “museum without walls”. The road provides a splendid view of the stunning red rocks which seem alive like a timeless spirit that captivates and inspires everyone. The Red Rock Scenic byway also passes through the Montezuma Castle National Monument and the Coconino National Forest giving every driver an amazing sense of intimacy with nature.

13. Iroha-zaka – Japan

Iroha-zaka is a winding road from Japan which connects central Nikko and Oku-Nikko. The road comprises of 48 curves and each corner has an ancient Japanese alphabet, starting in alphabetical order from I-ro-ha which also gave this road’s name. Iroha-zaka is actually made of two roads, one to come down and another to go up and they both have 48 curves matching the 48 letters of the ancient Japanese alphabet.

12. Atlantic Road – Norway

The Atlantic Road was voted as the Norwegian construction of the century and it’s a five mile long stretch of road connecting Molde and Kristiansund in this country. The road rides above some rough and uneven surfaces and it’s spectacular because it rises itself and falls at many places like a sea at the time of a rough tide. Apart from the incredible road itself, the scenery surrounding it could give any driver shivers.

11. Oberalp Pass – Switzerland

The Oberalp Pass in an incredible road in the high Swiss mountains that’s an important link between Central Switzerland and the Graubunden Oberland. The road is really popular for all drivers from Europe but it’s only open during summer months. In winter this pass is closed for road traffic and the road itself is used as a ski slope, toboggan run and hiking trail!

10. North Yungas “Road of Death”

– Bolivia

The North Yungas Road is a 43 mile road connecting La Paz and Coroico deep into the Bolivian Andes. The road is name by the locals “El Camino de la Muerte” or the Road of Death and it was named the world’s most dangerous road in 1995. The road, famous for its extreme danger has a single lane width with terrifyingly drop offs, tight hairpins, narrow passages and almost no guardrails at all. The fog and rain can make visibility poor and the road surface muddy which adds even more dancer to any journey on this road. On average, there is a fatal accident every couple of weeks on this road and it is estimated that 200 to 300 travelers are killer per year on this treacherous road. Today however, the Youngas road has less traffic and it used mostly by travelers who want to feel its thrill.

9. Trollstigen – Norway

One of the most notable attractions from the Fjord in Norway is the Trollstigen road, a steep winding mountain road located in the Rauma region. The word Trollstigen means the Troll Ladder in English and it represents a series of stunning roads with a breathtaking view and a couple of incredible waterfalls. This road is very narrow and leaves very few possibilities for vehicles to pass each other and with its steep 9% gradient and 11 hairpins it’s really, really challenging. But it’s all worth it if you get to the top where you’ll see this amazing road from above and the Stigfossen waterfall, a 320 m waterfall which falls down the mountain side.

8. Guoliang Tunnel Road – China

The Guoliang Tunnel Road was built by 13 local villagers headed in only five years in the Taihang mountains in the Hunan province of China. Many villagers lost their lives in accidents during the construction of this tunnel but in 1977 it was opened to traffic. The tunnel carved from the mountains is 1,200 meters long, 5 meters high and 4 meters wide and its also one of the most dangerous roads in the world. This extremely beautiful scenic route was dubbed as “the road that does not tolerate any mistakes” and its a key destination on the Chinese tourism map.

7. San Bernardino Pass –

Switzerland

Another high mountain pass across the Swiss Alps is the San Bernardino Pass and the road that goes through it and connects the Swiss towns Misox and Hinterrhein is also one of the world’s greatest roads. The pass is located at 2,065 meters and the road has incredibly smooth roads, a lot of hairpins and challenging bends and of course, amazing scenic views. The road also goes through an impressive 6.6 km long tunnel.

6. Los Caracoles Pass – Andes

Los Caracoles Road passes through the harsh terrain of the Andreas Mountains from the Andes on the way between Chile and Argentina. The road has many hard switchbacks on an extremely steep incline and numerous hairpins without any safety guard rails. For the most part of the year, this pass is covered by snow and that makes it incredibly hard to negotiate. Despite the fact that it’s one of the most challenging roads in the world, the Los Caracoles Pass has a strong safety record.

5. Col de Turini – France

The Col de Turini is situated in a mountain pass in the south of France in the Alps at more than 1 mile above sea level. The road is included as part of a 20 miles rally stage every year of the Monte Carlo Rally in the World Rally Championship and it combines 34 hairpins and long stretch lines where cars can reach top speeds of over 110 mph. This stage is one of the most challenges stages from the WRC and apart from the wonderful road, the scenery also makes it one of the most attractive and exciting roads on Earth.

4. The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road

– UAE

The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road in the United Arab Emirates extends for 7.3 miles with 60 turns up the mountain of a height of 1,219 m. The UAE road scales the mountain with a beautiful view of the desert below and ends at a parking lot with only a hotel and of course, a palace, belonging to the country’s rulers. The road is a mixture of fast straights and sweeping curves that merge perfectly from one to another forming this amazing driving road in the middle of the desert.

3. Lysebotn Road – Norway

The Lysebotn Road is considered one of the most breathtaking roads in Europe and it all starts with the narrow road up the steep walls of the Lysefjord, Norway. The road includes 27 challenging hairpins and a 1.1 km long tunnel at the bottom which also has 3 switchbacks inside to make things even more interesting. The surface of the road is perfect and the ones who were already on this road think of it as a rollercoaster. It’s probably the most fun road from Norway and its last 30 km to Lysebotn will put a smile on every driving enthusiast’s face.

2. Stelvio Pass – Italy

From the Eastern Alps in Italy, the Stelvio Pass Road connects the Valtellina with Merano and the upper Adige valley. This is the second highest paved mountain road in the Alps and its situated at an altitude of around 1.7 miles (about 2,757 meters) above sea level. The Stelvio Pass is one of the best continuous hairpin routes in the world and its fame came from the presence of 48 hairpin bends and the fact that the road becomes very narrow at some points and it has a couple of very steep inclines. This road is regarded by many car enthusiasts as one of the most challenging roads in the world and it’s scenery is absolutely breathtaking and spectacular.

1. Transfagarasan – Romania

he Transfăgărășan (that’s the exact spelling) is the highest and most dramatic paved road from Romania. Built as a strategic military route by the former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu between 1970 and 1974, this road connects the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia, and the cities of Sibiu and Pitesti. The Transfagarasan represents 90 km of twists and turns run North to South across the tallest sections of the Carpathian Mountains between the highest peaks of the mountain in this country.

On top of the mountains this road provides access to Balea Lake, a glacier lake which has been here for thousands of years and it also has an almost 1 km long tunnel straight through the mountain’s top. The road was built at a high cost both financially and from a human standpoint with more than 6 million kilograms of explosive being used on the northern face and official records of 40 soldiers who lost their lives while building it. Unofficial records however mention that only the tunnel took about 400 lives.

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