quality

Straps and bracelets for Apple Watch from AliExpress – inexpensive, but high enough quality accessories for Apple watches

27/01/2022 by

Many Apple Watch owners have one interesting hobby – collecting straps for their Apple smartwatches. And you know, it’s not a budget job. Original Apple Watch bracelets are expensive, for example, even for a simple silicone strap you will have to pay 4 thousand rubles. And if you suddenly liked a leather strap or a woven mono-bracelet, then the price tag generally reaches almost 10 thousand rubles.

Of course, there is nothing supernatural in the straps from Apple and most of the amount will have to be paid simply for the brand name. Eastern partners from the Middle Kingdom, as always, help to save money, they offer a huge number of alternative options that are practically not inferior to the original in terms of workmanship, but please with a much more pleasant cost.

In this compilation, we have collected the top five Apple Watch straps of all versions, as well as several useful accessories for smartwatches from the Cupertino company, which I personally tested and can definitely recommend for ordering. How to change the strap on the Apple Watch, we have already told here.

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Sports straps

Let’s start with classic rubber straps. On AliExpress, you can easily find a silicone analogue, which, perhaps, does not have such properties as a fluoroelastomer, but it will please you with a wider range of colors and a price tag.

Below is a link to the most popular type of straps for “apple” watches on “Ali”. It is inexpensive, and the quality as a whole is practically no different from the original straps. There are dozens of colors to choose from, you can order several at once and change every other day. I did not notice any nuances when using.

Buy a sports band for Apple Watch

I also recommend trendy elastic mono-bracelets without clasps. They are quick to put on and are comfortable when you work at the computer. Unlike ordinary silicone straps, they do not scratch the laptop and do not cling to the desktop with a metal clasp.

The strap is easy to clean, suitable for both sports and normal daily use. Of the minuses, it is worth noting that due to the complete absence of holes on the bracelet (unlike, for example, Nike versions with holes), the hand under the accessory can sweat, especially during training. In addition, the size of this strap model must be selected as accurately as possible when ordering. This can be done, for example, by printing a ruler on the Apple website.

In my case, specifically in this lot, the size number matched perfectly with what is listed on the Apple website.

Buy mono bracelet for Apple Watch

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Milanese mesh bracelet

We turn to the Milanese mesh bracelet or, in the people, just the Milanese loop. On AliExpress, you can buy “Milanese loop” 10 times cheaper. The bracelet is made of stainless steel, equipped with a magnetic lock and is available in four colors – gold, rose gold, silver, space gray. Looks expensive and beautiful. The clasps are made securely, fixed tightly and the watch will not fall out during active movement. Magnetic fastening allows you to quickly adjust the strap to fit your hand.

Perhaps the main disadvantage of this bracelet is that due to the fact that it is made of metal, when it comes into contact, it scratches other things, such as a laptop or computer keyboard.

Also, on a dark or any other color version of the strap, after a while the paint begins to peel off, so if you order a Milanese loop, then only in a standard silver color. In addition to all this, it is not very convenient to play sports with him, so before training, for example, in the gym, you need to change the strap.

Buy Milanese mesh bracelet for Apple Watch

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Leather strap for Apple Watch

A strap made of stitched genuine leather is more suitable than other standard models for lovers of the classics.

The manufacturer offers several colors, as well as an abstract guarantee of the quality and wear resistance of genuine leather.

Buy leather strap for Apple Watch

Another stylish strap. Unlike the original, it is not genuine, but artificial leather, but it also costs almost 10 times less. It looks cool and from the outside you can’t say at all that this is a bracelet with Aliexpress. The material is pleasant to the touch. The mount here is magnetic, which also allows you to quickly remove and put on your Apple Watch.

Due to the fact that the leather is artificial, I do not recommend playing sports in this strap. But in general, for its price, as an interchangeable strap, for example, under a suit or formal wear, it will fit just fine.

Buy leather strap for Apple Watch

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Nike Sport Band

Sports Nike bracelet. My favorite strap. It is the same as a regular sports one, only with holes that make the design of the Apple Watch more attractive and the hand when the watch in this bracelet does not sweat.

In fairness, it should be noted that such a bracelet is not suitable for every outfit.

Buy Nike Sports Band for Apple Watch

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Braided monobracelet

Braided monobracelet. One of the most fashionable bracelets for Apple Watch. Made from stretchy nylon. But at the same time, it is also necessary, as with a sports monobracelet, to choose the right size. In general, the bracelet is comfortable and pleasant to the touch, the hand does not sweat in it.

I also ordered the trendy Pride Version (solely for the sake of beauty) and it is made perfectly, the threads do not stick out, and the fasteners are made firmly, the watch is securely fixed.

This strap, by the way, is not officially sold in Russia, so Ali is the only option to get it, albeit a Chinese copy.

Buy braided mono bracelet for Apple Watch

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Sports nylon bracelet

For those who do not want to guess with the size, I recommend ordering a sports nylon Velcro strap.

Its main advantage is that it is practically not felt on the hand, so it is pleasant to sleep with it, and in general, a worthy option for use on an ongoing basis.

Buy sports nylon bracelet for Apple Watch

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We figured out the straps, let’s move on to the analysis of useful things for the Apple Watch that I found on AliExpress.

Apple Watch Screen Protector

Screen protectors, the most fragile and expensive part of the Apple Watch, are tricky. There are either glasses (which are actually just a piece of plastic in most cases), or whole watch cases that additionally protect the screen. I found it on Ali and have already tested just such a hydrogel film from Rock.

The main feature of such films is that small scratches on it heal on their own over time, but naturally it will not protect against strong blows, you should definitely keep this in mind. When ordering, you can choose any model and size of Apple Watch.

The kit comes with 2 films at once – if something goes wrong during installation, you will have one more attempt. In general, sticking the film evenly is quite simple, but I, in turn, recommend watching the installation video from the manufacturer’s brand, which can be found by scanning the QR code on the back of the box.

Buy hydrogel film for Apple Watch

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Apple Watch Charging Stand

Performs the function of a stand and at the same time is a convenient organizer for the charging cable. Looks stylish on any desktop.

Buy an Apple Watch Charging Cradle

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Wireless Magnetic Charging for Apple Watch USB-C

You can connect to a laptop or power bank connector and charge the watch by simply placing it on the keychain.

A good option to have such a charger always in your backpack and at work, if you suddenly need to charge your smart watch from Apple.

Buy wireless magnetic charging for Apple Watch

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Wireless charging station for 2 devices, such as Apple Watch and iPhone or Apple Watch and AirPods

Protected according to all standards from surges and overheating.

Buy 2 in 1 wireless charger from ESR brand

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Evoland game: a unique RPG in which the quality of the graphics changes as you progress

12/01/2022 by

If you are tired of standard games with a predictable storyline and are looking for something new that does not fit into any one genre, we recommend that you pay attention to Evoland. Someone might argue that Evoland is a real RPG, but don’t make premature conclusions.

Download Evoland for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

One of the “tricks” of this game is that as you play it from start to finish, it changes in incredible ways. Evoland is a kind of RPG encyclopedia, where their history is presented in all its glory. The game begins like a classic Game Boy and ends with the top 3D games of our time.

During the game, you can follow the evolution of the RPG and level after level to improve the gameplay itself. So, if at first the picture is black and white, then with each new level you will find chests that open up new opportunities. Soon colors and sounds, different locations, weapons, monsters, etc. will appear in the game.

Of course, you can dig through Wikipedia and find iconic games popular at one time or another, download them and walk through from start to finish. However, why waste time and resources when you can download Evoland to your iOS device and test all the cult toys in one game? You can prove yourself in turn-based battles, fight in bloody carnage in the best traditions of Diablo, as well as wander through the dungeons and calmly walk through quiet villages. Thanks to this variety, Evoland never gets boring!

Interestingly, pumping is provided in Evoland, but it does not play the main role here and has little effect on anything. Don’t expect to amass a huge arsenal of weapons or a pile of new clothes here. The main thing here, after all, is an excursion into history and the ability to kill several birds with one stone at once, that is, in one game to feel all the delights of classic RPGs.

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To whom delights, and to whom and cliches, you can argue, and you will be absolutely right. Evoland has all the RPG clichés bordering on parody. There are good and bad characters, various doors and keys to them, platforms and even a journey through the timeline. However, the gameplay is not boring – the developers have implemented several interesting game mechanics in Evoland.

Despite a certain sense of parody of famous hits, Evoland is a completely coherent game that is fun to play. Although the battles may seem a little primitive, they can immerse you in the game. It will take you six to seven hours to complete Evoland, but every second will give you a lot of pleasure, and you will not want to turn it off until you have passed to the end.

It is worth noting that, despite all this vinaigrette from various games, Evoland is made with taste and is capable of surprising in the best way, and sparkling dialogues will certainly not let you get bored. On the App Store, the game scored 4.5 out of a maximum of 5 – a very impressive result.

You can download Evoland from the App Store for 379 rubles. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch running iOS 8.0 and later. There is a localization into Russian.

Download Evoland for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

Review of the game Evoland 2 for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV – continuation of the Evoland story…

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Review of Vandals for iPhone and iPad: Quality Adventure Puzzle of Graffiti Writers

06/01/2022 by

Meet Vandals – a new creation from the developers, designers and artists of the French independent studio Cosmografik. I must say, the team did their best to create a colorful product with a fascinating interactive storyline that unfolds during the game.

Download Vandals for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

Vandals is an isometric puzzle game that immerses the player in the history of street art, from its humble beginnings in Paris, its revolutionary popularity in post-war Berlin, to its heyday in metropolitan areas like New York.

In Vandals, you control a graffiti artist as he creates his art on a variety of surfaces, including walls of buildings, trains and other public facilities. You will have to work very quickly to avoid falling into the hands of the police. In addition, all your dexterity is required to dodge the dogs and not be caught in the security camera lens.

The game allows you to create your own graffiti using different colors and techniques and even show them to the general public by posting on social networks. You can come up with your own signatures and then print them on the surfaces you want. This feature will certainly appeal to those who do not like to draw a lot or are afraid to ruin the drawing.

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As the game progresses, you will travel to various cities (including Berlin, San Francisco, Tokyo, Sao Paulo and New York) and solve puzzles. Each level contains a secret postcard with a vintage image, which records a particular fact from the history of street art. If you are interested in the origins of graffiti, its pioneers and key moments in development, Vandals is a real godsend for you.

You can control the character by moving him along predetermined paths. You will have to distract the guards with a whistle or a thrown bottle. You can shorten the path by cutting through metal barriers or using hatches. With the exception of a few more options, these are, perhaps, all the possibilities for movement.

Remember that graffiti becomes more difficult with each level due to additional obstacles! If you are discovered by a policeman, the chase will surely begin, and if you are caught, the game is over.

At Vandals, the artists and designers from Cosmografik put their talent to the test, creating an adventure that can literally be felt by touch. The palette of neon colors pleases the eye, and the stylish electronic soundtrack immerses you in the atmosphere of street art in the best possible way.

Download Vandals for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

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What is HDR, Auto HDR and Smart HDR in an iPhone camera, should it be turned on, and how does it affect photo quality

02/01/2022 by

Smart HDR is, as the name suggests, similar to normal HDR, but smarter. This feature first appeared on the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR in 2018. It takes full advantage of all camera sensors, the power of the A12 Bionic neural chip, the capabilities of machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer vision and the latest advances in mobile photography. Thanks to Smart HDR, all iPhone users can easily capture pictures with sufficient light and high dynamic range.

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The user is not required to delve into fine-tuning – just press the shutter button, and the iPhone will do the rest. But behind such a simple feature lies sophisticated technology that takes full advantage of Apple-designed processors and graphics chips. This hardware is optimized to interact with the camera software, allowing you to take beautiful pictures effortlessly.

Previous iPhones already had regular HDR and Auto HDR features, but Smart HDR debuted on the iPhone XS / XR series.

Smart HDR delivers better color quality and more highlights and shadows in your photos

On older models, the function will not work due to the lack of the required fast sensors, shutter lag and other new improvements. Auto HDR is mainly used by users to capture a moment in time with more detail and take sharper, more realistic shots.

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What is HDR

This abbreviation itself literally stands for High Dynamic Range. This is the name given to a digital photography technique that allows you to take great pictures in scenes with high contrast levels. HDR allows you to compose the tones of several similar images to expand the dynamic range beyond the built-in capabilities of the capture device. This feature works best when photographing a shaded subject against a bright background.

Only HDR makes such shots possible: excellent detail in low light, no overly bright sky on the right side of the shot

On traditional DSLR cameras, you have to choose between too bright a background or a shaded subject. HDR, on the other hand, allows you to accurately display both. With this feature enabled, iOS quickly takes three consecutive shots, each with a different exposure level. One is at normal level, one is for the brightest part of the scene, and one is for the darkest part of the scene. The best parts of each exposure are combined into one HDR frame. HDR is especially useful in challenging lighting conditions such as harsh, bright backlights.

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The images below clearly show how the HDR function works.

In the first (left) image, the exposure has been balanced to best represent the sky. Because of this, the object turned out to be too dark. In the second photo, the shutter speed was balanced for the best shot of the subject in the foreground. This made the sky overexposed or just too bright. HDR blended all three frames to enhance detail and present them in bright and midtones.

As you can see, HDR took the best parts of the overexposed and underexposed shots and combined them with the third shot taken at normal exposure. This made it possible to obtain a detailed photograph (located on the right) with high contrast.

The sophisticated displays of Apple gadgets are capable of displaying a wide color gamut. The cameras of these devices also know how to create it. They allow you to increase the dynamic range of HDR images by 60%.

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Auto HDR on iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus

On iPhone X, iPhone 8, and 8 Plus and newer, this feature is enabled by default in iOS. The latest models of smartphones from Apple actively use HDR not only in the main camera unit, but also on the front one, when the device considers it possible to improve the photo. But this behavior of the iPhone can be turned off. The Auto HDR switch can be set to inactive in the camera settings (app Settings → Camera) in the HDR section.

It has already been mentioned that devices such as iPhone XR, iPhone XS / XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone SE 2, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini The iPhone 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max has improved camera sensors and chips to deliver improved HDR. Based on these benefits, Apple has created an even more advanced version of Auto HDR. It is not for nothing that it got the name Smart HDR.

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Smart HDR on iPhone XR, iPhone XS / XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone SE 2, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max

Smart HDR is activated by default whenever needed to improve image quality based on shooting conditions. Unlike previous HDR modes, this smart one works with a wider range of scene types. Some of them could not use traditional HDR: Portrait and Portrait Lighting modes, panoramic and burst shots, live photos and other similar real-life scenarios.

All HDR images taken with iPhone X (iPhone 8/8 Plus) or later are marked with a distinctive HDR icon in the very corner. On the iPhone XS, and newer models, Smart HDR is involved in almost all photographs, but the icon at the bottom of the photos appears only if it is significantly processed.

Below is an example with two different Apple devices to showcase Smart HDR image enhancement with faster sensors, better chips, and improved processing algorithms for newer devices.

Left: Auto HDR on iPhone X; Right: Smart HDR on the iPhone XS. Notice the overexposed clown in the Auto HDR photo.

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The difference is obvious. The image on the iPhone X is clearly disrupted in tricky lighting, but the image on the iPhone XS looks much better. This happened precisely due to Smart HDR. Notice the ability to read the Shelton Theater on the back of the clown’s mouth. However, you can also turn off Smart HDR in the camera settings, so as not to use this function every time you press the shutter button in the Camera application. To manually control HDR, do the following:

On iPhone iPhone XR, XS / XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, SE 2, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max, turn off Smart HDR along the way: Camera → Settings…

On iPhone X / 8/8 Plus, turn off Auto HDR along the way: Camera → Settings…

On previous models, turn off HDR along the way: Camera → Settings…

On all iPhone models that support HDR, this feature can be controlled directly in the Camera app without going to Settings. To do this, in the top panel, you just need to click on the HDR icon and select the mode On or Off…

Note: On iPhone XS and later, when Smart HDR is enabled, the HDR switch will not be on the camera itself.

All iPhones prior to the iPhone 8 always save a normal exposure image in the Photos app along with its HDR counterpart. This is because the technology has not yet been fully developed, and the photographs were not always perfect. Of course, storing two versions of a photo at once, normal and HDR, doubles the amount of storage required for each shot.

If the issue with the availability of free space is relevant, then you can save only the version with HDR, abandoning the source. To do this, you need to go to Camera → Settings and enable the parameter “Leave original”… And the latest iPhones with advanced chips and sensors, such as the iPhone XS and above, by default do not save the image at normal exposure along with the HDR version of the image.

In fact, this is the main thing to know about HDR on the iPhone.

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How to automatically improve photo quality on iPhone and iPad

02/12/2021 by

Many Apple fans often take photos using the company’s mobile devices. And if the composition of an image taken on an iPhone or iPad looks great right away, then the colors sometimes require some adjustment. In such cases, the built-in tools of the application can come to the aid of users “Photo“.

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How can I improve the quality of photos on iPhone and iPad using the Photos app?

1… Run the app Photo on iPhone or iPad;

2… Open the photo you want;

3… Click on the “Edit“, Which is in the top menu;

4… Click on the magic wand icon;

5… To change the intensity, move the scale Auto…

By clicking on the photo several times, you can follow the change in the photo “before” and “after”;

6… If you like the changes, then click on the button “Ready»In the lower right corner;

7… The modified photo will be saved in the application “Photo“;

It is worth noting that after using the automatic photo enhancement function, the original image is also saved. In order to return to the original image, you need to open the “improved” version and click on the button Return, after which the action will be canceled.

For more detailed image editing, use the standard application filters Photo… The results can be impressive.

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Cat Quest for iPhone and iPad: quality RPG in the kingdom of cats

22/10/2021 by

Cats are undoubtedly everyone’s favorites, and almost no one can resist the warm purring lumps. If you need to “spin” something, stick a cute cat there, and success is guaranteed. Fortunately, in Cat Quest, cuddly kittens aren’t just bait for potential players. The game from the Singaporean independent studio The Gentlebros truly captivates and gives a lot of pleasure, although not without the help of cute four-legged.

Download Cat Quest for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

Cat Quest is an action RPG inspired by RPGs like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy. The action takes place in an open world, completely inhabited by kittens of all stripes – here you can meet villager cats, magician cats, adventurer cats and even evil witch-cats. Of course, there are also funny monsters, but they pale against the background of the meowing kingdom.

The country of cats is called Felingard. Rather, it is not even a country, but a whole continent surrounded by seas. The edges of the continent have bizarre outlines, and the land is replete with dungeons and outlandish ruins. The detailed map of Felingard that appears on the screen resembles a board game card. All details are carefully traced, and the names that play up everything related to cats cannot fail to bring a smile.

According to the plot of Cat Quest, the evil magician Drakot kidnapped the sister of the main character-cat – the legendary dragon-slayer Dovakot. At the same time, the hero himself ended up on land, and to save his sister from captivity he must fight four dragons. Defeating magical reptiles is not so easy, and you will have to train your character with might and main by completing various tasks.

Do not worry, because fighting opponents is actually not that difficult. All enemies have only a certain set of hits and behave according to patterns. Moreover, all hits are visualized before being applied, and you will have enough time to prepare. You can deal with opponents both with the help of spells, and simply by chopping them with a sword. True, not everyone can be defeated with magic alone, and some enemies have enviable dexterity and can use combinations of blows. It is worth noting that in the game the emphasis is not on points, but on your skill and reaction.

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Overall, Cat Quest is a lot of fun to play, and time flies by (rest assured, with this game appearing on your phone, a few nights will definitely be busy). All quests are simple enough, but very funny. Nothing supernatural is required from you – choose a quest (for example, destroy the monsters in the cave) and pump the level.

The character has the following characteristics: health, power of blow with a sword and power of magic. The higher the level, the higher the indicators. You can increase the characteristics with the help of items (armor, headgear and weapons), which are also pumped.

When it comes to graphics, Cat Quest is a sheer treat on the eye. The 2D game is very colorful and bright, the kittens are incredibly cute and the monsters are funny. If you are looking for a fabulous good game that will suit both children and adults, download Cat Quest, you will not regret it.

Download Cat Quest for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

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Gold Plated HDMI Cable: Will the Picture Quality Be Better if I Buy a Gold Cable?

16/08/2021 by ALOK DAS

If you recently purchased an HDMI cable, you could see firsthand how the prices for this product vary. HDMI cables with gold-plated contacts stand out from the total mass of proposals, and not only the price, but also the capabilities attributed to them.

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What are Gold HDMI Cables?

Gold plated HDMI cables are easy to spot on the counter due to their unusual shiny appearance. The connectors that connect to devices and screens are plated with a very thin layer of gold. This is how such cables differ from ordinary ones.

This extra layer of gold on the connectors makes the HDMI cable more expensive than a traditional product. And the increased price immediately begs the question: Are gold HDMI cables really better than regular cables?

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Will the picture quality be better if I buy a gold HDMI cable?

One of the most popular claims that gold HDMI cable manufacturers cultivate is improved signal transmission using gold plating. It is believed that electricity passes through gold better than in conventional cable, so the signal degradation and loss will be less when the signal passes through the cable.

But there is one flaw in this statement – HDMI cables are designed for digital signal transmission… In the middle of the 2000s, a massive replacement of analog TVs with digital ones began to take place. Loss-in-the-cable claims date back to the time when a bad signal resulted in a blurry or poorly detailed picture.

In analog technology, data is transmitted using a signal in the form of a waveform. Such signals were susceptible to interference and could be misinterpreted, sometimes resulting in a blurry image. But digital signals are, in fact, only one or zero. There are no options for misinterpretation – either the picture is here or it is not.

By connecting any HDMI cable and receiving video without errors, the image quality can already be considered the best. There is no point in purchasing a gold cable and getting an even better picture. After all, this would indicate that gold cables can transmit better quality ones and zero, but this does not happen in principle.

If the HDMI cable breaks or is of poor quality on its own, then you will see white dots all over the screen. They are also called simply “snow” or “sparkles”. The essence of this problem is that the very “one” and “zero” do not reach the receiver at all. We are talking about a poor-quality cable, and not about a lack of gold on its contacts. It is also important to remember that both standard and high speed HDMI cables are available. They differ in support of certain permissions.

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Latency in gold HDMI cables relative to standard cables

Some gold HDMI cable sellers often say that this premium product has lower signal latency than regular cables. This parameter is really critical for games, it depends on how much faster the player’s actions will be visually performed on the computer screen or a TV connected to the console. And again, we can mention that certain manufacturers justify the difference in latency by the slower passage of electricity through conventional connectors relative to gold ones.

But with this theory, too, not everything is so obvious. While people argue about the effectiveness of gold plating on connectors, even premium HDMI cables use copper as a wire inside… This limitation means that the signal travels almost all the way at the same speed as any other standard HDMI cable.

Buying a gold HDMI cable to reduce latency is similar to buying a fast car to drive through traffic. You can get in and out of a traffic jam faster, but inside it you still move at the same speed as the entire stream.

If you are looking for better response times, then there is no need to spend on an expensive HDMI cable. It is better to buy a high-quality gaming monitor with low response time and support for HDMI 2.1 functions, since there are many options on the market for almost any budget.

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Is there any use whatsoever for HDMI cables with gold plated connectors?

So far, we have been rather skeptical about the so-called “facts” that manufacturers instill in us by recommending gold-plated HDMI cables. But still, why should the golden HDMI cable be preferred over the usual one. There are several reasons for the superiority of this premium product over its counterparts.

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Gold corrodes more slowly than common metals

All of our computers and gadgets contain some amount of gold. The valuable metal is located on the boards and contacts. There is an important reason for the use of gold in electronics – this metal is rather slowly corroded and destroyed.

The gold present in electronics simply protects it from corrosion. After all, damage to the internal contacts will lead to premature failure of the device.

But do not rush to disassemble your devices and look for valuable metal there. It is estimated that a typical modern phone contains only about 50 milligrams of gold. And it costs about 40 rubles at current prices – this is clearly not enough that disassembling the smartphone made sense.

In other words, living in an area with a real metal corrosion problem might force you to purchase an HDMI cable with gold contacts. Such a product will simply last longer. And the destruction of metal is manifested in conditions of high humidity and concerns people living by the sea, rivers or those who are sailing. If your area has high humidity levels, then a gold-plated HDMI cable will really last longer thanks to its spray protection.

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HDMI cables with gold connectors give a premium feel

Let’s be honest – while the performance statistics for HDMI cables with gold connectors may be cheating, this product looks quite impressive. The manufacturer took care of the appearance of the product. The consumer feels that he has got into the hands of an elite-level cable. And even if its characteristics do not differ from the standard inexpensive cable, even the visually “golden” product will look richer. But anyone wants to stand out from the crowd, even at the expense of such a spectacular accessory.

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Does it make sense to surcharge for a gold cable?

If you have the opportunity to purchase both gold and regular cables, which one should you choose? Based on the foregoing, there are practically no reasons for overpaying. This kind of product may be needed by people whose environment is conducive to corrosion and those who want to feel their elitism. For the rest of the people, the capabilities of ordinary cables will be enough – they will also serve qualitatively.

But there is also an unexpected problem. It will be trivial for you to find a store that sells cables without expensive spraying.

In the end, you can end up buying gold cable, especially at a good price, even knowing that it is no better than regular cable. But even if you can afford to pay more for gold, don’t be fooled by the claim that such a cable will be better.

While there is nothing wrong with gold-plated HDMI cables, the myths surrounding them make this product look better than it actually is. But if you’re able to get a regular cable, you don’t need to pay extra for the gold one. Only a certain and small group of people really need it.

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Where to Buy a Good Gold Plated HDMI Cable?

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the quality inexpensive options for HDMI cables offered on AliExpress.

Moshou

High-strength gold-plated HDMI cable with 8K resolution and HDMI 2.1 features. Cables are offered in lengths: 0.25 m, 0.5 m, 1 m, 1.5 m, 2 m, 3 m, 5 m.

Buy HDMI Cable Moshou

Baseus

High-strength gold-plated HDMI cable from a reputable manufacturer with support for 8K resolution and HDMI 2.1 features. Cables are offered in lengths: 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, 5 m.

Buy Baseus HDMI Cable

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Review of the game Oddworld New’n’Tasty for iPhone and iPad – a quality remake of the popular 3D-platformer quest

06/07/2021 by ALOK DAS

Probably, many people remember the hit of the late 90s – the game Oddworld with characters whose name could not be pronounced without blushing. “Mudokons” and “glucons” were then heard by many, including those who had never been interested in video games. Nowadays, you can play your favorite childhood game on your iOS device. Or rather, not exactly this game, but a remake.

Download Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

I must say, the remake of Oddworld New’n’Tasty turned out even better than the original of 1997, because now the game’s universe has been transferred to a three-dimensional world and looks very modern. The toy is a cross between a platformer and a quest. Here you will have to work equally as muscles and brains.

The main character in the game is a representative of the mudokon race named Abe. The unsuspecting hero worked in a factory, until one day he found out that they want to use his race to produce an innovative product – “mudokon on a stick”. Abe decided to make an escape, and his further fate will entirely depend on you.

Running to save your own skin is not in the spirit of mudokons, so the hero wants to save as many of his fellows as possible. To do this, he will have to show the skills of a leader – to command who and where to stand and what to do, as well as separate the fighters when, under the influence of an angry gas, the mudokons begin to pounce on each other. In addition, you need to learn how to skillfully bypass the traps and get rid of the guards.

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Abe can not only run, but also sneak, throw grenades, turn the valves (and indeed interact with objects), communicate with other members of the race, and even penetrate the minds of other creatures. However, it is not so easy to penetrate the enemy’s head. Sensing something was wrong, the enemy will immediately be on the alert and may even shoot. If, nevertheless, Abe manages to move into one of the guards, he still will not have many opportunities for escape, since the skills of the possessed guard will dramatically decrease. Therefore, you will have to push enemies against each other, lure them into mines, etc.

The gameplay of the novelty is practically no different from the original. One of the most tangible innovations is the emergence of difficulty levels. Fans of the first version will surely be delighted that the character will stop dying after each injury at the first levels. In addition, quick saves have been added to Oddworld New’n’Tasty.

It is also worth noting that the camera now tilts slightly in the game, allowing you to take a closer look at the world. We must pay tribute to the developers, they did not stint on the details, while maintaining the style of the game. Oddworld New’n’Tasty has more space, and two hundred new ones have been added to the 29 original mudokons.

The cost of Oddworld New’n’Tasty in the App Store is 449 rubles. The application can be installed on an iOS device running at least version 8 of the operating system. There is a localization into Russian. Keep in mind that you need 3.6 GB of free space on your device to install Oddworld New’n’Tasty.

In the meantime, there is no need to worry about it. ”

Download Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

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Broken Age is a quality colorful adventure game for iOS, Mac and Apple TV

20/06/2021 by ALOK DAS

The name of Tim Schaefer is known to any gambling addict. A native of LucasArts, who opened his studio Double Fine, often pleases fans of non-trivial games with his own products. Released in January 2014 Broken Age has gained popularity all over the world. The game is available for both iPhone and iPad and Mac users.

Download Broken Age for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV (App Store)
Download Broken Age for macOS (Mac App Store)

The reason for the popularity of the game Broken Age, which began on Kickstarter, is a whole complex of features due to the non-trivial approach to the work of Tim Schaefer. Refusing to saturate the quest with intractable puzzles, the developer focused on the plot, characters and details of the game. This does not mean at all that there are no complex puzzles in the game – they are, but sparing the intellect of the gamer. “Causalization”, that is, simplifying the passage of the game, was not an end in itself, but was subordinated to the requirements of the plot.

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In Broken Age, it is the plot that sets the tone for the entire game, and it is from its twists and turns that riddles and puzzles appear. This may scare off a potential player, but according to the reviewers, Broken Age is an outstanding game in terms of plot, and its adaptation is quite possible in the future.

The game has two main characters – teenagers Shay and Vella. According to the plot, tired of aimless exploration of space and hyper-care of artificial intelligence, pilot Shay is looking for at least some kind of loophole in a world filled with events and adventures, and not their illusion.

In contrast to the guy, the girl Vella has a very busy life. When meeting this character, he is faced with the task of saving him from being sacrificed to a monster. Striving for a calm measured life, Vella will go down in history with every step she takes. Both characters following their path will meet only at the end of the game.

Download Broken Age for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV (App Store)
Download Broken Age for macOS (Mac App Store)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuCErygUS_g

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Huntdown Review: A Quality Retro Shooter

07/06/2021 by ALOK DAS

Perhaps one can easily explain the rise in popularity of retro games. Despite the clearly simplified graphics in relation to their modern heavyweight counterparts, these products have their own attractive magic. As a result, teenagers become interested in playing something new and seemingly primitive, just for the sake of switching focus. And the older generation, in search of leisure, returns to those games that filled time with themselves a long time ago.

Download game Huntdown for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

In addition, it makes it possible to regain lost feelings and emotions and again feel like a child, whose eyes light up from the opportunity to play on the console. And the quality of the graphics here fades into the background, especially since the game mechanics have not gone anywhere and still require attention, reaction and are able to give joy from playing in co-op and killing a difficult boss. The number of retro games is growing, different emulators are multiplying, and the good old 16-bit consoles are on the shelves again. It is these motives that prompted the Swedish studio Easy Trigger Games to release the game Huntdown.

The Huntdown game itself is a 2D shooter. There is not much to be surprised at – there were not so many genres and possibilities then, so almost half of the games copied the mechanics of each other. And 2D shooters stood out for their popularity. The essence of such games is clear – through labyrinths and obstacles to make your way to the end of the level, shooting in different directions, destroying hordes of enemies.

At the start, the game offers to choose one of two modes – Arcade and Story. For beginners, it is better to choose the second mode, which is clear and classic. In arcade mode, you can compete in a set of points or start a co-op. Then you need to choose one of four difficulty levels – the higher it is, the less lives you will have. At the very beginning of the game, we are asked to choose one of three heroes. And here we can already fall into thoughtfulness for a while, because the characters differ both in their history and in their fighting skills. For example, Anna Konda is a 32-year-old Special Forces soldier, a brave woman specializing in firearms (very handy, isn’t it?). Her pistol fires in short bursts. John Sawyer is a veteran, 148-year-old police officer who lost several body parts in battle, but was partially restored with mechanized prostheses. He prefers not to trade in turns, rarely shoots, but deals a lot of damage. Finally, the 7-year-old scout droid Mow Man prefers to scribble with a submachine gun.

A small plot sketch is quickly replaced by immersion in the action itself. We find ourselves in a certain world of the future, where legality has clearly faded into the background or even the third plan. Here the main one is who has strength, or rather, a weapon. This world corresponds in its spirit to the films of the 1980s, the same “Blade Runner”, “The Terminator” or “Judge Dredd”.

Cityscapes are strewn with graffiti and illuminated with neon. And the most striking here are not gentle, spiritualized personalities, but the most frostbitten ones – all these punks, hockey hooligans, karatekas and bikers.

Through their hordes, we will have to make our way to the boss of the level. On the way, there are quite a few checkpoints and various events in which we will have to help the cops and put things in order. Either the street was blocked by colorful bandits, hiding behind a bus, then the enemy will simply run away from us, taking with him a valuable case. The two-dimensionality of Huntdown implies movement not only to the right and forward, but also up and down – there is where to jump and practice your eye.

Visually, everything looks bright and even with a touch of grotesque. And this is understandable – the background is an integral part of the game, which forms its flavor. The visuals aren’t full of details, but we’re talking about a retro game in the style of 8- and 16-bit consoles. But the sound is quite helpful for the immersion. Obviously synthetic disturbing losses are mixed with the cues of the villains, the sounds of numerous events.

An important part of the game is its interactivity. Bullets leave marks on the walls, bottles can scatter into fragments from an unsuccessful hit, barrels explode, opening caches, an alarm is triggered, and even shelters are saved only for a while. All this really revives the world, which now does not seem to be a background, but appears as a full participant in the events.

At first, the gameplay seems simple, and most of us have some experience in much more complex shooters. Run, shoot, dodge, find cases with money, and change weapons. Of course, you will have to tinker with the bosses. But gradually the game becomes more complicated, which creates the effect of involvement. It turns out that the enemies are becoming inventive and shelter is not a hindrance to them, and the range of weapons is expanding. Taking into account his proposal, you have to puzzle over which option to use against which enemy. The opponents themselves are very diverse, differing in both skills and colors. At the end of each level, a boss is waiting for us in the arena. Each of them has its own peculiarity – phases, armor, manner of fighting. You will not be able to pass the arena on “relax” – you will have to tinker.

The game Huntdown with a banal plot, albeit bright, but banal graphics, for some reason gets rave reviews from players and critics. The thing is that the creators tried not only to make a dull tracing paper from a retro game, but also to create it in accordance with the modern desires of gamers. Here you will not find a situation where death at the end of the level forces you to go through it again or the difficulty level goes off the scale. Long gone are the days when level design standards were just being formed and you could experiment with them to your heart’s content. Today the player knows what he wants, certainly not to get upset in vain because of the negligence of game designers. The levels themselves are quite passable, it will take 10-15 minutes to overcome each of them. This is just enough so as not to get tired of them. And with death, the loss of progress does not seem excessive – the player wants to repeat the test again and again, simply by changing the plan of action. This approach contains respect for gamers and for their time, which cannot but be tempting.

Huntdown is a success. The developers have kept the spirit of retro, which allows you to return to the atmosphere of the distant 1980s. At the same time, the game did not become a blind tracing of past hits, important details were carefully and accurately introduced into it, which allow modern players to pay attention to it. The experience gained in the game industry has helped to create a hit that will surely not make you bored. And if you’ve completed the Huntdown, but you still have a slight feeling of dissatisfaction, try the arcade or co-op mode, so the game can open up to you in a new way.

Download game Huntdown for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

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June 7, 2021

Tags: …

Slow motion video on iPhone: how to shoot and adjust quality

02/04/2021 by ALOK DAS

All modern iPhones have a colossal number of functions that users sometimes do not even know about, and this is a technological and rather expensive device. Today we will talk about such a wonderful function as the slow motion mode: on which devices it is present, how to use it all, and what settings can be tweaked.

Starting with iPhone 5s, all models of Apple smartphones can record video at 120 frames per second, but the latest versions (starting with iPhone 8) can record Slo-Mo video in Full HD resolution (1920 × 1080 pixels) at 240 frames /with.

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Comparison of time-lapse quality on different iPhone models

By default, iOS devices record Full HD video at 120 fps, but the settings can be changed if desired. We repeat that the ability to shoot Full HD video at 240 fps has been present since the iPhone 8, earlier models only support video recording at 720p (1,280 × 720 pixels).

iPhone 5s – 720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) @ 120fps
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus – 720p @ 240fps
iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus – 1080p @ 120fps or 720p @ 240fps
iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS / XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE 2, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro / iPhone 12 Pro Max – 1080p at 120 or 240 frames per second.

1080p / 240fps video recording requires the H.265 (High Efficiency Video Coding) codec, which is supported by the Apple A11 Bionic and newer.

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Which devices can view slow-motion video captured on an iPhone

Full HD video recorded at 240 fps can be viewed on any device that is compatible with iOS 11 or macOS High Sierra 10.13 or later, although a modern iPhone or Mac (iPhone 6 or later) may be required for quality playback , iPad Air 2, Mac models released since Mid 2015).

Slow motion video can be viewed on iPhone just like any other. All iPhone models from the 4s have a 60Hz display, so any high frame rate video plays without any loss of quality. For high-quality playback of the recording on desktop computers (based on macOS or Windows), devices equipped with a 6th generation Intel Core processor or lower are required.

However, it is best to watch videos on iPad Pro. All Apple professional tablets since 2017 support Apple ProMotion technology, which provides picture refresh rates up to 120 Hz. When playing video at 1080p / 240fps on an iPad Pro that supports this technology, the screen refresh rate will automatically increase to 120Hz for smoother, clearer playback.

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How much space does a slow-motion video take?

Due to the efficiency of the H.265 video codec (HEVC), 1 minute of Slo-Mo recording at 1080p / 120 fps takes about 350 MB of memory, 720p / 240 fps – 300 MB, 1080p / 240 fps – 480 MB …

How to Record Slow Motion Video on iPhone (1080p / 240fps)

1. Open the app “Settings” on your smartphone.

2. Tap the option “Camera”…

3. Select a subsection “Slow motion recording. video”…

4. Select a time-lapse quality.

Advice. To display the hidden option to record 720p video at 240 fps on modern devices, switch from Highly efficient on the Most Compatible at “Settings” – “Camera” → “Format”… The camera format menu does not appear on unsupported devices.

5. Close “Settings” and run the app “Camera”…

6. Select an option “Slowly” at the bottom of the interface.

Advice. iOS can remember the last used mode, for example, “Video” or “Photo”. To do this, open “Settings” → “Camera” → “Save settings” and toggle the option toggle switch “Camera mode” into position “On”…

7. Click the button “Record” or the volume key to start or stop recording.

The recorded video will be saved in the app “Photo” as a file with the extension .MOV.

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How to transfer videos to Mac or PC

In chapter “Settings” → “Photo” → “Transfer to Mac or PC” select the preferred format for transferring the file. There are two options available – Automatically and Transfer originals…

When you select the latter, the file format will be saved in its original form, and in the Automatically When transferring video from phone to computer, it will be encoded with H.265 encoder, increasing compatibility by resizing the file. Use this setting if your computer does not support the H.265 video codec.

When transferring videos using AirDrop or the Share menu, iOS always transfers the converted H.264 version for better compatibility.

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Examples of slow motion video captured on iPhone

An example of shooting in Slo-Mo mode on iPhone 5s:

An example of shooting in Slo-Mo mode on iPhone 6:

An example of shooting in Slo-Mo mode on iPhone X:

What if I have an old iPhone that doesn’t have slow motion?

Owners of older iPhone and iPad models should not worry, because there are programs in the App Store that allow you to add this feature even to iPhone 4s and iPad 2. You can read about one of them in this article.

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What is HDR, Auto HDR and Smart HDR in an iPhone camera, should it be turned on, and how does it affect photo quality

30/01/2021 by ALOK DAS

Smart HDR is, as the name suggests, similar to normal HDR, but smarter. This feature first appeared on the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR in 2018. It takes full advantage of all camera sensors, the power of the A12 Bionic neural chip, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer vision and the latest advances in mobile photography. Thanks to Smart HDR, all iPhone users can easily take pictures with sufficient light and high dynamic range.

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Previous iPhones already had regular HDR and Auto HDR, but Smart HDR debuted on the iPhone XS / XR series.

Smart HDR delivers better color quality and allows you to capture more light and dark details in your photos

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What is HDR

Only HDR makes such shots possible: excellent detail in low light, no overly bright sky on the right side of the shot

On traditional DSLR cameras, you have to choose between too bright a background or a shaded subject. HDR allows high-quality display of both. With this feature enabled, iOS quickly takes three consecutive shots, each with a different exposure level. One is at normal level, one is for the brightest part of the scene, and the third is for the darkest. The best parts of each exposure are combined into a single high dynamic range frame. HDR is especially useful in difficult lighting conditions such as harsh, bright backlights.

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The images below clearly show how the HDR function works.

In the first (left) image, the exposure has been balanced to best represent the sky. This made the object too dark. In the second photo, the shutter speed was balanced for the best shot of the subject in the foreground. This made the sky overexposed or just too bright. HDR blended all three frames to enhance detail and present them in bright and midtones.

The sophisticated displays of Apple gadgets are capable of displaying a wide color gamut. The cameras of these devices also know how to create it. They can increase the dynamic range of HDR images by 60%.

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Auto HDR on iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus

On iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus and newer, this feature is enabled by default in iOS. The latest models of smartphones from Apple actively use HDR not only in the main camera unit, but also on the front one, when the device considers it possible to improve the photo. But this behavior of the iPhone can be turned off. The Auto HDR switch can be set to inactive in the camera settings (app Settings → Camera) in the HDR section.

It has already been said above that devices such as the iPhone XR, iPhone XS / XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone SE 2, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max have improved camera sensors and chips. providing enhanced HDR. Based on these benefits, Apple has created an even more advanced version of Auto HDR. It is not for nothing that it got the name Smart HDR.

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Smart HDR on iPhone XR, iPhone XS / XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone SE 2, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max

Smart HDR is activated by default whenever needed to improve image quality based on shooting conditions. Unlike previous HDR modes, this smart one works with more scene types. Some of them could not use traditional HDR: Portrait and Portrait Lighting modes, panoramic and burst shots, live photography and other similar real-life scenarios.

All HDR images taken with iPhone X (iPhone 8/8 Plus) or later are marked with a distinctive HDR icon in the very corner. On the iPhone XS, and newer models, Smart HDR is involved in almost all images, but the icon at the bottom of the photos appears only if it is significantly processed.

Below is an example with two different Apple devices to showcase Smart HDR image enhancement through faster sensors, better chips, and improved processing algorithms for newer devices.

Left: Auto HDR on iPhone X; Right: Smart HDR on iPhone XS. Notice the overexposed clown in the Auto HDR photo.

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The difference is obvious. The image on the iPhone X is clearly disrupted in tricky lighting, but the image on the iPhone XS looks much better. This happened precisely due to Smart HDR. Note the ability to read the Shelton Theater on the back of the clown’s mouth. But you can also turn off Smart HDR in the camera settings, so as not to use this function every time you press the shutter button in the Camera application. To manually control HDR, do the following:

On iPhone iPhone XR, XS / XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, SE 2, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max, turn off Smart HDR along the way: Camera → Settings…

On iPhone X / 8/8 Plus, turn off Auto HDR along the way: Camera → Settings…

On previous models, turn off HDR along the way: Camera → Settings…

On all iPhone models that support HDR, this feature can be controlled directly from the Camera app without going to Settings. To do this, in the top panel, you just need to click on the HDR icon and select the mode On or Off…

Note: On iPhone XS and later, when Smart HDR is enabled, the HDR toggle on the camera itself will not be present.

All iPhone models prior to the iPhone 8 always save a normal exposure image in the Photos app along with its HDR counterpart. This is because the technology has not yet been fully developed, and the photographs were not always perfect. Of course, storing two versions of a photo at once, regular and HDR, doubles the amount of storage required for each shot.

If the issue with the availability of free space is relevant, then you can save only the version with HDR, abandoning the source. To do this, go to Camera → Settings and enable the parameter “Leave original”… And the latest iPhones with advanced chips and sensors, such as the iPhone XS and above, by default do not save the image at normal exposure along with the HDR version of the image.

In fact, this is the main thing to know about HDR on the iPhone.

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How to reduce size (compress) video without losing quality on Windows, Mac and Linux computer

25/01/2021 by ALOK DAS

In this article, we will tell you how to prepare a high-quality video, shot in high resolution, for sending to the network or to any device (for example, iPhone or iPad) without losing quality, talk about audio and video formats, and also talk about convenient tools who are capable of these tasks.

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We live in a high-tech world in which almost any device, be it a DSLR camera, GoPro or even a smartphone, can shoot high-quality, high-definition video. This is definitely great except for one drawback – the size of these files.

Storing and moving such content is a real pain, because the size of data in everyday life is no longer even calculated in gigabytes, but in terabytes. And if it comes to uploading files to the network or transferring to mobile devices, then get ready to go through a considerable number of converters and spend a good part of the day looking for an acceptable tool and profile. We are happy to help you in this matter.

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Free video compression software

If you have a question about converting video files, then you definitely need a computer (not a smartphone or tablet). Handbrake is a very powerful, free and, most importantly, cross-platform utility (macOS, Windows, Linux) that will perfectly cope with this task. Of course, if you want something less sophisticated, you can use some Freemake Video Converter or FFmpeg, which also proved to be excellent, but in this article we will perform the conversion via Handbrake.

Download Handbrake for macOS, Windows or Linux (developer’s official site)…

Launch the application and select a video, and only then we begin to understand the jungle of numerous settings.

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1. Start with audio

Before working with video, let’s take a look at audio. After the lines Original file, Heading and Preset there is an area of deep settings with tabs. Now we are interested in Audio… You will be surprised, but high-quality sound takes up a lot of disk space.

Make sure the video contains no more than one audio file. High-quality video (especially if it’s some kind of Blueray license) can have several audio tracks (channels) in different languages. Leave the one with priority, and delete the rest by selecting the “Nothing“. This is done in the column Track…
Select AAC (CoreAudio) or MP3 in the Codec column. These are the so-called lossy encoding formats, in which the audio is of a fairly high quality and relatively low weight.
In the “Bitrate” column, select “160” for most videos. If audio is very important, then you can set a higher bit rate (256 or 320). But generally 160 is enough.

P. S .: Please do not confuse the “Bitrate” and “Sample Rate” columns. The second one is always recommended to be left in “Auto”.

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2. Choose the best container and codec

If the video will be uploaded to video hosting sites like YouTube, Vimeo or Facebook, select MP4 as a container in the line Format tabs Summary…

Codecs are configured in the “Video” tab.

Choose H.264 or H.265 if you are working with high quality, high definition video. MPEG-4 will perform compression and the quality will drop slightly.

ATTENTION! Never change the Frame Rate (FPS) value.

FPS (Frames per second) – the number of frames per second. It is believed that for a comfortable video viewing, it is enough to have a recording with FPS fluctuating around 24-30 frames per second. It is logical to assume that it is possible to reduce the FPS with the 60 recorded by the camera to values acceptable to the eye, thereby supposedly achieving a smaller size without loss of quality (as if it were a resolution).

In fact, absolutely all video hosting sites, guides and experts do not recommend changing the number of FPS that was recorded by the camera. Reducing the number of frames will make fast-moving scenes choppy and unnatural.

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3. Reduce the resolution

It’s cool if your device can shoot video in 4K resolution, but not every monitor or TV supports it. The most popular resolution is HD or Full HD TV. Resolution is one of the most important components in reducing the size of a video file without degrading quality.

List of the most popular resolutions:

2160p (3840×2160);
1440p (2560 × 1440);
1080p (1920 × 1080);
720p (1280 × 720);
480p (854 × 480);
360p (640 × 360);
240p (426 × 240).

In Handbrake, the resolution is set in the menu “Dimensions“.

Conveniently, the new window has a button “Preview“, Which allows you to look at the final file resolution in the window before converting.

For YouTube or Facebook, the optimal resolution is 720p, although the same YouTube perfectly supports 4K.

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5. Bitrate

Let’s start with a little educational program. Bitrate is the number of bits used to store one second of multimedia content. In our case, the bitrate expresses the degree of compression of the stream. The whole thing is measured in kilobits or megabits (mainly for video) per second. The higher the bitrate, the better the video quality.

Many DSLR cameras and other devices shoot video in a higher bitrate than video hosting can transmit. For example, below are the recommended bitrate requirements depending on the video resolution for YouTube:

It is not recommended to make the bitrate lower than these values. Otherwise, quality will suffer. But if the bitrate is higher than these values, then you can reduce it.

This can be done in the “Video“By checking the box”Average bitrate”And indicating an acceptable value. Be sure to check the box “2-pass encoding“.

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Finally

To start converting video, click the button “Start”… With this step-by-step guide and clever Handbrake settings, you will be able to reduce the size of the final file without losing quality.

If desired, the encoding process can be stopped with the Stop button. You can watch the progress at the bottom of the program window.

The difference in size will greatly depend on the device or service on which the video will run.

Having worked in such a program, you can save a lot on the purchase of devices and drives with less memory. You see, 64 GB iPad instead of 256 GB or 512 GB modification is already enough for a rich film library.

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How to automatically improve photo quality on iPhone and iPad

05/01/2021 by ALOK DAS

♥ BY TOPIC: Mistakes of novice photographers, or how to take pictures correctly.

How can I improve the quality of photos on iPhone and iPad using the Photos app?

one… Run the application Photo on iPhone or iPad;

2… Open the photo you want;

3… Click on the “Edit», Which is in the top menu;

4… Click on the magic wand icon;

5… To change the intensity, move the scale Auto…

By clicking on the photo several times, you can follow the change of the photo “before” and “after”;

6… If you like the changes, then click on the “Done»In the lower right corner;

7… The modified photo will be saved in the application “Photo“;

For more detailed image editing, use the standard application filters Photo… The results can be impressive.

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It was

Has become

It was

Has become

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DISCOUNT (379p → 75p) Evoland game: a unique RPG in which the quality of the graphics changes as you progress

16/10/2020 by ALOK DAS

If you are tired of standard games with a predictable plot and are looking for something new that does not fit into any one genre, we recommend that you pay attention to Evoland. Someone might argue that Evoland is a real RPG, but don’t make premature conclusions.

Download Evoland for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

During the game, you can follow the evolution of the RPG and level by level to improve the gameplay itself. So, if at first the picture is black and white, then with each new level you will find chests that open up new opportunities. Soon colors and sounds, different locations, weapons, monsters, etc. will appear in the game.

You can, of course, rummage through Wikipedia and find iconic games popular at one time or another, download them and walk through from start to finish. But why waste time and resources when you can download Evoland to your iOS device and test all the cult toys in one game? You will be able to prove yourself in turn-based battles, fight in bloody carnage in the best traditions of Diablo, as well as wander through the dungeons and quietly walk in quiet villages. Thanks to this variety, Evoland never gets boring!

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To whom delights, and to whom and cliches, you can argue, and you will be absolutely right. Evoland contains all the RPG clichés bordering on parody. There are good and bad characters, various doors and keys to them, platforms and even a journey through the timeline. However, the gameplay is not boring – the developers have implemented several interesting game mechanics in Evoland.

It is worth noting that, despite all this vinaigrette from various games, Evoland is tastefully made and is capable of surprising in the best way, and sparkling dialogues will certainly not let you get bored. On the App Store, the game scored 4.5 out of a maximum of 5 – a very impressive result.

You can download Evoland from the App Store for 379 rubles. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch running iOS 8.0 and later. There is a localization into Russian.

Download Evoland for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

Evoland 2 game review for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV – the continuation of the Evoland story…

In the meantime, there is no need to know about it. ”

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DISCOUNT (749p → 0p) Implosion – Never Lose Hope – Console quality RPG for iPhone and iPad

12/08/2020 by ALOK DAS

Implosion – Never Lose Hope is another game characterized by its creators as a “console quality” product. To what extent the descriptions of the developers correspond to reality, you can find out below.

Download Implosion – Never Lose Hope for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

The phrase “console quality” is not always true. At best, the output is a visually rich product, but it has a number of drawbacks that prevent the game from becoming a real blockbuster. There are exceptions to this rule: Deus Ex: The Fall and the N.O.V.A. trilogy. Although they are not without errors.

Another attempt to compete with console content was the game “Implosion – Never Lose Hope” for iPhone and iPad.

The game begins with an acquaintance with the main character – a guy who for two decades has been interested in the secret of his uncle’s disappearance. The young man, together with like-minded people, decides to organize an expedition to previously unexplored areas in order to get answers to his questions tormenting him.

As a result, the main character will have to fight a mysterious life form called KSADA. The gamer expects an almost continuous hack with all sorts of monsters and mutants, which at first tones up and completely involves in the process, but over time, due to the absence of any development, it is simply boring.

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As for the gameplay, here the developers have tried their best. Unlike most games in this category with an application for the console level, Implosion took into account all the features of the game on mobile devices, and therefore the levels here do not last long (up to 7 minutes), the controls are simplified and each mission is filled with battles as much as possible.

The graphics are really high quality, although they do not reach the level declared by the developers. But this is compensated by the artist’s impeccable work. In general, the game is definitely worthy of attention.

Download Implosion – Never Lose Hope for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

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How to take photos correctly: 12 simple tips for those looking to improve the quality of their photos

26/07/2020 by ALOK DAS

Learning to shoot well is difficult – perhaps becoming a writer or programmer is even easier. Aiming the camera and pressing a button is easy, but taking a really good shot … It took me a year to get my first really good shot. And I am ready to share my experience with you!

Of course, this article will not make you a professional photographer. But you will learn to shoot a little better than you can – and this always makes a person happy and gives him the motivation to move on.

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1. Angles

Don’t shoot “automatically” – it’s better to spend 10 seconds thinking about the angle to take the picture. Walk around a bit and find an angle that looks more interesting than the usual stand in front of you and shoot.

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2. Shoot through something

Let there be something between the camera and what you are filming. A plant, a Victory sign, a grid pattern … whatever (watch the video below starting at 1:04 to get a better idea of what it is about). The more complex the picture in the photo, the better – this way you add depth to the shot and make it more interesting.

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3. Think differently

Everyone comes on vacation and takes standard photos in the style of “me and a birch tree”, but you don’t. Shoot a person or subject from unusual angles, close-ups, upside down, and so on.

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4. Find the light

In photography, lighting is incredibly important. So please take a little time to find a place with more light. If there is not enough light, it is better to come to the same place again at a different time than to take a frame for which you will be ashamed later.

When to come to the photo session? In photography, there is the concept of “golden hour” – this is the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset (although the duration of the “golden hour may vary slightly depending on the season). At this time, the sun is low and gives out soft diffused light. It is much nicer than the harsh midday light that inexperienced users often shoot in.

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5. Use frames

Let’s say you want to photograph a beautiful package. Just putting it on the table and taking a picture is too corny. Place a laptop, coffee cup, sweater around the edges. Such an ensemble kills two birds with one stone – it will create a “frame” around the main subject and turn ordinary objects into a real story.

Strictly speaking, all five tips can be boiled down to one thing: before you shoot, first come up with something interesting.

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6. Exposition

Photography is light. Newbies often think that all the “magic” happens in the camera, but in fact, the lighting is responsible for the “magic”. Photographers say that a well-lit subject can be shot poorly, but a poorly-lit subject or person will never come out well.

In order for there to be enough light, you must have an idea of the so-called. “Exposure triangle”.

During shooting, the camera opens the shutter and begins to transmit light through the lens. Then the light hits the camera matrix and is processed as an image. The quality of the final image depends on three factors:

Diaphragm… Determines how much the lens opens (and thus how much light hits the sensor). Measured in relation to focal length to aperture size (f / 2, f / 5, f / 11, etc.). The smaller the number after the slash, the wider the aperture. And the wider the aperture, the more light you get and the better your photography will be. In addition, this indicator affects the depth of field.

Excerpt… The parameter determines how long the camera shutter is open. The shutter speed is measured in seconds and fractions of a second (1/200, 1/60, 5 sec., Etc.). Working with shutter speed gives room for experimentation – in particular, with the amount of light on the matrix and the clarity of the picture. If the value is high, the photos will be blurry; if the shutter speed is short, on the contrary, they will be clear (even if they were moving quickly during shooting).

Light sensitivity – the ability of the matrix to perceive light. Measured in ISO units (100, 400, 6400 ISO, etc.). If the sensitivity is high, you will be able to shoot in poor light, but pay for it with the so-called “noise” (some “graininess” will appear in the photo).

This is the “exposure triangle”. Your task is to know and understand these three characteristics, and to select the ideal parameters for each situation.

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7. How to properly hold the camera in your hands

Still! After all, if your hands start trembling treacherously at the moment of shooting, the beam of light will spread across the matrix, and the picture will turn out to be blurry.

How to do it? Of course, it is best to use a tripod – especially when shooting at slow shutter speeds or in low light. If it is not there (or it is inconvenient to use it), place the camera on the palm of one hand and rest it with your elbow on the side. Are you shooting on iPhone or any other smartphone? Grasp it firmly with both hands and then press them as close to your body as possible to minimize unnecessary movement.

In the meantime, there is no need to know about it. ”

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8. Don’t forget the “rule of thirds”

A photo from a professional is always very easy to distinguish from a photo of a beginner! How? The pro knows about the compositional “rule of thirds” (in detail), but the beginner (most often) does not. What it is? Two horizontal and two vertical lines divide the frame into several “thirds” parts. Your task is to place all the most interesting along these lines or where they intersect. After all, the human eye is designed in such a way that it will always first of all look and try to find something interesting there.

For example, in the photo below, the horizon is one such line.

For example, in this picture, you immediately notice the tree – it is located exactly where the vertical and horizontal lines converge. If it were in the center, it would not be so beautiful.

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9. Choose a different perspective

There is nothing more boring than capturing something potentially very interesting from eye level!

Try changing your perspective – i.e. approach the object from an unusual side. For example:

Change altitude – approach or move away;
Change the angle – for example, shoot an object from the side.

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10. Do post-processing

“Advanced” photographers can tell you for a long time that doing post-processing means radically changing, “distorting” the source. But the truth is, they just don’t know how a digital camera works. It displays only its own interpretation of data from the original RAW file on the screen of a smartphone or “DSLR”. But you yourself almost certainly see everything a little differently!

So feel free to do post-processing – of course, without “kinks”. It’s like with make-up – one girl, sorry, “plasters up” and looks tasteless, while the other does everything right and only emphasizes her natural beauty.

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11. More Practice – Shoot Everything

Only constant pursuits and striving for self-improvement allow us to move forward. Don’t think that your “Most In-depth Course in Photography on YouTube” will teach you everything at once – you will have to take thousands of pictures before theoretical knowledge turns into practical skills.

“An ounce of practice is worth a pound of theory”.

12. It’s not about the cell

Yes, having a good camera in your hands is great. But she herself will not “take a picture” for you. An experienced photographer will do high-quality work even on an old iPhone’s camera, and even the most sophisticated “DSLR” cannot save a bad one. The decisive role in success is not the size of your wallet, but the correct work with exposure, perspective, composition (the same “rule of thirds”) and the correct application of the tips given above.

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Company of Heroes for iPad: a quality port of legendary real-time strategy

04/04/2020 by ALOK DAS

Released in 2006 for PC, the Company of Heroes game quickly became a hit and a classic of the genre. The real-time strategy takes the player to the battlefields of World War II. But now this game has received a new life in the form of adaptation for touch screens and the advent of the version for iOS. Publishers not only moved Company of Heroes to a new platform – the game received numerous changes in the control system. Can we talk about the emergence of a new game hit on iOS?

Download Company of Heroes for iPad (App Store)

In Company of Heroes, you must fight with the enemy, using your units and creating new ones. In this case, it will be necessary to formulate a combat scenario taking into account various types of troops and the type of terrain. If a sniper dug in the house, then a tank with a flamethrower will help to “smoke” it from there. During the battle, soldiers die, equipment and buildings collapse – everything looks very realistic, and the situation on the battlefield is changing dynamically. Most real-time strategies involve the direct collection of resources, but in Company of Heroes you need to capture sectors that provide the player with the resources necessary for further combat operations. You have to monitor your charges, ammunition and fuel, keeping a balance and thinking over the general tactics.

After the first launch of Company of Heroes, users get the opportunity to download additional content. It represents both individual maps and entire missions, as well as new high-quality models. After downloading the game itself from the App Store, you will need to additionally download about 1 GB of data. Fortunately, these in-game purchases at Company of Heroes are free. In total, the game will take about 5 GB of space on the built-in drive.

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The main content consists of several rather lengthy training missions that will not only introduce you to the mechanics of the game, but teach you how to work with its interface. It is proposed to choose one of two control options: “Command panel” corresponds to the desktop version of the game, but “Command wheel” is created for the version of the game on mobile devices.

The Command Wheel tool is a segmented circle that appears when you click on the screen and hold your finger there. Sectors contain various options for teams. This option is best suited for small screens and can even be used on iPhone.

But the “Command Bar” is a more traditional scheme, located initially in the lower right corner of the screen. Here are collected tiles with teams for units. The first users, and the developers themselves, strongly recommend training before starting the main campaign or battles, as some ways of interaction will turn out to be very unusual.

The main campaign of the game begins with the assault on the beach during the landing of the Allied forces in Normandy. Company of Heroes has great videos that seamlessly transition into the gameplay. In-game video is a combination of film and game scenes, looking both natural and appropriate, as applied to a specific plot. It is worth noting the high-quality voice acting, there is also the Russian language, thanks to high-quality localization. Passing one mission will open the next, there are 15 in total, but diversity can be added by choosing one of four complexity options.

In addition to the campaign, the game offers many individual maps on which from two to eight opponents can meet. At the moment, the current version of the game does not support multiplayer, so you have to configure the bots and their level.

The graphics, on the one hand, look authentic to the fairly old desktop version. On the other hand, if the soldiers and vehicles look well drawn, then the buildings and flags were blurry, and not all textures received high resolution. But the game’s performance is at a high level, even on the first iPad Pro models there will be no friezes or freezes, and autosaving takes place literally in a second.

The game discharges the tablet pretty quickly, but you can activate the power saving mode by lowering the quality of the graphics. In general, it is optimized for iPad Retina resolutions. But even on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the text seems a bit small, like some touch-sensitive controls.

For fans of real-time strategy games, the version of Company of Heroes for iPad will be a must-have. You can quite rightly reproach the control system, but you can not deny the quality of the game itself and its transfer to the new platform.

In the Russian App Store Company of Heroes costs 1090 rubles. This is a lot, but it is worth considering the likely appearance of additional extensions, as was the case with the PC version of the game.

Download Company of Heroes for iPad (App Store)

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