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Samsung NX1000, 16mm, F2.4, 1/30s, ISO 800

With year end comes Christmas lightings, and one of the ways to capture the Christmas spirit - literally - is to roam the shopping belt of Orchard Road where the decoration lights glisten.

If you carry a consumer compact camera and want to capture the lights, here are some tips Id like to share.

Switch Off Your Flash
Flash is useful to light up a near object, like a person. It cannot light up the entire street or the sky. So if you attempt to capture the street scene with flash, you will find that your foreground will be lit up unnaturally while the background will look darker. Try by turning off the flash and shoot again with steady hands.

Samsung NX1000, 16mm, F2.4, 1/20s, ISO 250

Adjust Exposure Manually
For many compact cameras, when you turn off the flash and let the camera meter automatically, the image might turn out overexposed, or blur. This is because the camera thinks that the scene is too "dark", which is correct. However, you wanted the dark to be dark. So, if you camera has a function called EV compensation, then you can adjust down the exposure by selecting a negative value of, say -1. Different cameras meter differently, so play around with this to get the optimal exposure.

Samsung NX1000, 16mm, F3.5, 1/30s, ISO 400

My favourite method is to set the shooting mode to Manual, which means you decide the aperture and shutter values. My usual settings are 1/30s, f/3.5, ISO 400. Anytime when you feel that the exposure is not bright enough, reduce the exposure by 1 step (1/15s -> 1/8s -> 1/4s, etc.).

Samsung NX1000, 16mm, F2.4, 1/13s, ISO 100

Manual Exposure + Flash
Now that you have achieved the best exposure value for shooting the night lights, you can add the flash to shoot portraits. Heres a tip: adjusting the shutter speed manually DOES NOT affect the exposure of the person lit by the flash. It will however brighten up the background. The catch is not to select too slow a shutter speed or else your background will be blurred.

Samsung NX1000, 16mm, F2.4, 1/20s, ISO 640, Flash

Help with "Dummy" Camera
If your compact camera is unable to do any of the above, all is not lost. Use the SCENE mode to work around. Find a Night Scene mode and use that. The results may not be consistent, but well, if you are serious about capturing better night scenes, then you would have to invest in a better camera. Look for one that lets you adjust exposure manually or shoot in M mode.


Happy Lights-Shooting
Over the years, camera manufacturers have been improving their camers to make them more consumer friendly. Some cameras have over 30 preset SCENE modes to cater for every scenario, but they all boils down to the control of depth of field (aperture) and speed of capture (shutter) to achieve proper exposure. Once you understand how camera works, then you will know how to overcome some shooting challenges and achieve more pleasing images.


P.S. if you have missed the year-end festivities, fret not. You can use the same techniques to capture any night light scenes.

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Today’s post comes from Keith Casey, Sr. Developer Evangelist at Twilio. In this post, Keith describes how to use Twilio with Google App Engine on the PHP runtime. You can follow Keith on Twitter at @caseysoftware or on Google+.



I’ve wanted to explore Google App Engine for years. Between its SLA, automatic scaling, and queuing system, it has always been compelling. Unfortunately, since my Python skills are somewhere between “Hello World” and “OMG What did I just do!?” I decided to save myself the embarrassment. When Google announced PHP support for App Engine, I was both ecstatic and intrigued about what might be possible. To get something running in just a few minutes, I decided to use our Twilio PHP helper.



When experimenting with a new Platform as a Service, there are nuances of which you should be aware like dealing with a virtualized file system and needing a separate service for email. However, the remaining nuances are usually pretty minimal and required only the “tweaking of my module” rather than a heavy “rebuilding of my app”.

Knowing that up front, let’s dig in.



Set up the PHP on App Engine environment



First, check out and follow Google’s Getting started with PHP on Google App Engine to set up your local environment. Their instructions will cover setting up the SDK, connecting to your account, and some details on debugging. It should set up your environment under http://localhost:8080/ which serves as the root of your application.



Upgrade your Twilio Helper library



Next, with respect to Twilio’s PHP Helper library, we’ve taken care of the nuances for you, the most important one of which involved falling back to PHP’s Streams when cUrl isn’t available. In your case, simply upgrade the library to v3.11+ or install it for the first time. You can use the library to send text messages and make phone calls exactly as you would in any other PHP environment:

<?php
// Include the Twilio PHP library
require "Services/Twilio.php";
 
// Set your AccountSid and AuthToken from www.twilio.com/user/account
$AccountSid = "ACXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX";
$AuthToken = "YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY";
 
// Instantiate a new Twilio Rest Client
$client = new Services_Twilio($AccountSid, $AuthToken);
 
// Make an array of people we know, to send them a message:
$people = array(
    "+14158675309" => "Curious George",
    "+14158675310" => "Boots",
    "+14158675311" => "Virgil",
);
 
// Loop over all our friends:
foreach ($people as $number => $name) {
 
    $sms = $client->account->sms_messages->create(
        "YYY-YYY-YYYY",     // Change the From number to a Twilio number youve purchased
        $number,            // the number we are sending to - Any phone number
        "Hey $name, Monkey Party at 6PM. Bring Bananas!"  // the sms body
    );
 
    echo "Sent message to $name";        // Display a confirmation message
}

If you’re interested in the the specific changes for our library, you can explore the relevant pull requests here and here. I also have an article called “Preparing your PHP for App Engine” in next month’s php|architect magazine.



URL Routing in PHP



Within App Engine, the entire routing system is powered by the app.yaml file. If you’re familiar with development using frameworks like Zend or Symfony, defining your routes will come naturally and may be marginally more difficult than copy/paste. If you’re only familiar with doing non-framework development in PHP, you’ll have to define a route for each and every PHP file the user accesses. In Google’s example “hello world” app, your app.yaml file should should begin with something like this:

application: examplehelloworld
version: 1
runtime: php
api_version: 1
threadsafe: true
 
handlers:
- url: .*
  script: main.php

The request handlers are the important part. If you’re using an MVC framework or OpenVBX, you’ll most likely have one primary element mapping your index.php file and a set of elements for static assets like JavaScript, CSS, and images.



Alternatively, if you’re not using a using a framework, app.yaml will map different URL patterns to individual PHP scripts, like this:

application: examplehelloworld
version: 1
runtime: php
api_version: 1
threadsafe: true
 
handlers:
- url: /images
  static_dir: images
 
- url: /send-sms
  script: send-sms.php
 
- url: /make-call
  script: make-call.php
 
- url: .*
  script: index.php

Within those individual PHP scripts, no changes are necessary, so our make-call.php is straightforward and identical to our quickstart:

<?php
 
require Services/Twilio.php;
include credentials.php;
 
$client = new Services_Twilio($AccountSid, $AuthToken);
 
$call = $client->account->calls->create(
    1512-555-1212, // From this number
    17035551212,   // Send to this number
    http://twimlets.com/echo?Twiml=%3CResponse%3E%3CSay%3EHello%20Monkey!%3C%2FSay%3E%3C%2FResponse%3E&
);
print $call->sid;

Also, the send-sms.php can be the same as our normal quickstart:

<?php
 
require Services/Twilio.php;
include credentials.php;
 
$client = new Services_Twilio($AccountSid, $AuthToken);
 
$call = $client->account->sms_messages->create(
    1512-555-1212, // From this number
    17035551212,   // Send to this number
    Hello monkey!!
);
print $call->sid;

Now you can access your scripts via http://localhost:8080/make-call.php and http://localhost:8080/send-sms.php respectively. If the file is one that doesn’t need to be accessible publicly, such as your credentials.php file, it shouldn’t have a listing.



Voila. You now have your first PHP application on Google App Engine!



I hope this is helpful as you test and deploy your PHP applications on Google App Engine. If you have any tips, feedback, suggestions, or just a good joke please let me know via email or Twitter: @CaseySoftware.



-Contributed by Keith Casey, Sr Developer Evangelist, Twilio

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Basics of DLNA

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is often wrongly understood as a streaming format, actually its a non-profit trade organization founded by Sony (2003). DLNA supporting devices, apps and programs are using Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for media management, discovery and control.

A device/program/app supporting DLNA can include a media server, a media player, or both of these. Media is streamed from the server to the player usually via WLAN network on which both the server and the player are connected to. Several servers and players can be included into the same network.

1. Stream from Jolla to your DLNA players

Ive managed in this using Android App "Smart TV WiFi Remote + DLNA". Its a free app, no accounts needed either, and it works perfectly on Jolla too. Heres the Installation guide:

• pre-requisites: DLNA supporting WLAN router (most of them do). Jolla phone and your media player must be connected to the same WLAN network.
• system-requirements: Samsung or LG television or Blueray player, or any DLNA capable media Player on your computer (Im using a free program "Samsung All Share" on win7)

1. Install Smart TV WiFi Remote + DLNA to your Jolla. I found it at Aptoide store as a trusted app. (Guide for installing Aptoide store can be found on a previous article)
2. Start the app, select "DLNA" and select your desired folders to share. The app has access to both your Android and Sailfish folders, showing them as one type.
3. After selecting, you can drop the app to your home screen and use your Jolla normally. Media sharing to your network stays on as long the app is running.
4. Connect to your Jolla with your DLNA capable player. If Jolla is not found automatic, check your Jollas local network IP (usually 192.168.X.X) from the phone or from your router and connect to it manually.
5. After the player connects to Jollas shared folders, you can just browse them and play the content (images, music, videos) of your player supported formats.

2. Using Jolla as a remote control
 (possible at the same time when streaming media from Jolla)

As the DLNA Server on Jolla can be left running, you can use another Android App on Jolla at the same time, remote controlling your DLNA Player. There are several remote control apps available for several TV/Blueray/DLNA players, just check the Aptoide store for your model. Im using Samsung BD-5500 as the player, so I installed app "Samsung Remote" to my Jolla. In this photo Im streaming a video saved to my Jolla, watching it from my TV and remoting the playback with Jolla:

3. Stream to Jolla from Plex media server

There are propably also other DLNA capable player apps which Jolla supports, but as I already wrote a review using Plex media server for this, heres an installation Guide for Plex:

• pre-requisites: WLAN router on your computer. Jolla connected to the same WLAN network.
• system-requirements: See the Install link below for supported operating systems.
  Plex is widely supported

1. Install Plex to your computer. When using beta version 0.9.8, Plex account is not necessary, just pass it when asked and select the folders you want to share. With Plex you can share images, music, videos and movies to your home WLAN network.
2. Install Plex version 3.2.4.87 to your Jolla phone. I found it available at Aptoide store malow.store.aptoide.com (add the store with writing this address at Aptoide) and 16 other stores. Note: This application has not been checked as trusted.
3. Start the server on your computer. Its running only as an icon near the clock, and the settings are accessed via a web browser.
4. On your Sailfish app launcer you only see an empty icon with the text "com", but you can start the app with tapping that. The icon is visible if youre using an Android launcer like GO Launcher EX
5. Your media server should be located automatic by Jolla. If not, check your media server IP from the computer and set it up manually. After that you can browse and play your shared content on Jollas screen. Plex transcodes the stream (if needed) on the server before sending it to your Jolla, so multiple video formats are possible.

4. Remote controlling Plex player on Jolla with another phone

While streaming media into Jolla, you can download a remote control for Plex to another mobile phone and control Jollas playback from that. I succeeded in this installing an app called "Plex remote" to my old Android phone.

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KIES is Samsung official application to interact with your devices from the computer, and has versions that work on Windows and Mac OS systems.With this application is possible both sync our contacts and events, such as the synchronization of music, pictures and video.

You can update the internal software, also known as ROM devices of the brand, as well as perform and restore backups with this application

Installation

When you download and run the installer KIES, it will not only install the corresponding application, but also access to the device drivers, which are necessary for the operating system recognizes.

As noted, the installation is done through a wizard, so it is extremely simple.

Data synchronization

When we start KIES, it checks if there is a phone connected, using the appropriate cable to the computer, in which case it will detect and enable the corresponding synchronization options (contacts, events, audio and video).

There is now the possibility that KIES works via WiFi through KIES Air application, which is installed by default on most modern devices.

The application is highly user-oriented and is very simple to use, although there are solutions more direct and transparent synchronization, as implemented by Google for contacts and events, for example.

As for the media synchronization, synchronization, pictures and videos between your device and your computer is allowed.

Updating the firmware

Undoubtedly the most useful is the ability to KIES update device firmware to the latest version available for the same with the only exception that it is updated taking into account the country of origin and the operator which is linked which may delay the availability of updates.

In any event, the mode of action is similar to that we used for synchronization: connect the device and expect the application to detect it.

Then click on the icon for our device, in the top left of the screen, and check the information contained in the basic information tab, indicating both installed as the latest version available, if there are any updates.

If there is any update, we simply click on the "install update" to start the process, including downloading the same from Samsung servers, which ensures the validity thereof, their cargo in the device and its subsequent installation.

The process is very descriptive and instructions provided by the manufacturer are sufficiently descriptive, facilitating a process that can last a few minutes.

Backups

Using this utility you can perform a backup of the data on the device, which will be stored on your computer, which can be restored later if necessary.

It is particularly recommended to backup your data before updating the device firmware.

To access the backup functionality, we click on the "backup and restore", located on the top right of the screen, which will display a list of items that can be preserved: contacts, music, photos and videos.

The copying starts when you select the type of items to preserve and make click on the button.

As for restoring a previous backup, the application will allow us to select the copy to restore, as well as the type of the elements to restore from the included therein.

Certainly this application option loses some of its importance in the current environment, in which users can sync your contacts with Google, increasing availability, and multimedia elements directly through data cable or through a service cloud like Dropbox , Drive , etc..

Shop Applications

KIES also be used to install applications from the Samsung Apps store , in which we sometimes find any news or application that can be downloaded for free by users of a particular phone model.

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Our second release of this year will have you leaping into action to start using the new features immediately. What could be more exciting than a feature to support A/B testing on your app? Or DKIM signing when you send email from your Google Apps domain? This release has plenty of exciting changes to keep you busy on your extra day this year.

1.6.3 Platform Changes:

• A new Experimental feature called Traffic Splitting lets you send a percentage of your traffic to different versions of your app. Traffic can be split based either on IP or on cookie.


• When an email is sent either from a user of a Google Apps domain from a request originating on that domain, or from an app administrator with an account on a Google Apps domain, a DKIM signature will be automatically applied to the email.

1.6.3 Admin Console Changes

• Billed applications can now specify the amount of storage used for logs and the duration of time these logs are stored (default is 90 days) as well as view the currently stored amount in the Admin Console. The first gigabyte of logs storage is free and additional storage will be charged at $0.24/G/month. These settings are now available, but additional storage will not be charged for at least 4 weeks, at that point any logs beyond the configured amount will be deleted.


• You can now manually shut down an instance in the Instances view of the Admin Console.


• The Logs Viewer for each request now provides a link to the instance that served that request (as long as the instance is still active).

These are just some of the highlights in 1.6.3. As usual, our release notes for Python® and Java® contain the full list of all the new features and bug fixes, so be sure to check out all the exciting things we’ve been working hard to release this past month.




Posted by the App Engine Team 

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These 10 applications for Android are completely free and are obviously available on google play store to download. We leave you with the top 10 applications for yor android tablet.

TweetComb

Twitter client designed exclusively for Android tablets.With this application you will see your timeline, mentions, direct messages, tweet, retweet etc. You can also upload media content, receive alert notifications for when new tweets, mentions and direct messages, you can change the background of the application incorporates anytime TwitLonger to write more than 140 characters, among other functions.

Dolphin Browser HD

Dolphin Browser HD on your version, is one of the best Web browsers available for your tablet with Android. Not only have a better experience in navigation, also will sail faster, you have an interface similar to that of Google Chrome, you can install plugins or "added" to further improve your Web browsing experience, you can open tabs, you can change " User Agent "anytime, you have your own favorite folder, save complete pages, own window for downloads, supports multi-touch, among other functions.

WeatherBug

WeatherBug at its exclusive version for tablets with Android, is an application that will keep you informed in real time of the weather situation in the sector where you are with your tablet.
You can find the current temperature, the current condition (sunny, cloudy, rain ... etc.), access to satellite images, radar, you will know what will the weather in the next 7 days, including "Find me" option (find me ) and so the application can access the GPS equipment to find your current location and show you all the weather details of where you are, and to top it off, youll have access to images in HD from quality of cameras located in different parts of the world.

Vendetta Online

If you have a tablet with NVIDIA Tegra 2 and you like MMORPG style games, this game you have to have it.Vendetta Online is a massive multiplayer online game based on science fiction, and involves the management of ships and space stations in order to obtain victory systematic planetary systems and galaxies. This fantastic game was developed by Guild Software in 2004 and is considered an icon gave a unique model to this type of online adventures. Vendetta Online offers players a wide range of ways to conquer other peoples and nations either through the hard struggle or expansive trade. Each player can choose and shape their destiny by the sword or the weight of the coin.

Google Earth

Google Earth is a complete three-dimensional interactive atlas. The first thing you see when you run Google Earth is a globe, a world map by which you can move and move with your fingers. Some of its interesting features is the 3D exploration by displaying the same images you enjoy on your PC, in addition to perform a local search for cities, places and companies, with the power of Google search engine.

CNN App for Android Tablet

With the application of CNN for Android Tablets, you will see the latest happening in the world and enjoy the latest videos from major news and live streaming videos. Also you can share and comment on news and submit your news through the same module called iReport. All CNN directly to your tablet and totally free.

Kindle for Android

If youre good and you love to read books, this app is for you.Kindle for Android offers over 540,000 books with different themes. With Amazon Whispersync function you will see the last page you read when you close the application or changing book because it stays in sync. Among other functions, the application allows you to adjust the text size, add bookmarks, view annotations and easily turn pages with a flick flicker or touching the corner of the page.

Google Body

With Google Body will have access to a 3D model of the human body and can explore similar as you do so with Google Earth. You can go through the human body, discovering bones, muscles, organs, you can zoom in and navigate to parts that interest you like cities in Google Maps.

Pulse News

Press the application promises to be your news reader universal, because it has connection with Google Reader and besides its simplicity and ease of use, we will provide a flashy interface, presenting images of the inputs as access to news, for horizontal lines each feed and read each individual post with some equally attractive transitions. And to top it off, Pulse also integrates with Twitter and Facebook.

GoAruna

GoAruna is a powerful archive manager available exclusively for tablets with Android.Not only allow you to explore your files, copy, cut, paste, move ...etc, also gives you an account with 2GB of storage so you can store your files directly in the "cloud" and access them from any browser just enter http://goaruna.com. That if you access to all of this, you must register first, but its totally free.

These are the best applications that can not miss in your current or future tablet with Android. If you still do not have a tablet with Android. be sure to save this post in favorites because you will have a lot when your future tablet.

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