Gadzooki

3 Reasons It’s Better To Hang On To The Basics

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In a world where technology is the word on what is popular and what is old hat, we tend to trend toward what the world of technology can produce that is new and exciting, but what some fail to realize is that the new doesn’t always make the old the worse idea. Sometimes, advances in tech, as exciting as they are may not be necessary and, occasionally, they are worse than the prior invention. Below are three examples where it might be a better idea to stick to the older technological standard.

Cameras

Everyone who is anyone loves to take pictures. We do not always love to be a part of them, but for the most part, they are the way that we record our memories. Whether it be a family reunion, a hike with friends, or a sleepover gone awry, we love to take pictures. As the years have gone by the technology that allows us to capture moments like these has advanced considerably. Here’s the thing, though. It has been proven that you can get a better quality with the old film cameras than you can with the digital ones. [Read more…]

Why You Should Take Your Tech On Vacation With You

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Technology has literally changed the world. It has made it so that people can work from wherever they are. It made it so that people could keep in contact with friends and family all over the world.

Your computer is a gateway to new worlds, where you can read stories about fantasy worlds or even tour California beaches. When you go on an actual vacation it can do many more things for you. Here are some of the reasons not to forget to take your smartphone and your laptop with you when you head out on vacation. [Read more…]

5 Awesome Developments in the Smartphone Camera

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Are you an instagram sensation loving how popular your snapshots of life have become? If so, you are living in the benefits of the digital age. You likely revel in the beauty of having a phone/camera/laptop in your pocket at all times. In the past, if you wanted to get decent photographs, you would be forced to carry around high-definition cameras. Though weighty, these cameras often provided the sharpest, clearest image. For the casual picture-taker though, these cameras can often seem like overkill. Included here are a few of the incredible developments that have made the smartphone camera so successful today.

smartphone-camera

Vibration Reduction

Do you suffer from shaky hands? Ever get nervous at big events? Thankfully, many smartphone cameras possess fantastic vibration reduction which can help you get sharp images while on the move. It may not be easy to capture those concert pictures from the nosebleed seats, but thanks to vibration reduction you can get them a little less blurry on the fly. [Read more…]

3 Ways to Improve Your Photography

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Think you have a special knack for artistic qualities in the world? Some people have a unique eye for seeing the world in a different and special way. Have you always wanted to share this worldview by using photography? One of the most frustrating things a new visual artist can encounter is putting their images onto their computer and finding that they don’t look like the idea they had in mind while shooting.

Focus, Focus, Focus

You know what’s different and unique, so arrange your shot as to remove any distractions or noise. Remember that anyone who sees your photo won’t know about anything that’s not in the frame, so leave as much to the imagination as possible. This draws more interest, allowing the viewer to fill in the blanks, making them part of the art.

Photography skills

The reason a focal point is important is that when you look at an image your eye will generally need a ‘resting place’ or something of interest to really hold it. Without it you’ll find people will simply glance at your shots and then move on to the next one. A focal point can be virtually anything ranging from a person, to a building, to a mountain, to a flower etc. [Read more…]

Three Gadgets To Bring On Your Travels

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Gadgets make your work life easier, your personal life more fulfilling, and they can even add to your overall experience when you are out traveling. “Because it’s important to find the best balance between living in the moment,” says the founder of Journey Beyond Travel, Thomas Hollowell, “it’s also important to balance your experiences with those you wish to record and share with your friends and families back home. We run various treks in Morocco’s hidden areas and we try to tell walkers that they don’t need 1000 photos. It’s just as important to have 1000 memories to hold onto.” But, for those traveling to distant lands, here’s some of our ideas on what you should consider to bring along.

gps gadget while traveling

GPS Trackers

GPS trackers are going to come in handy for a number of reasons. First, if you are anywhere you have to drive, they will point you in the right direction when you are lost. Second, there are a number of GPS trackers that will give you a map readout of where you went with timestamps. This means that when you get back from your travels, you will have a minute by minute map of everywhere that you went, and you can pieces together your journey for your jealous co-workers. For safety purposes, if other people can track you, they can find you if you get in trouble as well, for instance in bad weather. [Read more…]

5 Cameras Perfect for Nature Watching

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While experiencing nature first hand can give you memories to last a lifetime, the right camera can get you places where you physically cannot go. Your smartphone may be sufficient when you travel, but you could include better versatility by choosing the right camera for the location. What kind of cameras can give you a more intricate feel of the world around you?

nature photographer

Trail Camera

While these cameras are heavily used by game hunters, the trail camera can offer a glimpse into the natural settings of passing animals. These units are motion-sensing and often come with night vision to catch nature off-guard. They can be attached to trees or used against other surfaces offering a non-intrusive method of filming wild animals within their habitats. For the technologically inclined, some are even developed with controlling apps from your smartphone.

Bird Box

By setting up a bird box, you can encourage some forms of avian life to nest within the structure which is armed with a camera. These units essentially operate as the traditional bird house with the exception of adding photography. Like the trail camera mentioned earlier, these devices give you a natural view of wildlife without accidentally intervening in the behaviors of these creatures. Adaptations can be easily made for those creating bat boxes as well.

Personal Camera

There are several small cameras you can put onto yourself in order to film everything in front of you. According to Dana Wollman of Engadget, clip on cameras are able to attach to lapels and shirt collars taking images every 30 seconds. Other personal cameras including sunglass micro cameras, helmet units and vehicle mounting devices that provide a point-of-view display of the experience.

Binocular Devices

For those that like to zoom in and close to wildlife, binocular cameras can give an impressive view without the animals knowing you’re in the area. These devices use optics to record everything you see through the eyepiece giving you an incredible range for viewing animals from a safe distance. More elaborate devices are also capable of recording HD-style video of the experience. These are often developed with sufficient storage for several hours worth of video or thousands of snapshots.

Waterproof Functionality

Whether diving into the ocean to capture exotic fish on camera or in need of a device that can get soaked by rain, the waterproof unit is quite versatile. These devices can come in the size of a smartphone or using larger plastic enclosures to protect the electronics. As these come in a wide range of styles and features, prices could fluctuate greatly from as low as $30 up to the $900 professional units.

Experiencing the outdoors can be more involved than merely walking through the park. It can be an experience that can be had regardless of the seasons. According to Ute Sonnenberg of Roho Ya Chui, the off seasons in Africa can provide a completely unique experience for witnessing wildlife and nature. Pick the best camera for your outdoor excursion and get images you never thought were possible.

3 Best Gadgets for Police Surveillance

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Law enforcers in many parts of the world have embraced technology and have made it part of their daily operations. This is an admirable move and many people find it just fitting particularly as criminals these days have also become high-tech.

It is no surprise then that apart from their guns and rifles, police can now be seen carrying tablets, smartphones and even robots. These devices, they claim, are very helpful in dealing with emergency situations that require immediate response, investigating crimes and solving cases. Some of them may be unheard of while the others have gained much attention even from advocates of privacy and civil rights.

Get to know these police surveillance gadgets. [Read more…]

Pentax releases Optio RZ18

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Pentax recently announced that it will be releasing a new compact camera, but this one will carry very powerful superzoom. The Pentax Optio RZ18 will have a very powerful 18x optical zoom lens, the equivalent of 25 – 450mm. It will also have a 16 megapixel CCD sensor equipped with image stabilization. The 18x zoom feature is something that is not usually seen in a camera this small or even at the compact category of cameras. With no test images shown as of yet, it will remain to be seen whether incorporating such a powerful zoom in such a compact camera will affect the total image quality of the pictures taken with the Optio RZ18.

The whole look of the Pentax Optio RZ18 is quite beautiful. It possesses a minimalist aesthetic that allows the eyes to wander to its central feature – the zoom lens. Aside from the aforementioned features, it will also have a 3 inch LCD display with resolution of 460k dots. It will also have a nine-point autofocusing feature. Other features include preset shooting modes that will also include Auto Picture, a number of different filters, a face detection feature, a pet recognition feature and the capability to film widescreen HD videos with a resolution of 720p at 30 frames per second. Fashionable consumers will be very happy to know that the Optio RZ18 will come in different colors – white, black and metallic orange.

Polaroid to Release New Camera with Built-in Printer

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Almost two years ago, Polaroid announced that it was closing shop for good. The arrival of digital cameras have effectively doomed the company that pioneered instant developing film (kind of like the spiritual grandfather of digital cameras’ ability to preview your photo right after you take it). But the company has come back from the grave and has been releasing new products that is aimed to make it a significant player in the photography market once again. [Read more…]