techie stuff for today...

[ProblemAgain]

try the link and they have a couple photos to play with to illustrate the app

A $2 App That Refocuses Photos Like a $400 Lytro

By ROY FURCHGOTT

Photographers have been wowed by the Lytro, a camera that can refocus a shot after you take it. But the Lytro costs $400 to $500, and that’s a lot to spend for a feature that is a bit of a novelty.

A $2 iPhone app called FocusTwist uses some software processing tricks to imitate what the Lytro does. So you can take some photos with your iPhone using FocusTwist to see if it’s worth it to buy the more sophisticated Lytro.

The way the app works is to take several shots at different focus points – dozens, said the co-creator Ahbi Shelat – and then shift between the images to create the effect.

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/a-2-app-that-refocus...

[ProblemAgain]

Q&A: Changing How iTunes Automatically Downloads Files

By J.D. BIERSDORFER

Q.

How do I stop the Apple iTunes program on my work computer from automatically downloading songs and television episodes from the season pass I bought on my home computer?

A.

The iTunes program preferences include settings that let you stop the software from regularly checking for downloads bought with your Apple ID account. You can also keep the program from automatically downloading preordered content like TV show season passes, purchased movies and newly released music.

To get to these settings in iTunes, go to the Edit menu on the Windows version (or the iTunes menu on the Mac edition) and choose Preferences. In the Preferences box, click the Store tab. Here, you can turn off the check boxes next to “Always check for available downloads” and “Download preorders when available.”

The Store tab contains other settings you can adjust. In addition to turning off Automatic Downloads for Music, Apps and Books, you can choose to automatically download album artwork for music you rip from CDs and opt to keep the playback position in sync when you watch video or listen to audio files on different devices that are all using the same Apple ID account.

If you download high-definition movies, you can choose between the 720p and 1080p resolutions for files that are available in both formats. When you have finished adjusting your iTunes Store Preferences, click OK for the changes to take effect.

[ProblemAgain]

Q&A: Adjusting a Camera’s Image Quality Settings

By J.D. BIERSDORFER

Q.

The photos from my point-and-shoot digital camera definitely do not look at good as when I first got the camera. I clean the lens regularly, so what might have caused this?

A.

One quick thing to check is the camera settings for file quality. “Quality,” in digital camera-speak, typically refers to the amount of compression the camera uses when saving the photos you shoot in the JPG format. (The photo files are compressed to save storage space on the camera’s memory card and make room for more pictures.)

The higher the compression, the less visual data is saved with the file. This means pictures with a high rate of compression will not generally look as sharp and detailed compared to those that are saved with a low level of compression. Files with higher quality/low compression take up more room on the memory card than images with lower quality/high compression, though.

Most cameras let you choose the level of compression in the Quality settings, although the terminology varies between camera manufacturers. Some use terms like “Normal, Fine and Superfine” or “Good, Better and Best,” but they are all relative to each other — the “Best” setting uses less compression and therefore makes for a richer-looking image. (The Image Maven site has examples of different quality settings.)

So it is possible the image-quality setting may have gotten changed inadvertently, which is not all that uncommon on cameras with tiny buttons and multiple menu screens. Changing it back could resolve the issue. Many cameras also include settings for image resolution as well, which affects the look of the pictures when printed. Photos that have too low a resolution for the chosen size of the print will look blurry and jaggy.

If a trip through the camera’s settings doesn’t fix the problem and the lens is clean, there could be a problem with the camera’s image sensor or another hardware issue. Check the support area of your manufacturer’s Web site for troubleshooting and repair information.

[ProblemAgain]

the lytro system..

https://www.lytro.com/camera#perspective_shift

https://pictures.lytro.com/lytroweb/collections/34/pictures/431129

[ProblemAgain]

how to fix stuff and how things hook together like entertainment systems etc

http://www.fixya.com/