Update and upgrade

U is for Update and upgrade

A-Z Challenge – Apps in April

Update

Time to rest from loading apps and check that all are up to date. Visit the App Store or Google Play to keep your apps up to date in order to benefit from ongoing improvements. Some developers update their apps regularly to take advantage of new software or to rid their apps of bugs. One is well advised to keep up to date to get the best performance from apps.

If you find an app regularly crashes, it may be that it has not been updated to match the latest software. Sometimes deleting an unresponsive app then re-installing it will fix the problem.

It is equally important to upgrade software on your devices. Upgrades enhance performance and will only be installed if your device is able to support the latest version of its operating system. The version currently installed on your device can be viewed in the Settings app.

• On iOS devices Settings> General> Software Update.
• On Android Settings> About> System updates.

Upgrade

Mobile devices have a short shelf life with new hardware released regularly by manufacturers, usually in the northern summer. Eventually, your device becomes obsolete and apps no longer function. At the 3 to 4 year mark I would expect to have to upgrade my devices to newer models. One expects that newer devices will have improved processors, more storage space and better overall performance. A needs assessment, price considerations and wide reading of reviews will assist in sensible decision making.

Next up V – Vocal variations

This post first appeared on http://librarycurrants.blogspot.com/2016/04/update-and-upgrade.html

Tune in and type

T is for TuneInRadio, TED talks and TypeDrawing

A-Z Challenge: Apps in April

TuneInRadio

Listen to your favourite radio stations from around the world. The free app provides streaming radio from over 100 000 stations. Choose by genre and/or locality.
I live in area where radio reception can be poor for nationwide stations. With this app I can keep up to date with the latest news or have background music playing wherever I am. I do not choose to use subscription services for music.

Pair your device with a Bluetooth speaker to get the best use from this app.
Available for iOS and Android

TED talks

Be inspired by remarkable minds from a wide range of fields; education, medicine, technology, business, music and many other fields of endeavour. Listen to their unique ideas presented in less than twenty-minute video presentations.

Build a playlist of your favourites to watch later or choose from the courageous, funny, informative, or beautiful for inspiration. These talks from some of the world’s great thinkers and achievers provide positive  experiences for all.
Free for iOS and Android.

TypeDrawing

Import a picture, type some text then use your finger to draw the text onto the picture.
Choose from a wide range of fonts, colours and effects and vary spacing, outline and shadow effects. Set the photo to transparent or remove altogether to be left only with text drawing. Easy typography art or use to create watermarks on your pictures.
Available for iOS and Android

Made in TypeDrawing background picture removed

Made in TypeDrawing photo by crgalvin

Next up U - Update and upgrade

This post  first appeared on http://librarycurrants.blogspot.com/2016/04/tune-in-and-type.html

Snap and substitute

S is for Snapseed, Superimpose and SanDisk

A-Z Challenge: Apps in April

 

Snapseed

Snapseed has become one of my favourite photo editing tools. It is embedded within the Google family of acquisitions so works well with Google photos and Drive. The promotional description lists the range of features.

Tune image • Enhance details • Crop • Rotate • Transform • Brush • Selective adjust • Healing • Vignette
Filters: • Lens Blur • Glamour glow • Tonal contrast • HDR-scape • Drama • Grunge • Grainy film • Vintage • Retrolux • Noir • Black & white • Frames

Available for iOS, Android and Chrome. The Snapseed channel on Youtube has a  comprehensive list of short videos to help get the best from this app.

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Superimpose

Superimpose and juxtapose, blend and mix photos to create a unique image. Insert a background image then add a foreground. Use a wide range of tools and shapes to mask out the unwanted parts of the foreground image. 

Move, scale, resize or rotate as needed, then move it into position on the background image. Areas of the foreground image can be made transparent too.

Adjust the colours and tones of both images to match and then save the blended image. This app has sophisticated editing tools that previously I would have used in a photo editing suite on a desktop computer.

Available for iOS and Android. Go ahead put yourself at the top of that unclimbed mountain! Substitute the dog’s head for the cat’s. Have some fun with this app. 

Check out the video tutorials.

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SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drive

Simply one of the best investments I made for mobile devices. This app connects my SanDisk wireless flash drive to any of my devices iOS or Android.

It lets me view and transfer files wirelessly between my and my husband’s devices using the local Wi-Fi installed on the USB. This means when travelling we can transfer photos to the flash drive so creating a local back-up without having to rely on hotel or other wi-fi networks to upload our captures to online services.

Files such as video, photos and documents stored on the flash drive can be viewed locally on any computer or device connected via the device’s  Wi-Fi.

Available for iOS and Android.

Next up T - Tune in and type

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This post first appeared on http://librarycurrants.blogspot.com/2016/04/snap-and-substitute.html