Tech Tuesday :: Pic Frames

[trip style = any]

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If a picture's worth a thousand words, what about a multi-photo, fancy-schmancy collage?

Camera phones, photo sharing platforms and social media are giving way to a new breed of amateur digital photographers who snap more photos than the Sartorialist and add more filters than a celeb photoshop pro. I'm not sure if Ansel Adams would join the revolution, or roll over in his grave. Likely, the latter.

Kill two, three, four, five or six birds with one stone using the following picture frame apps. Gather and create a photo montage of everything from your breakfast, to shots of the Grand Canyon from multiple vantage points. Here are two photo grid/collage apps I consistently use:

Picture Frames FREE - easily add photos from your iPhone into 18 different frame configurations - squeeze or expand the photo for best fit - add a border with varying thickness and colors - finish and save to your phone, email it or send to Facebook or Twitter - note: you have to opt out of two or three ads each time you use the app - available for iPhone, and here's a similar free photo grid app for Android

{Shot in Vancouver's Gastown district at the Acme Cafe}

PicFrame {$0.99} - easily add photos from your iPhone into 60 fully adjustable frame configurations - squeeze or expand the photo for best fit - add a straight or rounded border with varying thickness, colors and patterns - apply 18 different filters to each individual photo with the collage/frame - finish and save to your phone, email it or send to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and Flickr - available for iPhone + Android {Shot in Vancouver's Gastown district at Save-On-Meats}

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[photos by @tripstyler using the above-mentioned apps]

Tech Tuesday :: Animated Photos

Created by stefugee with cinemagr.am

[trip style = any]

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I'd like to introduce you to the Honda Prius of iPhoneography, a hybrid---part photo, part video.

Meet Cinemagram and Kinotopic, both cinemagraph apps. Use them to create a specific and repetitive animation sequence in a photo. Film travel scenes like the Bellagio's dancing fountains, a hippo rolling around in mud or a flamenco dancer flaunting her moves.

Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about animated photos. They harken back to the web's early, razzle-dazzle ad banner days, and today's flashing twitter handles.

Are present-day photos with animated features a hit or miss? I guess that depends on the videographer, on the photo, on the moment captured. The jury's out, you decide.

How it works

• Download the free apps, currently only available for Apple products.
• Cinemagram - 5 filters, share to fb, twitter & tumblr.
• Kinotopic - 12 filters, share to fb, twitter, tumblr, email, ability to make photos private. Nice interface.
• Capture a 3 - 4-second video or use a sequence from one of your old vids.
• Specify the animation area.
• Publish.

Example Cinemagraph Created by thekcrussell with cinemagr.am

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[photos via cinemagram] {Hat Tip}

Tech Tuesday :: White Noise

[trip style = any] At this time of year the perfect quietness of snow covering evergreen treetops in an open country field is something that should be packaged and sold under the tree. If only. No doubt it would the gift of the year.

Now there's a way to live part of this dream in the midst of holiday madness---and the rest of life---that's recommended by the NY Times, Washington Post, Health Magazine and the iTunes staff. The White Noise App offers solace from life and travel challenges with soundscapes ranging from 'beach waves crashing' and 'tropical rain pouring' to 'oscillating fan.'

Whether you're holiday shopping and need to 'take a moment,' on a full plane with loud talkers or your urban hotel is beside a busy street, zen out and tune into your happy place: a warm beach with swaying palms, getting a massage at the spa or first tracks at Whistler.

Though "snow falling on a quiet country field" is not one of the soundscapes, you can create it yourself by mixing ambient sounds together through the app, or better yet, find a quiet country feild with snow falling and record the sound yourself!

Details - White Noise Lite {10 soundscapes} is free, White Noise {40 soundscapes} is $1.99 - Works with iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, Mac App Store

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[photo via itunes]

Tech Tuesday :: Travelzoo

[trip style = budget conscious] I'm sure you get the emails. Travelzoo sends their Top 20 travel and entertainment deals email every Wednesday to 24 million people worldwide. Obviously they're doing something right. And now there's an app for that.

The app is easy to navigate and less cluttered than the website. In fact, I'd rather use the app. In it, find the week's Top 20, local deals, deals in other cities and additional categories like sun vacations, last minute, Europe, hotels, entertainment and more.

If you're more into visuals than lists, check out the deal map and photo mosaic to find your next destination and trip style.

Once you've chosen the right trip fit, purchase the deal from the comfort of your own phone!

{Trip Styler Side Note :: I'm going to NYC this weekend with my sister/Trip Styler's Fashion Friday contributor. Thanks to a fateful Top 20 this summer, we booked the Ace Hotel NYC for US Thanksgiving weekend at a ridiculously low rate of $99/night. Most hotels of this caliber are $300+/night.}

PS - Like the Groupon or LivingSocial apps, you can sign-in to view and use your Travelzoo local deals. Budget conscious travelers should also consult Travelzoo's app or website to find 'local' destination deals for restaurants, lounges, experiences or spas!

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[image via itunes]

Tech Tuesday :: Get A Callback

[trip style = any] When an online form or email just won't do the trick...

Calling companies to resolve a travel issue is rarely a pleasant experience. And what's worse, pressing "zero" no longer works as a fast-track way to skip the phone tree to speak with a real person. Press 1 for.., press 3 for..., press 9 for... phone systems are getting too smart with their convoluted pathways, lengthy wait times and elevator music. Thankfully, there's an app that's smarter.

Fast Customer, whose tag line should be "your call is important to us, really" eliminates the customer service queue and gives you back the 30-minutes to 2-hours you just wasted waiting for a 3-minute resolution. After registering your number with the app, you can call one of 2000+ companies listed in their database to resolve "the" issue. Once an operator is on the line, you'll get a callback from Fast Customer's 800-number and speak to a representative right away. If the company you're trying to reach isn't yet listed, add it for approval so others can call too.

I can think of a bunch of times when I wish this app would have been invented! Either way, now we can call every company from CheapOair to Hawaiian Airlines with the touch of a button! {Note, you need to re-enter your phone number every time you use the app.}

This free app is available for iPhone or Android.

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