Tumgik
#its still a good program. it runs so smoothly and its most features id need and good brushes and the autosave works like. unbelievably well
be-good-to-bugs · 1 month
Text
i love firealpaca but the color picker is SUCH a pain. how hard is it to have value adjuster things??
#the bin#idk 9fnim just not finding the option to show the value editors but i think it just doenst have them#its so much easier to make colors that look good together with those#all the fuckin tutorials u see ppl make abt how to puck colorsnthat look good together talk abt looking at the numbers or where they are on#the 2 bars and stuff. but firealoaca doesnt have those so its a huge pain. i really like the program but its SO fucking annoying#color is something i desperately wanna be batter with and firealpaca just sucks for it. it has the square and the wheel or bar but none of#the sliders to adjust only the hue or the saturation or anything. i NEED those. even fuckin ibis has those#its still a good program. it runs so smoothly and its most features id need and good brushes and the autosave works like. unbelievably well#ive never lost an image. even on my 2 prev laptops which were super bad. but man. why does the color thing gotta lack such important#basic things as that. there is a filter thing you can use to do it kinda but its super annoying.#i dont wanna have to open a separate program just to pick colors. esp cause i javent been able to find anything exclusively for that#theres apps but my ohone screen ofc look different to my laptop so it doesnt help.#i tried switching to krita bc of this but i didnt like it. ill have to try some other ones out. i hope that maybe one day theyll update it#and add it cause i dont wanna switch.#my sister uses csp and she says its nice. tahts like a one time purcase i think so i could maybe try it out. its got a demo i think#i also need to find a good 2d animation program. ive only found 1 for free that let you put audio in and i didnt like it so ill need to keep#looking. i pirated a mn old version of adobe animate like 5 years ago and i remember really liking how it worked so maybe ill try that#i like firealpacas animation feature. ut works pretty well for a program that isnt really made for animation and i already know the program#so its worth the kinda annoying bits. but i need something i can put audio into#i miss making art more. i feel sad that i dont much anymore. i get bored really quick or my body starts to hurt and i have to stop now
0 notes
yakgreece3 · 4 years
Text
Exactly What's Interesting with the Best and Newest iPhone Collection of Cell Phones
Users undoubtedly concur with myself that iPhone X design was one of the best, and that's precisely why Apple decided to keep the exact same look to their next set of individualized mobile phones. Introduced one year before, it's the very first Apple cell phone to jettison the home button. At another, I held its brand new redesign, the Iphone Xs. My eyes squeezed shut, I passed them back and forth between my hands, rolling each telephone over, setting the curves, glass backs, double lens camera bumps, and radar vents. I understood that I couldn't tell the difference between the two phones. This isn't a criticism. It is only a simple fact of S version years, where Apple locks in the iPhone design and focuses, rather, on upgrading key internal parts. Therefore, the biggest changes to this 5.8-inch iPhone Xs and its big brother, the 6.5-inches iPhone XS Max, each of which I analyzed, can be seen in functionality (thanks to the new A12 Bionic CPU), photos and movies, (new digital cameras and a new ISP endorsed by the A12), and performance (iOS12, the final version of that came pre-applied in my evaluation components ). The outcome is a pair of brilliant, elegant, and high-performing gadgets that will please iPhone enthusiasts and capture over a few glances out of Android adherents. It still has the exact same rigid surgical steel frame wrapped in a new glass material which Apple said was devised to be more scratch resistant and heavy duty. I gave the phones a few half-hearted drops on a thin-pile carpet but wasn't ready to let them slide away on concrete. Thus far I've discovered just one very fine scratch on your iPhone Xs Max. So let's think about them scratch-resistant, but still not scratch-proof. The larger Iphone Xs Max shares all of the iPhone X's content and layout attributes, but does this at a 6.2-inch x 3.05-inch x 0.30-inch body. At 208 g, it's substantially thicker than the Iphone Xs. The Xs Max is a hair shorter (0.04 inches) and thinner (0.02 inches), but it's also a few grams bulkier when compared to the iPhone 8 Plus, the big-screen telephone that from a distance the Iphone Xs Max most looks. Button placement power/sleep, quantity controls, ring/silent switch -- will be exactly the same. However, there is a single minor chassis gap. On the bottom edge of both telephones sits on the lightning connector. It is book-ended by a set of holes which accommodate one half of their stereo speaker system and among their phone's microphones. There used to be six openings on either side. Now the right side includes half a dozen holesbut the left, that just houses a microphone, has only three. This small change was done, in part, to accommodate the new internal antenna setting which contains 4x4 MIMO and Permit Assisted accessibility, which utilizes unlicensed 5 GHz range to provide 1 Gbps broadband over LTE. Apple updated the water and dust-resistance evaluation to IP 68, that contrasts into the handsets residing in 2 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. I did not have to go swimming with all the iPhone Xs or even Xs Max, but didn't run the latter telephone under water, milk, and juice. Then, as advocated, I dried and shut off the mobile phone. I had been careful not to plug it back into a lighting cable (that is a no-no after a dowsing) but didn't place it onto a wireless charging foundation at which it had no trouble accepting a fee. Apple, incidentally, stated it put some effort into creating the wireless charging platform (essentially the hidden coils in the telephone ) more forgiving. This is good news, because I've on more than one event, woken up to find that my iPhone X didn't charge since I put it a modest off-axis about the charging base. I have never ran into this issue with either the iPhone Xs or even Xs Max. The Iphone Xs and Xs Max bodies are somewhat rigid and solid-feeling, but torqueable, specifically the bigger smart phone, which really makes a tiny clicking noise when I attempt to spin it. Clearly, I have just had these iPhones for weekly, but according to a year's experience with the original iPhone X (allowed, mostly in a thin case), I consider this layout framework tough and prepared for the long run. Even as Samsung trolls Apple for its black cutout at the peak of this iPhone Xs and Xs Max, Apple reveals no signs of stepping backwards in the multi-feature technologies, which neither grew nor shrunk in the hottest iPhones. Just like the first TrueDepth Module, this one is still packaged with the same elements (none of that, as far as I can tell, have been upgraded ). There is a 7 MP camera, scatter projector for thickness sensing, infrared camera (thickness sensing), flood illuminator (yes, also for depth-sensing), proximity sensor, ambient light detector, the next half of the stereo speaker program, and a mic. About the backs of both the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, there's more of that customized glass, the Apple Logo, the term iPhone (however no"X" or"therefore"), and also the 12 MP dual camera system. This vertically-oriented, pill-shaped camera module looks exactly the same as it did in the past Iphone X. It is still a prominent bump, but at least it didn't receive any larger. Within the module is all new hardware backed by new image technologies, but more about this later. I have always considered that the 5.8-inch iPhone X that an outstanding tradeoff involving a big-screen telephone and hand-friendly ergonomics. The screen is big and immersive, however, the human body is comfortable to hold pocket. The iPhone Xs Max in contrast can, particularly if you're utilized to holding a smaller phone, feel big. It's not embarrassing to hold, but those with smaller hands will probably struggle with one-handed usage and will most likely need to turn on Reachability, which using a swipe back on the horizontal bar moves all halfway down the screen, which makes it longer accessible. Nonetheless, the trade-off may be well worth it. I forgot how much I like the bigger iPhone screen, and on the Iphone Xs Max, you receive much more display without contending with a bigger phone (there's just that 0.04-inch height difference between the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone Xs Max). Apple's full-stack control of this Iphone layout, development, and production process pays dividends throughout the gleaming handset. But it's most noticeably in the silicon, that can be created and designed in conjunction with the software and hardware elements which will rely on it. This past Year, Apple launched the A11 Bionic, a powerful mobile CPU with built-in Artificial Intelligence Power. The brand new A12 Bionic builds on that short legacy having a more strong Neural Engine and even more impressive graphics performance. Every time I talk about a brand new iPhone, I begin by using Geekbench 4 to check out the raw CPU operation. To ensure that there are minimum background processes going, I usually run the exam before I've installed a single app. I conducted the Geekbench CPU standard and (together with understanding which Apple stuffed an extra gig of memory in the new Xs class iPhones) saw that the single core scores had improved marginally between the A11 Bionic and A12 Bionic. On the other hand, the multi-core score was inexplicably lower. Not by a good deal, but I hadn't ever seen that occur. The amounts were much higher than what I obtained from Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845, however, a decrease result on the new iPhone didn't make sense. But once I reran the Geekbench CPU evaluation per day or so after, the A12 multi-core numbers beat people of the A11. My guess is that, though I put up the iPhone Xs and Xs Max as fresh iPhones, there might still have been some background installation process happening that dragged down the CPU amounts. The larger leap in performance is in the Geekbench Compute Metal score, which jumped from 15,145 about the Iphone X into 22,245 about the iPhone Xs and Xs Max. Apple's done a lot of effort to beef up graphics performance, particularly for the raft of ARKit two (and Surface 2) software heading into the stage, some of which will support multiplayer gambling. When there are not a great deal of ARKit 2 apps in the app store, I'd get a hands-on time using an Iphone Xs operating Galaga ARthe identical demonstration Apple showed off during the iPhone Xs unveiling. To play with, me and a few other writers stood on a table and pointed out our telephones in the virtual Galaga video arcade game console. Shortly, alien attackers began streaming first from the video game display and from all round us. I swung the phone from side-to-side up and down and up to view and then shoot at the arriving strike. It had been swift and good fun. Similarly, I have seen , together with ARKit 2, the phone can set, say, an incredibly realistic digital pressure stove or sneaker on a real table or in my toes, the illusion broken only when I slid my hands into the framework as well as on the iPhone Xs display, it seemed just like my notes had been stuck beneath the kettle. You can't support these kinds of real-virtual mixes without ample graphics horsepower, depth mapping, along with the AI required to identify surfaces, dark areas, as well as reflections will operate on online items in an actual open space. That processing ability also helped amp up more mundane operations such as Face ID. While the process of registering my head was unchanged from the original iPhone X, starting either telephone with my head, as well as using Face ID to access password-protected programs and solutions, is significantly faster than it was about the iPhone X. In general, in actual applications, both Iphone Xs and Xs Max operate smoothly. Apple place significant amount of work into enhancing the photo and video experience on the Iphone Xs and Xs Max. Along with fresh lenses along with a larger sensor, both the cameras (rear and selfie) are all backed by a fresh picture signal cpu. The features on the dual cameras have been untouched from the iPhone X (and will be the same on either iPhone Xs and Xs Max). There's the f 1.8 wide angle lens along with the f 2.4 2X telephoto. The two comprise optical image stabilization and can shoot up to 4K video in 60 fps. They still shoot slow-motion video in up to 240 frames per second. If you want mad 960 fps super-slo-mo, then you'll need to visit Samsung. In the pure-play photography race, however, Apple requires the lead. The Smart HDR uses sensor, ISP, and neurological enhancements to capture some of the most effective high-dynamic range photographs I have ever seen. The gap between what was possible on the original iPhone X and also the Xs and Xs Max is magnificent. Apple made a system able of capturing two frames every thirtieth of a moment, and instantly analyzing and merging them into one image that maintains not only foreground and background detail, but that can freeze actions without introducing grain. In numerous pictures, I saw that the iPhone Xs and Xs Max find color and detail in shadowy spaces without wasting out the lighter places. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also an excellent low light shooter, but I think the Xs lineup is a bit better.
Tumblr media
I'm particularly impressed by how Apple's constructed upon its own pole position in Portrait Mode digital photography. Apple introduced Portrait Mode in 2016 with the iPhone 7 Plus (the applications lagged from the hardware). Since then, Apple's elegant the technology, including things like Studio Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, and Stage Light Mono. All of these features remain, and have been somewhat enhanced. That which I love and, as an amateur photographer who regularly performs with f-stops for just the perfect depth of field change, is that the newest Depth Control. Depth Control lets you choose a Portrait Mode photograph and adjust the Bokeh, or depth of field attention, after you take the photographs. This works with both the front and rear cameras, which means that the image processor is using two distinct kinds of depth information. On the back, it's the advantage of two lenses to receive stereoscopic information. The leading camera relies on the depth-sensing hardware. I understand, Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 offers the capability to correct background focus as you're shooting the picture, in addition to after. But, there's a crucial difference here that's evident from the iPhone Xs and Xs Max Depth picture editor. It's a slider that allows you adjust smoothly from an electronic f 1.4 aperture to a virtual f16. In a true camera with a mechanical aperture, the higher amounts interpret to sharper focus in the background and also reduced numbers mean the focus depth is significantly shallower. On the Galaxy Notice 9, Live Focus basically sees the pictures as two planes: the foreground and background. The slider effectively blurs the background plane. The iPhone Xs's depth slider is based on all of the depth advice to decrease or enhance background focus through all of the planes between the front of this subject and the background. Along with the improved Portrait Mode stitching (tackling the way the subject and a fuzzy background fit together), the subtlety of the impact through the array of virtual f-stops is remarkable and, Apple's told me, is modeled on how real lenses together with hardware apertures would influence each image. For most people the smart phone is their sole camera. This puts a pro-level controller at the hands of millions of individuals, who are going to begin taking some really stunning face photos. Soon after shooting regular photos, video, and 4K, I remain impressed with the standard of videos and photos coming out of the Iphone Xs and Xs Max. Sure, it's strange that the bigger Xs Max doesn't, as could be convention, have any improved picture capturing features, however I doubt anyone will be disappointed with the picture quality produced by either brand-new smartphone. There are a couple of other equipment-related enhancements, such as the promised dual-sim technologies which enables multiple telephone numbers (believe work and personal numbers of one telephone ) via the support of eSIM technology. Unlike routine SIMs, you don't need a carrier card only for the carrier to confirm it and enable it on your phone. It is a nice attribute that, for evident reasons, I couldn't test. For audio aficionados, there is also the newest stereo recording and wider-stereo playback. This can be relatively tough to check, and that I sometimes worry my ears aren't good enough to notice what might be a nuanced difference. However, I'd find a way. I listed , in landscape style, some cars driving by. They start on the left of the screen and push to the rightside. In video I recorded with the iPhone Xs, the noise travels from one side of the phone to another. Playback on the iPhone X is loudly yet lacking in the exact same degree of separation. Evidently, films with a lot of sound engineering are not just great displays for the wonderful screens, but highlight the new, wider stereo playback capabilities as well. As hardware/software unions go, you can't do much better than the Apple iPhone Xs and iOS 12. I've been operating betas of the new mobile OS for months on my iPhone X and discovered it impressively smooth and stable. About the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, it becomes even better partners. Besides butter-smooth and light fast operation (in games, video, and web browsing), the augmented reality abilities first unveiled in iOS 11, ARKit, and the iPhone X are far more sophisticated and personalized in iOS 12 along with also the iPhone Xs. The intelligent assistant is a better listener than ever, and getting smarter. Her speech is more conversational and she's asking follow-up queries. Siri can be more hands-on, discovering connections between disparate items like schedules and locations and delivering them in advance. There are also a lot of third-party apps tapping into Siri, letting you use just your voice to access program features and information without so much as launching the program. You may set up iOS 12 on your old iPhone (down into this Iphone 5s), however not all attributes, especially those involving AR, will work on the older devices. Still, I seriously recommend the upgrade with at least anyone conducting an iPhone 7 and up. It's simply a better, more glossy, proactive, and smart user experience also, to be honest, I've hardly scratched the surface of all the upgrades and feature improvements you'll discover. Apple asserts 30 minutes more battery life between the iPhone X and Xs and 90 minutes more with all the iPhone Xs Max. In my experience, either new phone can get you through most of the afternoon on a single charge. I spent one day using only the iPhone Xs Max. I kept the brightness and conducted all kinds of programs and processes. It lasted a solid 10 hours. Maybe just a little bit less than I expected, but still enough for me through the majority of the working day. Really, with under a week under my belt, it's hard to supply a complete assessment of battery performance. There are so many variables and, clearly, battery life will be good on brand new telephones. Speak to me in six months or twelve months, and we are going to see if I'm still pleased with battery lifetime. It is no real surprise that Apple didn't bring down the price for the brand new $999 Iphone Xs (or hold onto the initial version and market it at a lower price). I'm not shocked that we now have an almost $1,100 model or that we're able to pay a whopping $1,449 for your 512 GB iPhone Xs Max (which happens to be the version I tested). Apple's already proven that people will pay virtually anything to get their hands on the most recent iPhone. Is $1,000 or more to cover a smartphone? Maybe, however a lot of us think about the entire cost rather than monthly payments? I am, though, somewhat annoyed that Apple stopped the lightning -to-3.5 millimeter adapter. It's like in the past 12 months, we've all gotten rid of our Beats and Bose cans, such as it's a solved problem. Memo to Apple: It is not. What I can say is that these are the iPhones you want. The iPhone Xs does not mess with what I now consider a traditional design, and the Xs Max only takes all that's amazing about the iPhone X and enlarges it. As a set, they're equally as amazing as the first home-button-free iPhone X. The design looks especially tasteful in a gold finish. Participants will love the new camera, and players and content customers will need the big-display iPhone Xs Max. Even if you have the iPhone X, I still wouldn't update unless you need more realistic augmented experience and full depth control on your own portraits. For iPhone 6s, 8, 7, as well as 8 Plus associates, that the iPhone Xs and Xs Max is going to appear like a huge leap into the coming future.
1 note · View note
artificialqueens · 5 years
Text
My Diamond Crowned Queen Pt. 1 (Ravja) - Chardonnay
A/N: Part 1 of 2. Based on Raja’s “Diamond Crowned Queen” music video (if you haven’t seen it yet, go watch it. You won’t be disappointed). Part 1 is the tease, Part 2 is the smutty follow-up. Enjoy!
It was a warm day in Riverside, California despite it being the end of January. David sat in the bathroom of his home applying face powder as he slowly transformed himself into Raven. It was a Monday, only the middle of the day, but David liked to start his process early so he had plenty of time and didn’t feel rushed to finish his intricate paint. This week was going to be a good time at Micky’s, the girls who were away filming the third season of Drag Race had just come home, and tonight was the LA girls’ first night back at Micky’s. Delta and Raja were the 2 queens selected this year to compete on the reality tv show to represent West Hollywood, and David was particularly excited to get to hang out and party with Sutan again after so long apart.
Before Drag Race, Sutan had been away on a “world tour” with Adam Lambert. He had been gone for almost that entire year travelling the world, and in that year David’s whole world had been flipped upside down.
He never thought that competing on a low-budget reality tv program run by one of the most famous drag queens on the planet would actually change his life. But fast-forward a year and Raven had quickly become one of the most famous and celebrated queens in West Hollywood. She landed herself a permanent hosting gig at one of LA’s biggest gay nightclubs and her “fans” would flock to see her perform.
He had briefly seen his friend for a couple of days before Sutan left for filming, and the show was all they could talk about. Their time together wasn’t long, but for those couple of days the two of them felt connected in a way that they hadn’t since their last interaction over a year before. Connected though shared experience. But there was something else, something new looming over their conversation as well. Nearly 2 years ago now, before Rupaul’s Drag Race or world-wide tours, Sutan connected with David in a completely different way. After a long day of work and an even longer night, the 2 men drunkenly hooked up in Sutan’s West Hollywood apartment. It was totally impulsive but also some of the best sex David had ever had, and then it unexpectedly happened once more before Sutan left for his tour. Now there was something new in their interactions, a flirtiness in the way Sutan looked and smiled at him, but David didn’t let anything go too far as he knew Sutan would soon leave again to film the show. He wanted to try to keep things casual between them, but Sutan’s last night before leaving for Drag Race involved a little too much wine and an unanticipated heated makeout session.
As David finished blocking his brows and began the long process of contouring, his phone rang. It was if someone had been reading his thoughts when he saw Raja’s name pop up on his caller ID. David was surprised Sutan was even awake this early, knowing they didn’t have to be at work until 7pm that night. David put his phone on speaker as he continued to paint.
“Hello? Is this who I think it is? The elusive unicorn himself who only comes to visit me once a year?”
“Oh my god you are so dramatic” David could hear Sutan rolling his eyes through the phone, but just hearing the sound of his voice at all made David smile.
“Bitch I feel like I haven’t seen you in like a year!”
Sutan sighed “I know I’m sorry I’ve been busy and-”
“I know, I know its fine, I just miss your face. Now what was so urgent that you couldn’t wait a few more hours to tell me in-person? You better not be cancelling tonight I swear…”
“No, no I’m not.” Sutan assured him, “I actually called because a couple of days after I got home I met with a music producer.”
“A music producer? Why? You don’t make music.”
“Well guess what bitch? I did! I recorded a song”
“…really?” David was skeptical.
“Yes! And I’m calling to tell you you’re going to be in my music video.” David took a second to process everything Sutan had just told him, he never in a million years thought Sutan would be the type to want to make music.
As if Sutan was listening to his thoughts, he interrupted “I didn’t actually sing that much, I mostly just made the song so I could make my own videos for them. Part of my artistic vision. So are you in?”
“Sounds like I don’t have much of a choice…” David teased.
“You don’t”
“Okay then I guess I’m in.” David laughed and tried to play it cool, but he was actually very flattered that Sutan had thought to ask him and curious about what this video would entail.
“Cool, I just sent you an email with the song file attached. They just finished the final mix yesterday so I’m trying to organize the video shoot as quickly as possible. Give the song a listen when you can and text me what you think. I gotta make another call.”
As soon as David hung up the phone, his curiosity got the better of him and he immediately opened up his email and found the file from Sutan entitled “Diamond Crowned Queen”. David rolled his eyes, “real subtle…” he thought to himself. He was still in the process of finishing his face, but he figured he could multitask and listen to the song while he painted. He was wrong.
The beginning of the song was certainly something! It was obvious that Sutan was not a master lyricist or any kind of singer, but the beat was actually not that bad so David continued to follow along, amused by the exceedingly sexual lyrics. So Sutan. Then the breakdown of the song came and his bathroom was filled with the all-too familiar sounds of Sutan moaning and whispering. He knew very well that Sutan was an extremely…passionate person, so although this kind of thing didn’t exactly surprise David, it was still very bold. And provocative. David had to stop in the middle of painting as possible scenarios flew through his head, did he just agree to be in some kind of soft porn film? Straight away David texted Sutan to ask what exactly this video shoot would consist of and what he’d gotten himself into.
“You’ll see ;)” was the only message he got back.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Exactly 2 weeks later Raja stood on the rooftop of one of his apartment buildings setting up cameras and a blank white drop sheet on the wall. This video was being filmed on the lowest possible budget, but Raja knew he wouldn’t need much more than himself and the three other people he’d casted to make it work. He wanted the concept to be very simple and the focus would be on his 3 favorite things: clothing, sex, and himself.
Raven was the last to film of the three friends he featured in the video. The other two shoots were done the day before and went incredibly smoothly as everyone easily fell into their roles without hesitation. There was lots of messy kissing and smudged makeup involved which was always a good time. He was having way too much fun making out with all his hot friends, and he intentionally saved Raven for last. David was the first person Raja thought of when he envisioned this video. He needed someone who was good-looking, strongly resembled himself, and who he knew he had tangible sexual chemistry with, and David checked all of those boxes. This final shoot was going to be different from the others, he wanted to use that connection and tension he felt with Raven ever since their drunken hookup all those years ago. It was strange, Raja couldn’t get the thought of them together out of his head, and he was the master of random, meaningless sex, usually a fuck em and forget em type. But for some reason it was near impossible to forget that night with David, and he craved more. So of course his very first thought was to cast Raven in this very specific role.
David arrived on set exactly as Sutan had instructed him to, with his foundation done and brows blocked but nothing else. He always felt ridiculous without brows, like some kind of alien, but knowing Sutan that was probably the look he was going for. David was a bit nervous when he arrived, but seeing that they were filming outside relaxed him a bit. They couldn’t get too nasty if they were filming on a rooftop, right?
Raja was sitting off to the side viewing something with the 2 camera guys when he saw David walk in and waved him over. “Hey! I’m just watching some playback of the footage with Mario I shot yesterday. I’ll come over in a second and we’ll finish your makeup.” David was curious and glanced over Raja’s shoulder to see what the scenes looked like, and to no surprise it was a lot of aggressive, messy kissing. “So this is what I agreed to”, David thought “I’m getting paid to have makeup smudged all over my face…” He was a bit unsure how he felt about doing all this for a music video. Of course he’d made out with Sutan a few times already but never in drag and certainly never in front of a camera. He gave a nervous smile as Raja turned around from watching the playback.
“C’mon, let’s go get your makeup finished.” He took David’s hand and led him over to the makeshift makeup station set up on the opposite side of the rooftop. “The idea is I want us to look as similar as possible, so we’re just going to keep a light contour to eliminate our facial features and no brows”
“You’re not letting me wear eye brows?” David whined.
“Nope, I want us to look like twin androgynous aliens. And I have these cool foam wigs too” Raja always had the craziest and most creative imagination, but he also had good taste so David trusted his vision. He sat in the makeup chair as Sutan started getting all his brushes out. “You brought your blue contacts right? I want to really focus on your eyes so I’m not putting on as much liner as you usually do”
“Okay fine.” David said, I’m trusting you with my face which is a pretty big deal for me y’know…”
“Bitch relax, I know what I’m doing. You’ll look good.”
David sat in the chair and let Raja work on his face and transform him into his own version of Raven. It had been a long time since anyone had done David’s makeup for him, and he forgot how much he loved the feeling, especially with Raja doing it. Their faces were so close together, and seeing Raja so concentrated studying him like a painting combined with the soft touches of the brushes against his skin created a kind of quiet intimacy. They chatted casually about the shoot. According to Raja they weren’t going to be moving around too much, staying pretty much in the middle of the white drop sheet, and Raven’s job was very simple: just stand there and look pretty for the camera. The thought relaxed her, looking pretty was something she could do.
“Now I know you usually do a more matte color on your lips, but I want both our lips to look more full and highlighted so I’m using a gloss. I think a lighter one than I have on will suit you better. But I’m warning you now…” Raja continued with a playful smile “we’re both going to be wearing each other’s shade by the end of the shoot.”
Raven laughed softly but inside she felt her stomach flip. Raja had been away for so long, and ever since that night years ago Raven couldn’t help that every thought of him was invaded by that intense look in his eyes before he kissed her, or the way his bare skin felt electric against her own. She missed him so much, and each interaction they’d had since had been oozing with underlying sexual tension. The anticipation for this video shoot was making her both anxious and excited. Raja finished up applying her gloss, even the feeling of the wand was sensitive against her lips, and she couldn’t help but notice the way Raja took his time. He was being especially gentle and slow, seemingly transfixed on the fullness of her pout. She didn’t know it, but the anticipation was mutual, and Raja couldn’t wait to have Raven the way he wanted once again.
Raja was someone who very much liked to be in control of things. He was an artist and a creator, and he liked when things turned out exactly as he envisioned them. This was true for his art and in his personal life. Most people wrote him off as a submissive or passive person because of his more feminine qualities, but in reality Raja was the polar opposite. He was disciplined and authoritative, and very much a “my way or the highway” type of person. He was hotheaded, competitive and bossy, and he absolutely loved getting his way. Being the creative director for a music video was like a dream to Raja, as he got to make every decision down to the last detail. He also enjoyed telling other people what to do and how to stand and how to act, even the mere thought of it was a complete turn-on for him. His vision of Raven’s role in the video was very much inspired by their first time together, his thoughts were constantly filled with memories of how well David complied with all of his directions. He wanted Raven to be a subset of himself and his own desire for sex and control, hence why he dressed them the same. He needed Raven to follow and trust him completely, and Raja was eager to have him in that vulnerable position again.
After Raven’s makeup was finished, Raja went to grab the outfits they were both going to wear as Raven looked in the mirror at Raja’s work. She was actually amazed at how good she looked and how similar she looked to Raja yet still like herself. Not that she ever doubted Raja’s makeup abilities, but she knew her face wasn’t the easiest to work with. When Raja returned Raven wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t the leather harnesses that he held in his hand. She was glad she made the decision not to eat anything today in case she had to take clothes off on camera, but it seemed like they wouldn’t even be putting clothes on to start with. She did wish she had a drink though, because every new revelation was giving her a better idea of the direction this video was going in.
“You want me to wear that?”
“Yeah, why? Are you not into leather?” Raja joked.
“I-no it’s not that, I guess just…not what I was expecting? But its fine! I’m fine.” Raven stumbled over her words a bit but tried her best to play it off.
“Okay good, take off your shirt” Raja’s instructions were short and direct, reminding Raven a bit of his tone during their first sexual encounter. And just like she did that night, Raven immediately obeyed and discarded her t shirt as Raja did the same. The cool breeze felt good against her newly bare skin. Raja tried both of the harnesses on them, deciding which one looked better on himself and which looked better on Raven. As Raven tried to put each of them on she struggled, unsure of how to properly fasten clips and which strap went where. Raja looked at her and laughed “Oh my god, what are you doing? Come here” as he helped her dress. She felt a bit embarrassed, clearly not having much prior experience with these things, but she gladly accepted Raja’s assistance. Even just the simple touch of Raja’s fingers on her bare torso made Raven’s pulse quicken, but she suddenly remembered that they weren’t alone with the small camera crew present and tried to push any unholy thoughts out of her head. She had to remain professional.
Once they made a final decision about their attire, Raja gave Raven a quick run-down about what he wanted them to do as they made their way over to the white backdrop.
“The song is going to play through those speakers beside us so that I can mouth the words while it plays.” he gestured to the left, “You don’t really have to do much, don’t lip sync or anything. I just want you to kind of stand there and look at the camera and really just…do whatever I tell you to do.”
“Whatever you tell me to do? I’m not sure if I like the sound of that.”
Raja smiled and stepped a little closer, murmuring low enough that only Raven could hear “Actually if my memory serves me correctly, you very much enjoy being told what to do.”
Raven blushed as memories of submission and obedience came flooding back, and Raja was right she had enjoyed it, more than she ever thought she would. “Yeah but that was different, we were alone!”
“Then just pretend we’re alone now too, there’s only like 2 camera guys here anyways.” Raven still looked a bit hesitant. “Look, I have a few pre-planned ideas but I’m mostly just gonna do whatever I’m feeling with the lyrics, so you just react or do whatever feels natural too. I’ll direct you if I want something specific.”
Raja reached out and gently took Raven’s hand, trying to calm her nerves. “Don’t you trust me?” Raven looked into his dark eyes and nodded her head and smiled. She had a really hard time saying no to Raja. “Good, now go stand in the middle of the white backdrop so I can tell you how far you need to stand from the camera.” Raven did as she was told as Raja stood behind the camera and continued to direct her, “A little bit closer. Closer…perfect stop there.”
“So are we just being shot from the waist up or do we have to take our pants off too?” Raven half-jokingly asked.
Raja looked up from the screen. “Well I wasn’t going to but you are more than welcome to take them off. I know I wouldn’t object.”
Raven laughed and looked away as Raja gave her an appreciative look. She still wasn’t completely used to Raja sexualizing her so openly in front of people. She’ll have to get over that embarrassment quick, Raja noted to himself. These people were going to witness a whole lot more than that.
Raja made his way back over to stand beside Raven and the other guy not working the camera came to mark their places with tape. Raja could still sense a small wave of nervousness from Raven, so he was glad he had made the decision to close off this part of the shoot. He had gotten rid of pretty much everybody who wasn’t completely necessary because he knew this one was going to be much more intimate and authentic than the others. He hoped it would make Raven (and himself) a bit more comfortable with less eyes on them.
“Okay so for this first part I want you to just stand straight on looking at the camera. And just look…cool” Raja instructed.
“Cool, sure okay.” Raven laughed a bit at Raja’s vague directions. Again she was wishing she had a drink (or four) to take the edge off. Why was she so nervous?
“You know what I mean.” Raja rolled his eyes as he stood right beside her, so close that Raven could feel the heat radiating from his body. “Just stand there, just like that, and don’t move.”
“Okay.”
“I’m serious Rave, don’t move. Even if I touch you.”
“Okay!”
Raja leaned in even closer so close Raven could feel his breath against the side of her face. His eyes were fixated on his fingers tracing over the designs in the tattoos on her shoulder, his mouth right next to her ear.
“Because I’m going to. Touch you. But you have to stay still. You can’t even look at me.” Raja’s low, stern voice in her ear sent a shiver up Raven’s spine.
“Okay” she whispered.
Both queens turned their eyes toward the other and there was something, a silent understanding coupled with an intense anticipation burning between them. Raja’s eyes glistened with a heated but playful energy, almost challenging Raven in a way, and suddenly the air around them shifted. Raven felt her nerves begin to dissipate as she fell into that rare yet familiar role, a surrender reserved for one of the few people who dared to assert control over her. Raja felt her submission as the authoritative energy took over him, and he knew both of them were finally ready.
“Alright, let’s get started.”
The first few takes were admittedly a little clunky. Raja decided they would film the video in pieces rather than running it straight through and having to fix their makeup a thousand times. He also had the idea that as the video progressed he would allow Raven more and more freedom to react to his manipulations, which he knew would become increasingly intense later on. Right now Raja had Raven standing stock-still and staring at the camera as he moved around her. He wasn’t quite sure what he was doing yet, all he knew is that he wanted Raven silent and motionless like a prop he could use however he pleased. The thought alone was exciting to him, but actually having her here proved a bit more overwhelming than he anticipated. Raja mouthed along with the words of his song while he improvised around her, posing and draping himself over her, whispering in her ear, and smoothing his hands over her shoulders and chest. Raven was doing pretty well not reacting to the touching, for the most part she stood completely still and her eyes never left the camera. But when Raja starting lip syncing in her ear and their faces got a little closer, Raven couldn’t stop herself and let out a small laugh.
“Raven!” Raja stopped the camera and gave her a look.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry” Raven covered her mouth to stop herself from giggling more.
“Stop laughing. This is supposed to be sexy!”
“I know! I’m sorry” Raven tried to straighten out her smile, “but you have to admit that ‘thunder-breathing dragon cat’ is kind of funny. How high were you when you wrote this?” Raven couldn’t help the smile that was sneaking back onto her face.
Raja tried his best to act offended couldn’t help the little laugh that escaped too. Raven always somehow managed to clock his intoxicated antics exactly, however he wasn’t about to admit she was right. He needed to keep Raven under control and her unexpectedly shading his song lyrics was not part of the plan. He stepped directly in front of her so the only thing the camera operator could see was Raja’s back, their faces only inches apart so that only they could hear one another. Raja tried his best to eliminate any amusement from his voice that Raven’s teasing caused. He needed to remind her who was in charge here.
“Stop it Rave. I need you to take this seriously”
“I know. I’m really trying to, I swear-“
“Are you?” Raja tried to keep a rigid tone. “Because I told you I need you to do exactly as I say”
“I know.”
“And that didn’t include your shady commentary about the song lyrics. I specifically remember asking you to be still and quiet.”
Raja was being strangely serious about this, Raven wasn’t quite sure how to respond. She was slightly intimidated by Raja’s authoritative tone but also kind of turned on. Raja was really hot when he got angry. She opened her mouth to apologize but Raja cut her off, leaning forward so his mouth was right above her ear. His right hand tightly wrapped around her wrist.
“If you can’t behave properly and follow instructions I’m gonna have to take you inside and remind you how to act. And believe me, you don’t want that.”
Raven didn’t even have a chance to react before Raja suddenly spun around to face the camera man, smiling again. “I think we’re gonna do a couple more takes and then switch it up a bit, move on to the next part”
For the next few takes Raven did exactly as she was told. She didn’t make any noise, she just stood and stared directly into the camera lens as Raja continued to touch her neck and shoulders while he lip synced. However her mind was distracted by Raja’s calm, casual warning in her ear and wondering exactly what he meant by “remind her how to act”? The thought of Raja taking Raven inside to punish her was strangely arousing and she wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Submitting was one thing, but actually looking forward to punishment? That was not something Raven was familiar with. There was just something about Raja that seemed to make her crazy sometimes. The tension between them was tight like the knot in Raven’s stomach, yet he was still so gentle with her. The stark contrast between Raja’s stern words and his feather-light touches was driving her crazy, and she wished so badly that Raja would let her do something other than simply stand there, unable to look at or touch him.
Raja on the other hand was fully enjoying the complete submission he felt from Raven after their little talk. He wanted to see if she really was trying to take this as seriously as she said, so Raja found ways to knowingly test her limits. He would intentionally touch her as softly as he could, breathing the song lyrics next to her face and letting just the tips of his fingers dance across her collarbone, and then suddenly he’d move to the other side and grab on to her shoulders and neck harshly to see if she would react. But she was so good for him, staying still and doing exactly as she was told. Her eyes never diverted from the camera, but Raja could still see the combination of distraction and need behind them. It was a game of wills they were playing, and Raja had to be in control. He had to win.
Finally Raven thought her prayers were answered when Raja announced that they were moving into the next section, but Raja wasn’t quite done playing with her just yet.
“So this is gonna be more of a tight shot, just the shoulders up, so we won’t see anything below that” Raja explained while he checked to make sure her makeup was still intact. Raven sent a silent thank you to the lord above that she would finally be able to move and touch him, or so she thought. “I still want you mostly still though. I’m going to be behind you in your ear so you won’t really see me” Raja noticed the faint disappointment in Raven’s eyes even as she nodded. He smiled as his hand left her face and skated softly down her body, pausing to run his fingers over her hip and slowly moving across the waistband of the front of her jeans. “but you’ll feel me, and you can move a little more. You don’t have to be so stiff this time.”
Raven inhaled sharply at the feeling of Raja’s fingers so low on her stomach. His gentle touch coupled with his deep voice had her entranced, and she internally willed his hands to travel just a few inches lower as she nodded again to show she understood. Raja didn’t hear her silent plea and instead ran over to check-in with the sound guy that everything was set at the correct time. Raven let out her breath, suddenly remembering that there were other people on set, and mentally ran through Raja’s directions again. They were starting the breakdown section. Raven vividly remembered listening to the song alone in her bathroom, and realized the “breakdown” was likely that section in the middle with all the moaning and whispering. Raja was going to do all that behind her? And she wouldn’t even be able to see? Raven would be lying if she said she wasn’t a little disappointed.
The heat of Raja’s body coming up behind her interrupted her thoughts, and she instantly felt his hand begin to caress her back. Ever since his little ‘threat’ earlier, Raja’s hands were like a magnet to Raven’s skin, constantly touching as soon as they were within a certain distance. Each small touch felt like an electric current running through them both, and it evoked a heady sense of desire in the pit of Raven’s stomach. Raja leaned her chin on Raven’s shoulder, the air between them was think with anticipation for what was coming next.
“Are you okay?” Raja asked, still rubbing Raven’s back. Raven nodded her head again, distracted.
“You can talk y’know, when I said I wanted you quiet I just meant I didn’t want you being sassy and talking back to me.”
Raven smiled meekly “I know, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Raja’s hand moved all the way up the base of Raven’s neck as he leaned his head on hers. All he wanted in that moment was to kiss her, but he had to restrain himself to avoid making a mess of their makeup. Instead he continued to tease her, dragging the fingertips of his right hand across her shoulder blades and his left hand coming to trace over her lower back, the sensation making Raven’s eyes fall heavy. Raja leaned in and murmured softly “Remember, the focus is just on our faces here, so make sure you look at the camera okay?”
Raven was so distracted by Raja’s hands on her that she barely registered what he was saying, but still she managed to follow his instructions and open her eyes. When she felt Raja’s right hand brush over a particularly sensitive spot on the side of her neck, Raven couldn’t help but lean against Raja and reach behind her to tentatively caress his thigh. Raja hissed at her touch. The dominant side of him was screaming at him to make her stop, that she wasn’t allowed to touch yet, but he closed his eyes and allowed himself to indulge for just a moment. He had been denied physical affection since they began, but he couldn’t believe that such a small, intimate touch was causing the blood to rush below his belt. Finally his dominance took over and he pushed Raven’s hand away. “Not yet.”
Raja’s hands went away too as he signaled to start the music. A little bit of the last verse was played as a lead in to the breakdown and Raja mouthed the words directly beside Raven’s ear. At this close proximity she noticed that Raja had a tendency to actually say the words under his breath when he lip synced rather than just mouthing it. She stood a little in front of him and stared at the camera with her lips parted slightly, still a bit affected by Raja’s gentle petting moments before. Raja draped his arm over Raven’s left shoulder and let his hand drag up her chest, over her shoulder and down her back as he sang “I’m gonna give you all of my love”, then he shifted his body forward, snaking his hand around to her front and pressing himself into her back as he breathed in her ear “much much more than kisses and hugs”. Raven gasped as she felt Raja press into her from behind, not expecting to feel him half-hard against her back. She tried her best to keep her composure but Raven was sure that the camera caught the sudden moment of surprise in her eyes. Raja didn’t stop though, as the music slowed and sounds of him moaning surrounded them, Raven felt the hand splayed across her stomach begin to drift downward to the inside of her thigh. Both sets of eyes never strayed from the camera while Raja touched her and let out a breathy groan in her ear. Raven tried her best to stay still and collected but as his hand slowly inched higher up her leg Raven couldn’t control her instinctive response. The combination of Raja’s hand brushing excessively close to her and the feeling of him still pressing into her backside made Raven’s eyes fall closed and her head roll back. Raja didn’t stop the shoot to correct her, instead he pressed himself into her further, teasing her and letting her fully enjoy the sensation. His eyes stayed fixed on the camera and his hand just barely brushed against the front of Raven’s jeans as he whispered “Gimmie your cock” into her ear. Raven couldn’t help the way she pressed herself back against Raja, desperately seeking friction. And although he couldn’t deny how good Raven’s ass felt pressing into him, Raja needed to keep some element of control in this situation so his hands came up to wordlessly still her hips.
“Trust me.”
Raja reveled in the fact that he had complete control over Raven, the sense of authority and seeing her so affected by his touch gave him a high stronger than any drug could. There was nothing in this world Raja enjoyed more than dominating someone with a strong personality. That initial battle of wills leading to their eventual submission provided him with a challenge and sense of accomplishment. And anyone that knew Raven could tell you she was not a passive type, she was strong-willed and sassy and shady and beautiful, but as Raja came to know her better he saw through the front she put on and uncovered her softer, more insecure side. These conflicting aspects of Raven’s personality always intrigued him, also reminding him a bit of himself. He loved to toy with her emotions in an attempt to bring that pliable side of her out, but still enjoyed her strong-willed nature and occasional moments of insolence.
They continued like this for a little while longer, Raja occasionally running his hands down Raven’s back or across her stomach, breathing and moaning in her ear. He could see Raven becoming overwhelmed by the constant stimulation of his hands and he didn’t want things to get out of hand yet, so he murmured a low warning that he was going to let go of her. The absence of Raja’s touch made Raven whine and stumble a little without his body there to support her, but she slowly collected herself. She was already so worked up from Raja’s touching and teasing, and she felt both frustration and arousal from the fact that he was treating her like a toy doll, forcing her to stay still while he played with her however he wanted. She was happy when Raja decided it was time to switch positions again.
They switched back to a wide shot, as far away as possible without exposing the bottom half of their bodies but still wanting to capture as much of their interactions as they could. Raja turned Raven to face him, holding onto both of her hands with their bodies mere inches apart like he was holding her captive. After the heaviness of their previous interactions, both queens were restless and eager to have their hands on each other. Raven especially had spent the entire shoot so far suppressing her desire to touch Raja’s bare skin, even just the feeling of his palms against hers was enough to drive her crazy. She waited for Raja’s next direction, internally begging him to give her more autonomy.
“How are you feeling?” he asked quietly, his eyes subconsciously flickering down to her lips.
“Good”
“Just good?”
Raven smiled faintly at Raja’s flirty tone. “Really good.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Raven felt his thumb brush against hers. “But we’re not quite done yet. And for this last part I want us close.”
“Okay.”
“Really close. As close as possible” Raja brought their hands to either side as he took a small step towards Raven, practically standing on top of her. “I want our bodies completely pressed together. I want to be able to feel every inch of your skin against mine.” Raven felt her breath catch from Raja’s words in her ear. “I need to be able to touch you anywhere I want, and I want you to touch me back.”
Raven exhaled a small sigh of relief at the last part “I’m allowed to move?”
“Yes, but only a little. I’m still the one in control, I’m gonna hold you and I’m gonna touch you. I just need you to follow me.”
“Follow you where?”
“Follow my touch” he whispered in her ear. The smile in Raja’s voice was hypnotic, “React however feels natural for you, but I’ll give you little directions while we film.”
Raven absentmindedly nodded “Okay.”
Raja’s hands left hers to signal the music and cameraman to start, but immediately they returned to stroke either side of her face. Their gazes locked as Raja’s hands continued down her face and neck. At this point neither one of them were mouthing the words, but she heard Raja’s muted instructions, “Look at the camera.” Raven did as she was told and Raja continued to move his left hand down her body. He watched intently as his hand drifted over the muscles in her chest, feeling each one flex under his touch. His right hand held onto her shoulder to steady her as his fingertips continued grazing down Raven’s stomach. Raja watched her face attentively while his fingers continued to explore, her eyes staying locked on the camera as per his instructions. His right hand came up to caress the side of her face again, and when she didn’t waver under his touch, he let his left hand drift down further to brush against the front of her leg, his right hand falling down the side of her neck. Raja closed his eyes and envisioned them in a much more private, intimate setting.
Raven felt herself shiver at his touch, but her eyes never left the camera. Although she had permission to move and reciprocate, she felt frozen in place. She was so used to being touched and manipulated like a prop, it was almost natural for her to just stand and enjoy the feeling of Raja’s hands on her. Suddenly Raja stood tall again, bringing his left hand back up to meet his right. He turned her face back towards his, close enough that their eyes fell closed. Raven instinctively leaned into him as she heard him whisper again.
“Touch me.”
She felt Raja lean away slightly as his hands wrapped around her, one on her lower back and one around the back of her head, and he continued to mouth the lyrics when the song picked back up. Raven also turned her eyes to the camera and let her arms wrap around Raja’s small frame. The feeling of his skin was like a smooth silk under her hands, so satisfying after such a long deprivation. They both posed and mugged to the camera for a moment before Raja brought her in closer, holding her in a tight embrace with one hand roughly gripping the back of her neck. Up until this point they had managed to keep at least a little bit of distance between them, but now Raja held Raven’s body flush against his own, feeling every inch of each other’s bare skin just as he promised. His left hand suddenly skated down Raven’s back and over her jeans, gently pressing their lower bodies into each other. Raven gasped as she felt her cock press against his, and she noticed Raja falter a little when his eyes fluttered in the middle of singing along. The sensation was overpowering for Raja, and his need for more took over as he leaned even further into Raven. His hands were everywhere as he held her desperately, one splayed across her back and the other caressing her face, holding her head steady as he breathed the words right next to her mouth. He heard a small sound escape from Raven’s lips as he subconsciously pressed himself into her again. Both of them were completely overwhelmed by the feeling of them rubbing together through the front of their jeans, but finally Raja forced himself to pull away before things went too far.
Raven slowly opened her eyes when she realized Raja had stepped away from her. She was met by Raja’s intense stare, a stare Raven knew from previous experience meant he was both hungry and insatiable. They paused filming and gave each other a moment to take a breath and compose themselves, but even through his own lust Raja still wanted to check on Raven before coming together again.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah” Raven breathed and nodded.
This time when they came together their interactions were a little softer and more hesitant. Their bodies were still pressed together, unable to part for more than a minute, but Raven only allowed herself to touch Raja’s back with just her fingertips. Raja delicately reached his hand up to Raven’s neck, eventually wrapping around the back and gripping tightly to anchor her in place. Raja’s soft then suddenly strong grip on her neck made Raven inhale sharply and close her eyes, enjoying the feeling of him taking complete control, her whole body tingling with anticipation. He held her close as his left hand continued to gently caress her, drifting over her collarbone and tracing patterns down her chest. Raja savoured every reaction he saw across Raven’s face, trying to burn the image into his memory. The contrast between the rough grip on her neck and the feather-light touches against her skin held Raven in a trance, and when Raja’s hand moved down to stroke her leg again, this time much closer to where she really wanted him to touch, she couldn’t help the breathy moan that escaped her parted lips. Raja smiled at the sound, amused by Raven’s slowly waning self-control. He knew exactly what she wanted, what she craved, and Raja wanted it too. But he was the one in control, he held the power, and only he was the one who decided exactly when Raven would get what her body was begging for. Raja was feeling particularly power-hungry today, and he wanted to tease her just a little longer.
Raja continued to play with her, his hand wrapping around to the back of her thigh and gently scratching his nails up and down. He observed each small reaction on Raven’s face, and also felt the reactions to his teasing in her pants, every so often feeling her cock twitch against his. The soft gasps and lolling of her head gave him a sense of satisfaction. Raja knew he had complete control over her now. She had reached the state of submission Raja yearned for when he initially thought to cast Raven in this role, and the way she subconsciously followed the sound of his voice, silently begging him to close the slight distance between them, told Raja he could do anything in that moment. His hand left the back of Raven’s leg and came up to spread across her cheek, the other still gripping the back of her neck. He watched as Raven slowly opened her eyes and they both paused for a moment, gazes locked. Raven’s icy stare was piercing but held a noticeable sense of desperation, her eyes pleading with Raja to give her what she needed. Raja held her gaze for a moment longer, wordlessly reminding her that he was the one in control, but still his left hand was gentle as he moved to caress the side of her face. Finally he let himself lean into her, extremely slow and restrained as both of their eyes fell closed in anticipation. Raven barely moved, allowing Raja complete control as their parted lips brushed lightly against each other. He was so slow and tentative, breathing into her open mouth. The teasing was pushing Raven to the edge. She instinctively tried to lean in closer, desperate to close the distance completely, but Raja would not allow her any power. He held her firmly in his hands as he gently pressed his mouth to hers. All the tension that had been building throughout the day, the touching and grinding and soft whispers in Raven’s ear, ignited and exploded like fireworks at the first bit of contact. Within seconds Raven felt Raja’s tongue slip into her mouth, leisurely exploring the new territory, and she immediately flashed back to their first kiss outside the bar. She remembered the way he held her against the wall while their tongues roamed freely. This kiss felt much more controlled but still a bit experimental, and this time Raven gave into Raja completely, letting him take the lead with her hesitantly following.
Raja’s grip on her face was somehow both firm and gentle, holding Raven in place as he kissed every inch of her mouth that he could reach. Raven stood mostly still, eyes closed and arms languidly wrapped around Raja’s lower back while he spread his dark lipstick all over her skin. Raja’s hands finally released their iron-like hold on the back of her neck, instead coming up to frame either side of her face. Raven felt his lips and tongue trail across her chin, leaving messy, dark brown streaks in their path. She was caught by surprise when she felt a soft bite on the left side of her bottom lip, letting out a soft whine at Raja’s sucking and nibbling, but he didn’t let up. Raja had waited far too long for this; imagining all the things he’d do to her mouth, thinking about how her swollen lips felt against his tongue, and how she’d look with his lipstick smeared across her face. He subconsciously rocked his hips into Raven’s before roughly pressing his lips to hers again. The slight pressure sparked something inside her, and this time she fully reciprocated Raja’s kiss. Their kiss was still slow, but this time more urgent and desperate as their fingertips dug into each other’s skin.
They continued their dance for another minute, both of Raja’s hands coming down to circle around Raven’s neck as his tongue licked against hers. He heard the cameraman say something which finally caused Raja to pull away, suddenly remembering that there were 2 other people present. He looked over to see the camera still filming so Raja continued his performance while Raven recovered from his attack on her mouth. Raja could feel her body almost limp against his own, her chest rising and falling with deep, heavy breaths. She was completely exhausted and he wanted to take advantage of her satiated state, so he continued to tease her just a little more. Raja brought his hand across Raven’s shoulders and back, feeling her exhale heavily and lean into him. His hand continued on a path down the front of her chest and stomach, his fingers just barely ghosting over the noticeable bulge in the front of her jeans before continuing down her legs. Raven was overtaken by the amount of stimulation, leaning into Raja’s touch and letting her head fall back with a breathy moan.
For a moment Raja’s eyes left the camera to glance at the small monitor to his left, appreciating the look of pleasure on Raven’s face. As usual Raja’s attention was fixated on her mouth and the sight of her lipstick smudged across her face, exactly as he pictured it in his mind. Raja had one last idea that he wanted to film before they wrapped and he released Raven from his teasing and torture.
“Rave” he whispered to see if she was still coherent enough to follow his directions. It took Raven a second to register her name though her haziness but eventually she opened her eyes, instantly searching for Raja’s warm gaze, but his eyes were focused on her mouth. Raja’s hand lifted to the side of her face, his thumb grazing over her smudged makeup, and Raven thought for a moment that he was going to lean in and kiss her again. Instead she felt his hand glide down to lift her chin slightly. His fingers lingered just below her bottom lip, still seemingly entranced by her full, messy pout. His next instruction took Raven by surprise.
“Open your mouth.” Raven’s response was automatic, still hazy from their very long and intense makeout session. Raja smiled at her easy compliance “Good girl, now lick me.”
Raven looked at him with a dazed confusion, unsure if she had heard him correctly.
“Lick my fingers” Raja instructed as he traced them along her bottom lip. Raven hesitantly stuck out her tongue and licked the pads of Raja’s fingers. Both of them shivered at the intimate contact and she heard Raja curse under his breath. “Turn towards the camera and do it again.”
Raven followed his directions and turned herself slightly so her eyes were on the camera. She let her tongue run over Raja’s fingertips again while he smudged his own lipstick even further with the back of his hand. This time however, Raven didn’t just stop at a simple lick. Once her tongue reached the very tips of his fingers, she put 2 of his digits completely in her mouth, sucking on them gently. Raja hissed with a perfect mix of surprise, arousal and frustration at Raven for not following his instructions directly. He pulled his fingers out of her mouth and stroked the side of her face. “So eager” he shook his head, but all Raja could think of now was Raven’s lips around him. He hadn’t even noticed that the song had ended and they were standing in complete silence. Raja broke their stare to look up at the crew, easily shifting from intense to casual.
“Did we get all the footage we needed?” Raja asked the guys behind the camera.
“Yup, I think that’s a wrap!”
38 notes · View notes
mysticalfankid · 3 years
Text
The Best Mac Laptop To Buy
Tumblr media
The MacBook Pro 16-i nch is currently Apple’s best Mac/laptop, offering one of the best performances seen in a portable yet. If you want to get demanding work done on the go, then there’s few.
Best Buy Refurbished Mac Laptops
What Is The Best Mac Laptop To Buy For College
Which Is The Best Mac Laptop To Buy
Our rigorous tests find the facts, and our impartial reviews tell you the truth about how products perform. First month £5, then £9.99 per month, cancel anytime.
MacBook Air is often named the best laptop for college by students because it’s light and portable, allowing for an effortless transfer between classes. Given the substantial power of its processor, this Mac laptop is almost unbeatable in terms of the price-to-quality ratio. A minor flaw to mention, however, is lack of extensive customization.
Explore the world of Mac. Check out MacBook Pro, iMac Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and more. Visit the Apple site to learn, buy, and get support.
Which MacBook is right for you? What's the difference between a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro? Our expert Apple laptop guide can help.
Apple laptops aren't cheap, so it's important that you consider your MacBook options carefully before parting with your cash.
We take a look at the key differences between the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro ranges, so you can be confident that you're buying the right Mac for you.
See also:See all of our best laptops| Answer three questions to find the best laptop for you|Best Windows 10 laptops|Best laptops for students
Which MacBook should I buy?
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020)
If you've got a big budget, you might have your eyes on a MacBook Pro. These are the most expensive Apple laptops around, and the latest model has a unique Touch Bar. This feature lives right above the keyboard, and it's a mini touchscreen that will display changing information, depending on what you're doing. If you're editing home videos in Final Cut, for example, the Touch Bar will turn into a mini timeline that lets you quickly navigate through your clips. If you're interested in the top-of-the-range model, see our review of the Apple MacBook Pro 2018 with Touch Bar.
Already a member? Log in
Apple 15-inch MacBook Pro
This Apple is at the very top of the tree in terms of power, size and price. Putting the Pro moniker to good use, this six-core laptop is designed for the most power-hungry tasks such as video editing and computer-aided design. It will surely be overkill for anybody who doesn't do those tasks on a daily basis, though. This model has now been superseded by the 16-inch model, which we have not yet tested.
Already a member? Log in
Apple Macbook Air 2020
This is the latest version of Apple's popular 13-inch laptop, which starts at under £1,000 for a model with an Intel Core i3 processor. We've testded the mid-range Core i5 model. It has a high resolution screen and a very attractive design, although keep in mind that the processor is a slower form of Core i5 than the one you'll find in the MacBook Pro.
Already a member? Log in
Last updated: July 2020
See our full collection of MacBook reviews to see how else these models differ.
Mac vs Windows vs Chromebooks
MacOS, Windows 10 and ChromeOS all have their own strengths and weaknesses. MacOS is buttery smooth and is the go-to operating system for many creative industries, but it also requires you to shell out a huge amount of money on a premium Apple device.
Tumblr media
MacBooks run smoothly and can keep viruses at bay, but they aren't cheap.
Windows, meanwhile is available on a huge range of devices from ultra-budget to super-premium and, for many, is still the operating system they know best. But it's not without its downsides: Windows 10 updates are still a major sticking point for many people, and the fact that Windows 10 doesn't run particularly smoothly on very cheap laptops.
That's where ChromeOS comes in. This operating system is little more than a fancy web browser, with web apps that work best when connected to the internet. There's a range of budget devices available, and a few premium options as well. There's no faffing with huge updates and since everything is in a browser, there shouldn't be any problems with programs crashing either.
See how MacOS stacks up against its rivals in ourMac vs Windows and Chromebookadvice guide.
What do I need to know about MacOS?
MacOS (formerly known as Mac OSX) is extra useful for people who own iPads and iPhones, with a host of clever features that lets you share and work on files seamlessly on all your devices. You can also make and receive calls on your computer; no need to reach for the phone any more. There's also the Siri voice assistant that'll let you ask questions, set reminders and issue other commands with just your voice.
The latest version of MacOS is called Catalina, which launched in Autumn 2019. This update added a host of new features, including the ability to run iPad apps on your MacBook, which will be handy for when you start a task on your tablet and then move over to your laptop. It also heavily redesigned several key Mac apps including iTunes, which has been split up into three separate programs for music, films and TV, and podcasts. Reminders, Notes and Photos have been overhauled, and you can now also use your iPad as a second screen for your MacBook. And, as ever, MacOS is arguably the best operating system to choose if you already own an iPhone; things sync and work together more seamlessly than other combinations of phones and laptops.
Itunes download apple store. ITunes is the world's easiest way to organize and add to your digital media collection. We are unable to find iTunes on your computer. To download from the iTunes Store, get iTunes now.
Need more help picking thebest laptopfor you? See our full range oflaptop reviews.
Test score%
£1,249.00View retailer
Test score%
£199.00Typical priceView all Laptops
Why buying a cheap printer could sometimes prove a false economy
28th October 2020Technology
Encryption: the key to your privacy
21st October 2020Technology
Microsoft launches cheaper Surface Laptop ‘Go’: should you buy it?
7th October 2020Technology
eLearning websites compared: best ways to learn from home in 2020
29th September 2020Technology
Selecting the right Mac laptop isn’t easy, with three core models and four versions of the MacBook Pro - Apple’s most powerful and versatile laptop - to choose from. How you select the best Mac to buy depends on several factors, including what you need it for and of course, budget. Mac laptops go from $1299 to $2399.
Apple essentially now has six laptops to choose from: MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro (13 and 15 inch screen), and the same 13 and 15 inch MacBook Pro, equipped with a Touch Bar and Touch ID.
If you’re considering buying a new Mac because yours is starting to slow down, there is a cheaper option. CleanMyMac X is a powerful and effective Mac declutter and cleaning tool - clearing away 62GB - on average, of junk that slows Macs down. You can download it here for free.
Options to consider when buying a Mac laptop
In this Mac buying guide, we cover the merits and downsides of each model, and outline the advantages of each option, depending on how you intend to use your Mac laptop. Here is a rundown of the options:
1. MacBook
First introduced in 2015 and refreshed in 2017, this is the sturdy and reliable MacBook, Apple’s core Mac laptop. Not the cheapest (starting at $1299), but oddly enough, the lightest in the range - even lighter than the MacBook Air.
It comes with four color options: Gold, Silver, Space Grey or Rose Gold. And you can pick from three base models:
1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core m3;
1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5;
1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i7.
You can either select an 8GB or 16GB memory, with the option of a 256GB or 512GB SSD hard drive, giving you a decent amount of memory and processing power for work, studying and leisure.
One downside with the MacBook is it only comes with one USB-C port for the power charging and data transfer (a new version of a USB that isn’t widespread yet; which will probably mean buying an expensive adapter). It is fast and efficient, with around 10 hours battery life. Not the most powerful Mac laptop in the range, but a sturdy workhorse for the price.
2. MacBook Air
Slim and lightweight, the MacBook Air is ideal for commuters, students and those who need a laptop occasionally, but won’t need to use it all of the time. For those on a budget, this is definitely the best Mac to buy, starting at $999, making it cheaper than the MacBook.
It comes with a 13-inch screen, is only available in silver, and you can pick from two core models (1.8GHz, 128GB, or a 1.8GHz, 256GB); although both only come with 8GB of RAM. However, you can upgrade - at extra cost - to a 2.2GHz processor with 512GB worth of storage.
A few downsides include the fact that it still uses a 2015 model processor, and it isn’t powerful enough for gamers, video editors, vloggers and professional developers. It’s also lacking a future-proof feature, as it doesn't come with a USB-C port. An 11-inch version is now only available second hand, with the newer 13-inch version coming equipped with more connectivity ports than a MacBook and the original smaller Air, including a MagSafe 2, two USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt 2, and an SDXC card slot.
Ideal for those who don't want to carry a heavy laptop, although with it squeezing a similar amount of computing power in a smaller frame, it does weigh somewhat heavier than the more expensive MacBook. Something for students and those on a budget to keep in mind.
3. MacBook Pro: 13 and 15 inch
For working professionals, video producers, designers, developers, and anyone who prefers to use a Mac laptop, the MacBook Pro is the workhorse many know, trust, and would recommend. Equally, gamers also benefit from the speed and processing power contained within the MacBook Pro.
With the MacBook Pro, you get a range of base specs to choose from:
MacBook Pro - 13.3-inch - 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, or;
MacBook Pro - 13.3-inch - 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor;
MacBook Pro - 15.4-inch - 2.2GHz, 2.5GHz, or 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor.
Memory size options go from a 128GB to 1TB SSD hard drive in the smaller model, with 256GB to 1TB worth of memory in the 15-inch version. Both are available in space grey and silver.
Newer versions of both come with a Touch Bar and Touch ID; although Apple have made significant upgrades in other ways too, which has made some journalists question “whether the 13inch MacBook Pros deserve the 'Pro' name at all.” It is also worth noting that the older, 15-inch version runs on the same processor model as the MacBook and MacBook Air, which means the same physical connectivity options are included: a MagSafe 2, two USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt 2, and an SDXC card slot.
4. MacBook Pro: 13 and 15 inch (with Touch Bar and Touch ID)
As we mentioned above, these new models are worth their own section in this Mac Buyers guide.
In many ways, they're more powerful than the older models that lack the Touch Bar and Touch ID. Apple is taking biometric security seriously, with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor replacing the power button. Both of these features are powered by the Apple T1 chip, combining Apple's Secure Enclave architecture to authenticate biometric data (you’ll also find these on modern iOS devices) and the super-efficient processor from the Series 2 Apple Watch.
With this level of security, the Secure Enclave makes it impossible for third-party apps or malware to gain access to your fingerprint data, and everything your fingerprint protects. Apart from the security benefits, these MacBook Pros come with the following range of spec options:
MacBook Pro - 13.3-inch - 3.1GHz or 3.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor;
MacBook Pro - 13.3-inch - 3.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor;
MacBook Pro - 15.4-inch - 2.8GHz, 2.9GHz, or 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor.
Memory size options go from a 256GB to a 1TB SSD hard drive, with an impressive 2TB an option in the 15-inch version. Touch Bar models come with four USB-C ports, with one needed for the power cord, and both come with a headphone jack, although they don't have any other physical connectivity options.
Which Mac should I buy?
Even knowing all of the specs, memory options, information on processors, systems and connectivity ports, making a comparison is still not easy. So below, we've considered which is the best Apple laptop from a range of viewpoints, considering how they might be used and who is using them.
Best option for a portable laptop
When it comes to carrying a laptop around, something that will fit into a backpack, shoulder bag, or even mid-to-large handbag, the MacBook is the lightest and most portable. Most would assume - as the name suggests - the MacBook Air, but the 2015 redesign made it heavier and comes with a lower resolution screen.
Unfortunately, you do make some sacrifices for portability, with only one USB-C and, as the cheapest in the range, it is less powerful than other Mac laptops. But for those who want something easy to carry around, light, portable, and cheap, the MacBook beats the others.
Best Mac laptop for students
Students need laptops in classes, lectures and libraries - even when researching online, libraries - many equipped for modern laptops and tablets - are ideal places to work. Students need something portable and cheap - although many can stretch a budget a little further with the Apple education discount - making the MacBook an ideal option.
Although for a little more computing power and something that takes up slightly less space in a bag, the Air is always worth looking at for students. Unless you are taking a computing, games or video course; in which case, neither the Air nor MacBook is an ideal option.
Ideal on a low budget
When price is the deciding factor, you can’t beat the MacBook Air. For those that need a fairly powerful, fairly light device, the 128GB 13-inch Air starts at $999 - compared to $1299 for the next cheapest option, the 256GB 12-inch MacBook. Upgrades to the memory or processor cost more, so if you’re on a budget, think carefully before wanting to customise.
Best for battery life
Although there isn’t a huge amount of difference when it comes to battery life, most Mac laptops come equipped with a minimum of 10 hours of Wi-Fi web browsing and/or iTunes video streaming.
Beating the others is the “all day battery” that is included in the 13-inch MacBook Air, with 12 hours available before you need to use a charger. However, as any Mac users knows, the older a laptop gets, the weaker it charges and quicker a charge disappears, so it is always useful to have a power cord handy when you are planning to use a Mac laptop for a prolonged period of time.
Need a lot of storage?
Storage is a moveable feast, and something Apple is consistently generous with. Not only can you upgrade all the way to 2TB - with the 15-inch MacBook Pro (with Touch Bar/ID) - but you can use cloud-storage and external hard drives. But when it comes to physical storage you can access directly within a laptop, the 2TB Touch Bar/ID 15-inch Pro beats the others.
Although the good news with Mac laptops is every one of them now comes with SSD memory, which is far more efficient than the memory in older models. It is also less likely to break, since these do not include moving mechanical parts.
Fastest Mac processor
Again, the 15-inch MacBook Pro (with Touch Bar/ID) is the fastest and most powerful. The most expensive customised model will come equipped with a 3.1GHz i7 quad-core processor, which when coupled with 16GB of RAM means it will power through almost any task you can throw at it.
Since the processor is a quad-core, it is significantly more powerful than the others, many of which use dual or m3 processors. Not that the others aren't powerful; they just aren't as powerful as the top-of-the range Pro.
Best Buy Refurbished Mac Laptops
Which is best for work?
This largely depends on the type of work you do. For intensive tasks, then you should opt for the most powerful version you can afford. Combined with generous screen real estate, and that could mean the 15-inch MacBook Pro (with Touch Bar/ID).
But not everyone needs that much screen, or that much processing power and RAM. Others simply connect a laptop to a larger screen, giving them useful portability. If that is the case and you don't need a Mac laptop that could open a hole in the space time continuum, then you could opt for something less powerful and more versatile, such as the MacBook Air. More cost effective too.
We’ve left this option out of the table below, since it largely comes down to personal preference, the type of work involved, whether a device needs to be portable - or not - and budget.
What about for games?
For more intense and involved games, that need the most amount of computing power possible, the 15-inch MacBook Pro (with Touch Bar/ID) is the best option. Although more expensive, it comes equipped with an AMD Radeon Pro 560 graphics card with 4GB VRAM, making it more powerful than some Mac desktops and so-called “dedicated” gaming computers.
If you don't play games that are too intense, or have a lower budget, then the Intel HD Graphics 640 card in the 13-inch MacBook Air is the next best option.
Best Mac to buy? Quick Comparison Table
To make things easier to remember, we’ve also put together the following comparison table (specs from Apple - overlaid side-by-side for an easy comparison):
Save Money: Declutter your Mac
What Is The Best Mac Laptop To Buy For College
For Mac users, no matter what device you have, using CleanMyMac X is the most effective way to keep your Mac in top share. With the help of CleanMyMac, you can:
Let’s take a quick look at some of the leading torrent downloaders on the market that are available today to find out which program can offer users the best functionality and core features to get their torrenting running at top speed. Mac os torrent downloader. While there are a lot of options available, taking the time to find the right downloader can save on hassle in the future and save on headaches when you’re trying to find a program that’s fit for everyday use and lets you maximise your downloading. It can be tricky to know where to start for torrent newbies, and even for experienced torrenters it’s possible to miss out on a new torrent downloader that’s a better fit than your usual choice.
easily get rid of large and old files, Photos junk, iTunes junk, mail attachments, and other clutter that takes up space;
uninstall applications completely, without leftovers;
keep your online and offline activity private;
take care of your Mac's health with health alerts, and more.
With CleanMyMac X, your Mac is always as good as new. You can download it for free and give it try!
Which Is The Best Mac Laptop To Buy
These might also interest you:
Tumblr media
0 notes
mildredsoftwaretech · 3 years
Text
How to Fix MacBook Air Battery Life Issues?
MacBook Air is one of the most preferred products developed by Apple in its laptop series. It has a massive SSD storage capacity. MacBook Air has the latest M1 chip with high tech features like Retina Display, Dual Thunderbolt 3 Ports. The product provides a big battery with the capacity to run up to 18 hours. Apple estimates with dull screen brightness and light web usage.  Sometimes users face several issues like battery draining quickly or not performing well as expected. If that’s the case also with you, then this post will be definitely beneficial for you in removing this issue.
Here are the steps to follow if you want to fix battery life problems or such issues on your MacBook Air:
Tumblr media
Allow your Device to Complete the Setup Process
In case you are setting up a new Mac or want to restore your current device, then your system will go through the primary setup procedure for a little bit of time once you have configured it properly. The battery draining issues might be due to Spotlight indexing.
If you want to fix this annoying issue, it is recommended to plug the laptop into a stable power source. Once the indicator shows full charge, unplug the device from the socket and start using it normally. Now your MacBook Air will perform as usual.
Restart Your MacBook Air
Restarting helped most of the MacBook users to detect and remove battery problems. If you have battery issues on your device, then you need to check the system properly. It might be due to a bad/ corrupted app or data.
Restart the device to remove these annoying glitches from your device. Here’s how:
Tap the Apple menu located at the top-left edge of your screen.
Then, press the Restart option.
Hit the tab Restart from the pop-up window for the verification process.
Once your device is successfully rebooted, try to check if the battery draining issues have been fixed or not? If your answer is No, then follow the next procedure.
Running all The System Updates
Most of the latest Apple laptops are running with recent and updated OS and system software. If your device is performing slower than usual, then check for any pending updates. If any, then update your device to the latest macOS for better optimization and updated features. Ensure that third-party apps and your operating system are properly updated to the newest version for smooth functioning.
Here are the steps to know how to update your device with the latest software:
Initially, open the App Store on your device.
Then, hit the Updates tab by navigating the side section menu.
Now, tap on the Update option located just after every app you want to update. You can also tap the Update All option to run all the pending updates.
You may be asked for your Apple ID or admin password. Type all the asking details.
For third-party apps, you can reach the Menu bar and then search for the option Check for Updates by navigating the app menu or the help menu panel.
Note: Do not leave any update incomplete; it affects your battery performance and device entirely. After a successful OS update, check that your device and battery are working normally and smoothly.
Running Down the Battery
The most popular and easiest method to solve any battery issues is running down the device and then charging it again until it becomes full. It’s the easiest way to check and monitor battery draining problems.
If you want to try this battery fixing method, you need to use your laptop until it turns off.
Once the battery is empty, then connect the MacBook to a stable power source, keep it connected and wait for some time until you get your Apple laptop fully charged. Eject the power cable from the power source and start using the device.
Now, monitor the battery icon regularly and check that your system’s battery is still draining abnormally or showing the similar issue. If Yes, then follow the other fixes mentioned below.
Checking Power Consumption of Your Installed Apps
To monitor and check for the power-consuming apps, Apple has launched a new feature called “battery shame.” It shows you the details of power-craving applications. To know the apps consuming more power, you need to hit the Menu bar. It will give you the details of the apps and programs, using a significant amount of energy.
Increasing Battery Life
If your battery is in good condition, but still you are facing unusual battery issues, then there might be some tools and apps behind it. Turn off all your running activities on your device and experience the change.  Here are the steps:
First of all, turn your display brightness down to the minimum.
Now, switch off the Wi-Fi you don’t need.
Disconnect speakers and use headphones if you want to listen to music or audio.
Open the System Preferences section and then launch the Energy Saving section. Then, enable AGS (Automatic Graphics Switching) and let your hard disc to sleep when possible.
Try quitting unnecessary apps running in the background so that they don’t consume more battery power.
Tumblr media
Battery draining has become an annoying issue nowadays, but repairing battery issues is possible using several methods. If you have a MacBook Air and are experiencing the same battery draining issues. In that case, you have several fixing steps like rebooting, running down and charging the battery again, updating to the latest software update, checking power issues, and removing glitches like unnecessary apps and files, etc. Follow all the steps and make your device a smooth running laptop without battery problems.
I’m Mildred kawakami I’m a software engineer living in the United State. I am a fan of technology, photography, and web development. I’m also interested in education and writing. Visit Our Site,findmeaddress.com
Source: How to Fix MacBook Air Battery Life Issues?
0 notes
emmajustin20 · 4 years
Text
Best Laptops for College Students In 2020
A laptop is undoubtedly one of the most significant investments a college student can make. It will not only help you with your classes but will also keep you entertained in the time of need. As a student, you might want to get it for your studies and presentation, so the essential qualities you might want to look for are storage, RAM, battery life, display, and graphics. You can easily find a good laptop within $400, but investing a few extra bucks will offer better features and space you need. Since you’d be attending a lot of online classes, thanks to the global pandemic, it is better to invest in something that promises to last you a long time.
Tumblr media
If you are sure about your extended budget, then the following laptops are perfect for carrying on with your college assignments and work:
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
It is a next-generation versatile laptop with a 12.3-inches screen that works as a studio and tablet, so you can type, touch, draw, write, and work more naturally. It is powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core processor and offers you multitasking speed, better graphics, quality Wi-Fi performance, and long battery life of up to 10.5 hours. It brings you a high-resolution PixelSense display with ambient light sensing that can automatically adjust to the lighting conditions.
The Surface Pro Type Cover features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and a large glass trackpad for precise navigation and control. Despite being sleek and compact, it still performs like a traditional full-size keyboard. The package comes with both USB Type-C and USB Type-A ports for connecting to displays, docking stations, etc., and accessory charging.
Lenovo Yoga C740
Lenovo Yoga laptop has a 14-inch Full HD 10-point multitouch screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution that offers impressive color and clarity. It features IPS technology for wide viewing angles, and an energy-efficient LED backlight. You will get to experience a 10th Gen Intel Core processor in an ultra-low-voltage platform that provides maximum high-efficiency power on the go. The substantial high-bandwidth 8GB RAM will let you smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, along with using multiple programs and browser tabs all at once. Its 256GB of SSD will result in faster start-up times and data access and reduce heat production and power draw on the battery.
You can use it as a laptop, tablet, tent, and stand, and the Lenovo Transition will automatically switch applications to full screen when changing from PC to tablet, tent, or stand position.
Dell XPS 13 Touch Laptop
This is one of the best laptops available in the market this year. Dell has reduced the camera size but has made it better with the latest 4-element lens that will deliver a sharp video in all areas of the frame. It also has a temporal noise reduction that uses advanced noise reduction for improving video quality, especially under dim lighting conditions. With a 13.3-inch screen in an 11-inch form factor, it has about 80.7% screen-to-body ratio, and a 4K Ultra HD resolution display packed with 8 million pixels.
It maximizes the color spectrum with 100% sRGB color and a 1500:1 contrast ratio, and the 400-nit brightness lets you enjoy your entertainment outdoors. Its battery can run up to 19 hours depending on the apps you use. It can boot and resume in seconds with its 2TB of SSD storage, and multi-task with up to 16GB of memory.
Apple MacBook Air
The MacBook Air features a 13.3-inch stunning Retina display with True Tone technology that offers razor-sharp text clarity and 48% more colors. It uses 1.1GHz dual-core 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor along with Turbo Boost of up to 3.2GHz. Its integration with the Intel Iris Plus Graphics ensures no lagging and faster graphics experience. With 8GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory on this laptop, you get two storage variations, i.e., 256GB SSD storage and 512GB SSD storage. It secures your identity and data with Touch ID. Its Magic keyboard has a redesigned scissor mechanism with 1mm travel, which creates more space for multitouch gestures. It features three mics for capturing better audio, an HD FaceTime camera, impressive speakers, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports.
The prices of these products range from $700 – $1000, but you can get them for cheaper during the sale season. The list is arranged from less expensive to a higher price so that you easily compare and choose the best one for yourself.
Hi, I’m Kinsley. I’m a web developer living in Pontiac, USA. I am a fan of web development, programming, and entrepreneurship. I’m also interested in innovation. You can read my blog with a click on the button above. yellpilot.com
Source: Best Laptops for College Students In 2020
0 notes
inputgarlic92 · 4 years
Text
Take a View at the State of the Art iPhones
Customers probably concur with me that iPhone X layout was one of the very best, and that is precisely why Apple chose to keep the exact same look for their next pair of personal cell phones. Introduced a year ago, it is the very first Apple smart phone to remove the main button. In the other, I held its brand-new successor, the iPhone Xs. My eyes squeezed closed, and I passed them back and forth between my hands, rolling each phone over, feeling the curves, glass backs, dual lens camera lumps, and radar vents. I realized I could not tell the difference between both phones. This is not a criticism. It is just a fact of S model years, where Apple locks in the iPhone layout and concentrates, instead, on upgrading key internal parts. As such, the biggest changes to this 5.8-inches iPhone Xs and its big brother, the 6.5-inch iPhone Xs Max, both of which I tested, could be discovered in performance (thanks to the newest A12 Bionic CPU), photos and videos, (new digital cameras and a new ISP endorsed by the A12), along with functionality (iOS12, the final version of which came pre-applied on my test components ). The outcome is a pair of brilliant, tasteful, and high-performing gadgets which can please iPhone enthusiasts and receive over a couple of looks in Android cellphones. It has the exact rigid surgical metal frame wrapped into a fresh glass substance that Apple said was formulated to be scratch tolerant and heavy duty. I gave the phones a few half-hearted drops onto a thin-pile rug but was not prepared to let them slide away on concrete. Thus far I have discovered just one very nice scratch on your iPhone Xs Max. So let's consider them scratch-resistant, but still not scratch-proof. The larger iPhone Xs Max shares all of the iPhone X's content and layout attributes, but does this in a 6.2-inch x 3.05-inch x 0.30-inch body. In 208 g, it's much thicker than the iPhone Xs. The Xs Max is a hair shorter (0.04 inches) and narrower (0.02 inches), but it is also a few grams heavier than the Iphone 8 Plus, the big-screen phone that from a space the Iphone Xs Max most resembles. Button positioning power/sleep, volume controls, ring/silent switch -- will be the exact same. But, there is one minor chassis gap. On the bottom edge of the telephones sits the lightning connector. It is book-ended by a pair of holes that adapt one half of their stereo speaker system and one of the telephone's microphones. There was six holes on both sides. Now the ideal side has six slots, but the left, which just houses a mike, has just three. This little change was done, in part, to adapt the new internal antenna setting that contains 4x4 MIMO and License Assisted Access, which utilizes unlicensed 5 GHz spectrum to deliver 1 Gbps broadband over LTE. Apple updated the water and also dust-resistance rating to IP 68, that contrasts to the handsets surviving in 2 meters of water for as much as half an hour. I didn't get to go swimming together with the Iphone Xs or even Xs Max, but did operate the latter phone under water, juice and milk. Then, as recommended, I dried and shut off the smart phone. I was careful not to plug it into a lighting cable (that is a no-no after a dowsing) but did place it on a wireless charging foundation at which it had no trouble accepting a fee. Apple, incidentally, said it put some work in creating the wireless charging platform (basically the concealed coils within the phone) more forgiving. This is good news, because I've on more than one occasion, awakened to find my iPhone X didn't charge because I placed it a little off-axis on the charging base. I never ran into this issue with either the iPhone Xs or even Xs Max. The Iphone Xs and iPhone Xs Max bodies are rigid and robust-feeling, but torqueable, especially the larger telephone, which really makes a tiny clicking sound when I attempt to twist it. Clearly, I have only had those iPhones for weekly, but based on a calendar year's encounter with the first iPhone X (allowed, largely in a sparse instance ), I consider this design framework tough and prepared for the long haul. Even as Samsung trolls Apple to its black cutout at the top of this Iphone Xs and Xs Max, Apple reveals no clues of moving back in the multi-feature technology, which grew nor slipped in the hottest iPhones. As with the first TrueDepth Module, that one is still packed with the same elements (none of that, so much as I could tell, have been updated). There is a 7 MP camera, dot projector for thickness sensing, infrared camera (thickness sensing), flood illuminator (yes, too for depth-sensing), proximity sensor, ambient light detector, the second half of the stereo speaker program, along with a mic. On the backs of both the Iphone Xs and Xs Max, there is more of the custom made glass, the Apple Logo, the word Iphone (but no"X" or"s"), along with also the 12 MP dual camera system. This vertically-oriented, pill-shaped camera module appears exactly the same as it did to the last iPhone X. It's still a prominent bump, but at least it did not get any bigger. Within the module is new hardware supported by new picture technologies, but more on that later. I have always thought that the 5.8-inch iPhone X an excellent tradeoff between a big-screen phone and hand-friendly ergonomics. The screen is big and immersive, however, the human body is comfortable to hold and pocket. The iPhone Xs Max by contrast can, particularly if you're utilized to holding a smaller phone, feel large. It is not embarrassing to hold, but people with smaller hands will probably struggle with one-handed usage and will most likely wish to turn on Reachability, which having a swipe back on the flat bar moves everything halfway down the screen, which makes it longer reachable. Nonetheless, the trade-off could possibly be well worth it. I forgot how much I like the bigger iPhone screen, and on the iPhone Xs Max, you receive a lot more display without contending with a larger phone (there's just that 0.04-inch height difference between the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone Xs Max). Apple's full-stack control of the Iphone design, development, and manufacturing process pays dividends throughout the gleaming handset. Nonetheless, it's most noticeably from the silicon, which can be created and designed in tandem with the hardware and software elements that will rely on it. This past Year, Apple delivered the A11 Bionic, a powerful portable CPU with built-in Artificial Intelligence Power. The brand new A12 Bionic assembles on this brief legacy having a more strong Neural Engine and much more impressive graphics functionality. Anytime I critique a new iPhone, I begin using Geekbench 4 to check out the raw CPU operation. To ensure there are minimum background processes moving, I usually run the exam before I have set up one program. I conducted the Geekbench CPU routine and (along with understanding that Apple stuffed an additional gig of memory inside the brand new Xs class iPhones) saw the only core scores had improved somewhat between the A11 Bionic along with A12 Bionic. On the other hand, that the multi-core score was strangely lower. Not by a lot, but I had never seen that occur. The numbers were much higher than what I got from Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845, however a decrease effect on the new iPhone did not make sense. However, when I reran the Geekbench CPU test per day or so after, the A12 multi-core numbers defeat those of the A11. My guess is that, even though I set up the iPhone Xs and Xs Max as fresh iPhones, there might nevertheless have been a background installation process going on that dragged down the CPU numbers. The bigger leap in functionality is from the Geekbench Compute Metal score, which leapt from 15,145 on the iPhone X into 22,245 about the Iphone Xs and Xs Max. Apple's done a great deal of work to beef up images performance, especially for the raft of ARKit 2 (and Metal 2) software heading into the platform, some of which can support multiplayer gambling. While there aren't a lot of ARKit 2 programs in the app shop, I'd get some hands-on time using an Iphone Xs running Galaga AR, the identical demo Apple showed off throughout the iPhone Xs unveiling. To play with, me and a few other writers stood about a desk and pointed out our phones at the Galaga video arcade game console. Shortly, alien attackers began streaming first from the video game display and then from all around us. I swung the telephone from side-to-side up and up and down to view and then take the incoming assault. It was fast-paced and cool. In the same way, I have seen , together with ARKit two, the phone can place, say, an incredibly realistic virtual pressure stove or sneaker to a real table or in my feet, the illusion divided only once I slid my hand into the frame and, even about the iPhone Xs screen, it looked just like my notes had been stuck beneath the kettle. You can not support these types of real-virtual mixes without ample graphics horsepower, thickness mapping, and the AI needed to identify the way surfaces, shadows, and even reflections will work on virtual items in an actual space. This processing power also helped amp up more ordinary operations such as Face ID. While the process of registering my face was unchanged from the first iPhone X, opening either telephone with my head, as well as using Face ID to access password-protected apps and solutions, is clearly quicker than it had been on the iPhone X. In general, in real-world programs, both iPhone Xs and Xs Max operate smoothly. Apple place tremendous effort into enhancing the picture and video experience to the Iphone Xs and Xs Max. Along with new lenses along with a larger detector, both the cameras (rear and selfie) are all backed with a brand new image signal processor. The specs on the dual cameras have been untouched by the iPhone X (and would be the exact same on both iPhone Xs and Xs Max). There is the 1.8 wide angle lens and the f 2.4 2X telephoto. Both comprise optical image stabilization and may shoot up to 4K video in 60 fps. They still take slow-motion video at up to 240 frames per minute. If you want insane 960 fps super-slo-mo, then you will have to visit Samsung. From the pure-play digital photography race, even however, Apple requires the head. The Smart HDR uses detector, ISP, and neural enhancements to catch some of the greatest high-dynamic range photos I've ever seen. The difference between what was possible on the first iPhone X along with the Xs and Xs Max is stunning. Apple built a system able of capturing two frames every thirtieth of a moment, and instantly assessing and combining them into one image that preserves not only foreground and background detail, but can freeze actions without presenting tremendous grain. In many images, I saw the iPhone Xs and Xs Max find colour and detail in shadowy spaces with out wasting out the brighter locations. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also an outstanding low light shot, however I feel the Xs line is a bit better. I am particularly impressed by how Apple's built upon its own pole position in Portrait Mode digital photography. Apple introduced Portrait Mode back in 2016 with all the iPhone 7 Plus (the applications lagged from the hardware). Since then, Apple's elegant the concept, adding things like Studio Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, and Stage Light Mono. All these features remain, and are somewhat improved. That which I love and also, as an amateur photographer who often plays with f-stops for just the ideal depth of field change, is that the brand new Depth Control. Depth Control enables you to take a Portrait Mode photo and adjust the Bokeh, or depth of field focus, after you shoot the photos. This works with both the front and rear cameras, which means that the image processor is using two distinct sorts of depth information. On the back, it has the advantage of two lenses to become stereoscopic info. The leading camera counts on the depth-sensing components. I am aware of, Samsung's Galaxy Notice 9 provides the capacity to correct background focus while you're taking the image, in addition to after. But, there's an essential difference here that is evident in the iPhone Xs and Xs Max Depth picture editor. It is a slider that lets you adjust smoothly from an electronic f 1.4 aperture into a digital f16. In a real camera with a mechanical aperture, even high amounts interpret to sharper focus in the backdrop and reduced numbers imply the focus depth is much shallower. About the Galaxy Notice 9, Live Focus basically sees the images as two planes: the foreground and background. The slider blurs the background airplane. The Iphone Xs's depth slider relies on all of the depth information to reduce or enhance background attention through all of the airplanes between the front of this subject and the desktop. Combined with the improved Portrait Mode stitching (handling how the subject and a blurred background match together), the subtlety of this effect through the array of virtual f-stops is impressive and, Apple's explained, is modeled by how actual lenses with hardware apertures would influence each image. For most people the smart phone is their camera. This sets a pro-level controller in the hands of millions of individuals, that are about to start taking some genuinely fantastic face pictures. Just after taking regular shots, video, and 4K, I remain surprised with the quality of photos and videos coming from their Iphone Xs and Xs Max. Sure, it is odd that the larger Xs Max does not, as could be tradition, have some improved image capturing attributes, however I doubt anyone is going to be dismayed with the picture quality delivered by either new smartphone. There are a couple of other hardware-related improvements, like the guaranteed dual-sim technologies that enables multiple phone numbers (believe work and individual numbers of one telephone ) through the aid of eSIM technologies. Unlike routine SIMs, you don't need a carrier card solely for the provider to support it and enable it on your cell phone. It's a wonderful feature that, for obvious reasons, I couldn't test. For audio enthusiasts, there's also the newest stereo recording and also wider-stereo playback. This is just a bit hard to check, and that I occasionally worry my ears are not adequate to detect what might be a more nuanced difference. But, I'd find a way. I listed , in landscape style, a few cars traveling by. These start on the left side of this screen and push to the rightside. In movie I recorded with the iPhone Xs, the noise travels from one side of the telephone to the other. Playback on the iPhone X is pretty loud however does not have the identical level of separation audio.
Tumblr media
Clearly, movies with a lot of sound engineering aren't only great showcases for the amazing displays, but highlight the new, wider stereo playback abilities as well. As hardware/software partnerships go, you can't do better than the Apple iPhone Xs and iOS 12. I have been operating betas of their new portable OS for months on my iPhone X and found it impressively smooth and stable. On the Iphone Xs and Xs Max, it gets even better partners. In addition to butter-smooth and lighting rapid operation (in games, video, and internet browsing), the augmented reality abilities introduced in iOS 11, ARKit, and the iPhone X are more refined and customizable from iOS 12 along with the Iphone Xs. The smart assistant is a better listener than ever, and getting smarter. Her speech is more conversational and she's requesting follow-up questions. Siri can be more proactive, discovering connections between disparate items such as schedules and locations and offering them in advance. Additionally, there are a variety of third party programs tapping into Siri, letting you use only your voice to get program attributes and data without even opening the app. You are able to install iOS 12 on your old iPhone (down to this Iphone 5s), however not all of attributes, especially those between AR, will work on the older devices. Still, I greatly recommend the upgrade with at least anyone operating an iPhone 7 and up. It is simply a much better, more glossy, proactive, and smart user experience and, to be fair, I've barely scratched the face of all the upgrades and feature enhancements you'll find. Apple asserts 30 minutes more battery life involving the Iphone X and Xs and 90 minutes more with all the Iphone Xs Max. In my experience, both brand new phone will get you through the majority of the afternoon on a single charge. I spent using just the iPhone Xs Max. this article I kept the brightness high and ran all kinds of apps and processes. It lasted just a solid 10 hours. Maybe a bit less than I expected, but still enough for me through the majority of the working day. In all honesty, with less than a week under my belt, it's difficult to offer a complete evaluation of battery life performance. There are many factors and, clearly, battery life is going to be good on brand new phones. Talk to me in 6 months or 1 year, and we're going to see if I'm still happy with battery life. It is not strange that Apple didn't bring down the cost for the brand new $999 Iphone Xs (or hold on the original model and market it at a lower cost ). I'm not even shocked that we finally have an almost $1,100 model or that we're able to pay a whopping $1,449 for the 512 GB Iphone Xs Max (which appears to be the version that I tested). Apple's already demonstrated that individuals will pay virtually anything to get their hands on the newest iPhone. Is $1,000 or more to cover a smart phone? Perhaps, however a lot of us think of the entire cost as opposed to monthly payments? I am, however, a little annoyed that Apple stopped the lightning -to-3.5 millimeter adapter. It is as if, in the past 12 months, we have gotten rid of the Beats and Bose headsets, such as it is a solved problem. Memo to Apple: It is not. What I will say is that these are the iPhones you want. The iPhone Xs does not mess with what I consider a timeless design, and the Xs Max only takes all that is amazing about the iPhone X also enlarges it. As a set, they are equally as beautiful as the original home-button-free Iphone X. The design appears particularly tasteful in a golden finish. Photographers will love the new camera, and also players and content customers will want the big-display iPhone Xs Max. Should you currently own the iPhone X, I still would not update unless you need more realistic augmented reality and also full depth control on your own portraits. For iPhone 6s, 7, 8, and even 8 Plus officers, the iPhone Xs and Xs Max will certainly feel as a giant leap to the foreseeable future.
0 notes
sexkoreasblog · 4 years
Text
Open source game developer Perttu Ahola talks about Minetest with Wikinews
Recently, Finnish open-source video game developer Perttu Ahola discussed Minetest, his "longest ever project", with Wikinews.
Started in October 2010, Minetest was an attempt by Ahola to create a sandbox game similar to Minecraft. Minecraft is a multi-platform commercial game, which was in alpha version when Ahola challenged himself to create something similar to it from scratch, he told Wikinews.
Minetest is an open-source game, which is free for anyone to download and play. It is written in the C++ programming language, and the source code is available on code-hosting site GitHub. According to Ahola, Minetest attempts to run on older hardware, with limited graphics, but to be accessible to more people: those who have outdated technology, and making it available for no cost. Minecraft, on the other hand, is a paid game, currently costing USD 26.95 for its computer version. Minecraft is currently owned by Microsoft, and performs poorly on older hardware.
A correspondent from French Wikinews contacted Perttu Ahola via Internet Relay Chat a few weeks ago, discussing Minecraft. This interview is built on top of the previous interview, as we take a deeper dive into knowing more about this free game which is about to turn ten years old in a few months.
https://ift.tt/2CUv9m0 cc by
Can you introduce yourself?
WN How did you find out about programming?
Perttu Ahola Hi. Although I'm usually called "celeron55" on the Internet, my real name is Perttu Ahola. I'm a programmer and electronics geek from Finland.
Perttu Ahola I've had programming as a hobby my entire life. When I was a kid I programmed using BASIC on my dad's computers and at school and university I attended programming courses and learned more languages.
Logo of Minetest (Image: Distantkay) https://ift.tt/2X7oV9o  cc by sa
WN What made you want to create Minetest?
Perttu Ahola Initially I took it as a challenge, but after a year of working on it, it turned into this weird quest of trying to figure out what can be done with it that Mojang (now Microsoft) won't do. But initially it was the challenge, and the mystery of how a game world like this works under the hood.
WN When did you start working on Minetest initially?
Perttu Ahola At the beginning of October 2010.
WN How many core-developers were working on the development at that time?
Perttu Ahola Myself only. Back then it was exactly what the name implies. The first contributor appeared six months after.
WN When was Minetest first available to public?
Perttu Ahola It was first published to a private IRC channel for testing, and after about a week I published it on a public programming channel on IRCnetcalled #ohjelmointiputka. I created the website sometime during January 2011.
WN How were the initial few months for the game? How did the userbase respond? How was it received?
Perttu Ahola The initial userbase was mostly a bunch of hobbyist programmers from that Finnish IRC channel. Everyone liked messing around in the quirky little multiplayer sandbox that it was.
WN How many core-developers are working on Minetest right now?
Perttu Ahola I need to look this up as much as you do... Looks like we have 13 at the moment. It doesn't really correlate with how many people are working on Minetest though, as core developer is primarily a position of trust — they decide what is merged into the upstream repositories. Some contributors do a lot but aren't core developers. This goes both ways: Some core developers are quite inactive a lot of the time.
WN Do these trusted core-developers have specific roles?
Perttu Ahola They used to have, but [it] didn't work very well. Nowadays everyone is simply responsible of only touching things they know about.
WN What are you learning from them and what are they learning from you?
Perttu Ahola During the first years I learned a lot about programming. Some of it came from others but mostly it was just because I did it so much myself. Later I've learned some things about management as I had to move from programming more into a leadership role. Many young people have come and gone from the project as their life has moved on — I'm sure they've learned something from it.
WN Tell us more about your workflow.
Perttu Ahola Historically when making most of my development contribution in Minetest, or currently?
WN Tell me about both the times, please.
Perttu Ahola Well there's not much to talk about my current workflow, as I'm mainly doing web-hosting and administration, being an encyclopædia about the code and design of the project, assigning core developer, moderator and other roles to people, and just managing the odd weird things that sometimes happen that contributors and core developers can't handle.
When I was programming Minetest in the first many years, and these days in other development projects, my workflow is just to allocate as much continuous time that I possibly can for a task that I want to do, then just begin designing and writing a prototype and iteratively forming it into a final implementation. The only distinct step in between starting and finishing is the first time it runs and does the bare minimum.
I don't want to boast about it, but people have commented about my ability to solo develop things really fast from nothing into usable state. There's no method to it. I just make sure I have the time, I know what the bare minimum is and then I just get to it.
Main menu of Minetest. (Image: Minetest contributors)
https://ift.tt/3hM4CpA cc by sa
WN Have there been any significant changes in the game or source code in the history of Minetest?
Perttu Ahola It was developed in a very iterative manner. We've never had to throw away any big parts. Maybe iterative isn't the best word, I mean it was always developed by building on what was previously created. Actually we've had one big change, although it too was an addition: When we went from version 0.3 to 0.4, Minetest gained its Lua-based modding API. It was a really big change in how people thought about and used Minetest.
WN What are the different ways to participate?
Perttu Ahola Many of our users like to write mods, big and small, and publish them on our forum and content database. If you're more of a C++person, our GitHub and IRC channels are good places to check out. If you feel like a server administrator, you could set up a Minetest server with an interesting world for people to join in.
Minetest forum's "Post tour screenshot thread. (Image: Minetest) https://ift.tt/2X3b189 cc by sa
If you find something interesting in the game world while playing or experimenting, we have a popular screenshot thread on our forums that you can post to. It shows almost the entire history of the project and I still like browsing it. But I think the best part of Minetest is that it sets people free to do their own thing. You don't need to ask us or anyone to use Minetest for anything you would like. Use it to learn programming, use it as a teacher, use it to model an environment, geographical formations, a mathematical formula or an electronic principle, use it to prototype a multiplayer game. Use it as a way to host a party when in quarantine? I think of it more of as a tool than a game project.
But you're welcome to contribute something that makes it better. It is a project at multiple levels, so pick a level that you're comfortable in.
WN Can you give us some figures on Minetest?
Perttu Ahola We don't really keep track of our userbase in any centralized manner, so I don't have any numbers to give unless I go about digging for them. It's difficult to figure out how many installs of Minetest there are when it's packaged in so many Linux distributions that I can't even count those reliably. There are also endless forks to be found, especially on mobile platforms, even though we do publish an official Android version.
WN What are the tools you use for the development of Minetest?
Perttu Ahola Vim, bash and some common command-line utilities like grep, sed, screen. Git of course. Sometimes python scripts. Minetest uses the CMakebuild system which is simple to use from the command-line. All in all just the bread and butter Linux command-line environment, with my personal customization of course.
I don't really like complex slow IDEs [Integrated Development Environments], they get in the way and create new problems that you shouldn't have to deal with.
WN How do you track the progress of the development?
Perttu Ahola Currently, or when I started the project? In any case the answer pretty much is I don't. Things develop as they do and nobody likes being pushed when they're doing it as a hobby for free. We use a release process where when enough new features have been added, there is a feature-freeze where only bugfixes are allowed, and then a release. It's the bare minimum to keep things rolling smoothly in a large project like this. We have long wishlists and roadmaps, but in the end what features get developed gets chosen by whoever's putting in the work, as long as whatever they want to do fits the project.
There are multiple levels you can track development in — issues and pull requests are at the bottom just above commits. You could be tracking roadmaps or minimum viable products or such, but we use a relatively chaotic model if you compare it to a company developing a product for a market.Well, we of course have an issue list and PR [pull request] list on GitHub. I tend to take that for granted these days.
WN How rigorously is the software tested?
Perttu Ahola There are unit tests for some easily testable portions, and there's a CI [Continuous Integration] server that checks whether the project builds on a couple of platforms and whether the tests pass. In addition to developers many of our users are using the development version which helps us catch bugs before they end up in a release, making releases reasonably stable. How rigorously? Well, you could do more or less, but this seems to balance the effort and the end result.
WN Have there ever been critical bugs in the releases, or severe security breaches?
Perttu Ahola That depends on your criteria. Nothing that would've made the news. And nothing that I would really remember. Something allowing in-game cheating on a multiplayer server, sure. Something that would have irreversibly corrupted a player's game world, not in a stable release. Something that would have prevented the game from starting on some platform, sure of course. Something worthy of a remote code execution CVE [Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures]? Well not really, but that can be just because not enough resources are put into finding out if there are any. Not that we have any resources for that. Contributions welcome!
Perttu Ahola It's so many things to so many people. The basic premise is, it implements a cubic voxel world which is played in the first or third personperspective, either locally or on a multiplayer server. In the default game there's a sandbox or a survival-ish scenario where you can build stuff from familiar materials, and a world generator that creates a natural landscape.
WN What are the key selling points of Minetest? As I understand, Minetest is not just a game, and you can do more with it. What are some of the fascinating use cases you have seen people use Minetest for?
But hooks have been added to it where you can add or remove content to your liking (these pluggable modifications are called "mods" by the engine), and the community has used these over the years to create different kinds of above- and underground landscapes that can either be just explored or used as the backdrop for whatever you're doing, logical systems resembling electronics or mechanics, programmable blocks, sets of animals with different design goals, some vehicles (although the engine isn't quite up to snuff for those), trains, multiplayer economics, some RPG [role-playing game] elements, weapons, things designed for education, and whatnot. Those are combined in multiplayer worlds on servers to something much more than the sums of their parts.
And often the enjoyment is as much in the making of a mod as it is in using the end result. It's an outdated idea that you implement a feature to use it. Minetest can be enjoyed as much inside a text editor as it can be enjoyed by controlling the player character in the game. It's actually interesting also that the fact that it is a multiplayer sandbox environment makes it fun in itself due to human nature. I proved it with the initial versions that had like 3 block types and zero game elements or limits other than basic gravity. You get these layers of creativity: There's creativity in the making of Minetest, there's creativity in making a mod, there's creativity in making a world, there's creativity in the playing itself.
If you like messing around in open-ended development and gameplay, Minetest is for you. If you need an end goal and a set path, some specific mods or servers could give you those. I mean, one could write a book about this. It's the question Minetest asked that Minetest has been answering.
WN What are the main features that differentiate Minetest from Minecraft?
Perttu Ahola Minetest has a simple base game that might seem like the exact same thing. However, under the hood Minetest is open source, has a modding API, runs on older hardware, supports more platforms and is free to download. The community has released many kinds of games that run on Minetest and in fact the project is very much based on the community.
WN Tell us more about Minetest's modding API.
Perttu Ahola Technically the modding API is a Lua interpreter integrated into the Minetest engine, which runs Lua in an environment to which most of the game content and engine features are provided by the engine. There is a simple format for bundling code, textures, sounds and other data to form a thing called "mod". Users can install them and enable them for the game worlds they create.
There is a mechanism for bundling mods into modpacks to easily bundle related mods together, and there is a concept called "game" which is kind of a stand-alone modpack. The game Minetest comes with is just one of those, and if you install more, you can choose between them in the menu.Mods also create their own APIs that other mods can interface to, and the engine implements a dependency model to facilitate this. Some game content is grouped into groups so that handling similar items by mods that don't know about the specifics can handle them in reasonable ways. Say, if you add a new kind of tree formed from its special blocks, they can be marked as being wood or so, and then you can use them as fuel in most cooking or such devices no matter who created them.
WN Why was Lua chosen for the API? What are some of the advantages of using Lua?
Perttu Ahola Lua is simple but effective, and designed for embedding. It's also easy to sandbox. Not many languages actually are designed for embedding, and some of those aren't simple. For example, [Google Chrome's] V8 is complex and its API is changing all the time, and Python isn't really designed for embedding, it's more of a host language and messes with your locale settings and whatnot, and is quite slow.
There's also LuaJIT, which is a JIT [Just-in-time] compiled version of Lua. Minetest is able to use it and as such usually Minetest is built with it, as it's faster. Lua also has a track record in games, although that doesn't matter much in practice.
WN What are some of the Minetest features that are extremely popular among the users?
Perttu Ahola How do I know? Well, I mean, placing blocks probably, I'm pretty sure everyone does that. More seriously what Minetest does that Minecraft don't is that for the vast majority of servers you don't have to modify your client at all, regardless of mods used on the server. The client downloads what it needs from the server and custom code runs on the server. The user of course doesn't need to do anything to make this happen so everyone is automatically using it and it is quite a defining feature.
Modding, of course, is an extremely popular feature — Minetest wouldn't be what it is without mods. I'd say extremely popular is also the fact that Minetest's mobile versions use the same protocol and code as the desktop version. I don't think most users appreciate it, but some do. It brings you all the power regardless of the device.
Well, one Minetest feature is definitely also the license, being LGPL [GNU Lesser General Public License] 2.1. It has allowed many more and less appreciated developers to publish their own versions of it. This has happened on all the mobile app stores, those are full of Minetest forks with awful advertising and in-app purchase schemes. To me it's funny and definitely something that those shady developers appreciate, to users who have fallen for them it's probably quite painful.
WN When was the last time you played Minecraft?
Perttu Ahola I don't remember, certainly not once after 2014 as I don't have it on this computer. It quickly grew too slow on the previous computer on which I started developing Minetest. In the alpha days [of Minecraft] it was capable of running on it, these days not a chance.
WN What are some of the features in Minecraft that you hear about, which aren't currently in Minetest?
Perttu Ahola I rarely hear about Minecraft and even then it's about some server and not about features. At one point every place was full of all kinds of Minecraft mods, but nowadays you have to go look for them to find them.
WN Actually, what position do you hold in the Minetest development?
Perttu Ahola For the past years I've been doing the positions that are the most difficult to fill for contributors: Being the "CEO" [Chief Executive Officer] of the project, and doing part of the web hosting, mostly the message board and overseeing the use of *.minetest.net subdomains. Basically just overseeing things and making sure things that people don't like to do don't turn into disasters. Sometimes I help with technical details of the engine that people don't always fully understand.
WN What are some of the things you really like about your work?
Perttu Ahola I like how robust Minetest is. It's based on proven technology that are kind of outdated, but that makes it easily compile and run almost anywhere, and as it's also free, it spreads and sticks like some goo. It's also small and low maintenance, which I like in anything I do.
I also like that it explores what can be done in the game or application category it's in, in an unusual way (like outside the box of gameplay itself).
WN Do you do this full-time? Or do you have any other job?
Perttu Ahola Even though the first year or two things were quite hectic I've never done this full time. It doesn't really make any money.
WN Ah, so you do have other job, too, right?
Perttu Ahola Yeah, I've had a number of jobs during this time.
WN How does the game development receive financial support?
Perttu Ahola I get some donations or "tips" as I like to call them, which generally cover the hosting costs of the website and not much more. Other than that, there has never been any money involved. In addition to myself some modders and developers also collect some miniscule amounts of donations.
I guess development is mostly supported by being able to slap it onto your CV [Curriculum Vitæ] and get a better job that way. I guess it's a bit sad. Or résume for Americans, of course.
"Hi, my hobby is taking over the world from Microsoft. What's yours?" Well it's a bit of a joke of me introducing myself and Minetest. And the absolute craziness of doing it for no monetary gain at all.
WN Yeah; but some sort of donation is needed for running the servers, hosting the wiki, and the domain names, right?
Perttu Ahola It's not required, but I'm fortunate enough to get enough donations to not [have] to pay them out of my own pocket.
WN How does a typical day as the core-developer look like?
Perttu Ahola The core-developer?
WN Since you are one of the core-developers of the game, how does your typical day as the core-developer of this open-source game look like?
Perttu Ahola Currently, as I'm focusing on some other programming projects outside of Minetest, when I have some free time I still check the Minetest IRC channels and GitHub to see what's going on, and if I have something to say I'll make a comment about it. Of course I check my emails to see if any automated system has sent me a warning about something and needs fixing, or maybe there's a private message on the forum about some administrative task that needs doing. I might check some system statistics on the VPS [Virtual Private Server] running the forum to make sure it's running smoothly and make sure backups look ok.
The average core developer of course doesn't have much of these administrative things to do and can focus on some programming task or just check through pull requests to see if a new contribution needs attention. For most core developers the typical day is probably a day off, though, as we work on Minetest when we have free time and feel like it.
WN Tell me, what are some of the design decisions that you are not happy about?
Perttu Ahola There are none, all of them were required to get where we are now. I think you should never blame a design decision that got you somewhere.
Perttu Ahola I have written some blog posts and roadmaps about my vision, and the team is free to either pick from there or simply do anything they think is important. The core team mostly deals with engine things, and feature requests often come from modders. Dealing with game design feature requests is really difficult so we've tried to move them out of the engine and into the independent game content. Most features are accepted as long as they're simply and nicely done and it's obvious players or modders will find use for them.
WN Okay. How does the developer team decide on the design-decisions and feature requests for the game?
The team will ask from me if they're unsure about something. It doesn't often happen, but they're free to do it and I take the responsibility in that case.
This also applies if there's a conflict between team members.
WN Conflict between the team members? How often is there a conflict between team members? And how do you resolve it?
Perttu Ahola I'm not sure it has ever really happened. It's not as exciting as it sounds. But in that case I get to be the dictator. :-)
WN What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Perttu Ahola I think it's the initial decision to start the project. Everything is based on that, after all. Maybe also the fact that probably like 50% of Minecraft clones on Google Play are Minetest forks, many of which are at least slightly illegal.
WN Looking back at the 9–10 years of this project, what are some of the excellent moments/milestones that stand out?
Perttu Ahola The initial 0.4 development in late 2011 and early 2012 was an exciting time. One of the contributors at the time helped me a lot in getting it done, he was quite capable and enjoyable to work with. It felt a bit like a "dream team". Some persons in the Minetest team are quite anonymous, including this one — I never learned their real life identity.
There was a take over attempt of the project in 2017 by an individual who until then seemed like a contributor with good intentions. It was quite the time too. I don't want to give any publicity to him though, as he's still trying to do it. I don't know if I'd call it excellent, but it definitely comes to mind as something that happened.
During the past few years Minetest has had some physical presence in Europe. A couple of core developers and community members organized a stall at the Freenode #live event in 2017 and 2018.
I guess I have to say I'm not that good at remembering milestones though. I'm sure many people have their own memories about Minetest's history. Many remember their first server that they played on, for example — my perspective on the other hand is in development. In development, it's a good thing I don't remember much because that means everything has gone rather smoothly.
WN Have you been to Freenode #live events?
Perttu Ahola I haven't been to Freenode #live. I don't tend to travel that far, I feel international travel is too much hassle and I'm not a very social person at all.
WN Do you or any of the Minetest developers attend LibrePlanet, FOSDEM or other conferences too?
Perttu Ahola I haven't been following too closely, but as they're open source developers and many live in central Europe, you might stumble upon them in events around there. They might be in a disguise, though, as they are involved in other projects in addition to Minetest.
Rubenwardy (one of the core developers) has said he wants a Minetest convention and I have to go. We'll see if that happens, and where if so.
WN Ah, that would be interesting. Does Rubenwardy have any places in mind? What do you think of organising it in Helsinki?
Perttu Ahola As most core developers and contributors come from Germany, France, UK and such, I think Helsinki wouldn't make that much sense.
During Minetest's history, there haven't been almost any Finnish developers other than me. And, given that I live half a thousand kilometers away from Helsinki, it's not exactly my home town either.
It's a very international project.
WN How do you and Minetest benefit from the presence at freenode? Apart from the platform features, do you also benefit from links with members of other channels at Freenode?
Perttu Ahola Freenode doesn't really link projects together, it mostly works as a private platform for discussions for each project. Of course it's easy to join if you're already on some other Freenode channels, as many open source developers are.
Perttu Ahola I hear people using mostly IRC, Github and the forum. There's some development talk on the unofficial discord server too. I rarely hear about IRL meet-ups. I've only ever met one Minetest contributor who was visiting Oulu with a group to see the midnight sun which happens this time of the year here in the north.
WN Apart from freenode, how do the developers meet with other developers? Do they use online text or video chat, or do they also have meet-ups in-person?
WN What is planned for the next versions?
Perttu Ahola I and many of our core developers have big plans but we're a bit lazy and have many projects going on so it's really up to who has a spare week here and there and what kind of new contributions are coming in. We have a history of not ending up even close to what the roadmap was telling us to do. On a weekly basis we do have a continuous flow of fixes and new modding API features going into the engine, so there's always something around the corner. In addition to that, an interesting place to be on the lookout is the modding sections of our forum. Those guys get to use much more imagination than the core engine developers. It's been long in the plans to get more imaginative content into the main Minetest release, but currently it's still kind of boring, so make sure [to] check out the forum and content database.
Screenshot from v5.2.0 of Minetest (Image: Minetest developers)
https://ift.tt/2P93qjP  cc bt sa
WN What are some of the upcoming milestones for Minetest?
Perttu Ahola We're moving release by release and including stuff on a when-it's-ready basis. [Version] 5.3 will be coming out very soon as there are just some bugs left. It's ended up with 50 commits. That's mostly bugfixes, but to pick a feature, the "minimal development test" game that comes with engine for mod and engine developing purposes has been rethought and overhauled. What'll end up in 5.4 is still completely open.
In my experience setting any milestones you're not doing yourself is never a good idea in a hobby project — it'll just intimidate people and nothing gets done. Some developers have big plans, including myself, but they may or may not happen. :-)
WN How is the i18n [internationalisation] support for Minetest? Do you plan on supporting more languages?
Perttu Ahola There are some challenges due to the fact that Minetest supports multiplayer servers with each client using their own language settings, but if you choose your mods carefully, you can get a single player experience in many, many languages. You can check out the translation status for different languages at Weblate. You can also contribute translations right there on that website. We occasionally update the English versions and occasionally copy the translated texts over to the project to be included in releases.
Many open source projects do it like this, we're no different. Currently it looks like 11 languages have 90% of texts translated. More than 90%, I mean.
Of course with game content, especially that which you find separately, your mileage will vary — but the engine translations are enough to configure Minetest and get you into a game world. It's an ongoing process to try to make everything we can translatable by the community.
A screenshot from Minetest game.(Image: Minetest developers) https://ift.tt/3jRzsPQ   cc by sa
WN Okay. Do you also plan on providing more biomes, or making the current ones more interesting?
Perttu Ahola We've long been in the process of moving the game content out of the engine and away from the core team more to individual game-focused developers, so the default game content has been a bit boring. However, you don't need to live with it, as it's easily solved: just download some biomes you like into your game. At this point it's not really even intended to be used as-is.
Some of the inventory items as seen in Minetest v0.4 (Image: Minetest developers)
https://ift.tt/2P2uv8n cc by sa
It's the core idea of Minetest 0.4, and from there on all subsequent versions. Content is so easy to add and modify that it doesn't really even matter what content you start from.
If you want a fleshed out product with everything in there out of the box, Minetest doesn't really do that. But you can search on our forums or content database if there's something that would do it for you — some game packages are quite complete.
WN What are some of the reasons people choose Minecraft over Minetest? What are some of the common complaints you hear about the game?
Perttu Ahola I think most of the time people don't like Minetest because they want a full game that they can just play. On the other hand other people choose Minetest because they don't want that, they want something they can easily customize.
Some don't like how Minetest looks, to the experienced eye the graphics aren't as polished. However it does run on older hardware. People using older hardware often choose Minetest because it works much better. On the other hand, Minetest can't utilize high end gaming PCs as well, it's not optimized for those.
Of course also the price differentiates the two. Minecraft costs a lot, especially if you're a kid in a poor country, or you want to install it on every computer in the classroom, or even an entire school. But for the money you're getting a fleshed out product. For some use cases you can't beat that.
WN Will the improvement in the graphics of the game compromise with the advantage of the game running on older hardware? Is it possible to achieve both without any compromises?
Perttu Ahola Improvement in graphics will compromise the advantage of being able to run on old hardware, or it will result in basically two separate rendering engines. To take advantage of new hardware you have to switch to newer versions of OpenGL, heavily use shaders and such, and as a result old hardware simply grinds to a halt or simply doesn't support those.
Of course some improvement can be done without compromise, but it's relatively minor if you look at what gamers are expecting these days. On the other hand for use by kids or education or such, looks don't really matter. What matters is that it's able to run on the hardware they happen to have.
WN Would you want to create two different engines for those players who have new hardware and want to enjoy the open-source game?
Perttu Ahola Maybe, but I'm not the one to do it. High-end graphics is quite a specialized field and it's especially specialized when you want to render a voxel world like this, with voxel-based lighting and whatnot. For more common types of game environments you could use more easy-to-use solutions.
WN What contributors are the most wanted at the moment? What activities are in dire need of more eyeballs and helping hands?
Perttu Ahola Any kind of contribution is always welcome. I don't think I'm in a position to pick and choose what people spend their time on. If you contribute something because it's important to you, it's going to be important to some others too. I also can't pick and choose what skills people have. If you are a capable programmer and for some crazy reason have lots of free time that you don't know what to do with, you can absolutely trust me and other core developers to give you things to do for the rest of your life. But that's not how it works, nobody is like that. You do what you like and what you feel is important. You will be thanked by the users.
On the off chance that I can get a programmer inspired to do something for us: We've been long thinking of Voxel Area Entities — basically objects that are built from the same blocks that the world is, but that can move within the world based on some kind of moddable logic, like physics. Every year I'm asked by a different person when I'm going to do it, and every year I've had some other project I'm focusing on. Most core developers don't feel they have what it takes to even try doing that.
Other massive ideas floating in the air in the Minetest developer community, core developers and contributors alike, is abstracting away and switching the rendering engine to something more modern, probably something made by us to fit the needs of Minetest instead of some generic game graphics engine.
WN For how long do you see yourself continuing to work as the CEO of the project?
Perttu Ahola Until I'm dead, probably. Not because I really want to, but because it's not something anyone else wants to do.
What would you choose, going on the beach, pub or golf field to take it easy, or staying in your basement looking through issues and pull requests, thinking when you're going to upgrade the forum software, trying to figure out why something was implemented in some way in the code, writing about some idea you have that hasn't still been implemented in seven years?
See, I'm absolutely crazy. Most people aren't.
It's actually an interesting question: Is there any way I could be replaced?
WN Is there a way to?
Perttu Ahola I do think some parts of Minetest have been made as student projects. Such extra motivation helps getting things done. Maybe a tech leadership school could take Minetest CEO as a student project position? Like, do it for a year and get lots of points. Just an idea I guess.
Also, I kind of hate the subject. In that way I'm more of a CTO [Chief Technical Officer] than a CEO.
WN Do you think Minetest can benefit from programmes such as Google Summer of Code?
Perttu Ahola Maybe, but it's difficult to compete with other projects there and the person doing it has to already be a contributor with a task in mind. Otherwise it takes way too much prepping work to get somebody going in anything larger. Self motivation is key in getting something done in a project like this.
Nobody will make you do anything or guide you. You have to want to do it, and ask for help. We also don't have any centralized official organization in any country, so we can't really collect funds and pay people to do things.
Money, official forms, agreements — No thanks. Throw it in the trash. Our agreement is the LGPL license of the code and CC BY-SA of other assets — it's the bare minimum and works.
Enrolling Minetest into GSoC could be the contribution of someone. I don't think there's anything stopping that. It could be quite beneficial to the project.
WN How can the community ensure that the Minetest project succeeds for the foreseeable future?
Perttu Ahola Use it, teach other people how to use it, share your in-game and mod creations with other people. Of course reporting and fixing bugs and contributing engine features helps, but the main reason it exists is because it has users that enjoy playing it.
Whether something is a "thing" really only depends on whether it's popular.
WN When did you actually think Minetest was getting significant attention and it was getting popular?'
Perttu Ahola When I started posting about it on the Irrlicht forums and other places on the 'net, it immediately became obvious there was interest for such a thing. I mean, compared to Minecraft, it has always been tiny. But it was something completely different to anything else I had published until then in terms of public interest. It wasn't just one person saying they checked it out. It easily created a thread with people arguing whether it was even legal to make one like it.
WN The legal aspect is something even I wondered about. But you haven't received any legal notices, right?
Perttu Ahola Well, it might have not been obvious then that it is legal, but nowadays there are so many Minecraft-like games everywhere people don't even think about it any more. Nothing at all, ever.
And why would I [get a legal notice?] — it's completely made from scratch and I've never seen any Minecraft source code. That wouldn't be the reason I'd change the name. But changing the name isn't really doable. You could of course publish it in addition under a second name and leave the engine called Minetest. But what's the point?
Minetest is such a bad name it works as a trademark in itself. Nobody wants to copy it. It doesn't sell, but we don't need to sell. If it was a serious commercial endeavour I would never had named it that in the first place. [A trademark lawsuit would] only make Minetest grossly more popular, and we could simply change the name. Really nothing is stopping us, if we need to, but there's not really any need.
WN What are some of your other hobbies?
Perttu Ahola In addition to programming I also do electronics as a hobby. I'm very interested in electric vehicle [EV] conversions and have done some reverse engineering for re-using parts from crashed EVs. Some of that has been released as open source. Well, in addition to having them as hobbies, I also work in programming and electronics. But anyway — whether money is involved or not, that's what I do.
I've also tried to do some other game development. That was more of a learning experience than something that would have resulted in an end product.
WN What sport activities do you normally undertake to stay strong and healthy? How has the pandemic affected them?
Perttu Ahola I'm not a very sporty person. If I feel so, I'll go for a walk or ride to town and back with my bicycle. I do try to eat quite healthy though. The pandemic hasn't had much effect on my life overall. I've just shifted from less remote work to more remote work.
WN What are some of the important things your have learned as an open-source game developer?
Perttu Ahola Well, most game ideas suck, and the programming doesn't really matter. Game development isn't something I'd recommend for anyone, it's such a saturated field.
WN Saturated field?
Perttu Ahola I mean, too many people are making games already. It's such a popular hobby.
WN Well those were all the questions I had for you.
Perttu Ahola (That was quite a lot of questions, I think that'd make a small book so far. :-))
WN Anything you would like to add?
Perttu Ahola I don't think so.
WN Thank you so much, being so generous with your time, celeron55. It was wonderful discussing about Minetest with you!
Perttu Ahola No problem, it's not too often I answer so much things about my longest ever project.
wikinews
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); sns 공유하기 new ShareNaver.makeButton({"type": "e"}); new ShareBand.makeButton({"lang":"ko-KR","type":"d"}); window.kakaoAsyncInit = function () { Kakao.Story.createShareButton({ container: '#kakaostory-share-button' }); }; (function (d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//developers.kakao.com/sdk/js/kakao.story.min.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'kakao-js-sdk'));
Tumblr media
Tweet 카카오톡 공유하기 function shareKakaotalk() { Kakao.Link.sendScrap( { requestUrl: location.href } ); };
source https://newsfirst.tistory.com/6727
0 notes
concettolabs · 4 years
Text
Impressive iOS Mobile Application Tools for your business
Tumblr media
There is no doubt that every business required a tailor-made app that helps the organization. Later, it helps the company to enhance the brand name and propel well into the future. Today, with the increasing demand for mobile app development, there is no signal to go out of trends. Developing a mobile app isn’t as difficult as building a rocket. Every new year thousands of app development tools are introduced by the mobile development company. On the other side, developers are taking advantage of iOS mobile application tools to build mobile apps quickly.
If you’re ready to build iOS application development, I have some good news for you. iOS application development India isn’t tricky as there are various types of programming that you still need to learn before you jump in.
Back in 2007, the iOS platform has become a haven for all iPhone developers. There are numerous stories of small and most experienced developers for developing an exceptional iOS app. The popular game application that grabs huge audiences is Angry Birds to Crossy Road and Downwell build on iOS mobile app development. In your honest opinion, it’s about code quality, and the value it adds to your customer’s lives. Below, we have mentioned tools that help you add extra oomph to your app.
iOS app development tools that assist you with flawless iOS mobile app development
Tumblr media
There are many essential tools used for iOS app development, and the most popular tools are listed below
Xcode
Xcode is one fantastic tool for building iconic apps for all Apple platforms. The tool allows developers to transform and refactor code easily. The source code makes its instrument with custom visualization. The tool enables to compile code quickly with helping to develop faster apps. Almost every iOS developers widely use the IDE for swift. The Xcode tool is high-speed and smooth and is one of the first choices for many developers. So, hire iPhone programmer for faster app development.
Features of Xcode IDE
Integrated Build System
Complete Documentation
Open Quickly
Source Editor
Data Recording
Xamarin
Nothing can be more than Xamarin which builds native apps. It’s a Microsoft product which will always be safe and better. It will protect against the unexpected termination of services, technology updates, and other security threats. There are more than 1.4 million developers that use Xamarin for talent scarcity.
Features of Xamarin
Deep linking and Application indexing
Platform-specific Intelligence making coding easier
Ability to create high-performance shared libraries
Easy to build, test and deploy
Applyzer
It’s a tool for those who want to gain insights on app market development. It was launched in 2009 and primarily used for app rankings on the iTunes store. One can quickly create an Applyzer account and attach your app ID with it to see how well your app ranks on iTunes. The tools provide developers with keyword search options for iOS, Google Play, macOS, and Apple TV. It helps them monitor keywords used to get different results. If you’re looking to improve keyword search visibility, then this app is the best tool for you.
Features of Applyzer
Features of Applyzer
Email and Slack-Alerts
Deep insights into competitor data
Worldwide App Ranking
Code Runner
Code Runner is another famous IDE that developers use for making highly sophisticated apps. The tool is a pretty versatile and robust editor for iOS developers. It helps to support a total of twenty-five programming languages including Swift, objective-C, and objective C++. Also, the tool is light-weighted and can use for the breakpoint to debug the code.
Features of Code Runner
Custom Syntax Color
Dark mode in macOS Mojave
Documentation Sidebar
Haskell, TypeScript, Kotlin, and other languages run configurations.
Smooth Editor
RXSwift
RXSwift is a sophisticated tool for developers frequently used by various platforms. The tool has a massive programming library that helps developers to code well. The code dynamic interacts smoothly with data, respond it, and program subsequent with user events. It is a widely-used programming language that comes with features such as subjects, Marble Diagrams, Observable Sequences, FlatMap, and more. There are various iPhone app development services, but this tool works great. Additionally, it supports two different types of code, such as Synchronous and Asynchronous.
Features of RXSwift
Rational Management of App Resources
Ability to write multi-use code
Strengths declarative coding style
Rapid Development with wide support
Perfect Compatibility with MVVM template
AppCode
The AppCode is one of another streamlined tool that is created by JetBrains. The IDE and editor tool significantly talk about multiple programming languages that mainly covers C++, Swift, and Objective C. One can use the AppCode tool to generate applications for all Apple products. The primary advantage of using AppCode is it makes coding easy and hassle-free. It supports a variety of testing such as Quick, Catch, Boost. Test and other Google Test testing frameworks. Here the IDE regularly monitors the quality of code and shows errors. Hire iPhone Programmer to build app faster.
Features of AppCode
Intelligent Code Assistance
Code Analysis
Built-in Tools and Integrations
Refactoring and Code Generation
One IDE and many languages
Wrapping up
Choosing a tool for iOS application development in India comes with broader options. Though the market is tight, one can seek out the best ios mobile application development tool for its project. Create a set of requirements and compare them with the features of the tools listed above. Besides this, you can always consult a reliable mobile app development company to get a better understanding of the tool. Hopefully, the article helped you to build ideas through mobile applications.
0 notes
vwwordpressthemes · 4 years
Photo
Tumblr media
                   Advantages of Premium WordPress Themes!
Wordpress is an ocean full of surprises and danger too. It’s a danger for those who don’t have much experience about sailing. In simple words, those who are not familiar with coding and programming, Wordpress makes them go crazy. You have to know about coding and programming for operating a website on Wordpress. Otherwise, it would be a hell of a sailing where you might get lost.
Before knowing about why premium WordPress themes hold a special place, let’s know more about WP that is Wordpress.
WP gives you completely customizable website design, features and functions. It gives you complete access to codes that enables you to make changes into layout and other functions. It has numerous default pre-made themes and plugins that you have to just choose right. But for all of this, as I said earlier you need to know about coding and programming. Establishing a website through WP means establishing your own ‘hosting’. Creating and managing your own hosting is a very complex job, not just for a newbie but for a professional coder too. Still people trust WP when it comes to creating a hosting.
You can add third party tools in your website to make it more efficient. WP is compatible with the third party add ones and function well with it. By using the plugin and code snippets, you can add them easily. But again, you need to have coding knowledge to make changes in it.
WP doesn’t come with customer support. So if you need help with something, you are gonna have to figure it out on your own or hire a coder to do so. Now that’s tricky!
In spite of being so complicated, about 80 million customers have used and trusted WP with establishing their hosting.  Wordpress is a complex yet trust worthy website builder site on which hundreds of theme making companies make their living. There are several companies in the world to help you establish a successfully running website without knowing about coding. Yes! There are companies to help you with it. You can find information about them on the internet pretty easily.
What are WordPress.org and WordPress.com?
This is the integral part in getting to know WordPress. WordPress.org and WordPress.com are the two versions of WP for you to use.
WordPress.com is a fully hosted version where you can manage your hosting. It creates a hosting space for you on the World Wide Web with a monthly fee. You don’t need to find a separate hosting platform for your website. But there’s a restriction for adding third party plugins into this form of website. Adding plugins means adding more functions to your website. It makes website more user friendly. In Wordpress.com, there’s a restriction in adding plugins. Also you won’t be having any control over the hosting specification. Which means you can’t control the loading speed or security of your website in this version.
On the other hand, Wordpress.org is self-hosted version of Wordpress. Which means it gives you ultimate control over your website and is flexible with changes. Here you will be boss of your website’s functioning, its appearance and the maintenance stuff. It also flexible enough to add more third party plugins and other functions in your website. That’s why most of the users prefer Wordpress.org over Wordpress.com.
There are themes for Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org to help you establish your website. But in this blog, we are going to take a look on premium WP themes used for Wrdpress.org.
Why are Themes Important?
Wordpress is a platform where you can make your mark in the WWW and get a recognition as a professional. People around the world can reach you easily with your hosting portal and engage with you. But to make it user and viewer friendly and look approachable, you need themes created either by Wordpress itself or install them from other companies that make themes for you.
Themes are ready made set up for your website. They come with different style, colors, fonts, flexibility and functions. There are numerous companies out there who create these themes for you. The most important point about the themes is: you don’t need to know about coding or programming to install or run a website through themes. They come with strong coding which run your website smoothly with increasing your rank on search engine.
Companies like Divi, Zelle pro, Avada, VWThemes provide you the best versions of free and premiumWordpess themes for your website. These companies mostly focus on fixing every issue related to establishing website with customer support for over a year. By installing or buying themes, you open the door for help. You can access the customer service anytime you want and clear all the doubts you have.
While choosing between free and premium themes, each of them have their pros and cons. For free themes, the biggest con is that it has limited functions which makes it rigid after a while. The free theme is provided by same developing companies, but the coding for these themes can be a bit flawed. This can make your website break any time. Your website will not be automatically updated according to latest WP versions. Many companies provide free themes to promote the premium ones. Some of them don’t provide the option for customer service. Which means if you face any trouble with the website, you have to deal with it on your own.
Why to Prefer Premium Wordpress Theme?
Now, all these points about free themes will tell you why to prefer Premium Wordpress theme. But still, we will take a good look at pros of premium themes for Wordpress. Premium WordPress themes cost a little but they have everything that you need for your website.
·Premium Wordpress themes come with monthly or yearly membership or one time payment. You can pay for it with monthly subscription or buy it by paying once. With this you can get guaranteed 6-12 months support service from the company.
·Some of the companies give support service for 3 years with some extra amount. With this support you can manage your website with a little help. After the support service period in over, you are on your own to manage things.
·When it comes to managing website, premium Wordpress theme developer companies make it so user friendly that you won’t be needing any support even if you are on your own.
·The premium Wordpress themes are strongly coded, attractively designed ready to use themes for your website. You don’t need to set a code to install and run the theme.
·The developers have made premium Wordpress themes for each and every profession. From marketing to fashion you can find specially designed themes for everything.
· Most importantly these premium WP themes are third party plugin compatible. Which means you can add plugins as many as you want. It will help you establishing an online store, increase sells and make the website function smoothly.
· Another benefit of buying premium WP theme is that it not only works on website’s functioning, but also enhances the appearance of the website URL on search engines. Which helps in attracting more viewers to your website.
Properties of VWThemes!
VWThemes is one of the fastest growing and trusted WP theme making company. They have both free and premium WP themes for each profession. The premium WP themes are affordable with the starting price of merely 40$. In these themes you will a customer support and upgrades for the theme for free over a year.
Premium Wordpress themes from VWThemes are SEO optimized which takes care of the website’s ranking on search engine. These themes are user friendly, device friendly and browser friendly too. Which means anyone can access your website on any device through any browser. With RTL and WPML support, these themes make your website go global with its multilingual features. It has easy customization option to make changes into layout. Plus you get numerous options for premium templates and sections in the theme.
What makes VWThemes special than other theme making companies is that its easily accessible and works perfect for your website. It has received good reviews from customers as well.
So, while choosing themes for your Wordpress website, prefer premium WP themes. It’s a one time investment that will prove to be the best decision for your business.
 For more details:
Phone: +91-0712-205-6070
Skype Id: Vw Theme
https://www.vwthemes.com/contact/
0 notes
Text
WEBROOT REGISTRATION
"Registration on Webroot - Get complete internet protection by Webroot Internet Security Plus. Download and install Webroot.com/Safe. To download, install and activate webroot on your windows pc visit official webroot website webroot.com/safe."
webroot internet security
To date, you can find many types of antivirus software that protects your computer from online and offline internet, but very few antivirus software is good and not all Webroot Registration is free.
Benefits of having webroot antivirus in the computer:
This antivirus protects all the data on your computer.
No one can steal data from a computer via the internet
Can easily download any software
Webroot Antivirus will infect your computer before it infects you.
If you have a paid antivirus, your online transaction will also be safe.
Your system will not hang or slow down
System run will run smoothly
The system will not crash and processing speed will also increase
Hard disk corruption is less likely
What is webroot registration?
"Webroot Registration is most important for your webroot install with key code without Webroot Registration you cannot activate your webroot security on your computer. if you purchased a webroot antivirus so you can go to the webroot registration web page and  webroot.com/safe is a website for your registration help."
Where to seek out webroot Key Code?
The Webroot Registration security package is simple to setup & install at webroot.com/safe. Simply find a 20-character alphanumeric code that is written on the backside of the retail card. Here may be a sample Product Key to let you understand:
xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
webroot 20 digit activation key code
Webroot is that antivirus product which gives you the capability to fasten your computer and your private (Significant ) data or information from Risks, Newsgroups, Malware, Trojans and etc. ).
Webroot mindblowing cybersecurity solutions for Windows, Mac, and Android.
It’s a combo of alphanumeric key code written on the bottom of one’s a retail card. It is utilized to check and trigger your webroot antivirus product install webroot with code.
You definitely need to possess that code onto your own webroot card, In the event, you buy Webroot antivirus products from any store then.
For consumer comprehension sample of 20-character Item essential Was Listed here; xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
Should you get Webroot anti-virus from the internet afterward you’ll receive your activation code via email, the email that you used for installing your own Webroot antivirus.
How to register on webroot?
For your webroot registration, you can open your Internet browser and type there a website:- www.webroot.com/safe
For Webroot Registration, you need an email and fill all the information on your registration page for webroot registration.
Now you can click on "create an account" or you can "log in" if you have already webroot registration. for login, you need to type your 'Registered email' and your webroot account 'password'.
After filling all the information correctly you need to click on the 'Registration Now'.
How to download and install webroot antivirus?
Antivirus and cybersecurity products from this brand are easy to use and install and can be done in a simple manner by following a few steps. The security package offered by this brand is incredibly easy to set up and install. You can easily install and upgrade any of the Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus products that help you handle cybersecurity in the best possible manner.
Here is how you can do it in three simple steps:
1. Start with setup and install at webroot.com/safe by downloading the software that you can do without a CD or DVD. All you need is a good internet connection for the purpose.
2. You will find a 20 character alphanumeric code (xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx) which is your product key. If you buy a retail card, you will find this unique code on the backside of the card that you need to enter.
3. Install Webroot with Product Key by entering this unique product key to complete the installation process and clicking on the ‘Submit’ button.
With the Webroot.com/Setup Product Key, you can complete the installation process all by yourself. Here are a few troubleshooting tips for a smooth Webroot installation.
If the automatic download fails, you can call the helpline for assistance. Slow internet connections can lead to problems in downloading.
If you already have an antivirus installed on your device, you will have to uninstall that first and remove it completely from your system.
Ensure that the latest updates are installed on your operating system so that it is compatible with the Webroot antivirus.
Users may face some common issues from webroot.com/safe
The key code gets ripped:  registration on webroot new users has to scratch key code very gently otherwise it will get ripped off. In this case, the user can try some possible combinations or contact the same store in a case bought from a local store. In case you bought it online check out your email possibly you will get your webroot key code. Visit webroot.com/safe to install & activate secure anywhere.
Showing only older expired webroot: After successful installation, a new webroot subscription is not showing? Do not worry, in this case, the user needs to reinstall webroot means remove it first from Control Panel and install it again with proper webroot.com/safe instructions.
Problems in scanning the PC with Webroot: This is one of the most common problems experienced by its users. You can fix it by updating your software program, or changing the configurations or even reinstalling the Webroot on your system.
Webroot stops to update automatically: If your antivirus software has stopped updating itself, then the problem may be caused by due to the corrupt installation file or little memory space, or you may not have an internet connection. So, try to expand the memory and provide a smooth internet connection to update it successfully.
webroot.com/safe is not opening: webroot.com/safe website is not opening or showing proxy error, sometimes users may get this issue, in this case, check out your internet connection whether you are connected with internet or not (i.e. try to open Yahoo, Google, etc.). Try to open in a different browser if still not opening users can try to contact webroot technicians.
Which version of Webroot are you using?
Webroot Antivirus: Ideal for PCs and Macs, this scans at super-fast speed, protects from identity thefts and does not have time-consuming updates that are common with most antivirus products. You can buy this only for $XX.XX for one device for one year to start with. Check out www webroot com safe
Webroot Internet Security Plus: This is a great option for PCs, Macs, Tablets as well as Smartphones. Along with antivirus features, it also protects all your login ids as well as passwords. You can install Webroot smart security easily within moments and webroot.com/safe protects you forever.
Webroot Internet Security Complete: This is a great package for PCs, Macs, Tablets, Smartphones along with 25GB storage! Apart from an antivirus, this product removes online history and also gives you 25GB of secure online storage. Create your own account with webroot.com/safe and protect your all devices.
Features of Webroot Antivirus
It’s far wildest antivirus that scans your complete PC.
Nearly, brands deleted documents unrecoverable.
It protects in contradiction of Worms, adware & Rootkits.
Exploit the use of creation about the subdivision.
Come up with a whole option to get its arrangement free.
Exploit Presentation & Defense.
Clean & Very Simple Design
Actual Anti-Phishing
Webroot has a browser postponement for Chrome.
Phishing & Ransomware Defense
Password and Mobile Protection.
Straight Switch Active Procedures on your CPU.
Totally Secure & Defends Your Individuality.
Ultra Tall Theft Defense
Prize-Winning, it’s Safety.
Tenable Cloud-Based
Web Protections with a browser extension
Super-quick System Optimizer and Program Speed Up Device.
In-Built Betting Mode for Gamer.
Hundred Present defends You from Extensive Malware & 0-day Malware.
0 notes
gta-5-cheats · 6 years
Text
iOS 12 First Impressions: How to Install Right Now, New Features, and More
New Post has been published on http://secondcovers.com/ios-12-first-impressions-how-to-install-right-now-new-features-and-more/
iOS 12 First Impressions: How to Install Right Now, New Features, and More
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
.aocnd5b1975fe08e22 margin: 5px; padding: 0px; @media screen and (min-width: 1201px) .aocnd5b1975fe08e22 display: block; @media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) .aocnd5b1975fe08e22 display: block; @media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) .aocnd5b1975fe08e22 display: block; @media screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 768px) .aocnd5b1975fe08e22 display: block; @media screen and (max-width: 767px) .aocnd5b1975fe08e22 display: block;
Earlier this week, Apple’s iOS got its yearly upgrade at the 2018 edition of the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in the form of iOS 12. Performance is the major driver behind all the new updates, which is a relief following years of reports that older iPhones get slower after each update. On certain devices, iOS 12 claims to offer up to 70 percent quicker camera app loading, 2x the app launch speed, and up to a 50 percent speed improvement in little everyday things, like how quickly the keyboard appears. We installed the first developer preview of iOS 12 on an iPhone 7 Plus and here are our first impressions.
Do note that some features are exclusive to the iPhone X. Additionally, Siri Shortcuts are currently unavailable in the iOS 12 developer beta.
How to install iOS 12 right now
Before you install an iOS beta, be aware that it involves some risk. Make sure to back up your data to iCloud and/ or iTunes beforehand. Installing a beta OS on the phone you depend on every day is not recommended. Installing the first developer preview of iOS 12 is not as cumbersome as it used to be a few years ago. You need to be enrolled in the Apple Developer Program that costs $99 for a yearly membership. Once done, sign in to the iOS Dev Center using your Apple ID. The simplest way to get iOS 12 after that is to download the certificate file from the Downloads section on to the iOS device where you want to install the beta. Getting iOS 12 beta after that is as easy as checking for an OTA update via Settings.
  Apple Developer Program membership gives you access to the early beta releases of macOS, watchOS, and tvOS as well as iOS. If you are not enrolled, the only way to get access is to wait for the first public beta release. This is not expected to drop until later this month. You can sign up on the official website to be ready whenever it is available.
Devices that will get the iOS 12 update
As for eligibility, iOS 12 is supported on all the devices that can currently run iOS 11. Among the iPhone variants, the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone SE, and iPhone 5S are eligible. In the iPad range, the iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad (2017), iPad (2018), all iPad Pro models, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, and iPad Mini 4 will get the iOS 12 update. Lastly, anyone who has a 6th generation iPod Touch can also taste the latest iOS update. The stable version is expected to roll out to users after the next iPhone launch event later this year.
iOS 12 performance improvements
Performance was at the front and centre of the iOS 12 launch presentation, and rightly so. This operating system succeeds iOS 11 – which had its share of issues – and is said to be all about making load times faster. Fortunately, the beta version of iOS 12 handles app loading smoother than the stable version of iOS 11 – a development that has been noted by other people as well. The Keyboard pops up significantly quicker, the camera app launches more smoothly, and all in all, this is a welcome sign even for a beta release.
Screen Time: iPhone de-addiction
One of the most interesting features that iOS 12 brings to the table is Screen Time, which helps users track and limit their smartphone usage.
In our brief time with the feature, Screen Time gave us a clear idea as to which apps and categories of apps we spent the most time using on any given day or across the past couple of days, which in our case were social networking apps. Using those statistics, you can set usage timers for individual apps or app categories. Once you reach the limit, you can choose to ignore the warning and override it for the rest of the day, or just give yourself 15 extra minutes. We tried it out with Twitter, and the screen filled up with the timer warning, but how effective this will be in the long term remains to be seen.
Another nifty feature that Screen Time offers is the ability to see how many times you pick up your iPhone per hour, or throughout an entire day or week. For us, it was about 17 times per hour, which was surprising to realise. Being able to track this statistic might actually motivate users to cut down on frequently reaching for their iPhones. You can even see the time periods during which the handset was picked up most frequently. Additionally, Screen Time shows how many notifications your iPhone has received and from which app, helping you uninstall or disable notifications for the ones that distract you the most.
Screen Time also has other settings including Downtime that acts as an enhanced version of Do Not Disturb. Always Allowed lists the apps that will show notifications even when Downtime is enabled, and Content and Privacy settings let you to block sensitive or inappropriate content.
Do Not Disturb: Wake up to an uncluttered lock screen
Do Not Disturb gets Bedtime integration, allowing users to cut down on notifications when they’re trying to wind down. This can be based on your device’s intelligent analysis, or manually entered by the user. Calls and notifications are silenced as usual, but notifications can also be hidden so they aren’t the first thing you see in the morning. Running iOS 12, it was calming to wake up to just a “Good Morning” message and not a barrage of individual notifications, as is usually the case. Apple has also taken care of your Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) as you can simply tap on the display to show all the notifications you aren’t seeing.
Notifications: Grouped and manageable
A welcome change from recent versions of Apple’s iOS is grouped notifications. This is similar to how Google’s Android has been doing things for the longest time. Initial impressions, fortunately, reveal an improved Notification Center with individual emails and messages under control rather than filling up endless space. However, most likely thanks to bugs in the developer preview, our lock screen gave us mixed results, displaying notifications in the old manner in some instances. That’s the price one pays for installing early beta, and this is why you shouldn’t be installing them on your primary device.
Swiping right on notifications now reveals an additional option – Manage. From here, users can choose to prevent notifications from specific apps from showing up on the lock screen, or simply turn them off altogether; the latter being a much-appreciated shortcut.
Live Listen: AirPods get new functionality
Shop On SecondCovers
.zvrjt5b1975fe08fda margin: 5px; padding: 0px; @media screen and (min-width: 1201px) .zvrjt5b1975fe08fda display: block; @media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) .zvrjt5b1975fe08fda display: block; @media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) .zvrjt5b1975fe08fda display: block; @media screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 768px) .zvrjt5b1975fe08fda display: block; @media screen and (max-width: 767px) .zvrjt5b1975fe08fda display: block;
Another exciting feature that has been added to iOS is Live Listen support for AirPods. This feature, designed to help people with hearing impairments, lets people pick up sound around them with their iOS devices and route it to their earphones. It was originally introduced in 2014 to work with Made For iPhone (MFI) hearing aids, and now with iOS 12, it will support Apple’s own truly wireless pair of earphones. To activate this, go to Settings > Control Center and add the Hearing tab to the Include column. Once added, you will be able to toggle Live Listen from the Control Centre when your AirPods are connected to the iPhone.
iOS Developer Preview users who own a pair of AirPods can experiment with this already. We tried it out and the audio was crisp and clear, and we can see how it might help users who have partial hearing loss, especially in crowded or noisy environments. For chronic issues, a professional hearing aid is still recommended.
Siri Shortcuts
While the new Shortcuts app hasn’t yet appeared in the iOS 12 Developer Preview, certain shortcuts have been made available under the Siri subhead in Settings. We tried it out and were able to set Siri hot-words for apps including Safari, Clock, Photos, Twitter, WhatsApp, Weather, and FaceTime. The implementation is decent, but Siri is yet to tap the kind of deep learning that has been demonstrated with Google Assistant. Siri Suggestions also appear in Spotlight search results. It will be interesting to see how this plays out as more iOS apps implement iOS 12-specific features.
Stocks: News and more
One of the least glamorous native apps on iOS, Stocks has received a major design upgrade with iOS 12. Apple News is now integrated into the Stocks app, with relevant business news curated by an editorial team shown along with market data. While our go-to app for portfolio tracking is not usually Apple Stocks, the news integration and detailed charts are nice additions, giving it extra functionality. The graphs appear larger than before, with rates from up to five years ago. The ticker on top is extremely handy when it comes to scrolling through stocks. Even the Stocks widget now has larger and bolder text.
ARKit 2 with Measure
As part of ARKit 2, Apple has released a new native app called Measure, which makes even more use of the AR capabilities first implemented with iOS 11. As per our first impressions, it seems like a cool app to have, letting you measure real-world objects in actual units, with an extremely intuitive and neat user interface. We used the app to measure the dimensions of objects such as laptops and smartphones, and the results were accurate enough to be useful. Measuring human height was a bit less accurate, and you might need a very steady hand. Interestingly, our iPhone gave us haptic feedback when the app detected edges, helping us make accurate markings.
iOS 11: Our Favourite Augmented Reality Apps and Games That Showcase the Power of ARKit 
Photos: Curated memories
The Photos app has been given several new features and a redesigned layout. Instead of scrolling vertically, the Albums tab now has a horizontal layout which we found to be a better use of screen space. You can search and filter by media type, people, and places. Media Types neatly sorts all different types of files in your photo library.
There is a new For You tab that shows albums and collections based on time and location, letting you share them more easily. It shows and creates memories as before, but also surfaces photos taken on the same day in previous years, something that Google Photos has done for a long time.
Apple Books: Redesigned interface
With iOS 12, iBooks is now called Apple Books. In addition to the new name, the app has been completely redesigned with new tabs labelled ‘Reading Now’ and ‘Book Store’. Reading Now, as detailed during the WWDC 2018 keynote, helps users discover books across categories including poetry, short stories, philosophy, and more. A redesigned Book Stores uses the same design principles as the App Store, with options like Top Charts, free apps, and categories to choose from, though paid books are still not available in India.
As for other minor additions throughout iOS 12, the video and audio player controls on the lock screen and Control Centre have been redesigned, and Voice Memos now lets you back up recordings to iCloud. We can expect Apple to add and improve features as the beta versions progress towards a final stable release in or around September.
  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
0 notes
crackinstaller · 6 years
Text
TeamViewer 13.1.3629 Full Crack
TeamViewer 13.1.3629 Full Crack is free for personal use but with its business scale you need a premium version for you to buy. Teamviewer is a program that is similar to the Skype Share screen option, but with the Team Viewer you can access and control other people’s computers. At the enterprise level, this program is used for virtual meetings with multiple participants.
There are a variety of features that you can take advantage of Teamviewer’s help; many businesses today use this program to solve PC problems while sitting remotely. Some companies fix their software through companies outside the company, so they use Teamviewer to fix their system bugs.
TeamViewer Free Crash Premium Free Download Rest may be somewhat understood by TeamViewer software. This PC software can help TeamViewer with other users, you can TeamViewer’s computer, which is a menacing TeamViewer through login id and password.
Review TeamViewer
This software is for anyone who has problems with it on your pc / laptop and is in need of help from others indirectly with TeamViewer so that people can evaluate pc / laptop remotely with TeamViewer. Many of these also utilize TeamViewer’s office activities and others.
Very often, we have seen that providing support for another computer that is not in the same area is a very daunting and arduous task. Some use phone calls to guide other users and some to write e-mail to guide others, but at the end of the process most of the process can not accomplish the required tasks, all the while and resources are wasted and the problem is still at hand. Hundreds of software and applications require technical support to successfully install and require complex setups to run smoothly.
The problems mentioned above may be an obstacle to running their businesses in smooth operation of the business using the Internet or the Internet. But TeamViewer, all these problems are solved. In addition to solving the above issues, TeamViewer has some outstanding benefits, which will be listed later.
The location of the other computers is not important, all you need is a reliable internet connection and software installed on someone else’s computer, and you can control your partner remotely as if sitting in front of it, And control it.It is a familiar software for production purposes; some people want to use it, but they do not want to pay the premium version. Advanced is a full version of Teamviewer, it has more features than the free version, it is ad-free.
In addition, the newer version of Teamviewer Free Download has many advanced features. Simple, fast remote support, remote access, online collaboration and meetings; this is an interlinked world tool that is limited to your imagination. Therefore, a great distance people want to learn any program team viewer is very helpful.
Most importantly, the latest feature of the TeamViewer Free license key is the transmission of any type of file, desktop sharing, remote desktop connection, and meeting between multiple pc and web conferencing. In addition, the way to download and install the Teamviewer  license key is very simple. Most notably, you can get a Teamviewer key from the link given below and its license key will be automatically upgraded.
TeamViewer 13.1.3629 Full Crack With Keygen Free Download
TeamViewer 13.1.3629 is a simple and easy solution that is proactive and does not require setup. With the start, this is significant, with the first partner id being generated on two computer systems. Simply enter your partner ID into TeamViewer, and the connection is a tool that is standard support and help people in remote areas.
The application can also be used for presentations where you can show your own desktop for use by your partner, for example, to provide a software solution. With the TeamViewer Crack Partner system, you can establish a single point of connection with your partner and computer system and connect to these systems on a regular basis. TeamViewer provides secure, encrypted messaging to maximize security
Technical distance. This TeamViewer 13.1.3629 makes meeting costs a lot easier. If you have an online meeting with your partner from all over the world. Or, you need to make an urgent decision, all partners must be a party. TeamViewer Crack Keys allow you to invite your business partners.
There is no need to schedule and organize meetings, book a meeting room or travel long distances just to hold a meeting. You can easily exchange your files during teleconferences so that everyone knows. The software has high-quality display capabilities. It has a friendly user interface. this is me
The meeting no longer has to be overly hectic at all times. Technology makes meetings easy to cut costs and anywhere in the world. Conduct business meetings online with partners from all over the world. Yes, it’s easy! If you need to make an urgent decision, all the partners must be the party, what you need is an online meeting software and you are good to go.
TeamViewer Free Download keys allow you to instantly invite your business partners. There is no need to schedule and organize meetings, book a meeting room or travel long distances just to hold a meeting. It is now in old age. The TeamViewer 11 serial number allows you to spend time on what is more important than wasting it on travel to attend a meeting. Teleconferencing is the way to go.You can easily exchange files during teleconferences for everyone to know.
Unlike other software, TeamViewer 13.1.3629 Full Crack Patch allows you to have a high quality monitor. It is also very fast. However, it will depend on your internet connection. It can be used on personal computers and mobile phones. Manufacturers surveyed all aspects of software development. They know you may not be able to access your PC, but you will have your phone. The software has been downloaded by more than 1 billion users. Said a lot, is not it?
Key Features Of TeamViewer 13.1.3629 Full Crack:
You can now assign tools to accounts in your computer and contact list again
Now it is again possible to remotely control the device, which is android
The videos in the conference and video call now appear again
Minor improvements and fixes
Performance optimization
Set the central strategy
The main white list
Chat history and conversation is lasting
One-click video call
Add your profile picture
Find nearby contacts right now
Ultra-High Definition -4K Monitor – Support
Pay more attention to your company logo
Live session comments
TeamViewer 10 redesigned
Computer and contact API
Idle session timed out
TeamViewer hosting service case
Integrate with the inbox, Google Drive, and more
Online conference lock
Easy remote whiteboard
BlackBerry application (preview)
Remote control is now available for BlackBerry: Blackberry World
Mac additional features
Thanks to Mac OS X Yosemite
Benefit from seamless built-in control, is Yosemite exclusively for Mac OS X.
System Requirements:
Support windows 10, windows 8-8. 1, windows 7, windows xp and windows vista.
Support Mac OS and Linux operating system.
1 GB or higher RAM.
1 GHz or faster processor.
200 MB of free hard disk space to install.
Chrome OS
Windows 10,
IOS 9
Andrews cotton candy
Captain Mac OS X El
Windows XP
Linux
How to Install TeamViewer Premium 13.1.3629 Crack Right Now?
Right off the bat Download TeamViewer Premium 13.1.3629
Extricate it on your desktop.
Install driver tookit program on your Pc & Mac in the event that you as of now have not done it.
Duplicate split and glue it into the installation index.
Presently Use the License keys given toward the finish of this post.
Then Register it with split or serial key given.
Restart your Pc & Mac.
All Done and now Enjoy its Latest Version: TeamViewer Premium 13.1.3629 Crack.
The post TeamViewer 13.1.3629 Full Crack appeared first on CrackInstaller.
from CrackInstaller https://ift.tt/2jF1gZy via IFTTT
0 notes
ntrending · 6 years
Text
You just bought a new gadget—here’s what you should do first
New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/you-just-bought-a-new-gadget-heres-what-you-should-do-first/
You just bought a new gadget—here’s what you should do first
Just bagged yourself a shiny new gadget? You’re probably eager to start playing with it as soon as possible. But to make sure your new device’s life stays trouble-free, you should first take the time to set it up properly. Follow these simple pointers to keep it running smoothly for years to come.
1. Install all updates
Installing system updates can be a chore, but they’re there for a reason: They squash performance bugs, patch up security vulnerabilities, and generally make your device’s operating system more stable and reliable. If you’re lucky, they might throw in some extra features too. Because updates can affect the rest of your system, you want to install these before you take any other steps.
Even if you purchased a shiny new gadget, its manufacturer may have released a few software updates since it left the factory. So as soon as you switch it on, you may receive a plethora of alert prompting you to install pending updates. Click or tap a notification, and the machine will help you bring its system up to date.
If you don’t receive these notifications, you should still check for updates manually. In macOS, look for the App Store icon in the dock and then open it. In iOS, open the Settings, go to the General menu, and choose Software Update. On a Windows device, open Settings, go to Update & Security, then select Windows Update. And in Android, open the Settings, tap System, and visit System Update in Android Settings.
2. Set up security
You probably store a lot of personal information on your Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS devices—and this new one is no exception. That means you’ll want to protect your digital life with strong security settings.
For phones or tablets, security starts on the lock screen, where you should at least set up a PIN code or password. If your device offers more unlock options, you can extend that to a fingerprint or face recognition test. For more tips, check out our guide to protecting your smartphone’s lock screen.
As for computers, you don’t want just anyone waking them from sleep mode. Protect them by requiring a password or other security check. On Windows machines, find this option in Settings under Accounts and Sign-in. In macOS, open System Preferences and look under Security & Privacy.
Once you’ve protected your computer from snooping strangers, you’ll antivirus protection. On Windows, the built-in Windows Defender will do a perfectly capable job for most. However, if you’d like extra peace of mind—or you own a macOS machine—install a third-party package. According to independent testing site AV Test, Bitdefender Internet Security ($23) and Norton Security ($23) work great for Windows because of their high virus-detection rates, user friendliness and low impact on overall computer performance. For macOS, try AVG Antivirus (fee), Bitdefender Antivirus ($40), or Sophos Home (free), all of which detected more viruses than their competitors.
On a smartphone, antivirus software isn’t necessary because Google and Apple tightly regulate their respective app stores. Just remember to guard against other security threats, such as falling prey to phishing attacks.
3. Transfer files from your old device
Don’t leave files and applications languishing on your old phone, tablet, or laptop for too long. For every extra week they sit gathering dust, you become more likely to forget about them completely.
Moving apps onto your new device isn’t difficult, but it does require a little gruntwork. First, make a list of the programs you currently rely on. Next, head to the app store on your new device and download them one by one. You’ll be able to re-download apps you’ve already purchased for free, because they are linked to your Microsoft, Apple, and Google ID. Just remember that some will require you to uninstall them from your old device before you can put them on your new one. Finally, for apps that require it, sign in to your account. This last step will automatically transfer a lot of your data and settings, such as playlists in Spotify.
As for file transfer, you’ll need a cloud syncing service. Apple, Microsoft, and Android devices have built-in services: iCloud, OneDrive, and Google Drive, respectively. In addition, Dropbox is a reliable third-party option. All of these options—except for iCloud, which is limited to macOS and iOS—will work easily with multiple operating systems.
All of these services work similarly. On your old device, install the app and use it to upload your files to the cloud. Then install the program on your new device and you’ll be able to access everything you need. However, you may need to pay for extra storage space, depending on how much data you plan to transfer. If you’re moving files between computers, you can also skip the cloud and use an external hard drive. Simply save your folders to the hard drive, then move them to the new machine.
Once you’ve saved everything you need from your old device, it’s time to securely wipe it so you can dispose of it safely. (For more detail, check out this guide to protecting the data on old devices.) Uninstall apps, deregistering them if necessary, and then restore the machine to factory settings. On Windows, head to Settings, then Update & security, then Recovery, and click Get started under the Reset this PC heading. On macOS, you actually need to reboot your machine, hold down Command+R as it restarts, and choose Disk Utility from the menu. Select your main disk drive, click Erase, and choose Mac OS Extended from the Format menu. You can then quit the Disk Utility program, and select the reinstall macOS option. The process is a little easier on Android and iOS. On Android, choose Settings then System then Reset; on iOS, open the Settings app and choose General, then Reset, then Erase All Content and Settings.
4. Prepare to back it up
Now that you’ve finally moved your files and photos to your new machine, you need to put a backup routine in place. Establish this, and then you can put it out of your mind, safe in the knowledge that, should something happen to your device, your information will stay safe.
If you’re setting up a phone, Android and iOS will automatically back up a lot of your most important data, though on Android you might need some extra help saving your SMS messages. You can find more detail on exactly what’s included in your phone backups, and how to make sure they’re running correctly, directly from Apple, Google, or the manufacturer who made your Android phone.
In addition, as we mentioned earlier, you have plenty of cloud-storage apps to choose among. Perhaps the simplest solution is to use the built-in service for whatever device you’re using—Apple iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, or Google Drive. You may have to pay a few dollars a month to get enough online storage space, but it’s worth it.
Third-party options also deliver the goods, particularly if you want to use them to back up data from multiple machines running different operating systems. Dropbox syncs your files seamlessly across multiple platforms, and costs $9.99 a month for 1TB of cloud storage space. Or you could opt for BackBlaze, which charges $5 a month and up. It creates perfect copies of everything on your Windows or macOS machine in the cloud, but doesn’t sync files to multiple devices like Dropbox does.
Your photos and videos are some of the most precious files you’ve got. For those, we recommend Google Photos. It works just about everywhere, and will even store all your pictures and clips for free. While it will resize them down down to 16 megapixels or 1080p to save room, you can also pay a subscription fee to keep everything at its original size. That said, the other cloud-storage services we’ve discussed are also perfectly capable of handling your photos and videos. For more information, check out our guide to storing photos in the cloud.
Finally, don’t forget the option of physical storage: If you’re setting up a Windows or macOS computer, you can simply choose to buy an external hard drive and periodically copy over your most important files to it. Just make sure to keep it in a very safe place.
Still worried about keeping your information safe? We’ve got you covered with more pointers in this guide to backing up your data.
Written By David Nield
0 notes
tortuga-aak · 7 years
Text
The best iPhone for every type of person and budget
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
The Insider Pick:
The iPhone X is the ultimate high-end smartphone, and you can pre-order it on October 27 at 12 a.m. PST. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are great alternatives to save a few hundred dollars.
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are still great options, especially now that they're discounted at most carriers and stores.
The iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, and iPhone SE are now two years old, so we recommend you buy the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus instead. However, they're still perfectly adequate if you want to save money.
Do not buy the iPhone 6 or any older model or you'll be wasting your money. A smartphone is an investment, so it's worth spending extra or buying an affordable Android phone instead.
Apple's iPhone lineup has grown to include three new phones: the iPhone X, the iPhone 8, and the iPhone 8 Plus. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are already available to buy in stores, but the iPhone X goes up for pre-order on October 27 at 12 a.m. PST/3 a.m. EST. So which one should you buy?
There are so many options now it can seem overwhelming when it comes time to choose the right iPhone for you. We break it down so you know exactly which iPhone to buy for your needs and budget. We also tell you which ones to avoid at all costs so you don't end up paying hundreds of dollars for a three-year-old iPhone that is already obsolete.
Why should you listen to me? I've personally reviewed every iPhone since the iPhone 6 in a professional capacity as a tech writer and editor. Before that, I owned an iPhone 3GS and an iPhone 5, so I have run the gamut, so to speak.
Here are some key things to know before you decide which iPhone to buy:
Processor and RAM: The processor and RAM are the two most important parts of any phone. They determine how smoothly it runs and works through intense tasks like gaming or multitasking. The newer your iPhone, the better the processing power and RAM. That's why we recommend you buy the most recent iPhone models and we don't recommend any iPhones from three years ago.
Storage space: Storage is also incredibly important because the amount of storage you have determines how many photos, songs, videos, and apps you can have downloaded on your phone. Never buy a 16GB iPhone — you will run out of space and regret it. 32GB is okay for most people, but if you take a lot of photos, have tons of songs or videos downloaded, or you're an app junkie, you will want 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of storage. Unfortunately, adding storage costs money.
Screen size: iPhones come in several screen sizes now: 4 inches (iPhone SE), 4.7 inches (iPhone 6, 6S, 7, 8), 5.5 inches (iPhone 6 Plus, 6S Plus, 7 Plus, 8 Plus), and 5.8 inches (iPhone X). Phones with small screen sizes have smaller physical bodies, which are easier to hold. The iPhone Plus line is the largest phone to hold even though the screen size is smaller than it is on the iPhone X. The iPhone X is physically a tad bigger than the iPhone 6, 6S, 7, or 8, so it's very comfortable to hold. The iPhone SE is the smallest iPhone you can buy now.
Battery life: Most iPhones don't have great battery life. The smaller the iPhone, the worse the battery life. The Plus has the best battery life of any iPhone, but the iPhone X may also do well — It needs testing first, but Apple claims it's longer than the iPhone 7's battery life.
Ports (or lack thereof): All iPhones have a lighting port for charging, but the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X all lack the 3.5mm headphone jack. That means you can't plug your headphones in unless you use the adapter or the earbuds that come with your new iPhone. We recommend you get a nice pair of wireless headphones and live happily ever after.
Software: Apple provides updates to its iPhones for about four years after their release, so theoretically, you can have your iPhone safe and up to date for four years before you should buy a new one. Always update your software to get important security patches and new features. You may experience slowdown on older devices, but iPhones typically hold up well.
Price: Consider your purchase an investment. Your smartphone is more than a communication device — It is your camera, your computer, your photo album, your record player, and your gaming console, too. A good smartphone can last you for years, but a cheap one with poor specs will be outdated more quickly, and you'll end up spending more in the long run. That $1,000 price tag on the iPhone X looks less scary when you consider that it could last you for four years. 
How to buy: You can get an iPhone from your carrier by paying full price or paying in monthly installments. You can also buy one at stores like Target or directly from Apple. We recommend you buy it from Apple unlocked so you can switch carriers any time you choose. The Apple iPhone Upgrade Program lets you get a new iPhone every year so long as you've made 12 monthly payments on your current phone. It's basically like renting your smartphone so you can upgrade all the time. Some carriers, like T-Mobile, offer a similar program.
Updated on 10/26/2017 by Malarie Gokey: Added pre-order links for the iPhone X, which go live on October 27 at 12 a.m. PST/3 a.m. EST.
With all that in mind, read on to see which of Apple's iPhones is best for your needs. In this guide, we have more buying advice to tell you which iPhone to get if you're upgrading from an older model. We also give you a few Android alternatives to consider. For more information on how to pre-order the iPhone X, read our advice on Insider Picks.
Buying advice for current iPhone owners
Justin Sullivan/Getty
Here's who should (and shouldn't) upgrade, and which iPhone we recommend for you:
If you have an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: You don't need to upgrade at all. If you're a tech geek with no self-control, buy the iPhone X.
If you have an iPhone 6S or 6S Plus: You don't really need to upgrade yet, either, but if you want to, get the iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, or the iPhone 8.
If you have an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus: You deserve an upgrade. These phones are starting to stutter a bit and won't last much longer. You may as well grab an iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, or the iPhone 8. 
If you have an iPhone 5S: You don't just deserve an upgrade, you deserve a medal. You made your phone last four years. If you're going to do that again, treat yourself and get the iPhone X. It'll be like blasting off to a new planet.
_______________________________________________________________
How should you buy your new iPhone?
Tech geek? Join the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program. You'll basically rent your phone with monthly payments, and you can upgrade to a new one after 12 payments. If you do that, you end up paying half price for the phone and you get a new one every year without hemming and hawing over the cost. T-Mobile has a similar offer, in which you can upgrade as soon as you've paid off half of the phone's entire balance.
Tech-savvy traveler? Buy your iPhone unlocked so you can pop in local SIM cards when you travel abroad. To do this, buy from Apple, preferably through the iPhone Upgrade Program. Alternatively, you can buy from T-Mobile or Sprint because they have free international service in 100+ countries.
Budget hunter? Check out all the carrier promotions and maybe wait a few months to buy your new iPhone. You can get a year-old model (the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus) for a good price now, or wait for the inevitable iPhone 8 and 8 Plus promotions around the holidays. You could also jump ahead to our Android alternatives section in this buying guide.
_______________________________________________________________
The best iPhone for tech geeks
Apple
Why you'll love it: The iPhone X is cutting-edge with its giant OLED screen, super fast processor, facial recognition, and killer cameras.
Make no mistake — This is the iPhone to buy. If you have the money, you're already in the iPhone upgrade program, or you can snag a good deal from your carrier, you'll want the iPhone X. It may cost $1,000, but this is the most high-tech iPhone to date. Of course, we're not all tech geeks, so although this is the iPhone lover's dream phone, it may not be the best phone for the average person.
That said, it's the iPhone we recommend above all others. It is a giant leap forward in terms of technology. The stunning OLED screen measures 5.8-inches and it takes up the entire front of the phone. The result is a sexy phone that's all screen and fits comfortably in your hand. Unlike the iPhone 8 Plus, it's a manageable size to hold, because it's only a bit larger than the iPhone 7. Both the back and front of the phone are covered in glass, so be sure to pop a case on for protection and grip.
As usual, the cameras are impressive. You can use the DSLR-like Portrait mode with both the front and back cameras. The dual cameras on the back of the phone support zoom and wide-angle shots, too. One of the coolest tricks Apple pulled off with the iPhone X is facial recognition for Face ID, the phone's new method for secure unlocking and payments. Your phone will recognize your face and it can't be fooled by masks, makeup, hats, glasses, or other changes.
The A11 Bionic processor is lightning fast and benchmark results show that it is nearly as powerful as a laptop computer. Apple also started storage off at 64GB, which is excellent. Tech geeks will want to go up to 256GB, but most of us will be happy with 64GB. It's also got wireless charging and water resistance. 
Pros: Gorgeous design, huge OLED screen, no bezels, wireless charging, portrait mode on both front and back cameras, fast processor, facial recognition to unlock
Cons: Expensive, unproven Face ID unlocking tech, glass is fragile
Pre-order the iPhone X on October 27 from Apple (in stores November 3) for $49.91/month (64GB — $999 full price) or $56.16/month (256GB — $1,149 full price)
On AT&T for $41.63/month for 24 months or $33.30/month for 30 months (64GB) 
On Verizon for $41.62/month for 24 months (64GB) or $47.87/month for 24 months (256GB)
On Sprint for $549 with a two-year contract (64GB) or $699 with a two-year contract (256GB)
On T-Mobile for $279.99 (64GB) or $429.99 (256GB) down and $30/month for 24 months
The best iPhone for people who want a great camera for less
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
Why you'll love it: The iPhone 8 Plus is the best iPhone for most people because it's less expensive but nearly as powerful as the iPhone X.
If you can't justify the $1,000 price tag of the X, but you still want the dual cameras, the fast processor, and a big screen, the iPhone 8 Plus is the phone you need. It may not have facial recognition or the fancy portrait mode camera on the front, but it is still an excellent device.
It looks pretty much like the iPhone 7 Plus, so it's a large phone with a big 5.5-inch screen. The only real design change is that the iPhone 8 Plus has a glass back to allow for wireless charging. You'll want to put a case on it to prevent damage and add extra grip – especially since it's a large phone physically. The Touch ID fingerprint sensor is still on the front of the phone and continues to act as a home button.
The dual cameras on the back offer zoom, wide angle, and Portrait mode, so it will take excellent photos that are slightly better than the ones you'd get from the iPhone 7 Plus.
The A11 Bionic processor is lightning fast and benchmark results show that it is nearly as powerful as a laptop computer. Apple also started storage off at 64GB, which is excellent. Tech geeks will want to go up to 128GB or 256GB, but most of us will be happy with 64GB. It's also got wireless charging and water resistance. 
The iPhone 8 Plus is a great phone that will make most people happy. It's a good way to save a few hundred dollars if you're not a tech geek who needs the bleeding-edge iPhone X tech.
Pros: Fast processor, wireless charging, dual cameras, big screen, fingerprint sensor
Cons: Large size is hard to hold, glass is fragile, not as high-tech as the X
On T-Mobile for $79.99 down and $30.00/month ($799.99 full price — Get up to $300 off with trade-in)
On Verizon for $33.33/month ($799.99 full price — Get up to $300 off with trade-in and Unlimited Plan)
On Sprint for $4.17/month after bill credits on leasing program ($799.99 full price)
On AT&T for $26.67/month on 30-month plan ($799.99 full price)
From Target unlocked $799.99 full price
From Apple unlocked $39.50/month on Upgrade Program or $799.00 full price
See the rest of the story at Business Insider from Feedburner http://ift.tt/2wFd5YZ
0 notes