The golf ball-sized Lume Cube 2.0 sheds light on your mobile photos
The company that designed the light that fits in your pocket is back. The Lume Cube 2.0 is a compact light for smartphone photography, as well as pairing with cameras and drones. The light improves with enhanced flexibility thanks to a new low-light mode, along with daylight balanced temperature.
Edit those one-click photo paintings using new paint tools in Painter Essentials
Love turning photos into painting, but want more control over the results? The new Painter Essentials 7 uses A.I. to convert photos to paintings, but then lets the user flex their own creative muscle with tools to adjust and further hand paint. The update also includes an enhanced user interface.
Instagram enhances midnight scrolls with dark mode — here’s how to turn it on
Instagram has a new dark mode, thanks to similar updates on iOS 13 and Android 10. The new Instagram dark mode is rolling out along with updates to prevent phishing and remove the Following tab. Learn how to turn on Instagram's dark mode on iPhone and Android.
Instagram ditches Following tab, disappointing online stalkers everywhere
Instagram's notification center will no longer be split in two. The Following tab that details what your friends interact with on Instagram is being phased out of the app beginning today. The feature raised privacy questions, while the goal of the section has already been replaced by Explore.
Threads, a more private Instagram, automatically updates your status for you
Still wondering what Facebook's definition of a private social network is? Behold Instagram Threads, a network designed only for your closet friends, but that will auto update your status based on your phone's location. Facebook says the data isn't stored long term or used for ads.
How to make your own Lightroom presets that actually work
Tired of buying Lightroom presets that never turn out? Making your own is a simple three-step process. Take the guesswork out of creating presets in this tutorial for both Lightroom Classic CC and Lightroom CC.
Sony tames the mirrorless speed demon with updated autofocus in the new A9 II
The flagship Sony A9 impressed but the second-generation Sony A9 II refines the speed demon with more tools for pros, better autofocus, and enhanced noise reduction. A new voice memo tool allows sports photographers to add notes to the photo's metadata as they shoot on the sidelines.
European court decides what Facebook can show to the rest of the world
If a court in Europe determines the content of a Facebook post to be illegal, that post is now required to be removed everywhere around the world. The decision stems from a case in which an Austrian politician sued the network for refusing to remove a post that courts previously found defamatory.
Adobe Photoshop Elements is getting so good, it edits photos for you
Adobe's basic photo and video editors are getting more features that allow the software to do the work for you. The new Adobe Photoshop Elements has new A.I. tools for faster edits, like recoloring an old photo or selecting the subject. Adobe Premiere Elements, meanwhile, gains a noise-reduction tool.
WhatsApp beta suggests disappearing messages are coming
Group messages in WhatsApp could have an expiration date, if a new test is successful. Spotted in the beta app code, the feature allows group messages to expire after five seconds or one hour. At that time, the messages disappear from the chat. WhatsApp hasn't yet confirmed the test.
The GoPro Max adds a screen and stitching to fix Fusion’s flaws, and then some
The new GoPro Max has two lenses, but three uses. Adding a screen, stitching, and single-lens modes allows the GoPro Max to work as a 360 camera, an action camera, and a vlogging camera. The new 360 camera also enhances stabilization, adds keyframe editing, and more over the older GoPro Fusion.
Reddit bolsters its rules against bullying and harassment of users
Getting harassed on the front page of the internet? New Reddit policies aim to better target abuse and improve reporting tools. The updated Reddit policy strikes out previous clauses that said bullying had to be continuous and extend into the real-world for the team to take action.
Stay lost on Pinterest even later into the night with app’s new dark mode
With a black background, Pinterest users can ease the eyes when browsing Pinterest at night with a new dark mode. The company says the update is one of the most requested features by users. On iOS, night mode follows the device's settings by default, while on Android the option is in the app as well.
Pick your nose in a crowd of 10,000 and this 500-megapixel camera will know
Hiding from a security camera becomes even harder when that security camera can see five times the detail the human eye can. Researchers in China recently shared the design of a super camera that can use facial recognition in crowds of tens of thousands of people, thanks to a 500-megapixel resolution.
The best SD memory cards for your camera, and how to choose the right one
Between the classes and ratings, picking out the right SD card can be a challenge. We break down the most important specs and details so you can decipher the GB, the MB/s the class numbers and the different types. Then, choose from a handful of the best SD cards available at different price points.
Photoshop’s Content-Aware Fill is about to get even smarter with auto selections
Tired of drawing out the sampling area for Photoshop's Content-Aware Fill? The photo editor will soon be able to handle the task for you, thanks to artificial intelligence. In a teaser, Adobe shared a glimpse of upcoming Photoshop updates designed to make Content-Aware Fill smarter and more efficient.
Match.com used flagged scam messages to con users into paid subscriptions, FTC says
Many Free Match.com users decided to buy a subscription to read a message -- only to realize that message was from a scammer. The FTC is claiming that the company knew those accounts were scams, but let them send messages exclusively to free-tier members to get new subscriptions.
Eye autofocus arrives on Canon’s selfie-loving mirrorless for beginners
Canon's beginner-friendly, selfie-loving mirrorless camera will now shoot 4K, capture vertical video, and automatically focus on the eyes. The Canon EOS M200 is a budget mirrorless with an updated processor. Like the older M100, the design is geared toward beginners moving from a smartphone camera.
Epson crams wide-format printing into a compact, voice-activated photo printer
Wide-format printers aren't all giants with big price tags. The Epson Expression Photo XP-970 Small-In-One spits out borderless 11 x 17 prints but is still small enough to sit on a desk. The printer also includes voice commands. Oh, and it's one of the more affordable wide-format photo printers.
Adobe turns pixels into paint with real-feel art app Fresco
With Adobe's latest app, artists can let watercolors run -- or control them in a way that's impossible with the real thing. Adobe Fresco mixes Photoshop-like tools with brushes designed to emulate traditional art mediums, from oil painting to watercolors.
I turned off Facebook’s ad trackers, and the ads only got more personalized
Facebook offers a few simple toggles to turn off ad tracking settings -- but those settings are only a portion of what Facebook users to deliver ads. The rest can only be turned off one-by-one and they don't make it easy. So what should privacy-concerned users do about Facebook ad trackers?
Twitter now lets you play hide-and-seek with unwanted replies, but will it last?
Twitter could be getting ready to make conversations easier to manage through a new Twitter hide reply tool. The test for the hide tool is now available in the U.S. and Japan, but there's no word yet if the option will be a permanent part of the social network.
Profoto puts sunshine in your pocket with photo studio-quality smartphone lights
Lighting company Profoto has launched its first lights designed for smartphone photographers. The Profoto C1 and C1 Plus are portable lights that wirelessly connect to a smartphone app. The lights feature both auto and manual adjustments, magnetic modifiers, and temperature controls.
Pinterest brings back the heart button with Facebook-like Reactions for groups
The Pinterest heart button is back from the dead — and brought other reactions with it. On group Boards only, Pinterest is adding new reaction tools designed for collaborating on ideas. The update also includes a new chat and organizational tools for groups.
DxOMark tests will now show you just how crappy a smartphone is in low light
DxOMark will now give potential buyers a better idea of just how good (or bad) a smartphone's camera is in low light. The new DxOMark smartphone camera Night and Wide scores add more than 150 shots to the testing process. The data can be used when comparing different smartphones for purchase.
Rare Leica camera designed by Andy Summers of The Police has matching guitar
The special-edition Leica M Monochrom Signature designed by guitarist Andy Summers will have a matching Fender guitar. The camera, designed by Summers, is partially inspired by the Fender Signature guitar. The rare special edition doesn't come cheap, however, at $15,000.
What is aperture priority? Unlock your camera’s potential with this mode
Aperture Priority Mode may be a semi-auto camera mode, but the A or Av on the camera dial allows photographers almost full control over the shot. Learn how to use aperture priority mode, and why A definitely does not stand for Amateur.
Pinterest Lens update keeps inspiration flowing beyond the first search
Pinterest Lens can help you find an object that you can't quite describe, and now that search is faster. An update to Pinterest Lens simplifies the search, while also allowing users to add an original photo to a Board. Pinterest can then continue to find suggestions based on that initial image.
Selfies just went 3D with Snapchat’s new camera mode that responds to movement
Snapchat's newest camera mode makes you selfie pop out of the smartphone screen. After debuting in Spectacles, the Snapchat 3D Camera Mode is launching in-app this week for certain devices, mixing 3D selfies with dimensional Lenses and filters. The 3D selfies can be sent in Snaps or used in Stories.
Skylum Luminar 4’s A.I.-powered portrait editor zaps zits and whitens teeth
Tired of individually zapping each zit and masking out skin in a photo editor? Skylum Luminar 4 will use artificial intelligence to retouch portraits using a set of sliders, the company shared in a teaser of the upcoming release. Skin Enhancer and Portrait Enhancer will be part of the fall release.
Monogram’s modular controls deliver custom, tactile photo and video editing
Following its successful 2013 Kickstarter, Palette Gear is back with a new name and a redesigned photo- and video-editing console. The Monogram Creative Console uses a new control and a slimmer, more responsive design while maintaining the unique ability to create custom control arrangements.