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| Dreamcatcher http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristysees/7784312738/in/photostream |
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Dreamcatcher
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Commuter
It's been a while since I last updated. Been working on different stuff but my passion is still the same. I enjoy finding the little surprises and the beauty in our everyday lives. I will start to post more of my photography works here. I hope you enjoy and I would love to see your thoughts :)
Here is a series of photos of the commuters. I think we are all like commuters sometimes. Running around, passing by people who are also running around. Moving from one place to another, waiting to get on the train, and waiting again to get off the train. Maybe we just need to take a nap. Once recharged, everything seems to be better again and we will be ready for the next stop!
(Click on the picture to see the original file)
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| Commuter http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristysees/7722123686/ |
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| The Way Home http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristysees/7722136368/in/photostream/ |
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| Dream |
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| working as a commuter http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristysees/7722169598/in/photostream/ |
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Your Personal Photographer - iPhone Photography Apps: CameraBag & CameraFun
In the previous post, I introduced the iPhone photography app, Hipstamatic. This time, I am going to introduce two other photography apps: CameraBag & CameraFun (free and plus 2 versions).
First of all, let's take a look at CameraBag. Unlike the complicated combination in Hipstamatic, this app is very straight forward. Once you open the app, the default home screen is to let you add effect by either selecting an existing photo in the album or take a new picture.
This app cost $1.99 and has total 13 effects including "Fisheye" that can create a cute "big head" effect.
All of the options are demonstrated below:
The second app we are going to discuss about is CameraFun. There is a free version which included 6 models for you to choose from and two other packages you can purchase additionally. Each package costs $0.99 and contains 6 models. So if you bought all of them it will be $1.98 for a total of 18 effects plus the original camera. At first, I like the way they show the difference of original and effect mode when you are taking pictures (bottom left), but at the same time it blocks the whole view of the picture as well. Now, they changed the preview mode into the usual full screen mode and you can see what the effect will be like directly at the same time (bottom right)
There are some fun effects which are different from other apps. For example, the thermal and emboss effects. Below are demonstrations including the free and purchased models:
The three photography apps are the most used ones within this type of photography lists. Hipstamatic create a more detail and a more sophisticated platform. CameraBag. Unlike the complicated combination in Hipstamatic, is more straight-forward and charge one time only. The good part of Camerafun that other two apps didn't have is that you can "preview the effect" while you are taking pictures. I always hope hipstamatic can have this function because there are too many combinations to choose from. Often times I need to take the exact pictures from different lense/film/flashligh combinations in Hipstamatic then go to the photo library to see what exactly the pictures look like which is kind of bothersom.
Hope you find all of these informations useful. At last, Hipstamatic worked with The Dali Museum and lauched a new "The Dalí Museum GoodPak". It creates a very dreamy effect which has become my new love. Check it out!
First of all, let's take a look at CameraBag. Unlike the complicated combination in Hipstamatic, this app is very straight forward. Once you open the app, the default home screen is to let you add effect by either selecting an existing photo in the album or take a new picture.
All of the options are demonstrated below:
The second app we are going to discuss about is CameraFun. There is a free version which included 6 models for you to choose from and two other packages you can purchase additionally. Each package costs $0.99 and contains 6 models. So if you bought all of them it will be $1.98 for a total of 18 effects plus the original camera. At first, I like the way they show the difference of original and effect mode when you are taking pictures (bottom left), but at the same time it blocks the whole view of the picture as well. Now, they changed the preview mode into the usual full screen mode and you can see what the effect will be like directly at the same time (bottom right)
There are some fun effects which are different from other apps. For example, the thermal and emboss effects. Below are demonstrations including the free and purchased models:
The three photography apps are the most used ones within this type of photography lists. Hipstamatic create a more detail and a more sophisticated platform. CameraBag. Unlike the complicated combination in Hipstamatic, is more straight-forward and charge one time only. The good part of Camerafun that other two apps didn't have is that you can "preview the effect" while you are taking pictures. I always hope hipstamatic can have this function because there are too many combinations to choose from. Often times I need to take the exact pictures from different lense/film/flashligh combinations in Hipstamatic then go to the photo library to see what exactly the pictures look like which is kind of bothersom.
Hope you find all of these informations useful. At last, Hipstamatic worked with The Dali Museum and lauched a new "The Dalí Museum GoodPak". It creates a very dreamy effect which has become my new love. Check it out!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Your Personal Photographer - iPhone Photography Apps: Hipstamatic
After discussing about food and drinks in the previous posts, today I'm going to talk about taking pictures. I have a DSLR that really satisfies the quality need. However, it's way too troublesome bringing the heavy and huge camera with you and the good moments don't wait for you. That's why getting some good photography apps for your iPhone is necessary!
The photgraphy related apps in my iPhone are up to 30 apps.
Today I'm going to focus on one app, Hipstamatic. And I will continue comparing some different photography apps in the next post.
1) Hipstamatic
The cute part about Hipstamatic is they made the app looks like a camera and you can press the yellow button to get the picture. You can even hear a "click" sound.
You can select what kind of films you want you use, what color of flashlight, what special effect of lence. The pictures taken from the subjuct at the lower right in the above view can shown as the pictures below:
This app is good in the way that you can choose your own combination of lense, flashlight, resolution, film. (Some of them are free, and some of them are charged additionally)
And because the size of the picture is different from the usual picutres, now you can simply select the pictures you taken before by histamatic and buy the prints. Then, you can just wait till the printed photos ship to your home.
Also, this app has facebook and twitter fan page that you can follow. A lot of people will actually share the pictures they took by hipstamatic, and the team itself will hold theme competitions, providing discounts (such as the 20% off all prints) and they also reply your post regarding to question or recommendation really fast.
I love this app and I use it really often. However, I think this app has some parts they can try to improve.
First of all, the view while you are trying to take the pictures is way too small.
Although it might seems okay now from the above picture, imagine the whole view shrink to your iPhone.
Secondly, you cannot preview what the pictures will look like under the effect. Some apps allow you to show the effects immediately which I will introduce them in the next post. Hipstamic has so many combinations that you can mix together and sometimes because of the light and view difference, the same effect will show differently. For me, sometimes I need to take the same view by different combinations just to see which one looks better.
Thirdly, a lot of special effects require you to buy them additionally. They actually charge way more than many of the other photography apps.
Anyhow, I bought all of the additional effects (Yikes!) and I'm still very happy using it. In the next post, I'm going to further describe more of the photography apps and compare them with Hipstamatic. Stay tuned!
The photgraphy related apps in my iPhone are up to 30 apps.
Today I'm going to focus on one app, Hipstamatic. And I will continue comparing some different photography apps in the next post.
1) Hipstamatic
The cute part about Hipstamatic is they made the app looks like a camera and you can press the yellow button to get the picture. You can even hear a "click" sound.
You can select what kind of films you want you use, what color of flashlight, what special effect of lence. The pictures taken from the subjuct at the lower right in the above view can shown as the pictures below:
This app is good in the way that you can choose your own combination of lense, flashlight, resolution, film. (Some of them are free, and some of them are charged additionally)
And because the size of the picture is different from the usual picutres, now you can simply select the pictures you taken before by histamatic and buy the prints. Then, you can just wait till the printed photos ship to your home.
Also, this app has facebook and twitter fan page that you can follow. A lot of people will actually share the pictures they took by hipstamatic, and the team itself will hold theme competitions, providing discounts (such as the 20% off all prints) and they also reply your post regarding to question or recommendation really fast.
I love this app and I use it really often. However, I think this app has some parts they can try to improve.
First of all, the view while you are trying to take the pictures is way too small.
Although it might seems okay now from the above picture, imagine the whole view shrink to your iPhone.
Secondly, you cannot preview what the pictures will look like under the effect. Some apps allow you to show the effects immediately which I will introduce them in the next post. Hipstamic has so many combinations that you can mix together and sometimes because of the light and view difference, the same effect will show differently. For me, sometimes I need to take the same view by different combinations just to see which one looks better.
Thirdly, a lot of special effects require you to buy them additionally. They actually charge way more than many of the other photography apps.
Anyhow, I bought all of the additional effects (Yikes!) and I'm still very happy using it. In the next post, I'm going to further describe more of the photography apps and compare them with Hipstamatic. Stay tuned!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
More simple or complicated? - Starbucks joining the mobile app market
If you read the last post, you might found that I left a little hint at the very last picture on what I'm going to talk about next.
After the successful case of Chipotle, food and drink companies started to dive in this market. Taking the example of Starbucks, a lot of people actually keep on guessing what their app would be like. Last year in September, they finally released their very first mobile app. And while Chipotle said they will try to work on blackberry and Android apps, Starbucks released 2 iphone apps and 1 blackberry app.
The myStarbucks iPhone app below allows you to locate the nearest stores, customize your own beverage, find food, coffee beans, and check their nutrition details (Calories, total fat... yikes!)
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| myStarbucks iPhone app |
The Starbucks Card Mobile App for iPhone and Blackberry below can be used in Canada, UK, and US. You can log in by your Starbucks Rewards Card, find the nearest participated store, purchase by showing the barcode to the cashier, and check your available balance.
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| Starbucks Card Mobile App for iPhone (2 in the left) and Blackberry (2 in the right) |
Although their mystarbucks app do achieve an average 4.5/5 score from 54,530 ratings, and 4.5/5 stars from 9,879 ratings for their Starbucks Card iPhone app, I actually think they still need improvement.
First of all, why do you have to make two separate apps when you could try to synchronize them together? For me, my iPhone is already flooded with all kinds of applications, the last thing I want to do is to add potentially redundant apps. As a matter of fact, you can let the customers to choose to log in or not through the "myStarbucks" app alone. Or, just have two "same app" which is simply like the "lite or full" version for the customers to choose which to download.
Secondly, although the Starbucks Card iPhone app is cool enough to let you scan the barcode to pay through iPhone (check video below), I don't really think this is as good as the Chipotle paying function.
To begin with, it requires you to have one of those Starbucks "debit" card. I go to Starbucks every now and then but I never have one of those card. So it comes to the fact that I can't pay through my own credit card like Chipotle. Therefore, I cannot just go into the store, give my name, take my drink and walk away immediately. I still need to go through the paying process, and I'm not sure about if I could skip the line. (Again, since I don't have a starbucks loyalty card.)
Thirdly, before Starbucks launched their official application, people are guessing and designing their own Starbucks apps. I actually like Genoco by Phil Lu's design better! While both of them can customize your own drink, in my opinion Genoco has a more straight forward platform and you can just add some additional requirements in the note.
On the other hand, you have to actually go through every single category separately (coffee, milk, syrups, toppings, preparation...etc.) in the Starbucks official app. Maybe the reason is because they can easily calculate the calories this way. Still, I think its way too complicated. You can take a look below and tell me how you think.
If I would like to customize a drink, here are the steps I needed to go through.
Okay, after all of the above steps, I just realize the java chip frappuccino I always got equals 560 calories... ahem...... SWEET!
P.S
To find the references, please simply click on the words highlighted yellow to go to the original source.
First of all, why do you have to make two separate apps when you could try to synchronize them together? For me, my iPhone is already flooded with all kinds of applications, the last thing I want to do is to add potentially redundant apps. As a matter of fact, you can let the customers to choose to log in or not through the "myStarbucks" app alone. Or, just have two "same app" which is simply like the "lite or full" version for the customers to choose which to download.
Secondly, although the Starbucks Card iPhone app is cool enough to let you scan the barcode to pay through iPhone (check video below), I don't really think this is as good as the Chipotle paying function.
retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJq0pFJ3fLY&feature=related
To begin with, it requires you to have one of those Starbucks "debit" card. I go to Starbucks every now and then but I never have one of those card. So it comes to the fact that I can't pay through my own credit card like Chipotle. Therefore, I cannot just go into the store, give my name, take my drink and walk away immediately. I still need to go through the paying process, and I'm not sure about if I could skip the line. (Again, since I don't have a starbucks loyalty card.)
Thirdly, before Starbucks launched their official application, people are guessing and designing their own Starbucks apps. I actually like Genoco by Phil Lu's design better! While both of them can customize your own drink, in my opinion Genoco has a more straight forward platform and you can just add some additional requirements in the note.
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| iPhone + Starbucks created by Genoco. Retrieved from http://www.genoco.com/link/interactive_iphone+starbucks.html |
On the other hand, you have to actually go through every single category separately (coffee, milk, syrups, toppings, preparation...etc.) in the Starbucks official app. Maybe the reason is because they can easily calculate the calories this way. Still, I think its way too complicated. You can take a look below and tell me how you think.
If I would like to customize a drink, here are the steps I needed to go through.
Okay, after all of the above steps, I just realize the java chip frappuccino I always got equals 560 calories... ahem...... SWEET!
P.S
To find the references, please simply click on the words highlighted yellow to go to the original source.
Even Faster Fast Food - Chipotle ordering iPhone app
Do you know that Chipotle has a free online ordering app for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad? You can simply find a nearest location, customize your order and pay online so you can just skip the line and pick it up as soon as you get into the store. The app can even remember your couple last orders so you can easily get your favorite choice again.
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| (From left to right, top to low: iPhone app; picture order; nearest location search; menu; customize your order; remember your favorite choice) |
Chipotle released this online ordering app last September and have already achieved approximately 750,000 downloads this May and scored an average 4.5 over 5 stars from 31,690 ratings. The company's spokesman said that they did not really advertise the app strongly except from the PR, social media and listing on the Apple iTunes Store. The spokesman also claimed that they did not disclose any sales data through this new platform and also have no interest doing so.
I have to admit that once I tried this app, it has created a pretty strong incentive for me to order from Chipotle comparing to other fast food restaurants when I am in a rush. While I was working at Columbia MD, there is a Chipotle in the mall. During lunch time, there's constantly a long line waiting to be served and might take more than 10 minutes wait till you get your food. One time when I was in line, I saw a couple of black and white letter size flyers by the cashier that caught my attention. iPhone app for Chipotle, Seriously? After the third time I walked by that flier, I downloaded the app and have loved it since!
In fact, this Chipotle ordering app was not so successful in the beginning. The app was first launched in January 2009 but removed from the Apple Store just couple hours later. Reason? The app designed company, Sequence, faced a more than expected demand which overloaded the servers. Instead of fixing the problem and let the consumers keep downloading it, they immediately decided to remove and redesign the app for better function. Plenty of websites and blogs discussed (made fun) on this failure. However, the re-launched app did make a come back.
I went to ask for the iPhone app flier at a chipotle in Baltimore, the store manager gave me a bunch.
This flier is even prettier than the one which grabbed my attention in the first place - a simple black and white A4 flier. |
He said the app had been out for over a year and almost everyone now knows about the app so they didn't even need to advertise it anymore. He said this app did make an unexpected great success to their company and no doubt increase their customers. According to the store manager's estimation, their online order might be around 30-50% within their branches these days. Also, because the online order customers can just go to the cashier for their orders, it reduces the line and of course, makes more people wants to come in.
We can easily find out that this kind of mobile app will give both the stores and the customers benefit. Moreover, I realize that through Chipotle's computer online order, you don't need to pay in advance (might because a lot of time it will mostly be larger amount orders) while the iPhone app needs to finish the payment first. So for the store's stand of view, there don't even need to worry that the customers didn't show up to pick up their food. How convenient is that?
Having this Chipotle app tried out the market, I believe more and more companies will start joining this area. For what I could think of already, McDonalds, KFC, Papa John's, PF Chang's, Cheesecake Factory... hmm... and many more! Maybe one day we will need to create a folder in iPhone called "Takeout"!
P.S
To find the references, please simply click on the words highlighted yellow to go to the original source.
P.S
To find the references, please simply click on the words highlighted yellow to go to the original source.
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