How To Set Up Ring's Halloween-themed Chimes And Quick Replies — CNET

How to set up Ring's Halloween-themed chimes and quick replies — CNET

How to set up Ring's Halloween-themed chimes and quick replies — CNET

Halloween is right around the corner. That means it's time to cue up the Netflix Halloween flicks, and dress up your fur buddies and kids (some Disney costumes are on sale now). Sure, you can always hang plastic spiders and drape cotton-ball cobwebs around the house to spice up your Halloween decor, but if you really want to get into the spooky spirit, try these new features from Amazon.

This year, you can use your Amazon and Ring devices to greet guests with creepy or nostalgic Hocus Pocus quick replies. Or play spooky sounds from your Echo-enabled device. You can even add a few hardware accessories to your video doorbell or Echo Show. 

We'll show you how to enable Halloween-themed Alexa skills and other spooky tricks. Here are the latest Amazon features that were announced just in time for the holidays. Plus, you may be able to save on a new Echo Show or Ring Video Doorbell with Amazon's Black Friday-worthy deals. This story was recently updated. 

Update your doorbell's Quick Replies 

With Ring's Quick Reply feature, you can select an automated response to greet your guest if you can't answer. Your doorbell can say, "We can't answer the door right now, but if you'd like to leave a message, you can do it now," and "Please leave the package outside. If you'd like to leave a message, you can do it now." There are four other regular replies to choose from. 

With all Quick Replies, you can watch your visitor leave a message in Live View or in your event history if you're a Ring Protect subscriber. But for Halloween, you can add quick replies from Hocus Pocus or other spooktacular replies. Here are a few we like:

• "Tell us what brings you here... or we'll put a spell on you!"
• "Boo! Leave us a message if you dare [evil laugh]."
• "Just a minute! Feel free to park your broom."
• "Please leave the package (and any hocus pocus) outside."

Here's how to set up Quick Replies and add Halloween ones: 

• Open the Ring app.
• Tap the three lines on the top left.
• Tap Devices.
• Select the doorbell that you want to set up.
• Tap the Smart Assistant tile below the doorbell image.
• Tap Quick Replies.
• Tap the blue Enable Autoreply button on the bottom of the screen.
• Select your preferred default message from the list.
• Set your message delay time from Right away to 20 seconds.
• Tap Got It! to complete the setup.

Add Halloween chimes to your Ring doorbell 

For Halloween, you can choose from a new set of holiday chimes. Options include bats, ghosts, howl, scream, spooky organ tones, a creepy laugh, a screeching cat and a creaky door.

To change your Ring Chime Tone: 

• Open the Ring app.
• Tap the three lines on the top left.
• Tap Devices.
• Select the doorbell that you want to set up.
• Tap the Device Settings.
• Tap Notification Settings.
• Tap App Alert Tones.

Ring can help take your spooky porch decor to the next level.

Ring

Give your doorbell a spooky faceplate

If you're really in the Halloween spirit, you can put a holiday faceplate on your Ring doorbell. 

A bat design and a spiderweb design are available for the Ring Video Doorbell 2.

There are also faceplate options for the Video Doorbell 3, Video Doorbell 3 Plus, and Video Doorbell 4. Faceplates for all models cost $15 on Ring's website. There are even a few for the holiday season. 

---

Source

Tags:

• How To Set Up The Ring Chime
• How To Work Ring Chime
• How To Open Ring Chime
• How To Install A Ring Chime
• Halloween Ring Pop Package Images
• Ring Game Set Up
• How To Set Up Ring Security Camera
• How To Set Up Ring Doorbell
• How To Set Google As Default Search Engine
• How To Set Default Browser
• How To Get Free Robux
• How To Delete A Page In Word

How to buy a laptop to edit photos videos organic gardening how to buy a laptop to edit photos videos editor how to buy a laptop to edit photos videos damage how to buy a laptop touchpad how to buy a laptop to chromecast how to buy a laptop in dank memer how to buy a laptop youtube how to buy amazon return pallets how to buy a domain name how to buy a tesla how to lower blood pressure how to download youtube videos

How to Buy a Laptop to Edit Photos, Videos or for Other Creative Tasks

How to Buy a Laptop to Edit Photos, Videos or for Other Creative Tasks

Are you baffled by the multitude of laptop, desktop and tablet options being hurled at you as a generic "creative" or "creator"? Marketing materials rarely distinguish among the widely varying needs for different pursuits; marketers basically consider anything with a discrete GPU (a graphics processor that's not integrated into the CPU), no matter how low power, suitable for all sorts of creative endeavors. That can get really frustrating when you're trying to wade through a mountain of choices.

On one hand, the wealth of options means there's something for every type of work, suitable for any creative tool and at a multitude of prices. On the other, it means you run the risk of overspending for a model you don't really need. Or more likely underspending, and ending up with a system that just can't keep up, because you haven't judged the trade-offs of different components properly. 

One thing hasn't changed over time: The most important components to worry about are the CPU, which generally handles most of the final quality and AI acceleration for a growing number of smart features; GPU, which determines how fluidly your screen interactions are along with some AI acceleration as well; the screen; and the amount of memory. Other considerations can be your network speed and stability, since so much is moving up and down from the cloud, and storage speed and capacity if you're dealing with large video or render files.

You still won't find anything particularly budget-worthy for a decent experience. Even a basic model worth buying will cost at least $1,000; like a gaming laptop, the extras that make it worth the name are what differentiates it from a general-purpose competitor, and those always cost at least a bit extra.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Should I get a MacBook Pro or a Windows laptop?

If what you're really wondering is whether the Mac is generally better than Windows for graphics, that hasn't been true for a while. Windows' graphics programming interface has gotten a lot better over time, which allows for broader support and better performance in the applications. But performing display calibration on both platforms can feel like walking barefoot over broken glass. Windows, because its color profile management seems like it hasn't changed since it originally launched in Windows NT, and MacOS because interface changes made in Monterey combined with ambiguity about supported calibrators, software and the new MacBook Pro screens has some folks gnashing their collective teeth.

MacBook Pros now have native M1 processor support for most of the important applications, which includes software written to use Metal (Apple's graphics application programming interface). But a lot of software still doesn't have both Windows and MacOS versions, which means you have to pick the platform that supports any critical utilities or specific software packages. If you need both and aren't seriously budget-constrained, consider buying a fully kitted-out MacBook Pro and running a Windows virtual machine on it. That's an imperfect solution, though, since VMs tend to be fairly bad ab out being able to access the full capabilities of the GPU.

Dan Ackerman/CNET

How do I know what specs are important?

The first decision you need to make is whether you'll need a workstation-class system or can get away with a normal laptop; the latter is generally cheaper. In order to use some advanced features, accelerate some operations or adhere to certain security constraints, some professional applications require workstation-class components: Nvidia A- or T-series or AMD W-series GPUs rather than their GeForce or Radeon equivalents, Intel Xeon or AMD Threadripper CPUs and ECC (error correction code) memory.

Nvidia loosened the reigns on its division between its consumer GPUs and its workstation GPUs with a middle-ground Nvidia Studio. The Studio drivers, as opposed to GeForce's Game Ready ones, add optimizations for more creation-focused applications rather than games, which means you don't necessarily have to fork over as much cash.

Companies which develop professional applications usually provide guidance on what some recommended specs are for running their software. If your budget demands that you make performance trade-offs, you need to know where to throw more money. Since every application is different, you can't generalize to the level of "video-editing uses CPU cores more than GPU acceleration" (though a big, fast SSD is almost always a good idea). The requirements for photo editing are generally lower than those for video, so those systems will probably be cheaper and more tempting. But if you spend 90% of your time editing video, it might not be worth the savings.

There are a few generalizations I can make to help narrow down your options:  

• More and faster CPU cores -- more P-Cores if we're talking about Intel's new 12th-gen processors -- directly translate into shorter final-quality rendering times for both video and 3D and faster ingestion and thumbnail generation of high-resolution photos and video. Intel's new P-series processors are specifically biased for creative (and other CPU-intensive) work.
• More and faster GPU cores plus more graphics memory (VRAM) improves the fluidity of much real-time work, such as using the secondary display option in Lightroom, scrubbing through complex timelines for video editing, working on complex 3D models and so on.
• Always get 16GB or more memory. Frankly, that's my general recommendation for Windows systems (MacOS runs better on less memory than Windows). But a lot of graphics applications will use as much memory as they can get their grubby little bits on; for instance, I've never seen Lightroom use less than all the available memory in my system (or CPU cores) when importing photos. 
• Stick with SSD storage and at least 1TB of it. Budget laptops may have a slow, secondary spinning disk drive to cheaply pad about the amount of storage. And while you could get away with 512GB, you'll probably find yourself having to clear files off onto external storage a little too frequently.
• Get the fastest Wi-Fi possible, which at the moment is Wi-Fi 6E. Much has become split between the cloud and local storage, and even if you don't intend to use the cloud much your software may force it on you. For instance, Adobe really, really wants you to use its clouds and is moving an increasing amount of your files to cloud-only. And if you accidentally save that 256MB Photoshop file in the ether, you're in for a rude awakening when you try to open it next.

Do I need a 4K or 100% Adobe RGB screen?

Not necessarily. For highly detailed work  -- think a CAD wireframe or illustration -- you might benefit from the higher pixel density of a 4K display, but for the most part, you can get away with something lower (and you'll be rewarded with slightly better battery life, too). 

Color is more important, but your needs depend on what you're doing and at what level. A lot of manufacturers will cut corners with a 100% sRGB display, but it won't be able to reproduce a lot of saturated colors; it really is a least-common-denominator space, and you can always buy a cheap external monitor to preview or proof images the way they'll appear on cheaper displays. 

For graphics that will only be appearing online, a screen with at least 95% P3 (aka DCI-P3) coverage is my general choice, and they're becoming quite common and less expensive than they used to be. If you're trying to match colors between print and screen, then 99% Adobe RGB makes more sense. Either one will display lovely saturated colors and the broad tonal range you might need for photo editing, but Adobe RGB skews more toward reproducing cyan and magenta, which are important for printing.

A display that supports color profiles stored in hardware, like HP's Dreamcolor, Calman Ready, Dell PremierColor and so on, will allow for more consistent color when you use multiple calibrated monitors. They also tend to be better, as calibration requires a tighter color error tolerance than typical screens. Of course, they also tend to be more expensive. And you frequently need to step up to a mobile workstation for this type of capability; you can use hardware calibrators such as the Calibrite ColorChecker Display  (formerly the X-Rite i1Display Pro) to generate software profiles, but they're more difficult to work with when matching colors across multiple connected monitors. 

---

Source

How to Save Money on Insurance: Tips and Tricks for Lowering Your Premiums

Insurance is an essential part of our lives, but it can be costly. Whether you're looking for auto, home, or life insurance, there are ways to save money on your premiums without sacrificing coverage. In this article, we'll explore tips and tricks for lowering your insurance premiums.

1. Shop Around for the Best Rates

One of the most effective ways to save money on insurance is to shop around for the best rates. Don't settle for the first quote you receive. Instead, compare prices and coverage from multiple insurers to find the best deal. Keep in mind that the cheapest policy may not always be the best value, so be sure to consider factors such as deductibles, coverage limits, and customer service when comparing policies.

2. Bundle Your Policies

If you have multiple insurance policies, such as home and auto insurance, consider bundling them with the same insurer. Insurers often offer discounts for bundling policies, which can save you money on your premiums.

3. Increase Your Deductible

Raising your deductible is a simple way to lower your insurance premiums. A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. By increasing your deductible, you can lower your premiums. Just be sure you can afford to pay the higher deductible if you need to file a claim.

4. Ask About Discounts

Many insurers offer discounts for various reasons. For example, you may qualify for a discount if you have a good driving record, have completed a defensive driving course, or have certain safety features installed in your car or home. Be sure to ask your insurer about any available discounts that you may be eligible for.

5. Maintain Good Credit

Your credit score can impact your insurance premiums. Insurers use credit-based insurance scores to help determine your risk level as a policyholder. By maintaining a good credit score, you may be able to qualify for lower insurance premiums.

6. Drive Safely

Your driving record can also impact your auto insurance premiums. If you have a history of accidents or traffic violations, you may be considered a high-risk driver and may be charged higher premiums. By driving safely and avoiding accidents and violations, you can keep your premiums low.

7. Consider Usage-Based Insurance

Usage-based insurance, also known as pay-as-you-go insurance, uses telematics technology to track your driving habits and adjusts your insurance premiums based on your actual usage. This can be a good option for safe drivers who don't put many miles on their cars. If you're interested in usage-based insurance, be sure to shop around and compare rates from different insurers.

8. Make Your Home More Secure

If you have homeowners insurance, you can lower your premiums by making your home more secure. Installing smoke detectors, burglar alarms, and deadbolts can help prevent losses and reduce your risk of filing a claim. Some insurers offer discounts for these types of safety features, so be sure to ask your insurer about any available discounts.

9. Consider a Higher Credit-Based Insurance Score

If you have a lower credit-based insurance score, you may be charged higher insurance premiums. However, by improving your credit score, you can potentially qualify for lower premiums. Be sure to monitor your credit score regularly and take steps to improve it if necessary.

10. Opt for a Higher Insurance Score

Some insurers use insurance scores to help determine your risk level as a policyholder. By maintaining a good insurance score, you may be able to qualify for lower premiums. Be sure to ask your insurer how your insurance score is calculated and take steps to improve it if necessary.

11. Choose a Higher Deductible

If you can afford a higher deductible, choosing one can lower your insurance premiums. Just be sure you can afford to pay the higher deductible if you need to file a claim. Consider setting aside some money in an emergency fund to help cover the cost of a higher deductible.

12. Consider Usage-Based Auto Insurance

If you're a safe driver, you may be able to save money on your auto insurance premiums by opting for usage-based auto insurance. This type of insurance uses telematics technology to track your driving habits and adjust your premiums accordingly. Be sure to compare rates from different insurers and ask about any available discounts.

13. Pay Your Premiums Annually

If you can afford it, paying your insurance premiums annually instead of monthly can save you money in the long run. Many insurers offer discounts for annual payments, so be sure to ask your insurer about any available discounts.

14. Take Advantage of Employer Benefits

If your employer offers insurance benefits, be sure to take advantage of them. You may be able to get group rates that are lower than what you would pay as an individual. Some employers also offer wellness programs that can help you stay healthy and lower your risk of needing medical care, which can in turn lower your health insurance premiums.

15. Ask About Discounts

Many insurers offer discounts for a variety of reasons, so be sure to ask your insurer about any available discounts. Some common discounts include multi-policy discounts, safe driver discounts, and good student discounts. You may also be able to get discounts for things like being a member of certain organizations or for taking a defensive driving course.

16. Shop Around

One of the best ways to save money on insurance is to shop around and compare rates from different insurers. Be sure to get quotes from at least three different insurers to ensure you're getting the best rate possible. When comparing rates, be sure to look at both the premium and the coverage offered to make sure you're getting the best value for your money.

17. Review Your Coverage Regularly

Finally, it's important to review your insurance coverage regularly to ensure you're not paying for coverage you don't need and that you're adequately covered in case of an emergency. Consider reviewing your coverage every year or every time you experience a major life event, such as getting married or having a baby.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways to save money on insurance. By following these tips and tricks, you can lower your premiums and get the coverage you need at a price you can afford. Remember to shop around, ask about discounts, and review your coverage regularly to ensure you're getting the best value for your money. With a little effort and diligence, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on insurance each year.

Try This Surprisingly Smart Lightbulb Tip (Your Uber Driver Will Thank You)

Try This Surprisingly Smart Lightbulb Tip (Your Uber Driver Will Thank You)

This story is part of Home Tips, CNET's collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

Light bulbs that change colors on command are a smart home staple, but there aren't a lot of obvious ways to make them a practical part of your day-to-day. Sure, they're lots of fun for a kids room, and useful to have at Halloween or when you're throwing a party, but how often have those colors actually come in handy?

The truth about color-changing smart bulbs is that it's all about how -- and where -- you use them. If you've been looking for new ways to put them to work, there's one spot at home you might not have considered, and I'm confident that it's a place where you'll get plenty of practical use out of those automated color changes.

See that blue light on the porch? So can your delivery driver -- and in a multiunit home like this one, it's a great way to help them find the right door.

Ry Crist/CNET

Stick a multicolor smart bulb on your front porch

Or your stoop. Or your front window. Or the light in the yard -- wherever, just so long as you've got a color-changing bulb that people can see from the street. That last bit's important, because we're going to use this thing as a signal that helps people find your house -- specifically, the rideshare and delivery drivers trying to earn a living by bringing meals, groceries and other home goods to your doorstep.

With Americans staying home more than ever during the past two years, delivery services like those have seen massive growth. If you're anything like me, you've come to appreciate the occasional (OK, more than occasional) convenience of a well-timed burrito delivery in the middle of your remote workday. With a color-changing smart bulb outside your home, it's easy to help those drivers find your address -- just change the color to something distinctive when you order and make a note to your driver to look for the colored light. You'll be doing your driver a solid, and helping ensure that your food gets to the right place, too.

Along with deliveries and pickups, it's also a useful trick when you're having people over for a social visit. And, even when you aren't using it to help people find your place, a bulb on your porch that you can set to turn on automatically whenever the sun goes down is great to have on hand, not to mention the fact that you'll have a nice head start on the Halloween decorations. Here's how to get it set up.

Just about any color-changing smart bulb will work -- and if you don't want your bulb to be smart, a nonconnected color-changing bulb with a remote like this one from GE will do the job, too.

Chris Monroe/CNET

Step 1: Pick out a bulb

You've got no shortage of options here. Big names like Philips Hue and Lifx will get the job done, but less expensive bulbs from Sengled, GE Cync, Wyze, TP-Link Kasa, Govee and others will work, too, so in most cases you won't need to spend more than $15 per bulb or so. If you need a floodlight instead of a standard, A-shaped bulb, you'll find lots of options, as well: Cree, Feit Electric, Lifx, Philips Hue, Sengled, Wiz and others all sell them, and most cost less than $20.

Any color-changing bulb will do, but you'll want to put some thought into how you plan to control the thing. All of them should let you change the color from your phone, using an app, but if you already use voice assistants or home automation platforms in your house -- Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings -- you'll want to make sure to pick a bulb that works with your setup. Later this year, smart bulbs that support Matter, a new universal smart home standard that works with all of those other platforms, should start hitting the market, too.

And, if you aren't interested in smart bulbs that you can control with your voice or with an app, that's fine: Just look for nonsmart color-changing bulbs that come with a remote, like this one from GE. Again, you shouldn't need to spend much more than $10.

Step 2: Pair with your bulb

This part's easy -- just screw the bulb in where it needs to go, turn it on, download the app to your Android or iOS device, and follow the instructions to pair it with your phone. 

Keep in mind that different bulbs connect in different ways. If it's a Wi-Fi bulb, it'll pair directly with your home network via your router. If it's a Bluetooth bulb, it'll pair directly with your phone whenever it's within Bluetooth range. Zigbee bulbs need a Zigbee hub on your network that's capable of receiving the signal and translating it into something your router can work with.

Once you've connected, you can use the bulb's app to change the color yourself whenever you're expecting a delivery. If your bulb supports voice commands via Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri -- and just about all of them do at this point -- the app should offer instructions on how to set that up, as well.

Most meal delivery apps have a field where you can leave instructions for your driver at checkout. This is where you want to tell them to look for the light.

Screenshot by Ry Crist/CNET

Step 3: Give your driver a heads up

Don't forget to loop your driver in on the plan. Before you place your order or request a ride pickup, look for a field where you can leave special instructions for your driver -- tell them to "look for the blue light," and you'll be all set. Same goes for pizza delivery if you're ordering online, or via the brand's app.

And that should do it -- a color-changing bulb on the porch that'll help delivery drivers find your front door each and every time you order. It's novelty meets practicality, all without costing very much, and a great way to put those colors to work.

For more tips, check out five inexpensive ways to tech out your patio, and which appliances you should unplug at home to save money.

---

Source

Tags:

• How To Use A Smart Bulb
• Smart Light Bulbs That Work With Smartthings
• How To Use Smart Light Bulb
• How To Use Smart Bulbs
• Best Smart Bulb System
• Smart Light Bulbs Google
• Smart Light Bulbs Reviews
• Trying To Be Smart
• Smartest Thing Ever Said
• Try This Pegboard Nerds
• Try This Clipart
• Try This At Home

Here's How to Save $15 on the New Google Pixel Buds Pro at Launch

Here's How to Save $15 on the New Google Pixel Buds Pro at Launch

Announced in May at Google's I/O developer conference, the new Google Pixel Buds Pro wireless earbuds are now available to preorder. Retailing for $200 and taking aim squarely at Apple's AirPods Pro, these are Google's first active noise-canceling earbuds and you can score a set of Pixel Buds Pro at a discount before they even launch right now via Wellbots. When placing your preorder there, simply use coupon code CNET15 for an instant $15 price cut, dropping your new earbuds down to only $185.

Google put emphasis on the active noise cancellation performance of the Pixel Buds Pro at I/O (video), touting its Silent Seal technology designed to provide a tight seal for blocking out outside sound while avoiding that feeling of built-up pressure. When you need to let outside noises back in, the Pixel Buds Pro's transparency mode allows you to do just that without removing the earbuds.

Other neat features include support for multipoint Bluetooth connections, IPX4 water resistance, Qi wireless charging support and up to 31 hours of listening time(that includes the capacity of the charging case). Unlike Apple's AirPods earbud lineup, Google's Pixel Buds Pro are available in multiple colors, namely charcoal, fog, coral and lemongrass, for a little added personality.

Google Pixel Buds Pro preorders are slated to start shipping on July 26 and shipping at Wellbots is free.

---

Source

Tags:

• Google Pixel How To Use
• Google Pixel How To Guide
• Save 15 Or More On Car Insurance
• How To Save You
• How Do I Save It
• Here S How To Checkmate Putin
• Here S Howe
• Here S How It Works
• Here Studio

How to save on laptop how to save everything on laptop how to save on computer how to save everything on computer save hundreds save hundreds of dollars save hundreds on energy bill with a spray can homemade probiotics save hundreds

Save Hundreds on Laptops, 2-in-1s and Chromebooks With These Best Buy Daily Deals

Save Hundreds on Laptops, 2-in-1s and Chromebooks With These Best Buy Daily Deals

Best Buy offers a rotating selection of new deals every day, and if you're in the market for a new laptop right now, you won't want to miss today's picks. Wednesday only, the tech retailer has big discounts on a select laptops, Chromebooks and two-in-ones. You'll find big discounts on everything from budget-friendly models starting at just $100 to gaming laptops with high-powered hardware. You can see the entire selection of daily deals here:

These deals are only available until 9:59 p.m. PT (12:59 a.m. ET) tonight, so be sure to get your order in before then if you're hoping to take advantage of these discounts.

Microsoft

This deal is on the step-up model of the Surface Pro X, which features the more advanced SQ2 processor, as well as 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The laptop itself features a 13-inch touchscreen with a stunning 2,880x1,920-pixel resolution, as well as a front-facing camera with 1080p video. On a single charge, it boasts a battery life of up to 15 hours, and at just 1.7 pounds, it's perfect for getting some serious work done when you're on the go. 

Best Buy

This 14-inch Asus laptop comes equipped with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of on-board storage and runs Windows 11S. It's not a powerhouse machine, but at just $100 it's perfect for those who want to browse the web, create some documents, answer emails, check in on social media and other basic tasks.

Samsung

Another budget-friendly pick, this Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 packs a little more punch than the Asus above. It's slightly smaller, with a 12.4-inch touchscreen display, and it's equipped with 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of built-in storage. It also doubles as a tablet with a screen that folds completely flat, and with 10 hours of battery life and weighing just 2.8 pounds, it's perfect for taking on the go. 

Asus

This is a great bargain for those on the hunt for an entry-level gaming laptop. This Asus G14 comes equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor, as well as a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU for stunning graphics. It also features 16GB of dual-channel system memory for juggling multiple high-strain applications with ease, and a 512GB SSD. Plus Wi-Fi 6 support, compatibility with multiple VR systems, a backlight keyboard, speakers with Dolby Atmos and much more. 

---

Source

Take beautiful photos with these iphone 13 camera specs take beautiful photos with these iphone 13 camera timer take beautiful photos with these iphone 13 camera cover take beautiful photos with these iphone 13 case take beautiful photos with these iphone 13 colors take beautiful photos with these iphone 13 reviews take beautiful photos with these iphone se how to take beautiful photos with iphone 12 plus how to take beautiful photos you take beautiful to the max

Take Beautiful Photos With These iPhone 13 Camera Tips

Take Beautiful Photos With These iPhone 13 Camera Tips

Apple's iPhone 13 Pro has an awesome camera system capable of taking beautiful photographs that easily rival those of competing flagship phones such as the Pixel 6 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. The iPhone's powerful combination of overall image quality, software processing and advanced features, such as Apple's own ProRaw image format, mean that the iPhone 13 Pro's images can look like they were taken on a professional-level camera. 

Then there's the wide array of amazing photo editing apps available on iOS that can help turn even a regular image into an eye-catching piece of digital art. 

But simply having a great camera isn't the only thing you need to take award-worthy images -- it's knowing the tricks of the trade that will make the difference between coming home with some fun snaps and coming back with beautiful photos you can't wait to print and frame for your wall.

Here then are my top tips for better images, techniques that I use every day as a professional photographer, from working with the light to using more creative angles through to polishing up your shots in editing apps. Many of these tips will apply on any recent phone you may have, including less powerful iPhone models like the iPhone 11 or the 13 Mini and even many Android phones, while others are more specific to the iPhone 13 Pro and the 13 Pro Max, which share the same camera system.

Know when to use the different lenses

It's easy to stand in front of a picturesque scene and flick between the normal, super wide and zoomed views on the phone, but it's more difficult to understand exactly why one might be better than the other for a particular composition. To figure it out, you need to take an extra moment to look at what's important in the scene in front of you. 

By switching to the ultrawide lens, I was able to capture this mooring rope as foreground interest, which really ties the scene together.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Is there a particular subject -- perhaps a statue or an impressive building -- that's surrounded by lots of other elements like trees, sign posts or street lights? Using the iPhone 13 Pro's 3.5x telephoto zoom here is a great way of isolating your subject and eliminating all those distractions. You may need to move back a bit and then zoom in to keep it in frame, but simplifying your scene like this will help your subject stand out. 

But perhaps it's those extra surrounding elements that really add to the scene and provide context for where you are. In that case, using the standard zoom will allow you to keep those items in the shot. Switching to the super wide view will capture even more of the surroundings, so to avoid your subject getting lost in the frame, you might want to move closer and find interesting foreground objects (a patch of flowers, a cool-looking rock) to add to the composition. 

Waiting until the evening for this shot really paid off, with an incredible fiery sunset.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Revisit at different times of day

The awesome low-light skills of the iPhone 13 Pro mean you're not limited to only taking photos at midday when the sun is at its highest. Sunrises and sunsets will typically be darker, but may reward you with beautiful colors in the sky and great contrast in the light being cast. Landscape photographers know that getting up before dawn can often yield the best results and it's something that's always worth keeping in mind, if you can stomach the early rises. 

Only 10 minutes earlier, this was the same scene. Fine, but with none of that Edinburgh sunset drama.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

If you're on a city break it's worth trying a sunrise shoot at least once, visiting the spots you've already found and seeing how they're transformed by the different light. It's this that will separate your images from the hundreds of others on Instagram who just took a snap after having had their morning coffee.

The iPhone 13 Pro's excellent night mode allowed me to capture a vibrant and sharp shot here, despite it being the middle of the night.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Don't be afraid of the dark

And don't think that once the light goes altogether you need to stop shooting. The iPhone 13 Pro has one of the best night modes on any phone and can take astonishing night-time photos. City scenes, with car headlights, vibrant shop window displays and even festive holiday decorations can provide superb fodder for night shots. And don't worry if it pours with rain -- those wet streets will now reflect all of those lights, which can look amazing.

Check out our tutorial If you want to get even better results from your night time phone photography.

The original image on the left is a fair snap, but with a moody black and white edit it has a lot more atmosphere and works much better as a shot.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Shoot in ProRaw, edit your shots later

A few careful tweaks in editing apps like Adobe Lightroom can make all the difference between an everyday snap and a beautiful piece of award-worthy art. Thankfully, Apple has made this even with the introduction of ProRaw on the last generation of iPhones. ProRaw is much the same as shooting in raw on regular DSLRs; it doesn't save all the image data, allowing you to change white balance and alter colors much more accurately after you've taken your shot. 

It also captures more detail in the shadows and highlights of your images, giving more scope for rescuing those bright skies with the highlights slider or bringing back a bit more visible detail in the darker shadows. You'll see the raw button in the top corner of your screen when you're in the camera, so make sure it doesn't have a line through it if you're taking an image that you know you'll want to polish up later to look its best. You can edit JPEG images too, it's just that you won't have quite the same level of flexibility. 

I use Adobe Lightroom Mobile for most of my phone editing. It's a professional tool and has a lot of granular control over color and exposure, while also syncing my images to the cloud so I can pick up my edits later on my iPad or my desktop computer. If you don't fancy the monthly fees, Google's Snapseed is free and also has a lot of superb features for getting the best from your shots, including a variety of film effects that give some beautiful color toning to your photos.

If you want to get a bit more wild and creative, you should check out apps like Bazaart and PicsArt, which provide a variety of tools and effects for compositing images to turn them from photos into often bizarre pieces of modern art. Take a look at my roundup of image editing apps for more ideas.

Remember that there is no right or wrong way to edit your images, and applying creative effects doesn't mean deleting the original file -- so you can always go back and try again if you don't like the result. My advice is to get a cup of tea, sit back in a comfy chair and spend some time playing with your editing app of choice and seeing what you can create. You may be surprised at what you can come up with, even from images in your gallery you may have taken some time ago.

---

Source

DIY faucet replacement: No, you don't need a plumber's help

DIY faucet replacement: No, you don't need a plumber's help

Like many others, due to the coronavirus I've spent the past eight weeks working from home, trying to teach my kids and staring at all of the home improvement projects I haven't had time to tackle. First up on the list: changing out an old two-handle faucet and replacing it with a fancier single-handle faucet with removable spray nozzle.

Fortunately, modern plumbing and faucet design have made changing faucets easy. It's a quick day project that makes a significant difference to the look of your space, and you can save lots of money by skipping the plumber and doing it yourself. 

So, here's a full rundown on how you can do just that. Just note that the faucet I installed isn't straight out of the box (we've had it around for awhile), so your experience may vary. 

See ya later, two-handle faucet.

Chance Lane/CNET

Out with the old

First, shut off your water. You likely have two shut-off valves under your sink, one each for the hot and cold water supply lines. Turn off the water by turning these valves clockwise. You shouldn't need a wrench for this.

If there aren't any valves under the sink, then you'll need to follow the supply lines away from the faucet until you find a valve. You may end up shutting the water down at the water heater (and water heater bypass for cold), or the main valve. In this case, leave all the faucets on the lowest floor turned on to drain water from the entire system. 

After you've shut the water off, turn on the faucet you're changing to make sure the water is actually shut off: If water continues to flow, you have a faulty valve. With a bucket and towel handy for any residual water, use an adjustable wrench to remove the supply lines. Stabilize the valve assembly with a pair of slotted pliers as you loosen the water line connection; this will keep the valve and line from twisting and getting damaged. 

Once the valves are disconnected, you'll need to remove the old faucet assembly. It's held on by one or more retaining nuts under the sink, depending on the current configuration. These are sometimes difficult to access and you may need what's called a basin wrench. If you're lucky, a specific socket wrench may have been provided with the faucet. Once the retaining nuts are removed, you should be able to remove the old faucet from the sink. 

With the old faucet removed, we can slide the new one in and start working to get it connected.

Chance Lane/CNET

In with the new

There are a variety of configurations for faucets. Between the number of handles, spray nozzle types and even spacing of required holes, there are a lot of ways to customize. Before you buy a new faucet, consider your arrangement, specifically the current number and location of holes in your counter or sink. Sinks and countertops can be modified accordingly, but you'll need to do a little research prior to purchasing your new faucet. 

You might need a basin wrench or a specific socket wrench that came with your faucet in order to turn the retaining nuts.

Chance Lane/CNET

Start by putting the bracket that fits between the counter/sink and faucet in place. These will often have a foam underlay that will form a seal to help prevent water from seeping underneath the faucet assembly. Some faucets may differ, but the faucet I installed required minimal assembly prior to installation. 

Run the supply lines of the faucet assembly, followed by the threaded rods of the faucet, through the holes in your countertop or sink. Working underneath in the most comfortable position you can find (good luck), tighten the retaining nut with a wrench. 

If no socket wrench was provided with the faucet, and the space is tight enough to require a basin wrench, be extra-careful not to damage the faucet's water supply lines. It depends on the configuration of your particular faucet, but if the water lines are in the way of the retaining nut It could be beneficial to wrap them with nylon tape or some other protective material before doing this. Damaging water lines could cause a leak, and all of the mayhem that comes with that. You don't want that.

Be sure to take care when connecting your faucet to the water supply lines -- doing the job right can help you prevent leaks later on.

Chance Lane/CNET

Seal the deal with strong connections

Now, it's time to connect the faucet's water supply lines to the shut-off valve beneath the sink. With mine, the water lines were attached to the new faucet, but this isn't always the case. If you need to supply the water lines, it's recommended to change out hoses even if the ones you already have are compatible. If these hoses wear out and leak, you could have some trouble on your hands. 

You'll want to apply a thin wrap of Teflon thread tape in a clockwise direction (the same direction you will turn the nut to tighten) around the threaded male connections to lubricate the threads, which allows for a better seal. Finger-tighten the threaded nut valve connections -- then, while holding the valve assembly with a pair of slotted pliers, finish tightening the connection with an adjustable wrench. 

Slowly turn your water supply back on while checking for leaks. If the water flows normally and everything down below stays dry, then you're all set. 

Once the new faucet is in, remove the aerator from the spray nozzle and run the water for a minute or so to clear your plumbing of any debris.

Chance Lane/CNET

Finish with a flush

It's a good idea at this point to flush out your lines to get rid of any debris you may have loosened up in your water lines. To do so, remove the aerator from the faucet tip and let the water run for about a minute. Sometimes a tool is supplied with the faucet to make removing the aerator easier. If you can't remove the aerator, remove the entire nozzle head and let the water run for a bit. 

And that's it -- you can scratch that fancy new faucet installation off of your to-do list and move on to something else. I might recommend a nice glass of water and a nap, assuming the kids cooperate.

Read more: Best shower filter for 2021

---

Source

Tags:

• Diy Faucet Replacement No You Don T Need A Plumber S Helper Charter Service
• Diy Faucet Replacement No You Don T Need A Plumber S Helper To Unclog Pipes
• Diy Faucet Replacement No You Don T Need A Plumber S Helper Tool
• Diy Faucet Replacement No You Don T Need A Plumber S Wrench
• Diy Faucet Replacement No You Don T Need A Gun Billy Idol
• Diy Faucet Replacement No You Don T Need Any More Candles Cartoon
• Diy Faucet Replacement No You Don T Need That Guy
• Diy Faucet Replacement No You Don T In Spanish
• Diy Faucet Replacement Notary

10 Mortgage Tips to Help You Secure Your Dream Home in a Competitive Market

Buying a home can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience, especially in a competitive market. With low inventory and high demand, it's crucial to be prepared and knowledgeable before entering the homebuying process. To help you secure your dream home, here are ten mortgage tips that can make a significant difference in your homebuying journey.

1. Improve Your Credit Score

Your credit score is one of the most critical factors that lenders consider when deciding whether to approve your mortgage application. A higher credit score will not only increase your chances of getting approved for a mortgage, but it can also result in lower interest rates and better loan terms. To improve your credit score, pay your bills on time, keep your credit utilization low, and avoid opening new credit accounts before applying for a mortgage.

2. Save for a Down Payment

The down payment is the amount of money you pay upfront when buying a home. Saving for a down payment can be challenging, but it's essential to have enough money saved to meet the lender's requirements and to lower your monthly mortgage payments. Aim to save at least 20% of the home's purchase price as a down payment to avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI) costs.

3. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage can give you a competitive edge when buying a home. It shows sellers that you're a serious buyer and have the financial capacity to purchase the home. Additionally, a pre-approval can help you determine your budget and give you a clear idea of what homes you can afford.

4. Work with a Reputable Mortgage Lender

Choosing the right mortgage lender is essential to secure the best mortgage rate and loan terms. Look for a reputable lender who offers competitive rates, excellent customer service, and has a track record of closing loans on time. Do your research and compare lenders to find the best fit for your needs.

5. Consider the Type of Mortgage

There are various types of mortgages available, such as fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, FHA, VA, and USDA loans. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's crucial to understand each type and choose the one that best suits your financial situation and goals.

6. Don't Overspend on a Home

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying a home and overspend on a property. However, overspending can lead to financial stress and impact your ability to pay your mortgage on time. Before you start house hunting, set a realistic budget and stick to it. Consider all the costs associated with homeownership, such as property taxes, homeowners insurance, and maintenance expenses, and factor them into your budget.

7. Be Prepared for a Bidding War

In a competitive market, it's not uncommon to encounter bidding wars. Be prepared to act fast and make a strong offer to stand out from other buyers. Consider offering more than the asking price, including a higher down payment, or a shorter closing period to make your offer more appealing to the seller.

8. Avoid Making Big Purchases Before Closing

Once you're pre-approved for a mortgage, it's crucial to avoid making any big purchases before closing on your home. Any significant changes to your financial situation, such as taking on new debt, can impact your credit score and debt-to-income ratio, and may cause the lender to deny your mortgage application.

9. Understand Closing Costs

Closing costs are the fees associated with buying a home, such as appraisal fees, title insurance, and attorney fees. These costs can add up quickly, so it's essential to understand what they are and how much you can expect to pay. Plan ahead and factor in closing costs when determining your budget.

10. Stay in Touch with Your Lender

Once you've secured your mortgage, it's important to stay in touch with your lender throughout the homebuying process. Keep them informed of any changes to your financial situation and ask questions if you're unsure about any aspect of your loan. Maintaining open communication can help ensure a smooth and successful homebuying experience.

Conclusion

Buying a home in a competitive market can be challenging, but by following these ten mortgage tips, you can increase your chances of securing your dream home. Remember to improve your credit score, save for a down payment, get pre-approved for a mortgage, work with a reputable lender, consider the type of mortgage, set a realistic budget, be prepared for a bidding war, avoid making big purchases before closing, understand closing costs, and stay in touch with your lender. With proper preparation and knowledge, you can make the homebuying process a success.

Drift Ghost-S review: Excellent all-in-one action cam

Drift Ghost-S review: Excellent all-in-one frfragment cam

Drift Innovation already had a good tying going with its Drift HD Ghost action cam. So perhaps it’s best that its newest camera, the Ghost-S, concentrates on performance enhancements.

The Ghost-S uses the same obtain as the HD Ghost. The camera measures 1.3 inches wide by 2 inches high by 4.1 inches deep and weighs 5.9 prondecides. Strapped to the side of a helmet or pair of goggles, you won’t exactly forget it’s there, but it’s not overly big, either.

The bullet-shaped body is waterproof down to 9 feet (a waterproof housing is available so you can take it down to 196 feet) with a built-in Gorilla Glass-protected 2-inch LCD on the quick-witted side (or top depending on how it’s mounted) and a flat, wide-angle lens with a 160-degree Wangles of view that can be rotated up to 300 degrees.

Sarah Tew

Though Drift has a selection of mounts that use a quick-connect clip, the clip attaches to the camera via a detestable 1/4-inch tripod mount. That means you have plenty of mounting options outside of what Drift subsidizes, including GoPro mounts.

Unscrew the back hatch (which is easier said than done), and you’ll find an external mic jack, a Micro-SDXC card slot supporting cards of capacities up to 64GB, Mini-USB and Mini-HDMI ports, and a battery big enough to supply up to 3.5 hours of recording time shooting at 1080p at 30 frames per binary (fps)– or even longer if you capture at reduced resolutions.

It’s all of these things combined — the long-life removable battery, rotating lens, tripod mount, built-in LCD, waterproofing — that make the Ghost-S a top select in the category.

However, much of this stuff isn’t new with the Ghost-S. Inside, though, is a new Sony 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and a high-performance video processor that gives for, among other things, faster frame rates.

The Ghost-S can report MP4 files at 1080p at settings starting at 25fps, and going as high as 60fps; at 720p the options way from 25fps up to 120fps; and using WVGA your choices originate at 25fps and go all the way to 240fps. You also adjust the amount of video compression with a select of normal or high bit rates, with the latter recording at up to 35Mbps.

Drift has also added new scene modes: Normal, Vivid, or Low Light. Normal gives you more natural colors that are easier to work with if you want to adjust quick-witted to your liking when editing. Vivid pumps up colors so they pop, while Low Light seems to increase noise remove, though not so much that subjects turn to mush.

The camera can burst shoot stills at 10fps at 12-megapixel resolution as well as simultaneously assume 8-megapixel photos while recording video. Unfortunately, they’re in a 4:3 aspect reconsider rather than 16:9, so you’ll have to do some cropping if you want to use them in your HD videos and keep everything wide veil. The Ghost-S can do time-lapse photography as well, with settings for shots at intervals artraining from every 0.5 second all the way up to every 60 seconds.

Navigating the menu controls and changing multiple settings on the camera can be a bit of a pain. Still, I’d rather have the Ghost-S menus and controls over the GoPro’s or needing to run to a computer to sulky settings. And, should you put together a group of settings that you use regularly for a some activity, you can save them to one of three setting profiles.

Screenshot by Joshua Goldman

Like the HD Ghost, the Ghost-S has built-in Wi-Fi. It can be used to connect to an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet to view and control the camera, change settings, or to play back your recordings on something larger than the camera’s veil. In my testing, both apps worked fine on an iPhone 5S and a Galaxy S4.

In binary to using the camera with mobile devices, a new Clone mode lets you use the Wi-Fi to connect and sync as many as five Ghost-S cameras (should you have the need and the finances). One is designated as the master camera, so if you monotonous its record button, the others will start recording, too. The same goes for any setting adjustments: sulky the resolution on the master camera and they’ll all change.

Sarah Tew

Included in the package, along with goggle and flat- and curved-surface mounts, is a wearable RF remote for starting and stopping recordings and altering shooting modes. Colored LEDs give you visual feedback so you know what you’re doings, and the remote can be used to control multiple cameras (again, should your demands and your budget permit).

Video quality is improved from the Drift HD Ghost, especially when it comes to detail. Everything looks more crisp, and I saw fewer artifacts when using the camera’s high-bit-rate setting. Using that setting will eat into the battery life and the files use up more storage, but it’s worth using if you plan to view the video at vast sizes.

That’s not to say you won’t see any artifacts; quilting can be distracting, such as on the power lines in the clip over, and there’s still some blockiness visible when viewed closely on a big conceal. And if you’re shooting in low light, you’ll search for an increase in noise/artifacts, too. Much of this is well-liked to action cams, though. (Note: A firmware update is available that improves coarse low-light video.)

Overall, I’d put the video quality a step under the GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition, but definitely some of the best video I’ve seen for the category.

Audio quality is fine, but for portion videos you’re probably going to want to turn the mic off anyway, or you’ll be capturing a lot of wind noise. For still subjects, the built-in mic did a coarse job, and it offers three levels of sensitivity adjustment. And you can always directly plug in a better external mic, which you can’t do with many novel cameras.

Conclusion

I liked the HD Ghost, and the Ghost-S is basically that camera with improved battery life and performance, more shooting options, better Wi-Fi, and nicer-looking video. What’s not to like nearby that?

How a 50 gadget is saving 840 a year on my electricity provider how a 50 gadget is saving 840 a year on my electricity cost how a 50 gadget is saving 840 aesthetic ideas how a 50 gadget is saving 840 arcadia how a 50 gadget is saving 840 am radio how a 50 gadget is saving private how a 50 gadget is saving hope how a 50 gadget is saving 10 how a 500 gallon propane tank works how a 50 caliber incendiary works how am i supposed to live without you how are social security benefits calculated

How a $50 gadget is saving $840 a year on my electricity bill

How a $50 gadget is saving $840 a year on my electricity bill

Each month for the past six months, my electric company has sent me a letter in the mail to let me know my household uses more energy than my neighbors. (Shocking, I know.)

Out of the closest 100 homes, I paid more than anyone else. In other words, my home ranked dead last, at 100.

Soon after the first letter, I turned into my parents and hounded my kids each time I caught them leaving a light on. I installed LED bulbs and we switched our Xbox One's energy-saving mode on. The next month, our bill was no better, and my wife and I once again nabbed the 100th spot.

Putting our pride aside, we decided it was time to get serious and see just where our electricity (and cash) was being drained throughout our home.

How the WeMo Insight saved me $70 a month

The WeMo Insight Switch IFTTT channel has plenty of free, useful recipes like this one.

Screenshot by Rich Brown

Using Belkin's $50 WeMo Insight -- a small device you can plug anything into to find out its energy costs -- I methodically went around the house, plugging various appliances into the gadget. I would leave each appliance plugged in for three to four days to get a generalized estimate of usage. Of course, the longer you leave something plugged in to Insight, the more accurate the cost estimate will be.

$2.50 a month to run this 10-gallon fish tank? I'll take it.

Jason Cipriani/CNET

I started with our fish tank and discovered it sets us back about $2.50 a month to run. Then I moved to an old refrigerator in our basement used for keeping boxes of Popsicles and random drinks cool for us. To my surprise, that old pile of scrap metal was costing us over $40 per month in electricity. We replaced it the next day with a deep freezer-turned-refrigerator that now costs us less than $1 per month.

Our main refrigerator was sucking $27 worth of electricity, and has since been replaced (I haven't had a chance to figure its monthly cost yet). Lastly, I discovered the small space heater I was using to make my office livable during the cold Colorado winters was averaging $98 per month to run -- an insane amount. I'll be replacing it when the weather starts to cool down again.

Belkin's product isn't the only device that can help you save money. iDevice's Switch does the same thing, and is priced around $40. Neurio takes a broader approach, attaching to your home's breaker panel to monitor the devices plugged into your grid for energy use.

Read more about what the WeMo Insight can do in our full review.

---

Source