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While gamma is extremely difficult to understand in its entirety, digital photographers need to understand how it applies to images. Gamma dramatically affects how a digital image looks on a computer screen. Understanding Gamma in Photography The term gamma is applicable in photographic terms when we want to view images on computer monitors. The concept is essential to grasp (even just on the surface) because the goal is to make a digital image that looks as good as possible on calibrated and uncalibrated monitors alike....

With the PlayStation 5 releasing late last year, Godfall was the first of the PS5 exclusives, with its launch in early November. As a looter-shooter lover (especially of the Borderlands series), I was intrigued by the prospect of using swords and shields instead of guns. At first, it was a fun, enthralling experience due to the compelling graphics. Unfortunately, after eleven hours of gameplay, I’ve already shelved it and moved on to the next game in my library due to its repetitive nature and poor plotline....

Google has been in the smartphone business long enough to produce six generations of Pixel phones. They’ve all been good value and decent phones, but with the Pixel 6, Google seems fully focused on trying to create a truly great phone, rather than being content playing catchup with Apple and Samsung. It’s a very good phone at a ridiculously attractive price point, and at just $599, it’s a steal. Here’s why it’s worth considering (even if you were thinking of buying an iPhone):...

Developer account security on Google Play hasn’t had the best track record, with basic sign-up not requiring any form of contact detail verification. Some groups were exploiting this oversight to create multiple accounts, then selling those accounts to people who would upload malware, scam apps, and so on. Google recently updated developer account creation to require contact info verification for new accounts, but it’s more of a decent start than a complete answer to ongoing issues....

Granted, it doesn’t pack as much power as some dedicated laptop chargers, which may be a better option for that need. Still, the added versatility gives the Halo Bolt a unique edge in the market. I tested the Halo Bolt for a week with multiple devices, including laptops and smartphones. Design: The shiny brick While certainly portable, the Halo Bolt isn’t designed to be pocket-friendly. This big brick of a battery pack comes in at 7....

Overall Findings While satellite radio is available over entire continents, HD Radio is only available in certain markets. Satellite radio requires a monthly subscription, while HD Radio is free. Which one is better depends largely on your driving and listening habits. Terrestrial/HD Radio vs. Satellite Radio Terrestrial radio is limited to geographic regions. Although syndicated content from other markets may appear in local ones, that content is broadcast and received locally....

What Is IMAP for Gmail? IMAP is an internet protocol that allows email clients to communicate with an email service, such as Gmail. IMAP is a replacement for the older POP3 email protocol. IMAP offers many advantages, including the ability to keep the status of emails in sync, access multiple mailboxes on a single server, and allow for server-side searching of content. With IMAP, you can read your Gmail on multiple devices, and messages and folders are synced in real-time....

Design and Durability: Sturdy and tangle-free Charging cables of any kind can suffer from irritating knotting and tangling. The 6-foot braided nylon cord does a good job of fighting these issues. It’s long enough to stretch behind shelves or far-away outlets without managing to wrap around itself. There’s also a pretty substantial feel to both ends of the cable. Pulling and fitting these pieces into devices and charging ports doesn’t feel precarious or like its contributing to fraying or weakening cables, which is how proprietary Apple Lightning cables can feel over time....

In cameras, raw files contain all the raw data from the sensor, the ones and zeros that are later turned into the shapes and colors you see in a JPG. Apple’s take on raw files is, of course, a little different. It takes this raw data, and packages it up with all the smart AI processing that makes iPhone photos so good—the 3D portrait models, noise-reduction, and so on. But why is that useful to you?...

Apple first removed the optical drive in the 2008 MacBook Air, and by the end of 2013, all built-in optical drives were gone from the Mac lineup. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a demand for optical drives or the CDs or DVDs that are used in them. That’s why external optical drives are a popular peripheral for many Mac users. Whether you have an older Mac that has a built-in optical drive or an external drive, you can eject a CD or DVD in several ways....

While this article primarily refers to recent Apple Watch models—Series 6 and Series 7—the ideas and concepts discussed here generally apply to most modern Watch models. Does Apple Watch Work When the Phone Is Far Away? The Apple Watch is useful in many different situations, but it’s best when paired or connected to an iPhone and within a specific range. In that situation, the Watch and iPhone can communicate and exchange data, such as notifications, music, health data, and more....

There are two kinds of social media. One is the Facebook/Instagram model, where almost everything is public, and we overshare in the competition to be liked. The other is the WhatsApp model, which is more private, and mostly built around your real friends. But even though the contents of your WhatsApp is encrypted, everything else—who you are, where you are, and when and who you message with—all ends up in Facebook’s surveillance machine....

Where Is the CD/DVD? First, it was the industry giving out image CDs rather than physical CDs for all the software. Now the industry is not including any physical media at all with new systems. Part of this is because more and more systems are now not shipping without a CD or DVD drive. As a result, companies use a separate partition on the hard drive that holds the image along with an installer to rebuild the remaining portion of the hard drive back to the original setup....

If you own a recent (iPhone 11 or newer) iPhone, then it will soon be impossible for thieves to block its Find My tracking feature. Right now, the phone works out its own location, and reports back whenever you look it up in Apple’s Find My app. In iOS 15, the iPhone will behave more like the passive AirTag, allowing you to continue tracking it even when powered off. It’s a radical move, and a welcome one....

The Phone To get the iPhone 4 for the lowest price, you must sign up for a two-year service contract with AT&T or Verizon. New AT&T customers get these subsidized prices, as will existing AT&T customers who are eligible for an upgrade. (AT&T offers early upgrades to some existing customers; here’s how to check your upgrade eligibility.) Verizon Wireless offers the same subsidized prices to new subscribers and those eligible for upgrades....

Using a keyboard in VR is tricky because you really can’t see where your fingers are landing. The new TapID gadget is a wristband that carries two motion sensors, with one worn on each wrist, according to researchers who recently published a paper on their invention. The device detects taps from each of the user’s fingers individually. “Right now, most VR users use a handheld controller device that acts kind of like a laser pointer,” Scott Camball, a telecommunications and teleconferencing enthusiast, said in an email interview....

How Long Do Modems Usually Last? Like any other networking hardware or technology in general, there’s a considerable difference between basic and high-end modems. Lower-end modems tend to have a two to three-year lifespan, while higher-end modems typically last more than five years. In general, you can expect a modem to last between two and five years before it has to be replaced due to failure or obsolescence. Higher-end modems tend to use higher quality parts, like better capacitors that last longer before failing....

Screenshots are the currency of social networks and micropublishing platforms like Instagram and Twitter, and that is, in part, the fault of companies like Twitter. Sharing can often be a pain and comes with a lot of extra baggage, including the usual suspects of any online activity—tracking your activity, privacy issues, and so on. So how did the screenshot become the default for sharing stuff on the internet? “It’s easier than saving a photo....

A company called Sensorium Galaxy is launching a social VR music platform that claims to revolutionize live music experiences. The virtual world will let you use avatars to interact with fellow concertgoers. It’s one of a growing number of options allowing users to experience live music from the comfort of their headsets. The Sensorium Galaxy is a virtual world in development that focuses on musical performances. The first area to launch will be Prism, which will feature various artists, including famed DJ, producer, and musician David Guetta....

Connection Considerations The first step in using a second monitor is getting it physically connected to the computer. Detect the Monitor in Windows Now that your monitor is physically connected to your computer, it’s time to configure your Windows operating system to recognize and use the monitor. VGA and DVI: Older computers may have DVI or VGA ports. These connectors rely on a series of metal pins, which are usually on the cable....