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Smartphone Video to the Rescue

Posted on March 24, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Confession: I am always forgetting to take our little video camera with us. While I usually have my point and shoot camera with me, the quality of the video is not the best if I need to zoom in from a distance. Thanks to being a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I have the new Nokia Lumia Icon smartphone. While in NYC on Friday, representatives from Nokia came to talk with us about the technology available from this powerhouse. They began by sharing this slide, which really was a powerful statement.

I sat there thinking about those words for a while as we learned more of the Nokia specific technology within this phone. When they were talking about the video camera, I knew that I had just tested it out at my son’s band concert. With over 100 children on the stage and countless families moving around in their seats, I wanted to see – at least for a short time – what the video on the Nokia Lumia Icon could do. I knew that it would record in full HD, but would the PureView imaging help me to get closer to the stage during the concert without reducing the quality of the recording? How would the four high-performance microphones and Nokia Rich Recording work together to capture the music rather than the background noise of people sitting in the seats around me?

While my video is not very long, I think it showcases several items in the low light auditorium. Here it is to see what you think.

As you can see, it was a low light venue with a lot of things going on in the background. The audio clearly picks up the instruments on the stage and not my wiggly six year old sitting next to me. In addition to this, the zoom feature works and does not take away from the quality of the video. I now want to test this out in better light to see if it helps a bit and add in my portable tri-pod to help. The Icon has image stabilization built in and it definitely helped with my shaking hand.

So time to fess up. How often have you had to use your smartphone to capture video on the go and did it live up to your expectations to capture those priceless memories?

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I receive devices like the Icon to test out and share ways that I use it in my life. My trip to NYC was paid for by Verizon Wireless. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own.

Categories:
Technology video

Being Brave in the Year Ahead

Posted on September 6, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

While searching around for a video on Rosh Hashanah, I stumbled upon something new from The Maccabeats that I missed this summer. They did a cover of the song “Brave” by Sara Bareilles. I have heard this song countless times over the last few months, but I do not think that I really paid attention to the lyrics.

Have you ever done that? You know you like a song for one reason or another, but then you really listen to the words and message within. It hit me right between the eyes. Here I am waiting for my boys to start school. I am trying to not only be brave about the challenges that may be ahead, but finding myself. The words are echoing in my brain right now. Words do get under my skin and these lines, like the ones above hit home.

Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do
When they settle ‘neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins

Last year, I learned that I often had to say what I needed to say. While I wish I could have let the words fall out, I was too fearful of the outcome. This year is going to be different. For my children, my husband, and especially ME it has to be and I am not going to sit back and relax. I am going to use my words, my writing, and my background to make a difference in the world of education, special needs parenting, and beyond. Like Bareilles says I am no longer going to run and hold my tongue.

The video below is the original by Sara Bareilles and extremely powerful and should be seen and heard.

The reality is that this song is an anthem for everyone to remember to be yourself, speak to the truth that is you, and embrace the wonder that is you. As I begin the Jewish New Year, I guess this is a great time to think about these items

So my question to you, how do you plan on being more brave in the year ahead? This question is something real whether you celebrate Rosh Hashanah or are beginning a new academic year

It's Me

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this Friday fun. These days, Pamela at A Renaissance Woman is reviving the fun Friday Meme. Head over there to link up and join in the fun.

Aloha Friday by Kailani at An Island Life

Aloha #252

Categories:
me moments Music video

Videos on the Go with the Nokia Lumia 928

Posted on August 26, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

I hate to admit the number of times that I have forgotten to bring our small video camera with us to events. I am not good at remembering it. In a pinch, I usually have my point and shoot camera that will also record video. While it does a decent job outside in natural lighting, inside will typically look yellow and the audio is not very good. This can be frustrating, though it is better than having nothing. Of course, there have been times when I just attempt to use my smartphone to capture the moment in a longer video than Vine or Instagram. Enter my testing of the Nokia Lumia that I recently received as a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers.

While the boys and I were out the other day, we stopped by the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady, NY. As members, we have been there a lot and I have documented our visits with my phone, Instagram video, and other resources. While the boys were reading some new items, I decided to record video of two of the dinosaur displays. I never told the kids what I was doing, so you will actually hear me whispering to them during the filming. My face was not near the phone, but it picked it up very clear. In addition to this, the museum lighting is very low. Even with this going against it, the Lumia 928 proved why people are always talking about the camera and video capabilities. I used Windows Live Movie Maker to put two pictures and two videos together into this for YouTube.

For a comparison, I thought I would use Patrick the cockatiel as a test subject. Patrick is now living with my parents after my aunt and uncle moved to Israel. I thought it would be nice to send a quick video to them to see how well he is adjusting. What you will notice is the clarity of the video and audio. Not only can you hear Patrick chatting to himself in the mirror (he’s in love with mirrors), you can hear the big mouth cockatoo in another room letting everyone know that she is jealous.

Once again, I did nothing with the video, I simply put it onto YouTube. Knowing the quality of the video from these examples and a few others, I know that if I was caught at school, or an event without something else that I could capture moments on the go.

Do you use your smartphones for longer video or stick to the shorter versions with apps to share on social media?

It's Me

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I receive different devices to check out in my life. There is no other compensation. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own.

Categories:
family Technology video

Future Sonic Screwdriver Geek

Posted on August 12, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

This weekend was a rough one for my little guy. You see he just finished his week at camp and was upset about not going back. In addition to this, he was focused on his desire to purchase something. What is that you ask? Well, JSL has been a bit obsessed with sonic screwdrivers since TechyDad’s birthday. Real tears were shed when we told him he had to wait and it was not something that he had to have right now.

Of course, in an attempt to focus JSL into a calm state I decided to record a video of him talking about the sonic screwdriver. Rather than run to get the video camera, I figured it was the perfect chance to test out the video on the Nokia Lumia 928 that I just received as a member of the Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Bloggers. To keep him involved, I let him use TechyDad’s Eleventh Doctor’s sonic screwdriver for the video. JSL is a new Whovian in the making. He is still watching the first season of the revamped series and is excited to learn more about the new Doctors to come. Here is my little guy sharing why he wants his own sonic screwdriver.

Oh and for the record, JSL is already quite upset that he only has a few more episodes to watch with the Ninth Doctor. No doubt he will quickly learn to love the Tenth and eventually the Eleventh Doctor down the road. Ah, I love my little geek.

It's Me

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I receive different devices to check out in my life. There is no other compensation. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own. I used the Nokia Lumia 928 that was recently sent to me for all of the photos and the video within this blog post. In addition to this, I used SkyDrive to magically transport the items to my computer for use.

Categories:
Technology television video

My Own Little Roger Rabbit

Posted on March 22, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

TechyDad and I both love to share movies and parts of our childhood with the boys. One of our latest is Roger Rabbit. While NHL had seen it before, JSL had never really sat down to watch it. Of course, he had met a giant Roger while visiting Walt Disney World.

Granted, JSL did not remember seeing this monster version of Roger. Over the last week, he has decided that it is extremely funny to reply to everyone like Roger. As the days continued, he really got the voice down. A milestone was happening and, as we got out of the car from school the other day, I mentioned I wanted to capture this on video. Well, JSL took that to mean right then and there. The problem was that my hands were full with school gear since NHL was at Hebrew School, and well I didn’t have my video camera.

As my five year old continued to insist and find just the right spot, I agreed. I told him we would test out the new Droid RAZR HD phone that I received as part of the Verizon Lifestyle Blogger program. I have to admit that in the past I have not used my Droid Bionic for video much. It was not the easiest to use and, in a pinch, I always have my regular camera.

JSL was being quite the entertainer. He was super excited and talking fast. Still, you will see from this video that he has got the Roger voice down.

When we got back into the house, I took the video off my phone along with some photos I had taken of the snow earlier in the day. Then I processed the video (had to flip it – ooops) and used my phone to record some audio with an app for the introduction. When it was finished, I put it onto YouTube to share.

I would love to know what parenting moments you have captured on the go with your cell phone?

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Blogger program, I am testing out different devices and sharing how I utilize them in my life. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. We have been long time Verizon Wireless customers.