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Apple announces the iPhone X… again. But with more fake bokeh

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It’s that time of year again when all the fanboys flock to San Jose for the annual iPhone announcement. This year, they’ve announced three new iPhones. There’s the iPhone XR (an iPhone X with one camera), then iPhone XS (an iPhone X with more fake bokeh), and the iPhone XS Max (an iPhone X with a big screen).

They’ve received a new processor, of course, and some new computational photography features that’ll probably filter down to their other iPhones in some variety, too. But aside from a tiny bump to ISO performance on the wide angle camera, that seems to be about it, really.

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ASA rules that Apple can claim the iPhone X shoots “studio-quality portraits”

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Back in March, Apple started showing an advertisement on UK TV for the iPhone X. It claimed “radically new cameras with Portrait Lighting. Studio-quality portraits. Without the studio”. Not everybody was impressed by this claim, and two filed a complaint with the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority.

They alleged that the claim “Studio-quality portraits” was misleading and could not be substantiated. Well, it seems it’s not all doom and gloom for Apple right now. After an investigation, the ASA have examined the complaints and ruled that yes, Apple can make that claim.

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5 top smartphone cameras go head to head in this blind test – what’s your favourite?

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At the high end, smartphone cameras get better and better with each new release. It’s almost as if every time a new one hits the streets, DxO Mark declares another new “World’s best” smartphone camera. So Marques Brownlee put five of the best head-to-head in this blind test, for us to determine the winner.

The phones compared in this video are the iPhone X, Huawei P20 Pro, OnePlus 6, Pixel 2 XL and Galaxy S9+, all of which have very highly rated cameras. They’re tested in a bunch of different settings with different subjects.

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Alcatel launches a $150 phone that features a dual-camera

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We’ve seen a lot of cheap smartphones pop up lately, and it appears this trend isn’t going away just yet. Just last month, Xiaomi released a $250 phone to go against the iPhone X. Then there’s also the recently unveiled Huawei Honor 10 which goes for $475. But no matter how affordable these phones may be, none of them could ever beat the price of Alcatel’s 3V. It will only sell for $150, and it comes with a dual camera.

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Apollo app for iOS creates cool lighting effects better than Apple’s Portrait Lighting

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If the iPhone’s Portrait Lighting already impresses you, then you better check out Apollo. This $1.99 iOS app adds immersive lighting effects that are–dare I say–better than what Apple’s version offers.

The Apollo app uses depth map from dual cameras to create the effects so, it only currently works with the iPhone 7 Plus, 8 Plus and X. Nevertheless, it does a great job at applying different lighting effects at any angle. In fact, you can even put a light source behind a subject to act as a rim light. You can add up to 20 light sources in one image and seamlessly adjust the color, intensity, and distance. Check out the short video clip below to see it in action:
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New ad shows: Portrait Lighting on the iPhone X is a studio in your pocket

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In the past few months, Apple has released a slew of ads boasting the iPhone X’s Portrait Lighting, but this latest commercial is definitely among the best we’ve seen. Titled ‘Studio in your pocket,’ it shows a young woman taking a selfie at a busy train station, and all sorts of studio lights and umbrellas start to appear out of nowhere. I have to say it’s certainly an eye-catching way to promote the iPhone X’s  (so far) unmatched camera capabilities.

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Corephotonics adds the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X to its lawsuit against Apple

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Six months ago, Israeli start-up, Corephotonics filed suit against Apple over alleged patent infringement. Essentially they claimed that the iPhone 7 Plus used dual camera technology by infringing on their patents (one, two, three, four). Now Apple faces a second claim from Corephotonics claiming that the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X also infringe on their technology.

Corephotonics says that the company actually met with Apple to discuss their technology. They allege that Apple refused to enter into an agreement. That Apple simply used the technology described during their meeting anyway without any sort of licensing arrangement. They even claim that Apple’s negotiator boasted they could infringe without fear of reprisal.

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Why the iPhone has become the best travel camera for me

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Since I discovered photography, I have always had a camera nearby. Even if “the best camera is the one that’s with you”, I often have to think about what camera to carry. I don’t always need a professional body and lens to capture life around me. Ideally, the camera for everyday carry is small, lightweight, yet capable of shooting photos with great image quality.

I don’t claim to be the best iPhoneographer, nor do I want to anger the Android crowd, I’m sure the shooting experience would be similar to the latest flagship Android phone. I just never got to own one, sorry. This is my journey from the first iPhone to the latest iPhone X.

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