June's Greatest Gear, Gadget, and Goods
Photograph: Peter BelangerSony's Newest Mirrorless Camera Flaunts Its Sensor Smarts
Crack open some of today’s best compact cameras and you’ll find Sony sensors embedded in their guts. The Alpha line of mirrorless cameras take the cake with the latest Sony’s A7 III. This camera features a 693 phase-detection points and 425 contrast points boost autofocus speed, giving you sharp, finely detailed shots of moving subjects. Its 24-megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor that’s the stuff of a silicon junkie’s dreams. Read the full story.
Getty ImagesGoogle's New Podcast App Could Turbocharge the Industry
After years of mostly ignoring the podcast world, Google now makes a dedicated Android app for listening. And it's pretty good! It’s got a section For You with new episodes of podcasts you’ve subscribed to, a separate tab for any episodes that are currently in progress, and another tab for any that you’ve downloaded. The more you use it, the more Google Podcasts will adapt to your likes with specific suggestions. It can also sync with other Google powered devices, like Google Home. Read the full story.
HotlittlepotatoWith IGTV, Instagram Takes Aim at YouTube
Television is dead. The next big thing? Instagram's IGTV. The app, which also exists as a tab within Instagram, supports long-form vertical video. Anyone can post up to 10 minutes of pre-recorded footage; creators with massive audiences can post up to 60 minutes. Look out, YouTube. Read the full story.
Peter BelangerThese Instant Film Cameras Prove It's Hip to Be Square
Thanks to the instant camera revival, there are plenty of models to choose from. Two of our favorites: The hybrid Fujifilm Instax Square SQ10 lets you capture up to 50 images with a digital sensor, apply instagram-like effects, and then choose a select few to print. $279. For artsy folk, the Lomography Lomo’Instant Square includes a bulb flash mode for long exposures, a multiple-exposure option, a close-up lens for sharp selfies, and colored flash filters let you fine-tune the mood of your shot. Read our comparison.
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesTech Addiction and the Paradox of Apple's 'Screen Time' Tools
In the next version of iOS, Apple wants to save you from your phone. It's introducing a suite of built-in features to limit distractions and recalibrate priorities on the iPhone. Features include a more expansive Do Not Disturb mode, which flips on during bedtime and hides notifications from the homescreen until you're fully awake. May your time be Time Well Spent. Read the full story.
Getty ImagesCompost Makes an Internet Community Grow, Thanks to an App
Connect over compost with this green, community-driven, free app. Sharewaste uses a digital map to connect individuals with food scraps to nearby neighbors who have a compost system like a heap or a bin. Users accepting compost scraps can mark their compost site on the map for other users to find. Nearly 6,000 users are currently signed up for ShareWaste across the globe. Read the full story.
