Your phone is full of hidden features that you do not use.
Are you using an iPhone? Tap or click for ten clever tricks that you will use all the time. Android lovers, did you know that you can now easily schedule texts up to the minute?
The fun does not stop there. Let’s go beyond the standard camera settings. Grab your phone and jump into five settings to take your photos and videos to the next level.
1. Shoot video in 4K
Do you remember how bad smartphone videos were? The iPhone in your hand is now good enough to take an actual feature film if you use the right setting.
Turn on 4K video, a resolution that is equivalent to about 4000 pixels on a screen. Capture your topic in much greater detail. This option is especially useful if you are viewing a video such as a TV on a larger screen.
Check to turn on 4K recording on your iPhone Settings> Camera> Record video and select from the list of options. It is available on the iPhone 8 and later models.
Most Samsung models manufactured after 2018 – starting with the Note 9, S9 and S9 + – offer 4K video at 60 fps. Google Pixel users can only take 4K video at 30 fps. Other Android users can take 4K videos with Sony’s Xperia and almost every phone from OnePlus. To turn it on, open the settings of your camera.
Note: shooting in 4K can consume a ton of space. Remember to switch back to the default video settings when you are done.
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2. Do not wait for the perfect moment
Capturing movement can be a struggle. Dog owners, you know what I mean. Burst mode can help. With this feature, your camera can take faster than humanly possible. You get several seconds of photos and you can choose your favorites.
On almost any smartphone that supports it, you can activate the burst mode by holding down the power button. To see all your photos, go to your gallery and select the photo set.
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3. Go slow
If you’ve never shot in slow motion, miss it. It can make for some really cool or hilarious videos. To use it, swipe through the options in your phone’s camera app.
Use a tripod to confirm your phone to take the best video. Here is a small, affordable model that you can take anywhere.
4. Use a shortcut
Imagine: it’s winter, and you want to take a picture of the snowy landscape, but you’re wearing gloves. You can remove one and expose yourself to the elements or use the volume up button. It also helps with stability and focus.
This feature is standard on most iOS and Android phones. You can change the volume button’s functions to take burst photos, zoom and more in your camera settings.
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5. Take quality to the next level
Your smartphone takes standard JPEG photos, which are great for everyday use and social media. However, if you want to take advantage of most of your photos, try shooting in RAW.
RAW is an image format that retains all the information when taking a digital photo, such as contrast, exposure and saturation. It also retains all your settings such as ISO, shutter speed and aperture for later viewing. It all comes down to editing photos.
With Apple iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, you can take photos in Apple’s ProRAW format. Go to Settings> Camera> Formats, then call Apple ProRAW on. A RAW icon is now available when taking a photo.
Most Samsung, LG and Google flagship phones manufactured after 2016 also have this feature. You can usually find it in the settings under the camera app. Change the format of .jpeg to .raw.
Like shooting in 4K, RAW photos are much larger files and can fill up your storage space quickly. Keep this in mind when playing with your camera settings.
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Learn more about all the latest technology in The Kim Komando Show, the country’s largest radio weekend show. Kim takes calls and gives advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. Visit her website Komando.com for her daily tips, free newsletters and more.