Photo by J.Baumung for Photojojo

To create a touch of light on a subject you want to photograph, use your phone!  It won’t light up the whole setup, but it does create that cozy and mysterious effect on photographs.  Don’t you love it on portraits?

Use a cell phone, a game boy, or a laptop screen to softly light a face, hand, or anything that needs a bit of extra attention.

Works great in long exposures (think light painting), or when the light’s just fading away at twilight.

Click here to read the article from Photojojo.

I sure want to try it, but I still have to find my tripod!  I meant John’s tripod .

Aylee Bits is now mobile-friendly.  More people browse the web via their mobile phone including me, so I decided to make it a little easier for them us.

You can easily revert to the regular layout by clicking “View Full Version” at the bottom of the screen.

For those who are using WordPress and want to go mobile as well, I use the plugin MobilePress.  It’s great and very easy.  Just install, activate and you’re done.

Happy mobile browsing!

Photo from SuperStock

A new bill has been introduced this year to require cellphone cameras to make a sound when taking photos.  The bill will also prohibit the cellphones to have the feature to disable or silence the sound.  The requirement will be considered a consumer product safety standard.

I take photos often with my phone especially when I shop.  I don’t like attracting attention to myself, so sometimes I silence my phone.  The shutter sound also annoys me a little bit.  But if this bill gets passed, I’ll be fine with it.  This bill will hopefully provide more safety and privacy to the public (e.g. from creeps who take photos for their personal satisfaction).  I wonder if Apple will create a new update of the iPhone OS to disable silencing of the shutter sound.

Do you use your phone’s camera?  Do you silence it or do you keep the shutter sound on?  What do you think of the proposed bill?

Wal-mart is now selling the iPhone for $2 less than the price you pay at other retailers.  Hey, it’s still cheaper.  That’s one subway ride, at least at the moment.

Mint.com, the popular online finance management tool just released its first iPhone app.  I haven’t tried it nor will I test it at all.  I don’t really like having all my financial accounts in one place.  I think it makes for an easy target for theft.

Gizmodo posted a comparison between several phones based on their 3G web browsing performance.

Click image to enlarge

I was only able to try web browsing on the iPhone and G1 (Google phone).  For now, I agree with Gizmodo.  I find it easier to browse using the iPhone, despite its lack of basic and important features.  The iPhone’s “pinch” method of zooming in and out is just clever.  Click here for the full review at Gizmodo.

Photo from GeekSugar.com

I see myself looking at my budget worksheet all the time and trying to find a way to cut down on my living expenses.  The highest bills that I could probably lower are the heating and cell phone bills.

I still don’t have my heater on.  I just pile on pajamas and sweaters.  So I’m hoping to get a lower bill this year than last year.  But am I willing to cut down on my cell phone services?

I lived more than half of my life without a cellphone and a third of my life without any type of phone!  I also read an article stating reasons to stop using cellphones.  So I should be fine cutting some of my cell phone services or even cutting it totally, right?  Ummm I don’t think so.

I’m sorry but I love the convenience of being able to call someone anytime.  My friends text me all the time so I need to keep my texting plan or else my bill will be much higher if I pay per use.  My internet access is definitely a big expense and unnecessary.  I really don’t want to take that service away, but if need be I will.  But for now while my contract is not up, I have a reason to keep it .

How about you?

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TheTechLounge

The Blackberry Storm is coming November 21st and I’m salivating!  Not only does it look slick, it has the features that are expected of a smartphone which the iPhone doesn’t have.  My iPhone is beginning to look less and less attractive.

Features I like on the Storm the the iPhone doesn’t have:

• removable battery
• expandable memory
• ability to edit basic office files including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint files
• picture and video messaging
• video recording
• tethering

Ars Technica

Every time I hang out at McDonald’s to get my parfait fix, I get frustrated coz I have to use the AT&T voice network to go online while an AT&T Wi-Fi was available.  The AT&T Wi-Fi was not free so I didn’t use it.

But great news!  AT&T Wi-Fi access is now available to iPhones for free nationwide.  Yay for faster online speeds .  AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots can be found in airports, hotels, universities, restaurants and a lot more.  Click here for more information including access instructions.

Photo from Impact Lab

The data plans that come with the iPhone don’t include text messaging.  You have to either add a messaging plan or pay per text.  After voice and data plan monthly charges, nobody needs another.  So I compiled a couple of ways you can send texts messages for free from your iPhone.  Some also apply to other smartphones.Remember that the recipient may incur charges for the messages you send.

1.  AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)

Just like your computer-based AIM, the AIM iPhone app can also send text messages to phones.  Access to AIM on the iPhone is included in the data plan and does not count as a text message.  Recipients of your messages can reply directly to your message and you will receive the replies via AIM. Click here for instructions at Wired: How-To Wiki.

Read on to see more ways to send text message for free from you iPhone.

Read on…

I bought two types of cases for the iPhone and here is what I think of them:

Apple.com

Belkin Silicone Sleeve

It’s one of the prettier silicone designs in the store. The case doesn’t add too much bulk to the phone. The cut-outs are positioned well. The buttons are covered which added extra protection. The button covers are protruding so it is not hard to figure out where to press. It actually made it easier to press the buttons. The screen protective cover only covers the screen area and doesn’t extend to the black areas. It does the job though and touch sensitivity is not affected too much. It was also easy to put on. The case is loose though. And over time, it gets even more loose. It is true that the case easily comes off when taking the phone out of pants pocket. Over time, the case easily comes off when phone is taken out of my purse too. Because it is loose, dirt easily gets inside. When you take off the case after a few days, you’ll find the back of the phone dirty. The bottom part of the case (below the home button) is thin and sometimes get caught with other things. Right now I’m sticking with hard shell cases until I find a silicone case that fits well. I’m currently using the Griffin Wave case.

Griffin Wave Case

iLounge.com

The case looked very chic. It has this smooth finish that feels great to the touch. However, since it is made of plastic and no rubber grips, it is more prone to slippage unlike its silicone counterparts. The case fits the iPhone well, but not perfectly. Dust can enter the case and settle inside. The installation is a bit difficult. Due to its interlocking curved sides, it is very possible to scratch the surface of the iPhone while installing the case. You also need to apply a little strength to install it. The clear protective cover for the iPhone screen is thick and affects the touchscreen sensitivity a little bit, but it works. I decided to not use the Griffin clear protective cover and use the one from Belkin (above) instead.