by Chris Snider | Jan 9, 2017 | Digital tools
The iPhone 7 Plus camera has a new feature called Portrait mode that uses both lenses to add depth of field to your photographs and simulates the kind of depth of field you would see from a DSLR camera. It’s a pretty cool feature, if you have an iPhone 7 Plus. I... by Chris Snider | Dec 20, 2016 | Digital tools
Group video chat apps are all the rage this holiday season as we try to be close to our friends and family – even when we can’t actually be close to them. Facebook Messenger recently launched group video chat capabilities as the company enter into this... by Chris Snider | Oct 20, 2016 | Digital information
It’s a Youtube-Instagram-Snapchat world. Still. That’s the key takeaway from my annual social media survey of first-year students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University. The survey asks students to rate social networks on a... by Chris Snider | Sep 23, 2016 | Digital information
I’ll be hosting a day-long Smartphone Video Workshop at Drake University in Des Moines on Oct. 18, 2016. When: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016 – 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Where: Drake University, Meredith Hall room 125 (No. 48 on this map) Cost: $100 if you sign up before Oct.... by Chris Snider | Jul 20, 2016 | Digital tools
Facebook is all-in on live videos. The social network is paying more than 100 celebrities and media organizations millions of dollars to use its live video platform. Here’s an example from The New York Times, which is reportedly being paid $3 million to... by Chris Snider | May 26, 2016 | Digital tools
I recently tested a $20 smartphone lavalier microphone and was impressed with the results compared to a $200 microphone. But I couldn’t help by notice there was a $11 option as well. It had good reviews on Amazon, but not nearly as many good reviews as the $20... by Chris Snider | May 19, 2016 | Digital tools
Here is my guide to the best 360 degree video camera for your video or photography needs, whether you’re doing high-end work or just want to start testing the waters of 360 degree video. UPDATED JAN. 15, 2017: My name is Chris Snider, and I’m a multimedia... by Chris Snider | May 13, 2016 | Digital tools
I recently put together a list of recommended accessories for shooting video from your smartphone. This process has renewed my interest in finding the very best tools to turn your Android or iPhone into a high-end camera. Which means I’ve been buying some new... by Chris Snider | May 3, 2016 | Digital tools
My name is Chris Snider, and I teach smartphone video classes and workshops at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. I get the opportunity to work with some great smartphone video accessories, and I wanted to create a resource page so that you can find the best... by Chris Snider | Apr 7, 2016 | Digital information
The Iowa Newspaper Association hosted a one-day high school journalism conference at Drake University this week. I work at Drake University. I teach in the Journalism and Mass Communications department. Some of those attendees are potential future students for us. And...