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STACK ’ s TECH tips

Who doesn’t want to take the perfect selfie? Here are a few pointers to help you hit the mark.

Light it up. Natural light is your best bet when taking a selfie, so find a window or go outside. Don’t take a snap directly under a light if you're inside. Know your good side. We’ve all taken hundreds of selfies, so there’s a good chance you

APRIL

When US astronauts originally went to the moon, they took Hasselblad cameras. They returned with moon rocks, so weight became a consideration. The film came back with them, but 12 cameras remain on the moon to this day. DYK?

know your best angle. Look up towards the camera, and slightly raise your eyebrows to make your eyes look bigger. It’s all in the angles. Pull your shoulders down for a more relaxed look and lift your chin away from your neck to give the impression of a defined jawline. Show time.Your selfie should reflect your personality, so don’t hold back.Try different poses and expressions, props, and alternative backgrounds. Strike that pose with confidence! On the edit. Rule of thumb: don’t go overboard! Use subtle enhancements for brightness, colour balance, and contrast but avoid unnatural or unrealistic edits.

Technology has become an integral part of Australian lifestyles and continues to advance in leaps and bounds. From smartphones to smart homes, STACK keeps you up to date on the latest consumer tech in user-friendly terms, along with key points to consider before you buy. If you love tech, you’re in the right place.

Photo credit: Cristina Zaragoza

1900

What tech has been floating the boat of the writers at STACK recently? You can find it right here every month.

In the late 1800s, photography, still in its infancy, was preserved for the professionals or the wealthy. Camera equipment was both heavy and expensive. However, George Eastman had already produced a camera for US$25 (around AU$1250 today) through his company, Eastman Kodak. But the canny businessman understood that a cheaper, entry-level mass market camera would blow the camera market wide open. And that’s precisely what he did. What was the hottest tech in… Its simplicity was one of the company’s key marketing points. Eastman leveraged that by covering the camera with the images of a popular character from a children’s book at the time. The Box Brownie released in 1900 at just US$1 (around AU$53 today), with replacement film sold for just 15 cents. Reliable, portable, great value, and affordable, the camera produced good photos and was an instant hit, selling ten million units in the first five years. Initially marketed to children, the Box Brownie had universal appeal, from documenting the lives of the working classes to capturing the horrors of war. For the first time, photography was accessible for all – we’ve never looked back. The answer came in the Box Brownie. It was a simple camera made from cardboard and measured only 12.5cm x 7.5cm. Users would load a six exposure cartridge into the camera, hold the camera at waist height, peak through a viewfinder on the top, and turn a switch to take a photo.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Hubbl Constantly switching between different streaming apps to find what you want to watch can often be frustrating, but Hubbl provides a simple solution. It conveniently fuses your subscription apps*, plus free-to-air TV, into one handy user interface. And if you don’t have an aerial connection, you can still access free-to-air channels! Searching for content

What are the latest trends in TV? What is the new technology in TV? Why should I upgrade now? In our May issue, we’ll answer all these questions and more in our huge visual feature. On The Radar

is easy, too. Hubbl quickly found what we were looking for by searching both apps and free-to-air TV via the remote’s voice control. And if a season of your favourite show suddenly moves to a different service, Hubbl will find it for you. We also love how Hubbl keeps track of streaming accounts in one place, so cancelling or resuming those dormant subs is simple. And streaming becomes more cost-effective by paying for eligible subs** with one account. Hubbl’s plug-in-and-play simplicity had us bingeing in no time – all that’s needed is a TV with a HDMI port and an internet connection.

*Selected apps only **Requires 3 or more eligible subscriptions. Credit only redeems against Hubbl billed charges. Expires 36 months from date of issue. See eligible apps here www.hubbl.com.au/apps-offers

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