(Video not playing back? Jump to youtube.)

This new feature provides quick and easy access to useful toggle switches (i.e. Wifi, Bluetooth, Flashlight, etc.) without having to launch and navigate through menus in Settings.  Among these toggles is a switch to enter Airplane Mode (very subtly pointed out in the screenshot above). In case you didn’t already know, you should always shoot in Airplane Mode (unless you’re live streaming).  If you forget to enter Airplane Mode, there’s a decent chance your audio will suffer from occasional dropouts and glitches caused by interference. Airplane mode prevents these dropouts!

By giving users the ability to quickly enter Airplane Mode, more filmmakers are likely to do it before hitting the record button.

Simple as that. Hallelujah!

This is major news! The last time iPhone users could capture true 60fps video was with an app called SloPro (covered in my book), but that particular feature was lost when iOS 6 was released. Now that iOS 7 includes 60fps capture right out of the gate, we’re sure to see several apps taking advantage of it, including a likely update to SloPro.

Why is 60fps cool? Many reasons, but the most important is shooting for slow motion. Shooting at 60fps, and then playing back at 24 or 30fps results in silky smooth slow motion shots — much smoother than you’d see when shooting something at 30fps and then slowing it down (which is what we must do in iOS 6).

iOS 7 will be released to the public this Fall.  I can’t wait!

Sidenote: Apple has also added video support to Photo Stream, which I suppose is kinda cool. Whatever. 60fps!

SloPro - 1000fps Slow Motion Video
Developer: Sand Mountain Studios, LLC

Rated: 12+

Price: Free GET THIS APP

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• Mashable reported on the Pocket Tripod a new portable iPhone “tripod” on Kickstarter that folds down to the size of a credit card. While it’s more suited to watching content than shooting it, I imagine it coming in handy.
• CheezyCam featured a pair of YouTube reviews of the Rode SmartLav, a lavaliere microphone that plugs directly into your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch ($60 on Amazon). Seems like a good solution for recording dual system sound to be synced up later (using something like PluralEyes 3)
• iPhoneography reviewed the new Clip-On Polarizing Filter  for iPhone ($20). While the article focuses on the filter’s use in still photography, it’s always a wise idea to have one on hand when shooting video. They help to cut down on reflections while improving color contrast.
• Glen Mulcahy discussed olloclip’s new camera app on his outstanding VJ Technology Blog. The free app (also called olloclip) lets users remove lens distortion introduced by the lens clip.
• In other olloclip news: iLounge took a close look at olloclip’s new Quick-Flip case. You may remember this case from our MacWorld 2013 report. The iLounge piece provides some of the best product shots I’ve seen so far.
• Smart Movie Making covered the new Philips PicoPix PPX 3610 Pocket projector. It’s s snazzy little pico that claims a projection size of up to 120 inches. Hmmmm…. if that’s true, I want one. If if that’s an exaggeration, I’ll put it on the pile of other big-talking-under-delivering pico projectors.
• Cult of Mac describes the HitCase, a rugged iPhone camera case with a wide angle lens, and a few new accessories, including a roll bar attachment. While the mac cultists don’t seem to keen on mounting their iPhones in precarious locations, the HitCase does look like a good bit of protection.

and finally…

• Bloomberg ran a story about Haunting Melissa, a horror movie that’s being distributed as multiple episodes via a dedicated iPhone/iPad app. The app is free, as is some of the content, but others will cost you. This is another innovative example of how the App Store is disrupting the traditional film distribution model. If this sort of thing interests you, I cover a few other iOS distribution options in my book.

So, what did I miss? Let me know in the comments!

While the default iOS camera app captures GPS metadata with each photo, if doesn’t present that information on a map until you view the photo in an application designed to display maps. With Map Camera, the photo’s origin is visible the moment you glance at the photo. Very handy!

Looking for a location (or tech) scouting app with more power? Check out these alternatives in the directory.

Map Camera: Append a Map to your Photo
Developer: Chia Jit San

Rated: 4+

Price: $0.99 GET THIS APP

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If Dr. Frankenstein had an iPhone, and didn’t feel like getting a GLIF, olloclip, MicroLite, and a bottle opener, he would have invented this.

When considering the new design, I thought about all the sites I enjoy reading most. I’m not talking about content — I’m just talking about the experience of reading. Most of the sites I enjoy reading are clean, simple, and generous with space. They feel lightweight. By comparison, the old HHH design felt bloated and heavy, and never looked ideal on iPhones and iPads. So, I put the site on a major diet. Hooray!

The updated site also features a brand-spankin-new Filmmaker’s App Directory that finally allows app filtering! You can now limit your app search to specific devices (iPhone, iPad, etc.), filmmaking tasks (screenwriting, storyboarding, shooting, editing, etc.), and special criteria (HHH recommended apps, apps featured in the HHH book, etc.). This will make it much easier to find just the apps you need.

While I was fiddling, I was able to speed things up a bit. Pages still take a moment to load, but overall, things are much improved. I’ll keep working on that. I squashed all the bugs I could find (there’s always a few with a new design), but if you find something bugtastic or typorific, please let me know.

There’s one last benefit to the new design — my sanity. This new setup requires less back-end maintenance, and makes it easier for me to post smaller stories more often (a little more tumblresque).

I hope you dig the slimmed-down look and spiffy new directory. If you do, please take a moment and share this site with your friends. I would truly appreciate it.

Go make a movie!

Taz

To get the discount, just head to their website, and enter discount code DADS&GRADS during checkout. Make sure not to click the first PayPal logo, since that bypasses the screen where you can enter the code. As an added bonus, all orders over $40 will ship for free.

• 1. Do you remember this year’s MacWorld/iWorld? Sure you do!

• 2. Do you remember the Hoodi magnetic sunshade? I hope so, because it was one of the coolest things I found on the show floor (even though it wasn’t officially being exhibited). In a nutshell, the Hoodi blocks the sun from reflecting on your iPad’s screen — making it an ideal accessory for outdoor shoots. Naturally, it can block indoor lights as well.

Ok, last question…

• 3. Would you like a Hoodi of your very own?

If you answered yes to these questions (especially that last one), it’s time to head over to the Hoodi page on Kickstarter.com to become an official backer!

Like any Kickstarter campaign, you can pledge whatever amount floats your boat, but for a minimum of $30 (a few bucks off the eventual retail price) you’ll get one of the first Hoodis (is that the proper plural form of Hoodi?) off the line. And, yup, they’ve got ‘em for the iPad Mini as well. Go get yours!

Fun Facts: the Hoodi Kickstarter video (seen below) was shot on an iPhone 4 mounted in a GLIF tripod mount, and an iPad 3 mounted in a Padcaster. Both devices were running the Almost DSLR camera app. The whole thing is very meta, don’t you think?