The Ring controversy stems from a Super Bowl ad promoting the company’s new AI-powered “Search Party” feature for its doorbell cameras and home security devices.

The 30-second spot depicted a heartwarming (to Ring) story: a young girl loses her dog, posts flyers, and then a neighborhood network of Ring cameras scans live feeds using AI to match the pet’s photo to footage captured by other users’ devices. The dog is quickly located and reunited with the family. Ring’s founder and CEO Jamie Siminoff narrated, positioning it as a community-driven tool that helps “be a hero in your neighborhood” and has reportedly reunited at least one lost dog per day since rollout.

While intended as wholesome and feel-good, the ad triggered widespread backlash almost immediately after airing. Viewers and critics slammed it as “creepy,” “terrifying,” “invasive,” and dystopian. Many argued it normalized or glamorized mass surveillance networks where private citizens’ cameras feed into AI-powered searches across neighborhoods. With all of the current ICE controversy, this really hit a nerve.

The main concern: If AI can scan for lost pets, critics feared it could easily extend to tracking people (e.g., children, neighbors, or protesters), creating de facto “surveillance states” in communities.

It also brought up the issue of privacy erosion. Ring cameras already face scrutiny for data sharing with police (via Neighbors app and past partnerships); the ad highlighted how opt-in features could aggregate footage from thousands of homes without clear safeguards.

The viral backlsh spread for days while privacy advocates called it a “surveillance nightmare.” The company had no choice but to respond.

Ring (owned by Amazon) quickly announced that it was terminating a planned partnership with Flock Safety, a police surveillance tech company specializing in automated license plate readers and camera networks. The partnership had raised alarms about integrating Ring’s consumer cameras with law enforcement tools, and the Super Bowl ad amplified those fears. Ring emphasized the decision followed a “comprehensive review” and reaffirmed a “privacy first” approach, though everyone knows this was damage control.

Now Ring is on the defensive. The brand is tarnished and they will be under heavy scrutiny going forward.

One tip: Any data sharing features need an “opt in” trigger. You can’t put these out there but then expect people to have to opt out of their data being used.

The post Ring faces backlash after its Super Bowl ad appeared first on Gadget Teaser.

According to a report on The Verge, Facebook will leap into the wearables market next summer with a new smartwatch. The key feature seems to be two cameras, one on the front of the watch that faces the user, which can enable video calls. The other camera will reportedly be on the back, and can be used as a camera for photos and videos which naturally can easily be uploaded to Facebook and Instagram.

Will this work? Who knows? Facebook doesn’t have a good track record with gadgets or wearables. Few companies have success with wearables. But they do need to try something, so this isn’t surprising.

And no, the photo above isn’t the Facebook watch . . . though we’re guessing it won’t look this cool.

The post Report: Facebook will introduce first smartwatch with two cameras appeared first on Gadget Teaser.

When it comes to photography, it’s safe to say we all have some interest in the ability to preserve moments for later viewing. It’s like magic, we can capture a moment and freeze it. However, many of us have more than this passing interest in photography, and we may not always know how to develop this interest into skill. Whether it’s for artistic expression or for financial agency, photography is a great skill to develop, but where do you start? Here are a few tips to get you started.

First and foremost, you’re going to want to do your research. When it comes to photography techniques, such as the “rule of thirds,” or high end equipment such as cameras and lenses, there are different things for people, and you need to determine for yourself what you need. You want your equipment and repertoire to work for you, so you need to identify those needs. This is the foundation on which you will build your skills.

Next, you’re going to need to determine what kind of photography you’re interested in. For example, portrait photography is a popular choice. Another great choice is landscape photography. Do you love scenic vistas? Do you like capturing human expressions? Dramatic poses? All of these and many more are great places to focus your lense – get it? – but the choice is up to you.

Lastly, you’re going to want to display your work, so how do you go about it? There are many ways you can accomplish this goal, many of which are surprisingly novel. For example, you can have your photos printed onto tee shirts. Or, you could simply have them printed via a service like Shutterfly and frame them to hang in your home. The sky’s the limit.

The post How to Develop Your Photography Skills appeared first on Gadget Teaser.

It’s always interesting to learn how a professional uses new gadgets, so this video with a professional photographer using the new iPhone 7 Plus for street photography is worth watching. Obviously the telephoto lense is a the hot new feature with the iPhone and he explains those advantages, while also addressing some of the limitations as well. Watch this and you’ll take better photos . . .

The post Photography with the new iPhone 7 Plus appeared first on Gadget Teaser.

Meet the Instagram camera.

That is a digital handheld camera that can print an instant photo from the model, complete with all of the features the Instagram app allows. What strikes me right away about this project is:

A. That’s a beautiful camera. Not just “hipster cool” but genuinely well designed.

B. This is an incredible marriage of times gone by charm (the polaroid this whole thing is based off of) and new technology (Instagram, obviously), that wouldn’t look out of place in a 50’s sci-fi where a vague idea of what future technology might hold, was paired with a current product to create something that’s just kind of out there.

C. Far from a novelty, this thing could actually make a practical investment considering its’ list of features.

• 16 GB mass storage.
• Wifi and Bluetooth.
• 4:3 touchscreen.
• 2 main lens, first for main capture, second for 3D filters, webcam applications and QR Code capturing.
• Optical zoom.
• LED Flash.
• Internal printer to make your Instagram photos real.
• Paper cartridge with Instagram Paper Sheets.
• Dedicated 4 colors ink tanks.
• InstaOs 1.0, which put together Facebook and Instagram App feature.

Now again, this is still a concept and as of now, no one has plans to make this thing on a retail level. Still though, with the mass popularity of the Instagram app, and the many social networking friendly features this thing has, someone with the ability to make this would be a fool not to considering it’s almost literally a license to print money.

The post Picture This: An Instagram Camera appeared first on Gadget Teaser.

It’s now going to be much easier.

The post Adding blur in Photoshop appeared first on Gadget Teaser.

Apple is the only company that consistently gets big buzz out of the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas — without even attending.

This year will be no different.

Connected TVs — TVs that connect to and can access content from the Internet — will be a big part of CES this year. And just about everyone in tech expects Apple at some point to launch such a television — an iTV — that easily consumes and shares with other Apple devices content served from the company’s media-storing iCloud.

Microsoft made news earlier by saying this was the last year they would attend CES/ Why attend if Apple gets all the buzz anyways? Maybe Microsoft should focus on new products instead of protecting its Windows/Office cash cow? Or maybe not . . .

The post CES kicks off appeared first on Gadget Teaser.

You’ll be amazed when you plug this tiny gadget into your MP3 player or phone and turn on some music. Of all the gadgets we’ve tested recently, the WOWee ONE Slim Portable Speaker is one of our favorites. It’s about the size of a deck of cards and easily plugs into any device with an audio jack. All of a sudden you can have a party. The WOWee turns flat, solid surfaces like tables, counters, bumpers, hoods and truck beds into bass-filled sound systems using patented gel technology. The sound changes depending on the type of surface and you can really feel the base on some surfaces. It’s perfect for events like tailgates as it provides about 10 hours of tunes and can turn your grill/cooler/hood into a high-end sound system for the whole parking lot. It’s also great for impromptu parties as it can fit in your pocket, computer bag or glove compartment. Take it on a trip and have parties in your hotel room or by the pool. The possibilities are endless and kids will love it as well. It seems like everyone listens to music alone these days with their headphones, so the WOWee makes it easier for everyone to share and enjoy music.

There are a ton of gadget gift guides out there, so do your research and you’ll find some great stuff. You can start with the ones from USA Today and CNET.

The post Gadgets for the holidays appeared first on Gadget Teaser.

The post Great gadgets holiday gift guide appeared first on Gadget Teaser.

That’s right – according to TG Daily, the actor famous for playing in one of Disney’s most spectacular 3D films, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, can’t see 3D images.

Here’s what the actor said to Access Hollywood:

“I’m unable to see in 3D. My eyes don’t see in 3D. I have a weird eye… It just doesn’t work. It may come as a surprise to you, but I’ve never seen normally.”

The condition, though unnamed and not recorded, is actually fairly prevalent according to most sources. I wouldn’t exactly call it a surprise, but it’s certainly intriguing to see all the effort behind shooting in 3D wasted on one of the film’s most prominent actors.

The post Johnny Depp can’t see his own 3D movies appeared first on Gadget Teaser.