Welcome to yet another colourful tech rant by LA Media's very own Digital Media Manager and 'tech guru,' Michael Jameson. In this blog, Mike provides a thoroughly geeky iPhone X review and answers that all important question- Was it worth it?

If you've ever read any of Mike's blogs you will know he's a 'mac head.' You may recall his reaction to Apple's iPhone X event, where he raved and salivated over Apple's latest tech offerings. While the rest of the office opted for the iPhone 8 or 8 Plus, Mike was adamant he'd be waiting for the iPhone X.

Now that he has had his 'precious,' (the iPhone X) for more than a week we can now get his real thoughts on the iPhone X. Was it worth the wait and does it meet Mike's Macspectations?

Words by Michael Jameson

Having now had my shiny new iPhone X for a couple of weeks, I thought it was about time I wrote a down some thoughts having now had the time to play with it a bit.

3 new iPhones were announced at the Apple iPhone Event in September. The iPhone 8, the 8 plus and of course the iPhone X (pronounced Ten). Coming from an ‘ageing’ iPhone 6 Plus, I thought I should wait, with bated breath and sweaty palms, for the iPhone X. It was a long month.

Finally, the day arrived when the latest in Apple Tech was delivered on a frosty Monday morning. Having resisted the urge to tear open the parcel with my teeth, I managed to successfully access the new device with shaky hands and without dropping it into my coffee #winning.

Unboxing!

First impressions were NOT a disappointment. It really does look beautiful. Yes yes, I know... “It’s a Phone!” everyone cries!

Well, technically it’s not anymore. This is a mobile phone-sized computer. A computer that's CPU is faster than the latest MacBook and on a par with a 13inch MacBook Pro in synthetic benchmarks anyway.

How it Feels & No Home Button

When you first pick up the phone, it feels incredibly ergonomic. The smooth rounded edges of the screen, that lead into the polished metal surround, provide a high-quality feel and finish. So much so, that I never use the silicone case I bought to house this beauty.

The lack of a Home button is rather strange at first, but you quickly get used to its absence. In fact, when you try another model with one, it feels like the Home button is getting in the way. Face ID, for the most part, works seamlessly.

It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you’re there, it makes getting into secure Apps like Banking Apps etc.. a much quicker process. I like the feature that keeps your message notifications just that, a notification until you look at it.

No More Sneaky Stalking!

People can no longer read any messages or notifications that come in on the lock screen. A nice touch I think. There are some gimmicky features, like the Animoji’s, which are fun and very clever, but something I don’t use that much. Once you’ve sent a talking poo to a few friends, the effect kinda wears off!

Now we come to the screen... Having tried Netflix shows such as Star Trek Discovery, which is available in Dolby Vision (HDR), it really does make a huge difference to the appearance. Blacks are truly black and you really feel you are being delivered the colours that the show's producers wanted you to see.

Having the entire OLED screen filled with video really is rather wonderful. The heavily talked about ‘Notch’ - where the Face ID capabilities reside - doesn’t impact viewing pleasure. Photos taken on the iPhone X’s camera look pretty great too - cameras on these new phones really are a triumph in miniaturisation.

I’m not convinced about the Stage Lighting, but the other Portrait modes are pretty cool. Especially when you can use the Face ID camera to do it, which you can’t on the 8 or 8 Plus.

Speed Performance

Having been using an iPhone 6 Plus for the last 2 years, one huge difference is the speed that this device runs at. The X has the same Bionic A11 CPU as the 8 and 8 Plus, but it somehow feels like the software is more optimised for the iPhone X. And once you get used to not having a Home button, you really start to fly through the OS. Apps load instantly, browsing is a joy and resetting the phone is no longer a 5-minute process - more like 5 seconds!

In Brief

Yes, this IS still an iPhone. A very expensive one at that - £999 for the 64GB version. But it’s also much more than that. It’s a portable computer with amazing capabilities, a resounding statement in desirable technology and, when used to its full potential, really is something rather special.

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions or think we got something wrong or simply want to let us know what we missed… e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220

Guess if you are reading this, then you, like us, are wondering did that burglar just swear at Paddington Bear in the new M&S Christmas Ad? “Paddington and the Christmas Visitor” advert has just been released and is gaining lots of attention but possibly for the wrong reason! Using #LoveTheBear across all their social media platforms this is one of M&S's most digital campaigns to date.

Created by Grey London Agency

Paddington Bear controversy?

M&S are known for their beautifully crafted Christmas ads and they haven't disappointed this year. Created by Grey London, the advert features Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington and also sees a cameo appearance by veteran newsreader Angela Rippon. However, what is meant to be a sweet advert with a well-beloved childhood bear has set Twitter ablaze with controversy.

The advert starts with Paddington Bear in bed dreaming about marmalade when he is woken up by a clumsy burglar who Paddington mistakes for Father Christmas. Paddington then helps 'Santa' deliver his presents and by the end, the burglar is reformed in heart and soul. He then bends down and hugs the little bear, but this is when the Twitter storm exploded. One half of Twitter says that the burglar says "oh thank you little bear" while the other half is convinced that he said "F*** you little bear".

The Twitter banter is hilarious to watch but to be honest this advert has divided the office. More than half are convinced it was the rude version but the others aren't so sure. The LA Media office hasn't been this divided since the black and gold dress. Either way, it's an editor's nightmare! No doubt this will result in lots of social traffic heading M&S's way and lots of long views. All of which are great for the social media marketing report! But will M&S be known as the brand that told Paddington Bear F*** you?

Screen Captured From the LA Media Twitter 

Aside from the controversy...the advert is beautifully crafted and we don't think it was too early at all. It is never too early for the Christmas cheer to arrive. In all likelihood, there is no way that burglars swore at poor Paddington Bear. Adverts have to meet certain requirements before they can be cleared for transmission and we've no doubt that somebody somewhere would have picked this up before allowing it to transmit.

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220

It is hard to deny the influence of YouTube in the world of video. YouTube has over a billion users - FYI that is almost one-third of all people on the internet! Some of the content is great and some of it is down-right annoying, so we've decided to add our ten pence to the mix. We're going to share with you our pick for the 5 best YouTube channels that are worth watching and maybe even subscribing to!

We've skipped the handy 'how to' and 'review' YouTube creators and excluded the mega-popular channels such as PewDiePie, Jenna Marbles, and that marmite of creators Buzzfeed. It may also be prudent to mention we've skipped out the 'weird part' of YouTube, think Doctor Pimple Popper and Annoying Orange. Our little selection is a touch off the beaten track but perfect for binge-watching, we hope you enjoy them.

1. Ask a Mortician

Founded in October 2011, ‘Ask a Mortician’ was created by Los Angeles-based alternative mortician and best-selling author Caitlyn Doherty. The purpose of this channel is to answer all those weird questions you might have about death and the death industry.

Caitlyn is on a mission to help demystify the death industry and help sort facts from fiction when it comes to what happens to a body after it dies. More importantly, she is using her channel to actively engage people in a more death-positive conversation about the ritual that surrounds death.

With over 21,257,088 views and 293 k subscribers (accurate as of October 2017), it isn’t just a few morbid weirdos who are fascinated by Caitlyn’s refreshing approach to mortality. As her channel has evolved in popularity so has the quality of her videos and content but she has remained very authentic to her message.

Caitlyn is a refreshing change from the generic Zoey Zoella type of creators that litter YouTube these days, which is why we would recommend you give her channel a go, even if death isn’t your cup of tea.

Go for the curiosity and but stay for the kickass facts, death insights, iconic corpses, and quirky anecdotes.

2. 5ninthavenueproject

5ninthavenueproject is a channel with an abundance of videos shot by the late videographer Nelson Sullivan. Do you love the 80s? Are you mad for vloggers? This is the channel for you. Based in New York during the era of Andy Warhol and the emergence of the 'club scene', Nelson armed with his VHS portable camera filmed/vlogged his experiences of the rising drag queen scene, the club kids, and the general hedonistic vibe of the 80s in downtown NYC. His videos span between 1983 until his untimely death in 1989, at the young age of 40.

Why do we love these videos? Nelson captured the spirit of the era in these videos, it’s raw yet so watchable. When you consider the technology at his disposal you realise just how skilled Nelson was. The few times you see him with the weighty camera he has the poise and strength of a ballerina as he moves seamlessly through this vivid world.

In these videos, you will see a tenderly young Ru Paul, Andy Warhol, and the infamous Michael Alig who was later played by Maccualky Culkin in the movie Party Monster. Nelson captures events like Gay Pride, Wigstock, Outlaw Parties, The Stonewall marches, and much more. You'll find yourself utterly pulled into Nelson's world and really liking many of the colourful characters you meet. If you're feeling really weird you can even see the last video Nelson took on the day he died.

3. Allthemed Docs

On the AllthemedDocs channel, there is no persona, just lots of documentary uploads that you may struggle to find elsewhere. This channel is simply a brilliant free source to turn to when Netflix has run a little dry.

Here at LA Media, we love a good documentary, no seriously, we’re obsessed. From the mighty Romans to more modern documentaries such as ‘Our Food’ and Life 2.0, we love in-depth looks into all sorts of subjects.

It doesn’t matter the topic, it just has to be engaging well-filmed content. After all, fiction and shows are all fun and good but it is nice to learn something new and keep exerting that all-important grey brain matter.

4. VICE

Well if we’re going to mention good sources for insightful programs we have to mention VICE, which is one of the best-known channels on our list. With 8.2M subscribers, you'll be in good company.

We'd recommend you check out The Rise of Acid Attacks in the UK, The Illegal Big Cats of Instagram, and The Mormon War on Porn. More than just food for thought.

Hit the shuffle play button and relax with a nice mug of tea and prepare to get intrigued and possibly enlightened. VICE is known for its out their ground-breaking, caustic, bizarre, and engaging documentaries, and we just love it. If you are in need of an "and now for something completely different" moment then VICE has you covered.

5. DJI Creator Channel

You may have noticed we like drones and have lots of our own commercial drone footage. That doesn't mean we don't still like to sit back and enjoy the epic drone footage of others, in fact, we do!

The DJI Creator channel with 24K Subscribers is a channel that showcases the footage made by DJI customers. It is meant to be a platform where established drone artists and DJI enthusiasts can submit their videos and share their vision.

Obviously, yes, it is kind of like a sales pitch for DJI equipment but that doesn't detract too much from the awesome drone footage you will see. We recommend you watch their 'Take Me Back to Iceland' video and 'Dream Above the Clouds'.

If you like drone footage or want to get inspired this is a channel you need to watch. It is regularly updated so you won't have to sit and pine for an update. You can be assured of a really high level and quality of the drone footage you will see here.

We hope you enjoyed this blog post! Don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220

Recently, LA Media was filming on the West Coast of Scotland for a drone production that hasn't broadcast yet (so we shan't be naming names). Production life can be exhausting but also awesome. While working we get to see some of the most beautiful locations in Scotland. Often, the crew is up and ready to go at the crack of dawn, which means we regularly get to enjoy a quick breakfast on the go while admiring an epic Scottish sunrise. 

Members of the LA Media crew had the wherewithal, before the morning's first coffee, to take some beautiful scenic shots of the landscape that surrounded us.

In this short blog we would like to share some here are a few pictures taken while traveling between filming locations and crew digs. Locations featured include Lochgilphead Tighnabruaich and Colintraive. All taken on an iPhone 6 Plus. 

Traveling to the West coast of Scotland

Image By LA Media ' Commuters on the Ferry at Tighnabruaich Millhouse' 

You'd think that a ferry this small wouldn't be that busy, but you'd be wrong. This ferry is regularly packed for the morning and evening commute from the mainland. These bikers were on their way home.

Image By LA Media 'Spotted some chaps out enjoying an afternoon of sailing at Colintraive' 

Image By LA Media 'The Cal Mac Chain Link Ferry at Colintraive'

Did you know that this is one of the shortest ferry crossings in Scotland? It is a distance of just 410m. That's enough time for a coffee on the go!

Image By LA Media 'Sunrise at Lochgilphead' 

We were up well before dawn and were ready to set off for the next drone filming location. While loading the van we couldn't believe how amazing this sunrise was and just had to get a picture of it.

This must be the very definition of the #skyporn. It looks more like an oil painting than a picture snapped on an iPhone.

Image By LA Media 'Morning has broken!' 

Did you know that scenes from the Bond movie 'From Russia with Love' was filmed in Lochgilphead? A weird factoid we discovered during our visit. It only has a population of around 2,300 people but is the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute. Lochgilphead has the best range of facilities in the region, which makes it an ideal base to explore Kintyre and boasts fishing, walking, and other outdoor pursuits in abundance.

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220

Did you miss the iPhone X unveiling? Don't worry, in this blog LA Media's own Mike 'Tech Guru' Jameson will recap it for you. Find out what's new and exciting about the new iPhone X, the Apple Watch Series 3, and the stunning new Apple TV 4K.  What follows is Mike's first impression of last night’s big event!

iPhone X Event: Words by Mike Jameson

It’s that time of year again when all the techies of the world unite and sit glued to Apple’s iPhone event. Now in the brand spanking new Steve Jobs Theatre, this was set to be more special than usual. And so it was… opening up with the voice of Steve himself, Apple delivered a fantastic keynote. In my opinion, the most exciting in years.

There were 3 main releases:

iPhone (iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus)

Apple Watch Series 3

Apple TV 4K

What do we think of these new products?

iPhone X

The star of the show was obviously the iPhone X. At £999, you would hope it would be! There’s an all-new design, featuring what Apple calls a Super Retina display.

The new screen is an edge-to-edge 5.8-inch OLED panel with 2436 x 1125 and support for HDR (both Dolby Vision and HDR10).

All very exciting! There’s no home button. Instead, Apple has developed a system they're calling Face ID. Using powerful new 3D scanning technology, the iPhone unlocks itself when you look at it.

This powerful new facial recognition technology opens up several cool features; my favourite being emojis that replicate your own facial movements… Yes, that’s right, you can send a talking poo to your friends. Hallelujah!

The camera

The cameras are also upgraded, with dual 12-megapixel rear cameras with dual optical image stabilisation, and an improved front camera that supports portrait mode, too. On the battery front, Apple says that the iPhone X will last up to two hours longer than the iPhone 7

.

The Processor

The iPhone 8 is a significant update too - a new 6-Core A11 Bionic processor (the same as in the iPhone X) and an all Apple GPU (which is a first) make this a very powerful device. It also has a glass back which means wireless charging for all the new iPhone variants.

The Cost

The iPhone 8 starts at £699 for a 64GB model, while the iPhone 8 Plus will start at £799 (also for 64GB), although both phones will also have a 256GB model for £849 and £949, respectively. Pre-orders begin on Friday, September 15th, with the new devices set to ship on September 22nd.

The Look

The iPhone X comes in two colours: space grey and silver. It’ll come in two storage configurations — 64GB for £999, and 256GB for a whopping £1,149. Preorders will start on October 27th, with shipping set to start on November 3rd.

Apple Watch Series 3

The big news here is LTE connectivity. Yup, that’s right, no longer are you tied to your iPhone. You can now go for a night out and not lose your phone, but still be able to take calls and message whilst keeping a beady eye your ever-increasing heart rate as you neck that next shot of vodka. Nice.

With a faster W2 chip this, in my opinion, seems like a worthy upgrade.

When and how much?

It’ll be out September 22nd, starting at £329 for the non-cellular version (don’t do it..), and £399 for the cellular-equipped model (do it!).

Apple TV 4K

As the name suggests, the Apple TV has finally become 4K. It also supports HDR (High Dynamic Range) and is compatible with the two main specifications out there - HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Sweet.

Now I just need £3,000 to go out and get that 4K HDR TV. Yes, at the moment HDR OLED (don’t bother if it’s not OLED), TVs are on the expensive side.

Prices will come down as I think HDR and will be here to stay. To go with the new Apple TV 4K, the iTunes Store will also be selling movies and TV shows in 4K and HDR for the same price as HD content, with no charge to upgrade titles that you already own.

When and how much?

The Apple TV 4K will cost £179 when it ships on September 22nd. I want.

Well, that’s it until next time! I’ll leave you with this beautiful image of the iPhone X.

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220

The LA Media team had a great time attending Film Edinburgh's Production Guide Summer party! Film Edinburgh, part of Marking Edinburgh, is the film office for Edinburgh, East Lothian, and the Scottish Borders.

With their crack team of knowledgeable creatives, they offer free advice to productions on the locations, crew, and facilities that are available in the area.

Who is Film Edinburgh?

For any production coming to Edinburgh, Film Edinburgh is an important first point of call.

Film Edinburgh helps with liaising with the City of Edinburgh Council, East Lothian Council, Scottish Borders Council, and Police Scotland (Edinburgh and Lothian & Borders divisions).

They've got the contacts you will need if your shoot requires parking, road closures, police personnel, street furniture removal, etc.

Image by LA Media 'Rosie Ellison of Film Edinburgh, Who Organised This Fun Event.'

With the commencement of the Edinburgh Film Festival, the announcement of the new Scottish Film Studio, and all the recent attention Scotland has received from big feature productions such as T2 and the Avengers this party came just at the right moment!

The Party Banter!

The LA Media team got to meet lots of Edinburgh's talented creatives, such as makeup artists, publicists, prop-makers, fellow drone cinematographers, and producers.

Image by LA Media ' From Right to Left: Rosie Ellison, Louise Adams & Fiona Gavin.'

The highlight of the night for the LA Media crew was meeting the publicist for Netflix's recent release Okja, directed by Bong Joon-ho and co-written by Bong and Jon Ronson.

Image by LA Media 'Enjoying drinks on the terrace level.'

We'd been discussing the movie only that day in the office so we were pleasantly surprised to then meet someone directly involved! No spoilers but this film will hit you right in the feels and is well worth watching.

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220

LA Media was delighted to be invited to attend the fourth annual Spliced Awards ceremony. The Spliced Awards is an event that celebrates and showcases the best of Edinburgh College Broadcast Media students' work produced throughout the year.

The films screened at the ceremony were from the NC, HNC, and HND level students' course work. All of their hard work was scored by a group of independent professionals working in the TV & Film industry. This award ceremony is a chance for the new generation of young film and television markers to show off their practical ability and get noticed by already established media professionals.

The whole LA Media team was impressed by the artful craft of the students' work and overall really impressed with the talent of the Edinburgh College Broadcast Media students. What would an award event be without some glamour!? The Spliced Award ceremony certainly delivered that! Beautiful Scottish TV and Film actress Shauna MacDonald (Filth, The Descent, Spooks, Wedding Belles) did a fantastic job of being the hostess with the mostest.

Image by LA Media ‘Shauna MacDonald Hosting the 2017 Spliced Awards'

Categories & Winners of the 2017 Spliced Awards

Best Videography - Mikey Sneddon 'The Birds of Dalhousie Castle'

Best Editing  - Liucijia Selvestraviciute 'The Irn-Bru Advert'

Best Factual - Mikey Sneddon 'The Birds of Dalhousie Castle'

Best Non-Factual - Ross Miller 'The Hit'

Audience Award - Sandesh Pal for 'Kittiwakes'

Image by LA Media 'Winners of the 2017 Spliced Awards' 

If the impressive level of these short films is anything to go by the future of our TV & video production world is in very safe hands. LA Media would like to once again congratulate all the winners and acknowledge all the hard work of all the participants. A special thanks needs to be given to  Marjory Crooks and her inspirational team for organising such a fantastic event.

We hope you enjoyed this blog post! Don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220

The LA Media team had a great time at the 2017 China UK Film & TV Conference which was held at Edinburgh's prestigious Waldorf Astoria hotel on 5 June 2017.

Image by LA Media 'Keynote Speakers at the 2017 China UK Film & TV Conference'

The event was organised and hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Press, Publication, Radio, Film & Television, and Propeller TV, with the goal of fostering a good creative dialogue between China and the UK's creative industry.

Image by LA Media 'Event Hosts at the 2017 China UK Film & TV Conference'

Attendees were treated to a showcase exhibition of the best films, TV shows, and published works China has to offer. There was also ample opportunity for UK creatives to meet their Chinese media counterparts to a backdrop of pipers with the wonderful Waldorf hospitality on top.

Image by LA Media 'Louise of LA Media with Katy Hutcheson of LS Productions'

LA Media was thrilled to see the lovely ladies of LS Productions at the event. A great time was had by all - and a trip to visit our new friends in China is now planned!

Image by LA Media ' Group picture of Attendees & Speakers at the 2017 China UK Film & TV Conference'

We hope you enjoyed this blog post! Don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220

LA Media recently reunited with Cisco Systems Inc, a multinational technology conglomerate that develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware. We were asked to film a piece about the integration and installation of a Cisco system into one of France's national broadcaster, Canal Plus.

Canal Plus Group SA is a French film and television studio and distributor. Canal Plus or Canal+ translates as  "Channel Plus/More," which is a very apt name for them. It is owned and controlled by Vivendi and has a film library in excess of 5,000 films.

The video we were tasked with making had to show the results of the integration process through the eyes of those at Canal Plus. Watch out for the final version on our website, which will be up at later date. We thought we'd share some of the snaps captured on Justin's phone during the day!

Image by LA Media 'Studio Gallery at Canal Plus'

The Road to Paris

Although LA Media has much of its own equipment in-house, sometimes we link up with our Partner Procam for our technical needs. This time was no exception! Darryl Hewat, at Procam Glasgow, went above and beyond for us at short notice in delivering what we needed for this shoot.

Image by LA Media 'The Production Team Arriving at Edinburgh Airport' 

The phrase travel light moves fast doesn't really apply when you go abroad with equipment. We want to be clear, we aren't sponsored by EasyJet, but we wish we were!

Flying with EasyJet made traveling with copious amounts of camera equipment easy peasy! No headaches and no surprise airport baggage fees.

The outsized baggage handlers were really helpful and polite. Everything was fast and efficient. The self-check-in kiosk was simple enough that even our Director Justin was able to use it all by himself.

Image by LA Media ' Green Screen at Canal Plus'

Our impressions of  Canal Plus

We were absolutely astounded at how Canal Plus is run. They have three studios and all were busy the entire day. Their turn around was like lighting and they efficiently moved from project to project with ease. Truly a well-oiled machine making good use of studio space.

Image by LA Media  'Cisco Systems Installed in the Technical Area'

One studio produced a live game-show and a live music show on the same day without a hitch. Another produced a political comedy using spitting-image style puppets and the last studio generated a live children's show. For anyone that doesn't understand the effort that involves it was herculean!

Image by LA Media 'Studio Gallery at Canal Plus'

We came back feeling really inspired by Canal Plus's work ethic and will definitely be using some of their methods and tricks in the future.

Image by LA Media 'Cameraman Andrew Murray hard at work in Canal Plus studio'

This is one studio group that really knows how to get some real bang for their buck. Four different formats were produced by three different studios each one an hour in length.

Image by LA Media 'French-Scottish Bagpipers not what we were expecting!'

This was a really awesome project to work on and we were thrilled to have a chance to have an inside look at Canal Plus's studio space. It was great to team up again with the wonderful people at Cisco. We'd like to send a big thank you out to Procam for being such pros and to EasyJet for making the journey so simple!

We hope you enjoyed this blog post! Don’t forget to follow us on: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!
Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220