The Apple Watch can double as a nightstand alarm clock while it charges on its side. The watch provides an unobtrusive clock that, unlike a cellphone, you don’t have pick up or press a button to see the time — just nudge the watch the check the time, then roll over and get some more Z’s!

Setting the Apple Watch alarm just takes three easy steps!

1. Set the watch to Nightstand mode
   After you’ve placed the watch on its side on your nightstand, connect the Apple Watch to its charger. After it starts charging, the watch will automatically switch into Nightstand mode. The display will turn off when not in use, but can be reengaged if tapped or even just nudged.
2. Set the alarm
   You’ll need to set or adjust the alarm after the watch is in Nightstand mode. First, open the Alarms app on the Apple Watch, then firmly press the display pad and tap “add alarm.” Either rotate the Digital Crown, located on the side of the watch, or tap the screen to adjust the alarm.
   You can also hold down the Digital Crown until Siri appears, and ask her to set the alarm for you.
   Presto! You’re good to go to sleep!
3. Snooze
   Looking to catch a few extra Z’s in the morning? Before the alarm begins, the display will get brighter and the text will turn yellow. Then, the Apple Watch will make the alarm sound. To snooze the Apple Watch for nine minutes, press the Digital Crown.
   To turn off the alarm, press the side button.

As simple as 1-2-3, setting the Apple Watch alarm is a breeze. Simply set, sleep and snooze (should your time allow.) Or, jump up and get going with your day!

What Apple tutorial would you like to see next? Are there any tips or tricks you want to learn about? Let us know!

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

The post How to Set Your Apple Watch Alarm in 3 Easy Steps Brianna Loper appeared first on Gazelle The Horn.

However, for people without professional photo training, or for those who are new to Instagram, the app may be daunting. How do you snap, filter, and share striking Instagram photos you’re proud of? Here are the top five tips about how to take perfect Instagram photos:

1. Start with a good photo.
   It’s easy to make a good photo better, but it’s hard to make a bad photo good on Instagram. When you’re taking the photo, make some quick changes to ensure you start with a solid foundation. First, look for good, natural lighting by a window or outdoors. Next, using the photo app on iPhones or Androids, tap the subject of the photo — this will set the focus on that subject and adjust the lighting to best highlight it. Also, look for a neutral background that won’t distract from your subject, such as a wall or line of shrubbery.
2. What’s your mood?
   Are you going for artsy? Retro? High-fashion? Natural? Think about the mood you’d like your photo to have, and the feelings that you’d like to convey before you even click the electronic shutter. This will help you find lighting, such as high contract for artistic shadows or soft glow to highlight your favorite feature in a selfie, and help you concentrate on the important elements. Finally, Instagram’s infamous filters will help you put the final touch and feel on your photo.
3. Pay attention to the crop.
   Instagram automatically crops photos to its signature square, which can be great for singular items like a bouquet of flowers or an ornate meal. But what about for the sunset on the beach, or the group shot with just a few too many people? Experts say that in many cases, a horizontal photo is the most appealing because when the human eye scans left to right, it takes in data five times faster than when it scans up and down. In its latest update, Instagram added a feature that allows users to publish photos in the original aspect ratio. When you upload photos, the app will detect if the photo is not a square photo, and an icon with two white arrows will appear in the lower left corner of your image. Click this to toggle back and forth between a square crop and no crop, choosing the crop that is best for your image.
4. Craft a witty caption or flip to your emoji keyboard.
   You may think that once you’ve added those filters and cropped to the right size that you’re good to post a photo, but think again! The caption is one of the most important parts of your photo. Some people like to go for a quick word-play pun, while others like to highlight the subject of their post. Whatever your style, keep it clean, cohesive and too the point — don’t ramble! And if you can’t think of something fun to say, flip to your emoji keyboard for some quick, adorable icons or some inspiration! After all, it is a photo sharing app.
5. Keep it simple!
   To draw the eye in and attract your viewers, keep both your image and your caption simple. People spend just a few seconds looking at an image as they scroll through the app, so make it easy for them to understand, comprehend and appreciate. Go for bold shapes, bright colors and interesting lines to keep people scrolling through your posts.

What’s your secret tip for getting Instagram likes and followers, or for just taking a great photo in general? Let us know in the comments!

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

The post How to Take Perfect Instagram Photos Brianna Loper appeared first on Gazelle The Horn.