Latest news with #Polaroid
Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Best Polaroid instant camera
In 1948, photography and instant gratification converged when Edwin H. Land invented the first Polaroid camera. Since then, a plethora of new technologies have been developed, yet the Polaroid continues to be a memorable party favorite to cherish. Refilling costs Most Polaroid instant cameras require either ZINK paper or film. Considering film and ZINK paper usually contain only enough for around 10 prints per package, it gets expensive taking pictures with instant cameras. Limited prints As there is usually a small number of prints per package of paper or film, shooting with a Polaroid instant camera means you have a limited amount of shots available, so click wisely. Even if you buy a bulk supply of film or paper, when you run out, you still have to stop and refill, which can be an inconvenience when you're in the moment creating memories. Battery power While some Polaroid instant cameras have rechargeable batteries, most take alkaline batteries. This is another form of frequent maintenance and cost involved in an instant camera that should be taken into consideration. In the modern world, the top quality Polaroid cameras not only have the classic nostalgia of the past but also the technological upgrades of today. Now, you can find many Polaroid instant cameras that include features such as printing and editing options, an app to sync your smartphone with and a rechargeable battery. Rechargeable battery If you don't want the hassle of changing batteries continuously, look for a Polaroid instant camera with a rechargeable battery and charging cable. This way, all you'll have to do is plug it in to charge and get back to snapping photos! App Many Polaroid cameras are now extremely sophisticated and high tech. If you wish to send your Polaroid photograph straight to social media without having to capture a picture of the shot itself, look for the app feature. This is not on every modern Polaroid instant camera, but many have this option. Printing options Unlike with the original Polaroid cameras, many modern models allow you to select which shots you want to print out instead of being stuck with ones you don't like. Another great option is being able to select where to print it to if you have other printers you want to send it to. Depending on where you purchase, for a small basic model, anywhere between about $50-$200. However, for the larger, vintage looking Polaroids, their prices can go all the way up to around $500. Why are my prints blown out? A. Due to most Polaroids being automatic cameras, you can't control or edit light the way you can with digital. However, you can increase the quality of your prints by capturing soft, natural light, such as standing by a window sill in the daytime rather than in direct sun or under light bulbs. Do I have to buy ink for my Polaroid instant camera? A. No. Models in the past required ink cartridges, but through modern developments, the Polaroid technology does not currently need it. Top Polaroid instant camera Polaroid Now+ Black (9061) – Bluetooth Connected I-Type Instant Film Camera with Bonus Lens Filter Set What you need to know: This is the ideal camera if you still want the 'Polaroid' look but also want more customizable features and filters. What you'll love: The Polaroid Now+ produces high-quality prints and is very user-friendly. It also comes with a set of filters, which is a nice bonus. It has lots of customizable features, including autofocus, full manual control, light painting and more. What you should consider: It doesn't include a selfie mirror or any film. Top Polaroid instant camera for the money Polaroid Snap Touch Instant Print Digital Camera What you need to know: It has many capabilities that include an LCD display, which doubles as a viewfinder or photo editor. What you'll love: It can sync with iPhone or Android devices via Bluetooth for printing and has the option to download and store 13 Megapixel photos on an SD card for easy transferal to a computer. It features a built-in 'selfie mirror' as well as a timer to get the perfect group shots. What you should consider: ZINK paper is less costly than film but still expensive regardless. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Millionaire Bro Crypto Torture Plot Takes Bizarre New Twist
An NYPD detective reportedly provided security at a ritzy SoHo townhouse where two cryptocurrency kingpins allegedly kidnapped and tortured an Italian tourist to obtain his Bitcoin passcode. The detective, News 4 New York reported Thursday, is part of Mayor Eric Adams' security detail. Both he and another member of the force were placed on modified desk duty this week. The detective, who was working off-duty, is also believed to have picked up the tourist at the airport, sources told the outlet. It's unknown how aware either NYPD member was of what allegedly took place at the Prince Street townhouse. 'Every city employee is expected to follow the law, including our officers, both on and off duty,' City Hall told the NBC affiliate in a statement. 'We are disturbed by these allegations, and as soon as it came to our attention, the officers were placed on modified duty. The investigation is ongoing.' Two men, John Woeltz and William Duplessie, have been taken into custody for allegedly holding the tourist captive for 17 days. The 28-year-old Italian national told police that they stole his passport and electronic devices upon his arrival, and demanded his Bitcoin passcode. When he refused, their methods of torture included shocking him with electric wires, putting a gun to his head, hitting him with the gun, holding a chainsaw to his leg, and dangling him over the ledge of the five-story staircase. After relinquishing his password last Friday, the victim managed to escape the $40,000 per month townhouse and flag down an NYPD traffic cop. Police said he was shoeless and bloodied. Prosecutors said that when police arrived on scene, they found Polaroid photos depicting the alleged abuse. They also found cocaine, body armor, a gun and ammunition, and chicken wire. Woeltz, who has been referred to as the Crypto King of Kentucky, has a net worth of around $100 million, according to NBC New York. The 37-year-old was arrested Friday in his bathrobe outside the townhouse. Woeltz was indicted by a grand jury on Thursday and denied bail. He has a June 11 arraignment, at which time the charges will be unsealed. Duplessie, who had been living in Switzerland, was an early supporter of Bitcoin, having claimed back in 2017 that the value of one unit would reach $1 million. He turned himself in on Tuesday, with an indictment forthcoming. Sources told News 4 New York that the three men's relationship was complex, and like 'Wolf of Wall Street/frat guys gone wild.'
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Italian crypto torture victim returned to NYC to reclaim stolen Bitcoin from thieves who then held him hostage for weeks: DA
The pair of hard-partying crypto bros accused of sadistically torturing an Italian millionaire lured him to New York City with the promise of returning Bitcoin they had allegedly stolen from him — only to then keep him hostage for weeks in a twisted bid to siphon the rest, prosecutors alleged. Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, 28, had been forced to cough up the Bitcoin after John Woeltz and William Duplessie allegedly threatened to kill his family, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Amanda Blott revealed in court this week. The crypto crooks then allegedly told Carturan — who is worth some $30 million — he'd have to come back to the Big Apple if he wanted them to return the e-currency. Advertisement Carturan, who is from Turin, was picked up from the airport by an off-duty NYPD detective doing security on the side, and brought to the duo's 8-bedroom Prince Street home on May 6, according to sources and prosecutors. Woeltz and Duplessie allegedly grabbed his passport and cell phone and tied him to a chair, prosecutors said. Carturan was imprisoned in the SoHo house of horrors and brutalized for 17 horrific days — until he broke free over the weekend, prosecutors said. Advertisement The new details of the shocking torture case were revealed as Duplessie was arraigned in the case, and as prosecutors revealed Thursday they had secured an indictment against Woeltz, who was busted May 23 when Carturan made his escape. 6 Prosecutors said Italian crypto trader Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan wanted to recoup his stolen bitcoin. WNBC 6 Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan was held in a SoHo townhouse and tortured for nearly three weeks, cops said. James Keivom Sources also said that the cop who picked Carturan up at the airport and brought him to the SoHo pad had served as a member of Mayor Eric Adams' security detail — and has now been placed on modified duty. Advertisement A police search of the spacious townhouse uncovered Polaroid pics of the Italian trader's torment, including one with a crack pipe shoved in his mount while being held down, and another showing him with a gun pointed at his head, the DA's office said. 6 John Woeltz, the Crypto King of Kentucky, is charged with kidnapping an torturing an Italian bitcoin dealer in SoHo. Michael Nagle 6 Crypto millionaire William Duplessie is charged with kidnapping and torturing an Italian bicoin dealer in a SoHo house.. William Miller Woeltz, 33, and Duplessie, 37, allegedly threatened to kill Carturan's family again, and warned him that if he escaped they would track him down and kill him while demanding his bitcoin password. Advertisement Finally, after being dangled from the top of a staircase, Carturan agreed to provide his password, but fled to freedom when Woeltz allegedly went to fetch his laptop, prosecutors revealed. Woeltz was quickly arrested at the SoHo home, while Duplessie turned himself in Tuesday after partying it up in the Hamptons over the weekend, law-enforcement sources said. In court, Manhattan prosecutors said cops searched the townhouse and found a chainsaw, crack, body armor, night vision goggles, ballistic helmets, a gun with ammunition, and an array of photos of Carturan's harrowing weeks-long ordeal. 6 Prosecutors said Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan wanted to reclaim his stolen bitcoing when he was imprisoned.. Paul Martinka According to sources, Woeltz, dubbed the 'Crypto King of Kentucky,' and the hulking Duplessie lived a pricey party lifestyle, boozing it up at high-end Manhattan night spots and hosting all-night raves inside the rented SoHo townhouse. Carturan was taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment after breaking free. In court Thursday, Woeltz's lawyer argued for his client to be released on a $2 million bond, claiming reports that his client owned a private jet and a chopper was not true. 'He has never been arrested before,' attorney Wayne Gosnell said. 'He's a 37-year-old man with no prior criminal history. He's a college graduate with a degree in philosophy. He's been very successful in the technology world. He's been supportive of his friends and family. Advertisement 6 Beatrice Folchi, John Woeltz's assistant, was arrested but released after the SoHo torture arrests. Khristina Narizhnaya/NY Post 'They are all committed in seeing him fight this case,' Gosnell added. Not swayed, Judge Kevin McGrath ordered him held without bail pending a return appearance June 11. Advertisement Kayla Mamelak Altus, Adams' press secretary, said the mayor's office was 'disturbed' by the allegations. 'Every city employee is expected to follow the law, including our officers, both on and off duty. We are disturbed by these allegations, and as soon as it came to our attention, the officers were placed on modified duty. The investigation is ongoing,' she said in a statement.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What we know about the NYC crypto kidnapping and torture case
A cryptocurrency dispute led to the alleged kidnapping and torture of an Italian man in a luxury New York City townhouse for over two weeks, according to police. Two men -- John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33 -- now face kidnapping, assault and unlawful imprisonment charges in the case. MORE: Crypto entrepreneur arrested for allegedly torturing a man for weeks: Police "From what we know now, this was a dispute over crypto money," NYPD Chief John Chell told reporters. "They all know each other, but this was a kidnapping for roughly 17 days, where they tortured this person. When I say torture, forced them to take narcotics, put his feet in water and shocked his feet and other types of torture for 17 days." Here's what we know about the case. The alleged 28-year-old victim, whose name has not been publicly released by authorities, told police he arrived in New York from Italy on May 6 and went to Woeltz's eight-bedroom SoHo townhouse. Assistant District Attorney Michael Mattson said Woeltz and Duplessie allegedly lured the man to New York from Italy by threatening to have his family killed. Once the alleged victim arrived, he was stripped of his electronics and passport, bound by the wrists and subjected to beatings, electric shock and a hit to the head from a gun, according to the criminal complaint. Woeltz allegedly carried the alleged victim to the top flight of stairs and hung him over the ledge and threatened to kill him if he did not provide his Bitcoin password, according to the complaint. The alleged victim told authorities Woeltz and Duplessie used a saw to cut his leg, urinated on him and forced him to smoke crack cocaine by holding him down or forcing a pipe into his mouth, prosecutors said. On Friday morning, the man escaped from the home, running to a traffic enforcement officer for help, police said. The alleged victim was taken to a local hospital in stable condition, police said. The alleged victim was finally able to escape after believing he was going to be shot by telling his captors he would provide the defendants with his Bitcoin password contained on his laptop, according to prosecutors. When Woeltz left the alleged victim to retrieve the laptop, the man was able to escape down the stairs, according to prosecutors. Inside the townhouse, prosecutors said detectives recovered a saw, crack cocaine, chicken wire, T-shirts with pictures of the alleged victim with the crack cocaine pipe in his mouth, body armor, night vision goggles, ballistic helmets, Polaroid pictures of the alleged victim with a firearm pointed to his head and firearm ammunition. A gun was also recovered in the home, police said. Law enforcement said they observed blood in various areas in the apartment where the man indicated he was allegedly tortured. Woeltz, reportedly dubbed the "crypto king of Kentucky," was taken into custody on Friday. The crypto entrepreneur did not make any comments to reporters as he was escorted out of his apartment by police in handcuffs. Duplessie turned himself in at the NYPD's 13th Precinct on Tuesday. He did not respond to reporters' shouted questions while being escorted out of the precinct. Both men have been charged with kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a firearm. They have pleaded not guilty, court records show. MORE: 2nd suspect arrested in SoHo torture case, officials say beatings, drugs and gun used They were denied bail at their initial court appearances. Prosecutors convinced the judge to hold Woeltz without bail by pointing out that he is from Kentucky and has the means to flee, including a private jet and helicopter. A judge denied Duplessie's attorney's request for him to be held under home detention with his father in Florida on $1 million bail, ABC New York station WABC reported. His attorney called the facts of the case and Duplessie's involvement "hotly disputed," according to WABC. Attorneys for both suspects had no comment when contacted by ABC News. They face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top charge of kidnapping. A 24-year-old woman was also arrested on Friday for kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment in connection with the case, police said. Though the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is not prosecuting her at this time and she is not in police custody. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told a local station Tuesday that the two men are currently the only suspects in the case. "So far, it's those two we're looking at," she said. "There may be others." What we know about the NYC crypto kidnapping and torture case originally appeared on
2 days ago
What we know about the NYC crypto kidnapping and torture case
A cryptocurrency dispute led to the alleged kidnapping and torture of an Italian man in a luxury New York City townhouse for over two weeks, according to police. Two men -- John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33 -- now face kidnapping, assault and unlawful imprisonment charges in the case. "From what we know now, this was a dispute over crypto money," NYPD Chief John Chell told reporters. "They all know each other, but this was a kidnapping for roughly 17 days, where they tortured this person. When I say torture, forced them to take narcotics, put his feet in water and shocked his feet and other types of torture for 17 days." Here's what we know about the case. Alleged victim lured to NYC The alleged 28-year-old victim, whose name has not been publicly released by authorities, told police he arrived in New York from Italy on May 6 and went to Woeltz's eight-bedroom SoHo townhouse. Assistant District Attorney Michael Mattson said Woeltz and Duplessie allegedly lured the man to New York from Italy by threatening to have his family killed. Once the alleged victim arrived, he was stripped of his electronics and passport, bound by the wrists and subjected to beatings, electric shock and a hit to the head from a gun, according to the criminal complaint. Woeltz allegedly carried the alleged victim to the top flight of stairs and hung him over the ledge and threatened to kill him if he did not provide his Bitcoin password, according to the complaint. The alleged victim told authorities Woeltz and Duplessie used a saw to cut his leg, urinated on him and forced him to smoke crack cocaine by holding him down or forcing a pipe into his mouth, prosecutors said. Alleged victim's escape On Friday morning, the man escaped from the home, running to a traffic enforcement officer for help, police said. The alleged victim was taken to a local hospital in stable condition, police said. The alleged victim was finally able to escape after believing he was going to be shot by telling his captors he would provide the defendants with his Bitcoin password contained on his laptop, according to prosecutors. When Woeltz left the alleged victim to retrieve the laptop, the man was able to escape down the stairs, according to prosecutors. Inside the townhouse, prosecutors said detectives recovered a saw, crack cocaine, chicken wire, T-shirts with pictures of the alleged victim with the crack cocaine pipe in his mouth, body armor, night vision goggles, ballistic helmets, Polaroid pictures of the alleged victim with a firearm pointed to his head and firearm ammunition. A gun was also recovered in the home, police said. Law enforcement said they observed blood in various areas in the apartment where the man indicated he was allegedly tortured. Suspects denied bail Woeltz, reportedly dubbed the "crypto king of Kentucky," was taken into custody on Friday. The crypto entrepreneur did not make any comments to reporters as he was escorted out of his apartment by police in handcuffs. Duplessie turned himself in at the NYPD's 13th Precinct on Tuesday. He did not respond to reporters' shouted questions while being escorted out of the precinct. Both men have been charged with kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a firearm. They have pleaded not guilty, court records show. They were denied bail at their initial court appearances. Prosecutors convinced the judge to hold Woeltz without bail by pointing out that he is from Kentucky and has the means to flee, including a private jet and helicopter. A judge denied Duplessie's attorney's request for him to be held under home detention with his father in Florida on $1 million bail, ABC New York station WABC reported. His attorney called the facts of the case and Duplessie's involvement "hotly disputed," according to WABC. Attorneys for both suspects had no comment when contacted by ABC News. They face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top charge of kidnapping. A 24-year-old woman was also arrested on Friday for kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment in connection with the case, police said. Though the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is not prosecuting her at this time and she is not in police custody. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told a local station Tuesday that the two men are currently the only suspects in the case.
