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- Box Accelerator may triple cloud upload speeds versus its rivals, comes to syncing apps soon (video)
- Security researchers dissect Flame's handling program, find three new viruses 'at large'
- Nokia cops to powering Amazon's mapping service
- Slickdeals' best in tech for September 17th: 30-inch HP monitor, motherboard combo and SSDs
- Apple's new iPod touch, nano and shuffle now up for pre-order on Amazon
- Shazam now rides shotgun with any TV show in the US, gets cozier with Facebook
- Dreams, curiosity and a passion for what's next: picking the brain of Innovation Lab's Mads Thimmer
- Microsoft sends out a Save the Date for Windows 8, all to be revealed in NYC on October 25th
- TomTom confirms new taxi-ordering service, beginning trial rollout in Amsterdam
- Canon PowerShot SX50 HS hands-on
- Canon launches Project 1709: a strangely named photo service with deep Facebook hooks
- The Popinator voice-activated popcorn launcher: because greasy hands are just so 2011 (video)
- Canon PowerShot SX500 IS hands-on
- Google releases new Java to iOS source code translator
- Canon PowerShot G15 features f/1.8-2.8 lens and DSLR-like controls, we go hands-on (video)
- Canon PowerShot SX160 IS appears at Photokina, we go hands-on
- Canon PowerShot S110 packs WiFi and touch-enabled display (hands-on video)
- Canon Cinema EOS C100 hands-on (video)
- Canon and Panasonic halt production in China amid anti-Japan protests
- UK retailer Game promises free in-store WiFi, asks only that you visit
- We're live from Photokina 2012 in Cologne, Germany!
- Amazon Maps API enters beta as retailer weans itself off Google
- Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video)
- iPhone 5 pre-orders crack 2 million in first 24 hours
- Amazon Kindle Fire HD torn down, proves an easy fix
- LG outs Pocket Photo mobile picture printer, says it's the smallest of its kind
- Panasonic teases 42.5mm f/1.2 and 150mm f/2.8 MFT lenses, slated for release by 2014
- Amazon's new Kindle Fire tablets are likely to be hack-resistant
- Panasonic's GH3 mirrorless camera gets official: 16MP, WiFi and 72Mbps HD video in a ruggedized body (hands-on)
- SiriusXM for Android update brings On Demand and offline listening
- Hands-on with Kingston's DataTraveler Workspace at IDF (video)
- Apple iCloud adds iOS-style notification bar, Notes and Reminders web apps
- Visualized: Intel's wall of motherboards at IDF 2012
- AT&T says iPhone 5 is 'fastest selling' model ever, neglects to mention actual numbers (update)
- Olympus Stylus XZ-2 is a digital compact stuck in a mirrorless camera's body, we go hands-on
- Olympus E-PL5 and E-PM2: Micro Four Thirds cameras with OM-D-like focusing, performance boosts (hands-on)
- Amazon placating delayed Marvel Cinematic Universe pre-orderers with free Avengers Blu-rays
- Canon adds the G15, S110 and SX50 HS to its PowerShot lineup
- Canon unveils EOS 6D DSLR: full frame sensor and WiFi for $2,099 in December
- Samsung planning Galaxy S IV launch for March 2013?
| Box Accelerator may triple cloud upload speeds versus its rivals, comes to syncing apps soon (video) Posted: 17 Sep 2012 11:15 AM PDT Upstream speeds are frequently the bottlenecks for cloud storage: an entire company might be held back waiting for that last presentation video to go online before the big meeting. Box wants much more parity through Accelerator, a custom infrastructure that should make uploads hum. It uses Amazon's EC2 for help, but the real magic comes through a mix of Box's own network and special prioritization. Accelerator goes beyond just location to factor in the browser, OS and other criteria that could affect a data packet's journey. The company claims through outside studies that its average 7MB/s speeds make it the upload king by a wide margin, to the tune of 2.7 times its fastest worldwide rival and 3.1 times any of its American counterparts. Peak speeds are up to 10 times faster than before, if you go by the company's word. Most of the focus is on corporate customers and speeding up access near the provider's ten global access points, but Box is planning both to ramp up performance in more areas and bring Accelerator to the company's syncing platforms in the near future -- an obvious lure for would-be Dropbox customers. |
| Security researchers dissect Flame's handling program, find three new viruses 'at large' Posted: 17 Sep 2012 10:51 AM PDT It seems that there's more than two out-of-control computer viruses roaming around the Middle East. Security researchers think that a further three could be operating "at large," with one positively identified on machines in Iran and Lebanon. Teams from Symantec and Kaspersky have separately found that the Flame malware had the electronic equivalent of a "handler," a program called NEWSFORYOU, which is also in charge of three viruses that are code-named SP, SPE and IP. The two teams have been unsuccessful in finding a sample of the trio for analysis and despite finding a cache of data on a command-and-control server, decoding it is "virtually impossible." While both security companies have declined to point a finger as to their origin, Reuters' sources suggest the United States, while The Washington Post has been told that the project was a joint-enterprise with Israel -- in keeping with the existing narrative that the pair were behind Stuxnet. |
| Nokia cops to powering Amazon's mapping service Posted: 17 Sep 2012 10:34 AM PDT Well, Amazon is being pretty tight lipped about the details of its mapping service, but Nokia isn't afraid to spill the beans. A spokesperson for the Finish company, Sebastian Kurme, told The Next Web that Amazon is indeed licensing the Nokia Location Platform for its latest Google-shunning product. We reached out as well and were fed the exact same official statement, confirming that Nokia is becoming an even bigger player in the mapping sphere. The platform is already the basis for Yahoo! Maps and a large portion of Bing's offerings as well. Not to mention Nokia Drive, the company's navigation software, is one of the crown jewels of the Windows Phone world. Check out the full statement from Nokia below.
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| Slickdeals' best in tech for September 17th: 30-inch HP monitor, motherboard combo and SSDs Posted: 17 Sep 2012 10:26 AM PDT Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. Still need to make some improvements to a machine you've got lying around after last week's group of component offerings? If so, here's another handful of discounted tech ready to meet your eager mouse clicks. For those not looking to alter their current setup, a 30-inch HP display gets quite the handsome price reduction as well. Don't get too comfortable, because these bad boys will be gone before you know it. Head on past the break to get started but just remember to include the requisite rebate forms should you need 'em. This deal is available from Buy.com. Snag this offer over at Staples. Take advantage of this offer over at NewEgg. Grab one of these at MacMall with the rebate form found here. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Apple's new iPod touch, nano and shuffle now up for pre-order on Amazon Posted: 17 Sep 2012 10:08 AM PDT Sure, all the talk of late is about Apple's shiny new iPhone 5, but let's not forget the company also unveiled a slew of fresh iPods back at the Yerba Buena Center this past week. And while the Cupertino outfit's had the music-friendly lineup for pre-order on its website from day one, folks can now start placing orders through Amazon as well. The only bad news is the revamped iPod touch shows an estimated shipping time of 3-5 weeks, while the "renanoed" nano and the tiny, colorful shuffle are both expected to be shipped in 2-5 weeks. As far as pricing goes, the MSRP tags are the same as Apple's -- though there is a better chance you could get them a bit quicker thanks to one of Amazon's renowned shipping options. Either way, you'll find 'em all at the source link below. |
| Shazam now rides shotgun with any TV show in the US, gets cozier with Facebook Posted: 17 Sep 2012 09:50 AM PDT Shazam doesn't want to let GetGlue control all our couch potato time -- it just rolled out an upgrade to its TV component that lets the mobile app provide social sharing, soundtrack and trivia details for nearly any TV show in the US, not just those deemed worthy of special attention. The app mirrors the program it's looking at -- we'll see stats instead of IMDb if we're watching hockey, for example. Whether or not attention is locked on the bigger screen in the living room, Shazam's little screen is making Facebook more a centerpiece of the experience. Media mavens can comment on friends' tagging habits and post their own tags to their Facebook timelines for all to see. The wider universe of TV shows should be available today, although we'll have to wait for an update in the "coming weeks" to broadcast our tastes in media with the rest of the world. Shazam Exceeds a Quarter of a Billion Users Worldwide and Expands Shazam for TV in the U.S. to Include Any Show, Any Channel PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shazam®, the world's leading media engagement company, today announced that it has achieved the major milestone of exceeding a quarter of a billion users globally. Shazam also announced that it has expanded its Shazam for TV™ second-screen service in the U.S. to support TV programming on any channel, anytime of day. Now, Shazam fans can use the app as a "TV companion app" with any TV show in the U.S. to access cast details and photos, music in the show, celebrity gossip, trivia, celebrity tweets, and links to additional information, plus the ability to instantly share and comment on the show or episode on Facebook and Twitter. "With more than a quarter of a billion people who have used Shazam worldwide, no other app has our scale when it comes to offering the opportunity to engage with the media that interests them the most, whether it's music or television. And now, that experience is even better than before, enabling people in the US to engage with any show at any time," said Andrew Fisher, Shazam CEO. Starting today, when people in the U.S. use the Shazam App while watching television, they have a fast and easy way to access: * Featured music – Shazam has leveraged its rich music history and its 20+ million track database to identify the music featured in whatever people are watching Additionally, different types of programming will feature different results. For instance, sports events will include stats, scores and schedules instead of cast information. "Over the last year, Shazam has been testing and learning what works by building dozens of custom interactive second-screen experiences for select television shows and events like the Olympics on NBC, American Idol, the GRAMMYs, and the Super Bowl, as well as other live and scripted programming across sports, reality, dramas, comedy and awards shows," said Doug Garland, chief revenue officer. "We've applied what we've learned to our newly expanded service, and will continue to work closely with our network partners and show producers to build special, unique second-screen experiences for their tent-pole television events and many of the most popular shows on TV." In addition to expanding Shazam for TV, Shazam is also enhancing its social features for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Android devices. When Shazamers activate the Shazam Friends feature in the app, they can see what their Facebook friends are tagging, and now they will be able to make comments about their friends' tags in the app. Additionally, with the activation, people's tags will appear on their Facebook profile in their timeline, enabling people to discuss with their friends in Facebook what they are watching or listening to. For people who download Shazam for the first time, they will see the "Login with Facebook" message when they open the app for the first time. Users can also change these Facebook sharing preferences in the Settings section of the app. Social sharing via Twitter and Google+ is also available. These new sharing features will be released in the coming weeks with additional features to be added in the coming months, including being able to Like tags. "According to industry studies, 86% of smartphone owners use their mobile device while watching TV and, with our expansion into television, we've seen a surge of activity due to recent Shazam-enabled events such as the NBC Olympic broadcast, where more than one million people tagged the closing ceremony, as well as the US Open tennis grand slam event on CBS earlier this month," said Fisher. "We think that broadening our television service and offering more comprehensive social features will continue to drive activity and engagement." For people who don't yet have the Shazam application on their smartphone, it is available for free on every major platform and can be found on iTunes App Store, Google play, Amazon App Store, AT&T's AppCenter, Verizon VCast app store, Nokia Store, Windows Phone Marketplace, BlackBerry App World, and GetJar. * Shazam for TV works for over 160 channels of television programming in the U.S., regardless of whether you subscribe to cable or satellite TV or watch broadcast TV over-the-air. However, it will not always support local-only programming, for example, some local news broadcasts or local paid advertising programs. |
| Dreams, curiosity and a passion for what's next: picking the brain of Innovation Lab's Mads Thimmer Posted: 17 Sep 2012 09:23 AM PDT Innovation. According to one Mads Thimmer, it's a word that held a great deal of mystery some 10-plus years ago, but today, "it's thrown around as a cliché." When you really get down to it, though, the art of innovating is a hugely delicate and complex one, fraught with frustration and a curious passion for never settling on the here and now. In covering the world of consumer technology, I've come to form my own understanding of what innovation is, what it isn't and how companies are embracing (or outright shunning) the idea. After an evening with the cofounder of Innovation Lab, however, I was rightfully ready to toss my own preconceived notions aside. Mad beginnings According to Thimmer himself -- a man that created a "404" beer that only true internet nerds would appreciate -- the corporate world took its toll on him early on. Specifically, it was the seemingly endless bureaucracy that tends to sulk around and adhere to corporations with minimal friction. Prior to seeking sanity in his own company, he was crafting games for Games Workshop, working in press relations at Danish telecom TDC and "translating Virginia Woolf to Danish." His view of cubes and hierarchy is one shared by plenty of those who have been buried in the enterprise at one point or another -- myself included. I spent two years at DuPont pushing Excel sheets around, and another two at Nortel as its CEO drove a sinking ship directly into an iceberg. It's quite possible that I'll never get back the portions of my soul that I lost at each place, but if anything, those experiences have made me exceptionally grateful for everything that has come after.
Rather than seeking solace in a different profession as I did, Thimmer decided to devote his life to rescuing the lost. The exaggeration is my own, but Thimmer himself confesses that his work at Innovation Lab "isn't a career, but a lifestyle." Indeed, what he has built is difficult to explain if you've only time to hear an elevator pitch. It's not a consulting firm -- he's fairly turned off by the term -- and it's not just a coworking space. Innovation Lab, a non-profit entity based in Denmark but with tentacles in countless locales around the globe, was founded to do a couple of things. One: to attract corporate clientele seeking a more unchained way of thinking to solve problems. And two: to enable its own employees to curate events in order to deliver its message and have it spread in the outside world. He's certainly okay with working with startups, but perhaps surprisingly, he prefers to target corporate minds that have already been polluted by rules and stipulations. Purpose and presence In an effort to have Thimmer explain precisely what Innovation Lab is, I ask him how he'd describe his life's work to others. After a bit of pondering, he confesses that simply describing a portfolio of successes and failures wouldn't do much good. At the Lab, you see, past performance has little bearing on the future. After all, incredible ideas that were relevant in the world of technological innovation just five years ago probably aren't so much today. That said, he does fondly recall working with a local Danish group that eventually went on to launch PLAY -- one of the planet's first music-streaming services to mobile. In fact, that project launched in March of 2008, well before stars like Spotify and Pandora were known outside of their own closets. I ask Thimmer what motivates his efforts, and what drives the machine at Innovation Lab. He chuckles a bit, and first confesses that even he doesn't exactly have a "role." He adds, "Rules inevitably lead to restrictions.... I don't like systems. I don't like rules." You may assume that's a rebel's voice, but it's assuredly not. It's delivered with a sense of urgency that perhaps only he can truly understand -- after all, he's spent the last 10 years trying to preach openness, respect and curiosity to companies that are being backed into a wall by shareholders who seek little more than short-term gains on playful stock maneuvers.
He fully understands the reality of the situation -- in fact, part of every conversation involves the balancing of curiosity with reality, and then relentlessly pursuing methods that would enable sheer curiosity to create a new reality. Effectively, the goal at Innovation Lab is to use its myriad coworking spaces to let new ideas flow freely, outside of the conventional rulebook. As Thimmer puts it, there's no rulebook to succeeding in today's market. Says Thimmer: "From 1998 to 2008, most of these companies could just throw anything to market, and it'd succeed. Management today is using a rulebook based on a decade of tactics that no longer work in a demand-driven market. In the years before, we were living in debt-driven times, so there's no real benchmark on how or why something was successful." In other words, it's easy to succeed when money flows freely; when consumers are forced to clamp down and get picky, the real challenges begin to surface. I should also point out that Thimmer is relatively opposed to "goals." The point is brought up after I ask him about any overriding goals he has for Innovation Lab. To him, the mere act of setting a goal is the act of placing blinders upon one's eyes -- if you're only aiming for a specific finish, you're missing out on opportunities to see what no other is seeing. And once you cross that line, what next? Complacency? A lifetime of using the same approaches to cross different finish lines? At some point, the rinse-repeat methodology renders an idea or company behind the curve, and once that's recognized, it's likely too late to alter one's tactics. To him, the extended success of Innovation Lab will be the perpetual impact of positivity in the people and companies he comes into contact with. To that, I inquire how he feels about frustrations. "Surely," I ask, "companies you meet with have obstacles and frustrations. You speak freely of new and open approaches to solving technological issues, but how do you handle the inevitable setbacks?" Thimmer admits that he typically refuses projects that involve things like IT security and privacy, knowing full well that the requirements there are so burdensome that it makes it nearly impossible to rethink how these issues must be approached. "But for every one of me," he adds, "there are hundreds of negative thinkers." It's a statement that resonates with me -- there are far too many instances of negativity, even in the realm of technology, and finding those devoted to instilling a new kind of culture into companies is rare. On Microsoft, Nokia and the art of self-cannibalization "I can't think of a single company that has chosen to cannibalize itself and then failed specifically because of that," says Thimmer. "But look at the list of companies that have attempted to halt industry-wide innovation in an effort to prolong profits by maintaining a status quo." It's true. RIM, for years, continued to produce handsets that looked exactly like the model it announced a year before -- surely people would continue to adore its legendary keyboard, right? Wrong. Regarding an idea put forth by myself in our conversation, Thimmer concurs that RIM was a classic case of a company shying away from self-cannibalization, only to have other companies swoop in and do the deed for it. Nokia, similarly, faced "managerial issues" that kept it from spotting the writing on the wall.
As a Dane, Thimmer has enjoyed a better view than most US journalists when it comes to the deterioration of Nokia. He describes an era where Nokia's marketing efforts plastered televisions with its "Connecting People" slogan. "People were enamored," he says. "They'd see the ads, flock to stores and pay whatever they had to pay to come away with 'that new Nokia.'" According to Thimmer, it lulled Nokia into a place of comfort and complacency -- a place where it'd be a waste of time and resources to even think about the future being anything but bright. He witnessed a company rake in hundreds of millions in revenue, and rather than spend that internally in an attempt to disrupt itself, it waited until 2007 to have itself disrupted. "Today, the iPhone possesses Olympic status," says Thimmer. "It wasn't that way in 2007 -- I recall rather lukewarm reactions to it here in Denmark. Nokia laughed it off. But as it was riding the wave of massive cellular adoption, it was ignoring an opportunity to build a mobile operating system more fluid and enjoyable than that on the iPhone. It finally chose a different path some two years too late."
Apple, on the other hand, took a very different approach. On the day the original iPhone was introduced, CEO Steve Jobs actually called out the fact that the iPhone could take the place of an iPod. That it was an iPod. Effectively, he was ensuring that you -- the consumer -- realized that this new device was a more multifaceted version of its hottest-selling product. That, by definition, is self-cannibalization. As if prophetically, Apple has been selling fewer iPods ever since -- the lone sad trombone in every quarterly earnings call is the unsurprising slide in classic iPod sales. But rather than waiting for someone else to come and destroy its iPod market with another creation entirely, it went ahead and did the honors. One could even argue that the iPad is in the earliest stages of also cannibalizing at least a portion of Apple's Mac sales. In a slight pivot, I bring up the ill-fated Kin that Microsoft launched a number of years ago. "Is that not the atypical outside-of-the-box thinking that you'd never expect a behemoth like Microsoft to muster? Is that not exactly the kind of thing you're encouraging companies to do? How do you respond to a Microsoft executive that uses something like the Kin's failure as leverage to severely throttle the funding of wild new ideas?" Thimmer clearly understands that things like this do indeed happen, but he suggests that Microsoft likely did not do one of the fundamental things his staff implores clients to do: cultural research. "Too many companies look at product launches and expect marketing and timing to do the rest. If a product fails, it's clearly due to failed marketing. It's never due to a failed product."
Brash, but oftentimes true. Hours earlier, I spoke at a Financial Innovation Network session dreamt up and hosted by Innovation Lab. In the building were a few dozen players from all sides of the banking industry, each struggling with ways to handle the new realities facing banks in an ever-digital world. Effectively, they view brick-and-mortar banks as becoming less important, and in turn, less necessary. To combat that sort of grim reality requires a renewed sense of thinking -- a problem-solving solution that won't come from any rulebook. On the topic of mobile payments, Thimmer notes that banks cannot simply form a bond, agree on a technology and launch a product into a global market without first studying cultural norms in the regions they hope to penetrate. "In some areas, the physical exchange of cash is culturally significant," he says. "To make mobile payments work there, for example, you would need to create a process that very closely mimics the expression of the presently accepted transaction. Or, at least, educate that market on what the new offering is. Throwing a product into the wild and expecting people to simply adapt to it will not always be successful." In other words, Microsoft's cultural research department failed to pick up red flags as the Kin was being engineered. It's as if they expected tweens in 2010 to be completely receptive to a socially minded featurephone with full-blown data rates. Somehow, inexplicably, Microsoft's research team missed the fact that tweens in 2010 were demanding iPhones. Great people, great places and great projects If there are three pillars to Innovation Lab, it would be these: great people, great places and great projects. To date, the company has branded offices in Denmark's Copenhagen and Aarhus as well as Nuuk in Greenland. But it has partnered with technologically minded coworking spaces around the globe to bring those in Scandinavia and Greenland closer to those in Silicon Valley, Barcelona, New York and beyond. It's hoping to expand in San Francisco (and will soon be changing its Copenhagen address to an extraordinary new space near Tivoli Gardens), and via partnerships to any nook or cranny available. With a (roughly) 50 / 50 mix of responding to pleas for new approaches and hosting curated sessions like the I one I attended in Denmark's capital, Innovation Lab is aiming not to provide temporary solutions to long-rooted problems, but entirely new approaches to business that remove walls, remove rules and remove the notion of conventional expectations.
Thimmer (and myself, for what it's worth) concurs that failure in technology should be more celebrated than it is. For every rousing success story at Google (Gmail, Android, Maps, etc.) there are rows upon rows of brilliant ideas that didn't go anywhere for one reason or another. But that's okay, says Thimmer. He also believes that specific rules and regulations placed on employees by management eventually act to hinder the overall performance of the company, and that the art of avoiding risk by ignoring the future is in fact more risky than leaping after the unknown. Perhaps it's all a bit utopian, the idea of technology companies having their success viewed at least in part on how positively they impact their own employees and the world around them. But if it's between that or some arbitrary figure of value trading hands 700 times per second on a stock exchange, I'll take the former. No one ever said innovation and crazy couldn't coexist, right? This article originally appeared in Distro Issue #57. |
| Microsoft sends out a Save the Date for Windows 8, all to be revealed in NYC on October 25th Posted: 17 Sep 2012 09:01 AM PDT It's been a long time coming, but Microsoft has finally sent out the invites for its Windows 8 launch event. As you can see, Redmond's new multi-faceted OS will be officially revealed in Gotham on October 25th. Microsoft isn't giving us any details about the celebration itself, but rest assured, we'll be bringing all the action to you live when the Win 8 party gets poppin'. |
| TomTom confirms new taxi-ordering service, beginning trial rollout in Amsterdam Posted: 17 Sep 2012 08:56 AM PDT TomTom has been continually upping its navigation game, what with its partnership with Apple in iOS 6 and the HD Traffic 6.0 upgrade and requisite Android app announced this summer. Far be it from the Dutch service to rest on its mapping laurels, though: it's now poised to take on Uber and other players in the taxi-hailing world. Last week, The Next Web reported that the company acquired the taxi-fetching app maker TXXI in an effort to roll out a TomTom cab-booking service, and today the site reports that the theory is now confirmed. Speaking with TNW, TomTom said it indeed bought TXXI to "help develop tools to support the taxi market," with initial efforts focusing on Amsterdam. Last month, the company began a trial program in that city to let restaurant and hotel guests order a taxi from a mini-kiosk called the Taxi Butler. On the cab side, there's the so-called Taxi Assistant, a TomTom-branded device which alerts drivers to incoming requests. No word on whether the company will eventually introduce mobile apps, but we'd say it's a pretty safe bet. |
| Canon PowerShot SX50 HS hands-on Posted: 17 Sep 2012 08:35 AM PDT Sure the SX160 is a bit of a bulky superzoom, but it's got nothing on Canon's beefy PowerShot SX50 HS. As with the similarly named SX500 IS, the SX50's got a big, protruding lens and flash, though the added girth make it look a bit more like a DSLR. Part of its width can no doubt be chalked up to its 2.8-inch vari-angle LCD, which can be swiveled away from the body of the camera to help vary viewing angles. Also, like the SX50, the SX500 has a devoted button for Zoom Framing Assist, which does a quick zoom out to help you reframe subjects on the fly. Above the display you'll find a play button and a cushioned viewfinder. To its right, you've got the Record, Display, Menu and access to settings like Macro and ISO. You'll find the rest to the settings -- plus ON / OFF and access to that big 50x zooming to the right of the flash. The PowerShot SX50 HS will run you $480 when it drops next month. |
| Canon launches Project 1709: a strangely named photo service with deep Facebook hooks Posted: 17 Sep 2012 08:35 AM PDT A prerequisite for launching a cloud storage solution is a strange name, we understand that much. But where Picasa, Flickr and Box all at least hint at their intentions, Canon's new photo service sounds more like a plot device from Lost than an online repository for your snapshots. Project 1709 is actually named for the beta launch date (today, September 17th) and looks to take on the big players in the field with a slick UI and integration with social networks. The tiled design puts all your uploaded images in an easy to navigate and glanceable layout, with a focus on organization. Pics can be filtered based on tags you add, date or locations pulled from the EXIF data. All the camera's settings are also exposed, allowing you to figure out how exactly you captured each shot. There's even deep Facebook integration that makes it easy to not only publish photos to your profile, but pull them in from the social network along with comments. You can sign up at the source link, or simply learn more from the gallery and PR below.
Your lifetime of images, on demand – Canon unveils new image management platform Easily store, find, access, improve and enjoy The platform's clean, tiled design gives a fresh and enjoyable new way to view images, with a customisable timeline ribbon and tag-based filtering options that make it easier to find images using important dates, location, user-added tags, and much more. The platform has been created around five core principles designed the make it easier for photographers to manage their images: Store: Allowing you to store a lifetime of images, all on one platform. You can upload images from any device using either the dedicated desktop uploader or directly from the web page. Even if the same image is stored in multiple locations, advanced image matching technology identifies duplicate images and enables users to easily remove them from their library Find: The intuitive search functionality allows you to quickly filter through photos to locate the image needed. Meaningful tags added by you, as well as EXIF data, device information, dates, and geo-tags, can all be searched within the interface – making images easily findable, whichever way you search. With the advanced search functionality you can enjoy a timeline of images providing the perfect way to document a child growing through the years Improve: As well as storing a library of pictures, a concise overview of EXIF data – including the camera's model, exposure time, aperture and ISO speed – is also displayed to help you understand camera settings on your favourite shots. Using advanced indexing technology, you can build up a lifetime of images with an extensive collection of contextual data that can be used to theme images, organise collections and make special photos easy to find Enjoy: The platform makes it easy to enjoy and make the most of digital photography, as well as share your favourite images. With Facebook integration you can publish images, pull in and store comments and manage Facebook photos as part of your collection – making photography and social interactions easily accessible from within the interface. Access: Instantly access any image, at any point in time quickly and easily using a web browser. This ensures you will never be caught without an image to share with friends and family Designed around users Project 1709 is scheduled for a full public launch in 2013, when the platform identity and additional features will be unveiled. The public launch will also include enhanced search and tagging functionality, as well as integration with a wider range of third party services, including content upload and sharing platforms. Consumers interested in the beta can register their interest at www.Project1709.com Project 1709 - key features Store a lifetime of your images Find any image when you need it Access all your photos anytime, everywhere Enjoy and make the most of your photos Improve your photos to make them the best they can be |
| The Popinator voice-activated popcorn launcher: because greasy hands are just so 2011 (video) Posted: 17 Sep 2012 08:13 AM PDT Before you ask: it looks like the real deal. Popcorn, Indiana has decided that it's just too much trouble to reach into that bag or bowl and has devised the Popinator, quite possibly the world's only smart popcorn launcher. A binaural microphone array on the machine's front listens for a clear "pop" command -- say the magic word and the Popinator will aim one of its many corn projectiles at your mouth, no hands required. We're still working to glean all the details, such as whether or not the snack delivery vehicle will be a commercial project and how much money it would take to install one at home (and, we'll admit it, the Engadget offices). In the meantime, you can hop past the break to catch one of the most appetizing and laid-back promo videos you've likely ever seen. |
| Canon PowerShot SX500 IS hands-on Posted: 17 Sep 2012 08:02 AM PDT Announced -- and subsequently unveiled -- alongside the PowerShot SX160 IS, Canon's PowerShot SX500 IS is the pricier of the two superzooms, clocking in at around $100 more than the lower-end point-and-shoot. And certainly the camera feels a bit sturdier than the more plastickey model, with a black body and protruding lens that resemble higher-end mirrorless models. Along the top you get the retractable flash, a large On / Off button, function wheel and access to that 16x optical zoom. As with the SX160, the back features a three-inch LCD, to the left of Record, Display, Play and settings like Macro, Flash and ISO. Aside from simply feeling more solid that the cheaper model, the SX500 also offers up features like Zoom Framing Assist, which can be accessed via a devoted button on the front of the camera, letting you zoom out to help find your shooting subject -- a function it performs quite quickly. Like the SX160, the SX500 is hitting this month, though it'll carry a somewhat loftier $330 price tag. |
| Google releases new Java to iOS source code translator Posted: 17 Sep 2012 07:54 AM PDT Developers have their work cut out. Even if we (impolitely) sidestep the likes of Windows Phone, BlackBerry and the rest, those coders often have to pitch their work across web, iOS and Android. Google's trying to make that job a little easier, introducing a new tool that automatically converts Java source code into Objective-C, which is used in iPad and iPhone apps. While the J2ObjC tool can't tackle the UI for these, it does allow developers to craft other parts (including data access and nuts-and-bolts programming) into an easily shareable code without editing. Some existing Google projects already utilize the new translator, but its results remains a little temperamental -- the tool hasn't translated all possible paths just yet, and many Java devs have, according to the project page, "a slightly different way of using Java." |
| Canon PowerShot G15 features f/1.8-2.8 lens and DSLR-like controls, we go hands-on (video) Posted: 17 Sep 2012 07:47 AM PDT Not completely sold on Canon's large sensor-packing PowerShot G1 X? The company's latest jumbo compact offers a comparable smooth focus effect, thanks to its super-wide f/1.8-2.8, 28-140mm optical zoom lens, with image stabilization that boosts your shooting capability by up to four stops. The camera, which is designed to replace the G12, features a 12.1-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor paired with a DIGIC 5 processor, enabling RAW shooting, 1080p video and a top sensitivity of ISO 12,800 all in a body that's significant smaller and lighter than its predecessor. There's also a super-sharp 922k-dot 3-inch LCD (no touchscreen here, not that we miss it) and a built-in optical viewfinder. The $500 G15 isn't set to hit stores until October, but we caught an early peek at Photokina today. A Canon representative also clued us in on the camera's naming scheme -- that jump from 12 right to 15. As we know, 13 is an unlucky number in North America and Europe, but the 14 was also avoided because the number four "sounds like an unlucky word" in Japanese. So, there you have it. Regardless of what it's called, though, the G15 is one powerful shooter, with a very solid design to boot. Though it is smaller than the G12, it's still far too large to fit in a pocket -- you'll likely walk around with this guy dangling from your neck. There's a mode dial up top, along with a dedicated exposure compensation dial, enabling more precise EV control. We weren't able to examine samples in order to evaluate the camera's bokeh capabilities, but Canon reps said that the effect is on par with the G1 X. You'll be able to get your own mitts on the G15 beginning next month, and you can catch our hands-on photos just below, along with a video walkthrough after the break. |
| Canon PowerShot SX160 IS appears at Photokina, we go hands-on Posted: 17 Sep 2012 07:25 AM PDT In amongst the deluge of new cameras at Canon's press event here in Cologne, Germany was this looker. It's the PowerShot SX160 IS, a nice-looking, if somewhat beefy mid-range superzoom point-and-shoot. The company was showing off three different colors -- the black, silver and red, and we spent the most time with the latter, the most eye-popping of the bunch. In spite of its large size -- the majority of the front taken up by the lens, plus a bit of a bump up top for the flash -- the camera's pretty light. It also doesn't feel particularly solid in the hand. On top, to the left of the pop-up flash, you'll find a settings wheel, power button and the knob for that 16x optical zoom, all positioned atop a textured black backing. On the back of the SX160 is that three-inch LCD, with buttons for recording, playback, menu, display and settings like macro and flash, to pop up the big bulb on top. The camera's not particularly quick on the snaps -- roughly what we'd expect from a mid-range point-and-shoot. It'll be hitting stores this month for $230. |
| Canon PowerShot S110 packs WiFi and touch-enabled display (hands-on video) Posted: 17 Sep 2012 07:19 AM PDT It seems like just yesterday that Canon announced its top-of-the-line PowerShot S100, and now the company is back to demo its brand new S110. This latest point-and-shoot flagship features a very similar body size and design, but adds WiFi functionality, enabling you to interface with a smartphone app to upload pictures and tag your images using your mobile's GPS (interestingly, GPS no longer comes built-in). Spec-wise, the camera's packing a 12.1-megapixel, 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor and an f/2.0-5.9, 24-120mm lens. It also offers an ISO range of 80-12,800, and includes a 460k-dot 3-inch LCD with touch functionality, letting you tap your way through menus instead of using the hardware controls (which, thankfully, are also still available). The S110 is still very much a premium product, with a solid metal construction and a $450 price tag to match. We went hands-on with both the black and white versions of the S110 at Photokina today, and were quite pleased with the design. The black version includes a matte black finish with a slightly rougher feel, which we preferred over the white's smooth, glossy paint job. Both cameras feel solid, and are clearly still pocketable. The display was bright and vibrant, and the touchscreen responded as expected -- we can't say it'll be our first pick when it comes to navigation, but it does allow for some useful shortcuts. We weren't able to shoot with the S110, but it does offer RAW captures, along with 1080/24p video shooting and an impressive 10 fps burst mode. It's set to hit stores beginning next month -- as always, you'll find hands-on photos below and a video walkthrough just past the break. |
| Canon Cinema EOS C100 hands-on (video) Posted: 17 Sep 2012 06:57 AM PDT Late last month, Canon added yet another model to its Cinema EOS line -- the C100 captures 1080p video, rather than the 4K clips enabled with the C500, but it also costs a heck of a lot less, at just shy of eight grand. It also offers some other nifty features, such as a pair of built-in mics and a duo of XLR inputs at the front of the top handle, SD card slots on the rear and a new autofocus button -- it's not a continuous solution, offering only single-shot, but it sure beats not having the feature at all. The camera is surprisingly lightweight, given its size and capability, and can be held quite comfortably with a single hand, as we did during our hands-on at Photokina earlier today. With a modular design, the camera featured a 3.5-inch 920k-dot LCD in its current configuration, and offers the standard suite of ports, including HDMI output with embedded time code. It also includes an ISO range of 3200 to 20,000, a maximum shutter speed of 1/2000 second and a built-in ND filter. The C100 is expected to hit stores in November for $7,999, but you can take a closer look right now in our gallery below and the hands-on video just past the break. |
| Canon and Panasonic halt production in China amid anti-Japan protests Posted: 17 Sep 2012 06:37 AM PDT |
| UK retailer Game promises free in-store WiFi, asks only that you visit Posted: 17 Sep 2012 06:18 AM PDT |
| We're live from Photokina 2012 in Cologne, Germany! Posted: 17 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT Germany just can't get enough of Engadget, it seems. Just two weeks after the close of IFA in Berlin, we're back in the land of Bier and Honig, for a camera-fueled journey to Cologne. This giant photography trade show is held only once every two years -- the last Photokina was way back in 2010 -- and it's arguably the industry's biggest event, drawing manufacturers the world abound to launch their latest prosumer and professional devices. We won't likely see a blockbuster product like Samsung's Galaxy Camera, but there could be another Android shooter or two in store, along with plenty of updates to last year's advanced compacts and mirrorless cams, and a modest spattering of full-frame DSLRs. We'll be bringing you all the news as it happens, so keep your eyes peeled to this very site to catch the action as it goes down. |
| Amazon Maps API enters beta as retailer weans itself off Google Posted: 17 Sep 2012 05:52 AM PDT Well, that's one more option to Google's mapping service and one less company paying data dividends into the Mountain View system. Apple has already left Big G to develop its own platform and now Amazon is going the same root with Amazon Maps API. With the debut of the Kindle Fire HD, the dot-com bubble survivor is working hard to build out its own ecosystem with as little reliance on others as possible. While it will continue to count on Google, at least indirectly, for its tablet OS, most other traces of the Brin and Page powerhouse have been erased. The new, in-house developed map service is still young and may lack some of the more advanced features Google customers enjoy, but it does provide the basics -- interactive maps and customized overlays. The API is designed to play nice with Android's existing location-based API, but it's unclear if the ease of transition will be enough to convince devs to take a chance on Amazon's offering. Those who remember A9, the online retailer's doomed search portal, will be forgiven for wondering if the Fire maker can really compete with Google on its home turf. If you're a curious dev you can sign up for beta access at the source link. |
| Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video) Posted: 17 Sep 2012 05:45 AM PDT Nikon just announced its D600, a $2,100 DSLR with a full-frame sensor. Now, just four days later, we have a similar (and identically priced) offering from Canon. Coincidence? Not likely. Industry backchannel conspiracies aside, however, it's only to our advantage to have a choice -- if you're looking to upgrade your digital SLR without taking out a second mortgage, you can now pick Nikon's model, or the EOS 6D from Canon. The latter flavor, which offers built-in WiFi (the D600 requires an adapter), packs a 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, and it's 20 percent lighter than the 5D Mark III, which will remain on the market, targeting professional users. The camera features a sensitivity range of ISO 100 through 102,400, it can shoot 4.5 fps stills and offers 1080/30p video capture. It also has an optical viewfinder, paired with a 3-inch 1.04-million-dot LCD on the rear, which looks just as sharp as you might expect. What really blew us away, though, is the new camera's size and weight. It's more compact than the 5D and even the 7D, an APS-C camera, weighing in at 690 grams -- a 20-percent decrease from that larger pro model. 20 percent may not sound like a tremendous improvement, but it's certainly noticeable, boosting the 6D's versatility, and making it an ideal choice for street and travel photography. We haven't had a chance to shoot with the new high-end DSLR just yet, but it felt quite solid in hand, despite the more compact design and significant weight drop. Take a closer look in our gallery below, followed by our hands-on video after the break.
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| iPhone 5 pre-orders crack 2 million in first 24 hours Posted: 17 Sep 2012 05:36 AM PDT We told you Apple would likely provide numbers for those "incredible" iPhone 5 pre-orders. The company tells us that it notched two million pre-orders in the first 24 hours, more than twice as many as the million it recorded for the iPhone 4S last year and over three times the iPhone 4's figures. Many of those online purchases that missed launch day now won't arrive until October. Yes, it would almost be a shock if Apple didn't shatter any records given the size of its existing user base, but the scale of demand suggests you just might want to get in line Friday morning if you're bent on getting an iPhone 5 on launch day. iPhone 5 Pre-Orders Top Two Million in First 24 Hours CUPERTINO, California-September 17, 2012-Apple® today announced pre-orders of its iPhone® 5 topped two million in just 24 hours, more than double the previous record of one million held by iPhone 4S. Demand for iPhone 5 exceeds the initial supply and while the majority of pre-orders will be delivered to customers on September 21, many are scheduled to be delivered in October. iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina™ display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology*-all while delivering even better battery life.** "iPhone 5 pre-orders have shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S and the customer response to iPhone 5 has been phenomenal," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "iPhone 5 is the best iPhone yet, the most beautiful product we've ever made, and we hope customers love it as much as we do." iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world's most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new user features including: an all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation and an amazing new Flyover™ view; Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, with the ability to post directly from Notification Center; Passbook®, the simplest way to get all your passes in one place; new Siri® features, including support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings;*** Siri and Facebook-enabled apps like Photos, Safari® and Maps; and Shared Photo Streams via iCloud®. Pricing & Availability iPhone 5 will be available at 356 Apple retail stores in the US beginning at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, September 21. Every customer who buys an iPhone 5 at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup service, helping them customize their iPhone 5 by setting up email, showing them new apps from the App Store and more, so they'll be up and running with their new iPhone before they leave the store. iPhone 5 comes in either white & silver or black & slate, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model. iPhone 5 will be available from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores, and through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, select Best Buy, RadioShack, Target and Walmart stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 4S will also be available for just $99 (US) and iPhone 4 will be available for free with a two-year contract.**** iPhone 5 will roll out worldwide to 22 more countries on September 28, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. * LTE is available through select carriers. Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks, check with your carrier for details. |
| Amazon Kindle Fire HD torn down, proves an easy fix Posted: 17 Sep 2012 05:27 AM PDT Interested in what makes your new Kindle Fire HD 7-inch tick? The crew at iFixit certainly is. As is the repair shop's custom, it just tore down Amazon's new reader tablet to gauge its repairability as well as look for any surprises. In the case of the revamped Kindle Fire, the fixable design is the main surprise -- despite being skinnier than its ancestor, the tablet is easy to open and its components (usually) easy to replace. We're not as shocked by the choice of hardware makers, which include an LG Display LCD, the expected 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4460 processor and Samsung flash memory. Head on over to the source if you'd like to see the nitty gritty of Amazon's Android slab and possibly save the trouble of a replacement unit down the road. |
| LG outs Pocket Photo mobile picture printer, says it's the smallest of its kind Posted: 17 Sep 2012 05:00 AM PDT Hankering for an instant photo solution without the vintage Polaroid look? LG's Pocket Photo, which measures up at approximately 2.8- x 4.7- x 0.9-inches and is touted as the world's smallest mobile picture printer, might fit the bill. Images are slung from smartphones to the Optimus Vu-sized hardware via NFC, Bluetooth or USB with the help of an Android app, which can also be used to apply filters and overlay QR codes and messages. Unfortunately for iPhone-toting photographers, there's no mention of an iOS companion application. Leveraging heat-activated Zink paper, the rig can churn out 2- x 3-inch prints without relying on conventional ink. Pocket Photo is making its way to shelves in Korea with a roughly $169 price tag dressed in orange, pink and silver accents, but there's no word on a US release. Head past the break to catch a video of the gizmo in action. |
| Panasonic teases 42.5mm f/1.2 and 150mm f/2.8 MFT lenses, slated for release by 2014 Posted: 17 Sep 2012 04:47 AM PDT Panasonic further reinforced its commitment to the Micro Four Thirds form factor when it released the Lumix GH3 mirrorless camera today, but the company also announced the development of a pair of prime lenses, set to ship next year or in 2014. Details are spotty at this point (limited to what you see in that slide above, in fact), but you can expect a 42.5mm f/1.2 optic (85mm equivalent) and a 150mm f/2.8 lens, which offers a 35mm equivalent of 300mm. There wasn't even a hint of pricing, but we'd expect both of these offerings to be quite costly, though they'll likely be significantly less expensive than DSLR equivalents. |
| Amazon's new Kindle Fire tablets are likely to be hack-resistant Posted: 17 Sep 2012 04:31 AM PDT If you were counting on getting all imaginative with the firmware on a new Fire or 7-inch Fire HD, you might want to check out a recent forum post over at XDA. Written by user kinfauns with input from another XDA regular called pokey9000, it concerns evidence that -- unlike the original Kindle Fire -- both of these devices come with more sophisticated protection, including locked bootloaders and the use of "high security" features offered by Texas Instruments' OMAP processors. Such discoveries probably won't inspire the same degree of outrage as certain other locked devices, considering how Amazon is understandably focused on its own ecosystem and advertising, but they might still count as a disadvantage against the pure Android Nexus 7. The XDA thread ends with only the merest hint of hope -- the potential for a workaround similar to what's been used on the Nook Tablet -- but it's hope nonetheless. |
| Posted: 17 Sep 2012 04:00 AM PDT It's not a secret in the least thanks to a video slip-up by Panasonic a few days ago, but today the company is ready to officially announce the successor to its venerable GH2, the Lumix DMC-GH3. This Micro-Four Thirds mirrorless shooter is nearly as big as some entry-level DSLRs, but it's loaded with features to make up for it. Packed inside its dust- and splash-proof magnesium alloy body, you'll find a 16.05-megapixel Live Mos sensor that'll handle 200 to 12,800 ISO natively with extension from 125 to 25,600. Aiding it is Panasonic's latest Venus engine, which enables 6 FPS burst shooting (20 in 4-megapixel mode). Notably, Panasonic is pushing this as a "multimedia" shooter given its robust video features. Unlike many ILCs, the GH3 touts unlimited recording time, so you won't be held back by the likes of the camera overheating -- sadly, the approx. 29-minute recording restriction for PAL regions is in place however. You'll be able to shoot in either MP4, MOV, AVCHD or AVCHD Progressive, with a maximum bandwidth of "72 Mbps (ALL-Intra) / 50 Mbps (IPB)." The formats can be recorded using frame rates of 24, 30 and 60p (excluding MOV and AVCHD), and you'll even be able work with SMPTE time-codes for syncing footage easily in post production. On back, there's an articulating 3:2 614K-dot OLED touchscreen, which can be used for tap-focusing while recording video, along with a 16:9 1,744K-dot OLED view finder -- both of which provide 100% frame coverage. Thanks to included WiFi connectivity, you'll be able to control the camera from your mobile device -- although, its HDMI out may be better suited for film-making. Along the side, there's a duo 3.5mm jacks for monitoring and recording audio straight from the camera with a mic of your choosing or a Panasonic's optional shotgun mic. Speaking of accessories, an F2.8 35-100mm lens will also be introduced with the camera, touting a dust- and splash-proof design. There's no word on price just yet for the GH3 or its accessories, but we're told the camera will hit shelves for a number shy of $2,000 when it's released later this year. The unit we got eye-on time with was an admittedly rough and early build, but you can check it in detail at the gallery above while we get some more impressions at Photokina. You'll also find extended details in the press release after the break. Zach Honig contributed to this report. THE ALL NEW GH3 – CHANGING PHOTOGRAPHY Engineered For The Multimedia Photographer September 17, 2012 (Secaucus, NJ) – Panasonic is proud to introduce the new Digital Single Lens Mirrorless DMC-GH3. The LUMIX GH3 is not just a compact, lightweight camera. It is an attractive, top-of-the-line mirrorless single lens system camera that is tough enough to withstand the extreme conditions of heavy field use. The new Live MOS Sensor achieves high-resolution images with minimum noise. And the new Venus Engine attains high-speed, high-quality signal processing. These features combine to maximize shooting fun and operating ease. Another prominent feature of the LUMIX GH3 is a tough body that is rugged enough to stand up to professional use. It features a magnesium alloy full diecast body and advanced splash / dustproof construction that was achieved by sealing the sections of the camera body to enable shooting under extreme conditions. Although the LUMIX GH3 integrates features a class above other G Series models, it is still compact when compared with an SLR camera featuring equivalent performance and functions. The body has enabled a new control layout with three dials on the front and back as well as single-function buttons. The LUMIX GH3 allows users to capture images in extreme environments and provides superb mobility. It also records still images consecutively at a rate of about 6 fps. The LUMIX GH3 is proud to assume the role of Panasonic's flagship digital single-lens mirrorless camera. The video recording capability, which is highly acclaimed in the GH2, now comes with more variety of options in its format and bit rate to meet wide-ranging needs. It is packed with advanced technologies developed by Panasonic for professional video creation. Panasonic also offers a full lineup of lenses that reinforce the LUMIX GH3. The LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm / F2.8 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. (H-HS12035) is currently on the market. In addition to this, Panasonic is releasing a new fast F2.8 telephoto zoom lens LUMIX G X VARIO 35-100mm / F2.8 / POWER O.I.S. (H-HS35100) to introduce with the LUMIX GH3. These two lenses achieve high resistance performance against splash and dust when combined with the LUMIX GH3. The LUMIX G lens lineup includes a variety of models with superb image rendering, such as Leica lenses and smooth, silent power zoom lenses suitable for video recording. *This is the largest lineup of interchangeable lenses for a digital single lens mirrorless camera*. And Panasonic will continue to develop and introduce new lenses with distinctive features. Delivering the highest ever picture quality with a new Live MOS sensor The newly developed 16.05 effective megapixel Live MOS sensor boasts wide dynamic range and high sensitivity image recording even at ISO 12,800 or ISO 25,600 in extended mode. The key point here was reducing noise, for which Panasonic focused on the following three areas: (1) minimizing noise in the sensor, (2) preventing sensor noise from entering the output signal, and (3) preventing noise from entering the signal processing circuit, power supply line and grounding line. To reduce noise, it is also important to design the power supply wiring and the signal wiring connected to the engine to be as close to the same length as possible. These measures not only suppress noise but also help to improve processing speed. Standard sensitivity is from ISO 200 to ISO 12,800, but the user can set sensitivity to ISO 125 or ISO 25,600 by using an extension function. The LPF (Low Pass Filter) has been also newly designed to minimize generation of moire while drawing maximum resolution of the image out of the sensor. The image processor Venus Engine is also refined to achieve superior noise reduction. With a combination of 3DNR (3D Noise Reduction) and MNR (Multi-process Noise Reduction), both bright area and dark area are faithfully reproduced with minimum noise across the entire focusing range in high sensitivity image recording. The built-in flash is enhanced to feature more power and flexibility. The new built-in flash of GN12 equivalent (ISO 100 •m) / GN17 equivalent (ISO 200 •m) covers 24mm wide angle of view. Synchronization for flash dimming and exposure compensation is available with adjustment of 1/3EV Step ±3EV. Manual control and a sync terminal are newly added for more versatile use of external flash. The GH3 also integrates HDR (High Dynamic Range) to cope with the extreme bright and dark contrast that you get, for example, with backlighting, or when consecutive photos are taken with different exposure levels and overlapped. Blown highlights and blocked shadows are then deleted and a single photo is composed. All processing is done in the background, so you can take your next shot without having to wait, ensuring that you don't miss a photo opportunity. Other practical shooting functions including Time Lapse Shot or Multiple Exposure are available on DMC-GH3. The electronic shutter with silent operation prevents pixel declination which is undesirable in photographing of commercial products. Awesome quality of video for unlimited expressions – versatile recording formats, bitrate and frame rates Heat generated during long continuous recording can cause problems. It not only affects internal components but can also degrade image quality. Effective thermal diffusion is an essential design challenge. By drawing on the expertise accumulated through its many years of developing camcorders, Panasonic has revamped and redesigned the electronic parts arrangement and internal structure to achieve the optimum layout. This has eliminated heat problems in the LUMIX GH3. When recording the video in MOV, AVCHD Progressive and AVCHD, the DMC-GH3 automatically generates multiple seamless files for continuous recording. During playback, the AVCHD Progressive / AVCHD files are reproduced with seamless, interruption-free continuity. The DMC-GH3 also embeds SMPTE-compliant Time Code either in Rec Run or Free Run count-up methods, which makes it easy to synchronize the multiple video footage or sound source in the post production workflow. Time Code Value can be started at any point of [Reset], [Manual Input] and [Current Time]. Drop frame or Non Drop Frame time code is selectable***. The DMC-GH3 also features Creative Video mode: Exposure mode and Slow/Fast-Motion mode. In the Exposure mode, four manual video modes: Program AE / Aperture-Priority / Shutter-Priority / Manual Exposure can be selected and they will faithfully reflect your shooting intent, and give you a wide range of video images. The Slow/Fast-Motion mode enables slow-motion (40% / 48% / 80%) and fast–motion (160% / 200% / 300%), all in Full-HD. Not only full-time AF, AF Tracking and Face Recognition AF are also available. The Touch AF in video recording also lets users enjoy professional-like rack focusing. Just by pointing at the subject, the focus is shifted to it and lets it stand out to attract attention. *60p(NTSC) video recording is not available in AVCHD and MP4 video recording. Intuitive response with nimble movement The DMC-GH3 features ultra-high-speed AF which makes it possible to capture fast-moving subjects clearly. Both accuracy and speed are improved over high-end DSLRs with Phase difference AF with the GH3's advanced Contrast AF system. The camera and the lens exchange the digital signal at 240 fps to minimize the time to focus. Together with the quick start-up and short release time lag, the DMC-GH3 never lets photographers miss fleeting shooting opportunities. The DMC-GH3 boasts high-precision, high-speed dual OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays for LVF (Live View Finder) and rear monitor. Increasing the resolution of the display area to 1,744K-dot equivalent, the new 16:9 Wide Screen LVF boasts approx.1.34x / 0.67x (35mm camera equiv.) magnification and 100% field of view and eye point of approximately 21 mm. By adopting the OLED display, the time lag is minimized dramatically compared with the predecessor DMC-GH2. The image output between the LVF and the rear monitor is switched automatically with the eye sensor on the LVF, which features options of sensitivity - high, low and off - to reduce accidental activation of the rear monitor. The 3.0-inch 614K-dot free-angle OLED rear monitor (3:2 aspect) with wide-viewing angle rotates 180° to the side and tilts 270° up and down offers approx. 100% of field of view. The OLED rear monitor adopts static touch control for smoother operation either in shooting or in playback. The DMC-GH3 captures moving subjects clearly with the burst shooting at 6 fps in full resolution (max. 18 consecutive shots of RAW+JPEG) and 20 fps in 4-megapixel recording using an electronic shutter(max. 80 consecutive shots of JPEG). The DMC-GH3 comes with a Level Gauge which lets the camera detect the horizontal/vertical angle of view with its internal level working with the acceleration sensor. Photos shot in a portrait aspect will be automatically displayed vertically whichever lens is used. Superb controllability and rugged design The new LUMIX GH3 is tough enough to withstand heavy field use. The main structural features of the LUMIX GH3 are its magnesium alloy full diecast frame and splash / dustproof construction. Like previous models, the LUMIX GH3 has many moving parts, such as the free-angle OLED rear monitor. Thus, ensuring a high level of splash / dust resistance was not an easy task. In particular, careful attention was given to the popup flash. To prevent vignetting caused by the lens, the popup flash incorporates a sliding mechanism that raises the flash to its operating position. Panasonic has taken thorough measures to prevent the entry of dust and water from this section. There are also splash/dust-proof interchangeable lenses (LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm / F2.8 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. and LUMIX G X VARIO 35-100mm / F2.8 / POWER O.I.S.) and the new Battery Grip DMW-BGGH3 to secure its high resistance. 5. A variety of interfaces In addition to these, the DMC-GH3 offers remote control with optional Remote Shutter DMW-RSL1 and AV output (Audio 2ch, Composite). The compatibility with the UHS-I (Ultra High Speed I) SDXC/SDHC Memory Card allows faster data writing even in RAW recording mode. 6. Wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi ® Archiving of images can be accomplished wirelessly with the DMC-GH3. Users can save precious images to the Panasonic's exclusive "LUMIX CLUB Cloud Sync. Service". In this cloud service, a personal folder is allotted to the GH3 users to upload image data anytime to transfer the image saved at this space to Facebook™, Flickr™, Picasa™, Twitter™ or YouTube™. With the LUMIX CLUB Cloud Sync Service, not only full-resolution photos but also HD quality videos can be synchronized among the compliant electronic devices you are using (e.g. PC, smartphone and AV equipment) or transferred to the websites you like. The Wi-Fi function also allows playback of images on the DLNA-compliant VIERA HDTV for viewing in private or public*. 7. Creative Expression With Photo Style, users can manually choose from 6 color types to get even more detailed image settings, or to match the shooting situation. In addition, the contrast, sharpness, saturation or noise reduction for each mode parameter can be customized in 11 steps and stored in memory. In Custom Mode, finely customized settings can be stored for easy recall and use. 8. Rich options for further expandability Also, the LUMIX DMC-GH3 offers a wide variety of options to choose from to match every shooting situation and shooting style. New Battery Grip DMW-BGGH3 New External Microphone DMW-MS2 New External Flash DMW-FL360L • "AVCHD Progressive", "AVCHD", the "AVCHD Progressive" Logo and the "AVCHD" Logo are trademarks of Panasonic Corporation and Sony Corporation. |
| SiriusXM for Android update brings On Demand and offline listening Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:21 AM PDT If you're an Android-toting SiriusXM fan, you've probably spent the last month wondering when your smartphone would get the newfound flexibility to tune in beyond live radio. As of Sirius XM's version 2.2 update, Android is back on equal footing. The upgrade supplies On Demand streaming, both for catch-up and the occasional classic, as well as downloadable copies to keep the music and talk flowing offline. As before, the access is considered a free perk of a SiriusXM subscription; if you enjoy Howard Stern's cynicism enough to want it at odd hours of the day, your angsty fix awaits at the source. |
| Hands-on with Kingston's DataTraveler Workspace at IDF (video) Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:07 AM PDT What's this? Just another USB 3.0 thumbdrive at IDF 2012? Not quite. You're looking at Kingston's DataTraveler Workspace, a storage device that incorporates bona fide SSD technology not usually found in thumbdrives -- like a bunch of ultra speedy flash memory and a SandForce controller that supports TRIM and S.M.A.R.T commands. As such, it shares more in common with Kingston's line of SSDs. It's not really designed for data storage -- instead, it's meant to be used as a certified Windows To Go fixed drive, "a fully manageable corporate Windows 8 workspace on a specially configured, bootable USB drive". The idea is that corporate IT can deploy these thumbdrives to employees who can then run a secure, managed instance of Windows on a variety of PCs with a bootable USB 2.0 (or faster) port. Another interesting feature of Windows To Go is that Kingston's DT Workspace thumbdrives can be removed for up to 1 minute without crashing Windows -- the OS simply alerts the user to "keep the USB drive plugged in" and continues where it left off. Pricing remains a mystery, but the device will be available for business customers in 32, 64 and 128GB capacities when Windows 8 launches. Until then, you're invited to peek at the gallery below and to watch our hands-on video past the break.
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| Apple iCloud adds iOS-style notification bar, Notes and Reminders web apps Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:44 AM PDT The iCloud's web interface has been updated with a new drop-down notification bar. Alongside badge notifications, it offers up browser-based notifications across Mail, Calendar, Reminders and Find My Phone -- which still remains powered by Google Maps, for now. An earlier update also bundled Notes and reminders into the web app, both mimicking the looks of their iPad versions. Now we just need a big enough reason to keep iCloud's site constantly open. [Thanks Austin] |
| Visualized: Intel's wall of motherboards at IDF 2012 Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:32 AM PDT We know you like naked motherboards, you perverts... Actually, we do too! Now close your eyes and imagine a wall of motherboards. Oh yes. That's exactly what Intel dished out at IDF 2012 -- a display of Intelligent Systems Alliance members' motherboards in all shapes and sizes, including server and military-grade models. We'll leave you to enjoy some alone time while you ogle the gallery below. |
| AT&T says iPhone 5 is 'fastest selling' model ever, neglects to mention actual numbers (update) Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:00 AM PDT You may be waiting on review time to figure out whether the iPhone 5 really is all that, but AT&T has already been swayed. It claims that preorders over the past few days have outpaced all previous models, making this the "fastest-selling iPhone the company has ever offered." What the short announcement below doesn't reveal, however, is absolute sales numbers -- but those should start to come around soon enough. Update: Soon was right. AT&T SETS SALES RECORD FOR IPHONE 5 · Largest 4G Network. Customers get blazing-fast speeds on the nation's largest 4G network, covering 275 million people. |
| Olympus Stylus XZ-2 is a digital compact stuck in a mirrorless camera's body, we go hands-on Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:00 AM PDT Looking to boost your compact capabilities, but don't want to deal with the hassle of swapping lenses? You might take interest with the Stylus XZ-2 -- Olympus' most powerful point-and-shoot model. Admittedly, we're having a bit of difficultly working through the appeal of this latest fixed-lens snapper, given the $600 price tag and a body that's comparable in size to the PEN E-PL5 and even larger than the E-PM2. In the model's defense, it does include an impressive f/1.8-2.5, 28-112mm 4x optical zoom lens, though its 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor is smaller than what's included with its interchangeable-lens cousins, and the camera's sensitivity tops out at ISO 12,800. It does, however, offer 1080p shooting and a higher-res swivel 3-inch 920k-dot LCD with Touch AF Shutter control. Still, we would have liked to see these features included with the company's latest Micro Four Thirds cameras, rather than on a model with a smaller sensor and no interchangeable lens. If you're set on the XZ-2, you'll be plenty pleased with the design -- it's quite similar to the E-PL5, and therefore quite capable. There's an option to swap in red, beige and purple grips (the camera body itself is only available in black), and you can add a body jacket and an underwater housing. There's also a built-in flash, which pops up from the top left corner, and you'll find PEN-like controls, to boot. We spent a few minutes with the XZ-2, though the battery was dead during our demo, unfortunately, so we weren't able to shoot. Still, the design felt practical, and the camera seemed solid overall. The hybrid control ring is a "world's first," according to Olympus, and offers the same functionality in both a click mode, which provides feedback, and a smoother silent mode, which won't produce any noise or vibration when shooting videos. The Stylus XZ-2 will ship a bit after the new PEN models, in November, but you can take a peek now in our gallery just below. THE OLYMPUS STYLUS XZ-2 iHS® TAKES THE COMPACT CAMERA CATEGORY TO THE X-TREME Point. Shoot. Be Amazed with an Ultra-Bright Lens, Ultra-Easy Operation and Ultra-High Image Quality, Making It the Powerhouse Compact for Serious Photographers CENTER VALLEY, Pa., September 17, 2012 – Olympus pushes the compact digital camera to a new X-treme with the introduction of the Olympus STYLUS XZ-2, its game-changing, flagship high-performance point-and-shoot. The STYLUS XZ-2 is a hybrid that combines optical brilliance, the manual controls of a DSLR and the unbeatable convenience of a lightweight compact in a body every imaging enthusiast should love. Inheriting the 4x optical / 4x Digital zoom iZUIKO® DIGITAL f1.8-2.5 large-diameter lens found on its predecessor, the award-winning Olympus XZ-1®, the Olympus STYLUS XZ-2 builds on its low-light performance with new features: the world's first hybrid control ring, customizing controls so ambitious photographers easily capture the shot; a new fast, touch-sensitive tilt screen; the powerful TruePic VI image processor; Full HD movie recording and FlashAir® compatibility to share images immediately on social networks. The digital lens of the Olympus XZ-2 (iZUIKO f1.8-2.5 (28-112mm*), a 4x compact version of legendary ZUIKO Digital lenses, is designed for clear, high-quality photographic performance, whether set at its maximum f1.8 aperture for amazing wide-angle shots, or at f2.5 for 112mm* telephoto images. The result is expressive background defocusing and sophisticated bokeh, plus the flexibility to use short, blur-free exposure times in low light. The camera's iHS technology and the large-aperture lens work together to deliver high-sensitivity, low noise and blazing auto-focus performance that translates to the highest image quality of any Olympus compact camera. The newly developed 12.0 megapixel, 1/1.7" high-sensitivity back-lit CMOS sensor, working with the TruePic VI processor, the same processor used in the Olympus OM-D E-M5™ system camera, provides faster recovery time and shutter release to capture images with true-to-life colors, rich details and low noise. To complement the speed of the f1.8 lens, the camera's low-light mode automatically adjusts the ISO sensitivity up to ISO 12,800 to take sharp, full-resolution photos in dim conditions, and an easily accessible built-in pop-up flash and AF illuminator brightens low-lit subjects, reduces red-eye and fills in dark areas. The Olympus XZ-2 is equipped with the world's first hybrid control ring, built around the lens, which allows users to easily assign function settings to their preferences as well as switch between analog and digital operation of the ring. The digital operation provides a solid click on controls, whereas the analog operation offers a smooth, gliding feeling. When the Fn 2 lever next to the lens is placed downward, the ring around the lens switches to analog control so it can be used as a focus or a zoom ring. If the lever is placed at an angle, the ring around the lens switches to digital control to change exposure-related settings quickly and easily. This feature enables fine-tuning of the focus in macro, composition selection when shooting, and exposure adjustment all without looking away from subjects. Basic operations and settings of the Olympus XZ-2, starting with touch controls and Live Guide, as well as a new graphic user interface will be familiar to Olympus PEN® and OM-D shooters. Instantly activate the Touch AF Shutter function to select the subject you want to focus on and activate the shutter simply by touching the swivel 3.0 inch, 920,000 dot LCD screen. The XZ-2 design is enhanced with a removable grip that offers the option for a sleek style grip, and metal is used throughout the body for a strong and sharp look. The Olympus STYLUS XZ-2 is packed with additional technologies including DUAL IS, which combines with high-sensitivity shooting to reduce camera shake and subject blur, providing double image stabilization. HDR backlit correction captures multiple images with a single shot at different exposures and automatically merges them into one image, and Super Resolution technology expands zoom power up to eight times with minimal image degradation. iAuto mode automatically identifies up to 30 different scenes. The XZ-2 also features 11 Art Filters and 5 Art Effects that easily bring artistic visions to life. In addition to superior still image quality, the 1080p Full HD Movie capability with stereo sound captures movies in the best quality currently available in compact cameras. Multi-Motion Movie IS image stabilization corrects for the common gradual camera shake that occurs when shooting on the move, delivering more stable, higher-quality movies. Beautiful movies can be shot even longer with a 1920 x 1080 High-Definition size and MOV/H.264 movie compression that has an excellent compatibility with computers. A wide range of creative and practical accessories is available to adapt the Olympus XZ-2 for specific needs, including three alternative grips in a variety of colors (red, beige and purple), a body jacket and underwater housing. There's also a sleek, matching black LC-63A lens cap that opens and closes automatically whenever you activate the camera. To expand the camera's versatility, the XZ-2 includes an accessory port for compatibility with a growing range of Micro Four Thirds® accessories. *35mm equivalent. U.S. Pricing and Availability Estimated Street Price: $599.99 (Available in black) |
| Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:00 AM PDT We've been very impressed with Olympus' first OM-D camera, the EM-5. That model's 5-axis image stabilization and super-fast autofocus won us over, while the retro design appeased nostalgics as well. Now, it's time for that speedy shooting to make its way to the company's other Micro Four Thirds models -- the E-PL5 and E-PM2. Both models, announced today, offer nearly identical specifications, with notable differences on the form-factor front. The E-PL5 is the premium model of this bunch, coming in at $700 with a 12-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens or $650 for the body only, while the E-PM2 will run you 100 bucks less for both configurations. Both cameras include 16.1-megapixel Live MOS sensors, top ISO of 25,600, 3-inch 460k-dot touch-enabled LCDs, 1080i video and an 8fps continuous shooting mode. The EM-5's five-axis stabilization is absent here, though a three-axis version should suffice in low light. Each model also includes an external flash and a rebate offer for a free Toshiba FlashAir 802.11b/g/n card, which enables connectivity with the OI Share apps for Android and iOS. We had a chance to check both cameras out just before Photokina, and were quite pleased with the design, along with that OM-D-like focusing performance, which really is as speedy as Olympus claims. The camera focused instantaneously with almost all of the lenses we tried, though it was a bit sluggish, understandably, when paired with the 60mm f/2.8 macro. The displays were equally sharp, though the PL5 packs a nifty articulating version, which can tilt up, down or face forward for self-portraits. We also enjoyed shooting with the super-slim 15mm f/8 body cap lens, which features a tiny front element with a slide-over cover -- while it's limited on the aperture front and includes fixed focus, it's arguably more useful than a traditional cap (Olympus hasn't confirmed pricing for that optic, though it'll likely come in below the $100 mark). That aforementioned dust-and-splash-proof macro will retail for $500 in early October, while a new 12mm f/2 lens will ship during the same time for $1,100. The "Mini" E-PM2 will be available in silver, black, white and red, while the E-PL5 will ship in silver, black and white -- both versions will be available in October. You can take a closer look at each of the offerings in the gallery below, then jump past the break for the full rundown from Olympus. TWO NEW OLYMPUS PEN® CAMERAS PUT MORE POWER IN YOUR HANDS WITH THE WORLD'S FASTEST TOUCH AF SHUTTER Compact Portable Bodies Deliver Amazing Image Quality with OM-D E-M5™ Sensor, In-Camera Creativity Expands with New Art Filters CENTER VALLEY, Pa., September 17, 2012 – Today, Olympus announces two new PEN compact system cameras, the latest in its award-winning line of Micro Four Thirds® products, designed to help both advanced and emerging photographers take their creative power to a whole new level. The Olympus PEN E-PL5 and PEN E-PM2 deliver amazing image quality by packing superior image technology, blazing fast processing speed and total creative control in classic bodies that combine the portability and ease of use of a point-and-shoot without the complexity of a DSLR. In addition to advanced shared technologies outlined below, each new model offers unique features of its own: Olympus PEN E-PL5: This powerful performer boasts significant improvements in functionality and ease of use. It features an all-metal body in silver, black or white and is portable enough to travel across the world without sacrificing DSLR image quality and the control that experienced photographers expect. Inherited from its predecessor, the E-PL5 has a swiveling monitor with a greatly expanded swivel range of approximately 170° up and about 65° down, making it easier to shoot pictures from low or high angles, and offers the ability to flip the monitor up for self-portrait shooting. Olympus PEN E-PM2: The ultra-compact, simple and stylish, smallest and lightest Olympus PEN is designed for people who want to try an interchangeable lens camera for the first time. Available in silver, black, white and red, the E-PM2 offers an intuitive vertical touch navigation menu displayed by pressing the MENU button to provide a fast and easy way to switch modes with fewer steps. Superior Image Quality and Low Light Performance Blazing Speed Ease of Use Creative Control Sharing in a Flash Is It a Body Cap or a Lens? It's Both. Coordinated Accessories to Enhance and Protect Your Camera The accessory MCG-3PR Camera Grip for the E-PL5 is available in three patterns – Dot, Hounds tooth Check, and Stripe – and makes it easy to accessorize with style. A matching LC-37PR Lens Cap, compatible with both new cameras, is available in the same three patterns and allows the E-PL5 user to have a color-coordinated combination. The CBG-8 is a versatile camera bag that can be hung across the shoulder, carried by hand or used as a bag-in-bag. It has a detachable inner pocket, which is partitioned to enable storage of other items in addition to the camera and lenses, such as a smartphone, while the outer pocket is large enough to accommodate a tablet PC or A4-size file folders. U.S. Pricing, Availability and Product Configurations U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations Olympus PEN E-PL5 Body Only Estimated Street Price: $649.99 Olympus PEN E-PL5 Body with MSC M.ZUIKO® DIGITAL ED m14-42mm II R f3.5/5.6 Zoom Lens Estimated Street Price: $699.99 Olympus PEN E-PL5 (Available in silver, black and white). A complete list of specifications can be found at the Olympus website: HYPERLINK "http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1628&page=specs" http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1628&page=specs Olympus PEN E-PM2 Body Only Estimated Street Price: $549.99 Olympus PEN E-PM2 Body with MSC M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Prime Zoom Lens Estimated Street Price: $599.99 |
| Amazon placating delayed Marvel Cinematic Universe pre-orderers with free Avengers Blu-rays Posted: 17 Sep 2012 01:25 AM PDT About a week ago we got the bad news that Marvel's entirely over the top Cinematic Universe: Phase One Blu-ray set would be delayed until spring 2013 while Disney works up a new case, but there is a silver lining for those who preordered from Amazon. One of our readers forwarded us an email sent out to those who preordered, indicating that in the meantime, they will receive The Avengers two disc Blu-ray / DVD combo package, free of charge. It's not a S.H.I.E.L.D. suitcase w/ glowing Tesseract cube built in of course, but we guess it will have to do until the replacement packaging is ready to go. Anyone who put in an order between June 1st and August 28th are eligible for the free copy and should have received their redemption code via email. Dear Amazon.com Customer, We're writing to let you know that the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One-Avengers Assembled Collection will not be released by Marvel as originally expected. Instead, Marvel is planning to offer a similar collection in new packaging. The new collection will include the original titles offered with the first version of the item, and is expected to be available in the spring of 2013. To make this easy for you, we updated your order for the original collection and will ship the new collection when it becomes available. The price of the new collection will be the same as the original collection. To show our appreciation for your understanding, we are providing you with a promo code to receive a free copy of Marvel's The Avengers (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging). To be eligible, you must have placed your order between June 1, 2012 and August 28, 2012. Any cancelled orders are not eligible to receive the free copy. Codes must be redeemed by October 15, 2012. We know this delay is disappointing, and we're sorry for any inconvenience this causes. If you prefer to cancel the item from your order, visit Your Account (http://www.amazon.com/your-account) and click the "Your Orders" button. As long as your order hasn't shipped yet, you can cancel an individual item or the whole order from there. |
| Canon adds the G15, S110 and SX50 HS to its PowerShot lineup Posted: 17 Sep 2012 01:00 AM PDT Canon already outed a pair of superzoom cameras prior to Photokina 2012, but it turns out the company wasn't done adding to its PowerShot family. First, we have the PowerShot G15, which has a 28 - 140mm wide angle f/1.8 - f/2.8 lens, 12.1 megapixel sensor and Canon's DIGIC 5 image processor. Its sensor has a max 12,800 ISO, shoots RAW stills and records 1080p video, and you can view your subjects using the optical viewfinder or the 3-inch, 922,000 dot LCD on the back. It replaces the G12 in Canon's lineup when it goes on sale for $500 this October. The PowerShot S110 replaces the S100, and like that camera, it's got a 12.1-megapixel sensor, max 12,800 ISO and an f/2.0 lens. Unlike its predecessor, however, its got a 3-inch, 461,000 dot capacitive touchscreen on the back and ditched GPS in favor of WiFi. That wireless capability lets the S110 pull GPS data for geotagging from Android or iOS devices using Canon's CameraWindow app and share photos and videos on the web. It does RAW shooting, has a 10fps burst mode and records 1080p 24fps video as well. It'll come in both black and white versions that run $450 when it goes on sale next month. Lastly, there's the PowerShot SX50 HS superzoom camera. It packs a 24-1200mm, f/3.4 - f/6.5 lens and optical image stabilization to ensure clear shots even when using the camera's full 50x zoom capability. Like the SX40 HS is replaces, it has a hotshoe and a 12.1-megapixel sensor. It has a max 6,400 ISO and like its new PowerShot mates, it has a 10fps burst mode, shoots RAW photos and 1080p video. The SX50 HS can be had in October for $480. EXCEPTIONAL OPTICS AND WI-FI CONNECTIVITY HELP PHOTOGRAPHERS GET CREATIVE WITH THREE NEW POWERSHOT MODELS FROM CANON U.S.A. New Lineup Includes the PowerShot G15 With Bright f/1.8-f.2.8 5x Optical Zoom Lens,the Wi-Fi Enabled PowerShot S110 to Stay Connected With Great Image Quality, and the Powerful PowerShot SX50 HS, the World's First 50x Optical Zoom Digital Camera LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., September 17, 2012 - Designed for photographers of all levels, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announces the addition of three feature-packed digital cameras – the PowerShot G15, PowerShot S110, and PowerShot SX50 HS digital cameras – providing advanced features, greater focusing speed and multiple-shot speed in sophisticated, compact camera bodies. All three models include advancements in auto focus (AF) technology for high-speed responsive AF systems that capture the moment as it happens, with significantly reduced lag time . Both the PowerShot G15 and PowerShot S110 models include a newly designed 12.1-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS image sensor for exceptional light gathering and image quality. In addition to improvements to focusing speed and shooting speeds over their predecessors, each camera offers unique high-end features, such as an f/1.8-2.8 5x optical zoom lens on the PowerShot G15. The PowerShot S110 includes Wi-Fi connectivity for the ultimate in image quality and on-the-spot sharing, while the PowerShot SX50 HS boasts the world's first 50x optical zoom in a digital camera to date. "Art is the by-product of creativity and inspiration. With the introduction of the advanced features in these three new PowerShot models, our customers will have the right tools to put their creativity into action and produce images that they will share for a lifetime," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. PowerShot G15 Digital Camera The powerful new PowerShot G15 builds upon the success of the G-series providing some of the most advanced features in Canon's PowerShot lineup. The PowerShot G15 continues this tradition with a new 28mm wide-angle f/1.8 – f/2.8 lens with 5x optical zoom, great for low-light shooting or dramatic shallow depth of field. The PowerShot G15 includes Canon's HS SYSTEM where the camera's DIGIC 5 image processor and newly designed Canon 1/1.7-inch 12.1-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS image sensor work in tandem to enhance low-light image quality at a maximum ISO speed of 12800. Enabling creative video capture, the PowerShot G15 shoots 1080p Full HD video with a built-in stereo microphone for great sound and zooming is enabled for optimal framing while recording. The PowerShot G15 also features advancements in Canon's AF system with improved AF times and reduced lag over previous G-series models. These AF improvements also enhance the High-Speed Burst HQ mode allowing for continuous capture of up to 10 frames at 12.1-megapixels. While shooting still images or recording video the camera also utilizes Canon's Intelligent IS to stabilize the image and provide crisp photos and steady video. PowerShot S110 Digital Camera Style, performance and wireless connectivity fit into your pocket with the new PowerShot S110 digital camera. Built-in Wi-Fi features allow the camera to share images and video to social networking sites through the Canon iMAGE GATEWAY or to Wi-Fi enabled devices such as iOS or Android smartphones and tablets with the free download of the Canon CameraWindow app , or to other select PowerShot cameras, or to a PC. The advanced wireless features let the camera act as a wireless network and record GPS data acquired from a smartphone using the free download of the Canon CameraWindow app , or send images directly to a Wi-Fi compatible printer. The new PowerShot SX50 HS includes a high-powered 50x optical zoom (24-1200mm) and 24mm wide-angle lens with Optical Image Stabilization for clear steady images even at full telephoto. To help maximize the potential of the 50x zoom lens, are incredible 1080p Full HD video capabilities of the PowerShot SX50 HS with stereo sound and optical zoom while recording. The PowerShot SX50 HS includes Canon's HS SYSTEM where the camera's image processor and CMOS image sensor work together to enhance low-light image quality at a maximum ISO speed of 6400. The camera also features an electronic viewfinder, ideal for shooting in bright outdoor conditions. To help make photography simple, Canon's Smart AUTO mode intelligently selects optimal camera settings from 58 pre-defined shooting situations. Pricing and Availability The new PowerShot G15, PowerShot S110 and PowerShot SX50 HS digital cameras are expected to be available in October 2012 for an estimated retail price of $499.99, $449.99 and $479.99, respectively. For more information, visit: www.usa.canon.com/powershot |
| Canon unveils EOS 6D DSLR: full frame sensor and WiFi for $2,099 in December Posted: 17 Sep 2012 01:00 AM PDT Used to be, to get a full-frame sensor in a Canon camera, you had to shell out big bucks for a pro rig like the 5D Mark III or 1D X. No longer. Canon's just unveiled its EOS 6D, the smallest, lightest and cheapest full-frame DSLR it's ever made. Weighing 690g, the 6D is 20 percent lighter than the 5D Mark III, and at $2,099, it's a full $1,400 less than its heftier stablemate -- which also puts it directly in line with Nikon's recently released full-frame shooter, the D600. In addition to that mammoth sensor, the 6D's the first EOS camera to have built-in WiFi. When paired with the company's free iOS and Android apps, you can use your phone to change the 6D's settings, take and geotag photos using the live remote function, and even transfer those shots to your handset wirelessly. The 6D packs a 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5+ image processor that shoots stills at 4.5fps, does HDR (though it only saves the composite image, not the individual shots), and 1080p 30fps video in 29 minute 59 second clips. Its sensitivity runs from ISO 100 up to 102,400 (extended) and has an 11-point autofocus system with an EV -3 sensitivity rating for better low light performance. There's a 3-inch, 1.04 million dot ClearView LCD on the back to supplement the optical viewfinder, plus it's got a stereo mic jack to ensure the audio matches the quality of your HD videos. To store your imaging masterpieces, the 6D has a single SD card slot that's SDHC and SDXC compatible. When it goes on sale this December, the 6D will be sold in two configurations: $2,099 for the body only, and a kit that throws in a 24-105mm f/4L USM zoom lens for $2,899. CANON ANNOUNCES ITS SMALLEST AND LIGHTEST FULL-FRAME DIGITAL SLR CAMERA FOR SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS The EOS 6D Digital SLR Camera Includes a New Full-Frame Sensor, Built-in Wireless and GPS LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., September 17, 2012 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today introduced the EOS 6D Digital SLR Camera, a versatile mid-range full-frame camera with the durability and performance professionals require and the creative imaging options serious photographers crave. Canon has coupled the incredible image quality of a newly designed 20.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5+ Image Processor with the creative potential of built-in wireless transmitter and GPS features. The camera also includes an 11-point AF array and 63-zone dual-layer iFCL metering sensor together with 1080p Full HD video capabilities, in an affordable camera body. Building upon the qualities that made the EOS 5D Mark II camera so successful, the EOS 6D bridges the gap for budget-minded photographers, videographers and cinematographers who are eager to step up into the world of full-frame imaging. "The introduction of this camera completes a well-rounded ecosystem from input through output for Canon, allowing us to provide the right combination of features for every level of photographer. We believe the EOS 6D Digital SLR Camera along with our new PIXMA Pro printers will help unlock the creative vision of so many who aspire to capture and display their artistic abilities," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. Designed for advanced amateurs and videographers making the move to a full-frame Digital SLR, the EOS 6D fits neatly into Canon's professional imaging system with an advanced feature set including full manual options for creative control in addition to new and intuitive automatic settings to help even novice photographers capture great images. The camera's construction helps meet the needs of professionals with a 100,000-cycle shutter durability and EOS Integrated Cleaning System for high-quality vibration-based dust removal. Among the many advancements in Canon's new EOS 6D is the Company's proprietary DIGIC 5+ Image Processor that powers the camera's fast 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion for exceptionally smooth color tones and gradation. The camera offers a full-frame, 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and continuous shooting up to 4.5 frames per second (fps). The EOS 6D has a large 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor with 1,040,000 dot VGA resolution and 170 degree viewing angle, with high-transparency multicoating for maximum protection and clarity when viewing images or navigating menu screens. When used for Live View shooting, the camera's bright high-performance LCD screen provides 100 percent coverage, for easy focusing and framing. Full-Frame 1080p Full HD Video Built-in Wi-Fi and GPS For the ultimate in DSLR connectivity and control, the EOS 6D features a built-in wireless transmitter which allows the camera to share images and video with the user's choice of wireless devices such as select PowerShot cameras, smartphones, or tablets, as well as cloud-based destinations including social networking sites through the Canon iMAGE GATEWAY . A very intuitive and useful wireless feature is the new, free Canon EOS Remote app available for iOS and Android systems which will allow a smartphone or wireless device such as a tablet to remotely connect, control and operate the connected EOS 6D . This seamless connection and control will open new opportunities for professional photographers shooting weddings or remote wildlife, without the need for tethered operation or accessories. For on-location shooters, landscape photographers or enthusiast photo travelers, the EOS 6D features a built-in GPS receiver to record longitude, latitude, elevation and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as EXIF data for seamless geo-tagging while shooting. The GPS coordinates are appended to each image and easily syncs with Canon software or mapping apps on social network sites to show image locations. Use of UTC data allows images to be chronologically mapped and trails plotted and recorded. Boundless Creativity To help photographers unlock their full creative potential and explore all the different avenues of digital photography, the EOS 6D includes several creative modes for image capture. First is the HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode allowing the camera to capture three separate exposures and combine them in-camera for a stunning image capturing both enhanced shadow detail and bright highlights. Next is the camera's Multiple Exposure mode where users can combine up to nine individual images into a single composite image, with no need for later computer post-processing. Four different compositing methods are provided for maximum creative control, including Additive, Average, Bright and Dark. Compositing results can be viewed in real time on the camera's LCD monitor, and there is a one-step Undo command that allows photographers to delete an image and try again if desired. The EOS 6D will even allow photographers to specify a previously captured RAW image as the starting point for a new Multiple Exposure composite image. In addition to HDR and Multiple Exposure modes are Canon's standard Scene Intelligent Auto and special scene modes to capture great images with ease. The camera is compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards including the new Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) cards. Pricing and Availability The EOS 6D Digital SLR Camera will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $2,099.00 and it will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon's EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $2,899.00. Both configurations are expected to be available in December 2012. _________________________ |
| Samsung planning Galaxy S IV launch for March 2013? Posted: 17 Sep 2012 12:58 AM PDT Galaxy S 4 or Galaxy S IV? Disagreements over the naming convention are likely to rage on now that Samsung's dropped hints that it's planning to replace the Galaxy S III in the spring of next year. A company official reportedly told Korea Times that "the new device is expected to hit shelves globally in March at the latest" following an initial announcement at MWC in February -- and while it would retain the "inspired by nature" design language of its predecessor, the screen might get a bump from 4.8 to 5-inches. It may seem odd for a company to talk up its next product so soon after the last one, but perhaps it's a deliberate marketing move in light of a certain new contender. |
Ever put a game back on the shelf because Metacritic took too long to load? Fortunately, the UK's largest (and 
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