A review of the Panasonic AG AC90 Entry Level 3MOS Full HD AVCCAM Camcorder
Despite numerous DSLR cameras being released this year with an array of features for videographers, the Panasonic AG AC90 still remains a firm favourite with industry professionals. Here we will provide a review of its key features and benefits.
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The Panasonic AG AC90 is a professional ACCCAM HD handheld camcorder that boasts a wide range of features and benefits including high-sensitivity 1/4.7, full HD 2.19 megapixel 3-MOS imagers ideal for capturing native 1920 x 1080 resolution images. It records in 1080/60p, 60i, 30p and 24p, as well as in standard definition (480/60i) in 60Hz.
The lens
The Panasonic AG AC90 comes with a 12X zoom lens, with three independent adjustable rings (zoom, focus, iris). The iris offers a wide 29.8mm to 357.6mm viewing angle. The lens has also been treated with Panasonic’s special Nano Surface Lens Coating that is designed to reduce ghosting and flares.
LCD and controls
A key feature is the camcorder’s versatile LCD monitor (approx. 1,152,000 dots) that allows for easy HD viewing. It has a widescreen LCOS colour viewfinder and a widescreen 1.15-million pixel 3.5 inch LCD colour monitor. The monitor conveniently rotates two hundred and seventy degrees, allowing for easy low-angle, high-angle and self-interviewing shooting.
The control panel on the camcorder is multifunctional and allows for easy operation. The functions that videographers will need to use more frequently have been enlarged and are also conveniently located. The camcorder also benefits from large audio level dials for operating ease.
Key features
- 2 x SD memory card slots
- 5 axis image stabiliser
- 4X pixel shifting technology
- Intelligent auto zoom technology (25X super-resolution function)
Key features of the AG AC90 include two SD memory card slots that allow for simultaneous back-up recording. This particular model is compatible with Panasonics UHS-1 (ultra-high speed) memory card series and benefits from transfer rates up to 90MBs.
When it comes to shooting handheld, excellent stabilisation is essential. This is something that the Panasonic HD handheld camera can offer with its five axis image stabiliser. The AG AC90 also benefits from 4X pixel shifting technology, allowing for sharper images to be captured and intelligent auto zoom technology that automatically adjusts the edge, gradation and detail to produce quality images.
The Panasonic AG AC90 also benefits from a number of professional features including:
- Time code / UB recording
- Time / date stamp
- Two wired remote control terminals for zoom, focus, iris, Rec, start / stop
It has a large-capacity battery (5,400 mAh) allowing for an average of 6 hours continuous shooting in PH mode.
Inputs and outputs
This professional camcorder has HDMI, USB 2.0 and multi-AV outputs. It also comes with a built-in stereo microphone, XLR inputs with switches for mic, two RCA audio outputs and two-channel Dolby Digital recording.
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Editing and playback
Transferring video content for editing and playback could not be easier. Users simply need to insert the SD memory card from the camcorder into their Mac or PC. Alternatively they can connect their Panasonic camcorder directly to their computer or laptop, using a standard USB 2.0 lead. The camcorder’s Importer Software comes with a free download of a QuickTime plug-in component, preventing users from needing to manually convert files from AVCHD to ProRES422 when using software like Final Pro.
Who is it aimed at?
Panasonic designed this HD handheld camcorder with professional videographers in mind, though it is not limited to a specific market. A wide range of industry professionals could benefit from using the AG AC90 including wedding and event videographers, as well as sports and corporate videographers.
Buying / leasing the AG-AC90
The Panasonic AG-AC90A AVCCAM offers high image quality, advanced functionality and easy operation. It benefits from a sleek and ergonomic design, perfect for professional use. No matter what area of videography you work in, if you are looking for a solid state of the art HD camcorder at a reasonable, budget-friendly price, Panasonic’s AC-AC90 will make the ideal choice.
Image credit: Imrishale
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China bans Apple products for government use
China has apparently decided to blacklist Apple products including the iPad and MacBook lines for official use, according to Bloomberg. The report says that the government has instructed its procurement arm not to purchase desktops, tablets and laptops from the company because those oft-cited “security concerns.” It’s the latest in a series of attacks on western tech companies in the wake of the Snowden revelations — with Windows 8, IBM, Apple, Google, Kaspersky, Symantec and the iPhone all getting singled out for criticism. According to Bloomberg’s analysts, the move is to ensure that the US doesn’t have too much influence in China, and in no way will distract people from China’s own sordid history of snooping.
Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops, Apple
Source: Bloomberg
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Ninja Sphere promises to turn your house into a smart home for $329
Back in January, a smart home device called Ninja Sphere made over $650,000 on Kickstarter. Now, its creators (Ninjablocks) has started accepting its first pre-orders outside the crowdfunding website for $329 per unit. But, what can a Ninja Sphere do in the first place? Well, this gesture-controlled device can monitor temperature, lighting and even energy usage, but that’s just one of the things it’s capable of. Ninjablocks touts it as a veritable multi-tasker that sends alerts if you’ve left appliances running when you go out and let you turn them off using your phone. With the proper IFTT recipes in place, it also lets you switch on the heater or AC before you get home, or switch on the lights at a set time using a phone or even a smartwatch.
Since the Sphere can connect to Bluetooth Low Energy devices, it can locate pets and items tagged with those small BLE locators like Gecko. It can even tell you if one of the things you’ve tagged has been moved and gives you the option to activate cameras in the room, if available. The device can also serve as a hub for Philips Hue, Belkin WeMo, and Dropcam, among other high-tech systems for the home. Based on the device’s original Kickstarter page, these are but some of the things the Sphere can do, as it comes equipped with ZigBee radio for more advanced home automation and a USB port where you can plug in Arduino-based projects, cameras, speakers and more sensors. And, since the device is open source, tech-savvy users can upgrade it as they please. You can get a unit as early as October if you choose to pre-order this round, but if you’re unsure and want to know more, check out Engadget Spanish’s Sphere write-up.
Filed under: Misc
Source: Ninjablocks
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Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 to hit 25 more countries as losses mount
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 is set to arrive in 25 more countries including the UK, most of Europe and China on August 28th. It’s been up for pre-order in many of those regions for a while now, but will finally start to ship by month’s end. The 12-inch model has been treated more kindly in reviews than the previous two models, despite some keyboard issues. However, sales figures for the new model haven’t been released, and past versions have fared poorly — in fact, it just had to write off $38 million in unsold devices, including a model it didn’t even launch. And according to Computerworld, the damage goes even deeper.
Based on filings, the site estimates that Microsoft has burned through a total of $1.7 billion since the Surface series arrived in 2012. About $363 million of that red ink came from the most recent quarter, although it’s likely that the company had to spend a lot to ramp up production of the Surface Pro 3 that started shipping at the tail end of that period. It’s bound to recoup at least some of that investment now that the Pro 3 has hit US store shelves and will soon arrive elsewhere.
We’ve reached out to Microsoft to see if it has any commentary on the numbers. Provided they’re accurate, though, they suggest that the crew in Redmond has been willing to endure a lot to get its first in-house PC range off the ground. Such a sacrifice wouldn’t be out of character for the company, mind you. Its cloud services (including its Bing search engine) were money-losers for years; its game console division only really came into its own during the Xbox 360 era. Microsoft may not be so patient with Surface when new CEO Satya Nadella is focused more on services than hardware, but you shouldn’t expect these slates to disappear in the near future.
Steve Dent contributed to this report.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Source: Computerworld, SEC
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MSI (almost) has the thinnest pro laptop ever
Bragging rights are a tricky thing. It’s easy to say that you’re the first or best, but backing up that claim is another matter. Take MSI’s brand new WS60, for example. The company bills the 15-inch laptop as the “world’s thinnest and lightest mobile workstation,” and it’s definitely on the featherweight side at 0.78 inches thick and 4.36 pounds. There’s only one problem: it’s actually a runner-up. Dell’s Precision M3800 is both slimmer (0.71 inches) and lighter (4.15 pounds), so that’s the machine you want in your bag if sheer portability is the major deciding factor.
Thankfully for MSI, there are plenty of reasons why you might pick the WS60 instead. It’s packing a more powerful Quadro K2100M graphics chipset, for one thing. You’ll also get more storage out of the box (a 128GB SSD plus a 1TB hard drive) and a Thunderbolt port for high-speed peripherals. There’s even the gaming-friendly keyboard, networking and speakers from the closely related GS60, just in case you’re itching to play Titanfall after you’re done with your 3D modelling work. Just be prepared to pony up if MSI’s system is more your style. The base model with a 1080p display and a 2.5GHz Core i7 processor will cost you $2,300, while opting for a “3K” (2,880 x 1,620) screen and an extra SSD ups the price to $2,600.
Filed under: Laptops
Source: MSI
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Sony finally kills its unpopular PlayStation-for-Android platform
Remember PlayStation Mobile? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Sony’s obviously had little success in pushing its gaming brand into the Android world since 2011, so it’s no surprise that the Japanese giant is killing PlayStation Mobile support after Android 4.4.2. Store access and re-downloads on 4.4.3 and 4.4.4 will depend on each manufacturer, but these services will definitely be taken away from Android L and beyond, and there’s no guarantee that the games will run smoothly on the previously certified devices from HTC, Sharp, Fujitsu, Alcatel, Wikipad and Sony itself. While this may take a bite out of the already small market for the PlayStation Mobile developers, Sony said it will shift focus to helping these folks produce content for the PS Vita and Vita TV instead. But no matter how you look at it, PlayStation Mobile is now officially a flop.
Via: The Verge
Source: Sony
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The Moto 360 will come with this stylish wireless charger
We now know more info about the hotly anticipated Moto 360 smartwatch from Motorola, thanks to a series of photos from Mister Gadget, aka Luca Viscardi. The foremost detail is a wireless inductive charger that looks easy to use — no small thing, since that fancy display will no doubt eat the battery quickly. It’s also a wise choice considering the skin irritation bugs with the LG G Watch’s charging pins, which the Moto 360 lacks. Previous rumors show that it’ll support Qi charging too, meaning it’ll work with the Nexus 5′s charger, among others. The back reveals the presence of an optical heart rate sensor and confirms that the water resistant case will be built from 316L stainless steel. Another image gives it some scale next to LG’s G watch, showing it to be about the same size — big, but not overly bulky. Otherwise, it confirms details we’ve already seen, along with its general handsomeness. That’s a good thing, since Android Wear‘s success might be riding on its round face.
Filed under: Wearables
Source: Mister Gadget
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Report Claims 4.7-Inch iPhone 6 Will Feature 2,100 mAh Battery
Last month, new photos of a purported battery for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 revealed a 1,810 mAh capacity for the device, which is a modest improvement over the 1,560 mAh battery currently found in the iPhone 5s. Now, ESM-China electronics analyst Sung Chang Xu claims (Google Translate, via G for Games) that the final version of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will actually feature a 2,100 mAh battery.
Citing sources at supply chains across China, the analyst also adds that the previous images of the battery showed test units. A capacity of 2,100 mAh for the iPhone 6′s battery would put it below competing phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 (2800 mAh) and the HTC One M8 (2600 mAh). However, Apple’s traditionally tight hardware and software integration will likely contribute to a more robust overall battery life, as iOS 8 will most certainly be optimized for the iPhone 6.
Xu has previously reported on a number of other rumors pertaining to the iPhone 6, claiming that the device will feature temperature, pressure and humidity sensors in addition to electronic image stabilization. In February, Xu also claimed that the iWatch will use optical sensors to measure heart rate and oxygen levels.
Apple will unveil the iPhone 6 at an event on Tuesday, September 9, with a launch of the 4.7-inch version likely coming a week or so after the announcement. The event may also feature the introduction of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6, which is said to ship later this year or early next year due to production issues. Both iPhones are expected to feature a faster A8 processor, an improved camera, and a thinner chassis.
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Bose may be HTC’s next audio partner, will try and minimize bezel on the next One
A common complaint of the HTC One M8 smartphone is that it doesn’t make the best use of its front design. While many phones are moving towards almost non-existent bezels around the display, including the top and bottom, the One M8 had a hideously large black bar that seemed to take up space for no reason at all. While HTC says the bar was there for a reason, if they want to continue to compete in the increasingly competitive market for flagship devices, they need to cut down on those bezels. Rumour has it that HTC has already started on that front, and that Bose may be HTC’s next audio partner that will help in trying to minimize the iconic BoomSound speakers that have adorned HTC smartphones for some time now.
Naturally, if the BoomSound speakers were smaller, that would in turn allow for the phone to be smaller overall, or if HTC choses, make the screen bigger without affecting the overall size of the devices. And who better to go to than Bose, masters of getting big sound out of very small things. It must be said that HTC has most recently been working with Harman/Kardon for the One M8, so we’ll have to see how this one plays out. If true though, the next HTC flagship is definitely going to be one for the audiophiles.
What do you think about HTC teaming up with Bose to improve the next HTC One? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.
Source: TKTech via Phone Arena
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Angry Birds Stella is set to be released on September 4th on Mobile
If you ever thought Rovio might run out of ideas to add to their Angry Birds franchise any further, you can put that notion to rest as they are about to release yet another chapter in the universe of irritated avians. This time it’s Angry Birds Stella, a title Rovio teased earlier this year which looks like it’s going to introduce a whole new cast of characters, loosely based on the original archetypes, but efforts have been made to make them more unique and cuddly. Check out their latest trailer that introduces presumably the protagonist of the game, Stella, and sets September 4th as the game’s release date:
Angry Birds Stella looks like it’s going to go back to the original gameplay that made Rovio famous, knocking over things and crushing piggies, but with additional mechanics like bouncing off conveniently placed pads to hit things where it really hurts. I can’t imagine the game will end up much more different than the Angry Birds games that came before it, but if you’re a fan of the series, it’s likely that you won’t be disappointed.
What do you think about Rovio’s latest game? Are you going to pick up Angry Birds Stella when it releases on September 4th? Let us know your thoughts.
Source: YouTube via Phone Arena
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