Cyanogen OS-powered Lenovo Z1 launches in India for ₹13,499

The Lenovo Z1 is now official in India for ₹13,499. The ZUK-powered phone made its debut last August, but an exclusivity arrangement between Micromax’s Yu Televentures and Cyanogen OS prevented Lenovo from launching the phone in India. The exclusivity deal is no longer valid, which means that we’re going to see international vendors launching phones running Cyanogen OS in the country, starting with the Z1.

The Z1 is sold directly by ZUK in China and global markets, but Lenovo will handle sales, distribution, and service of the phone in India. That’s the main reason for the Lenovo Z1 branding. The phone offers a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, and is powered by a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 SoC with Adreno 330 GPU. There’s also 3GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, 13MP camera (IMX214) with OIS, 8MP front camera, LTE, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.1, USB Type-C, and a massive 4100mAh battery on offer.

The phone itself comes with a metal body, and there’s fingerprint sensor tucked away in the home button at the front. The Z1 will run Cyanogen OS 12.1 at launch, and if you’re interested in flashing the latest CyanogenMod nightlies to get Marshmallow on your phone, you’re free to do so. Lenovo will not void the warranty on the handset if you flash nightlies.

The Lenovo Z1 will be available in India starting May 19 for just ₹13,499, which is a great price considering the hardware on offer. The phone will be sold exclusively on Amazon India. Registrations for the sale are now live.

See at Amazon India

Xiaomi launches MIUI 8 as global userbase crosses 200 million

At an event in Beijing, Xiaomi launched the latest version of its custom ROM, MIUI 8. The latest iteration introduces a redesign of the UI elements, with a focus on bold colors. Xiaomi shared usage figures, stating that MIUI has over 200 million users worldwide, up from 170 million in the month of February.

Let’s start with the stock apps: The Gallery app has picked up new editing tools, better space utilization, and new features. You now have the ability to change filters with a single tap, and the app offers video editing tools. The Calculator now shows real-time exchange rates along with tax and mortgage calculations, unit conversions, and more.

There’s a new screenshot tool that lets you take scrolling screenshots, allowing you to save entire web pages in a single image. The Notes app has been tweaked and has a better visual layout, and Xiaomi has introduced a new power-saving mode as well. We’ll have more details over all the new features once we get our hands on MIUI 8.

For its Chinese users, Xiaomi has introduced a new font called Mi Lansing that refines the reading experience on mobile devices. The font features centered characters, and Xiaomi has mentioned that it had to manually tweak 27,533 characters.

MIUI 8 will be compatible on the Mi 2, Mi 2S, Mi 3, Mi 4, Mi 4C, Mi 4S, Mi 5, and the Mi Max in addition to all the phones in the Redmi series and the Mi Note. Registrations for the Chinese ROM will kick off on May 16, with beta testing commencing on June 1. A developer preview will be available from June 17. No mention as of now regarding availability of the global ROM, but we’ll share more details once we know more.

Xiaomi unveils Mi Max phablet: 6.44-inch FHD display, 4GB RAM, 4850mAh battery

At a media event in Beijing, Xiaomi unveiled the Mi Max, its largest phone yet. The phablet comes with a 6.44-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 650/652 SoC, 4GB of RAM, up to 128GB storage, microSD slot, and a 4850mAh battery.

You also get a 16MP camera at the back with PDAF and a 5MP front camera with an 85-degree wide-angle lens, LTE, dual-SIM functionality, an IR blaster, and a fingerprint sensor at the back. The metal-bodied Mi Max has dimensions of 173.1 x 88.3 x 7.5mm, and will be available in gold, silver, and gray color variants.

The Snapdragon 650 variant of the Mi Max with 3GB RAM/32GB storage will retail in China for ¥1,499 ($229). The Snapdragon 652 version with 64GB internal memory and 3GB of RAM will be available for ¥1,699 ($260), and the model with 128GB storage and 4GB of RAM will retail for ¥1,999 ($305).

HTC 10 tips and tricks: The ultimate guide to your HTC phone

HTC has found form with the HTC 10, receiving rave reviews on its latest flagship smartphone. This is a phone that aims to wipe out the memories of the past, and move HTC forward, presenting a device that’s closer to pure Android then ever before.

In many ways this is a smartphone for Android fans, removing a lot of the bloat that HTC previously added. But with Android maturing all the time, it’s a phone that’s strong in all areas.

It is a phone that has hidden depths however, so we’re revealing all the intimate secrets of the HTC 10. Here’s the ultimate guide to the HTC 10 and Sense 8.0.

HTC 10 home screen tips

Change your wallpaper: Long press on the wallpaper to bring up the personalisation options. Here you can change the wallpaper, change the layout, theme, and add apps and widgets.

Pro tip for home screen customisation: Although there’s the long press menu (as above), you can jump straight to editing widgets or pages using a pinch. Pinch your home screen and you’re straight into editing.

Turn off BlinkFeed: Not a fan of BlinkFeed? You can disable it easily. Long press on the wallpaper or pinch as above and select Manage Home screen pages. Swipe across to BlinkFeed and tap remove. BlinkFeed is then gone.

Add/remove home screens: If you want more home screens to fill with shortcuts and widgets, then long press the wallpaper as above and head into Manage Home screen pages. Here you can remove empty pages, select which is your main home page and add more pages as needed. You can have up to five. We roll with just one.

Add a home screen widget: HTC is famous for widgets, like that classic flip clock. To add widgets, long press on the wallpaper, tap Add apps and widgets. You can then scroll through the offered widgets and tap to add. Some widgets can be resized, just long press on the widget once on the home screen, and drag the blue box in to resize it.

Use Now on Tap: Press and hold the home button/fingerprint scanner. This will return search results based on what you’re looking at.

Access Google Now: Although HTC uses its own BlinkFeed launcher, Google Now sits behind. Long press on the home button as above for Now on Tap. Then tap the G Google logo at the bottom and you flip through to Google Now.

Enable “Ok Google” hot word: Android lets you do a lot with voice, but you need to enable it first. Head into settings > Google > search & Now > voice > “Ok Google” detection. Here you can train your phone to recognise your voice. 

To install a new/different launcher: If you don’t like the BlinkFeed launcher, download a new launcher from Google Play. Once installed, you can switch launchers by heading to settings > personalize > change home screen launcher.

To use the recent apps button as a menu button: Head into settings > display, gestures & buttons > recent apps button. This will let you change how recent apps behaves – opening the menu for the app you’re in, if you prefer.

HTC 10 Themes and Freestyle home screen tops and tricks

Turn on Freestyle home screen: Open the Themes app, hit the left menu button and tap “Freestyle Layout Themes”. Here you can download and apply a Freestyle theme to your phone. This will then let you place shortcuts randomly letting you create something totally unique.

Edit a Freestyle layout: Long press on an element you want to change – like an icon – and drag it to where you want it. A long press will let you remove labels (the words) as well as change the link. Drag the icon to the top of the page and you can reassign what that icon links to.

Edit the font/colours or icons: Head into Themes app or long press on the wallpaper and select “edit current theme”. Here you can change everything about your theme.

Create a Theme from your own photo: To create a completely unique theme, open the Themes app, head into My designs and tap the floating “+” button to create your own. You can start by selecting an image from your photo gallery, this then sets the colours for your design. You can then save designs, making it easy to switch themes.

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HTC 10 apps tray

Change your apps tray wallpaper: Open the apps tray and hit the top right-hand menu button. Select change wallpaper and you can have the background be anything you like.

Change the apps tray grid size: Want more apps on display? Hit the menu button again and there’s the option for a 3 x 4 or 4 x 5 grip of apps in the apps tray.

Reorder your apps: HTC offers alphabetical, recent of custom app layout in the apps tray. Hit the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner. To use folders in the apps tray, you’ll have to select “custom”, then in the right-hand menu, select “rearrange apps”. This will let you drag one on top of the other, change the order and so on.

Stop adding new app icons to home screen: If you don’t want new apps you install cluttering up your home screen, head into Play Store > settings and uncheck the box.

HTC 10 Quick Settings tips

Instantly access Quick Settings: If you have lots of notifications, a swipe down from the top opens notifications. If you want to go straight to Quick Settings, swipe down with two fingers.

Quickly select a Wi-Fi network: Swipe down for Quick Settings, then press and hold the Wi-Fi icon. This takes you straight through to the Wi-Fi settings.

Quickly manage Bluetooth: The same applies to Bluetooth. Press and hold the Bluetooth icon in Quick Settings and you’ll head into settings to select your device.

Turn on torch/flashlight: There’s no need for the separate app, just tap the button in Quick Settings to turn on your flash as a torch. Or just say “Ok Google, turn on torch/flashlight” and it will turn on.

HTC 10 lock screen and security

Instant lock: In settings > security there’s the option to lock the device as soon as the screen goes to sleep. You’ll find the option to lock as soon as you press the power button too. These are old settings, but really useful.

Manage fingerprints: Head into security > fingerprint scanner and you’ll be able to add or remove fingerprints that will unlock your device. A pro tip is to register fingers on both hands so you can unlock your phone with whichever hand you have free.

Bluetooth unlock: In settings > security > Smart Lock, you have the option to nominate trusted devices, so your Android will unlock when connected to something else. You can nominate Bluetooth devices (like your smartwatch or car Bluetooth). It’s also here you can choose to unlock when the phone hears your voice, or when you’re in a trusted place.

Hide incoming calls: If you don’t want callers’ names and pictures revealed on the lock screen, head into settings > security > incoming phone calls and tick the box. Details will be hidden.

To lock individual apps: HTC’s Boost+ app will let you lock individual apps. Head into Boost+ and select “lock apps”. You can then choose the apps you want to lock and select a method to lock them.

See irregular app activity: If you think an app might be doing something odd, head into Boost+, tap “manage apps” and then “activities”. Here you can see if something is doing something it might not supposed to be.

READ: HTC 10 review: Welcome back to the premier league

HTC 10 notifications and Do not Disturb tips and tricks

Engage Do not Disturb: Swipe down Quick Settings and tap the Do not Disturb button. This gives you the option to have total silence, alarms only, or priority only. You can choose if this is for a time period, or until you turn it off.

To mark an app as a Priority app: Head into settings > apps. Tap on the app you want. In Notifications you get app controls, and you can set an app as a priority so you always get notifications from that app.

To turn off notifications on an app: Go to settings > apps and tap on the app you want. In Notifications you can block all notifications for any app on your device.

To turn off peeking on an app: Go to settings > apps. Tap on the app you want. In Notifications you can turn off peeking, so you don’t get a toast notification for that app.

Instant access to lock screen notifications: Just tap a notification twice and it will open up the app. If you have security, you’ll obviously have to enter this to open the app.

Hide sensitive information in lock screen notifications: You can have lock screen notifications without to much information being revealed. Head to settings > sound & notification > when device is locked, to change the information revealed. Set it to “hide sensitive information” to limit the details shown on your lock screen.

Manage your LED notifications: Head into settings > sound & notification and you can select how the flashing LED behaves.

HTC 10 volume, sound and BoomSound Hi-Fi tips

Quickly switch to vibrate alerts: If you want silence, but are after vibration alerts still, then push the volume button and tap the bell on the pop-up. This will switch to vibrate.

Turn down media volume: Hit the volume up or down button, and the volume slider will appear. Tap the down arrow on the right-hand side, and you can change the ringer, media or alarm volumes.

Turn off locking and unlocking sounds: Head into settings > sounds & notification and you’ll find the sound options for locking and unlocking you phone, as well as pull to refresh sounds and dial pad tones.

Tune your headphones to your ears: Connect a set of headphones and you’ll be given the option to tune them. Or, connect your headphones and head into settings > HTC BoomSound with Dolby Audio. Tap this option and select “personal audio profile”. This can tune your headphones to your ears using either questions, or by playing sounds.

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HTC 10 display and HTC Connect tips

Use the fingerprint scanner to wake the display: Within settings > security > fingerprint scanner, you have the option of using the fingerprint scanner to wake the display. You can just tap the scanner with any finger to wake the display and see things like notifications. Pressing the standby button does the same thing.

Quickly adjust the brightness: You can adjust the brightness in the Quick Settings pane – just swipe it down and move the slider.

To make the screen more vibrant: If you want more impact from your colours, hit settings > display, gestures & buttons > colour profile and select vivid. You can change the colour temperature of the setting too. If you want things flatter, opt for the sRGB settings.

Cast your screen: Want your Android device on your TV or speakers? Three finger swipe up the display to launch HTC Connect. This will show compatible devices you can connect to wirelessly.

Connect to an Apple AirPlay or Chromecast device: As above, HTC Connect supports AirPlay and Chromecast natively. Just swipe up and select the device to view your phone on the big screen.

Enable MirrorLink: If you want to connect your HTC 10 to your MirrorLink car head unit, head into settings > more > USB connection. In here you’ll find the MirrorLink option.

Take a HTC 10 screenshot: To take a screenshot on the HTC 10, press volume down and standby at the same time.

HTC 10 calling, Wi-Fi and data tips

To enable Wi-Fi calling: If your carrier supports it, head into the Phone app, it the top right-hand menu and hit settings. Scroll down to the bottom to find Wi-Fi Calling. Check the box to enable the feature – but beware that if your Wi-Fi connection isn’t solid, you’ll drop calls.

Auto answer calls: To automatically accept the call by lifting the phone to your ear, head into the phone settings as above, and tick the “auto answer calls” option.

Auto-switch to mobile data when W-Fi is weak: If you’re connected to a weak Wi-Fi network, you might find things slow. However, head into settings > Wi-Fi and tap the menu button, then select Advanced. Here you’ll find the option to enable “auto-switch to mobile network”. This will return you to mobile data if Wi-Fi gets slow.

HTC 10 camera tips and tricks

Quick launch the camera: You can launch the camera with a double swipe down the screen. To turn it on head into settings > display, gestures & buttons > motion launch gestures and select the option. From the lock screen you can now quickly get to the camera.

Turn off shutter sounds: The shutter sound is a giveaway and often doesn’t match what you’re actually doing. Open the camera, expand the side menu and scroll all the to settings. Here you can turn off the sounds.

Enable raw capture: Open the camera and select Pro. Expand the menu and tap the option to switch between raw or jpeg capture.

To enhance raw photos: There’s an option to enhance the raw image for a better result once captured. When viewing a raw image, tap the edit icon (the little pen) and select “raw enhancement”. This runs the raw editor and gives you a new picture. This can then be saved by tapping the tick in the top right-hand corner.

Capture 4K video and Hi-Res audio: Open the camera, select video and expand the left-hand menu. There are options here to select the video resolution and the Hi-Res audio capture.

HTC 10 storage tips

Use adoptable storage: You can turn an external storage card into integrated internal storage. Head to settings > storage. At the bottom you’ll see the SD card details, with the option to format and use as internal storage.

To explore your files: There’s a native file explorer in Android. Head to settings > storage > phone storage and scroll to the bottom of the list. Tap Explore and you can view folders, open files, delete and share.

To clear junk from storage: Open the Boost+ app and tap on “clear junk”. This will scan and find files you don’t need, tell you want sort of files they are, then remove them for you.

Enable fast file transfers: Head into settings > more > USB connection. Here you can find the option to turn on USB 3.1 for faster file transfers.

READ: HTC Sense 8.0 review: HTC 10’s stripped down software

HTC 10 battery tips

See what’s eating battery: Head into settings > power > battery usage. This shows how your battery is being expended. To make battery saving measures, tap on an app or service and you’ll get options to reduce power, such as changing the location access.

Turn on power saver: In the power page, tap “power saver”. You can elect to have to automatically switch on at different percentages – 20 per cent is a good option.

Save battery when gaming: Head into Boost+ app. Tap “game battery booster”. Games are automatically added to the list, but if they are missed, tap the “+” and select the games that get missed.

Use Doze on HTC 10: Doze is a feature of Android Marshmallow. During periods of inactivity, Doze will reduce battery drain, for example overnight when not on charge. It’s automatic – you don’t have to do anything.

Android 6.0 general tips and tricks

Enable developer settings: To turn on the developer settings, head into Settings > About phone. Scroll to the bottom and tap on the Build number. After a number of taps, you’ll unlock the developer options.

Find the Google Settings: There was previously an app to handle Google settings, in Marshmallow this is now in the main Settings menu. This is where you’ll find settings for accounts and services, backup, and transferring content to a nearby device.

Add Yahoo! Mail to Gmail: You can add Yahoo! or other mail services to Gmail. Tap the icon to open the sidebar, scroll all the way to the bottom and hit Settings > Add account. You have the option for Google, IMAP/POP3 services (like Yahoo, Outlook.com) and Exchange.

Attach anything to Gmail: Tap the attachment button and you can attach local files, things in Drive, Photos, Dropbox files, OneDrive box and so on.

Limit Drive-enabled apps to Wi-Fi sync only: To save yourself a data bill, head into the settings > Google > data management. Here you can opt to have Drive-enabled apps files sync over Wi-Fi only.

Hyperloop passive magnetic levitation system will help pods hit 760mph

Hyperloop is becoming the term synonymous with the most major advances in what we once knew as the train. This will see eco-friendly powered tube-based pods that can travel at speeds of up to 760mph, in this case thanks to passive magnetic levitation. That means trips from LA to San Francisco, or London to Edinburgh, will take about 30 minutes.

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, one company developing pods, has shown off its passive magnetic levitation system which, unlike traditional active maglev, will be cheaper and easier to install.

Current maglev trains need actively powered train lines with copper coiling which can all be pricey. This passive system puts the magnets on the trains and works with aluminium track, allowing the train to power itself into the air.

The magnets initially propel the train forward then allow the train to levitate away from the tracks, thereby removing friction. Then a thrust can be fired to accelerate to 760mph. Another thrust is used to slow the pods as the magnetic system regeneratively recharges and helps bring the vehicle to a stop.

“Utilising a passive levitation system will eliminate the need for power stations along the Hyperloop track, which makes this system the most suitable for the application and will keep construction costs low,” said Bibop Gresta, COO of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies. “From a safety aspect, the system has huge advantages, levitation occurs purely through movement, therefore if any type of power failure occurs, Hyperloop pods would continue to levitate and only after reaching minimal speeds touch the ground.”

READ: What is Elon Musk’s 700mph Hyperloop? The subsonic train

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II review: Nip and tuck triumphs

Canon was late to the 1-inch sensor compact cameras game, following in the Sony’s RX100 footsteps to deliver the original PowerShot G7 X back in 2014. In the period since then this larger-than-average sensor sector has become a battleground. Nobody wants to invest in paltry small sensors when smartphones are delivering considerable quality that, often, can match.

The PowerShot G7 X Mark II is a nip-and-tuck version of the original; it slots into the Canon PowerShot line-up alongside plenty of other “G-X” models – the slim G9 X, chunkier and viewfinder-featured G5 X – and, for us, is one of the most logical models of the bunch. After all, the G7 X is pocketable and has got that 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 equivalent lens rather than anything with a more limited maximum aperture range.

The G7 X Mark II doesn’t change that core feature set much. The lens is the same, as are its customisable controls, and the 20.2-megapixel sensor at its core (albeit with a new processor, the Digic 7, a first for Canon’s compacts). What it does noticeably ramp up, however, is its overall speed in use.

With Sony holding onto its king-of-the-compacts crown with the RX100 IV, big names like Nikon making headway in the category with its new DL models, and established makers like Panasonic delivering a variety of accomplished compacts (the Lumix LX100, for example), is Canon merely treading water with the G7 X II or making notable progress?

Canon G7 X Mark II review: Design and customisation

For a long time we’ve criticised Canon high-end compacts for lacking truly high-end responsiveness. But the first thing that strikes about the G7 X II is just how rapid it is: it’s twice as fast to start-up, for example, meaning you can shoot near instantaneously. But beyond that nicety its shutter button is considerably more responsive – if you’ve used a pro DSLR you’ll have an idea of how even a gentle depression will cause a reaction – paired with rapid autofocus for speedy capture.

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Which sets the G7 X II up in good stead, because we fully anticipated it would feel like using the 2014 original, albeit with a slightly chunkier grip. That’s one of the new physical design traits of the Mark II, but other than a new lens control ring adjustment switch, that’s about all: otherwise the same multi-dial, reasonably trim and pocketable design remains in tact.

Meaning, of course, that there’s still no viewfinder allocation, nor provision to add one. Arguably that doesn’t matter because the G5 X exists to cover that feature, but looking outward to, say, the Sony RX100 IV and its smaller build plus built-in viewfinder shows what’s possible. So Canon isn’t ahead of the curve by design.

However, the G7 X II is still accomplished. Its really well built, all 319g of its metal construct feeling solid in the hand. The rear LCD screen moves deftly from its standard position through any angle to 180-degrees to face forward, plus, unlike with the original model, it can also face 45-degrees downward. We’ve used the camera with its screen facing 90-degrees upright a lot, making waist-level and discreet capture all the more possible.

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The layout and physical controls are a big part of what sells the G7 X II: a dual dial stack covers the shooting modes and dedicated exposure compensation; a rotational d-pad to the rear is there to cycle through settings; while, perhaps most important of all, is a lens control ring to the front for quick operation of the key setting (depending on selected shooting mode), which now includes that adjustment switch to toggle between click-stops and smooth rotation depending on what you prefer.

As with its predecessor, it’s worth highlighting just how much can be customised with the lens control ring, using the Ring Func button to make adjustments. From default – i.e. in aperture priority mode the ring adjusts aperture, in shutter priority it adjusts shutter speed, and so forth – through to ISO, manual focus, white balance, step zoom, shadow/DR correction, aspect ratio and even C for custom settings.

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II review: Performance

We’ve already alluded to how much quicker the G7 X II is than the original, but despite this it still holds back in terms of performance features, especially considering the wider context of cameras available on the market.

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For example, the Panasonic Lumix LX100 adopts that company’s higher-spec autofocus and menu settings as drawn from its compact system camera line – a criticism we raised two years ago with the original G7 X – including pinpoint autofocus and other options.

The G7 X II keeps things altogether simpler, yet successful. There’s the simplistic option of 1-point AF with small/normal focus area sizes, or face detection priority, which make up the breadth of its AF options. The 1-point option is quick to respond, though, especially when using the touchscreen to easily move the focus area.

We’ve been using the camera in and around Kent and while travelling through Shanghai, where it’s proven most effective because of its size. We’re not worried about taking it out at night, for example, because it slips into a pocket. Can’t say that of the Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II, which we’re also testing alongside.

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Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II review – sample image at ISO 2000 (-0.7EV)

Whereas with the original G7 X we were left wanting that little something extra, with the Mark II model the speed and responsiveness feels ample. Although Sony does a grand job with its feature set, the addition of touchscreen controls in the Canon makes it a breeze to use.

However, capturing moving subjects with the G7 X II is tricky, while close-up focus seems stunted this time around as, for some reason, it’s possible to manually focus closer than autofocus in macro mode will permit. However, persist and the close focus – 5cm from the protruded lens at the 24mm equivalent, dropping to 40cm when extended to the 100mm equivalent – can bring decent results thanks to that wide aperture delivering a soft background.

Having improved its Wi-Fi offering in the last few years, the G7 X II also benefits from Canon’s remote sharing and remote control features. Simply download the Canon Camera Window application (iOS / Android only) to your phone or tablet and, assuming you have a network (unlike in China, of course), it works very well; that touchscreen benefits keying in entries quickly too.

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Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II review – sample image at ISO 640

Last up there’s battery life, which is entirely reminiscent of the original G7 X. The NB-13L cell (which has a 1250mAh capacity) lasts out for a few hundred shots, but that’s it. The “three bar” display of battery life doesn’t relay how much juice remains with particular accuracy either.

Canon PowerShot G7 X 2 review: Image Quality

A key reason to spend the money on a high-end compact comes down to its sensor. In the case of the G7 X II it’s a familiar 1-inch 20.2-megapixel slice of silicon – rumoured to be the same as in the RX100 IV – which is far larger than you’ll find in lesser cameras and similar-price smartphones. The extra size promises extra quality and the ability to pull off a more professional aesthetics, such as the enhanced shallow depth of field (think blurred background with an in-focus foreground subject).

Now Canon says the Mark II’s sensor ought to perform better than the original model by a whole stop (so ISO 1600 in the new model should look like ISO 800 on the old model) thanks to the introduction of its Digic 7 processor. With sensors rapidly peaking at their maximum ability, it’s interesting to see how much refinement is being achieved courtesy of the processor.

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Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II review – sample image at ISO 125 (manual focus)

However, we’re still not quite blown away by the G7 X II’s high-ISO low-light capability. It’s not quite RX100-matching in the range of ISO 1600-6400, as there’s a visible level of grain and the finer details certainly go amiss when viewing at 100 per cent scale. One issue with the Canon comes down to its lens though: “haloing” around subject edges if using close-up focus is pronounced with wider apertures.

Wind down the sensitivity scale, however, and the overall image quality performance is solid. The lowest ISO 125 option maintains crispness to subjects, as shown by a dust-bathing pigeon in the park, while clarity remains through to ISO 400/800, as shown by rabbit statuettes and apples at a mini market (check out the gallery for full range of images).

One of the other big sells for the G7 X II is that wide aperture lens, which is usable wide-open in just about all conditions thanks to an on-board ND (neutral density) filter. This pushes a filter into the lens path if you opt to use a wide-open aperture setting in bright conditions, to avoid overexposure.

Oh, and if you’re interested: the G7 X II’s f/2.8 aperture is forced into play from the 60mm equivalent and beyond; it’s f/2 at 28mm, f/2.2 at 35mm, and f/2.5 at 43mm equivalents. Far better than the G9 X’s maximum aperture woes. We’ve not got to use the widest-angle wide-open setting all too much, therefore, except for when unusual circumstances called for it (a dog created from pegs, anyone?).

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Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II review – sample image at ISO 125 (f/1.8)

Overall the G7 X II does a good job in the image quality department, despite limitations to high ISO performance. Its lens offers almost enough to take on the Sony RX100 IV, but critically at a lower price that will entice (the Mark II model is actually a little less than the G7 X original was at launch).

Verdict

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II has impressed us more than we had anticipated. Its scale and feature set might not be class-leading, but what looks like little more than a nip and tuck compared to the original model turns out to be a turbocharging in the performance stakes.

Considering how pricey the Sony RX100 III/IV cameras are, the G7 X II certainly earns its place in among the 1-inch sensor rankings. However, there’s still no viewfinder, the image quality can’t quite better the Sony RX line-up (at higher ISO settings anyway), and close-up focus has some qualms – but all those minus points work out as plus points in your wallet.

The Canon’s biggest problem, perhaps, is just how strong the large-sensor compacts market has become. With Nikon’s DL newbies on the horizon, Panasonic busting out the LX100 (which has an even larger Micro Four Thirds sensor; albeit with a so-so lens pairing), and Fujifilm retaining the retro king crown in its X-series line-up, the G7 X Mark II lays down a strong show, just not one that’s full-marks enough to fully distract from its competition.

At its best, however, the G7 X Mark II is the standout “G-X” series camera. It puts the slender G9 X to bed, is more pocketable than the G5 X and others in the range, without compromising on the performance front. Think about it this way: the G7 X II takes what was the best G-series camera for a number of years and betters it.

NASA films Mercury crossing the sun’s surface

You don’t have to wait for years to watch Mercury crossing the sun if you missed NASA’s livestream earlier. The agency’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has captured the planet’s transit across the star’s fiery surface on film and has even uploaded a time-lapse video of the images on YouTube. SDO is the same spacecraft NASA launched in 2010 to study the sun’s magnetic field. The celestial event occurred on May 9th, from 7:12 AM to 2:42 PM Eastern, and it only happens around 13 times every century.

Scientists are hoping that the data they gathered during the transit can help them better understand Mercury’s thin atmosphere. Even if you don’t care about their scientific findings, it’s still fun watching a teensy circle zooming across your screen with a gigantic ball of fire in the background.

Source: NASA Goddard (YouTube)

Siri Creators Offer First Demo of ‘Viv’, The Self-Coding Voice Assistant

Siri co-founders Dag Kittlaus and Adam Cheyer have offered their first public demonstration of Viv, the much-anticipated voice assistant that promises an advanced level of human-computer interaction. The demo took place yesterday at TechCrunch’s Disrupt NY event, where Viv’s creators wasted no time showing what the new AI bot is capable of.

Kittlaus began by asking Viv what the weather was like today, but then continued the conversation with increasingly complicated queries, like “Was it raining in Seattle three Thursdays ago?” and even “Will it be warmer than 70-degrees near the Golden Gate Bridge after 5pm the day after tomorrow?” Viv had no problems answering the stacked requests, showing a clear awareness of context.

Viv CEO Dag Kittlaus demos the new AI bot at TechCrunch Disrupt NY (Image: TechCrunch)
Viv’s enhanced contextual awareness is thanks to what Kittlaus called “dynamic program generation”, a “new science breakthrough” that enables Viv to understand the intent of the user and code its own responses on the fly.

The feature is central to Kittlaus and Cheyer’s hopes for a thriving third-party ecosystem for Viv, since developers are fully able to integrate it into their apps’ functionality. The idea is that developers will take advantage of the open-ended nature of the platform to create new and increasingly complex experiences in a short period of time, instead of having to hard-code every response specific to their apps’ interactive features.

Kittlaus and Cheyer say Viv is closer to the original vision they had for Siri, the virtual assistant they created in 2007 which is now built into all of Apple’s iOS devices. Google and Facebook have already made offers to purchase the AI bot, but it is not clear if Kittlaus and Cheyer have plans to sell the technology, while early integrations are expected to come “later this year”.

Tag: Viv
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Alleged OnePlus 3 shown off in leaked images

We haven’t seen much of the OnePlus 3, but with the phone rumored to make its debut sometime later this month, photos of the purported handset are starting to trickle out of China. Today’s leak comes by way of Weibo, and shows off the front and back of what’s alleged to be the OnePlus 3.

From the image (via PhoneArena), you can see that the volume rocker is joined by a third button, which is likely the notification switch that we saw on the OnePlus 2. The camera setup is also shown off, which looks very different to the ones we’ve seen last year. The material at the back also looks different from the sandstone finish seen in previous generations. The front sports a chin for the home button, which will likely retain a fingerprint sensor, and there’s a noticeable curve along the sides.

As for the specs, the phone is said to offer a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 2.2GHz Snapdragon 820, 4GB of RAM, 32GB internal storage, 16MP camera, and an 8MP front shooter. On the software front, the phone will run OxygenOS 3.0, which will be based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. We should know more about the phone in the coming weeks. In the meantime, what’s your take on the design based on the leaked images?