Sony-FES-Watch-U Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Sony

The FES Watch U is Fashion Entertainment’s second-generation e-paper watch, coming a year after the first made a splash in crowdfunding circles, albeit backed by Sony.

As a timepiece, the first FES Watch was an attention grabber, thanks to its unique E-Ink strap that could be changed with the tap of a button, and 24 E-Ink watch face variations.

It was a simple affair, however, with just the e-paper design and timekeeping. The upcoming FES Watch U adds new features and a sturdy makeover — and aims to compete with increasingly stylish smartwatches such as Michael Kors’ Access and Samsung’s Gear S3.

The FES Watch U adds digital modes to its face, along with multiple calendars. As most of the watch is made from e-paper, the calendars and even the clocks themselves now smartly extend beyond the metal bezel to display dates and time around the strap.

The new watch also supports wireless battery charging through its watch stand, eliminating the need for battery changes.

Perhaps the most sought-after feature was the ability to add custom designs to the displays themselves. With the FES Watch U, you can download designs from a dedicated phone app, adding to the 24 designs carried over from the first watch. You can also use your phone to take pictures and convert them into patterns, making any texture or image fair game. From there, you can share your unique designs with the FES online community.

The new version of the FES Watch is also much sturdier, with glass facing and stainless steel casing. The watch also comes in three flavours: silver, white and a premium black, which has additional sapphire glass with anti-reflection coating and titanium ion-plating for high scratch resistance.

The FES Watch U is still seeking crowdfunding, with over 15 million of its 20 million yen ($195,000) target already raised. It has until 7 October to reach its goal.

No pricing has been set for the new watches, and there’s no word on whether or not the device will officially go on sale outside of Japan. If you wish to take part in the funding process to make sure the FES Watch U gets made, you can find it on the First Flight website, though note our usual caveat below. Funding options start at 44,710 yen, which converts to around $440, £335 or AU$580.

Editor’s note: CNET’s reporting on crowdfunding campaigns is not an endorsement of the project or its creators. Contributing to a crowdfunded project comes with risk. Before contributing to any campaign, read the crowdfunding site’s policies, such as those for Kickstarter and Indiegogo, to learn more about your rights (and refund policies, or the lack thereof) before and after a campaign ends.

Fujifilm GFX series Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Fujifilm

The world was expecting a full-frame mirrorless camera from Fujifilm at Photokina 2016; the company surprised us with a medium-format instead. Hasselblad was first with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens medium-format, the X1D-50c, but the Fujifilm GFX 50S looks a lot more affordable: the company didn’t provide actual price or availability, but did say it would ship in early 2017 and cost less than $10,000 for the body and a lens.

I haven’t gotten full specs yet, but It has the same sensor specifications as the X1D-50c — 50 megapixels, 43.8 x 32.9mm 4:3 at a 5.3 micron pixel pitch — and it was designed by Fujifilm. Unlike Hasselblad, which puts the shutter in the lenses, Fujifilm puts a focal-plane shutter with a maximum speed of 1/4,000 second in the body. It’s dust and weather sealed and can crop to a variety of medium-format aspect ratios.

It will come with an electronic viewfinder that attaches in the hot shoe, and there’ll be an optional multiangle adapter to use with it.

Of course, it’s going to need lenses, and Fujifilm has introduced a new mount, G. The company says the lenses are designed to resolve to resolutions higher than 100 megapixels, and offers the usual claims of sharpness thoughout the aperture range, no diffraction and no distortion. The first models will be the GF63mmF2.8 R WR, GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR, GF120mmF4 Macro R LM OIS WR in early 2017, followed by the GF110mmF2 R LM WR, GF23mmF4 R LM WR and GF45mmF2.8 R WR. (To get the 35mm-equivalent focal length for reference, multiply the lengths by 0.77.)

GoPro Karma Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

GoPro just proved that there’s still room for something fresh in consumer camera drones.

After being teased for months, the company finally unveiled the Karma, its first drone designed for its cameras, but simplified for novice drone pilots.

Take the Karma’s controllers, for example. Many camera drones come with controllers loaded with switches, buttons and knobs. Sure, some are friendlier to use than others, but the Karma’s remote has the familiar feel of a gaming controller. On top of that, you don’t need to tie up your smartphone or drag along a tablet to get a view from the attached GoPro: The controller has a flip-up touchscreen.

The Karma’s small, too. Like fold-it-up-and-stick-it-in-a-regular-backpack small. In fact, it even comes with the backpack. And of course it’s made to work with the new Hero5 Black and Hero5 Session cameras, but will also work with Hero4 cameras. So you’re not stuck with a camera that’s permanently attached to a drone, you’re getting a camera you can use on its own or in the drone.

Perhaps its greatest asset is the three-axis camera stabilizer on the drone. Not only will it keep your video looking smooth in the air, but it can be removed and attached to the included Karma Grip. GoPro says the grip can then be used handheld, perfect for running, riding, skating, etc. alongside your friends, or mounted on other gear.

The controller has a built-in LCD screen and is designed for ease of use.

GoPro

For years now camera makers big and small have been trying to one up GoPro in a category it basically created. Now it’s GoPro entering a category with a clear leader in DJI. GoPro already has wide brand recognition, though — something DJI’s competitors and DJI too, for that matter, can’t really claim.

Combine that brand recognition with the flexibility of using the Karma in the air and on the ground and its potential ease of use, and the Karma might be a spoiler this holiday season.

Karma arrives on October 23 for $799 without a camera, $999 with a Hero5 Session and $1,099 with the Hero5 Black.

Stay tuned for our full review.

Executive Editor David Carnoy contributed to this preview.

GoPro Karma: GoPro’s first drone is ready…
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