Olympus’ OM-D E-M1 Mark II hits nearly all the right notes
I use two cameras on a regular basis: my iPhone 7 Plus and an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark I. The latter has been my workhorse since 2014, when many Engadget staffers started using it for field assignments. I’ve taken it to almost every press event I’ve attended these past two years, and the results are rarely disappointing. Still, the idea of a faster model with a better autofocus was tempting. That’s where the recently launched OM-D E-M1 Mark II comes in.
OIympus’ latest flagship mirrorless, available in December for $2,000 body-only, is pegged as a major upgrade to its predecessor. It features a new 20.4 Live MOS Micro Four Third sensor, a powerful dual quad-core TruePic VIII processor, in-camera image stabilization and a 121-point autofocusing system. You can also record 4K video in Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) and Cinema 4K (4,096 x 2,160) at 24, 25 and 30 frames per second. There’s also an option for 18-fps continuous shooting with autofocus and autoexposure enabled. If you lock those settings, the camera can handle a ridiculous 60 frames per second.
The E-M1 Mark II’s specs make the Mark I seem more dated than it actually is. That may have something to do with the second-gen shooter being way more expensive at launch; by comparison, the original cost $1,400. Naturally, there are some similarities between the two, like WiFi capabilities, a 50-megapixel high-res shot mode and a compact weatherproof body. The ergonomics haven’t changed much, so I didn’t have any trouble getting used to the physical dials, finding buttons or gripping the camera.
That said, the first thing I noticed was how much heavier the Mark II feels than its predecessor. That’s largely due to the bulky 1,720mAh battery, which Fujifilm claims lasts 440 shots per charge. Of course, you’ll get fewer shots out of it if you take videos along the way, but I haven’t had to charge the camera as often as I did the Mark I. Seriously, though, I’m not kidding when I say this battery is bulky — I can’t recall seeing one like it in any other mirrorless camera I’ve tested. Just look at it.
The one thing I’m not a big fan of is the new 3-inch articulating LCD, namely because the only way to tilt the screen toward you is by sticking it out to the side of the camera. More often than not, this made it hard to ensure my subjects were centered. Although I rely on the high-res 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder for most of my shots, the display becomes essential when you’re recording videos or using the touchscreen to browse menus and tweak your settings. Aside from that, I love the E-M1 Mark II’s design, but that’s easy for me to say since I’m familiar with the previous version.
As you’d expect based on its spec sheet, the E-M1 Mark II produces beautiful images. It didn’t matter how, where, when or who I was shooting — the camera always delivered at least one solid shot. Olympus says its new flagship is designed to make it easy for anyone, not just professionals, to capture great photos of moving subjects. Thankfully, since that’s not one of my strong suits, the E-M1 Mark II worked as advertised.
In particular, I was glad I had the 60-fps continuous shooting mode (with locked autofocus and autoexposure) at my disposal whenever needed. Whether I shot acrobats performing corde lisse (read: dancing on a vertical rope) or cars on the streets of New York, the camera didn’t have any problem keeping up.
But having a fast camera is only part of the equation. The new sensor, lag-free electronic shutter, improved AF and in-camera image stabilization are what allow the E-M1 Mark II to shine in different scenarios. I was incredibly surprised by how well the shooter handled low-light scenarios, with most of the images I took in the dark looking vibrant and showing little to no signs of noise. There’s an ISO range of 200-25,600, with automatic noise-reduction kicking in at slow shutter speeds. For reference, my review unit came paired with an M.Zuiko ED 12-40mm f/2.8 lens, which costs $1,000 on its own.
Despite some of the minor quirks I mentioned, the E-M1 Mark II is undoubtedly Olympus’ best mirrorless camera to date. But here’s the thing: I think the E-M1 Mark II’s main flaw, if you can call it that, is that it costs $2,000. That’s a lot more than competing cameras like the upcoming Sony A6500, which costs $500 less and arguably offers a better lens ecosystem. Sure, we haven’t put that one through its paces yet, but Sony’s track record in the mirrorless space speaks for itself.
I’m not saying the E-M1 Mark II isn’t worth it, but I have a hunch a lot of people will struggle to come to terms with that price. Especially if they can get similar results elsewhere. Still, if you can afford it and are are due for an upgrade, the E-M1 Mark II is a no-brainer.
To view my sample images at full resolution, click here.
Todoist Introduces AI-Learning ‘Smart Schedule’ to Increase Productivity
Popular task-managing app Todoist today announced a new AI-powered feature called “Smart Schedule,” which intelligently takes into account user habits and pre-existing tasks to organize and schedule tasks on its own. The company said that it created the feature because so many of its users — 70 percent in total — face unfinished tasks each day.
With Smart Schedule, Todoist hopes that percentage will begin dropping as the new feature begins learning and adapting to the following factors: your habits, task urgency, weekdays versus weekends, upcoming tasks, daily and weekly goals, and more. On a personal level, Smart Schedule will be able to figure out things like what time of day each user checks their email, which day they read most, and suggest tasks accordingly.
The feature will also accumulate anonymous data from all Todoist users to figure out how urgent generic tasks are, as well as when more users do tasks during the week (“check email”) instead of the weekend. The company said that users will still have full control over their schedule, and can edit and delete Smart Schedule’s suggestions as they see fit. Due to its AI-learning, Todoist also mentioned that the feature will only get smarter the more it’s used.
Smart Schedule uses predictive modeling to help you easily plan out your tasks for the day and week to come. It learns your personal productive habits, and takes into account patterns across all Todoist users, to predict the best possible due dates for your tasks.
That means those 50+ overdue tasks you have hanging around can be quickly rescheduled en masse, while new and unscheduled tasks can be easily assigned to the best due dates. In this way, Smart Schedule makes it much easier to stay on top of your to-do list and roll with the punches when your day doesn’t go as planned.
Todoist also confirmed that Smart Schedule is “completely private and completely yours,” with the feature’s accumulating personal data never accessed by a Todoist employee or any outside service.
Todoist is available to download for free from the iOS App Store [Direct Link] and the macOS App Store [Direct Link]. Users can subscribe to Todoist Premium for $28.99/year for access to more features, including location-based notifications, automatic backups, Apple Calendar syncing, and more.
Tag: Todoist
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Audi, Genesis, and Kia Debut New CarPlay Vehicles at LA Auto Show
A number of new CarPlay-enabled vehicles are making their North American debuts ahead of the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show this week, including models from Audi, Kia, and Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis.
Interior of all-new 2018 Audi Q5 (European model shown)
Audi introduced a trio of CarPlay vehicles, including the all-new 2018 A5 and S5 cars and Q5 SUV. Audi’s standard smartphone interface provides CarPlay and Android Auto integration via USB connection. The vehicles will arrive at U.S. dealerships in spring 2017. Pricing has yet to be announced.
Kia’s latest CarPlay vehicle is the 2017 Soul Exclaim, its all-new five-door crossover with a 201-horsepower turbocharged engine. CarPlay and Android Auto come standard with the vehicle’s UVO3 infotainment system. The non-turbo 2017 Kia Soul also features CarPlay support. Pricing and availability was not disclosed.
Genesis, which Hyundai spun into a standalone luxury car brand in 2015, followed suit with the introduction of its all-new 2018 Genesis G80 3.3T Sport trim with CarPlay and Android Auto integration via USB connection. The luxury sedan, available spring 2017, is equipped with a 9.2-inch touchscreen navigation system.
This article will be updated to reflect other new CarPlay vehicles as they are announced at the auto show over the next few days.
Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tags: Kia, Audi
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Amazon Music Unlimited Launches $15 Per Month Family Plan
Amazon today has expanded its Music Unlimited streaming service with a new subscription tier: $14.99 per month for a “Family Plan.” The option supports up to six family members (at least 13-years-old) for simultaneous listening and personal recommendations. There’s also an alternative payment option to pay $149 upfront for an entire year of the Family Plan, cutting the subscription down to about $12 per month (via TechCrunch).
The plan works by creating an Amazon account for each family member, but there is no unified family account; as Amazon said, “the only thing that’s shared is the payment.” On the plan, one family member uses a “shared payment method” to pay for the subscription, which is a debit or credit card that Amazon uses to charge each month for the service. Each member can make purchases on Amazon and Amazon Music Unlimited with the shared payment method, and the subscriber of the plan will get notifications of all the activity going through the group.
Despite the group connectivity, each member will have “the same functionality as the Individual Plan subscription,” with personalized music, library, playlists, and recommendations. The Individual Plan launched in October and marked Amazon’s entry into the on-demand music streaming category, along with Apple Music and Spotify. Amazon’s Family Plan directly sits alongside Apple Music’s $14.99 per month Family Membership, which grants the full Apple Music experience for up to six people.
Read up on more information about Amazon Music Unlimited’s new Family Plan here.
Tags: Amazon, Amazon Music Unlimited
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DJI Phantom 4 Pro preview: Smarter, longer-lasting pro-level drone
It wasn’t that long ago that DJI wowed us with its first collapsable, ultra-portable but high-end Mavic Pro drone. For the first time, very high end technology was available in a product that cost less than £1000. It could have spelled the end for the more expensive Phantom 4 lineup, at least, until the company announced the Phantom 4 Pro.
While it may look the same as the older model, the Phantom 4 Pro has been equipped with technology that outsmarts its predecessor and the Mavic. It’s got a beefier battery, much better camera and obstacle avoidance from all sides.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro preview: Design
In the looks department, there’s very little different about the Phantom 4 Pro, when compared to the original Phantom 4. It’s a big, white plastic quad-copter that rests on some sturdy-looking legs.
Right at the top of these legs, on the front and the back, is where you’ll find two pairs of sensors. There’s a handful of others on the sides and underneath, along with the cameras that record video footage as you take off so that it can find its homing position when you tell it to come home after flying.
Pocket-lint
Unlike the Mavic, the camera system hangs beneath the drone on a 3-axis gimbal designed to keep the camera steady even in the roughest conditions. Each of the arms has either a red or white light at the ends which flash to make it easy to spot in the air.
Inside this familiar plastic shell is a high density 5,870mAh battery which can cope with up to 30 minutes of flight time. That’s up from 5,350mAh found in the Phantom 4. Because of it’s higher density, DJI was able to fit a more powerful battery into the same space as the original Phantom 4.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro preview: New Camera
While the drone’s shape is familiar, the camera system has been upgraded to take more professional quality images and video.
Behind the new eight element lens system is a huge one inch 20-megapixel sensor which features twelve stops of dynamic range to ensure images retain detail, contrast and colour even under intense lighting conditions. That means low light performance is improved from the original Phantom 4 quite significantly. It also means the sensor is almost four times bigger than the one built into its predecessor.
Pocket-lint
It’s also been given a new mechanical shutter to kill the rolling shutter distortion – a kind of stutter that appears some times when panning across scenes – to produce smoother, more fluid footage. This is, of course, helped by its ability to shoot 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. That’s twice the frame-rate available on the DJI Mavic Pro.
For the video codec nerds out there, you’ll be pleased to know the camera supports H.264 4K at 60fps and H.265 4K at 30fps, both with 100Mbps bitrate.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro preview: Autonomous flying
Part of what we loved about the less expensive and more compact DJI Mavic Pro was its autonomous flying and tracking capabilities. Those have been included in the Phantom 4 Pro, along with some new modes.
One new feature is Draw, which lets you just draw a simple line on the screen and the drone flies in that direction, sticking to its altitude. You can either have it do so and keep the camera locked into forward-facing position, or have the camera free to move in any direction.
Pocket-lint
Like the Mavic, it can recognise objects like bikes, people and cars, and follow them. You can choose Trace mode to follow behind or in front of an object, Profile mode to fly alongside the subject, or Spotlight, which keeps the camera locked to the subject while it flies around freely.
One really interesting feature is TapFly, which lets you just tap on the screen, then the drone flies in that direction or – with TapFly Backward – fly in the opposite direction. With both of those modes, the obstacle avoidance system works to ensure it doesn’t find itself caught in a tree or smashed into a cliff.
Return to Home has existed in previous drones, but it’s been upgraded in the Phantom 4 Pro. It can automatically choose the best route home based on the environmental conditions. It also records its route as you’re flying it and can trace its steps back to where it took off from.
When it returns, it can land in exactly the same place it originally set off from.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro preview: Obstacles, what obstacles?
Part of the appeal of DJI’s high performance drones is their built-in obstacle avoidance. While the £999 Mavic Pro has sensors built into the front and underside of the drone to avoid trees and other objects, the Phantom 4 Pro can detect obstacles from anywhere.
Pocket-lint
It has sensors built into the front and back as well as both sides, and can detect obstacles up to 98 feet in front or behind. It even has sensors built in to the bottom. In short, that means you don’t need to worry if you’re flying sideways, backwards, forwards or downwards, it’ll be able to detect anything coming up and avoid hitting it. You’ll be able to fly it through a narrow door way without banging in to the door frame.
What’s pretty amazing is that it can fly up to speeds of up to 31 mph and still have its obstacle avoidance system working. In Sport mode, however, the sensors switch off as the speed ramps up to 40 mph.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro preview: New Remote
For the first time with a Phantom, you’ll no longer need a smartphone to get a clear view of the live camera feed. At least, if you go for the more expensive “+” model. The Phantom 4 Pro+ remote has a built in 5.5-inch 1080p display which DJI claims is more than twice as bright as a smartphone screen.
It has uses an optimised version of the DJI GO app that you’d usually need to download an install on your iOS or Android phone. Because it’s optimised, there’s a lot less lag, meaning real-time video feed is much closer to actual real-time and isn’t subject to the usual delay.
DJI
Like the Mavic’s remote, the new Phantom 4 Pro controller uses the company’s Lightbridge connection technology to give the remote a range up to 4.3 miles. What’s more, it can stream video up to full HD right to the display. Even better: the remote’s battery lasts up to five hours before needing to be plugged in to recharge.
Otherwise, the remote is a large, white plastic affair with the usual two-joystick setup. The two other buttons on the top are the power button and the “Return to Home” button which tells the drone to come back to its starting point.
First Impressions
When the Mavic Pro launched, it seemed the Phantom line’s days were numbered. Then came this Phantom 4 Pro with its improved camera, battery life, brand new controller, flight modes and high-end obstacle avoidance.
Although it’s nowhere near as portable as the Mavic, the Phantom 4 Pro will undoubtedly attract those wanting more professional features and camera results.
With a price of £1589, it’s clearly more expensive than the Mavic Pro, but still good value for money considering the amount of drone you get for that cash.
Immerse yourself in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with VR viewers
WOW! Stuff has unveiled two new VR viewers to coincide with the launch of the new Rogue One: A Star Wars Story film. The VR viewers are based on Google Cardboard but have been made to resemble an Imperial Death Trooper and K-2SO, characters from the movie.
- Star Wars-themed VR experience for Google Cardboard is now out
The viewers are compatible with both Android and iPhone and there’s a companion Star Wars app in both App Stores to download and load up immersive virtual reality content.
The viewers are also Works With Google Cardboard accredited, so will work with the Cardboard app too, for when you want a break from all things Star Wars. Because the viewers are WWGC accredited, there’s a button on top of them that lets you interact with content you’re viewing.
There’s a QR code included to to calibrate the viewer with your phone to ensure you get the best possible virtual experience.
Both Rogue One VR viewers will be available from Tesco in mid-December for £15.99 each.
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens VR experience coming to Google Cardboard in a galaxy not so far far away
- Stunning Magic Leap Star Wars team-up brings R2-D2 and C-3PO into augmented reality
Disney did a similar promotion for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, by releasing viewers based on C-3PO, R2-D2, BB-8, Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper. Disney also released Jakku Spy, a VR experience accessible within the Star Wars app.
Humans have unique brain ‘fingerprints,’ scientists confirm
People say “our brains are wired differently,” and now a team of scientists led by Carnegie Mellon researchers have proven that’s literally the case. The group developed a way to “fingerprint” the human brain using diffusion MRI and found that its structural connections are so unique, they can be used to identify individuals. According to the team’s paper published in PLOS, they used the diffusion MRI results of 699 subjects’ brains. Diffusion MRI is called as such, because it uses the diffusion process of water molecules in biological tissues to generate contrast in images.
They then took those results and calculated the distribution of water in the point-by-point connections (called local connectome) of the brains’ white matter pathways. What they found was that each person has a unique local connectome, sort of like a fingerprint. Even twins’ local connectomes are only 12 percent similar to each other. To ensure that their conclusion is correct, they ran 17,000 identification tests and found that they could tell subjects from each other with nearly 100 percent accuracy.
That’s not all the team confirmed, though. They also found that a person’s life experiences, such as going through poverty or an illness, affects the brain structure. As such, researchers could use the method to understand how environments and experiences shape people’s brains. Whether it could eventually be used as a means of identification, who knows — for now, the researchers are focusing on its potential medical applications.
As Timothy Verstynen, one of the researchers from Carnegie Mellon, said:
“This confirms something that we’ve always assumed in neuroscience — that connectivity patterns in your brain are unique to you. This means that many of your life experiences are somehow reflected in the connectivity of your brain. Thus we can start to look at how shared experiences, for example poverty or people who have the same pathological disease, are reflected in your brain connections, opening the door for potential new medical biomarkers for certain health concerns.”
Source: Carnegie Mellon University, PLOS
‘EVE Online’ is now free-to-play
After over 13 years of paid subscriptions, EVE Online’s recently revealed free-to-play experiment is now live. In a bid to boost its dwindling player base, CCP’s latest expansion allows both new and existing players to explore the EVE universe for free.
This new pricing model is known as Clone States, and is the headline addition to the game’s latest expansion, EVE Online: Ascension. New players will automatically start off as “Alpha Clones,” with free access to all of EVE’s world, though they’ll be limited to to certain skills and spaceships. Pilots who want the complete EVE Online experience can opt to pay the $10 (£7) a month subscription, upgrading their player state to “Omega Clone,” unlocking the game’s full gamut of skills and spaceships.
One aspect of the expansion, called “Inception,” offers a “revised new player experience,” promising fully voiced mentor characters to ease players into the game, as well as a greater emphasis on story and large scale space battles. Thankfully for long-time players, the new pricing model and a few revisions to the existing gameplay aren’t all that this expansion brings. Ascension also provides players with new sandbox features, buildings, management tools, ships and more immersive ship customization, and let’s not forget the all important space explosions .
With EVE Online infamous for sparking wars that cost players hundreds of thousands of real-world dollars in damages, there’s never been a more wallet-friendly way to dip your toes into EVE’s all-consuming universe. After years of losing players, CCP will be hoping this new way to play does enough to change EVE Online’s fortunes — with the alternative being an Evolve-like fall from grace.
Source: CCP
Google Allo will up your weak emoji game
According to Google’s announcement for Allo’s latest features, people only use three percent of all emojis available. Well, the Allo team don’t want their creations to go to waste, so they’ve launched “Smart Smiley” to make sure you discover emojis you won’t typically use. When you tap on the Smart Smiley button while you’re typing a message, the chat app will conjure up a list of suggestions based on context clues. It could suggest the burger, noodles, curry or cutlery emoticons when you type the word “food,” or the alligator emoji when you type “later,” sort of like what happens in iOS 10’s Messages app. The feature can make suggestions before you even type anything based on your conversation history.
In addition to Smart Smiley, Google is also releasing the Fantastic Beasts sticker pack it promised when it launched the ability to cast spells with your Android phone. There’s also a new feature that helps you discover new sticker packs faster, as well as new background themes for the app. Google has begun rolling out these features today — if you don’t have them yet, you’re bound to get them in the next few days. For now, though, Smart Smiley will only work if your language is set to English, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer if you prefer chatting in your native tongue.
Source: Google
Todoist uses AI to suggest deadlines for your tasks
The folks at Doist, the company behind the popular productivity app Todoist, regularly add features to help boost its users’ workflows. After tasking Alexa with the ability to add items to lists last month, the company has an update for its stable of apps that will help you stay on top of your obligations with the help of AI. The latest version of Todoist includes Smart Schedule, a feature that analyzes factors like task urgency, how you’ve completed items in the past and your upcoming workload before suggesting a due date for an item.
Doist says it researched how users postpone tasks in what it calls a “snowball,” constantly pushing things to the next day or week until their to-do list is packed with dozens of items. This editor is certainly guilty of that. Once you hit a certain point, that list becomes much less effective in helping you prioritize your day or ensuring that you’re completing tasks in a timely fashion.
To help keep the amount of things in your Todoist at a manageable sum, Smart Schedule uses AI to help plan your day and week. What’s more, it can help you reschedule those items you don’t get around to finishing on time. With Smart Schedule any overdue tasks can be rescheduled as a group and all the stuff that hasn’t been given a due date can be slotted in where it fits best. And yes, you’ll always have the option of accepting, editing or rejecting the timeline the app suggests.
In addition to your work habits, task urgency and upcoming schedule, Todoist Smart Schedule also factors in things like minor items you might be able to take care of over the weekend. Based on how you cross off items in the app, the new tool estimates when you stop completing tasks and will no longer suggest that day as a due date. Last but not least, Todoist will let you set and track goals in terms of how many things you want to get done in a day. The app can suggest due dates to help you meet that mark.
The new Smart Schedule feature is available inside Todoist for Android, iOS, Mac, Windows and the web starting today. If your device hasn’t alerted you to the update yet, head over to your respective app store to nab the latest version.
Source: Todoist
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