Panasonic Lumix GX800 preview: Small but perfectly formed

For all that the Lumix GF7 was compact, it wasn’t the prettiest camera around. Hitting the UK in early 2015, the slightly-updated GF8 skipped the UK and the US, but added some features that find their way into this new GX800.

One of the important moves, however, is tidying up the design for a better-looking camera overall. For the smallest and cheapest model in the Lumix G family, that’s an important point and well executed. Announced at CES 2017, we had our hands on this dinky CSC prior to launch for a quick preview.

Panasonic Lumix GX800 preview: Design

Following the narrative we’ve already started, the GX800 presents a simpler design than previous GF models, ditching the bump that houses the flash for a more seamless top line. This gives the illusion of being a more compact model, moving on from the mock DLSR design, to something a little more like Olympus’ E-PL models.

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With a flattened line ranging from the left and filling two-thirds of the top, that line then drops, giving way to the various buttons and controls. There’s still a pop-up flash (but no hot shoe), and a simple collection of top controls, comprising a mode dial, on/off switch and shutter button and a 4K Photo button. 

This is a change-up from the previous GF models which put Panasonic’s iA (auto) shooting mode on a button. Now it sits on the mode dial, which makes more logical sense, making way for one of the features that Panasonic is pushing across a number of cameras – the fast-shooting 4K Photo mode.

There’s no viewfinder, instead you’re given a 3.0-inch 1040K touchscreen on the back, which is tiltable. There’s range of controls to the right for quick changing of major settings, but as soon as you grip the GX800, it feels a little more like a point-and-shoot sort of CSC, rather than one aimed at those wanting to change the settings frequently.

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As with the GF models, there’s a range of colours on offer, now expanding to silver (pictured), black, tan and orange, the latter two offering a lifestyle highlight that you don’t get on many cameras, and should add appeal for those who want something a little different. 

Panasonic Lumix GX800 preview: Hardware and features

Sitting at the heart is 16-megapixel sensor with a range of advanced shooting features, expanding on the remit of Panasonic’s previous compact CSC. One of the new additions is 4K video shooting at 30fps, but doesn’t attempt to match the wide range of options of higher spec Lumix cameras, like the new Lumix GH5. 

The 4K Photo mode gets top billing with its own button. This is the mode that will let you shoot “4K photos” (8-megapixel photos) in quick succession at 30fps, the idea being that you can capture fast moving action and then extract the perfect photo. It will do this for 5 seconds, meaning a burst of 150 photos. It’s a great options for things that won’t stay still, like kids or pets.

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When the GF7 launched the pitch was that it was a perfect camera for selfies. That’s something that continues into the GX800, with the addition of a Self Shot mode. When you flip that screen all the way up so you can see yourself, it automatically enters this mode. There are options for background blurring or panorama in selfies too. 

The Lumix GX800 sits on the Micro Four Thirds platform, so aside from the headline features built into the camera, there’s also all the functionality you’d expect from an interchangeable lens camera. It’s compatible with a huge number of lenses offered by Panasonic (and others), meaning plenty of creative options, as well as all the manual controls you’d expect from a proper camera.

We’ve only spent a short time with this new diminutive model, so we can’t judge the performance or the quality of the photos it takes, nor the battery life, which is often the downside to these smaller camera models.

• Panasonic Lumix GH5 preview: A new benchmark for 4K capture

First Impressions

If nothing else, the Lumix GX800 wins in its design, being compact and much nicer looking than the model it will replace. Priced at £499.99, including the lens, means you’re getting a lot of (almost) pocketable Lumix camera for your money.

The GX800 might not offer the full feature set of its larger Lumix brothers, but the compact nature makes it easy to handle, light to carry, a get companion to ensure you’re getting quality photos and video wherever you are. 

The Panasonic Lumix GX800 will be available in March 2017.

BlackBerry’s keyboard lives on in TCL’s ‘Mercury’ prototype

Eagle-eyed BlackBerry fans (if there are any left) have probably been following the rumors about a device that is supposedly codenamed Mercury. They may have even caught the little teasers that TCL Communications president Steve Cistulli has been sharing on his Twitter in the past day. To no one’s surprise, the reports were true, and TCL has indeed been working on its first BlackBerry handset since it bought the brand.

Mercury isn’t the upcoming smartphone’s official name (although how cool would it be if it were!), but the company is going with the flow and adopting it as a placeholder name for now. Indeed, even though we saw an intriguingly familiar and striking prototype here at CES 2017, much of the phone’s specs are still unknown. Cistulli couldn’t yet share information on price or availability, but was happy to show us the working model and highlight three features the company can confirm. From my preview, the Mercury looks to be a better-looking, non-sliding BlackBerry Priv, and has the potential to please fans and perhaps even win over new customers.

The three features that TCL is sharing at the show are a physical QWERTY keyboard that doubles as a touchpad, a fingerprint sensor embedded into the physical space bar, as well as software that BlackBerry fans seem to love. The Mercury will run Android 7.0 Nougat, and come preloaded with BlackBerry Messenger, BlackBerry Hub and a DTEK app for greater convenience and security. Like it does on the DTEK50 and DTEK60, the DTEK app shows you how the apps on your phone are accessing your data.

Let’s circle back to the physical keyboard for a moment. The ability to use the surface of the buttons as a touchpad to navigate the system isn’t new — that function was a highlight of the BlackBerry Passport. But the feature is extra useful here because the space taken up by the physical keys makes it tougher for your thumb to reach the screen above; Swiping left, right, up or down on the keyboard to flick through home pages or browse long webpages is much easier in a pinch. This worked well during my time with the Mercury, although the prototype was sometimes sluggish in responding to my touch.

The fingerprint sensor that’s embedded into the space bar wasn’t functional on the preview unit, but it’s supposed to make unlocking your phone or authorizing transactions more convenient. As the self-proclaimed selfie queen, I also checked out the Mercury’s front and rear cameras (although TCL hasn’t divulged details on these yet) and found the images crisp and vivid.

Unlike TCL’s most recent collaborations with BlackBerry, which resulted in the Alcatel Idol 4S-like DTEK phones, the Mercury has a unique design. Its long silhouette and silver-and-black aesthetic sets it apart from the sea of boring black rounded rectangle Android phones.

Ultimately, we don’t know enough about the Mercury to say with certainty if it is the phone that fans deserve, but the prototype is definitely good-looking enough to rouse my curiosity. BlackBerry’s well-received security software continues to help it earn a place in corporate executives’ pockets and bags, and the Mercury will likely continue to appeal to that crowd. TCL says it will have more information to share in the days leading up to Mobile World Congress in February, so we’ll have to wait until then to see if the rest of the specs add to or subtract from the Mercury’s overall value.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

Samsung’s leaked Chromebook Plus is built for Android apps

Samsung is getting ready to release a convertible, stylus-equipped Chromebook, judging by an apparently accidental Best Buy listing. It bears a striking similarity to another leaked model, the 12.5-inch, 1080p ASUS Chromebook that appeared last month on Newegg. Samsung’s device is reportedly called the Chromebook Plus, but there are no specs accompanying the images. However, we can see that it’s a thin, all-metal laptop, probably in the 12- to 13-inch range, equipped with USB-C and an SD card reader.

With Android tablet sales down, Google has been working hard to make its Chrome OS more touch-friendly to better compete with convertibles like Microsoft’s Surface and the iPad Pro. To do that, it’s added Android app compatibility, a storage manager, and drawing capability to the Chromebook Keep app, suggesting the OS will become more productivity-oriented and stylus-friendly.

Yet another leak gave us a glimpse at a supposed Samsung Chromebook Pro, another Chrome OS model with a high-res screen. Hopefully, we’ll get some solid news about the devices at Samsung’s CES 2017 liveblog, which kicks off at 5PM EST. With Google de-emphasizing Android and pushing Chrome OS for future tablets and convertibles, expect to see offerings from other companies, too.

Thanks, Jack!

LG Display’s new OLED TV panels bake in the sound system

It wouldn’t be CES without LG Display wheeling out its latest panel tech and forward-looking prototypes. This year is no different, with the company announcing it’s got all kinds of displays to show off at the convention, including transparent and double-sided OLED numbers. LG Display, which makes the panels that end up in consumer TVs sold by other firms such as LG proper, is also introducing new, “paper-thin” 65- and 77-inch Ultra HD Wallpaper OLED screens intended for wall-mounted sets. “Crystal Sound OLED” is by far the most interesting new tech the company has developed, though, as the 55- and 65-inch Ultra HD panels feature an integrated sound system.

These Crystal Sound displays, heralded as an industry first, host a sound system embedded directly into the panel, which LG Display explains is possible due to the space-saving nature of OLED tech (which doesn’t required backlighting). Not only does this make the displays almost fully fledged TVs in their own right, but they apparently make for more immersive viewing since the sound comes from behind the picture, rather than “off-center” speaker setups. What kind of audio quality is achievable from this tech blend remains to be seen heard, but the real stamp of approval will come when manufacturers decide Crystal Sound is ready for retail TVs.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

LG’s new OLED TVs are so thin they have to be wall mounted

LG has made a habit of wowing us with new 4K OLED TV sets at CES for the past few years, and this year isn’t any different. With its insanely thin W-series, the company has managed to outdo its still impressive G6 “Picture on Glass” TVs. LG’s tagline for the W-series 4K sets — “Picture on Wall” — sums up their appeal. At just 2.6mm thin across their entire frame, they can be mounted completely flat against your wall. They look more like a work of modern art than any television I’ve seen.

You might also be wondering how such thin TVs manage to include input ports. Well they don’t… technically. Instead, they use a thin cable to connect to companion soundbars, which house all of your necessary inputs (including 4 HDMI ports, 3 USB connections and an optical audio port). Those soundbars are also Dolby Atmos capable, by the way, and they’ll come with every W-series set. They’re an elegant way to deal with the mess of wires, much like the single optical cable used by Samsung’s new QLED TVs. The downside? You’ll need to have a credenza or some other piece of furniture below the TV to hold the soundbar.

The W-series TVs will be available in 65-inch and 77-inch sizes — and no, we don’t know anything about their pricing or availability yet. Given that last year’s G-series started at $4,999, I’d wager the new models will be well above that. Since they’re so thin, they’ll also be much lighter than any sets we’ve seen before. Samsung says the 65-inch model weights just 17 pounds, while the 77-inch model clocks in at 27-pounds.

As impressive as the W-series TVs are, you’re out of luck if you don’t have a flat wall to hold them. After exploring some stands for the lineup, LG decided to make them only wall mountable (I’d imagine it’s tough to keep such a thin display sturdy). And reps also confirmed that you won’t be able to install them on curved walls, either. Of course, LG’s G-series TVs are still around if you must have an elegant OLED on a stand.

All of LG’s new OLED 4K TVs — which also includes the B7, E7 and G7 sets — will feature slightly improved panels which offer better color accuracy (they now cover 99 percent of the DCI-P3 gamut), 25 percent higher peak brightness and improved anti-reflectivity. They also support “Active HDR,” which plugs in metadata to help with high-dynamic range scenes, and they’ll also be able to support Technicolor’s “Advanced HDR” technology in the future.

In a brief demonstration, LG’s 65-inch W-series looked impressive, with bright and vibrant colors. I couldn’t tell a huge difference from last years B6 OLED, though, which was stunning enough to make me pick one up when its price fell. The Dolby Atmos soundbar was loud, clear and had an impressive amount of bass, though you’d never mistake it for a traditional home theater setup. I also couldn’t detect much of an Atmos surround sound effect from its upward firing speakers, though that might have been due to the sample movie being played.

Sure, there are limitations with the W-series OLEDs, but they’re also one of those rare CES announcements that hint at the future. You might not be able to afford them yet, but it won’t be too long before we see ultra-thin displays like these everywhere.

Amazon’s Alexa assistant is coming to LG refrigerators

Last year, LG brought a refrigerator to CES that ran Windows 10, showing the a world a device that could keep food cold and play minesweeper. This year, it’s taking the concept one step further — introducing a new screen-adorned InstaView Door-In-Door Refrigerator with voice control. Specifically, LG’s new icebox is a full-on Amazon Alexa device. Think of it as a really big Amazon Echo.

Amazon Echo VP Mike George says the refrigerator will offer the “full Alexa experience,” including the ability to check weather, play music, tell jokes and, of course, order food from Amazon Prime Pantry. It sounds almost a little silly — why not simply have an Echo in the Kitchen — but it’s kind of neat when considered alongside the InstaView’s other features. Knocking on the refrigerator door, for instance, will bring up an image of what’s inside your refrigerator, letting you check your stock without letting the cold out. That image can be accessed remotely from your smartphone too, just in case you forgot what you needed at the grocery store.

The fridge’s WebOS-powered display has its own suite of apps, too: the InstaView refrigerator will remind you about birthdays and anniversaries, manage calendars and to-do lists and even show recipes from the Food Channel. Sound like the icebox for your home? You’ll have to wait a little longer. LG didn’t lay out the price or availability. Still, save your pennies — the smaller version of last year’s smart fridge sold for about $4600.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

Source: LG

LG robots control your home and guide you through the airport

LG said it had big plans for its robots at CES, and it wasn’t kidding around. The tech giant has unveiled a handful of robotic helpers that clearly go well beyond vacuums. To start, it’s introducing the Hub Robot and its Mini-sized counterpart. They can control your smart home devices, play music, offer advice on commuting times and otherwise make your life a little easier, all the while offering a friendly face. It basically amounts to an Amazon Echo with cute expressions, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. And importantly, they’re not alone — they have a much bigger sibling.

The company is also introducing Airbot, a Dalek-like machine that guides wayward travelers in the airport. It can provide travel info on its large display, and even walk you through the terminal if you’re lost. You’ll first see Airbot helping passengers at South Korea’s Incheon airport later this year, and we won’t be surprised if it spreads elsewhere.

The bad news? As we write this, LG hasn’t said when you can get the Hub robots yourself, or how much they’ll cost. And those details are important. They won’t be as exciting if you have to wait for several months to see them, or if they’re priced out of reach. We’ve seen some relatively reasonable prices for home robots so far, but there’s no guarantee LG will follow suit.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

Source: LG Newsroom

Astronomers photograph rare double ring galaxy

See those photos above? That’s our first look at PGC 1000714, a galaxy 359 million light-years away from our planet that’s unlike most of the galaxies we’ve observed before. While most galaxies we know are spirals like our own, PGC 1000714 is more similar to Hoag’s Object that was discovered back in 1950. They’re both ring galaxies characterized by a nucleus surrounded by a star-forming outer ring, except this one has two outer bands instead of one.

Astronomers from the University of Minnesota Duluth and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences found the second ring when they used a large diameter telescope in Chile to observe the unique structure. They collected multi-waveband images of PGC 1000714 to determine the ages of its nucleus and bluish outer band — in the end, they found both the answers to their questions and a fainter, reddish inner ring.

Since the rings are regions where stars form from colliding gas, their different colors suggest that the galaxy experienced two different formation periods. The red inner ring is older and probably much closer in age to the 5.5-billion-year-old red nucleus, while the blue outer band has only been around for 0.13 billion years.

The astronomers don’t think they can figure out how the rings formed based on the data they have. They believe, however, that the outer band could be a result of incorporating a gas-rich dwarf galaxy that used to be nearby. According to project lead Burcin Mutlu-Pakdil, “less than 0.1% of all observed galaxies are Hoag-type galaxies.” By observing all the rare ones we find, we learn more about how galaxies form and evolve.

Source: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Fitbit now gives you credit for VR bike rides

Fitbit will soon log your biking miles even when you’re on a virtual road stuck in your living room. The company has partnered with VirZoom, a company that turns dull old stationary cycling into a tank, sports car or Pegasus ride via VR. We thought that gamifying fitness was a nice idea when we tried it back in 2015, but Fitbit makes it possible to incorporate it into your regular routine. The device will not only capture and log your workout duration, distance pedaled and calories, but also sync it to your Fitbit account and give you credit toward your goals.

If you have a supported Fitbit device, it will also track your heart rate, keeping everything in one place “so you can view a more complete picture of your overall health,” Fitbit says. As a reminder, the VirZoom is a connected exercise bike that comes with a controller, arcade games and online services for $400. It doesn’t include, of course, the required Oculus Rift, HTC Vive or Sony Playstation VR headsets.

Fitbit has also joined up with Habit, an app that can give you personalized nutrition suggestions. If, for instance, you want to lose ten pounds but the Fitbit sees you aren’t doing enough Pegasus VR biking, it will adjust your calorie recommendations and types of carbs, proteins and fats you should eat.

The other tie-in is with Peloton, which lets you join instructor-guided cycling studio classes from home via a custom $2,000 bike (above) and on-demand streaming service. As with VirZoom, Fitbit will track your miles, duration, calories and heart rate and log it with your other fitness info.

The new tie-ins are part of the “Works with Fitbit,” the companies open API program for third-party apps. If you own one of the devices, you should be able to update the apps and connect it to your Fitbit as of now.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

Source: Fitbit

Ring intros a (kinda) wireless floodlight security camera

Traditionally, home security was something that you left to the professionals, since all of your stuff was at stake. But plenty of startups are hoping to tempt you into doing it yourself with their plug-and-play (or stick-and-leave) alternatives. Ring, which made its name with wall-mounted video doorbells, is now showing off its new Floodlight Cam. As the name implies, the device combines the company’s famous security cameras with a pair of LED floodlights.

The Ring Floodlight Cam packs a pair of bright LED lamps, a 1080p video camera and a 100db siren that will scare intruders away. The device will be activated thanks to a motion sensor with a 270-degree field of vision and you’ll get smartphone notifications, too. The camera connects to your WiFi network and will run through the same Ring app that works with the company’s other devices. Similarly, the built-in speaker and microphone will enable you to speak to people who approach your property and enquire as to their intentions.

Installation-wise, it’s a little more intensive than Ring’s previous offerings, since you will actually have to wire the device to your home’s floodlight wiring. Assuming, of course, that you already have such cabling, otherwise it’ll be a call to your nearest electrician. The Ring Floodlight Cam will retail for $249, with pre-orders opening from today at Ring’s website and shipping due for early April.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.