A Look at LinX Camera Technology That Could Appear in Future iOS Devices

Apple’s recent acquisition of LinX Imaging is one of the company’s more exciting acquisitions in the last several months, as the technology being developed by LinX could lead to some significant improvements in camera quality in future iOS devices. Given the significance of the purchase, we wanted to take a deeper look at LinX’s technology and what it could do for future iPhone photography.

No More Protruding Camera

LinX specializes in multi-aperture cameras for mobile devices, which offer several benefits over single aperture cameras, including the ability to pack impressive image quality in a smaller size. With a multi-aperture camera, LinX is able to take advantage of several smaller sensors rather than one large sensor, preventing the camera from needing a longer lens.

The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus were equipped with protruding lenses so Apple didn’t have to sacrifice image quality for thinness, but it’s possible Apple could shrink the length of the camera in future iOS devices with LinX technology, resulting in a flush rear exterior. According to LinX, the use of multiple sensors over a single large sensor let it shrink the height of its camera device by a factor of 1.4 to 2. Comparatively, one of LinX’s dual-aperture cameras was described by the company as “significantly” thinner than the iPhone 5s camera and able to “fit in a device thinner than the iPhone.”

SLR Image Quality

LinX announced the launch of its most recent mobile-ready multi-aperture camera in June of last year, and in documentation [PDF], the company highlighted the many ways in which its technology improved upon other multi-aperture camera designs, citing image quality as its first priority.

When designing our algorithms and modules our first priority has always been IMAGE QUALITY. We even leveraged the multiple channels to boost the sensitivity of the camera which allows us to capture stunning images at very low light levels and keep exposure times short at normal indoor light levels.

LinX’s mobile cameras were described as offering SLR-like images in normal lighting conditions with low noise levels, due to their ability to capture more details than standard single aperture cameras. To offer proof, LinX captured several photos with its LinX 8 mpix, a dual aperture camera with two 4-megapixel sensors with 2.0 micron BSI (backside illumination) pixels, and compared those to images taken with the iPhone 5s (equipped with an 8-megapixel single aperture camera with 1.5 micron pixels) and an iPhone 5.

Noise Reduction and Detail
The images captured by the LinX camera were brighter and clearer, with a significant reduction in noise. Available detail when zoomed into a photo was also much greater, as can be seen in the comparison below.

Indoor Lighting
In the photo below, the image was taken in mid-levels of light, at approximately 40 to 50 lux, similar to a decently well-lit room in a house or restaurant. The LinX sensor let in more light than the iPhone 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S4, for a photo that is clearer and sharper with less noise.

Very Low Lighting
LinX technology is able to significantly improve low light performance by using multiple channels to increase the sensitivity of the camera for better detail. It also keeps exposure times short to cut down on the motion blurring that can impact photo quality in conditions where lighting is not optimal. For a mobile camera in one lux of lighting, the detail that the dual-aperture LinX 8 mpix was able to capture is impressive.

Low light photos with less noise are also achieved through the use of clear pixels (adding clear pixels to standard red-green-blue filters) to let more light pass through in situations where lighting is low. The use of clear pixels lets in light without the need for larger pixels, keeping resolution high. Larger pixels typically result in more light for the sensor, but using large pixels cuts down on resolution. LinX technology doesn’t have to compromise between pixel size and resolution, as it can use small pixels but still let in adequate amounts of light.

Pixel Technology

Smaller pixels also often introduce pixel crosstalk that can impact color clarity to result in muddier colors, but the LinX camera’s clear pixels are less sensitive to this issue because they can collect more photons per pixel, also cutting down on noise levels.

In its documentation, LinX describes a 1×2 (aperture) camera module with two 5-megapixel sensors with 1.12 micron BSI (backside illumination) pixels, intended for a “super-slim handset with very limited space for the camera module.” The camera is cheaper than the one found in the iPhone 5s, but delivers the same resolution due to its smaller pixels, so image quality is largely the same. Presumably Apple would use something a bit more cutting edge in its newer devices, but the product gives an idea of the type of technology LinX was working on.

Depth Mapping for 3D Models

With multiple apertures, LinX camera modules are able to calculate “ultra accurate sub pixel disparities” between images, letting them create detailed depth maps of a scene. With depth information on a per-pixel basis along with RGB information, LinX cameras can create 3D point clouds of objects from a single frame or a complete 3D model by combining several frames captured from different angles.

Point mapping with data taken from a single photo
Outdoors, depth can be calculated even in direct sunlight or in complete darkness with flash lighting (either visible or infrared).

This is interesting technology because it can be used in several fascinating ways. Depth mapping like this can let people create 3D scans of objects from simple photographs taken at multiple angles, and it can also determine the size of an object that’s been photographed and its distance from another object (potentially useful for indoor mapping). It’s also possible to use the depth information to refocus an image, introducing a synthetic blur that can emulate different depths of field (a method described in one of LinX’s patents). In editing, the information could be used to remove and add objects to a photograph.

LinX Depth Mapping

LinX’s Arrays

LinX offers several different camera options, each of which have unique applications. A 1×2 aperture array with a color and mono sensor, for example, can create low quality depth maps, improve low light performance, and produce better images.

A 2×2 array can create high quality depth maps with higher dynamic range, improved low light performance, and general image quality.

A 1+1×2 array uses two small apertures to create a depth map that provides focusing input for the main aperture, leading to ultra fast focusing even in conditions with very low lighting.

Apple and LinX’s Technology

It’s not clear how and when Apple will incorporate LinX’s technology into its devices, but it’s possible we could see these types of camera improvements as soon as this year. Rumors have suggested Apple is looking into a major camera boost for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, with new technology that could produce SLR quality images, and LinX’s multi-aperture lens systems could potentially accomplish that feat.

Apple’s iPhone is one of the most popular camera options in the world according to data from Flickr, which has led Apple to focus heavily on camera improvements over the years. Apple’s commitment to photo quality has continually led to iOS cameras that offer superior images compared competing smartphones, and the acquisition of LinX could put it even further ahead of the competition.

More detailed descriptions of LinX’s technology as well as additional comparison photos can be seen in a June PDF released alongside its latest products.

Apple Watch to Appear at Milan’s Upcoming Salone Del Mobile Design Fair [iOS Blog]

The Apple Watch will be displayed at the upcoming Salone Del Mobile design fair in Milan, for a one-day viewing and try-on event, according to Wallpaper Magazine. It’ll be the Apple Watch’s first public appearance outside of a retail store or a pop up shop following its debut at Parisian boutique Colette in September.

On Friday, April 17, the Apple Watch will be on display at the Carlo e Camilla restaurant in Segheria, despite the fact that it’s not available for purchase in Italy yet. Though France, Germany, and the United Kingdom were first wave launch countries in Europe, Italy was not, and no second wave launch date has been announced.

The Carlo e Camilla restaurant features an industrial design with concrete walls accented by minimalist tables and ornate chandeliers. It offers a cocktail bar and contemporary Italian food.

Image of there restaurant courtesy of Les Hommes Modernes

Says Jony Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of design: ‘Salone del Mobile has such a deep-rooted history of embracing excellence in design so I’m particularly excited to celebrate our newest and most personal product, alongside our friends and fellow designers, at this special event.’ […]

‘Creating beautiful objects, respecting craftsmanship and focusing on a design process that’s driven by the deepest care, utility and end use, has been our goal since the beginning,’ says Ive. ‘With the launch of Apple Watch, that’s been more important than ever, to create a product where technology and craft, beauty and utility go hand in hand.’

The Salone del Mobile design fair is actually designed for furniture, calling itself the “global benchmark for the Home Furnishing Sector,” but other products do make an appearance at the event. Apple is not listed as an exhibitor, explaining why the Apple Watch event is behind held at a restaurant rather than an exhibition hall.

Though not available in Italy, the Apple Watch can be pre-ordered online in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Supplies of the Apple Watch are constrained, which means new orders offer shipping estimates that range into June and beyond.

Rare Working Apple-1 Computer With Cassette Interface Board Hits eBay [Mac Blog]

A rare functional Apple-1 Personal Computer has popped up on eBay this week after its owner decided to downsize his Apple collection. The Apple-1 computer, called the Copson Apple-1 by its current owner, is one of less than 50 known machines in existence. Apple-1 computers are popular with collectors as they were the first computers produced by Apple and were sold by Steve Jobs out of his parents’ garage in 1976.

Originally retailing for $666.66, the Apple-1 in the auction was purchased by Joey Copson and held in the same family for more than 36 years. Bob Luther, who was writing a book on a separate Apple-1 computer, came across the Copson Apple-1 during his research and purchased it from Copson’s family.

According to the auction, the Apple-1 was recently serviced and turned on by computer historian Corey Cohen, and it includes an Apple-1 Cassette board accessory. It comes with a date-stamped keyboard and a clam shell case supplied by the original owner. The Copson Apple-1 was originally placed up for auction in 2012 in a non-working condition where it didn’t meet the minimum bid, but was later refurbished and repaired.

“The Copson board is an 8 out of 10…” and, “Late in 2014, I was asked to bring the Copson Apple-1 setup back to working state. In the process of my evaluation, the Copson Apple-1 board was chemically stabilized and cleaned. I took extreme care to keep all the discrete components on the board original by performing some minor repairs instead of replacing components unnecessarily, maintaining its originality. The Copson Apple-1 has no cuts, repairs or modifications to the PCB board.

The Datanetics keyboard was completely refurbished, the original Apple Cassette Interface was refurbished and the original power supply made safe and operational.

The Copson Apple-1 is unique due to the futuristic custom plastic case that Joe Copson placed it in. The case appears oddly similar in design to what would be used later by the early Apple II. The distinctive jumper wiring also performed by Joe Copson when he later purchased the Apple Cassette Interface, can also be used to uniquely identify and confirm this is the Copson Apple-1 board from other early Byte Shop Apple-1s that also predate the Apple Cassette Interface’s availability.”

The Copson Apple-1 is labeled as 01-0022, suggesting that it’s potentially an earlier build than other Apple-1 machines that have sold for more money, including a working Apple-1 that sold for $905,000 to the Henry Ford Museum back in October. That machine was numbered “01-0070.”

There’s no reserve price on the Apple-1 auction, but bidders must be pre-approved. The current bid is at $20,600 and the auction ends in eight days.

Luther is also auctioning off a few other rare Apple items, including an early production Apple II computer. 10 percent of the proceeds from the auctions will go to the ALS Association.

Mophie Debuts New ‘Watch Dock’ for Apple Watch [iOS Blog]

Ahead of the Apple Watch launch, several companies have debuted charging accessories, bands, cases, and more for the Apple Watch, and as of today, popular iOS accessory maker Mophie is also offering its own version of a Watch Dock for the Apple Watch.

The Watch Dock from Mophie is constructed from a silver aluminum and it offers black leather accents on the base and behind the watch. The dock is designed to work with the charging cable that ships with the Apple Watch, allowing users to simply place their watches on the stand at night for easy charging.

The slightly elevated, slightly angled charging position makes it easy to use your watch’s touchscreen and other features while charging. Use the dock at home or in the office knowing your watch is charging in comfort and you’ll never have to mess with tangled cables again.

Mophie’s Watch Dock measures in at 4.64 x 2.87 x 2.52 inches and it weighs 3.86 ounces. Design wise, Mophie’s dock is minimalist and elegant, offering a slimmer body than other competing products from companies like Griffin and Twelve South.

The Mophie Watch Dock can be pre-ordered from the Mophie website for $59.95. According to the website, it will ship out on April 24, the same day as the official launch of the Apple Watch.

Teen Interest in Apple Watch Drops Ahead of Launch, iPhone Remains Popular

Apple Watch demand among U.S. teens remains relatively low even as the device’s launch approaches, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster’s latest semiannual teen survey, which asked approximately 6,200 teens in the United States about their device usage habits and future buying plans.

Only 11 percent of teenagers surveyed plan on purchasing an Apple Watch, down from 16 percent in the fall survey. Of those 11 percent, the top reason teens cited for wanting an Apple Watch was style, followed by design. Only five percent of teens currently own a smart watch.

We believe the lower purchase intent reflects a wait and see approach to the Watch as it seems unclear what will be the “killer app” for the Watch. We expect teens to be a good market for the Apple Watch given the popularity of the iPhone, but believe it will take time for influencers (celebrities) to make the watch popular among teens.

Though teens don’t yet seem to be interested in the Apple Watch, the iPhone and the iPad remain the most popular smartphone and tablet among teenagers. 66 percent of teenagers surveyed owned an iPhone, down slightly from 67 percent in the fall survey, while 64 percent owned an iPad, compared to 66 percent in fall of 2014.

72 percent of teens expect their next smartphone purchase will be an iPhone, while 60 percent expect their next tablet to be an iPad. Comparatively, interest in smartphones and tablets from other companies remains low. 21 percent of teens expect their next smartphone purchase to be an Android, and 16 percent plan to buy an Android tablet. Interest in Windows tablets has grown slightly, however, and 20 percent of teens expect their next tablet purchase to be Windows-based.

Over the last couple of weeks, the Apple Watch has been popping up on the wrists of celebrities like Pharell Williams, Katy Perry, and Drake, as Apple attempts to boost its popularity ahead of the device’s April 24 launch. Celebrity endorsements like these along with heavy marketing may lure teens towards the Apple Watch in the coming weeks.

The next teen survey will be published in October, and by that time, it’s possible the Apple Watch numbers will shift dramatically if Apple’s marketing tactics are successful.

‘Workflow’ for Apple Watch Brings Automated Tasks to Your Wrist

Popular iOS app Workflow was today updated with support for the upcoming Apple Watch, bringing its highly useful task automation capabilities to the wrist-worn device.

For those of you unfamiliar with Workflow, it’s a powerful automation app that was first launched on iOS last December. Workflow lets users create actions and connect apps to automatically perform a huge range of tasks on the iPad or the iPhone.

Workflows can be built from a series of actions to perform tasks like making GIFs from a series of photos, creating PDFs from websites, appending content or recordings to Evernote, seeing older versions of websites, getting images from websites, and translating text on the clipboard. There are hundreds of actions that can be combined for an endless number of different workflows.

On the Apple Watch, Workflow will work in the same way, giving users one-tap access to a wide range of different timesaving actions. For example, it’ll be possible to pull up a map to the nearest coffee shop or call an Uber using Workflow. These type of quick-access actions may be particularly valuable on the Apple Watch, given its limited input methods.

One of the best features about Workflow for iOS is its included Workflow Gallery, which makes it easy for even those new to the app to download actions that are immediately useful. The same gallery feature will be available on the Apple Watch for fast access to workflows.

Workflow’s Gallery and a workflow in action
Workflows can be executed by raising the Apple Watch on the wrist to turn it on and swiping up at the bottom of the screen to get to the Workflow Glance. Workflows can be run directly from the Glance portion of the Apple Watch, so accessing them will be similar to accessing an app in the Notification Center on iOS. As a reminder, Glances are quick snippets of information that are meant to be easy to access.

Third-party Glances on the Apple Watch are not interactive and do not support buttons or scrolling, so launching a workflow through the Apple Watch’s Glance view is done in a unique way. The Glance automatically scrolls through the different workflows that are available and selecting one is done by tapping on the screen.

Scrolling through workflows can be sped up with a rather unique interaction — knocking the Apple Watch against the iPhone in a pants pocket. This causes the built-in scrolling mechanism to shift to the next available workflow in the list.

Workflows from the iPhone are automatically available on the Apple Watch, including all custom-created workflows constructed from the available actions in the Workflow app. Many Apple Watch apps are somewhat limited in function due to the restricted access developers have to Apple APIs, and the same goes for Workflow.

Apple Watch workflows aren’t as full-featured as those on the iPhone — it’s not possible to run workflows that open other apps — but Handoff is supported to allow users to transfer a workflow on the Apple Watch to the iPhone.

Workflow’s Glance menu and Handoff message
Workflows that involve opening apps, sending messages, or placing phone calls will all require the iPhone because developers cannot use these functions. Workflows that are not supported on the Apple Watch will direct users to use Handoff to swap over to the iPhone.

Though Apple Watch workflows can’t open apps (aside from getting directions within Maps) they can still take advantage of the same data available to many iOS apps, like calendar info, contacts, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Currently, 163 out of 226 of available actions within the Workflow app are able to run natively on the Apple Watch, so there’s still quite a lot that can be done directly on the device.

Workflow for the Apple Watch is available through an update to the Workflow app as of today, so it’ll be accessible on the Apple Watch as soon as the first devices arrive in customers’ hands.

Workflow can be downloaded from the App Store for the sale price of $2.99. [Direct Link]

‘Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft’ Launches on iPhone [iOS Blog]

Blizzard Entertainment’s popular card battling game Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft today finally launched on iPhone, after becoming available on tablets, including iPad, nearly one year ago. The new support comes as a universal update to the existing iOS app.

The game made the leap to Android and iOS tablets following its initial Mac and PC launch in March of 2014, with MacRumors‘ sister site TouchArcade reporting numerous stories throughout the year regarding the game’s much-rumored launch on iPhone.

Hearthstone is free-to-play, but users can opt in to purchase card packs when their personal bank of in-game gold is sufficiently lacking. The game tasks players with collecting and organizing a constantly shifting array of card types for each one of its drastically different nine classes, aiming for an opponent’s weaknesses in a battle to whittle down each others’ 30-point health system to zero.

As with all versions of the game, iPhone users with previous experience in the Hearthstone world will be able to sync all of their custom decks, gold count, and experience to the new iPhone app by signing into their Battle.net accounts. Though some die-hard fans remain skeptical about the game’s proper transition to such a small screen, the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus last year can undoubtedly provide a more comfortable Hearthstone experience while still maintaining a bit more portability over its tablet-focused counterparts.

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Apple Acquires Israeli Camera Tech Company LinX Imaging for ~$20 Million

Apple has purchased Israeli camera technology company LinX Imaging for approximately $20 million, reports Dow Jones via CNBC. The company specializes in creating multi-aperture camera equipment for mobile devices and it’s possible that Apple will use the company’s technology in upcoming iOS devices.

Last year, LinX announced the launch of miniature multi-aperture cameras half the height of standard mobile cameras with the ability to create “stunning color images and high accuracy depth maps.”

The image quality of mobile cameras has reached a dead end. Device makers are striving to differentiate using imaging capabilities but the pixel size race has ended and next generation cameras do not reveal any dramatic improvements. LinX cameras revolutionize mobile photography and broaden the usability span and user experience, allowing us to leave our SLRs at home.

The engineers at LinX have solved all problems associated with combining multiple images captured from different points in space such as registration errors and occlusion related artifacts which are seen on competing technologies.

LinX’s technology uses software to extract depth information for each pixel to create a depth map for that can also be used for 3D image reconstruction. LinX’s website is now defunct, but the company offered products with two, three, and four camera arrays in multiple configurations and sizes. Its most recent technology was downscaled enough to be ready for use in mobile devices.

LinX technology includes several other improvements Apple could potentially take advantage of, including multiple sensors for a smaller size, better sensitivity to light, and greatly improved image quality in low light.

There have been rumors suggesting Apple’s iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will offer much improved dual-lens camera technology with image quality on par with DSLR cameras, which could be made possible through mobile camera advancements like those LinX Imaging has worked on.

Camera improvements and iPhone photography have always been important to Apple, and its iOS devices routinely offer highly competitive picture taking capabilities that often outclass devices from competing companies. In the past, major improvements to camera technology have come in “S” release years, so it is likely we will see at least some boost in picture quality in the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

Synology Launches New DiskStation DS1515 and RackStation RS815 Storage Solutions [Mac Blog]

Synology, known for its Network Attached Storage (NAS) solutions, today announced the addition of two new devices to its existing DiskStation and RackStation product lineup: the DiskStation DS1515 and the RackStation RS815.

The DiskStation DS1515 is the first 5-bay solution in Synology’s Value series lineup that offers a quad-core CPU. Along with a 1.4GHz AL-314 quad-core CPU from Annapurna Labs, it has 2GB of RAM and four Gigabit LAN ports with link aggregation support. The DS1515 is able to offer read/write speeds of up to 403.7MB/s and 421.8MB/s, respectively, using a RAID 5 configuration with Windows. With its hardware encryption engine, it offers encrypted data transmission speeds of 296.54MB/s (read) and 150.04 MB/s (write).

Like all of Synology’s products, the DS1515 runs Synology’s DiskStation Manager software, and it’s scalable up to 15 drives with two Synology DX513 expansion units for up to 90TB of total storage 30TB maximum without the expansion units). Synology’s DS1515 is designed to be energy efficient, with hard drive hibernation and two 80 x 80 mm fans to keep it running cool, and it has a noise dampening design that lets it run quieter than PCs.

“The DS1515 and RS815 offer excellent value for growing companies that need easy scalability, with on-the-fly plug and play expansions,” said Synology Product Marketing Manager Jason Bonoan. “Plus, work groups can use these NAS with Cloud Station and sync their files when they are on the go.”

Synology’s RackStation RS815 is a 4-bay rackmount NAS that’s designed to be compact and able to fit easily in smaller server rooms. Aimed at businesses that need to store large amounts of data, the RackStation RS815 is 12-inches deep and smaller than its predecessor.

Synology RackStation RS815 is a compact and scalable 4-bay rackmount NAS, which is designed to help businesses effectively store, protect and share data. In terms of size, RS815 is nearly half the depth compared to its predecessor. Running on Synology’s award-winning DiskStation Manager, RS815 enjoys rich features and stability in situations with limited space and budget.

The RS815 includes a dual-core CPU and 1GB of RAM. It’s able to deliver speeds of up to 111.5MB/s (read) and 108.7MB/s (write) in a RAID 5 configuration. It’s got dual LAN failover support to keep it connected to the network at all times, plus two USB 3.0 ports and support for an optional storage expansion unit (up to 48TB of space). As with the DS1515, the RS815 runs the DiskStation Manager Software.

The Synology DS1515 and RS815 are available for purchase today for $649.99 and $599.99, respectively.