Qualcomm could make dual cameras standard on phones
Qualcomm’s new offering called “Clear Sight” could put dual cameras in more Android phones. It’s a single module that’s already equipped with two rear cameras and low light imaging algorithms, after all, and phonemakers can simply slap it onto their devices instead of developing their own. It’s more similar to Huawei P9’s Leica-endorsed dual cams than to the iPhone 7’s in that Clear Sight is comprised of a black-and-white and a color image sensor. See, black-and-white sensors can take better images in low-lighting than color sensors can. So, the tech combines the B&W photo taken by one of the cameras with the colors captured by the other to get the best of both worlds.
Since it’s only compatible with phones powered by a premium Snapdragon 820 or 821 processor, expect any Clear Sight device to be on the higher end of the pricing scheme. But who knows — it could make dual cameras so common until they become a staple even in more affordable Android devices.
Via: The Verge
Source: Qualcomm
It takes two: A visual history of dual-camera mobile phones
With the recent launches of the iPhone 7 Plus and the LG V20, the dual-lens smartphone camera is once again a hot topic. Of course, many other companies will want to remind you that they were there first, except some have long since given up on the technology. So what happened? And why isn’t this yet a standard feature on all flagship smartphones? For those intrigued, it’s worth taking a trip seven years back in time.
Alcatel launches a smartphone-free VR headset
Alcatel is not a big player in the global smartphone market, but that fact that it just launched a standalone headset shows how ubiquitous VR is about to become. The Vision doesn’t require a separate smartphone like Samsung’s Gear VR, but has all the guts of a mobile phone built right in. That includes an eight-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, Bluetooth, LTE and a suite of sensors including an accelerometer, gyro and proximity sensor.
In place of a smartphone screen, however, there’s a pair of 3.8-inch AMOLEDs, each with 1,080 x 1,020, or around 2,160 x 2,040 resolution total. To make the headset balance better, Alcatel elected to put the 3,000 mAH battery on the back pad. The company told Mashable that it should have three to four hours of battery autonomy.
Alcatel also unveiled an inexpensive 360-degree camera, the Alcatel 360, that’s equipped with dual 210-degree fisheye lenses and comes in rectangular and ball shapes. It reportedly works just by plugging it into one of the company’s Idol 4, Idol 4S or Pop 4S phones, but there’s no word on whether it’ll work with other smartphone brands.
The challenge for Alcatel is that it’s not plugged in with Oculus, Google’s Daydream, or any other big VR players. Rather, it’s reportedly working on its own Unity-based SDK and app payment system. It’s also partnering with several companies including Janut VR and Fraunhofer, which will provide preloaded games and other content. All of that, plus the reported $500 to $600 price tag, will make it a stretch for consumers, considering the off-brand nature of the company.
Via: Mashable
Source: Alcatel
O2 wants to help you spread the cost of building a smart home
Although there are plenty of smart home solutions, deciding which platform to back can be hard. Do you invest in a product from a major brand like Google’s Nest or choose a startup that cares more about its products and services than parting you from more of your money? It’s a problem that UK companies like British Gas’ Hive have tried to solve with its mix of smart appliances, but mobile carrier O2 thinks it might have the solution. The operator today launched O2 Home, a new smart home subscription service that lets customers spread the cost of devices but also the support they may require.
O2 Home consists of three customisable 24-month packages. There’s Comfort, a £30 per month package that offers a Tado smart thermostat, two smart plugs and one presence sensor. For the same price, you can ditch the smart heating option and choose Home View, a security-focused package that comes bundled with Samsung camera, a wide view camera, one open and close sensor and one presence sensor. The last of the three is Home Connect, a £20 bundle that offers two presence sensors, two open and close sensors and two smart plugs. All of the packages come with O2’s own app-controlled Smart Hub as standard.
O2 Home doesn’t stop there, though. Each of the products can be bolted on to existing packages to fill any gaps in your connected home. You can choose from products like flood sensors, Powerline adaptors, indoor sirens and even Yale’s keyfree smart lock. The operator has decided not to incorporate those additional devices into its plans, which ramps the price up considerably. However, if you do invest in a camera solution, the monthly price covers 250MB of cloud-based video storage (enough for ten 15-second clips and 250 snapshots), 24-month device warranty and ten profiles for you and your family.
Initially, O2 Home will be available in selected parts of London before rolling out across the UK. To incentivise customers, the company is offering O2 Home free for the first year, as long as you order between September 1st and September 14th. They aren’t ready just yet but you’ll also be able to check out its installations in one of four O2 Home demo spaces, located in Westfield White City, Tottenham Court Road, Kingston and Watford.
Source: O2 Home
The DxO One gets Wi-Fi control and a suite of accessories
If you take a lot of photos with your smartphone, you’ve probably noticed they’re not always up to snuff with the kind of images you’d see from a DSLR camera.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many options out there to improve your iPhone’s camera either unless you go for post-processing apps. Luckily, there’s the DxO One, meant to do just that, including a Lightning connector and an image sensor that’s meant to improve the way you shoot photos with your phone.
But any good camera needs accessories, and the DxO’s getting a new suite of accessories including a special shell for waterproofing, weatherproofing and keeping the One itself safe from the elements while you take it on the go. There’s also a stand, Wi-Fi remote control, and an optical adapter for you to attach new filters over the One’s lens.
In a pretty exciting turn of events, you can use the Wi-Fi remote to aconnect to locate networks or your iPhone directly even when not in range of networks, which makes it a pretty nifty little device, and it’s coming to all DxO One camera owners with the 2.0 software update in September.
The September update also includes a slew of other options like Mobile Smart Lighting, improved power consumption, and a new autofocus mode in addition to a white balance setting meant for shooting photos underwater.
You can pick up the outdoor case for $49 and the filter adapter for $25, with the stand going for $20. It’s a decent camera. You’ll probably want to try and keep it protected.
Via: TechCrunch
Canon’s EOS 5D Mark IV has a 30.4-megapixel sensor and 4K video
The moment Canon fans have anxiously waited for is here. Today, the company finally took the wraps off of its EOS 5D Mark IV, a DSLR geared toward photographers and videographers alike. For starters, the highly anticipated flagship camera features a brand new 30.4-megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor and Digic 6+ processor. It also brings 4K video capability at 23.98, 24, 25 and 30 fps, as well as a 61-point autofocus system, built-in digital lens optimizer, NFC, WiFi and an ISO range of 100-32,000. All told, that’s a big step up from the previous model, the EOS 5D Mark III — one of the most beloved DSLRs out there.
Similar to the 7D Mark II and the newly minted 80D, the 5D Mark IV boasts Canon’s trademark Dual Pixel CMOS AF, which should make it easier to track subjects when you’re shooting video. It’s worth noting the Mark IV captures 4K at DCI resolution (4,096 x 2,160), rather than the UHD (3,840 x 2,160) on cameras like Nikon’s D5. Another highlight is the addition of touchscreen; unlike the 1D-X Mark II, this one offers a full interface and isn’t limited to video-only use.
Meanwhile, the continuous shooting mode is set at 7 fps, up from 6 on the 5D Mark III. The camera will take both CompactFlash and SD cards, and there’s GPS too — something Canon says had been heavily requested by EOS users. To round things up, Canon upgraded the weather resistance on the 5D Mark IV, making it more immune to many elements, including water and dust.
The EOS 5D Mark IV hits stores in early September for $3,499 for the body only. If you’re after a kit that comes with a lens, there are two options. Grab the camera and the EF24-70mm f/4L lens for $4,399 early next month or the EOS 5D Mark IV and EF24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens $4,599 in late October.
Moto Z’s Hasselblad camera add-on surfaces in fresh photos
When Motorola and Lenovo unveiled the Moto Z, they unveiled a host of MotoMods… except for one. Where was that camera add-on we’d seen in leaks? Apparently, it’s still coming — and it might be more than you were expecting. Moto G3 has come across community photos showing that the camera module is not only Hasselblad-branded as anticipated, but packs a 10X optical zoom lens. There aren’t any clues as to the sensor, alas, but we suspect that this is more likely to be a point-and-shoot quality (maybe mirrorless) sensor given the size, rather than Hasselblad’s signature medium format. You’ll be taking better photos than you would with the stock camera, then, but we wouldn’t count on magazine-quality Instagram shots.
If leaks are accurate, you won’t have to wait long for more details. The Hasselblad MotoMod may be announced at Germany’s IFA show, which officially starts on September 2nd. There aren’t any clues as to the price, but we can’t imagine that Hasselblad camera hardware will come cheap. We’d expect something in the ballpark of a previous photography add-on like Sony’s QX10, which cost about $230 when new.
Via: TechnoBuffalo, PetaPixel
Source: Moto G3
Nikon’s D3400 DSLR is made for aspiring photographers
Not everyone can handle cameras like Nikon’s flagship D5, which are designed with professional photographers in mind. But, for those who want a less advanced DSLR, the Japanese manufacturer has others such as its new D3400. This entry-level shooter features a 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor (DX-format) alongside the Expeed 4 processor, which Nikon claims brings improved auto white balance performance and better image quality in low-light scenarios. The D3400 also boasts an ISO range of 100-25,600, 11-point autofocus system, 5-fps continuous shooting and 1080p video at up to 60 fps. These are the sort of specs you’d expect from beginner DSLRs, but the lack of 4K recording will be a downside for some people.
Of course, similar to the higher-end D500, Nikon’s D3400 comes with SnapBridge connectivity. You can use this to transfer pictures remotely to a smartphone or tablet; there’s no WiFi here though, meaning the data is shared over low-energy Bluetooth. Another highlight is that the D3400 is getting a fresh line of dedicated lenses, called the AF-P DX Nikkor. According to Nikon, these have a very quiet motor, which should come in handy for users who shoot video on a regular basis.
The D3400 will hit stores in “early” September for $650, in a kit that includes an AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR lens. Or, you’ll also have the option to buy it with that same glass plus an AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5/6.3 G ED for $1,000. Alternatively, Nikon’s also selling the 70-300mm lens with vibration reduction for $400 on its own.
GoPro’s Hero5 camera could pack GPS
GoPro most definitely has a future planned beyond drones and virtual reality rigs. Both an FCC filing and an apparent video leak suggest that the upcoming Hero5 action camera will give you a couple of good reasons to ditch your Hero4. To start, the FCC entry makes clear references to built-in GPS. It’s not certain how you’d use it, but it’s easy to see the technology used for geolocating your videos or tracking performance. That same filing also hints at a thinner, lighter body.
There are also hints that the interface is getting a makeover. Reddit user Konrad-iturbe has posted what’s purported to be a Hero5 instruction video, and the device would have a significantly redesigned (and likely easier to use) touch control scheme. There’s also mention of a “GoPro Sniper” option, although it’s not certain what that is. An attachment? You won’t have to wait long to get the full scoop when GoPro has promised that the Hero5 will launch this year, but this is a nice hint of what you can expect.
Via: Zatz Not Funny
Source: FCC, Reddit
Facebook open sources its 360-degree video camera
Facebook said from the start that it would open source its Surround 360 camera this summer, and it’s following through on that promise. You can now visit GitHub to learn how to build the camera, install its software and (naturally) tweak both the hardware and software to meet your needs. Just keep in mind that this isn’t exactly a homebrew project — you’ll need about $30,000 in parts to build the official version. It’s more for video pros that want to produce 360-degree content without having to turn to pricier, pre-packaged offerings like Nokia’s Ozo. Still, it’s worth exploring the source if you want to either see how Facebook’s VR cam works or design a lower-cost alternative.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: GitHub
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