Sony Launch New Camcorders at CES 2016

Life’s defining moments can happen so fast, we often fail to fully appreciate the essence of the experience. Whether it’s a child’s first steps, a school play, graduation or a wedding day – having a video to re-live your happiest times with friends and family can become one of your greatest treasures. Sony’s newest Handycam camcorders allow you to perpetuate those moments in vibrant 4K detail.

FDR-AX53 – Breath-taking picture quality with 4K Handycam

The patriarch of this year’s camcorder family takes form in Sony’s newest 4K Handycam, the FDR-AX53, combining enhanced image quality and incredible sound performance.

The FDR-AX53 features a new Exmor R CMOS sensor, providing exceptionally detailed 4K movies. Due to the new sensor’s approximately 1.6x larger pixel sizeii, the FDR-AX53 enjoys a much greater sensitivity level than its predecessorand allows for fantastically clear content with outstanding resolution even when shooting in low light conditions.

The FDR-AX53 features a newly developed ZEISS lens that extends to a wide angle of 26.8mmiii, accurately capturing the scene from wide angle through to telephoto. The lens empowers the camcorder with a remarkable range of 20x optical and 30x (4K)/ 40x (FHD) Clear Image Zoom, for beautiful close-up footage you don’t want to miss.

Due to its Advanced Aspherical (AA) and Extra-low Dispersion(ED) lens elements, colour fringing is highly reduced allowing the lens to produce incredibly accurate colours for beautifully precise footage. The multi-layer film ZEISS T* coating reduces unwanted reflections like ghosting and flare which delivers a crisper, clearer image even when shooting on bright days outside.

The FDR-AX53 is the first Handycam with an enhanced version of Sony’s own Balance Optical SteadyShot; a 5-axis image stabilisation system that brings you blur-free footage when shooting handheld and thanks to its new Intelligent Active modeiv, also ensures crisp footage whilst running. This incredibly powerful image stabilisation system allows for exceptionally smooth and clear video footage from all angles, even when on the move or whilst using the telephoto end of the 20x optical zoom when aiming for close-ups shots. The new Intelligent Active mode takes it a step further and even allows for incredibly clear HD footage when running.

The FDR-AX53 records at an incredible high bit-rate of 4K 100Mbps, using the high-performing XAVC S™ recording format[vi], allowing each frame to be filled with astonishing 4K detail so you can relive everything from splashing waves to colourful confetti.

The camcorder comes with a newly adapted AF algorithm, Fast Intelligent AF, also featuring in Sony’s α7S II, which optimises communication between the lens and processor to achieve speeds up to approximately 40% fasterii than previous models and more precise subject capture.

Advanced sound quality

The FDR-AX53’s new microphone structure collects sound from five directions, thereby capturing real-life sounds and delivering a more realistic sense of ambience. Due to the enhanced microphone structure, noise levels have been reduced by approximately 40%ii, and stereo performance is approximately twice as high as previous modelsii, allowing for clear recordings in a greater range of environments. Its 5.1ch microphone records high stereo sound in 2ch in XAVC S 4K/HD and high surround sound in 5.1ch in AVCHD. In addition, the My Voice Canceling function reduces the user’s own voice whilst recording.

Full HD 100fps recording for slow-mo movies[vii]

As a first for the Handycam series, the FDR-AX53 can record at 100fps in Full HD meaning that footage can be edited into breath-taking slow motion footage with the free PC software, PlayMemories Home™, to add a whole new dimension to home movies.

It boasts many pro-style refinements for greater shooting flexibility, including a manual ring and button that can be allocated to functions like zoom, focus and exposure and electronic viewfinder (EVF), allowing the user to easily compose scenes even when recording on sun-filled holidays. For greater control of the edit, advanced users can benefit from Time Code and User Bit options.

To enjoy recorded footage at home, 4K content can be played back on a compatible 4K TV through a supplied HDMI cable or by automatic down conversion of 4K frames in Full HD playback on an HD TV. For beautiful framing, this Handycam also allows you to playback trimmed 4K images from selected video frames, enlarging or cropping[viii] selected parts of the frame in Full HD quality.

More new ways to capture and share the memories

Sony’s Full HD camcorder range welcomes two new members, HDR-CX625 and HDR-CX450. As with their elder siblings, they extend to a generous wide angle of 26.8mmiii, meaning beautiful family moments can be captured in any situation. Both new models benefit from image stabilisation technologies including advanced 5-axis Balanced Optical SteadyShot with Intelligent Active mode on the HDR-CX625, and Optical SteadyShot with Intelligent Active mode on the HDR-CX450–ensuring highly detailed, blur-free footage.

The Handycam camcorders allow for XAVC S 50Mbps high-bitrate recordingv and also feature Fast Intelligent AF. With 5.1ch surround microphone performance[ix] and My Voice Canceling, superb sound quality is also guaranteed.

Using Sony’s free PlayMemories Home™PC software, you can organise and edit your footage and also create your personal high-quality time-lapse moviesvi with Time-lapse Capture for powerful, impactful scenes in 4K using the FDR-AX53 and HD with the HDR-CX625 and HDR-CX450.

Live Broadcasts

To get others involved in the action, all new Handycam models allowLive Streamingvia USTREAMTM[x], enabling you to stream HD video footage and sound from Handycam camcorders through a wireless access point. You can now ensure that no one, no matter how far away, will miss out on those defining moments, no matter where in the world they may be.

Like all of Sony’s Handycam line up, the new models feature the automatic in-cam movie editing function, Highlight Movie Maker[xi], which picks key moments in your footage like laughter or zoomed in moments and assembles them into short-clips without any need for post-production editing. You can customise with transition effects and soundtrack music and once completed, easily share your MP4 movie on social media sites.

Sony’s new 4K Handycam will be available in Europe from March 2016; the Full HD camcorders will be available from mid-February, 2016.

• Today’s special moments are tomorrow’s greatest memories with new Handycam range featuring new 4K[i] and two new HD models
  • FDR-AX53 4K Handycam with new Exmor R™ CMOS sensor with approx. 1.6x bigger pixel size[ii] for unrivalled sensitivity, particularly in low light conditions
  • New ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* lens for astounding resolution up to a wide angle of 26.8mm[iii] and 20x optical zoom and 30x Clear Image Zoom[iv]
  • Featuring 5-axis image stabilisation enabled by Sony’s Balanced Optical SteadyShot™ enhanced with NEW Intelligent Active mode[v], compensating for camera shake even whilst running
  • New microphone structure which collects sound from five directions for advanced sound quality
  • Full HD 100fps high speed recording for post-production editing of incredible slow-mo moviesvi
  • Pro-style features including manual ring, EVF, Time Code recording and User Bit for increased shooting flexibility
  • HDR-CX625 and HDR-CX450 HD camcorders with enhanced camera functions including 5-axis image stabilisation (only on CX625), Fast Intelligent AF, and Time-lapse Capture

Phase One Brings Amazing 100MP Photos to Life

COPENHAGEN, January 4, 2016 -- Phase One today announced that in collaboration with Sony it has designed a new 100MP CMOS full-frame sensor for the Phase One XF 100MP Camera System. Engineered to perform well beyond 100MP imaging, the modular Phase One XF Camera System platform was designed for expansion – offering hard-working professional photographers tangible investment value.

The XF 100MP Camera System with this new full-frame, medium format 100MP CMOS sensor combines high resolution with high dynamic range and exceptional wide angular response. The Phase One XF 100MP offers photographers unprecedented power to realize their visions. It delivers true 16-bit color, 15 f-stops of dynamic range, live view capturing with HDMI output, ISO flexibility from 50 to 12800 and exposure times of up to 60 minutes.

“For more than 20 years, we at Phase One have been pushing the limits of digital image quality to help top photographers stand out,” said Niels Knudsen, Vice President of Innovation and Phase One’s ‘Image Quality Professor.’ “With the XF 100MP Camera System, everything we have been working toward for our customers comes together in one system: ultimate image quality and ultimate creative freedom.”

“The XF 100MP Camera System delivers unparalleled dynamic range, retaining unmatched detail in both highlights and shadows, packing 101,082,464 active high quality pixels,” said Henrik Håkonsson, Phase One’s CEO. “This is the highest performing system that we have ever created, benefitting from a multitude of Phase One exclusive innovations developed to support our amazing customers in creating the ultimate images.”  

Introduced in June, 2015, the Phase One XF Camera System has been built with optimal 100MP performance in mind. As such, features like the Honeybee Auto Focus, Vibration Tracking, Electronic First Curtain Shutter, and Vibration Detection technology have all been developed to ensure the ultimate 100MP performance. The Phase One XF Camera System was also designed for future growth with regular feature upgrades, incorporating new features and unique customizations. Coupled with new Schneider Kreuznach Leaf Shutter lenses, interchangeable Prism Viewfinder and Waist Level Finder, the Phase One XF 100MP Camera System is sure to set the standard for professional photography for many years to come.

High-resolution files produced by the new Phase One XF 100MP Camera System, when processed with Capture One 9, benefit from the software’s advanced algorithms that have been fine-tuned over decades of engineering investment, rendering superior image quality and superior results.

Availability and Pricing
Shipping immediately, the XF 100MP Camera System is available through Phase One photography partners worldwide: www.phaseone.com/partners.

The XF 100MP Camera System comes with Phase One’s unique 5-year warranty and uptime guarantee including personalized 24/7 support and assistance.

The price of the Phase One XF 100MP Camera System (with Schneider Kreuznach 80mm LS lens) is 48,990 USD.

Attractive camera system upgrade offers are available for all Phase One photographers. Please contact our Phase One photography partners for further details: www.phaseone.com/partners.

For a demo of the Phase One XF 100 MP Camera System, please sign up here: www.phaseone.com/demo

Revealed: The top Christmas gadgets of the last decade

Smart watches set to top tech-savvy Christmas lists … From games consoles to tablets and wearables, the top technology Christmas gifts of the last decade chart how the world has advanced. The way we game, read, track our fitness and work has been revolutionised since 2005. As Christmas approaches, what better way to celebrate trends in technology than to take a look at the most successful technology products of the past ten years?

2005
Back in 2005, 1.1 million of us sent Shane Ward to the Christmas top spot, and number one on everyone’s Christmas list was the brand new Xbox 360. Demand hugely outstripped supply, with hundreds of gamers queuing for hours in the rain to lay their hands on the console, which sold out in hours. The Xbox franchise has continued to delight gamers; 9 years later, Microsoft announced that Xbox 360 sales stood at 84 million units sold, with lifetime game sales for the platform at $37.7 billion. On last calculation, Xbox 360 gamers have logged more than 88 billion hours of gameplay, which is equivalent to more than 100,000 centuries.

2006
2006 saw Daniel Craig’s first outing as Bond in ‘Casino Royale’, and Sony’s fight back against Microsoft, in the shape of the Play Station 3. First introduced in 1995, the Play Station and Play Station 2 are still the best-selling home game consoles in history. To date the four Play Station versions have sold a total of 344 million units.

2007
2007 was the year gaming got physical, with stocks of Nintendo’s Wii finally becoming widely available to buy. Named a ‘revolution’ by Forbes Magazine, which claimed that the Wii ‘has re-invented video gaming, making it more social, more intuitive and surprisingly physically engaging…it’s potentially the device that will make video gaming as widely enjoyed as board or card games.’ Since launch, it’s sold more than 100 million units.

2008
It’s hard to imagine life before the smart phone, but 2008 was the year the 3G iPhone hit our shores. Now in its 12th incarnation, over 500 million iPhones have been sold, currently making it the best-selling smartphone of all time.

2009
The Amazon Kindle took technology into a new realm, revolutionising the way we consume new and enduring classic literature. The Kindle 2 was launched in 2009 and by early the next year the founder and CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, stated that "millions of people now own Kindles” and that “six Kindle books were being sold for every 10 physical books". Kindle remains the undisputed leader of the e-reader. The company is famously secretive about sales figures but 2013 estimates put sales of all Kindle devices at roughly 44 million.

2010
Pre-2010, the thought of receiving a tablet for Christmas was understandably unlikely to be anywhere near the top of anyone’s list. That all changed with the unveiling of the iPad in January 2010 by then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs. In contrast to earlier tablet PCs, the iPad was marketed as a consumer device that would fill the gap between smartphones and laptop computers. Over 292 million have been sold to date.

2011
2011 was a momentous year for Brits, with the union of Prince William and Kate Middleton. In the world of technology, all eyes were on the launch of the first commercially successful ‘phablet’, the Samsung Galaxy Note. Whilst some media outlets questioned the viability of the device due to its 5.3-inch (135-mm) screen, the Note received a positive reception, selling 1 million units in two months.

2012
2012 was the year that London was Olympics-obsessed, Facebook debuted on the stock market, Felix Baumgartner jumped from space and the iPad went mini. Lighter and thinner than its predecessor, the iPad Mini reportedly sold three million units in the three days post launch.

2013
Sony’s next generation console, the Playstation 4, launched in November 2013. Six months later, 7 million homes world-wide owned a PS4. Having lost several previous battles to Nintendo’s Wii, Sony was finally winning the games console war.

2014
To 2014 and wearable technology; namely the fitness tracker. Sales have risen 250% year-on-year and from mid-2014 to mid-2015, the wearable industry grew by a massive 223%. At this rate, it’s possible that the market will actually reach the predicted $74 billion mark by 2025.

2015
2015 is undoubtedly the year of the smartwatch, combining fitness tracking, time keeping and connectivity in one package. The global smartwatch market has the potential to reach $32.9 billion by 2020, registering a compound annual growth rate of 68% between 2014 and 2020. It’s thought that 135 million wearable devices will be sold by 2018 – 68 million of them smart watches. Few other industries have such growth perspectives, and the potential to revolutionise how people communicate, monitor their health, work, and interact with their surroundings.

James Jie, Managing Director of Huawei UK and Ireland says, “It’s fascinating to see the impact that technology has had upon our lives during the past decade. In the recent past we saw technology as either fitting in with our work life – for instance PCs – or play, in the shape of games consoles. Now those boundaries no longer exist as technology is embedded within our daily lives. This is no more evident than in the rise of wearable technologies such as the Huawei Watch, which combines connectivity with style.”

Jie continues, “At Huawei, we invest 10% of our sales income into research and development to ensure that we are driving new technology forwards. In 2014 alone, we invested $1.2 billion into R&D. The Huawei Watch embodies our unfailing ambition to deliver an all-connected future across wearables, vehicles and smart phones. Looking back at the past ten years, it’s amazing how far technology has advanced and we look forward to being at the forefront of new advancements for years to come.”

For more information, please visit: http://consumer.huawei.com/minisite/worldwide/huawei-watch/

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B: This post was sponsored by Huawei.

Aputure Launch two "Fine" Field Monitors

Pretty much every serious video shooter, using either a DLSR, ILC or video camera, does not rely solely on the built in monitor. The size that many manufacturers give us seems to top out at around three inches. Getting creative framing and critical focus has had me researching options for an external monitor for some time now. 

For those of you who follow me on YouTube and whom have asked me for lighting recommendations, you will know that I always recommend the Aputure Amaran LED lights that I use. Well, it just so turns out that Aputure have just launched two new field monitors. Both coming with 7 inch displays, the VS-1 FineHD and VS-2 FineHD have a 1920x1200 resolution, which exceeds most of the competition. The VS-2 adds a histogram feature, peaking, zebra, false colour and volume monitoring too, yet both come in at an amazing price. On paper they look very promising. Keep an eye on the Geekanoids channel as I will be reviewing the VS-2 FineHD soon.

A Look at the Origins of Casino Games

Casinos have been around for centuries in one form or another and since the advancements in technology; the industry has changed from the way we play games through to how we play them. There is a primal instinct in all of us that enjoys gambling and the excitement quickly gets the adrenaline running and online casino gaming is now a huge industry, ensuring that any games is available at our fingertips 24/7. 

Let’s look at the top three casino games that have changed throughout the years.

Slot Machines

Slot machines have always been one of the most popular types of games available in casinos and they are just as user-friendly online as they are in an actual casino. From basic beginnings as one-arm bandits that were first invented in the 1800s up to the online slots that are widely available nowadays, slot machines now have more reels and pay lines than ever before to ensure they remain one of the most exciting games on the market. It’s not all about luck, and maths plays a part in the outcome of every spin. The themes and symbols used have also evolved and the technology used is now more sophisticated, as the once mechanical reels are now operated by a random computer number generator.

Roulette & Craps

Table games have changed massively throughout history. Games such as roulette became a huge hit in the mid-19th century. Roulette was derived from a famous mathematician called Blaise Pascal who created the roulette wheel as he experimented with perpetual motion. The wheel is now one of the most easily recognised symbols in the world of gambling and casinos and as such, is also one of the favourite games choices for avid gamblers. Found online and in casinos worldwide, it is one of the more exciting games available and big wins in roulette are common. 

Craps is a simple game that involves throwing dice but it has an interesting history, which dates back to when ancient Egyptian witch doctors used to throw stones marked with numbers together with bones to determine who lived and died when people were sick. It has come a long way since its terrifying and dangerous early days and there are now three versions of the game available namely: casino craps, street craps and online craps. Players must wager a bet on the outcome of the number that will be rolled by the dice, and while largely a game of chance, it proves to be a hugely popular once. 

Card Games

The history of card games is a long one with many of today’s games dating back to games that were played back in the 1300s. The original decks of cards used very different symbols and images on them and they used to be carved from wood rather than paper. Poker and Blackjack were among the first card games invented by the French and the latter began with players attempting to get as close as possible to the total of 31 rather than what we play nowadays where 21 is the target. Poker has become a worldwide gaming phenomenon and is one of the most popular casino games today, whether played online or in a casino. 

Casino games are always evolving to ensure players have something new and exciting to focus on and as technology continues to move forward at a fast pace, who knows what lays in store for the new generation of avid gamblers.

Brothers seek investment in bid to revolutionise the event planning industry

Two brothers, Ben Maughan, 27, and Tim Maughan, 30, have just launched a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs in a bid to raise some capital to further develop their event planning business, Add to Event, and transform the way the UK organise events.

The online business aims to make event organisation simple and stress-free by pairing event organisers with the best local suppliers depending on their criteria. The web app allows users to post details of their desired event on the website so that local suppliers can instantly get in touch with quotes for their services. With a huge number of registered service providers, the website can be used to organise any event, from small children's parties to huge corporate events.

Accenture, BBC and Sainsbury's are just three of the companies that have already used the application for organising corporate events.

Brothers and founders of Add to Event, Ben Maughan (left) and Tim Maughan (right)

Ben and Tim Maughan, brothers from Cheltenham, founded Add to Event after being fed up with how hard it was to find great suppliers for events in their area. The pair were trying to organise a mini-festival when they realised the true need for a platform such as theirs.

Ben Maughan says: “We had a great idea for a mini festival but found we were spending hours trawling through event directories and calling various suppliers only to find they were already booked or not available for the dates we were looking for. This was extremely frustrating and very time consuming.

Tim Maughan explains: “We had a good search but couldn’t find any companies that were trying to address the problem so decided to build the solution ourselves! We run a digital agency so have all the skills required to build a web app so it made perfect sense.”

The site now receives hundreds of requests a day from people all over the UK and the brothers are now seeking extra funding in order to rapidly expand their user base. Ben and Tim have turned down offers from angel investors in order to raise capital through an equity crowdfund, to give their customers the opportunity to part own the company and share in their success.

Add to Event is joining a popular wave of marketplace businesses that are changing the way people request local services. Consumers are becoming more demanding and are constantly on the lookout for services that make their lives easier. Other well-known online marketplaces include Hassle, enabling people to find local cleaners, Mybuilder, to find local tradesmen and AnyVan, to find and book a man with a van.

More information on the crowdfund campaign can be found here.

LG OLED TV brings artist’s work to life

Many movies have been celebrated for their use of colour – whether providing plot clues in the likes of The Sixth Sense or separating stories and key moments in films such as Hero or The Wizard of Oz. For enhancing detail and providing depth, though, you have to get the basics right. LG released a selection of OLED TVs in August with the concept ‘perfect black creates perfect colour’. Absolute black screens, created by self-lighting pixels inside the OLED panels, accentuate the colours shown through them, delivering a supreme viewing experience and providing a perfect match for high-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging by highlighting intricate details and increasing the vibrancy of pictures.

To show how its #PerfectBlack screens enhanced images and quality, LG teamed up with a number of creatives, including film director Ridley Scott, producer Michael Uslan and artist Kathy Klein, showcasing some of their work through the screens and getting their view on the relationship between perfect black and colour. The following video looks at how Kathy Klein’s experience in particular saw the OLED TVs bring her work to life.

​Kathy’s art uses nature as a palette, featuring mandalas – Buddhist geometric patterns loosely based around a circle shape – made out of flower petals, leaves, seeds, and more. She celebrates her love of plants and people as well as her spirituality through her art, and creates all of her mandalas in a meditative state inspired by silence.

To put LG’s OLED TV capabilities to the test, Kathy displayed her mandalas through one of the screens, and found that, compared with other screens and print mediums, the quality of the images through an OLED TV was much higher, the pictures more ‘lifelike and vibrant’.With all previous methods she’d used to display her artwork, she’d found there was a level of distortion in the colours of the images, making the mandalas look less natural. Kathy, who uses no artificial materials in her artwork, said the quality of the OLED TV screens made working with LG a meaningful experience, as she felt she was able to capture the beauty and true nature of the colours used.

According to LG, the #PerfectBlack experience promises the maximum manifestation of colour when paired with HDR imaging – it renders the light range at lower peak brightness, which is what then gives the images their exceptional detail and closeness to real life. Not only can viewers expect perfect colour, they can also stream content to their TVs from LG’s own content partners (as well as other sources) and benefit from the screens’ improved user interface, superior-quality speakers and slim design. Find out more about LG’s line of #PerfectBlack OLED TVs and hear from the other experts who trialled them on the LG website.

Surprising things you can do with your smartphone

Since most brands are now making the move to mobile and nearly everyone out there has an app these days, it's difficult to be surprised by what you can do with a simple app. Are we losing our sense of wonder when it comes to technology, or are we simply running out of ideas? The answer is a resounding no on both counts. We're simply drowning under the proliferation of new apps. So much so, that it's almost difficult for news of the truly innovative ones to get through. Don't worry though - independent tech blogs like this one and doing their best to get news of the best new apps to you, the general public, despite the tide of mediocre ones. Here are some examples of surprising and inspiring things you can do with apps, to help restore your tech lust.   

Look at the stars

Great astronomy apps have been around for a while, but Night Sky Lite is one that comes with a whole community of astronomy enthusiasts itching to tell you about the best places to view the stars. Make use of the detailed stargazing conditions maps and a World Traveller mode which lets you view the night's sky from anywhere in the world. Or, just use the app for its main function: point it at the night's sky and get an amazing overlay of all the constellations, stars and even satellites you encounter.  Real astronomy geeks should supplement Night Sky with Nasa's free app, which keeps you in the loop about space missions, news and countdowns to launches as well as their Space Images app which lets you view the latest images of black holes, solar flares and stars being born.  

Win money, with retro games

Bingo is just one example of a pastime that's enjoying something of a renaissance due to the wonders of tech. It wasn't always cool - your gran would have shuffled down to the local bingo hall not so long ago to meet up with her friends and enjoy this simple pleasure. But things have changed. Bingo has been taken away from the dusty old games halls and it's enjoying a renewed popularity thanks to its new home: the mobile. With some impressive cash prizes on offer and a new platform to do it on, Bingo is now soaring back to popularity amongst hipsters, housewives and businessmen alike. This hugely accessible game can be found on apps like the one made by 32Red Bingo, which are available widely on Android and iOS.

Control your desktop remotely

Mobile apps are increasingly being used for managing other business operations remotely. And that means the ability to control your desktop PC remotely. This opens up a host of new possibilities for those who manage their businesses on the go. There are a few different apps out there that can do the job, but until they've stayed largely hidden from the mainstream. However, the burgeoning trend towards working remotely has put them in the spotlight recently. Chrome Remote Desktop is one such app that, in combination with the companion app for your desktop, makes it possible for you to whizz around your desktop from the comfort of your local cafe or even your bed. Just make sure you don't tell your boss you have it, or sick days are going to be filled with a lot more than playing 32Red games!  

Invest on the stock market

Investing on the stock market is something a lot of people dream of doing and it can be a fantastic way to increase your net worth. The problem is, few people have the time or the resources to get started. That's all about to change with the arrival of stock market apps like Stash, which allows you to set yourself up with the touch of a button. Choose your investment type from a range of simple options: "I believe"(based on the causes the stocks support), "I want" (based on what you want to achieve), "I like"(those you've experienced). You can choose to invest as little as $5 at a time and there are lots of useful guides and glossaries that beginners can make use of.

What are your favourite things to do with an app? And what apps have you encountered recently that have revived your tech lust? Leave a comment below.

Sony Introduces New Palm-Sized RX1R II Camera - Full Product Images

Sony’s Latest Premium Compact Features Back-Illuminated Full-Frame Sensor, ZEISS® Sonnar T* 35mm F2 Lens, High Speed AF, retractable XGA OLED Viewfinder and World’s First Optical Variable Low Pass Filter[i] with Low pass filter bracketing

Sony today introduced the latest addition to their acclaimed Cyber-shot RX compact camera line, the full-frame RX1R II (model DSC-RX1RM2).  

Joining the original RX1 and RX1R cameras in the family of the world’s smallest full-frame cameras, the new RX1R II delivers the highest picture quality of any Sony compact camera ever made.  This can largely be attributed to the new camera’s high resolution 42.4 MP sensor paired with its large aperture, fixed focal length ZEISS Sonnar T* 35mm F2 lens, which have been fine-tuned to optimise performance together.  

Additionally, the new model features a 30% improvement in AF response speed compared to the original award-winning RX1 models and is equipped with the world’s first optical variable low pass filter that can be set to “off”, “standard” or “high” based on user preference with low pass filter bracketing available. It also has a convenient retractable XGA OLED viewfinder for eye-level shooting, which has been implemented with minimal change in overall body size from its predecessors.   

Ultimate Image Quality in the Palm of Your Hand

The new RX1R II camera utilises a back-illuminated 35mm full-frame Exmor R® CMOS sensor with approx. 42.4 effective megapixels paired with a powerful BIONZ X processing engine to achieve superior levels of image resolution and sensitivity (ISO 100-25600, expandable to 50 – 102400[ii]) with wide dynamic range.  The sensor’s back-illuminated structure, with an expanded circuit scale and copper wiring design, enables faster transmission speed and outputs data approximately 3.5x faster than the original RX1R, ensuring high-speed performance.  

Matched specifically for the image sensor, the large aperture 35mm F2 ZEISS Sonnar T* lens ensures that all images captured by the camera are impressively sharp from the centre to the corners.  The lens also has a unique Macro shift ring for focusing on subjects as close as 14cm in front of the lens and has nine aperture blades that produce smooth, even background defocus or ‘bokeh’ in the most commonly used aperture ranges. 

Another unique benefit of the new camera is its fixed lens design, which allows the positioning of its sensor and lens to be precisely adjusted to maximise all benefits of the sensor’s extremely high resolution.  The closer the two components are to one another, the wider the angle through which light can pass through the lens and directly reach the sensor, resulting in imagery that is rich in detail and resolution.  Also, unlike the focal plane shutter common to interchangeable lens cameras, RX1R II utilises an in-lens shutter, allowing 1/2000 sec flash synch speed and a significant reduction in overall body size.

The new RX1R II also offers uncompressed 14-bit RAW image capture to maximise the benefits of the image sensor’s wide dynamic range, while also still supporting existing compressed format.  

High Speed AF to Capture the Decisive Moment

The RX1R II model is the first in Sony’s acclaimed RX line of compact cameras to feature Fast Hybrid AF capabilities.  The camera’s sensor features 399 focal-plane phase-detection AF points that cover about 45% of the image area – the world’s widest AF coverage on a full-frame sensori – that work together with 25 contrast AF points to achieve focus response that is about 30% faster than the original model.  Additionally, the camera has adapted an advanced motion-detection algorithm that offers superior tracking performance of moving subjects and allows for the addition of AF-C mode that accurately tracks a subject after focusing.  It also can achieve up to 5fps continuous shooting with AF tracking.  

Other focusing improvements on the new model include multiple AF area settings including Wide, Centre and Flexible Spot, as well as Eye AF and lock-on AF.  

World’s First Optical Variable Low Pass Filter

In a first for digital cameras, the RX1R II features an optical variable low pass filter that allows shooters to manually adjust the balance of image resolution and presence of moiré or colour artifacts to match the subject.  

The three settings for the low-pass filter[iii]  include “off”, which provides comparable effects to having no low-pass filter and is suitable when prioritising resolution, “standard”, which strikes a balance between resolution and removal of moiré and colour artifacts, and “high”, which places more emphasis on reducing moiré and artifacting.  This unique feature allows photographers to achieve the desired image quality and resolution based on the presence of moiré-inducing high spatial frequency objects in the scene, essentially combining two cameras – one with and without a low-pass filter – into one body.  Low-pass filter bracketing is also available and can be used to compare the effects of different settings.

New Retractable XGA OLED Viewfinder, Tiltable Screen, HD Video and more

New for the RX1 series, the RX1R II has a built-in retractable XGA OLED Tru-Finder[iv] that pops up and down with simple one-push operation.  The viewfinder features ZEISS T* Coating and four glass elements, including two aspherical lenses, that work together to deliver a magnification of 0.74x[v]  and clear corner-to-corner visibility with minimal distortion.  The new camera also has a 3.0 type WhiteMagic™ 1.2 million dot LCD display that can tilt upwards to 109 degrees and downwards to 41 degrees, allowing for a greater range of shooting angles and positions.

On the video side, the camera’s advanced sensor and processor deliver exceptionally detailed movies with low levels of noise.  It is able to support full HD 1920x1080 video recording at frame rates of 60p, 30p or 24p through use of the versatile XAVC S movie recording format.[vi]  

The new RX1R II camera is also Wi-Fi® and NFC compatible and fully functional with Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile™ application available for Android™ and iOS platforms, as well as Sony’s growing range of PlayMemories Camera Apps™.  

A new version of the popular “Smart Remote Control” app[vii] from PlayMemories Camera Apps is coming soon. It enables remote shooting from your smartphone, and features updated bulb and continuous shooting functionality to match the new camera. Learn more at www.sony.net/pmca.    

Pricing and Availability

The new Sony RX1R II full-frame compact camera will be available in December 2015 with UK pricing at £2,600.

[i] Among digital cameras. As of October 2015 press release, based on Sony research

[ii] Expanded ISO 50-102400 available only for shooting still images

[iii] Available only for shooting still images

[iv] The XGA OLED Tru-Finder features 2,359,296 dots

[v] Approx. 0.74x with 50mm lens equiv. at infinity, -1m-1

[vi] A class 10 or higher SDXC memory card is required to record movies in the XAVC S format

[vii] Version 4.0

Must-have apps for your phone

Image Credit: Pixabay.com

Whilst we are all aware of the amazing possibilities offered by our smartphones, most people don't take full advantage of the great range of apps that are currently out there.

But with over 700 apps being developed each day, it can present an overwhelming choice to the modern gadget fan. So here's a quick run-down of some of the must-have apps that you might have missed out on.

Communication

Whilst we may all be aware of headline-dominating social media apps such as Facebook and Twitter, there are many other communication apps that can offer some eye-opening possibilities.

If you're looking to share some personal thoughts amongst friends anonymously, then the Whisper app is great fun. Rather than traditional social media sites that invariably result in people aiming to fit in with their peers, this app can provide some surprising yet entertaining discussions between you and your friends.

Entertainment

The digital revolution has completely transformed the way in which we keep ourselves entertained. Now you can watch entire films on your phone thanks to streaming sites such as Netflix, or even listen to radio stations from across the globe in real-time thanks to apps like Simple Radio.

Gaming has also been completely transformed through smartphone technology. There's even been a boom in online casino sites such as LadyLucks who offer some lucrative slots games via their user-friendly app which can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

Commerce

There has also be a revolution in online shopping experiences with major retailers such as Amazon providing their own apps which allow for a much easier way in which to browse and purchase products. And new apps such as Wanelo allow its eleven million users to share and rate their shopping experiences in a social way that adds a much greater sense of fun and discovery in browsing the huge range of products available in the new online domain.

Connectivity

Whilst we can all enjoy the powers offered by our smartphones' apps, most of these apps are reliant upon a decent Wi-Fi signal to work properly. Thankfully the We-Fi app provides the world's most comprehensive list of internet hotspots, so that even if you're out and about, you can still take full advantage of the amazing possibilities presented from the power of your mobile device. And once you've found a hotspot, the Hotspotio app even allows you to simply share the Wi-Fi connection amongst your friends.

Your iPhone is Your New Backpack

Believe it or not iPhones have a way of simplifying almost anything. Take school for example, a lot of money, time and planning goes into preparing you for a new semester. You have to purchase supplies, new books, reading requirements and much, much more. There’s an app for that. In this list of compiled back-to-school apps you will find almost everything that you are looking for. 

Textbooks aren’t cheap and of course you can buy them used and save money - or you can download CourseSmart and view the full text of more than 7,000 textbooks all on your iPhone for free. Bought for your iPhone the books cost half as much as their print equivalents and without all the weight and bulk on your back. 

For those reading assignments, download Stanza. If you are required to read some of the classics this app has more than 30,000 to choose from, all free. It’s a great app for required reading or just catching up on a good book. 

Your professors talk quickly and you don’t write quite that fast so it’s hard to keep up. Evernote is an app that lets you type and synchronise notes, voice memos, photos from your iPhone directly to the web. You don’t have to worry about missing something, forgetting your notebook or losing your notes, it can all be accessed from the app or the Evernote website. 

If you can get away with having your iPhone out in class, download the Graphing Calculator. This might not get you through advanced calculus but it can help you through most maths courses. With this app you can graph multiple equations and it will email the results to you. 

MyHomework will help you stay on top of your assignments by organising them for you. Keep track of your class schedule and any upcoming assignments. It will colour-code them and keep you aware of their due date. Also, it will automatically sync with your desktop, always keeping you updated. 

Everyone has use for a dictionary every now and then, so download the Dictionary.com app. Whether you are writing a term paper, studying vocabulary or just trying to expand your knowledge of the English language, this app will do just that. 

Documents To Go gives you the ability to sync and view Office files and PDFs to your phone while allowing you to create documents as well. 

Flashcards are the perfect studying strategy and Brainscape is the perfect app. You waste the majority of your time writing out flashcards when you should be studying. With this app you can create free flashcards or download already-made cards to study with. Share them between groups and with syncing, you can always pick up where you left off no matter which device you use. 

One of the worst parts about writing term papers and essays is the bibliography. You’ve spent a lot of time on gruelling research and the worst part is writing out your references. With EasyBib you simply scan the barcode of the book you’ve used and watch as the app creates bibliography magic. 

Going back to school doesn’t have to be expensive or stressful. The iPhone has a way of simplifying lives and tasks and even assignments. These school apps are guaranteed to take some of the load off while keeping you up to date and on top of upcoming assignments.

Glasscubes Collaboration and Project Management Software

Smart-minded creative groups, businesses, charities and other teams are all benefitting from the wave of cloud-based document sharing and project management tools that allow for remote working, team efficiency and major savings on costs.

In particular, there is a very special offering from Glasscubes, whose extremely intuitive and complete setup represents superb value to small and mid-sized businesses. 

So below you'll find a round up of why we at Geekanoids are so impressed with Glasscubes' solution for better collaboration.

• Cost The price structure for Glasscubes is the best in the industry. Even where alternative software packages offer a similar suite of high-quality tools for teamwork, there's no comparison when it comes to how the contracts are managed. Glasscubes provide huge flexibility to their customers (no fixed, long-term contracts), and huge storage at very low prices.

• Security Clearly this is an essential issue for any group that handles sensitive information. Glasscubes' infrastructure for storage and security is operated using 2048 bit encryptionand Interxion's data facility in the heart of London's financial centre.

• Workspaces The hub of a group's online interaction, the workspaces are customisable, and provide huge advantages over more traditional methods for exchanging information and files, messaging and project management. Conversations are threaded and avoid the problematic email experience of important pieces of information getting lost in a long chain of comments. Documents are version-controlled, which means individuals can always be sure that they are accessing or working on the correct amended version of a file. Meanwhile, tasks are reported and easily traced throughout a project's development.

• Customer services Glasscubes' UK-based technical support receives excellent feedback and reviews from customers. They provide email, online chat and telephone support to customers of all sizes (many companies will limit their support for customers that fall below a certain account-size threshold), with a super-quick 3-hour response time.

With such a powerful set of benefits to be gained from moving from a paper-led office culture to a smart online one, the opportunity to enhance a team's ability to interact, develop and close out projects with high-level collaboration software will be an exciting prospect for team leaders and business owners everywhere.