Tag Archives: camera

Technology

Kuo: Apple’s mixed-reality headset to feature 15 camera modules and ‘innovative biometrics’

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Earlier this week, reliable tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo brought more details about Apple’s plans for its new AR/VR devices. Kuo has now said in a new research note obtained by 9to5Mac that Apple’s rumored mixed-reality headset will feature 15 camera modules, which will enable advanced AR and “innovative biometrics.”

According to Kuo, Apple is developing its mixed-reality headset with 15 camera modules. Of these modules, eight will be dedicated for augmented reality video experiences. One specific module will detect the environment for positioning objects in the scene, and six modules will enable “innovative biometrics,” as the analyst calls.

The components will be provided by Largan Precision, a Taiwanese company that works as a supplier of camera lens modules for smartphones, tablets, and other devices. Kuo expects that the company will benefit significantly from Apple’s upcoming headset.

We have reiterated several times in our previous reports that even though Largan faces the structural risk of the Huawei smartphone’s significant market share decline due to the US ban, Largan still has long-term investment value as the lens spec upgrade cycle and new application trends remain in place. In terms of short-to-medium term trends, we believe that Largan’s following potential benefits are worthy of investors’ attention, including Apple MR/AR headset’s adoption of 15 camera modules.

In his previous report, Ming-Chi Kuo reinforced that Apple will release a new “helmet-type” headset with Micro-OLED displays and augmented and virtual reality capabilities in 2022. The final price for customers is expected to be set at around $1,000. Kuo’s research also mentions that Apple is still working on new AR glasses, but these are unlikely to be introduced before 2025.

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Technology

Google Camera 8.2 improves long-press video recording

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The latest update to the Pixel series Google Camera app, version 8.2, has begun rolling out, bringing an improved experience for taking videos with a long-press of the shutter button.

Much of the photography prowess of the Google Pixel series is thanks to the fantastic Google Camera app, with its variety of modes, AI enhancements, and tools. Because of this, when Google Camera gets an update, Pixel owners take notice, in hopes of new features.

As of late this evening, the Google Play Store has begun rolling out version 8.2 of the Camera app, a slight bump from the previous 8.1 release, to Pixel owners. So far, we’ve only confirmed the update to have arrived on a Pixel 5, but owners of the Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 4a, and more hopefully shouldn’t have too long to wait.

The biggest change we’ve discovered in Google Camera 8.2 is a major revamp to taking videos by pressing and holding the shutter button. In previous versions, this long-press simply started a video recording, but with the latest update, you can now slide your finger in one direction to control zoom or slide it a different way to “lock” the recording. Once you’ve locked the recording, you can release your finger and the video will continue to record until you press stop.

Here’s a quick demo of Google Camera 8.2’s new feature in action:

https://9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/03/Google-Camera-8.2-long-press-video-demo.mp4

As you can see, the feature can be a bit tricky to use, especially on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G which can switch between normal and wide angle cameras when zooming in and out. That said, if your goal is to start recording as quickly as possible, this long-press gesture and its newly added zoom and lock gestures are definitely the way to go.

Notably, the Google Camera 8.2 rollout comes less than a week after Pixel phones received March’s quarterly “Feature Drop,” which was headlined by underwater photography capabilities and a Pixel Stand update. Given the close timing, it seems strange that this long-press video recording enhancement wasn’t included as part of the March Pixel Feature Drop.

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Technology

Google Camera 8.2 makes it even easier to quickly take videos

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Over the years, Google has made changes to its Camera app that have refined the experience, and the company is making yet another tweak that will improve how you use it.

In Google Camera 8.2.204, users will be able to record hands-free video with just a few swipes. The feature builds on a quick capture setting that was originally introduced in Google Camera 7.1 alongside the Pixel 4’s release. The feature lets you quickly start a video capture (without changing to the “Video” mode) by pressing and holding your finger on the shutter button.

In older versions of the Google Camera app, you would have to press and hold your finger on the shutter button – if you moved your finger away, the video recording would stop. Now, in Google Camera 8.2.204, you can move your finger to the left to enter “hands-free” mode, which continues the recording even when you lift your finger. You can also move your finger up to zoom in or move your finger down to zoom out. It’s a really easy way to quickly shoot hands-free video — and you can do it all with a few swipes.

The video above shows how easy it is to use the new feature — and I’m sure a lot of you are saying, “Finally!” This is one of those tweaks you probably always wanted, and should improve your everyday experience with the Google Camera app. This feature will come in handy when your hands are occupied but you still need to easily record a quick video.

Keeping your finger pressed down on the shutter button doesn’t sound particularly inconvenient. But quickly locking the button down means you can better focus on what you’re recording rather than focusing on whether your finger is still pressed down on the button. It’s the little things that wind up making a bigger difference in your everyday experience.

Google Camera 8.2.204 is rolling out now and should be available more widely in the coming days. The new feature follows another update that allowed Pixel owners to disable auto Night Sight.

Thanks to XDA Senior Member cstark27 for the tip!

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Technology

Google Fit camera hear rate tracking rolling out to Pixel

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Back in February, Google announced that Fit for Android can measure heart and respiratory rate using just your phone. These new Google Fit camera tracking capabilities will start rolling out to Pixel phones on Monday.

While these measurements are “not intended for medical purposes,” Google says Fit’s camera-based approach provides a convenient way to “track and improve day-to-day wellness” using the equipment you already have. 

Heart rate measurements are done by holding your finger over the rear camera lens and applying light pressure for approximately 30 seconds. To increase accuracy in dark environments, flash can be enabled. Google Fit is approximating blood flow by tracking “subtle changes in the color of your fingers,” with the algorithms taking account for lighting, skin tone, age, and other factors. 

Your heart rate gives you a snapshot of what’s going on with your heart. Your heart beats faster when you’re active, but can also be elevated due to certain foods and drinks or if you’re feeling stressed or excited. You’ll notice a lower heart rate when you’re still and relaxed. 

With increased physical activity, the heart also becomes more efficient at pumping blood over time. Monitoring your heart rate at rest can help indicate changes in your fitness level.

Meanwhile, measuring respiratory rate — the number of breaths you take per minute — starts by leaning your phone against a stable surface so the front-facing camera clearly sees your upper body and head, hats/masks have to be removed. Google Fit is using computer vision to look for small changes on your chest.

Respiratory rate is another important marker of your wellbeing. Generally, it is a stable metric but keeping track of your trend can help you spot any changes. For example, you may notice short-term changes in respiratory rate if you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or unwell.

The processing required to calculate these two metrics happens in real-time and is done entirely on-device. As such, video streams are not saved to your phone or uploaded to Google’s cloud. After every measurement, you’re asked if you want the result stored in Google Fit for long-term graphing.

On Monday, these Google Fit camera measurements will begin rolling out to Pixel phones around the world, and more Android devices will pick up support in the future. Be sure to have the latest version of the app installed from the Play Store.

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Technology

Xiaomi’s $260 Redmi Note 10 Pro has a 120Hz screen and a 108-megapixel camera

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Xiaomi has announced its Redmi Note 10 line, the latest in its phone series that’s titanically popular in India and beyond. As is tradition for the Redmi Note phones, the 10 series brings some high-end features to much lower price points.

The Redmi Note 10 Pro is the main attraction here, with several variants including the Note 10S, Note 10, and Note 10 5G adjusting various specs to meet different price points. The Note 10 Pro’s standout feature is its 6.67-inch 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

The Note 10 Pro also has a 108-megapixel primary camera alongside an 8-megapixel ultrawide, a 5-megapixel “telemacro”, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. On paper, that puts its camera setup in reach of Xiaomi’s new Mi 11 flagship, though the Note 10 Pro’s 1.55-inch 108-megapixel sensor is a little smaller. The holepunch selfie camera, meanwhile, is 16 megapixels.

Other specs include a Snapdragon 732 processor, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of storage, a 5,020mAh battery, 33W fast charging, a microSD card slot plus two separate SIM card slots, stereo speakers, a fingerprint sensor in the power button, and a headphone jack. The biggest omission is wireless charging, but that’s not a surprise for a device in this price range.

Xiaomi wouldn’t provide full international pricing details ahead of the launch, but the Indian variant of the Redmi Note 10 Pro is called the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max and starts at Rs. 18,999 (~$260) for a model with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The non-Max Indian Note 10 Pro is identical but has a 64-megapixel main camera instead and starts at 15,999 (~$220) for the 6GB/64GB model.

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Technology

Galaxy S21 Ultra gets lower DxOMark camera score than Galaxy S20 Ultra

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The Galaxy S21 Ultra received excellent reviews worldwide, thanks to its improved design, faster and more reliable performance, longer battery life, and better cameras. The new phone brings along two telephoto cameras (3x and 10x optical zoom), massively improving the zoom range compared to the Galaxy S20 Ultra. However, the Galaxy S21 Ultra actually received a lower DxOMark score compared to the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

In DxOMark’s camera review of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the phone received an overall score of 121 points. In comparison, last year’s Galaxy S20 Ultra received 126 points after being reevaluated with version 4 (the latest version) of the review process. Breaking down the score, the Galaxy S21 Ultra received 128 points in the photo segment, 98 points in the video segment, and 76 points in the zoom segment. The Galaxy S20 Ultra received 128 points in the photo segment, 106 points in the video segment, and 88 points in the zoom segment. According to DxOMark’s review, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is not as good as the Galaxy S20 Ultra in video and zoom quality.

We know that the Galaxy S21 Ultra has more reliable focusing, improved low-light images and videos, and a longer zoom range than its predecessor. But the phone still got a lower score than the Galaxy S20 Ultra. So, what actually went wrong? DxOMark wasn’t impressed with the two zoom cameras, and according to them, the new zoom cameras are not worth much over the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s single 5x periscope zoom camera. DxOMark says that artifacts and noise in images are pulling down the phone’s score.

In terms of video recording, the Galaxy S21 Ultra received a score similar to the Pixel 4a. Apparently, video stabilization is the phone’s primary issue. DxOMark only tested the 4K 60fps mode, though, and not 4K 30fps and 8K 24fps video modes. The company says that it didn’t test the 8K video recording mode because of its lower quality stabilization.

Overall, the Galaxy S21 Ultra not only received a lower score than its predecessor, but also last year’s flagship smartphones. It scored lower than 16 other smartphones, including the Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ (139), Huawei Mate 40 Pro (136), Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra (133), Huawei P40 Pro (132), Vivo X50 Pro+ (131), iPhone 12 Pro Max (130), iPhone 12 Pro (128), Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro (128), OPPO Find X2 Pro (126), Galaxy S20 Ultra (126), Honor 30 Pro+ (125), iPhone 11 Pro Max (124), Huawei Mate 30 Pro (123), iPhone 12 Mini (122), iPhone 12 (122), and the Honor V30 Pro (122).

Our own review of the Galaxy S21 Ultra revealed that it offers a more reliable camera performance compared to the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Various other experts and reviewers share our views and say that the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best smartphone camera right now, so it is up to you to believe DxOMark’s testing methodologies. What do you think about DxOMark’s Galaxy S21 Ultra camera review? Let us know in the comments section below.


  • Model: SM-G998B
  • Dimensions: Bar: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm
  • Display: 6.8 inch / 172.72 mm Dynamic AMOLED 2X
  • CPU: Exynos 2100
  • Camera: 12MP



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Technology

Amazon deal discounts best indoor security camera under $50

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Ars Technica

Today’s Dealmaster is headlined by a good discount on Eufy’s Indoor Cam 2K, which is down to $30 at Amazon when you clip the $4 on-page coupon. That’s $10 off the indoor security camera’s typical street price online and just $2 above the lowest price we’ve tracked to date. A two-pack of cameras is also on sale for $60.

We recommended the Indoor Cam 2K in our ultimate holiday gift guide last December for offering crisp 2K-resolution video that stays clearer than most 1080p cameras in this price range during the day or night, as well as multiple video recording options and a companion app that’s easy to grok on both mobile devices and the Web. Its 125-degree field of view isn’t the widest we’ve seen, and the hardware itself doesn’t feel premium, but the device still supplies a number of features found in more expensive competitors. And while Eufy itself isn’t a major name, we’ll note that it’s the smart home sister brand for Anker, a better-known manufacturer of accessories we’ve tested and recommended in the past.
The device lets you record video locally through a microSD card or NAS, while a cloud recording service offers 30 days of storage for a relatively reasonable $3 per month or $30 per year. There’s a built-in siren, a mic and speaker to issue alerts in real time, and an 8X digital zoom for getting a closer look at images. You can integrate the device with both Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant. The app can send notifications when it detects different motions or sound, including specific alerts for crying children. It’s largely accurate at deciphering what is or isn’t worth pinging your phone, but you can also customize the sensitivity of the motion detection and set specific activity zones for the camera to watch out for (e.g., a couch you don’t want the dog to jump on).

The device also supports Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video, which should be useful for some iOS users, but using that service unfortunately downgrades the camera’s recording quality to 1080p. Nevertheless, the Indoor Cam 2K is great value for anyone who likes to keep another set of eyes on their home while they’re away.

If you don’t need such a device, though, our deals roundup also has discounts on gaming monitors, loads of video games, Apple accessories, OLED TVs, and more. You can take a look at the full rundown below.

The Dealmaster has launched its very own newsletter! Sign up to receive a shorter, tightly curated list of the very best tech deals on the Web—no nonsense, direct to your inbox, and often before they make it to the Ars homepage.

Top 10 deals of the day

  • Eufy Indoor Cam 2K indoor security camera for $29.99 at Amazon (clip $4 coupon—normally $40).
  • 27-inch Gigabyte G27Q gaming monitor—2560×1440, IPS, 144Hz, FreeSync for $279.99 at Amazon and eBay (normally $320).
  • Ring Fit Adventure (Switch) for $69.88 at Amazon and Walmart (normally $80).
  • Anker Powerline+ II (10ft) USB-A to Lightning cable for $15.88 at Amazon (normally $22).
  • Aukey PB-WL03 USB-C PD portable battery with Qi wireless charging—18W USB-C PD, USB-A 20,000mAh, 10W Qi for $36.33 at Amazon (clip 10% coupon and use code: HEA8GOI6—normally $46).
  • TP-Link Kasa HS103 (2-pack) Wi-Fi smart outlet for $14.99 at Amazon (3-pack for $21—normally $18).
  • Apple MagSafe Charger 15W wireless charger for iPhone 12 for $34 at Amazon and Walmart (normally $39).
  • Hori Split Pad Pro (Black) handheld controller for Nintendo Switch for $40.49 at Amazon (normally $50).
  • SanDisk Ultra (400GB) UHS-I microSDXC card for $44.99 at Amazon (normally $50).
  • UE Wonderboom 2 (Deep Space) portable Bluetooth speaker for $66.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $80).
Enlarge / The 2020, M1-equipped Apple Mac mini.

Samuel Axon

Laptop and desktop PC deals

  • Apple Mac mini (late 2020) mini desktop PC—Apple M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD for $599.99 at Amazon and Costco (discount seen at checkout, membership required at Costco—normally $670).
  • Lenovo Chromebook Duet 2-in-1 tablet—MediaTek Helio P60T, 10.1-inch 1920×1200, 4GB RAM, 128GB eMMC for $249 at Best Buy (normally $299).
  • SK Hynix Gold S31 (500GB) 2.5-inch SATA internal SSD for $48.44 at Amazon (clip 15% coupon—normally $57).
  • SK Hynix Gold S31 (1TB) 2.5-inch SATA internal SSD for $89.24 at Amazon (clip 15% coupon—normally $105).
  • 27-inch Gigabyte G27Q gaming monitor—2560×1440, IPS, 144Hz, FreeSync for $279.99 at Amazon and eBay (normally $320).
  • 27-inch LG 27GL850-B gaming monitor—2560×1440, IPS, 144Hz, FreeSync for $419 at Amazon (normally $480).
Ring Fit Adventure for the Nintendo Switch.”>
Enlarge / Ring Fit Adventure for the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo

Video game deals

  • Ring Fit Adventure (Switch) for $69.88 at Amazon and Walmart (normally $80).
  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Xbox) for $27.64 at Amazon (includes next-gen upgrade—normally $45).
  • Hitman 3 (PS4, PS5, Xbox) for $49.94 at Amazon and Walmart (includes next-gen upgrade—normally $60).
  • Super Mario 3D All-Stars (Switch) for $49.94 at Amazon and Walmart (normally $60).
  • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Xbox) for $34.99 at Amazon and Microsoft (normally $45).
  • Shenmue III (PS4) for $9.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $30).
  • Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Xbox) for $19.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $30).
  • Forza Horizon 4 (Xbox) for $19.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (also on Xbox Game Pass, includes next-gen upgrade—normally $40).
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Xbox, digital) for $14.99 at Amazon (also on Xbox Game Pass—normally $30).
  • Diablo III: Eternal Collection (Xbox, PS4) for $19.79 at Microsoft and PlayStation Store (normally $30).
  • Pokken Tournament DX (Switch) for $44.88 at Amazon, GameStop, and Walmart (normally $60).
  • Death Stranding (PS4, used) for $12.99 at GameFly (normally $25).
  • Demon’s Souls (PS5, used) for $49.99 at GameFly (normally $70).
  • Overcooked! All You Can Eat (PS5, Xbox Series) for $34.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $45).
Halo: The Master Chief Collection.”>
Enlarge / Some classic multiplayer mayhem in Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

343 Industries

  • 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (PS4, digital) for $29.99 at PlayStation Store (normally $55).
  • Immortals Fenyx Rising (PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch) for $29.99 at Amazon (normally $40).
  • Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise (Switch) for $29.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $45).
  • Kingdom Hearts III (Xbox) for $9.99 at Amazon (also on Xbox Game Pass—normally $14).
  • Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package (PS4, Xbox) for $29.99 at Amazon and Walmart (normally $35).
  • Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience (PS4, digital) for $5.99 at PlayStation Store (normally $20).
  • Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (PS5) for $39.99 at Best Buy (normally $50).
  • Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle (Xbox, digital) for $19.99 at Microsoft (normally $30).
  • Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 (Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox) for $29.99 at Amazon (normally $40).
  • Ape Out (PC, digital) for $4.94 at Steam (normally $15).
  • Among Us (Switch, digital) for $3.50 at Nintendo eShop (normally $5).
  • Paradise Killer (Switch, digital) for $13.99 at Nintendo eShop (normally $20).
  • Lonely Mountains: Downhill (Switch, digital) for $13.39 at Nintendo eShop (normally $20).
  • Iconoclasts (Switch, digital) for $6.79 at Nintendo eShop (normally $20).
  • Golf Story (Switch, digital) for $7.49 at Nintendo eShop (normally $15).
Enlarge / The Razer Huntsman Mini is a good choice for anyone in need of an ultra-compact mechanical gaming keyboard.

Razer

Gaming deals

Enlarge / Nintendo’s Joy-Con controllers.

Mark Walton + Sebastian’s hands

TV and home entertainment deals

  • 55-inch LG CX (2020 model) 4K HDR OLED TV for $1,349.99 at Amazon (clip $47 coupon—normally $1,550).
  • 55-inch Sony A8H (2020 mode) 4K HDR OLED TV for $1,498 at Amazon (normally $1,800).
  • 75-inch TCL S535 (2020 model) 4K HDR QLED Roku TV for $998 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $1,180).
  • 70-inch Hisense H6570G (2020 model) 4K LED TV for $499.99 at Best Buy (normally $650).
Enlarge / The UE Wonderboom 2.

Jeff Dunn

Electronics deals

  • Apple iPad Air (64GB) 10.9-inch tablet for $549 at Amazon (normally $580).
  • Apple Watch Series 6 (Red, 40mm) smartwatch for $339 at Amazon (normally $370).
  • UE Wonderboom 2 (Deep Space) portable Bluetooth speaker for $66.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (normally $80).
  • Beats Solo Pro Bluetooth noise-canceling on-ear headphones for $149.99 at Woot (normally $260).
  • Google Nest Audio (2-pack) smart home speaker for $149.98 at Adorama (use code at checkout: 50OFF199—normally $200).
  • TP-Link TL-SG105 5-port Gigabit desktop switch for $13.99 at Amazon (normally $20).
Enlarge / Eufy’s Indoor Cam 2K.

Jeff Dunn

Smart home device deals

Enlarge / Apple’s MagSafe charger aligns easily and delivers a 15W charge to the iPhone 12.

Corey Gaskin

Accessories and miscellaneous deals

  • Apple MagSafe Charger 15W wireless charger for iPhone 12 for $34 at Amazon and Walmart (normally $39).
  • Apple Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd gen) and iPad Air (4th gen) for $199 at Amazon (normally $289).
  • Apple Smart Folio (White) case for 10.9-inch iPad Air (4th gen) for $39 at Amazon (normally $79).
  • Aukey PB-WL03 USB-C PD portable battery with Qi wireless charging—18W USB-C PD, USB-A 20,000mAh, 10W Qi for $36.33 at Amazon (clip 10% coupon and use code: HEA8GOI6—normally $46).
  • Jackery Explorer 500 portable power station—500W, 518wH, 3x USB-A, AC, 12V car outlet for $419.99 at Amazon and Jackery (clip $80 coupon—normally $500).
  • SanDisk Ultra (400GB) UHS-I microSDXC card for $44.99 at Amazon (normally $50).
  • Anker Powerline+ II (10ft) USB-A to Lightning cable for $15.88 at Amazon (normally $22).
  • TaoTronics TT-BR009 Bluetooth audio adapter—Bluetooth 4.2, aptX for $15.99 at Amazon (clip $10 coupon—normally $26).
Enlarge / VAVA’s USB-C adapter combines a slim design with a useful selection of ports at a decent price.
  • Microsoft Surface Pen (Poppy Red) stylus for $64.99 at Amazon (normally $70).
  • Logitech Slim Folio keyboard case for iPad (8th/7th gen) for $84.99 at Amazon (normally $97).
  • LapGear Sidekick lap desk with phone holder for $14.99 at Amazon (fits up to 15.6-inch laptops—normally $20).
  • Fully Desk Chair office chair for $249 at Fully (normally $299).
  • ASTI LectroFan Classic white noise machine for $32.17 at Amazon (normally $40).
  • Philips SmartSleep (HF3520) wake-up light for $79.95 at Amazon (normally $105).
  • Vava VA-UC017 7-in-1 USB-C hub—3x USB 3.0, 100W USB-C PD, SD, microSD, HDMI (4K@30Hz) for $21.24 at Amazon (normally $25).
  • RavPower RP-PC112 61W USB-C PD wall charger for $19.99 at RavPower (use code: 112GAN—normally $28).

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Technology

Blackmagic’s new ‘Pro’ Pocket Cinema Camera 6K adds the tilt-screen the original needed

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Blackmagic is releasing a new, “Pro” version of its Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, which looks to fix a lot of the pain points we found in the original. It adds a tiltable, brighter screen (and an optional electronic viewfinder attachment), a bigger battery, and built-in ND. The camera is slotting into Blackmagic’s line-up above the regular 6K, coming in at $2,495, about $500 more than the non-Pro version.

While the new features still won’t make the camera ideal for consumers, they will bring some quality-of-life improvements to filmmakers and video production houses on a budget — especially that tiltable screen. I’ve used a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera before, and it’s a dream mounted on a tripod at eye-level, but an ergonomic nightmare when you’re trying to get a shot handheld or at a high or low angle. Being able to tilt the screen up or down will help make the camera easier to use, and could even remove the need for an external monitor, depending on your shooting style.

This would be an annoying shot to get with the regular version.
Image: Blackmagic

In our review, we also found that the original Pocket Cinema 6K’s display was hard to view outdoors, but the Pro has two different solutions for that. One is that the screen now runs at 1,500 nits, which is as bright or brighter than most of SmallHD’s dedicated on-camera monitors, and should help the monitor’s visibility in bright sunlight. The second is an optional, $500 OLED electronic viewfinder, which uses a dedicated (but seemingly proprietary) connector instead of taking up the camera’s single HDMI port like a Zacuto EVF would.

To power all that, it uses a larger battery than the original, but Blackmagic only quotes an hour of shooting time with the screen at 50 percent brightness (though that is an improvement over the original’s estimated 45 minutes).

More exciting, especially for those who shoot outside a lot, are the built-in ND filters. The camera has four built-in filters that cut down light by two, four, and six stops for when the sun is shining a bit too brightly. Of course, I would’ve loved to see an electronically variable ND filter like on Sony’s cameras, which provide a continuous range instead of discreet stops, but at this price point I can understand why Blackmagic didn’t go that route.

Throw in an extra mini-XLR jack for a total of two, and the Pro is a nice upgrade to the original Pocket 6K. It also makes the camera more competitive with Canon’s C100 Mark II, which has a similar Super-35 sensor, EF mount, and built-in ND. The cameras may appeal to different types of shooters, but I know I’ve found myself cross-shopping Canon and Blackmagic’s offerings before, especially when I’m uncertain about what type of projects I want to work on.

If, like me, you were put off by some of the asterisks and caveats of the original version, the Pro version may be worth another look — especially since all the extra features come at a relatively low price premium.

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Technology

Some Google Pixel owners are reporting camera problems

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Some owners of previous-generation Pixel phones are having serious trouble with their cameras. Android Police has noticed a recent increase in one-star Play Store reviews for the camera app used by the Pixel, with frustrated owners saying the camera often crashes upon opening or no longer works at all. A thread in Google’s Pixel support forum features similar complaints. The Pixel 2 XL seems to be cited most often for experiencing the problem, but some posters say they’re having trouble with devices as recent as the 3 or 4A.

It’s not an entirely new problem. Android Police has been tracking camera issues that have plagued Pixel 2 phones primarily over the last year, and it notes more devices seem to be affected now. Owners say that Google’s suggested fixes don’t remedy the problem and that they experience the same problem when using third-party camera apps. The Pixel 2 series recently got its last security update, but there’s no logical reason why the camera should stop functioning as a result.

It’s an unfortunate bug, especially considering that many folks chose a Pixel phone because of its high-quality camera. While Pixel image quality has fallen behind other flagship competition recently, budget devices like the 4A and 4A 5G offer some of the best cameras in their class. But the best camera is the one that keeps functioning when you need it, so we hope to see Google address these user concerns. We’ve reached out to Google asking for confirmation of the issue and if a fix is on the way and will update this article with any information we get.

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Technology

Samsung’s One UI 3.1 update brings some S21 camera features to last year’s flagships

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Samsung has announced that its latest One UI 3.1 software update is rolling out to some of its older phones. The update will trickle down some of the Galaxy S21 lineup’s newer software features to last year’s Samsung flagships, including the Galaxy S20, Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy Z Flip phones.

Most of the new features are focused on bringing some of the software enhancements that Samsung debuted for the camera on the S21 lineup back down to its older devices. Those include the “enhanced single take” option that automatically captures and generates a variety of still images and videos with just one click, the smart object eraser tool for quickly removing unwanted parts of your photos, and the option to use both your phone and a separate Bluetooth microphone to record audio simultaneously.

Samsung’s object eraser feature
Image: Samsung

The update brings the S20 / S20 Plus and S21 / S21 Plus models — which already shared virtually identical camera hardware — even closer together in terms of overall functionality, although there are still some features that remain exclusive to the newer device, like the director view feature for easily previewing and switching between different lenses.

Also being added to the 2020 devices is Samsung’s “Eye Comfort Shield,” which automatically adjusts the blue light output on the phones based on the time of day. There’s also Private Share, Samsung’s blockchain-based encryption option for more securely sending files and photos.

The One UI 3.1 update will begin rolling out tonight “in select regions.”

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