Apple : Nvidia RTX adoption slows down according to Steam hardware survey |
- Nvidia RTX adoption slows down according to Steam hardware survey
- The iPad finally works with a mouse through a hidden iPadOS feature
- BBC investigation reveals UK universities under cyberattack
- iPadOS puts Apple's tablets on the road toward being computer killers
- AMD Navi release date, news and rumors
- Magento ecommerce sites at 'high risk' of cyberattack
- Ericsson Shares Vision for the Future of 5G
- AMD Ryzen 3000 release date, news and rumors
- Why wait for Prime Day? The latest Apple iPad is down to its lowest price ever
- NASCAR picks AWS to power its cloud
- Halo 6: everything we know about Halo Infinite
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- Apple Watch: the ultimate guide to pick your next iPhone compatible watch
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- Camera rumors 2019: the biggest and best camera rumors around
| Nvidia RTX adoption slows down according to Steam hardware survey Posted: 04 Jun 2019 01:26 PM PDT The latest Steam hardware survey is out, and it looks like Nvidia Turing graphics cards are ever so slowly gaining market share. The gains are led by the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, which saw a 0.14% boost in May, but don't let that mislead you, it's still only installed in 0.65% of Steam users' gaming PCs. The most popular Nvidia RTX graphics card is the RTX 2070, which saw a 0.10% boost, up to 0.91% of the total Steam user base.
Taking up the tail end of the RTX gains is the ultra-powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, which only saw a measly 0.04% increase in users - and, to date, only 0.33% of Steam users have forked over the $1,199 (£1,099, AU$1,899) necessary to pick up this flagship. Nvidia Pascal graphics cards are still the most popular, and while they didn't see any growth, the ever-popular GTX 1060 remained flat at its 15.69% market share. Nvidia has claimed that its Turing graphics cards are making more revenue than Pascal did, but that's likely due to the inflated prices. What does it mean?In April, we reported on a Steam hardware survey that saw much more significant gains for Nvidia's graphics cards, wherein the RTX 2060 saw a 0.27% boost. Are less people buying graphics cards? It could be that people are waiting for AMD Navi, which not only promises similar performance to something like the RTX 2070, but should be able to be more power efficient, thanks to its 7nm architecture. Team Red's new GPUs launch next month, so maybe we'll see a shift in the graphics card market. Nvidia Turing graphics cards may just be too expensive for most users, too: the entire lineup is infamous at this point for its inflated prices. That might help explain why the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is already at 0.28% of the market just a couple months after its release. Either way, things are about to heat up in the graphics card space when AMD shows Navi off at E3 2019. Who knows? Future Steam hardware surveys might see a more even spread – AMD only has 14.87% of the Steam user base overall right now.
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| The iPad finally works with a mouse through a hidden iPadOS feature Posted: 04 Jun 2019 12:49 PM PDT The absolute biggest change to the iPad that Apple introduced via its new iPadOS received zero mention on stage at the WWDC 2019 keynote: mouse support. Eagle-eyed software developer Steve Troughton-Smith discovered the new feature buried deep within the first iPadOS beta release. If you’re into the iPadOS beta, then you’ll have to dig through several settings toggles to connect your mouse either wired (with a USB-A to USB-C adapter) or wirelessly (via Bluetooth). Our friends at Tom’s Guide did just that to see how it works. First, you have to open the iPadOS ‘Settings’ app and then head to ‘Accessibility’. As you can already see, Apple doesn’t intend for this to be used widely, but for people who need physical assistance using its products. Then, you head into ‘Touch’, followed by ‘AssistiveTouch’, which is Apple’s feature set for folks that require additional help using its product interfaces. Finally, you tap ‘Pointing Devices’ and select your connection method of choice.
According to Tom’s Guide, a thick, circular mouse cursor instantly appears “as if a phantom digit was hovering.” In photos, it looks exactly like other, touch-based accessibility iOS features readily available today.
This is the iPad Pro working with a Bluetooth mouse. (Image Credit: Tom's Guide) So, you’re saying there's a chance?What’s important to drive home is just how deeply Apple has buried this support for mouse input for iPadOS, one of the most requested iPad features ever since Apple started positioning its tablet as a laptop killer. This is not something Apple is promoting – actually, almost the opposite is true. Apple is hiding the feature outright. Why? Could Apple be testing wider mouse support through the guise of accessibility positioning? Is this what Apple considers the extent of mouse support on its new iPad operating system? These questions are impossible to answer right now, but what we do know is that using a mouse on an iPad is finally possible. And, frankly, the iPad just got one helluva lot closer to throwing your laptop into question.
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| BBC investigation reveals UK universities under cyberattack Posted: 04 Jun 2019 12:17 PM PDT While businesses are often the target of cyberattacks, new research from BBC's Radio 4 has revealed that two thirds of UK universities have been hacked over the past four years. In addition to obtaining data on students and staff, the hackers behind the attacks also acquired valuable university research. According to EfficientIP, UK universities and the public sector as a whole don't understand the value in the data they hold leaving IT infrastructures' highly vulnerable to cyberattacks especially lesser known attacks on Domain Name Systems (DNS).
DNS attacksAs DNS is open by design, it is one of the easiest parts of a network for cybercriminals to target. Through DNS attacks hackers are able to obtain sensitive data as well as cause application downtime. Data from EfficientIP's 2018 Global DNS Report revealed that the majority (96%) of public sector organizations have fallen victim to a DNS attack in the last 12 months with 33 percent of organizations facing an average of 20 attacks. The research also showed that 24 percent of UK public sector organizations had intellectual property stolen as a direct impact of DNS attacks. Businesses have already learned how valuable their data and it is about time that universities and other public sector organizations do so as well.
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| iPadOS puts Apple's tablets on the road toward being computer killers Posted: 04 Jun 2019 12:14 PM PDT The iPad has been a laptop-replacement in waiting since its unveiling by Steve Jobs in 2010, but hasn’t been capable of truly doing so – until now. Nine years later, and thanks to a new, customized operating system called iPadOS introduced at WWDC 2019, the iPad may finally be ready to be a computer replacement, not just a supplemental machine. People working independently or in less traditional workplaces were some of the first folks to utilize the iPad and its extreme portability. For those in more complicated work environments, replacing a laptop or desktop with an iPad required a lot more hoops to jump through to be feasible. In short, doing certain work was just too cumbersome, thanks to the software. Copy and pasting required tedious tapping, for example, because Apple's tablet had been reliant on controls that worked on the smaller screen of the iPhone, so actions like shaking the device to 'undo' were crazy on an iPad.
iPadOS: Not 'iPad first,' but 'iPad only'At WWDC 2019, one of the big reveals was the introduction of iPadOS. Occasionally iPad would receive features first or have a different user interface for interactions, but for the most part, iPad was an afterthought compared to the iPhone in terms of new operating system features. While the iPad’s hardware continued to be improved, it was limited by the operating system (OS) and software designed for a smartphone. The switch to iPadOS changes that dynamic – likely forever. While the new OS’s initial features introduced during the WWDC keynote are a big step forward, the iPad is likely to see more improvements at a quicker pace by having a dedicated OS. But for now, here’s what’s changing and why your existing iPad will be much more ready to replace your laptop once the new OS is released.
Split View and multitasking on iPadSplit View now allows two instances of the same app on screen at once. On a Mac, it’s not a big deal to open two notes or scroll back through your email messages while composing a new one – but, on the iPad, it was an ordeal. Having the same app open in multiple instances is a huge productivity win that brings it closer in line with how we use laptops. There’s also now a new App Exposé, which will show all the instances of the app currently open. Also new in the multitasking arena is improved Slide Over support. Apps that you quickly slide out from the side and hover on top can now be cycled through and fanned out to make more use of limited screen space. Again, better access to multiple apps at once makes for a much more productive experience.
Files and SafariThe Files app now acts even more like users expect with support for flash drives and external hard drives over USB-C. It was a much-desired feature to move files around and import them using mass storage devices, and that functionality has finally arrived. Column view will be supported to provide greater metadata visibility. Plus, Files will support SMB servers for enterprise users needing to move files around in that way. Not demonstrated was the important, but miscellaneous addition of zipping and unzipping folders natively in the app – another essential laptop function. Speaking of desktop-class improvements, Safari was called out as being able to improve the internet browsing experience on iPad. Up until now, Safari browsing was hit or miss on whether a desktop or mobile web page would be delivered. Safari will now handle that distinction more intelligently, serving up desktop pages that have been streamlined and adapted for touch controls. On the WWDC 2019 stage, Apple specifically mentioned how much easier it was to use Google Docs as a web app in Safari — something becoming increasingly frustrating as more work moves to the cloud. The browser will gain a download manager and more keyboard shortcuts to boot, both of which will make laptop diehards feel more welcome.
Text editing, markup and moreText editing with multitouch got a big improvement in iPadOS through gestures for cut, copy, paste, undo and redo. Instead of the magnifying glass and having to tap a few times to actually select text and manipulate it, there are new gestures, including a three-finger pinch and flick, to instantly copy and paste. These could be seen as small refinements to existing iPad gesture controls, but in practice they will make a huge difference to the speed and flow of people working with their hands on the iPad. If you use the Apple Pencil, like a lot of iPad users, there is a new markup mode which is activated by swiping it up from the screen’s corner. Not only is it a fast way to access the controls without taking a screenshot, there’s support for full document markup which doesn’t just limit websites to the viewable selection on screen — it will include the full page of the site. Shown off or mentioned alongside all these new features were things like support for rich fonts, downloadable through the App Store; compact layout of the keyboard for one-handed use; and a slightly new home screen layout with pinned widgets right next to app icons. All in all, through a lot of simple refinements, this is a huge upgrade for the iPad as an independent and next-generation computing machine. It’s not like Apple has given up on its Mac computers, however – in fact it’s even allowing developers to easily port iPad apps to the Mac – and there are plenty of tricks the iPad needs to learn to be the obvious choice for all laptop users. Namely, we're still waiting for mouse support (a feature which might be secretly baked in to iPadOS). Still, iPadOS is a 'finally' type of upgrade that catapults the tablet toward a day when it becomes a main computing platform to compete toe-to-toe with your laptop of choice. Images Credit: Apple This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| AMD Navi release date, news and rumors Posted: 04 Jun 2019 11:21 AM PDT After launching the AMD Radeon VII earlier this year, AMD Navi has finally been revealed at Computex 2019, and it looks like the new Radeon RX 5000 series of graphics cards will take the best gaming PCs by storm. Now, we don’t have all the details quite yet, as AMD is saving release date and pricing information for E3 2019. However, we do know that these new graphics cards will be based on the new RDNA architecture, marking the first move away from GCN (graphics core next) in years. AMD hasn’t shared exact Navi specs, but we can expect a massive boost in performance – up to 1.25X performance per clock. There’s not much in the way of official and specific information right now, but there are plenty of rumors and gossip. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll keep it updated with all the latest AMD Navi information that surfaces. Cut to the Chase
AMD Navi release dateAt AMD’s Computex 2019 keynote, we got a release window for AMD Navi, but no exact date. If you’re looking to get your hands on AMD’s next generation graphics cards, you’re looking at July 2019. Fortunately, AMD is expected to announce the AMD Navi release date and pricing at E3 2019, so we won’t have to wait long to figure out when AMD Radeon RX 5000 graphics cards will hit store shelves.
AMD Navi priceWhile we don’t have pricing information for AMD Navi quite yet – we have to wait for E3 – we can do a bit of speculation based on what Team Red was showing off at Computex 2019. AMD took the stage and showed an unnamed Radeon RX 5000 graphics card going head to head against an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 in Strange Brigade, where it performed about 10% faster. Just based on this, we have to assume that it’ll be priced similarly to the mid-range Nvidia Turing graphics card. This is just speculation on our part, but we’d have to put the pricing of the AMD Navi flagship at around $599 (about £470, AU$860), with more affordable entries filling out the rest of the lineup. But, with E3 2019 right around the corner, we’re sure we’ll know the exact AMD Navi price in the very near future. We’ll be sure to update this article as soon as we hear anything.
AMD Navi specsRight off the bat, we know that AMD Navi is going to be based on the new 7nm RDNA graphics architecture, making it the first mainstream AMD graphics card to break away from the aging GCN architecture. And, while we don’t have exact specs yet, we’re sure this will mean more shaders and faster clock speeds. AMD has also stated that we’re going to see 1.25X faster performance per clock and 1.5X performance per watt over GCN. This not only means better performance in the best PC games, but also better power efficiency. As for what AMD Navi cards will be capable of, AMD showed an unnamed Radeon RX 5000 GPU going head to head with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 and beating it by about 10% in Strange Brigade. So, rather than taking on the RTX 2080 Ti at the high end, it looks like AMD is comfortable inhabiting the mid-range where it has traditionally excelled. That is, until the PS5 launches. Back in April, Sony Lead System Architect Mark Cerny revealed that the PS5 would be using a custom AMD Navi GPU, and that it would be capable of some pretty impressive things. For instance, the PS5 will likely support ray tracing, along with 8K resolutions. We think that’s a little pie-in-the-sky, and we’d take it with a grain of salt. But, AMD Navi could theoretically mark a true generational shift when the next generation of consoles hits the streets. Beyond that, we have heard rumors about another generation of Navi graphics cards on the high-end hitting the streets in 2020. These high end graphics cards are rumored to be code-named Navi 20, and should feature improved performance that takes on Nvidia’s flagship. We could see AMD graphics cards capable of 2020 in the future if these rumors are to be believed. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until E3 2019 for more concrete information on AMD Navi. But, until then, keep this page bookmarked for all the latest news, rumors and speculation. Images Credit: TechRadar This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Magento ecommerce sites at 'high risk' of cyberattack Posted: 04 Jun 2019 10:55 AM PDT SME websites using the Magento ecommerce platform are currently at high risk from cyberattacks according to new research from Foregenix. The firm analyzed almost 9m websites worldwide, including 2m in Europe, to discover that 87 percent of SME websites using the Magento platform are currently at high risk from cyberattacks. However, just under 10 percent of websites using other major ecommerce platforms surveyed register in the same high risk category.
The analysis was carried out between April and May by Forgenix's Threat Intelligence Group using its website security solution WebScan. The firm's research further revealed that the proportion of Magento websites at high risk has increased from just under 80 percent when compared to research carried out in October of last year. High riskOther findings from Foregenix's analysis show the percentage of SME sites using Magento being at high risk is lower in Europe than in North America. Europe, which accounted for 48 percent of all websites surveyed, registered 28 percent of the high risk Magento sites while North America accounted for 43 percent of global sites analyzed but registered 60 percent of the high risk sites. When it comes to sites that have been compromised by hackers, 1.4 percent of Magento sites globally are compromised and show signs of payment card harvesting malware stealing their customer data. However, the one exception to the trend is in Europe where just 0.63 percent of Magento sites were compromised. Chief commercial officer at Foregenix, Benjamin Hosack provided further insight on the firm's analysis, saying: "Magento is a market leader for good reason. However, this leadership position also attracts the attention of criminals looking for easy targets, such as websites that have not kept their Magento software up to date or have basic security flaws like leaving their admin page unprotected. In the vast majority of cyber attacks victims are small local businesses which never thought they'd be a target for criminals and didn't realise when they were hacked. Their payment data can be leaked to criminals for months on end before they are notified by credit card companies. "Most breaches aren't a result of extremely clever cyber criminal techniques. They are simply the result of basic security issues that have been overlooked by the website owners and developers. A few basic precautions such as deploying software patches quickly can make a big difference to minimising risk, whichever platform is used."
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| Ericsson Shares Vision for the Future of 5G Posted: 04 Jun 2019 10:09 AM PDT
How can 5G lead to a more connected world? It’s a question that few consumers think about a we go through our daily lives. Yet, for Ericsson, the multitude of ways 5G has can make life easy preoccupies how they see the future. From sports to business, gaming to transportation, Ericsson is creating a world connected by AI, virtual reality, automated logistics, the Internet of Things, and advanced robotics. Though few outside the technology sector know about 5G, it can change everything. Its seamless low latency, faster data rates and sheer ability to connect everything is already beginning to transform the way our society operates and thrives. For one example of 5G’s potential to change the world we can look to sports: a space where Ericsson’s innovations are already causing a lot of positive disruption. An athlete’s performance is impacted by numerous variables – from humidity to wind speed and pitch dampness. By gathering data on these factors and combining it with data collected from the player – such as fatigue, training load and heart rate – Ericsson empowers coaches and athletes to improve their performance. Teams like Paris Saint-Germain are already using technology to track how external variables can impact an athlete’s recovery, fitness, fatigue, and training capacity. “Nowadays, technology and sports go hand in hand,” says Paris Saint-Germain striker and medical student Nadia Nadim, who features in the film. “When you see our daily lives in the club, you would realize how much we use technology.”
5G performance isn’t limited to the athlete. Ericsson also improves the experience of fans – those at the event and those at home – to enjoy a deeper, more connected game. Imagine a more tactile, immersive perspective through which viewers can actually feel an athlete’s or singer’s heartbeat during a game or performance. Ericsson enables Virtual Reality, 360-degree video, and 4K streaming over its 5G networks to make an experience come to life. In big stadiums and sold-out concert venues, the demand is such that the technology and bandwidth need to keep up with the user experience. Ericsson is transforming these spaces to provide the coverage of the future. Ericsson laid out its vision for the future in detail by joining forces with innovators who are already pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Its new global campaign film, “Unleash the Power of Easy,” opens with the Deafblind author and disability rights advocate Haben Girma in the front seat of a self-driving car before diving into an immersive gaming experience with gaming pioneer “AtomicMari.” In other appearances, renowned computer scientist Danica Kragic appears on a screen operating a pair of robotic hands, and artist KIDDO stage dives into a cheering crowd while being streamed online in 4K. The film, shot in a single take, highlights the different use cases for advanced 5G networks that are being deployed by Ericsson across industries in 2019. The global campaign film is also accompanied by seven distinct “Tech Hero” films, which feature key Ericsson figures delving deeper into the technology driving change within the campaign’s featured industries.
Ericsson’s brand promise, “The quest for easy,” is rooted in its pursuit of creating communication technology that’s easy to adopt, use and scale.. Throughout the company’s 140 year history, Ericsson has driven innovation in networks, digital services, managed services, and emerging businesses. It has one of the strongest IP rights portfolios, with more than 49 thousand patents. Its IoT, 5G and automation technology is simply the next iteration of its vision for the future. The company has already played a pivotal role in making 5G networks a commercial reality. Ericsson rolled out the first of them, with commercial 5G live networks in the United States, South Korea and Switzerland. The company has also deployed operational 5G networks on specific commercial equipment in the Middle East, Australia, Asia and Europe. And, it has announced commercial 5G deals with 18 operator customers, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint in the US. In addition, the company recently announced the opening of D-Fifteen, a new co-creation center at Ericsson’s Silicon Valley facility. Ericsson is committed to driving innovation at this incubator, which will host partners and customers pursuing innovative ideas and thought leadership. One of the initial projects hosted at D-Fifteen includes the D-15 IoT studio, where engineers test connected Internet of Things technologies together in one 5G-enabled facility. Another is the D-15 Labs, where partners can “pressure test” multi-layered networks that form the core of the 5G experience. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| AMD Ryzen 3000 release date, news and rumors Posted: 04 Jun 2019 10:03 AM PDT When the first generation Ryzen processors came out nearly three years ago, AMD changed the market. And, now that Ryzen 2nd Generation processors have been out for a year, Team Red has dominated that market, more than doubling Intel’s sales, according to a German retailer. But, it gets better: AMD Ryzen 3000 processors will bring the 7nm Zen 2 process to mainstream processors for the first time. Intel is having considerable issues with introducing 10nm Cannon Lake chips, and even its next HEDT lineup will likely stay on 14nm, so AMD has swooped in and upstaged its rival before Ice Lake or Lakefield had a chance to launch. And, now that AMD has revealed its Ryzen 3rd Generation processors at Computex 2019, Intel should be running for cover. These new AMD Ryzen processors will bring up to 12-cores and 24-threads to the mainstream for the first time, along with a massive improvement to IPC (instructions per clock) performance. The best part? These new Ryzen processors do all of this without inflating prices. It’s not surprising that analysts are already predicting that Ryzen 3rd Generation could seriously threaten Intel. So, ahead of AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation’s release, we went ahead and gathered up all the information on Team Red’s next generation of desktop processors. So, be sure to keep this page bookmarked, and we’ll update it with any new information that comes our way. Cut to the chase
Image Credit: TechRadar AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation release dateAt CES 2019, AMD announced its first Ryzen 3000-series processors will arrive sometime in the middle of 2019. But, it wasn’t until Computex 2019 that we got the exact date: July 7. All of the announced AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors will hit the street on July 7, from the Ryzen 5 3600 to the beefy Ryzen 9 3900X. As for future models, we’re sure we’ll see them come out over the next few months, especially as Intel gets Comet Lake ready. We definitely want to see some Ryzen 3 processors to cover the budget market. Who knows, we may even see AMD launch that 16-core, 32-thread processor that we kept seeing rumors about.
Image Credit: TechRadar AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation priceAt AMD’s Computex 2019 keynote, Team Red revealed several processors from the Ryzen 5 3600 to the Ryzen 9 3900X. These processors cover the mid-range to high-end, but curiously, we haven’t seen anything for the budget users, meaning that the Ryzen 3 2200G may remain the best budget processor for a while. Pricing information for the announced chips follows below:
AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation specsNow that the AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation lineup has been revealed, we know exactly what’s inside these new 7nm processors for consumers. And, well, we should see performance go up significantly, while power consumption takes a nosedive. Improvements all around. The 7nm Zen 2 architecture found in AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation processors not only allows AMD to lower TDP down to just 65W in the Ryzen 5 3600, but it also brings about a whopping 15% improvement to IPC (instructions per clock) performance. This should see single core performance skyrocket, making for some of the best processors for gaming. On the high-end, you have the Ryzen 9 3900X, an absolute beast of a processor rocking 12-cores and 24-threads, with a 4.6GHz boost clock. These specs are impressive in their own right, but what really takes it to the next level is that it manages to do it with a 105W TDP. Power consumption and temperatures should both stay relatively low – we can’t wait to see what overclockers can do with it. But, AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation is more than just the low-end and the top-end. We went ahead and listed out all the specs below:
So, at every level, AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation provides better performance while lowering power consumption over the previous generation. AMD definitely showed off some benchmarks where it flexed on the competition, but that’s to be expected. We also got details about the X570 chipset, and it should mark a generational improvement in computing. Alongside the faster processors, the biggest improvement is the support for PCIe 4.0, exclusive to AMD. This new generation of PCIe will bring forth faster graphics cards and SSDs to AMD’s platform. It promises 42% faster SSD performance, along with 69% faster graphics performance – though that will be exclusive to AMD Navi graphics cards for now. X570 will also bring native support for four SuperSpeed USB ports, with a maximum bandwidth of 10Gbps. This will support both USB-A and USB-C connections, and while it’s not as fast as Thunderbolt 3, the native support should mean wider adoption across desktop motherboards.
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| Why wait for Prime Day? The latest Apple iPad is down to its lowest price ever Posted: 04 Jun 2019 10:02 AM PDT If you're looking for a killer deal on an iPad and don't want to wait for Amazon Prime Day, then you're in luck. If you're in the UK, John Lewis has the latest Apple iPad on sale for £285 – that's a £34 discount, and the lowest price we've found for the 32GB tablet. The iPad offers an impressive battery life of 10 hours and features iOS 11, which enables you to use the latest apps that include augmented reality experiences. It will also be one of the first iPads to get Apple's new iPadOS operating system when that comes out later this year. If you're in the US and looking for a similar deal, Walmart also has the latest model Apple iPad on sale for $249. That's an $80 discount, and the best price we've found for the 32GB tablet. Interested in other iPad models? We've listed even more of the cheapest iPad deals that are currently available. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| NASCAR picks AWS to power its cloud Posted: 04 Jun 2019 09:59 AM PDT NASCAR will leverage the power of AWS to migrate its 18 petabyte video archive to the cloud as part of its new multi-year agreement with Amazon's cloud computing arm. The racing body announced that it has chosen AWS as its standard for both cloud-based machine learning and artificial intelligence workloads. NASCAR will utilize the full breadth of AWS technologies to build cloud-based services and automate existing processes. Additionally, a new video series on its website called This Moment in NASCAR History will be powered by AWS.
NASCAR's video archives will be migrated to AWS and through the use of Amazon Rekognition, the videos will be automatically tagged with metadata such as driver car, race, lap, time and sponsors so that they can be searched more easily. By using AWS' services, the racing body expects to save thousands of hours of manual search time each year as it looks to quickly deliver video clips to fans on its website and social media channels. NASCAR and AWSNASCAR will use AWS services to enhance its full range of media assets including websites, mobile applications and social properties for its 80m fans worldwide. The racing body will also use Amazon SageMaker to train deep learning models using 70 years of historical footage to enhance metadata and video analytics. NASCAR even plans to caption and time stamp every word of speech within archived videos using Amazon Transcribe which will easily allow its video producers to locate source footage via text searches. Additionally, NASCAR will use AWS Media Services, such as AWS Elemental MediaLive and AWS Elemental MediaStore, to support NASCAR Drive which puts fans in the driver's seat through the use of in-car cameras, live audio and live leaderboards. Executive Vice President of Innovation and Development at NASCAR, Graig Neeb explained why the racing body chose AWS over competing cloud services, saying: “Speed and efficiency are key in racing and business which is why we chose AWS—the cloud with unmatched performance, the most comprehensive set of services, and the fastest pace of innovation—to accelerate our migration to the cloud. Leveraging AWS to power our new video series gives our highly engaged fans a historical look at our sport while providing a sneak peek at the initial results of this exciting collaboration.”
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| Halo 6: everything we know about Halo Infinite Posted: 04 Jun 2019 09:39 AM PDT The Halo series is a cornerstone of Xbox's history but it's been a while since we've seen a core entry in the franchise. However, it looks like we won't be waiting much longer for our fix of Master Chief as Microsoft announced at E3 2018 that Halo Infinite (aka Halo 6) is in development. The Halo series has had its ups and downs over the years, especially with Halo 5 proving to be a major disappointment for anyone who has a stake in the single-player campaign. But it looks like Halo Infinite could hopefully be a return to form, reminding people why Halo has been so highly regarded in the past. While we've only got a look at a brief announcement trailer so far, we've got high hopes for Halo Infinite, and we're expecting Microsoft will shed more light on the latest addition to the Halo series during E3 2019. So just what do we know about the next entry in the Master Chief saga? Cut to the chase
Halo Infinite trailers and screenshotsHalo Infinite (or Halo 6) was officially announced during Microsoft's E3 2018 conference. You can check out the announcement trailer below: There isn't much else to take away from the trailer other than establishing, dramatic landscape shots and a glimpse of Master Chief's helmet. Judging by the appearance of prehistoric-like animals, we wouldn't be surprised if this next game wasn't set in the past somehow. And, of course, the Warthog is back. Oh, and we see Master Chief jack some sort of chip into the back of his helmet. Who could this new artificial intelligence be if not Cortana? Check out our collection of Halo Infinite screenshots below: Halo Infinite release dateEven with a formal announcement, there’s no release window; not even something very vague, like ‘201X’. In the past, Halo games have tended to have a three-year gap between the main titles. The only exception to this was the two-year gap between Halo Reach and Halo 4, which can mostly be attributed to the fact they were both developed by different studios (Bungie and 343i, respectively). Halo 5 Guardians came out in October 2015, and following the usual pattern would suggest a late-2018 release for Halo 6. The fact we haven’t seen a date yet doesn’t bode well for that, though games being announced and released within relatively short periods of time is not unheard of (see: Fallout 4). However, we're expecting to hear more about Halo Infinite at E3 2019 - including a release date and a closer look at gameplay. It looks probable that Halo Infinite will be launch title for the next Xbox so we probably won't see the title release until the console does, unless it's a cross-generation game. Halo Infinite news and featuresThere isn’t much solid information about Halo Infinite just yet. That said, there are a few things we already know. Halo Infinite at E3 2019? We're expecting to hear more about Halo Infinite during Microsoft's E3 2019 conference. Hopefully that means we'll get solid confirmation on a release date, which generation the game is releasing for and maybe some gameplay footage? Fingers crossed. Halo Infinite confirmed Microsoft confirmed Halo 6 is in the works during E3 2018. Multiplayer Halo 6, and all mainstream Halo games after it, will include split-screen co-op multiplayer. Bonnie Ross, head of 343i, confirmed this piece of news in February at DICE 2017. The decision to remove split-screen co-op from Halo 5, in favour of an online-only version, was met with criticism from fans, as it had been a staple Halo feature that had been around since the first game was released in 2001. Ross said Halo 5’s removal was “painful”, adding that "It erodes trust with the community. [We’ve had a] lot of learnings from that, and I would say for any FPS going out forward we will always have split screen going forward." Despite this, Franchise Coordinator Frank O’Connor has confirmed that the studio won’t be abandoning the co-op systems that were first introduced in Halo 5. These systems included the option to drop in and out of gameplay at will, four-player cooperative play, and specialised loadouts for the different playable Spartans in the campaign.
Following the troubled launch of The Master Chief Collection back in 2014, Bonnie Ross told Game Informer (via IGN) that all Halo games will have some sort of beta prior to the official release. This is to ensure that many issues that plagued The Master Chief Collection’s multiplayer do not happen again. After successful betas for Halo 5 and Halo Wars 2, there’s no reason to think that the studio would suddenly change its mind for Halo 6. It’s yet to be announced whether the beta will be available to everyone, or just those who receive a code by purchasing a different game. Gameplay Despite not knowing much, it’s unlikely that Halo Infinite will be shaking up the formula in any meaningful way. The core mechanics of running around shooting things will likely stay the same, though it’s likely that 343i will be fine-tuning the mechanics to (hopefully) make for a better gameplay experience. It’s safe to assume that there will be a wide range of multiplayer modes and maps to play on, along with a Forge map editor and a Firefight horde mode. You can probably expect the game to run at 4K 60FPS on the Xbox One X as well, given its status as a first party title. That likelihood is increased by the fact Halo Wars 2 is already capable of running at 4K, and Halo 5 will be getting a 4K update in the near future.
PC Gaming Microsoft’s ‘Play Anywhere’ programme also means that there's a chance Halo Infinite will be the first full main-series Halo game to hit PC since the release of Halo 2 PC in 2007. This would also mean you could pick up a copy of Halo Infinite on Xbox One and still be able to download and play it on your PC without buying a second copy, or vice versa. There’s no guarantee that Microsoft will make Halo Infinite a Play Anywhere title, but Phil Spencer, current head of Xbox, confirmed to PC Gamer that there is no ‘ideological reason’ why Halo 6 couldn’t come to PC. Story At the end of Halo 5, a revived Cortana and The Created (a group of AI who believe themselves to be superior to organic life) seized control of the galaxy using massive Forerunner constructs known as Guardians. The Created were determined to bring order by force, and had the tools to do it. The last thing we saw was the UNSC Infinity’s crew fleeing Cortana’s forces, heading for parts unknown, and the Master Chief regrouping with allied forces with the intention of fighting back against the new regime. It’s not clear where Halo 6 will pick up after this, though the timeline of Halo Wars 2, and the final cutscene, indicates that Halo 6 is unlikely to be set less than six months after the events of Halo 5. It’ll probably involve humans and elites fighting together again, trying to bring down Cortana and the Created in order to restore freedom to the galaxy. Loot boxes If you've been hearing rumors that Halo 6 will be inundated with Loot Boxes, try not to fret too much. On his podcast, industry reporter Brad Sams' claims that sources had told him Microsoft wanted to include loot boxes in Halo 6 but was re-evaluating its options after the controversy that Star Wars Battlefront 2 faced. Franchise Director at 343 Industries, Frank O'Connor, however, has called the rumors "bunk." Taking to the ResetEra forums, O'Connor stated that 343 is "not reevaluating anything (significant)" before adding that "Microsoft' isn't designing anything for the next game - 343 is." O'Connor said that while the team watched the Battlefront 2 backlash "with the curiosity you'd expect", they believe that the req system currently in use Halo 5: Guardians are "player focused and well liked and unintrusive as far as these things go." "We have made zero announcements about our next projects and continue to work on our next game and technology with player's needs and interests in mind, " O'Connor continued, "However the story as loosely presented as it is - has no bearing on or relation to any current efforts. I suppose you could say 'company x is evaluating feature y' and always have some grain of truth, but we are neither aping nor adapting an unrelated system from another game." O'Connor finished up by stating that 343 Industries would be evolving its systems and tech "in the future" and that maybe then the emerging stories about changing systems and tech would "have brief applicability. But right now? Nah."
What we want to see from Halo InfiniteUnanswered Questions What happened to The Didact? If Cortana could survive Halo 4’s final battle, then why couldn’t the big bad? Unfortunately the Forerunner warlord was completely absent from Halo 5, and while the immediate aftermath of his battle with Master Chief was covered in the comic series Halo Escalation, it was implied that he would eventually return. Of course not all players read the comics, leaving his eventual fate unknown to most. This question also raises the problem of integrating the lesser-known expanded universe canon into the games, which 343i has been wont to do since it took over the franchise from Bungie. Wish list After the cliffhanger ending of Halo 5 Guardians, and a petty lackluster campaign plot, what Halo 6 really needs is solid story with a satisfying end to the story. The Halo 3 to Halo 5’s Halo 2 if you will. A more equal approach to the campaign/multiplayer balance will also help address some of the issues people had with the previous game. Speaking of multiplayer, the fact Halo 5 included microtransactions didn’t go down particularly well - especially since the REQ packs could let players unlock more powerful weapons that gave them an unfair advantage. While a lot of games have a lot of success selling cosmetic items (Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch come to mind), players are less enthused about Pay-to-Win systems. A link to Halo Wars 2 would also be welcome, and finally bring the story of the UNSC Spirit of Fire back into the mainstream canon. That’s not that much out of the question either, given the RTS sequel’s final cutscene. More time playing as the Master Chief. Spartan Locke might have been an interesting character, but players buy Halo expecting to play as their favourite super soldier - not a low-budget knock-off. (Image credits: 343 Industries) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| These Delta credit cards offer big rewards on your next big tech purchase Posted: 04 Jun 2019 09:35 AM PDT STOP! Before you make that big money tech purchase (perhaps your eye has been caught by the potentially $45,000 new Mac Pro), it's worth pausing to consider whether grabbing a reward-heavy credit card to buy it with is worth the trouble. Especially since Delta Air Lines have launched a new set of limited-time credit cards that are going big on bonuses. Delta's so-called SkyMiles cards from American Express are all about racking up the points, placing them among the best credit cards for travel out there right now. The big focus is on air miles, with up to 80,000 available depending on what card you opt for (the Delta Reserve® for Business Credit Card, for example). And if you're a frequent Delta flyer and are collecting up Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs), you could qualify for 5,000 of those after meeting minimum spend requirements, too. Looking for a perk other than just air miles? Some of these Delta American Express cards are also offering pure statement credit on top of the travel rewards. There's up to $100 available, which will be reduced from the amount you owe on your credit card statement (so long as you make a Delta purchase within the first three months). You can see Delta's full range of new credit cards below, and click on the links to learn more about each one and to apply.
TechRadar has partnered with The Points Guy Affiliate Network for our coverage of credit products. TechRadar and The Points Guy may receive a commission from card issuers. Do I really need a credit card?Honestly, it entirely depends on your circumstances. If, for example, you've been eyeing up a new laptop or iPhone XS Max for a while now (or maybe preparing for Amazon Prime Day) and know that you can afford to buy it, then a credit card is a great way to get a little something back from your big purchase. Especially if you pay off your balance immediately. But if you're trying to buy something that's actually beyond your budget and the only way you can afford it is by using a credit card, it's probably a bad idea. The only thing that's really good for is getting you saddled with debt that you can't clear and potentially harsh interest rates to make things even worse. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Did Apple just blow the lid on a new Nikon 8K camera? Posted: 04 Jun 2019 09:25 AM PDT Is Nikon about to launch an 8K camera? It may well now be more likely following Apple's WWDC 2019 event. Along with many new introductions and changes shown off were some impressive new video-editing capabilities. David Earl, from Apple's Logic Pro X marketing team, took to the stage to demonstrate just how effortlessly Final Cut Pro ran on the new Mac Pro, even when tasked with juggling three streams of 8K footage at once.
The video shown was described as 8K ProRes raw footage originating from a documentary shot in Kenya, which was said to have been captured and edited in HDR. Earl mentioned that the documentary followed National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale – who just happens to be a brand ambassador for Nikon. Nikon's current DSLRs and mirrorless models, such as the D850 and Z7, only capture conventional footage at 4K and Full HD, although they can be used to create 8K timelapses. And while some timelapse footage was shown off by Earl, the majority of this appeared to be either captured at a more standard frame rate, or at a faster frame rate and slowed down. Earl went on to state that there were more than 33MP in every frame, and a sensor with at least this pixel count would be required for 8K capture. It's highly likely that a new Nikon Z-series body would use a different sensor to the 24.5MP and 47.3MP sensors we've already seen in the Z6 and Z7 respectively, in order to position them at a different level in Nikon's lineup.
Panasonic S1H. Image credit: Panasonic Now, 8K cameras do, of course, already exist, and there's every possibility that the footage was from an 8K camera from another brand that was simply capturing Vitale going about her work. The question of who-shot-what-with-which-camera is not entirely clear here; the implication is that Vitale is behind the camera, although the final frame appears to show her photographing a rhinoceros. Whatever the facts behind the footage, the arrival of Panasonic's 6K-ready S1H has raised the bar for video capture on full-frame mirrorless models, and Nikon hasn't added any cameras to its Z system since the original Z6 and Z7 that kicked off the line last year. WWDC 2019 kicked off on the same day that four new product codes registered by Nikon were spotted, leading to speculation that a slew of new cameras would hit shortly. Nikon has only announced three cameras this year so far, all budget compacts, despite stating back in 2017 that it would be placing greater focus on higher-end models. So we'd be very surprised if we don't see a third Z-series camera with some new tech on board before the year is up. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Could you really replace your car with an e-scooter? Posted: 04 Jun 2019 09:12 AM PDT If you live in a city, you’ve probably noticed ranks of pay-to-ride scooters springing up like motorized weeds along the sidewalks, but are they truly practical – and could they even replace your car? The e-scooter boom was particularly visible at GreenTech Festival in Berlin – a new event dedicated to sustainable technology, and hosted by Formula One world champion Niko Rosberg (a man who, during his career, must have amassed a yeti-sized carbon footprint). The show floor was populated by electric cars from Tesla and Byton, flying taxis from Ehang and Volocopter, sustainable fashion companies and a business that specializes in tasty snacks made from insect flour. However, the sector with the most booths was last-mile mobility – chiefly e-scooters. Companies including Tier, Flash (now rebranded as Circ), eFloater and Ono all presented their own vision of clean, two-wheeled transport.
Tier was one of half a dozen micro-mobility startups showing their wares at GreenTech Conference (Image credit: Tier) “The way people move through cities is changing,” Boris Mittermüller, chief operating officer of Circ told us. “They’re still using cars, but the car is not the best vehicle any more. 70% of cars are single-use – it doesn’t make sense. Car ownership is going down.” According to Boston Consulting Group, about 35% of all personal trips cover distances of under 3km – a distance that could be walked, but is much faster made by e-scooter. Unlike a bike, a an electric scooter won’t leave you sweaty when you reach your destination, and it’s much cheaper than hailing a ride-sharing service. They’re also easy to ride, and don’t require training or a license. Speed of changeThe appeal is clear, and startups are popping up seemingly overnight to meet demand. Speed is the name of the game: the fastest E-scooters can hit speeds up to 35mph, and the startups supplying them move just as fast. In 2018, Circ was only a glimmer in its founders’ eyes, and at the time we spoke to Mittermüller, its scooters had just clocked up a million rides. While Lime, Lyft, Uber and Bird battle for top spot in the US market, there isn’t yet a clear market leader in Europe. Circ is making big inroads, though, and hit the million-ride milestone much faster than its competitors on the continent – and it has no intention of hitting the brakes. "There are a couple of big markets about to open up: Germany and Italy, and hopefully the UK at a certain point this year or early next year," said Mittermüller. "Like most other escooter companies, we’ve seen tremendous growth – but much faster. If you look at growth rates, they are exponential in terms of existing customers and new customers." Hit the brakesE-scooters certainly aren’t for everyone, though – they depend on riders being a certain height, weight, and level of mobility. They’re also not great if you’re carrying anything more than a backpack. Nor can we see them taking off in historic cities with equally historic cobbled streets, and they don’t perform well in rain, ice or extreme heat. The rules of the road can be problematic too, and vary hugely between countries. Are they suitable for riding on the pavement, or are they restricted to roads? If the latter, do they need to be taxed and insured? Who’s liable in an accident? Should riders wear a helmet, and do they need to provide these themselves? Then there’s maintenance and waste. Scooter batteries are often non-replacable, which means that when the battery dies, the entire scooter is destined for scrap. That’s before you consider those thrown into rivers, hurled into trees and otherwise trashed.
eFloater's sturdy scooters boast Segway-style self-balancing technology (Image credit: eFloater) Not all scooters are created equal though, as the huge range of designs on show at GreenTech Festival showed, and some are more robust than others. The offering from Hamburg-based eFloater was particularly striking – a chunky, three-wheeled design that uses similar self-balancing technology to a Segway. Circ’s custom-made scooters are also a little different – a fact that Mittermüller says is key to their success. “We firmly believe that a superior scooter will be a huge differentiator, and this is why we build our own vehicles,” he said. “We took the time to build a scooter that is much better than what our rivals have. Those are electrified consumer toys – they’re not comfortable or safe. Our scooter has wider handlebars, a lower center of gravity, is more robust, and has more safety features.” Mittermüller says the feedback from riders bears this out. Passengers in Paris, for example, have a huge variety of scooters to choose from, but consistently report that Circ’s feel safer and more comfortable. Beyond two wheelsE-scooters are clearly a winner with riders, but why are there so many startups dropping them onto city streets? It’s partly due to convenience for the founders: starting an e-scooter service has relatively low costs compared to a more ambitious car-sharing service. “From a tech standpoint, you have technology that is ready for e-mobility,” says Mittermüller. “Strong batteries are available at a reasonable price, and you have IT that is at a stage where you can use it in a robust and reliable way to communicate with the vehicle – to lock and unlock it, and also during the journey. This made us very confident.” Circ is also looking beyond the scooter to other forms of ‘micro-mobility’, including vehicles capable of carrying cargo and others with a seat. E-scooters are just a convenient entry point.
Travelers in LA are spoilt for choice when it comes to e-scooters (Image credit: Rachid Jalayanadeja/Shutterstock) So could a shared e-scooter replace your car? Potentially, if you live in a city (as two thirds of us are predicted to do by 2050) in an area with reliable public transport for longer journeys, you’re physically capable of riding, and you don’t mind getting damp occasionally. They’re never going to replace a car if you live further than a couple of miles from a docking point either. Electric car owners might suffer range anxiety if they stray too far from a charger, but e-scooters are on a different level (though at least they can be carried if they run out of juice). E-scooters aren’t the only option, though: if you’re looking for a zero-emissions option and feeling brave, a French startup is offering pay-as-you-hop pogo sticks to let you bounce around the streets of Paris. Suddenly scooting to work doesn't sound like such a bad idea. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Here's how iPhone and iPad syncing will work in macOS Catalina Posted: 04 Jun 2019 08:52 AM PDT We had pretty well expected iTunes to be dramatically changed with the debut of macOS 10.15 Catalina, but we didn't think Apple was going to outright kill it. But, now that iTunes is no more in the new Mac operating system, you still need to manage your iPhone and iPad in a post-iTunes world, and Wccftech has spotted how. Signs had pointed to some of its content offerings splintering into their own apps, which has happened, but it had seemed like iTunes would still stick around. It seemed like it had to, because it has long been the main tool for managing files, syncing content, backing up and restoring iPhones, iPads and iPods. In macOS 10.15 Catalina, that will no longer be the case, as Apple laid out the future at WWDC 2019. Instead, you'll be looking at another tried-and-true tool within the operating system: Finder.
In macOS 10.15, when your iPhone, iPad, or iPod is plugged into your Mac, you'll be able to find it using Finder. If you open Finder, you'll see your device in the left side panel under the Devices list. When you select your device in Finder, you'll find a familiar interface. Finder will provide all the tools you need to update and restore your device, manage backups, and sync content between your Mac and mobile device. The interface looks awfully similar to how it does on iTunes today. You'll still be able to manage what music, movies, shows, podcasts, audiobooks, books, photos and file transfers between your devices. Even though Apple has introduced specific apps for some of these content types, you won't have to go through each individually to manage the synced content. So, when you update your Mac to macOS 10.15 Catalina later this year, be sure to remember iTunes is out and Finder is in.
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| Apple Watch: the ultimate guide to pick your next iPhone compatible watch Posted: 04 Jun 2019 08:41 AM PDT Update: Your existing Apple Watch may be ready to get upgraded to the newly announced watchOS 6 in the next few months. You'll find some more details in the software section below... Donning an Apple Watch in 2019 is a little more tempting because of new deals, fresh features, the watchOS 5 update and a higher app count. It's a fantastic smartwatch series, as long as you're expecting an iPhone-tied convenience gadget, not a life-changing piece of technology. Why? Two versions of the watch makes our best smartwatch list, but smartwatches aren't a game changer or revolutionary like smartphones from ten years ago. They're just an everyday awesome add-on; truly an accessory. Apple never ended up calling this the 'iWatch', but it really is "my watch" - with all its iterations the company has proved it's the Apple's most personal and customizable gadget yet. We've put together the guide below to talk you through the differences between all five iterations of the Apple Watch. There's the original Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 1, Apple Watch Series 2, Apple Watch Series 3 and now the Apple Watch Series 4. It's a complicated mix of smartwatches now with over 100 different flavors with the variety of case materials, colors, sizes and interchangeable Apple Watch bands too, so there are a bunch of a tough decisions to make.
What Apple Watch models are there?It's best to think of the Apple Watch in five distinct generations, so far. There was the original device that was released under the name Apple Watch in April 2015, but you'll struggle to find retailers selling this device now and you'll probably only be able to get it second hand. We wouldn't recommend buying that watch now as it won't be able to run with the latest watchOS 5 software and will miss out on the latest features, so you're better off buying a more recently released Apple Watch. It was replaced by the Apple Watch Series 1 in September 2016, which is largely the same device but with Bluetooth 4.2 technology and a faster dual-core chipset. The original Apple Watch is now referred to as Series 0, but you probably shouldn't worry about that if you're buying a new watch as it's difficult to find it. The Apple Watch Series 1 is easier to find through third-party retailers, but Apple has now stopped selling the device. Alongside the Series 1, Apple announced the Watch Series 2 (which we refer to as the Apple Watch 2 to make things a little simpler). This brought new technology like built-in GPS and water resistance and a slightly larger battery. Apple is no longer selling the Watch Series 2, but you can buy find this from a limited number of third-party retailers. 2017's smartwatch is called the Apple Watch Series 3 and it comes with LTE technology (if you want it) as well as a variety of fitness features and improved GPS. Then there's the most recent version - the Apple Watch Series 4 - that comes with a larger display than the other versions and some new heart rate features too. If you're after the very best Apple Watch, this is currently it. Apple Watch price comparisonLargely the pricing for the Apple Watch works by how old the product is. If you want the Apple Watch Series 1, you'll be able to find that for a lot less money than the Apple Watch 4. Below we've got a live widget that will show you the latest deals for all the versions of the Apple Watch if you want to see the exact price right now. Bear in mind you can also get the Apple Watch 4 or 3 on a contract because of the LTE features, and you can't do that for the other two devices. Apple Watch vs Apple Watch 3 vs Apple Watch 4
You can't buy the original Apple Watch easily anymore, so here we're going to break down the differences between the watches referred to as the Apple Watch Series 1, Apple Watch 2, Apple Watch 3 and the Apple Watch 4. Design Until the Apple Watch 4, the series has been very similar in terms of design. There have been a few minor changes, but the Apple Watch 4 marks the first time you can buy it in 40mm or 44mm variants. That allows for a slightly larger screen, plus there's haptic feedback on the digital crown too. The Apple Watch 3 and below come in either 38mm or 42mm versions. Only the Apple Watch 2 and Apple Watch 3 are waterproof though, so don't try taking the original watch in the pool with you. Display All generations of the Apple Watch feature square displays, but the technology used differs. The Apple Watch featured an OLED Retina display with Force Touch at 450 nits, while the latter models have an improved technology that runs at 1000 nits. The Apple Watch 4 comes with a larger display too. Performance You don't need a huge amount of power in the Apple Watch, but each passing generation has been a little snappier. The Series 1 features an Apple S1P system on a chip, while the Series 2, Series 3 and Series 4 feature an S2, S3 or S4 in that order. Each watch has featured 512MB of RAM, apart from the Apple Watch 3, which features 768MB. We don't yet know how much RAM is in the Apple Watch 4. Fitness All versions of the Apple Watch feature a heart rate monitor, accelerometer, gyroscope and ambient light sensor. The Apple Watch 3 was the first time the device sported an Altimeter though, and the Apple Watch 4 has ECG features for the first time. You can currently only use these in the US, but it's thought the feature will be introduced to other watches in the next year or so. For GPS, you will get that on the Apple Watch 2 and an improved version of the tech including Galileo and QZSS features is on the third iteration. The Apple Watch 2, 3 and 4 feature swimming modes. Battery The battery life of the Apple Watch has remained largely unchanged. If you go for the versions it'll have a smaller battery inside than the larger one, but that's largely because of the difference in case size. Connectivity Each version of the watch has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology built-in, but the Apple Watch 3 and 4 have a cellular option. This means you can use an optional eSIM to give yourself a connection when on the move.
What iPhone do you need to use an Apple Watch?Unlike Google's Wear OS devices, the Apple Watch only works with one type of phone. You'll need to have at least an iPhone 5 running iOS 10 or later to be able to use an Apple Watch or Apple Watch 2. If you want an Apple Watch 3, you'll need to have at least an iPhone 5S running iOS 11 software for the non-LTE version or an iPhone 6 to be able to use the LTE variant.
Apple Watch colors and sizesA big change for the Apple Watch 4 is the size, so now it comes in 40mm or 44mm options. All of the other models of the Apple Watch come in either 38mm or 42mm versions. Some color options are limited to certain size watches, but our simple advice here is go for the larger version if you want a watch with a bigger screen and you don't mind spending a touch more. It's difficult to get the difference in size across here, but if you're uncertain on size it's worth trying each on in the shop to be sure. Below we've got three examples showing off the four different sizes, as well as a comparison of the screen sizes. You've then also got to choose the color of your watch as well as what material you want it to be made of. The Apple Watch 4 comes in gold, space grey or silver if you want it to be made of aluminum, and the same colors come in stainless steel too. White and grey are also color options if you choose the ceramic version of the Apple Watch 3, but these are much more expensive and are called the Apple Watch Series 3 Edition. These are now hard to come by as Apple doesn't officially sell them. There's also the Apple Watch Nike+, which is the same device as the Apple Watch 3 but comes with exclusive watch faces, the Nike+ Run Club app pre-loaded and a choice of lots of Nike branded sports bands. That's not all though. If you like the idea of a handcrafted leather strap, you may like the look of the Apple Watch Hermès. Again, it's the Apple Watch 4. but here you get an exclusive watch face using the Hermès Carrick font as well as high-end leather straps for your wrist. The Apple Watch Series 1 is only available in aluminum in space grey or silver. Apple Watch bands and straps
Apple Watch Hermès with the Double Tour strap (Image Credit: Apple) There are dozens of straps sold by Apple that offer a huge variety of styles for your wrist. When you first buy your Apple Watch you'll have a strap included, but you can buy and easily switch out different straps that you buy separately. There are material and color options available including woven nylon, Nike sport, leather, bracelets and much more. Any Apple Watch strap works with any Apple Watch, as long as you've got the right smaller or larger size watch. Plus there are lots of third-party bands available too, but make sure you get the right size as it won't support all watch straps.
Apple Watch software updates
Image Credit: Apple Apple's watchOS 5 update gave every model a boost apart from the original Apple Watch. If you've got the older model, you'll be stuck at watchOS 4 as the company doesn't plan to give it anymore updates. It's worth looking at the features within watchOS 5, and if you get an Apple Watch be sure to update it as soon as possible to make full use of all the new features. You may have heard that watchOS 6 is the latest version of the company's smartwatch software, but it won't be out until later in 2019. The new upgrade will bring an App Store to the device as well menstrual cycle tracking and a new feature to tell you when you're in locations that may damage your hearing.
Apple Watch apps and watch faces
Image Credit: TechRadar Since the original Apple Watch, we've seen the company grow its titles that you can use on the watch as well as the amount of watch faces you can switch around to give the screen a different look. For a full guide to our favorite bits of software on the wearable, check out our best Apple Watch apps guide as well as best Apple Watch games and best Apple Watch faces. What's next for the Apple Watch?If you're planning to buy an Apple Watch soon, now is the perfect time. The Apple Watch 4 launched in early September 2018 - so we expect it to be at least a year later until we hear about an Apple Watch 5. It may be even longer too, so if you're to set buy a new watch in the coming months, you're sure to be having it for the longest lifespan possible. It also means the price of the Apple Watch Series 3 and some of the other models has dropped too, so it's well worth upgrading soon if you're certain it's a device made for you. Got your Apple Watch? Learn how to use itBelow are a selection of the how to guides we have at TechRadar to help you understand some of the complicated parts of setting up, customizing and using your new smartwatch.
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| IKEA’s custom accessories offer high-level ergonomics to the average gamer Posted: 04 Jun 2019 08:27 AM PDT IKEA has just announced a new range of gaming accessories which are 3D-printed, including a wrist support that can be tailored to fit your own personal size. The idea with these goodies is to help you play better, offering accessibility and ergonomic improvements not normally seen at a relatively affordable price level. Specifically, IKEA is introducing the Uppkoppla range, developed in conjunction with Unyq and Area Academy, with three initial prototype products having just been revealed. Unyq is on-board, thanks to its expertise on the customization front, with experience in producing medical wearables, like custom-made scoliosis braces.
IKEA observes that this is a neglected area – there might be plenty of choice in terms of gaming mice or keyboards, but not accessories related to supporting these peripherals – and thus it’s offering the wrist support alongside a mouse bungee and customized key caps. As mentioned, the broad idea is that these products are going to be priced affordably, so the everyday gamer or computer user can benefit from the sort of costlier innovations normally reserved for the likes of esports pros. The wrist support is the most interesting offering, as it provides a platform for your wrist while mousing, keeping it in a more ergonomically suitable position. The idea is to increase your comfort levels, and hopefully defend against potential strain. As mentioned, the support is manufactured to suit your wrist perfectly, with an app provided that scans your hand via the phone camera to obtain the correct dimensions.
IKEA's mouse bungee. (Image credit: IKEA) Taming the cordThe mouse bungee, if you’ve not heard of one, is essentially a stand which holds the mouse cord, and keeps it out of the way. This will be appreciated by those who play the likes of frantic shooters, and have felt the annoying drag of the cable on the mouse as they scoot it sharply around the mat. That said, there are already affordable mouse bungee products out on the market, such as the one offered by Razer at $20/£20.
Specially designed key caps prevent fingertip slippage. (Image credit: IKEA) The other innovation is the key caps, which have a textured surface to help prevent your fingertips slipping on the keys. These gaming products will be sold online (and not in IKEA stores), and you’ll be able to order through a special app, which is in the pipeline. As you can see from the above video which shows the app, it’ll also be possible to personalize these accessories in ways such as adding your nickname or clan name for a couple of extra bucks. While IKEA hasn’t officially announced pricing for the Uppkoppla accessories, which won’t go on sale until 2020, the app seems to indicate that these products will range in price from $25 (around £20, AU$35) to $50 (around £40, AU$70), with small additional charges for extra customization as mentioned.
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| Camera rumors 2019: the biggest and best camera rumors around Posted: 04 Jun 2019 08:18 AM PDT We're almost halfway through 2019 and we've seen some great cameras and lenses already – but we're sure there's plenty more to surface before the year is up. Key highlights so far include Fujifilm's monstrous GFX 100 medium format model, as well as Panasonic's 6K-ready S1H and Canon's super-affordable EOS RP full-frame mirrorless camera. So what happens next? We have an idea of what we expect and some manufacturers have already made it clear where they want to be heading with their various lines. And some rumors just don't seem to want to go anywhere, even if we get a few curveball releases to throw us off the scent now and again.
With all of this, we can start to piece together a rough picture of products that major camera companies might be aiming to release, and what thirsty photographers will be able to get their hands on in the near future. Now, it’s time to really dive into all of the juiciest camera rumors from every major manufacturer, from Canon and Nikon through to Panasonic and Olympus.
Camera rumors 2019
Canon EOS R Pro
Image credit: TechRadar Could we see a pro-spec mirrorless equivalent of the EOS-1D X Mark II? Predicted specs: Too early to say | RF Lens mount
While Canon's first full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R is a very good camera, it's not the flagship camera many had expected. What the EOS R is though is the first camera in an all-new system from the brand. With that in mind, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that we could see a new high-end model soon. CanonRumours had previously reported that we could see an EOS R Pro development announcement in January, although this never happened. However, in a recent interview, it confirmed a more senior camera was on the way. We reckon it'll be a natural successor to the professionals' favorite, the mighty Canon EOS-1D X Mark II (though that's not to say we won't see a Mark III version as well), with a launch next year enough time to establish itself ahead of the 2020 Olympics. The strongest rumors suggest a new pro model will pack a 75MP full-frame sensor, considerably more than the 50MP EOS 5DS and EOS 5DS R. Such a model, however, probably wouldn't make as much sense for the sports and action photographer, where speed would be more of a focus than resolution. Of course, we may well up with one of each before long.
Canon EOS M5 and M6 replacements
It looks like Canon's oldest current mirrorless cameras are going to get an update Predicted specs: New 24MP APS-C sensors | 4K video recording | DIGIC 8 image processors
While Canon's been focusing its attention on its new EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera, the company isn't about to drop its EOS M range of mirrorless cameras. CanonRumors reports that “at least” two further models in the line are set to arrive in 2019. These two new cameras are likely to be replacements for the EOS M5 (launched back in 2016 and the flagship camera in the range) and the EOS M6. Both models are designed around Canon's 24.2MP APS-C sensors, but with both only shooting in Full HD video format, we expect both new models to get uprated sensors (though resolution is likely to stay the same) that support 4K video recording (though hopefully without the restrictive cropping that the EOS M50 suffers from). This could mean we could see in DIGIC 8 image processors and improved Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology with better subject tracking.
Canon EOS 5D X
Could Canon launch a rival to Nikon's D850 and Sony's Alpha A7R III? Predicted specs: Full-frame 50MP sensor | 8fps burst shooting | Improved 4K video capture
When it was launched back in 2016, Canon's EOS 5D Mark IV was our favourite DSLR. A well-rounded camera, it was (and still is) an incredibly versatile photographic tool. However, 2017 saw Nikon release the mighty 45.4MP D850 and Sony launch the 42.2MP Alpha A7R III. Both cameras are similarly priced, but offer more pixels, while matching or bettering the performance of the EOS 5D Mark IV. Unless you're a die hard Canon user, the 5D Mark IV is hard to recommend over the other two. Then consider that the 50MP Canon EOS 5DS was launched in 2015 and we reckon Canon might consolidate its two lines into a single, multi-purpose DSLR that offers a high pixel count and high performance to rival the D850 and Alpha A7R III. We're speculating here, but this new DSLR could potentially be called the EOS 5D X and feature a new and improved 50MP full-frame sensor that was used in the EOS 5DS, now with a much broader and improved ISO range, while burst shooting could hit 8fps. We reckon video might also get a hike in performance - the 1.64x crop when shooting 4K on the EOS 5D Mark IV is a bit of a turn off to many videographers. To aid shooting both stills and video, maybe we might also see the inclusion of a vari-angle touchscreen display.
Canon EOS 7D Mark III
One of the oldest EOS DSLRs available, could Canon's high-end enthusiast DSLR be about to get an update? Predicted specs: Updated 20.2MP sensor or new 28MP chip | Dual DIGIC 8 image processors | 11fps+ burst shooting
Announced back in 2014, the EOS 7D Mark II is one of the oldest, if not the oldest DSLR in the EOS line-up and we think 2018 will be the year we see the arrival of the EOS 7D Mark III. What can we expect to see then? It'll certainly get a new sensor, but whether Canon opts to stick with a 20MP resolution or increase this to 28MP (as CanonWatch.com is reporting), it's still unclear. It'll definitely get a broader ISO performance to rival the Nikon D500, while a better dynamic range at low ISO sensitivities would be welcome too. The dual DIGIC 4 image processors in the Mark II are likely to be replaced by the latest DIGIC 8 image processor, seeing burst shooting speeds increase beyond 10fps - maybe somewhere between 11-12fps. The new image processor could also help out with AF tracking - something the existing model lags behind on compared to its newer rivals. The Canon EOS 7D Mark III should also see the inclusion of touchscreen functionality on the rear vari-angle display to real take advantage of Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF system for Live View. What about video? Canon's been reticent to include 4K capture on a string of new cameras with the exception of the EOS 5D Mark IV, but to compete with rivals, the EOS 7D Mark III really needs this feature to compete.
Canon EOS 90D
Canon EOS 80D. Image credit: Canon The EOS 80D is now over three years old, and Canon's mid-range DSLR portfolio could do with a shot in the arm. Predicted specs: 32MP APS-C sensor | Dual DIGIC 8 image processors | 4K video and Dual Pixel CMOS AF
There have been rumblings of Canon developing a 32MP sensor for some time, and a model like the Canon EOS 90D would be a logical recipient. The EOS 80D has been with us since the start of 2016 and while it's a fine camera for the enthusiast – or well-heeled beginner – it looks a little dated next to current rivals. There's no 4K video, for example, and the autofocus system is outgunned by Nikon's offerings. A slightly larger display with a higher resolution would be very welcome when you consider what's on offer elsewhere too. Rumored specs include Dual Pixel CMOS AF (a near-certainty), together with weather resistance, 10fps burst shooting and dual SD-type card slots.
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
Image credit: Nokishita The three-year-old PowerShot G7 X Mark II is now sorely in need of an update Predicted specs: Dual Pixel CMOS AF | DIGIC 8 image processors | 4K video
Rumours of a third PowerShot G7 X model just don't seem to go away. The model was the subject of some fairly convincing Photoshop fakery a year ago, but more recent leaks have shown a more likely design. In addition, Nokishita spotted a model mentioned in recent wireless certification documents from Canon with dimensions of 105 × 60.85 × 43.2mm – and such a size would be consistent with our expectations for a camera like the PowerShot G7 X Mark III. The PowerShot G7 X Mark II was announced three years ago, so a successor is very much due. This would no doubt mop up many of the features found inside recent Canon models, such as the DIGIC 8 processor, and we may even be lucky enough to get Dual Pixel CMOS AF and an integrated electronic viewfinder. The original G7 X was a popular model for vloggers, so we expect there's be a lot of disspointment if Canon doesn't also furnish it with a 4K video recording option, something that was missed out of the Mark II version.
Nikon Z1
With the full-frame Z6 (above) currently the cheapest model in the Z system, rumors of something even more junior are heating up Predicted specs: Too early to say | Z mount
Nikon's Z system currently has two camera options, and the Z6 is the most junior of these. That may well have drawn many full-frame DSLR users across to mirrorless for the first time, but if Nikon is to entice a broader audience, a cheaper alternative is would be a sensible idea. So, the rumors of a Nikon Z1 or Nikon Z5 that have been with us for some time are starting to look more credible. Indeed, there were some rumblings of an entry-level model quite recently, but this appeared to us a little more than a convincing Photoshop job. The big question is exactly how a new entry-level model will be different from the Z6. It may, for example, maintain a full-frame sensor, although it might be fitted with an APS-C alternative to bring it into a new price category. Perhaps Nikon will drop the viewfinder or the top plate LCD screen too, both of which would make the model a lot smaller and more attractive to those who want to travel light. Whatever happens, we can't wait to see where Nikon takes the Z system next.
Nikon Z9
We think we could see at flagship Z9 full-frame mirrorless camera as early as spring 2019 Predicted specs: Too early to say | Z mount
Nikon's first full-frame mirrorless cameras have already impressed, with the Z7 one of our favorite cameras right now. However, like Canon with the EOS R, the Z7 and Z6 aren't the top of the range cameras some were expecting. Nikon itself it wanted to hold something back at the launch of the Z6 and Z7, which suggests we should see a flagship model. A baby D5 if you will, with the same tank-like build that working pros demand, with a performance that can keep up with the likes of Sony's Alpha A9. This should see a burst shooting speed of at least 20fps, an even more sophisticated autofocus system and a number of other advanced features. We'll have to see what rumors develop in the coming months.
Nikon D760
A gentle upgrade over the ageing D750 would strengthen Nikon’s FX offerings Predicted specs: Full-frame 36.3MP sensor | 4K video recording | Tilting touchscreen
While the Z6 and Z7 have grabbed the headlines over recent months, we don't expect Nikon to forget its DSLR heritage. Over the last three years or so, the D750 has become a renowned and inexpensive full-frame choice in Nikon’s stable, but it could really use an update to compete with a number of more recent full-frame offerings. With the arrival of the D850 with an impressive 45.4MP resolution, could we see the D760 make use of the 36.3MP sensor found in the outgoing D810 and replace the current 24MP chip? Or could it get the same 24.5MP sensor as the Z6? The D750’s maximum 1/4,000sec shutter speed is an understandable compromise to help it to be more reasonably priced, but a compromise regardless. A high shutter speed of 1/8000sec might be on the cards then. It wouldn’t be likely that such a camera would launch without 4K video recording, especially after the 4K-enabled D500, D850 and D5. It’s also likely that it will have a tilting display like the D750, but Nikon would probably add touchscreen control too. Finally, don't forget Nikon will introduce its SnapBridge connectivity as well.
Nikon D6
Nikon's flagship DSLR could get a midlife tweak Predicted specs: Full-frame 20MP sensor | New EXPEED image processor| 14fps burst shooting
Nikon launched the D5 back at CES in 2016, and rather than seeing a 'S' update that Nikon tends to do with its flagship camera every two years, we think Nikon might skip this and release an all-new D6 model. So what are we likely to see? That's hard to say at the moment, but NikonRumors.com stated last year that the D6 would be available for testing in February of this year. We think the resolution should remain the same at 20MP, but a new EXPEED image processor could bring a number of improvements - we can't imagine Nikon would be able to extend the maximum ISO range of ISO3,280,000 found on the D5, but the improved processing power should see improved noise handling. Burst shooting could also be boosted slightly - the D5 can shoot at 12fps with full AF and metering, so we could see a performance bump to 13 or 14fps. While the 153-point AF system in the D5 is perhaps the most advanced autofocus systems going, we expect Nikon to improve on this even further. We might also see some very subtle tweaks to the handling as well, but we shouldn't see a huge shift in button placement.
New Nikon S-series lenses
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8, 24mm f/1.8 and 20mm f/1.8 mock-up lenses. Lots of new lenses for the Z-series cameras are due this year What we know: At least four more lenses this year and three in 2020. As with any manufacturer that has just launched a new camera system, Nikon's main challenge now is to introduce many new compatible lenses – and fast. The company has already released optics that cover some of the most popular focal length/aperture combinations, such as the Z 24–70mm f/2.8 S and the Z 50mm F1.8 S, and this year will also welcome a 24mm f/1.8 lens that was initially scheduled for a 2020 release. We'll also be getting 85mm f/1.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 optics, together with the beefy, manual-focus 58mm f/0.95 Noct that was announced at the very start of the series. Next year, Nikon plans to release 20mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.2 and a 14-28mm f/2.8 lenses among others, and has already started showing off mockups at various shows.
Sony Alpha A7S III
Rumors are growing that we could see an update to Sony's video-focused full-frame mirrorless camera Predicted specs: Full-frame 12MP sensor | Joystick AF control | Advanced 8K video features
Now we've seen the launch of Sony's megapixel monster, the Alpha A7R III and the more enthusiast-orientated Alpha A7 III, could we now see an update to the more video-focused Alpha A7S II? We reckon it'll share the same updated body as we've seen with both the A7R III and A7 III, which means it'll take on a number of handling refinements, including a dedicated AF joystick, AF-On button and touchscreen interface. We'd be surprised if there's a resolution increase over the 12MP Alpha A7S II, but we reckon it'll be an all-new sensor, incorporating Sony's latest sensor tech that's already impressed in recent models. The biggest improvements should be seen in video performance. With Panasonic's Lumix GH5S and more recent S1R and S1 models offering a wealth of advanced video features, we'd be disappointed if Sony didn't match or better these. The Alpha A7S II can record 4K 4:2:0 8-bit video, but could we see this increase to 4:2:2 10-bit like the GH5S? Could we see 4K capture at 60/50p possible as well? There are also rumors that we could see 12-bit 8K video recording. Let's hope so.
Sony Alpha A7000
With the A6400 now with us, what might a more senior A7000 bring to the mirrorless party? Predicted specs: 26MP APS-C sensor | Improved AF | Design similar to the Alpha A9
Sony has shown full-frame users a lot of attention in recent years, and this has left its A6000-series looking a little unloved. The A6000, A6300 and A6500 can all still be bought brand new, as as each camera had a solid set of specs to begin with, all three are still a respectable choices in their price categories. The company finally showed the line some love with the most recent A6400, which technically replaces the A6300 and has a very capable performance to recommend it, but it's fair to say it wasn't quite the A7000 that everyone was hoping for. So what might the A7000 feature? A 'baby' Alpha A9, with the A7000 camera borrowing many of the features of the flagship camera that would then be distilled into a camera based around an APS-C sensor. This is something that Nikon has done with its D5 and D500 DSLR models. Rumors suggest that it matches and in some aspects exceeds the performance of the Fujifilm X-T3, with better AF and in-body image stabilization, while it will match the 20fps burst shooting speed of the Alpha A9. As for the sensor, Sony's just updated the database of sensors it manufactures, which includes a back-illuminated (BSI) 26MP APS-C sensor, which would be a good fit for the new camera. There's also talk of the Alpha A7000 using a 32MP APS-C sensor as well. Sony has made great changes to its autofocusing systems in recent generations of camera too, and while the 425-point phase-detect AF system inside the A6500 is still a cracking performer, the eventual update will likely bring speed improvements and additional AF points to form a denser array, with better tracking capabilities. Design-wise, it's likely the new camera will feature a similar DSLR inspired look to Sony's full-frame cameras, with a raised and centralised electronic viewfinder.
Fujifilm X-H2
With the arrival of the X-T3, the flagship X-H1 is looking a little outdated Predicted specs: 26.1MP back-illuminated X-Trans CMOS sensor | X-Processor 4 | Vastly improved AF system
It might not be the oldest model in Fujifilm's X-Series range, but we think the X-H1 might be ready for an update. Why? Well, the arrival of the X-T3 with a new sensor makes, better AF, enhanced 4K video capture and faster processing makes the flagship X-H1 look a little outdated and a hard one to recommend unless in-body image stabilization is a deal breaker. That's why we don't think it will be too long before we'll see a X-H2 with the new camera taking advantage of the company's forth generation 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS sensor. This should also see the arrival of Fujifilm's X Processor 4 image processing engine and 4K video recording at up to 60p. Panasonic and Olympus have also put a lot of work into making their respective image stabilisation systems more powerful than before, so we expect Fujifilm will try to compete with more effective sensor-based image stabilisation.
Fujifilm X-Pro3
Fujifilm X-Pro2. image credit: Fujifim The X-T2 got a new sibling in X-T3, so where's the X-Pro2's update? Predicted specs: 26.1MP back-illuminated X-Trans CMOS sensor | X-Processor 4 | Even better AF with eye detection The X-Pro2 has been with us for over three years now, and while we still have a soft spot for its retro charms and excellent images, we'd love to see something fresh to take its place. Its X-T2 sibling did, after all, get a newer X-T3 update not too long ago, so it does appear to be the next obvious move from the company. No doubt a Fujifilm X-T3 would inherit the newer 26.1MP back-illuminated sensor that we've seen inside not just the X-T3 but also the X-T30. It should also arrive with the similar blend of high-quality 4K video, faster processing and a revamped autofocus system that would include better subject tracking and better face/eye detection. Hopefully with three GFX models under its belt, the company will now return its focus to the X series. And if the X-Pro3 is anything like the X-T3 and X-T30, we'll be mighty happy with that.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is the odd one out in the OM-D range, so can we expect an update soon? Predicted specs: 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor | Core features to remain the same | 4K video
We've seen updates in the shape of the OM-D E-M1 Mark II and OM-D E-M10 Mark III, which just leaves the OM-D E-M5 Mark II to get refreshed in the OM-D series. We think that for this enthusiast mirrorless camera, Olympus will ditch the 16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and replace it with the 20MP chip used by the OM-D E-M1 Mark II. The fact that company opted to use a 20MP sensor in its most recent OM-D E-M1X model lends further support to this idea. We'd expect to see 4K video capture and maybe the excellent 5-axis image stabilization get a tweak to deliver 7-stop compensation like the OM-D E-M1X. Focusing could also get a bump up to 121 points.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO plus six further lenses
Olympus has already confirmed that it's working on the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO, and this should be with us some time next year. The lens is set to follow the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x and Nikon AF-S 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II in having an integrated teleconverter. The company also updated its roadmap earlier this year to show that it will have seven further lenses on the way. While the focal lengths and specs of these have not been disclosed, the company confirmed that four of these – two telephoto zooms, one wide zoom and one standard zoom – would fall under its high-end 'Pro' label. These are set to be joined by a high-magnification zoom and super-telephoto zoom lenses.
Panasonic's new lenses
Image credit: Panasonic A sizeable collection of lenses to support the new S1R and S1 cameras is on its way Predicted specs: At least ten new lenses released throughout 2020
Having just launched the S1R and S1, two full-frame mirrorless cameras in a brand new S system, and then followed it up by the 6K-capable S1H, Panasonic is entitled to lay low for a while. Yet, the promise of ten new lenses to be released before the year is up shows there's little chance of that happening. The company has already confirmed the Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro O.I.S, S PRO 50mm f/1.4 and S PRO 70-200mm f/4 O.I.S optics, but a roadmap shown at the S1R/S1 launch reveals that it will focus its attention on 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8 and 16-35mm f/4 options. The promise of at least seven further lenses on top of that leaves plenty of space for interesting primes, potentially some with particularly wide apertures. 1.4x and 2x teleconverters are also set to arrive at some point in the year and 2020 should bring two fixed-focal length lenses in addition to a macro and super telephoto optic. This system may just be getting started, but knowing how prolific Panasonic has been with its G series cameras gives us plenty of hope that it will flourish in little time.
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