Tag Archives: Technology & Electronics

Panasonic has revealed the followup to the popular Lumix GH6 vlogging camera

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Panasonic just announced the followup to its popular Lumix GH6 vlogging camera, the GH7. This Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera comes just two years after the release of the GH6, which is pretty quick in the videography world. The GH5 was released five full years before the GH6.

The 25.2-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor is likely the same as the one on the photo-centric Lumix LG9 II announced earlier this year. It also offers improved autofocus performance, which has been a much-requested feature, thanks to phase detection auto-focus (PDAF). There’s also a newly added real-time auto-focus recognition algorithm for use on airplanes and trains.

The GH7 is designed for video, and it looks like it delivers in that regard. It now supports internal ProRes RAW recording at up to 5.7K 30p along with ProRes as before, and can shoot 5.8K 60p 10-bit H.265 video. It can handle 4K at up to 120fps or Full HD at 240fps. It's equipped with both SD UHS II and CFexpress card slots, with the latter required for ProRes and ProRes RAW recording.

On top of ProRes RAW for video, it supports 32-bit float audio recording. Panasonic says the float recording “eliminates the need to adjust sound recording levels during shooting,” though it does require a separate XLR adapter. The image stabilization technology has also gotten a boost, which includes perspective distortion correction for videos.

We don’t know how heavy it’ll be and the GH6 was certainly on the heftier side. The battery life of the previous model was also fairly short, maxing out at 400 still images and around an hour of continuous 4K shooting. This camera should be able to shoot for long periods of time, however, as Panasonic has added a cooling fan for heat dissipation. It’s also splash resistant, dust resistant and freeze resistant down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

A hand holding a camera.
Panasonic

The GH7 supports native Camera to Cloud integration via Adobe’s Frame.io, which automatically uploads images and videos to the cloud. Otherwise, many features from the GH6 have been retained, like the flip-out display, dedicated audio setting button, real-time LUTs, time code in/out, 3.68-million-dot OLED viewfinder (120Hz), external USB-C SSD support and more.

All in all, this looks like a worthy update to the line. Panasonic’s latest and greatest vlogging camera will be available in July for $2,200. Incidentally, this is the same price that the GH6 released at back in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/panasonic-has-revealed-the-followup-to-the-popular-lumix-gh6-vlogging-camera-210033083.html?src=rss

The Google Pixel Buds A-Series are on sale for $79 right now

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The Google Pixel Buds A-Series are solid earbuds that are a more budget-friendly version of the flagship Pixel Buds. That’s even more true when you consider that the Pixel Buds A-Series are on sale at the minute. You can snap up a pair for $79, which is $20 off the usual price. While that’s not a record low price for the earbuds, it’s still a good deal and the best offer we’ve seen on them so far this year.

We gave the Pixel Buds A-Series a score of 84 in our review after being surprised that Google retained most of the features of the original Pixel Buds. We feel they are comfortable to wear and they deliver solid sound quality.

There are some odd quirks, such as the lack of onboard volume controls. Instead, Google suggests users the audio levels via Google Assistant (you can always change the volume manually on your connected device too). That said, there are some deep Assistant integrations here. You can activate the voice assistant hands-free and use Google Translate. You can receive a bevy of useful notifications through your earbuds too.

Meanwhile, the Pixel Buds Pro are also on sale. They can be all yours for $140, which is $60 off the list price. Features like active noise cancellation, punchy and deep bass, wireless charging and sturdy touch controls helped the Pixel Buds Pro earn a score of 87 in our review.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-google-pixel-buds-a-series-are-on-sale-for-79-right-now-153229465.html?src=rss

A $110,000 MicroLED TV? In this economy?

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Who needs to save for college when your kids can enjoy the infinite contrast and eight million glorious points of light in Samsung's new MicroLED TVs, which now start at the low price of $110,000. Available in 89-inch, 101-inch ($130,000) and 114-inch ($150,000) sizes, MicroLED TVs offer all of the benefits of OLED — super dark blacks and bold colors — but without the reasonable price points reachable by lowly commoners. 

Envelope yourself with Samsung's 3D Arena sound, which includes Dolby Atmos, Object Tracking Sound Pro and AI powered voice amplification. Behold the MICRO AI processor, which upscales everything into 4K (never mind that every TV offers pretty decent upscaling today). When you proudly reveal the price of your MicroLED TV, remember your friends won't be laughing at you — they're just jealous. 

Unfortunately, Samsung isn't throwing in a $8,000 8K set and luxury hotel stay with these MicroLED TVs, as it did in South Korea.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-110000-microled-tv-in-this-economy-144340352.html?src=rss

Pick up Apple AirTag leather loops and keyrings while they’re on sale for only $10

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Apple's AirTag is certainly convenient for keeping track of everything from your cat to your keys, but it's lack of a key ring hole is frustrating to say the least. Fortunately, there are tons of great Apple AirTag accessories with a range of functions and prices. Right now, its worth checking out the Apple AirTag leather loop, on sale for $10 from $39 in California Poppy and Meyer Lemon. The 74 percent discount is part of a larger sale on Apple wireless accessories at Woot. 

While many Apple AirTag accessories are variations on key ring, the leather loop provides similar functionality with a sleeker look. It's a good option for attaching to a bag, suitcase or any item with a handle really. If you're in need of multiple AirTags then grab the two-pack, which Woot has discounted 81 percent to $15 from $78. You can also check out the AirTag leather key ring if you want a more traditional option. This model is on sale for $10 from $35, while the two-pack is discounted to $15 from $70. All of these items are marked down for 10 days or until they sell out. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/pick-up-apple-airtag-leather-loops-and-keyrings-while-theyre-on-sale-for-only-10-133729231.html?src=rss

AT&T, Verizon services restored after call disruption issues across multiple states

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AT&T and Verizon customers found themselves unable to call contacts on other carriers for several hours on June 4. Based on people's reports on Downdetector, the issue started at around 11AM ET for both carriers and peaked at approximately 5PM ET. Thousands of subscribers were affected. Most of the reports came from New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Cleveland, among other locations. A much smaller number of T-Mobile and Cricket Wireless users also reported problems with their connection. 

The Federal Communications Commission tried to assuage people's worries and announced that it was aware that subscribers from multiple states were "unable to make wireless calls." It also said that it was "currently investigating" the problem. After 7PM ET, both Verizon and AT&T issued statements denying that they were experiencing nationwide outage. They both admitted that their customers were having difficulties calling or texting people on other carriers — Verizon reportedly told Gizmodo that outage reports for its network came from people trying to call AT&T subscribers — but neither one took responsibility. The root cause of the issue remains unknown at this time. AT&T told CNN, though, that 911 calls went through despite the outage.

An hour later, AT&T announced that the problem had been resolved. The company said it collaborated "with the other carrier" to find a solution. It didn't name the other carrier, but it was most likely Verizon, seeing as most of the customers who were affected were subscribers of the two companies. Back in February, AT&T experienced a massive outage that affected over 70,000 subscribers' cellular services and data connections, with customers noting that they couldn't even contact 911. Verizon and T-Mobile said at the time that their subscribers couldn't contact friends with AT&T numbers. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/att-verizon-services-restored-after-call-disruption-issues-across-multiple-states-035801520.html?src=rss

These Sony ANC headphones are even better for $98

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The Sony WH-CH720N ANC headphones are on sale for $98 via Amazon. That’s a discount of 35 percent, which is nothing to sneeze at. We loved these headphones at the original price of $150, so we most definitely recommend them now.

In other words, the features here are stellar for the price. This is no surprise, as Sony has a fantastic track record when it comes to budget-friendly cans. The WH-CH720N headphones offer great sound quality, capable ANC, decent battery life and a comfortable fit. What else is there?

Specifically, the battery lasts around 35 hours per charge, which is a decent metric. It’s a pretty huge bummer to be in the middle of a walk, totally lost in a jam, when you hear that annoying “battery low” warning immediately followed by a shutdown. There are some physical controls, including a power/pairing button, volume buttons and a noise canceling button that cycles between ANC and transparency modes. These headphones also work with all of the major voice assistants.

We were especially impressed with the comfort and fit, saying that we could easily wear them for “hours at a time," thanks to ample cushioning in the ear pads. The overall sound quality is, however, the standout feature. The bass is on-point and there’s great clarity in the other frequency ranges. It just sounds good.

On the downside, the plastic exterior isn’t going to be winning any design awards and it’s missing some of the advanced features found with pricier Sony headphones. There’s no automatic pausing when you take them off or when you start talking. Other than that, though, these are some dang good headphones.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/these-sony-anc-headphones-are-even-better-for-98-185146475.html?src=rss

The second-gen Apple Pencil is back on sale for $79

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The second-gen Apple Pencil stylus accessory is back on sale for $79, which is a discount of nearly 40 percent. That’s quite a deal, considering the usual price is around $130. Why Apple decided to charge well over $100 for magnetic pens in the first place is a whole other conversation, but at least there’s a sale for now.

This is a fantastic accessory and perfect for several iPad models, but we have to address the elephant in the room. Apple’s stylus lineup is something of a confusing mess. The company makes four different Apple Pencils and it can be difficult to suss out the best one for your particular tablet. For instance, the new Pencil Pro is only compatible with the latest iPad Airs and iPad Pros.

Therefore, this second-gen Apple Pencil is not appropriate for the just-released tablets. This model is the one to get if you use an older iPad Pro or Air, as long as the design predates those with the front-facing cameras on the long edge. It’s also a good match for the current iPad mini. Finally, it’s likely that every Apple tablet moving forward will feature a redesign similar to the latest Air and Pro, so only buy this stylus if you aren’t planning on upgrading your tablet anytime soon.

If you meet the above criteria, however, the second-gen Apple Pencil is a comfortable and highly useful stylus. It features tilt and pressure sensitivity, magnetic charging, wireless pairing and a light form factor. It’s miles better than the average Amazon knockoff, with next to no lag. You’ll be drawing exquisite pizza slices and cats before you know it.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-second-gen-apple-pencil-is-back-on-sale-for-79-160048381.html?src=rss

WWDC 2024: How to watch Apple’s keynote on iOS 18, AI and more

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Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote is imminent. The festivities kick off later today — Monday, June 10 at 1PM ET. The keynote address is available to the public and you can watch it via Apple’s event website or on the company’s YouTube channel. And if you don't want to click away, the latter feed is embedded directly below.

This is WWDC, so it’ll be a software-focused event. Expect that Apple will showcase updates across its full panoply of operating systems, including iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, as well as watchOS, macOS and even visionOS, which is the operating system behind the Vision Pro headset.

But the big news is expected in the AI space, where Apple has has to elevate its games to compete with the likes of Microsoft and Google. To that end, per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is expected to spend nearly half of the keynote's running time touting a bevy of new AI initiatives, some of which are expected to be powered by a new partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. If Gurman is right, and he usually is, we’ll see Siri getting some long overdue AI upgrades, including the ability to issue commands inside specific apps. 

As for software updates, it looks like iOS 18 will finally bring RCS support to Messages. This messaging protocol offers end-to-end encryption and better media sharing. It’ll also improve texting compatibility with Android devices. Rumors indicate that Apple Music may get an OpenAI-powered tool that auto-generates playlists and Notes might get a voice-recording option. Other apps like Mail, Fitness and Health are expected to get new features, too. (Again, hit up that recent preview from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, which is chock full of details.)

A headset on a table.
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

There’s also those ever-tantalizing words of “just one more thing.” Last year, the company used WWDC to officially unveil the Vision Pro. Apple won’t introduce a new device category this year, the AVP was its first since Apple Watch, but there should be a Vision Pro global availability announcement and some updated features.

Despite last year's Vision Pro reveal, we're not expecting a lot of hardware news. It’s possible we’ll get a new Apple TV streaming box and, if we’re lucky, an AirPods Max refresh with USB-C. Don’t hold out hope for new tablets or laptops, as Apple recently released both iPads and MacBooks — though Apple could drop the just-released M4 chip in the MacBook Pro. The Mac mini and Mac Studio are both overdue for an update, as well. But it's possible we get none of the above. There won’t be new iPhones until September, and the same goes for Apple Watch.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wwdc-2024-how-to-watch-apples-keynote-on-ios-18-ai-and-more-153000537.html?src=rss

The third-gen Apple TV 4K drops to a record low of $90

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Smart TVs are the default option for the largest display in the home (unless you have a projector, that is). Their operating systems can be hit or miss, but thankfully there are other options available in the form of dedicated streaming devices. For those heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple TV 4K is perhaps the best option of the bunch. The third-gen version is currently on sale at Verizon, where the 64GB model has dropped by $40 to $90. That's the best price we've seen for this variant to date.

The third-gen Apple TV 4K is our pick for the best premium streaming device and we gave it a score of 94 in our review. It's very fast as it runs on an A15 Bionic chip — the same hardware that powers the iPhone 14. It takes barely any time at all to load or switch between apps. With the help of the Siri remote's touch-sensitive directional pad, you can quickly skip to a certain point of an episode or movie. The box (which has a smaller, fan-less design than previous generations) also delivers great picture quality and it has 4K Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support.

Setting up the Apple TV 4K is a cinch if you have an iPhone, but you don't need to have other Apple products to get a lot out of the device (even if the Apple TV app does skew toward Apple TV+ content). Those who are embedded in the Apple ecosystem though will likely appreciate being able to use Apple Fitness+ and Apple Arcade on a big screen.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-third-gen-apple-tv-4k-drops-to-a-record-low-of-90-142715118.html?src=rss

Meta Quest software update adds a better way to watch Netflix and a travel mode

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Meta’s rolling out a small spring/summer update for the Quest 2 and Quest 3 headsets. There’s nothing too major here, but there are some small improvements for regular users.

The biggest news is a new and better way to watch Netflix content. There’s long been a standalone Netflix app available for Quest headsets, but it maxes out at 480p and is generally considered to be, well, crappy. Once updated, you’ll be able to watch Netflix directly from the built-in browser. This offers a much-improved experience, with the option to view content in high resolution.

This browser-based version of Netflix isn’t just for better-looking content. The web app also offers the choice between a flat 2D virtual screen and a simulated theater view. Fake movie theaters are one of the best parts about VR, so this is welcome news.

Quest on an airplane.
Meta

Meta announced a dedicated travel mode a few weeks back, but the update brings it to everyone. This is a system mode primarily for air travel, as it tunes the headset’s algorithms to adjust for airplane jostling. The headset will automatically connect to in-flight Wi-Fi and will be available to play anything stored on the device, in addition to movies and TV shows offered by the airline.

The company has entered into a partnership with Lufthansa to offer Quest 3 headsets to people on select business class flights. Of course, you’ll have to be comfortable wearing a giant thing on your face while surrounded by strangers, but you do you.

The rest of the update pertains to existing apps. Beat Saber is getting five free new tracks and the fitness app Supernatural is getting a mixed-reality mode, but only on Quest 3 (for obvious reasons.) Meta has also announced that another trailer for the Quest 3 exclusive Batman: Arkham Shadow will drop on June 7 as part of Summer Game Fest.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-quest-software-update-adds-a-better-way-to-watch-netflix-and-a-travel-mode-140034768.html?src=rss