A Redditor invented a new device which works perfectly in combing old-school, retro camera technology with some of the latest trends, in this case, GIFs.

It is considered that there are quite a few people that would like to hold a GIF in their hands, maybe even recreate some of Harry Potter’s magical photos. While this was considered quite impossible, this new invention goes to show that it might be closer within reach than believed.

The Instagif Blends Polaroid Technology With Printing, and GIFs

This latest invention belongs to a Redditor named Abhishek Singh. He reportedly came up with the idea after pondering the possibility of holding “a GIF in the hand”.

Singh names a Polaroid OneStep camera, the SX-70, as his source of inspiration. In designing his new device, he even kept some of this retro but still appreciated tech’s features.

According to the post, the Redditor needed some four weeks to build his Instagif camera, starting from scratch. He considers that now, as he has the system ‘worked out’, this could be built in even half the time.

Singh modeled, and then 3D printed the camera on his own. He then used a Raspberry Pi in both his camera and the cartridge. The result is a GIF which can be held in the hand, one that also has some retro features.

Namely, just like an old-school Polaroid photo, this GIF is programmed to slowly fade in. After that, it will start playing at the regular frame rate as the GIF begins to loop.

Still, the Instagif basically works by ejecting a Polaroid-sized LCD which plays back the latest recorded GIF, instead of printing film, like its inspiration. The GIF also only lasts until a new one is taken.

Singh’s project might not be terribly useful, but most other Redditors agreed that it is fun, amusing, and cute.

Singh even went and uploaded an Imgur album in which he explains the step-by-step method of building the camera for viewers looking to build one themselves. The necessary codes were released on GitHub.

Image Source: Wikimedia

On its 100th anniversary, Nikon revealed the extraordinary features of the new Nikon D850. This camera boasts a new 45-megapixel sensor lacking a low-pass filter. Furthermore, the new Nikon D850 sports an ISO range of 64-25,600 that may be expanded to 32-102,400.

The new device can burst at 7FPS, engaging its AF tracking. If you want an even higher performance, you may implement the optional MB-D18 battery grip, and you can make it reach 9 fps. During the burst mode, you can save up to 51 14-bit RAW images.

The new Nikon D850 will help you capture the world

However, if you feel like you need more speed, you may combine a DX crop mode and an electronic shutter to deliver a 30fps burst. In this way, you will obtain 8.6-megapixel images. When it comes to autofocus, the new Nikon D850 has the same AF system as the D5’s one. Therefore, they both have 153 AF points with 99 cross-type points.

This model also provides 4K recording, just like previous ones. However, you should not expect it to crop the sensor on you, but it will offer a full readout across the sensor’s width. You can record full HD video at up to 60p while you may also output an 8-bit, 4:2:2 file through a HDMI cable out to an external recorder.

When thinking about purchasing this beauty, you should also know that the slow motion mode will help you record a full HD footage at 120fps. Furthermore, you will also obtain a 4x slow motion effect in playback.

The new camera features a 45-megapixel sensor

When the product was teased, Nikon argued that the new camera will help photographers develop 8K time lapses. However, you may create a 4K time-lapse movie in camera, but you will need a post-processing software to develop an 8K time lapse.

To sum up, these tremendous features make the new Nikon D850 an ideal camera for any professional photographer. If this exquisite device sounds like your dream camera, then you should definitely give it a try.

Source: SLR Lounge

IBM Corp announced a comprehensive plan to use a new breakthrough in information technology that will allow companies to encrypt all their sensitive data on a massive scale. The new tech transforms the digital information in data that cannot be read by hackers.

IBM noted that conventional technologies can encrypt data very well and fast, but they cannot do it on a massive scale. The company estimates that just 4% of the stolen data worldwide was encrypted.

U.S. companies are more and more targeted by hackers. Millions of people lose their personal info through leaks on a constant basis. So, IBM thinks that its plan to encrypt just about everything could deter hackers from stealing that type of data.

IBM said that they manage to perform a special update to the computer chips powering computer servers that host institutional or business information and are responsible for millions of transactions every day. These transactions include credit card payments, flight reservations, and ATM operations.

Very Few Firms Encrypt Their Data

Encryption is already heavily used by e-mail providers and clouded services. However, traditional encryption methods require immense computational power for encryption and decryption processes as the data travels from one business to another. This is why, very few companies encrypt their data.

According to a 2016 report, 75% of firms encrypt billing data or customer information, but more and more fail to do the same to HR records and intellectual properties. The report also revealed, that 60% of companies don’t encrypt their workers’ work files.

These mishaps can only encourage hackers. One cyber security expert noted that “Way too much information is stored in clear text.” IBM’s universal solution could ensure that cyber criminals cannot decode what they steal even if they manage to compromise a company’s network.

On the other hand, the new tech could prevent law enforcement agencies from doing their jobs, as criminals could benefit from the same protection provide by the enhanced encryption.
Image Source: Wikimedia

Google introduced the new YI Halo VR Camera which runs on Jump VR platform of Google. The camera was developed by the Chinese company YI which collaborated with Google. The new camera shoots 4k videos with all its 17 cameras at the same time. The new device uses the Jump software designed by Google to work the footage together into an immersive 360 degrees VR video.

The new YI Halo VR camera was the result of the collaboration between Google and a Chinese camera company

The new hardware was announced by Google on April 24, about a week after Facebook unveiled its plans for a pair of VR cameras. Amit Singh, the VP of Google’s VR business, stated that VR cameras reached to be very popular nowadays because more and more big companies start developing them. They planned the development of this camera a while back.

This summer the new YI Halo VR camera will go on sale. They need to find a way to attract more customers since very tech company started a VR business, launching all sorts of VR software and creating expensive hardware. Developers want to sell as many VR headsets as possible, but without an amazing content which could be watched on a futuristic TV, the whole VR business would crush.

The new device has 17 different cameras which shoot a 360-degrees video

During the last year, the tech industry was abundant in VR goggles. Samsung launched its Gear VR, Sony developed the PlayStation VR, and Facebook revealed its Oculus Rift. Google already has two of its VR products, namely the Google Daydream View and the Cardboard. Nevertheless, VR experiences are limited at the moment because it is very expensive and time-consuming to develop quality virtual reality movies and games.

Similar to many VR cameras, the YI Halo VR camera represents a group of 17 cameras that are displaced in a circle, having a single camera at the top. Some may say that this gadget looks just like an old-school slide carousel, weighing approximately 8 pounds. Google chose to collaborate with this camera company to create Halo even if it has previously tried to develop other hardware.

However, Google’s main goal is the fundamental technology which consists of algorithms meant to stitch footage together in just a few hours, instead of months. The Halo camera is bound to bring multi-million dollar profits. To attract even more users, Google will launch a free app known as Jump Start to allow filmmakers to install it on their cameras and use the Jump software.

Image source: flickr

The new Canon T7i DSLR camera is about to be released. Approximately two years ago Canon introduced its new T6s DSLR and Rebel T6i. These cameras shared a lot of features which each other. Both of them blurred the line between the entry-level EOS Rebel array and the pro-oriented EOS lineup. Now the company released the Canon T7i DSLR camera, making the difference between an enthusiast and an entry-level DSLR to be even more obvious.

The Rebel T7i pertains to Canon’s array, being situated just above the earlier T6s and T6i. The next device coming in line after T7i is the EOS 77D which was launched over the same period. If you were to compare its features with the ones of Canon T7i, you would learn that there are a lot of differences between the two.

Nevertheless, they seem to be closely related even if they have shared very little features and one of them bears the brand Rebel. Although it shares many characteristics with the EOS 77D which has a higher price, the Canon T7i points out to numerous new updates for the Rebel line. This model is the first to feature a cross-type autofocus system of 45 points, but also a Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus.

The new camera is the first Rebel model which is equipped with a DIGIC 7 image processor. Moreover, the new device has also a price tag characteristic for the Rebel class. The EOS 77D is even pricier than that. Thus, Canon did not reserve particular features for the pricey model. If customers were to choose the Rebel T7i, they would find out that it is not outfitted with the top-deck LCD status display which is featured by the EOS 77D.

Instead, the camera is outfitted with a Mode dial, placing this location on the top deck. The new T7i also lacks the AF-On button which, however, it is featured by its EOS sibling. The new camera does not have the locking and the Quick control dial either. Instead of using a top-deck status display, it is equipped with an LCD illumination button using it as a display control for the rear-panel LCD.

The layout of the rear-panel button is a bit different from what we were used to with EOS 77D. The Rebel T7i has more room since it lacks the Quick Control switch and dial.

Image courtesy of: wikipedia

Pentax KP is the company’s newest DSLR camera that should be able to shoot some pretty incredible pictures in low light as it will reportedly have an 819,200 ISO.

Presently, Pentax is a brand name mainly used by the Ricoh Imaging Company. It is connected to cameras, CCTV and sport optics. The name is also used in connection to several other domains.

But Pentax is perhaps still best known for its cameras. Back in 1957, the company released the “Asahi Pentax” single-lens reflex camera. The Pentax series was quite a success. And it led to the appearance of the “Pentax Corporation”.

Things have changed quite a lot since then. Pentax cameras have to face a tougher competition nowadays. But the company will not accept defeat. And just this week, it announced the release of a new product.

The Pentax brand is currently controlled by Ricoh. And it is also partnered up with Samsung Techwin. But it also still releases cameras under its own brand name.

Pentax KP is such an example. The new product was revealed on January 25. It will be a compact DSLR camera. Pentax KP will come in both a silver and a black finish. And both color schemes will be weather sealed on the outside. The camera will be dustproof, and quite compact. It has a lighter and smaller design when compared to K-3.

But its inside features and additions are what make it most interesting. Pentax KP will reportedly have quite an impressive ISO scale. The company presented it as having a very high maximum of 819,200. In comparison, the Sony A7S II has twice as little.

This incredible feature is based on a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor. Photos shot with the camera are yet to be released. But if it meets its highest ISO, the resulting photos could be transformed into something amazing.

Pentax KP would hypothetically be able to shoot with almost no light. The resulting images will probably suffer quite badly from noise. And its image quality may be quite damaged.

But this remains to be actually seen. Usable shots should still be within reach. According to the company, users should get reliable night scenes even at this very high sensitivity. And also whilst just handholding the camera.

The APS-C camera will have a five-axis body stabilization. Similar to other models, it will also use the “pixel shift resolution”. This means that the user should be able to take quite accurate color and resolution photos. But only as long as their subjects do not move a lot.

Pentax KP will sport a vertical tilt screen, coming to 3-inches. It will offer an AA-filter-free design and customizable buttons. Its grip will be removable and replaceable. This is possible thanks to its Allen key base.

Still, the camera has some more common features. It will have 27 autofocus points. This will give it a top speed of 7 stills per second. Pentax KP will have a built-in Wi-Fi option. But it will not feature an HDMI port. Instead, it will have a USB 2.0 one. It will be able to shoot videos. But not in 4K. Its limit will not surpass the 1080p, 30p setting.

The Pentax KP should start being shipped on February 23. In the United States, the camera will cost about $1,099. It could turn out to be quite an interesting device. Especially for those looking for a very low-light capability.

Image Source: Wikimedia

Polaroid Pop is the latest reimagining of the vintage photography classic and should come and combine the analog with the digital.

The company is not at its first digital and analog mix. Polaroid is a Minnesota-based company. It is both a product marketer and brand licensor. Its Polaroid instant cameras and film are perhaps its best-known products. As a company, it is specialized in consumer electronics and also eyewear.

Polaroid cameras were highly popular when they were invented. Their release in the 1930’s was met with great enthusiasm. However, over the years, the camera fell out of use. It was replaced by instant cameras. These were later replaced by digital variants.

Still, in recent years, the area has seen a rebirth. As such, the company released new products. These are mixes of the digital and analog technology. One such example is the Polaroid Snap.

A more recent, and perhaps better example is Polaroid Pop. This latter was revealed last week. It was announced and previewed during CES.

Polaroid Pop is essentially a digital camera. It has a 3.97-inch LCD. The touchscreen allows the users to frame shots. It also enables a menu navigation.

The camera will come equipped with a 20-megapixels CMOS sensor. As such, it should ensure quite clear pictures. Polaroid Pop will feature the return of a fan favorite. The camera will have a 3×4 picture format.

It will, as such, depart from the previous mini film products. A picture should come to closely resemble a classic polaroid. The border logo should be the sole difference. This will most likely fit around the photo.

Polaroid Pop will use ZINK Zero Ink paper. As such, it will feature water-resistant photos. These should also be tear-resistant. Besides their endurance, the paper will also have a sticker back. With it, the photos should be easy to place, basically anywhere.

Still, the camera will also benefit from modern options. It will be Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled. This means that it could be used as a printer. Through it, users will find it easier to print their desired photographs. These can have both a camera internal and external source.

External pictures can be sent through an app. The company is offering a Polaroid Print app. This will be available on both an Android and iOS version.

Polaroid Pop will also offer onboard editing tools. Photos can be edited through the add. Editing features will include adding effects, stickers, and filters. Users will also be able to fine-tune the image’s makeup. Following this process, the images will also be printer ready.

The camera will also feature a self-timer. As it follows the latest trends, it will also be selfie-friendly. Polaroid Pop will sport a microSD slot. This will support memory cards of up to 128GB.

Polaroid Pop will be more than a camera and a printer. It will also work as a recorder. Users can capture 1080p videos.

As of yet, Polaroid has not announced a market price. Reports state that the camera will be in the $200 range. A release date has also to be announced. Estimates place its release for the later part of 2017.

Image Source: Pixabay

As 2016 comes to a close, a list of the trendiest topics and videos is imminent. From Chewbacca Mom’s contagious laughter to American and Brazilian politics, people have shown a great amount of interest in a variety of topics this year. However, Candace Payne, aka Chewbacca Mom, may well be the funniest, most innocent viral video of the year, the rest of the list being burdened with political and racial issues.

Facebook’s “year in review” video gathered the most pressing topics of 2016. The short video presents a small list of hot topics that went viral in the year that is now ending. Apparently, Chewbacca Mom is the most shared and talked about thing, Mss. Payne managing to stir more waters than the controversial United States presidential elections.

The clear, heartfelt laughter of Chewbacca Mom seems to offer catharsis to a year that has been deemed “the worst year in a long time.” From the US presidential elections that demonstrated just how powerful the voice of the people is, to the 2016 Olympics that brought out a corrupt Brazilian politics scene, to the death of music icon David Bowie, the yin seemed to have dominated the yang in 2016.

Looking at Facebook’s video, it is hard not to observe that the bad news far exceeds funny viral videos like Chewbacca Mom’s uncontrollable laughter. The short collage shows us the results of the presidential election, the Black Liver matter movement, Brexit, the death of Muhammad Ali and David Bowie, the Philippine presidential election, the Brazilian politics scandal, the Pokémon Go craze, and Chewbacca Mom.

This is the second consecutive year in which the US presidential election occupied the first place in the list of top subject of Facebook discussions. According to the social network, five out of ten conversation topics revolved around the issue of world politics. By comparison, in 2015, only three in ten conversations focused on political issues, and in 2014 a mere one in ten discussions dealt with the political scene.

Facebook is not the only network that observed the negativity that the past year has brought upon humanity. During his last show of the year, HBO’s John Oliver showed a lengthy video of people complaining about the negative parts of 2016, the clip ending with the show’s host blowing up a 2016 model.

Do you think Chewbacca Mom’s laughter is a fitting soundtrack for a year riddled with bad news and controversial politics?

Image source: Flickr 

GoPro has currently launched a new device known as GoPro Karma Grip bound to fulfill every customer’s expectations. The new handheld camera which is fueled by batteries and provides proper image stabilization is now available on the market. What is more, developers implemented a different approach this time, and the device will not be available with the Karma drone to which customers were already used to.

The new Karma Grip will be offered as an independent unit. Apparently, GoPro could not keep their promises and most likely disappointed their users. They were bound to implement the free versions of the stabilizer grips. Unfortunately, their net income decreased by 15%, and they also needed to recall the launch of the Karma drones.

A recent decision demonstrates that despite all the difficulties which occurred lately, the company decided to make the re-entry of the device, also implementing the decrease of the waiting period for the handheld mount. This decision was entirely appreciated by excited fans who were eager to get their device sooner. The new GoPro Karma Grip was estimated to cost approximately $299.

The new camera equipped with a whole bunch of new features is prone to represent the most suitable way to stabilize the video footage captured by GoPro cameras. The device offers a stabilization equal in quality with the three-axis gimbal in the Karma drone. The another benefit provided by the new Karma Grip is that of acquiring stabilization features for any frame rate or a given resolution. This is excellent news for those who are passionate about video footage.

However, the pre-installed feature responsible for electronic image stabilization (EIS) of the Hero 5 Black requires for the resolution to perform at a minimum of 2.7K, having a frame rate of 60 fps. The new Karma Grip is outfitted with two-mode integration, having the Hero cameras for establishing the connection with the camera through a micro-HDMI and USB-C ports. This technology allows the user to have full control over the camera by using the buttons on the handheld mount.

As soon as the camera is mounted, then it will be pointing straight irrespective of the position in which the assembling is held. Nevertheless, the position of the mount can be changed by using a particular button meant to lock the camera to its latest angle and position.

Image courtesy of: flickr

The new game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has its graphics analyzed when displayed on PS3 and PS4. As a lot of gamers may think, many changes occurred during these five years. PlayStation Access posted a video on Youtube where the differences between PS3 and PS4 were very visible. The PS4 version of Skyrim remastered edition developed by Bethesda looks much better than the old one. The developers of PlayStation have captured in a video both versions, exhibiting them side by side to draw the comparisons.

Fans were expecting the remastered version of the game for more than a year. They are also thinking about “The Elder Scrolls 6” and are trying to infer when it will appear on the market. They are impatient to find out more. Some sources argue that the new game point may be released in 2019.

The improvements brought through Skyrim remastered are significant, and they can be very well observed when playing the game on PS4. PlayStation staff admits that there are some impressions because of the weather differences in the two versions. The PS4 version is not better only because of the higher resolution. There are lot more advantages which make the gameplay more pleasing.

Soon there will appear a lot of comparisons drawn between the old version of the game and Skyrim remastered. This version of the match will be available starting with next week. Probably, other gaming companies will wish to highlight the differences between the version of the game on Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC.

Bethesda has revealed the mod size limits of PS4 and Xbox One. This statement surprised gamers who are using PS4 because Skyrim remastered has less modifying data than the version available for Xbox One. Unfortunately, the PlayStation 4 console has only 1 GB, whereas the Microsoft console is assigned a limit of 5 GB. Pete Hines, when trying to calm down the spirits, stated that the mods of PS4 are not bound to use very much space.

Gamers should be aware of the fact that mods of the consoles sometimes limit some of the operations. For instance, PS4 mods can only play the game is it is, without further enhanced features. Bethesda’s staff argued that players will not be allowed to install external assets because of the PS4 mods.

Image source: youtube