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Facebook’s confusion about its Portal camera is concerning
Facebook couldn't have picked a worse time to introduce Portal, a camera-equipped smart display designed to make video chatting in your home easier. And, if the rumors are true, the company is reportedly also preparing to launch a video chat camera for your TV, based on the same system as Portal. Not only does news of this hardware come at a time when when Facebook is under major scrutiny after suffering a massive data breach in September, which exposed private information of 29 million users, including usernames, birth date, gender, location, religion and the devices used to browse the site. But the most concerning part about Portal, is that Facebook's own executives don't seem to have a basic understanding of what types of data the company will be collecting or what it will be using it for.
GoPro has now sold more than 30 million Hero action cams
GoPro has been dealing with significant business challenges in recent months, but the camera maker has managed to keep its chin above water. The company today revealed it has surpassed 30 million sales of its Hero action video camera since the first HD model came out nine years ago. Its Hero5 Black model -- an affordable all-rounder for outdoorsy types -- has sold four million units and gains the honor of becoming GoPro's best- selling camera.
Sony is building a full-frame digital camera for pro filmmakers
If you've ever shot video with a full-frame DSLR, you know how alluring it can be -- that large sensor can be perfect for low-light shots and soft backgrounds. However, pro cinematographers have generally had to "settle" for Super 35mm and smaller sizes, even when using top-tier 8K cameras. Sony doesn't think pros should have to compromise, though. It's developing a brand new CineAlta camera (not pictured) with a 36mm x 24mm sensor -- its first full-frame sensor for a high-end movie camera, in fact. The company isn't divulging all the cam's capabilities just yet, but it is setting some expectations beyond the "exceptional" image quality.
Snapchat to release $130 camera-equipped Spectacles this fall
Yes, the Snapchat Spectacles are real, and company chief Evan Spiegel presented them to a small group of people today. That's where he also revealed that the company has been rebranded and renamed to Snap Inc. According to The Wall Street Journal, Snap Inc.'s first wearable product comes armed with a camera that can record 10-second videos when you tap a button near the hinge. Every tap starts a new recording. The results don't look like typical* videos shot with phones or action cams, though -- not when it captures circular footage that mimics our own vision. Apparently, Spiegel believes that the rectangular format is "an unnecessary vestige of printing photos on sheets of paper." And since this is Snapchat we're talking about, the glasses can sync with your phone wirelessly, making anything it takes easy to share online.
ICYMI: Cotton Candy body parts, robotic bartender and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-27934{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-27934, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-27934{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-27934").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Vanderbilt University scientists whipped up some human capillaries by using a cotton candy machine to properly shape channels for the blood vessels. A Kickstarter project is selling a tiny video camera attachment with a flexible cord to aim and drop it into places you normally can't see, like inside a car engine. And the University of Maryland is training a robot to make drinks by watching a human; a process that is far more adorable than you'd first think.
360Fly's new camera captures 4K video
360Fly unveiled at CES this week a new 360 degree camera that captures 2880 x 2880 4K video -- quadruple the resolution of its predecessor -- at 30FPS while generating immersive, VR-capable content. What's more, the new unit boasts a host of fresh capture modes and now tracks telemetry data as well. These capture modes include 2560 x 1440 resolution forward facing, time lapse; and motion-, acceleration- and audio-triggered recording. Additionally, the 4K 360Fly incorporates a GPS sensor, barometer/altimeter and accelerometer. It can even output 360 degree video in real time with the addition of an optional Micro-HDMI accessory base.
Nikon reveals its own VR-ready action camera
Nikon isn't exactly quick to jump on the latest trends, as it still lacks a mirrorless camera with a truly large sensor. However, it just filled a giant hole in its lineup by launching its first action camera: meet the KeyMission 360. As the name implies, the tiny, cube-like cam is designed from the start for 360-degree images and virtual reality. It's also toughened up like many of the incumbent offerings, with drop-proofing to 6.6 feet and waterproofing to depths of 100 feet.
GoPro rewards you for sharing photos and videos of your adventures
To encourage GoPro users to share more action-packed video footage and still photos, the company is offering rewards. The GoPro Awards will give you money when your snapshots, raw video or edited footage are selected for use on the GoPro Channel or licensed for other uses. Those rewards are $500, $1,000 and $5,000, respectively, and span a smattering of nine genres including motorsports, action, adventure and more. GoPro is pretty serious about the program too, as it plans to shell out $5 million in rewards annually. The company says the awards program offers its customers a way to gain recognition for their efforts as its user base has "some of the most creative people on the planet." Ready to submit your work? Head over the Awards page to get started.
The best video camera
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read the full article below at TheWirecutter.com If you've ever tried to record your kids soccer game or music recital, you'll know that there are some settings where a smartphone just won't do the job. For shooting video from a field away, catching clips longer than 30 minutes, or shooting when the lights are low, what you need is a dedicated video camera. And for that, the camcorder we recommend for most people is the $550 Panasonic HC-V770K.
TomTom put its navigation know-how to work in an action cam
TomTom, a company best known for its GPS gadgets and a line of watches for runners and athletes, is diving deeper into action sports. Meet the Bandit camera: a GPS action cam that'll beam footage to a connected smartphone. If you're in a hurry, and don't want to futz with proper edits on a computer, TomTom's app will pull videos from the camera so you can share them quickly -- all you have to do is give your phone a shake. The company claims that its device is the first of its kind to pack a built-in media server, capable of processing files before sending them to your phone. That's where the phone shaking comes in: doing so will alert the camera/app duo to automatically compile a video for you. In addition to that bit of heavy lifting, the Bandit's on-board motion and GPS automatically tag highlights based on speed, altitude, acceleration, G-force and heart rate -- the last of which is likely tracked with one of TomTom's fitness watches. Don't worry, you can manually pick those spots, too.
Panasonic takes on Dropcam with a 4G-equipped monitoring camera
WiFi monitoring cameras, like Dropcam, are great for keeping tabs while you're away. But what if there were devices that didn't require that connection, or to be plugged in all the time? Meet Panasonic's Nubo: a 4G-equipped security camera that can still keep a watchful eye on situations where there's no power or WiFi signal. The camera's motion sensor detects movement, recording clips in five-, 10-, 30- or 60-second lengths and analyzes the footage to differentiate between humans and your family pets. If your dog or an unwanted guest enters the monitored area, Nubo sends alert to your connected mobile device along with the captured video. What's more, the camera has a built-in speaker and microphone, allowing two-way communication should the need arise. It can be connected to an external USB battery too, so even if there's a loss of power, Nubo is still hard at work.
This wearable camera films life from your point of view
We've seen all sorts of wearable cameras for capturing life's precious moments, and now there's a head-worn option to capture the action as you see it. After showing off its headset at CES, LifeLogger has now turned to Kickstarter to bring the gadget to the masses. Capable of capturing up to eight hours of video, the camera has built-in GPS and WiFi connectivity for working in tandem with iOS and Android companion apps. It's equipped with live streaming features too, so instantly beaming footage to a computer, tablet or smartphone is a breeze -- as long as there's a solid wireless internet connection, of course.
AJA's 4K camera runs $9,000, but nobody will mistake you for a tourist
Though AJA is best known for disk recorders, it's just revealed the 4K CION, its first cinema camera. It'll take on BlackMagic Design and a growing list of 4K DSLRs -- including Sony's new Alpha A7s and the Panasonic GH4. While the $9,000 model loses out on price, AJA is targeting serious users with features like a shoulder mount, 12-bit 444 ProRes recording, an SSD drive and a PL lens mount. It also has a APSC-sized global CMOS sensor and 12 stops of dynamic range, just like BlackMagic's new URSA model. However, the latter runs a much lower $6,000, and BlackMagic also has the Production Camera 4K at a mere $3,000 after a price drop. But the CION might work for those who find the 6K Red Dragon Scarlett too much, especially if it actually makes its summer ship date.
Visualized: Canon 35mm CMOS sensor captures fireflies in HD (video)
Canon impressed us back in March when it unveiled its 35mm full frame CMOS sensor, which is capable of recording footage in extremely low-light situations. This time around, the company set its sights on the Yaeyama-hime fireflies on Ishigaki Island off the coast of Japan. Shortly after sundown, the Canon team managed to capture a forest full of lightning bugs in full HD in near-dark settings. To watch the video in all its bioluminescent glory, mosey on past the break.
Blackmagic drops Cinema Camera price to $1,995
Do you like the prospect of shooting 2.5K video with Blackmagic's Cinema Camera, but turn pale at spending $2,995 for the privilege? We have good news: Blackmagic just dropped the pro video camera's price to $1,995. While that isn't exactly impulse purchase territory, it's low enough to put the greater-than-HD shooter in the same price bracket as semi-pro DSLRs. Think of the discount as consolation for delays in launching the Production Camera 4K.
Sony Action Cam update adds 1080p recording at 60fps, underwater mode
Recording footage with Sony's Action Cam at 1080p garnered video with just 30fps, but a new update for the rugged shooter has bumped that up to 60fps. Thanks to the freshly available upgrade, the camera has also been bestowed with a water mode packing white balance adjustment for shooting when submerged, and a Beep Off option to tweak volume levels for its on / record and settings buttons. Come June, Hirai and Co. will release revamped software that allows users to upload videos via Play Memories without having to disconnect the device, and sell a raft of new attachments for the cam ranging from a dog harness to a surfboard mount. Trek past the jump for the accessory lowdown in the press release, or hit the second source link for the upgrade.
Canon sensor records video in very low light, sees movie stars of a different sort
Although there's undoubtedly been improvements to low light videography, it's still difficult or impossible for most cameras to record in near-total darkness. Canon has the solution with a video-only, 35mm CMOS sensor that can keep recording even when there's virtually no visible light at all. The prototype's pixels are about 7.5 times larger than in already light-sensitive DSLRs like the EOS-1D X, letting it get focus with as little as 0.03lux of illumination. The result is more than just the perfect camera for a horror movie -- the sensor can capture the Geminid meteor shower and other astronomical phenomena without special tricks. Canon hasn't said when it might ship a video camera toting the new imaging technology, but it's planning to show the sensor at a security expo this week; we may well see the sensor in the field, even if most of its work happens beyond the public eye.
i4software's Video Camera re-launches as Vizzywig, adds multi-camera support
Late last week, i4software updated its Video Camera app and transformed the title from its roots as a decent video recorder to a robust multi-camera video-editing suite. Besides its new and notable features, the app also received a new name and is now known as Vizzywig. The latest update brings some welcome improvements. Performance and stability have been improved, and a new iPad version opens up the video recorder to a whole new group of iOS users. There's also native support for the iPhone 5. Another interesting addition is a new multi-camera feature that lets you share the recording experience in real-time with other Vizzywig users. It's a compelling add-on that could produce unique content in the hands of creative videographers. Vizzywig is both a recorder and an editor, which means you can build, edit and export a video project without ever leaving the app. Vizzywig lets you record multiple clips in one session, so you can keep filming without having to break for an edit. While recording, a few helpful features let you snap a photo while recording and also switch between the front and rear camera. The app makes it very easy to switch between recording and editing. You can record a few clips and then open the editing mode to tweak the footage you just recorded. Vizzywig has editing controls that allow you to trim and duplicate clips as needed. You can also move clips around and add new titles and transitions to the timeline. Vizzywig lets you add an opening title or ending credits as well. You can customize the look of these text elements with a wide choice of fonts and colors. When you are done editing, you can hop back to recording mode or save the project. When you save, you have the option of saving the project so you can continue recording or saving it for later. You can also finish the project and export it to Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo and CNN iReport. The workflow on Vizzywig is robust enough for most mobile videographers, while also being user-friendly enough for those with some video-recording experience. The UI is a bit overwhelming at first, but you get used to it after you've used the app for a short time. Vizzywig is available for US$19.99 in the iOS App Store.
Drift HD Ghost helmet cam available to pre-order today for $400 (video)
Drift has updated its HD action camera to help you better document your Baumgartner-esque death defying acts. The Drift HD Ghost gets a two-inch LCD screen with a refreshed control setup and chunky, 1,700mAh battery. The company is boasting that audio on this new unit should be greatly improved (something we took issue with last time out) so the world can hear your blood-curdling screams as you plummet through the stratosphere. It's available to pre-order from today for $399, with the device set to begin shipping from November 19th.
Sony VG900 leaks, packs full-frame sensor into a NEX camcorder
Sony must have a fixation on stuffing full-frame sensors into small spaces this year. A fresh photo and details slipping out to Sony Alpha Rumors show what's billed as the VG900, the first NEX-branded camcorder with a sensor larger than the APS-C spec -- the first NEX camera of any kind, for that matter. While there's only a light smattering of details, we're told the device has a 24-megapixel sensor (likely the same as in the RX1 or A99), records video in AVCHD 2.0 and should ship with an A-mount adapter for Alpha lenses. Not much else is on display, although you may want to take a pass if you're just looking to record a family wedding: at a rumored $3,300 price for the purportedly imminent launch, the VG900 isn't an impulse purchase for anyone short of a pro videographer.
