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Instagram rolling out ability to link a credit card and buy things inside the app

05 May
Screen capture: TechCrunch

After recently adding a video chat function, parent company Facebook continues with Instagram’s transformation from a mobile image sharing platform into a do-it-all application by adding the ability to pay for things within the app. The company has confirmed to TechCrunch that the native in-app payments feature is currently being rolled out to a limited number of users who will be able to make purchases from within the app.

Setup requires the registration of a debit or credit card and a security pin. Once that’s in place, you can book appointments and pay at restaurants, hair salons and similar establishments using the photo sharing app. In the future, users will also be able to purchase movie tickets and comparable items.

Screen capture: TechCrunch

The feature could potentially make a nice combination with Instagram’s shopping tags, which were introduced in 2016 and open a retailer website if you tap on a photo of a product. It’s not too difficult to see Instagram’s native payments being used for this kind of retail transaction as well. We’re intrigued by the possibilities for photographers: say, buying prints or photography services right from inside the app.

There’s no word on when the feature will be made available to more Instagram users, but given payments is a complex topic with all sorts of local rules and regulations, we’d expect availability of the function in your app will to a large degree depend on location.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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GoPro reveals unit growth in Q1 2018, but revenues are still down

05 May

GoPro has announced its fiscal first quarter 2018 financial results, revealing 3% year-on-year unit growth with $ 202 million in revenue. The figures exceeded analysts’ expectations, sending GoPro’s stock upward on the news, and company CEO Nick Woodman expects a similar positive outcome in the company’s second quarter.

According to Woodman, HERO5 Black and HERO6 Black sell-through drove the company’s Q1 revenue, as well as the newly launched $ 200 GoPro HERO action camera. “Initial demand for HERO is promising,” said Woodman, “and we expect it to improve as large retail partners like Target and Walmart begin selling the product in the second quarter.”

Though unit growth was up, GoPro saw a 7% year-on-year decrease in revenue. The company previously restructured multiple times to address its financial issues. In its latest financial announcement, the company said its GAAP operating expenses were reduced by 24% year-on-year.

Despite the drop in revenue versus its first quarter last year, GoPro still dominates in the US action camera market, saying it held 86% and 95% of the market share based on unit and dollar volume. “Our first quarter performance makes it clear that there is significant demand for GoPro, at the right price,” says Woodman.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: This DIY ‘$10,000 selfie stick’ holds a cinema camera and boom mic

04 May

Filmmaker, photographer, and self-professed coffee addict Peter McKinnon has created his own rendition of the infamous selfie stick… on steroids. Meet the $ 10,000 Selfie Stick. This fun, gimmicky DIY creation is McKinnon’s upgrade from the much-maligned (and for a time ubiquitous) pole used to hold a smartphone for self-portrait purposes.

In his video of the project, McKinnon heads to the local hardware store where he purchases bolts and other hardware, as well as a pair of goalie sticks for hockey. The sticks are combined together using tape, and the bolts are used to mount a $ 6,000 cinema camera and $ 400 boom mic (and three Canadian flags) onto the sticks.

The end result? A massive, heavy “selfie stick” that outshines anything you can get off the shelf, but has absolutely no practical use.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Study finds shooting and sharing one photo per day improves wellbeing

04 May

A study has found “complex benefits” associated with taking one image per day and sharing it with an online community.

The study—which is co-authored by the University of Sheffield’s Dr. Andrew Cox and Lancaster University’s Dr. Liz Brewster and published in the Journal Health—is titled “The daily digital practice as a form of self-care: Using photography for everyday well-being” and it looked at the photography habits of participants for two months. The study’s authors called this daily posting a “Digital Daily Practice,” and they looked at both what the participants took pictures of, and how they interacted with others on the site where the images were posted. Their conclusion:

Photo-a-day is not a simple and uncomplicated practice; rather it is the complex affordances and variance within the practice that relate it to well-being. We conclude that this practice has multi-faceted benefits for improving well-being.

These “multi-faceted benefits” included decreased loneliness due to interaction with the online community, increased exercise and other self-care, and “the potential for reminiscence.”

Interacting with others through the online photo service appears to be a key part of the benefits, with one participate explaining, “It could be a rubbish photograph but if somebody commented on it, it made it worthwhile.” Other participants saw benefits from different aspects of the action, such as snapping an image as a way to take brief break from an otherwise stressful job.

If you’d like to peruse the full study for yourself, you can find it here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Rokinon AF 14mm F2.8 EF sample gallery

04 May

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Rokinon/Samyang’s first autofocus lens for Canon EF-mount is the 14mm F2.8, a variation on the company’s existing 14mm F2.8 FE for Sony with a different optical formula. At $ 800 it’s priced well under Canon’s $ 2100 14mm F2.8L II, giving full frame Canon shooters an affordable alternative to the on-brand option. Having recently taken its FE counterpart for a spin, we were eager to try out the Canon variant (and let’s be honest – pretty happy to get out into the sunshine for a while).

See our Rokinon/Samyang AF 14mm F2.8 EF sample gallery

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ESA unveils most detailed 3D star map ever captured

04 May

The European Space Agency (ESA) Gaia mission has released a new star map of the Milky Way, giving us the most detailed view of our galaxy to date.

Launched in December 2013 from Kourou, French Guiana, the mission of the Gaia space observatory is to create the largest and most detailed 3D space catalog in existence. To do this, it uses what the ESA calls the ‘largest digital camera in the Solar System,’ a one-billion-pixel camera made up of more than 200 CCD sensors.

Gaia’s sky in colour. Image provided by ESA

This new set of data, released on April 25th, details the location and movement of more than 1.3 billion stars. For context, the first set of data released by the ESA in May 2016 contained similar information of a mere two million stars. It’s not only the position and movement of the stars either.

As well as positions, the data include brightness information of all surveyed stars and colour measurements of nearly all, plus information on how the brightness and colour of half a million variable stars change over time. It also contains the velocities along the line of sight of a subset of seven million stars, the surface temperatures of about a hundred million and the effect of interstellar dust on 87 million.

The new information will be used for many years to come by scientists all over the world. “Gaia will greatly advance our understanding of the Universe on all cosmic scales,” says Timo Prusti, Gaia project scientist at ESA, in the announcement blog post. “Even in the neighbourhood of the Sun, which is the region we thought we understood best, Gaia is revealing new and exciting features.”

The ESA expects many more datasets to be released in future years, with the full and final catalogue set to be published sometime in the 2020s. Originally, Gaia was only set to operate until mid-2019, but the ESA has already approved an extension to its mission that should see it functioning well into 2020.

You can access the data from Gaia’s first release on the ESA’s archive site and view a collection of 360-degree videos in a dedicated VR page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Facebook is using Instagram photos to train its image recognition AI

04 May

At its F8 developers conference Facebook not only revealed a number of new Instagram features, the company also talked about how it is using the billions of images on Instagram to train the world’s most accurate image recognition systems.

Training deep learning models for image and object recognition is typically a very labor-intensive task, as each training image has to be looked at and labeled by human workers. This is a serious limitation to the size of training image databases; however, Facebook has found a way to reduce human supervision in the training process by using images that are already labeled… with Instagram hashtags.

Its researchers used 3.5 billion Instagram images with approximately 17,000 hashtags to train deep learning models and the results have been encouraging.

A computer vision system that had been trained with one billion images and 1,500 hashtags, achieved 85.4 percent accuracy on the ImageNet benchmarking tool, outperforming the previous leading system by 2.3 percent.

It will be important to manage the disadvantages of less curated labels but the Facebook research shows that less supervised training of image recognition systems could be a step into the right direction, allowing for the use of much larger and databases and therefore improved image and object recognition and classification.

Translation: finding that photo you never tagged that’s buried miles deep in your archive might soon get a whole lot easier.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Adobe slashes Creative Cloud school pricing to just $5 per user per year

04 May
Credit: Adobe

Earlier today, Adobe announced new Creative Cloud educational pricing for K-12 schools (meaning primary and secondary schools, for those outside the US), slashing the price for individual schools and school districts to just $ 5 per license per year with a minimum purchase of 500 licenses for a school, or 2,500 licenses for a school district. Additional licenses can be purchased for $ 50 per 250.

Adobe says the move “underscores Adobe’s commitment to providing students and teachers with the world’s leading digital creative tools and skills,” and is the company’s way of “nurturing creativity and creative problem solving,” both of which, research shows, will be key skills in tomorrow’s job market.

The plans give students access to all of the Creative Cloud applications and 2GB of cloud storage each. But best of all, students won’t have to be in the classroom to use the apps—named user licensing allows students to log in to and install Creative Cloud applications at home or on their mobile devices as well.

“Making Creative Cloud available at $ 4.99 per year, per license—with access in schools and at home—is going to be a game changer, providing students and teachers access to apps that will unlock their inherent creativity in new and exciting ways,” says Adobe’s Mala Sharma, VP and GM of Creative Cloud Product, Marketing, and Community. “Making Creative Cloud affordable is just one of many actions we’re taking to reduce the barriers to teaching these skills in today’s classrooms.”

There is one thing Sharma forgot to mention: providing students with access to the Adobe CC suite starting as early as Kindergarten and Elementary School will also create a whole new generation of Adobe addicts who complain about the subscription costs but are willing to keep paying them anyway… welcome to the club kids.

For more information on the new pricing and Adobe’s other Creative Cloud offers for educators, students, K-12 schools and beyond, click here.

Press Release

Adobe Empowers Educators with New Creative Cloud Offering for K-12

A new offer on Creative Cloud exclusively for K-12 schools and districts underscores Adobe’s commitment to providing students and teachers with the world’s leading digital creative tools and skills

SAN JOSE, Calif. — May 2, 2018 — Adobe announced today that, beginning May 15, 2018, Adobe Creative Cloud will be available to K-12 schools for $ 4.99 per license, per year, with a minimum purchase quantity of 500 user licenses for a single school, or 2,500 licenses for a school district. This offer includes unprecedented access for educators and students to all Creative Cloud applications at school, at home and on any device. Adobe is committed to delivering the best tools and resources for nurturing creativity and creative problem-solving skills into the hands of educators and students. This new pricing and licensing, as well as new professional development offerings and lesson plans focused on Adobe Spark and Creative Cloud (details below), and recent release of Spark for Education with premium features free of charge for K-12 students are prime examples of that commitment.

“Strengthening the ‘A’ in STEAM, and making art and creativity core to the student learning experience is Adobe’s responsibility. Digital storytelling is a critical skill for all students, and enabling them to start creating videos, editing photos and publishing websites by grade 6 and earlier is key,” said Mala Sharma, VP & GM of Creative Cloud Product, Marketing and Community, Adobe. “Making Creative Cloud available at $ 4.99 per year, per license—with access in schools and at home—is going to be a game changer, providing students and teachers access to apps that will unlock their inherent creativity in new and exciting ways. Making Creative Cloud affordable is just one of many actions we’re taking to reduce the barriers to teaching these skills in today’s classrooms.”

Creative Cloud for K-12 Lowers Access and Cost Barriers Associated with Teaching Creativity and Creative Problem Solving to Students

A recent study conducted by Adobe, and several other third-party studies, show that jobs of the future will demand both creativity and creative problem-solving skills – two different capabilities that nearly all educators recognize as being essential for students to learn in school. However, research also shows that the biggest barriers educators currently face to nurturing these skills are the lack of access to necessary tools and technologies, and the costs associated with new technologies.

As part of Adobe’s commitment to providing educators with access to the tools and support they need to address these barriers, affordable access to Creative Cloud will encourage educators to develop new projects and lesson plans that bring out the creative skills in their students. Students will have access to all Creative Cloud applications, many Creative Cloud services and 2GB of storage. Adobe has also introduced named user licensing, which allows students to log into their accounts and work on Creative Cloud projects from any location on any device, be it their homes, the library or on the go. These licenses can be deployed by K-12 schools in a way that is consistent with data privacy laws under COPPA—the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

New K-12 Professional Development Offerings Make Adobe Spark a Great Project Tool in Every Class

Adobe is partnering with educators who use Adobe Spark in their classrooms, and will be sponsoring over 100 Edcamps taking place across the United States over the summer until back-to-school 2018. Edcamp leads educator-driven professional development grouped sessions, where educators drive and determine the topics of conversation. In addition, Adobe will be sending Spark experts to a select number of Edcamps over the summer. For more details on Adobe Spark sponsored Edcamps, please visit https://www.edcamp.org/edcamp-locations .

Educators can find new free professional development courses, lesson plans and a complete guide to using Creative Cloud in the classroom on the Education Exchange, Adobe’s free platform where educators can access courses taught by their peers and share teaching materials and curriculum.

Availability and Pricing

This offering is available for purchase starting on May 15, 2018 and will initially be available in the US, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, and India. In the US, school sites are eligible for the offer starting at $ 2,495 per year, which includes 500 user licenses for students and teachers ($ 4.99 per user license), and school districts are eligible for the offer starting at $ 12,475 per year, which includes 2,500 user licenses. Also in the US, additional purchases can be made in increments of 50 user licenses starting at $ 250. Pricing and minimums vary by region.

For more information and to purchase Creative Cloud for their K-12 classrooms, K-12 schools and districts can contact their Authorized Adobe Resellers, and for general information, please visit www.adobe.com/education/k12.html.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: How to pack for a two-month photo expedition

04 May

Dave Morrow—a well-respected outdoor photographer from outside Seattle, Washington—has shared a behind-the-scenes video detailing the gear he’s taken on his latest photo expedition. The 20-minute video provides an insightful overview of the gear he packs with him in his vehicle and in his backpack during his two-month trip through Oregon, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and California.

Per his rules to filming the videos for his ‘The Landscape Photography Journals’ series, the video was shot with a GoPro and doesn’t feature any special editing or filming technique. It’s barebones and straight to the point. And that’s not a bad thing…

Morrow does a great job explaining the reason he’s taking the gear and the purpose it serves in his particular use-cases. He doesn’t get too caught up in the specifics of everything.

You might not be as hardcore of an outdoor photographer as Morrow, but it’s a great look at the gear he uses and his reason for using it. Take mental notes along the way and maybe you’ll find something useful for your next trip, whether that’s a hike through your backyard or a two-month backcountry adventure like Morrow’s.

Something else that stuck out was Morrow’s approach to gear. As shown in the video, Morrow has three basic rules for buying gear. If these three rules can’t be followed, he won’t buy the equipment:

  1. Buy everything in cash; no loans, no debt
  2. Don’t accept ‘free gear’ from sponsors or partners. Nothing is free. Devote all time to exploring & photography
  3. Don’t by anything until it has been 100% required on multiple trips. Less gear, more time for travel and photography

Let us know what you think of the tips down in the comments, and then head over to Morrow’s YouTube channel for more videos like this.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung’s PRO Endurance microSD cards can handle 43,800 hours of continuous recording

03 May

Samsung Electronics has unveiled a new line of microSDHC/SDXC cards called PRO Endurance. The lineup features 32GB ($ 30), 64GB ($ 50), and 128GB ($ 100) options, each with up to 100MB/s read speeds and 30MB/s write speeds. The South Korean company says the new lineup features “industry-leading endurance” capable of handling up to 43,800 hours of continuous video recording.

Samsung created the PRO Endurance line for video-centric applications, such as security, dash, and body cameras, though they can also be used with drones and other video camera products. In addition to its recording endurance, the PRO Endurance cards are water, temperature, x-ray, and magnetic-proof. Overall, Samsung explains this lineup has 25 times the endurance of its past speed-focused cards.

The PRO Endurance microSDHC/SDXC cards are available from Samsung now.

Press Release

Samsung Electronics Redefines High Endurance Memory Card Market with New PRO Endurance Card

Built for intensive video monitoring applications, PRO Endurance delivers industry-best 43,800 hours of continuous video recording in 128GB capacity

Samsung Electronics introduced today the Samsung PRO Endurance microSDHC™/microSDXC™ card, which offers industry-leading endurance and up to 43,8001 hours of continuous video recording2. Designed for consumers and B2B channel customers who use intensive video monitoring applications such as surveillance and security cameras, body cameras and dash cams, the PRO Endurance makes continuous video monitoring fast and stable. It delivers read speeds of up to 100 MB/s and provides FHD recording and 4K support via write speeds of up to 30 MB/s3.

“Consumers want to feel assured with their video surveillance solutions, and the need for longer-lasting, higher performing memory cards that can withstand extreme conditions and capture critical moments is at an all-time high,” said Un-Soo Kim, senior vice president of Brand Product Marketing, Memory Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung is proud to again advance what is possible in memory card technology with the introduction of the PRO Endurance, which offers security-minded consumers the industry’s highest levels of endurance and optimized read/write speeds for immediate access to critical surveillance content.”

The Samsung PRO Endurance offers 25 times higher endurance4 than previous speed-focused cards5. It also comes with an industry-leading limited warranty up to five years6, and sets a new standard for capacity with its 128GB7 of storage.

The Samsung PRO Endurance is built to withstand harsh environments and features Samsung’s 4-Proof8 protection, making it water, temperature, magnetic and x-ray-proof. In times of emergencies, accidents or crisis, the PRO Endurance is the reliable solution to capture the crucial moments without the risk of compromised or lost data.

The PRO Endurance memory cards are now available for purchase with manufacturer’s suggested retail prices starting at $ 89.99 for 128GB, $ 44.99 for 64GB and $ 24.99 for 32GB. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/memorycard.

Key Specifications for PRO Endurance

Category Samsung PRO Endurance
Capacity 128GB 64GB 32GB
FHD Recording 43,800 hours 26,280 hours 17,520 hours
Form Factor microSDHC™ and microSDXC™
Read/Write Speeds Sequential read speeds up to 100MB/s,
Sequential write speeds up to 30MB/s
Bus Speed Mode UHS-I
4-Proof Features Waterproof (IEC 60529, IPX7), Temperature proof, X-ray proof, Magnetic proof
Warranty Five (5) Year Limited Warranty Three (3) Year Limited Warranty Two (2) Year Limited Warranty
Operating Temperatures From -25ºC to 85ºC9
1 Varies by capacity; 64GB model up to 26,280 hours, 32GB model up to 17,520 hours.
2 Based on Full HD (1920×1080) video content recorded at 26 Mbps video support.
3 Performance results are based on internal testing conditions. Read/write speeds may vary by host device.
4 Based on continuous recording capability.
5 Based on internal tests comparing different Samsung cards.
6 Varies by capacity; 64GB model up to 3-years, 32GB model up to 2-years. Warranty for SD adapter is limited to one year. For specific details, please visit www.samsung.com/support.
7 Actual usable storage capacity is measured with SD Formatter 3.1 tool with FAT file system and may be less than labeled capacity.
8 Waterproof: IEC 60529, IPX7; Temperature: from -25ºC to 85ºC (-13°F to 185°F) operating; magnetic: up to 15,000 gauss (equal to MRI); X-rays: up to 50 Roentgen (equal to airport X-ray machines).
9 Withstands -25°C to 85°C (-13°F to 185°F) operating, -40°C to 85°C (-40°F to 185°F) non-operating.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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