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Posts Tagged ‘Display’

Wacom releases 24-inch 4K Cintiq Pro pen display, 32-inch coming ‘later this year’

28 Feb

Wacom has officially released the Cintiq Pro 24—a 4K 24-inch version of its popular Cintiq Pro Creative Pen Display for use with both Windows and Mac computers. The 32-inch version remains in-development, with an official release “slated for later this year.”

Wacom first announced its Cintiq Pro 24- and 32-inch tablets back in July of last year, but that announcement was more of a teaser than anything else. At the time, Wacom only shared that the pen displays would have “4K edge-to-edge displays” and “maximum color accuracy.” Now, with the official release of the Cintiq Pro 24, we have a lot more details to share.

The Cintiq Pro 24—which will be available in both Pen and Pen & Touch models—boasts an IPS UHD display with 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution, 98% Adobe RGB color accuracy (the store page claims 99%), and “a billion colors” (translation: 10-bit color). The tablet also features an etched glass surface to reduce glare and provide a “natural, pen on paper feel,” parallax reduction through “optical bonding,” close to zero latency, and support for the Pro Pen 2, which features 8,192 levels of sensitivity.

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Finally, for those who want to take their Cintiq Pro 24 to the next level, Wacom also introduced the Cintiq Pro Engine. This plug-and-play PC module—which we covered in detail here—turns the Cintiq Pro 24 into a full-blown Windows 10 workstation with Intel processor, up to 32GB of RAM, NVIDIA graphics, and an SSD.

The Cintiq Pro Engine costs at least as much as the Cintiq Pro 24 itself, but the SSD and RAM inside are both upgradable, and its plug-and-play nature means you can swap your entire workstation from display to display as needed. If you’re looking for a single, portable solution… it’s an intriguing option to be sure

The Cintiq Pro 24 will be available in two variations: the $ 2,000 Pen Display version will start shipping in March, but if you want the $ 2,500 Pen & Touch version, you’ll have to wait until May. The Cintiq Pro Engine PC module also ships in May.

For more information about the Cintiq Pro 24 or if you want to order one right away, visit the Wacom website or head over to the Wacom Store.

Press Release

Wacom introduces the Cintiq Pro 24-inch pen display

Wacom extends the Cintiq Pro line-up with a new high performance mid-sized display built for cutting-edge creative and design applications including augmented and virtual reality. The Cintiq Pro family now features a range of sizes to meet the unique workflow and configuration needs of creative professionals.

Tokyo, Japan – February 27, 2018 – Today Wacom announced the availability of the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 pen display, expanding the Cintiq Pro high-definition range, which is designed for creative professionals seeking a larger digital canvas and the power to tackle an increasing onslaught of creative applications and programs. The new 24-inch Cintiq Pro pen display joins the previously introduced 13 and 16-inch models to form a comprehensive range of sizes for every need and workspace. The pen and touch display version will be available in May, the earlier announced 32-inch model is slated for later this year.

Performance you can see and feel

The brilliant 4k display, 98% Adobe RGB color accuracy and a billion colors deliver a true-to-life visual experience. The pen on screen experience was also improved. The combination of the new Pro Pen 2 technology (improved pressure sensitivity featuring 8,192 levels), the etched glass surface, the reduction in parallax through optical bonding and the close to zero latency, provide artists with precise control and a more natural feeling pen on screen experience.

“We know that professional artists and designers are facing an increasingly vast array of computing and display demands as they embrace emerging technologies like augmented and virtual reality, and 3D, where one size doesn’t fit all,” says Faik Karaoglu, Executive Vice President for the Creative Business Unit at Wacom. “Everyone has their own way of working, and we are excited to offer larger sized digital canvases with flexibility that provides more pen space for those who need it to create.”

Transforming the workflow

With the Wacom Cintiq Engine Pro – also announced today – a Windows 10 computing module, featuring the new NVIDIA ® Quadro ® P3200 high performance graphic card, slides into the back of the Cintiq Pro 24 display. Thus creative professionals can easily transform their Cintiq Pro 24 into a high performance creative work station fully supporting state of the art applications and workflows, including 3D, animation and augmented and virtual reality.

Availability

The Cintiq Pro 24 pen display models are available in the U.S., Japan and selected European countries as of March; for further details visit our e-store at Wacom.com. Prices ranging from $ 1,999 to $ 2,499. The Pen & Touch version of Cintiq Pro 24 will be available in May 2018.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Wacom’s new Cintiq Pro Engine turns your Wacom pen display into a full-blown PC

28 Feb

Back in July of 2017, Wacom announced that it would be releasing 24- and 32-inch versions of its popular Cintiq Pro pen display for creatives. But today’s debut of the 24-inch model isn’t the most interesting news out of Wacom; the interesting bit is the Cintiq Pro Engine: a plug-and-play PC module that turns your Cintiq Pro tablet into a full-blown Windows 10 workstation.

Or, in Wacom’s own words:

Designed for professional illustrators, designers, engineers and motion graphics users who require professional computing power and graphics performance, the modular Cintiq Pro Engine slots into the back of the Cintiq Pro 24, eliminating the space, cable clutter and compatibility issues that often result from using external computers and laptops.

Attaching the Cintiq Pro Engine to the Cintiq Pro 24 tranforms the Cintiq Pro 24 into a full Windows 10 creative studio that supports even the most demanding programs and applications used by creative professionals.

The Cintiq Pro Engine is a PC module that quite simply slides into a slot on the back of the 24-inch (and eventually 32-inch) Cintiq Pro pen display. Once added, your Cintiq Pro is now a Windows 10 PC in one of two variations:

If go with the $ 2,500 Cintiq Pro Engine i5, you get:

  • A quad-core Intel Core i5HQ processor
  • NVIDIA Quadro P3200 graphics card with 6GB of dedicated GDDR5 RAM
  • 16GB of RAM
  • A 256GB PCIe Gen3 SSD
  • WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity

Or you can get the $ 3,300 Cintiq Pr Engine Xeon with:

  • An Intel XEON processor
  • The same NVIDIA Quadro P3200 graphics card with 6GB dedicated GDDR5 RAM
  • 32GB of RAM
  • A 512GB PCIe Gen3 SSD
  • Wireless and Bluetooth connectivity

What’s more, the SSDs and RAM inside both versions are upgradable, so you can keep the PC modules current as demands increase. And since the Cintiq Pro Engine is plug-and-play, you can swap it between various Cintiq Pro 24- and 32-inch pen displays “while retaining the same computing environment.”

Both versions of the Cintiq Pro Engine will be available starting in March in Japan, the US, and ‘select countries’ in Europe. To learn more about the Cintiq Pro 24-inch and the Cintiq Pro Engine, visit the Wacom website.

Press Release

Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine and Cintiq Pro displays: The first modular all-in-one creative studio

Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine is a compact PC module that converts the Cintiq Pro into a powerful creative studio. Artists, Designers and Engineers can transform their Cintiq Pro into a powerful Windows 10 workstation with the power to run the demanding creative applications and workflows, including 3D, animation and virtual reality.

Tokyo, Japan – Feb. 27, 2018 – Today Wacom announced the Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine, a creative PC module available in two configurations that fully integrates into the Cintiq Pro 24-inch pen display (announced today in a separate release). Designed for professional illustrators, designers, engineers and motion graphics users who require professional computing power and graphics performance, the modular Cintiq Pro Engine slots into the back of the Cintiq Pro 24, eliminating the space, cable clutter and compatibility issues that often result from using external computers and laptops.

“It is our mission to help professionals create with the least amount of distraction and clutter and to give them the power to tackle the new spaces of creating content for AR, VR and MR. The Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine provides a beautiful, easy to use solution for creatives everywhere,” said Faik Karaoglu, Executive Vice President of the Creative Business Unit at Wacom.

Attaching the Cintiq Pro Engine to the Cintiq Pro 24 tranforms the Cintiq Pro 24 into a full Windows 10 creative studio that supports even the most demanding programs and applications used by creative professionals. The combination of the Wacom Cintiq Pro display, the powerful Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine creative PC module, and a flexible and rotatable new Wacom Ergo Stand is an innovative approach to providing an all-in-one specialized working environment for creatives. Adding the use of the Wacom Pro Pen 3D, professionals who rely on 3D animation or sculpting software, or CAD applications, will see an immediate benefit to their workflow.

Virtual Reality Support

In addition to the benefits around creative applications and workflows, Cintiq Pro Engine supports the increasingly important virtual reality (VR) workflow. Most Wacom products are already capable of supporting VR content creation, but to review and check the VR content, customers frequently need to move the content to another PC that has the graphics power to run VR content.

Powerful Graphics

The Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine is powered by the NVIDIA Quadro P3200. This graphics card is based on the NVIDIA Pascal GPU architecture, which provides the power demanded by today’s creative applications with dramatically faster graphics and computing power than on the CPU.

“Wacom designs products for the way artists and designers create. They’re intuitive, natural and fast and can be used anywhere,” says Bob Pette, vice president, Professional Visualization, NVIDIA. “Our new mobile Quadro P3200 packs a ton of graphics power into the new Cintiq and Cintiq Engine Pro, and we’re thrilled to have them showcased at our upcoming GPU Technology Conference.”

Flexibility Found Nowhere Else

The Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine memory and SSD are exchangeable and upgradable, ensuring system flexibility. Given the plug and play nature of the hardware, it’s easy to move between Cintiq 32” and 24” displays while retaining the same computing environment with the Cintiq Pro Engine. This flexibility is found nowhere else in the market and leads to a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than any other solution.

Two Versions of Cintiq Pro Engine

Cintiq Pro Engine i5:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
  • Processor: Intel® Core i5HQ (Quad Core)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA® Quadro® P3200
  • Dedicated graphics memory: 6GB GDDR5
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 256GB SSD, PCIe Gen3
  • Wireless LAN: Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 ac
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 4.2
  • Security: fTPM(TPM2.0)
  • Input Voltage: 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
  • Connectivity: Internal (communication between PC & Display) 1x USB-C, 1x Power
  • Connectivity: External (customer interfaces) 1x RJ45 (LAN), 2x USB-C, 1xmHDMI, 1xmDP, 2x DC-in
  • Price: $ 2,499

Cintiq Pro Engine Xeon:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 Pro for Workstation
  • Processor: Intel® XEON
  • Graphics: NVIDIA® Quadro® P3200
  • Dedicated graphics memory: 6GB GDDR5
  • RAM: 32GB
  • Storage: 512GB SSD, PCIe Gen3
  • Wireless LAN: Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 ac
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 4.2
  • Security: fTPM(TPM2.0)
  • Input Voltage: 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
  • Output Voltage: 19.5V/11.8A (230W)
  • Connectivity: Internal (communication between PC & Display); 1x USB-C, 1x Power
  • Connectivity: External (customer interfaces); 1x RJ45 (LAN), 2x USB-C, 1xmHDMI, 1xmDP, 2x DC-in
  • Price: $ 3,299

Availability

There are two versions of Cintiq Pro Engine, available as of May 2018 in Japan, US and selected countries in Europe. For details visit our homepage at Wacom.com. For more information on compatibility, visit www.wacom.com/comp.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Smartphone front cameras might soon be placed underneath the display

21 Jan
Photo by Julián Gentilezza

With smartphone displays getting larger and moving to an 18:9 (or 2:1 if you prefer) aspect ratio and display bezels shrinking at the same time, there is hardly any space left at the front of new devices for physical controls or other components.

Physical home buttons and fingerprint readers have already largely disappeared from the front and moved to the rear or edges of devices; however, moving the front camera to the rear isn’t really an option (for obvious reasons) which is why devices like the iPhone X or the Essential Phone have ended up with unsightly notches at the top of their displays.

A new patent by Samsung could offer a solution: moving the front camera and other components, such as the earpiece and proximity and ambient light sensors, underneath the screen. A camera that can see through the display would also offer an additional advantage, allowing manufacturers to place it towards the center of the screen so that the camera and the face of the person you’re talking to would be roughly in the same spot.

While Samsung’s idea definitely looks like an elegant answer to the space limitations at the front of modern smartphones, nobody has built a suitable camera yet. That said, an earlier patent that has been referenced by Samsung, Apple and LG among others, suggests using an OLED display with a very high refresh rate. The system could then activate and deactivate the screen at a very fast rate and allow for camera recording during the inactive periods.

As usual with patents, there is no way of knowing if and when the technology will make it into a production device, but the idea of a totally seam- and bezel-less display is certainly an appealing one.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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LaCie unveils DJI Copilot 2TB portable hard drive with built-in display

11 Jan

Seagate has just announced the LaCie DJI Copilot, a portable hard drive for photographers and videographers who use camera drones. The device features a 2TB drive, as well as an integrated screen for viewing the drive’s available capacity, the status of any data transfers that are underway, and how much power remains on the device’s built-in battery.

The company describes the new LaCie drive as a full backup on-set solution (BOSS) that enables drone users to review their footage without carrying around a laptop. This is achieved via the Copilot BOSS companion app for smartphones and tablets, which supports full-resolution playback on mobile devices and enables users to organize and manage their content on-the-go.

The LaCie DJI Copilot also functions as a power bank for charging USB devices, such as a smartphone or action camera.

According to Seagate, the 2TB capacity is ample enough to store up to 65 hours of 4K/30fps footage and 20,000 or more raw images. Users can directly copy data from USB storage devices (including USB-C), cameras, SD cards, and drones to the drive. Other features include durable construction that is resistant to dust, splashes, and drops, an included 3 year ‘Rescue Data Recovery’ plan, and a 1-month Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps subscription.

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Seagate will start shipping the LaCie DJI Copilot portable storage drive this Spring for $ 350 USD. To learn more, head over to the LaCie website by clicking here.

Press Release

Seagate Teams Up With Industry-Leading Partners To Offer New Mobile Data Storage Solutions At CES 2018

Enables consumers and creative professionals to work, play and collaborate on-the-go, to get the best out of their data

LAS VEGAS, NV – CES 2018 – Seagate Technology plc (NASDAQ: STX), a world leader in data storage solutions, today announced a range of new products at the CES 2018 conference designed to equip the world’s increasingly mobile population with solutions that solve key challenges they face when creating, processing and accessing their data on-the-go.

“Our world is becoming more data-centric, connected and mobile. This means creating, transferring, storing and accessing data quickly and reliably is critical to unlocking the potential of everything – from data created in the field, to data powering self-driving cars, AI personal assistants or virtual and mixed reality experiences,” said Tim Bucher, senior vice president of Seagate consumer solutions. “At Seagate, we’re constantly pursuing innovative ways to address our customer needs so they can gain a competitive edge in whichever field they play.”

For example, videographers who want to capture footage in the field can now streamline their on-set workflow thanks to the second product offering from Seagate’s strategic partnership with DJI, the world’s leading manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles, which looks to advance data solutions for the UAV ecosystem. The new LaCie® DJI Copilot, with design by Neil Poulton, is a complete backup on-set solution – enabling drone users to quickly ingest and review their content in full resolution without a PC. This changes the game by allowing creative professionals and consumers to playback, copy and manage their drone footage from their mobile device without the hassle of leaving the field or booting up a computer. Users can quickly connect and reference the built-in screen to initiate direct file transfer from an SD card to LaCie DJI Copilot – without the need of a laptop or a mobile network. The Copilot BOSS (Back-up On-Set Solution) app by LaCie allows users to playback video in full resolution as well as manage and organize files with their mobile phone or tablet, and a built-in power bank recharges your mobile devices. With 2000GB (2TB) of storage, the LaCie DJI Copilot enables users to easily store up to 65 hours of 4K 30fps video footage and 20K+ RAW photos. The LaCie DJI Copilot’s street price in the U.S. will be $ 349 and will be shipping in the spring.

Another challenge facing many mobile users today is extending the storage and battery life of their smartphones so they can capture, access and view content for longer periods of time. For consumers in China and Indonesia – two countries with some of the highest concentrations of smartphones on the planet – owners of Android mobile devices can significantly extend the battery life and capacity of their smartphone or tablet with the new Seagate® Joy Drive. Whether consumers are on their morning commute or just out with friends, the Seagate Joy Drive enables them to access videos and other content anywhere, without the need for a WiFi connection or cellular service. Available first in China this March through an exclusive partnership with JingDong, one of China’s largest online retailers, the Seagate Joy Drive is available in 1000GB (1TB) capacity and has a street price in China of 660 CNY ($ 99). Seagate is also evaluating potential future markets and partners for this product.

In the meantime, on-the-go consumers worldwide can keep their files and lives in motion with the new Seagate® Fast SSD – an ultra-portable flash drive that teams fast performance of up to 540MB/s transfer rates, with shock-resistance and USB-C connectivity. Users can backup or sync their content using Seagate’s new Toolkit software. The Seagate Fast SSD is available in 250GB, 500GB and 1TB capacities and has a street price in the U.S. of $ 99, $ 169 and $ 349, respectively and will be shipping in the spring.

Data security is one more growing concern for anyone using a mobile device. To address this challenge, Seagate is introducing the latest addition to its popular line of LaCie Rugged drives: the LaCie Rugged® Secure. Built to withstand all-terrain extreme conditions from photo shoots in sub-zero temperatures to repeated drops on hard studio floors, the Rugged Secure, with design by Neil Poulton, is the first Rugged drive to include hardware encryption using Seagate Secure™ technology. This new drive gives creative professionals and other users peace of mind that they can control access to their content. A simple disconnection of Rugged Secure from a computer will automatically lock the drive and access to the data stored and will remain password-protected via new Toolkit software. The LaCie Rugged Secure street price in the U.S. will be $ 139 for 2TB and will be shipping in the spring.

And for creative professionals and enthusiasts looking to try out the latest graphic design and video editing software from Adobe Systems, an expanded partnership between Adobe and Seagate now provides limited-time, no-cost access to Adobe’s latest applications bundled with popular Seagate and LaCie drives. Two new offerings available immediately include two complimentary months of the “Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan” (worth $ 19.98) – which features the new cloud-based photo service, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC – across the full range of Seagate Backup Plus and LaCie Porsche Design devices, as well as packaging one complimentary month of the “Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps plan” (worth $ 74.99) – which features Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Illustrator CC and much more – with all LaCie Rugged, LaCie d2 and LaCie big devices.

For more details, come ‘get your game on’ during CES 2018 in the Seagate Experience Zone at The Venetian. There you’ll find interactive product demos and live experiences that showcase how the latest Seagate and partner technologies are teaming up to unlock the potential of creative workflows, smart home technologies, gaming, edge computing and more. We’ll also be joined at CES by our partners including Adobe, Blackmagic, CyArk, DJI, Grab Games, ioSafe and Synology. You’ll be right in the middle of the action as you explore a hands-on studio for creative professionals, a drone stadium and a future technologies pavilion. You can also find more information on new products at:

DJI Copilot

https://www.lacie.com/professional/dji-copilot/

Rugged Secure

https://www.lacie.com/professional/rugged/#secure

Fast SSD

https://www.seagate.com/consumer/backup/fast-ssd/

Joy Drive

https://www.seagate.com/consumer/backup/joy-drive/

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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OnePlus 5T unveiled: edge-to-edge display and a dual-camera optimized for low light

17 Nov

OnePlus has just launched its latest smartphone, the OnePlus 5T. The 5T carries over most of the internal components, including the Snapdragon 835 chipset, from its predecessor the OnePlus 5, but comes with a very obvious change on the exterior: The AMOLED screen now features an 18:9 aspect ratio and covers almost the entire front of the device, as it is en vogue this year.

Another important change can be found in the camera department: The 5T comes with the same 16MP main camera as the OnePlus 5, but instead of a telephoto module the secondary camera slot now houses a 20MP sensor that has been optimized for low-light performance.

Like on the main camera, the sensor is coupled with a fast F1.7 aperture, but is using what OnePlus calls ‘Intelligent Pixel Technology’ to merge four pixels into one, reducing image noise and improving sharpness. The system kicks in at light levels lower than 10 Lux… which is pretty dim.

Of course, a background-blurring portrait mode is on board as well, and a new multi-frame algorithm helps improve image quality when using the function in low light. OnePlus also says the new camera setup offers a similar zoom performance to the OnePlus 5’s camera.

Most other components, including the unibody metal shell, remain unchanged from the OnePlus 5. The 5T will be available from November 21st at $ 500 for the 64GB model with 6GB or RAM, and $ 560 for the 128GB version with 8GB of RAM. This makes the smartphone, like its predecessors, a real bargain when compared to most competitors.

We have our hands on a test device, and are eager to check the performance of the new dual-camera over the coming days.

Key specifications:

  • Dual-camera
  • Main camera: Sony IMX 398 1/2.8″ 16MP sensor, F1.7,
  • Secondary camera: Sony IMX 376K 1/2.78″ 20MP sensor, F1.7
  • 27.22mm equivalent focal length
  • Dual-LED flash
  • 4K video at 30 fps
  • 720p slow-motion at 120 fps
  • Manual mode and Raw capture
  • 16MP / F2.0 front camera
  • 6″ 1080p AMOLED display, 18:9 aspect ratio
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset
  • 64/128GB storage, 6/8GB RAM
  • 3,300 mAh battery

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Google rolls out ‘Saturated’ mode to address Pixel 2 XL display issues

10 Nov

The Google Pixel 2 might sport one of the best smartphone cameras around, but when it comes to the display—particularly on the larger XL—model, Google has had nothing but trouble. Reports of everything from burn-in, to blue tint off-axis, to ‘dull’ colors have left the tech giant playing catch up, and today it finally … well… caught up. Or at least it tried.

A promised software update released on Tuesday (and rolling out to all users by the end of the week) addresses the issue of burn-in with some minor tweaks, and adds three total color saturation modes under the phone’s Display settings to hopefully quiet down the complaints about ‘dull’ colors.

Here’s a quick summary of the update in Google’s own words:

This update includes some of the enhancements we posted about on October 26, such as the new Saturated color mode for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, a fix for the faint clicking noise heard in some Pixel 2s, and other bug and security updates. As we mentioned in our deeper dive, this update also brings planned UI changes which extend the life of the OLED display, including a fade out of the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen and an update to maximum brightness.

According to Android Central, the updated saturation settings come in three flavors: Natural, Boosted, and Saturated. Natural should provide the most accurate color reproduction; Boosted takes the place of the “Vivid Colors” setting previously available, which boosted saturation by 10%; and, finally, Saturated will put the display in an “unmanaged configuration” that will make colors “more saturated and vibrant, but less accurate,” according to Google’s deep dive on the topic.

Unfortunately, this mode throws away one of the most important things about Android Oreo: color management. In ‘Saturated’ mode, all apps, images and video will first render to sRGB (for now) and then be stretched to the display’s wider color gamut.

This will make for inaccurate colors across the two devices, but there is hope for us color nerds. As Seang Chau, VP of Engineering at Google, says in his blog post: due to color management under the hood in the new OS, “an Android app developer can now make use of the wider Display P3 color gamut precisely for a wider range of colors. Google apps will take advantage of wide colors in the future.” We’re hoping this means that future apps will render either to P3 or straight to a display profile provided by Google, which would allow for saturated colors when appropriate, but not at the cost of accuracy.

Finally, no comment was made on the poor viewing angle of the XL model that introduces a strong blue-tint off-axis (see picture above of the Pixel 2 XL vs the original XL). This can make photos with warmer tones look even more desaturated by shifting toward blue. But while Google was able to address some of its display complaints this week, this seems like a hardware problem that will be difficult to fix via software.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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HTC U11+ combines U11 camera specs with large 6-inch display

03 Nov

HTC has launched the HTC U11+ which shares many characteristics with its smaller cousin U11. Both phones are powered by a Snapdragon 835 chipset and come with, depending on region, 4 or 6GB of RAM. They also share the same camera specifications that made the U11 one of the best camera phones in 2017.

On the back, you’ll find a 12MP sensor with large 1.4µm pixels that is combined with optical image stabilization and a fast F1.7 aperture. In video mode the U11+ can record 1080p footage at 120fps, and 4K clips with Hi-Res audio. At 8MP, the front camera pixel count has been reduced compared to the U11’s 16MP sensor. The front module also offers an 85-degree field-of-view, an F2.0 aperture and 1080p video recording.

The big difference between U11 and U11+ is the latter’s almost bezel-less LCD display with 18:9 format and a 1440×2880 pixel resolution. It means there are now no physical controls on the front and the fingerprint reader was moved to the back. The body is IP68-certified and comes in Ceramic Black, Amazing Silver and Translucent color options. There’s also a microSD card slot and the 3,930mAh battery offers support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0.

In Europe, the HTC U11+ will be available for €800 (approximately $ 930). For now a launch in North America is not planned.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Google may address ‘dull’ colors of Pixel 2 XL display, is investigating burn-in reports

24 Oct

Google’s newly launched Pixel 2 XL smartphone has received some criticism from buyers who claim the POLED display appears ‘dull’ when compared to the vivid OLED displays used by some of Pixel 2 XL’s competition. Google recently commented on the criticism, telling 9to5Google that it will consider releasing a software update that adds more display color options.

“One of our design intents was to achieve a more natural and accurate rendition of colors,” Google said in its statement. For users who want more vivid colors, Google says it has provided an optional setting to increase the saturation by 10%. However, should that prove inadequate, Google says it will, “consider adding more display color options through software if that makes the product better.”

But a ‘dull’ screen isn’t the worst of Google’s Pixel 2 XL display troubles—this week’s news is just getting worse and worse for the handset. Some early adopters claim they are already experiencing burn-in, others claim there are ‘blue tint’ issues, and some reviewers have noticed a ‘graininess’ issue.

Regarding the burn-in issue, Google told The Verge it is “actively investigating” the reports. After all, while muted colors aren’t a concern for some users, rapid burn-in—a problem that causes a potentially permanent ‘ghosting’ image to appear on the screen—could be enough to deter consumers from buying the phone altogether.

Early Pixel 2 XL users are also reporting a distinct blue tint that is visible when looking at the display from an angle. This blue tint issue is said to be most visible when the display’s background is light; a similar problem has been observed with the previously launched LG V30, a handset that features the same panel used in the Pixel 2 XL.

We can indeed confirm the viewing angle issues of the Pixel 2 XL. Here it is pictured next to the original XL (bottom) in our offices. There is a cyanish-green shift accompanied by progressive desaturation as you tilt the phone in any direction in your hand. It’s noticeable at even modest viewing angles. This can particularly make using the Pixel 2’s otherwise phenomenal camera a bit uninspiring: the preview looks noticeably desaturated and greenish if you shoot any angle that doesn’t have the phone directly in front of you.

Finally, reviewers have noted that the Pixel 2 XL’s POLED display has an underlying graininess not shared by the Samsung OLED panel used in the smaller Pixel 2 phone. Ars Technica posted a side-by-side comparison photo of the two phones that highlights the XL’s graininess issue.

It’s safe to say it’s been a rough weekend for Google. We’ll keep you updated as Google addresses each of these issues in turn, and keep an eye out for our own Pixel 2 XL review coming soon!

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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RED Hydrogen One smartphone will feature Leia lightfield holographic display technology

09 Sep

Earlier this summer, RED announced its new Hydrogen One, a pricey smartphone with what it describes as a holographic display. The company revealed very little about the smartphone at the time, but that changed yesterday with a small but illuminating revelation: RED has teamed with Leia Inc. (not to be confused with Leica) to use the latter company’s lightfield holographic display technology for the Hydrogen One.

Leia produces lightfield holographic displays for mobile gadgets using Nano-Photonic technology, according to the company, which was founded in 2014. RED has invested into Leia as part of this deal, though the particulars of the new exclusive partnership weren’t revealed.

Leia’s technology involves adding a Diffractive Lightfield Backlighting (DLB) layer to an ordinary LCD. The company explains on its website that this ‘gives [the displays] almost magical properties while preserving their standard imaging capabilities.’ The result is a phone screen capable of producing things as complex as interactive holograms or as ‘simple’ as privacy viewing zones.

RED plans to begin shipping its Hydrogen One device in the first half of next year. The smartphone is available to pre-order now from RED for $ 1,195 (aluminum) or $ 1,595 (titanium).

Via: BusinessWire

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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LukiLink turns your smartphone into an external HDMI display for a DSLR

25 Aug

A new device called the LukiLink just popped up on Kickstarter, and it promises to transform your smartphone into an external HDMI displays for your DSLR.

LukiLink is very simple to use: just connect it to a DSLR camera via an HDMI cable on one side, and a smartphone/tablet via a USB cable on the other. Live video from the camera is then output to the smartphone via the LukiLink mobile app (Android and iOS). The system supports a maximum input/output resolution of 1080/60p.

The team behind the LukiLink, which resembles a simple dongle, explains that the system can be used to view live video from the camera with the smartphone serving as an ordinary external monitor. The system can also be used to livestream footage from the camera on platforms like YouTube, and to transform the smartphone (or tablet) into an external recorder.

LukiLink promises support for NTSC, PAL, and PAL-60 video format inputs, bitrates ranging from 3Mbps to “about 18Mbps,” as well as a maximum recording resolution of 1080/30p. Latency, meanwhile, is said to “usually” fall between 200ms and 300ms, though the exact rate will depend on the smartphone used.

The team behind the product is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, where they have raised a little over $ 40k of their approximate $ 106k goal. Interested buyers can claim a unit by pledging at least €90 (~$ 105 USD), which is a €40 discount over the anticipated retail price. Assuming the LukiLink is funded, global shipments are scheduled to begin this upcoming October.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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