Thinkware F770 is an attractive high-end dash cam [Review]
For a dash cam to stand out from the crowd it needs to go beyond the basics of recording video. It has to be easy to use. The quality needs to be very good. It has to be reliable in a wide range of conditions. It must not lose footage in the event of a crash. And, last but not least, it needs a couple of differentiating -- but useful -- features to give it an edge in this highly competitive market.
The F770, one of the most attractive dash cams in Thinkware's high-end lineup, promises all those things and more. Question is, just how well does it perform in real life? I've tested it to find out.
LG V30 camera has great low light potential
Smartphone cameras have evolved a great deal over the years, reaching the point where many of us can rely on them to snap important moments in our lives. But if there is one area where major improvements can still be made it's in low light.
One way to improve image quality in low light is to use a wider lens aperture, which is what LG has done with its upcoming V30. In fact, the South Korean maker says that it's the widest lens aperture of any smartphone to date. Why does this matter?
Apple joins Instagram to boast about iPhone photography
Smartphones have forever changed the photography market. While a standalone camera, such as a DSLR, may take a better photo, they can be a chore to carry and maintain. Not to mention, they can be very expensive. For many non-professional photographers, their phone is more than good enough. Heck, some people claim an iPhone, for example, can rival dedicated cameras.
Apple seems keen to brag about how good its iPhone is at photography -- there are countless TV commercials produced by the company that highlight that exact thing. Apple is also taking its bragging a bit further by way of social media. After increasing its activity on Twitter lately, the company has now joined Instagram too. Under the @Apple handle, the MacBook-maker is not sharing photos of its products, but instead, photos taken with them.
WiMiUS L2 4K is an impressive affordable action camera [Review]
There are lots of affordable action cameras on the market, but not many of those deserve your attention. In their attempt to compete with upmarket products, vendors tend to focus more on specs rather than the user experience, delivering action cameras that look great on paper but do not work as well as you might expect in real life.
That was the case with WiMiUS' L1, which did not live up to my expectations despite having solid components. However, with the new L2, things should be different. The quality is said to be better than before, and the selection of accessories is much more interesting as well. So, I have put the WiMiUS L2 to the test to see just how good it really is.
ODRVM OD9000R 4K is a good action camera with some issues [Review]
There are lots of affordable action cameras on the market today, many of which have similar specs and features. In fact, save for a couple of design tweaks here and there, you could be forgiven for thinking they are identical.
In practice, however, action cameras that appear to be the same on paper will produce different results. The WiMiUS L1 that I tested last month, for instance, is not on the same level as the SJCAM SJ5000X Elite, which is underpinned by the same chipset, and neither is on the same level as the ODRVM OD9000R, which I've been testing for the past couple of weeks. The OD9000R is a more attractive proposition, despite costing basically the same as the L1.
Petcube Bites Treat Cam lets you reward your doggo or kitty when away from home
Dogs are the best; certainly better than cats. I mean, litter boxes -- am I right? OK, cats are pretty cool too. Hell, all pets are wonderful -- except maybe snakes. Pets bring joy to our lives and provide unconditional love. After a hard day at work, petting your doggo or kitty can release stress and make everything feel alright.
Sadly, we can't be with our pets all the time -- we have to leave the house to earn money so we can buy them treats and toys. It can be heartbreaking to walk out the door while they look at you with sad eyes. Thankfully, Wi-Fi cameras allow us to see our furry friends even when we aren't home. Some models even let you interact with two-way audio. Today, a new product takes this a step further. The "Petcube Bites Treat Cam," as it is called, quite literally is a camera that remotely dispenses treats. While not the first such product to do so, it looks particularly elegant.
OnePlus 5 lags behind the latest flagships in DxO rankings
Before unveiling its latest flagship, OnePlus announced that it had partnered with DxO to improve the camera performance of the OnePlus 5. That was interesting mainly for one reason: DxO, on top of making software that enhances photos, frequently puts popular smartphones to the test to assess their photo and video quality.
So, at some point, we would find just what sort of effect that partnership had on the OnePlus 5, using DxO's own metrics. As it turns out, the new flagship still has some way to go before it can challenge the elite.
Camera trickery: the OnePlus 5 does NOT offer lossless 2x optical zoom
Just one day after the launch of the long-awaited OnePlus 5, accusations of cheating in benchmarks started to creep out -- just as they did with the OnePlus 3T. Now another minor controversy has hit the brand new handset: it turns out that while it is strongly suggested that the OnePlus 5 has lossless 2x optical zoom, that is not actually the case.
OnePlus' marketing certainly pitched the dual camera as offering instant 2x zoom, and many people assumed that the arrangement was the same as with the dual camera iPhone 7 Plus which does offer 2x optical zoom. But the focal length of the OnePlus' two cameras is such that it needs a little digital help to boost the zoom to 2x -- and that raises the question of whether it is actually lossless.
Logitech Circle 2 is a versatile home internet surveillance camera for both inside and outside
Internet-based home surveillance cameras are gaining in popularity nowadays, thanks to decreasing cost and easier setup. These devices allow you to monitor your home using your smartphone for ultimate convenience.
Back in 2015, Logitech unveiled its first such product. Simply called "Circle," it was affordable and easy to use. The problem? It lacked versatility. It didn't offer much in the way of positioning and couldn't be used outside. With that said, the battery aspect allowed it to be moved about a residence. Today, the company unveils the successor -- Circle 2. This time the camera is far more useful, even offering the ability to be used outdoors. There are two models -- wired or wire-free, both of which work with Amazon Alexa.
WiMiUS L1 4K action camera review
The action camera market has exploded. There is an overwhelming number of options to choose from, with the vast majority targeting price-conscious buyers. In fact, many of those affordable action cameras are actually underpinned by the same chip, even though the price difference may lead you to believe otherwise.
The WiMiUS L1 is no different, having the same processor as, for instance, the hugely popular SJCAM SJ5000X Elite. The L1 is on the low end of the price spectrum, undercutting its rival by a significant margin, but is it any good? I've tested it to find out.
Nest reveals Cam IQ, an AI-powered 4K security camera with facial recognition
Google-owned Nest has unveiled the latest addition to its range of smart products -- the Nest Cam IQ. The new security camera not only boasts a 4K video sensor, but builds upon the motion detection feature offered by other similar cameras by adding facial recognition.
What this means is that the Nest Cam IQ is able to send out personalized alerts when it detects the presence of a particular person -- such as when your kids arrive home from school -- but it can also send out warnings when an unrecognized person is spotted. There's even Night Vision so it functions as a nighttime security camera.
Thinkware X550 dash cam review
It's always a good idea to use a dash cam when you get behind the wheel. In case you have a close call or get into an accident, you'll have a video that you can show to the authorities or your insurance company. But there's also an entertaining side to it as well, which is just as important to some folks, as you can also record a spirited drive on a fun road or some interesting things that you stumble upon on your daily commute.
Pretty much all dash cams let you do those things, but some do it better than others. Thinkware's X550 is among the best premium options on the market, featuring a solid camera with an effective "super night vision" mode, GPS info, driver assistance, speed and red light camera database, LCD display on the back, and dedicated software for PC and Mac as its standout features.
Yi 4K+ action camera goes on sale with 4K 60FPS video and $300 price tag
Yi Technology unveiled the Yi 4K+ action camera at CES 2017 earlier this year, but the GoPro Hero5 Black rival is only now going on sale. Its claim to fame? The Yi 4K+ is the first action camera to offer 4K video recording at 60FPS.
The Yi 4K+ clearly outclasses GoPro's Hero5 Black in this regard, as the latter is only capable of 4K video recording at 30FPS. For users who want to shoot sports or fast-moving objects, the extra frames can make a huge difference in terms of smoothness.
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro Webcam is the new gold standard [Review]
If you need a webcam, there is one company that you should look to first -- Logitech. No, they aren't the only maker of these cameras, but the company has a long track record of producing quality offerings. Best of all, Logitech webcams usually work brilliantly regardless of operating system -- Windows, Mac, and Linux-based.
The problem with buying webcams, however, is that they are already integrated into most laptops nowadays, making them seem like an unnecessary purchase. Yeah, I get that -- why buy a webcam when your computer already has one? The answer is simple -- quality. Many computers come with webcams that aren't even 720p. Apple infamously put a 480p webcam on its svelte MacBook... including the refreshed model in 2016! With that said, Logitech has created a webcam with an amazing 4K capability. Called the BRIO 4K Pro Webcam, I have been using it for a few weeks on both Windows 10 and macOS and I am absolutely in love.
Logitech unveils BRIO 4K Pro Webcam with HDR and Windows Hello support
When you buy a laptop nowadays, it will absolutely have a built-in webcam. Some desktop users may have a webcam built into their monitor too. For the most part, those integrated cameras should be passable in a pinch, but the overall performance often disappoints. It is for that reason that many consumers will still buy an external USB webcam.
Logitech has long offered well-reviewed USB webcams, and today, it is announcing what could be the best such camera ever. The BRIO 4K Pro Webcam is capable of recording or streaming 4K content. While UHD support alone makes it intriguing, it also has other notable features like HDR, USB-C connectivity and Windows Hello support. It even comes with a privacy shade in the box. If you want to mount it on a professional tripod, there is threading for that too.
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