Η ΓΝΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΑ ΑΠΟ ΑΥΤΟ
Our soft tissues swell and shrink throughout the day, so a wearable that fits in the morning may not do so in the afternoon. A new adaptive lining for the sockets of prosthetic limbs was designed with this important fact very much in mind.
Category: Medical Devices, Medical Innovations, Body & Mind
Tags: Prosthetic, Imperial College London, Comfort
Today seems to be the day for teasers, with March 26 shaping up as the day for announcements. Canon just shared a teaser suggesting two new cameras coming on March 26, and now Sony has shared a mysterious YouTube video teasing a new camera also coming on the same date.
The video is short and has very little information. Typical of teaser content, the camera is heavily cloaked in shadow. It primarily reveals the sensor and lens mount, along with a "Go small, shoot big" tagline. The first part of that phrase suggests a smaller form factor. The "shoot big" portion, though, along with the view of the lens mount, gives away that it is an interchangeable lens camera.
The rest of the video doesn't provide much other than a button labeled "5" and a 3.5mm jack. The video caption simply states, "Be ready for the announcement of a new product," and provides the announcement time as March 26th at 10:00 EDT / 14:00 GMT / 22:00 CST / 23:00 JST.
Naturally, the comment section is full of guesses. Many are speculating that it could be the FX3 II or FX6 II, while a few think it could be the a6900. Luckily, the announcement is only a week away, so the answer will be revealed soon.
Canon posted a teaser across its social media channels, promising that something is coming soon. The post features two cameras shrouded in shadow, with a large "V" between them and the date March 26. "In one week, a new chapter begins! We promise it's worth the wait," says the Instagram caption. "Subscribe to our YouTube channel at the link in our bio to be among the first to know!"
Of course, as a teaser, details are minimal. But the photo does provide some worthwhile details. One of the cameras is less hidden in shadow than the other, revealing a bit more. It looks remarkably like the Canon PowerShot V1, which was recently released in Asia during CP+. You can even make out the 8.2-25.6mm lens, which is what the V1 features. So, it seems like a safe bet to guess that we will see a broader release of the new compact vlogging camera.
The second camera, though, is much darker. Even when brightened, it doesn't reveal any additional details. However, the giant "V" in the image suggests that both cameras will fall in the company's V series of vlogging and creator cameras. It looks to be only slightly larger than the PowerShot V1, though the lens seems quite a bit larger than the V1's. It's hard to tell if it's another fixed-lens compact or if it could be an interchangeable lens system for vloggers.
Luckily, the announcement is only a week away, so we don't need to wait much longer to find out what Canon is hinting at.
Mercedes’ “compact sedan for the electric age” has arrived and boy is it stuffed with electric capabilities. It becomes the first EV in a completely new generation of Mercedes cars.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, Electric Vehicles, Hybrid, BMW, Geely
2012's XF1 was just one of a range of high-end compacts Fujifilm produced in the past.
Photo: DPReview.com
In our interview with Yuji Igarashi, Fujifilm's Divisional Manager, Professional Imaging Group, he seems to hint at more affordable models, aimed at first-time photographers.
"I think now that cameras have become quite expensive, that’s maybe why young people are going to second-hand cameras for their first camera," he says: "I think maybe there’s a gap for young people to start shooting with digital cameras."
"Maybe there’s a gap for young people to start shooting with digital cameras"The public awareness generated by the X100V and VI puts them in a good position, he suggests: "We’re getting a lot of interest from the younger generation. The younger generation and also a more female audience. Because in the past it was a more male-dominated industry."
"That's an opportunity for expansion: the younger generation, both male and female."
This audience isn't necessarily familiar with cameras, he suggests: "I think you know many people are the first-time buyers of cameras, so I think that's a huge difference. People who were coming to our system maybe five or ten years ago had experience in shooting with other cameras and then starting with X-series, whereas now we’re seeing people for whom X-series is the first camera in their entire life, so they’re comparing their experience to smartphones, rather than comparing to other cameras."
"Now we’re seeing people for whom X-series is the first camera in their entire life""To be honest, we’re still trying to figure out what is the right camera. Of course many young people are interested in X100, X-M5, X-T30 and even X-T5 so they’re quite diverse: we can’t really categorize that audience."
But, he hinted, addressing this audience might mean an expansion beyond its existing models. "They want what’s right for them," he says: "it’s not like there’ll be one camera that’s right for everyone."
"I think [X100VI] has helped raise awareness of other X-series cameras," says Igarashi
Photo: Richard Butler
Could be compactCould there be room in Fujifilm's lineup for a compact camera, again, we wondered. "I think there is demand for compact cameras," says Igarashi.
"I think that smartphones have actually helped people get into photography because everybody takes pictures. So I think there's potential for compact cameras."
The younger generations' relationship with photos is different from their established users, he suggests: "When young people now take a picture and then look back at a picture they took maybe 10, 15 years ago, it may look almost exactly the same because image quality has remained very good."
"I think there's a lot of potential in compact cameras as long as we can provide something unique""So they’ve never experienced this kind of nostalgia in their images. I think second-hand compact cameras are perhaps unique because the images look kind of old and the body looks old and gives this nostalgic feeling to it."
"For my generation, when we were children we had film cameras: we already experienced that, so it’s not a new thing for us, but it’s a new thing for a younger generation."
"I think there's a lot of potential in compact cameras as long as we can provide something unique, and provides a unique experience for the users."
Must be engagingExperience, is a critical consideration Igarashi says: "I think that the shooting experience is probably the most important thing that distinguishes smartphones," he says: "For our cameras, at least."
"I think that experience is what young people are looking for: the fact that you’re intentionally capturing this moment in time, the way you want to capture it."
"Smartphones can be a great tool, but I think there’s more emotion you can add by using a camera to capture the scene."
Interview conducted by Dale Baskin and Richard Butler, at the CP+ 2025 show in Yokohama, Japan. Answers edited for flow.
Fujifilm's Makoto Oishi and Yuji Igarashi at the company's booth at CP+ 2025.
Photo: Dale Baskin
Fujifilm is still committed to both the X-Pro and X-E lines, says Yuji Igarashi, Divisional Manager of its Professional Imaging Group, as we discussed the future of those cameras, the challenges of autofocus and addressing the X100VI backlog.
X100VI backlogIgarashi was keen to explain how the X100VI has ended up back-ordered and clear up the mistaken impression that the shortages are intentional.
"The number of pre-orders on Day One was so big that some people have been waiting for a year," he acknowledges: "It was an extraordinary volume of orders and, of course, we're doing our best to catch up with that. We've been shipping consistently, and we continue to do our best."
"We've increased our production of X100VI quite a lot," he says. To put it in context, he tries to give an idea of how they got caught off-guard: "if you look at the X100 series’ history, we’ve had five cameras preceding this camera and we've already sold in a year what they would have sold in three or four years."
"We've already sold in a year what they would have sold in three or four"Ramping-up production is harder for a camera like the X100VI, he says: "Generally speaking, a premium product is more difficult to produce. For example, the top plate of X100VI, you can see the sharp edges are made from aluminum, and it goes through many processes like stamping and milling, and filling in the colored details. So, it's not like you can simply increase production, quickly. But of course, we will continue to do our best to make a camera available to everyone who wants one. "
Autofocus concernsIgarashi also said he recognized the concerns some users and reviews have expressed about autofocus.
"I don't think we are at the point where I can say, ‘Ok, this is good enough and we’re not going to do any more', he says: "So even today, we're working on making improvements."
"Of course, we always continue to improve our autofocus and also we are aware that we have room to improve as well. And so we’re making a continuous effort."
"We are aware that we have room to improve... so we’re making a continuous effort"One aspect is that the evolution and expansion of the X-series is exposing their cameras to new photographic challenges, he says: "Picking up the X100 autofocus, and then using an X-H with a telephoto prime lens and trying to capture wildlife is a completely different story."
"Of course we know that shooting wildlife or sports is not our bread and butter: it’s not what we’ve been doing for years, and that’s what we’ve been learning as we create these longer lenses. We’ve been expanding our field of photography as we’ve been expanding our lens lineup."
"The areas we’re used to, I think we’re better at, and the new areas we’re expanding into, those are both the spaces we think we have room to improve."
On X-Pro and X-E"Our plan hasn't changed, we still plan to launch a successor to X-Pro3, but we don’t have a date, yet. And X-E of course, too. We haven’t abandoned the line either."
But, especially in the light of what he'd said about a younger audience, we wondered whether it was likely that the X-E series would return to its more enthusiast-focused roots, given how much the X-T series has now expanded to address that audience.
"We’re always considering what's right, so it's never fixed," he says: "I think we look into every product, not just X-E. There’s nothing that’s perfect, which is totally unchangeable: it’s something we consider every time we come up with the next version."
There are limits to this, he suggests: "I think everybody would be surprised if it wasn’t rangefinder style," he jokes.
"Some people really liked the latest X-E"But, he says, it's impossible for one product to serve everyone: "Some people really liked the latest X-E we had: X-E4, but some did not, so while we can’t make everyone similarly happy, we try to come up with the best possible solutions. We try to listen to the latest feedback and make improvements from there."
Jun Watanabe, Product Planning Manager, explained the sorts of users they will be building the next X-E for: "They love the rangefinder style, and they don’t have a specific shooting subject [in mind]," he says: "They love daily life photography [and using X-E] as a snap camera." Importantly, "they love the style and the design," he confirms.
The future of photo-focused camerasExisting photographers shouldn't be alarmed at the company's efforts to broaden their appeal, Igarashi stresses. If anything, the broadening product line lets each camera be a bit more focused: "I think improving cameras for photographers is very much possible. Very small things, but for example, because we have more hybrid cameras like the X-H, that's allowed us to make the X-T5 screen a tilting screen instead of flip out screen. We can probably separate our cameras more between stills and hybrid models."
"We just need to be mindful of who the audience is, and how to provide the right fit for those people."
Interview conducted by Dale Baskin and Richard Butler, at the CP+ 2025 show in Yokohama, Japan. Answers edited for flow.
At just 6.6 m (21.7 ft) in length, what this off-grid capable tiny house lacks in available space it makes up for with portability. It could be a good fit for up to two people wanting a towable vacation home or to embrace a minimalist life on the road.
Category: Tiny Houses, Lifestyle
Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, House, Home
If you missed your chance to buy one of the coolest smartwatches ever made, listen up. Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky's new outfit Core Devices is now accepting pre-orders for two new Pebble-like wearables.
Category: Wearables, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Smartwatch, Pebble, E-Paper
Viltrox has announced that its highly regarded AF 135mm F1.8 Lab lens is now available for Nikon Z-mount. The lens was initially released last fall for E-mount, offering a much more affordable prime portrait lens alternative to Sony's FE 135mm F1.8 GM lens. Now, Nikon users will have a budget-friendly version of Nikon's 135mm F1.8 S Plena.
The Viltrox Lab lineup is the third-party lens maker's high-end series, offering flagship quality and more premium features than its other series of lenses. As a result, Viltrox promises edge-to-edge sharpness in the 135mm F1.8 Lab. The E-mount version has received excellent reviews for the quality it provides, especially for the price, and the Z-mount model should be the same, given that the mount is the only difference between the two.
The lens uses the Viltrox HyperVCM motor for autofocus, which Viltrox claims offers 150% faster autofocus than traditional STM motors. It says the lens will provide 100ms near to far focus point switching for fast yet smooth transitions. It also promises silent autofocus with minimal focus breathing, making it a worthy lens for video purposes. It offers a 0.72m (2.4') minimum focusing distance with 0.25x maximum magnification, roughly the same as Sony's 135mm and slightly closer than Nikon's Plena lens.
Image: ViltroxThe AF 135mm F1.8 Lab features an 11-blade aperture diaphragm for attractive bokeh. The optical design is comprised of 14 elements in 9 groups, which include four ED low-dispersion lenses and two high-refractive-index elements. It's made to be durable, with a dustproof and splash-resistant design and magnesium alloy barrel.
Like the E-mount version, it features a small screen on the top of the lens that can be customized to show relevant information. The lens also offers an AF/MF switch and an aperture de-click switch. A multifunction ring enables adjustable function modes such as aperture adjustment, exposure compensation or ISO control on Nikon cameras. Finally, a USB-C port allows for firmware updates.
One of the tradeoffs for the budget price is more weight. 135mm prime lenses aren't known for being very lightweight, but the Viltrox lens is an especially hefty offering. At 1265g (2.8lbs), it is a bit heavier than the Nikon 135mm F1.8 S Plena, which weighs 995g (2.2lbs). Saving money, in this case, means added weight.
The Viltrox AF 135mm F1.8 Lab lens for Nikon Z-mount is available now on the Viltrox website for $854, which is a temporary discount from its $899 price.
Buy now: $854 at ViltroxViltrox has announced that its highly regarded AF 135mm F1.8 Lab lens is now available for Nikon Z-mount. The lens was initially released last fall for E-mount, offering a much more affordable prime portrait lens alternative to Sony's FE 135mm F1.8 GM lens. Now, Nikon users will have a budget-friendly version of Nikon's 135mm F1.8 S Plena.
The Viltrox Lab lineup is the third-party lens maker's high-end series, offering flagship quality and more premium features than its other series of lenses. As a result, Viltrox promises edge-to-edge sharpness in the 135mm F1.8 Lab. The E-mount version has received excellent reviews for the quality it provides, especially for the price, and the Z-mount model should be the same, given that the mount is the only difference between the two.
The lens uses the Viltrox HyperVCM motor for autofocus, which Viltrox claims offers 150% faster autofocus than traditional STM motors. It says the lens will provide 100ms near to far focus point switching for fast yet smooth transitions. It also promises silent autofocus with minimal focus breathing, making it a worthy lens for video purposes. It offers a 0.72m (2.4') minimum focusing distance with 0.25x maximum magnification, roughly the same as Sony's 135mm and slightly closer than Nikon's Plena lens.
Image: ViltroxThe AF 135mm F1.8 Lab features an 11-blade aperture diaphragm for attractive bokeh. The optical design is comprised of 14 elements in 9 groups, which include four ED low-dispersion lenses and two high-refractive-index elements. It's made to be durable, with a dustproof and splash-resistant design and magnesium alloy barrel.
Like the E-mount version, it features a small screen on the top of the lens that can be customized to show relevant information. The lens also offers an AF/MF switch and an aperture de-click switch. A multifunction ring enables adjustable function modes such as aperture adjustment, exposure compensation or ISO control on Nikon cameras. Finally, a USB-C port allows for firmware updates.
One of the tradeoffs for the budget price is more weight. 135mm prime lenses aren't known for being very lightweight, but the Viltrox lens is an especially hefty offering. At 1265g (2.8lbs), it is a bit heavier than the Nikon 135mm F1.8 S Plena, which weighs 995g (2.2lbs). Saving money, in this case, means added weight.
The Viltrox AF 135mm F1.8 Lab lens for Nikon Z-mount is available now on the Viltrox website for $854, which is a temporary discount from its $899 price.
Buy now: $854 at ViltroxGoogle has announced its latest budget smartphone, the Pixel 9a, which does away with the iconic camera bar by making the cameras smaller. The tech giant claims the new model offers an ideal balance of features and price. Despite that, the team acknowledged that the camera is what draws people to the Pixel lineup, so Google says it aimed to provide quality image-making features on the budget-focused device, claiming it is the best camera in its class.
Resolution Sensor size Aperture Field of view Wide rear camera 48MP Type 1/2Like the Pixel 8a, the 9a features a wide-angle main camera and an ultra-wide. Those who want a dedicated telephoto camera will need to upgrade to the Pro lineup of Pixel phones. While the dual camera layout remains consistent, Google opted for a different main camera sensor in the new model. Instead of the 64MP wide-angle main camera on the 8a, the 9a uses the same 48MP Quad PD Dual Pixel sensor as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Main camera resolution Main camera sensor size Main camera aperture Main camera field of view Pixel 8a 64MP Type 1/1.7This move to a smaller effective sensor is interesting since it's a bit of a downgrade from the 8a in terms of resolution, sensor size and aperture. Granted, due to pixel binning – the process of combining adjacent pixels together to function as a larger pixel – the dip in resolution isn't quite as significant as it may initially seem. The Pixel 8a typically produces 16MP images, while the main camera of Pixel 9a uses pixel binning to produce 12MP images.
Even though the difference isn't massive, it is still less, and it's not typical to see lower resolution in a newer model. This, combined with the slightly smaller sensor and aperture, means the computational photography and processing will need to work that much harder.
While all smartphones rely on computational photography, it seems that the hardware downgrade in the 9a makes it even more dependent on AI image processing.While all smartphones rely on computational photography, it seems that the hardware downgrade in the 9a makes it even more dependent on AI image processing. Those computational photography tools involve image processing for every image you take in the standard camera modes, along with some specialized options currently found on the Pixel 9 Pro.
One such feature is the Macro Focus setting, which is coming to a-series phones for the first time. This mode allows users to get as close as 2cm (0.8") to create pseudo-macro images or videos without a dedicated macro lens. It uses AI to detect when you are close to a subject and automatically switches to the main lens (due to its higher resolution) and macro focus setting instead of requiring a manual switch to a macro mode.
The Pixel 9a's main camera also provides optical and electronic image stabilization, though the ultra-wide rear and selfie camera do not. The main camera uses Google's Super Res Zoom, a form of digital zoom that relies on software and machine learning algorithms to crop and upscale, offering up to 8x magnification. It's no replacement for dedicated telephoto cameras, but it is better than nothing.
As we've seen with other Pixel phones, there are plenty of AI-based editing tools at play on the 9a. Google AI promises the ability to fix blurry images with Photo Unblur. The Magic Editor can automatically crop your image for you or expand the image to invent what's beyond the edges of the frame, much like you can in Photoshop. The Reimagine tool in Magic Editor can even completely change the image using AI, such as making grass green or adding entirely new items to a photo to change the scene.
Image: GoogleOf course, the most obvious change with the 9a is the new design that ditches the protruding "camera bar" that has become synonymous with Pixel phones, in favor of a flatter design. Google says this design is inspired by "nature and water droplets," which seems like a stretch, but it is certainly more minimal. It's also slightly more durable than previous models, with a bump from IP67 to IP68 protection and a new scratch-resistant Actua display.
The Pixel 9a steps up to the Tensor G4 chipset, which is the same chip that's in the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. It also features the largest battery in the a-series, promising up to 30 hours of battery life or 100 hours in Extreme Battery Saver mode. When it needs a charge, the phone supports fast charging and wireless charging. Google has also promised seven years of OS and security updates, prolonging the life of the phone.
Image: GoogleThe Pixel 9a will be available for purchase beginning in April for $500. It comes in 128GB or 256GB storage capacities and is available in four colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Peony and Iris (the black, cream, pink and blue colors pictured above).
If you have the persistent tone in your ears known as tinnitus, you'll want to pay attention to a new study that shows a link between certain foods and a reduction in risk. The finding offers a potentially easy way to get some peace and quiet.
Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
With the threat of a US ban looming over Chinese drone maker DJI, keen flyers throughout the land will likely be on the lookout for alternatives. Homegrown Ascent Aerosystems may have an answer with its somewhat oddball Helius.
Category: Drones, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Camera drone, 4k, Rugged, Surveillance, Monitoring
Over a year and a million kilometers' worth of real-world testing has returned impressive results for Spanish company Fersa's "fuel efficient wheel hub," which cuts fuel burn by at least 3% and saves operators around US$3,500 per truck per year.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Fuel efficiency, Truck, Efficiency
A rice wine native to the Philippines has grabbed the attention of researchers looking into new, natural ways to slow biological aging. But it's not the wine itself – sorry – in the spotlight, but what's left over after the liquid is ready to bottled.
Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness & Healthy Living, Body & Mind
Tags: Microbes, Yeast, Aging, anti-aging, Age-Related, Cells, Chronic illness, Health, Fermentation
Back in 2021, at the height of the pandemic, scientists at Pfizer revealed the development of a novel antiviral molecule, designed to hinder the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s ability to replicate. Clinical trials moved quickly, and by the end of the year we had the very first oral COVID antiviral, called nirmatrelvir.
Category: Infectious Diseases, Illnesses and conditions, Body & Mind
Tags: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Antiviral, Drugs
A still shot from Zafra's timelapse of the event.
Photo: Dan Zafra
Capturing the total lunar eclipse is special enough, but one photographer took things to the next level. Dan Zafra saw the forecast for a period of high solar activity during last week's lunar eclipse and traveled from his Las Vegas home to the Alaskan Arctic to capture the rare event.
Aurora trips are typically best with a new moon because it ensures the darkest possible skies, enhancing the aurora's visibility. This time was an exception, though the eclipse yielded a similar result. "The total lunar eclipse meant that the Moon would darken, allowing the northern lights to shine even brighter," Zafra said.
Photo: Dan ZafraGetting the timing and location right was a significant challenge, Zafra said. He had to calculate where to be to ensure both the Moon and potential aurora were in the same composition. Location scouting was part of this process, though the subzero temperatures added to the challenge. He finally settled on a frozen lake south of Fairbanks, Alaska, which offered an unobstructed horizon.
The weather made things challenging the night of the event, too. Zafra had to contend with -23°C (-10°F) temperatures, requiring he switch between thin glove liners for dexterity and thicker gloves to keep feeling in his fingers. Cold temperatures also drain batteries quickly. He kept spares in his jacket, swapping them out as needed. He says he used six batteries in total between his three cameras.
Adding to the difficulty was the predictably unpredictable aurora. "At one point, my timelapse framing was completely off—the aurora surged higher in the sky than I expected," Zafra said. "I had to quickly reframe the shot mid-sequence, all while monitoring my other cameras."
Photo: Dan ZafraDespite the challenges, Zafra managed to capture multiple shots of the event. A telephoto image, created using a 400mm telephoto lens on a Benro Polaris start tracker, enabled a close-up view to show detail on the surface of the Moon. On the opposite side of the spectrum, a 20mm wide-angle lens allowed him to capture a wide view of the entire scene, showing how grand the aurora was. He also created a timelapse of the event to show it all in motion, which you can see below.
Due to the extreme contrast between the Moon and the surrounding aurora, the final images involved some post-processing. Zafra says he bracketed multiple exposures during the shoot. He then used PixInsight to extract details from the Moon and Photoshop to blend them together with the aurora background. The wide-angle image required less editing, with a single exposure for the Moon and one for the landscape. The timelapse was processed with LRtimelapse.
Zafra says that of all of the images he captured that night, the telephoto shot is his favorite. "I’ve seen countless lunar eclipses and auroras separately, but never like this," he said. "It was as if the entire sky was working together to put on a show."
You can see more behind-the-scenes content and more of Zafra's incredible work on his Instagram page or website.
I know many folks who dismissed Stark's initial announcement of the Varg, a 60–80 horsepower electric dirt bike intended to compete with conventional gas-powered motocross bikes, as just another ambitious EV project that would never reach the market.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Electric Motorcycles, Electric Vehicles, Supermoto, Zero Motorcycles, Dirt Bikes, World's Fastest
Imagine being able to listen to music or other audio that no one else can hear, without having to wear headphones. Doing so is now possible via so-called "audible enclaves," which already exist in functional prototype form.
Category: Good Thinking, Lifestyle
Tags: Pennsylvania State University, Audio, Sound, Ultrasound, metasurface
Budget e-mobility brand Engwe has taken the wraps off the latest generation of its compact L20 fat-tire ebike. The dual-suspension compact hauler can be collapsed down for between-ride transport in the trunk, and comes in hub-drive and mid-drive variants.
Tags: ebikes, Pedal-assisted, Foldable bike, Off-road, City
