Tag Archives: Video camera

GoPro HERO 9 Black : A Hands-On Preview!

GoPro just launched the HERO 9 Black, boasting More Everything! and we managed to check it out up close!

So here is our hands-on preview of the new GoPro HERO 9 Black action camera!

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : What’s New?

The GoPro HERO 9 Black features a new sensor that deliver 5K video and 20 MP photos, together with HyperSmooth 3.0 video stabilisation, a new front-facing display, a larger rear display, and 30% longer battery life.

To complement the HERO9 Black, GoPro also introduced a number of mods, including a Max Lens Mod, a Max SuperView mod, a Media Mod, a Display Mod and a Light Mod.

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : Our Hands-On Experience!

We had a short time with the GoPro HERO 9 Black, and here is our quick hands-on experience video!

And here is a summary of the GoPro HERO 9 Black’s key features :

  • New 20 MP image sensor
  • Video Recording Formats : 5K30, 4K60, 2.7K120, 1440p120, 1080p240 and more
  • Photo Resolution : 20 MP maximum
  • 1.4-inch front colour display, with live preview and status modes
  • 2.27-inch rear touch display, with touch zoom
  • 30% longer battery life, with improved cold weather performance
  • Removable, rechargeable battery
  • HyperSmooth 3.0 with in-camera horizon leveling
  • TimeWarp 3.0 featuring Real Speed, and Half Speed
  • 1080p Live Streaming
  • 1080p Webcam Mode
  • Power Tools : HindSight, LiveBurst, Scheduled Capture, Duration Capture
  • SuperPhoto + HDR Night lapse video
  • RAW photos
  • Digital lenses
  • Voice control with 14 commands in 11 languages + 6 accents
  • 3 microphones with advanced wind-noise reduction
  • Stereo + RAW audio
  • Larger speaker for improved audio playback
  • Removable lens cover
  • Built-in folding mounting fingers
  • Rugger + waterproof to 10 meters (33 feet)

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : New Mods

GoPro is introducing a slew of new mods to complement the HERO 9 Black action camera :

Available in October 2020, the Max Lens Mod adds Max HyperSmooth video stabilisation and low-distortion, ultra-wide Max SuperView at up to 2.7K60 resolution. It also allows for horizon lock no matter how the camera is rotated.

The Media Mod, available starting 16 September 2020, adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • a built-in directional mic with wind suppression
  • 2 cold-shoe mounts (for the Display Mod and Light Mod)
  • weather-resistant construction

The GoPro HERO 9 Black will still support these two existing mods :

The Display Mod adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • a 2-inch flip-up screen for easier vlogging
  • built-in rechargeable battery and micro-HDMI connector

The Light Mod adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • 4 levels of brightness – up to 200 lumens at 1 meter
  • waterproof up to 10 meters (33 feet)
  • built-in rechargeable battery (up to 6 hours)

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : Price + Availability

The GoPro HERO 9 Black is available for purchase starting today, together with these mods coming soon :

  • HERO9 Black : US$449.99 | £429.99 | A$599 | S$680 | RM2099
  • HERO9 Black Max Lens Mod : US$99.99 | ~£77 | ~A$137 | ~S$136 | ~RM414
  • HERO9 Black Media Mod : US$79.99 | ~£62 | ~A$109 | ~S$109 | ~RM331
  • HERO9 Black Display Mod : US$79.99 | ~£62 | ~A$109 | ~S$109 | RM399
  • HERO9 Black Light Mod : US$49.99 | ~£39 | ~A$68 | ~S$68 | RM249

Here are online purchase options for the GoPro HERO 9 Black :

 

Recommended Reading

 

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GoPro HERO 9 Black : Price + Launch Deal in Malaysia!

GoPro just launched the HERO 9 Black in Malaysia, featuring “more everything” and a slew of new mods!

Here is what you need to know about the new GoPro HERO 9 Black, including its price and availability in Malaysia!

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : More Everything In Malaysia!

The GoPro HERO 9 Black features a new sensor that deliver 5K video and 20 MP photos, together with HyperSmooth 3.0 video stabilisation, a new front-facing display, a larger rear display, and 30% longer battery life.

To complement the HERO9 Black, GoPro also introduced a number of mods, including a Max Lens Mod, a Max SuperView mod, a Media Mod, a Display Mod and a Light Mod.

Here is a summary of the GoPro HERO 9 Black’s key features :

  • New 20 MP image sensor
  • Video Recording Formats : 5K30, 4K60, 2.7K120, 1440p120, 1080p240 and more
  • Photo Resolution : 20 MP maximum
  • 1.4-inch front colour display, with live preview and status modes
  • 2.27-inch rear touch display, with touch zoom
  • 30% longer battery life, with improved cold weather performance
  • Removable, rechargeable battery
  • HyperSmooth 3.0 with in-camera horizon leveling
  • TimeWarp 3.0 featuring Real Speed, and Half Speed
  • 1080p Live Streaming
  • 1080p Webcam Mode
  • Power Tools : HindSight, LiveBurst, Scheduled Capture, Duration Capture
  • SuperPhoto + HDR Night lapse video
  • RAW photos
  • Digital lenses
  • Voice control with 14 commands in 11 languages + 6 accents
  • 3 microphones with advanced wind-noise reduction
  • Stereo + RAW audio
  • Larger speaker for improved audio playback
  • Removable lens cover
  • Built-in folding mounting fingers
  • Rugger + waterproof to 10 meters (33 feet)

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : Mods Coming To Malaysia

GoPro is introducing these HERO 9 Black mods to Malaysia, with availability in Q4 2020.

The Max Lens Mod adds Max HyperSmooth video stabilisation and low-distortion, ultra-wide Max SuperView at up to 2.7K60 resolution. It also allows for horizon lock no matter how the camera is rotated.

The Media Mod adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • a built-in directional mic with wind suppression
  • 2 cold-shoe mounts (for the Display Mod and Light Mod)
  • weather-resistant construction

The Display Mod adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • a 2-inch flip-up screen for easier vlogging
  • built-in rechargeable battery and micro-HDMI connector

The Light Mod, which is already available, adds these features to the HERO 9 Black :

  • 4 levels of brightness – up to 200 lumens at 1 meter
  • waterproof up to 10 meters (33 feet)
  • built-in rechargeable battery (up to 6 hours)

 

GoPro HERO 9 Black : Price + Launch Deal In Malaysia

The GoPro HERO 9 Black is available for purchase starting today in Malaysia, together with these mods (available Q4 2020) :

  • HERO9 Black : RM2099 (about US$508 / £394 / A$696 / S$691)
  • HERO9 Black Max Lens Mod : TBA (officially US$99.99)
  • HERO9 Black Media Mod : TBA (officially US$79.99)
  • HERO9 Black Display Mod : RM399 (about US$97 / £75 / A$132 / S$131)
  • HERO9 Black Light Mod : RM249 (about US$60 / £47 / A$83 / S$82)

Here are online purchase options for the GoPro HERO 9 Black in Malaysia :

The first 400 customers to purchase the HERO 9 Black in Malaysia will receive :

  • an extra rechargeable battery
  • the chance to win weekly prizes up to RM1000 cash vouchers

 

Recommended Reading

 

Go Back To > Mobile Devices | Photo + Video | Home

 

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Mac Camera Cover Guide : Why Apple Is Wrong!

Apple recently advised everyone not to cover the camera of their Mac laptops, and rely instead on the camera indicator light.

Find out why Apple is WRONG, and why you need to physically cover your Mac computer’s camera!

 

Mac Camera Cover : What Is It For?

Cybersecurity specialists have long advocated covering the built-in camera of your computers, not just MacBook laptops or Mac desktops, with a camera cover of some sort.

This prevents hackers from taking over that camera, and secretly recording you. This has implications beyond just recording your embarrassing moments for blackmail.

With access to your laptop camera, hackers can determine when you are away from home, who lives at your home, who you are working with, and even where you currently are.

 

Apple : Don’t Use A Camera Cover For Your Mac

In their recent HT211148 tech advisory, they asked Mac laptop (MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro) users not to use any camera cover.

Recommended : Warning : Using A Camera Cover Can Damage Your MacBook!

Instead, they recommended that you use these two built-in features for your privacy :

A. The Green Camera Indicator Light

Apple points out that your Mac computer has a camera indicator light that glows green whenever the camera is active.

They also claimed that the camera is designed not to activate unless its indicator light is also turned on.

B. The Camera Access Control

As an additional measure built into macOS Mojave or later, you must give an app permission before it can use your Mac computer’s camera.

To view which apps has access to your Mac computer’s camera, and to revoke any app’s access :

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Security & Privacy, then click Privacy.
  2. Select Camera.
  3. Select the tickbox next to an app to allow it to access your camera.Deselect the tickbox to turn off access for that app.If you turn off access for an app, you’re asked to turn it on again the next time that app tries to use your camera.

 

Why Apple Is Wrong, And You Need To Cover Your Mac Camera!

Apple fans may hate us for this, but they are wrong. You must physically cover your Mac computer’s camera to protect yourself.

Hackers Always Disable The Indicator Light

Mac computers are not the only ones to feature an indicator light for their built-in cameras. Most computers with a built-in webcam have such an indicator light.

It is, therefore, SOP for hackers to disable the indicator light after gaining control of the camera. Camfecting attacks won’t work if you are aware that the camera is turned on…

Apple asserts that the camera and its indicator light on Mac computers are wired in series, so the camera won’t work if the indicator light is turned off.

However, a 2013 Johns Hopkins University paper showed how it was possible to disable the indicator light of a Mac computer’s webcam, even though the camera module had a “hardware interlock”.

This isn’t just an obscure research subject. The FBI has the capability to covertly activate a computer’s camera without triggering the indicator light, according to Marcus Thomas, the former assistant director of FBI’s Operational Technology Division.

The only ways to prevent such attacks would be to either turn off your computer, or physically cover the camera.

Hackers Won’t Ask You For Permission

Security researcher Ryan Pickren showed in April 2020 how seven flaws in Apple Safari can let malicious websites hijack your camera and microphone to spy on you.

All you have to do is click on a link, and it lets the malicious website gain access to your webcam without asking for permission.

So much for the Mac Camera Access Control feature…

You May Not Notice The Light

Even if the camera indicator light is not disabled, it doesn’t mean you will immediately realise when the light turns on.

By the time you realise the green light is actually glowing, it may already be too late.

This is partly because it emits a steady glow, and doesn’t blink. Of course, a blinking light is bloody irritating, but we are more likely to notice it than a static green glow.

The only way to prevent that is to physically cover the camera.

Hackers Can Turn On Sleeping Or Hibernating Computers

Don’t assume that just because your Mac computer is sleeping or hibernating, hackers cannot access its camera.

They can potentially wake your computer, turn on the camera and record from it, with the indicator light turned off.

Security researcher Pedro Vilaça showed in 2015 how it was possible to remotely “root” and take over a Mac computer after it wakes up from sleep mode of 30 seconds or longer.

Irrespective of the method used, once hackers gain control of your computer, they can turn on its Wake On LAN (WOL) feature to remotely wake up your computer, like what the Ryuk ransomware does.

The only way to prevent that is to turn off your computer, or physically cover the camera.

Cybercriminals Can Trick You With A Fake Blackmail

Even if cybercriminals are unable to access your camera, they can still trick you into believing they somehow took compromising photos or videos from it.

They send out thousands of spam emails every day to trick people into believing they have been caught on camera.

People who don’t use a camera cover can be convinced into believing that their webcams were somehow compromised, and tricked into paying up to avoid exposure.

The only way to prevent that is to physically cover the camera.

 

The Best Way To Cover Your Mac Computer Camera

While we strongly advise you to cover your Mac computer camera, that does not mean you should risk damaging your display.

Laptop Computers (MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro)

According to Apple, we should not use any camera cover that is more than 0.1 mm thick. That basically rules out any camera cover, because it is impossible to make one that thin.

They also advise again using anything that leaves an adhesive residue. So that means cellophane tape (Scotch tape) and packaging tape should be avoided.

So here are the best options for you to consider, based on your requirements :

  1. If you don’t intend to use the camera at all
    a) Use your laptop in clamshell mode, with a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse
    b) Cover the camera with masking tape, which is gentle and leaves no residue
  2. If you plan to use the camera
    – Cut a small piece of sticky note, so that there is an adhesive part and a non-adhesive part.
    – Alternatively, cut a piece of masking tape, and fold part of it to create a non-adhesive portion.
    – Cover the camera with the adhesive part
    – You can then use the non-adhesive portion to pull it off whenever you need to use the camera

Desktop Computers (iMac, iMac Pro)

Desktop computers like the iMac or iMac Pro don’t have to worry about damaging their displays with camera covers of any thickness.

We therefore recommend using a proper camera cover that slides to let you use the camera whenever you want to, and physically cover it whenever you don’t.

Just make sure the camera cover does not use excessively strong adhesive, or leaves a residue that will require using solvent to remove, which could damage the display coating!

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Computer | Cybersecurity | Home

 

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Sony Handycam FDR-AXP55 & HDR-PJ675 Camcorders Released

28 March 2016 – Life’s defining moments can happen so fast, we often fail to fully appreciate the essence of the experience. Whether it’s a child’s first steps, a school play, graduation or a wedding day – having a video to re-live your happiest times with friends and family can become one of your greatest treasures. Sony’s newest Handycam camcorders allow you to perpetuate those moments in vibrant 4K detail.

 

Sony FDR-AXP55

Breath-taking picture quality with 4K Handycam

The patriarch of this year’s camcorder family takes form in Sony’s newest 4K Handycam, the FDR-AXP55, combining enhanced image quality and incredible sound performance.

The FDR-AXP55 features a new Exmor R CMOS sensor, providing exceptionally detailed 4K movies. Due to the new sensor’s approximately 1.6x larger pixel size2, the FDR-AXP55 enjoys a much greater sensitivity level than its predecessor and allows for fantastically clear content with outstanding resolution even when shooting in low light conditions.

The FDR-AXP55 features a newly developed ZEISS lens that extends to a wide angle of 26.8mm3, accurately capturing the scene from wide angle through to telephoto. The lens empowers the camcorder with a remarkable range of 20x optical and 30x (4K)/ 40x (FHD) Clear Image Zoom, for beautiful close-up footage you don’t want to miss.

Due to its Advanced Aspherical (AA) and Extra-low Dispersion(ED) lens elements, colour fringing is highly reduced allowing the lens to produce incredibly accurate colours for beautifully precise footage. The multi-layer film ZEISS T* coating reduces unwanted reflections like ghosting and flare which delivers a crisper, clearer image even when shooting on bright days outside.

The FDR-AXP55 is the first Handycam with an enhanced version of Sony’s own Balance Optical SteadyShot; a 5-axis image stabilisation system that brings you blur-free footage when shooting handheld and thanks to its new Intelligent Active mode5, also ensures crisp footage whilst running. This incredibly powerful image stabilisation system allows for exceptionally smooth and clear video footage from all angles, even when on the move or whilst using the telephoto end of the 20x optical zoom when aiming for close-ups shots. The new Intelligent Active mode takes it a step further and even allows for incredibly clear HD footage when running.

The FDR-AXP55 records at an incredible high bit-rate of 4K 100Mbps, using the high-performing XAVC S recording format , allowing each frame to be filled with astonishing 4K detail so you can relive everything from splashing waves to colourful confetti.

The camcorder comes with a newly adapted AF algorithm, Fast Intelligent AF, also featured in Sony’s α7S II, which optimises communication between the lens and processor to achieve speeds up to approximately 40% faster2 than previous models and more precise subject capture.

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Advanced sound quality

The FDR-AXP55’s new microphone structure collects sound from five directions, thereby capturing real-life sounds and delivering a more realistic sense of ambience. Due to the enhanced microphone structure, noise levels have been reduced by approximately 40%2, and stereo performance is approximately twice as high as previous models2, allowing for clear recordings in a greater range of environments. Its 5.1ch microphone records high stereo sound in 2ch in XAVC S 4K/HD and high surround sound in 5.1ch in AVCHD. In addition, the My Voice Canceling function reduces the user’s own voice whilst recording.

Full HD 100fps recording for slow-mo movies

As a first for the Handycam series, the FDR-AXP55 can record at 100fps in Full HD meaning that footage can be edited into breath-taking slow motion footage with the free PC software, PlayMemories Home™, to add a whole new dimension to home movies.

It boasts many pro-style refinements for greater shooting flexibility, including a manual ring and button that can be allocated to functions like zoom, focus and exposure and electronic viewfinder (EVF), allowing the user to easily compose scenes even when recording on sun-filled holidays. For greater control of the edit, advanced users can benefit from Time Code and User Bit options.

Post shooting, instant on-the-spot video playback is made possible with the Handycam’s built-in projector (50 lm). To enjoy recorded footage at home, 4K content can be played back on a compatible 4K TV through a supplied HDMI cable or by automatic down conversion of 4K frames in Full HD playback on an HD TV. For beautiful framing, this Handycam also allows you to playback trimmed 4K images from selected video frames, enlarging or cropping selected parts of the frame in Full HD quality.

 

Sony FDR-AXP55 Specifications

 

Sony HDR-PJ675

More new ways to capture and share the memories

Sony’s Full HD camcorder range welcomes two new members, HDR-PJ675. As with their elder siblings, they extend to a generous wide angle of 26.8mm3, meaning beautiful family moments can be captured in any situation. Both new models benefit from image stabilization technologies

including advanced Balanced Optical SteadyShot with 5-axis Intelligent Active mode on the HDR-PJ675– ensuring highly detailed, blur-free footage.

The Handycam camcorders allow for XAVC S 50Mbps high-bitrate recording6 and also feature Fast Intelligent AF. With 5.1ch surround microphone performance and My Voice Canceling, superb sound quality is also guaranteed.

Using Sony’s free PlayMemories Home PC software, you can organise and edit your footage and also create your personal high-quality time-lapse movies7 with Time-lapse Capture for powerful, impactful scenes in 4K using the FDR-AXP55 and HD with the HDR-PJ675. In addition, the built-in projector on HDR-PJ675 allows for instant playback of saved videos on large surfaces.

Live broadcasts

To get others involved in the action, all new Handycam models allow Live Streaming via USTREAM, enabling you to stream HD video footage and sound from Handycam camcorders through a wireless access point. You can now ensure that no one, no matter how far away, will miss out on those defining moments, no matter where in the world they may be.

Like all of Sony’s Handycam line up, the new models feature the automatic in-cam movie editing function, Highlight Movie Maker , which picks key moments in your footage like laughter or zoomed in moments and assembles them into short-clips without any need for post-production editing. You can customise with transition effects and soundtrack music and once completed, easily share your MP4 movie on social media sites.

Sony’s new 4K Handycam and full HD camcorders will be available in selected Asia Pacific countries from March 2016 and January 2016 respectively.

 

Sony HDR-PJ675 Specifications

 

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