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Fujifilm’s entry-level X-A7 comes with 4K video and face detection

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For video, the X-A7 can now handle 4K at 30 fps rather than being hobbled at 15fps like the last model, and Fujifilm said it has less rolling shutter, too (a possible jab at Sony). 1080p shooting speeds are limited to 60 fps, however. The ISO range runs from 100-12,800, though it can be expanded to ISO 25,600.

With a small, attractive rangefinder body that weighs just 455 grams with a lens attached, the X-A7 will be easy to pack around. And while the X-A5 had a pop-up screen for selfies, the X-A7 has a fully-articulating touch display, making more useful not just for vlogging and selfies, but other types of shooting as well.

Fujifilm X-A7 aps-c mirrorless camera

The screen is also the primary way to adjust settings for the camera, as the rear of the camera doesn’t have many physical controls. By touching, tapping or swiping, you can change screen brightness, film simulation, and other effects.

Other features include Fujifilm’s “Bright Mode” scene recognition tech, which applies HDR and other tricks to create bright, vivid images without the need for any fiddling. This is the kind of automatic mode that smartphone shooters are used to, so Fujifilm clearly thought this would be an important feature for novices who might buy an entry-level camera.

The Fujifilm X-A7 will cost $700 with a Fujinon XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIZ PZ kit lens when it arrives in the US on October 24th. If you’re looking to stand out a bit from the crowd, it comes with mint green and “camel” color options, along with the usual silver and dark silver. You’ll also be able to get it in “navy” in some regions.

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Hideo Kojima releases ‘Death Stranding’ briefing trailer in 4K

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He’ll start with a 50-minute gameplay footage showing how Death Stranding’s “Strand Game” — that is, how the main character “Sam” reconnects people and a dying world — works on September 12th 3:30PM Japan time/2:30AM US Eastern time. On September 14th, he’ll present a 30-minute video showing gameplay in a specific location within Death Stranding’s universe.

In a tweet, Kojima said he’d rather you go in blind and play without knowing what the game is about, so you can “enjoy the surprise by discovering yourself.” However, he decided to introduce its basic gameplay, because vaguely describing it as a “completely new type of action game” understandably wouldn’t fly with a lot of potential players.

You can watch the 4K briefing trailer, as well as the Kojima Productions TGS event livestream in a few hours, below:



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Watch Tesla’s record-breaking Laguna Seca lap

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In 2016, Musk tweeted that Plaid would be reserved for the upcoming Roadster, so it appears that plans have changed. He explained today in another tweet that the triple motor Plaid setup is “about a year away,” with plans to make it available into the Model S, X and Roadster, but not the cheaper/smaller Model 3 or Y.

This isn’t quite the Taycan-fighting Nürburgring run Musk had initially promised we’d see this week, but he later mentioned the company would need to do more review and testing ahead of the attempt.

Our friends at Autoblog have picked up spy shots of a modified Model S P100D that is, as Musk promised, driving around the German roadway right now, so hopefully the battle between sporty EVs will get some comparable data soon.



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Even ‘Civilization VI’ is getting a battle royale mode

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Everyone starts with one civilian, one infantry unit and one machine gun unit, and you grow your faction mainly to crush others. You won’t be creating any wonders of the world here. The storm shrinks the safe space every few turns, so you can never become too comfortable — especially when you lose if someone captures your last civilian. It should be much faster-paced, if not exactly in the spirit of Civilization games past.

This mode is free to anyone who already owns the core Civ VI. It’s not going to pull you into the game if you weren’t already enamored with turn-based strategy, but that’s not necessarily the point. This is more about enticing you to keep playing and, presumably, shell out on expansion packs to keep the gameplay fresh.

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Alexa Auto adds offline capabilities that work in tunnels and parking garages

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With the new SDK, users can ask Alexa to do things like turn on the AC, tune the radio or make a call — even when connectivity is intermittent or nonexistent. That’s thanks to a “Local Voice Control” extension that allows automakers to add a scaled-down version of Alexa’s cloud-based service to a vehicle’s infotainment system. It acts as a backup and is meant to increase the resiliency of Alexa’s cloud-based capabilities.

Amazon introduced the Alexa Auto SDK last year, making the tools accessible to all developers via GitHub. Audi, BMW and Toyota have all added Alexa capabilities to their infotainment systems. But not all automakers have signed on. GM recently announced it would bring Google Assistant to Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. The brand of voice-assistant that automakers choose could become an important selling point. According to a JD Power study conducted for Amazon, 76 percent of respondents said they want the same brand of voice service in both their home and their next vehicle.

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Uber intends to treat drivers as contractors despite California bill

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For a company to treat its workers as contractors, it has to prove that they’re free from the control of the hiring entity, perform work outside the typical range of that entity’s business and regularly engage in an “independently established” business similar to the work they perform. It’s that second requirement that’s the most contentious. West maintained that drivers’ work is outside of Uber’s usual business, which is to allegedly serve as a “technology platform” for digital marketplaces — it’s to provide the tools drivers use to collect fare, not to provide the transportation itself. The executive pointed to multiple rulings that he claimed would back that interpretation.

West also pointed to a proposal that Uber hoped would allay longstanding complaints about pay and working conditions — and, of course, avert a legal crackdown. The proposal would set a guaranteed minimum earnings standard for drivers, offer benefits like sick leave and injury coverage and deliver “real sectorial bargaining.” Not that the company is taking any chances. West reiterated that Uber was partnering with Lyft on a 2020 ballot initiative that it said would back the “pro-driver policies” if there isn’t a compromised reached before then.

In a follow-up on Twitter, West made clear that Uber “will follow the law,” whatever the outcome may be.

The problem, of course, is that California won’t necessarily see things Uber’s way. Many casual observers will tell you that Uber’s business is transportation, not tech — you hail “an Uber,” after all. The bill was clearly crafted with that consideration in mind, denying exemptions mainly to ride hailing companies like Uber and Lyft. Jalopnik also observed that a late amendment to AB5 let city attorneys sue companies for misclassifying workers, making it that much easier to challenge Uber’s employment approach and force the courts to apply the contractor test. California appears to be gearing up for a court challenge, and it’s not guaranteed that Uber will win.



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The Pixel 4 XL is the worst-kept secret of 2019

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To start, the video offers a detailed look at the white Pixel 4 XL. If you were a fan of the ‘panda’ model Pixel 2 XL, you’ll be happy to learn Google is bringing back the color variant. This version of the Pixel 4 XL features a white back contrasted by matte black front panel and sides. It even includes the accented orange power button of its predecessor. In a separate video posted by Rabbit TV, we also get a look at the black model and a third coral-colored variant.

Moving back to the AnhEm TV clip, we also get a detailed look at the Pixel 4’s Setting’s menu (all of which is in English). Here we get confirmation that the phone will feature a smooth 90Hz display, with the ability to dynamically switch to 60Hz depending on the content that’s on-screen. With phones like the OnePlus 7 Pro that feature 90Hz displays, the user interface feels and looks more responsive thanks to the screen’s faster refresh rate.

In the display settings, we also see a feature called “Ambient EQ”. This is another new feature that’s been rumored for a while. Ambient EQ is essentially Google’s take on the iPhone’s True Tone functionality. The Pixel will adjust the color temperature of its display to match the ambient light in a room. Apple says this feature reduces eye strain at night, and Google is likely to make the same claim. One last interesting tidbit of information is that the Pixel 4 includes a new pre-installed ‘Recorder’ app. We, unfortunately, don’t see the app in action, but it’ll likely allow Pixel 4 owners to record audio without downloading a separate app. It’s possible the app may allow individuals to capture what’s on their display as well.

With the Pixel 4 not expected to launch until sometime this fall, we’re likely to see, despite Google’s best efforts, more leaks before the phone is out. One potential launch date is October 15th. That date comes from a render that was shared by leaker Evan Blass. We’ll likely see if it’s accurate soon.

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Inside Volkswagen’s all-electric ID.3

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It’s important to note (once again) that the ID.3 is not coming to the United States (boo). But, the layout we’re seeing in this car will more than likely end up in the ID.4. Or at least a very close variant of it will show up stateside. Either way, Volkswagen has produced a clean, easy to use and more importantly, easy to understand system that should offer up what people care about the most while driving.

When you sit down in the ID.3, its infotainment system exudes clean design. Most of that has to do with the white background and floating displays. The center display is a 10-inch touchscreen that floats above the dashboard.

Two home screens contain the features users will use most while a third has a tablet-like layout of all the options available. Navigation was mostly quick with very little latency. There were a few moments when the system didn’t respond to taps or swipes. Chances are that’s more of an issue with it being pre-production than anything.

Volkswagen ID.3 infotainment system

Under the display are simple climate controls with touch-sensitive buttons. Users can tap to raise or lower the temperature or tap and hold and move their finger left or right to adjust the heat or cooling. There are tiny ridges at the end of the “buttons” so that should help when you want to cool the car down without having to take your eyes off the road.

More robust controls are in the touch display. But in addition to the usual hot, cold, fan speed etcetera, Volkswagen added more conversational-type controls like “cool feet” or “warm hands.” It’s a nice touch and shows that automakers are closer to understanding how actual humans think.

To that effect, the automaker is also adding a voice assistant. The “Hey ID” wake word offers up access to navigation, climate control, media and other features. Two mics in the ceiling of the car help the system determine who is talking so if the passenger says they’re too hot, it’ll only adjust their temperature.

Volkswagen ID.3 infotainment system

One interesting aspect that’s not on other cars is the ID Light which is essentially an LED strip that’s positioned right below the windshield. It can help with navigation by telling you when to turn, give you charging status and flash red when you need to apply the brakes. As drivers get used to it, I can see it being a useful way to share simple (but sometimes vital) information without the driver taking their eyes off the road.

Meanwhile, behind the actual wheel, Volkswagen is using touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel for ADAS and media controls. With the controls on the right, you can adjust the view of the dash cluster. Swiping left and right toggles between either navigation, speed or ADAS being enlarged. While the speedometer is always visible, ADAS and navigation can be swiped away.

On the left side of the steering wheel, driving modes can be selected with a quick swipe. As someone that changes driving modes quite a lot while cruising around, this is a far better solution than a button in the center console or on the dash.

Volkswagen ID.3 infotainment system

While the touch-sensitive controls are cool in theory, it’ll be interesting to try them out on the road. Without any real physical feedback from your actions on the steering wheel, it might not be as innovative as VW hopes it will be.

Overall though, the interior of the ID.3 is quite spacious for a car its size and I had no trouble fitting into the back seat while others were in the front. Like the display, it feels light and airy in the car and presents itself interior-wise as a larger vehicle.

Again, it’s important to point out that we will not be getting this car in the US. But it’s the first MEB platform vehicle from Volkswagen and what happens here will permeate the rest of the coming line up. But for now, we’ll wait for the ID.4 which should be available in the US in 2020.

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Intel is hosting an Olympics-sanctioned esports tournament in 2020

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The final championship tournament — the Intel World Open — will be held on June 22-24th in Tokyo. Similar to the Olympics, players will play on teams that represent their nations. A total of 12 nations will be pre-selected to form national teams. Beginning in March, national qualifiers will determine the best four players of each nation, who will be selected to form that team. During the live qualifier in Poland, twenty teams will compete in a group stage qualifier to determine the strongest team in the Americas, EEMEA (Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa) and the Asia Pacific region. The final seven teams will compete against Japan in the World Open in Tokyo.

Intel will already have a big presence in the 2020 Olympics, bringing 3D athlete tracking, a 5G network and a possible drone light show. Adding an esports tournament will only add to the American tech giant’s cachet in Japan’s capital city.

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These days, Apple is content to follow trends, not set them

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Take, for example, the new Deep Fusion computational photography feature that Phil Schiller described as “way cool.” It’s an image-processing system that taps the A13 Bionic’s neural engine and uses machine learning. According to Apple, this system will “do pixel-by-pixel processing of photos, optimizing for texture, details and noise in every part of the photo.” Deep Fusion will be available later this fall, so we don’t know yet how effective it might be. Apple did show sample shots of its Night Mode tool that will improve low-light photography, and those results looked impressive.

That latter feature is the most obvious example of Apple’s attempts to outdo its competitors. If you recall, Google’s Night Sight launched last November and made it possible to take relatively clear photos in near-total darkness. And Google wasn’t even the first to try this: It was just the most effective. Huawei, LG and Samsung have all offered their own take on the feature in previous flagship phones to varying degrees of success. Apple’s Night mode promises to do pretty much the same, though how well it works remains to be seen.

It wasn’t always this way though. In the middle of the megapixel race, when smartphone makers were focusing on cramming sharper sensors onto their phones, Apple did something truly different and thoughtful. It stopped at 12 megapixels and turned its attention to features like autofocus and low-light performance, working to increase pixel size for better quality. The iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 ranked as the best phone cameras during their time thanks to these improvements too. Apple was even ahead of the game when it introduced things like Portrait mode.

iPhone 11 Pro

When it adopted dual cameras with the iPhone 7 Plus, Apple also opted for a more compelling setup than the competition at the time was using. It went with a telephoto lens as the secondary camera rather than a monochrome one for detail like in the Huawei P9 or the wide-angle option on the LG G5. Apple’s approach soon became the most popular pairing in the industry. Nowadays, though, Apple is seen as lagging behind Samsung, Huawei and even LG in picking up on trends, not to mention setting them.

On the hardware front, Apple belatedly jumped on the ultrawide-angle trend this year. It added cameras with a 120-degree field of view to all three new iPhones. LG was one of the earliest to test out this concept when it added a super wide lens to the G5 in 2016.

It seemed gimmicky at first, but when people (myself included) started seeing the versatility it brought to smartphone photography, LG’s rivals followed suit. Now the Galaxy S10, S10+ and Note 10 as well as the Huawei P30 Pro all have ultrawide options as well. Apple is just the latest to get on board. (It’s worth noting that for all the praise thrown at Google for its prowess in photo processing, the Pixels still don’t have ultrawide-angle lenses.)

iPhone 11 Pro camera

Now Apple’s updated camera interface, which lets the user see the wide-angle view while framing up a shot with the main camera, is unique. But in simply adding a third, ultrawide sensor, Apple isn’t doing anything that other phones aren’t.

It’s also not just the smartphone industry that Apple borrows ideas from. With the Apple Watch Series 5, the company also introduced a new Always On Display that means the wearable will tell time, well, all the time. Yeah, pretty much all other smartwatches with color touchscreens have had this for a while now. Apple’s new women’s health-tracking feature also follows in the footsteps of Fitbit and Garmin. Sure, Samsung and Google have yet to integrate this, so Apple isn’t the slowest in this race, but it certainly isn’t breaking new ground.

Innovation comes with a measure of risk, and it’s understandable that Apple wants to play it safe. The company’s wait-and-see attitude isn’t news — plenty have called out how far behind it is compared to its rivals. And frankly, it’s been a long time since Apple’s surprised the industry with a fresh idea that’s made us all go, “Wow, why didn’t anyone think of this before?” Sometimes you almost forget that the iPhone was once the leader of the pack rather than just a member of it.

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