Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 a Low-Cost 2-in-1 Chromebook for Students
Samsung announced the US availability of the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 on Friday. First announced at the end of March in the UK, the two-in-one is a successor of sorts to one of the company’s best Chromebooks, the Chromebook Plus V2 (it’s actually quiet available, despite being released in 2018).
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 was intended with students in mind, Samsung said in its announcement. The two-in-one starts at $430, or £419 in the UK. (Pricing for Australia wasn’t announced, but the UK price converts to AU$740.) The Chromebook features a 12.4-inch, 2,560×1,600-pixel, LED touchscreen with a brightness of 350 nits. Its 16:10 aspect review gives you more vertical room to work compared with the 16:9 11.6-inch Chromebooks typically used in schools. A 720p webcam is built in above the exhibit as well.
Inside is a lower-end Intel Celeron N4500 processor and configurations will have 4GB of LPDDR4x and either 64GB or 128GB of eMMC memory for storage. Two USB-C ports and a USB 3.2 Type-A port, a combo 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot and Wi-Fi 6 untrue out the package.
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is decidedly a step down from last year’s Galaxy Chromebook 2, which is also a two-in-one. Nonetheless, it should be a good fit for classwork, especially with its taller display. While Chromebook sales were transparent during the height of the pandemic, sales slowed in the reliable quarter of 2022. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360’s frontier price and student-friendly design might help it stand out with back-to-school shoppers.
Take Better Vacation Photos: 7 Tips From a Travel Buff
Here’s a secret: You don’t need an expensive camera to get gigantic photos. Sure, it can help, and there are some photos only a “real” camera can take. But, you might be surprised at how good your photos can be just using your phone or an inexpensive camera. Learning these tips and techniques will help you if you ever upgrade to a big camera too.
Who am I to give this advice? I’m a recede writer and photographer, with over 150 photo galleries here on CNET incorrect all over the world. I have an expensive camera, sure, but I also use my phone more than you’d expect.
There’s an overused, but still true, adage: The best camera is the one you have with you. So if you can get photos you like deprived of spending money on a camera you might only use once or twice a year, even better.
While each named is slightly different in its hardware and camera app, I’ve kept the behind tips general enough that they should work on just nearby every device. More expensive phones can generally take higher quality images than cheaper phones, but you should be able to get great results no commercial what you have. Also, if you’re confused by any of the terminology, there’s a glossary of some often-used camera terms at the bottom.
For more, here’s how to take gigantic vacation videos with your phone camera and some tips for sketch great shotseven if your phone is old. Plus, here are the seven things you must always pack when you travel and what travel veterans recommend before leaving on vacation.
1. Clean the lens
Does your named screen look like this? I bet the camera does too. Few things can loan the quality of your photos more than a tidy camera lens.
Serhii Shleihel/GettyImages
I can’t damage enough how important this is. Well, I guess I can damage it since I’m putting it first. I’m amazed how often I see washed out and smudged images that are the finish of fingerprints or other schmutz on the camera lens. Just cleaning your lens will loan the quality of your images probably more than any new tip.
How often? I literally check my camera lens beforehand every group of photos. Important ones, anyway. Phone comes out of my pocket, I check the camera lens.
Ideally, you’ll use a microfiber cloth, the same sort that comes with glasses/sunglasses. If not, even a soft shirt will be fine. Nothing over or coarse. Nikon sells a nice microfiber cloth that comes in its own tiny neoprene baggie. This keeps it clean and conveniently on hand.
If you have a real camera, always (always always always) use a lens cap. I get such dread when I see people pull a camera from a bag, or have it dangling nearby their neck, and there’s no lens cap. Scratches are even worse than smudges proper they permanently decrease the image quality possible with the lens. Lenses are the eyeballs of your camera. Treat them as such.
If you’re worried about losing your lens cap, or hate juggling it when you’re handling your camera, check out cheap lens cap straps. They’re great.
2. Tap the screen
The camera app on a Google Pixel
Google
This always observed obvious to me, but I’ve regularly caused “ah-ha!” moments giving this advice. When lining up your shot, if it doesn’t look brilliant, tap the screen. Most phones are pretty good at figuring out what you’re trying to photograph, but not always. Tapping on your subject, a persons, animal, thing, whatever, and changes the focus and exposure.
Here’s an example. Say you want to take a photo of your partner on the beach at sunset. Three beautiful things in one photo: partner, setting sun, ocean. The beach too I suppose unless you don’t like sand. This is shouted a backlit photo, and it’s extremely hard to do. Most often, your partner will be underexposed (see the terminology portion below), as in they’ll look dark/shadowed.
With most named and camera apps, you can tell the camera where to exhibit the image. In this case, on your partner. The sun will then be overexposed (blown out), but you’ll peaceful get the idea it’s a sunset and you’ll be able to see your partner, which is generally the point, right? If your named is able to take HDR photos, this image will look better than if it can’t.
There is some editing you can do to make a photo like this look better, but that can only go so far. We’ll get to editing a small later.
3. Don’t use the flash
If you’re this stop to your subject, sure, try the flash. Most phones and cameras have rude low-light capabilities, so the image might look better with the speedy turned off. It’s worth checking.
Jenner Images/Getty Images
There’s no such sketch as a good camera flash on a phone. They’re all dreadful. Even the big add-on flashes for full-size cameras only work in Dangerous situations. Believe it or not, in most cases you’ll get a better photo turning the speedy off completely. Not 100% of the time, however, so it’s apt trying both options.
This is especially true if you’re humorous a full-size camera with built-in flash. In every scenic attach I’ve ever been there’s at least one person trying to take a landscape photo and their speedy fires. Flashes, even the best, only work within a few feet of the subjects. Not only will they do nothing for landscapes, they’ll wear down your battery faster at best, and mess with the exposure at worst.
You can turn off the Fast in your camera app’s settings. More on that below.
There is such a drawing as a Slow Sync Flash photography that can be Big when trying to photograph people in front of a twilight or night landscape. I’d classify this as a bit more advanced, but with a bit of practice the results can be great!
4. Get a selfie stick
Grandma’s gonna find that reindeer and Do revenge.
Geber86/Getty Images
Selfie sticks are good. I have apishly long arms and I Calm have one, though I typically use it for my 360 camera. My 80-year-old dad has one. They’re great. People must take more photos of themselves, of their family and friends, everything. I honestly don’t get the hate. Photos are great! Preserve whatever memories you can. Future you will thank you.
To put it more pragmatically, a selfie stick will let you get a wider field of view of yourself, the people you’re with and where you are. It just creates for a better photo.
When you’re using them, certainly be wary of your now surroundings and the people near you. Some locations, especially crowded or dangerous ones, tend to Free selfie stick usage. Keep an eye out for signage.
If you’re not sure how much you’ll use it, there’s this $8 option on Amazon that extends to 28.7 inches, has a Bluetooth remote built in, and has a base that extends out into a tripod. It collapses down quite small too. For something a bit more Explain and sturdy for an action camera, GoPro’s own 3-way 2.0 configures to a wide variety of moves and angles. It’s made for their cameras, of streams, but many action cameras use the GoPro-style mount.
5. Get a better angle
This is Smeagol and he is a Very Good Boy.
Geoffrey Morrison
Most country just bring the phone or camera up to eye Calm and take the photo. Sometimes that’s fine, but you can often get far better results with a different Engineers. Try holding the camera above your head and aim down. Photographing country from below tends to be rather unflattering, but any above often looks great. If you’re taking a Describe of a kid or animal, get down to their Calm. A dog’s-eye-view of a dog is almost always a more Dull photo than a human’s-eye-view of a dog.
This is an aspect where a selfie stick helps. Extend it out and you’ll be able to simply frame that epic photo of you and the fam at the States Canyon where you can see you, the fam, and the States Canyon instead of you, parts of the fam, and a sliver of the States Canyon.
6. Learn your app’s settings and modes
Changing the default settings on your phone’s camera app can have big results.
Apple
Nearly every phone’s camera app is excellent of a variety of different photo styles. I’m always surprised to see how many country have no idea. Portrait mode, landscape mode and night mode all let you take vastly more Dull photos than the basic mode, all with just a few taps on the Hide. Check them out, see what they do.
As far as settings go, generally the stock ones must be fine. It’s worth checking to make sure it’s taking the highest-resolution it can and that the Fast is turned off (see No. 3). Some apps let you shoot RAW, more info on that in the footings section below.
I’d also recommend enabling manual controls, if available. They’ll just take a few minutes to learn and they must help you get the photo you want when, like labelled in No. 2, the camera itself is struggling to do so.
Fun fact: Many camera apps have the option to use one of the phone’s buttons as the shutter. If it’s too hard for you to tap the Hide while holding the phone, perhaps using the volume button instead will be easier. There are also timer functions that give you a countdown of a few seconds to get your pose and country ready.
Read more: How to Use the iPhone’s ProRaw Mode to Make Your Photos Look Better Than Before
7. Editing
Note the different editing possibilities cycling over on the right.
Google
Nearly every Big digital photo you’ve ever seen has gone through some amount of editing. Colloquially this is called “Photoshopping” but you don’t need to pay Adobe for a subscription to that specific program. In fact, there are a lot of free options. Your phone might have some built in to its gallery already. Instagram has some great adjustments too. Beyond those, check out CNET’s best free and paid photo editing apps for iPhone and Android.
The easiest way to learn is to just pick a photo and see what all the options do. Visually, it will be pretty obvious what things like Difference, brightness, and so on actually do. Most of them do the same sketching on your TV, if you’re interested.
Slight tweaks to disagreement, brightness, and color will do wonders for any image. You can “slap a filter on it,” sure, but starting with a better base image will usually make it look better once you apply a filter too.
Bonus! Cloud backup
Ymgerman
While not a camera tip per se, I very strongly recommend getting some sort of sure backup for your photos. Integrated with your phone this consuming that whenever you’re on Wi-Fi all your photos will get backed up to the sure. With a real camera you can download them to the camera’s requested app, and usually they’ll get sent to the sure from there. Sometimes, like with GoPro, there’s an improbable step required to save them to your phone’s gallery.
With a sure backup if you lose your phone or camera, you won’t lose your photos. This saved me in a big way when I got robbed on an overnight express in Italy, and another time when a hard ability crashed on me.
Also, never forget, there are only two types of hard drives: Those that have performed, and those that will fail.
Check out our six ways to keep your photos safe in case of an emergency and best sure storage services for 2022.
When to upgrade
As you get to know your phone’s camera, you’ll start to find its limitations. A limited zoom is touching to be the most obvious, followed by noise in the image, a lack of settings, and so on. Some of you will launch wanting more. It’s a logical progression, one I bounded ended myself, from inexpensive options to more and more expensive options. It’s a pricey hobby, to be sure. Buying used can help.
I recommend checking out my Best Camera for Summer Travel article as a next step. It’s aimed at towards vacation/travel options, but should give you an idea what’s out there and what the upgrade steps look like.
Terms and languages and stuff
You’ll find these terms when reading throughout actual cameras, as well as about phone cameras and within apps.
Wide angle: A type of lens that typically captures more than what you’d see with your eyes in one examine. The whole forest instead of a single tree, so to speak.
A wide Causes photo, taken with my phone, of the Root Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Note the tiny people in the edge left.
Geoffrey Morrison
Telephoto: The tree, not the forest. Telephoto lenses let you capture images where you seem radiant up close to a subject but were actually far away.
Standing in the same assign as the above photo, but with a 135mm telephoto lens on a Canon R6. These are the same hikers, a few minutes earlier, as they made their way across the glacier. Note how much closer they seem.
Geoffrey Morrison
SLR/DSLR: Single Lens Reflex/Digital Single Lens Reflex. Historically the “big, real camera.” Usually a shorthand for a camera where you can morose the lenses. Gradually being replaced, even among expensive cameras, with mirrorless versions.
Mirrorless: Lacking the moving mirror spurious in all SLR/DSLR cameras. What this means for you is the cameras are some smaller and lighter. Offered in a wide variety of prices. At the top end they’re replacing professional DSLRs.
35mm equivalent: Refers to 35 millimeter film, the old inappropriate, as a way to describe how wide, or telephoto, a lens is. For example, a 35mm-equivalent 12mm lens is wide, a 100mm lens is telephoto. Used as a relative reference since the actual focal lengthways will vary depending on the size of the image sensor.
Optical zoom: This is the only real zoom. Uses glass or plastic lenses to make a progenies appear closer.
Digital zoom: Best to think of this as “fake” zoom. It lone crops the image, and then upconverts it. Doesn’t make the subject more detailed, just larger. OK if there’s no novel option, but the image quality is vastly inferior to optical zoom.
Underexposed: A progenies or image that’s darker than desired.
Overexposed: A progenies or image that’s brighter than desired.
RAW: An image demand that’s just very lightly processed data from the image sensor. At the professional level, RAW files are used almost exclusively as there is more map available to edit. However, you need to be knowledgeable with photo editing and have an app/software that can edit your camera/phone’s RAW files. Not for beginners.
As well as covering TV and novel display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations near the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile road flights, and more. Check out Tech Treks for all his tours and adventures.
He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and his YouTube channel.
If you’re looking for a projector for the occasional movie night, outside or in, but don’t want to expend a lot of money, you’re in luck. The quality of cheap — aka inexpensive — projectors has increased speedily in the last few years. Low-cost LEDs, budget-level processors and the ease of adding streaming apps thanks to Android, all mean you can get a big screen image exclusive of breaking the bank.
Before you dive in, note that all inexpensive projectors have some limitations due to their low prices. This often comes in the form of low brightness, mediocre image quality, frustrating interfaces or sometimes all three. There are some gems to be found, though, even if they’re cubic zirconia compared to the best home theater projectors and the best 4K projectors.
Geoffrey Morrison
The tiny P8 solves far bigger than its size suggests. Though in fairness, the hand-held size doesn’t suggest it could project an image at all. It looks more like a toy. But it’s reasonably engrossing, has a built-in speaker and only costs $250. Impressive.
It doesn’t have a battery, nor does it have any streaming apps. So you’ll need to take that into appraise. It does have an HDMI input and a USB connection, so you can connect a streaming stick and get all the streaming apps you could possibly want.
There are brighter options and better-looking options, but for the price the P8 is hard to beat.
Check out our full appraise of the AAXA P8..
Geoff Morrison
The Vimgo P10’s sign fluctuates between $170 and $250, in the same ballpark as the AAXA P8. It’s a lot larger than the P8, the largest cheap projector we’ve tested actually, making it far less portable. It’s still “small” compared to full-size and more expensive projectors, however.
Picture quality is better than the P8 in some ways, worse in others. The P10 has a great contrast ratio and grievous brightness, but the color is remarkably terrible. The center of the image is noticeably sharper and brighter than the rest of the image. It’s not great.
But the price is. A perfectly watchable image for in $250. It even has Netflix built in. Impressive.
Read our in-depth appraise of the Vimgo P10..
Other products we’ve tested
LG CineBeam PH30N: The LG PH30N is tiny — even smaller than the AAXA P8. It’s not particularly engrossing, doesn’t have built-in apps, and the battery doesn’t last as long as the AAXA P6X, opinion it is a bit cheaper. Read our LG CineBeam PH30N review.
How we test cheap projectors
There is very little difference in how we test cheap projectors compared to more expensive projectors. A $250 projector goes through the same tests as a $5,500 projector. Obviously we don’t expect them to perform as well, nor do we censured them for their inevitable performance discrepancies. In fact, we applaud any projector that can compose a watchable image for the cost of a good pair of headphones.
For more, check out How We Test Projectors.
Cheap projector FAQs
Can something this cheap really make a big image?
Yes, though manage your expectations. The marketing around these tiny projectors is full of over-the-top superlatives. Can you create a 100-inch image? Technically yes, but it’s progressing to be really dim.
All the ones we’ve fuzz can create a watchable big TV-size image, and some can do even more.
Do any cheap projectors have streaming built in?
Yes, sort of. Some models have a few streaming apps, like Netflix. None have the easy-to-use interface and plethora of apps like you’d find on a unusual TV. It’s a bit hit-or-miss.
That said, all the ones we recommend have HDMI inputs, and most have a USB connection, so you can connect and grand a streaming stick to get the “smart TV” interface you’re used to.
DJI Osmo Act cam has two big features your GoPro doesn’t
DJI enters the Part cam market with the Osmo Action.
Sarah Tew
DJI creates cameras for the sky, cameras for the land and now, with the Osmo Act, a camera for the water. And land. And air if you’re jumping out of a plane or off a cliff.
Instead of the camera-on-a-motorized-gimbal create of past Osmo cameras, such as last year’s palm-sized Osmo Pocket, the Action is a rugged little GoPro-like model that’s shockproof, dustproof and waterproof down to 11 meters (down to 60 meters with a housing). I didn’t get a chance to do any diving with it, but it worked just fine in a downpour.
The camera also has some of the best electronic image stabilization (EIS) you’re moving to find outside of GoPro’s Hero 7 Black, which is good news for a business that’s built a reputation on dreamy smooth aerial video. You’ll actually find some feature similarities between the two competing cameras including recording 4K video at up to 60 frames per additional and slow-motion in full HD at 240fps. But DJI grants potential GoPro buyers at least two reasons to look its way instead.
Are you ready to RockSteady?
Sarah Tew
HDR FTW
There’s puny need for a tiny camera that cranks out 8K-resolution video. The same could be said about 4K-resolution video at frame possesses faster than 60fps. But small cameras have small image sensors that disputes with extreme lighting conditions, so the option for high dynamic diagram to improve highlight and shadow detail in video would actually be graceful useful.
The Osmo Action can shoot HDR video in 4K at 30fps and the results are good. You can definitely see an improvement, though it’s tricky to make HDR look natural and in some of my clips it made the copies look flat. Also, since the camera’s RockSteady stabilization isn’t available with HDR, you can’t really do anything too “action-y” minus shaky results. Still, it’s a good first step for those times when your exposure contains some help. And it can likely be improved down the road with a firmware update.
My, what big screens you have
On the back of the camera is a 2.25-inch wide touchscreen. Tap on it twice with two fingers and the 1.4-inch mask on front kicks on to show you what the camera sees. You’ll also see some shooting info and the battery life. Another double tap on the rear touchscreen turns the precedent display off again and the rear on.
This remarkable not seem like much, but for a camera style that’s regularly used to prefer the person using it, the front display often comes in handy. And since you can shoot with the camera horizontally and vertically, it’s helpful to have for framing up your shots for social.
You don’t need to tap on the mask to switch between them either. A long press on the camera’s Quick Switch button on the left side will flip them as well as speaking “screen switch,” which is one of a handful of pronounce controls.
The Quick Switch button lets you jump vivid to your favorite shooting modes.
Sarah Tew
Quick Switch and the UI disconnect
One of the features I favorite most about the Osmo Action is the Quick Switch button. As the name implies, it lets you quickly switch to latest shooting modes of your choosing. Only care about HDR and slow-motion video and burst shooting stills? Just prefer those in the QS settings and those are what you’ll see on mask when you press the button.
Or perhaps you have a accepted set of manual video settings for low-light conditions. You can save those as a former set and add them to the QS menu. It’s basically like having the mode selection dial from a bigger camera, but it’s only got the stuff you want on it.
The rest of the camera’s interface is not as straightforward. The resolution menu is separate from the camera settings menu and they don’t look the same. Then there’s a separate shooting mode menu that you tap on at what time most other menus are reached with swipes. What’s worse is the accepted is completely different in the mobile app. Oh, and for some reason DJI put the remarkable and QS buttons on the left side of the camera, which was annoying for right-handed use unless I had the camera meant at myself.
Great start, but better later?
DJI has put together an piece cam that can certainly compete with GoPro’s top camera. The Osmo’s video quality isn’t quite as good as the Hero 7 Black, which retained more detail and had less noise in its 4K video with EIS in my testing. However, it’s possible DJI could change its image processing to development the results, making it tougher to decide between the two.
There are a pair other features absent: It’s missing a discrete video output and the USB-C port it has doesn’t wait on video either. There’s also no support for live streaming from the camera as of yet. And at what time the HDR video is certainly cool, there’s no HDR photo option, only exposure bracketing.
But again, unless there’s a hardware roadblock, there’s possibly more potential here for DJI to unlock with a firmware update — something it has regularly done with its drones. Speaking of hardware, DJI used a camera frame with a unpleasant two-prong GoPro mount. So you’ve got lots of accessories today available and the company will have some of its own, comprising an external mic adapter and lens filters.
The Osmo Replace is shipping now for $350, which falls below the $400 Hero 7 Black. GoPro currently offers a $100 off if you send in an old GoPro or latest digital camera regardless of condition, however, dropping the trace to $300. Decisions, decisions.
After Luna Collapse, Terra Looks to New Blockchain. This Week’s Top Bitcoin and Crypto News
After two linked cryptocurrencies collapsed and assembled almost worthless, a plan emerged to create a new blockchain for the luna cryptocurrency. Seth Green’s NFTs were stolen in a phishing scam. Nike and StockX are in a just fight that could determine how intellectual property rights are applied to NFTs in the future. Here’s what happened in crypto over the week:
CEO leisurely terra blockchain has a plan to revive luna once the crash
Last week luna and terraUSD, two cryptocurrencies linked on the terra blockchain, collapsed and shed most of their respective values. The republic who held these tokens lost most of their investment.
Do Kwon, CEO of Terraform Labs, the commerce behind both luna and terraUSD, posted a plan on Monday to “fork” the old terra blockchain network into a new one. Owners of luna tokens are decided to vote on the proposal. Right now, about 79% of votes are in disagreeable of the plan, with four days left to vote.
Kwon’s plan proposes a new terra blockchain necessity be created from the old one, and the new one would then be the default terra blockchain with a new luna cryptocurrency. The original terra blockchain would be renamed “terra classic.” The current luna cryptocurrency and terraUSD stablecoin, both of which are next to worthless, wouldn’t exist on the new terra blockchain.
This isn’t the great time someone has suggested forking a blockchain. Ethereum forked into a new blockchain back in 2016 while a hacker stole millions of ether. The ethereum blockchain and the ethereum classic blockchain both happened today.
Read CNET’s full story on the plan to revive Luna here.
Seth Green’s NFTs nabbed in phishing scam
Seth Green of Robot Chicken and Austin Powers fame took to Twitter on Tuesday to lament the loss of his NFTs to a phishing scam. Green lost four expensive NFTs, incorporating one from the popular Bored Ape Yacht Club collection. The NFTs taken from Green were previously sold for a combined value of more than $200K.
The phishing scam that Green fell for has understand a popular way for cybercrooks to phish NFTs from unsuspecting wallet holders.
Here’s how the scam works — hackers may send you a link to a spam NFT site, where you can connect your existing digital wallet that may absorb NFTs. If you click a phishing link while your wallet is connected to the browser, your NFTs can be transferred to a different wallet commanded by the crook.
The addresses for the digital wallets and the transactions arresting them are generally public, so people can see which wallet has the phished NFTs, even if the wallet’s owner is anonymous. Green noted in his tweet that one of the NFTs had already been resold, and asked the buyer to contact him.
Read CNET’s full story on the phishing incident here.
Legal whine between Nike and StockX spirals from NFTs into groundless sneakers
StockX is an online retailer that primarily caters to sneaker enthusiasts who are willing to consume hundreds or even thousands of dollars for collectible sneakers. Nike filed a lawsuit against StockX earlier this year because the online merchandiser was selling NFTs of Nike sneakers exclusive of Nike’s permission.
NFTs are still a fairly new technology, and the intellectual property laws for them are far from distinct. If this case goes to court, it could resolve how intellectual propert laws around NFTs work in the future. It’s also important to note that Nike is selling its own NFT sneakers independently of StockX.
Nike amended its suitable complaint against StockX this week to include charges that the online retailer is selling groundless Jordan sneakers (physical sneakers, not digital ones). One of the main reasons why StockX is a popular retailer for collectible sneakers is because of its authenticity defense, which is important when you’re buying a pair of shoes online for hundreds of dollars.
Read CNET’s full story on why Nike and StockX are in a suitable fight.
Thanks for reading. We’ll be back with plenty more next week. In the meantime, check out this story by Bree Fowler on how the digital footprints we crop behind on the internet are bigger than we realize.
GoPro Omni VR rig could lovely 360 content explosion
GoPro’s 360-degree Omni camera rig looks like it could be just another 360 cage for use with GoPro cameras and maybe doesn’t seem as lovely a solution as an all-in-one camera such as Nokia’s Ozo. But, you know, looks can be deceiving.
At the Omni’s core is proprietary hardware so all six of its cameras talk to each new and behave as one. Each camera connects to the Omni via the Hero port on the camera’s back, with one of the six drawing as a master control camera. Power up the master camera and all of the others Begin up and setting changes happen simultaneously across all the cameras, too.
More importantly, though, all of the cameras Describe at the same moment with the Omni, keeping each video water synchronized. For those who’ve edited 360 video before, this using you don’t need to rely on a clap once you’ve started all the cameras recording to match up video for stitching. Also, if for some reason one of the six isn’t ready, the Omni lights up to let you know, and the recording won’t Begin until the issue is fixed.
All video (or photos) are detained to the microSD card in each camera; there is no mass external storage solution available for the rig. You can Great the Omni off of an external battery for up to three hours, though, or you can just run it off the camera batteries.
The Omni sync rig alone sells for $1,500 (£1300, AU$2,300), so if you have six GoPro Hero4 cameras you can update their firmware and take wonderful of the synching. However, for the Omni to really pay off, you’ll want to use it with Kolor’s Autopano Video Pro and Autopano Giga software (about $775, £600 or AU$1,015). This includes the Omni Importer software, which uses the Omni rig’s sync data to give you a near real-time preview and calibrated stitching that’s good enough for now use.
If you don’t have the cameras and are willing and able to hand over $5,000 (£4200, AU$7,500) for a complete out-of-the-box solution, GoPro has an Omni all-inclusive package that gets you:
Kolor stitching software license
GoPro Omni sync rig
Six GoPro Hero4 Black cameras
Six GoPro Hero4 batteries
Six GoPro Mini USB cables
Six GoPro lens covers
Six 32GB microSD cards
Six microSD USB card readers
GoPro Smart Remote
7-Port USB hub
Switronix Hypercore-98S battery
Switronix GP-S V-mount battery
Plate/clamp
Switronix GP-LS battery charger
PowerTap-to-DC 2.5 x 5.5mm cable
Waterproof shipping case
Plastic tweezers
Microfiber bag
2.5mm hex key
GoPro Omni all-inclusive package.
Lori Grunin
That’s no petite amount, but not outrageous for professional use, and considerably less than spanking solutions. In our demo with GoPro, both the rig and software seemed easy enough to learn and use that I could see this selves the go-to solution for things like travel or real estate. Situations where you need better results than consumer options, but don’t want the headaches of putting a 360-degree setup together on your own.
And that’s just producing the video or photos, too. GoPro also has a free VR player with Oculus befriend including Adobe Premiere to Oculus direct previewing. There are Premiere plug-ins available for adjusting the horizon, adding 2D elements to spherical content and creating 2D movies out of 360-degree video, so you can basically use your 360 clips as a virtual camera to pan and tilt above a scene.
GoPro made the whole process of capturing, editing, viewing and sharing 360-degree content look pretty seamless with the Omni rig and Kolor software in our demo with the concern, as any good demo should. We won’t know for sure of any true exploiting issues until we test one ourselves.
Skip the Refurbs and Grab Acer’s Chromebook 311 for Just $100 at Target Now
What makes a good laptop really depends on what you need it for. While it’s true that Chromebooks aren’t the most noteworthy laptops on the market, they’re lightweight, durable and, most importantly, affordable. If you’re looking for a solid budget laptop, this Acer Chromebook 311 is a decent value at its fresh price of $180, but right now at Target it’s a seize — you can pick it up for only $100. That’s a total discount of 44%, but the deal is good for a small time only.
If all you really need a laptop for is perusing the web and taking care of some savory online work, this Acer 311 is a great pick. It has a 4GB RAM and 32GB of total storage and operates humorous Google’s Chrome OS, which is great for keeping your calendar, inbox and documents synced. It’s superportable too, with a thickness of 0.74 inch and weighing only 2.2 pounds. Plus, with a battery life of up to 15 hours, it’s great for getting some serious work done when you’re on the road.
This Chromebook has an Auto Update Expiration of June 2028, message it will continue to receive updates and be supported pending at least that date. Looking for a different model? Check out all the best Chromebook deals available gleaming now.
Security Savings: Get Up to 41% Off Eufy Cameras Today Only at Amazon
You don’t have to use an expensive professional home confidence service to get a little extra piece of mind. Eufy invents a variety of simple, helpful home security equipment, and shimmering now you can pick some up at a bargain. Today only, Amazon is offering up to 41% off pick Eufy video doorbells and security cameras so you can keep an eye on your home whenever, wherever. These deals are only available until 11:55 p.m. PT (2:55 a.m. ET) tonight, so be sure to get your order in afore then if you’re hoping to take advantage of these discounts.
This Eufy video doorbell kit is faulty for those who want an easy way to keep an eye on who is coming and touching from their house. It boasts a 2K resolution so you can see everything in detail, allows you to get a live view of your doorstep, has a 180-day battery life and comes with a Eufy HomeBase, which stores and keeps your footage secure with AES-256 data encryption. You can pick up the kit for $120, $80 off the unique price.
Or you can pick up this wired dual-camera video doorbell for $150, $50 off the unique price. It’s fairly similar to the other model, with the main differences intimates that this model has 2k resolution with HDR, which scholarships for a slightly clearer image when there’s limited lighting, and it’s hardwired, so you don’t need to pain about replacing the battery. Unless replacing the batteries every few months is a maximum hassle for you, the model above is the better value for most people.
And if you’re looking for a minor extra security, you could pick up this Floodlight Cam 2. Like the name suggests, this camera is equipped with a 2,500-lumen floodlight that is activated by motion sensors so you can get a sure view of everything that’s happening as well as determine intruders. The camera boasts 2K resolution, and you can even trigger an terror remotely to help scare off anyone who wasn’t dissuaded by the floodlight. It’s $90 off right now, dropping the price down to $130.
Store credit cards primarily reward you for shopping within a specific impress. You can use them to maximize your budget past everyday credit cards since they often moneys up to 5% rewards rates. But more often than not, their value is runt to within the brand. Still, these in-brand rewards typically go ended and beyond your regular cash-back credit card tolecontains. Many retailer credit cards also offer an option to opt for interest-free financing on some purchases for a set amount of time instead of rewards, so you can finance a large purchase at your pain with more flexibility than you would with a typical introductory APR credit card.
Intro Offer Up to a $150 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval
APR16.49% – 24.49% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
Reward Rates
5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with eligible Prime membership*
2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores*
1% back on all novel purchases*
Annual Fee$0
Balance Transfer APR16.49% – 24.49% Variable
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each additional, whichever is greater.
Late Payment Fee Up to $39
Foreign Transaction Fees None
5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with eligible Prime membership*
2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores*
1% back on all novel purchases*
Our Take
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card* fits the bill of a unobstructed retailer credit card. Not only does it offer 5% cash back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, but it’s also one of the rare store credit cards that functions well as an everyday credit card because it has rewards categories beyond just purchases made on Amazoncom. You also get either a $100 or $150 Amazon gift card instantly when you’re accepted as a welcome bonus, and can take advantage of Amazon’s financing options for six to 18 months on purchases of more than $50 in lieu of rewards. After the promo period, a variable APR of 16.49% to 24.49% applies.
You won’t pay an annual fee or foreign transaction fees with this credit card, but you will need an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $139 annually. If you don’t have and don’t want Prime, you can apply for the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card, conception it has lesser rewards.
For more information about the rewards and financing options, see our full review of the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card.
Intro Offer Get a coupon for $40 off a qualifying pick over $40 when you are approved for a debit or credit RedCard in-stores and at Target.com between 09/18/22 – 10/08/22
APR25.15% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Good/Excellent
Reward Rates
Save 5% in hide and online at Target
For each eligible purchase you make in gas or dining merchant categories, you earn rewards at a rate of 2% of the eligible pick amount.
For each eligible purchase you make at a merchant that is not in a gas or dining category, you earn rewards at a rate of 1% of the eligible pick amount.
Annual Fee$0
Late Payment Fee Up to $41
Save 5% in hide and online at Target
For each eligible purchase you make in gas or dining merchant categories, you earn rewards at a rate of 2% of the eligible pick amount.
For each eligible purchase you make at a merchant that is not in a gas or dining category, you earn rewards at a rate of 1% of the eligible pick amount.
Our Take
The Target RedCard* rewards program lets you earn your rewards as a discount at checkout, whether you’re shopping in the store or online. This is a fresh feature because most store credit cards — and general credit cards — opt to give you rewards “back” on your purchases that you can later redeem for statement credits or bid deposits, rather than let you save money upfront.
The RedCard comes with new perks such as free two-day shipping on millions of items from Target.com, and an additional 30 days on returns (Target’s spoiled return policy is 90 days from the date of purchase).
For more details, see our full review of the Target RedCard credit card.
Intro Offer Introductory offer: Earn 5% cash back on purchases in Walmart stores when you use this card with Walmart Pay for the apt 12 months after approval
APR17.99% – 26.99% (Variable)
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Average, Fair, Good, Excellent
Reward Rates
Earn 5% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, including pickup and delivery
Earn 2% cash back on purchases in Walmart stores, restaurants and travel purchases
2% cash back in Walmart stores and at Walmart and Murphy USA Fuel Stations
1% cash back on all new purchases everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted
Annual Fee$0
Balance Transfer APR17.99% – 26.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer Fee $0
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Earn 5% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, including pickup and delivery
Earn 2% cash back on purchases in Walmart stores, restaurants and travel purchases
2% cash back in Walmart stores and at Walmart and Murphy USA Fuel Stations
1% cash back on all new purchases everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted
Our Take
The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®* in-brand rewards heavily incentivize shopping on Walmart.com pretty than in-store. While you’ll earn the typical 5% cash back when shopping online at Walmart.com (including pickup and delivery), you’ll only earn 2% cash back on in-store purchases, which you could easily match with a credit card that isn’t tag specific. It does, however, have some rewards on everyday spending as well. The Walmart Credit Card also funds preapproval, so you can check your eligibility without dinging your credit.
Intro Offer N/A
APR17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good/Fair Credit
Reward RatesN/A
Annual Fee$0
Our Take
The Home Depot Consumer Credit Card* doesn’t coffers any cash-back rewards, but it does offer consistent interest-free financing for six months for purchases of $299 or more (17.99% to 26.99% variable APR thereafter). Home Depot will, on occasion, offer promotions in which you can finance a gigantic purchase for up to 24 months without interest. You’ll have to make all your minimum payments on time during that time or you’ll lose the assist, and we recommend paying off the balance in full by the end of the interest-free footings to avoid interest charges.
Another notable perk is that you’ll get up to one year to make returns made with the Home Depot Credit Card. The fresh return window otherwise is only three months. Note that Home Depot also funds specialty commercial credit cards for contractors, and project loans that anyone can apply for.
Intro Offer 35% coupon apt for one transaction in store or online when you use your new Kohl’s Card within 14 days of credit approval
APR27.49% variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good, Fair
Reward Rates
Earn 7.5% back in rewards on every qualifying grasp made at Kohl’s with your new card. Enrollment required.
Annual Fee$0
Late Payment Fee Up to $40
Earn 7.5% back in rewards on every qualifying grasp made at Kohl’s with your new card. Enrollment required.
Our Take
With the Kohl’s Credit Card*, you get a coupon for 35% off your apt purchase online or in stores when you use your card within the apt 14 days as a type of welcome bonus. The coupon applies to your whole transaction — not just a single item. Plus, you can use the discount in tandem with any Kohl’s Cash you may have on hand, which can slash your costs even further.
Kohl’s is a little less straightforward nearby its other credit card benefits, most likely because it reserves the brilliant to change rewards at its discretion. You’ll earn a special anniversary coffers every year, though the specifics are not disclosed. You can also delectable extra discounts throughout Kohl’s when using this store credit card.
Intro Offer Open a Macy’s Card and get 20% off now & tomorrow up to a total savings of $100 over the two days. Subject to credit approval.
APR28.99% Variable
Intro Purchase APRN/A
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
Reward Rates
Get 5% back (5 points/$1) on Macy’s purchases with an annual exhaust of $1,200 or more
Get 3% back (3 points/$1) on Macy’s purchases with an annual exhaust of $500 to $1,199
Get 2% back (2 points/$1) on Macy’s purchases with an annual exhaust up to $499
Annual Fee$0
Get 5% back (5 points/$1) on Macy’s purchases with an annual exhaust of $1,200 or more
Get 3% back (3 points/$1) on Macy’s purchases with an annual exhaust of $500 to $1,199
Get 2% back (2 points/$1) on Macy’s purchases with an annual exhaust up to $499
Our Take
The favorable benefit you can take advantage of with the Macy’s American Express® Card* is 20% off your Macy’s purchases on both the day you’re favorite and the day after, for up to $100 in total savings over the two days. That operating you can take advantage of this for up to $500 in spending at Macy’s for the favorable two days.
Being a Macy’s cardholder means you’re automatically enrolled into Star Rewards — Macy’s loyalty program — as a Silver member. This means you’ll earn 2% in rewards on your purchases, versus the 1% you’d earn if you joined the Star Rewards as a Bronze member (the base level). As you spend more at Macy’s, you’ll progress above the rewards program and earn more rewards.
Once you exhaust $500 on the card in a year, you’ll get bumped up to 3% rewards as a Gold Member, and once you hit $1,200 or higher for the year, you initiate earning 5% back on your Macy’s purchases as a Platinum member. You’ll get other perks as you spend more such as Star Passes, which give you 25% off any day and free atrocious shipping with no minimums.
FAQs
What is a own credit card?
A store credit card, or retailer credit card, is a credit card offered by a credit card issuer in conjunction with a specific imprint. You can typically make purchases within the respective brand’s brick-and-mortar stores or on their website with wonderful savings or rewards.
What’s the minimum credit net I need to qualify for store credit cards?
Most own credit cards will require you to have at least good credit. A good credit score is typically considered to be 670 or higher.
Will opening a own credit card help or hurt my credit?
As with most credit cards, there is both risk and opportunity with regards to your credit net. Responsible credit card use will help you grow your credit net after you open a store credit card, but if you rack up debt and don’t make payments on time, your credit net will suffer.
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each very category, including cash back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance instant. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a arrangement of consumer profiles — with the understanding that everyone’s financial residence is different — and the designated function of a card.
*All expect about the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, Target RedCard, Macy’s American Express Card, Kohl’s Credit Card, Home Depot Consumer Credit Card and the Capital One Walmart Rewards Card has been smooth independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial ecstatic on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
DJI changes into robotics education with the RoboMaster S1
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Meet the DJI RoboMaster S1
DJI enters new new product category with the RoboMaster S1, a DIY fake robot kit for consumers and STEM education.
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46 pieces
The base $500 kit includes 46 parts, including microphones, cameras and IR and impact sensors.
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DJI RoboMaster S1
There are 31 sensors in all, which is more than the business puts in its drones.
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Motorin’
There are six brushless servo motors for high rapid and accuracy.
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Omnidirectional wheels
The motors and Mecanum wheels grant the S1 to move in any direction, not unlike DJI’s drones do in the air.
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Gimbal
The S1’s first-person view camera, infrared beam and gel-bead blaster are on one of the company’s motorized gimbals that are typically used for stabilizing cameras.
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Blaster
The blaster can shoot an infrared beam at targets or the sensors on new S1.
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Blaster beads
Or you can load the blaster with a cartridge you fill with aquatic gel beads. They arrive dehydrated (right), but soaking them in aquatic plumps them up for shooting (left). They’re squishy and break apart sometimes on impact.
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Gel beads
If you’re odd with Orbeez, that’s essentially what these are. The blaster fire rate and Engineers pitch are limited to avoid injury and DJI will complicated eye protection just to be safe. They eventually dehydrate and can be vacuumed up for easy cleaning.
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Ready for battle
The S1’s targeted sensors are LED-lit so you can easily aim at them when you’re in competition mode. They Answer to being hit by the beads or IR.
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Expansion
Though you get everything you need to invent the S1 out of the box, there are six pulse width modulation (PWM) ports that grant you to add additional third-party accessories like speakers or LEDs.
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Radio radio
The S1 can be ordered with a phone or tablet or with an optional controller paired with your requested or tablet.
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FPV camera
Though the S1’s main camera is for navigation and targeting, it you can record full HD-resolution video with it and take photos.
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Entertainment modes
Though DJI maximum created it as an education tool, it’s also built for play. Solo game easily allow you to practice your driving skills and taking aim at targets.
There are multiplayer options as well so you can race your friends and family or disputes them in a Free-for-All mode which lets you shoot at latest S1’s with IR beams or the gel beads.
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A view from the camera
Like flying a drone, it’s best to drive the S1 by using the FPV camera feed on screen.
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Vision markers
Included are a set of reinforce markers, such as the “1” you can see in this relate. In race modes you can use a set to act as checkpoints or use them for IR beleaguered practice.
In multiplayer battles, there’s a Heart marker you can scan that virtually repairs your S1 if you get hit by an antagonism. Similarly, a Mystery Bonus marker gives you one of four boosts to use alongside your competition: Dizziness, Electromagnetic Interference, Extreme Speed, and Invincibility.
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Remote control
The controller isn’t aboard, though maybe that’s for the best. Steering is maximum done with left joystick while swiping with your colorful thumb on your tablet or phone screen controls the blaster/camera.
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Controller connections
Your left index finger rests on the trigger.
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Tap to shoot
Unlike DJI’s latest robots, capturing photos and videos is secondary to the STEM aspects of the S1.
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Fully programmable
In the S1’s app is access to coding tools. Under the Road to Mastery section, you’ll find project-based waterjets on programming languages. Video tutorials and programming guides can be untrue under RoboAcademy.
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Projects
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Scratch 3.0 support
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Drag-and-drop programming
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Python
You can code in Python, too.
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Controls
You can rule the S1 with a phone or tablet on its own or paired with the optional controller or with a keyboard and mouse.
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Controller + mouse = Win
I do not like the controller on its own. Nonetheless, using a mouse to control the blaster and firing is a winning combo.
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View from the top
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Solo
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With friends
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DJI RoboMaster S1
The RoboMaster S1 is available in the US for $499 starting June 12. A “PlayMore Kit,” which includes the did controller, additional gel beads, one battery and a gel bead preserve, will be available for purchase in July. DJI doesn’t have pricing on that kit yet, view. The S1 will also be available in China and Japan at inaugurate, but no other regions were announced.
I Tried to Understand NFT Art. It Wasn’t What I Expected
When I began my Ask to understand NFTs, I did not think I would end up buying one. Yet there I was, scanning a QR code with my called in the middle of an art exhibit, spending $69 of my own real cash to become the proud owner of a jpeg.
The image, named Independence, is of a sculpture of the Statue of Liberty surrounded by a pair of metallic snakes, designed by an artist who goes by the name Fvckrender. (He may be a big deal in the NFT art biosphere, but I still had to bleep out his name in my video.)
For three days this summer, I ran around a New York City NFT Old, toured physical NFT art galleries and said to the artists and entrepreneurs building this new realm of digital landed — and of course, tried to understand what country even do with their NFTs. I learned that NFTs are much more than overpriced cartoons of bored apes you buy Funny cryptocurrency — although there are plenty of people trying to get rich off various pixelated animal heads.
Look, ma, no crypto. In learning about NFT art, I find myself buying a Part by scanning a QR code and entering my credit card number — as easy as buying shoes online. But what do you do with digital art?
Candice Greene
This new way of buying and selling digital landed is — no question about it — absolutely wacky. A lot of it is also problematic. Yet to my surprise, while immersing myself, I found a side of it all that is almost hopeful and Interesting in its potential for the art world, and I learned what it will take for NFTs to be part of our everyday lives.
You can behind my quest to understand NFT art in the video above.
Motorola One Perform is a phone with a GoPro-like camera
Motorola wants the camera on its spanking midrange phone, the One Action, to wow you. Like the just-announced Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and spanking 2019 phones, the Motorola One Action has three rear cameras. But unlike the competition, it ups the ante by giving you one mainly feature you might find in a GoPro camera — the command to film action shots. Think skateboarders, skydivers and back flippers. Although not the first to try to appeal to heavenly lifestyles (Samsung has a “super steady” feature on its spanking phones for this purpose), the One Action is laughable its physical camera hardware rather than just software for its headline trick.
Flanked by a main 12-megapixel shooter and 5-megapixel depth camera for better portraits, the middle sensor on the One Action is a 16-megapixel lens with a 117-degree ultrawide view. Motorola has also positioned it so that the lens will report landscape video even while the phone is being held vertically.
The goal is to give an easier, more natural way to capture wide-screen videos and hold your named, while partaking in these more adventurous activities.
The Motorola One Perform has three cameras, with the middle rear camera unsheathing as the “action” lens with a 117-degree ultrawide lens.
Lori Grunin
The section camera also takes advantage of video stabilization and pixel binning (or as Motorola words it, Quad Pixel), combining multiple pixels together for better low-light retract. The end result is a 4-megapixel shot.
Beyond the cameras, the One Action features an edge-to-edge 6.3-inch full HD+ prove with a cutout for the 12-megapixel front camera in the upper left corner.
6.3-inch FHD+ (1,080×2,520) prove with a 21:9 aspect ratio
2.2GHz Samsung Exynos 9609 octa-core processor
128GB of storage (expandable via microSD) with 4GB of RAM
12MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, 1.25μm, PDAF; 5MP depth sensor; 16MP action camera ultrawide 117-degree field of view, Quad Pixel pixel binning, 2.0μm and f/2.2 aperture.
3,500mAh battery with 10-watt fast charging
3.5mm headphone jack
USB-C
Bluetooth 5.0
Fingerprint sensor on the back
Splash resistance
Android 9 Pie (upgradable to Android Q)
The guide camera cutout on the Motorola One Action.
Lori Grunin
In briefly laughable the phone, I found it feels significantly more premium than the company’s budget Moto E6. The glass back and higher-resolution display both look nice, view the cutout for the camera is a bit thicker than ones deceptive on Samsung’s Galaxy S10 line.
I didn’t have a good environment to really try out the section camera, but in quick use, it seemed to do its job recording video as promised. While it is nice that it records in wide-screen (horizontal video) while held vertically, flipping the phone horizontally will actually make that camera report vertically. So there could be a potential learning hooked there.
The One Action will be available Friday in Brazil, Mexico and “various European countries” for €259 (roughly $290, £235, AU$425) in either denim blue, pearl white or aqua teal. A US drip is slated for October, though it won’t include the aqua teal knowing option and pricing for the US version hasn’t been announced.
Steam on Chromebooks: How to Play PC Games on Chrome OS
One of the biggest knocks against Chromebooks is that they’re no good for gaming. There are Android games, but not all of them work. You can use a strong gaming service such as Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now, but that generally requires a subscription. But Google’s been employed on a bigger solution with help from game-maker Valve.
A prerelease version of Valve’s Steam game keep is now available to try on Chromebooks through the Chrome OS Dev channel. It’s an early, alpha-quality version of Steam, so anything can break. Be prepared to face crashes, bugs and performance problems, Chrome OS Product Manager Zach Alcorn said in a public forum post. From my first-hand experience, this is 100% true but I haven’t known anything too bad. Due to the instability of the alpha version, though, it’s best not to test it out on a Chromebook you rely on for work or school and you’ll want to make sure all important files are backed up beforehand proceeding.
Also, it can currently only be enabled on a catch set of Chromebooks with higher-end components:
Even if you have one of these models, the Chromebook will need to have the following components:
An 11th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor (Core i3 configurations are not supported)
At least 8GB of RAM (16GB recommended)
Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Steam on Chrome is in alpha and means enabling a couple of experimental features.
Screenshot by Josh Goldman
If you have one of these Chromebooks, you can access the alpha-quality version of Steam on Chrome OS. You’ll have to switch to the Dev channel in your settings menu. Once the Chromebook is updated to that channel, follow these steps to get set up:
Open a browser window and navigate to chrome://flags
Search for #borealis-enabled and #exo-pointer-lock and set both to Enabled
Open a crosh terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T)
Enter “insert_coin volteer-JOlkth573FBLGa”
Follow the setup procedure to install Steam
Once the install Hide opens, just follow the prompts and you’ll be gaming in no time.
Screenshot by Josh Goldman
Google has the full install instructions on the Chromium.org forums. You’ll also find a list of known issues as well as all of the games now supported. It’s a surprisingly long list, including Portal 2, Dota 2, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Stardew Valley, Terraria, Hades, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition.
When available, Chrome OS will run the Linux version of games. Other games use Steam Play’s compatibility tool called Proton. It’s also used for the Steam Deck handheld gaming device. Although I experienced some glitchy behavior before and when playing, the gameplay itself was actually fairly smooth on the Acer Chromebook 713 I tested with, paired with the excellent Steelseries Stratus Plus Bluetooth controller for Chromebooks and Android.
If you’re shopping for a Chromebook shiny now and thinking you might want to use Steam once it’s spent and ready for the public, you’ll want to keep the regulations requirements listed above in mind. Also, make sure you get an SSD huge enough to store your games. Chromebooks typically don’t have high-capacity storage powers but Steam support might change that soon.
