Canon reveals the zoom-centric PowerShot G3 X

The Canon PowerShot G3 X is a relatively compact camera with a massive zoom

Canon teased in February it was working on developing a compact camera with a 25x optical zoom and a one-inch-type sensor to add to its G-series line-up. The firm has now revealed more details about the 20-megapixel PowerShot G3 X which will be released in July and offers a massive 24-600-mm equivalent lens. The enthusiast-focused camera will also boast a tilting LCD touchscreen and a hot shoe.

The PowerShot G3 X is all about its lens, it covers a whopping 24-600-mm equivalent which means it has massive zoom potential. However, a variable maximum aperture of F2.8-5.6 means it will have limited uses at longer telephoto lengths. The chances are you'll hit the F5.6 maximum aperture well before you get to the 600-mm equivalent focal length. When shooting at those lengths, users will at least be able to make use of the image stabilization to help smooth out the inevitable wobbles.

Inside the new shooter there's a one-inch-type 20-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor. This is the same size as those used in the Nikon 1 series like the J5 or the Sony RX100 IV, and much bigger than typically found on fixed lens cameras with big zoom like the Canon PowerShot SX520 HS. This should ensure better image quality, especially in lower light situations, and thanks to the DIGIC 6 processor with iSAPS technology, the G3 X has an ISO range of 125 to 12,800 to allow use in a variety of lighting conditions.

The camera can also shoot at a reasonable speed of 5.9 fps (frames per second) or 3.2 fps with autofocus. A 31-point AF system with features including Face Detection and Object and Face Select and Track should ensure fast and reliable focusing. On the video front, Full HD 1080p video recording is also possible at 60/50/30/25/24 fps and the camera has jacks for a microphone and headphones, which are a must if you want to ensure quality audio, too.

Physically the camera is relatively compact, given its specifications, but it's not going to be vying with the Sony RX100 IV for a spot in your pocket. It measures 123.3 x 76.5 x 105.3 mm (4.6 x 3 x 4.1 in) and weighs 733 g (25.8 oz) and features a chunky grip along with manual controls and control dials which should keep enthusiasts and settings-tinkerers happy. Other design features of note include a built-in flash alongside a hot shoe.

The rear the camera benefits from a tilting rear screen 3.2-inch touchscreen with 1,620,000 dots. However, it lacks a built-in electronic viewfinder, with the optional (and bulky) add-on EVF-DC1 coming with a hefty US$250 price-tag.

The PowerShot G3 X is said to be weather sealed, with Canon choosing to describe it as equivalent to the EOS 70D rather than provide any specific details. Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC make it easy to both share images or control the camera remotely.

The Canon PowerShot G3 X will be available next month priced at $1,000.

You can check out a promo video for the new camera below.

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Robo-mate exoskeleton aims to lighten the load for industry

Robo-Mate is the first industrial exoskeleton

The development of powered exoskeletons has so far been largely restricted to the laboratory, the military, and areas such as rehabilitation therapy. This kind of technology also has obvious potential in industry, where constant heavy lifting is still very much a part of many working lives. Recently in Stuttgart, the Robo-Mate project unveiled an exoskeleton designed specifically for industrial use that can make 10 kilos feel like 1.

One of the often overlooked benefits of modern technology is how much backbreaking labor workers are spared. It isn't too long ago that even so-called high tech industries required an astonishing amount of lifting and carrying. Even plastics factory making small household items required as much manual labor as a metal works turning out petrol engines. Mechanisation and automation have done away with a lot of this, but according to the Work Foundation Alliance, 44 million workers in the EU alone still suffer from musculoskeletal disorders. In some industries, workers still lift 10 tonnes a day.

The reason why this still happens on a daily basis is that not every task lends itself to automation. Some involve making things on a very small scale or others involve complicated, unpredictable moves, like dismantling a car, that are well beyond even the most advanced robots. The result is human beings literally having to do the heavy lifting, with all the physical wear and tear that implies. It also has knock-on effects for employers trying to retain workers, health care systems, and even the ability of countries to keep jobs from going abroad.

Robo-Mate project began in 2013 as a consortium of twelve research institutes and companies in seven European countries. The idea is to produce a powered exoskeleton that acts as a support frame that can reduce the physical workload for assembly and disassembly work by a factor of ten.

The Robo-Mate exoskeleton is made up of series of inter-supporting modules for the arms, trunk, and legs. The arm modules actively support the wearer's arms, taking the load, so it feels only a tenth of its real weight. Attached to the arm modules is the trunk module, which supports the back and spine and prevents twisting or slipped discs. Meanwhile, the leg modules support the inner thighs and act like a seat while squatting, so holding the load requires no additional strength.

According to the project team, the key to developing the exoskeleton was using software to simulate tasks involving assembly and disassembly, and then identifying the stresses placed upon the body. This allowed the team to sort out what tasks the exoskeleton is suitable for by considering it and the body as a single unit.

The first prototype of the Robo-Mate exoskeleton was unveiled in a demonstration at Fraunhofer IAO in Stuttgart on 12 June, but the team says that a great deal of work still needs to be done. Currently the safety requirements of the exoskeleton are being evaluated and streamlined case for the unit is being developed as part of an effort to make it more acceptable with workers as an everyday tool.

“We’re not looking to make superheroes," says Dr. Leonard O`Sullivan, a specialist in ergonomics and product design at the University of Limerick in Ireland. "We want to develop a helper that supports production workers in their everyday work and keeps them healthy."

Source: Robo-Mate

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Scalevo wheelchair uses retractable tracks to climb stairs

The Scalevo wheelchair at its first public demo (Credit: Scalevo)

We've seen tracked wheelchairs before, that are able to take on steep or uneven terrain. For regular surfaces, however, wheels make more sense. That's why a group of students from ETH Zurich and the Zurich University of the Arts are creating the Scalevo electric wheelchair, which features wheels for cruising and tracks for climbing stairs.

When on smooth ground, the Scalevo balances Segway-style on its two wheels – this setup aids in agility, allowing it to make sharp turns. Upon reaching a flight of stairs, however, its twin rubber tracks descend from its undercarriage to carry it over them. In order to keep the user level while this is happening, a set of pistons tilt the chair back relative to the tracks, compensating for the slant of the stairs.

The mechanical and electrical engineering students now have a working prototype and are planning to use it next year in the Cybathlon, an ETH-sponsored race for disabled athletes using assistive devices. There's no word on whether or not they plan on commercializing the technology.

The wheelchair can be seen in use, in the video below. Although it climbs stairs pretty slowly right now, the team hopes to ultimately attain a speed of one step per second.

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Electrospun nanofibers may make for better delivery of healthfood supplements

A technique known as electrospinning is showing promise as a way of providing health-food ingredients with protection as they pass through the digestive system (Credit: Robert Lamberts, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited)

Packing food with nutrients, vitamins and other supplements to improve our health sounds like a simple enough idea, but protecting them as they pass through the digestive system isn't all that easy. While various methods have been employed to encase compounds for more effective delivery, a new technique is showing great promise as a means of keeping them intact. Scientists claim that coating the ingredients in nanofibers created through a process called electrospinning can provide a better safeguard, and could lead to delivery of improved health supplements.

Electrospinning is a technique we have seen in various forms across a number of areas of scientific research. It involves drawing a fluid through an electric field which serves to break the liquid down into microscopic fibers, typically on the micro- or nanoscale. It has been used in the development of dissolving tampons designed to protect against HIV, antibacterial materials and a potential replacement for scar tissue in the heart.

Its promise in the food industry stems from the fact that it can be carried out at room temperature using wet materials, and doesn't require overly complex chemistry. According to scientists from England's University of Lincoln, this gives it an advantage over existing methods of encapsulating supplements, which can damage the structure and the bacteria, as it better caters to the sensitivity of the materials.

The upshot of this is a potentially improved way of controlling the release of chemicals in the body, as the supplements can be better protected while being produced and also as they make their way through the digestive system.

Despite this promise, however, it is still early days. Dr Nick Tucker from the School of Engineering at the University of Lincoln and leader of the study, is looking to build partnerships in the industry to learn more about the possibilities. He says work is needed to advance both the electrospun nanofibers themselves and ways of actually integrating them with foodstuffs.

The research was published in the journal Food Hydrocolloids.

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"Whale tails" could use waves to make ships more efficient

The whale tail-equipped model, being tank-tested in Norway (Credit: Marintek/SINTEF)

Ordinarily, when a ship is heading into waves, those waves cause it to work harder. An experimental new setup known as a "whale tail," however, utilizes wave action to actually help ships move forward, allowing them to use less fuel when tackling rough seas.

The whale tail is being developed by a team from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), working in partnership with Rolls-Royce and British companies Seaspeed and MOST. Led by NTNU postdoctoral fellow Eirik Bøckmann, the researchers have been testing a miniature version of the system on a model ship which is towed through a 200-m (656-ft) wave tank at the Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute.

Although it's called a whale tail, the system actually looks more like a set of hydrofoil-like fins, and it's located at the front of the ship below the waterline.

As the main body of the ship is moved up and down by wave action, the two foils move with it. Due their unique shape, however, they generate lift that helps push the vessel through the water – just as a set of flukes do for a whale.

Scaling up from the model, it has been calculated the foils would reduce wave resistance by 9 to 17 percent if used on a full-sized vessel at wave heights of under three meters (9.8 ft). They should likewise help cut down on heaving and pitching by about the same amount – the figures would likely be higher if the hull shape were optimized for use with the whale tail.

While the technology is mainly intended to make ships more fuel-efficient (for now, at least), the Wave Glider aquatic robot already relies entirely on a wave-powered propulsion system.

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IMAX and TCL team up for first home IMAX Private Theater "Palais" system

IMAX and TCL have teamed up to develop the IMAX Private Theater "Palais" system for the home (Credit: Shutterstock)

Back in 2013, plans were announced to bring the IMAX experience into homes with IMAX Private Theater. Now the first in-home IMAX system developed through a joint venture with TCL has been unveiled in China. But don't go changing the plans for your rumpus room just yet, as you need to qualify just to get a look at the showroom where the luxury system is being demonstrated.

The IMAX Private Theater "Palais" comes with the whole kit and caboodle, including sound isolation acoustics, wall treatments, flooring, lighting, seating, and audio-visual content provided by IMAX. The joint venture partners claim the system is the first completely turn-key home theater system available from a single source.

A demonstration system has been set up at a showroom at Le Royal Meridien Shanghai, but don't expect to stroll in off the street to get a taste of the audio visual onslaught. Demonstrations are only available to "qualified consumers" on a by-appointment basis.

"The launch of the IMAX Private Theatre 'Palais' marks the most significant innovation from the newly formed IMAX Home Entertainment division and comes after almost two years of research and ground-up development with our close partner, TCL," said Robert D. Lister, Chief Business Development Officer, IMAX Corp. "The brand-new system takes key components of The IMAX Experience that we have been delivering to cinema audiences for almost 50 years and, for the first time, transports them into a home environment."

No technical specs have been announced, but we'd expect they would meet the details revealed back in 2013 at a minimum. And as was the case back in 2013, no pricing details are available at the moment either – but given the list of included features, prices are likely to vary on a case by case basis.

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The biggest third party game announcements from E3 2015

There were some great reveals from third-party publishers at this year's E3 show

While most of the attention during the opening days of E3 falls on the big press events from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, many game publishers also take the opportunity to showcase their biggest and best offerings at individual press conferences. From the next Mass Effect to brand new franchises, read on as Gizmag picks out the biggest announcements from Bethesda, EA, Ubisoft and Square Enix.

Bethesda brings Doom and Fallout

Bethesda kicked things off Sunday evening with a solid showing that included a big section on its highly-anticipated post-apocalyptic open world game, Fallout 4. Lots of new details were revealed about the Xbox One, PS4 and PC title, including the confirmation that there will be pre-nuclear war gameplay, as well as the ability to play as either male or female characters. There's also an extensive crafting system for weapons, armour and settlements. Perhaps the biggest news for fans? The game will hit shelves later this year, on November 10.

The company also announced that an iOS and Android companion app will be available alongside the game, mimicking the functionality of the in-game, wrist-worn PIP Boy computer that acts as the title's menu system. The collector's edition of the game will feature a physical PIP Boy that the player can pop their smartphone inside for a more authentic experience.

A new iOS game called Fallout Shelter was also shown. The two dimensional title tasks players with creating and running their very own vault, tending to the needs of and issues faced by its inhabitants.

Bethesda also took the opportunity to show extensive gameplay of the intensely-gory Doom, showcasing fast-paced, weapon-switching gameplay, running on a new in-house graphics engine. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the PS4/Xbox One and PC title is the inclusion of Snapmap editor that allows users to create and share their own gameplay content.

The other big announcement from Bethesda came in the form of a sequel to 2012's Dishonored. Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Dishonored 2 will take the stealth and power-based gameplay to a new coastal location, while giving the player the option to control either a male or female character. There's also an Xbox One and PS4 version of the first game in the series on the way, coming out in the (Northern Hemisphere) fall. It offers improved graphics and includes all available downloadable content.

For more on Bethesda's announcements, check out the full video of its press event.

Ubisoft: new South Park, Ghost Recon and For Honor

Ubisoft had perhaps the strongest showing of any third part event this year. Kicking things off by revealing South Park: The Fractured But Whole – a sequel to last year's surprise hit RPG – it went on to out two other big new titles.

The biggest surprise was a multiplayer-focused game that offers players the chance to control three different factions – Vikings, Samurai and Knights – in skill-based sword combat. Know as For Honor, the game obviously throws historical accuracy out the window, but is one of the most visually potent, compelling reveals of the entire show. Definitely one to watch.

The second previously unseen Ubisoft title is Ghost Recon Wildlands. Moving the tactical gunplay series to an open world setting, the game promises to give players the freedom to tackle missions in their own way, whether it be taking a target down quietly or going in all guns blazing. It's built for cooperative play, and looks like a lot of fun.

Of course, we also got a look at the company's other upcoming titles, including The Division, Assassin's Creed Syndicate and Rainbow Six Siege.

For everything Ubisoft had on show, check out the full replay of its E3 2015 event.

EA outs the next Mass Effect game

We may have only seen a two-minute teaser of the next installment in Electronic Arts' sci-fi series, but it stole the limelight from everything else shown during the company's event. Mass Effect Andromeda will see players travel to, you guessed it, the Andromeda galaxy – our closest galactic neighbor. The game is built on the Frostbite 3 graphics engine, and there looks to be a focus on exploration. It's due out on current generation consoles holiday 2016.

After a somewhat polarizing teaser trailer earlier this year, EA was keen to get fans on board with Star Wars: Battlefront – a reboot of a fan favorite series. The extensive gameplay trailer focused on a classic setting – the ice world of Hoth – showing both vehicle and infantry combat. The game supports battles with up to 40 simultaneous players, and is starting to look very promising. It's due out on Xbox One, PS4 and PC on November 17.

EA only revealed a single new IP this year, but it's certainly a compelling one. Known as Unravel, the new game is a puzzle-based side scroller with a great art style. Yarny – the protagonist – is made of, well, yarn, which you use to overcome obstacles. There's no news yet on a release date for the imaginative new property.

Elsewhere, the company unveiled a new entry in its Need For Speed series, and provided a look at the highly-anticipated first-person action title Mirror's Edge Catalyst. Those games are set to arrive on November 3, 2015 and February 16, 2016 respectively.

For more form EA at E3, take a look at the full conference replay.

Just Cause and Deus Ex get release dates

While we already knew about both Just Cause 3 and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, you could easily argue that they were the biggest draws of Square Enix's E3 2015 event. The company showed gameplay of both games, as well as release dates (December 1 for Just Cause, and early 2016 for Deus Ex).

Other Square Enix announcements included a release date for the new Hitman game (December 8), and a gameplay trailer of PS4 and Xbox One title Kingdom Hearts 3 – the first numbered entry in the franchise since 2005. There's still no word on when we'll see the finished game.

For all the Square Enix reveals at E3 2015, you can check out the full replay of the press event.

For more from E3 2015, you can check out our top picks from the Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony press events, as well as hands-on impressions of the new Xbox Elite controller and retail version of the Oculus Rift VR headset.

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Micro Drone 3.0 shoots HD video stabilized by a mini-robotic gimbal

The Micro Drone 3.0 shoots video at 720x1280 at 30 fps stabilized by what the company claims to be the world's smallest gimbal

Small, palm-sized quadcopters have a certain appeal within the increasingly cramped drone market. They're portable, low-risk and are generally an inexpensive way for rookie pilots to learn the ropes. But these pint-sized robots have their shortcomings. In developing its new Micro Drone 3.0, UK company Extreme Fliers has set out to work features typically found in high-end drones into a smaller package, namely HD video stabilized by a tiny gimbal and compatibility with Google cardboard VR for first-person view flying.

Extreme Fliers is no stranger to the drone game. Its preceding Micro Drone 2.0 was designed as a low-cost beginner quadcopter capable of grabbing acceptable captures at 640p. But the latest iteration is promising quite a bit more.

Launched today on Indiegogo, the Micro Drone 3.0 shoots video at 720x1280 at 30 fps stabilized by what the company claims to be the world's smallest gimbal. The palm-sized Zano drone we covered late last year also shoots at 720p and promises promises digital image stabilization, like that seen in more expensive Parrot Bepop. But as for steadying shots by way of minuscule robotic arms, the Micro Drone 3.0 appears to be flying solo.

The available sample footage looks to be halfway decent, but it will be interesting to see how it handles various lighting conditions and how steady the shots remain in practice. To aid these ambitions further, the company has developed special algorithms aimed at allowing the 71 g (2.5 oz) drone to handle rough winds of up to 45 km/h (28 mph).

The Micro Drone 3.0 can be controlled with a radio controller or an iOS or Android device by way of a companion app. The handy thing here is that it can stream video to the screen of the device, a feature that's typical of more expensive models but not always present in micro drones (with a few exceptions). But looking to really tap into the first-person view flying phenomenon, which has catalyzed a drone racing movement, the Micro Drone 3.0 is designed to work with Google Cardboard VR. Users can therefore slap on a headset to better immerse themselves in the experience.

And for those looking to pimp out their rides, there's also the option of 3D printing your own custom frames. Early backers receive a selection of ready-to-print CAD files such as wasps or a dragons, while the company promises to bring out new 3D printable accessories every month. Or you could of course create your own.

Flight time is eight minutes with the battery recharged via USB, while video can be stored on an onboard micro SD card. The drone measures 50 mm (1.96 in) in height and 145 mm (5.7 in) in diameter. Early pledges of US$125 are available at the time of writing, with shipping slated for November if the campaign runs as planned.

You can see the drone in action in the promotional video below.

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Remote-control Range Rover can be driven with a smartphone app

The app lets you start the car, and control steering, throttle and brakes up to a maximum of 4mph. (Credit: Jaguar Land Rover)

High end cars are creeping towards full autonomy, unlocking new abilities every generation that allow them to drive themselves under certain conditions. Now, using the sensors and hardware that let the car park itself, Jaguar Land Rover has demonstrated a very nifty remote control app that lets you get out of your car, stand beside it and drive it using your smartphone. It's an incredibly handy way to get this huge thing in and out of tight parking spots, or negotiate particularly rough terrain while keeping an eye on what's happening. You can literally be your own spotter.

The prototype smartphone app lets you start the car and control the brakes, throttle and steering, as well as gearshifts. The car will go a maximum 4 mph (6 km/h) in remote pilot mode, but it'll stop if the smartphone or the car key get more than 10 meters (33 ft) from the vehicle. It's unclear whether the car's collision avoidance sensors will stop you from running it into a pole.

A second prototype was revealed that can do its own 180-degree multi-point turn if you're in a narrow street that won't let you do a proper U-turn. The car uses its ultrasonic sensors to look for hazards in the environment, and then autonomously executes an about-turn in as many steps as is necessary, from a simple 3-point turn to… well, presumably to one of these.

Check out both new systems in the video below.

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Review: Leica's quirky Q, the ultimate full-frame street shooter

Leica Q sample shot (Credit: Loz Blain/Gizmag)

Priced at a truly scary US$4,250, the Leica Q looks very limited on paper. It seems like a travesty to take a gorgeous full-frame sensor and saddle it with a single, fixed 28mm lens. But the combination allows for a very compact and light design, with crazy-fast autofocus and a beautiful high-definition electronic viewfinder to go with its near-silent shutter and sumptuous optics. Yes, it costs an arm and a leg, but the Leica Q is a stellar run-and-gun street photographer's axe that delivers tack-sharp, rich and detailed images.

Leica is clearly enjoying making quirky cameras lately – and reaping the rewards from a fan base that celebrates the left of centre. Earlier this year, it released its M Monochrom, which is effectively the company's full-frame M flagship with all the color information stripped out in search of the best possible black and white image. It seemed like a bizarre idea – a full frame digital that can't do color, for more than double the price of our workhorse Canon 5DIII… Huh?

But there's a well known axiom that restrictions breed creativity, and photographers loved the M Monochrom. Stripping away the bayer filter that provides color information, the Monochrom delivered a degree of sharpness, clarity and resolving power beyond what was possible by taking a color RAW and converting it to black and white. It was a sales success, to Leica's surprise as much as anyone else. And with that in mind, here's the German company's latest oddity – the Leica Q.

The Q marries a delicious full-frame 24-megapixel CMOS sensor with a fixed, non-interchangeable 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens. The idea of taking a sensor that good, and letting you use exactly one lens with it … it's a bit jarring. So what's the benefit?

Well, firstly, the camera is tiny. Significantly smaller than the Leica M, although a fair bit bigger and nearly 200 grams heavier than the 35mm Sony RX1, the only other full-frame compact on the market with a fixed lens.

Secondly, the optics are stunning. It's a known fact that due to normal manufacturing tolerances, some detachable lenses tend to be sharp on some bodies and a tiny bit soft on others. This is not an issue on the Leica Q - the cameras and lenses are permanently mated at the factory, and the whole system is tested as one. Sharpness is absolutely exemplary, there's virtually no noticeable chromatic aberration, vignetting or edge distortion. The final images are gorgeous.

Leica Q sample shot - shadow detail can be brought out beautifully in Lightroom

Leica Q sample shot - very shallow depth of field at f/1.7

And then there's the autofocus system – no M-style rangefinder here, the Q uses a lightning-fast contrast-detect autofocus system that makes it super quick to get the camera to your eye, grab focus and fire off a shot. It's even good enough to do a decent job tracking faces in video mode at f/1.7 if things aren't moving too much.

If you're game enough to go to manual focus (by unlocking the focus ring with a small, fiddly button) you'll be assisted by focus zoom and multi-color focus peaking. I didn't use it. While multipoint autofocus makes some weird choices, single point auto is quick, clean and very, very good.

The Q makes an exceptionally good street photography camera. It's small and discreet, and you can switch it on, grab focus and shoot in less than a second if something interesting is happening. The shutter is so quiet that you can pop off a shot at arm's length from your subject in a busy situation and they're unlikely to hear it. That gives you options, as does its very quick 10 frames per second burst shot capability. The 28mm lens makes a lot of sense in the street, it encourages you to get up close in the middle of the action.

Leica Q sample shot: shooting in this cathedral is pretty much cheating, the light is always perfect inside during the day

Leica Q sample shot - unrecoverable blown highlights

An interesting way of opening up new options with the fixed lens comes in the form of an anonymous button at the top right of the Q's touch screen. Pressing it engages a kind of virtual zoom effect – it puts a frame around your image to simulate a 35 mm or 50 mm shot on the screen and in the electronic viewfinder so you can frame things tighter. When you take the shot, the Q crops the JPG image down for you, but leaves the DNG RAW file intact, with crop information added for when you open it with Lightroom. I found it surprisingly handy. Obviously it doesn't compress distance or enhance depth of field the way a real 50 mm lens would, but it does let you compose things creatively and shoot for that tighter frame.

The latest version of Lightroom is bundled with the Leica Q, and the RAW images from this beautiful sensor sure do come alive in post processing. High ISO performance is impressive – you can confidently shoot up to ISO 12,500 without any dealbreaking levels of grainy noise.

At lower ISO, you're best off exposing to save your highlights. The Q sensor gives you a lot of latitude to pull detail and color out of shadow areas in post processing, but blown highlights don't fare as well. Luckily, being mirrorless, your exposure compensation choices are usually immediately visible through the EVF, including a histogram if you've got one enabled.

Leica Q sample shot - crystal clarity, zoomed out

Leica Q sample shot - crystal clarity, zoomed in to 1:1

If you like shooting and sharing, as many of us do, you'll enjoy the Q's connectivity options. It pairs pretty quickly with the Leica Q smartphone/tablet app over its own built-in WiFi and NFC systems, and lets you download JPGs very quickly for sharing. The app also gives you remote control over the camera, making yet another case for its supremacy as a sneaky street photography axe.

The Leica Q takes sensational images, but it does chew through cards with its big, high res RAW files. The battery gets an absolute pounding as well, with a power-hungry 3-inch touch screen, optical image stabilizer, occasional WiFi and a lovely 3.7-megapixel electronic viewfinder fighting for power. We drained a battery in about 3 hours on our photo walk at the Q launch – mind you, that was pretty constant shooting. But you'll definitely want a second battery.

Likewise, it's a lovely camera to look at, but the ergonomics aren't fantastic. The sleek body doesn't give you much to hang onto, so even at just 640 grams it gets a bit tiring if you've got it in your hand for a few hours. The EVF is fantastic, and I greatly preferred it to the back screen, but the flat glass panel over the eyepiece does little to block out harsh sunlight. In fact, it reflects bright light back into your eye at certain angles, which is frustrating. Some kind of eye cup would be an ugly but functional upgrade here. Sony's RX1 doesn't have a built-in EVF at all, but the US$450 stick-on accessory one has a rubber cup that looks like it'll keep light out a lot better.

Leica Q sample shot

Leica Q sample shot - exposure is harder to control when selecting a shutter speed

Then there's the control system, which annoyed me a bit. Choose an aperture value on the manual aperture ring, and leave ISO and shutter speed on automatic, and everything's hunky-dory. The thumb dial behind the shutter button is your exposure compensation, as you'd expect, and all is good. But if you go to an automatic aperture setting, suddenly the exposure compensation wheel does nothing. Same thing if you choose a manual shutter speed. So if you want to control your exposure, you're either in aperture priority mode, or full manual. That's not cool, it goes against the quick-draw, run-and-gun nature of the rest of the camera.

The Leica Q is going to be responsible for some stunning photographs – I've got no doubt about that. I've taken a lot of keepers in the few days I've had it, and a few shots that have absolutely dazzled me. It's certainly a limited machine with its fixed lens, but in my time with it I did feel like that restriction unlocked some creativity.

Leica Q sample shot

Leica Q sample shot

It's going to be a superb camera for a certain photographer – a street shooter who can make the most of its discreet size, portability, quiet shutter and outstanding speed, as well as the best autofocus we've seen on a Leica. Somebody who can get the most out of that beautiful sensor and sumptuous lens. But it's also going to have to be somebody with deep pockets and a love of the Leica brand, because the thing is selling for a mammoth US$4,250 (AU$5,900 in Australia).

That's US$1,450 north of the Sony RX1. Sony's full frame sensors (also used by Nikon) are arguably the best on the market, and the RX1 uses quality Zeiss glass in its 35mm f/2.0 fixed lens. Even without the Leica's touch screen or excellent built-in EVF, the RX1 is a worthy opponent capable of producing similarly stunning images at only US$2,800. Wait, did I really just write "only US$2,800" for a fixed-lens compact? This is madness. At least you're not going to be blowing thousands more building a lens collection.

There's no question that in the hand, and looking at it, the Leica Q exudes luxury levels of build quality, style and class commensurate with its premium price tag. Some of the controls are a bit odd and the ergonomics suffer in comparison to bigger cameras, but in performance terms it's a beast, and in esoteric airy-fairy terms I did find it an inspiring creative tool. If you've got the cash and the inclination to buy one, you won't be disappointed.

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Back It Up: Ensure Your Data Survives Disaster

Back It Up: Ensure Your Data Survives Disaster (photo: Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images)

 

It's astonishing when you sit and consider the measure of trust we have given our PCs. We spare our photographs, features, music, basic records, and all the more on our hard drives without the slightest hesitation. We assume that our machine will work, for quite a while, keeping our data secure and (to some degree) sorted out. Obviously, this trust is fortified by the true serenity you've accomplished from going down your PC all the time. You are frequently moving down your PC, correct?

Moving down a PC can appear as though its a confused errand, or that it will take a lot of time to keep up. Luckily, neither one of the statements is valid. Setting up and aintaining your reinforcement -on Windows or Mac- -is a basic process and should be possible in little time.

Local backups

Both Windows and OS X offer a local answer for going down your PC by regional standards -as such, to a hard commute that is close to your PC, either an organized commute or a USB joined commute. The setup procedure is really direct regardless of the fact that you have little tech information. I'll talk about how to do this for both Windows 7 and Windows 8 and in addition OS X for you Mac clients.

Before you can move down your PC, you're going to need an outside hard commute. Contingent upon the size and model of the drive, it may wind up being a pricey venture.

A decent general guideline when obtaining an outside hard commute for reinforcement is to get one that is about 1.5 times the extent of the hard commute in your PC. For instance, if your PC has a 500GB hard commute, purchase nothing littler than 750GB. This isn't a necessity, yet the greater commute size will permit the reinforcement project to store different reinforcements that compass a more extended time of time. This is perfect for circumstances when it takes you months to acknowledge you lost an imperative record, thus the document is on a more seasoned reinforcement.

Backing up a Windows machine(photo: Demand Media)

 

Windows 7 and Windows 8 every take an alternate way to deal with moving down your records.

Windows 7 clients need to set up what's called "Windows Backup." To do this, tap the Start catch and sort "reinforcement" into the pursuit bar. At that point tap on "Reinforcement & Restore." You can then choose a hard commute as your reinforcement destination. You can likewise set how visit the reinforcement procedure will keep running, with the most successive time being before a day. It's likewise a savvy thought to make a framework picture of your PC through the Windows Backup menu. Doing as such will permit you to load a clear hard commute with a definite copy of your present setup.

Windows 8 clients can point of interest of another element called File History. Document History makes an hourly reinforcement of your most vital records. In the event that you inadvertently erase a document, or just choose you need to begin once again on a task from a prior spare, you can then skim through and restore a record or whole organizer.

You can discover the settings for File History in your Control Panel, or via looking for "Record History" from your Windows 8 home screen. Once dispatched, you can then choose an associated or system drive to store your reinforcements on. You'll likewise have the capacity to control what records and envelopes are went down, how regularly and to what extent the documents are put away.

To restore a record on either form of Windows you have to relaunch the reinforcement program and scan through the reinforcement until you discover the document or organizer you require.

Backing up a Mac

(photo: Demand Media)

Apple's OS X working framework incorporates a component called Time Machine. Time Machine will move down your PC to an outside hard commute on normal premise. As your reinforcement plate starts to top off, Time Machine will naturally erase the most seasoned reinforcements; ensuring accessible space on the reinforcement circle at all times.

You have the alternative to utilize an associated or arranged outside hard commute with Time Machine. The first occasion when you join an outside hard commute to your Mac, Time Machine will dispatch inquiring as to whether you'd like to utilize the plate as a reinforcement circle. You can then take after the prompts and let Time Machine start the hourly reinforcements.

In the event that you erase a record or choose to begin once again from a prior spare point, you can enter Time Machine and restore the document with a couple clicks. You can even restore whole client records, settings and applications from Time Machine ought to a hard commute fizzle, or you buy another PC and need it to reflect your old PC.

Off-site reinforcements

Going down by regional standards is a helpful and simple technique for keeping your information safe. In any case, there are dangers: Your neighborhood hard commute can crash, succumb to a glass of water, or be inundated in a house fire. All of which will abandon you without your information. In view of that, we should discuss moving down your information to an off-site area.

In days of olde, off-site reinforcement implied duplicating your information to a drive that was then secured a sheltered 10 miles away. Nowadays, its a ton less demanding: You can simply utilize an online reinforcement administration.

There are a considerable measure of online reinforcement administrations accessible, yet I'll confine my dialog to only two of them: CrashPlan and Carbonite.

Both administrations charge a month to month or yearly expense to naturally reinforcement your information on remote servers through a subtle system introduced on your PC.

CrashPlan costs $5.99 every month for boundless stockpiling with only one PC, or $13.99 every month for up to 10 PCs. You can spare a couple of dollars off the month to month cost on the off chance that you pay for a whole year ahead of time. Any CrashPlan value arrangement covers Mac or Windows based PCs. You can read all the more about CrashPlan's estimating by taking after the connection in the Resource segment beneath.

Carbonite's evaluating begins at $59 every year for boundless stockpiling with one PC, Mac or Windows. From that point it goes up to $99 or $149 every year, including more reinforcement components however dropping Mac support. You'll likewise discover a connection to Carbonite's evaluating in the Resource segment underneath.

Both administrations will just take a couple of minutes to setup. You sign up, download and introduce the particular program and let it perform the beginning reinforcement. When set up the applications will keep running out of sight, unbeknownst to you, and reinforcement your information all the time. Should you have to restore your records, you can get to them through the application, Web website or cell phone application.

Which technique do you utilize?

In a perfect world - both.

Repetition is the name of the diversion with regards to going down and securing your information. It's justified, despite all the trouble to invest the energy and cash on an outer hard commute, and all the while go down your information to an online administration. Not just will you profit by having the capacity to rapidly restore a document put away on a neighborhood drive, however if you - paradise disallow - lose your outer hard commute in a surge or flame, despite everything you'll have the off-site reinforcement of your information to restore.

However, in the event that you need to pick only one strategy, run with an off-site administration. The forthright cost is lower (when contrasted with purchasing an outside hard commute) and you're information is decent and safe somewhere else.

 

Precautions for OoVoo

 

• Like other feature, sound and content talk programs, ooVoo has efforts to establish safety set up that keep your record from being abused. For instance, each ooVoo client has an alternate name and watchword that helps keep your record secure and keeps different clients from getting to your own ooVoo data.. Taking extra safety measures will help you keep your record and the data traded from it secure.

• Account Privacy

• A standout amongst the most essential safeguards you can take when utilizing ooVoo is keeping your record secure. While other ooVoo clients will include you with your username, you ought to never impart your watchword to someone else; nor if you let other ooVoo clients realize what email location is connected with your record. Keeping other individuals off your ooVoo record will help guarantee nobody gets entrance to your contact list and other individual information. In the event that you utilize ooVoo on a cell phone or PC and recovery your secret key for the system, consider watchword ensuring your gadget.

• Including Contacts

• Something else to remember when utilizing ooVoo is which gets in touch with you need to include. A few individuals use ooVoo to meet new companions, while others utilize it to identify with individuals they know, in actuality. On the off chance that you don't need outsiders to discover your profile and include you as a companion, open your Settings menu and alter your controls so you don't show up in hunts. You can likewise shroud your birthday and other individual data from other ooVoo clients here.

• Feature Chat

• When you do use feature visit on ooVoo, there's no ensure that the individual on the flip side isn't recording you and that there's no other individual in the room out of your scope of perspective. Never do anything while feature visiting on ooVoo that you wouldn't need other individuals to see. The most ideal approach to stay safe when feature talking on ooVoo is to just talk with individuals you know and trust. On the off chance that you ever feel uncomfortable amid a feature call, end it quickly.

• Other Security Measures

• When you're on ooVoo, never give out specifically distinguishing data to individuals you don't know, in actuality. Remember that neither the sound or feature traded on ooVoo is scrambled, so its critical that you don't share anything delicate, similar to bank passwords. In case you're dealing with an ooVoo represent your kid, consider setting up sure times when he can utilize the project, and after that be in the same space to screen the feature and sound that is traded amid an ooVoo session. You ought to additionally stay informed regarding his watchword, so you can see who is including your youngster as a companion on ooVoo.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter detects impact glass

Image of one of the glass deposits discovered by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter located at Alga Crater, deposits are displayed in green (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/JHUAPL/Univ. of Arizona)

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has detected deposits of impact glass on the Red Planet that may provide a fresh avenue for investigating the question of whether life ever existed there. The hope is that glass forged in the intense conditions created by an asteroid impact may have preserved microscopic signs of life, as it has here on Earth.

Detecting the signature of the glass deposits proved to be no small feat for the MRO, as the weak spectral signal from the glass is usually overwhelmed by the rock entombed inside it.

In order to make the orbiter's instruments more sensitive to detecting the relatively weak signal, Jack Mustard, deputy investigator of the MRO mission, placed a Martian rock substitute in a kiln and fired it in order to create an impact glass-like substance.

He then analyzed the spectral qualities of the glass and used an algorithm to pick out similar deposits on Mars. This resulted in the detection of several large glass deposits located at the central peaks of various Martian impact craters.

“The researchers’ analysis suggests glass deposits are relatively common impact features on Mars,” states Jim Green, director of NASA’s planetary science division. Green continues, “These areas could be targets for future exploration as our robotic scientific explorers pave the way on the journey to Mars with humans in the 2030s.”

Impact glass back on Earth has been found to be a surprisingly effective medium for preserving clues to life, such as organic molecules and even plant life. Such was the case for a glass deposit found at the site of an impact crater in Argentina, which is believed to have formed millions years ago.

Scientist Peter Schultz of Brown University, Ohio, who was responsible for discovering the preserved specimens of life in the Argentinian impact glass, believes that a similar phenomenon on Mars could provide clues to life having existed in the planet's ancient past. However, for organic molecules to be preserved, they must have existed at the location and time of the impact event.

One deposit of glass was found at the Hargraves crater near Nili Fossae trough, which happens to be in the proximity of one of the candidate landing sites for NASA's 2020 Mars rover. The discovery of the glass deposits may well inform the eventual landing site of the mission, which will collect samples from the Martian landscape for analysis and possible return to Earth.

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American Dream Trailer revives vintage camper with rowboat roof

American Dream has brought back the classic boat-trailer

There are plenty of camping trailers that haul boats and other outdoor gear into the wild. We've covered options like the SylvanSport GO-Easy and BCT MOAB Yak within the past year. Portland-based American Dream Trailer Company has a new – er, revisited – idea for how to best transport a boat on your camper. In place of the typical gear racks, its trailer uses a matching boat that secures to the trailer roof like a fitted hat.

A camper with integrated rooftop boat may sound unusual, but it's not a new idea. Back in the 50s, the Kom-Pak Sportsman, manufactured in Medford, Oregon, roamed highways and forest roads as a towable fiberglass camper with boat roof. According to information published by Mecum Auctions in 2010, it's believed that only about 16 Sportsman trailers were ever built, with maybe half a dozen surviving to modern day. The trailers were designed to match Ford station wagons of the day, and anyone that likes vintage vehicles should find them quite the photogenic duo.

Not long after the Kom-Pak Sportsman, in the early 60s, San Rafael, California-based Trailorboat Engineering Company, a boat builder, began offering a fiberglass camper with rooftop boat of its own. Similar to the Sportsman, minus the Ford-matching design, the Trailorboat camper was a teardrop-inspired trailer with a roof boat. It was only built for a few years, and only a few hundred are believed to have been sold.

From the few photos we've seen of the Sportsman and replicas with the boat detached, that trailer relied solely on the boat for a roof. The Trailorboat camper, on the other hand, had a separate roof below the boat.

About five years ago, Paul Dahlman and his wife purchased an original 1961 Trailorboat and fell in love with it. They decided that they wanted to share the classic design and camping/boating experience with the world. Using their original model, they designed an authentic replica and developed partnerships for the chassis and fiberglass construction, putting the model into production.

The Classic American Dream Trailer has a fiberglass camper body built atop a 4 x 8-ft (1.2 x 2.4-m) steel-tube chassis designed to carry up to 2,000 lb (907 kg). After the chassis is fabricated, American Dream takes it to M&W Fiberglass and Composite for the construction of the fiberglass cabin and boat. From there, the wheeled fiberglass shell travels to the Dahlman's neighbor's garage, where they build it up to customer specification.

The rooftop boat removes via five latches. The trailer includes the separate roof below the boat so there's no worry about exposure when the boat is in use. The boat is built to carry up to three people/500 lb (227 kg). It has a motor mount and can handle a motor of 2 hp.

American Dream offers the base 650-lb (295-kg) camper at a price of US$8,900 with the boat, two-person mattress, shelving, oars, oarlocks, curtains and a checkerboard floor. The trailer includes a tailgate for gear storage and food preparation. The boat makes the camper look a little bigger than it is; it is a small, lightweight teardrop-style design, so the interior is quite compact and simple. Options include an interior table and single- and two-tone color schemes. Deliveries currently take six to eight weeks.

In addition to selling trailers, American Dream is trying to ramp up its rental business. It has already rented out its own trailer and recently turned to Kickstarter to try to raise funding to add five new trailers to its rental fleet. Barring some type of miracle or highly motivated, big-pocketed Kickstarter member, that campaign will be unsuccessful. As of publication, it raised less than $2,000 of its $50K goal and had only 40 hours left. Dahlman told us that the company figured the campaign was a long shot and will continue renting out its one trailer, with plans of adding a second and possibly more in the future.

If you like the idea of a trailer-boat, we also suggest you take a peek at the German-built Sealander amphibious camper, which is now available.

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MX3D gets go-ahead for 3D-printed bridge in Amsterdam

MX3D will use multi-axis industrial robots to 3D print the bridge

Gizmag has covered a wealth of remarkable architectural projects involving 3D printing – including a backyard castle, a number of small homes and a room with 260 million surfaces – but a project in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is set to be particularly impressive. 3D printing R&D firm MX3D is planning to print a bridge across a canal. It is hoped that the robots used will print their own supports and gradually move across the water, creating the bridge as they go.

The project is a collaboration with, among others, design software company Autodesk and construction firm Heijmans and will incorporate robotics, software engineering, craftsmanship and design. Designer Joris Laarman, who has previously worked with MX3D printing free-standing 3D sculptures, is using Autodesk software to design what is described as "an ornate metal bridge."

"I strongly believe in the future of digital production and local production, in the new craft," says Laarman. "This bridge will show how 3D printing finally enters the world of large-scale, functional objects and sustainable materials while allowing unprecedented freedom of form."

MX3D says the project is made feasible by its robotic 3D printing technology that effectively makes it possible to draw in mid-air. The multi-axis industrial robots to be used can print metals, plastics and combinations of materials.

"What distinguishes our technology from traditional 3D printing methods is that we work according to the 'printing outside the box' principle," explains CTO of MX3D Tim Geurtjens, "By printing with 6-axis industrial robots, we are no longer limited to a square box in which everything happens."

For the bridge project, the robots will be printing in steel. They will use specially-designed arms that heat up the metal to 1,500° C (2,732° F) before welding the structure. This approach means structures can be created that are strong, durable and complex.

What's more, it is hoped that the entire process will take place on-site. Assuming that is the case, the robots will begin creating the structure on one side of the water and will create rail-supports as they go. They will then be able to gradually slide forward on the supports, literally creating the bridge upon which they are crossing the canal (as demonstrated in the visualization below).

A visitor center where people can follow the progress of the robots is expected to be opened to the public in September, although the exact location of the bridge is yet to be confirmed.

The video below provides an introduction to the project.

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On the ground at the Oculus Rift launch event: Initial thoughts

Oculus VR's founder Palmer Luckey showing off the Oculus Rift (Credit: Will Shanklin/Gizmag)

Oculus VR just wrapped up its first consumer product launch a few hours ago, and we were there for the fun. Now that the dust is settling, we have a few initial thoughts.

First, we got to chat with CEO Brendan Iribe and Product VP Nate Mitchell afterwards, and we'll sift through those recordings and run a separate interview post soon. Right now we're going to step back and take a longer view at what we learned today.

After spending about an hour listening to Iribe and Mitchell answering questions from myself and other reporters gathered around the campfire, the question I heard asked the most was "what non-gaming uses do you have planned for VR?" And the answer was the same every time: right now it's about gaming. That's where this starts.

Of course, behind closed doors, the company is likely investigating and researching a million and a half non-gaming uses for VR, but it also knows that the gaming world is by far the most ready and willing to accept VR today. That's VR's "in."

You can't open a bunch of virtual reality movie theaters tomorrow, and expect anyone but VR geeks to show up. You can't run a VR livestream of the 2015 NBA finals and expect half the world to shut off their TV sets and strap on goggles to watch LeBron and Steph. They simply aren't ready.

Getting non-gamers into this – not to mention getting content creators to dream of and create different kinds of non-gaming VR experiences – is going to take time. You'd be foolish to think Oculus isn't thinking about this, but it's long term. Right now it's gaming, gaming, gaming.

And Oculus made three big moves today to enhance the Rift as a gaming platform: bundling it with an Xbox One controller, allowing you to use it (indirectly) with Xbox One games and, perhaps most of all, the Oculus Touch controllers.

Why both an Xbox One controller and Oculus Touch? It's partially about moving at a realistic pace (honoring the past with a foot in the future) but it's also about offering different control schemes for different types of games.

Oculus Touch, which can make you feel like you have real hands in virtual worlds, is tailor-made for first-person titles. The Xbox One controller is going to excel with third-person games.

There's also the fact that developers have already spent years making Oculus games based on traditional control schemes. It's to the platform's advantage to give every buyer that same familiar controller, the one with the most momentum up to this point, right in the box. Oculus Touch – and its evolutions – are the future, but there may always be a place for that classic console controller experience in VR. For at least some types of games.

Being able to use Windows 10's built-in Xbox One streaming capabilities with the Rift is an interesting turn. If it can be done with imperceptible latency, then this could potentially mean Xbox One owners could even skip the step of buying an Oculus-ready gaming PC and using whatever Windows device they have lying around to play Xbox games in the Rift. That would never be the most ideal way to use the headset; but it could be a cheaper way to get more people in on the fun.

It also makes it clearer what options hardcore gamers will be looking at. PS4 owners will have Morpheus. PC gamers will have the Oculus Rift. And now Xbox One owners will also have Oculus Rift. If you thought that Sony would have a huge advantage based on the sheer fact that it was console-based, well, Oculus now has a foot in that door as well.

... and its partnership with Microsoft could be pointing to a more direct relationship with the Xbox down the road. That's speculation at this point, but it makes sense.

Maybe the most encouraging thing about today's event is that Oculus VR is taking PC gaming – something that's usually complex – and making it simpler than you might expect. There's a clear set of PC specs that are recommended for the Rift. Everyone gets the same controller. Headphones are built right into the goggles. Xbox One owners can even skip all of that and use the console they already have.

Oculus' biggest challenge may be finding some degree of uniformity in the PC gaming world – one that's typically scattered and fragmented. But these moves show us that the company a) knows exactly what its challenges are, and b) is answering that call in some very clever – possibly innovative – ways.

This new frontier is very fascinating, and we'll have much more on the Oculus Rift launch soon (including those interview details we promised). Be sure to check back at Gizmag.

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