Technology

Better cameras are among the most compelling reasons to upgrade your phone every couple of years, and Samsung is throwing the kitchen sink at a new Isocell GN2 sensor it says takes big steps forward in resolution, autofocus, speed and dynamic range.

The Sony World Photography Awards has revealed an incredible selection of finalists and shortlisted shots in its annual competition, highlighting how unusual the last 12 months have been with images depicting the pandemic from creative perspectives.

Researchers have modified the material used in re-writable CDs to create a new optical lens that shifts its focal point in response to heat, with no moving parts. It could enable miniature zoom lenses for drones, cellphones, or night vision goggles.

Looking to extend the combat range of its aircraft and keep human operators removed from danger, DARPA has kicked off the development of a new missile-equipped, air-launched drone under its LongShot program.

The latest variant of the F-15 fighter jet has taken to the skies for the first time. The F-15EX completed its maiden test flight earlier this week, as Boeing prepares to fulfill an initial order of eight of the advanced fighters for the US Air Force.

Lockheed Martin and Boeing have taken the wraps off their coaxial-rotor Defiant X advanced military helicopter being developed for the US Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft competition to replace the Black Hawk.

About two years ago, China's Huawei followed Samsung in launching a foldable phone. The Mate X was followed a year later by the similar looking but faster Mate XS, and now the company has launched the Mate X2, which adds another display into the mix.

Android 12 is here – or at least, the first developer preview of Android 12 is, ready for app makers to start testing ahead of a public launch for users later in 2021. The first developer preview for Android 11 launched on the same day last year.

IK Multimedia has given a helping hand to content creators looking to give their recorded or streamed visuals a pro-level audio boost with the iRig Pre 2, a battery powered pre-amp that connects XLR microphones to mobile devices or digital cameras.

Although it's getting more common to see swarms of illuminated drones being used for aerial light shows, simultaneously charging and launching all of those drones can still be tricky. That's where the Flying Drone Blanket is intended to come in.

If one of the motors conks out on a quadcopter drone, the aircraft usually just crashes. Thanks to new research, however, such disabled drones could soon not only remain airborne, but even complete their trip.

Flying drones are already used to patrol outdoor areas, but indoors where GPS doesn't work? Not so much. That could be about to change, though, with the launch of the Tando system.

Back in 2018, China's Puppy Robot launched the puppy cube interactive projector on Indiegogo, and we got to review a unit. The next generation launched early 2020, followed by the higher spec Hachi Infinite M1 Pro – which we've been trying out.

Much of today's music consumption is digital, and most of that is streamed. Some folks still play CDs though, and McIntosh Labs has today launched a retro-cool player for those who want to rock the house with the help of spinning plastic discs.

Bang & Olufsen has added a stylish new wireless speaker to its Beosound range. The Level puts out over 100 watts of sonic power, has a built-in battery for portability and can automatically change its sound profile depending on how it's positioned.

If you're in the market for a new camera with exceptional action and waterproof capabilities, you've come to the right place. For a limited time, you can take an additional 20% off the Muvi 4K, a great contender to capture all your superb content.

While business rolls on in 2021, international dealings are more frequent than ever, and translating what your client from halfway across the world just sped through is impossible. Luckily, this handheld gadget can be a tremendous help.

Being away from home can be exciting, but it can also have you on high-alert, wondering if your home is secure. For a limited time only, get 20% off the Cave Smart Home Starter Kit, the ultimate solution for checking up on your space from anywhere.

Ordinarily, if you want to change the shape in which an object is 3D-printed, you have to alter the computer model that tells the printer what to do. A new and simpler technique, however, allows the printer to initiate the changes itself, as the print job is in progress.

As a seedling matures into a tree, its trunk and branches become stiffer and stronger. Scientists have now replicated this effect in a photosynthesis-assisted 3D-printing ink, made partially from spinach.

The embedding of fibers within 3D-printed objects can be used to add properties such as electrical conductivity or extra strength to those items. Now, a shape-changing print nozzle has been developed to vary the orientation of those fibers – as the printing is in process.

Genealogy company MyHeritage is putting deepfake technology to a creatively unsettling use with a new feature called Deep Nostalgia. The system animates old photographs of loved ones, turning still portraits into uncanny blinking and smiling videos.

Seventy five years ago, the world was introduced to ENIAC, the first ever electronic, programmable, general purpose, digital computer, which not only ushered in the beginning of the computer age, but also shaped popular conceptions of the computer.

How often do you clear out old photos on your phone or tidy up your email inbox? You just may be a digital hoarder, and researchers from Northumbria University have identified four distinct types.

Imagine if you crossed a handheld gaming system with a Rubik's Cube. What you'd get is CubiOs Inc's WowCube, which is currently an honoree in the CES 2021 Innovation Awards.

As fun as board games are, they can be a fiddly to set up and expensive to keep buying the new ones. Arcade1Up's Infinity Game Table, currently on Kickstarter, digitizes dozens of classic games like Monopoly and Scrabble into a touchscreen table.

Microsoft and Sony have both just launched their next-generation consoles. But which one is best for you? New Atlas compares the specs, features, hardware and games of the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X.

Californian startup Framework says that it was founded to provide quality products that can be customized, upgraded and repaired with ease. The company has today launched a 13.5-inch laptop aimed at ticking all of those boxes.

Sony's Vaio range of computers and laptops were always eye pleasers, but also pricey. The Vaio brand was sold off in 2014, and now a new Vaio Z laptop has surfaced that's wrapped in contoured carbon fiber and commands a starting price of US$3,579.

We've seen a number of laptops sprouting extra screens over the years, but Expanscape out-displays them all with the Aurora 7, a monster of a mobile workstation that puts seven screens in front of the user.

With the release of the "Spark-O-Matic" Jazzmaster, Fender has completed its Parallel Universe II line up, an eight model range of limited edition electric guitars that combine elements of different Fender icons to create some interesting oddities.

Looking to offer a little something extra for the audiophiles in the crowd, Spotify has announced a new streaming tier for high-quality lossless audio called Spotify HiFi, which will be available to Premium subscribers as an optional extra later this year.

It's easy to imagine a program that could visually identify which pieces of music were being performed in silent piano-playing videos. A new AI system goes further, however, by reproducing the sound of that piano-playing in a realistic fashion.

Things can get very chaotic on the ocean floor, making it difficult for underwater robots to keep from being swept away. New research, however, suggests that by copying the structure of the starfish, they could actually be pressed into place.

Although soft robotic graspers may be squishy on the outside, they usually still have hard, unyielding electronic components on the inside. A new and potentially more versatile bio-inspired grasping system, however, is 100 percent soft.

When scientists wish to gather oceanographic data over long distances, autonomous "underwater gliders" are often used. A new one is claimed to be highly maneuverable, yet it has no external propulsion or steering systems.

Whereas previous smartwatches in its range have been chunky, outdoorsy affairs, Garmin's new Lily wearable has a more stylish and feminine feel. Garmin says it's been designed by women for women, and that it looks to balance both fashion and fitness.

The CZ Smart isn't Citizen's first smartwatch, but is the classic watchmaker's first to sport an all-digital display and be powered by Wear OS, bringing a suite of familiar apps and functions to the traditional design.

For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, it can be difficult to pick out important sounds, such as a doorbell or a fire alarm. A new smartwatch system called SoundWatch identifies sounds and alerts users to them with a buzz and a visual readout.

A new study from Stanford University is investigating the very modern phenomenon of "Zoom Fatigue." The research suggests there are four factors that make videoconferencing so uniquely tiring, and some simple solutions that could reduce exhaustion.

Facebook has responded to proposed Australian media bargaining legislation with blanket bans on Australian content that are now rolling out across its social media platform.

Nokia and Vodafone have tested a new broadband technology that delivers a blistering 100 gigabits per second (Gbps). Conducted using the kind of network seen in the last mile between an ISP and a user, it could eventually be rolled out commercially.

Scientists in Europe have leveraged cutting edge OLED technology to produce a first-of-a-kind tattoo that could be used to monitor different metrics of physical human performance, the freshness of food, or even prevent sunburn.

Audio gear maker Sennheiser and 3D printing technology company Formlabs have partnered for a project aimed at producing affordable custom-fit earphones for a more secure fit and improved noise isolation while out and about.

Many people wear earrings all day, yet they also jam in a pair of earbuds when listening to music. The folks at German startup Nova Products figured, "Why not just combine the two?". Their Nova H1 Audio Earrings are the result.

Sony has confirmed that it's working on a new virtual reality system to take advantage of the PS5's impressive grunt, promising "dramatic leaps in performance and interactivity" as well as enhanced field of view, resolution, haptics and tracking.

Coming later this year, the Cognixion ONE headset is promising something extra on top of the regular augmented reality experience: a brain computer interface that can turn thoughts into commands for the device.

The original Oculus Quest was one of the technology world's great game-changers, and the new Quest 2 makes big improvements everywhere while dropping the price. We've now spent a month with the world's latest, greatest standalone VR headset.