Fujifilm teases a medium-format version of its viral X100 VI compact camera

Fujifilm appears to be working on a camera that could combine the best of its medium-format shooters, like the GFX 100S II, with the massively popular X100 series, based on a new teaser video spotted by Digital Camera World.

The video, titled “X Summit in Prague is going to be special, Fujifilm fam🇨🇿” shows a pair of hands producing a XV100 VI and GFX 100S II out of thin air and bringing the cameras together, before cutting to the silhouette of the new camera the company presumably plans to announce. The suggestion being that Fujifilm wants to create something that has traits of its more compact, fixed-lens X100 series while reaping the benefits of a medium-format sensor.

It’s hard to really gauge what the new camera will look like based on the brief clip in the video, but it definitely looks larger (and more square) than the X100 VI, with a smaller lens than you’d normally see on a camera in Fujifilm’s GFX 100S II. That certainly bodes well for anyone looking to up their photography game after getting hooked on one of the X100 cameras.

Fujifilm first struck gold with the X100 V, which became popular on social platforms because of its size, design and ability to digitally mimic multiple types of analog film. The X100 VI was released in 2024 to capitalize on the sudden popularity, gaining things like in-body stabilization and a lower native ISO. For all intents and purposes, it’s a fantastic camera.

We’ll have to wait until Fujifilm’s X Summit on March 20 to see if this new camera has the potential to have the same crossover appeal, but history is definitely on the company’s side.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/fujifilm-teases-a-medium-format-version-of-its-viral-x100-vi-compact-camera-174117388.html?src=rss

Fujifilm teases a medium-format version of its viral X100 VI compact camera

Fujifilm appears to be working on a camera that could combine the best of its medium-format shooters, like the GFX 100S II, with the massively popular X100 series, based on a new teaser video spotted by Digital Camera World.

The video, titled “X Summit in Prague is going to be special, Fujifilm fam🇨🇿” shows a pair of hands producing a XV100 VI and GFX 100S II out of thin air and bringing the cameras together, before cutting to the silhouette of the new camera the company presumably plans to announce. The suggestion being that Fujifilm wants to create something that has traits of its more compact, fixed-lens X100 series while reaping the benefits of a medium-format sensor.

It’s hard to really gauge what the new camera will look like based on the brief clip in the video, but it definitely looks larger (and more square) than the X100 VI, with a smaller lens than you’d normally see on a camera in Fujifilm’s GFX 100S II. That certainly bodes well for anyone looking to up their photography game after getting hooked on one of the X100 cameras.

Fujifilm first struck gold with the X100 V, which became popular on social platforms because of its size, design and ability to digitally mimic multiple types of analog film. The X100 VI was released in 2024 to capitalize on the sudden popularity, gaining things like in-body stabilization and a lower native ISO. For all intents and purposes, it’s a fantastic camera.

We’ll have to wait until Fujifilm’s X Summit on March 20 to see if this new camera has the potential to have the same crossover appeal, but history is definitely on the company’s side.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/fujifilm-teases-a-medium-format-version-of-its-viral-x100-vi-compact-camera-174117388.html?src=rss

A show based on Philip K. Dick’s The Variable Man is in the works

According to Deadline, Humans writers Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent are working on an adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s 1953 novella, The Variable Man. The show is being produced by Motive Pictures in a partnership with Electric Shepherd Productions, which is run by the late author’s daughter, Isa Dick Hackett. The Variable Man follows a tinkerer turned accidental time traveler named Thomas Cole, who is transported from 1913 into the future and suddenly finds himself a reluctant player in an interplanetary conflict.

It’s being written for a UK broadcaster, according to Deadline, but there may be hope for a US release. “When you’ve got Sam and John doing what they did so brilliantly with Humans and exploring the modern world through a genre lens, it is something that can absolutely attract broadcasters in the US,” Motive CEO Simon Maxwell told the publication. I really enjoyed The Variable Man back when I read it and I’ll give any PKD adaptation a chance, so here’s hoping we get another good one in this series.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/a-show-based-on-philip-k-dicks-the-variable-man-is-in-the-works-221301434.html?src=rss

See Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander bathed in red during solar eclipse captured from the moon

The lunar eclipse this week had many of us gazing up at the night sky to marvel at the red-tinged moon, and now we can see what that eerie effect looked like from the other side thanks to images captured by Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander. From the lander’s perspective on the moon, the phenomenon on March 14 was a solar eclipse, and the latest video shows red light cast over Blue Ghost as Earth temporarily blocked the sun. The new imagery came in shortly after the team shared a photo of the diamond ring effect captured by the lander as the sun began to reemerge.

“These images — rapidly captured by our top deck camera with different exposure settings — were stitched together in a quick clip,” Firefly said. “The red hue is the result of sunlight refracting through the Earth’s atmosphere as the sun is blocked by our planet, casting a shadow on the lunar surface.” At the beginning of the video where the images are better lit, you can see Venus as a small dot above the eclipse. And if you look really, really closely, you’ll also see Mercury to its left. 

Blue Ghost landed on the moon on March 2, and Firefly has shared some pretty amazing photos and videos since, including landing footage from the spacecraft’s point of view. The lander’s mission is expected to come to an end soon with the onset of lunar night, but it’ll first observe the lunar sunset on March 16.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/see-fireflys-blue-ghost-lander-bathed-in-red-during-solar-eclipse-captured-from-the-moon-203203999.html?src=rss

See Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander bathed in red during solar eclipse captured from the moon

The lunar eclipse this week had many of us gazing up at the night sky to marvel at the red-tinged moon, and now we can see what that eerie effect looked like from the other side thanks to images captured by Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander. From the lander’s perspective on the moon, the phenomenon on March 14 was a solar eclipse, and the latest video shows red light cast over Blue Ghost as Earth temporarily blocked the sun. The new imagery came in shortly after the team shared a photo of the diamond ring effect captured by the lander as the sun began to reemerge.

“These images — rapidly captured by our top deck camera with different exposure settings — were stitched together in a quick clip,” Firefly said. “The red hue is the result of sunlight refracting through the Earth’s atmosphere as the sun is blocked by our planet, casting a shadow on the lunar surface.” At the beginning of the video where the images are better lit, you can see Venus as a small dot above the eclipse. And if you look really, really closely, you’ll also see Mercury to its left. 

Blue Ghost landed on the moon on March 2, and Firefly has shared some pretty amazing photos and videos since, including landing footage from the spacecraft’s point of view. The lander’s mission is expected to come to an end soon with the onset of lunar night, but it’ll first observe the lunar sunset on March 16.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/see-fireflys-blue-ghost-lander-bathed-in-red-during-solar-eclipse-captured-from-the-moon-203203999.html?src=rss

Fujifilm teases a medium-format version of its viral X100 VI compact camera

Fujifilm appears to be working on a camera that could combine the best of its medium-format shooters, like the GFX 100S II, with the massively popular X100 series, based on a new teaser video spotted by Digital Camera World.

The video, titled “X Summit in Prague is going to be special, Fujifilm fam🇨🇿” shows a pair of hands producing a XV100 VI and GFX 100S II out of thin air and bringing the cameras together, before cutting to the silhouette of the new camera the company presumably plans to announce. The suggestion being that Fujifilm wants to create something that has traits of its more compact, fixed-lens X100 series while reaping the benefits of a medium-format sensor.

It’s hard to really gauge what the new camera will look like based on the brief clip in the video, but it definitely looks larger (and more square) than the X100 VI, with a smaller lens than you’d normally see on a camera in Fujifilm’s GFX 100S II. That certainly bodes well for anyone looking to up their photography game after getting hooked on one of the X100 cameras.

Fujifilm first struck gold with the X100 V, which became popular on social platforms because of its size, design and ability to digitally mimic multiple types of analog film. The X100 VI was released in 2024 to capitalize on the sudden popularity, gaining things like in-body stabilization and a lower native ISO. For all intents and purposes, it’s a fantastic camera.

We’ll have to wait until Fujifilm’s X Summit on March 20 to see if this new camera has the potential to have the same crossover appeal, but history is definitely on the company’s side.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/fujifilm-teases-a-medium-format-version-of-its-viral-x100-vi-compact-camera-174117388.html?src=rss

Amazon is getting rid of the option for Echo devices to process Alexa requests locally

As of March 28, Amazon Echo models that were previously able to process Alexa requests locally will no longer do so, instead sending those voice recordings to the cloud. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the change to The Verge after a Reddit user posted a PSA about it on Friday, with a screenshot of an email they’d received from the company. The change applies to the Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Show 10 and Echo Show 15, according to The Verge.

Per the email shared on Reddit, the settings for Echo users who enabled the ‘Do Not Send Voice Recordings’ option will automatically change to ‘Don’t save recordings.’ It goes on to say, “This means that, starting on March 28th, your voice recordings will be sent to and processed in the cloud, and they will be deleted after Alexa processes your requests. Any previously saved voice recordings will also be deleted.” The move comes a few weeks after Amazon introduced Alexa+, which brings generative AI to the assistant. Amazon said during the February unveiling event that Alexa+ would begin rolling out in early access this month.

“As we continue to expand Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud, we have decided to no longer support this feature,” Amazon said in its email to customers about discontinuing the option for local processing. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/amazon-is-getting-rid-of-the-option-for-echo-devices-to-process-alexa-requests-locally-182627101.html?src=rss

Engadget review recap: MacBook Air, Mac Studio, Ninja Creami and Technics AZ100

Reviews season is in full swing, and we’ve been busy at Engadget HQ. Laptops, desktops, earbuds, gaming handhelds and even an ice cream machine are among our slate of recent reviews. The great thing about this time of year is there’s really something for everyone among the in-depth testing our team undertakes. So sit back, relax and catch up on all the reviews you might’ve missed. 

The M4-equipped MacBook Air is now available, and so is Devindra’s detailed review of the new Apple laptop. “The M4-equipped MacBook Air is a nearly flawless ultraportable,” he declared. “Even better, it now starts at $999, which is $100 less than before. While I’d still like to see more ports and a faster screen refresh rate, the MacBook Air still remains heads and shoulders above the competition.” 

While the M3 Ultra configuration may be the absolute fastest Mac Studio, Steve argued that the powerful M4 Max version is the better and more affordable option for most power users. But, do you actually need one? Well, that depends. “If you regularly edit 4K (or higher) videos or render 3D graphics (or play games), you’d be better off with the Mac Studio,” he wrote. “For less demanding jobs, a Mac mini will likely suffice.” 

Soft serve ice cream at home is no longer a fantasy thanks to Ninja’s Creami machine. Sam was impressed by its versatility, but he noted that the ability to make larger batches would make the gadget even better. “Not only can it create delicious concoctions that rival what you can buy from a store (and for way cheaper), it can handle pretty much any other frozen treat you can think of — all in one gadget,” he explained. “My biggest gripe is that the Swirl isn’t available in a deluxe size like you can get with its predecessor.”

Technics’ latest earbuds impressed me during a brief introduction at CES and they continued to do so during my full review. New drivers deliver big sound upgrades and three-device multipoint is only available on this company’s earbuds. “Technics thought it could make its well-reviewed AZ80 even better by borrowing tech from another entry in its portfolio and the gamble has definitively paid off,” I wrote. “Sure, you can find better noise-canceling performance with Bose and more modern features with Sony, but Technics has formulated excellent sound quality that few can challenge.”

MSI may have stumbled with its first gaming handheld, but Sam argues that the Claw 8 AI+ is the company’s redemption. “After the original bombed, a lot of companies would have simply called it quits,” he said. “But with the Claw 8 AI+, MSI came back and totally redeemed itself. Not only is it a very competent gaming handheld, this cat offers a solid design, great performance and above-average battery life.”

Apple also debuted a new iPad Air recently, and while it isn’t a huge update, Nate wrote that the M3 upgrade still makes it easy to recommend. Jess took Sorry We’re Closed for a ride on PS5, specifically calling out the “epic storyline” with “heartbroken club kids and horny demons,” along with a killer soundtrack. Devindra’s work reviewing GPUs is seemingly never done, and in the last two weeks he reviewed AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5070. He also put the ASUS Zenbook 14 through its paces. 

If you’re in the market for a Wi-Fi 7 setup, you’ll want to check out Dan’s review of the Eero Pro 7 where basic features are locked behind an additional purchase. Amy re-reviewed the Apple Watch SE and she has a long list of requests for Apple to include — whenever it finally decides to update its “budget” wearable. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-macbook-air-mac-studio-ninja-creami-and-technics-az100-123020577.html?src=rss

Try It For Free! Google Releases New Gemini App Features

Google has announced significant updates to its AI model, Gemini, introducing a more efficient 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model, improved Deep Research capabilities, and a new personalization feature.

The latest version of Gemini, known as the 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model, offers faster performance and increased efficiency. This upgraded model improves response accuracy by breaking down prompts into structured reasoning steps. One of its key features is a 1-million-token context window, allowing Gemini Advanced users to tackle more complex tasks. Additionally, it now supports file uploads, expanding its potential applications.

Deep Research Capabilities

The Gemini Deep Research feature has been upgraded with the new model, enhancing its abilities in planning, searching, reasoning, and reporting. Users can now receive multi-page, high-quality reports with visible reasoning steps, similar to DeepSeek’s approach. This improvement ensures that Gemini provides more transparent and detailed outputs.

The updated Deep Research feature is available in over 45 languages worldwide. While free-tier users will have limited access to it a few times a month, Gemini Advanced subscribers will enjoy expanded usage.

New Personalization Features

Google is also introducing an experimental personalization capability, allowing Gemini to integrate with Google apps and services for customized responses. This feature connects with Google Search, tailoring results based on user preferences. For example, if a user frequently searches for sneakers, Gemini will incorporate this history into its recommendations.

Users can activate this feature by selecting “Personalization (experimental)” from the model settings. Over time, Gemini will integrate with more Google services, making interactions more intuitive and user-focused.

Expanded Integration with Google Services

Gemini is evolving into a central hub for personal productivity and assistance. It can now connect with Google Calendar, Notes, Tasks, and Photos in English. This integration enables users to execute complex multi-step requests, such as:

  • “Find an easy cookie recipe on YouTube.”
  • “Add the ingredients to my shopping list.”
  • “Locate nearby grocery stores that are still open.”

Gems Now Free for All Users

Google has also made Gems, a feature within the Gemini app, available for free to all users. This move aligns with the company’s goal of making Gemini a more accessible and essential tool in daily digital experiences.

With these updates, Google aims to make Gemini more powerful, personalized, and integrated, reinforcing its role as a leading AI assistant. You can try the new features for free at https://gemini.google.com/

Try It For Free! Google Releases New Gemini App Features

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Google's Find My Device app can now show your contacts’ real-time locations

Google’s update to the Find My Device app, which adds a “People” tab showing contacts who have shared their location with you (and vice versa), is now available for Android users. The company announced the feature at the beginning of the month with the March Pixel Drop, and it started rolling out this week, as spotted by 9to5Google. With the update, you can now see your approved contacts’ real-time locations on the map, above a list that displays the addresses of their current positions, their distance from you and the time since that information was last refreshed.

While Google Maps already let users manage location sharing and keep track of trusted contacts, the Find My Device update makes all this information easier to find, with a more straightforward presentation. In the People tab, you can choose to see the contacts who have shared their location with you, and those you’ve shared your location with. You can also switch Google accounts and change your Location Sharing settings at any time from within the app using the tab at the top right. The update comes almost a year after Google first launched Find My Device, and brings the service more in line with Apple’s Find My app.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/googles-find-my-device-app-can-now-show-your-contacts-real-time-locations-154857019.html?src=rss