GoPro cameras dominate the action camera market, but Olympus thinks it can do them one better.
Enter the $379 Stylus Tough TG-Tracker . It’s got your basic specs for a 2016 action cam – 4K 30fps, Wi-Fi, ultra wide-angle lens. But the camera also claims to outdo its competitors in a few key areas (other than name length): image stabilization, ruggedness, and features.
If you’ve ever shot with one of Olympus’ recent mirrorless cameras, then you know that the company’s internal 5-axis image stabilization is freakishly good. The TG-Tracker is packing the same technology inside, and from the samples footage I’ve seen, that trend is continuing:
GoPro’s cameras, on the other hand have no stabilization, which can make using one without an external stabilizer a shaky mes.
Then there’s the ‘Tough’ aspects it’s named for. Olympus says the camera is extremely durable without any special housing and is guaranteed to be:
Waterproof to 100 feet
Freezeproof to 14°F (-10°C)
Dustproof
Shockproof from 7 feet
Crushproof up to 220 pounds
GoPro cameras offer a secondary protective housing, but these can be inconvenient to put on and take off, especially if you need to access ports for charging or data.
Meanwhile, the ‘Tracker’ part of the name is for a medley of sensors logging data about your hike or swim:
GPS with GLONASS and QZSS for extra accuracy.
Barometric-pressure sensor for altitude and water depth. The camera can automatically detect when it’s submerged to enter a simpler ‘underwater shooting’ mode.
Temperature sensor for both water and air.
Compass, calibrated based on where the lens is pointed.
Accelerometer – the camera can automatically mark ‘exciting scenes’ during your recordings.
You can view all the data you camera is capturing with Olympus’ OI Track smartphone app, and it will even be synced to your video.
There are a few thoughtful extra tidbits too. There’s an LED lamp for night-time shooting (or just using as a flashlight), a swivel LCD monitor, and it comes with an underwater lens protector and handgrip for recording during jogs or bike rides. Olympus even says it can work with most GoPro accessories using an adapter.
That said, the Olympus is a bit larger than a Hero4, and it isn’t quite as versatile as GoPro’s highest tier ‘Black’ model for video quality.
In addition to 4K at 30 fps, the Hero4 Black has a 2.7K video resolution option at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps, and offers a 24 fps option for most resolutions (the ideal framerate for filmmaking). It doesn’t have an LCD screen, but GoPro has long been established as a leader in action filmmaking.
The TG-Tracker is limited to 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps, and 720p at 240 fps, with no option for 24fps. Hopefully that will come through a software update.
But that’s a $499 camera. At $379, the TG-tracker goes toe-to-toe with GoPro’s $399 Silver model for video specs, and pretty much blows any of GoPro’s cameras out the water when it comes to other features.
We’ll have to get our hands on one for a final veredict, but so far, so good. The TG Tracker is launching in late June and comes in green or black colors.
The first Ubuntu smartphone goes on sale in Europe next week for just under €170
It’s been a long road since the project was announced , but the first Ubuntu-based smartphone will go on sale for just under €170 (around $195) in a flash sale across Europe.
Ubuntu actually announced BQ as one of the launch partners in February last year, but it seems the project delivery date slipped a bit into 2015, nonetheless, the terribly named BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition is finally nearly here.
The exact date, time and URL of the online-only sale will be revealed via the BQ and Ubuntu Twitter and Facebook accounts, which is no doubt a good way to drive a following to those social channels.
While its launch will likely be welcomed, the handset itself isn’t exactly new hardware – it repurposes BQ’s existing Aquaris E4.5 handset and pairs it with Ubuntu’s OS. Not the Snappy Core version announced earlier in 2015 though.
Key specs of the device include a 4.5-inch display, 1.3Ghz MediaTek quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, dual-SIM slots and microSD support.
Arguably more important than any of that though is the concept of Ubuntu’s Scopes – the visually-rich panels it uses to display information to users. These are also customizable by handset makers and operators, thereby making the platform more attractive.
Of course, that means apps built specifically for the OS will be required for the best experience, but the Ubuntu mobile platform does also support HTML5 apps as standard.
Some of the big names on board and ready for launch include Twitter, eBay, Amazon and Yelp, a spokesperson said. There’s also support for Spotify and Dropbox via third-party apps, the company added.
After such a long time of waiting, I’m pleased to see an Ubuntu phone finally hitting shelves, but it’d be nice to see a more premium version go up for sale – preferably one that doesn’t repurpose existing hardware.
Details of the sale will be revealed around the start of next week, but there will be a limited number of handsets. Once these are sold, it’ll be a couple more weeks before the next flash sale. There’s no word on when the first US sales might be offered, though.
Samsung Galaxy S5 preorders start at AT&T on March 21 for $199.99, devices ship in ‘early April’
AT&T today announced pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S5 will begin tomorrow (March 21) at atom and AT&T stores. The Galaxy S5 is priced at $199.99 with a two-year contract, $25 per month with AT&T Next 18, or $32.50 per month with AT&T Next 12.
If you’d rather pay the full retail price, with no commitment, you’re look at a $649.99 price tag. Shipping for the pre-orders will begin in “early April” with no specific date given.
AT&T also announced that it will offer pre-orders on the same day for the Samsung Gear 2, Samsung Gear 2 Neo, and Samsung Gear Fit, online and in stores as well. The Samsung Gear 2 will be available for $299.00, while the Gear 2 Neo and the Gear Fit will go for $199.00 each. Just like the S5, shipping is slated for “early April.”
Since tomorrow is apparently Samsung day at AT&T, the carrier has put together a promotional offer: you can save $50 off a Samsung Gear 2 or Gear 2 Neo when you purchase a Samsung Galaxy S5. The deal ends on June 5, or while supplies last. It’s not clear why the Gear Fit is specifically excluded.
The Galaxy S5 sports a 5.1-inch full HD (1080p) Super AMOLED display, a new heart rate sensor under the 16-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera. This is all powered by a quad-core 2.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, a 2800mAh battery, and either 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage (expandable via microSD card for up to 64GB of extra space).
While the S5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat, Samsung’s Gear watches have ditched Google’s mobile operating system for Tizen . Nevertheless, it makes sense Samsung is trying to push its smartphone and smartwatch devices together: the latter simply isn’t a proven market yet.
See also – Samsung Galaxy S5 hands-on: Is the fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor just a gimmick? and Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S5: What’s New?