Apple CEO Tim Cook Speaks Out Against Immigration Executive Order

Image Credit: Apple Inc.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has spoken out against the immigration executive order that United States President Donald Trump recently signed. He shared a letter with employees detailing his thoughts and concerns. After recently being "supposedly" understanding of the importance of bringing manufacture of Apple products back to the USA after a meeting with the president, he still has kept a reality check where this is concerned.

"Team, 

In my conversations with officials here in Washington this week, I've made it clear that Apple believes deeply in the importance of immigration -- both to our company and to our nation's future. Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do. 

I've heard from many of you who are deeply concerned about the executive order issued yesterday restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. I share your concerns. It is not a policy we support. 

There are employees at Apple who are directly affected by yesterday's immigration order. Our HR, Legal and Security teams are in contact with them, and Apple will do everything we can to support them. We're providing resources on AppleWeb for anyone with questions or concerns about immigration policies. And we have reached out to the White House to explain the negative effect on our coworkers and our company. 

As I've said many times, diversity makes our team stronger. And if there's one thing I know about the people at Apple, it's the depth of our empathy and support for one another. It's as important now as it's ever been, and it will not weaken one bit. I know I can count on all of you to make sure everyone at Apple feels welcome, respected and valued. 

Apple is open. Open to everyone, no matter where they come from, which language they speak, who they love or how they worship. Our employees represent the finest talent in the world, and our team hails from every corner of the globe. 

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, "We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now." 

Tim"

Tim Cook is the CEO of Apple and serves on its Board of Directors.

Source: MacRumors

V-TAC Offer Affordable Modern LED Lighting

I love my lighting, in fact I spend a good few hours happily tinkering with my studio lights. A few months back you will have also seen the addition of a new lamp in the studio with an Edison Bulb installed. The filament just looks so cool. You can see it in action in this video. 

A company by the name of V-TAC was just brought to my attention and they have a whole range of lights available. From stunning copper and glass pendant lights to candle bulbs, desk lamps and outdoor lighting - the pricing looks pretty competitive too. I am tempted to try some of their vintage LED light series for myself. So, if you have always wanted a feature above your dining table, have recessed lights up your stairs or a water feature to bring to life, check V-TAC out here.

Wireless Bluetooth Headphones Review – Hands-Free Entertainment

Wires are seeming increasingly old-school these days. The new generation of headphones are wireless, and the market is flooded with options for those who like to listen to music without getting bogged down in wires. I have good news to report: Bluetooth headphones have come a long way. Although the first generation of Bluetooth wireless headphones could be iffy at best, the latest models offer a clear sound and convenient design that makes them a more useful tool than those of the past. The hi-Edo Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are an example of cool cheap gadgets. Whether you’re looking for headphones for commuting or your next holiday, these offer an array of features at a very reasonable price. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons.

Hands-Free Features

The biggest benefit of these wireless Bluetooth headphones is that you can carry on with your day without being weighed down by wires. You can also use the headphones to talk on the phone, as well as listen to music. There’s no need to untangle headphones or store any extra gear; everything you need is in one handy place. The headphones connect to your smartphone, and with the latest Bluetooth technology the data exchange is fast and reliable. 

So let’s talk specs: the headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours if you’re actively using them, but if they’re put in standby mode the battery lasts for a good 15 days. The maximum power is 20mW, with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20 KHz. Touch sensitivity of the headphones is 96dB share, and there’s an operating range of approximately ten metres. The headphones are equipped with a built-in microphone that lets you place and receive phone calls, but the primary purpose of these Bluetooth headphones is really listening to music. 

Basic Controls

You can control the volume on your headphones or skip past songs you’re not in the mood for by clicking on the side of the headphones. Although there are some fancier models out there that are voice-controlled, you’ll pay a lot more for that privilege. One area where these headphones do excel is in the design. They’re packaged in a range of fun colours with a minimalistic design, which goes pretty well with anyone’s wardrobe and sense of style. Some headphones can be clunky, but the hi-Edo are fairly chic. You can choose from a wide range of different colour combinations, including white and gray, black and gray, black and pink, white and red, and black and green among others. 

While style isn’t such an important feature to me personally, I do have to say that the headphones were nice and lightweight which made me forget that I was wearing them at times. They were easy to control with the buttons on the side of the right earphone. There’s nothing complicated here about these headphones, but everything worked. The price point for these gadgets is also lower than what you’d pay for new Apple or Bose wireless headphones, so if you’re looking for an affordable gift they can be a good option.

DJI Mavic Pro - Ultra Portable Drone

DJI, the world leader in unmanned aerial technology, Tuesday revolutionized personal flight by introducing Mavic Pro – a portable, powerful and easy-to-use drone featuring DJI’s most innovative flight technology in a sleek, foldable package that enables creative fun wherever you go.

Mavic Pro is DJI’s first personal drone designed to be taken just about anywhere. Small enough to toss in a bag and easy enough to launch quickly whenever the time and place are right, its unique folding design compresses the entire drone to practically the size of a water bottle.

The compact body of Mavic Pro holds a drone built for uncompromising performance. Equipped with a stabilized 4K camera and a visual navigation system, with a 4.3 mile (7 km) range and 27 minute flight time, Mavic Pro sets the new standard for compact drones.

“DJI has spent a decade making it easier for anyone to fly, and by rethinking everything about how a drones look, we have created an entirely new type of aerial platform for anyone to explore their creativity,” said Frank Wang, DJI’s CEO and founder.

“Mavic Pro is a technological triumph filled with features that once again show how DJI leads the industry. Most importantly, Mavic Pro allows you to reach the skies easily, see the world with new eyes and tell your stories like never before.”

Mavic Pro is designed to be ultra portable and quick to launch so it can take to the skies as soon as you need it. With four folding arms and propellers that tuck neatly away against its streamlined body, it can be easily carried in a purse or backpack, saving you the trouble of mounting propellers before a flight. It can be operated by the powerful long range remote controller, or simply by your smartphone at shorter range. When controlled by a smartphone, the whole system can be set up and airborne in less than a minute to capture every key moment.

Unparalleled Flight Experience

DJI’s commitment to unparalleled stability, maneuverability and safety is clear in Mavic Pro’s new FlightAutonomy system. FlightAutonomy is Mavic Pro’s brain and nervous system, a complex network of hardware and software consisting of five cameras, GPS and GLONASS navigation systems, a pair of ultrasonic range finders, redundant sensors and 24 powerful computing cores. 

FlightAutonomy can position, navigate and plan routes for Mavic Pro, enabling it to avoid obstacles in various environments, with or without the help of satellite signals. FlightAutonomy provides a significant boost in working range and can cope with complex 3D environments. For navigation and obstacle avoidance, FlightAutonomy provides a superb speed-range envelope to make Mavic Pro self-navigational in various intelligent flight modes, and will avoid most obstacles at speeds up to 22 mph (36 kph).

An ultra light and aerodynamic airframe, together with DJI’s state-of-the-art propulsion and battery system, enables Mavic Pro to fly for up to 27 minutes. To experience the pure joy of flying, Mavic Pro can be switched to Sport Mode, which allows speeds of up to 40 mph (64.8 kph), increasing the drone’s agility and responsiveness. Mavic Pro flies smoothly and will remain stable in winds of up to 24 mph (38.5 kph), and uses DJI’s GEO geofencing system to help identify restricted areas, preventing flight in locations that might raise safety or security concerns automatically, and helping pilots make smarter decisions about when and where to fly.

As with all DJI drones, Mavic Pro is set to automatically return to its launch location if it ever loses contact with the controller or reaches critically low battery levels. The new Precision Landing feature records a burst of video with two stereo cameras every time Mavic Pro launches, then uses both video and satellite information when it returns to land within an inch of where it took off. If a pilot lets go of the controls, the drone will simply hover in place.

Advanced Stabilized Camera System

Mavic Pro’s small size is packed with powerful features. DJI’s advanced technology now includes our smallest-ever three-axis gimbal for shake-free photos and video. The autofocus camera features a minimum focusing distance of just 19 in (0.5 m) and can be flipped 90 degrees to portrait mode for vertical selfies and video. Mavic Pro records 4K video at 30fps and full 1080p HD at 96fps. Its 12-megapixel camera with Adobe DNG RAW support has been expertly tuned for aerial images. With the help of the high-precision gimbal, you can confidently shoot 2-second-long exposures in the air to get the most jaw-dropping aerial images.

New Remote and Live View Performance

A revolutionary new compact remote controller has been designed to provide a fully ergonomic experience with optimum comfort, and can accommodate a smartphone or control Mavic Pro on its own. Its built-in LCD screen displays essential telemetry data, while dedicated buttons for functions such as Return-to-Home and pausing during Intelligent Flight modes ensure a confident flight every single time. The video link system, OcuSync, represents new heights in DJI’s communication technology. It supports a range up to 4.3 miles (7 km) and live view resolutions up to 1080p.

The new band management algorithm makes OcuSync more robust in environments with many frequencies in operation. Mavic Pro is equipped with dual-band WiFi as a secondary link, allowing easy control via your smartphone for close range operation or for quick downloading of content from Mavic Pro straight to your device.

Most Intelligent Drone Ever

The powerful systems inside Mavic Pro are easy to use, even for beginners. Using just your phone’s touchscreen, you can use TapFly to direct Mavic Pro to go wherever you want, avoiding obstacles along the way. When you want to take a hands-free selfie, FlightAutonomy makes it possible to control the drone completely with just your gestures.

In Gesture mode, you can use gestures to have Mavic Pro locate you, center you in the frame and take the perfect shot as Mavic Pro’s flashing lights count down to the photo. Sharing your best aerial moments has never been easier with live streaming to Facebook Live, Periscope and YouTube through the DJI GO app.

An updated version of DJI’s ActiveTrack recognizes common subjects such as people, bicyclists, cars, boats and animals, which then sends Mavic Pro to follow behind, lead in front, circle above or track alongside the subject, keeping the camera focused on the subject while you concentrate on flight maneuvers. The new Terrain Follow mode means that you can race up a slope behind a subject while remaining at a constant height between 1 ft (0.3 m) and 33 ft (10 m).

At the other extreme, the new Tripod Mode is designed for indoor use, slowing and fine-tuning Mavic Pro’s position and angle based on controller movement inputs to allowing for precision framing and safe indoor flight.

Immerse Yourself

Mavic Pro also pairs with DJI’s new immersive DJI Goggles, displaying an 85-degree view from the drone in full 1080p for a true bird’s-eye view of the world below. With built-in OcuSync, the goggles receive video directly from Mavic Pro in the air and not through the controller, reducing lag to a minimum – and allowing you to share the in-flight view with a friend.

Specially designed for aerial first-person view (FPV) applications, DJI Goggles allows you to flick between third person view and FPV in under a second. You can comfortably wear your glasses while wearing the goggles and quit FPV mode instantly by flipping the mask up.

Price and Availability

Mavic Pro’s U.S. retail price will be $999 with the remote controller included, and $749 without the remote controller. Additional Mavic Pro Intelligent Flight Batteries will cost $89. A Mavic Pro Fly More Combo, which includes a Mavic Pro, two extra Intelligent Flight Batteries, extra propellers, a charging hub, an adapter, a car charger and a shoulder bag, will be available for $1,299. If you are in the UK, you can also purchase the Mavic Pro here. 

Mavic Pro is immediately available for pre-order at dji.com/mavic and will begin shipping October 15. It will also be available in mid-October at DJI’s three flagship stores in Shenzhen, Seoul and Hong Kong. Mavic Pro can also be ordered on Apple.com and will be available in Apple Stores in early November.

DJI Care Refresh

A new optional protection plan, DJI Care Refresh, is available in select countries and provides peace of mind for Mavic Pro owners. DJI Care Refresh covers accidental damage to the Mavic Pro aircraft, gimbal or camera during normal use for up to 12 months, and for an additional charge will offer up to two full replacements that are new or equivalent to new. DJI Care Refresh is available for $99 before a new Mavic Pro is activated, or within the first 48 hours after activation.

GoPro Excites with new HERO5 & Karma Drone

Last Monday was a very exciting day for me. I have been reviewing technology, along with a good mix of digital and action cameras for almost ten years. OK, so I am not a surfer or skydiver, but the flexibility that an action camera offers for mounting in awkward places, is amazing. My current GoPro has been on the outside of my BMW many times and it always results in amazing video footage. 

So, back to Monday … GoPro announced some amazing new products including two new HERO5 cameras. The new HERO5 Session now offers voice activation and 4K video capture, all in its diminutive cube form factor. Alongside this, we are also being treated to a new HERO5 Black camera, which now sports a touchscreen. This flagship model is also waterproof without the need for an external housing. 

As if that was not enough, the GoPro Karma drone was also announced. It folds down into a very compact package which you can carry to your destination in the “included” backpack. Taking it to the skies is straightforward too, with auto take-off and landing controlled by this neat controller with a built in screen. In contrast to my previous drone experience, this looks far superior, with no need to mess around connecting a smartphone or tablet to the controller. 

To further extend the flight and recording experience, it is possible to have a friend join the action with their smartphone and control the camera, whilst you fly the Karma drone. 

Not content with literally taking our video creativity to new heights, the Karma has a clever trick up its sleeve. You can remove the gimbal from the front of the drone and attach it to a hand-held unit or even to an existing mount (perhaps on the strap of your backpack). This allows you to capture super smooth footage and ground level or indeed up in the sky. 

I am extremely excited about the potential the new Karma drone and GoPro HERO5 will bring and will be bringing you full reviews and ongoing videos produced with these new products. Stay tuned.

Full press release … 

SAN MATEO, Calif., (September 19, 2016) – GoPro, Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRO) today unveiled new products and services that dramatically simplify the process of capturing, editing and sharing engaging content, establishing GoPro as an end-to-end storytelling solution.

GoPro’s founder and CEO, Nicholas Woodman, introduced a new line of HERO5 cameras, cloud-based software, and drone, Karma, to international press at the base of Squaw Valley, CA, near Lake Tahoe.  The event was broadcast live and can be seen HERE.

“With these new products, we’re delivering on our promise to make it easy to capture and share engaging stories,” said Woodman. “HERO5’s ability to auto-upload photos and videos to a GoPro Plus account dramatically simplifies mobile, on-the-go editing, sharing and enjoyment. This is a game-changing experience that we will continue to build upon.”

Woodman adds, “We’re stoked to launch Karma and show how much more it is than a drone. Karma packs Hollywood-caliber aerial, handheld and gear-mounted image stabilization into a backpack for $799. It’s so easy to use, a beginner can have fun straight away.”

In addition to significant gains in performance and convenience, GoPro’s all-new HERO5 line of cameras can auto-upload photos and videos to GoPro Plus, a cloud-based subscription service that makes it easy to access, edit and share GoPro content anytime, anywhere using a phone or computer.

HERO5 Cameras – Cloud-Connected and Simplified.

HERO5 Black – The Best GoPro, Ever. For $399.99.

HERO5 Black is the most powerful, easy-to-use GoPro, ever. Exciting features include:
• 2-inch Touch Display + Simplified Controls
• Video Resolutions up to 4K at 30 Frames per Second
• Professional Quality 12MP Photos
• Auto-Upload of Photos and Video to Cloud when Camera is Charging*
• Voice Control with Support for 7 Languages (additional languages coming)
• Simple 1-Button Control
• Waterproof Without a Housing to 33 Feet (10m)
• Compatible with Existing GoPro Mounts, Including Karma
• Stereo Audio Recording and Advanced Wind Noise Reduction
• Professional-Grade Electronic Video Stabilization
• Distortion-Free Wide Angle Video and Photos with New Linear-ViewSetting
• RAW and WDR Photo Modes
• GPS

HERO5 Black will be available October 2nd for an MSRP of $399.99. Learn more HERE. 

HERO5 Session – The Best, Only Smaller. For $299.

HERO5 Session shares the same small design and brilliant convenience of the original HERO Session camera, but benefits from significant performance upgrades:
• Video Resolutions up to 4K at 30 Frames per Second
• Professional Quality 10MP Photos
• Auto-Upload of Photos and Video to Cloud when Camera is Charging*
• Voice Control with Support for 7 Languages (additional languages coming)
• Simple 1-Button Control
• Waterproof Without a Housing to 33 Feet (10m)
• Compatible with Existing GoPro, Mounts Including Karma
• Professional-Grade Electronic Video Stabilization
• Distortion-Free Wide Angle Video and Photos with new Linear-View Setting

HERO5 Session will be available October 2nd for an MSRP of $299.99. Learn more HERE.

KARMA – Much More Than a Drone.

Karma features a compact, fits-in-a-small-backpack design and includes an image-stabilization grip that can be handheld or mounted to vehicles, gear and more. Karma makes it easy for anyone to capture amazingly smooth, stabilized video during almost any activity.

Karma features a painless out-of-the-box experience unlike any other drone in the market:  
• Compact and foldable, the entire system fits into the included backpack that’s so comfortable to wear during any activity, users will forget they’ve got it on.
• A game-style controller features an integrated touch display, making it fun, fast and easy to fly without the need for a separate phone or tablet to see what your drone sees. 
• The 3-axis camera stabilizer can be removed from the drone and attached to the included Karma Grip for capturing ultra-smooth handheld and gear-mounted footage.

Karma will be available October 23rd in the following bundles:

• Karma without a GoPro camera for $799.99 MSRP
• Karma bundled with HERO5 Black for $1099.99 MSRP
• Karma bundled with HERO5 Session for $999.99 MSRP (available in early 2017)

Learn more about Karma HERE.

GoPro Plus and Quik Apps – Access, Edit and Share Anytime, Anywhere. 

GoPro Plus – Game-Changing Convenience.

Offloading and enjoying footage from a GoPro is now as easy as plugging it in to charge. When a HERO5 camera is charging, it can auto-upload photos and videos to GoPro Plus, a cloud-based subscription service that makes it easy to access, edit and share GoPro content anytime, anywhere. Editing and sharing has never been easier with this game-changing experience.

A GoPro Plus subscription also unlocks additional premium benefits: 
• Access to an Expansive Library of Music Soundtracks for Editing
• 20% off Mounts and Accessories at GoPro.com
• Exclusive Access to GoPro Apparel
• Premium Support

GoPro Plus supports all camera models* and costs $4.99 per month after a free trial.  It will be available in the United States on October 2nd and in additional markets beginningJanuary, 2017.   Learn more HERE.

Quik App – Mobile and Desktop Editing Made Awesome.

Editing and sharing content is easy thanks to the Quik app for mobile and desktop. As the name implies, Quik enables users to quickly produce high-quality videos that are fun to create and easy to share.

Using Quik for desktop is simple. Import your videos, pick your favorite moments, choose a soundtrack from a library of songs, and Quik will automatically edit your video to the beat of the music.  

The Quik Mobile App – with more than 17 million downloads -- is a fast, easy way to create awesome videos.  In just seconds, Quik analyzes your photos and video clips to find the best moments, adds beautiful transitions and effects, and syncs everything to the beat of the music. 

Learn more about Quik for mobile and desktop HERE.

Additional New Products

GoPro is also launching several new accessories later this year:
• Quik Key, a key-chain, micro-USB card reader that plugs into your phone to quickly transfer photos and videos from your GoPro.
• REMO, a voice-activated remote that extends the voice control range of HERO5 cameras while providing one-button remote control. 

Learn more about GoPro’s new mounts and accessories HERE. 

About GoPro, Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRO)

GoPro, Inc. is transforming the way people visually capture and share their lives. What began as an idea to help athletes self-document themselves engaged in their sport, GoPro has become a standard for how people capture themselves engaged in their interests, whatever they may be. From extreme to mainstream, professional to consumer, GoPro enables the world to capture and share its passion in the form of immersive and engaging content.

GoPro, HERO, Karma, and Session, and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of GoPro Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For more information, visit www.gopro.com or connect with GoPro on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, and GoPro's The Inside Line.

*GoPro Plus is a subscription service available in select territories. Visit gopro.com/plus for info and availability. Only HERO5 Cameras support auto-uploading to the cloud while charging.  Other GoPro camera models can upload to GoPro Plus via the Quik App for desktop. 

20% OFF Acer Iconia One 8 B1-850 Tablet • UK

Awesome Value! 20% OFF Acer Iconia One 8 B1-850 Tablet.

BUY HERE

£50 OFF Honor 5x 5.5-Inch SIM-Free 4G Smartphone • UK

£50 OFF (all colours) Honor 5x 5.5-Inch SIM-Free 4G Smartphone.

BUY HERE

Amazon Pantry Prime Day Offer: £10 Off Orders Over £50

In case you hadn't heard, which would be quite difficult, today is Amazon Prime Day. Even better news is that there is a great offer in the Amazon Pantry section of the website. This superb Prime Day Offer gets you £10 Off Orders Over £50. Take advantage and stock up on some essentials. 

HERE'S THE LINK

Amazon Prime Day - Don't Miss It

Prime Day 2016 is the biggest Amazon event ever – more than 100,000 deals worldwide, including thousands in the U.K. alone exclusively for Prime members on 12th July.

TRY AMAZON PRIME FOR YOURSELF   •UK•    •USA•

Prime Day is a one-day only global shopping event exclusively for Prime members. On Tuesday, 12th July, the second annual Prime Day will be the biggest global Amazon event ever. Members in the U.K. can shop starting at midnight (BST) with new deals starting as often as every five minutes from 8am onwards.

Not a Prime member? Join Prime today and enjoy fast delivery, exclusive access to movies, TV shows and music, Kindle books and much more.

With more than 100,000 deals worldwide, including thousands in the U.K. alone exclusively for Prime members, across nearly all departments and product categories in ten countries, there will be something for everyone. In fact on the first annual Prime Day in 2015, worldwide members ordered 398 items per second, exceeding Black Friday records at the time.

TRY AMAZON PRIME FOR YOURSELF   •UK•    •USA•

Channel Talk - June 2016

I love making videos and sharing them with you on my channel. One type of video I often forget to record and share are updates. Starting now, this new monthly series called "Channel Talk" is very exciting. You get some sneak peeks at what's coming up, as well as other fun information. 

LEAGOO Alfa 1 Looking Cool & Classic

The new LEAGOO Alfa 1 smartphone has certainly caught my attention. When I checked out the range of smartphones offered by LEAGOO they offer a diverse range of sizes and specifications. With the Alfa 1 you get a really svelte looking device, you will love the classic looks and be even more impressed with the performance. 

It offers a 5.5-inch IPD HD display which is wrapped with either a black, white or rose gold finish to the rear. On the inside you will find a 1.3GHz quad core processor, 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM. The rear facing camera captures 13 megapixel photos and uses a Sony sensor to good effect. To keep things running, it also houses a powerful 3,000mAh battery. All this is achieved in a smartphone that is just 7.9mm thick. Pricing is very reasonable too, you can see more of the LEAGOO Alfa 1 and pick one up for yourself on the links below. 

More details here.
Purchase your LEAGOO Alfa 1 here. 

LEAGOO Elite 5 Great Spec Smartphone

LEAGOO make some great smartphones, including their recently launched Elite 5. Available in a range of colours, it sports a 5.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280x720. The processor is a quad core 1.0GHz offering which should keep things ticking over at a nice speed. 

We all like to take a lot of photos and videos nowadays, so it is nice to see an 8 megapixel front facing camera and an impressive 13 megapixel camera on that back, which uses a Sony sensor and is also capable of capturing Full HD video at 30fps. Most impressive is the 4,000mAh battery which should give all-day battery life, potentially lasting well into the second day. 

You can find out more on about the Elite 5 here.

The LEAGOO Elite 5 is available in a range of colours and can be purchased here.