This week in the news: Fujifilm released a dedicated iOS app for their X-Series cameras; Magic Lantern announced a "dual ISO" capability that adds 14 stops of dynamic range to the Canon 5D Mark II and 6D; Pioneer unveiled a new line of powered monitors for DJs; Tamron announced a three-day repair service for lenses; and ASUS officially announced the MeMO Pad FHD 10 LTE tablet.
This is your B&H Photo Pulse News Roundup for August 16, 2013. Be sure to follow us on Twitter for the latest news as it breaks.
The New Fujifilm X-Series iOS App
If you own an iOS gadget and an X-Series camera, you should check out the Fujifilm app that was released this week. It lets you quickly access digital versions of instruction manuals and Quickstart Guides. The mobile app can also help you find authorized Fujifilm dealers, and you can choose to receive push notifications about firmware updates and general Fujifilm camera news.
Magic Lantern Adds 14 Stops of Dynamic Range to the Canon 5D Mark II and 6D
A new capability in Magic Lantern (which is still in its initial testing phase and not yet included in a production version) unlocks the ability to add up to 14 stops of dynamic range to the Canon 5D Mark II and the 6D. Don't get this news mixed up with the announcement that Magic Lantern made on July 16th, when this capability was first accomplished on the 5D Mark III and 7D. Last month's breakthrough was the first quantifiable image-quality improvement that Magic Lantern ever brought to a camera, and this weeks news is a welcome second.
Pioneer Gets Into DJ Speakers with the DJ-S
Pioneer announced a new line of powered speakers called the S-DJ X series. They're designed to provide powerful bass and a wide response, so you don't have to be positioned in a small "sweet spot" to appreciate them. The speakers are sold in pairs, and will be available with an 8" woofer in Black, or with a 5" woofer in Black or White.
Tamron USA Promises a Three-Day Turnaround on Lens Repairs
On Wednesday, Tamron USA issued a press release that outlined their commitment to completing lens repairs in three business days. All lenses received by 12 noon Eastern Standard Time will be moved to the next stage of the repair process on the same day. The effort is to instill confidence in the end users. Should you encounter trouble with a lens, you won't need to fear prolonged downtime. The three-day commitment even applies to Tamron lenses that fall outside of the 6-year limited warranty offered by the company, providing that you approve the repair estimate in a timely fashion.
The New ASUS MeMO Pad FHD 10 LTE Tablet
First revealed at a Computex event in June, ASUS made the new MeMo Pad FHD 10 LTE official this week, in a promotional video that the company posted on YouTube. How is it different from the current MeMO Pad Smart 10.1? The new model features a higher-resolution 1920 x 1200 display, a quad-core Snapdragon processor, stereo speakers, a 10-hour battery, and a built-in LTE radio. It also weighs ever-so-slightly less. No word yet on pricing and availability.
More news:
- Lytro revealed that they will be releasing "multiple breakthrough products in 2014." You can read more about it over at The Verge.
- A new, high-speed digital camera technology was announced, which has the potential to photograph objects traveling at nearly 7500 MPH. Learn more about it and view a test image at PopPhoto.
- Lenovo, the world's biggest PC manufacturer, revealed that they now sell more phones and tablets than computers. Read more at c|net.
And that's your news for August 16, 2013. Be sure to follow all the consumer electronic news on B&H Pulse.