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Fuji re-issues warning over fake camera batteries and how to spot them

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Fujifilm has updated their warning on counterfeit Fuji camera batteries that are currently floating around on the market. The warning was first issued back in 2015, letting people know that they should be using legitimate Fuji batteries and that the forgers are illegally using their logo and don’t conform the safety standards of Fuji’s own batteries.

The update of the warning suggests that counterfeit batteries are on the rise again, and that these fake batteries can potentially kill your gear or even start a fire – which we know lithium-based batteries are certainly capable of. And while the alert doesn’t say this, I suspect that if a 3rd party fake battery blew up your camera, it wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.

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The moon landing couldn’t have been faked because the required lighting gear simply didn’t exist

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In a world filled with conspiracy theories these days, there’s one old one that still just refuses to die. The number of people who still believe the moon landings didn’t happen is still pretty high – which should come as no surprise given the path the planet’s taken over the last year or six.

But this video from College Humor popped up on their Facebook page yesterday explaining why faking them simply could not have been possible. It was originally posted to their YouTube channel a while ago, and they even got Emmy Award-winning forensic motion picture analyst Mark Shubin to explain why the footage definitely wasn’t shot in a studio using real demonstrable physics of light that you can try yourself if you don’t believe him.

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Scientists prove that deepfake detectors aren’t perfect and can still be tricked

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Deepfakes are simultaneously both an amazing technological achievement and also scary as hell. The potential for movies and VFX work is huge, as has been proven by a number of YouTube channels showing deep fakes vs the CG versions of characters that have reappeared in various Star Wars movies. But there are obvious nefarious implications of such technology, too.

While the recreations of deceased actors in movies are most definitely fake, deepfake videos of those still living are not always so obvious. Tech gains like Microsoft and Facebook have been working on counter-technology to spot deepfakes to help prevent the spread of misinformation online. A group of researches from UC San Diego has proven, though, that they’re far from perfect.

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This new tool detects deepfakes by searching for heartbeat

Deepfake videos are getting more and more advanced at a rapid pace. They could be misused in all sorts of ways, so it’s no wonder that scientists are working hard on spotting them. A new tool developed at Binghamton University detects deepfakes by analyzing the person in them and looking signs of life that may not be visible to the naked eye: a heartbeat. [Read More…]

Strike four: Huawei caught passing DSLR images as smartphone camera photos again

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Huawei found itself in the center of another scandal when they passed DSLR photos as they were shot with the company’s smartphone. If you think this sounds familiar, you’re right. Huawei did it before, not once, not twice – but three times. And I guess the third time wasn’t a charm so they did it again for the fourth time.

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Twitter soon to start labeling manipulated photos and deepfake videos

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As an attempt to stop fake news from spreading, Twitter is soon going to start labeling deceptive content. This includes “deceptively edited” photos, deepfake videos, and manipulated content that could cause “harm to physical safety, widespread civil unrest, voter suppression or privacy risks.”

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Canon wins lawsuit against counterfeit battery sellers on eBay

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I don’t know why, but I always get a shock when I see how many fake products there are out there. Not clearly marked 3rd party alternatives, but products actually designed and branded to look like the originals. We see it with memory cards regularly and even camera strap accessories, but fake batteries are also out there. Canon has been doing something about the latter, though.

Canon has announced that they’ve won a lawsuit against two eBay sellers for selling counterfeit “Canon” batteries. While 2 sellers may not sound like a lot, the fact that Canon even went after them is certainly going to give other counterfeit sellers some pause for thought.

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Woman called out publicly by sister over fake Instagram hiking photo

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I guess we all know that most of the stuff on Instagram is fake: likes and followers, travels, faces and bodies, even pancakes! So it’s probably not a surprise that a young woman recently posted a fake hiking photo which was taken in her own backyard. But what makes it funny is that she got busted for it by her own sister.

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Film photographers, beware of this fake Fujifilm which can mess up your developer solution

If you shoot film, pay attention to what you’re buying. There have been reports that fake Fujifilm 35mm film has appeared on the market. The company warns that this non-genuine film can contaminate your developer solution, which can definitely pose a big problem.

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