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Curved sensor breakthrough could dramatically increase digital camera image quality

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The idea of curved sensors has been around for a while now. Sony have been working on it since at least 2012, and we even got to see images created by it in 2014. Canon also filed a patent at the end of last year for both curved and “bendy” sensors. So, they’re definitely on the way. But new techniques developed by a team at Microsoft Research could speed things up dramatically.

The team have developed a way to create spherically curved image sensors by bending off-the-shelf sensors. Their quest started with the question “What would an ideal camera be like?”. They decided that very low light performance with sharp result would be vital, and they believed that curved sensors were the solution.

Microsoft’s new Surface Pro gets 13+ hours of battery life, more power, built in 4G LTE and a new pen

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Microsoft already looked to start giving Apple a run for its money with the recently announced Surface Studio. Now, Microsoft have announced the new Surface Pro.  It is compatible with the Microsoft Dial, announced with the Surface Studio. It also launches with a new pen, offering much better drawing capabilities.

With longer battery usage, better connectivity and full size USB sockets, it will be interesting to see if any make the switch from the rather disappointing 2016 MacBook Pro. It definitely looks like it’s taking aim at the creative market. But, with it also having a max RAM capacity of only 16GB, it may still put a few off picking this one up. Especially those who do video.

Crash drones as much as you like with Microsoft’s new real world simulator

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There’s been quite a lot of drone fails recently. And no, I’m not talking about GoPro Karmas falling out of the sky. I’m referring to operator error. Idiots who don’t know what they’re doing, that can’t control their drones putting other people at risk. But, Microsoft think they have a solution with a new drone simulator called AirSim.

The idea is to let people test and train robots in a virtual environment to prepare them for existing in the real world. Designed for autonomous control, it’s probably not going to help drone pilots learn to fly any better or more safely. But, it should mean that the software to prevent them from doing stupid things will get a bit better.

Microsoft’s new Surface Studio wants to kill both the iMac and Wacom Cintiq

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Looking at the advert for Microsoft’s new Surface Studio they’re taking a square aim at two very distinct products. Obviously they want to take a big chunk out of the Apple iMac’s share of the designer desktop computer market. It also seems, though, that they want to try and replace the Wacom Cintiq, too. As desktop PCs go, the new Surface Studio has an extremely elegant design, and is probably one of the most versatile units to hit the market.

Of course, it still runs Windows, which will put many users off right away. The vast majority of Windows issues I’ve seen over the years seem to be down to the hardware choices made by OEMs and PC builders, though. That Microsoft are able to specify exactly what hardware goes into the unit should result a much smoother and more stable system (in theory).

Instagram App is now officially available on Windows 10

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It’s taken a while, but it’s finally happened. Instagram is finally available for Windows 10 tablets. An app had previously been released for Windows 10 Mobile back in April, but now we have it on the Windows desktop.

It features all the usual features, including Instagram Stories, messaging and Explore. You’ll also be able to capture, edit and post straight from your Windows 10 device. Although, there is a caveat. You have to have a touchscreen Windows device.

Microsoft just gave us the ultimate point & shoot app for phone photography

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The promotional video for Microsoft’s new Pix app is very impressive. Sure, sometimes you want to get as much control as you can, so you fire up Camera+ or 645 Pro. Sometimes, though, you just want to bring up the app and grab a half decent snap.

Now, Microsoft have now launched Pix, a camera application that takes all the pain out of pointing & shooting with the iPhone. Sadly, there’s no Android version yet, and surprisingly no version for Windows Mobile, either.

These $4,000+ computers go head-to-head in the Mac vs PC Lightroom Showdown

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This is one of those debates that’s been around for as long as I can remember.  It’s like Nikon vs. Canon, iPhone vs. Android, Ketchup vs. Mayo, and everybody’s going to have their own needs and opinions.  There’s generally no right answer in any of these debates, unless you have a specific need that forces you to go one way over another.

For us, when it comes to computers, that need is working with images and maybe video.  In what will be a complete shock to some, and absolutely no surprise to others, the PC pretty much annihilated the Mac in each of the tasks performed in SLR Lounge’s $4,000 Mac vs PC Lightroom challenge.

Apple iPad Pro Versus Microsoft Surface Pro

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We’re talking about a toy versus a tool here – iPads are for ordering Sushi, the Surface Pro is for actual work.

I wouldn’t normally start an article with my conclusion, but in this case I though it would be fun to take a little bit of a lighthearted look at the differences between the newly announced iPad Pro versus the year old Microsoft Surface Pro 3.

While the iPad Pro will no doubt gather all the celebrity glitz from the usual suspects – the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (and the soon to be announced Microsoft Surface Pro 4) are so far superior when it comes to performance and real world productivity it hardly seems fair to even compare the two.

Microsoft Bent Backwards To Document The Windows 10 Wallpaper. Too Bad You’ll Only See It Once

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With windows 10 release just around the corner, Microsoft made a huge celebration about its upcoming new default wallpaper.

The video below describes how the team created that photos and trust me no effort was spared. It has special glass made, haze, projection and camera mapping, and even special Lasers. The process actually is quite fascinating.

Microsoft ‘Hyperlapse’ Released; Creates Time Lapses from POV Videos

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Time to get out all the first-person footage you captured with your GoPro, but never touched, as Microsoft finally released its Hyperlapse technology.

Capable of turning standard lengthy videos into smooth and stabilized time lapses, you can expect to see a significant bump in time lapse videos in the near future.

The software is available in one form or another to Windows, Windows Azure, Windows Mobile and Android users.

Microsoft seems thrilled about the release; just don’t confuse it with Instagram’s Hyperlapse app.

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