Category Archives: news

Vivo Announces Third Edition of Imagine Smartphone Photography Awards

Vivo has announced the third edition of the Vivo Imagine Smartphone Photography Awards, open to photographers and enthusiasts across India. The awards aim to position the platform as a hub for storytelling and authentic self-expression.

They encourage participants to submit work that reflects originality, perspective, and intent. This year’s extended format gives creators the freedom to experiment and refine their vision.

The jury will be led by acclaimed filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, joined by renowned photographers Vineet Vohra, Rakesh Pulapa, and Aamir Wani. Entries will be accepted in six categories: Nature & Landscape, Night & Light, Architecture, Motion, Portrait, and Street & Culture.

Submissions are open on www.vivoimagine.com from August 22 to November 30, 2025. The jury will shortlist six finalists—one per category—who will be invited to the Grand Finale in December. The grand jury winner will receive ₹5,00,000, while each category winner will be awarded a Vivo X200 Pro smartphone.

Reflecting on the initiative, Geetaj Channana, Head of Corporate Strategy, Vivo India, said “the Imagine Awards reaffirm our belief that photography belongs to everyone – it’s about perspective, not gear.”

In 2024, the awards drew 17,000+ entries nationwide, with Kukkala Suresh winning the grand prize. This year, vivo continues its mission to empower creators and celebrate the joy of imagination.

Nikon Announces Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II

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Nikon has introduced the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II, a new-generation standard zoom lens for full-frame/FX-format mirrorless cameras. The lens features an internal zoom mechanism, improving balance during operation and reducing the risk of dust and debris entering while zooming. It also offers enhanced resistance to dust and drips, making it suitable for outdoor use.

The lens is the first zoom model to adopt Nikon’s Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM) autofocus drive, achieving autofocus speeds approximately five times faster than its predecessor, the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S. Autofocus tracking during zooming has also been improved by around 60%, enabling better performance when photographing fast-moving subjects.

Weighing about 675 g, the lens is among the lightest in its class and supports a 77 mm filter thread. It has a minimum focusing distance of 0.24 m at the wide end and 0.33 m at the telephoto end, with maximum reproduction ratios of 0.21× and 0.32× respectively.

Additional features include an 11-blade diaphragm for rounded bokeh, suppression of focus breathing for video, a filter adjustment window on the lens hood, and coatings designed to minimise reflections, ghosting, and flare. The lens also offers a control ring with an optional tactile “click” function.

The NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II will be available starting August 22, 2025.

Canon India Launches ‘Retail Utsav’ Partner Outreach Program

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Canon India has introduced Retail Utsav, a partner engagement program that will connect with over 4,000 retailers across 45 cities. The initiative began in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, and will extend to other cities including Guwahati, Bhopal, Nashik, Surat, Cochin, Coimbatore, Udaipur, Chandigarh, and Agartala.

Retail Utsav will include activities such as product quizzes, display programs, and reward-based engagement, where retailers can participate in on-ground sessions and unlock incentives through multiple reward slabs.

According to Canon India, the initiative provides an opportunity to connect with retail partners, exchange feedback, and share product knowledge. The company stated that the program aims to support retailers with relevant information and tools while encouraging active participation through interactive experiences.

Canon India Launches Nationwide Retailer Engagement Drive

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Canon India has launched Retail Utsav, a partner outreach program targeting over 4,000 retailers across 45+ cities. The initiative began in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, and will extend to other regions nationwide. The program is timed with the festive season and aims to engage retailers through product updates, interactive activities, and loyalty rewards.

Retail Utsav will highlight key Inkjet and Laser printer categories, ongoing schemes, and business opportunities. Activities include product quizzes, retail display programs, and gamified engagement formats, offering participants instant rewards and multiple incentive tiers.

The initiative is designed to connect with retailers across diverse regions and store formats, using a mix of knowledge sharing and interactive sessions. Cities in the program include Guwahati, Bhopal, Nashik, Surat, Cochin, Coimbatore, Udaipur, Chandigarh, and Agartala, among others.

According to C. Sukumaran, Senior Director, Products & Communication Centre, the program provides an opportunity to engage directly with retailers, share updates, gather insights, and prepare for the upcoming festive demand.

Through this initiative, Canon aims to strengthen its retail partnerships by combining engagement, information exchange, and rewards, ensuring wider participation ahead of the festive season.

FOTO Bali Festival Debuts at Nuanu, Indonesia

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The inaugural FOTO Bali Festival launched at Nuanu Creative City from 26 July to 17 August 2025, marking a major milestone in Indonesia’s cultural scene. Featuring 34 artists from 10 countries and 32 projects, including 241 prints, multimedia, and photobooks. The festival explores the theme LIFE through exhibitions, workshops, talks, and tours. Curated by Ng Swan Ti and Gatari Surya Kusuma, the work spans grief, intimacy, resistance, and renewal. Events unfold across Labyrinth Art Gallery, Labyrinth Garden, and Popper’s Triangle. Over 25 public sessions feature leading voices like Beawiharta, Edy Purnomo, and Anshika Varma. Festival Director Kelsang Dolma emphasized its collaborative spirit and ambition to elevate photography in the region. The launch also coincided with Nuanu Nights, blending art, music, and Balinese culture.

Canon Celebrates 20th Anniversary of EOS 5 Series

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Canon is marking the 20th anniversary of its EOS 5 interchangeable-lens digital camera series. Launched in 2005 with the EOS 5D, the 5 series has played a key role in making full-frame photography more accessible. In 2008, the EOS 5D Mark II brought full-HD video capability to DSLRs, sparking widespread use of video in still cameras.

Subsequent models like the EOS 5D Mark III (2012), EOS 5Ds/5Ds R (2015), and EOS 5D Mark IV (2016) focused on advancements in autofocus, resolution, and performance. In 2020, Canon introduced the EOS R5, the first mirrorless camera in the series with 8K video capability. Its successor, the EOS R5 Mark II (2024), has added AI-driven subject tracking and an advanced image processing system.

With eight models released over two decades, the EOS 5 series has been central to Canon’s imaging evolution and many photographer’s workflows. Canon says it will continue to innovate and support the creative community through ongoing development of the EOS 5 line.

Vivo Launches X200FE

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Vivo has launched the X200 FE, a compact flagship smartphone with high-end features in a smaller form factor. It features a 6.31-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness of 5,000 nits. The phone runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor and offers up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.

The rear camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x zoom, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens, developed in partnership with Zeiss. It supports advanced photo and video features including Stage Mode and telephoto stabilization.

The X200 FE is powered by a 6,500mAh battery with 90W fast charging. It has an IP68/69 rating for water and dust resistance and operates on FunTouch OS based on Android 14.

In India, the X200 FE is priced at ₹54,999 for the 12GB + 256GB model and ₹59,999 for the 16GB + 512GB variant. It is available in Ember Yellow, Frost Blue, and Luxe Grey through Flipkart, Vivo’s official website, and offline retail stores.

HP launches Laser M300 printers with auto-duplex for businesses in India

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HP has introduced its new Laser M300 series in India, a range of monochrome laser printers aimed at small and medium businesses (SMBs), local enterprises, and printing service shops. The series includes five models—Laser MFP 323sdnw, 323dnw, 323d, 303dw, and 303d—offering fast duplex printing, mobile connectivity, and energy-efficient performance.

Designed for high-volume workloads, all models in the M300 series offer print speeds of up to 30 pages per minute (A4) and automatic two-sided printing. Aimed at reducing downtime, the printers also feature a 600 MHz processor, 256 MB memory, and fast first-page-out time of 8.5 seconds.

Key features across the lineup include:

Options for print-only or multifunction (print, scan, copy)
250-sheet input tray with a multipurpose tray for bulk tasks
High-yield HP 181A and 181X toner cartridges, supporting 1,500 to 3,000 pages
Compact design suited for space-limited environments
USB and wireless connectivity via HP Smart app
Auto-Off technology and use of 20% post-consumer recycled plastic

The printers are built with sustainability in mind and comply with India’s environmental and energy efficiency standards.

Pricing via HP E-store:

HP Laser MFP 323sdnw: ₹35,250
HP Laser MFP 323dnw: ₹31,500
HP Laser MFP 323d: ₹29,250
HP Laser 303dw: ₹22,500
HP Laser 303d: ₹20,250

The M300 series is available now through HP’s online store.

Samsung Unveils Fold 7 and Flip 7

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Samsung has announced the Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7, and Galaxy Z Flip7 FE.

Galaxy Z Fold7 weighs 215g and features an 8″ main AMOLED display and a 6.5″ cover screen. It includes the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, One UI 8 based on Android 16, and a 200MP main camera. AI tools such as Generative Edit and real-time translation are integrated. The device supports multitasking and is rated IP48 for water resistance.

Galaxy Z Flip7 weighs 188g and includes a 4.1″ FlexWindow and 6.9″ main display. It runs on “the latest 3nm processor”, has a 4,300mAh battery, and includes Samsung DeX support. The rear camera setup includes a 50MP wide and 12MP ultra-wide lens. Gemini Live is accessible from the cover screen, and One UI 8 allows voice interaction and app access without unfolding the device.

Galaxy Z Flip7 FE is a more affordable option with a 6.7″ main display, a 50MP FlexCam. It is available in Black and White.

All devices use Gorilla Glass, Armor Aluminum, and have IP48 water resistance. Pre-orders begin July 9. General availability starts July 25. Purchases include six months of Google AI Pro access and 2TB of cloud storage.

Creative Commons Launches ‘CC Signals’ to Help Photographers Battle AI

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Creative Commons has unveiled “CC Signals,” a new framework that lets data holders (photographers) specify how their content can be used by AI systems, especially for training purposes. Inspired by its widely used open licensing system, CC Signals aims to bring transparency and ethical standards to content reuse in the AI era.

The initiative addresses growing concerns over how publicly available content is used to train AI. By offering a clear, limited set of reuse options, CC Signals provides a middle ground between unrestricted data scraping and closed, paywalled ecosystems.

“CC Signals are designed to sustain the commons in the age of AI,” says Creative Commons CEO Anna Tumadóttir. General Counsel Sarah Hinchliff Pearson adds that collective action is key to ensuring a more open, fair AI future.

Creative Commons is inviting public feedback as it develops the framework, with an alpha launch planned for November 2025. More details and early design insights are available on the organization’s website.