Category Archives: news

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

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.

POCO Introduces F7 with 7550mAh Battery and Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

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POCO has announced the launch of its latest F-series device, the POCO F7, combining a large battery, slim design, and high-performance hardware.

The F7 features a 7550mAh Silicon Carbon battery—currently the largest in its segment—within a slim 7.99mm frame. It supports 90W fast charging and 22.5W reverse charging. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, with an AnTuTu score exceeding 2.1 million. It also includes up to 24GB RAM (12GB + 12GB virtual), UFS 4.1 storage, and an IceLoop cooling system for thermal management.

The phone has a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and slim bezels. Other features include a 50MP Sony IMX882 camera with OIS, a 20MP front camera, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection, and IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings.

The POCO F7 will be available on Flipkart starting July 1st, priced at ₹29,999 (12+256GB) and ₹31,999 (12+512GB). First-day buyers can avail up to ₹4,000 in discounts and benefits, including screen damage protection and an extended 2-year warranty.

Apple Built a Custom iPhone-Based Camera to Film Inside Real F1 Cars

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For its upcoming Formula One film, Apple engineered a custom camera module using iPhone components to capture cinematic-quality footage from inside F1 cars—without affecting performance.

Traditional F1 broadcast cameras are low-res and optimized for live TV. But director Joseph Kosinski and cinematographer Claudio Miranda wanted more. Apple’s solution: a camera module built to look like a standard F1 broadcast unit but powered by iPhone internals—including a 48MP sensor (likely from the iPhone 15 Pro), an A-series chip, battery, and neutral density filter.

The module matched F1 broadcast gear in size, shape, and weight to preserve the car’s aerodynamics and balance. It also withstood extreme shock, vibration, and heat during the 2023 and 2024 racing seasons—meeting and exceeding Formula One’s durability standards.

Footage was recorded in ProRes Log format for maximum post-production flexibility. A custom version of iOS ran the system, with a USB-C iPad app giving filmmakers full manual control—frame rate, white balance, shutter angle, and more.

The project directly influenced consumer features. Log encoding and ACES color support—both used in the module—later appeared in the iPhone 15 Pro.

While iPhones are rarely used solo on film sets, Apple is increasingly blending pro filmmaking needs into its hardware development. Other companies like Samsung and Sony have shot films on phones, but Apple’s F1 module marks a new level of integration—embedding iPhone tech in a rugged, race-tested system built for Hollywood-grade results.

Apple’s iOS 26 Brings Changes to Imaging Experience, Camera APP and Photos

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Apple’s new design overhaul brings an update to the Camera app in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26, making everyday photography feel more immersive and intuitive. The redesigned UI prioritizes easy reach for core controls while minimizing distractions. Buttons, sliders, and toggles now live within a refined control layer that adapts as you frame shots or switch modes. In the app, navigation and tools morph fluidly to stay out of the way until you need them, keeping the focus squarely on capturing the moment. New gestures streamline access to pro tools, and the layout now curves with the edges of modern displays for a more cohesive, hardware-conscious experience.

Possibly one of the most disliked upgrade for users was the redesigned Photos App in iOS 18, which now gets a much needed redesign. The new Photos app in iOS 26 complements the new Camera experience with a cleaner, more fluid interface. Browsing feels faster and more immersive, with dynamic transitions and updated navigation that responds to how you interact. Albums are easier to organize, search is more intelligent, and editing tools are now grouped more intuitively. Built with the new Liquid Glass design language, every element — from buttons to background panels — subtly reflects your content and surroundings, creating a photo viewing experience that’s as rich and expressive as the memories it holds.

Apple also debuted the new Liquid Glass interface – which is a translucent, responsive material that shapes the entire experience, refracting surrounding content and reflecting your environment in real time. Liquid Glass marks a leap in UI design for Apple, making interactions in the Camera & photos app across Apple’s platforms more alive, tactile, and visually rich.

This update will be available from iPhone 11 onwards (Apple Intelligence updates available only on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series phones). The Developer version of iOS 26 is now made available and the Public Beta will be available from July with the final version coming out in Fall this year.

Here’s how you enable iOS BETA on your iPhone: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0gFj34_t7KU

Lexar Appoints Supertron Electronics as Indian Distributor

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Lexar has named Supertron Electronics Pvt. Ltd. as its official pan-India distributor for key product categories. The agreement will see Supertron handle the distribution of Lexar’s storage products—including pen drives, microSD cards, internal and portable SSDs, and DRAM modules—across both consumer and enterprise markets.

With this move, Lexar aims to expand its distribution network and improve product availability across the country. Supertron’s nationwide presence, including over 50 branches and operations in more than 750 cities, is expected to support this goal. The company’s reach also includes a sales force and a network of more than 15,000 channel partners.

Fissal Oubida, General Manager – India, Middle East, and Africa at Lexar, said that India represents a key market for the company and that the partnership is part of its strategy to broaden its footprint in the region.

Currently, Lexar holds a leading position in the CFexpress and SD card segments in India. The company now plans to grow its presence in other areas, such as SSDs and DRAM solutions.

Vibhor Agarwal, CEO of Supertron Electronics, stated that the collaboration would allow them to offer a broader range of memory and storage products to their customer base and aligns with evolving technology demands in India.

The partnership reflects an effort to adapt to increasing data storage needs across a range of users, including professionals, gamers, and enterprises.

Sony Unveils FX2 Cinema Camera

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Sony has unveiled the FX2, a hybrid cinema camera aimed at next-gen filmmakers. It combines the 33MP full-frame sensor from the a7 IV with a compact, video-centric body similar to the bigger FX3 and a tilting 3.68M-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF).

The FX2’s video capabilities include shooting 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 All-I recording, dual base ISO (800/4000) in S-Log3, and up to 15 stops of dynamic range. It also includes photo-friendly features such as a mechanical shutter and the ability to capture JPEG or HEIF stills even while recording video.

Designed with videographers in mind, it features a large REC button, full-size HDMI, multiple mounting points, shutter angle control, a cooling fan, and support for the optional XLR top handle. A fully articulating screen, anamorphic de-squeeze (1.33x & 2x), and new dynamic active stabilisation mode to enhance versatility.

Autofocus improvements include Sony’s AI-powered real-time recognition AF for people, animals, insects, and vehicles, plus AI auto framing. However, 4K 60p recording uses an APS-C crop (1.5x), and 4.7K RAW is only possible via external recording.

The FX2 will be available in August in two options:

Body-only: $2699 or ₹2,25,000 (approx.)
With XLR handle: $3099 or ₹2,60,000 (approx.)

With its hybrid-friendly features and improved usability, the FX2 is essentially an a7 IV in an FX3-style body, but with an EVF and better stills support.

BenQ Unveils “Retina-class” 5K Professional Monitor

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BenQ has announced the PD2730S, a 27-inch 5K monitor designed for professionals in design, content creation, and visual production. With a “Retina” class resolution of 5120 × 2880 pixels which equates to a pixel density of 218 PPI.

The PD2730S features 98% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage and Delta E ≤ 2 accuracy. It is both Pantone and Calman Verified, with BenQ’s AQCOLOR Technology supporting colour consistency. Their “Nano Matte” Panel helps reduce glare, and an integrated KVM switch enables control of multiple devices from a single setup.

Connectivity options include Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, and HDMI. Thunderbolt 4 supports data transfer up to 40Gbps, power delivery up to 90W, and daisy-chaining of multiple monitors, offering compatibility with MacBook workflows. The monitor also includes Display ColorTalk and Palette Master Ultimate softwares for calibration and colour management across devices – suitable for workflows including VFX production, high-resolution photography, and cinematic video editing.

“The PD2730S is a response to the evolving expectations of today’s creative workforce — professionals who require uncompromising accuracy, fluid Mac ecosystem integration, and enhanced multitasking capabilities,” said Rajeev Singh, Managing Director, BenQ India.

The PD2730S is priced at ₹1,02,500 and will be available through the BenQ e-Store, Amazon India, and select electronics and IT retailers.

Photographer, Educator Radhakrishnan Chakayat Passes Away

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Photographer and Founder of the YouTube channel Pixel Village – Radhakrishnan Chakyat passed away on 22nd May at the age of 53. Pixel Village confirmed his passing in a social media post, describing him as ‘a guiding light’ and someone who ‘taught us how to see the world through the lens and capture its soul.’

Known for his deep understanding of visual storytelling, Chakyat built a career that bridged commercial photography and education. After starting out under renowned fashion photographer Rafique Sayed in Mumbai, he went on to work with leading brands including Cadbury, Taj Hotels and Asian Paints.

Later, Chakyat turned his focus to education, launching Pixel Village – a popular platform on YouTube. His untimely demise was mourned by people from across the industry.

Scuderia Ferrari and HP Unveil Special Livery for Miami Grand Prix

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Scuderia Ferrari and HP Inc. have revealed a bold, co-designed livery ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, celebrating one year of their title partnership. Unveiled by drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton alongside Team Principal Fred Vasseur. This is the first time in Scuderia Ferrari’s history that an asymmetric graphic design has featured on their Formula 1 cars.

Key Highlights:

Collaborative Innovation: Ferrari and HP engineering teams in Maranello and Barcelona co-developed the livery using advanced materials and technologies.
Design & Technology: The new wrap features Ferrari red with HP’s electric blue and white, applied using HP’s latest latex technology. It’s up to 14% lighter, 17% thinner, PVC-free, recyclable, and offers enhanced thermal resistance.
Asymmetric Design: For the first time in Scuderia Ferrari’s history, the SF-25s of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton sport asymmetric graphics, white wheels, and blue accents.
Matching Gear: Drivers’ suits and helmets have been redesigned to match the special Miami livery.

The livery showcases cutting-edge materials and wrapping technologies. It marks a significant leap forward in how design and innovation meet on the racetrack.

Blue accents appear on the front and rear wings, while the wheels are painted white to complement the electric blue and red colour scheme. The drivers’ race suits and helmets also reflect the special design created for the Miami event.

Beyond aesthetics, the partnership is transforming how Ferrari operates. HP has equipped the team’s headquarters and mobile offices with powerful laptops, monitors, and printers, improving efficiency and collaboration.

Enrique Lores, CEO, HP Inc. said — “Together with Ferrari, we’re co-engineering breakthrough innovations on and off the track.”

Benedetto Vigna, CEO, Ferrari said — “This livery symbolizes our shared belief in technology, design, and pushing boundaries.”

Lexar Announces World’s First Stainless-Steel SD Cards

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Lexar has launched its new ARMOR GOLD and ARMOR SILVER PRO UHS-II SD Cards in India, introducing the world’s first stainless-steel SD cards. Designed for photographers and content creators, these cards are built to withstand challenging conditions. They are IP68-rated, offering resistance to dust, water, and drops from up to 5 meters.

Both cards support Video Speed Class 60 (V60) and read speeds up to 280MB/s. GOLD offers write speeds up to 210MB/s and the SILVER PRO up to 160MB/s. Their rib less design and absence of a write-protection switch also seeks to improve durability.

Tested for thermal, shock, and static resistance, the cards comply with SD Association (SDA) thickness standards to ensure compatibility with most professional cameras. Lexar also includes its Recovery Tool for file restoration.

Available at major retail and online platforms, prices for the SILVER PRO start at ₹7,750 (128GB) and ₹12,250 (256GB), while the GOLD version is priced at ₹9,250 (128GB) and ₹16,250 (256GB).