Latest news with #GeoffreyMorrison
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Get a 100-Inch Image for a Record-Low $498 with This Samsung Projector Deal
There are plenty of great TV deals out there, but even budget-friendly models are going to cost you quite a bit if you want a screen that's larger than 77 inches. If you want a massive, immersive display without dropping serious cash, you may want to grab yourself a projector instead. This second-gen Samsung Freestyle projector can project an image of up to 100 inches, and it's currently on sale for a record-low $498. That saves you a whopping $300, but this deal could expire at any point, so take advantage of these savings sooner rather than later. This projector is tiny -- not much bigger than a soda can -- and its design makes it easy to swivel and readjust. It's capable of creating an image up to 100 inches on the diagonal and can be used to stream shows, watch films and even play video games with a high degree of accuracy, which isn't something every projector can manage. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. In his review of the original Samsung Freestyle, CNET contributor Geoffrey Morrison wrote that he loved its design, colors and streaming capabilities but also said that the lack of a built-in battery and its dimness were drawbacks for the price. Those areas haven't been significantly addressed in the second-gen model, but this 38% discount might help you focus more on the pros than the cons, and you might even have the budget leftover for a decent USB-C battery pack or portable power station if you want to make it more portable. Why this deal matters Our reviewer had a few gripes with this projector at the original $800 list price, but at this record-low price it's a pretty undeniable value. You're getting a pretty stacked set of features for just under $500, including a 100-inch image, built-in speakers, gaming support and more.
CNET
23-05-2025
- CNET
I Tried Fujifilm's Adorable New X Half Camera and It's a Pocketful of Fun
After months of rumors, Fujifilm has finally, officially announced the X Half, a very compact camera designed to mimic half-frame film cameras and early 2000s point-and-shoots. It takes vertical photos and videos, aided by an optical viewfinder and vertical screen. I spent a few hours testing out the X Half, and it is, as Fujifilm hoped, quite fun. It's the kind of thing you'd bring on a night out with friends, kept handy in a purse or pocket, so you're able to capture moments without needing your phone. Its price might give you pause, though. Here's a little preview based on my little time with this little camera. The hardware It's positively tiny, though a bit bigger than the smallest digital cameras from the 2000s. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET 17.7 megapixels (3,648x4,864 or 7,296x4,864 for 2-in-1 images) 1-inch sensor 32mm f2.8 lens (35mm equivalent) Optical viewfinder Fujifilm film simulations 240 grams (8.5 ounces) Specs don't tell the whole story with this camera, but they're still interesting. A 1-inch sensor isn't unheard of in a camera this size. The Sony XV-1 II is basically the same size and has one, though it's even more expensive. Most have far smaller sensors, like the less expensive Panasonic ZS99. The X Half's sensor is oriented, like the rear screen, vertically. This speaks to the main design intention of the X Half. This is a camera to take photos that you can quickly and easily share on social media. Images have a 3:4 aspect ratio, as does video (1,080x1,440). The only dials are exposure and aperture. Yes, that's a film advance lever, and it actually has a use here more than retro style points. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET One of the X Half's main tricks is the ability to side-by-side images in the camera, which Fuji calls two-in-ones. You can see some examples of that later in this preview. Take a photo, "advance" the film using the retro film advance lever, and then take another photo. Both images are saved individually, but the camera also combines them into a third image where they're side-by-side, separated by a line with a style of your choosing. The same trick can be done with videos, and perhaps most interestingly, both photos and videos. The X Half next to the X100VI. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Being Fuji, the X Half has its famous Film Simulations. These alter the image in ways that you typically'd only be able to get with significant editing. More than just a filter you can add in Instagram, these change, sometimes dramatically, many aspects of color and tone. A small secondary screen on the back shows you the active simulation mode, like you were looking at a film roll inside the camera, and you can swipe through the different modes while looking at the main screen to see how it looks. In addition, there are "Creative Filters" which are more like what you'd find in other point-and-shoot cameras, like "Toy," "High-key," "Light leak" and so on. I wasn't able to test them all, but of those that I used, some were pretty fun. Vertical screen and optical viewfinder. The secondary screen on the left usually shows the active Film Simulation. It's also a touchscreen, so you can swipe through. This works as a secondary screen for some menus and settings as well. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET There's also Film Camera Mode, which locks the camera into a Film Simulation mode of your choosing, for 36, 54 or 72 images. In this mode, there's no preview, and other options are limited. It essentially forces you to use the X Half like a film camera. I know some photographers like these kinds of limiting challenges. I'm not a fan, perhaps because I grew up with the limitations of film, but I understand how many people enjoy them. The new X Half app wasn't ready for us to check out, but it should have some interesting ways to "develop" the images taken in Film Camera mode and make/adjust the two-in-ones. The X Half uses the same battery as other Fuji cameras, has an LED flash and is Bluetooth enabled. It can also be connected to one of Fujifilm's Instax printers for instant-film prints. The camera I tested had a silver top, but it will also be available in all black or with a charcoal top. Hands (well, "hand") on The side-by-side "2-in-1" format lets you juxtapose images for any number of creative reasons. This can be done in the camera (most of the following examples), with the upcoming X Half app, or if you capture two things you really want to put next to each other during your short time with the camera and you don't have the app yet (me), you can do this in most photo editing software later. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET This is an adorably small camera. A palm-of-your-hand device that can fit in your pocket when not in use. Walking around downtown LA, I found it practically disappeared when I wasn't using it, hidden from view, cupped in my hand. When I'd see something interesting, even if I'd turned it off after the last shot, it'd be ready to go in moments. Selecting different film simulations was super easy. All you need to do is swipe the secondary screen. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Using the X Half is surprisingly similar to using a GoPro. Almost everything is accessed via swipes and taps on the rear screen. The only dials are just for exposure and aperture. Personally, I love dials on cameras, but this was easy to navigate and probably more so for people not used to larger cameras. A switch on the side enables the built-in flash. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET The side-by-side images are a clever way to really tell a story. For instance, one image can be an establishing shot, the other a close-up. Or both can be versions of a theme, different angles and so on. Earlier, I said I didn't enjoy film camera-like challenges, but this kind of challenge I do like. I would find some interesting image, and then see if I could find some matching or contrasting image nearby. It was a different way to approach photography compared to what I'm used to, which is (here's that word again), fun. You in there, Deckard? Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Since I only had a few hours with the camera, I can't give a final verdict on the image quality. My initial impression is that it seemed decent, with good color reproduction. Low-light wasn't great, but seemed acceptable. The images you see in this preview are all unedited. One of the built-in filters lets you select a single color and strip out all the others. Not a particularly new concept, but it works well here. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Price, availability and who this might be for 2-in-1 created in Photoshop, otherwise unedited from the camera. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET The X Half is unquestionably for a specific demographic. If you don't understand why someone would want a small, vertical camera like this, have no fear: You're not the demo. I described the camera to a friend who is likely the demo, and she got the idea immediately and wanted one. Is it possible to do just about everything the X Half does with your phone? Sure, but that's true of any camera. The trick here is being able to skip the editing process, plus the benefit of not being on your phone all the time. That, and the fact that it's adorable. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET One concern, though, is the price. At $850, this might be well beyond the budget of the very people who would enjoy it the most. While testing it out at LA's Grand Central Market, one of the shop owners took an interest. After describing it to her, she seemed really interested, but asked, "Is it expensive?" I told her the cost, and her disappointed response was "Oh, yeah, expensive." Everything is getting more expensive these days, but for only a little more money, someone could get the Ricoh GR III, our current pick for best point-and-shoot travel camera, which has a much larger sensor and is also conveniently small. However, neither the GR III nor any other camera right now has the X Half's "fun" factor. Is that worth the premium? We shall see when I test one out some more after its launch in late June. In addition to covering cameras and display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile road trips and more. Also, check out Budget Travel for Dummies, his travel book, and his bestselling sci-fi novel about city-sized submarines. You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube.
CNET
13-05-2025
- CNET
AAXA M8 Laser Projector: Big Light for Budget Price
6.9 / 10 SCORE AAXA M8 Laser Projector $370 at Amazon Pros Super bright Built-in battery Some streaming apps Cons Wildly inaccurate Mobile, 480p version of Netflix Loud fans AAXA M8 Laser Projector 6.9/10 CNET Score $370 at Amazon The tiny AAXA M8 is a powerful, portable projector that is impressively bright for its size and price. It has a built-in battery for off-grid movie nights, as well as some streaming apps. Its decent contrast ratio is a solid building block for a great image, but its oversaturated colors give it a look that is best described as "unique." While the Anker Nebula Capsule Air is a better option overall with fewer vices, the M8 fits into a specific niche that makes it worth considering for some people. That niche? Lots of light from a tiny box. You'll need to adjust a few picture settings, but as long as you can get past the colors, the overall image is pretty good for the category. Specs and such Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Resolution: 1,920x1,080 HDR-compatible: No 4K-compatible: Yes (4K30) Lumens spec: 1,500 Zoom: No Lens shift: No Battery capacity: 1,5000 mAh, 1.2 hours (Bright mode, claimed), 2.5 hours (Eco mode, claimed) Lamp life (Normal mode): 30,000 hours (laser) The little M8 is roughly the size of a stack of six CD cases, for the people that remember those, just a little wider. There's no zoom or lens shift on the unit, but given the price, there's no surprise there. The focus is electronic, and you can adjust it using physical buttons on the back, which is convenient. The headline spec is, of course, brightness. AAXA claims 1,500 lumens, which, like most brightness claims, is a bit high. In the Boost laser mode and Light picture mode, I got 456. This is still really bright for a small, inexpensive projector. For comparison, the Anker Nebula Capsule Air costs roughly the same as the M8 and could only manage 102. The far larger (and a little more expensive) TCL A1 was only slightly brighter. The M8 in its Normal mode and more accurate Custom picture mode produced a still-impressive 343 lumens. The contrast ratio was also impressive, even if it's not graded on a scale of price and size. I measured an average of about 1,081:1. That's more than most projectors I've reviewed lately, including those that cost four to five times the M8's price. I keep coming back to the Capsule Air because it's so close in price and use to the M8, but it only managed 381:1. The AAXA's internal battery, in Eco mode at least, should get you through about the length of a normal movie. However, this mode was the least accurate, and that's saying something. More on that later. Connections Geoffrey Morrison/CNET HDMI inputs: 1 USB port: USB-A (1), USB-C (1) Audio output: Bluetooth, 3.5mm headphone output Internet: Wi-Fi Remote: Not backlit For such a small projector, there are a lot of connections. So many that they're on two sides. On the left side there's a full-size HDMI input, a USB-A port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD card slot that can play the major audio and video file formats. On the back is USB-C, the power connection (sadly, it doesn't get power from USB-C), and the focus buttons. On the right side is a tiny speaker powered by 4 watts. It's not very loud and can barely compete with the fans in Normal and Boost modes. Speaking of which, those little fans are working overtime to cool the laser light engine. The M8 is quite loud. You're never not going to notice it unless it's far enough away that you can't hear the speaker. That's the actual price of the M8: noise. It's super bright, but you need to deal with a mildly unpleasant whirr from its fans. This is largely physics at play. To quiet the fans, they'd either need to be larger or have a larger enclosure to muffle their sound. The laser could run at lower power to reduce the heat generation, but then you'd have a dimmer picture. All product design is a series of trade-offs. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET While the M8 does technically have some streaming apps built in, this is a little more complex than it seems. First, the Netflix app is the standard-definition, mobile version. Not only is this difficult to navigate, it also looks soft and blocky on the 1080p M8. Some other apps are available, like YouTube, Amazon Prime, Hulu, as well as the older HBO Go (but not Max), which didn't load, and Disney Plus, which did and looked fine. Will you be able to watch something via the included apps? Yes. Will you be able to watch everything like you would with a projector that has Google TV? Not without getting a streaming stick. Conveniently, the HDMI and USB-A ports are right next to each other, so you can connect and power any streaming device. Picture quality comparisons Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Anker Nebula Capsule Air The Anker Nebula Capsule Air is slightly cheaper than the M8, and far dimmer, but it's also physically smaller and has Google TV. The Capsule 3 is larger than the Air and is close to the same overall volume as the M8. It's more capable than the Air and more expensive than the M8, but still dimmer than the latter. I connected each of them to a Monoprice distribution amplifier and viewed them side-by-side on a 102-inch 1.0-gain screen. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Firstly, both the Capsule 3 and the M8 look more detailed than the Capsule Air, which makes sense since they're 1080p, while the Air is 720p. However, given how small an image you're likely going to make with the Air due to its limited light output, that difference in resolution is far less important than it seems. Anker's Air and the Capsule 3 are definitely more similar than they are different. In terms of brightness, the 3 is just barely noticeably brighter. It's 84 versus 123 lumens. That's not nothing, but then there's the M8, which is just screaming next to them at 343. It's worth noting that I'm comparing them all in their most accurate modes. All are capable of more light, but the Ankers at their brightest still can't compete with the M8 at its most accurate. The AAXA's Boost mode is even brighter and, unlike most projectors, this isn't its least accurate mode. The bigger issue with Boost mode is not the color or color temperature accuracy, but the noise. This is a loud little projector, and in Boost mode, it's a bit much in a quiet room. Eco mode is quieter, but also looks far more green. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET The AAXA also stands out with its contrast ratio. The 1081:1 I measured was above the 897:1 average of the projectors I've measured at CNET and well above the median of 490:1. The Air and 3 managed 381 and 471, respectively, which is actually decent for small projectors. There are several larger projectors that barely manage those numbers. The AAXA just looks far more punchy than either Anker. With the much higher brightness and that contrast ratio, two vital aspects of picture quality, the M8 blows the Ankers away... sort of. As often happens, there's a catch. Geoffrey Morrison/CNET Oh my dog, the color. This is one of the least accurate projectors I've ever reviewed. The colors are wildly oversaturated. Green is green, blue is blue, red is red. It definitely draws the eye, I'll give it that, but yikes, it can look pretty weird. The colors are at least off in roughly the right direction. As in, everything is just "extra," not "bizarre." Grass is the greenest grass you've ever seen, but it's still identifiable as grass with no extra yellow or cyan. It looks pretty artificial, but it's not unwatchable. You can turn that saturation down in the picture settings, but as you decrease it, the colors get less accurate (green is more cyan, for instance), and the colors don't decrease evenly, so the desaturated image actually looks worse. The Ankers, on the other hand, are practically subdued in comparison. Despite not being particularly accurate in their own right, they're practically reference displays compared to the AAXA. They create a more accurate (again, relatively speaking) image that's far more natural looking. Boxes over cans Geoffrey Morrison/CNET My recommendation for most people looking for an inexpensive portable projector is to get the Capsule Air. It's tiny, inexpensive, and has Google TV built in. The Capsule 3 offers a little bit more performance, but it's also larger and more expensive. In certain situations, though, the M8 is way better than both. It's a tiny little flamethrower, and if a tiny little flamethrower is what you need, it's great. It has its flaws, but what it does well, it does really well. For some people, it's going to hit the spot.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Price of Our Favorite Portable Projector Just Plummeted by 30% at Amazon
If you're looking to change up the way you watch TV shows and movies, then getting a good portable projector is a great way to do it. There are a lot of options out there but our top pick, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air, checks a whole lot of boxes. And as well as being an excellent projector, it's also a stellar deal right now with 30% off its usual price at Amazon, dropping it down to a record-low price of $420. The Mars 3 Air offers a 1080p HD resoultion, has 400 lumens of brightness and built-in speakers that offer solid sound. Color and contrast is good for the price, and it's got Google TV streaming built in, which makes it easy to get to content you want to watch. There's also a HDMI port for connecting a game console or other streaming device. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. The Mars 3 Air can manage up to 2 and a half hours of playback on a full charge, though you can connect it to an outlet while using it. That's great news if you're watching a shorter film, but keep that in mind if you're trying to watch The Lord of the Rings or something. Our reviewer, Geoffrey Morrison, said that, "Despite a loss of a few lumens, the Mars 3 Air is a solid upgrade over the Mars II Pro. It's easier to use and looks a little better while keeping the great size of its predecessor." He didn't love the price, but that's one of the things that gets fixed when you buy it with a big discount. This is the best portable projector we've tested, and while the price is its weakest point, lowering that by 30% makes the whole thing far better value. This is the lowest price the Nebula Mars 3 Air has ever been, making now the time to grab it if you've been on the fence.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Portable Projector Is Now Cheaper Than Ever, Thanks to a $120 Discount
Cinema prices are sky-high. So instead of paying an extortionate amount for one film, why not enjoy every film on a massive screen? That's where the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 mini projector comes into action. This nifty little device makes every movie a blockbuster experience -- and now it's cheaper than ever. Amazon has dropped the cost from $500 to $380 with a 24% discount being attached. This is likely limited-time, so grab it before it shoots back up. We rated the original Nebula Capsule highly and the third-gen device improves on its predecessor in some key areas, including brightness, resolution, projection size and more. Though it's a bit bigger than the older models, the Capsule 3 projector still fits into your hand and only weighs 2 pounds, so it can be taken with you easily. The projector offers 300 ISO lumens of brightness and 1080p HD resolution plus you can play videos for 2.5 hours thanks to a 52Wh built-in battery that's made to conserve energy. The projector has Android TV 11 built in for easy access to streaming apps, though you'll have to sideload Netflix via the Nebula Play app, and it works with Google Assistant and Chromecast. A powerful 8-watt Dolby Digital speaker will deliver crisp audio, and there's even an optimized outdoor mode to boost the sound when there might be more environmental factors at play. This is a record-low price for the Nebula Capsule 3, thanks to the $120 discount. It's literally never been cheaper. During their review for CNET, Geoffrey Morrison stated: "Overall the Capsule is very impressive for its size. For something that could fit in most cup holders, yet create a TV-sized image anywhere, it's a great gadget." This summarization was given before the current price drop, so it's an even better value today. Looking for more ways to enhance your house? Here are the best smart home deals, from smart lights and thermostats to plugs and much more.
