Latest news with #HDR
Android Authority
a day ago
- Android Authority
Think smartphone cameras have peaked? Here's what's still to come
Robert Triggs / Android Authority I've seen some absolutely phenomenal camera phones cross my desk this year. The extravagant Xiaomi 15 Ultra and more mainstream OnePlus 13, in particular, have upped the ante on the iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel triopoly, providing avid photographers more choice than ever before. While some of their best bits will inevitably trickle down to more affordable price points, thereby introducing more consumers to these superb capabilities, there's also a sense that we might finally be bumping up against the wall of progress. We can't fit bigger sensors in our phones without accepting colossal camera bumps or overly-wide fields of view. Likewise, the best zoom cameras are increasingly resorting to clever crops and upscaling, given the lack of space for physically longer focal lengths, even with periscope designs. All hope is not lost, though; there are some important mobile photography innovations on the horizon that you should still keep an eye out for. Better HDR than mirrorless cameras Robert Triggs / Android Authority Let's face it, smartphone sensor sizes will never reach the lofty heights of compact mirrorless or even Micro Four Thirds cameras. 1-inch sensors like the LTY-900 are about as large as is feasible, and even then, it's arguably a bit too large to achieve an ideal focal length; bigger sensors require more space between them and the lens to avoid ultrawide fields of view. The best camera phones have sat quite comfortably at around 1/1.3-inches for a while now, and could well remain there for the foreseeable future. Instead, sensors are turning to smarter tricks to capture better light from the same-sized sensors and pixels. Take Sony's newly announced LYT-818; a 1/1.28-inch sensor sporting brand new Hybrid Frame-HDR (HF-HDR) technology. HF-HDR builds on the Dual ISO Conversion Gain (DCG) approach for dark shadows by merging short-time exposure frames into the mix, allowing it to capture bright highlights. Sony claims this provides over 100dB or up to 17 stops of dynamic range (the range between the lightest and darkest capture before clipping), resulting in fewer blown-out backgrounds or much better subject detail capture, even when zooming in. Sony's LYT-828 also debuts proprietary ultra-high conversion gain (UHCG) technology to reduce random noise for improved low-light capture, which will help phones reduce reliance on post-processing. Sony isn't the only company investing in improved HDR capabilities and light capture. OmniVision's new 1-inch OV50X sports lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC) for improved dynamic range in bright light, along with more conventional DCG HDR technology. Apparently, the OV50X 'provides close to 110 decibels (dB) single-exposure HDR.' It's a big sensor, but could make for a real photography and videography powerhouse. Longer zoom without the bulky size C. Scott Brown / Android Authority Of course, Samsung's ISCOCELL has some new tricks up its sleeve too. Last year's 200MP ISOCELL HP9 made quite an impression when I tested the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, as it boasts 14-bit RAW, iDCG and Staggered HDR, and 2x or 4x in-sensor zoom. That last one has become an important zoom trick for many of this year's best and future zoom cameras. It essentially takes the center 12.5MP from a 50MP or 200MP sensor to obtain 2x or 4x 'lossless' zoom in hardware, rather than looking at sub-pixel frames in software (à la previous Pixel models). In-sensor zoom and more compact periscopes will provide seamless zoom coverage. The trade-off is that resorting to smaller pixels results in a loss of light capture, and it requires careful remosaic to extract accurate colors, such as Samsung's full-resolution E2E AI Remosaic. Samsung's latest GNJ, Sony's LYT series, and the OmniVision OV50 all sport similar technologies, meaning this feature is likely to become far more common across models throughout 2026. However, some truly promising long-range zoom innovations have emerged recently. Back at CES 2025, Samsung Semiconductor demonstrated its All Lenses on Prism (ALoP) concept to enhance zoom quality. ALoP places the lens elements atop the prism in periscope cameras, trimming module thickness while allowing a larger effective aperture — essentially tackling the two big problems of phone zoom cameras in one swoop. Narrow apertures are the bane of low-light capture at a distance. Similar technology is already available in commercial smartphones. OPPO's Triple Prism Periscope Structure powers the mighty 3x cameras, backed by a 50MP 1/1.95-inch LYT-600 inside the Find X8 Pro and X8 Ultra. Presumably, the same setup is also in the OnePlus 13. Elsewhere, multi-lens 'stacked' setups and longer-folded periscope cameras are helping make longer-range zoom more powerful, while novel ideas like Sony's variable focal length and HUAWEI's dual-lens periscope aid with flexibility. It wouldn't be the future without AI C. Scott Brown / Android Authority AI photography is already a core part of the smartphone camera experience—and it's only going to become more central. From subtle exposure tweaks to full-scene reconstruction, AI is now doing a lot of the heavy lifting behind the scenes, and the latest chipsets from MediaTek and Qualcomm are helping features quickly descend the price tiers. While AI implementations can be seamless or horrendously heavy-handed, some brands are already showing just how powerful it can be when used well. Take the OnePlus 13, for example. Its impressive zoom capabilities from a modest 3x telephoto lens are a showcase of what smart AI-driven processing can do. And of course, Google's Pixel series continues to set the standard for computational photography — handling everything from HDR fusion to skin tone accuracy with remarkable finesse. The upcoming Google Pixel 10 will likely push even further, introducing next-gen features like advanced semantic segmentation and AI-enhanced zoom that delivers sharp results at higher magnifications without relying on heavy optics. Likewise, Apple's Photonic Engine will undoubtedly see upgrades with the upcoming launch of the iPhone 17 series. Looking ahead, expect AI to play an even bigger role in low-light photography. Rather than stacking multiple frames and hoping for the best, phones will increasingly use learned noise models to clean up shadows while preserving texture and avoiding ghosting. This should result in cleaner, more natural night shots, especially for moving subjects like people or pets. AI can undoubtedly make photos better, but expect to sift through the gimmicks too. Video will also see an AI upgrade. Some new phones already use real-time semantic processing to recognize what you're filming and optimize focus, exposure, and tone on a per-object basis. Soon, more mainstream phones will offer this superior highlight control, more accurate skin tones, and improved background separation for video as well as photos. We're also likely to see stabilized cinematic bokeh and AI relighting become more interactive and editable after the fact. In short, AI is no longer just a buzzword — it's becoming the backbone of smartphone photography. From better zoom and cleaner low-light shots to smarter video and creative post-processing tools, AI is reshaping how cameras see and understand the world. The best part? Much of this innovation will run natively on the device, giving users faster performance and more control without relying on the cloud. Don't sleep on the the mid-range Joe Maring / Android Authority Flagships still get the flashiest new toys, but mid-range phones are quietly catching up — and fast. Today's upper-mid-tier models already support features like 4K video, optical image stabilization (OIS), and phase-detect autofocus. That spec list belonged to $1,000 phones just a few short years ago. We've recently seen telephoto zoom on some very adorable phones, significantly upping their shooting flexibility. Sensor makers like OmniVision are helping drive this shift. Take its OV50M40, for example, which is designed to reduce cost and complexity while still supporting advanced features like multi-frame HDR and fast autofocus. The trade-off is typically a smaller sensor format and more basic optics, but the overall capabilities continue to climb. Mid-range phones will quickly catch up with features recently considered flagship-tier. By 2026–2027, it's reasonable to expect mainstream phones to offer 50MP main cameras with quad-pixel binning, 4K/30 video, and AI-powered scene optimization as standard — effectively matching the spec sheets of 2023–2024 flagships. At least as far as the main camera in concerned. In short, users in the mid-range segment won't be left behind; they stand to benefit from continued improvements in both hardware and software as flagship tech filters down. More of what we already know and love Robert Triggs / Android Authority Looking at the big picture, I'm not expecting a major revolution in mobile camera sizes or form factors in the next couple of years. However, that doesn't mean that today's smartphones are as good as they can possibly be. The combination of new sensor tech, optical design, and AI means we can expect more dramatic improvements even by 2026/27 — especially in flagship devices. Features like multi-camera zoom fusion, ultra-resolution night modes, and full-scene HDR could all become standard and will even arrive in more affordable models before long. While smartphone cameras are already amazing, provided you have the money to spend, the industry continues to evolve rapidly on both hardware and software fronts. There's plenty for photography buffs to look forward to in the coming generations.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World' Finally Gets A 4K Blu-Ray Release—On A 100GB Disc
Movie and AV fans have been clamoring for it for years, and Disney has finally answered the call: Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World is being released on 4K Blu-ray disc at last. Disney has revealed today that Peter Weir's classic film about a stricken British Royal Navy vessel battling across two oceans with a French warship during the Napoleonic Wars will be coming out on today's best physical media format on August 5 in the U.S., and September 8 in the U.K., boasting what promises to be state of the art picture and sound. "Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World" will be available on 4K Blu-ray in the U.S. and ... More U.K. in a Steelbook edition. On the picture quality front, the new 4K master of the film (which has been restored from original film elements) will be available in not just high dynamic range video for the first time, but Dolby Vision HDR, which adds extra scene by scene picture information to the video stream to help compatible TVs and projectors deliver more accurate and, usually, dynamic looking images. I'm also very happy to report that Disney is going against its usual policy and choosing to place the Master And Commander 4K HDR master on a 100GB 4K Blu-ray disc rather than a 66GB one. This matters because it gives the film's mastering team much more space to work with when trying to optimize how much – or how little – compression they need to apply to the 138-minute film in order to fit it onto its new shiny disc home. This probably doesn't mean that Disney is switching to 100GB discs for all of its 4K Blu-ray releases from now on (though we can always hope). But it's still good to find that a much-loved two hour 18 minute film now apparently qualifies for the 100GB treatment in Disney's mind. Master And Commander's images aren't the only thing to get a cutting edge renovation for the film's 4K Blu-ray release. Disney has confirmed in its announcement today that the film's original Dolby Digital soundtrack has been given a new Dolby Atmos remaster that will hopefully add a whole new dimension, literally, to the film's famously intense sea battle scenes. The inner gatefold artwork for the 'Master And Commander' 4K Blu-ray steelbook release. The U.S. 4K Blu-ray release of Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World is going to follow Disney's usual recent approach by being exclusively available in a Steelbook edition. The Steelbook design will boast a striking navy-and-gold nautical artwork featuring a detailed compass rose on the rear and an illustration of Captain Aubrey looming sword in hand over his trusty ship on the front, while the inside of the package features a sweeping ocean vista showing the Captain (memorably played by Russell Crowe) standing in front of a raging seascape. While U.K. fans of Master And Commander have a bit longer to wait for the film to arrive on 4K Blu-ray than their U.S. counterparts do, I can confirm that the film will be available in the U.K. in a more affordable standard 4K Blu-ray package alongside the premium Steelbook edition. Though there's no doubt about which version this particular Brit is going to be buying! Disney hasn't revealed full details about the bonus features fans can expect to find alongside Master And Commander's new 4K HDR remaster, but I can confirm that while the provided extras will include deleted scenes, a historical and geographical trivia track and a pop-up map, no new features have been found for the 4K release. If you fancy catching the film again on a really big theatrical screen before its 4K Blu-ray hits stores, 20th Century Studios will be presenting the film in a special one-night-only 4K Theatrical presentation at Hollywood's iconic Egyptian Theater on Friday August 1. — Related reading 'Monty Python And The Holy Grail' To Get 50th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray Release 'Kingdom Of Heaven' 4K Blu-ray Details Announced—Including Restored And Remastered Director's Cut Disney Announces Restored And Remastered 'Lilo & Stitch' 4K Blu-Ray
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
3 new Android 16 features to try thanks to Android Canary
Android 16 is here and there are already a bunch of fun new features to try out, but more are on the way. You can actually try some of them right now thanks to Android Canary, Google's brand new delivery mechanism for upcoming feature testing for Android. Per 9to5Google, the first Android Canary update is here, bringing with it a small handful of minor new features. They aren't big, game-changing additions, but they do sound nice. Here are three you should try. Before we get started, a brief word of warning: Installing unfinished Android builds on your personal device can be dangerous for reasons that I hope are obvious. Do it at your own risk. 1. Hide the AI button Easily the most appealing new feature in the latest Android Canary update to me, personally, is the ability to hide the AI button from the Pixel search bar that sits on your phone's home screen. Typically, the search bar just has two buttons: One for voice search and one for photo search. These days, there's a third button that activates AI mode, but a new toggle in the settings menu lets you turn that off entirely so you never accidentally press it. 2. Enhanced HDR It's not clear yet how profound an effect it has, but there's a new "Enhanced HDR Brightness" toggle in the settings menu that is supposed to improve image quality on anything that supports HDR. Specifically, as its name suggests, HDR content should be brighter after you turn this on. HDR is great when configured correctly, but it can sometimes produce dimmer images, so this is a good setting to have, assuming it works. 3. A new, separate parental controls menu This last one is less a new feature and more a reorganization of the settings menu, but there's now a dedicated "Parental Controls" menu where there wasn't before. Previously, parental controls were bundled into the "Digital Wellbeing" menu, which still exists, but is now separate from parental controls. Again, it doesn't seem like there are any new parental control options at the moment, but it's nice that this is now its own separate part of the settings menu.
Android Authority
10-07-2025
- Android Authority
This new Android Canary feature will let you stop HDR photos from blinding you at night
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR HDR content can really stand out on a screen of SDR images, especially in low-light environments . In order to limit distractions like that Google's been working on an new set of 'Enhanced HDR brightness' options. After first spotting them in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, they're now usable in the new Android Canary release. Google just opened the door on a brave new world of Android development, extending its existing program of Developer Previews and Beta releases to now offer a Canary track, bringing the most curious Android fans early access to its latest in-development features. Of course, we haven't wasted any time installing one of those Canary builds on our Pixel hardware, and are already crawling through to identify what's new. One of the first concrete changes we've spotted concerns a find we initially identified last month in the code for Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1. We're talking about that new 'Enhanced HDR brightness' settings option, which includes both a toggle for choosing whether or not you want to see HDR content at all (or if it should just be displayed at SDR levels), but also a slider for adjusting the intensity of the HDR effect. You might think that HDR is always better, but when you're viewing a single HDR pic amidst a screen of normal content, that one super-bright image can look a little odd. These controls let you avoid that situation entirely, or at least dial it back to a place where it feels a tad less jarring. While we were able to bring you an early look before, this wasn't yet user accessible in QPR1 Beta 1. But now we're in Canary territory, and not only are the settings present, but the feature appears to be operational, changing the HDR effect based on our choices. Everything looks just like we saw it before, except now it's ready for you to actually try out. Of course, running Canary means a much higher risk for running into phone-breaking bugs, so feel free to sit this one out and wait for the team at Android Authority to share the rest of what we find with you. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
HDR By Barco Projection Technology To Underpin New ‘EPIC By Vue' Branding
Caption: Bringing together the best in image quality and audio cinema presentation technology, in ... More HDR by Barco and Dolby Atmos, EPIC by Vue is great news for cinemagoers. Vue Barco, the global leader in laser projection, and Vue, the number one privately owned cinema operator in Europe, have announced a partnership that will see HDR by Barco technology expand across Europe as part of the cinema chain's new 'EPIC by Vue' branding. Vue says that 11 'EPIC' screens will open in the U.K., Italy, and the Netherlands by the end of 2025, with 50 more to follow by the end of 2027. The first will be open by the end of July, in Nottingham, U.K. The news follows on from Barco and Vue's partnership announced earlier in the year to bring laser projection to over 1000 screens. While that deal focused on replacing older Xenon-lamp-based digital projectors with its Series 4 projectors, HDR by Barco represents the bleeding edge of cinema-based projection technology. It uses Barco's 'Lightsteering' technology, which combines high-brightness lasers with cutting-edge GPU-powered algorithms, to ensure that light inside the projector is focused exactly where it needs to be onscreen, on a frame-by-frame basis. This allows it to deliver six times the brightness of standard digital cinema, giving it enough headroom to offer enough brightness and an expanded color range (98.5% of Rec. 2020) to deliver true high dynamic range (HDR) images to cinemas for the first time. Vue's new EPIC brand means that it can now offer a premium cinema format to compete with its multiplex rivals, which have had leading-edge formats such as IMAX Laser and Dolby Cinema for some time. In the UK, Vue has lagged in this area, with only the Manchester Printworks, with its combined dual laser and 15/70mm IMAX capability, representing a flagship cinema offering. As per all other premium large format brands, Vue says that all EPIC theatres will also feature Dolby Atmos audio, though the presence of HDR by Barco means the Vue EPIC should leapfrog them to take the lead in terms of image quality. 'After researching and testing a variety of premium large format options, we decided to create EPIC using the very best market-leading technology available. By combining cutting-edge HDR laser projection by Barco and Dolby Atmos immersive sound, breathtaking colour, expansive screens and studio quality audio, we will bring the very latest technology to our biggest screens across Europe and give our customers the opportunity to enjoy a cinematic experience like no other.' While no details were provided on décor plans for the brand , the chain did say that every EPIC by Vue screen will offer the largest screen at the site. As to how much of threat this will be to the likes of IMAX and Dolby Cinema, but it's good news for the industry that there are more quality options for the public to tempt it to head out 'to the pictures' to see the latest film rather than waiting for it arrive on streaming. Further reading: Barco Light Steering Uses AI Tech To Brings True HDR To The Big Screen Vue And Barco Partner To Bring Laser Projection To Over 1000 Screens Barco HDR Cinema Tech To Reach 30 US Theatres By The End Of 2025
