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The weather can cause disruptions, but these additions might make it more manageable.
What you need to know
Google is reportedly pushing an update for Maps on Android Auto that adds four new roadside hazards caused by the weather.
The options include low visibility, unplowed road, flooded road, and object on road.
Last year, Google updated the incident reporting experience in Maps on Android Auto, adding shared reports from Waze and a generalized “police” choice.
Google has reportedly pushed a quiet update for Maps, bringing a few more road safety alert options.
Android Policespotted the latest Maps alerts, involving road or roadside dangers caused by the weather. Specifically, the publication discovered four new options in Maps when reporting “incidents.” Those choices are: low visibility, unplowed road, flooded road, and “object on road.”
Each option deals with a particular weather occurrence, such as thick early morning fog, torrential rainfall, and the after-effects of a snowstorm. However, the “object on road” choice could help drivers point out more than just a downed tree branch following a storm. Users could use it to report items that could puncture their tire and more to keep their fellow drivers safe.
While the post points out that these four options have joined the broader “report and accident” menu on Android Auto, it’s not everywhere yet. It seems as though Maps is getting this in waves, giving drivers the options first.
The post claims the reporting options haven’t appeared properly on Android devices, yet users on iOS are supposedly “slowly” receiving them.
Reporting-wise, Google has dropped a couple of updates for Maps to improve the experience,like one for police. In November, Maps refined the way users could report police activity. The incident report was previously classified as “speed trap;” however, Google renamed it “police” to generalize all roadside activity. The app on Android Auto now conveniently features the “police” option at the top of the incident list, beside “crash,” “slowdown,” and “construction.”
More importantly, Google and Waze joined forces last summer toshare incident reportsfor drivers. The collaborationappeared more widelyfor drivers in December. If shared from Waze, users will see the alert appear on their in-dash display with a tag confirming where it’s from. Users can “confirm” the report, giving it some street cred when others see a report of police activity or a roadside hazard.
Google hasn’t forgotten its Android phones as Maps rolled out an updatefor weather-related delayslast fall. Users traveling — at any point in time — can take advantage of how the weather could impact their travels and the city’s local transit systems.
Fixes for audio glitches, Auto HDR weirdness affecting PC gamers, and more
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Windows 11’s February 2025 cumulative update has arrived
It packs a host of cures including the resolution of an Auto HDR bug that was messing up colors and causing games to crash
Important audio fixes are also present, and the cure for a nasty problem with webcams
Windows 11has a new cumulative update, and it brings forth some important fixes for bugs that have been annoying a good many people.
Bleeping Computerspotted the release notes for the February 2025 update for Windows 11 which emerged yesterday and should be available on PCs now. This is patch KB5051987 for Windows 11 24H2, but if you’re still on 23H2, it’s KB5051989.
The update cures one of the (many) bugs that gamers have found seriously frustrating, whereby colors are messed up by theAuto HDRfeature. This has now been resolved, as have thecrashes in games that were being reporteddue to this issue, as well.
Another major fix here is for the bug that killed the audio output of those using an audio DAC (digital-to-analog converter) with their PC, although this affected other users too (you were just more likely to run into the problem if you use a DAC).
DAC or no DAC (I feel a gameshow idea coming on), the bug has been squashed with the new update, as has another audio glitch which caused a ‘This device cannot start’ error to appear (though that was a less common problem, and not one I’ve heard of before).
Finally, remember theissues with USB webcams where they weren’t being detected properly? You can kiss goodbye to those camera woes, too, asMicrosofttells us that this bug (caused by the previous January 2025 cumulative update) is now a thing of the past.
You may recall that the AutoHDRfix arrived in the preview update for January (an optional affair at the end of last month), so the good news is that it hasn’t caused any problems in the final testing stages, and so can now be applied to Windows 11 PCs across the board.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that the compatibility hold which was put on PCs that would’ve been affected by this bug has now been lifted, so if your computer was prevented from grabbing 24H2 due to this gremlin, you should be able to get the big update soon.
Whether you’ll want to make that leap yet is another question, of course, as 24H2 has proved quite problematic in terms ofvarious bugs manifesting since its launch.
Hopefully we’re over the worst of all that, though, and as we can see here, Microsoft is now working at a fair old pace to resolve the miscellaneous glitches that have affected Windows 11 users who’ve moved to the latest version (which is now underway with a wider rollout).
The special edition comes bundled up with new accessories, ringtones, and more.
(Image credit: Motorola)
What you need to know
Motorola is flipping the script yet again, bringing users a new colorway for the Razr Plus 2024 in collaboration with Paris Hilton.
The device, dubbed Paris Pink colorway, comes with a vegan leather finish that will accompany Paris’ iconic phrase, “That’s Hot,” which is engraved on the hinge.
The Motorola Razr Plus Paris Hilton Edition will be available starting Feb. 13 for $1,200 exclusively onMotorola.com.
Motorola is collaborating with Paris Hilton to bring a limited edition color of theRazr Plus 2024. The company’s latest foldable was launched in June last year and features a massive cover screen and a whole host of AI features.
Dubbed the Paris Pink colorway, the device claims to strike a perfect balance between “elegance and the glamorous air of Paris Hilton.” The device will feature Paris Hilton’s autograph and her iconic “That’s Hot” phrase engraved on the hinge. Talking about its overall look, this new hot pink colorway comes with a vegan leather finish and will also showcase a personalized message from Paris Hilton herself.
This limited edition gets 10 exclusive Paris Hilton-inspired ringtones and notification sounds and 13 of the icon’s favorite wallpapers, “designed to bring her signature style and energy to the device,” according to the company’s press release. This includes her iconic spin on the “Hello Moto” ringtone to sound effects like her famous “That’s Hot” tagline.
This isn’t the first time that Motorola has collaborated with this fashion icon. Last year, she was the face of the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 launch, and the company’s collaboration with the DJ dates back two decades when the brand invited Hilton to perform the iconic flip of the Motorola RAZR V3. The brand has no doubt been hitting all the right notes when itcomes to marketing its new phone, and banking on nostalgia by bringing back Paris for its launch felt like a great throwback to the late 2000s.
The Razr Plus 2024 was initially launched with a Hot Pink colorway, which has been synonymous with the Moto Razr since its inception. When asked about why the brand chose to “pink it up,” Maria Jose Martin, director of North American marketing at Motorola, said, “The original RAZR V3 established pink as a fashionable and desirable colorway for smartphones, and has since then always been closely associated with Motorola and the Razr.”
This special edition device will also come with exclusive accessories. To start, the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 gets a vegan leather case in a pink shade that’s a few tones lighter than the device itself. This case is coupled with two wrist strap options: Pink Sparkle or Pink Vegan Leather. The case will also sport Paris’ autograph on the back.
Additionally, each limited-edition package comes wrapped in a custom-designed sleeve and a keepsake. The packaging will also have a personalized message from Paris Hilton. The Paris Pink Motorola Razr Plus 2024 will come with all the same features we saw on the original Motorola Razr Plus, giving usersaccess to almost all the apps on its large external display, where users can respond to texts, take selfies, or access GoogleGemini, without the need to flip open the phone.
Asus takes the dual-screen laptop throne, but at what cost?
Verdict This year’s Asus Zenbook Duo is vastly improved in (almost) every way, thanks to the new Intel Core Ultra 200 series chip providing a welcome turboboost to performance and graphics. But heads up — that change brings a drop in battery life.
Pros
+Intel Core Ultra 200 series brings a big speed boost
+Those dual OLED panels are *chef’s kiss*
+A dual-display build quality that is actually durable
+Still the best Keyboard and touchpad on a dual-screen laptop
+Runs vastly cooler and quieter than last year
Cons
-Battery life takes a hit
-Webcam could be improved
-We still need more ports!
Last year,Asusproved that dual-screen laptops are much more than a gimmick. And now, the Asus Zenbook Duo is back and better than ever…in all areas except for one.
This continues the company’s reign atop the pile of dual screens and foldables, and is easily one of thebest laptopsyou can buy in 2025. The dual 14-inch 3K OLED displays and the best detachable keyboard and touchpad in the business make this the same multitaskingmarvelyou know and love. But the one twist here is the generational upgrade to theIntelCore Ultra 200 series.
With Team Blue’s new chips, you can expect a beasty jump in performance and graphics — completely eliminating any signs of stuttering whatsoever and even giving it some strong gaming performance to boot. Of course, that integrated GPU is for more serious things like faster Photoshop processing and AI task completion, but now the new ultimate distraction is being able to play some AAA titles on one screen with your workload on the other.
But to get here, some of last year’s compromises shine a little brighter here. The limited port array has not changed, and I do miss an SD card slot here. The speakers are louder, but it does emphasize the tinniness of them. And that new chipset takes a bigger hit on the battery life than last year.
However, just as some of these were priced in and overwhelmed by the joy of using a dual-screen laptop last year, any frustrations melted away when you really get into your flow and embrace the ocean of space for snapping windows all over the place and getting stuff done after.
What is it?This is a dual-screen laptop — the second generation in this new lineage of the Zenbook Duo
Who’s it for?Do you work at your best over multiple monitors? Then this is the laptop for you.
What’s the price?The starting price for the Asus Zenbook Duo is $1,599.
What do we like about it?The jump to the Intel Core Ultra 200 series provides impressive gains in performance and graphics — making that multi-screen multitasking all the more sweet. Plus the detachable keyboard and touchpad are still the best you can get in a dual-screen laptop.
What don’t we like about it?The port array is still limited, and the battery life takes a bigger hit with the power upgrade.
2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Audio jack
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Dimensions
12.3 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches (with Bluetooth keyboard)
Weight
3.8 pounds
Asus Zenbook Duo (2025): The ups
Jumping back in with the Zenbook Duo reminded me of just how much I missed using the original around this time last year — further emphasized with some solid improvements under the hood.
Moving to Intel’s Arrow Lake CPU has breathed new life into a whole array of Windows laptops, and the Zenbook Duo is no different. You’re looking at around a 20% gain in CPU performance over last year’s model, a 2x speed boost in transcoding, and a vastly faster SSD, too — all while running impressively cooler.
Laptop
Geekbench 6 single-core
Geekbench 6 multicore
SSD transfer rate (MBps)
Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) (Intel Core Ultra 9 285H)
2952
16048
1825.6
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024) (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H)
2475
12867
1349.4
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 (Snapdragon X Elite)
2813
14432
1001.2
Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (Intel Core i7-1355U)
2405
8523
1296.2
But on top of that, you’re getting huge gains in graphics, too. Intel put a lot into giving its integrated GPU a serious tune-up, and you can even run some solid AAA titles at respectable frame rates here.
What this means is a better-focused balance on the things that would matter to you, the user. Better multitasking performance and faster speeds when doing GPU-intensive tasks like rendering video on CapCut.
Yes, brightness-wise, Asus’ OLED displays are still a little on the dimmer side (same as you’ll find with a lot of OLED laptops), but the trade-off is a flash flood of color that looks simply gorgeous from every angle. Not only that, but you’re getting doublethe eye candy with impressively fast, latency-free multitouch.
Laptop
DCI-P3 color gamut (%)
Average brightness (nits)
Asus Zenbook Duo (2025)
86.3%
330.2
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024)
80.5%
350.8
Microsoft Surface Pro 11
115.2%
564.2
Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
135.4%
359.8
Plus, that high DCI-P3 color gamut assures confidence in tone correctness when editing photos on this screen. From the crispiness of the 3K resolution to the smoothness of that 120Hz refresh rate, these are always a sight to behold. Just keep it away from bright sunlight.
Still my favorite way to multitask on the go
I’ve tried foldable laptops and other dual-screen systems, and the Asus Zenbook Duo stands head and shoulders above the pack. This comes down to figuring out the fundamentals and making the idea of a double-display appealing to the mainstream rather than just being a super expensive dream for the richer folk amongst us. I mean, for what you get, $1,599 is real value for money here.
It starts with a military-grade, durable build quality — something I find lacking in the others that I feel I have to treat like fine jewelry. The thickness increases with a second panel, of course, but the respectable weight and dimensions mean I had no problem popping this aluminum-shelled utilitarian beauty in my backpack to work from the bar. Do the patrons of the bar look at my setup? Of course, but stay jealous, guys!
Laptop
Dimensions
Weight
Asus Zenbook Duo (2025)
12.3 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
3.8 pounds
Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
11.8 x 8.0 x 0.6 inches
3 pounds
Microsoft Surface Pro 11
11.3 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
2 pounds
Next is the keyboard and touchpad. Ergonomics can be easily forgotten in dual-screen workstations, with just a squishy Bluetooth keyboard coming with it. Here, the full-size chiclet keyboard and physical touchpad are attachable by pogo pins to keep it charged for 10 hours of use, and the tactile feel of this board makes it a joy to type and click on.
And finally, it’s the versatility of it. The hinge really comes in clutch here to allow you to use these screens both horizontally and vertically — to either really give you that 16:10 widescreen viewing experience or the height to see a full document on each screen.
Asus really steers into it with the software too, as you can either replicate what you see on one screen to the second screen to share with someone else, snap windows all over the place to get 8 apps running at once, or even have one app spread across both screens with simple gesture control.
My personal favorite way of using it is to haveSpotify, notes and my email running on the bottom panel, along with Photoshop for quick edits andChromerunning up top.
Asus Zenbook Duo (2025): The downs
But while Asus gives with one hand, it takes away with the other. Not to say it’s all intentional — just a circumstance of some of the decisions being made here.
The port array is still lacking
It’s not Apple levels of stinginess, but this identical port array to last year’s model is just as restricted. With just two Thunderbolt 4, one USB-A and HDMI 2.1 ports (alongside a headphone jack, of course), this is missing out on some of the convenience you’d find in other Asus laptops.
You’ve got this GPU power to render edited content, so where’s the SD card reader to get that content off my camera in the first place? And an additional USB-C port wouldn’t hurt.
Battery life takes a bigger hit
I was quietly optimistic that moving to the more power-efficient Intel 200 series would alleviate some of my battery life anxiety about the original Zenbook Duo. But it turns out I was wrong.
This is the battery life if the panels run at 120Hz. If you turn it down to 60Hz, you can squeeze a full working day out of this (nearly 10 hours with one display). But that is quite a dip in stamina in our rundown test.
In real-world use, which involves some rather strenuous multitasking between 20+ Chrome tabs, Spotify playing in the background and a lot of Photoshop editing, just make sure you’re near a power outlet.
Asus Zenbook Duo (2025): Verdict
Improvements and compromises — that’s the technical story of the new Asus Zenbook Duo. But when you actually use this in person, a lot of those gripes fade away in favor of what looks set to be one of my favorite laptops of the year.
That multitasking versatility in a durable, reliable laptop shell is just something you can’t find anywhere else, and Asus has refined the formula with a spec bump that brings strong gains where it matters. You’ll miss the second screen going back to other laptops if you use this.
Users outside the U.S. will see something different, however.
What you need to know
Google Maps is rolling out its name change for the Gulf of Mexico, and users will see one of three different names based on their region.
Users in the U.S. will see the Gulf of America name, users in Mexico will see the Gulf of Mexico name, and users in other regions will see both names.
The region is set by your device’s operating system and SIM provider, so it’s hard to change manually.
The Gulf of Mexico is now the Gulf of America onGoogle Maps, at least in the U.S. The body of water bordering the southeastern North American coast will now appear differently on Google Maps depending on a user’s location, following a change that is rolling out now.
AsGoogle announced weeks ago, the company said it has “a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” and thus planned to rename the Gulf of Mexico when the U.S. officially completed its name change. That process has been completed, as the Gulf of America is the new name for this body of water in theU.S. Geographic Names Information System.
The move is only indirectly related to President Donald Trump’s executive order issuing the name change. This is why the renaming is taking effect on Google Maps now, not when the executive order was first issued. Instead, the reason for the name change in the U.S. is because the U.S. Department of the Interior officiallyupdated the Gulf of Mexico’s name in the GNIS by Order 3423issued by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Of course, the controversial renaming of the Gulf of Mexico was directed by President Trump. The resulting effect on Google Maps is as follows:
United States users will see the name “Gulf of America”
Mexico users will see the name “Gulf of Mexico”
Users in all other regions will see both names
“The names you see in the Maps app are based on your country location, which is determined by information from your phone’s operating system (e.g., iOS and Android), including your SIM, network, and locale,” Google explains. “If you’re using Google Maps on the web, the names are based on the region you select in your Search settings or your device’s location, if you haven’t selected one.”
Based on these conditions, it is virtually impossible to change the Google Maps name of the Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America to your preference manually.
Apple Maps plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, too. Other popular navigation providers, like Bing Maps and MapQuest, haven’t made a public decision yet.
They may look similar, but actually aren’t. We explain the key differences between Thunderbolt vs USB-C.
If you’ve bought a computer recently—whether that’s one thebest laptops for graphic designor aMac for video editing—it’ll probably come with either Thunderbolt ports, USB-C ports, or a mix of both. These little slots in the side allow you to connect a range of peripherals, from printers to thebest monitor for MacBook Pro.
But which is which? It’s not obvious. Thunderbolt and USB-C ports look identical, and they work in pretty much the same way.
The broad-brush answer is thattypically, Thunderbolt works faster and more efficiently than USB-C. But that’s not always the case, and there are some other important differences between them too. We’ll explain all below.
What are Thunderbolt and USB-C?
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. It’s basically a standard way for devices to connect and communicate with each other. This allows many different devices to connect to each other, including phones, printers, mice and external hard drives.
USB sends data back and forth between devices. This data could be anything from photos and videos to documents and music. USB can also deliver power to devices, which is why you can charge your phone by plugging it into the USB-C port on your computer. These days, most laptops, computers, smartphones and tablets come with USB-C ports. These are faster and more efficient than the older USB-A ports, which are larger and require a different (again larger) connector. The most common standard is USB 3.2 Gen 2, although the latest standard, USB4, is now increasingly being rolled out. (More on that in a moment.)
Thunderbolt is a special type of USB-C connector. Born from a 2011 collaboration between Intel andApple, it allows for high-speed data transfer, video signal transmission, and device charging.
Initially exclusive to Apple products, Thunderbolt later evolved to become more universal with the introduction of Thunderbolt 3 and 4, both of which are compatible with USB-C.
Thunderbolt 4 is a significant upgrade from Thunderbolt 3. Most notably, it allows you to connect two 4K monitors or one 8K monitor, doubles the minimum data transfer speed to 3,000 MB/s, and offers enhanced security.
What devices are Thunderbolt and USB-C compatible with?
USB-C is virtually ubiquitous in modern tech. Most new smartphones, tablets, and laptops, regardless of brand, come equipped with USB-C ports.
Thunderbolt ports, however, are typically found on high-performance devices, especially those designed for creative professionals. Apple’sMacBook ProandMacBook Airlaptops, along with some Intel-powered Windows laptops, often feature Thunderbolt ports. Peripherals like external hard drives, monitors and docking stations also increasingly support Thunderbolt connectivity.
How do you know if your device is compatible with Thunderbolt? The quickest way to find out is by checking the product specifications on the box or manual that came with your device, or by taking a look at the manufacturer’s website.
Most of the time, you can’t tell by looking. Sometimes, though, there might be a lightning symbol to identify a port as Thunderbolt-compatible.
How fast do Thunderbolt and USB-C transfer data?
Thunderbolt offers significantly faster data transfer speeds than the standard (USB 3.2 Gen 2) version of USB-C. For example, Thunderbolt 4 boasts speeds of up to 40 Gbps, while USB 3.2 Gen 2 typically maxes out at 20 Gbps.
Often, then, you’ll read online that Thunderbolt is “better than USB-C” for tasks involving large files, such as video editing or 3D rendering. The very latest version of USB-C, however, has muddied the waters there. While USB4 is still relatively new, it’s gaining traction, and you’ll find it in a growing number of devices.
USB4 is actually based on the Thunderbolt protocol, which was developed by Intel. This means it can achieve similar speeds and capabilities as Thunderbolt. However, there are some subtle differences.
Most notably, USB4 has some flexibility in its specifications. So while itcansupport speeds up to 40Gbps, it can also be implemented with a minimum speed of 20Gbps. In other words, unlike Thunderbolt devices, not all USB4 devices will offer the same level of performance.
The final thing to add is that Thunderbolt 5 is currently being rolled out, which boosts speeds up to 80Gbps. It’s new technology, so the number of devices that fully support it is still somewhat limited. It is, however, already implemented on some, including theMacBook Pro 2024.
Thunderbolt vs USB-C: Which one is best?
We’ve talked about how Thunderbolt cables are generally faster and more powerful than typical USB-C cables. However, if your device is not compatible with Thunderbolt then you’re probably not missing out on much. If you only need to connect to a singular monitor and don’t do an awful lot of file transfers, then Thunderbolt ports aren’t a necessity for you.
Conversely, for creative pros who already own Thunderbolt-equipped tech, we think it’s a no-brainer to invest in a Thunderbolt cable or a device with Thunderbolt ports to use with your workstation for maximum productivity. That said, expect to pay a higher price for this.
Thirdly, as we mentioned earlier, the introduction of USB4 offers a decent alternative to Thunderbolt that’s usually more affordable. Be aware, though, that as well as potential differences in speed, USB4 only supports a single 4K display, while Thunderbolt can support two 4K displays or a single 8K display, making it more suitable for multi-monitor setups.
USB-C
Thunderbolt
Pros
• Flippability (no right side up or down) • Can transmit data at speeds up to 20Gbps (up to 40Gbps with USB4) • Can deliver up to 100 watts of power to charge devices • It can transmit DisplayPort audio and video signals
• Much faster than standard USB-C ports • Can transfer data at up to 40Gbps • Thunderbolt 4 supports sending video signals to two 4K displays or one 8K display • Backwards-compatibility with USB-C devices
Cons
• Slower for data and file transfers • USB-C can only connect one device at a time.
• Not as common as USB-C ports • An adapter is required to use with smaller devices
FAQs
Are Thunderbolt ports only on Apple products?
Thunderbolt technology is the brainchild of Apple and Intel, so of course you’re likely to find Thunderbolt ports on most if not all Apple laptops. However, Thunderbolt is not exclusive to Apple, and several Windows laptops are also compatible with Thunderbolt cables and ports.
You’ll also find that most external hard drives, docking stations, monitors, and other peripherals now also support Thunderbolt, so there are plenty of options for you to choose from to benefit from Thunderbolt’s high transfer speeds.
The controllers will function like PC gaming mice, opening up tons of new possibilities
Fans have been speculating about PC gaming mouse-like functionality for the Switch 2 ever since optical sensors appeared in leaks last month. Nintendo then teased the feature in the new Switch’s reveal trailer shortly after. Now the potential game-changer has been all but officially announced thanks to a new patent breaking down how the Joy-Con mouse functionality will work.
The patent documents were filed back in 2023 andpublished on Thursdaybefore being shared on social mediaby Wario64. “This input device comprises a front surface, an upper surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a direction input unit, a first upper surface button, and a sensor for mouse operation,” it reads.
The patent description continues, “The sensor for mouse operation detects reflected light from a detected surface, the light changing by moving over the detected surface in a state in which either the first side surface or the second side surface is placed on the detected surface.”
This confirms what many fans suspected upon seeing the Joy-Con controllers sliding around a surface on their sides during the announcement trailer last month. Presumably, the “mouse operation” feature will allow some games on Switch 2 to be played with either traditional controller inputs or mouse inputs.
That could make it ideal for games likeCivilization 7and potentially shooters likeFortniteandCall of Duty, which Microsoft is expected to begin porting to the Switch 2 at some point in the future. Other Microsoft shooters likeHaloandDoomare also expected to get ported at some point, and the new Joy-Con could let players aim with traditional PC mouse precision while moving and strafing with a controller thumbstick.
Even more exciting is how Nintendo might find ways to use a dual-mouse feature for creative new gameplay. One of the patent drawings shows both Joy-Con being used as mice simultaneously.On his podcast,Giant Bombco-founder Jeff Gerstmann speculated that dual mice might let players control something like a mech with two reticles for aiming arm-mounted weapons. Or it could be used for some very weird, innovative launch game only Nintendo would think of. We’ll know better when theSwitch 2 Nintendo Direct airs in April.
Z-series cameras have a variety of shutter options. Here’s how they work…
When taking action shots of fast-moving subjects with a camera that has a conventional image sensor, the mechanical shutter avoids the ‘rolling shutter’ effect
A conventional camera shutter works in an entirely mechanical way. The shutter is fully closed before taking a shot. At the start of an exposure, the ‘first curtain’ opens, traversing the image sensor in the process. At the end of the exposure, the second curtain slides across in front of the sensor.
But at very fast shutter speeds, the second curtain starts to close before the first curtain has fully opened. That can cause a dark band in images when using a flashgun. The solution is to use ‘Auto FP’ (Auto Focal Plane) orHigh-Speed Sync’flash, which fires a short burst of flashes rather than a single flash.
NikonZ-system mirrorless cameras with mechanical shutters offer other options with pros and cons, but curing the flash sync problem isn’t one of them.
Going electric
Almost all Z-system cameras default to an ‘Auto’ shutter mode. This uses a conventional mechanical shutter most of the time, automatically switching to an ‘electronic first curtain shutter’ when it would be beneficial. As its name suggests, this uses electronics to initiate the exposure, but a mechanical second curtain to end the exposure. As well as letting the camera choose which type of shutter to use, you can select either option for yourself in the Custom Setting menu. In the Photo Shooting menu, you’ll also find a ‘Silent photography’ option. This enables a fully electronic shutter, making the mechanical shutter redundant.
TheNikon Z8andZ9are exceptions in that they ditch the mechanical shutter for stills exposures. Thanks to the super-fast data readout of their fully stacked image sensors, these cameras rely purely on an electronic shutter.
TheZ6 IIIhas a partially stacked image sensor, which is much faster than conventional sensors but not quite as fast as in the Z8 and Z9. The Z6 III therefore has a mechanical shutter and offers the same range of options as most other Z-system cameras.
To select shutter types, head to the Custom Setting menu of Z-system cameras. You’ll need to go to the Shooting/display section and select the option showing as ‘d4 Shutter type’ in the Zfc camera that we’re using here by way of example. And lest we forget, some Nikon DSLRs also have an electronic first curtain shutter option, including theD7500,D500,D810andD850.
Cameras with a mechanical shutter default to it automatically. As detailed in this image, the camera automatically selects the most appropriate shutter mode for the shooting conditions, usually sticking to the mechanical option but swapping to electronic first curtain shutter when this would be beneficial. Leave the camera in Auto mode unless you have particular needs.
Mechanical shutter
As defaulted to in Auto mode, the Mechanical shutter option usually works best. The mechanical shutter takes a snapshot of the scene, which is read out from the image sensor to the image processor. The full range of shutter speeds is available whereas, in Electronic first curtain mode, the maximum shutter speed is often limited to 1/2000 sec. However, the latter mode can be beneficial.
Electronic front-curtain shutter
At shutter speeds of around 1/60 sec or slower, mechanical movement, often referred to as ‘shutter shock’, can degrade sharpness as it can destabilize the camera. The effect can also be problematic when shooting with long telephoto lenses and inmacrophotography. Shutter shock is reduced in Electronic front-curtain mode, as the mechanical shutter only moves at the end of the exposure.
Silent photography off
There are options for switching the Silent photography mode on or off in the Photo Shooting menu, rather than the Custom Setting menu. When switched off, the camera uses Auto, Mechanical or Electronic front-curtain shutter, as set up in the Custom Setting menu. If you want to use a fully electronic shutter, disabling the mechanical shutter altogether, switch on Silent photography.
Silent photography on
The Silent photography mode uses a fully electronic shutter, as well as disabling flash, long exposure noise reduction, flicker reduction and the beep speaker. There’s no shutter shock but, due to the relatively slow line-by-line readout of conventional image sensors, moving subjects change their position throughout an exposure, causing lateral distortion (rolling shutter effect).
Here’s everything you need to know about JPEGs, one of the most widely used file formats for photographs
While much of the technology behind digital cameras has changed since the first prototypes, one feature that’s nearly as old hasn’t: the JPEG. A JPEG is one of the most widely used file formats for a digital photograph. The file format’s widespread popularity means the file can be opened by nearly any device and thousands, if not millions, of different programs.
If you want to share a digital photograph, the odds are the file type that you want is a JPEG. But just because the JPEG is one of the most widely used formats doesn’t mean it’salwaysthe best option. Photographers – and anyone who has ever snapped a photo with a camera or a smartphone – should know what a JPEG is, when to use one, and when not to use one. Consider this your Photography 101 course to the ins and outs of a JPEG.
What is a JPEG file type? Explaining the most common image format
A JPEG is a compressed, processed image file that is easily shared. Because the JPEG is one of the world’s most widely used file formats for a digital image, it’s typically the best file format for an image that’s meant to be shared. If you want to share a photograph, whether through email, social media or uploading it to a photo printer, a JPEG is the file type you want because anyone can open one.
JPEG stands for Joint Photographics Experts Group, the name of the committee that maintains the list of standards for the JPEG file type. But don’t worry, you don’t have to memorize the long name to understand and use a JPEG properly. The JPEG was first developed in the late 1980s, with the standards first published in 1992, to create a smaller yet standarized digital image file type. Before the JPEG, graphics were often saved as Bitmaps, which took up quite a bit of hard drive space.
JPEG files end in .JPG. A JPEG and JPG are the same thing, but file formats typically only have three letters so the E is dropped in the file extension. If a file ends in .JPG, it’s a JPEG. You can also check the file type by viewing the files in File Explorer (on PC) or Finder (on Mac) and look under the file type column in the list view. On a smartphone, you can check the file type by clicking on the photo in the Camera Roll (iPhone) or Google Photos and tapping the i icon.
Because a JPEG can be opened by nearly any device, the file format is often the best choice formost peoplewhen saving a photo that is meant to be shared. But, understanding a few other key image file formats will help you determine if the JPEG is the best choice for your particular project.
JPEG isn’t always the best file format for photography, this is why
The RAW file type is often favored by advanced photographers for its editing flexibility
Psst! Here’s a hint
Don’t know whether to use RAW or JPEG? Most cameras will allow you to select RAW + JPEG to save both file types.
While JPEGS are one of the most widely image formats used, it’s not the best for every situation. If you don’t want to edit the image and aren’t short on hard drive space, then the JPEG is a great format to use. But file types like HEIF save space on your device while RAW files are more versatile for photo editing.
HEIF, or High Effeciency Image Format, is a file type that takes up less space than a JPEG, without a noticeable impact on image quality. However, HEIF isn’t as widely compatible as the standard JPEG. An HEIF file can be opened by mostAppledevices, while many Windows users need to download extra software to be able to open them, and if you send an HEIF by text to an Android phone, it looks tiny. Apple also has a similar format called HEIC that’s newer though less widely compatible than HEIF.
PNG or Portable Network Graphicis a file type that’s designed more for graphic design than for photographs. But while photographs are easiest to save as a JPEG, you may need to use the PNG format for things like logos and, in particular, graphics designed to have a transparent background.
A RAW fileis uncompressed and often preferred by professional and advanced photographers. A JPEG is a compressed image file with the camera’s automatic edits already applied. A RAW file doesn’t have any edits applied from the camera and it retains more of the original data, which makes the file type better for photo editing.It’s worth noting, when comparingRAW and JPEG, that once photographers edit their RAW photos, they typically export the finished file as a JPEG so it can be easily shared.
FAQs on JPEGs and other popular file types
Is JPEG and JPG the same?
A JPEG and a JPG are one and the same. JPEG is the official name of the file type, but since file name extensions typically use three letters, you’ll see a .JPG at the end of the file name. Sometimes the E is dropped beyond just the file extension as well.
What is the difference between a PNG and a JPEG?
A PNG file is meant for graphic design while a JPEG is meant for a photograph. PNG files support transparent backgrounds, a feature that you don’t need for sharing a photograph. For example, if you great a circle-shaped logo in Photoshop, but save it as a JPEG, you’ll probably see a white background around the logo when you try to upload it to your website. Instead, save it as a PNG and you won’t see any of that annoying white background.
What is the difference between a JPEG and a PDF?
A JPEG is designed for a photograph while aPDF is designed for documents– it actually stands for Portable Document Format. Both JPGs and PDFs can be opened by most devices and many different apps.
A JPEG file is typically smaller in size. A PDF allows you to do things like copy text and also tends to render text better when enlarged.
PSN downtime was due to ‘operational issue’ and Sony is giving 5 free days as compensation
PSN has just recovered from a 24-hour outage
Sony says the downtime was caused by an “operational issue” with network services
Compensation is 5 free days of service for PlayStation Plus members
Sonyhas informed us of the compensation that PlayStation owners – well,PlayStation Plusmembers – will receive due to themajor outage that struck PSN this weekend, which is thankfully now in the rearview mirror.
The PlayStation Network outage ran for 24 hours in the end, blotting out Saturday online gaming sessions across the globe (or Friday night in some places).
Finally, we were given a reason for the service dropping out, namely an “operational issue” with network services as explained by the PlayStation North American support account on X.
The post on the social media outlet also apologized and gave us details on the compensation that’s going to be provided: “All PlayStation Plus members will automatically receive an additional 5 days of service.”
Predictably, there’s quite a bit of unhappiness around the response here. Just a cursory glance through the replies to the announcement from Sony support gives you a good flavor of the disgruntled gamers out there. The main theme is ‘just five days, what about a month?’ – or ‘why aren’t you giving us a free game instead?’
Okay, the latter is pushing it, but I must agree that five days feels like, how can I put this tactfully… a minimal gesture?
I think Sony could have done better than that in mitigating what was clearly a lot of bad feeling from the broad PlayStation community around this weekend-spoiling (for some) outage.
Heck, even non-PlayStation gamers are chipping in on X and saying this feels stingy from Sony.
It’s worth noting that far from everyone has received the five-day bonus yet, and it’s likely in the pipeline for many.
The other frustrating element during this PSN outage was the lack of any communication as to what was going on from Sony.
Everything was down –all PlayStation services on the status dashboard, which was nothing but red lights – and yet not a peep was heard from official channels about the cause (or suspected fault), or an estimated delivery time for the fix to the PlayStation Network.
In some ways, that’ll doubtless have been about the fear of getting something else wrong – giving false hope of a ‘fix soon’ that then doesn’t appear, and which only makes PlayStation owners angrier – but still, it wasn’t a good situation.
The final verdict emerging as just an “operational issue” is not much of a reason, either, and that term feels very vague. Yes, apparently it was a large spanner in the works with the network infrastructure somewhere – but what kind of gremlin was crawling about in there? A little more of a clue wouldn’t hurt, in terms of: how did this happen, and how might Sony guard against this in the future?
In fairness, a fuller explanation could be coming shortly. And service downtime happens – it’s inevitable, of course. But I feel it’s clear enough that the response during the outage, and this final outcome and compensation, could – and should – have been better from Sony.
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