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Back in 2011, with a launch price of $6,799, the original Canon EOS 1D X  was focused directly at the professional sports photographer. This full-frame DSLR housed an 18.1MP sensor, dual Digic 5+ processors, a 61-point autofocus (AF) system and a decent 14fps burst speed. 

At that time, it was a pretty impressive snapper, although five years later the EOS 1D X Mark II outdid the older camera’s performance, thanks to a pair of Digic 6+ engines working alongside a 20.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor. 

Fast forward to 2019 and the rumors of a third-generation Canon sports DSLR have been heating up. And it makes sense for Canon to announce a brand-new sports DSLR with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics fast approaching.

The EOS 1D X Mark III, if it is going to see the light of day, will not be the only new pro-level camera for sports photographers next year. The third-gen Canon 1D X will likely give the Nikon D6 stiff competition if the rumored specs are to be believed.

(Image credit: Canon)

Canon 1D X Mark III: release date and pricing

When the original EOS 1D X launched in 2011, it was an expensive camera, even for the professionals. Thankfully the EOS 1D X Mark II came with a slightly lower price tag of $5,999 / AU$7,999 and it’s possible to get the camera body for less than that now.

That just goes to show that the EOS 1D X Mark III is not going to be cheap. We’re expecting it to come in at about the same price as its immediate predecessor, if not more. 

As for when you can expect it, there have been reports from way back in March that the Mark III was being field tested but no launch date was mentioned. Later it was predicted that the refreshed 1D X could arrive in 2020, although a more recent rumor indicates a more precise February 2020 announcement. 

That does seem quite plausible as it matches the release date of the EOS 1D X Mark II, which was announced on February 1, 2016, just months before the Olympics in that year.

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III: design

The EOS 1D X line has a very chunky design. The big brute that is the Mark II has a magnesium alloy build and weather sealing that it brought over from the original 1D X, but it did debut a double grip on the body – both vertical and horizontal.

The vertical grip on the Mark II has its own set of control buttons, making it easy to shoot in portrait orientation. The second generation model, despite its size, was easy to handle, thanks to some minor design tweaks, and we fully expect the same design ideas to be carried over to the Mark III.

Considering that Canon didn’t make any significant changes to the body of the newly released EOS 90D (the only other DSLR to arrive in recent times), we think it will be very easy to switch over from the older camera to the new one when it arrives.

Canon Rumors adds that the rear LCD display will be similar to the one on the EOS R, meaning it could be a 3-15-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, but very little else is known about the design aspects of the 1D X Mark III.

(Image credit: Future)

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III: sensor and processor

The Mark II upped the pixel count from the first generation camera from 18.1MP to 20.2MP. You’d be forgiven for thinking that’s a rather low sensor resolution for a camera of its caliber, but the 1D X line was built for speed and low-light shooting.

Having fewer pixels on a sensor means each photoreceptor is larger and, therefore, able to capture more light. That, in turn, results in less noisy results as the image signal requires less amplification as compared to a higher resolution sensor of the same size.

That said, we’re expecting Canon to raise the resolution just a touch, and the latest report from Canon Rumors supports that prediction, with the rumors site claiming the 1D X Mark III will boast a 28.1MP full-frame CMOS sensor.

Keeping the tradition of dual processors alive, the Mark III is said to debut a brand-new imaging engine, with dual Digic 9 processors under the hood. If this rumor is true, it will be the first time a 1D X camera has debuted a new processor, and it will be the power of the two Digic 9 engines that will push the speed and performance of the Mark III above and beyond what the previous model can currently achieve. 

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III: in-body image stabilization (IBIS)

An anonymous source has told Canon Rumors that the EOS 1D X Mark III will feature IBIS, which could be true as Canon has patented IBIS modules for both DSLRs and full-frame mirrorless cameras.

So far, IBIS has been a feature of mirrorless cameras, although Canon has traditionally shied away from it for all its snappers, DSLR and mirrorless alike. If the addition of IBIS is true, then shooting handheld, particularly in low light, will be a breeze and will likely please many users.

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III: continuous shooting / burst speed

Where the original 1D X and the Mark II version topped out at 14fps when shooting continuously, the Mark III model will reportedly shoot at a maximum of 30 frames each second. If that’s true, the Canon DSLR will beat even Sony’s new Alpha A9 II which has a burst speed of 20fps.

While it does seem like a ridiculously high number, this burst of speed could be possible if Canon does debut a new imaging engine in the Mark III. However, to save images being shot continuously as these speeds will require a camera with a high buffer depth. Currently, the 1D X Mark II is able to record an unlimited number of JPEGs and up to 170 RAW files. 

(Image credit: Future)

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III: autofocus

We’ve got no idea if Canon will improve on the 61-point AF system currently in use in the Mark II model for the newer snapper, but Canon Rumors is reporting that it will remain the same albeit with the points spread over a “slightly” larger area. 

While we’re hoping that Canon increases the number of selectable AF points for the Mark III, enough that it covers most of the frame, we had absolutely no complaints when it came to the previous model. The EOS 1D X Mark II performs brilliantly when tracking moving subjects, even in low light. 

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III: video specs

With dual Digic 9 processors under the hood, the EOS 1D X Mark III should easily be able to handle 4K video at 60fps. In fact, the Mark II does just that with an older processor under the hood, and captures 1080p footage at up to 120fps.

However, Canon Rumors has heard reports of the prototype Mark III capturing uncropped 6K video, and that could make its way to the final product. If true, that would put it ahead of the recently announced Canon EOS C500 Mark II cine camera, which offers 5.9K video output, and we’re not entirely convinced that would happen as Canon wouldn’t want its flagship sports camera competing with its cinema-centric full-frame shooter.

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III: card slots and connectivity

The EOS 1D X II has one CFast memory card slot and one regular CompactFlash slot. We’re definitely not expecting to see the CompactFlash card slot brought over to the Mark III as it’s a pretty old format now, but we’re quite sure Canon will offer dual CFExpress card slots in the new camera. This will definitely be needed if the rumors of the forthcoming camera’s speed are true.

And with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth now available on most modern cameras, it would be a surprise if Canon omits either. We fully expect both connectivity options to show up here, and sincerely hoping there’s a USB Type-C port for file transfer.

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Nokia and Qualcomm dropped a couple of hints that point towards a 5G-enabled Nokia smartphone that will be unveiled sometime next year.

At the Qualcomm 5G summit in Barcelona, HMD Global spokesperson said that they are looking to halve the price of 5G smartphones in 2020 to increase the rate of adoption. It included other conversations around Nokia’s future plans too.

#5G is about to roll out a lot faster around the world—and in a lot more devices—thanks to our #Snapdragon 7 Series Mobile Platform with integrated #5G, just announced at #IFA19. https://t.co/NeSr5Yk7dp pic.twitter.com/ZK9dBjTi9zSeptember 6, 2019

In the past, Qualcomm has also teased the existence of a Nokia premium rid-ranger that will be powered by a Snapdragon 7 series mobile platform with integrated 5G. Considering that none of the current Snapdragon 7 series chipsets support 5G, this is likely to be a new unreleased chipset. 5G is going to be a big part of Qualcomm’s 2020 portfolio, and we should hear a lot more about it at the Qualcomm Tech Summit in Hawaii in December.

Some rumors suggest that the phone will be Nokia 8.2, which makes a lot of sense. The Nokia 8 series has used Snapdragon 7 series chipsets in the past, and are positioned just below the Nokia flagships without being nearly as expensive. Considering that the Nokia 8.1 is due for a refresh in the coming months, and is one of the most popular smartphones by HMD Global, the Nokia 8.2 may be the company’s affordable 5G handset.

Details are still scarce about the upcoming Nokia mid-ranger, but it should follow the same glass and metal sandwich design that most Nokia phones sport. Instead of a notch, it will opt for a hole-punch display or a pop-up module for the front camera.

Talking of cameras, we expect it to also go for a multi-camera setup such as the Nokia 7.2, by bringing a 64MP primary camera, an ultra-wide lens, and a depth sensor. ZEISS optics should also follow.

Even MediaTek has announced its intentions of affordable 5G smartphones for 2020 and will compete with Qualcomm’s upcoming roster of chipsets on mid-range smartphones, thus bringing 5G to new price segments.

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Sponsored by RACV

Almost everyone is impressed by the futuristic applications offered by today’s smart home tech. However, the potential difficulty in setting up (and affording) your own smart home up can make it seem like something best left to either the super rich or super geeky. In 2019, though, that no longer has to be the case.

Most people will know the RACV as one of Victoria’s top automobile clubs. However, it’s also put together a kit offering a compelling set of devices that can turn any home into a smart one. The RACV Smart Home Starter Kit collects together six SmartThings devices and provides everything you need to simply and quickly set up a smart home – and it costs just $249. Whether you want to monitor your premises or make life easier (or more fun!) this is the smart home set you’ve been searching for.

(Image credit: Future)

A solid foundation

The SmartThings Wifi hub is the core upon which the kit revolves. This simply plugs into your wireless router and connects all the other sensors together. It will monitor premises up to 140 square metres but if you have a bigger area, simply adding more hubs will extend the network. The kit includes three motion detectors alongside two Multipurpose sensors, which can monitor when doors and windows are opened as well as local temperature and even vibrations.

Everything in the kit is packaged in a way that makes setup simple and intuitive, with each component coming individually wrapped and with its own quick-start guide. It generally takes just a few minutes to connect each component, however if you’d rather outsource the job – and live in the metropolitan Melbourne area – it costs just $79 to have an RACV-approved expert install it all for you.

(Image credit: Future)

Easy to set up and expand upon

The motion sensors included in the kit each consist of two parts, and to set them up you simply affix the sticky-backed base onto your chosen surface and then clip the sensor on magnetically. The ball-shaped mounting means you can point the sensor in most directions, and it will register movement within three metres. The Multipurpose sensors also come in two parts – both with a sticky back – and have a magnetic switch that’s triggered when doors and windows are used. Once you’ve positioned your sensors, you download the SmartThings app and connect to each using a simple QR code on the sensor’s back. If you’ve pre-planned where you want to position each sensor, you can have everything connected and set up in less than 30 minutes.

Adding additional smart home sensors and components is simple thanks to the high compatibility of devices in the smart home world. It generally doesn’t matter which manufacturer a device comes from either; if it runs on batteries, it likely connects using low-powered Zigbee or Z-Wave wireless technology. If Wi-Fi or Bluetooth were used for the same purpose, then each sensor’s battery life would be measured in days. However, Zigbee and Z-Wave connections allow batteries to last for months or even years. You won’t have to suffer the rigmarole of a regular charging and maintenance regimen. The SmartThings Wifi hub will wirelessly tie everything together, and make sure you can easily communicate with all your smart devices via your home network or across the internet.

The first thing you’ll likely want to set up is your sensors. The SmartThings app comes pre-configured with settings that allow you to arm or disarm everything with a simple tap on your phone. When set to Away mode, if a door or window is opened (or if motion is detected) you’ll be notified on your phone straight away. You can also add optional smoke alarms and moisture sensors to notify you in case of fire or flooding too.

(Image credit: Future)

Tailor it to your needs

The true power of a smart home comes from setting up ‘if this then that’ automations. The SmartThings app again makes this simple by first asking you to set the ‘trigger’ before selecting a ‘response’. There’s a wide range of possibilities. At the simplest level, you can set a smart lightbulb to turn on when motion is detected. If you’d like to ramp things up a notch, how about creating a relaxing ‘scene’ which, with one command, dims the lighting, changes its colour hue and plays some light jazz from a smart speaker? Triggers can also include smartphone locations, so you can be notified when a child, parent or partner is almost home. Alternatively, you can add voice recognition via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa to create a smart home that has much in common with the bridge on the starship Enterprise.

The good news here is that there’s already a large global community of smart home enthusiasts who have pre-made many smart home functions and commands, and they’re freely available via the IFTTT app. This makes controlling things, like your home’s internet access via voice recognition, a breeze: you can become the bane of any errant child who has gone well past their “Just need a few more minutes to finish this level” negotiated boundaries.

Available now from just $249

Whatever type of smart home you want to achieve – and whatever the level of complexity – the RACV Smart Home Starter Kit is the perfect foundation for any premises. Sold separately, each component in the kit costs at least $80, so to get all six for just $249 is great value too. To find out more, or to purchase a kit directly, head on over to the official RACV website.

TechRadar was provided with a Smart Home Starter Kit for testing by RACV.

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The email delivery platform Mailgun, which is backed by Thoma Bravo, has announced that it will acquire the Paris-headquartered email solution Mailjet.

Currently over 160,000 organizations utilize Mailgun’s email API solutions to deliver their transactional and marketing email. With the acquisition of Mailjet, the two brands will now server over 290,000 companies in over 150 countries and make it easier for developers and marketers alike to send smarter emails.

Mailgun’s CEO Will Conway explained the company’s reasoning behind acquiring Mailjet, saying:

“Email was the foundation of the internet, and it continues to be a mission-critical component of life and business today, as the highest ROI activity compared to all other marketing channels. With Mailjet now a part of Mailgun, the combination of Mailgun’s developer ethos and API orientation and Mailjet’s multi-language support and intuitive GUI will enable our customers to improve their deliverability and achieve even better results from their email.” 

Joining forces

There are a wide variety of variables that factor into the success of an organization’s email but most companies leave money on the table by focusing more on opens and clicks without first thinking of deliverability. By joining forces with Mailjet, Mailgun will be able to provide its customers with a wider range of technology solutions to help ensure optimal ROI.

Since first going into business almost 10 years ago, Mailgun has empowered thousands of companies to deliver trillions of emails that drive customer engagement as well as business growth. Together the two companies will now be able to solve the most complex email challenges faced by their customers.

With the combined footprint of Mailgun and Mailjet, SMBs and enterprises alike will now be able to access a wider range of localized email deliverability experts. Companies can also operate knowing that the sensitive personal details of their contacts are processed by a GDPR-compliant email platform as a secured solution partner.

Once the acquisition is complete, Mailjet will continue to maintain a separate brand with its marketing-leaning product set as part of Mailgun.

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Logitech’s Z337 speaker system is a welcome sight for anyone who yearns for the flexibility to punch up audio from their PC and mobile device without having to constantly swap one out for the other. While it’s getting easier to find 2.1 speaker systems for under $100, you’ll still be hard-pressed to find one with Bluetooth, like the Z337. And as long as you prioritize that convenience over high-fidelity sound reproduction, you’ll probably find these speakers worth the wait.

This review is part of our ongoing roundup of the best budget computer speakers. Go there for information about competing models and how we tested them. 

Simple design

There’s nothing fancy about the Z337’s design. Both the satellites and the subwoofer are boxy and constructed of durable plastic with matte-black finish. There’s no ornamentation save for the Logitech logo on each of the satellites.

Each satellite measures 7.6 x 4.3 x 3.5 inches and weighs 1.4 pounds. The fabric-covered drivers are placed a little more than halfway from the bottom of the enclosure, which is angled slightly upward to direct sound toward the listener’s ears. Each satellite has its own output cable hardwired into its back.

Logitech

The subwoofer is 9.1 x 9.1 in x 6.2 inches and weighs 5.25 pounds. Its fabric-covered driver takes up most of the front of its enclosure, and a small port is set in the left side. On the back of the subwoofer are a 3.5mm jack, the satellite inputs, an RCA input, and knob for controlling the bass output.

Rather than putting the controls on one of the satellites as many speaker systems do, Logitech has included a wired remote that’s attached to the back of the subwoofer. This control unit has a power switch, Bluetooth pairing button, and headphone jack all set around the base, while the top portion operates as a volume dial.

Setup instructions are printed on the inside flaps of the Z337’s box, but the process is pretty intuitive. Plug the satellites into the back of the subwoofer—the plugs and jacks are color-coded—and plug the subwoofer into an outlet. If your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth or you just don’t want to use it, you’ll need to plug one end of the supplied 3.5mm audio cable into your computer’s headphone jack and the other end into the 3.5mm input behind the subwoofer. Then just flip on the power switch.

While connecting the system takes mere minutes, setting it up for optimum sound takes a bit longer. All the cables are long enough to give you plenty of flexibility with positioning—it was easy to put the subwoofer under my desk. while leaving the satellites on top of it—but the typical desktop setup will also leave you plenty of slack to cinch up when you’re done. There’s also the matter of the wired remote, which adds an extra cable you’ll need to arrange around your keyboard and monitor.

Microsoft has just unveiled Surface Neo, the much-rumored dual-screen laptop, at its big October press event in New York.

As you might already know, Neo means ‘new’ (being derived from Greek), and this name is undoubtedly Microsoft’s way of exhibiting to us just how fresh and groundbreaking the Surface Neo is.

Though let’s face it, when first hearing the name, nobody thinks of Greece, and instead everybody thinks of The Matrix. And of course, that imparts the device with an instant spoonful of ‘cool’, as it were.

The Surface Neo is a completely new Surface which is basically two tablets hinged together resembling a book, featuring a new spin on Microsoft’s operating system, Windows 10X, that is created and optimized for dual-screen devices. And that tight integration of hardware and software permits for some neat tricks.

So let’s delve deeper into all this fresh information we’ve just discovered about Microsoft’s Surface Neo.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The new dual-screen Surface device
• When is it out? Holiday 2020
• What will it cost? We don’t know at this point

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Surface Neo release date

Surface Neo is still quite a ways away, with a release anticipated to land when the holiday season in 2020 rolls around, assuming there’s no slippage of course.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Surface Neo price

It’s still much too early for Microsoft to be discussing the price, and we haven’t learned just how much damage Surface Neo might do to your bank account just yet.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Surface Neo specs

At the press event where Surface Neo was originally introduced, Microsoft explained its vision as creating something which is supremely versatile. A product which would be the “next category” of device, and would deliver the “ultimate in mobile productivity”, as Panos Panay enthused.

To put it very simply, it’s two 9-inch tablets hinged together into a dual-screen machine so it resembles a book (similar to the Microsoft Courier concept the company abandoned a decade ago). The Surface Neo’s 360-degree hinge lets it be flipped right back, or used in tent mode.

Powering this dual-screen machine is an all-new Intel Lakefield processor, styled as a hybrid chip and incorporating an 11th Generation Intel graphics solution. The CPU has a reduced silicon footprint, and is half the size of a regular PCB.

The tablets are fitted with Gorilla Grass, being 5.6mm thin and weighing 655g. There is a pen that magnetically attaches to the product, and a small keyboard which magnetically seals to the Surface Neo too, and can be placed on top of the lower screen (being just over half the width of the screen) to be typed on in a laptop-like fashion. The keyboard and pen charge up automatically, as well.

When the keyboard is sat on top of the display, the device recognizes this, and conjures up the ‘Wonder Bar’ on the section of the screen visible above the keyboard, providing you with Touch Bar-like functionality with access to emoji, a trackpad, and the ability to ink.

The hardware is paired quite closely with Microsoft’s new OS, Windows 10X, which as stated above has been purposely designed for dual-screen devices just like this new Surface. Surface Neo allows the user to benefit from actions like flowing applications across both screens to get a larger working area. Or if you have, for example, Outlook open on one screen, and you press on a link in an email, the linked website can open directly opposite on the other screen.

Versatility is the key here, of course, with more than welcome dollops of user-friendliness and convenience ostensibly baked into the bargain.

Microsoft obviously has high hopes for dual-screen hardware, because at the same time as unveiling Surface Neo, the company also introduced its Surface Duo – yes, the Surface Phone by another name, a foldable dual-screen device with 5.6-inch displays which has been long anticipated by many people.

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A trio of influencers have had Instagram posts touting diet products banned by the UK’s ad regulator.

TV stars Katie Price and Lauren Goodger promoted a BoomBod shot drink on their accounts, while Georgia Harrison showed off Protein Revolution’s weight loss gummies.

The Advertising Standards Authority said the influencers’ posts were irresponsible.

“The ads must not appear again in the same form,” it ruled.

BoomBod claims its “10-calorie shots” stop people from snacking or overeating, while Protein Revolution says its V24 gummies keep cravings at bay thanks to a vegetable extract.

The ASA also banned several posts posted by BoomBod and Protein Revolution via their own accounts.

“It was clear from the ads that the influencers did not need to lose weight in order to achieve a healthy weight,” the ASA wrote in the BoomBod ruling.

“I can’t get enough of it!” Ms Price wrote in September when she posted a photo of the drink, before going on to describe how it contained vitamins and natural fibre but no laxatives.

In March, Ms Goodger shared a photo of herself wearing athletic clothing and holding a BoomBod box.

“Can’t believe these amazing results I’ve gotten with @boombod’s 7 day Achiever,” the former Only Way Is Essex cast member posted.

“The difference I’ve noticed from using this stuff is amazing.”

‘Artificially thin’

The regulator said it had concerns that the photo of Ms Goodger appeared to have been edited to make her waist look “artificially thin” resulting in a situation “that the images were not representative of her real body shape”.

The ASA said the ads from Ms Price and Ms Goodger had created the impression that it was “necessary or advisable” for people who were already slim to use products that suppress their appetites.

This represented “an irresponsible message”, the watchdog added.

One fitness expert told the BBC that dieting product companies often rely on health and wellness themes to market their goods.

“It’s a real shame the information online [is sometimes] distorted by these companies and influencers,” personal trainer Will Latta said.

He added that people who suffer from self-esteem issues, anxiety, and eating disorders were among those who tended to get drawn in.

Weight-loss gummies

Love Island contestant Ms Harrison shared a photo of herself promoting weight loss gummies in March.

“They’re delicious and when taken with water they suppress your hunger cravings,” she posted.

At the time, many of her 847,000 followers called her out for being irresponsible and ignorant about body image.

“We received assurances from both advertisers that they have/are removing the posts,” a spokesman for the ASA told the BBC.

This is not the first time the authority has raised concern that influencers’ social media posts have encouraged people to lose weight in unhealthy ways.

Reality star Jemma Lucy had a post of her advertising weight loss coffee banned in July, for example.

The ASA has published an advertising guide for influencers.

Ms Price, Ms Goodger, and Ms Harrison did not respond to requests for comment.

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