Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 puts first 4K video capture in a compact camera

If you were on the fence between a digital SLR and a compact camera with a long zoom lens, Panasonic's Lumix FZ1000 might just turn out to be all the camera you need.

Digital SLRs deliver high-quality photos and HD video, but a dSLR might be too much camera for you in price, size, and weight -- and that's without adding a long zoom lens to the equation. You can get smaller, lighter, long-zoom compact cameras at lower prices, but they come with a loss in image quality.

The FZ1000 bridges the two using a 1-inch 20-megapixel MOS sensor (four times larger than the 1/2.3-inch sensors you find in most longzoom cameras like Panasonic's FZ200) and a 16x f2.8-4.0 25-400mm lens (and yes, it's branded Leica).

Larger sensors require larger lenses, so while its zoom range might not seem impressive compared with the whopping 50x or longer zooms on other bridge cameras, the FZ1000 will deliver better image quality. Also, a zoom lens with similar specs for a dSLR would be large and heavy, not to mention expensive.

Giving the lens a constant f2.8 aperture through the zoom range, like Sony's RX10, would have also made the lens bigger. That camera features a 1-inch sensor as well, but its telephoto end stops at 200mm.

The two cameras are roughly the same size and weight, too, so really it comes down to what you value more, the Sony's constant f2.8 aperture or more zoom range.

Or maybe it'll come down to features for you. The FZ1000 is the first compact camera to record video at resolutions up to 4K (3,840x2,160) in MP4 at 30fps, but it also does 1080p at 60fps or 120fps. You can do 1080p at 60fps in AVCHD, too.

To go with those high resolutions, you'll find a full manual video mode, a mic jack (but no headphonesjack), five-axis optical image stabilization, and a five-step speed control for the zoom for smooth movement while recording. Also, after recording video in 4K, you can grab a single 8-megapixel frame for a still photo.

PlayStation TV microconsole: Coming this fall, starting at $99 (hands-on)

The Vita TV, as it was previously called, debuted in 2013 at the Tokyo Game Show. It didn't make a big splash then, but the proposition is different now: Sony described its PlayStation TV as a box that would be an affordable conduit not just to Vita games, but stream PS4 console games to another TV. It's also a way to access the PlayStation Now streaming game service without buying a PS4 or Sony-branded TV.

Three ways to play games

Indeed, Sony pledged "hundreds" of PS3 games on the PlayStation TV via the PlayStation Now streaming service, as well as "access to video and music streaming services." The PlayStation TV will also access 1,000 games out of the box when it debuts, according to Sony, adding up games in the Vita, PS One, and PSP downloadable catalogues already on the PlayStation Store. The PlayStation TV will treat itself like another Vita device as far as connecting to your PSN account, and download games or apps from your collection.

We still don't know the pricing of PlayStation Now, which could factor into how good a deal the PlayStation TV seems to be. And you'll need to invest in at least one controller and a memory card, too -- included in the $139 bundle, but you might want to pay even more to store enough games.

Specs and features

The PlayStation TV has a solid set of hardware features for its size: a Cortex A9 processor, Ethernet, USB 2.0 and HDMI ports, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.

Unfortunately, Sony's PlayStation TV is cursed with a storage problem. There's only 1GB of internal storage, just like the Vita Slim, and to add more -- which will most certainly will need to -- requires Vita memory cards. Yes, it means you can swap in Vita memory cards and play them seamlessly on the PlayStation TV, but it also means you can't use regular SD or microSD, or even Memory Sticks, to add on storage for game or movie downloads. Vita memory cards are proprietary and still really expensive.

WALKING DEAD SEASON 1 GAME IS AVAILABLE ON GOOGLE PLAY STORE

If you are on a look out for some new, interesting games for your Android device, we suggest you go through this list. You surely will fine a game (or two) that is new, different and worth a try for free.

1) The Walking Dead: Season One

Game description as per developer:The Walking Dead is a five-part game series (Episode 2-5 can be purchased via in-app) set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s award-winning series. Play as Lee Everett, a convicted criminal, who has been given a second chance at life in a world devastated by the undead. With corpses returning to life and survivors stopping at nothing to maintain their own safety, protecting an orphaned girl named Clementine may offer him redemption in a world gone to hell. Experience events, meet people and visit locations that foreshadow the story of Deputy Sheriff Rick Grimes. A tailored game experience – actions, choices and decisions you make will affect how your story plays out across the entire series.

Download The Walking Dead: Season from here.

2) Clumsy Ninja

Game description as per developer:
Meet Clumsy Ninja, the most hapless ninja ever to grace a touchscreen! Train him, throw him, tickle him, and even tie balloons to him. Everything you do will make Clumsy Ninja more skillful, and help him find his missing friend Kira. Clumsy Ninja is the next generation of interactive characters! He can sense, feel, move, and react uniquely every time. Prepare to be amazed…oh, and please take good care of him! Train your ninja to learn new tricks and super-special Ninja Moves! Impress his Sensei and earn new Ninja Belts on your way to find Kira, or just have fun with over 70 unique interactive items, including trampolines, punch bags, ball guns, a chicken and… a squirrel!

Download Clumsy Ninja from here.

3) FarmVille 2: Country Escape

Game description as per developer:Out of Facebook, straight onto your Android device. A new mobile-optimized FarmVille experience is now available! It’s FarmVille tailored for you and the way you want to play. Best of all, it’s free! Farm at your own pace, whether you have 30 seconds or 30 minutes. Play with friends or on your own in our new Anonymous Mode: Facebook not required. You can also play when not connected to the internet. Join a Farm Co-Op to trade and share, and go on Farm Adventures to collect rare goods. Now, you can finally play FarmVille anytime… anywhere.

Download FarmVille 2: Country Escape from here.

A great phone that suffers from boring design

OUR VERDICT

The Galaxy S5 does incorporate new features like water and dust resistance, a heart rate monitor and a fingerprint scanner, but the area where it loses is its design. Samsung has not done enough to make the Galaxy S5 a desirable premium smartphone.There is no compromise on performance though but we really wished that the Samsung would overhaul the build and design of its smartphones.

Samsung’s Galaxy S flagship smartphone has now reached its 5th generation and it has evolved a lot over the years. Comparing the Galaxy S5 to its predecessor, there has been a slight change in design, which entirely doesn’t mean that it has improved. There is a new chipset, a larger display and a better camera as well. But is it really worth the upgrade?

SPECIFICATIONS

• Display: 5.1 inches AMOLED with 1920x1080 resolution with Gorilla Glass 3 (432ppi)
• Battery: 2800mAh
• Storage: 16GB
• Camera:  16MP rear with LED flash, 2MP front
• SoC: Exynos 5 Octa 5422
• CPU: Quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 & quad-core 1.3 GHz
• GPU: Mali-T628 MP6
• RAM: 2GB
• Operating system: Android 4.4.2 with TouchWiz UI
• Connectivity: 3G, W-Fi, Bluetooth, USB 3.0 with OTG
• Heart Rate monitor, fingerprint scanner

BUILD AND DESIGN
Probably the most crucial and highly debated topic is Samsung’s design philosophy. It is true that the Korean company uses a similar design over a vast range of smartphones and that people have been complaining about the fact that Samsung has slowed down in its design department.

The Galaxy S5 has a similar looking design as its predecessor and for a minute you won’t be able to tell the difference between a Galaxy Grand 2 and the Galaxy S5. The new flagship again has the curve design along with a chrome metal frame just like the Note 3. The display is now a 5.1-inch Full HD AMOLED display (0.1mm larger than the S4) which is probably one of the best displays on a smartphone right now. The viewing angles are great and colors are very vibrant. Below the display we have two capacitive-touch keys and one hardware home key which is also the fingerprint scanner (we shall come back to it). Above the display there are a bunch of sensors and the 2MP camera.