What makes Parrot to cut a third of its drone staff

French drone maker Parrot recently said it would be laying off a third of employees, or about 290 people, in its drone division. The news was announced as part of its most recent quarterly earnings report, and it underscores Parrot’s broader struggles to succeed in the consumer drone market largely dominated by Chinese firm DJI. In its fourth-quarter earnings results, Parrot said it generated sales of about $90 million, coming in below its roughly $106 million target. It now plans to place a larger emphasis on the commercial drone market, including markets like mapping and agriculture.

Parrot’s story is playing out across the drone market, as once fast-growing firms constrict under market pressure and less-than-stellar sales. About 50 percent of all drone sales in North America belong to DJI, while Parrot, Yuneec, 3D Robotics and others hold just single-digit market share percentages. 3D Robotics, like Parrot today, announced lay offs back in March alongside a renewed focus on commercial operations.

GoPro, the most recent and high-profile industry entrant, arrived on the scene with its Karma drone back in September. Unfortunately, the device was prone to mid-flight power failure, causing some Karma units to fall from the sky. GoPro recalled the device and is now working to relaunch it some time later this year. The action camera company has also been forced through layoffs, having cut its staff by 7 percent in January of last year and then another 15 percent, or about 200 employees, in November.

Action cameras, much like consumer drones, have helped balloon small businesses into big-name brands. But it now appears that, with sales falling, it’s hard to sustain growth with expensive electronics that get purchased once for niche industries and upgraded rarely over the next two or three years. So for now — as Parrot’s layoffs make evident — the cool off in the drone industry remains underway.

( Via Theverge )

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Hover Camera review-Video

(Video via Tested )

Zero Zero Robotics’ Hover Camera Passport, $599, packs a 13 megapixel camera, a battery good for about 10 minutes of flight time, and a software bundle that includes auto-follow capability into a compact assembly that folds up for easy carrying. Its rectangular enclosure safeguards its four rotors, while its .534-lb. weight keeps the drone below the FAA’s .55-lb threshold that requires owners to register their drones.

Many people are attracted by its compact design and ease of use.Above is a Hover Camera review tested from “Tested”. He’ll told you what he thought of the resulting footage.

 

 

 

 

 

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DJI Osmo vs GoPro Karma Grip: Gimbals at war

DJI Osmo and GoPro Karma Grip both work great and produce quality video that’s mostly smooth and silky. There are some key differences that are worth noting and they’re mostly the result of DJI being a drone company and GoPro being a camera company.

The DJI Osmo starts at $559 and includes a camera. The GoPro Karma Grip is either $299 or $799 when bundled with the Karma drone — neither version comes with a camera. Compatible GoPro Hero5 cameras start at $299 though the Karma Grip works with the older generation Hero4 Silver and Black cameras, too.

Camera

DJI offers several different versions of the Osmo with the top of the line model sporting a large imaging sensor comparable to some of the best handheld cameras on the market. Called the Osmo Pro, this version costs $1999 and uses a micro four thirds sensor. We tested the Osmo, which costs around $550, and uses a smaller sensor, though it’s still capable of capturing up to a 4k resolution.

The GoPro Karma Grip uses GoPro cameras and is compatible with the older Hero4 camera as well as the new Hero5 and Hero5 session. These cameras sit atop GoPro’s line and offer fantastic video quality for their size. These GoPro models also offer advanced video fine tuning options that allow the user to adjust the color balance, temperature and more.

In our testing we found the Osmo to be slightly clearer but the GoPro Hero5 had more natural color and saturation. Side-by-side, the GoPro’s video looks superior though it should be noted that DJI recently released a newer version of the Osmo that features an improved camera at a slightly higher price.

Stabilization

Both the Osmo and Karma Grip have similar stabilization getups. And they both produce similar results. It doesn’t matter if the camera is stuck to a car racing down the highway or held by someone riding a skateboard, the video produced by these devices will be more clean and smooth than without the gimbal.

In this regard, these devices are nearly equal. They both work as advertised. In our testing we found little difference in the stabilization of the Osmo and Karma Grip.

The one difference comes in the form of a trigger. The Osmo features a button the front of the grip that lets the user lock the camera in place. Think of it as super stabilization and a handy utility to make videos look just a little more polished. The Karma Grip has a similar feature but it doesn’t work as well.

Gimbal

Think about how GoPro cameras are generally used: point and shoot. For the longest time, GoPro cameras didn’t even have a built-in screen. The camera required the user just point the camera at the subject. That’s how the Karma Grip works, too.

The Karma Grip is just a gimbal where the Osmo is more of a shooting platform. With the Karma Grip, users point the camera at the subject and start recording. Depending on the camera used, the device might have a rear-facing screen to line up the shot, but even then, the gimbal’s design partly obstructs the user’s view of the tiny screen.

The Karma Grip does not have any camera movement controls. Users have to move the grip to move the camera. The result is easy but basic movements.

The Osmo is different from the Karma Grip. DJI included a small joystick-type button that can move the camera even while the grip stays still. The result is a finer control of the video. Have the Osmo mounted on a tripod? This little button can let the camera move while everything else stays still. There’s even a button that causes the camera to quickly spin around into a selfie mode, pointing the camera backwards at the user.

The Karma Grip’s buttons echo its point-and-shoot mantra. There are just four buttons including the power button and they’re flush mounted with the grip behind a rubber pad, which seems to suggest the Karma can withstand a bit of water. The Osmo feels more delicate.

Screen

I’m not sure about you, but I like my cameras to have screens. When using the GoPro Karma Grip with a Hero5 or Hero4 Silver the user has a screen to properly frame shots. The Osmo lacks this and requires an operator to connect their smartphone, and mount it on the side.

In theory, having a built-in screen seems like a natural advantage. However, the screen on the back of GoPros are so tiny that they’re hardly useful and the design of the gimbal places one of the joints directly behind the screen. It’s a strange design and kills some of the appeal.

To use a smartphone with the Osmo the owner has to connect the devices using DJI’s app. The process can be painful and take several minutes to connect. And then, the phone juts out the side of the device and hangs precariously off the side. A smartphone is not required to use the Osmo though. Users can point and shoot video all day long. The video is recorded locally on a microSD card and only on a phone when the user downloads the media.

The DJI apps gives the Osmo user a lot of control over the video, though. The app is full of video settings and adjustments and makes transferring media from the camera to the phone an easy process.

So which one?

Comparing the Osmo and Karma Grip is like looking at a luxury car against a sport utility vehicle. They do not line up perfectly. The products are for different people even though both have similar feature sets.

Still, the comparison must be made. DJI and GoPro are quickly becoming major forces in the consumer electronics world and the Osmo and Karma Grip will compete on the market.

Choosing between the Osmo and Karma comes down to the buyer’s ecosystem and desired use. The prices are similar when all things are considered. Buy the Karma Grip if the camera is going to strapped onto a mountain bike to race down a mountainside and then at a water park with the kids. Buy the Osmo for capturing smooth shots for your indie film or if you occasionally take a bike down a mountain. Of course, both cameras can do both, but since the GoPro can better survive rough activities, it makes sense to purchase it if the camera will be used as such. Likewise, if the ability to properly frame a shot is needed, the Osmo is a better buy.

Listen, I hate to leave a comparison article with a soft conclusion, but both the DJI Osmo and GoPro Karma Grip are quality pieces of hardware. Just different.

(Via Techcrunch )

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Yuneec Typhoon H520 overview

Yuneec is announcing a new drone Typhoon H520, a six-rotor drone for commercial applications. It looks very much like the Typhoon H drone (but is bright orange for high visibility), building off the six-rotor platform (that is capable of flying under emergency situations with just five rotors) while incorporating commercial-grade cameras and applications for high-end commercial use. 

Like the Typhoon H, Yuneec Typhoon H520 has a 360-degree, 3-axis gimbal with retractable landing gear, forward obstacle detection, dual operator support, and a the large ST16 remote with an integrated 7-inch tablet. Camera options include the CGO-ET dual thermal RGB camera, CGO-CI seven-element inspection-ready camera and CGO-3+ which is the same bundled with the Typhoon H.

It also packs more powerful motors and propellers to deliver a higher top speed, and the CGO-ET is another option. It’s a dual-lens model, with one lens capturing infrared and the other recoding residual light. You can set which temperature ranges it detects, making it an ideal choice for search-and-rescue, building inspection, firefighting, and law enforcement use.

Finally there’s the CGO-CI, a traditional 4K video camera with a standard-angle 50mm field of view. It features an all-glass lens for improved video and image quality, and makes it possible for the drone to be further way from objects while still capturing them in exquisite detail. Cinematographers will appreciate the tighter field of view, as it produces a very different aerial shot than the ultra-wide cameras typically used with drones.

We’ll update the pricing and availability as Yuneec sets.

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Hover Camera CES

(Video via Bo Lorentzen )

The Hover Camera Passport, on display at CES 2017 is a special drone.

Hover Camera is a drone that comes with “advanced” AI technology that can actually track the person’s face. This means that all you have to do is get the drone to recognize and lock onto your face, and you’re good to go as the drone should have no problems tracking your movements. Once you’re done, you can just grab the drone or tap the app and it will land.It is a drone that users can toss in the air and then follow them around.

The Hover Camera Passport is not your typical quadcopter design.It looks like a book when folded and it truly can fit into a purse or backpack with ease and the cage protecting the propellers keeps them from harm. It’s also very lightweight at just over half a pound. You can pack it up and bring it with them wherever they go, as opposed to more typical drones where you might require a special carry case.

The Hover Camera Passport costs at $599.Looking at the current drone and digital cameras market it becomes very clear that Hover Camera is an overpriced product. However if you can accept the value that Hover provides for the price it definitely will be a great choice.You can pre-order it where it is expected to ship in the next 1-3 months

 

 

 

 

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It’s all about 3DR Solo mode

Flying the 3DR Solo is much like flying a Phantom. Out of the box, the controls are the same and you can fly it manually whenever you like. Since there’s GPS and a compass, it’s extremely easy to fly. When you let go of the controls the 3DR Solo hovers and you can set height and speed restrictions in the app which make it even easier to learn.

The killer feature, though, is Smart Shots. Tap the button at the bottom-left corner of the app and you get a choice of Cable Cam, Orbit, Selfie and Follow.

With cable cam, you fly to a start point and press the controller’s A button. Then you fly to a finish point and hit B to record that too. Then you press the play button and the 3DR Solo will fly in a straight line – as if it was on a cable – to the start point. It will smoothly move the camera between the direction it was facing at the start to the exact framing at the finish, including changing the tilt angle. This creates stunningly smooth footage that’s essentially impossible to capture when flying manually.

Orbit mode does what you’d expect. The neat part is that you can easily set the centre of the orbit by switching to a satellite map view in the app and dragging it until the focal point is under the marker. You can change the radius of the orbit using the forward and back control, while at the same time increasing or decreasing altitude. All the while, the camera will remain fixed on the centre of the orbit and you can use the paddle to adjust the tilt angle (by default the camera will centre at ground level). Again, the footage looks great.

Follow me is also self-explanatory. The 3DR Solo will remain focused on your position and move at the same speed as you move. Depending on its position relative to you, it could be following behind you, panning at the side, or even in ‘push mode’ when you’re travelling towards it. Another mode within Follow me is Watch Me. This means the Solo will hover where it is, but turn to face you at all times. You could use this, for example, at a racetrack or any location where you want the drone to stay in one place but keep track of you as you move around.

Last is Selfie. When you’ve fine-tuned the starting position in the air, you can use the sliders to adjust the speed and final height: press Play and Selfie mode sees the 3DR Solo shoot backwards and upwards – a camera move called a reveal in cinema terms. Once it has reached the furthest point, the Solo keeps recording and returns to the start position on the same trajectory. This move is relatively easy to do manually, but it’s still nice to have an automatic option especially as Selfie mode tilts the camera during the move to ensure you’re always the centre of the frame.

For all Smart Shots, you can use the satellite map view to check for obstacles (it has no built-in obstacle avoidance), or to make it easier to position the 3DR Solo.  If you don’t have a cellular connection on your phone or tablet, you can use the app to cache satellite imagery of the area you’ll be flying in before heading out.

As the 3DR are no longer making consumer drones, the 3DR Solo is on sale since then which retails for $288. If you’re worried about the customer service, you could look at Phantom 3($499) which is a more tried and tested model and has better support.

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However, Hover Camera is not cheap

Introducing the Hover Camera. To be clear, this is not a drone with a camera attached but instead a high quality camera that is able to fly. To use, simply throw the Hover Camera into the air and watch as it immediately and automatically self-balances. It can also be stabilized to hover in one position to capture a single angle.

Equipped with 13 megapixels and 4K video quality, the Hover Camera can be set to automatically follow you wherever you go to record all of your adventures. Electronic image stabilization ensures the footage is always steady while the carbon fiber enclosure keeps the camera safe during the flight. Weighing just 250 grams, the Hover Camera doesn’t need to be registered with the FAA and is more portable than any other flying camera system.

A quick look at Hover Camera’s features

• Auto-Follow: Tracks your face and body to always keep you in the picture, even on the go, by way of two Auto-Follow modes including Face Tracking and Body Tracking
• Release & Hover: As soon as you let go, Hover Camera Passport hovers steady in place to allow you to quickly and easily capture any moment
• Portable: At just 242 grams, below the FAA 250 grams Hobbyist Drone Registration weight limit, Hover Camera is portable and convenient to carry for any photo worthy moments
• 13 MP Photos & 4K Video: Capture and relive your memories in lifelike quality
• 360 Spin: See a new perspective as Hover Camera Passport films a 360 degree panoramic video of you in your environment
• Orbit: A brand new feature that captures a unique point of view by circling you to capture an iconic 360 degrees wraparound video, even while you walk
• Safe: Hover Camera Passport is both fully enclosed in carbon fiber and boasts AI-based safety mechanisms to ensure the user and their surroundings are unscathed despite being flown indoors and out.
• Self-Positioning: Using a combination of sonar, its downward viewing camera and artificial intelligence, Hover Camera Passport hovers in place so that it’s able to be positioned or repositioned ‘anywhere’ in space like an invisible tripod

However, it’s not cheap. The Hover Camera Passport drone will cost at least $600 while its battery lasts only eight minutes.And its construction makes it feel like it costs a lot less.

And the prices are falling all the time: DJI’s Phantom 4 drone is on sale at $999 and can avoid objects while tracking moving objects at over 25mph. Component prices—sensors, microprocessors, and the like—are dropping as quickly as software to better interpret imagery is being developed.

And Hover Camera Passport isn’t the only company trying to usher in a world where we can all toss a drone into the air in a few seconds to capture life’s complexities. There are heavy-hitters like GoPro and drone maker DJI, and startups like Lily and Vantage Robotics, that are all trying to corner the personal flying camera market.

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