Sony Corporation announced today that it has succeed in developing Pregius S, a stacked CMOS image sensor technology that employs Sony’s proprietary global shutter function with back-illuminated pixel structure to deliver both distortion-free, high imaging performance and miniaturization. The new sensor technology is intended for industrial equipment used in fields such as manufacturing, inspection, and logistics that require higher precision and higher processing speeds, in light of the trends in industrial advancement including factory smartification and automation.

Sony will introduce the new technology at Vision China Shanghai 2019 starting on March 20, 2019.

Conventional CMOS image sensors equipped with global shutter function temporarily store charge signals in the memory area located next to the photodiode to resolve image distortion (focal plane distortion) caused by the time shift due to the row-by-row readout. In front-illuminated CMOS image sensors, there is a wiring layer on the silicon substrate forming the photodiode, and with such a structure, the benefit is that it is easy to form a light shield for protecting the charge signal temporarily stored in the memory area from leaked light. For this reason, conventional CMOS image sensors with global shutter function have adopted a front-illuminated pixel structure. However, the wiring on top of the photodiode hinders the incident light, which creates an issue when attempting to miniaturize the pixels.

In response to this, Sony has developed a proprietary pixel structure that achieves the global shutter function on a back-illuminated structure that has superior sensitivity characteristics, thereby resolving the issue of miniaturization. Normally, when pixels are miniaturized, the sensitivity and saturation characteristics deteriorate, but the new Sony technology enables a reduction in pixel size to 2.74 μm while maintaining performance of those characteristic, thereby achieving about 1.7 times higher resolution than conventional front-illuminated CMOS image sensors.1 This makes it possible to measure and inspect objects in a wider area and with higher accuracy in manufacturing, inspection, logistics and other applications. Moreover, thanks to the high degree of freedom of the wiring layout of back-illuminated pixel structures, a high speed of about 2.4 times that of conventional1 can be achieved, thereby contributing to significant productivity improvement, including shorter measurement and inspection process times. In addition, the sensor’s stacked structure makes it possible to mount various signal processing circuits, whereby it is possible to realize smart functions such as signal processing only for the necessary part of the measurement and inspection images in a smaller size compared to conventional sensors.*1 That, in turn, makes it possible to reduce the load of the subsequent processing and reduce the amount of data to be held on to, thereby contributing to the realization of highly efficient, energy-saving systems.

Going forward, Sony will work to develop products equipped with this stacked CMOS image sensor employing its proprietary global shutter function with back-illuminated pixel structure for various industrial applications and intelligent transportation systems, including development of derivatives for signal processing circuits to be mounted. Sony plans to start shipping sample units in the summer of 2019 or later.

Proprietary global shutter function with back-illuminated pixel structure delivers both distortion-free high imaging performance and miniaturization

Sony developed a proprietary pixel structure that achieves a global shutter function on a back-illuminated structure that has superior sensitivity characteristics, delivering both high imaging performance and miniaturization. By miniaturizing the pixel size from the conventional 3.45 μm to 2.74 μm while maintaining sensitivity and saturation characteristics, Sony has achieved about 1.7 times higher resolution than the conventional front-illuminated 12 megapixels CMOS image sensor, thereby making it possible to perform measurement and inspection in a wider area and at a higher accuracy. Moreover, thanks to the high degree of freedom of the wiring layout of the back-illuminated pixel structure, it is possible to deliver high-speed performance of about 2.4 times that of the conventional technology, thereby contributing to significant productivity improvement such as shorter measurement and inspection process times.

Miniaturization and high functionality made possible with a stacked structure

The sensor’s stacked structure makes it possible to mount various signal processing circuits, thereby contributing to miniaturization and enhanced functions for CMOS image sensors. Incorporating the data optimization functions (smart ROI, self-trigger, compression processing, compositing, etc.) that extracts only necessary information from the image data, it is possible to reduce the load of the subsequent processing and reduce the amount of data to be held onto while achieving a smaller package compared to conventional sensors,*1 thereby contributing to the realization of highly efficient, energy-saving systems.

Going forward, Sony will leverage the technology of Pregius S to further enhance and expand functions for new industries, including development of derivatives for signal processing circuits to be mounted.

• Number of pixels: about 1.7 times more
• Quantum efficiency (Peak QE): +20%
• Saturation signal volume (per unit area): +44%
• Dynamic range: +12%
• Incident light angle dependence characteristic (sensitivity to light with an incident angle of 20°): about double
• High speed (output data rate): about 2.4 times

Late last year Sound Devices became the North American distributor for Audio Ltd.

https://www.sounddevices.com/news/sound-devices-news/sound-devices-named-north-american-distributor-for-audio-ltd

Sound Rolling just uploaded about this:

• Orders database
  Data includes products purchased; shipping address and postcode; customer name; email address; phone number
• Payments and invoices database
  Data includes order number; payment type; payment information; email address; name; IP address
• Members database
  Data includes name; address; date of birth; phone number; email address; IP address; national ID and passport information; account passwords

They discovered 1.5+ million records.

https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/gearbest-hack/

Someone tells that it'll be Canon who has ton of troubles himself.

Can be also Sony or Samsung who briefly looked at GoPro intellectual properly and some engineers.

Expect more news on this topic after CES.

U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp has bid $5.5-$6 billion in cash and stock to buy Israel’s Mellanox Technologies, Israeli media reported on Wednesday.

A $6 billion offer would represent a 35 percent premium to the last closing price of Mellanox on Nasdaq, the Calcalist financial news website said.

Based in Yokneam, Israel, Mellanox makes chips and other hardware for data center servers that power cloud computing.

Officials at Intel and Mellanox declined to comment.

In October CNBC reported that Mellanox has hired a financial adviser to explore a sale after receiving takeover interest from at least two companies.

You can't stop Capitalism nature.

Mellanox is very strong in 10Gbe adapters and Infiniband adapters.

We are incredibly excited to announce that the standard Model 3, with 220 miles of range, a top speed of 130 mph and 0-60 mph acceleration of 5.6 seconds is now available at $35,000!

To achieve these prices while remaining financially sustainable, Tesla is shifting sales worldwide to online only. You can now buy a Tesla in North America via your phone in about 1 minute, and that capability will soon be extended worldwide. We are also making it much easier to try out and return a Tesla, so that a test drive prior to purchase isn’t needed.

Rumors are that in 2019 development of Apple shops will stop and from 2020 we can see gradual closure of less profitable ones.

Almost all new designs will be made for FF mirrorless sensors. It will be some exceptions still, but they will be few and mostly adaptations of retro designs.

It is also expected that in second half of 2019 Nikon and Canon start reducing older lenses production themselves by around 20-25%.

With entry level consumer FF mirrorless camera coming in late 2019 and early 2020 transition will pick up even more speed.

In 2021 outside FF mirrorless we will have:

1. 1-3 m43 camera models, all of them premium with prices higher than most FF models
2. Fujifilm and some Sony APS-C cameras, but Fujifilm will also jump ship during 2021 and fully change lenses lineup
3. 1-2 Canon Pro DSLR models
4. 1 Nikon Pro DSLR model

Market size in terms of bodies sold will further drop around 50-75% from current level.

PHMSA issues this interim final rule (IFR) to revise the Hazardous Materials Regulations for lithium cells and batteries transported by aircraft. This IFR (1) prohibits the transport of lithium ion cells and batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft; (2) requires lithium ion cells and batteries to be shipped at not more than a 30 percent state of charge aboard cargo-only aircraft when not packed with or contained in equipment; and (3) limits the use of alternative provisions for small lithium cell or battery shipments to one package per consignment. This IFR does not restrict passengers or crew members from bringing personal items or electronic devices containing lithium cells or batteries aboard aircraft, or restrict cargo-only aircraft from transporting lithium ion cells or batteries at a state of charge exceeding 30 percent when packed with or contained in equipment or devices.

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/rulemakings/70526/lithium-battery-ifr-submitted-fr-022719.pdf

Whole thing is example of bureaucrat behaving like shits. Solving problem is simple - adding special packaging and making special cargo and parcels for them that will be packed in protective boxes.

Instead we have worldwide madness that is also sponsored by largest corporations as allow to restrict free trade of high profitable batteries.

The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) (President: Kazuo Ushida; Address: MA Shibaura Bldg. 3-8-10, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan) will hold CP+ [cpplus] 2019 from Thursday, February 28 to Sunday, March 3, 2019. CP+ is an international camera and photo imaging show that presents the latest products and technologies, and disseminates the joy and extensive reach of the industry and culture of photo imaging.

CP+2019 continue to raise the profile of Japan's world-leading camera and photo imaging industry with its cultural aspects. From Wednesday, July 4, we just started calling for exhibitors on the official website. We sincerely request your continued support of CP+

The US Federal Trade Commission has successfully brought the first ever case against using fraudulent, paid Amazon reviews to falsely advertise an online product, the agency announced Tuesday evening. The company in question, named Cure Encapsulations, Inc. and owned by Naftula Jacobowitz, paid a third-party website to write five-star Amazon reviews for a weight-loss supplement called garcinia cambogia. The plant, native to Indonesia, is widely mischaracterized as contributing to weight loss, but is in fact known to cause acute liver failure.

In reality situation is same for all camera related gear also, especially for smaller sellers.
Fake, paid reviews are becoming norm with normal reviews gradually subsiding.
Same thing happened in few last years in movies reviews where it is now bots and paid for people who compete on main platforms.

Consolidated revenues are falling, while profits are surging.

CyberLink is quickly loosing video editing market to Adobe, as most their users had been beginners. They hope to make things more stable by ripping users more.

I really wish all guys who do it to go to hell.

Sony plans to hire 320 new engineers annually in Japan this year and the next, up from 250 in 2018. The figures do not include those to be hired by overseas units.

The allocation is in line with the company’s plans to invest 600b yen ($5.4b) in image sensor business over the three years through March 2021, or half of the group’s planned capital expenditures.

yet

The company already cut its annual profit outlook for imaging sensors to 130b yen, accounting for just 15% of the Sony Corp.’s overall profit, as they told - due to weakening global demand for smartphones.

It is very risky gamble. As sensors are still very profitable devices due to lack of any real competition. Especially premium smartphone sensors and large full frame sensors where margins can reach 2000%. Such situation became possible due to private cartel agreements where other Japanese companies get sensors under special terms and are allowed to take part in production and customization, forming distributed monopoly.

Healthy competition from outside Japan can put an end to this nice picture, one of the dangers is Samsung that also had been restricted by private agreement thanks to low quality management who agreed to have near time advantages and bonuses other longer term victory, but this can change due to fast fall of Samsung profits in their top smartphone niche. As and if agreement will be broke we will see full scale sensor war that can also bring second breath to consumer camera market as sensors price will drop 3-4 times and much smaller manufacturers will gain access to competitive pricing.

Aliexpress algorithm frequently exclude lot of items from results, usually it is cheapest or close to it offers from small to medium sellers. But can be also items from large sellers.

Filtering depend on your activity - if you buy a lot and not too cheap items Aliexpress will be more actively excluding cheapest offers.

Why they are doing it? Algorithm is optimizing their own income at your expense, and it is quite advanced.

So, if you are searching something make sure to include final step and use google restricting results to aliexpress.com only.

Already compacts teams are reduced to minimum, hence all newly released models are basically all same as old ones.

They can leave one 1" sensor size ultrazoom with 2 year update cycle. And axe all else.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/feb/16/bruno-ganz-actor-who-played-hitler-in-downfall-dies-aged-77

Ganz was Hitler in all the parody videos.

• Site - https://www.ces.tech/Logistics/Registration-Information.aspx
• Coverage - Our joined Main/California Team, Alan And Ramon.
• Note - we are looking for one extra team member still!
• CES 2018 Coverage - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPb_xgpKYgg4MKQE_3gQgMldgdN5hjQNS
• Media Days run January 6 – 7, 2019.
• Exhibits open January 8 – 11, 2019.

Remember to follow Telegram channel at https://t.me/personal_view

Press coverage resources

• https://ces.eetimes.com/
• http://ces.vporoom.com/
• Mobile app - https://www.ces.tech/Logistics/CES-App.aspx

Source - BCNRatings

Adobe is having new record profits, yet management is in full swing to further reduce developers level and expenses.
Adobe has constantly rising percentage of contractors and more and more work is being offshored into cheapest India, Easter Europe and similar firms.
Sometimes for complex tech stuff they can change firm if it offers 10% less contract sum ruining 1-2 years of developers time and starting all other with developers who never even heard about video editor.
Regular staff level also drops each year as new generations of developers come and it not many left who can tech new guys and pull them up, my source told that number of stupid errors that need to be fixed rose around 35% in just 2 years.

P.S. And btw expect new regular payments hike soon, I heard that one of their investors still not happy with their profits and talked about such rise soon.

All forecasts also revised down.

https://www.nikon.com/about/ir/ir_library/result/index.htm#y2019

• Unrivalled global support for creative photographers
• A repair service that travels with you*
• Register now for service updates

25th September 2018 -- Panasonic has announced the launch of LUMIX PRO, a hub for its LUMIX professional users that will provide an extensive support and service network while developing the needs of creative professionals. In recognition of the fact that photographers and videographers require more than just products within their everyday working life, the program has been designed to ensure that they can continue to shoot whilst being assisted with a range of service and repair benefits and consistent global support. LUMIX PRO is an expansion of the Lumix Professional Services program currently running in Japan. LUMIX GH4, GH4R, GH5, GH5s and G9 customers will be able to register for LUMIX PRO services within the US, Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain*.

Global repair service for high tier members LUMIX PRO has been created with the user in mind and is designed to provide a framework for support of photographers and videographers of all levels of experience. The tiered and modular nature of the program ensures that it is accessible to a broad range of LUMIX users. Recognizing that the creative is as individual as what they shoot, LUMIX PRO has been designed to adapt as their requirements flex. A range of domestic and global maintenance and repair service benefits will be available, including complementary maintenance such as Sensor, EVF or body cleaning or a lens calibration*. Members will also have access to expedited and guaranteed turnaround time, or access to loan equipment when turnaround time cannot be met. Membership levels are allocated depending on the amount of equipment registered and membership fee. Customizable service offerings LUMIX PRO will provide more than just support, aiming to offer its members relevant benefits in conjunction with key photographic eco-system partners. The bundle of services and support within the structure of a multi-tiered program is designed to fit the requirements of the individual photographer. To ensure that they can continue working, photographers that travel will receive the applicable benefits for their level of membership in countries that offer the repair service.

The registration opens in Europe beginning of 2019, when registration opens there will be an initial free of charge registration period. Panasonic will continue to expand LUMIX PRO services into other countries, creating a truly global program that can support photographers when and where they need it most. Visit www.lumix-pro.com to learn more about the program.

• Service conditions and qualifying product may vary per region. Global repair service is available for black and platinum members. Sensor cleaning and other maintenance service is available only for domestic members.

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group today announced the pending release of the USB 3.2 specification, an incremental update that defines multi-lane operation for new USB 3.2 hosts and devices. USB Developer Days 2017 will include detailed technical training covering USB 3.2, fast charging advancements in USB Power Delivery, and other exciting topics.

While USB hosts and devices were originally designed as single-lane solutions, USB TypeC™ cables were designed to support multi-lane operation to ensure a path for scalable performance. New USB 3.2 hosts and devices can now be designed as multi-lane solutions, allowing for up to two lanes of 5 Gbps or two lanes of 10 Gbps operation. This enables platform developers to continue advancing USB products to fit their customers’ needs by effectively doubling the performance across existing cables. For example, a USB 3.2 host connected to a USB 3.2 storage device will now be capable of realizing over 2 GB/sec data transfer performance over an existing USB Type-C™ cable that is certified for SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps.

“When we introduced USB Type-C to the market, we intended to assure that USB Type-C cables and connectors certified for SuperSpeed USB or SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps would, as produced, support higher performance USB as newer generations of USB 3.0 were developed,” said Brad Saunders, USB 3.0 Promoter Group Chairman. “The USB 3.2 update delivers the next level of performance.”

“With increased performance and seamless compatibility, the new USB 3.2 specification brings even more speed and bandwidth benefits to new USB 3.2 devices, while remaining compatible with USB 3.0 and earlier devices,” said Roanne Sones, General Manager, Strategy and Ecosystem for Windows and Devices, Microsoft. “We’re excited to work with our partners in the USB 3.0 Promoter Group to help showcase these benefits to users around the world.”

Key characteristics of the USB 3.2 solution include:

• Two-lane operation using existing USB Type-C™ cables
• Continued use of existing SuperSpeed USB physical layer data rates and encoding techniques
• Minor update to hub specification to address increased performance and assure seamless transitions between single and two-lane operation

For users to obtain the full benefit of this performance increase, a new USB 3.2 host must be used with a new USB 3.2 device and the appropriate certified USB Type-C™ cable. This update is part of the USB performance roadmap and is specifically targeted to developers at this time. Branding and marketing guidelines will be established after the final specification is published. The USB 3.2 specification is now in a final draft review phase with a planned formal release in time for the USB Developer Days North America event in September 2017.

Korean tech-giant Samsung has agreed to acquire Israeli company Corephotonics for $155 million, sources inform "Globes." Three weeks ago, "Globes" was the first to report that Samsung was in advanced talks to buy the Israeli smartphone camera technology developer.

Corephotonics has developed a camera with dual lens technology for smartphones, which is designed to improve the quality of smartphone images. According to IVC, the company, which was founded in 2012, has raised a total of $50 million, which will give the investors a fine return. Corephotonics declined to respond to the report.

Supporting our community of creators is, and has always been, our top priority. As we invest in more tools to help our creators — and continue to be an ad-free service that relies on member support instead of ad revenue — we have to adjust what we offer for free (like storage, which, between transcoding and hosting, is pretty expensive).

This is to let you know that starting January 29, we’re introducing a 5GB total storage limit for Basic members.

Strong rumors are around that they are months from total collapse.

Yet Vimeo can keep running for paid account as a way to sell your videos.

Very interested developments.

As rumors on market are that we can see big sales at Red Hydrogen One and after this it'll go out of the market as no one buys it except few fans.