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#MadeByGoogle round-up: Pixel 2 and more highlights

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Google has just announced their latest lineup of products and, boy oh boy, the excitement around the new gadgets has not waned. The #MadeByGoogle event exhibited some serious technology, so I’ve come up with a round-up of said devices and event highlights because really, no one has the time to watch the whole thing.

With the announcement of the highly anticipated Google Pixel 2 came a slew of other products #MadeByGoogle and a cool new color palette that makes these powerful contraptions look candy cute. I could honestly spend hours harping on Google’s color theme, but that would be a disservice to the power-packed devices they’ve just announced.

Before we move on, though, here’s a look at the color scheme that made many non-techie girls’ heads turn because of their gadget flatlay capabilities:

#madebygoogle color palette

Most of the device releases will come in the above colors.

Now, on to the announced devices:

The Pixel 2 and 2 XL 

The second-generation Pixel phones are looking great with smaller bezels, an aluminum back, 5-inch screen for the Pixel 2, and 6-inch display for the Pixel 2 XL.

Google Pixel 2 XL

The Pixel 2 XL comes in just black or black and white — or as we have decided to call it: Panda.

Google Pixel 2 in 3 colors

The Pixel 2 comes in three colors: kinda blue, just black, and clearly white. But, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, it’s not really kinda blue but clearly periwinkle. Names aside, it’s such a pretty color — a departure from the previous really blue Pixel which, honestly, didn’t appeal to my aesthetic.

Google Pixel 2 in kinda blue

The phones also have the cutest detail with these bright power buttons with varying colors depending on the model.

Google Pixel 2 XL color detail

What you need to know about these phones:

The Pixel 2 and 2 XL don’t have a dual-camera setup but as early as now, the cameras on these things have been given the highest-ever DxOMark rating at 98. This speaks volumes, as the Apple iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 are tied at only 94.

Oh, and did I mention the cameras are capable of AR Stickers (AR stickers!!) and Motion Photos (which are basically Google’s version of Apple’s Live Photos)?

READ: Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL stick to proven single-camera setup

Google Home Mini and Google Max

The Google Home Mini was also announced. This smaller version of Google Home is a less obtrusive version of the smart speaker as it will, most likely, be easier to match to the rest of your furniture. It comes in coral, chalk, or charcoal.

#Madebygoogle gadgets in coral

The Google Home Mini is that small coral circle up front

Designed to integrate more into your daily life, it has Google Assistant built in and is a more budget-friendly option if you want a connected home.

The Google Home Max, which is a bigger digital assistant with powerful speakers built for an optimum music experience, was also unveiled. Equipped with Smart Sound, the Home Max automatically adjusts speaker settings to room size and background noise to ensure the best acoustics for whatever you’re listening to.

READ: Google Home smart speaker gets Mini and Max versions

Google Pixel Buds

These are wireless earphones that won’t be as easy to lose — unless you lose the whole thing. The Google Pixel Buds are wired to each other and use Bluetooth to connect with your smartphone or music player of choice.

Google Pixel Buds in gray

These Buds have Google Assistant built in, gesture controls, and they come with a charging case. BTW, these are the earphones that can translate languages in real time thanks to Google Translate.

Google Pixel Buds

They come in three colors that will match that future Pixel you plan to own: black, white, or blue.

READ: Google Pixel Buds break language barriers in real-time

Google Clips

When we talk about cameras, we talk about specs and not about how smart they are. That may just change with Google Clips.

Google Clips

It’s that small white square with sea green details beside the Google Pixel Buds

The teeny camera is powered by machine learning and is programmed to capture your best possible candid moments. All you need to do is turn it on, set it down, and it will take the best photos for you. It’s a camera and photographer in one — the answer to your Instagram boyfriend dependency!

READ: Google Clips captures best moments with machine learning

Google Pixelbook

Google’s very own Chromebook is looking pretty sleek. The modern-looking device has a 12.3-inch Quad HD touch display and glass details on the front. Pretty, but I’m also thinking this may be pretty fragile.

Google Pixelbook

The Pixelbook is a convertible that has Google Assistant integrated — it even comes with a dedicated button!

Pixelbook Pen

A perfect partner to the Pixelbook, the Pixelbook Pen was also unveiled for all your writing needs.

READ: Google still has best Chromebook with Pixelbook and Pixelbook Pen

Google Daydream View

Google’s VR headset has also been updated. The new Daydream View looks great with its more solid and textured look in gray, black, or coral — finally a color that’s a little more appealing to my senses! They’re looking more premium than they ever have.

Google devices

The Google Daydream in black with a slew of other devices #MadeByGoogle

They’re not only designed to look better, though; they also supposedly feel cozier on your face, because, let’s admit it, no one really looks cool wearing VR headsets.

READ: Google beefs up AR and VR with stickers and new Daydream View

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 2 full coverage

[irp posts=”21597″ name=”Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL stick to proven single-camera setup”]

Accessories

Peak Design’s new City Line combines minimalism and color

Less padding, more personality

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Known for its camera-friendly bags with generous padding to protect photography gear, Peak Design is taking a different approach with the City Line.

The new collection prioritizes lightweight construction and everyday functionality, stripping away unnecessary bulk while still delivering the thoughtful organization the brand is known for.

The new collection includes the City Backpack in 15L and 22L sizes, the 15L City Tote, the City Crescent in 6L and 12L options, and the compact 2L City Sling. While each bag serves a different purpose, they all share the same minimalist aesthetics and intuitive organization.

To achieve that lighter design is Peak Design’s new weather-resistant MonoShell material, along with a seam-reduced construction that cuts down on unnecessary bulk.

It also comes with Peak Design’s built-in BagLev hook, allowing you to hang your bag from a table instead of placing it on the floor.

Beyond the neutral and muted finishes we’ve seen in the past, Peak Design is also introducing brighter options that add more personality to the collection.

The vibrant Lapis blue, in particular, stands out as a fun alternative for anyone looking to move beyond the usual black everyday bag.

The City Line is now available through peakdesign.com and authorized retailers worldwide.

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DJI Osmo Mobile 8P: From a videographer’s perspective

Better tracking, fewer buttons

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DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.

The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.

Freedom behind the lens

The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.

On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.

FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.

ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.

It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.

None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.

And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.

The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.

The trade-offs in touch

The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.

DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.

You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.

Finding your ideal workflow

The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.

If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.

Price, availability

DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.

  • Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
  • Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
  • Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.

Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.

If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.

Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.

Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.

And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.

Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.

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Sony WH-1000XM6 gets a new Olive Gray colorway option

The new color launches today.

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Last year, the Sony WH-1000XM6 quickly became our favorite pair of noise-cancelling headphones. The audio quality pairs remarkably well with its ANC capabilities. Now, a year into the accessory’s life cycle, new colors are still coming out. Today, the acclaimed WH-1000XM6 is getting an Olive Gray variant.

A few months ago, Sony expanded the WH-1000XM6’s colorway options with a Sandstone version, launching alongside the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION. At the time, the new color added a splash of life to an already blossoming lineup.

Now, much like the rest of the lineup, the new Olive Gray version is a subdued mashup between olive green and gray. Though it stands out on its own, the color is still cool enough to mix well with the contours of the user’s head.

Other than that, the new version is still identical to the inner workings of the original device. The Sony WH-1000XM6 comes with a new HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3, providing 12 microphones for effective noise cancellation. In terms of audio quality, the headphones support High-Resolution Audio and High-Resolution Audio Wireless, thanks to LDAC support.

Also, the accessory sits comfortable on the head with a high rigidity carbon fiber composite material dome, cushioned well with synthetic leather.

As always, the Olive Gray version, launching today, will sell for US$ 459.99.

In Singapore, the Sony WH-1000XM6 in Olive Gray is available starting today through Sony Stores, the Sony Store Online, and authorized dealers for S$649, matching the pricing of the existing color options.

SEE ALSO: Sony WH-1000XM6: Master of sound quality and noise cancellation

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