Drones
DJI showcases Mavic Pro Platinum, Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian, update for Spark

Everyone’s favorite drone manufacturer, DJI, has introduced two new drones to its product lineup. The Mavic Pro Platinum has a quieter and longer flight compared to the original, while the popular Phantom 4 Pro gets a new color. Also, the user-friendly Spark drone has a new software feature!
Mavic Pro Platinum
The first upgrade to the original Mavic Pro brings in new electronic speed controllers and propellers, reducing its overall noise by 4dB or about 60 percent quieter than the original version. Not only that, the new model flies longer by 11 percent or up to 30 minutes of flight time.
These upgrades don’t hamper the portability of the Mavic Pro we’ve come to love. It’s still an easy-to-use, yet powerful drone with a 4K stabilized camera and 7km range, and FlightAutonomy technology makes it even more intelligent against obstacles up to 15m away.
The Mavic Pro Platinum will retail for US$ 1,099 and it’s now up for pre-order through DJI’s online store. A Fly More Combo will be available at a later date for US$ 1,399.
Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian
The more professional cousin of the Mavic Pro gets a cosmetic makeover. If you’re in the market for a better drone or maybe looking to purchase another Phantom 4 Pro for your hobby or profession, then you’ll be glad to know that it now comes in a matte-gray Obsidian color shell. It also features a magnesium, electroplated, and anti-fingerprint coated gimbal.
The Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian is coming out this month for US$ 1,499.
Spark firmware update
DJI’s consumer drone, which is still relatively new to the market, gets a firmware upgrade. To be included in the upcoming DJI GO 4 app is the new Sphere Mode. With it, the Spark will be able to take panoramic pictures and lay them into a spherical shape, much like a “tiny planet” effect.
Other additional updates coming are:
- A new gesture to start and stop video recording
- Enhanced QuickShot video features for more cinematic control
- A 180-degree photo shooting mode and improved photo image resolution
- Full integration with the DJI Goggles
- Optimization of the PalmLaunch function for better stability after takeoff
- Improved control accuracy under the QuickShot Dronie mode
Expect the update to come later this year.
SEE ALSO: DJI finally made a compact and affordable drone, the Spark
[irp posts=”14497″ name=”DJI finally made a compact and affordable drone, the Spark”]


The ever-competitive drone market will soon have another brand to welcome. Sony just announced its entry into the consumer drone market with the Airpeak brand, which will likely go toe-to-toe (propeller to propeller?) with established brands like DJI.
Specific details about the brand, however, remain scarce at the moment. Sony’s official website only teases a short cryptic video.
The website also mentions that Airpeak will be the culmination of “imaging and sensing technological expertise and AI Robotics” — something which Sony has with its consumer camera and robotic products.
A separate press release also confirms Sony’s plan to target video creators with the Airpeak brand. Further, the brand will bring 3R technology (Reality, Real-time and Remote) to the drone market.
The first wave of products under the Airpeak is slated to launch in the spring of 2021. In the meantime, Sony will continue to obtain feedback from users who participated in co-creating drones under the brand.
It is worth noting that this isn’t Sony’s first foray into the drone market. Last year, the company entered a partnership with ZMP to form the Aerosense company. However, that company caters specifically to the business sector. So, the Airpeak brand will actually be the company’s first for the consumer drone sector.
Drones
How the tech world helped in the Notre Dame fire incident
Modern technology isn’t our foe at all

In light of the recent news about the fire incident that happened in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, several companies, including those from the tech sector, have shown how much they care for the ruined 856-year-old historic landmark.
DJI
When the flames broke out, firefighters used Mavic Pro and Matrice M210 drones. The cathedral was severely damaged but thankfully, the drones helped in distinguishing where the fire had spread out. Several tweets show how helpful drones are, even during unexpected disasters like this one.
— Alexandre Fremont (@alex_fremont) April 15, 2019
People from DJI talked about how their drones helped Paris’ Emergency Response Team in determining the fire inside the cathedral.
Learning that Emergency Response for Notre Dame also included the use of drones, made me feel good. Then seeing a female operator made me proud. Both individually are not common, both together even less. Such a difficult incident to deal with, done with exemplary. pic.twitter.com/Qdh3UIwmer
— Romeo Durscher (@romeoch) April 16, 2019
Craftsmen built Notre Dame eight centuries ago. Now it may be up to robots to save it.https://t.co/zyfMU1lEuI
— Brendan Schulman (@dronelaws) April 17, 2019
Apple
After the incident, many people, including popular icons all around the globe, have shown their distress about the destruction of the cathedral. Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, is one among those people. He even promised Apple would help in the progress of rebuilding Notre Dame’s ruined architectural landscape.
We are heartbroken for the French people and those around the world for whom Notre Dame is a symbol of hope. Relieved that everyone is safe. Apple will be donating to the rebuilding efforts to help restore Notre Dame’s precious heritage for future generations.🇫🇷
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 16, 2019
Ubisoft
Most gamers can tell that the Notre Dame Cathedral is found in the gameplay of Assassin’s Creed: Unity. Ubisoft, which is also a French company, said that the infrastructure was scanned using their state-of-the-art 3D mapping technology. Using data preserved for the game may help architects and builders in restoring the cathedral. As an addition, the game is for free at the Ubisoft store to honor the fallen landmark.
It may be insignificant for most people but these all prove that companies and their existing technologies can still help in times of global incidents like this.

We won’t bore you with a rundown of its specs, but instead, we’ll give you the lowdown on DJI’s new drone — what works, what doesn’t, and what’s there to love. This is our DJI Mavic 2 Pro review.
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