DJI announces the Matrice 600 aerial photography drone

DJI has announced its newest and most proficient aerial photography drone, the Matrice 600.

The Matrice 600 is the most powerful drone DJI ever made and is designed to lift your heavy camera rig along with a gimbal mount. The six rotor system can lift a maximum payload of 6kg, and has full support for DJI's own Zenmuse Z15 series and the brand new Ronin-MX gimbal designed to work specifically with the M600 in the air.

The M600 uses the new A3 flight controller and Lightbridge 2 video transmission technology to transmit 1080p video at up to 5 kilometers distance. The A3 flight controller uses sine-wave driven electronic speed controllers for accurate movements in the air. The self adaptive flight system adjusts parameters automatically based on the payload.

The A3 system can be upgraded to A3 PRO, which uses data from three GPS systems and three inertial measurement units. The system can be further upgraded to DJI Real-Time Kinematic technology, which offers centimeter accurate flight patterns to be replicated, so you can get the same shot every time.

The M600 has a custom six battery array, and can continue to fly even if one of the batteries fails. It can fly for 36 minutes with the DJI Zenmuse Z5 camera or up to 16 minutes with something like the RED EPIC.

The M600 supports the DJI GO app, which allows you to remotely monitor the live video feed, battery and redundancy status, transmission strength and also adjust the camera aperture, shutter speed, photo and video capture on any of the Zenmuse X-series cameras, with remote focus on the Zenmuse X5 and Z5R.

The DJI Matrice 600 costs $4599, and the Ronin-MX is another $1599.

Metallic design, May launch tipped for Samsung's C series smartphones

As you might already know, Samsung is working on a new 'C' series of smartphones, with the SM-C5000 being spotted on Zauba last month and on Geekbench recently, revealing some of its key specs.

Now, thanks to a new report, we know a bit more about the new series. The report says that the C series will feature thin metallic bodies, and is expected to launch in the month of May (next month). As for the launch markets, the phones are expected to be exclusive to China.

Aside from the SM-C5000, a C7000 model is also said to be in the works, although not much is known about it at the moment. Also not known is the price tag these C series handsets will carry.

New Nubia Z11 Mini teasers focus on device's camera

Nubia (the ZTE sub-brand) has released a couple of new teasers of its upcoming Z11 Mini smartphone. The teasers focus on the device's camera, with one of them confirming that the phone will come with an updated NeoVersion camera system, and saying that it will be "Simply Beautiful."

Another teaser - which the Chinese company shared on its Facebook page - features a jumping cheetah being snapped, effectively conveying that the device's camera will be very fast.

Meanwhile, the company's GM Ni Fei revealed that the camera will come with a new feature dubbed Clone Mode, although he didn't offer much details about it.

The Nubia Z11 Mini (which was spotted listed on TENAA last month) as well as the standard Z11 are expected to be officially announced tomorrow (April 19).

Android N to have pressure sensitive display support

Google is working on adding pressure sensitive touchscreen support in Android N. According to The Verge, who reached out to Google, the company confirmed that this will be baked into the OS due to demand from OEMs who want to implement the feature in their devices. Having an OS-level support means the manufacturers won't have to do it on their own (as Huawei does right now) and it will also have better support from third party developers.

The latest developer preview of Android N has a hint of this ability in the new "setDynamicShortcuts(List)" feature. With this, shortcuts on your homescreen will show additional functionality when you press on the display, similar to the iPhone 6s. It's not specific to pressure sensitive displays, however, so it could be invoked by other methods, such as a swipe down, on devices that don't have a pressure sensitive display.

Amazon Prime monthly subscriptions now available; Prime Video launched as standalone service

If you are a fan of Amazon's Prime delivery service, but don't like the fact that it's only available as an annual subscription, here is some good news: the online retailer has rolled out a monthly subscription for it.

There are, however, a couple of important facts worth knowing about the new subscription. Firstly, it costs $10.99/month, meaning around $130 a year, which is way more when compared to the current $99 a year annual subscription.

And secondly, the new monthly subscription does not include the Amazon Prime Video service, which is currently included in the $99 yearly subscription. The video service, meanwhile, has been launched as a standalone product, costing $8.99 a month.

Ecuador earthquake: US carriers offering free call/text services to the country

In the wake of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Ecuador this past weekend, killing around 250 (the number may still go up), several of the major US carriers have announced free call/text services to the South American country.

The list currently includes T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T. While the former's offer runs through Sunday, April 24, the latter two are offering free call/message services until April 23 and April 22, respectively.

Carrier subsidiaries like MetroPCS, GoSmart Mobile, WalMart Family Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Virgin Mobile USA are also included.

MicFlip Reversible microUSB cable review

The dawn of the microUSB may be upon us, but it still has a few years before it's properly phased out. While the USB Type-C allows reversible plugs, it's yet to be come the most popular, let alone the only standard.

Many new smartphones, among other gadgets, available today on the market still prefer the microUSB plugs either to maintain backwards compatibility or simply because it's a smaller plug. Just look at the Galaxy S7 series.

And we all know the inconvenience of trying to plug a microUSB cable the wrong way. Best case scenario - it's annoying. Worst case - you can irreversibly damage the port.

MicFlip has a solution for this problem - a reversible microUSB cable.

It does exactly what the name suggests - the 2m cable has a regular USB 2.0 plug on one of its sides to plug into computers or charger plugs. And the other side ends with a specially designed symmetric microUSB plug that goes in either way.

First, and most important, it works. You can plug the cable into most of the microUSB ports on various mobile devices hassle-free, and you don’t need to watch if the correct side is up. Inside the small microUSB head, the pins are placed on both side of a small board while the exterior shell has its four corners sliced to fit in any microUSB port.

Second, it's as easy and convenient as it looks like. The cable is made of high-quality materials, and it can work with virtually any charger plug, including fast/rapid chargers, and any Mac, PC, TV, and console.

There is a catch, though. We had issues with quite a few Samsung and HTC smartphones in our office - the cable just didn't want to go in.

It’s because of the pins, which are placed on both sides and makes it really hard to insert the cable in particular devices. The solution turned out to be quite simple - just push it hard into any device that seems not to be taking it. It will eventually go in, and the pins will retract a bit.

After the first tough insertion we had no problem putting the MicFlip into any device.

MicFlip is for those who are tired of always being careful with their cables. Especially if you have broken a port already. Some may consider the MicFlip cable to be solving a non-existing problem while others will find it a blessing.

Weekly poll: HTC 10 - hot or not?

The HTC 10 is the last to join this spring's flagship party, with the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7 announced some two months ago, and already widely available. Even the Huawei P9 beat the HTC 10 to it by a week. So it begs the question is the 10 fashionably late, or just late?

The Koreans will give it a nod for the QHD resolution on its Super LCD 5(who's counting) - HTC didn't make the jump from FullHD last year, but 2017 would have been too late. They share the same heart too, at least in some parts of the world - the Snapdragon 820.

The Taiwanese company also takes the same approach as Samsung (which was actually introduced by UltraPixel M8) to imaging - fewer, but larger pixels on its rear camera. HTC calls it Ultra Pixel 2. The LG G5 and Huawei P9 are unimpressed by such single-cam efforts and go about arguing whether wide-angle of black-and-white images are "it" this year.

What neither of those can brag about, though, is an optically stabilized selfie camera - the HTC 10 pulls out its trump card. Yes, it's just 5MP, but they're 1.34µm each, and sit behind an f/1.8 lens. The Galaxy S7's optics may be a smidgen brighter at f/1.7, but the stabilization should be able to make up for it and then some.

And that's before we get to the HTC 10's body - "a perfect 10" some have already called it. Adding sharp edges to the graceful curves of previous One's, this latest is simply a stunner.

6.4" Xiaomi Max front panel leaked - truly massive

Barely hours ago we told you about a future Xiaomi phablet, which after an online poll the company decided to name Xiaomi Max. Meanwhile a couple of photos have surfaced, and they seem to be coming straight from the production line.

The shots depict the device's front panel and it's nothing short of colossal. If we're still going to call it a phone, that is - as tablets go it's tiny.

Alleged Xia0mi Max front panel

Compact side bezels, capacitive keys on the chin, earpiece and sensor array - the panel looks very much in line with Xiaomi's design language. Unlike the current flagship Mi 5, though, there's no hardware home button with a fingerprint reader. Fret not though, as the sources say that such a sensor will be found on the back like with the Redmi Note 3 and the Mi 4s.

As far as specs go, it's only the Snapdragon 820 that seems to be settled on. Even the resolution of that huge display hasn't been revealed.

Announcement time frame is still unknown obviously, but the source does mention the month of May.

Latest Galaxy S7/S7 edge update hits the UK too, Shape correction included

An update for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, which first rolled out in certain regions early this week, has now made it to the UK. The new firmware is arriving on both unlocked and carrier units as we speak.

In terms of features, the update brings shape correction for skewed photos - a toggle to be found in the camera settings. The S7 edge also gets improved palm rejection - the flat S7 doesn't really need it.

There's the usual unspecified bug fixes and stability and performance improvements. Additionally, the new firmware includes the latest available Android security patch, dated April 2.

Apple's order reduction for iPhone parts extends into April-June quarter

Apple's reduced iPhone production will extend into the April-June quarter, Nikkei reports, citing parts suppliers from Japan. Component orders were reduced by 30% for the previous quarter and the same volumes will be kept for this one.

A recent analysis projected a continuing downward trend in iPhone sales, and this seems to be the generally agreed upon direction, following a first year-on-year decline in shipments since the original iPhone's launch in 2007, reported in January. The latest iPhone SE is alsonot expected to reverse the trend.

              Apple iPhone 6s

Realistically speaking, an increase in iPhone 6s/6s Plus orders makes little sense now, with the company inevitably shifting to iPhone 7 production in the months to come. And with more than 90% of mobile market profits going Apple's way, the company doesn't seem likely to go in the red anytime soon.

Poll results: New Huawei P9 duo gets super warm reception

Bright future ahead for the Huawei P9 and P9 Plus if our poll results are any indication. Both phones got an overwhelmingly positive reception with the Plus only a tiny bit ahead of its plain brother.

So, dual-cameras, premium metal build, fingerprint sensor, fast processor vs. no 4K video recording? That's 4 to 1 in favor, which is exactly what the P9 gets. Well, yes, admittedly we picked arbitrary pros and con for that statement, but the ratio still stands.

In more precise figures, the Huawei P9 gathers 78% of upvotes and we'll go ahead and count that as a sign of approval for dual cameras. Not that it matters that much as phone makers are already going in that direction as it is.

The P9 Plus collects a marginal 2% on top of that, for a total of 80% thumbs up. Should we interpret that as the portion of our readers who'd use the headline Pressure Touch? Or just the "bigger is better" principle at play?