Cards Fall estuvo disponible anteriormente en iPhone, iPad, Camelloy Mac, y ganó un premio Apple Design Award en 2020. Where Cards Fall, un juego de rompecabezas espacial de ensueño, es una historia sobre la mayoría de edad que pide a los jugadores que construyan castillos de naipes para conmemorar recuerdos.
Apple dice que el juego presenta profundidad 3D e inmersión total, y los jugadores pueden usar controles táctiles accesibles diseñados específicamente para Vision Pro. Hay más de 50 acertijos que puedes resolver usando la imaginación y el pensamiento estratégico.
donde caen las cartas Parte de Apple Arcadeque tiene un precio de $6.99 por mes y también está disponible con manzana uno Paquete de suscripción. Por el precio mensual, hasta seis personas de un grupo familiar pueden acceder a los juegos, y hay más de 200 títulos disponibles. Los nuevos suscriptores pueden obtener una prueba de tres meses con la compra de un dispositivo Apple o una prueba de un mes.
Apple lanzó hoy una nueva actualización de firmware para las versiones Lightning y USB-C de AirPods Pro 2. El nuevo firmware es la versión 6F7, superior al firmware 6B34 lanzado en noviembre. Apple no proporciona detalles sobre qué funciones podrían incluirse en el firmware actualizado además de “correcciones de errores y otras mejoras”, por lo que no está claro qué hay de nuevo en la actualización. Apple no da…
Apple planea agregar una nueva función de efectos de texto a la aplicación Mensajes en iOS 18, según múltiples fuentes familiarizadas con el asunto. Si bien ya es posible enviar iMessages con efectos de burbujas o efectos de pantalla completa, como tinta invisible o confeti de papel, los efectos de texto te permitirán animar palabras individuales dentro del mensaje. Con la aplicación Mensajes configurada para obtener soporte RCS en iOS 18,…
iOS 18 está a la vuelta de la esquina y Apple presentará la actualización de software durante su discurso de apertura de la WWDC el próximo mes. A continuación, recapitulamos las nuevas funciones y cambios que se rumorean para iOS 18, que se espera que sea la actualización “más grande” en la historia del iPhone. Se rumorea que iOS 18 incluye nuevas funciones de inteligencia artificial para Siri y varias aplicaciones, y Apple planea agregar soporte RCS a la aplicación Mensajes para mejorar los mensajes de texto.
iOS 18 se dará a conocer en la conferencia anual de desarrolladores WWDC de Apple en menos de dos semanas y la actualización incluirá algunas funciones nuevas para CarPlay. A continuación, resumimos las nuevas funciones de accesibilidad que Apple presentó recientemente para CarPlay y analizamos el estado actual de la prometida próxima generación de CarPlay. La primera versión beta de iOS 18 probablemente estará disponible para los miembros de Apple…
Ha pasado más de año y medio desde el lanzamiento del actual Apple TV, por lo que probablemente te estés preguntando cuándo se lanzará un nuevo modelo. A continuación, resumimos los rumores sobre el Apple TV de próxima generación, incluidas nuevas funciones y precios más bajos. El Apple TV 4K actual se presentó en octubre de 2022. Las nuevas características clave con respecto al modelo anterior de 2021 incluyen un chip A15 Bionic más rápido, una pantalla más grande…
Apple está planeando una revisión de la IA para Siri en iOS 18, y Mark Gurman de Bloomberg dice que la actualización permitirá a Siri controlar todas las funciones individuales en las aplicaciones por primera vez, ampliando la gama de funciones que puede realizar el asistente personal. Siri podrá hacer cosas como abrir documentos específicos, mover una nota de una carpeta a otra, eliminar un correo electrónico, resumir un artículo,…
Chivo expiatorio La película está cerca de recaudar 150 millones de dólares en la taquilla mundial, a pesar de que se estrenó recientemente en plataformas digitales.
A pesar de las críticas positivas y el poder de las estrellas, la película tuvo un desempeño inferior en taquilla, tal vez debido a su fórmula competitiva y de alto concepto.
Sin embargo, gracias a los elogios de la crítica que recibió, Chivo expiatorio Podría ser un éxito en las plataformas de streaming, mostrando el panorama cambiante de las expectativas de taquilla.
Chivo expiatorio La película está cerca de lograr un importante hito en la taquilla mundial, a pesar de haber debutado recientemente en plataformas digitales. Con la ayuda del especialista y tren expreso La película, dirigida por David Leitch, es un reinicio del programa de televisión de la década de 1980 del mismo nombre y sigue a un hombre de negocios que trabaja en la primera película de acción como director de su exnovia y que se ve envuelto en una conspiración que involucra la desaparición del actor principal de la película. . Chivo expiatorio La película recibió críticas positivas por sus secuencias de acción, acrobacias y la actuación de su elenco, encabezado por Emily Blunt y Ryan Gosling.
La película se acerca a uno de sus hitos de taquilla mundial: 150 millones de dólares.después de sólo unas pocas semanas Chivo expiatorio Multiplique $100 millones por Colisionador. La película agregó casi $6 millones a nivel nacional durante el fin de semana del Día de los Caídos, elevando su total nacional a $74 millones, además de agregar $4 millones en todo el mundo, elevando su total internacional a $71 millones, para un total acumulado de taquilla internacional de $143 millones. Cruzar la marca de los 150 millones de dólares es ahora una posibilidad muy real para la película, a pesar de su traslado a las plataformas digitales, pero aún no cumple con las expectativas.
¿Por qué The Fall Guy tuvo un mal desempeño teatral?
Aunque bien recibida por la crítica, la película parece que será una decepción en taquilla.
Chivo expiatorio Cuenta con una sólida puntuación de los críticos de Rotten Tomatoes del 81% y un índice de audiencia del 86%, está muy comercializado y está protagonizado por dos destacados financiables, Gosling y Blunt, quienes han logrado éxito de crítica (y nominaciones al Oscar). con Barbie Y oppenheimer respectivamente. A pesar de estos factores, la película ha experimentado un lento descenso en taquilla hasta el momento. Una cosa que podría afectar el estreno de la película en cines podría ser Su primera aparición en plataformas digitalesSin duda, esto afectará la cantidad de personas que compran entradas para el cine.
Otra gran razón podría ser que la película está intentando hacer demasiado, intentando impulsar su fórmula altamente conceptual. Alto concepto es un término cinematográfico que se refiere a una película que busca presentar una premisa simple pero convincente, a menudo combinando dos estilos dispares. en caso elvíctima, La película busca ser una película de acción y una comedia romántica.pero en lugar de atraer completamente a los fanáticos de ambos géneros, pareció tener dificultades para interactuar con los fanáticos de ambos géneros de manera efectiva, dejándolo en el limbo de la taquilla.
Relacionado
¿Es The Fall Guy una bomba de taquilla? El decepcionante desglose del primer fin de semana de Ryan Gosling
La taquilla del primer fin de semana de Fall Guy fue decepcionante, lo que plantea la cuestión de si el lanzamiento continuo de la película la convertirá en una bomba de taquilla.
Taquilla final para Chivo expiatorio Debería superar la marca de taquilla mundial de 150 millones de dólares, y hay muchas posibilidades de que la película tenga una larga duración en las plataformas digitales. El tráiler de la película muestra que ni siquiera el poder de las estrellas y los elogios de la crítica son garantía de éxito de taquilla, pero los estudios también parecen valorar el éxito del streaming en estos días, y eso puede terminar siendo igual de importante para una película como Chivo expiatorioY cualquier esperanza de una posible secuela.
Fuente: Colisionador
Chivo expiatorio
The Fall Guy es una película de suspenso y acción dirigida por David Leitch, director de Bullet Train y Deadpool 2. Ryan Gosling interpreta a un especialista que se ve obligado a encontrar a una estrella de cine desaparecida, investigar una conspiración y reparar su relación con el amor de su vida. . La película está escrita por Drew Pearce y está basada en la serie de televisión de los años 80 del mismo nombre.
salida
David Leach
fecha de lanzamiento
3 de mayo de 2024
estudio(s)
Universal Pictures, Entertainment 360, 87 North Productions
Antes de que comenzara la pandemia, una ventana teatral exclusiva de tres meses era un procedimiento operativo estándar para la mayoría de las grandes películas. Si quieres ver algo nuevo, tienes que verlo en el cine. En la era de la pandemia, incluso 45 días parecen ahora un regalo para algunas películas. Global, que se remonta al Trolls World Tour 2020, ha estado a la vanguardia de la dependencia cada vez mayor del VOD para ayudar a que sus películas ganen dinero. Otros estudios han seguido su ejemplo. Ahora, por lo general, sólo se proyectan exclusivamente en las salas las películas con un éxito sostenido.
Creo que las cifras de taquilla de The Fall Guy proporcionan evidencia de que las cosas deben manejarse de manera diferente para la salud a largo plazo de la industria. Estamos hablando de una película que es, en realidad, un rotundo fracaso. No hay dos maneras de hacerlo. Sin embargo, Universal tiene todos los incentivos para intentar recuperar la mayor cantidad de dinero posible. Intentar encajar de alguna manera en el marketing de estreno en cines para ayudar al lanzamiento de VOD ciertamente tiene sentido. Universal ha abogado firmemente a favor del VOD en los últimos años, después de todo. Pero no olvidemos lo más importante: la gente todavía ve esta película en los cines.
“Fall Guy” cayó menos del 40% en su tercer fin de semana. Se produce retención de audiencia, y si los cinéfilos no han sido entrenados para comprender que una película siempre estará disponible en casa en dos o tres semanas, pueden estar más inclinados a verla en el cine. El estudio puede mantenerla en los cines y absorber cada dólar que pueda obtener y mostrarle a la audiencia que esta es una gran película que hicimos para los cines, por lo que deberían verla en el cine.
En cambio, Universal optó por seguir acortando esa ventana exclusiva de cine, que era una de las principales razones por las que muchas personas todavía tienen que ver una película en los cines. En mi opinión, esto es erróneo y miope.
Se podría decir que el trabajo de Colt Savers es sólo… acrobacias. Bueno, eso y recuperar los sentimientos de su amor de toda la vida, todo mientras navega por una estrella de cine desaparecida que parece estar involucrada en algún tipo de conspiración criminal. Sin embargo, la premisa de “The Fall Guy” puede parecer un poco poco práctica. DirectorDavid Leitch El veterano escritor Drew Pearce ha logrado simplificar cada centímetro de esta historia (basada en la serie de televisión de 1981 del mismo nombre) en un viaje divertido. Entonces, fue una agradable sorpresa descubrir que podríamos disfrutar de más acción de alto nivel y acrobacias emocionantes con un corte extendido.
Los espectadores que compren “The Fall Guy” digitalmente a través de los minoristas en línea Apple TV, Fandango at Home (también conocida como la plataforma de transmisión antes conocida como Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox y Microsoft Movies & TV obtendrán acceso exclusivo a la edición especial extendida de película. Que incluye otros 20 minutos de metraje. No se sabe qué otras características adicionales se incluyen en las versiones digitales de la película, y mucho menos si la edición extendida también terminará en un lanzamiento multimedia doméstico para los coleccionistas de 4K, Blu-ray y DVD entre nosotros. (Aún no se ha anunciado una fecha de lanzamiento físico para los medios).
Nuevamente, es desafortunado que The Fall Guy no esté disponible exclusivamente en la pantalla grande durante las próximas semanas, lo que le dará una mejor oportunidad de recuperar su presupuesto de producción y costos de marketing. Pero para aquellos que no pudieron viajar a los cines de manera segura y asequible, al menos la película llegará a formato digital mucho antes de lo esperado.
Cuando Fall Out Boy llegó a “Teen Titans Go!” Se unen a una de las mejores actuaciones del programa, el especial de cuatro partes titulado “El día que la noche dejó de brillar y se volvió oscura incluso si fuera de día”.
En pocas palabras, el especial se inspiró en una canción viral presentada por primera vez en un episodio de 2014, que luego se convirtió en la canción favorita de Cyborg de todos los tiempos y su mayor obsesión: “The Night Begins to Shine”. La canción, que llegó a las listas de rock de Billboard en 2017, en realidad no fue escrita por una banda de rock, sino que era parte de una biblioteca de música de producción (que publica música general para su uso en películas, televisión y comerciales). Escrita como una canción al estilo de los 80, “The Night Begins to Shine” es innegablemente pegadiza, gracias a la fuerza de sus tres escritores. Siguiendo la tradición del programa, el 40% fue escrito por el baterista Carl Burnett, otro 40% vino del guitarrista Franklin Ena y finalmente el tecladista William J. Regan nos dio el último 20% de la canción “Sweet, Sweet”. El nombre de la banda falsa que apareció en las listas de Billboard, BER, está tomado de la primera letra del apellido de cada músico.
Para el especial de cuatro episodios, los productores contrataron a algunos actores importantes: CeeLo Green, Fall Out Boy e incluso Puffy AmiYumi (escritores del tema principal de la serie original) para hacer versiones de “The Night Begins to Shine”. El episodio encuentra a Cyborg transportado a un mundo de fantasía post-apocalíptico gobernado por un dragón. Para salvarlo, el resto de los Titanes reclutan a Green y Fall Out Boy para cantar la canción mágica y transformar a la banda de rock en un robot mutante parecido a Voltron. Él Mola.
El presupuesto neto de 130 millones de dólares de la película, que incluye créditos fiscales y demás, cobra mucha importancia. Lo que este número no tiene en cuenta es el gran gasto en marketing que Universal ha puesto todo su esfuerzo en The Fall Guy. El estudio llevó la película a SXSW y CinemaCon, además de realizar una campaña de medios completa. Nadie puede decir que el estudio no se esforzó demasiado para que esta película fuera un éxito. Pero todo esto tiene un costo y ese dinero debe recuperarse. Probablemente estemos ante un gasto total de unos 230 millones de dólares. El estudio recupera sólo aproximadamente la mitad del dinero de la venta de entradas. Como resultado, las matemáticas actualmente son hostiles.
La gran pregunta será qué sucederá en las próximas semanas. La película familiar de John Krasinski “IF” pretende recaudar unos 40 millones de dólares el próximo fin de semana, con The Strangers: Capítulo 1 y la película biográfica de Amy Winehouse Back to Black también en los cines. El fin de semana siguiente, “Furiosa” y “La película de Garfield” se unirán al cartel. Si “The Fall Guy” aún puede sobrevivir frente a tal competencia, existe una posibilidad de luchar. Pero todavía estamos muy lejos de que esta película alcance los 300 millones de dólares, que es probablemente lo que necesita alcanzar al menos para ser considerada un éxito a cualquier nivel. Universal podría ayudar en su caso al no apresurar la película a VOD, pero no aguantaría la respiración en este caso.
De cara al futuro, la película se estrenará en China este fin de semana, pero las películas de Hollywood han tenido dificultades para debutar en el país en la era de la pandemia. También llegará a Japón a finales de este verano en agosto. ¿A quién conoces? Quizás este sea el “Elemental” de 2024 y cree una lágrima inesperada. Lo dudo, pero un resultado así sería bueno para una película que aman tanto la crítica como el público.
You’ve probably seen the headlines: battery EV sales are slowing down, and PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) sales are hot; the DC fast charging infrastructure isn’t good enough for road trips, so you should drive a PHEV; battery EVs aren’t ready for prime time, but PHEV are the best of both worlds. I’m here to tell you that it’s all nonsense. Battery EVs are better today than ever, while PHEVs are full of compromises.
Before we dive into why PHEVs are generally a bad idea, here’s a quick disclaimer. I’ve been driving battery EVs for six years now (I’ve owned two Tesla Model 3s back-to-back), and as a car journalist, I’ve tested almost every battery EV available in the US over the last decade, plus my fair share of PHEVs. Since 2018, I’ve been doing road trips in battery EVs multiple times a year all over the Western US.
Because I live in an apartment, I have to park on the street, and I can’t charge at home. I’m also a car enthusiast, and I prefer sporty vehicles that perform and handle well. Obviously, I’m not the average consumer. We all have different priorities, different budgets, and different comfort levels around change. And yes, the EV charging infrastructure isn’t evenly distributed yet. But if you’re looking at PHEVs right now, hear me out.
What are PHEVs?
What are PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles)? In a nutshell, PHEVs are hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles that can be plugged into a power outlet. Unlike regular hybrids, which require gasoline and are basically ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles outfitted with a small battery and electric motor to improve fuel efficiency, PHEVs usually feature a larger battery, plus a charging port (just like battery EVs).
The inconvenient truth is that at the core, PHEVs are still basically gas cars.
PHEVs typically have an EV-only range of up to 40 miles, after which the ICE kicks in and they behave like regular hybrids – fuel-efficient gasoline vehicles. This means you can plug your PHEV into a power outlet every night and drive up to 40 miles a day on electricity without using a drop of gas. And since the average American drives less than 40 miles per day, a PHEV makes it possible to drive 100% electric every day.
Then, if you need to drive farther – like on a road trip – you can fall back on good ole’ dino juice (gasoline), so you don’t have to deal with finding one of those pesky DC fast charging stations or – god forbid – waiting 20 minutes for a charge every 2-3 hours. Plus, your PHEV probably has a gasoline range of over 400 miles. Suck it, battery EVs! Sounds ideal, right? Unfortunately, it’s not. PHEVs are the worst of both worlds.
PHEVs are still gas vehicles
The exhaust pipe on the Lincoln Corsair PHEV is a dead giveaway. (Image credit: Myriam Joire)
The inconvenient truth is that at the core, PHEVs are still basically gas cars. Sure, they also include a small EV drivetrain, but they are based on the same platform as their hybrid and gasoline twins, with the same packaging and safety compromises. So, unlike most battery EVs, which are built on a bespoke platform, PHEVs don’t have a frunk (front trunk), or a flat floor, or anywhere near the same amount of interior space.
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With an ICE (internal combustion engine) under the hood, you don’t benefit from the low center of mass, near 50/50 weight distribution, and massive front crumple zone offered by most battery EVs. This makes PHEVs worse in terms of active (handling) and passive (crash) safety. Also, most PHEVs (even AWD ones) are based on a FWD (front-wheel drive) architecture, so driving dynamics are inherently compromised.
Then, there’s maintenance. While battery EVs basically just need new tires, new wiper blades, and wiper fluid refills, PHEVs require the same maintenance as other gas cars – regular fluid changes (oil, coolant, and transmission), plus tune-ups and emissions tests. So, with PHEVs, you don’t benefit from the same maintenance savings as battery EVs – other than reduced brake wear from regenerative braking.
PHEVs are lackluster EVs
As I mentioned above most battery EVs are built from the ground up on a bespoke platform – typically a “skateboard” with the motor(s) and electronics located between the front and rear wheels, and a large battery pack mounted in the floor between the front and rear axles. Thanks to the battery’s low center of mass and the motors’ high torque, the vast majority of battery EVs deliver better handling and acceleration than PHEVs.
When driving on electricity alone, PHEVs are hampered by a smaller battery and electric motor than battery EVs, plus the weight of the unused ICE (internal combustion engine) and other related components. For maximum performance, PHEVs must combine their electric motor and ICE, and thus burn gas. Plus, most PHEVs lack the regenerative braking settings and one-pedal driving modes that make battery EVs such a pleasure to drive.
Thanks to the battery’s low center of mass and the motors’ high torque, the vast majority of battery EVs deliver better handling and acceleration than PHEVs.
To make matters worse, PHEVs are not significantly lighter or more affordable than similar battery EVs. For example, let’s compare a popular PHEV – the Toyota RAV4 Prime – with the world’s best-selling car – the Tesla Model Y. Both are crossovers, and both are about the same size. As of writing, the RAV4 Prime weighs 4,235lbs and costs $43,690, while the Model Y weighs 4,154lbs and costs $42,990. So why even bother with PHEVs?
PHEVs require home charging to make sense
Another important thing to consider is that you must be able to charge PHEVs at home (or at work) to make them worthwhile. If you never (or rarely) plug your PHEV into a power outlet to charge it, you’re just basically driving around in a heavier-than-normal hybrid with worse fuel efficiency than a regular hybrid. While it’s less expensive to charge at home than at most public chargers, it’s not a requirement for battery EVs.
I know plenty of battery EV owners who live in an apartment and can’t charge at home (myself included). Unlike PHEVs, most battery EVs have a range of 250 miles or more, so you don’t need to charge them every day. Plus, DC fast charging is rapidly becoming more plentiful and more reliable now that most EV manufacturers are adding support for Tesla’s vast Supercharger network to their battery EVs.
This evolving EV charging landscape is also why battery EVs are becoming more viable than ever for road trips, making PHEVs even less relevant.
PHEVs aren’t the answer
Ultimately, PHEVs are still ICE vehicles. They must burn gas and pollute the air just like hybrids and gas cars once their 40-mile EV-only range is depleted. Climate change is real. Do you want to continue being a part of the problem? Do you really want to continue spewing toxic gasses – in communities outside of your own, no less – because you can’t give up the comforting glow of gas stations during road trips? Yes, I am judging you.
“But wait” I hear you say “I plan to plug my PHEV into a power outlet every night and drive up to 40 miles a day on electricity without using a drop of gas.” Good for you. But then, why don’t you just buy a battery EV? Even a Nissan Leaf with just 150 miles of range will get the job done, and you won’t be wasting electricity to lug around a heavy ICE (internal combustion engine), gas tank, muffler, and related paraphernalia.
So, forget PHEVs – they aren’t the answer. Battery EVs are viable today, and the sooner we all get on board, the better. It’s time to commit! Go battery EV or go home.
Apple today confirmed that it will be bringing all of the app ecosystem changes made to iOS in the European Union to iPadOS in the fall. Earlier this week, the European Commission said that iPadOS is also a gatekeeper platform under the Digital Markets Act.
EU developers will be able to distribute iPad apps outside of the App Store using alternative app marketplaces or websites, and all of the same terms will apply. The Core Technology Fee will be charged for apps that are distributed outside of the App Store and have more than one million first annual installs, though there are exceptions for small developers, which Apple also announced today.
With iPadOS being added to the mix, Apple has also confirmed that users who install the same app on both iOS and iPadOS in a 12-month period will only generate one first annual install for that app rather than two, which should help developers keep below the CTF threshold.
As with the changes to iOS, the upcoming changes to iPadOS only apply to developers who distribute apps in the European Union and iPad users in the EU. For the rest of the world, there are no changes and apps will continue to be available only from the App Store.
Apple is expected to announce iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, and new features have already been rumored for many apps, including Apple Music, Apple Maps, Calculator, Messages, Notes, Safari, and others. Below, we recap iOS 18 rumors on a per-app basis, based on reports from MacRumors, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, and others: Apple Maps: At least two new Apple Maps features are…
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman outlined some of the new products he expects Apple to announce at its “Let Loose” event on May 7. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. First, Gurman now believes there is a “strong possibility” that the upcoming iPad Pro models will be equipped with Apple’s next-generation M4 chip, rather than the M3 chip that…
Apple’s upcoming iPad Pro models will feature “by far the best OLED tablet panels on the market,” according to Display Supply Chain Consultants. Set to be announced on May 7, the OLED iPad Pro models will feature LTPO (a more power efficient form of OLED), a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, and a tandem stack and glass thinning that will bring “ultra-thin and light displays” that support high…
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman today said that iOS 18 will “overhaul” many of Apple’s built-in apps, including Notes, Mail, Photos, and Fitness. Gurman did not reveal any specific new features planned for these apps. It was previously rumored that the Notes app will gain support for displaying more math equations, and a built-in option to record voice memos, but this is the first time we have…
Best Buy today has discounted Apple’s M1 iPad Air (64GB Wi-Fi) to a new all-time low price of $399.99 in the Starlight color option, down from $599.99. Best Buy says this deal will last through the end of the day, and it’s only available in one color at this record low price. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a…
Apple has announced it will be holding a special event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The event invitation has a tagline of “Let Loose” and shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more …
With iOS 17.5, Apple is adding a “Repair State” feature that is designed to allow an iPhone to be sent in for service without deactivating Find My and Activation Lock. The fourth iOS 17.5 beta that came out today adds a “Remove This Device” option for all devices in Find My, and using it with an iPhone puts that iPhone into the new Repair State. Right now, sending an iPhone to Apple to be…
Apple’s iPhone shipments decreased by nearly 10% globally in the first quarter of 2024, hit by rapid growth in shipments by rival Chinese vendors, based on data provided by the International Data Corporation (IDC).
According to the IDC report, Apple’s shipments fell 9.6% to 50.1 million units in the first quarter, down from 55.4 million units in the same quarter the previous year. Apple experienced the most significant annual decline among the top five smartphone brands covered in the report.
Samsung reclaimed its position as the market leader, which it had lost to Apple the previous year, by capturing a 20.8% market share with shipments of about 60.1 million units, roughly the same as last year. Last year, its market share was 22.5% during the same period.
In contrast, after having last year overtaken Samsung to become the top smartphone manufacturer for the first time, Apple experienced a decline in market share from 20.7% to 17.3%.
“While IDC expects these two companies to maintain their hold on the high end of the market, the resurgence of Huawei in China, as well as notable gains from Xiaomi, Transsion, OPPO/OnePlus, and vivo will likely have both OEMs looking for areas to expand and diversify,” said Ryan Reith, group vice president at IDC Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers.
Apple has struggled to sustain interest in its flagship smartphone lineup in China since the company released its iPhone 15 series in September, which came after Huawei debuted its highly popular Mate 60 series. Interest in iPhones has also been impacted by a Beijing-backed ban from the offices of a huge number of state-owned enterprises in power generation, seaport construction, mining, manufacturing, education, and investment markets.
Apple’s drop in shipments came during a time when global first-quarter smartphone shipments actually rose 7.8% year-on-year to 289.4 million units. It was the third consecutive quarter of shipment growth across the worldwide market, according to IDC.
As TechRadar’s Cameras Editor I see all kinds of weird and wonderful devices for capturing stills and video, but just when I thought I’d seen it all, the Nons SL660 popped up in my YouTube feed and piqued my curiosity. It’s an instant camera, but not as we know it, being an angular hunk of metal – an SLR with passive Canon EF lens mount, that captures to readily available Fujifilm Instax Square film.
Nons makes two lenses that are directly compatible with the SL660’s Canon EF lens mount – a 35mm f/2.8 and a 50mm f/1.8 – plus a range lens adaptors for other popular SLR lens mounts, including Nikon F and Pentax K. When I requested a loan sample from Nons for this feature, I asked for the Canon EF to Nikon F adaptor because I own a few excellent Nikon lenses, including the full-frame Nikon 20mm f/2.8D AF.
There’s also a Nons SL645, camera, and the key difference between that model and the SL660 is that it records onto Instax Mini film instead. Personally, I much prefer the size of Instax Square prints (and the larger-still Polaroid film even more), so the SL660 was the obvious choice for review.
The ‘correct’ orientation to shoot with the Nons SL660. (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
Unlike most simple point-and-shoot instant cameras that only offer auto exposure, the Nons SL660 is SLR by design, and entirely manual in operation. You’ll need to select the shutter speed and lens aperture, with an exposure meter above the lens telling you what aperture to use with the selected shutter speed. Your frame is viewed through a pentaprism viewfinder, focus is manual, and you even have to manually eject the print when you’ve taken the shot – a feature that enables multi-exposure shooting.
This is truly a photographer’s instant camera, and to that end you can swap lenses to mix up the type of shots you can make. It’s also one of, if not the most, expensive instant cameras available. It’s pricier because it’s made of tough metal and in smaller batches versus the standard plastic used in most other mass-produced instant cameras like the Fujifilm Instax SQ40; the Nons SL660 is an altogether different camera to those, and the high-end build quality goes some way towards justifying the significant outlay.
The SL660 is a bulky and heavy instant camera, and the image quality it’s capable of producing is ultimately limited by the Instax Square film it uses – you will, for example, need an ND filter in bright light. Despite its constraints, I’m charmed by it, and I suspect that of all the best instant cameras you can buy, the Nons SL660 is the one that photographer me will come back to again and again.
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(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
Nons SL660: price and release date
The Nons SL660 camera alone costs $599 / £603 from the Nons website or from Amazon, and with its passive Canon EF lens mount it’s best suited to manual-control Canon EF lenses. If you use modern Canon EF lenses you might sacrifice aperture control (if your lens doesn’t have an aperture ring) and even manual focus control (‘STM’ lenses). You can also purchase the SL660 as a bundle with the 35mm f/2.8 lens for $709 / £717, with the 50mm f/1.8 lens for $649 / £660, or with any one of a number of lens adaptors for $609 / £615. This high-end pricing pits the SL660 firmly against the Polaroid I-2 – the two cameras are in a different league to point-and-shoot instant cameras. Pricing for the Nons SL645 starts at $539 / £541. We’ll update this review if and when pricing and availability for Australia are confirmed.
Nons SL660: design
Images of the Nons SL660 online didn’t prepare me for what I set my eyes on when unboxing the gear – this looks like no other instant camera. It’s a love it or hate it brutalist block of aluminum with defined features: a genuine wooden grip, a crank to engage the viewfinder, a pronounced shutter button, and striking shutter speed dial.
There’s an optical viewfinder with through-the-lens display, so the perspective is correct to the attached lens. The display is dim, but I like its grainy filmic quality. There’s a portion of your instant print that you don’t see through the viewfinder display – when shooting with the thick border at the bottom of your Instax Square print, the unseen section is to the left. It takes a couple of shots to get used to this, and thereafter you can factor this in to make the best possible composition.
To shoot the ‘correct’ way, with the thicker border positioned at the bottom of your print, you need to flip the camera 90 degrees with the grip at the top – vertical if you will – otherwise the thick border will be on the left-hand side of your print, which looks weird unless that’s your intention.
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(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
The Nons SL660 is powered by an internal battery topped up via USB-C (using the supplied USB-C to USB-A cable, not just any USB-C cable) and is rated for around 100 shots on a full charge. A tiny top LCD displays battery life along with the number of prints remaining in the inserted film pack (the shot counter failed in my review sample after a couple of packs of film), plus the aperture setting needed on your lens to get the correct exposure for the selected shutter speed, based on the camera’s exposure metering.
If you’re shooting in bright light you’ll need an ND filter for your lens, or else your shots will be overexposed – a 3EV to 7EV variable ND is perfect. The Nons 35mm f/2.8 lens I had has a 52mm thread. Because the exposure meter is separate to the lens (ie., not TTL), you’ll need to calculate the exposure settings based on the strength of the filter, or place it in front of the meter to get the reading first, and then attach it to the lens. The ‘reflective’ exposure meter calculates an evaluative reading for the whole frame.
By today’s standards the Nons SL660 is awkward to hold, and by heck is it chunky, primarily because it needs that extra depth for the Canon EF-mount flange focal distance. This is no pocket camera. It’s also a paradox – a custom-made one-of-a-kind feel, yet it captures onto the most popular and accessible instant film. I had several packs of regular Instax Square film for this review, and there are a few readily available alternatives, like a monochrome film, too.
Stylistically I like the pronounced shutter button. However, it’s all too easy to press it unintentionally, which results in a wasted print. I almost lost that screw-on button, too, as it unthreaded itself more than once. The reason that the button is detachable in the first place is to allow you to swap it out for a cable release for hands-free operation, which is neat, but a tighter thread is needed for a secure fix.
Nons SL660: performance
Long before I’d received the Nons SL660 or taken any shots with it, I had formed a certain expectation regarding the quality of instant prints it could make. After all, it comes with a proper Nons lens, plus, in my case, I can use it with some excellent Nikon lenses. Rival instant cameras like the Instax SQ40 are restricted to a built-in, low-cost lens.
Surely, then, the instant photos made with the Nons SL660 would be superior to anything else before it? Well, yes and no. Despite the superior optics, we’re still shooting onto the same film type – an ISO800 stock with limited dynamic range. Also, the print area of Instax Square film only measures 62mm x 62mm, and so it’s hardly big enough to really show off lens quality.
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
Rather than outright image quality, the real appeal of the SL660 over cheaper and simpler rivals, besides its unique design, is that you can swap out lenses and therefore mix up the focal length and perspective of your shots. Unfortunately, my telephoto macro lens for Nikon F-mount lacks an aperture ring, and I was unable to get a good shot with it. Get the right manual lens, however, and great fun can be had.
Almost all the instant photos I took with the SL660 for this review were taken with the Nons 35mm f/2.8 lens. For full exposure control when adapting an alternative lens, like I did through the Nikon F-mount adaptor, you need a lens with aperture control. That counts out most modern DSLR lenses from Canon, Nikon and Pentax. When using a Nikon lens without an aperture ring, the aperture is automatically set to its smallest setting, while some Canon lenses are set to their widest aperture setting. (I also had a great struggle removing the adaptor ring from my Nikon lens after use.) Besides Nons’ own lenses, an old Canon EF lens with aperture ring makes the most practical sense.
To get prints with the correct brightness, I needed to experiment a little to understand the behaviour of the SL660’s auto-exposure metering. If you follow the suggested aperture settings to a tee, then prints tend to come out a little dark for my liking, but when I increased the exposure by around 1EV, by opening the aperture up or halving the shutter speed, the results were better.
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
Apply this knowledge about the camera’s exposure metering and most your shots will come out fine. However, alternatives like the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40 shoot in auto-exposure only, with a built-in auto flash, and with those cameras you’ll get fewer wasted prints.
You also need to understand the limitations of Fujifilm Instax film. It has an ISO 800 sensitivity rating, which is bang on with the fastest possible 1/250 sec shutter speed and f/4 aperture (approx) when shooting in cloudy weather, but when the sun comes out you need to stop the aperture right down, to nearer f/22 or even beyond the limit of the lens.
I prefer the look when shooting with a wider aperture, not least to make subjects stand out better, but also in this case for a brighter and clearer view through the viewfinder (it gets dimmer as you reduce the aperture size), and so a ND filter is a must-have accessory – otherwise the SL660 is practically unusable in bright light.
There’s also a hard limit on the dynamic range of the film – if you shoot scenes with high contrast, like a backlit portrait or a white overcast sky, you’ll need to choose between a brightness for highlights or shadows; you can’t have both. An ideal scenario is even lighting: soft sunlight on your subject and background, or at least a darker background so the subjects pops.
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
There’s a standard hotshoe to attach an optional flash. Nons doesn’t sell its own flash, nor did I use the SL660 with a flash for this review – that’s a whole other creative technique I look forward to exploring with this camera. I’ve complained about certain Fujifilm Instax cameras with built-in flash in the past because some models auto-fire the flash for every photo you take, whether you need it or not. However, that’s a better option than the SL660, which has no built-in flash at all – at least you can cover an Instax camera’s flash with your finger when it’s not needed.
Once your shot is ready, you hard-press the eject button and out pops the print. This manual-eject control also enables a multi-exposure function. You’ll need to recalculate the correct exposure for each shot depending what’s in each frame, and the results can be excellent if you know what you’re doing, or at least be prepared to waste a print or two experimenting. For example, I shot a self-portrait silhouette against a bright sky in one exposure, and then another one of closeup details of flowers that visibly populates the silhouette – a classic double-exposure effect.
Overall, if you’re using the Nons SL660 with the 35mm f/2.8 lens without ND filter or flash, it’s fairly limited as to what scenes it’s suitable for. But if you’re equipped with accessories and willing to experiment, great results can be achieved.
Should I buy the Nons SL660?
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How I tested the Nons SL660
(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)
I had the Nons SL660 SLR instant camera for a couple of months, and I went through a fair few packs of regular Instax Square film. For the majority of the review I used the Nons 35mm f/2.8 lens, although I did adapt a couple of my Nikon F-mount lenses with mixed success.
Testing the camera in a variety of lighting conditions that ranged from sunny weather to indoors, I experimented with various shutter speeds and lens apertures, and took both single-shot and multi-exposure photos. I’ve not used the Nons SL660 with a hotshoe mounted flash, nor used the bulb mode or attached a cable release.
