The Future of the iPhone: Could Apple’s Portless Dream Be on the Horizon?

Speculation and Rumors

For years, Apple fans have speculated about Apple’s ultimate vision for the iPhone. The black glass slab hasn’t changed a whole lot over the years, except for getting bigger and losing a few buttons and ports (who can forget Apple describing its decision to remove the headphone jack as ‘courageous’).

New Developments

People have long suspected that Apple would love nothing more than to produce a full wireless iPhone, one without a charging port at all. It was always believed that EU regulations, which strong-armed Apple into adopting USB-C in 2023, wouldn’t let this happen. But according to new reports, this is no longer the case.

EU Regulations and Port Requirements

According to 9to5Mac, a European Commission press officer has confirmed that if a charging port is present, it must be USB-C, but that doesn’t mean that a device needs a charging port at all to be compliant. This leaves Apple free to produce a portless iPhone – and the company has apparently been exploring the idea with the much-rumoured iPhone 17 Air.

The iPhone 17 Air: A Step Towards a "Slimmer, Port-Free Future"

The rumoured iPhone 17 Air (left) could be the first step towards a "slimmer, port-free future". The report does suggest that the iPhone 17 Air will be the first step towards a "slimmer, port-free era". It seems the iPhone Apple has always wanted to make might finally be a possibility.

The Future of Charging: MagSafe

Could MagSafe soon become the only way to charge? The iPhone 17 Air is said to be missing a charging port, and at one point in production, it was also missing a SIM card slot. But, according to Bloomberg, Apple ultimately decided against cutting it just yet. But, the report does suggest that MagSafe could be the future of charging.

Conclusion

The future of the iPhone may be portless, and it seems that Apple is closer than ever to making this a reality. With the iPhone 17 Air, Apple may have found a way to produce a slim, wireless phone that doesn’t need a charging port at all. The possibilities are endless, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for the iPhone.

FAQs

Q: Will the iPhone 17 Air be the first portless iPhone?
A: Yes, according to reports, the iPhone 17 Air will be the first step towards a "slimmer, port-free era".

Q: Will MagSafe be the only way to charge my iPhone?
A: It’s possible, as the report suggests that MagSafe could be the future of charging.

Q: Will I need to buy a new charger for my iPhone 17 Air?
A: Yes, if you plan to charge your iPhone 17 Air wirelessly, you may need to buy a new MagSafe charger.

GIMP 3.0: The Ultimate Free Alternative to Photoshop?

GIMP has long been our top free pick in our best photo editing software guide, and the recent update will only solidify that choice. GIMP can do almost everything Photoshop can do, it’s that powerful, and any compromises feel well worth it for the fact it’s free. Did I mention it’s free?

A Free Alternative to Photoshop

But learning a new software comes with its challenges, and can feel intimidating. Luckily, the GIMP website has a brilliant help page, with links to user manuals, books and a fantastic tutorials page that is community-led. Hosting tips and tricks for getting started (known as GIMP Quickies) to more in-depth guides, this is the way to get started for free. You can even contribute your own tutorials if you have the skills to offer other learners.

A Wealth of Tutorials and Resources

The GIMP website has an impressive array of tutorials and resources to help you get started. The tutorials page is divided into sections, including:

• Beginner-centred guides, including using Layer Masks, Basic Colour Curves and there’s also an Asset Folder, which holds plug-ins, brushes, scripts and more.
• Photo Editing or Painting sections – and then there are sections for Configuration help and Coding tutorials as well.

A Community-Driven Effort

GIMP is totally open source so there’s a community of developers and users contributing to the tutorials. This means that the tutorials are constantly being updated and improved, making it an excellent choice for those looking to learn and grow.

Conclusion

If you’ve been waiting for the time to ditch your pricey subscriptions (perhaps to afford one of the best laptops for photo editing), the launch of GIMP 3.0 combined with this tutorial page could be the perfect opportunity. Not sure yet? See our Photoshop vs GIMP comparison.

FAQs

Q: Is GIMP free?
A: Yes, GIMP is completely free and open-source.

Q: Is GIMP as powerful as Photoshop?
A: GIMP can do almost everything Photoshop can do, making it a powerful alternative.

Q: Is the tutorial page comprehensive?
A: Yes, the GIMP website has a vast array of tutorials and resources to help you get started and improve your skills.

Q: Can I contribute to the tutorials?
A: Yes, you can contribute your own tutorials if you have the skills to offer other learners.

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Revopoint Miraco Plus Scanner Review: A 3D Scanning Powerhouse

Having given the Revopoint Miraco 4.5 out of 5 stars in 2024, I was excited to see whether the Miraco Plus would be worthy of a coveted 5 stars. With greater accuracy and the ability to scan larger objects, I was certainly hopeful.

Key Specs

Price

At £1,726 / $1,979, the Miraco Plus will be too expensive for enthusiasts. It’s also £500 / $200 more expensive than the standard Miraco model and only worth paying more if you are scanning larger and more complex objects.

Unboxing

The Revopoint Miraco Plus scanner is almost identical to the original Miraco. The 750g weight makes it super portable and can even be held with only one hand. The scanner is a cross between a traditional DSLR, minus the lens, and a smartphone device. It’s larger than a smartphone but the size means you can grip it with two hands for a much more stable scanning experience.

Performance

The scanner offers a variety of different settings that users can adjust before performing a scan. The first is to choose between the far and near modes. The former is ideal for scanning large objects such as cars and people whereas the latter is best for small objects or detailed areas on objects. I found that choosing the right one did indeed make a difference in the end result of the scan.

There is then the choice to scan using either the continuous or single shot mode. Most of the time I was able to capture the results I needed using the 20fps continuous mode but where I needed to capture more details and clearer textures, the single shot mode was far better. This was particularly noticeable in the crevices of objects and when viewing the resulting textures that were generated from the scan. When using this single-shot mode, all I’d recommend is making sure that you have a significant overlap between the frames otherwise I found that the scan can become a little patchy and inaccurate. Revopoint recommends at least 50% overlap.

Who’s it for?

The Revopoint Miraco Plus is aimed at professionals and very serious hobbyists. The inclusion of photogrammetric metrology capabilities makes it perfect for creatives wanting to scan large objects. It is equally adept at capturing small/medium objects which makes it a one-stop solution for those who don’t want to own different scanners for different-sized objects.

Conclusion

The Revopoint Miraco Plus is a powerful 3D scanner that offers exceptional accuracy and flexibility. With its photogrammetric metrology kit, it’s perfect for scanning large objects and is ideal for professionals and serious hobbyists. However, it’s not suitable for those on a budget or looking for a quick and easy solution to 3D scanning.

FAQs

• What is the Revopoint Miraco Plus used for?

It’s used for scanning small, medium, and large objects.

• Is the Revopoint Miraco Plus suitable for professionals and serious hobbyists?

Yes, it’s designed for professionals and very serious hobbyists who need high accuracy and flexibility.

• Is the Revopoint Miraco Plus expensive?

Yes, it’s priced at £1,726 / $1,979, making it too expensive for enthusiasts.

• What are the key features of the Revopoint Miraco Plus?

It has a 6-inch 2K backlit AMOLED touch-sensitive screen, 20fps scanning speed, 0.04mm single-frame accuracy, and is compatible with Windows and macOS.

Creating Neel, the Elephantine Protagonist of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Combining Digital and Practical Character Work

In keeping with the grand tradition of Star Wars visual effects production work over nearly fifty years, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew combines digital and practical character and creature work. It’s meant one breakout star in particular – Neel – has connected with audiences.

Traditional Puppetry and CG Animation

For Chris McLaughlin, Visual Effects Supervisor at DNEG, creating Neel with a blend of traditional puppetry and CG animation felt like a return to the film series roots. "For the puppets and the very traditional style of animation that we were producing, we always had pretty good reference," says Chris McLaughlin. "The two main animated characters that we worked on were Neel and the security droids. In a lot of cases, the security droids shot on set were completely practical, being performed as a full-sized puppet. For our CG versions of the security droids, we used that reference for the walking cycle and animation style."

Head Replacements and Animation

A standout protagonist in Skeleton Crew is the elephantine character Neel, who is one of the four young heroes. DNEG had a significant level of creative input in finessing Neel’s character’s expressivity. Chris recalls that, "We did quite a few head replacements for Neel. Not because showrunners were unhappy with the animatronic head, which was key and the heart of the performance, but because in some cases Kacie Borrowman (playing Neel on set) couldn’t see completely clearly through that head. And so, in situations where he has to run down the ramp of a spaceship, or where his vision is impeded and his safety could be at risk, we’d take the head off and replace it with animation."

Refining Neel’s Expressivity

"We made sure that our animation rig and our asset exactly matched the capabilities of the animatronic head. We didn’t want it to look overworked and we did a little bit of simulation on the ears and on the trunk to give it that natural kind of gravity. Neel has a complex coloring to his skin, too: it’s a combination of pink and blue. I’m pleased with the shots where we replaced Neel’s head. They were a challenge!"

Further refinements that DNEG worked on for Neel allowed Chris and his team to bring more personality to the character. "[We could] do a lot with Neel’s brows and with his soft, gentle blinking. He’s quite a worrisome character so you can do a lot with the movement around his eyes and brow," reflects Chris, adding: "You can read a lot of that there."

Conclusion

DNEG’s work on creating Neel showcases the importance of combining traditional puppetry and CG animation to bring a beloved character to life. By using a blend of practical and digital techniques, the team was able to create a character that has captured the hearts of audiences everywhere.

FAQs

Q: What was the approach taken to create Neel, the elephantine protagonist of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew?
A: DNEG combined traditional puppetry and CG animation to create Neel.

Q: How did DNEG approach the creation of the security droids in the show?
A: DNEG used a combination of practical and CG techniques, using reference from the walk cycle and animation style of the puppets.

Q: What were some of the challenges faced in creating Neel’s character?
A: The team had to overcome challenges such as replacing Neel’s head with animation, ensuring the animation rig and asset matched the capabilities of the animatronic head, and refining Neel’s expressivity.