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Mobile Syrup

The four best screen recorders for low-end PCs

Finding the best screen recorder for low-end PCs can be challenging, as it requires some specific knowledge. Fortunately, I’ve faced plenty of issues related to screen recorders, and I’ve used a ton of them in the past five years. So I’m here to make your decision much easier by breaking down the four best screen recorders for low-end PCs.

What is a low-end PC?

A low-end PC is a computer that lacks processing power and memory. PCs that are low-end often have slower processors, less RAM, and smaller hard drives than average PCs. While these computers may be suitable for basic tasks like browsing the internet and word processing, they aren’t ideal for those who want to play demanding games or engage in heavy software usage.

Why do you need a screen recorder for your low-end PC?

When you want to record your gameplay or make a tutorial video, you’ll need to record your screen. But if you have a low-end PC, you won’t be able to run most of the screen recorders that are available. If that’s the case for you, here’s a list of screen recorders that you can use on your low-end PC

1) HitPaw Screen Recorder

HitPaw Screen Recorder is a highly recommended recorder for low-end PCs. If you want to record gameplay, make an interesting video tutorial, or capture streaming videos, HitPaw Screen Recorder can do all of these things with high quality—all without taxing the limited uses of your CPU. In most cases, it will be your best option.

 

HitPaw Screen Recorder is a lightweight screen recorder with a wide range of functions, from recording your screen and audio to editing your recorded videos, taking snapshots of your screen, and adding watermarks to the videos.

Compared with other screen recorders, HitPaw is more compatible with low-end PCs. This is because the software consumes very little of your computer’s resources. The software takes less than 20MB of storage in your computer, and you won’t encounter any lagging or delay when you’re using this software to record.

Hardware acceleration is a process that uses the computer’s hardware to perform tasks rather than using the software. The HitPaw Screen Recorder is equipped with this feature, which enhances your recording experience.

You can record games and other video files on your low-end PC without any problems. You can also export video files at a fast speed by using hardware acceleration. That means you’ll save time and energy when working with large video files.

The following features make HitPaw Screen Recorder particularly powerful:

Record Screen: With HitPaw Screen Recorder, you can record your screen and save it in different popular video formats at various quality settings. It also allows you to record your entire screen or only a region.

Record Webcam: If you want to record your webcam, then HitPaw Screen Recorder is your best option, as it offers high-quality video capturing and recording.

Real-Time Monitoring: Hitpaw Screen Recorder also helps users monitor their screen in real time while recording their screen activity. This feature lets you have a quick preview of your recording while saving time on editing later on.


Schedule Recording: You can set a schedule for your recording so that it starts at a particular time automatically and then saves itself in a designated folder when the recording process is finished. That way you won’t need to stay awake all night to start your recording manually to cover an entire live event or conference. You simply set a timer for the schedule and let it do the work.

HitPaw Screen Recorder

Record Quality: It also provides users with the best recording quality without any lag.

2) Xbox Game Bar: the easiest low-end PC screen recorder for Windows

The Xbox Game Bar has been added to Windows 10. The main purpose of this software is to allow players to record their gameplay, but you can also use it as a screen recorder. If you’re looking for the easiest solution for recording your low-end PC, then check out the Xbox Game Bar Screen Recorder.
A few key features make it the easiest screen recorder for low-end PCs:

Fast launch and high performance: Xbox Game Bar on Windows 10 has many features like audio control, game-clip recording, and screenshots. When you press the hotkeys Win + G during games, this game bar will appear immediately. Most importantly, it won’t cause lags by overburdening your CPU.

Record games in HD quality: With Xbox Game Bar, you can record your gameplay videos in high-quality 1080p resolution at 60fps. It has the same quality as other professional screen recorders like OBS Studio and Bandicam Screen Recorder. Also, it provides a good balance between file size and image quality while saving the recording files in MP4.

Multiplatform support: OBS Studio runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. So no matter what operating system you use, it can help you record videos from your computer with ease.

User-friendly interface: The interface of OBS Studio is neat and well-designed. Everything is intuitively organized so you don’t need to spend much time learning how to use its features.

4) Wondershare DemoCreator: The most powerful low-end PC screen recorder

Wondershare DemoCreator is a feature-rich screen recorder for low-end PCs. It’s built with advanced screen recording technology, so it consumes almost no CPU usage and memory to create high-quality screen recordings that you can use in various applications. Regardless of the video format you want to use, you can keep the video quality to a high level. The following features make it especially powerful:

3) OBS: the best free screen recorder for low-end PCs

OBS Studio is the best free screen recorder for low-end computers. It’s not only an open-source project that you can modify and distribute freely; it also has multiple output formats, along with various video and audio settings that you can adjust to get a high-quality screen recording. If you’re looking for the best screen recorder software with no watermark, then I highly recommend OBS Studio. Let’s see what makes it the best free screen recorder for low-end PCs.

Multiplatform support: OBS Studio runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. So no matter what operating system you use, it can help you record videos from your computer with ease.

User-friendly interface: The interface of OBS Studio is neat and well-designed. Everything is intuitively organized so you don’t need to spend much time learning how to use its features.

4) Wondershare DemoCreator: The most powerful low-end PC screen recorder

Wondershare DemoCreator is a feature-rich screen recorder for low-end PCs. It’s built with advanced screen recording technology, so it consumes almost no CPU usage and memory to create high-quality screen recordings that you can use in various applications. Regardless of the video format you want to use, you can keep the video quality to a high level. The following features make it especially powerful:

Optimized settings: Wondershare DemoCreator has optimized settings that allow you to set the output file size, FPS, and other parameters. If you have to record videos frequently, you can use this software without worrying about your slow computer. You can also adjust the brightness of your videos to make sure they look great on your viewers’ screens.

Hotkeys: You can easily record what’s happening on your computer screen with just one click using Wondershare DemoCreator’s hotkeys. To do this, simply go to the settings menu and select hotkeys that you want to use from the list of available options. You can also create your own hotkey combinations based on your preferences or needs.

The bottom line

I’ve assessed the main currently available options, and I think it’s clear that HitPaw Screen Recorder definitely takes the cake as the best screen recorder for low-end PCs. This is due to its convenience in connecting to a webcam, smooth recording, size, and popularity. You can even record on your PC without sound or a mouse cursor, so it’s perfect for when you’re gaming.

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Cottage Life

How to fully embrace the lake at your next cottage rental

A weekend at the lake is the perfect way to unwind with friends and family. But with a little planning, a long weekend at a Vrbo cottage rental can become the ultimate source of lifelong memories for everyone who joins you. So whether you’re sharing a rental with seasoned cottagers or lakefront rookies, these tips will ensure everyone gets the most out of their time at the lake.

Bring your own outdoor games

The ideal cottage rental will have a well-stocked games cupboard for rainy days, and you might find some pool noodles or a web-laden badminton set in the boathouse. But if you want to keep your crew happy outdoors, we recommend bringing some classic cottage games like ladder toss and corn hole. Even better, you can easily build those games yourself—they’re the perfect family DIY project.

Know your priorities

The perfect cottage experience is more than just barbecued steaks and drinks on the dock. It’s the little things you might not think about that can make or break the perfect family weekend. For instance, do you want to have the perfect view? That means you might end up at an elevated cottage with a precipitous walk down to the water. Do you crave privacy, or would you rather be nestled in an active cottage community? And what about swimming? Do you want to be able to jump off the dock, or are you bringing young kids who’d rather splash around in sandy shallows? Either way, you’ll be able to specify the perfect swimming experience for your family through Vrbo’s cottage-rental filters.

Focus on accessible water toys

Even if you have access to serious lake toys like personal watercraft or waterskis, skimming along the lake at high speeds isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re looking at rental options for a group at the lake, focus on more accessible water toys like tubes, kayaks, canoes, and standup paddleboards. That way, everyone will have a chance to dip their toes into the action.

Know what’s fair game

If you’re renting a cottage, it’s fun to zoom in on every photo and analyze the amenities. But just because it’s in the photo doesn’t mean you’ll have access to it. If you see an overturned canoe near the water, a paddleboat moored to the dock, or a pair of kayaks perched on the boathouse wall, be sure to ask your host-to-be if they’re fair game. Otherwise, you might find yourself at the lake without a paddle.

Sunrise or sunset?

Are you a sunrise person? Or are sunsets more your thing? You might love both, but unless you founded a Silicon Valley startup, a cottage that spans both sides of the lake might not be in the cards. That means you’ll have to choose whether you want the sun to rise or set over the water—and not everyone in your family might agree. Pro tip: if you love sunsets, a hillside cottage at the Eastern edge of a lake lets you walk down to the water and enjoy it even longer.

Don’t waste a minute

If you’re on a tight schedule back in the city, you might be tempted to spend your weekend at the cottage waking up when the sun is high and lazing your way through a leisurely breakfast. While that sounds like heaven, it can’t hold a candle to getting up before the kids and paddling around a silent lake with a travel mug of good coffee as the mist rolls off the water. Sure, the cottage is about doing things together, but sometimes it’s those quiet moments spent alone that make the “together” all the more meaningful.

Book well in advance

If you think searching for a summer rental the Monday before a long weekend is going to score you a coveted cottage, think again. By the time February rolls around, a lot of cottages are booked. So to find the best spot for creating family memories this season, start searching for week-long rentals well in advance. That said, if you’re behind the buzzer, you can still find great short-term rentals if you’re flexible with your schedule and willing to spend a shorter time at the lake.

Use a trusted source

With cottage-rental scams making waves in Canadian lakefront communities, it’s more important than ever to rent from a trusted source—which means that bigger is better. When you’re searching for the perfect cottage rental, stick with a trusted partner like Vrbo, which has an endless array of verified rentals in beautiful cottage communities throughout Canada.

Looking to make memories with your family at a cottage this season? Find a rental that’s perfect for you with the help of Vrbo.

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Cottage Life

How to get rid of carpenter ants at your cottage

If you’ve spotted carpenter ants inside your home or cottage recently, it might be a sign that there’s an infestation. Unfortunately, ants sighted during the winter months are likely nesting in your wall voids or hollow doors, so they’re not just temporary visitors from the garden. 

Besides being a nuisance, carpenter ants can also cause serious damage to your property. Here’s how you can get rid of this common pest and prevent future infestations. 

What are they?

In Canada, you’ll typically find black carpenter ants and red carpenter ants; both have dark brown or black bodies, but red carpenter ants have a reddish-brown thorax and head. Ranging from a quarter-inch to one inch long, they’re visibly larger than the average field or pavement ant. They have bent antennae and narrow waists, and reproductive carpenter ants are winged. 

What do they eat?

Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t actually eat wood. But they will burrow into dead or damp wood to dig tunnels (also referred to as galleries) and nest, weakening structures and leaving telltale piles of sawdust in their wake. Carpenter ants are omnivores, and they’ll eat plant matter, a sugary aphid secretion called “honeydew,” insects, fruit, and any garbage or food that’s lying around. 

Where do they like to hide?

Carpenter ants are drawn to damp, damaged wood—outdoors, you may find them nesting in tree stumps, decaying trees, and logs. Wooden decks and fences are other common outdoor targets. 

Indoors, once they’ve found their way into your cottage, these ants will seek out wood that has been exposed to moisture, setting up a smaller “satellite” colony in your attic, walls, doors, and floors—signs of damaged woodwork and small sawdust-like piles can help you locate and identify a carpenter ant nest inside your property. 

What kind of damage can they cause?

Carpenter ants may bite you in self-defence, and none of us want an army of ants in our kitchen, but the biggest threat is that, over time, an indoor colony could cause serious damage to your cottage by tunneling through structural wood. 

How can you get rid of them?

To get rid of carpenter ants, start with a direct treatment. Raid Ant Roach & Earwig Insect Killer 2 is a spray that works on contact and can be used indoors. A bait system like Raid Max Double Control Ant Baits 2 can also help you address the infestation, and it’s an especially good choice if you can’t locate the nest. 

Once you’ve dealt with the indoor pests, address the outside parent colony and work to discourage new visitors. There are many ways that carpenter ants can get into your cottage, and it’s important to seal any holes or cracks in or around doors, windows, foundations, and exterior walls. Be careful when bringing firewood indoors, store log piles away from your outside walls, and cut back any tree branches that are touching your buildings. 

Finally, address any damp areas or water leaks inside your cottage, making sure you’re storing food in airtight containers and regularly cleaning up any crumbs or food sources that might attract ants.

 

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Cottage Life

Here’s what to do about the cluster flies at your cottage

One of the benefits of a winterized cottage—aside from warming up by a cozy fire after a winter hike—is the fact that you don’t have to worry about flying insects like mosquitos and deer flies. Unfortunately, cluster flies can be a year-round concern, especially if they’ve managed to enter your home or cottage in the fall through small openings and are now hibernating as unwanted guests in your walls, basements, and attic spaces.

These flies may be relatively harmless compared to biting insects and other pests, but they’re still pesky to have around. Here’s what to do if you’ve spotted a swarm of cluster flies indoors. 

What are they?

There are a number of common clustering flies that you may spot at the cottage, including cluster flies, face flies, and blow flies. Slower and a bit larger than house flies, cluster flies have overlapping wings when they rest, and they’re black and grey with tiny, yellow hairs.

In the spring and summer, these flies lay their eggs outdoors in soil and near earthworm burrows (that’s why cottagers and homeowners with grassy areas may spot more of these pests nearby). The larvae then find and parasitize earthworms before pupating in the soil and emerging as adult flies.

When temperatures start to drop, adult cluster flies will look for warmth and shelter by entering buildings through holes and cracks in exterior walls and around doors and windows. You can often spot them clustering indoors during the fall, winter, and early spring. 

What do they eat?

Unlike houseflies, adult cluster flies aren’t drawn to rotting or decaying food, and they won’t feed inside your cottage either. Instead, cluster flies eat things like flower nectar, fruits, and sap. So if you see them in your kitchen, that bunch of browning bananas isn’t the culprit. 

Where do they like to hide?

You don’t have to worry about adult cluster flies eating, breeding, or laying eggs inside your cottage. They’re just trying to spend the winter somewhere warm, which is why they nestle into walls, crawlspaces, and attics. And when the weather warms up in early spring—or in the winter, if your cottage is heated—they may emerge to gather in clusters near windows and ceilings, trying to get outdoors.  

Should you be worried about them?

Cluster flies are fairly harmless; they don’t bite or spread diseases, and they won’t damage your property. But they can definitely be a nuisance when they’re swarming around your rooms in large clusters, and crushed cluster flies will leave a distinctive buckwheat-like odour and markings on walls, carpets and fabrics that may be hard to remove. Finally, the appearance of dead flies in your cottage may attract other unwanted pests, like larder beetles. 

How can you get rid of them?

An aerosol spray like Raid Mosquito and Fly Killer 1 or Raid Max Flying Insect Killer 3 can eliminate a swarm of cluster flies in minutes with doors and windows closed. A vacuum cleaner or fly swatter can also work well, but keep in mind that squashing them might leave a residue or stain on your walls or other surfaces. 

Ward off future infestations by sealing or caulking all potential points of entry into your cottage: holes in screens, soffit vents, cracks in exterior walls and around doors, windows, and baseboards. Be thorough; these little insects can squeeze through the smallest of cracks and crevices.

Categories
Cottage Life

Here’s what to do about the cluster flies at your cottage

One of the benefits of a winterized cottage—aside from warming up by a cozy fire after a winter hike—is the fact that you don’t have to worry about flying insects like mosquitos and deer flies. Unfortunately, cluster flies can be a year-round concern, especially if they’ve managed to enter your home or cottage in the fall through small openings and are now hibernating as unwanted guests in your walls, basements, and attic spaces.

These flies may be relatively harmless compared to biting insects and other pests, but they’re still pesky to have around. Here’s what to do if you’ve spotted a swarm of cluster flies indoors. 

What are they?

There are a number of common clustering flies that you may spot at the cottage, including cluster flies, face flies, and blow flies. Slower and a bit larger than house flies, cluster flies have overlapping wings when they rest, and they’re black and grey with tiny, yellow hairs.

In the spring and summer, these flies lay their eggs outdoors in soil and near earthworm burrows (that’s why cottagers and homeowners with grassy areas may spot more of these pests nearby). The larvae then find and parasitize earthworms before pupating in the soil and emerging as adult flies.

When temperatures start to drop, adult cluster flies will look for warmth and shelter by entering buildings through holes and cracks in exterior walls and around doors and windows. You can often spot them clustering indoors during the fall, winter, and early spring. 

What do they eat?

Unlike houseflies, adult cluster flies aren’t drawn to rotting or decaying food, and they won’t feed inside your cottage either. Instead, cluster flies eat things like flower nectar, fruits, and sap. So if you see them in your kitchen, that bunch of browning bananas isn’t the culprit. 

Where do they like to hide?

You don’t have to worry about adult cluster flies eating, breeding, or laying eggs inside your cottage. They’re just trying to spend the winter somewhere warm, which is why they nestle into walls, crawlspaces, and attics. And when the weather warms up in early spring—or in the winter, if your cottage is heated—they may emerge to gather in clusters near windows and ceilings, trying to get outdoors.  

Should you be worried about them?

Cluster flies are fairly harmless; they don’t bite or spread diseases, and they won’t damage your property. But they can definitely be a nuisance when they’re swarming around your rooms in large clusters, and crushed cluster flies will leave a distinctive buckwheat-like odour and markings on walls, carpets and fabrics that may be hard to remove. Finally, the appearance of dead flies in your cottage may attract other unwanted pests, like larder beetles. 

How can you get rid of them?

An aerosol spray like Raid Mosquito and Fly Killer 1 or Raid Max Flying Insect Killer 3 can eliminate a swarm of cluster flies in minutes with doors and windows closed. A vacuum cleaner or fly swatter can also work well, but keep in mind that squashing them might leave a residue or stain on your walls or other surfaces. 

Ward off future infestations by sealing or caulking all potential points of entry into your cottage: holes in screens, soffit vents, cracks in exterior walls and around doors, windows, and baseboards. Be thorough; these little insects can squeeze through the smallest of cracks and crevices.

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Mobile Syrup

The gaming monitor that looks as good as the games it displays

I consider myself a minimalist. I prefer to have as few items in my home as possible. And the same goes for my desk. If I could get away with having just a monitor, mouse, and keyboard, I would. But that’s not possible.

Or is it?

The Huawei MateView GT monitor is about to change the game with its impressive slate of features:

  • 34-inch curved display
  • 3440×1440 ultrawide resolution
  • 165Hz refresh rate
  • 4000:1 contrast ratio
  • Built-in soundbar
  • Microphones with noise-cancelling functionality

The immersion conversion

This is a gaming monitor that offers cinematic-quality visuals and audio in a single piece of hardware.

Anyone who has used an ultrawide display can back me up when I say it provides the most immersive experience for PC gaming. And the Mateview GT’s 21:9 curved display brings you even deeper into the action.

Huawei MateView GT monitor

I’m about to throw out a few numbers, which will mean a lot to monitor enthusiasts, but very little to everyone else. Stick with me. The monitor features a 4000:1 contrast ratio and a 90% DCI-P3 wide colour gamut.

A wide colour gamut and dynamic range mean that you’re getting more contrast between the brightest and darkest points. The VA panel displays deep shadows and bright highlights with ease.

Add the fact that the monitor can display more than 1 billion colours, and you’ve got one of the most striking displays on the market. I wouldn’t recommend adjusting your brightness high enough to warrant this term, but the visuals on the MateView are eye-popping.

You don’t need to conform to perform

What would a gaming monitor be without wicked fast performance?

The MateView GT has a refresh rate of 165Hz. If your PC can handle it, you’ll be running games at 3440×1440 resolution at 165 frames per second. I personally can’t notice the difference above 90, but to describe that performance as buttery smooth would be an understatement.

1440p is currently the sweet spot for high-end gaming. The introduction of ray tracing has led to improvements in lighting, but it has also made games far more demanding. A monitor that can deliver 165Hz performance in an ultrawide resolution is nearly unheard of.

Oh, and don’t forget that it also features AMD Freesync technology to eliminate screen tearing.

Huawei MateView GT monitor

And that’s just where the MateView GT’s innovations begin.

The MateView GT is designed with a built-in soundbar and microphones with noise-cancelling functionality. This all-in-one design is the first of its kind. Monitors that have built-in speakers usually offer the cheapest drivers possible. They’re designed to have external speakers plugged into them. At best, they’ll have small, front-facing speakers that put out tinny sounding audio.

Huawei’s monitor was designed from its inception to provide an engaging auditory experience.

The light of my life

If the dual-driver stereo soundbar isn’t enough to impress, the RGB lighting might be. The multi-colour FX LED light has eight different lighting modes that are intelligently matched to the audio being delivered.

And all of this is beautifully incorporated into the monitor’s stand. I can’t be the only one who appreciates a good monitor stand, right?

Huawei MateView GT stand

The integrated audio design means that you won’t have cables to manage. In fact, the soundbar elegantly hides the base of the monitor stand.

It also hides two microphones for incoming audio. These far-field dual microphones feature intelligent noise cancellation to keep your voice clear at all times. You’ll not only hear the game; you’ll be able to communicate with your team without a distracting mic in your face.

Built for gaming

If it wasn’t clear already, the MateView GT is an excellent gaming monitor. The designers at Huawei have taken the time to understand the needs of players, going so far as to add optional on-screen crosshairs. It’s touches like these that separate a good monitor from a great one. And the MateView GT is a great monitor.

Most people don’t need a monitor that has 4K resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. Honestly, your computer probably can’t handle it. The MateView GT finds the sweet spot at 3440×1440, delivering excellent performance that your PC can actually output.

And I haven’t even mentioned the best part: the price.

The Huawei MateView GT can be bought for $749 at Canadian tech retailers.

If you’re ready to take on your fellow Spartans this holiday season, the MateView GT should be at the top of your list for PC purchases.

Sponsored by Huawei

MobileSyrup utilizes sponsored posts to help fund the journalism provided on this website. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content.

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Mobile Syrup

Holiday Gift Guide for photographers [2021 Edition]

Every year I receive messages from family and friends asking for recommendations for photography gear. And I completely understand why. Much like purchasing a PC, buying a camera can be a daunting prospect for those who aren’t familiar with the technology.

In the last five years, cameras have advanced by leaps and bounds. With trends and technology advancing constantly, it’s impossible to recommend the same cameras as the year before.

For example, just five years ago, when I worked as a professional photographer, I would never have considered using a mirrorless camera. Today, mirrorless cameras are some of the most sought-after cameras by both enthusiasts and professionals.

So this year I’ve partnered with Nikon to share a gift guide for the best camera gear. I’m putting my thoughts down on paper—the internet—to create a simple reference for which gear would be a good fit for your loved ones. Whether they’re a budding photographer or they’re already a professional looking to upgrade their kit, these are the cameras and lenses that will capture their heart this holiday.

Nikon Z fc

Nikon Z fc

This is the camera I’ve been waiting for my whole life.

The Nikon Z fc manages to recreate the mechanical feeling of the company’s FE film cameras in a digital format. For anyone who misses the feeling of setting ISO and shutter speed with physical dials, the Z fc offers all of the advantages of a mirrorless camera while bringing that sweet dopamine rush with every click of the shutter.

Nikon’s Z fc is a surprisingly light camera considering its metal construction, making it ideal for those who love to take their camera with them everywhere they go. The slim design and detachable lenses mean that you can easily slip it into a bag or pocket, and the solid build will keep you from worrying every time you go over a bump in the road.

And while I believe that cameras should be invisible to their subjects, this is a camera that deserves attention for its looks. The silver body evokes the FM and FE cameras from Nikon’s past, but the leather wrapping is offered in a variety of colours from black and amber brown to coral pink, giving it a beautiful, modern touch. It’s stylish and compact, and it feels great to use.

But don’t think it’s all style and no substance. The Z fc features Nikon’s new Z-mount over a stacked CMOS sensor. I’ll spare you the technical jargon, but the Z fc offers incredible image quality, even in low-light conditions. The ISO can go up to 51,200, and while you likely won’t need to push it that high, it means that the camera can comfortably take photos of dark scenes without adding much noise to the image.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Z fc features 4K video at up to 30fps and a flip-out camera. If the photographer in your life also happens to be interested in video, this is an excellent choice, thanks to the excellent auto-focus that will keep your eyes sharp at all times.

Who is this camera for?

The Nikon Z fc is the perfect camera for photographers looking to add a bit of fun into their work. The mechanical body makes it feel like you’re shooting film again, and the light body makes it easy to keep the camera on you at all times. If the photographer in your life would like a stylish camera that delivers excellent images and video, the Nikon Z fc is the camera for them.

Buy the Nikon Z fc for $1,199.00 (save $100)

Nikon Z 50

Nikon Z 50

This is the camera that will spark your love for photography.

At just 395 grams, the Nikon Z 50 is a mirrorless camera that’s tiny but mighty. Instead of getting your loved one a point-and-shoot that takes all the fun out of capturing memories, give them a mirrorless that’s dead simple to use, but takes photos that’ll blow their phone camera out of the water.

Despite its size, the Z 50 offers a lot of power and a surprising number of features. From high frame-rate 120fps video for beautiful slow-motion to in-camera editing and wireless sharing, the Z 50 is the camera for the social age.

The 20.9-megapixel sensor produces beautifully detailed images that won’t have too much noise, even in low-light conditions. And the creative modes on the camera make taking interesting images a breeze. Whether you want to grade your photos with a blue tint or shoot in black and white, the Z 50 lets you preview your shot in the Electronic Viewfinder before taking the photo.

Who is this camera for?

The Nikon Z 50 is the perfect camera for entry-level photographers and videographers. Thanks to its small body and powerful in-camera editing tools, the Z 50 offers the power needed to create incredible content without needing to understand all of the minutiae. If the photographer in your life is looking to learn more about photography, this is the camera for them.

Buy the Nikon Z 50 for $999.99 (save $100)

Nikon D850

Nikon D850

This is the camera that will take your photography to the next level.

When it comes to professional photography, DSLRs continue to serve as the cameras of choice for most photographers. They’re fast, durable, flexible, and reliable. And when it comes to DSLRs, there aren’t many that match the quality of the Nikon D850.

With 45.7 megapixels, 7fps continuous shooting, 4K video, and one of the widest ISO range on any DSLR, this is the camera of choice for photographers who don’t want to miss the perfect shot.

Unlike the cameras on the list so far, the Nikon D850 is a full-frame camera. This means several things. The image won’t be cropped—it captures the full image from the lens. The sensor captures more light, giving it better low-light performance and detail. And the larger size allows for more depth in the images, producing beautiful bokeh.

If the photographer you’re buying for shoots portraits, the D850 uses a 153-point autofocus feature to ensure that their shots will be in focus in every frame. If they shoot action-oriented photography such as events, the continuous shooting will allow them to hold down the shutter and capture shot after shot without ever needing to lift their finger. With seven images taken every second, they’ll be sure to capture that one shot they’ve always dreamed of.

And for the nature photographers out there, the Nikon D850 has been built for every condition. Weather sealed, solidly built, and software-enhanced, the D850 is as comfortable in the desert as it is in a wedding venue. The camera can take time-lapse videos in stunning 8K quality and even switch the shutter’s release sound to be nearly silent in settings that require it.

Who is this camera for?

The Nikon D850 is the camera for professionals and serious enthusiasts. This camera has been tried and tested time and again. It’s the one you’ll want when you can’t miss an important shot, and the one that will take your photography to new heights. If the photographer in your life is looking to move to a more serious camera without making the jump all the way up to the D6, the Nikon D850 is the camera for them.

Buy the Nikon D850 for $3,299.99 (save $600)

Lenses

Before you dash out and buy a camera, it’s worth considering which lenses to buy. A camera body is only as good as the glass it’s attached to.

Luckily, Nikon makes some of the best lenses in the world.

All of the lenses mentioned below are designed for the Nikon Z-mount. If you’re not sure which lenses are compatible with your camera of choice, Nikon has an excellent Lens Finder on its website. You can input your camera and see a list of every compatible lens.

Here’s a list of the top Z-mount lenses for the photographer in your life.

Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S

Nikkor Z 35mm lens

There are two must-have prime lenses. One of them is the 35mm.

A prime lens is a lens that is a fixed focal length. While it may not be as convenient when you want to zoom in on a far-away object, it makes up for it with its speed. The Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S is a very fast lens, offering a shallow depth of field for beautiful bokeh, and bright images thanks to its wide aperture.

If the photographer in your life is interested in street photography, the 35mm is the lens for them.

Buy the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S for $949.99 (save $150)

Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S

Nikkor Z 50mm lens

The other must-have prime lens is the 50mm.

Every photographer should have a 50mm prime in their kit, and the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S is the exact reason why. Very few lenses offer an aperture of f/1.2, meaning that this is one of the brightest lenses around, but the 50mm length also makes it one of the best portrait lenses in the world. This is the prime lens of many professional photographers around the world, thanks to its versatility and speed.

If the photographer in your life is interested in portrait photography, the 50mm is the lens for them.

Buy the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S for $2,599.99 (save $200)

Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S

Nikkor Z 70-200 lens

When it comes to zoom lenses, the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S is hard to beat. Perfect for sports photography and events such as weddings, the lens offers a huge range without compromising on image quality. The VR in the name stands for Vibration Reduction, a technology that will help to stabilize your shots, allowing you to take handheld photos even when you’re zoomed in to 200mm.

If the photographer in your life is interested in event or nature photography, the 70-200mm is the lens for them.

Buy the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S for $3,199.99 (save $200)

Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S

Nikkor Z 14-24mm lens

For landscape photographers, the 14-24mm lens is an essential part of their kit. But the lens has many other uses. I regularly keep a wide-angle lens in my kit for creative portraits, fashion, and architecture photography. And the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S is one of the best wide-angle lenses at the moment. Despite its wide aperture, the lens still has surprisingly sharp edges and very little in the way of lens distortion.

If the photographer in your life is interested in landscape or creative photography, the 14-24mm is the lens for them.

Buy the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S for $2999.99

MobileSyrup publishes sponsored posts. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content.

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Mobile Syrup

How 5G will super-charge healthcare, innovation in medical tech

When you consider 5G, most people automatically think of smartphones but there is a new evolution in 5G which is being delivered via wearable computing. Healthcare promises to be one of the biggest industries impacted by this next generation of mobile networks. After all, 5G promises to radically impact patient care by revolutionizing health tech and enabling real-time communications with physicians and medical experts wherever we may be across the country.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that existing healthcare systems can be fragile. Medical resources are limited, especially doctors’ time. Coupled with restrictions on in-person appointments, we’ve seen a massive shift to remote check-ups through virtual healthcare. Although virtual healthcare is available now, it’s also an area that 5G can super-charge.

Dr. Pat Quinlan, Hippo Technologies CEO and co-founder

“When I think about 5G,” said Brandon Walker, TELUS’ strategic program director of IoT, “it’s really about providing Canadians with faster, secure connections for virtual care visits with clinicians and to enable things like remote patient monitoring.”

Faster speeds and lower latency can make virtual appointments more seamless, with higher quality video and less delay between participants. Moreover, virtual care and 5G can help overcome geography, another limiting factor for healthcare, by making proximity to medical facilities less important. As for remote patient monitoring, 5G will help power real-time analytics to track metrics on patient health and well-being.

Virtual care is more than just video consultations and check-ups – it can also include surgeries using smart glasses and other innovations. The ones developed by Hippo Technologies, for instance, use hands-free wearable computers and cameras to relay what the wearer sees and allow them to communicate with remote observers all in real-time supported with the highest level of compliance standards.

“Hippo’s virtual care headsets provide a you-are-there experience for the remote observer, which is unlike the traditional telehealth solutions that exist today,” said Dr. Pat Quinlan, Hippo Technologies CEO and co-founder. He compared smart glasses to other solutions, like using tablets or screens for video, noting “mobile phones and tablets don’t deliver the first-person perspective that a clinician needs.”

Caregivers and physicians in rural clinics are supported by specialist physicians from major medical centers.

Quinlan added that “past limitations on geography and timing and training… have been largely eliminated when virtual care is properly used.” As new technologies and tools emerge, people will discover new ways to use them and we’ll see those benefits in health.

Expanding healthcare to more places with 5G

5G can help connect rural or remote communities that may be difficult to connect with fibre. Coupled with the lower latency offered by 5G networks, rural communities will benefit from near real-time, virtual care similar to how rural classrooms could benefit from real-time, virtual education.

People who don’t live near medical facilities will be able to have virtual appointments with specialists that traditionally may have been unavailable to them due to geography. Similarly, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) could arrive on scene wearing one of Hippo’s headsets and connect in real-time with a team of specialists that can see what’s happening and offer life-saving advice and guidance.

EMTs on scene are supported in real time by medical staff.

Through low-latency 5G, care professionals could tap into the knowledge and experience of experts in various fields, no matter where those experts are.

“I think it’s actually the right time for 5G when it comes to healthcare because Canada is facing a really significant challenge with our ageing population that will increase demands on the system, while at the same time shrinking the pool of available skilled workers,” said Walker.

Connecting hospitals to improve care

Walker pointed to the connected hospital as another example of how 5G could benefit healthcare.

“Within the connected hospital, you have all manner of things that may or may not be connected today,” Walker explained.

“I think what we’re really trying to advance when it comes to the connected hospital is we want to enable real-time location systems or services… [to] leverage the data that is coming from people, places, things so you can orchestrate workflows much more efficiently.”

Quinlan echoed the sentiment, noting “virtual care comes in and you manage people [in] real time, more frequently, more appropriately, while at the same time working with individuals to change their behaviours, to change the course of their disease and their risk for disease.”

Walker added that leveraging 5G to power connected technology in hospitals includes a significant security element since carrier networks leverage licensed spectrum, while Wi-Fi operates on unlicensed spectrum that’s available to anyone.

Current tech works on current networks, but 5G offers more potential

It’s important to keep in mind that 5G is still relatively new. “There’s no light switch that gets flipped for 5G,” said Walker. “What I see as interesting is the interplay we will see happen between the availability of spectrum network investments from companies like TELUS, as well as innovation happening in the tech sector that will truly bring 5G to life for Canadians.”

Quinlan’s Hippo virtual care solution is a great example of the crossover point where we are now. Hippo’s smart glasses technology works with existing networks at 3G and 4G speeds, for example. Part of the journey of 5G will be seeing how companies like Hippo push existing technologies further or create entirely new experiences tailored to 5G.

“We needed to pressure test [the technology] and make sure that whatever we used was reliable,” Quinlan said when explaining the first deployment of Hippo’s smart glasses tech. He detailed the initial test of Hippo technology in Nigeria, noting that Hippo picked Nigeria due to the difficulty of implementing the technology in what Quinlan described as a “low 3G environment.”

Medical staff in Nigeria successfully testing the Hippo HMT-1 headsets in the field.

After a successful first test in Nigeria, Hippo brought the technology to other places for both education and clinical care, including Barry University, Adtalem and many others. When asked about future Canadian deployments, Quinlan expressed excitement about various projects Hippo was working on, but wasn’t able to provide specifics due to agreements with partner companies.

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Cottage Life

Off-grid solar power at the cottage is now easier than ever

Cottagers leave a lot to chance. We can plan our meals and choose the best route north on a Friday afternoon, but the rest of the cottage experience, from the weather to the traffic—and whether the blackflies are biting—is a lot less reliable. And for cottagers in remote areas, part of that lack of reliability means dealing with power outages. That’s why Canada’s own Hybrid Power Solutions created a backup power system that makes reliable off-grid power storage a reality, whether you’re storing energy from your solar panels or simply reducing your reliance on the grid.

To learn more about off-grid power storage, we sat down with company owner Francois Byrne to see how his battery systems plug perfectly into the cottage experience.

Cottage Life: You have a specific system called the “Cottager.” What makes it ideal for cottage applications?

Francois Byrne: The Cottager is a fuel-free, reliable power solution that we designed for people who have a medium-size cottage, and they either want to go completely off the grid or just lower their hydro bills. We designed it as a kit that comes with all the major components, including the battery, inverter, and six solar panels, so it’s got everything you need to get up and running. It’s based on our Power Tower, which we think of as the Apple product of the off-grid world, and it’s as “plug and play” as an off-grid power system can be.

CL: What are the main ways that cottagers are using them?

FB: The cool thing about the Power Tower—and any of our pre-assembled packages—is that you can use them in three different scenarios. If someone’s fully off-grid, it can be their primary power source for their home or cottage. The second way is for anyone who wants to reduce their energy use. They’re not ready to go fully off grid, but they want a smaller hydro bill. For them, the system will prioritize solar power and battery power, and it will use the grid only when those aren’t available. It also gives you a backup power source. So if the grid were to go down, you’d be able to power your entire home in an off-grid scenario until it’s back up. And the third mode is using it as a straight backup power system. So for cottagers who deal with a lot of power outages, they don’t want to lose food in their fridge or have a flooded basement because their sump pump isn’t working. In those scenarios, the same system can be configured as backup power for the whole cottage, or just for essential circuits. 

CL: So this isn’t purely a solar storage system.

FB: Solar power is definitely the most popular way of charging it, but you can use the grid when it’s available. We have customers who’ve already got a generator that was installed long before solar and battery technology was as sophisticated as it is today, but they don’t like the noise or the fumes. They can use the generator to charge up the system and then run their cottage off the battery. That way, they’re only running the generator for two or three hours instead of 24 hours a day. Then for the rest of the day, they’re completely silent and running off the battery. We also have clients who use wind turbines to charge the system. You could even do all of those things—generator, solar, and wind—at the same time if you wanted to.

CL: You mentioned that the Cottager system is for medium-size cottages, but some cottages use a lot of power, whereas others are more rustic. How can owners figure out how much power they’ll need in a battery system?

FB: We’re going to be launching an online calculator to help people determine what they need, but our team is always there to help with those measurements. The easiest way is to look at your last year of hydro bills. From those, we can see how many kilowatt-hours you’ve spent on average. Or we can look at the different appliances you’re powering, and we can make a solid guess at how much power you’ll need. The great thing about our system is that it’s scalable, so even if the measurements aren’t perfect right off the bat, it’s simple to add more batteries to the system once it’s installed. That means people aren’t overspending on storage they don’t need, and it also means they’re covered if they decide to expand their system because of new appliances or power needs.

CL: Where do people usually install it in their cottages? Does it need a lot of space?

Canadian electrical code specifies where you can and can’t store a piece of equipment, and there are people who have dedicated electrical loops, so they’ve transformed a closet or even a whole room into a dedicated electrical room. That way they can lock it to prevent children or anyone else from playing around in there. The other option that’s becoming a lot more popular is using a garage or a shed that’s near the home or cottage. Our new lithium batteries, which work down to -30 Celsius and have built-in heating systems, can be installed in sheds or garages that aren’t heated.

CL: You describe your systems as “plug and play.” Does that mean cottagers can install them without a contractor?

FB: We’ve had customers who’ve tackled it themselves, but there are regulations to follow, so you should definitely have a master electrician come in and sign off on the work. We’ve made the system as simple as possible to install, so you can certainly do some of the work yourself and save some money, but you should still have a professional come in and check it over. 

CL: Can people with winterized cottages use your solar backup system year-round, even when it’s cold and overcast?

FB: There’s obviously a lot less sun in the winter, but what many people don’t realize is that solar panels are actually a lot more efficient when they’re cool. So when you’ve got a day that’s -10 or -15 degrees celsius, you might only get four or five hours of good sunlight, but you’ll be producing more power during those times. We’ve also switched to strictly providing bifacial solar panels in our kits. They cost about the same as standard panels, but they take in energy from both the front and the back. With those panels, you can get up to 30 percent more energy from the reflection of solar light, especially with snow, which is a great reflector of sunlight, so solar charging in the winter isn’t a problem at all.

CL: So that means going for days without power after winter storms would be a thing of the past.

FB: That’s one of the main reasons we like to tie the system in with solar, because we never know if those outages are going to be a one-day thing or a seven-day thing. That’s the beauty of solar—it allows you to go indefinitely. If you put up the right number of panels and you understand how much power you’re using, you could go forever. So even if you’re still on the grid, you’re ready to go off grid whenever something unpredictable happens.

CL: If someone’s away from their cottage for weeks or months, will the system hold a charge, or will it need to be recharged when people show up at the lake?

FB: There are a few different scenarios. There are the people who shut down their system when they’re not around, whether they’re just at the cottage on weekends or they’re shutting down for the whole winter. Those clients will actually turn off the Power Tower itself, but the solar charger always stays on. So whenever you return, your batteries are full and you’re ready to go. Others don’t want to totally shut down their power—they might have food in the fridge or freezer that they don’t want to spoil. They can leave the system running all the time on a small load. So when they get back, the system’s fully charged. For those who want to do a complete shutdown for a season, the new batteries that we’ve just released are one of the only batteries on the market that are rated for -30 degrees Celsius for operation and -40 degrees for storage. And since the inside of a home or cottage in Canada will never reach anywhere near -40 degrees, it’ll hold a charge all winter.

CL: For those who have concerns about batteries in their cottage, what sort of safety measures have you taken?

FB: We use a chemistry called lithium iron phosphate. For those who aren’t familiar with it, it’s one of the safest chemistries on the market. We started off in the mining industry, and it was mandated by these larger organizations because of its track record of safety. It’s also a perfect chemistry for residential and cottage applications, which is why we stuck with it. So the safety of our batteries starts at a chemical level. But we also add extra levels of protection. We’ve got what we call a “full-scale battery management system,” which can detect any kind of anomaly and shut down the power. And on top of that, we’ve got a circuit breaker and a fuse, so we really have four lines of defense against any kind of problems.

CL: How long will the battery last in a typical cottage application?

FB: There are a ton of factors that go into what makes a battery last, but all lithium iron phosphate batteries are designed to work for 10 to 20 years. That wide variation is because batteries are cycle-rated. Each time you charge and discharge equals one cycle. And it also depends on how you cycle it: if you’re using 100 percent of that energy and draining it all the way to zero percent every time, that obviously puts more abuse on the battery than if you’re just using 50 or 80 percent of the battery before charging. Depending on how you use them, these batteries could last from 3,000 to 10,000 cycles. But the typical user can expect to get 20 years out of them.

CL: Where can cottagers learn more about your systems?

FB: The easiest way is to get in touch with us through our website. We’ve got a great chat function during business hours, so you can talk to us live right there, or we have a call-back feature if you’d like us to call you. Once we’re in touch, we’ll size up exactly what your cottage needs. Then we can help you figure out whether it’s best to install the system directly with us, or whether you want us to set you up with one of our local installers, who can handle the full installation for you.

Have questions about off-grid solar storage or backup power at your cottage? Learn more at hybridps.ca.

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Mobile Syrup

Google’s Pixel 6 is the phone you’ve been waiting for

When the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were officially revealed, one thing was immediately clear: Google is serious about their smartphones.

The company has listened to the criticisms from its users. It has delivered a smartphone that not only improves on the Pixel 5 but offers a true competitor to the top brands on the market.

Available for pre-order right now at Telus, the Pixel 6 Pro and its smaller sibling deliver the latest camera technology, a high-refresh-rate display, and Google’s proprietary Tensor chip. And thanks to the 5G Telus network, you’ll be able to take advantage of all of its features without being bottlenecked.

If you’ve been following the release of smartphone hardware this season, you’ll already know some of this, but let’s break down why the Pixel 6 is worth your attention.

The display is buttery smooth

One of the major advancements on the Pixel 6 is the faster display. The Pixel 6 Pro offers a refresh rate of 120Hz, while the Pixel 6 offers 90Hz. Both models use an adaptive refresh rate to accommodate media that use lower frame rates, but you’ll notice the difference when browsing the web, playing newer games, and scrolling through social feeds.

Gone are the days of stuttering text, bleeding shadows, and gameplay hiccups. You’ll feel the difference. This isn’t a device that’s just a little faster loading your apps. This is a device that’ll make your current smartphone feel sluggish to the touch.

And while it isn’t the first smartphone to feature a high-refresh-rate display, Google is offering one of the best available on the market. The Pixel 6 Pro has a 6.71-inch, 512ppi AMOLED display, outperforming many of the most expensive smartphones on the market. The Pixel 6 offers a 6.4-inch, 403ppi OLED display, which is easily one of the best displays in its price range.

Sorta Sunny is super stylish

Smartphone aesthetics largely come down to personal preference, but the Pixel 6 design has made some key changes to the traditional Pixel design that we can all appreciate.

The Pixel 6 Pro features a nearly bezel-free design, stretching its display from corner to corner. There is a very small bezel at the top and bottom, but otherwise the entire front of the smartphone is a bright display.

Pixel 6

The Pixel 6 also does away with the off-centre front-facing camera of years prior, instead opting for a symmetrical design with the pinhole placed in the middle of the top part of the display.

And we need to talk about the Pixel 6 colourway. From Sorta Sunny to Kinda Coral, the Pixel 6 continues the beautiful two-tone pastel colours that the Pixel line is known for. Of course, if you’re like me, you’ll appreciate that they also offer a simple Stormy Black design.

Google is serious about power

The Google Pixel has long been a fan-favourite for offering one of the best cameras on the market, along with the stock Android experience, which eliminates the bloat of its competitors. But this is the year Google has thrown its hat into the ring against the top smartphones on the market.

For the first time, Google has designed its own proprietary chip. Though we don’t have any real-world experience with it yet, the Tensor chip is expected to offer performance similar to other flagship phones.

But the Tensor has one huge advantage: artificial intelligence.

What made the Pixel cameras stand out in the past wasn’t the lens or sensor, but the AI running behind the scenes to enhance your photos. And with the Tensor chip, that AI will be working across the smartphone to increase performance as it learns.

Pair the Tensor chip with the 5G capabilities of the Telus network, and you’ll be able to leverage the power of the AI and the Cloud in ways that haven’t been possible before on other smart devices. Whether streaming, working, gaming, or uploading, the Telus network offers peace of mind, allowing for nearly instantaneous uploads to social pages, and syncing to the Google suite. You can check to see if your area is part of the 5G network by visiting the Telus coverage map.

Showing off with the camera

I touched upon it earlier, but the camera has always been one of the Pixel’s standout features. And this year is no exception.

The Pixel 6 Pro offers four different lenses. It has a 50MP f/1.85 wide-angle lens, a 48MP f/3.5 telephoto lens, a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens, and an 11.11MP /f2.2 front-facing camera.

Pixel 6 camera

Pair this incredible detail with a larger sensor for better low-light performance, and you’re looking at one of the best cameras on the market.

But the most interesting features are on the software side. Google has said that the Pixel 6 captures darker skin tones more authentically, something that has been a significant problem across all smartphone cameras.

The depth-of-field features return, along with the ability to remove objects in the photo thanks to the Magic Eraser. It’s hard to oversell the Magic Eraser. While it’s not perfect yet, it’s getting better with every shot thanks to the Pixel’s AI learning. Being able to remove people in the background from a photo never fails to impress. It’s essentially Photoshop in your pocket, without the monthly subscription fees.

And the list goes on

I’ve touched on some of the biggest upgrades that the Pixel 6 offers, but there are many other aspects of the smartphone that are worth mentioning.

The Titan M2 security chip is paired with Google’s built-in security core to keep your information safe. The Pixel runs stock Android 12, and it usually receives updates faster than any other phone on the market. And with a bigger, faster-charging battery, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will get you through an entire day of work without needing a top-up on the ride home.

Available now

Best of all, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are now available to order at Telus. The Pixel 6 can be yours for $0 upfront plus taxes with the Telus Easy Payment program.

The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are two of the best phones on the market, both for their value and their performance. With the Bring-it-Back program, Telus is offering even more value with their lowest monthly price on the device.

Click here to get your Pixel 6 on TELUS’ award-winning 5G network today.

Sponsored by Telus

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