DJI Announces Mavic Air 2 Drone With 8K Support, Larger Camera Sensors, and Longer 34 Minute Flight Time

[JediStarWars]

I only have one recommendation with these Drones being from China.

Download the app on a separate cheap iPad mini, set up the drone and immidialaty disconnect it from the internet and do not let it connect online. I love my Mavic 2 Pro but I will never trust it and the information it may or may not be sending back to its homeland.

I don't understand why some people are so paranoid about DJI, could someone explain to me?

Anything that is captured from a drone is already available for free via Google Maps, isn't it?! And surely if China are intent on spying on the US, they would use their own satellites and computer systems and not have to rely on hobby or professional drone operators.

Serious question - why are some people so concerned? Is it a genuine concern for privacy/data reasons or is it mostly paranoia? Keep in mind - the US government have more info on us than they need... If there should be any concern, it should be in our "own back yard" with the US government/NSA/agencies etc. and what they have already collected on US citizens... I'm not saying China shouldn't be a concern for people, I just genuinely haven't heard anyone give any specific reasons why people are concerned about accessing DJI drone data.

Happy/curious to learn more from anyone who has strong objections or concerns about China/DJI.

 

[m4mario]

I only have one recommendation with these Drones being from China.

Download the app on a separate cheap iPad mini, set up the drone and immidialaty disconnect it from the internet and do not let it connect online. I love my Mavic 2 Pro but I will never trust it and the information it may or may not be sending back to its homeland.

Apple needs to get into the drone market. How can the US let a Chinese company completely dominate a consumer market without any reasonable competition, that too a cutting edge technology market at that?

Dominate Manufacturing? OK, after all china needs to thrive too.
Dominate a complete product category without any competition? No way that should be allowed.

 

[JediStarWars]

Apple needs to get into the drone market. How can the US let a Chinese company completely dominate a consumer market without any reasonable competition, that too a cutting edge technology market at that?

I'm surprised Apple have not purchased DJI yet. They're the market leader, they're sold in Apple stores... even the DJI packaging is strongly influenced by Apple. Would/could it ever happen?

Not trying to be controversial, but, I think a lot of Apple fanboys who complain about DJI/China would ignore privacy concerns if Apple bought them out. Suddenly everyone would feel "safer" overnight. /s

 

[clayj]

Well this thread turned into paranoia central pretty quickly.

It's not paranoia if China is really out to get you. ;-)

 

[JediStarWars]

if only someone would make as good or better drone. the market is pretty dominated by DJI, they make really really really good drones.

Fair play to GoPro for trying. I wish they would have succeeded, competition is good for the consumer.

 

[m4mario]

I'm surprised Apple have not purchased DJI yet. They're the market leader, they're sold in Apple stores... even the DJI packaging is strongly influenced by Apple. Would/could it ever happen?

I don't think Chinese laws will allow that. DJI also is the leader in smartphone gimbals and has many other products in its catalog.
Apple's acquisitions are part of a larger strategy and are usually small companies. They are not going to go on a bidding war on a successful product company. If Apple wants to enter the drone market, they might acquire a competitor of DJI for the skill set and patents.

 

[RemE]

This is a very evolved version from DJI, it has ADS-B built into the system and now displays local approaching full sized aircraft alerts to the user, great for safety. These latest Mavics are really solid drones, fantastic cameras, refined apps with amazing functions. But they are very interconnected with China and they do prevent you from flying in many areas with geo fencing. Many US Govt entities have banned their use and DJI has even made special versions that don't phone home to try and win favor.

For anyone concerned with the Chinese connections with DJI, check out an alternate manufacturer, the MIT educated team who have released a US designed and built drone with the best obstacle avoidance in a consumer product currently available, the Skydio 2, it's pretty impressive, especially for outdoor sports folks.

I have both brands and do like them very much, personally I was never too concerned about the DJI China connection as I don't fly in sensitive areas but I wish they didn't have this integration offshore. But I think we all know that China is not transparent, not at all.

 

[northernmunky]

It's not paranoia if China is really out to get you. ;-)

請給我您的名字，地址，生日和信用卡號是多少

 

[Scottsdale]

I trust Apple more than I trust DJI -- but I do want Apple to move their iPhone assembly out of China, along with everything else.

Until US companies start moving their jobs to the free world, they’re putting us all at risk. Just so CEO’s like Tim Cook can get their annual $140m in stock options vested. It’s sad that money is more important than anything to these decision makers. I really wish whoever is President would stop US companies from doing business not just in China but also Vietnam and other communist countries. Add with that all dictatorship-led countries.

Been to China many times. It’s a beautiful country. It has high-tech cities and amazing transportation systems like high-speed railways. Make no mistake about it, the country was built on the backs of its citizens, with no care for them or their regard by the Communist-led government. Thanks to US business executives this money flows one way, and that isn’t just to build the best infrastructure in the world, BUT ALSO TO BUILD THE WORLD’S BEST MILITARY! Be careful where all of you decide to do business.

 

[GadgetBen]

Follow Me is pretty good on the original Mavic Air and other drones are even better, creating a 3D map of the surroundings and then finding the best path that maintains focus on the subject while keeping the craft safe. The Mavic Air 2 still only has forward backward and downward sensors, so it won’t be able to dodge anything above it.

Yeah, we need Tesla to make drones. Imagine that.

 

[name99]

Even US military uses their drones. Where does your privacy concern come from？

It's kayfabe.
It's a way for nerds to say "look at us, we 're important, we have THINGS TO SAY about politics", the equivalent of wearing a pink bracelet, a way to say "I belong to the tribe".

Believe me, China has as little interest in what random drone flying over random part of the US gets to see as I do.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

hardly tin-foil hat stuff:

Is there a line of cinematography/photography drones that don't?

The thing I find interesting about the NYT story is that they say “its commercial drones and software may be sending sensitive information about American infrastructure back to China” instead of “its commercial drones and software is sending sensitive information about American infrastructure back to China“. It seems to me that MAY BE could be converted to IS by simply applying security analysis methods to the stream of data coming out of one of their drones. I mean, unless they’re using a form of communication that’s unknown to security researchers.

Just did a quick Google search and I figured it’d be easy to find a security researcher’s link to the data stream showing communication back to China, but haven’t found them. Does anyone have that definitive information?

 

[MacNut]

The thing I find interesting about the NYT story is that they say “its commercial drones and software may be sending sensitive information about American infrastructure back to China” instead of “its commercial drones and software is sending sensitive information about American infrastructure back to China“. It seems to me that MAY BE could be converted to IS by simply applying security analysis methods to the stream of data coming out of one of their drones. I mean, unless they’re using a form of communication that’s unknown to security researchers.

Just did a quick Google search and I figured it’d be easy to find a security researcher’s link to the data stream showing communication back to China, but haven’t found them. Does anyone have that definitive information?

Any electronic equipment that is connected to the internet is sending data back to the home office no matter what country it's in. The US Government is trying to break encryption so does that make them better than China?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Any electronic equipment that is connected to the internet is sending data back to the home office no matter what country it's in. The US Government is trying to break encryption so does that make them better than China?

I... uhh, I was just asking for any links to information that shows that a DJI drone was contacting IP’s in China.

 

[MacNut]

I... uhh, I was just asking for any links to information that shows that a DJI drone was contacting IP’s in China.

Has there been confirmation that China is receiving drone footage or just conspiracy theories.

 

[Sedulous]

And your iPhone was made in China. Will you stop buying those now?

It is not that it was made in China, it is that DJI is a major Chinese company. Major Chinese companies must have direct connection to the Chinese Communist Party.

Do you own a DJI drone? I do. The first thing the DJI app does is look at your camera roll. I care about my privacy and see no reason to risk that if I do not have to. The app certainly calls home and it certainly shares flight data.

 

[ohbrilliance]

I get the relevance of news about Samsung’s latest flagship phones or the latest Surface, but this just reads like an ad.

 

[hxlover904]

The thing I find interesting about the NYT story is that they say “its commercial drones and software may be sending sensitive information about American infrastructure back to China” instead of “its commercial drones and software is sending sensitive information about American infrastructure back to China“. It seems to me that MAY BE could be converted to IS by simply applying security analysis methods to the stream of data coming out of one of their drones. I mean, unless they’re using a form of communication that’s unknown to security researchers.

Just did a quick Google search and I figured it’d be easy to find a security researcher’s link to the data stream showing communication back to China, but haven’t found them. Does anyone have that definitive information?

If you actually read the article, it's pretty clear the drones are calling home. DJI even admits they are collecting data but says the user has the final say on what data is collected.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

If you actually read the article, it's pretty clear the drones are calling home. DJI even admits they are collecting data but says the user has the final say on what data is collected.

Newer article that doesn’t require access through the NYT paywall.

Yes, drone biz DJI's Go 4 app does phone home to China – sort of

But that doesn't mean it's spilling all your beans, data audit finds

www.theregister.co.uk

While in the past it certainly had some gaping security holes, and there are other aspects of its operations that give the non-casual observer pause for thought, for now the average Joe probably has no need to worry about the Chinese state reading off their data. At least, unless you start using the built-in upload features.

Looks like data is only sent if the owner enables it. Which is about what I’d expect. If you click the option that says,”Send my data to China” that you data would end up in China. No surprises, really.
[automerge]1588111310[/automerge]

Has there been confirmation that China is receiving drone footage or just conspiracy theories.

Yes, they receive it if you use their upload services. If you don’t use their upload services, they don’t get your footage. To think so would be where we enter conspiracy theories

 

[Sedulous]

Newer article that doesn’t require access through the NYT paywall.

Yes, drone biz DJI's Go 4 app does phone home to China – sort of

But that doesn't mean it's spilling all your beans, data audit finds

www.theregister.co.uk

Looks like data is only sent if the owner enables it. Which is about what I’d expect. If you click the option that says,”Send my data to China” that you data would end up in China. No surprises, really.
[automerge]1588111310[/automerge]

Yes, they receive it if you use their upload services. If you don’t use their upload services, they don’t get your footage. To think so would be where we enter conspiracy theories

And never has an app shared any data without authorization, right? But I also cannot deny desire to fly this drone.

 

[daniesy]

Where's the 8k info?

 

[Rafterman]

Well this thread turned into paranoia central pretty quickly.

Seriously. Geez, you'd swear all these posters work for the NSA or something. If the Chinese think seeing my backyard is of strategic importance, knock yourselves out.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

And never has an app shared any data without authorization, right? But I also cannot deny desire to fly this drone.

Apps absolutely have done this in the past and will no doubt do it again! However, it’s the security researchers that performed the check on the DJI app that’s attesting to it. Is DJI wise enough to put in frameworks that could fool the researchers OR could DJI be secretly paying the researchers, or, worse, have threatened the children of the researchers to ensure they ALWAYS get a passing grade?? Possibly.

”I’m just asking questions”
[automerge]1588115278[/automerge]

Where's the 8k info?

From their website.
Mavic Air 2 supports Hyperlapse in 8K, allowing you to warp time and space for especially stunning footage. Best of all, you can achieve this shot without complex post-processing. Choose from Free, Circle, Course Lock, and Waypoint modes, select the shooting location, and the DJI Fly app will do the rest.

 

[incoherent_1]

I only have one recommendation with these Drones being from China.

Download the app on a separate cheap iPad mini, set up the drone and immidialaty disconnect it from the internet and do not let it connect online. I love my Mavic 2 Pro but I will never trust it and the information it may or may not be sending back to its homeland.

How do you install firmware updates or display local maps if the iPad is disconnected?
[automerge]1588139595[/automerge]
Curious about all the concerns of surveillance from China. By definition you should only be flying in places that are wide open, away from sensitive places, and don’t create privacy concerns. So, exactly what benefit does this provide to the Chinese government? I’m guessing there’s no strategic benefit to seeing footage of some random isolated beach, and if there were, wouldn’t they have a satellite pointed at it anyway?

Not to mention, what alternative is there? Point me to a competitor that even comes close to DJI?

 

[MDF314159265]

This looks awesome, but has anyone managed to master ‘follow me’ AI technology yet?

From China? That’s a big NOPE for me.

Well crap.

Is there a line of cinematography/photography drones that don't?

I’ve only seen one other post mention Skydio. If you want American, if you want “follow me” features, check out Skydio.

The company is American made, American owned, and American BUILT! Yep, built here in the US and A. As the other poster mentioned, the company was started by MIT grads. They’re only on their second edition, but it looks promising and the fact that they stand behind their product so well only proves such.

They do use a smaller sensor than the mavic pro 2 (same size image sensor as the original mavic pro), but according to their “third party” testing, image results are comparable to the mavic 2 pro. Mavic pro 2? Whatever it’s called.

In some regards, it’s no DJI drone, but in other regards, it blows away DJI. It all depends on your intended use, really. But if the data hogging, communist nation owned company has you a little concerned, then check out Skydio.


Regarding personal data collection - you really can’t escape it. Apple is just better at convincing you that they aren’t sharing your data. They have a fantastic marketing team. Even if they “aren’t” sharing your data, they’re sharing your data.
There’s a reason facebook made mz a billionaire so quickly - without ever selling an actual product to consumers. Data is $$$.
Although, in communist china, they may also be using your data to create your social “credit score” as they already have for all their citizens.