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Snap Launches $230 'Pixy' Drone
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I have absolutely no use for the camera you linked, but I really, really want one.
I had an app where you would stand the phone on end, and then the it would vibrate and rotate, and take 3d and panorama photos hands free. It was pretty clever actually. Then Apple switched out the vibration motor and made the phones rounded.I’m so old I can remember when they used to have an app where you would throw your phone in the air and it would take pictures. You just had to remember to catch your phone.
I have to say, Snap is proving itself a fun innovator that took an existential threat in Facebook ripping it off and recreated itself as something unique.
If Apple were ever to want to enter into the social media space, I'd point to Snap as an acquisition. Keep it a semi-independent company within Apple, a more laid back skunkworks division, open to experimenting and focused on capturing the world around you in fun ways, and then easily sharing snippets of life with or without filters on a platform. I can see them making Watch camera straps, and other experimental accessories that take advantage of the Watch's portability and augments it in innovative ways.
This flying camera that is accessible to anyone without any experience or interest in controlled drone flight, is a perfect example of the fun ways Snap has come up with to make complicated things, easy. Reminds me of a young Apple.
If Apple were ever to want to enter into the social media space, I'd point to Snap as an acquisition. Keep it a semi-independent company within Apple, a more laid back skunkworks division, open to experimenting and focused on capturing the world around you in fun ways, and then easily sharing snippets of life with or without filters on a platform. I can see them making Watch camera straps, and other experimental accessories that take advantage of the Watch's portability and augments it in innovative ways.
This flying camera that is accessible to anyone without any experience or interest in controlled drone flight, is a perfect example of the fun ways Snap has come up with to make complicated things, easy. Reminds me of a young Apple.
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The whole license thing is just another way for most governments to create an additional barrier to entry and make more money. In most places, a recreational license is an online quiz, which means you can literally sit there and Google the questions.
I’m licensed in 5 different countries and have never once been stopped and asked to show my license. Probably because the people jumping through hoops to get a commercial license are the ones following the rules anyway. Whereas the idiots who are going to do stupid stuff aren’t going to bother with some license.
As usual, the law abiding people are punished for the sins of the delinquents.
Well, the licensing thing is a bit of a jungle. The EU should have somewhat harmonized regulations, and the FAA regulations in the US are quite similar — at least in theory. In practice, different countries (and states) may have different local regulations, and the registration process varies a lot from one place to another.
The EU used to be very relaxed with the regulations, but this has changed. As long as you fly a sub-250 g (8.8 oz) drone, it is enough for the operator to be registered. Above that limit, the operator needs to pass an exam (in most countries, but there may be national differences), and there are a lot of different rules regarding where, what purpose for, and what kind of drone can be flown. The professional operator exams required for heavier drones close to people need to be passed under supervision (i.e., not in the web).
(As a side note, I have passed the private pilot theories for small aircraft without any significant effort, but reading the local drone regulations required in the exam makes me doze off.)
Then there are all sorts of fees (operator registration, annual fee, drone registration), and these fees vary wildly between countries.
In the EU, small toy drones (< 250 g)mdo not need any license, unless they have a camera. So, as the Pixy has a camera, it requires operator registration and paying associated annual fees but no exam. All this, however, requires the drone has the relevant CE class marking (C0). If there is no such marking, the drone may only be used far away from other people as of January 1, 2023.
And, yes, if you happen to have, e.g., DJI Mavic 2, it does not have the CE marking. This puts it in the Open Category A2, which means it must not be flown closer than 50 m from people, effective January 1st, 2023.
Mess? Yes. Some of the information above may be inaccurate or false, and even the interpretations are changing. Check with your local authorities. The key message, however, is that even using the Pixy will — with current interpretation — require some paperwork.
I agree. There’s so much about these things that makes me want to shoot paintballs at them.
I'm glad the color is so bright. A camera drone this compact shouldn't be discreet, for obvious reasons.
Why would you want to make it easier for someone to misuse this thing?
Looks good. Nice colour. Could have been released in multiple colours too. Price is a bit more. Could have been a maximum of $199.
I thought the video on Pixy's front page looked pretty great, but it doesn't seem to have been captured on an actual Pixy device. When you click 'learn more' and check out the video of the girl in front of a tent, hit the Pixy view toggle to see the quality you can expect - it's a shimmering, wobbling mess.
From 'interested' to 'this is trash' within 30 seconds.
From 'interested' to 'this is trash' within 30 seconds.
That's the pattern here on MR. Any announcement of a new product, whether from Apple or a third party, will instantly be met with nitpicking "it should've been this" or "it should've been that" or "who would want this (piece of trash)?" etc. ?
Apart from the 2.7k camera it's still a 101g drone, that will be pants to fly outside in any wind above 5mph. Battery is suspect too so guessing 8-9 min flight time - ryze Tello is cheaper but alas with a crapper camera.
For the price, you'd be better off buying a used drone off eBay tbh.
Flight Time
For the price, you'd be better off buying a used drone off eBay tbh.
Flight Time
- Each rechargeable battery allows you to capture content for 5-8 flights, depending on the flight mode(s) selected. Rechargeable batteries can be swapped for easy use. Remove your Pixy battery and pop in a fully charged one to keep flying
I can’t say as though I’m surprised. Slapping your name on cheap tat from AliExpress is today’s “badge engineering”. Incidentally, if you’re fine with the price, I’m pretty sure you could find a better drone for the same price on AliExpress.