Visual Studio 2022 introduced a new XAML designer for building WPF apps, with a goal of increasing the performance and reliability of the designer. The new designer can quickly open a XAML file by using WPF’s built-in parser and display. This new design has a nuanced behavior when the root XAML element derives from an abstract base class. This article helps with understanding implications for using an abstract base class and describes workarounds which can ensure a smooth design experience.
The Challenge with Abstract Base Classes
When working with the XAML Designer, the base class of the root element is instantiated for display purposes. This allows developers to visualize and interact with their UI components directly within the designer, while the custom control is being developed. In the example screenshot below, the base class of the root element is UserControl. The custom control’s derived class is specified in the x:Class attribute as TestControl. Therefore, an instance of UserControl is instantiated for display in design view:
However, an issue arises when the root element’s base class is abstract. Since abstract classes cannot be instantiated, the XAML Designer will find the first non-abstract base class and instantiate that instead. Most of the time, this will work well, but there are cases where this will break design view, possibly showing an error message. One case where design view breaks is when the abstract base class defines a property that is crucial for display, such as the Content property.
Illustrative Example
Imagine you have an abstract base class as follows:
If this abstract class is the base class for your custom control, the XAML Designer will not be able to instantiate AbstractControlBase and will instead instantiate the Control class. The reason is that Control is the first non-abstract base class. This leads to any reference to AbstractControlBase being broken in design view. In the following screenshot, it shows how a ControlTemplate cannot be applied to AbstractControlBase, and the Content property cannot be used to display anything in design view:
Effective Workarounds
To mitigate this issue, there are practical workarounds that ensure that the XAML Designer continues to function seamlessly.
1. Move Display Properties to a Non-Abstract Base Class
One approach is to refactor your code by transferring the properties critical to design view to another level of base class that is not abstract. This adjustment allows the XAML Designer to instantiate and render the necessary components. The following code shows how the Content property was moved from AbstractControlBase to a new ControlBase class:
In the XAML file, the base class stays as AbstractControlBase, but the control template now applies to the concrete base class ControlBase:
2. Utilize Standard Controls
Another strategy is to derive the abstract class from WPF’s ContentControl, which already provides common properties that are used for display in design view, such as the Content property. This method circumvents the instantiation issue associated with abstract classes, allowing your UI elements to be properly displayed while designing your XAML content.
Conclusion
Understanding the implications of using abstract base classes and implementing effective workarounds can significantly enhance your design workflow. By moving properties to non-abstract base classes or utilizing standard controls, you can ensure that your UI components are rendered accurately, allowing you to harness the full potential of the XAML Designer.
If you have feedback about the XAML Designer, please let us know by using the Visual Studio Feedback Tool. We’re eager to hear what you think!
Like not even a regular freak, an OCD organizational freak. lol.
I’m a firm believer that everything, no matter how small it is, MUST have its own little home inside my home. I know where everything is at any given moment and if I don’t know the exact spot, I know the general vicinity it’s in, like the particular cabinet or place in the garage.
Sometimes I think I drive my kids nuts, but I’m bound and determined to teach them my organizational tips and ways. They don’t have to be OCD like me, but there should be some sort of order.
Little by little, over time, I try to teach them these important habits. Here are the 12 habits people who have organized homes do (like me)….
12 Habits of People Who Have Organized Homes
Habit #1: Everything must have a home
Everything inside your home must be put back in the same spot at all times when not in use. This is, by far, the most important habit people who have organized homes do.
During the day, put everything back and right before bed, allot yourself 10 minutes to organize and pick up everything and put it back in it’s specified place.
Related:
If you’re looking for an organizational binder to help with how to organize your home and life, check this one out!
Over time, this has become such a monumental thing for our family. In fact, I tested my theory and stopped doing that for one month to see how it would affect us and we were a mess. Everything was all over and cluttered. I couldn’t get a rein back on it and it literally took a week or two to get things back to normal. Thank GOODNESS that’s not the norm. Just 10 minutes before bed can really change things!
Habit #2: The second your bills come through that door, they are put up
Right when the mail comes in the house, I put it up. I may stick an unopened bill in my bill folder on occasion, but it’s put up where it belongs. Junk mail goes to the recycle, unwanted newspapers go to the recycle, and I’ve gotten off all magazine subscriptions because I never really have time to read them and they just end up being clutter.
Once a day, my son is responsible to take the recycle to the recycle bin in the garage. We have very little actual trash each week; almost everything is recycled.
Habit #3: If you haven’t used it in 6 months, get rid of it
One exception is seasonal items. I usually use a 2 year rule for those. If I haven’t used a seasonal item in 2 years, it’s time to go.
The other exception is important paperwork. Things like IRS taxes and such, you want to keep for 7 years.
This means all clothes, bedding, toys, garage stuff, junk drawers, tools, dishes, furniture, any household items that you haven’t used, is all just taking up space. Much better to sell the items and get money in the bank, than to be storing things you’ll most likely never use.
Yes, there will be a few things that you have to buy again that you got rid of, but 99.7% of things you won’t and with all the money in the bank you’ll have from selling all the stuff, you can afford to buy the few items you got rid.
Habit #4: Keep on top of your paperwork
Keeping your paperwork organized can be a huge challenge, so I’ve written an entire post dedicated to just organizing your paperwork. You can read it here.
In that post, you will learn:
How to use the 1-touch system to make life easier
How and why I set a timer to keep myself from getting overwhelmed
Why you should consider using online banking and bill pay to cut clutter
Why investing in a good paper shredder and filing system is key to your success to organizing paperwork
Habit #5: Every time you hit the store, put everything away that day
I’m really horrible about leaving my shopping bags in the middle of the living room floor. When I get home from shopping, I’m tired. I want to put my feet up and rest. So, I do. Then, I don’t want to put things away and they sit there for a week. No joke.
What I’ve found now is that I will still take my break, but I’m committed to myself to putting those bags up THAT day. If I really don’t feel like it, to help me, I’ll have the kids take everything out of the bags and put all the items out on the coffee table, where it’s easy to delegate to them where everything goes.
They put up the bags and boom, I’m done. I find no shame in that. I’m a single mom and we all work as a family to help each other out. I pay my daughter $1 to bring all the groceries inside the house and put them all up. It saves me energy, time, and she earns money. I don’t believe in child labor, but I do believe in working as a team. 🙂
Habit #6: Don’t bring stuff you don’t need into the house (or garage)
Sometimes we get the newspaper as a special promotion. Of course, it has tons of ads in it designed to tempt you into buying. I take that newspaper and I put it immediately into the recycle. It does not even make it into the house.
Why? Because I don’t want to have to deal with (or think about) the same item twice. I think about it as I pick it up, put it on the coffee table, then later, I have to think about what to do with it to move it from the coffee table. It really just cuts one step out of the process. I make a gazillion decisions every single day. I really don’t need any more and I’m sure you don’t either!
Habit #7: Everything is put up where it makes sense
I went to Fred Meyer recently in my area and they had changed the whole store around in a remodel. They put the bread on the ice cream aisle. Please tell me how ridiculous that is. Because everyone eats bread with their ice cream, right…
If it doesn’t make sense to you, it won’t make sense to your family and you’ll spend more time shuffling things around and going out of your way than putting things away where you naturally gravitate to.
When I first moved into my current home, I put my drinking glasses in one cabinet and kept finding it annoying to have to go get them. I moved them and now, it’s a lot more convenient where they are. Things have to make sense. Make things easy. Make it easy to organize and put stuff up.
Habit #8: You have to work as a family
If your kids are pigs like mine, you have to teach them. This takes a lot of diligence and patience to train them over the years, but if you are consistent, they will pick it up…eventually. 🙂
Our family is very close and we work together a lot. Many times I will have my children go through the house and make a checklist of the things they notice that are out of order in the house. Then, they clean or pick it up. By teaching THEM to notice things instead of me just giving them the “answers,” I’m hoping that I’m making them more aware of their surroundings and how we all work as a team. It is incredibly important to work as a team, rather than a mom frustrated because she has to keep nagging.
A great example of this is the other day in our home. I have been asking my oldest to keep her room clean and have been giving her many, many chances; 6 months worth of chances to be exact. She would not do it, so her and I BOTH cleaned her room and I threw away some things that she wanted to keep. I explained to her that I had given her 6 months to do as I had asked, and she hadn’t, so it was MY turn to organize and clean her room.
I also made her aware that this will be a new routine if she can’t keep it clean. While I don’t expect perfection and a room that looks professionally cleaned, I don’t expect the floor to be so covered, you can’t walk in a room without stepping on something EVERY step you take.
That’s ridiculous in my opinion.
I wouldn’t allow that mess in the rest of my house and I want her to have enough RESPECT for my home to keep her room semi-decent. There’s room for a child to be themselves and show off their creativity, but within boundaries. If there was a fire, she’d have a good chance of tripping and not making it out fast enough because of the clutter on the floor. At that point, it’s a problem and not “creativity.”
Whatever your rules are, use your best judgement and be consistent. Follow up. When you say you’re going to do something, do it. Consistency will help them understand this is a rule. Following up helps ensure your rules are being followed.
If your husband is a pack rat, try to be patient with him and show him how easy it is to get rid of things. Entice him to sell things by setting aside whatever money you make from selling his un-needed stuff into a fund for your next family vacation or a new toy he’s been wanting. Maybe a new ATV or whatever. Better for him have an ATV he WILL USE than a cabinet full of junk he won’t!!!
My daughter is really great at ideas and technology, so it’s really helpful. She’s a strategist so we bounce ideas off each other all the time. She’s created a couple of printables by herself for the store too (she’s only 14) and they are solid work. Very pretty designs. She wants to be a blogger/YouTuber when she’s older and so starting now is a great idea to get experience.
Each member of your family has unique traits, abilities, skills, and interests. When you utilize those skills and traits, each person in the family THRIVES and you work together as a family. Working online (and offline) with my family is the best treasure I could ever have!!! <3
Habit #9: Use tubs and baskets
Tubs and baskets can be extremely helpful in organizing on a budget, especially little stuff. I have shelves in my closet where I keep some of my stockpile of things I’ve gotten on sale. Rather than having them just on the shelves, I have them in bins. They look so much neater and organized in their specific tubs and it’s especially helpful on the top shelves, where I can just pull down a tub to see what’s up there, rather than get on a chair and try to see everything. Likewise, in the garage, I have baskets full of shampoo and conditioner bottles. Each basket has a different variety and it keeps them all nice and organized.
Habit #10: You need a routine
You need to routinely organize as you go. You can’t let everything pile up for long periods of time. Then, it just becomes overwhelming and you don’t know where to start. It can overtake your life and your living space. Keep on top of organizing daily. Even if you are just setting aside 10 minutes on a timer to clean, it is an awesome thing to get into a habit of picking up things daily.
Habit #11: Have an entry way table
Or maybe it’s the desk near the door. SOMEwhere that everyone can put things as they come in and leave the house. My ex-husband used to lose his wallet and keys ALL THE TIME. It was beyond annoying.
I have a hook on the wall for keys, a little clock shelf for cell phones, purses, wallets, etc. We keep our shoes by the door to the garage and coats in the office. Everything is there by a door and easy to get to.
Habit #12: One item, two purposes
I needed a stand up mirror when I moved, but looking around all the mirrors were $100-$200. I happened to see this one at a Tuesday Morning store while shopping and I absolutely loved it and knew it was for me, but it was $100 in the store and it was a store display. So, I looked online for a new one and found one on Amazon.
Bought it and it was super easy to put together and even has a lock to keep kids and burglars out (not that my jewelry is worth anything; it’s more decorative pieces). Now all my jewelry is stored in one place inside the mirror, completely out of the way and a total space saver!
Implementing these 12 habits will make your home run so much smoother! You will have a much more organized home, less stress, less fighting, less losing stuff!
Related: Organizing your home can be so difficult. You have no idea where to start or how to organize your home room by room in a way that makes sense. This organizing essentials guide is the perfect solution. With real life advice and hacks, this go-to guide covers almost everything you own! Get started now and say goodbye to clutter forever!
Before this update, the Photos app was full of tabs. As someone who needs everything in one place, I found it messy and unorganized. Finding specific albums or putting things in easily findable places was hard.
While many would argue that the new Photos app is even more convoluted, I’d say it helps that it’s also extremely customizable. All the content rests on one screen; one scroll motion down accesses your entire camera roll, while one scroll motion up houses all of your albums, collections, people, and more. You can change this in app, by scrolling to the bottom and selecting, “Customize and Reorder.”
“Recent days” is a new addition that will help me keep track of daily content. It rests near your albums and keeps all of the photos you took during the day, minus the screenshots (which we all have a plethora of).
For example, during the Apple launch, my phone was essentially exploding with content, screenshots and all. With this new feature, I can click on that date and weed through all of the hands-on content I received without the interruption of screenshots.
With customization, you can keep this collection at the top of your feed, or any other categories that would help you stay the most organized. Now I can pull content from a certain day without having to scroll all the way back, and hopefully it does the same for you.
Valve announced today that Steam Families, the replacement for Steam Family Sharing, is now out of Beta and available to all users.
Unlike the previous version of this widely used feature, family members can now play a different game while someone else in their family is playing something else, instead of completely locking out the guest accounts any time the owner of a library started a single game. Also, if a family owns more than one copy of a game, as many people as copies owned can play at the same time.
Aside from parental controls (which also got revamped with this update) the new version of Family Sharing also introduces Child Purchase Requests, where accounts that are set as children can request adult members of their family to buy them a game.
FAQ
Who can be in a Steam Family?
While we know that families come in many shapes and sizes, Steam Families is intended for a household of up to 6 close family members.
To that end, as we monitor the usage of this feature, we may adjust the requirements for participating in a Steam Family or the number of members over time to keep usage in line with this intent.
Can I leave a Steam Family?
Steam Families are intended to contain your immediate family. As major life events can change who lives in your household, it is understandable that some day you may need to join a new Steam Family. Adults can leave a family at any time, however, they will need to wait 1 year from when they joined the previous family to create or join a new family.
Children in a Steam Family cannot leave the family themselves and must be removed by an adult in the family or by Steam Support.
As it is rare that a family member leaves the family, each Steam Family slot has a cooldown of one year before a new member can occupy that slot.
Can I be kicked out of a Steam Family?
Yes, adult family members can kick any family member out of the Steam Family.
Can we go through a real world example of how a Steam Family might share games?
Of course! Let’s say that you are in a family with 4 members and that you own a copy of Portal 2 and a copy of Half-Life. At any time, any one member can play Portal 2 and another can play Half-Life. If two of you would like to play Portal 2 at the same time, someone else in the family will need to purchase a copy of the game. After that purchase, there are two owned copies of Portal 2 across the family and any two members can play at the same time.
In this example, if your family chose to not buy a second copy, you can play any other game in your library while waiting for your family member to finish playing your copy of Portal 2.
Which games are currently eligible for Family Sharing?
A game’s developer controls whether a game is eligible for sharing with Steam Families. All developer settings for the previous Steam Family Sharing feature are being brought forward to Steam Families. So, if a game is currently eligible for Family Sharing, it will remain so in the new system unless the developer chooses to opt-out later.
In addition, not all games can be shared due to technical limitations. For example, titles that require an additional third-party key, account, or subscription in order to play cannot be shared between accounts.
We want as many games as possible to be accessible via Family Sharing, but we realize some games might have special cases where this feature isn’t feasible or doesn’t give users a good experience. Developers who have these concerns can reach out to us via the partner support page to get help with options and solutions.
Do I need to share all of my games with my family?
By joining a family, all games are automatically shared with the other members in your family. Adult accounts can use parental controls to limit which games each child in the Family can access.
What happens if my brother gets banned for cheating while playing my game?
If a family member gets banned for cheating while playing your copy of a game, you (the game owner) will also be banned in that game. Other family members are not impacted.
Do I need to be online to play a shared game?
You can play games from the Family library offline as long as that game supports Family Sharing.
I’m currently using the existing Steam Family Sharing feature. What happens now with Steam Families?
You should set up a Steam Family! Once done, Steam will automatically recommend inviting any accounts that you were previously sharing with.
I’m currently using the Family View feature with my family. What happens now with Steam Families?
If you create a Steam Family and add a child account, any existing Family View settings associated with that account will be transferred to Steam Families under Parental Controls. The ability to unlock controls by entering a PIN will be removed, but the settings are otherwise untouched. Once they’ve joined the family, you can modify their parental controls at any time.
Just over a year after its initial launch, Bethesda has finally given Starfield players a closer look at the game’s upcoming DLC, the Shattered Space expansion. A nine-minute deep dive trailer breaking down the expansion was recently uploaded to Bethesda’s YouTube channel, giving players their first real taste of what the expansion has to offer. The trailer also revealed the expansion’s launch date: September 30.
Focused around the fate of what is easily one of the most interesting factions from the base game–House Va’ruun–Shattered Space is a mostly self-contained adventure, according to Bethesda, taking place entirely on the homeworld of House Va’ruun–known as Va’ruun’kai–and its capitol city, Dazra.
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“We love Starfield’s massive open galaxy, but from early on in our planning, we knew we wanted to introduce some more secluded and handcrafted locations similar to what you’ve seen from our past expansions,” said lead producer Joe Mueller. “There’s so much mystery to House Va’Ruun! And becaused they’ve so thoroughly isolated themselves, it made them the perfect faction to explore in a completely self-contained experience.”
“From the minute you arrive on Va’ruun’kai, the story never sends you off-planet,” lead creative producer Tim Lamb explained. “You’re free to leave at any time, but the story is fully centered around life on the Va’ruun homeworld.”
“Everything you discover, every location you visit, every side mission you seek out, it all tells the story of what happened here, and how the Va’ruun people have survived cut off from the comforts of the Settled Systems and the rest of humanity,” Mueller added.
House Va’ruun worships an entity known as The Great Serpent.
In Shattered Space, players will arrive on Va’ruun’kai shortly after a major disaster that sees the reclusive civilization descending into chaos.
“One of our main themes throughout the base game is humanity’s search for knowledge,” lead quest designer Brian Chapin said. “Shattered Space is still about that search, but it’s also about what happens when it goes too far. “Before the start of Shattered Space, a secret experiment involving Grave-Drive technology went terribly wrong. It’s a very extreme pursuit, and it has backfired horribly for the people of House Va’ruun.”
“[The experiment] resulted in a massive tear in the fabric of space-time that swallowed a significant portion of the Va’ruun capitol of Dazra,” design director and writer Emil Pagliarulo said of the expansion’s storyline. “You arrive just a few weeks after the Vortex Incident. It’s still very fresh in everyone’s mind. There’s a massive crater in their city, nothing has been reconstructed, people are still searching for missing loved ones.”
In addition to the massive crater, the people of Va’ruun are also dealing with other challenges. After the Grav-Drive experiment went sideways, The Scaled Citadel–House Va’ruun’s seat of governmental power–became trapped within a mysterious energy field. Additionally, Anasko Va’ruun–Speaker for the Great Serpent and leader of House Va’ruun–is missing. His disappearance has created a power vacuum, and the smaller factions that make up House Var’uun are each fighting for control of the now-devastated Va’ruun homeworld, its government, and its future. As they progress through the story and explore Va’ruun’kai, players will have to interact with House Va’ruun’s various sub-factions, and the trailer hints that the fate and future of House Va’ruun and its homeworld rest in the player’s hands.
House Va’ruun’s homeworld, Va’ruun’kai, is extremely colorful and visually striking.
“Va’ruun’kai and Dazra City are like no other location in the base game,” art director Istvan Pely said of Shattered Space’s environments, which are visually striking and–unlike many other locations in the chronically desaturated Settled Systems–filled with color.
“Va’ruun’kai has a completely distinct visual identity,” creative lead Alan Nanes added. “We say it’s very ‘alien.’ You’ll see this in the extraterrestrial landscape, gravity anomalies, and much more.”
By “gravity anomalies,” Nanes seems to mean “moments where gravity stops working,” as the trailer features multiple shots of floating corpses and clips of low-g combat.
Due to the tear in the space-time continuum, strange creatures “from the other side” are slipping through the tear into Va’ruun’kai, and players will have to adapt accordingly. Bethesda says it wanted to use Shattered Space as an opportunity to “amp up” combat and introduce over 50 new creatures (including an alien species simply referred to as “Horrors”).
Players will have some horrifying new creatures to hunt when Shattered Space launches on September 30.
Some creatures can set up ambushes, and the trailer features an extended clip of the player-character taking on a hive of very Xenomorph-like creatures called Cavern Bonecrests. The Cavern Bonecrest Queen appears to pose a significant threat, especially if players are unprepared. But the planet also has its fair share of standard Spacers, Va’ruun Zealots, and Crimson Fleet pirates for players to take on in their quest to uncover the truth behind House Va’ruun’s downfall, restore order to its bickering factions, and decide its future.
Starfield’s Shattered Space expansion launches on September 30 and will be available to purchase for $30 USD. However, players who purchased the $100 Premium Edition of Starfield will get the expansion for free on launch day.
JVC Professional Video has indeed been making strides in sports production technology! JVC’s advanced cameras and production equipment are designed to enhance the quality and efficiency of sports broadcasting. Features like high-resolution imaging, robust connectivity options, and user-friendly interfaces make it easier for production teams to capture and deliver high-quality sports content.
Join Dan Skirpan as he highlights JVC’s latest products and case studies in sports production.
Ok, we use TFS (Azure Dev Ops) on-prem for source control. When I create a new SSIS project in VS and go to add it to Source Control, I want it in the existing Architecture folder and the “add screen” looks like this:
I click OK and it adds it where I wanted it, but the local path/workspace assigned to it is actually the path to the actual project. Why would it not inherit the local path from the Architecture folder like other items do? Note the difference in Local Path in the two images below.
Test Project where Local Path = Path to the Project
Note the Local Path to the parent folder. That is the Local Path/workspace I have assigned in TFS when I connected.
I would expect the Local Path to inherit. I should have the “copy” that is in TFS (mapped to the Local Path/Workspace) and my existing local/physical copy.
What is going on here? I know I can change the Local Path/Workspaces, but that doesn’t really resolve my issue. Trying to understand why it is working this way.
It is a truism that wildlife photographers always want a faster camera. The wonders of mirrorless technology have made some terrific cameras available, but getting maximum performance has meant paying for it in size, weight, and price. Until now, it’s been equally true of Sony, Canon, and Nikon. But with the Z 6 III ($2,499.95), Nikon has done its best to bring all the power from its flagship Z 9 ($5,999.95) and smaller sibling, the Z 8 ($3,999.95), down to a relatively more affordable price tier. I tested one extensively with the company’s new Nikkor Z-series 28-400mm f4/8 zoom lens ($1,296.95) and found much to like with the Z 6 III, but not as much with the superzoom.
Credit: (c) David Cardinal
Nikon Z 6 III by the Numbers
The number that has attracted the most attention—and disappointed some fans—is the Z 6 III sensor’s resolution. It stays the same as previous generations at 24MP. Instead of moving to a higher resolution, Nikon used the updated technology in the camera to dramatically increase its speed and video capabilities. So, the camera’s target market has shifted more to videographers. As a simple example, the camera’s processing speed allows it to capture 6K full-frame video—essentially running the sensor at full resolution at high frame rates for long periods.
The same camera, except with the lens extended out to 400mm Credit: (c) David Cardinal
In exchange for not using a higher resolution sensor, the Z 6 III is one of the fastest cameras I’ve ever used. It’s not a Z 9, but it’s less than half the price. It features 20fps Raw captures and has borrowed most of the high-speed autofocus system from the Z 8 and Z 9, featuring 299 focus points.
By the numbers, the camera has a 24MP partially-stacked sensor with 5-stop in-body sensor-shift stabilization. Using the electronic shutter, it can capture up to 20fps, and its mechanical shutter can still capture up to 14fps. Those numbers are music to the ears of action and wildlife photographers.
Nikon Z 6 III with the Z-series 28-400mm lens locked at 28mm Credit: (c) David Cardinal
Two features I appreciate: First, one of the two card slots is a standard SD slot. The other is CFExpress, which is a great format but requires carrying yet another reader. Second, I’ve grown to love articulating rear displays—in part because I’m not as spry as I used to be. Shooting from ground level is much easier with an adjustable rear display. And partially because if you’re photographing some species of mammals, you want to have some height and not just be sprawled out on the ground.
One of my quibbles with mirrorless cameras has been that you’re essentially looking at the world through a tiny television when you use them rather than actually seeing the world through the lens on a DSLR. At this point, at least when using the Z 6 III, the benefits of mirrorless are worth the tradeoff. With the excellent electronic viewfinder on the Z 6 III, there is even less reason to return to a DSLR. The Z 6 III EVF features 100% coverage, nearly 6MP, 4,000 nits brightness on the back screen, and 120fps.
Even with the relatively-slow 28-400 zoom, the Z 6 III was able to track a running bear headed right past me. Credit: (c) David Cardinal
Partially stacked Sensor: Pros and Cons
Stacked sensors allow for faster readouts—and, therefore, faster shooting. However, high-quality stacked sensors are expensive and require a lot of processing power. That’s part of the reason for the cost (and size) of flagship cameras. For the Z 6 III, Nikon took a middle ground between a traditional CMOS sensor and a stacked sensor, using a partially stacked sensor.
The result is technically a bit of a mixed bag. The Nikon Z 6 III is by far the fastest camera I’ve ever owned in autofocus speed and frames per second, and even in some amazing “party tricks” like the ability to record 120fps in JPEG format. And it costs less than half of what I spent on various flagship DSLRs over the years.
However, based on our analyses, it seems clear that Nikon did give up some sensor dynamic range performance in exchange for the nearly unbelievable speed of the camera. The sensor testing site PhotonstoPhotos found it losing up to 1-stop of Dynamic Range versus the Z 6 II. In fairness, if we’re talking about 11.5 stops versus 12.5 stops, this is a bit of an edge case. More importantly for wildlife photographers, the key is the subject, the “moment of action,” and of course a good background. So, when shooting wildlife, it doesn’t make a difference to me.
If you’re looking for the best dynamic range and resolution, the Z 6 family is already not the best fit for you. The Z7 offers more resolution and possibly better pure image sensor quality, although at a higher cost. It also sacrifices AF speed, frame rate, and other critical specs for sports and wildlife photography.
Pixel peepers definitely have some issues with the Z 6 III’s partially stacked sensor. So it’s a tradeoff. If you value action photography, it’s a dream. But if you want the best possible scenics, the Z7 or perhaps even a lower-cost Z 6 II are options. Credit: (c) David Cardinal
This is Not Your Father’s Nikon: It Really Needs Some Customization
The Z 6 III is also unlike the Nikon you used 20 or even 10 years ago. Just as with the Z 8 and Z 9 (from which it borrows many features), you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t take the time to learn about and program the seemingly innumerable settings.
You may want to start by mapping some of your favorite functions onto one of the many programmable buttons available. Fortunately, there are quite a few, as the smaller form factor of the Z 6 III means fewer dedicated buttons than on its larger siblings.
For example, since there is no dedicated AF mode button, I programmed the AF-On button to do that for me. Similarly, since I’m often switching between single shot and bracketing, I programmed the burst mode button to perform the function of the BKT (Bracket) button.
I was very impressed by the Z 6 III for bird photography even in cloudy conditions. Not quite a Z 8 or Z 9, but pretty close. Credit: (c) David Cardinal
Bird Photography with the Z 6 III and 28-400 Zoom
The Z 6 III’s upgraded autofocus system is ideal for bird photography. In addition to an overall increase in AF speed, the custom target mode allows it to track in a horizontal band, which is ideal for birds in flight. In testing, it had no problem locking on to Puffins flying against a sky or water background but didn’t perform as well as the Z 9 at tracking them in front of foliage.
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the 28-400 doesn’t hold up its end of the arrangement. Not because of an issue with focus, but it just isn’t as sharp at the long end as a lens with fewer compromises (e.g., typically one with a fixed focal length, or a more expensive zoom with a smaller focal range). I also missed having the additional reach of a 500mm or 600mm lens, as cropping images that aren’t tack sharp to begin with is never optimal.
The 28-400 also makes another important tradeoff that will be an issue for some photographers. The maximum aperture is a decent f/4 at the short end of its zoom but increases rapidly towards the f/8 maximum at the long end. Realistically, the combination of better image stabilization, lower-noise images at high ISOs, and dramatically improved autofocus systems means that having a faster lens isn’t as important as it used to be. But wider apertures offer more control over depth of field and provide an edge in low light conditions.
Is the Nikon Z 6 III the Right Camera for You?
If all you’re interested in is raw image quality, then I think an older Z 6 might be a much better value. Since I shoot a lot of wildlife and sports, I wanted the faster autofocus and frame rates of the Z 6 III. Similarly, the Z 6 III is a large upgrade if you shoot a lot of video.
Going the other way, if you have the budget and are willing to carry a larger camera, the fully stacked sensors on the Z 8 and Z 9 offer better image quality. They also offer even more features for those willing to learn how to use them.
The world’s largest business show is back for 2024, expanding into the US and arriving at
the Los Angeles Convention Center. The 2024 edition takes place on the 9th & 10th of October and is set to be an unmissable event with 300 exhibitors, live panel debates, speed
networking, and over 150 seminars and interactive masterclasses covering everything you
need to know to start or grow your business!
The Business Show 2024 Speaker Lineup
Hear from experts from some of the biggest companies in the world who will be offering you the best tips, tricks, and advice to get yourself off the ground and running a profitable
business. The Business Show hosts keynotes from thriving entrepreneurs and industry
giants; you won’t get this experience anywhere else. This year, Netflix’s star of Selling
Sunset and Realtor, Maya Vander, keynotes and shares her success story. You can also
expect to attend sessions hosted by experts at Google, IBM, and PepsiCo. Make the most of
this incredible opportunity to find out first-hand how to drive your organization’s growth. The insightful seminars also cover a range of topics and industries so you will no doubt find
something of relevance to your career goals and needs.
Spanning two days, The Business Show is a buzzing hub with an electric and entrepreneurial atmosphere. The event provides you with a wealth of information, contacts,
and resources. You won’t find the same opportunities for your business anywhere else, so
make sure you get involved, meet the exhibitors, listen to the speakers, build relationships
with fellow entrepreneurs, and revolutionize the way you do business!
The Business Show 2024 Masterclasses and Networking Extravaganza
There is also a series of interactive masterclasses taking place at the LA event from such organizations as The Leadership & Growth Hub, DREAMS Business Resources, Circle Strategies, and Kevin Anderson & Associates. You can access all of them for free with your ticket, you just need to ensure that you sign up for your spot on the website. This will provide participants with an incredible opportunity to hear from experts about industry insights in a close-quarters environment.
At The Leadership & Growth Hub masterclass, you will find a sanctuary for visionaries
committed to innovation and accelerating their business growth. The DREAMS Business
Resources masterclass will help you with your business finances, saving you time and
money while also eliminating risks. The Circle Strategies sessions will help you become a
balanced leader and manage your relationships, health, hobbies, and business growth.
Finally, the Kevin Anderson & Associates masterclass will help you learn insider secrets and powerful strategies to boost visibility, authority, and brand recognition. You won’t want to miss out on these incredibly insightful sessions. Sign up today to avoid disappointment!
One of the most popular show features across the globe is the speed networking area. This
is a corporate take on speed dating where you can have one-minute mini-meetings with a
partner. This is a chance to practice and perfect your elevator pitch. After one minute, your
time is up and you move on to the next partner. Offering you a great opportunity to form
lucrative new business connections and grow your contact list, you can sign up for
masterclasses via the event website.
Home Business Magazine is a Sponsor
Home Business Magazine, including HomeBusinessEXPO.com, are sponsors of The Business Show. HBM joins a distinguished group of sponsors including Startups Magazine, Quality Franchise Association, CEO Today, Business & Industry Today, Brainz Magazine, Business Aspects Magazine, Sustainable Business Magazine, Franchiseek, StartUp City, Global Franchise, Global Trade Magazine, SmartMoneyMatch, Business Innovation Brief, Startup Catalyst Brief, Influencer Press, The Global Alliances, Business Management Review, WIRE19, CEO Outlook Magazine, America’s SBDC, Digital Agency Network, Global Chamber, Brands and Business Magazine, World Business Outlook, Networking Maverick, Fintech Finance News, The Women Leaders Magazine, Entrepreneur, and more.
Get Your Tickets to The Business Show Today
When you visit The Business Show, your free ticket also gives you access to co-located
shows The B2B Marketing Expo, The Sales Innovation Expo, and Going Global Live. The
B2B Marketing Expo is the leading event for marketing solutions and innovation, providing
business, sales, and marketing professionals with everything they need to thrive. Going
Global Live helps you to expand your business, set up overseas operations, and make your
brand a world-renowned name.
So what are you waiting for? You will have unlimited access to The Business Show and co-located events with your completely FREE ticket. To register and guarantee your place,
simply head over to The Business Show now.
If you have an Apple Watch, you need to be ready for watchOS 11 Apple’s next big software update for its smartwatches. Though watchOS 11 doesn’t have Apple Intelligence, it still has a ton of new features, including more customization for Activity Rings, overnight vitals, training load tracking, and much more.
But when will you be able to check out watchOS 11? Here’s everything you need to know about the watchOS 11 release date.
watchOS 11’s release date
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
The wait is over: watchOS 11 is finally here, with the release date having been confirmed at the Apple event that also brought us the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and Apple Watch Series 10. The latest update for your Apple Watch is now available to absolutely everyone, and is no longer reliant on signing up for a beta. Yes, anyone with an applicable Apple Watch can now experience everything Apple has to offer in the latest version of its wearable OS.
It’s been a long road to get here, and a familiar one for those who’ve tasted of the waters of developer and public betas before. First, watchOS 11 was released as a developer beta shortly after the WWDC 2024 keynote in June. This beta was followed by a number of updates until it was finally taken away from developers alone, and released as the watchOS 11 public beta on July 16, 2024. As ever with public betas, this release was more stable than the developer beta, but still had its share of bugs. It was meant to show the public a taste of what’s to come and to provide feedback to Apple in order to shape the final release of watchOS 11.
But betas are notoriously fickle things, and come with plenty of bugs, issues, and ways to brick your watch or render it incapable of receiving aid from Apple. Thankfully, you don’t need to play with one any more, as watchOS 11 is now out for general release.
When will my Apple Watch get watchOS 11?
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
But none of this matters if your Apple Watch can’t run the newest update. Apple is generally quite generous where updates for older models are concerned, but whether it is where the Apple Watch is concerned is a question you’ll have to answer for yourself. The cutoff line for Apple Watches to receive the new watchOS update is … the Apple Watch Series 6. That means any Apple Watches older than September 2020 will not be receiving watchOS 11. That’s a real shame if you’re still using your older Apple Watch and it’s purring away nicely. But hey, if you’re happy to live without the latest software, then you can still get a few more years out of it. Otherwise, check out our list of the best Apple Watch deals to browse upgrades.
