I picked up DJI’s new $200 Neo drone this week, and parents, you heard it here first, this is the holiday gift for kids and young-at-heart parents. Nothing else comes close.
DJI is the longtime leader in making “flying cameras,” of all sizes and price points. I bought my latest, the DJI Mini 4 Pro for $1,000 last year after the ocean ate my Mavic Air 2S.
When I saw the specs for this new one, I had to add it to the collection.
Just $200 for a drone? One that flies in the air and records 4K content?
Yes, indeedy. The trick is that unlike other drones, which require being connected to a controller with joysticks to operate it, the Neo takes off all by itself, based on six pre-programmed modes of operation.
The big calling card is the “Follow” mode, which takes after you as you walk down the street, go running, perhaps cycling, skating, you name it.
Here’s how it works:
Turn on the drone and connect it to the smartphone app.
Choose one of the six flying modes. (They include the Follow Mode and short flights through the air called Rocket, Dronie and Circle.)
Hold the drone in front of your face in your hand, wait for the countdown and then the drone takes off and goes into the air. When you’re ready for it to come back down, hold up your palm so the camera sees it, and it lands in your hand. (Watch the video above and see for yourself.)
Quibbis:
It can be hard to connect the drone to the app, and have it be recognized. Expect to try it a few times.
Because you’re not able to truly control the drone manually, it is likely to crash. Yup, I’ve already crashed twice, but because it’s covered with propeller guards, you’re better protected than with the bigger, adult drones.
You won’t be to soar down the coast, or go up in the air hundreds of feet like other drones, due to the automatic program modes of the system.
But then again, it’s only $200. For $289, there’s a “combo” package, with two extra batteries, and that’s highly recommended as these batteries only last about 18 minutes or so.
(Buyer beware: the sample footage shown on the DJI site is something to aspire to, with extra gear and accessories that don’t come with the Neo package most of us will be buying.)
A word from our sponsor
Want to level up your phone photography skills? I’ve got three video courses available for you online: beginner iPhone photography, all about the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro and the Google Pixel. Check them out at http://www.jeffersongraham.com/courses
Elon’s Robots
I’m no fan of Elon Musk and his disinformation machine that used to be Twitter, but I’ve got to admit, his Thursday evening event was pretty spectacular, even if it was fantasyland.
He introduced a new self-driving car, a $30,000 two-seater Robotaxi that he claims would wheel people around town by an incredibly optimistic 2027—just like Waymo and Cruise cars have been doing in small tests for the last few years, to limited success. (Good luck cutting through government red tape for approvals on this one in 2 and a half years.)
But from what I could see on the livestream presentation, the audience really ate up his army of human like Optimus robots which walked around and handed out swag to attendees.
Musk said he was using the same technology from Tesla cars to build the robots, which he predicted would cost $20,000 to $30,000 to purchase and could do all sorts of things. Try babysitting, dog walking, clean the house and just be a companion. “It will be the biggest product ever, of any kind,” he boasted.
Maybe. But not so fast. I’ve been around, and I have seen so many robot announcements, it’s hard to keep up. They make good copy, but rarely succeed.
Amazon introduced a consumer robot named Astro in 2021 “by invitation only,” and even though I applied, I still haven’t been accepted 3 years later. It could have something to do with the fact that the product wasn’t ready for prime time and still isn’t.
Musk has a habit of announcing things that get delayed or not happen at all. In 2016, he predicted at an industry conference that trips for humans to Mars would be provided by his company, beginning in 2024—for arrival in 2025, "if things go according to plan.”
They didn’t.
Musk said the Robotaxis will go into production by 2026, or possibly 2027. Great idea. I hope self-driving cars do become a reality. One day. My guess is it’s 30, 40 years away, if not more.
Care to chime in?
TikTok clock
The U.S. Congress voted to ban the uber-popular Chinese owned TikTok app from the U.S. and president Joe Biden signed the bill into law, giving it a deadline of January 19 to shut down. My pal Jim Louderback created a countdown clock website showing we have less than 99 days before TikTik goes away.
I know you are all skeptical readers—who believes we’ll be living without TikTok by January 20th, on inauguration day? Sorry, this thing is just too popular to go away. A deal will be made, of some kind.
Sizzling
My mom asked me the other night: “What’s a sizzle reel?”
Well, per ChatGPT, it’s a “short, compelling video that showcases highlights of a project, concept, or talent.”
She asked because I had just finished my latest "reel,” a two-minute best of Photowalks, meant to showcase what the series is all about, what you’ll see on it, illustrated with 72 photos and videos in 120 seconds.
We visit the world’s most photographable places, go on a virtual photowalk and I offer tips on how to get pro-level vacation photos on each episode. That’s the gist.
I had great assistance finishing the reel by the one and only Sean Fujiwara and longtime family friend Peter Hammersly, who I can’t thank enough. If you have two extra minutes, please take a look and let me know what you think. I’m really proud of this one.
Tonight on Scripps News, the second of the six-episode PhotowalksTV run airs at 8 p.m. ET, as we visit the exotic island of Sicily. If you can, please check it out.
Parents: You'll want to buy this drone for Christmas