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DJI Mini 4 Pro

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Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro

#301

Post by PeterStuer »

vertis wrote: post #202
mk_stjames wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this. I read over their product page and, like always, I'm absolutely amazed that these things exist now and can capture such amazing video and photography at their price point. I'd love to get one to use. But I won't buy one, because every time I go out now to the beach or on a hike, I see people with things like these and I just cannot stand them. I hate the ridiculous noise…

Walked down the edge of canyon in Jasper National Park today and you had to wade through people taking pictures (admittedly, myself among them). What is the difference between someone taking a selfie with a phone and photos at 50 spots along the edge of the canyon, and someone flying a drone at that point?

You can compare it to people breathing and someone lighting a cigar in a crowded restaurant. Both inhale and exhale, but it is not the same.

Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro

#302

Post by trailbits »

flutas wrote: post #177
Vox_Leone wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>It doesn't exist in the Google Play Store, to avoid inspection. I think the real issue is more complicated than that, but, whatever. I use their software only for administrative tasks - updates, etc. For routine use I would recommend something like Litchi.

Fwiw, Litchi is based on their SDK, so you're not really avoiding their software by using it.

True, but you ARE getting a google play store app for those that find that comforting.

Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro

#303

Post by WitCanStain »

palata wrote: post #262
rmbyrro wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the history of China and its tech companies, the burden of proof shifted to their shoulders. So, I turn to them: is there anything that proves its a surveillance-free device? No, they cannot assure that. Someone may not like it, but China now has a very, very bad reputation among people in the West. Especially after the last pandemic and how they handled it.

> So, I turn to them: is there anything that proves its a surveillance-free device? No, they cannot assure that. Can Google and Apple prove that their stuff is surveillance-free, though?

No, because it isn't.

Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro

#304

Post by kaptainscarlet »

ben7799 wrote: post #22

I've had the original Mini since it came out. Other than damaging a prop from it hitting a blade of grass on landing it is in perfect shape. Yes, they are so fragile I landed very smoothly in the grass and soft grass is enough to damage the props! I don't fly it as much as I used to. These new ones are certainly an engineering marvel with how much they have added and still kept it under 249g. The big one to me though…

I think it's a good thing the props are fragile as the motor would be damaged if the props hit an object without absorbing the force of impact.

Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro

#305

Post by cf141q5325 »

corbezzoli wrote: post #240
okdood64 wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I myself still wouldn't ever use DJI because of this reason, no can ever provide any concrete claim. Quite hilarious.

What concrete claim are you looking for? Is it not enough that Huawei was banned by the US? Do you know the reason why it was banned? The same reason could broadly apply to every Chinese company. TikTok is the software counterpart that isn’t allowed on any government phone. DJI does not produce infrastructure pieces so it hasn’t reached the same urgency to the US, so it’s still allowed.

> Is it not enough that Huawei was banned by the US?

They are in an economic war and are competing about whose spyware people use. I dont see how given that you can take this as a sensible metric.

Not arguing against your main point though, your line of reasoning is just flawed. The US would have reason to behave like this even if Chinese spyware wasnt a threat.

Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro

#306

Post by nebula8804 »

drstewart wrote: post #286
nebula8804 wrote: post #272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did label a few American companies that are operating at that speed. Nevertheless in many different fields China is determined to win and they will move as fast as possible to make that happen. Its a foregone conclusion in Renewable energy, nuclear, a lot of consumer electrics, and soon EVs.

Ah yes, "breaking things" and nuclear are surely what I'd call a winning combination.

If you look at China's innovation in nuclear tech they have soared past the US. That ship is LONG gone.

Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro

#307

Post by holoduke »

bloodyplonker22 wrote: post #251
nebula8804 wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No because DJI, XPENG, BYD, and a ton of other Chinese companies have this 'move fast and break things' mentality X100 that most American firms don't have. They ran circles around GoPro and their attempts. Closest analog is Tesla/SpaceX but who knows if even those guys last long term when the guy running it is so easily distracted by nonsense (eg. Buying Twitter, starting yet another company, playing hours of Polytop…

Come on. American software startups literally invented that motto. Just because you may be working at a slower paced company doesn't mean America does not have it.

American startups are only focused on getting an ipo or exit as soon as possible. Such thing doesnt exist in the mentality of the Chinese.

Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro

#308

Post by pseudosavant »

palata wrote: post #269
Aurornis wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The video quality degrades at longer distances. You can't get the full bandwidth at the maximum distance, but you might see enough to navigate. Communicating with a drone up in the sky is easier than something like your WiFi or your cell phone because you have a nice, clear line of sight to the drone. Fly behind a hill, building, or some trees at distance and the drone will lose connection and go into safety mode. Th…

That's super interesting! Would you have resources to recommend to learn about that? For instance: where do you get that "the free space path loss at 20kM is 126dB at 2.4GHz in perfect conditions, or 134dB at 5.8GHz"? And why does 1 Watt translate to +30dBm?

I don't know enough to offer any real sources, but I'll share that I've found ChatGPT very useful for learning stuff like this - really solidly documented and established science/engineering.

I asked* "When making a wireless transmission what is the signal loss at 20km for 2.4Ghz?" and it gave an excellent explanation of free space path loss, stepped through the calculations, and gave the correct answer.

I've had it explain various kinds of first-order filters, especially for electric guitar circuits too. And asking follow up questions works well with how my brain works.

*Link in case you are curious: https://chat.openai.com/share/d0fcf90e-9d2e-4078-9bb4-60717f...

Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro

#309

Post by bennyelv »

ben7799 wrote: post #22

I've had the original Mini since it came out. Other than damaging a prop from it hitting a blade of grass on landing it is in perfect shape. Yes, they are so fragile I landed very smoothly in the grass and soft grass is enough to damage the props! I don't fly it as much as I used to. These new ones are certainly an engineering marvel with how much they have added and still kept it under 249g. The big one to me though…

> The big one to me though is the wind resistance. 10.7m/s is 23mph. The original specs 17mph. It is hard to say at which point it starts having trouble, but 23mph is a non-trivial improvement, it probably means 2x as many days you can actually fly.

That’s a huge one for me as well (also own a mini). I live near the sea and the number of days you can actually fly is surprisingly low. 23mph is still pretty low, but I understand the weight vs windspeed tradeoff.

Re: DJI Mini 4 Pro

#310

Post by yakshaving_jgt »

brentm wrote: post #74

I always look at these and think I want one but also can't think of what i'd actually use it for. I just picture it sitting in a closet next to my GoPro and Oculus after about 3 days of messing around. Anyone own one? What do you use it for?

I have a Mini 3 Pro, and I’m quite happy with some of the videos I’ve made with it.

Here’s my latest video:

https://vimeo.com/860800214

And a couple more that I’m happy with:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsMqtYXICju/?igshid=MWZjMTM2O...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Crss_afoG0a/?igshid=MWZjMTM2O...

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