This record-breaking drone show was controlled by a single laptop

Just a few weeks after Shenzhen set a world record for the most number of drones in a drone show, the Chinese city smashed the record again.

At the start of September, a show there used 7,598 drones to light up the night sky, dazzling crowds with an array of images and animations, beating the old record by several thousand.

And then, just a few days ago, another show above Shenzhen Bay Park used a total of 10,197, setting two Guinness World Records in the process — one for the most multirotor/drones airborne simultaneously from a single computer (outdoors), and another for the largest aerial image formed by multirotors/drones.

Footage (below) shared on social media showed some of the incredible imagery created by the drones, with their movements controlled by software on a laptop back on the ground.

The latest drone show was part of celebrations building up to China’s National Day on October 1.

Another view pic.twitter.com/4n2IEnH92O

— Game of X (@froggyups) September 28, 2024

Advancements in drone technology and the software that controls them have paved the way for an increasing number of tech firms to offer their services for such shows.

Producing zero smoke or other pollutants, the flying machines are seen by a growing number of event organizers as more environmentally friendly and a cost-efficient alternative to fireworks displays. Drones are quieter than fireworks, too, which can make displays more enjoyable for audiences and less disruptive for nearby communities and any wildlife in the area.

On the flip side, there’s always a risk of malfunctioning drones suddenly dropping out of the sky, but if the display is taking place well away from the crowd such as over water, then such mishaps are unlikely to cause any harm.

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

This subscription service lets you upgrade your MacBook every two years

Technology advances so fast, if you use your devices professionally, it seems like you really do need to upgrade your devices every couple of years. If you want to be on the bleeding edge there’s no choice. But that can also get super expensive, and reselling or trading-in devices can be quite a hassle. While Apple and others have made upgrading devices easy, there’s now a service that lets you pay monthly for a Macbook, with AppleCare+, and gives you the option to upgrade every two years.

It’s called Upgraded, and the brand collaborates with Apple Premier Partners, meaning officially recognized sellers. That results in hassle-free upgrade support for you whenever you’re ready. Go check it out for yourself, or keep reading to learn how it all works.

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The MacBook upgrade program: How does it work?

This HP printer comes with one year of Instant ink for $190 — normally $260

We just spotted a great printer deal at Amazon: Currently, you can buy the HP OfficeJet Pro 8139e wireless all-in-one color inkjet printer for $190 instead of $260, so you’re saving $70 or 27% off the usual price. Even better, it comes with a year’s worth of Instant Ink included, so you’re all set for the next 12 months. This is a limited time deal and won’t be around forever. Let’s take a quick look at what it has to offer before you miss out.

Why you should buy the HP OfficeJet Pro 8139e printer

Best designed for anyone looking for a home office printer, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8139e printer is a great option. It offers printing, scanning, copying, and faxing (remember that?). It can print up to 20 pages per minute in black or 10 pages per minute in color. It also has auto two-sided printing along with an auto document feeder. There’s a 225 sheet input tray so it’s all fairly hands off once you set it up, as you’d expect from one of the best printer brands.

Today only: Lenovo IdeaPad down to $330 during Best Buy’s sale

If you’ve been shopping around for a great deal on a reliable gaming laptop, look no further than this terrific Lenovo offer: For a limited time, Best Buy is selling the Lenovo 15.6-inch Ideapad 1 for a reduced price of $330. At full price, this model sells for $580.

And if you’re looking for a more stay-at-home setup for your gaming needs, we’ve been tracking down gaming PC deals for quite some time. These are some of the best desktops in the business too, and they’re available at popular retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.

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