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theodp writes: During Microsoft's 2026Q4 earnings call, CEO Microsoft Satya Nadella took time to tout a dashboard he personally created using AI from a Morgan Stanley analyst's PDF research report, which suggested a rosy payback for the so-called MAG7's ('Magnificent 7' companies) massive capital expenditures on AI (to which Nadella later added a "not financial advice" disclaimer). "It would be fun for you, Adam. I think one of your colleagues put out an ROIC [Return on Invested Capital] document. I took that document to Copilot, which is a PDF, and I said, 'Build me a new Power BI dashboard, essentially.' But here is the thing. It built a rich semantic model that went into my Fabric with OneLake that brought all the data in from the external sources. In fact, it was current with all the SEC filings of all the MAG7. And then on top of that, the repo itself is in GitHub, but the artifact is sitting in my Copilot as a site. That, to me, is a classic example of an enterprise-wide workflow. I, as a knowledge worker, could go create a dashboard. The data engineer can go to Fabric and find the artifact. The professional developer can go to the repo and find it in GitHub. And by the way, it's all registered with Agent 365. That's a little bit of what Amy is describing as the coming together of a new way to work, even while at the same time, bringing IT, security and manageability of it." After Nadella's show-and-tell drew an underwhelming response during the call ("That's very helpful. Thank you." said the Morgan Stanley analyst whose team's work Nadella scraped with AI), Nadella turned to social media with posts on LinkedIn (12M followers) and Twitter/X (8M followers) to make the case for why his DIY project was such a brilliant demonstration of how AI enables governance, controls, security, development, testing, deployment, maintenance, data analysis/modeling, visualization, usability, and value. "Some more detail on the ROIC Intelligence App I built yesterday and mentioned on today's earnings call," Nadella wrote on LinkedIn. "I took the PDF that Brian Nowak at Morgan Stanley put together for Hyperscale ROIC this week and used Copilot code (coming in our new superapp) with a single prompt + skill (/drill-me) to create the plan, then used autopilot in auto to create the full app (with history, lookups, scenarios, what-ifs, etc). And /rubber-duck to test. And the best part is that all the artifacts are in my enterprise environment. My app is in Copilot, my code is in GitHub Enterprise; all my data pipelines/lake/semantic models are in Fabric. And everything is under Agent 365 IT/Sec/FinOps control! So this is not about Tokenmaxxing or vibe coding. Every step of the way the rails are engineered to create value, making everything a long-term reusable asset, with governance/security, and cost controls. This is the full system to drive business value. Disclosures: This is all pulled from public sources, and for illustrative purposes only...not financial advice! :) Here is the app and architecture..." Not unexpectedly, the accompanying screenshot of a splash page for the BI app and a buzzword-laden complicated architecture diagram drew universal praise from LinkedIn fans, but also a few barbs from less-than-impressed commenters on Nadella's Twitter/X post, some of whom suggested Nadella's project might even represent a jump-the-shark moment for AI mania. "That he doesn't see whats wrong with saying 'My app is in Copilot, my code is in GitHub Enterprise; all my data pipelines/lake/semantic models are in Fabric' is exactly why MS is failing at AI,'" replied @PassingPixels on X/Twitter. "Dude is having to run 5 different systems to emulate babies first vibe code." @zigmund_ignatov added, "Why do we call glorified slide show an app?" @Mathupiriyan quipped, "Looks like Copilot just turned a PDF into a profit crystal ball." Unimpressed, @Markusndnb remarked, "So you created a web page using tons of proprietary MS tools." And @FishyAccounting called on Nadella to show-his-work, saying "Post the prompt or it didn't happen." (btw, Microsoft President Brad Smith similarly declined to provide the prompt for his own self-described amazing AI DIY reporting project that he touted at Microsoft's Shareholder Meeting last December). So, does Nadella's self-promoted AI reworking of someone else's PDF research report strike you as an amazing example of everything that's good about AI, or does it conjure up memories of The Emperor's New Clothes?

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Laowa has unveiled a new lens series dedicated to extreme close-ups.

Laowa

Laowa has announced the Aksen, a new series of full-frame “ultra macro” lenses that together cover a 1–10x magnification range. The lineup consists of two offerings: the Aksen 45mm F2.8 1-5x Ultra Macro APO and the Aksen 17.5mm F1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO, each offered in both photo and cine versions.

One of the key features of both lenses is the parfocal magnification zoom design. The lenses behave like primes in terms of focal length (the 45mm and 17.5mm focal lengths don’t change), but they incorporate an internal mechanism that changes the magnification. This parfocal magnification system allows photographers to move through the 1-5x or 5-10x range without refocusing or changing the working distance. Additionally, because the zoom is internal, the barrel doesn’t extend and won’t interfere with flash diffusion or subjects.

Another distinguishing feature of the Aksen 5-10x is the option for a version with a coaxial lighting block built into the lens. It delivers high-contrast shadowless illumination, a technique borrowed from machine vision that Laowa says it is now making more accessible. It’s also similar to some of Laowa’s probe lenses, which feature built-in lights. The 5-10x lens is also available without coaxial lighting for $100 less.

Both lenses use an apochromatic (APO) design to reduce chromatic aberrations, which can be exaggerated at such high levels of magnification. Laowa says the Aksen series eliminates fringing for greater clarity. The 45mm 1-5x lens features 13 elements in 9 groups, while the 17.5mm 5-10x lens comprises 17 elements in 12 groups. Both feature an 11-blade aperture diaphragm. The 45mm 1-5x accepts 65mm filters, while the 17.5mm 5-10x uses 42mm filters.

The photo versions of the lenses come in Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF and EF, L mount, Fujifilm X and MFT mounts and cost $749, or you can buy both in a bundle to save $100. Laowa is also making video-focused versions with focus and zoom rings geared to work with cine equipment, though those versions are substantially more expensive.

Press release:

Laowa’s Aksen Series: Pushing the Boundary of High Magnification Macro with a Parfocal Zoom Design.

Anhui, China – July 31, 2026 – Laowa introduces Aksen — a new Full-frame Parfocal Zoom Ultra Macro lens series comprising the Aksen 45mm f/2.8 1–5x Ultra Macro APO and the Aksen 17.5mm f/1.7 5–10x Ultra Macro APO, each available in both photo and cine variants. The series will be available for purchase through Laowa’s official site and authorised resellers starting July 31, 2026.

First Ever Commercial 5-10x in the Market

The Aksen series fills a long-standing gap in the 1–10x Ultra Macro category, offering a compelling option for serious macro photographers, professional scientific users, and hobbyists who have long depended on high-cost, complicated DIY solutions.

Award-Winning Innovation: Named “Best Ultra Macro Lenses” by TIPA

Validating its groundbreaking optical engineering, the Aksen series has already received industry-wide acclaim, winning the prestigious Best Ultra Macro Lens category at the TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) World Awards. (Previously named “Axon”).

Re-explore the 1-10x Magnification Range:

Beyond the headline 1–5x & 5–10x ultra-high magnification, the lens set distinguishes itself with its parfocal zoom design. Unlike traditional macro lenses, the Aksen maintains focus as the magnification ratio changes — no refocusing needed when zooming in or out. No more
readjusting the entire setup, including camera position, working distance, and lighting placement. This avoids interrupting the workflow and reduces setup time. The Aksen series maintains a fixed working distance of 40.35mm (1–5x) and 22.48mm (5–10x), while its internal zoom mechanism keeps the lens barrel completely stationary throughout the entire magnification range. No more extended barrel interrupting the flash diffusion setup — or potentially damaging the subject.

Optical Excellence With APO Design:

The sophisticated APO design delivers exceptional optical performance. Since chromatic issues typically escalate at extreme magnification levels, the Aksen effectively eliminates fringing. Providing the unmatched clarity and sharpness that the creative community demands from their optical solutions.

Coaxial Light Ready:

The Aksen 5–10x features a coaxial block built directly into the lens — a technology traditionally reserved for machine vision, now made accessible to all photographers by Laowa.
This optical configuration heightens contrast at the target’s edges and provides shadowless
illumination, opening up a new dimension of creative lighting possibilities. It can be used on its
own or combined with other techniques to create a truly unique piece of art.

Accessories:

The Aksen features a specially designed tripod collar* that attaches directly to any Arca-Swiss
compatible tripod. Via the 15mm rods, users can mount a variety of accessories — including a
follow focus. All 5–10x lenses also include a Ø8mm Coaxial Light Adapter for secure and
convenient coaxial light attachment.

*Cine version included. Photo version sold separately.

Pricing & Availability:

The Aksen Ultra Macro Series will be available for purchase starting July 31, 2026, through
the Laowa official website (https://www.venuslens.net/) and authorised resellers.

About the Author: Abby Ferguson holds an MFA in photography and blends a fine-art background with extensive editorial and commercial experience. She built and led an in-house imaging program for a large vacation rental company and has served as an associate editor at Popular Photography. She also teaches at a local community college and serves on its Photographic Technology Program Advisory Board, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for the medium.

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Reports suggest one of Nikon’s Z-mount patents has been nullified in China

Richard Butler

Reports are emerging that Nikon has had one of its Z-mount patents invalidated in China, opening the door a little further to third-party access.

Nikon Rumors reports that one of Nikon’s fundamental patents relating to the Z-mount has been invalidated in China, having been challenged by Viltrox’s parent company.

The report, based on AI translations of court documents, suggests that the patent in question is one that sets out the basic physical description and behavior of the mount, constructed in a way that tries to make well-established features, such as the design to prevent incorrect mounting of the lens and a method for preventing damage to the electrical contacts sound original and novel. Patents are only supposed to protect original inventions that would not be obvious to someone working in that field.

Nikon took Viltrox to court in China earlier this year in a separate case, ostensibly to recover license fees but also, we suspect, in the hope that a Chinese court would establish a precedent of its patents being enforceable. As Professor Robert Newman explained in Amateur Photographer magazine at the time, there are at least 13 patents covering various aspects of the Z-mount’s design and operation, including one he described as relating to “a detail of the physical design of the mount, and I would be surprised if that would withstand court scrutiny.”

This description corresponds well with the details being reported by Nikon Rumors, right down to Prof. Newman’s assessment of its likely fate.

There are at least 13 patents covering various aspects of the Z-mount.

The invalidation of this patent doesn’t, in itself, clear the way to third parties being able to produce Z-mount lenses, as there are multiple other patents that describe the communication methods used by the Z-mount. Those would not be affected by this specific patent being invalidated.

It’s notable, though, that Viltrox has added to its range of autofocus Z-mount lenses since the original court case was meant to be heard. Other third-party makers, such as Meike, which briefly removed reference to Z-mount lenses from its website, also have a range of Z-mount options available again.

If, as seems to be the case, non-licensed third-party makers are feeling emboldened to produce AF Z-mount lenses, it puts Nikon in an awkward position with the companies that have been formally licensed to make lenses for the system. Those companies are presumably paying license fees and have to seek approval on a lens-by-lens basis, while their competitors undercut them without any such restrictions.

We have approached Nikon for a statement on this story.

About the Author: Richard graduated as a scientist but had a lot more fun writing and shooting for his university magazine. A number of years spent variously as a reporter, writer and editor on science and engineering titles combined his knowledge of science with his interest in images and words. But it was spotting the connections between emission spectra, white balance and all the nonsense he’d taught himself playing around in Photoshop that helped kindle an interest in digital photography. Searching for a camera led to him discovering DPReview and Richard was recruited by Phil Askey in 2007. He’s been combining his love of photography, communication and attention to detail (pedantry?) ever since. He has unusually strong opinions about lenses for the APS-C format.

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Apple's practice of mixing employees' work files with personal iCloud accounts reportedly left some former staff with continued access to confidential documents, messages, and even new updates after leaving the company. "The former employees said many Apple files they had been shared on over their careers at the company -- including planning documents for product launch events -- continued to sync to their personal devices through the iCloud storage service after they left Apple," reports The Information. "In some cases, they even received notifications about fresh updates to the documents. Some former employees said they were petrified to delete the files for fear that doing so would attract Apple's attention." MacRumors reports: Apple files get mixed in with employees' accounts because the company encourages them to use their personal Apple Accounts with their work iCloud account. Employees are given a 2TB iCloud plan and are able to merge the storage with their existing Apple Account or create a new account. Since only one primary account can be signed in at a time, most opt to use their existing account to avoid having to carry two iPhones. Apple has a managed folder for workplace files that it revokes access to when an employee leaves, but some internal documents aren't saved there automatically and shared files end up mixed in with personal content. Employees can also retain access to iMessage chats and files shared via the Messages app. Lingering access to Apple systems is central to Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI. In its filing, Apple alleged that former employee Chang Liu breached Apple's systems using a "rare, previously unknown authentication bug" to download files while he was working at OpenAI. Apple told The Information that the OpenAI lawsuit is unrelated to any files left available on iCloud and that it does not pursue legal claims against former employees who accidentally have Apple documents in their personal iCloud accounts. "This case is about OpenAI employees wrongfully taking Apple's secret and confidential information regarding our unreleased technologies, processes, and products. Nothing in the filing relates to documents shared by, or stored in, iCloud."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.