AutoPatcher no longer allowed


Recommended Posts

MS must have an auto response for people emailing about it:

Well i replied saying that as a home user, i tend to reinstall Windows every 6 months to one year and refuse to have to download all the updates again. Especially because it takes up my bandwith, time and uses up a portion of my 40gig monthly limit!

I also told them, that a home user is unlikely to install a WSUS server at home just for this... that is more for a company to use.

I also asked the question that if AP was to release a new version of their software, which downloads all the updates when you run it and then compiles them on the users machine, would this violate their laws etc.

To be honest, i think the ONLY reason they did this is because they want people to use WSUS and/or spend money using their own products which do exactly the same thing as AP (although probably not as well :)).

MS suck :(

And what about if you only had a original XP CD to use - surely it would take you over a day to get your computer updated.

Ohh, don't do that. You'll get Blastered before you've downloaded a single patch. It's quite likely you'll get Blastered if you leave the network cable plugged in during installation (so you can utilise that "Dynamic Updates" bit)...

A CD with SP2 (and Autopatcher XP Aug install folder), or better yet, a cheap 1GB pen drive with the Office and DirectX extras on it will sort you right out.

It is our policy that the distribution of supplemental code such as hotfixes, security updates, and service packs is discouraged. This policy is in place due to concern for the safety and security of our customers, as we can only guarantee the download's contents when it comes from a Microsoft web site. Distribution of these materials without permission is also an infringement of our copyright.

Welp, that's fair enough, apart from the fact there are authorised redistributors...

We recommend that our customers sign up for Microsoft Update (MU) and enable Automatic Update functionality to receive all updates directly from us. In addition, we have enterprise services such as Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS) that we recommend our enterprise customers to use.

MU (== major upfsck) doesn't work on my legal install; I get the 100% CPU usage crap. I haven't got the time to completely rebuild my rig with all the software I use (a reinstall over the top didn't work) and rejig all the settings just the way I like them. You could roast a turkey in the time it takes to install Visual Studio.

WSUS is overkill. Even locking down to just English patches the downloads are currently at >peeks< about 30GB. AP's combined folder take for the same platforms (2K, XP, 2K3) is less than 1GB. Admittedly that doesn't include the fifty million different versions of NVidia drivers, but I'd rather get those from NVidia anyway.

We provide this guidance as it is common to see email scams encouraging people to download our latest patches, but the URL takes them to sites where they are actually exposed to malware.

Scaremongering. Those who use AP know about it and that the patches are real. They also wouldn't give malware emails the time of day. Those whose boxen are fixed by a helpful friend / neighbour / relative would ask that person about said emails if they ever received one (spam traps work pretty well these days).

...but if you have any more questions please call us on 0870 60 10 100

== "but if you have any more questions please call us on this really expensive number where we'll keep you on hold knowing that you're contributing to our profit margin"

Protect Your PC: Microsoft recommends that you protect your PC from Viruses and Security threats.

Funny that. I could have sworn that was what I did. AV from NOD (Eset isn't listed on the antivirus page) and AP for when MU cocks up / updating friends who are still on dial-up.

I also have got the same e-mail

here's my reply

> Dear (ME),

>

> Thank you for contacting us about AutoPatcher.

Thank You for Your reply.

> I can see why you feel so let down by the close of AutoPatcher. I would like provide you with more information on our position.

> It is our policy that the distribution of supplemental code such as hotfixes, security updates, and service packs is discouraged. This policy is in

> place due to concern for the safety and security of our customers, as we can only guarantee the download’s contents when it comes from a

> Microsoft web site. Distribution of these materials without permission is also an infringement of our copyright.

> We try and contact anyone who is in violation of our policy as soon as we can, once we are aware of what they are doing. AutoPatcher is not

> the only company we have contacted.

> We recommend that our customers sign up for Microsoft Update (MU) and enable Automatic Update functionality to receive all updates

> directly from us. In addition, we have enterprise services such as Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS) that we recommend our

> enterprise customers to use.

> We provide this guidance as it is common to see email scams encouraging people to download our latest patches, but the URL takes them to

> sites where they are actually exposed to malware. In order to ensure that customers are getting actual Microsoft updates and not malware, we

> recommend customers get their updates directly from us.

But I have some questions for You.

As a home-user I tend to reinstall my Windows and as a repair-man I often go to customers to make computer-repairs.

It's very common, that I reinstall Windows in different places, so the WSUS option is out of question for me, it's too expensive for a one-man

company too.

I also refuse to download all the updates over and over again wasting my time, wasting my monthly-limited bandwidth.

I refuse to use the Monthly updates ISO's because I don't want to waste my precious HDD space on my mobile USB-HDD (and joggling with CD's isn't funny too).

I have a question - If AutoPatcher (AP) would change his policy, and didn't contain any hotfixes BUT download them stright from Microsoft

Servers ONCE, and then store them for later use (as You can make using Download Center) and if there's need - it will first check if the system on which it's running is Genuine, would it violate ANY of the Microsofts laws/policies ?

Using WU over and over again isn't always the best option you know...for the same time-internet bandwidth terms which I have spoken of earlier.

I hope, that Microsoft didn't kill AutoPatcher to favour it's WSUS services and sales...

> I hope this information has answered your query, but if you have any more questions please contact our Customer Services team in the UK on

> 0870 60 10 100. The lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. If you still have any more questions, please

> reply to this email.

I rather prefer the less-expensive e-mails, thank You.

> Many thanks for contacting us.

> Kind regards,

> (cut)

> Customer Service Professional

> Microsoft Customer Services

Thanks for Your reply again, it's nearly the same as replies, that other users have got, but I can imagine You have full hands of work contacting all customers.

> Protect Your PC: Microsoft recommends that you protect your PC from Viruses and Security threats. Please visit our website

> http://www.microsoft.com/uk/security/protect/alert.mspx and follow the steps to stay secure.

On a side-note - AutoPatcher offered great protection for vulnerability/patch-related threats... :-)

Kind regards

(ME)

OK, I've got a reply to my reply to my email to Microsoft :)

Dear (ME),

Thank you for your email.

Due to the nature of your enquiry, it has not been possible for me to answer your question. Therefore, I have taken this opportunity to escalate your query to one of my colleagues for assistance.

Please be assured that once I have received a response, I will relay the relevant information to you.

Please make a note of your reference number (cut).

Many thanks for contacting us.

Kind regards,

(cut)

Customer Service Professional

Microsoft Customer Services

Well... let's see what will the reply be...

ironically I heard about autopatcher and joined this forum about 4 days before the plug was pulled. So my ONE post (a tech question) to the forums was pulled before I could read the answer!!

Most of the posts here are understandably about the MS decision. For me, a key question for the Neowin group is, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FORUMS KNOWLEDGE BASE?? By this I mean the net help and response questions of 100?s of posts over the years.

sinjon smith @ Sep 5 2007, 09:34 wrote ??scorn Neowin for overreacting and taking down non infringing content like the forms??

. . . to which Neobond replied: ?This [taking down the forums] was a joint decision between Neowin and the AutoPatcher team? experience in these sorts of problems, about 7 years of experience??

Everyone certainly can understand Neowin?s desire to play it safe here, but surely the obliteration of the collective wisdom and knowledge is not necessary? Can all the posts not be ?archived? somewhere away from the responsibility of Neowin and away from the long arm of Microshaft.

cheers!

ironically I heard about autopatcher and joined this forum about 4 days before the plug was pulled. So my ONE post (a tech question) to the forums was pulled before I could read the answer!!

Most of the posts here are understandably about the MS decision. For me, a key question for the Neowin group is, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FORUMS KNOWLEDGE BASE?? By this I mean the net help and response questions of 100?s of posts over the years.

sinjon smith @ Sep 5 2007, 09:34 wrote ??scorn Neowin for overreacting and taking down non infringing content like the forms??

. . . to which Neobond replied: ?This [taking down the forums] was a joint decision between Neowin and the AutoPatcher team? experience in these sorts of problems, about 7 years of experience??

Everyone certainly can understand Neowin?s desire to play it safe here, but surely the obliteration of the collective wisdom and knowledge is not necessary? Can all the posts not be ?archived? somewhere away from the responsibility of Neowin and away from the long arm of Microshaft.

cheers!

They have been archived. They are just not accessable to the public...

Hi,

Firstly, thank you for your completely generic e-mail response.

Secondly, it appears to me that the people involved in making these types of decisions are not aware of the security features in place. For example, all of the Microsoft files included contained digital signatures, signed by Microsoft. These signatures remained intact when distributed via AutoPatcher. The AutoPatcher team also cared deeply about the integrity of the releases, turning down lucrative deals that could have compromised the security of any end users' computers. Any files that did not pass an integrity check (an additional check to the digital signatures) the program would automatically flag the release as unofficial and unsupported, signalling to the end user that something went wrong and that it should not be implicitly trusted. The project was also backed by Neowin.net, a very large community site who wishes to retain a good relationship with Microsoft (although this move on your part has, again, severely damaged relations with both the staff and community members at Neowin) and as such, acted as an additional human oversight on the project, at the first sign of anything shady, for example a user requesting help with a pirated copy of windows, the activity would be halted. This symbiotic relationship benefited all.

Thirdly, it is not always possible, or technically or economically feasible to run MU or WSUS. For example, I often burn AutoPatcher to CD and patch users up when I do house calls to repair, rebuild or install a Windows computer system. Often these users are on dial-up or very low-bandwidth "broadband" (and I use that term lightly) connections. This means that it's very very time consuming and costly to run WU, and carrying around with me a server with WSUS is not even an option. Also, the TCO of a WSUS server is very high, a lot higher than a small computer repair or hobbyist could afford, especially with the market being very competitive. I am aware that Microsoft offers a roll up DVD every month containing that months patches in all languages, including drivers et. al. however, for most AutoPatcher users this is still not an option. These packs are three times the size of the Full AutoPatcher downloads, and contain just one months worth of updates at a time, whereas AutoPatcher would include all of the updates post Service Pack 2. This is a huge waste of both the end-users' bandwidth and Microsoft's bandwidth.

Lastly, in respects to Copyright, as far as I'm aware a copyright owner can authorise distribution on its behalf to an external entity. Why does Microsoft not authorise the AutoPatcher team to redistribute these updates legally? You'd be free to obligate the team to put in place extra safeguards if wanted, at no expense to yourselves.

In summary: The security issue is, in fact, a complete non-issue given the security checks in place, Microsoft-branded alternatives are technically and economically infeasible for the AutoPatcher's target audience and the copyright issue can be solved just with a simple contract. If Microsoft were to allow the AutoPatcher project to continue in its current form, a lot more end-users will be secure from threats that Microsoft has released patches for, thus generating a positive image for the company, and making the Internet a safer place to be connected to.

I 'd also like to point you towards the hostility of many hundreds of disgruntled end users (and these are just the ones who have bothered to voice their opinions), a user by the pseudonym "D" stating that "MicroSHAFT have stuck it to the little guys again", one by the name of "Gion" saying it was a "sad day" that "squeeze their weight on to a very good service and push to close it.". "Jase" suggested that Microsoft were jealous of the service, and "hiflyr" suggested that Microsoft are purposefully "making things harder". (http://www.autopatcher.com/137#comments). The thread announcing the shutdown of the project on Neowin's forums has, at this point, a further 462 comments damning Microsoft's actions.(https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=584427). Matt Asay of C|Net asked "Does Microsoft not trust in its value?". One user very close to the AutoPatcher even mounted a solitary 'protest' outside of the Mcirosoft UK headquarters!

That doesn't sound like goodwill has been stimulated within the tech community to me.

It seems to me that Microsoft has not thoroughly thought through this issue and is simply sticking to its guns to save face regarding this issue.

If you could please respond with an in-depth response in regards to the points I have raised, I would be very grateful.

Regards,

Jack Allnutt

My reply to MS.

ok that is a little TOO sneaky for MY liking.

maybe this is why they wanted auto-patcher off the scene

It wouldnt surprise me if they started their own "home" version. I know that service packs are suppose to be the same, but it wouldnt surprise me if they created a software packager that compiled the latest updates like AP does. But i also bet they will put a nice chunky price on that software too.

I just recieved a reply to my concern about halting the progress of Autopatcher. This is what I got

__________________________________________________________________________

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for contacting us about AutoPatcher.

I thank you for taking the time out to send us your thoughts on the AutoPatcher services. However, I would like to provide you with more information on our position.

It is our policy that the distribution of supplemental code such as hotfixes, security updates, and service packs is discouraged. This policy is in place due to concern for the safety and security of our customers, as we can only guarantee the download?s contents when it comes from a Microsoft web site. Distribution of these materials without permission is also an infringement of our copyright.

We try and contact anyone who is in violation of our policy as soon as we can, once we are aware of what they are doing. AutoPatcher is not the only company we have contacted.

We recommend that our customers sign up for Microsoft Update (MU) and enable Automatic Update functionality to receive all updates directly from us. In addition, we have enterprise services such as Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS) that we recommend our enterprise customers to use.

We provide this guidance as it is common to see email scams encouraging people to download our latest patches, but the URL takes them to sites where they are actually exposed to malware. In order to ensure that customers are getting actual Microsoft updates and not malware, we recommend customers get their updates directly from us.

On a separate note, I have seen that you have selected 'The United States' as your country of residence. For more information you may wish to contact your local Microsoft Office on the following link. They will be able to advise you other alternatives to download all the updates simultaneously for your softwarehttp://www.microsoft.com/about/companyinformation/usaoffices/default.mspxb>

I hope this information has answered your query, but if you have any more questions please give us a call on 0870 60 10 100. The lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. If you still have any more questions, please reply to this email.

Many thanks for contacting us.

Kind regards,

GEETHA SHIVAKUMARb>

Customer Service Professional

Microsoft Customer Services

Protect Your PC: Microsoft recommends that you protect your PC from Viruses and Security threats. Please visit our web sithttp://www.microsoft.com/uk/security/protect/alert.mspxb> and follow the steps to stay secure.

I got the same generic e-mail as everyone else. They also told me to contact their USA offices like some other people.

I am not really sure if this is worth pursuing. I'd like to see what the Autopatcher team does in response to all of this - they said something was coming out to deal with this so I want to know what it is before we start a large scale attack on the Microsoft Feedback forms.

BTW you do have grounds to challenge this ruling... Anti-competition laws should provide a way... as well as simply putting a large disclaimer on your site stating that these updates are not from Microsoft Directly, blah blah blah...

The more MS idiots do this kind of thing, the more Linux and other alternatives are going to get looked at... one day they will find themselves in a landslide of declining user base!

I also contacted Microsoft, using my stationary at the university. I was informed about a week later via the President's office that any further such contact on the issue would have a negative impact upon the school and their agreement with Microsoft.

I shall therefore, let you just guess how my personal feelings are regarding the total situation...

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Glow 26.9 by Razvan Serea Glow provides detailed reporting on every hardware component in your computer, saving you valuable time typically spent searching for CPU, motherboard, RAM, graphics card, and other stats. With Glow, all the information is conveniently presented in one clean interface, allowing you to easily access and review the comprehensive hardware details of your system. Glow provides detailed information on various system aspects, including OS, motherboard, processor, memory, graphics card, storage, network, battery, drivers, and services. The well-organized format ensures easy access to the required information. You can export all the gathered data to a plain text file, facilitating sharing with others for troubleshooting purposes. No installation needed. Just decompress the archive, launch the executable, and access computer-related information. Glow runs on Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit versions. Glow 26.9 changelog: New Features The processor hardware detection engine has been significantly enhanced beyond traditional Intel and AMD architectures. Native support is now available for modern platforms such as Apple Silicon (M-Series) and the newly introduced NVIDIA Spark. In addition, all ARM-based processors can now be accurately distinguished between ARM32 and ARM64 architectures, providing precise hardware reporting. This marks a major milestone for Glow's hardware detection capabilities. The RAM manufacturer identification algorithm has been expanded. JEDEC vendor codes for popular brands such as Patriot, PNY, Team Group, GeIL, Lexar (Longsys), and Asgard/Gloway have been integrated into the database. This significantly reduces the likelihood of incorrect or "Unknown Manufacturer" results and improves overall hardware detection accuracy. New Public IP Address and Internet Service Provider (ISP) features have been added to the Network section. To ensure reliability, this information is retrieved from the trusted service ipwho.is. When Hiding Mode is enabled, no requests are sent and these features remain hidden, as they may expose sensitive information. The search engine used in the Installed Drivers, Installed Services, and Installed Applications sections has been enhanced. You can now perform more flexible and accurate searches using initials, partial matches, and loosely arranged character sequences. The TS Preloader loading bar has been rebuilt using our modern TS Custom Controls graphics library, developed entirely in-house. As a result of this infrastructure upgrade, the loading bar now features smooth rendering and rounded corners that align with the visual style of Windows 11. [TS Updater] A new validation algorithm has been added to check whether the target application is currently running before the update process begins. Bug Fixes Resolved a condition that could prevent TS Preloader from shutting down safely during rare application crash scenarios. Fixed a text alignment issue in the Network section affecting the display of DNS addresses. Alignment is now rendered correctly. [TS Updater] Fixed an issue that could prevent the updated application's executable "*.exe" file from being located after the update process. [TS Updater] Fixed a bug that could leave outdated "*.sha256" files in the application directory after an update. [TS Updater] Fixed a rare issue that could cause subfolders to be moved into the root directory after an update. [TS Updater] Fixed an issue during the first launch that could cause flickering and a temporary white window appearance due to Windows Defender interactions. Changes A small improvement has been made to the internet connectivity detection algorithm. Connectivity checks are now performed in the background with minimal impact on the user interface thread. The keyboard shortcuts in the top menu have been reorganized and simplified to provide a consistent experience across all Türkaysoft applications and to avoid potential conflicts with standard Windows shortcuts. The TS Preloader splash image has been updated with a Türkiye-themed stadium design to celebrate Türkiye's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—its first appearance in 24 years. Congratulations, Türkiye! The TS Custom Controls module has been updated to version 26.6, delivering improved stability and a more polished visual appearance. [TS Updater] The application icon has been redesigned to provide a more modern and refined look. Note: Always unzip the program before using it. Otherwise you may get an error. Download: Glow 26.9 | 1.8 MB (Open Source) Links: Glow Homepage | Screenshot | Github Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • DWARF mini review: the world's smallest smart telescope for night and day sky captures by Steven Parker DWARFLAB reached out to me asking if I was interested in checking out the DWARF mini, which is a portable astronomy telescope designed for amateur astronomers. Why do I say it's for amateurs? Well, for starters, it's not what you'd call "high end"; it's more of a professional-grade starting point for amateurs serious about capturing what's up there in our night and day skies. A typical amateur astronomer is most likely thousands of dollars deep into the hobby, and I will make no claims that this DWARF mini (at a fraction of the cost) could replace it all, okay? Well, if you read on, it will be clearer what I am trying to convey. Disclosure: DWARFLAB provided a free sample without any editorial input or review pre-approval. I have always been interested in looking up and observing the night sky. I see satellites crossing the sky above my garden most nights, and I am always looking at the moon. Yeah, I have a 200MP camera on my phone, but at 200X zoom, AI takes over and makes the pretty moon pictures that I snap, the DWARF mini does not, you get an actual true picture of what you can barely see with the naked eye. Before we start, let's share the highlights of the DWARF mini in bite-sized format: Pocket-Sized & Ultra-Lightweight Weighing just 1.85 lbs (840g), the DWARF mini easily fits into a backpack or large pocket. Its all-in-one, compact design makes it the ultimate grab-and-go digital telescope for hiking, camping, or traveling to dark-sky locations. Intuitive App Control & Built-in Sky Atlas Go from unboxing to your first shot in just 3 minutes! The DWARFLAB App provides a seamless experience with an interactive star map. Simply select your target and start exploring without the steep learning curve of traditional setups. Auto GOTO & 360° Pivot Freedom Enjoy pinpoint automated tracking with full 360° rotation. Powered by a high-sensitivity Sony IMX662 sensor (1/2.8-inch, 2.9μm pixels), it captures amazing, low-noise astro details, bringing faint nebulas and star clusters to life with stunning clarity. Pro-Level EQ Mode & Long Exposure Unlock advanced deep-space imaging with Equatorial (EQ) Mode. Supporting impressive single-frame exposures up to 90 seconds and featuring built-in light pollution filters, it easily cuts through city glow to reveal intricate celestial structures. Smart Cloud Processing & All-Ages Fun Effortlessly enhance your raw data with integrated cloud processing for professional-grade results. Perfect for beginners, kids, and adults, this telescope makes exploring and sharing the wonders of the universe an exciting, family-friendly adventure. The packaging is a pretty minimal affair with the outer box opening like a flap to reveal the plastic mould of the DWARF mini sitting in it. Below, the Sun filter, charging cable, cleaning cloth, and documentation can be found. DWARFLAB also provided a Mini Hydraulic Tripod ($89.99), and I highly recommend getting it if you plan on purchasing the DWARF mini, as it fully supports the motorized tracking feature of the telescope; plus, at 840g, the weight of the telescope, you will need a tripod that supports more than the weight of a smartphone anyway. What's in the box DWARF Mini Smart Telescope × 1 Sun Filter x 1 Type-C to Type-C Cord x 1 Cleaning Cloth x 1 User Guide With that out of the way, here are the full specs: DWARF mini Dimensions (DWH): 60.70 mm x 100.38 × 183.61 (2.39" x 3.95" x 7.23") Weight: 840g (1.85lbs) Aperture diameter: 30 mm (telephoto), 3.4 mm (wide angle) Image Sensor: SONY IMX662 1/2.8" (Telephoto) OmniVision OS02K10 1/2.8" (Wide-angle) Focal length: 150 mm (telephoto), 6.7 mm (wide-angle) Equivalent focal length: 1016 mm (telephoto), 45 mm (wide-angle) Shutter Speed: Tele - 1/10000-90s, Wide - 1/10000-30s Maximum exposure time: 90s (telephoto & wide-angle), Both in EQ mode Rotation range: Lens: 225°, Base: 360° Effective Pixels: 2.07M Maximum Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (Telephoto & Wide-angle) Built-in filters: Astro, Dark, Duo-Band (Telephoto), Astro (Wide-angle) Output: JPG, FITS, TIFF, MP4 Shooting Mode: Photos, Videos, Astronomy, Burst Shooting, Time-lapse Photography Storage: 64 GB Battery: Built-in 7000 mAh, supports external USB charging Charging Port: Type-C NPU: 1 TOPS Features: WiFi, NFC NFC One-Touch Connection Astronomy Post-Processing/Appointment Shooting/Astronomy Mosaic Wi-Fi Transmission Range: 15m (open environment) Color: Black Compatibility: iOS & Android smartphones/tablets Warranty: 2-years (24-months) MSRP: $399 Design Charge port On/off button Lens On the DWARF mini itself, it is a pretty minimal affair. On one side, there is a Type-C USB port to charge the non-removable 7000 mAh battery, and on the other side, a large button to power on or off the telescope. The button is flanked by an LED that is green when connected via the DWARFLAB app, or lights up red when being powered off. Below the button, there are four LEDs that indicate battery power. The DWARF mini does not have any sharp edges as all sides are rounded off; it has a good heft to it, but the weight of it feels quite balanced in the hand, so it isn't top or bottom-heavy. On the front there is the DWARFLAB logo which is quite small and there are no other markings on it. The tripod offers full 360° rotation of the motorized base, which allows for tracking for the time-lapse mode, but also for the 90-second captures of nearer objects in the sky, such as the Sun or the moon. Usage To get started, simply power on the DWARF mini and open the DWARFLAB app, tap on Connect, and it will scan for the DWARF mini over the Wi-Fi network. The device supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, as well as Bluetooth for discovery, so connection issues were minimal in my experience with it. As previously noted in the specs, the DWARF mini will stay connected with a phone or tablet up to 15 meters in an open environment, such as a backyard. Lighting status Powering on: The green circular light will rotate and breathe in turn Powering off: The red circular light is gradually extinguished Connecting: Green light strip rotating Connected: Green light strip solid/always on 4 lights 1= 0-25%, 2= 25-50%, 3= 50-75%, 4= 75-100% battery power To view the full lighting status, such as tracking mode and connection failure, you can check the user guide on the official DWARFLAB page. DWARFLAB app Above, you can see the steps undertaken to connect the DWARFLAB app to my Galaxy S26 Ultra. Weirdly, I got an alert that a firmware update failed to get uploaded to the DWARF mini the first time, but upon retrying, it worked. Then place the DWARF mini outside, make sure your smartphone or tablet is connected to it, and then head back inside, because you can manage it from the comfort of your home. Simply enter the Atlas tab in the app and search for what you want to capture, and then tap on the camera icon; the DWARF mini will then attempt to track the object and give you a live view right on your connected device. Results I've had the DWARF mini since April, but even though my garden is south-facing, I had a lot of trouble trying to capture a good image of the moon. In the end, it was possible after I took it with me on a trip to my parents in Southend, UK, at the end of May. Here is a capture of the moon, resulting from 20 stacked images over a 90-second exposure. What you are seeing here is not AI-assisted. A good example of what I mean is the latest flagships with their 200MP cameras claiming to capture things like closeups of the moon, and while they are not as good as the above example on the DWARF mini, the resulting image on smartphones is actually AI-assisted above 30X zoom. Here is an example of a similar shot at the moon at 200X zoom using an HONOR Magic8 Pro. The difference is clear. Next, here we have a shot of the daytime moon. Here is a shot of Arcturus, the red giant star, which is the fourth brightest in the night sky. As previously mentioned, it could be a bit clearer, but clouds passing in front of it muddied the shot a bit. The Sun The DWARF mini also ships with a sun filter, meaning you can take great shots of the sun as well. Tracking Sun Resulting (stacked) shot Live zoom The pictures themselves are limited to Full HD, and some of the examples actually came out in HD (1280x720), but this is because the standard telescopic result is in 720p while "Wide" is in 1080p. Above you can see how in the app the Sun is tracked, the resulting capture, and Live zoom. I have only scratched the surface of what is possible with this telescope; I found several examples online of shots of the Milky Way, among others, such as nebulae and galaxies. All of this requires patience and knowledge, although if you know what you are looking for, simply enter it in the Atlas tab in the DWARFLAB app, tap the camera icon, and the telescope will attempt to track it. Conclusion The good The DWARF mini definitely places itself in a price point that makes astrology accessible to anyone looking to get started in the hobby. Say you want to have a closer look at the moon, simply enter it in the Atlas, and the Live view also lets you zoom in and snap pictures. The bad Some issues I came across while operating the DWARF mini were that it sometimes failed to connect unless I held my smartphone right next to it, and finding and tracking sometimes took several attempts to get it calibrated. I discovered that it helped if I sort of positioned and pointed the telescope in the general area it was supposed to detect, but this obviously wouldn't work with objects you can't see with the naked eye; more testing is required for that. Another bit of advice is to ensure that the lens is clean. While making the examples of live zooming on the sun, I discovered that the telescope lens and sun filter were not completely clean, and only after cleaning with a microfiber cloth was I able to get a decent shot of the sun. Where to buy and a coupon Okay, $399 is not cheap for a side hobby, but nor is a $1,500 smartphone flagship that you'll most likely have for a couple of years. This is a one-time entrance into astrology, and it won't become obsolete in one year like a smartphone. It's a thumbs up from me. The DWARF mini is available to buy right now in the U.S. and U.K. at the links below. DWARF mini for $399 on the official site DWARF mini for $399 on Amazon U.S. Use the NEOWIN5OFF coupon code for an additional 5% off at checkout (expires June 21) As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader Dis Continued
    • The name, you mean? If so, it's actually the objects common name. There's another one called NGC 7293 which is also known as Helix Nebula (because we're looking at a helix structure top down) but other times also known as the Eye of God. You'll understand when you see it
    • Welcome to Neowin! Enjoy your stay!
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      lamborghiniv10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      lamborghiniv10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Reacting Well
      X-No-file earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • One Month Later
      pestcontrol46 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      pestcontrol46 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      505
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      272
    3. 3
      Skyfrog
      75
    4. 4
      +Edouard
      71
    5. 5
      FloatingFatMan
      69
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!