Episodes
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This week Yifei and Seth discussing DJI's possible loophole for getting around the possible ban, another drone is shot down, and more news from the week.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories:
BRINC drones now support real-time streaming of 911 callsPlot twist: China is urging its drone pilots to not leak state secretsDJI ban loophole? Meet the SPECTA and SPECTA MiniNew York man shoots down neighbor’s drone, gets arrestedHosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
https://youtu.be/95xSvtRaUqY?si=Hu6FJQHR980cTyJG -
Yifei and Seth discuss updates to the DJI drone ban (it was passed by the house shortly after this recording), a possible leak of the Mavic 4, and more news.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories:
Why this drone dealer opposes DJI ban — and you should tooInsta360 GO 3S: Unboxing and first impressionsDJI ban highlights supply chain issues in US drone marketDJI ban: What happens to the drone I already own?First DJI Mavic 4 leak? Will it be worth the upgrade?DJI ban moves forward for vote by the House tomorrow [U: Passes]Hosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
https://youtu.be/FBVx_dxUsp0 -
Episodes manquant?
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This week Yifei and Seth discuss Amazon's BVLOS approval by the FAA, a big firmware update to the Avata 2, and more drone news.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories:
Amazon gets FAA BVLOS approval for Prime Air drone deliveryDenver police to resume abandoned drone deploymentDJI Avata 2 gets new 4K/100fps mode for incredible slow-mo FPV footageNew York police deploys life saver drones at city beachesFireworks on drones: a first in the United StatesHosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
https://youtu.be/jkWSJW001AU?si=LLM1jvXzM-RrElbq -
This week Yifei and Seth discuss what a possible DJI ban would mean for both enterprise and consumer sectors. All of this take place while DJI released is biggest and most featured packed enterprise camera yet.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories:
DJI is urging all pilots to ‘get involved’ amid threat of US drone banNYPD plans 911 response UAVs to its increasing drone deploymentDJI releases Zenmuse H30 payloads for M300, M350 RTK dronesAwaiting DJI drone ban, US pols look to jack tariffs 30%Hosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/live/vvmq7nkpdWQ?si=a_C7bO52W2vcpBAz -
This week Yifei and Seth discuss the implications of Snap's total recall of its Pixy "flying camera" and catch up with some of the delivery news from the week.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories:
Lame in death as in life: Pixy selfie camera ‘drone’ is recalled as potential fire hazardAmazon hails its 2023 delivery success, including (one) drone performanceWingcopter-backed drone delivery project to German villages expands. Amazon beware (or at least applaud)Hosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/live/3e_0mTcyWfs?si=LSnPxBuHPoY5iAm6 -
This week Yifei and Seth discussion the appearance of a possible DJI competitor out of Japan, and DJI provides a rare response to data security issues.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories:
Japan’s SOTEN drone — ‘affordable’, NDAA-compliant DJI rival — now shipping in USFAA gives its B4UFLY drone app a post-Aloft upgrade, and new lifeDJI responds to data security accusations driving drone blacklistsDJI updates Fly app to help you operate your drone betterHosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/live/GLnUMvvLGJU?si=3-I-trZmz9oBNYYM -
This week, Yifei and Seth discuss DJI's double product release week, what a new price for the Avata could mean, and more.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories:
DroneUp receives all-important FAA no-observer BVLOS approvalDJI releases Modify, an intelligent drone 3D model editing softwareDJI Mic 2 bundles are officially here, with new colorsYou can now plan and execute DJI Dock flights in DroneDeployHosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/live/TdTawXGOJuI?si=HoNAOLoKcxuIl7lw -
This week Yifei and Seth talk about drones at CES, or lack there of, and touched base on the biggest news stories of the week.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories:
DJI Announces FlyCart 30 Delivery Drone’s Global RolloutWalmart Taps Wing, Zipline in Huge Texas Drone Delivery ScalingSaint Louis grounds crime-fighting (but unwelcome) drone surveillance company [Update]Hosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/live/BrQo94NNuL8?si=idEnizsaI5qZeH6k
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This week Yifei and Seth discuss their predictions for the drone industry in 2024. From new consumer products and regulations to if there is a DJI-killer sitting dormant out there.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Hosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/live/tJ6TE5-ECAQ?si=cu2XF0xqbsZrOFlL
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This week Yifei and Seth catch up on the last few weeks of news, DJI's new battery charger, Autel's UK repair center, Tesla's "new" inventory drone, and much much more! (Long live the Phantom line!)
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories discuss in this episode:
DJI delivery drone gets US FAA nod for Remote ID complianceA portable DJI charger to power your drone? It’s here!Autel Robotics opens new drone repair and service center in UKUS anti-DJI and -Autel drone blacklist poised to become law, clearing the way for nation-wide user bans already in the worksTesla unveils ‘meh’rvelous inventory drone at its Giga Berlin factoryFrench drone show specialist expands to US with Orlando gigHosts:Seth KurkowskiYifei ZhaoCheckout more Buzz episodes:
Checkout 9to5's other weekly podcasts:
9to5Mac Happy HourElectrek PodcastWheel-EAlphabet ScoopSpace Explored Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/live/jTZhmdzrUg4?si=DQmn2LD8V6ra9cAH -
This week Yifei and Seth catch on the recent releases of new products and events like DJI's L2 payload, drone shows, and a potential new drone market.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories discuss in this episode:
NYC Central Park to host its first drone show ever this weekendNew DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera hits the FCC databaseMitsubishi to manage drone advertising operations for Miami firmDJI’s first-ever drone light show calls for global water conservationDJI releases Terra mapping software update with Zenmuse L2 supportDJI unveils Zenmuse L2 drone LiDAR module for 3D data collectionHosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
Checkout 9to5's other weekly podcasts:
9to5Mac Happy HourElectrek PodcastWheel-EAlphabet ScoopSpace Explored Podcast -
This week Yifei and Seth discuss Skydio's release of its X10 drone to compete directly with DJI's M30 and Autel's Max 4T. They also speculate as to what DJI's rumored Matrice 3D could be after months of leaks.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories discuss in this episode:
Skydio launches X10 drone with three cameras, dramatically advanced AILeaked photos reveal powerful new DJI drone Matrice 3DFAA delays Remote ID deadline until March 16Hosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
Checkout 9to5's other weekly podcasts:
9to5Mac Happy HourElectrek PodcastWheel-EAlphabet ScoopSpace Explored Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/live/tQVjCncKTzg?feature=share -
This week Yifei and Seth discuss the current unknown status of FAA's Remote ID rollout. What are our concerns with the current data sharing policy and what changes we think the FAA should make for Remote ID to be safer for all drone pilots to use.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories discuss in this episode:
Which DJI drones have Remote ID? Here’s the complete listWhich Autel Robotics drones are approved for FAA Remote ID?CubePilot’s $39 solution for FAA drone Remote ID complianceThis free app tracks nearby drone flights using Remote ID dataHosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
Checkout 9to5's other weekly podcasts:
9to5Mac Happy HourElectrek PodcastWheel-EAlphabet ScoopSpace Explored Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/live/EMiEUCwxSh8?feature=share -
This week Yifei and Seth discuss the leaks around DJI's next consumer drone, the Mini 4. What will it approve on? We don't know so let's speculate. They also discuss a mysterious new DJI enterprise drone that has been leaked for some time now, with almost no details. The two then finish off give updated thoughts on drone parachutes and police use of drones to verify complaints.
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories discuss in this episode:
So much for discretion: New York police drones to check into outdoor party complaints this weekendParaZero launches parachute safety system for DJI M30 droneNew glut of leaks on rumored Mini 4 Pro and (M30-ish?) mystery droneNew leaks offer views of rumored DJI Mini 4 (Pro?), and arm-spreading mystery droneHosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Checkout more Buzz episodes:
Checkout 9to5's other weekly podcasts:
9to5Mac Happy HourElectrek PodcastWheel-EAlphabet ScoopSpace Explored Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/live/bDVBt0CVny4?feature=share -
This week on the Buzz Podcast Seth and Yifei discuss the Air 3 and our experience flying it for the last few weeks. Will the drone be a hit? Or will it not be enough to justify the upgrade from the Mini 3 and too little compared to the Mavic 3?
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
The Buzz Podcast, hosted by DroneDJ, is a weekly podcast discussing the latest news on the drone industry. From DJI, Autel, and Skydio to public safety and delivery drones.
Stories discuss in this episode:
DJI unveils its long awaited, prodigiously rumored new Air 3 droneWhat comes with DJI’s Air 3 Fly More Combo?All about RC 2, DJI’s new drone remote controller with screenAir 3 vs. Mavic 3 Pro vs. Mini 3 Pro: DJI drones comparedDJI Air 3 review: A true mass-market ‘flagship’ droneHosts:
Seth Kurkowski
Yifei Zhao
Catch up on The Buzz episodes!
Checkout 9to5's other weekly podcasts:
9to5Mac Happy HourElectrek PodcastWheel-EAlphabet ScoopSpace Explored Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/live/KbpfhntbcbM?feature=share -
This week on the Weekly Buzz discussion, we delve into the recent surge of unexpected leaks. We finally have some details about the Air 3, and there's even a peculiar rumor circulating about a Mini 4.
Let's begin by addressing the abundance of leaks that have emerged. The Air 3, initially believed to be in development without much certainty about its release, has suddenly become imminent, and we can hardly contain our excitement.
If you take a look at our Air 3 guide, located at the top and/or bottom of our articles, you'll notice that the majority of the posts are quite recent.
From the beginning, what will the Air 3 have?Most of these leaks originate from Igor Bogdanov, with the most recent and significant leak coming from the WinFuture website. Initially, Bogdanov mentioned that the Air 3 might arrive as early as late June or early July. However, since we haven't received any news about a DJI event, it's highly unlikely that it will happen during this timeframe.
As of then, the only Air 3 details we've heard involve the inclusion of a dual camera. However, that single rumor wasn't enough to establish it as truth. Nevertheless, as more leaked photos surfaced, it became increasingly evident that there was something distinct about the camera gimbal, despite the low resolution of the images.
Pricing was also leaked early on, but it originated from Europe, making it challenging to determine the expected price in the US. However, it appears that it will likely fall just below that of the Mavic 3 Classic.
This is also where we found out about the DJI RC 2 and RC-N2. A shocking upgrade to controllers that either just came out or didn't seem like they needed any changes, however, we won't say no to them.
Last week, the biggest leak of all came from WinFuture, which obtained product photos of the Air 3. This leak confirmed that the Air 3 will indeed feature dual cameras, although we couldn't verify any specifications other than the apertures: F1.7 for the bottom camera and F2.8 for the top camera.
So who is the Air 3 for?Yifei and I agree that the Air 3 won't be suitable for beginners just starting to fly drones. However, it would be an excellent option for beginners looking to venture into professional drone work.
While the Mini 3 Pro is capable of capturing impressive shots and can be used in certain professional scenarios, it isn't particularly well-suited for full-time drone photography and videography. The Mavic 3 Pro, on the other hand, serves as the flagship drone for such work. However, its starting price of $2,199 can be daunting for beginners, which is why the Air lineup exists.
Mini 4 Pro? What?Regarding the Mini 4 rumor, I'm at a loss for words. We weren't expecting something like this to surface anytime soon. DJI typically waits at least a year and a half before releasing an "s" variant of a drone and two to three years before advancing to the next generation.
Both Yifei and I suspect that this won't be a "Mini 4" but rather a "Mini 3S," as the design appears to be identical to the Mini 3 Pro. Apart from that, there isn't much else to discuss regarding this leak. Naturally, we'll have to wait and see if further leaks shed more light on the nature of this drone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9nE7TMY5FY -
I'm trying something new. Each week I'm going to recap my favorite stories from the past week as well as our discussion during the weekly live stream. I'll fill in some of my opinions on the topics, throw an interview in here or there, and see where it goes from here. Hope you enjoy it.
New York City opening up to drone useSince the product came on the scene, New York City has had a de facto ban on drones. The city law bans take-offs of aircraft that don't use approved locations by the Department of Transportation or the Port Authority. That definition pretty much means only heliports or airports, which are impractical for any film crew or recreational pilot to use.
However, thanks to several factors, including a lawsuit by a film production company and the need to use drones for building facade surveys, New York is "opening up" the ability for drone operators to receive flight permits. However, the permits won't be the easiest to get. No casual pilots will be getting the NYPD's stamp of approval. Here's what you'll need in the application:
Name and contact informationDescription of purpose for the flightTake-off date, time, and locationFlight plan detailsDetails of the drone you will be flyingFAA authorizations (licenses, waivers, registration, etc.)Insurance policyData privacy and cybersecurity policiesAnything else the NYPD wantsOh yeah, and this must be submitted 30 days before the "take-off." A hearing for the change in city law is scheduled for July 7. I guess we'll know more then. But is New York in the right for these sort of restrictions?
Well, yes and no in my opinoin. Are these laws constitutional? No idea. New York's law is very well worded. It does not ban the flight of aircraft in its city. It just prohibits you from taking off or landing them. The law would have to be directly challenged in court with a final ruling for the precedent to be set on how other cities can regulate drones.
Also, like do I need to get approval for every take-off or just once for the whole project? Cause if I'm filming a multi-day event, that's a lot of battery changes and is so unpredictable when you'll have to land and take-off again.
How much regulation is too much?Here is where my mind is split on drone regulation. Can you blame NYC for wanting to keep drone flights to as few as possible? You can argue your right to fly or right to capture events with your cameras, but you have to look at it from both sides. There are some idiot drone pilots out there.
In a city of almost 9 million, maybe having strict drone laws is a good thing? Now who that comes from, I think, is easy to answer, the FAA. Constitutionally the FAA has the authority to regulate airspace, no one else.
I've said this often on our YouTube streams, and I'll say it again. In the right hands, drones can create beautiful things or save lives. But drones in the wrong hands can be very, very dangerous.
For us normie pilots out here that just want more places to fly, trust me, I'm with you, my city also has a similar ban to New York's, and the best bet is to continue to be good pilots. We should continue to follow the laws, be active in our community, and hopefully be good stewards that open local officials up to friendlier regulations.
Or we all run for office, take over the FAA from the inside, and create a new drone world order. I'm joking, I'm joking... ish.
Will Chinese bans force US innovation?Let's talk about the hottest form of regulation going on in the US at the moment. There are several of these flying around, with plenty already in effect. Florida banned Chinese-made drones for its agencies earlier this year, and of course, there's the DoD's Blue UAS list.
There are more coming. The Senate is working on a bill that will ban the FAA from using federal funds to purchase drones from a list of countries, including China. Then, of course, there is the sentiment around anything Chinese being bad and must be banned, like TikTok.
If we want to see the future of bans on Chinese drones, we will have to see if TikTok's regulatory issues succeed. Both have very similar qualities to them. Both arguments lack concrete evidence and rely on the Chinese fear of the people and "national security concerns." Finally, they are both set up for some sort of legal challenge. TikTok's bans are way more mainstream, and I suspect those will be challenged long before any Chinese drone law is.
We'll have to wait and see what would come of any potential TikTok ban challenge, but if the ban sticks, then I can see the drone bans continuing. If TikTok's ban can be challenged and overturned, then I don't see why these Chinese bans couldn't be challenged either.
But this could take a while, maybe years, and business has to continue. Many agencies forced to move to US-made drones have complained of limitations compared to those from China, like DJI.
Can the US market take advantage of the bans?It's time for the US drone sector to step up. The federal and some state governments have literally handed them dominance in the US market on a silver platter. Sadly, when governments spoon-feed success to companies, it usually doesn't go over well. Is there another option?
Well, I have a hunch that instead of US companies stepping up and becoming powerhouses, the existing leaders might make the hop over the pond and set up shop here.
DJI is out of the question. Like Bytedance (TikTok's parent company), DJI's roots are in China and have too many ties there. Autel, on the other hand, could. Autel already has a US foothold through its automotive wing and wants to compete with DJI in the enterprise market. What better way to get ahead of DJI than doing what they cannot and embracing the US market and move?
Now I make it sound effortless, but I remember asking Autel CEO Maxwell Lee about it at CES this year, and he didn't shoot it down right away. It didn't sound like it was something he wanted to do, but he acknowledged it was possible.
Anyways, the regulation space is not a fast-paced one, so I'm sure we will have a chance to retouch this topic again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib-rzXeVDFY -
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from DroneDJ. The Buzz is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Google Podcast, or wherever you listen!
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
New episodes of The Buzz are recorded two to three times a week with monthly recaps the last Friday of every month. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.
Stories discussed in this episode:
DJI says it fixed drone firmware security flaws before publication of research revealing themEU seeks sector input to create unified counter-drone capacitiesDJI halts production of its AeroScope drone detection productDJI Inspire 3 drone design leaks in patent images, spy shotsDrone used to find lost dogs spurs a charity with 1,400 rescues to its growing tallyFollow Seth:
Post: @SethKurk
Instagram: @SethKurk
Follow Yifei:
Instagram: @yifeizhao_ca
Catch up on The Buzz episodes!
Don’t miss out on our other daily podcasts:
Quick Charge9to5Toys Dailyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hmn5c9bC1Y&t=1s -
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from DroneDJ. The Buzz is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Google Podcast, or wherever you listen!
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
New episodes of The Buzz are recorded two to three times a week with monthly recaps the last Friday of every month. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.
Stories discussed in this episode:
Aloft adds nighttime FAA LAANC requests for leisure drone pilotsDJI Inspire 3 drone design leaks in patent images, spy shotsUK UAV group urges rapid expansion of BVLOS drone activitiesGreen UAS: New program to vet commercial drones for securityFollow Seth:
Post: @SethKurk
Instagram: @SethKurk
Catch up on The Buzz episodes!
Don’t miss out on our other daily podcasts:
Quick Charge9to5Toys Daily -
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from DroneDJ. The Buzz is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Google Podcast, or wherever you listen!
Enjoy the podcast? Shop DJI, Autel, or other drones at Amazon to support The Buzz!
New episodes of The Buzz are recorded two to three times a week with monthly recaps the last Friday of every month. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available.
Stories discussed in this episode:
Wildwood, NJ, votes whether to regulate drone use during May-October tourist seasonSouth Korea to use robot and drone delivery in smart logistics networks for major citiesAir taxi developer Volocopter starts eVTOL air taxi certification process in JapanDelair’s UX11 drone gets EU’s first C6 stamp, eliminating BVLOS approval requirementsFollow Seth:
Post: @SethKurk
Instagram: @SethKurk
Catch up on The Buzz episodes!
Don’t miss out on our other daily podcasts:
Quick Charge9to5Toys Daily - Montre plus
