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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

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Sixaxis Controller Android app makes firing off hadoukens easy as pie (video)

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 12:23 PM PDT

SIxaxis Controller for Android
N900 owners have been able to press their Sixaxis controllers into service on their handsets for quite sometime, but Android tablets have been stubbornly stuck to a USB tether. That is, until now. Dancing Pixel Studios' Sixaxis Controller app for Android does exactly what you expect -- allows you wirelessly control games on your Google-powered device with a PS3 gamepad. It's not the simplest setup on Earth. You'll need to be rooted, and before you can pair it with your phone or tablet you'll have to connect to a PC via USB and fire up the SixaxisPairTool. The app also doesn't play nice with most HTC devices or newer Samsung ones. Thankfully, before you drop your hard-earned $1.67 on the app you can download the free Sixaxis Compatibility Checker. Don't miss the video after the break, and hit up the source links to download both now and make pulling off a hadouken that much easier.

Microsoft's KinectFusion research project offers real-time 3D reconstruction, wild AR possibilities

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 11:48 AM PDT

It's a little shocking to think about the impact that Microsoft's Kinect camera has had on the gaming industry at large, let alone the 3D modeling industry. Here at SIGGRAPH 2011, we attended a KinectFusion research talk hosted by Microsoft, where a fascinating new look at real-time 3D reconstruction was detailed. To better appreciate what's happening here, we'd actually encourage you to hop back and have a gander at our hands-on with PrimeSense's raw motion sensing hardware from GDC 2010 -- for those who've forgotten, that very hardware was finally outed as the guts behind what consumers simply know as "Kinect." The breakthrough wasn't in how it allowed gamers to control common software titles sans a joystick -- the breakthrough was the price. The Kinect took 3D sensing to the mainstream, and moreover, allowed researchers to pick up a commodity product and go absolutely nuts. Turns out, that's precisely what a smattering of highly intelligent blokes in the UK have done, and they've built a new method for reconstructing 3D scenes (read: real-life) in real-time by using a simple Xbox 360 peripheral.

The actual technobabble ran deep -- not shocking given the academic nature of the conference -- but the demos shown were nothing short of jaw-dropping. There's no question that this methodology could be used to spark the next generation of gaming interaction and augmented reality, taking a user's surroundings and making it a live part of the experience. Moreover, game design could be significantly impacted, with live scenes able to be acted out and stored in real-time rather than having to build something frame by frame within an application. According to the presenter, the tech that's been created here can "extract surface geometry in real-time," right down to the millimeter level. Of course, the Kinect's camera and abilities are relatively limited when it comes to resolution; you won't be building 1080p scenes with a $150 camera, but as CPUs and GPUs become more powerful, there's nothing stopping this from scaling with the future. Have a peek at the links below if you're interested in diving deeper -- don't be shocked if you can't find the exit, though.
Microsoft's KinectFusion research project at SIGGRAPH 2011

Nokia to retire Symbian in North America, going all-in on Windows Phone

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 11:22 AM PDT

Nokia to retire Symbian in North America, going all-in on Windows Phone
We know that Symbian isn't dying any time soon, but here in the US of A the little OS that couldn't quite captivate our picky buyers will soon be mighty hard to find. Speaking with All Things D, Chris Weber, President of Nokia's US operations, said "When we launch Windows Phones we will essentially be out of the Symbian business, the S40 business, etc." That means no more full-price or business-focused devices in the US, and no more Symbian love. This is at least in part thanks to the failure of the Astound to find a solid foothold, but Nokia's upcoming Windows Phone offerings (like the Sea Ray) will at least follow in its footsteps, being sold with proper carrier subsidies and riding the wave of a giant advertising blitz. Will it work? According to Weber, it has to: "The reality is if we are not successful with Windows Phone, it doesn't matter what we do."

Tokyoflash's Kisai 3D Unlimited watch turns time into a colorful ice cube (video)

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 10:52 AM PDT

The folks over at Tokyoflash tend to come up with some pretty inscrutable watches, but their latest creation, the Kisai 3D Unlimited, looks refreshingly... simple. Its cube-like, "3D" time display may not be conventional, but its mirrored LCD doesn't require a degree in cryptology, either (the time displayed above is 12:34. See it?). The watch also features a pretty sleek, stainless steel design, with a case measuring just 8.5mm thick, and a fully adjustable strap that can fit even the daintiest of wrists. If you're interested in grabbing one, you can choose from seven different colors at the source link, for about $120. Otherwise, check out some more pics in the gallery below, or slip past the break for a couple of demo videos from Tokyoflash Japan.
Tokyoflash Kisai 3D Unlimited

Microbots do heavy-lifting, self-repair, dance aquatic ballet (video)

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 10:29 AM PDT

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory are talking up a type of millimeter-sized microbots that can swim and use their "jaws" to move around objects multiple times their own weight. The tiny 'bots are made up of microparticles and don't do much on their own, but once magnets are applied, they form star shapes and swim around, even opening and closing to push around non-magnetic objects. The "asters," as they're known, will also reshuffle their parts, if they lose any particles, effectively reassembling themselves. Videos of tiny robot dance numbers after the break.



German Apple suit ruling blocks Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sale in Europe

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 10:08 AM PDT

The plot thickens yet again in the seemingly endless patent war between Apple and Samsung. A new ruling by a regional court in Dusseldorf, Germany has granted Cupertino a preliminary injunction, blocking the sale and advertising of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 across Europe, save for the Netherlands. Samsung can still appeal the ruling -- in the meanwhile, however, the decision will stand. According to The Telegraph, the likely appeal will take about a month to be heard by the judge who granted the injunction.

IBM and NCSA end their Blue Waters affair, go back to just being supercomputing friends

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 09:45 AM PDT

It seems that IBM and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois have hit a snag in their once fruitful relationship. After nearly four years of partnering for the Blue Waters petabyte supercomputer, the NCSA's recently released a joint statement explaining that IBM's "terminated" its involvement with the project. If you'll recall, IBM was supplying its latest Power7 rigs to get all that data flowing, but the company's now decided that Ol' Blue will require more resources than initially anticipated. Apparently, there were talks to try and keep the spark alive, but since those fell through both have decided to return each others CDs and hoodies assets involved with the project (per contract terms): IBM gives back the money, while the NCSA returns any hardware supplied. The two plan on remaining in touch for future endeavours, and the NCSA doesn't appear to be too down either as it'll be consulting with the National Science Foundation to keep Blue Waters afloat. You'll find the official statement in the source link below, but we've included a video rendition of how we'd like to imagine it past the break.

Westone lab tour: how in-ear monitors are made, from impressions to impressing (video)

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT

You probably don't think "top-tier audio" when you ponder the wonders of Colorado Springs, but sure enough, one of music's best kept secrets is headquartered there, camped out slyly in quite the nondescript building. A few months back, we were granted unprecedented access to Westone's lair (just a year and change after visiting Klipsch's HQ), and they even let a film crew in for good measure. The goal? To show you, the budding audiophile, exactly how a set of custom in-ear monitors are crafted, and what kind of work goes into creating one of the planet's most diminutive speaker arrangements. We've whipped up the entire experience there in the video above, but if you're looking for a more textual perspective, head on past the break.
Westone headquarters walkthrough (the making of an in-ear monitor)

Impressions

Westone's certainly not the only headphone company that'll concoct a set specifically for your ears -- in fact, it doesn't even offer average consumers the option of strolling into its headquarters to get the process started unless you're a reputable artist. So, how does a simpleton go about getting a set of custom ES5s, or decide if it's even worth the coin? Glad you asked.


The vast majority of folks simply roll down to their local audiologist and get a set of impressions made. Easier said than done, but really, it's not nearly as bad as it probably sounds. Most docs charge between $50 and $100 to get it done, and it rarely takes over a half-hour from start to finish. As we found out, it's actually a fairly weird sensation -- prospective customers have a wad of silicon squeezed down their ear canal (after a stopper is situated at the far end, of course), and are then forced to remain motionless for two to three minutes

If all goes well, what'll emerge is a semi-hardened impression of your ear canal, with every nook and crannie perfectly replicated. From there, you'd have your doctor ship 'em off to your headphone company of choice. We'd recommend putting in an order ahead of time, of course, so they can immediately match up your ears to a to-be-built set of 'buds. That's where things get really interesting...

Building the monitors

It's hard to say if every single custom audio maker goes through the same painstaking process as Westone, but the sheer quantity of manual labor that goes into making a single set of ES5s -- as we found out -- is staggering. Once your molds hit the lab, a tedious workflow begins. They're shaved down, tossed into a cube of wax (that's where the negatives are created) and then preserved -- you know, in case you need a second pair after leaving 'em backstage in Reno. The negatives are then passed through a top secret lab, and after a fair bit of magic (read: we couldn't pry the specifics out of 'em), a couple of earbuds materialize. You're able to pick the color and cabling, and somewhere along the way, a number of drivers (five for the ES5) are popped into each monitor and wired up for action.


After you've got a workable product, round two begins. We witnessed no fewer than three folks take our monitors under the magnifying glass and shave off bits and pieces until the edges were perfectly smooth, and the fit was left perfect. Once the craftsman in charge deems 'em fit to move on, your gear is hooked up to a frequency analyzer in order to prove that it passes muster from an internals standpoint. We actually asked what happens to IEMs that fail this particular test, and we got a pretty straightforward answer: "they're ripped apart, rewired, and subjected to the entire assembly process once more."

After the hard work's complete, your cables of choice are strapped on, your serial numbers are etched in and a carrying case finds a new set of friends to hold. Oh, and then it's dropped off to FedEx, where you're encouraged to pray for safe travels.

The sound


It shouldn't come as any surprise, but a $900 set of in-ear monitors sound amazing. Better than a set of $350 non-customs? Definitely. But let's be honest -- at this point, you're firmly into fanatic territory, and if you aren't absolutely obsessed with portable audio, there's nothing we can say to convince you that there's value here. The real kicker, in our estimation, is the silencing capabilities that natively ship with a set of earbuds that were made for your ears only. Rather than relying on noise-canceling wizardry, customs seal out ambient noise by simply fitting perfectly. We used these to quiet our lawnmower, tune out a monster engine on a 757 and mute our bunkmates at band camp. Needless to say, it worked satisfactorily well in the two of those three situations that we actually engaged in.

Getting your own


Ready to splurge on yourself? We know, you deserve it. You'll find no shortage of high-end audio companies eager to trade you a set for a few of your hard-earned Benjamins, but we'd recommend turning to Westone, Ultimate Ears, JH Audio, Alien Ears and LiveWires to start. Your best bet is to settle on an exact model, place the order, and then make an audiologist appointment. Oh, and take a vacation day when those things finally arrive -- you'll need at least 24 hours to just to comprehend the aural subtleties that you're hearing for the first time.

FCC halts AT&T's acquisition of Qualcomm spectrum, bundles it with T-Mobile merger review

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 08:37 AM PDT

AT&T's LTE spectrum acquisitions just hit a minor bump in the federal road. In a recently released FCC statement, Wireless Bureau chief Rick Kaplan announced the decision to stop the 180 day review clock on the telco's proposed takeover of Qualcomm's 700MHz spectrum. The $1.9 billion deal, inked last December, isn't getting the regulatory axe, but due to a "number of related issues" concerning spectrum overlap with the still unapproved T-Mobile merger, the commission is bundling the two into one future review. Maybe it's time the carrier's industry backers pen another letter of support to Chairman Genachowski.

Update: Qualcomm's VP of Government Affairs, Dean Brenner reached out to us with an official statement you can read after the break.

The FCC should approve the pending AT&T-Qualcomm spectrum sale now because of the clear benefits to the public from the sale that stand on their own and are totally unrelated to the proposed AT&T-T-Mobile merger. Approval now will foster the public policies that the FCC correctly deems so vital for the American public. Approval now will re-purpose unused 700 MHz unpaired spectrum for mobile broadband, thereby easing America's spectrum crunch and helping to meet the FCC's goal of reallocating 300 MHz for mobile broadband over the next five years. Approval now will also allow Qualcomm to invest in a new, spectrally efficient technology (supplemental downlink) and enable the first worldwide deployment to occur in the U.S., thereby fostering U.S. economic growth and job creation and enhancing U.S. global leadership in wireless technology.

Panasonic's DY-PS10 Pocket Server streams music to your iPhone, fits in your pocket as advertised

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 08:17 AM PDT

How to get all of the entertainment content you want onto your iPhone? If you live in Japan, have a free pocket, and don't mind shelling out the ¥14,800 ($191), Panasonic's Pocket Server DY-PS10 should do the trick. The handset-sized device can stream content from its built-in SD card slot to your iPhone / iPod touch via a wireless connection. The Pocket Server can handle H.264 files, JPEGs, and MP3s, and the battery should give you about 10 hours of playback. The device will go on sale September 15th in Japan. The rest of us, meanwhile, will have to find other things to fill our pockets with.

Cablevision's Optimum app hits 2.0, brings cable TV streaming to iPhone, iPod Touch

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 07:52 AM PDT

Cablevision took a major step into the future back in April when it opened up its full channel lineup for viewing on the tablet with Optimum for iPad, and now it's bringing that experience to other iOS devices. The new app, simply called Optimum, runs alongside the original and works on iPhones or iPod Touches, bringing the same controversial ability to stream live TV or play back video on-demand -- provided the viewer is still at home. That tether to your service address takes most of the shine off of viewing on mobile devices, but we won't argue too much about adding extra screens for no additional charge. The iPhone app launches at versino 2.0, sharing features with the newly updated iPad app including the ability to work as a remote control for the cable box and schedule DVR recordings remotely. Hit the source link below to grab either app from iTunes or check out the press release after the break.
Show full PR text
CABLEVISION FIRST TO EXTEND FULL CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE TO IN-HOME iPHONE AND iPOD TOUCH DEVICES

Following Successful Launch of the Optimum App for iPad, Cablevision Customers Can Now Experience Hundreds of Channels of Live Television, Thousands of Titles of Video On Demand And Other Features on All Three Devices

Applications For iPad, iPhone and iPod touch Now Include Remote Control Functionality For TVs In The Home – Enhancing The Programming Search And Guide Experience

BETHPAGE, NY, August 9, 2011 – Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today announced the launch of a new Optimum App for iPhone and iPod touch that delivers the full cable television experience on these devices in the home, extending the innovative functionality that debuted in April with the Optimum App for iPad. Cablevision customers can now enjoy more than 300 channels of live TV and thousands of titles of video on demand (VOD) on all three devices, in addition to DVR management, interactive guide information and search. And, for the first time, customers can use the app on all three devices as a virtual remote control for conventional TVs in the home, maximizing its value as a discovery and navigation tool.

Cablevision was the first company to offer its full cable television service on an iPad in the home and now becomes the first to extend this functionality to the iPhone and iPod touch.

The Optimum App is available free in the Apple App Store. Customers who have already downloaded a previous version of the Optimum App for iPhone and iPod touch, which did not include access to live TV, VOD content or remote control functionality, can easily update to the new and full-featured version. In just four months, Optimum App for iPad had been downloaded more than 200,000 times.

"Our new Optimum App for iPhone and iPod touch extends Cablevision's leadership in offering our full cable television service on new devices, functioning as televisions in the home," said John Trierweiler, Cablevision's executive vice president of product management.
"We are also pleased to maximize the value of our Optimum App as a navigation and programming discovery tool by incorporating controls for home TVs as well. The introduction of this remote control functionality will make it even easier for our customers to locate and view all of the content they already receive as part of their television subscription, whether they want to watch on conventional TVs or these Apple devices."

Cablevision uses its secure and proprietary cable television network to deliver cable programming to customers for viewing on its Optimum App, and content is not delivered over the Internet. Customers do not need to have Internet access to use the Optimum App.

The Optimum App turns these display devices into additional televisions in the home, enabling Cablevision customers to view the same live programming and VOD content already being delivered to other TVs in the home as part of the service they have paid for. Cablevision has the right to distribute programming over its cable system to in-home iPhones, iPods, iPads and other devices functioning as televisions under its existing distribution agreements with programming providers.

Nokia: the N9 isn't coming to America

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 07:30 AM PDT

If you've been eagerly awaiting September 23rd so you can grab your very own Nokia N9 in America, the company's first (and last) MeeGo smartphone may not be shipping in your region after all. We've been reaching out to Espoo in recent weeks in an attempt to nail down a US ship date for the drop-dead gorgeous handset, and much to our chagrin, we received a rather disheartening reply:

"After the very positive reception to the launch of the Nokia N9, the product is now being rolled out in countries around the world. At this time we will not be making it available in the US. Nokia takes a market by market approach to product rollout, and each country makes its own decisions about which products to introduce from those available. Decisions are based on an assessment of existing and upcoming products that make up Nokia's extensive product portfolio and the best way in which to address local market opportunities."

Bummer. Moreover, the folks over at The Inquirer were fed an eerily similar line regarding a ship date in the UK, leaving us to wonder where exactly this thing is planning to launch. Regardless, we're still doing our darndest to get ahold of one for review, but it's becoming all the more obvious that it'll hardly matter to folks situated in the US of A. And that, friends, is a crying shame.

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer stand and adapters surface on Amazon Germany

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 07:09 AM PDT

We feel like if you're going to buy an Eee Pad Transformer, you may as well spring for the $150 docking station -- you know, the thing that makes the tablet so noteworthy. And we don't need to remind you it also happens to be a solid value proposition: the dock brings not just a full keyboard, but two USB ports, an SD card reader, and up to seven hours of extended battery life. There must be some people content with just the slate, though, because ASUS is rolling out a trio of accessories that offer pieces of the docking station's functionality. Head on over to Amazon Germany and you'll find individual USB and SD adapters for €19 ($27) a pop. And though it's not listed with the adapters, NetbookNews also spotted a €29 ($41) stand with a USB port, SD slot, and headphone jack. Before you get too excited, though, Amazon is saying the adapters will ship one to three months from now, which leaves you quite a bit of time to save up for the full keyboard dock. Just saying, folks.
ASUS EeePad Transformer stand and USB / SD adapters

Delkin's CF cards handle all weathers, so quit yo' jibber jabber

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 06:47 AM PDT

Delkin sneers at wimps who sit around all day debating whether it's worse to be too hot or too cold. Its new 32GB and 64GB rugged CompactFlash cards relish both extremes, with a claimed operating temperature range of -40 to +85 degrees Celsius. They achieve this by eschewing the cheaper multi-level cell design of namby-pamby mainstream cards in favor of single-level cells that last for up to two million cycles and max out at 105MB/s reads and 95MB/s writes. We wouldn't stick anything else in our SnoMote. Full details in the PR after the break.

Show full PR text
Delkin Devices Introduces 32GB and 64GB High Performance Extended Temperature CompactFlash™

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Delkin Devices, Inc., leading supplier of industrial solid state storage products, announces the production release of 32GB and 64GB high performance, extended temperature CompactFlash cards. Delkin is the first manufacturer to offer 64GB CF cards with an operating temperature range of -40 to +85°C, through the use of single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash. Complementing their industrial-grade ruggedness, the Delkin 32GB and 64GB CF cards also deliver high speed performance, reading up to 105 MB/second and writing up to 95 MB/second.

"Delkin has taken CompactFlash to the next level by leveraging the latest advances in NAND technology and our 25 years as a leader in industrial storage"

In addition to their enhanced environmental specifications, Delkin's SLC cards are up to ten times more durable than multi-level cell (MLC) flash cards, delivering over two million program/erase cycles. Delkin has engineered these cards to deliver the maximum capacity, speed, endurance and temperature tolerance, as well as shock and vibration resistance, to meet the demands of industrial applications in harsh environments.

"Delkin has taken CompactFlash to the next level by leveraging the latest advances in NAND technology and our 25 years as a leader in industrial storage," stated James Grassman, Delkin Vice President of Sales and Business Development. "The new 32GB and 64GB cards are ideal for applications requiring large storage capacity and high speed data transfer in extreme conditions, while maintaining the ease of integration of the trusted CompactFlash form factor," he added.

Delkin Devices industrial-grade flash products, including the new 32GB and 64GB high performance extended temperature CF cards, are manufactured in the USA with controlled bills of materials to ensure a consistent solution and reliable performance.

For more information visit www.delkinindustrial.com or call 800-637-8087 and ask for the industrial storage solution sales team.

About Delkin Devices, Inc.

Delkin Devices is a USA-based manufacturer of industrial flash memory with over 25 years of expertise providing rugged solid state storage solutions for extreme environments. Delkin specializes in SLC flash products with extended temperature ranges, enhanced shock and vibration specifications and a menu of customizable features. Delkin offers the broadest range of standard form factors, such as 2.5" and 1.8" SATA drives, mSATA, CompactFlash, SD, microSD, PC ATA, PATA drives, USB drives and embedded modules, and also offers custom design services. Delkin Devices is ISO-9001:2008 certified and is committed to delivering high quality, competitive and cost-effective products.

iOS 5 beta 5 finally gets its jailbreak, rides home in a gangster limo

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 06:22 AM PDT

Numero cinque took a lot longer to crack than the previous betas. Are the Dev-Team guys beginning to struggle, or are they just out enjoying the sunshine? Either way, it's still tethered-only and it won't work on an iPad 2, but it's a heck of a lot better than the exercise yard. Jailbreak app developers can get busy with redsn0w 0.9.8b5 via the source link.

[Thanks, Jeff and Kyle]

Boxee launches iPad app, new Box update, media server and bookmarklet today

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT

The long awaited Boxee for iPad app is finally ready to launch, and coming with it is a fresh update for the Boxee Box, plus new Media Manager software for your PC or Mac to make streaming locally stored files to the tablet or PC even easier. We got an early look at the iPad app (which lacks access to the Box's apps) and while the interface had been lightly reworked since our last hands-on experience at CES it was very crash prone, with a tendency to close suddenly while streaming videos from YouTube or a connected PC. Boxee Box owners may not have to worry about that however, since the new v1.2 update adds AirPlay compatibility as an "experiment" for any online content (check after the break for the full list of changes). The Media Manager software on the PC makes it easier to organize content for playback on the tablet or Box, while a new Watch Later Bookmarklet also makes one-click sharing of online video from browser to device possible. All in all the idea is to make Boxee the "one place to discover, watch and share video" no matter where you are and we can see it getting there -- once everything stays up and running consistently.
Boxee iPad app

Show full PR text
Boxee Box 1.2 Release Notes
New Features / Enhancements
Networking & File Playback
Added support for Apple Filing Protocol (AFP)
Added support for Network File System (NFS)
Enhanced support for SMB/CIFS shares
Added support for Boxee Media Manager
Consolidated network shares under the server name
Interface
Ability to filter premium content sources like Netflix, HBOGo, VUDU, etc. in library
Reordered Apps library
New "Featured Apps" section
Updated App categories
Support for seek within a video on first right/left click (when OSD is still not open)
Seek forward is now 10 seconds instead of 5 seconds
"Jump to letter" sidebar in libraries now shows current letter location
Browser
Improved HTML 5 video support
Settings
Resetting display settings leaves previous setting data intact
Add support for HDMI output YUV422 and YUV444
Add support for HDMI output 30 and 36 bit color
HDMI "Black Level" settingnow RGB "High and Low"
Bug fixes
Networking & File Playback
Problem with manually resolving a movie that has NFO file
Fixed adult filter for local content in manual resolve
HLS Playback ends abruptly
SMB: boxee crash when selecting "No results found"
"Resume playback from [end of video time marker]" shows up on videos that have been previously played all the way to the very end.
When trying to play a movie again after it ended the play dialog offers to resume the movie from the movies last second
Soundtrack loses Dolby Digital indication every 10s, without any relation to commercials spots
SAMBA Authentication to Servers Accepting NTLMv2 Only Fails
Boxee doesn't resolve TV Shows with ID located only in the tvshow.nfo
.m2ts Thumbnails Are Gray (When Viewing In Files)
After clicking play (from paused state) the OSD should immediately disappear
TV Show files that are deleted aren't removed from the library
Video file playing across network stops playing
Video files containing "@" in the file path are not identified
Apps
Videos on Vimeo do not play. and the device has to be restarted manually
Vimeo - couch mode freeze after 10-15 minutes of playback, also freeze for a long time between videos
API Command SeekTime() is not working
Libraries
SnagFilms Documentaries playback stops prior to loading 2nd commercial
Local TV shows take an extremely long time to load
Watched TV Show Trigger not working
Unable to remove a show from favorites when there is no content for the show
Browser
Default focus when getting to exit confirmation in browser should be Exit not Stay
HTML video tag causes page redraw issues... until video starts playing
http://tv.clicker.com crashes boxee browser
CNBC online video does not play
http://zattoo.com/view will not open in the browser
Localization
Localization: GERMAN Replace "Bewertung" for MPAA-Rating with "FSK"
Misc.
Various Fixes to minimise Plasma Burn in
Additional Keyboard names are not according the languages names but only in English (using the directory name)
Increase subtitle sync limit from 50 to 200
Boxee Box appears to be clipping black & white levels
Known limitations
Streaming to the Boxee client via Airplay from the app is limited to online content (cannot steam local content via Boxee Media Manager)

Perceptive Pixel unveils an 82-inch multi-touch LCD, TV news anchors overcome by giddy hands

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Perceptive Pixel has been no stranger to massive multi-touch screens ever since it got over being so Frustrated. At this year's SIGGRAPH the company is showing off a whopping 82-inch projected capacitive LCD -- and you thought MondoPad was huge. Apparently, the "slim" 6-inch deep, optically bonded display is "the world's largest" of its type, although Perceptive does make an 88-inch DLP model if you need a bit more real estate. On-screen content is displayed in 1080p HD resolution at 120Hz, and with an unlimited multi-touch response time of less than 1ms, it's ready for all the situations Wolf Blitzer's digits can handle. We'll hopefully be checking it out on the show floor, but for now you'll find more details past the break.

Show full PR text
Perceptive Pixel Launches World's Largest Projected Capacitive Display at SIGGRAPH 2011

New 82" Wall Display Provides Professional-Grade, Large-Format,
Multi-Touch Functionality in Slim LCD Form Factor

Vancouver, British Columbia, and New York – Aug. 9, 2011 – Perceptive Pixel, the leading provider of advanced user interface solutions, today announced the launch of its latest breakthrough product at SIGGRAPH 2011, the premier international conference for computer graphics and interactive techniques. The company unveiled its 82" true multi-touch, projected capacitive (pro-cap) LCD display, the largest optically bonded flat-panel pro-cap display in the world. Featuring a remarkably slim profile, measuring just six inches in depth, the new offering expands Perceptive Pixel's line of professional flat-panel displays, which includes a recently introduced 27" pro-cap desktop display.

Perceptive Pixel is changing the way professionals collaborate, communicate and share information, enabling more intuitive interaction with technology in industries as varied as design, government, finance, media and energy. For computer graphics and animation professionals, touch interactivity has opened up new possibilities for how they interact with and showcase their work. Perceptive Pixel's new 82" wall display is ideal for use in creative, collaborative environments such as design reviews, concept pitches, storyboarding and brainstorming sessions, among others.

Features of Perceptive Pixel's new 82" multi-touch LCD display include:

· Slim LCD form factor

· 1920 x 1080 full-HD resolution

· Optically bonded

· Ultra-low parallax

· 120Hz, touch response time of <1ms

· Mission-critical reliability



"No other company can deliver the precision and performance of our best-in-class optically bonded pro-cap displays," said David Slobodin, VP hardware engineering at Perceptive Pixel. "Our new 82" multi-touch LCD represents a technological breakthrough that sets a new standard for the display industry."

"Multi-touch has become fundamental to the way we interact with technology," said Jeff Han, founder and chief scientist, Perceptive Pixel. "Five years ago here at SIGGRAPH, we introduced the first large-scale true multi-touch display based on rear projection technology. I'm proud to be back at SIGGRAPH 2011 with another industry first – a truly flat-panel 82" display featuring the highly responsive, unlimited multi-touch experience that is the hallmark of our company."

Perceptive Pixel will be showcasing its advanced multi-touch solutions in the NVIDIA booth (#453) at SIGGRAPH 2011. To schedule a demonstration of Perceptive Pixel's new 82" pro-cap display and additional multi-touch offerings, contact Diane Carlson, VP of marketing for Perceptive Pixel.

About Perceptive Pixel:

Perceptive Pixel was founded in 2006 by Jeff Han, a recognized leader in the touch technology field, and focuses on the research, development and production of multi-touch interfaces for the knowledge worker. The company's patent-pending technologies enable users to manipulate complex datasets through intuitive, powerful and visually rich interface techniques. The company's products are used in broadcast, defense, energy exploration, geo-intelligence, industrial design and medical imaging. The company's large-screen multi-touch products gained early recognition for transforming the way CNN covered the historic 2008 U.S. presidential elections. Perceptive Pixel was awarded the 2009 National Design Award from the Smithsonian Institution in the inaugural category of interaction design. Perceptive Pixel is privately held and headquartered in New York, with offices in Portland, Oregon; Mountain View, California; and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.perceptivepixel.com.

Perceptive Pixel and the Perceptive Pixel logo are trademarks of Perceptive Pixel Inc.

Spotify reported to have 175,000 paid-up Americans, valued at $1.1 beeellion

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 05:22 AM PDT

Seems like America's doors are still wide open to new musical immigrants, because Spotify's stateside foray has just boosted its overall valuation to $1.1 billion. That's based on its two most recent investment rounds, which racked up another $100 million from new and old investors who are clearly convinced that the streaming platform can carve out a niche between existing rivals like Rhapsody and new entrants like Google Music and iCloud. Meanwhile, AllThingsD are reporting figures from an unnamed source who says that the London-based company now has 1.4 million US subscribers, of which 175,000 are coughing up $10 per month for premium features like mobile access. If accurate, that equates to a conversion rate of 12.5-percent -- not quite as high as the 15-percent it achieved in Zamunda Europe, but still impressive.

Microsoft Touch Mouse to take center stage at UIST Student Innovation Contest

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 04:57 AM PDT

It's August, and that can only mean three things: vacations, back to school shopping, and another UIST Student Innovation Contest. Taking center stage this year is Microsoft's Touch Mouse -- a multitouch gesture-based peripheral that we first saw earlier this year. UIST contestants will have to come up with cool new ways to interact with the mouse, with the winning innovator receiving $1500, and $500 going to the runner-up (trophies are apparently involved, as well). All entries will be demoed on October 17th in Santa Barbara, and the winners will be announced on the following day. Hit the source link for information on registration, or squeeze past the break for a video from UIST chair Kayur Patel, along with a clip on the Touch Mouse.

Acer's Aspire 3951 leaks with MacBook Air-like specs, available in October?

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 04:29 AM PDT

It looks like Acer may be dropping down to the lightweight laptop division, now that images of its so-called Aspire 3951 have leaked out of Vietnam. An ostensible rival to the recently refreshed MacBook Air, the 13.3-inch 3951 reportedly boasts a similarly slim design, measuring 13mm thick and weighing less than 1.4 kilograms (about three pounds). According to Sohoa, the aluminum-cased device is powered by a second generation Intel Core processor, features an optional 160GB SSD, and offers more than six hours of battery life, along with Bluetooth 4.0 support. Much like the Air, this Aspire can purportedly boot up pretty fast, as well, rousing from sleep mode in just 1.7 seconds. It's rumored that Acer will release this new line in October within the curiously affordable price range between $770 and $960, but we'll have to wait and see whether that actually comes to fruition. In the meantime, you can check out an extra image of the Aspire 3951 below, or hit the source link for the full collection.

[Thanks, @tranquochuyvn]

Update: Oddly enough, it appears that we've caught a glimpse of this exact same laptop before, except it was portrayed by M.I.C. Gadget as a Thunderbolt MacBook Air leak. Perhaps the folks received some bad intel, be it intentional or not.

AMD intros Radeon-branded RAM, gives gamers that coordinated component look

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 03:50 AM PDT

Have an inexplicable lust for all things AMD? Better sit down for this one folks, as your favorite chip company is back, this time peddling Radeon-branded RAM in exchange for your hard earned dough. Tested to the "highest industry" standards, the DDR3 modules will be available in three SKUs: the entry-level "Entertainment" sticks (clocked at 1333MHz), followed by speedier "Ultra Pro Gaming" (1600MHz) and an "Enterprise" RAM of an unknown speed. Akiba PC Online! spotted 2GB modules of the lowest tier chilling in Japan for a cool ¥1570 (around $20 stateside), as-well as a US product page (which we've kindly linked below). Small price to pay for memory to match your graphics card -- brand loyalty's a beautiful thing, right guys?

NASA finds DNA components in meteorites, says they originated in space (video)

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 03:00 AM PDT

So, this is kinda wild: scientists at NASA have uncovered new evidence that DNA components found in meteorites can originate in space, lending new credence to the theory that life on Earth may have arisen from a pre-existing "kit" of materials delivered via asteroid. The discovery is outlined in a new paper from Dr. Michael Callahan, whose team of researchers closely analyzed samples from 12 different meteorites, using a mass spectrometer and liquid chromatography. In their samples, they found traces of adenine, guanine, and a variety of molecules known as nucleobase analogs -- including three that are rarely found on Earth. Scientists have long known that meteorites can contain DNA elements, but were unsure whether these materials actually originate in space. The presence of these three molecules, however, suggest that they do, potentially raising new questions about the dawn of life on Earth, and beyond. It's all quite heady, but steam ahead for a NASA video that might help clarify things, after the break.

Barnes &amp; Noble offers back to school Nook deal, adds more to your reading list

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 02:18 AM PDT

Thinking about getting an e-reader before you head back to school this fall? Barnes & Noble surely hopes so, and to sweeten the deal it's offering 12 free classics along with study guides and apps if you register your freshly unboxed Nook before October 31st. That's right folks, over $100 worth of e-books can be yours with the purchase of the new Nook, the Nook Color or even the first edition Nook. While it must be said that most of the available titles are out of copyright and so are already available for free download elsewhere (we're looking at you, Gutenberg.org), you can at least select from a dozen Spark Notes of time-consuming reads such as War and Peace. So if you're looking to take a break from all that Organic Chemistry mumbo jumbo, you can catch up on A Tale of Two Cities in your spare time.

Samsung Galaxy S II LTE phone surfaces in Korea, codenamed Celox?

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 01:45 AM PDT

There's a new Samsung Galaxy S II rumor circulating the web today -- this time, it's emanating from South Korea, where specs and images of an LTE smartphone, reportedly codenamed "Celox," have just surfaced. According to its listing, the phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8060 processor, sports a 4.5-inch WVGA Super AMOLED Plus display, and boasts 16GB of internal memory, with a microSD slot offering an extra 32GB. The phone also runs on Gingerbread, rocks a 1750mAh battery (compared to the smaller Galaxy S II's 1650mAH cell), offers 800MHz LTE support (at up to 50Mbps upstream, 100Mbps downstream) and features an 8MP rear-facing camera, along with a 2MP sensor up front. It all seems pretty similar to that Hercules handset we recently spotted, except for its noticeably different home button, protruding back, and LED flash. No word yet on if or when the handset will hit the market, but considering that both Verizon and AT&T support 700MHz LTE, this particular model may be destined for Europe's 800MHz networks, rather than the US. We'll be sure to bring you all the details as soon as they pour in.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Ben Heck splits and condenses a pair of Xbox 360 controllers for the disabled

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 01:04 AM PDT

Ben Heck
That crafty Ben Heck is always up to something, like whipping up an Xbox 360 disk changer for the laziest of gamers. But, on the latest episode of his hacking and modding show, Mr. Heck is back to helping those in need and crafting accessible controllers for the disabled. During the 15-minute hackathon, the modder extraordinaire creates two different Xbox 360 remotes -- a split model for those with limited arm motion, and a one-handed version for people with use of only one set of digits. If you've got a smidgen of soldering experience (and ideally access to a CNC) these projects are probably even simple enough to tackle yourself. Check out the entire episode and full PR after the break.

Show full PR text
Ben Heck Enhances Gamer Mobility with Two Xbox 360 Accessibility Controller Mods on element14's "The Ben Heck Show"

Guest appearance by pinball engineer John Popaduik provides exclusive insight into pinball design

CHICAGO, Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In the latest episode of the "The Ben Heck Show," sponsored by element14, the first collaborative community and electronics store for design engineers and electronics enthusiasts, modding guru Benjamin J. Heckendorn, a.k.a. Ben Heck, deconstructs and reconfigures standard Xbox 360TM gaming controllers into split controllers to increase accessibility and mobility for individuals with physical disabilities.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110808/CG48479)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110216/CG49295LOGO)

"I get a lot of requests from viewers who have a limited range of motion asking me to split standard controllers in half or downsize a controller so it fits in one hand," said Ben. "As an avid gamer, I am honored to be able to showcase how implementing the modder mindset can level the playing field, so to speak, and transform a difficult gaming experience into an accessible good time. Game on!"

In his quest to make gaming accessible to all, Ben walks viewers through the design process for two types of Xbox controller mods-a split controller and a single-hand controller. For the first mod, Ben increases mobility during game play by using ribbon cable and a replicated version of the original circuit board to sync a full-size, left hand controller with a half-size, right hand controller. On the second mod, Ben reconfigures the original controller by moving all play buttons to one side and the analog stick to the back, allowing gamers to use one hand and leg to manipulate the controller.

"The gaming community is known for being innovative and collaborative," said Kevin Yapp, chief marketing officer, Premier Farnell. "Through this project, Ben has shown his support for fellow gamers in need of more accessible game play and has connected the gaming community. This collaboration reflects element14's goal to unite like-minded individuals, such as gamers, design engineers and electronic enthusiasts, to collaborate on projects of all sizes and achieve great results online."

The entertaining episode also features a guest appearance from pinball designer John Popaduik who, through his work at electronic gaming manufacturer Williams Bally Midway, played an integral role in the design process for pinball machines such as Circus Voltaire and Theatre of Magic. During his visit, John also discusses his passion for design with Ben and reveals important tips for pinball builds.

Show fans are invited to join the element14 community to send Ben a challenge for a future build, engage with community members, and enter for a chance to win one of Ben's builds featured on the show, including his Xbox 360™ CD disc changer.

About "The Ben Heck Show"

"The Ben Heck Show" is a bi-weekly online television series aired in English that's dedicated to the science and art of system and hardware modding with a global audience of design engineers, students and electronic enthusiasts. Sponsored exclusively by element14, each episode spotlights Ben's mods of popular electronic devices while educating viewers on the underlying technology powering each project.

About element14

Launched in June 2009, element14 is the first, innovative information portal and eCommunity specifically built for electronic design engineers. The community recently unveiled its element14 knode, a unique automated platform that enables engineers to quickly research, design, develop and prototype in a single, intelligent environment. element14 is an innovative offering from Premier Farnell plc (LSE:pfl), FTSE 250, a leader in multi-channel electronics distribution trading throughout Europe (Farnell), the Americas (Newark) and Asia Pacific (element14). The company had group sales of pounds Sterling 990.8m and underlying profits of 93.3m pounds last year.

CERN's LHC@home 2.0 project simulates a Large Hadron Collider in the cloud

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 12:11 AM PDT

"You break it, you bought it," came to mind when researchers at the Centre for European Nuclear Research (CERN) announced the LHC@home 2.0 project, giving us regular Joes access to the Large Hadron Collider. OK, we kid; the reality is that much like SETI@home and Folding@home, a whole group of volunteering home computers link up together, and while idle they quietly help simulate LHC particle collisions according to CERN's theoretical models. Scientists there then compare these results with those from actual LHC experiments in order to check for any instrumental or theoretical errors, thus potentially speeding up the mission to find the God particle in a low cost manner.

Besides being a great way to get your science on, the cloud-based program also makes CERN's resources (like crisis mapping and damage assessment) available to researchers in developing nations that may not to be able to afford the accelerator's $6 billion dollar price tag -- but nowadays, what nation can?


Show full PR text
Join the hunt for the Higgs boson or help coordinate disaster relief with CERN's Citizen Cyberscience Centre

An ordinary laptop or PC is all you need to join a global project to help scientists at the Large Hadron Collider, one of the world's most ambitious science projects, understand what happened just after the Big Bang; or prepare maps to help humanitarian relief in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

Volunteers around the world now have the opportunity to get involved in the hunt for the elusive Higgs boson. As part of the European Year of Volunteering, the Citizen Cyberscience Centre based at CERN is launching a new version of LHC@home on 8 August 2011.

The latest version, called LHC@home 2.0, simulates collisions between two beams of protons travelling at almost the speed of light in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Scientists working at CERN compare these simulations, based on their own theoretical models, with real data from the four LHC experiments.

The project makes use of the idle time on the volunteers' PCs, bringing them together to form a 'Volunteer Cloud' that can work as a 'virtual supercomputer'.

LHC@home 2.0 is not the only project to benefit from volunteers harnessing the collective power of their laptops and PCs. Through this virtual supercomputer, the Citizen Cyberscience Centre is providing a low cost technology for researchers in developing countries to meet challenges like providing clean water and even tackling vital humanitarian work including crisis mapping and damage assessment.

As Sergio Bertolucci, Director of Research and Scientific Computing at CERN, emphasizes: "While LHC@home is a great opportunity to encourage more public involvement in science, the biggest benefits of citizen cyberscience are for researchers in developing regions who have limited resources for computing and manpower. Online volunteers can boost available research resources enormously at very low cost. This is a trend we are committed to promote through the Citizen Cyberscience Centre".

Leading international computer manufacturers such as IBM and HP have contributed their support and expertise to Citizen Cyberscience Centre projects including UNOSAT. Using data from space agencies and satellite operators around the world, UNOSAT can produce maps for humanitarian applications such as damage assessment or monitoring deforestation. The project relies on 'volunteer thinking' where participants actively analyse imagery and their results are compared.

"From a development and humanitarian perspective, the potential of citizen-powered research is enormous", says Francesco Pisano, Manager of UNOSAT, " Participating in the Citizen Cyberscience Centre enables us to get new insights into the cutting edge of crowdsourcing technologies. There is no doubt that volunteers are playing an increasingly central role in dealing with crisis response, thanks to the Internet."

Professor Dave Britton of the University of Glasgow is Project Leader of the GridPP project that provides Grid computing for particle physics throughout the UK. He is a member of the ATLAS collaboration, one of the experiments at the Large Hadron Collider and has previously worked on CMS, another of the LHC experiments. Commenting on the launch of LHC@home 2.0, Professor Britton said, "Scientists like me are trying to answer fundamental questions about the structure and origin of the Universe. Through the Citizen Cyberscience Centre and its volunteers around the world, the Grid computing tools and techniques that I use everyday are available to scientists in developing countries, giving them access to the latest computing technology and the ability to solve the problems that they are facing, such as providing clean water. Whether you're interested in finding the Higgs boson, playing a part in humanitarian aid or advancing knowledge in developing countries, this is a great project to get involved with."

The Citizen Cyberscience Centre is a partnership between CERN, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the University of Geneva. STFC manages the UK subscription to CERN and, using its e-Science expertise, runs one of the 10 international Tier-1 centres taking data from the LHC and making it available to researchers around the world.

Light Blue Optics touch interface pico projector passes through the FCC

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 11:13 PM PDT

Last time we saw Light Blue Optics' Light Touch, it was deep in the bowels of CES, where we got to play with its touch-sensitive projections. Well, the little laser pico projector has finally made its way from that dark trade show corner into the bright lights of the FCC. It still turns any flat area into a WVGA touchscreen using holographic laser projection (HLP) and infrared sensors, only now it's more finger friendly and supports multi-touch gestures. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a single mono speaker so you aren't surface computing in silence, and there are composite video and micro-USB ports for pulling content from other devices. Of course, the Light Touch still only projects a 10.1-inch image, so it won't be turning your wall into a touchscreen. But, it should do just fine turning a tray table, desk, or perhaps even the nearest person planking into one.

Elektrobit's Specialized Device Platform tailors Android devices for security-minded markets, won't hem pants

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 10:08 PM PDT

The defense industry may already have its share of deadly high-tech toys, but when it comes to the latest in mobile, it's often left to watch from the highly-secured sidelines. Enter Elektrobit Corporation with a just announced Specialized Device Platform that crafts made-to-order, Android-based devices for the public safety, security and aforementioned defense markets. Citing its lower cost, faster development approach, EB's service marries the "best of the traditional mobile world... with product-and industry-specific features" so clients won't have to deal with last year's Android OS. Oh wait, actually they will. The currently on offer Froyo-flavored, 1GHz single-core OMAP3 model packs a WVGA capacitive touchscreen (either 4-, or 4.3-inch), 5 megapixel camera, VGA front-facing camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS with quad-band GSM, tri-band UMTS / HSDPA and CDMA2K / EVDO support. Clients interested in a 700MHz LTE, Gingerbread option -- that's right, no Ice Cream Sandwich -- will have to hold off until the first half of 2012, when the company's 1.5GHz dual-core OMAP4 models will be available for production. Alright, so these specs aren't exactly bleeding edge tech, but hey -- who needs a quad-core phone when you've got this.
Show full PR text
EB UNVEILS SPECIALIZED DEVICE PLATFORM, A VERSATILE ANDROID-BASED MOBILE PLATFORM DESIGNED FOR SPECIALIZED VERTICAL MARKETS

New Android-Based Platform Provides Defense, Public Safety Markets Tailor-made Mobile Devices, Specific to Vertical Requirements-All with Minimal Development Risk, Lower Development Costs and Faster Time-to-Market

PHILADELPHIA, (APCO International Conference & Expo), August 8, 2011 - EB, Elektrobit Corporation, a developer of leading edge embedded technology solutions for automotive and wireless industries, today announced the EB Specialized Device Platform, an Android-based mobile device platform for specialized markets. Leveraging mass market mobile device hardware/software technologies and economies of scale, the platform enables vertical markets such as defense, public safety and security to roll-out customized mobile devices that meet specific industry functional or performance requirements-faster and with lower development risks and costs.

"Specialized verticals, particularly those in the defense sector, deploy mobile devices with extended product life cycles - yet they still want mobile solutions that offer the latest technological advancements," said Michael Valenti, senior research analyst with Frost & Sullivan. "EB is well positioned to serve these vertical interests, as the company has a rich heritage in mobile device design, integration, and development as well as a depth and expertise in bringing unique mobile solutions to specialized markets."

A versatile platform, the EB Specialized Device Platform allows EB's customers to benefit from the commercial technologies driving the rapid growth of the consumer wireless device market while giving market specific features and device type customization to specialized market organizations. As a smartphone-tablet platform, organizations get a 'made-to-order' mobile device that incorporates key design features desired for a particular mobile device with specific hardware and software features required by their market segment. For example, military vendors can specify MIL-STD-810G mechanics for a ruggedized Android handset, integration of a proprietary security engine or optimization of a proprietary software application to extend the device battery life.

The platform is comprised of components specifically focused to extend product life cycle, deliver excellent performance and simplify the platform evolution. It is anchored by the Texas Instruments OMAP(TM) family of application processors and includes both OMAP3(TM) series single-core and OMAP4(TM) series dual-core options. EB chose TI's OMAP processors for their balance between competitive mass market performance and unique features, such as integrated and fully programmable C64x Digital Signal Processor, that appeals to the target vertical markets. Other key features include integrated cellular connectivity options including LTE with Band 14 support for the U.S. Public Safety market, a high-resolution touch-screen enabled display with superior sunlight readability, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and advanced battery and power management features. Additionally, EB offers other advanced features such as integrated mobile satellite connectivity.

"Specific markets such as defense and public safety require unique mobile devices that must meet stringent compliance and regulatory requirements; thereby making it difficult for them to deploy traditional smartphones and tablets across their field teams," said Jani Lyrintzis, vice president and general manager, EB. "EB has solved this problem, by introducing the Specialized Device Platform - that uniquely offers the best of the traditional mobile world, with the Android operating system and key mobile hardware/software/radio features, combined with product-and industry-specific features-which allows these vertical organizations to bring new mobile devices to market quicker, more cost-effectively and with less development risk.

Availability and Engagement Model

The EB Specialized Device Platform is generally available today for devices to be commercialized with the OMAP3 Series applications processor and 3G cellular connectivity options. Devices requiring the OMAP4 Series applications processors or the 4G/LTE cellular connectivity options can be commercialized in the first half of 2012.

EB offers the platform in three engagement models - a complete turnkey solution, in which EB will develop, manufacture (using partners) and supply the end-product; a joint development approach - in which EB and its customer cooperate on the device development, followed by EB handling all aspects of the manufacturing and end-product supply chain cycles; and finally a joint development plus licensing model - in which EB and its customer cooperate on the device development, but the customer is responsible for the end-device manufacturing and supply.

For more information on the EB Specialized Device Platform please visit: http://www.elektrobit.com

Leakster names Sprint's latest: Samsung Epic 4G Touch, HTC EVO Design 4G, and Motorola Admiral

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 09:07 PM PDT

We love starting the week with a good leak, and thanks to an anonymous tipster, we're swimming in a flood of juicy names. First, it appears the Samsung Within is getting a new alias, and without delaying your anticipation, let us re-introduce you to Sprint's upcoming Galaxy S II handset: the Epic 4G Touch. As the moniker suggests, the QWERTY keyboard is likely sliding away, though lovers of physical buttons might find solace with the mysterious Epic 2. If your ideal smartphone combines qHD resolution with HTC Sense -- and eschews the 3D display and dual-core CPU -- the Kingdom is one step closer to reality, and it'll be known as the EVO Design 4G. Finally, a new Motorola will arrive at the Now Network, and it's been christened the Admiral. Unlike its peers, it's lacking the "4G" nomenclature, meaning it's avoiding the upper echelons of Sprint's stable... and hopefully sporting longer battery life, too.

[Thanks, anonymous]

NVIDIA's Project Maximus takes multi-GPU mainstream, 'Virtual Graphics' takes it to the cloud

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 08:15 PM PDT

NVIDIA just wrapped up an intimate press briefing here at SIGGRAPH 2011, where -- amongst other things -- it officially took the wraps off of two major initiatives. Project Maximus and Virtual Graphics are the two main topics of conversation here, and while both are obviously targeting working professionals at the moment, there's no question that a trickle-down effect is already on the company's mind. With Maximus, the outfit plans to stop recommending bigger GPUs to pros, and start recommending "a light Quadro GPU and as large a Tesla as you can get in the system." The overriding goal here is to make multi-GPU technology entirely more accessible; to date, it hasn't exactly been easy to get a finely tuned multi-GPU setup to the masses, but it sounds like a good deal of future flexibility (it'll be "nearly infinitely scalable") aims to change that. Just imagine: dynamic coupling and decoupling of GPUs depending on user load, at a far more detailed level within the application...

Update: Regarding that Tesla bit, NVIDIA clarified with this: "What we're saying is for applications that are light on graphics / don't place a heavy demand on graphics, but more so a heavy demand on computational tasks, users will have an option to choose an entry- or mid-level Quadro card for graphics functions, such as the Quadro 600 or Quadro 2000. For certain applications, better performance is achieved by adding a Tesla companion processor, as opposed to scaling up the primary Quadro graphics. Users still require as much graphics as possible."
NVIDIA's Project Maximus and Project Monterey revealing at SIGGRAPH 2011

As for Virtual Graphics? That's a technology preview that's being shown for the first time at the company's booth tomorrow, and while we weren't shown a sneak peek tonight, we heard more than enough to get our juices flowing. The introduction of Tegra proves that NVIDIA's paying attention to the explosion of connected devices, and there's "a real opportunity" to get high-power graphics access on these mobile devices. The answer lies in a sophisticated mashup of technologies that'll eventually bring Quadro-like, app-agnostic graphical oomph to anything with a solid internet connection. That's Project Monterey, and we're told that it'll be demoed on a Tegra tablet and x86-based desktop here in a few hours. Oh, and in case you haven't resolved all this -- yeah, we're talking about pro-level graphics... in the cloud.

Adobe and Autodesk are already onboard on the software front, while a three-GPU HP Z800 workstation is on tap for the fall. We'll be swinging by once the doors open up to get a peek of how things are progressing, but till then, you can keep your eyes peeled for more "commercial availability announcements" in September and October.

Vizio tablet now shipping nationwide, priced at $300

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 07:49 PM PDT

Well friends, if you've been waiting to get your hands on the 8-inch Vizio tab (and don't live near a Costco), your time has come. The company announced today that its slate has begun shipping to retailers nationwide including Sam's, Walmart and Amazon. The Android tablet is now priced at $299, a $30 drop from our last retail sighting -- and just in time to entice those of you heading back to school in search of a new piece of tech to play with during that history lecture. Or perhaps you just want to kick it like Blake Griffin... don't worry, we won't judge you. Besides, what else do you need for your dorm room other than an integrated universal remote to queue up all those Lord of the Rings marathons?
Show full PR text
VIZIO's New 8" Tablet Delivers Knock Out Video, Audio and App-based Entertainment at sub-$300 Price Point

- VIZIO Tablet to shake up the marketplace by offering intuitive tablet experience at a price point that extends availability to the masses

- Unique three-speaker design delivers stereo audio in both landscape and portrait modes

- Control Your Entire Home Theater with the VIZIO Tablet's built-in universal remote control app

- Built-in 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth® capabilities offer optimum connectivity with multiple devices


Irvine, CA - August 08, 2011 - VIZIO, America's #1 LCD HDTV company, announced today the new VIZIO 8" Tablet with WiFi is arriving at retailers nationwide. As part of VIZIO's continued commitment to deliver great technology at a superior value, the sleek, feature-filled, Android-powered VIZIO Tablet is now available at Sam's Club, Walmart, Costco, Amazon, and other VIZIO retailers at a breakthrough price of $299.

The VIZIO Tablet features VIZIO Internet Apps® Plus which combines the latest technologies with a unified, easy-to-use and fun user interface across select future VIZIO HDTV's, Blu-ray® players and other devices -- further differentiating the sleek VIZIO Tablet. In addition, the new Tablet is able to control nearly every element of a user's home theater with a universal remote app and includes a built-in HDMI port with HDCP support for content protected HD playback on the big screen.

"We are excited that VIZIO is listening, once again, to what the marketplace is asking for with a high performance sub $300 Tablet," said Tim Farmer, Costco. "VIZIO's reputation is built on affordable technology and entertainment and this product is expected to generate a strong consumer response."

By offering cutting edge technology and exceptional features at a competitive category price, the VIZIO Tablet is ideal for a wide range of users. With support for Adobe® Flash®, casual gamers, movie, TV and music enthusiasts are able to enjoy rich content and applications on the go. It also comes equipped with a unique three-speaker configuration, strategically placed for stereo sound in landscape or portrait mode.

Additionally, parents looking to entertain their children on-the-go can quickly access the Android Market™ which gives access to hundreds of thousands of apps, including educational programs, games and eBooks.**

With back-to-school season in full swing, students will also find the sleek VIZIO Tablet an ideal and fun compliment to a busy year as it makes checking email, news and social networks as simple as ever. Multiple storage options make saving assignments and downloading music a breeze with a MicroSD™ slot that allows consumers the freedom to expand memory up to 32GB for optimal organization and entertainment.

"VIZIO set out to build an innovative tablet that breaks new ground and addresses the gaps in current offerings in the market," said Matt McRae, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. "The VIZIO Tablet offers a superior multimedia experience with its three speaker design, home theater integration with IR, and a perfect size for typing, eBooks, gaming and portability. These innovations and our ground breaking price push the category forward and deliver on our brand promise of Entertainment Freedom For All."

Vision Research's Phantom v1210 and v1610 do slow motion in style (video)

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 07:27 PM PDT

No matter how fast that piece of Jell-O landed on the floor, you'll be able to review the journey in all its slow motion glory with the newly announced Phantom v1610 and v1210 cameras. Vision Research is calling the latest entries in the Phantom line the "world's fastest one megapixel digital high-speed cameras." The v1210 is capable of capturing 12,000 fps to 16,000 fps, with its higher end buddy the v1610 capturing between 650,000 fps and one million fps, if you sacrifice resolution. Shooting 1280 x 800 widescreen images (at regular speed), the v1210 boasts 12GB, 24GB, or 48GB of segmented memory, while the v1610 can hold 24GB, 48GB, or 96GB of segmented memory. Other features include an image-based auto-trigger, ethernet port, SMPTE & IRIG timecode, genlock, 28 micron pixel size, 12-bit depth pixel depth standard, and an HD-SDI output. No word on pricing, but if you have a budget like NFL Films, let the epic sports montages and Truffle Shuffling commence. Check out some slow motion footage captured on the Phantom HD Gold after the break.

Update: pricing starts around a cool $100,000.


Show full PR text
New Phantom v1610 Is 60 Percent Faster than Any Other Digital High-Speed Camera in Its Class
VISION RESEARCH NEW PHANTOM V1610 The New Phantom v1610 Is 60 Percent Faster than Any Other Digital High-Speed Camera in Its Class. (PRNewsFoto/Vision Research) WAYNE, NJ UNITED STATES

WAYNE, N.J., Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Research, a leading manufacturer of digital high-speed imaging systems, unveils two additions to the company's Phantom® v-Series line of digital high-speed cameras with the introduction of the Phantom v1210 and v1610. These top-of-their-class cameras are the world's fastest 1 megapixel digital high-speed cameras. They feature high definition and widescreen 1280 x 800 CMOS sensors. The Phantom v1610 is 60 percent faster than any other camera on the market, with the ability to acquire more than 16,000 frames-per-second (fps) at full resolution and up to 1,000,000 fps at reduced resolution.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110808/CL48227 )

"Vision Research's innovations in the high-speed imaging industry and its launches of the v1210 and v1610 add advanced capabilities to the market," says Rick Robinson, Division VP Marketing, Vision Research. "With the ability to capture high-resolution images at ultra-high-speeds, the v1210 and v1610 bring new tools to scientists, researchers, engineers and others who need to see phenomena invisible to the human eye."

Both cameras are based on Vision Research proprietary sensors offering not only high speeds, but larger 28-micron pixels that allow for superior sensitivity when shooting in low light, which is often a problem with high-speed imaging. The v-Series additions make possible image capture at more than 12,000 fps (12 gigapixels/second) in full resolution when utilizing the v1210, and more than 16,000 fps (16 gigapixels/second) when the v1610 is called into action. If higher speeds are needed, reduced resolution images are available up to 650,000 fps or up to 1,000,000 fps when the FAST option is used.

The v1210 can be configured with 12GB, 24GB, or 48GB of memory, and the v1610, with 24GB, 48GB, or 96GB of memory. That memory can be segmented into as many as 63 partitions and allows continuous shooting of back-to-back shots without the need for constant downloading. The cameras offer 12-bit pixel depth standard.

Phantom CineMag Workflow

Both cameras come standard with Vision Research's breakthrough CineMag interface allowing a user to save a high-speed shot from camera memory to non-volatile storage in a matter of seconds. With a CineMag mounted on the camera, a user can continue to conduct tests and experiments without the time-consuming task of downloading large amounts of data over Ethernet.

Camera Control

The cameras come with built-in on-camera controls (OCC), allowing most camera settings to be set or changed with the turn of a knob – eliminating the need for connection to a PC or laptop for camera control.

Phantom v1210 and v1610 Outputs and Inputs

The Phantom v1210 and v1610 connections are conveniently located on the back panel of the camera. These include timecode, dual power inputs, HD-SDI, GPS input, camera synchronization, and trigger.

Additional High Performance Features:

Full Resolution 1280 x 800 imaging
Image-Based Auto-Trigger
10Gb Ethernet port
Internal Mechanical Shutter
SMPTE & IRIG timecode, Genlock, Ready, and Strobe Outputs
Frame Synchronization to internal or external clock (FSYNC)
HD-SDI video outputs
Component Viewfinder Port
Nikon F-mount lens connection with Canon EOS, PL, and C mounts available


About Vision Research

Vision Research designs and manufactures high-speed digital imaging systems used in applications including defense, automotive, engineering, science, medical research, industrial manufacturing and packaging, sports and entertainment, and digital cinematography for television and movie production.

The Wayne, N.J. based company prides itself on the unsurpassed light-sensitivity, image resolution, acquisition speed, and image quality produced by its systems, as well as robust software interfaces, reliability and versatility of its camera family – all which continue to stand as benchmarks for the highspeed digital imaging industry. Known for its innovations in high-speed digital camera technology and sensor design, Vision Research has received numerous research and development awards and was recently honored with an Emmy® Award for its revolutionary technology and engineering.

Vision Research's broad line of digital high-speed cameras, marketed under the Phantom® brand, add a new dimension to the sense of sight. They are used as innovative engineering tools, enabling users to visualize and analyze physical phenomena when it's too fast to see, and too important not to™. For additional information regarding Vision Research, please visit www.visionresearch.com.

Vision Research is a business unit of the Materials Analysis Division of AMETEK Inc., a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices.

SOURCE Vision Research

Apple releases Lion Recovery Disk Assistant, asserts its dominance over Snow Leopard

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 06:32 PM PDT

Distributing your OS digitally certainly makes for an easy upgrade, but what happens when your hard disk spontaneously combusts -- taking Lion's recovery partition with it? Unless you planned ahead and rolled your own install image, you were stuck taking an arduous and painful detour back to Snow Leopard before being given the chance to re-up with Cupertino's latest. That changes today, with the Lion Recovery Disk Assistant, a utility that duplicates the OS's recovery partition onto an external drive of your choosing -- allowing you to boot directly into an installer which'll re-download the latest jungle cat, sans sojourn to 10.6. To do so, you'll need an external drive larger than 1GB, a machine running Lion, and the 1MB assistant we've linked below. Godspeed Apple fanboys, but to the rest of you -- now would be a pretty good time to verify those backups are still in working order, yeah?

Rich Decibels Brainwave Disruptor scrambles your head, not your eggs

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 05:43 PM PDT

Child of the '80s? Then you'll most likely remember those notorious PSAs about your brain and eggs, and the dangers of turning yourself into an omelette. Yeah, well turn off your inner Nancy Reagan for a second because we've got an Arduino hack that should have you just saying yes. New Zealand artist Rich Decibels created a homebrew brain entrainment device that uses low frequency sound and light to induce different mental states. The mod pieces together an Arduino Uno with two separate interface boards -- one for pitch and separation controls, the other for LED and volume -- to deliver a combo of binaural beats (two slightly out of sync tones) and flashing headset-mounted lights that'll slow down those cerebral hertz cycles. If you happen to live in the land made famous by Frodo's Shire, you can check out the brain-slowing goods at Thistle Hall's Project Briefcase exhibition. Not a Kiwi? Then be sure to hit the source for an audio taste of this hacked head experience.

BBC iPlayer app gets a new look on the PS3 now, other devices later

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 04:57 PM PDT

While we keep waiting for the BBC to release a version of its iPlayer on this side of the Atlantic, it's already upgrading UK PlayStation 3s with a brand new interface. Designed to be navigated by any standard remote, the main focuses are personalization and enhanced navigation to avoid scrolling through long lists, as well as bringing over synced iPlayer Favourites from the PC. The new UI is built on HTML5 and CE-HTML with an eye towards rolling it out easily on other devices soon, but there's also plans for a version built with Adobe Flash and AIR technology. Check after the break for a quick video demo of the new features which sadly does not include a new episode of Top Gear (UK version) -- we checked.

Show full PR text
Date: 08.08.2011
Category: Online & interactive

The BBC has today launched a new version of BBC iPlayer for TV.

For the first time, BBC iPlayer on TV is personalised, specifically designed for the living room, and easy to use. The new version gives audiences the control they want directly on the TV, in a design custom-built for the living room, so the BBC iPlayer experience feels just like TV.

The new version is:

* Just like TV – a new, simplified, highly visual TV-friendly design that is as simple as flicking through channels when watching TV
* Easy to use – vastly improved search to help you find programmes with little effort, quick access to programmes you choose as your favourites, and recommendations to help you find something new to enjoy
* Personalised – make BBC iPlayer your own by choosing your 'favourite' programmes, viewing previous search results, and getting right back to the last programme you watched

BBC iPlayer is now available on more than 300 different connected TV devices, and this new version – launching initially on Sony's PlayStation 3 – will be coming to many more TV screens in the coming months as BBC iPlayer evolves beyond catch-up into a complete connected TV experience.

Daniel Danker, BBC's General Manager, Programmes & On Demand, said: "BBC iPlayer has been tremendously successful. With today's announcement, we're transforming iPlayer in its most natural home: right on the living room TV. By creating a product that's as simple and intuitive as flicking through TV channels, the BBC is bringing on demand television to mainstream audiences across the UK.

"Last week, Ofcom reported that 10% of TV sets sold in the UK are internet ready. But BBC iPlayer is already available on over 300 connected TVs and blu-ray disc players, which has resulted in a five fold growth of iPlayer on TV over the last six months alone. At this rate of growth, in the next few years we could well see over half of iPlayer use directly on the living room TV."
Notes to Editors

The BBC uses the term "connected TV" to define any device that can deliver programmes over the internet to the living room TV, including:

* IPTV (Pay-TV) platforms (eg Virgin Media, BT Vision, Sky)
* Games Consoles (e.g. Nintendo Wii, PlayStation3, XBOX)
* Freeview HD, YouView, Freesat HD set-top boxes
* "Smart" internet-ready TVs (eg Samsung, Sony, Panasonic)
* Other connected devices (eg Boxee, blu-ray disc players)

Statistics

* Ten per cent (1 million) of all TVs sold in the UK 2010 were internet-ready (Ofcom's Communications Market Report 2011)
* Predictions suggest that almost 36 million TVs with built-in internet capability will be installed in UK homes by the end of 2016. (3 Reasons Ltd, Spring 2011). NB: This number projects sets technically capable of connection; numbers of actual connected sets will be lower, depending on broadband penetration, consumer behaviour etc
* BBC iPlayer programme requests on connected TVs increased more than five-fold from December 2010-July 2011, growing from 579,000 to 3.1 million requests in July
* Many licence-fee payers use games consoles to access BBC iPlayer – with 10 million requests for programmes in July 2011
* BBC iPlayer's usage statistics are published monthly on the BBC Internet Blog

BBC iPlayer, the BBC's video on demand service, launched on the web on Christmas Day 2007 and it's since evolved to add radio, live TV channels, HD and social functionality. As part of the BBC's commitment to increase the availability of BBC iPlayer, the service is now available on hundreds of platforms and devices, including TV platforms, internet-connected TVs, mobile phones, tablets and games consoles. For a full list of devices, see the BBC iPlayer Help Site.

DM

Chromium's experimental touch UI demoed on video, made for meaty fingers

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 04:21 PM PDT

Chromium Tablet UI
Google was pretty adamant at I/O that Chrome OS would not be coming tablets, but that hasn't stopped its open-source cousin from adding some touch friendly features. Chromium (the browser, not the OS) got its first tablet tweaks back in June, but this is the first time we're seeing them on video. While the larger icons, widgets, and virtual keyboard, may eventually make their way onto the rumored Seaboard, there's no guarantee these (obviously still early) experiments will ever debut as part of Chrome OS or even the browser. Check out the video after the break for a brief glimpse of this work in progress and, if you're feeling adventurous, hit up the more coverage link to download the latest source code -- just make sure to compile with 'export GYP_DEFINES="touchui=1"' to unlock the finger-friendly face of Chromium.

Erasable e-paper shown off, erased, shown off again (video)

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 03:37 PM PDT

Researchers at Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute are giving the world a peek at i2R, a new type of easily erasable e-paper. The technology uses a thermal printer and cholestric liquid crystals, letting users write and erase its contents up to 260 times. It can print different colored inks and could potentially be used for things like ID badges and signage. The sheets currently cost around $2 a piece to produce and should be available to us consumer types in about two years.

Windows Phone GM Charlie Kindel leaves Microsoft to launch startup

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 02:53 PM PDT

A senior executive leaving Microsoft may not always be the best of signs for the company and / or the exec, but it appears that Charlie Kindel's just-announced departure is an amicable one for all involved. Kindel, as you may be aware, has been with Microsoft for 21 years, and most recently served as general manager for the Windows Phone Developer Ecosystem following earlier terms leading up the Windows Home Server and eHome divisions. So why pack up and leave all of a sudden? It seems Kindel has decided it was an opportune time to launch his own startup, which he's keeping suitably mysterious at the moment (something to do with "sports, advertising, mobile, social-networking, and, of course, the cloud," apparently). He has decidedly more to say about Windows Phone, however, which he calls flat-out "the BEST product Microsoft has ever built" (emphasis his), and one that he won't stop using after he leaves the company. Hit the links below for Kindel's own message announcing his departure, plus an interview with GeekWire.

Google+ iOS app now supports iPad and iPod touch, still not optimized for iPad

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 02:27 PM PDT

Google curiously chose not to make its iOS app for Google+ a universal app when it first released it last month, but it's now finally letting iPad and iPod touch users in on the act as well. Unfortunately, the iPad part of the equation comes in the form of a blown-up iPhone app rather than a properly optimized version, although that's not exactly surprising considering it's much same situation that Honeycomb users still find themselves stuck with. Also included in the update are additional Huddle settings, aggregated circle add notifications to cut down on some of the noise, and the usual performance and stability improvements. You know what to do to get your hands on it.

The Engadget Show returns Friday, August 19th -- win a ticket to the taping!

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 02:03 PM PDT

Get ready, because the latest episode of The Engadget Show is coming at you soon. We'll be bringing it to you Friday, August 19th at 6:00PM. Tim Stevens and Brian Heater will be taking you around the world this time out, including a stop by the Ferrari factory in Italy and a trip to Times Square to see how the New York City's landmark giant video displays are getting more interactive. We'll also have our faces rocked by Parts & Labor's Dan Friel in studio, plus all manner of other awesome surprises.

The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint and will take place in our intimate NYC studio, so if you want to get in, you'll need to win a ticket in advance. But don't worry, if you can't get there in person we'll have a download up soon after taping.

Sprint is also offering 60 guaranteed tickets to The Engadget Show taping to the first 60 entrants who text "ENGADGET" to 467467 or enter online! Standard text messaging rates apply. Click for the Official Rules and see how to enter online.

If you live outside of the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT), you can enter online for a chance to win a trip for two to New York City to attend The Engadget Show. Standard text messaging rates apply. Click here to enter.

Here are the details if you win a ticket:
  • The event is all ages.
  • We'll open doors and begin seating at 5:15pm on August 19th, and the taping begins at 6:00PM. We'll be closing the doors at 5:50PM.
  • Winners must pick confirm and print tickets 24 hours before taping begins or risk forfeiting their seat.
  • Please bring a photo ID with you to the taping.
  • The show length is around an hour.
If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.

Subscribe to the Show:

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V).
[Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V).
[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.
at 12:29 PM

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