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- HTC teases voice control and/or dog translator for Sense
- Remembering Alan Turing at 100
- Satechi introduces Portable Energy Station to add some power to your travels
- Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i delivers scans to Android or iOS, spreads a little cloud love as well
- Moving from Cupertino to Mountain View? Samsung's here to help
- Google Maps Coordinate: keep tabs on your team, dish the work out fairly (video)
- Facebook rolls out comment editing, embraces your change of heart
- Canon shows how its Mixed Reality makes virtually anything look real (video)
- Google Maps live traffic updates served up to seven new regions, 19 more get 'expanded coverge'
- Distro Issue 46 arrives with the Retina-wielding MacBook Pro, Microsoft events and Minority Report
- Falling SSD prices might give you a swift boot (up) sooner than you think
- ASUS N56VM laptop gets Ivy Bridge processor, Kepler GPU for Japan launch
- Apple's App Store hits 32 more countries, focuses on Africa and Asia
- Eurocom Monster 11.6-inch notebook: Ivy Bridge, Kepler, 16 GB RAM, multiple personalities
- Joyride to joystick: Atari controller custom-built from car seat adjuster (video)
- Sony pumps $994 million into building stacked CMOS that lets smartphones record HDR Video
- Kobo eReader Touch Edition packs bags for Japan, books flight for July
- AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition review roundup: a big, bad bruiser of a graphics card
- All-carbon solar cell draws power from near-infrared light, our energy future is literally that much brighter
- Valve announces Steam for Schools, helps teachers create educational Portal 2 levels
- Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx Android 4.0 update incoming: roll-out starts June 22 (update: confirmed)
- Penguin slinks back into e-book lending for New York City libraries, with a possible catch
- Radiolab releases Android, iOS app, invites you to join the sound collage
- Sony and Panasonic to announce OLED HDTV partnership next week?
- Samsung files patents for robot that mimics human walking and breathing, ratchets up the creepy factor
- Sony Xperia Go makes a trip to the FCC, doesn't bring suntan lotion
- Netflix goes 'beyond five stars' in a more detailed explanation of recommendations
- Flipboard officially launches on Android, in multiple app stores and for more countries
- AMD launches Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, demands rematch with NVIDIA
- Nintendo announces $199 3DS XL with 4.88-inch top screen, available August 19th
- Nike+ Running comes to Android with Facebook Open Graph, iOS lands a big update to match
- Amazon Audible hits WP 7.5, brings gesture controlled audiobooks (update)
- PSA: Acer Iconia Tab A700 shipping now
- Next 3DMark teased, who says benchmarks don't need trailers? (video)
- Pivothead live streaming and WiFi Drive hands-on (video)
- Netstor rolls out Thunderbolt-powered PCIe and storage expansion options for Macs
- Hands-on: Maingear Shift running Saitek flight-simulation hardware (video)
- Friends: The Complete Series Blu-ray set arrives November 13th for just under three bills
- Belkin announces @TV, Slingbox-esque media streamer and companion app
- Microsoft releases SmartGlass SDK to developers
| HTC teases voice control and/or dog translator for Sense Posted: 22 Jun 2012 11:27 AM PDT HTC might be over selling it a bit with the top secret stamp, and the foot note sort of indicates that your next One device wont be interpreting Fido's barks. So, really, that only leaves one logical conclusion -- HTC is working on a voice control app. It shouldn't come as any surprise if you've been paying any attention to to mobile landscape these past few years. Google kicked off the party with Voice Actions and Apple gave the speech recognition tech some personality with Siri. Now Samsung has S-Voice and LG has Quick Voice... what's a Taiwanese manufacturer to do? Presumably make your own speech-driven virtual assistant. When will it debut, what will it be called? Who knows, but judging from the image above it seems safe to assume that HTC's new tool will be delivered as software update to at least some existing handsets. [Thanks, Naman] |
| Remembering Alan Turing at 100 Posted: 22 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT Alan Turing would have turned 100 this week, an event that would have, no doubt, been greeted with all manner of pomp -- the centennial of a man whose mid-century concepts would set the stage for modern computing. Turing, of course, never made it that far, found dead at age 41 from cyanide poisoning, possibly self-inflicted. His story is that of a brilliant mind cut down in its prime for sad and ultimately baffling reasons, a man who accomplished so much in a short time and almost certainly would have had far more to give, if not for a society that couldn't accept him for who he was. The London-born computing pioneer's name is probably most immediately recognized in the form of the Turing Machine, the "automatic machine" he discussed in a 1936 paper and formally extrapolated over the years. The concept would help lay the foundation for future computer science, arguing that a simple machine, given enough tape (or, perhaps more appropriately in the modern sense, storage) could be used to solve complex equations. All that was needed as Turing laid it out, was a writing method, a way of manipulating what's written and a really long ream to write on. In order to increase the complexity, only the storage, not the machine, needs upgrading. His name will also, no doubt, spark familiarity as part of the Turing test, betraying his pioneering involvement in the field of artificial intelligence, proposing that much debated question, "can machines think?" It's a question (albeit modified into the form "can machines do what we can do?") he sought to solve, offering a way of measuring a computer's intelligence relative to the human variety. Turing's concept, based on a party game called "The Imitation Game," has become synonymous with the concept of determining the humanness of artificial intelligence. Turing's gifts manifested themselves at an early age, showing tremendous promise in the fields of math and science, in spite of his teachers' focus on the humanities. A great intellectual breakthrough occurred at the tender age of 16, upon being introduced to the works of Albert Einstein. He laid out the basis for what would come to be known as the Turing Machine just ahead of his 24th birthday, tackling German mathematician David Hilbert's rather unwieldy "Entscheidungsproblem." By 26, Turing was performing cryptanalysis for the Government Code and Cypher School (GCCS) at the Bletchley Park estate in Buckinghamshire, the epicenter of the UK's decrypting efforts during the war, and the home of many of the country's most brilliant minds of the era. The gig led to the design of the bombe, a machine used by the allies to decipher Enigma machine-encrypted German military messages in World War II. Hundreds of the devices would be deployed during the war. Turing continued to develop cryptanalysis methods throughout the war, taking on the German naval Enigma and lending his name out yet again, this time to Turingery, a method of codebreaking developed at the GCCS. Turing's Delilah, a secure, portable communications device was not perfected in time to be adopted for use during the war, though the computer scientist would tap into his knowledge of the field to help develop the secure speech system SIGSALY for Bell Labs.
After his pioneering work in artificial intelligence in the '40s, Turing switched focus yet again, exploring morphogenesis, the study of the development of an organism's shape through biology. It was the field he was fixated on at the time of his death by poisoning. In 1952, Turing, then in his late 30s, was convicted of indecency due to his relationship with another man, sentenced to hormonal treatment that amounted to chemical castration. The sentencing also found Turing stripped of his security clearances, in spite of having been one of the UK's great war heroes. Just ahead of his 42nd birthday, Turing was found dead. Much of Turing's praise has, sadly, come posthumously. In 1966, the Association for Computing Machinery established the prestigious Turing Award for contributions to computing. 1998 saw the addition of a commemorative plaque added to his birthplace, and three years later, the mathematician was memorialized in Manchester, sitting on a park bench, holding an apple (thought to be the conduit for the poison that ended his life). In 2009, more than half a century after biting into the apple, a petition with a thousand signatures made its way to then Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who formally apologized for the government's "appalling" treatment of one of its most brilliant minds, adding, "you deserved so much better." |
| Satechi introduces Portable Energy Station to add some power to your travels Posted: 22 Jun 2012 10:28 AM PDT Peripherals maker Satechi has introduced the Portable Energy Station, a 10,000 mAh battery that'll solve some of your power woes on the go. The 1 Amp USB port will recharge nearly all of your smartphones and PMPs, while a second 2 Amp port will maintain pace with your iPad or other hefty tablet. Despite that capacious battery, it's a slender 7.4 ounces and should tuck neatly into your bag -- once you've picked it up for $50, that is. |
| Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i delivers scans to Android or iOS, spreads a little cloud love as well Posted: 22 Jun 2012 09:54 AM PDT Fujitsu's original ScanSnap S1300 earned a soft spot in our hearts -- no mean feat for a scanner -- so it's with piqued interest that we catch word of a direct upgrade. The S1300i is all about serving those of us who might never send scan results to a printer. Android and iOS aficionados now only have to send the results to a relevant mobile app, skipping the usual computer-to-phone shuffle. That stack of receipts can also go skip devices entirely and go straight to the cloud, whether it's Dropbox, Evernote, Google Docs, Salesforce Chatter or SugarSync. However that paper gets converted to digital, it'll be accomplished about 50 percent faster, or 12 double-sided, color pages every minute. All the extras lift the price price even higher, though: $295 is a lot to ask for a scanner. Even so, if that stack of bills is high enough to trigger an avalanche, it might be worth the premium to avoid being snowed in. Fujitsu Introduces New Personal and Portable ScanSnap Scanner With New Productivity Features, Faster Scanning Speeds and Android™ and Apple® iOS Device Support ScanSnap S1300i for PC and Mac Equipped with New Cloud Services Support for Dropbox and "ScanSnap Folder" Function Enabling Users to Easily Store, Share and Access Documents Anywhere, Anytime Sunnyvale, CA, June 22, 2012 - Fujitsu, the market leader in document imaging scanners, today introduced the newest addition to its portable ScanSnap product lineup for PC and Mac users. The Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i is enhanced with faster scanning speeds, the ability to send and store scanned documents to Android™ and iOS compatible devices, and new functionality allowing users to easily upload scans to cloud-based services such as Dropbox, Evernote, Google Docs™, SugarSync and Salesforce Chatter™. The compact Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i, weighing in at just 3.1 lbs., provides the same easy-to-use one-button scanning and reliable operation as its predecessors giving consumers and business professionals the most productive, versatile scanning experience at home or on the go. Now, with the addition of its new features and functionalities, the ScanSnap S1300i delivers an array of capabilities that no other document management company offers in a compact scanning solution. New and enhanced features of the ScanSnap S1300i include: * Scan to Mobile -- Android Tablet/Smartphone Support: With the free "ScanSnap Connect" app users now have the capability to send scanned paperwork to Android compatible tablets and smartphones running OS 2.2*. The App is also available for both the iPad and iPhone running iOS 4.2.1 or later. "ScanSnap Connect" not only provides a convenient way to send and store scans to mobile devices using your existing WiFi connection, but also gives organizations a flexible solution to assist with collaboration between colleagues and business partners. The App can be downloaded in the Google Play Store and the iTunes App Store. Simple, Versatile, Powerful ScanSnap S1300i comes with software for PC and software for Mac so users who use both can optimize their ScanSnap for either platform, making the scanner even more portable and versatile when space is an issue. In-box software includes: * ScanSnap Organizer (PC): Offers PC users a convenient way to store, manage and view PDF and JPEG files as well as perform post-scan editing, keyword entry and searchable PDF conversion. Additonal Productivity Features The next generation ScanSnap S1300i can be powered by USB (USB cables and AC power adaptor included) and provides the rich intelligence and productivity capabilities that have made the ScanSnap line an award-winning device. Key innovative features of the ScanSnap S1300i include: * Automatic Quality: When Auto is selected under Image Quality, ScanSnap increases the resolution on small documents (A6 or smaller), helping ensure the fine-print on small documents remains legible and searchable. Pricing & Availability The Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i is available now for $295 (U.S. list) through Fujitsu authorized resellers, mail order catalogs. |
| Moving from Cupertino to Mountain View? Samsung's here to help Posted: 22 Jun 2012 09:23 AM PDT SAMSUNG CUSTOMERS NOW ABLE TO TRANSFER CONTENT FROM IOS TO ANDROID FOR FREE Exclusive licensing agreement makes Easy Phone Sync available on Samsung Galaxy devices 22nd June 2012, London, UK – Samsung Mobile UK today announced it will be making Easy Phone Sync available for free to anyone purchasing a Samsung Galaxy device. Easy Phone Sync is a simple new way for people to transfer their iPhone and iTunes media – including music, videos, podcasts, pictures, contacts and text messages - to a Samsung Galaxy device including the new Galaxy S III. Simon Stanford, Vice President, Telecommunications and Networks, Samsung UK and Ireland said: "We're really proud to announce the launch of this new application and can't wait to hear what our new and existing customers think of it. We know that traditionally iPhone users have been reluctant to switch to an Android device because they couldn't use iTunes to manage their content. Easy Phone Sync means people can now enjoy their iTunes content on a Samsung Galaxy phone. What's more is that it's really easy for them to do, and literally takes five minutes to set up." Easy Phone Sync is available to download now for both PCs and Macs in conjunction with an app for Samsung Android devices. |
| Google Maps Coordinate: keep tabs on your team, dish the work out fairly (video) Posted: 22 Jun 2012 08:56 AM PDT If you're a mobile / field worker, and are tired of getting hauled across town to jobs, when there are others nearer by, you might want to point your senior in the direction of Google Maps Coordinate. Sounding like a blend of Latitude, Maps and Google + (Circles,) it's a web tool and mobile app that should help central operations organize their teams out in the field. Of course there's the usual location sharing, plus options for recording and collecting (user defined) data, allocating staff to teams or groups, job and task allocation plus history for analytics. Google says any business can sign up (currently $15 per employee,) plus there's an API if the stock options don't fit your custom needs. Either way, you can kiss goodbye to those two-hour secret lunchtime golf sessions.
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| Facebook rolls out comment editing, embraces your change of heart Posted: 22 Jun 2012 08:24 AM PDT Facebook has long betrayed you by forwarding your drunken wall ramblings in an email for posterity. Previously, though, the only way to limit further public shame was to try to delete the comment altogether. Now, it looks like the loose fingered have been given a reprieve, as the social giant is rolling out the ability to edit your ill-thought missives long after the fact. Even better, this seems to extend back to those written in the past. Don't think you can be sneaky though, as an "edited" link will appear below, letting everyone see the thread history. So even if you change your opinion, that indecision remains for all to see. |
| Canon shows how its Mixed Reality makes virtually anything look real (video) Posted: 22 Jun 2012 07:58 AM PDT Remember that Canon Mixed Reality project? For those torn between cold, hard real world, and the sickly sweet virtual one? Due for release this month, Canon's been showing off its purpose-built HMD in real (or is it virtual?) use to DigInfo. Using those stereo cameras and a "free-curve" prism -- along with high-speed image processing -- we get a glimpse at how it generates life-size virtual objects in real-time. While this could benefit a number of scenarios, Canon points to industrial design, where mock-ups are commonly used. This system allows designers to run through virtual versions first, before committing to more time intensive physical models. Working on something where this could be handy? Canon also says there will be an SDK for developers coming soon. Head past the virtual break for the real video tour.
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| Google Maps live traffic updates served up to seven new regions, 19 more get 'expanded coverge' Posted: 22 Jun 2012 07:27 AM PDT |
| Distro Issue 46 arrives with the Retina-wielding MacBook Pro, Microsoft events and Minority Report Posted: 22 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT Now that it's officially summertime, you're going to need some options for that annual reading list. As you plot your escape from the season's rising temps, allow us to offer a cool copy of our weekly for your browsing pursuits. Since it first broke cover at WWDC, we've had time to put the MacBook Pro with Retina display through its paces and our detailed findings snagged top billing this week. Also on the review front, we take a long look at both the latest MacBook Air and the ultra-convertible ASUS Padfone. In this week's feature, our own Donald Melanson takes a look back at the futuristic tech of Minority Report for the film's 10th anniversary. As you might've heard, Microsoft hosted two events of its own this week. Being the tech-minded folk that we are, we offer thoughts from our editors on the Surface tablets and the 'sneak peek' at Windows Phone 8 from a few days back. Don't worry, we'll give you a closer look and a few impressions of the aforementioned slates as well in "Hands-on." Grab those flip-flops and snag yourself a spot in the shade, because this week's e-magazine is a short download away. Distro Issue 46 PDF This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Falling SSD prices might give you a swift boot (up) sooner than you think Posted: 22 Jun 2012 06:40 AM PDT Solid state drives are the one piece of gear that can turn a dog computer into a cheetah, and it looks like you may not have to scrape much longer to get one. Floods in Thailand made prices for their spinning-plattered brethren climb, but many SSD models like those from Crucial, OCZ and Intel have fallen up to 65 percent in the last year. Lower NAND prices, along with cheaper and better controllers from Sandforce and Indilinx have no doubt contributed to the boon for performance-hungry consumers. All of that means that a 256 GB drive which cost $500+ in June 2011, now runs less than $200 -- and at $.82 / GB, it turns from a near-luxury good to at least a thinkable proposition for many. |
| ASUS N56VM laptop gets Ivy Bridge processor, Kepler GPU for Japan launch Posted: 22 Jun 2012 05:55 AM PDT ASUS' N- and K-series notebooks may have debuted under the discerning eyes of Milano fashionistas, but it looks like an already refreshed version will arrive in Japan stores first. The ASUS N56VM benefits from recent hardware refreshes from both Intel and NVIDIA, with a Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz processor and NVIDIA's GeForce GT 630M running the graphics-heavy show. This is joined by a 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080) screen, 8GB of RAM, Blu-ray drive and a 750GB hybrid SSD, while connectivity includes four USB 3.0 ports and a combination memory stick / SD card slot. The notebook is set to arrive this Saturday in Japan, with prices starting from 99,800 yen ($1,240). It's accompanied by two lower-spec K55A and K55VD models, with the major difference between them being the addition of an NVIDIA GeForce GT 610M in the latter. Otherwise, the two pack the same 15-inch WXGA (1366 x 768) screen, Core i5-3210M 2.5GHz processor and 750GB HDD. The laptops also house a pair of USB 3.0 ports, with an SD card slot and a single USB 2.0 port in reserve. The K55A is priced at 59,800 yen ($744), while the K55VD starts at 69,800 yen ($869), with both arriving alongside the N-series model tomorrow. |
| Apple's App Store hits 32 more countries, focuses on Africa and Asia Posted: 22 Jun 2012 05:32 AM PDT Given everything else that went on during Apple's WWDC keynote, Tim Cook barely had time to mention the continued global roll-out of the App Store. According to MacRumors, the store's world tour has added an additional 32 countries today, with the majority in either Africa or Asia, although parts of South America and Eastern Europe are also along for the ride. iOS users looking to Cut The Rope in Chad, or hurl Angry Birds in Albania can hit up their respective App Store now. |
| Eurocom Monster 11.6-inch notebook: Ivy Bridge, Kepler, 16 GB RAM, multiple personalities Posted: 22 Jun 2012 04:58 AM PDT Mobile gamers and server pros aren't exactly cut from the same cloth, but Eurocom is targeting them both with its Clevo rebadged, 11.6-inch, sub-four-pound Monster notebook. That idea is crazy enough to work, since a fully spec'd model will have an Ivy Bridge Intel Core i7-3920XM processor, 16GB of DDR3-1600 of RAM, a 240GB SSD, 750GB Hybrid drive or 1TB HDD, and on-board NVIDIA GT 650M graphics running at 850MHz. The 1366 x 768 screen might be a touch undersized for gamers, but they could let that slide since the processor can be safely overclocked up to a decent 3.8GHz. As for business pros, the company claims the Monster could be used as a portable server, run multiple VMs of Windows and Linux, or high-end engineering apps like MatLab. As usual with Eurocom, you can configure the system in dozens of ways, including matte or glossy screen, Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge processors and multiple RAM or disk setups. Pricing and delivery dates weren't given, but if it's up your alley, check the PR and your wallet -- or hit up Ned in accounting. The EUROCOM Monster at 4 lbs & 11.6" is capable of running 8 virtual machines with 16GB DDR3 1600 memory and 1 TB storage Virtualization increases your computer systems efficiency while increasing the value and capabilities of your investment by allowing multiple operating systems, applications to run simultaneously on a single computing system. The EUROCOM Monster 1.0 takes virtualization one step further by being very mobile. Although many will look at the Monster as a pure gaming machine, Eurocom is seeing a great deal of interest from professionals of all kinds. "In my case I have chosen the impressive Intel Core i7 3820QM processor with 4 cores, 8 threads and 8 MB of L3 Cache with 16 GB DDR3-1600 RAM and a 240 GB Intel 520 Series SSD. I can run plenty of VMs at the same time: w2k3 r2 sp2, w2k8 r2, CentOS 6.....with no problem. The performance with MatLab and others engineering tools is amazing. Never seen that in a 11.6 inch portable" Koldo Valle Garcia (@kanelus), Computer Science and Communications Services, Elecnor. "Many of our professional customers are becoming very attached to their EUROCOM Monster because it has the capability and mobility that on-the-go users crave" Mark Bialic, Eurocom President. The EUROCOM Monster is a small form factor high performance notebook with 16GB DDR3-1600 memory and 1 terabyte of storage. Graphics are controlled by the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GPU with 2GB of video memory, 384 CUDA cores, with the graphics clock running at 850 MHz making this graphics powerhouse the ultimate mobile computing machine. The EUROCOM Monster 1.0 combines the best of both worlds of power and performance with support for high performance Intel Ivy Bridge processors, up to Intel Core i7-3920XM with 4 cores, 8 threads, 8 MB L3 Cache running at 2.90 GHz with Max Turbo frequency being 3.8 GHz. "My experience with the little monster is great. It is a very robust but small portable. Almost rugged and very light. Nice for traveling" Koldo Valle Garcia. EUROCOM Monster 1.0 Specifications: 11.6-inch (39.62cm); HD 1366-by-768 pixels; Glossy or Matte Surface; Backlit LED Display with professional calibration option About Eurocom: |
| Joyride to joystick: Atari controller custom-built from car seat adjuster (video) Posted: 22 Jun 2012 04:24 AM PDT So you've survived the robot revolution and you're waiting for either a full-blown apocalypse, or Mr. Anderson. But how are you going to kill time when our new masters are eating controller PCBs for breakfast? With a steampunk joystick, of course. Jason Torchinsky from Jalopnik has done just that, making an Atari 2600 controller by repurposing a power seat control switch panel from a 1980s Oldsmobile. It's no Avenger Controller Elite, but it certainly does the job, and due to a standardized wiring layout it's functional on other hardware of the same era. And for all you MAME heroes, Jason says it would be no more complicated to hook it up to a PC or Mac using a USB keyboard encoder. Follow the source link for a neat walkthrough of the project and jump over the break to see a video of the seat switch in action, shot in the mancave of yesteryear.
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| Sony pumps $994 million into building stacked CMOS that lets smartphones record HDR Video Posted: 22 Jun 2012 03:57 AM PDT Sony is pumping 80 billion yen ($994 million) into its Nagasaki Technology Center, the home of its innovative stacked CMOS. Unlike traditional versions, the image sensor and circuit are mounted on top of one another, rather than side-by-side across a supporting substrate. The tweak means it shaves valuable millimeters from its body while producing far clearer images and, best of all, HDR Video. With the investment (and some Government subsidy) the company aims to pump out 60,000 wafers per month by the end of 2013. Given that both Samsung and Apple both use Sony's imaging equipment in their flagships, we can hope that the 13-megapixel units find their way into the next generation of handsets. This investment is intended to provide for new wafer processing equipment for stacked CMOS image sensors, and to increase and transform wafer lines capable of manufacturing CMOS image sensors. In light of the rapidly expanding demand for smartphones and tablets, Sony plans to continue to solidify its leading global position in CMOS image sensors by strengthening its production capabilities for stacked CMOS image sensors, which provide greater performance in a more compact form. Furthermore, Sony intends to accelerate its growth strategy by incorporating superior core technologies, including stacked CMOS image sensors, into a wide range of products for its digital imaging and mobile businesses, which are priorities within its electronics business. The investment amount is approximately 80 billion yen, of which, the amount to be invested in the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 (approximately 45 billion yen) was included in the forecast of the capital expenditures for semiconductors in the current fiscal year announced at the annual earnings release on May 10, 2012. In addition, Sony will utilize a governmental subsidy in its investment plan which will be provided by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan, through the "Subsidy for Domestic Location Promotion Projects" program. |
| Kobo eReader Touch Edition packs bags for Japan, books flight for July Posted: 22 Jun 2012 03:38 AM PDT Rakuten's $315 million buyout of Kobo will bear some e-reader fruit come July. The e-tailer's CEO and chairman, Hiroshi Mikitani, announced plans to release the Kobo eReader Touch Edition in Japan next month for 10,000 yen (on par with its $130 US sticker price). Timing is key, of course -- murmurs of the Kindle Touch's Japanese debut haven't escaped Mikitani's notice. "As a Japanese company, we cannot lose (to overseas rivals)," he told The Asahi Shimbun. Rakuten hopes to use the e-reader to export Japanese content, and aims to have 50,000 titles available by the end of 2012. Pre-orders kick off on July 2, with more details to come next month. |
| AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition review roundup: a big, bad bruiser of a graphics card Posted: 22 Jun 2012 03:12 AM PDT You know the routine: we looked this revamped card's spec sheet a few hours ago, so now it's time to find out how it fared in independent tests and whether it's worth the $499 outlay. On the face of it, this powerhouse of a card ought to be a champ, since it comes $50 cheaper than the original's launch price (although that non-GHz Edition has now dropped to $449) and brings crucial improvements in clock speed and memory bandwidth. In practice? Well, it wins -- but only on points. Read on for more. Ryan Shrout over at PC Perspective was "pretty impressed" with the card, finding a 5-12 percent boost to gaming -- on top of improvements in the latest drivers (Catalyst 12.7). This led to a "very slight" performance lead over the GTX 680, especially at higher resolutions, but the nimbler NVIDIA card still won on power efficiency. Tom's Hardware agreed on this final point, finding the GHz Edition to be even more of a brute than the dual-GPU GTX 690 in terms of temperature and noise under load. That said, when they switched out the stock cooler for a third-party cooler, the site achieved a big reduction in decibels, and most partner boards are expected to shift with third-party coolers in the first place. AnandTech brought some history to mix, declaring this was the first time AMD has matched NVIDIA within a single-GPU product cycle since the Radeon X1950 hit stores back in 1950 (jk: 2006). Emphasis on the word "matched," however, because Anandtech's gaming benchmarks suggested a tie at all except multi-monitor resolutions. Hankering for the actual benchmarks? Then click the links above and below for more. Read -- Expert Reviews Read -- TechSpot Read -- VR-Zone Read -- The Tech Report |
| Posted: 22 Jun 2012 02:52 AM PDT What's this orange-like patch, you ask? It's a layer of carbon nanotubes on silicon, and it might just be instrumental to getting a lot more power out of solar cells than we're used to. Current solar power largely ignores near-infrared light and wastes about 40 percent of the potential energy it could harness. A mix of carbon nanotubes and buckyballs developed by MIT, however, can catch that near-infrared light without degrading like earlier composites. The all-carbon formula doesn't need to be thickly spread to do its work, and it simply lets visible light through -- it could layer on top of a traditional solar cell to catch many more of the sun's rays. Most of the challenge, as we often see for solar cells, is just a matter of improving the energy conversion rate. Provided the researchers can keep refining the project, we could be looking at a big leap in solar power efficiency with very little extra footprint, something we'd very much like to see on the roof of a hybrid sedan. |
| Valve announces Steam for Schools, helps teachers create educational Portal 2 levels Posted: 22 Jun 2012 02:21 AM PDT Who ever said being a scientific guinea pig couldn't be educational? With Steam for Schools, teachers can now use Portal 2's level editor to create lessons focused on boosting critical thinking, spatial reasoning and problem solving skills. Announced at the Games for Change festival in New York City, the educator edition of Steam comes with a free copy of Portal 2 and the Portal 2 Puzzle Maker. Students and teachers alike can use the tools to create puzzles, but distribution is handled by teachers alone. (That's right, kids -- no level sharing unless the teach says so.) An accompanying website serves as a gathering place for teachers to collaborate, and aims to provide sample lesson plans centered on science, technology, engineering and math. If you're an educator who can't wait to bring a Portal-assisted physics lesson to life, see the links below to sign up for the ongoing beta. Now if you'll excuse us, we're off to "study." |
| Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx Android 4.0 update incoming: roll-out starts June 22 (update: confirmed) Posted: 22 Jun 2012 01:58 AM PDT Looking likely to sneak through in time for Motorola's Q2 deadline, Verizon has published support documents covering an Ice Cream Sandwich update for both the Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR Maxx. This preamble is typically followed by an update just days later and features the same build number that leaked out earlier this week. The refresh adds a four-way lockscreen shortcut, refreshed notifications, global roaming, a smart actions app update and plenty more Android 4.0 holo design riffs. Hit up the source for the documents and a handful of video tours. Update: VZW just confirmed the start of the roll-out on its news page. [Thanks Anonymous] |
| Penguin slinks back into e-book lending for New York City libraries, with a possible catch Posted: 22 Jun 2012 01:11 AM PDT |
| Radiolab releases Android, iOS app, invites you to join the sound collage Posted: 22 Jun 2012 12:31 AM PDT We're not going to go so far as stating conclusively that Radiolab is the best program on your dial right now, but it's certainly a prime contender for that title. The Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich-hosted WYNC show frames scientific topics in a fascinating and understandable manner accessible to even the most unscientifically minded among us. The program now joins the ranks of public radio shows that crossed over into the world of mobile apps, arriving on Android and iOS. For $2.99, you get access to every episode of the show, audio and video bonuses and news pertaining to the program. The app's also heavy of interstitial animations (as evidenced by the video below) and lets users submit audio recordings and end-credit readings for inclusion on the show.
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| Sony and Panasonic to announce OLED HDTV partnership next week? Posted: 21 Jun 2012 11:50 PM PDT With Samsung and LG (still) poised to introduce their OLED HDTVs later this year, rumors that Sony and Panasonic will join forces are heating up. Japan's Nikkei is following up its initial report last month with word from the usual unnamed sources that the two are "close" to a deal and could announce a partnership as soon as next week. Both have been busy developing technology for the screens, and according to the report Panasonic may be planning to start mass production in 2015. If this deal happens we'll see if it works out better for Sony than its ill-fated S-LCD tie-up with Samsung, as well as what it could mean for that sweet Crystal LED prototype we saw at CES this year. |
| Posted: 21 Jun 2012 11:14 PM PDT As much as Samsung is big on robots, it hasn't gone all-out on the idea until a just-published quartet of patent applications. The filings have a robot more directly mimicking a human walk and adjusting the scale to get the appropriate speed without the unnatural, perpetually bent gait of certain peers. To safely get from point A to point B, any path is chopped up into a series of walking motions, and the robot constantly checks against its center of gravity to stay upright as it walks uphill or down. All very clever, but we'd say Samsung is almost too fond of the uncanny valley: one patent has rotating joints coordinate to simulate the chest heaves of human breathing. We don't know if the company will ever put the patents to use; these could be just feverish dreams of one-upping Honda's ASIMO at its own game. But if it does, we could be looking at Samsung-made androids designed like humans rather than for them. |
| Sony Xperia Go makes a trip to the FCC, doesn't bring suntan lotion Posted: 21 Jun 2012 10:36 PM PDT Sony isn't wasting much time getting regulatory approvals. Just a few weeks after it brought the Xperia Go into the world, it's passing the toughened-up phone through the FCC for Uncle Sam's rubber stamp. Before you get visions of picking one up for Facebook updates on a canoe trip, be aware that it's the international version we're looking at: it can run on GSM and EDGE with US carriers, but the 900MHz and 2,100MHz HSPA bands are meant for 3G in other corners of the world. All the same, it does put the phone on the fast track to its scheduled international release in the summer. There's always importing if you've just got to have some weather-hardened Android 2.3 for a California vacation. |
| Netflix goes 'beyond five stars' in a more detailed explanation of recommendations Posted: 21 Jun 2012 09:59 PM PDT The Netflix Tech Blog produced part one of a deep dive into how its recommendations work back in April and now the team is back with the other half. If you're among the many wondering why certain movies get pushed to the front of your recommendations and others don't, the key is their attempt to predict, mostly based on data from other users, what you will both play and enjoy. The most interesting bit we found? There's a lot more at play here than just popularity, as one graph shows ratings plus the team's other optimizations improving rankings over the baseline by 200+ percent. Data parsing heads should definitely dig hearing about logistic regression, elastic nets and matrix factorization (job applications are accepted at the end if you make it that far), while those of us that fall asleep when the spreadsheets come out can probably focus on the broader strokes of Netflix's testing methodology and approach. |
| Flipboard officially launches on Android, in multiple app stores and for more countries Posted: 21 Jun 2012 09:01 PM PDT Popular newsreader Flipboard is finally officially available on Android, coming out of beta and Galaxy S III exclusivity. As seen in the latest test version, it now supports integration of shared articles from your Google+ feed alongside Twitter and Facebook feeds, and has also added support for YouTube video feeds (all of these are now available on iOS as well). Beyond the Google Play app market, it's also available in the Amazon Appstore, Nook Store and Samsung Apps, so slinging the APK to your Android device of choice should be too difficult. We gave the final release edition a quick run through ourselves and found it just as smooth on a Samsung Galaxy S II as it has been on any iPhone or iPad, and being ICS-ready out of the gate is a nice touch, although we couldn't force it to switch to landscape viewing. Another handy toggle is the option to go full screen with no menu bar up top, if you need a few extra pixels on your display (optimized for screens up to 7-inches in size). Article sharing is also here and like other Android apps, shares to any services you have installed, not just Twitter or Facebook. The final update is news that Flipboard is launching fully localized editions for Germany, Korea, Italy, Spain and The Netherlands, in addition to the existing localizations for Japan, France, China, United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. All of the details are in the press release after the break, or you can check out pretty much any app store to give it a try yourself. Update: It's out! As of 1AM or so. Hit the source link to grab it from the Play Store. |
| AMD launches Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, demands rematch with NVIDIA Posted: 21 Jun 2012 09:01 PM PDT If you've been missing out on the graphics card wars of late, then here's a quick rundown. AMD launched its high-end $549 Radeon HD 7970 at the end of last year, and it reigned comfortably for a few months until NVIDIA came out with the masterful GeForce GTX 680. That would have been the end of the matter, at least for this product cycle, except for one crucial factor: time. Having reached the market so much earlier, AMD has now had six months to not only tweak its drivers but also its 28nm silicon. That process has already culminated in 1GHz cards at the low- and mid-ranges, and today it leads to the (slightly predictable) announcement of a Radeon HD 7970 'GHz Edition' -- priced at $499 and expected to be available from a range of board makers from next week. To keep you amused in the meantime, there's plenty of detail in the gallery below and after the break. Update: review roundup added here. It almost goes without saying that the new version has a clock speed bump from 925MHz to 1GHz, but there are other fundamental changes too. For a start, AMD's PowerTune feature has been given the ability to boost voltage as well as clock speed, and it can also now push the clock up to 1050MHz when there's available headroom -- which should help it go up against NVIDIA's own GPU Boost feature. Interestingly, AMD is also promoting the card's compute prowess, which is increasingly relevant for non-gaming applications as well as rendering and lighting, declaring the 7970 GHz Edition to be the "world's first 1TFLOP DPFP [double-precision floating point] GPU" with a 2.6x lead over its rival in compute workloads. The original 3GB of GDDR5 memory remains the same on this new edition, but it too has been clocked up to offer 10-percent more bandwidth -- a 6GB/s data rate instead of the previous 5.5GB/s per pin. What's more, all of this is being accomplished without changing the 250W typical power draw, which bodes well not only for operating noise and temperature, but also for keeping the price in check, since vendors can simply put the new silicon on their old boards. Given all this, AMD is already declaring that it has "taken back the crown," with its official benchmarks giving the GHz Edition a significant fps lead in all current games at 2560 x 1600 resolution -- but it may be safer to reserve judgement until we've rounded-up independent reviews from the specialist sites. |
| Nintendo announces $199 3DS XL with 4.88-inch top screen, available August 19th Posted: 21 Jun 2012 08:54 PM PDT Folks holding their breath for a "3DS Lite" might want to exhale -- Nintendo has decided to go a different route. Company head honcho Satoru Iwata revealed the 3DS LL this evening on Nintendo Direct, featuring a 4.88-inch and 4.18-inch top and bottom screens, respectively. The new hardware adds over an inch to the current 3DS' display, and ships with a 4GB SD card, to boot. The oversized handheld doesn't adopt the Circle Pad Pro's second analog input, however, retaining just a single thumbpad on the console's port side. Japanese gamers will be able to pick up a 3DS LL in white, as well as in two-tone red / black or silver / white on July 28th for ¥18,900 (about $235). In the US, of course, the handheld will be rebranded as the 3DS XL, just like its predecessor's supersized variant, hitting Yankee shores (in red and blue, no less) on August 19th for $200.
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| Nike+ Running comes to Android with Facebook Open Graph, iOS lands a big update to match Posted: 21 Jun 2012 08:27 PM PDT Android fans have been largely cut out of the Nike+ ecosystem, but that changes tonight: the shoemaker has kicked off a major redesign by giving the Google faithful their own version of its GPS-based run tracking app, now called Nike+ Running. Both it and an ample version 4.0 remake for iOS make starting a run that much quicker, and the whole experience has been tuned to compare runs and set goals without having to squint too closely at a phone that should be far from your mind. Facebook's Open Graph steps into the arena to share run data and track friends; even if you're not a social networking maven, you can tag your shoes to find out if that worn out pair of cross-trainers is holding you back. Both app versions are free to grab, so you've got an easy avenue to loading up your Galaxy S III (or iPhone) and shedding a few pounds. Nike+ Running App for Android Allows Runners to Track, Share and Compare their Runs BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) announced the launch of the Nike+ Running App for Android, providing more runners with access to the world's largest running club. The Nike+ Running App for Android connects seamlessly to nikeplus.com, which has been reengineered to be smarter, more social and more motivational. The app allows runners to track, share and compare their runs from anywhere, anytime. It features a smooth, intuitive user interface – tailored and optimized for Android – that hosts a number of features to enhance the running experience. The in-run navigation is seamless and simple, allowing runners to easily check key run stats, see their in-progress GPS maps, change songs or get audio feedback without missing a stride. "The expansion of Nike+ onto multiple mobile platforms will allow us to serve more runners than ever before. This opportunity will give even more athletes the chance to experience Nike+, which makes this an incredibly exciting time for the running community," said Stefan Olander, Vice President, Digital Sport. The key focus in the app's design is motivating runners. A "Next Moves" feature on the home screen allows runners to easily flip through suggested challenges: for example, to run their fastest 5k or go their farthest distance. A dynamic goal progress bar helps runners stay motivated and tracking on goals they've set up through their nikeplus.com profile. The app makes sharing to Facebook or Twitter fun with run summary features. Runners can choose from a wide variety of terrains and emotions, as well as tag which shoe they ran in to track shoe total mileage. And for runners recording climate conditions, the app automatically knows the weather based on GPS location. The Nike+ Running App for Android is available for free on Google Play. |
| Amazon Audible hits WP 7.5, brings gesture controlled audiobooks (update) Posted: 21 Jun 2012 07:53 PM PDT It didn't land in the Marketplace yesterday as announced, but Amazon's Audible audio book app for Windows Phone 7.5 is now available for download. This Metro-fied version of the app is free to install (including some short samples to get you started), and signing in with your Amazon account lets you purchase any books that the service has on offer. Media can be controlled using a swipe gesture interface, and there are even varying levels of badges to reward how much of a book-worm you become. That said, Update: As many of you have pointed out in the comments, the voice control aspect is specific to Windows Phone 8. We've updated our language in the post to reflect this. |
| PSA: Acer Iconia Tab A700 shipping now Posted: 21 Jun 2012 07:16 PM PDT Acer's quad-core tablet effort is now available to buy, direct from the manufacturer itself. Alongside NVIDIA's Tegra 3 processor, the Iconia A700 packs a substantial 1920 x 1200 resolution display, while 5.1-channel surround sound is packed in to complement a big screen-friendly HDMI port. The 32GB version rings up at $450, but if it's any consolation, that does include free overnight shipping. You can hand over your order (and your cash) at the Acer link below. |
| Next 3DMark teased, who says benchmarks don't need trailers? (video) Posted: 21 Jun 2012 06:37 PM PDT Futuremark, one of the preeminent benchmark companies out there, is gearing up to let loose a new version of its 3DMark gaming test. The new suite will hammer GPUs with a DirectX 11-based scene designed to push a system to its limits. Now, benchmarks are hardly the sort of thing that people get excited for... usually. But Futuremark still sees a need to drum up interest for its Windows-only program in a landscape increasingly focused on mobile gaming and power-sipping GPUs. Hence the trailer (which you'll find after the break) that shows off just what 3DMark will demand of your next gaming rig. Its visuals aren't quite as jaw-dropping as Epic's Unreal Engine 4 demo, or as over-dramatic as the Samaritan demo NVIDIA has been running for the last few years. But, it's still an impressive showcase of dynamic lighting techniques, particle effects and fluid dynamic simulation. In particular the subtlety of the smoke is eye catching. For more info hit up the PR after the break. New 3DMark Trailer Shows Stunning DirectX 11 Graphics HELSINKI, FINLAND June 21, 2012 Futuremark today released its first trailer for the next version of 3DMark. Designed for measuring the gaming performance of everything from tablets and notebooks to high-end desktop gaming systems, the next 3DMark for Windows will be the world's first unified graphics benchmark allowing testing of DirectX 9, DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 capable hardware through the DirectX 11 API. Expected to be released after the launch of Windows 8, this new 3DMark will also be compatible with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. The new trailer provides a preview of the DirectX 11 test and is now available online and in high definition for the first time at http://www.3dmark.com 3DMARK DIRECTX 11 TECH DEMO The 3DMark DirectX 11 tech demo brings this scene to life with intelligent tessellation and advanced volumetric lighting using real-time light scattering. The visible particles and clouds of smoke in the scene react to other objects using fluid dynamics simulation. Post processing, ambient occlusion and various lens effects complete the look. Trailer on YouTube The new 3DMark is currently in development and is expected later in 2012 following the launch of Windows 8. It will also be compatible with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Follow Futuremark on Facebook for the latest 3DMark news at http://www.facebook.com/Futuremark or visit http://www.futuremark.com ABOUT 3DMARK ABOUT FUTUREMARK 2012 Futuremark Corporation. Futuremark and 3DMark trademarks and logos, character names and distinctive likenesses, are the exclusive property of Futuremark Corporation. The names of other companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. |
| Pivothead live streaming and WiFi Drive hands-on (video) Posted: 21 Jun 2012 06:11 PM PDT If you thought live streaming was the obvious next step for the Pivothead video glasses, you're not alone. We, for one, thought it immediately upon donning the HD-recording eyewear and the company's Zach Barbitta couldn't agree more. The proud rep was on hand at tonight's Pepcom event demoing a brand new prototype accessory that will hopefully hit the market in three to five months and enable you to stream video straight from your 8MP sunglasses to the web, anywhere there's a WiFi signal. The device is so early in the development stage that we don't have many details about it. The final package should be roughly the size of a small portable hard drive -- tiny enough to slip into a pocket, provided you're not a skinny jeans fan. You'll have to connect it to the glasses via USB, which could potentially prove unwieldy, but we're sure some creative paths for passing the wire around your torso could easily solve that.
Despite being so young, the image quality for the stream was surprisingly good. The glasses had some trouble with the fluorescent lighting in the hall and subjects appeared a bit soft, but hardly offensively bad. And there's still a long time to go before the product is ready for primetime. In fact, the company isn't even sure yet if it'll stream 1080p video. File size may require that streams be limited to 720p, and there have even been internal discussions about enabling 480p in a future firmware update to favor consistency over image quality. The company also brought out its WiFi Drive accessory which gives you an easy way to extend the 8GB of internal storage and share your content with up to five other devices wirelessly. When it launches on July 5th for $99 you'll be able to turn it on and connect via WiFi to seamlessly stream video, photos or music from an SD card or the glasses, if they're connected via USB. There's also an Ethernet port, incase LAN is more your style. The device itself it relatively tiny and deceptively light, primarily as a product of its all plastic construction. But we're not concerned about its durability and those who like to capture a lot of footage will appreciate the simplicity of moving clips from the internal flash to an SD card. For more, check out the video below.
Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report. |
| Netstor rolls out Thunderbolt-powered PCIe and storage expansion options for Macs Posted: 21 Jun 2012 05:43 PM PDT We can sympathize -- your task-master Mac is hurting for PCIe expansion and more storage. Fortunately, Netstor has just announced several new products to boost your computer's ego and add either item via those newly christened Thunderbolt ports. The TurboBox NA211TB will lend three extra PCIe slots to any Mac that has the 10Gb/s port, while the NS780TB Desktop Storage will use it to bolt on 16 bays of disk storage. The company's rackmounted NA333TB Mac Mini Server, meanwhile, gives you 16 removable storage bays along with most RAID array options, and the aforementioned PCIe upgrade integrated to boot. Shipping dates and pricing weren't announced, but if you're looking to transform that Macbook Air into a video-editing behemoth, you may want to check all three options at the source. |
| Hands-on: Maingear Shift running Saitek flight-simulation hardware (video) Posted: 21 Jun 2012 05:26 PM PDT Custom PC builder Maingear had something pretty nifty up its sleeve at Pepcom tonight: versions of its desktops configured to run Saitek's flight-simulation hardware -- in this case, with a full cockpit setup. In partnership with Mad Catz, the company developed configurations of its Potenza, F131 and Shift desktops optimized to work with the Saitek line of flight-sim systems. Tonight we saw the Shift paired with some pretty heavy-duty hardware: we're talking 18 USB connections for the full Saitek cockpit. Maingear's pro-certified system packs a Core i7 CPU clocked at up to 3.9GHz and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 graphics (with four GPUs), and with an experienced pilot behind the wheel, that translated into a smooth landing in Flight Simulator X. Maingear says the whole setup -- hardware controls plus the Shift desktop -- will go for $5,500 starting tomorrow. That's the top-of-the-line configuration, mind you; if your piloting aspirations are more modest, you could opt for the more affordable Potenza, which starts at $1,000. Check out a video demo below.
The award-winning SHIFT, F131, and Potenza desktops get certified by Saitek to run their intense flight simulation hardware. Kenilworth, New Jersey – June 21, 2012 – MAINGEAR, an award-winning custom PC builder offering custom desktops, custom built laptops has always been known for having one of the fastest machines on the ground with their race car theme inspirations offering the very best in performance and design has now teamed up with Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. to create pro certified systems, capable of offering a full flight simulator experience at home. The pro certified systems will be launched under the Companies' Saitek simulation brand. Through its Saitek brand, Mad Catz is a global leader of consumer focused simulation hardware, specializing in flight simulation products which allow enthusiasts to get the most realistic flight experience possible on the ground. Their products are based around a modular system which can begin with a simple yoke and rudder pedal setup and gradually expand to create a complete cockpit experience. MAINGEAR has partnered with Mad Catz to create Saitek branded Pro Flight Certified Systems powered by MAINGEAR. Flight sim hardware and software has always traditionally required a high-end system configuration in order to run a flight sim program and hardware efficiently. Mad Catz and MAINGEAR have developed three specific good, better, best default configurations of the Potenza, F131, and SHIFT desktops which Mad Catz believes will prove ideal to run their Saitek range of pro flight products. Not only are these certified systems spec'd to deliver the best performance experience, but each custom desktop solutions offers the flexibility of desktop chassis size that would fit any home setup. From the flagship SHIFT system for maximum future expansion to the space saving F131 or Potenza, all of these Saitek certified systems powered by MAINGEAR are expected to run the Saitek range of pro flight simulation products with ease. "I have always wanted to expand the MAINGEAR brand into something more than just a gaming PC." Said Wallace Santos CEO and Founder of MAINGEAR. "This opportunity with the Saitek branded pro flight certified system goes above and beyond my expectations providing not only entertainment value but also a learning experience for flight enthusiasts and those who wouldn't have the opportunity to sit in an airplane cockpit and experience what it is to fly." Joe Pollicino contributed to this report. |
| Friends: The Complete Series Blu-ray set arrives November 13th for just under three bills Posted: 21 Jun 2012 05:04 PM PDT The good news is that after many rumors, Warner Home Video has finally confirmed it's bringing the TV show Friends to Blu-ray this fall. The (potentially) bad news is that it's going to be an all or nothing affair, with all 236 episodes (90 hours) shoved into a 21-disc BD-50 set with the 17 hours of bonus features from the DVD releases, plus three hours of new special features. While the remastered HD episodes (in case you weren't aware, Friends, like Seinfeld, was recorded on film and has already been reformatted for HD and widescreen while airing in syndication) will feature DTS 5.1 audio, there's also a 32-page episode guide shoved into the case, which features lenticular shifting artwork that can be seen over on TV Shows On DVD. There's no price on Amazon yet but the MSRP will be $279.98 when it ships November 13th -- decide carefully how much having The Rembrandts "I'll Be There For You" video in 1080p is worth. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON BLU-RAY FRIENDS: AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 13, 2012 This Ultimate Collector's Set Features All 10 Seasons: 236 Episodes Over 3 Hours of All-New Bonus Features The Perfect Holiday Gift for the Ultimate Friends Fan BURBANK, CA (June 19, 2012) - Just in time for holiday gift giving, Warner Home Video will release for the first time ever Friends: The Complete Series Blu-ray on November 13, 2012. This ultimate collector's set for the ultimate fan features over 110 hours of content - including all 236 original broadcast episodes released for the first time in the US, plus 20 hours of special features including over three hours of newly-added special features. New content includes a retrospective documentary with new interviews looking back at the influential 10 years of the series, never-before-released cast appearances, unaired footage, a new gag reel and more! All 10 seasons have been completely remastered in stunning 1080p high definition video with a 16x9 widescreen format and 5.1 audio. The Friends: Complete Series Blu-ray box set is presented in highly collectible new packaging consisting of a lenticular box cover, a hard-cover book that holds 21 Blu-ray discs, plus a 32-page episode guide. Friends: The Complete Series Blu-ray is priced to own at $279.98 SRP. Friends is an American sitcom about six friends struggling to survive on their own in Manhattan. In each episode, they find the companionship, comfort and support from each other to be the perfect solutions to the pressures of everyday life. The series stars 'The Ones That Were There For You' for ten seasons strong: Jennifer Aniston as "Rachel Green," Courteney Cox as "Monica Geller," Lisa Kudrow as "Phoebe Buffay," Matt LeBlanc as "Joey Tribbiani," Matthew Perry as "Chandler Bing," and David Schwimmer as "Dr. Ross Geller." Friends has also featured many notable guest stars including Tom Selleck, Aisha Tyler, Jon Favreau, Anna Faris, Hank Azaria, Bruce Willis, Reese Witherspoon, Christina Applegate, Sean Penn, Jon Lovitz, Alec Baldwin, and many more. Friends was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman and aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television. FRIENDS: THE COMPLETE SERIES BLU-RAY OVER 3 HOURS OF ALL-NEW SPECIAL FEATURES OVER 17 HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES FROM THE ORIGINAL FRIENDS DVD RELEASES FRIENDS: THE COMPLETE SERIES BLU-RAY About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group |
| Belkin announces @TV, Slingbox-esque media streamer and companion app Posted: 21 Jun 2012 04:42 PM PDT Belkin has unveiled @TVPlus, a media streamer that jacks into your home theater and pumps episodes of Community (or, other things, we guess) to your smartphone, tablet or laptop through the internet. Packing a built-in WiFi radio, you'll connect to it on your travels with the @TV app, which is capable of recording live TV straight to your mobile device for offline viewing. The app is free for tablets ($12.99 for smartphones) while the box itself will set you back $150 when it arrives in mid-July. Belkin Introduces @TV; Brings Live and Recorded Content to Mobile Devices Playa Vista, Calif. – June 20, 2012 – Belkin, creator of people-inspired consumer technology products, today announced a new way to watch, record, and experience television content at home or on the go with @TV. @TV works over Wi-Fi® or a 3G/4G network and allows users to access all content from their home theater on tablets, smartphones, and laptops. "Americans have long had a love affair with TV, and now they are increasingly demanding the ability to access their TV content wherever and whenever they want. It's no longer enough to record content to watch later," said Jamie Elgie, senior director of product management at Belkin. "With @TV you aren't limited to certain channels, and you have full access to both recorded content and live TV, so it's easy to watch the game in the backyard or your favorite movie at the dentist." @TV works with both standard and high-definition programming and can connect and control multiple sources, such as a digital cable box, satellite receiver, or DVD player. @TV's easy-to-use channel guide makes it simple to control live or recorded content directly from a mobile device. Unlike competing products, @TV also has Wi-Fi built in and can record live TV directly to a mobile device for viewing when not connected to Wi-Fi or a data network. @TV works with the @TV mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android platforms. The @TV app is free for tablets and $12.99 for smartphones. The apps are available from the Apple App Store and Android Market. @TV plus (G1V1000) – $149.99 Availability |
| Microsoft releases SmartGlass SDK to developers Posted: 21 Jun 2012 04:17 PM PDT Pumped to use Microsoft's upcoming Surface and Windows Phone 8 devices to help you bolster your gamerscore? Sit tight -- SmartGlass development starts now. Microsoft is now making the Xbox SmartGlass Software Development Kit available to partners with agreements to develop content for the Xbox 360. Approved developers can download the SDK from the Microsoft Game Developer Network, replete with a SmartGlass JavaScript library, the Xbox SmartGlass Studio and a sample application. Redmond hopes the SDK will give developers a head start on building applications for the technology before it launches later this year. Of course, if you can't wait to see what developers are cooking up, you can always just check out our hands-on again. |
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