LG inks Sky deal for exclusive Now TV streaming access on smart TVs
When LG invited us to an event in (thankfully) sunny London, we thought we'd be hearing about 4K, curved OLED and huge price tags. It wasn't about hardware at all, in fact, as LG announced it has partnered with Sky to add the Now TV movie and sport streaming service to its smart TV line-up. Starting in August, Now TV content will be exclusive to LG sets for "a minimum of 12 months." Those purchasing new home entertainment kit will get three months of free access to Now TV's movie catalogue, as well as three free 24-hour sports passes. If you're in possession of an LG smart TV from this year or last, or a 2013 era Blu-ray player or home cinema system, you may miss the introductory offer but will still be able to download the Now TV app. The only kicker is that Now TV doesn't currently broadcast HD content, so don't expect those movies to pop on your 84-inch 4K monster.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, LG
Comments
Read More ...
Dell officially unveils Precision M3800 workstation at SIGGRAPH, gives rumored specs a nod
Remember that Haswell-powered Dell workstation that popped up last week? The company is officially ready to acknowledged its silicon, announcing on its corporate blog that the machine is being unveiled at SIGGRAPH this week. Dell is still reluctant to get into specifics, but confirmed on a teaser page that the Precision M3800 would contain a 4th Generation Intel Core-i7 CPU, NVIDIA Quadro graphics and a 3,200 x 1,800 QHD+ multi-touch display. Even better, all that is set to fit into a tight 0.7-inch chassis that weighs in at 4.5 pounds. Mum's still the word on specifics, but previous leaks assigned the machine 15GB of RAM and either a 1TB HDD or a 512GB SSD. Dell hasn't let the workstation's price slip either, but we don't expect it to be cheap -- nothing thin and powerful ever is.
Filed under: Laptops, Dell
Comments
Source: Dell (1), (2)
Read More ...
FCC certification hints at 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 for AT&T
Okay folks, here's what we know... the FCC recently certified a compact tablet from Samsung that offers full support for AT&T-flavored LTE, and from all appearances, it could very well be the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3. Most tellingly, the SM-T217A measures 186 x 110mm, which is a near-perfect match for the WiFi-only slate that strutted through the FCC this past May. This time around, the tablet supports LTE Bands 2, 4, 5 and 17, UMTS (3G) connectivity over the 850 / 1900MHz bands, along with dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth LE. Regardless of the product's ultimate name, it seems the Galaxy Note 8.0 will soon find a smaller sibling at AT&T. Just don't confuse it for the upcoming Galaxy Mega 6.3.
Filed under: Tablets, Samsung, AT&T
Comments
Source: FCC
Read More ...
Google Translate homepage adds handwriting input, makes sense of your atrocious penmanship
Mountain View's machine translation service does a pretty good job of sussing out the meaning of copy / pasted text from around the web, but what if you need to translate something you can't put your cursor on? Google's got that covered too: handwriting input. Users of the tool's mobile app have been able to manually write in characters for some time now, but the company has only recently implemented this feature on the Google Translate website -- making it easy to input text that falls outside outside of the standard standard roman character set. After scrawling your best Kanji-replica with a mouse, Google will offer users its best guess at the intended characters, which, when selected, drop into the translate box. Of course, don't blame Google if your writing illegibly sloppy. Check out the company's blog post at the source link below.
Filed under: Misc, Google
Comments
Source: Google
Read More ...
YouTube celebrates Geek Week with Unix overhaul, eyes flinch universally
To celebrate its upcoming Geek Week event, YouTube has started an Easter egg hunt on its Twitter feed. If you wanna see just what the video giant has planned but can't decipher its cryptic 140 character clues, we've got you covered. Simply (spoiler alert) enter "/ geekweek" minus the quotation marks into the site's search field for a Unix terminal-style conversion and gawk away. Fair warning: Your eyes might hate you for what you'll see.
Filed under: Internet, Google
Comments
Source: YouTube (Twitter)
Read More ...
Elon Musk vs. Jeff Bezos: Billionaires bid for NASA's space shuttle launchpad
Here's an epic fight that won't take place inside the octagon: Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are apparently competing to take over a NASA launchpad... and instead of dishing out jiu-jitsu moves, they're letting money do the talking. In particular, the dotcom billionaires' space companies, Blue Origin and SpaceX, are bidding for Kennedy Space Center's historic Launch Complex 39A -- site of NASA's first and last space shuttle blast-off. Each company's plan for 39A is to launch both unmanned missions and shuttles carrying commercial customers and astronaut crews into space. Bezos' Blue Origin, however, also aims to turn it into a multi-use facility where other companies can launch their rockets for a price. NASA's keeping bidding details on the down low, but seeing as it wants to offload 39A in October to save money, we'll know soon enough who'll win this battle of the dollars.
[Image credit: NASA]
Filed under: Alt
Comments
Via: The Verge
Source: NBC News
Read More ...
EA revenue from downloads and web now overtaking that of disc-based games
If you think EA's bottom line is primarily driven by endless Madden sequels, think again. In reporting its fiscal first quarter results, the studio has revealed that its digital businesses -- DLC, mobile and the web -- now generate more official revenue ($482 million) than disc-based games and distribution ($467 million). The company isn't breaking down these figures, although it says that DLC and mobile are the main factors. We do know that iOS plays a crucial role -- EA says that Apple is now its largest retail partner in terms of pure sales. The revenue shift isn't completely surprising when the company is big on flagship mobile games and the free-to-play model, but it suggests that discs are losing some of their luster at one of the world's largest developers.
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Internet, Mobile, Apple
Comments
Via: CNET
Source: EA (1), (2)
Read More ...
Google reportedly testing Helpouts: professional services through Hangouts
There's no question that Google Hangouts can be helpful; wouldn't it be nice to get cash for hosting them? Google may be sympathetic to that idea. TechCrunch claims that the search firm is testing Helpouts, a service that would let most anyone book Hangouts that optionally require fees. The appointment system would lean on Google Wallet for transactions, and it would divide chats into categories such as repair (think tech support) or education. Don't assume that you'll be starting a side business just yet, though. Helpouts reportedly entered internal testing in late June, and any public launch would be "at least a month away" -- if it happens at all, that is. We've reached out to Google for answers, so we'll let you know if and when it's time to start charging for online conversations.
Filed under: Internet, Google
Comments
Source: TechCrunch
Read More ...
Kaleidescape revamps Cinema One movie player with easier setup in mind
Kaleidescape's Cinema One player has been many things to movie buffs, but "accessible" isn't one of them -- limited distribution and an emphasis on custom installs has kept it out of reach. The company is widening that scope with a redesigned Cinema One that's almost as easy to install as an off-the-shelf Blu-ray player. It's a tad more advanced than that, of course. The Cinema One integrates with most home automation systems, and it stores up to 100 Blu-ray quality movies (including Kaleidescape Store downloads). Viewers who need more storage can attach a second player or the older DV700 Disc Vault. The revamped Cinema One is still expensive at $3,995, but it's at least easier to buy than its predecessor -- Kaleidescape is selling the new media server as a walk-in purchase at Magnolia and other retail stores.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Comments
Source: Kaleidescape
Read More ...
NVIDIA Research's near-eye light field display prototype eyes-on (video)
A quick stroll through the Emerging Technologies section of SIGGRAPH usually reveals a collection of university projects and the latest Disney Research endeavor. However, we don't usually see the likes of NVIDIA amongst the fold there. This time around, though, the component maker is showing off an undertaking from its Research sector: near-eye light field displays. To show the project off, a pair of OLED mircodisplays were installed on a glasses-like frame with a box for the electronics stashed up top. Those Sony ECX332A panels measure 15.36 x 8.64mm wield a resolution of 1,280 x 720 through 24-hit color pixels (which equates to a smidge over 83 pixels per millimeter). The diminutive displays open up the door for thinner and lighter head-mounted units that can sort "accurate accommodation, convergence and binocular-disparity cues."
The light field that's constructed directly over the pupil allows the viewer to focus at multiple depths and create a field of view of about 70 degrees. Both of those aspects were quite apparent to our peepers upon getting locked in for a quick demo. Despite being situated so close to the eye, the unit still provides some sharp images that we witnessed first hand. Of course, the close proximity causes some pixel loss at the hands of a decreased spacial resolution. One pretty neat aspect to this whole system is that software tweaks can be made to account for someone's glasses or contacts prescription -- software that's powered by NVIDIA GPUs and OpenGL, of course. Without having to modify the hardware, changes to the microdisplays are sorted sans the need to switch to another set or make physical adjustments. For a bit more explanation of the unit, check out the video that resides just past the break and full findings that were presented here in Anaheim at the coverage link that follows.
Filed under: Displays, NVIDIA
Comments
Read More ...
Google Chromecast H2G2-42 FCC documents show off what's inside the $35 dongle
Even though Google only announced its new Chromecast HDMI dongle earlier today, we got our first peek at it in May. That's when the mysterious H2G2-42 leaked in FCC documents, with few details other than the name referencing Douglas Adams' book. As Anandtech's Brian Klug points out, the documents have been updated, and now include a few pictures of the Chromecast with its external casing removed. Inside there's a Marvell DE3005 chip, plus Azurewave hardware to handle its (2Ghz only) WiFi duties. Hit the link below to take a look, although at the $35 sticker price you can probably afford to do an iSuppli-style teardown of your own.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Google
Comments
Source: FCC, Brian Klug (Twitter)
Read More ...
New hydrogen-making process could make fuel-cell vehicles cleaner than EVs
It'll be about two years yet until you're able to buy a hydrogen-powered vehicle, but one company is already making progress in ensuring those cars will be as gentle on the environment as possible. BASF, the world's largest chemical maker, has come up with a hydrogen-making process that would purportedly cut carbon dioxide emissions in half, making fuel-cell vehicles generally cleaner than EVs. Until now, the holy grail has been hydrogen produced without introducing oxygen, as that would mean avoiding carbon dioxide emissions. The problem is, that's meant cranking up the operating temperature, which means you're using more energy, which means, uh, you're looking at some carbon dioxide emissions. In this new system, though, BASF recycles heat more efficiently so that the company doesn't have to raise the temperature quite so high. Additionally, the company's cooked up some new catalysts it hopes will make the process more cost-efficient. No word on when or where this method will be implemented, but BASF is already hopeful it could be useful in other industries, like oil refinement, which similarly use lots of hydrogen.
Filed under: Transportation, Alt
Comments
Source: MIT Technology Review
Read More ...
Hands-on with Disney Research's AIREAL haptic feedback technology (video)
If you're hoping to get some more tactile feedback out of augmented reality environments, the folks at Disney Research have devised the AIREAL system that could end up doing just that. The team is showing off the project at SIGGRAPH's Emerging Technologies space, so we made sure to stop by for a look and feel. As quick refresher, the technology reacts to the user's gestures by churning out a vortex of air to provide tactile feedback in real space -- thanks to an almost entirely 3D printed enclosure and a smattering of actuators and depth senors. In the demo we saw, hovering our hand just over a display summoned a butterfly.
Once it landed, that small bit of air offered up the physical sensation that it was actually touching us. As we moved closer to a virtual open window, wings went a flutter and the whole sensation increased a bit. Sure, what we saw was a fairly simple use scenario, but there are aspirations for this to enhance gaming experiences and other augmented environments (likely within the confines of a Disney park, of course) with the addition of haptic feedback. Looking for a bit more info? Consult the video after the break for just that.
Filed under: Misc
Comments
Read More ...
The Daily Roundup for 07.24.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Comments
Read More ...
Mercedes Vision Golf Cart concept could shuttle you around the course in comfort
Today's golf carts certainly serve a purpose, but despite opulent add-ons like plastic rain shields and windshield wipers, the electric buggies littering the world's fairways and outdoor venues can hardly be considered luxurious. Now, with Mercedes-Benz
considering a compact vehicle of its own, the cookie-cutter people
mover could be a thing of the past. The German automaker recently
debuted its Vision Golf Cart concept, a solar-powered two-seat carriage
that includes such amenities as heated and cooled seats and cup holders,
air vents, speakers, a joystick control, iPhone dock, heads-up display
and LED headlights. Sounds pretty posh.
Filed under: Transportation
Comments
Via: Inhabitat, CNET
Source: Daimler
Read More ...
Xbox One's ability to play in-development code has Minecraft-esque implications for gamers
The Xbox One's retail units will also run in-progress game code and function as debug units for budding devs, but Xbox VP Marc Whitten says not all of that functionality will be available when the console launches this November. More details will be available during Gamescom 2013 this August, but he told us in an interview this afternoon that "some of this won't be there for launch."
Self-publishing for indies, however, is already on the table, though Whitten didn't provide a specific roadmap for when and how it'll work. "It's something we've been working on for a long time -- how do we shorten that process, how do we automate a lot of the core requirements checking and some of those things. That'll continue to be our focus around that," he said. Nor would he confirm the turnaround time, said to be close to Apple's 14-day turnaround, though he did suggest it could be even shorter. Again, more details will arise closer to Gamescom, but in the meantime Whitten says: "As games move towards games as a service, that becomes a more important part of the cycle. It's the reason that we dropped the title update fees, as an example. We'll announce more on the specifics, but our goal is frankly just to minimize that."
Beyond benefitting indie devs, Whitten spoke to the implications of retail consoles running in-progress code could have on gamers. "I'm not confirming any feature or anything like that," he prefaced. But? "This idea of how can [Xbox] Live and the console work on a certain set of code which is what you need to do when you're the developer. Well that also opens up these sorts of ideas around early access to betas or these types of features, and that's foundationally what we've been working on around the architecture of the system," he said. As expected, that content won't live in the same marketplace as completed code (read: finished games), but it does sound like the Xbox One has room for the Minecraft model of game launches.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Microsoft
Comments
Read More ...
AeroSee uses drones for mountain rescue, wants you to join the search
The woods may be lovely, dark and deep, but they're also dangerously unpredictable. That's why the University of Central Lancashire is looking to improve search and rescue technology with AeroSee, a project that incorporates drones to locate missing hikers. The lightweight aircraft, provided by E-Migs, are equipped with cameras that transmit video to nearby ground stations. Analysis is then crowd-sourced by search agents, who scour the images for missing persons, like a high-stakes Where's Waldo. And that's where you come in. Tomorrow, July 25th at 12:30PM GMT (7:30AM ET), UCLan will launch a simulated mission where you can log in to its site to scour images for a survivor. The fastest virtual savior will top the leader board and take home a sweet prize. Want to sign up for the search? Head on over to the source link below.
Filed under: Misc, Alt
Comments
Source: AeroSee
Read More ...
Xbox One retail consoles double as debug units, Microsoft to allow indie self-publishing (update)
Microsoft's Xbox One is getting decidedly more indie-friendly with today's confirmation from Microsoft that its forthcoming game console will double as a developer debug unit. In so many words, each $500 unit purchased at retail this holiday will also run in-progress game code, enabling developers to get in on the action all the more affordably (debug versions of game consoles cost far more than retail game consoles, and tend to look slightly different from their retail counterparts). "Our vision is that every person can be a creator. That every Xbox One can be used for development," Xbox corporate VP Marc Whitten said in a statement.
Of course, such a move wouldn't make much sense without eased publishing regulations -- the Xbox 360 allows for self-publishing only in its ghettoized "indies" section, and all other games require a Microsoft-certified publisher to distribute physically or digitally. Going forward with the Xbox One, developers can publish their own games; Microsoft's looking at a quick turnaround on that code certification as well, according to reports, though we're told there'll be more info at Gamescom come late August. The full statement from Whitten can be found just below the break.
Update: We've also added responses from indies to today's news below.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Microsoft
Comments
Read More ...
Canon previews a handheld version of its MREAL Mixed Reality tech at SIGGRAPH, we go hands-on (video)
As a complement to its MREAL Mixed Reality headset, Canon is showing off a handheld version of the technology this week at SIGGRAPH. The new version functions much like the head-mounted one, enabling the use of markers or (as was the case here) sensors to render images in real space. Something you'll want to keep in mind: this is still an enterprised-focused device. That said, it doesn't make the tech demo and usage scenarios any less cool to gawk at. The demonstration we saw here in Anaheim involved a Kabuki dancer out in the center of the demo area. Details like shadows and wrinkles in the performer's clothes were rendered in real time -- just as if a real person were performing. A collection of sensors mounted around the top of the demo stage allowed us to look around the space while the projected image reacted to our position. Not once did we lose sight of the action.
Two other demos for the head-mounted display (that can easily translate to the handheld unit as well) caught our attention, too. First, a boat motor was projected in real space using augmented reality markers, allowing the user to inspect a scale model of the engine for training or other purposes. The ability to deconstruct the engine and see how different portions of it worked was all available to the user. Next, we saw a set of markers wrapping a rectangle projected a model of a Canon DSLR housing. Both of these scenarios offer a more in-depth look at 3D models before the prototyping phase or any steps are taken towards production. A quick look at the Kabuki demo and our best in-dance commentary awaits on the other side of the break.
Filed under: Displays, Peripherals, Canon
Comments
Read More ...
Google adds push notifications to Calendar API
Google just made the lives of third-party calendar developers much easier. Rather than having to constantly poll Google Calendar servers for updates, the Calendar API now supports push notifications. This means, with just a few lines of code, developers can sync their app to Mountain View's servers in near real time, rather than waiting on regularly scheduled updates. The only thing a developer will need to do is give a user the tools necessary to subscribe to a calendar. When something changes, Google sends a notification to the app, which performs an API call to pull down the updated data. Simple as pie! And probably a little healthier for your battery than checking in every 15 minutes, whether something has changed or not. If you're looking for a few more details you can hit up the source link.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Comments
Source: Google Developers Blog
Read More ...
Facebook reports $1.81 billion in revenue for Q2 2013, 1.15 billion monthly active users
Facebook saw its revenue grow year-over-year in its Q1 earnings reported in May, and that trend has continued for its second quarter. The company has just announced that it's pulled in $1.81 billion in revenue for Q2, beating analysts' expectations, while net income stood at $333 million. Of course, much of that money comes from ads: Facebook says that revenue from advertising now represents 88 percent of its total revenue, and that mobile advertising accounted for about 41 percent of its total advertising revenue for the quarter. Mark Zuckerberg highlighted that last bit in a statement, saying that "the work we've done to make mobile the best Facebook experience is showing good results and provides us with a solid foundation for the future."
In other numbers, Facebook also reported that it has 1.15 billion monthly active users as of June 30th, while its daily active users stood at 669 million. Mobile users were again its biggest growth area, with 819 million users actively checking in on their mobile devices each month (up 51 percent compared to the same quarter in 2012), and 469 million active on a daily basis. We'll keep you posted on any additional developments that may come out of the company's earnings call in the next hour.
Update: Zuckerberg and co. didn't have much additional news to offer during the earning's call, although he did comment briefly on Facebook Home, which he described as a "seed we're planting," and something to look at over the long term.
Filed under: Facebook
Comments
Source: Facebook
Read More ...
Christie and NVIDIA team up for an interactive car-buying experience powered by augmented reality (hands-on video)
If committing the requisite funds for an Audi R8 coupe seems like a stressful ordeal, NVIDIA and Christie have created an augmented reality purchase experience to lend a hand with the selection process. Under the hood, the whole lot is powered by NVIDIA GPUs, Christie projectors and RTT DeltaGen software for car configuration. Using a 3D-printed, one-fifth scale model of the R8, a series of projectors and projection tiles utilize a 3D WARP mesh to outfit the car with paint, wheels and even headlamps. A tablet UI then allows the eager customer to toggle colors, rim options, side panels and turn the lights on and off. In addition to customizing the car itself, the system also shows how the R8 will look in different environments, from dusk by the water to the rural open road. For a quick video demo from the SIGGRAPH show floor, join us after the break.
Filed under: Misc, NVIDIA
Comments
Read More ...
gdgt's best deals for July 24: 47-inch LG LED 3D HDTV, HP Officejet Pro All-in-one
Ready to save some cash on your tech buys? Then you've come to the right place. Our sister site gdgt tracks price drops on thousands of products every day, and twice a week they feature some of the best deals they've found right here. But act fast! Many of these are limited-time offers, and won't last long.
Today's hottest deals include an eye-popping price on a sexy 47-inch LG LED 3D HDTV, an intriguing sale on HP's high-end all-in-one and a slew of cheap products for students and professionals. Want the latest deals delivered to your inbox? Join gdgt and add the gadgets you're shopping for to your "Want" list. Every time there's a price cut, you'll get an email alert!
Comments
Read More ...
Google donates $600,000 to bring free WiFi to San Francisco parks
San Francisco has been striving for city-wide internet access since 2007, and with a little help from Mountain View, it's now one step closer to achieving that lofty goal. After receiving a $600,000 donation from Google, 31 public parks in one of the world's most tech-savvy cities will have free WiFi for at least two years. Google's gift will cover installation and maintenance of all necessary equipment for the project, which builds upon the the city's existing public WiFi hotspots like San Francisco International Airport and City Hall. While blanket coverage for the entire city is still a ways off, offering free internet access in places like public parks is a giant step forward in making the web accessible for all.
Filed under: Internet, Google
Comments
Via: SF Gate
Read More ...
Google makes Android 4.3 factory images available through AOSP (update: OTA available)
Google officially announced its latest version of Android today and, like clockwork, it's now made it available for download through the Android Open Source Project. That covers those with a Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 or Galaxy Nexus (GSM version-only), all of whom can find what they need to start the update process to Android 4.3 (still going by the Jelly Bean moniker) at the source link below. Feel free to leave your impressions of the new OS in the comments below.
Update: Android Central points to a link for the OTA version of the update for the Nexus 4, which users should be able to sideload more easily if it hasn't already been pushed to their devices automatically.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google
Comments
Via: Android Police, Android Central
Source: Google Developers, Android 4.3 OTA
Read More ...
Available Tags:LG , TV , Dell , Galaxy Tab , Galaxy , Google , YouTube , EA , NVIDIA , Xbox , gamers , Microsoft , Canon , Facebook , 3D , HP , Android ,
No comments:
Post a Comment