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Monday, April 07, 2014

drag2share: NVIDIA's Shield can now stream your PC games when you're out of the house

source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/07/nvidia-shield-april-update/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

People scoffed when NVIDIA first revealed the Shield (just check out these comments), but a slew of software updates are turning it into one of the best Android gaming gewgaws out there. Speaking of which, this month's update has just gone live and it's a doozy. Once installed, you can use your Shield to remotely play up to 100 supported games that live on your home PC (assuming you've got a solid network connection, that is) as well as stream games running on properly equipped laptops too. Throw in support for Bluetooth keyboards and mice for games that require plenty of precision (we're looking at you, Civ 5) and you've got yourself a hefty little package to install. Between all these updates and that temporary $50 price cut NVIDIA announced last month, it's clear that the company is committed to the Shield vision -- now we just need to see if consumers inundated with mobile gaming options finally take the plunge.

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drag2share: Blackmagic's 4K URSA camera features massive 10-inch 1080p display, ships in June for $6,000

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/07/blackmagic-ursa/

Consumers may not be familiar with Blackmagic Design, but the firm's cameras are all the rage with filmmakers at NAB, drawing enormous crowds within seconds of the show floor opening up to attendees. This year's flagship is the URSA, a relatively massive 4K camera with an enormous 10-inch 1080p flip-out display. There are also two five-inch monitors on each side, displaying everything from camera settings to a duplicate preview. Another highlight is the Super 35 image sensor (the same used in Blackmagic's existing 4K cam), which is upgradeable should you wish to swap in a refreshed version down the line. You also get plenty of SDI inputs and outputs, XLR mic jacks and either a Canon EF or PL lens mount.

We spent a few minutes shooting with the EF version with a Canon 85mm f/1.2 lens. The preview looked fantastic -- with such a large, high-res display, it's easy to confirm focus without enlarging, though you'll want to take extra care when capturing in 4K. There's definitely no shortage of readouts, with the secondary LCDs providing all the necessary info. The EF version will retail for $6,000, while the PL flavor is set to ship for $6,500 (though you can swap lens mounts later on if you upgrade the sensor module). Both models are expected in stores this June or July. Check 'em out in our hands-on video.

Sarah Silbert contributed to this report.

Filed under: Cameras

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drag2share: Thunderbolt 2 Networking enables 10 Gbps Ethernet connection, supports Macs and PCs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/07/thunderbolt-2-networking/

Intel's Thunderbolt 2 connectivity standard is getting an update here at NAB 2014 with the addition of Thunderbolt Networking. Put simply, this new feature will let you pair computers with a Thunderbolt cable, with a throughout of 10 Gbps between the two machines for super-fast file-sharing. Additionally, thanks to a driver currently available on OS X Mavericks, you'll be able to connect a Mac to a PC (or Mac to Mac) with the new technology. Of course, the ability to quickly transfer data between PCs is important to filmmakers and photographers -- especially those working with 4K footage. Intel's on hand here with a demo that will likely mimic the workflow of the media types at this show. We'll be back with footage soon -- stay tuned!

Filed under: Networking, Intel

Source: Intel

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drag2share: The Top Selling Android App In The Google Play Store Was Allegedly A 'Scam' (GOOG)

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/MGvpbDH-PyI/virus-shield-top-paid-android-app-a-scam-2014-4

Virus Shield Scam

Virus Shield, an app that was No.1 on Google Play's paid download charts, is a scam, according to Michael Crider at Android Police.

Virus Shield was a $3.99 app that promised it could protect your phone from harmful spyware and malware invading your device.

It also claimed it would have battery life improvements and "no pesky advertisements."

Despite having over 10,000 downloads and multiple high ratings, the app didn't work, Crider says. Android Police writes that it was just a fake: All Virus Shield did was switch from a red "X" image to a "√" check image with a single tap.

Android Police points out that Deviant Solutions (the alleged developers behind the app) don't have an official website in the Play Store and people on Google+ have complained about Virus Shield as well.

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drag2share: The Incredible, World-Changing Impact Of Vaccines

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/eUNpax3nHUs/cdc-vaccines-infographic-2014-4

Vaccines infographic

Unsubstantiated fear about vaccines has led to increased rates of unvaccinated children in some surprising corners of the United States, like exclusive New York City private schools.

But parents would probably not be so quick to leave their children unvaccinated if they remembered what life was like before vaccines, when hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. — many of them children — died each year from diseases like measles that are now nearly obsolete. Even varicella, better-known as chicken pox, used to be a significant threat.

Graphic designer Leon Farrant used data from the CDC and JAMA to illustrate that the public health importance of vaccines cannot be overstated. Has other medical care improved since the pre-vaccine era? Of course.

But no one who has suffered through measles or mumps would choose illness and the very real risk of death over vaccines, which are an almost perfect solution to some of the greatest health crises humanity has ever known.

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drag2share: This Startup Claims It Can Fully Charge Your Phone In 30 Seconds

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/QgGjek6Nyxc/storedot-smartphone-charger-2014-4

StoreDotCharger

In those annoying circumstances when you're only near an outlet for a few minutes, it's nearly impossible to supply your smartphone with a decent charge.

One Israel-based startup, however, hopes to change that.

StoreDot Ltd. just unveiled a prototype smartphone charger that claims it can boost your device's battery back up to 100 percent in less than a minute, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The prototype charger is only compatible with the Galaxy S4, but the Tel Aviv-based company says it will make chargers for other phones as well.

The charger is currently the size of a laptop charger, although the final produt will be much slimmer, according to The Wall Street Journal's report.

It will cost twice as much as a standard smartphone charger, which could land in the $30 price range.

StoreDot super chargers a Galaxy S4 in its demo video showcasing the technology. The Galaxy S4's battery level is at 27 percent when the video starts.

StoreDot plugs the smartphone into its speed charger at 20 seconds into the video, and sure enough the battery jumps to 100 percent by the time the video hits the 50-second mark.

The company, which originated from Tel Aviv University's nanotechnology department, develops biological semiconductors. This is the tech that is used in StoreDot's super charger.

Don't count on speed charging your Galaxy S4 anytime soon, however. Commercial production isn't expected to begin until 2016.

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drag2share: eBay plans for the future of commerce: more wearable integration and your own personal shopper

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/07/ebay-the-future-of-commerce/

While outlining its plans for the future of retail, eBay has announced a new tea, within its Innovation and New Ventures group, aimed at cramming commerce interfaces into any device that's smart enough and preparing for the future of shopping. The team has already launched apps for both Samsung's Galaxy Gear and the Pebble, and while its next target is connected glass (like interactive touchscreen storefronts), according to TechCrunch, it has more up its sleeve than mere augmented reality parlor tricks. The team is working to fold in personalization, historical behavior and connected home sensors to make the shopping experience as smooth, swift (and dangerously easy) as possible, and it's calling it zero effort commerce (ZEC). According to the team head, Steve Yankovich, ZEC will anticipate what you're shopping for and sort out the rest for you.

"I have a friend who has a personal assistant who keeps track of his needs. His personal assistant replaces ceiling fan light bulbs, replaces shirts that she noted show wear, constantly fills the fridge, changes the wiper blades in cars, and on and on. In this person's world everything he needs and wants automatically happens. We can work towards building a virtual personal assistant... to do much the same thing but for all of us."

Filed under: Internet

Source: TechCrunch

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drag2share: Your Coffee Shop's Wi-Fi Speeds Are About to Triple

Source: http://gizmodo.com/your-coffee-shops-wi-fi-speeds-are-about-to-triple-1559373897

Your Coffee Shop's Wi-Fi Speeds Are About to Triple

If you've ever tried to get work done at a coffee shop during rush hour, you know that even something as simple as a Google Search can be soul-crushingly slow. Thanks to a new Wi-Fi technology from Qualcomm, though, all that may be about to change.

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drag2share: HSTS: The Security That All Websites Should Be Using

Source: http://gizmodo.com/hsts-the-security-that-all-websites-should-be-using-1559701771

HSTS: The Security That All Websites Should Be Using

You would think that by now the Internet would have grown up enough that things like online banking, email, or government websites would rely on thoroughly engineered security to make sure your data isn't intercepted by attackers. Unfortunately when it comes to the vast majority of websites on the Internet, that assumption would be dead wrong. That's because most websites (with a few notable exceptions) don't yet support a standard called HSTS—HTTPS Strict Transport Security.

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Sunday, April 06, 2014

drag2share: Surprise: Tobacco could eventually lead to new cancer treatment

source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/05/tobacco-cancer-treatment/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

When tobacco and cancer are used in the same sentence, the word "cause" usually goes in between. That's why a new research from La Trobe University in Australia could confuse some folks -- after all, the researchers discovered that tobacco could potentially be used for cancer treatment. Before you pick up that box of Marlboros, know that it's actually a flowering tobacco plant named Nicotiana alata, which isn't even the same species used to make cigarettes, that has magical, cancer-beating properties. After a series of tests, the scientists have determined that NaD1 (a protein found in its pink and white flowers) can not only fight off plant fungi, but also kill cancer cells.

Apparently, NaD1 latches onto cancer cells with its pincer-like structure, causing them to form little balloons on the surface until they explode. But, what makes it an ideal cure is that while it attacks affected cells, it leaves healthy ones untouched. According to lead researcher Dr. Mark Hulett from the school's Molecular Science program, a huge issue with the therapies we use today is that unlike the NaD1 protein, they attack cells indiscriminately.

Of course, the irony of it all didn't escape his notice. He said:

There is some irony in the fact that a powerful defence mechanism against cancer is found in the flower of a species of ornamental tobacco plant, but this is a welcome discovery, whatever the origin.

Like any new medical discovery, though, the protein has to go through years of more rigorous testing and research. In fact, Hulett believes we have to wait at least 10 more years before it's ready to step out of the lab and into the hospital.

[Image credit: Carl E. Lewis/Wikimedia]

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drag2share: Sony announces full-frame Alpha A7s with 4K video output

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/06/sony-alpha-a7s/

It wouldn't be NAB without a major 4K announcement from Sony, and that's exactly what we've got here. The company introduced the Alpha A7s at its Las Vegas press event today, bringing 4K video to the popular full-frame mirrorless camera line. The "s" in the new camera's name stands for sensitivity, and to that end it supports an ISO range of 50 to 409,600. The 12.2-megapixel full-frame sensor limits downscaling with 3,840 x 2,160 (QFHD) 4K video, ultimately resulting in higher quality footage. While you can store 1080p video internally, you'll need to use an external recorder to capture 4K video, which the camera outputs with 4:2:2 color sampling via HDMI.

You can store XAVC S-format video with a class 10 or higher SDXC card. When in 1080p mode, you can also opt to shoot with APS-C cropping, while 120 fps capture is supported when you jump down to 720p. The A7s can snap still images, of course, but it really shines when it comes to capturing 4K and HD video. The camera supports S-Log2 gamma, expanding the dynamic range to 1300 percent, resulting in reduced shadow and highlight clipping.

Physically, the A7s looks identical to its Alpha siblings, with a solid design and feel. It also sports WiFi and NFC, for wireless transfers to a smartphone or tablet. Also, like the other Alpha 7 cams, the A7s includes a Multi Interface Shoe, so you can add in Sony's XLR mic adapter kit, the XLR-K1M. Pricing has not yet been announced, but Sony executives say to expect the camera in stores this summer, just a few months after Panasonic's GH4. Check it out in our video below.

Sarah Silbert contributed to this report.

Filed under: Cameras, Sony

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drag2share: DJI improves stabilization, tilt and flying speed with Phantom 2 Vision+ drone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/06/dji-phantom-2-vision-plus/

It was just this January that we tested DJI's Phantom 2 Vision drone, a $1,199 quadcopter with an integrated 14-megapixel/1080p camera and tilt-axis gimbal. Now at NAB, DJI's back with a "plus" version of its airborne craft. The refreshed gadget, which retails for $100 more than its predecessor, includes a new three-axis gimbal (compared to single-axis stabilization) for smoother captures, more than double the WiFi communication distance (700 meters, or about 3,000 feet), a 50-percent boost in maximum flight speed (to 15 meters or 50 feet per second) and a 90-degree tilt that lets you shoot subjects directly below.

There's also an integrated GPS system that enables you to set an autonomous path or keep the Phantom in the same spot in winds of up to 25 miles per hour, while the DJI Vision app lets you preview footage and access altitude, distance and battery strength during shoots. Finally, DJI is releasing a firmware update for all Phantom drones that lets pilots avoid flying near airports or user-generated no-fly zones. Availability remains TBA, but expect to drop $1,299 for your Phantom 2 Vision+ once it's ready to ship.

Filed under: Cameras

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drag2share: DJI brings its smooth video tech to the ground with Ronin camera gimbal

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/06/dji-ronin-gimbal/

DJI's best known for its versatile photography drones, but the company's bringing its stabilization technology to ground-based shoots with the Ronin camera gimbal. The compact device, which appears to be a more consumer-friendly version of last year's Movi Freefly, is designed to work with a variety of compact cameras, from DSLRs to a Red Epic. The handheld gimbal is based on the firm's ZenMuse tech, which you'll find in select camera copters. A single videographer can control the rig, or you can have a second operator manage pan and tilt wirelessly. Ronin can be configured in less than five minutes using a companion smartphone app, which enables auto calibration after balancing the camera. Pricing should come in under $5,000, and DJI says to expect the device to ship later this quarter.

Filed under: Cameras

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Saturday, April 05, 2014

drag2share: This Android add-on lets you multitask with your Chromecast

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/04/autocast-plugin/

AutoCast add-on for Android sending to Chromecast

There are already quite a few Chromecast-savvy apps out there, but João Dias' newly completed AutoCast may be one of the most flexible. The Tasker add-on for Android lets you send a wide range of content to Google's media stick in your choice of layout, including multiple things at once -- you can get notifications while you're watching video, or play music while browsing video. You can also create custom home screens that show useful info like battery levels or weather, and it's possible for multiple users to share control over a single Chromecast app, such as an image editor. AutoCast won't address every possible function you might want, but it covers a surprising amount of ground by itself.

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD

Source: Google Play, joaoapps.com

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drag2share: Gresso's Azimuth is the dual-SIM phone the rich have been waiting for

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/04/gresso-azimuth/

The 1 percent have long had smartphones from Porsche and Vertu to quench their high-end thirst, but when it comes to dual-SIM handsets, the elite have had to settle for something a little more ordinary. For those in need, Gresso created Azimuth, the first dual-SIM luxury handset. Starting at $2,000, the phone is made of titanium, with both the keys and logo crafted out of 18K or white gold. Since appearances are all that matter, you're getting some pretty low-end specs under the hood, including 2GB of "internal memory," a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0 and a tiny 1,100mAh battery. To put things in perspective, Samsung's Galaxy S5 starts with 16GB of built-in storage, a 16-megapixel camera and a 2,800mAh battery. The difference being, anyone can buy an S5. Only 999 Azimuth's will be made, because no one who's anyone wants a phone 1,000 people can own.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Via: Pocket-Lint

Source: Gresso

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