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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Intel Is Planning A Crazy New DVR That Records EVERYTHING (INTC)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/intel-plans-to-record-every-single-tv-show-2013-7

Erik Huggers Intel Media

Here's the latest detail on Intel's plan to assault the traditional TV business, via the WSJ:

Intel's plans include a server farm to record every piece of programming aired—local, national and international—and store it for at least three days in the "cloud." With an Intel-designed set-top box, people won't have to own DVRs or even plan to record programs.

Intel, which up to now has been a company that makes billions making chips, is building a second business, trying to upend the traditional pay-TV businesses.

The group at Intel working on this disruptive TV service is called Intel Media. The WSJ reports it has 350 people working on the service.

Details on Intel's TV service have been leaking out all year long.

The basic gist of the service: It's an internet delivered TV service with better software and better interface than what companies like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, DirecTV, etc. currently offer.

A permanently running cloud-based DVR is a pretty neat feature. It means you never have to worry about missing the start of a show, or if people start tweeting about a show, you can start it from the beginning, without missing a thing.

SEE ALSO: How The Cable Companies Keep You Hooked

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Gas Pump Skimmers Are Now Just as Good as Those on ATMs

Source: http://gizmodo.com/gas-pump-skimmers-are-now-just-as-good-as-those-on-atms-959510989

Gas Pump Skimmers Are Now Just as Good as Those on ATMs

If you worry about ATM skimmers and drive a car, it's time to freak the hell out: gas pump skimmers have matured, and they're now just as good as those on ATMs.

LG outs diminutive Bluetooth headset with 8 hours of battery life

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/30/lg-bluetooth-headset/

LG's big ticket items may take up most of our attention span, but the South Korean firm's latest Bluetooth headset solution has caught our eye. Coming in at roughly the size of a matchbox (35.9 × 50.2 × 19.2mm), the BTS1 boasts an 8 hour battery life, features a built-in clip, supports the aptX codec and packs on-board controls for volume, pause and play, sifting through songs and handling phone calls. With the help of Bluetooth 3.0, the pack connects to smartphones, laptops, tablets and even TVs -- yes, even those in LG's 2013 line-up -- with the wireless standard baked in. Of course, you could always lean on a Roku 3 if you're hankering for a wire-free television experience for your earbuds. There's no word of a US release, but if you find yourself in PSY's homeland, you'll be able to score one for 59,000 won (roughly $53).

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, HD, Mobile, LG

Source: LG (translated), LG (Flickr)

University of Texas students send yacht off-course with GPS exploit (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/30/university-of-texas-yacht-hack-experiment/

Students from the University of Texas gave us another reason not to mess with the Lone Star state: they'll hack your yacht. In cooperation with a luxury boat's owners, the Longhorns manipulated their $80 million vessel's nav system, covertly guiding it off-course -- all without the crew ever suspecting foul play. By transmitting spoofed global positioning system signals toward the craft, the students tricked its drivers into correcting a non-existent, three-degree course deviation, thus leading them off track. With their work done, the Texans believe this shows exactly how easy it is to exploit civil-band GPS signals. College kids may have conned the helm this time, but it isn't too far-fetched to think pirates could do the same. Our timbers are shivering just thinking about it.

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

Source: The Houston Chronicle

Android 4.3 supports TRIM, improves performance on Nexus devices

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/30/android-4-3-supports-trim-improves-performance-on-nexus-devices/

It's no secret that many Android phones and tablets show a decrease in performance over time. Nexus devices are not immune -- it's particularly noticeable with the original Nexus 7. Our friend Brian Klug over at AnandTech discovered an interesting tidbit while testing the new and improved Nexus 7: Android 4.3 supports TRIM. What this means is that Google's mobile OS can now instruct the flash storage controller when to collect / recycle unused data pages / blocks. The net result is that devices running Android 4.3 will no longer become sluggish with time -- in fact, existing Nexus handsets and tablets will see performance improve after the update. It also looks like Jelly Bean invokes TRIM maintenance once within a 24-hour window (after one hour of inactivity), and only if the battery is 80% full (30% when charging). Follow the source link below for all the details.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google

Source: AnandTech

Monday, July 29, 2013

Toshiba adds Haswell to refreshed Satellite U and M laptops

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/29/toshiba-haswell-refreshed-satellite-u-m-laptops/

While Toshiba already outed its Haswell plans, the company has chosen today to unveil a few more PCs. The outfit's refreshing its Satellite U and M range in the UK, with the U50t being equipped with a 10-point touchscreen and Windows 8 onboard. The Satellite M50D and M50Dt, meanwhile, boast AMD's latest APU processors and Radeon graphics. The whole line (which is slated for dispatch in Q3) ships with Intel's fourth-generation processors and HD 4400 graphics, while those needing a bit more oomph on the pixel pushing side can opt for NVIDIA's GeForce GT 740M. As you'd expect, Intel's WiDi and Miracast technologies are infused, and each machine arrives with a full-size HDMI port, Bluetooth 4.0, an SD card slot and a pair of USB 3.0 sockets. Tosh isn't talking pricing just yet, but you can dig into the specification list just after break.

Gallery: Toshiba's Satellite U and M laptops (mid-2013)

Filed under: Laptops

Source: Toshiba

Samsung reportedly looking to engineer new ARM-compatible Exynos processor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/29/samsung-new-arm-compatible-exynos-processor/

It's a material world, and Samsung's just living in it. And, evidently, it's tired of doing things in the same manner it has been. According to a report from ETNews, the aforesaid company is looking to produce an Exynos processor using a "redesigned ARM core platform" that'll be whipped up in Samsung's Austin, Texas-based R&D facility. If the plans materialize, it'll mark the first time that Samsung has engineered an Exynos chip "based on its own architecture platform by redesigning the ARM cores." For those unaware, Qualcomm and Apple are amongst the precious few that have concocted their own platforms after inking an architecture licensing deal with ARM, and it sounds as if Sammy's tired of being on the outside looking in. The report also states that development is expected "to be completed early next year," and you can bet that future Galaxy and Note products will be the first to benefit.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Samsung

Via: Android Beat

Source: ETNews

ASUS eyeing 2014 for US smartphone launch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/29/asus-us-smartphone/

It wouldn't be the first time ASUS saw a US smartphone launch -- though last time the company had the GPS experts at Garmin to help it find its way. This time, according to Jonney Shih, the maker of both the Padfone and Fonepad (coincidence?) is looking to take a more direct route. The ASUS chairman told All Things D that his company has been making progress building bridges with retailers and carriers alike in an attempt to succeed in the already crowded US market. And while it may not be impossible, a 2013 launch is looking unlikely. "I think next year is more reasonable," he told the site.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, ASUS

Source: All Things D

Nuforce Icon DAC and headphone amp arrives for Android, Mac and PC for $325

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/29/nuforce-icon-dac-and-headphone-amp-arrives-for-android-mac-and/

NuForce has been pumping out high end audio gear for the digitally inclined for years, and its latest effort is the Icon DAC and amp for Android, Mac and PC. It shares the same aluminum construction as the Icon iDo amp aimed at iDevice owners that was released in 2011. However, the latest Icon adds a few new features. While it still has analog RCA and digital coax output, the new model offers RCA and 3.5mm analog input as well as a USB connection for pulling in audio. Additionally, it can drive 600-ohm headphones thanks to its 8V output amp, and its DAC supports sampling rates up to 96kHz, 32 bits of resolution and direct stream digital decoding. It's available now for $325 for folks with Windows 7 or 8 PCs, Macs and Android devices running 4.1.1 or higher.

Filed under: Misc, Home Entertainment, HD

Insert Coin: TouchKeys overlay brings whole new meaning to 'tickling the ivories'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/29/insert-coin-touchkeys/

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

Keyboards haven't changed much in the last, oh, few hundred years or so. You play a note by hitting and releasing it, use a pedal to sustain and change volume through the high-tech means of "bashing harder." TouchKeys wants to give you much more control with its touch sensitive, DIY stick-on overlays that can even sense multi-touch. While similar to what we've seen recently with the Roli Seaboard (which has rubberized keys that let you bend notes), TouchKeys can be added to most keyboards and would let you do even more, in theory. Similar to a smartphone screen, it senses up and down or side-to-side finger movements with up to three touches, all of which can be mapped mapped to different sounds or effects. For instance, you can create a vibrato by shaking your hand side-to-side, move up and down to bend notes, use multi-touch pinch and slide to change midi mappings, or play different sounds by multi-tapping.

Most of the kits sold will be DIY, meaning they'll come as self-installed peel-and-stick keys and sensors that fit standard-sized keyboards, starting at £330 for 25 keys. You'll also have to open up the keyboard to tuck in the narrow controller, but the company said it hasn't seen any models that don't work yet. If you're not inclined to futz around, you'll be able to buy a limited number of pre-installed kits starting at £660 with a Novation Impulse 25 keyboard. TouchKeys is looking for a relatively modest £30,000 as its funding goal, so if you're looking for the latest musical edge, hit the source.

Filed under: Peripherals

Via: Gizmag

Source: Kickstarter

Origin PC's EON 13-S offers another spin on Clevo's latest gaming laptop, promises Haswell and Kepler for $1,474

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/29/origin-pc-eon-13/

Like the look of Digital Storm's VELOCE gaming notebook, but have strong loyalties with another system builder? Don't worry -- Origin PC has just announced another gaming rig with the exact same chassis: the EON13-S. The similarity is no coincidence, both models are based on the 13.3-inch Clevo W230ST, carefully branded and customized by each company.

Origin's twist on the laptop includes a 4th Generation Intel Core processor, NVIDIA GTX 765M graphics and up to three storage devices. The company didn't announce specifics, but Clevo's own product page outs Intel's 2.8GHz i7-4900MQ, 2.70GHz i7-4800MQ and 2.40GHz i7-4700MQ chips as possible options. The base model also supports up to 16GB of RAM, though its Digital Storm variant tops out at 8GB. Naturally, Origin says that many of these elements will be customizable and upgradable, with the most frugal configuration ringing in at $1,474. Additionally, customers that order before August 5th can score free overclocking and a gratis Corsair M95 mouse. Not bad, if you're looking for tiny gaming machine. Check out the company's official press release after the break.

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

Origin PC's EON 13-S offers another spin on Clevo's latest gaming laptop, promises Haswell and Kepler for $1,474

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/29/origin-pc-eon-13/

Like the look of Digital Storm's VELOCE gaming notebook, but have strong loyalties with another system builder? Don't worry -- Origin PC has just announced another gaming rig with the exact same chassis: the EON13-S. The similarity is no coincidence, both models are based on the 13.3-inch Clevo W230ST, carefully branded and customized by each company.

Origin's twist on the laptop includes a 4th Generation Intel Core processor, NVIDIA GTX 765M graphics and up to three storage devices. The company didn't announce specifics, but Clevo's own product page outs Intel's 2.8GHz i7-4900MQ, 2.70GHz i7-4800MQ and 2.40GHz i7-4700MQ chips as possible options. The base model also supports up to 16GB of RAM, though its Digital Storm variant tops out at 8GB. Naturally, Origin says that many of these elements will be customizable and upgradable, with the most frugal configuration ringing in at $1,474. Additionally, customers that order before August 5th can score free overclocking and a gratis Corsair M95 mouse. Not bad, if you're looking for tiny gaming machine. Check out the company's official press release after the break.

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

Portitle Finds and Aggregates All the Movie Info You Could Ever Need

Source: http://lifehacker.com/portitle-finds-and-aggregates-all-the-movie-info-you-co-934742550

Portitle Finds and Aggregates All the Movie Info You Could Ever Need

Windows/Chrome: When you're trying to find a movie to watch, you might want to look it up on IMDB, then read about it on Wikipedia, then try to find a place to watch it. Portitle puts all of this info in one place, and is accessible from your right click menu.

The Secret Deals That Make YouTube Buffer

Source: http://gizmodo.com/the-secret-deals-that-mean-you-have-to-wait-for-youtube-947766871

The Secret Deals That Make YouTube Buffer

If you ever find yourself having to wait for YouTube to buffer video—buts ads, they load just fine—then don't worry, you're not alone. In fact, it's likely you're on the receiving end of a corporate deal which limits how much you can enjoy online video.

New York's Bike Sharing Scheme, Visualized

Source: http://gizmodo.com/new-yorks-bike-sharing-scheme-visualized-947772621

New York's Bike Sharing Scheme, Visualized

New York's Citi Bike scheme has been up and running for a couple of months now—which means there's a glut of data available to analyze. This interactive New Yorker viz shows how the bikes were used every 15 minutes between June 8th and July 8th.

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