Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

drag2share: Netflix speeds soar on Comcast following controversial deal

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/14/netflix-isp-speeds-connection-deal/

The past few months have been very active for Netflix, as it's faced new challenges with getting its video streams into homes. It responded to customer complaints and dropping average speeds by making a new connection deal with Comcast, while others like AT&T and Verizon also lined up with their hands out. For Comcast users at least, the recent deal between the cable provider and Netflix does seem to be bearing fruit. Thanks to the agreement -- which allows Netflix to connect its network directly with Comcast's infrastructure to bypass the bottlenecked third parties -- average speeds for streams on the network have surged up to 65 percent, going from 1.51Mbps in January to 2.5Mbps in March.

Netflix also notes that it has also seen "early improvements" as a result of its deal with Telenor, an internet service provider in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. "We are dedicated to delivering a great streaming experience and invest in continually improving that experience," states Netflix on its blog. Even if similar deals are on the way with other ISPs, so long as net neutrality only covers traffic over the last mile, Reed Hasting likely has a few more furious Facebook messages in store.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD

Source: Netflix

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drag2share: Office comes to the Chrome Web Store along with a slew of upgrades

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/14/office-online-upgrades/

Microsoft OneNote on the web

Microsoft isn't done with Office updates just because it released Office for iPad and made Office Mobile completely free -- it has a bunch of improvements in store for Office Online, too. To start with, Office has reached the Chrome Web Store. You can now launch most of the productivity suite's web apps (Excel is due soon) in the Chrome browser or Chrome OS just by clicking a shortcut. Clearly, the crew from Redmond is no longer averse to supporting your Chromebook.

Each of the apps has received at least one big upgrade at the same time. OneNote Online now offers printing support, while its Excel counterpart finally lets you add comments; PowerPoint accurately previews text, and it's far easier to put footnotes and lists into Word. If you've been holding off on an Office 365 subscription because its web component was lacking, there may be enough tweaks here to justify giving it a second look.

Filed under: Internet, Microsoft

Source: Office Online Blog

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drag2share: Broadcasters' backup plans for thwarting Aereo include live TV streaming

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/14/broadcaster-backup-plans-for-aereo/

Aereo New York City

The big US broadcasters are primarily leaning on legal action to shut down Aereo's antenna-based streaming TV service, but what if the startup prevails in court? Apparently, the media giants aren't too worried; they have some backup plans. The Wall Street Journal claims that CBS is considering a subscription-based video service of its own that would offer both live and on-demand shows for a few dollars per month. While it would still include ads, there might also be an option to pay for Showtime's premium programming.

The big providers may not decide to fight Aereo in the marketplace, though. Other options include lobbying Congress for anti-Aereo legislation or even pulling content from over-the-air broadcasting. This last option may be impractical -- it could limit the content that affiliates can offer, hurting both local stations as well as viewers that can't afford (or simply don't want) pay TV. The operators haven't locked down what they plan to do, but Aereo hasn't discussed a failsafe of its own. If it loses its court battle, the networks may not have to lift a finger.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD

Source: Wall Street Journal

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drag2share: Google's new terms of service tell you that it's scanning email for ads

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/14/google-terms-of-service-update/

Many Gmail users know that the service scans email looking for ad keywords, but some have been upset that Google hasn't spelled this out -- enough so that there are several privacy lawsuits underway. The company may have just headed off future trouble, though, by updating its terms of service to clearly state what's taking place. Read through the giant text and you'll see that the company now explicitly warns that "automated systems analyze your content" for the sake of ads, customization and security.

Google tells Reuters that the move is based on feedback from the "last few months" and should provide "even greater clarity" to customers. Both are true, although we'd note that few people read the terms of service for... well, anything. The new language may ultimately be more helpful in educating current account holders than giving concerned newcomers a heads-up.

Filed under: Internet, Google

Via: Reuters

Source: Google

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drag2share: Toshiba's first 4K laptop arrives next week for $1,500

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/15/toshibas-first-4k-laptop-arrives-next-week-for-1-500/

After launching its first 4K laptop in the UK, Toshiba has just announced US availability. Stateside, it'll be called the P55T, but as before, it's a 15.6-inch laptop with 3,840 x 2,160 resolution -- a staggering 282 PPI, if you're scoring at home. Driving all those pixels is AMD's 2GB DDR5 Radeon R9 M265X discrete graphics, 4th-gen Intel core i7 CPU, 16GB DDR3L max memory and a 4K-ready HDMI port. Another hook is Technicolor certification, which ensures that each IPS display is individually calibrated for accurate colors. Along with the included copy of Adobe's Lightroom 5, that'll appeal to photographers and designers -- though the rather anemic 1TB, 5400 RPM mechanical hard drive is a letdown. It'll arrive on April 22nd at $1,500, a price that seems competitive with the few other 4K laptops. Meanwhile, Toshiba also announced some more mainstream models -- hit the break for more on those.

As with the 4K laptop, Toshiba's other new models are similar to those announced in the UK, but with slightly different model names. In brief, you'll get three performance models: the 15.6-inch Satellite S55, 17.3-inch S75 and 14-inch E45. All can be had with up to 1080p resolution, Core i5 or i7 dual-core CPUs (the S55 is also available with an AMD A10 APU), 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Touchscreens are available on the S55t and E45t models. Prices start at $650 for the 14-inch E45.

Finally there's the "everyday stuff" laptops, as Toshiba calls them. Those include the C55/C75 and L55/L75, 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch laptops for each lineup, respectively. As the focus here is on value, the screens have less resolution, with a touchscreen only available on the L55. Toshiba isn't mentioning exact specs, but did say that they'll come with either Intel or AMD CPUs, 12GB of RAM max and up to a 1TB disk drive. The C series will start at $400, while the L models will run $330 and up, with availability for all models starting on June 22nd.

Source: Toshiba (1), (2)

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Friday, April 11, 2014

drag2share: Watch filmmakers render realistic CG on the fly using $14k of graphics cards

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/11/construct-cg-rendering-nvidia/

A new short film teaser has taken digital character rendering to a new level, making real time motion capture a lot easier for animators. While working on "Construct" (see the stunning video after the break) filmmakers captured the movements of real actors in a studio, similar to how James Cameron did for Avatar. Instead of seeing the performer, however, the director saw a ray-traced version of the animated character on his screen. Though heavily pixelated, freezing the scene instantly gave animators a clear idea of the final result, something that can normally take hours in post-production. The system used custom software from ray-tracing outfit V-Ray powered by three top-of-the-line NVIDIA K6000 GPUs -- not exactly a home setup. Still, it's not hard to see how such tech could eventually power ultra-realistic gaming, though at $4,500 a pop or so for the graphics cards, we're not there yet.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, NVIDIA

Via: CNET

Source: Construct Films (Vimeo)

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drag2share: Google Expands Android's Built-In App Scanning Security

Source: http://lifehacker.com/google-expands-androids-built-in-app-scanning-security-1561828851

Google Expands Android's Built-In App Scanning Security

Android: Today, Google announced that it's expanding its Verify Apps system to continually scan all apps installed on a phone to determine if they're malicious or harmful.

Previously, the Verify Apps system would only kick in if you installed an app from outside the Play Store, and it would only scan an app as its being installed. However, not only can apps change their behavior once they have permission to run, as we've learned recently, you can find crap software on the Play Store too.

The new system is rolling out via Play Services, so any device running higher than Android 2.3 should benefit. If an app is scanned and found to be potentially harmful, you'll receive a warning to either block installation or remove it from your system. You can also check out our guide on how secure Android really is for more information on how to protect yourself.

Expanding Google's security services for Android | Official Android Blog

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drag2share: Sadapter Adapts Micro- and Nano-SIMs to Different Sizes

Source: http://lifehacker.com/sadapter-adapts-micro-and-nano-sims-for-to-different-s-1561801476

Sadapter Adapts Micro- and Nano-SIMs to Different Sizes

Being able to swap your SIM card into a different phone is great—until you find out it isn't the right size. If you need to fit your Nano-SIM into a Micro-SIM slot, the Sadapter can help.

I recently broke my phone, and promptly pulled out my old iPhone 4 as a temporary replacement—only to find my Nano-SIM card wasn't compatible with its Micro-SIM slot. If you're getting a new phone, you can always just get a new SIM card, but this doesn't work if you just need it for a few days. (Similarly, you can always trim a card down, but you can't trim it back up).

Enter the Sadapter: a pack of three small SIM adapters that fit your Nano-SIM into a Micro-SIM or regular SIM slot, or fit your Micro-SIM into a regular SIM slot. It's a bit more expensive ($13) than other adapters on the market ($1-2), but unlike the cheap ones, it's less likely to get stuck or break, which can mean costly repairs to your phone.

I tested it in my iPhone 4 and it worked great: just snap your SIM in the slot, then stick it into your phone. You may not think you need one now, but it's one of those tools that will probably come in handy one day—so buy one and stick it in your toolbox now.

Sadapter Three Adapter Pack | Amazon

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drag2share: The Performance Benefits of Discrete Video Cards (Even for Non-Gamers)

Source: http://lifehacker.com/the-performance-benefits-of-discrete-video-cards-even-1561794672

The Performance Benefits of Discrete Video Cards (Even for Non-Gamers)

If you're a PC gamer, you know that upgrading your computer's video card will give you the best gaming performance boost. PCWorld argues, however, that a discrete graphics card belongs in most people's desktop PCs—not just gamers.

AMD's and Intel's integrated graphics (graphics technologies coupled with the processor) are pretty capable these days, but they're still far less powerful than discrete video cards when it comes to performance—and not just in games, either:

Games aren't the only applications that benefit from the power of a discrete GPU. AMD's and Nvidia's GPUs are made up of thousands of processors that can carry out multiple operations simultaneously. Any application that benefits from such parallel processing—be it an image-editing program like Photoshop, data-encryption software, or a distributed-computing project like Folding@Home or Seti@Home—will run faster with the assistance of a more powerful GPU.

PCWorld's tests show performance boosts of 3% to 19% on PCMark's productivity benchmarks when using discrete graphics cards (a ~$300 AMD Radeon R9 XFX card) versus integrated ones in the same systems. The greatest boosts were for the home suite than the work suite.

Even casual, browser-based games like Farmville and Angry Birds would have significant performance gains (about 1.5 to 2X the performance) from a discrete video card upgrade. The only place they didn't seem to help was in video playback.

Of course, plunking down hundreds of dollars for a new video card won't be worth it if the rest of the system is a bottleneck (an older processor or not enough memory). And there are other upgrades that will give you more bang for your buck, depending on your usage.

The tests suggest, though, that a discrete video card might not be just for gamers. Keep that in mind if you have the cash and are upgrading or building your own desktop PC to future proof it.

Tested: Why almost every desktop PC could use a video card upgrade | PCWorld

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Article: The first Quad HD AMOLED screen is here, but it's not from Samsung

Samsung is the engine of the AMOLED industry, but it’s not the only player developing organic LED technology for mobile devices. Competitors in China and Taiwan especially are making bi …

http://www.androidauthority.com/quad-hd-amoled-au-optronics-367542/

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drag2share: âStaples is launching an in-store 3D printing service

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/10/staples-is-launching-an-in-store-3d-printing-service/

First it sold select 3D printers in stores, then it sold print-by-mail services in Europe -- now Staples is offering US customers a chance to print objects on-demand and on-site. The company's launch event is focusing on the fun side of 3D printing, serving up action figures and personalized Starfleet officers to walk-in customers, but Staples says it hopes the service will catch the attention of small businesses.

Customers will have access to up to seven kinds of printers and six types of materials in store, including the Cube and Cube X models Staples already sells. Larger jobs will be farmed out to 3D Systems -- the company behind the 3D printed guitar we saw at Engadget Expand last year. Don't have the modeling chops to prepare your on 3D-printable file? Staples has that covered too, and is planning to train graphic design consultants to help customers model their vision. Unfortunately, Staples hasn't announced pricing for any of these services yet, but at least the pilot program seems robust enough to give UPS a run for its money.

Filed under: Misc

Source: Staples (Twitter), Bloomberg Businessweek

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drag2share: Oppo's bringing another LTE phone to the US (and it might just be affordable)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/11/oppo-r1-at-fcc/

Oppo R1

Oppo has a reputation for clever smartphones, but there's a good reason why you rarely see its devices in the US: it hasn't had local LTE data until the (currently unreleased) Find 7, and that's not exactly cheap. Imagine our surprise when we found a version of the R1 with US-capable LTE, fresh from FCC approval. The high-style, low-cost phone can now handle 4G data on T-Mobile and, to a limited extent, AT&T. It should also run quickly on Canadian providers.

Don't expect an official carrier deal when this variant arrives, though.

Given the lack of network branding, it's more likely to be sold in unlocked form to fans of the R1's looks and extra-bright f/2.0 aperture camera. Oppo hasn't said anything about this model, so it's not even clear that you'll get to buy one any time soon. Still, it's a further sign that the company is taking its North American audience seriously -- and it may save you some cash if you don't need everything the Find 7 has to offer.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Source: FCC

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Thursday, April 10, 2014

drag2share: Nikon's J4 mirrorless camera has more megapixels, 20fps burst speed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/10/nikon-j4-mirrorless-20-fps-burst/

Good things happen when you cram a fast image processor into a small camera body, as Nikon has shown with its new mid-range 1 model, the J4. With the latest Expeed 4A imaging engine, the CX-sensor camera can now pump out 20 images per second in burst mode with continuous AF, which Nikon claims is the world's fastest (along with the pricey new V3). That's also a big bump over last year's J3, and most other specs have also improved: there's now 18.4 instead of 14.2-megapixels, 1080/60p video in lieu of 1080/60i (with 120fps at 720p), a 105 point PD/171 point contrast AF, a new touchscreen and built-in WiFi. One change photographers may not like is the use of MicroSD memory cards instead of industry standard SD cards, but at least the J4 is slightly smaller and lighter than the J3. It'll come in black, white, silver and orange (with an optional underwater housing) but there's no word on when, where or for how much. As a rough starting point, though, last year's model was $600 with the 10-30mm kit lens.

Filed under: Cameras, Nikon

Source: Nikon

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Wednesday, April 09, 2014

drag2share: Bring voice control to your home on the cheap with a Raspberry Pi

source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/09/jasper-voice-activated-assistant-open-source-raspberry-pi/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

Siri, Cortana and Google Now are all inspired by the computers that Dave Bowman, Captain Picard and Iron Man use on a daily basis. But what if you wanted to turn your home into a voice-activated haven without those sorts of resources? Well, thanks to a Princeton students Charles Mash and Shubhro Saha, you can. The pair developed Jasper, an open-source, always-on voice control system that works on a Raspberry Pi and can easily be customized for your needs. All you need is an internet connection, one of the tiny educational boards and a USB microphone and you can ask the system to do whatever your coding ability allows. All we need now is for someone to kidnap Stephen Fry or Paul Bettany so our computer has the right level of sniffy British snark in its voice.

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drag2share: MIT Geniuses Made A Drone That Can Charge Itself Without Coming Back Down To Earth

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/drone-power-line-perching-system-2014-4

Joseph Moore, a PhD. candidate at MIT, is working on an impressive robotic system that enables drones to perch on power lines (just like birds) and recharge their batteries.

When the FAA's regulations catch up with the interest for commercial drone use, this system could make it possible for drones to travel an effectively unlimited distance — when their batteries are nearing zero, they could engage the system to perch on a power line, charge up, and go off again to their destinations.

Since power lines create a magnetic field, a drone equipped with a magnetometer can spot them quite easily. It largely becomes a matter of crunching the numbers to determine the best approach — one that causes the drone to come to a stop just above a line — then having software drive the drone's control surfaces to make it happen.

Consider the Amazon delivery drones that the company teased earlier this year, which were of a large quadrotor design. Moore told us that a fixed-wing system is more effective for carrying weight than a quadrotor design since its surface generates lift simply by moving through the air. The only lift generated by a quadrotor is the lift that which comes from its spinning propellers.

This perching system is still being developed, and while we didn't get to see actual perching take place, we were given a demo that demonstrates that this thing works well enough to get within centimeters of a power line. Here's a hand-thrown glider with onboard electronics that automatically steer it into contact with the line in realtime.

perching

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