MythTV turns 0.25, is actually ten in human years

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/mythtv-turns-0-25-is-actually-ten-in-human-years/

Perhaps it's to help it keep that start-up vibe but, for whatever reason, on the eve of its tenth birthday MythTV is about to release version 0.25. That's right, it's the two bit anniversary of one of our favorite open source HTPC programs. So, what's new in this edition? A lot. In fact, for full details you'll have to hit up the changelog at the source. But, we can guarantee that the new MythTV Services API will open up a whole new frontier to devs. If you're looking for more, well, don't worry -- the creators have also added support for IPv6, AirPlay, HTTP Live Streaming, and DirectX acceleration. For more details and to download the beta for yourself, hit up the source link.

Update: One more major feature added to 0.25 is the support for CableCARD tuners. That capability was added to 0.24 through patches, but this next version supports it out of the proverbial box.

MythTV turns 0.25, is actually ten in human years originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  MythTV  | Email this | Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

Tether for iPhone returns as an HTML5-powered subscription service (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/tether-for-iphone-html5-webapp/

We're still not sure how iTether temporarily snuck into the App Store the first time around, but the developers behind that software have returned with a new version that skirts Apple's guidelines entirely. While Tether.com has standard apps available for BlackBerry and Android users, the new approach on iOS relies on creating an ad-hoc network from a PC, and then visiting the appropriate webpage on the iPhone. Log in to the website, and the company's "patent-pending" software does the job of tying the two connections together wirelessly through the magic of HTML5, no jailbreaking or other hackery needed. The cost for the service is $30 a year, although it's currently available for the first year at $15 -- no free trials, and of course what happens to your data plan is between you and your carrier. Check out the video above for a demonstration or hit the company's website for more details.

Tether for iPhone returns as an HTML5-powered subscription service (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Tether  | Email this | Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

Forth Dimension's second Replicating Reality concept stuffs Half-Life 2 into a virtual reality headset (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/forth-dimensions-second-replicating-reality-concept-stuffs-half/

GDC might be winding down, but we'd be remiss if we didn't catch up with Forth Dimension Displays, the Kopin subsidiary responsible for all those little microdisplays inside your camcorders and, we're told, specialized military gear. While neither of those are terribly exciting to consumers, the outfit's latest concept is. Similar to last year's E3 demo, the company's new rig is built to highlight the kinds of use cases it would like OEMs to build using its microdisplays. The above jury-rigged setup above consists of a helmet rocking two of the company's SXGA (1280 x 1024) microdisplays which are in turn connected to back-mounted drivers which are then attached to your run-of-the-mill gaming PC. But unlike previous endeavors, when head-tracking happened in the helmet, this year we've got a plastic gun stuffed with an air mouse which controls onscreen movement. It's admittedly hacked together and certainly not flawless -- the cursor tended to bob upwards in our time with it -- yet very immersive and an amazing way to frag combine soldiers in the trenches of Half Life 2. But don't take our ! word for it, ogle at the gallery below, or watch a video of it in all its glory after the break.

Gallery: Forth Dimension's Replicating Reality Half-Life 2 concept

Continue reading Forth Dimension's second Replicating Reality concept stuffs Half-Life 2 into a virtual reality headset (video)

Forth Dimension's second Replicating Reality concept stuffs Half-Life 2 into a virtual reality headset (video) originally appeared on Engadget o! n Fri, 0 9 Mar 2012 20:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

Thunderbolt is everywhere, now let's make it faster with PCI-Express 3.0

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/thunderbolt-could-get-faster-with-pci-express-3/

Things are different on Planet Intel. Over there, Thunderbolt drives and peripherals are as cheap and abundant as artificial intelligences in a Culture novel, so the population's attention has already turned to what comes next. Some are prepared to wait for a promised 50Gbps optical interconnect by 2015, but an impatient few are trying to make Thunderbolt exploit the new PCI-Express 3.0 standard for more immediate thrills. PCWorld claims the latest form of PCI-Express found in Sandy Bridge E, Ivy Bridge and Xeon E5 chipsets could make 10Gbps Thunderbolt run "significantly faster", thanks to a 60 percent speed boost over PCIe 2.0. Maybe they're right, but back on this planet we're still 33 percent of the way through transferring The Best of Leo Sayer to our USB 2.0-equipped Xperia S.

Thunderbolt is everywhere, now let's make it faster with PCI-Express 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  PCWorld  | Email this | Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

FujiFilm's $1,700 X100 Black Edition now shipping, limited to 10K units worldwide

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/fujifilms-1-700-x100-black-edition-now-shipping-limited-to-10/

We somehow missed this retro-styled gem at back at CES, but no matter -- Fujifilm's X100 Black Premium Edition is now shipping and available for purchase. This is exactly the same 12.3-megapixel camera that's been pleasing photographers for nearly a year, albeit in a darker, single-tone finish that's limited to a run of 10,000 units worldwide. Priced at $1,700, the black X100 is 500 more bones than the standard-issue variant and features the same 23mm fixed lens, but it comes with a lens hood, leather case, clear lens filter and an adapter ring; all of which are all painted to match. We'd say this blacked-out shooter gives the NEX-7 a run for its money in the dapper looks department, but you can decide for yourself at the source link below. Full press release past the break.

Continue reading FujiFilm's $1,700 X100 Black Edition now shipping, limited to 10K units worldwide

FujiFilm's $1,700 X100 Black Edition now shipping, limited to 10K units worldwide originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Fujifilm  | Email this | Comments

Read More...

Summary only...