Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

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)

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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/

Sent via Flipboard

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

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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.

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

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

Join the conversation about this story »

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

drag2share: Google Is Cutting Deals With Wireless Carriers Everywhere So People Can Pay For Apps And Downloads On Their Phone Bills

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/ZKYbYOOTodo/google-play-and-carrier-billing-2014-4

It makes a lot of sense for smartphone users to be able to add the cost of their app or music downloads to their monthly phone bill.

This method of payment is known as "carrier billing." While some app stores, notably Apple's App Store, shun it, others have embraced it.

Google has been smart in recognizing that people would find this method of payment convenient, and has moved aggressively to broker deals with wireless carriers across Europe, East Asia, and North America to make carrier billing possible on Android devices.

At last count, Android users in 21 countries can pay for Google Play goods on their phone bills: apps, music downloads, and in-app purchases.

Carrier billing is often unfairly painted as a payment method that's mainly popular in poor countries where people don't have access to credit cards. But Google's work with carriers has actually focused on wealthy economies, with thriving app stores, including in Japan, the U.S. and the U.K.

The table below, compiled by BI Intelligence, shows the wireless carriers that Google has signed on to support this payment method, known as "carrier billing," which is proving more and more popular with consumers.

Google Play

-! --
< a href='http://drag2share.com/welcome?s=emailfooter'>drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

drag2share: Is It a Good Idea to Vaporize and Inhale Alcohol?

Source: http://gizmodo.com/is-it-a-good-idea-to-vaporize-and-inhale-alcohol-1561227862

Is It a Good Idea to Vaporize and Inhale Alcohol?

Vaporizing, and then inhaling alcohol has gained a lot of attention lately. In the 1950s it was introduced as a treatment for excessive fluid in your lungs, called pulmonary edema. It's now gained popularity as a way to quickly become intoxicated. Proponents of this process-to-become-plastered, tout several benefits compared to drinking it. Many claim you get drunk without any calorie intake. Some state, because you bypass the liver, you can eliminate the alcohol quickly and avoid the dreaded alcohol hangover.

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

drag2share: Nanoparticles in Consumer Products Could Be Damaging Your DNA

Source: http://gizmodo.com/how-nanoparticles-in-consumer-products-could-be-damagin-1561236280

Nanoparticles in Consumer Products Could Be Damaging Your DNA

Masses of products—from cosmetics to clothing—now contain nanoparticles, to kill microbes, lengthen shelf life or provide other wonderful properties. But new research from MIT and Harvard suggests they could also be damaging your DNA.

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

drag2share: Bitcoin Mining May Be Hitting A Wall

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/lSOsiHrRpcU/bitcoin-mining-may-be-hitting-a-wall-2014-4

"We're reaching the limits where we have Intel, the largest chip manufacturer with the deepest pockets — they're now having to delay their [14 nm] Broadwell chip," he told BI at the InsideBitcoins conference Tuesday. "If they're not able to do 14 nanometers, I'm not sure if an ASIC [Bitcoin mining] machine can beat Intel. So I think we're going to hit a plateau of 28 or 20 [nanometers]."

It will take some time for the computing rate on the Bitcoin network itself to start flattening out, since it's determined by an additional set of cost inputs that reflect the absolute number of miners in the system. So things like lower chips production costs, higher bitcoin prices, and greater investment could cause the line in the following chart to keep rising.

bitcoin difficulty

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

drag2share: Here's How Fast Food And Exercise Habits Vary Around America

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/diet-and-exercise-habits-around-america-2014-4

Fast Food And Exercise

People in the South and Midwest consume fast food more frequently than people anywhere else in the country — with Oklahomans opting for Big Macs, Whoppers, and the like more times per week than residents of any other state.

Meanwhile, Hawaiians exercise more frequently than residents of any other U.S. state. Nice weather might help explain that, but Alaskans come in second — eliminating the cold as an excuse for skipping workouts. (Thanks, Alaska.)

The data for these maps come from the DNA analysis service 23andMe. The genetic information provider examined more than 1500 different characteristics, ranging from fast food consumption to pet ownership, to help illustrate the way that personality, health, and behavior differ across the United States.

Their information was all tied to geographic locations, so 23andMe researcher and statistics blogger Emma Pierson created a series of visualizations that illustrate some of the differences around the country. As you can see above, the places where people exercise more frequently tend to be places that consume less fast food.

Pierson also created interactive visualizations that allow for more detailed state-by-state comparisons of how frequently people eat fast food or exercise.

You can check out some more of the results they found on 23andMe's blog.

SEE ALSO: Where do people eat the most red meat?

Join the conversation about this story »

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)