Source: http://gizmodo.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-the-beast-that-sips-electricity-1636655827
Over the past year, PC graphics cards have swelled to gargantuan proportions, with price tags to match: Nvidia's GeForce GTX Titan
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/18/android-l-encryption-out-of-the-box/
Apple isn't the only one that's making its software a lot more secure, and erm, fed-proof -- Google's upcoming Android platform will apparently be encrypted by default, according to The Washington Post. The publication didn't clarify whether it's Android's full-disk encryption, which Google first rolled out in 2011, but it did say that nobody can access the encrypted device (not even the company), unless they know its four-digit pin. Does that mean users will be forced to nominate a passcode upon setup? We don't know for sure, but with encryption in place, Mountain View (just like Apple) won't be able to assist authorities in searching your phone, so long as you keep your passcode a secret.
Company spokeswoman Niki Christoff told the Post that keys/passcodes are not stored online or anywhere off your device, so Google has no way to share them. Also, with this update, you won't even have to think or figure out how to switch encryption on, since you're protected from the start. Google has apparently been developing this Android L feature for months, because while feds generally can't search phones without a warrant, it wants its software to be more resistant to government snooping.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google
Source: Washington Post
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/18/samsung-curved-monitor/
Want a curved display from Samsung but don't quite have the scratch to bring one of its gigantic models home? Maybe try the 27-inch S27D590C monitor on for size when it releases at some ambiguous point in the future. The firm seems to be targeting gamers specifically with the monitor, saying that the curve creates a wider field of view (178 degrees horizontally and vertically, if you're curious) and gives the screen a "3D-like" effect when you're playing shooters and racing games, among other genres. There's even a one-button game mode that makes a few adjustments to compensate for motion blur, color and contrast too. Unlike Dell's not-flat display, however, this one's limited to a paltry 1,920 x 1,080 lines of resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. This'll probably be fine for us commoners, sure, but it might not be enough for the PC Master Race.
Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/18/london-crime-prediction/
Just this year we've seen open data give rise to recreations of Denmark in Minecraft, the ability to compare cities at the same scale and also collections of geo-mapped tweets and traffic lights. But what about a practical application for all of that info, one that has a more tangible benefit to society, like, say, crime prediction? That's what the University of Trento in Italy had in mind with its "Once Upon a Crime" study. The researchers coupled freely available (and anonymous, aggregated) demographic and mobile phone data with real crime data to forecast where in London an infraction might occur. Just how accurate was it? The Italian scientists say that their predictive algorithm was on-point, accurately anticipating whether an area would have either high or low levels of vice, 70 percent of the time. No, it's not quite enough to let Chief Anderton and co. start running wild just yet, but it could be a way to help cities struggling with budget woes decide what areas need more (or fewer) police patrols.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Cellphones
Via: Slashdot
Source: Arxiv (PDF)
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/17/netropolitan-social-network-for-rich/
True or False: You don't go on Facebook anymore, because it's such a drag not being able to talk about your private jet's new upholstery. After all, a few of your old friends post regularly about student debt and (gasp) mortgage payments, and it'll make you look like an insensitive prick.
If you answered True, this new social network called Netropolitan hopes you'll be willing to pony up a whopping $9,000 up front to rub virtual elbows with the equally rich. Netropolitan's website describes it as "an online country club for people with more money than time" and is open to anyone over 21 with cash to throw around. There's no need to add friends, since you can see everyone else's post once you get it, but you can form groups around common interests (which, by the way, you can also do on Facebook for free).
This new social network for the elite was created by James Touchi-Peters, a former conductor of the Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra, because he "saw a need for an environment where you could talk about the finer things in life without backlash," according to CNN. He promises the website will show no ads and will offer a round-the-clock tech support to help you navigate the website. Netropolitan's still in its very early stages, but if it lasts, you'll have to pay a hefty $3,000 more per year to be able to stay.
If the website's WordPress backend or .info TLD don't suit your taste, though, you can always choose from the other exclusive social networks. There's ASmallWorld, which was once described as the "MySpace for millionaires" and Affluence.org, which you can join for free if you can prove a $3 million net worth. Finally, there's Topcom, which is like Facebook, Twitter and Skype combined, but only for the top 200 world leaders.
Filed under: Internet
Via: CNN
Source: Netropolitan
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/new-amazon-fire-hdx-tablet-2014-9
Amazon is refreshing its line of high-end Kindle Fire HDX tablets with a new 8.9-inch model that's faster and sleeker than its predecessor for the same price of $379.
The Fire HDX has a quad-core processor with a graphics engine that's 70% speedier than the one in the last device. The Fire HDX 8.9 is also equipped to support super-fast Wi-Fi, and is the first tablet with Dolby Atmos, which means that when you listen to headphones, the sound will seem like it's coming from different directions.
Even with the fast processor, the tablet's battery can support up to 12 hours of reading, watching videos, and listening to music, Amazon says. A new feature called Smart Suspend also helps the tablet save battery: It will turn your wireless connection on and off when it's not in use, so you'll still get notifications but won't drain the device.
Amazon also boasts that the new device is 20% lighter than the iPad Air and that its display has 30% more pixels than the iPad's Retina display, making it super-crisp with beautiful colors. The screen also has something that Amazon calls "Dynamic Light Control," which means that it changes the white part of the display based on the light surrounding it to mimic as well as possible what an actual page of a book would look like. This makes it easier on your eyes because it's more like reading a normal printed book.
We tried to capture what that means here. The device in the middle is an iPad — notice how it looks more blue and less warm than the Fire HDX, on the left:
The Fire HDX tablet is running an updated version of Amazon's operating-system, a forked version of Android KitKat that the company is calling Fire OS 4 "Sangria." Like Amazon's new Fire smartphone, this tablet w! ill supp ort Firefly, a feature which lets users scan objects like books, movies, posters, QR codes, and household goods to give you more information about them or make a purchase on Amazon.com. Firefly also comes with a new translation feature: You can take a picture of something in a different language, and the tablet will spit out the English translation.
One of the great features from Sangria is called Family Library. It lets family members easily share content like books, movies, and games, even if they use different Amazon accounts. This feature could come in handy, for example, if you and your partner wanted to read an e-book at the same time, but only wanted to buy one copy.
Amazon is definitely marketing this device to families, so you can also create up to six profiles on each tablet — two "adults" and four "kids."
Like the last Kindle HDX tablets, this new version has front and rear facing cameras, but it also come with free, unlimited cloud storage, so you don't have to worry about running out of space if you're a photo-fanatic.
Finally, Amazon built a new, super-light keyboard for people who think they'll be using their tablet for work. It comes with the most popular Android Office app, WPS Office:
The Fire HDX 8.9 costs $379 and is available for pre-order now. It will start shipping in October.
Join the conversation about this story »
Source: http://gizmodo.com/eyes-on-with-the-270-degree-future-of-cinema-1635539325
A 270-degree, wraparound triple-screen theater system
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/17/ftc-online-shipping-rule/
Internet stores can sometimes be far too optimistic about the time it takes to ship your order -- just ask the scores of gift givers whose packages arrived late last year. They'll have to be much more pragmatic from now on, though. The FTC has issued new rules requiring that retailers ship within a "reasonable" selected timeframe, or within 30 days if they can't provide a date. If they don't meet their targets, they'll have to either get your permission for a delay or issue a prompt refund. You can still change your mind even if you agree to wait, and saying nothing will still get your money back. The new guidelines take effect on December 8th, so you can buy your holiday presents online with a little more confidence this time around.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Paul Sakuma]
Filed under: Internet
Source: FTC
At the same time, Splice is moving into open beta and rolling out a new product called DNA Player along with a new track from artists Henry Fong and J-Trick.
The DNA Player lets you see how a song was built while listening to it. It lets you look at all of the nitty gritty components that go into the song with annotations explaining each piece, and it helps artists visualize music's source code.
"We built a platform that allows musicians to focus solely on the creative process without interruption and are excited to open up the beta to all musicians today," Martocci said in a press release. "We're thrilled to see music veterans alongside up and coming artists work with us in different capacities to bring the industry up to speed with technology."
Source: http://gizmodo.com/airvr-wants-to-shut-off-all-human-contact-with-an-ipad-1635618095
Would you trade quite literally all of your friends (and $49 shiny Canadian dollars) for a shot at a probably-mediocre virtual reality experience? AirVR, a Canadian company with an entire Kickstarter page all to itself, is thinking yes.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/16/verizon-hd-voice-video-call-lte/
Verizon's HD voice and video chat feature is now live, just like it promised back in August. The carrier officially calls it "Advanced Calling 1.0," and it lets you make high-definition voice calls over LTE to other Verizon phones that also have the capability. Its video chat function, on the other hand, is a combination of HD voice and real-time video feed, though it can transfer the video portion of the call from LTE to Verizon WiFi when available. Anyone with a compatible device can access the feature at no additional charge, with HD voice costing the same as your standard call rates. Video, however, will be billed as data, with one minute eating up between six to eight MB.
As great as Advanced Calling sounds, you unfortunately can't use it all the time -- as we mentioned earlier, it only works if you and the person you're calling are both using Verizon phones with the capability. The bad news is, there are only two compatible devices right now (the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the LG G2), though the carrier promises to add more to the list over time. If you do have those phones, simply install the software update that recently rolled out to your devices and follow the instructions on the Advanced Calling page to change your settings and enable the feature.
Verizon begins offering Advanced Calling 1.0 across its nationwide network on select smartphones. Learn more: http://t.co/2A6UpyfxaY #VoLTE
- Verizon Wireless (@VZWnews) September 15, 2014 Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Verizon
Source: Verizon (1), (2)
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/16/leica-x-e-hands-on/
As with all APS-C sensors, the X-E's has a crop factor of 1.5x, making that 24mm lens equivalent to a 35mm optic on a full-frame camera. There's a 230k-dot (low-res) 2.7-inch LCD, a 5 fps continuous shooting mode and a top sensitivity of ISO 12,500. The X-E does not, however, shoot video, which is quite disappointing given the price. At €1,490 in Europe or $1,795 in the US, you might be better off spending an extra grand for Sony's full-frame RX1, but if a Leica's what you're after, this is a decent choice. The X-E is available now through select retailers.
Photos by Edgar Alvarez.
Filed under: Cameras
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/16/fujifilm-x-t1-x100t-hands-on/
Both Fujifilm's X-T1 mirrorless and X100 compact cameras were widely lauded, so how could the company improve them without messing up a good thing? We'll talk about the X-T1 Graphite Silver Edition shortly, but in the case of the new X100T, Fujifilm's answer was to address its lone Achilles heel: the viewfinder. As we saw earlier, the basics of the camera, like the 16.3-megapixel X-Trans II APS-C sized sensor and 23mm f/2.0 lens remain the same. Though the lack of a zoom might dissuade some, the fast, fixed lens delivers high quality images and works great with the optical viewfinder (OVF). Though purists love OVFs, they bring certain problems -- namely, parallax issues on close-up shots and problems checking focus. Fujifilm has now addressed those problems with a new toy we've not seen on any other camera: a hybrid viewfinder.
We saw it previewed earlier this year, but here's a reminder on how it works: you can shift between three viewfinder modes using a toggle at the front of camera. In the first mode, you have a 92 percent coverage optical viewfinder (OVF) with an overlay showing shutter, f/stop and other info. When you're shooting up close, where parallax can be a problem, the system automatically adjusts the frame border in real time so that you don't have to adjust after focusing -- normally a huge issue with OVFs. In pure EVF mode, there's a low-lag, 2,360K dot electronic viewfinder that shifts quickly from optical mode. Finally, the hybrid, or "electronic rangefinder" mode shows an optical view with an EVF inset into the lower right corner, allowing you to digitally judge exposure and focus. The parallax correction also works in this mode.
In practice, it works rapidly and seamlessly, and switching between modes is easy with the front toggle. Though the quality of the EVF is good, switching to the OVF is jarring as you can instantly see how artificial an EVF actually is compared to a true rangefinder. But having the digital view in the corner is comforting, eliminating the nagging feeling that you've botched the exposure. Other tweaks include a "classic chrome" film simulation mode, easier-to-grip dials, new programmable functions, finer f/stop and exposure compensation dials, and 1080p/60fps video with manual focus. All of that should make the excellent X100T even better, especially if you like tweaking settings yourself -- as long as you can live without a zoom lens and don't mind paying $1,300 when it arrives in November.
As for the X-T1 Graphite Silver Edition, the mirrorless camera has undergone more minor changes. Along with the new silver color, the shutter now deploys electronically and silently at up to 1/32,000 of a second, which could freeze even a jittery hummingbird. A fast shutter also means you won't need an NDF on a super-bright day, as long as you don't mind your subject having zero trace of motion blur. It's also got a new EVF that Fujifilm claims is more natural, and which we found to be relatively clear and free of lag. The X-T1 will arrive in November starting at $1,500 (body only) or $1,900 with an 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens.
Daniel Cooper contributed to this report.
Filed under: Cameras
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/16/google-my-maps/
Google has had tools for creating custom maps for a while, but they haven't been very accessible -- especially not if you've wanted to find your friends' creations. It should be easier to track down those hand-made tourist guides and trail markers after today, though. Google has relaunched Maps Engine Lite as the much catchier My Maps, and has expanded the Google Maps Gallery to include everyone's projects, no matter what their focus. So long as you want to make your cartography public in the first place, anyone can find it sitting alongside the Gallery's usual historic and government info. Google will transition every Maps Engine Lite user to My Maps by the end of the year, but you can upgrade early if you just can't wait to share your favorite bike path with the rest of the world.
Source: Google Maps, Maps Gallery, Google Play
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/16/chromecast-disney-dramafever-twitch/
Heads up, Chromecast owners - your $35 media-flinging dongle just got a new infusion of oomph. Google announced on its official Chrome blog earlier today that users can now stream content from a slew of Disney apps (think WATCH Disney, WATCH Disney Junior and WATCH Disney XD for the young'uns) as well as iHeartRadio and Twitch (which just might be a little salt in the wound since Google couldn't quite make the deal work). You may rejoice if you're the type to binge on cheesy, over-the-top, emotionally charged television too since DramaFever's app have been given the same treatment -- now you've got another way to plow through your backlog of Coffee Prince episodes on a bigger screen. Can you think of a better way to spend a lazy weekend? We sure can't.
Filed under: HD
Source: Official Chrome Blog
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