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27 Feb 14:57

Zelda... In First Person...On The Oculus Rift

by Patricia Hernandez

Maybe changing the perspective on the original Legend of Zelda is a little weird—everything looks so different here—but that's exactly what makes this Oculus Rift version of the game interesting. Its almost like you're playing (or in this case, watching) an entirely new game.

Right now, this version of Zelda is in beta according to Vaecon—and only the overworld and first dungeon are available. The full version of the game drops on March 2014. For now, you can download the beta version of the game for the Oculus Rift here.

And when you're done with that, remember: you can also play Zelda II as a first person shooter, too.

Legend of Zelda BETA on the Oculus Rift [Vaecon]

Related
Play Zelda II As A First-Person Shooter

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26 Feb 20:15

Google Now Launcher availability expands to Nexus and Google Play edition devices

by Derek Kessler

Google Now Launcher availability expands to Nexus and Google Play edition devices

No longer for just the Nexus 5

Attention Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Google Play edition device owners: You too can now use the Google Play Launcher that was previous reserved for just the Nexus 5. That's right, no longer must you suffer with Google Now being a tap-and-hold or widget away, you can now install the Google Now Launcher and swipe right to launch right into Google Now.

It's not just easy swiping access to Google Now. That omnipresent search box is updated in the Google Now Launcher to be always listening for the phrase "Ok Google" — just say it to launch voice search. And it's a visual update with larger icons, relocated widget preferences, and other tweaks that make it easier and faster to use.


    






26 Feb 20:11

Plex's new Chromecast features let you watch more content, better than ever before

by Emily Price

Plex launched support for Chromecast a few months ago, and now its offering is getting even better. Starting today, Android users (sorry, iPhones!) can not only cast any music, videos or photos from their Plex library onto their TVs using Chromecast, they can also play content in file formats previously unsupported by the dongle. With the feature, Plex transcodes the content into a new format, allowing it to be played just as if it was natively supported. The app also now supports content mirroring. A first for the Chromecast, with mirroring you can cast a movie synopsis to the big screen while you're browsing your library to help the group make a movie night decision. If you pick a high-bitrate 1080p flick from your library, Plex tweaked how content is cast to eliminate "expensive transcoding" and make the process more reliable and efficient than ever before.

The updated version of the Plex app is available now for Android, and an iPhone version is on the way. If you're thinking of giving the app a try, be forewarned: for now use of the Chromecast feature currently requires you pony up for a PlexPass subscription -- which start at $3.99 a month. The company says the feature will be free for everyone after its (undefined) preview period ends.

Filed under: Cellphones, Household, Wireless, HD, Mobile

Comments

Source: Plex

25 Feb 04:53

Samsung Gear Fit is a fitness tracker with a curved display and changeable straps

Slimfady

My favorite Samsung announcement in MWC. Too bad it only seems to work with Samsung phones

Samsung Gear Fit colors group

Following Samsung's announcement of its new Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo smartwatches over the weekend, most folks figured that that'd be the last time we heard about anything Gear-branded at MWC 2014. However, it turns out that Samsung actually had one more Gear wearable up its sleeve on its wrist for today's Unpacked 2014 Episode 1 shindig.

Known as the Samsung Gear Fit, this new wearable is a fitness-focused device that also happens to serve up notifications when paired with a Galaxy smartphone. It does so using a 1.84-inch 432x128 Curved Super AMOLED display, which Samsung claims is the first such screen on a wearable device. The Gear Fit is also IP67 rated for resistant to dust and water and includes a 210mAh battery that's estimated to last three to four days with typical usage.

When it comes time to get your sweat on, the Gear Fit features a pedometer, heart rate monitor and more to help keep track of your exercise stats. And once you're done working out and are ready to relax, the Fit can also act as a media controller. When paired with a Galaxy smartphone, the Gear Fit can serve up notifications for things like calls, SMS, email, S Planner and third-party apps.

Samsung says that the Tizen-powered Gear Fit will roll out to stores around the globe starting in April. One other detail about the Fit that's worth noting is that is features a changeable strap, meaning that owners will be able to swap their existing band for another one that may better fit their mood. The straps will be available in Black, Orange and Mocha Grey hues.

There's definitely no shortage of fitness trackers on the market, but not all of them are also capable of serving up notifications from your phone as well. That feature could help Samsung's Gear Fit stand out in an increasingly-crowded market. Of course, we still don't know how much the Gear Fit will cost, and that's one aspect of the device that could easily help make it or break it. With a launch slated for a little over a month from now, hopefully Samsung will spill its pricing beans for the Gear Fit soon.

Does Samsung's Gear Fit pique your interest? Or would you prefer your wearable to be a bit more like a traditional, Gear 2-like smartwatch?

Via Samsung

25 Feb 04:52

Galaxy S5 ROM is a bit of a monster, taking up nearly 8GB of storage

by Phil Nickinson
Slimfady

Samsung Bloat S5

Samsung Galaxy S5 storage

That SD card slot Samsung keeps including in its phones? You're going to need it.

Mobile World Congress

We have to preface what we're about to show you with the following statement: Pre-release device, lacking carrier customizations, yadda yadda. But what you see here is the storage listing on the just-announced Samsung Galaxy S5

And what you can see is that on the 16GB model of the Galaxy S5, half of the on-board storage is used up before the owner even turns on the phone. It's not quite as dire on the 32GB model of course (and remember that there's a little bit of funky math anyway, and you never get as much storage as manufacturers say), and Samsung will quickly tell you that's why you have the option to use a microSD card for expanded storage. It's something that we've seen before, and it's the same scenario. You need room for all those features and apps.

Still. When we're looking to buy the Samsung Galaxy S5 this April, we'll be opting for the 32-gigabyte version. Let's hope the U.S. carriers don't throw a wrench into that plan.


    






25 Feb 04:51

Story of Nintendo vs. Sega coming to the movies

by David Hinkle
Slimfady

Could be nice

Hollywood is turning the bitter battle of bits between Nintendo and Sega into a feature film. Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation, an upcoming book by Blake J. Harris, attempts to outline the biggest video game...
20 Feb 11:42

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

by Adam Dachis

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

With Lego people taking over the movies for the last couple of weeks, we figured we'd give in and let them conquer our desktops as well. Here are some of the best wallpapers catching Lego folk in their natural (and sometimes unnatural) habitat.

Space Cadet

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (1919x1199) | The Paper Wall

Mob City

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (3840x2160) | The Paper Wall

City Panic

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (1920x1080) | The Paper Wall

Hector

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (1920x1080) | The Paper Wall

Bart's Room

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (2560x1920) | The Paper Wall

The Cooks

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (2560x1440) | The Paper Wall

Man of Plastic Steel

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (1920x1200) | The Paper Wall

The Avengers

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (1920x1080) | The Paper Wall

Storm Cyclist

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (2560x1600) | The Paper Wall

Surveying the Cliff

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (1920x1200) | The Paper Wall

Goodnight

Put Some Lego People on Your Desktop With These Wallpapers

Download This Wallpaper (1920x1200) | The Paper Wall

For more great wallpapers, check out our previous Wallpaper Wednesdays. Got any great wallpapers you'd like to share? Email me a link with "Wallpaper Wednesday" in the subject line. Submitting your own work is highly encouraged!

20 Feb 11:34

Connect or die: why Facebook needed WhatsApp

by Ellis Hamburger

When Mark Zuckerberg says he wants to "connect the world’s people," it’s not some gentle, humanist statement. Zuckerberg intends to own the communications layer of the world we live in — if today’s $16-plus billion acquisition of messaging service WhatsApp is any indication. Facebook grew up inventing the world’s leading social network for sharing with everyone you know, and it now owns what could be called the world’s largest private social network. Between the two companies, about one billion photos and 30 billion messages are sent per day.

While Facebook slaved away creating a utility used by 1.25 billion people, WhatsApp has replaced an essential utility for many, SMS. WhatsApp is used by over 450 million people every month, and often in places Facebook and its Messenger app had little success reaching, like Spain and Switzerland. By filling in the gaps with WhatsApp, Facebook’s communication pipes are thicker and spread far wider than ever before. The company commands an enormous portion of the world’s messages and photos sent per day. And don’t forget that WhatsApp users send a whopping 200 million voice messages per day. For many, WhatsApp has likely replaced voice calls as well.


Whatsapp_chart_1

Facebook’s latest acquisition might appear to be a simple land grab for the hottest mobile app in the world, with some delightful side effects, but the reality is far bigger. Each company Facebook acquires is another hedge against the various public and private ways people choose to communicate. Instagram lets people share photos in a way Facebook’s friending model wouldn’t allow. WhatsApp lets people share messages in a way that’s familiar to first-time feature phone and smartphone users — something Facebook can’t boast. Facebook’s product portfolio is becoming vast, full of competing services and apps, and that’s okay.

Facebook is now a conglomerate, kind of like Disney

Facebook is now a conglomerate kind of like Disney, says Re/code’s Kara Swisher, owning all the best brands and serving all demographics simultaneously. Facebook plans to operate these and likely future product acquisitions independently, to see which one gets the biggest. The company simply doesn’t want to mess with the formula that’s ostensibly killing it, whether it’s Instagram, WhatsApp, or the next hot communications app.

Whatsapp_chart_2

But Facebook is not just diversifying its product portfolio. It’s also diversifying its business model. Facebook had the opportunity to make WhatsApp free, like all of its other products, but chose not to. WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum promises that the service will remain ad-free under its $1 / year revenue model. With Koum on Facebook’s board, perhaps the company will consider similar revenue streams in the future. WhatsApp’s runaway success with its own business model proves that there’s a lot of breathing room for essential services to monetize without ads or in-app purchases.

"WhatsApp is the only app we’ve ever seen with higher engagement than Facebook itself."

It’s unclear how much say Koum will have in future Facebook products, but by including him in its board, Facebook is also diversifying its thought process. Facebook’s internal slogan is "move fast and break things," but WhatsApp has done the polar opposite. While competitors, Facebook Messenger included, added features, removed them, came alive, and went under, WhatsApp held fast to its belief in one goal: to replace texting. As Dan Frommer points out, the opportunity to replace texting is still enormous — SMS is still a $100 billion / year industry globally — and WhatsApp is the company in the best position to seize that opportunity. If WhatsApp had abandoned its goal to create a platform for games, or jump on the photo-sharing app bandwagon, it might not have been in the position it is in today.

Betting nearly a tenth of its market cap on a messaging app is a big risk for Facebook, but at least it bet on the only app that’s more social than Facebook itself. "WhatsApp is the only app we’ve ever seen with higher engagement than Facebook itself," Zuckerberg said on a conference call today. Perhaps this is the only reason Facebook acquired WhatsApp. Or perhaps it’s a sign of something bigger taking place, a diversification of Facebook as a company. But its ideals are still true to Zuckerberg’s stated mission, and the scope and ambition of what he means by "connecting the world’s people" has been fully revealed. However way the world’s people choose to connect next, you can bet Zuckerberg’s going to be standing not far off, wearing a grin and holding an open wallet.

20 Feb 05:54

The not-so-mini LG G2 Mini announced

by Quentyn Kennemer
Slimfady

How dare they call a 4.7" phone "Mini"?

lg g2 mini

There’s something to be said about the definition of the word “mini” when 4.7-inch devices fit under that category in this day and age. That’s exactly what the LG G2 Mini is, though, with LG announcing its existence ahead of Mobile World Congress. The device obviously takes some cues from the big brother it’s named after, including that ever-so-important set of buttons on the rear.

Under the hood, though, this couldn’t be any further from what the LG G2 brought us (as is usually the case with these little guys). The specs aren’t terribly exciting, though we’re still grateful as they could have been much worse. Here’s the scoop on the specs:

  • Chipset: 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Quad-Core MSM8926 (LTE) / MSM8226 (3G) / 1.7GHz Nvidia Quad Core Tegra 4i (LATAM LTE version)
  • Display: 4.7-inch qHD IPS (960 x 540)
  • Memory: 8GB eMMC / 1GB RAM / SD Card Slot
  • Camera: Rear 8.0MP / 13.0MP (LATAM LTE version) / Front 1.3MP
  • Battery: 2,440mAh (removable)
  • Operating System: Android 4.4 KitKat
  • Size: 129.6 x 66.0 x 9.8mm
  • Weight: 121g
  • Network: Cat. 4 & VoLTE / Cat. 3(LATAM), HSPA+ 21Mbps (3G)
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi (802.11 b/g/n), A-GPS, NFC (4G LTE version only)

We’re a tad concerned that a 4.7-inch display doesn’t have at least 720p resolution, though we can’t quite complain about everything else (especially if LG is looking to price it attractively). The LG G2 Mini will be offered up in “Titan Black,” “Lunar White,” red, and gold, though we’re reminded that availability for each color depends on your market and carrier.

As for availability? It’ll start rolling out next month, and should be headed for the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Europe — sorry, folks, North America isn’t invited. We’re sure LG will be toting these bad boys to Mobile World Congress next week, so we’ll be seeking them out to bring you hands-on impressions. Keep it tuned to Phandroid for those goods once that time comes.

20 Feb 05:53

Facebook is buying WhatsApp for $16 billion

by Chris Welch
Slimfady

16 Instagrams!!!

Facebook has entered into an agreement to purchase WhatsApp, the massively popular messaging client, for $16 billion in cash and stock. A document filed with the SEC today confirms the huge purchase. As was the case with Instagram, the company says WhatsApp will continue to operate independently after the acquisition — separate from Facebook Messenger — but claims the deal "accelerates Facebook’s ability to bring connectivity and utility to the world." Facebook is also throwing in an extra $3 billion in restricted stock units that will go to WhatsApp’s employees; those will vest over a period of four years after the acquisition is finalized.

Continue reading…

19 Feb 05:15

HTC M8 rumored to be coming to market as 'The All New One'

Slimfady

That would be a horrible name

HTC One rear

Today's been a pretty good day for HTC fans. Not only did the Taiwanese firm send out invitations to the unveiling of its next flagship phone, but we also caught a glimpse of the device itself in the form of a leaked product render. Now we're capping the day off with another big leak concerning the follow-up to the HTC One.

While the HTC M8 has leaked out in all manner of photos, rumor reports and spec leaks, one detail that's managed to elude us this entire time is the official name that the device will carry when it comes to market. As with all other details, though, that tidbit of information has leaked out ahead of HTC's big event. According to @evleaks, the HTC One's successor will be known as "The All New One." The new One is expected to be available in gray, silver and gold color options.

HTC has been using the "One" branding for a couple of years now, and so it's no surprise to hear that Peter Chou and Co. will stick with it for another flagship phone. While the name "The All New One" may not be quite as short and sweet as "HTC One," many of the other suggested monikers for the device that've been floating around were either not very good or in use by other companies.

What do you think of the name "The All New One?" If you could select the name for HTC's next flagship phone, what would you choose?

Via @evleaks

19 Feb 04:16

Photo





















18 Feb 16:15

Samsung Galaxy S5 to have fingerprint scanner, report claims

by Richard Devine
Slimfady

I hope they get sued by Apple

Swipe style scanner embedded in the physical home button

Mobile World Congress

We're just 7 days away from what we expect to be the grand unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S5, and we're hearing yet more apparent details about the new device. The folks at SamMobile have reportedly got their hands on some juicy inside information that claims there will be a swipe style fingerprint scanner embedded into the home button. Oh, and that there will still be physical buttons.

It's also claimed Samsung's fingerprint scanner will have increased functionality when compared to something like Apple's Touch ID. You'll be able to link up 8 fingerprints, but you can also assign said prints to certain tasks like launching apps. Swipe sensors aren't perhaps as user friendly as the static sensor in Touch ID, perhaps even less so on the home button. But they are secure.

In addition, SamMobile goes on to state there will also be a Personal folder and a Private Mode where you will be able to hide apps and content that can only be accessed by a password or by your fingerprint. Of course, until we see it all for ourselves in 7 days treat it with the usual dose of skepticism, and we'll be live from Barcelona to tell you all you need to know.

Source: SamMobile


    






18 Feb 15:46

Samsung lays out which devices will get Android 4.4.2 KitKat

by Phil Nickinson
Slimfady

Note bad at all

KitKat

Samsung this morning announced which of its devices are planned to receive an update to Android 4.4.2 KitKat. The list doesn't appear to contain any real surprises, but it's good to have some confirmation.

Here's how it breaks down for devices in the U.S.:


    






18 Feb 15:02

All Stars v Juve match may be ADP's last

Alessandro Del Piero hasn't committed to Sydney FC past this season and concedes the A-League All Stars clash against his former side Juventus could be his final football match.

18 Feb 14:54

HTC Advantage: Free Repairs for Cracked Screens in the First 6 Months of Ownership

by Anand Lal Shimpi
Slimfady

US only but still nice

Ahead of MWC and hot on the heels of its announcement that the next HTC flagship smartphone will be unveiled on March 25, HTC is introducing a new program: HTC Advantage.

The advantage program is free for HTC customers and includes a number of features designed to build customer loyalty. The first is the inclusion of a 6 month limited warranty to cover any damage to your screen. If you ding, scratch or crack your screen within the first 6 months of ownership, HTC will replace your display free of charge (1 time only). This applies to any HTC One, One mini and One max devices purchases from this day forward (and presumably HTC's next flagship will also fall under this umbrella after it's released). 

The limited warranty won't cover additional damage (e.g. water, non-functioning devices) and is limited to issues with your display. HTC will cover ground shipping in both directions for your damaged device, which it expects will take around 8 - 10 days to complete. If you need your device back quicker than that, HTC will offer an overnight option for $29. If you opt to pay the $29, HTC will ship you a refurbished device overnight and you just send your device back the next day. In the overnight exchange case, you'll obviously get a clean device - a tempting option if your device has scuffs/damage beyond the cracked screen. Once again, non-functioning devices won't be accepted under the terms of this warranty.

The other elements of HTC Advantage are things we've already heard from the company. HTC is committing to offering the latest Android updates for two years from the launch of any device. Unfortunately there is no commitment for the time between an Android release and when it'll be available on a HTC device, but the company does promise that it has been working to streamline its software development and deployment processes. The final component is free cloud storage with enough space to help you back up your device. Today that comes in the form of 25 - 50GB of Google Drive storage and HTC's backup tool

The cracked screen replacement is limited to the US for now, and HTC Advantage has a North America only focus at launch. HTC expects both of these things to be rolled out globally at some point in the future though.

18 Feb 14:53

HTC One sequel (HTC M8, One+, One 2?) to be officially unveiled March 25th

by Quentyn Kennemer
Slimfady

Why can't they avoid the GS5 launch window? They just can't directly compete with it

HTC is officially sending out press invites for a March 25th event — simultaneously taking place in both London and New York City — where they promise we’ll be seeing their flagship for the year ahead. We expect that phone to be the HTC M8 we’ve been hearing so much about, which is the direct sequel to the HTC One of yesteryear.

htc save the date

While we still don’t have a solid clue on what they’ll call this thing just yet, we do have a better idea of what to expect after a barrage of leaks. For starters, we know it’ll closely resemble the original HTC One, though users can expect a couple of key changes.

There’s an extra camera on the back, which rumors suggest will be used to facilitate some post-snap focusing features. Also noteworthy is the absence of physical navigation buttons, as HTC has seemingly settled on virtual buttons. Spec rumors have been a bit all over the place, though the latest say we should be seeing the following:

  • 5-inch 1080p HD display
  • Snapdragon 800 processor (more specifically, the MSM8974)
  • 2GB of RAM
  • UltraPixel camera on the rear
  • 2.1 megapixel camera on the front
  • WiFi ac
  • KitKat with Sense 6.0

It’s worth noting earlier rumors had the display anywhere between 5 and 5.2 inches, while we’ve also heard murmurings of 3GB of RAM instead of the typical 2GB. Whatever it turns out to be, though, we’ll be front and center come March 25th to take it all in. Be sure to circle the dates on your calendar!

18 Feb 14:48

Sony has sold over 5.3 million PlayStation 4 consoles worldwide

by Sam Byford

After the most recent NPD figures showed strong US sales for the PlayStation 4 in January, Sony has provided an update on the console's worldwide performance since it launched in November. Over 5.3 million PS4 systems have been sold through around the world as of February 8th, ahead of its release this Saturday in Sony's home territory of Japan. The company had previously forecast sales of five million units in the financial year ending March 2014.


PS4 selling over four times faster than Wii U

The last sales figures released by Microsoft indicated that 3.9 million Xbox One consoles had been shipped to retail channels worldwide as of January 23rd. Sony managed to sell "nearly double" the number of systems last month in the US, Microsoft's traditional stronghold.

Nintendo, meanwhile, has sold 5.86 million Wii U consoles over a year since its release date, meaning Sony's system is moving units at more than four times the pace. While the Japanese PS4 launch should give Sony a further sales boost, March 11th sees the release of Respawn Entertainment's Titanfall on Xbox One, perhaps the most anticipated next-generation title to date.

18 Feb 05:01

Gabe Newell says Valve isn't tracking your browser history

by Rich McCormick

A report surfaced two days ago on Reddit that claimed anti-cheat software used by video game developer Valve was allowing the Half-Life 2 and Steam creator to spy on its users' internet histories. Now, in a statement also issued on Reddit, Valve co-founder Gabe Newell has denied the accusation directly.

The original report said that Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC), software designed to stop the use of hacks and cheats in many games available on Steam, was pulling DNS data from its users' computers, before sending it back to Valve, a process that it suggested was designed to allow the company to build a picture of Steam users' browsing habits. Newell, who rarely addresses such conjecture directly, responded to the concerns with a short Q&A.


1) Do we send your browsing history to Valve? No.
2) Do we care what porn sites you visit? Oh, dear god, no. My brain just melted.
3) Is Valve using its market success to go evil? I don't think so, but you have to make the call if we are trustworthy. We try really hard to earn and keep your trust.

Newell also explained the reasoning for VAC's use of DNS data, explaining that as cheats get more advanced, cheat creators for Steam's online games can charge money for their hacks. Many, Newell said, also create DRM and anti-cheat code for their original hacks, designed to ensure a cheater has actually paid for their cheat. Those cheats "phone home" to an external DRM server that confirms a cheater has paid to use the cheat, a process that leaves a tell-tale trail in the users DNS entries. If found by VAC, then details of the matching DNS entries would be sent to Valve's VAC servers. The details would be checked one final time, and that client would be marked for a future ban.

DNS entries were apparently checked to search for the presence of specific cheats during a 13-day period

VAC's use of DNS data in this manner apparently continued for a 13-day search for "a specific round of cheats," during which, 570 cheaters were banned. The VAC test that checked DNS records for the offending entries is now, according to Newell, no longer active as hackers have already adapted. "Cheat providers have worked around it by manipulating the DNS cache of their customers' client machines."

The apparently inaccurate suggestions of the original report could've been due to misunderstanding. Newell called VAC "inherently a scary looking piece of software," because it was "trying to be obscure," and explained that Valve doesn't usually talk about its anti-cheat efforts "because it creates more opportunities for cheaters to attack the system." But he also said that as VAC gets better at stopping cheaters and the cost of developing new cheats rises, the number of complaints about VAC's nefarious intentions will increase. "For most cheat developers," he said, "social engineering might be a cheaper way to attack the system than continuing the code arms race, which means that there will be more Reddit posts trying to cast VAC in a sinister light."

18 Feb 01:33

Do Final Fantasy Fans Really Want More Lightning?

by Jason Schreier
Slimfady

Short answer, NO

Do Final Fantasy Fans Really Want More Lightning?

Square Enix believes that Lightning, the main character of the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, has a lot of fans.

Read more...

17 Feb 17:24

Throwback Review 2 – T68m, T68i & CommuniCam

by rog
Slimfady

You are awesome if you ever had this phone :D

Xperia Blog T68In the last Throwback Review, we took a look at the unreleased Sony Ericsson Z700. While that handset clearly carried the Sony DNA, the T68m was the last “Ericsson” branded phone to be released before the Sony Ericsson Joint Venture was announced in early 2002.

The Ericsson T68m was one of the first mobile phones that introduced a color display, amongst other novelties such as Bluetooth Connectivity. It was released in time for the 2001 holiday season and caught a lot of attention back then. The Sony Ericsson joint venture was formed in February 2002 and launched the T68i, its first handset, in April 2002.

The i-version had some slight design changes, but more importantly also introduced an updated firmware. This new firmware introduced MMS, an e-mail client and SyncML support. All of these features were new to the wider audience, and probably contributed to the big success that the T68m/i saw in the market. The T68i also featured in the James Bond movie “Die Another Day”, along with the P800 which we will cover in a future episode.

Xperia-Blog-T68

Together with the T68i, Sony Ericsson also released a snap on camera dubbed “MC-25 CommuniCam”. Looking back now, this was probably the start of the mobile phone photography era.

Before we head over to the video, here are the T68′s most important features in an overview:

  • 256 color STN display, 101 x 80 pixels
  • Dimensions: 101 x 48 x 19.5 mm (3.98 x 1.89 x 0.77 in)
  • Weight: 84 g (2.96 oz)
  • Bluetooth (V1b) and Infrared support

Episode 3 of the Throwback Review series will cover the Sony Ericsson T610, Bluetooth Car-100 and mobile flash light MPF-10 accessories. Stay tuned!

16 Feb 15:01

Hackers stole Kickstarter user data, but payment info was left untouched

by Billy Steele
In a blog post this afternoon, CEO Yancey Strickler said hackers gained access to "some" of Kickstarter's customer data last week. The co-founder of the crowdfunding outfit went on to say that the breach was closed immediately and security measures...
16 Feb 14:55

Stream Multimedia Files from Android to Chromecast with LocalCast

by eagleeyetom
hulu-plus-chromecast

Chromecast is a blast, no doubt about it. A small USB stick-like device that can do magic with your TV is something that might interest even skeptics. Streaming YouTube videos or some other multimedia was never so easy. Not so long ago, we talked about Google making the Chromecast SDK available to developers. As you will read in a moment, Android-Chromecast is capable of doing some really amazing things.

XDA Senior Member dakdroid, who also created the rather interesting music player beat, created another useful app. This time, your phone or tablet will easily stream media directly from your device to your TV. The list of supported formats is quite long, including H.264, MP4, and WebM. Using this application is extremely easy, as all you need to do is connect via the LocalCast app, select a video, and relax watching some of your favorite local media.

If you are a happy user of one of the smallest Google devices and have a phone or tablet with Android greater than 2.3, you should definitely visit the application thread and give LocalCast a shot.

13 Feb 17:52

Google and VMware team up to put your Windows desktop on Chromebooks

by Mariella Moon
So, your bosses have replaced most of the office computers with Chromebooks, but you need those old Windows apps to keep you sane. If the IT folks aren't on top of it already, you may want to tell them about a remote access solution developed by...
13 Feb 17:32

Comcast confirms $45 billion merger with Time Warner Cable

by Vlad Savov
Slimfady

O_O ??!!

Comcast has just made official the agreement rumored last night: it is acquiring Time Warner Cable in a multibillion-dollar deal. Officially presented as a merger between the two US cable giants, the agreement will see Comcast absorbing 100 percent of TWC in a $45.2 billion all-stock transaction. As a result, current Time Warner Cable shareholders will find themselves owning roughly 23 percent of Comcast's common stock.

Monopoly concerns immediately rise to the fore with a merger of this scale, which Comcast will try to allay by making divestitures. It's acquiring TWC's 11 million managed subscribers, but says it's prepared to divest systems that serve roughly 3 million, netting it 8 million from the deal and an overall total of 30...

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13 Aug 09:41

Xbox One gamepad to become PC compatible in 2014

by Alexis Santos
Slimfady

Should have been standard from the 360 days

Xbox One gamepad to become PC compatible in 2014

Gaming with an Xbox 360 controller on a PC isn't exactly a wallet-friendly situation, considering a wired version of the gamepad or an additional dongle are required. Things sound like they'll be simpler with the Xbox One, however, as a Microsoft representative told the Penny Arcade Report that the pad will operate with desktops once fresh software hits in 2014. Since the new gamepad "shares no underlying technology with the current Xbox 360 controller," the code will enable it to function with PCs and support games that are playable with the existing pad. It's likely that Redmond will lean on the gear's micro-USB port and wired mode for desktop-compatibility, but it's not clear whether a wireless adapter will be an option. If this gives you even more reason to pine for the next-gen hardware, set aside seven minutes to ogle at Ballmer and Co.'s controller.

Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft

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Source: Penny Arcade Report

13 Aug 09:37

There's a Bra Vending Machine in Tokyo

by Brian Ashcraft
Slimfady

WTF Japan?

There's a Bra Vending Machine in Tokyo

Over the years, Japan has seen an array of interesting and unusual vending machines. And recently, a brassiere dispensing one debuted in Tokyo.

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23 Jun 15:09

Falcon Pro beta community starts one star war on Twitter

by UbuntuBhoy
Slimfady

Stupid Twitter

The new Twitter 1.1 API has caused no end of controversy since its announcement splitting opinion amongst users.  Many see Twitter’s imposed token limits on third party apps (restricting the amount of users) as being wrong and forcing users to use the official app after years of being able to pick and choose the client of their choice.  Now one of the most talked about third party Twitter clients (you may remember the developers pulling support previously due to high piracy levels) beta communities is putting point across to the Twitter app developers using the play store.  Community members are rating the official app as one star and commenting shy they have done so.

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The community has over 6100 members but the official app has over half a million 5 star reviews so the overall reading won’t drop much.  Even if they did produce a larger percentage change it is hard to see Twitter changing anything.

23 Jun 10:39

What Anime Sounds Like to Parents

by Don
Animetogrownups

This is what anime sounds like to those who don’t watch it.

22 Jun 21:28

Bethesda lowers prices on Steam, PSN and XBLA/On Demand games

by Jordan Mallory
Bethesda has revamped its pricing structure for a whole mess of games across Steam, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade and Xbox Live Games on Demand, permanently reducing the cost of Skyrim, Dishonored, Fallout 3 (and derivatives) and others. The full list of affected games, as well as their new price points, can be found after the break.

In related news, our Skyrim wife left us this morning. She said she couldn't stand how cheap we are, which in hindsight is pretty ironic. Thanks for rubbing salt in the wound, Bethesda.

Continue reading Bethesda lowers prices on Steam, PSN and XBLA/On Demand games

JoystiqBethesda lowers prices on Steam, PSN and XBLA/On Demand games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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