Spread the Word about Create.lds.org

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Help spread the word about create.lds.org and how members can share their talents with the Church. Learn more about the Create effort.

How you can help:

• Print a poster and post it in your ward, stake, or institute buildings. (An example of the posters created from member-submitted pictures appears at the end of this article.)
• Share a video slideshows of member-submitted photos on your blog or Facebook page. (Two appear below.)

Spread the word and help the Church get photos, videos, and music to help spread the gospel.

via LDS Media Talk http://ldsmediatalk.com

JayBird launches BlueBuds X in-ear Bluetooth headphones for $169.95

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/29/jaybird-bluebuds-x/

If you thought JayBird's Freedom Sprint headphones were the only pair the company had planned for release this year, think again. Today marks the launch of BlueBuds X, an in-ear Bluetooth set with a microphone for taking calls, and a selection of the company's trademarked features. "Shift" technology promises lossless decompression of audio, while "PureSound" filters out white noise present in the vocal range. The headphones also boast "SignalPlus" to ensure stable pairing, the secure fit wings you see above so they stay nice and snug, and an eight-hour battery life. As usual, JayBird is targeting BlueBuds X at the fitness and sports market, but we reckon they'll probably work just as well outside of the gym. If you fancy picking up a pair, then head to the source link below to order them in "Midnight Black" or "Storm White" for $169.95 a piece.

Filed under: Peripherals

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Source: JayBird

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

x86 Surface Pro: $899 for 64GB, $999 for 128GB, no keyboard included [Updated]

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/11/x86-surface-pro-899-for-64gb-99-for-128gb-no-keyboard-included/

Enlarge / Surface Pro, with its included pen.

Microsoft

Microsoft has announced the pricing of the x86 version of its Surface tablet. Available some time in January, the Surface with Windows 8 Pro, as it will be known, will cost $899 for the version with 64GB storage. Doubling the storage tacks $100 on to the purchase price.

The Surface Pro will be very similar to the Surface RT, with the same VaporMg finish, kickstand, and aesthetic. There are a few differences, however. Unlike the ARM version, the x86 device includes an active digitizer with pen support and an included pen, a USB 3 port, a screen resolution of 1920×1080 (as opposed to Surface RT's 1366×768), 10-point multitouch (instead of 5), and mini-DisplayPort for external screens (rather than mini-HDMI, as on Surface RT). Powering the device will be an as-yet unspecified Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor and 4GB RAM. The system will weigh 2lbs, and is about 14mm thick.

Update: Microsoft has also tweeted that the Surface Pro's battery life will be about half that of the Surface RT, which translates to around 4-4.5 hours.

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via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

Microsoft confirms Surface with Windows 8 Pro pricing: starting at $899 for 64GB version, shipping in January

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/29/microsoft-confirms-surface-with-windows-8-pro-pricing-starting/

Details on the Pro variety of Microsoft's Surface tablet have been hard to come by since the company first announced it back in June, but it's filled in some big ones today. It's confirmed in a blog post that the device will start at $899 for the 64GB model, with the 128GB version setting you back $999. Both of those are what's Microsoft's dubbing the "standalone" model, which means you'll get a Surface pen/stylus, but have to shell out extra for a Touch or Type Cover (each over $100). Both will be available in January, although there's no specific date or word on pre-orders yet.

As you can see, the device looks similar to the Surface RT, including the same "VaporMg" casing and built-in kickstand, and it also boasts a 10.6-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. A key difference with that latter bit, though, is that the screen packs a full 1920 x 1080 resolution as opposed to the 1366 x 768 found on the RT model. You'll also get a third-gen Core i5 processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000 (no more specifics on that just yet), 4GB of RAM, a Mini DisplayPort that can output a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a full-size USB 3.0 port and, of course, Windows 8 Pro with support for all your traditional desktop applications. All that expectedly makes the tablet itself a bit heftier than its RT-based counterpart -- it's just over half-an-inch thick and weighs in at two pounds on the nose.

Update: The spec list confirmed that the Surface Pro will have a 42 W-h battery, but Microsoft has now also expanded on that in a tweet, saying that the device is expected to "have approximately half the battery life of Surface with Windows RT." Based on our testing of the RT version, that should translate to just over four-and-a-half hours.

Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft

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Source: Official Microsoft Blog, Microsoft

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Chevy Spark guts revealed, we go eyes-on

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/28/chevy-spark-guts-revealed-we-go-eyes-on/

Details of Chevy's first all-electric car, the Spark EV, hit the web yesterday, and today the diminutive car got its official unveiling at the LA Auto Show. Since we're here in SoCal, we figured we'd bring you some shots of GM's latest electrical offering, and Chevrolet was kind enough to cut apart a Spark for us to see its innards. Head on down to our gallery below, where you'll find the 130hp electron-powered motor, 20kWH battery pack, and MyLink-equipped infotainment system displayed in all their glory.

Gallery: Chevy Spark EV eyes-on

Mark Hearn contributed to this post.

Filed under: Transportation

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via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Ars asks: Help us max out Google Fiber

http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/11/ars-asks-help-us-max-out-google-fiber/

Enlarge / The Google fiber box, in all its glory.

Cyrus Farivar

I’ve been in Kansas City for about 15 hours now. Yes, I’ve already made the requisite stop at Arthur Bryant’s for barbecue (and I’m going to Oklahoma Joe’s today)—but we all know that’s not why I’m here.

I’m here to experience Google Fiber. You know, the service that promises 1Gbps for $70. The one that could potentially be incredibly disruptive if fully deployed across America. And yes, the one that prompted one Kansas City Web developer to pony up to buy a four-bedroom house and turn it into the Homes for Hackers—aka, the HackerHome.

I’m sitting, as I type this, at the Homes for Hackers, in Kansas City, Kansas. I can touch the Google Fiber box. I know I’ve become the envy of American geeks everywhere. My Twitter followers and Facebook friends have expressed all the myriad forms of speed lust.

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via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

Oculus Rift dev kits to ship in March 2013, orders fulfilled by mid-April

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/28/oculus-rift-march-2013/

Were you one of the many folks to donate your hard-earned cash to the crazy folks developing the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset? Sadly, we've got some bad news for ya -- you won't be playing Doom 3: BFG Edition with your new headset any time this year, as the device isn't shipping to its Kickstarter backers until some time next March. Citing a variety of factors, the folks at Oculus say it's simply impossible to get the dev kits manufactured and shipped to all 7,500 backers within the previous time frame of "before 2012 ends." The company hopes to have all dev kit orders fulfilled by mid-April 2013.

Moreover, a handful of tech specs have changed on the OR since we last saw it, including a display change from 5.6-inch LCD to 1280 x 800 7-inch -- that's a lot of screen connected to your face! As such, the whole device is a bit heavier than before (by 30g). Additionally, previously off the shelf motion sensors were replaced with a custom one "that excels in VR-critical areas." Should you wish to get into all the (extremely) nitty gritty details, Oculus has a detailed Kickstarter update right here.

Filed under: Gaming

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Source: Kickstarter

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

How to set up a safe and secure Web server

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/11/how-to-set-up-a-safe-and-secure-web-server/

Fifteen years ago, you weren't a participant in the digital age unless you had your own homepage. Even in the late 1990s, services abounded to make personal pages easy to build and deploy—the most famous is the now-defunct GeoCities, but there were many others (remember Angelfire and Tripod?). These were the days before the "social" Web, before MySpace and Facebook. Instant messaging was in its infancy and creating an online presence required no small familiarity with HTML (though automated Web design programs did exist).

Things are certainly different now, but there's still a tremendous amount of value in controlling an actual honest-to-God website rather than relying solely on the social Web to provide your online presence. The flexibility of being able to set up and run anything at all, be it a wiki or a blog with a tipjar or a photo hosting site, is awesome. Further, the freedom to tinker with both the operating system and the Web server side of the system is an excellent learning opportunity.

The author's closet. Servers tend to multiply, like rabbits.

Lee Hutchinson

It's super-easy to open an account at a Web hosting company and start fiddling around there—two excellent Ars reader-recommended Web hosts are A Small Orange and Lithium Hosting—but where's the fun in that? If you want to set up something to learn how it works, the journey is just as important as the destination. Having a ready-made Web or application server cuts out half of the work and thus half of the journey. In this guide, we're going to walk you through everything you need to set up your own Web server, from operating system choice to specific configuration options.

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via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

Christus Statue Re-created for Rome Italy Temple LDS Visitors’ Center

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The video below from LDS Public Affairs shows how the original Christus statue is being expertly recreated in marble for the Rome Italy Temple Visitors’ Center.

Read more about the Mormon Temple in Rome, Italy on MormonNewsroom.org.

via LDS Media Talk http://ldsmediatalk.com

AOC's 23-inch IPS monitor almost skips the bezel, ships soon for $199

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/21/aoc-borderless-i2367fh-ips-monitor/

Close on the heels of its "virtually borderless" (when it's turned off) 27-inch IPS monitor, display maker AOC has come up with a smaller sibling to add to the family. The 23-incher, tagged the i2367fh, totes similar styling and specs -- IPS technology, a claimed 2mm bezel, 1920 x 1080 resolution with 50,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 5ms response time and two HDMI ports. The off timer function its predecessor sported also remains. However the new model, which is part of a different series, can't boast of the same height-adjustable stand and 4-watt speakers, integrating a 2-watt pair instead. The monitor carries a $199 sticker, but you can snag it for 10 bucks lower on backorder from B&H Photo and Amazon -- stock is expected later this month.

Continue reading AOC's 23-inch IPS monitor almost skips the bezel, ships soon for $199

Filed under: Displays

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Source: Amazon, B&H Photo

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Elgato EyeTV Mobile ships to the US, brings Dyle live TV tuning to data cap-dodging iOS users

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/19/elgato-eyetv-mobile-ships-to-the-us-brings-dyle-live-tv-tuning/

We've only seen periodic attempts at melding live ATSC-Mobile TV with iOS devices; more often than not, internet-free broadcasting to American smartphones and tablets has been the domain of Android. Elgato is seeking some balance by shipping one of the few peripherals delivering over-the-air US TV to our iPhones and iPads. The new version of the EyeTV Mobile dongle gives iOS devices with 30-pin connectors (or an adapter) access to live TV stations under Dyle Mobile TV's service umbrella, including some local Fox and NBC channels. A free EyeTV Mobile app is part and parcel of the strategy with an option to pause live shows as well as a programming guide. The add-on is in US stores now for $100, although it could pay for itself in an era when carriers want to stifle unlimited data and make streaming TV an expensive proposition.

Continue reading Elgato EyeTV Mobile ships to the US, brings Dyle live TV tuning to data cap-dodging iOS users

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Tablets, Mobile, Apple

Elgato EyeTV Mobile ships to the US, brings Dyle live TV tuning to data cap-dodging iOS users originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LDS Temple Models in 3D

http://ldsmediatalk.com/2012/11/19/lds-temple-models-in-3d/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LDSWebGuy+%28LDS+Media+Talk%29

Brian Olson has created some interesting 3D renderings of LDS temples from his collection of more than 25,000 photographs of Mormon temples that he has taken in over 14 years.

His collection of 3D LDS Temples can be found at 3dtemples.photogent.com.

Below is an example of his 3D rendering of the Brigham City Utah LDS Temple. It first shows the tabernacle that sits across the street, then has a fly-over and around the new temple.

Brian tells me he has a fascination with Mormon temples. He has temple photos throughout the house and takes crazy road trips with his wife and 2 kids just to photograph temples. Those pictures then become the reference and  surface for the models. In 2005, he picked up the open source 3D modeling software Blender. He made a basic model of the Mount Timpanogos Temple and was so excited at the results that he then spent several months rebuilding the Salt Lake Temple in detail in 3D.

Brian went on a building spree and made models for display in Google Earth. These are the 3D buildings people see when they navigate around the Google Earth software. He now has 83 temple models that have been accepted by Google Earth. He then takes these models and increases the detail to make his models of LDS temples on YouTube.

If you like Brian’s models, like his videos and leave comments.

via LDS Media Talk http://ldsmediatalk.com

Project Inverted turns a gaming PC inside-out with hand-made casing

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/19/project-inverted-turns-a-gaming-pc-inside-out/

While we've seen some exotic PC mods in our time, most of those still dutifully stuff all the computer parts into a box, hiding them from the outside world. Martijn Laman isn't one for that kind of traditionalism. His recently completed Project Inverted, just highlighted by ASUS, puts most of the hardware on the outside: the Sabertooth Z77 motherboard, Core i5 processor, fan cooling, memory, Radeon HD 6870 video card and watercooling pipes all sit in plain sight. Everything is joined by a unique, hand-cut case whose backbone and elevated base hide the custom wiring, the watercooling pump, two solid-state drives and controllers for both fans and lighting. And did we mention the 7-inch touchscreen? The result is a truly special gaming rig that's relatively quiet and pristine despite baring its heart and soul for all to see. Building a replica won't be quick, nor will it be cheap at about €1,500 ($1,909), but Laman's detailed assembly process could well be the inspiration for a few more extroverted PCs.

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, ASUS

Project Inverted turns a gaming PC inside-out with hand-made casing originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 01:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamers prove equal to surgeons in operating robotic surgery tools

http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/11/gamers-prove-equal-to-surgeons-in-operating-robotic-surgery-tools/

Leo Reynolds

A maternal nag familiar to the ears of many young gamers usually follows the lines of "you're wasting your life in front of a console." Browbeaten controller wielders rejoice—a new study from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) has proven the superior hand-eye coordination skills honed from hours of joystick-based gaming are the same talents required to master the world's most advanced robotic surgery tools.

The study sought to identify the developmental effect video games have on training future surgeons. "A new era has started," explained Sami Kilic, lead author of the study and associate professor and director of minimally invasive gynecology at UTMB. Kilic was inspired to conduct the study after seeing his son easily take control of a robotic surgery simulator at a medical convention. "Robotic surgery has been implemented in the medical field recently—most of the physicians were not trained for it. We had to come up with an idea of how to train our trainers."

A group of physicians studying at UTMB—a world leader in robotic surgery—was put up against US high school and college students in a series of robotic surgery simulation tests. The study measured participants on 20 different skills, including how steady their grasping abilities were when performing surgical tasks such as passing a needle or lifting surgical instruments. There were 32 different teaching steps required to operate the robotic surgery simulator—a training tool with dual hand-operated controllers. Real-time surgical movements are displayed on its video monitor.

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via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

iFixit tears apart the Nexus 4, finds surprise LTE chip

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/11/ifixit-tears-apart-the-nexus-4-finds-a-surprise-lte-chip/

The Nexus 4--torn down.

Image courtesy of iFixit

The intrepid hardware tinkerers at iFixit have torn down yet another newly-released gadget. Armed with only a spudger, razor blade, and Torx screwdriver, the gang took apart the Nexus 4's all-glass chassis to jump into the innards that fuel it and take a deeper look at those components.

To start, the rear cover of the phone does not conceal a battery, but rather a number of pressure contacts that power the NFC antenna and connect the induction coil to the motherboard for the Nexus 4's wireless charging capabilities. Though there's a battery connector that's screwed into place, the battery pack is actually secured to the case with adhesive which doesn't bode well for users who might wish to physically replace it in the future. It's interesting to note that the handset also features a 3.8V battery, like the iPhone 5. Underneath that, there's also a speaker enclosure, which is set atop a plastic frame that covers the motherboard, earpiece speaker, and vibrator motor.

On the motherboard, iFixit points out that the Nexus 4 houses a total of five Avago chips—one for the GSM and Edge networks, three for power amplification, and one specifically for the handset's GPS capabilities. What's more: there's also a WTR1605L OVV PKK486R1 chip from Qualcomm tacked on to the motherboard, which we discovered is actually a multi-band 4G LTE chip. It's unclear why it's not providing LTE capabilities to the Nexus 4, but it's possible that this could simply be a case of carrier restriction, or that it's the same chip featured in its sister phone, the Optimus G, and LG has simply left it in there to curb manufacturing costs on the handset.

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via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

SkyDrive gains selective syncing and right-click sharing on the desktop, searching on mobile (video)

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/15/skydrive-gains-selective-syncing-and-right-click-sharing/

Microsoft's SkyDrive is now one of the centerpieces of the company's desktop and mobile platforms, but its relative newness has denied us some of the fine-grained control we've taken for granted from services like Dropbox. The cloud storage service just resolved two of those common power user gripes in one fell swoop through an update to the desktop client. To start, it's at last possible to limit SkyDrive syncing on Macs and Windows PCs just to specific folders -- that poor tablet won't reach its breaking point when someone creates a 5GB home video on the family desktop. Windows users alone see the second update, which integrates SkyDrive with right-click contextual menus for much faster sharing. Mobile customers aren't left out with the refresh, either. Both Android and Windows Phone 8 SkyDrive users get a long-due file search as well as the option to shrink photos when they go online. Updates for the four update platforms are available at the source link, although they should push out on their own over the next two days for those who aren't in a hurry.

Continue reading SkyDrive gains selective syncing and right-click sharing on the desktop, searching on mobile (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Microsoft

SkyDrive gains selective syncing and right-click sharing on the desktop, searching on mobile (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBMC 12 'Frodo' Beta 1 appears, includes support for Android, Raspberry Pi, HD audio and more

http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/15/xbmc-12-frodo-beta-1/

Development of the XBMC project has continued to roll along since Eden launched officially earlier this year, and now the first beta for v12 Frodo is live. Those who dive in will experience a slew of new features that have been trickling out in monthly builds recently, including support for HD audio formats like DTS-MA and Dolby TrueHD, live TV and PVR access plus versions for Android and Raspberry Pi. There's a long list of features to check out -- and known issues, this is a beta after all -- check out the official blog for all the details and to try it out yourself.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

XBMC 12 'Frodo' Beta 1 appears, includes support for Android, Raspberry Pi, HD audio and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 08:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

D&C/Church History Resources to Support 2013 Study

http://ldsmediatalk.com/2012/11/13/dcchurch-history-resources-to-support-2013-study/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LDSWebGuy+%28LDS+Media+Talk%29

In the 2013 Sunday School classes, adults will study the Doctrine and Covenants and Church history. Below are some of the great resources provided by the Church to help in your individual study.

Online Scriptures. If you haven’t experienced scriptures.lds.org, you need to. You can read the text or listen to the audio scriptures. You can even enlarge the text size to make it easier to read. You can click on footnotes and references to jump directly to the referenced scripture. It also has personalized study tools that let you take notes, highlight verses, and save personal notes. Those notes are then available to you whether you read the scriptures online or on a mobile device. (See mobile.lds.org.)

Doctrine & Covenants/Pearl of Great Price  is available in audio format on CD. Or you can listen to the audio online at scriptures.lds.org. When in a chapter online, just click Listen in the right margin.

Printed scriptures are available for purchase in a variety of covers, colors, and sizes.

Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Gospel Doctrine manuals are available online for the teacher as well as the Class Member Study Guide. They are also available in printed format.

Doctrine and Covenants Visual Resource DVDs: This set of four DVDs has over 300 visual resources, including videos, art, charts, quotes, and study activities. The set contains 5 movies, including Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration (the 2005 version shown in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building), Legacy, The Mountain of the Lord, Treasure in Heaven: The John Tanner Story, and Only a Stonecutter. The set also includes Doctrine and Covenants Stories (see above). It is for use in the home and in Church classroom. The set of four DVDs is available for $4.50 or it is also available online.

Presidents of the Church DVD. This set of DVDs contains a documentary, a testimony, and a photo gallery for each President of the Church from Joseph Smith to Gordon B. Hinckley.

Illustrated scriptures stories (books). These popular books with colorfully illustrated scripture stories are available in printed format and also online in PDF format (Doctrine and Covenants Stories, Book of Mormon Stories, Old Testament Stories, and New Testament Stories. You may want to consider getting the printed books or the DVD (see below) as Christmas gifts for children.

Illustrated scriptures stories (videos). Media-enriched video versions of the illustrated scriptures books are available on LDS.org at scripturestories.lds.org or on DVD.

Scripture Stories radio series. This Scripture Stories weekly radio series is designed to inspire children to come to know and love stories from the scriptures. Each episode features children sharing their insights and favorite experiences from the scriptures, along with music and readings of the best stories from the scriptures.

Seminary Doctrine and Covenants Student Study Guide. Available to download, read online, or purchase.

Institute manuals.  Various manual available to download, read online, or purchase.

Joseph Smith Papers.  Read original documents and historical background on the Joseph Smith Papers website.

Note: To learn about the other curriculum materials to be used next year, see the Instructions for Curriculum 2013.

via LDS Media Talk http://ldsmediatalk.com