Missionary Preparation Infographics

Below is an infographic created by the Church with ideas for young men about missionary preparation. Young men may also want to read the article “Missionary Preparation: When Should I Serve?.”

via LDS Media Talk http://ldsmediatalk.com

OUYA following mobile model: 'There will be a new OUYA every year'

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/07/ouya-annual/

There will be a new OUYA next year, and the year after that, unlike the traditional game console model, where new hardware ships in five- to seven-year generational increments. "Our strategy is very much similar to the mobile strategy," OUYA CEO Julie Uhrman told us in an interview this afternoon, following her DICE 2013 speech. "There will be a new OUYA every year. There will be an OUYA 2 and an OUYA 3," she added. One potentially featuring the recently revealed Tegra 4, perhaps, rather than the Tegra 3 powering the first units? It sure sounds like it. "We'll take advantage of faster, better processors, take advantage of prices falling. So if we can get more than 8GB of Flash in our box, we will," she explained.

But don't fret, nervous game buyer. Uhrman assured us that "all the games will be backward compatible" going forward. When pushed on how this will work, she said, "The games will be tied to you, the gamer," (like Steam is now) rather than tying your game licenses to the hardware you purchased (like, say, Nintendo's Wii U).

The first OUYA, set to launch for Kickstarter backers this March and at retail in June, comes with a quad-core A9 Tegra 3 that's been maxed out to 1.6GHz. Uhrman pointed out that, because of OUYA's home console form factor (which plugs into a wall, rather than relying on a tiny battery), the console will be, "the best Tegra 3 device on the market." It also doesn't hurt that OUYA's working directly with the Tegra 3's manufacturer, NVIDIA. She said that NVIDIA has a group of folks dedicated solely to getting the chip driving the OUYA to run at its highest capacity ever. We'll find out what that means when we get our hands on the console later this year. Should you like to hear more from Julie Uhrman ahead of that launch, she'll be speaking at Engadget's Expand event this March. Grab your tickets right here!

Filed under: Gaming, HD, NVIDIA

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via Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com

Plex unveils 'massive' Plex/Web update, Windows 8 app tweaks and more

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/06/plex-unveils-massive-plex-web-update-windows-8-app-tweaks-and/

Plex's busy bees have sweetened the media server / client honeypot again with new updates, including a "giant, thundering" update of the Plex/Web UI featuring a redesigned home screen and easier navigation. It also has a new version of its next-gen transcoder for the Windows 8 and PlexSync apps -- with iOS, Android and Plex/Web versions promised soon -- which brings better performance and improved support for subtitle burn-in, according to the outfit. Other features include a new iPad mini sync profile, better keyboard navigation, a media info popup and numerous bug fixes. You can grab it by checking your app for updates or hit the source for the full list.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD

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Source: Plex (1), (2)

via Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com

Redbox Instant coming to Xbox 360 as console launch exclusive in the 'very near future'

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/05/redbox-instant-xbox/

Are you an Xbox 360 owner? You might like this bit of news: according to Major Nelson, Redbox Instant is coming sometime to the gaming machine in the "very near future," and Microsoft appears to have partnered with the video streaming service to become a console launch exclusive. It'll be available only to users who are Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Of course, this doesn't mean this will be the only place you'll be able to take advantage of all that Redbox will have to offer; the public launch, which is still slated for Q1, will be available on several platforms and devices, such as iOS / Android, Vizio, LG, Samsung and even Google TV. As a refresher, you'll be able to get unlimited access to the service (as well as four free DVD rentals) for $8 per month, while an extra dollar will let you convert those discs into Blu-ray.

Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Microsoft, Verizon

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Source: Major Nelson

via Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com

MoviePass app comes to Android with $30/mo theater access, caveats

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/05/moviepass-app-comes-to-android/

For film buffs who prefer the really big-screen experience, MoviePass seems a no brainer -- pay around $30 per month and watch as many movies at the cinema as you want. Now Android users can get the same MoviePass app as their iOS-toting counterparts on Google Play, albeit with the same kickers: its still in beta and is invitation only. There are other constraints too, for now: you'll need a GPS-equipped smartphone, access is limited to one movie a day, the price goes up from $30 depending on your market and you'll have to pay with the included MoviePass card -- among others. Still, on top of access the app also lets you find showtimes, chart your movie-going, manage rewards, share socially and "even reserve a copy of the film and soundtrack you just saw," according to the outfit. Anything that encourages us to get out of the house occasionally has to be a good thing, considering all the tech keeping us there.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, HD

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Via: Android Police

Source: Google Play

via Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com

Silent Circle's encryption app could revolutionize mobile privacy, if Uncle Sam lets it

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/04/silent-circle-encryption-app-mobile-privacy/

If CEO Mike Janke's boasts are to be believed, his company Silent Circle and its eponymous encryption apps could stand to "revolutionize... privacy and security." And he's willing to push the tech forward at all costs, even if that means raising the ire of the federal government. While the feds have yet to officially weigh in on his startup's novel software -- and Janke's certain they will -- others who've tested the peer-to-peer service's new Silent Text app claim its benefits for human rights activism worldwide far outweigh its potential use as a criminal aid.

This isn't the company's first crack at the mobile security space, though. A prior version of Silent Circle's subscription-based app was released last fall, granting Android and iOS users secure transmission of texts, as well as voice and video calls. But now, the controversial app in question has been beefed up, adding the ability to send encrypted files (up to 60MB) with a set "burn" (read: deletion) time. And since Silent Circle doesn't host the required encryption key on its servers, there's no way for the company to access users' data. What's more, the company's also pledged to not cooperate with surveillance requests from law enforcement, nor will it compromise the service's integrity by introducing a "backdoor" for the FBI.

That's a mighty strong stance to take against Uncle Sam, but Janke's not concerned. If the United States government does eventually prove an impediment, he's ready to move Silent Circle's shop to a locale that understands "...every [citizens'] right to communicate... without the fear of it being... used by criminals, stored by governments, and aggregated by companies that sell it." Based on that quote alone, we'd say Janke's what you might call a freedom fighter. For now, the souped up app's set to launch on the App Store February 8th, with an Android release to follow soon after. When it lands, we'd advise you to get it while it's hot -- preferably, before Capitol Hill deems it too hot to handle.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Wireless, Software, Mobile

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Source: Slate

via Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com

Secure your environment with SCM 3.0!

http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/springboard/archive/2013/01/31/secure-your-environment-with-scm-3-0.aspx

The Security Compliance Manager (SCM) is a free tool from the Microsoft Solution Accelerators team that enables you to quickly configure and manage the computers in your environment and your private cloud using Group Policy and Microsoft^® System Center Configuration Manager. This version of SCM supports Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, and Internet Explorer 10.

SCM provides ready-to-deploy policies and DCM configuration packs based on Microsoft Security Guide recommendations and industry best practices, allowing you to easily manage configuration drift and address compliance requirements for Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, and Internet Explorer 10, as well as other Microsoft applications.

Now you can easily configure computers running Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, Microsoft Office^® applications, and Windows Internet Explorer^® 10 with industry leading knowledge and fully supported tools. In addition to the latest software releases, you can also configure previous additions of Windows Server and Microsoft Office

.

NEW baselines include:

• Windows Server 2012 Security Baselines
• Windows 8 Security Baselines
• Internet Explorer 10 Baselines

Key features include:

• Support for Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, and Internet Explorer 10 product baselines: Secure your environment with new baselines for the latest software releases.
• Gold master support: Import and take advantage of your existing Group Policy or create a snapshot of a reference machine to kick-start your project.
• Configure stand-alone machines: Deploy your configurations to non-domain joined computers using the new GPO Pack feature.
• Updated security guides: Take advantage of the deep security expertise and best practices in the updated security guides, and the attack surface reference workbooks to help reduce the security risks that you consider to be the most important.
• Comparisons against industry best practices: Analyze your configurations against prebuilt baselines for the latest Windows client and server operating systems.
• Enhanced setting library for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 RS 2 SP1: Further customize baselines and take advantage of an improved GPO Import feature affinity

The latest version of SCM offers all the same great features as before, plus an enhanced setting library for Windows 7 SP1. SCM 3.0 provides a single location for creating, managing, analyzing, and customizing baselines to secure your environment quicker and more efficiently.

Next steps:

• Download the SCM 3.0 from the Microsoft Download Center.
• Help spread the word: tell your friends about Security Compliance Manager 3.0.
• Thoughts? Favorite features? Feedback? Tell it to the dev team.

Want more information on a specific feature? Interested in speaking with the development team? Please contact Michael Tan.

via The Windows Blog http://blogs.windows.com/b/

Keep it secret, keep it safe: A beginner's guide to Web safety

http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/01/keep-it-secret-keep-it-safe-a-beginners-guide-to-web-safety/

Aurich Lawson

My family has been on the Internet since 1998 or so, but I didn't really think much about Internet security at first. Oh sure, I made sure our eMachines desktop (and its 433Mhz Celeron CPU) was always running the latest Internet Explorer version and I tried not to use the same password for everything. But I didn't give much thought to where my Web traffic was going or what path it took from our computer to the Web server and back. I was dimly aware that e-mail, as one of my teachers put it, was in those days "about as private as sticking your head out the window and yelling." And I didn't do much with that knowledge.

That sort of attitude was dangerous then, and the increasing sophistication of readily available hacking tools makes it even more dangerous now.  Luckily, the state of Internet security has also gotten better—in this article, the first in a five-part series covering online security, we're going to talk a bit about keeping yourself (and your business) safe on the Web. Even if you know what lurks in the dark corners of the Internet, chances are you someone you know doesn't. So consider this guide and its follow-ups as a handy crash course for those unschooled in the nuances of online security. Security aficionados should check out later entries in the series for more advanced information

We'll begin today with some basic information about encryption on the Internet and how to use it to safeguard your personal information as you use the Web, before moving on to malware, mobile app security, and other topics in future entries. 

Read 21 remaining paragraphs | Comments

via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

Hands-on with $6,400 of workstation-class laptop

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/01/hands-on-with-6400-of-workstation-class-laptop/

When HP offered to send me a workstation-class 17-inch laptop to review, I thought it would be fun—who wouldn't want to play with a loaded-to-the-gills lapzilla? I told them to give me a maxed-out model and I'd put it through its paces. When the laptop actually arrived, though, I realized that I'd gotten far more hardware than I'd expected to receive.

The HP 8770w 17-inch lapzilla.

Lee Hutchinson

Specs at a glance: HP 8770w
Screen	1920×1080 17.3-inch "DreamColor" IPS, 127 PPI
OS	Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU	2.7GHz Intel Core i7-3820QM (Turbo Boost 3.7GHz)
RAM	16GB 1600MHz DDR3 (upgradeable to 32GB)
GPU	Nvidia Quadro K5000M with 4GB DDR5 VRAM
Storage	256GB SATA III SSD (Micron C400)
Networking	Intel Centrino 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, gigabit Ethernet
Ports	1x VGA, 1x DisplayPort, 1x RJ-45 (Ethernet), 1x RJ-11 (modem), 1x IEEE 1394a, 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 1x eSATA/USB 2.0 combo, stereo mic in, stereo headphone/line out, docking connector
Battery	8-cell 83Whr Li-ion
Size	1.47 (at front)/1.68 (at rear) x 16.4 x 10.7 inches, 37.4 mm (at front)/42.7 mm (at rear) x 416.5 mm x 272.7 mm
Weight	7.69 lb/3.6 kg
Starting price	$2658 (base 17" model starts at $1649)
Price as configured	$6435 (includes upgraded CPU, GPU, display, RAM, and storage)

The Hewlett-Packard EliteBook 8000 series encompasses three models: the 14-inch 8470w, which is designed to be a travel-friendly entry-level mobile workstation; the 15-inch 8570w, a slightly larger laptop with more powerful pro-level features; and the hefty 8770w, which HP positions as a potential replacement for even a high-end desktop workstation. The model HP sent me was the 17-inch 8770w, packed with upgrades. When I popped over to the HP Web store and built an 8770w configuration to match the one sitting on my desk, my eyes bugged out a bit.

HP had sent me a $6,400 monster. This wasn't just more laptop than most folks need, it's also more laptop than most folks even have the ability to purchase. However, this isn't anywhere near a laptop for "most folks"—there's a very specific subset of users who require the high-dollar components packed into this 17-inch frame.

Read 37 remaining paragraphs | Comments

via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

Amazon wants to make your hi-res videos mobile-friendly with Elastic Transcoder

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/29/amazon-elastic-transcoder/

Transcoding video is a pain. We know that about as well as anyone. Amazon feels that pain, and thankfully, it's got the servers to back it up. Ahead of today's earnings release, the retail giant is announcing the release of Elastic Transcoder, a service aimed at helping users convert their videos into different formats, with a number of presets available for mobile devices, web browsers and the like. Customers can also go ahead with their own presets, if they're so inclined, adjusting things like file size and bitrate. Elastic Transcoder makes it possible to process multiple videos and prioritizes files based on urgency. The pay-as-you-go service is currently available in a half-dozen areas, including the EU, US East and two in the US West and Asia Pacific. More info after the break.

Show full PR text

Amazon Web Services Launches Amazon Elastic Transcoder

Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com company (NASDAQ: AMZN), today announced Amazon Elastic Transcoder, a highly scalable service for transcoding video files between different digital media formats. For example, customers can use Amazon Elastic Transcoder to convert their large high resolution "master" video files into smaller versions that are optimized for playback on websites, mobile devices, connected TV's and other video platforms. Amazon Elastic Transcoder removes the need to manage infrastructure and transcoding software, providing scalability and performance by leveraging AWS services. The service manages all aspects of the transcoding process transparently and automatically. It also supports pre-defined transcoding presets that make it easy to transcode video for smartphones, tablets, web browsers and other devices. With Amazon Elastic Transcoder, customers can create enterprise, training, user-generated, broadcast, or other video content for their applications or websites. Customers can get started with Amazon Elastic Transcoder by visiting http://aws.amazon.com/elastictranscoder.

Traditionally, transcoding has been complex for customers in three significant ways. First, customers need to buy and manage transcoding software, which can be expensive and also requires substantial configuration and management. Second, audio and video settings for each device that the customer wants to support need to be created and tested. Often, this is a trial and error process, which can be wasteful as compute resources are used each time a new combination of settings is tried. Third, to accommodate peak workloads, customers need to provision the transcoding capacity appropriately. This can be expensive because most of the time the capacity is underutilized.

With Amazon Elastic Transcoder these complexities are eliminated. There is no need to buy, configure or manage the underlying transcoding software. In addition, Amazon Elastic Transcoder provides pre-defined presets for popular devices that remove the trial and error in finding the right settings and output formats for different devices. The service also supports custom presets (pre-defined settings made by the customer), making it easy for customers to create re-useable transcoding settings for their unique requirements such as a specific video size or bitrate. Finally, Amazon Elastic Transcoder automatically scales up and down to handle customers' workloads, eliminating wasted capacity and minimizing time spent waiting for jobs to complete. The service also enables customers to process multiple files in parallel and organize their transcoding workflow using a feature called transcoding pipelines. Using transcoding pipelines, customers can configure Amazon Elastic Transcoder to transcode their files when and how they want, so they can efficiently and seamlessly scale for spikey workloads. For example, a news organization may want to have a "high priority" transcoding pipeline for breaking news stories, or a User-Generated Content website may want to have separate pipelines for low, medium, and high resolution outputs to target different devices.

"Our customers told us that it was difficult and expensive to transcode video due to the explosion in the number of devices they need to support," said Charlie Bell, Vice President of Utility Computing Services. "They had to be both experts in the intricacies of video support on different devices and manage the software required to run the transcoding jobs. None of this work had anything to do with their goal: getting a high quality video that would look great on the devices they wanted. We built Amazon Elastic Transcoder to give our customers an easy, cost effective way to solve these problems."

"The Language Learning Center offers hundreds of hours of video content in over 50 languages to students and faculty, with a growing library of video assets," said Bob Majors, Senior Computing Specialist, University of Washington. "With Amazon Elastic Transcoder, we've been very impressed with how easy it is to convert our content into versions that work well on the web and on mobile devices."

"Zuffa encodes videos of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and prides itself on delivering the best and most up to date content to its fans. Amazon's Elastic Transcoder has the horsepower to scale for very large videos, even hundreds of gigabytes in size and this will help us continue to be leaders in the digital space," said Christy King, VP Technology R&D, Zuffa, LLC.

OneScreen is a technology solutions provider that connects video producers, publishers, and advertisers across all screens through its Media Graph platform. "At OneScreen, we are excited to add Amazon Elastic Transcoder to our broad utilization of the AWS cloud," said Patrick Ting, CTO, OneScreen, Inc. "With the scalability and cost-efficiency the service offers, we're able to pass those benefits on to our producer and aggregator partners, making it easier for them to bring high quality content to the market."

Amazon Elastic Transcoder offers simple pay-as-you-go pricing. Customers are charged based on the number of minutes they need to transcode and the selected resolution. There are no upfront fees or minimum commitments required. To help customers understand how this service can be used with their applications, AWS is providing a free tier of service, in which up to the first 20 minutes of content transcoded each month is provided free of charge. Amazon Elastic Transcoder is available in six regions: US East (N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), US West (N. California), EU (Ireland), Asia Pacific (Singapore) and Asia Pacific (Japan). Customers can get started with Amazon Elastic Transcoder by visiting http://aws.amazon.com/elastictranscoder.

Filed under: Amazon

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Amazon

via Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com

New XBMC version 12 features HD audio support

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/01/new-xbmc-version-12-features-hd-audio-support/

The next iteration of XBMC, the open source media player, is now available for download. XBMC version 12 (codenamed "Frodo") includes a slew of notable features like HD audio support, which lets it play video files with DTS-MA and Dolby Tru-HD audio, though this feature is not yet available for OS X and iOS devices. The update also features improved image support, support for Raspberry Pi, and 64-bit support in OS X.

Also included is what is referred to as "initial support" for XBMC on Android. XBMC will run fine on any compatible Android device, but because of their capable processors, devices like the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will be able to playback more HD video content (video on Android is decoded in software without any hardware assistance). Android users will still have to side-load the XBMC application onto their devices, as it's still not offered in the Google Play store. A helpful how-to is also available.

XBMC 12 "Frodo" also features improved AirPlay support across all available platforms, including XBMC for Windows, which can now receive AirPlay content from any compatible device.

Read 1 remaining paragraphs | Comments

via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

WindowsAndroid runs Google's mobile OS natively on the Windows kernel

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/27/android-native-windows-kernel/

Sure, you could enjoy Android on your PC through dual-booting or virtualization, but the folks at Socketeq have whipped up yet another alternative: a port of Mountain View's mobile OS, fittingly dubbed WindowsAndroid, that runs natively on the Windows kernel (under Vista, 7 and 8) instead of Linux. Not only does the operating system run speedily since its free of virtualization chains, but it serves up the appropriate tablet or smartphone UI based on window size, and plays nice with keyboards and mice, to boot. Socketeq's solution serves up the full Android experience, but you'll have to separately flash the Google apps that typically come baked in, according to Android Police. Ice Cream Sandwich is the freshest flavor of Android to have undergone the kernel-replacement treatment, and it's currently being offered as a free "first-try" download at the source.

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Tablets, Microsoft, Google

Comments

Via: Android Police

Source: Socketeq

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

HDHomeRun Prime beta update for DLNA streaming is live

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/19/hdhomerun-prime-beta-update-for-dlna-streaming-is-live/

Got your HDHomeRun Prime, your favorite DLNA client and an itch to watch some premium HD cable TV? Well, then it's time to head over to the beta forum, download the latest firmware then register as a tester. Those of you lucky enough to have a nice TV provider that doesn't lock everything down with Copy Once flags will be able to watch live TV on just about any DLNA playback device that supports MPEG2. Those not so lucky will need a PS3 or a 2012 Samsung HDTV, without which this little gem ain't going to do you much good. Sadly, this exclusive to the HDHomeRun Prime because its the only one with the hardware to support DLNA, but the new tuners due this spring will allow DLNA access of ATSC, QAM and DVB sources -- as well as allow playback on Media Players that only support h.264. The usefulness of this is still pretty limited while we wait for the rest of SiliconDust's Project:Connect to come together, but we don't see any reason why you wouldn't join in on the fun.

Filed under: HD

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Source: Project:Connect beta forum

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Kim Dotcom's Mega cloud storage launches for early adopters

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/19/kim-dotcom-mega-cloud-storage-launches-for-early-adopters/

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has been promising what's almost a sort of renaissance through his Mega cloud storage service. Now that it's open to the first wave of users, we have an inkling of what that strategy shift entails. Mega is currently just a simple-to-use parking place for data with a relatively large 50GB of storage in a free tier. However, it may grow quickly: there's promises of Google Docs-style editing, instant messaging and mobile access, among other plans. Eventual paid plans will offer considerably more storage of between 500GB for €10 per month ($13) to 4TB for €30 ($40), albeit with a bandwidth cap of twice the storage at any given level. As such, Mega is mostly a bundle of potential -- but it may stand out from the pack if ambition matches reality.

Filed under: Storage, Internet

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Source: TechCrunch

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

FCC's Genachowski calls for 'one gigabit community in all 50 states,' sets 2015 goal

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/18/fcc-genachowski-gigabit-community-in-all-50-states/

Gigabit game on! FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski wants the US to host "at least one gigabit community in all 50 states by 2015," and he's calling upon ISPs, as well as state governments to make it a reality. In a statement issued today, Genachowski laid out a roadmap to establish a "clearinghouse of best practices" that would help eliminate the network as obstacle and foster innovative applications, in addition to digital hubs. Of course, cities like Seattle and Kansas City, along with the University of Washington have already been privy to these ultra-high-speeds thanks to the likes of Google and private funding. But, with today's missive, it's clear the Commission's head honcho wants that to be more the rule than exception. It's no secret Genachowski's long wanted to shore up the US' prominence as a connected country -- he's said as much since the beginning of his reign. And with initiatives likes this one, that could fast become a reality.

Show full PR text

January 18, 2013

FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI ISSUES GIGABIT CITY CHALLENGE TO

PROVIDERS, LOCAL, AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TO BRING AT LEAST ONE ULTRA-

FAST GIGABIT INTERNET COMMUNITY TO EVERY STATE IN U.S. BY 2015

FCC'S BROADBAND ACCELERATION INITIATIVE TO FOSTER GIGABIT GOAL
Washington, D.C. - Today at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting, FCC Chairman Julius
Genachowski called for at least one gigabit community in all 50 states by 2015. Challenging broadband
providers and state and municipal community leaders to come together to meet this "Gigabit City
Challenge," Chairman Genachowski said that establishing gigabit communities nationwide will accelerate
the creation of a critical mass of markets and innovation hubs with ultra-fast Internet speeds.
Chairman Genachowski said, "American economic history teaches a clear lesson about infrastructure. If
we build it, innovation will come. The U.S. needs a critical mass of gigabit communities nationwide so
that innovators can develop next-generation applications and services that will drive economic growth
and global competitiveness."
Speeds of one gigabit per second are approximately 100 times faster than the average fixed high-speed
Internet connection. At gigabit speeds, connections can handle multiple streams of large-format, high-
definition content like online video calls, movies, and immersive educational experiences. Networks
cease to be hurdles to applications, so it no longer matters whether medical data, high-definition video, or
online services are in the same building or miles away across the state.
Gigabit communities spur innovators to create new businesses and industries, spark connectivity among
citizens and services, and incentivize investment in high-tech industries. Today, approximately 42
communities in 14 states are served by ultra-high-speed fiber Internet providers, according to the Fiber to
the Home Council.
To help communities meet the Gigabit City Challenge, Chairman Genachowski announced plans to create
a new online clearinghouse of best practices to collect and disseminate information about how to lower
the costs and increase the speed of broadband deployment nationwide, including to create gigabit
communities. At the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, Chairman Genachowski proposed working
jointly with the U.S. Conference of Mayors on the best-practices clearinghouse effort.
Chairman Genachowski also announced that the FCC will hold workshops on gigabit communities. The
workshops will convene leaders from the gigabit community ecosystem-including broadband providers,
and state and municipal leaders- to evaluate barriers, increase incentives, and lower the costs of
speeding gigabit network deployment. Together, the workshops will inform the Commission's
clearinghouse of ways industry, and local and state leaders can meet the challenge to establish gigabit
communities nationwide.
Communities across the country are already taking action to seize the opportunities of gigabit broadband
for their local economies and bring superfast broadband to homes. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, a local
utility deployed a fiber network to 170,000 homes. Thanks to the city's investment in broadband
infrastructure, companies like Volkswagen and Amazon have created more than 3,700 new jobs over the
past three years in Chattanooga. In Kansas City, the Google Fiber initiative is bringing gigabit service to
residential consumers, attracting new entrepreneurs and startups to the community.
The Gig.U initiative has already catalyzed $200 million in private investment to build ultra-high-speed
hubs in the communities of many leading research universities, including a recent joint venture with the
University of Washington and a private ISP to deliver gigabit service to a dozen area neighborhoods in
Seattle. The Gigabit City Challenge is designed to drive a critical mass of gigabit communities like these,
creating new markets for 21st century services, promoting competition, spurring innovation, and driving
economic growth nationwide.
The FCC's Broadband Acceleration Initiative is working to expand the reach of robust, affordable
broadband by streamlining access to utility poles and rights of way, and improving policies for wireless
facilities siting and other infrastructure. Gigabit communities can also benefit from tens of thousands of
miles of critical "middle mile" fiber infrastructure funded throughout the country by the Broadband
Technology Opportunities Program run by the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration. The Commission's Connect America Fund, the largest ever public investment in rural
broadband, includes funding for high-speed broadband to anchor institutions like schools and hospitals.
-FCC-
News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found on the Commission's web
site www.fcc.gov.

Filed under: Internet

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Source: FCC

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Samsung Chromebox Series 3 pops up in online stores with a Core i5

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/16/samsung-chromebox-series-3-pops-up-in-online-stores-with-core-i5/

No one would accuse Samsung or other Chrome OS supporters of hardware overkill: the Chromebox Series 3 and other Google-based PCs often carry just enough processing grunt to browse the web properly. Imagine the resulting surprise when a Liliputing reader discovers an unannounced Core i5-equipped model listed as in stock at multiple retailers. The XE300M22-A01US carries a 2.5GHz, Sandy Bridge-era dual-core chip on top of the usual 4GB of memory and 16GB solid-state drive. That's far from cutting edge, but more powerful than the creaky Celeron reserved for those who didn't receive a Google I/O edition. Samsung hasn't confirmed the existence of the quicker Chromebox, and there's some question as to whether the system incorporates the sleeker 2013 redesign or sticks to the tried-and-true 2012 layout; we've reached out to both Google and Samsung and will let you know if there's more concrete information. Quoted prices suggest there's a premium over the original at $405 or more, as of this writing. It's a lot to pay for a PC without native apps, although those who want only the unfettered web might have something close to their dream desktop.

Filed under: Desktops, Internet, Samsung, Google

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Source: Amazon, CompSource

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Fastest Wi-Fi ever is almost ready for real-world use

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/01/fastest-wi-fi-ever-is-almost-ready-for-real-world-use/

Wilocity's wireless chips allow 4.6Gbps transmission over the 60GHz band.

Wilocity

In a quiet suite removed from the insanity of the Consumer Electronics Show expo floor, a company aiming to build the fastest Wi-Fi chips in the world demonstrated its vision of wireless technology's future.

On one desk, a laptop powered a two-monitor setup without any wires. At another, a tablet playing an accelerometer-based racing game mirrors its screen in high definition to another monitor. Across the room, a computer quickly transfers a 3GB file from a wireless router with built-in storage.

The suite was set up in the Las Vegas Hotel by Wilocity, a chip company specializing in wireless products using 60GHz transmissions, which are far faster than traditional Wi-Fi. Avoiding the show floor is a good idea if you're worried about Internet connectivity, because thousands of vendors are clogging the pipes. But that's not why Wilocity was here—they'd be able to perform the demo even in the busiest parts of CES without interference because they're not relying on the congested bands used by regular Wi-Fi.

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QNX outfits a Bentley Continental GT with Car Platform 2.0, we go hands-on (video)

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/11/qnx-car-platform-2-hands-on/

Just a few short days ago, QNX announced its Car Platform 2.0 and plans for outfitting developers during the course of the year. Of course, the co-star of that announcement was the Bentley Continental GT concept vehicle that would show off the company's wares. And that it most certainly did. We moseyed over to the booth and grabbed a few minutes in the driver's seat to see just what the system could do. First, the visual part of the infotainment arsenal consists of a 17-inch center display and two (7- and 10-inch) MasterImage high pixel density (comparable to Retina) panels in the driver's side dash. The high-res quality of said surface was immediately apparent and is one of the best in-car units we've seen. But, that's not all. Head on past the break for some observations and a video walkthrough.

Gallery: QNX Car Platform 2.0 hands-on

Continue reading QNX outfits a Bentley Continental GT with Car Platform 2.0, we go hands-on (video)

Filed under: Transportation

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RED has a 4K player for the coming wave of Ultra HD TVs

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/01/red-has-a-4k-player-for-the-coming-wave-of-4k-ultra-hd-tvs/

Enlarge / This 84-inch Toshiba Ultra HD TV plays a loop of native 4K content from a REDRAY player. With this level of detail, you can see every individual light in a skyline.

Chris Foresman

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA—Here at CES, every TV maker is showing off massive 4K "Ultra HD" TV sets. The high prices for this first wave of 4K TVs—Sony's 84-inch set is a cool $25,000, for instance—are going to make them strictly an early-adopter luxury for now. But digital cinema camera maker RED has the first consumer-ready solution for native 4K playback, perhaps solving the chicken-and-egg problem that threatened to plague adoption of 4K as a home entertainment standard.

Seeing is believing

The quality of image on a 4K Ultra HD TV is quite astounding in person. If you have ever noted the difference between a Retina and non-Retina display on an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook Pro, you can think of 4K as "Retina for TV." Images show a surprising level of detail—you can see every hair on the back of someone's neck, or every slat of the blinds in apartment building windows. Many of the demos on the CES show floor are jaw-dropping.

I can't help but want one.

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via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

BenQ unveils two 1080p 3D projectors at CES

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/11/benq-unveils-two-1080p-3d-projectors-at-ces/

BenQ isn't holding any keynotes, but the company does have a presence here at CES. In fact it rolled out a pair of 1080p 3D projectors today for the home theater enthusiast. The W1070 and W1080ST are the latest in the company's consumer line, and they're powered by DLP's Dark Chip 3 which is usually found in high-end models. But at $1,099 and $1,299, respectively, the W1070 and W1080ST certainly aren't priced for the high end. The 1080 can project images up to 100 inches wide from as little as six feet away. It's even ready for proper color calibration right out of the box. Both machines are also compatible with NVIDIA's 3D Play and DLP Link, plus they're sporting dual HDMI ports. Both are available now. For more info check out the PR below.

Continue reading BenQ unveils two 1080p 3D projectors at CES

Filed under: HD

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In-Win flaunts tubular, finny cases that let your components breathe fresh air

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/10/in-win-flaunts-open-air-cases/

Worried that your PC case can't stand up to a natural disaster, or doesn't resemble a radiator enough? In-Win's read your mind with a couple of open-plan models from CES 2013: the aluminum D-Frame (above left) looks ready for the Paris-Dakar rally and is "crush-proof and shock-proof," while the H-Frame is basically case-shaped cooling fins, also in "exquisite satiny aluminum," according to the charming company literature. The two models are geared to modders serious about standing out from the usual ragtag LED and pump crowd, with pricing to match: $399 for each. If you scrape for one, though, at least you know you'll be unique -- In-Win will only produce 500 copies of the D-Frame, and a mere 100 H-Frames.

Filed under: Desktops

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$17,000 Linux-powered rifle brings “auto-aim” to the real world

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/01/17000-linux-powered-rifle-brings-auto-aim-to-the-real-world/

CES is about technology of all kinds; while we're busy covering cameras, TVs, and CPUs, there's a huge number of products that fall outside our normal coverage. Austin-based startup TrackingPoint isn't typical Ars fare, but its use of technology to enable getting just the perfect shot was intriguing enough to get me to stop by and take a look at the company's products.

TrackingPoint makes "Precision Guided Firearms, or "PGFs," which are a series of three heavily customized hunting rifles, ranging from a .300 Winchester Magnum with a 22-inch barrel up to a .338 Lapua Magnum with 27-inch barrel, all fitted with advanced computerized scopes that look like something directly out of The Terminator. Indeed, the comparison to that movie is somewhat apt, because looking through the scope of a Precision Guided Firearm presents you with a collection of data points and numbers, all designed to get a bullet directly from point A to point B.

The view through the TrackingPoint's computerized optics.

TrackingPoint

The PGF isn't just a fancy scope on top of a rifle. All together, the PGF is made up of a firearm, a modified trigger mechanism with variable weighting, the computerized digital tracking scope, and hand-loaded match grade rounds (which you need to purchase from TrackingPoint). This is a little like selling both the razor and the razor blades, but the rounds must be manufactured to tight tolerances since precise guidance of a round to a target by the rifle's computer requires that the round perform within known boundaries.

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via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

Improv Electronics Boogie Board Sync hands-on (video)

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/inprov-electronics-boogie-board-sync-hands-on/

Either Improv Electronics loves trees, or note taking. Perhaps both? What we do know for sure is that its latest offering to the list maker is here at CES, and we just got some hands (and pen) on time with it. The Sync is a 9.7-inch slate containing the company's own eWriting technology. More than that, it also has a microSD card slot, USB and Bluetooth. That last addition is where the money is with this particular model, allowing you to wirelessly... sync with other enabled devices (i.e. second screens, desktops and iOS / Android devices). This means you can scribble away on the Sync, and have your scrawls appear at presentations and beyond. Of course, any note taking device wouldn't be complete without some Evernote integration, and luckily enough, it's present here. So, once you're done transferring inspiration from brain to slate you can grab it as a an image, and store it in the cloud for later.

The models themselves were still prototypes, but they looked and felt solid and comfortable to use. As with the other models in the line, there are little ergonomic touches that please the eye and hand alike. There's a mount on the side for the all important stylus, and the screen itself -- wile utilitarian in nature -- is easy to look at, and text, words and drawings appear clear. The SD card functionality means you can save your notes for later upload, and the mobile app functionality is also set to continually improve, with real-time second screen coming to mobile and tablets, as well as on desktop. The Sync will be up for grabs sometime around the holiday season this year. For now, sync with the gallery and video past the break.

Gallery: Improv Boogie Board Sync hands-on

Steve Dent contributed to this report.

Continue reading Improv Electronics Boogie Board Sync hands-on (video)

Filed under: Tablets

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VivoPlay packs WiFi, GPS and a GSM connection for tracking, calling your kids (video)

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/vivoplay-packs-wifi-gps-gsm-phone-kid-tracker/

If you're not keen on giving your little tyke the latest and greatest in terms of smartphones, but still want them to be a call away, the VivoPlay could fit the bill. Evado Filip US, the company behind the device, is packing GPS, WiFi and a GSM connection into a wristwatch form factor, which it claims is the world's smallest communications and location device for helping families stay in touch. Parents can call the device and chat with kids and even give their rug rats the option to call up five pre-selected phone numbers. If a child were to wander away with the VivoPlay on their wrist, parents are alerted if they leave or enter a geofenced area and can pinpoint them on a map via a smartphone app. Were a youngster to find themselves in an emergency, they can hit a button that will ring up to five predefined numbers and report their location. The idea sure is a noble one, and the devices we saw looked more than child-friendly. Evado Filip reps told us that the device is being crafted with just that in mind, and the chunky rubber enclosing the communicator sure bears that out. The charger is enclosed for that reason as well, offering a decent bit of protection from the elements (and from childhood).

There's no word on pricing or availability, but we're told the outfit is working with carriers and that pre-orders will begin in Q2. Check out the neighboring gallery or hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: VIVOPlay hands-on

Continue reading VivoPlay packs WiFi, GPS and a GSM connection for tracking, calling your kids (video)

Filed under: Misc

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Panasonic 4K tablet prototype hands on (update: video)

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/panasonics-4k-tablet-hands-on/

The Panasonic liveblog was barely finished when we saw this beauty calling out to us from the show floor. This is Panasonic's 20" 4K tablet, running Windows 8. It's a prototype design right now, but seemed to be pretty well put together, and not something quickly knocked up for the show. Given that it's not a full release model, details on specifications are sparse, but we can tell you that as well as that truly jaw dropping display, there is a front facing camera (no details on resolution, but possibly 2-megapixel), and an Intel Core i5 running the show. Input / output wise there wasn't a lot going on, but there was micro-USB, microSD and at least WiFi. If you're thinking that that display is going to pretty much keep you tethered to a wall to keep it powered, then we were told that it will at least give you two hours of use on the go.

Panasonic also told us that Anoto digital writing technology features in the tablet, which makes sense given that -- judging by the display section for this device -- that the tablet is aimed at marketing professionals, architects, photographers and other such business users. Given the tablet's size, it's not the sort of thing you are likely to be slinging in a rucksack and taking out on the road. That said, in our time with it, picking it up and moving it about wasn't terrible, and you can imagine swanky design houses and media companies lining the walls of their offices with these things. No word on price or availability, but Panasonic were confident that this would make it to production.

Gallery: Panasonic's 4K tablet prototype hands-on

Continue reading Panasonic 4K tablet prototype hands on (update: video)

Filed under: Displays, Tablets

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Panasonic reveals 20-inch, 4K resolution Windows 8 tablet

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/panasonic-reveals-20-inch-4k-resolution-windows-8-tablet/

Wow. Panasonic has just dropped a bomb in the form of a 20-inch Windows 8 tablet sporting a whopping 4k resolution. Our man on the scene liveblogging, Mat Smith, said it "looks like a photo" in person, with great viewing angles, and it sports a touchscreen display and stylus, to boot -- with super-detailed stylus manipulation of images also possible according to Panasonic. The company hasn't revealed any more details, but we saw a similar screen from the company last year, and the beast is already parked at Panasonic's booth here at CES 2013, so we're planning to get our mitts on it and give a full report. Stay tuned!

Gallery: Panasonic 20-inch 4K tablet

Show full PR text

OSAKA, Japan, Jan. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Corporation today announced the development of a new tablet computer that features a 20-inch IPS Alpha LCD panel with more than four times the resolution of Full High Definition, as well as a high precision digital pen. With the target to commercialize the new tablet later this year, Panasonic is gearing itself up to propose new business value this feature-rich device will offer to its customers in a wide range of industries. The tablet is on display at the 2013 International CES in Las Vegas from January 8 to 11.

Employing Panasonic's cutting-edge digital technology, the new tablet is designed to create new value for users with a more realistic and intuitive operating environment than paper or a display. This tablet embodies the characteristics of printed media that existing personal or tablet computers cannot provide, such as texture rich rendering, natural hand-writing and a light weight and thinness for easy mobility.

The 20-inch LCD panel delivers "4k" resolution (3840 x 2560, 9.83 million pixels), more than twice the horizontal and vertical resolutions of Full HD (1920 x 1080) and has a density of 230 pixels per inch. With a unique aspect ratio of 15:10, it can display an A3-size paper in almost full size, making it ideal to show content such as newspapers and magazines, as well as pictures with the same aspect ratio. Moreover, the pen input, with a resolution as high as the panel itself, enables natural handwriting on the tablet. Weighing 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs) and 10.8 mm (0.4 inch) thick, the tablet is easy to carry.

These unique characteristics will open up new ways for tablets to be used. The following is an example of its usage in an editorial meeting to finalize a new catalogue:

An editor comes into the room carrying a 4k tablet with him, lays it flat on the table and switches it on to show the catalog data for perusal by the editorial staff. While they check each page of the print-ready catalog by tapping and swiping the touchscreen, the editor jots down instructions for color changes directly on the screen using the digital pen and transfers them to the printing company. The meeting wraps up after they make a final check of the revised data returned from the printer to ensure the changes have been made correctly.

As the above example shows, the 4k tablet offers intuitive operation and ultra-high resolution images with superb color reproduction and a wide viewing angle unique to IPS Alpha panels, bringing an "eco and smart" work style into various business scenes.

The tablet is based on Windows 8 operating system, which enables the user to continue to use reliable applications developed for and business documents created on older versions of Windows. Besides offering an intuitiveness other PCs and tablets cannot rival, this innovative tablet will facilitate an environment in which users can develop business solutions in a timely fashion without losing any business chance.

Panasonic has built up trust with customers in a variety of industries by offering its ruggedized Toughbook laptops and Let's Note mobile notebook PCs, which helped improve operation efficiency and productivity in harsh outdoor working environments where such IT products were rarely found. Building on these achievements, Panasonic will strive to commercialize the 4k tablet, making it available globally to provide new business values to customers.

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