With S3, The Walking Dead is a “different show”—the most interesting one yet

Warning: This post—and likely its comment thread—contain speculation and potential spoilers.

The Walking Dead is many things to many different people—compelling, gory, frustrating, mind-numbing, pioneering for its genre on TV—but it's never dull. Season three comes to an end this Sunday, and there are as many thickening plots off camera as there are on it. Some major TV recappers have sworn off the show completely for its nihilism. And when AMC renewed the series, showrunner Glen Mazzara resigned over a "difference of opinion" about which direction the series should go. This triggered major backlash from the creative community, with Kurt Sutter of Sons of Anarchy saying AMC disrespects writers and Shawn Ryan of The Shield wondering aloud why anyone would sell a good show to the network.

No matter where anyone stands on these issues (or on the show itself, promise we're getting there), The Walking Dead inevitably powers forward like its signature, unrelenting walkers. S3 was the highest rated season to date, besting shows like American Idol and The Big Bang Theory in the 18-49 demographic last fall and scoring the most watched single episode in broadcast this year (the premier of this season's second half). If you want to taunt an NBC programming exec, ask where the zombie series' talk show spin-off Talking Dead would rank among their network's offerings. Not bad for a comic-adaptation, right?

On with the show...

Now, is all the attention paid to the show merited by what happens in it? While opinions can certainly change if this weekend's episode, "Welcome to the Tombs," is a clunker, S3 as a whole is The Walking Dead's most interesting to date.

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via http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/with-s3-the-walking-dead-is-a-different-show-the-most-interesting-one-yet/

DOS emulator brings Raspberry Pi back to the '90s for Doom LAN parties

Who can forget the first time they obliterated their buddy with a BFG9000 during a spirited Doom game? Raspberry Pi coder Pate wants to resurrect those good times with an rpix86 DOS emulator that opens up the world of retro PC games like the aforementioned FPS pioneer along with Duke Nukem 3D, Jill of the Jungle and others. It works by creating a virtual machine your Dad would be proud of, based on a 40Mhz 80486 processor, 640KB base RAM, 16MB extended memory, 640 x 480 256-color graphics and SoundBlaster 2.0 audio. Of course, the Pi is worlds beyond that with a 700Mhz ARM CPU, 512MB or RAM and HDMI out -- so, most enthusiasts with one of the wee $35 boards will likely be all over hacking it to play those classics.

Filed under: Misc, Peripherals

Comments

Via: Geek.com

Source: rpix86 blog

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/29/raspberry-pi-dos-emulator/

Grizzly robot EV shrugs off difficult terrain, laughs at heavy loads

Like its namesake, Clearpath Robotic's Grizzly is most comfortable in the wild. Sure, this unmanned ATV is perfectly capable of handling paved streets. But the 26-inch wheels and eight-inches of ground clearance are really built for offroad excursions. The 80-horsepower all-electric motor is capable of reaching speeds of 11 mph and of towing loads over 1,300 pounds. In short, this thing is beast. Clearpath suggests the bot would excel at agricultural tasks, but it seems to us that plowing fields would be a waste of Grizzly's skills. Unless, of course, those fields happened to be on another planet. To see this mobile monster in action check out the gallery below and the video after the break.

Gallery: Clearpath Grizzly

Filed under: Robots

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Via: Inhabitat, Damn Geeky

Source: Clearpath Robotics

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/29/grizzly-robot-ev/

OUYA available at retail on June 4 for $99

The Android-powered $99 OUYA game console becomes available at retail on June 4th -- a date which was revealed this week during the Game Developers Conference. OUYA's calling June 4th its "official launch date," despite Kickstarter backers receiving units starting this month. Essentially, the two month waiting period between Kickstarter boxes and retail availability is being used as a consumer beta, giving OUYA time to adjust its software after getting feedback from early adopters.

It's not clear if bundles will be available, but the game console itself and a controller (as well as power and HDMI cables, plus two AA batteries for the controller) are included in the $99 package. Major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and others are on board, so it shouldn't be too hard locating one in June should your interested be piqued -- and yes, pre-orders are available. Of course, it's a pretty small little game console, so it might be a bit tough locating the thing with your eyes.

Filed under: Gaming, HD

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via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/28/ouya-retail-june-4/

Run 1992’s hottest games on the Raspberry Pi with the rpix86 emulator

Your Raspberry Pi is great, but it needs more DOS.

Patrick Aalto

For the one million of you who have purchased a Raspberry Pi system since it launched a year ago, Geek.com has another thing you can add to the list of things it does: programmer Patrick Aalto has put together an emulator, called rpix86, that can run code written for Intel processors.

The Pi's ARM CPU runs at 700MHz, but an emulated x86 processor isn't going to be nearly that fast: specifically, rpix86 emulates an Intel 80486 running at roughly 20Mhz with 640KB of real memory, 4MB of expanded memory, and 16MB of extended memory; Super VGA graphics supporting up to a 640×480 resolution and 256 colors; a SoundBlaster 2.0 sound card; and keyboard and two-button mouse support.

The emulator is intended primarily as a vehicle to run old DOS games that no longer run on modern PCs (at least without the aid of a separate emulator like DOSBox or Boxer), and it has a few limitations that keep it from performing more complex tasks. It supports some protected mode features but lacks support for virtual memory necessary to run versions of Windows newer than 3.0—virtual memory support would "seriously slow down the emulation, which is pretty slow even as it is." Like a real MS-DOS PC, rpix86 also lacks support for long filenames (the traditional 8.3 file naming scheme applies). Aalto has made a number of game-specific fixes since the emulator's first version, but don't expect it to run much more than (relatively) simply DOS games and applications.

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via http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/run-1992s-hottest-games-on-the-raspberry-pi-with-the-rpix86-emulator/

Visualized: Unreal Engine 4 'Infiltrator' demo gives an impressive peek at next-gen gaming

Just in case you missed it last night buried in our interview with Epic Games VP Mark Rein, the company showed off a new real-time demo at GDC 2013 this week, titled "Infiltrator." The nearly four-minute clip, showcases a sci-fi shootout created with its Unreal Engine 4, and remarkably powered by a single GeForce GTX 680. Now that we've piqued your curiosity a bit, check out this gorgeous display of futuristic espionage after the break, plus a bonus clip of the "Elemental" UE4 demo running on a PlayStation 4 dev kit in real-time.

Filed under: Gaming, Software

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via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/30/unreal-engine-4-infiltrator-demo-gdc-epic/

BionicOpter dragonfly drone flutters about, blows minds

Festo isn't quite the household name that Boston Dynamics is. (And, really, we're not entirely sure Big Dog is a regular topic of conversation at dinner tables yet.) But, it certainly deserves just as much attention for the work they're doing with robotics. After crafting a machine last year that soared around like a herring gull, now the company has created BionicOpter. The 17.3-inch long dragonfly drone can flutter through the air in any direction, and even hover, just like its biological inspiration. Its four carbon fiber and foil wings beat up to 20 times per-second, propelling it through the air as if it were swimming rather than flying. Actually piloting the robo-bug is achieved through a smartphone app, but an on-board ARM-based microcontroller makes small adjustments to ensure stability during flight. There are a few important pieces of information we don't have just yet. For one, it's not clear how long the two-cell lithium ion battery will last, and pricing or availability are missing from the brochure (at the source link). Chances are though, you'll never be able to afford one any way. Thankfully you can at least see this marvel of engineering in action after the break.

Filed under: Robots

Comments

Via: Design Engineering, The Verge

Source: Festo 1 (PDF), 2

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/29/bionicopter-dragonfly-drone/

HDHomeRun Prime firmware featuring DLNA streaming comes out of beta

You'd really like to stream some HD cable TV to a DLNA client from your HDHomeRun Prime, but aren't willing to risk introducing beta firmware into your fully functional entertainment system? We have good news: after a little more than two months of beta, your wait is over. Today's official HDHomeRun Prime update comes with release notes detailing its newfound ability to stream Copy Freely content to any DLNA playback device (like XBMC, PS3 or Samsung's HDTVs, for example) that supports MPEG-2 and AC3. Protected content, like anything marked Copy Once, works as well if your device happens to be one of the few that supports CableLab's transmission DRM of choice, DTCP-IP. So while we warned that this feature might not be worth injecting beta software into the mix back in January, a number of fixes in this release plus weeks of testing should push HDHomeRun Prime owners to update now.

[Thanks, Rob]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Silicondust firmware change log

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/29/hdhomerun-prime-firmware-featuring-dlna-streaming-comes-out-of-b/

OUYA available at retail on June 4 for $99

The Android-powered $99 OUYA game console becomes available at retail on June 4th -- a date which was revealed this week during the Game Developers Conference. OUYA's calling June 4th its "official launch date," despite Kickstarter backers receiving units starting this month. Essentially, the two month waiting period between Kickstarter boxes and retail availability is being used as a consumer beta, giving OUYA time to adjust its software after getting feedback from early adopters.

It's not clear if bundles will be available, but the game console itself and a controller (as well as power and HDMI cables, plus two AA batteries for the controller) are included in the $99 package. Major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and others are on board, so it shouldn't be too hard locating one in June should your interest be piqued -- and yes, pre-orders are available. Of course, it's a pretty small game console, so it might be a bit tough locating the thing with your eyes.

Filed under: Gaming, HD

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via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/28/ouya-at-retail-june-4/

The final OUYA retail console is ready, we go hands-on

It's been a long time coming, and now the Android-powered, Kickstarter-funded OUYA video game console is finally heading to backers. Sure, the final retail units for non-backers won't be available until June, but around 50,000 lucky folks who pledged over $99 to OUYA's massively successful campaign will be receiving their units in the coming days. We've already heard what developers have to say about it, but this week we got our first hands-on with the miniature, Tegra 3-powered game console we've been hearing so much about since last summer.

Is it the "best Tegra 3 device on the market," as OUYA's claimed? Let's find out!

Gallery: Ouya hands-on (GDC 2013)

Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD

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via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/28/ouya-hands-on/

ZigBee IP spec goes public, offers open IPv6 mesh networking

While ZigBee hasn't become as ubiquitous in wireless as the likes of Bluetooth or WiFi, it has carved out niches in home automation and low-power gear. The format is about to expand its world a little further now that a more network-savvy spec, ZigBee IP, is officially available for everyone. The upgrade adds IPv6 and tougher security to the open mesh networking formula, letting it more easily join an internet of things where there's potentially billions of connected devices. The ZigBee Alliance isn't naming customers at this stage, although it's quick to note that ZigBee IP was built for smart grid use: don't be surprised if you first see it behind the scenes, keeping energy use in check.

Filed under: Household, Networking

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Source: ZigBee Alliance

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/27/zigbee-ip-spec-goes-public-offers-open-ipv6-mesh-networking/

ModernMix is a $5 program that lets you run Metro-style apps in desktop-style windows

Sometimes you just wanna close a window. Or resize it, or drag it so that it overlaps with something else. That's how Windows works, and it's more or less how you'd expect to interact with Windows 8 in particular. The problem is, those old-world rules don't necessarily apply to newer Metro-style apps: yes, you can snap them in place next to traditional x86 programs, but you can't resize those windows, nor can you arrange them so that they overlap with each other.

Fortunately for you multitaskers out there, Stardock's new app ModernMix squeezes all your Metro programs into traditional desktop windows -- ones you can resize, minimize, drag around and even close completely. The app also lets you pin Metro apps to the Taskbar on the desktop, as well as run them at full-screen when the mood strikes. It's priced at $5, but Stardock is offering a 30-day free trial to folks who prefer to try before they buy. Just remember: you'll need Windows 8, not RT. Not that you RT users are spending much time in the desktop anyway.

Filed under: Software

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Source: Stardock

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/27/modernmix-lets-you-run-metro-style-apps-on-the-desktop/

We test Leap Motion’s controller-free gaming and find it finger-pointing good

It's been over a year since Leap Motion first publicly unveiled its idea for a gum-pack-sized motion tracker that promised sub-millimeter accuracy and easy finger tracking. I finally got a chance to try the promising technology at PAX East this weekend, and I've got to say it seems to deliver on that initial promise. The Leap Motion was hidden away in the Double Fine booth, where it was being shown alongside DropChord, a musical puzzle-action game designed specifically for the Leap Motion.

Using two index fingers, players point toward two dots on a hollow circle, creating a line through the middle that can be used to collect dots while avoiding painful sparks. After a short calibration, the Leap Motion tracked my fingers incredibly well, with none of the jumpiness and delay inherent in technologies like the Kinect. Picking out arcs with my outstretched index fingers quickly became second nature, and I was largely able to forget that the Leap Motion device was even there. It was like something out of Minority Report, as you can see in the video below.

Gaming Editor Kyle Orland goes hands-on with LeapMotion at PAX East 2013. (video link)

The biggest problem with the controls was that my left hand would occasionally wander outside the detection area for the unit, and it would take me a second to realize the problem and reorient my hand. The Leap Motion also seemed to have a little trouble picking up the quick finger flicks that are supposed to send the arc whipping around the edge of the circle, but this is just as likely a software issue as a hardware problem.

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via http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/we-test-leap-motions-controller-free-gaming-and-find-it-finger-pointing-good/

MakerBot and OUYA join forces to let you print your own console enclosure

How to pass the time as the first OUYA consoles start shipping to backers? Well, if you've got a 3D printer at home, you can spend the hours printing your very own enclosure for the Android-based console. The gaming company has joined forces with MakerBot on a 3D printing development kit that'll let you customize your case at home. The plans, which were apparently optimized for the second generation Replicator, let you go crazy with custom designs and patterns, because while the rest of the world will get their chance to pick up a console this summer, yours can still be a special snowflake. You can check the plans out on Thingiverse in the source link below.

Filed under: Gaming

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Source: Thingiverse

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/27/makerbot-ouya/

Hands-On With the New NVIDIA GeForce GTX-650Ti BOOST GPU

 

In October 2012, NVIDIA released the GeForce GTX-650Ti GPU which I wrote about at the time of its debut. The GTX-650 GPU lineup offers great performance at a budget price. Today, NVIDIA gives the GTX-650Ti a jolt by offering an updated version of this GPU called the GeForce GTX-650Ti BOOST.

The GeForce GTX-650Ti BOOST reference card installed in my machine

This updated GPU is still available at an economical price, but performance has been enhanced noticeably. At a suggested price of $149.00 for the 1GB configuration and $169.00 for the 2GB configuration, these cards are quite affordable.

The GeForce GTX-650Ti BOOST is a double-width single slot card

I was fortunate enough to get a card to use prior to the product release so that I could try the card with the latest NVIDIA drivers and DirectX 11 games. My test setup was a Intel Core i7 PC with 24GB RAM and a dual 1920x1200 display setup. The card I used has a great selection of display connections including full-size DisplayPort 1.2 port, full-size HDMI port, and two DVI ports.

GeForce GTX-650Ti BOOST display connectors

My test card has the larger memory capacity (2GB), and it runs Windows 8 and DirectX 11 games really well.

Here are some specs for the GeForce GTX-650Ti BOOST GPU:

• Architecture: Kepler
• Bus interface: PCIe 3.0
• Memory: 2GB GDDR5 (1GB configuration also available)
• Memory Speed: 6.0 Gbps
• Cuda cores: 768
• Base price: $149.00 (suggested)
• Power connectors: 1 x 6-pin
• 2-way SLI capable

Some notable changes compared to the GeForce GTX-650Ti GPU:

Base Clock:

• 928 MHz (GTX-650Ti)
• 980 MHz – 1033 MHz (GTX-650Ti BOOST)

Memory Interface:

• 128-bit, 5.4 Gbps, 86.4GB/sec memory bandwidth (GTX-650Ti)
• 192-bit, 6.0 Gbps, 144.2GB/sec memory bandwidth (GTX-650Ti BOOST)

SLI Support:

• GTX-650Ti: not supported
• GTX-650Ti BOOST: 2-way supported

With a base price that’s the same as the original GTX-650Ti, the GTX-650Ti BOOST offers better performance without spending extra. With the added ability to run these cards in 2-way SLI mode, you’ll also have the ability to add to your graphics capabilities over time. This incremental approach can help your PC keep up with the ever-increasing demands of new-and-improved DirectX games.

Speaking of DirectX 11 games, I decided to test the GTX-650Ti BOOST by running a couple of the latest DirectX 11 games on my Windows 8 test box, starting with Crysis 3. For these tests, I installed the NVIDIA 314.21 desktop driver package.

Crysis 3 Test

I experimented with a bunch of different combinations in the graphics settings, and settled on “Medium” overall. Since the GTX-650Ti BOOST is optimized for 1080p gaming, I ran the game fullscreen at 1080p resolution.

Graphics settings used in Crysis 3 to test the GTX-650Ti BOOST

The resultant gameplay was good, and I was able to hold 40-45 FPS peaking at 55 FPS at 1920x1080, single display, fullscreen. For me, this test validated the performance and value of the GTX-650Ti BOOST GPU since Crysis 3 is a one of the most graphics intense games out there.

Awesome visuals, effects in Crysis 3 as seen running on the GTX-650Ti BOOST – yielding 55 FPS

Battlefield 3 test

After my Crysis 3 test, I thought it would be a good idea to try a game that I’ve found to have great performance on Windows 8: Battlefield 3 (BF3). This game has produced great FPS numbers for me on numerous setups I’ve tested and has impressive graphics/visuals/effects. This time I focused on the sweet-spot for this card: high settings and 1920x1080 full screen mode.

BF3 “High” graphics settings as used to test the GTX-650Ti BOOST

I was expecting great results because BF3 is highly optimized, and I was not disappointed. At “High” settings, BF3 was rock solid at an FPS range of 65-72 during active gameplay. WOW- for a budget-priced card, these are some awesome results!

BF3 Gameplay at High settings at 1920x1080 – an ideal setup for the GTX-650Ti BOOST and Windows 8

As a final test, I cranked BF3 up to “Ultra” settings, and experienced a very playable 45-47 FPS during gameplay. I was really happy with that result.

My only regret with this review was not having enough time to play more great DirectX 11 games. I may just have to do some catch-up on that… It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!

If you want great graphics performance and have a modest budget, check out the lineup of graphics cards built on the GeForce GTX-650Ti BOOST GPU.

GeForce GTX-650Ti BOOST represents a great value in performance graphics hardware

Stay up to date, follow me on Twitter!

via http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/extremewindows/archive/2013/03/26/hands-on-with-the-new-nvidia-geforce-gtx-650ti-boost-gpu.aspx

Hyperkin Retron 5 plays the cartridges of nine classic consoles (video)

Hyperkin has developed a reputation for modern takes on legendary game consoles that are often better than the real thing. If true, its just-unveiled Retron 5 is a nostalgia singularity. The hardware emulator can use its namesake five cartridge slots to play original games from no less than nine vintage consoles, including the Genesis (Megadrive), NES (Famicom), SNES (Super Famicom) and GameBoys from the original through to the GameBoy Advance. It keeps going: there's a custom Bluetooth controller that can handle every system, mix-and-match original controller support, save states and upscaling for both video (to 720p, through HDMI) as well as audio. While we'll have to see just how well the Retron 5 works whenever it exists as more than a conceptual graphic, that opportunity may come quickly when Hyperkin is tentatively shooting for a July release at less than $100. About all that's left for a follow-up Retron are Jaguar and Turbografx 16 slots -- pretty please?

Filed under: Gaming, Nintendo

Comments

Via: Slashdot

Source: Hyperkin

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/24/hyperkin-retron-5-plays-cartridges-of-nine-classic-consoles/

Insert Coin: MiiPC promises a kid-safe Android PC that allows surfing, gaming for $99 (video)

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

If there's one thing that smartphones have taught us, it's that small devices can surf the internet and play games just fine, thank you. With that philosophy in mind, the brains behind eMachines have launched the $99 MiiPC on Kickstarter with the goal of giving kids their own mini PC to surf the web, play games or videos, and, yes, do homework. To keep costs down, the tiny device is packing Android 4.2, a Marvell 1.2GHZ dual core CPU, 1GB RAM, 4GB upgradeable storage, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, ethernet and 1080p HDMI output to a monitor or TV. The backers say it's "designed for large screen connectivity and optimized to provide a true keyboard and mouse experience" so that each family member can run Android apps from their own accounts. For worried parents, the device brings an interesting twist: there's also a mobile iOS or Android companion app to monitor your offspring in real-time from any locale. That'll let you steer them away from verboten websites and stave off dreaded internet addiction, according to the outfit -- bearing in mind, of course, that kids can be pretty clever. The campaign's just kicked off, and MiiPC's seeking $50,000 with a $99 pledge ($89 for the first 200 backers) netting you your own device -- sans keyboard, mouse and screen, of course. Check the video or PR after the break for more.

Filed under: Desktops

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Source: Kickstarter

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/25/insert-coin-miipc-android/

Congress restores TA through fiscal ’13

Congress has voted to restore the military’s tuition assistance program but has left the Coast Guard behind.

via http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2013/03/military-congress-saves-tuition-assistance-for-all-but-coast-guard-032113w/

Wireless 'under the skin' prototype implant beams instant blood test read-outs to your smartphone

A new blood-testing subdermal sensor has been developed by a team of scientists in Switzerland. While that may not sound particularly notable, this half-inch prototype can instantly beam several health metrics to smart devices over Bluetooth, monitoring cholesterol, blood sugar levels as well as the impact of medical treatments like chemotherapy using five built-in sensors.

The device has already been tested on animals and while the researchers hope to begin testing soon on patients that would typically require a lot of blood tests and monitoring, the module is still several years from a commercial release. According to the EPFL's video, the sensor can even predict heart attacks several hours before they occur, sensing minute changes in the bloodstream ahead of time. We've 'implanted' the explanation after the break, but if you're looking for some more medical-minded specifics, head to the source.

Filed under: Science, Alt

Comments

Via: BBC

Source: EPFL

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/20/wireless-under-the-skin-implant-can-beam-instant-blood-test-re/

Redbox Instant app for Xbox 360 goes live for Gold subscribers

We knew that Redbox Instant would be coming to Xbox 360, it was specifically betrayed by a leak way back in November and the company has been pretty up front about the planned support. Now the app is available through Xbox Live, delivering its streaming library to millions of Microsoft gamers. The $8 a month service just became available to the public during the last week. If you're curious, but not quite ready to add another subscription to your life, Xbox Live Gold customers can enjoy a free trial of 4,600 unlimited streaming titles (though the 4,000-plus movies available for purchase or rent will still set you back a few more bucks). To try it out yourself hit up the Xbox Live Marketplace, where you'll also find the newly launched GameTrailers app.

Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft, Verizon

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Source: GigaOM, Major Nelson

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/19/redbox-instant-app-for-xbox-360/

Video buffering or slow downloads? Blame the speed of light

Aurich Lawson

Bandwidth—the number of bits per second that a device or connection can transfer every second—is the number that everyone loves to talk about. Whether it be the gigabit per second that your Ethernet card does, boasting about your fancy new FTTP Internet connection at 85 megabits per second, or bemoaning the lousy 128 kilobits per second you get on hotel Wi-Fi, bandwidth gets the headlines.

Bandwidth isn't, however, the only number that's important when it comes to network performance. Latency—the time it takes the message you send to arrive at the other end—is also critically important. Depending on what you're trying to do, high latency can make your network connections crawl, even if your bandwidth is abundant.

Why latency matters

It's easy to understand why bandwidth is important. If a YouTube stream has a bitrate of 1Mb/s, it's obvious that to play it back in real time, without buffering, you'll need at least 1Mb/s of bandwidth. If the game you're installing from Steam is about 3.6GB and your bandwidth is about 8Mb/s, it will take about an hour to download.

Read 44 remaining paragraphs | Comments

via http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/03/youtube-buffering-or-slow-downloads-blame-the-speed-of-light/

Rumor mill gets rolling on next Nexus handset

Android and Me

With Samsung's Galaxy S 4 revealed and Google I/O just a few months away, the rumor mill has shifted its focus to what the next Nexus device might bring. An anonymous source has leaked what he claims is a photo of a Nexus prototype to Android and Me.

According to the leak, Google plans to release its next Nexus handset in October of this year, about a year after LG's Nexus 4 hit the scene. The manufacturer of the next Nexus handset is not known, but the source claims that Google is evaluating a number of prototypes from various manufacturers, including LG, which has apparently labeled its Nexus project "Megalodon." The handset is purported to have a 5.2-inch OLED display with 1080p resolution, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB of RAM, and up to 64GB of internal storage, not to mention a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera. Some rumors also point to the camera lens being manufactured by Nikon.

The specifications list essentially maps out what we'd hope to see in smartphones coming out later this year. And as with any rumor, it should be taken with several grains of salt.

Read on Ars Technica | Comments

via http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/03/rumor-mill-gets-rolling-on-next-nexus-handset/

Feedly picks up over 500,000 Google Reader defectors

It looks like Feedly's promises of a "seamless transition" worked. The newsfeed service recently reported that more than 500,000 Google Reader users have joined its ranks following the announcement that the popular aggregator will close this summer. It multiplied its bandwidth ten times over, added new servers to cope with the sudden influx and hopes to keep the service up as much as possible as more users pour in. In an effort to keep its new clientele happy, Feedly has promised to listen to suggestions and add new features on a weekly basis as well. But if it doesn't, don't worry; we suspect there'll be many more alternatives pitching for your RSS feeds over the coming weeks.

Filed under: Internet, Google

Comments

Via: SlashGear

Source: Feedly Blog

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/17/feedly-picks-up-over-500000-google-reader-defectors/

ZBoard rolls out the San Francisco Special for the hilly city by the bay (video)

The guys at ZBoard made quite the splash at SXSW Interactive earlier this week -- riding an electric skateboard around the streets and conference halls of Austin will get you all sorts of attention, after all. Still, for all the love they got at the event, the startup opted to hold its latest announce until the kickoff of Expand -- for an important reason: this electric skateboard is a tribute to the hills and winding streets of the city by the bay. ZBoard's San Francisco Special ups the game for the Kickstarted company, extending the board's range to 20 highway or 14 city miles. The wheels also got an upgrade to high-traction 110mm models, while the braking system got a nice bump, as well.

Of course, with along all those improvements comes a bit more weight -- the already hefty board now clocks in at 32 pounds. Those who were hoping for a lighter-weight solution akin to the Boosted Board will have to keep holding their breath -- according to the ZBoard's creators, its community said it wouldn't mind adding a few pounds to increase range, and as such, there's a four-pound jump from the ZBoard Pro. But, you know, if all goes according to plan, you shouldn't be carry this thing around too much. For when you do, however, there's that padded handle.

Comments

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/16/zboard-san-francisco-special/

Automatic Link connects phone and car for better driving, we go hands-on (video)

Scanners that can read data from your car's OBD-II port (which is in every car built since 1996) aren't exactly new; they're on-hand at every mechanic's workshop and curious car enthusiasts can buy them from most hardware stores. But few port readers are consumer-friendly enough for the everyday driver to grok.

Enter the newly announced Automatic Link, which uses Bluetooth 4.0 and a paired smartphone to deliver diagnostic info with a decidedly novel twist. Instead of just hard facts, it offers an innovative array of features that range from monitoring driving habits, dialing 911 in case of an accident and even letting you clear a check engine light if you can fix the problem yourself. Join us after the break where we give the Link a bit of a test drive, speak to Automatic's lead product guy and find out a bit more about the potential of this tiny plastic nub.

Filed under: Transportation

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Source: Automatic

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/15/automatic-link-hands-on-test-drive/

Plex client project for Raspberry Pi gets a fresh update and its own site to call home

RasPlex is not the only HTPC software project aimed at the Raspberry Pi (also see Raspbmc, OpenELEC or PyPlex), but it is trying to leverage the Plex Media Server to become the best option. As detailed on the "Why Rasplex?" section of its new website, Plex's client/server model lends itself to handling video streams that might otherwise not be supported by the Pi's lightweight ARM CPU, as well as (once it's out of beta) access a number of additional apps and features. Its creator celebrated Pi day yesterday by launching a new site for the project, and even has plans for custom cases to make mounting your $35 media PC in the living room easier to do. Hit the source links to download the latest update, version 0.1.27 or just get more information.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: RasPlex.com

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/15/plex-client-project-for-raspberry-pi-gets-a-fresh-update-and-its/

Digg to build a Google Reader replacement with same API, new features

The news of Google Reader's upcoming demise has put the spotlight on several alternatives that RSS fans can only hope will fill the gap. The latest to vie for our attention doesn't even exist yet: Digg just announced that it will be creating a reader of its own. According to its blog, the aggregation service was apparently already planning to build such a reader, but upon hearing that Google's version will bite the dust, the company is kicking into gear to develop a suitable replacement. Digg's reader will maintain what it calls the best of Google Reader's features, including its API, while incorporating changes that reflect the relevance of social networks and other popular Internet communities.

Filed under: Internet

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Digg Blog

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/14/digg-building-google-reader-replacement-same-api/

Dell announces XPS 18 – an All-in-One desktop that is also a tablet

Ok so this is pretty cool. Yesterday, Dell announced the newest member of their awesome XPS line (I have the XPS 13): the XPS 18. The XPS 18 is an All-in-One PC. The XPS 18 is a tablet. Wait… what?

 

 

Yup – that’s right: the XPS 18 is an All-in-One PC that can be a tablet too! Dell is calling this new PC “the world’s thinnest portable All-in-One”. The XPS 18 comes in just under 5 pounds, has an 18.4” capacitive touch full HD (1920x1080), and is built on Intel’s third-generation core processors. It has a built in kick-stand on the back where it can stand on its own or can snap into a stand to be used more like a traditional PC. You can pretty much take this PC to any room in your house and use it for whatever you need – whether it’s playing games in the living room or viewing recipes in the kitchen or writing emails in your home office.

The XPS 18 will be available on Dell.com in the United States and in select countries in Europe on April 16 starting at $899.99.

For more information, click here to read their blog post. Be sure to let Lionel know Brandon sent you!

via http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2013/03/14/dell-announces-xps-18-an-all-in-one-desktop-that-is-also-a-tablet.aspx

National Vulnerability Database taken down by vulnerability-exploiting hack

The federal government's official catalog of software vulnerabilities was taken offline after administrators discovered two of its servers had been compromised. By malware. That exploited a software vulnerability.

The National Vulnerability Database is maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and has been unavailable since late last week, according to an e-mail sent by NIST official Gail Porter published on Google+. At the time of this article on Thursday afternoon, the database remained down and there was no indication when service would be restored.

"On Friday March 8, a NIST firewall detected suspicious activity and took steps to block unusual traffic from reaching the Internet," Porter wrote in the March 14 message. "NIST began investigating the cause of the unusual activity and the servers were taken offline. Malware was discovered on two NIST Web servers and was then traced to a software vulnerability."

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via http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/03/national-vulnerability-database-taken-down-by-vulnerability-exploiting-hack/

Hackers open up offline play, modding tools for SimCity

Highways... in the middle of a city? Dare to dream, SimCity owners.

Youtube / UKAzzer

EA and Maxis' claim that it would take "significant engineering work" to make a workable offline version of SimCity took another hit today. Hackers have released modding tools that disable the game's periodic server checks without breaking the simulation. The tools also unlock other features not in the final game.

reddit is abuzz with news and guides for installing the SimCityPak, a downloadable package of files that lets players edit many elements of the UI and underlying game logic. The tools aren't incredibly user-friendly for the time being, but those with some Javascript experience and patience to learn can do things like disable the online connectivity requirement, fix the "fudged" population display, and even affect how the basic simulation works in some ways.

Hackers are still poring through the code to see what kinds of new features and gameplay can be unlocked (including, potentially, the holy grail of increased city size limits), but one of the most exciting discoveries so far has been a way to easily uncover the developers' debug mode. This mode allows for many features that players have been asking for in the consumer version of the game, including the ability to build highways through city limits and in the regional "dead space" between cities. These changes will apparently stay valid in the wider region after the city is synced to EA's central servers, though other users' cities will not see edits made to the regional landscape.

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via http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/hackers-open-up-offline-play-modding-tools-for-simcity/

"Singularity" Added

I've been working on a new space scene over the past few days. As with all of my space projects, there comes a point where it looks pretty good as the view out of spaceship window. Then I must make the decision to be happy with that or press on a render a view "from the ground".

"Phraxis", for example, looks great by its own but "Phraxis Moon" is rater higher.

The new piece is an update to one of my old favorites, "Singularity". I am already working on a view from the ground but I thought the space view looked nice to enough to compete for a gallery spot all on its own.

It is still very much a work-in-progress though and I will be releasing a "view from the ground" soon.

Let me know what you think in the comments!

via http://digitalblasphemy.com/preview.shtml?i=singularity2k131

Add to Wunderlist extension brings one-click web clipping to your to-do list

Wunderlist users rejoice! Your favorite to-do list just gained a major new feature with the launch of the Add to Wunderlist extension -- now available for Chrome, Firefox and Safari. The extension lets you save content from your favorite websites directly into Wunderlist with just one click. It automatically scans web pages for links, email content, prices, descriptions and ratings, clips any highlighted text, then adds it to your list of choice. Web developers also have the option to embed an Add to Wunderlist button directly into websites -- the company's already teamed up with Outlook.com, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Amazon, eBay, Twitter, Youtube, IMDb, Asos, Etsy, Wikipedia and Hacker News to enable this functionality. It's never been easier to be obsessive-compulsive while surfing the web -- you just have to follow the source link below.

Filed under: Internet

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Source: 6Wunderkinder

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/14/add-to-wunderlist-extension-brings-one-click-web-clipping-to-you/

Apple proposes iPad wireless charging with a difference: power comes from the Smart Cover

Remember when Apple's Phil Schiller mentioned he wasn't into wireless charging? Well, what he specifically said was that he didn't dig "having to create another [charging] device you have to plug into the wall." In other words, Apple is probably looking for a simpler way to make the idea work -- and that's exactly what we're looking at in the patent drawings above, which are currently being weighed up by the USPTO after having been submitted back in 2011. They show an iPad's Smart Cover tricked out with an "inductive power transmitter" arranged to "wirelessly pass power" to a receiver housed within the tablet itself. The application mainly focuses on the use of magnetic attachments to trigger charging when the cover is closed, but it looks like the ultimate goal might be to use the cover as an additional battery that can keep an iPad charged up while it's on the move. That certainly sounds practical enough -- and it'd do away with the need for an additional charging accessory, which ought to keep Schiller happy for a while.

Filed under: Tablets, Wireless, Apple

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Source: USPTO

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/14/apple-ipad-wireless-charging-patent/