Visualized: Boeing supersonic airliner concept soars in a wind tunnel, quietly

No, you're not looking at an early preview of Star Wars Episode VII -- it just might represent the future of air transport, though. Boeing has spent years developing a truly quiet supersonic airliner concept, the Icon II, and what you see is an aerodynamics test of a mockup in a vaguely Death Star-like wind tunnel at NASA's Glenn Research Center. The starfighter design is for more than just show, as you'd suspect. Its V-tail design moves sonic booms further back, reducing the chance that shockwaves will reach the ground (and our ears) intact, while the top-mounted engines isolate engine noise. Boeing and NASA are ultimately hoping for production passenger aircraft discreet enough to fly over land at supersonic speeds, although we can't help but think that the sci-fi look is a convenient bonus.

Filed under: Transportation, Alt

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Source: New Scientist

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/27/visualized-boeing-supersonic-airliner-concept/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Engadget's laptop buyer's guide: spring 2013 edition

You asked; you got it. When we ran our first-ever laptop buyer's guide earlier this year, many of you wrote in, requesting that we include more affordable picks (not just, you know, twelve-hundred-dollar Ultrabooks). So with this latest seasonal guide, we've added budget and mid-range options, some with touchscreens, some without. The only unfortunate thing? We're expecting Intel to drop its new Haswell chips sometime this summer, so it should go without saying that it might be worth waiting for the various PC giants to refresh their lineups before committing to anything. If you absolutely can't wait, though, we've picked our favorites, with a particular emphasis on models we don't think will be going anywhere anytime soon.

Filed under: Laptops, Samsung, Sony, ASUS, HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo

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via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/26/engadget-laptop-buyers-guide-spring-2013/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Razer Edge: A Gaming Tablet with Extreme Horsepower

The Razer Edge is a new kind of tablet: it’s a portable high-performance gaming PC and also a device that can morph into four different configurations. The Razer Edge has impressive performance specs and is optimized for hardcore PC gaming. In this article I’ll share some of my experiences with an early shipping Razer Edge Pro unit. It’s a tablet like no other!

Razer Edge Pro 10.1” Intel Core i7 tablet with optional gamepad controller (click to enlarge)

When I got the Razer Edge Pro, I decided to load Dirt 3, a DirectX 11 game that I play frequently and have tested on several systems with different configurations. I set the game resolution to full (1366x768), graphics quality to high, and started a race. FRAPS indicated 65-70fps when running Dirt 3 at these quality settings, a very good gaming experience. This Dirt 3 game play demonstrated to me how the included dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE graphics performs with hard-hitting DirectX 11 games: it’s amazing! One of the other things I noticed when playing the game was the awesome sound quality. The speakers built into the Razer Edge Pro are impressive and sound much “bigger” than what you expect with a tablet.

The Razer Edge is a great gaming tablet, and there’s also a long list of special features and design details that are worth discussing. The illuminated Razer logo detail on the back of the tablet is really cool with its illuminated glow:

Illuminated Razer logo glows when the screen backlight is on (click to enlarge)

The Razer edge Pro also has a great screen. The image overall image quality for this IPS panel is high and it features good clarity, color, contrast, and brightness. Windows 8 touch gestures worked flawless for me (swiping from edges, dragging apps down to close, etc.) and the overall touch experience is very good.

The Razer Edge Pro without gamepad controller – this screen looks great! (click to enlarge)

With an Intel Core i7-3517U processor and 8GB DDR3 ram, this is a powerful PC regardless of the form-factor. Since this tablet runs Windows 8, you can run any app on it, including both Windows Store apps, and Desktop apps.

The Razer Edge Pro has plenty of CPU horsepower – 4 powerful logical cores

The Razer Edge is a very powerful tablet- but it’s also quite flexible. The design team at Razer was determined to make this gaming platform as versatile as possible – and that’s great for enthusiasts that want to use their PCs in a variety of places and for different tasks.

The Razer Edge (Pro and non-Pro) supports 4 distinct hardware configuration modes:

1. Tablet mode (tablet only)
2. Keyboard mode (with optional keyboard dock, not covered in this article)
3. Mobile console mode (using optional gamepad controller)
4. Home console mode (using optional docking station)

In Tablet mode, using the Razer Edge Pro feels a lot like using other Windows 8 tablets. But when you want to get down to business and start gaming, snapping the Razer Edge Pro into the optional gamepad controller (sold separately) turns this tablet PC into a unique mobile PC gaming console type device.

The gamepad controller has some awesome features:

• Extended battery bay
• Vibration feedback
• Dual analog sticks with backlit buttons

Analog sticks (right-hand shown) include d-pad, many different buttons, triggers, and hat controls (click to enlarge)

After setting up buttons and controls the way I wanted them in Dirt 3, it felt completely natural to initiate drifting turns, accelerate, and brake in Dirt 3, all with the analog stick controls on the gamepad controller. I could play DirectX 11 games like this all day on the Razer Edge Pro.

When you’re done gaming (or want to do some mouse/keyboard gaming), it’s a good time to dock the Razer Edge Pro. My test unit came with the optional docking station, and I used it quite a bit while installing apps, charging the unit, and when performing related desktop type tasks.

Razer Edge Pro optional docking station – from left: USB 2.0 ports (3), HDMI out (1), headphone out/microphone in, power connector (click to enlarge)

With 3 USB 2.0 ports, you can run a dedicated wired mouse and keyboard and still have a port left over for another USB device (or hub). The integrated USB 3.0 port is also accessible on the top left edge of the tablet when docked. I ran an external 1920x1080 display via the HDMI output on the dock, and found it to be a great multi-display experience. It’s great to have extra screen real estate when the Razer Edge Pro is docked. Because this is such a flexible and powerful PC, I could imagine using it as a primary PC with great results.

Here are some specs for the Razer Edge Pro Tablet PC: (full detailed specs available here)

• Processor: Intel Core i7 1.9GHz base, 3.0GHz turbo, dual-core, hyper-threaded
• RAM: 8GB DDR3
• Screen: 10.1” IPS Multi-Touch 1366x768
• Graphics: Intel 4000, NVIDIA GT 640M LE, 2GB DDR3
• Storage: 128GB or 256GB SSD
• Weight: 2.1 lb

For fun, I have put together a couple wallpaper-sized Razer logo images from my photo shoot that you can download here:

1920x1080: (click for full size)

2560x1440: (click for full size)

If you are a gamer with mobility in mind or just need a mega-powerful tablet, check out the Razer Edge and Razer Edge Pro!

Stay up to date, follow me on Twitter!

via http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/extremewindows/archive/2013/04/26/razer-edge-a-gaming-tablet-with-extreme-horsepower.aspx

Worldwide smartphone shipments outpace dumbphones for the first time

Pick a smartphone, any smartphone. It's what most of the world is doing!

Andrew Cunningham

While the PC market is slowing down, the smartphone market continues to grow. In fact, market research firm IDC is reporting that worldwide shipments of smartphones outstripped shipments of feature phones for the first time this quarter. There were 418.6 million phones shipped in total, of which 216.2 million were smartphones. Overall, the phone market is up 16.2 million units compared to the first quarter of 2012.

Samsung remains the undisputed leader in this market: it shipped 115 million phones (both smart- and feature-) in the first quarter of this year, compared to 93.6 million handsets last year. Other companies that showed growth include Apple (from 35.1 million units to 37.4 million) and LG (from 13.7 million units to 15.4 million), though IDC notes that "the last time the iPhone maker posted a single-digit year-over-year growth rate was 3Q09."

The world's other phone makers, all lumped together into the "others" category, shipped 175.4 million phones in the first quarter of 2013, compared to 161.1 last year; this doesn't tell us much about how individual companies like HTC are doing.

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via http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/04/worldwide-smartphone-shipments-outpace-dumbphones-for-the-first-time/

Watch the first footage from Blackmagic's Pocket Cinema Camera (video)

Noted Blackmagic Design shooter John Brawley has released the first footage from the company's upcoming $995 Pocket Cinema Camera that might leave your DSLR green with envy. Though it's always tough to judge compressed web footage, to our eyes it looks completely untouched by the moire, aliasing and compression artifacts that tends to plague other digital cameras. While not specifying whether he used the compressed RAW setting or not, Brawley said he shot it using a Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 Micro Four Thirds lens with image stabilization turned on, meaning that feature's likely to be enabled on the camera when it arrives in late July. He also said he was "literally grabbing shots whilst I was shopping," which bodes well for serious filmmakers with a bit more time to spare. Head past the break to admire the video.

Filed under: Cameras

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Via: DVXUser

Source: John Brawley

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/26/blackmagic-pocket-cinema-camera-footage-video/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Nutrino is a virtual nutritionist for iOS, we go hands-on

As a recovering food addict, I've been told on numerous occasions that washboard abs are created in the kitchen, not in the gym. That's why we were intrigued to take a look at Nutrino, an iOS app that promises a "virtual nutritionist" service to help slice away the adipose from our stomach. We spent some time putting the software through its paces, and if you're thinking of making the leap, head on past the break to learn more.

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Apple

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Source: Nutrino

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/nutrino-ios-hands-on/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Insert Coin: Lightpack turns your computer display into an ambient backlight (video)

While Philips did eventually bring its Ambilight technology to PC monitors, it wasn't before others had decided to roll their own. Now you can add ambient backlighting to any computer display without any of the attendant soldering and Arduino-wrangling, thanks to the folks at Woodenshark. The team has built Lightpack, an Ambilight-esque system that'll connect to a Windows, OS X or Linux PC and project the display's colors onto the area surrounding the screen.

Plug the hockey puck-sized device into your computer, attach 10 LED modules to the back of your display and install the open-source software and you're good to go. Once ready, you can even set up custom alerts to measure CPU temperature or email volumes, and even control the lighting with your smartphone or tablet. The team has asked for the unusually specific figure of $261,962 in order to fund an initial production run of 5,000 units, with early backers able to snag one of the units for $50 instead of around $90. Interested to watch it in action? There's a video after the break, friends.

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Source: Kickstarter

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/insert-coin-lightpack/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Ars Technica System Guide: Gaming Boxes

Aurich Lawson

Since the early 2000s, the Ars System Guides have been helping those interested become "budding, homebuilt system-building tweakmeisters." This series is a resource for building computers to match any combination of budget and purpose.

The main Ars System Guide is great for what it is—an updated, step-by-step look at the best components for an all-around desktop build. But even this beast has some limitations and a few gaps. And if our System Guide build got much bigger, it might not ever get published.

In particular, there are sizeable gaps between the Budget Box (our low-end, affordable build) and the Hot Rod (that "just right" bowl of build porridge). Quite frankly, there's also an enormous gap between the Hot Rod and the God Box (where money is no obstacle). But if you do a focus shift from capable-all-around boxes with gaming capability to boxes that are purely gaming focused, you have an equally seismic shift. There's where the newest System Guide comes in. Meet the special Gaming Boxes.

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via http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/04/ars-technica-system-guide-gaming-boxes-april-2013/

Delicious Library 3 is here, and it’s a beast

When I was a kid, I begged my parents to line the walls of my room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. I loved collecting books, and it was my early teenage dream to catalogue everything on my Motorola Mac clone (Starmax 3000 FTW!) so I could run a privately owned lending library for my peers out of, well, my parents' house. Back then, I was relegated to creating a giant list of books in a text file along with their ISBNs, basic descriptions, and current lending status—certainly no cover photos—that I would send out to friends via e-mail.

What I wouldn't have given back then for software like Delicious Library. An OS X application first released by Delicious Monster nearly a decade ago, Delicious Library has been a useful tool to those who become obsessive about cataloging their books, DVDs, CDs, and even video games. The software has evolved some throughout the years—Delicious Library 2 is quite popular nowadays, despite some of its initial drawbacks—leading to pretty eager anticipation for the release of Delicious Library 3.

That day has now arrived. Nearly five years after the release of DL2, Delicious Library 3 is available to the public via the Mac App Store. Briefly previewed by MacRumors earlier this week, some users have already seen what the new DL3 has to offer. We here at Ars have been using it for several weeks and took the opportunity to chat with creator Wil Shipley about what went into DL3 and what lessons he learned from it.

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via http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/04/delicious-library-3-is-here-and-its-a-beast/

Sony introduces Cyber-shot HX50V, a small and light 30x superzoom

There exists a type of photographer who can't quite get by with a pocketable compact, but also hesitates to commit to a full-size (and pricey) DSLR rig. This shooter is all too familiar with the superzoom -- and Sony's latest 30x model may just offer the perfect excuse for an upgrade. The 9.6-ounce device has earned the title of "world's smallest and lightest 30x optical zoom camera," which, judging by its spec sheet, is quite an achievement. There's a 24-720mm SteadyShot-equipped optical zoom lens, a 20.4-megapixel 1/2.3-inch Exmor R CMOS sensor, a 921k-dot 3-inch LCD, 1080/60p video capture, a top sensitivity of ISO 12,800 and a battery that's rated for up to 400 shots. As you may have noticed from the image above, there's also a dedicated mode dial, exposure-compensation control and a full-size hot shoe. You can pick up Sony's Cyber-shot HX50V next month for $449, or check it out right now in the gallery just below.

Gallery: Sony Cyber-shot HX50V

Filed under: Cameras, Sony

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via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/24/sony-cyber-shot-hx50v/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

BitTorrent Sync creates private, peer-to-peer Dropbox, no cloud required

BitTorrent today released folder syncing software that replicates files across multiple computers using the same peer-to-peer file sharing technology that powers BitTorrent clients.

The free BitTorrent Sync application is labeled as being in the alpha stage, so it's not necessarily ready for prime-time, but it is publicly available for download and working as advertised on my home network.

BitTorrent, Inc. (yes, there is a legitimate company behind BitTorrent) took to its blog to announce the move from a pre-alpha, private program to the publicly available alpha. Additions since the private alpha include one-way synchronization, one-time secrets for sharing files with a friend or colleague, and the ability to exclude specific files and directories.

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via http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/04/bittorrent-sync-creates-private-peer-to-peer-dropbox-no-cloud-required/

BitTorrent Sync Alpha now open to all, adds one-way sync and one-time sharing

While BitTorrent threw its hat into the cloud storage ring this January with an early version of its Sync app, it was hard to be truly excited when only a small circle could use it. The company isn't waiting for a completely polished version to renew our interest, however -- it's making BitTorrent Sync Alpha available to the general public, starting today. The newly accessible build brings the same unlimited Linux, Mac and Windows file syncing as before, although it adds a handful of tools to limit just who can see what. Those worried about security can now sync read-only files or offer one-time Secrets (file sharing keys) to friends that expire after a day if they're unused; it's also possible to exclude specific files or folders in larger transfers. Sync remains in a rough state, as the Alpha badge suggests, but those willing to live with the quirks no longer have to wait on the sidelines or consider alternatives.

Filed under: Storage, Internet, Software

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Source: BitTorrent Labs

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/23/bittorrent-sync-alpha/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

WD ships 5mm Blue UltraSlim drive, enables thinner budget Ultrabooks

We were intrigued with the prospects of Western Digital's 5mm Blue drive when we saw it last summer: finally, a 2.5-inch spinning disk thin enough to rival slimmer SSDs without the price premium of a hybrid like the WD Black SSHD. If you shared the same curiosity, you'll be glad to hear that the finished product is shipping as the WD Blue UltraSlim. Device builders can now stuff 500GB into spaces that would exclude 7mm disks, yet pay just $89 for the privilege -- a price low enough to let even frugal Ultrabooks shed some bulk. The 5mm disk reaches its miniscule dimensions through the use of a tiny edge connector that mates both power and a SATA interface, leaving more room for the drive machinery. We can't guarantee that you'll find a Blue UltraSlim in your next PC or set-top box when Western Digital hasn't named any of its customers, but we wouldn't be surprised if the wafer-like drive is commonplace in the near future.

Filed under: Laptops, Storage

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Source: Western Digital

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/23/wd-ships-5mm-blue-ultraslim-drive/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Google Earth gets Leap Motion support, lets you explore the planet with touch-free control

How are you celebrating Earth Day? If you're one of 10,000 Leap Motion devs with an early unit, you could very well be exploring Mount Everest or venturing through the Amazon, just by waving your hands. Google's Earth app, which has reportedly been downloaded more than a billion times, just scored a refresh today -- version 7.1 -- delivering Leap Motion gesture control to your desktop. Both the free and paid versions now support touch-free navigation through the USB desktop device, which is expected in stores next month. The update, however, available for Windows, Mac and Linux, is yours for the taking now.

Filed under: Peripherals, Google

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Source: Leap Motion (YouTube), Google Enterprise Blog

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/22/google-earth-leap-motion/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Doodle3D aims to make 3D printing easy enough for anyone, is totally rad

You'll forgive us for frontloading this informational post about Doodle3D -- a simple sketching software tool, complete with hardware dongle, that's being Kickstarted -- with superlatives like "totally rad," but it's difficult to feel otherwise. The software is very accessible, enabling 2D drawings done on a computer, tablet, or smartphone to be wirelessly sent to a hardware dongle attached to a variety of 3D printers. Just like that, drawings are magically turned from crude 2D images into physical 3D objects; this principle is demonstrated in the group's Kickstarter video (below the break), which features a variety of non-techie folks using the application to thrilling results. More importantly? Not a single companion cube!

If you'd like to contribute, several tiered options are available. The early bird special affords 100 lucky folks a Doodle3D WiFi box for just $88, but that's quickly running out. The box will otherwise run you (at least) $99, and the team is expecting to ship them sometime in September -- should the project reach its $50,000 goal, that is. With 35 days to go and just over one fifth of that goal already funded, it's looking like that won't be an issue.

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Handhelds, Household, Peripherals, Tablets, Wireless, Software

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Via: Twitter - @tha_rami

Source: Kickstarter

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/17/doodle3d-kickstarter-launch/

Intel execs predict Bay Trail touch-enabled laptops for $200 - $300 by the holidays

On the earnings call after Intel released its Q1 numbers, its executives faced many questions from analysts, including some asking what to expect from the company in Q4. According to CEO Paul Otellini and CFO / EVP Stacy Smith, among the reasons for investors to be optimistic are the prospects of cheaper touch screen computers powered by its upcoming Bay Trail (quad-core Atom) and Haswell processors. Just how cheap you ask? According to Otellini, as transcribed by SeekingAlpha:

We have a certain spec for ultrabooks, and that is the product that Stacy said is going to be centered at as low as $599 with some [diverse] SKUs to $499. If you look at touch-enabled Intel based notebooks that are ultrathin and light using non-core processors, those prices are going to be down to as low as $200 probably.

We'd put more weight in those figures if they were price tags attached to products or at least from the OEMs that will build them, but at least there's a target. Whatever happens, there's sure to be a flood of new ultrabooks, tablets, convertibles and detachables hitting the streets later this year, and if the price is right (along with some Windows 8 tweaks) maybe they'll be worth the wait.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Intel

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Source: Seeking Alpha

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/17/intel-bay-trail-200/

3D Printing: The Future

We’re excited here at Blurb as our collaboration with design and architecture cool cats Dezeen has launched. Print Shift, our new magazine, is an in-depth look into the innovative world of 3D printing. Find out more by watching this short clip that sees us travel across the Netherlands and Belgium to visit Freedom of Creation, Materialise and Shapeways to learn how 3D printing is changing everything.

 

 

The post 3D Printing: The Future appeared first on Blurberati Blog.

via http://blog.blurb.com/3d-printing-future/

FamilySearch Just Got Friendlier

FamilySearch.org just got more friendly. Today, FamilySearch released updates to make it easier to connect with past generations, share memories with loved ones in the present, and preserve your legacy for the future. Every person who has ever lived has a right to be remembered and is a story waiting to be told. Every family is a story in progress.

Family Tree

Discover what others have found about your ancestors, collaborate on shared family lines, and preserve your genealogy for generations to come.

Photos and Stories

Add photos and stories of ancestors and share them with family near and far.

Fan Chart

View your family lineage in an interactive fan chart. Great for showing family members what you have done and for seeing what is left to discover.

Live Help

Get live personal help finding your ancestors and recording your family story through online chat or telephone.

Go to the FamilySearch’s What’s New page to learn more. Here are other resources you’ll enjoy:

• Infographic
• FamilySearch.org Video News Release
• Interesting Photos

What do you think of the improvements to FamilySearch.org?

via http://ldsmediatalk.com/2013/04/16/familysearch-just-got-friendlier/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LDSWebGuy+%28LDS+Media+Talk%29

Logitech unveils Harmony Ultimate and Smart Control universal remote sets for home entertainment heroes

Got no touchscreen on your living room remote? That's a shame, because Logitech and others have been flogging such universal controllers since way back when. After a long new product hiatus, the late 2012 release of the Harmony Touch remote hasn't stopped Logitech from mulling a sale of the brand, but it's not done with it just yet. Coming soon are two fresh bundles bearing the Harmony name: the Ultimate and Smart Control. At the heart of both is the Smart Hub, a palm-sized box somewhat similar to the Harmony Link. It receives commands from remotes via RF, or from smartphone apps via WiFi, and in turn, broadcasts its own orders to your A/V setup using IR and Bluetooth. It's especially useful for those wanting to hide their kit away in cabinets, as it translates inputs into IR signals that'll bounce around those secluded spaces. Optional extender nodes will also pipe IR into other nearby recesses.

To do that though, the Hub needs instructions, which is where remotes and apps come in. The new Ultimate remote (aka the Touch Plus) is last year's Touch remote with a few refinements, including the addition of a trigger-like nub on the underside to improve grip. It uses IR, Bluetooth or RF (to the Hub) to control up to 15 devices, and is programmed using Logitech's software for PCs that pulls settings from a database of 225,000 home entertainment products. The Ultimate's 2.4-inch touchscreen serves as a number pad, a favorite channel list for easy hopping, and is the home of one-touch "activities," which are basically macros for issuing multiple commands. Set up an activity for "Play Xbox," for example, and in one touch it'll turn on your console, switch your TV to the correct source, select the right channel on your amp, and so on. It'll even tell Philips' connected Hue lightbulbs to set a mood. Jump on past the break for more.

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio/Video, Tablets, Software, HD

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via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/16/logitech-harmony-ultimate-smart-control/

Provo, Utah is the third city to get Google Fiber

Google Fiber is growing in Kansas City and, as recently reported, coming to Austin, and today Mountain View revealed a third city that will enjoy its high-speed internet: Provo, Utah. The news broke today on the official Fiber blog, Provo's website and the city mayor's personal blog -- what official wouldn't be happy to break that news? If the agreement is approved by the city council, Google will buy the city's existing iProvo network and upgrade it to Gigabit technology. The deal would bring free 5Mbps service to homes already on the iProvo network (for a $30 activation fee) and offer free connectivity for 25 public institutions. The council will vote next Tuesday -- but we can't imagine any verdict other than a resounding "yes."

[Thanks, all]

Filed under: Internet, HD, Google

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Source: Google Fiber blog, Provo Insights

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/17/provo-utah-is-the-third-city-google-fiber/

Google to acquire Provo, Utah’s fiber, transform it into Google Fiber

Less than 10 days after announcing that Austin will be Google Fiber’s second city (Kansas City, KS and MO, and surrounding small towns qualified as Google's first), the company announced suddenly that Provo, Utah will become the “third Google Fiber City.”

Interestingly, Google isn’t laying its own fiber this time, but rather purchasing an existing network.

“In order to bring Fiber to Provo, we’ve signed an agreement to purchase iProvo, an existing fiber-optic network owned by the city,” the company wrote in a blog post. “As a part of the acquisition, we would commit to upgrade the network to gigabit technology and finish network construction so that every home along the existing iProvo network would have the opportunity to connect to Google Fiber. Our agreement with Provo isn’t approved yet—it’s pending a vote by the City Council scheduled for next Tuesday, April 23. We intend to begin the network upgrades as soon as the closing conditions are satisfied and the deal is closed.”

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via http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/04/google-to-acquire-provo-utahs-fiber-transform-it-into-google-fiber/

Dell XPS 18 now available

Yesterday, Dell announced that the XPS 18 portable All-in-One is now available for customers in the United States, Canada and select countries in Europe to order via Dell.com starting at $899 (U.S.).

 

There are a few configurations for the XPS 18 you can choose with the entry configuration offering a 1.8GHz Pentium processor. However you can order an XPS 18 with either a Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processor with up to 8GB RAM for those of you wanting even better performance. There is an Intel Core i7 configuration that will be available in the coming weeks as well.

I haven’t been able to get my hands on one yet but Lionel from Dell wrote about this experiences with the XPS 18 and Core i7 configuration here in this blog post I suggest giving a read. You can also watch the below video from Dell on the XPS 18 too!

via http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2013/04/17/dell-xps-18-now-available.aspx

Netflix will switch from Silverlight to HTML5, explains what it's waiting for first

Due to Microsoft's confirmation that support for its Silverlight plugin will end and the rise of plugin-free browsers, Netflix will eventually need to stream to PCs using something other than the tech it's had in place since 2008.The company has already implemented one example of the technology for Samsung's ARM Chromebooks, and plans to bring it to Chrome on PCs and Macs eventually. Right now, it's waiting for several W3C initiatives it's been working on called the HTML5 Premium Video extensions that handle things like video quality and DRM support to be fully implemented. Once the last one (Web Cryptography API) is available, it can ditch the custom API plugin it's currently using and begin testing on PCs and Macs. Not mentioned, is any support for other platforms like Linux, although Netflix says it can't wait until the features are "implemented in all browsers!"

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Microsoft

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Source: Netflix Tech Blog

via http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/15/netflix-silverlight-html5/

How an accountant created an entire RPG inside an Excel spreadsheet

A communique from the emperor, above, expresses interest at my formidable skill in killing bunnies and koalas with rocks.

Sometimes it's not always easy (or possible) to install your favorite games on your work computer. Sometimes, some Solitaire or maybe a little collaborative Bomberman is as much as you can get away with when you can't install anything downloaded from the Internet. And you'd better make sure whatever you're playing actually looks like work to any nearby screen snoopers around the office.

Throughout a few months ending this past February, Cary Walkin created the perfect solution to this problem: an entire RPG made of a spreadsheet and many macros. The game, called Arena.Xlsm, is a turn-based RPG encompassed entirely in an Excel file. Users can download that and use it to progress through levels, collect items, and battle enemies and bosses with melee and ranged attacks as well as spells.

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via http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/04/how-an-accountant-created-an-entire-rpg-inside-an-excel-spreadsheet/

Thanks to modders, gamers can play Super Mareo Bruhs inside Counter-Strike: GO

The SourceMod community has brought us versions of everything from Goldeneye and Doom to Sonic and Mario Kart coded inside Valve's popular 3D engine and scripting environment. But the recently unveiled SourceMod Entertainment System is the first instance we can recall of a game designed to be played by characters in an existing Source engine game.

As shown in the below video, Counter-Strike: GO players on the Reflex Gamers servers can pick up a cartridge found in a modded version of the Office level and throw it in a recreated SNES model hooked up to the screen hanging on the wall. Next, they can pick up a virtual controller and play a thinly veiled two-player Nintendo rip-off called Super Mareo Bruhs. Bruhs comes complete with goomba stomping and coin collecting, and players can enjoy the game-within-a-game while utterly ignoring the incoming grenades and live fire from the encroaching counter-terrorists.

The mod has an admirable devotion to verisimilitude, from the power light on the in-game SNES to controllers with buttons that actually depress as you control the game from your own keyboard. Video uploader skwumpy writes in the description that the mod itself took "months of playing with CS:GO modding" and "a little bit of maaaaagic" to get interactive video and audio to run on an in-game screen (and an engine) that is not designed for it. "The way it works is crazy!!"

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via http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/04/thanks-to-modders-gamers-can-play-super-mareo-bruhs-inside-counter-strike-go/

NAB 2013: 6K Cinema Camera, 4K Tablet, and More

The NAB show (the biggest video/broadcast show in the world) is the best place to find out what’s coming for video and cinema technology. The new products and announcements at NAB 2013 present a new reality for video professionals: 4K DSLR video is here, affordable 4K cinema camera technology is a reality, and 6K production cinema cameras are here too. What’s more: 4K display technology is now world-wide (finally hitting the US market) and the PC hardware and software ecosystem is innovating rapidly to tackle the new and increased demands for post-production. In this post, I’ll share some of the awesome things I saw and got my hands on during a brief visit at NAB 2013.

Cameras and Camera Tech

RED Digital Cinema has officially broken the 6K barrier by releasing the RED DRAGON 6K digital cinema camera which records both motion and still images in 6K resolution at up to 100 fps! When shooting with the RED DRAGON, creative professionals will achieve even more image detail than the Industry leading 5k sensor and even more dynamic range than previous RED camera systems. 6K resolution also allows more composition freedom when downscaling to HD or 4K finished video files.

A fully functional RED DRAGON camera with accessories

But RED didn’t just show the RED DRAGON, they brought the assembly line to the show by constructing a clean room where attendees could watch RED DRAGON cameras being assembled. Furthermore, RED started taking orders for these new cameras on the first day of the show. The excitement in the air was palpable.

A lineup of RED DRAGON cameras being tested following assembly at NABShow

Some high-level specs for the RED DRAGON: (more available here)

• Maximum resolution: 6144x3160 (19 MP)
• Dynamic range: 16.5+ stops
• Weight: 5lb (brain only)

One of my questions for RED was how this 6K capability would affect data rates and post production workflow. RED CEO Jim Jannard told me that while the images are larger in resolution, the DRAGON sensor produces cleaner images (than prior sensors) that can use higher compression ratios. According to Jim, this allows 6K resolution footage to be acquired at lower data rates compared with the previous generation EPIC 5K sensor using equivalent settings. RED also showed the new RED ROCKET-X 4K/5K/6K decode/transcode card, a 5x more powerful card than the original RED ROCKET card. The good news is that with RED ROCKET-X and REDCINE-X Pro, the new RED DRAGON 6K workflow is well supported in hardware and software. As I recently discussed with RED’s Ted Schilowitz, creative professionals looking for the most powerful post-production hardware are finding great options with Windows-based OEM hardware like HP Z-series workstations. I’m looking forward to pushing the limits with 6K workflows on Windows!

At NAB 2012, Blackmagic Design debuted a new camera concept and product: the Blackmagic Cinema Camera which shoots at up to 2.5K resolution and is available with Canon EF or micro four-thirds mounts. This year Blackmagic unveiled the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K which records on a super 35mm sensor at up to 4K resolution at 30fps (3840x2160) and carries a list price of just $3995.00 USD (current planned availability is July 2013). On the exterior this new camera is pretty much the same as the original 2.5K Blackmagic Cinema Camera, but this new model can record at 4K Ultra-HD resolution.

Blackmagic Production Camera 4K with Angenieux cine lens

Another interesting new camera from Blackmagic announced at NAB this year is the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera. Essentially the same size as a small point and shoot camera, this new member of the Blackmagic camera family offers many of the features that you’d find on a full sized HD cinema including an active lens mount (micro four-thirds), SD memory support, 800x480 LCD screen with enhanced focus mode, microphone input, and HDMI output.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera with ARRI 18-80 cine lens – crazy proportions!

Canon also had all of their latest cameras on display, including two that shoot in 4K, the EOS C500 super 35mm cinema camera, and the EOS-1D C DSLR cinema camera. The C500 is a unique take on the cinema camera concept due to the unique ergonomic design and other features. The C500 can record 2K streams to internal CF media, or 4K streams (at up to 4096x2160, 60fps) to an external recorder.

The Canon EOS C500 4K Cinema Camera with Canon 30-105 cinema lens

4K video has hit the DSLR camera market! The Canon EOS-1D C Camera is new (available since March 2013) and is the first 4K video capable DSLR camera. With its ability to record 4K footage (4096x2160, 24fps) without downscaling, this camera provides new video capabilities for the cinematic DSLR shooter.

DSLR? Cinema Camera? The EOS-1D C is both!

Director/producer Vincent Laforet was on hand at the Canon booth to talk about his experiences with the EOS-1D C. Vincent paired up the EOS-1D C with a truly innovative gyro stabilized camera system called the MōVI which you can see and read about in his blog post here (amazing). It was a pleasure meeting Vincent and talking about the challenges editors face with 4K footage in post-production.

Vincent Laforet talking about his experiences with the Canon EOS 1D-C and the MōVI

With so many exciting new camera products on display at the show (way too many to list) it was really hard to take it all in. One thing is for sure: 4K (and beyond) is a reality, and we are all in for an exciting technology transformation as 4K motion picture cameras become more mainstream over the following years. I’m looking forward to bringing you all more stories about post production with these amazing new cameras on Windows – there’s certainly a lot to talk about.

Displays and Hardware

So 4K cameras are great and all, but if you can’t see it in full resolution or can’t edit it- what’s the point? The good news is: there is a ton of innovative new technology specifically aimed at producing and viewing 4K high-res footage.

In case you didn’t catch the announcement at CES 2013, Panasonic is releasing the world’s first Tablet with 4K display resolution, and it’s designed for Windows 8! At NAB 2013, I got the opportunity to play with this soon-to-be-released Windows 8 PC, and I’ll have to say it’s amazing.

Hands-on with the Panasonic ToughPad 4K Tablet PC

The display on this PC is gorgeous, and it has awesome 10-point multi-touch support as well. I was surprised at how thin and light this PC is – I would consider it to be a very thin if it were just a display with no PC inside!

Panasonic 4K Tablet side profile

With a resolution of 3840x2560, the Panasonic ToughPad 4K Tablet screen is actually beyond 4K-UltraHD resolution (3840x2160). The 15x10 aspect ratio provides a nice layout as well. This is the ultimate Tablet to go along with your new 4K camera!

Panasonic also had a collection of amazing professional monitors on display, including the Panasonic BT-4LH310 31-inch native 4K 4096x2160 production monitor. I’ve been testing 4K displays with Windows 8 recently (including 2 4K displays run off a single adapter), and would love to give this one a try while color grading video footage.

You have to see the Panasonic BT-4LH310 31-inch monitor in person to appreciate the image quality

There were also several “extreme” 4K displays at the show. These mammoth display setups included projectors, giant TVs, digital signage solutions, and other large form-factor 4K display technologies. I could certainly use some of this equipment in my lab.

The Leyard 4K ultra-hd LED video wall is constructed of multiple panels

Post-Production Tools

There was quite a buzz around the Adobe booth at the show at NAB this year. Adobe was performing demos and presentations featuring some of the yet-to-be-named new and updated Adobe Creative Suite applications. I love how well Adobe Creative Suite applications take advantage of industry-leading extreme graphics capabilities on Windows (lots of accelerated features), and they have done a lot of great work integrating with 3^rd parties like RED Digital Cinema.

Adobe’s Jason Levine shows off the next version of Premiere Pro

It was standing room only as Adobe’s Jason Levine gave walkthroughs of the exciting new features that will be included in the next version of the Adobe Premiere Pro, including:

• Redesigned timeline UI
• Duplicate frame indicators
• Paste attributes selection UI
• New keyboard shortcuts for common tasks (Ex: nudge clip up/down)
• Built-in Looks Browser with pre-built looks from Adobe SpeedGrade
• DNxHD codec support built-in

I can’t wait to experience these improvements and to try out new features.

Adobe also ran interactive demos of the new Creative Suite applications in their booth, including the next version of Adobe SpeedGrade.

Adobe’s Colin Smith running demos of the next version of SpeedGrade on an HP Z820 workstation running Windows

The next version of SpeedGrade has some great new features including:

• New Media Browser and Look Manager
• Scaling optimizations for laptop users
• Continuity Checker
• Snapshot Browser
• Shot Matcher

While visiting the GoPro booth, I met GoPro Software Technical Support Manager Jake Segraves. Jake is shown here demonstrating GoPro CineForm Studio Pro on a killer Alienware laptop running Windows. Did you know that extreme gaming PC laptops can also be a great video editing laptops? Extreme mobile graphics and large screens make these machines great for pro-video work.

Jake Segraves demonstrating Cineform Studio Pro on an Alienware Laptop running Windows

GoPro CineForm Studio is available in three different versions on Windows including a free version, a premium version, and a professional version. Each version has a different feature set, but with all versions you can transcode to a GoPro CineForm format (the supported input files vary by version of GoPro CineForm Studio). When editing GoPro CineForm-based media files you can achieve excellent editing efficiency and portable adjustment capabilities without the need to re-render. Jake performed a demo where he made color grading adjustments in GoPro CineForm Studio and then performed playback of the same file in Windows Media Player with no re-render (settings were applied in playback), very cool. Jake also performed demos of some of the cool 3D editing capabilities that are built into GoPro CineForm Studio. I’m looking forward to trying out 3D shooting and editing with my GoPro HERO3 cameras, and now I’m inspired to go out and do it!

My only regret at NAB 2013 was the fact that I didn’t have time to see everything. I’m certainly looking forward to using some of the awesome new technology I saw at the show, more on that as the story unfolds.

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via http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/extremewindows/archive/2013/04/15/nab-2013-6k-cinema-camera-4k-tablet-and-more.aspx