SteamOS hardware tiers could open console gamers to the world of PC gaming

Certification could give Steam Machines more appeal through easily grasped internals.

via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

Microsoft's 18-year-old 'Hover' game is reborn inside the browser

You remember Hover, right? If you're one of our many, many readers born after 1995, you probably don't. But that's OK: we're here to educate you, dear millennials. The game, which came installed on Windows 95 in the "Fun Stuff" folder, is making a comeback: Microsoft just came out with a web version that's been optimized for IE11, but will work inside any current desktop browser. As ever, it's a cross between bumper cars and Capture the Flag, with three hovercraft options, and a choice between single- and multi-player modes. What's especially neat is that Microsoft kept all the same levels; it just brought the graphics into the WebGL era. Naturally, too, you can use either shortcuts or touch gestures. If all this sounds dandy, we suggest you hit up the source link below sometime during your lunch hour. And, not to spoil an easter-egg, but be sure to type in "bambi" when you get to the "single player" / "multi-player" page -- someone at Microsoft's got a sense of humor, we'll say that much.%Gallery-slideshow99760%

Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Microsoft

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Source: Hover

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New router combines your home and mobile networks into one faster pipe

Multipath tech used by iPhone powers router that saves you from slow broadband.

via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

Scribd launches subscription e-book service for Android, iOS and web

Many of us associate Scribd with embedded documents on websites, but the company has been quietly building an e-book platform -- first by selling content and later by soft-launching a subscription service. The company is now making its strategy clear by formally launching the e-book service and introducing content from HarperCollins, its first major publisher. Subscribers worldwide can pay $9 per month for access to both HarperCollins' back catalog and independent releases through apps for Android, iOS and the web. Customers can also buy any books outright, including HarperCollins' newer titles. Like with any Scribd document (and Kindle for the Web), customers can both share what they're reading and embed books into websites. If you like the prospect of all-you-can-read services like Oyster but want broader platform support, you'll want to take a close look at Scribd's new offering.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet

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Source: Scribd

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No contract, no fee: Free (500MB) smartphone plan offered by FreedomPop

It's only for HTC Evo Design now, but you'll be able to connect any device later.

via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

Elliptic Labs releases ultrasound gesturing SDK for Android, will soon integrate into smartphones

Elliptic Labs has already spruced up a number of tablets by adding the ability to gesture instead of make contact with a touchpanel, and starting this week, it'll bring a similar source of wizardry to Android. The 20-member team is demoing a prototype here at CEATEC in Japan, showcasing the benefits of its ultrasound gesturing technology over the conventional camera-based magic that already ships in smartphones far and wide. In a nutshell, you need one or two inexpensive (under $1 a pop) chips from Murata baked into the phone; from there, Elliptic Labs' software handles the rest. It allows users to gesture in various directions with multiple hands without having to keep their hands in front of the camera... or atop the phone at all, actually. (To be clear, that box around the phone is only there for the demo; consumer-friendly versions will have the hardware bolted right onto the PCB within.)

The goal here is to make it easy for consumers to flip through slideshows and craft a new high score in Fruit Ninja without having to grease up their display. Company representatives told us that existing prototypes were already operating at sub-100ms latency, and for a bit of perspective, most touchscreens can only claim ~120ms response times. It's hoping to get its tech integrated into future phones from the major Android players (you can bet that Samsung, LG, HTC and the whole lot have at least heard the pitch), and while it won't ever be added to existing phones, devs with games that could benefit from a newfangled kind of gesturing can look for an Android SDK to land in the very near future.

Mat Smith contributed to this report. %Gallery-slideshow99597%

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google

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Source: Elliptic Labs

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GoPro reveals Hero3+: smaller, sharper, faster and available now

If you were thinking it's about that time of year that we might see a new GoPro, then you'd be right. The king of the action cams has just announced the GoPro Hero3+. The flagship Black edition is now 20 percent smaller -- no mean feat if you've seen the existing model. There are also improvements to the optics, which GoPro claims gives a 33 percent increase in image sharpness, while reducing artifacts by a factor of two. Feature-wise there's a new 1080 "SuperView" mode which takes footage from 4:3 aspect ratio, and presents it in an immersive 16:9 view. Other improvements include a new auto-low light mode that will adjust the frame rate on the fly, revised audio internals, four times faster WiFi and wireless camera updates via your phone. Despite all of these additions, and the smaller form, it's claimed that your new GoPro will potentially offer up to 30 percent extra battery life, too. The Silver edition gets some love, also, with 1080p now possible at 60fps, and 720 at 120 fps. So, all that's left is for you to get 30 percent better at your daredevil activity of choice for 30 percent longer, and we're all even. The Hero3+ will be available starting this week, with prices starting at $299 for the Silver addition, and $399 for the black. The previous flagships now retail for $329 and $249 respectively.

Filed under: Cameras

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Source: GoPro

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BitTorrent teases decentralized chat client in the wake of security breaches

Today, BitTorrent announced it's building a private instant messaging client for our post-PRISM world. The firm told CNET that BitTorrent Chat should function like the company's other peer-to-peer services, using a form of torrenting's decentralized technology-approach that's been adapted for real-time communications. And while compatibility with other IM protocols is expected in the future, for now it's exclusive to BitTorrent account holders. You can even apply for an invite into the pre-alpha at the BitTorrent Labs site -- if you're so inclined, that is.

Filed under: Internet

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Via: CNET

Source: BitTorrent Blog

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Sharp's Aquos Phone Xx is almost all screen, gives 80.5 percent good face

"Too much bezel" -- how often have you seen that complaint in the comment section of new phone announces? Well, you can throw this Sharp Aquos Phone Xx (and its mini companion) in the face of that haterade brigade because 80.5 percent of its 5.2-inch front is all screen. At 70 x 132 x 9.9mm, the Xx is more compact than Sony's rival 5-inch phablet, the Xperia Z1, but its collection of top shelf specs gives it a fatter profile. The Android device, which joins Softbank's 4G LTE lineup this December, crams a 1080p display, 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 running Jelly Bean 4.2, 2,600mAh battery and a 16.3-megapixel rear camera (with an f/1.9 lens) into that squat, water-resistant frame. It also features pre-loaded translation software to make sense out of captured English text -- handy if you're, you know, Japanese. We realize this is an unfair mobile tease for those of you green-eyed monsters living in the Western world; you'll likely never see the Xx make that transcontinental trek. But it's always nice to dream.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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Source: Sharp, Softbank (Translated)

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Lenovo intros four IdeaCentre all-in-ones, including a super-wide 29-inch model

Lenovo is known for all-in-one PCs that stand out, and that's certainly true of a new four-model update to the company's IdeaCentre line. The headlining B750 is reportedly the first PC to include a 29-inch, 21:9 aspect ratio display; its 2,560 x 1,080 panel is potentially ideal for both movie aficionados and multitaskers. Lenovo appropriately equips the B750 with a 2.1-channel JBL audio system, and gamers may like the combination of Haswell-based processors with standard GeForce GTX 760A graphics. The system ships in October with a $1,199 base price.

Don't need an extra-wide screen? Don't worry -- Lenovo's other three introductions may catch your eye. The A530, B350 and B550 improve on their predecessors with both Haswell chips and options for 1TB hybrid hard drives that combine speed with capacity. These smaller IdeaCentres should arrive alongside the B750 in October, with prices ranging from $799 for the 21.5-inch B350 to $1,199 for the 23-inch B550. %Gallery-slideshow99551%

Filed under: Desktops, Lenovo

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Source: Lenovo

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Google Web Designer launches in beta, available now as a free download

Back in June, Google's advertising arm put up a blog post, letting us know it was about to release an HTML5 development tool, called Google Web Designer. Well, it's just arrived today, per a post on Google's own G+ account, and it's available in beta as a free download. Throughout, the tool appears to cater to both seasoned coders, as well as amateurs looking to try their hand at web design (or looking to get it done on a budget). For instance, while you could tweak the code by hand, there's also an option to let Google focus on the HTML5 and CSS3 grunt work while you focus on... the easier stuff (whatever that is).

Likewise, you can animate individual elements using layers or, if you don't know what you're doing, you can just animate scene by scene and let Google fill in the blanks. Additionally, you'll find a suite of 3D rendering tools inside, along with illustration features. As for monetizing your site, Google Web Designer naturally integrates with Google's own AdMob and DoubleClick Studio -- no surprise there. At any rate, if you feel like getting your hands dirty with code, you'll want to hit up that second source link below.

Filed under: Internet, Software, Google

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Source: Google (1), (2)

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Insert Coin: KnowRoaming's SIM 'stickers' let you talk, text and surf worldwide on the cheap

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.

You still can't power on your smartphone across the pond in London and expect to pay the same fees you do back in New York, but several offerings make it cheaper to get online across the globe. One of our favorites, KeepGo (formerly iPhoneTrip), has been our preferred method for browsing the web in Canada, Cambodia, and everywhere in between. But daily rates do add up, and that service requires that you swap in a separate SIM, tucking your primary card away until you're back on your contracted network's home turf. KnowRoaming, a new player in this space, has an even more appealing option, however. That firm's SIM "stickers" include all the electronics in a thin film that you can attach to any SIM card using the included applicator. The sticker sits dormant in your unlocked phone when you're at home, but once you cross a border, the service prompts you to jump onto a local network, bypassing your original SIM in the process.

Filed under: Wireless

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Source: KnowRoaming

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Netflix no longer blocks best HD content when feuding with your ISP

"Super HD" and 3D comes to all ISPs, even ones that refuse Netflix cache.

via Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com

VLC update ushers in 4K readiness, improved MKV and audio support

It's been a while since ever popular VLC has seen a major update, and today's debut of version 2.1 -- also known as "Rincewind" -- packs a handful of features that are sure to please. Most notably, VLC for both Windows and OS X is now 4K-compatible, but VideoLAN didn't stop there. Also included in the upgrade are improved support for a variety of file types including MKV, AVI and MP4, as well as a beefed up audio core designed to boost performance and fidelity. OS X users will notice adjustments to the player's UI, including a customizable playback menu and the ability to play video as a desktop background. For those of you interested in porting to Android, iOS or Windows mobile devices, there are also a few tweaks to make the process as pain-free as possible. To see the full list of improvements and download the upgrade, head on over to the source link below.

Filed under: Software, HD

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Via: 9to5Mac

Source: VideoLAN

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Broadcom announces WiFi and Bluetooth combo chips for in-car connectivity

Be it PCs, phones, televisions or wearables, if it can go wireless, Broadcom wants in on the action. Today the company has added one more category to that list, and it's the car. Indeed, its new line of wireless chips is specifically catered for automotive use, and is decked out with the latest 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth Smart Ready technologies for smoother streaming between mobile devices and in-car displays. But the technology's scope doesn't stop there. You could also use it for smartphone remote control of your vehicle's settings, high-speed connectivity via LTE hot spots, vehicle-to-infrastructure communications and even the syncing of biometric data to make sure the driver isn't fatigued or drunk when he or she's behind the wheel.

Broadcom's current automotive portfolio consists of the BCM89335 5G WiFi / Bluetooth Smart Ready combo chip and the BCM89071 Bluetooth and Bluetooth Smart Ready chip, which are now in the sampling stage. Of course, as this is still in development, we're not sure just which cars will incorporate such tech just yet. Seeing as how more cars are getting connected, however, you'll probably see it in action at your local auto dealership sooner than you think. For more on Broadcom's automotive initiative, check out the press release after the break.

Filed under: Transportation

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Source: Broadcom

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Valve unveils Steam Machines, a hardware beta for its living room game console

Valve announced Steam Machines today, a living room game console that launches at some point in 2014. The company also announced a hardware beta for its own version of the console; the beta starts this year. Today's news is the second of three planned announcements this week meant to expand the company's digital game distribution service, Steam. The company's issuing just 300 hardware prototypes in 2013 -- "free of charge, for testing" -- and you can enter to become one of those lucky 300 through your existing Steam account (an "eligibility quest" was added to Steam's quest page that will guide you through the process).

Valve says that a variety of "Steam Machines" -- the new name for the company's "Steambox," a living room gaming console for playing PC games -- will become available next year "made by different manufacturers," including Valve itself. The hardware beta, which we first told you about many moons ago, only includes Valve's version of the Steam Machine. All the machines will run SteamOS, the operating system that'll power Valve's big living room push (it was announced earlier this week). There aren't any specs given for the various devices. Valve says that, since there will be a few different options, there'll be "an array of specifications, price, and performance" when we learn more "soon." It sounds like the 300 beta testers can share their experience with the rest of us, though, as Valve's asking for loud, public feedback.

Apparently the beta will include "the nearly 3,000 games" that are available on Steam including the "hundreds already running natively on SteamOS." Everything else is streamable, says Valve. In terms of using a mouse-and-keyboard setup in your living room, Valve says that's an option, but "we have some more to say very soon on the topic of input."

Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD

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