Avenger Reflex aims to improve Xbox One and PS4 input times, looks bananas
Those Xbox One and PlayStation 4 gamepads you’ve got look a little underdressed, and not nearly enough like Batman. Thankfully, the Avenger Reflex is here to fix both issues in one fell swoop, appending a shell to either the XB1 or PS4 gamepad that promises “faster response time” and levers to hit the four main face buttons without having to lift your thumbs from either thumbstick.
As you might’ve already guessed, the Reflex is simply the latest iteration in the Avenger series. It adds one new trick: dubbed the “bionic edge,” a lever below your left thumb “removes all need to move your thumb from your analog stick.” We’ll have to give it a shot before trusting that claim; we’ve got until “late March,” when the Avenger Reflex goes on sale for $70 (pre-orders are available now for 20 percent off if you use discount code “REFLEX”).
The company started back in 2011 with an Xbox 360 gamepad shell, eventually evolving several successful iterations. Beyond the Avenger controller series, the company also makes the occasionally controversial, always bizarre Delta Six gaming peripheral.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, HD, Sony, Microsoft
Livestream arrives on bigger iOS screens with new iPad-optimized app
Yes, Apple’s mobile platform lets you use iPhone apps on the iPad, but there’s nothing like having one that’s designed to take advantage of the excess real estate found on a tablet’s display. With this in mind, Livestream today is releasing a new, universal version of its iOS application, complete with iPad optimization and a number of novel features in tow. Naturally, larger-screen compatibility is among the app’s main highlights, while the rest focus on allowing users to easily launch broadcasts and watch real-time content. iOS devices can stream video in HD over 3G, 4G and WiFi — and that includes being able to choose from a variety of live filters, share events on popular social networks (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), chat with viewers and, for those invested in the company’s ecosystem, even use it as Livestream Broadcaster remote.
We had a chance to spend some time with the application and were pleased to see how well it performs, particularly during live streams, which is no surprise as that’s its bread and butter. Creating an event and getting a broadcast on the air using an iPad mini took no more than 10 seconds, making it a pretty powerful tool for someone looking to record and share videos on the go — Livestream points to citizen journalism as a perfect example of how the app could be well utilized. Max Haot, CEO of Livestream, told us that the development of the iPad-enhanced app is part of his team’s goal to have a strong presence across the many existing platforms. “Our mission is to bring all kinds of events to audiences from all over the world.”
Filed under: Internet, Software
Source: Livestream, App Store
Wired’s LED-powered Moto X ad lets you try custom colors before you buy
Designing compelling interactive ads for web is hardly a challenge for experienced marketers, but engaging print magazine readers in a similar way requires significant creativity. One method is through technology — Esquire stood out at newsstands with its attention-grabbing E Ink cover in October 2008, and Forbes turned some heads with a Microsoft ad earlier this year that integrated a functioning T-Mobile WiFi hotspot — but Wired‘s January 2014 issue shall not go without mention, thanks in no small part to a partnership with Motorola.
A trio of LEDs, a slab of plexiglass, four batteries and an array of buttons make up an interactive Moto X ad, right in the middle of the magazine. The design enables readers to “customize” a Moto X’s rear, with bright LEDs illuminating the phone in 11 different colors. Tap blue and the phone lights up blue, yellow and it’s yellow, red for red, and so on. The ad shuts off after a few seconds of inactivity, so those four lithium batteries should last you for quite some time, serving as a reminder of Moto’s accomplishment long after the smartphone is laid to rest, while boosting this issue’s appeal for collectors as well.
Digitas, the advertising agency tasked with creating the ad over the last six months, says 150,000 copies of Wired in New York and Chicago will include the interactive advertisement. It’s available on newsstands in those cities as well, so you should be able to get your hands on one even if you’re not a subscriber. It’s a costly endeavor, no doubt, but if today’s publicity is any indication, it should pay off. Take a closer look in our hands-on (and teardown) video, embedded after the break.
Filed under: Displays, Household, Wireless, Mobile, Google
Source: Motorola
Apple Updates Logic Pro Audio Apps Alongside Mac Pro Launch [Mac Blog]
Alongside today’s launch of the redesigned Mac Pro and updates to Final Cut Pro X and its associated professional video apps, Apple has also released updated versions of its professional audio apps. Updates include:
Logic Pro X 10.0.5 [Direct Link]
– Adds 3 new Drummers and 11 new Drum Kit Designer patches
– Significant enhancements to Channel EQ and Linear Phase EQ plug-ins including redesigned interfaces that are also accessible within the Smart Controls area
– Solo now works as expected on channel strips using an External I/O plug-in
– Volume and pan automation is now included in XML interchange with Final Cut Pro X
– Loops that belong to the same family can be selected and changed using a new control in the region header
– The waveform size in an audio region now adapts to the value of the region Gain parameter
– The Link mode button is now available for the Piano Roll editor
– Includes stability improvements
– Compatible with Logic Remote v1.0.3
– Save & load times are significantly faster
– Workspace can be hidden to allow a larger area to view Channel Strips
– Various stability improvements
Apple’s Logic Remote 1.0.3 for iPad has also been updated for compatibility with MainStage 3.0.2. [Direct Link]
     |
Apple Looks to Improve Displays with Research on Quantum Dot Technology [iOS Blog]
Apple has filed for a United States patent detailing a quantum dot-enhanced liquid crystal display with a dichroic filter that can provide a greater accuracy of colors over traditional displays, reports AppleInsider. Similar technology is currently being used by Amazon in the Kindle Fire HDX 7, which significantly outperforms that of the Retina iPad mini with regard to color gamut and accuracy.
The patent describes quantum dots as being similar in shape to traditional nanocrystals found in regular displays, but can also change sizes in order to emit light of different colors more effectively. For instance, bigger quantum dots can emit a longer wavelength light color such as red, while small quantum dots can emit shorter wavelength light should as blue light or violet light. This results in the quantum dots being able to cover a wider and more varied color spectrum compared to current LEDs, which can only emit light in a fixed spectrum.
As one example, Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductors in the form of nanocrystals that provide an alternative display. The electronic characteristics of the QDs are generally governed by the size and shape of the nanocrystals. Quantum dots of the same material, but with different sizes, can emit light of different colors when excited. More specifically, the emission wavelength of the QDs varies with a size and shape of the quantum dots. As one example, larger dots may emit longer wavelength light, such as red light while smaller QDs may emit shorter wavelength light, such as blue light or violet light.
Apple goes on to note that one of the issues with quantum dots is the toxic nature of their contents, going on to suggest that cadmium-free quantum dots or heavy metal-free quantum dots could be used in order to alleviate the problem. The patent also suggests that there “remains a need” for designing the quantum-dot enhanced display to achieve more breakthroughs before it becomes ready for general use, including reduced toxicity, improved performance, and lower cost in fabrication.
Meanwhile, the dichroic filter that would be deployed on the quantum dot display would help reduce the density and toxic content of the quantum dots, and would also improve color and luminance levels, resulting in a more vibrant and accurate display. The filter itself would help in transmitting red light and a green light while reflecting most of a blue light, so that white light can be produced and ultimately benefit color accuracy as a whole.
It is not known exactly if or when Apple plans to integrate quantum dot enhanced displays in its products, but the company would have incentive to do so given criticisms of the Retina iPad mini display compared to Google’s and Amazon’s 7-inch tablets. Beyond mobile devices, quantum dot displays may also make their way to notebook computers, televisions and other consumer electronics over time.
| |
Shipping Estimates for Mac Pro Online Orders Slip to February 2014
Just hours after Apple began taking orders for the new Mac Pro with shipping estimates of “by December 30″ for stock configurations, availability has already slipped significantly with new orders currently being quoted shipping in February.
The rapid move to push shipping off by over a month indicates that Apple has indeed been struggling to have any Mac Pro units at all ready to ship in order to meet its previously announced launch timeframe. Reports had indicated that Intel’s chips are in short supply and may have been one of the major bottlenecks for Mac Pro production, but with an all-new design, high-end technology throughout, and Apple shifting assembly to the United States, there are any number of areas where Apple may be experiencing production constraints.
| |
KitKat coming to Galaxy S4 and Note 3 in January
French carrier, SFR, which is the evleaks of software, has reaffirmed past suspicions by stating that the Galaxy S4 and Note 3 will receive its Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade in late January/ early February.
All of you Samsung fanatics should be jumping for joy, but take a deep breath and lets break it down. Once Samsung pushes the update to its carriers, it is only a matter of time before the carriers push it to their consumers. However, this “matter of time” could take months!
Feel free to vent your frustrations and tell us how you really feel!
Source: Sammobile
The post KitKat coming to Galaxy S4 and Note 3 in January appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Alleged Galaxy S5 specs found on benchmark site
One of the expected Galaxy S5 variants, the SM-G900F, has once again shown up in a benchmark, this time on AnTuTu’s benchmark database. The AnTuTu team says it’s “almost sure” this is the international variant of the device, but comparing the benchmark results to all the leaks about the S5′s hardware, it’s possible we’re looking at a prototype that isn’t yet running the final hardware.
The main point is that the benchmark shows a screen resolution of 1,920×1,080 pixels instead of 2,650×1,440 – it’s possible the 2K display is not yet ready for use, and Samsung is simply testing the rest of the device by using a standard 1080p display at the moment (perhaps so carriers can start testing the S5 on their networks early).
Other specs of the phone match those rumored and leaked before – there’s a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974AC) processor, 3GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel rear camera and 2 megapixel front-facing camera, and Android 4.4 KitKat – and are as high-end as one would expect, though that might not remain the case when the Galaxy S5 launches, so hopefully Samsung is doing all it can to make its next flagship awesome!
Let us know what you think and if you’re holding out for the “Next Best Thing”.
Source: Antutu
Via: Sammobile
The post Alleged Galaxy S5 specs found on benchmark site appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Droid Ultra and Droid Maxx receiving Android KitKat 4.4 today
Verizon is pushing KitKat 4.4 to Droid Ultra/Max/Mini starting today and going out in phases. It’s kinda of nice to see Big Red pushing out updates in a timely manner to its flagship line of phones. So what are you waiting for? Christmas?
Follow the simple instructions below and tell us where your at (Time Zone) and what phone you have, so we can share the love.
From the Home screen, tap the Menu Key > tap Settings > About phone > System updates > Download
Source: VZW
The post Droid Ultra and Droid Maxx receiving Android KitKat 4.4 today appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Security hole left Samsung Account data vulnerable – update your account
Well here’s a bit of bad news. According to a report from Galaxy Unlocker, some Samsung devices could have exposed your Samsung account information during the account creation process.
So far only the Galaxy S 4 and the Galaxy Tab 3 are confirmed to have had the vulnerability. It’s possible more devices are affected.
What would happen is during the Samsung account creation process, the devices in question would transmit your personal data (name, e-mail address, and password) in an insecure fashion, making it possible for anyone on the same Wi-Fi network as you to swipe your info.
It doesn’t sound like much, but as you may already know, your Samsung account provides for a method to remotely control your device and track down its location. Anyone with your Samsung account information would then, in turn, be able to track you and control your device. Not good.
Supposedly Samsung has already fixed the issue and there’s nothing left to worry about, but it’s recommended you take the time and change your account password. You can do so by visiting this page on Samsung’s site.
The post Security hole left Samsung Account data vulnerable – update your account appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 