[RUMOUR] LG G Pro 2 release date apparently set for February 13th
Being so close to Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014, we kind of assumed that most devices that were rumoured to be released around now would be announced at the industry event. It turns out our assumptions might have been wrong as it’s being reported that the LG G Pro 2 release date is going to be February 13th, 2 weeks before MWC. This contradicts some of the rumours we have previously heard, but if it’s true, LG could potentially get the jump on its competition who will be making announcements at MWC 2014.
Invites have already apparently been sent out for the announcement event in Korea, featuring the statement “Knock-knock knockin’ on” which presumably refers to the Knock On feature first seen on the LG G2; this feature allows a user to wake up the device’s screen simply by knocking on the screen.
The LG G Pro 2 is expected to be the spiritual phablet successor to the LG Optimus G Pro after dropping the ‘Optimus’ nomenclature from its premium family of devices. While expected specs of the device are pretty thin, we’d suspect the G Pro 2 to have a minimum of a Snapdragon 800 processor, and we have heard that the 13MP rear camera will be augmented with something LG calls “OIS Plus” for image stabilization and 4K resolution video recording. Whatever the G Pro 2 ends up rocking, we hope it gives Samsung’s Galaxy S5 a run for its money come MWC time.
Do you think the LG G Pro 2 will be a worthy device to compete with Samsung’s flagship devices? Let us know what you think about the device in the comments below.
Source: ZDNet Korea via Phone Arena
Security researcher disputes NBC’s Sochi ‘hacking’ experience
Hacked! As soon as you connect to the internet while at the Winter Olympics. Well, maybe not. There’s been a bit of blowback from the report, even from the expert that NBC turned to during its report on online security in Sochi, Russia. To begin with, the team actually wasn’t even there, they were in Moscow, and this points to a bigger issue: the hacking that NBC News experienced would have likely been the same regardless of location, as it happened while hitting up Olympic-themed websites and willingly downloading (hostile) Android apps. It had nothing to do with connecting to public WiFi, at least in the instances shown during the report.
As Robert Graham pointed out at Errata Security, the only increase in hacking while being in Sochi comes for the geolocation data given to Google through your IP address, increasing the chances of sketchy Russian sites appearing in your results. (This can also be disabled within your Google account settings.) Advice for avoiding hacking if you’re in Sochi (and well, anywhere) is pretty straightforward: don’t visit shady sites, patch your programs (from browsers to Flash), get rid of not-so-secure elements (like Java), and if you’re particularly nervous, switch on a VPN when you connect to public WiFi. The threat researcher quoted, Kyle Wilhoit, is looking to clarify a lot of the questions surrounding the admittedly brief report, although according to his Twitter feed, it’s turning from a blog post into an academic paper.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Errata Security
Panasonic’s GH4 clearly packs serious 4K video chops, but pricing and availability remain TBA (hands-on)
Long gone are the days when digital cameras were just for still photographers. In fact, with its GH4, it’s easy to argue that Panasonic is putting an even greater emphasis on video capture — of the 4K variety, in this case. The Lumix GH4, teased as the “next GH” just last month at CES, offers tremendous advantages over its predecessor, the GH3. Perhaps most notable are the camera’s 4K capabilities. This year’s model can shoot both 3,840 x 2,160 and a 4,096 x 2,160 “cinema 4K” format at 30 frames per second with a 100 Mbps bit rate. If you’re willing to settle for 1080p (at 60, 30 or 24 fps), Panasonic’s also added a 200 Mbps option, with 100 and 50 Mbps offerings available, too. You can capture clean HDMI video with an external recorder at 4:2:2 8/10-bit output, while a (relatively gigantic) interface unit mounts on the bottom and adds four SDI outputs with support for 4K (4:2:2/10-bit), time code, two XLR microphone inputs and a 13.8-volt Canon terminal for external power. That accessory also includes phantom power controls and LED audio level readouts.
There are significant improvements on the stills front, too. There’s a new 16-megapixel CMOS Micro Four Thirds sensor, which should benefit video captures as well. The camera supports a sensitivity range of ISO 200-25,600 (compared to a 12,800 max with the GH3), while the viewfinder has been boosted with a very sharp 2.36M-dot OLED panel and the 3-inch main tilt-and-swivel display now has a higher-res 1.04M-dot OLED screen. Panasonic is also emphasizing performance improvements, including a new 0.07-second focus speed, 12 fps burst mode or 7 fps with AF tracking and a shutter rated for 200,000 total clicks. The body is still constructed of magnesium alloy, and it’s splash- and dust-proof. Expect to snap more than 500 stills with a full charge. There’s also SDXC UHS Class 3 compatibility — you’ll need a latest-gen card to capture 200 Mbps video internally.
What we don’t have at this point is pricing or a ship date. At CES, Panasonic quoted a price below $2,000, and considering the improvements over the GH3, which currently retails for about $1,000 (and will remain on the market), we wouldn’t be surprised to see a final MSRP near the $2k mark. Reps promised more information on the availability front next month, and while the info rollout has been anything but speedy, we’re inclined to think the GH4 will be worth the wait.
Filed under: Cameras
Nikon Coolpix P600 and P530 superzooms ship this month for $450-plus
If you recently came upon a Coolpix P520 under the Christmas tree, prepare to be mildly disappointed. That superzoom just reached early retirement, with today’s P530 introduction. 2014′s refresh brings along a similar f/3-5.9, 24-1,000mm (42x) optically stabilized zoom lens, a new 16.1-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, 1080/30p and 60i video capture, a 3-inch fixed LCD and a built-in EVF. It also comes along with full manual control, including a dedicated mode dial. There’s WiFi connectivity via the optional WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter ($50), but with a $450 price tag, there’s really no excuse for it not to be included (and embedded, for that matter).
You do, however, get built-in WiFi with the Coolpix P600, which is available for just 50 bucks more. It’s also a bit more capable on the imaging front, with an f/3.3-5.6, 24-1,440mm (60x) optical zoom lens (equipped with an ED glass element), lens-shift image stabilization, a 16.1-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and a 3-inch, 921k-dot tilt-and-swivel RGBW LCD. Like the P530, the P600 supports 1080/30p and 60i video capture and comes along with full manual control, with a dedicated mode dial as well. Both cameras also ship with a few new shooting modes, including Moon Mode, Bird Mode and a multiple-exposure option that merges up to three separate images. Both should be available later this month, with the P600 shipping in black and red for $500 and the P530 available in black for $450.
Nikon appeals to advanced shooters with high-end Coolpix P340 and S9700 compacts
The Coolpix P340, which replaces last year’s P330 and the S9700, which serves as the S9500′s successor, look awfully similar to 2013′s models — in many ways, those similarities extend internally, too. The P340, which includes the same 1/1.7-inch 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor as its predecessor, carries an identical MSRP, but adds integrated WiFi connectivity, enabling instant uploads to sharing services and compatibility with Nikon’s companion apps. It also includes an f/1.8-5.6, 24-120mm (5x) optically stabilized zoom lens, a 3-inch VGA RGBW LCD and 1080/30p and 60i video capture. Like the P330, it also offers full manual controls, with a dedicated mode dial, a function button below the lens and a secondary toggle on the top.
The S9700 also includes integrated WiFi and GPS, but so did the S9500, so there’s not much to speak of there. It has a 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, an upgraded f/3.7-6.4, 25-750mm (30x) optical zoom lens, a 3-inch VGA OLED display and 1080/30p and 60i video. It retains its predecessor’s manual control offerings, including a dedicated mode dial. Like last year’s model, this camera’s strength is in its size. It’s small enough to fit in a jacket pocket, despite its “superzoom” status. It also includes a hybrid VR image stabilization mode that helps keep things steady during video capture. Expect to find a black or red S9700 in stores for $350 later this month, while the (black-only) P340 will ship in March for $380.
Nikon’s adventure-ready Coolpix AW120 and S32 snap shots on land and at sea
Nikon’s got a pair of baby bumps in store for us this year on the adventure cam front. The Coolpix AW120, which replaces last year’s AW110 and the S32, which serves as 2014′s answer to the S31. Both are rated for underwater use, but the similarities end there. If you’ve got $350 to spare, the AW120 is the camera to focus on. It’s waterproof to 59 feet (18 meters), shockproof to 6.6 feet (2 meters) and freeze-proof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius). There’s an f/2.8-4.9, 24-120mm (5x) optical zoom lens, a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 6.9 fps continuous shooting mode and 1080/30p and 60i video capture. You also get a 3-inch OLED display, built in GPS and WiFi, letting you upload pics and vids from below as soon as you come up for air.
Meanwhile, the $130 S32 carries a much more affordable price tag, albeit with a less impressive list of specs. It’s waterproof to 33 feet (10 meters), shockproof to five feet (1.5 meters) and freeze-proof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius). It has an f/3.3-5.9, 30-90mm (3x) optical zoom lens, a 13.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and a 2.7-inch QVGA LCD. The S32 is also capable of capturing 1080/30p video, and it comes along with a variety of scene modes and effects (Nikon’s pushing this as the family/beginner-friendly offering). The AW120, which is also compatible with a new chest harness (for hands-free shots), will ship next month in black, blue, camouflage and orange. The Coolpix S32 will also be available next month, with white and blue finishes.
One of London’s oldest museums will offer ‘After Dark’ tours via robot
We’ve seen telepresence robots used by everyone from doctors to check on remote patients to a student who needs to attend class. Now a robot is being used for a new purpose: museum tours. Soon you’ll able to stage your own Night at the Museum, after hours at London’s Tate Britain through a new project called After Dark.
Unlike the movie where the exhibits come to life, in this version you’ll be the unexpected thing moving around, manning one of four robots inside the museum. More spy cam than traditional tour, each robot is equipped with a spotlight that shines on exhibits heist-style as you pass by. The Workers, the creators of the project, say the robots aren’t meant as a replacement for visiting the museum, and are instead designed to show the art from a different perspective, and literally, a different light. The group recently won the IK prize, a contest for digitally innovative projects that enhance public enjoyment of art. That win that scored them £60,000 to make their robotic dream a reality. Late-night tours of the Tate are expected to start at the end of the summer. Check out a video demo of the robots in action after the break.
Via: Gizmodo
Source: Tate Britain
Tim Cook Says Apple Working on ‘Some Really Great Stuff’ in New Product Categories
Apple will launch products in new categories and the company is working on “really great stuff”, according to an interview with CEO Tim Cook in The Wall Street Journal this evening.
He demurred when asked about specific possible products, but said anyone “reasonable” would consider Apple’s upcoming products to be in new categories.
Cook has said on prior occasions that new product categories are coming for Apple in 2014 and, with this interview, he is likely looking to encourage spooked investors that Apple is still focused on growth.
Cook said in the interview that Apple remains a “growth company” and has significant opportunities in existing products as well as new ones. In addition, Apple strives to be the number one smartphone, tablet, and computer maker in the world.
He said his statement that Apple doesn’t aim to make the most phones has been misunderstood.
“I don’t view that as being satisfied with being small or however you want to define it,” he said. “I just want to say that the macro thing for us is making a great product and we must do that. If we can’t do that, we’re not going to force ourselves to hit a price point that makes us produce a product that we’re not proud of because we lose who we are in that. We’re not going to do that.”
Apple executives have repeatedly said that they are only interested in making the best products in the world, not generating revenue for revenue’s sake. Tim Cook has previously said that Apple is “focused on making great products that enrich lives” and that the company is “deeply committed to doing this and maniacally focused on it.” He said last month that innovation is “deeply embedded” at the company and that Apple has “no issue” coming up with new ideas.
Elsewhere in the interview Cook revealed that Apple has repurchased $14 billion in stock over the past two weeks, and that the company is open to making large acquisitions if it makes sense.
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Check Out the ‘Evolution of Nexus Devices’ Inforgraphic
The Nexus line. What can we say about it? It is truly the core of the Android Community. Pure stock Android on a sleek, sexy designed phone, that top OEMs have a shot at creating. With rumors that the Nexus line ending in 2015, let’s look back at the 5 Nexus phones that have graced their presence to us.
The infographic below is a very detailed description of each Nexus phone, and then it ends with comparing each one of them when it comes to size and design. It is pretty great to se the evolution of the Nexus phone, and just like any Android enthusiast; you got to wonder what the next one will look like. Enjoy the infographic.
Source: Android Me
Call of Duty moves to a three-studio rotation to keep up the quality
Many gamers are frustrated with publishers that like to release franchise sequels every one to two years, regardless of the quality — just ask the Battlefield 4 players still grappling with bugs. Activision is clearly aware of the problem, however. It just announced that Modern Warfare 3 creator Sledgehammer Games will become the third studio regularly producing Call of Duty titles, joining Infinity Ward and Treyarch. The new rotation gives each developer three years to finish a COD game instead of two; they’ll have “more time to polish” without interrupting the yearly release cycle, according to publishing chief Eric Hirshberg. The addition won’t please those who’d rather see more original games, but it’s good news for fans worried that Activision might cut corners to ship its first-person shooters on time.
Source: Joystiq
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