Play nearly any video on your Chromecast using this browser add-on
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, Software, HD, Google
Via: Lifehacker
Source: Chrome Web Store, Videostream
Portable audio deals of the week: 5.2.14
Let’s face it. We all like music. If you’re like those of us parked at Engadget HQ, you listen to hours of the stuff on a daily basis. This week, we’re looking to help boost those audio experiences with Bluetooth speakers and both over-ear and in-ear headphones. Discounted items are ready to suit those listening preferences, so jump down past the break to take a gander.
If there are other audio gadgets you’re after that we haven’t included here — join us and add them to your “Want” list. Every time there’s a price cut in the future, you’ll get an email alert!
Logitech UE Boombox
Price: $145
Regular Price: $250
Engadget Global Score: 83
Buy: Amazon
This portable Bluetooth speaker from Logitech/UE provides solid performance with a substantial dose of bass, and avoids distortion when cranked up to 11. However, it does tip the scale at well over four pounds, so it’ll weigh down the ol’ backpack significantly. The current price is the lowest our price history tool has seen over the past 90 days.
Shure SE315
Price: $199
Regular Price: $250
Engadget Global Score: 82
Buy: Amazon
If you don’t mind shelling out some extra dough for your in-ears, the Sure SE315s are seeing a modest discount at the moment. For the added price of admission, the pair touts detachable cables that make replacement a breeze, high-def MicroSpeakers and tuned BassPorts. There’s also an in-line remote/mic — if you’re into that sort of thing.
Aiaiai Capital
Price: $74
Regular Price: $109
Engadget Global Score: 75
Buy: Amazon
Ballin’ on a budget? No worries. Here’s a $100 set of over-ear cans for more than $25 off. Reviewers note respectable sound quality of Aiaiai’s Capital for the price and solid durability, but they’ve deducted points in the overall comfort column. Of course, the set folds up nicely to get tucked into a bag, so that’s certainly a selling point.
Jawbone Mini Jambox
Price: $107
Regular Price: $180
Engadget Score: 81
Buy: Amazon
We wouldn’t usually repeat a gadget in this here roundup so soon, but Jawbone’s Mini Jambox has dropped another $20 in the span of a month. That’s if you don’t mind the silver or blue diamond color options. Not sure which Jawbone speaker is for you? Mosey on over to our compare tool for some quick and easy research.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Soon, you’ll be able to browse files on your Windows Phone
Windows Phone’s latest update added a lot of features that we’ve been waiting years for, such as a virtual assistant and notification menu, but a file manager is still notably missing. In a Reddit “Ask me Anything,” Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore announced that his team is working on having one ready in the Windows Phone Store hopefully by the end of the month, and even had screenshots to prove that it’s pretty close to becoming final (shown below). Of course, Microsoft’s OS isn’t the only one that’s mysteriously neglected this particular feature: iOS doesn’t have a dedicated file system, either (unless you count third-party apps), so this is a good opportunity for Windows Phone to set itself apart from one of its larger competitors.
[Image credit: Shutterstock]
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Reddit
No Revamped Apple TV or iWatch Expected at WWDC
Apple does not have plans to use the company’s upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference to debut new Apple TV hardware, its related software, or the iWatch, reports John Paczkowski of Re/code.
Citing sources familiar with Apple’s plans, Paczkowski confirms that Apple’s big announcements will focus on OS X 10.10, iOS 8, and possibly Healthbook, an app Apple is said to be developing to aggregate fitness and health information.
An Apple TV concept via Curved
Sources familiar with Apple’s plans tell Code/red that Tim Cook will not use WWDC to unveil Apple’s mythical wearable device. Nor will he use it to show off a new Apple TV, or even preview the new software the company is developing for it. Which makes perfect sense, really. There’s little point in Apple unveiling a new OS in advance of a significant hardware update.
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which starts on June 2, has historically been used as a platform for unveiling new operating system software. Apple has, however, occasionally debuted new hardware at the event, including new MacBook Airs in 2013 and the Retina Macbook Pro in 2012.
Though the company does not have plans to unveil an updated Apple TV set-top box at WWDC, the product is said to be in the works. The revamped box is rumored to include an App Store, gaming support, iOS 7 controller integration, and possibly new content deals.
Apple may have had plans to debut the box earlier in 2014, but according to a recent product roadmap from often reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, we may not see an updated Apple TV until the third quarter of 2014.
As for the iWatch, which also remains in development, a late 2014 release date is expected.
The Engadget Podcast is live at 12PM ET!
My word what a week — but it’s almost over. Friday is here, which means it’s time for Ben and Terrence to excavate this weeks biggest and most interesting stories from the smoldering pile of rubble called the internet. And speaking of excavations, seems like there’s some truth to the legend that Atari buried millions of E.T. cartridges in a desert landfill. So join us below friends, we’ve got a lot to talk about.
Filed under: Meta
Embracing the future: Tribeca Film Festival goes beyond its roots
As has been the case since 2002, this year brought thousands of movie buffs to New York City for the Tribeca Film Festival. While at its core, the festival is still very much rooted in providing a platform for film creators to show off their latest productions, the event itself has grown to be about more than just films. In 2014, for example, TFF introduced a few new technology-focused initiatives, in hopes of providing more options for both filmmakers and the media. That, coupled with panels, interactive events and, of course, the late-night parties, makes the festival one not to be missed.
One of the novel things at the 2014 edition of the Tribeca Film Festival was Innovation Week, which included a series of events showcasing how cinematic narrative and technology can work together. Future of Film Talks offered panels with topics based on the way tech is affecting the industry, featuring participation from Aaron Sorkin, House of Cards creator Beau Willimon and The Wire’s David Simon, to mention a few. Storyscapes, for its part, allowed attendees to experience five different interactive projects, including one that utilized an Oculus Rift headset to immerse viewers in a film. TFI Interactive Day, meanwhile, was a daylong event that exhibited a variety of different wonders, like blowing up a balloon via brain activity or using virtual reality to feel what it’s like to take a walk outside the International Space Station. All of these events, plus others like Games for Change and Tribeca Hacks <Mobile>, were spread across The Big Apple and took place during the span of six days.
As TFF’s Director of Programming Genna Terranova told me, the idea behind Innovation Week was to give attendees a way to explore the intersection between technology and storytelling. “Innovation Week enabled us to celebrate storytelling in the digital age in a new way, expanding opportunities to connect creators and innovators,” she said. “We’ve developed a tradition of connecting the creative and tech communities, and the programming team and Festival goers have both become increasingly interested in the power of interactivity.”
The 2014 Tribeca Film Festival had a total attendance of over 400,000, which should give you an idea of the sheer magnitude of the event. Among these were folks who weren’t filmmakers or part of the media, but who simply wanted to watch a good independent film. Through a partnership with AT&T, dubbed Film for All, Tribeca actually opened its doors to all, allowing anyone to catch a free screening of one of 35 films that were included in the program. “April 25th enabled more New Yorkers and visitors to experience indie films; who may have otherwise felt that the Festival wasn’t open for them,” Terranova said to me about the one-day-only event.
But, as I said earlier, TFF had more than just film screenings on its menu.
A CONVERSATION WITH AARON SORKIN
Aaron Sorkin (left) speaks during a panel at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival.
More than apologizing, though, Sorkin stated that he’s just now starting to learn how to write the show.
Quite a stir resulted from Sorkin “apologizing” for The Newsroom, his HBO drama about journalism, world events and the life of a fascinating news anchor. “I’m going to let you all stand in for everyone in the world, if you don’t mind. I think you and I got off on the wrong foot with The Newsroom and I apologize and I’d like to start over,” Sorkin said after being asked about what he’s learned in doing the show. “I think that there’s been a terrible misunderstanding. I did not set the show in the recent past in order to show the pros how it should have been done. That was, and remains, the furthest thing from my mind. I set the show in the recent past because I didn’t want to make up fake news,” said the writer during a Future of Film panel. “I wasn’t trying to, and I’m not capable of, teaching a professional journalist a lesson. That wasn’t my intent and it’s never my intent to teach you a lesson or try to persuade you or anything.”
More than apologizing, though, Sorkin stated that he’s just now starting to learn how to write the show.
That conversation eventually landed on the topic of binge-watching, and whether a show like Netflix’s House of Cards, which pushes out all episodes from a season in one go, affects the writing process and the industry’s approach to content. “I love House of Cards. I binge-watch like everyone else,” he said. “It doesn’t affect my writing process. Film has nothing to worry about. TV has nothing to worry about. Theater has nothing to worry about.”
He also went on to discuss his upcoming film about Steve Jobs, which he says won’t be a biopic. Sorkin let it be known that the film is written and shooting will begin this fall. And despite it being his seventh film, The Social Network and The West Wing creator said that he’s never been as pleased with the final writing product.
“It is my first where I wrote what I set out to,” stated Sorkin.
LAYING GROUND FOR THE FUTURE
Robert De Niro uses an Oculus Rift headset as part of a Storyscapes project at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival.
It’s easy to see that the people behind the Tribeca Film Festival are keeping up with the digital trends
With conversations about technology involving Sorkin, Willimon, Bryan Cranston and many more A-list personalities, it’s easy to see that the people behind the Tribeca Film Festival are keeping up with the digital trends. And by adding events like Innovation Week into the mix, the festival is simply trying to set itself up for the future and grow beyond its roots — which, in the end, will make it better not just for avid indie-film watchers who attend every year, but also for the filmmakers that go through the submission process and subsequently bring their productions to New York City.
Terranova told me the response to all of this has been phenomenal, starting with the addition of Storyscapes in 2013 and other events from TFI Interactive, both of which are now part of Innovation Week. “We expanded this year in terms of space dedicated to the projects and accompanying programming elements for each, with concerts, live performances and conversations with creators,” she said. “Each of these programs [is] so different, but all on a basic level attract storytellers interested in interactivity.”
We shall see what next year brings.
[Image credits: Getty Images for the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival]
Filed under: Misc, Home Entertainment
Source: Tribeca Film Festival (1), (2)
Game values your PS3 and five games at £100 in console upgrade promotion
A long bank holiday weekend is the perfect excuse to spend a little bit more time than you would normally in front of your TV, controller in hand. If the impending opportunity to do just that has you mulling an investment in one of Microsoft or Sony’s newest consoles, then retailer Game is happy to nudge you in that direction with a trade-in promotion that takes at least £100 of the console asking prices. From today (May 2nd) until next Thursday (May 8th), bringing a 250GB or 320GB PS3 slim and five games into a Game store will allow you to leave with a PS4 for £250 (£100 off the regular price). Similarly, you can swap a 250GB Xbox 360 slim, five games and £270 for an Xbox One plus Titanfall (a £110 saving).
As attractive as those discounted prices are, however, we’d have trouble letting go of a console and five games for a fraction of their purchase price. It’s a convenient way of stepping up a generation, sure, but it’s Game who’s getting the better end of the deal. We’re not saying you’ll get massively improved offers for the same gear elsewhere, but is nostalgia worth nothing to you monsters?
Filed under: Gaming, Sony, Microsoft
Via: MCV
You can see the International Space Station’s view of Earth right now
It’s possible to see the International Space Station floating overhead if you have the right equipment and good timing, but have you ever wondered what it sees at any given moment? As of now, you won’t have to. NASA has switched on the High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) experiment, an internet stream that shows the station’s view of our planet in real time; you can check it out below. Developed and run in part by high school students, it includes both multiple 720p camera feeds and the ISS crew’s radio chatter.
The footage isn’t always riveting — HDEV will occasionally lose contact, and there isn’t much to see when the station is on the dark side of the world. Even so, it should still serve a noble purpose. It’s testing both the quality of Earth-facing cameras as well as their ability to survive high doses of radiation while in orbit. Once the experiment goes offline in October 2015, NASA will use the results to decide what cameras it uses on future missions. Don’t be surprised if awe-inspiring views become a staple of spaceflight in the near future.
Filed under: Science, Internet
Via: Pocket-lint, UniverseToday
Moto X+1 appears as placeholder on Moto Maker site
A few weeks ago, evleaks, the popular mobile leaker, outed that the successor to the Moto X would be called the Moto X+1. While we’ve also heard that the customization options could perhaps include leather this time around, those are the two main leaks we have on the new phone.
We have to remember, even though evleaks is correct around 99% of the time, things aren’t official until the company announces them. Today, the name ‘Moto X+1′ showed up on the Moto Maker site, pretty much confirming that the name is correct. As you can see from the photos, not much else is visible.
No specs, no images, no nothing, besides big blank white screen where the phone will eventually show up. With the promise of the phone arriving in late summer, we couldn’t be more excited to see what they’ve cooked up.
Via: Phone Arena, Source: Mobiflip.de
The post Moto X+1 appears as placeholder on Moto Maker site appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple Expanding ‘Buzz Marketing’ Team Focused on Product Placement
Apple yesterday posted a job listing for a “Buzz Marketing Manager” based out of New York (via Dwight Silverman and Business Insider), with the description outlining a position responsible for managing such areas as product placement in film and television and fostering relationships with “high-profile influencers” to promote the Apple brand.
– Product placement in film & television. Work with the creative side of film & TV to place Apple products. This includes getting necessary approvals, managing and trafficking product inventory, following up with studios, and monitoring media for successful placements.
– Build and maintain relationships with high-profile influencers. Influential Apple users could be directors, actors, artists, athletes, designers and select brands or institutions. Determine which relationships have potential to maximize benefit to Apple.
– Leverage relationships to book events at Apple Store Soho. Collaborate with Apple Retail, PR and iTunes to ensure maximum positive outcome for the effort. Produce a podcast for each event into iTunes and maximize the promotional value of the content through PR efforts and partner channels.
Apple describes the role as new and reporting to the head of worldwide Buzz Marketing, suggesting that Apple is expanding its efforts in the area.
Buzz marketing has been receiving significant attention recently, in large part due to Samsung’s aggressive efforts in the area led by the “Oscar selfie” posted by Ellen Degeneres. The stunt, which became the most retweeted Tweet in history, was quickly revealed to have been coordinated by Samsung, which was a promotional sponsor
Modern Family’s “Game Changer” episode with iPad promotional tie-in
Apple’s Buzz Marketing program has been in place for two decades, however, having been developed and led by longtime Apple employee Suzanne Lindbergh until her departure for Jawbone last October. On her LinkedIn profile, Lindbergh highlights her role in helping produce over 1,500 events for Apple’s in-store Meet the Filmmaker/Actor series, as well as her work on Apple’s original “Hello” teaser ad for the iPhone and a promotional tie-in for an episode of Modern Family days before the launch of the original iPad.
AIVAnet 