The Minecraft version of Denmark is being attacked, hilariously
In Denmark, it’s someone’s job to monitor and maintain a replica of the country in megapopular exploration game Minecraft. If you take away one thing from this piece, make it that.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, apparently the replica of Denmark that the Danish government sanctioned and built in Minecraft is being attacked. Though dynamite is banned from the server which hosts the virtual replica, players found a way to sneak in hilariously large quantities by using a mining cart full of dynamite. Not so much a loophole as an amazingly huge mistake. As such, varying levels of damage have been done; some American flag fans even redecorated one area, as seen above.
The Danish government department responsible for maintaining the server told The Register that it isn’t too concerned about the “minor” damage done. “We consider that as a nature of playing Minecraft,” chief press officer Chris Hammeken said. He also said that his agency “will rebuild minor areas if buildings are removed and nothing new is being created,” but in general, he sounds pretty casual about the whole affair.
Looking to get in on the action yourself? Grab your best Danish-speaking buddy and head right here for more info.
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Software, HD
Source: Reddit, The Register
Future iPhones Could Capture ‘Super-Resolution’ Photos Using Optical Image Stabilization
Today, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple patent application number 20140125825 that describes a method of producing super-resolution images using optical image stabilization (OIS) and burst-mode photos (via AppleInsider). This may allow future models of the iPhone to generate images that exceed the megapixel resolution limits of the camera hardware.
The invention uses a camera with an optical image stabilization module that can take multiple images with each subsequent capture offset by a small amount. These lower resolution images are then intelligently stitched together by a dedicated image processor to create a resulting high-resolution photograph.
A system and method for creating a super-resolution image using an image capturing device. In one embodiment, an electronic image sensor captures a reference optical sample through an optical path. Thereafter, an optical image stabilization (OIS) processor to adjusts the optical path to the electronic image sensor by a known amount. A second optical sample is then captured along the adjusted optical path, such that the second optical sample is offset from the first optical sample by no more than a sub-pixel offset. The OIS processor may reiterate this process to capture a plurality of optical samples at a plurality of offsets. The optical samples may be combined to create a super-resolution image.
Image stabilization allows for sharper photos and videos by utilizing motion tracking and other technology to remove the effects of device shakiness during capture. Apple currently offers software-based image stabilization in which the device takes four photos in quick succession and the combines them to reduce blurring., but the company has been rumored to be looking to improve this system. While OIS would embed the technology directly into the camera hardware, improved electronic image stabilization would allow for the iPhone to have a slimmer camera that does not protrude outside the device.
Rumors from earlier this year suggested Apple could incorporate Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) technology into its upcoming iPhone 6, possibly contracting with InvenSense to supply the necessary hardware. The company’s work on the technology has also surfaced in other patent filings, leveraging the expertise of Richard Topliss an engineer recruited from Cambridge Mechatronics in early 2012. The most recent rumor from ESM China analyst Sun Chang Xu claims, however, that Apple may equip the iPhone 6 camera with an improved sensor module and an electronic image stabilization system.
The Moto X+1 makes another appearance on Motorola’s website
The Moto X+1 has reared its head before on the Moto Maker website, lending speculation of the successor to the massively popular Moto X, and it appears that the upcoming device has made yet another appearance, albeit brief.
Earlier today the Moto X+1 appeared on Motorola’s own website, but was quickly taken down. Whilst not revealing much, since it was just a landing page for the device on AT&T, it did reaffirm that the device exists and could be priced at $400.00 off contract.
The Moto X+1 is expected to have a 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, an Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.
The device is expected to be released in ‘late summer’ so it shouldn’t be too long to wait until we get to see exactly what the Moto X+1 is all about.
The post The Moto X+1 makes another appearance on Motorola’s website appeared first on AndroidGuys.
HTC One M8 on sale for $99 for one day only
Today and today only, you can grab yourself a HTC One M8 direct from HTC for only $99 as part of a 2-year contract.
ONE DAY SALE: ONLY $99*
HTC One (M8) in Gunmetal Gray on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon
Also available in Glacial Silver on AT&T and VerizonIncludes 6 month cracked screen coverage with HTC Advantage
Simply choose a provider, choose a colour, and away you go. HTC is also offering up to 65GB of Google Drive storage for free for 2 years. Hit up the source link to grab your discounted HTC One M8 now.
SOURCE: HTC
The post HTC One M8 on sale for $99 for one day only appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Bang & Olufsen’s BeoVision Avant is a 55-inch UHD TV that moves
A group of journalists are huddled together in a function room deep within a central London hotel. Before them is a wide, framed display stand. Walled on three sides, a long, Bang & Olufsen-branded curtain hangs across the front-facing section — clearly hiding whatever product the company has gathered them here to announce. The host spares everyone a long intro, the curtain dramatically drops (was there a small theatrical “pop”? We can’t be sure.). As the veil falls to the ground, three fancy looking television sets are revealed, they spring into life, revolving on their stands as if slowly lurching towards the audience. A short, lively video plays. The demo finishes to one, well-intended, solitary clap. Hanging above the TVs, right in the middle it reads: Bang & Olufsen BeoVision Avant “The one that moves.” On each screen, as if by way of clarification, the words “Movement with purpose” are displayed. This is how the Danish firm introduces the world to its new 55-inch 4K TV. The one that moves.
It turns out, the references to movement and the animated demo, aren’t just about attention grabbing. The Avant is a TV that actually moves. The rotating stand not only points the TV in your direction (as other sets from the firm have done), but brings it away from the wall, towards the viewer. It’s as if it comes away from the wall and commands your attention, before retreating back and hiding itself away. But, here’s the catch: only if you buy the additional motorised stand (a modest $2,000/£1,200 on top of the $8,000/£6,000 TV set). What does that big ticket price actually get you? Well, 4K/UHD, and integrated “three channel” stereo (basically stereo, plus a central speaker for speech), Spotify and Deezer integration, WiFi, 6 x HDMI ports and support for WiSA / wireless audio. The Avant’s built in speakers are all part of the movement agenda too. When you switch the set on, they emerge from below the screen, before stretching out to extend most of the length of the bottom.
During the demonstration, a host of other neat tricks are shown. The BeoRemote One, for example, (Bang and Olufsen’s universal remote) is given its own mini presentation. It can control everything in your front room, and has three hot buttons that automatically switch the Avant on with your favorite settings and/or channel (mom, dad, and the kids can each get their own). The Avant will also let you control other devices (cable box, PlayStation etc.) directly — even if the actual box is tucked away in another room.
A guy keeps taking pictures of the exceedingly crisp and vibrant display with his iPad, while a demo of the Avant’s smart speaker configuration takes place. Basically, if you have a surround sound system connected, but decide to enjoy some internet radio through it instead, and move it to face another part of the room, it will automatically reconfigure the relevant speakers to feed stereo sound in the appropriate direction. Similarly, a host of sensors measure the ambient light and even room color to automatically adjust the TV’s image reproduction to Bang & Olufsen’s optimized settings (should you so desire).
Filed under: Home Entertainment
BMW’s designed an eco-friendly carport for its electric vehicles
Filed under: Transportation, Science
Via: GizMag
Source: BMW
Samsung’s new mirrorless camera tries to fuse style with modest specs
As with Samsung’s other 2014 mirrorless cams, you can expect NFC pairing with mobile devices, WiFi image transfers and party tricks like the selfie-oriented Wink Shot. You’re still giving up some features over the NX300, though. The NX3000 carries the mini’s basic 480 x 320 flip-up display and microSD storage, and you’re stuck with the slowest max shutter speed of the current lineup — at 1/4,000th of a second, this may not be the best choice for action photography. It may, however, be a good choice if you’re cost-conscious. The NX3000 will start at $479 (with a regular 20-50mm lens) when it ships to the US on June 1st, and the power zoom kit will cost only a bit more at $529.
Source: Samsung
Yahoo brings its personalised Sports app for iOS and Android to the UK
There’s no shortage of sport-related apps available on iOS and Android, but when a major online player outs one for the UK, it’s certainly worth a look. Having served US audiences for a little while now, Yahoo Sports today came to the App Store and Google Play on this side of the Atlantic, launching alongside a new Android version of Yahoo’s News Digest app. Sports offers personalised news, scores, goal alerts, results, team updates and, for some, the ability to capture cheeky own goals in animated GIF form. Football, rugby, cricket, tennis, golf, F1 and all major US sports are represented, giving the BBC’s updated sport apps a bit of healthy competition.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile
Via: Yahoo UK
Source: Yahoo Sports (Google Play), (App Store)
Nintendo Unveils First Web-Based Service for Smartphones
As a part of its latest financial results briefing (via Engadget), Nintendo has unveiled its first web-based service optimized for smartphones to coincide with the upcoming release of Mario Kart 8. The web app will allow all users to view gameplay videos and other information, while those with a Nintendo Network ID will be able to upload videos, establish their rankings, and see friend activity over time.
This is the layout for a smartphone. This web service will enable more people to easily watch Nintendo’s official videos, view rankings, watch videos that their friends have shared and videos of tournaments in which they have participated.
This “Mario Kart TV” (temp.) web service is available even for players without NNIDs, but by logging into the service with an NNID, they will be able to easily find their rankings, videos that their friends have shared, videos of tournaments in which they have participated, and it will be convenient to access this service through smart devices even when they are not at home.
The reveal of the new service comes four months after Nintendo president Satoru Iwata acknowledged that the company would consider “a new business structure” that involves smart devices after a third consecutive annual loss. Shortly after Iwata’s comments, Japanese business newspaper Nikkei reported that Nintendo’s mobile push would focus on marketing demos and not full games, with those claims later denied by Nintendo.
Nintendo has faced heavy competition from mobile platforms in recent years, with App Annie and IDC finding that consumer spending on games for iOS and Android rose to 4x that of dedicated gaming handhelds.
Nintendo’s investors have also called on the company to develop titles for iOS and other platforms, while others have suggested that Nintendo should “buy its way” into the smartphone market by either acquiring technology or developing their own. While this newest web service may not be a large initial showing, it may also indicate that Nintendo is testing the waters ahead of more full-fledged efforts in the future.
Could the Google device codenamed “Flounder” be the Nexus 8?
There’s a lot you can find out from taking a look at the Chromium issue tracker; sometimes, you might even find a potential entry from an unreleased Google device. According to the above log, a device codenamed “flounder” was spotted; for reference, Google codenames its devices with names of sea animals i.e. Nexus 5 = hammerhead, Nexus 10 = manta. Which begs the question about a rumoured Google device that we haven’t heard from in a while: could the Google device codenamed “flounder” be the Nexus 8?
Rumours about the Nexus 8 have died down mightly since the initial hullabaloo of possibly accidentally leaked pictures, however this information might just pick things up again. We’ve heard rumours that a possible Nexus 8 device could be released in August, which would mean it would almost indefinitely be announced at Google I/O next month if this really is the real deal. As some collateral information, the “flounder” appears to be using a development build from this week, so it looks like development of whatever this device is may be well under way.
Do you think the “flounder” could be the Nexus 8? Can you think of what else the “flounder” could be? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.
Source: myce.com
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