Canon’s new PowerShot cameras are for super-zoom lovers
Despite the popularity of smartphone (and tablet) cameras increasing by the minute, companies like Canon aren’t ready to throw in the towel for classics such as the point-and-shoot. With that in mind, the Japanese camera maker has introduced a pair of compact, super-zoom shooters: the PowerShot SX400 IS and PowerShot XS520HS. For starters, the entry-level SX400 IS, priced at $250, comes with a 16-megapixel CCD sensor, Digic 4+ image chip and 30x optical zoom, plus a number of “Smart Auto” features that Canon hopes make it easy for users to snap some great quality photos and video. The SX520 HS, on the other hand, is $400, but the heavier price tag, naturally, signifies a better spec sheet. There’s a 16-megapixel High-Sensitivity sensor (with the same image processor as the SX400), 42x optical zoom and a mini-HDMI, as well as speedy autofocus and enhanced stabilization systems. If you’re interested, you won’t have to wait long to get one — Canon’s bringing the new PowerShots to market soon, starting with the SX400 IS in August and SX520 HS the following month.
Filed under: Cameras, Misc, Canon
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Netflix cut a deal with AT&T, just like the ones with Verizon and Comcast
Almost as soon as news broke in February that Netflix had agreed to pay Comcast for a direct connection to its network, Verizon and AT&T were in line with their hands out as well. Verizon reached a deal months ago — that so far has done little to resolve streaming issues — and now Netflix and AT&T have confirmed that they reached an agreement in May, as first reported by Mashable. In a statement, they said the process of turning up the connections should take place “over the coming days.” Netflix CEO Reed Hastings already laid out his disapproval of the ISPs and their policies, and more recently suggested that if the Comcast / Time Warner Cable merger goes through, the combined behemoth should be barred from charging for interconnects. We wouldn’t be surprised to hear something similar about the proposed AT&T / DirecTV combo too, and with the FCC’s recent statements on this issue we suspect things are far from settled.
Netflix / AT&T:
We reached an interconnect agreement with AT&T in May and since then have been working together to provision additional interconnect capacity to improve the viewing experience of our mutual subscribers. We’re now beginning to turn up the connections, a process that should be complete in the coming days.
Filed under: Internet, HD, Verizon, AT&T
Source: Mashable
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Playdate: We’re livestreaming ‘The Last of Us: Remastered’ on PS4!
Welcome, ladygeeks and gentlenerds, to the new era of gaming. The one where you get to watch, and comment, as other people livestream gameplay from next-gen consoles. Because games! They’re fun!
Developer Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic opus The Last of Us released last June, delivering at least a few punches to the guts of almost everyone who played it on the PlayStation 3. Despite the some 80 million (and counting) PS3′s sold worldwide, though, Sony estimates that there’s still a bunch of people who haven’t experienced the game. So, with no small amount of effort porting it from the PS3, we now have The Last of Us: Remastered on the PlayStation 4. But, let’s say you’ve already played through the game and its downloadable episode on Sony’s last-gen console, is it worth double dipping? Join me today at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific as I stream it, and find out. I’ll be starting a few hours into the campaign, but bear in mind that there’s a very high chance for spoilers, especially if you missed playing the game last year.
Watch live video from Engadget on www.twitch.tv
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Sony
Source: Twitch
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Physicist concocts ice cream that changes color when you lick it
What happens when a physicist decides to become a chef? If they’re anything like Manuel Linares, then you can expect a fusion of food and science to come out of their kitchen. For instance, one of the Spaniard’s masterpieces is an ice cream that changes colors when you lick it. He calls it the Xamaleón, a play on the Spanish word for chameleon, and it originally starts as a periwinkle blue frozen treat until it’s spritzed with Linares’ “love elixir,” a super secret mixture he concocted himself. This mixture reacts to changes in temperature and saliva, causing the tutti-frutti-flavored ice cream to turn into purple, then into pink as you lick.
As unusual as it sounds, this is just the beginning of Linares’ foray into the color-changing ice cream business: he also plans to whip up ice cream that turns from white to pink, and another one that glows under ultraviolet light. You can only get a scoop of this chameleon ice cream from one the creator’s shops in Spain right now, but he’s looking to export it to other countries, according to The Mirror. Until that happens, you can check out this video that shows how the yummy dessert transitions from purple to pink.
[Image credit: Manual Linares/IceXperience / Cocinatis]
Via: Geek
Source: Cocinatis, Diari de Girona
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Double Dragon Trilogy from DotEmu on sale for $099
Looking for another game to take you back to your childhood? Maybe you want to introduce your kids to your gaming history. While pulling out the old Sega and dusting off the cartridge is nice, it isn’t always feasible. DotEmu has your back on a few choice classic games and one that I remember spending countless hours playing is the Double Dragon series. I was a bit more partial to Battletoads Double Dragon though. The classic side scrolling street fighting game has sat comfortably at $2.99 but is currently wrapped up in the Summer sale on the Play Store for just $0.99.
For those that are wondering, this title does support a variety of Gamepads like the Moga line as well as the M.O.J.O. and Nvidia Shield. Head down below and go pick it up when you have a few minutes. Just don’t forget to grab it before the sale ends.
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The post Double Dragon Trilogy from DotEmu on sale for $099 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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LG G3 in Mood Violet and Burgundy Red to be available this August
Almost 2 months ago, LG officially released the LG G3 – their latest flagship smartphone and probably the most successful to date. LG mentioned that the phone will be available in five colors Metallic Black, Silk White, Shine Gold, Moon Violet, and Burgundy Red. However, the latter two are still not available in the market, but… Read more »
The post LG G3 in Mood Violet and Burgundy Red to be available this August appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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‘Signal’ for iOS Lets Users Make Encrypted Voice Calls for Free [iOS Blog]
Open source software group Open Whisper Systems today released a new encrypted phone app called Signal, which is designed to allow its users to make secure calls on the iPhone at no cost.
Using end-to-end encryption, Signal secures iPhone conversations so third-parties cannot listen in. Signal uses a caller’s standard phone number to make and receive calls, and all Signal calls function like a normal phone call using WiFi or data connections.
According to a blog post on the Open Whisper Systems site, Signal uses ZRTP, a widely-used secure voice communication protocol and sends push notifications when phone calls are received to save battery life. It’s open source software, which allows anyone to improve the code and contribute to app improvements.
Setting up Signal is simple, and users only need to enter a phone number and confirm it by entering a six-digit confirmation code (sent by SMS or phone call) to begin using the app. Contacts are automatically imported after a phone number is entered, but only contacts that have the Signal app will be listed. Placing a call to a user who does not have Signal installed will prompt users to send an invite via SMS.
When initiating a phone call using Signal, the two people communicating can be assured that their phone calls are secure through a pair of words shown on the screen of the caller and the person being called. The two exchange their on-screen words to verify that the words match, signaling that a secure connection has been implemented. Were someone listening into a phone call, the two words would not match up.
In an interview with Wired, Open Whisper Systems founder Moxie Marlinspike said the team’s goal was to make secure phone calls as easy to place as regular phone calls. Encrypted text messages will also be added to the app in the future.
“We’re trying to make private communications as available and accessible as any normal phone call,” says Moxie Marlinspike, the hacker security researcher who founded the nonprofit software group. Later this summer, he adds, encrypted text messaging will be integrated into Signal, too, to create what he describes as a “single, unified app for free, easy, open source, private voice and text messaging.”
Wired tested the app during the development phase and aside from a few early bugs, determined calls were “indistinguishable from any other phone call,” and MacRumors had the same results when testing the app. Signal also works Open Whisper Systems’ RedPhone app for Android, allowing both iOS and Android users to make secure calls with one another.
Signal can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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Instagram’s Snapchat Competitor ‘Bolt’ Soft Launches in Three Countries [iOS Blog]
Instagram today soft-launched its new Snapchat competitor Bolt in Singapore, South Africa, and New Zealand. First hinted at last week, Bolt is a one tap photo and video messaging app that allows users to send temporal images to friends, much like Snapchat.
As described by The Verge, Bolt is a “carbon copy” of Taptalk, another temporal messaging app. Users tap on a friend’s profile photo to send a photo, or use a long tap to send a video. As with Taptalk, Bolt focuses on sharing with only a few friends — users can only communicate with one person at a time, while in Snapchat mass snaps can be sent out.
Though designed by Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, Bolt is largely a standalone app. It does not require a Facebook log-in, instead letting users add contacts via phone number. As with Snapchat, users can caption images using a text editor.
According to an Instagram spokesperson, Bolt will be expanded to other regions in the near future after being tested in Singapore, New Zealand, and South Africa, three countries chosen for their geographical diversity and tight-knit communities.
Bolt is actually the second Snapchat competitor to launch this year under Facebook’s umbrella. In June, the company launched Slingshot, a Snapchat clone with a twist — after receiving a photo, users must send an image or video in return before being able to view content.
Users in New Zealand, South Africa, and Singapore can download Bolt from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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US Army researchers weigh the benefits of 3D-printed warhead parts
It’s no secret that 3D printing is making big strides for the future of not just technology, but medicine and space exploration as well. And the United States Army is looking to leverage the platform for its warhead production. 3D printing is nothing new to this particular branch of the military, as it has been working on bioprinted replacement skin for battle wounds — amongst other projects. The Army is looking to implement the tech to produce components for the weapons that will both reduce cost and increase customization. “The real value you get is you can get more safety, lethality or operational capability from the same space,” said materials engineer James Zunino. Part of the allure here is that warheads could also be built to suit each mission, rather being mass-produced to outfit a range of duties. But the Army isn’t stopping with pieces: the possibility of printing an entire rocket isn’t too far fetched given how quickly 3D printing continues to develop. As with any military-grade weapon, the risk of the production files falling into the wrong hands is certainly a concern.
[Photo credit: Aamir QureshiI/AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Misc
Via: Daily Mail, Vice
Source: Army Technology (PDF)
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Twitter’s active user growth continued to improve this quarter
One of Twitter’s primary concerns is that the number of active users — those who use the network at least once a month — continues to grow at a healthy pace, and its latest quarterly earnings confirm that the social network has been eating its vegetables. After reporting a solid growth of 14 million active users last quarter, the service brought in 16 million this time around, reaching a grand total of 271 million. This is an increase of 6.3 percent, which is an improvement over last quarter’s 5.8 percent (though not quite as good as the ten percent growth the company saw a year ago). Not bad, given that it had to admit a slowing number of new users earlier this year in its first earnings report as an IPO. Of this number, Twitter acknowledged that 78 percent of them are actively using the service on mobile devices (this is reflected in the fact that 81 percent of advertising revenue comes from smartphones and tablets).
Twitter also impressed by reporting revenues of $312 million (up from $250 million last quarter and $139 million this quarter last year) and a non-GAAP net income totaling $15 million. While the company hasn’t discussed exactly what’s led to this spike in revenue and user base, it specifically brought up new product experiences based around the World Cup, much of which took place during this last quarter; it also continued its international expansion efforts for advertising.
[Image credit: Getty]
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
Source: Twitter
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AIVAnet 