Laser-equipped robot printer will hunt you down and print your expenses
[Image credit: Getty Images, Nikkei (Fuji Xerox machine)]
Filed under: Robots
Source: TechOn
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Apple Once Again Adds to Lineup for 2014 iTunes Festival in London
As first reported by The Loop, Apple has announced that it will again be expanding the lineup for this year’s iTunes Festival in London to include 19 more acts such as Tony Bennett, Mary J. Blige, Ed Sheeran, and more. The festival’s schedule has also been updated to show when artists will perform, as deadmau5 will kick off the show on September 1, which will be followed by Beck and Jenny Lewis the next day. Apple has not yet revealed the lineup for the final day.
Apple announced earlier this month that it would be expanding its original lineup to include acts such as Lenny Kravitz and Foxes. The festival’s date was announced last month as Apple revealed that Maroon 5, Pharrell Williams, and Calvin Harris would be among the acts performing.
Tickets for the iTunes Festival will be given out through iTunes in a lottery system, and will also be broadcast via the Apple TV, an official iOS app, and through the iTunes desktop application on OS X and Windows.
Earlier this year, Apple held the first annual U.S. iTunes Festival at South by Southwest (SXSW), which featured artists such as Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Keith Urban, and more. The 2013 iTunes Festival in London was held last September and saw shows from Jack Johnson, Justin Timberlake, and Jessie J, who will also be again be performing at this year’s iTunes Festival.
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Casio’s new action cam detaches from its own touchscreen viewfinder
If you haven’t quite got on the action cam bandwagon, or you’re looking for a viewfinder bigger than a postage stamp, perhaps Casio’s EXILIM “freestyle” camera will do the job. Coming in orange, camo green and white options, it’s made of two different parts — the lens and a separate screen that can be used both attached and detached. In a sign of the times, there’s also a foldable docking option that makes it ideal for selfies. If you fold the lens back onto the display, then you have something closer to a typical camera — albeit one with a tiny screen. The camera will, naturally, arrive with a plethora of straps, clips and tripod accessories to ensure it attaches to everything adventurous in your life and both parts are water- and dustproof (IPX6).
The camera itself has an f2.8 lens and contrast-based auto-focus, with intelligent and multifocus modes which should help ensure it captures what you want it to. The Exilim EX-FR10 will snap photos at 14-megapixels and video at 1080p resolution, and Casio says the battery should last around 75 minutes for continuous movie recording. If you’re mostly shooting stills, then expect it to last much much longer – once detached, the two-inch LCD touchscreen controller will extend the camera’s view up to 5 meters. It will degrade after that, but Casio tells us that you’ll still be able to capture with the shutter button up to 10 meters away. Both devices can be charged through the micro-USB port, while storage is microSD card-based — like most action cams.
Once you’ve captured your adventures /water-fights, the images and video can be delivered through the aforementioned USB connection, as well as Bluetooth and WiFi. We got to play with one, and the device has a nice rough finish that ensured that it was easy to grip — you can also tell by the styling and color choices that it’s cut from the same cloth as Casio’s G-Shock. The hinge is also hardy — it maintains the angle you set it at when you bend it into place. The biggest concern here (despite the presence of waterproof smartphones), is the price: in Japan it’s set to land at 50,000 yen. It might well look hardier and cooler than a GoPro, and once you factor in a wireless viewer for the Hero3+, the price is close, but you’re going to have to pay a little more for Casio’s action cam — it translates to roughly $480.
Filed under: Cameras, Wearables
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LG unveils a cheaper G3 that comes with a Galaxy Note-baiting stylus
Have we reached complete, utter, smartphone product launch saturation? Nah. Here’s another one. LG’s latest (and not unexpected) announcement has some charm of its own, fusing a G3-esque body and UI with a 5.5-inch screen and a new stylus that looks like it’ll slide into the phone. (LG’s prior stylus models sometimes had the pen accessory float around separately — it wasn’t a good thing.)
It won’t house the same incredible screen as the G3 flagship, unfortunately. In fact, the display is a less-than-mediocre 960 x 540 resolution, yeesh. LG’s pegging the giant phone at a keener price-point — one it hasn’t shared in the announcement — which could make an interesting option for those pining for sketching skills sans flagship prices. There’s a quad-core processor, and a 13-megapixel camera without the laser-beam focus to round out the notable hardware points and it’ll first land in Brazil, before rolling out across Asia and Europe. Oh and it will be making an appearance at IFA — as will we. We’ll let you know how it fares in the flesh.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
Source: LG
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European Space Agency chooses potential landing sites for its comet probe
Now that the Rosetta spacecraft is orbiting its target comet, the European Space Agency is finalizing the plans for the ship’s Philae lander ahead of a historic touchdown on November 11th. The team has picked five potential landing sites that meet its requirements, all of which should keep Philae in contact with its mothership, minimize terrain hazards and offer just enough sunlight to maintain power. Don’t expect a quick decision-making process after that, though. The ESA won’t rank its candidates until around September 12th, after Rosetta has had time to double-check the sites, and there isn’t going to be a firm commitment until October 12th. Mind you, it’s easy to understand the agency’s trepidation — choosing the wrong landing spot could either limit the amount of potential research or destroy Philae outright.
[Image credit: ESA/ATG medialab]
Filed under: Transportation, Science
Via: Space.com
Source: ESA
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Amazon confirms purchase of Twitch.TV to the tune of $970 Million
Earlier in the day there were rumors and internet banter that Amazon was going to be buying Twitch.TV. Originally it had been rumored that Google was in negotiation to pick up the game streaming service and word that Amazon might be doing so ruffled some feathers. Later in the afternoon Amazon pushed out the official press release that confirmed the chatter that Amazon was indeed picking up Twitch.TV. The deal put a cool $970 million cash on the table to seal the deal. (figuratively of course. However, I’d love to see a truck show up with all that cash during a negotiation and see what happens.)
“Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon and Twitch has built a platform that brings together tens of millions of people who watch billions of minutes of games each month – from The International, to breaking the world record for Mario, to gaming conferences like E3. And, amazingly, Twitch is only three years old,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. “Like Twitch, we obsess over customers and like to think differently, and we look forward to learning from them and helping them move even faster to build new services for the gaming community.”
“Amazon and Twitch optimize for our customers first and are both believers in the future of gaming,” said Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. “Being part of Amazon will let us do even more for our community. We will be able to create tools and services faster than we could have independently. This change will mean great things for our community, and will let us bring Twitch to even more people around the world.”
Amazon picking up Twitch does make some sense though. While streaming games is a big part of the service, it is also a solid place for watching video game videos, watching gaming competitions and plenty of other things all game related. Lewis Ward, IDC’s consumer market director, seems to think that the purchase is a good match. Amazon has been looking for ways to make the Amazon Kindle Fire and Fire Phone a bit more appealing and Twitch has been itching to get into the mobile gaming arena. The pair could potentially bring a mash-up of services that will be Amazon packed. Think about the Fire TV for instance, it has a gaming controller. While it is no PS4, XBox One or PC, there is potential for people to game together, broadcast and share their achievements.
To top off another thought, there has been another rumor floating around that Amazon is gearing up for an Ad network launch similar to Google AdSense. With Twitch.TV under its belt, all the gaming videos and feeds can be interlaced with Amazon ad network ads and links, giving Amazon a game centric YouTube of sorts that will generate revenue for both Amazon and for affiliates.
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 25, 2014– Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Twitch Interactive, Inc., the leading live video platform for gamers. In July, more than 55 million unique visitors viewed more than 15 billion minutes of content on Twitch produced by more than 1 million broadcasters, including individual gamers, pro players, publishers, developers, media outlets, conventions and stadium-filling esports organizations.
“Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon and Twitch has built a platform that brings together tens of millions of people who watch billions of minutes of games each month – from The International, to breaking the world record for Mario, to gaming conferences like E3. And, amazingly, Twitch is only three years old,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO ofAmazon.com. “Like Twitch, we obsess over customers and like to think differently, and we look forward to learning from them and helping them move even faster to build new services for the gaming community.”
“Amazon and Twitch optimize for our customers first and are both believers in the future of gaming,” said Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. “Being part of Amazon will let us do even more for our community. We will be able to create tools and services faster than we could have independently. This change will mean great things for our community, and will let us bring Twitch to even more people around the world.”
Twitch launched in June 2011 to focus exclusively on live video for gamers. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by Twitch’s shareholders, Amazon will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Twitch for approximately $970 million in cash, as adjusted for the assumption of options and other items. Subject to customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2014.
About Amazon.com
Amazon opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by three principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, and Fire TV are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.
About Twitch
Twitch is the leading live video platform and community for gamers where more than 55 million have gathered to broadcast, watch and talk about video games. Twitch’s video platform is the backbone of both live and on-demand distribution for the entire video game ecosystem. This includes game developers, publishers, media outlets, events, user generated content and the entire esports scene. In February 2014, The Wall Street Journal ranked Twitch as the 4th largest website in terms of peak internet traffic in the U.S., fortifying the brand as an entertainment industry leader and the epicenter of social video for gamers. For more information, visit: www.twitch.tv
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management’s expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com’s financial results is included in Amazon.com’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
Source: Amazon Press page Also: Adweek
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Nexus 6 Actually Nexus X?! LG G-Watch 2 is Beautifully Round! – ManDroid Daily
Monday is over, so time to check out what is happening in the Android world. Seems that the next Nexus phone might be called the Nexus X, as opposed to Nexus 6. Makes sense, given the name “Nexus 6″ has been used in a little book, that was then adapted to a movie called Blade Runner. LG seems to have kept their word about announcing a new G-Watch at IFA, and it looks pretty glorious. Enjoy the Daily!
Android News
Nexus 6 to be called the Nexus X
LG G-Watch 2
Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact with new smartwatch
ASUS Smartwatch concept
LG G3 Stylus
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HTC is teasing a high-powered eight-core, 64-bit handset for China
Looking forward to 64-bit smartphones, but not sold on Sprint’s incoming budget handset? HTC has another phone for you — an unnamed device that it claims will be the very first 8-core 64-bit smartphone on the market. HTC teased the smartphone on its Weibo page, showing a mock-up of the device’s corner featuring a camera, some proximity sensors and a metallic-looking blue outline. The octa-core processor probably means this is a mid to high-end devices (unlike the model outed for Sprint), probably with a Qualcomm-sourced processor like the Snapdragon 615. Curious? You’ll find the teaser image after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Source: Weibo
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A fight about seat reclining privileges grounded a flight today
If you’ve ever flown coach, you know that it doesn’t provide much legroom — in an effort to maximize passenger loads, airlines make a conscious effort of eliminating the divide between seating rows, often cutting out the customer’s leg-room in the processes. Some sense of personal space can be regained reclining the seat, but this can impact the leg-room of the person sitting behind you. On a recent United Airlines flight, this became a problem: a passenger was using a device called a Knee Defender to disable the reclining function of the seat in front of them and, well, trouble ensued.
The Knee Defender is really just a pair of plastic nubs that attach to the seat’s tray table, but they act as a brace against the chair’s reclining action. The product doesn’t violate any FAA safety standards, but several airlines (including United) have banned them privately. On United Flight 1462, a 48 year old man elected to use it anyway, refusing to remove the device at the flight attendant’s request. The man reportedly got into a fight with the woman sitting in front of him: words were said, cups of water were thrown and the plane eventually landed early in Chicago to evict both of the unruly passengers.
For what it’s worth, the Knee Defender website specifically advises removing the devices at the request of airline personnel, and throwing courtesy beverages at another passenger is never appropriate behavior. Still, it’s easy to sympathize with both passengers: nobody wants to relinquish personal space on a cramped flight, but nothing’s worse than trying to use a laptop while the person in front of you is reclining. On the other hand, both passengers were enjoying the extra four inches afforded by economy plus — so next time you fly, maybe just don’t be a jerk, regardless of which side of the tray table you’re on.
[Image credit: Alamy]
Filed under: Misc, Transportation
Via: Gizmodo
Source: Associated Press
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LG G3 Stylus is official! Don’t get too excited Though
Looks like LG decided it was time to take the wraps off the LG G3 Stylus, and I don’t mean just a stylus for your current G3. No, I mean a totally new device. As the name would suggest, it does offer the wondrous stylus pen and carry the G3 flagship name scheme. Much like the LG G3 Beat though, this is just a spin-off device that packs a fairly excitable line of specs. It does look pretty though, minus those hideous on-screen nav keys. What’s up with the white LG? Clear I can do, even a solid black, but that solid white in the images is just atrocious.
As for specs:
- 1.3GHz quad-core processor ( no mention on which one in the press release.)
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB internal storage
- Micro SD slot
- 5.5-inch qHD display at 960 x 540
- 13MP rear camera
- 1.3MP front shooter
- 3,000 mAh battery (removable)
- Android 4.4.2
- Will be in Black, White and Gold
Another interesting bit of information from the press release also tosses out the network type as 3G. Seems like, at least right now, that this won’t really be looking like a device that will be headed stateside. It is possible that a 4G LTE variant could become a thing at a later date though. LG doesn’t offer much in the way of a price tag either, simply stating a “fairly-priced package.” The LG G3 Stylus will pack in a number of the same software features as its higher-end cousin tough. Features like Knock Code and dual-window along with Gesture Shot and QuickMemo+.
LG will have the device on hand at IFA next week and we are sure to see more of the device pop up online then.
I can understand the need to cover the various price points with a flagship branded device, but I still find it rather annoying. Especially with something like this. I was fully expecting a G3 with a pen stylus and few new apps designed for it with maybe a few tweaks to the hardware. It will do well for those that can’t spring for something a bit more pricey, like the upcoming Note 4, and should fare well for LG.
Source: LG Via Android Police
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AIVAnet 