EE launches Wi-Fi calling with support for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge
UK mobile operator EE today announced the launch of Wi-Fi calling on supported hardware. The network is initially supporting the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. Should you happen to struggle with poor signal coverage indoors, this will be a handy new feature to take full advantage of.
Small Lego case hides a powerful computer inside
Say, you’ve always found Lego computers cool and woke up today wanting to make one of your own. In that case, congratulations: Mike Schropp from Total Geekdom has recently published a design for a small PC that you could replicate if you’ve got tools, patience and thousands of Lego bricks at your disposal. Schropp went for the smallest design that could still house the latest Intel i3, i5, and i7 processors, USB 3.0, various ports (HDMI, LAN, audio, display, mic), multiple SSD drives, up to 16GB of RAM and even a CD/DVD or Blu-ray drive. He went through three iterations, before he managed to build a size (7.5 x7.5 x 5.5 inches) that he felt was perfect for this project, equipped with a top-down cooling system.
He said he got the idea after considering requests for him to build a Lego computer:
The more I thought about the Lego computer over the last year, the more I started wondering how I could design and build a system that wasn’t so difficult to reproduce, one that could be bought by anyone looking for a new computer with a unique twist, a Lego twist.
This isn’t Schropp’s first attempt at building computers out of toys bricks, by the way: In 2011, he built a Lego PC tower that served as a folding farm for cancer and AIDS research. He’s done other far-out projects, as well, including a robot made using computer parts and a PC cooled by a wind tunnel. He wrote extensively about his experience building this Lego PC on his website and posted a healthy collection of images, so make sure to visit if you’d like to tackle something similar in the future.
Filed under: Desktops
Via: Ubergizmo
Source: Total Geekdom
More sad news for Sony: T-Mobile abruptly discontinues its Sony Xperia Z3 with less than 6 months on the shelves
T-Mobile has discontinued sales of its Sony Xperia Z3 device with just under 6 months of being released. While it may be stunning to hear at first, it’s not much of a surprise to most if one were to really think about it. It’s no secret that Sony’s mobile phone division is well behind its competitors (Samsung, HTC, LG, Apple) and with lackluster sales of its Z3, T-Mobile has no other choice but to yank the device from its shelves.
I’ve been a fan of Sony’s mobile devices and have always felt that they are highly underrated, but it just doesn’t stand a chance with other Android competitors that already have brand recognition with the consumers. This news also comes at a bad time as Sony’s Z3 successor, the Z4, is set to be unveiled soon with leaked pictures already surfacing. Will the Z4 suffer the same fate?
Do you guys own a Sony Z device? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Do you think the Z4 will suffer the same fate as it’s predecessor?
Come comment on this article: More sad news for Sony: T-Mobile abruptly discontinues its Sony Xperia Z3 with less than 6 months on the shelves
Forza Horizon 2 races onto Deals with Gold for the Xbox One
Microsoft’s Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb today unveiled multiple titles on both the Xbox One and Xbox 360 that are part of this week’s Deals with Gold. If you’re looking to compete against friends or random encounters to show off some skill behind the wheel, this week’s deal is for you.
Twitter introduces new tweet quoting system, rolling out to Android apps soon
Twitter has taken the wraps off of a new system for quoting tweets that makes it a little easier to add your own comment to others’ tweets. With the current quoting system, the contents of a tweet are literally “quoted” and posted to your followers. For longer tweets that hit that 140 character limit, that doesn’t really leave you much room to say anything.
The new system for quoting actually links the original tweet to your tweet, and you’ll get 116 characters to talk about it. It may not be the full 140 characters, but it’s way better than only having enough room for a few words.
This system is currently rolling out to the web version of Twitter, but you can expect it to hit the Android client soon.
source: Twitter
Come comment on this article: Twitter introduces new tweet quoting system, rolling out to Android apps soon
Twitter now quotes tweets without wasting text
If you’ve previously tried to quote tweets in the official Twitter app, you know how painful it was — all it did was throw quotation marks around the post, giving you little space to add your own color commentary. At last, though, it’s working the way it should. Twitter has overhauled its “quote tweet” function so that it simply embeds the post you’re quoting. You should not only have more room to type your observations, but preserve the context of the original material (such as images) without resorting to a retweet. Only iOS and web users will see the new trick right away, but it’s “coming soon” to Android.
Say more with revamped quote Tweet! Rolling out on iPhone and web, coming soon to Android. https://t.co/Bcl3E859ne pic.twitter.com/fioAPPi0nW
– Twitter (@twitter) April 6, 2015
Source: Twitter
Star Wars coming to iTunes Movies on April 10
Star Wars, the original, iconic space opera trilogy and its more controversial prequels will finally be made available for download starting April 10.
Star Wars (A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, as well as The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith, will all be available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon. The first three will be in Special Edition form, sadly. In that regard, George Lucas shot last.
- iTunes – Pre-order now
- Amazon – Pre-order now
The movies will all include special features, though those will vary by retailer. From starwars.com:
Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
- Conversations: Doug Chiang Looks Back
- Discoveries From Inside: Models & Miniatures
- Legacy content includes “The Beginning”; The Podrace: Theatrical Edit; plus eight deleted scenes.
Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
- Conversations: Sounds In Space
- Discoveries From Inside: Costumes Revealed
- Legacy content includes “From Puppets To Pixels: Digital Characters In Episode II”; State Of The Art: The Previsualization Of Episode II; and “Films Are Not Released, They Escape”; plus Episode II Visual Effects Breakdown Montage and six deleted scenes.
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- Conversations: The Star Wars That Almost Was
- Discoveries From Inside: Hologram & Bloopers
- Legacy content includes documentaries “Within A Minute: The Making Of Episode III”; The Journey Part 1; and The Journey Part 2; plus six deleted scenes.
Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (20th Century Fox)
- Conversations: Creating A Universe
- Discoveries From Inside: Weapons & The First Lightsaber
- Legacy content includes “Anatomy Of A Dewback”; Star Wars Launch Trailer; plus eight deleted scenes.
Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
- Conversations: The Lost Interviews
- Discoveries From Inside: Matte Paintings Unveiled
- Legacy content includes “A Conversation With The Masters” (2010); “Dennis Muren: How Walkers Walk”; “George – Lucas On Editing The Empire Strikes Back 1979″; and “George Lucas On The Force: 2010″; plus six deleted scenes.
Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- Conversations: The Effects
- Discoveries From Inside: The Sounds Of Ben Burtt
- Legacy content includes “Classic Creatures: Return Of The Jedi”; “Revenge Of The Jedi Teaser Trailer”; Return Of The Jedi Launch Trailer; “It Began TV Spot”; “Climactic Chapter TV Spot”; plus five deleted scenes.
I’ve bought every version since the original VHS, so why stop now, right? Star Wars on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV is only a few days away!
Get an R2-D2 Xbox Live avatar with all six Star Wars movies on Xbox Video April 10
All six Star Wars movies will be released via official digital HD download store outlets for the first time on Friday, April 10. That includes Microsoft’s Xbox Video and the company is throwing in a couple of freebies, including a free R2-D2 Xbox Live avatar.
Humble Bundle 11 Released
Humble Bundle’s latest round of games has been released, and, as usual, there are plenty of types of games to satisfy any and every player. The titles this time are Bounden, Auro, Avernum, 80 Days, Kingdom Rush Origins, and Riddick: The Merc Files.
Bounden is a whimsical dancing game featuring choreography by the dutch national ballet, and Auro is a unique fantasy RPG with unique, bumping-based gameplay. Avernum is a classic fantasy RPG as well, with all the makings of an exciting RPG. 80 days is a strategy game involving making our way around the globe in only 1920 hours. Kingdom Rush Origins keeps things in the fantasy theme, but offers a twist on gameplay by making it another tower defense game. The last one, Riddick, offers immersive third person 3d graphics and gameplay for a valuable gaming experience.
All of these apps will work on Ice Cream Sandwich, although some will work on older versions, even back to Froyo. If you’re interested in snagging a few of these, follow the link below to find out how you can get a few games, all while helping out someone who may need it.
Source: Humble Bundle
Come comment on this article: Humble Bundle 11 Released
Futuristic ‘SuperTruck’ doubles the MPG of other semis
The EPA estimates that motor vehicles contribute about half of America’s smog-forming volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxide emissions every year. And given that the average fuel efficiency of your average 18-wheeler only hits about 6 miles per gallon, these big rigs can be big polluters too. But this new prototype from Daimler Trucks North America, built as part of the US Department of Transportation’s SuperTruck Challenge, sips just half as much gas.
When the DOT started the SuperTruck Challenge in 2009, organizers hoped to see a 50 percent efficiency increase over that year’s “average” semi. Daimler’s “Freightliner SuperTruck” more than doubled that goal, boasting a 115 percent increase over the baseline standard. Most of that improvement comes from simple aerodynamic tweaks like adding an adjustable ride height, rear wheel fairings and articulated side extenders to cover gaps between the cab and trailer. The SuperTruck is also 700 pounds lighter than the baseline, thanks to a reengineered tractor frame.
What’s more, its hybrid diesel/electric 10.7-liter power plant supplements the diesel fuel source with recaptured waste heat from the exhaust and brake. Roof-mounted solar panels draw in enough energy to independently run the trailer’s air conditioning system on sunny days. The SuperTruck even leverages GPS tracking to automatically shift gears and modulate the vehicle’s speed to maximize efficiency given upcoming terrain changes. All this translates into one seriously efficient vehicle — at least as far 18-wheelers go. A recent test run through Texas saw the Freightliner hit 12.2 miles per gallon at 65 miles per hour. That’s not bad for a truck pulling more than 65,000 pounds.
Filed under: Misc
Via: Gizmag
Source: Freightliner
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