Engadget giveaway: win an Xbox One, Chromecast and more courtesy of Plex!
You may have done the spring clean around the house, but have you organized your digital media, too? Installing the Plex Media Server software can help centralize all your scattered music, movie and photo files into one place and serve them up wherever you go. You can access that content using the Plex app, which is available for mobile, smart TVs, set top boxes, streaming devices and game consoles, and it’s easy to share with friends, too. To help one lucky Engadget reader enjoy the full Plex experience this week, the company has provided an Xbox One and a Chromecast, along with a Lifetime Plex Pass for total access and premium features. There’s also a $100 Amazon music gift card in the prize bundle to celebrate the recent update of Plex Music. Gracenote and Vevo are onboard to help build automatic playlists, provide mood-based soundtracks, match your collection with over 140,000 music videos and deliver extra helpings of metadata. Just head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to two chances at winning this powerful multi-media package.
- Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
- Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
- Winners will be chosen randomly. One (1) winner will receive one (1) Xbox One, one (1) Google Chromecast, one (1) Lifetime Plex Pass and one (1) Amazon music gift card for $100.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
- This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Engadget and AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
- The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
- Entries can be submitted until May 13th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile, Alt, Microsoft
Discovery is filming virtual reality ‘Mythbusters’ and other shows
The Mythbusters team is already shooting in virtual reality for the next season, Discovery told AdWeek. We’re not exactly sure what that means at the moment — they could be filming Jamie and Adam in VR format using stereoscopic cameras, but the company might also be talking about downloadable tie-in content. Either way, we’re sure we’re not the only ones excited at the prospect of going “inside the show,” seeing explosions and mythbusting in an immersive virtual environment. It’s not just Mythbusters that’s getting the VR treatment, though: the company’s online arm has launched a whole new division called Discovery Virtual. It’s now working on several other VR programs in addition to Mythbusters, but you’d likely have to have access to an Oculus Rift or another similar headset to be able to enjoy any of them.
[Image credit: Discovery]
Filed under: Science
Via: Road to VR
Source: AdWeek
MIT can fix pictures taken through your window… kinda
Take a picture through a window and you’ll often find you’ve captured more of your own reflection than the scene outside. You can solve the problem with a black cloth and a polarizing filter, but that’s not ideal for the majority of smartphone snappers out there. That’s why researchers at MIT are about to present a new software-based solution that, they believe, can “fix” the problem, but only if the window that you’re shooting through is double-glazed.
As YiChang Shih explains, windows with two separate panes of glass produce two reflections, one on the inside and one on the outside. After trying to work out a way of successfully separating the pair, the researcher found a useful image algorithm from a team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. When this was combined with Shih’s own work, he was able to run through Flickr, correcting several photos at will. Details about how the algorithm works are, naturally, being kept quite scarce, but Shih will open up on the project at the Computer Vision conference in June.
Filed under: Cameras, Software
Via: Gizmodo
Source: MIT News
Virgin TiVo boxes can now access media stored in the cloud
Virgin Media customers might be at least vaguely familiar with “Cloud,” the company’s thoughtfully named cloud storage service. Anyone on Branson’s books gets 5GB free, with up to nine other members of the household getting the same amount of space to upload files and back-up mobile devices to. It’s just one of those handy customer perks, with paid tiers for those who want more storage. Today, however, it becomes that much more useful with the launch of the Cloud app for Virgin Media TiVo boxes. Using the set-top box app, you can access all the pictures, videos and music you have stored in the ether on your living room TV, with just a few clicks of the remote. Might be time to take them up on that 5GB of free space, eh?
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage, Internet, HD
Source: Virgin Media
Rockioo is a new watch phone powered by Android
The smartwatch industry has slowly been picking up steam over the years with devices like the Pebble truly kickstarting the wearable revolution, and more recent platforms like the Gear family and Android Wear helping push things further along. With the arrival of the Apple Watch, things continue to heat up. While the smartwatch space was once a great place for startups, we are seeing a number of big companies throw their weight into this growing industry. Of course, that’s not stopping Rockioo from attempting to woo would-be customers on Kickstarter.
Devices like the Apple Watch, Gear, and Android Wear are built to augment our smartphone experience, not to replace it. The Rockioo takes a different approach, offering a full cellular connection and the ability to place calls without needing to be tethered to a phone or any other device. The phone watch is powered by
The phone watch is powered by Rockioo OS, which is a modified version of Android KitKat. Other specs for the Rockioo include a 1.63-inch display with a 320×320 resolution, a Mediatek 6572 32-bit processor, 512MB or 1GB RAM with your storage configuration choice of 4 or 16GB, a microSIM slot, a 500 mAh battery, and typical sensors like a barometer, 6-axis accelerometer, and a magnetometer. The phone watch is also water resistant up to 50 meters.
This is far from the first attempt at building such an all-in-one device, though the results of these attempts have been mixed at best (we’re talking about you, Omate Truesmart). Does the Rockioo have what it takes to stand out from the crowd? While the judgment on that is still out, it seems that at 154 backers (at the time of this writing) believe in the project, with the Rockioo currently achieving $59,084 of $200,000 goal with 25 days remaining.
For those interested in getting your hands on the Rockioo, there are a number of options. First, you can pledge just a dollar for the opportunity to enter a drawing, where you could be chosen as 1 of 100 lucky backers to receive a free Rockioo Watch (512MB/4GB) one month ahead of its full release, with the agreement you’d be a tester and would be responsible for providing feedback via email. If you don’t mind pledging more, a pledge of $129 will secure you a Rockioo with 512MB RAM and 4GB storage as an early bird special or $199 will net you a Rockioo with 1GB RAM and 16GB storage — though only a limited number of slots exist for both of these options.
For more details on the Rockioo project, be sure to check out their Kickstarter page.
Deal: Save 92% on the ‘Train Simple’ Adobe Photoshop Bundle
Adobe Photoshop is one of the most powerful editing tools available today, giving you full control over your photography. The program is very advanced, though, and usually requires some additional training to help users learn all there is to know. If you’d like to learn Photoshop, we’d suggest trying out the ‘Train Simple’ Adobe Photoshop Bundle – currently 92% off in the AA Deals Store.
Eight full courses are included in this bundle, ranging from Photoshop fundamentals to portrait retouching courses. Take a look below to see what each course has to offer:
- Photoshop CC Fundamentals Course – Learn to Create Superior Images & Artwork ($99 value)
- Photoshop CC Selections Course – Take the First Step to Becoming a Photoshop Pro ($89 value)
- Photoshop CC Camera Raw Course – Every Photographer’s Must-Have Photoshop Plug-In ($99 value)
- Photoshop PSD to HTML Course – Seamlessly Go from Photoshop to Web-Ready Content ($99 value)
- Photoshop CC Color Management Course – Create Visual Consistency with a Predictable Color System ($79 value)
- Photoshop CC for the Web Course – Essential Skills for Web Designers, Professionals, Bloggers & More ($79 value)
- Photoshop CC Portrait Retouching Course – Make Your Models Look Picture Perfect ($79 value)
- Photoshop CC Working with Type Course – Utilize Photoshop’s Robust Typographic Control ($79 value)
The Android Authority Deals Store is currently offering this bundle for just $55. Valued at over $700 in all, this is quite the steal. Be sure to head to the link below if you’re interested.
Analyst dismisses existence of a deca-core Snapdragon 818 processor
The report published yesterday claiming that Qualcomm would release a deca-core processor as the Snapdragon 818 has been dismissed by one industry analysis. Pan Juitang, who has made accurate claims and predictions regarding chipsets, took to Weibo to let everyone know that the report’s content is simply a rumor and the exact specifications are false.
Juitang does not provide his own take on what the possible Snapdragon 818 will present. All we know is that Qualcomm faces stiff competition from the likes of MediaTek and Intel.
Source: Weibo
Via: G for Games
Come comment on this article: Analyst dismisses existence of a deca-core Snapdragon 818 processor
Wireless carrier iD by Carphone Warehouse launching today
UK carrier Carphone Warehouse is officially launching its new network known as iD starting today. The company will have a total of four tiers of plans, named Shockproof, TakeAway, Go To and SIM Only.
The carrier is heavily endorsing a plan for £20 which comes with 5,000 texts, 2,000 voice minutes and infinite data for a month. This sounds like a steal given the pricing tiers offered by UK carriers as of now.
Shockproof starts from £7.50 per month and is named aptly to avoid shocks in your monthly bills. The carrier will restrict data automatically so that you don’t end up spending a lot at the end of the month. You can add more data to your account if you so please.
TakeAway is designed for the travelers as it offers free roaming in over 22 countries. The pricing of this plan starts from £25.50.
The Go To plans lets you get data in contract form with payments starting from £13.50 per month if you opt for a year or £11.50 if you’re looking to sign a two-year contract.
For basic users, SIM Only plans will come across as attractive. You can pick from £5 or £7.50 per month depending on your usage. You can find more details from the carrier’s official page below.
Come comment on this article: Wireless carrier iD by Carphone Warehouse launching today
Leaked user agent profiles reveal display resolutions for the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0/9.7, Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7
If a set of leaked user agent profiles are anything to go by, it looks like Samsung is preparing to launch four new Android-powered devices sometime soon — the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0/9.7, Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7.
Unfortunately, these profiles don’t reveal anything about the products, other than their screen resolutions. the Galaxy Tab S2 will feature a display with a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels, while both the Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 will come with HD displays on board.
Recent speculation suggests that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Tab S2 in June, with the market launch following a month later. However, there’s no word on when the Galaxy J5 and J7 will arrive, but we’re guessing it will be before the end of Q2.
Source: Samsung
Come comment on this article: Leaked user agent profiles reveal display resolutions for the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0/9.7, Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7
MediaTek debuts ten-core mobile processor
The Helio X20 will be in flagship devices by the end of 2015
MediaTek on Tuesday unwrapped its hot new mobile processor, the deca-core packing Helio X20. Designed for high-end smartphones, the CPU boasts two ARM Cortex A72 cores at 2.5GHz, four Cortex A53 cores of 2.0GHz, and four Cortex cores of 1.4GHz.
Marketed as the “world’s first Tri-Cluster SoC”, the A72 cores will handle the most demanding loads while the middle and lower banks should do the other lifting.
According to MediaTek, the Helio X20 is more efficient than dual-cluster configurations and does not run as hot, either. The MediaTek Helio X20 will be sampling in Q3 with flagship smartphones launching with the CPU design by the end of the year.
Check the full press release below.
Press Release
MediaTek Launches the MediaTek Helio™ X20: The World’s First Mobile SoC Featuring Tri-Cluster™ CPU Architecture
Innovative three cluster architecture sets new performance and power efficiency benchmarks with up to a 30% reduction in power consumption for the next generation of mobile devices
TAIWAN, Hsinchu – May 12, 2015 – MediaTek today announces the launch of the MediaTek Helio™ X20 – the world’s first mobile processor with Tri-Cluster™ CPU architecture and ten processing cores (Deca-core). The Helio X20 continues MediaTek’s mission of delivering industry-leading computing performance coupled with unmatched power efficiency. With the integration of MediaTek’s WorldMode Category 6 LTE modem with carrier aggregation and upgraded CorePilot® 3.0 advanced scheduling algorithm, the Helio X20 is set to revolutionize the mobile processor industry and address the global demand for flagship mobile devices. The Helio X20 is expected to be available in consumer products by end of this year.
Today’s mobile devices are being asked to perform a wider range of tasks than ever before. Gaming requires sustained high-performance, advanced imaging and video recording need bursts of peak processor power, which are heavy load tasks. These are coupled with lighter load tasks, such as Internet browsing and audio. Battery life is also of paramount importance to all types of users. Yet existing mobile processing architectures don’t efficiently meet the wide spectrum of use case scenarios. Currently, most high-end smartphones use dual cluster architectures, which limit the extent of the lowest power at one end and the computing granularity across the different configurations.
MediaTek’s Tri-Cluster CPU architecture in the Helio X20 provides three processor clusters, each designed to more efficiently handle different types of workloads. The Tri-Cluster CPU consistsof one cluster of two ARM Cortex-A72 cores (running at 2.5GHz for extreme performance) and two clusters of four ARM Cortex-A53 cores (one running at 2.0GHz for medium loads and one running at 1.4GHz for light activities). Much like adding gears to vehicles, dividing the cores into three clusters provides a more efficient allocation of tasks for optimum performance and extended battery life.
The Tri-Cluster CPU architecture is enabled by MediaTek’s new CorePilot 3.0 heterogeneous computing scheduling algorithm. CorePilot 3.0 schedules the tasks for all CPUs and GPUs on the SoC while managing power and thermal effects so that extreme performance can be attained while creating less heat. It provides up to a 30% reduction of power consumption compared with conventional dual cluster architectures.
“By leading with mobile CPU architecture and multimedia innovation, MediaTek continues to push the envelope of power efficiency and peak performance,” said Jeffrey Ju, Senior Vice President of MediaTek. “We are excited to see device manufacturers raise the bar – in camera, display, audio and other consumer features. MediaTek has been adding innovative multimedia features to our platforms since the very beginning, enhancing the overall computing and multimedia experience as part of our strategy to put leading technology into the hands of everyone.”
MediaTek’s Helio X20 boasts several unrivaled features designed to maximize device display performance and enhance the multimedia experience for the consumer. Advanced features include:
- Dual main cameras with a built-in 3D depth engine that allows for a faster shot-to-shot experience in creating complex depth-of-field images.
- Multi-scale de-noise engines to deliver high quality images with unprecedented detail, color accuracy, and sharpness even under extreme conditions.
- A 120Hz mobile display that breaks the barriers of the current 60Hz refresh rate to provide crisp and responsive browsing and uncompromised motion viewing.
- An integrated, low power sensor processor – ARM Cortex-M4 – to support diverse always-on applications such as MP3 playback and voice activation. The sensor hub operates on an isolated, low power domain to assist with tasks for better battery efficiency.
MediaTek Helio X20 will sample in Q3 2015 and is expected to be available in consumer products by end of this year. For more details about the Helio X20, please visit:
The post MediaTek debuts ten-core mobile processor appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 