VUZE announces 3D 360-degree VR camera for $799

Recently 360-degree cameras have become more popular, and the latest company to announce one is VUZE. It will offer a 3D 360-degree VR camera for $799, which is pricier than the LG 360 CAM and Samsung’s 360 camera, but still cheaper than professional-grade hardware. With the increased price you will get higher quality images and video from the camera, as it has 8 HD cameras for creating content, where most other units have anywhere from 2 to 4.

Filming isn’t the only easy part here, but stitching and editing can be done with the touch of just a single button, and it offers near real-time processing so you don’t spend tons of time post-production. The software will automatically optimize the output for use on VR platforms, headsets and other devices.

Pre-orders have already begun for this camera at $799. If you place your order now, you’ll also receive a tri-pod and a VR headset with it, a $120 value for no additional cost.

See at VUZE

Press release:

VUZE THE WORLD’S FIRST AFFORDABLE CONSUMER 3D 3600 VR CAMERA BEGINS ORDERS AT A PRICE OF JUST $799

Point-and-shoot camera, one button stitching technology and near real-time processing brings immersive content creation to the masses
DENVER, CO May 12, 2016 – HumanEyes Technologies, a leader in photographic 3D, computer vision and lenticular graphic arts, has announced new technical capabilities and started taking orders of VUZE, the groundbreaking 3D 360° VR camera and software studio that captures and renders 3D and 2D VR content in near real-time and with a super easy interface and a click of one button. Priced at an astonishing $799, VUZE is less than 3% of the cost of the Facebook Surround 360 ($30,000) and less than 2% of the cost of the NOKIA OZO ($60,000), bringing immersive content creation to the masses.

Available at http://www.vuze.camera for $799, the pre-order bundle includes the VUZE Camera and software studio, VR headset, purposely engineered ‘selfie stick’ and tripod, stylish carrying case and a newly designed handle for alternative ways to hold the device. Pre-orders begin May 12, 2016 with shipping in the fall of 2016. While people need to register a pre-order to secure this price and guarantee their place among the first to receive VUZE, no payments will be taken until shipping.

Changing the VR landscape

The VUZE Camera combines advanced 3D and 2D capture technology using 8 Full HD cameras within an easy-to-use ‘point and shoot’ form-factor generating 4K resolution 360 video. The VUZE Studio brings groundbreaking advances in 360 3D content creation with state-of-the-art stitching thanks to a proprietary technique called Adaptive Blending that mimics the way the human eye interacts with the brain to form pictures in the mind. VUZE content can be viewed and enjoyed on any VR platform, headset or 3D device or TV.

“We are excited to be taking orders of VUZE and believe it will help fuel the creation of immersive content, something all VR platforms are trying to encourage,” said Shahar Bin-Nun, CEO HumanEyes Technologies. “Current VR cameras either require advanced editing skills or in the case of other 3D solutions, demand Hollywood type budgets. With VUZE, we are democratizing VR content creation and putting it in reach of everyday consumers.”

VUZE is a game changer in the following was:

• Price: A cost within reach of consumers as well as professional movie makers and videographers
• Ease of use: Stitching and editing can be done at a touch of one button and with near real time processing (1 minute of processing for one minute of footage) eliminating the need for lengthy post production. It automatically optimizes output for a variety of VR platforms, headsets and devices
• Quality: On current playback platforms, VUZE offers the same level of 3D 360 quality as you would experience with NOKIA, Facebook or Google products at a fraction of the cost. With 8 full HD cameras for 2D content, it has superior quality to existing cameras, which typically use 2 to 4 cameras
• Size: The highly portable, lightweight design brings VR content creation to the realms of point and shoot photography and even fits in most trouser pockets. No rigs or bulky equipment are required.

VUZE CAMERA – Making 3D VR content easy as point-and-click

VUZE is built on its own technology architecture and can be controlled by a dedicated iOS and Android app. Eight full HD cameras simultaneously capture images, videos and sound to facilitate full stereophonic and 3600 3D spherical content.

Each camera uses lenses that capture 1200 horizontal FOV and 1800 vertical FOV that together generate 4K 360 VR content. Since the VUZE camera can easily generate 3D and 2D content, it is like having two cameras in one. Its 8 FHD cameras deliver one of the highest quality 2D content experiences on the market and greatly reduce the effects of flare and peripheral distortion associated with ultra-wide fisheye lenses.

The camera’s battery and removable SD card allows for up to one hour of video capture and internal processing and compression capabilities produce H.264 HD video files for editing. Featuring a stylish, ergonomic design, the VUZE camera is available in red, yellow, black and blue.

VUZE STUDIO – Post-production at a push-of-a-button

The VUZE Studio uses a powerful algorithm that automatically carries out a host of complex editing and stitching functions such as camera calibration, vignette, fisheye and perspective correction, white balance and exposure correction as well as stereo alignment for consistent parallax. This is done in moments and at a touch of a button.

Whether an expert or complete editing novice, the VUZE studio makes it easy to quickly create and share hi-res VR videos. Available on both PC and MAC, it boasts near real-time processing and almost seamless stitching thanks to a proprietary technique called Adaptive Blending.

Conventional stitching techniques merge images together at regular linear points which can result in images appearing slightly disjointed when they intersect detailed or complicated objects. Adaptive Blending solves this by identifying objects the human eye is drawn to such as straightedges, light contrasts and faces, then blends around them to create a seamless stitched image.

It does this within each frame mimicking the way our eyes work with our brains. Just as the brain fills in information delivered by the eyes, VUZE Studio combines captured images with intelligence to form a perfect picture.

Full technical specs of the VUZE camera and software studio can be seen here. Examples of content created by VUZE can be seen here. If you watch online, you will see the 2D quality but a VR headset is required to experience VUZE in its true 3D glory.

How to cancel Sprint

Getting a better deal elsewhere? Yes, you can cancel your Sprint service.

You saw a deal from another provider that you’d like to take advantage of, but you have months left on your contract with Sprint. Can you cancel your contract early? Will you have to pay any fees?

The answer is yes, you can cancel your contract early, but there are indeed some fees associated with that. Let’s take a look at the cancellation process and all that it entails:

• Do I cancel my account over the phone or online?
• What kind of fees will I have to pay when I cancel my service?
• Is there any way I can avoid paying these fees?
• What is the easiest way to get out of a contract?

Do I cancel my account over the phone or online?

You can only cancel your contract over the phone or in person. This is because cellular service agreements are contracts and they need to verify your identity before changing anything in your contract, including canceling it. If you decide to cancel your service with Sprint, call 1-888-211-4727.

What kind of fees will I have to pay when I cancel my service?

You’re likely going to be looking at a few different fees if you decide to leave Sprint.

Billing charges

Depending on where you are in your billing cycle, you’ll have to pay the remaining balance for the month due at the time you cancel your service.

Early termination Fees

In your user agreement/contract, you agreed to pay an early termination fee (ETF) if you cancel your phone service before the end of your contract. Sprint has two types of ETFs: one for smartphones and other connected devices and another for non-smart devices, such as flip phones.

The ETF for smartphones and other connected devices is up to $350 per line and up to $200 per line for non-smart devices. The total amount of your ETF is prorated, based on the number of months you have left on your contract. Obviously, the earlier you terminate, the larger your ETF will be.

Here’s how you can calculate the approximate amount of ETF you will have to pay:

• $20 x Y Months left on your contract for smartphones and other connected devices, up to a maximum of $350 and a minimum of $100 per line.
• $10 x Y Months left on your contract for non-smart devices, up to a maximum of $200 and a minimum of $50 per line.

There are a few of instances where you won’t be charged an ETF. One is if you paid for your device in full when you entered into the contract, or, your device was already paid-in-full when you brought it over to Sprint. The other is if you are on Sprint’s installment plan. In that case, you’ll still need to pay off the remaining balance due on your device at the time of cancellation.

Is there any way I can avoid paying these fees?

There are no guarantees, but here are a couple of things you can try to get out of paying these charges:

Poor service

Tell them their service sucks, but don’t be so blunt about it. Explain that you aren’t getting what you’re paying for. For instance, you can tell them that the reception in your area is lousy.

New provider pays your fees

You can also try to get your new provider to pick up your early termination fees. Some carriers are happy to do this to bring you on board as competition for cellular service providers is fierce right now. You might just have to trade in your phone and buy a new one on their network.

What is the easiest way to get out of a contract?

If you don’t want to sit on the phone and listen to Sprint’s retention spiel, just explain that you want to cancel your service because you’re moving to another country.

The bottom line

You can cancel your Sprint service at any time, but if you cancel it before your contract is done, you’ll have to pay early termination fees on top of the balance remaining on your cell phone bill.

You can try to get out of paying these fees by telling them you didn’t get what you paid for or getting your new provider to pay them on your behalf, but you’re ultimately responsible for paying them.

NVIDIA Shield Tablet updated to Android 6.0.1 with Vulkan graphics API support

The original NVIDIA Shield Tablet has a new update that includes both Android 6.0.1 and Vulkan graphics API support.

The update is the exact same one that was released a few weeks ago for the newer NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1. Here’s a reminder of what’s included in this over-the-air update.

• Supports the new Vulkan™ API for high-efficiency access to SHIELD’s graphics hardware
• Adds Android 6.0.1 changes including:
  • Repositioned Navigation Buttons in Landscape mode & Updated Emoji
  • Double Tap Power Button to launch SHIELD Camera app
  • Do Not Disturb Until Next Alarm
• Support for Android Doze mode & additional power optimizations
• Adds USB MIDI support
• Adds memory compression enhancement
• Improved Wi-Fi connectivity when waking from sleep
• Fixed Compass functionality
• Fixed Gamepad Mapper issues
• Fixed issues with moving apps to SD card
• Fixed Doom 3 HDMI output issue
• Repositioned Lasso Capture icons in landscape mode
• Update to Android 6.0 Security Patch Level March 1, 2016
• Overall stability and security enhancements

As usual, the over-the-air update has just started rolling out so it make take a few days for your tablet to get the upgrade.

Evernote makes it easy to add your Google Drive files to notes

Popular note-taking, and all-around productivity app Evernote has received a bit of a boost today with tighter Google Drive integration. Instead of simply linking to the files, the new integration allows users to easily drag and drop linked thumbnails for images and documents into their notes.

To make the whole process easier, you can also now search your Google Drive files from within Evernote. And, of course, any changes you make to the files in your Google Drive will also be reflected in your Evernote notes.

The feature is rolling out to users on the web and on Android starting now, so you should get a chance to start using it fairly soon.

Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 review: The B-team tablet

Huawei’s latest Android slate is a decent piece of hardware that doesn’t know what it wants to be, let down by half-assed software.

The quick take

The Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 is a product of the old, weird Huawei, not the promising top-tier manufacturer responsible for great phones like the P9. As a media playback slate it works well enough, partly thanks to the harman/kardon-certified speakers. But overall performance is average at best, and EMUI features bugs unfixed from the company’s 2015 phones. And to top it all off, it commits the cardinal sin of shipping on Lollipop in mid-2016. Like most Huawei products, the hardware is solid, and the bundled accessories are a welcome touch. But the overall package is mediocre, and that’s mostly the software’s fault.

The Good

• Quick, accurate fingerprint scanner
• Decent audio capabilities
• Camera not terrible
• Good battery life for video streaming

The Bad

• Mediocre performance
• Low resolution display
• Notification glitches with some Google apps
• Shipping on Android 5.1

Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 Full Review

The Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 is a tablet with a 10.1-inch screen. It says so right on the box. Yet it’s the Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0. Not the Huawei MediaPad M2 10.1. In fact, I’ve had to correct myself twice writing those last two sentences. It’s a bit of a mess.

That was the first little bit of logical dissonance that confronted me in this product. The second was the setup process, during which the tablet referred to itself as a “phone.” We weren’t off to a good start.

This is a tablet that doesn’t really know what it wants to be. A 10.0 10.1-inch slate with optional pen input, a bundled case and software scaled up from Huawei’s smartphones. It’s running an old version of Android and an older version of the EMUI interface, with software bugs first spotted more than a year ago on the Huawei P8, still unfixed.

Are you ready for another Huawei review where the hardware’s nice but the software’s kind of a dumpster fire?

Read on.

About this review

We’re publishing this review after 2 weeks with the Huawei MediaPad M2 10.1 (Premium Edition, model M2-A01W) in white and silver. Our review unit was the “Premium Edition,” with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage built in, bundled with a free flip case and “M Pen” stylus. (There’s also a standard edition with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, and no bundled accessories.)

Our device updated at first boot to software version M2-A01WV100R001C100B005, based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, with the January 2016 Android security patch.

Metal and plastic

Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 Hardware

If we had to describe design the Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 in a word, it’d be “generic.” It doesn’t particularly stand out in the sea of mid-level Android tablets. If anything, its front-mounted fingerprint scanner brings echoes of a pair of ancient Samsung tabs.

But its metal-backed frame is sturdy and well-built, borrowing one or two design cues from the Chinese company’s Android phones. A metallic-effect plastic trim surrounds the 10.1-inch screen, with has a white bezel in the version we’re using. And around the back it’s mostly just metal, except for the camera bump and plastic section up top for antenna visibility.

Well-built but entirely generic.

Weighing in at 500 grams, the MediaPad M2 is reasonably hefty, but still easy enough to hold with one hand. If you were expecting something as unnaturally light as an iPad Air or Galaxy Tab S2, however, you’ll be disappointed.

The outer trim houses a predictable array of ports and buttons — power and volume on the right edge, micro-USB and micro-SD (behind a SIM tray-like enclosure) on the left. And on the top and bottom you’ll find four harman/kardon certified speakers.

The speakers are a big selling point for the M2, and they’re pretty good — up to a point. At half volume they’re impressive, putting most tablets (especially in the mid-range) to shame. But distortion creeps in beyond around 75% volume, where the lack of decent bass reproduction becomes apparent. They’re above average speakers for a tablet, don’t get us wrong. But equally don’t expect them to replace a quality Bluetooth setup.

The display too is a mixed bag. It’s a 1920×1200-resolution panel, which at 10.1 inches gives a disappointing 224 pixels per inch. Aside from its resolution deficiency, it’s actually not a bad panel, with reasonable daylight visibility and vibrant colors that don’t appear over-saturated.

The decision to stick to 1080p (or thereabouts) likely has to do with the MediaPad M2’s processor. It’s running Huawei’s Kirin 930 CPU, a relatively old chip first seen in the Huawei P8 last year, paired with 3GB of RAM in the “Premium Edition” M2 we tested.

Kirin 930 is basically pushed to its limits on a Full HD display.

General tablet performance isn’t exactly slow, but we’re definitely seeing some slowdown in relatively mundane tasks, such as app switching, scrolling in Chrome, and firing up apps that aren’t already in memory. Nevertheless, the built-in 64GB of internal storage (again, Premium Edition only — the standard edition has 16GB) coupled with micro-SD expandability, means you shouldn’t run out of storage space anytime soon.

And the M2 also benefits from Huawei’s excellent fingerprint scanner, front-mounted in this case, which reliably unlocks the tablet about as quickly as any Android phone. EMUI also brings some additional software tricks to the sensor, allowing you to swipe left to go back, or right to open the recent apps menu. It’s a nice touch, if not entirely necessary. (After all, the on-screen keys are often right above the fingerprint sensor.)

This tablet’s accessories are its most interesting hardware feature.

The tablet’s most interesting hardware features are its accessories. The version we’re reviewing comes with a leather Huawei flip case, which the M2 easily clips into. In addition to protecting it from knocks and scrapes, a magnetic sensor can power on the slate when it’s opened, and a groove in the middle of the case allows you to stand it upright. It’s not as elegant as Apple’s (highly patented) magic covers, but it does the job.

More impressive is the optional “M Pen” stylus bundled with our unit. It’s powered by a single AAAA battery, which hasn’t needed replacing during our two weeks with the MediaPad, and offers Galaxy Note 5-like levels of pressure sensitivity (2,048 levels) when used with compatible apps. The only problem is there aren’t a whole lot of apps to use it with. The preloaded Bamboo Paper app offers an enjoyable writing and drawing experience, with palm detection that’s generally accurate.

And you can also press one of the pen’s two function buttons to launch a shortcut menu, similar to Samsung’s Air Control window on the Galaxy Note. The only problem is these are hard-coded to display shortcuts to Huawei’s apps for Email and note-taking.

While the stylus doesn’t dock into the tablet anywhere, it’s easy to clip it to the side of the flip case when not in use.

Bitter Lollipops

Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 Software

We’ve had a love/hate relationship with EMUI over the past year. Some Huawei phones, like the P8 and Mate 8, launched with versions of the company’s software interface that were literally broken. Others, like the excellent P9, offered a more functional, far more enjoyable experience.

The MediaPad M2 10.0, unfortunately, is lumbered with the old and somewhat busted EMUI.

Lollipop on a new tablet in mid-2016 is bad for a wide range of reasons.

It’s version 3.1 of Huawei’s software, atop Android 5.1 Lollipop, with the January 2016 Android security patch. Aside from the fact that being four months out of date on security patches is worrisome, there’s basically no excuse for shipping a new product on Lollipop in mid-2016. The first Marshmallow code drop happened in October 2015, and Huawei has been shipping Android 6.0 on phones since December of that year.

The lack of Marshmallow on a media-centric tablet like this is particularly disappointing. M2 owners will miss out on Android 6.0’s “doze” feature, which can dramatically improve battery life when devices are idle — as a “coffee table” tablet like this might well be for hours or even days at a time.

EMUI doesn’t quite feel at home on such a large display.

As for Huawei’s software, it looks and works much the same as on the company’s phones. (In fact, as previously noted, the slate incorrectly refers to itself as a “phone” during initial setup.) That means you’ve got an iOS-like home screen with no app drawer, and icons that get customized according to the theme you’re using. (And there’s no end of options available through the Huawei Themes app.)

As you might expect from EMUI, there’s an almost endless rabbit hole of settings to explore, including options for tweaking the on-screen buttons, or sliding them to one side for easier use with your thumb. There’s also a useful dual-window multiasking feature, though precious few apps are actually supported — mainly just Huawei’s own apps and a handful of Google apps.

The iOS influence extends to notification shade, where alerts are shown based on arrival time. And Huawei has its own system for deciding which notifications gets to appear on the lock screen, which is as confusing as it is frustrating and unnecessary.

The tablet version of EMUI scales reasonably well to the larger display, with dual-panel lists in the Settings and a home screen view that re-arranges itself as well as can be expected in landscape mode. But there’s a lot about EMUI 3.1 that just doesn’t seem like it was designed around a 10.1-inch screen. In the Calendar and Tablet Manager apps, for instance, there’s a lot of awkward dead space. And in the Contacts app, entries are displayed in one very wide list when in landscape. It’s pretty clear most of this stuff was ported over from a smartphone UI.

Year-old bugs continue to plague EMUI 3.1. And that’s not okay.

Elsewhere, nagging EMUI bugs persist. In gmail, for instance, it’s almost impossible to see details of individual messages, because they’re displayed in black on a black background. (See the image on the right.) And many Google apps are excluded from the lock screen notifications, because they’re not listed in Huawei’s notification manager. And we still have to take issue with icons being hard-coded into EMUI’s themes, so you’re presented with ancient icons for many bundled Google apps, like Gmail. (Again, see the image on the right. That’s the pre-Material Design Gmail icon. In 2016.)

These are issues affecting bundled apps from the operating system provider that we’ve been seeing for over a year now on Huawei devices. It’s staggering that Huawei is still shipping software that is borderline broken in this way. (And given that it’s fixed these bugs in some EMUI 3.1 devices, like the Honor 5X, why is it still shipping new products affected by year-old glitches?)

“Paint the back of the fence” is a mantra often attributed to Steve Jobs’ father, enapsulating the idea of taking pride in the minor, often unseen details of your work. I mention it here because it’s the antithesis of what we’ve witnessed in EMUI on the MediaPad M2, where we’re confronted by lack of attention to detail at every turn.

To take that metaphor a bit further, Huawei might start by painting the front of the fence.

You’ll still look like an idiot

Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 Camera

Tablet cameras are often an afterthought, especially on larger models. And yes, you’ll still look like an imbecile taking a photo with a 10.1-inch tablet.

A surprisingly decent camera for a mid-range tablet.

But when it comes to actually taking pictures, the MediaPad M2 actually isn’t bad at all. It’s got a rear-facing 13-megapixel shooter that’s surprisingly capable in daylight, and even moderately lit indoor conditions. Fine detail is a little mushy, and low-light performance is patchy at best, but it’s absolutely usable a snap. What’s more, the handy quick-launch shortcut on the lock screen means you’ll be able to launch into the camera app faster than you can track down a stray smartphone to take your shot.

There’s also a 5-megapixel camera for selfie duties and video calls, which is fairly basic, but does benefit from all the beauty options present in Huawei’s “Perfect Selfie” mode, if you’re into that sort of thing.

The MediaPad’s camera app is another holdover from the company’s Android phones, with a handful of options making their way across from Huawei’s high-end shooters. These include manual shooting options (for ISO, white balance, exposure and so on) hidden away in the Settings menu, and more standard features like HDR, Panorama and “Best photo” modes in a top-level menu.

It’s about as much as you could hope for from a tablet camera at this price point.

But yes, people are still going to judge you for taking pictures with a 10.1-inch piece of metal and glass.

All juice, no doze

Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 Battery Life

Huawei quotes battery life of 10 hours in video playback from the MediaPad M2’s fixed 6,600mAh battery, and that matches our experiences using the tablet for playback from Netflix and YouTube in our time with the device.

Battery life is decent, but you’ll miss out on Marshmallow’s power-saving features.

Similarly, web browsing through Chrome depleted the battery at a similar rate, about matching the quoted 9.5 hours of Wi-Fi browsing per charge. Naturally, you can expect to take an additional hit there should you opt for the LTE-equipped model.

Because of the sheer size of the battery, it’s that screen, not the relatively power-efficient processor, that’s going to be your main battery drain. Hence we’ve found battery life heavily tied to screen-on time in most use cases.

Again, we have to note that it’s disappointing to see this tablet shipping without Android 6.0 Marshmallow as that large battery could surely extend its standby time considerably with the benefit of the new “doze” capability.

The Bottom Line

Should you buy the Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0? No

Software bugs aside, the Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 just doesn’t feel like a complete thought, and it beaten by others in this category when it comes to performance, weight and display quality. Considering the hefty price of £329.99 for the Premium Edition, we’d go for the larger of Samsung’s Tab S2 devices instead.

The cheaper standard edition, at £249.99, may be a more tempting proposition. But you’ll miss out on the bundled accessories, as well as coming away with a lower-specced tablet. And again, the Samsung also offers a more complete, less buggy experience at this price point, with the Tab S2 8.0.

What really cripples the MediaPad, however, is the the lack of attention to detail in the software. Once again, we’re left wondering whether anyone at Huawei actually used this device with core Google apps like Gmail before shoving it out the door. That’s before you get to the fact that launching with not just an old version of Android, but an old version of EMUI as well.

Did anyone at Huawei actually use core apps like Gmail on this device before shoving it out the door?

Maybe Huawei will eventually develop a tablet that matches the excellent P9 in design and software quality. That phone shows the company can do great things when it applies itself. By comparison the MediaPad M2 10.0 feels like a product developed by the Huawei B-team.

Western Digital finalizes $16 billion SanDisk acquisition

In an effort that will create a storage giant, Western Digital has officially completed its purchase of SanDisk. The deal was originally announced in late 2015, carrying a total value of about $19 billion. According to a report from The Verge, however, that amount was lowered to $16 billion after Chinese firm Unisplendour backed out on its plans to purchase a 15% stake in Western Digital.

No matter how you slice it, the combined might of Western Digital and SanDisk is quite the proposition. Both are huge names in the storage market, and the merger will allow Western Digital to add SanDisk’s expertise with producing solid state drives and SD storage solutions to its own slate of hard drive offerings.

Press Release

Western Digital Completes Acquisition of SanDisk, Creating A Global leader In Storage Technology

IRVINE, Calif. — May 12, 2016 — Western Digital® Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Western Digital Technologies, Inc. has completed the acquisition of SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK). The addition of SanDisk makes Western Digital Corporation a comprehensive storage solutions provider with global reach, and an extensive product and technology platform that includes deep expertise in both rotating magnetic storage and non-volatile memory (NVM).

The Company also indicated that the debt financing associated with this transaction has been consummated and that the previously obtained funds from this financing have been released from escrow to Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

“Today is a significant day in the history of Western Digital,” said Steve Milligan, chief executive officer of Western Digital. “We are delighted to welcome SanDisk into the Western Digital family. This transformational combination creates a media-agnostic leader in storage technology with a robust portfolio of products and solutions that will address a wide range of applications in almost all of the world’s computing and mobile devices. We are excited to now begin focusing on the many opportunities before us, from leading innovation to bringing the best of what we can offer as a combined company to our customers. In addition, we will begin the work to fully realize the value of this combination through executing on our synergies, generating significant cash flow, as well as rapidly deleveraging our balance sheet, and creating significant long-term value for our shareholders.”

The integration process will begin immediately through the joint efforts of teams from both companies. As previously announced, Steve Milligan will continue to serve as chief executive officer of Western Digital, which will remain headquartered in Irvine, California. Sanjay Mehrotra, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of SanDisk, will serve as a member of the Western Digital Board of Directors, effective immediately.

“As a combined company, we will be best positioned to address the demands for data storage, which is growing exponentially every year,” said Sanjay Mehrotra. “Growth and change go hand in hand, and we couldn’t be happier to grow and change together with Western Digital. I look forward to contributing to realizing the potential of this combination as a member of the board.”

Under the terms of the transaction, each outstanding share of SanDisk common stock was converted into the right to receive $67.50 per share in cash and 0.2387 shares of Western Digital common stock.

SanDisk shareholders looking for information with regard to the payment of the merger consideration should review the Public FAQ available in the Investor Relations section of our website at investor.wdc.com or click here.

About Western Digital

Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC) is an industry-leading provider of storage technologies and solutions that enable people to create, leverage, experience and preserve data. The company addresses ever-changing market needs by providing a full portfolio of compelling, high-quality storage solutions with customer-focused innovation, high efficiency, flexibility and speed. Our products are marketed under the HGST, SanDisk and WD brands to OEMs, distributors, resellers, cloud infrastructure providers and consumers. For more information, please visit http://www.hgst.com, http://www.wd.com, and http://www.sandisk.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Western Digital Corporation’s (“Western Digital”) current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Except as expressly required by law, Western Digital disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from Western Digital’s current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Western Digital’s business. These factors include, among others, the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Western Digital’s products; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Western Digital’s periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Western Digital’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except as expressly required by law, Western Digital disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Bang & Olufsen brings Google Cast support to its Beoplay A6 and A9 speakers

Bang & Olufsen has announced that its internet-connected Beoplay speakers are now compatible with Google Cast. The Beoplay A6 and second-generation A9 speakers are now compatible with the technology, which allows you to send audio from your phone or tablet to these speakers using a number of compatible apps and services.

As Bang & Olufsen notes, current A6 and A9 owners will only need to download a software update to enable Google Cast. The company plans on including Cast technology in its future lineup of network-enabled speakers as well.

You can grab an A6 speaker for $999, while an A9 second-generation speaker will run you $2,699, both directly from Bang & Olufsen.

Project CARS picks up full support for the HTC Vive

Popular racing title Project CARS has seen its latest PC patch go live on Steam, adding support for the HTC Vive. As part of this full support for the Vive, Project CARS also supports SteamVR’s room customization option, which shows you the SteamVR room whenever you’re in a game menu. The game also now includes VR mouse support.

The 11.0 patch for Project CARS contains a number of other virtual reality-related updates:

• HTC Vive support
• Gaze control implemented, providing hands-free interaction with the User Interface
• Mouse pointer control in HMD view implemented
• Photo mode is now fully functional
• Depth of Field effects now work correctly
• The game will now retain controller focus when the player removes the HMD
• Improved rendering system for Crepuscular rays and Sun flares
• Improved rendering of dirt and rain drops on Helmet visor
• Improved the default seat position
• Improved the default HUD position
• Improved default camera settings to prevent the car tilting independently from the player at steep inclines
• Fixed a refresh issue on the UI when returning from a race to the main menu

There are also a number of other bug fixes and performance improvements with this update. In addition to the HTC Vive, Project CARS recently added support for the Oculus Rift.

Is endpoint protection right for you?

Are you taking every necessary measure to secure your corporate network?

With the number of devices on your corporate network ever growing, it’s never been more important to ensure its security. Anti-virus software can certainly help, but if you want total control of your network protection, then endpoint security may be best.

What is endpoint protection?

Endpoints are essentially devices and servers that are remotely connected to your network. They can be laptops, smartphones, tablets, servers in a datacenter, and more. endpoint protection manages the connections (sending email, browsing the internet, etc.) between all of these devices.

Remember in college when all the best websites were blocked on the school’s network? That’s endpoint protection at work.

An endpoint security/protection management system allows a security engineer to manage and control the security of all remote devices on the corporate network from a centralized server application, which receives all of the alerts and security logs from each device.

Each system is essentially a product that offers a wide array of security features that are much more in-depth than any antivirus software.

Why should I use endpoint protection?

Plain and simple, there are features of an endpoint security management system with which the average anti-malware software just can’t compete. Let’s take a deeper look at a few of the most important ones:

Endpoint anti-malware

Endpoint anti-malware is anti-malware on steroids. It provides layered protection against new and unknown threats – also know as zero-day threats – spyware, email inbox attacks, and more. It has a host-based firewall, aids in data loss prevention, provides warnings when accessing potentially harmful sites, and tons more. It’s anti-malware that ate its Wheaties this morning.

IPS/IDS sensors and warning systems

IPS and IDS are almost the same thing, but they can work in unison or alone to help prevent and/or eliminate threats to your network. IPS stands for Intrusion Prevention System and is a policy-based system that is kind of like a firewall.

Firewalls work based on rules; they search through packets of information looking for a rule that says to allow the packet to pass. If they get to the end of the list of rules and haven’t found anything that follows a “pass” rule, then the final rule says to deny access. So, in the absence of a rule that says “allow,” the firewall drops the traffic.

IPSes work the other way around. They operate on a “deny” rule basis that searches the traffic for a reason to deny access. If they get to the end of their list of rules and have found no reason to deny access, then the final rule says to allow it through. This makes an IPS a control tool. You have the ability to set the parameters of your IPS, so you decide what flows in and out of your network.

IDS stand for Intrusion Detection System. This would be considered a visibility tool because it sits outside the network and monitors traffic at multiple points to give you a picture of your overall security. An IDS can show a security engineer potential issues, information leakage caused by spyware, security policy violations, unauthorized clients and servers, and much, much more. Think of it like the mall security guard sitting in the room with a hundred TVs, watching every store and hallway for shoplifters.

Implementing an IPS and/or IDS with your Endpoint protection management system is an ideal way to control and monitor your corporate network, which is my many Endpoint protection systems come with one or both.

Data input/output (I/O) control

Whether or not you’re dealing with sensitive information is beside the point; you want to protect your corporate information. A powerful feature of an Endpoint security management system is the ability to control data input and output.

Input refers to the information received by a network device, like a laptop or a smartphone; output is the information sent from that device. Controlling data I/O allows you to manage what type of peripheral input devices can be added to your network, like external hard drives, thumb drives, and more. It also lets you control output devices, like computer monitors, printers, and so on.

Thus, you’ll have the ability to deny access to external hard drives that may be used to steal information; deny access to printers; control monitor output; even modems and network cards that act as go-betweens for devices. You control what’s downloaded and uploaded.

Application control and user management

You’ll want every computer with access to your network to require authentication and you’ll also want to be able to add and remove users at will, especially if certain applications are accessible outside of your network, like employee email.

This also allows you to deny access to unknown or unwanted applications, so that the devices on your network aren’t acting on their behalf without you realizing it. If you allow an unmanaged application access to the internet, this could open a large door for potential threats.

You can even limit which applications can be installed, so that no one is inadvertently dirtying your network with malware. If employees are bringing personal devices to work, application control will make sure that none of the potentially harmful apps on their devices are causing harm or syphoning data from your network.

How do I choose an endpoint protection management system?

Most endpoint protection management software offers similar features, relying more heavily on some than others. The best way to go about it is to take a look at what security features you value the most. Different endpoint security system providers will prioritize different security features above others, so it’s best to go with the one that matches your needs.

If all employees bring their own laptop to work and use all of their own equipment, then you’ll want a provider that emphasizes application control and user management. If you deal in very sensitive information and a leak could destroy you, you’ll want a provider that prioritizes data input/output above all.

You really can’t wrong with endpoint protection, since you’re far better off having less-than-ideal endpoint protection than basic antivirus software on every device.