Roku overhaul will see five new streaming boxes released, include 4K and HDR
Roku will reportedly enforce its biggest line-up overhaul in many years, replacing all of its current streaming devices with all-new boxes, many of them offering 4K video.
Two leaks have revealed Roku’s plans. Documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission in the US, which certifies wireless technology, suggested that there are three brand new models coming. While two Canadian retail channels revealed more details, including an all-new naming convention.
The channels and FCC filings all use similar model coding to help piece the puzzle together. One gives an indication of some of the features, another the headline differences, while the third adds new names.
Zatz Not Funny
Tech blog Zatz Not Funny reports that the existing Roku 1 will be replaced by two new models, the Roku Express and Roku Express Plus. The exact differences between the two is not known, but it could be that one comes with an improved remote with headphone port or better connectivity.
It could even be that the Roku Express is in Streaming Stick form, while the Plus is the natural successor to the Roku 1.
Zatz Not Funny
A little more is known about the Roku Premiere and Premiere Plus boxes, as both are referred to by number in the FCC filing. Both are said to be 4K, while the latter will also come with HDR video capabilities.
A final Roku Ultra is said to have 4K Ultra HD streaming with HDR too, and it will also have an optical audio output. It will also be the only model with a USB port to play local media. It replaces the Roku 4 in the line-up.
Zatz Not Funny
All of these boxes are expected to launch in the US, but there are no indications yet whether they are also planned for the UK. After all, we don’t even have the Roku 4.
Hopefully, we’ll soon find out as Roku is tipped to get them all launched ahead of the bust holiday season.
Adieu, Chromebook Pixel 2
The best Chromebook that money can buy is slowly disappearing. As VentureBeat notes, the second-generation Chromebook Pixel is now unavailable in the US, with a mere “out of stock” message displayed in the Google Store. Google has said it’s “committed” to the Pixel line, but admits: “We don’t have plans to restock the Pixel 2.” The situation might be different outside the US — here in the UK, the laptop is still in stock — so act fast if you still want to buy one. Otherwise, it’s time to say goodbye.
The Pixel 2 is one of the best pieces of hardware Google has ever produced. The aluminium chassis is beautiful, hiding a spacious keyboard and a high-resolution, touch-friendly display. The impeccable build quality, combined with some decent performance and battery life, make it a sublime canvas for Chrome OS. The problem is the price — at $999 it’s an expensive piece of gear, and hard to justify against a similarly-priced MacBook or Windows laptop. But then, it was never supposed to be a mass market seller. The Pixel, like Google’s Nexus phones, is a showcase for the operating system.
Earlier this year, Google put out a job opening for a Chromebook Pixel Quality Engineer. While it doesn’t guarantee a new model, the position would indicate that Google is still interested in building its own high-end laptops. In the meantime, there’s always the Pixel C, a Surface-style hybrid that’s now considerably more useful thanks to Android 7.0 (Nougat).
Source: VentureBeat
VMware Announces Fusion and Fusion Pro 8.5 With Sierra and Windows 10 Anniversary Support
VMware today announced Fusion 8.5, Fusion Pro 8.5, Workstation Player 12.5 and Workstation Pro 12.5, the latest versions of its visualization software for running Windows on a Mac without using Boot Camp. Fusion and Fusion Pro 8.5 come with macOS Sierra support while both Fusion and Workstation suites come with Windows 10 Anniversary support.
Windows 10 Anniversary is a large upgrade to Microsoft’s operating system, making Cortana smarter, allowing interactions with Android and Windows phones, more desktop apps and games in the Windows Store, a dark theme, Windows Edge extensions, click-to-play Flash and more.
Both Fusion 8.5 and Workstation 12.5 include Windows 10 Anniversary support and Windows 10 server support in addition to various bug fixes and performance improvements. The Fusion suite’s Sierra support includes Siri integration and support for tabbed VM windows.
VMware also announced that it’s giving away 20 Oculus Rift headsets to the general public. Entrants must tweet (using #FusionLove) a short video of themselves telling a story of how Fusion has helped them accomplished something. Meanwhile, registered attendees of VMworld 2016 will receive 18-months of Fusion or Workstation.
Current VMware Fusion 8.0 and Workstation 12.0 users can receive the 8.5 and 12.5 upgrades for free. However, users of pre-8.0 versions of Fusion and Fusion Pro can upgrade for $49 and $119 respectively, while users of pre-12.0 versions of Workstation Player and Workstation Pro can upgrade for $79 and $149 respectively. Upgrade pricing eligibility extends back to users of Fusion 4 and Workstation 7.
Fusion and Fusion Pro 8.5 are priced at $79.99 and $119.99 for new users while Workstation Player and Workstation Pro 12.5 have new-user prices of $149.99 and $249.99 respectively. Both Fusion and Workstation can be purchased at VMWare’s online store.
Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
Tags: Windows 10, Cortana, VMware, Fusion, Fusion Pro, Workstation
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Chinese vendor Meizu is readying a Star Trek-themed handset
Samsung has launched limited edition models of its flagships with Batman and Iron Man branding, and it now looks like Chinese manufacturer Meizu is following suit with its upcoming Star Trek edition of the M3E. Leaked images of the phone reveal the Starfleet insignia on the back of the phone, as well as a custom launcher with backgrounds and icons from the franchise.
As for the phone itself, it looks like the Star Trek edition will offer the same hardware as the standard variant of the M3E, which includes a 5.5-inch Full HD display, MediaTek Helio P10 SoC, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, 13MP camera at the back, 5MP front shooter, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.1, and a 3100mAh battery.
Meizu is slated to unveil the phone in China on September 2. Seeing as how this will be a mid-range offering, it won’t be as astronomically priced as Samsung’s Injustice Edition, but with no mention of global availability, it will be just as hard to track down.
HTC One A9s leaked, slated for official unveil at IFA
HTC is all set to launch a sequel to last year’s mid-range One A9, dubbed the One A9s. Citing a person familiar with the matter, VentureBeat states that the phone will officially launch on September 1 at IFA. A leaked render of the phone showcases design similarities with the One A9, as well as white, black, gold and silver color options.
There are subtle differences in the design of the One A9s, such as the removal of the HTC logo above the home button. The rear camera is no longer centered (making it look even more like an iPhone 6s from the back), and the front camera has moved from the right to the left of the device. As for the hardware on offer, it looks like the One A9s will retain the 13MP camera at the back, with HTC moving from the UltraPixel camera at the front to a standard 5MP shooter.
The One A9 turned out to be a decent phone, albeit with a high price tag. Even though HTC won’t be sticking to the 15-day update schedule for Nougat, the phone will be one of the first outside the Nexus range to receive the update to the latest version of Android.
We’ll know more about the One A9s pricing and availability later this week, but with HTC’s revenues failing to take a turn for the better this year, the Taiwanese company is looking to the mid-range and high-end segments to drive growth. As such, it is likely that the upcoming mid-range phone will cost just as much — if not more — than last year’s $499 retail price for the One A9.
What do you want to see in the One A9s?
Logi ZeroTouch will get your old banger connected, help you keep your eyes on the road
Smartphones are a problem for drivers. The temptation to dip in and check your messages or send replies to your friends can be too much to resist. Looking to save drivers from that temptation is Logitech’s ZeroTouch.
ZeroTouch is designed to transform your car into a connected car, letting you do everything you need to do when driving, and save you from looking down at your phone when you should be keeping your eyes on the road.
There are two sides to the ZeroTouch system. The first is a smartphone app for Android (there’s no iPhone support) and the second part is the mount for your phone. There’s a choice of vent mount or dashboard mount, with your phone connecting to the mount magnetically.
There are magnetic pads provided, to either stick to the back of your phone, or slip inside your phone’s cover.
Setup is incredibly easy, with the smartphone app walking you through the process with visual and audible instructions. That will get you through the basics of setup, help you mount your phone, connect to the base and make sure you’ve enabled the right permissions on your phone.
The apps is activated using a gesture – holding your palm in front of the light sensor on the front of your phone will wake ZeroTouch up, after which you can speak to it.
Through voice you can send messages, place calls, share your location, play your music, navigate and open apps. ZeroTouch will confirm your messages before you send them, as well as read out incoming messages.
In the future email is going to be added to the list, the idea being that your emails could be read to you as you drive to work.
The idea behind ZeroTouch is to keep you informed and connected, but in a way that doesn’t require you to touch your phone. While those with new cars might have fancy smartphone compatibility or Android Auto, Logitech ZeroTouch brings essential features to your car for only £49.99 for the vent mount, £59.99 for the dashboard mount.
Logitech ZeroTouch app is available to download now, the mounts will be available from Carphone Warehouse from early September 2016.
Huge Apple Mac range refresh tipped for October
Apple has been tipped to replace the MacBook Pro for a while, but it is alleged that the majority of the Mac line-up, save for the current MacBook, is soon to be refreshed.
Bloomberg reports that a Mac hardware refresh will include new models for iMac and MacBook Air, to go along with the much-rumoured thinner, more capable MacBook Pro. There will also be a 5K standalone monitor made by LG added to the range, it claims.
The news site’s sources also claim that the launches could come in October. Apple is hosting an event on 7 September, but it is thought that it will predominantly focus on the iPhone 7 models and iOS 10 upgraded features.
There might therefore be a second event a month later to announce the new laptops and desktop models.
- New MacBook Pro (2016): What’s the story so far?
- What to expect at Apple’s September 2016 event: iPhone 7 and more
- Apple announces new MacBook line-up, rose gold version added
- Apple Pencil might one day work with Mac trackpads and more
The new MacBook Air is said to adopt USB Type-C connectivity, much like the current MacBook, while the new iMacs will offer an option for AMD graphics processing.
We’ve heard plenty about the new MacBook Pro before, with talk on its assignable OLED function key panel, thinner build and the new Mac OS, Sierra. We suspect it will be the star of any possible launch event.
Bloomberg also reports that a new iPad Pro is in the pipeline, with a possible 10.5-inch screen over the current 9.7-inch version currently sported, but that won’t be launched until March next year at the earliest.
A software update for iPad Pro is also expected to add new features for the Apple Pencil stylus.
Amazon is cracking down on counterfeit goods
Amazon is cracking down on more than just counterfeit reviews — the e-commerce juggernaut is waging a war against fugazi products, too. In order to sell Adidas, Asics, Hasbro, Nike and Samsung products, Amazon is asking for a $1,000 to $1,500 fee and a surfeit of paperwork according to CNBC. One of the publication’s anonymous sources provided a screenshot of the submission process for Samsung. The requirements? An invoice no more than 90 days old showing the purchase of at least 30 items, with at least five different products across the invoices.
The reaction from sellers has been understandably fraught, with many saying it’s going to cut directly into their bottom line. For its part, Amazon says that the change here is to protect customers and make sure they aren’t burned by a bad purchase.
“We want customers to be able to shop with confidence on Amazon,” a spokesperson said to CNBC. “For certain products and categories, Amazon requires additional performance checks, other qualification requirements, and fees.”
If that means fewer people wind up with knock-off goods, as a customer, it’s hard to complain. Just ask basically anyone who’s shopped on Alibaba. But! This will have an impact on smaller merchants, creating a schism between bigger sellers that can afford the fee and those who cannot. If this goes more widespread beyond things like running shoes or TVs and into smaller items like music and kitchen items, for example, it’s possible we could see less selection, higher prices and fewer sellers overall on the digital emporium.
Source: CNBC
‘This War of Mine’ studio reveals a dystopian steampunk PC game
11 Bit Studios made a name for itself with This War of Mine, a powerful game about the civilian casualties of war, and now the company is back with a second experience that peers into the heart of humanity. Frostpunk is a dystopian look at society as it exists on an Earth that has completely frozen over. Humans rely on steam-powered machines, fighting the cold world with heat, and society as we know it has evaporated. People focus on survival, at times disposing of morality in order to continue existing. Frostpunk asks whether this societal change makes people stronger or weaker, more or less human.
Frostpunk has strategy and management features, but it’s ultimately a game about making decisions and questioning morality. The studio aims to make Frostpunk’s steampunk characteristics believable, which is one reason developers gravitated toward the idea of a frozen planet — it’s logical that humans would want to surround themselves with the warmth of steam engines in such a cold environment. This narrative decision bleeds into the game’s art style, where the remnants of civilization are presented in warm tones and nature is a cold palette.
“This is a deeply serious game created for a mature gamer,” creative director Michal Drozdowski says. “Looking back at This War of Mine, we’re pushing boundaries even further, but we’re not pointing at reality in the same fashion. We’re putting human nature under a microscope to ask about what happens when people need to stay alive.”
11 Bit senior writer Pawel Miechowski said similar things about This War of Mine back in 2014, calling that game “serious” and “mature.” This War of Mine sold well and won multiple awards, including the Audience Award at the 2015 Independent Games Festival. With Frostpunk, 11 Bit is sticking with its strengths in creating a moody, thoughtful and emotive gaming experience. The studio says Frostpunk is its biggest and most complex game to date.
Frostpunk is scheduled to hit PC in 2017. The game’s introductory teaser trailer is the first in a series that 11 Bit promises will continue soon.
Master all things Bitcoin with this Bit.Yoga course (86 per cent off)
The web isn’t just changing how we do business: it’s changing the nature of money itself.
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With the Bit.Yoga course, you can get a detailed look at the nature of this revolutionary currency and learn how to build your own Bitcoin-powered business for only £51.48 ($39).
As you dive into this course, you’ll learn what Bitcoin is, where it came from, and how its price is determined. On top of that, you’ll discover where Bitcoin can be traded, and you’ll even get the training to build your Bitcoin-based business from the ground up.
What’s more, you’ll even learn how to increase your supply of Bitcoins with Bitcoin mining. While other currencies are backed by precious metals like gold and silver, Bitcoins are created from math problems. Using special software, Bitcoin users can earn Bitcoins by adding transaction records to Bitcoin’s public ledger of past transactions.
With this course, you’ll learn how to set up a Bitcoin miner that makes solving these math problems easier, and it will speed you on your way to acquiring more Bitcoins for yourself.
The Bit.Yoga course normally retails for £388.70, but it’s on sale to Pocket-Lint readers for only £51.48 ($39), taking more than 80 per cent off its original retail price.
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