Panasonic UB700 4K HDR Ultra HD Blu-ray player takes on Samsung UBD-K8500 in price wars
Panasonic has announced a new, cheaper 4K HDR capable Blu-ray player at its press conference at IFA in Berlin, Germany.
The new model, which will be dubbed the UB700 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player will come with many of the same, but not all, the features found in the BU900 player already on the market.
Panasonic has confirmed though that the cheaper player, which is expected to cost around 500 euro, won’t feature 7.1 surround sound support, or be THX certified.
It will however come with twin HDMI outputs support for high-resolution audio formats such as DSD and ALAC.
The player will remain DLNA compatible for media streaming, offer Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity, and come with the company’s smart platform for VOD services and 4K content sharing mobile devices using Miracast.
“The DMP-UB700 incorporates a newly developed 4K-ready engine: the 4K High-Precision Chroma Processor,” says Panasonic in a statement. “By using an original, highly accurate multi-tap process, it delivers beautiful, natural pictures with life-like depth, vivid colours and high-contrast dynamics. The DMP-UB700 also has an original 4K Direct Chroma up-scaling function so that it can deliver 4K-quality pictures with high resolution and beautiful colours from 2K content.”
The new model and new price puts it in direct competition with the Samsung Blu-ray player already on the market giving consumers even more choice beyond streaming to access 4K HDR Ultra HD content.
ICYMI: Sea power could take wind power’s bragging rights
Today on In Case You Missed It: Nova Innovation is installing the world’s first tidal power generators along the coast of Scotland, which are able to produce 100 kilowatts of power each. The UK Carbon Trust estimates the tidal energy market will be worth $165 Billion by 2050.
The P-Laser that strips rust in an instant is here, and if you’re as into amazing dogs as we are, you must see the nicknozzy YouTube channel. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Dropbox hacker stole 70 million log-ins in 2012
Back in 2012, Dropbox admitted someone hacked into the cloud storage service and stole log-in details, but it didn’t reveal the extent of the breach. Well, apparently, it was a huge one. Motherboard has obtained a number of files containing 60 million username and password combinations that came from that incident. A senior Dropbox employee who chose to remain anonymous confirmed the files’ contents to the publication. Microsoft employee Troy Hunt verified the details by finding his and his wife’s log-ins in the mix, as well.
Since Dropbox sent out password resets last week to users who signed up before 2012 and haven’t changed their log-in details since, it’s not hard to believe that the files are legit. The company mentioned in the help center entry about the resets that it doesn’t believe any of the accounts were improperly accessed. While there’s no way to prove that, Motherboard’s and Hunt’s findings support that claim.
All of the passwords in the list are salted and encrypted, though only 32 million are protected by a strong algorithm called bcrypt. The other half uses an older, weaker algorithm called SHA-1. It doesn’t look like the files are being sold on the dark web yet. But to be safe, it’s best to change your Dropbox passwords and activate two-factor authentication when you can.
Source: Motherboard
Netflix’s original series ‘Stranger Things’ gets a second season
File this one under “things we knew were happening but were waiting on official confirmation.” Surprising absolutely no one, Netflix’s ’80s-flavored sci-fi romp Stranger Things is getting a second season.
Since debuting on Netflix in July, Stranger Things has garnered quite the rabid audience with its quirky characters, eerie situations and the questions upon questions that have only snowballed since the first episode. It’s obviously a crowd-pleasing favorite, even though yours truly hasn’t seen over 30 seconds.
It looks like the teaser trailer might contain spoilers, so if you haven’t seen the first season you might want to exercise caution before watching it, even though it’s just a collection of text and what looks like episode titles. The next fleet of episodes is expected in 2017.
Via: Variety
Source: Netflix
Free-to-play is coming to the space MMO ‘EVE Online’
After over a decade with a straight subscription model, the massively multiplayer space RPG EVE: Online is adding a free-to-play tier. While paid accounts will still exist for new and old players alike, the new free accounts will give gamers basic access to the vast EVE universe, “New Eden.”
It’s been surprising how long EVE developer CCP has held out on free-to-play. New Eden may have been home to some of the most famous conflicts in video game history, but that hasn’t stopped subscribers leaving in droves. Introduced in 2003, the game peaked with 500,000 subscribers in 2013 (the last time CCP gave official figures). From comparing activity logs and historical player figures, the current subscriber count is likely less than half of that peak.
Dwindling player counts are a problem for many MMOs, but it’s perhaps tougher on EVE than most. Rather than having tens or hundreds of servers running independently like, for example, World of Warcraft, EVE offers a single persistent universe in which all players participate (excluding the Chinese server). When half as many players are online in WoW, you can just visit a server that’s fully populated. When the same happens in EVE, it’s half as busy as it used to be.
CCP has been trying to increase its EVE player counts in many ways. Broad changes to the game, such as wormhole expeditions, faction warfare and incursions kept gameplay fresh to a point, and regular expansions since have added new things to do. Then there was the 2013 free-to-play shooter Dust 514, which tied in heavily and, as well as being a money-maker on its own, was supposed to attract fresh blood to the main game. More recently, it’s invested heavily in VR, with EVE Valkyrie and EVE Gunjack offering action-oriented spins on New Eden. None of the changes are likely to be as significant as the switch to free-to-play.
CCP Games says it’s been planning to make the switch for a while, but it’s only recently been possible to do so. “Part of our vision for the future of EVE has included more open access for some time, but with the interconnected nature of the game comes vulnerability,” it said in the announcement post. “We knew that if the flood gates were opened in the wrong way, we could see anything from server meltdowns to the collapse of the EVE economy. Over time, our hardware has improved, code has been untangled (mostly!) and we’ve found a design we believe in.”
The big influx of new free-to-play accounts should breathe fresh life into the game, and CCP hopes many gamers who have left EVE over the years will come back as free players. In the universe’s lore, these free-to-play accounts will be known as “Alpha clones.” Free players can trade, mine and fight just like regular subscribers, but skill progression will be slower, and limited to certain fields. Outwardly, there will be no indicators as to a player’s subscription status, but their ship will give you a clue: Alpha clones will be stuck with the game’s starter spacecrafts: Tech one Frigates, Destroyers and Cruisers.
Existing players’ accounts will behave as they always have, except if their subscription lapses they’ll be dropped down to Alpha clone status. To be clear, any progression made won’t be lost, it’s just as a free-to-play account those skills will be locked. CCP is actively encouraging existing players to court the Alpha clone accounts, bring them under their wing and boost the strength of their factions and alliances. The spin is that this will make existing players’ games fresh and exciting by bringing thousands of new players into the world. Of course, new and old players alike will be able to upgrade to full accounts (or “Omega clones,” under the new nomenclature) by paying a subscription fee (typically around $10 per month).
The changes raise plenty of questions about how EVE will function following the shift. The free-to-play subscriptions will open up in November as part of a feature update called Clone States, and we suspect there’ll be a lot more detail on how the newer New Eden will work. From the initial announcement, though, this seems like a carefully considered way to bring new players into the EVE universe without annoying fans that have sunk thousands of hours and dollars into the game.
If you’re one of those players, or interested in joining, you can read all about the upcoming changes here. If this is the first time you’ve ever heard of EVE, CCP made this video a couple of years back from player submissions. I love it, and I’ll use any excuse to post it:
Source: CCP Games
A city in a warehouse in a city
I’ve always had a fascination with architectural models. This interest rose in recent months, following a move to a new apartment block. I love my new place, but it has its problems. There are over-sized windows that capture too much heat, coupled with poor ventilation. There’s the glass panel on the balcony, which rattles whenever the wind picks up. And the surrounding area isn’t beautifully landscaped, but instead a patchwork of concrete and the detritus left behind from years of construction. In the lobby of the block, there’s a scale model of my building, complete with tiny figures lounging on balconies, landscaped surroundings with vibrant plants and children playing on the terrace.
Whenever I look at that model, everything is perfect. It’s an idealized version of the real thing; the architect’s dream for what this place could’ve been, rather than the considerably more drab reality. And in Tokyo, there’s a museum that houses those dreams: The Archi-Depot. Opened a few months ago, it’s a giant room built to contain tiny structures. Shelf after shelf is filled with models, many of which are of real-world Tokyo buildings, including the tallest structure in Japan, Skytree, Haneda Airport and others. Each is accompanied by a QR code that takes you to an information page on the building, where you’ll find blueprints, information on architects, and links to other works.
The Big Picture is a recurring feature highlighting beautiful images that tell big stories. We explore topics as large as our planet, or as small as a single life, as affected by or seen through the lens of technology.
Source: Archi-Depot
Samsung delays Galaxy Note 7 shipments over quality tests
If you were planning to buy a Galaxy Note 7, you might not want to count on getting it quickly. Samsung tells Reuters that it’s delaying shipments of its latest smartphone as it conducts “additional tests” to verify “product quality.” It’s not saying what it’s worried about, but there have been reports of the phone’s battery exploding while it charges. Samsung might be checking to see whether or not the battery fires are the result of systemic flaws, or just a handful of isolated incidents.
The company hasn’t said how long the delay will last. However, it could hurt Samsung’s bottom line if it’s substantial. The Galaxy Note 7 was already hard to find on store shelves due to demand, according to Samsung. Delays would only make those shortages worse, and increase the chances that frustrated customers will take their business elsewhere.
Source: Reuters
App Stores Experiencing Issues on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV [Resolved]
Apple has updated its System Status page to reflect ongoing issues with all store services, including the App Store on iOS devices, Mac App Store, tvOS App Store on Apple TV, and app-related Volume Purchase Program for business customers.
Apple notes that some users may be unable to access the aforementioned stores or services or make purchases in the United States, Canada, and other regions. The issues began around 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
Update: Apple’s System Status page now shows that all store services have been restored as of shortly after 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
Tag: system status
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DxO ONE Gaining Improved Wi-Fi Connectivity and Waterproof ‘Outdoor Shell’
After introducing a standalone mode for the DxO ONE Smartphone Camera earlier in the year, the camera manufacturer today announced an update to its DxO ONE lineup that’ll bring waterproofing to the accessory, as well as an all-new Wi-Fi remote control. The latter feature will be available to all DxO ONE users through a 2.0 software update coming to the connected iOS app [Direct Link], while the former will manifest as a separate hardware accessory available for any existing DxO ONE.
The Wi-Fi remote control will streamline the Wi-Fi setup process on the accessory thanks to a Lightning adapter connection that allows an iOS device to “seamlessly pass its Wi-Fi authentication credentials from the iPhone to the DxO ONE.” The enhanced communication between the camera and the iPhone allows for users to retain control over every setting in the DxO ONE without needing to return to the smartphone, along with “the ability to easily view, edit and share their content to social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.”
“Last year, we revolutionized mobile photography by packing DSLR-quality into a camera design so incredibly small that it could always be available in our pocket,” said DxO CEO and founder, Jérôme Ménière. “And now, thanks to WiFi Remote Control and our new accessories ecosystem, all our users can take the DxO ONE with them absolutely anywhere, without restrictions, and extend their creativity even further.”
In addition to the Wi-Fi upgrade, the 2.0 update will introduce an automatic lighting feature called Mobile Smart Lighting, battery management enhancements, an auto-focus mode, and an underwater white balance for better submerged images. The update is expected to hit sometime in the second half of September.
On the accessory side of things, DxO touts the stainless steel Outdoor Shell as an “extremely rugged” add-on that’s still easy to attach and remove at a whim. Attachable to the shell are two waterproof back doors, one that is splash proof (IP67) and one that is “fully submersible and immersion proof” up to 150 feet. In addition to water resistance/proofing, the shell protects from dust and basic accidental drops, while still providing access to the camera’s buttons and modes.
The company is also launching a line of other new accessories, including an optical adapter and a stand, both selling for $24.99. For the $59.99 Outdoor Shell, customers can choose from seven different colors: yellow, lagoon, lime, coral, black, khaki, and white. As with the 2.0 update, the accessories are expected to begin shipping later in September. The DxO ONE camera itself sells for $499.00.
Tag: DxO One
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Next Year’s iPhone Said to Include Iris Scanner to Authenticate With Your Eyes
Apple is planning to include iris scanning capabilities on the tenth-anniversary iPhone launching in 2017, according to a Chinese-language MoneyDJ report translated by DigiTimes. The latter website, citing supply chain sources, previously said the feature would not debut on iPhones until at least 2018.
An iris scanner could complement or replace Touch ID as a way to verify a user’s identity, enabling iPhone users to unlock their smartphone, make payments, and more by authenticating with their eyes. A person’s iris, or the circular colored muscle of the eye, contains a complex and random pattern that is unique to each individual.
Taiwan-based supplier Xintec, an affiliate of Apple manufacturer TSMC, will begin mass production of iris-recognition chips in 2017, likely in an effort to secure orders from Apple and other smartphone vendors next year:
Xintec is expected to enter mass production for iris-recognition chips in 2017, which will boost the backend house’s revenues for the year, the report cited market watchers as saying. New orders for iris-recognition sensors include those for the chips that will be embedded in the 2017 series of iPhone, the watchers were also quoted in the report.
Xintec said the company does not comment on rumors or speculation about specific products or customer orders.
Based on rumors, Apple’s tenth-anniversary iPhone is shaping up to be a more significant upgrade compared to the iPhone 7 series expected at Apple’s September 7 event. Other rumors surrounding the so-called iPhone 8 include a 5.8-inch curved OLED screen, glass casing, an embedded or completely removed home button, wireless charging, an enhanced Taptic Engine, and more.
Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tag: digitimes.com
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