Latest News - Page 2804

Half of traffic to the YouTube video sharing website is generated from mobile users, a 10 percent increase the last time YouTube offered public numbers. Mobile users can enjoy a mobile version of the website, or download an app that allows them to access YouTube without being in a Web browser.

Here is what YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki recently confirmed: "Mobile is super important. I think it's important for every business right now."

YouTube reportedly is interested in an ad-free, subscription-based service - helping generate additional revenue - as Google struggles to woo advertisers to mobile. In addition, the company will likely launch a music service sometime in the near future, indicating Wojcicki's team is ready to get more creative to make new long-term revenue streams.

Despite the naysayers and prophecies of doom, Marvel's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' was undoubtedly the star of the 2014 summer blockbuster season, grossing $752 million worldwide in its theatrical release. Now, Marvel has moved to lock-in a sequel.

This morning, Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige took to the stage to outline the next phase of Marvel features, no doubt to counteract a similar move by DC Comics and Warner Bros from last fortnight.

To be released on May 15th 2017, 3 years from the original, the sequel only known as 'Guardians of the Galaxy 2' at this point and is expected to reunite Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista.

Lite-ON is launching their latest line of enterprise SSDs at Dell World 2014. The new EP1 Series leverages the M.2 connection with 4 lanes of PCIe 2.0 speed. The EP1 series is designed for the enterprise space and features power loss protection to guard against data loss during unsafe shutdowns. The new modules can cram up to 1TB of fast storage onto a relatively tiny M.2 form factor SSD, yet still deliver incredible performance. The EP1 series SSDs will top out at 150,000 4k read IOPS, and 44,000 write IOPS.

The PCIe connection also enables ultra low latency of 40/30 microseconds for read/write transactions. Customized firmware will also include multiple layers of protection from data loss, and tailors the device for application workloads such as online transaction processing (OTP), financial transactions, E-commerce, SQL logging, collaboration, and email servers.

Lite-ON isnt skimping on endurance either, with a 1 DWPD (Drive Write Per Day) threshold and an MTBF of 2 million hours.

Electronic Arts today announced that Battlefield Hardline will be released on March 17, 2015 in North America, with a March 19, 2015 release date set for Europe.

Instead of a war-themed game, Hardline takes a new spin on cops versus robbers, with a single player storyline of officer Nick Mendoza fighting corrupt cops and drug dealers in Miami. Multiplayer gamers will play in teams "on one side of the law or the other," trying to either complete heists as a criminal or bust the bad guys as law enforcement.

Battlefield Hardline was delayed until 2015 so developers had additional time to make improvements and closely evaluate beta player feedback. EA doesn't want a repeat of the chaos that ensued with the release of Battlefield 4, which suffered numerous problems.

Americans are "occasionally" or "frequently" worried about having their credit card data stolen by hackers and having their PC or smartphone hacked more than any other crimes, according to a recent Gallup poll. A whopping 69 percent of poll respondents are worried about store data breaches leading to personal information being stolen, while 62 percent are worried about PC or smartphone security - significantly ahead of the 45 percent of people worried about their home being burglarized while away.

Consumers with salaries $75,000 or above are most concerned about potential debit and credit theft, as they spend more and are more likely to have multiple credit cards.

The high-profile data breaches of Target, Home Depot, and other major retailers helped finally wake up more Americans about the potential of data breaches. However, consumers and business users are still vulnerable to phishing and malware attacks, which haven't received the same amount of media attention.

The kool-aid continues to be consumed over at Ubisoft, with Far Cry 4's Creative Director, Alex Hutchinson, having some interesting things to say when it comes to 1080p.

When asked about resolution, Hutchinson said: "It's certainly not something I care about in a game" when asked by Total Xbox about the target resolution of 1080p and 30FPS for Far Cry 4 on Xbox One and PS4. He continued: "It feels weird to me that people are cool about playing a sort of retro pixel game, and yet the resolution somehow matters. It's like: is it fun, is it interesting, is it new, is it fresh, are there interesting questions. With the 4K TVs and things - somebody was telling me that with a 4K TV, to even see it, your living room has to be big enough to sit like 12 feet from the screen. I don't know the exact numbers, but it starts to get a little crazy. I'm just in it for the experience, I'll play a SNES game if it's cool".

It continues, where Hutchinson reiterates that resolution isn't that important, where he said that consumer interest in high-end visuals is starting to fade away, rendering itself at a resolution of 480p, probably. He agreed with the sentiments of Crytek's Nicolas Schulz, who back in October said that it's getting "difficult to really wow people" with flashy graphics (we'll come back to that in a minute, Nicolas). Hutchinson backed Schulz up, saying: "Exactly. And also I think it's a bad axis. We should not be in a business that sells itself - we are, a little bit, but that sells itself on the flavour of like, gadgetry and technology. I think that's a bad sign. If our thing is 'woo, the same exact thing you had before, at twice the resolution, instead of a new thing'... A new spin or an evolution, I think is much more interesting".

Alienware announced its new Alienware 13 gaming notebook not too long ago, but has just taken the wraps off of its new "graphics amplifier". Alienware's new contraption is capable of taking a high-end desktop GPU, with anything that uses up to 375W, and plugging it into Alienware's proprietary PCI Express-based cable.

This proprietary cable only works on the Alienware 13 notebook, so you won't be using it with your normal gaming notebook. The graphics amplifier itself also includes four powered USB ports, so you can plug in any of your USB-based devices directly into it, as well as your desktop video card. Not only that, but the Alienware head on the front of it glows for a nice effect.

It won't sell like hotcakes, but for anyone who is in the market for a new gaming notebook, this might swing your decision toward Alienware. If you were in the market of buying a new Alienware 13 gaming notebook, this is a nice accessory if you wanted some serious grunt at your desk, and then rely on the built-in GPU when you're on the road, or at a LAN. Alienware will be selling the graphics amplifier for $300, and will be showing it off at PAX Australia later this week, where we will get a hands- and eyes-on with it.

Well, any network you're on has now been put to shame thanks to researchers from the University of Central Florida and Eindhoven University of Technology, who have worked together to completely blow away the world speed record for data transmission over a fiber network.

The researchers used a completely new type of fiber, which was able to jump right up to an insane 255 terabits per second. This is a number that is hard to get your mind around, as it can transfer 1GB in 31.25 microseconds, which is just 0.03 milliseconds, or 1TB in just 31 milliseconds. As it stands, single-fiber links used in commercial use today hit a ceiling of 100Gbps, which is a massive 2550 times slower than what this new fiber network is capable of.

This new fiber network uses seven separate cores that were built into a hexagon shape, and by using spatial multiplexing, the researchers were able to hit 5.1 terabits per carrier, with wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) to 50 carriers down the cores. This eventuated into the researchers slamming through 255 terabits per second. Now all we need is every single Internet connection in the world to be upgraded, NICs to be up to 10TB/sec and cheaper, faster SSDs to handle all of this insane bandwidth.

The increase of keyless entry and ignition is leading to criminal groups spoofing keys that can unlock doors and turn vehicles on. The United States and United Kingdom have both seen a rise in auto theft for these newer vehicles, as criminals are able to bypass the keyless security. Automakers are working diligently with insurance companies and law enforcement to find new methods to ensure these tactics can be limited - and keep the equipment in the hands of licensed mechanics.

"The criminal act of stealing vehicles through the re-programming of remote-entry keys is an on-going industry-wide problem," said Jaguar Land Rover. "Our lineup continues to meet the insurance industry requirements as tested and agreed with relevant insurance bodies. Nevertheless we are taking this issue very seriously and our engineering teams are actively working in collaboration with insurance bodies and police forces to solve this continuously evolving problem."

Although this most recent report was based in the UK, the US National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) also found a similar "spike" in stolen vehicles in the United States.

WD has announced they are expanding the capacity of the WD Purple line of surveillance-class HDD's up to 6TB. WD Purples are purpose-built HDDs designed to specifically address video surveillance workloads. Video camera recording has unique requirements, and the enhancements in the Purple series reduce dropped frames and allow simultaneous recording of up to 32 high-definition cameras.

Security cameras continue to be used in more and more applications, and the advent of 4K high-definition models has created the need for more capacity. The WD Purple series is tested for broad compatibility with all of the leading video surveillance systems, and proprietary WD technologies boost performance and video recording accuracy.

Chris Ramseyer took a detailed look at the original Purple series in this review, and be sure to look to our storage areas for more detailed product analysis of everything storage in the consumer and enterprise segments. The new 6TB WD Purple has an MSRP of $329.99, and WD Purple's are available from 1TB to 6TB capacities.

After a troubled launch, SimCity is finally on its feet, with EA very quietly debuting its new SimCity BuildIt software for both iOS and Android. The software has launched for Android in Canada and on iOS in New Zealand.

The app is free to download, but has in-app purchases, with EA saying that there is an offline mode, but "many of the coolest features do require an online connection". EA says that longtime fans of the series will find some interesting things inside of BuildIt, adding that the company has "streamlined to make the experience more fun and manageable on touchscreens".

SimCity BuildIt allows on-the-go gamers to tend to zones, roads and traffic, services, city specializations and data layers of their metropolis, and the familiar goal of landmarks returns. If you're getting a bit bored and want to bring down hell on Earth, just create a disaster for fun. BuildIt's in-app store allows you to "trade resources with friends and other cities", too.

PlayStation 4 exclusive racer DriveClub has not been having a good time, with the game going back to the drawing board earlier this year, and now that it has launched, it has been experiencing some rather big problems.

DriveClub owners can't get into most of the game thanks to various server-related issues, with developer Evolution Studios saying it needs to pump more time into the game. The studio has said that there was an update rolling out over the weekend that "will improve online performance across the game and it also brings specific improvements for multiplayer racing and leaderboard updates". The studio continued, saying: "we still have more work to do to get everything back on track before we can give you any bigger or better news. We will keep you up to speed".

Even still, there's no ETA on when the version promised to PlayStation Plus subscribers will be released. The studio blaming netcode for the problems with DriveClub's online abilities is a bit vague, which would be pissing off gamers.

Robert Dubuc was sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty for breaking into banks and government agencies while trying to steal $15 million. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, identity theft and conspiracy to commit access device fraud earlier in the year, as one of his co-defendants, Oleg Pidtergerya, will be sentenced later this year.

The ringleaders of the cybercriminal group have been indicted but haven't been arrested, likely in the Ukraine or elsewhere in Eastern Europe. They targeted the US Department of Defense, PayPal, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, among other companies - with stolen money transferred to their bank accounts.

The US federal government wants to take a more proactive approach against cybercrime - as the attacks continue to amount - but actually locking up prolific hackers remains extremely difficult.

The US Air Force Hospital Langley is now using the "Saul" virus-zapping robot to try to keep hospitals safer by killing viruses, including Ebola, working with the Xenex company. The robot is able to use powerful ultraviolet light to ensure the hospital's patient and operating rooms are safe from germ pathogens that could infect others. It only takes five minutes for the robot to disinfect an entire room, with surfaces cleaned in just two minutes, according to Xenex.

"We are very proud to be the first Air Force hospital to have this robot," said Col. Marlene Kerchenski, 633rd MDG Surgeon General chief of nursing services. "Saul will provide an extra measure of safety for both our patients and our intensive care unit staff."

Xenex has already grabbed headlines when it was announced the Gigi robot would be used in hospitals to help kill viruses, including Ebola, in hospital rooms. These pricey machines are designed to help keep hospitals a cleaner, safer environment for staff, patients, and visitors.

Consumers are going to take to the Internet and retail stores in a big way this holiday shopping season, but with numerous significant data breaches, there is concern over shopper security. For shoppers preparing to head out and visit local retailers, if you're not paying cash, then the next best thing is using a credit card if worried about security. "You're just better off by and large paying with a credit card because you have more rights and you're not out the money," said Susan Grant, Consumer Federation of America Director of Consumer Protection.

Credit card companies can cancel charges - with very little impact to consumers - while compromised debit card information often leads to major headaches. Beyond having data stolen, criminals are able to drain accounts, while also cloning the card and making ATM withdrawals. It's not uncommon for bank customers to have a hold placed on their account while an investigation is conducted, and shoppers are out their own money.

Financial intuitions are given up to 10 days before they need to refund fraud related to debit cards, and that sometimes leads to missed rent, utility bills, and other significant headaches. Retailers are under siege, and it seems cybercriminals are preparing to launch additional point of sale (POS) malware attacks, cybersecurity experts warn.

Ryse: Son of Rome has been out on PC for just a couple of weeks now, but Crytek has already released a patch that is hitting Steam as we speak. The new patch is improving performance for multi-GPU setups, as well as NVIDIA's new second-generation Maxwell GPUs. Here's what to expect from the updated version of Ryse:

If you enjoyed Outlast, you're going to enjoy this news: Red Barrels, the developer behind the game, has confirmed it is working on a sequel for the hit horror game.

Red Barrels' co-founder and designer, Philippe Morin, confirmed with Bloody Disgusting, that they are working on Outlast 2. Morin said that once the team was finished with the Xbox One version of Outlast back in June, the team "quickly realized we had at least another horror game in us". He continued: "The game will be a survival horror experience and it will take place in the same universe as Outlast but it will have different characters and a different setting. We might go back to Mount Massive Asylum one day, but for now we have new ideas and themes we'd like to explore and we think we're cooking up something special".

He didn't provide too many details on what the sequel will offer, but did say it will be an "emotional ride". The Montreal-based studio has internal hopes of scaring its own team, so prepare your pants, people.

Google is getting much more serious about artificial intelligence, with the Mountain View-based search giant hiring more than a dozen leading academics and experts in the field of AI. The company has also announced it has reached a partnership with Oxford University, to "accelerate" its efforts in AI.

When it comes to the partnership between Oxford and Google, the company will be making a "substantial contribution" in order to kick start a new research partnership with the University's computer science and engineering departments. Google's goal? To develop the intelligence of machines and software, to reach human-like levels. Google hasn't said just how much it will be contributing, but it will have a program of student intern ships and a series of joint lectures and workshops so that it can "share knowledge and expertise".

It was only in January that the company dumped down $400 million to acquire DeepMind, an AI firm. This new partnership with Oxford University will see a quicker, and brighter future in AI, even if Elon Musk, the founder of PayPal, SpaceX and Tesla Motors says that pioneering AI will be like "summoning the devil".

The last hyperbolic headline we had about Elon Musk and artificial intelligence was just a couple of months ago now when the Tesla Motors founder said that AI could be "more dangerous than nukes" and now he's back with a new statement. Musk has said that pioneering AI is like "summoning the demon".

Musk had some interesting things to say during a speech at MIT on Friday, where he told an audience that the technology sector should be "very careful" of pioneering AI, calling it "our biggest existential threat". Why is Musk afraid? Multiple times during his speech, he reiterated that such a technology is a massive risk, because it can't be controlled. He ended up using the metaphor of "with artificial intelligence we are summoning the demon".

We've all seen AI and what it does to the human race in movies like the Terminator and The Matrix franchises, but Musk lined AI up in the real-world to a horror movie, where the protagonists call forth spirits who end up doing a lot of bad things. Musk said: "In all those stories where there's the guy with the pentagram and the holy water, it's like yeah he's sure he can control the demon. Didn't work out". Considering there's already a lot of important things that computers do for us on the daily, such as financial trading, high-end computing and countless other important jobs, AI is an eventuality.

Sony's forthcoming update to the PlayStation 4 is an interesting one, with the new update providing something the company teased earlier in the year: Share Play. Share Play allows people to play your games, either with you or by themselves, even if they don't own a copy of the game.

The company didn't provide much details on Share Play, or when it would launch, when it teased it a couple of months ago. All Sony said is that it was coming "this fall" but now we have a firm date: October 28. Sony took to the PlayStation Twitter account, saying: "PS4's next software update, Masamune, will be available on 10/28. Includes Share Play, USB Music player, and more!" The tweet also teases that the new PS4 update will include the ability to play music from a USB device, all while playing a game. We should also expect a YouTube app for the PS4, an improved voice command system, and the ability to tune the background color of your PS4's home screen.

Let's talk Share Play. Share Play isn't some unlimited function where you could buy a single copy of a game and then a friend just plays through the entire thing for free. Share Play will limit your friends to 60 minute portions of play time, which is still very generous of Sony.