Latest News - Page 2902

Manufacturers have finally figured out how to attract consumers to connected high-definition TVs (HDTVs), using third-party Web-based apps to draw in users. Smart TVs will capture the "majority of television shipments" this year, and more U.S. consumers will have smart TVs than connected TVs by 2015, according to Business Insider.

Original Web TVs initially seemed appealing, but were wrongly predicted TV viewers would want to use the TV to browse the Internet in a traditional manner. Some companies embrace open platforms, such as LG, Roku and Google Chromecast supporting open source, while Apple, Samsung and other companies rely on closed infrastructures.

Apple TV and Roku set-top boxes lead the market for streaming devices, though Google Chromecast also sold a large number of units. Apple TV racked up 8 million units shipped during all of 2013, while Roku shipped 4.5 million units.

The 16GB variant of the Moto G sold out in less than 60 minutes on Flipkart, an Indian e-commerce company. The 8GB version is still in stock, for now, but with the Moto G selling like cupcakes on Flipkart, I wouldn't expect it to stay there for long.

Motorola launched the Moto G in India last week, in partnership with Flipkart. Motorola announced that the Moto G would go on sale on February 6, at 12am, but the e-commerce company began selling the 8GB version before the clock reached midnight. When it opened sales of the 16GB version, it sold out within an hour. It sold out before some people could even reach the checkout.

It sold out quick because of the low amount of Moto G smartphones imported, with a reported 14,800 units of the 8GB version, and just 5,000 units of the 16GB version were imported into the country. Stock should be back by now, but it goes to show that a great smartphone at an even better price can break into emerging markets quick.

We reported earlier on that Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak, said that Apple should think about making an Android-based smartphone, but it looks like we - along with most tech press - got it wrong.

In an e-mail to Gina Smith of aNewDomain, Wozniak said: "They got it quite wrong for their own reasons ... I'm used to things like this, (where the media turns) 'could' into 'should.' But the idea caught a lot of attention. It was just (my) independent idea ... I'm sure others have said it before but I get more attention".

Wozniak continued: "I was asked some general question as to BlackBerry. I said, as I have before, that I felt BlackBerry's best (plan) two years ago would have been to make an Android phone. I went into how the world seems to be Apple lovers and Apple non-lovers. I did say Apple 'could' make an Android phone. But I (said) total business decisions would be in the hands of knowledgeable Apple execs - not me".

Virtual reality and augmented reality hardware and software products are changing the way users interact in the living room and at the PC. The Oculus Rift, Avegant Glyph, and smart glasses might get a lot of the attention from gamers, but VR and AR create potential for so many business and enterprise apps.

Smart glasses are being used as training tools for industry decision makers trying to embrace new technologies and cut prices, as the military, medical, and biotech companies show interest in VR.

As VR hardware continues to evolve, the bundled software also provides great opportunities for consumers and business users. Sixense's MakeVR 3D modeling software, which needs a 3D multi-touch interface, pushes the boundaries of the type of software that can be developed in the future. The MakeVR Kickstarter reached $56,000 of its $250,000 goal just three days after launch.

In the continued battle against cyber warfare, the FBI recently opened the door to security experts willing to share information about malware. Specifically, the Investigative Analysis Unit (IAU) wants to create "global awareness of the malware threat" in anticipation of what lies ahead in the future. The request for quote (RFQ) is a unique effort to purchase malware so the FBI intelligence services are able to try and reverse-engineer the security threats.

The FBI is currently seeking security firms to submit malware samples for federal computer teams to learn more about how the malicious software is made and distributed. Executive files, digital media files, exploited code, and Office documents will be collected, though security experts are welcome to try and stump the FBI with select malware.

Sophisticated malware continues to plague desktop and mobile users, with malware targeting Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Apple OS X/iOS.

California lawmakers want to make mandatory smartphone kill-switch requirements for phones in case of theft, an epidemic on the rise through metropolitan cities throughout the United States. Senate Bill 962 would take effect for both smartphones and tablets, as both mobile electronics become more common place among casual consumers.

"This is an important day for wireless consumers everywhere," said George Gascon, San Francisco District Attorney, in a press statement. "This legislation will require the industry to stop debating the possibility of implementing existing technological theft solutions, and begin embracing the inevitability. The wireless industry must take action to end the victimization of its customers."

Gascon also added that SB 962 would help clamp down on the market for stolen devices in California.

Action camera maker GoPro has just filed the required paperwork to see the company push toward an initial public offering, or IPO. In GoPro's statement, it said that the IPO is expected to commence after the SEC completes the review process of their confidential submission.

Because of the confidentiality, there's no details on GoPro's financial state, as the company has less than $1 billion in annual sales, the IPO can be confidential. During an interview with Forbes last year, GoPro founder and CEO Nick Woodman said that the company sold 2.3 million cameras in 2012, pulling in more than $520 million.

GoPro's financial information will remain confidential until it gets closer to its shares being traded.

Addonics is back with yet another portable SSD product launch. Today the company announced the all new Sapphire SSD RAID Array Storage line including the Sapphire 5-slot CFast and the Sapphire CF drives. These devices are designed to utilize ultra-fast Compact Flash drives to create an SSD RAID array for extreme performance on the go.

Both models feature USB 3.0 and eSATA connectivity to ensure the fastest performance possible, and allows you to configure five CFast or CF cards to appear as separate, independent drives. Alternatively users can use the device to set up a high-performance, fault tolerant RAID array in RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 and JBOD Modes. Internal hardware connects up to five CF cards to a single high-speed 6G eSATA port for unmatched performance. Addonics says that the Sapphire 5-slot CFast and the Sapphire CF drives are available now at major electronics retailers.

Destiny was one of the most talked about next-gen games of 2013 and as the games launch draws closer, Activision's CEO, Bobby Kotick, is speaking out about how successful he feels the franchise will be. Bungie, the company actually developing Destiny is working hard behind the scenes fine tuning Destiny to be this years best MMORPG/FPS on the next-gen consoles, and if the company can mold it into anything like it did with Halo, then Destiny's destiny may very well be a billion dollar franchise.

"We expect Bungie's Destiny, an innovative shared-world, first-person action game to be Activision Publishing's next billion dollar franchise," said Kotick. "As we look to 2014 and beyond, we have the strongest and most diverse pipeline of games in our history." From the trailers, screen shots, and information I have seen on Destiny, I have to agree with Kotick. With Halo stalling out there is a huge gap to fill for the sci-fi shooter genera and I think Destiny can do it.

Over the last few weeks rumors have been gathering that state that Apple will be releasing an iOS 7 update anywhere between early February to late April, but today it appears that the update will come in March. iOS 7.1 is the first significant update to Apple's flagship mobile operating system since its release last year, and while no surprises are expected, some much needed improvements will be made.

The update will feature tweaks to the user interface, an improved calender app, and overall performance will increase. Users can expect their device to feel faster after the update thanks to many bug fixes and memory optimizations as well. We are expecting Apple to release iOS 7 at an Apple TV event in March, but nothing has been confirmed and there may not even be a show to launch at, but Apple does have a history of March events, so only time will tell.

Apple has laid down its final judgement on Bitcoins, and things are not looking good for iOS users who dabble in the crypto-currency. Today Apple removed the final Bitcoin wallet app from the App Store. The app was named Blockchain which was not the largest to get removed,but Apple axed it without warning.

This caused a major uproar with iOS users who was using Blockchain as their Bitcoin wallet. The uproar has been so great that one Reddit user, u/round-peg, posted an offer to give a new Nexus 5 to the first five people who smashed their iPhones in rage over the Blockchain app being removed from the app store. As you would expect, smashed iPhone images soon began showing up. Blockchain says that Apple banned Bitcoin wallet apps because they felt that the crypto-currency threatened their own payment system, causing Apple to do what it does best, restrict its users. "The only thing that has changed is that bitcoin has become competitive to Apple's own payment system," said Blockchain.

Sony will shutter its Reader e-bookstore, and will transition customers to the Kobo online library and store, with Reader and Xperia tablet and smartphone users needing to make the move.

The shuttered Sony store was made up of 4 million e-books, magazines, newspapers, mangas, and kids content available to customers.

"Kobo is the ideal solution for our customers and will deliver a robust and comprehensive user experience," said Ken Orii, Sony VP of Digital Reading, in a press statement. "Like Sony, they are committed to those most passionate about reading and share our vision to use open formats so people can easily read anytime and anywhere."

There will be 28 3D movie releases in 2014, which is a continued slide in overall releases with consumers showing less interest in the pricier movie experience. A recent industry analyst believes 3D movies will capture just 39 percent of box office revenue in 2014, which would be the lowest ratio sales comparison in more than five years.

A recent Harris Poll study found that 69 percent of American movie goers believe 3D is only so movie studios and theaters can charge more for movie tickets.

For the past few years, there was interest from movie theaters want more expensive 2D films, with 3D movie prices lowering slightly, to generate new interest. However, that technique wisely wasn't rolled out, though 3D movie box office sales figures still disappoint.

Paramount Pictures will release a 3D version of "Noah," but it will not be available in the United States, as the studio hopes to generate added revenue in 65 foreign markets.

"Noah" won't be available in 3D for U.S., U.K., Australian and French markets, with the audience expected to embrace "the combination of the pedigree of the director and the cast and the dramatic elements of the story," The Hollywood Reporter learned.

Although 3D technology has piqued interest in movie goers and consumers, they are still rather unwilling to pay even more for 3D in the theater - and don't trust 3D HDTVs at home quite yet. It will be revealing to see which movies are released in 3D while at the theater and which geographic markets are targeted.

When you combine the rise of digital cameras with the boom in social media, and then cross the two with an increase in popularity of outdoor activities, you develop a need for a way to take photos in any environment, no matter how demanding it may be. Ricoh thinks that it may have solved this issue with its new WG-4 and WG-20 ruggedized, waterproof digital cameras.

The WG-4 comes in two varieties; one with GPS, and One without GPS. Both models feature a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor with an ISO range up to 6400, and an aperture of f/2.0 combine for excellent low-light performance. A zoom range of 25mm up to 100mm ensure that you always get the shot no matter if you need to shoot something wide or tight. The WG-4 series featres 29 shooting modes, which includes 16 scene presets, as well as full HD video recording. A rear 3-inch LCD is available as well to help in composing the perfect shot.

The WG20 features a lesser 14-megapixel camera, and only 5X zoom, but has a digital microscope feature with five LED lights for extreme close up macro shots. A 2.7-inch rear LCD is present and video recording at 720p is on board. All three cameras are waterproof to 45-feet for up to two hours, 32-feet for the WG-20, as well as being dust-proof, shock-resistant, able to survive crushing weight of up to 220-pounds, and resistant to temperatures as low as 14f.

External hard drives are one of the most convenient devices a person on the go can have, but they are quite fragile when it comes to falls from desk, rough handling, and frequent trips to and from inside a full backpack. With the recent drop in SSD prices, more companies are forgoing the external spinner and opting for something more solid.

Today Apacer launched its new AS710, a portable SSD that is designed to be carried with you where ever you may go. The company said that the AS710 is the first external SSD that is equipped with both a SATA III interface as well as USB 3.0 connectivity, which provides unparalleled speeds. Real-world testing shows that the SATA III interface is capable of sequential read speeds up to 550MB/s and sequential write speeds of 530MB/s. The external drive itself can reach speeds of 380MB/s and 420MB/sec through a USB 3.0 connection. This means that it takes less than 15 seconds to copy a 5GB video file over to the drive when using USB 3.0.

The Apacer AS710 is available at a capacity of 128GB and measures in at just 7mm thick. Its stylish exterior housing is comprised of aluminum with a black finish and machined edges for a very sleek look. The device features 30G anti-vibration protection as well as 3000G anti-shock protection. The SSD itself supports Microsoft Windows-To-Go,which allows one to store the start-up system from his/her Windows 8 Enterprise install directly onto the SSD. Additionally the drive boasts built-in advanced wear leveling and Error Correction Code (ECC) functions and supports Win7 Trim command, ensuring enhanced reliability of data transmission and longer service life for higher stability of data storage.

Should Apple make an Android-powered smartphone? Steve Wozniak seems to think so. In a recent interview with WIRED, Wozniak said that he feels that Apple would do well competing in the Android market space. He said, "There's nothing that would keep Apple out of the Android market as a secondary phone market, We could compete very well... People don't really choose their smartphones based on features," added Wosniak. "I think Apple is superior at being able to say no."

"People like the precious looks of styling and manufacturing that we do in our product compared to the other Android offerings. We could play in two arenas at the same time," Wozniak said. "The great products really come from secret development," he said. "You put small teams of great people on them and they aren't bothered by other people commenting on what they're doing while they're doing it. A whole new category of products doesn't happen very often. It might happen once a decade. Sometimes you have to wait for one of those to come about."

I have to agree with this statement, as the numbers do not lie. Apple has a cult following for its iPhone, and even people who do not like the current versions continue to buy the device because they feel that they have to if they wish to stay relevant in their social circles. If Apple were to release an iPhoneDroid, iAndroid or any device running Android, people would buy it with out question, not because of Android, but because of Apple's false sense of high-quality, and the idea that just because its Apple-made, it is a superior device.

In addition to selling off its VAIO PC business unit, Sony also plans to spin off its TV lineup as 5,000 employees will be given walking papers by 2015, according to recent reports.

As part of its latest restructuring plan, Sony announced it will cut 5,000 global jobs by March 2015 - and hopes to cut almost $1 billion per year in fixed costs. Sony also plans to spin off its TV division into an independent company within the next five months.

Japanese electronics manufacturers have struggled to compete against rising global competition, especially from Korean and Chinese rivals. Japan Industrial Partners will secure the Sony PC division, ensuring it won't head to Lenovo, the Chinese PC manufacturer that is No. 1 in global sales.

World of Warcraft still holds the title of most popular MMORPG despite the game itself being a decade old, and today fans are getting a glimpse of what the next expansion will bring. Titled Warlords of Draenor, the fourth expansion takes WoW to the next level with upgrades in graphics in the form of much more detail being added to the character models as well as the actual game world.

Unfortunately, Blizzard has decided to keep the same game engine it has been using for years, and while the improvements will make the game look much better, its graphics will still lag behind current gaming standards by a few years. In the image below, you can see some of the new facial expressions and overall added detail to the Orc model for Warlords of Draenor.

As far as things go on the actual game-play side, this new expansion will be returning to WoW's roots and diving heavily into dungeon content to allow players to easily level up, and gearing up for those long raid sessions you have scheduled for Thursday night at 9pm. Additionally, a new Raid finder engine will be utilized so that raids can scale in difficulty based on the raids group size. Furthermore, a new Mythic level difficulty will be added which raids can participate in if they have 20 members.

Cyber criminals accelerated their focus on attacking mobile devices in 2013, with more than 11.6 million devices compromised as malware becomes increasingly sophisticated.

Google Android devices made up 60 percent of infected devices, with mobile malware sampling drastically increasing 20 times in 2013. Smartphone makers installing Android - and software developers - are slowly making changes to ensure they are able to offer more advanced security software alternatives.

"Not only is Android the largest smartphone market, unlike iPhone and BlackBerry, it allows apps to be loaded from third-party sites," said Kevin McNamee, Alcatel-Lucent Security architect, in a statement. "This provides cybercriminals with an unpoliced mechanism to distribute their malware which can easily evade detection by device-based anti-virus. Thus, in 2013 we saw an increased trend towards operators offering network based anti-virus security to subscribers as a service."