AT&T to provide in-flight internet service by late 2015

Roshan Ashraf Shaikh | Internet & Websites | Apr 28, 2014 8:56 PM CDT

AT&T revealed its plans to offer in-flight internet service in collaboration with few companies using a new air-to-ground 4G LTE technology. The company stated that it will be using its existing spectrum and plans to work with Honeywell for hardware and software solution to provide in-flight connections.

"Everyone wants access to high-speed, reliable mobile Internet wherever they are, including at 35,000 feet," said John Stankey, Chief Strategy Officer at AT&T. "We are building on AT&T's significant strengths to develop in-flight connectivity technology unlike any other that exists today, based on 4G LTE standards. We believe this will enable airlines and passengers to benefit from reliable high speeds and a better experience. We expect this service to transform connectivity in the aviation industry - we are truly mobilizing the sky."

AT&T also will be building an air-to-ground network in United States which will be based on 4G LTE standards.

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Check out this awesome mutifunctional Delta bot called ZEGO

Charles Gantt | Modding | Apr 28, 2014 7:05 PM CDT

Over the past seven years or so, I have been around my fair share of 3D Printers and robots, and while all of them have been extremely cool, the ones that still fascinate me the most are the delta bots. Delta bots use vertical shafts to articulate a trio of arms to position a head anywhere on a circular platform below, more efficiently than a standard linear X,Y and Z Cartesian robot. Today a new multifunction delta bot hit the internet and I just had to share it with everyone.

The ZEGO is a multifunctional delta bot that is capable of not only 3D printing, but can be used to do a wealth of other task thanks to its easy change tool-head. The ZEGO can function as a plotter that draws in pen, pencil, or marker, or even hold a pen-style hobby cutter if one felt like modifying a few things. ZEGO also offers additional tool-heads that allow for CNC wood burning, engraving and PCB milling, and even pick & place PCB population. A pledge of $549 is all it takes to get a ZEGO classic kit, but if you really want all of the tool heads, you will need to shell out $2,499.

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GPS maker Magellan prepared to invade U.S. bike GPS market

GPS manufacturer Magellan will introduce its Cyclo 315 and 505 cycling GPS units to the North American market starting next month. The Cyclo GPS series was originally released by Magellan to the Australian and European markets last year, and must compete with Garmin in a very competitive market.

Both models are 3" and includes a touchscreen, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, smartphone connectivity, and sophisticated ANT+ support so athletes can track heart rate, speed, cadence, and power while out in the saddle. The Cyclo 315 will cost $349.99 and the Cyclo 505 has a starting MSRP of $429 - both models will be available starting in May.

"The Magellan Cyclo GPS line includes models that will appeal to the majority of bike riders in the U.S.," noted Sam Muscariello, Magellan outdoor product marketing director, in a press statement. "From the hardcore triathlete to the body armored mountain biker, even the weekend touring enthusiast, Cyclo has all the right features needed to take cyclists to the next level and help them reach their goals."

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Microsoft finally catches up with Google, Skype Group Calling now free

Charles Gantt | Internet & Websites | Apr 28, 2014 11:12 AM CDT

Since its launch, Skype has been an important communication tool for both the private and corporate sectors, and when Group Video Calling was launched, it changed the way many of us conference. Unfortunately, Microsoft slapped a $8.99 price tag on this feature by bundling it into the Skype Premium package, and many of us simply moved on to the free group video conferencing platform Google Calls Hangouts. Today Microsoft has seen the errors of its ways and has opened up group video calling for free to everyone.

"For the last few years, we've offered group video calling to Premium users on Windows desktop and Mac and more recently Xbox One," Skype said in a blog post. "Today, we're excited to announce that we're making group video calling free - for all users on these platforms. And, in the future, we'll be enabling group video calling for all our users across more platforms - at no cost."

The change is mostly because Microsoft wanted to bring Skype group video calling to Xbox One and to do that, it needed to make the service free of charge. As of this morning Skype group video calling is available free on Windows desktop, Mac and Xbox One clients. With this new change, Microsoft has also ended the Skype Premium subscription all together, but it will still charge for making domestic and international phone calls.

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Apple holographic display patent app lets users touch 3D objects

Shane McGlaun | Displays & Projectors | Apr 28, 2014 10:17 AM CDT

A new patent application from Apple has shown up online that is for a new holographic display for devices that allows the user to interact with 3D objects. Those 3D objects appear to flat in the air above the surface of the display. The patent application is titled "Interactive three-dimensional display system" and shows a method that Apple has created that allows the user of a device to manipulate 3D objects with gestures and touch.

The display system that patent app outlines has three major parts. One is a display system that creates a primary 3D image. Another is an optical system to translate that first image into a secondary 3D image that floats in the air. The final part is a sensor that logs user input.

Apple also uses a processing unit and control security to give feedback. Images projected with the display are digital. Apple talks about infrared laser or other light emitting devices to project an image into a medium like a non-linear crystal. That medium would be located between two parabolic mirrors. This sounds like an interesting display, but as with all tech that shows up on a patent application, there is no way to know if the tech will ever be used.

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GIGABYTE gets wet unveiling its new WaterForce VGA cooling solution

Anthony Garreffa | Cases, Cooling & PSU | Apr 28, 2014 1:22 AM CDT

GIGABYTE has quite the air-cooling solution in its popular, and very capable WindForce coolers - but the company has just stepped up its game, unveiling its new WaterForce cooler.

GIGABYTE's WaterForce cooling solutions were shown off during the Tech Tour event on April 25, 2014. GIGABYTE's WaterForce solution includes a massive external module that houses the coolant reservoirs, an even bigger radiator with multiple fans, the pumps, and ports for cooling for individual GPUs, that get pushed through to your case through a hub that requires a spare 5.25-inch drive bay.

The company has put some serious time into WaterForce, as the main unit displays temperature for each of the coolant channels, where you can control everything performance-wise, including taking temperatures and noise levels. The tubes then get connected to a WaterForce-capable GPU, which feature full-coverage water blocks that cover the GPU, RAM and VRMs - a nice touch.

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AMD releases Catalyst 14.4 WHQL drivers, supports Radeon R9 295X2

Anthony Garreffa | Software & Apps | Apr 27, 2014 11:16 PM CDT

It was barely a week ago that AMD released its Catalyst 14.4 RC (Release Candidate) drivers, but now the company has just unleashed its WHQL-certified drivers, the Catalyst 14.4 WHQL set of drivers.

The new drivers support the Radeon R9 295X2 dual-GPU, feature CrossFire frame-pacing improvements for multiple games, full support for OpenGL 4.4, and various bugfixes for its Mantle API. You can grab the new Catalyst 14.4 WHQL drivers right here.

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Zack Snyder confirmed as the director of the Justice League movie

Anthony Garreffa | Celebrities & Entertainment | Apr 27, 2014 9:50 PM CDT

Warner Bros. has finally announced that it is making a Justice League movie, appointing Zack Snyder to direct. Snyder directed the latest Superman reboot, Man of Steel, and is currently working on Man of Steel 2 right now.

As soon as Snyder is finished on Man of Steel 2, he will begin work on Justice League. We have already seen the beginnings of the Justice League movie, after the immense box office-breaking The Avengers movie set in the Marvel universe. Warner Bros. has been itching to repeat this, but had to prepare the DC universe in the movies first, starting with Man of Steel.

Batman is being rebooted, with Ben Affleck to don the suit in Man of Steel 2, or Batman vs. Superman. Gal Gadot is starring in the Man of Steel sequel as Wonder Woman, the first time the Amazonian warrior has been on the big screen. President of Worldwide Productions for Warner Bros., Greg Silverman, said: "The plans for three superhero movies in relatively quick succession show how intent Warner is on catching up with rival Walt Disney Co.'s Marvel Studios in building a cinematic superhero universe after years lagging behind".

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Apple hires watchmaker to help design next, even thinner MacBook Air

Anthony Garreffa | Laptops | Apr 27, 2014 9:31 PM CDT

Apple's next-gen MacBook Air will arrive as an 11.6-inch device, but the feats of engineering required to get it thinner than the already-thin MacBook Air we all know and love have seen the company hire another watchmaker, according to our friends over at MobileGeek.

MobileGeek's sources in the supply industry claim that Apple's next MacBook Air will be "even thinner, lighter, and above all more compact". According to people familiar with the matter, Apple has hired an extra watchmaker for the development of the new MBA. The watchmaker has the experience in working with highly complex, and very small components.

What Apple wants to see, is an 11.6-inch MacBook Air released, but on the dimensions of the classic 10.1-inch netbook form factor. If there's a company that can get the engineering and design right, it's Apple. It should be quite the small notebook when released later this year.

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A working Pip-Boy 3000 has been thanks to NASA's SpaceApps Challenge

Anthony Garreffa | Wearable Computing & Fashion | Apr 27, 2014 6:55 PM CDT

Most people who have played Fallout 3 loved the idea of the wearable Pip-Boy 3000 device, well, a five-member group called Team Reno have done just that - created a Pip-Boy 3000 like device.

Team Reno created the device as part of NASA's SpaceApps Challenge, which saw designers creating wearable technology for future space travelers. Team Reno's device was capable of displaying relative humidity, altitude, latitude and longitude, atmospheric pressure, ambient temperature, object temperature, and radiation levels.

The team wrote about their entry, saying: "We wanted to make a piece of popular science fiction into a reality so we chose the Pip-Boy 3000 from the game Fallout 3. The goal was to bring environmental sensors into an easy-to-use cuff device that could help a wearer determine if their environment is safe for navigation or helmet removal".

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