News
LG G4 To Feature A 3K Display
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Qwertywarrior
Source 2: nextpowerup.com
leaked specs for G4 show a 1620x2880 display under note “screen size”
display size is currently unknown, but rumors point to 5.3-inch display
~626 pixels-per-inch, compared to the 5.1-inch Galaxy S5 which has 576 PPI
announcement should take place in Q2 2015
G3 had a 5.5-inch display in quadHD(2560x1440) 538 PPI
Microsoft now pays AdBlock Plus to not have its ads blocked
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Goodbytes
Source 2: winbeta.org
joins Google, Taboola, and Amazon - other companies that have paid to be removed from the default ABP blacklist
non-disruptive ads are automatically added to the whitelist for smaller sites
getting added to the whitelist is costly for large companies
remember AdBlock Plus is not the same as others
Time Warner Cable's 97 Percent Profit Margin on High-Speed Internet Service Exposed
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Victorious Secret
Source 2: huffingtonpost.com
based on 2013 records
proof of what was already very apparent - that ISPs overcharge, nickel and dime customers
average revenue from high speed data in 2013 was 43.92 per customer, while the average cost to TWC was $1.32
mark up prices with a bunch of fees including modem rental and “franchise fees”
some customers have reported fee increases of over 100% in a matter of two years
New consumer Intel 750 NVMe SSD pops up in UNH-IOL compatibility list - Storage Solution
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Its Me
Source 2: tweaktown.com
code-named August Ridge
popped up on the roadmap as a release for Q4 2014
that time has passed, but we can still expect it… soon-ish? no official news
750 series SSDs
available in both 2.5” and M.2
capacities of 180, 240, 360, 480, and 600GB
will feature NVMe 1.1b interface
NVMe will provide a low-latency interconnect that will allow Intel to break the SATA performance barrier
appears that Intel is close to being the first SSD manufacturer with a consumer NVMe SSD
Sony has sold SoE
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Kingcry
Source 2: forums.station.sony.com
Source 3: shacknews.com
Source 4: gameblogs.net
studio behind games like Planetside 2 and H1Z1, and the upcoming EverQuest Next
acquired by Columbus Nova, a New York-based investment management firm
new name is Daybreak Game Company
John Smedley, President of Daybreak Game Company said they want to “fully embrace the multi-platform world in which we all live”
rumor has it they’re looking to bring H1Z1 to consoles
mobile was also mentioned as a future route for Daybreak Game Company
Apple converting its Sapphire plant into a datacenter. $2 billion investment
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Goodbytes
Source 2: theverge.com
plant was initially built for GT Advanced Technologies to produce sapphire glass for iPhone 6 & 6 Plus
mismanagement by both Apple and GTAT left GTAT unable to mass produce sapphire glass
GTAT filed for bankruptcy, Apple is repurposing the factory it purchased for GTAT
1.3 million-square-foot building, will be powered entirely by renewable energy
expected to create 150 full-time jobs and 300-500 construction and trade jobs
sapphire production plant would have created 2000 jobs
this is one of the largest investments Apple has ever made
Ubisoft Reinstating Fraudulent Far Cry 4 and Assassin's Creed Unity Keys For Customers Already Playing
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Rohith Kumar Sp
Source 2: vg247.com
Source 3: linustechtips.com
some codes purchased through G2A and other online game retailers
fake/stolen credit cards were used to originally purchase some of the codes sold on these sites
Ubisoft decided that their best course of action was to deactivate all keys purchased through third party resellers
one gamer compared it to “purchasing a hammer from Wal Mart and then having the makers of the hammer sneak into your house at night and steal it back.”
Ubisoft has now reinstated all codes that had already been successfully activated and played on a consumer’s account
they have stated that they will continue to deactivate fraudulently purchased keys in the future, though it seems that they will take more care in their future investigations
Consoles may get 4K Hardware upgrade Q4 2015 [RUMOR FROM NETFLIX]
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Craider
Source 2: forbes.com
Chief Product Officer of Netflix, Neil Hunt, stated at CES that Sony had “promised” a PS4 hardware revision that would give the console 4K video capabilities
since then they have stated that they aren’t in a position to speak definitively on Sony’s plans
timing makes sense as it lines up with their usual 2 year hardware revision
Netflix believes that this will bring the necessary components to deliver 4K video playback (note: in case it was unclear, this is NOT for 4K gaming)
Sony and Microsoft both declined to comment when contacted by Forbes
speculated that this would also bring an upgrade to HDMI 2.0, though that is not confirmed by any reputable source
3-Month later, Android 5.0 (Lollipop), has only 1.6% market share
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Goodbytes
Source 2: neowin.net
Source 3: linustechtips.com
only 1.6% of Android devices are operating on Lollipop
actually a big jump from last month, when only 0.1% of devices were operating on Lollipop
Jelly Bean is still the leader with 44.5% between 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3
39.7% of users are still operating on KitKat
number of KitKat devices grew by 0.6% over the last month, which is a big slowdown from the previous month’s growth (5.2%)
Dual GPU cards may finally be able to combine their VRAM.
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Assassin
Source 2: wccftech.com
Source 3: twitter.com
memory does not stack because a complete copy of a game has to be run in each GPU
frames are alternated between the cards
Mantle will allow developers to surpass old soft architecture limitations and enable buffer stacking
it is likely that future low overhead APIs will follow in Mantle’s footsteps in this sense
"just because you are running Windows 10 and DX12 and/or Mantle API does not mean that your multiple GPU configuration is now stacking memory. The capability is present in these low overhead APIs but they will not come into affect until devs specifically optimize the game as such."
luke note: Profiles for multi GPU are already often delayed till after launch...
Razer updates the Blade with Maxwell and more RAM
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Alexgoeshigh
Source 2: anandtech.com
minor updates to the GPU and more RAM
870M is upgraded to the 970M
16GB of RAM is now an option
upgrading CPU from an i7-4702HQ to an i7-4720HQ (higher clock speed, 47W TDP compared to 37 on the 4702)
the more efficient 970M allows for a higher TDP CPU
also a new lower-end version, 1080P IPS display, non touch, with 256GB SSD for $1999
aside from that it’s the same
FCC will declare the internet Title II & apply net neutrality to mobile
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Smittyshmee
Source 2: theverge.com
Source 3: wired.com
Tom Wheeler, Chairman of FCC, gave a statement to Wired RE: net neutrality and Title II
“This week, I will circulate to the members of the FCC proposed new rules to preserve the internet as an open platform for innovation and free expression.”
tells the story of NABU: The Home Computer Network (a competitor to AOL), a startup that he was the President of that failed because networks acted as gatekeepers
“Using this authority (title II), I am submitting to my colleagues the strongest open internet protections ever proposed by the FCC. These enforceable, bright-line rules will ban paid prioritization, and the blocking and throttling of lawful content and services. I propose to fully apply - for the first time ever - those bright-line rules to mobile broadband. My proposal assures the rights of Internet users to go where they want, when they want, and the rights of innovators to introduce new products without asking anyone’s permission.”
also wants to modernize Title II, tailoring it for the 21st century, in order to provide returns necessary to construct competitive networks
no rate regulation, no tarrifs, no last-mile unbundling
under the modified Title II, there will be a general conduct rule that can be used to stop new and novel threats to the internet
“This means the action we take will be strong enough and flexible enough not only to deal with the realities of today, but also to establish ground rules for the as yet unimagined.”
“The Internet must be fast, far, and open. That is the message I’ve heard from consumers and innovators across this nation. That is the principle that has enabled the Internet to become an unprecedented platform for innovation and human expression. And that is the lesson I learned heading a tech startup at the dawn of the Internet age. The proposal I present to the commission will ensure the Internet remains open, now and in the future, for all Americans.”
details of the updated Title II have not been released yet, but it is likely that the proposal will be leaked soon
China Will Require Real Name Registration for the Interwebs
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Powderbanks
Source 2: variety.com
beginning March 1
putting the burden on ISPs and Internet companies to enforce the rules
650 million Internet users
new rule is intended to halt the spread of rumors and the use of social media accounts masquerading as public figures
The Great Firewall of China stepped up measures to prevent VPN use last week, limiting their access to global news and global social media
Samsung Galaxy S6 chassis leaked ? (all metal ,but non-removable back, very simiIlar to the Phone 6)
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Nineshadow
Source 2: phonearena.com
Source 3: phonearena.com
Source 4: phonearena.com
Source 5: phonearena.com
said to have a sealed, unibody metal casing
use of glass material on the front and back
“one executive at a parts supplier” said “The Galaxy S6 will make its debut in two versions - flat and rounded screens. It will have a meta build, which will make it look even more like Apple’s latest models.”
Samsung Pay said to be embedded in the new phone
might be based on magnetic emitting that mimics your credit card, not NFC
potentially accepted in 10 million points of sale without retooling existing machines
Apple Pay is only available in about 200,000 spots
allegedly based on Loop Pay
Galaxy S6 was intended only as a dual-edged screen, but Samsung is including a flat screen model as swell due to insufficient yields of curved glass panels
5.1” display, Samsung Exynos chipset, same size battery as previous generation (more focus on safely storing the flammable liquids) but non-replaceable, not upgradable
set to be unveiled a day before the MWC expo starts, March 1
Nintendo creators program forces youtubers to delete videos of competitors games if the want all benefits of the program
Source 1: linustechtips.com OP: Alexgoeshigh
Source 2: recode.net
Link 1: r.ncp.nintendo.net/whitelist/
Recap: The Nintendo Creators Program, which launched last week, lets video creators split the 60 percent of ad revenue left to them by YouTube with Nintendo.
Nintendo is telling YouTubers that if they want to get paid, they may have to delete some videos from their channels completely.
Video makers won’t be accepted to the program at the higher revenue-share rate — 70 percent — if their channels have any videos of any games not explicitly permitted by a Nintendo whitelist.
Felix “PewDiePie” Kjellberg wrote on Tumblr last week, he and his personal brand of silliness are more popular than the titles he highlights. “If I played a Nintendo game on my channel, most likely most of the views and ad revenue would come from the fact that my viewers are subscribed to me,” Kjellberg wrote. “Not necessarily because they want to watch a Nintendo game in particular.”