Jozi

Well this might be i7 4770K box art:

Hmm so somebody posted this before me, but not in tech news so I didn't notice it. Sorry about double posting and thanks dave for editing :)

Just moments ago, Intel posted a countdown teaser on their social media channels revealing the nanoseconds left (3,337,200,000,000,000) to the launch of Haswell (otherwise known as 4th generation Core), which falls during the annual technology showcase in Taiwan - Computex Taipei 2013. According to industry sources, the actual product line launches (Desktop, Mobile, GT3e) will be staggered across the entire week of Computex (3rd-7th June). Actual product availability will as usual, vary between countries and territories but here is some useful advice in case you plan to save up for one of these bunnies: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-s-4th-generation-core-processors-haswell-launch-date-officially-revealed--computex-taipei-2013/19839.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2030073/the-pirate-bay-admits-to-north-korean-hosting-hoax.html

After The Pirate Bay’s new Greenland-based domains were suspended earlier this month, the world’s largest file-sharing site has found a safe haven in Iceland. From now on TPB can be reached via ThePirateBay.is without the imminent threat of another domain suspension. The Icelandic registry informs TorrentFreak that they will not take action against the domain unless a court order requires them to do so. It has been a busy month for The Pirate Bay’s IT department thus far, with the site skipping from domain to domain. Two weeks ago the notorious BitTorrent site traded in its .SE domain for the Greenland-based .GL TLD. The Pirate Bay took this decision because they feared that Swedish authorities were about to take over their domain names. However, TPB did not receive a warm welcome in Greenland. Within two days of the move The Pirate Bay lost both its .GL domain names. Tele-Post, the private company responsible for .GL registrations, did not wait for a court order and said it would not allow the domains to be put to “illegal” use. Resilient as always, TPB aren’t about to give up that easily and have already lined up yet another domain name. This time they’re going for Iceland’s .IS TLD, which will be a little harder to take offline. Ahoy Iceland Thepiratebay.is was registered after the Greenland debacle and traffic was redirected to the new domain a few minutes ago. Iceland is an interesting choice as the country previously positioned itself as a safe haven for freedom of speech. Whether The Pirate Bay’s activities are considered protected under this definition remains to be seen, but ISNIC, the company responsible for .IS domains, informs TorrentFreak that they have no plans to treat thepiratebay.is any differently to their other domains. When we asked whether ISNIC would follow Greenland’s lead and move for a proactive suspension, we got a clear answer. “The short answer is no. Such an action would require a formal order from an Icelandic court. ISNIC is not responsible for a registrant’s usage of their domains,” ISNIC’s Marius Olafsson told TorrentFreak. This is not the first time that Iceland’s registry has been asked about possible actions against a controversial domain. In 2010, when Wikileaks was hosted under an .IS TLD, the company gave the same response. “This policy applies equally to any .is domain,” Olafsson says, adding that it’s the domain owner’s responsibility to abide by the law, not theirs. “There is an article in our registration rules which states that ‘the registrant is responsible for ensuring that the use of the domain is within the limits of Icelandic law as current at any time’,” he explains. ISNIC’s position means that The Pirate Bay will probably be operating from the .IS domain for a while. Technically copyright holders could file a complaint, but without a prior ruling against the site in Iceland this will probably turn out to be a time-consuming and expensive endeavor. Even if the domain was taken away, The Pirate Bay would probably move on to the next one as if nothing happened. Until they run out of domains. Update: Several users report that the domain change has made TPB accessible again om ISPs where it was previously blocked. We assume that the respective blocklists will all be updated in the near future. http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-finds-safe-haven-in-iceland-switches-to-is-domain-130425/

Just when the Game of Thrones file-sharing controversy had begun settling into the background, the most senior figure yet has weighed in on the debate. Marking UN World Book and Copyright Day and citing TorrentFreak stats to on how many times the show has been downloaded, the U.S. Ambassador to Australia has pleaded with Aussies to stop making excuses and “do the right thing” by paying for Game of Thrones. There can be little doubt that Game of Thrones has turned out to be somewhat of an epic. The show has millions of fans all over the world but of course, not all of them have been paying for the experience. In fact, Game of Thrones has become the most-pirated show and ever since that news broke people have been weighing in on the debate. Show director David Petrarca said shows like Game of Thrones thrive on “cultural buzz” and piracy, he suggested, helps to move that along. HBO programming president Michael Lombardo and actor Rose Leslie, who plays Ygritte in the show, both described piracy as a “compliment“. Now, a senior figure in authority (with the most grand title thus far) has thrown his opinion into the mix. Speaking in support of this week’s 17th annual UN World Book and Copyright Day, Jeffrey L. Bleich is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Australia. This longtime friend of Barack Obama is unhappy at what has transpired. “The file-sharing news website TorrentFreak estimated that Game of Thrones was the most-pirated TV series of 2012. One episode was illegally downloaded about 4,280,000 times through public BitTorrent trackers in 2012, which is about equal to the number of that episode’s broadcast viewers. In other words, about half of that episode’s viewers stole the program from HBO,” said the diplomat. “As the Ambassador here in Australia, it was especially troubling to find out that Australian fans were some of the worst offenders with among the highest piracy rates of Game of Thrones in the world. While some people here used to claim that they used pirate sites only because of a delay in getting new episodes here, the show is now available from legitimate sources within hours of its broadcast in the United States,” he said. Of course, good things often come from piracy. In response to the download controversy, HBO said it would try to air Game of Thrones more quickly in Australia in order to remove one of the prime reasons for people obtaining the show through unauthorized channels. But, said the Ambassador, airing delays and other complaints are no excuse for theft. “I realize that fans of Game of Thrones who have used illegal file-sharing sites have reasons. They will say it was much easier to access through these sites, or that they got frustrated by the delay in the first season, or their parents wouldn’t pay for a subscription, or they will complain about some other issue with copyright laws. But none of those reasons is an excuse – stealing is stealing,” he said. Imploring fans to boycott “big businesses that make money by encouraging consumers to illegally upload material”, Ambassador Bleich asked people to imagine a scenario in which everyone downloaded Game of Thrones for free, season 3 was never made, and the show was off the air. But Bleich’s comments weren’t well received by fans on Facebook who were less than sympathetic. “You are an uninformed idiot, Bleich,” said one. “Why not tell HBO to allow people to subscribe to their online service around the world without having to pay for cable TV AND HBO just to get HBO Go?” “Most of the commercial sites where we could actually watch stuff for free (that the U.S has access to) block our [iP addresses],” said another. “Content is always delivered later on our TV and rarely are shows like this delivered to free-to-air. We welcome U.S film makers etc to start treating us with some respect, not say ‘You can watch what everyone else has when WE say so’.” In fact, digging through the dozens of comments one is hard pushed to find any that are sympathetic to the Ambassador’s plea. That being said, the vast majority aren’t boasting about getting something for free either. Instead one reads complaint after complaint from people wanting to buy a product but are being underserved by HBO. We’ve often commented that piracy is a market signal, but it’s definitely worth saying again. http://torrentfreak.com/us-ambassador-pleads-stop-pirating-game-of-thrones-its-stealing-130426/

North Korean citizens will not have access to the 3G network. North Korean mobile phone provider Koryolink is planning to launch a 3G data service for foreign visitors and residents from abroad. Egyptian telecoms firm Orascom, which is a partner in Koryolink, estimates that more than 1 million North Koreans use mobile phones. They will not be able to use the new service, according to reports. Orascom launched a 3G phone network inside North Korea in 2008, but users can only use it to make phone calls. International calls, including calls to South Korea, are banned. In January 2013 the government began allowing foreign visitors to bring their own mobile devices into the country with them for the first time. Following a recent visit to the notoriously closed country, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt wrote in a blog post that North Korea's decision to isolate itself "is very much going to affect their physical world and their economic growth." He added that it would be "very easy" for 3G internet access to be enabled on the existing service. Current internet access is extremely limited for locals, with most people only having access to a small number of state-run pages. North Korea expert Scott Thomas Bruce previously told the BBC this comprises mainly "message boards, chat functions, and state sponsored media". "The system they've set up is one that they can control and tear down if necessary," he said.

Some Android apps update without going through Google's Play Store, but those days are through. From now on, all apps will have to go through the store for their updates. Android users will be aware that some of their apps, such as the Facebook app, can update without going through the official Play Store. By choosing to allow installations from unknown sources on their smartphones and tablets, an alert in an app could take users to updates hosted anywhere. Google has now seen it fit to change their content policy so that it bans developers from doing this. From now on, all updates must occur through Google Play. According to the new policy: "An app downloaded from Google Play may not modify, replace or update its own APK binary code using any method other than Google Play's update mechanism." There is little in the means of getting around this rule, so from now on Facebook and anybody else using independent updates will have to fall in line. The rule doesn't however, seem to include apps which weren't originally acquired through Play. http://vr-zone.com/articles/google-bans-non-play-store-app-updates/19830.html

Are you tired of SimCity, but not tired of building cities? Banished offers a fresh new take on the genre, on a much smaller scale. Unfortunately, a lot of gamers have been driven away from Maxis' SimCity due to it's broken and limited features, disastrous launch and online-only requirement. These same people, me included, were likely waiting for months to get back to city-planning, and many of them left feeling unsatisfied by the meal they were given. This is where Banished comes in. Banished is a fresh and intimate new take on the city planning game and has you leading a group of banished people trying to build a new home. At the start of the game, you'll have some settlers and a cart filled with supplies. From there, you'll have to make it on your own. The game plays like a hybrid between SimCity and Age of Empires, but without the combat. Perhaps Tropico is a better comparison. You'll place buildings, make roads and bridges, but also farm, cut down wood and make preparations for the winter by tailoring shirts and gathering firewood. The game's economy is based on a barter system; you'll have to trade as there is no “money” resource to speak of. Perhaps the most impressive part about this game is that it is the work of one man and his software company, Shining Rock Software. Despite plenty of people wanting to help him with the game, he sees it as a personal challenge to finish it on his own. The game engine and code are all his own design. Banished will be released at some point this year. http://vr-zone.com/articles/banished-a-more-intimate-simcity/19828.html

Microsoft's next Xbox will be revealed in a series of events in the first half of 2013 Microsoft on Wednesday confirmed that the next Xbox video game console, code-named Durango, will be revealed to the public during a special event at its Redmond campus on May 21. That event will kick off a multi-event unveiling that will continue through June and culminate with the release of the device, which is expected in early November. On March 28, I exclusively revealed via Twitter that Microsoft had changed the original reveal date for the next Xbox from April 24 to May 21. So yesterday’s confirmation is interesting for two reasons, the least obvious of which is that the news came on April 24—the original date that the firm intended to reveal the next Xbox. Related: "Microsoft Touts Xbox Momentum and Future" Here’s what I know about the next Xbox (along with some clearly identified conjecture). Early announce. The initial reveal date was pushed back from April 24 to May 21 so that Microsoft could better position the device against the PlayStation 4, which Sony announced in late February. Full (end user) announce. Microsoft will fully reveal details about the next Xbox, including the launch lineup of games, on the eve of the E3 tradeshow in early June 2013. Developer announce? It appears that Microsoft will discuss the next Xbox developer platform at the Build conference in San Francisco in late June, based on clues on the Build website. Launch. The next Xbox will launch in early November 2013. Windows 8 Core. The next Xbox is based on the "Core" (base) version of Windows 8. This suggests a common apps platform or at least one that is similar to that used by Windows 8. It also suggests that Microsoft could open up this platform to enthusiast developers. (That last bit is supposition on my part.) Price. Microsoft will initially offer two pricing models for the console: a standalone version for $499 and a $299 version that requires a two-year Xbox LIVE Gold commitment at an expected price of $10 per month. No entertainment box. Microsoft originally planned to offer both a “full” version of the next Xbox (with video game playing capabilities) and a lower-end entertainment-oriented version, code-named “Yuma,” that didn't provide gaming capabilities. But plans for Yuma are on hold, and no pure entertainment version of the next Xbox will appear in 2013 (or possibly ever). Blu-ray. The next Xbox will include a Blu-ray optical drive. Internet-connected. The next Xbox must be Internet-connected to use. This is the source of the “always on”/“always online” rumors and isn’t as Draconian as many seem to believe. Another Xbox 360. Microsoft will also deliver a third-generation Xbox 360 console this year that will be significantly less expensive than the current models. The new Xbox 360 is code-named “Stingray,” but it’s not clear whether this device is required because the next Xbox isn’t backward-compatible or because Microsoft simply wants a low-cost entertainment box alternative. (A third possibility—and to be clear, these possible reasons are all speculative—is that the Xbox 360 simply has life left in it and with dwindling component prices in the 8 years since the original launch, the firm can still make money selling such a device.) There’s a lot I don’t know, of course. The name is a big area of speculation, and while I’ve heard nothing official, I’d be surprised if Microsoft didn’t just called it Xbox. I’ve never seen the console, nor have any idea what it might look like. And in addition to the aforementioned confusion over backward compatibility and the apps platform, there are questions surrounding Kinect (which I understand is integrated and non-optional) and of course the fabled (and possibly imaginary) Xbox Surface tablet. We’ll have to wait and see what Microsoft announces—or what it leaks—to find out more. On that note, Microsoft’s May event will be broadcast live via Xbox.com, over Xbox LIVE, and on Spike TV if you're in the United States or Canada. http://windowsitpro.com/paul-thurrotts-wininfo/here-comes-next-xbox?

Intel CEO Paul Otelini revealed recently that notebooks may cost as little as $200 in the near future. He didn't specify the operating system such a notebook would be running, but now Vice President and chief product officer Dadi Perlmutter has chimed in, revealing to CNET on Wednesday that such a computer would predominately be running on Android with Intel's Atom processor. He didn't say that a $200 Windows 8 notebook was out of the question either, but the price for such a computer would largely depend on Microsoft. "We have a good technology that enables a very cost-effective price point," Perlmutter said. "[The cost] depends on how Microsoft prices Windows 8. It may be a slightly higher price point." Dadi Perlmutter As Intel is facing a slowdown in the market, the chip maker has been pushing new types of computers. Intel is especially pushing convertibles, notebooks which can be converted into tablets depending on the user's need. The $200 Android notebook Intel has been talking about may indeed be a convertible device as well. Perlmutter revealed during the interview with CNET that he believes the PC market, which has been in a slump recently, will pick up during the second half of the year as more products become available. Further, Intel has revealed that though the cheapest laptops will use Intel's Atom chips, their mainstream Core chips will sell in laptops for as little as $399-$499. Perlmutter has explained that data-only, and voice-over multimode LTE processors will begin shipping by mid-year, increasing the potential applications for their processors. Qualcomm largely dominates the mobile market simply because they already use such chips. http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-notebooks-may-soon-hit-200/19827.html

Toshiba Corporation today announced that its new line of high performance CompactFlash (CF) memory cards1, the EXCERIA PRO series, will go on sale from April 27th in the Japanese market. Sales will also follow in Asia, Europe and North America. The initial line-up of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB cards offers the world's highest level read and write speeds3 and complies with the new Video Performance Guarantee Profile 2 (VPG-65) standard. The EXCERIA PRO CF cards integrate Toshiba's high performance NAND flash memory and specially developed dedicated firmware. They achieve a read speed of 160 MB/s and write speed of 150 MB/s, the highest level yet reported. The new cards are compliant with the CompactFlash Association (CFA) standard CompactFlash Specification Revision 6.1 and compatible with the UDMA7 high speed interface, ensuring they can support high performance DSLRs to the full. The cards are also compatible with the latest "Video Performance Guarantee Profile 2" standard, VPG-65. VPG-65 secures Full HD video capture streams at a minimum write speed of 65MB/s for compatible host devices and recording media. VPG-65 enables 4K resolution (a digital movie file format with horizontal resolution of approx. 4,000 pixels and vertical resolution of approx. 2,000 pixels) movie shooting and high quality Full HD video capture at high frame rates with no dropped frames. The market for DSLR is expected to grow by some 50% from 2012 to 2015 and demand for CF cards will grow with it. Toshiba will be developing high performance memory cards to meet those needs of the market. http://www.techpowerup.com/183230/Toshiba-to-Start-Sales-of-CompactFlash-Memory-Card-for-DSLRs.html

Savant - ♥

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities is suggesting that Apple will launch some new MacBook hardware sometime in June, with the new MacBooks to feature only Retina displays. We currently don’t have a clue as to how different the new MacBooks will look and feel, but according to Kuo’s sources the new line of MacBooks will boast “significant redesigns.” Kuo’s prediction is in direct conflict with Tim Cook’s recent statement regarding new hardware in 2013 and on. “We’ve got a lot more surprises in the works,” Cook said recently in Apple’s Q2 investor call. “Our teams are hard at work on some amazing new hardware, software, and services that we can’t wait to introduce in the fall and into 2014.” It is important to note that “new hardware” can mean a couple different things. It can refer to a “newly redesigned” existing product line, or it can mean a whole new product line altogether. So you can believe both or not trust either source. Regardless of how you view things, it’s very likely that Apple will adopt Intel’s new chip a lot sooner than most, and a new Haswell-based Retina MacBook is likely to head our way soon—be it June or the end of 2013. http://vr-zone.com/articles/macbook-featuring-intel-s-haswell-chip-go-into-production-in-may/19818.html

Asus Introduces External DAC with 120dB SNR, 600ohm Headphone Amplifier and Swappable Op-Amps [04/25/2013 10:46 PM] by Anton Shilov Asustek Computer this week announced the Xonar Essence STU USB external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier, based on the acclaimed design and quality of Xonar Essence ST/STX internal sound cards and going beyond their already high standards. Offering audiophile-grade performance, Xonar Essence STU delivers USB connectivity and accessible external controls. It offers clear sound with a 120dB signal to noise ratio (SNR), strong 600ohm headphone amplifier, asynchronous USB audio and swappable Op-Amps for DIY sound modification. Precision clock tuning technology further enhances audio fidelity, making Xonar Essence STU a great choice for discerning music lovers who need a quality DAC and headphone amplifier to drive the full capabilities of high-end headphones. “We received considerable positive feedback from customers regarding the excellent sound quality of Xonar Essence ST/STX sound cards, which led us to develop Xonar Essence STU as a USB device that offers even more premium audio quality plus easy controls and connectivity to notebooks. This is another example of Asus listening to the community and acting on consumer demand,” said Ives Chiu, audiovisual product manager at the Asus multimedia business unit. High Quality Precision Audio Xonar Essence STU delivers clean, clear, and low distortion sound with 120dB SNR. It achieves this thanks to exacting hardware design, which includes balanced (or mirrored) PCB layout for accurate reproduction of all sound sources and minimal component crosstalk, or interference. Asus uses audio industry-leading components such as the Texas Instruments PCM1792A DAC and TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier, which supports up to 600ohm impedance. Also included are audiophile-approved WIMA FKP2 and Nichicon Finegold capacitors for balanced and rich sound. To satisfy the most demanding users, Xonar Essence STU features precision clock tuning technology and asynchronous audio transfer. Both ensure accurate and jitter-free sound fidelity, allowing customers to enjoy music in its purest form. Bit-perfect playback is aided by support for ASIO audio drivers. Ease of Use As an external device, Xonar Essence STU offers readily-accessible controls with no need to go into software menus. Customers can switch between low and high gain settings, accommodating better listening experiences across a wide range of headphones, from in-ear headsets (typically 16ohm-32ohm) to premium full-size headphones (up to 600ohm). This is especially useful with the increasing popularity of mobile devices, which normally ship with low impedance/high sensitivity headsets. Dual volume controls help users change speaker and headphone sound levels simultaneously, similar to features offered by dedicated audio decks. The USB interface means connectivity with USB-compliant devices, while I/O ports include stereo RCA out, a 6.3mm headphone jack, two digital inputs, and auxiliary in. Xonar Essence STU can be placed horizontally and vertically with a bundled stand, giving customers more space-saving flexibility for different locations and situations. Tonal Tuning and Advanced Controls Texas Instruments NS-LME49720 and NS-LM4562NA Op-Amps (or operational amplifiers) deliver acoustics fine-tuned by audio engineers to support livelier and more detailed spacious sound. Xonar Essence STU has room for three swappable Op-Amps, which can be replaced by users to adjust tonal performance based on personal taste. This open-ended and customizable design is inherited from previous Xonar Essence audio products, and remains true to the series’ commitment to accommodating as many customer preferences as possible. Additional advanced features are a jumper switch that re-routes sound via Xonar Essence STU, allowing it to be used as a pre-amplifier in conjunction with a dedicated power amplifier. Customers can opt to adjust master volume directly on the power amplifier without having to reach Xonar Essence STU controls. Also, a selectable DC servo headphone output can be activated to minimize pop noise which may occur when powering on. http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20130425224643_Asus_Launches_Audiophile_Grade_External_Xonar_Essence_STU_Audio_Solution.html

Leap Motion Controller for PCs and Macs Pushed Back to Late July [04/25/2013 08:34 PM] by Anton Shilov Leap Motion, a designer of motion-control software and hardware for personal computers, announced on Thursday that it would delay commercial shipments of its controller and software from mind-May to late July. The company cites necessity to test the actual product with software developers and beta testers before shipping it to general customers. “I wanted to reach out to update you on the status of our ship date. After a lot of consideration, we have decided to push back the date and will now be shipping units to pre-order customers on July 22nd,” said Michael Buckwald, chief executive officer and co-founder of Leap Motion, According the head of Leap Motion, it has manufactured over six hundred thousand devices and delivered twelve thousand to developers who are building applications. Customers from over 150 countries have already ordered hundreds of thousands of devices. While the supply and demand situation looks normal and Leap Motion could fulfill all the orders on time, the company decided to actually beta test the product before shipping to end-users. As a result, starting from June Leap Motion will commence a beta program. The company will give the twelve thousand of developers who currently have Leap Motion controllers access to the feature complete product including OS interaction (today developers only have access to the SDK). Leap Motion will also invite some people who are not developers to join the beta test. “Ultimately, the only way we felt 100% confident we could deliver a truly magical product that would do justice to this new form of interaction, was to push the date so we would have more time for a larger, more diverse beta test,” said Mr. Buckwald. Leap Motion's technology – which relies on a special receiver hardware and custom software – can track movements to 1/100th millimeter with no visible lag time. The Leap Motion controller has a 150-degree field of view, and tracks individual hands and all 10 fingers at 290 frames per second. The controller will be able to control the operating system as well as specially-built apps. Earlier this year Leap Motion teamed up with Asustek Computer and Hewlett-Packard to bring motion-sensing capabilities to premium PCs. It remains to be seen how the delay of the controller affects plans of Asus and HP. http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20130425203403_Leap_Motion_Delays_Shipment_of_Controllers_by_Two_Months.html

Nintendo to Focus on Smaller Media Events as Video Game Market Enters Transformation [04/24/2013 11:57 PM] by Anton Shilov Nintendo said on Wednesday that it would not host a big press conference this year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) trade-show this year. The firm wants to focus on several smaller events given the fact that it has no new hardware to announce. Moreover, to communicate the information to its Japanese customers through media resources, such as Nintendo Direct. In the past, Nintendo invited reporters, investors, analysts, industry partners, such as software publishers, and distributors who attended E3 to its large-scale presentations. The company used them as a communication tool in which we broadcast our presentations on the Internet to reach out to video game fans around the globe. Nintendo decided not to host a large-scale presentation targeted at everyone in the international audience as it did in the past. “Instead, at the E3 show this year, we are planning to host a few smaller events that are specifically focused on our software lineup for the U.S. market. There will be one closed event for American distributors, and we will hold another closed hands-on experience event, for mainly the Western gaming media. During the E3 period, we will utilize our direct communication tools, such as Nintendo Direct, to deliver information to our Japanese audience,” said Satoru Iwata, the president of Nintendo. At this year’s E3 two of Nintendo’s arch-rivals – Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp. – are planning to unveil additional details about the Xbox Next as well as the PlayStation 4. Both companies will host several large press conferences, which means that even if Nintendo had a big press conference planned, the competitors would steal all of the media attention from Wii U. Therefore, it simply makes no sense for Nintendo to have a large presence at the E3. "We will use E3 as an ideal opportunity to talk in detail mainly about the Wii U titles that we are going to launch this year, and we also plan to make it possible for visitors to try the games immediately. As a brand new challenge, we are working to establish a new presentation style for E3," added Mr. Iwata. http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20130424235720_Nintendo_Cancels_E3_Press_Conference_Will_Try_Different_Strategy.html

Believe it or not, there are people out there who would like to have an iPhone-like handset but with Android as the OS. We’ve seen a lot of iPhone clones in the past, and JiaYu’s G5 will be almost exactly what some of these cross-hearted people want. The G5’s stainless steel construction matches the iPhone 5 at every angle, but some key differences make the G5 somewhat ‘unique’. First off, the G5 doesn’t possess a physical front button like the iPhone, and the side volume toggles and power control are not the same shape nor are they lined up with the iPhone’s design. The headphone jack is also located at the top of the phone, rather than at the bottom like the iPhone. Internally, the G5 is anything but iPhone-like. The G5 is powered by MediaTek’s MT6589 quad-core processor and comes with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 13MP rear camera (3MP front), and Google’s Android OS. It also has two battery options, an 1850mAh to keep the phone looking slim, and a 3000mAh for extended power—though, this option will require a different back plate and adds additional bulk to the device. http://vr-zone.com/articles/jiayu-g5-android-smartphone-another-iphone-5-knockoff-but-with-some-classy-twists/19816.html

Want a glimpse of what LG may have in store for the US market come the first of May? Chances are this latest render (pictured above) from @evleaks could very turn out to be AT&T's Optimus G Pro variant. From the looks of things, not much has changed design-wise since we reviewed the 5.5-inch global model, with the removable, high-gloss backplate still sporting that sub-surface pattern first introduced on the Optimus G. Even the arrangement of the rear camera, flash and speaker appear to have remained the same -- the only noticeable difference is the AT&T globe situated none too subtly below. Whether or not LG's reworked its internals remains to be seen, but with the event now less than a week away, we'll have all the answers soon enough. http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/optimus-g-pro-for-atandt-leaks/

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Snapzoom stole a lot of hearts at Engadget Expand, but it didn't quite steal enough votes to win our Insert Coin contest. Now you can exact some justice, as the smartphone adapter for binoculars, telescopes and microscopes is up for grabs on Kickstarter to let you zoom in on the moon, bacteria or whatever else you can think of. So far it's vacuumed up $15,000 toward its $55,000 goal, and while the early bird offer is sold out, backers can still grab one starting at $60, a hefty discount from the final $80 retail price. For $90, you'll even get a basic 10x25 compact Bushnell travel binocular tossed in, so if you want to see what made our Insert Coin judges go zoom-crazy, hit the source or video after the jump. Previous project update: As we saw earlier today, Lightpack just hit Kickstarter and has drummed up $50,000 so far toward its (highly specific) goal of $261,962. Link to original post and video: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/insert-coin-snapzoom-on-kickstarter/

By James Trew posted Apr 25th, 2013 at 10:38 AM When you've got legitimate rock-sound credentials, why wouldn't you make headphones? Right? To that end, Marshall is back with a new pair -- called Monitor -- to sit at the top of its existing range. Players in the current market seem to have found the sweet spot between premium pricing and street credibility, and there's no change here. Priced at $200, the Monitor is pit against other sets that mix style-consciousness with claims of quality audio. It's not all about looks, though: the Monitor sports a proprietary "F.T.F" (Felt Treble Filter) system that lets you change the sound for a different high-end response. Under the hood is a 40mm driver, and the same gold, black and leather stylings we saw on the Major model. This time, however, Marshall opted for an over-ear fit, and threw in a few other goodies too. These include the increasingly popular 3.5mm pass-through jack (so friends can plug in and share your music), a collapsible design, a detachable part-coiled cable and in-line remote. The Monitor is available starting today for the aforementioned $200. But, if you want to know a little more, we got our hands on a set -- head past the break for our first impressions. Link to hands-on pictures: http://www.engadget.com/gallery/marshall-monitor-hands-on/ As you may have noticed, the Monitors are physically very similar to the Major model that preceded them. The head strap is near-identical and the same leather-look earcups and gold details have been used (including the gnarled housing on the 3.5mm jack) so that from a quick glance, they almost look the same. The folding mechanism works like a charm, and is one of the smoothest we've seen. Certainly it goes a long way in making them more travel-friendly. The detachable cord is handy, but there's no locking mechanism to keep it in place. The coil in the cable should deflect most tugs and pulls, but a snag this on a door handle, and we can see it coming right out. Not a bad thing, perhaps. There's a 3.5mm input on both ears giving you the choice to use either side, as well as the option of letting a friend plug their cans in too -- if sharing's your thing. The pads on the earcups are held on by magnets which means they can be removed easily to reveal that T.F.T. "system." Essentially, this is a removable felt pad that sits over the driver, taking the edge off the high end when in place. While the pads are easy to remove, they still feel secure enough that they're unlikely to come off while you rock out. As for the sound, Marshall claims that the Monitors have a frequency range that goes all the way down to 10Hz. It's unlikely you'll ever hear that low (please let us know if you do, though!), but nice to know it's fully covered. At the other end of the scale it all depends whether you have that filter in or not. With it, anything above around 3KHz is gently tamed, but not to the point where it feels detrimental. In fact, for casual listening, we preferred the sound with the filters in place, to the slightly harsher sound without. You might feel differently, but you might also appreciate the choice. We'd argue that if you're calling a product "Monitor" that you might aim for a truly flat response, but then, we're not about to discourage giving consumers choice, either. The phenomenon that is Beats by Dre is testament to the fact that, for a large number of people, pure, untouched sound isn't of primary concern. Certainly, in the brief time we tested the headset, we found the sound to be clear, bright and not too bassy, even as we sampled various musical styles (in various file formats and bitrates). Best of all, the Monitors are comfortable. Such a simple trait, but one that makes all the difference, and this is where an over-ear design comes into its own. As we alluded to at the top, it's starting to get a little busy in the $200-range / branded headphone market. Some contenders trade heavily on the design, or celebrity endorsement. Others rely on their long standing history in the business. Marshall seems to be doing a bit of all the above. While the F.T.F. system is a nice touch, we largely suspect you'll be making a decision to buy these based on your feelings for the brand. And why not? http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/marshall-monitor-headphones/

HTC is offering its flagship smartphone the HTC One in China with a microSD card slot, according to its own advertising, contradicting earlier claims by the company that it was unable to include one, leaving many around the world without the feature. The HTC One comes in two versions, a standard 32GB model and a 64GB one for developers. That is not enough space for many, however, and what seems like a standard feature on Android phones, room for a microSD card, was never employed. HTC claimed the reason for this was because of the phone's unique, gap-free design, which did not allow for such expansion. In fact, that is also the alleged reason users cannot remove the battery. Chinese users are getting half their prayers answered, however, as it looks like HTC is allowing microSD card expansion, likely due to being forced to provide dual-SIM support. The trade-off is that the phone is no longer “gap-free,” but has a removable back. However, this still will not allow access to the battery. Many customers outside China, however, might feel a little cheated that they are not getting this basic feature. While Apple got in trouble in China for its different warranty policies, it seems HTC might instead be in trouble with the rest of the world. http://vr-zone.com/articles/htc-one-in-china-to-have-microsd-card-slot-despite-previous-htc-claim/19812.html

The new keyboard layout allows users to type faster, without straining their thumbs, and is ideal for touchscreen typing. The old QWERTY is possible to give its place to KALQ, at least where smartphones and tablets are concerned. As you should have already noticed, typing on a mobile or tablet, takes way longer than on a regular keyboard. It’s natural, since the QWERTY layout was not made for thumb typing. Users need a new layout, ergonomically adjusted for easier thumb reach and customized for touchscreen devices. KALQ is the new alternative. Researchers from Max Plank Institute in Germany, Montana Tech in the US, and University of St Andrews in UK, devised the new keyboard layout by splitting the old QWERTY sequence into two easily reachable groups of keys. After testing series of different layouts, studying thumb movement patterns and using computational optimization techniques, they finally concluded that the best possible layout is this: User studies proved that the KALQ keyboard allows simultaneous use of both thumbs, it’s easy to get used to is and enables 34% faster thumb-typing than the traditional QWERTY keyboard. As Antti Oulasvirta, senior researcher of the team, said: "The key to optimizing a keyboard for two thumbs is to minimize long sequences with a single thumb. We also want to place frequently used letters centrally close to each other. Experienced typists move their thumbs simultaneously: While one is typing, the other is approaching its next target. We derived a predictive model of this behaviour for the optimization method." If you want to try it, the KALQ layout will soon be available from the Google Play store as a free app for androids. Apple owners will have to wait. http://vr-zone.com/articles/scientists-design-kalq-keyboard-map-for-faster-thumb-typing/19811.html

NuForce, Inc., a leader in professional and consumer audio gear, introduces its NE-650M earphones as the latest addition to the critically acclaimed NE-600 series. The NE-650M earphones provide a high-efficiency design employing an even greater level of performance than previous models in a series already noted for exceptional bass. Each earpiece houses an 11mm driver and an aerodynamic acoustic porting system that provide a harmonically correct tonality, a deeply layered soundstage and superb acoustic isolation. The NE-650M Earphones include a hands-free microphone with button for call answering and music playback control. The NuForce NE-650M offers the fashion-conscious consumer superior sound within a piano-black housing with red accents. Features - Advanced-technology extra-large drivers - High-efficiency acoustic design - Excellent bass impact - Self-untangling flat OFC wire - 5 sets of ear tips Specifications - Driver Size: 11 mm - Impedance: 16 Ohm - Frequency Response: 20 to 20 kHz - Connector: 3.5 mm 4-pin iPhone compatible-plug - Weight (without packing): 12.5 grams - Length: 43.3 inches Pricing and Availability Suggested retail price for the NuForce NE-650M is $44.95. Shipping will begin on April 22th, 2013. posted by Cristian_25H - 3:13 PM http://www.techpowerup.com/183194/NuForce-Releases-the-NE-650M-In-Ear-Headphones.html

While Philips did eventually bring its Ambilight technology to PC monitors, it wasn't before others had decided to roll their own. Now you can add ambient backlighting to any computer display without any of the attendant soldering and Arduino-wrangling, thanks to the folks at Woodenshark. The team has built Lightpack, an Ambilight-esque system that'll connect to a Windows, OS X or Linux PC and project the display's colors onto the area surrounding the screen. Plug the hockey puck-sized device into your computer, attach 10 LED modules to the back of your display and install the open-source software and you're good to go. Once ready, you can even set up custom alerts to measure CPU temperature or email volumes, and even control the lighting with your smartphone or tablet. The team has asked for the unusually specific figure of $261,962 in order to fund an initial production run of 5,000 units, with early backers able to snag one of the units for $50 instead of around $90. Interested to watch it in action? There's a video after the break, friends. Previous project update: Plenty of you are cloud-based home networking fans, but not enough, it seems, to get Skydog over the finishing line. The project is currently hovering just under its $75,000 goal, but there's still 19 days for it scrape those last few backers together. Go to this link to see video!! http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/insert-coin-lightpack/