Windows 8 a 'giant sadness'

Windows 8 a 'giant sadness' says gaming boss

Microsoft's Windows 8 was like a "giant sadness", Gabe Newell, chief executive of gaming company Valve, has said.

Windows 8 borrows design elements from the Windows Phone operating system. 

By Shane Richmond, Head of Technology (Editorial)

Newell, whose company is known for the Half-Life game series and runs the Steam games store, said Windows 8, the new Microsoft operating system, was "unusable".

"Windows 8 was like this giant sadness. It just hurts everybody in the PC business," Newell told The Verge. "Rather than everybody being all excited to go buy a new PC, buying new software to run on it, we’ve had a 20-plus per cent decline in PC sales."

Before founding Valve, in 1996, Newell spent 13 years working on Windows for Microsoft.

Last year, Microsoft announced that it had sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses in the first month after launch, an improvement on Windows 7, which sold 60 million licenses in its first two months. Earlier this week, Microsoft said sales of Windows 8 had reached 60 million.

Valve is working on a Steam Box games console that will bring its games into the living room but also act as a networked games device for the whole home.

The Steam Box will run on Linux but Newell says it will be possible to install Windows on it. "We're not going to make it hard," he said.
Newell said the company was not planning to release a motion controller for the Steam Box but was interested in the possibilties of controllers that utilise biometric data.
He said: "Biometrics on the other hand is essentially adding more communication bandwidth between the game and the person playing it, especially in ways the player isn’t necessarily conscious of. Biometrics gives us more visibility."
Newell added: "Also, gaze tracking. We think gaze tracking is going to turn out to be super important."
Valve has not yet revealed a release date for the Steam Box or how much it would cost but Ben Krasnow, an engineer at Valve, said the company had no plans to announce anything this year.

source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Google Nexus 5

Google Nexus 5: launching next month?

LG dropped heavy hints last week that it was working with Google on a new phone. 

 

 

 By Matt Warman, Consumer Technology Editor

LG's Nexus 4 has sold so well retailers have struggled to maintain supply 

Speaking at the company’s press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Senior Vice President James Fisher claimed that the LG Nexus 4 is just "the first of many" products LG is working on with Google.

Google uses the Nexus line of smartphones and tablets to promote development of its products. It has worked with a range of manufacturers including HTC, LG and Samsung, although not yet Motorola, which it now owns. Previous rumours have also suggested that Google has discussed a Nexus device with Sony.

Fisher claimed, "Through our collaboration with Google, we launched the LG Nexus 4 smartphone. This is the first of many devices to come from our growing partnership with this very selective company."

Although Fisher added that the firm will be launching its next generation smartphones in Barcelona next month, Samsung’s equivalent follow-up to its Nexus device was not another direct collaboration with Google. It launched the Galaxy S3 smartphone after the Galaxy Nexus, and LG is also widely expected to update its Optimus range of devices. Fisher said that "at Mobile World Congress next month and throughout the year, you'll see us bring to market more tier-one premium handsets in various screen sizes".

The International Business Times, however, claimed that LG has already begun to wind down production of the Nexus 4, in preparation for a new device. It added that recent rumours say the successor of LG Nexus 4 will offer a more powerful 2GHz quad core processor and a new Android operating system, called Key Lime Pie.

source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Raspberry Pi – The $35 Pocket PC

When the Raspberry Pi launched earlier this year, it got a whole lot of attention, selling out in seconds with over 350,000 orders placed in its first month.

What Is The Raspberry Pi?

The Raspberry Pi is a $35 computer that is the size of a credit card. It can be connected to a TV, keyboard and mouse, allowing you to surf the web, watch Full-HD films, and pretty much everything else you would do on a normal PC. It went on sale in April

Raspberry Pi Specs

The Raspberry Pi is powered by an 700MHz ARM CPU, and has support for Blu-ray quality videos such as H.264 @ 40Mb/s. It isn’t exactly a powerhouse, but with that video support it can have many practical uses, like being a multimedia PC that plugs directly into your TV.
CPU & GPU:

• Broadcom BCM2835 700MHz ARM CPU
• FPU and Videocore 4 GPU with support for Open GL ES 2.0, OpenVG, and 1080p playback (H.264)
• GPU has a throughput of 1Gpixel/s / 24GFLOPs with texture filtering and DMA

Memory & Connectivity:

• 256MB RAM
• Bootable SD Card
• Ethernet Ports (LAN)
• HDMI connector (output)
• 2x USB 2.0 Ports
• RCA Video Connector
• 3.5mm stereo jack for audio output

Something A Bit More Powerful

Meet the Cotton Candy USB PC from FXI. The Cotton Candy comes in at a meagre 21 grams, but packs a powerful punch with its 1GHz A9 CPU from Samsung, an ARM 1.2GHz Quad-core GPU, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a HDMI output.
It decodes MPEG-4, H.264 and other video formats and display HD graphics on any HDMI equipped screen.
Although it comes pre-loaded with Android, it can run multiple other operating systems, including Windows, Ubuntu, and other variations of Android.
It can be controlled in a number of ways – over Wi-Fi using an app on your smartphone, or with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
At $200, it’s a lot more expensive than the Raspberry Pi offering, but the Cotton Candy’s specs speak for themselves.

Read more: http://techod.com/raspberry-pi-the-35-pocket-usb-pc/#ixzz2Il2ZSW8m

NFC – Near Field Communication

NFC … or is it called KFC? This article definitely won’t show you the newest technology of frying chicken, but the newest upcoming technology in the mobile phone industry.

What is NFC?

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a program allowing sending bits of data from a hand device to a machine, which is able to read and process that information. NFC is actually supported by hardware embedded in the latest generation of smartphones. By 2014, it is estimated that around 300 million of mobile devices will have NFC, which would be around 20% of the current total amount of smartphones. Basically, the technology would enable customers to pay for their purchase simply by swiping their mobiles at the till. For instance, Starbucks, amongst others, have started a trial period for NFC at selected stores in the USA and UK.

NFC’s use in hotels

The biggest Georgian and Victorian doors manufacturer, Yale Door, has successfully conducted a trial with a Swedish hotel chain, which allowed guests to use their smartphones to access their rooms. Imagine, avoiding long queues at the check-in counters. At the Clarion Hotel in Stockholm, Yale Door used the NFC technology in order to enable guests to check-in remotely. The hotel reservation is made as usual via the website or through any travel agency. On the date of arrival, a welcome text on your phone includes a web address, where customers can check-in whenever they want. Once this stage is confirmed through the company’s free app, the room key is sent directly to your phone. So instead of waiting at the counter, when you arrive at the hotel, you can just walk past that and access directly your room by simply holding the phone against the lock.
Moreover, it is possible to complete a quick self-checkout by simply touching the checkout point located at the front desk. Besides making the stay for the guests more enjoyable, it enables the staff to spend more time with individual guests instead of having to deal with check-ins and check-outs. A great way to increase the so-called guest experience!

NFC’s future

This is in fact the first time in the world that “mobile keys” were used in such a way. No worries my interested readers – NFC will soon be available for private use. Hold tight, this will allow users to assign temporary mobile keys to WHOEVER they want to. Nanny forgot her keys – you quickly sent her a mobile key via text message – problem solved! However, old nannies will have to keep up with the technique, in order to stay in business – No offence

Read more: http://techod.com/nfc-near-field-communication/#ixzz2Il2FeMKb

New Technology 2013

New Technology 2013

This is New Technology 2013 – Part 2, where we’ll be showing you some more of the most cutting-edge technology that we can expect to see in the year ahead.

Bendy Screens

In the very near future your smartphone, tablet, or potentially your HDTV will be even more flexible than they are today – quite literally!
Flexible screens are something that a lot of us have already read about after concept models were showcased at CES 2012. However, Samsung is expected to unveil flexible display technology at CES later this year that’s a lot closer in terms of technical specifications to what we’re currently using in our smartphones. The rumour mill has it that we’ll be seeing a flexible display of 5.5-inches with a high definition resolution of 1280 x 720 (267 PPI).
It is believed that the technology is currently without a touch-screen lens at present, which leaves some doubt as to whether it can be realistically used in place of current technology inside of 2013, unless Samsung has something up its sleeve that is.

4G and 10-Gigabit in 2013

The end of last year saw the roll-out of the substantially faster mobile 4G networks. With significant improvements to overall browsing speeds, roaming and bandwidth management, our mobile devices will be far closer to that of a home broadband connection. 2013 should see the new network standard more more widely available to the consumer in both the US and Europe, giving us access to applications and HD media with far less lag. However, we’re not just looking at mobile networks; the communications giant, Marvell Technology Group, launched a new networking product called ‘AVANTA’, which will bring 10 gigabit networking into the home – What does that mean for us? Well not a a lot in terms of the speeds we experience on the internet. However, for those of us that use games consoles, network storage (HDD), file-sharing, or smart TV’s on their home networks, we can expect LAN speeds of up to 100 times faster than we have at present!

The World’s Largest UHDTV

2011 was the year of 3D, 2013 is the year of 4K Ultra-HD, which is why Samsung wont be letting CES 2013 pass by without a grand show of strength. The South Korean technology giant set a world record in Las Vegas on Tuesday by unveiling a massive 110-inch UHD (ultra high-definition) TV, the largest UHD TV to date.
With more than 8 million pixels, the UHD TV delivers a resolution of four times higher than that of the HD TVs that a lot of us have in our homes today. As well as the 110-inch flagship model, we’ll also be presented with a smaller 85-inch model.
Sounds amazing, right? It certainly does, however, while all is good and well having a display capable of such high resolutions, the limitations of the media we currently use in the home today will prevent us from taking full advantage of the UHD display.
It’s only a matter of time before the average consumer will have access to content created in such high definition, but we don’t expect it to be any time soon.

Read more: http://techod.com/new-technology-2013-part-2/#ixzz2Il1xaRyj

What does a $700 ‘iPod’ sound like? Our first listen with iriver’s Astell & Kern AK100

January 10, 2013 By Ryan Waniata

With the Astell & Kern AK100, iriver targets a tiny niche of audiophiles willing to shell out 0 for ulta-high-fidelity sound. But is it worth it?

At $700, iriver’s Astell & Kern AK100 is easily the most expensive music player on the market. But as you might imagine, the AK100 is not a normal music player, which is why we didn’t call it an MP3 player. Playing “mastering quality” music at a maximum sample and bit rate of 192KHz and 24bits respectively, the AK100 plays music files that are eons above not only your regular low-fi MP3s, but also way beyond even CD-quality WAV files.
As we got the unit in our hands, we were less than impressed with its user interface. Far from the smooth intuitive experience of an iPod or iPhone, the AK100 reminds us more of Microsoft’s first attempts at MP3 players. It’s square, clunky, and a bit slow. It also leaves out features that we’ve all come to take for granted, like onboard speakers, a camera, and a high-resolution screen. But none of that really matters to iriver, or presumably to its target consumer audience. As iriver explained, the company isn’t going for the 99 percent who want cheap, convenient music on their sleek device. Instead, it’s chasing that slim margin of the public that is completely fed up with the anemic, thin representation of the music they love, and want to actually have an experience – and that’s exactly what the AK100 delivers.
We were very skeptical about the AK100, not only because of the price, but also because we’ve seldom heard music that has been transferred well into the high-bit and sample rate. Also, there are questions about how to obtain the hi-fi content the device needs. For now Astell & Kern is partnered with HD Tracks, and although it offers a decent amount of content, it’s nothing compared to what’s easily available in MP3 format. Basically, we just weren’t sure the difference between WAV files and the super hi-fi FLAC files on the AK100 would be that noticeable. But we’re here to admit, we were very, very wrong.
At first we tried to listen critically, as we usually do with new audio gear, trying to hear the long sustain of cymbals, the definition of percussion hits, and the breadth of the low bass tones. All were very impressive through our AIAIA TMA-1 headphones, but nothing really extraordinary. But as the music progressed, we began to realize that listening to content at this high level is much more about an emotional experience than a regular listen. Our aural exploration of the high-rate rendering of Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” can best be described as almost psychedelic. We’ve heard the song more times than we want to think about, and yet at the high rate we were soon covered in goosebumps and feeling every note of the song to our core. As we moved on to a cello concerto, we were also amazed by the ridiculous clarity that was provided, while still delivering a smooth and organic overall tone. We heard every string twitch, and even every breath the performer took as he intensely performed the complicated piece.

We’re still unsure if even the audiophile market is ready to pay $700 for portable sound, no matter how high the quality. And aside from the no-frills design of the device, for now content issues will be a problem for some listeners. But as bigger industry players like Neil Young and others begin to craft new resources for the hi-fi sound file market, the AK100 should become more and more useful as a device. We walked out of the suite and stared at the brand new iPhone 5 in a whole new light. As they say, you can’t un-listen, and we have a feeling it’s going to be a very long time before we get used to the cold, weak sound of our paltry MP3 files again. Unfortunately, for now we are the 99 percent.

Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com

Pentax MX-1: retro good looks on the outside, high-end components within

January 10, 2013 By Les Shu

Using a brass body, the MX-1 features a new CMOS sensor that enhances performance. Plus, the Q10 goes color crazy and we discuss trends with Pentax.

Pentax’s new camera announcements at CES were light this year, but its introduction of the new MX-1 makes up for it. The solidly constructed metallic-and-synthetic-leather camera is made with brass covers at the top and bottom. The color of the brass will age over time, and owners of old-school Japanese rangefinder film cameras will find this aging patina familiar. Like Fujifilm’s new X-Series models, the MX-1 falls into a category of its own: far more advanced than your ordinary point-and-shoot in image and build quality, but not as flexible as an interchangeable lens camera. The ideal buyer would be someone who wants the advantages of a DSLR but needs the compact form factor, like a street photographer or a pro’s backup cam, for example. The camera was named after Pentax’s MX film SLR, which had the same design cues as the MX-1.



Inside the MX-1 is a newly designed 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch back-illuminated CMOS sensor that Pentax says offers a balance of fast performance and cost. It also notes that the sensor’s low-light handling is impressive. The 4x optical lens is fast at F1.8-2.5 (allowing for fine exposure and depth of field control), with a range of 28-112mm. The MX-1 has a hybrid shake-reduction system that utilizes a mechanical sensor-shift with digital compensation to prevent camera blur. The DSLR-like qualities include RAW image capture, a high ISO of 12,800, and focus down to 1 cm. The camera can shoot high-definition video at 1080p/30 fps or 720p/60 fps. The tilting 3-inch LCD is rated at 920K dots.
In our brief hands-on time with the MX-1, the camera looks great. Construction wise, we think Fujifilm’s new X-Series models offer a higher quality build, but the Fujifilm models feel far heavier than the MX-1. Specs wise, the Fujifilm models are also stronger, of course, it’s too early to compare performance. We especially love the mode and exposure compensation dials at the top. We find that these physical dials allow for faster setting changes than having to go through the menus, which makes shooting that much easier. The MX-1 will go on sale in early February for $500.
In another announcement, the Pentax Q10, the smallest interchangeable lens camera that was announced last September, is now available as a custom-order model available through Adorama and the Pentax website. Customers will be able to choose from 100 color combinations; the order is sent to Japan and then to the factory, where the camera will take four-to-six weeks to build. For people who love the ability to customize their stuff, it’d be worth the wait. Pentax says there won’t be an extra fee for this service, and the camera remains at $600 with a kit lens.

Customized Q10 cameras line the wall inside the Pentax briefing room.

A close-up look at four of customized Q10 cameras.

During our meeting with Pentax, we asked about industry trends and where the company is heading. Pentax acknowledges that the low-end digicam sector is in transition as smartphone usage continues to rise, and that they are pursuing markets that don’t overlap with smartphones. Essentially, they will focus on features that smartphones can’t offer, like weather sealants and fast optical zooms. When asked about wireless connectivity, Pentax says smartphones have the advantage there. They are exploring that feature, but currently have no plans to introduce wireless models.

Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com