Facebook Offers More Details on its Internet-Beaming Planes

We've Known about Facebook's Ambitious Plans to Bring Internet to Developing Areas via Drone for a While Now. At the Social Good Summit this Week, Facebook Connectivity Lab's, Yael Maguire, Revealed More Details about What the Social Network is Hoping to Accomplish. Speaking with Mashable CEO, Pete Cashmore, Maguire Said that, the UAVs would Need to be Able to Fly for Months, or Even Years, at an Altitude "above the weather, above all airspace". For those Counting, that's Around 60,000 to 90,000 Feet. Luckily for Facebook and the Internet.org Initiative, it has Already Looked into Solar-Powered Options that Can Make Trips Lasting Up to 5 Years.


Maguire Went on to Say that, a Regular-Sized Drone Won't Suffice so, the "Planes" will Have to be "roughly the size of a commercial aircraft, like a 747". As you Might Expect, the Effort is Certain to Face Regulatory Hurdles, including How Many of the Vehicles a Single Pilot Can Oversee. Eventually, the Goal is to Have One Person Steering "Up to 100" of the Internet-Carrying Planes at a Time. "We can't have one person per plane if we want to figure out how to connect the world", Maguire Explained. For Now, there's a 3 to 5 Year Window for Employing the UAVs and the Lab Hopes to See the 1st One Take Flight for Testing in 2015.




Info Sources:

http://mashable.com/2014/09/23/facebook-drones-internet-org

Read More

Samsung's New Cable Can Charge Your Watch Using Your Phone

Battery Life is One of the Most Important Elements of any Mobile Device -- it Can Make or Break it, in Some Cases. And While the Majority of Samsung Products Aren't Known to be Terrible at that, a Little Help Never Hurts. As such, the South Korean Outfit Recently Introduced its Power Sharing Cable, which, as the Name Suggests, Allows you to Use it, to Transmit Energy from One Galaxy Device to Another, like a Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Gear Smartwatch, respectively. Better Yet though, Samsung's Peripheral Isn't Limited to its Own Handsets, Slates or Wearables, with the Company Claiming that, the Power Sharing Cable is Friendly with "Any Device" that Can be Charged by Way of Micro-USB. Meanwhile, the Companion App Lets you Select just How Much Power you're Willing to Share from the Main Source, Making the Process Simple to Monitor. The Power Sharing Cable is Available Now for $20, which Seems Like a Small Price to Pay for Something that Could be Very Handy in Times of Need.




Info Source:

http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones-accessories/EP-SG900UWESTA

Read More

'Bash' Command Flaw Leaves Linux, OS X and More Open to Attack

Apparently, the Internet has More Deep-Seated Security Bugs to Worry about than Heartbleed. Researchers Have Discovered a Longstanding Flaw in a Common Unix Command Shell (Bash) for Linux and Macs that Lets Attackers Run Any Code they Want as Soon as the Shell Starts Running. They Can Effectively Get Control of any Networked Device that Runs Bash, Even if there are Limits on the Commands Remote Users Can Try. That's a Big Problem When a Large Chunk of the Internet Relies on the Shell for Everyday Tasks -- Many Web Servers will Call on it When they're Running Scripts, for Example. There are already Patches for Multiple Linux Variants (CentOS, Debian, Redhat) and Big Internet Services like Akamai Have already Taken Action.


However, the Age and Sheer Ubiquity of the Exploit Means that, there are Some Older Servers and Other Internet-Connected Devices that Won't (and in Some Cases, Can't) be Fixed. In Other Words, there's a Chance that Everything from Poorly Maintained Websites to your Home Security Camera will Remain Vulnerable. Some Devices will be Protected, however, as Security Researcher, Paul McMillan Notes that, Many Embedded Devices "Use BusyBox, which is Not Vulnerable". It's Unlikely that Hackers will Breach Many of the Major Websites you Visit, Thanks to their Quick Responses to the Flaw and Many of your Existing Gadgets are probably Safe. Having Said this, it's Hard to Know Exactly How Far Reaching the Damage May be -- it Could Take Years before there's No Longer a Significant Threat.




Info Sources:

https://securityblog.redhat.com/2014/09/24/bash-specially-crafted-environment-variables-code-injection-attack

https://lists.debian.org/debian-security-announce/2014/msg00220.html

https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2014/09/24/Bourne-Again-Shell-Bash-Remote-Code-Execution-Vulnerability

http://blog.erratasec.com/2014/09/bash-bug-as-big-as-heartbleed.html#.VCM_-StdWid

http://www.zdnet.com/unixlinux-bash-critical-security-hole-uncovered-7000034021

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/24/us-cybersecurity-bash-idUSKCN0HJ2FQ20140924

Read More

Multitasking May Be Affecting the Density of Your Grey-Matter

Reading this Article on a Laptop while Watching TV and Idly Scrolling through Tweets on your Phone ? You're a Multitasker and it May be Changing the Structure of your Brain. New Research from the University of Sussex Suggests that, People Who Simultaneously Use Multiple Media Devices on a Regular Basis, Seem to Have Less Grey-Matter Density in a Particular Region of the Brain than Folks Who Use just One Device at a Time. That Isn't to Say that Media Consumption is Rotting your Brain, however -- Researchers Say it's More of a Link than a Cause: it's Not Clear if Multitasking Causes Less-Dense Grey Matter or if People with Certain Brain Structures are Simply More Prone to Multitasking. "Media multitasking is becoming more prevalent in our lives today and there is increasing concern about its impacts on our cognition and social-emotional well-being", Sussex Neuroscientist, Kep lee Loh, Said. "Our study was the first to reveal links between media multitasking and brain structure." Loh Says that, More Study is Required to Determine if the Brain is Changing Behavior or if Behavior is Changing the Brain -- but, if it's the Latter, the Work Could Support Previous Studies that, Suggest that, Heavy Media Multitasking, Can Make Users More Susceptible to Depression, Anxiety and Distraction.




Care to Read the Research for Yourself ? You Can Find it at Plos One at the Source Link, below:

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0106698


Info Source for the Post:

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/newsandevents/?id=26540

Read More

"Steam Music Player" Does Exactly What it Sounds Like

VALVe's Game Distribution Service has been Going through a Lot of Small Changes Recently: Not Only has Steam been Given a Fresh Coat of Paint and a Completely Redesigned Storefront but Now, it Plays Music, too. This Isn't a Total Surprise, of Course -- VALVe has been Testing Music Playback for Months and Even Rolled the Feature Out to Beta Users Over the Summer -- but Now, "Steam Music Player" is Available to Anyone Running the Latest Version of the Client. It's a Pretty Simple Addition, too: Steam Scrubs your PC's Common (or Manually Defined) Music Folders for MP3s and Well, Plays them. It does Get a Little More Complex -- the Music Player is Accessible in the Client's Game Overlay, which Means you Can Control and Play Music without Alt-Tabbing Back to the Desktop.


It also Offers an Easy Way to Listen to Soundtracks of Supported Games but, this Part of the Experience is a Little Clunky: since Steam Offers Soundtracks as Game DLC, it Appears that Most of the Service's Music Can't be Downloaded Separately from the Game itself. If Portal 2 Isn't Installed, Neither is the Game's Music. Need Some Music to Test it Out with ? VALVe at least has you Covered here: Half-Life, Half-Life 2 and Both Portal Games are 75% Off in Celebration of the New Feature and All of those Games Come with Free Soundtrack DLC. Neat.




Info Source:

http://store.steampowered.com/news/14358

http://store.steampowered.com/news/14499

Read More

Watch the Live-Action "Destiny" Ad from ‘Oblivion’ Director, Joseph Kosinski

Bungie and Activision are Teaming for the “Living Game World” of the Next-Gen Game Title, "Destiny" and Now, Joseph Kosinski has Directed a Live-Action Ad / Trailer for the Game. While “Live-Action” Might at 1st Seem a Bit Generous in this Context, as so Much of the Ad is CG, Eventually you’ll See Stunning Environments Pulled from Real Life. And there are Definitely Real Human Actors in there, Wearing Actual Costumes — at Least One of which Looks like it Might Have been Borrowed from Star-Lord’s Wardrobe. You’ll Hear the Voice of Peter Dinklage as 'Ghost', the Game’s Helper AI and the Stuff Heard here has been Nicely XoZeN, as it Sounds a Lot Better than the Early Snippets of his Voice Work that Drew Criticism for a Flat Affect. The Improved Audio, tTogether with Led Zeppelin’s ‘Immigrant Song’, Keeps Things Moving here.




"A Fireteam heads out on an epic, action-packed road trip across our Solar System to face our enemies, take back what is ours and, in the end, Become Legend. Featuring “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin."




Here's the Cool Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZyQK6kUdWQ

Read More

VIDEO: The UAE's Eco-Friendly, Robotic City Looks More Like a Ghost Town

The United Arab Emirates' Pre-Planned Masdar City is Supposed to be a Shining Beacon of Technology between its Clean Energy and Automated Cars. However, it has Hit a Few Roadblocks, including the Financial Crisis from the Last Decade -- and the Result is Less of a Utopia and More of a Ghost Town. If you Need Proof, Quartier Libre has Posted an Eerie Video Tour (below) of Masdar as it Stood this Summer. With just a Few Thousand Residents, Many of the Buildings and High-Tech Facilities Sit Unused; it's as if Everyone Suddenly Went on Vacation. The City Should be More Welcoming Once it's Completed Sometime after 2020 but for Now, it's Not Exactly a Tourist's Dream. Not Unless you Really Enjoy Haunted Houses, that is.




Info Sources:

http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/23/6833041/video-of-masdar-city-shows-an-empty-spooky-place-where-only-robots

http://vimeo.com/104749180

Read More

XBox One to Launch in China this Month, Afterall

Having just Discovered that Halo's Master Chief is actually Chinese, we were about to Call Out the Irony of the XBox One's Delayed Launch in Mainland China but Now, we Have Some Good News. According to our Brethren over at Engadget Chinese, Microsoft has Confirmed that, its Latest Console and Kinect Sensor will be on Sale in China on September 29, which Means Local Gamers will be Able to Enjoy them Over the Week-Long National Holiday Commencing on October 1st. Alas, Only 10 Games -- including Forza Motorsport 5, Dance Central: Spotlight and Neverwinter -- Have been Approved by the Authorities in the 1st Batch but, the Company Claims that Over 70 Titles are already "in Development". There's still No Word on What Caused the Original Delay; our Guess is Microsoft Initially Felt there Aren't Enough Approved Launch Titles but, there's Always the Grey Market, of course. Sony, your Move Now.




Info Source:

http://cn.engadget.com/2014/09/23/xbox-one-china-launch-2nd-round

Read More

VIDEO: Microsoft Built a Life-Size Interactive Cube Powered by Kinect

Third-Party Developers Have Grown Very Fond of Building Neat Stuff with the Kinect so, it's No Surprise that, Microsoft itself Would Create Projects Using this Technology. Enter the Cube, a 5-Sided, Kinect-Powered Box, which Can Interact with People around it -- the Company Describes it as a, "canvas for a new kind of creative expression" and a "technological sculpture that's a venue for new types of interactive art". You Can Dance, or Make Other Random Body Gestures, in Front of it and the Cube will Project that Image onto One of its Panels, in a Rather Colorful Way, No Less; Think of it as What you Would See on a Game like Just Dance but, Minus the Layer of Flashy Outfits. Microsoft's Cube Isn't All about the Kinect, however. Inside, there are also 5 Computers and 5 Projectors which, Paired alongside a Total of 4 New Kinects, are What Make the Magic Possible.




You Can Watch the Cube in Action, below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jzHcXZFJMw


Info Source:

http://blogs.microsoft.com/next/2014/09/24/microsoft-cube-decibel-dance-music

Read More

ARM's New Processor, Will Add Oomph to Smart Appliances and Drones

If you Have any Smart Device -- be it a Phone, Tablet, Router, Wearable or Otherwise -- there's a Good Chance ARM's Cortex Lineup is Responsible for the Brains Behind the Scenes. The Company just Announced the Latest Processor in its M-Series, which is a Set of Low-Power Processors Capable of Handling Embedded Devices like Smart Home Appliances, Drones, Automotive and Wearables, which is Focused on Making Said Devices Even More Powerful. The M7, as it's Called, Comes with a 400MHz Processor, Packing More than Twice the Punch as the 168MHz M4 that Came before it (and will Continue to be Available to Manufacturers). It Comes with Support for More Displays, Motors, Voice Controls, Connectivity, Audio Performance and Improved GPS Accuracy. In Other Words, the Infamous Internet of Things Should Become Even Stronger and More Powerful. ARM Says that, Manufacturers are already Building Devices with the Chip Embedded so, it Won't be Long before we Get to See if the Extra Power actually Makes a Difference in our Everyday Lives.

Read More

Twitter Tool that Breaks News in Real-Time, Now Open in US

Twitter's More than just a Way to Update Anyone Who Cares to Listen on What you're Doing. Not Only Can you Ask it, Life's Nagging / Profound Questions, you Can Use it to Buy Yourself a Snood, if you Wish. But, there are More Serious Tasks that Twitter's Constant Stream of Mini-Missives can Assist with -- such as Breaking News. Back in January, we Heard about Dataminr for News -- a Service for Journalists that Identifies Stories as they Break on Twitter. Now, it's Ready for Prime Time. Initially, CNN had been Trialling the Tool but that, Pool of Newsrooms has since Extended to the BBC, The Weather Channel, USA Today and Beyond. Finally it's Open to Any News Room that Wants to Harness the 500,000,000 Public Tweets per Day that, Dataminr Claims it Parses to Distill into News. Dataminr for News is Available through Tweetdeck Integration and a Dedicated Mobile App and Not Only Highlights Stories but, Adds Context and Estimated Locations to Events as More Information Flows in. Now, your Social Media Activism Might Have a Quicker Route to the Media's Gaze.




Info Source:

http://www.dataminr.com/products

Read More

"Photoshop and Premiere Elements 13" Deliver New Editing Tools

Adobe has been Diligent to Announce Updates to its "Photoshop Elements" and "Premiere Elements" Offerings in Late September and this Year is No Different. With the Arrival of Version 13 of Both Bits of Software, there are Even More Easy-to-Use Editing Tools for Both Photos and Videoclips. In "Photoshop Elements 13", Photomerge Compose Allows you to Quickly Snag Objects from One Snapshot and Place them in Another, Blending Color and Lighting to Make for a Realistic Final Product. The App will also Suggest a Smattering of Crop Options to Fine-Tune Compositions, Offer Guided Edits, Allow you to "Nudge" Selection Boundaries and it Serves Up a Handful of Options When a Single Effect is Selected. To Boost your Video Efforts in "Premiere Elements 13", Video Story Lends a Hand with Editing Footage from Major Life Events. There's also Quick Clip Selection, Shake Stabilizer to Make the Most Out of Shaky Action Cam Footage and Guided Edits to Help with Titles and Effects. Mobile Device Syncing Got a Boost Across the Board as well and Elements Live Provides Tutorials, Support and Inspiration from Right Inside the Apps. Adobe is Set to Ship "Photoshop" and "Premiere Elements 13" in Q4 2014 with a $150 Price Tag.

Read More

VIDEO: "Samsung Gear S" Smartwatch, Available in the US this Fall

Samsung Gave us a Glimpse at its Next Smartwatch (there Have been a Few) during IFA and Tonight there's News that, Surprise, you'll be Able to Buy and Use the "Gear S" in the US this Fall. This One is Special because Unlike Most Other Watches, it Can Connect to 3G Data by itself When the Wearer's Phone Isn't Around. There's Little in the Way of Details but, it's Coming on All 4 Major Carriers -- AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile -- and the Company Promises More Information "Soon". You Can Check Out our Experiences at Typing Out Emails on its 2-Inch AMOLED Screen in a Previous Post about this Smartwatch and Decide if it's Worth Picking Up this Tizen OS Device instead of the Apple Watch (or Any of the Other Wearables Either Coming Soon or Already here).




Info Sources:

http://samsungmobileuspress.com/blog/2014/09/23/Gear-S-Available-in-the-U.S.-This-Fall


Here's an Hands-On Review of the Smartwatch in Action, Enjoy:

http://youtu.be/JExMkXOcOus

Read More

Blizzard Cancels its Next-Gen Online Game, "Titan", Despite 7 Years of Work

Have you been Anticipating, "Titan", Blizzard's 1st Online Role-Playing Game since World of WarCraft ? Unfortunately, you're Going to Have to Pin your Hopes on Some Other Title. The Studio Tells Polygon that, it has Cancelled "Titan" despite Pouring 7 Years of Effort into the Project, which was Never Officially Announced. As Blizzard's Mike Morhaime Explains, Blizzard just "Didn't Find the Fun" during a Reevaluation -- the Game was Extremely Ambitious but, it "Didn't Come Together" as a Cohesive Work that you'd Want to Play. The Developers were also Nervous about Defining Themselves as an Online RPG Company.


They Want to Build "Great Games Every Time", Even if that Means Switching Genres. In a Sense, it's Not Surprising that, Blizzard would Give "Titan" the Axe. The Company has a History of Cutting Games that, it Doesn't Think will Fly, Even When they're Relatively Close to Completion -- See StarCraft Ghost and WarCraft Adventures for Examples. There's No Mention of Where the Cancelled Game's Team will Focus its Attention but, it's Safe to Say that their Future Work Won't Bear Much Resemblance to WoW or Other Massively Multiplayer Experiences.




Info Source:

http://www.polygon.com/2014/9/23/6833953/blizzard-cancels-titan-next-gen-mmo-pc

http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/23/blizzard-officially-cancels-titan

Read More

MLG.TV Arena - The US Gets its 1st Professional Gaming Arena

Competitive Gaming is Practically an Institution in Countries like South Korea but, it Hasn't Really Had a Permanent Home in the US. That's Going to Change Pretty Shortly, though; Major League Gaming has Revealed that, it's Opening its 1st Dedicated eSports Location, MLG.tv Arena, in Columbus, Ohio. That May Sound like an Odd Place to Set Up Shop but, it Makes Sense for the League's Audience. Columbus has a Track Record of Hosting Successful MLG Events and it's Within Range of "Hundreds of Thousands" of Students -- There Should be No Shortage of Competitors or Spectators. The Arena will No Doubt Pale in Comparison to the Giant Stadiums of Conventional Sports but, it's Proof that Pro Gaming is Sticking Around for Awhile.




Info Source:

http://www.sbnation.com/2014/9/23/6834103/mlg-arena-columbus-esports-call-of-duty-league-of-legends-dota-2

Read More

Watch the Video: Animated Sci-Fi Short Film, "It’s Payback Time", Packs Powerful Twist

Why are Grey Little Blobs like the Minions from Despicable Me Running for their Lives ? You’ll Have to Watch the New Sci-Fi Short Film, "It’s Payback Time", to Find Out. In this Animated Film, a Seemingly Simple Alien World has Found itself in the Midst of a Terrible Outbreak. A Destructive Blue Substance is Taking Over and there Doesn’t Seem to be a Way Out. However, in the Tight, Action-Packed 2-Minute Film, you’ll Get a Great, Uplifting Twist you Don’t See Coming. Check Out "It’s Payback Time" below. Thanks to Gizmodo for the Heads Up.




Here’s the Film:






Yes, the Whole Film is an Ad for a Stand Up 2 Cancer Telethon that’s Airing in the United Kingdom on October 17th. You Can Read More about that, here (1). For More on the Film, including the Full Credits, Head to the Vimeo Page (2) :

http://www.standup2cancer.org

http://vimeo.com/105337923

Read More

Rambo 5 Title Rumored to Be "Rambo: Last Blood"

Back in June we Heard Whispers that Sylvester Stallone was Prepping Another Installment of the Rambo Franchise. And Now, a New Rumor suggests the Rambo 5 Title Might be, "Rambo: Last Blood". That Can’t be Serious, Can it ? The Rumor Comes from ComingSoon Where a Reader Named 'nopr100' Send Over the New Intel. No Other Information was Provided however. ComingSoon usually Doesn’t Report on Rumors of this Kind, Unless they Know Something More so, there Might actually be Something to this Bit. "Rambo: Last Blood" Seems a Bit Too on the Nose for me. (The Title was also Used Already, for a Strange Flash-Based Rambo Game Released a Couple Years Ago.) Splendid Films Confirmed that Stallone had Started Writing the Screenplay for a 5th Rambo Movie Back in June.




The Press Release Stated:


“With Rambo V, Sylvester Stallone returns in his iconic role. This time he goes up against a Mexican cartel. Stallone describes the new Rambo as his version of No Country for Old Men.”




Stallone Last Played John Rambo in the 2008 Film Rambo which Earned almost $115 Million Worldwide on just a $50 Million Budget. Stallone Wrote and Directed that Film and if a 5th Film is Made, its Planning Rambo 5 which Would Have Followed Rambo Fighting his Way through Human Traffickers and Drug Lords to Rescue a Young Girl Abducted Near the U.S.-Mexico Border. But, then Plans Changed and Stallone was Going to Base the 5th Installment on the James Byron Huggins‘ Novel “Hunter” which Would Have Seen Rambo and Special Ops “hired to hunt and kill a ferocious beast (the product of illegal genetic engineering experiments) that has slaughtered and destroyed research facilities and is on its way to civilization”. Neither of those Projects Went Forward. Millennium Films and Nu Image Advertised Rambo 5 with Posters and Handouts at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival but, apparently Stallone was Not Going to be Involved. Producers Planned to Make a Prequel Titled, Rambo: The Beginning, with a New Actor Focusing on the Origins of John Rambo (Spartacus Star, Manu Bennett was Mentioned for the Role). Nu Image then Claimed they were Developing a Television Series Version of Rambo with Stallone is in Talks to Join the Project but, Sly Again Publicly Refuted this Idea. Millennium then Hired Sean Hood in 2011 to Write Rambo: Last Stand Based on 20 Pages of an Incomplete Draft of Rambo 5 that Stallone Wrote. The Story would be “more in line with the small-town thriller of First Blood”. Stallone has Gone Back and Fourth about if a 5th Rambo Film should be Produced. In a 2010 Interview, Sly Said that, he Thinks ”Rambo’s pretty well done” and that he was 99% Sure there Wouldn’t be Anymore. However,2 Years Later he was Quoted as Saying “I’m dying to do another Rambo”.




Info Source:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=122801

Read More

Paramount Sets Dates for 2 More "Terminator" Sequels

We’ve Seen almost Nothing Official from Terminator: Genisys at this Point but, the New Terminator Movie has 2 More Siblings Set to Debut in 2017 and 2018. Paramount Pictures just Set Dates for 2 More Terminator Sequels, Inking a Plan to Put Killer Robots into Cinemas during 3 of the Next 4 Years. Terminator: Genisys, which Stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke, Jai Courtney, Dayo Okeniyi, Matt Smith, Byung-hun Lee and J. K. Simmons, is Set to Open on July 1, 2015. Alan Taylor is Directing from a Script by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier. Now Paramount has Set Additional Terminator Films for May 19, 2017 and June 29, 2018. Deadline Reports that, Paramount is Calling the Films Terminator 2 and Terminator 3 but, those Probably Won’t be the Actual Titles. (They’ve been Used !) But, the New Films are Expected to Comprise a Not-Quite-Standalone Trilogy. As for Competition on those Dates, Nothing Else is Set on the 2017 Spot, though it is 2 Weeks after One of Marvel’s Currently-Untitled Films and a Week before The LEGO Movie 2. The 3rd Film also Arrives within a Week of a Marvel Movie. In Non-Terminator Scheduling News, Paramount also Set the Mark Wahlberg Remake, The Gambler, for an Oscar-Qualifying Run with a Limited Release on December 19 before a January 1 Expansion. Jessica Lange also Stars in the Film Directed by Rupert Wyatt, and Scripted by William Monahan.




Info Source:

http://deadline.com/2014/09/terminator-sequels-release-dates-set-830260

Read More

VIDEO: See How ILM Animated the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

There’s No Point in Pretending that "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles" was a Particularly Good Movie but, the Technology that Brought it to the Screen is Great Stuff. In a New Video, we See Some of the Process ILM Used to Animate the Turtles Based on the Motion-Capture Performers. In the Process, we Learn that, One of the Film’s Most Effective Scenes — the Impromptu Elevator Scene — was actually Suggested by the Actors Playing around Between Takes. There’s Some Fairly Technical Stuff here but, it’s All Related in Fairly Approachable Language. I’d actually Like a Lot More of this — I Could Watch a Feature-Length Doc on the Digital Work that Went into this Film.




Of the Elevator Scene, ILM VFX Supervisor, Pablo Helman Says,


"I had recorded something on my iPhone the first week in New York on top of the roof and the Actors were just dancing around Megan Fox and were just being goofy. They were so much fun together and had so much chemistry, they were so excited about being the turtles."




That Led to the Elevator Scene,


"Mike Seymour breaks down the tech behind the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles flick, including the facial animation effects. Plus, find out how an improvised, off-camera moment turned into one of the funniest scenes in the movie."




Here's the Video Showing the Turtles Facial Animation in Action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCdupkDBC94


Info Source:

http://io9.com/watch-how-the-monstrous-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-we-1634108063

Read More

"Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead" Trailer: The Nazi Zombies Are Back

Poor Martin. The Only Survivor of the 1st Dead Snow Discovers in "Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead" that, his Troubles are Far from Over. You See, the Infected Arm he had to Hack Off in the Last Film has since been Replaced by a Nazi Zombie Arm and it’s Got a Mind of its Own. Specifically, a Mind Determined to Carry Out Hitler’s Orders. Fortunately, he’s Got Some Allies. Martin (Vegar Hoel) is Joined this Time by a Trio of Americans (Played by Martin Starr, Jocelyn DeBoer and Ingrid Haas) Who Call Themselves the “Zombie Squad”.




Watch the "Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead" Trailer After the Jump. Shock Till You Drop Debuted the "Dead Snow: 2 Red vs Dead" Trailer:

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/365325-exclusive-dead-snow-2-u-s-trailer-crush







Tone Can be a Major Issue for Horror-Comedy B-Movies like "Dead Snow 2". Go Too Serious and you Waste the Ridiculous Premise; Don’t Take Things Seriously Enough and the Film Sails right Past “so bad it’s good” into “just plain bad”. But, Director Tommy Wirkola is Better than Most at Finding that Balance, as he Showed with the 1st Dead Snow and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. This Film Obviously Isn’t for Everyone but, if you’re the Kind of Person More Enticed than Repelled by the Phrase “Nazi Zombies”, it Seems likely to Satisfy. "Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead" Premiered at Sundance Earlier this Year to Mostly Positive Reviews and is Now Headed for Theatrical Release on October 10th.




SYNOPSIS


"They’re not just zombies. They’re Nazi zombies. And there’s a lot of them. On the orders of a rotten Führer, the zombies from Dead Snow return to settle old German scores. In the continuation of the epic splatterfest from 2009, Martin, the sole survivor of the first movie, prove that there’s more badass shit in Northern Norway than even Nazi zombies would be prepared for. The table is set for a massive revenge epic, where blood, guts, brains and throats are not the only things dredged up from the darkness. Old hatred never rots."

Read More

NASA Challenges You to Design Experiments for Mars and Beyond

Want to Play a Significant Role in NASA's Space Exploration Efforts without Spending Years in Training ? You Now Have a Better Chance of Making your Mark. NASA has Launched, Solve, a Website that Makes it Easy to Find All the Agency's Public Competitions and Crowdsourced Projects. You'll Mostly See Previously Announced Efforts there right now but, the Inaugural Offering is Definitely Worth a Look -- the $20,000 Mars Balance Mass Challenge Asks you to Design an Experiment or Technology Payload that will Double as Ballast on Future Martian Explorers. You'll Have until November 21st to Submit your Brainstorms and you'll Find Out if your Work is Mars-Bound Sometime in Mid-January.




Info Sources:

http://phys.org/news/2014-09-nasa-citizen-science-website-future.html

http://www.nasa.gov/solve/#.VCA4_CtdWic

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/september/nasa-launches-new-citizen-science-website-opens-challenge-to-participate-in/#.VCA4UCtdWid

Read More

Steam Reaches 100 Million Users and 3,700 Games

VALVe's Popular PC Online Platform, Steam, Now has More than 100 Million Active Accounts, which is Up by 25 Million from the 75 Million Figure Announced in January. VALVe Revealed the New User Figure Today as Part of a Wider Announcement of the Major Steam Discovery Update. It is Unclear How VALVe Defines "Active" in the Case of Steam Users but, we've Have Followed Up with VALVe for Further Clarification. We'll Update this Story with Anything we Hear Back. VALVe also Announced Today that there are Now More than 3,700 Total Games on Steam. More than 1,300 Games Have been Added so Far in 2014, which is Up Substantially Compared to Last Year When Only 304 Titles were Added to Steam in the 1st 9 Months of the Year. For More on Steam's Wide-Ranging Steam Discovery Update, which Introduces a Range of Features and Functionality Aimed at Helping you Filter through the Flood of New Releases, be Sure to Read GameSpot's Interview with VALVe about it.




Here's the Full Interview:

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/major-steam-redesign-wants-to-help-you-filter-thro/1100-6422463

Read More

VIDEO: "Reflex" is a Proper Arena FPS Revival, Not Like the Others

Just Yesterday Adam Wrote about Toxikk, a Multiplayer Arena FPS that Aimed to Take the Genre Back to its Roots by Invoking Unreal Tournament. Hey Adam ! That’s Not the Root of the Arena FPS ! "Reflex", Now on Kickstarter, has the Right Idea instead. It’s Similarly “a competitive Arena FPS that combines modern tech with the speed, precision and freedom of a 90s shooter” but, the ’90s Shooter its Aping is Quake 3. The Real Root of Arena Shooters. And the Best One. Let’s Restart this Classic VideoGame Pub Argument and Put an End Once-and-for-All to the Tedious ‘which is better LoL or Dota’ Question.




Here’s the Cool "Reflex" Trailer:






Which Looks Amazing, Even if I Can’t Help but, Follow Up “Skill-Based Movement System” with “That You Will Never Be Skillful Enough To Use”. While the Core Mechanics Look Near Identical to those Beloved ’90s Shooters, Much of What the "Reflex" Team Have Planned, is in the Infrastructure that Sits Around the Game. That includes Matchmaking, Features to Help with Spectating of Matches, an In-Game Replay Editor for those Slow-Motion Trickshot Mashups, a Training System and Best of All, an In-Game Multiplayer Map Editor. I Spent a Fair Amount of Time as a Teenager Messing Around with Making Quake 3 Maps and I still Love their Particular Architectural Style – Not the Gothic or Industrial Themes but, the Sharp Angles and Multi-Level Atriums and Intertwining Corridors. "Reflex" is Looking for a Weighty $360,000 AUD, which is Around £195,831.94 according to Google. $20AUD/£10.88 will Net you a Copy of the Finished Game at its Estimated December 2016 Release, while $35AUD/£19.04 Gets you (at the Time of Writing) an Early Bird Beta Copy in August 2016. Those Dates Seem Awfully Far Away and while it’s Nice they’re Not Underestimating, I Wonder if that will Hurt their Campaign.




Info Sources:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/191095869/reflex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQaN3h-S4Wo

Read More

Microsoft Doubles Your Free "OneDrive" Storage if, You Auto-Upload Photos

Microsoft has been Rather Generous with Free "OneDrive" Storage Lately and that Doesn't Seem to be Changing Anytime Soon. Now Redmond is Bumping the Previous Gratis 15GB Up by 100%, to 30GB. What's the Catch ? There Isn't Much of One, really. All Redmond Says you Have to do (Regardless of if you're a New User or Seasoned Veteran) is Activate Auto-Upload on your Device of Choice's Camera Roll between Now and the End of the Month -- Even on a Windows PC. Seems Simple Enough. The Announcement Focuses on the Storage Woes that've been Associated with Upgrading to iOS 8 and Given the iPhone 6 Plus' Fancy Video Tricks like HD Time-Lapse Capture we'd Imagine the Off-Device Storage should Come in Pretty Handy.




Info Source:

https://blog.onedrive.com/you-can-now-get-30-gb-of-free-storage-with-onedrive

Read More

Spotify Who ? Most of Japan's Music Sales, Still Come From CDs

Japan May be on the Cutting Edge of Everything from Servant Robots to Tech-Laden Toilets but, Music ? Not so Much, it Seems. Old-Fashioned CDs still Make Up 85% of the Country's Music Sales despite Years of Declining Volume and the Recording Industry Association of Japan Notes that, Internet-Based Sales actually Shrank from $1 Billion in 2009 to about $400 Million in 2013. In Short, the Physical-to-Digital Transition that Took Hold Elsewhere has Fallen Flat in the Land of the Rising Sun, Where People are Simply Buying Less Music Overall. Just What's Creating these Problems Isn't Clear but, it's Likely to be a Mix of Corporate and Cultural Factors. Music Licensing is Decidedly More Complex in Japan than in Many Other Countries, Preventing Online Outfits from Either Launching or Offering a Large-Enough Catalog to Sway Buyers.


Spotify, for Example, has Spent 2 Years Struggling to Get the Deals it Needs for a Local Debut. Japan also Puts a Much Heavier Emphasis on CDs as Collectibles and Promotional Tools -- it's Hard to Lure Screaming J-Pop Fans to a Store or Concert, if you Don't Have Something More Memorable to Offer than a Download Code. It's Doubtful that a Shift in Japanese Listening Tastes will Happen Anytime Soon as a Result but, it's also Clear that, the Disc-Based Status Quo Can't Last Forever.




Info Sources:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2014/09/21/85-percent-of-music-sales-in-japan-are-cds/?utm_campaign=forbestwittersf&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/business/media/cd-loving-japan-resists-move-to-digital-music-.html?_r=1

Read More

Japanese Company Plans to Have Working Space Elevator by 2050

Who does Want to Go to Space ? No Less, in an Elevator. While NASA's been Working Hard for Years Trying to Find the Necessary Tools to do just that, Other Firms are Doing the Same across Different Parts of the World. Japanese Construction Company, Obayashi, for instance, is One of those and it Revealed its Plans to Have a Fully Functional Space Elevator by the Year 2050. As Australian Broadcasting Corporation Reports, Obayashi Says it is Working to Build a Space Elevator that Can Reach 96,000 Kilometers (Roughly 60,000 Miles) into Space, Capable of Transporting People and Cargo at a Much Lower Cost than the Rockets Traditionally Launched from Earth. The Trip on Obayashi's Space Elevator is Said to Take a Total of 7 Days One-Way, with the Destination being a Space Station that Would be Built Specifically for this Scenario.


Obayashi Knows the Road to Build a Space Elevator Won't be Easy, Particularly because Some of the Materials Required Aren't Available in this Day and Age. That Said, the Japan-Based Outfit Believes that, Things like the Current Development Carbon Nanotechnology will be of Huge Help in Turning the Project into Reality. According to Obayashi's Research and Development Manager, Yoji Ishikawa, "The tensile strength is almost a hundred times stronger than steel cable so it's possible. Right now we can't make the cable long enough. We can only make 3-centimetre-long nanotubes but we need much more... we think by 2030 we'll be able to do it", he Told ABC.




Info Sources:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102021431

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-21/japanese-construction-giants-promise-space-elevator-by-2050/5756206

Read More

VIDEO: Microsoft Makes it Easier for Students to Get "Office 365" at No Cost

Back When it Launched the Student Advantage Program, Microsoft Made it Possible for 35,000 Educational Institutions across the Globe to Receive Free Access to "Office 365". As Part of that, Students and Teachers alike Could Get a Subscription to the Productivity Software at No Cost to them, so Long as their School had Enrolled in the Initiative. Problem is, since then, Each Student Depended on the School to be the One to Create an "Office 365" Account they Could Use -- until Today. Microsoft's Now Simplified the Process, Opening Up a Self-Serve Service for Students to Get the License without the Need to Check with the School's IT Department First. Those Who Qualify will Need a Valid .edu Email Address to Receive the Free Subscription, from a School that's Currently Participating in the Student Advantage Program and that's About it. The Only Caveat is that, this is Limited to US Students at the Moment but, Microsoft Says it Plans to Bring the Sign-Up Feature Worldwide Later this Year.




Info Sources:

http://blogs.office.com/2014/09/22/students-teachers-may-eligible-get-office-free

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE9ksm7ZONM

Read More

"PlayStation TV" Launches October 14 in US and Canada

Sony will be Releasing its "PlayStation TV" in the US and in Canada on October 14th. What's More, as it Looks to Get People Amped Up for it, the Company also Let it be Known that, the Mini Console is Set to Have Nearly 700 Playable Games from Day 1, Giving Interested Folks Stateside and in The Great White North Something to Look Forward to Come Launch Day. That Amount of Games, Naturally, is Made Possible Thanks to the "PlayStation TV's" Flexibility -- it Provides Access to a Variety of Content in Different Ways, including through PS Vita Titles, PlayStation Now and via Remote Play with a PlayStation 4. The "PlayStation TV" is Going to be Available for $99 (System-Only), or you also Have the Option to Get a $140 Bundle which includes a DualShock 3 Controller, 8GB Memory Card and The LEGO Movie VideoGame.




Info Source:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/09/22/nearly-700-games-available-to-play-on-playstation-tv-on-day-one-this-october-2

Read More

Xprize's Next Big Challenge: Software that Lets Kids Teach Themselves

The Xprize Organization has Inspired People to Take on Some Pretty Lofty Goals, Ranging from Sequencing Genomes to Literal Moonshots. Today, though, it's Focusing on a Very Practical Objective: Improving Education for Hundreds of Millions of Kids. Its New Global Learning Xprize will Offer a Total of $15 Million to Teams that Build Open Source, Easily Scaled Software that Lets Young Ones in Developing Countries Teach Themselves Math, Reading and Writing. Anyone Hoping to Join in will Have 18 Months to Craft their Tools, which will be Tested in at least 100 Villages. The Top 5 Entrants will Get $1 Million Each, while the Winning Entry will Get a Hefty $10 Million. It May Not be the Flashiest Competition but, it Could Go a Long, Long Way toward Tackling the Chronic Shortages of Schools and Teachers that Ultimately Hurt Kids' Futures.




Info Source:

http://learning.xprize.org/press-release/xprize-announces-its-next-moonshot-bringing-literacy-250-million-children

Read More

VALVe Makes Finding Your Next Steam Game Easier

When VALVe Debuted Game-Recommendation Tags Not Long Ago, it was Apparently a Precursor to Something Much Bigger. Today the PC Game-Sales Juggernaut has Revealed a New Look for its Store, that Aims to Put Games in Front of you that you Didn't Even Know you Wanted. By Utilizing the Tags, your Gaming History and a Few Other Aspects, VALVe has Redesigned the Homepage so that, it'll apparently Make Finding Games you're Interested in, a Lot Easier. The Discovery Queue Gives you a Chance to Browse through Suggested Releases, Wishlist them or Skip Updates on Titles Completely. VALVe Says that, the List will Refresh Daily, Giving you a Chance to Possibly Find the Next Killer Indie before Anyone Else. Presumably these Ratings, as well as, the Ability to Follow "Curators" that Act as Tastemakers for Gaming, will Go to further Establish a Taste Profile (Similar to What Netflix does). Oh and as you Can See in the Image below, the App Now Sports a Blue Color Scheme. Almost Makes you Want to Buy Something, no ? ;-)




Info Source:

http://store.steampowered.com/about/newstore

Read More