Twitch Brings On-Demand Video Streaming to its Mobile Apps

Missed Out on a Live Game Tournament Stream, When you were at Home but, Want to Catch Up When you're on the Road ? As of Now, you Can. Twitch is Pushing Out Updated Android and iOS Apps that include Video On-Demand, Giving you Highlights and Past Broadcasts, When you're Stuck on the Bus. Both Releases are Available Today, although it's Important to Note that, you Can't Simply Update the Android Version -- a Security Fix Requires that you Install a Brand New App and the Old One will Stop Working as of Today.




Info Sources:

http://blog.twitch.tv/2015/05/video-on-demand-comes-to-mobile

https://itunes.apple.com/app/twitch/id460177396?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.twitch.android.app

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"Logjam" Browser Vulnerability Fix, Will Block Thousands of Websites

Researchers Have Discovered a New Browser and Website Encryption Vulnerability Called, "Logjam" and there's Good News and Bad News. On the Plus Side, the Vulnerability has Largely been Patched, Thanks to Consultation with Technology Companies like Google and Updates are Available Now or Coming Soon for Chrome, Firefox and Other Browsers. The Bad News is that, the Fix Rendered Many Websites Unreachable, including the Main Website at the University of Michigan, which is Home to Many of the Researchers that Found the Security Hole. Ironically, that Site (which has since been Patched) and Other Government and Educational Websites are Supposed to be Secure -- so, What Went Wrong ? The "Logjam" Vulnerability is a Kissing Cousin to FREAK, a Weakness that also Left Secure Sites like Whitehouse.gov Open to Attack. Researchers Say, the New Bug's Weakness is in an Encryption Protocol Called, 'Diffie-Hellman', Letting Attackers Downgrade Certain Connections to a Mere 512-Bits of Security.


That's Low Enough to be Easily be Cracked by Sophisticated Attackers in just a Few Minutes, though it's Not Clear if Anyone actually Exploited the Weakness. However, the Researchers Speculated that, None Other than the NSA Used "Logjam", Saying "a close reading of published NSA leaks shows that the agency's attacks on VPNs are consistent with having achieved such a break". However, One of them Pointed Out that such a Hack was "just conjecture". So, What to do ? If you're an Admin or the Owner of a Web or Mail Server, you'll Want to Check the Researchers' Guide to Fixing it, which Involves Changing 'Diffie-Hellman' Cipher Settings. If you just Want to Surf Safely, Check that you Have the Latest Version of your Browser Installed -- Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Apple Safari are All Releasing Patches.




Info Sources:

http://www.wsj.com/article_email/new-computer-bug-exposes-broad-security-flaws-1432076565-lMyQjAxMTE1MjE0OTQxNzkxWj

http://weakdh.org

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Latest Version of SSH Client, "PuTTY", Steals Users Credentials

"PuTTY" Developed by Simon Tatham is a Free and Open Source Terminal Emulator for Windows System, Used to Remote Access with Linux / Unix. It is Used by System Administrators, Database Managers and Web Developers. According to Symantec Researchers, an Unofficial Version of the Open Source SSH Client, "PuTTY", has been Found which May Compromise the Users Privacy.


"If the user is connected to other computers or servers through the malicious version of PuTTY, then they could have inadvertently sent sensitive login credentials to the attackers. Data that is sent through SSH connections may be sensitive and is often considered a gold mine for a malicious actor. Attackers can ultimately use this sensitive information to get the highest level of privileges on a computer or server, (known as “root” access) which can give them complete control over the targeted system."




A Trojanized Version of "PuTTY" is being Hosted on Websites, from the Official Domain and Cyber Attackers Used to Redirect Users to their Own Websites. This Trojanized "PuTTY" Version was 1st Spotted in the Wild Late 2013, in a Limited Number of Detection. To Protect Yourself Becoming a Victim, you Need to Check the Source of your Download. Make Sure you Download the Files from the Official Homepage from the Author or Publisher.

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Microsoft is Releasing Another White XBox One, this Time Bundled with "Halo: The Master Chief Collection"

Microsoft Released a White XBox One Bundled with "Sunset Overdrive" in 2014 but, to the Chagrin of Some, it was a Limited Offer. Now, the White Version of the Normally Black Console, has been Released Again, this Time Bundled with "Halo: The Master Chief Collection". As with the "Sunset Overdrive" Bundle, the New Offer is Available for a Limited Time, according to a Post on Microsoft's Official XBox Wire Website. The Bundle is Priced at XBox One's Regular $350, Meaning the Game, which Comes as a Digital Download, is Essentially Free.


Microsoft Says the Offer "will be available in limited quantities for a limited time at participating U.S. retailers while supplies last". While "The Master Chief Collection" was Plagued with Problems upon its Release, Most Major Issues Have been Fixed with Patches. Despite the Help, however, Some Significant Matchmaking Issues still Persist in Multiplayer, which Even Led to the Cancelation of a Major Halo Multiplayer Championship, Last Month.




Info Source:

http://news.xbox.com/2015/05/xbox-one-special-edition-halo-mcc-bundle

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Mobile Google Searches, Now Show Real-Time Tweets

Google and Twitter Announced a New Service Yesterday that, will Allow US Mobile Users to Receive Live Tweets -- Now that, the Social Network's Firehose is Connected Once Again -- in their Web Searches. For Example if you Search for Golden State Warriors, Danger 5 or Game of Thrones on your Cellphone, their Most Recent Tweets Pop Up at the Top of your Search Results. Users Can also Search specifically for, Say, "NASA Twitter" to Find Everything that the Space Agency has Recently Tweeted. According to the Official Twitter Blog, this Feature will be Landing on the Desktop Soon, as well as, Expanding to Other Countries.




Info Sources:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/tweets-take-flight-in-google-app.html

https://blog.twitter.com/2015/a-new-way-to-discover-tweets

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VIDEO: Hydrogen-Powered Drone by HUS, Wll Fly for Hours at a Time

Even the Nicer Drones you Can Buy, Typically Last for just Minutes in the Air, which Isn't Much Help, if you're Delivering Packages or Shooting Movies. Horizon Unmanned Systems (HUS) Thinks, it has a Solution, however: Hydrogen Power. Its Recently Unveiled "Hycopter Drone" Runs on a Lightweight Hydrogen Fuel Cell that, Should Deliver Up to 4 Hours of Flight Time Unloaded and 2.5 Hours When it's Carrying 2.2 Pounds of Cargo. That still May Not Sound like Much but, it Makes Long-Distance Flights Practical -- it's the Difference between Flying across the City and Staying within the Neighborhood. HUS Won't Even Fly the "Hycopter's" Prototype until Later in 2015 but, Patience could Well Pay Off if you're Tired of Piloting Robotic Aircraft in Half-Hour Bursts.




Info Sources:

http://www.gizmag.com/horizon-energy-systems-hycopter-fuel-cell-drone/37585

http://www.hus.sg/?utm_source=Composite%2BUAV%2Bframe%2Bstores%2Bweightless%2Benergy%2B%2F%2Bmulti-rotor%2Baims%2Bfor%2B4hr%2Bflight&utm_campaign=Horizon%2BEnergy%2BSystems%2BAnnounces%2Bnew%2B700Wh%2Fkg%2Bfuel%2Bcell%2Bfor%2Bdrones&utm_medium=email

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150505005409/en/AUVSI-Horizon-Unveils-World%E2%80%99s-Hydrogen-Powered-4H-Endurance#.VVyUBVnBzRb

https://youtu.be/xh4gWe2oaz8

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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Studio, GSC GameWorld Announce, "Cossacks 3"

Remember When S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Studio, GSC GameWorld, Grandly Announced its Renewed Existence to the World and How I Warned you it was Unlikely their Next Game would be a New Entry in the Open-World FPS Series ? I do Hope you Didn’t Get your Hopes Up regardless. GSC Game World Announced, "Cossacks 3" [Official Website, below], which is actually a Remake of Ye Olde Cossacks: European Wars from 2001. Their Return to their Historical Epic Real-Time Strategy Series is Due Later this Year and Teases Battles with Up to 10,000 Units. "Cossacks 3" will Tour Big Battles from the 17 and 18 Centuries, Having Players do that RTS Dealio of Gathering Resources, Building Structures, Researching Upgrades and Training Men to Murder the Heck Out of Enemy Forces.


Huge Enemy Forces. 10,000 is a Lot of Units. Along with 5 Historical Single-Player Campaigns, it’ll Have Multiplayer with Support for Random Maps and Up to 7 Players (or AIs). "Cossacks 3" is Due Later this Year, Sometime from October to December, on Windows, Mac and Linux. The Original Cossacks Games Came Out in a Period When I Mostly Refused to Play Anything Where I Wasn’t Personally Shooting Men’s Faces Off so, I Can’t Tell you Anything from Experience. Psst, hey, Knowledgeable Readers, Tell us All What they were Like, yeah ? As for S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Look, you Knew it Wouldn’t be that, didn’t you ? Pretty Much Anyone Who Ever had Anything to do with the Series is Long Gone and Many are Making their Own S.T.A.L.K.E.R.L.I.K.E.S.




ANNOUNCEMENT


"The Ukrainian studio GSC Game World announces the development of the third game of the Cossacks series ! “Over the years of its existence, GSC has been engaged in numerous fields, however making good games is what we do best. For this very purpose, we are resuming our activities”, said Evgeniy Grygorovych, head of the development studio. “Over the past year and a half, we have been secretly working on a new project and now is the time to tell players all over the world about it. Cossacks 3 is a modern remake of the best 2001 strategy, with armies numbering in thousands of warriors and reconciled game mechanics. It’s a genuine RTS classic, including construction and production of resources. A vast selection of unit types, cold steel and firearms, influence of the landscape and the realistic physics provide the player with an unlimited number of tactical opportunities. In addition, thanks to modern graphics, the game will be interesting not only for admirers of the series but, for all genre connoisseurs who have never played the legendary Cossacks for some reason !"




Game Features:

- Breathtaking historical real-time strategy.
- Actions unfold in Europe in the XVII–XVIII centuries.
- Five historical singleplayer campaigns.
- 12 playable nations.
- Grandiose battles of up to 10,000 units on the map.
- Realistic physics of bullets and cannonballs.
- Considerable influence of the landscape on battle tactics.
- Infinite variations of battles with computer enemies on random maps.
- Flexible generator of random maps with selection of a preferable landscape.
- Windows, Mac OS and Linux support.




The Release is Scheduled for the 4th Quarter of 2015.




Info Source:

http://www.cossacks3.com

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Researchers Discover a "Partial Workaround" for Blindness

When your Eyes' Photoreceptors (the So-Called Rods and Cones) Fail, Due to Either Illness or Injury so, too does your Vision. And until Very Recently, Few Options to Correct the Condition Existed -- Typically in the Form of a Bulky and Intrusive Wearable. But Now, a Long-Researched Gene Therapy, is Finally Ready for Human Trials and Could Pave the Way for at least Partial Restoration of a Patient's Sense of Sight. The Technique, which was Developed by a Team Led by Zhuo-Hua Pan of Wayne State University in Detroit, is Part of a Growing Scientific Field Known as Optogenetics. It Doesn't Target the Dead Photoreceptors Themselves -- in Fact, it Bypasses them Entirely -- instead Focusing on the Ganglion Cells behind them. Ganglion Cells Carry Electrical Signals from the Rods and Cones to the Optic Nerve, which then Shuttles the Information to the Brain.


Researchers Have Found they Can Control the Function of the Ganglion Cells, by Inserting Light-Sensitive Molecules (Derived from Algae and Other Microorganisms) and then Shining Specific Wavelengths of Light at them. Specifically, they've Inserted channelrhodopsin-2, or ChR2, into Ganglion Cell Membranes. In the Dark, this Protein Remains Closed but, When Exposed to Blue-Wavelength Light, it Opens a Channel through which Ions Can Flow and Triggers Cells around it, to do the Same.


While Optogenetics is Technically a Form of Gene Therapy, it Functions Very Differently than the CRISPR/Cas9 Technique that Recently Made Headlines. Instead of Knocking Out a Specific Gene (or Set of Genes) to Restart Photoreceptor Function, this Technique Simply Converts Transmitter Cells into Light-Sensitive Ones. This Cleanly Sidesteps the Medical and Ethical Pitfalls of Conventional Gene Therapy. It also Could Potentially be Applied to the Roughly 200,000 People in America Alone Suffering from Blindness Caused by any of the 250 Known Gene Mutations. Human Trials are Expected to Start as Early as 2016.




Info Source:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/how-rewire-eye

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"SKEYE" Nano Drone: The World's Smallest Drone which Fits on Your Fingertips, Priced $60

Drones and Internet of Things are 2 Sectors of Technology which are just Taking Off with Many New Advances Coming to us Every Day. Drones are Nowadays Used in Pretty Much Everything from Delivering Pizzas to Taking Selfies, these Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are Slowly Taking over the World by Storm. They Vary in Shape, Sizes and Features. But, Have you Seen One which Can Fit on your Fingertips ? "Skeye" has Come Up with a NANO Drone of just the Size which Can Easily Fit into your Pocket. With Dimensions Measuring Less than 2-Inches at 1.57″ x 1.57″ x 0.87″, the "Skeye" Nano Drone is the World’s Smallest Precision-Controlled Quadcopter which is Perfect for Airborne Stunts like Figure 8s, Banking Turns, Flips, etc, Both Indoors and Out.


"Skeye" is Listed on StackSocial and Weighs just 11.9 Grams and has Responsive Controls which Give it Good Stability and Maneuverability. It Comes with a 100mAh Battery that, Takes about 30 Minutes to Charge and Offers a Standard Flight Time of 7-8 Minutes. It Comes with a RTF (Ready to Fly) Technology; has 6-Axis Flight Control System w/ Adjustable Gyro Sensitivity; is Extremely Portable and Can be Operated in 3 Distinct Flight Modes- Beginner, Advanced Pilots and Seasoned Flight Veterans. It also has an Aerobatic ‘Flip’ Capability and LED Lights for Night Flights.




Sneak Peek at "Skeye" Nano Drone Specifications:

- RTF (ready to fly) technology
- 6-axis flight control system w/ adjustable gyro sensitivity
- Extreme portability
- 3 distinct flight modes: beginner, advanced pilots, and seasoned flight veterans
- Stable & easy to fly
- Aerobatic “flip” capability
- LED lights for night flights




The "Skeye" Nano Drone, is Listed at $60 but, is currently Selling at a Promo Price of $34.99 (Rs.2200.00). So, you Can Order "Skeye" Nano Drone from here (1) US Citizens). The Company Offers Free Shipping to Anywhere in the World. To Order for a International Location including India, Kindly Visit here (2).




Info Sources:

https://stacksocial.com/?rid=2016236

https://stacksocial.com/sales/the-skeye-nano-drone-int/?rid=2016236

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VIDEO: Portal 2’s Unused GLaDOS Song ("Don't Say Goodbye") is as Lovely and Crazed as You Would Expect

Apparently there was a Secret Easter Egg GLaDOS Song Written and Recorded for "Portal 2" but, it Didn’t Quite Make the Game. Now, you Can Enjoy it and it’s Pretty Much Everything you Could Hope for. Written and Performed by Ellen McLain (the Voice of GLaDOS) and John Patrick Lowrie (the Voice of Team Fortress 2’s 'Sniper'), "Don’t Say Goodbye" is a Lovely, Lilting Little Number of Light Acoustic Guitar and Oddly Sinister Lyrics. Actually, it’s Almost Quite Loving for a GLaDOS Song. Anyway, this was Posted Up by 'Harry101UK' on YouTube with a Nice Video to Accompany the Track.




It’s Well Worth and Watch / Listen:

https://youtu.be/ihYVZFl-Ck0

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VIDEO: How You Can Turn Your Nintendo 64 into a 1080P Powerhouse

As Much as we Love the Nintendo 64, it Looks like Absolute Arse on Most Modern TVs. Play GoldenEye 007 and you’ll Struggle to Pick Enemies Out, while the likes of Zelda and Super Mario 64 Look like a Blurry Mess on a Modern TV. Fortunately, the UltraHDMI Promises to Fix All this Issues by Adding a Variety of Options, including Scanlines, 480p, 720p, 1080p and the Option to Switch between 50 and 60HZ (a Big Deal for those Who like Playing their Games Properly. It’s Unclear When the Device will be Released but, the Requirement of a Chip Means, you’ll Have to Buy an Entire Unit, rather than just a Lead.




Judging by the Following Video however, it Looks like it’s Going to be Well Worth Doing:

https://youtu.be/Dlq1AaxngEU

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Facebook Wants to Put Games in Messenger Afterall

Contrary to Previous Reports, it Appears Facebook is still Toying with the Idea of Featuring Games in Messenger. According to The Information, the Social Network Plans to Strengthen its Instant Messaging Platform by Adding Games, as it Looks to Find a Fresh, More Lucrative Source of Revenue. Facebook's already Said to be Working with Developers to Roll this Out; Ilya Sukhar, an Executive Leading the Project, Confirmed the Talks to the News Outlet, though he Didn't Specify When we Could See the Changes Take Place. While you Wait for that to Happen, Keep Enjoying your GIFs, Emojis and All the Other Tidbits, Facebook's Chat Ecosystem has to Offer at the mMoment.




Info Source:

https://www.theinformation.com/With-Messenger-Apps-Sluggish-Facebook-Eyeing-Games

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Pandora Buys Analytics Company, to Get More Out of Your Streaming Data

In Order to Serve Up its Song Suggestions, Pandora Collects Listener Data Based on those Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down Votes you Tap in. The Music Streaming Option Announced Yesterday that, it Acquired, Next Big Sound: an Analytics Company that will Help Turn that Data into Valuable Marketing (Read: Ad) Fuel. Next Big Sound Offers the Tools to Properly Break All of that User Information Down -- especially in Regards to Social Media Chatter -- for Artists, Labels and Others. You May Not Have Heard of Next Big Sound but, you May Have Seen its Work: the Company Provides the Stats for Billboard's Charts, including the Social 50. Pandora already had its Own Tools for Artists to Examine User Data and Now, it Joins the Likes of Spotify and Apple by Bringing in Outside Help to Make its Stockpile of Info More Useful. If you'll Recall, Spotify Swiped Echo Nest in 2014, a Company that Uses Music Analysis to Power Radio Options for Rdio and Others -- Similar to Pandora's Music Genome Project.




Info Sources:

http://press.pandora.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=251764&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2049950

http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6568814/pandora-acquires-next-big-sound

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What’s Naughty Dog Got Against First Person Games ?

“In The Last of Us, you’re tight, the camera is brought way in on Joel. You’re up close, there’s the sense that there’s danger all around you. A whole setpiece can just take place around fighting in an old [supermarket]. It’s intimate. Dangerous. Every bullet counts”, Says Ricky Cambier to our Sister Magazine, games™ (1). He’s the Lead Designer on Uncharted 4. He’s been at Naughty Dog a while – Long Enough to See the Impact The Last Of Us had on the Studio. “In Uncharted 4, you’ve got the island we showed you in the demo and its sense of scale so, you’ve got this island and its pillars and its rope swings and you need to see some of that but, you still get the sense that there’s danger.” He’s Talking about Camera – Specifically, the 3rd-Person Camera Naughty Dog always Uses. “We go with the wider camera for basic gameplay because the [series] is about exploration and wide-open spaces”, Writer Josh Scherr Continues. “You want to feel the grandeur of these environments and have them pull you in, versus The Last Of Us, which is about danger lurking around every corner. By restricting your view a little bit, we forced the player to constantly look over their shoulder, scouting for threats. The camera choices alone add to the tone of any game.” But, in an Industry that’s Somewhat Addicted to 1st-Person Shooters at the Minute, Why does Naughty Dog always Want to Take the Camera Over-the-Shoulder – we Always Thought that, a First-Person Perspective was Better for Agency, Better for Making the Player Care about the World they’re in ? “For me personally”, Explains Cambier, “if I can’t see the character… well, I want to know what they’re going through, you know ? I’ve always felt more connected to the protagonist in third-person games because of that. If I’m playing a first-person game, I get to a cutscene and the camera comes out and I see my self and I think ‘Oh yeah ! That’s what I look like !’ [laughs] For me, that comes with a bit of a disconnect. I think third-person is a stronger medium for getting you to relate to the character as a protagonist”.




Info Source:

http://www.gamestm.co.uk/features/can-drake-save-next-gen

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"MixRadio's" Music-Streaming Application, Heads to iOS and Android

After a Long Exclusive Spell on Windows Phone, "MixRadio" is Finally Expanding Outside of Redmond's Mobile Platform. The Music-Streaming Service, which Microsoft Sold to Messaging Company, Line, Last Year, Announced that, its App will be Available on iOS and Android Starting Now. "MixRadio's" Main Feature is Serving Up Personalized Playlists to Listeners for Free, across Hundreds of Genre- and Artist-Based Channels, Slightly Similar to What Pandora does. Interestingly Enough, the Service has also Revealed a Partnership with HTC; What this Means is, you'll Start Seeing "MixRadio" Curate Stories for BlinkFeed, the Smartphone Maker's Customizable News Stream.




MixRadio Official Website:

http://www.mixradiomusic.com

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VIDEOS: "FOVE" - Another Oculus Competitor, Heads to Kickstarter

By the End of Next Year, there'll be so Many Virtual Reality Headsets in Stores that, you'll Wonder if you Even Need a TV Anymore. "Fove" is One such Device and Unlike Many of its Rivals, Offers Built-In Eye Tracking that Promises Better Depth of Field, More Natural Movement and Line-of-Sight Targeting in FPS Games. The Company is also Boasting that, the Headset's Ability to Work Out Where you're Looking, will Enable your PC to Adjust its Rendering Resources, accordingly. There's also Talk that, the "Fove" Development Kit, will Seamlessly Work with Titles Published in Unity, Unreal Engine and CryEngine so, it Won't be Too Difficult to Adapt Big-Budget Games to Work with the Hardware. "Fove" also Believes that, its Eye-Tracking VR Headset has Applications Outside of just Making Games More Immersive.


In an Early Experiment, the Outfit Took its Hardware to the University of Tskuba's Special Needs Education School for the Physically Challenged in Japan. There, a Team of Researchers Wired the Gear to a Piano, Enabling a Disabled Child to Play at his School Recital just by Looking at the Musical Notes. Spec-Wise, Users Can Delve into "Fove", to Find a 5.8-Inch 2,560 x 1,440 Display, Paired with Eye-Tracking Sensors that, Boast Accuracy Down to 0.2 of a Degree. If those Flashy Numbers are Enough to Get you Interested, then you'll be Excited to Read that, Developer Editions should Arrive by May 2016. If you're an Early Bird to the Company's Kickstarter, you'll be Able to Get in on the Action for $349, while Everyone will Have to Spend $399.




Info Sources:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fove/fove-the-worlds-first-eye-tracking-virtual-reality

https://youtu.be/--WyN7wJ5bI

https://youtu.be/CvPIpd5prwU

https://youtu.be/gLNZyC67Srw

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Has Someone Finally Hacked the PlayStation 4 ?

The PlayStation 4 and XBox One, Have Proven to be Surprisingly Robust to Piracy. Pirates Always Find a Way, though and it Seems that, Someone May just Have Cracked the PS4. According to a Report from Brazilian Site, UOL Jogos, Pirates Have Managed to Hack the PlayStation 4 and are Selling Pirated Games by Copying them on to Customers’ PS4 Hard Drives. “We put 10 games on your HD”, UOL Jogos were Told by One of the Pirates. ”We put a chip on your PS4, we connect our laptop to the chip, format the hard drive and copy video games. After that, we remove the chip and deliver the device”, he Said. The ‘Chip’ itself is Said to be a Raspberry Pi. According to the Pirates, Once the Games are Installed, you Can Download Updates as Normal and will be Able to Play Online without Sony being Able to Tell that, the Games are Pirated. The Hack could Open the Way for Pirated PS4 Games to Become Available on a Wider Scale, Unless of Course, Sony Can Find a Way to Crack Down on the Hack via a Future Patch Update.




Info Source:

http://jogos.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/2015/05/12/por-precos-a-partir-de-r-300-pirataria-chega-ao-playstation-4-no-brasil.htm

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The Internet's Biggest TV Pirate, Calls it Quits after Scam

If you Enjoy Getting the Latest TV Shows from EZTV, you May Want to Stop that Now and Not just because it's Illegal. It's also More Risky because, the Hugely Popular Torrent Website is Now in the Hands of Potentially Bad Actors, according to TorrentFreak. Former Staffers Said that, EZTV's Founder, 'NovaKing', was the Victim of a Hostile Takeover by a For-Profit Group, following a Series of Wacky (and Ironic) Events. The Problems Started When Italy's .IT Registry Suspended the Original Website's Domain Name and What Followed was Something Out of a High-Tech Kafka Novel. First, the "EZTV.it" Domain was Gobbled Up for "Five Figures" by a 3rd Party, Using the Same Company Name (EZCloud) under which 'NovaKing' had Originally Registered EZTV. That Party then Proceeded to Strip All References to the Original Site, which had Relocated to the .CH Domain in the Meantime -- while the New Owners Tried to Get the Original Site to Play along.


Using a Fake Name, Faux-EZTV Managed to Seize the Original .SE Domain Held by the EuroDNS Registrar, despite 'NovaKing's' Attempt to Block the Move. From there, the Rogue "EZCloud" was Able to Reset Various EZTV Services and Passwords and Take Control of Every Domain, eventually including EZTV.ch. Though EZTV's Servers apparently Weren't Compromised, a Staffer Said 'NovaKing' was Distraught by the Attack and Decided to Walk Away from his "Non-Profit" Labor of Love. The Purloined EZTV Sites Continue to Operate Using New, Non-EZTV Torrents (Complete with Ads and Pop-Unders) while the Operators Claim that, All is still Well. However, Other Torrent Websites like Pirate Bay and KickAss Torrents Have Severed Ties and TPB is Even Warning Users to "Stay Away" from EZTV.ch. And if a Site Where you Go to, Get "Internet Herpes", (as my Colleague Put it), Tells you to Stay Away, we'd Advise you to Listen. Afterall, there are Plenty of Similar Websites and of Course, Lots of Legal Options.




Info Source:

http://torrentfreak.com/eztv-shuts-down-after-hostile-takeover-150518

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"Smart Call" Smartwatch Concept, for the Hearing and Speech Impaired People

The "Smart Call" is a…you Guessed it…SmartWatch Concept, Aimed at Helping the Speech and Hearing Impaired Folks to Lead a Technologically-Smarter Life. The Watch is Designed to Alert the Wearer of Incoming Calls and Pair with a Bluetooth and GPS Enabled Mobile Phone and Work in Sync. The Device Can be Used between 2 Impaired Users or between One Impaired and One Non-Impaired User, for Easy Communication. An Interesting Concept !

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James Cameron Backs a Contest to Build Better Movie Drones

You Can already Record Some Decent Footage with a Drone if you're so Inclined but, "Decent" Isn't Good Enough for Director, James Cameron. He's Lending Support to C-Prize, a New Zealand Competition Meant to Improve Drone Technology for the Movie and TV Producers. The Challenge will Reward those Who Develop Tech that Makes Drones Quieter, More Stable and Better at Tracking Moving Subjects -- All Important When you're Shooting your Magnum Opus with a Robotic Camera. You'll Have to Pitch your Idea by July 5 but, the Mad Scramble could be Worth it, if it Earns the Gratitude of Cameron and Other Filmmakers Hoping to Spice Up their Aerial Shots.




Info Sources:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/68326104/james-camerons-eye-on-the-cprize--improving-drone-technology-for-film

http://gizmodo.com/james-cameron-wants-better-filmmaking-drones-1705238037

http://www.cprize.nz

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6-Year-Old British Boy, Becomes One of the Youngest People Ever to Pass a Microsoft Exam

A 6-Year-Old Boy from the United Kingdom, has Become One of the Youngest People in the World, to Pass a Microsoft Exam, Earning Himself a Microsoft Office Specialist Certification. Humza Shahzad's Parents, Have always been keen to Promote Technology in their Son's Life, Giving him a Smartphone at the Age of just 2. Six Months Later, he Got his 1st Laptop and it Seems that, his Father, an IT Consultant and his Mother, a Teacher, Have been Encouraging him to Learn about Tech Ever Since. As BBC News Reports, Humza Took the Exam for Word 2013 and "passed with flying colors", although that Report Erroneously Claims that, he is Now a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) after Passing that Exam. In Fact, his Qualification Means that, he is Now a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - and has the 'Certificate of Excellence' to Prove it. But, as the Microsoft Learning Website Explicitly States, Passing MOS Exams "do not qualify you for MCP certification". However, we Shouldn't Let such Details Overshadow Humza's Remarkable Achievement at such a Young Age, Having Passed an Exam which is usually Taken by Adults Seeking to Improve their Knowledge of Microsoft Applications. But, despite his Impressive Capacity for Learning about Office, it Seems that, Humza has Much Loftier Ambitions: he Says that, When he Grows Up, he Wants to be a Pilot.




Info Source:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32771247

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L'Oreal is 3D Printing its Own Human Skin to Test Cosmetics

The L'Oreal Group Hasn't Tested its Products on Animals Worldwide since 2013, instead Relying on a Predictive Model that Utilizes a "Reconstructed Human Epidermis" -- Basically Bits of Skin Grown in a Lab -- to Ensure that, its Products are Safe. Now, the French Cosmetics Giant is Teaming Up with 3D Bioprinting Company, Organovo, to Create the Real Thing...or at least, as Real as Human Skin that Comes Out of an Ink Jet Nozzle Can be. L'Oreal has, in fact, been Growing Skin since the 1980s. A 60-Person Team Grows Roughly 100,000 Skin Samples Every Year (that's 5 Square Meters of Skin or a Full Cow's-Worth Annually) at its Lab in Lyon. Currently, the Company Receives Bits of Donor Skin from Plastic Surgery Procedures. Then L'Oreal Breaks the Samples Down into Individual Cells, Re-Cultures and Grows them into .5 cm Testing Squares.


The whole Process Takes about a Week to Complete but, Could Soon be Done Much Faster Thanks to Organovo's NovoGen Bioprinting Platform. This Device Uses a Pair of Printer Heads -- One for Placing Human Cells, the Other for Placing a Hydrogel Support Matrix -- to Create Skin Samples on a Commercial Scale. The Program is still in its Planning Stages but, Should it Come to Market, the Cosmetics Company will Retain Exclusive Rights to the Samples for Use in Non-Prescription Skin Care Products. Organovo, on the Other Hand, will Have the Right to Sell the Tissues for Prescription Drug and Toxicity Testing, as well as, for Future Organ Transplants. The Bioprinter has already Partnered with Merk, to Create Liver and Kidney Tissues (the 1st Samples of which Should be Ready by Next Year) but, this Reportedly is the 1st Time the Beauty Industry has Employed such Technology.




Info Source:

http://ir.organovo.com/news/press-releases/press-releases-details/2015/LOreal-USA-Announces-Research-Partnership-with-Organovo-to-Develop-3-D-Bioprinted-Skin-Tissue

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Microsoft Marks 25 Years of "Solitaire" with a Tournament

"Microsoft Solitaire", a.k.a. Windows' Biggest Productivity Killer, is Turning 25 this Year -- and the Team in Redmond is Going to Mark the Occasion in Style. The Company is Starting with an Internal Tournament this Month that, will Determine Who Rules the Roost within its Own Ranks. You'll Get to Participate in June, When the Company Releases the Tournament's Challenges to the Public through its Solitaire Collection. If you've Spent Years Mastering the Art of Ordering Cards, your Finely-Honed (if Not Exactly Practical) Skills are about to Pay Off.




Info Sources:

http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/05/18/celebrating-microsoft-solitaire/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/procrastination/2008/05/solitairey_confinement.html

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Bethesda is Resurrecting "DOOM" + E3 2015 Video Teaser

Remember "DOOM" ? "DOOM" was Originally Published in 1993 and is Considered by Most to be an Influential and Pioneering Title that Helped Shape and Mold the First-Person Shooter Genre. After Nearly 10 Y since the Release of DOOM 3, the Franchise's Last Original Release, Bethesda is Teasing a New "DOOM" Title. Although Not Much Information in Regards to the Title is Available, Bethesda has Given us a Small Glimpse at the Title with the Release of a Tiny Teaser Trailer (Below the Post). In the 11-Second Trailer, Bethesda Offers a Tiny Snippet of In-Game Footage that Only Lasts Roughly 3 Seconds. While Not Much Can be Deciphered from the Clip, there is One Thing that is Very Clear: "DOOM" is Looking as Sinister as Ever. Bethesda will be Holding an E3 Showcase that will Reveal More Gameplay Footage at this Year's E3. E3 2015 will Take Place from June 16-18 in Los Angeles, California.




Check Out the Released "DOOM" Teaser, right here:

https://youtu.be/bdAZqeDtlL4

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Google Quietly Moves Its Head of Search Design to Virtual Reality

Jon Wiley, the Lead Designer of Google Search, has Transitioned to Become Lead Designer of Google Cardboard — the Sub-$10 Cardboard and Plastic Case that, Can Transform a Smartphone into a Low-End, 3-D, Virtual Reality Headset. Wiley's Twitter Profile Reflects his New Position and Google Confirmed the Move but, Declined to Share Details as to When or Why it Occurred, or Who will Replace Wiley in his Former Role. What's Clear is that, Google has Invested a Major Design Talent in VR. As Head of Search, Wiley Refined the Mobile Experience, while Turning Long Lists of Links Simple Cards of Information. When Google Cardboard Launched a Year Ago, Many Interpreted it as a Promotional Gimmick, Incapable of Competing with Higher Tech Competitors. But, the Platform May Turn Out to Have Legs. Sure, it's essentially a Viewmaster Made of Paper. It’s also the Most Democratic Virtual Reality Headset we’ve Seen Yet. Over Half a Million Units Have Shipped, likely because, it's a Mere 2% to 3% of the Price of its Closest Competitor, the Samsung Gear VR (also a Headset Adapter that Slots in a Smartphone), which Runs $250.


And Who Better to Run the World’s Most Democratic VR Platform than, the Designer of Google’s Most Democratic Product, Search ? Everyone’s Grandma Knows How to Google Something, Yet under Wiley, Google Search has Continued to Remove Tiny Points of Friction Standing between a User and his Data. Under Wiley, Google Added Cards that Pulled Relevant Information Straight Out of Search Results. As he Put it to me Last Year, "Google is very well known for its strong computer science, algorithms and all the things we do in terms of solving really big hard-to-scale problems. [But] I don’t think quite as much attention has been paid to the other side of Google. We’re really focused on making simple and useful experiences — but also, beautiful experiences". VR desperately Needs those "Simple and Useful" Experiences.


As of Today, VR Hardware like Oculus Rift is a Technological Wonder, with High-Resolution Screens that Fire Pixels, Coordinated with your Head Movements, to Feel Real. But, How do you Walk around in a VR Game ? How do you Touch a VR Button ? What does a Menu or File System Look like in an Immersive, 3-D Environment ? "People are trying to invent the display part and they’re not yet worrying properly about the UI", John Underkoffler, Creator of the Famous Minority Report Interface, Explained in a Recent Interview, Citing a General Lack of Urgency across the Industry. "No one has a UI for it. So, that puts VR pretty much in the position of being a playback mechanism." In Other Words, without UI, Virtual Reality is just Going to be a Very Nice Way to Watch a relatively Typical Movie. Users Need a Whole New Language to Really Interact with it. Here's Hoping Google Cardboard Tasks Wiley with Scripting that Future.

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Sony: "PS4 is 'the Future' but, PS3 will Be Around 'for this Year and Beyond'"

Fergal Gara, the Head of Sony Computer Entertainment U.K., has Said that, while the PlayStation 3 will still be Around for Another Year or so, the Company's Focus is Fixed Firmly on the PlayStation 4 Going Forward. Speaking with MCV, Gara Said that, Sony Could probably do More with PS3 on a Promotional Level but, Anything Else is Limited by the Console's Costly Manufacturing Process. “There is no doubt that at this stage and with the success we have enjoyed globally, that our focus is on PS4”, he Said. “There is more that we could do with PS3 on a promotional level but, don’t expect us to do anything near to what we are doing with PS4, because that is the future. PS3, as has been pretty well documented, was a heavily engineered machine and there’s a limited ability to take significant cost out of it. It will certainly be around for this year and beyond but, don’t expect it to have anywhere near as much focus in the UK as PS4. The gap between the two is very, very wide.” Gara Admitted in the Same Interview that, the Success of Bloodborne 'Surprised' Sony and also Played Down Concerns regarding the PS4's Christmas 2015 Line-Up. PS3 Launched in November 2006 and has Sold over 80 Million Units Worldwide to Date. PS4 Arrived on the Scene in November 2013and has Moved over 20 Million Units Globally.




Info Source:

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/playstation-s-gara-talks-price-wars-bloodborne-no-man-s-sky-and-black-friday/0149460

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Apple Raises "iCloud" Contacts Limit to 50,000

Apple has Updated a Support Document on its Website, to Reflect that, iCloud Now has a Limit of 50,000 Contacts, Double the Previous Limit of 25,000 Contacts (via iFun.de). iPhone, iPad and Mac Users, Can Now Store Up to 50,000 Contacts between their iCloud-Enabled Devices, while All Other Limits for Calendars, Reminders and Bookmarks Haven't been Changed.




Contacts


- Total number of contact cards: 50,000
- Maximum size of a contact card: 256 KB
- Maximum size of a contact photo: 224 KB
- Maximum size of a contact group: 256 KB
- Maximum size of all contact cards:
- Card text: 24 MB
- Card photos: 100 MB
- Supported file types for a contact photo: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
- vCard import limits:
- Total number of vCards: 50,000
- Maximum size of a vCard: 256 KB (photo + text)
- Maximum photo size for a vCard: 224 KB




Info Sources:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202158

http://www.ifun.de/die-icloud-obergrenzen-jeder-nutzer-darf-50-000-kontakte-speichern-76795

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The Internet Risks Hitting Peak Capacity Soon but, it Can Be Saved

The Internet has More than One Capacity Problem to Worry about, apparently. Researchers Met in London this Week to Tackle Growing Concerns that, Fiber Optic Cables, which Represent the Internet's Backbone, are Hitting their Physical Limits. An Alcatel-Lucent Representative Warned that, we Could Hit this Barrier, about 100 Terabits per Second, in 5 Years -- Not Good News When 8K Video and Other Data-Hungry Technologies are just Over the Horizon. The Only Conventional Solution would be to Add More Cables, which Isn't Always Practical. Thankfully, the Gathering also Discussed Some Unconventional Ways of Getting around this Seemingly Insurmountable Barrier. One Technique would Ramp Up the Power in Fiber and Use Calculations to Reconstruct a Usable Signal on the Other End, while Another would Involve Fibers with Multiple Cores that Offer Much More Bandwidth in a Similar Space. The Challenge is Putting these Theories into Practice before it's Too Late. As with Processors, there's No Guarantee that, Big Breakthroughs will Come in the Nick of Time.




Info Sources:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27536-the-internet-is-running-out-of-room--but-we-can-save-it.html?cmpid=RSS|NSNS|2012-GLOBAL|online-news#.VVdlTZNVhBe

http://www.nature.com/srep/2015/150203/srep08214/full/srep08214.html

http://gizmodo.com/the-internets-physical-backbone-is-maxing-out-1704759379?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gizmodo%2Ffull+%28Gizmodo%29

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VIDEO: The Return of "Jibo", the Family Robot

"Jibo", the Social Robot from Robot Scientist, Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, is still Almost a Year Away from Commercial Availability but, Breazeal and her Team Have Finally Moved onto a Working Prototype. Slightly Smaller than the Working Prototype we Saw Last Year, "Jibo" is about to Go on Pre-Sale Again with the Company Reopening the Indiegogo Pre-Order Program while Preparing "Jibo" for Developer Release Late this Year and Full-Scale Launch in 2016. The Company Said, they're Putting "Jibo" Back on Pre-Sale, in Response to "Overwhelming Demand". But, it's Clearly also an Effort to Remind the General Public that, "Jibo" is on Track and Coming to a Home Near You in the Not-Too-Distant Future.


This Pre-Sale will be a Little Bit Different than the One that Ran on Indiegogo in June of 2014. Instead of $499 for the Robot and $599 for the Developer Edition with SDK, they'll Offer a $799 "Jibo" Bundle that, will include One Battery and a Charging Base, as well as, the SDK for Anyone Who Asks for it. While "Jibo's" Development is Continuing, Breazeal's Team Hasn't Changed any of the Core Functionality. The Form Factor and Skills that "Jibo" Demonstrated in 2014 — Responding to Voice Commands, Animated Movement (its Torso and Head Move but, the Robot Doesn't Roll Around), Taking Pictures, Recognizing Faces and Responding to Touch — are All the Same. Chambers Noted that, Some Areas of Development such as Creating the Fluid Physical Animations that Give "Jibo" its Personality had Taken More Time than Others. "We've spent a lot of time on motion and graphics of Jibo", Said Chambers. "So, the big items have proven to be the big items", he Said. "But, that’s where the magic happens."


What the Company has also Done since 2014 is Grow. It Hired a New Executive Team and has Expanded from 10 Employees to 30. They Expect to Have 45 by the End of 2015. "This team that we’ve managed to bring on...it is a truly phenomenal team of talent", Said Breazeal. "Truly world class." The Plan for the Full Release of "Jibo" in 2016, is Direct Sales through the Website. But, Chambers Told they Want to Sell the Family Robot in Retail as well "because Jibo is extraordinary when you see it in person", he Said. They also Hope to Develop Some Sort of Pilot Program so, People Can See the Robot Inside Real Family Homes around the Country. As for Breazeal, she's Feeling Confident about "Jibo's" Timing and Trajectory. "I'm extremely confident and just very, very happy."




Check a Video from "Jibo" Robot:

https://youtu.be/7Zt8hl5YWpM

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The US Wants Cars to 'Talk' to Each Other, Sooner Rather than Later

The Department of Transportation Wants America's Cars to Talk to Each Other and it Wants that to Happen Pretty Soon. That's Why Secretary Anthony Foxx has Announced that, Legislation to Make Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communication a Mandatory Feature of New Cars, will be Brought Forward. At a Speech in Silicon Valley, the Official Added that, he's Greasing the Wheels of Government to Make it Easier for the Program to Begin. For Instance, he's Working with the FCC to Ensure that, the 5.9GHz Spectrum is Properly Tested and Ready for Use, When this Technology eventually Reaches Consumers in the Next Few Decades.


The Idea behind V2V is that, Cars will be in Constant Communication with their Neighbors on the Road so, you'll be Alerted to an Impending Accident before it Happens. So, you May Not be Able to See an On-Rushing Driver behind a Blind Bend but, your Dashboard will Alert you before Anything Catastrophic Takes Place. Foxx is Hoping that V2V, Combined with Autonomous Vehicles, will Help Reduce the Number of Auto Accidents on the Road. Naturally, we're still Several Years from Seeing this in the Cars Down at Showroom but, at least, the Government is Making Sure that, there's No Roadblocks on its End.




Info Sources:

http://phys.org/news/2015-05-car-to-car.html

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