Tag: netflix

BBC captures nature in 4K for ‘Planet Earth II’

The 4K wildflife documentary Netflix promised us isn’t slated to debut until 2019, but you won’t have to wait that long to see vivid images of nature on TV. BBC’s gearing up for the release of Planet Earth II , its six-part follow-up to the original Planet Earth series shown in 2006, later this year. Just like the original series, the six, one-hour episodes will explore jungles (both real ones and concrete), deserts, grasslands “and the extraordinary ways animals survive within them.” This time, though, BBC captured the planet’s habitats on cam entirely in 4K. Planet Earth II’s executive producer Mike Gunton says “It will be a truly immersive experience, providing audiences with a unique perspective on the most extraordinary places and animals on our planet.” As icing on the cake, Sir David Attenborough (who provided the first series’ voice-over) is coming back to narrate how animals live in the wild. Source: BBC , Variety

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BBC captures nature in 4K for ‘Planet Earth II’

‘Final Fantasy IX’ is now on iOS and Android

You could argue that Final Fantasy IX is the long-running series’ high point. It’s certainly the highest-rated Final Fantasy game on Metacritic , even if its sales and nostalgic value pale in comparison to Final Fantasy VII . Putting that argument aside for a moment, it’s easy to say that it’s definitely a game worth playing if you like JRPGs. And now — less than two months after it was announced — it’s available on iOS and Android. The bar for entry has never been lower. The mobile port includes “high-definition movies and character models, ” autosave, achievements and a collection of “game boosters” that let you essentially cheat your way through the game. You can speed up time, cut out random encounters or hit every enemy for 9, 999 damage. The idea of the boosters is to make the game, which in its original incarnation involved well over a full day’s worth of grinding, more playable for casual gamers. If grinding on a phone or tablet isn’t your thing — or you don’t have a phone with the necessary 8GB of free space to install it — Final Fantasy IX will also be coming to Steam in ” Early 2016 , ” together with the enhancements mentioned above and some Steam trading cards. Via: Kotaku Source: Square Enix (Google Play) , (App Store)

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‘Final Fantasy IX’ is now on iOS and Android

This Semi-Automatic Gun Is “95 Percent” 3D Printed

 Another day, another 3D-printed gun. This one comes to us from a carpenter from West Virginia who calls himself Derwood. His gun is “95 percent” 3D printed which means the important bits – springs, firing pins, etc. – are handmade or repurposed (the barrel comes from a Glock) while the stock, magazine, and upper and lower receivers are printed on a Fusion F306 3D… Read More

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This Semi-Automatic Gun Is “95 Percent” 3D Printed

Scientists find a way to make concrete on Mars

If humans are ever going to have a long-term presence on Mars , they’ll need to make their own buildings — they can’t count on timely shipments from Earth. But how do they do that when the resources they have will share little in common with what they knew back home? Northwestern University researchers have an idea. They’ve developed a concrete that uses Mars’ native materials. You only have to heat sulphur until it melts, mix it with an equal part of Martian soil and let it cool. The finished concrete is very strong, easy to work with and recyclable — you just have to reheat it to get some building supplies back. Any need for Martian concrete is years away at best , but the discovery is still crucial. It suggests that explorers won’t have much trouble transitioning from short-term shelters to more permanent structures. Also, any would-be settlers can afford to pack light. Rather than carry every possible building they might want, they could bring just the essentials and build more once they’re established on the Red Planet’s surface. [Image credit: Getty Images] Via: MIT Technology Review , Inhabitate Source: ArXiv.org

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Scientists find a way to make concrete on Mars

New York City’s whole subway system gets WiFi in 2016

Forget having to remember which New York City subway stations have WiFi — by the end of this year, you won’t have to pick and choose. State governor Andrew Cuomo has promised that every underground station will get WiFi by the end of the year, guaranteeing at least some kind of internet access while you’re waiting for your train. Complete cellular service will come slightly later, with end-to-end access ready by early 2017. Either is heartening news if you regularly commute underground, since Transit Wireless (which is handling the service) had previously targeted late 2017 for full WiFi service. There should be more in the works, too. Cuomo has proposed a contactless payment system that would let you use your smartphone or newer bank cards to pay your fare, rather than busting out your MetroCard or some tickets. The current proposed phone system looks a bit clunky with its QR-based scanning, but NYC buses and subways won’t get this feature until 2018 — hopefully, it’ll include NFC-based payments (such as Apple Pay or Android Pay) by then. Both the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad will have mobile ticketing within half a year. And yes, the city plans to drag trains (and buses) into the modern era. You’ll get real-time arrival data for all subway lines, and more countdown clocks. Also, subway cars will start getting USB charging ports this year (400 will have them by next year), and every new bus delivered from this year forward will have WiFi hotspots. In short, NYC’s mass transit system will soon revolve around mobile. While there will still be gaps in coverage (most notably when you’re in the middle of some tunnels), they may soon become the exception rather than the rule. [Image credit: AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews] Via: NY1 , The Verge Source: MTA , Gov. Andrew Cuomo (Twitter)

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New York City’s whole subway system gets WiFi in 2016

Use These Secret Codes to Unlock Netflix’s Hidden Categories

Here’s a trick that’s been around for a while but may have passed you by: secret category codes added by Netflix engineers that can help you narrow down your on-demand video choices. From classic war movies to Brazilian dramas, here’s how to dig deeper into the Netflix library. Read more…

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Use These Secret Codes to Unlock Netflix’s Hidden Categories

Netflix launches in 130 new countries, but not in China, Syria, or North Korea

Big streaming content news out of CES this morning: Netflix is now live in 130 additional countries , which makes its service available to billions of new users. The most notable exception: China. CEO Reed Hastings made the announcement at the annual Consumer Electronics Forum in Las Vegas today. “You are witnessing the birth of a global TV network,” he said. Netflix “won’t be available in Crimea, North Korea and Syria due to U.S. government restrictions on American companies,” the company said. Countries where Netflix will now be available include Azerbaijan, India, Vietnam, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Saudia Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, Turkey and Indonesia can now use Netflix–but presumably with certain restrictions, in certain nations. ” Netflix Is Now Available Around the World ” [netflix press release] [ CNN via @ brianstelter ]

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Netflix launches in 130 new countries, but not in China, Syria, or North Korea

MGM and Universal commit to Dolby’s HDR imaging tech

Over the past year, Dolby’s worked hard to convince many of the major movie studios and streaming services that its HDR imaging technology is the one worth backing. Netflix, Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures are already on board, but today they’ve been joined by MGM Studios and Universal Pictures, after the studios confirmed they’ll deliver “new release and catalog titles” that have been mastered in Dolby Vision. High dynamic range (HDR), if you’re not already aware, transforms the way you see HD and 4K media. The technology doesn’t change the number of pixels your TV works with, it just makes them do more. Dolby Vision, for example, delivers increased brightness, better light-to-dark contrast and colors that the company says have been seen before on a TV. As with many new digital technologies, the uptake of HDR could be impacted by a battle over competing standards. The UHD Alliance is tackling the issue, though, and has issued specifications for what it considers to be a ‘premium’ 4K TV . Any set that meets the required resolution, color depth and brightness and black levels will be issued with a sticker that proves it can deliver the best possible experience from your Ultra HD Blu-rays or 4K streams from Netflix and Amazon. Dolby is also working to get TV makers on board, recently announcing that it will feature on Vizio’s latest range of 4K TVs. The company is also working with Roku to incorporate the technology into future 4K Roku TVs, regardless of who they’re made by. Source: Dolby

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MGM and Universal commit to Dolby’s HDR imaging tech