Tag: the-end

WSJ: Sony will use Gaikai streaming tech to play PS3 games on the PS4

We’re just a few days away from Sony’s February 20th “see the future of” PlayStation event where we expect to see the next edition of its home console, and the rumor mill is buzzing. The latest one tonight comes from the Wall Street Journal , with a report that connects Sony’s $380 million purchase of cloud gaming service Gaikai last year with a method to provide backwards compatibility on the PlayStation 4. The WSJ reports Sony has been “investing heavily” in preparing Gaikai for an influx of PS4-equipped gamers, while also developing better cameras for its Move and the DualShock+touchpad controllers we’ve seen recently. What’s not revealed however, is any potential pricing plan, or whether cloud games will work users existing cloud saves. While buying fully digital copies of games we already own is less than appealing, if Sony can implement something like the abandoned UMD-to-PSP Go “good will” plan , then there may be benefits for all. In the last gen Sony used hardware, then software and then nothing at all for backwards compatible gaming, while Microsoft went all software — we’ll see how it balances out this time around. Filed under: Gaming , HD , Sony Comments Source: Wall Street Journal

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WSJ: Sony will use Gaikai streaming tech to play PS3 games on the PS4

Google+ experiencing outage, temporarily the anti-social network

We know, we know. You were trying to get on with your online social life this morning, but Google+ was nowhere to be found. Looks like the social network is experiencing an outage today — here in the States at least. According to folks in the UK, things are moving a lot more swimmingly on that side of the pond. We’ve reached out to Google for a response. You’ll know more as soon as we do. Update: Looks like everything’s back in working order. You can quit complaining about it on Facebook now. Filed under: Google Comments

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Google+ experiencing outage, temporarily the anti-social network

USC battery wields silicon nanowires to hold triple the energy, charge in 10 minutes

There’s no shortage of attempts to build a better battery , usually with a few caveats. USC may have ticked all the right checkboxes with its latest discovery, however. Its use of porous, flexible silicon nanowires for the anodes in a lithium-ion battery delivers the high capacity, fast recharging and low costs that come with silicon, but without the fragility of earlier attempts relying on simpler silicon plates. In practice, the battery could deliver the best of all worlds. Triple the capacity of today’s batteries? Full recharges in 10 minutes? More than 2,000 charging cycles? Check. It all sounds a bit fantastical, but USC does see real-world use on the horizon. Researchers estimate that there should be products with silicon-equipped lithium-ion packs inside of two to three years, which isn’t long to wait if the invention saves us from constantly hunting for the nearest wall outlet. Filed under: Science Comments Via: Gizmodo Source: USC

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USC battery wields silicon nanowires to hold triple the energy, charge in 10 minutes

Corsair pops the question, acquires Scotland-based Simple Audio

Scotland-based Simple Audio announced today that it has been acquired by American computer component maker Corsair . T he five-year-old audio firm is best known in Europe for its networked set-top receivers, which are capable of sharing music from PCs, Macs, TVs, iPods and MP3 players . In an effort to expand its reach, Simple Audio hopes that this multi-million dollar deal will help bring its products stateside sometime this year. While there’s no word how many doubloons Corsair shelled out, the company stated that it had been eyeing Simple Audio since 2010 and felt that it was the right time to make a move. To take a closer look at this acquisition, click through to the press release after the break. Filed under: Home Entertainment , Networking Comments Source: Simple Audio

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Corsair pops the question, acquires Scotland-based Simple Audio

BlueStacks brings official, Surface Pro-optimized Android App Player to Windows 8 (video)

It’s been a year and change since BlueStacks announced a Windows 8 version of its App Player , which let you run most of your Android apps on the then-beta OS . Now the company has announced the official version, tweaked to play nicely with Redmond’s own Surface Pro and sporting a fresh, custom-built charm menu and start screen tile. You’ll now be able to run apps in “true” touch-enabled full-screen mode using your Win 8 tablet’s tilt/motion sensors, and everything will work faster, too. CEO Rosen Sharma also touted the release as a way for developers to bypass Microsoft’s “onerous” submission process to get Android apps onto the x86 Surface Pro, and you can’t argue with the price — it’s free, and available for download now. For more, head after the fold. Filed under: Cellphones , Desktops , Laptops , Tablets Comments Source: BlueStacks

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BlueStacks brings official, Surface Pro-optimized Android App Player to Windows 8 (video)

MIT crafts genetic circuits that remember their work through DNA

It’s easy to find work on gene-based storage ; finding genes that will do any of the heavy lifting is another matter. MIT believes it has a genetic circuit that will finally get to work, and then some. In using recombinase enzymes to alter DNA sequences serving as logic gates, researchers have developed a cellular circuit that not only mimics its silicon cousins, but has its own built-in memory. As the gate activation makes permanent changes to a given DNA sequence, any gate actions stay in memory for up to 90 generations — and will hang around even if the cell’s life is cut short. MIT sees its technique as having ultimate uses for areas where longer-term memory is important, such as environmental sensors, but could also see varying output values helping with digital-to-analog converters and other devices where there’s a need for more precision. While there’s no word on imminent plans for real-world use, the development raises the possibility of processors that could skip the traditional memory cache as they pass info down the family tree. Filed under: Science , Alt Comments Via: SciTechDaily Source: MIT

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MIT crafts genetic circuits that remember their work through DNA

Google aiming to build $82 million aircraft facility at SJC, probably launch more Project Glass demos from it

It’s no secret that Google has an interest in the automotive industry , but over the years the popular search engine has also managed to amass quite the collection of aircraft. So much in fact, the company is in the process of inking an $82 million construction deal that would bring its fleet to Mineta San Jose International Airport. Pending city council approval, the privately funded facility would generate an annual $2.6 million rent lease, around $400,000 in fuel revenues and create 236 jobs. If agreed upon, the 29-acre Googleport will take up to two years to build and will include an executive terminal along with hangers to house the company’s private Boeing 737 and 747 jets. Google currently parks its jets at Moffett Federal Airfield, where the company has offered to renovate NASA Ames’ Hanger One in exchange for two-thirds of its facility space to house its planes. There’s no word if either deal will affect the other, but as it stands San Jose’s city council is expected to vote on its proposal sometime in April. Filed under: Misc , Google Comments Via: Gizmodo Source: Mercury News

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Google aiming to build $82 million aircraft facility at SJC, probably launch more Project Glass demos from it

Sony: PS4’s main selling point will be ‘new playing options, not improved hardware specs’

As Sony Computer Entertainment warms up its blue lighting and double-checks its playlist for February 20th , one unnamed SCE official says that the PlayStation 4 will act as more of a home entertainment hub than what we’ve seen in the past. They added, according to the Nikkei , that the main selling point won’t be the rumored eight-core AMD64 CPU or other hardware specs, but how it opens up new styles of play — something Nintendo is also focusing on . Sony is going to push the new console as a home entertainment “nerve center,” with a focus on the hardware’s ability to connect and share to mobile devices — the rival that’s pulling gamers away from traditional consoles. Edge had previously mentioned the possibility of a dedicated share button on the next-gen controller, though that remains a product of the rumor mill at the moment. No discussion on any Gaikai-powered cloud gaming just yet, but following its unveiling later this month, the report states that the new PlayStation should launch before the end of the year. A bit of a shame, then, that it’s still only February. Filed under: Gaming , Sony Comments Source: Nikkei (requires subscription) , Edge-online

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Sony: PS4’s main selling point will be ‘new playing options, not improved hardware specs’

Dropbox announces Sync API for Android and iOS

The lives of devs eager to take advantage of storage in the cloud are about to get a whole lot easier thanks to Dropbox’s new Sync API. The tool streamlines the process of integrating with the service, offloading most of the heavy lifting onto Dropbox itself. Now, that’s not entirely new, since Dropbox has been open to other app makers for sometime. The big sell here are the actual syncing capabilities. Until now, apps have been able to tap into your online well of files, but syncing has always been a dev-implemented process built on top of the existing APIs. The downloading, storing, change tracking and uploading were all the responsibility of the developer. The Sync API does away with the much of the set up work and allows the creation of apps that simply sync across platforms without any hacking or jury-rigging. Apps can simply ask if you want to sync with Dropbox now and the act of creating and maintaining a folder won’t necessitate any further user input (though, it still can if the dev so chooses). The API is available today, and the first program to take advantage of the private in-app Dropbox client, Squarespace Note is awaiting approval before landing in the App Store. For more, check out the blog post at the source. Update : As some of you may have noticed the source link was missing. Sorry for the inconvenience. Filed under: Storage , Internet Comments Source: Dropbox

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Dropbox announces Sync API for Android and iOS

KDE 4.10 released with leaner Air theme, more love for mobile devices

There are plenty of Linux desktop environments to choose from , but if KDE has a special place in your heartware, you’ll be pleased to know its first 2013 update is out. Making the jump from 4.9 to 4.10 brings various tweaks to Plasma Workspaces, including upped support for high-res displays, a streamlining of the default Air theme, and plenty of behind the scenes adjustments. All running software can now be controlled through a common menu system, search indexes happen faster, and the new Nepomuk Cleaner will help rid those clogged drives of unnecessary data. In addition, printer management has been improved, and the enhanced Dolphin file manager communicates more freely with mobile devices. A thorough, lovingly crafted changelog is available at the source link below, but if you’re particularly fond of surprises, then head straight for the download. Happy upgrading! Filed under: Desktops , Laptops , Software Comments Via: Phoronix Source: KDE

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KDE 4.10 released with leaner Air theme, more love for mobile devices