Tag: the-end

Netflix launches ‘Super HD’ and 3D streaming — but only through certain ISPs

Rumors that Netflix was offering ISPs access to higher quality streams in return for partnering on distribution surfaced early last year , and were followed by the announcement of its Open Connect CDN network in June. Now the full picture has been revealed with the company’s announcement of “Super HD” 1080p and (in the US only, for now) 3D streaming, which comes to its customers at no extra cost, but only on certain devices plugged in to to Open Connect partner ISPs. The hardware list includes PS3, WiiU, Windows 8, Roku, Apple TVs as well as Blu-ray players and smart TVs with 1080p support. According to Netflix, most of its international streams are already going through compatible ISPs, however the only major participants announced in the US currently are Cablevision and Google Fiber. Watch Instantly customers can see if their ISP on the list by visiting the Super HD page and, if it isn’t, they’re encouraged to call and ask for it. Netflix’s ability to manage bandwidth will be increasingly important and the ISPs customers access its with and along with those rankings , “Super HD” is an important lure to get them to play ball. We’ve been seeing some 3D ready titles pop up on the service in the last few weeks and now viewers can access titles like Art of Flight , Immortals and several titles from 3net. According to Dan Rayburn of Streaming Media Blog , the higher-quality encodes are targeted for 7 Mbps, while 3D streams top out at 12 Mbps. One question that lingers is how this quality bump aligns with recent changes some customers have noticed (if X-High suddenly reappears…), but until we get our eyes on the higher quality streams it’s hard to tell. Reed Hastings says he wants all Netflix customers served by Open Connect (whether via colocated appliances or peered at common internet exchanges) as soon as possible — we’ll see if Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon, AT&T and the rest have a similar dream. Continue reading Netflix launches ‘Super HD’ and 3D streaming — but only through certain ISPs Filed under: Announcements , HD Comments Source: Netflix Super HD

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Netflix launches ‘Super HD’ and 3D streaming — but only through certain ISPs

MakerBot showing off Replicator 2X 3D printer later today

The year of 3D printers? It’s sure looking like it from where we’re sitting. There are more companies at CES 2013 promoting consumer versions of the technology than ever before. Of course, MakerBot’s not going to sit idly by and watch this all go down. The Brooklyn-based company is set to show off its Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer — the dual-extruding “big brother” to its recently released second-gen printer — at a press conference tomorrow. Hopefully pricing and available will be arriving on with it. Filed under: Misc Comments

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MakerBot showing off Replicator 2X 3D printer later today

Hands-on with Xi3’s ‘Piston’ modular PC at CES

Remember when Xi3 announced a Kickstarter project for its modular computers late last year? Well, those machines are here today at CES, thanks in no small part to some lofty backing from Valve . We got a first look at its latest mini-PC, code-named Piston, tonight — and though a more comprehensive demo is to come, we walked away with some impressions nonetheless. Of course, Valve wouldn’t back this system if it didn’t have some serious graphics chops. It’s optimized to run Valve’s Steam platform — and specifically big-picture mode — and to that end it packs a quad-core chip. Most specs remain vague, though the Piston apparently offers up to 1TB of storage. The package is tiny yet rugged, with an aluminum chassis that’s made to resist heat (and that will certainly come in handy during gaming sessions). Xi3 is also touting the system’s low energy consumption; it runs on just 40W. And it’s somewhat future-proof, too, with a modular motherboard that lets you swap out components when newer tech becomes available. Our hands-on gallery will have to tide you over till we get a full walkthrough at Xi3’s booth tomorrow. Gallery: Xi3 Piston Modular Computer hands-on Joseph Volpe contributed to this report. Filed under: Desktops , Gaming Comments

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Hands-on with Xi3’s ‘Piston’ modular PC at CES

Sofant SmartAntenna could double battery life, ease network congestion

Battery life on your mobile can be a constant source of anxiety if, like us, you’re pretty much “always on.” Scottish-based firm Sofant thinks it might have the answer, or at the very least, a soothing tonic with its SmartAntenna technology. It’s claimed that the tiny antenna you see above consume 90 percent less energy, and can potentially double battery life of devices. It’s not just the dwindling power that gets a boost, with Sofant claiming it can also ease network congestion and dropped connections by reducing the number of devices with weak signals. SmartAntenna complements the firm’s existing technologies, but can also be used individually. It’s something that manufacturers will be able to license, so it’s hard to predict what uptake will be like. But if the claims above hold true, it seems too good to pass up. Continue reading Sofant SmartAntenna could double battery life, ease network congestion Filed under: Cellphones , Mobile Comments

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Sofant SmartAntenna could double battery life, ease network congestion

ASUS announces ROG Ares II video card, dual Radeon HD 7970 GPUs, 1050MHz clock speed

The original ROG ARES graphics card was a head spinner, and the just announced sequel seems to follow suit. ASUS’ ARES II features two AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition GPUs, and has a slimline two-slot design. The manufacturer claims it’s the fastest graphics card available, outperforming the GeForce GTX 690 reference card by some 13 percent. There’s 6GB of video memory, 1,100MHz boost clock, 1,050MHz base clock and 2 x 384-bit memory interface. If this sounds like something you just gotta have, then you’d better keep them eyes peeled, as upon release (no exact details on this just yet) it’ll be a limited edition. Also limited are the details on price. Spin up the source for more info. Filed under: Gaming , Peripherals , ASUS Comments Source: Anandtech

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ASUS announces ROG Ares II video card, dual Radeon HD 7970 GPUs, 1050MHz clock speed

Philips showcases its 2013 Fiedelio audio lineup at CES, we go eyes-on

Phillips isn’t showing off anything too groundbreaking at CES in the in the audio department, but it looks to be a solid offering all-around nonetheless. Whether you’re eyeing the likes of a new soundbar for your home theater system or portable wireless speaker, the company should have you covered with latest Fidelio offerings — and of course that’s not all. We’ve got a quick breakdown of all the goods being shown off after the break, along with an eyes-on galleries so you can get up-close look for yourself. As always, you’ll find the full press releases below it all for more info. Continue reading Philips showcases its 2013 Fiedelio audio lineup at CES, we go eyes-on Filed under: Home Entertainment , Portable Audio/Video , HD Comments

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Philips showcases its 2013 Fiedelio audio lineup at CES, we go eyes-on

Kingston’s DataTraveler HyperX Predator: a 1TB USB 3.0 flash drive

A 1TB flash drive? Frankly, we’re incredulous, but that’s what Kingston is claiming it’ll begin selling later in Q1. The DataTraveler HyperX predator 3.0 promises read/write speeds of up to 240MB/s and 160MB/s respectively and will sell you a 512GB version right now. At the same time, it’s launching 32GB and 64GB versions in the same line that offer read/write speeds of 150MB/s and 70MB/s. If you’re interested in snagging one of the top two units, be advised that the price of the 512GB edition is a staggering $1,750.00 — so you’d better get working on impressing that MLB scout next time they’re passing by. Continue reading Kingston’s DataTraveler HyperX Predator: a 1TB USB 3.0 flash drive Comments

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Kingston’s DataTraveler HyperX Predator: a 1TB USB 3.0 flash drive

Intel, Plastic Logic and Queen’s U build the PaperTab: a flexible e-paper tablet (video)

Plastic Logic may have bowed out of building its own e-readers , but that’s not stopping the company from making its presence felt at CES. It’s teaming up with Intel and Queen’s University on the PaperTab, a 10.7-inch tablet concept built around a flexible, e-paper touchscreen. The prototype runs a Sandy Bridge -era Core i5 processor that lets it stand on its own, but it’s ultimately designed to work as part of a team: position awareness lets multiple PaperTabs join together to share a work area, and tapping one tablet with content can send it to a waiting document in another. The bendy nature isn’t just for durability and a paper-like feel, either, as readers can flip through pages just by bending the relevant side. A fuller reveal is planned for January 8th, but you can get an initial sense of how the plastic slate works through the video after the break. Gallery: Intel and Plastic Logic PaperTab Continue reading Intel, Plastic Logic and Queen’s U build the PaperTab: a flexible e-paper tablet (video) Filed under: Tablets , Intel Comments Source: Queen’s University

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Intel, Plastic Logic and Queen’s U build the PaperTab: a flexible e-paper tablet (video)

Roku celebrates 700 channel milestone with new partners: Coby, Harmon Kardon and others now Roku Ready

Sure, Roku’s compact Streaming Stick will happily pipe streaming content to any MHL-ready TV, but there’s nothing like the guarantee of certification to convince you you’re buying the right flatscreen. Roku has announced partnerships with six mare hardware manufacturers, ensuring future devices from Hisene, Harmon Kardon, Coby , Voxx Accessories, Apex and TCL will be “Roku Ready.” New TVs from partners old and new will be on display at CES, Roku teased, all flaunting the Streaming Stick’s access to a wealth of streaming content. There’s news on that front too, Roku says its devices now offer access to over 700 channels of streaming entertainment. Brands such as Blockbuster On Demand , PBS, SyFy, VEVO and Fox Now give consumers choices from some of the top brands in streaming video, the company says in a press release, with services like Amazon’s Cloud Player and Big Fish Unlimited’s casual gaming portal rounding out the Roku experience. Read the announcements for yourself after the break. Continue reading Roku celebrates 700 channel milestone with new partners: Coby, Harmon Kardon and others now Roku Ready Filed under: Home Entertainment , HD Comments

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Roku celebrates 700 channel milestone with new partners: Coby, Harmon Kardon and others now Roku Ready

NVIDIA unveils Project Shield, a Tegra 4-powered Android gaming handheld

A video shown on-stage during NVIDIA’s press conference just unveiled “Project Shield,” a gaming controller / portable console running the just announced Tegra 4 . The controller looks an awful lot like a PlayStation 3 DualShock 3, albeit with an HD screen attached. NVIDIA’s promising 38 hours of gaming out of the rechargeable lithium ion batteries built-in, a swanky audio system “on par with” jamboxes, and a full-on Android gaming experience. A micro SD sits next to an HDMI output, one USB port, and a standard eighth inch audio jack, directly below the customizable 5-inch “retinal display” touchscreen. Update : It’s a 1,280 x 720 screen at 294 dpi, for the record. NVIDIA’s hoping Shield will replace your average controller as well — perhaps with that newly detailed Grid system ? — and company CEO Jen-Hsun Huang showed off its use in-tandem with a swanky LG 4K television on-stage, navigating through media without pause. He also gave us a taste of a few games running on it ( Blood Sword: Sword of Ruin and a boxing title) via NVIDIA’s Tegrazone gaming store. But beyond just Android games we’ve already seen, still-in-development Unreal Engine 3 title Hawken was also given a multiplayer run, and looked notably more attractive than the previous two titles. As good as the handheld’s newfangled Tegra 4 chip seems to be, it still can’t hold a candle to Nvidia’s own GTX 680 — Huang explained that the Shield can play more than just Tegrazone games — it can take over your gaming PC, too. He explained that Nvidia’s GeForce Experience software can pipe PC gaming to the handheld over your local network, giving Shield owners access to their Steam library ( navigatable by Big Picture Mode , of course) directly from the device. It looks like users will be able to purchase PC games through Tegrazone, too. Huang showed the crowd Need for Speed: Most Wanted running in real-time on the device. It’s … well, it’s really impressive. There’s little (if any) perceptible lag, and this is a racing game we’re seeing (as in that lag really matters). The next game up is Assassin’s Creed 3 , which looks similarly impressive on the Shield’s 5-inch screen. Finally, we’re seeing Steam launched directly from Tegrazone, and it launches directly into Big Picture Mode. Beyond just playing games via streaming, it looks like we’ll be able to buy them directly on Steam, through Shield. We’ll be getting a closer look at Project Shield later this week, and we’ll be sure to put it through its paces. Oh, and we’ll ask for a price and release window, as we’ve yet to hear official word on either . Can’t wait? Tide yourself over with NVIDIA’s official press release after the break. Update 2: NVIDIA tells us Project Shield’s roughly in the beta stage of development, and currently doesn’t include an LTE radio (WiFi only). It’s running Jelly Bean at the moment, but may change by the time it’s expected to ship, in “Q2 2013.” Still no word on pricing, sadly. Gallery: NVIDIA Project Shield Joseph Volpe and Sean Buckley contributed to this report Continue reading NVIDIA unveils Project Shield, a Tegra 4-powered Android gaming handheld Filed under: Gaming , Handhelds , HD , Mobile , NVIDIA Comments

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NVIDIA unveils Project Shield, a Tegra 4-powered Android gaming handheld