Month: December 2013

Hardware Dev

Next-gen USB connector will be smaller and reversible

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As reported on Engadget. BY STEVE DENT In order to squeeze the ultra-fast 10Gbps USB 3.1 standard into the next gen of slim devices, the USB 3.0 Promoter group has just announced the USB Type-C connector. It’ll be similar in size to existing USB 2.0 Micro-B connectors, while bringing USB 3.1 speeds and other distinct advantages over current cables. For starters, the new design will be reversible like Apple’s Lightning ports, meaning at long last you won’t have to worry…

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Google

Google’s next big project is robots, from the man that brought you Android

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As reported on Engadget. BY MAT SMITH Not one to let Amazon get all the robots-are-our-future attention, Google’s revealed that its already got plenty of projects underway, and they’re headed up by Andy Rubin. Yep, the man who made the company’s Android operating system arguably the biggest smartphone OS in the world. In the last six months, Google has managed to claim seven different technology companies en route to its very real robot plans, although its current target…

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Business Cloud Culture

Bill Gates supports Amazon drone delivery, but says Jeff Bezos may be ‘overly optimistic’

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As reported on The Verge. By Chris Welch Jeff Bezos faces many challenges in making Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery a reality, but he’s got one notable supporter: Bill Gates. Speaking on CNN’s The Lead, Gates voiced strong support for using drones as a means of delivery. But he’s not quite as confident it will come as quickly as Bezos and Amazon would like. “Physical products delivered by drone, I’d say he’s probably on the optimistic or perhaps…

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Culture

Buy Han Solo’s blaster for a quarter of a million dollars

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As reported on The Verge. By Rich McCormick Han Solo’s trusty blaster — most famously used to shoot bounty hunter Greedo first inStar Wars — is set to be auctioned later this month. The “non-firing” sidearm is one of a set of movie props being sold on December 21st, and is expected to reach a price of between $200,000 and $300,000. Other Harrison Ford-related items in the auction include a rubber “stunt” version of Deckard’s pistol used in Blade Runner,…

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Business Cloud Google

Google’s Compute Engine Hits General Availability, Drops Instance Prices 10%, Adds 16-Core Instances & Docker Support

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As reported on TechCrunch. by Alex Williams Google today announced the general availability of the Google Compute Engine, the cloud computing platform it launched in the summer of 2012. As part of the GA launch, Google also announced expanded support for new operating systems, a 10 percent drop in pricing for standard instances, new 16-core instances for applications that need a lot of computation power and a new logo to update its branding. Compute Engine is the cloud platform Google…

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Android Culture

Finished CyanogenMod 10.2 arrives as focus shifts to Android 4.4 KitKat

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As reported on Engadget. BY JON FINGAS Android fans who’ve been waiting for a stable edition of CyanogenMod 10.2 can finally start their downloads. Cyanogen has just released its final version of the custom firmware, giving the curious a (relatively) safe way to try the company’s take on Android 4.3. Don’t expect future support from Cyanogen beyond the usual bug and security fixes, though. The stable 10.2 release marks the formal end to development of Jelly Bean-based ROMs — after…

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Google

Select Explorers can now purchase a second Google Glass unit

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As reported on Engadget. BY MARIELLA MOON Forget trawling eBay or craigslist for Google Glass — your best bet is to pal up with someone who already owns one. Select Explorers who couldn’t access the Glass accessory shop have received an email from the search giant with a fix in tow and the opportunity to purchase a second device for themselves or a friend, Glass Almanacreports. It’s not clear if the firm’s other beta testers will get the same…

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Business Entertainment

‘Fast & Furious 7’ production will proceed despite Paul Walker’s death, report says

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As reported on The Verge. By Adi Robertson The seventh installment of the Fast & Furious series may not have been entirely derailed by star Paul Walker’s sudden death yesterday. Sources have apparently told The Hollywood Reporter that although production has been delayed, Universal executives and director James Wan met this morning to discuss how to proceed with the film while being respectful of Walker’s death. The film was set for a release date of July 11th, but TMZ has reported that Walker was supposed to…

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Business Hardware Dev Tech

Amazon Is Experimenting With Autonomous Flying Delivery Drones

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As reported on TechCrunch. by Chris Velazco Between launching a charity-friendly buying program, announcing Sunday deliveries, and gearing up for the first wave of frenzied holiday shoppers, Amazon has been busy these past few weeks. But that didn’t stop CEO Jeff Bezos from spending a decent chunk of time talking to Charlie Rose on 60 Minutes about something, well, new. 60 Minutes has been more than happy to tease the unveiling with a clip of Bezos…

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Business Microsoft

Windows 7 Handily Bests Windows 8 And 8.1′s Minute Market Share Gains In November

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As reported on TechCrunch. by Alex Wilhelm November was not a good month for Microsoft’s Windows 8.x operating system according to Net Applications, with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 collectively gaining a mere 0.05% points of market share during the period. Windows 8 fell 0.87% to 6.66% global market share. Windows 8.1 managed to grow by 0.92%. The total gain of 0.05% is a weak figure. The main competitor to Windows 8.x, Windows 7, spanked its homegrown…

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