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You can download it from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/download.

Windows 8. It sounds so innocent.

The name of Microsoft's coming operating system, updated today to Windows 8 Release Preview, implies just another version of an OS once much loved and now much maligned. But Windows 8 means much more to Microsoft: It's a bold attempt to build an Apple-proof operating system with modern visual elements via the risky Metro design language. It's a salvo in the war for tablet relevance. It insists that touch screens matter, and it sets the stage for upcoming versions of Windows Mobile.

For Microsoft to succeed with Windows on all platforms, Windows 8 has to work. The changes in today's Release Preview take a step in the right direction, tightening up the operating system and introducing new apps to showcase just what Windows 8 can do. But Microsoft isn't there yet. This is more "beta two" than "release candidate."

It's true that the Windows 8 Release Preview has a lot going for it, and people are curious. Microsoft says the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, which debuted at Mobile World Congress in February, is "the most tested Microsoft operating system of all time," with more than 1 million downloads during its first 24 hours of public availability. It's tricked out with social networking and synchronization, it's robust enough to handle monster suites like Adobe's, it gracefully moves from touch to keyboard and mouse, and it's got some top-notch security. What you'll find in the Release Preview is a stable, fast operating system that's ready to compete, but a selection of default apps that are far from complete.

You can get the Windows 8 Release Preview from Microsoft's site, or CNET Download.com. Microsoft has revealed the Windows 8 upgrade plan for Windows 7 computers purchased after June 2.

What's new: Multitouch touch pad
One of the big new features is that Windows 8 will allow multitouch gestures on touch pads. Macs have had multitouch touch-pad drivers for a few years, while Windows touch pads haven't progressed much since Windows XP. The blame for that can sit at the feet of Microsoft just as easily as you can point a finger at the hardware manufacturers. The point is now, with Windows 8 forcing dramatic hardware upgrades to accompany it, Windows touch pads are finally moving forward.

Three default gestures will come with all laptops that have touch pads: pinch-to-zoom, two-finger scroll along the X and Y axes, and edge swiping. That last one is important because it will give you an easier way to activate the edges on non-touch-screen Windows 8 computers besides using the mouse.

Jensen Harris, Director of Program Management for the User Experience team at Microsoft, told CNET that Microsoft is working with hardware manufacturers to build specialized mice that also support the features, most likely for desktop Windows 8 computers that don't come with touch screens or for people doing at-home upgrades on non-touch screens.

When Windows 8 is finalized, Harris said that you'll be able set swiping in from the left edge to bring up the last viewed app, as it is on a touch screen, or for the Start screen button with thumbnails of the last viewed app, which on the touch screen is swiping in then back out from the left edge.

In two days' worth of use, the touch pad never failed when using its new features on the Start screen or Desktop mode. However, it was far less stable in apps, and often ignored pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scroll. Since it worked well on the Start screen and in other Windows 8 screens like the settings window, it looks like the apps are still quite rough.

Harris also said that he expects the development of the default apps to be an ongoing process. Like mobile apps on iOS and Android, they will see continuous revision, up to and beyond the release of Windows 8.

A team within Google[x] group started Project Glass to build this kind of technology, one that helps you explore and share your world, putting you back in the moment.





What is a Chromebook?
Chromebooks are a new type of computer. They’re fast to use, and don’t slow down over time. They have built-in security, so you’re protected against viruses and malware. They come with apps for all your everyday needs, and keep your stuff safely backed up on the cloud. And with free, automatic updates, your Chromebook keeps getting better and better.

Go fast
Get to the things you need quickly and easily. Chrome devices boot up in seconds, and use the latest web technology to load web pages with blazing speed. Access all your favorite apps instantly in just one click. Unlike traditional computers, your Chrome device doesn't slow down over time.

Starts fast, stays fast
Chrome devices boot up in seconds, and resume instantly. Stream HD movies without a hitch. Unlike traditional computers, Chrome devices automatically stay up to date, avoid the bloat of old software and don’t slow down over time.

Browse with Chrome
Load websites in a snap with the the built-in Chrome browser. With Chrome Instant, web pages that you frequently visit will begin loading as soon as you start typing their URLs. The V8 JavaScript engine runs even the most complex web applications with lightning speed.

Do everyday things, do amazing things
Go straight online to creating, sharing and enjoying. Chrome devices come with built-in apps for editing photos, creating documents and presentations, and video chat, so you can get everyday tasks done right out of the box. Offline apps like Gmail keep you productive even when you're not connected to the web. You can explore thousands more apps in the Chrome Web Store.

Keep in touch
Talk face to face and connect with up to 9 people using Google+ Hangouts. You can also integrate multiple chat accounts with apps like imo or eBuddy.

Music, movies and more
Enjoy an endless selection of your favorite songs, videos, and movies on your Chrome device. You can stream music with apps like Pandora or organize your personal music collection with Google Play. For movies and videos, try Netflix or YouTube. Never worry about syncing your media again.

Work and collaborate
Create documents, spreadsheets, presentations and drawings with apps like Google Docs, Zoho or SlideRocket. With productivity web apps, you can collaborate in real-time with others, access your documents from any computers, and have your files backed up automatically.

Photos and videos
Edit beautiful photos with apps like Pixlr Editor or Aviary Image Editor and organize them with your favorite photos site. You can also create your home videos with Stupeflix or YouTube Video Editor.

Thousands of games
Explore new games and old favorites like Angry Birds, Solitaire, and WGT Golf Challenge. With new technology like Native Client, you’ll be able to enjoy even more cutting edge games like Bastion.

Chrome Remote Desktop
Need to access traditional software on your Chrome device? With Chrome Remote Desktop, you can access and run software stored on any of your other computers, securely over the Internet.

Cloud built-in
Chrome devices come with cloud computing features that make your life easier. Never lose a file or photo again when you save them on Google Drive. Access your files and settings from other devices, like your phone, with built-in sync features.

Google Drive
Chrome devices allow you to back up your stuff on Google Drive, a secure way to save and share your files. Never lose a file or photo again.

Sync
Chrome devices can sync your bookmarks, apps and other settings with other computers, tablets or smartphones with the Chrome browser.

Cloud Print
Chrome devices come with Google Cloud Print, a new technology that connects your printers to the web. Using Google Cloud Print, you can make your printers available to you and anyone you choose.

Shareable
Multiple logins and Guest Mode allow you to share your Chrome device securely with friends and family. No one else using your Chrome device will have access to your email or personal data.


Monster Diamond Tears

Monster no longer makes the popular Beats headphones after the split between the partners. Monster is still making headphones though and it has unveiled three new sets at the Monaco Grand Prix. The new headphones include the Diamond Tears, VEKTR, and Inspiration. All three sets promise style and quality sound.

The Inspiration headphones are the first over the ear noise cancellation headphones from Monster. The headphones have interchangeable headbands and you can buy different colors, textures and materials to suit your style. The Diamond Tears headphones have a clear diamond style to the headband and outer ear cups.
Monster Inspiration


Monster says that the headphones also have its ControlTalk remote control and microphone for use with the iPhone. The third set of headphones is the VEKTR designed in conjunction with apparel brand Diesel. The Diesel logo is diamond cut on each ear cup. Pricing and availability are unknown.

Monster Diesel VEKTR


The Oppo Finder is the world's slimmest smartphone at 6.64mm. It has a 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus display, a 8mp camera, a 1.5Ghz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of flash memory.

The company has officially taken the wraps off the device which has been revealed to be the Oppo Finder and is rumored for a 6th of June release and will retail for 3,999 Yuan (~$630). So apart from its super slim design, what else can we expect to find under the hood of the device? For starters users will find a 1.5GHz dual-core processor accompanied by 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It will feature a 4.3” Super AMOLED Plus display, an 8MP rear-facing camera capable of 1080p Full HD video capture, a 1.3MP front-facing camera capable of 720p HD video capture and will run on Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich.


Universal Voice Translator

SayHi Translate is the interpreter in your pocket. Talk to your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad and hear your words back in different languages. It's simply amazing!

Download it now while it's on sale for a limited time!


There are plenty of ways to get your flight school kicks with your smartphone or tablet — this missile shooting Griffin chopper comes to mind — but few manage to ooze as much style (or cost as much money) as Parrot’s AR.Drone 2.0.

Getting the thing ready to fly is surprisingly simple. Once you’ve popped the battery into place, and turned the thing on, the Drone creates its own Wi-Fi network that the control device connects to. From there, just fire up the FreeFlight app on your iOS or Android device and you’re off to the races.

The big draw for some will be the ability to record the Drone’s aerial journeys. In addition to providing the pilot with an idea of where the drone is going, the small camera pod mounted on the drone’s nose is capable of capturing photos as well as 720p video. The camera’s small sensor means that quality tends to take a hit in low light, but the bigger issue for some is the tendency to see a wiggling effect in recorded video because of the four rotors whirring away.

Let’s be honest here — it’s not the most useful thing to have in your gadget closet (doesn’t everyone have one of those?) unless you’ve got a thing for aerial photography or not-so-covertly spying on people. What it lacks in pure utilitarian functionality it makes up for in sheer fun. There’s something terribly fun about tilting your smartphone around and watching this little quad-rotor aircraft dart around in response to it.

It’s even surprisingly easy to fly, provided you start out slow and put in a few minutes of fiddling first. Sadly, our Mobile Editor Matt Burns didn’t take that rule to heart, as he quickly crashed our own Drone at Disrupt. C’est la vie, but be prepared to do your due diligence if you don’t want to screw up a pricy piece of machinery. That said, Parrot has made it terribly easy to wow your friends with some neat aerial tricks — just double tap a button from within the app to make the Drone flip, and take in the applause.

The Drone is a hell of a lot of fun to play with, but there’s always that price tag to consider — it’ll run you a considerable $299. The responsible thing may be to take that money and use it to buy a rock-solid juicer instead, but I think your mental well-being is better served by the ability to explore the skies (or annoy your neighbors).


The DiRT Showdown UK release date is today, May 25th, with the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC title to landing with s new arcade style and Destruction Derby.

Developer and racing sim specialist Codemasters has launched the next addition to its award winning DiRT gaming franchise with DiRT Showdown landing in stores and online today with a host of new explosive gameplay features.

Taking a step away from the hardcore rally experience that was bolstered by the inclusion of pure showmanship thanks to the inclusion of Gymkhana modes in DiRT 3, DiRT Showdown is an all action arcade thriller with classic racing levels to be paired with Destruction Derby and Hoonigan modes.

“DiRT Showdown is not the sequel to the authentic rally-centric DiRT 3, but a brand new experience from the DiRT team,” Julian Widdows, Codemasters’ VP of development said. “We’re building on Codemasters Racing Studio’s world-class strengths in track design, graphics, AI, damage and online to create a new theatre of racing with the emphasis on accessibility and fun from race one.”

DiRT Showdown Release Date
Following the success of its trio of predecessors, DiRT Showdown sees the franchise once again headed up by rally poster boy and all-round driving nut Ken Block with a bevy of automotive beasts at the disposal of gamers from Block’s Gymkhana FOUR H.F.H.V. Ford Fiesta to a selection of muscle cars, vans and even the odd hearse or two.

“DiRT Showdown charges into the arcade racing space with a uniquely Codemasters feel,” said Mike Chapman, senior games designer at Codemasters.  “Whether players are using nitrous to boost, smashing into their opponents or pulling off stunts, DiRT Showdown’s fresh handling system and super-charged damage engine embed excitement into every event.”

Having previously tipped the title for a slightly ambiguous ‘May 2012’ arrival, Codemasters has launched DiRT Showdown with the latest racing SIM landing for Sony PS3, PC and Xbox 360 platforms.


When Nokia announced their partnership with Microsoft last year, there were concerns that the adoption of Windows Phone as their primary smartphone platform would mean the death of cheap smartphones. After all, Nokia’s then bread and butter were cheap Symbian smartphones. Fast forward 15 months later and here is Nokia’s answer to getting prices of Windows Phone devices down – the Lumia 610. Read on for our first impression on the full retail version of the Lumia 610.

On the surface, the Lumia 610 is yet another Windows Phone device. It retains the basic design of almost all Windows Phone – a touchscreen slate design, three soft keys, a dedicated two-stop camera button and 5MP camera. The glossy plastic body with tacky chrome band doesn’t scream premium, but you wouldn’t expect that in a device at this price range anyway. While the design is as generic as it gets, at least it is an improvement over the Lumia 710, which takes the award for ugliest Windows Phone. Still, despite being a cheap device, the Lumia 610 is solidly built. It will be available in four separate colours – cyan, magenta, white and black.

The 3.7″ 480×800 display is the same size as found on its more expensive Lumia siblings, the 710 and 800. With a pixel density of 252 ppi, it is one of the sharpest screen I have seen on an entry level smartphone. But in order to get the price down, Nokia had to cut out the much regarded Clear Black Display filter. The lack of CBD layer resulted in a display that is highly reflective. In fact you could almost replace a mirror with this.

The biggest difference between the Lumia 610 and 710 are the inclusion of a much slower clocked speed processor and less RAM. The single core 800MHz Qualcomm processor and 256MB RAM might sound like a huge compromise to performance, but it isn’t. The Lumia 610 feels snappy at all times, thanks to the hardware accelerated UI. After all, Windows Phone was already optimised to run well on the Adreno 200 GPU found inside the Lumia 610 – it is the same GPU used on all first generation Windows Phone devices. Compared to the HTC Wildfire S, which struggles to runs on the same SoC, the Lumia 610 would fly. Not bad for an entry level smartphone with a 480×800 display to power.

Sadly the move towards 256MB RAM does mean that there are some trade offs. The Lumia 610 is a Tango device, meaning that some apps just won’t run on it. Microsoft has started contacting developers to encourage them to update their apps for Tango. Still the effects are real. Just a couple of days ago the Skype app was pulled from the Marketplace because of poor performance. Some background tasks will also be disabled, and there is not fast app switching. In a way, with such limitations in place, the Lumia 610 feels and operate much like a first generation pre-Mango Windows Phone. On the other hand you will be happy to read that the Lumia 610 does come with WiFi tethering/hotspot built-in.

The retail box is similar in design to all the previous Lumia boxes. Inside the drawer you will find a the device itself, some documentations, an in-ear Monster headphone, micro USB cable and USB wall charger. Unlike the Lumia 710, it does not come with additional battery covers. It is not known if Nokia would sell them as separate accessories, but it would be fair to say that they should. After all the Lumia 610 is targeted at a much younger audience.


In March, VEVO launched a bold new redesign that provided TV-like viewing, with instantaneous and continuous playback. But the biggest addition to the platform, other than a beautiful new full-screen player, was a new social sharing feature that takes advantage of Facebook Open Graph. Not surprisingly, VEVO seen a dramatic increase in the number of videos that are watched and shared on the social network since then.

VEVO has seen a 600 percent increase in Facebook-published or -watched videos when compared to February, to 4.5 million. It’s also signed up half a million new users via Facebook, which represents a 142 percent increase over the previous month. And the total number of impressions on Facebook grew to 171 million, which is a 181 percent change from February.

A caveat: VEVO isn’t the only video provider to see a jump in sharing and usage immediately after integrating with Facebook Open Graph. Video applications like Viddy and Socialcam had seen huge increases in the amount of viewership and registrations after adding seamless sharing. But Facebook giveth and Facebook taketh away — and VEVO can’t count on that tremendous growth to continue indefinitely.

That said, it’s not just viewership from Facebook that is increasing. VEVO is also showing an uptick in engagement from users, who are watching more videos longer. Viewers watched an average of 4.3 videos in March, compared to 3.8 videos viewed in February. And they spent 15.2 minutes on the site, compared to 13.1 minutes during the prior month.

Facebook also isn’t the only place where viewers are tuning in to watch music videos on VEVO. The video service is also seeing huge amounts of viewership on mobile devices. In the first three months of the year, VEVO saw 254 million worldwide streams on mobile devices and connected TV apps, which is up 32 percent from the previous quarter. It also saw active users for iPhone grow 28 percent and iPad grow 22 percent during the time period.


Yahoo! Axis is a search browser that provides a completely new way to search and browse the web. It is available on three devices (PC, iPhone and iPad) and can be used on its own or together for a connected device experience. Axis integrates searching and browsing into a single, more efficient experience that transforms search into a companion, not a destination. It provides you with instant answers, visual previews of top search results for a more efficient and content-rich way to explore interests online. When activated, Axis also automatically recognizes you as you move from device to device, providing a personalized and consistent experience wherever you go.

Axis can be used on a single device or across multiple devices to create a seamless and personalized user experience on any of the following supported platforms:
Tablet - Yahoo! Axis supports the Apple iPad™.
Mobile - Yahoo! Axis supports the Apple iPhone™.
Desktop - Yahoo! Axis for the desktop is a add-on that supports the following web browsers:
Google Chrome™ (all versions).
Mozilla Firefox™ (version 7 and higher).
Microsoft Internet Explorer™ (version 9 and higher).
Apple Safari™ (version 5 and higher).
Yahoo! Axis provides the following benefits:

Search the web without ever leaving the web page you are viewing. Easily return to your search results at anytime without needing to use the web browser’s "back" button.

Yahoo! Axis provides search suggestions, visual snapshots of web results, and quick answers to common searches, like the weather forecast or local movie show times.

Yahoo! Axis on the iPad and iPhone are web browsers with a built-in search box. Enter search terms or URL's (e.g., www.yahoo.com) in the same box. See search results instantly appear as you type without ever needing to go to a search results page.

Sign in using your Yahoo!, Facebook or Google account, and Yahoo! Axis will automatically recognize you from any of your linked devices.

Yahoo! Axis allows you to go from one search result to the next. On the iPhone and iPad, just swipe from the edge of your screen and browse through results as you would with a magazine. On your desktop, Yahoo! Axis shows right and left arrows you can click to go to the next or previous result.

Bookmark any page for quick access anytime. Your bookmarks will appear as visual snapshots of the web page so you can easily find the page you are looking for.


Robotic fish built by a team of scientists at Essex have been in action at the Port of Gijon, Spain, showing how they can patrol the sea coast to detect and identify potential pollution in the port.

The project to build these 1.8 metre long carp-shaped fish has been funded by an EU ICT project called SHOAL and yesterday’s demonstration in Spain was to showcase the advances and developments the team from Essex, in collaboration with five other EU partners, have made during the three years of research.

Traditional methods of monitoring pollution involve obtaining samples to be sent to a lab for testing, which can be time-consuming and makes real-time pollution information far from a reality. SHOAL aims to make this process real-time by using autonomously-controlled fish to perform tests in-situ.

The life-like creatures, which mimic the undulating movement of real fish, are equipped with tiny chemical sensors to find the source of potentially hazardous pollutants in the water, such as leaks from vessels in the port or underwater pipelines. The fish communicate with each other using ultrasonics and information is transmitted to the port's control centre via Wi-Fi from the "charging hub" where the fish can charge their batteries. This enables the authorities to map in real time the source and scale of the pollution.

Unlike previous robotic fish that work with remote controls, these have autonomous navigation capabilities, enabling them to swim independently around the port without any human interaction. This also enables them to return automatically to their hub to be recharged.

Professor Huosheng Hu, leading Essex robotics research team, said: “The SHOAL project has made several major developments: artificial intelligence-based algorithms, novel robotic fish development, real-time chemical analysis, underwater communication and hydrodynamics modelling. It is the world first for this kind of system capable of detecting and analysing pollutants in the sea water in real time. The robotic fish developed at Essex is able to operate in a harsh and dynamic condition of the sea up to a depth of 30 metres. This is a great advancement, comparing with most of the previous robotic fish operating in laboratory conditions and static water.”

SHOAL is conducted by a consortium of six European organisations. Apart from the University of Essex, responsible for new robotic fish development, other partners are the BMT Group, the project coordinators; Thales Safare, responsible for the underwater communication network; the Tyndall National Institute, responsible for the chemical sensors; the University of Strathclyde, responsible for hydrodynamic modelling and the Port Authority of Gijon for the testing port.

“The SHOAL project is only the first step of the long journey toward creating a fully autonomous robotic fish system to detect water pollutions in real time and harsh environments. Although it has successfully demonstrated such a novel concept, its daily operation and successful deployment in a sea port or a river needs further investigation and intensified field testing,” added Professor Hu.

In collaboration with other EU partners, Essex robotics team is currently searching for new research funding to continue such an effort so that such a novel robotic fish system can be commercialised for many potential real-world applications in the near future.

Presenting the Rough & Tough Tablet RAMPAGE 6.


First of all SDG Systems come up with Trible Nomad with Android 1.5. Now, the company's latest device RAMPAGE 6. The tablet has customized version of Android 2.3 as its operating systems.

Features:
Android 2.3 Customized Version
5.7" Display
Water Proof
Dust Proof
GSM
2.5m GSM Receiver
1D/2D Barcode Scanner
806 MHz Porcessor
256 MB RAM
4GB Flash Memory
Geo configuration GPS
WiFi
3.2 MP Camera


Leap represents an entirely new way to interact with your computers. It's more accurate than a mouse, as reliable as a keyboard and more sensitive than a touchscreen. For the first time, you can control a computer in three dimensions with your natural hand and finger movements.


LESS THAN 3 POUNDS
The thinnest and lightest 14" Ultrabook™ in the world.

CARBON FIBER
Just like in the automotive industry, carbon fiber materials add structural strength and durability while minimizing weight.

EMBEDDED 3G CONNECTIVITY
Unlike with most Ultrabooks, you can connect anytime, anywhere with a mobile broadband pay-as-you-go option.

RAPIDCHARGE
Bring your battery up to 80-percent strength in just 35 minutes


LAPTOP, TABLET OR STYLE STATEMENT? YOU DECIDE.
IDEAPAD YOGA 13

Advanced slim design; easily converts from laptop to tablet

Long battery life and smart technologies keep your system updated around the clock

Automatically updates email and internet data, even in sleep mode

HD multitouch screen




If you want to drive then drive it like you steal it.


Karbonn mobile launched new dual SIM mobile phone in India – Karbonn KT-21 Express, a Touch Screen phone with T9 Keypad. The handset comes with an application to provide access to over 50 free-to-air television channels on 2G network.

Features and Specifications:
01. Smart Mail-Karbonn’s Push Mail solution powered by Emoze
02. Karbonn Instant Messenger (KIM)
03. Dual SIM phone
04. 2.8-inch Capacitive Touch Screen
05. 3.2 MP Camera with Flash
06. 16GB expandable memory support
07. NexgTV application which allows users to watch 50+ Live TV Channels on the phone
08. 3.5 mm Universal Audio Jack
09. FM Radio with Recording
10. GPRS
11. Mobile Tracker
12. Bluetooth with A2DP
13. Multi Format Video Player and Recorder
14. 1000-mAh battery

The device is available in the market for Rs 4,990. What’s interesting is, Karbonn has packed Push Mail solution powered by Emoze which will let users synchronize their personal and corporate email accounts on the phone. The company has also integrated Karbonn Instant Messenger service which is the real time text messaging app – something similar to BlackBerry Messenger.


Following the enormously successful IPO, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has just married his long time girlfriend Priscilla Chan. Minutes ago, Mark updated his Facebook relationship status as “Married”. Zuckerberg tied the knot with his long time girlfriend at a small ceremony in Palo Alto, California, 6 days after his 28th birthday. The couple met at Harvard university and have been together for more than nine years.

According to a report at Washington post, the wedding ceremony of Mark Zuckerberg took place in his residential backyard. Mark has gifted a self designed Ruby to Priscilla in presence of only 100 guests, who thought they have been invited to celebrate her Graduation.



The Lytro packs advanced engineering and tremendous innovation into a deceptively simple design, giving you many capabilities unheard of in conventional cameras.

Storage Type
Internal flash drive.

Technology
Lytro Light Field Sensor and Lytro Light Field Engine 1.0.

Lens
8x optical zoom; Constant f/2 lens.

Controls
Power button: Shutter button; Zoom slider; Touchscreen.

Display
1.52 in | 38.55mm back-lit LCD display with glass touchscreen.

Exposure
Tap on touchscreen to set exposure.

Battery
Long-life Li-Ion internal battery.

File Output
Light field picture file (.lfp).

Light Field Resolution
11 Megarays: the number of light rays captured by the light field sensor.

Software
Includes a free desktop application for importing, processing and interacting with living pictures from the camera. It is built for Mac

OS and requires Mac OS 10.6.6 or higher. A Windows application is in development.

Picture Output
Produces HD-quality interactive, living pictures.

Picture Storage
Free storage for living pictures on Lytro.com, subject to the Terms of Use. (Internet access required)

Picture Viewing
View and interact with living pictures on the Lytro camera as well as any internet-connected computer, smartphone or tablet supported.

Light Field Engine
Version 1.0. This is the software that processes light fields to produce interactive pictures. Keep watching this space!

Shell
Ultra-light anodized aluminum structural skin.

Grip
Silicone Rubber.

E-waste
RoHS certified.

Weight
7.55 oz | 214 g

Dimensions
1.61 in x 1.61 in x 4.41 in | 41 mm x 41 mm x 112 mm

Included
Lytro Light Field Camera; Lens cap; Cleaner Cloth; Wrist Strap; 3.28 ft | 1 m Micro-USB cable for data transfer and charging.

Optional Accessories Fast charger; Replacement lens cap. (Separate purchase required)

Using a wireless radio no bigger than a penny, the researchers were able to achieve a data transfer rate of 3Gbps at a frequency of 542GHz.

Researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan claim to have broken the record for wireless data transmission in the Terahertz band with a data rate 20 times higher than most current Wi-Fi connections.

The Terahertz band sits between the microwave and infrared regions of the spectrum and ranges from 300GHz to just under 3THz. The band is unregulated by telecoms agencies and is used primarily for imaging in research environments, because so-called "T-rays" cause less damage than X-rays when penetrating materials.

Using a wireless radio no bigger than a penny, the researchers were able to achieve a data transfer rate of 3Gbps at a frequency of 542GHz, smashing the previous record set by electronic component firm ROHM, which demonstrated a 1.5Gbps transfer rate at 300GHz in 2011.

The wireless radio uses a tiny device known as a resonant tunnelling diode (RTD) that can reduce voltage as current increases. By tuning the current correctly, the researchers were able to make the diode oscillate and spray out signals in the Terahertz band.

According to the report, published in Electronics Letters, Terahertz Wi-Fi could theoretically support data rates up to 100Gbps - around 15 times higher than 802.11ac, which is the newest Wi-Fi standard available to consumers.
The researchers admitted that Terahertz Wi-Fi only works over ranges of about 10 meters, (higher frequency signals have greater capacity but cannot travel as far as lower frequencies), and also requires line of sight between communicating devices. However, it could feasibly be used to enable servers to share data wirelessly within server farms.

Range could also be improved by using high-power oscillators and attaching high-gain antennas, according to the researchers. The team is now working to improve their proof-of-principle device and extend its range deeper into the Terahertz band.


Honda Motor Co. unveiled the new UNI-CUB personal mobility device, designed for harmony with people. Featuring a compact design and comfortable saddle, UNI-CUB offers the same freedom of movement in all directions that a person enjoys while walking.

Representing the evolution of the U3-X personal mobility device that Honda announced in 2009, UNI-CUB features Honda's proprietary balance control technology and the world's first omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System). These technologies allow the rider to control speed, move in any direction, turn and stop, all simply by shifting his or her weight. Since the rider can freely move forward, backward, side-to-side and diagonally, he or she can quickly and easily maneuver among other people.

Moreover, UNI-CUB's compact saddle-style packaging makes it easy for the rider's legs to reach the ground and maintains eye-level height with other pedestrians. This configuration promotes harmony between the rider and others, letting the rider travel freely and comfortably inside facilities and among moving people.

Starting in June 2012, Honda will jointly conduct demonstration testing of UNI-CUB with Japan's National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.


GlowTunes
Translucent cabinet changes color at the touch of a button
Seven color LED color changing cabinet with fi ve lighting modes let you set the mood
Five display modes:
Slow fade (colors include indigo, blue, green, white, orange, red, violet and yellow)
Favorite color
Pulse to music
Strobe effect
Dimmable lamp function (white)

Wireless
Bluetooth wireless capability
Wirelessly connect your Bluetooth-enabled phone, iPad, PDA or computer

Docking
Universal dock to charge and play iPhone or iPod while docked
Enjoy your music while keeping your iPhone or iPod fully charged

App Features
App Friendly
Audio detection circuit ensures iHome's and other third party apps can automatically wake up your iHome so important app sounds can be heard to ensure app experiences are delivered as intended.

Sound Enhancement
Reson8® speaker chambers
Specially designed sealed speaker enclosures deliver astounding clarity, depth and power

Power
Universal 100-240V AC adaptor
Switching power supply works just about anywhere in the world to power your unit

Additional
Aux-in jack
Listen to aux audio sources (e.g., computer, CD player)
Component video out jacks
Outputs video to your TV or other component display device

Remotes
Remote Control Included


Facebook Inc priced its initial public offering at $38 a share, giving the world’s No. 1 online social network a $104 billion valuation in the third largest offering in US history.

The offering puts the eight-year-old company, founded in a Harvard dorm room, a valuation akin to that of Amazon.com Inc, and exceeding that of Hewlett-Packard Co and Dell Inc combined.

Predictions on how much the stock will rise on the first day of trading vary greatly, with some experts saying anything short of a 50 percent jump would be disappointing. Other IPO watchers say the large size of the float, coupled with a raised price range, could reduce first-day gains to as little as 10 percent.

“I think anything over 50 percent will be considered a successful offering — anything under that would be underwhelming,” said Jim Krapfel, analyst at Morningstar. “A lot of retail investors are not concerned about valuation. That’s what is going to drive the first day pop.”

Lee Simmons, industry specialist at Dun & Bradstreet, had a more modest forecast.

“You’ve got a large offering at an increased price, so a huge pop may be difficult to achieve. I’d think a 10 to 20 percent pop over the offer price is expected,” Simmons said. “When you’re talking about doubling or a pop the size of LinkedIn, it’s more difficult to achieve because Facebook is just offering more shares … The others were smaller floats, under 10 percent, so you had this artificial feeding frenzy.”
Shares of professional networking company LinkedIn Corp’s doubled on their first day of trading. On Wednesday, Facebook increased the size of the IPO by almost 25 percent to 421 million shares, a 15 percent float.
Another social media company, Zynga Inc, an online games developer that makes lots of games for Facebook users, fizzled in its debut and ended down 5 percent on its first day of trading. No one Reuters spoke with said they were expecting a fall in Facebook’s stock on Friday.

Facebook, with some 900 million users, raised the target IPO price range on Tuesday to between $34 and $38 per share, from between $28 and $35.
The company could raise north of $18.4 billion if a greenshoe option for underwriters is exercised.

Facebook will celebrate its Wall Street debut with an all-night “hackathon” at Facebook’s Menlo Park, California, headquarters starting on Thursday evening, a company tradition in which Facebook’s computer programmers work on side projects that sometimes become part of the main product offering.

SPORTS BOOKS AND ODDS MAKERS
Despite the high expectations, Facebook faces challenges maintaining its growth momentum.

Some investors worry the company has not yet figured out a way to make money from the growing number of users who access Facebook on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. Meanwhile, revenue growth from Facebook’s online advertising business, which accounts for the bulk of its revenue, has slowed in recent months.

Sports betting firms had varying estimates of where Facebook would end up at the close of its first day of trading. Spreadex Limited in the UK said clients are speculating shares could end up trading above $56 a share in the first day, having come down a bit in price since the number of shares slated for sale was increased.

Betting on Intrade, a popular online betting site for political events, was limited, with only about 750 shares changing hands in contracts that bet on a closing price anywhere from $25 to $60. By contrast, more than 200,000 trades have been made on President Barack Obama’s chances for re-election.

“Hundreds of millions of people are extremely passionate about this product. A lot of those people want to be a part of this event, of this company that they have an affinity for. That’s creating a level of excitement for the stock that you don’t normally see,” said Steve Weinstein, an analyst with ITG Research.

Some financial advisers have warned their clients against jumping into Facebook right away, but the well-known brand could still attract enough interest to exceed the 458 million shares traded the day General Motors went public after emerging from bankruptcy in 2010.

One UBS adviser initially received calls from 12 clients clamoring to buy shares of Facebook, but over the past couple of weeks, two have changed their minds. “A lot of people are thrown off by the recent negative stories in the press,” the adviser said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “One guy was worried about General Motors stopping its advertising on Facebook.”

GM said on Tuesday it would stop placing ads on Facebook, raising questions about whether the display ads on the site are as effective in reaching consumers as traditional media.
Overall financial advisers are struggling to manage clients’ expectations about what the stock will do and in some cases, if they will be able to get any stock for them.

“People want to just own it because they think it’s the next Google and they missed out on that,” said a financial adviser from Wells Fargo Advisors, the brokerage division of Wells Fargo & Co, which is part of the syndicate underwriting the deal.

Facebook has 33 underwriters for the IPO, led by Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs.


Google's overhauling its search engine, at least in the US for now, with a new Knowledge Graph feature. The idea is that you won't have to leave Google to get the information you're looking for – if you type in the name of a celebrity, landmark, film or work of art into Google, a panel will appear on the right hand side of your results with relevant info, images and links.

Aiming to act a bit more like Wolfram Alpha (and perhaps become the service Ask Jeeves always dreamed of), the Knowledge Graph already contains 500m objects and 3.5 billion facts, making us wonder how many facts there are on the World Wide Web in total.

With the information coming from public sources including Wikpedia, we'd also say that the Knowledge Graph might be a good overview of a subject with interesting links but we wouldn't rely on it for now.

As we said, this new search feature is kicking off in America but we're sure the big G will see fit to extend the fun to the rest of the world before long.


The excellent NEX series has an impressive new member today. The NEX-F3, of which we've heard (and seen) so much about recently got the nod from Sony for an official launch.

The NEX-F3 is the new entry-level interchangeable lens cam from Sony and can be yours to own from £530 with a June release date.

Inside there's a 16.1MP APS CMOS sensor and a third gen Bionz imaging processor (seen in the Sony a77) and we reckon the new design makes the outside of this CSC pretty tempting too.

Also on board is a 180 degree tiltable display and a pop-up flash, which was missing from its predecessor the NEX-C3, plus the NEX-F3 comes rocking ISO skills up to 16,000 and Full HD video.

Watch out for a full Stuff.tv review to see if the NEX-F3 has got the imaging goods.


The Max Payne series set the benchmark for stylish action in third person shooters. Over the years, countless other games have incorporated bullet time into gameplay, but only a few have succeeded in whipping up the delicious, kinetic action Remedy’s franchise was known for. Over the nine years since Max Payne 2’s release, technology has evolved by leaps and bounds, so naturally expectations have risen exponentially.

Even then, Rockstar stepped up to the mantle and accepted these challenges. Their goal was to wow players in 2012 the same way Max Payne did in 2003 - a rather lofty ambition since we’ve experienced games like Gears of War and Uncharted since then. And guess what, they’ve pulled it off.

Max Payne 3 is more of a reboot than a reinvention. The game has been made accessible to the modern day gamer from a gameplay and technical standpoint, but at the same time, Rockstar hasn’t forgotten the series’ roots, keeping certain aspects of gameplay firmly grounded in old school gameplay. Ultimately, whether you’re a fan of the franchise or have never even played a Max Payne game in your life, Max Payne 3 is a must-play because it is one hell of an action-packed roller coaster ride.


It isn't legally or actually theft — which in English law at least is defined as 'taking with intent to permanently deprive' — but arguments don't have to be true to work, and it suits the paid-for industry to paint it as such.

For theft is obviously wrong, something we learn at school. Branding a behaviour 'immoral' is a powerful way to change that behaviour.

Adobe hasn't quite got the hang of this. If you promote moral behaviour, it helps if you behave morally yourself. And morally, if you take money from your customers, you then assume some responsibility for their safety when they use your products. This is enshrined in consumer law and practice. It is also basic humanity.

Adobe has abdicated this responsibility. It has found a critical vulnerability — a security flaw in Photoshop CS5 — that puts its users at risk, and instead of fixing it, the company is advertising the fact that there is a problem where the solution is that you pay for an upgrade to Photoshop CS6.

Otherwise, it says, you're on your own and recommends piously that you exercise extreme caution.

That bears repeating. Adobe has issued a critical security warning for software that is still being sold, where the fix is to pay the company for new software.

Photoshop CS5 is barely two years old. It costs £600 by itself, much more as part of Creative Suite. If a £600 television had a dangerous flaw, there would be a product recall — an expensive, embarrassing and time-consuming process, to be sure, but one companies accept as part of their responsibility towards their customers.

Adobe doesn't have to do that; it can patch its software over the internet, just like every other software company, at minimal expense and fuss. If expense and fuss were considerations where customer safety is concerned, that might even be a factor.

It refuses. It has taken your money, put you in danger, and now it wants more to get you out.

Adobe has taken your money, put you in danger, and now it wants more to get you out.

This is immoral behaviour. It is cynical behaviour. It is the behaviour of a company that knows it has an effective monopoly and isn't afraid to use dangerous flaws in its own products to extort yet more cash from its captive audience.

That audience now has three choices. It can pay Adobe its extortion fee, thus encouraging the future use of security flaws as marketing levers. It can give up Photoshop, and cut itself off from a basic tool of the creative industry. Or it can download Photoshop CS6 illicitly from the internet.

Piracy is bad. Holding your own users to ransom is worse. The former may or may not result in a lost sale, or it might lead to a new, paid-for user. The latter is taking money through threats, an attitude that risks losing everything in the long run.

If Adobe is serious about expecting its users to behave in ways it considers moral, it must show the same basic respect in return. Otherwise, it is promoting the attitude that you take what you can, when you can, and damn the rights and wrongs — the very aspect of piracy that it finds most damning in its customers.


The Sony CMT-G2NiP is a micro hi-fi that rocks a CD player like it’s 1998, but covers all the connectivity bases including Apple AirPlay support

In a world where iPod docks seem to reign supreme, is there still a place for a micro hi-fi in your life? Well, Sony still thinks so and its flagship system - the Sony CMT-G2BNiP - combines some pre-digital tech with the cutting-edge connectivity that should keep the modern age audiophile happy as well.

Sony CMT-G2BNiP: Build
In a day and age where superior sound performance just isn't enough, the G2 delivers in the looks department with its glossy piano black speakers that look even better minus the grills to show off the meshy yellow tweeters.

There’s also the aluminium base unit which hosts the four knob controls, CD loading tray, tune buttons and 3 line digital display which is just about big enough to navigate around the different feature modes.

Setting up does take a few minutes as you spend most of that time unscrewing the speaker ports to thread wires through the back of the base unit and the speakers, but once that is out the way, setting up your home network is a relatively easily process.

Sony CMT-G2BNiP: Features
Speaker docks
There’s no sign of an iPod dock, but Apple fanboys need not panic as Sony has added USB support so you can plug your white Apple lead in to blare out your iTunes playlists.

Sony opted against integrating an iPod dock claiming that it would affect the overall audio performance. We also noticed that it gets slightly warm on the top of the base unit which may also have something to do with that decision.

There’s Wi-Fi and support for DLNA certified devices to stream from storage servers like a PC and Mac and taking a leaf out of Sonos’s book the Party Streaming function means you can send the same music to multiple Sony devices scattered around your house.

As well as a remote control, there's a free Sony AudioRemote iPhone app which enables you to control the music set up over Wi-Fi and lets you choose which device to send the music to. It’s not the most intuitive app, but in terms of its usefulness if you don’t use AirPlay, it’s a nice addition to the setup.

For the analogue music lovers, there's a FM/AM tuner but with DAB and DAB+ delivering clearer sound for all your favourite digital radio stations.

Sony CMT-G2BNiP: AirPlay
Once connected to your home network, detection of an AirPlay supported device takes a few seconds before syncing. We tested out streaming music from iTunes and using the Spotify iOS app for the iPhone and iPod Touch we were able to seamlessly switch between devices and see track/artist and song duration information displayed on the digital display.

We did notice that when returning to use the AirPlay mode it did take slightly longer to lock back onto the Wi-Fi connection before we could start using it again.

Sony CMT-G2BNiP: Audio quality
The G2 delivers a rich, suprisingly powerful sound with knobs to adjust bass and treble to tailor to different types of music. Bass is punchy but does not detract from the clarity which helps to deliver a more refined performance making it ideal for more instrument-based music.

It pumps out 100W of power, but if you play around with the positioning of the speakers, the sound is loud enough to fill a decent sized room. We tested it out in a party environment and found that the sound did not suffer even when cranked up to full volume.

Nokia launched two low-end cellphones on Tuesday, aiming to regain its footing in emerging markets.

The Nokia 110 model will be sold for 35 euros and will start shipping in the second quarter, while the 112 model will be sold for 38 euros from the third quarter, the Finnish phone maker said.

The company has been losing market share not just in high-end smartphones but also in cheaper, basic phones popular among customers in emerging markets.


Enjoy More: 4.3”←→ 10.1” Dynamic Display .
Achieve More: Up to 63 Hours of Extended Talk Time.
Save More: Two Devices. One Data Plan.

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
PadFone
128 x 65.4 x 9.2 mm (LxWxH)
PadFone Station
273 x 176.9 x 13.55 mm (WxDxH)
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 8260A Dual-Core 1.5 GHz


Features:
  • 4.0-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display with a 360 x 640 pixel resolution
  • 1.3 GHz ARM 11 processor, 512 MB of RAM
  • Nokia Belle OS
  • 16GB internal storage
  • 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi
  • GPS with A-GPS support
  • Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, USB 2.0
  • 41 MP camera with Xenon flash, 1080p@30fps video recording
  • Stereo FM radio with RDS
  • Memory expandable up to 32 GB via microSD card
  • 3.5 mm handsfree socket
  • 1400 mAh Lithium - ion battery
  • Nokia Belle OS

Halo 4 is the next blockbuster installment in the iconic franchise that’s shaped entertainment history and defined a decade of gaming. Set in the aftermath of Halo 3, Master Chief returns to confront his own destiny
and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. Halo 4 marks the start of a new trilogy that begins with its release in 2012.

Officially the release is slated as ‘Holiday 2012’ – which translates as somewhere around Christmas. The game is already available on Amazon, which lists the release date as December 31st 2012. If accurate, this date would curiously miss the lucrative Christmas buying period.


Thailand looks set to proceed with the widest educational tablet deployment to date, after the country’s government finally signed an initial $32.8 million (1.02 billion THB) contract for a project that aims to deploy 930,000 across the nation’s schools.

The initiative, which was first announced as an election promise from the Pheu Thai party last summer, will see supplier Shenzhen Scope ship an initial 400,000 devices within the next 90 days, following first delivery of 2,000 test units, FutureGov reports.

An as-yet-unsigned contract is on the table for a further 530,000 devices — taking the rollout to 930,000 units and total spend to $75.7 million — as the government advances its objective of providing every first grade student at a public school with their own tablet.

The Scopad SP0712, which Thailand is buying, has some promising details on paper. It is powered by Google’s latest Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) platform, and features a 7-inch touchscreen, 8GB of storage, 1GB Ram and GPS.

The eductional tablet market is growing and March saw the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) organisation announce plans to introduce a device, in partnership with Marvell. The organisations have begun distributing the $185 XO 3.0 — which is specifically designed for developing markets — in undisclosed numbers but Thailand’s deployment is the largest scale rollout thus far.

Thailand is paying $81 per unit from Shenzhen Scope, and the company says that the deal with Thai authorities could be followed by others worldwide.

“Thailand is the first country in which we have provided large numbers of tablets for students. Now we are talking with other governments to provide this kind of tablet device for [other] students, including Pakistan, Brazil and South Africa,” chairman Liu Jun said.

As a result of the deal, Scope is building ten new production lines that it says will double its output and see it produce 10 million units per year, in line with increased demand and interest.

For the Thai contract, the company will introduce 30 help centers across Thailand to provide support for users of the device, which Thailand’s ministry says was built specifically for the project.

As we recently wrote, Thailand’s project has had a number of issues and came under fire for pivoting its plans on a number of occasions.

Originally, as per the pre-election pledge, the initiative had been aimed at covering all secondary school students, but the scope was decreased significantly to cater to 6-7 year olds only.

Wranglings over reliability and warrants set the project back considerably. The new Thai school year begins this year but the devices are due to be delivered to schools by July, missing the original deadline by some time.

The deal to find a supplier was also somewhat protracted too. The Thai government signed a deal with the Chinese government, which then provided a list of four recommended suppliers for the project.

Those overlooked in the process reportedly included better known manufacturers like Lenovo and Huawei — which struggled to meet Thailand’s low price expectation — while a Thai-based, educational device specialist that lodged a lower bid than Scope was also rejected.

Given the background and development of the project, it remains to be seen if there will be further hitches. However, the scale of the initiative is likely to see it keenly watched by other governments and educational organisations.

Thailand has previously looked into similar strategies, most notably a proposed pilot initiative with the OLPC that had been planned by then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the brother of current incumbent Yingluck. However, a 2006 coup brought a change of leadership and the plans were subsequently scrapped.

Aside from OLPC, Intel launched its Studybook educational tablet in April and, in India, the $140 Classpad has been made available to thousands of students in 25 schools in the country.

The largest iPad rollout from an educational organisation in the US saw San Diego Unified School District distribute 25,000 Apple’s tablets for students in the area.