AfterDawn: Tech news

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AfterDawn: News

'Breaking Bad' on Netflix now available in 4K, for some

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Jun 2014 8:36

'Breaking Bad' on Netflix now available in 4K, for some 'Breaking Bad,' generally considered one of the top shows of all-time, is now available in the highest quality possible for streaming, 4K.

Available via Netflix, all five seasons of the hit show are available in 4K quality, but with significant caveats. The company says the 4K Breaking Bad is available "only on Ultra HD 4K Smart TVs that have Netflix embedded and include an HEVC H.265 decoder for now."

They are working on adding more options, including 4K monitors.

Netflix has promised to make more content available in 4K, and Breaking Bad will now join House of Cards and soon, the rest of Netflix's original content, in the high resolution quality.

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AfterDawn: News

Hands-on with Samsung Galaxy Tab S's features

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Jun 2014 8:11

Hands-on with Samsung Galaxy Tab S's features Ahead of its launch on July 10th, Samsung has released a quick hands-on with the new Galaxy Tab S and its new features.

The device looks similar to older Galaxy Tabs, but is once again lighter and thinner, at 6.6mm thick and 16 ounces for the larger model. It is thinner than the iPad Air, and is just as light, with just 2 grams separating the two devices.

Most notably, the devices have Super-AMOLED displays with a resolution of 2560 x 1600, run on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, and have Samsung's own suite of applications including Knox and embedded hardware security that should interest enterprise users.

Under the hood is a ridiculous Exynos 5 Octa chipset (a 1.9GHz quad-core chip, a 1.3GHz quad-core chip and 3GB of RAM), 16GB internal storage (microSD slot accepts 128GB cards), 802.11 abcn Wi-Fi with MIMO, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0 and dual cameras, 8MP and 2.1MP. The battery promises about 11 hours of use, on par with the iPad Air. The device also has a fingerprint reader that works part of the time.

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AfterDawn: News

Micromax unveils first Windows Phone devices

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Jun 2014 7:34

Micromax unveils first Windows Phone devices Micromax, the popular Indian OEM, has announced its first Windows Phone smartphones.

The operating system has seen a bit of a revival after Microsoft made Windows free for any device under 9 inches, including smartphones and tablets.

First, the company unveiled its Canvas Win W092 with Windows Phone 8.1 and a 4" WVGA IPS display. Under the hood is a quad-core Snapdragon 200 clocked at 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage and 5MP/1.3MP dual-cameras. The device is also dual-SIM capable.

Available next month, the device will sell for Rs 6,500 ($105), in line with cheaper Nokia Lumia options.

The 5-inch IPS display Canvas Win 121 model has the same processor and RAM and internal storage but 8MP/2MP cameras and the larger display. The Win 121 will set you back Rs 9,500 ($157 USD).

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AfterDawn: News

Apple allows virtual currency trading apps back into the App Store

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Jun 2014 6:56

Apple allows virtual currency trading apps back into the App Store Until this week, Apple had forbidden Bitcoin (and other virtual currency) trading apps from the App Store, but the tech giant has now revised its guidelines.

The company now allows virtual currency apps as long as "they comply with state and federal laws in all areas that they operate." Until now, all apps that revolved around trading the currencies were removed from the store, giving only access to wallet apps that allowed you to see how much of your currency you owned.

Coin Pocket is the first app to be back in the Store, but there will be surely many more to follow.

Bitcoin and other currencies remain mainly unregulated in the U.S., meaning Apple will likely avoid any legal headache in the future.

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AfterDawn: News

T-Mobile US CEO has another laugh at AT&T

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Jun 2014 10:47

T-Mobile US CEO has another laugh at AT&T T-Mobile US CEO John Legere has taken the easy shot at AT&T, after it was reported that the carrier will be raising its activation fees.

Legere is well known for insulting AT&T and its executives and this time is no different.

"Is this a joke, AT&T?!" Legere wrote on Twitter. "[T-Mobile] removes fees and you do the opposite!? What happened to copying us?"

AT&T explained the new move, which is only for new contract subscribers, who are getting a subsidized smartphone. "Customers looking for a great value can get it with AT&T Next and Mobile Share Value plans," AT&T says. "With AT&T Next, customers can get a new device every year for $0 down, plus no activation, financing or upgrade fees. Customers choosing a 2-year contract plan will experience a four-dollar activation fee increase beginning June 8. Customers on 2-year plans choosing to upgrade to a new device will experience a four-dollar upgrade fee increase beginning June 8."

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AfterDawn: News

Samsung Galaxy Tab S to get exclusive Marvel content

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Jun 2014 10:29

Samsung Galaxy Tab S to get exclusive Marvel content Earlier this week, Samsung unveiled their Galaxy Tab S lineup of tablets, offering devices as thin as the market leading iPad Air and iPad Mini.

As an extra bonus for the new tablets, consumers will get some exclusive goodies from Marvel Comics.

Each new tablet will come bundled with a free three-month subscription for Marvel Unlimited, giving access to all of Marvel's library for digital comics.

In addition, Tab S owners will also get exclusive sneak peeks at upcoming Marvel movies, potentially starting with the new Avengers: Age of Ultron. It is unclear what is part of the sneak peeks besides early access to trailers.

"Samsung is passionate about the stories around our products and the people to use them," said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. "Partnering with Marvel gives us the opportunity to bring our industry-leading mobile display technology to life. Through visual storytelling made possible by Marvel's outstanding entertainment universe, Samsung's Galaxy users will be able to enjoy the maximum of our product benefits."

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AfterDawn: News

Priceline agrees to buy restaurant booking service OpenTable for $2.6 billion

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Jun 2014 9:53

Priceline agrees to buy restaurant booking service OpenTable for $2.6 billion Massive trip booking site Priceline has agreed to buy major restaurant booking service OpenTable for $2.6 billion in cash.

OpenTable charges monthly fees to use its software, which is considered by many the best in the business, and also charges individual restaurants small fees to book diners.

"The kind of work that we do day-to-day is very similar," Priceline CEO Darren Huston added. "It's just a different marketplace."

The booking service currently has over 31,000 establishments, but still says it "has plenty of room to expand," most notably outside of the U.S. OpenTable says about 15 million people book reservations every month through their services.

Recently, travel review service TripAdvisor made a similar move, purchasing reservation service Lafourchette, a French company with 12,000 restaurants in their inventory.

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AfterDawn: News

Steam OS gets its first handheld: Project SteamBoy

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Jun 2014 9:09

Steam OS gets its first handheld: Project SteamBoy Startup company SteamBoy Machine Team has teased the first ever Steam OS-based handheld. The console should directly rival the PS Vita and the Nvidia Shield.

Set to launch next year, the device will have a 5-inch 16:9 screen, a quad-core processor, 4GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. The device will also have Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth.

"SteamBoy won't be as powerful as other announced Steam Machines in the same way [the] Nintendo 3DS or PS Vita performance is not comparable to Wii U or PlayStation 4," said the company. "However, it will be possible to play the majority of current games in Steam."

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AfterDawn: News

Nintendo will not add full Twitch service to Wii U

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Jun 2014 7:05

Nintendo will not add full Twitch service to Wii U One of the more popular services available to gamers now on PS4 and Xbox One is 'Twitch,' the ability to record and share your entire playthroughs and other events when gaming.

Unfortunately, it appears the Wii U fans will not get the same services, at least not in the way rival console owners can. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has said Twitch will not be headed to the Wii U, and he does not really see the appeal anyway. "What we've got to think through is, so what's fun about that? From a consumer standpoint, what's fun about it?"

Currently, the Wii U allows you to pick highlights and upload them to YouTube, leading to the now infamous "Luigi Death Stare" meme. Fils-Aime is a great fan of that ability, adding that "You can make some choices as to what parts are going to be shared. We think that makes it interesting. That's different than watching Joe Blow's 30 minute stream, which may or may not have something that's all that interesting."

Now of course there could be technical or hardware capability issues that Fils-Aime has not noted, but for the time being it looks like no Twitch for the Wii U.

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AfterDawn: News

Hilarious Conan Clueless Gamer: 'Super Smash Bros' for Wii U edition

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Jun 2014 8:05

Hilarious Conan Clueless Gamer: 'Super Smash Bros' for Wii U edition Late night talk show host Conan O'Brien has added another hilarious addition to his 'Clueless Gamer' segment, this time playing an advanced copy of the upcoming 'Super Smash Bros' for Wii U.

The popular segment shows Conan and co-host Aaron Bleyaert playing video games, which Conan admits he does not like, does not understand and is certainly not good at.

Conan plays as multiple characters, trying to understand the basics of the craziness that is Super Smash, while making fun of nearly every character. The segment concludes with a four player match including his assistant and another employee.

The Wii U version will be available for Wii U sometime "this Winter."

Check the video here:

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AfterDawn: News

Samsung unveils Galaxy Tab S devices as light as Air

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Jun 2014 7:37

Samsung unveils Galaxy Tab S devices as light as Air Samsung has revealed their ninth and tenth tablets of the year so far, the Galaxy Tab S available as an 8.4-inch model and a 10.5-inch model.

The device looks similar to older Galaxy Tabs, but is once again lighter and thinner, at 6.6mm thick and 16 ounces for the larger model. It is thinner than the iPad Air, and is just as light, with just 2 grams separating the two devices.

Samsung noted that the company now has 22.6 percent of the tablet market with its wide range of Galaxy Tab devices. Apple is still the clear leader, but the margin has been shrinking.

Most notably, the devices have Super-AMOLED displays with resolution of 2560 x 1600, and the display has already received rave reviews from demo units. In addition, the devices have fingerprint readers just like the Galaxy S5, although the reader has generally been panned.

The device runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, and has Samsung's own suite of applications including Knox and embedded hardware security that should interest enterprise users.

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AfterDawn: News

Google preparing to launch 'Google Fit' to collect your health tracking data from phones, bands and compete with Apple, Samsung

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Jun 2014 2:44

Google preparing to launch 'Google Fit' to collect your health tracking data from phones, bands and compete with Apple, Samsung According to Forbes, Google will launch a new health service, dubbed "Google Fit" to collect your data from fitness trackers and smartphone/tablet apps.

The service will be revealed at the upcoming I/O developer conference on June 25th and 26th.

If accurate, the service would be a direct competitor to Apple's upcoming HealthKit framework that will be a part of iOS 8. Samsung also unveiled their biometric data platform Sami last month, meaning the market is clearly the next battleground between the giants.

The report says that "Google Fit will aggregate data through open APIs" and that Google is likely to announce partnerships with wearable device makers like Motorola and LG, as well.

It is unclear whether Google Fit will comes as part of Android updates or will be a standalone app to be downloaded in the Google Play Store.

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AfterDawn: News

Up close and personal with the new white colorway PlayStation 4

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Jun 2014 2:28

Up close and personal with the new white colorway PlayStation 4 At E3, Sony revealed that the upcoming blockbuster 'Destiny' would also get its own bundle, including a white colorway PlayStation 4 console.

So far, the console has only been available in black since launch.

The bundle includes a 500GB white PS4, a white DualShock 4 controller, a copy of Destiny and a 30-day subscription vouncher to PlayStation Plus.

Sony did not reveal a price for the bundle.

Pictures of the upcoming console:







AfterDawn: News

Tesla opens up all its patents for fair use to help electric car infrastructure

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Jun 2014 2:15

Tesla opens up all its patents for fair use to help electric car infrastructure Yesterday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced a bold and strategic plan in which the company opened up all of their closely held patents for fair use, in an effort to boost the fledgling electric car market.

This means that anyone who wants to use the technology (in good faith) will not be sued and will likely actually receive assistance from the company.

Musk says that corporations that rely solely on their patents are falling behind: "It means they're not innovating. They're not innovating fast enough. You should be innovating so fast that you're invalidating your prior patents."

The brilliant executive then went on a rant about the current patent system and how it was stifling innovation in every industry. You will find very few people who are not CEOs who disagree with him.

Here is Musk's full post:

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AfterDawn: News

Facebook employee wins right to get killed by George RR Martin in next 'Song of Ice and Fire' book

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Jun 2014 1:37

Facebook employee wins right to get killed by George RR Martin in next 'Song of Ice and Fire' book 'A Song of Ice and Fire,' the book series better known now as Game of Thrones due to its popularity on HBO, will have two new characters killed in a "grisly" manner after the fans paid $20,000 each (to be distributed to charity) to have author George RR Martin create characters for them and then kill them off in the upcoming book.

David Goldblatt, a Facebook employee, was one of the two fans to win the auction. "I'm fortunate enough to be in a position to do this cool thing, and it's going toward a good cause – I don't think I'm doing anything extraordinary." Goldblatt says he would like "to be a Valyrian if at all possible, but he figures it out himself. I wouldn't want to impinge upon his creative process." As part of the prize, the winners will get to choose their "character's station in the world (lording, knight, peasant, whore, lady, maester, septon, anything)."

While hundreds of characters including some very notable ones have been killed off in the series, Martin says he does feel sad when they die. He will not have the same regret for the new characters, however. "Despite my sinister repute, I actually find it hard to kill off characters that I've been writing about for some time. Good guys or bad guys, they're all my children. But this time the slaughter should be easy, since the victims will be laying down their lives in a good cause. I will do my best to make their ends memorable."

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