Harman Kardon ships AVR 2700 and 3700 receivers with 4K scaling and AirPlay
Now that Ultra HD TVs are poised to hit the market in force, it’s more important than ever to have receivers that can handle them — even if our bank accounts often can’t. Harman Kardon knows this well enough to ship its AVR 2700 and AVR 3700 receivers, both of which carry 4K passthrough and upscaling on their eight HDMI ports as a matter of course. The two also support AirPlay streaming alongside more commonplace DLNA media sharing and offer remote control mobile apps. Home theater futureproofers mostly have to decide on audio channels and network support before they buy: the $800 AVR 2700 produces 7.1-channel surround and sticks to Ethernet alone for networking, while the $996 AVR 3700 introduces 7.2-channel audio and WiFi. Few of us will use either receiver to its full potential right now, but well-heeled 4K TV owners (or just the well-prepared) can pick one up today.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Harman Kardon (1), (2)
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DARPA flaunts HD heat vision camera small enough to carry into battle
Thermal imaging cameras are highly useful tools for military and law enforcement types, letting them see humans inside buildings or land a helicopter in the fog. High definition models are too heavy for servicemen to tote, however, so DARPA and a private partner have built a 1,280 x 720 LIWR (long-wave infrared) imager with pixels a mere five microns in diameter. That’s smaller than infrared light’s wavelength, allowing a slighter device without giving up any resolution or sensitivity while costing much less, to boot. Researchers say that three functional prototypes have performed as well as much larger models, allowing them to see through a simulated dust storm, among other tests. If DARPA ever lets such goodies fall into civvy hands, count us in — you can never have too much security.
Filed under: Cameras, Science, Alt
Via: Gizmag
Source: DARPA
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Verizon says its Galaxy S 4 is coming sometime in May
If you noticed that Verizon was silent while other US carriers provided their launch schedules for the Galaxy S 4, you’re not alone — it was the only real holdout among the big four networks. As it turns out, the company was just continuing a small tradition of being fashionably late with influential phones. Big Red now says its version of the Samsung flagship will appear sometime in May, skipping past the first wave of GS 4 releases later in April. An exact date? Pricing? Capacities? Those are coming at an unspecified point “soon,” although that may not be soon enough for subscribers who have to own the latest and greatest.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Samsung, Verizon
Via: Droid-Life
Source: Verizon Wireless (Twitter)
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Circle Pad Pro accessory will ruin your Nintendo 3DS XL’s silhouette for $20
Is it worth adding a lop-sided $20 piece of plastic to your already-substantial 3DS XL in order to gain a second analog thumb stick? It’s a good question and finally one worth asking now that Nintendo has announced that the currently Japan-only Circle Pad Pro for the XL will start shipping in the States tomorrow. When we went hands-on last year, we found that it added predictable amounts of girth and also blocked the cartridge port, but compensated by making the handheld more comfortable to use, not least by adding larger shoulder buttons as well as the thumb stick. It’s also worth pointing out that the smaller 3DS version of the accessory enabled better controls for left-handed players in Kid Icarus, so there could be some subtler benefits too. We’ve embedded our hands-on video after the break, so you just need to hold a $20 bill up against your screen and decide which looks better.
Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Nintendo
Via: NeoGaf
Source: Nintendo
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Pocket apps updated with Send to Friend sharing and push notifications
In celebration of its one-year anniversary, Pocket has updated its Android, iOS, Mac and web apps with a new Send to Friend option. This feature allows you to pass content directly to friends along with a comment and highlighted quote from the article being shared. The app kicks out an email to anyone receiving your reading recommendations, and sends an optional push notification to folks already on the Pocket bandwagon. In addition, the updated share menu creates shortcuts for recently used social networks and contacts, which makes it easier to keep your cohorts up to date with your daily web habits. If you’re ready to overrun your friends’ inboxes with clips of Engadget editors forgetting to chew their food, head on over to your app store of choice to grab the update.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile
Source: iTunes, Google Play
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Leave a commentRicoh unveils 16-megapixel GR compact with APS-C sensor, continuous autofocus
Though it’s a bit late to the large-sensor compact game, Ricoh just jumped into the fray with an option that might tempt the high-end grab and go set: the GR. Following in a trail blazed by the likes of Sony and Nikon with its Coolipix A, Ricoh’s new advanced compact packs very similar specs to the latter: a 16-megapixel APS-C-sized sensor, fixed 18.3 mm f/2.8 lens, ISO 25,600 capability, pop-up flash, Eye-Fi card compatibility, 1080 / 30p AF video and 4 fps shooting with continuous autofocus for “fast-moving subjects.” The similarities end with the price, however, since Ricoh is offering the GR for $800 compared to $1,150 for the Nikon, and has eschewed the optical low-pass filter to increase sharpness and further tempt high-end shooters. Check the PR after the break for more.
Filed under: Cameras
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Leave a commentFacebook updating iPhone app to add Chat Head support… today
First, the bad news. Facebook Home isn’t coming to iOS anytime soon due to the underlying technologies that restrict the way apps interact with the iPhone’s operating system. Now, the good news: Facebook is pushing an update to its iOS app right now that’ll add support for Chat Heads. Mike Schroepfer, CTO and vice president of engineering at Facebook, just announced the news here at D: Dive Into Mobile, and it all goes well, you should see the update hit your own device later in the day.
According to Schroepfer: “The goal from the beginning was to get this experience into everyone’s hands. As part of that, we’re shortly going to announce an update to our iOS app that’ll add Chat Heads. Multiple messages, multiple threads, same design, etc. You have to be within the app — that’s a limitation of iOS. You can’t draw across other apps when you aren’t in the app.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Facebook
Source: iTunes
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Google Glass API documentation now live, Glassware sample code provided
Google painted the broad strokes of its Mirror API for Glass at SXSW in March, and now it’s released comprehensive documentation, replete with example code. Despite the fact that the application programming interface is still in a limited developer preview, you can dig in and read up on everything from location features to timeline cards. The cheeky devs in Mountain View also announced that they’ve named services for the spectacles “Glassware.” Hit the source link below to dive into the docs.
Via: Google Developers (Google+)
Source: Google Glass (Google Developers)
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Leave a commentDish Network bids $25.5 billion for Sprint, goes head-to-head with Softbank
In the battle for Sprint’s heart, Dish Network always seemed to be stuck in the “friend zone”. That’s not the case anymore, however, now that Dish has quietly lobbed an informal $25.5 billion offer to purchase the carrier. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that after Dish was knocked-back in its attempts to buy Clearwire, the satellite TV company scrounged together the cash to beat Softbank’s multi billion dollar deal. If the bid is made formal, then Sprint’s board will have to decide if Softbank’s massive size and buckets of cash can be trumped by Dish’s spectrum reserves, pay-TV business and ability to skip commercials in a breeze.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Wireless, HD, Mobile, Sprint
Source: Dish
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Oculus Rift’s Tuscany demo scores unofficial support for Razer Hydra (video)
Oculus Rift’s Tuscany demo was built with a good ol’ fashioned keyboard and mouse setup in mind, but now it’s unofficially scored support for motion controls. Sixense, the outfit behind Razer’s Hydra, has cooked up a custom version of the Italian-themed sample for use with their controller, and it gives gamers a pair of floating hands to pick up and manipulate objects. Originally shown at GDC, the tweaked experience is now up for grabs, and can even be played by those who don’t have a Rift — albeit with just the controller’s perks.
Booting up the retooled package offers users a new 3D menu, giving them options for arm length, crouching, head bobbing and a crosshair. It’s not the first project to combine Rift with Hydra, but it certainly helps illustrate the potential of such a setup. Sixense says it plans to release updates and the source code, and it recommends folks sign up for their project-specific email list and keep an eye on their forums for word on availability. Hit the source links below for the download, or head past the break to catch Road to VR’s hands-on with the Hydra-friendly Tuscan villa.
Filed under: Gaming
Via: Road to VR
Source: Sixense (1), (2)
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