Thursday, May 24, 2012

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PlayStation Network scheduled for maintenance starting at 8AM (PST)
May 24th 2012, 13:01

PlayStation Network scheduled for maintenance starting at 8AM (PST) May 24

Today's public service announcement is brought to you by the letter "M." That would be "M" as in maintenance, which is what the PlayStation Network will be going through from 8AM (PST) to 11PM. The outage means that both the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home might not be accessible while Sony does its maintenance magic. "B-b-but, I'm supposed to be credit farming Firebase White with my Mass Effect 3 buddies during that exact, same time," you say? Chill, buddy -- the maintenance won't affect online play so you can continue to abuse those hapless, chirping Geth. Folks who signed in to PSN within the last five days will still be able to access apps like Amazon Instant Video and Netflix as well. Hey, it could always be worse, you know.

PlayStation Network scheduled for maintenance starting at 8AM (PST) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  sourcePlayStation Blog  | Email this | Comments

ITU meets to define 4K and 8K UHDTV parameters
May 24th 2012, 12:26

ITU meets to define 4K and 8K UHDTV parameters

This month NHK has been previewing a slew of Super Hi-Vision equipment, but there's still much work to be done to make high res broadcasts a reality worldwide. There's where the ITU steps in, and as it did for HDTV back in the 90s it's been meeting to decide just what 4K and 8K Ultra High Definition TV (UHDTV) broadcasts are and how they will work. There's no word on minimum pixel counts for the standards -- we expect that quad-HD vs. 4K battle to rage on, remember these are the people who "defined" 4G -- but they're establishing color range, frame rate, and whether the broadcasts will go over unused satellite bandwidth or regular antenna frequencies. If you're somehow confused by the 33MP video streams that are coming our way... some day, check out a video featuring European Broadcast Union Deputy Director of Technology and Development David Wood.

Continue reading ITU meets to define 4K and 8K UHDTV parameters

ITU meets to define 4K and 8K UHDTV parameters originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceEBU (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

Insert Coin: cookoo is the watch for geeks who want to keep it subtle (video)
May 24th 2012, 12:00

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

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This is the cookoo, a smart timepiece created by former Microsoft product developer Peter Hauser. Connecting to your smartphone over Bluetooth, its analog face stands in front of a digital display that lights up when you've got a phone alert. Its USP is that it's a more cultured way to check if you've been tweeted than simply whipping out your phone every few minutes. It promises to last up to a year on a standard watch battery and the buttons around the bezel even allow you to check in to Foursquare. It's been designed to be so rugged, durable and waterproof that you can wear one all day -- even at the pool. You can pledge $50 to pre-order one (it'll retail for $99), but only if the company raises all of the $150,000 its set for a goal.

Continue reading Insert Coin: cookoo is the watch for geeks who want to keep it subtle (video)

Insert Coin: cookoo is the watch for geeks who want to keep it subtle (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceKickstarter  | Email this | Comments

Quad-channel DDR3 memory corralled in round-up, Corsair, G.Skill and Patriot take home the trophies
May 24th 2012, 11:46

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If you've wanted to build an X79-based gaming PC but were fretting over getting the most out of the quad-channel DDR3 memory you'll want to pair with that Ivy Bridge processor, don't fret: HotHardware has gathered together some of the most common high-speed RAM options and put them to the test. The results aren't clear cut and depend heavily on what you're looking for. Corsair's 1,866MHz Vengeance kit and a similarly clocked G.Skill RipJaws Z set are recommended for striking good balances between low lag and raw speed, while Patriot's Viper X Division 4 is lauded for having the best value and the best stock cooling. That's not to say that Kingston's HyperX line isn't worth it for some speed demons, but the testers suggest hitting the middle of the road to get a good trade-off between speed and the cash outlay you'll need to get there.

Quad-channel DDR3 memory corralled in round-up, Corsair, G.Skill and Patriot take home the trophies originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 07:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceHotHardware  | Email this | Comments

Apple applies for optical stylus patent, Hell reports coldest day on record
May 24th 2012, 11:32

Apple applies for optical stylus patent, Hell reports coldest day on record

Apple has famously shunned the humble stylus, so it's fair to say we're more than a little curious about why it's filed a patent application for one. The "optical stylus" mentioned seems simple enough. The claims outline the brains to interpret your doodlings, as well pressure and orientation. Beyond that, well, it's more or less just a stylus. While we suspected the team at Cupertino were fans of Draw Something, we didn't think they'd take it this seriously!

Apple applies for optical stylus patent, Hell reports coldest day on record originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceUSPTO  | Email this | Comments

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