Posts Tagged ‘could’
Remedy’s ‘Quantum Break’ could meld TV and gaming, but it’s got a long ways to go
Author: jos
Most AAA games try to be like movies to some extent, but Finnish studio Remedy has done it better than most. Max Payne was a masterful John Woo-styled noir title, and Alan Wake drew from the tradition of Stephen King horror, each incorporating fragments of novels, comic books, TV shows, or radio dramas. Now, the team is taking on science fiction with Quantum Break, an ambitious cross-media project. As the first details are revealed, the game promises a lot — but every answer raises a new question.
The first hints of Quantum Break were enigmatic and intriguing: a live-action TV series and a high-production video game that would somehow influence each other. In essence, that’s exactly what Remedy is trying to do. Quantum Break will…
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Don’t flinch: how the new Kinect could let games trade gimmicks for true interactivity
Author: Brian McKinnell
The first version of Kinect promised to completely change how we play games. Instead of sitting on our couch with a controller, we’d be running, dancing, throwing, and shouting our way through level after level. The new version of Kinect, the one that will ship with every Xbox One console in November, initially seemed like more of the same: more data, more accurately, to the same end. But as we talk to game developers at E3 2013, it’s quickly becoming clear that the next generation of motion gaming isn’t about making us stand in front of our TVs and play. It’s about watching us play, as we’ve always played, and reacting in kind.
Take Ryse Son of Rome, for instance. The game is played with your controller — you don’t use your arm to…
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Samsung And Nokia Could Be Gearing Up For A Smartphone Camera War
Author: Janet Odell
So Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Mini and Galaxy S4 Active have officially made the leap from unimaginative rumors to unimaginative reality, which leaves only one oft-rumored version of the popular smartphone left unaccounted for — the curious S4 Zoom.
As the name sort of implies, this Galaxy variant is said to blur the line between smartphone and camera, and we may now be getting our first look at the thing. A set of images from both SamMobile and TechTastic purportedly show off the photo-centric S4 Zoom ahead of a big Samsung press event in London later this month.
It’s hard to judge from the unflattering angles, but these images depict a device seems to be more camera than phone. The thickish frame, protruding lens obscuring a 16-megapixel sensor, and rounded butt are all design choices that are more reminiscent of point-and-shoots than they are of any standard smartphone. Too bad then that the supposed spec sheet that’s been attached to the S4 Zoom seems wimpy in comparison — that hefty sensor will supposedly be accompanied by a 4.3-inch qHD AMOLED display and a 1.6GHz dual-core processor.
If the S4 Zoom is indeed the real deal — and at this point it just about seems like a lock — Samsung may find that it’s not alone in using smartphones as a platform to show off their camera prowess. Persistent rumors of a Nokia Windows Phone sporting one of the company’s mind-boggling PureView sensors have been floating around for over a year now, and a handful of spurious “leaked” images of one such device (codenamed “EOS “)have been circulating these past days. Hell, just earlier this morning we were treated to what may be the smoking gun — a purported recording of the EOS’ gigantic rear camera pod blinking at us.
In case you missed the PureView hullabaloo from last year, Nokia’s EOS isn’t expected to feature the comparatively puny sensors seen in the company’s recent Windows Phones. No no, rumor has it that it will instead sport the same 41-megapixel camera sensor that first graced the chubby 808 PureView back in 2012.
But I think there’s a bigger question here that hasn’t been adequately answered yet — who do these companies think we’ll buy these things? I suspect I may be in the minority on this one, but I’ve always though that the camera-first approach that some OEMs fiddle around with is just sort of silly. Yes, there’s definite value in being able to capture compelling shots on the run, but really: do people really care how good their photos look once quality inches past a certain threshold?
After all, the way we visually memorialize things has changed since the dawn of smartphone epoch — most images don’t wind up printed and tucked away in photo albums any more. They get hastily MMSed to friends. They get marred by fugly filters and splayed up on Instagram. And in some cases (I’m looking at you Snapchat), the real value of these photos is knowing that they’ll quickly be lost to the ages, a pointed rejection of the archaic permanence of images chemically etched on dead tree material. Camera quality ranks pretty low on my list of criteria when it comes time to buy a new phone, and leaning too heavily on one aspect of a device could be… problematic to say the least.
The closest thing Samsung has had to the S4 Zoom to date is the Galaxy Camera, and the company has never broken out Galaxy Camera sales for we hardware business dorks to dig into. Still, the device was hamstrung by carriers requiring customers to buy a data plan along with the thing (a Wi-Fi version was announced just two months ago). And while Nokia has kept its PureView numbers a closely guarded secret, enthusiasts have estimated that the Finnish phone company managed to sell over half a million as of Fall 2012.
That’s a very solid number considering all the 808′s potential sticking points, and Nokia’s moving a solid number of Lumia phones these days so Nokia must be hoping that PureView and Lumia are two great tastes that really do taste great together. Thankfully, we probably won’t have to wait much longer to see these two duke it out — while the S4 Zoom is expected to be outed this month, the EOS could see the light of day as early as July 9.
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eBay’s large retail screens could make ‘window shopping’ more expensive
Author: Jon Mitchell
You might argue that eBay is a virtual store of sorts already. But — according to reports — the auction giant is planning a new spin on the term. Reuters claims that eBay plans to place 9-foot by 2-foot screens in closed retail units in a variety of locations around New York. The idea being that real shoppers will be able to paw at the virtual stores through the glass, and have purchases delivered to them in under an hour — ideal for those who just can’t wait. There’s already one client onboard — Fith & Pacific Companies — which plans to use the screens to launch a new fashion brand without having to kit out physical stores. The firm does plan on furnishing actual bricks and mortar outlets eventually, but won’t ditch the screens after. Instead making them a permanent fixture in-store to add items that aren’t always available in current stock.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Reuters
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Samsung SM-C101 graces the FCC, could be Galaxy S 4 Zoom
Author: Stacey Cook
Well, look what we have here. Just a little over two weeks after we spied the Samsung SM-C101 at the Bluetooth SIG, the handset turns up at the FCC looking for approval. As we mentioned previously, it’s what could very well be the rumored Galaxy S 4 Zoom, an S 4 handset with a large camera — essentially a sequel to the Galaxy Camera, but with phone capabilities. Indeed, the FCC report states the SM-C101 has quad-band GSM, AT&T-compatible HSPA+, NFC, WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 LE. However, there is no mention of LTE, which leads us to doubt this device is destined for the US (though this doesn’t guarantee we won’t see a US-bound variant down the road). The listing is otherwise light on details, though we do hope that the speculations of a 16-megapixel camera turn out to be true. At least it seems we won’t have long to find out.
Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Mobile
Source: FCC
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I Could Take Him: Full-Scale LEGO T-800 Terminator
Author: Ian Simpson
This is the 15,000-piece, full-scale Terminator T-800 LEGO model developed by Martin Latta. I would leap kick that jerk to pieces. He reminds me of one of those anatomical skeletal systems they used to have in biology course that constantly I ‘d fake-hump every time the educator left the space. Man, all the various other pupils loved that. Well, at least the boys did, I never ever can discover a date to prom.
Thanks to GAVIN, who agrees if you need to combat a Terminator, a minimum of hope for a plastic one. Or hope even bigger for one made out of cotton candy.
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One platform: how the Xbox One could change everything at Microsoft
Author: Nancy Kennedy
Now that the dust has settled following Microsoft’s unveiling of its Xbox One, all that remain are questions over the future of the console and the platform that underpins it. How do used games work? How does the online requirement work? What’s the future of indie games? Microsoft isn’t focusing on the game-related specifics. Instead, it’s outlining its vision for the future of TV and entertainment in an effort to change perceptions of its popular brand. Simply put, Xbox isn’t just about gaming anymore; it’s a platform Microsoft believes will transform the living room.
Xbox as an ecosystem?
Xbox One’s possibilities are almost endless if Microsoft opens up this platform fully to third-party developers. Microsoft hasn’t been forthcoming…
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What electric could I use to run an autonomous robot?
Author: Brian McKinnell
Question by eduardo: What electric could I use to run an autonomous robot?
I want to build a robot with a top speed of 5 mph and is 250 lbs heavy. I have 8 inch diameter wheels. One motor per wheel (Its a 2 wheel tank drive). The 2 rear tires have a motor but the front is a caster. Any recommendations on motors? Id like one that runs off 12 volts since my motor controller can run 2 motors at 12 volts each.
Best answer:
Answer by RidingTheLight
I would recommend a stepper motor. This would keep your robot moving at a near-constant speed. Look them up to see if this is what you want. If you want to use some sort of feedback with your controller, then you would want a servo motor. However, this would involve a lot more programming and some sort of sensor. Hope this helps!
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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You Just Couldn’t Make Up Your Mind, Could You?: Guy Dressed Up As All The Avengers At Once
Author: Dave Adams
Because it’s the Friday before a vacation weekend and I have actually already started consuming (technically last night) this is a shot of some dude spruced up as all the Avengers at the same time. Can you name the corresponding costume pieces to each Avenger? In case you’re a grimy cheater, they are:.
Captain America’s shirt and cover.
Iron Guy’s helmet and chest light.
Thor’s hammer and hair.
The Hulk’s shorts and legs.
Hawkeye’s bow.
Black Widow’s sleeves and gloves.
Nick Fury’s eye patch
Enjoyable fact: did you understand the initial Avengers included Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, Thor, and the Hulk? Ant-Man and Wasp simply do not get a bunch of credit due to the fact that they’re kind of goofy characters and nobody likes them. But has that stopped Wonder Studios from green-lighting an Ant-Man motion picture? It has not. Fingers crossed it plays out like a sequel to A Bug’s Life.
Hit the jump for a shot of Iron Thulkeyewidfury strutting his stuff.
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How could robots be used in the military or law enforcement?
Author: Markus Smith
Question by KirmA: How could robots be used in the military or law enforcement?
How could robots be used in the military or law enforcement?
Best answer:
Answer by Jeff Smoker
Kids fishing for homework help, time to go play chess!
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
