DARPA unveils Ground X-Vehicle Technologies display concept

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DARPA's Ground X-Vehicle Technologies (GXV-T) program, announced earlier this year, aims to move away traditional battle tank paradigm - creating a new class of faster, more agile vehicles that are better a negotiating terrain and detecting targets. Todaym the agency has provided the first details on what this new breed of ground-based armoured vehicles might look like.

While a lot of military research continues to focus on adding greater resilience to existing vehicles, DARPA's

DARPA's new initiative is tackling the problem in a different way. The goal of the GXV-T program is to create a new type of all-terrain vehicle that's smaller, faster and provides the crew with a similar level of awareness as that afforded to fighter pilots.

The agency is focusing on the latter point first, working to improve the situational awareness of the vehicle's driver by means of head-up visualization technology, a concept video has been released that highlights a number of potential technologies and approaches that may make their way into the final vehicles.

The heavily armored nature of battle tanks means that situational awareness is inherently lower than with other vehicles, such as fighter jets where wide-angle cockpits are the norm. DARPA's concept aims to tackle this by providing the driver with a closed cockpit that incorporates visualization technologies to provide wide-angle, high definition visibility of external conditions.

The concept vehicle also includes autopilot abilities, allowing the driver to focus on strategic activities and decisions. Having only been announced in August, GXV-T is still in the early stages of development, though DARPA is hoping to see the first vehicles roll out within two years of the April 2015 contract award date.

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Ricoh announces WG-30 and WG-30W waterproof cameras

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Are you an amateur photographer?. Do you want to capture more amazing sceneries and spots underwater?. Ricoh will be releasing its new WG-30 and WG-30W cameras, both of which are submersible to a depth of 12 meters (39 ft).

The two 16-MP cameras are also shockproof against falls from up to 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) and freeze-proof down to. Additional features include Full HD 1080p video recording, a back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, a "newly designed imaging engine". light sensitivity up to ISO 6400, triple anti-shake protection, and six small LEDs for illuminating macro shots.

Other odds and ends include 12 built-in digital filters, face detection that can track up to 32 faces at once, pet detection (ability to detect the face of a dog or cat), and a Smile Capture function, which waits until the subject smile before releasing the shutter.

The WG-30W's extra feature is its ability to communicate with the user's smartphone via Wi-Fi. This allows users to remotely snap photos or adjust camera settings via their phone, along with reviewing, downloading and sharing stills and video from the camera.

Ricoh WG-30 and WG-30W's underwater camera just take taking photos to the other side.

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A big choice between this smallish devices; Phablet and Mini-tablet!

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Have you ever notice everyone's phone these days?. It's getting bigger and bigger. Does size really matters these days?. Or is it really a new beginning for smartphones to change?. Bigger "Phablets" or Phone and a Tablet is really a trend these days. Smartphones are getting bigger while tablets are getting smaller.

With larger inch-display and thinner width, tiny screens are nearing extinction, while a new so called "Phablet" looks to poised to grab half the market by 2015. Today, for each new 4-inch handset (Sony Xperia Z1 Compact), there are four corresponding phablets (LG g3, iPhone 6 Plus, HTC One Max, Samsung Galaxy Note 4).

For the last 2 years, tablets with sizes less than 9-inches had already invaded the market, while the medium sizes (between 9-inches and 11-inches) has already released by the mid-2013, while the larger phones (more than 11-inches) had already gained the consumers taste when the start of 2014.

A phone is really nothing without a camera, for camera quality, its a different story. A phones camera resolution seems to grow along with phone size, as shown here:

• Small phones: 5.7 MPs
• Medium phones: 7.7 MPs
• Large phone: 9.9 MPs

Even though tablet sizes generally range from 7 to 13 inches, camera resolution in tablets is suprisingly stagnant.

• Small tablets: 3.8 MPs
• Medium tablets: 4.0 MPs
• Large tablets: 5.8 MPs

For both phones and tablets, camera quality tends to increase as screen size increases. But the smartphone is clearly better on average. It tends similar when it comes to storage, tablets may not take phone call or take great pictures, but they're better equipped for storing tons of photos and videos. But for the average battery life, smartphones prevail. Based on some studiese. Smartphones stand out for their greater stamina

• Small phones: 9.7 hours
• Medium phones: 12.8 hours
• Large phones 17.7 hours

Large phones simply hold their juice better than smaller ones. The latest evidence is the 5.5 inch iPhone 6 Plus, whose 24-hour battery life dwarfs the 4.7-inch iPhone 6's 14 hours. By nature of size, larger phones have more room for packing in plenty of milliamp hours (mAh).

But if you're worried about anything else- like storage, availability, or the overall price. For those attributes, the phablet and mini-tablet are quickly becoming the same device.

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Does Cortana really speaks Klingon?

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Hi its Cortana

Hi. I'm Cortana. Let me introduce you Cortana. Microsoft's virtual assistant. Like Siri for Apple iPhone.

Cortana might be sprouting a ridged forehead soon, with the ability to speak Klingon on command for Windows Phone users. 

Since I have posted about Windows 10, I'll continue the talk about Microsoft with their launch for the Lumia 830 Windows Phone in the United Kingdom this week, and also a sponsor for the Destination Star Trek Convention in London, so Cortana's new capabilities make for an obvious tie-in.

Cortana's way of speaking Klingon

But unfortunately, Cortana is definitely far from speaking Klingon with fluency. She will only utter a phrase when you ask her to, but she can't hold a conversation or translate from other languages, and as one Neowin commenter points out, here pronunciation is all wrong. Thus, Cortana does not really get the exact Klingon grammar.

And addition to speaking Klingon phrases, Cortana will also respond to certain Star Trek themed phrases, such as "Beam me up" and "Set phrasers to stun". For now, its really unclear exactly when Cortana's next party trcik will be widely available.

But here is the bottomline: Microsoft refuses to let Windows Phone die because of a lack of attention and innovation. Microsoft wants us on Windows Phone. 

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Windows 10; A combination of the old and new!

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Microsoft just announced the next version of Windows last week, dubbed Windows 10. So are you ready to walk on the wild side?. Windows 10 is on the horizon, and even though it's still roughly three-quarters of a year away from completion, Microsoft's giving IT Pros and PC enthusiasts an early taste of whats to come with the Windows 10 Technical Preview. Windows 10 Technical Preview is being release via a new "Windows Insider" Program that asks users for feedback and even provide private forums for discussing trouble spots with microsoft engineers. There's a lot of things are sure to change forward, definitely. From features to basic elements of the operating system.

But why did not named it Windows 9?. Maybe Windows 10 is really Windows TWO.

Joke from -> (https://twitter.com/howtogeek/status/516999002248990720)

Remember our lesson in ComputerFundamentals-1? BinarySystems?. Okay time to laugh -,- jokes about Windows 10 scattered all around the social media. So your time to crack one :) Windows 10 will run on a wide range of devices, from phones and tablets to PCs and Xbox game consoles, with apps sold from a single store. They also marked #TheReturn of the Start Menu, which have been removed from the previous Windows 8.

Microsoft announced the details of the new OS at and event in San Francisco

New stuff with the new Windows 10.


Start Menu is back.



With the Start Menu lost during Windows 8, they put it back with Windows 10. In addition, with the new Start Menu, will look familiar, with some hints of Windows 8, including live tiles that you can resize and move around yourself, depending on you preferences. You can also resize the entire Start Menu to your liking. Microsoft says their goal here is personalization. So you can make the start menu work for you. It has also universal search, just like the old Start menu ; but with the addition of web results.

These will provide a quick view of notifications from relevant applications, such as new emails, Facebook messages and weather forecast updates. Microsoft intended to make the software seem familiar to both users of Windows 8 and Windows 7.



Modern Apps in Windowed Form



Modern apps in Windows was on the TileWorld before, and now the TileWorld was completely gone, Microsoft is officialy bringing "Modern Apps" to the desktop. It will also be called "Universal Apps" and work like pretty much any other windowed app on the desktop.



Improved Multi-tasking and Multiple Desktops



With a cue from OS X and Linux, Microsoft is finally adding two very popular features to Windows: an Expose-like multi-tasking feature "Task View" where you can see all your open Windows at once, and the ability to create multiple desktops for better Window organizations. You can launch this multi-tasking view from a new "Task View" button in the taskbar.


Updated Command Prompt




Microsoft officially updated the command prompt in Windows 10. But they only preview one specific update; the ability to paste a directory into the Command Prompt with Ctrl+V, instead of right clicking. Sounds a little weird for me. But let's just wait the official launch for Windows 10.


It has just only started

Microsoft made it very clear that Windows 10 is still in the very early stages. We'll see more of Windows 10 at Microsoft's Build conference in April, and Windows 10 will launch later in 2015. No price declared yet.


GET THE FREE TECHNICAL PREVIEW HERE :

x86 - http://iso.esd.microsoft.com/W9TPI/FD54DF81A4CCF4511BA1445C606DDBA2/WindowsTechnicalPreview-x86-EN-US.iso

x64 
http://iso.esd.microsoft.com/W9TPI/FD54DF81A4CCF4511BA1445C606DDBA2/WindowsTechnicalPreview-x64-EN-US.iso



All images used are copyrighted from respected owners. All rights reserved.

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Next Gen Showdown! Xbox One vs Playstation 4

Disclamer : Unless otherwise indicated, all materials on these pages are copyrighted by their respective owners. All rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text or image may be used for any purpose other than personal use. Therefore, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, for reasons other than personal use, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.

Xbox One and Playstation 4

Have you ever imagine yourself sitting one day without nothing to do?. Just sitting down and observe that scenetic view of your house?. Or have you ever dream of yourself and trying to decide which next gen console to buy?. Choosing between the PS4 vs Xbox One making you head hurt?. Which console is the best?. In these tough gaming time you need to choose what's the perfect gaming console that will satisfy your gaming needs. Here I present you some advantage and disadvantages of these two gaming icons. :)


Playstation 4 is still proving to be the people's most favourite gaming console, with stock shortage still a regular occurance. But Microsoft is fighting back, with their Kinect-free Xbox One and an entourage of incoming game hardware bundles. Overall, the Xbox One is a more rounded entertaiment system, but it's all down to your personal preferences. The decision is far from clear cut. Here I present some compared aspect of the console duo.


Xbox One vs PS4 - Design

Xbox One - 10 percent larger than Xbox 360, " Big Box Design", weigh 3.18 kg

XB1

PS4 - Slanted design, weighs 2.8 kg

PS4

When it comes of design the Xbox One and PS4 are completely different in prospects. Microsoft Xbox One is far, far larger -an imposing black monolith of the living room. The PS4 is sleeker, slimmer and less likely to dominate your under-TV space. Both consoles has a black and masculine style that's common to game consoles though. The Xbox One is 10 percent larger than its predecessor, the Xbox 360. It weighs around the same as the last console, although at roughly 3kg. While the PS4 is only marginally lighter, at 2.8kg. this should'nt come as a great surprise, though they both have to fit in similar components.


Why there is an extra size in the Xbox One?. It's likely that part of the internal volume of the Xbox One's cas is there to aid cooling. PS4 have the smaller and less space consuming in our living rooms, but the Xbox One may end up being reliable in the long term, thanks to its extra cooling.



Now I'll show to you what are the interfaces of the Xbox One and PS4.


Xbox One

Xbox One's User Interface (UI)

The interface of the Xbox One software is heavily inspired by the elements of Windows Phone and Windows 8. Microsoft clearly wanted to reach a certain level of parity between of its platforms. It has a modern look. Some critics have criticised the software for its glitchiness and bouts of odd behaviour.

Playstation 4

PS4's User Interface (UI)

While the Xbox One has the interface which looks like Windows 8 and Phone. The PS4 has a simpler, somehow less ambitious user interface. As it leaves you scrolling in just one direction most of the time, we find it more intuitive expericence than the Xbox One's software.

Xbox One vs PS4 - CPU






Xbox One - AMD 8-core Jaguar CPU
PS4 - AMD 8-core Jaguar CPU

Both Xbox One and PS4 use extremely similar CPU's made by AMD. Both use an APU setup, which links together both CPU and GPU into one package. The CPUs are 8-core chips using 'Jaguar' cores - a term picked by their maker AMD to denote their chipset generation. Xbox One runs at 1.75GHz, which waas bumped-up from their original spec of 1.6GHz. Sony's runs slightly cooler at 1.6Ghz, which may make some of you think the Xbox One is more powerful.


GPU and RAM

Xbox One - Comparable to Radeon HD 7000-series, 8GB DDR3 RAM and 32MB eSRAM
PS4 - Comparable to Radeon HD 7000-series, 8GB GDDR5 RAM

The Xbox One and PS4 both use and AMD GPU. It seems like their GPUs may be identical, but they are really not. On paper the PS4 Graphics processor is 50 percent more powerful, with 1,152  shader processors against the Xbox One's 768

Xbox One vs PS4 - Graphics

One of the main reason core gamers chosen to favour the PS4 over the Xbox One is its categorically better graphics hardware. With many games, the PS4 renders at a slightly higher resolution than the Xbox One.

 Comparison ;

(c) Andrew WIlliams - Trusted Reviews

Here are some screenshots I have seen.

As what I have noticed, although there's more detail in the Xbox One shot, however the PS4 details are actually obscured by an environmental dust effect. ( Like the Call of Duty screenshot above) PS4 footage is also a lot higher-contrast, which is seen consistently is graphics comparison.

Here's a graphic comparison video from Call of Duty; Ghosts^


Xbox One vs PS4 - Controllers

Which has the better gamepad?. The DualShock 4 from PS4 or the Xbox One pad?. I think both controllers are the best.



Xbox One pad






DualShock 4



Both controllers have the genetic material of their forebears, but the DualShock 4 feels like more of a change. Microsoft has stuck with what worked so well in the Xbox 360 controller with the Xbox One pad, and such it's more of a tweak than a full ground-up design.

DualShock 4's changes are more marked. Its a bit bigger than previous DualShock controllers, and a lot heavier too, giving a firmer feel than the last-gen DualShock 3 pad. While the Xbox One pad has rumble motors built into the triggers give you feedback when, for example, shooting guns. Microsoft also had also made the biggest improvement to the D-pad.

Now, have you ever think of what is the best gaming console for you?. Have you ever declare a victor between the Xbox One and PS4?. I'll let you decide for that.


Credits to Andrew Willams and Trusted reviews for the Images and some information. All rights reserved.

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