PC Tech World: People

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Aereo branches out to the 19 million people in greater New York and PA

AEREO ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF CONSUMER ACCESS TO ITS GROUNDBREAKING TECHNOLOGY ACROSS THE NEW YORK CITY GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA

Aereo's technology is now available to more than 19 million people in 29 countiesacross the New York City greater metropolitan area, providing consumers increased access to free-to-air, local broadcast television

New York, NY (February 25, 2013) – Aereo, Inc., today announced that its groundbreaking television technology is now available to the more than 19 million people living in the New York City metropolitan area. The New York City metropolitan region, commonly referred to as a designated market area (DMA), includes 29 counties across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Previously, Aereo was only available to residents of New York City's five boroughs. The expansion into the NYC metropolitan areas comes less than two months after the company's announcement in January of its intention to expand to 22 additional markets in 2013.

Aereo's innovative remote (cloud-based) antenna/DVR technology makes watching television simple and user friendly. Using Aereo's technology, consumers can pause, rewind and fast-forward any program that they are watching live, or save a program for future viewing. Getting started with Aereo is easy. Simply go online to aereo.com to create an account. There is no box to install or any wires to connect, so consumers don't have to worry about installing equipment or waiting for the 'cable guy.' No cable subscription is required to use Aereo and membership plans begin at $1/day, $8/month or $80/year

Aereo works on 'smart' devices from tablets to phones to laptop computers. Aereo is currently supported on iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Chrome, Internet Explorer 9, Firefox, Safari, Opera, AppleTV (via airplay) and Roku devices. In the New York City metro area, there are 30 over-the-air broadcast channels available to consumers using Aereo's technology. In addition, consumers can also add Bloomberg Television, for a total of 31 channels

"Creating more choice and a competitive marketplace is a good thing for consumers," said Chet Kanojia, Aereo CEO and Founder. "Today, consumers are tethered to expensive and outdated technology that limits how, when and where they can enjoy their own television programming. Aereo's technology now lets us provide simplicity, ease of use and rational pricing – three things that have all but disappeared for the consumer. We believe that consumers deserve better and we're committed to delivering on that promise."

Aereo today also announced the launch of its first advertising campaign, which debuts on city billboards, phone kiosks and at key city transit points, including waterways, commuter trains and PATH transit hubs this week.

(more)

Aereo membership is available to consumers residing in the following counties in New York State, New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, Sullivan, Orange, Dutchess; in Connecticut's Fairfield County; in Pennsylvania's Pike County; and in the following counties in New Jersey, Bergen, Warren, Union, Sussex, Somerset, Passaic, Ocean, Morris, Monmouth, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Hudson, and Essex. For a full list of eligible zip codes, visit: aereo.com/support.

Source

By: Unknown On 3:46 PM

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Bloomberg: 100 people are working on the Apple watch

Apple's wearable computing project might not just be the fever-dream of analysts, if Bloomberg is to be believed. The news agency is claiming that Apple's watch project is commanding considerable resources within Cupertino's shadowy prototype labs. Two people who claim to be familiar with the company's plans are saying that engineering chief James Foster and program manager Achim Pantfoerder are heading up a team of around 100 designers, programmers and engineers. Bloomberg goes on to say that the watch will tie in to the iPhone and iPad, but, understandably, received a terse no comment when it approached Apple directly.

Source: Bloomberg

Saturday, February 2, 2013

PBS explores the world of people who get paid to play video games

From LAN parties to MLG, the history of competitive gaming has been a fascinating one. Following up on similarly themed episodes, like the one back in October that explored the indie gaming community, PBS's Off Book
is tackling the world of competition, cramming as much info as it can into a seven and a half minute piece, including the move from entertainment into an industry, including the growing pains associated with its push into the pop-culture. It's an interesting look, with plenty of input from MIT sociologist T.L. Taylor. And it offers up a good glimpse for those of us who don't possess the chops to get handed one of of those giant novelty checks in front of a room full of excited spectators. Live vicariously through the video after the break.

View the original article here

By: Unknown On 8:47 PM

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Google still figuring out how people might make use of Google Glass

Project Glass is really interesting, an eyeglass form factor which projects images and data directly in the view of the wearer. There are certainly a host of applications that can utilize this new technology, we can agree on that. Google agrees, but is still trying to figure that last part out.

The project leader for Glass, Babak Parviz gave an interview to IEEE Spectrum said it plainly when asked about upcoming specific features, “The feature set for the device is not set yet. It is still in flux.” That is perfectly understandable, after all, if Google had it all figured out by now Glass would be on the market. Certainly there will be a viable business model for glass though, right? “That is still being worked on, but we are quite interested in providing the hardware.”

One area where Glass will certainly shine will be in tight integration with Google Now, and Parviz also sees that as a compelling feature to expect. In terms of what the vision is right now for how people might use Glass, the perspective is quite broad, no so much augmented reality as much as enable pictorial and video communication. Beyond that though, Google is still working on other practical uses.

When asked if anyone had written any applications for Glass, Parviz explained the obvious complexities since Glass is not a smartphone. The way people will interact with it will be totally different, mostly likely through a touch interface on their smartphone or possibly through head gestures. One ray of good news is that there are currently no plans to have Glass display advertising.

For developers that are interested in writing apps for Glass, Google plans on offering a cloud-based API which is identical to the API Google has used to build and test its email and calendar apps for Glass. Another area that Google is focusing on is power efficiency. Despite video being such power hog, Google is targeting enough efficiency to allow a full day’s use of Glass.

In terms of safety, the device should be properly calibrated to eliminate any eye strain and minimize other safety risks. Hopefully, we will see developer devices available sometime in the first half of 2013 with a commercial release later in the year, or early 2014.

sources: IEEE Spectrum via BGR

View the original article here

By: Dilusha On 10:45 PM

Friday, December 28, 2012

A Rare Promo Code For Stylish People Is Your Dealzmodo-Exclusive Deal of the Day

A Rare Promo Code For Stylish People Is Your Dealzmodo-Exclusive Deal of the Day Although the deals universe is waking up from its pre-Christmas torpor and shifting into a Boxing-week frenzy, it's a different kind of sale we're seeing. Instead of promo codes that take a percentage off everything in the store, we're seeing sale sections balloon. That means instead of deals on stuff you actually want, a lot of sales this week are deals on stuff that nobody wanted—and that's why those products are on clearance.

So we decided to go out and get a storewide coupon on stuff that's actually cool. With our friends at Cool Material, we created the coupon code GIZMODO20 that takes 20% off everything in the Cool Material store. Not everything on sale. Not everything except the product you actually want. Everything. This is a pretty rare (and exclusive!) promo code.

You won't spend a more enjoyable 30 minutes today than window browsing the splendid Cool Material store and figuring out what you're going to use the code on. If you don't have the time to browse all afternoon, here are five favorites:

A Rare Promo Code For Stylish People Is Your Dealzmodo-Exclusive Deal of the Day • Marshall Major Headphones ($79.20) | Originally $119
• Three Pack of Field Notes Pocket Notebooks ($7.96) | Originally $9.95 (Note: these guys NEVER go on sale)
• A gorgeous and classic Braun watch | ($120) | Originally $150 | Also check out this lovely Dieter Rams-designed digital Braun
• Bolt Action Tactical Pen ($47.96) | Originally $60 | Gizmodo's take
• Hand Engraved Zippo Lighter ($28.80) | Originally $36

The code is GIZMODO20 and it works on everything in-stock in this store until 2013. [Cool Material]

The internet was made for window shopping. Dealzmodo does it the best. Follow @dealzmodo

• Klipsch X10 ($85) | Amazon | Originally $160

• Gerber Multitool ($22.69) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $30
• Toro Power Shovel 7.5 Amp Electric Snow Thrower ($82) | Amazon via Brand Name Coupons | Originally $130

• 17" 2010 Macbook Pro ($1319) | Woot via Woot | Originally $1500
• 27" 2012 iMac ($2026) | Expercom via 9to5Toys | Originally $2200

Can't miss free/cheap Walking Dead on iOS/Xbox 360/Steam. Seriously, you should go download them now.
— dealzmodo (@dealzmodo) December 27, 2012

• LG Dumb TV Streaming Brain ($33) | Amazon via Edealinfo | Originally $50
• Refurb Roku 2 XS ($60) | Tiger Direct via Dealnews | Originally $75

• 2011 Asus Zenbook Prime ($550) | Newegg via Laptopaholic | Originally $700 | Use coupon code YrEndClrnc50

Nothing special.

Nah.

Nope.

• Sprocket Rocket Toy Camera ($65) | MoMa via MoMA | Originally $90
• Pentax K-30 with Kit Lens ($665) | Amazon via Cameraaholic | Originally $800

• 160GB Intel SSD ($90) | Tiger Direct via Tech Deal Digger | Originally $150 | MIR on page

EA has this fun browser game where you can get a free game for iOS (like Tetris) by going here and playing a spinning wheel game. The game only works on an iOS device, otherwise you'll see a list of EA's 99 cent app sales.

• Plants vs. Zombies HD ($1) | iTunes via Apps-aholic | Originally $7

• Native Instruments VST for Ableton ($0) | Native Instruments via Reddit | Originally $50

View the original article here

By: Dilusha On 10:29 AM

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Stop Misleading People On Twitter, You Idiots

This story will display in ...

Stop Misleading People On Twitter, You Idiots Sometime early in the boot-up of the blogosphere, April Fools became an odd tradition. People would put up stories that were intended to fool readers into believe something that wasn't true. I did it once or twice myself, but came to believe it was a bad idea. Instead I celebrated the birth of my blog on that day. It gave me an excuse to not participate.

Here's how I see it. One of two things happens:

1. Your prank is obvious, no one is fooled. Or

2. You pull it off. People are fooled into believing you.

You lose in either case. In #1 obviously you look bad. And in #2, you convince people you most want to trust you, to not trust you. It's like deliberate failure, on your mission. Analogously, it would be like a bus driver deliberately taking you somewhere that isn't on his route. Or a street cleaner dumping garbage on the street. Or a teacher telling you something he or she knows is false. It's not just bad, it's very bad. It undermines what you do.

This came up today when a blogger who I've followed on Twitter for a long time posted an item saying that Twitter had added the ability to edit a tweet. It looked like he was reporting a news event that's very significant. And since he covers Twitter itself, he's exactly the kind of guy I'd hope would break this big story.
All kinds of thoughts ran through my head after I RTd it. Would the press credit him with the discovery? So often they don't recognize news until a big publication reports it. This guy is an individual blogger, but one who I respect. I hoped that he would get credit.

A couple of hours later, when I had a moment I looked around to see if anyone else was reporting it. I looked for the command to edit a tweet. Didn't find it. I guessed that they hadn't turned the feature on for me yet. This makes new Twitter features particularly confusing to report. You often have to try to interpret other people's view of the feature, if you weren't randomly chosen as one of the first to get the feature.

I then responded to his tweet, asking where the feature was. I saw that others had responded the same. Everyone who responded took his tweet at face value. Wanted to know more about it. One person commented that Tweetbot would have to add the feature.

I then checked my DMs. There was a message there from him saying it was a joke, and he was sorry for the misunderstanding.

This happens too often. I wish people would never do this.

By the way, apparently he deleted the original message, so I can't point to it.

Dave Winer is a software developer and editor of the Scripting News weblog. He pioneered the development of weblogs, syndication (RSS), podcasting, outlining, and web content management software; former contributing editor at Wired Magazine, research fellow at Harvard Law School and NYU, entrepreneur, and investor in web media companies. A native New Yorker, he received a Master's in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin, a Bachelor's in Mathematics from Tulane University and currently lives in New York City.

Image by ARENA Creative/Shutterstock

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By: Dilusha On 10:03 PM

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Over 25,000 people want the White House to build an actual Death Star

Lighter saber fighting too??

A White House petition calling for the construction of a Death Star space station has received more than 25,000 signatures, reaching the threshold where the government has to respond.

The petition, submitted last month on the White House's We the People website by user "John D," passed the signature quota earlier today and continued to grow to more than 27,000 as of this writing.

Dec. 14 was the last day for the petition to reach its goal before being delisted, so it made the cut just in time.

John D makes a surprisingly compelling case for building the moon-sized super weapon, which according to the petition should begin construction by 2016.

"By focusing our defense resources into a space-superiority platform and weapon system such as a Death Star, the government can spur job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more, and strengthen our national defense."

Hey, it mentions jobs. Politicians love jobs.

Of course, the petition is utterly ridiculous and probably only created as a bit of fun in the first place (curious whether John D's last name is Doe).

Regardless, it has now reached the level of citizen support where the White House must issue an official stance on Death Star construction.

Or the White House could always opt to disregard the petition claiming that it violates We the People's terms of participation. Sadly, this is the most likely scenario.

The petition was submitted as part of the We the People initiative, which allows U.S. citizens to voice their policy suggestions on how the government should act on a range of issues.

The most popular petitions are currently those asking for various states to secede from the country.

Via We the People

Over 25,000 people want the White House to build an actual Death Star

Lighter saber fighting too??

A White House petition calling for the construction of a Death Star space station has received more than 25,000 signatures, reaching the threshold where the government has to respond.

The petition, submitted last month on the White House's We the People website by user "John D," passed the signature quota earlier today and continued to grow to more than 27,000 as of this writing.

Dec. 14 was the last day for the petition to reach its goal before being delisted, so it made the cut just in time.

John D makes a surprisingly compelling case for building the moon-sized super weapon, which according to the petition should begin construction by 2016.

Hey, it mentions jobs. Politicians love jobs.

Of course, the petition is utterly ridiculous and probably only created as a bit of fun in the first place (curious whether John D's last name is Doe).

Regardless, it has now reached the level of citizen support where the White House must issue an official stance on Death Star construction.

Or the White House could always opt to disregard the petition claiming that it violates We the People's terms of participation. Sadly, this is the most likely scenario.

The petition was submitted as part of the We the People initiative, which allows U.S. citizens to voice their policy suggestions on how the government should act on a range of issues.

The most popular petitions are currently those asking for various states to secede from the country.

Via We the People

Monday, November 26, 2012

Location Marking Stickers Guarantee People Will Put Your Stuff Back Where It Belongs

This story will display in ...Nov 21, 2012 7:20 PM

Location Marking Stickers Guarantee People Will Put Your Stuff Back Where It Belongs Designed for neat freaks, the obsessive compulsive, or anyone tired of borrowed gear not returning to where it belongs, these simple location marking stickers serve as the perfect reminder as to where your stuff goes.

At $17 for a pack of 60 they're a little expensive, so thankfully you DIY-minded types can accomplish the same thing with a roll of electrical tape and a pair of scissors. That is, if you can find where the last person who used them left them. [Unwhite via The Awesomer]

View the original article here

By: Dilusha On 4:04 PM