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.

Via: Road to VR

Source: Sixense (1), (2)

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By: Unknown On 9:29 AM

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DirecTV scores a batch of 4K TV trademarks, content remains a pie in the sky

Despite the flood of 4K TVs that are emerging this year, there won't be a lot of content to play on them in the near future short of space galleries and the World Cup. The team at DirecTV can't provide an immediate solution, but it's at least getting ahead of the curve with a spate of new trademarks. The satellite giant now owns trademarks for the terms 4K, 4KN, 4KNET, 4K Network and 4KNetwork, the lot of which would cover broadcasts, streaming and VOD -- all hinting that the company is at least toying with the prospect of a 4K-only channel or service. Don't get your hopes up, however. DirecTV has declined comment, and there's a big difference between securing a trademark and having the resources to do something with it. We'll have to wait for sufficient capacity on TV networks -- and in our wallets -- before 4K TV channels exist as more than names.

 

Source: FierceCable

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By: Unknown On 11:03 PM

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Google+ Events scores one-click download of shindig photos

Sure, Mountain View's social network collates photos taken at get-togethers by various users into a single album, but downloading all of them has required clicking through to each and every one. Now, however, Google+ Events have been graced with the option to download all images from an event with a solitary click. Simply head to the occasion's page, push "Actions" and hit "download event photos." Page and Co. have already pushed the change to Google+, so you can get started saving pictures en masse.

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Source: Google+ (Google+)

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By: Unknown On 8:57 PM

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Amazon scores Downton Abbey as a subscription streaming exclusive from June 18th (update: timing leak)

Prime Instant Video to be the Exclusive Subscription Streaming Home for Carnival/Masterpiece Co-Production "Downton Abbey" on PBS
Subscription streaming of "Downton Abbey" - the most watched TV series of all time on Prime Instant Video - to become exclusive to Amazon
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)-Amazon.com, Inc. today announced a content licensing agreement with PBS Distribution that will make Prime Instant Video the exclusive subscription home for streaming the Carnival/MASTERPIECE co-production "Downton Abbey." Seasons 1 and 2 of the award-winning series are currently available on Prime Instant Video, and are the most watched TV seasons of all time on the service. Beginning June 18, 2013, Prime Instant Video will be the exclusive subscription service for streaming the all-new Season 3 of "Downton Abbey", and later this year, no digital subscription service other than Prime Instant Video will offer any seasons of "Downton Abbey." Prime Instant Video will continue to be the exclusive subscription home through Season 4 and, if produced, Season 5 of "Downton Abbey."
"Our Prime customers have spoken-they can't get enough of the MASTERPIECE CLASSIC series 'Downton Abbey.' The series is consistently in our top most watched TV shows each week, making it the most popular TV series with Prime Instant Video customers, ever," said Brad Beale, Director of Digital Video Content Acquisition for Amazon. "Prime Instant Video will soon be the exclusive subscription video streaming home for 'Downton Abbey.'"
For fans who want to own the original UK version now, all three seasons of Downton Abbey are available for purchase on DVD and Blu-Ray on Amazon.com, and digitally through Amazon Instant Video.

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By: Unknown On 8:21 PM

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AT&T scores WCS spectrum victory, covers 608 markets and 82 percent of Americans

The wireless landscape shifted a bit today, as the FCC has made good on its promise to allow AT&T's deployment of LTE service over the WCS band. In all, the regulatory agency approved Ma Bell's acquisition of licenses to the underutilized 2.3GHz spectrum from Comcast, Horizon, NextWave and San Diego Gas and Electric, along with additional AWS spectrum from NextWave. The licenses cover 82 percent of the population across 608 markets within the continental US. If you're an AT&T subscriber, however, don't expect to benefit from the deal overnight. By the carrier's own admission, it'll take at least three years to build up the proper infrastructure and introduce devices that support WCS, which means you're likely to go through a new iPhone or two between now and then. In the meantime, feel free to soak in the nitty gritty details at the source.

[Cell tower photo credit: Ashish Sharma / Flickr]

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile, AT&T

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Via: PhoneScoop

Source: FCC Order (PDF)

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By: Dilusha On 10:40 PM

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Amazon's sub-$200 smartphone now rumored for mid-2013, Foxconn scores contract

Rumors about an Amazon-branded smartphone have been swirling for the better part of a year, and although the company hasn't confirmed anything, a new report suggests that the device is on track for release sometime next year, roughly two quarters behind the previously-speculated late 2012 launch. It's worth noting that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos had already kind of squashed hopes of a holiday release in September when he revealed that new products were on the way, but that they wouldn't be ready until 2013.

According to Taiwan Economic News, Foxconn has been contracted as the exclusive manufacturer of Amazon's device. In fact, the agency claims that Foxconn "scrambled" for the deal as some of its other major clients -- namely Nokia -- have struggled to gain footing in the industry. By securing the contract, Foxconn has effectively guaranteed business for close associates in the industry (Taiwan Economic News specifically names touchscreen manufacturers J Touch Corp. and Young Fast Optoelectronics).

Amazon's smartphone is now projected to launch between the second and third quarters of 2013, with as many as five million units expected to be shipped before the end of next year. It's believed that the company will follow a similar pricing model to its Kindle devices, charging little for hardware in hopes of making up the difference with software sales. As such, the smartphone will supposedly cost only $100 to $200.

Naturally, it's unclear what that sum will get you, but previous rumors have suggested that the device will be powered by Texas Instruments' OMAP 4 processor and Qualcomm's dual-mode 6-series baseband chip. Separate reports have suggested that the phone will have a large display, presumably in the four to five-inch territory, which would fall in line with the company's goal of focusing on digital content sales.

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By: Dilusha On 2:44 PM

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MediaPortal 1.3 hits beta, scores new Titan UI, preliminary Windows 8 support

After simmering in its second alpha stage for roughly two weeks, MediaPortal 1.3 has hit the beta phase with a trio of newly-minted looks. The Titan skin spruces up the open source media player's interface with fresh visuals designed for folks with 1080p 16:9 displays. If you're worried about the new look harshing your plugin mellow, the Titan Extended option already plays nice with a handful of add-ons: OnlineVideos, MovingPictures, MP-TvSeries, My Films, Fanart Handler, Latest Media Handler, Trakt, InfoService and the Extensions plugin. Those who'd rather not make the leap to the brand-spanking-new skin can take advantage of refreshed Default and DefaultWide themes instead. In addition to the new coat of paint, the Beta adds preliminary support for Windows 8, which is scheduled to mature in the final version. Thanks to Last.fm's about face on free API access, the music service's plugin has been nixed, but it might return for Last.fm subscribers. For the full changelog and instructions on migrating to the latest test release, hit the bordering source link.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: MediaPortal

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By: Dilusha On 8:02 PM

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