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Tag: HD

  • The Entire First Season of The X-Files Is Now in HD on Netflix

    The Entire First Season of The X-Files Is Now in HD on Netflix

    Where I live, it’s a gorgeous day outside. I don’t know what the weather’s like where you live, but if it’s cloudy, rainy, or even remotely cold – I’d suggest a Netflix marathon.

    The entire first season of The X-Files is now streaming in HD widescreen.

    The show originally aired in 4:3, but as creator Chris Carter pointed out in a reddit AMA last year, they “considered HD all along.”

    “I’m imagining that they’ll be released in 4:3. When we began filming the show in 1992, we actually (except for maybe the pilot) considered HD all along. And so there was image and opportunity to expand and modify the aspect ratio. But the fact is these are all decisions made by 20th Century Fox, which I’m occasionally consulted on,” he said in responses to a question about a blu-ray release.

    Netflix hasn’t made any sort of announcement about the remasters, and my repeated attempts to find out the company’s re-uploading schedule have gone unanswered.

    The process began just last week, and by Friday the first 13 episodes of the first season were streaming in their new aspect ratio. As of today, all episodes of season one are updated – but Netflix has yet to get to work on season two.

    4:3 to 16:9 remasters haven’t always been universally welcomed, but these updates should leave fans salivating.

    The X-Files looks better than ever. What a perfect time to relive (or discover?) a great season of television.

  • The X-Files Is Being Updated in HD on Netflix

    The X-Files Is Being Updated in HD on Netflix

    In wonderful, absolutely freakin’ wonderful news, Netflix appears to be in the process of uploading HD widescreen versions of The X-Files – starting with the first 13 episodes of the first season.

    So, as of right now, all episodes up to “Beyond the Sea” are streaming in their new aspect ratio.

    The show originally aired in 4:3, but as creator Chris Carter pointed out in a reddit AMA last year, they “considered HD all along.”

    “I’m imagining that they’ll be released in 4:3. When we began filming the show in 1992, we actually (except for maybe the pilot) considered HD all along. And so there was image and opportunity to expand and modify the aspect ratio. But the fact is these are all decisions made by 20th Century Fox, which I’m occasionally consulted on,” he said in responses to a question about a blu-ray release.

    No word on when Netflix plans to update the rest of the show, but one redditor says that it was only episodes 1-3 that were in HD a few hours ago – so it looks like Netflix is just making its way through them.

    I’ve reached out to Netflix and will update accordingly.

    [h/t The Verge]

  • The Sopranos Is Finally Coming To Blu-ray

    Want to rewatch all six seasons of The Sopranos but are holding out until the series comes out in HD? The time for waiting is almost over, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that the landmark HBO mob series will be released in a collectible Blu-ray boxed set on November 4, 2014. Only the first and sixth seasons are currently available in HD.

    The boxed set includes all 86 episodes on 28 Blu-ray discs. The retail price is currently set at $279.98. Apart from the cover artwork and an HD copy of every episode, the package also includes lost scenes, cut scenes, two roundtable dinners with the cast and crew, and 25 audio commentaries. All the extras total over five hours of bonus material.

    Additionally, one of the most intriguing pieces of the boxed set is perhaps the 45 minute documentary called Defining a Television Landmark. The featurette is about how the award-winning drama helped to change the entire landscape of television. Defining a Television Landmark is composed of never-seen-before interviews with the cast and crew. Acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and renowned actor Jeff Daniels were also interviewed for the documentary, along with the late James Gandolfini and series creator David Chase.

    The Sopranos first aired in 1999 and ran to 2007. The show was both critically and commercially acclaimed. The series won 21 Emmy Awards and five Golden Globes. When television critics and fans begin a conversation about the best shows on television, The Sopranos is sure to top many lists.

    If you’re feeling nostalgic for Tony, Paulie Walnuts, and Silvio, here’s a link to several of the show’s most memorable and iconic scenes.

    What do you think? Are you willing to shell out almost $300 for the entire series on Blu-ray?

    Image via YouTube Screenshot

  • Microsoft Launches Skype For Outlook.com For All Users, Adds HD Video Calling

    Microsoft announced on Tuesday that Skype is now available from Outlook.com for users all over the world. Last summer, the company announced availability in the U.S., U.K., Brazil and Canada.

    They’ve also added HD video calling for PC users, improvements to call notifications and support for Safari on Macs.

    “With Skype for Outlook.com, you can easily connect with your Skype friends right from your Outlook.com inbox, so you can go from chat or email to a video call with just one click,” says Skype’s Karen Tong. “If you haven’t had a chance to it check out, getting started is easy. Just download the plugin, link your Skype account to find your friends and start a video call or send an instant message without having to leave your inbox! The latest version of the plugin now has Mac support for Safari, so you have even more ways to connect with the people who matter.”

    Microsoft also announced a bug fix. The latest version fixes an issue with calls continuing to ring after pick-up when running the Outlook.com plugin and Skype on the desktop at the same time.

    You can grab the plugin here.

    Image via Microsoft

  • Sharp 85-Inch TV Unveiled at CES 2014

    Sharp 85-Inch TV Unveiled at CES 2014

    Early reports from CES 2014 showed that this year might be the year of the humongously-big TV, with Samsung and Vizio both unveiling TV’s topping the 100-inch milestone. Of course, both TV’s feature the newest 4k technology, allowing one to view TV as one has never viewed it before.

    That was until Sharp revealed their designs for an 85-inch, 8k television during their CES press conference. This is not the first time Sharp has unveiled an 85-inch 8k television, doing so during last year’s CES. The difference this year, however, is that the model is now less of a prototype / more of a reality, and it offers glasses-free, 3D viewing.

    Sharp produced the 85-inch TV alongside Phillips and Dolby. The 8k rating for the TV means that it will be able to handle resolutions measuring 7680 x 4320, which is 16 times more than current, standard HD TV’s. (1080p resolutions being 1920 x 1080.)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QawPm3E7bfE

    That being said, the 85-inch 8k offering from Sharp may be stretching a bit beyond current technological carrying capacity. Much debate has been raised over the past few years concerning whether or not the eye can discern the differences between ultra-high resolutions. Most television producers are currently focusing on furthering the development of 4k resolution televisions (3840 x 2160), a viewing quality which already faces difficulties due to the lack of channel support (due to inadequate technology) from satellite or cable companies.

    As it currently stands, most experts agree that one could only notice the increase in viewing quality with an 8k TV if one views it at uncomfortably close distances. If that is the case, the one positive aspect of this offering from Sharp would be the glasses-free (autostereoscopic) 3D viewing capabilities.

    Fortunately for Sharp, the company has not placed all of its eggs into one basket. During CES 2014, the company also unveiled new products in its Aquos line, the most impressive of which being the Aquos Quattron Plus, a television offering 10 million more subpixels than standard HD televisions. These extra subpixels places the Aquos Quattron Plus at the level between standard HD and 4k, making it a viable viewing option for those with less-deep pockets and being more compatible with current cable and satellite provider technologies.

    Sharp Quattron Plus

    Images via YouTube

  • GoPro Demos Shaun White’s New Halfpipe Trick

    GoPro camera has posted a clip of U.S. snowboarding champion Shaun White, as he perfects a new halfpipe trick called the frontside double-cork 1440 in preparation for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

    The frontside double-cork 1440 is similar to White’s Double McTwist 1260, though it adds another half revolution of rotation inside two head-over-heels flips. White commented on the trick earlier this month, “Just that subtle a change, it throws the whole axis of the trick off. It’s a completely different thing.”

    GoPro built a private pipe for the two-time Olympic gold medalist in October, to help him train for his 2014 season. Using the GoPro HD HERO3+ camera and GoPro app, White was able to review his footage onsite and make any adjustments necessary to master a frontside double 1440.

    Here’s the clip:

    During the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in 2010, White’s most difficult halfpipe maneuver was the McTwist 1260, which he’d landed during his second run, as he’d already had locked in a gold medal during his first run:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak_29sPEMc0

    White said he isn’t weary of anyone seeing his new 1440, and commented, “Just because you can see the trick doesn’t mean it’s easy to duplicate.”

    Commenting on the fact that other riders haven’t been doing any tricks bigger than a double cork 1260, White added, “It’s time to just do those tricks (the 1440’s). If you’re going to do them, do them now. It’s a new one I’m hoping to slide into the run.”

    The $399.99 GoPro HD HERO3+ Black Edition features video resolutions up to 4K, 12MP photos up to 30 frames per second, built-in Wi-Fi, SuperView and Auto Low Light modes. The camera is waterproof to 131’/40m. Other frame rates include 1440p48, 1080p60, 960p100 and 720p120, 4Kp15 and 2.7Kp30.

    This GoPro clip of cyclist Kelly McGarry backflipping over a 72-foot canyon is insane:

    Image via YouTube.

  • ‘House Of Cards’ Season 2 Is Made For 4K Ultra HD

    Last month, Netflix added a handful of videos to its streaming catalogue as part of a test for 4K Ultra HD video content, which the company will launch next year.

    It just so happens that the first real Ultra HD offering from the company will be the second season of House of Cards, which debuts on February 14th.

    Stuff shares some comments from Netflix Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt, who said that the company is working with several major TV manufacturers who will be producing 4K capable TVs, which will be announced at CES. These will be the only way to watch the show in 4K at first.

    In other words, while House of Cards: Season 2 may be available this way, you probably won’t get to watch it that way for a while.

    Hunt told Stuff Netflix is working specifically with David Fincher on the show, and it’s shot and edited for 4K delivery. He says there will be some other “additional pieces,” but just a “set of sample offerings, not a big part of the catalogue.”

    Netflix expects 4K-ready TVs to get much cheaper over the coming years, so while it may take a while, you’ll probably be watching a lot more Netflix content this way somewhere down the road.

    Image: Netflix

  • Jimmy Kimmel Pranks John Krasinski and Emily Blunt

    Lovable Office star, John Krasinski and wife Emily Blunt seem to be the sweet, relatively normal actor/actress couple of Hollywood. It turns out however, that they are quite the pranksters-especially with their comedian neighbor, late-night talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel.

    It all started when Kimmel was being neighborly and gave the couple a key to his home. It wasn’t long after Kimmel handed the key over that the couple decided to play a little game with the talk show host. Krasinski and Blunt planted large Christmas decorations in Kimmel’s living room while he was away. Year after year the neighbors went back and forth, pranking each other. One year Kimmel planed a giant reindeer in their front yard accompanied with reindeer poop. Another time Krasinski and Blunt planted a statue zombie in their neighbor’s garden, nearly terrifying Kimmel’s wife.

    So this year, the funny man and talk show host decided that it was war. Kimmel showed his elaborate prank on his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night opening the segment with this line, “Around the holiday season I have a tradition, and that tradition involves vandalizing my friend John Krasinski’s home,” Kimmel said.

    Check out the amazing prank Jimmy Kimmel pulled on neighbors John Krasinski and Emily Blunt.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foNu–7XL1s#t=

    Kimmel partnered with HD, turning his prankster neighbor’s house into a Christmas wonderland. It took a handful of trucks and 7 hours of dedicated time to turn their West Coast pad into something that look like it belonged in the North Pole. (There was even fake snow and a group of Christmas carolers.)

    Talk about showing your holiday spirit!

    Have you ever pranked your neighbors? Or gone all out with Christmas decor? Let me know in your comments.

    Photo Credit: YouTube

  • Netflix 4K Ultra HD Test Videos Spotted

    Netflix 4K Ultra HD Test Videos Spotted

    Netflix has added a handful of videos to its streaming catalog as part of a test for 4K Ultra HD video content, which it hopes to launch broadly next year.

    GigaOm’s Janko Roettgers spotted the test videos, and confirmed as much with the company.

    You can find the video list here. Titles include: El Fuente: 50 MP, El Fuente: 30 MP, El Fuente: 2997 MP, El Fuente: 5994 MP, El Fuente: 25 MP and El Fuente: 24 MP.

    They have descriptions like:

    An example of 4K at 24 frames per second. An example of 4K at 24 frames per second.An example of 4K at 24 frames per second.An example of 4K at 24 frames per second.An example of 4K at 24 frames per second.An example of 4K at 24 frames per second.

    The videos consist of things like kids playing in fountains, people riding bikes, etc.

    Netflix announced in September that it was giving all members access to Super HD, but things may soon get even better.

  • Netflix for iOS Gets HD Video and AirPlay Support

    Netflix for iOS Gets HD Video and AirPlay Support

    More than a year and a half ago, when Netflix updated their app for the then-new iPad, the company promised that HD video was on the way. They didn’t give a timeframe, but we figured it wouldn’t be too long before they brought HD to their iOS apps. Why else mention it, right?

    Fast forward. Today, Netflix is finally making good on that promise. The new Netflix for iOS app will finally stream applicable content in HD. Of course, streaming in HD still depends on you having a strong enough internet connection to sustain it.

    This announcement comes on the heels of another “we’re giving you better picture quality” announcement from Netflix. Last week, the company launched Super HD streams for all users. For a while, Super HD was only available through certain ISP partners.

    Also inside this iOS update – AirPlay support.

    From Netflix:

    With our latest app, you can now also start streaming over AirPlay. This new feature is very simple and works on all iOS 7 devices. Choose a title to watch on your iPhone or iPad and start playback; If there is an Apple TV device connected to the same Wifi network, an AirPlay icon appears; Press the AirPlay icon and playback will move to your Apple TV. Use your iPhone or iPad as a remote control for the Apple TV during AirPlay. You can pause, seek, select audio or subtitles and stop playback from your iPhone or iPad.

    Neat.

    Be warned, you might not see HD and AirPlay support right away. Netflix says all members will have access by mid-October.

    You can snag the iOS update right now.
    Image via Netflix

  • Now Everyone Can Get Better Netflix Picture Quality

    Netflix announced on Thursday that it is now giving all members access to the the highest quality HD streams available with Super HD.

    Netflix first announced Super HD and 3D streaming options back in January, with limited availability through ISP partners with Netflix’s Open Connect content delivery network, which the company launched last year. Participating ISPs included Cablevision, Virgin Media, British Telecom, Telmex, Telus, TDC and GVT.

    At the time, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said, “Our goal is to have all of our members served by Open Connect as soon as possible.”

    And possible is now here.

    “Netflix uses ‘adaptive streaming’ to dynamically adjust the video quality based on the available bandwidth,” explains Netflix’s Joris Eves in a blog post. “This means that the ability to receive Super HD depends on broadband quality and performance. Netflix members who subscribe to an ISP with a direct Netflix connection will get the best experience. Find out more about ISP performance by consulting the Netflix ISP Speed Index.”

    “We continue to encourage ISPs to adopt Netflix Open Connect, our highly optimized video content delivery network,” he adds. “Open Connect is available at no cost to ISPs and is designed to deliver the best possible Netflix experience by storing the TV shows and movies Netflix members want to watch as close to them as possible.”

    HD and Super HD are only available on certain titles, so don’t expect super high quality picture on everything you watch. Presumably, it will include Netflix’s own titles, including the Emmy-winning House of Cards.

    Members will reportedly also now have access to 3D titles on Netflix, as was part of the announcement back in January.

    Image: Netflix

  • Fox To Debut New HD Movie Downloads: $15, Weeks Before Blu-ray or On-Demand

    Apparently, 20th Century Fox sees a future in high-definition movie downloads. Starting this month, the studio plans to launch a brand new program that will see high-profile films become available for download weeks before they are available on a disc or streaming service.

    According to the New York Times Fox will call the initiative “Digital HD” or “DHD,” and it will start on September 18th with the Ridley Scott-helmed Prometheus.

    You’ll be able to download an HD copy of the film for around $15 on the 18th, which is more than two weeks before the film is set to launch on Blu-ray, DVD, and On-Demand. The system will be made possible by the UltraViolet digital locker system – which will make the films, once purchased, available for customers on multiple devices.

    “DHD” is set to launch in 50 countries around the world, according to Fox Chariman James Gianopulos. He says that many of Fox’s recent hits like “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” “The Watch” and “Ice Age: Continental Drift,” will be available for digital HD download soon.

    This move comes on the heels of an abandoned premium on-demand joint venture between Warner Bros, Universal, Fox, and Sony. Last year, those studios partnered to launch “Home Premiere,” a VOD service that would ‘ve charged people upwards of $30 for a 2-3 day rental. The only real draw was that the films offered through the service would be just 2 months out of theaters, meaning they were months away from DVD and regular on-demand release. Of course, Theaters around the country threw a fit, saying that it would cut into their already-struggling businesses.

    Is $15 still a hefty amount to pay for a download? Yes, to some people. If you can just hold off for a couple of weeks, the same movie could be rented for a little over $1 (Blu-ray) at Redbox. But “DHD” does offer movie ownership, weeks early, without having to leave your home. It may not be perfect as it is, but this program is definitely a step in the right direction.

  • Sony Releasing Waterproof Handicam This Month

    The handheld cam kind of took a huge hit when Cisco Systems bought and subsequently shut down Flip Video in 2011. Some people thought it was because smart phones are taking over and they all have cameras on them. But only a small fraction of phones sold worldwide are smart phones and even fewer have HD cameras in them. So there is a fairly big hole to fill.

    Stepping up to the plate is Sony with their new waterproof HDR-GW77V Handycam. The rugged waterproof camera features a 20.4-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor capable of 1080p video at 60fps and can take 20.4 megapixel stills. It also offers a 3-inch swivel screen while also offering 16GB of internal storage and a 10x optical zoom. It also offers a built-in GPS for geotagging your videos.

    Sony claims that it can handle up to 16 feet of water and will withstand a 5 ft free fall. Which means it is fairly kid friendly in that regard, it is totally not kid friendly in its price. At a cool $699 this all weather Handycam is on the pricey side!

    The new Handycam is set to be released this month and will retail for $699 plus tax!

  • The Best Apps for the New IPad Retina Display

    The new iPad officially went on sale today, and if the long lines outside electronics stores are any indication, sales should be huge.

    Unfortunately, not ever app on the market is iPad retina display ready. Apple has upgraded theirs, but that’s to be expected. Some third party apps have not been lucky enough to get things ready for the release. Others plan to capitalize on the new technology by being the first out the door with HD graphics.

    @mrgan
    Neven Mrgan    A friendly request: don’t freak out at non-retinized iPad apps coming out this week. It’s a lot of damn work. 1 day ago via Twitterrific ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Updating all of your apps graphics to keep up the new technology has proved to be a daunting task for most developers.

    Here are some of the best HD apps out there right now. Expect many more to roll out in the next coming weeks.

    Apple

    You can’t go wrong with the official Apple apps, they were made specifically for the new iPad:

    iPhoto
    There’s so much power built into iPhoto for iOS, you need to touch it to believe it. Using only your fingers, you can make a blue sky bluer. A landscape greener. Or a smile brighter. From the moment you touch the screen, the way you see things will never be the same.

    GarageBand
    Whether you’re a musical prodigy or just love creating your own walls of sound, GarageBand for iOS gives you all the tools you need to lay down fresh tracks, have a jam session with friends, and record music anywhere you go.

    Social

    Twitter
    Follow your interests like never before.

    Facebook
    See your friends pics in high def.

    AIM for iPad
    Instant messenger.

    Business and Productivity

    Evernote
    The popular note taker and planner will feature crisp fonts.

    Trulia
    This real estate app will feature HD photos of your listings.

    StockTouch
    Watch the market unfold in high def.

    Games

    Infinity Blade II:

    Mass Effect Infiltrator:
    EA has updated the game for the retina display

    Sky Gamblers Air Supremacy

    Here is a full list of Apps that currently support the HD display:

    ABC Player
    AIM for iPad
    Another Monster at the End of This Book
    Art Authority
    Barefoot World Atlas
    Calcbot
    The Daily
    Day One
    Diamond Dash
    Dwellable
    The Early Edition 2
    Echofon
    Evernote
    Evernote Peek
    Flight Control Rocket
    Foosball HD
    Galaxy on Fire 2 HD
    Grace
    Incredibooth
    Infinity Blade II
    iStopMotion for iPad
    Joining Hands
    Kindle
    Labyrinth 2 HD
    Martha Stewart Cookies
    Mass Effect Infiltrator
    Mint
    MLS MatchDay 2012
    Modern Combat 3
    NBA GameTime
    NYTimes for iPad
    Order & Chaos Online
    Quotes Folder
    Readability
    Real Racing 2 HD
    Redfin
    Reeder for iPad
    SketchBook Pro for iPad
    Skitch
    Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy
    Solar Walk
    Soundcloud
    Star Walk for iPad
    StockTouch
    TouchGrind BMX
    Trulia
    Tweetbot for iPad
    Twitter
    Twitterrific
    Vimeo
    Facebook
    Flipboard
    Roambi Analytics
    Roambi Flow
    Wired

  • Ratchet And Clank HD Collection Celebrates 10th Anniversary

    Insomniac Games, like Naughty Dog, has been a staunch supporter of the PlayStation platform since their major debut with Spyro the Dragon. They really got their start, however, with Ratchet and Clank on the PlayStation 2 in 2002. Sony has something special planned for the 10th anniversary of everybody’s favorite Lombax and robot duo.

    Ted Price, CEO of Insomniac Games, took to the PlayStation blog to announce the impending release of the Ratchet and Clank collection. It will collect the first three games in the Ratchet and Clank series on the PS2 and give them the HD treatment that other franchises have received in the past.

    For those who can’t remember that far back, the collection will include the original Ratchet and Clank, Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando and Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal. All of the games are being remastered by Idol Minds in close collaboration with the team at Insomniac Games. The games will receive the usual treatment including 1080p HD remastering, with the addition of 720p 3D support. It will also include three sets of trophies for so you can get three platinum trophies.

    Ratchet And Clank HD Collection

    The really cool thing is that Up Your Arsenal’s online mode will remain intact. Many people, myself included, never got a chance to experience the online mode when the game originally released due to the PS2’s online infrastructure being pretty terrible. Now everybody will get to enjoy the 8-player multiplayer that was apparently pretty good.

    The game will release in Europe in May with a North American launch coming later in the year. Why the late launch for the US? Price says that it’s going to be a part of a larger celebration for the 10th anniversary of the franchise. Why the celebration is locked to North America and not Europe is beyond me, but I’ll take whatever festivities I can get.

    It’s interesting to note that an Insomniac representative in the comments keeps telling fans that they will want to pre-order the game. It seems that part of the 10th anniversary celebration will be a reward for those who pre-order the game. That will be a first for an HD collection, so I definitely can’t wait to see what it is.

    Ratchet And Clank HD Collection

    As an aside, you may be wondering where Ratchet and Clank: Deadlocked is. The simple fact is that Deadlocked, much like Jak X: Combat Racing, are the black sheep of their respective franchises and most fans generally dislike them. They added nothing new to the narrative and were only there to fill in a gap between the last proper game and the launch of the PS3 which saw a new generation of Ratchet and Clank games.

    Insomniac promises more information as we draw closer to the release date, including more screens and the first trailer.

  • New, Cheaper iPad 2 to Launch With iPad 3?

    The latest leaks anticipate a newer, slimmer, cheaper version of the iPad 2 will launch today along with the much anticipated iPad 3, aka iPad HD. Digitimes is reporting the cheaper iPad will rival other budget tablet models like the Kindle Fire and the upcoming Windows 8 tablets.

    The site is reporting that the new tablet will include a 8GB hard drive, though it does not make claims as to how cheap it will be. Current iPads start around $500 dollars; the new iPad 3 is anticipated to keep this price point.

    As of January, Apple has sold an estimated 55 million iPads. They are planning to keep this trend alive and bring in new buyers with today’s releases. 78% of the new iPad sales are anticipated to be from first time buyers. Some people are even anticipating the market to take over laptops and ultrabooks, as touch-screen tablets continue to rise in popularity.

    If rumors of the cheaper iPad 2 turn out to false, you can always purchase a used one on ebay or Craigslist. Insiders are anticipating up to 75% of current iPad owners plan to upgrade. That equates to a lot of previously owned iPads hitting the market at once. Current iPad 2 resale prices are around $325 on ebay.

  • iPad HD to Rival Ultrabooks in Key Features

    IPad HD, aka iPad 3, may prove to bring tablets to the forefront of the laptop market. Boasting a super high-resolution display, built in 4G LTE, and faster graphics silicon, all in a smaller lighter package, it’s easy to see the appeal. And with so many keyboard peripherals already on the market for the previous iPad, laptops and ultrabooks will have some tough competition ahead.

    With a stunning 2048×1536 pixel display, the iPad HD already surpasses the MacBook Air and Intel Ultrabooks in screen resolution. The Air maxes out at 1440×900 on the thirteen inch display; Ultrabooks are similar at 1366×768 for most models. This is a huge jump on the 9.7 inch iPad 3 screen.

    Neither of those have built in broadband as a standard feature, let alone 4G LTE, the latest and most promising of the 4G networks.

    Apple is even catching up on the chip front, with the A5X or the A6 still as possibilities, Intel may no longer have the advantage in this category.

    OnLive Desktop will help convert laptop owners by making Microsoft Office available on to iPad. This latest app uses the superior computing power of the cloud to run Windows while making these features available on the thinner, lighter iPad. This may not be the exact advantage as having Office on your local hard drive, but people may be willing to exchange speed for portability.

    The new iPad HD may or may not be equivalent to a laptop, but the technology is definitely catching up to the point where people are going to have to make a decision on what they value in portable computing.

  • Defense Zone Game Now In HD For iPad

    The creators of Defense Zone, a popular tower defense game, have announced the release of its new HD version for iPad2.

    In the new HD version, players can enjoy detailed backdrops with different types of landscapes, which can be used in defense schemes. Attacks of enemy units are generated by a special algorithm, which makes each attack more challenging than the previous version. As opposed to other games of this genre, Defense Zone does not feature any superweapon.

    Previous versions of Defense Zone were sometimes too challenging for some players. Therefore Easy and Medium modes have been made simpler in this version.

    With OpenFeint support it is possible to compare your results with those of other players.

    Game Features Include:- HD quality, detailed backdrops and impressive visual effects;
    – balanced levels;
    – weapons with different firepower, rate of fire, firing range, blast radius and price;
    – different types of landscape;
    – strategic thinking involved;
    – support for OpenFeint;
    – rated 12+.

  • Beautiful Photos Taken With the iPhone 4S

    During Apple’s “Let’s Talk iPhone” media they finally unveiled their latest must have device, the iPhone 4S. It’s not quite the iPhone 5 that everyone was anticipating, but the 4S does bring some interesting advancements to the table.

    The talk of town might be Siri, your own virtual assistant that takes voice commands, but for my money the best part about the iPhone 4S is the updated camera.

    The new 8 megapixel camera, with all-new optics, is being billed as the “you-can’t-believe-it’s-on-a-phone-camera”. After reading through some of the specs, it could just be one of the best cameras on a mobile phone – ever. Sure, it’s easy to hype up a camera, but we all know the proof is in the photos. Take a look at some of the photo examples below, all of which were taking with the iPhone 4S:







    What do you think of the photos? Leave a comment below and tell us your thoughts.

  • HD Radio Tech a Big Theme Throughout CES

    At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, there will be a total of 25 new HD Radio products introduced, making for this technology’s broadest product category coverage ever. This year, 15 automotive brands will produce over 80 vehicle types, and 36 of them will include HD Radio Technology, according to iBiquity Digital.

    Brands include:

    – Audi
    – BMW
    – Ford
     – Hyundai
    – Jaguar
    – Kia
    – Land Rover
    – Lincoln
    – Mercedes Benz
    – Mercury
    – MINI USA
    – Rolls Royce
    – Scion
    – Volkswagen
    – Volvo

    At least three new vehicles are on display at the event at the HD Radio booth – the Ford 2011 Taurus SHO, Volkswagen 2010 MY Golf TDI, and 2010 Scion xB. The first ever factory installed implementation of HD Radio enabled iTunes Tagging will occur at CES and will be showcased by Ford. A number of after-market solutions from various brands are being displayed as well.

    HD Radio "New low-cost, low power IC solutions were introduced at CES 2009," says iBiquity Digital. "Since that technical breakthrough, many new portable products have been committed for launch into the consumer market, several of which are currently available, with additional new models on display at CES 2010."

    These include Microsoft Zune HD, Insignia ND-HD01, Cydle T43H (PND w/ Real Time Traffic), Cydle P15, Gigaware 12-645 and 12-646, Sangean DT 600HD and Sangean DT 800HD. iBiquity itself is developing a Software Development Kit (SDK) for receiver partners to aid feature integration, which is planned for later in 2010.

    Over 2,000 stations in the US use HD Radio Technology. The technology allows for a richer multimedia experience than traditional radio giving users access to album art and other features.

    Watch for more WebProNews coverage of CES, with exclusive video interviews coming soon.
     

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