Demencia Digital » breaking news

Blu-ray Discs expand to 128GB under new BDXL spec

Richard Lawler — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:41:00 +0000

This probably isn't a response to the 3D onslaught or even "superbit" releases like the upcoming Avatar 2D disc, but just in case the standard 50GB Blu-ray discs were beginning to feel a bit -- how do you say... cramped? -- the Blu-ray Disc Association's rolling out a new BDXL format capable of holding up to 128GB (write-once) or 100GB (rewriteable). Before you get too excited, you should know that you'll need a new player to access these -- even a firmware update won't save the PS3 this time -- since they go up to three or four layers deep and will likely need a more powerful laser. While our home movies can be compressed just fine, corporations currently still using other mediums for archiving might appreciate the extra space, as well as the new IH-BD discs, designed with one 25GB read-only layer, and one 25GB rewritable layer on the same platter. If you're looking for a place to permanently back up that super high-res "amateur photography," take heart -- a consumer version is in the works, though it will first be aimed at markets where Blu-ray Disc recorders are popular, or available at all (read: maybe Japan, definitely not the US). No word when the new hardware will actually hit the market, but final specs are due "in the next few months." In the meantime, check out the full details after the break. Continue reading Blu-ray Discs expand to 128GB under new BDXL spec

Blu-ray Discs expand to 128GB under new BDXL spec originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Apr 2010 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Netflix streaming, ABC, and 1,348 more iPad approved apps revealed

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:15:00 +0000

Look, we're not sure what appadvice is using to back its claims, but it's been pumping out supposed iPad app leaks for a few weeks now with screenshots and videos that tell a convincing story. Now they've linked us to a host of new iPad apps with Netflix and ABC player being two of the most notable. The free Neflix app is said to be launching along side Apple's slate on April 3rd letting Netflix subscribers browse and manage their queues. More importantly, it will also allow subscribers to stream Netflix's online collection of videos. Of course, if this is true then we expect to see a Netflix app land for the iPhone and iPod touch as well in adherence to Reed Hastings' previous comments. There's also a free ABC app tipped for April 3rd giving iPad owners WiFi access to full episodes of shows like Lost and Grey's Anatomy. And with CBS seemingly getting into the HTML5 game we suspect that the demand for Hulu in the US will dampen if all this comes to fruition -- especially if Hulu adopts a subscription model. Not enough? Then check out the 1,350 (and counting) approved iPad apps in the source link below or preview 700 of them in a video after the break where you'll also catch a few more Netflix and ABC screenies. We'll have to wait until Saturday to see how many of these actually appear in the iTunes App Store. Update: Looks like these apps are coming straight from Apple's app database since AppShopper is also showing Netflix and ABC Player iPad apps. Don't believe it? Then why not grab some screenshots of your own direct from Apple's servers. This is legit folks. [Thanks, Sean M.]

Netflix streaming, ABC, and 1,348 more iPad approved apps revealed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | appadvice (netflix), appadvice (ABC), appadvice (all) | Email this | Comments

64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20

Ross Miller — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Let's just be nice and feign surprise, okay? Good. With that out of the way, Microsoft has announced a 64GB version of Zune HD, due out April 12th via the Zune online store (and later via other retailers) with a handful of color options and a strapping $349.99 price tag. Not to be outdone, the 16GB and 32GB will each receive a $20 cut on the MSRP, to $200 and $270, respectively -- whatever Amazon and Newegg slash beyond that is up to them. It seems "as soon as possible" is the motto for when the price drop is taking place, so if your favorite online / brick-and-mortar retailer isn't yet honoring the extra Andrew Jackson in your pocket, have patience. So now we're left with a v4.5 firmware release date as the remaining piece in this puzzle, but Microsoft promises to solve that riddle wrapped in an enigma "in the coming days." Right. Press release after the break. Continue reading 64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20

64GB Zune HD launching April 12th for $350, current models reduced $20 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Microsoft anuncia que el único modo para conseguir apps para el Windows Phone 7 sera el Marketplace

Roberto Garcia — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:44:58 +0000

Microsoft ha anunciado que la manera oficial para conseguir aplicaciones para Windows Phone 7 será a través del Windows Phone MarketPlace. Esto es parecido al esquema utilizado por Apple para someter aplicaciones para el iPhone. En este caso, al igual que en Apple, los desarrolladores tendrán que acogerse a las politicas técnicas y de contenido provistas por Microsoft. Pero Todd Brigs de Microsoft indica que el estilo sera uno mas transparent, evitando la frustración de muchos que hemos sometido apps y nos han sido denegadas.

Sin embargo Microsoft aclaró que sus clientes empresariales podrán utilizar aplicaciones “custom-made” fuera del mercado consumidor.

Algunos de los puntos interesantes acerca de Marketplace son:

El desarrollador selecciona cuanto tiempo de “trial” estará su software (ej. una semana, luego de pasar el primer nivel, etc.) por lo que luego de este tiempo la aplicación se bloquea hasta que sea comprada.
La membresía cuesta $99.00 anual y el limite de 5 apps (esto para dev’s de Mobile 6.5) por cuenta será removido.
No habrá cargos para los desarrolladores por actualizaciones ni por cantidad de descargas.
Los usuarios podrán descargar apps pagados sin limite.
En marketplace se utiliza dinero real, no puntos.
Usted podrá buscar y comprar aplicaciones a través del Zune Desktop Client.

Pues para todos los desarrolladores, happy hunting!

Apple Demanda a HTC

Roberto Garcia — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:35:11 +0000

Apple Inc. ha demandado a la manofacturera de teléfonos móviles HTC por 20 patentes, que aunque fueron fueron otorgadas el año pasado cubren un período de tiempo desde el 1995 hasta hoy. Estamos hablando de patentes de hace 15 años altamente técnicas, nada de las nuevas características que los usuarios del iPhone están acostumbrados como darle zoom in/out a las fotos utilizando dos dedos. Algunas ni siquieran son relacionadas específicamente a los teléfonos. Aqui les damos un resumen de las patentes que provocaron este recurso legal. EnGadget hizo un desglose de las patentes los cuales desglosamos a continuación e incluímos el link donde se encuentran por si usted desea leer mas acerca de ellas:

Patent #7,362,331: Time-Based, Non-Constant Translation Of User Interface Objects Between States

Patent #7,479,949: Touch Screen Device, Method, And Graphical User Interface For Determining Commands By Applying Heuristics

Patent #7,657,849: Unlocking A Device By Performing Gestures On An Unlock Image

Patent #7,469,381: List Scrolling And Document Translation, Scaling, And Rotation On A Touch-Screen Display

Patent #5,920,726: System And Method For Managing Power Conditions Within A Digital Camera Device

Patent #7,633,076: Automated Response To And Sensing Of User Activity In Portable Devices

Patent #5,848,105: GMSK Signal Processors For Improved Communications Capacity And Quality

Patent #7,383,453: Conserving Power By Reducing Voltage Supplied To An Instruction-Processing Portion Of A Processor

Patent #5,455,599: Object-Oriented Graphic System

Patent #6,424,354: Object-Oriented Event Notification System With Listener Registration Of Both Interests And Methods

Patent #5,481,721: Method for providing automatic and dynamic translation of object oriented programming language-based message passing into operation system message passing using proxy objects

Patents #5,519,867 and #6,275,983: Object Oriented Multitasking System and Object-Oriented Operating System

Patent #5,566,337: Method and apparatus for distributing events in an operating system

Patent #5,929,852: Encapsulated network entity reference of a network component system

Patent 5,946,647: System and method for performing an action on a structure in computer-generated data

Patent #5,969,705: Message protocol for controlling a user interface from an inactive application program

Patent #6,343,263: Real-time signal processing system for serially transmitted data

Patent #5,915,131: Method and apparatus for handling I/O requests utilizing separate programming interfaces to access separate I/O service

Patent #RE39,486: Extensible, replaceable network component system

Pues ahi las tienen, con solo leer el título de las patentes notamos que estas son funcionalidades que no necesariamente aplica a los teléfonos sino a comportamientos dentro del sistema operativo. Me imagino que Apple quiere desbancar a Android de alguna manera, veremos si Google se envuelve en el asunto. Esta puede ser una demanda que se llegue a un acuerdo rápido o tal vez de las que duran 10 años. El tiempo dirá.

El Nintendo DSi XL en camino a US

Roberto Garcia — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:35:47 +0000

Luego de su lanzamiento en Japón, los fanáticos de Nintendo tienen algo para celebrar, y es que finalmente el Nintendo DSi XL ya esta en camino a Estados Unidos. Asi que separe la fecha del 28 de marzo del 2010 para que vaya y adquiera este nuevo juego portátil. Este contiene un par de pantallas LCD de 4.2″ para darle un tamaño cómodo para la vista. Esta unidad será mercadeada en colores bronze y rojo pardo y vendrá con los juegos Brain Age, Photo Clock, el navegador DSi y el Flipnote Studio integrados. Se espera que llegue a Europa el 5 de marzo.

El precio esperado por esta unidad es de unos $189.99, un precio pequeño por un aumento de la pantalla en 93%. Este definitivamente promete un manejo mas cómodo tanto para la vista como para manejar los juegos.

Info via JoyStiq

Sony introduce cámaras DSLR ultra-compactas

Roberto Garcia — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:35:40 +0000

Este fin de semana se está celebrando en Anaheim, California la convención del Photo Marketing Association International Convention and Trade Show. En esta Sony acaba de anunciar una cámara que hará que los entusiastas de las cámaras digitales consideren adquirir este modelo. Se trata de su primer modelo ultra compacto con lentes intercambiables. Este modelo es aun un concepto y no se ha anunciado cuando saldrá a la venta pero Sony. Con esta tecnología Sony espera competir en el mercado de los DLSR dominado actualmente por Canon y Nikon.