drag2share: It's now possible to map your home's WiFi signal in 3D

source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/02/16/wifi-mapping-in-3d/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

We already know that it's possible to map your home's WiFi signal in 2D, but that doesn't help if you're holding your phone above your head to get connected. Step forward YouTuber CNLohr, who appears to have developed a reasonably low-tech way to analyze the WiFi strength of any 3D space. Using just a WiFi module and a CNC mill, he was able to detect the variability of the signal in an area and then create the funky visualization you see before you.

In essence, the system is akin to WiFi radar, using a battery-powered ESP8266 chip to ping a device and measure the signal. If you attach an LED to the handheld hardware, it'll change color depending on the relative quality in a given location. If you've been struggling with a signal blackspot in your home for a while, you can watch the clip below to find out how to build your own.

---
drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Read More...

Summary only...

A newly built 27,000-square-foot chateau is on sale in Houston, Texas for $43 million

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/27000-square-foot-chateau-in-texas-2015-2

On 2.5 acres in Houston, Texas, an anonymous owner has erected an enormous 27,000-square-foot chateau that’s being sold for $43 million.

The newly built monumental mansion is reminiscent of Versailles with hand-painted decorations, period-inspired molding, and its lavishly gilted details.

It has eight bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and four half baths, a library, three different kitchens, and a fitness center. There's also has a pool, gardens, outdoor BBQ and fireplace, and pool house on the property. 

Kelli Geitner with Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty has the listing.

The newly constructed home sits on 2.5 acres in Houston, Texas.

It's massive with ample grounds and gardens.

The 27,000-square-foot mansion was modeled loosely after Versailles in Paris.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Read More...

Summary only...

Fuji's premium telephoto zoom packs some serious punch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/02/15/fuji-premium-telephoto-zoom-lens/

Fujifilm may still be a relatively niche player in the mirrorless camera field, but that's not stopping the company from putting out some serious lenses to go along with its well-regarded X-series cameras. With the $1,600 XF50-140mm zoom, Fuji's hoping to provide a professional-level, weather-sealed telephoto zoom that can compete with the legendary 70-200mm lenses from companies like Nikon and Canon. I spent a month with the lens to see how close the company came.

First, the full name: It's the Fujinon XF50-140mm f/2.8R LM OIS WR lens. Break out your decoder rings and you'll find we're dealing with a telephoto zoom with a constant max aperture of f/2.8, an aperture control ring (R) and Fuji's "Linear Motor" (LM) for quieter focusing. Also on board: five-stop optical image stabilization (OIS) and weather-resistant (WR) construction. Build quality is unsurprisingly solid: Fuji's XF lenses generally make heavy use of metal and textured rubber. Each of the three control rings move smoothly -- save for the aperture selector, which features distinct, reassuring notches throughout its range of motion. At the front end, you'll find threads for 72mm filters and a bayonet-style attachment for the substantial lens hood. While the all-plastic hood is the only significant component that's not high-quality metal or rubber, it at least has a slide-out tab so you can control mounted circular polarizers more easily.

On the other end, you'll find an all-metal (surprise!) lens mount surrounded by a rubber gasket -- part of the lens' weather-resistant design. Of course, to take full advantage of that protection, you'll likely want a similarly robust camera body like the X-T1. Like the workhorse Canon and Nikon zooms it emulates, the 50-140 has a rotating and removable tripod collar allowing for better balance when mounted on a tripod. Of course, if you flip it around to the top, it makes for a nifty carrying handle as well.

As for the specs, Fuji says the 50-140mm range on its APS-C camera bodies gives users an angle of view (31.7 degrees down to 11.6 degrees) that's broadly similar to what you'd get on Canon's or Nikon's full-frame bodies with their respective 70-200mm optics (about 34 degrees down to 12 degrees). Naturally, that comparison doesn't hold when you're using a 70-200 lens on a smaller APS-C DSLR, but it's still an eminently useful focal range.

Image quality is fantastic throughout regardless of focal length, with pleasingly sharp details and accurate focus. Without Fuji's current speed king, the X-T1, I wasn't able to test out the upper end of its autofocus abilities, but it performed quickly enough on my trusty X-E2. As for bokeh, out-of-focus background elements were generally smooth and not distracting, meaning this should be a solid portrait lens if that's your thing. It also pairs well with Fuji's new macro extension tubes, enabling focus as close as 80mm (about three inches) from the front of the lens rather than the normal 800mm. This let me get up close and personal with some hungry hummingbirds.

Uncropped shot from the Fujifilm XF50-140 with MCEX-16 macro extension tube.

Fuji's onboard image stabilization feature let me hand-hold shots at far slower speeds than I'd normally be capable of. You can hear a faint hum emanating from the lens when the camera powers on, but it shouldn't be too distracting.

In the end, did Fuji succeed in emulating that "classic" telephoto zoom lens SLR shooters have been enjoying for years? Pretty much, yeah. I've been lucky (foolish?) enough to have owned both a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS and Nikon's 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR. They remain two of my favorite lenses, and the XF50-140 compares very well in image quality as well as overall build.

At $1,600 and around 1kg, it's both cheaper and lighter than those DSLR lenses. Heck, if you attached an X-T1 to it, you'd still be around the same weight as those lenses without cameras attached. And you'd likely need that high-end X-T1 -- with its weather-resistant body and improved autofocus -- to get the most out of this lens. If you like that focal range but don't require such heavy-duty glass, there's always Fuji's well-built XF55-200 f/3.5-4.8 optic. It's less than half the price and may be all you really need. But if you're convinced you need to pay the premium, you won't be disappointed.

To view sample photos shot with the Fujifilm XF50-140, click here.

Filed under: Cameras

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

I just found my new favorite Windows laptop, and it's cheaper than the MacBook Air

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/dell-xps-13-review-2015-2

I usually shy away from Windows 8 laptops. The interface isn't as natural as what you'd find with OS X and Windows 7. Many of them have displays that twist around and fold, which I don't find much use for.

But Dell's newest XPS 13 laptop is so excellent it persuaded me to give up my personal MacBook for Windows 8 for a week.

The XPS 13 is light, gorgeous, and works well. If you want a Windows machine that's just as good, and perhaps better than, the MacBook Air, this is the laptop to buy.

The XPS 13 comes in a few different configurations. My review unit comes with a 3,200 x 1,800 resolution touch screen, 256GB of solid state storage, 8GB of memory, and a Core i5 Intel processor for $1,399. If you wanted to go for the non-touch screen option with all of the same specifications, it would cost $200 less  than a 13-inch MacBook Air with the same storage, memory, and processor. 

You can get an entry level model without a touchscreen, a 1080p display, 128GB of storage, 4GB of memory, and a Core i3 processor for $799.

No matter what configuration you choose, you'll probably be impressed with the XPS 13's screen. Dell's latest 13-inch laptop uses what it describes as an "infinity display," meaning the screen itself stretches almost completely from edge-to-edge. There's barely any bezel at all — which allows Dell to make a laptop that's the same size as a typical 11-inch notebook, but has a 13-inch screen.

The so-called "infinity display" looks gorgeous too; colors really pop and images look bold. The screen itself is glossy, which I liked, but some may find distracting since it produces a bit of glare. It wasn't overwhelming though, and the glossy texture is necessary to make swiping the touchscreen easy and comfortable.

The one problem I had with the screen, however, was that it seemed rather dim. Whenever I used it I had to keep the brightness cranked all the way up or at least above halfway to see content on the display easily.

Even though the XPS 13 is a bit cheaper than the MacBook Air, it's one of the few Windows laptops that can actually stand up to Apple's in terms of design. The lid and underside of the laptop are made of brushed aluminum, giving it a polished and premium look. When you open it up, you'll notice the keyboard deck is coated with a soft carbon fiber material, which makes it comfortable to rest your wrists as you type.

Generally speaking, the keyboard is sturdy enough to make typing easy and enjoyable. But, if you're being picky like me, you'll notice the keyboard flexes a little bit when you press down on it. It's a minor complaint, but one worth noting.

During normal use, the Dell PS 13 performed smoothly and quickly. Apps usually launched within two to three seconds, and the computer powered on in about 12 seconds. 

And the Dell XPS 13 is powerful too. Since it runs on Intel's newest processors, it boots up quickly and offers long battery life. With mixed usage, which included browsing the web, doing light work in Google Drive, and streaming content from Netflix, the laptop lasted for about nine hours. That's impressive, especially since I had to leave the display brightness at its highest setting during the majority of the time I used it. 

There are few negative things to be said about Dell's new laptop. The glossy screen can sometimes produce glare, and the keyboard could be better. That's about it.

So if you're in the market for a new Windows laptop, the XPS 13 is one of the best you can buy. If you want a 13-inch screen, this is the smallest laptop you'll find with a display of that size. The borderless screen, lightweight design, and aluminum build make one of the sexiest ! laptops out there — it's one of the only Windows laptops that can stand up to the MacBook Air in terms of sheer looks.

SEE ALSO: Meet the man behind Microsoft's ambitious vision for the future of computing

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This 9-year-old makes $1 million a year opening toys

Read More...

Summary only...

Article: Report: 16 Million Mobile Devices Infected by Malware at the End of 2014

A new report indicates that the current malware infection rate for mobile devices is 0.68 percent, leading researchers to believe that at least 16 million devices were infected with malware at the …

http://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/latest-security-news/report-16-million-mobile-devices-infected-by-malware-at-the-end-of-2014/

Sent via Flipboard, your personal magazine.
Get it for free to keep up with the news you care about.

Read More...

Summary only...