Vizio's cheaper tablet-controlled 4K TVs start rolling out

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/24/vizios-cheaper-tablet-controlled-4k-tvs-start-rolling-out/

If you want Vizio's 4K TV with SmartCast 6-inch Android remote, Ultra HD with Dolby Vision HDR and Google Cast receiving but you're not ready to pony up for a high-end P-Series set, a cheaper version is now available. Vizio announced the refreshed-for-2016 M-Series line in April and now they're going on sale, first via Vizio.com and eventually through other retailers. CTO and head of marketing Matthew McRae says that larger 70- and 80-inch versions are still on the way, but currently the $850 50-inch is the easiest one to get.

Vizio:

• VIZIO SmartCast™ 50" M-Series™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display™ (M50-D1) MSRP $849.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ 55" M-Series™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display™ (M55-D0) MSRP $999.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ 60" M-Series™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display™ (M60-D1) MSRP $1,249.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ 65" M-Series™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display™ (M65-D0) MSRP $1,499.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ 70" M-Series™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display™ (M70-D3) MSRP $1,999.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ 80" M-Series™ Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display™ (M80-D3) MSRP $3,999.99

Source: Vizio Blog

Read More...

Summary only...

Malware for Virtual Skimming Is Getting Scarier

Source: http://gizmodo.com/malware-for-virtual-skimming-is-getting-scarier-1778067986

In 2009, malware called “Skimer” surfaced and security firms took notice. Skimer is essentially malware that gives hackers full access to an ATM without needing to install any physical hardware, like a card skimmer . According to a new investigation by Kaspersky Lab, the malware is not only seems in use, but it’s also become more powerful.

Read more...

Read More...

Summary only...

Google built a processor just for AI

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/18/google-ai-processor/

Google is no stranger to building hardware for its data centers, but it's now going so far as to design its own processors. The internet giant has revealed the Tensor Processing Unit, a custom chip built expressly for machine learning. As Google doesn't need high precision for artificial intelligence tasks, the TPU is focused more on raw operations per second than anything else -- it's an "order of magnitude" faster in AI than conventional processors at similar energy levels. It's space-efficient, too, fitting into the hard drive bays in data center racks.

The fun part? You've already seen what TPUs can do. Google has been quietly using them for over a year, and they've handled everything from improving map quality to securing AlphaGo's victory over the human Go champion. The AI could both move faster and predict further ahead thanks to the chip, Google says. You won't get to buy the chip yourself, alas, but you might just notice its impact as AI becomes an ever more important part of Google's services.

Source: Google Cloud Platform Blog

Read More...

Summary only...

Windows phones will finally let you log-in with a fingerprint

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/13/windows-10-mobile-fingerprint-scanner/

We've know for a while now that Windows 10 would support for alternative log-in options like fingerprint, facial and iris recognition. Thanks to Windows Hello, unlocking a phone with facial recognition is possible, but using a finger to access your device hasn't been an option. Well, that's about to change. At the WinHEC conference this week, Microsoft announced that support for fingerprint scanners will be part of a Windows 10 Mobile update this summer.

Of course, that software feature will need hardware to support it. HP's Elite X3, a phone that doubles as a laptop, has a fingerprint scanner but we'll have to wait and see if other device makers adopt the Windows Hello tool. Microsoft says while some OEMs have experience with fingerprint components from FPC and Synaptics, using scanners from other companies may take a bit more effort to work alongside Windows 10. The Anniversary Update that will deliver the feature is in testing now, and it should arrive in July for both desktop and mobile.

Via: MSPoweruser, The Verge

Source: WinHEC Presentation (PDF)

Read More...

Summary only...

A Major Mystery About Earth's Magnetic Field Has Just Been Solved

Source: http://gizmodo.com/a-major-mystery-about-earths-magnetic-field-has-just-be-1776291902

For the first time, physicists have observed a mysterious process called magnetic reconnection—wherein opposing magnetic field lines join up, releasing a tremendous burst of energy. The discovery, published today in Science, may help us unlock the secrets of space weather and learn about some of the weirdest, most magnetic objects in the universe.

Read more...

Read More...

Summary only...