Lux
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Riot Games is expanding 'League of Legends,' even in the midst of scandal
League of Legends has been online for nearly 10 years. During that time, it's competed with newcomers like Dota 2, PUBG, Overwatch, Fortnite and a slew of online first-person shooters, yet it's managed to remain one of the most popular games on the market, reporting 100 million monthly active players in 2016. One reason for this is the fact that League of Legends is free to download, with tiers of characters and items unlockable via microtransactions and playtime. However, a game can't survive for long if players don't stick around, which is why developers at Riot Games are constantly working on ways to evolve and enrich the League of Legends universe, both on and off the screen.
Samsung will reportedly launch foldable-screen phone in early 2019
Samsung has been teasing the prospect of a foldable-screen smartphone for years, and even hoped to launch one this year. Now, however, it looks like that pipe dream might become a reality... if a little later than expected. Wall Street Journal sources have claimed that the folding-screen handset (codenamed "Winner") is now slated to arrive sometime in early 2019. It would have a 7-inch screen and would fold in half "like a wallet," with a compact "display bar" on one side of the folded phone and cameras on the back. It sounds somewhat like the design from a 2016 Samsung patent application, although there's little doubt that the real world product would vary sharply.
Xenon detector finds no dark matter after 20-month study
Despite being buried a mile under the South Dakota surface and isolated in rock and water for 20 months, the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter sensor failed to detect anything. While this is yet another unsuccessful attempt to observe the mysterious substance that makes up four-fifths of the universe's mass, at least the findings will help the next hunt.
Instagram does your selfies a favor with an improved Lux feature for iOS
Go ahead, ask any youngster around you: selfies are serious business. No one is more mindful of that universal truth than Instagram, which is why it pushed out yet another iOS app update earlier today. No, there aren't any new filters (isn't 19 enough?) -- instead, the company brought some much-needed control to its Lux feature.
The Summoner's Guidebook: Working with your LoL lane partner
The duo lane is the most strategically interesting lane in League of Legends, but that also makes it complex to play. In a solo lane, you have to think about only your abilities and your opponent's. In a duo lane, the interplay between ADC/marksman and support makes every situation different. I've talked about playing ADC and support already. Both roles are vital, but whether you're the guy with the gun or you're putting the enemy on lockdown, working with your teammate is the most important thing you can do to win the game.
Canon's 8-inch CMOS sensor can record SPACE at 60fps
For whatever reason, Canon seemed more concerned with showing off its engineering prowess than finding a use for the giant 8-inch CMOS sensor it created last year. Fortunately, the super-powerful snapper has found its way into the 105-centimeter Schmidt Telescope at the University of Tokyo's Kiso Observatory. The sensor's size makes it a perfect fit to record in low-light; capturing the wonders of the universe in 0.3 lux at 60 fps. The University will premiere footage from the experiment, possibly with nibbles, after September 19th -- presumably in a theater with a blanket ban on people muttering the introduction to Star Trek as it plays.
Canon develops world's largest CMOS sensor, shoots 60fps video in moonlight
Did you ever think that you'd see a CMOS sensor measuring 202 x 205 mm? That's 7.95 x 8.07 inches to our fine imperial friends. Its impressive size -- about 40 times larger than Canon's largest commercial CMOS sensor -- translates to staggering light-gathering capabilities, capturing images in one one-hundredth the amount of light required by a professional DSLR. Better yet, the sensor is matched by new circuitry allowing for video capture at 60fps in just 0.3 lux of illumination (think full moon on a clear night). Unfortunately, the press release is more concerned with promoting Canon's engineering prowess than with product launch. Nevertheless, we're impressed.
Gresso's Las Vegas Jackpot phone costs a million dollars, seriously
When you make it your business to deliver outlandish new looks for mobile telephony, it can sometimes be a challenge to just outdo your last effort. So Gresso's decided the only way forward is to collect all the fine materials it had lying around -- black diamonds, pure gold, diamond-cut sapphire crystals, and 200-year old African Blackwood -- sprinkle them atop an otherwise nondescript featurephone, and slap on the spectacular price tag of $1,000,000. Only three Jackpots are being made, while there'll be a Las Vegas handset without the black diamonds and sapphires for the more mundanely rich among us, priced at $20,000. Oh Gresso, just one tip: next time, try to align your earpiece to your fancy designs, we hear wealthy folks appreciate some attention to detail.
MB&F HM4 Thunderbolt considers legible time 'a fringe benefit' (video)
This isn't just a watch, it's a horological machine. The HM4 Thunderbolt, recently unveiled by designer Maximilian Busser, represents an intriguing mixture of high-grade materials, precision engineering, and outlandishly macho design. The case is composed of titanium and sapphire -- which collectively take over 200 hours of machining and finishing to achieve the desired aerodynamic look -- while ensconced within it are over 300 parts composing a "transcendental" engine. We can't say we're not attracted by the bullet-shaped dials offering us our time with a side order of superfly, but then the $158,000 price tag ensures that we won't be able to do something foolish like buying one for ourselves. See the HM4 on video after the break.
Facebook MMOgraphy: First impressions of Faunasphere
Every two weeks, Facebook MMOgraphy brings you the latest news, guides and analysis about MMOs on Facebook and Facebook apps associated with MMOs. In my last column I took a look at the Facebook vampire MMO, City of Eternals. One of the commenters on the piece turned me on to another Facebook MMO, the free-to-play, browser-based Faunasphere. This game is more like Free Realms than traditional combat-oriented MMOs. It is generally aimed at a younger demographic, one that wants to collect cute animal avatars and customize their virtual living spaces with an endless array of decorations and themes. Using both in-game cash and real-life money, players can create an oasis for their animal avatars to live in. There is no combat or PvP, no raids or skirmishes. The goals of this game is to clean up a toxic world with your animal avatar and transform it into an oasis for all life. If that's your cup of MMO-steeped tea, read on!
Don't let retailer's lights distract you from buying the right HDTV
In case you hadn't already learned your lesson and started checking behind the displays while HDTV shopping, the HD Guru points out another element of the in-store experience that throws off buyers (and likely contributes to the LCD vs. plasma choices we find so infuriating): lighting. In case you don't recall from your last trek to a big box superstore, the lighting is quite often stuck on blinding making it nearly impossible to discern any difference in picture quality between televisions, specifically in terms of contrast and black levels (the pictures above are of the same value priced display, at left, under normal home lighting, at right, how it looks under some store lighting setups.) Tested with an illuminance meter, all the stores (except Best Buy's Magnolia showrooms) averaged well above home ambient lighting levels, with Wal-Mart and Costco measuring the highest at 411.66 and 742.77 lux. Still, there's tips on how to get a good idea of a TV's black levels even under those circumstances, plus some choice words left over for the incredible (and useless) dynamic contrast ratio numbers every manufacturer trots out these days, so go ahead and get educated.
Samsung Ego GT-S9402 luxury phone shames the word "luxury"
We've got a bone (or three) to pick with this one, so we'll just get right down to the beating. For starters, anyone who can't recognize the striking similarity between this handset and Vertu's Ferrari Ascent Ti is obviously wearing Samsung-tinted glasses. Aside from the complete lack of originality, the Ego GT-S9402 also lacks a 3G radio -- an omission that's simply inexcusable given the estimated €1,200 ($1,513) price tag. Oh sure, there's a measly 1GB of inbuilt storage, tri-band GSM connectivity, a 5-megapixel camera (with LED flash), an FM radio module, Bluetooth 2.0, dual SIM slots and a microSDHC expansion slot, but for over a G, we expect something more than mid-range specifications in a "liquidmetal" alloy chassis. Color us emphatically unimpressed.[Via UnwiredView]
Panasonic's HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 AVCHD camcorders, now with extra MOS
Ready for some new terminology? Good, try on "3MOS" -- Panasonic's newest sensor adaptation which, judging by machine translated text, is a trio sensors capturing twice the light of a single CMOS of the same 1/6-inch size. Think 3CCD applied to CMOS sensors. The result is said to be superior image quality and impressive low-light recording capability -- twice the sensitivity of its own 3CCD camcorders thanks to what Panny calls its new "heavy lifting iA" enabling them to shoot in a mere 2 lux of available lighting. That's just a glimpse at what you'll find inside the solid state HDC-SD100 (supporting up to 32GB of SDHC) and the HDC-HS100 hybrid offering both SDHC and a 60GB hard disk for storage. These 1080i AVCHD camcorders also features Panasonic's improved optical image stabilization, a 12x optical zoom, 5.1-surround mic, and HDMI-out.The ¥130,000 (about $1,205) SD100 and ¥150,000 (about $1,390) HS100 should hit the Japanese retail block on July 12th.Update: English press release now available.
Lux: multi-touch for OS X
Lux is an experimental framework that brings full screen multi-touch to OS X. As you can see in the video above it allows a quasi-iPhone like experience in OS X. The project is scheduled to go live in June. Over at Gizmodo they have an interview with the developer, Christian Moore, who talks about the project and how it was built.
S.T. Dupont's uber-pricey 2GB USB flash drive
If that Pasha De Cartier USB drive is getting a bit stale these days, why not replace it with yet another grossly overpriced, albeit totally fashionable one from S.T. Dupont? This designer flash drive, dubbed the Lacquer and Palladium USB Key, sports that trademark diamond head pattern and a vividly colored cover. Apparently, these gems are available in turquoise blue, soft pink, palladium, and black, and while we personally feel that 2GB of data should never be worth the $480 asking price without some pretty confidential documents already loaded on, those with more money than sense can have at it. More colors after the break.[Via Sybarites, thanks JW]
Jabra's Cara Gold JX10 Bluetooth headset
The gilded touch hasn't evaded the mobile realm entirely, but it has been a tick since we've seen anything (well, anything worthwhile) come through that was Midas-approved. Bucking that trend is none other than Jabra, who is apparently readying a Cara Gold JX10 headset designed by Jacob Jensen. Reportedly, the device will be limited in production, will weigh less than ten grams, and will tout DSP technology to reduce background noise whilst chatting. Additionally, it should last through about six hours of talking before needing a recharge, and while we aren't much on wearing a BT earpiece around in public anyway, we'd be extra cautious with a $300 iteration. Check out a closeup after the jump.[Via Slashphone]
Vertu's avant-garde handsets to hit Japan in 2008
Being that the economy seems to be doing quite well over in Japan these days, it follows logic that Vertu would offer up its pricey wares for the affluent on that side of the world, too. Apparently, Vertu is working with Nokia to develop a W-CDMA handset for use in Japan, but details beyond that are few and far between. Thankfully, we do know not to get our hopes up before the fall of 2008, but hopefully we'll find out exactly what phone(s) will be headed to the Land of the Rising Sun -- along with the lofty pricetags that will surely accompany them -- a few months prior to launch.[Via Slashphone]
Gold and silver USB drives celebrate the Year of the Pig
While most of you may think we're just rolling along in 2007, you're probably just paying too close attention to that Gregorian calendar, as there's still a ways to go before the Year of the Pig is rung in. In a collaborative effort between the Beijing Zhongshi Boda Company and Lenovo, a limited run (9,999 to be exact) of gold and silver USB flash drives are being released with celebratory engravings on the sides. Each drive is made from "30 grams of its respective metals," and reportedly sports a purity level of 99.9-percent. Looking to woo folks who just can't get enough of that Chinese culture in the side of their computer, the devices feature a pig pattern and "2007" to commemorate the upcoming new year, and moreover, the Chinese characters "Jin Zhu Tian Fu" are inscribed, which translates to "may the gold pig bring you good fortune." We've no idea if silver users won't be nearly as lucky for typographical reasons, nor how much capacity these things actually have, but the sets should start selling soon for a whopping 9,999 CNY ($1,281) over in China.[Via Spluch & Engadget China]
Lux Entertainment's new outdoor, waterproof MCE LCD
So you have a media center PC and a pool that you like to entertain from, eh? Tell ya what. We'll show you a self-standing, waterproof LCD TV that will look so cool by your pool if you let us come over and take a dip? Deal? Check out the newest outdoor LCD by Lux Entertainment. They have integrated a 26-inch Sharp LCD HDTV into a rugged cabinet complete with a wireless MCE. All you need is an outlet for power and your media center with its built-in TV tuner will do the rest. They understand that most people are not going to want to move this massive cabinet around so they have made it to survive in the great outdoors. The screen is covered in a glare-free, reflection-free glass that museums employ with the thought that it will probably be a sunny day when you are by the pool. Even though the cabinet is made out of "armor-like shell form highest quality stainless steel," we still think it would be a good idea to haul it in during those heavy storms. Plus, can you image how hot this thing must be when it sits and cooks in the sun all day? (you think your MacBook gets hot) It looks like a great setup, but for $5,800 dollars, we are wondering if it is worth it. So about our little deal. Is 4:00pm good for you?[Via CEPro]
Lux Entertainment intros ARIIS-AR26SSMCE waterproof MCE TV
Probably bidding for business at homes that you'd deem a "crib," Lux Entertainment has introduced a flashy outdoor display that just so happens to integrate with your Windows Media Center PC. While it's apparently too easy to use your pool, patio, or deck for things like relaxing and catching up with friends, Lux helps you stay connected even when wandering away from living room. Although we've ran across TVs that were quite the outdoors type before, the ARIIS-AR26SSMCE makes streaming all flavors of media from an MCE PC to your outside destination a breeze. Aside from the 26-inch Sharp LCD HDTV -- which is safely sealed from cannonball overspray and flash flood rains in a glare-free glass enclosure -- you get a built-in Media Center Extender with wireless connectivity and a waterproof RF universal learning remote that can operate your pool and spa controls when not sifting through old episodes of "Friends." Lux also includes a stainless steel base rocking two "marine-grade speakers" and a snazzy temperature-sensing heating / cooling system to keep the system within the recommended operating conditions. The ARIIS-AR26SSMCE could likely be the answer to your pool party blues, so if you need a waterproof display that comes pre-wired to connect with your media in order to enjoy some R&R, and you can lay out the $6,800 it takes to procure one, then by all means, dive right in.
