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'Virtual Reality Camera System' uses 6 Red Dragons to make 360-degree video magic
Oculus/Facebook, Samsung, Sony, Google. We're about to be flooded with virtual reality hardware, but what about content? While John Carmack works on the gaming side, the folks at NextVR (formerly Next3D) have been developing camera rigs to record live video in full surround that will let VR units put you anywhere in the world you want to go, and here's the latest one. Red Camera's Jarred Land spilled the beans, posting pics of this "Virtual Reality Camera System" which links six of his company's 6K Dragon cameras together in a rather monstrous-looking array. There should be demo footage on display at the IBC conference, but based on what we've seen from NextVR already, the potential is high. There aren't any cameras pointing up (or down) but previous systems from NextVR have used fisheye lenses to expand their range, and we expect something similar would be in store for this. NextVR is providing video to go along with Samsung's Gear VR headset when it launches and it's working with Oculus too. Judging by this setup more video experiences -- whether live streamed or recorded -- will be coming to the VR space soon.
(RED) thanks Apple for contributions; claims Bono's "jokes" taken out of context
U2 frontman Bono made waves earlier this week when, during the course of a Cannes Lions presentation, he seemingly lambasted Apple for not being more vocal about its role in (Product) RED. "Apple is so f*cking annoyingly quiet about the fact they've raised $75 million," Bono explained. Adweek further described Bono's palpable frustration at Apple's reluctance to put the RED branding on its products. Bono went so far as to stand up, pull out an official (Red) iPad cover and remove the device, illustrating to the audience that the only actual nod to the nonprofit was inside the cover and therefore always obscured by the tablet. "Where's the (Red) branding?" he asked Ive. "Nobody can see that. This is modesty run amok. This is the Apple way. They're like a religious cult." Naturally, the arrows flung in Bono's direction came quick, with many noting that Bono complaining about branding issues was distasteful given all the money Apple has helped raise for the (RED) cause. In light of all this, the (RED) blog today published a post thanking Apple for its work to raise money to fight against AIDS while also downplaying Bono's comments as nothing more than Bono attempting to joke around. During the session, Bono teased Jony about Apple's modesty and reluctance to take credit for its charitable work, including the whopping $75 million Apple has donated to the fight against AIDS through its partnership with (RED). In a reminder that humor doesn't always travel out of context, some of Bono's teasing and faux outrage at Apple's modesty were reported as actual criticism of the company. Nothing could be further from the truth of course. Bono has been one of Apple's biggest supporters, pushing back publicly on those who have made negative assumptions about the company's charitable work, simply because they don't shout it from the rooftops. That modesty is their right, and in many ways admirable. Bono and all of us at (RED) are so grateful to Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, Jony Ive and the entire Apple team for the game-changing impact they have made for (RED) and the fight against this disease. Say what you will about Bono's recent comments, but the frontman has historically been quick to defend Steve Jobs whenever the Apple co-founder's charitable efforts were called into question. Back in September of 2011, for example, Bono was quick to defend Jobs in the wake of a New York Times article critical of Jobs' seeming reluctance to donate money to charity. Bono fired back a letter to the editor which read in part: As a founder of (Product)RED, I'd like to point out that Apple's contribution to our fight against AIDS in Africa has been invaluable. Through the sale of (RED) products, Apple has been (RED)'s largest contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria - giving tens of millions of dollars that have transformed the lives of more than two million Africans through H.I.V. testing, treatment and counseling. This is serious and significant. And Apple's involvement has encouraged other companies to step up. Steve Jobs said when we first approached him about (RED), "There is nothing better than the chance to save lives."
Bono criticizes Apple for lack of Product RED promotion
Bono's (Product) RED initiative is the sort of program that's easy to support. RED sells specially-branded products and donates a portion of the profits to the fight against AIDS. It's a feel-good promotion that Apple has been of since 2006, raising over US$75 million for the initiative. So why exactly is Bono frustrated with Apple right now? The answer is simple, and sort of odd. Despite raising a huge amount of money in just eight years, Bono feels the company isn't doing enough to promote RED via branding or advertisement of its participation. During a presentation at the Cannes Lions on June 21, the outspoken singer lashed out at Apple with some rather profane language. "Apple is so f*cking annoyingly quiet about the fact they've raised $75 million." Apple could of course do more to promote RED directly, but it has hardly been subtle in its support. You don't subtly sell $75 million dollars worth of goods, make special products just for a project, and auction off one-of-a-kind versions of your hardware. Apple even has a website promoting its work with RED and the $75 million is has raised. Bono's real issue is with a choice Steve Jobs made back when the partnership was formed. In the video below you can see Bono discuss the deal he and Jobs worked out for RED, including Steve's opposition to the use of parentheses in the logo. Several emails from Bono convinced Jobs to change his mind, but with a caveat; Apple would never put the logo in its retail stores. As Bono says, "...and to this day, you will never see the parentheses in an Apple Store." Apple under Steve Jobs focused on building the best design over everything else, even promoting a charity, which it seems is another source of frustration for the singer. Bono takes issue with the fact that RED's branding on the products themselves isn't more prominent, usually located in a place where it won't be easily seen. In particular he raises issues with the (Product) RED iPad case, which has the RED branding on the inside of the case. Once your iPad is inside you'll never seen the logo again unless you take it out. Where's the RED branding? Nobody can see that. This is modestry run amok. This is the Apple way. They're like a religious cult." Which is sort of the point. Would Apple have sold so many RED iPad cases if it had a big (Product) RED logo on the front of the case? That's a reasonable question to ask considering the importance of design aesthetics to Apple's popularity. If you want this "cult's" money, sometimes that means you must accept its design choices. Apple's design mastermind Jony Ive was on hand to provide a different perspective on Apple's relationship with RED, focusing on the company's expansion of their RED line. We started in 2006 with one Red product, a Nano, and now we've got well over half a dozen. It's been really, really special for us." This is a fascinating case of how dedicated Apple is to its design philosophy. It will help you raise money, they will even put your logo somewhere on the product, but when everything is said and done even branded products must look like they came from Apple. It's those design choices that sell so many iPads and iPad covers, and have contributed to the $75 million that RED has been able to use to make the world a better place. If only all overly modest cults could help that many people. In the mean time here are some commercials Apple made to promote it's RED products.
Vodafone's gift of Netflix takes the edge off its 4G plans
If deciding which mobile operator to go with hinges more on watching House of Cards than on price or coverage, then Vodafone's latest entertainment offer could be worth a look. In addition to its Sky Sports and Spotify entertainment packs, the carrier today threw TV and movie streaming into the mix by bundling a six-month Netflix subscription when you sign up to one of its Red 4G plans. There's a catch, though: You'll need to pick a minimum £26-per-month plan, which furnishes you with 3GB of data (although it is unlimited for the first three months). That's fine for browsing and social updates, but it's worth noting that Netflix streams consume up to 1GB per hour for SD video and up to 3GB on HD content, which could burn through your allowance in double-quick time. That isn't to say you can't utilise the free Netflix pass over a WiFi connection, but it pays to be mindful when the operator says you can "stream your favourite shows and films on the move." Vodafone will let you select Netflix as your entertainment pack of choice from between July and December, so put that upgrade on hold if you want to catch the new series of Orange Is The New Black.
Frozen Synapse iOS shrinks in price, expands in content
Developer Mode 7 Games comes bearing a double shot of good news for fans of its day-glo iPad strategy hit Frozen Synapse. Not only has the game received an expansion, it's also been reduced in price. Like its PC incarnation before it, the mobile version of Frozen Synapse can now be enhanced by the "Red" expansion. For a price of $2, players will receive a new, 15-mission campaign, co-op support for the original Frozen Synapse campaign, a new multiplayer mode, new unit type, 10 singleplayer challenge missions, additional mutators and the titular "Red Mode" which, you guessed it, turns the game red. To celebrate the debut of Red, Mode 7 has temporarily reduced the price of Frozen Synapse to $1. The studio does not specify when the strategy game might return to its original price, instead saying that the discount is applicable "for the time being." [Image: Mode 7 Games]
Red adds wireless camera control module, software development kit
Another Red introduction at NAB is RedLink. This $395 wireless module serves as a bridge between your camera and other wireless devices, letting you use a smartphone, tablet or computer to operate your cam. We caught it in action at NAB today, and the demo iPad app worked well. The wireless module currently only supports single device connections, so if you're operating over WiFi, you'll only be able to control one camera from the app. Networking your devices via Ethernet, however, lets you interact with an unlimited number of Red cameras. Red's releasing an SDK as well, complete with Android, iOS and Windows templates, so it should be no time at all before a variety of compatible apps hit the market. Or, if you're looking for a customized level of control, you can always create your own. The $395 RedLink Bridge ships today.
Red's 6K-capable Scarlet Dragon camera goes on sale for a mere $14,500
Don't despair that you'll have to buy both Red's Scarlet camera and its Dragon upgrade just to get 6K video capture at a semi-reasonable price. The company has announced that the ready-made Scarlet Dragon body will go on sale tomorrow for a relatively affordable $14,500. It should ship once Red catches up on Dragon upgrade orders, or around June. You may not be recording many projects at full resolution, however. Red did squeeze in 6K (after concerns that it wouldn't make the cut), but you'll only get it at 12FPS when shooting full frame -- you'll have to drop to 'just' 5K to get speed worthy of movies and TV. Company chief Jarred Land hints that the Scarlet Dragon should be faster in widescreen mode, though, so you might not have to shell out for the higher-end Epic Dragon to produce a sharp-looking masterpiece.
The red Nexus 5 is now on sale at Google Play
Well, that didn't take long. We saw leaked snapshots of the Nexus 5 in red last week, and now the scarlet-hued handset has made its proper debut over at Google Play. As of right now, both the 16GB and 32GB versions are available with their usual $349 and $399 price tags, respectively. You can expect identical specs to the existing black and white models with the only difference being a new coat of Bright Red paint.
Nexus 5 might soon come in red (update: more pictures)
Currently, you can get the Nexus 5 in any color you want, so long as it's black... or white. Those two options may have satisfied Henry Ford, but the modern consumer sometimes wants something a little racier. Twitter's @artyomstar appears to have found a consignment of the smartphone clad in hot-rod red, something that's sure to raise the hopes of anyone looking for more colorful pure Android devices. We can't be certain, of course, but the images look a lot more real than the other leaks we've been sent, so let's hope that LG and Google don't make us wait too much longer before spilling the beans. Update: Aaaand, @artyomstar has decided to take the lid off the box and post a pair of pictures of the garnet handset itself. You can check 'em out after the break.
Samsung adds red and 'rose gold' colors to its Galaxy Note 3 lineup
Smartphones these days are as much fashion accessories as pure gadgets and Galaxy Note 3 fans will soon have two more ways to mix and match. First off, Samsung went straight for a trendy "rose gold" hue for the handset's metal edge against a black or white body color, giving it a blingy Chanel vibe. Also on tap is a "merlot red" so that exhibitionist types will have something more outré to lust after than the current jet black, classic white and blush rose finishes. The new shades will be launched in China later this month, with other regions getting them as per "market preference," according to Samsung. We're not sure what that means exactly, because the market usually prefers things yesterday.
Final Pokemon Origins episode translated into English, available now
If the animated Pokemon show the franchise grew up with wasn't really your thing, you can try a different, sans-Ash Ketchum origins story with Pokemon Origins. Destructoid noticed that the fourth and final episode of the series, which is based off the Pokemon Red / Blue storyline, is now available in English. You can watch all four episodes on the Pokemon website or go mobile with The Pokemon TV app in the App Store or Google Play store. Each episode runs just over 20 minutes. The series follows Red's journey from Pokemon Zero to semifinalist for the title of Pokemon Champion, with the other contender being that smug jerk, Blue. There's also an encore battle involving Ash's quest to finish filling the Pokedex. If you're willing to take a break from your own conquest in Pokemon X & Y, Origins is a nice way to remember how the Kanto region laid the foundation for the world of Pokemon.
Jony Ive-designed Leica M emerges ahead of November charity auction
Ever wondered what happened to Sir Jonathan Ive's custom-designed Leica M? Wonder no more, because the one-a-kind camera has been spotted in the November edition of Vanity Fair. A render of the Apple-inspired Leica M shows one of two original pieces designed by Ive in collaboration with influential Australian designer Marc Newson set to be auctioned as part of a (RED) auction at Sotheby's New York in November. The German camera maker reportedly spent more than 2,149 hours and used 55 engineers to manufacture 561 models with nearly 1000 prototype parts, which may not be surprising given Ive's fascination with aluminum. For their part, Ive and Newson spent more than a year and a half curating the 40 auction items for the original collection, including an 18 carat rose gold pair of Apple EarPods and a limited edition 2012 Range Rover. Considering the hefty list prices a regular Leica can fetch for, we might just have to postpone purchasing that super yacht.
Apple has donated over $65 million to Product Red for AIDS research
Say what you will about Apple's business practices, but its philanthropy work is hard to discount. Cupertino has raised over $65 million for Product Red's fight against AIDS since 2006, the charity tweeted today. The announcement comes from the annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting, where the male half of Bonoprah took the stage, commenting that the tech giant "is certainly leading the crew" in terms of donations to the effort -- something that should speak much louder than a broken click wheel ever will.
WD upgrades NAS-friendly Red drives with 2.5-inch versions and 4TB desktop model
If you're looking for hard drives built to withstand the rigors of network-attached storage, Western Digital has a treat in store for you. The company just expanded its Red line of NAS-ready drives to include 2.5-inch models in 750GB and 1TB capacities; both disks fit into smaller enclosures while maintaining the Red series' power and speed optimizations for always-on media servers. WD is offering a few perks for desktop users, too. The existing 3.5-inch range now includes a high-capacity 4TB drive, and every new Red model ships with NASware 2.0 technology that should improve reliability. All three Red variants are shipping today; the compact 750GB and 1TB disks respectively sell for $79 and $99, while the 4TB behemoth costs $229.
Jim Jannard steps aside, hands the Red Camera reins to Jarred Land (updated)
With Red Camera's industry footing now quite solid, CEO Jim Jannard is relinquishing his position at the helm. Jarred Land, the company's president, will become the new face of Red. Jannard announced the change in a post today over at Reduser, the forum he's used to announce everything from a lawsuit against Sony earlier this year to a DSLR replacement that never quite saw the light of day, way back in 2008. Today's thread, titled "My Final Post," details Jannard's nearly eight years at the company he founded, which began with the NAB 2006 debut of Red One and ran through shipping the Dragon upgrade, the component that essentially served to make "Obsolescence Obsolete." What's next for Jim? Retirement might be in order, and with upwards of $2 billion in the bank following his sale of eyewear and apparel maker Oakley, he certainly has the financial footing to back some pretty posh R&R. Update: While Jannard will not continue posting, he is not retiring or leaving the company. He'll continue working at Red, but behind the scenes, with Jarred Land representing the firm publicly.
First Red Dragon 6K footage shown, boasts three more stops DR (video)
After a considerable delay from its slated late 2012 release date, the 6K Red Dragon sensor is finally ready -- and it seems to have been worth the wait. The first test footage (after the break) has come from cinematographer and Red booster Mark Toia, who stress-tested it in difficult conditions like high contrast daylight and dark night scenes. Afterwards, he said the camera has three more f-stops of dynamic range than the MX-equipped Epic and thinks the new sensor brings the "best highlight falloff I've ever seen from any digital camera," including Sony's $65,000 CineAlta F65 4K model. Though Red put on a show of upgrading Epic and Epic-X cameras with Dragon earlier this spring, the company recently said that deliveries would start in September. Meanwhile, Dragon equipped cameras are in the hands of other notable DPs and directors too, like Peter Jackson, Michael Bay and Darius Woski -- meaning you can likely expect a deluge of Dragon eye-candy over the coming weeks.
Motorola Droid Ultra leaks again, this time with a red, textured finish
A better look at Motorola's next Droid, the Ultra, has surfaced thanks to serial phone-revealer @evleaks. This time we're getting a clearer view of the back, decked in some familiar Verizon hues. Alongside some good hints that it'll house a high-capacity battery like the RAZR Maxx series, we'd hazard a guess that there's a kevlar finish to that red weave pattern, although we'll probably have to wait for that incoming Motorola event before we're able to clarify that. Fortunate, then, that it will all kick off with Verizon in just a few days.
HTC One 'glamour red' hands-on
A lot of the smartphone color options we see announced are no big deal, but there was a certain something about HTC's metallic red One that demanded closer attention. We've just handled the burgundy bombshell, which has the same hardware credentials seen on the silver and black options (4.7-inch 1080p display, UltraPixel camera, Snapdragon 600 processor), but coated in a metallic "glamour red" finish just in time for summer. The color extends across the rear of the smartphone, the two speaker panels on the front and the chamfered edge that connects the two. The effect is slightly textured to the touch (more than the initial monochrome models, at least), making it a bit easier to grip, while bouncing around any ambient light that manages to hit it. That's pretty much all there is to say, but you can scrutinize the new choice of color in our gallery below -- and check our full review, because the phone's fortunately otherwise unchanged. %Gallery-193981%
HTC One launches in 'glamour red', arrives in the UK next month (update: pricing)
Flush from launching in the US in a Google-heavy iteration, HTC is rewarding its UK fans with a sultry "glamour red" option of the One smartphone. It'll arrive at retailer Phones 4U in mid-July, although there's no specifics yet on storage (16 or 32GB?), or whether there will be any price difference between the new colorful hue and existing silver and black options. Update: Phones4U has confirmed it'll be selling this boudoir of a phone starting at £33 per month on contract.
Vertu Ti now available in red or blue limited editions, only 1,000 of each made
The Vertu Ti Colours collection is wrapped in either "Sunset Red" or "Midnight Blue" calf leather, and only 1,000 units are made for each color.
