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Amazon, Netflix and studios sue subscription service over piracy
Hollywood studios usually fight piracy by chasing after software add-ons and free streaming services, with the occasional device thrown in. A paid service, however? That's relatively rare... or at least, it has been. Amazon, Netflix and multiple Hollywood studios (including Disney, Fox, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros.) have sued SET Broadcast over allegations its SET TV service is used expressly for piracy. While there is a dedicated set-top box, the centerpiece is a $20 per month subscription service that offers access to over 500 live TV channels and "thousands" of on-demand shows, including Netflix shows and movies that are still officially limited to theaters. As you might guess, the media giants argue SET TV is focused "overwhelmingly, if not exclusively" on pirated material.
With the Ace, kids are finally getting their own cheap Fitbit
When Fitbit said it was working on a "family" of devices for this year, it really wasn't kidding. While Mom and Dad might choose to strap on a Versa, Fitbit now has a fitness tracker -- the Fitbit Ace -- meant exclusively for wee ones.
Hollywood strikes back against illegal streaming Kodi add-ons
An anti-piracy alliance supported by many major US and UK movie studios, broadcasters and content providers has dealt a blow to the third-party Kodi add-on scene after it successfully forced a number of popular piracy-linked streaming tools offline. In what appears to be a coordinated crackdown, developers including jsergio123 and The_Alpha, who are responsible for the development and hosting of add-ons like urlresolver, metahandler, Bennu, DeathStreams and Sportie, confirmed that they will no longer maintain their Kodi creations and have immediately shut them down.
HTC One's plastic cousin (E8) officially shown off with M7 design, M8 guts
It's no secret that HTC's prepping a plastic variant of its flagship One (M8) phone, but we've never taken a proper look at it until now, courtesy of the company's China website. And no, this isn't a leak. Ahead of the device's June 3rd launch, HTC's limited edition giveaway campaign unveiled almost everything about the M8 Ace, aka "Vogue Edition," of the One. The clear product renders -- shown in black, white, blue and red options -- indicate that this upcoming phone carries a similar design language as the metallic, award-winning M7 from last year; but the new plastic-only construction means you get a cleaner look on both the back and the profile sides. Update: HTC has since then announced that this will be known as the E8 outside China, but there's still no news on the price.
HTC's One M8 Ace squeezes high-end specs into a prettier, cheaper body
HTC's One M8 isn't even two months old yet and it's already sparked a few spin-offs. We're not just talking about the One mini 2, either: a render of the oft-rumored One M8 Ace started making the rounds on Chinese tech blogs earlier today, and we've been able to confirm the image in fact depicts the real deal. Haven't been keeping tabs on the M8's myriad spawn? Well, the Ace (which could bear the Style or Fashion Edition moniker in China) seeks to cram top-tier performance into a more attractive, more affordable package.
Ragnarok Odyssey Ace to hunt for loot and Porings in early 2014
The cross-platform compatible update to last year's Ragnarok Odyssey will start knocking numbers out of monsters in early 2014 as Ragnarok Odyssey Ace. Both the PS3 and Vita version will cost $39.99 and include all DLC released for the original game, but launch copies of the Vita version will contain extra loot in the form of a 25-song soundtrack. Ace will construct a new Tower of Yggdrasil dungeon filled with randomly-generated dungeons for players to bash their way through. Ace also carries an "enhanced battle system" as well as new bosses and items. Those that own the vanilla version of Ragnarok Odyssey will be able to bring over their character's "basic physical features." Weapon or monster cards will be transferable, too, as long as they aren't equipped to clothing or previously required via the Vita's Near app.
Nokia Lumia 900 teases us once again, makes an appearance on benchmark records
This thing ain't exactly a secret anymore, so why not add to the rumor mill to get our juices flowing for next week's CES? Yes, the Nokia Lumia 900 was caught looking through Windows Phone apps once again. This time, it became the latest addition to WPBench's database. While it didn't lend any credence to rumors that the AT&T-bound version will be nicknamed the Ace, we at least have another piece of evidence to convince us that the newest entry to Nokia's Windows Phone pursuits is indeed real and likely on its way real soon. We're keeping our fingers crossed for something juicy this week.
Official: Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab getting Gingerbread update in mid-May
After encountering a little hitch with its mid-April Gingerbread delivery, Samsung is now ready to boot up Kies for another try. The company has this morning released word that it intends to update its entire Galaxy S family line, starting with models in the UK and Nordic countries from the middle of this month. The rest of the globe, including North America, will follow suit "according to the regional plan." Also benefiting from a Gingerbread upgrade will be the 7-inch Galaxy Tab, which already got a taste of Android 2.3 in Italy, and the company's bevy of budget Galaxy devices, the Ace, Gio, Fit and mini. Read the full PR after the break.
Mac OS 7 logos turned into playing cards
Dr. Macenstein found these awesome old-school Apple playing cards, featuring logos icons from the olden days of Mac System 7, adopted for a standard playing card deck layout. There's no word on just what the origin of these is -- if they're official or unofficial -- but supposedly they've been seen on eBay for up to $150 before. [Yes, these were official but only available to Apple employees, as we pointed out when we posted about them last time. - Ed] The pack seen in the pictures was on sale but has since been purchased, so you'll have to hunt down your own copy if you want one for yourself. The rest of us will have to just sit back and enjoy the designs on this. I wonder what a playing card deck using iOS or even app icons would be like.
Samsung Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Gio and Galaxy mini fill out our Android universe
Samsung's decided that 10 million Galaxy S devices just aren't enough for us, so it's trickling down the brand name, Android OS and TouchWiz UI into some more affordable form factors. In order from left to right, the Galaxy Ace is a 3.5-incher that most closely resembles the S patriarch, though it makes do with an 800MHz processor and HVGA screen resolution. It's said to be available immediately in Russia, to be followed by Europe, India and China soon. The Fit takes us into lower spec territory, with a 3.3-inch QVGA screen and 600MHz speed, while the Gio packs an even smaller display but raises resolution back up to HVGA. The Galaxy mini has to go down as a blatant LG Optimus T KIRF, which might be its sole notable feature, given the 3.1-inch QVGA display and 600MHz capabilities. All three are targeting the same territories as the Ace, meaning the US will likely be spared from this affordable Android whimsy.
HTC Desire HD ROM gets dumped, ported, chopped, and screwed... oh, and benchmarked
Lots of activity involving the just-announced HTC Desire HD in the past couple days, despite the fact that it's yet to be released anywhere -- and frankly, that's just the kind of can-do attitude from the dev community that we like to see. First off, the HD2 -- which, considering the screen size and general spec sheet similarity, makes an obvious candidate for a ROM transplant -- has indeed gotten an early port, and something tells us this hack is going to get a lot of spit and polish over the next few weeks and will end up breathing fresh life into a phone that had been crippled by its dead-man-walking operating system. There'd been a video of the port in action, but sadly, it's been pulled off YouTube for some mysterious reason, so hopefully it'll reemerge (along with instructions for HD2 owners) soon. Meanwhile, the Desire HD is apparently putting up some hardcore benchmark scores on the strength of its updated Snapdragon MSM8255 processor, posting a Quadrant score of nearly 2,000 -- about two-thirds better than a Froyo-equipped Nexus One. The dumped ROM is already online, so feel free to start digging through it... and if you somehow have a prototype Desire HD lying around, all the better. [Thanks, garsim]
Tata bringing two all-electric cars to a Europe near you by March
First of all, don't worry, the spontaneously combusting Nano isn't among the pair of newly Euro-bound EVs from Tata. Going slightly more upmarket, the Indian company will be launching the Indica Vista EV hatchback for eco-conscious Brits and Scandinavians early next year, alongside the somewhat less exciting Ace, a commercial mini-truck. The Indica Vista has clearly had a few trials and tribulations in coming to market in an all-electric form, having originally been promised to Norwegian tree huggers for 2009, so let's just hope that this schedule is the one that sticks. It's about time this whole EV movement got some more affordable options.
HTC's 4.3-inch Desire HD shows up on video
We saw our first images of the Desire HD over the weekend, and just as day follows night, video leaks typically follow pictorial ones. You'll already be familiar with the mooted specs -- including 720p HD video recording, WVGA screen resolution, and an 8 megapixel imager -- so what else does this handset tour reveal? Well, the family resemblance to HTC's other 4.3-inchers is inevitably apparent to see, with the Desire HD sticking its headphone port at the bottom just like the HD2, and employing a dual LED flash à la the EVO 4G. Beyond that, it looks like yet another well rounded device from the prolific Taiwanese phone maker -- hurry past the break to see it for yourself. [Thanks, Cj]
HTC Gold with Windows Phone 7 in November, and more from a rumored UK roadmap leak
O, to see what Omio sees. The outlet has obtained what it claims to be "a huge UK mobile phone release schedule for the rest of the year... [from] all the manufacturers" (emphasis its own). So, from where would such an all-encompassing roadmap hail? We don't know, nor can we corroborate any of this, but the details are numerous so let's go through it -- albeit with cautious optimism and a few grains of salt. The biggest phone we can see of this baker's dozen of a lineup is the HTC Gold (sound familiar?), due in November and loaded with Microsoft's mobile OS newcomer Windows Phone 7. Unfortunately, that's all the information provided, but it's certainly enough to entice us. Also in November, we've got Samsung i8700 and Nokia E7 -- the latter being possibly a N8-esque QWERTY slider with AMOLED display and Symbian^3, and the former being a mystery (although Omio takes a gander that its aquatic Greek mythology might suggest a Bada-powered existence). Going up the list Memento style, October purportedly brings across the pond-ers HTC Vision, the virtually unknown HTC Ace, Nokia N8, and Sony Ericsson's Xperia X8 and Yendo. September's a bit of a yawner -- SE Hazel and a Nokia X2 candybar -- as is August with the X6 8GB and BlackBerry Curve 9300. And July? Nokia E5-00, Sony Ericsson W20, and Samsung i5500. As is usually the case, the more you can wait, the better your options. Now, let's see if this supposed roadmap stays on course.
Fitness group 'underwhelmed' by Wii Fit exercises
The American Council on Exercise recently conducted a study on the effectiveness of Nintendo's Wii Fit, and was "underwhelmed" by the results (PDF link). The study examined what the ACE dubbed to be the "most aerobically challenging activities," including the Free Run, Island Run, Super Hula Hoop, Free Step, Advanced Step and Rhythm Boxing. The study found that Free Run burned the most calories, averaging at 165 calories burned during a thirty-minute session. The next highest was Rhythm Boxing at 114, not exactly the fat-melting miracle one might hope for. Said Dr. John Porcari, "The Wii Fit is a very, very mild workout." The ACE noted that performing the real-life activity -- real boxing, step aerobics, running, etc. -- burns significantly more calories than their Wii Fit counterparts. As an example, the study notes that traditional boxing burns three times as many calories as Rhythm Boxing. That said, the study did note that Wii Fit burns twice as many calories as normal video games, and that's got to count for something. Still, if you're looking to really feel the burn, the study concluded that Wii Sports "is a better option" for gamers looking to find a decent workout. Source - ACEFitness.org -- Wii Fit - Or Just a Wee Bit? (PDF)
ACE robot asks for directions, purpose in life
The Tweenbots project already demonstrated that at least some folks are willing to help a lost robot find its way, but this new ACE bot developed by researchers at the Technical University of Munich has now ramped things up in a fairly big way, with it actually asking passers-by for directions and developing a map as it moves through the city. Apparently, the robot uses a series of cameras to detect people nearby, and it then asks them to simply point towards the destination indicated on its screen, which it is able to recognize, although it does also asks them to confirm the direction on the screen just to be safe. In initial tests, that appears to have been relatively successful, with ACE (or Autonomous City Explorer) able to reach its destination 1.5 kilometers away in five hours after relying on directions from 38 people. But don't take our word for it. Head on past the break to check out its people skills for yourself.[Via Coolest Gadgets]
Ace Computers promises $999 CableCARD HTPC at CES 2009
HTPCs may still be a niche market, but getting one equipped with a CableCARD for under a grand could do great things for adoption. Little-known Ace Computers will reportedly debut such a rig at CES, and the machine will be known as the LMS 250. It'll be made available in a few configurations, one of which includes a triple-core AMD Phenom X3 and one that houses an Intel Core 2 Duo E7300; the former will be built around AMD's Maui entertainment platform, while the latter could quite possibly be the last to use Intel's own impossible-to-understand Viiv technology. Prospective customers with fatter wallets can upgrade the baseline rigs with a Blu-ray burner, but even the $999 edition will include 2GB of RAM, a 500GB HDD, internal ATI Digital Cable Tuner and between 8 and 12 USB ports. Sadly, we're not tipped off on a release date, but hopefully we'll learn of that -- along with many other delicious, heart-healthy tidbits -- in just a few days.
Samsung posts WinMo 6.1 upgrade for Sprint's ACE
Right behind its distant GSM cousin that never bothers to call -- not even on your birthday -- Sprint's ACE smartphone from Samsung has now been gifted with a luxurious Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade. Sprint is really playing it up, too, touting that it's bringing an "Enhanced Time-Saving Mobile Experience" to the phone -- and to be fair, it's also allowing the installation of unsigned apps and adding support for turn-by-turn navigation, so we suppose it's a little more than just your run-of-the-mill 6.1 update.
Essential addons for Patch 3.0.2 [Updated x6]
Let's take a look at what addons are working for patch 3.0.2. First a simple rule taken from the UI forums post done by Kaydeethree: "Any 'Wrath beta' compatible mod will work in 3.0.2." With that said, there is a long and comprehensive listing of 3.0.2 compatible addons over on WoWWiki. But the fun doesn't end there. The next step is obtaining all those new addons. I've compiled a large set of the essential addons and linked to at least one direct download source after the break. Each download source is either trusted beyond doubt – or tested and confirmed to be virus free. Finally, you'll want to combine the addons into a nice looking UI. Check out our special edition of Reader UI of the Week for a look at five complete 3.0.2 compatible UIs. We're posting this list now, and will continue to update it throughout the day. Begin your addon downloads as quickly as possible to avoid hangups later in the day when download servers become overloaded.
Reader UI of the Week: Osullavan of Eldre'Thalas
World of Warcraft allows all of us an unprecedented ability to modify our user interface to meet our needs. Each week WoW Insider will bring you a fresh and detailed look at reader submitted UIs. Have a screenshot of your UI you want to submit? Send it, along with your character name and server, to readerui@gmail.com.This week I want to take a break from reader submitted user interfaces and profile my own. Pictured above is a compilation of what I like to call "my baby." It's a UI that's taken me over a year to perfect, and I like it quite a bit. What we'll do is take a look at the philosophy behind the interface and what addons I use.I wear many hats in my guild. I'm the GM, the main tank, and help drive the raids. My UI serves me well in all these roles, and it allows me a plethora of options at my disposal. My multiple duties in my guild means that I not only have to be fully accountable for everything the boss does to me (and for a tank in and end game guild that's a lot), but I also have to keep an eye on everything else that is happening in the raid. The Philosophy Behind My UIInformation and functions need to be easy to access, and be accessed quickly. In addition to the ease of use, it is vital to have a clear view of the play field when engaging in raids and groups. When getting the raid ready and driving the trash pulls, I need to be able to see everything and hear everything. It's unacceptable to have information more than a click away – if that. If someone sends me a tell, I want to know about it right away, and if someone dies I want to see it in bright colors in my chat windows.Since my in-game responsibilities are numerous, I have to be able quickly switch between them. To do this I have to utilize both my keyboard and my mouse. %Gallery-19902%
