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FCC proposes '988' for quick access to national suicide prevention line
The FCC wants accessing a national suicide prevention line to be as simple as dialing 988. In a report sent to Congress today, staff members recommend that the FCC designate 988 as the 3-digit dialing code for a nationwide suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
Logitech Craft keyboard has a ‘smart’ dial for creatives
Logitech has unveiled a very interesting flagship wireless keyboard that should grab the attention of folks who do video editing and web or graphics design. Called the Craft, it has a "creative input dial" installed in the top left part of the keyboard. That lets you do image adjustment in apps like Adobe Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC or InDesign CC, or jog video in Adobe Premiere Pro CC, not unlike Microsoft's standalone Surface Dial product.
The Morning After: Thursday October 27th 2016
Microsoft's big Surface showcase was aimed at creators and those of us interested in getting some new Redmond-made Windows 10 hardware. It was less about Office and more about 3D photography and, well, crazy physical "Dials" you can attach to your PC screen. Read on for a closer look at that and everything else from the past 24 hours. Remember, Apple's big MacBook event kicks off today as well -- check our liveblog here at 1 PM Eastern.
Watch Microsoft's Surface event in 10 minutes
Microsoft had no shortage of announcements at its big Surface event. The Surface Studio all-in-one was undoubtedly the centerpiece, but the tech pioneer also unveiled a supercharged Surface Book, low-cost third-party VR headsets, the art-oriented Surface Dial accessory and a major Windows 10 update that's focused on creators. It's a lot to digest, we know. Thankfully, you don't have to spend ages reading our liveblog to see what happened. We've recapped the choicest parts of the announcement in a 10-minute video that you can watch right here -- you just have to sit back and enjoy.
Surface Dial is a physical scroll wheel for your digital art
During its big event today, Microsoft introduced a new Surface-centric peripheral alongside the new all-in-one Studio desktop. The Surface Dial is a wireless, brushed aluminum puck that adds new gestures and functionality to a variety of Surface-friendly apps.
Will.i.am's next wearable is available to pre-order
Rapper, singer and entrepreneur William Adams, best known as Will.i.am, is ready to unleash his next smartwatch on the world. It's called the Dial and is available to pre-order from Three in the UK, starting at £22 per month with a £49 upfront fee, or £25 per month with a one-off, £19 payment. That's right, you'll need to take out a new, separate contract to use this wraparound wearable. Unlike most smartwatches, however, it doesn't require a tethered phone. That's because it comes with a Three SIM card inside, allowing you to call, text and access the internet with nothing but what's on your wrist.
Will.i.am is back with another smartwatch
The charismatic musician William Adams, more commonly known as Will.i.am, is trying the whole smartwatch thing again. The Black Eyed Peas rapper-turned-solo artist has been working in the technology space for some time, launching a series of iPhone cases and a wrist-worn wearable called the Puls. Neither took off, but that hasn't stopped him from developing a new timepiece called the Dial. It's a self-contained device that takes a SIM card and will be available exclusively on Three in the UK.
Chromecast config file hints at HBO Go app testing, prodding reveals DIAL details
Google's Chromecast dongle has already blown through its supply of Netflix discount codes and now that they're in the wild all sorts of people are taking a look at how the devices work. For example, CJ Heres of GTV Hacker points out a configuration file that appears to list testing apps for Chromecast. While most of the services named in the file are those already announced (Netflix, Revision3, Google Play Music, Pandora etc.) and other devs working on support for AOL On and Songza, there's also an entry for HBO Go. Google told Wired yesterday streaming from the website should work out of the box, however other sites they mentioned will work, like Hulu and Rdio, are not listed in the file, so we may see official app support sooner rather than later. DIYers may have other reasons to be interested however, as Leon Nicholls posted on Google+ about his findings on how the device works as a DIAL server. His tests suggested there is potential for controlling it from outside of Chrome based on how it responds to some commands. Hit the source links for more info, and let us know if you've found any other services that already work.
Hands-on with Chromecast, Google's wireless HDMI streaming dongle (update: video)
We should've known this was coming after Google and Netflix informed us back at CES they were working on their AirPlay competitor, the DIAL wireless streaming protocol. Today, with the revelation of the new Chromecast HDMI dongle to leverage DIAL and expand upon it, you'll be able to stream more content more easily to your home's biggest screen -- all for just 35 bucks. We got to check out the Chromecast at today's Google event, so join us, won't you, for our full impressions.%Gallery-194579%
PlayStation 3 YouTube update adds auto-pairing with mobile devices
The folks at YouTube are updating Sony's PlayStation 3 YouTube app today with additional support for send to TV functionality, making it all the easier to share clips from your mobile device of choice with a living room full of people. Similar to the Xbox 360's SmartGlass functionality, YouTube's send to TV allows for a phone or tablet to be paired via a shared Wi-Fi network with the PS3, enabling videos on your mobile device in the YouTube app to be transferred "instantly" to the big screen -- the service now pairs automatically rather than requiring a PIN. Moreover, today's update looks to be yet another example of YouTube's co-developed DIAL tech. YouTube also added some video stream stabilization in the latest update, should you be experiencing hiccups.
Netflix's House of Cards comes to Blu-ray in June; second screen feature tweaked on Android
While Netflix is focused on a streaming future the first series to appear exclusively on its service will see a more conventional release this summer. High Def Disc News points out an Amazon listing indicates the House of Cards Season One Blu-ray will arrive June 11th, from Sony Pictures. Sony signed on to distribute the Media Rights Capital project worldwide after a window for Netflix's streaming exclusivity, so if Super HD still isn't enough quality-wise -- and since 4K streaming isn't here yet -- you do have other options, currently priced at $52.99 sans details of extras or technical specs. Users may have also noticed changes recently in Netflix's mobile apps, like their to their ability to play video on other screens. While we'd seen the ability to push video to other devices and control playback already, Android users should be seeing some visual tweaks to help owners of compatible devices (PS3 and certain smart TVs for now) figure out how it works. With DIAL-compatible TVs the prompt shows up as long as the target device is on (whether or not the app is open), while on the PS3 the Netflix app will need to be open for it to pop up. Something else that's been rolling out is a prompt asking if Netflix can send push notifications, which is used to notify users of things like new seasons of TV shows they've watched becoming available. Check after the break for another screen grab, and let us know if you've noticed any other new features -- other than yesterday's April Fool-related overly-specific content categories -- popping up lately. [Thanks, Michael]
Netflix and YouTube's DIAL promises to be open alternative to AirPlay
It's already clear that most of us prefer watching Netflix on TV rather than on our PCs or tablets, but it appears the subscription video pioneer isn't content with just direct streaming. As we learned at CES 2013, Netflix is currently in cahoots with YouTube to build out a multiscreen initiative called DIAL (which stands for "discovery and launch") that could provide real competition for Apple's AirPlay. It works in essentially the same way -- DIAL lets you play streaming video on compatible TVs without having to launch the app first -- but there are a few key differences. Unlike AirPlay, DIAL lets you launch apps, even web apps, on the TV -- if it's a Smart TV, you'll even be redirected to download an appropriate app from its app store. However, it can't send URLs to the TV and mirror displays like AirPlay can, supposedly to avoid protocol conflicts as it builds its network of partnerships. And that's where DIAL's growing momentum comes in. According to GigaOm, DIAL is an open protocol, which gives it massive dev and OEM appeal. All Google TV boxes already have it, while Sony, Samsung and LG are reportedly very interested. The latter two have already incorporated it in some 2012 TVs, with more coming in the future. More important is the support from app devs and content providers -- BBC, Hulu, Pandora and Flingo have already signed up to take part in the effort, with Chrome purportedly working on DIAL compatibility for browser-to-TV page-flinging. On the whole, it's a promising path for not just Netflix and YouTube, which have previously only released relatively limited remote control applications, but the second screen movement in general.
Netflix, YouTube to take on Apple's AirPlay
Apple's AirPlay may have some competition in the future thanks to DIAL, an open-source, second-screen protocol being developed by Netflix and YouTube. The AirPlay alternative was first discovered back in December and now GigaOM has a detailed look at the project. DIAL, short for "discovery and launch," lets second-screen app developers discover and launch apps on smart TVs and other connected devices. It's meant to work seamlessly, so apps can easily find compatible devices on the same network and launch their apps with little user intervention. The project has the backing of key tech companies like Samsung, Sony, Hulu, Pandora and the BBC. Some Google TV devices and select 2012 TVs from Samsung and LG already have DIAL functionality built in. Scott Mirer, director of product management at Netflix, told GigaOM that other vendors are working on DIAL products that should debut in the coming months. You can read more about DIAL and how it compares to AirPlay in the GigaOM report.
Netflix previews family profiles, shows off Super HD and 3D streaming at CES 2013
The current leader in subscription video streaming is Netflix, and today at its Las Vegas hotel suite we saw some of the technology it's planning to stay a step ahead of the competition this year. First up was one of the most widely requested features -- the ability to set up individual profiles for different family members, complete with their own queues and recommendations. The profiles can be set up on device or on the Netflix site, with toggles for a preference to its Just for Kids menu UI, as well as asking a bit about your preferred movies to seed initial recommendations. We also got an eyeful of the new "Super HD" 1080p streaming, and although network issues kept us from getting a true gauge of the quality, we did confirm that the new max bitrates are well above the old "X-High" standards. Another thing we confirmed? That Cablevision and Google Fiber aren't the only US ISPs on its Open Connect list -- check the site to see if yours is.There was also a screen in the Samsung booth showing "early results" of their combined work on 4K video, but since it wasn't actually streaming there's not much to see. Netflix was even showing off 3D streaming, and although we weren't able to confirm the type of compression being used (top/bottom, side by side or something else) we did watch it and it was mostly clear with only a few hints of ghosting. There are apparently several dozen 3D titles available to start, although customer reaction may dictate when/if more are added. The second screen experience we've seen on the PS3 was also shown working with Samsung TVs, in much the same manner. One thing that could make it better however, is the DIAL multiscreen initiative it's pushing with YouTube. If picked up as a standard, it would let you automatically launch these streaming services on a mobile device, and make them start playing on compatible TVs without having to launch the app on the TV first. Not enough good news? Netflix also announced a launch date for another original series, Hemlock Grove, which hits April 19th (trailer after the break), and dropped the news that we'll be getting 14 new eps of Arrested Development in May. We expect to hear a bit more about all of that later in 2013, but if you want a preview of the features we saw then just check out the gallery.
Daily iPhone App: Bridge Call Dialer speeds conference calling
As much as we love the multitasker flexibility of the iPhone, there are situations where you might find it slightly inconvenient to have your email, notepad, address book and phone all stacked atop one another on a touchscreen. Most business professionals experience one of those situations on a regular basis: the simple (or not so simple) conference call. Sure, if your meeting host is using an integrated service that supports iOS directly (WebEx, GoToMeeting, Fuze Meeting etc.) then it's one-button easy to join the call via VoIP or a callback. But most of the time, you'll find yourself jotting down a bridge number and PIN on a piece of paper, or switching between apps hastily to memorize the access code before the voice prompt times out. Not ideal. That's why I'm so fond of AHUB's $1.99 iPhone utility Bridge Call Dialer. The feature list is brief and the interface utilitarian (at best), but what it does it does oh so well. If you've got a calendar appointment with a conference call number listed, pop open BCD and it will scan through the event description. Tap once to enter the bridge number, again to capture the PIN, and then tap "call." Watch, pleasantly relaxed, as BCD hands off the dial string to the Phone app, complete with pauses and octothorpes, to join you to the conference. The current version of BCD lets you save one-click "frequent calls" detail so you can quickly rejoin a regularly scheduled phone meeting. You can also associate a conference call number and PIN with a particular iPhone contact; that way, whenever that person sends you a meeting invite, their conference info will be prepopulated automatically. New in BCD 3.0 is the ability to specify a VoIP app to handle calls selectively (on WiFi or when they're internal PBX calls), rather than using the iPhone's built-in phone. Configuring your VoIP tool in BCD requires that the dialing app support a URL scheme to hand off the number, which not all apps do; Talkatone is explicitly supported, and it looks like Acrobits SIP, Line2 and the open-source Siphon all have the ability to take a call handoff. I'd love to try it with Skype or Bria, which are my go-to apps for calls, but it may take some tweaking. The next time you reach for a pen and paper before a conference call, consider a $2 investment in streamlining your day and treat yourself to a license for BCD.
Gresso flaunts $30,000 white iPhone 4, holds more ice than a skating rink
Sure, you probably waited longer than you should have to get the elusive white iPhone 4. But, you know what's better than a boring regular model? One with diamonds, crystals and pearls... of course! Known for its ridiculous custom mobile devices, Gresso may force you to refinance your house and hock a kidney to afford its latest creation, the Lady Blanche. A solid diamond-coated mineral glass backing, three independent Swiss clocks and pearl dials replace the usual body on this iced-out iPhone. If the $30k diamond model is a bit out of your price range, the much more affordable Swarovski crystal version will only set you back 7,000 bones. Release details are unclear at this point, but when they drop you better act fast -- only 150 of these gems will be available. Heck, if you have that kind of cash lying around, just get the salesman to throw in one of these for your iPad, too.
Canon will now add locking mode dial to your EOS 5D Mark II or 7D... for $100
Oh, sure -- Pentax may have thrown one in gratis on its K-7, and Nikon has done the same on its D3S, but none of that really matters if you're the proud owner of a Canon, now does it? For those fed up with accidentally moving their mode dial during a critical shoot, Canon is now offering a chargeable service for the EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 7D cameras. For the tidy sum of $100, the outfit will install a Mode Dial with a center-located lock button -- the goal here is to prevent the wheel from moving during "normal camera operation," while simultaneously milking an extra Benjamin out of the outfit's loyal customer base. 'Course, there's a glass half-full / half-empty way to look at this. You could bang on Canon for not including this from day one, or you could be grateful to have the option at all. Your move, cynic.
Rotary dial for your iPhone
I am one of the few people left in the country that owns and uses a rotary-dial telephone. Call me old-fashioned, but I just like the sound of that bell instead of an electronic noise when the phone rings. Now you can extend part of that experience (at least the labored dialing part) to your iPhone. Minnesota-based CodeMorphic has released RetroPhone, an application that simulates the rotary dial mechanism on the screen of your iPhone. Their website doesn't have a whole lot of information yet, but you can watch a video of the software in action at the St. Paul Pioneer Press's Your Tech Weblog. Of course, RetroPhone doesn't replicate the satisfying tactile response, but all the joy of spending two hours to dial an international phone number can be entirely yours. Thanks, Julio.
Three control schemes for Arkanoid DS, two are for crazy people
You aren't limited to the awesome spinner controller if you want to play Arkanoid DS. If, for some reason, you'd like to play with the stylus or the d-pad and shoulder buttons, you go right ahead. Taito has made those options available for fun-hating people like you.Or, you know, if you don't want to pony up the extra 1,050 yen ($9.15) for the package containing the white dial/spinner, or the 1,800 yen ($15.69) for a spinner in one of the alternate colors. We must admit we do understand financial concerns. However, most Japanese DS games cost as much as the bundle, and, to us, the spinner is an integral part of the experience.
Doh commands you to look at Arkanoid screens
Arkanoid DS is a game made by people who respect classic gameplay. Taito chose to make a block-breaking game on a system with a touch screen, but did they settle for stylus-based play? No! Arkanoid traditionally uses a dial controller to operate its paddle, and thus a new peripheral was born. Each copy of Arkanoid DS will include a white paddle controller; the black, pink, and silver controllers will be sold separately for 1800 yen ($15.29).Since the game is so traditional, we were initially slightly (only slightly) put off by the choice to make the blocks square instead of the Arkanoid-correct rectangles. We changed our minds when we saw the Space Invaders level made possible by square blocks. It's only one of the 140 Clear Game levels, in addition to the Quest Mode challenges. We still play a lot of NES Arkanoid, and we really want to see Taito succeed with this. We really want the DS to become the new NES.
