TechNews - USB Type-C Will Replace 3.5mm - tech
(hx) 04:54 PM CEST - Aug,20 2016
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- AMD Further Unveils Zen Processor Details - Live from
Sunny San Francisco at AMD's Zen processor event, we bring you details of
AMD's new high-end CPU and the first benchmarks EVER versus Intels
Broadwell-E!
- Intel SSD 540s Review - Performance aside, the new 540s brings mainstream features with it.
Hardware-based 256-bit encryption is standard on this drive.
Customers no longer need to look at Intel's Pro Series SSD lineup to
get the encryption features required for many industries. The 540s also
ships with a five-year warranty.
- Gigabyte Releases Three GTX 1060 3 GB Graphics Cards - The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 G1 Gaming 3G
graphics card is the flagship of the 3 GB variants of the GTX 1060,
with the highest base and boost clock rates of the three. It has a
1,594 MHz base frequency with a 1,809 MHz boost clock rating in Gaming
mode, which increases to 1,620 MHz and 1,847 MHz, respectively, in OC
mode. OC mode, along with other performance and aesthetic tweaks, can
be configured using the included Xtreme Engine Utility software.
- Intel Believes USB Type-C Will Replace 3.5mm Jack - A
planned update to the USB Type-C specification will give it more
control over audio functions, paving the way for it to fully supplant
the 3.5mm headphone jack on most phones. Speaking at the Intel
Developers Forum, engineers Brad Saunders and Rahman Ismail explained
that the new USB audio standard lowers power usage through USB and
defines how buttons on headphones can control music. The standard "will
really make USB Type-C the right connector for audio," said Saunders.
The 3.5mm headset jack is universally available on most consumer
electronics, but is decades old. Dropping the jack will free up
internal space, lowers the potential for interference, and negates the
need for a digital-to-analog converter. Moreover, Saunders says the
updated spec allows for software-based audio effects and signal
processing that can, for example, cancel out nearby noise. Last, the
updated USB-C spec improves support for video. Saunders says the new
video capabilities will be good for working on a PC or watching a
movie, but not necessarily for graphics-intensive gaming. USB-C is
slowly gaining traction in smartphones. Samsung's Galaxy Note7 made the
switch to USB-C, as did HTC 10, LG G5, and just-announced Huawei Honor
8. The connector is slim and reversible, and Type-C cables can push
power in both directions
- Samsung Accessories Land Alongside Note7 - The Samsung
Galaxy Note7 reaches U.S. stores today and with it some
interesting accessories and companion products from Samsung. The new Gear
VR headset, which is compatible with the Note7 and other recent
Galaxy phones, has a new look, new color, and expanded field of view.
It's available for $100 at carrier stores, as well as Amazon, Best Buy,
and Samsung. The Gear
360 camera (pictured), able to shoot 360-degree photos and video,
will only be available online for $350. Samsung's Gear IconX wireless
earbuds are available, too. These $200 headphones are fully wireless,
have built-in memory, and can track workouts. The less expensive
Samsung Level Active headphones are sweat proof and can control
music/calls for $100. Last, the Samsung Connect auto provides an
AT&T-backed in-car hotspot via the OBD II port. The Connect auto
can also send alerts to the driver and improve driving
safety/efficiency. AT&T will sell the Samsung Connect auto online
and in stores. The Galaxy Note7 is Samsung's flagship phablet for the
year. It has a 5.7-inch screen, 12-megapixel main camera, Snapdragon
820 processor, 64 GB of storage, and the S Pen stylus. The Note7 is
available from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
- Google is killing off Chrome apps on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Google today announced
on the Chromium blog that it would be ending support for Chrome apps on
Windows, macOS, and Linux. According to Google, the company launched
Chrome apps three years ago to bridge the gap between what could be
done on the web and what could be done with a native application. Since
then, APIs have been developed that allow web apps to do more, such as
use push notifications.
- Google Building Non-Linux OS Called Fuchsia - Google
is working on a new operating system called Fuchsia. The
open-source platform is the first from Google that does not rely on
Linux at its core. Instead, the operating system runs the Magenta
kernel and, according to the documentation, it relies on the Flutter
user interface and Dart programming language. The platform appears to
be intended as an embedded operating system for IoT devices, but it can
also run on smartphones and PCs. Google hasn't said much about the
project, but the platform is available in pieces via GitHub. It's
unclear if or when Google might release a complete, final version of
the operating system.
- Windows 10 Tip: Turn Off Cortana Completely - In the
Windows 10 Anniversary Update, version 1607, Microsoft removed
Cortana's on-off switch. But it's still there, if you know
where to look.
- Microsoft makes PowerShell open source, brings it to Linux and
Mac OS X - As anticipated, Microsoft has made PowerShell open source and available
on Linux, further driving Satya Nadella’s vision of an open,
customer-centric company that’s willing to work with the competition.
PowerShell, for those not up to speed, is a task-based command-line
shell and scripting language that’s built on the .NET framework. It’s
designed to assist IT professionals in automating and controlling the
administration of Windows (and now, Linux) and the apps that run on
them.
- MIT Spinout Claims to Double Battery Life - A company
called SolidEnergy Systems, a spinout from MIT, says it has new
battery technology that will double the life of lithium-based power
cells. The breakthrough involves a battery that replaces the
traditional graphite anode with a thin, lithium-metal foil. The foil
can hold more ions and thus more potential energy. Further, new
chemistry protects the lithium-metal so it can be recharged frequently
and used at normal temperatures. The company says it can create small
batteries that provide as much charge as larger batteries, or it can
double the life of larger batteries. Perhaps most importantly,
SolidEnergy's technology was founded on a failed MIT startup called
A123. SolidEnergy has taken over A123's Massachusetts-based facilities
and claims it can mass produce the new lithium-metal batteries in
volume. In fact, it plans to produce batteries for drones as soon as
November, with batteries for smartphones to follow in early 2017.
Battery-life breakthroughs are common in research settings, but often
can't scale for use in the real world. SolidEnergy's technology and
manufacturing progress appear to be further along than most.
- AT&T's Mobile Share Advantage Plans Drop Overages - AT&T
today announced new service plans for multiple lines that do away with
overage charges. The Mobile Share Advantage program includes unlimited
talk and text in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, rollover data, sharable
data, mobile hotspot, and unlimited texting to more than 120 other
countries. Rather than charge customers overage fees for exceeding
their monthly data allotments, AT&T will throttle users back to 2G,
or about 128 Kbps, for the remainder of the billing cycle. This is in
line with what competitors do. Data plans now start at 1 GB and range
up to 100 GB for families, and from 25 GB to 200 GB for businesses.
AT&T said new options make the plans more flexible, such as the
addition of 6 GB and 10 GB data buckets. Smartphone access charges are
now a flat fee of $20 per device. Device payments are extra. The new
Mobile Share Advantage plans will be available starting August 21.
- Making A 3D-Printed Sith Lightsaber Kit! - If you
needed another reason to buy a 3D printer...:-)
- Japanese Trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - Rogue One
tells the story of resistance fighters who have united to steal
plans to the dreaded Death Star.
- Metallica: Hardwired (Official Music Video) - The first
video from Metallica's upcoming album "Hardwired...To
Self-Destruct" available everywhere on November 18.
- Assassin's Creed Movie Behind The Scenes Footage - check it out
- Jack Sock's brilliant bit of sportsmanship - Jack
Sock tells Lleyton Hewitt to challenge a point in a great display of
sportsmanship. The crowd absolutely loved it.
- 25 MILLION Orbeez in a pool- Do you sink or float? - Water
marbles, those strange gooey little beads you see in the dollar
store, are not only fun to play with, but make for some pretty
interesting science experiments too.
- Andre De Grasse vs. 1936 Olympic Champ Jesse Owens - Canadian
sprinting sensation Andre De Grasse runs a hundred metres in Jesse's shoes.
Who's the better runner when conditions are the same?
- Watch A Crazy Mountain Biker Nail A Massive Railroad Tracks
Jump - This
insane jump by Canadian biker Yusuke Yamamoto is absolutely bonkers
and a blast to watch, but unfortunately there's no redeeming the sound
in this whole video. Our advice: mute it, put on some tunes, and watch
Yusuke fly.
- Naked statue shows a whole new side of Trump - Activist
group Indecline reportedly placed the life-size statue of Trump with no clothes
for its "The Emperor Has No Balls" project in Los Angeles, New York,
San Francisco, Cleveland and Seattle.
- The best pics on the Internet #207 - All pictures
are carefully handpicked
- Hailey Clauson Belongs In A Bikini - This blonde
hottie is a Danish model.
- Alberte Valentine Christensen Is Amazing - Sports
Illustrated finally got one of my favorite busty blondes Hailey
Clauson for the cover.
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Updated:11:38 PM CET Oct,31
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