Microsoft yesterday released a press statement saying that it has acquired Mojang in a massive $2.5 Billion deal. The Stockholm-based game developer is known majorly for its virtual world creation game, Minecraft. This will be a new addition in the list of several big money acquisitions that we have seen this year.
There were many interested parties who wanted to get the gaming company, but Microsoft moved fast to score a victory. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will acquire Mojang for $2.5 billion. Microsoft expects to close the acquisition in late 2014 and to be break-even in FY15 on a GAAP basis.
The Game lets users make complex structures using lego-like blocks.
Minecraft was introduced in 2009 and since then has sold more than 50 million copies for PCs, smartphones and videogame consoles. The game has a huge fan following. YouTube is full of tutorials on Minecraft. There is also an upcoming movie based on the game and Lego also sells toys based on the game. This almost seems like a safe bet from Microsoft and hence they sound so optimistic of their acquisition.
“Gaming is a top activity spanning devices, from PCs and consoles to tablets and mobile, with billions of hours spent each year,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “Minecraft is more than a great game franchise – it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about, and rich with new opportunities for that community and for Microsoft.”
The weird bit of this sale is that the creator of the game Markus Persson and other founders will not be coming to Microsoft. They have decided to undertake new adventures. On his personal website, Markus said, “Thank you for turning ‘Minecraft’ into what it has become, but there are too many of you, and I can’t be responsible for something this big.”
The game has a massive fan following who share tutorials all over the internet
Impressing the fans now would be a big task for Microsoft. Some of them have openly stated that a big corporation will ruin the game. Microsoft though said that it will do everything in its power to sustain the loyalties of the gamers.
The CEO of Mojang, Carl Manneh has this to say “The ‘Minecraft’ players have taken the game and turned it into something that surpassed all of our expectations. The acquisition by Microsoft brings a new chapter to the incredible story of ‘Minecraft.’ As the founders move on to start new projects, we believe the high level of creativity from the community will continue the game’s success far into the future. ”
Microsoft has said that more details about the deal will be published after the finalization of the acquisition. Microsoft is no stranger to gaming and is a market leader in gaming consoles. The innovation it brings to this game remains to be seen. Let’s hope Microsoft doesn’t make a Vista out of this one.
As expected, Microsoft is all set to announce the new major version of the Windows OS. In line with the developing rumors, Microsoft has rolled out the invites of the Windows 9 event which is going to be held on September 30th in San Francisco. The event will focus on enterprise and power users of Windows, with Joe Belfiore and Terry Myerson leading a discussion about the future of Windows.
The company is expected to roll out the “Windows Technical Preview” at the event or soon after, so that developers and enterprise customers can test the number of changes the company has made. The recent rumors and leaks had suggested the addition of a new Start menu, a virtual desktops feature, and a Notification Center.
Microsoft is also expected to fine-tune its desktop user interface to improve and flatten the traditional icons along with some changes in the taskbar for Contara integration and virtual desktop. Other changes are expected to come on a regular basis. The Windows Technical Preview will be available until the operating system is complete and ready for release next year.
Whatsapp, the popular messaging app, has given a hard time to telecom operators by eating up their revenue. However, Whatsapp’s arsenal had been missing one big feature, Voice calling. Talks about the new voice calling feature on Whatsapp have been on since February. It all started when WhatsApp CEO, Jan Kuom, announced that the voice calling feature would be added to Android and iPhones first, followed by BlackBerry, Nokia and Microsoft platforms.
Now, it seems that the long-awaited feature will come to the app sooner than expected. A pop-up has been spotted on the app window that seeks user’s permission to use the microphone, hinting the voice-calling feature to be a part of their next update. The latest WhatsApp update was released for the iPhone on September 8. With it, WhatsApp added several features such as improved location sharing and fast camera access.
However, the release notes never mentioned about a pop-up, which requests access to the microphone every time the app is opened. The pop-up will only appear to those people who have not already allowed the app to access their device’s microphone.
WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging app with over 600 million users. The messaging app was acquired by Facebook earlier this year in a deal worth $19 billion.
So, we have waited long for the Android One devices. The phones were announced at the Google I/O this year, and they are finally here for the world to see. Today Google launched the three phones that it had announced previously.
The Micromax Canvas A1, Karbonn Sparkle V And Spice Dream Uno is the trio that will begin the big Android One experiment. The phones are presently only available online and will be in stores from next month. They went on sale at 3.30PM today.
Canvas win has a recognizable camera design which is the best amongst competitors
As mentioned earlier, Android One is Google providing standard specifications to OEM’s so that they can provide those features to low-cost devices directly. These devices come with the latest Android operating system, i.e., KitKat 4.4. They all have similar specs and are different only in the way they are designed. Out of these three devices, Micromax gets the pole position on the designing front. The Canvas A1 has a beautiful wooden-like platform for the main camera on the back of the device.
Karbonn Sparkle V comes in many color options.
All these devices have a 4.5 inch FWVGA (854 x 480 Pixels) displays and are powered by a 1700 mAh battery. The processor on the devices is a MediaTek SoC with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and Mali 400 GPU paired with 1GB of RAM. On the back, the devices have a 5 MP camera with LED Flash. For selfie convenience, the phone provides a 2 MP camera.
It can be observed that the specifications on these devices seem limited in comparison to devices like the Moto E and the Redmi 1S. The advantage these devices have is automatic updates from Google, which keep them up-to-date. This can be a great device for people wanting a stock Android experience.
The companies have chosen different online retail partners for their devices. While Micromax chose Amazon as their exclusive Android One partner, Spice and Karbonn chose Flipkart and Snapdeal respectively. You can expect some competition amongst these e-tail giants too.
This is just the beginning for Android One. Google plans to involve new partners. It has announced that Acer, Alcatel, ASUS, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo, Panasonic and Xolo will soon be launching smartphones under the Android One program.
These phones are pocket friendly and will encourage others to make similar devices
On the price front, the Karbonn Sparkle V is priced at Rs.6399. The Micromax Canvas gets a price tag of Rs. 6499, while the Spice Dream Uno is the cheapest with a tag of Rs. 6299.
As expected, the phones come with 6-month free update and app download package from Airtel. In a press statement, the Chief Product Officer of Bharti Airtel, Anand Chandrasekaran said, “Android One customers on Airtel will be able to stay updated on the latest Android version and update all their apps at no additional data charges. Customers can enjoy 100 MB of data per month for 6 months for software updates and 200 MB per month for 6 months for app downloads and updates on the first prepaid active Airtel SIM inserted in the Android One device.”
The phones come with 6 month data plans from Airtel
Overall, the Android One line of devices seem like Google’s direct link to the lower-end consumers. The biggest issue with Android platform is high levels of fragmentation, devices running older versions of the OS are still available for sale in the market. With the lessons learnt by this initiative, the Android team may be able to provide a better integration of its OS across devices.
It will be interesting to see how this experiment pans out in India as Google intends to expand the initiative to Indonesia, Philippines and other South Asian countries by the end of 2014. It also plans to take to more countries in 2015. It seems the end of woes of lower-end Android customers is close to being over.
Google has unveiled the first Android One phone in India. The phone will come from the Indian Phone company, Karbonn and will be called the Sparkle V.
The Karbonn Sparkle V is a Dual Sim phone. It comes with Android Kitkat 4.4 out of the box. It has a 4.5 inch FWVGA (480×854) display. The device carries 1 GB RAM and is powered by a 1700 mAh battery.
The internal memory on the device is 4 GB and is expandable up to 32 GB. Sparkle V has a 5 Megapixel camera on the back and a 2 MP camera on the front. It also comes with sensors such as G-Sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor, E-Compass and Gyro Sensor.
The phone is future proof as it will automatically update to the next available version of operating system. The makers claim that the phone is capable of handling HD games and provides smooth multi-tasking ability. The phone offers users a variety of applications and features which are pre-loaded in the phone.
Android One is an initiative by Google to bring a standard Android experience across all Android devices. They want to decrease the burden of R&D on small smartphone companies by providing them with standard hardware options for their devices.
Google has been bringing its devices in partnership with various companies. For its Nexus lineup of devices Google had partnered with the likes of Samsung, LG, Asus and others. Now for its affordable line-up of devices the company will be partnering with some prominent Indian brands such as Micromax, Karbon and Spice. But how does this matter to the average smartphone buyer? Well, here is how.
1. Quality Control
Through this project Google can make sure the end customer is getting the same experience that it had intended. The phones will be marketed at a price of Rs.6000 but will not be light on features as it will have Google approved hardware.
2. Specifications
The phones are expected to feature the standard set of features such dual-core chip, 5MP camera, removable SD card, 4.5 inch display and Media Tek processor. Further specs will be cleared after the launch.
3. Full Android Experience
Services such as Google Play are absent from some low-cost devices which make it hard for users to get access to important services. With Android One, this problem goes out of the window. Google will ensure full functionality of these devices.
4. Updates
Android updates are a giant pain. The large variation of devices makes it difficult to provide updates for each specific phone. The Android One phones are expected to get regular updates. The updates will help fix various bugs that diminished the performance of the devices over time.
5. Free Data Services
Google says that it has partnered with networks to provide free access to updates. It means that the users wouldn’t have to wait for access to Wi-Fi hotspots to get system updates. How this works, would be made clear at the launch.
If the Android One devices are successful, Google will be able to easily maintain its lead in the mobile OS game. Android has already percolated to various devices. Google can concentrate on making Android more desirable on device apart from smartphones, thereby giving a standard, recognizable operating system that will bring an ease in dealing with multiple devices.
There is a lot hanging on the success of Android One. The initiative has already attracted a lot of attention from the competitors. The launch today will clear if Google’s latest experiment is appreciable or just a marketing gimmick. Keep checking this spot for more.
Google will uncover the first of its series of budget smartphones under the much anticipated Android One today. This initiative gives a key set of references for hardwares to help phone manufacturers make minimal cost smartphones. The phones will be unveiled by Sundar Pichai, Google’s SVP of Android, Chrome & Apps in New Delhi.
Google is expected to launch a range of Android One smartphones, mostly priced under Rs 6,000, via domestic online stores. These have been developed in partnership with local mobile phone manufacturers such as Micromax, Karbonn and Spice. These smartphones are expected to be loaded with top-end features such as dual core chip, 5 MP camera and 4.5-inch display.
Indian tech market has been ruled by budget friendly and value for money devices. The company first unveiled the Android one initiative in June this year at Google’s annual I/O conference as a move to take the platform to markets where low-priced phones with fewer features and less memory are in high demand.
By modifying the working framework, some programming and packaging it with Google’s own service, its web search tool, Android One will help scale up the business for Google.
Android One is tipped to be a game changer in the smartphone market, delivering a better experience to users. The race to make the least expensive smartphone pressed with specs is just going to get bigger as more companies are looking at the budget segment of the Indian market.
The Market has been recently flooded by Chinese smartphones, and everyone is confused. The question, however, has always been : are these phones really worth of all the hype they create?. The Xiaomi Mi3 showed us that a great phone package can come for a decent price, and the Redmi 1s is taking it hard to the competition.
One phone is still missing from the equation and with its arrival in India soon, does the OnePlus One threaten the existence of many brands here in the country? Lets find out.
Overview
The OnePlus One is a complete device when it comes to hardware and build quality. Thanks to the inclusion of CyanogenMod the software is mostly community dependent and is expected to get great support for a long period of time.
Hardware
The OnePlus One comes with top notch hardware for its time, apart from the 5.5 inch LTPS display with a 1920 x 1080p resolution, Gorilla Glass 3 :
The OnePlus One is superb, the fact is that anyone who has seen the phone in my hand, especially the sandstone variant, has been amazed with the way this phone looks and feels. The brilliance is in fact in the overall look of the phone, it’s just the right size, has just the right amount of chrome and metallic accents, subtle logos, simple buttons and the nicely printed Cyanogen at the back helps too.
The built of the phone is also pretty superior, although we wouldn’t say the phone can be dropped several times (especially because if you break it, you will go through hell to get another one). The display is protected with Gorilla Glass 3, but it’s not the ultimate form of protection, and thanks to the large damageable screen real estate, one should be extra careful. The back is a solid plastic, coated with the sandstone finish in the 64 GB variant and a polycarbonate white on the 16 GB variant, both of which feel great and look great too.
Display and Camera
The LCD is impressive, it’s quick and bright, has great viewing angles and the touch is very sensitive. We also found colours to be very accurate. You do have several display modes that will help you adjust between temperatures and also customise the display of the phone as per your colour tone preference. Video playback is great, and deep blacks and greys are separately identifiable resulting in a viewing experience that will leave you satisfied.
The camera on the OnePlus One is equipped with a 13 MP Sony BSI sensor, which by far is the best implementation of the equipment. Shutter Lag is close to none, the response times are amazing, shot composition accurate, focus fast and colours are deep and rightly defined. The camera is equipped with a dual led flash with one amber and one white light, giving the device the ability to correctly compose the shots, especially so, in low light conditions.
Aqua Filter
Without HDR
HDR
Indoor
The Camera also does 4K video, which in this day of flagships is only restricted to a few. You also get time-lapse and slow motion video at 120 fps on 720p which works really well. Video is really smooth and jitter free, and the end resultant is rather satisfying, included preview filters and pre shooting tweaks make it easy to compose and deliver the right kind of footage.
The sensor is bright with a f/2.0 aperture , giving it a great deal of low light visibility, although noise is still prevalent on low light images.
Multimedia and Performance
Thanks to the mix of the high end specs as well an a fantastic display, Multimedia capabilities are right up there with all other flagship devices. In certain cases even better so than the other. The low end on the spectrum for OS functions in the background, less busy Cyanogen OS and 3 GB of onboard RAM really improve things on the OnePlus One.
Performance wise, the OnePlus One aced all benchmarks and kicked it in gaming, with little of no lag on high end graphics and all games running on full juice. Impressive day to day usage and the fluidity of the performing tasks is really appreciable.
Considering the kind of awesome experience you get with the OnePlus One, we feel that the company should’ve just called it “Two”. because it offers double the experience of any regular manufacturer smartphone, with performance, gaming and built.
Benchmarks and Gaming Video
Cyanogen and Android
Today Android is really in a good place, and with Android L on the verge of launch, a lot is expected from the OS. Generally one should choose hardware that not only supports the update, but a manufacturer that is willing to do so. In most case scenarios you would have to wait months before the next big Android OS would be pushed out by manufacturers. The last version of Android aka Kitkat is now available throughout the segment, however it was announced a year back, and yet today some phones ship with Jelly Bean.
OnePlus One Runs on Cyanogen and it’s a great user experience.
With the Oneplus One and Cyanogen Mod OS, you will never have to worry about that, this group of developers managed to run Android on the HP Touchpad, and now it is updated to Android 4.4.4. So with the Oneplus One you can not only expect quick updates, you can also expect some nifty features and usage improvements.
The UI is very customizable and theme-able using their theme changer and by downloading themes from Play Store, and other resources. Cyanogen allows you to mix and match different elements of different themes to make the one perfect theme for you.
Conclusion
The OnePlus One is not here yet, the company is busy working out a strategy and will have the phone in India, as early as Sept-Oct 2014. However, for a price sensitive market like India, the cost of the phone will be a major factor. Another big deal is the fact that the company is doing away with its invite system, and hopefully by the time they arrive in India, they can ensure supplies to the huge and impatient market.
Where companies like Xiaomi have really gained respect and market share simply by cutting down admin, distribution and marketing costs, OnePlus may bring the One at a premium in India.
The Oneplus One is expected to be priced around Rs. 21500 for the 16GB variant and Rs,. 25000 for the 64 GB variant. Although the prices are more than the $ price, they are much less than the Indian price of major flagships. So for the price of one LG G3, HTC One M8 etc you could typically get , “One Plus One” = 2 phones.
If you can get your hands on an invite today, do not think twice and get the phone, in fact you should have owned it yesterday. As far as warranty issues are concerned, the company has great service support, but you will have to deal with shipping to their support centers overseas, or wait for the Indian one/s.
When iOS 8 was announced back in WWDC 2014, one of the main highlights of the new update was the inclusion third-party keyboard apps. This meant that developers would be able to bring third-party keyboard apps to the iPhone, a feature users have been waiting for since practically the launch of iOS.
With this new feature, apps like SwiftKey was expected to be part of the new OS but a new keyboard app is something most iPhone users probably never even expected. The upcoming Popkey keyboard app offer users a totally different keyboard which comprised entirely of animated GIFs.
With this new keyboard you’ll be able to browse featured and trending GIFs, upload your own, save your favorites, and quickly access the GIFs you recently used. You can also browse based on keywords: For instance, tapping LOL will bring up a collection of funny GIFs. There are separate sections for “LOL,” “shocked,” “facepalm,” “swag” and other ideas/words frequently expressed in GIF form.
While iMessage already supports inline GIFs (via copy and paste), Adrian Salamunovic, co-founder of WorkshopX, the company behind PopKey, says this app streamlines the process of searching and sending. Much like the existing emoji keyboard in iOS, PopKey contains different themed sections, each of which will include dozens of GIFs. But rather than keywords, the app is organized by reactions and emotions.
There’s no firm launch date for PopKey, but you can sign up to be notified when the app launches on their website.
A 16-year old boy, Arsh Shah Dilbagi, has developed a device that helps people with developmental disabilities, like Locked-In Syndrome and ALS, to communicate using only their breath. Dilbagi entered Google’s Global Science Fair to showcase his device and became the only finalist from Asia to get selected this year.
The device which he calls ‘TALK’, turns the breath into signal which are read by Morse code and then converted into speech. A student of 11th standard at DAV International School, Panipat, Arsh claims that the device even allows almost entirely speech impaired and paralyzed people to communicate like never before.
The devices like this, which comes under Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device category, are usually very expensive like the kind used by physicist Stephen Hawking. However, TALK will be the world’s cheapest and fastest AAC. Dilbagi says it is not possible for all those who have motor-neuro disabilities to afford an AAC device that costs $7,000 (Rs 4.26 lakh).
“AAC devices available in the market are very expensive, slow, bulky and not generic. I decided to find a better solution — an AAC device which is faster, portable and generic and costs only $80 (Rs 5,000), making it affordable to the large population,” he explains.
Dilbagi further explained that TALK expects a person to be able to give two distinguishable exhales with varying intensities, for converting them into electrical signals using a microphone. The signals are processed by a microprocessor, called the ‘Morse engine’, which labels the short exhales as ‘dots’ and longer exhales as ‘dashes’. These are further interpreted through the Morse code which converts the signals into words and then sends them to another microprocessor for synthesizing them into voice. According to Dilbagi, TALK features two modes – one to communicate in English, and the other to give specific commands and phrases. These are communicated in nine different voices enabled according to gender and age.
“I even got predicted results by testing the device on a person suffering from encephalopathy (global brain dysfunction) and Parkinson’s disease,” he has claimed in his proposal to Google. He adds, “In the future, I would like to add auto-predictions to my computing engine and integrate TALK with modern technology like Google Glass to make it easier for people with developmental disabilities.”
This kind of invention shows how this country has capable minds who can produce incredible innovation. So if you think you have a great idea, get on it. Doesn’t matter what your age is or where you come from. As long as you have a great idea, you trust it and are ready to undertake dedicated hard work, you can, “Change the World”. However, we cannot help but think how boring Hector Salamanca from Breaking Bad would have been if he had this device, it’s good that guy only had a bell to blow up.
You know that the market is slowly getting set for 4K TVs. You want those super high definition displays for your gaming and entertainment experiences, but when you see the price tags on these devices, you make the wise choice and decide you like food more than UHD displays. Well, now VU gives you a cheaper alternative to the highly priced displays from the big brands.
VU has launched 50-inch and 55-inch 4K TVs which it will be selling exclusively on Snapdeal. The 50-inch TV costs Rs. 89,900 while the 55-inch version is priced at Rs. 1,19,000.
These TV’s are great alternatives to high priced displays from big brands.
The company claims that they have integrated the world’s first quad-core graphics engines in their TV. This engine will assist in accelerated Ultra HD content delivery. The TVs can take the images from the set-top boxes and upscale it to give sharper, more detailed images.
Devita Saraf, CEO and Design Head, Vu Televisions said “The new 50-inch and 55-inch 4K Ultra High Definition televisions from Vu are priced at half the cost of similar models from Sony and Samsung. Samsung’s 48-inch 4K TV is priced at Rs. 1,59,556 while the 55-inch Sony’s equivalent model costs Rs. 2,18,000. The panels are made in Japan and Korea while the plastics are made in China.”
They have multiple convenient connectivity options
The TV’s have multiple connectivity options which include four HDMI and three USB ports for the 50-inch model and three HDMI and USB ports for the 55-inch variants.
VU promises quality service from its certified customer service center. Saraf also said that customers buying the TVs from Snapdeal will get free shipping, and if there is any damage to the product during delivery, VU will replace it for free. So if you were looking for a 4K display for cheap, the VU seems like a good affordable option for you. Get it for some excellent visual experience and of course, some insane gaming visuals.
Solar energy is known to be the best alternative energy source. We have known its potential for over a hundred years but haven’t been able to take advantage of this clean energy source because of multiple reasons. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the world is now on an emergency alternative searching mode with the effects of global warming being felt everywhere. There have been a good number of R&D going into making efficient Solar panels that are pocket-friendly too. One such alternative can be found in the manufacturing technology of tomorrow, i.e., 3D Printing.
3D printing is an efficient method of production. Like a regular printer, designs can be downloaded from the internet and printed at any location. As it can be digitally spread, it can be easily sent to any part of the world where it can be copied and printed. It’s a boon for space travel as we don’t need to carry a huge load of spares. Now this revolutionary technology is used by 50 scientists who are experts in various fields to power the planet.
The scientist have worked for years to develop paper-thin, printable solar panels as part of the Victorian Organic Solar Cell Consortium. The consortium is comprised of members of CSIRO, Melbourne and Monash Universities. The technology, they say, will change the way we charge personal electronics. Imagine your laptop bags, Phone and Tablet covers will not just be safely covered but will help charge up the device on the move.
3D printers, printing the Solar Panels
The ultimate goal they say will be to create these panels for all the windows of the skyscrapers so that these building could power up themselves. According to the consortium’s website, the difference between existing solar panels and the technology it is developing is “organic cells offer the potential to allow printing directly onto materials such as roofing and windows and therefore open intriguing building integrated design opportunities.”
The researchers have been successful in reducing the size of the solar panels to the size of a coin. This was achieved by using ordinary 3D printers adapted to work with solar ink. They say this technique results in cheaper solar cells in comparison to conventional silicon rooftop solar panels.
The team wants to take the research to an even more convenient stage. They are presently working on spray painted coating. They say connecting to their solar panels is as simple as connecting a battery.
The potential of this technology is limitless. The researchers see a huge number of consumer applications of the technology like product packaging, windows and window furnishings, temporary structures, remote locations and developing communities.
Many companies seem to be showing interest in this technology. Hopefully this technology is implemented before the present fuel reserves are exhausted and we are left with no light and no internet. The day without Facebook would be the day of the apocalypse.
Nikon has launched a new hybrid camera D750. It combines the best features from Nikon’s D810, and the company’s flagship D4S, and wraps them inside a smaller, lighter body. Nikon D750 is full frame DSLR that slots in between the D610 and D810. Replacing the crowd’s favourite D700, this new camera is actually the lightest among Nikon’s traditional pro series.
The D750 has a 24-megapixel FX format CMOS sensor, an Expeed 4 image processor (the same one seen in the much pricier D810), a more light-sensitive 51-point autofocus system, and an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 12,800. It weighs around 750g, it’s significantly lighter than both the D4S and D810, and even bests Nikon’s D610 and Canon’s full-frame EOS 6D
.
It uses a 51-point autofocus system that’s near identical to the higher-end cameras, so you get 15 cross-type AF sensors, 11 of which work up to f/8. The D750 supports burst shooting at 6.5 frames per second in full resolution, which may come as a slight disappointment for those hoping to use it for sports or fast action.
The D750’s greatest strength is its low-light performance. Its ISO range extends from 100 to 12,800 (plus Nikon’s Hi2 mode offers an equivalent of ISO 51,200), and this thing can practically see in the dark and focus at -3EV. That’s a first for any Nikon DSLR. It’s better than what the D810 can manage; even the D4S is only capable of focusing as low as -2EV.
However, the light weight doesn’t come at the cost of functionality. The D750 includes a new 3.2-inch tilting LCD, built-in Wi-Fi, and space for two SD cards. It’s the company’s first FX format camera to have a tilting LCD screen which is 3.2-inches diagonally. It is the first camera to have built-in WiFi which has been crammed into a body that’s thinner than usual. It shoots 1080p at 60, 30, or 24fps with full control over aperture whenever you’re filming. A Power Aperture feature, borrowed from the D810, smooth outs transitions when you’re adjusting aperture.
The Nikon D750 will be available with price tag of $2300 which falls between the $1900 D610 and the $3300 D810. It’s got the same resolution sensor as the D610 as well as a similarly compact design. The D750 is going on sale from September 23rd in a body-only configuration. A kit including Nikon’s 24-120 f/4 lens will follow up in October.
Danish equipment manufacturers Bang & Olufsen have brought out an 85-inch 4K TV which, like its 55-inch sibling, comes with a motorized stand that helps it move around. The TV is called Beovision Avant 85in 4K TV.
Using the motorized stand you can adjust the angle of the TV up to 90 degrees and this can be done through a single push of a button. It will also automatically select the viewer’s favorite channel and sound settings. When you are done, the speakers will automatically fold and return to their original position.
The BeoVision Avant 85 has six HDMI inputs, two USB and an Ethernet port for internet connectivity. The remote provided with the device is called the BeoVision One remote control. It’s a metal bodied universal remote control made of Aluminum. The BeoRemote app is available for iPad and Android tablets too. The remote is capable of controlling your entire entertainment system.
For the audio, the TV comes with eight integrated drivers: three for treble, three for mid and two for the bass. There is an option for three channel surround sound output. Buyers can also connect to B&O speakers wirelessly.
The TV costs a whooping £16,595 (Rs. 16,39,000), and the motorized stand comes separately for an additional £1500 (Rs. 1,48,000). You can be better off buying a Samsung 4K TV which comes at half the price of this TV and buy a mid-segment sedan, with loads of money left on you.
The human population is massive. It is currently estimated to stand at 7 billion. Environmentalists state that the optimum number of humans on the planet should have been 2 billion; we are a resource intensive species. Unlike the animals, we are used to a regular supply of food and water apart from clothing and other resources. Providing food for all of us is a massive affair. Our fertilizer induced lands have lost most of their natural nutrients, and they are overburdened. In these times, it is necessary to find farming alternatives that can help to bring a sustainable change in our food production mechanisms. One such method is Hydroponics.
Hydroponics is a plant growing technique which produces plants using limited water. The technique is so efficient that it saves almost 90% water in comparison to traditional farming methods. It is also space saving so you can get maximum growing potential out of a tiny place.
The makers of Ecofarm
Now a Dutch startup called Ecobird has brought a Kickstarter campaign for their Ecofarm. Ecofarm is a mini-loop ecosystem in which the nutrients from a Goldfish’s excrements are used to grow plants in the grow tank above. As the fish poop is extracted from the water, the water is cleaned too. All that needs to be done for the fish is to feed it.
The triangular shaped Ecofarm’s grow tank will allow you to grow small herbs like basil and thyme. You can also grow small tomatoes in the Ecofarm. The makers claim that the Ecofarm is capable of providing enough nutrients for these plants to grow.
This is a good start and hopefully will engage more people to come up with similar products that will expand their capacity. Hopefully, someday your septic tank will be capable of fueling your food garden making you self-sufficient as well as saving you money for important things in life like beer.
The campaign has a goal of 125,000 Euros which is a big sum. The developers have gotten 13,520 Euros till the writing of this article with 16 days to spare. The idea of the Ecofarm is great, it also shows how a symbiotic relation with nature can help us clean the evil from the world that is hunger. As Charlie Chaplin said in The Great Dictator, “In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful.”
Inventions like the Ecofarm if supported and taken further by the people will help to make a society free from menace like world hunger. It will also help us concentrate on undertaking more intellectual adventures like a self-sustained space colony.
