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Watch: How a Realistic Dinosaur Was Created For ‘Jurassic World’

Jurassic Park is considered a cinematic milestone due to the ground-breaking mix of CGI and animatronics used to bring dinosaurs to life. Jurassic World proudly carries on the tradition of mixing CGI and practical visual effects to bring the park, which took 65 million years in making, to life. Although Jurassic World employs more CGI than its predecessor, the film also utilised some fine animatronics to create a closer look at the dinosaurs.

CGI stands for computer-generated imagery, using computers to add images in movies or TV shows.

A video released by Legacy Effects explains how a believable, life-like Apatosaurus was created for the movie. The scene in question is when Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard encounter a dying Apatosaurus. What is more impressive is that the emotions expressed by Apatosaurus in the film were achieved through the use of mechanics, not CGI.

Jurassic World, the latest installment in the Jurassic Park series, has already earned more than a billion dollars at the box-office and has become the most popular entry after the first Jurassic Park film.

Watch the video below to see how Legacy Effects created a life-like Apatosaurus.

June 28, 2015

Unboxing : HTC One ME

HTC has a new handset on the block and it is called the One ME. With improvements in terms of hardware and software all around, the One Me also features a matte finish back, 2 TB micro SD support and the latest Sense 7.0.

In the box :

A HTC One ME Handset
USB power Cable
USB Wall Charger
In Ear Phones
Ear Tips
Documentation

HTC has taken the new design philosophy of the One M9 and tricked it down to the One ME. With the Notorious new chipset in there, many will ask why HTC decided to go with Mediatek.

The Helio X10 chipset has promising capabilities, it supports display refresh rates of up to 120Hz and slow-motion video recording at up to 480fps at an undisclosed resolution. The Helio X10, which is a 64-bit chipset with eight Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.2GHz also has the PowerVR G6200 GPU.

Hardware wise the One Me packs a good set, a 2K display, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage which can go upto 2TB with the use of an external microSD. However only recently a 200GB card was released, 2TBmight be further away than expected.

Specifications	HTC One ME
Display	5.2-inch Super LCD3
Resolution	WQHD 1440×2560 pixels : 565 ppi pixel density
Chipset	MediaTek Helio X10
Processor	Octa-Cora 2.2 GHz
GPU	PowerVR G6200
RAM	3 GB
Storage	32 GB
MicroSD Support	Yes, Upto 2TB
Rear Camera	20MP, f2.2, BSI Sensor, 4K Video Recording
Front Camera	HTC Ultrapixel, f2.0
Battery	2,840mAh
Operating System	Android Lollipop 5.0.2 with HTC Sense 7.0
Price	Rs. 40,500

The handset feels greta in the hand, this White with gold colour is synonymous with the HTC One E9+, however the One ME has a matte white back as opposed to the glossy white on the E9+ . The accents are polished in a rose gold and look fantastic. Rose gold is also used in the front metal parts and the bezel along with the frame which is one single unit, and again looks elegant.

With our initial usage the phone has not heated up, despite rumours, however we are testing further.

Stay tuned for our full review.

June 27, 2015

This Google Project Will Blow Your Mind Away

Once again, Google impresses us with its world-changing research efforts. The company’s Project Soli, which has been developed at Google’s secretive Advanced Technology and Projects lab in San Francisco, will allow you to interact with gadgets by simple gestures in air.

You may ask, so what is new about controlling your gadgets with hand gestures? For we already have Xbox Kinect, PlayStation Move and of course, JARVIS. What makes Soli unique is that the system can identify subtle finger movements using radar built into tiny microchips.

According to lead researcher Ivan Poupyrev, the team’s breakthrough will be a game changer.

Most sensors are camera-based, such as Kinect and Move. They act only when they capture gestures and require additional hardware. Soli’s microchips can be embedded into anything – from TVs to wearables, and this is the game-changing quality that Poupyrev refers to.

“Using a tiny, microchip-based radar to track hand movements we can now track the minutest movements and twitches of the human hand to interact with computers and wearable devices,” says Poupyrev.

The team has managed to overcome its biggest challenge: to fit a shoe-box sized radar on a tiny microchip. The team worked with German chipmaker Infineon for 10 months, finding new ways to shrink the radar’s components. Now, the chips are ready for mass-production.

‘Soli can pick up hand movements as far as a metre away as in Minority Report. But in reality this is too tiring,’ Poupyrev says. ‘Until now, we lacked the fidelity to capture hand movements in sufficient detail. But now using radar, for the first time in history you can build Minority Report type interfaces.’

Poupyrev recently demonstrated Project Soli in front of developers in California. The project’s open source technology will be handed over to developers later this year.

Google deserves credit for envisioning this project. The company has always pushed the boundaries of knowledge. They need to be appreciated for taking on resource intensive projects without compromising with their quarterly results.

Watch the video below to help understand the project better:

June 27, 2015
New Leak Gives a Glimpse at What Samsung Note 5 Might Look Like

Samsung’s next flagship phablet is one of the most talked-about topic right now. Many speculations and rumours about the device’s features and launch date have been uncovered till now. But, the main cloud of mystery is related to the appearance of the device.

Thanks to a French blog, NoWhereElse, we can now somewhat draw up an image of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 in our minds.

The blog shows the rendered images of a case that is designed for the Galaxy Note 5. From the case, we can somewhat deduce that the Note 5 could have almost the same body design as the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. There is also a cut-out for an S Pen stylus at the bottom and a speaker positioned in the same area. It is a notable change since the previous Note devices had its speaker at the back. It is likely that the Note 5 will come with a semi-protuding camera unit, again, like the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. The rendered image also shows a microUSB port, so the device may not feature USB Type C charging.

Although there is some time before the smartphone is unveiled, we already have a vague picture of what’s ahead. As far as the spec rumours go, it is said that the Note 5 will be featuring a 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. An improved version of Samsung’s Exynos 7422 is speculated to administer the computing operations. It is said to have a mammoth battery of 4100mAh, which is necessary for a phablet with these specifications.

Amid rumours and reports, we brought to you the arrival date of the Note 5, i.e. September 4, and we also learnt that the 32GB Galaxy Note 5 variant will launch at Rs. 64,999 in India. With the iPhone 6s launch scheduled for the same month, we’re now impatiently waiting for September to arrive.

June 27, 2015
Apple Begins Manufacturing the New iPhone With ‘Force Touch’

According to a new report, Apple has started the manufacturing process for the new iPhone. We’re talking about the iPhone 6s which will be arriving this September. The Force Touch feature, first introduced in the Apple Watch and the new 13-inch MacBook, has been expected to be included in the new iPhone for a few months now.

‘Force Touch’ is a feature that detects the level of force in a tap and responds accordingly. For example, a light tap on the screen will perform another task than a hard tap. Tiny electrodes surrounding the Retina display sense the difference in the amount of pressure applied on screen. Thus, a user can perform simple tasks such as fast-forwarding a movie or using pressure to zoom in on a map with ease.

Apple begins production from the first of July. The company expects the production to go smoothly due to the similarities in design between the new and existing iPhone 6. Apple has spent more than two years trying to perfect ‘Force Touch’, which will enhance the user experience when using pressure-sensitive displays.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the next-gen iPhone would be thicker than the existing iPhone due to the integration of ‘Force Touch’ feature. Also, Apple is reportedly integrating support for the feature in the beta versions of iOS 9, which will allow developers to make use of ‘Force Touch’ in navigation and media controls.

Source : [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-26/apple-suppliers-said-to-start-making-iphones-with-force-touch”]Bloomberg[/tw-button]

June 27, 2015
How the Tech World is Celebrating the Same-Sex Marriage Decision

After a long and tiring struggle, US Supreme Court has finally ruled that same-sex couples can marry nationwide, marking the significant event in the history books. This event took place a little over a decade after Massachusetts became the first state in the US to legalize gay marriage.

The Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote on Friday that the American Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. Along with the rest of the world, tech houses were ecstatic and quickly celebrated the decision by the use of social media. Take a look:

The White House’s Facebook account now has a profile picture in which the building itself is all the colors of the spectrum.

Let’s start with the leader of the free world, President Barack Obama:

Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins

— President Obama (@POTUS) June 26, 2015

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook, who came out to the world recently, tweeted:

Today marks a victory for equality, perseverance and love. — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 26, 2015

Twitter itself called Friday a “monumental day for equal rights” and encouraged people to use a pair of Twitter emojis that included the rainbow flag, a symbol of the gay community.

This is a monumental day for equal rights. Join the celebration by using the new Twitter emoji #Pride and #LoveWins: https://t.co/h1wAuNn7Qi — Twitter Open (@TwitterOpen) June 26, 2015

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said the decision marked “a historic moment.”

A historic moment and step forward for equality in America. #LoveWins — Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) June 26, 2015

Google and YouTube played their part as well in celebrating this historic event. Google included a subdued note reading, “YouTube and Google are proud to celebrate marriage equality. #ProudtoLove.”

Facebook quickly added a feature super easy way to help its users celebrate gay marriage rights. With this, Facebook-ers can add a gay pride flag filter to their profile picture. Click here to convert yours.

While this ruling affects a country half way around the global, we’re happy to join in the celebration of the world taking steps in the right direction.

India, it’s now your turn.

June 27, 2015
iOS 9’s ‘Low Power Mode’ to Reduce iPhone’s Performance by 40%

While iPhone users have a lot to boast about, battery life of their smartphones is not something that is easily discussed. Apple acknowledged the problem, and at WWDC this year, it was one of the most important issues addressed. At the event, we learned that iOS 9 would feature a “low power mode” that would extend the battery life upto three hours. The mode will allow for devices to reduce power consumption and restrict to only phone call capability.

Now, a new report has revealed that the mode will reduce the performance of the iPhone in exchange for improving the battery life.

The guys at MacRumors ran a benchmark test on iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5s to test the device’s processor power. They discovered that the single and multi-core scores for the processors dropped by 40% when iOS 9’s “Low Power Mode” was turned on.

When turned on, the mode reduces the CPU speed, which results in the shutting down of background activities like mail fetch, background app refresh, motion effects and brightness. Nothing has been mentioned about activities such as browsing web, making calls after iOS 9 activates the energy saving mode.

Source : [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/25/ios-9-low-power-mode-benchmarks/”]MacRumors [/tw-button]

June 27, 2015
Refuge: The First Short Film Shot Entirely in Moonlight

For Sci-Fi movie fans, this film will suit your taste. But, if you are a camera enthusiast as well, this movie could literally inspire you to think beyond the regular rules and boundaries. Yes, ‘Refuge’ is a narrative short film that used only the moon as its light source. No fill lights, no backlights, no diffuse light – just light from the moon.

While filming, the lighting of the video is done shot by shot. This means that when you relocate the camera to shoot a different angle, the lights must be moved as well to ensure the subject is always lit correctly. This is one of the reasons why films take so long to shoot.

Director of the movie, Sam Shapson, said that Refuge could very well be the first narrative film that was shot entirely in the moonlight. The team behind the project recorded the footages in 4K using the Atomos Shogun Recorder and Canon Prime Lenses (24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm). The film was shot with the overall ISO of 51,200. In very basic terms, ISO is the level of sensitivity of your camera to light. The lower the ISO number, the less sensitive it is to the light while a higher ISO number increases the sensitivity of your camera. But higher sensitivity comes at a price – it adds grain or “noise” to the pictures.

The whole movie was shot using a Sony Alpha a7S digital camera. On replying to the comments on their Vimeo page, Sam Shapson explained:

We tested all of the picture profiles and seriously considered pp7 for s-log, but unfortunately we couldn’t reconcile the way it handled noise in the deep shadows unless we graded down about 2 stops, which we couldn’t afford to risk committing to. Therefore we landed on pp6, shot wide open at 1/25 with the speedbooster. Lastly, the 4K from the shogun was utilized to give Neat Video every bit of info we could throw it to smooth out the noise. Still, I’m constantly reminding myself how the images here are so much more clear and vibrant than what my eyes were seeing out there in the dark. Still blows me away.

The resulting video is, unsurprisingly, far from absolute perfection, but the Sony’s low light capabilities are absolutely unbelievable.

Watch the movie below:

REFUGE // A Moonlit Short Film from Sam Shapson on Vimeo.

The video definitely looks unique. I think it is awesome that directors are willing to go this far and bring science fiction fans everywhere something new to get excited about. It’s certainly the most interesting use of the technology we’ve seen so far. What do you think about the short film that was shot using only moonlight? Comment below.

June 27, 2015
Facebook is Slowly Turning its Independent Messenger App into WhatsApp

Recently, Facebook came out with a new feature that allows you to log into its Messenger without actually having a Facebook account. The social media giant made this announcement on Wednesday, stating that this move is being done to push Messenger’s count of 700 million users, higher. They said that users in US, Peru, Canada and Venezuela would no longer need a Facebook account to use Messenger.

Users in the mentioned countries can make an account using their names and their phone number only. They can upload their phone contacts to the app. Yes, we know what you’re thinking, this is quite similar to popular instant messaging apps like WeChat and (Facebook-owned) WhatsApp.

With Messenger, we’ve been focused on creating the best messaging experience possible by giving people a fun and easy way to connect and express themselves with friends. With this update, more people can enjoy all the features that are available on Messenger – including photos, videos, group chats, voice and video calling, stickers and more.

Last year in July, when Facebook announced that it will be removing the messaging feature from its mobile app, which will require people to use its standalone Messenger app instead. This forced users to download the Messenger app to chat with their Facebook contacts on their mobiles.

Just a few months prior to this, Facebook had acquired WhatsApp for $19 Billion. Then why, has Facebook been trying to make Facebook Messenger more and more like WhatsApp? It owns both. What difference would remain between the two, which were once entirely different apps?

The math is simple. Currently, WhatsApp has about 800 million active users, and Messenger has about 700 million monthly users. If added up, the number would outweigh any other competitive instant messaging app. Messaging has become a way of life, and there are many users that use Facebook purely for chatting and talking with friends. This group of users will find the change very welcoming.

Mark Zuckerberg is also on a spree to convert the chat-only app to something more. Messenger has, earlier this year, introduced the payment feature that allows you to make payments through the Messenger interface. He also introduced video calling and location sharing features.

Needless to say, we’re certainly interested to see where the continuously-evolving Messenger finally lands in the near future.

June 27, 2015
4 Simple Tips to Help Safeguard Your Smartphone this Monsoon

While we’re relieved the rain is washing away the scorching summer, monsoon can be tedious. Clothes don’t dry, the roads are mucky, and you’re perpetually losing your umbrella. More than anything, our precious smartphones need protection. Now, unless your phone comes with an inbuilt mechanism that expels water as it comes, it is most likely that it need protection.

To make sure you have a happy monsoon, we bring some easy hacks to protect your phone:

1. Use a spare phone

In this case, the saying ‘better to be safe than sorry’ should be implemented. You can just leave aside your smartphone at home and use a spare phone for a while, maybe a Nokia 1100 or a reliable oldie that has what it takes to withstand the season. But remember to cover up your old device with a safe plastic casing.

2. Zip Lock

Normally, Ziplock pouches are used to store food or medicines. But it is also one of the cheapest ways to protect your phone from getting drenched.

If this option is not available, any plastic bag would work out just fine. These are the most basic methods to protect your smartphone, and it always works out.

3. Use Cling-film or Balloons

Another low-cost method, cling film can help save your smartphone from the damage. Cling-film is a plastic foil with which our mothers used to pack us our tiffins. Tight and air-locking, this is yet another cheap method to protect your smartphone.

Wondering how you can use a balloon? Take an inflated balloon and place the phone on it, screen side facing towards the balloon. Now slowly, start deflating the balloon till the end. You will see the mobile completely wrapped up with the rubber around it. The cover is water-tight and will protect your phone from the water-induced damage. Just for more protection, you can repeat the procedure again on the other side of the handset, thus gaining a double layer.

4. Conceal the openings on your phone

Try to conceal the open areas of your phone like the micro-USB port, headphone jacks, speakers, etc with a tape. Be warned! Though this method is not a foolproof solution, it may help reducing the risk of water entering the device.

June 27, 2015
Details About Upcoming Apple Products Revealed by El Capitan’s Beta Version

A new beta version of OS X El Capitan has revealed a new line of Apple products. According to a report, the beta version references for future products include a 21.5-inch 4K Retina display and a Bluetooth remote control.

Source: 9To5Mac.com

Apple introduced the 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina display last year. It is only logical that if Apple wants to introduce a smaller version of Retina display with 4K resolution, it would upgrade the 21.5 inch Mac for it. The new beta version references Mac support for Apple-made display panel with a 4096 x 2304 resolution.

A new Intel graphics chipset, Iris Pro 600 was referenced in the El Capitan beta version. Along with that, four new AMD Radeon processors – M380, M390, M395 and M395X – were mentioned. It is possible that these chipsets would power the 4K iMac and the new models.

Source: 9To5Mac

A new file inside El Capitan has revealed the possibility of a Bluetooth Remote Control being developed at Apple. The report says that ” this new piece of hardware integrates a dedicated Bluetooth wireless chip, can connect with devices via an infrared sensor, and includes a Multi-Touch trackpad with inertial scrolling support”. The device also seems to support audio, which means it could be integrated with Siri.

The report suggests that the new remote could be a part of an upcoming revamped Apple TV. However, there is no mention of Apple TV and the file doesn’t exist in public versions of OS X and OS X Yosemite Beta release.

June 26, 2015
Apple Plans to Include a Dual-Lens Camera in the iPhone 7 : Report

Apple is famously known for the strict quality measures it employs in all of its products, thanks to the company’s late co-founder Steve Jobs’ desire for top-notch products. Despite all the fun Samsung may make of Apple, one thing it cannot make fun of is the camera quality of the iPhone. The camera is recognized for capturing professional-like photographs and has even been employed as the main camera in some films.

So, how do you improve a cell phone camera famous for being close to a professional camera? By adding another lens. Recently, a report has emerged from Taiwan which claims that Apple is planning to include a dual-lens front camera in the iPhone 7. No, we’re not talking about the iPhone 6s, which is expected to be out in September. The iPhone 7 will be revealed next year, in 2016.

Apple reportedly faced problems, such as blurred images and other performance issues, while testing the dual-lens camera system. It seems the company has found solution with the help of LinX Imaging, an Israeli company specialising in camera-technology, which was bought by Apple in April this year.

The report also mentions that Apple faced manufacturing problems regarding dual-lens camera, which have been solved in a deal with Largan, one of the major suppliers of camera lens modules for smartphones and tablets. Apple has recently placed more orders for the same lens with Largan. It seems that Largan may manufacture the lens required for the iPhone 7.

HTC was the first company to introduce the dual-lens system in the One M8, which received mixed reception from the users. If the report is true, then iPhone 7 may turn out to be a game-changer by setting the standard higher for cameras in smartphones.

June 26, 2015
You Can Now Buy Sandisk’s Massive (Yet Tiny) 200GB MicroSD for Rs. 15,250

SanDisk’s mammoth 200 GB microSD card, which caused a bit of a stir at MWC in Barcelona this year, is finally up for grabs. Pushing the limits of portable storage, the device has a massive storage capacity of 200GB and is claimed to have a transfer rate of 90MB per sec, or 1,200 photos per minute. As a Class 10 memory card, it is presumably geared towards photographers and filmmakers who need more space than other SD cards can typically provide.

The microSD card is also waterproof, temperature proof, shockproof, X-ray proof, and magnet proof.

Commenting on the launch, Dinesh Bahal, Vice President, Product Marketing, SanDisk, said;

We continue to push technology boundaries to deliver record-breaking solutions that transform the way consumers use their mobile devices. By focusing on achieving new capacity and speed milestones, we are able to deliver trusted mobile memory solutions that give consumers the freedom to never stop capturing, saving, or sharing – with the benefit of fast speeds to transfer it all quickly.

Now, we are aware that many phone manufacturers have limited the size capacity of their devices. For example, the LG G4 can carry up to 2TB of data while the Zenfone 2 can support up to 64GB. Most smartphones only list a maximum of 128GB Micro SD card storage, but there are several which push the limit. That means users who want to add more data storage to devices like the LG G4, HTC One M9+ and HTC One ME (which come with the 2TB of expandable storage option), should be able to use the new 200GB Micro SD card easily.

Imagine the number of movies your smartphone will be able to hold.

For now, the microSD card is up on Amazon for a prize of $240 (Approx. Rs 15,250) and is backed by a ten-year limited warranty. The e-commerce website is shipping to most parts of India.

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June 26, 2015
Dishonored: Definitive Edition is Now Available for Pre-order

Good news for Dishonored fans. Leading game distributor e-xpress has launched the pre-orders for the Dishonored: Definitive Edition in India. Published by Bethesda Games, Dishonored is an action-adventure game which follows Corvo Attano, a bodyguard-turned-assassin who is framed for murdering his employer.

The Definitive Edition was announced by developer Arkane Studios a few days ago during Bethesda’s presentation at the 2015 E3. The edition will contain a remastered version of the original game for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and all the downloadable content (DLC). The DLC will contain The Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches, along with Dunwall City Trials and Void Walker’s Arsenal.

Dishonored was released in 2012 to positive reviews and appeared on several “Best Games of 2012” lists.The game has been voiced by known actors such as Susan Sarandon, Carrie Fisher and Lena Heady, who are best known for acting in films and shows like Enchanted, Star Wars and Game of Thrones, respectively.

Dishonored: Definitive Edition is now available for pre-order at Rs. 2,999 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. To order your game copy now, click here.

June 26, 2015
Watch Samsung Take a Dig at Apple in its Latest Galaxy S6 Ad

It seems Samsung will never be tired of poking fun at Apple, whether it is live streaming, bigger displays, or suggesting iPhone users are gradually become “wall-huggers”. In a latest ad to promote the new Galaxy S6, Samsung understands the frustrations a user goes through when the charger has to be untangled to charge a phone.

The ad makes note of the lengths people will go through to connect their phones to a white cable. And as seen in one frame, a bundle of white wires. Samsung points out that they are the source of head-banging, back-ache and anger issues. Then, it shows its wireless charger, which makes the ordinary task of charging a phone, well, ordinary.

So how does Apple figure in this ad? The white cables represent the white charger that comes with every Apple product. To make the point more clear, one frame shows a woman frustratingly trying to connect her phone to a deck.

Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have buit-in wireless charging. Samsung may have made fun of Apple users, but S6 users will also have to take their charger everywhere they go.

After watching the ad, Taylor Swift will probably write an open letter, asking Apple to include wireless charging in the next iPhone.

June 26, 2015