Please create an account to participate in the Slashdot moderation system

 



Forgot your password?
typodupeerror
×
Businesses

Japanese and Swiss Watchmakers Scoff At Smartwatches 399

jfruh (300774) writes "With rumors swirling about Apple entering the wearable space with an iWatch, you'd think that the Japanese and Swiss companies that have dominated high-end watchmaking for more than a century would be scrambling to catch up. But there were virtually no smartwatches on display at the Baselworld trade fair, and the watchmaking giants had no plans to produce any. Company representatives seemed sure that people in practice would be uninterested in constantly recharging their watches and downloading software updates just to tell time."
Television

Apple, Google, and Amazon's Quest For One Remote Control Is Futile 130

smaxp writes: "If the cable and satellite live television providers were to comment on the latest Amazon Fire TV or reports of the new Google Android and Apple TVs, it would likely be in the voice and character of Charlton Heston: 'We will give up our remotes when they are pried from our cold dead hands.' Amazon's Fire TV and the rumored Google Android and Apple TVs excite and then disappoint. At first glance, it looks like cable and satellite television are about to be outflanked and the eternal struggle with the TV remote and set-top box will be solved with an intuitive interface to search both live television and archival content from streamed online video companies such as Netflix. Sadly, it isn't so. The cable and satellite companies that provide live television have made sure this won’t happen, because putting Amazon in the forefront would make live television providers’ brands less relevant. Amazon would then also have a wedge to pry its way into the live television ecosystem."

Comment raspberry pi (Score 1) 96

I'm just running XBMC on a raspberry pi, less expensive and it just works with my TV's remote. Plays my 1080p videos just fine. Until x265 becomes supported in XBMC, I should be fine. Will the Fire TV have enough processing power for x265, and does it support HDMI-CEC?

Comment This is how the Xbox One works (Score 1) 96

Thus, even if you have access to a movie for free through Netflix, using the Voice Search for that movie will only bring up Amazon's paid options.

This is also the problem with the Xbox One, it only searches the MS store and none of your apps like Netflix or Hulu. It also can't search your DVR to suggest shows/movies you have already recorded.

Comment Mantle not limited to one vendor's hardware (Score 1) 107

Like AMD's Mantle API, it promises reduced CPU overhead and lower-level access to graphics hardware. But DirectX 12 won't be limited to one vendor's hardware.

Mantle will work on this hardware as well, and won't be limited to one vendor's operating system. From AMD's Mantle FAQ

Privacy

Hungarian Law Says Photogs Must Ask Permission To Take Pictures 149

An anonymous reader writes "Those planning a weekend break in Budapest take note. From 15 March anyone taking photographs in Hungary is technically breaking the law if someone wanders into shot, under a new civil code that outlaws taking pictures without the permission of everyone in the photograph. According to the justice ministry, people taking pictures should look out for those 'who are not waving, or who are trying to hide or running out of shot.' Officials say expanding the law on consent to include the taking of photographs, in addition to their publication, merely codifies existing court practice. However, Hungary's photographers call the law vague and obstructive, saying it has left the country of Joseph Pulitzer and photography legend Robert Capa out of step with Europe."

Comment PonoPlayer is a triangle (Score 1) 413

I wish they'd make something easier to hold or put in your pocket, the triangle shape of PonoPlayer is horrible. I don't like the buttons either. It doesn't look like it'll be useful for other things like a WiFi web browser, which is disappointing as well, I don't want to have to carry multiple devices around, and I do want a WiFi web browser device with me at all times. Nice idea though, good luck with it.

Slashdot Top Deals

E = MC ** 2 +- 3db

Working...