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NVIDIA Tegra K1 gives Acer Chromebook 13 hours of uptime

The Acer Chromebook 13 is probably the first Chromebook out there sporting NVIDIA’s Tegra K1 chip, and it looks like it’s not too shabby at all. Both NVIDIA and Acer are harping on such qualities multi-tasking performance and the device’s mobile form factor. But at the top of the list is probably an industry first – 13 hours of battery time for the device.

You would expect great multi-tasking performance from the quad-core Tegra K1, which partnered with a visually light Android-based Chrome OS would truly give efficient work-and-play processes. And because it is NVIDIA, you would also expect decent GPU performance from the chip – probably not up to 3D gaming level, but it can take whatever visually-rich content the web can throw at it.

But the catch and the selling point here is really the Tegra K1’s power efficiency and the ability to work in a fanless (and therefore silent) form factor. This breakthrough is what gives NVIDIA the confidence to claim that the battery can run up to 13 hours on a single full charge on normal device usage.

The Acer Chromebook 13 has a 13-inch screen which is just about right for your mobile platform needs. It also incorporates a full-sized keyboard for times when you need to do real typing on the device. It has 16GB of internal storage and incorporates 2GB DDR3 RAM. This new Chromebook is now available for pre-order via Amazon or Best Buy for USD$279.99.

Blackphone reportedly rooted, makers to patch vulnerabilities

The Android community already had an answer for those who wanted a phone with extreme security and privacy in mind – that is the Blackphone. This device is designed to prevent usual security vulnerabilities that normal people wouldn’t mind, so when a hacker announces via Twitter that he has found a way to root the Blackphone, the makers had to stand up and take notice.

At 2:53AM yesterday, researcher @TeamAndIRC tweeted: “I think the BlackPhone just fell…”, alluding to the time where he claims he may have just rooted a Blackphone device. At 8:00AM, the same account tweeted a picture of a t-shirt print, announcing that yes, he had just rooted a Blackphone and all he got was a t-shirt for the effort.

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This was all happening while Defcon 2014, the hacking conference was going on in Las Vegas, just a few days after the Blackhat 2014 security conference took place. Naturally, Blackphone was present at Defcon and apparently went and had a chat with @TeamAndIRC. According to an official blogpost, Blackphone had asked the hacker to explain that the root needed direct user interaction – just securitese for saying that root access was very difficult to obtain to begin with.

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The official blog statement did confirm the other issues that @TeamAndIRC had exploited and assured users that they were already aware of the vulnerabilities, and had just begun patching them. As of the last official blogpost, Blackphone was still waiting for @TeamAndIRC to discuss the last vulnerability he took advantage of. Team Blackphone said they were pretty sure that they would be able to patch whatever that flaw would be as soon as possible.

SOURCE: @TeamAndIRC

High-end Meta M1 smartwatch now available for pre-order

Meta, the premium brand that spun off from watch retailers Fossil, is making a new high-end smartwatch that is described to be a “premium watch that just happens to be smart”. Of course, by smart, they mean that the Meta M1 watch can be interfaced with your smartphone. Let’s all take a look at the details of this glitzy new wearable.

First off, we need to say that no, it will not be going under the umbrella of Android Wear – instead Meta is putting out an app both for Android and iOS that will allow your handheld device to interface with the watch. That aside, the watch expectedly looks and feels expensive, as Meta CEO Bill Geiser says that the watch conveys the "beautiful design, quality materials, fine craftsmanship, and attention to detail" that the Meta brand wants to be known for.

But is it worth it for the company to dip its feet into smart computing and smart devices? Geiser certainly thinks so, saying that they need to become more “relevant” for users. The Meta M1 is actually a collection of watches that sport high-end stainless steel cases, stainless steel or ballistic nylon lugs, and a high quality straps. The watches also come in a wide range of colors.

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For that matter, you can also use the app to change the look of your watch to match. The watches start at USD$249 all the way up to USD$449, and will be shipping by October. Meanwhile, you can visit the official website of the watch to pre-order and get more information about the collection.

VIA: SlashGear

Crazy Taxi fulfils your dream of crazy driving in the city

If you ever had a secret dream of becoming a cab driver or of driving crazily around the city without consequences (if it’s the latter, we’re worried about you), then you can fulfil it now, at least digitally. Crazy Taxi City Rush is the latest strategy time management game from the makers of the original Crazy Taxi game from SEGA that can possibly reduce productivity and add more calluses onto your fingers as you try to be the craziest cab driver in the city (again, virtually speaking).

The aim of the game is simple: deliver as many passengers as you can to their destinations during the specific time allotted for you. But unlike real like driving, there are no speed limits in this game. “Your taxi. Your rules” is the battle cry of this game and that means you can weave your way through traffic, go past slow-moving cars, cut corners and go through as many obstacles as you want, just to bring your (probably terrified) passengers to where they need to be. This is probably the only time you will be rewarded the crazier you drive, so take advantage of it.

And since this is a supposedly crazy game, even the way your taxi looks should be crazy enough. You can customize and build modern or classic cabs to your heart’s content and take it through a 3D city that continually expands and adds even more attractions and crazy characters as well . And what is driving without awesome music to accompany it? You can choose from your own music library to inspire and energize your crazy driving.

Crazy Taxi City Rush is available for free download at the Google Play Store. It also has in-app purchases so make sure that if a kid is using your phone or tablet to play with the game, you need to turn off the the in-app purchase settings if you don’t want any unauthorised purchases.

PowerSquare charges multiple devices from anywhere in the pad

The days of wall chargers for devices are dwindling down, as more and more consumers have multiple gadgets and are constantly mobile (not to mention the battery drain since we use these gadgets a lot). PowerSquare is the latest entry into the wireless charging market and it lets you power multiple devices and place it anywhere in the pad, freeing you from the few seconds it will take you to dock a gadget properly.

Using the Adaptive Position-Free (APF) system, a technology that is patent-pending, PowerSquare lets you charge as many devices as you can, as long as they touch the pad’s surface. It uses transmitter coils that is easy for consumers in terms of usability while at the same time it’s not too heavy on the wallet. But of course the major requirement is that the gadgets, whether they’re old or new, have to be Qi-wireless charging compatible. So that means if you have Nokia Lumia devices, most Samsung Galaxy phones, Motorola Droids, Nexus (4,5,7) and several LG smartphones among others, then this wireless charger will work for you.

PowerSquare is part of the Wireless Power Consortium that developed the the Qi interface standard and includes OEMs like Asus, HTC, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Blackberry and Sony. This means that when they finally roll out the product, they will have official certification for Qi-wireless charging compatibility. While wireless charging is still in its early stages, early adaptors will probably appreciate and spend for a device like this.

Now as to how much this will cost and where you’ll be able to buy PowerSquare, that is still unclear at this moment. While their website says it will be available in the market by the end of 2014, there is still no specific date and price range for it. If you want to be one of the first to order it, you can register your email address on their official website and they’ll send an email when they’re already accepting reservations and orders.

SOURCE: PowerSquare

VIA: SlashGear

Navdy HUD projects virtual images onto car’s windshield

Several sci-fi movies from the past (and recent) years have scenes showing holograms being projected on a car’s dashboard or windshield. But with the advances in technology, sooner or later, that kind of device would not be fiction anymore, but a common reality for consumers. Navdy’s aftermarket HUD is bringing it one step closer, as the device acts as a Google Glass for your car.

Aside from just using it as a navigation system through Google Maps, the device can also be used as a secondary screen for your smartphone, as it can project several functions at least six feet in front of your windshield. Through the use of gesture controls, you can show calls and messages into your line of sight so that you don’t need to look at your phone every time a message or call comes in. If you want to answer the call, you just need to wave your hand to the left or if you’re avoiding (hiding from) a call, just wave it to the other direction.

As for reading and sending messages and making calls, you will be able to use Google’s voice recognition system to do those functions. You can even use it to post something on Twitter while you’re driving (and maybe not be pulled over by the police for tweeting while driving).

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Navdy can also be used for Google Now and most of the major music apps, which might eventually make the need for a tape or CD deck in your car obsolete. Your other notifications can also be projected but not all of them can be actionable. There's also a split-screen option so you can see both your notifications and your navigation details.

The device, which runs on Android 4.4, has a 5.1-inch transparent HUD display and has WiFi and Bluetooth for connectivity. For the touchless controls, it uses an IR camera and in terms of navigating, it includes an accelerometer, digital compass and ambient light sensor. It can also warn you when your oil needs replacing and when your car needs to be serviced next. You can pre-order it now at $299 although by the time it hits retail stores in 2015, it will cost you $499. But if you really want a cool device in your car and you could afford it, then you wouldn’t mind shelling out that much for sure.

VIA: SlashGear

Must download game: Skulls of the Shogun for Android

“Skulls of the Shogun”, a turn-based strategy game built by developers 17-Bit, has had gamers on PC and iOS glowing with all the nice things to say about this game. It’s about time that it’s made the jump to Android, and not surprisingly, it is still as amazing as they come.

The fellows at 17-Bit have resumes that include Sega, Nintendo, Irem, Sony, and EA among their former employers – so we are not surprised that this game is as fine as they come. The bobblehead-inspired art of the game is in keeping with the zaniness of the concept – you are a dead Japanese general/shogun who wakes up in the afterlife… and there is a long queue to get into paradise.

As the dead general rebels against the guards, he gathers an army of undead to do the fighting for him. This is turn-based fun, without the hexagons to bore you with limited movement. The fighting aspect of the game is pretty fluid and straight-forward – without spoiling it for you, we can say that you’ll learn to do it the first time you try it. That is not to say that the game is not challenging at all, the fight AI will not give you any freebies, so you have to be on your toes.

Skulls of the Shogun E3 2012 Trailer

The game is a USD$1.99 download from the Google Play Store, and we can assure you that even just by the game length (it is looong), the game pays for itself many times over. The gameplay is deep, and will sure to keep you interested for long periods of time, unlike other such games out there which really fail in this aspect. Check out the source link to get it.