| What to Expect from CES 2015 Posted: 31 Dec 2014 12:03 PM PST  The Internet of things, VR, 5K monitors, and more
2015 is nearly upon us, and that means the next Consumer Electronics Show is right around the corner. We'll be at CES 2015 and will provide you with in-depth news and videos on the latest tech from the show floor. But since we're already super excited about the show, we thought we would give you our top 15 predictions for what you can expect to see at CES 2015. |
| Microsoft to Discontinue Original Kinect for Windows Sensor in 2015 Posted: 31 Dec 2014 12:01 PM PST  Out with the old, in with the new
It was only a matter of time before the original Kinect for Windows sensor would be set aside once Microsoft had released the Kinect for Windows v2. The new device was released in October and now Microsoft has announced that it is discontinuing the original Kinect for Windows in 2015. "The move to v2 marks the next stage in our journey toward more natural human computing," said Microsoft in a statement. "The new sensor provides a host of new and improved features, including enhanced body tracking, greater depth fidelity, full 1080p high-definition video, new active infrared capabilities, and an expanded field of view. Likewise, SDK 2.0 offers scores of updates and enhancements, not the least of which is the ability to create and publish Kinect-enabled apps in the Windows Store." Microsoft plans to phase out the original Kinect in 2015 but says it will do its best to meet the orders from business customers that still require large numbers of the v1 hardware. However, once the current stock is depleted, there will be no more v1 units for sale. The release of the original Kinect sparked interest from the PC community, which resulted in the device being hacked early in its lifecycle and then repurposed for other tasks. From being used as a 3D radar, to pairing the device with a Roomba for gesture-controlled cleaning, there have been some interesting innovations that came about once the Kinect was made available. What were some of your favorite Kinect-related innovations or hacks revolving around the v1 sensor? Sound off in the comments below! Follow Sean on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Lizard Squad Releases DDoS Attack Tool Starting at $6 per Month Posted: 31 Dec 2014 10:56 AM PST  Banking on its "fame"
The group that has claimed responsibility for bringing down Sony's PlayStation Network and Microsoft's Xbox Live with a series of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which began back in August, are now looking to make a profit. Lizard Squad has launched a DDoS tool called Lizard Stresser for anyone wishing to bring down a website or service for a fee. Eight price packages are being offered that ranges from $6 per month to $130 per month with adds-ons being offered for more power to take down a website. The starting price of $6 will result in a site being taken down for 100 seconds while $130 means a targeted site will be brought down for 30,000 seconds (over eight hours). A "lifetime" option is also being offered with one-time fees ranging from $30 to $500. According to the group, Lizard Stresser is available to anyone who is willing to pay with the customer being able choose any target of their choice. Lizard Squad is even implementing a referral system that will give 10 percent of the amount spent by friends. However, those who decide to deal with the group, and make use of Lizard Stresser, will only be able to make purchases with Bitcoin, according to the group's Twitter account. However, Lizard Squad states that PayPal support is "coming soon." Lizard Squad has become notorious for its targeting of many game networks and MMOs this year such as Battle.net, NCSoft, and League of Legends. Its latest attacks were once again aimed at Microsoft's Xbox Live and Sony's PlayStation Network on Christmas Day which resulted in Kim Dotcom offering the group 3,000 free vouchers for premium Mega accounts to stop their DDoS attack on both networks. Follow Sean on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Intel 530 Series 480GB SSD, Samsung 850 Pro Series 512GB SSD, and More! Posted: 31 Dec 2014 09:51 AM PST |
| Be Careful of 'WTF?' Malware on Steam Chat Posted: 31 Dec 2014 09:25 AM PST  As always, be suspicious of links in your Steam chat sessions
Hopefully you're getting to spend a bit of time in Steam over the holiday season, catching up on a treasure trove of games that you picked up on discount through various sales. While you're navigating Steam, however, be advised that there's a piece of malware spreading through Steam chat sessions. Messages on Steam chat saying "WTF?????" seem to link to a JPEG file, but it's really a malicious executable. If you click on the link, you'll end up downloading a .SCR file filled with malicious code. So, unless your chat buddies have a history of saying "WTF?????" followed by links to goofy pics, go ahead and assume they've been infected and that the message is a bogus one. Either way, play it safe and don't click. According to security blogger Graham Cluley, uploading the infected file to VirusTotal shows that only a small number of antivirus products detect it as known malware. That doesn't mean your AV solution won't catch it through another means, like heuristic scanning, but do yourself a solid by avoiding it altogether. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Run Ubuntu or Another Linux Distro in a Window on Your Chromebook Posted: 31 Dec 2014 09:06 AM PST  Another use for Chromebooks
Given the choice, most people would likely choose a Windows laptop over a Chromebook if both were free. They're not free, of course, and Chromebooks have found an audience due to their low price tags and ability to offer basic functionality, like surfing the web and being productive in Google's ecosystem. In addition, you can now run Linux in a Window on Chromebooks. Google evangelist François Beaufort made the revelation in a Google+ post, saying that it's now possible to run Linux in a Window on Chrome OS by installing the Crouton Chrome extension. However, there's a bit of housekeeping that needs to take place first -- you have to put your Chromebook in Developer Mode. Once you've done that and installed both the Crouton extension and Crouton tool (direct download link), you'll have to dink around with a few terminal commands, then you're ready to install whichever Linux distro suits your fancy. This probably isn't a game changing feature, though it's far more convenient than some of the other existing methods. It also addresses a concern that Chromebooks are mostly only useful when connected online. There are still things you can do on a Chromebook without an Internet connection, but if you're willing to install Linux and run it from within a Window, it opens up a whole new world for these budget-priced machines. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Thermaltake Tt eSports Breeds a Second Generation Black Laser Gaming Mouse Posted: 31 Dec 2014 08:13 AM PST  Program up to 35 macros across five profiles
Thermaltake's Tt eSports division has just uncaged a new rodent for gamers, the Black V2 laser gaming mouse. The Black V2 is a follow-up act to the original, and according to Thermaltake, it's been upgraded in just about every way possible, including the laser sensor, surface finish, grips, buttons, and even the mouse software, which Thermaltake says it retooled after going back to the drawing board. The second generation rodent is now armed with an Avago ADNS-9500 laser sensor capable of up 5,700 DPI and tracking over a wide variety of surfaces. Gamers can program four DPI levels per each of its five profiles, in 100 DPI increments. There's also a dedicated DPI indicator light that relays the current DPI setting. There are seven buttons in all, including the addition of a second thumb button. Each one can be programmed with a macro, bringing the total number of macros to 35 when configuring all five available profiles. Thermaltake says the Black V2 sports a new surface coating that's softer than before, along with a hexagonal patterned thumb grip that isn't present on the original. Look for the Black V2 to launch globally around the middle of next month for $50 (MSRP). Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
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