Hasta La Gadget!

We’re go out on a limb here and say that the Venn diagram of Engadget fans and Tolkien fans looks something like this. So, we figure you’ll probably want to hear about a brand new Chrome experiment that brings various parts of Middle Earth to life, including the Trollshaw and Dol Guldur. It starts with a pretty simple interactive map, but from there you’re able to dive into several locations and learn about Hobbit lore through text, animations and audio. At the end of each lesson on Tolkien’s fantasy world, you’re challenged to complete a simple mini game that has you causing flowers to bloom or avoiding troll attacks. While the WebGL-powered games are pretty impressive, its the HTML5 audio and animations that are the real eye-candy here — doubly so since they work just as well on a phone or tablet as they do your desktop. As you swipe through slides in the story, camera angles change in coordination with your finger and characters dart across bridges. Honestly, even if you’re part of that tiny sliver in the diagram that can’t stand Tolkien, it’s worth checking out the latest Chrome Experiment, if only to remind yourself of the growing power of the web browser.

Filed under: Internet, Google

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Source: Chromium Blog

Microsoft thinks of the Xbox One as a complete media center, but many would say it’s unfinished without a way to catch up on YouTube videos. Thankfully, one is coming just in the nick of time — the company has revealed that a native YouTube client will be available when the system arrives on November 22nd — something that’s not available on the PS4 (yet), although owners of that system can watch videos in the web browser. The officially sanctioned player will support channel subscriptions as well as Kinect-based gesture and voice commands. Additional features like Snap mode support are coming in the future, Microsoft says. The app launch doesn’t mean that Google and Microsoft have resolved all their differences over YouTube, but it will let you stream cat clips and blooper reels from the comfort of your living room.

Update: We’ve checked the app on our Xbox One test unit, and there’s an additional treat in store for mobile viewers: you can use YouTube’s Android and iOS apps to send videos to the console.

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Microsoft, Google

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Via: Major Nelson (Twitter)

Source: Xbox Wire, YouTube Blog

Google is not particularly great at keeping secrets. Its Nexus devices always leak and peeks at code are constantly revealing features before they’re announced. So, it’s no surprise that, exactly one month after we reported references to a Google Play Newsstand popping up, Mountain View is taking the wraps off the new content hub. Like its Apple counterpart, it will play home (get it?) to both newspaper and magazine subscriptions, and it’ll even pull in articles from sites and blogs you choose to follow (like this one, we hope). And, even though you’ll be able to have your New York Times subscription delivered through Newsstand, you’re not forced to use it. The stand alone Times app will continue to be available directly from your home screen.

Articles viewed through the new Newsstand app will be specifically formatted for your tablet or phone, complete with images, audio or video inline. And they’ll be available offline so you can can catch up on your news, even if you happen to be on one of the few flights left in the US without WiFi. And, if you come across something particularly interesting, but don’t have the time right now for a 4,000 word expose on how Facebook uses your personal data, you can mark it to read later.

Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile, Google

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Source: Google Play Newsstand

If you didn’t think UK domain names could get any shorter, they soon will be. In an announcement today, the UK’s domain registry said it will soon launch its simpler .uk domain in a bid to remain cool with businesses and bloggers. While new registrations are encouraged, ten million existing customers (that have registered either a .co.uk or .org.uk address) won’t need to rush: they’ll have five years to claim a shorter version of their current address. News of the .uk address comes less than a week after ICANN gave London the go-ahead to offer .london addresses to “businesses, organisations and individuals”. If all of this UK-related domain news is too much for you to handle, come back in February 2014 — that’s when we’ll get a definitive .uk launch date.

[Image Credit: friendlydragon, Flickr]

Filed under: Internet

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Via: The Telegraph

Source: Nominet

DirecTV Everywhere will soon become much more useful for travelers eager to watch their favorite shows. As of November 21st, the satellite TV provider is expanding its out-of-home TV streaming selection to include more than 30 live channels, such as HBO and Showtime. Subscribers will also have access to more than 100 channels when at home, and 19,000 on-demand shows through DirecTV’s website. The company’s Android tablet app is receiving a makeover as part of the expansion — an impending update will stream both live and on demand video to tablets of all sizes and multiple OS versions. Customers will just have to wait a short while before they get access to DirecTV’s wider world of content.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Business Wire, DirecTV