Hasta La Gadget!

That game console headlining this text? It isn’t a white PS4: it’s a commercial Steam Machines box, or at least a prototype of one. iBuyPower tells us that it’s building the box for a 2014 launch, but says it’s still early. The company says the prototypes are running an early build of Steam OS, but it’s not quite a finished product. That rings true of our impressions of Valve’s own reference model, which hosted a version of that same OS devoid of media playback and streaming options and had a very limited selection of games.

iBuyPower tells us that it actually has two models, codenamed Gordon and Freeman, in the works. The two consoles are identical, save for the light bar round the middle — one model’s is clear, while the other’s is black when not illuminated. And, while the company wouldn’t tell us about the boxes’ internals, it did confirm that the hardware will run all Steam titles in 1080p resolution at 60fps. Not as much info as we’d like to know, but still, it’s good to see hints of what we’ll see from Steam Machines when they hit the market — though we’ll likely have to wait until CES to see them in action.%Gallery-slideshow123245%

Filed under: Gaming

Comments

Yesterday Valve released a video showing a prototype of the Steam Controller – which is designed to be used with the company’s upcoming Steam Machines – being used to play a handful of games. The demo focused on the controller’s “legacy mode”, in which the controller emulates a mouse and a keyboard, letting you map keys and cursor movement to the controller’s buttons, triggers and trackpads.

In the demo, the controller was used to play four mouse-heavy games: Portal, Civilization V, Counter-Strike: G.O. and Papers, Please. The games were chosen to show the accuracy of the trackpads, as well as how well it works with menu-heavy games that were meant to be used with a keyboard and mouse.

As was mentioned in the demo, Valve will release more demos featuring a variety of games. Even if you’ve already decided that the controller isn’t for you, remember that Steam Machines will still support mouse and keyboard combos. In any case I think that the Steam Controller is mainly for console gamers, to get them to try the PC games on Steam. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Valve is working on or supporting the development of games that were made with the Steam Controller in mind.

[via Rock Paper Shotgun]

AppSeed is probably the handiest app you can have if you’re into creating apps. It’s an up-and-coming app that turns mock-ups and sketches of your app into a functioning prototype.

But let’s backtrack a little.

Normally, the application development process begins with conceptualizing the app and working out use cases. Once the idea is fully formed, it’s time to bring out the pen and paper to create wireframes and sketches of the app’s interface. For most, the next step involves hiring a developer to create a functional prototype. This is where AppSeed comes in.

At this point, you just take a picture of your app sketches, and fire the app up to let it get to work.

The use of computer vision speeds up the process and understands your sketches. AppSeed can identify an enclosed space in your sketch, allowing you to make it into a button, input text, map, or another UI element – making your sketch into a functioning prototype running on your phone.

AppSeed is up for funding on Kickstarter through tomorrow (10/9), where a minimum pledge of $8 CAD (~$7.25 USD) will get you access to the app once released.

Microwave ovens let us heat food in seconds. Soon we’ll have a similar device to cool drinks. A British company called Enviro-Cool and its partners are working on a rapid cooling technology called V-Tex. A refrigerator using V-Tex can cool a canned drink in just 45 seconds. Screw hoverboards or jet packs, I want this fast fridge now.

V-Tex refrigerators create rotate cans or bottles while cooling them in water to avoid forming slush. Apparently the fridges rotate drinks in such a way that carbonated drinks won’t build up pressure and explode when opened.

Here’s a chart that shows how fast the prototype can cool drinks. It’s clear that metal cans are the way to go, since they conduct thermal energy much better than glass.

As much as I love novelty ice trays, I’d rather have a cold drink in a jiffy. Let’s hope this technology finds its way to consumer appliances soon.

[Enviro-Cool via TechEBlog & Geek]

Toshiba’s overall TV division may be ailing, but it’s innovations like this that’ll keep it from completely decaying. Displayed at the company’s CEATEC booth here in Japan are two new 4K HDTV displays — the 40-inch 40V and 50-inch 50V. Outside of devilishly-thin bezels and native 4K resolutions, the company’s not talking specifications. What it’s focusing on instead is the concept: it’s dreaming of an Ultra HD range of displays that can operate as televisions and as pro-grade reference monitors. After all, budding editors who are being tasked with cutting together 4K footage certainly deserve a monitor that won’t cut corners, right?

A company representative informed us that while the displays weren’t perfectly color accurate, they were far superior to rivals. Plus, the ability to easily toggle between reference mode and various other living room-accepted modes will enable a level of A/B testing that’s pretty tough to get right now. Naturally, both monitors looked stunning up close, and if we’re being candid, we’re fallen in love with Photoshop all over again after seeing it displayed on these guys.

Mat Smith contributed to this report. %Gallery-slideshow99599%

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Comments