Angry Birds Space hits 50 million milestone, pigs have EVERYTHING to fear

When Angry Birds Space came out, it was picked up by Angry Birds fans around the world. In fact, it has been picked up 50 million times, and counting.  How long did it take to reach that number? A mere 35 days. 


In Rovios's own way, it recently thanked eager gamers for their consistent support by slathering ten additional levels on both the iOS and Android version last week.

Mozilla dispatches Firefox 3.6

If you are one of the few who just love to hand on to the 3.6 era, I have some real bad news for you. Mozilla is officially putting it to sleep -- whether you like it or not -- by auto-updating users to version 12. You've still got a few days to bid your emotional farewells, with the switch over being pegged as early May. Mozilla stopped short of giving a date for you to deliver its farewells.




So enjoy your time when you have it.

500 Posts of Techman's World

Another milestone for Techman's World. Today, Techman's World has reached 500 posts, and just over 17,000 page views.

Along with that, the site has been through many changes, all for the good. From better logo's to better customizations. The creator of this site has even been sharing his software projects here.

This website runs off of one person, and wants you to spread the word. So if you love to visit Techman's World, please do a favor and just spread the word. The reason I keep investing time into this is because I know that I do have a community, small or not, that enjoys to come here.

Thanks to all who come here.

Poll: Have you Upgraded to Ubuntu 12.04 LTS?

Hello to everyone who uses Ubuntu in the community. Today I have a nice poll, and it is for exactly what the article is named.

So, have you upgraded to Ubuntu 12.04 LTS? Post a comment and/or vote in the poll below.

New Windows Virus you should keep your eye out for...

I was watching WCNC news this morning, and saw them covering a new Windows virus that is coming out, and is spreading so fast that you might not even know that you have it.


The virus is dubbed DNS-Changer. It does exactly what it is named. It modifies DNS queries to point to malicious or generally harmful websites.


So to make sure that you don't have this virus, visit http://www.dcwg.org/. There you can find plenty of info about the virus group, and the latest one.

Slight Site Change

Hey readers.
Today I am announcing a slight change with the comments. You won't really notice it very much, but you will if you have the DBXLNightFever font installed on your system.


First, the h3 that says "Add a New Comment' is not in DBXLNightFever font, and it is 15pt, so it is a little larger.


For users who do not have DBXLNightFever font installed, you will just see the norm with just bigger text.


Post a comment below with feedback, or want to propose another comment system mod that you think will make the site better.


UPDATE: Every h3 element in Disqus is now DBXLNightFever. If you do not have that font, you'll just see the same old-same old.

Ubuntu 12.04 is out!

After six months of hard work by the developers, Ubuntu 12.04 is now out and ready to download.


Below is a video of the top ten features, as chosen as OMG Ubuntu.






Ubuntu 12.04 = Fast


The ‘P’ in the Ubuntu 12.04 codename (“Precise Pangolin”) could just as easily stand for ‘Performance’ as it does ‘Precise’.


Speed, once a rod used to beat Unity with, is now arguably its greatest strength; a yardstick by which other desktop environments may start to be measured.


This speed boost feeds into the entire OS feeling brand new. Ubuntu is fast, snappy and responsive. In fact this release is perhaps best representative of the “Unity” vision proposed by Canonical; everything from apps to environment feels cohesive in 12.04. Elements that were, in prior releases, half-finished or cumbersome to use now feel polished and intuitive.


Quicklists, for example, were one ‘feature’ of Unity that hadn’t been exploited by many of Ubuntu’s default apps until now.


Applications
One of the first thing you will notice if you upgraded from 11.10 is that Rythmbox has replaced the rather sluggish Banshee music player. People who are coming from Lucid (Ubuntu 10.04) won't notice the change, as Rythmbox was in Lucid.


The latest versions of office suite LibreOffice, web-browser Firefox, e-mail client Thunderbird, and Instant Messenger Empathy are all included, with the latter introducing better support for video calling.


The Ubuntu One control panel has been redesigned, and includes set-up, installation and other options all in one window.


Ubuntu 10.04 upgraders will find an alternative photo-management application installed in the form of Shotwell (Ubuntu 10.04 had F-Spot).


For Tweets and Facebook addicts the default “social client” (also obtusely referred to as ‘Broadcast’ in places) remains as Gwibber. 


Unity
First off, Unity has been upgraded a lot since Ubuntu 12.04 was nearing a few weeks left until final release. A few posts ago, I was talking about Unity updates. So if you are a Unity hater, I would kindly ask you to give Unity another try. It has been upgraded, and a few of the major bugs have been patched.



There are new lenses, options and minor features for you to play around with – most notably of which is the new ‘App Menu’ searching tool ‘HUD’. 


The HUD is called by a tap of the ‘Alt’ and is able to search entire application menus of the ‘in focus’ app – as well as provide swift access to features in the ‘Status Menus’ (networking, messaging, etc).

The ‘Home’ Lens that previously provided 8 giant shortcuts to applications and folders has been replaced with dynamic ‘activity overview’ – showing your most recently used apps, files, etc. You can control specifically what shows here by adjusting the new Privacy settings available in System Settings.

If you don’t like the size of the left-hand launcher, you can now quickly and effortlessly resize it via the Appearance pane in System Settings.


Elsewhere you can find an overhauled Unity Greeter, which sports a tweaked UI, new animations, and user-account wallpaper matching.

Look
The default theme of Ubuntu – Ambiance – has been updated, and sports a new ‘unfocused’ state to better help you differentiate between active windows and non-active windows.

There are also subtle changes to buttons, widgets, scrollbars, tabs, tooltips and more.


Download
You can download it right now from the Ubuntu website. If the normal HTTP downloads are not working, or they are too slow, they recommend you go for the torrents, as not many people use that, and is faster.


Click here to go to the Ubuntu download page. There you will be presented with the x86 (32-bit) or x86-64 (64-bit) version. If you are not sure, get the 32 bit version. If you know that you have a 64 bit processor, then get the 64 bit version.


If you already have Ubuntu, go to your update manager to get the update. If you are using Wubi, be careful. Distro updates always present the risk of breaking the system.

Kubuntu 12.04 LTS Review

Kubuntu is a free open source operating system that is based of off the hugely popular Ubuntu linux distro. Kubuntu includes the KDE Plasma desktop environment instead of Unity, like the main distro includes. Kubuntu also has customized packages that could or could not be the same in the main Ubuntu distro. An example could be the web browser. More on that later

If you know already, I have been review the 12.10 versions of Ubuntu. The reason why I chose 12.04 over 12.10 in this release was because of the file size. At the time when I downloaded the ISO, my own limitations caused me to get this release. Besides, the 12.10 version was almost 1 GB in size, almost too big to fit on my 1 GB USB stick. Now that we have this sorted out, lets start the review.

System76 redesigns/upates Lemur Ultra and Pangolin Performance Laptops

If you haven't been following the System76 scene for a while, they have sold out of their Lemur Ultra and Pangolin Performance laptops. All of the other ones have already sold out before.


Well now they have designed a new generation of the Lemur Ultra and Pangolin Performance laptops. These laptops have improved parts from the old generation, and have also had some design tweaks.


Lemur Ultra
The Lemur Ultra is a 14.1" 720p HD LED backlit display laptop.


Here is a chart direct from System76....

Click to enlarge picture

At the time of this article, here is what it comes with. This is at the base, and this has no extra or upgraded parts added.

• Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 64-bit
• 5GB free of Ubuntu One
• 14.1" 720p High Definition LED Backlit Display
• Intel HD Graphics 3000
• 2nd Generation Intel Core i5-2450M Processor ( 2.50GHz 3MB L3 Cache - 2 Cores plus Hyperthreading )
• 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 1 X 4 GB
• 500 GB 7200 RPM SATA II
• 8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive
• Intel Centrino 1030 - 802.11 b/g/n Wireless LAN + Bluetooth Combo Module
• 1 Yr. Ltd. Warranty and 1 Yr. Technical Support

Below are some pics of the Lemur Ultra.

If you want to see the specs for your self, and if you want to look at the pricing and better parts, go here.

---

Pangolin Performance


The Pangolin Performance series of laptops has also seen a new generation. This time it is in its 9th generation. 


This laptop has a 15.6" 720p HD LED Backlit display.


Below are some pics. They look the same as the last ones, basically with a larger screen. They are different, so here they are anyways.

Below is a chart of specs, like the one above.

Go here to see the Pangolin Performance's page.

Making some Python Software -- Go test it out if you wish

 This is the new software logo that I made quickly. Put your thoughts in the comments below if you wish to speak about it.

So the other day I said that I was using some software called Illumination Software Creator. Well I have been building some software, a very basic, simple text editor, similar to Notepad on Windows. I have finished it the other day, and after letting some of my family and friends check it out, I am now ready to release it to all of the people who want to view it.


The project is still in "beta", but only because it is not done with its testing.


I already know that the software does not automatically word-wrap, but this is not that big of a deal. I'm working on this to see if I can get a solution out, and an update post on the site. The software also doesn't have a scroll bar, but I'll look into making one happen.


That is all of the known issues that you might have.


So, go here to see the files. You can view and download as you wish, but it is locked to editing, meaning that I am controlling the modification of the files. If you have trouble with the link, let me know.

Firefox 12 now available for download, Windows users get silent updates

A new version of Firefox is out. This time around it is V12.0. If you've lost track, that means were now at version 12.0, and the biggest addition this time around is reserved for Windows users -- they'll now get silent updates that bypass the User Account Control prompt. Apart from that, you'll now get line numbers when you view a page's source code, along with a number of other more minor fixes and performance improvements.


Check out the source below for more info.


Source: Firefox

Firefox deems favicons risky, removes them from address bar

Who'd have thought those tiny reminders of the site you're browsing could bite your backside? Apparently Mozilla did, and with its latest nightly Firefox build it has expunged favicons from their eternal perch just left of the URL. The problem is that instead something friendly -- like Google's famous "g" -- nefarious sites can use a padlock or similar image, making you think you're on a secure SSL page. So, starting from mid-July you'll see a generic globe for standard websites, green padlocks for SSL sites with validation, and gray padlocks for SSL sites without it. Take note that (so far) tabs will keep their favicons, so those people who have many tabs open will be able to tell what sites they are on.

BlackBerry Playbook joins the Angry Birds Space bandwagon

Everyone has played Angry Birds at some point, and now the latest installment, Angry Birds Space, has now made its way to the Playbook.


RIM announced today, however, that fans of its deeply discounted tablet can now hop on board the train to space pig payback, for the low price of $3.

Microsoft’s Skype arrives on Sony’s PlayStation Vita

Skype is a popular video conferencing/voice service. It is used just about everywhere, including on TV shows. The Skype team has set a goal a little while ago, saying that they want the service to spread and be able to run on every platform. Well in this round, Skype is making its way to another Sony portable game console platform, the PlayStation Vita.


Actually, Sony has a contract with Skype to provide service to its "portable" game systems, making sure that Skype comes to every portable game console as long as the contract lasts.


The app will be free, and is available for download for the PS Store. It offers voice calling and video calls using the Vita’s front and rear cameras. It can also run in the background and alert PS Vita users when they have a call coming in. Note that this does not work with some PS Vita games (examples are Uncharted), as Uncharted disables all wireless connections, effectively disconnecting Skype.


Below is a video from video game legend Fatal1ty giving the run-down on the features.

Dropbox simplifies sharing with file viewer and folder links

Dropbox has updated with some new features. Sharing is a bit simpler, with the ability to generate a public link for any file or folder and have it open in a web-based viewer. This can be accomplished both from the website and on the desktop by right clicking and selecting get link. 


Those using the beta version of the Dropbox desktop client have enjoyed some of these features for sometime, but now the full suite of file viewing and folder sharing options are standard issue for all.


Check out the press release below.

---

DROPBOX INTRODUCES LINKS FOR EXTREMELY SIMPLE, FAST SHARING
Sharing Documents, Photos, and Videos with Anyone Made Easier

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - April 23, 2012 - Dropbox, a free service that lets people bring their documents, photos, and videos anywhere and share them easily, today announced an even easier way for people to instantly share the things that matter most, with just a link. Now documents, photos, and videos can be shared simply by creating and sending a link to friends, family, or colleagues, whether they are Dropbox users or not.

"We're always looking for ways to make life easier and solve the basic problems people face everyday," said Drew Houston, CEO and co-founder of Dropbox. "Sending files has always been a painful process, but now with Dropbox, sharing with friends, family, and colleagues is effortless."

Dropbox links allow people to easily view documents, photos, and videos in a beautiful full-browser display without any setup. Business presentations, home movies, and even entire folders can be opened and viewed instantly without having to sign in, download anything, or open files separately.

How it works
From the Dropbox desktop, web, and mobile applications, the "Get link" button generates a unique link to a file or folder. The link can then be quickly sent to another person. For Dropbox users, opening a link will provide the option to instantly save the file to their Dropbox.

"Today we're excited to add instant sharing to Dropbox," said Jeff Bartelma, Director of Products. "We've simplified the process of sending files to just a few seconds and eliminated the need for email attachments."

Dropbox has been refining this feature in beta since last year and today, with many improvements, it is available to all users. For more information, please visit www.dropbox.com/links/features.

About Dropbox
Dropbox simplifies millions of people's lives by letting them bring their docs, photos, and videos anywhere and share them easily. The service has more than 50 million users in over 175 countries. Dropbox was founded in San Francisco in 2007 by Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi. For more information, please visit https://www.dropbox.com/press.

---

SkyDrive app for Windows Phone gets 2.0 update, reduces free storage capacity

Microsoft has updated its SkyDrive cloud storage and sharing app for Windows Phone.


New features include a batch-select tool to make moving files around easier while on the go, the ability to directly manage folder permissions and the quick sharing of files with approved recipients in your People Hub. Version 2.0 is currently available for download in the Marketplace, so go there if you want the new version.


In other news, Microsoft has revealed pricing for its just-launched Skydrive app on Windows desktops, setting you back $10, $25, or $50 a year for an additional 20GB, 50GB or 100GB. Scrapped in the process is the 25 gigs of free storage that Microsoft once offered to new users, now dropping that pro-bono capacity to just 7GBs, save for the lucky few that opted in before the company announced its new pricing structure. And available for a limited time, confirmed on Microsoft's website that the upgrade from the new 7GB limit to the previous 25GB for existing users is a limited time loyalty offer, so be sure to manage your storage as soon as possible to avoid the new limits.


Do you use SkyDrive?

How to enable Chrome's click to play plugin feature

First off, make sure that you have Chrome of course! So if you don't have Chrome, please click here.

Are you tired of plugins (flash is one of them) automatically loading? Most of the time I would like them not to load. It is one form of ad blocking, but i'd rather you use AdBlock for Chrome to block all of the other type of ads.

So recently there was a new feature introduced to Chrome...it is called click to play. What does it do? It displays a little notification in the area where the plugin wants to load, asking you to click to run the plugin. This might be helpful if you can't access the Chrome Web Store to download AdBlock for Chrome.

So here is how you do it. Click the images to view them in full pixels, as they have been shrunken down to fit in the post itself.

Step 01

First off, open a new tab by clicking the little parallelogram looking shape next to a open tab. Then type in chrome://settings/content.

Step 02

Then scroll down to where the plugins category is.

Step 03

Click the button from Run automatically (recommended) to Click to play.

Below is a few screenshots. These screenshots was taken when I was in Windows XP, not Ubuntu 10.04.

Google Officially Drop Picasa For Linux

In news that won’t surprise many, Google have formally announced that Picasa for Linux is no-more.


The desktop photo management/editing tool has been available for Linux since 2006.

“As we continue to enhance Picasa, it has become difficult to maintain parity on the Linux version.” writes the search giant on its official blog.


“So today, we’re deprecating Picasa for Linux and will not be maintaining it moving forward.”

The ‘deprecation’ of the software doesn’t mean it’ll stop working; if you already have it installed you can continue to use it as normal.


But new features, bug fixes or any other update will be issues for the Linux version from today onwards.

Ubuntu In The Wild… As a Car Number Plate/License Plate

Another spot of Ubuntu in the wild. This time it does not show the OS itself, but still bears its name. Take a look at the pic below.

It was snapped by famous Australian rugby union player – and current Wallabies openside flanker, yo - David Pocock as he drove about Albany, Western Australia.


Of it he writes: -

“Fellow instagrammers will know my view on personalized plates. But this is pretty sweet. #ubuntu”

If you find a place where you see Ubuntu spotted in the wild, go ahead and share it here.

Microsoft reveals the fourth version of Windows 8: Enterprise

We're sure some of you aren't as interested in the Windows 8 versions destined for workplace drudgery as you are the home editions, but admit it, the IT guy inside of you is a little curious. 


As detailed in an official blog post, the new unique feature in Windows 8 Enterprise is Windows To Go, which we think of as Windows on a stick. Basically it allows you to run your corporate image on a home PC or other personal devices -- the opposite of that USB disk you carry to work with portable versions of your favorite unsanctioned apps. 


Also new is the ability to automatically sideload internal Metro apps as well as enhancements to the virtual desktop client. Of course Windows 7 Enterprise features like DirectAccess, BranchCache and AppLocker are still there, but some features like BitLocker are now available in the Pro version of Windows 8 too. If you were thinking you might like these at home, don't forget that Enterprise is only sold with Software Assurance (Microsoft's perpetual upgrade program), but that does bring extra abilities too, like a free Virtual Desktop Access license -- you didn't think you got that for free did you -- and the optional Companion Device license that extends your VDI and Windows To Go rights to four more personal devices. 


Now, if it just included the ability to boot directly to the desktop, then most corporation's biggest concern with Windows 8 would be appeased.


Source: Windows Team Blog

Verizon shared data plans are due in mid-summer, target users with multiple devices

On a call discussing Verizon's Q1 earnings report, CFO Francis Shammo has once again touched on the company's promised shared data plans, targeting their launch in mid-summer. He also noted that he expected this to drive growth in the wireless business, because the plan is apparently designed to allow customers to easily add "other devices" to it.


Source: Seeking Alpha

How your company will control your Windows RT Tablet

Windows on ARM really hopes to expose Windows to some "awesome" hardware. 


So great in fact that you'll probably have to buy one yourself if you want one to use at work; A time will come where you'll want to get your work email and maybe even an app or two. You might already realize that by adding an ActiveSync email account to your tablet opens your new device up to restrictions by your system administrator -- like requiring a lock screen password or the ability to remotely wipe it – and in the Windows x86 world, your company uses things like an Active Directory (AD) Domain and its Group Policies to lock things down. But, AD isn't an option for Windows RT. According to the Building Windows 8 blog, Microsoft has instead built in the ability to connect to the company network to access apps, while at the same time, gives the admin the ability to control all the familiar AD security settings like bad password attempts, complexity requirements and can even verify your anti-malware software status.


And if you want to disconnect, you can. If you leave the company or just want to use your tablet without entering a password, you can always break the tie and regain control of the security.


What are your thoughts on this? In fact, I think that this might even be worth a poll this time....really...


Source: Building Windows 8

Gmail goes down worldwide for 45+ minutes

Photo via Telegraph UK

Google first acknowledged the problems via their apps status dashboard at 5.42pm and tweeted that they had received several reports of errors.


Shortly before 12:45pm EST, many Gmail users received error messages on their accounts, not allowing them to send or receive messages.


The search giant said it was "investigating reports of an issue" with its email service, which was partially restored by 1.30pm EST.


Google released a statement while service was being partially restored.

"We're aware that some users are experiencing an error when accessing their Gmail. We are working on a resolution and apologize for the inconvenience. Thanks for your patience."

At 1.24pm the Gmail status was updated to read "Google Mail service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future. Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change."


UPDATES
Many users, however, were still reporting problems accessing their account after 2pm.


Gmail, which is one of the world's most popular email services, claims more than 350 million active accounts but said overall fewer than 2 per cent of its users were affected worldwide.


But what is happening, you ask? The service is currently being upgraded to a more efficient network running the 'Openflow' open source standards. According to a Wired report claimed "hundreds of engineers" were working on the project, and that Google was even building some of its own network switches.

Will Google Drive Support Linux?

Word is on the street that Google will be launching its own cloud service, dubbed Google Drive will arrive next week.


The service will go head to head with long established titans of the cloud-storage scene such as Dropbox, SkyDrive, and Ubuntu One.



Google Drive – “All your files – everywhere.”


With its release yet to be formerly announced by Google it’s no surprise to learn that official specifics of the Google Drive service are scarce on the ground.


But leaks, hints and rumours point towards Drive offering at least 5GB of free online storage to users. Details on additional storage options beyond that are, as yet, unknown.


In order to compete with Dropbox and similar Google Drive has to offer more than a place to put your files; it needs to provide a way to easily access, edit and upload them too.


To this end a set of applications are expected to launch for use alongside the service, allowing users to sync files to and from their Google Drive directly from their operating system – be it mobile,desktop – or through a browser at drive.google.com.


Mac App

A leaked build of the Mac app has already been uncovered by one leading tech site (although as the service is not yet live it doesn’t do anything).


With Mac users tended to it’s safe to assume that Windows will also be supported with a similar app - but what about Linux?


No official word, but, based on Google’s past products, it’s likely that a Linux version of the Google Drive sync client will be produced – although may not be available at launch (E.g. as with Chrome, Google Music Manager, etc)




So here is a poll. Vote if you wish, and drop a comment below.

Ubuntu 12.04 Merchandise Goes on Sale

Banner from OMG Ubuntu.

Ubuntu 12.04 CDs, USBs, t-shirts and other goods have gone on sale over on the Canonical store.



CDs


Pre-orders for the official Ubuntu 12.04 LTS CD and USB are now being taken, with an expected shipping date of between May 4th – 7th.


Prices for a pack of Precise CDs (either all Ubuntu 12.04, all Ubuntu Server or a mix of both) start at £5 for 5, excluding shipping.


The 8GB 12.04 LTS Live USB stick is priced at £14.50 excluding P&P. A picture is below

Wearables


A new release with a new mascot means there’s a new set of t-shirt designs available to buy.


Both male and female t-shirts are available, with both sporting the same ‘Pangolin’ design. A picture of the shirt is below.

Bags


Sitting alongside the Pangolin-specific items are two new bags – a £59.95 messenger style perfect for carting your laptop around in, and and a £65 ‘backpack’ that, nifty pockets, cushioning and cold-pouch aside, makes it look impressive.

Anyone want to add one of these items to the wish list?

Ubuntu in The Wild: Huffington Post

If you didn't know, the other day the Huffington Post did an article about the Ten Best Jobs in the US. What was shown though, well, you can guess from the title.

In that list of ten jobs, few were technology ones. ‘Computer Systems’ and ‘Software Engineer’ were some of the ones listed.


The former of these, which placed the 9th, used an awesome image to ‘convey’ the job: a female worker using Ubuntu.

Sony Japan blends the Torne PS3 TV tuner with 500GB of NAS, calls it Nasne

In the US, PS3's are limited to what it can access via discs or over the network, in Europe / Australia (PlayTV) and Japan (Torne) TV tuners stretch things further.


Now, Sony Japan has followed those up with the Nasne headless media box shown above. A combination networked recorder and media storage device with a 500GB SATA HDD and tuners for both antenna and satellite TV built-in, it pulls in broadcasts and either records it or streams to up to two other Sony products (Vita, PS3 with Torne app, Vaio PC, Sony Tablet or Xperia phone) on the same home network at once.


It will also support streaming of stored media via DLNA, once its software is updated to version 1.5. The capabilities of the Nasne vary depending on the hardware it's used with: PS3 users can connect up to four of the devices to one console, however it can also export video files formatted for offline viewing on the Vita or transfer recorded files to PCs for Blu-ray archival.


Is this a promising example of the "One Sony" synergy Kaz so recently promised? The tech world will just have to wait and see.


Below is a press release.

---

Apr 17, 2012 02:00 ET
Sony Computer Entertainment to Launch "nasne,"a New Networked Recorder and Media Storage Device

Available in Japan on July 19, 2012 for Recommended Retail Price of 16,980 Yen

TOKYO, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that it will launch "nasne™," a new networked recorder and media storage device with built in 500GB hard disk drive (HDD) and digital terrestrial and satellite broadcast tuners. "nasne" will become available in Japan on July 19, 2012, for a recommended retail price of 16,980 yen (including tax).

By connecting "nasne" to their home network, users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcast through dedicated applications such as "torne" for PlayStation®3 (PS3®) and "VAIO TV with nasne" for VAIO. Users will also be able to access recorded content from PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita), "Sony Tablet" and Xperia™. In addition, "nasne" will be able to stream live or recorded television programs simultaneously onto two of these supported Sony products, allowing multiple users to view the same content within the same home network.(1) "nasne" will also link with "G GUIDE TV OUKOKU CHAN-TORU", a television guide web service for PC and smart phones provided by So-net Entertainment Corporation. Through "G GUIDE TV OUKOKU CHAN-TORU", users will be able to schedule recordings of television programs on the go from their PS Vita, PC, tablet PCs, and smart phones.


In addition, "nasne" functions as a media storage device, allowing users to store their movies, photos and music on its 500GB built-in HDD, which can be enjoy on any DLNA compatible device connected to their home network. Users can also expand storage memory by connecting external HDD to "nasne." (2)

"We are offering a seamless and unique Sony experience through 'nasne,' which serves as a home entertainment hub that connects to Sony's various network products," said Kazuo Hirai, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, President and CEO of Sony Corporation and Chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "'nasne' will give users more freedom to enjoy television in new ways by enabling them to watch programs on various Sony products through dedicated applications. We will continue to offer attractive products and services that inspire customers around the world and spark their curiosity, by further enhancing collaboration within Sony groups."

"nasne" will deliver the following features through its combination with Sony products.

PlayStation®3
PS3 users will be able to watch and record (3) digital terrestrial and satellite broadcast through LAN cable by installing "torne" version 4.0, a dedicated application for PS3, which will come bundled with "nasne."

By connecting a maximum of four "nasne" units to their PS3, users can simultaneously record up to four television programs. Those who already have a "torne" device connected to their PS3 will be able to connect a maximum of four "nasne" units to their PS3 and record up to five television programs.(4) Details of "torne" version 4.0 for PS3 will be announced separately.

PlayStation®Vita

PS Vita users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts through "torne for PS Vita" (tentative name), a dedicated application for accessing "nasne" from anywhere within the same home network via Wi-Fi connection . "torne for PS Vita" will become available within this calendar year.

By leveraging the ability of "nasne" to simultaneously create an export file while a television program is being recorded, users can quickly transfer recorded content through Wi-Fi connection and easily enjoy them on the go on their PS Vita's beautiful 5-inch OLED. Details of "torne for PS Vita" will be announced in due course.

VAIO PC
VAIO PC users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts through "VAIO TV with nasne" (beta version)(5), a dedicated application for accessing "nasne" from anywhere within the same home network via Wi-Fi connection or LAN cable. "VAIO TV with nasne" (beta version) will become available concurrently with the release of "nasne."

Key features of "VAIO TV with nasne":

Recorded television programs on "nasne'" can be copied to Blu-ray Disc and DVD, or transferred to VAIO PC's HDD or State Solid Drive (SSD).
Up to eight digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts can be simultaneously recorded by connecting a maximum of eight "nasne" hardware units to VAIO PC.
Television programs can be searched by keywords.
"VAIO TV with nasne" will become available for Windows 7 equipped VAIO PCs (6) through "VAIO Update," an automatic free update service for VAIO PC users.

"Sony Tablet" / Xperia™
Sony Tablet(7) / Xperia(8) users will be able to watch and record digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasts through dedicated applications for Sony Tablet / Xperia for accessing "nasne" from within the same home network via Wi-Fi connection. Users will be also able to schedule recordings of television programs through "G GUIDE TV OUKOKU CHAN-TORU."


SCE will continue to aggressively expand the new world of entertainment through the combination of "nasne" and PlayStation platforms as well as other networked Sony products.

Product Outline

"nasne™"

Product name
nasne™
Product code
CECH-ZNR1J
Release date
July 19, 2012
Recommended retail price (RRP)
16,980 yen (including tax)
Product color
Black
External dimension
Approx. 43 × 189 × 136 mm (width × length ×height)
Weight
Approx 460g
RF tuners
Terrestrial: ISTB-T × 1
Satellite: ISDB-S × 1
Channels
Terrestrial: VHF 1-12ch, UHF 13-62ch, CATV C13-C63ch
Satellite: BS/CS110°digital (1032-2071MHz)
Internal HDD
SATA 2.5 inch (Capacity:500GB)
Inputs/Outputs
LAN port (100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
ANTENNA IN connector
ANTENNA OUT connector
EXT HDD connector (USB 2.0, Type A)
B-CAS card slot
Buttons
Power button
IP RESET button
Indicators
Power indicator
REC indicator
IP status indicator
HDD access indicator
Power
AC 100V, DC 12V.1.5A
Power consumption
Recording and streaming two videos: 9.5W
ECO mode in stand-by: 1.5W
Network Recorder features
DTCP-IP support
Live streaming / recorded content streaming of digital terrestrial / satellite television program (for home and mobile devices)
2 recording mode (DR and SLP) support
Registration as remote PVR device to be accessed through the internet
Trick play / scene search support
Resume play
Media Storage Device features
Media server features
- DLNA 1.5 support
- Live tuner (terrestrial / satellite broadcasting) and DMS streaming of recorded programs
- Support image / music / video formats and metadata as PS3® (will be supported by "nasne" system software version 1.50. Some formats not supported)
- DMS streaming of image / music / video files on the media server (will be supported by "nasne" system software version 1.50)
- Support multiple DLNA devices (up to 2 DTCP-IP content streaming or 1 live streaming)
File server features
- Shared directory configuration
- Workgroup configuration
Other features
"nasne HOME" web browser application
Support an external hard drive
ECO mode (Stand-by after 10 minutes without an access)
Support "nasne" system software update
Included
"nasne" × 1
AC adaptor × 1
Power cable × 1
LAN cable × 1
RF coaxial cable × 1
B-CAS card × 1
Digital terrestrial broadcasting watching/recorder application for PS3® (Blu-ray™ Disc) × 1
Quick start guide × 1


About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.


Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develop and markets the PlayStation®2 (PS2®) computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system and the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since they launched PlayStation in 1994. PS2® further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP® is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games with high-quality full-motion video and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3® is an advanced computer system, incorporating the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. SCEI also delivers the PlayStation® experience to open operating systems through PlayStation®Suite, a cross platform and cross device initiative. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC., and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division companies, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and Sony Computer Entertainment Asia develops, publishes, markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide.

"PlayStation" and "PS3" are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

"nasne" and "torne" is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

VAIO and "Sony Tablet" are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Corporation.

"Xperia" is a registered trademark or a trademark of Sony Mobile Communications AB.

Windows is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

"nasne" will stream two recorded television programs through DTCP/IP simultaneously. As media storage devices, "nasne" will be able to share stored content with up to 63 connecting devices.
DLNA Functionality will become available by installing the system software update of "nasne" version 1.50.
To enjoy satellite broadcasting, users will need to install a satellite broadcasting antenna or establish an equal environment.
Up to four satellite broadcasting can be simultaneously recorded.
VAIO TV with nasne" Beta version will become available at the release timing, and no support will be available.
Details of supporting models will be announced in due course.
For Sony Tablet, "RECOPLA" provided by Sony Corporation will need to be installed on the device. "RECOPLA" will become available through "Select App" icon on "Sony Table" or Google Play Store for free download. Sony Table system software as well as "Media players" supporting "RECOPLA" will need to be updated.
Some models of "Xperia" will support "nasne" within this calendar year. Details will be announced on the Sony Mobile Communications AB web site in due course.
SOURCE Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

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