[DEATH TO THE EMPIRE]

(function() {var po = document.createElement("script"); po.type = "text/javascript"; po.async = true;po.src = "https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); align="left" align="right" .mC {width:250px; margin:3px; float:none;} .mC h5 {color:#900; cursor:pointer; font-weight:none; border-top:none #300;} .mC ul {display:none; margin-left:0; margin-bottom:5px; padding-left:0; list-style: none;} .mC li {margin-left:0 display:block;} deathtothempire by chrisringeisen From cool gadgets and concepts to stock images, tutorials and software you'll discover something new here. My name is Chris Ringeisen, I'm currently the only author of [DEATH TO THE EMPIRE] and located in St. Louis but originally from Houston, Texas. I'm a freelance designer and full-time student at The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University getting a B.F.A in Scene Design and a Minor in Graphic Design. My love for technology inspires me to share with the rapidly evolving world. Posts normally go out at least twice a week. 2013 ►May HTC First Review Xbox One Revealed LG Optimus Pro G Review Writing Again 2012 ►August Facebook Under Watch of the FTC Pulse Adds Web App Grum, the World's Biggest Span Network SMS Protected Sheep Protean's Echo Card Quantum Routing ►July Facebook Changed Your Settings, Again. DeviantArt Adds Ability to Buy Digital Content Facebook Adds Calendar View Spiderman Wallpaper ►June Google I/O Coverage Facebook Changed Your Settings, Again. Siri Comes to a Car Near You You Might Lose Internet on July 9th Google Glasses Shoots its First Video ►May Google Glasses ►January Stop SOPA 2011 ►December Facebook Messenger for Win7 Best App 2011: AirDroid Nyandroid ICS Facebook Timeline Google Doodle Dec. 12 ►November Inkless Printer ►October Steve Jobs, In Memoriam ►September Sept 18 Update Chrome Turns 3 ►August Battery Mouse Concept Collector USB Concept CO2 Bricks E-Paper, Paper You Can Write on Google Doodle Aug. 17 Google Buys Motorola Mobility 911 wil be able to recieve texts, MMS Facebook Messenger App Hackers to take down Facebook, Nov. 5th Anonymous Attacks Syrian Defense Ministry Anonymous Strikes, 7.4GB of Police Data The Web Turns 20 Google Doodle Aug. 8th Google Adopts Shortcut URL New Windows Logo OK GO & Google Experiments ►July DOS turns 30 Google+ Icons Google Redecorates with Cosmic Panda Comic Facebook Adds Video Chat Liberate Your Data from Google & Facebook Facebook to Launch Something "Amazing" Google and Skype Add Video Chat to Android ►June New Submit Feature! Google+ & Social Sharing Visualize Android on PC ICANN Approves New TLDs Tumblr Beats Wordpress With Blog Count Ge.tt: Real-time File Sharing ►January Unity Video Unity Gaming Engine iTwin Video iTwin 3D Connexion Video 3D Connexion 2010 ►December Google Voice Video Google Voice Opera Software Video Opera Software Review Google Nexus S Video Google Nexus S Snagit 10 Video Snagit 10 ►August Flux Icon Release Rainmeter Start Orb Release ObjectDock Update Desktop Customization ►July Malware and the Eicar Virus A Secret of Telnet Dropbox Gazelle, by Microsoft Changing Drive Icons Flock to the Social Browser

[deathtotheempire]

First Look at the HTC First, Second at Facebook Home [Review]

I just handed off the HTC First and it has left me a bit underwhelmed. Launching with Facebook Home was something new and there will be discussion past the break about it, but it's availability on any Android phone almost immediately after the First's release made it nothing special. Once you get pass Home the phone is the standard android operating system devoid of bloatware. But also devoid of the features that make each phone unique. It's a good phone for someone just entering the smartphone arena and a good size for the people that don't understand why phones are getting so large. But for me, the lack of identity and the inability to remove the battery are deal-breakers.

After opening the box there are two major elements that were different from many of the smartphones I'm used to using. The first was that the SIM card requires a key (really just a pin) to eject a small tray on the side of the phone. This really won't be an issue because I'm fairly certain a paperclip would work anyways. The second was that there was no way to open the back plate. So no battery swaps or expandable media it seems. The first which is important to me because I charge a second battery so I constantly have a charged device and the second made me feel better when it did support 16GB local on the phone.

Selected information via phonearena.com

Besides that it hosts 1GB RAM and is really all it needs to power through the day. The battery lasted long enough too. Overall I can see this phone being very popular for a number of consumers. The bigger question is how they react in joint with Facebook Home.

I downloaded Facebook Home before on my SIII and was skeptic to whether it was anything great. At first I responded to why the hell would I want everyone's crummy photos and statuses on my home/lockscreen? Because I was getting things like this:

After a bit I got over and realized how beautiful the application was. Facebook had entirely succeeded in showing the world what is possible with android and how versatile the system can really be. Facebook Home is in itself an Android Launcher, with a twist. But it really utilizes new features and implements a new way to hold conversations called chat heads. Which are now available for any phone with both the Facebook and Facebook Messenger App installed. Plus everything is well animated, things follow your finger, others bounce, double tapping a photo makes a thumbs up 'like' appear in and out.

And in a general sense getting to my apps was easy. Swiping to the left also opens a favorites tab and an easy way to share photos and videos straight to Facebook. The favorites will also grow as you need it.

But you really only have three options as soon as you unlock your phone. Messenger (doubly usefully if you allow Facebook Messenger to manage your SMS), your App drawer and the most recently opened app. While its true you can get to the rest of your recent apps by double-tapping home, I am forced to take another action to resume what I last had open. Android stock and other launchers do this automatically. I was watching a video on YouTube  unlock takes me straight back to YouTube - not more Facebook. But there also isn't really a homescreen which means no widgets, no wallpapers (live or the like) and you can't even group icons. (A feature that it seems Facebook will be adding with a few others in response to users reviews). The way I see it Facebook Home makes a great lockscreen app as long as you don't need security. I'd like an option to go straight to the android homescreen from there.

So all-in-all if you don't mind the little bit of extra data your phone will consume (and it doesn't have limits, low medium or high usage simply will stop displaying photos once the cap has been reached). And just like most things it will probably get better over time. But underneath Facebook Home is a completely normal implementation of Android Jellybean. Something you can either access by clicking the more icon at the end off your app drawer or by disabling home. Something that most people will never use on this phone. And that brings me to my final opinion:

This phone is perfectly average. I mean it. There frankly isn't one thing wrong with it. And if you don't like Facebook Home you can disable it. But also it offers no unique services, something Samsung and other manufacturers are well aware of. It really is a good size for people who think large smartphones are ridiculous and isn't too small for me not to get good use out of the screen. It's hardware is lacking compared to flagships but can record in full HD 1920 for uploads to Facebook. The only thing I wish was different would be to include a larger Megapixel camera. For a phone centered around sharing media, a 5mp camera hardly puts it in the running.Good shape, size, function and cost. It might have underwhelmed me but I also believe that this phone has been underestimated.

The HTC first is available only from AT&T for a regular price of $350.99 but is currently on promotion for a mere ¢99 with a 2-year contract!

Update: Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg spoke at t he D11 conference about Facebook Home and says that its just the start of making phones more social. And that they look forward to releasing monthly updates to Facebook Home to continue its growth.

[deathtotheempire]

The Xbox One Revealed Today

Once sarcastically called the gaming industries "best kept secret" may have actually remained mostly hidden from public knowledge. While most of the internet was concerned about whether Microsoft was developing an always on gaming system  and if it would house a new Blu-Ray Player the folks at Redmond were working on something truly innovating. Today Microsoft revealed their next-gen console. The Xbox One.

The console itself may looks like they took the xBOX a little to enthusiastically but it's actually Microsoft's new vision for their machine that makes this device compelling. The gaming community cried out when it seemed Microsoft was paying less attention on gaming itself and more on adding things like Netflix, Hulu and bringing Internet Explorer over. Today's announcement on what it can do with those features should stifle their tears.

Microsoft's new direction is a bold one. Xbox has taken aim on every entertainment device in your living room. It will in fact have a Blu-Ray player to watch the latest thrillers along with the ability to listen to your music, stream your favorite shows as well as watch them live using HDMI pass-through. It's Redmond's goal to make a living, breathing relationship with the Xbox, your TV and you.

First off, your Xbox will get to know you better through a brand new 1080p Kinect sensor that features a wider full HD camera that can also use Skype through your TV (while simultaneously watching TV). It will learn your voice just as the 360 does now but with redesigned hand-gestures and instant voice-commands. This it's always on all you need to do is say "Xbox on" to being your TV to life, and since it utilizes HDMI pass-through you won't ever have to change inputs again. Simply say "watch TV" or "play a game" and the Xbox will instantly change tasks through "instant switching". You can even ask it to "snap" another application to the side of what you're already watching (IMDB anyone?). One thing that is worth me seriously considering getting this machine even if I don't play games on it besides movie-streaming is the Xbox TV guide. It will pull your local channels and accurately display live programming, allowing you to navigate via voice by channel name - not number - and pin your favorites. Now if I can get it to replace my DVR it will truly be an all-in-one machine. This is possible through the all-new Xbox Architecture  Microsoft has combined the currently redesigned Xbox OS with the flexibility of Windows 8 and a middle-man to seamlessly display both worlds, quickly and smoothly. Within the case you will find an 8-core x86 processor and a whopping 8 GB of RAM that's making me as a PC gamer take a double-take. Additionally the basic model will have 500GB on board for all your data. That's enough to run a desktop PC. It will even host 3.0 USB hubs include Wifi-direct and support multiple power modes.

Microsoft is also revamping Achievements and Xbox live through "cloud" power services. Ignoring the buzzwords Xbox claims you will be able to access your content anytime from anywhere, including save files. Presumably from someone else's machine as well. Achievements have also been described as no longer explaining "what you've done" but rather "how you play" featuring percentile stats among friends and the world at large similar to what Valve's Steam software already does for it's users.

Not much else was said at the keynote. Halo is coming to the TV through 343 Studios and Stephen Spielberg. Which is a logical progression from Microsoft's Forward Unto Dawn miniseries. There was a small section on the controller with hosts direct feedback to the triggers and includes 40+ design improvements. As well as a native game recorder and editor to share your accomplishments and trending content features through the entire experience, and a lot of sports stuff including live tracking and fantasy league information.

But there was also mention of something that peaked my interest.

"This means bigger matches with more players. It means living and persistent worlds"

and something I just caught on their website:

Your games keep playing, even when you’re not. Living Games technology allows game worlds to keep going even when you’re not playing. So you never know what new things you’ll find the next time you play. And advanced artificial intelligence can learn to play like you. So when you’re not around, your friends can still play against your shadow.

Overall as an avid Xbox fan and that I had the 360 before I switched to PC this new product is looking very appealing. It seems they took what Smart TVs, multi-media players, and Top Boxes are trying to do and what Google TV has done somewhat successfully (however without much wind) and brought it effectively to millions of homes instantly upgrading the power of their TV.

However some features rely on the use of the second screen via Microsoft's Smartglass App. Navigating the web and other typing function can rely fairly heavily on this feature. Possibly rendering them incomplete for a good number of users. I'm also worried about the possible price of such a device. The PS3 didn't come cheap and I don't Xbox will let a high price get in the way of sales. So they'll have to keep it low. But I won't be surprised when it'll empty a lot of people's pocket books.

As the second console released in the eighth generation of gaming consoles and the lack of sales from the confusingly named and branded Wii U (Hell they even sent out flyers comparing it's predecessor the Wii and everything it couldn't do) it doesn't look like Microsoft is going to have much competition this year. The Xbox is scheduled to be released later this year with several exclusive titles, including completely new franchises. More information will be found at E3 on June 11-13. You can also watch their keynote from today on-demand here.

[deathtotheempire]

Lg Optimus G Pro [Review]



As I mentioned before I have been reviewing products for AT&T and while I’m currently taking a look at the HTC First I wanted to summarize my experience with the last phone I tested.

Overall the Optimus G Pro from LG is ahead of the curve. Pop-out apps and browser; an Infrared controller and a Full HD screen with naive apps that didn’t make me feel like it was bloatware set’s it ahead of the pack. But the screen was far too sensitive and the harder front edges of the phone (I felt it right away when I put it to my ear. It wasn’t necessarily uncomfortable, just a hard-edge) was less desirable. And flipping the context and back buttons didn’t help my transition any smoother, but in the end made it much better at one-handed operation. This phone has good battery life and a wicked screen and a fast processor. It seems to have taken everything the Note II had to offer (sans the stylus) and made it one step better. If you want to know more about my specific experiences with the phone and more tech specs read pass the break.

First things first, opening the box to the LG Optimus Pro G revealed a fairly large phone (5.5”). And the first thing that surprised me about it was the battery. It was large. Since the phone is quite thin it took a large part of the back-side real-estate. But there weren't any worries there because it still had room for expandable memory and the SIM without problem. Overall, the form factor was good, plastic but fit in my hand well enough, as well as my pocket. I quickly realized that I would be comparing this phone to Samsung’s Galaxy Note II very often.

Which brings us to the specifications. Overall the two phones aren't that different.



selected information via phonearena.com

They both have the latest versions of Android, 5.5” displays and a quadcore processor. The differences are slight in the processor speed and battery capacity, however how they handle the power is different. (Both phones lasted the day for me, I used them for notes, internet, YouTube  music and gaming fairly regularly). The biggest difference is the the Optimus has a full HD 1080 screen while the Note II has a Standard HD screen. Also note the changes in camera resolution and HDMI connectivity.

Both phones also have very different takes on the Memo application. The Note II had S Memo which allowed to to hand-write notes on the fly with it’s very ow.n stylus. But I think I prefer LG’s take on that function. It’s QuickMemo™ overlays whatever screen you’re on and allows to to write (w/o a stylus) notes, then dismiss the overlay or keep it static on top of your working window. Alternatively you can open it into the memo app itself and save a snapshot for later. 

Like-wise, it seemed LG had been watching Samsung’s attempts at multitasking and foreground windows because LG touted pop-out videos. Like Samsung, those videos had to be from your gallery (Samsung’s native video player app) and were movable and resizable on the screen. But LG took it one step further again by adding the ability to control it as a foreground or translucent “midground” app. Additionally other pop-out “QSlide” apps including a handy calculator, calendar and a notepad and only two at a time.

The phone also includes it’s own Calendar app with a nicely designed split month to agenda view, a default NFC tag reader app and a few others. The nice thing was that unlike the Note II’s Touch-Wiz, I didn’t feel like I had to splash Apex launcher over the native UI to get something that looked and felt better. The phone was thought out, and smooth animations helped give it a wow-factor. (On the lockscreen when you start to swipe the screen creates a bubble that peers through to whatever app you had opened last or your homescreen).

Other truly unique features included the LED notification ring around the home button that interacted differently depending on the notification type and the ability to record both camera simultaneously  This is where it got cool. Within the camcorder app you can re-position and re-size the opposite camera even while filming and switch main cameras by tapping the screen.The phone also included a IR blaster for controlling anything from home AC units to Bluray players, Tvs and top boxes. Set-up is super easy and easily has dozens of brands I’ve never heard of to make the process slick if you have a less common brand TV. You can also enable the remote in your notification shade for easy access or by pressing the home button on your lockscreen.

The phone’s pitfall’s where that the screen was so sensitive that it would constantly wake up in my pocket and start typing or making sounds to the extend that it emergency dialed enough times without me even knowing the the police called and asked of there was a real emergency! Qslide was nice but still too limiting. Once I can pop-out Netflix or You-Tube I’ll be much happier. Also Qslide took up a good amount of real-estate in my notification shade. There were quick settings, then Q-slide, then maybe the remote. Add in my expandable notification for weather and battery usage and I would have to scroll 1.5 shades before I would be able to see my new text message. There was simply too much going on.

The LG Optimus Pro is available exclusively from AT&T for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement.

[deathtotheempire]

Writing Again

If you take a look at my site you can see that I haven't written anything for a year. Well I'm hoping to finally change that. I really enjoy writing about technology but there hasn't been much time while I'm at school. Even during the summer I'm working quite a bit on shows. However, this last semester I have been reviewing devices and phones for AT&T through my University for a consumer electronics TV show, and I've constantly thought "why not also write about this?." Well without a full crew to continue filming the show during the summer months I've come back to writing. Which I can was stupid for me not do as I went. In the last couple of months I've gotten my hands on:

The Fitbit One and Aria Scale

Jawbone Jambox

Beats by Dr Dre Boombox Portable

Galaxy Note II

Black Berry Z10

Pantech Element Tablet

and the Galaxy Camera

I don't know if I'll be looking back at my notes and writing about them now because the market moves so fast and they've been out for a while. But I just returned the LG Optimus G Pro phone today and it was released a week and a half ago. So i'll start there. And currently I'm testing the HTC First, which isn't necessarily new or cutting edge for that matter, but will have to hold me over until I get my hands on the HTC One.

Other things we talked about on our show was Windows 8, computer mice and a PC vs. Console episode. Those I will probably revisit as I need filler because they are constantly being updated with new gadgets.

Also as you might know the LEAP motion controller has been delayed again to June. So look forward to that. I will also be writing about the SodaStream 'cause, "why not?" and Google I/O 2013 because it's write around the corner. I hope you enjoy the new variety of articles that will start rolling out soon.

--

Sincerely,

Chris Ringeisen

[deathtotheempire]

Facebook is will be under watchful eye of the FTC for the next twenty years, Privacy Concerns

Facebook just settled with the FTC yesterday over privacy concerns. All those times Facebook changed your personal settings without your explicit knowledge, even your personal e-mail address, should finally come to end. The agreement differ's from Google's recent payout over tracking cookies despite Safari user's settings, in that Google only had to pay a 22.5 million fine. Facebook will be looking forward to the FTC snooping around Facebook HQ every other year auditing their practices, for the next twenty years. Additionally, any changes to the policy will be made "clear and prominent" to users before the update goes live.

Quoted from Techcrunch, as taken out of the original document, Facebook is:

barred from making misrepresentations about the privacy or security of consumers’ personal information;

required to obtain consumers’ affirmative express consent before enacting changes that override their privacy preferences;

required to prevent anyone from accessing a user’s material more than 30 days after the user has deleted his or her account;

required to establish and maintain a comprehensive privacy program designed to address privacy risks associated with the development and management of new and existing products and services, and to protect the privacy and confidentiality of consumers’ information; and

required, within 180 days, and every two years after that for the next 20 years, to obtain independent, third-party audits certifying that it has a privacy program in place that meets or exceeds the requirements of the FTC order, and to ensure that the privacy of consumers’ information is protected.

So it looks like for once, things are improving for the public. I personally can't say the same in the Ongoing Apple v. Samsung case. 

[deathtotheempire]

Pulse Brings News Platform to Web Browsers

Finally! Up until this week I've had to run the Android Emulator BlueStacks to access Pulse for when I wanted to take advantage of my laptop's screen and work flow. No longer.

With help from Microsoft (anyone else notice the large IE icon in the top right corner?) You can now browse all your news feeds in a beautiful Metro — Er, I mean Windows 8 style layout. With identical features to the Mobile App and other e-readers, you can change font size and background color of your articles. You can even choose how your stories are displayed across your sources. And the best part of it all, if you have an account, it will be synced across all platforms.

If you've visited your saved stories before, then the URL hasn't changed. Just visit pulse.me to begin reading.

[deathtotheempire]

This is a very interesting and informative read. Well recommended and from our friends at Techcrunch.

[deathtotheempire]

Protect your flock with this SMS powered Alert system

A Swiss biologist has finished testing this new tech on a dozen sheep and the result might make the phrase "calling wolf" obsolete. A collar that monitors the sheep's heart-rate will detect stress and subsequently send the shepherd a text alert of possible danger.

Although the shepherd better have good cell coverage or the investment might of been better put on a few border collies.

[deathtotheempire]

Protean's Echo Card will solve your Mobile Payment Issues

If you're as annoyed as I am about the amount of locations using new mobile payment methods like RFID and NFC technology through PayPal and Google Wallet, then you might be more likely to acquire Protean's upcoming product: the Echo card.

This is a product I'd actually buy.

It's simple, sleek and shiny. The Echo card, patent pending, uses your smartphone and a peripheral scanner to transfer the data off of the magnetic strip on debit and credit cards onto your mobile device. From there, it uses Bluetooth technology to upload up to three cards at a time to the Echo Card. Once the cards are uploaded, a simple press to one of the softkeys on the card will prepare the magnetic strip with the proper data and you can use it just like any other card.

You may get a lot of strange looks when you use it in a store perhaps. And they might want to see the original card anyway but this seems to be an even better insulation than other bar-code apps like KeyRing and mobile Payment platforms. 

Right now, if you visit their website and give them your e-mail address you'll receive a %10 discount when it's released. A kickstarter project will be launched this Winter to get their first round of funding. I can't wait.

EDIT:

My brother pointed this out to me:

Q: How long does Echo's battery last?  A: About 2 years, and it never needs to be recharged.

 ...

Feature #3: Operates with normal batteries so you NEVER have to be bothered by recharging it! "It just seems like an odd way of putting it. I guess they mean that within that two year window you don't have to do anything to it."

That's actually really interesting...

[deathtotheempire]

Quantum Routing, Internets [Future Tech]

So you've probably heard of fiber optics, and how the Internet is approaching the edge of sending data over such networks. You might not of known, but that's actually quantum mechanics at wok. Data is literally being sent via photons, A.K.A. light.

The reason why this is labeled as Future Tech deserves some explanation. Currently, data can be sent over a single line; similarly to ehat you would see in today's cutting-edge technology. But, they can't transfer pipes, or what's known as routing. The newly invented device from Tsinghau University in China can:

"[The Device] creates a quantum photon, that is a superposition of two separate photons that are in horizontal and vertical polarized states. That quantum photon is then converted into two, lower power, photons, which both also share the same dual polarization. Then, a router can read data from one photon, which it destroys, and use the remaining one as the data signal."

And that's how far the Internet has come. Google will be installing a Fiber Optic Network in Kansas city of the next six weeks and there will be more information on that coming soon.

If you'd like to get a more in-depth analysis on it's 'quantum mechanics' here's a document detailing more.

[deathtotheempire]

D.A. Now Lets Users Buy Digital Content

The developers over at the website DeviantArt have now given artists the ability to sell their digital goods using their new service. I'm personally a member of the site and I've featured other artists as well.

I think that this is a wonderful move by the guys at D.A. And for some reason I'm surprised it never crossed my mind or took this long to develop the tool. I see people with eternal links all the time to buy premium content. Why not put everything under one umbrella?

Well one is that DeviantART will still keep %20 of the proceeds but that's pretty good when it compares to what they make off of prints. However, as far as artwork goes I think people are going to continue down the commissions path.

DeviantART is also staying my favorite publisher because of how they intertwine copyright deep into the site's mechanics. D.A. makes it dead simple with Creative Commons Licences, thumbnail images and watermarks to ensure your art remains your own. With their new feature than will become available for everyone is the coming weeks, comes the ability to load in a custom licence agreement with the digital files.

And they aren't locking you into their own digital currency either. What you make off of the premium currency can be wired to your PayPal account or even into a check. So you can get actually paid for your work.

The text from their update is below:

DeviantART is proud to announce our Premium Content Platform

The Premium Content Platform was built to represent high-quality content — the premier pieces in an artist's repertoire of work. We encourage the sale of everything from comics or stories for download, to high-res files like .PSDs, textures, tutorials, brush packs, and more!

What are Points?

DeviantART Points are a virtual currency that can be used to buy virtual and real goods on deviantART. Points can be purchased using a credit card or PayPal, and one U.S. dollar is the equivalent to 80 Points. A buyer making a Premium Content Platform purchase must use Points for the transaction.

Selling Premium Content

Premium Content Platform sellers have the opportunity to generate real earnings through sales. Sellers are able to set their own prices for downloads and a seller retains 80% of all revenue earned.

Earnings

Buyers make Premium Content Platform purchases with Points.  While all payments are made in Points, earnings from work sold can be withdrawn as U.S. dollars via PayPal or check, or converted into Points.

Buying Premium Content

Buying Premium Content is a straightforward and user-friendly process. Simply click the "Purchase" button, ensure you have enough Points available to make the transaction, enter your password, and agree to the Seller's Agreement. Your download will start immediately!

Rating Premium Content

To assist future buyers, we encourage previous buyers to rate sellers on a five-star scale. It only takes a moment to rate a seller and feedback is critical to helping others make purchasing decisions.

Eligibility and Agreements

Sellers enter into an agreement with the buyer on each download. When making a download available for sale, sellers can use a standard Personal Use/Personal Non-Commercial Use License Agreement or can insert their own Custom License Agreement.

Supporting Artists, Empowering Buyers

The majority of work on deviantART will always remain free. Members and visitors will still be able to browse and download millions of deviations at no cost. The Premium Content Platform was built to represent the premier pieces in an artist's repertoire of work.  Our aim with the Platform is to provide a place where artists are able to sell their work and feel empowered and dignified by receiving a deserving share of the earnings.  Buyers are able to directly support the artists they love through purchases made on the Premium Content Platform.

[deathtotheempire]

Join us on Facebook!

Facebook as added the ability for Pages to also have unique URLs, now it's even easier to find us on Facebook! Just ad a slash and "deathtotheempire".

[deathtotheempire]

Facebook Adds Calendar View to Events Page

I was on Facebook today and realized Facebook had done some remodeling of it's event page.

The new update organizes all your friends birthdays and event invites into a graphical representation of their occurrences in proximity to the the current date...  wait, those are called calenders. What's hilarious was that it took a hackathon for this idea to come about. Anyways, I'm happy to see it and now the icon on the left taskbar will display the current day's date. Sweet!

[deathtotheempire]

For those of you getting geared up for Seeing the new Spiderman movie on July 3rd, here's a niftly download for your own gear. From a wonderful artist, *TheAL, over on Deviant Art, is a wallpaper pack for an array of devices, from PC to PSP.

[deathtotheempire]

Join the Community!

Death to the Empire is announcing today that they have added support for comments using the wonderful tool Disqus. So join the community and talk about what you're reading!

[deathtotheempire]

Google I/O Day 2, Chromebooks, Drive and Browser Updates

Day 2 at Google I/O has focused a lot more on the developer side of things, however there are some odd ends that involve you as a consumer. 

Samsung Chromebook 550

Samsung has announced a new Chromebook that reduces it's instant-on boot time from 10 seconds to 7 and increases it's speed three fold. That's because the new pc has doubled it's RAM from 2 to 4 and was equipped with a better processor. As a web-based device, it still shouldn't need cutting-edge hardware to make consumers happy. Alongside the Chromebook ($550), the mini-computer, Chrombox, got a similar performance upgrade and will be available for $329. The computer will be sold at select Best Buys and retail stores across the U.S.

Google Drive

Google drive sought quite a bit of attention today. The web-based service will be coming to iOS and ChromeOS some point today. For Chromebook users, Google Drive is basically now your file-system. Quietly syncing your documents to the cloud while you work.

But the bigger news and something I literally had a problem with for the last two weeks is that Google Drive now allows off-line editing. Before the website would lock as it tried to reach the Google servers, completely stopping you from typing up a document. As such an integral part of ChromeOS, that simply can't happen either. There's no 'offline' mode that needs to be activated, Google simply handles the issue accordingly, without interruptions, and then syncs your document at the next available time.

Chrome

Chrome for Mobile got it's final update and will also be coming to Apple handsets later today. The new app will sync across all your devices to make sure your bookmarks and search history is preserved. All the same features found on other flavours of Chrome are available to the new devices, even incognito mode. Chrome recently toppled Internet Explorer as the most used browser-worldwide. 

Source: StatCounter Global Stats - Browser Market Share

With 310 million active users, and now on the iPhone and iPad, it seems they will be dominating the web for some time to come. The app ships as the stock browser on the Nexus 7 tablet, otherwise you can find the app on the Google Play Store or Apple's App Store.

[deathtotheempire]

Google Launches Google Now, "Siri Killer"

One of the things discusses at duing yesterday's conferences at Google I/O was the launch of it's service Google Now, which in a way can delve into Siri-like commands but in-fact does a bit more - and for you. 

Be sure to turn on captioning with the Google, it's quite humorous. I'm unsure of whether the captioning was intentional of it's a new voice-recognition feature on YouTube that's doing a hysterical job at understanding the woman's voice.

Relying heavily on all those hardware sensors in your device it absorbs all the data around you and feeds you the most relevant news on a series of cards. As the video demonstrates, once you start your commute, Google Now can tap into Google's Maps program, look up traffic plans, and then tell you how long the trip will take while offering alternate routes as you go. With Google Now it can give you weather reports in the morning so you can plan your day around rain forecasts, get updated flight information when you're    waiting in an airport and the latest sports scores if you're phone realized you were looking them up on the web earlier that day.

Google is great at integrating other services into one app. Navigation is really Google Maps, despite having a directions feature within. Latitude is really Maps again with a social layer on top. Google Currents is based on the same software used in their magazine app, but is oriented more for RSS and websites. I mean, if What do You Love by Google wasn't enough to showcase everything Google can do with search, which is a very long list, Google Now is certainly a showcase piece.

Already dubbed by some fans as a "Siri Killer" Google not only informs and educates users of things around them but can apparently do it proactively. The down-side is that Siri is on tons of phones and soon to be in your automobiles. Google Now is only available for devices running Android Jellybean 4.1; which is only the Nexus 7 tablet and soon to be the Galaxy Nexus.