Saturday, December 28, 2013

Cyber criminals launch new Target attack

Cyber criminals wreaked havoc in one of the largest security breaches at a US retailer.

Target confirmed Friday that debit card PIN data was stolen in its recent massive breach, reversing its earlier stance that the codes were not part of the hack.

When hackers managed to steal the credit and debit card members numbers of nearly 40 million shoppers, Target customers went on the alert.

The security breach left millions of debit and credit card holders anxious about their personal information being used by thieves.

Now Target customers, like Frank Winstead are ticked off that more scammers are getting in on the action.

The concern now is that consumers across the country have received emails that appear to be from Target.

They are much like the one posted on the retailer's official website, but in reality experts say it appears to be a phishing scam designed to bilk more consumers out of their personal information.

The real Target message contains legitimate links to the websites of the major credit bureaus as well as the FTC.

The bogus one also contains links that look real but they are not legit.

It is just one more thing Winstead says shoppers don't want to have to deal with especially during the holiday season.

Experts with the Better boxed christmas cards Bureau say it's all the more reason to always safeguard your information because you don't want to deal with the fallout that could follow when criminals strike.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

The Illusionists extravaganza proves a tricky business

How on earth did they do that? It is the immediate response to a decent magic trick - be it a fiddle with some cards or British hypnotist Derren Brown's magic-whispering some upright citizens into staging an armed robbery - but it is the question no magician will answer. How you saw a lady in half, how you make a motorbike disappear in a blast of firecrackers ... silence on these matters is part of the craft. The thrill of magic, according to the fraternity, lies in its impenetrability.

Magic, like burlesque a decade ago and circus before it, is having quite a moment right now. Once confined to Las Vegas and tea-time kids' shows, men with wands are now popping up everywhere in town: at The Illusionists extravaganza coming to the Arts Centre Melbourne in January, in numerous television shows from Britain and the US and in the recent film Now You See Me, with Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson as master illusionists who stage a bank heist involving mirrors, mass hypnosis and a good deal of showmanship.

Actually, there aren't any men with wands any more. Wands are out. Cloaks are over. Rob Drummond, who researched magical history for his one-man play Bullet Catch, part of next month's Sydney Festival, says there are probably only seven kinds of magic trick, in the same way that there are only seven basic stories, but they are being dressed up differently now.

Cutting edge: The Illusionists ham it up with the old saw trick.

Even the emblematic rabbit has waltzed away with the top hat into oblivion.

I saw The Illusionists 1:0 when it toured to London at a 5000-seat venue; it was a barrage of flashing lights, flying props, zippy dancers and a very loud house band from Los Angeles playing the kind of driving beats you get at speedway meets. Even the magic felt loud. A man was chopped up and appeared to survive as two halves; a magician who looked like Marilyn Manson passed a polo mint through every orifice in his face.

New media has meant that you don't have to go to Las Vegas to see magic or, as a magician, to be seen; Australian magician Jamie Galea got his big break when one of the producers on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show saw him on YouTube.

There is an inherent irony in magicians' insistence that it ruins the fun to know how it's done. All have stories of watching David Copperfield videos over and over again and spending hours trying to master sleight of hand. Galea says he was first inspired by seeing a street performer at an Australia Day event making a ball disappear into a handkerchief. He thinks he was about eight. ''I remember I just didn't let him go, and I would watch with every person he went to, which I'm sure drove him nuts but he actually showed me: he said 'here, kid, here's how it's done'. Which makes me think now how intense I must have been as a kid then!''

Growing up in Glasgow, Drummond learned a trick from his sister's then boyfriend; he was also eight and, as he says, spent the next 12 years practising tricks in front of the mirror.

''It didn't feel time-intensive,'' he says. ''I thought, 'well, I can do this for the rest of my life' but with no real purpose, you know. It does demand doing one thing over and over until you get muscle memory.'' Is that why all magicians are men? ''It may have something to do with why all magicians are introverted and socially awkward,'' he laughs.

You do wonder. All the magicians I meet are actually very personable, but the ability to pull an egg out of someone's ear certainly has the potential to be a compensatory social skill.

''You get into magic because you don't feel impressive,'' Brown - who is something of a phenomenon in Britain - told The Guardian. ''It's the quickest, most fraudulent route to impressing people.''

Galea, who has clearly given considerable thought to the ethics of magic, remembers the rush when he successfully stole his teacher's watch at high school. ''All the kids round me were laughing and it was a thrilling moment,'' he remembers. ''It becomes like a drug." Later he would have bets with fellow magicians about how many watches he could snaffle in a single show; his record was seven. He's not proud of it; it was ''stupid and crazy''.

''That doesn't thrill me at all, that kind of 'oooohhhh look, look how good I am','' he says. That kind of act, he says, is a power trip for the magician rather than something fun for the audience. ''I mean, magic is an amazing skill, but I think there are people who use that to show off and others who do it to give people a great experience everyone can share, where nobody feels stupid for not knowing where their card is. Watch anyone's trick and I think you will instantaneously know what they are trying to do.''

Of course, being the smartest person in the room - or making people think you are - has a tremendous allure.

''That's the reason some magicians don't like other magicians: they realise 'oh, I'm not special around you'. I guess that is a sad moment.'' That neediness is also an unpleasant thing to see in oneself, he agrees, so the defensive response is to bad-mouth your competitor while trying to think of a trick that will be bigger and better than anything he's got.

Don't we all want to be the smartest person in the room? Not entirely. In Bullet Trick, Drummond asks the audience to vote on whether he should reveal how a trick is done. ''Not only magicians say that people don't want to know; people themselves say that,'' he says. ''But the moment you present them with a genuine offer of knowledge, human curiosity takes over. There is always a battle within. Part of them doesn't want to know, but the bigger part cannot resist an insight that will make them part of the club.''

And it turns out all those old-school magicians were right all along.

After they have seen how a trick is done, he says, people usually say they feel a sense of loss. Like Eve eating the apple or luckless pandora las vegas opening the box full of evil, they lament their vanished innocence; at the same time, they had to know. ''That's every story of origin that's ever been,'' agrees Drummond. ''That curiosity is inherent in all of us.''

The Illusionists is at Arts Centre Melbourne, January 3-12. artscentremelbourne.com.au

Friday, December 6, 2013

It's a wintry mess from the Southwest to the Northeast

(cnn news las vegas) - No matter how you spell it, ice is a four-letter word Friday. Just ask folks living anywhere from Texas to Tennessee.

Across this swath of America, birthday plans have been canceled, long-awaited reunions have been put on hold, and weekend plans have become uncertain.

To put some perspective on the scope of the storm, consider that Hot Springs, Arkansas, experienced a record high of 75 on Wednesday. By Friday morning, the city was in the middle of an ice storm.

On Friday, it was colder in Dallas (26 degrees) than in Anchorage, Alaska (34 degrees), prompting the cancellation of the Dallas Marathon and spurring Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to cancel almost 700 flights, about 80% of those scheduled.

Those areas are in the bull's-eye of a treacherous ice storm, threatening to coat everything in its path with up to an inch of frozen water.

Ice is slippery but also heavy. It tends to bring down tree limbs and power lines when accumulations get thick.

Storm deaths

In some cases, the weather has been deadly. At least four deaths have been attributed to the storm.

In Texas, a passenger in a car was killed Thursday in Hockley County when the vehicle lost control and crashed into another car, Sgt. Bryan Witt of the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

An Arkansas man was killed late Thursday when a tree fell on his camper in Pope County, Tommy Jackson, an Arkansas Department of Emergency Management spokesman, said Friday. Jackson said the death was related to the weather but couldn't provide details about the weather at the time. Rain and freezing rain were reported in the area Thursday night.

Highway Patrol officials in Oklahoma blamed two deaths on the weather - a 24-year-old man in Owasso and another unidentified person in Muskogee - but did not release details of those incidents.

Officers have responded to 106 weather-related crashes since Thursday morning.

About 116 storm-related injuries have been reported in Oklahoma, including 48 falls, the state health department said.

The storm struck fear in residents.

In Dallas, iReporter Earl Wallace IV said he was on the front porch of his home Friday morning when he heard a loud crack and a rush of wind. A large tree had fallen on two nearby homes.

"One of the homeowners emerged crying and talking on the phone," said the 32-year-old creative director. "The tree had crashed down into her dining room. I felt nervous, shocked and scared for the families inside."

Two homes were damaged - one with a giant hole in the roof - but no one was injured.

Getting ready

In Tennessee, Memphis Light, Gas and Water has 426,000 customers and is preparing for the worst. As of early Friday afternoon, about 5,000 customers were without power.

"MLGW employees have been monitoring this winter storm situation, and we have all of our resources in place should the winter weather hit Memphis and Shelby County," said Jerry Collins Jr., the company's president and CEO. "If indeed a significant storm blankets our city, we are ready to respond."

The ice also makes travel messy - real messy.

Road crews in Memphis are ready to throw down 4,000 tons of sand to give drivers traction, CNN affiliate WMC reported.

The governors of Tennessee and Arkansas declared states of emergency ahead of the worst of the storm.

"The most unsettling aspect about Arkansas' weather for most of us is its looming uncertainty," Gov. Mike Beebe said.

"During severe weather season, we know when conditions are ripe for tornadoes but never exactly where and when they could strike. In winter, that uncertainty takes a different form but can still create widespread anxiety," he said.

"Often, only a few degrees above or below the freezing mark can make the difference between a cold rain, a blanket of snow, an ice storm or a mixture of all of the above."

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, roads were passable overnight, but it was a fine line as temperatures slipped below freezing. The slushy mess slowly turned into crunchy, bumpy ice.

Police urged caution for anyone on the road and reported 21 major car accidents and 32 minor ones Friday.

According to energy provider Oncor, more than 200,000 customers were without power in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area as of Friday morning. This is the largest concentration of outages, with scattered outages elsewhere in the state.

Nearly 30,000 were without power in Arkansas, energy companies reported.

A dark cloud over Dallas events

The National Weather Service predicts a wintry mix of precipitation through Sunday.

That forecast prompted the cancellation of a downtown Dallas holiday parade scheduled for Saturday for the first time in 26 years. The city also called off its annual marathon slated for Sunday and the accompanying Health & Fitness Expo scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

"We regret that the race will not go on as planned, but are confident this decision is in the best interest of our runners, volunteers, spectators and the general public," A Dallas Marathon statement said.

While the focus Friday was on the ice storm stretching from Dallas to Memphis, Mother Nature looked ready to throw another punch.

A wintry mix was forecast for Washington beginning about noon Sunday. The National Weather Service said it has the potential to be an ice storm from late Sunday afternoon through the evening hours, but temperatures are expected to rise above freezing by rush hour Monday.

A new storm entered the West, bringing snow to the Pacific Coast on Friday. The storm brought significant snowfall to Portland, Oregon, and there is a chance for rare snow in Las Vegas on Saturday. This storm will bring another round of wintry weather to the East by late in the weekend.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

New And Exclusive Micro-Site Content

ePHOTOzine's Micro-Site Roundup - Find out what's been happening on our five Micro-Sites.

Posted:

Here's a roundup of the exclusive content we've got for you to have a read of on our five micro-sites this week:

On PENTAXPORTAL this week, you can take a look at some top tips for photographing seals with your Pentax camera, and check out some top Pentax sunset photos. Plus, the brand new K-3 DSLR has been reviewed on site this week, and there's news of new images from Ricoh Imaging brand ambassadors.

Over On EIZO ColorZone, you can learn how to perform a monitor viewing angle check and find out why ColorNavigator software is a great tool for aiding calibration. Plus, there's news of a new 3D CG colour management handbook that's now available.

Meanwhile, on Olympus Image Space this week, there are techniques on how to use blur creatively, and there's news on Olympus workshops taking place over the coming months with Damian McGillicuddy and Steve Gosling. Plus, news on the Olympus Impressions 'Fall' competition, and £100 accessory cashback when you buy an Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera have also gone live.

On Totally Tamron this week, you can learn some top tips for taking better photos of ice with your Tamron lens, plus there are some top Tamron portrait photos for you to take a look at. Don't forget to take a look at David Pritchard's blog the days zoom past, too, as he's been out-and-about with his newly acquired Tamron 24-70mm lens.

Last but not least, on Nikon Nation this week, you can check out some ideas and tips for on location portrait shoots, get creative with colour balance and lots more. Plus, don't miss the Nikon D5300 Offers DSLR review and news of ono-to one training with Nikon School in December.

Make sure you check back to the Micro-Sites regularly, as new and exclusive content is posted weekly!


Source: Ephotozine

Sunday, November 24, 2013

New And Exclusive Micro-Site Content

ePHOTOzine's Micro-Site Roundup - Find out what's been happening on our five Micro-Sites.

Posted:

Here's a roundup of the exclusive content we've got for you to have a read of on our five micro-sites this week:

On PENTAXPORTAL this week, you can take a look at some top tips for photographing seals with your Pentax camera, and check out some top Pentax sunset photos. Plus, the brand new K-3 DSLR has been reviewed on site this week, and there's news of new images from Ricoh Imaging brand ambassadors.

Over On EIZO ColorZone, you can learn how to perform a monitor viewing angle check and find out why ColorNavigator software is a great tool for aiding calibration. Plus, there's news of a new 3D CG colour management handbook that's now available.

Meanwhile, on Olympus Image Space this week, there are techniques on how to use blur creatively, and there's news on Olympus workshops taking place over the coming months with Damian McGillicuddy and Steve Gosling. Plus, news on the Olympus Impressions 'Fall' competition, and £100 accessory cashback when you buy an Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera have also gone live.

On Totally Tamron this week, you can learn some top tips for taking better photos of ice with your Tamron lens, plus there are some top Tamron portrait photos for you to take a look at. Don't forget to take a look at David Pritchard's blog the days zoom past, too, as he's been out-and-about with his newly acquired Tamron 24-70mm lens.

Last but not least, on Nikon Nation this week, you can check out some ideas and tips for on location portrait shoots, get creative with colour balance and lots more. Plus, don't miss the Nikon D5300 Discount DSLR review and news of ono-to one training with Nikon School in December.

Make sure you check back to the Micro-Sites regularly, as new and exclusive content is posted weekly!


Source: Ephotozine

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

First Leaked Photos of the Nikon D3300

<Nikon D5300 Couponsimg src="http://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2013/11/d3300_1.jpg">

It seems like we just got done with a round of leaks and rumor frenzy that had everyone in speculation overload, but now we have something coming out of the Nikon camp - or rather leaking out of the Nikon camp: the first photos (if legit) of the Nikon D3300.

The photos were sent to Nikon Rumors by an anonymous tipster and as rumors go they don't give us much to go on, just a couple of pictures that look a whole lot like the D3200 before it. Of course, the big improvements could be hiding under that shell.

Here's the only other photo (just a closer crop) the tipster sent in:

NR doesn't expect the D3300 to drop in 2013 - the D3200 was announced in April of this year, so it's still a bit early - but it is entirely possible Nikon is gearing up to announce the shooter at CES in January.

Stay tuned and we'll be sure to update you if and when any reliable specs/photos come down the rumor pipeline.

(via Photography Bay)


Source: Petapixel

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Nikon D5300 RELEASED - Specs, Price Availibility: First Nikon Model With Wi-Fi For Single-Lens Reflex Camera Design

<Nikon D5300 Buy Cheapp>Nikon has just released its brand new D5300 DSL camera, where the Wi-Fi feature in this model is a first for the company in single-lens reflex camera design, according to Gadget Review.

The latest model of the DX-format DSLR has 24.2 megapixels, a DX-format CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter, built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, a built-in GPS, a durable light body, a 3.2-inch 1037k-dot vari-angle LCCD monitor with wide viewing angle, NAL-1 features for zoom/focus assist, and more.

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It also has a full-HD 1920x1080/60p capability for movies, where selection can range from 24, 25, 30,50, and 60p. There are also 9 special effects for creative expression.

As previously reported, Nikon Rumors reports that the Nikon D5300 is expected to be introduced before the Photo Plus show in NYC at the end of the month or the CES show in Las Vegas in January.

It is reported that this will be the first camera to get the new EXPEED 4 processor. Some other rumored specs include 24 Megapixels, 39 AF points, built-in Wi-Fi and built-in GPS.

Photography Bay reports that the D530 will be introduced as an entry-level APS-C format camera. There are no reports yet of whether or not it will have better image quality over the D5200, but it would make sense to add additional video features to the D5300.

The price is $799 for the body only, where it is available in black, red, and a Nikon gray finish.


Source: Designntrend

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Spec Sheet: Nikon Df takes on Sony's tiny full-frame cameras

<Nikon D5300 Cyber Monday Dealimg src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/9285929/ss_large_verge_medium_landscape.jpg">A lot of products come out each week - we don't highlight all of them, but all of them make it into The Verge Database. In Spec Sheet, a weekly series, we survey the latest product entries to keep track of the state of the art.

Nikon struck back at Sony in a major way this week with the introduction of a (relatively) small full-frame DSLR, the Df. It's an exciting new device that continues to signal the slow but inevitable shrinking down of massive DSLRs, but whether it's an appealing purchase is another question entirely. At $2,999.99 for a body and kit lens, it's no cheaper than the cameras it's trying to replace and far more expensive than Sony's competition - so is there any great appeal to it?

Little competition for cameras in its price range

At nearly $3,000, the Nikon Df is priced directly beside Nikon's own D800E and slightly beneath Canon's popular 5D Mark III. The Df can't keep up with either of those cameras - it can't even shoot video - but in reality, it's not supposed to be a direct competitor to either of them. Nikon is aiming for the pros who have long pined for a more compact full-frame camera, something with plenty of power that can also be easily carried around all day. The bad news for Nikon is: Sony's Alpha 7 does just that for a much lower price, $1,999.99 with a kit lens.

When paired side by side, Nikon's camera falls behind in a number of the more quantifiable ways. It's a little bit bigger, a little bit heavier, and has much fewer megapixels - though its megapixel count could be a good or a bad thing, depending on how concerned you are about noise and resolution. The two are pretty evenly matched on speed, with each doing a bit better than the other in a couple areas, but neither particularly trouncing the other in any of them.

The pricing of Nikon's Df makes a bit more sense when it's put beside the other half of Sony's tiny full-frame lineup, a potentially more powerful model named the Alpha 7R, but the story doesn't change much. Though the Alpha 7R costs $2,299.99 body-only, that's still nearly $450 less expensive than the Df's body costs.

Nikon's lens system makes all the difference

But there are two really big differences between the Df and the Alpha 7, both of which will ultimately be the reason the Df might find some fans. For one, the Df has an optical viewfinder with 100 percent coverage - not an electronic one like the Alpha 7 does. And more importantly, it takes lenses on Nikon's F-mount, meaning there's a wealth of glass available for it, unlike Sony's still-spartan offerings.


Df sample image from Nikon. Click for full resolution. If you want to learn more about any of the products mentioned above, all of our information on them can be found through the database box located beneath the article. For more on cameras, speakers, and just about every product around, you can check out the full Verge Database right here.

For a photographer who's long been invested in Nikon's lens system, it's easy to see the appeal of the stylish and powerful Df, so long as they're absolutely certain they don't need video. But for a new buyer, the Df doesn't put up the strongest fight with its high price. The camera is an important signal from Nikon that it's paying attention to what Sony's been doing, but its price still leaves it out of reach for most - at least for now.

A few other interesting products were added to the database this week:


Source: Theverge

Friday, November 8, 2013

The Camera Bag: Nikon Japan is giving away this insane Nikkor alarm clock

<Nikon D5300 Cheapp>by Tim Barribeau

We've seen some pretty wacky things made to look like lenses over the years, but this is a first. Not only is this alarm clock an incredible facsimile of the Nikon 20-70mm f/2.8, but it will also wake you to the sound of a shutter firing. And even better than that - it's being given away by Nikon itself.

As part of its 80th anniversary celebrations, Nikon Japan is giving this incredible clock as a prize to its lucky customers. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be eligible to those of us on other shores. But if you're a Nikon user in Japan, and own one of a library list of lenses, you can offer your proof of purchase and warranty information to Nikon in order to enter to win the alarm clock.

And when it comes time for you to wake up in the morning? Then this is the sound that greets you.

We've seen lens shaped stools, cushions, mugs and more. But this is the first we've seen from the lens manufacturer itself. And this thing is so cool, that we really hope Nikon takes a hint from the coverage it's getting, and starts selling the things. It could be the perfect present for the Nikonist in your life.

(via PetaPixel, Nikon Rumors)


Source: Imaging-resource

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Nikon D5300 hands-on review

Nikon Nikon D5300 Black Friday Deal at a glance:

  • 24.2-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor
  • 1.037-million-dot, 3.2in, 170° LCD screen
  • Expeed 4 image processor
  • 39-point AF system with nine cross-type sensors
  • ISO 100-25,600
  • Price £730 body only

Nikon D5300 - Introduction

While the serious enthusiast is unlikely to be swayed into buying a Nikon DSLR over a Canon model purely because the Nikon camera is newer, the reality is that at the non-premium end of the market this is how some people make their buying decisions. 'Newer' must mean 'better'.

This demand for the 'new' explains why we see such short product cycles in the camera market, and why manufacturers feel the need to introduce even small advances in technology or feature sets in cameras with completely new names - rather than a 'Mark II' type of naming format.

Those familiar with Nikon's range of DSLRs may not see the sense in the company's introduction of the new D5300, especially as Nikon will maintain the D5200 alongside this model in the range - new and old together. By doing so, though, Nikon expands the number of cameras it has on offer and the number of price points it can cover, while also being able to have a model that can carry a 'New' sticker, and which introduces new features to the price band in which it will sit.

That's not to say that the Nikon D5300 isn't different to the D5200, though, as a new processor, new body design and the integration of wireless communications do genuinely bring additional benefits to the photographer.

Nikon D5300 - Design and handling

Nikon is very pleased that it has achieved a new way of constructing camera bodies, which it describes as a 'monocoque'. Instead of there being a chassis, onto which the components and the body shell are attached, the D5300 is designed to have everything screwed to the insides of the body form itself: exoskeleton, rather then the usual endoskeleton.

Image: The top of the camera houses only a few control points, keeping the layout simple and unintimidating for newcomers. A stereo microphone lives in front of the hotshoe

The D5300's body shell is also made of a new material, although Nikon won't say what that new material is - just that it is new. The upshot is that the body is less heavy than it might have been, and is 25g lighter, including the battery, than the camera it doesn't replace, the D5200.

I'm not entirely sure that when I used the camera I could appreciate the exact weight loss that has occurred, but I was able to enjoy the fact that this is truly a lightweight DSLR, of the type that we might not mind carrying all day, over the shoulder, in a bag or in a large pocket. The body is very small too, although it is balanced with a reassuringly large grip for the right hand. It seems ironic that a small and light camera should need a large grip, but I found it allowed me to be aware I was carrying the camera, and should a larger lens be attached it will help to support the forward pull of such a weight distribution.

Image: The body styling will be familiar to those used to the Nikon 5000 series, as will the standard menu. The 3.2in flip-out screen has impressive visibility

The buttons are arranged much as one might expect, with all the principal controls falling easily to the finger or thumb. The rear 3.2in LCD is very nicely bright and clear, with its 1.037-million-dot resolution. Nikon has set the viewing panel into the glass screen, so there are no gaps or internal reflections, which produces good contrast and a clear view from a quoted angled of up to 170°. I am impressed.

In live view, the screen works well when the camera is held low or high, and I found the AF quick enough and seemingly accurate. The response of the shutter in live view also seems good.

Image: Nikon has retained its choice of layouts for the rear-screen display, with text-based and graphically expressed options to suit personal preferences

Nikon D5300 - Still to test

The principal changes in this model are of the sort that will only be proved in testing, but at this stage their potential is worth pointing out. Using the higher-capacity Expeed 4 processor, Nikon claims it has been able to reduce noise in its images through the use of more complicated calculations. A related benefit is that now noise levels are lower the company is comfortable offering a higher ISO setting - the Nikon D5300 allows ratings of up to ISO 25,600. More complex calculations also provide the potential for better white balance assessment in automatic modes via a more comprehensive assessment of the scene, and a better rendition of colour overall.

Lower noise should also lead to better resolution of detail from the 24.2-million-pixel sensor, as should Nikon's decision to do without the micro-blurring effects of a low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter. Leaving the low-pass filter off the sensor has become very fashionable, and I suspect it will be a great draw for many photographers. Moiré in images created by a sensor with 24 million pixels, even an APS-C-sized sensor, is still something that is quite likely to occur, but there is also plenty of software to correct it after the event.

The other thing to note is that this model sees the introduction of a new battery cell, which Nikon says increases capacity from 500 shots to 600 compared to the cell used in the D5200. It annoys me when companies change their battery forms, but on this occasion the new cell and that used in the D5200 are interchangeable.

Obviously, I couldn't test the battery life of the camera, but we should take the increase as good news. I will also have to wait to test the Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities of this new model, but neither can be held as negative points just for their inclusion. The Wi-Fi integration means users will be able to control the camera from an Android or iOS device, and will be able to wirelessly transfer images for viewing, editing and sending while on the go.

Image: The new battery, which is backwards compatible with the D5200, offers a longer life. There is no low-pass filter on the sensor, for extra resolution

Nikon D5300 - Conclusion

It would be easy to dismiss the Nikon D5300 for being too similar to the D5200, but that really isn't the point. There is not much wrong with the D5200, and the changes that this new model brings can only make it better. Perhaps Nikon could have called it the D5200 ll, but I'm not sure it matters one bit.

The Nikon D5300 will cost around £730 body only and be available from 14 November.


Source: Amateurphotographer

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Nikon D5300 hands-on review

Nikon Nikon D5300 Buy Cheap at a glance:

  • 24.2-million-pixel, APS-C-sized CMOS sensor
  • 1.037-million-dot, 3.2in, 170° LCD screen
  • Expeed 4 image processor
  • 39-point AF system with nine cross-type sensors
  • ISO 100-25,600
  • Price £730 body only

Nikon D5300 - Introduction

While the serious enthusiast is unlikely to be swayed into buying a Nikon DSLR over a Canon model purely because the Nikon camera is newer, the reality is that at the non-premium end of the market this is how some people make their buying decisions. 'Newer' must mean 'better'.

This demand for the 'new' explains why we see such short product cycles in the camera market, and why manufacturers feel the need to introduce even small advances in technology or feature sets in cameras with completely new names - rather than a 'Mark II' type of naming format.

Those familiar with Nikon's range of DSLRs may not see the sense in the company's introduction of the new D5300, especially as Nikon will maintain the D5200 alongside this model in the range - new and old together. By doing so, though, Nikon expands the number of cameras it has on offer and the number of price points it can cover, while also being able to have a model that can carry a 'New' sticker, and which introduces new features to the price band in which it will sit.

That's not to say that the Nikon D5300 isn't different to the D5200, though, as a new processor, new body design and the integration of wireless communications do genuinely bring additional benefits to the photographer.

Nikon D5300 - Design and handling

Nikon is very pleased that it has achieved a new way of constructing camera bodies, which it describes as a 'monocoque'. Instead of there being a chassis, onto which the components and the body shell are attached, the D5300 is designed to have everything screwed to the insides of the body form itself: exoskeleton, rather then the usual endoskeleton.

Image: The top of the camera houses only a few control points, keeping the layout simple and unintimidating for newcomers. A stereo microphone lives in front of the hotshoe

The D5300's body shell is also made of a new material, although Nikon won't say what that new material is - just that it is new. The upshot is that the body is less heavy than it might have been, and is 25g lighter, including the battery, than the camera it doesn't replace, the D5200.

I'm not entirely sure that when I used the camera I could appreciate the exact weight loss that has occurred, but I was able to enjoy the fact that this is truly a lightweight DSLR, of the type that we might not mind carrying all day, over the shoulder, in a bag or in a large pocket. The body is very small too, although it is balanced with a reassuringly large grip for the right hand. It seems ironic that a small and light camera should need a large grip, but I found it allowed me to be aware I was carrying the camera, and should a larger lens be attached it will help to support the forward pull of such a weight distribution.

Image: The body styling will be familiar to those used to the Nikon 5000 series, as will the standard menu. The 3.2in flip-out screen has impressive visibility

The buttons are arranged much as one might expect, with all the principal controls falling easily to the finger or thumb. The rear 3.2in LCD is very nicely bright and clear, with its 1.037-million-dot resolution. Nikon has set the viewing panel into the glass screen, so there are no gaps or internal reflections, which produces good contrast and a clear view from a quoted angled of up to 170°. I am impressed.

In live view, the screen works well when the camera is held low or high, and I found the AF quick enough and seemingly accurate. The response of the shutter in live view also seems good.

Image: Nikon has retained its choice of layouts for the rear-screen display, with text-based and graphically expressed options to suit personal preferences

Nikon D5300 - Still to test

The principal changes in this model are of the sort that will only be proved in testing, but at this stage their potential is worth pointing out. Using the higher-capacity Expeed 4 processor, Nikon claims it has been able to reduce noise in its images through the use of more complicated calculations. A related benefit is that now noise levels are lower the company is comfortable offering a higher ISO setting - the Nikon D5300 allows ratings of up to ISO 25,600. More complex calculations also provide the potential for better white balance assessment in automatic modes via a more comprehensive assessment of the scene, and a better rendition of colour overall.

Lower noise should also lead to better resolution of detail from the 24.2-million-pixel sensor, as should Nikon's decision to do without the micro-blurring effects of a low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter. Leaving the low-pass filter off the sensor has become very fashionable, and I suspect it will be a great draw for many photographers. Moiré in images created by a sensor with 24 million pixels, even an APS-C-sized sensor, is still something that is quite likely to occur, but there is also plenty of software to correct it after the event.

The other thing to note is that this model sees the introduction of a new battery cell, which Nikon says increases capacity from 500 shots to 600 compared to the cell used in the D5200. It annoys me when companies change their battery forms, but on this occasion the new cell and that used in the D5200 are interchangeable.

Obviously, I couldn't test the battery life of the camera, but we should take the increase as good news. I will also have to wait to test the Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities of this new model, but neither can be held as negative points just for their inclusion. The Wi-Fi integration means users will be able to control the camera from an Android or iOS device, and will be able to wirelessly transfer images for viewing, editing and sending while on the go.

Image: The new battery, which is backwards compatible with the D5200, offers a longer life. There is no low-pass filter on the sensor, for extra resolution

Nikon D5300 - Conclusion

It would be easy to dismiss the Nikon D5300 for being too similar to the D5200, but that really isn't the point. There is not much wrong with the D5200, and the changes that this new model brings can only make it better. Perhaps Nikon could have called it the D5200 ll, but I'm not sure it matters one bit.

The Nikon D5300 will cost around £730 body only and be available from 14 November.


Source: Amateurphotographer

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Nikon brings Wi-Fi and improvements to D5300 DSLR, plus pricey 58mm pro-level prime lens

There are several noteworthy improvements in Nikon's new Nikon D5300 Cheap APS-C (DX) DSLR from its predecessor, the D5200. One of Nikon's best-selling and most popular models, the midrange 24.1-megapixel D5300's smaller and lighter body has improved ergonomics - there's more surface area on the grip for a tighter hold and more clearance between your fingers and the lens. Despite the body being smaller, the vari-angle flip-out LCD got bigger (3.2 inches from 3 inches in the D5200). With the Expeed 4 image processor the ISO range has increased (100-12,800). But the big addition is that Wi-Fi is now built into the camera ­- a first for Nikon DSLRs.

Another big change, Nikon has removed the optical low pass (anti-aliasing) filter from the 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, to improve the image quality of stills and videos - a trend that's happening with many new cameras. The D5300 has the same 39-point autofocus system and 5 frames-per-second continuous shooting as the D5200. There's also Nikon's Scene Reconigtion System that uses the 2,016-pixel RGB metering system to automatically select exposure, AF, and white balance based on the scene conditions.

Wi-Fi has been available in Nikon cameras via an optional adapter, but the D5300 will be the first to have it built in. It's also the first Nikon DSLR to have onboard GPS, which lets you geotag your images before you upload or e-mail them from the camera via a connected smartphone or tablet. You can also use a connected smart device as an external monitor for remote shooting.

For video capture, Nikon has added Full HD 1080p at 60p. There are nine special effects you can use to edit in-camera, including a "HDR painting" feature that lets you alter the colors of an image to make it look as if it was shot as a high-dynamic range photo.

The D5300 is on sale now for $1,400, which comes with the AF-S Nikkor 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR kit lens; if you're stepping up and you already have a set of Nikkor DX lenses, you can pick up just the body for $800. The camera comes in three colors: black, red, and a new gray option.

AF-S Nikkor 58mm f/1.4G lens

In addition to the D5300, Nikon has also announced a new pro-level prime lens, the AF-S Nikkor 58mm f/1.4G. Carrying the legacy of popular Noct Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 lens, this fixed 58mm focal length (35mm/FX equivalent; 87mm DX/cropped format) is ideal for shooting portraits, landscapes, and street photography, Nikon says, but it's all about achieving bokeh - that artistic background blurring - with the nine-blade diaphragm. Made for low-light capture, the lens has Nikon's Nano Crystal coating to avoid ghosting and flare. The Silent Wave Motor operates quietly when autofocusing, which is key for recording video.

This premium lens will go on sale later this month for $1,700.


Source: Digitaltrends

Monday, October 21, 2013

Meet the 63-year-old rapping grandmother who makes YouTube videos

<face makeup 101ul>
  • Marianne Brown has been making YouTube videos since April - all just to make her grandson laugh
  • Her latest video raps about growing old and having fun
  • She has made 45 videos in all
  • By Ryan Gorman

    PUBLISHED: 09:25 EST, 21 October 2013 | UPDATED: 12:39 EST, 21 October 2013

    A rapping granny is dispensing advice and creating laughs as she entertains her grandson.

    Marianne Brown, 63, of Michigan, often takes to YouTube to entertain her grandson, but her latest video is turning more heads than usual.

    Ms Brown curses, raps about elves and bowel movements - but told the Daily Dot her diatribes have a purpose.

    'There's a method to my madness,' she explained. 'I want him to grow up and be a grandfather who also has fun with his grandchildren.'

    Ms Brown's first foray into hip hop starts off with a bang.

    'You think you all know it, but you need to find - being a grandma will blow your f*****g mind,' she rhymes.

    The rapping retiree has been making the videos since April because she misses her grandson two hours away in Chicago.

    'He likes me, and I like him,' said the kooky granny.

    WATCH MORE OF MRS BROWN'S VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE.

    On menopause: She wears a beard and says it's worse than a period

    Not afraid to share the perils of growing old, Ms Brown then hits upon her physical appearance.

    'It explains itself, you just need to start to shrink and resemble an elf,' she raps, adding 'you fall on your ass, and if you're very lucky, you pass a lot of gas.'

    She even throws in a line about bowel movements before tackling her teeth and hair.

    'Did your hair turn gray, did your teeth fall out? My momma didn't tell me, but that's what it's all about.' Ms Brown says she competed in the 1969 Miss America pageant, a claim MailOnline was unable to verify.

    A message left with the Miss America Organization for comment has not yet been returned.

    'It tickles me when I see women with duck lips and big cleavage,' she told the Daily Dot.

    'That's not going to last,' she added, 'I was in the Miss America pageant in 1969. I was a little hottie.'
    'You can fight it, you can tight it 'till you taught, but that southerly direction cannot be caught,' she espouses in the video.

    'Your only hope my sister, is maybe you are black, and every cracker knows that black don't crack,' she continues.

    Young at heart, Ms Brown told the Daily Dot of the fun she has with her grandson.

    'We're pretty much the same mindset,' Brown explained. 'His parents are in their 30s, and they're very serious; they're parents.'

    'He and I totally trash his room,' she continued. 'We totally trash it. And then they come in and see us, and I look like a really bad kid sitting there, and then I walk away.'

    They tell me not to give him more than one cookie, and when they leave, I give him like 10,' she said.

    She told the site that she makes the video to prove that being old isn't the end of the world.

    Some of her other YouTube moments include 'A Little Message from the Tooth Fairy,' 'Menopause,' Turning S**t Into a Divine Gift' and 'How to Apply Makeup on the Elderly 101.'

    'You can actually have fun and make videos,' she said. 'You can jump out of airplanes. You can do whatever you want.'

    And she's doing just that.


    Source: Dailymail

    Friday, October 18, 2013

    Homemade for Halloween

    <halloween cartoon movies 2013p>Starbucks drinks
    From left, Miranda Giambi, 11, of Chevy Chase, Mary Rose Bell, 12, of Alexandria, and Priya Phillips, 11, of Bowie
    Inspiration: They decided to make the costumes because they all love Starbucks and could represent different sizes -- venti, grande and tall. They also represented all of their favorite drinks.
    Supplies: Felt, iro-ons for logos.
    Grown-up help: Mary Rose's dad helped measure, which was tricky because the cups get smaller toward the bottom.

    Family photo


    Source: Washingtonpost

    Thursday, October 17, 2013

    Mukwonago area hosts Halloween fun

    Whether you like your Halloween with a little spook, a lot of candy or some beautiful fall colors Mukwonago has a host of events coming up to ensure even the oldest ghosts and goblins have a great time.

    Jack-o-Lantern Jaunt and Halloween Haunt

    In it's 11th year the Jack-O-Lantern Jaunt has once again teamed up with the Mukwonago Rotary Club's Halloween Haunt to create and evening of spooktacular family fun halloween. Hundreds of pumpkins like the way in Mukwonago's Field Park as residents drive through from 6-6:45 or walk through from 7-10 p.m. on Oct. 18 and 19. Make your way through the spooky pavilion, play games and enjoy refreshments. At 8 p.m. the move "The Giant Spider" will also play in the park. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for kids 12 and under and all of the money goes to support community iniatives.

    If your family or business is interested in placing a pumpkin in the park just drop off your carved pumpkin off at Field Park on Friday Oct. 18 from 1-5 p.m.

    Eagle Business Association Pumpkin Party

    The 6th Annual Eagle Community Pumpkin Party will be held on Oct. 26 from 12-4 p.m. in and around the Village of Eagle. Register at the Gazebo to get a $1 wristband and a bag of goodies. Events include cookie decorating, caramel apple decorating, a color contest, the big slide story time, a monster mall, story time, a pet costume contest, crafts, balloon clown, face painting, pumpkin painting, the Palmyra Eagle Community Band, and concessions. The Grand Finale Pumpkin Drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Eagle Fire Department will host a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon. Participants are also asked to help Can the Casket by bringing a canned good or non-perishable food item for the Eagle Food Pantry.

    Elegant Farmer's Autumn Harvest Festival

    When you're continuing a family tradition or starting a new on, The Elegant farmer offers a family fun apple and pumpkin picking experience each weekend until Oct. 26. The family-friendly 5-acre corn maze, hayrides, pony rides and a train ride will round out the day while observing the beautiful and quickly changing fall colors. For more information about the Autumn Harvest Festival visit elegantfarmer.com

    Old World Wisconsin's Halloween Legends and Lore

    Find your way through mazes, flee ghosts, solve strange riddles, create artifacts and encounter cackling witches, gloomy grave diggers and strange beasts. Enjoy tasty treats and drinks and wrap up the night with the bonfire finale. Oct 18-19 and 25-26 from 4:30-8:30 p.m.

    Old World Wisconsin's Halloween Dinner Theatre Wake Not the Dead

    Enjoy a themed harvest meal followed by a lam-lit stroll to a live drama that will thrill and chill you. One weekend left, Oct. 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 20 at 5 and 8 p.m.

    Fore more information on either of these events visit oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org

    East Troy's Tracks and Treats

    The East Troy Electric Railroad will host Tracks & Treats during Halloween weekend. Children who arrive in Halloween costumes can ride the rails for free with an adult admission and all ghoulish boys and girls will receive trees from their haunted hosts. The event takes place Saturday Nov. 2 and Sunday Nov. 3. The normal fall schedule will be in-place offering hourly departures from the eerie East Troy depot beginning at 11 a.m. and with the last train leaving at 3 p.m. The railroad operates a 10-miles round trip from its historic depot and museum to the Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago.



    Source: Livinglakecountry

    Saturday, October 5, 2013

    Man sets himself on fire on the National Mall

    <royalimg src="http://www.telegram.com/graphics/one_pixel_transparent.gif">

    WASHINGTON — A man set himself afire on the National Mall in the nation's capital as passers-by rushed over to help douse the flames, officials and witnesses said Friday afternoon.

    The reason for the self-immolation was not immediately clear and the man's identity was not disclosed. But it occurred in public view, on a central national gathering place, in a city still rattled by a mass shooting last month and a high-speed car chase outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday that ended with a woman being shot dead by police.

    The man on the Mall suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to a hospital, said District of Columbia fire department spokesman Tim Wilson.

    He was standing by himself in the center portion of the Mall when he emptied the contents of a red gasoline can on himself and set himself on fire moments later, said Katy Scheflen, who witnessed it as she walked across the area. Police say they responded around 4:20 p.m. Friday.

    Scheflen said passing joggers took off their shirts in an effort to help douse the flames, and the man was clearly alive as the fire spread. A police department spokesman said he was conscious and breathing at the scene. MedStar Washington Hospital Center tweeted that the man was taken there and he was in critical condition.

    "There was not a lot people could do because it was a gasoline fire," Scheflen said.

    She said he may have said something before he acted "but it was nothing intelligible." She said she did not see him holding any signs before he set himself ablaze. She said there was another man with a tripod set up near him, but it's unclear if the man was filming the incident.

    Lt. Pamela Smith of the U.S. Park Police, which is investigating along with the D.C. police department, said: "I'm not aware of any signage or any articulation of any causes."

    The D.C. police department has dispatched its violent crimes branch, which responds to cases in which a person suffers serious injury.



    Source: Telegram

    Friday, October 4, 2013

    Apple's iPhone 5S sensors are massively screwed up (and so are the games that rely on them)

    Apple appears to have a serious hardware problem on its hands as the internal sensors of its new flagship phone, the iPhone 5s iphone cases otterbox pink for ipad, are not reporting accurate numbers.

    Numerous reports on Apple support communities indicate that people believe the sensors that report level, motion, and acceleration seem to be reporting incorrect information. And a detailed Gizmodo test indicates that indeed, they are "all screwed up."

    "My iPhone 5S is off by 4 degrees when using the level on its back (screen up). I had an iPhone 4 and 4s that I upgraded to iOS 7 and both were perfect, but the 5S is off," an iPhone 5S owner reported in Apple's support forums. "Holding it vertically it is also off by 1 or 2 degrees."

    I tested the iPhone 5S myself and found that the iHandy Level app indicates that a surface is level when the phone is clearly at an angle, and the Gyroscope app reports pitch and roll numbers that indicate the phone is on a slope when actually, it's on a flat and level table. My older iPhone 5, other the other hand, reports numbers that are much more accurate. Both phones are running Apple's latest version of iOS 7.

    Here's just one example, in which the iPhone 5S reports 2.3 degrees differently than the iPhone 5:

    This has real-world implications, as Gizmodo points out, and it's not just that your shelves or paintings will hang crooked (of course, I'd never use an iPhone sensor to hang a painting or install furniture). Games also rely on those sensors, and players who want to beat the game or beat their friends may run into trouble - like I did in Real Racing 3.

    As you can see, when the phone is flat on the table, the car turns left and hits the bumper. Clearly, the sensor is telling the game that the gamer is trying to turn left:

    Not all the sensors are reporting bad data - at least not on my phones. The same iHandy Level app that reports incorrect numbers for level on the iPhone 5S, reports almost identical numbers to the iPhone 5 version for plumb (straight up and down):

    The internal gyroscope, however, that measures pitch and roll and yaw appears to be also affected by whatever gremlin is troubling the new iPhone 5S. As you can see in the image below, the white iPhone 5 on the right reports zero degrees of roll and -1 degree of pitch. The space gray iPhone 5S in the red case on the left reports one degree of roll and 3 degrees of pitch - 4 degrees off.

    (The yaw numbers aren't relevant here, as they relate to the individual motions of the phones prior to being placed on the table, and not to their current orientation.)

    While perhaps not quite as severe, there's still a slight and unexplainable difference. The question is what could be causing this. It's unlikely that software is the issue here, as I'm running iOS 7 on both phones and the same apps. There would appear to be a hardware issue at fault, which is a big problem for Apple.

    Because, after all, how do you fix shipped hardware?

    Essentially, you can't, unless you recall it or issue a software fix that sort of kind of somewhat corrects for the bad data - assuming Apple engineers can spot a pattern in reported sensor data that can be adjusted for. Which leaves equally unattractive options such as Apple just telling people to live it it (and hurting its premium image in the process) or issuing some kind of credit to affected customers.

    I have asked Apple for a comment and will update this story when I hear more.


    Source: VentureBeat

    Apple's iPhone 5S sensors are massively screwed up (and so are the games that rely on them)

    Apple appears to have a serious hardware problem on its hands as the internet sensors of its new flagship phone, the iPhone 5s iphone i phone cases otterbox iphone 4, are not reporting accurate numbers.

    Numerous reports on Apple support communities indicate that people believe the sensors the report level, motion, and acceleration seem to be reporting incorrect information. And a detailed Gizmodo test indicates that indeed, they are "all screwed up." I tested the iPhone 5S myself and found that the iHandy Level app indicates plumb (straight up and down) when the phone is clearly at an angle, and the Gyroscope app reports pitch and roll numbers that indicate the phone is on a slope when actually, it's on a flat and level table.

    My iPhone 5, other the other hand, reports numbers that are much more accurate.

    Here's just one example:

    This has real-world implications, as Gizmodo points out, and it's not just that your shelves or paintings will hand crooked (of course, I'd never use an iPhone sensor to hang a painting or install furniture). Games also rely on those sensors, and gamers who want to beat the game or beat their friends may run into trouble - like I did in Real Racing 3.

    As you can see, when the phone is flat on the table, the car turns left and hits the bumper:

    I have asked Apple for a comment, and will update this story when I hear more.


    Source: VentureBeat

    Thursday, October 3, 2013

    Amazon's Smartphones Detailed: 'Project Smith' 3D Flagship Model And A Value Handset With FireOS

    <tonep>Amazon is in the process of developing two smartphones, one inexpensive model and one with a 3D eye-tracking interface, TechCrunch has learned. The details are somewhat sparse, but are corroborated by sources and reports from earlier this year.

    Amazon is planning two devices, the first of which is the previously rumored 'expensive' version with a 3D user interface, eye tracking and more. Both devices were under the 'Project B' moniker before the news was leaked on WSJ earlier this year. The expensive model's code-name has since been changed to 'Duke' and now 'Smith' - and a release is not planned this year.

    Details of the devices appeared on a HN posting via a throwaway account earlier today and TechCrunch verified some aspects of the posting with our sources.

    They match up with details from the WSJ report:

    But the people familiar with the plans said the smartphone and set-top box are just two elements of a broader foray into hardware that also includes the audiostreaming device and the high-end smartphone with the 3-D screen.

    Inside Amazon's Lab126 facility in Cupertino, Calif., where each of the devices have been under development, the efforts are known as Project A, B, C and D, or collectively the Alphabet Projects, said the people familiar with the plans.

    The 'Smith' project includes a device that sounds like a bit of a hardware beast. The screen itself is not 3D but the device features four cameras, one at each corner of the device that will be used to track eye and head motions in order to move the interface around to 'give the impression' of 3D. Instead of using the phone's internal sensors, like Apple does with iOS 7, it would base the movements off of the user's point of view. Theoretically, this will provide a more accurate 3D representation of the screen's contents.

    There has been some software testing on a feature that will recognize the user's face and ignore other faces around it, so as not to project 3D perspectives that are proper for your neighbors, but not for you.

    Another feature said to be planned for the device, but not yet locked for release, is an image recognition feature that lets users take a shot of any real-world object and match it to an Amazon product for purchase. The possibility of this object recognition model offsetting some of the cost of the device through purchases by users is mentioned in the posting.

    A second project which fell under the 'Project B' handle is a value device. Said to be a 'cheap' phone with basic software that is similar to that found on the Kindle Fire tablets - now called FireOS. The posting says that Amazon is looking to release the inexpensive device this year, something that would dovetail with a report by 'Jessica Lessin' writer Amir Efrati from last month. Note that Amazon denied to Efrati that it would release a device at all this year and that if it did the device wouldn't be free. Our sources indicate that this may be because the project's target date has been shifting around and it may get pushed into next year. There is no word on whether Amazon would try to offer the 'cheap' device low-cost via ads.

    The devices are being shipped around internally inside a locked metal case with just the screen visible, and are not allowed outside of the building, even for engineers working from home. The floors of Amazon's Lab126 facility where the devices are under development are locked down. This has become standard operating procedure for secretive companies like Amazon and Apple when it comes to hardware development. The development teams for the devices are split between Sunnyvale and Seattle.

    There is also some scuttlebutt around staffing in the posting, some of which we hear is accurate. Amazon has indeed pulled engineers from other projects onto the phone teams, leaving other hardware projects understaffed.

    The posting also claims that Amazon wanted to have launched the device already, but had issues with software and hardware, as well as employee retention. We've been unable to corroborate this aspect of the leak.

    Since these devices are still classified as in development, it is quite possible that the feature-sets may change before they are released to the public. If there has been a struggle developing the devices, then Amazon could consider modifying its requirements for bringing them to market. We have reached out for comment on this story and will update the piece if we hear back.

    Image Credit: Puamelia

    → Learn more


    Source: TechCrunch

    Snedeker, Kuchar to use Bridgestone prototype ball at Presidents Cup

    <ebonitep>

    Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar are planning to put a new Bridgestone prototype golf ball in play at the Presidents Cup.

    Snedeker had been using the company's B330 ball while Kuchar had played the B330-S ball. But on Wednesday, Snedeker confirmed his use of the prototype during practice rounds this week at Muirfield Village.

    "It's a little longer, spins a little more, and is a little softer. It's a really good ball," he told Golfweek. The prototype has a four-piece construction and urethane cover just like the golf balls Snedeker and Kuchar had been using. Snedeker's B330 and Kuchar's B330-S models were released two years ago, and Bridgestone historically has released updates every two years - so don't be surprised if this prototype becomes available in early 2014.

    Snedeker said that he has been practicing with the ball for about a week and is comfortable making the switch on the eve of the competition.

    Said Snedeker: "[It went] straight into the bag. Kuch, too."

    Snedeker and Kuchar clearly have similar taste in equipment. Both golfers also use Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back irons and a Ping Anser hybrid. Furthermore, when Kuchar switched to Aerotech SteelFiber i95 Constant Taper shafts in his irons, Snedeker tried them and switched as well.

    - Jeff Babineau contributed.
    Source: Golfweek

    App roundup: Best fitness apps that use the iPhone 5s' M7 motion co-processor

    The M7 motion co-processor Apple packed into the iPhone 5s iphone cases otterbox camo zippo lighters is already seeing use from a number of fitness app developers anxious to maximize its potential, changing the handset into a new platform.


    Apple didn't exactly hype the M7 when it introduced the chip last month in announcing the iPhone 5s, but among the handset's many new features, the co-processor may turn out to be the most impactful for app developers and consumers alike.

    Using very little power, the M7 constantly measures and tracks motion data, keeping the information accessible to any apps that may need it. That means fitness and lifestyle apps no longer need to be active or running in the background to track user movements throughout the day, a benefit that could allow developers to harvest and utilize information on their users' daily habits in much greater detail than previously possible.

    Developers on the iOS platform are already taking advantage of the M7's capabilities, with the first wave of enabled apps coming to the App Store just days after the iPhone 5s' release.

    Strava Run


    Strava was first out of the gate to take advantage of the M7, releasing version 3.5.3 of Strava Run just four days after the iPhone 5s was released. The new version adds an Auto-Pause feature for runners, giving them highly accurate activity level data without having to directly interact with the app. It also takes advantage of the M7's low-power constant monitoring, as the app gathers information from the chip for those times when Strava is not running.

    Strava allows users to track their runs with GPS, displaying maps of their route alongside stats such as distance, pace, elevation, and calories burned. It also allows users to compete on interactive score boards, find and follow friends, and explore new places to run.

    Strava Run is a free download in the App Store. The 53.7MB app requires an iPhone, iPad, or iPod running iOS 5.0 or higher.

    WeatherRun


    GammaPoint, too, has taken advantage of the M7 with version 2.2.1 of WeatherRun. The new version adds a step counter that draws data from the motion co-processor. Step data is logged and organized in both daily and monthly measures.

    WeatherRun provides users with up-to-date weather information while they are outside being active. The app also tracks activity and compares it against weather, altitude, humidity, and temperature. It interfaces with the Pebble Smartwatch, as well as other Bluetooth 4.0 devices such as the TI SensorTag.

    The latest update also includes a fix for a bug that affected deleting and sharing functions on devices running iOS 7.

    Version 2.2.1 of WeatherRun costs $2 in the App Store. It is a 12.2MB download that requires an iPad, iPhone, or iPod running iOS 6.0 or higher.

    Argus


    Also joining in on leveraging the M7 was Azumio, which recently released version 2.4 of its Argus app. The latest iteration uses the M7 for passive step-counting when not running, meaning the app automatically pulls data from the chip once the reactivated. The update also includes a streamlined honeycomb user interface and improved visual design, including a step counter that shows up as an app badge.

    Argus monitors not only user activities, but food intake, workouts, sleep, hydration, weight, and vital signs. The app is engineered to consume very little power and is designed to run in the background at all times. Users can create food diaries, observe trends over time, and track and share data with friends. Also included is interaction with a number of third-party wellness devices, like the Withings Smart Body Analyzer.

    The new version of Argus is available as a free download in the App Store for iOS devices running iOS 6.0 or higher.

    Pedometer


    The most recent addition to the line of M7-supporting apps comes from Cross Forward Consulting, which debuted its Pedometer++ app on Tuesday. The new app functions as a simple step counter that relies on the M7's passive monitoring to log steps taken throughout the day. Pedometer++ allows users to compile their data on both a weekly and a daily basis. Like Argus, Pedometer++ can be set to display the current step count as the app's notification badge. The figure displayed in the badge will dynamically update throughout the day.

    Pedometer++ version 1.1 is available now in the App Store as a free 0.3MB download only for the iPhone 5s.

    Maximizing the M7

    The coming months will almost certainly see more developers adding new features relying on the M7. Nike, maker of the popular Nike+ app, has already promised a Nike+ Move based on the M7's capabilities.

    Apple's motion co-processor will also likely figure into apps outside of the fitness category. In addition to user motion tracking, the M7 can, even in sleep mode, tell when a user is walking or even driving. For example, navigation apps may leverage the data to switch from driving to walking directions dynamically depending on a user's speed.


    Source: Appleinsider

    Monday, September 30, 2013

    Monster stirs inside

    <halloween books the monster monsterp>A dinosaur is stirring in my head.

    I thought I killed it years ago. I've encountered its ghost many times since - a wisp of memory, the vague outline of an amputated habit. But now, though I knew better, I went and fed that be! And now it's gathering strength to stalk my mind again.

    I didn't perceive nibbling on my kids' leftovers as anything other than a bad habit until I read a diet book that describes the process of weaning yourself off trigger foods as "starving dinosaurs into extinction."

    It's true. If you don't eat French fries for several months, you lose the taste for them, just like Taylor LeBaron says in Cutting Myself in Half: 150 Pounds Lost One Byte at a Time. The problem is, this kind of dinosaur can reanimate itself much more easily than the ones in "Jurassic Park." One taste may not do it, but two is definitely flirting with disaster.

    The process I used to kill off this particular dinosaur wasn't so much starvation as changing my camera angle. Instead of zooming in for a close-up view of the food - yum! French fries! - I zoomed out. And saw myself hunched over the discarded remains of a Happy Meal like some vulture perched over road kill.

    Then, just to ramp up the disgust factor, I zoomed back in for an ultra close-up of the portion of the food where the kids' tooth marks remained. That stomach-churning perspective stopped me from reaching out toward my kids' discarded dinners long enough for the dinosaur's power over me to fade, then die out completely. In the years since I wiped out this bad habit, I'd sometimes feel a momentary twinge of that old impulse. But it was never more than a flicker, easily ignored.

    Ironically, I think my kids' increasingly healthier eating habits are partly to blame. They're now eating more of the foods I've come to prefer. And because those foods are often more expensive, it may have simultaneously ramped up another ingrained impulse: to avoid wasting food.

    I'm just speculating. All I know is that when our 10-year-old recently abandoned an egg-white omelet, I couldn't resist cutting away the "contaminated" part she'd been eating and finishing it off myself.

    A few days later, it was a partially consumed veggie burger, thoughtfully tucked inside a low-cal Slimwich.

    "Want this?" Colleen asked, thrusting it under my nose. "I'm full."

    I paused just long enough to congratulate her on recognizing her limits - something I'm still working on - before accepting the burger.

    None of this stuff is particularly deadly. But extra calories are extra calories, no matter how "healthy" they may be.

    I need to starve this "dinosaur" back into ghost mode, just to prove I can do it. I don't have the willpower to stop cold turkey. Even now, three years into weight-loss maintenance I don't have the confidence to say, "Never again am I going to do this." Because if I fail once, and then again and again, the power in that statement is gone. If even I don't believe it, the dinosaur certainly won't.

    But what I can do is spread out this beast's feedings.

    I can resolve not to let this happen again until at least one week has passed. After that, I'll try for two weeks, then a month.

    Based on past experience with French fries, I know these dinosaurs are most vulnerable once you've got them down to monthly feedings.

    And so I'll bide my time. The dinosaur has been gaining strength. But I'm stronger now, too.


    Source: News-sentinel

    Sunday, September 29, 2013

    A not-so-scary Mickey's Halloween Party returns to Disneyland

    <halloween party dvdp>The initial pitch to transform the Haunted Mansion attraction with a Halloween overlay based on "The Nightmare Before Christmas" didn't receive a warm reception from the Disneyland brass.

    Tim Burton's quirky stop-motion animated musical fantasy seemed too dark and twisted of a holiday theme for the classic Disneyland dark ride.

    Thirteen years later Haunted Mansion Holiday is the cornerstone of Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland, with hour-plus lines throughout the season.

    Photos: Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland

    The transformation of the Haunted Mansion takes three weeks every year with crews adding decorations, animations, props and large set pieces inspired by the 1993 movie. Each year a few new elements are added -- from the pumpkin mountain to the ballroom tree to the gingerbread house.

    Disneyland takes the same approach with the annual Halloween festivities, incorporating a couple new elements to an event that largely stays the same from year to year. This season the Monsters U dance party at the Tomorrowland Terrace joins the lineup with a "family-friendly frat party" hosted by scare students Mike and Sully.

    The up-charge event is the one time of year when visitors can wear costumes while trick or treating at candy stations located throughout the park.

    Other attractions returning this year to Mickey's Halloween Party include:

    * "Halloween Screams" fireworks spectacular hosted by "master of scare-omonies" Jack Skellington, star of "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

    * "Mickey's Costume Party" parade with Disney characters dressed in Halloween costumes.

    * Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, which adds ghostly special effects and a creepy soundtrack to the indoor roller coaster.

    * The Cadaver Dans singing quartet performing on a graveyard-themed raft on the Rivers of America.

    * A Dia de los Muertos tribute with a traditional skeleton display and brightly colored altars festooned with marigolds and sugar skulls.

    * Disney villains posing for photos while strolling along Main Street U.S.A.

    * Halloween crafts and pumpkin carving in Big Thunder Ranch.

    Tickets for the evening-only event range from $59 to $74. Mickey's Halloween Party dates include Oct. 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30 and 31.

    Related theme park stories and photo galleries

    Disneyland: Fantasy Faire | Mickey & the Magical Map

    Universal Studios Hollywood: Wizarding World of Harry Potter

    Six Flags Magic Mountain: Full Throttle

    Knott's Berry Farm: Timber Mountain | Coast Rider

    SeaWorld San Diego: Aquatica

    U.S. parks: Top 13 for 2013 | Disney World | Cedar Point | Top 10 water coasters

    International parks: Top 13 for 2013 | Shanghai Disneyland | Disneyland Paris | Top 20 water parks

    > Follow the Los Angeles Times Funland theme park blog on Twitter, Facebook and Google+


    Source: Latimes

    Philosopher or fart joker?

    <halloween costumes jokerp>

    Louis C.K. ()

    For anybody left in the universe who hasn't seen Louis C.K.'s explanation about why he won't let his children have smartphones, do yourself a favor and watch that brilliant, melancholy, hilarious four-minute "Conan" clip.

    This got me thinking about his particular brand of philosophical-observational comedy, siphoned off, distilled and repackaged from the likes of George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and other giants of the genre. The thing is, I think C.K. is actually, really, indeed a genius in the way the literary world sort of pretends famous novelists and literary theorists are.

    This is not to say that novelists and theorists can't be brilliant, just that no one cares what they say. It's the whole "if a literary superstar falls in the forest" thing.

    I'm thinking about this a lot because I'm back in school reading lit-tra-chure and grappling with tomes such as "Through Other Continents: American Literature Across Deep Time" by English and American studies giant Wai Chee Dimock.

    However, it's pretty plain to see that literature, books, the novel-whatever you want to call it-no longer capture the popular imagination or explain the zeitgeist. Sure, every once in a while a boy wizard, a BDSM enthusiast or a teen vampire will sweep through the morning commute circuit, but none of this is what's being debated within the academy, to put it mildly.

    Which brings me back to C.K.

    In an atomized, globalized, fragmented culture, it's difficult to find many nexuses of popularity and genuine thoughtfulness. If, 100 years from now, English professors are rooting around for writers to study, they could do worse than expanding into stand-up comedy and becoming intimately acquainted with this brazen, reductive, working-class-dad-looking comedian.

    Count me as a fan who thinks his awesome FX show "Louie" is maybe the least impressive component of a body of work quickly becoming indispensably classic. His one-off talk show rants, including 2009's "Everything is amazing and nobody's happy" (from Conan's "Late Night" days), seem preposterously revelatory. His stand-up specials frequently become vicious deconstructions of race, class, religion and gender, from "God, I love being white" to "Why do women go out with us? Globally and historically, we're the No. 1 cause of injury and mayhem to women."

    Beyond this always unexpected yet totally routine depth, the guy also happens to be one of the most entertaining human beings alive. Glancing at his disheveled nature, all gut, goatee and bald ginger head, you almost can't believe the command he has over an audience and his own presence. Yet that command is entirely intellectual, as he carries Seinfeldian observational humor out into the deep reaches of comedic time and space. He's what would happen if Friedrich Nietzsche was hilarious.

    To prove my point by attempting to decimate it, C.K. once explained to Jon Stewart why farting is not low-brow, stupid humor, why it's still funny.

    "It comes out of your ass," he said. "It smells like poop. And it makes a little trumpet noise. ... You don't have to be smart to laugh at farts, but you have to be stupid not to."

    Wai Chee Dimock, get cracking on your next book.

    RedEye special contributor Stephen Markley is the author of "The Great Dysmorphia" and "Publish This Book." Want more? Discuss this article and others on RedEye's Facebook page.
    Source: Redeyechicago

    Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid stops, drops, and rolls to U.S. in 2014

    Mitsubishi hasn't been doing much recently. So launching its first production plug-in hybrid crossover, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, could be quite a coup.

    However, due to global demand and a limited halloween party supply pack of battery packs, the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid will be delayed until at least next year, Mitsubishi Motors North America senior manager of product strategy Bryan Arnett told Green Car Reports.

    If it makes the trip stateside, the Outlander Plug-In could arrive in fall 2014 as a 2015 model.

    Demand in Japan and Europe is keeping Mitsubishi from exporting the crossover, Arnett said, because the company's battery supplier can only make a limited number of cells and packs.

    The Outlander Plug-In debuted at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, but things haven't gone completely smooth since then.

    Overheating battery packs forced Mitsubishi to stop production earlier this year. The problem was eventually fixed, but a second recall in June further stymied momentum.

    If it ever does make it to the U.S. (hopefully not on fire), the Outlander Plug-In would essentially be in a class of one. It's size and high driving position would put it a step above other utilitarian plug-in hybrids, like the Ford C-Max Energi and Toyota Prius Plug-In. That is, unless BMW can beat it to the market with a production X5 PHEV.

    The powertrain consists of a 2.0-liter gasoline engine, 12-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, and two 60-kilowatt electric motors - one for each axle.

    The Outlander also has the novel ability to operate as a parallel hybrid (like the Prius and most other hybrids), series hybrid (where the engine is only used to generate electricity), or an all-electric vehicle.

    So the Outlander could bring more than one kind of versatility to the plug-in hybrid segment, if Mitsubishi can get it over here and keep it from having a melt-down.


    Source: Digitaltrends

    Wilson Kipsang breaks men's marathon world record in Berlin

    <halloween vinyl recordsimg src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2013/9/29/1380446399517/Wilson-Kipsang-008.jpg">

    The Kenyan long distance runner Wilson Kipsang claimed the men's marathon world record by 15 seconds as he stormed to the Berlin title on Sunday.

    The 31-year-old Kipsang clocked a time of 2hr 3min 22sec to better the previous mark set by his compatriot Patrick Makau in the same race two years ago.

    Results from the Berlin marathon

    1 Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich (Kenya) 2:03:23 WR 2 Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 2:04:05 3 Geoffrey Kipsang (Kenya) 2:06:26 4 Stephen Kwelio Chemlany (Kenya) 2:07:44 5 Maswai Kiptanui (Kenya) 2:08:52 6 Marilson dos Santos (Brazil) 2:09:24 7 Suehiro Ishikawa (Japan) 2:10:24 8 Koji Kobayashi (Japan) 2:11:31


    Source: Theguardian

    Global Automotive Sensors Market - Industry Size, Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecasts 2013 - 2019

    <div>

    Albany, New York (PRWEB) September 29, 2013

    The automotive industry provides a strong base for the global sensor market.. The basic applications of sensors in the automotive industry are electronic and electrical systems for more comfort and safety. Automobile manufacturers are making use of advanced electronic elements to provide safety, eco-friendliness, and fuel efficiency.

    The automotive sensor market has experienced a surge over the past few years with a demand for sensors with increased safety and control applications like anti-lock braking system (ABS), airbags, and engine emission control.

    Browse report with request TOC: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/automotive-sensor-market.html.

    The automotive industry provides a huge scope for research and development in technology. Sensors are expected to play a key role in the automotive market in developed countries. Emphasis on vehicle fuel efficiency and power-train performance features will result in secure gains for sensors like oxygen sensors, reverse parking sensors, airbag accelerometer sensors, and tire pressure monitoring sensors among others.

    This research report analyzes the global market for automotive sensors discussing the detailed overview and market figures. This report also analyzes the industry growth rate¸ industry capacity, and industry structure. It includes the study of current developments in the automotive sensors market, Porter's five force analysis, and detailed profiles of top industry players. The research report on automotive sensors provides a detailed review of macro and micro factors significant for existing market players and new entrants with value chain analysis.

    Automotive Sensors Market Segmentation
    Automotive sensors market is segmented as follows:

    • Engine and Transmission Applications
    • Chassis Applications
    • Safety and Security Applications
    • Body Applications
    • Other Applications

    There are different types of sensors used in automotives that include pressure sensors, temperature sensors, load sensors, position sensors, acceleration sensors, current sensors, engine oil sensors, humidity sensors, image sensors, distance sensors, light sensors, knock sensors, mass air flow sensors and speed sensors.

    The major geographies considered under this research study are North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world.

    Related Report:
    Automotive Plastics Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/automotive-plastics-market.html

    The key players dominating this market include Allegro MicroSystems Inc., Analog Devices Inc., Aptina Imaging Corporation, Autoliv Inc., Continental AG, Corrsys-Datron Sensorsystem GmbH, CTS Corporation, BEI Sensors, Kavlico Corporation, Delphi Corporation, Bourns Inc., Denso Corporation, ELESYS North America Inc., Freescale Semiconductor Inc., GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies, Custom Sensors & Technologies Inc., Hamamatsu Photonics KK, Hamlin Electronics LP, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Hitachi Automotive Systems, Honeywell Sensing & Control, Infineon Technologies North America Corp., Magneti Marelli Holdings S.p.A, Melexis Microelectronic Integrated Systems N.V, Melexis Inc., Omron Corporation, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, etc.

    Browse blog: http://rahul28feb.blogspot.com/
    Browse all market research reports: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com



    Source: Prweb

    Thursday, September 26, 2013

    With carbon nanotubes, a path to flexible, low-cost sensors

    <div>

    Researchers at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) are showing the way toward low-cost, industrial-scale manufacturing of a new family of electronic devices. A leading example is a gas sensor that could be integrated into food packaging to gauge freshness, or into compact wireless air-quality monitors.

    New types of solar cells and flexible transistors are also in the works, as well as pressure and temperature sensors that could be built into electronic skin for robotic or bionic applications. All can be made with carbon nanotubes, sprayed like ink onto flexible plastic sheets or other substrates.

    Carbon nanotube-based gas sensors created at TUM offer a unique combination of characteristics that can't be matched by any of the alternative technologies. They rapidly detect and continuously respond to extremely small changes in the concentrations of gases including ammonia, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. They operate at room temperature and consume very little power. Furthermore, as the TUM researchers report in their latest papers, such devices can be fabricated on flexible backing materials through large-area, low-cost processes.

    Thus it becomes realistic to envision plastic food wrap that incorporates flexible, disposable gas sensors, providing a more meaningful indicator of food freshness than the sell-by date. Measuring carbon dioxide, for example, can help predict the shelf life of meat. "Smart packaging" - assuming consumers find it acceptable and the devices' non-toxic nature can be demonstrated - could enhance food safety and might also vastly reduce the amount of food that is wasted. Used in a different setting, the same sort of gas sensor could make it less expensive and more practical to monitor indoor air quality in real time.

    Not so easy - but "really simple"

    Postdoctoral researcher Alaa Abdellah and colleagues at the TUM Institute for Nanoelectronics have demonstrated that high-performance gas sensors can be, in effect, sprayed onto flexible plastic substrates. With that, they may have opened the way to commercial viability for carbon nanotube-based sensors and their applications. "This really is simple, once you know how to do it," says Prof. Paolo Lugli, director of the institute.

    The most basic building block for this technology is a single cylindrical molecule, a rolled-up sheet of carbon atoms that are linked in a honeycomb pattern. This so-called carbon nanotube could be likened to an unimaginably long garden hose: a hollow tube just a nanometer or so in diameter but perhaps millions of times as long as it is wide. Individual carbon nanotubes exhibit amazing and useful properties, but in this case the researchers are more interested in what can be done with them en masse.

    Laid down in thin films, randomly oriented carbon nanotubes form conductive networks that can serve as electrodes; patterned and layered films can function as sensors or transistors. "In fact," Prof. Lugli explains, "the electrical resistivity of such films can be modulated by either an applied voltage (to provide a transistor action) or by the adsorption of gas molecules, which in turn is a signature of the gas concentration for sensor applications."

    And as a basis for gas sensors in particular, carbon nanotubes combine advantages (and avoid shortcomings) of more established materials, such as polymer-based organic electronics and solid-state metal-oxide semiconductors. What has been lacking until now is a reliable, reproducible, low-cost fabrication method.

    Spray deposition, supplemented if necessary by transfer printing, meets that need. An aqueous solution of carbon nanotubes looks like a bottle of black ink and can be handled in similar ways. Thus devices can be sprayed - from a computer-controlled robotic nozzle - onto virtually any kind of substrate, including large-area sheets of flexible plastic. There is no need for expensive clean-room facilities.

    "To us it was important to develop an easily scalable technology platform for manufacturing large-area printed and flexible electronics based on organic semiconductors and nanomaterials," Dr. Abdellah says. "To that end, spray deposition forms the core of our processing technology."

    Remaining technical challenges arise largely from application-specific requirements, such as the need for gas sensors to be selective as well as sensitive.


    Source: Tgdaily

    Sunday, September 22, 2013

    emmys-dresses-best-of-all-time-65th-annual-emmy-awards/#ref=/2013/09/22/emmys-live-stream-2013-watch-emmy-awards-video/pos=">

    The biggest night in TV has arrived! All the biggest stars from your favorite shows are flocking to the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sept. 22 for the Emmys. It obviously all starts with a star-studded red carpet at 6 p.m. ET, and you can watch all the action below!

    After a summer full of fun awards shows (gosh, remember the VMAs?), it's time for the heavy-hitters. The 2013 Emmy Awards take center stage on Sept. 22, honoring all of TV's best shows and stars. Hosted by the veteran Neil Patrick Harris, this year's Emmys will be just as entertaining and debate-inspiring as always.

    2013 Emmy Awards Live Stream - Watch The Show Online

    For all you TV fans, welcome to heaven. The 65th annual Emmy Awards will be putting all the best shows in spotlight - Glee, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and Downton Abbey are all heading into the show with multiple nominations, and it should be interesting to see who comes out on top this year.

    There are just so many questions we need answering! Will this be the year that is finally honored for his work on Mad Men? Will Claire Danes make her crying face if she wins again for Homeland? Will Neil Patrick Harris make fun of Miley Cyrus? We need to know!

    Cory Monteith To Be Remembered At 2013 Emmy Awards

    The 2013 Emmys will also be a night where we can properly remember and honor some of our favorite fallen stars. A light will definitely be shone on iconic actors like James Gandolfini and Jean Stapleton, but the awards show will also take special care with Cory Monteith's tragic July death by putting on a special tribute.

    Outside of the usual "In Memoriam" segment, a touching homage with music is being planned. "We felt [Cory] needed to be represented, that at 31, he passed away under very tragic circumstances," Emmys producer Ken Ehrlich told E! News, explaining Cory's special tribute.

    It will definitely be a night to remember. You can catch the show on CBS at 8 p.m. ET, but don't miss all the action LIVE from the red carpet below starting at 5:55 p.m. ET/2:55 p.m. PT.

    - Andrew Gruttadaro Follow @AndrewGrutt

    More Emmy News:

    1. 2013 Emmy Nominees: 'Game Of Thrones, 'Downton Abbey' & More
    2. Neil Patrick Harris Hosting 2013 Emmy Awards
    3. 2012 Primetime Emmy Winners: 'Modern Family' & More - Full List

    Source: Hollywood Life