Geek Bytes 5/1/15
Episode 8 – The One we recorded twice
A Brief Note: This is actually the second recording we're doing of this weeks news. We had some technical difficulties the first time around trying out our new equipment. We hope you don't mind that the podcast is coming out a little later than usual because of it.
(music one)
Welcome to another episode of Geek Bytes
I’m Ramon Mejia…….I’m Edgar Acosta
We’re here to bring you all this week’s news that you Geek Out about.
If you like the podcast, help us out by subscribing to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Cast or any other podcast streaming service.
This Week in our news section we talk about how Tesla wants to power your home, DARPA’s magic bullet, News from Microsoft at the Build 2015 conference, the Movie and Video game trailers that came out this week, and more.
In Discussions we’ll talk about Virtual versus Augmented reality
We Begin our show with Geek News
(music two)
Geek News
Tesla announced battery system to provide energy to homes and businesses
· Named Tesla Energy
· Tested in California in combination with Solar City
o Solar City: Solar panel company, Elon Musk principle investor
· There are three main focuses
o Home: A wall mounted 7 or 10 kWh battery to power home or store solar power for use later.
§ Cost: $3,000 (7kWh), and $3,500 (10 kWh)
o Business: Run in series can store massive amounts of electricity from clean sources to power large businesses.
§ Use on site stored energy during peak hours to save money
§ Businesses that plan to use product: Amazon, Target, Jackson Family Wines, Southern California Edison
o Utilities
§ Store electricity for use during peak energy demands
§ Store clean energy to put into the grid
· http://www.teslamotors.com/presskit/teslaenergy
DARPA creates a magical bullet that can change course to hit target
· Called the EXACTO smart bullet
o Tracks target
o Can maneuver in mid-air to hit moving target
· http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/28/8506881/darpa-exacto-bullets-hit-moving-targets
Windows this week showed off HoloLens at Microsoft build
· Microsoft announced several other things this week at Build 2015:
o New browser: Microsoft Edge replaced Internet Explorer
o Windows 10 features: Cortana voice commands, Office use 3rd party plug-ins, Apps carry over between Windows devices and platforms
§ Android, ios apps on Windows
· Excited us most was HoloLens
o See apps on walls
o Holo robot getting information from HoloLens sensors to move around room
o All Window 10 windows will be place-able or if want follow you around room
· Getting our information from several sources: Lifehacker, the Verge, and Gizmodo
o Check out the links in our show notes for their full articles
· http://gizmodo.com/windows-10-with-holograms-looks-freaking-awesome-1701003075
· http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/29/8511289/microsoft-build-2015-hololens-robot-singularity
Nexpaq creates a modular cellphone case similar to Google’s project Ara
· The case looks like a regular phone cover until you start adding swappable clip-ons to the case
o add extra battery capacity, lasers, LED flashlight, flash drive, thermometer, and more
o Kickstarter: Early bird price for base case $89 + 4 modules
o Extra modules cost $14-$29.
o Only available for IPhone 6, Galaxy S6 and S6 edge.
o https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nexpaq/nexpaq-the-first-truly-modular-smartphone-case
· Google Project Ara: Modular Cellphone (Swappable cellphone parts)
o http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/14/7547529/google-project-ara-prototype-hands-ontf
Kotaku Reports that Mighty No. 9, the spiritual successor to Mega Man, will ship Sept. 9th
The Official Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 trailer
· Reveals a Nov. 6th release date
· Get to see a couple of the Cyber Cores–which offer players special skills–in action.
o Hacking, Use of Drones, Unlimited Running, Swim kills
o Over 40 upgradable abilities
· https://youtu.be/58Pspqx0XGs?t=13
Latest Batman: Arkham Knight trailer
· Shows some new tag team moves between armored Batman and
o Catwoman, Robin, Nightwing
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-DBvDejInI&feature=youtu.be
Square Enix tech demo blew us away
· Showed off their latest game engine for FF XVI
Hulu reports that it has 9 million subscribers
· Up 50% compared to last year
· Credits increase in users on phones, tablets, and TV
· Hulu recently signed exclusive deal for any new AMC programing
o Includes new Walking Dead show: Fear the Walking Dead
· Netflix still has 50 million more subscribers
· http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/29/8513147/hulu-9-million-subscribers
Anime News Network reported New Dragon Ball series begin in July in Japan
· Series will be named Dragon Ball Super
· Set after the Majin Buu Saga, the last story line in DBZ.
· Ramon commentary: After the last couple failed movies and the horrible Dragon Ball GT series maybe this will be a good change for the franchise.
New Mad Max Trailer
· Movie comes out May 15th
· Trailer shows a peak into the story line. Gas delivery goes bad and bandits are after the goods.
· Explosions, Guns, Retrofitted Cars, and action galore
· https://youtu.be/woHTUsl66BY
Age of Ultron breaks box office records in U.K. but boycotted in Germany
· Avengers: Age of Ultron comes out today May 1st in the US.
· The movie makes up over 95% of ticket purchases for the weekend on Fandango
· Released last week in other countries
o Already made $200 million internationally
· Estimates for opening weekend are over $200 million
· In Germany, smaller movie theaters are boycotting the film in protest of Disney's decision to raise rental fees from 47.7 to 53 percent of ticket sales.
· http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/27/8502625/age-of-ultron-box-office-records-boycott
· http://www.businessinsider.com/avengers-age-of-ultron-box-office-prediction-2015-4
Audi commercial highlights the art of the cameo
· Stars: Stan Lee, feat. Kevin Smith, Tara Reid, Michael Rooker, Jason Mewes and Lou Ferrigno
· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8m-NxpUIP0
Ted 2 trailer
· Ted the Teddy bear gets married and wants to have a kid.
· Before able, must prove in court he is a person.
· Clean-ish clip
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3AVcCggRnU
· Explicit clip
From the Audience-News stories submitted by the audience
For a review of the topics we covered and any of the links in show notes for this episode visit our site geekbytespodcast.com
If you have any comments or suggestions for discussion topics please e-mail us a feedback@geekbytespodcast.com
Onto our Discussion section
(Music 3)
Discussion
Virtual Reality Versus Augmented reality
· Virtual Reality (VR) contenders: HTC Vive (Nov. release), Gear VR, Oculus, Sony Morpheus
o Oculus recently acquired Valve and Google talent
o Valve (HTC Vive) made got support from Unity & Unreal for games
· Augmented Reality (AR): Microsoft HoloLens, CastAR-former valve employees, Apps overlay translation on street signs
o Recent HoloLens videos better than HoloLens reviews
§ Field of View concerns, Great quality images, No extra wires
· Augmented reality TED talk
o http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_mills_image_recognition_that_triggers_augmented_reality?language=en
Recommendations
IFC show Garfunkel and Oats on Netflix
· If you like Tenacious D or Flight of the Concords you might like this show.
Table Top – YouTube show on Geek & Sundry channel
· There seasons of Will Wheaton (Wesley Crusher on Star Trek TNG) playing board games with celebrity friends
· https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7atuZxmT956cWFGxqSyRdn6GWhBxiAwE
Free Comic Book Day- Saturday May 2nd
· Go visit your local comic book store to get free stuff
· Polygon has a great article about how to get started in comics
· See our show notes for the link
· http://www.polygon.com/2015/5/1/8523979/free-comic-book-day
Thank you all very much for listening. We appreciate all the support.
Remember that here at Geek Bytes we work on a value for value model and if you find value in our work, and can afford it please support us by visiting us at https://www.patreon.com/geekbytespodcast
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Thanks for listening folks. Now Go Geek out about something.
(Music 4)
Music Credits
"Happy Bee", "Movement Proposition", "Theme for Harold (var.3) ", "Take the Lead"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/