Ubuntu and Xubuntu Power First Mercedes-Benz S 500 Autonomous Car

Mercedes-Benz is one of the first companies to experiment with autonomous driving and it succeeded. It also looks like the engineers are using Ubuntu and Xubuntu to do the job.

The Mercedes-Benz engineers managed to build an S 500 Intelligent Drive prototype that is able to drive itself without any kind of input from the driver. Autonomous cars are no longer something extraordinary, but you have to keep in mind that this is a regular car made to work without a driver and it's not something built specifically for this job, like the one from Google. The Linux community is always on the lookout for interesting implementations of the open source OS, and someone has spotted two different operating systems in the video provided by Mercedes-Benz and sent us an email about it. In one of the shots you can see an Ubuntu system and in another, while riding in the car, viewers can identify a Xubuntu-powered laptop.

Ubuntu systems have been spotted in the most interesting places, ranging from a NASA flights over the Antarctic, on the International Space Station, and even at BestBuy powering some demo booths. If you happen to notice Ubuntu in an interesting place, don't be shy and leave a comment below.

Mercedes-Benz S 500 Intelligent Drive
Image credits to Mercedes-Benz S 500

Mercedez Benz Intelligent Drive Autopilot S Class Klasse IAA 2013 Frankfurt
Video credits to Movie HP

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Lava Iris X5 Leaks in India Ahead of Official Release

It looks like Indian OEM Lava Mobile is readying yet another Android smartphone that might surprise customers in the country. After the success of the Iris X1, Lava is determined to maintain the customers’ interest for its products at high rates.

The next handset in the Iris lineup of smartphones is dubbed Iris X5, and it has yet to be officially confirmed by the Indian company. However, the device has been recently spotted at Zauba, the organization regulating imports in India. According to Gogi.in, Lava Iris X5 will sport a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen display, but the resolution supported is still unknown. The smartphone has also been confirmed to pack 8GB of internal memory, which suggests Lava may also have included a microSD card slot for storage expansion.

We also suspect that the smartphone will ship with Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system out of the box, otherwise it might not appeal to the masses. The import documents also mention the Lava Iris X5 will offer dual-SIM capability. No other details regarding the Lava Iris X5 have been leaked, but we can safely assume the Indian OEM will make it official in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

Lava Iris X1
Image credits to Lava Mobiles

Zauba import documents
Image credits to gogi.in

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New Leak Shows Images of an alleged iPhone 6L Logic Board and Display [Rumor]

Rumors of two larger iPhone models, dubbed as iPhone 6 and iPhone 6L (supposedly coming from Large) are circulating for a few months now. The rumors coming from Apple's suppliers and manufacturers in China talks about a 4.7-inch diagonal display and a larger 5.5-inch diagonal display model.

However, so far we have only seen parts for the 4.7-inch one. Everything from the logic board, camera, back plate, front panel display glass, battery and circuitry. Even the round dual flash and the Apple logo were presented in a few leaks. The most recent pictures have even presented the box and reversible USB to lightning port cable the iPhone 6 may get. The lack of leaked photos for the 5.5-inch model had everyone asking themselves whether the device is real, or if Apple is actually planning on releasing it this year or in 2015. And when everyone was expecting less, a Taiwanese blog has posted the first alleged photos of the iPhone 6L parts. You can notice the logic board, battery and display. The latter part, the screen of the rumored future iPhone model is not longer than the iPhone 6's 4.7-inch one, but it is wider. Take these photos with a grain of salt, because they may very well be fake or the parts belong to wither a clone, or a device Apple may never release. However, there are some similarities with the iPhone 6 model.

These new photos show the flex cables and sensors positioned in the same spots as with its smaller counterpart. Also, the logic board photographed here looks pretty much identical to the 4.7-inch model one. The battery has, as expected a larger capacity. It appears to be a 2915 mAh unit, almost double the size of an iPhone 5s battery. However, the larger battery size will not necessarily mean it will bring more juice to the device, but only it will help it stay awake as long as the iPhone 5s. We know that a larger screen is power hungry, so the battery needs to support that. Also the device may have a different processor that may require more power. Apple is expected to announce the new iPhone on September 9th and release it in the retail chain a week later. It remains to be seen if the Cupertino tech giant will get an even larger phone to the market along with their flagship.

iPhone 6L Parts

iPhone 6L versus iPhone 6 display
Images credits to iphonedaily.com.tw

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This Is the Mythical NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan II, Based on GM200 Maxwell GPU

Graphics adapters can be really troublesome things to make, but that hasn't stopped Advanced Micro Devices and NVIDIA from one-upping each other over the years anyway. In fact, it has only spurned them further, to the point where NVIDIA is already designing the top-tier Maxwell-based board.

Admittedly, this has been coming since the early days of the year, when NVIDIA launched the GeForce GTX 750 and GTX 750 Ti, powered by the GM107 graphics processing unit. It was a sort of trial run for the technology, since NVIDIA expected something bad to go down with the 20nm process technology, meaning it likely would have to redesign the Maxwell architecture for 28nm. Fast forward to the present day, and indeed, TSMC has proven unable to deliver on the 20nm production line needs that both NVIDIA and AMD have. Thus, the two video device makers have to use the same fabrication process they employed for the current-generation GPU collections. The two could have just delayed the products for another half a year or so, but they have been putting it off for long enough. Anyway, NVIDIA is expected to launch the Maxwell-based range of video cards before the end of next month. We wouldn't be surprised if we saw a GeForce GTX 800 GPU at the IFA 2014 trade show in Berlin, Germany.

Today, though, the GeForce GTX 870 and 880 based on the GM204 are not the ones on our mind. Instead, it is the GeForce GTX Titan II, powered by the fabled GM200. Until now, it was believed that the flagship GPU GM200 would be held in reserve until mid-2015 or so, with GeForce GTX 880 holding the fort in the meantime. According to Zauba.com, however, the GM200 has already been taped out, at least the early A1 revision GPUs and engineering samples. That means that the GeForce GTX Titan II, if it even ends up called that, could reach the market in the first half of 2015, earlier than the time that GM200 was pegged for. It depends on whether or not late winter holiday chip wafer yields are good enough.

Indeed, even if shipments only begin at some point in 2015, the GeForce GTX Titan II could be “launched” by this Christmas. It's probably make-believe, but stranger things have happened, like the coming into existence of chihuahuas. The GM200 will have a 512-bit memory interface and over 4,000 CUDA cores, but nothing else is known about it for now.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan II, presumably
Images credits to Guru3D

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Corsair Vengeance LPX and Dominator Platinum DDR4 RAM Launched [Video]

DDR4 random access memory (RAM) is superior to DDR3 in all ways by default, but Corsair decided that even an advanced, already mighty memory technology was not overpowered enough, so it took matters into its own hands.

We honestly saw this coming. After all, while DDR4 is pretty impressive at 2,133 MHz, that only applies when you compare it to normal, non-overclocked DDR3 modules. When it comes to tweaked RAM, though, 2,133 MHz kind of loses its allure in the face of DDR3 modules and kits pushed to 2,300- 2,800 MHz or higher. Even factoring in the ability of DDR4 to function on 1.2V instead of 1.65/1.5/1.35 V, it would still be an awkward comparison. Corsair has quite handily eliminated that awkwardness with the introduction of the Vengeance LPX and Dominator Platinum DDR4 memory kits. Vengeance LPS modules have low-profile heatspreaders made of aluminum and colored red, white, blue, or black. They also boast eight-layer PCBs (printed circuit boards), which allow the heat generated to be low enough for said heatspreaders to handle on their lonesome.

The Dominator Platinum line is even more overkill, constructed out of hand-screen ICs (integrated circuits) and full-size black and white heatspreaders with colored “light pipes” that can be customized. You can even use the Corsair Link to monitor their temperature in real time. Other than the outer design, though, the Corsair Vengeance LPX and Dominator Platinum DDR4 kits seem to offer the same things: 2,666 MHz, 2,800 MHz, and 3,000 MHz speeds at launch, as well as a broad capacity range. DDR4 supports quad-channel configurations, you see, but Corsair still wanted to offer something for people who don't plan to get more than two modules.

So, in addition to the 16 GB (4x 4 GB), 32 GB (4x 8 GB), and 64 GB (8x 8 GB) kits, there are Vengeance LPX and Dominator Platinum DDR4 kits of 8 GB, composed of two 4 GB modules. Sales will start at the end of the month, which is when the prices will surface at last. DDR4 memory is not supported by many motherboards yet, but the new Haswell-E Core i7 Intel CPU line and the Haswell-EP Xeon series kind of made it necessary for such platforms to come out. So if you happen to be browsing and spot a motherboard designed around the X99 chipset, you're all set. In theory, DDR4 memory allows for 16 GB to be packed on a single module, but such products will only be launched in 2015. When that happens, you can be sure that Corsair will release 128 GB 8x 16 GB kits.

Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4

Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4
Images credits to Corsair

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Nexus 6 to Be the First Android Silver Device, Called Moto S on Verizon [Video]

One of the smartphones that have been long rumored to arrive on shelves before the end of this year is the Nexus 6, and some more info on it is now available.

The handset, said a few times before to be coming from Motorola, is now rumored to also be the first device included in the Android Silver series, which should be replacing the Nexus lineup. We’ve already heard a lot of rumors on the Android Silver program, yet no official confirmation on the matter has been provided as of now. The new family of devices should include top-of-the-line smartphones coming from multiple mobile phone makers, and will replace both the Nexus series and the Google Play Edition phones, it seems. According to a recent post on TK Tech News, the Nexus 6 will arrive on shelves at Verizon Wireless in the United States under the name of Moto S and will be the first device in the new Android Silver series. The phone, spotted online before under the codename of Motorola Shamu, or Google Shamu, is said to feature a 5.2-inch or larger touchscreen display, one that should be able to deliver a Quad HD resolution.

Moreover, the handset is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 805 processor and to include a 13-megapixel camera on the back, along with a 2.1MP front camera. A video that shows allegedly leaked screenshots coming from Motorola Shamu is also available for your viewing pleasure, accompanied by a photo with the screen protector that the upcoming device will supposedly sport. Apparently, it will feature dual front speakers, the same as another forthcoming smartphone from Motorola, namely the Moto X+1. None of the details above has been confirmed as of now, and there’s no telling whether they will pan out or not, so take all of them with a grain of salt for the time being.

Undoubtedly, a Nexus 6 smartphone will be coming later this year, most probably being the first handset to run under the Android L operating system version, but it remains to be seen if it will indeed be the aforementioned Motorola Shamu. According to TK Tech News, the handset detailed above will certainly be released on Verizon’s network, yet the model name could not be verified. Hopefully, it won’t be long before Google makes an official announcement on the matter and we’ll learn more on this phone, be it Moto S, Nexus 6, or however Motorola and Google decide to call it, so stay tuned for more on this.

Moto S screen protector
Image credits to TK Tech News

In this video I was able to cast my surface 3 display to show you guys confirmed screenshots from the upcoming nexus 6 aka the motorola shamu. We show the specs and we confirm the device on verizon wireless.
Also early today we received another leak that there may he two nexus devices. A 5.2 and a 5.9 inch model
We havent got 100% confirmation on this as of yet. But we have confirmed the Nexus 6 5.9
stay tuned for more details as it comes available today.
TK
oh and no the device isnt rooted its not a build prop edit. as confirmed by the imei.
Video credits to TK Tech News

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BBM for Windows Phone Exits Beta, Download Now Version 1.0

Good news for Windows Phone fans who have been patiently waiting for BlackBerry to keep their promise and bring BBM on Microsoft's mobile platform, as the Canadian company has just released the final version of their instant messenger.

Windows Phone is the fourth major operating system that gets BBM, after the application landed on BlackBerry, Android, and iOS a long time ago. Anyway, for those unaware, BlackBerry kicked off the beta program for BBM for Windows Phone a few weeks ago, but given the fact that the beta version of the application was open for everyone, anyone with a compatible device could have download it. Obviously, there were lots of things that needed to be fixed and a few new features had to be implemented, but BBM was working well enough on Windows Phone devices. BlackBerry even released a few updates for the beta version of BBM for Windows Phone that would further improve user overall experience. Today, however, the Canadian company announces that BBM for Windows Phone has exit beta and the final version is now available for download via Windows Phone Store.

Version 1.0 of BBM for Windows Phone brings another set of improvements and bug fixes, which should make it more stable for those who have experienced any issues with the application during beta testing. Here is what the developers had to say about this first version of BBM for Windows Phone:  “We're excited to offer BBM to Windows Phone users! V1 focuses on bringing the speed, privacy and security of BBM – loved by millions around the world – to chatting and sharing through 1:1, multi-person and BBM Group chats. We're already working hard on V2 where we'll introduce additional features to BBM for Windows Phone.” And as mentioned earlier, the newest version of BBM for Windows Phone packs a few improvements and bug fixes over the previous ones.

For example, the developers confirm that the update should feature improved application launch times. A certain issue that some users faced where BBM would display in English when the device language was set to Spanish, has been addressed as well. Last but not least, BlackBerry stated that other bug fixes and performance improvements have been included in the update as well, but no additional details on any of these have been shared yet. You can now download BBM for Windows Phone 1.01 for free via Windows Phone Store. Keep in mind that the application should be fully compatible with all devices powered by Windows Phone 8 and up.

BBM for Windows Phone (screenshots)
Image credits to BlackBerry

BBM for Windows Phone Now Available
Video credits to BlackBerry

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Intel's Best Haswell-EP Xeon CPU Has 18 Cores, Full Series Detailed

We've been writing a lot about Intel's upcoming Haswell-E collection of central processing units. We still don't know exactly when the Core i7 Haswell-E will debut, but it seems like there is finally an actual roadmap and price list for the new Xeon-branded processors, Haswell-EP.

At the moment, you won't find any chip with more than 15 cores out on sale anywhere, and even that particular Xeon chip is very rarely used. Mostly, the 6-core units are employed worldwide, as well as the occasional 12-core. The matter of core number is an iffy one. More cores do increase the computing capabilities of computers, but most programs aren't coded for more than four. That's why only servers and data centers, which run many operations at once, use them. And even there, ludicrous core counts aren't needed overmuch because the systems are composed of a high number of different sub-systems, like server blades with one or two CPUs of their own. With such computers working in tandem, chips of up to 12 cores have been holding the fort just fine. That isn't going to stop Intel from launching an 18-core Haswell-EP chip though. According to ChipLoco and MacWorld, that is the number of cores sported by the flagship Xeon chip set for September 9 release. The processor will be called Xeon E5-2699 v3 and will have a clock of 2.3 GHz, a TDP of 145W (thermal design power), and a price of €3029 / $4,058.

The greater number of cores means a higher parallel computing power, reducing the need for NVIDIA Tesla or AMD FirePro/FireStream add-in PC Express compute accelerators. Right below the Xeon E5-2699 v3 is the Intel E5-2698 v3, with 16 cores, 2.3 GHz frequency, 135W TDP, and price of €2,379/ $3,187. The list continues with three 14-core processors, four 12-core units, three 10-core chips, three 8-core processors, and four six-core Xeon E5-series CPUs. Most of them are “normal” chips, but the E5-2650L v3 stands out thanks to its TDP of only 65W, in spite of the 12 cores. Its clock is of 1.8 GHz and the price is €989 / $1,325. The cheapest CPU is the 6-core E5-2603 v3: €169 / $226.

Dell Precision workstations will be the first systems equipped with Haswell-EP chips, according to reports on the net. The Apple Mac Pro should receive them as an upgrade as well, though probably not the 18-inch one. 4K video editing is the most obvious possible use for super-systems like these, but 3D game production should benefit greatly as well. If ever there will be another sequel to, say, the Dragon Age franchise, Dell's computers, or rival systems of similar make, will quite possibly play a part.

Intel Haswell-EP Xeon E5 CPU
Image credits to ChipLoco

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Motorola Moto X+1 Specs Leaks: Snapdragon 801 CPU, 5.2-Inch FHD Display

There have been many rumors surrounding the next Motorola flagship smartphone, the rumored Moto X+1, but little was known about specs until recently.

We know the Moto X+1 is likely to be officially unveiled during IFA 2014 trade fair, as Motorola has just confirmed a press conference scheduled for September 4. The US-based company is expected to announce more than one smartphone during the launch event and one of them might be the Motorola Moto X+1. Another piece of information we know about the upcoming Moto X+1 is the fact that it will be picked up by major carrier Verizon Wireless in the United States. According to the latest hearsay, the Moto X+1 should go on sale at Verizon on September 25, but keep in mind that these are just rumors coming from various sources more or less close to the matter so take it with a grain of salt.

Motorola fans considering the Moto X+1 as their main phone may want to read further in order to get more info on what's the smartphone could offer in terms of hardware and software configuration. The smartphone recently popped up in GFXBench database, so here are some of the specs listed in the benchmarking application. First of all, the Moto X+1 will be powered by Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system out of the box, which is no surprise considering this is the last version of Google's mobile platform. When it comes to hardware, there's a bit of a confusion as the Moto X+1 appears listed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset inside, which is clocked at 2.5GHz. This is a clear indication that the smartphone is in fact powered by a Snapdragon 801 processor.

Moreover, the smartphone packs an Adreno 330 graphics processing unit, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, but only 10GB user available. On the back, the Moto X+1 will boast a 13-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and 4K video recording. There's also a secondary 2-megapixel camera in the front for video calls and selfies. Last but not least, Motorola Moto X+1 sports a 5.2-inch full HD (1080p) capacitive touchscreen display. It's unclear whether or not the unannounced handset will also pack microSD card slot for memory expansion, but we will keep an eye out for any additional details on the matter so stay tuned. In related news, Motorola is expected to announce the Moto X+1 in early September along Moto G2 and Moto 360 smartwatch.

Motorola Moto X+1 specs sheet
Image credits to GFXBench

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First Leaked Photos with a Supposedly Real iPhone 6 Turned On

TMZ, the celebrity gossip blog, of all places, has posted some photos with a supposedly working and assembled iPhone 6.

The next-generation device is handled on camera, turned upside down and taken out the box for the first time. To an iOS device user , there a few small details that look wrong and may prove the pictures or the device itself is fake. TMZ believes these are pictures of an iPhone 6 because they were told the phone was smuggle out of Foxconn factory in China. Foxconn is the traditional Apple partner and the tech giant works with them to manufacture most of their devices. The TMZ blog post says the iPhone 6 was taken from the factory by a guy who used to work in the hardware design department. The casing looks similar to other iPhone parts we've seen so far.

The strangest bit of information comes towards the end of their tip: "It's not running an authentic Apple iOS, which is SOP during the development stage for security purposes". Apple actually runs iOS on all their devices, whether it is iOS 7 or a beta version of iOS 8. One of the pictures, has the Assistive Touch function ON and that is presents two important signs that it may be fake: the date - August 13 is written in a different font. Also, the Assistive Touch buttons on the home screen do not match the shape and look of the iOS 8 ones, but the ones for an earlier version of iOS, which is unlikely to be installed on an iPhone 6.

iPhone 6
Image credits to tmz.com

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