Google Chromecast, a streaming media player from Google

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Released in July 2013 in the United States, Google Chromecast is a digital media player that some called a strange beast. The $35 device from Google is a micro USB that comes with a Marvell chip inside that displays audio and video content in 1080p (HDMI). It streams content through Wi-Fi from the Internet or a local network. Someone that has Google Chrome Web browser that runs mobile and web apps can mirror most content.

In addition to streaming videos it can also deliver music to your TV using a smartphone, tablet, or a laptop. It supports Netflix, YouTube, HBO GO, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and Google Play Movies. Chromecast can work with Android, iOS, Chrome for Mac, and Chrome for Windows. It can easily be connected to a high definition TV through your home Wi-Fi network. Some say that it can be a formidable contender for Apple TV and Roku 3. Only drawback is it doesn’t play local media. But if you have a separate TV for that, Google Chromecast is the device that gives a formidable option to watch content on a second TV at home or watch movies when spending a night in a hotel room.

Spectrum, scares wavelengths that mobile providers badly needed

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Mobile phone service providers are battling out to acquire more low-frequency spectrum to handle demand from voice and data customers. Isaac Newton introduced the spectrum into the world in the 17th century and it refers to a range of colors it displays when white light travel through. Power as a function of frequency or wavelengths also belongs to the spectrum. Today the word also covers sound waves and any signal that can be measured. For mobile service providers, spectrum is expensive and availability is limited. The government retained the ownership of the spectrum and makes it available to providers through auctions and it is expected to take place within next few years.

In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) holds auctions since 1994 for licenses of spectrum to transmit signals over specific bands. Due to the scarcity, the government is asking television providers to sell back their excess capacity so the government can accommodate requests from new services for spectrum. To date more than 87 auctions have been conducted by the FCC generating over $60 billion. Auctions are conducted over the Internet and anyone can apply for a license provided that they participate in the auction following set procedures.

12 Drool-Worthy Photos from the Westminster Dog Show

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The final leg of the 138th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show took place at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Four-legged contestants come from all over the world for a chance to be named “Best in Show.” Over 2,800 dogs of 190 different breeds were expected to compete at Westminster, according to The New York Times . See also: Corgi Catches Treat in Slow Motion, Tastes Victory This year, a wire fox terrier named Sky won Best in Show for 2014 THE WIRE FOX TERRIER IS THE 138TH #BESTINSHOW WINNER AT THE #WKCDOGSHOW — Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) February 12, 2014 Congrats to @Skywirefox #BestinShow winner and Pro Plan fed dog! #WKCDogShow #NutritionThatPerforms pic.twitter.com/xqhNaivLOm — Pro Plan (@ProPlan) February 12, 2014 Read more… More about New York , Dogs , Us World , Us , and Westminster Dog Show

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Sony Alpha 6000 Camera Has the ‘World’s Fastest Autofocus’

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Sony may be getting out of the PC and TV businesses, but it’s doubling down on cameras by strengthening its mirrorless offerings with a new model that the company claims has the world’s fastest autofocus. The Sony Alpha 6000 has a hybrid autofocus system that combines 179 points of phase detection with 25 points of contrast detection. I had a brief hands-on with the camera, and found it to be a pretty fast draw. Whether I pointed at targets that were bright, dark, close or distant, the camera locked on almost instantaneously. See also: 12 Most Cliché Photos on Instagram The Alpha 6000 is the successor to the NEX-6, but it’s more compact — another priority of Sony’s (at CES, the company debuted the “world’s smallest” mirrorless camera with Wi-Fi). Its body weight is just 12 ounces, and without a lens, it’s 1.8 inches thick.

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Samsung Hints at New TouchWiz Interface With ‘Unpacked 5’ Invite

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We know Samsung will be hosting a media event on Feb. 24 during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and judging from its name — Unpacked 5 — we know there’s a good chance that the company will unveil the Galaxy S5 Samsung dropped another hint about the event Tuesday, thanks to new invitations that show off what appear to be updated icons for its TouchWiz interface Samsung’s new invite for its Unpacked 5 event shows what seem to be updated icons for the company’s TouchWiz UI Image: Samsung Each of the nine icons, which are flat and rounded (as opposed to rectangular in TouchWiz Nature UX 2.0 on the Galaxy S4), include a word underneath that’s “raised” to the power of 5. They are: Speed, Outdoor, Curiosity, Fun, Social, Style, Privacy, Fitness and Life Read more… More about Samsung , Mwc , Mobile World Congress , Tech , and Gadgets

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