WebVision browser plugin to bring DirectX11 and beyond straight into the browser!

Even “modern” internet based games in the year 2010 are at best, current up to 2004 specs graphically speaking. The shortcomings are accepted though seeing as how browser support for advanced graphics simply aren’t implemented in web standards. These little things called plugins however are on the verge of creating a new generation of web-based gaming. And I’m not talking about some hokey enhancements such as slightly less block faces and/or more shades of color. No, I’m talking about full blown DirectX11 gaming, multi-core support, and PhysX integration — all in your browser.

The ocular eye candy will come compliments of Trinergy’s new “Vision Engine 8″, promising everything above and then some. The plugin that will actually bring said features into the browser will debut in the form of a browser plugin called “WebVision”. Everyday more and more services move online. It only makes sense that one of the primary reasons for owning a computer also moves online.

Don’t go selling your multi-thousand gaming rig in favor of a lighter model just yet. For one, you will still need a beefy graphics card to fun demanding games, even through WebVision. Therein lies the problem — not everyone will have a high end graphics card who visits the gaming website. Getting around such things seems as if a simple hardware check would clear things up, preventing those without the necessary muscle to actually enter/run the web game. According to company spokesperson Eric Schumacher:

“It checks system requirements, downloads content and validates it before executing it, and handles versioning of critical DLLs. The backend, in turn, is built into the game itself, which is executed by the frontend after download and verification.”

Besides the hardware limits, bandwidth limits also pose another hurdle. Any and all traffic consumed during current online gaming is relatively small, certainly not anywhere close to the traffic that would be required to pump full on 1080p+ graphics via the web, in real time. If the FCC and Google have their way however, bandwidth issues won’t be too much of an issue for too much longer.

Once the Vision Engine 8 SDK goes live this April, expect developers to start actively working on bringing modern gaming into the browser. I can’t wait. I’m sure you can’t wait. Imagine being able to not have to worry about game saves and progress dependent on hardware or physical location. Soon, any computer you sit down at will be more or less the same for online gaming enjoyment. Awesome stuff!

It’s worth mentioning that Atari, Firefly, and Ubisoft are already employing certain aspects of the technology. The latter, Ubisoft, has come under fire as of late however for one of their latest titles — Settlers 7 — uses a large chunk of what comprises “WebVision”, albeit with an extremely annoying piece of DRM attached. Let’s hope that moving foward, the “always-on” requirement isn’t always required.

For those scratching your head, wondering how you could drop the “always on” part and still play a browser based game. Simple: local cached information of anything and everything that is sent to the game providers’ servers. Even better: seamless transition between browser based and local/disc based gameplay when the internet connection fails. How developers would work that last one out is beyond my level of coding expertise (read: none). With that said, it’s an intriguing development no less and one that I will anxiously sit by and watch as it matures.

Gamers: What’s your take? Will you look to the cloud for future gaming if it is current with the modern specs at any given time?

Slashdot > Thinq

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Cablevision aiming to suck less, debuting “PC-to-TV” screen streaming service.

Spend any measurable amount of time in the tech realm and you’ll quickly find out that in terms of ISP’s, Cablevision rarely get’s “I love you” reviews. Usually expletives and other nasty phrases are being hurled forth. So consider it a welcome surprise to learn that that a cable company who has generally favored old business models (read: eschewing anything remotely interesting to techies) is now moving forward with a new “PC-to-TV” service that if launched successfully, will be quite addition to their line up.

The simple gist — with their PC-to-TV service, anything and everything displayed on your computer screen will be able to be transmitted to your cablebox over a special wireless channel specific to you and you alone. While far from a “new” idea or concept, it’s comforting to finally see cable providers actually embracing technology instead of trying to block it (well, at least this type of service anyway).

Barring any issues with outsiders peeking in on the content of your little live stream, this is actually an awesome idea that cable providers should have embraced several years ago. But hey, I can’t complain too much. Looking back at pretty much any and every cable provider in history paints a pretty bleak picture. This little ray of sunshine however may just be the starting of a wave of change in the cable industry. We surely can only hope. Look for trials to begin this June.

Would you pay extra for a PC-to-TV service? If so, how much?

AlleyInsider

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Ubisoft’s new DRM: Bad for gamers, bad for soldiers, bad for America. Essentially, bad for the planet.

I’ve seen plenty of articles criticizing Ubisoft’s latest DRM scheme. You know, the one requiring you have to have a constant internet connection where an interruption in your service, if even for a split second, will cancel your current game and fail to save any progress. Ya, it is an epic failure on paper and in practice. How anyone could think this is a good idea is f*cking stupid. Ubisoft has tried defending their position basically saying that from their viewpoint, they believe that the general public loves their idea. Oh yeah, they also tossed in that their “always on” DRM was “Created by gamers for gamers”.

I’ll let you debate that first one amongst yourselves. But there’s another realization that is now also apparent, requiring a new little phrase: Ubisoft DRM is not only a digital finger to the average joe and jane consumer, but to soldiers as well. That’s right, Ubisoft basically hates soldiers.

It’s simple: You are required to have an internet connection at all times — soldiers do not. Making matters worse, an internet connection in a war-torn nation can easily cost a soldier $150/192k. Ya, good luck bringing up anything without your browser choking. Ubisoft is effectively killing off any chance of soldiers actually picking up games employing the new always-on DRM. Let’s be real. Some will counter with “why are soldiers playing video games and not saving the world like they’re supposed to?”. Short sighted. Not only do they have the right (and downright need) some downtime like any normal human, video games are becoming great ways to improve soldiers’ hand eye coordination and prepare for various firefights.

Hey, whatever floats their boat. I’m sure the stigma associated with shunning men and women in uniform will do wonders for sales…

Ubisoft’s new DRM: Bad for gamers, bad for soldiers, bad for America, bad for the planet.

ArsTechnica

Feed that hungry mind of yours: The USB Slim Lunchbox

How many times have you said to yourself: “Gee, I sure do wish my lunchbox was a USB Lunchbox? Some may scoff at the mere mention of such a thing, labeling it a waste or “gimmick gadget”. But nothing could be further from the truth. Just as heat/ice packs keep food their desired temperature, so does the USB ‘Box — warm that is. If you find yourself fortunate enough to work inside and with access to a USB port yet not fortunate enough to have refrigerator/microwave access, listen up.

For only $25, you can pick up this little lunch time wonder and begin to enjoy warm downright hot lunches. I say hot because this puppy will heat your food and hold it steady up to 60 degrees Celsius. Which, for those of you (such as I) who become glassy eyed when metrics are used — 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Ya, it gets pretty hot. This isn’t creator Thanko’s, first attempt at USB lunchbags, though it is it’s slimmest to date, cutting a sizable chunk off of earlier models dating back to 2008. So, it’s hot and cheap, whataya say? Hot lunches FTW?!

[Product Page: Thanko]

Ubergizmo CrunchGear > GeekStuff4U

AT&T finally putting money where their mouth is. Now ranks #1 in national 3G speeds.

Gee, it’s funny what a little a lot of criticism will do for you. The last year or so has been full of countless jabs and flaming rants casting AT&T in a dark light and their network in various shades of brown. For months the rants went on, the calls kept dropping, and downloads continued to crawl. After PC World’s most recent test however, it appears AT&T is finally getting the ball moving in the right direction. And rolling the ball is, with AT&T now clocking an average download speed of 1,014 Kbps across the 13 major cities tested. That’s a solid 200 Kbps faster than the test last spring.

Also looking on the up and up is call reliability. Last year: 68%. This year: 94%. Even Verizon isn’t doing that well, holding steady at a still respectable 92%. Can you say holy sh*t!? Consider me thoroughly impressed. When my Verizon contract comes closer to it’s expiration date and if things continue improving at this rate, consider myself a little boy blue once again. (I always did have a thing for GSM). That is if T-Mobile can’t win me over by then either. Never a dull moment, is it?

Any AT&T defectors feeling a little homesick?

PhoneArena

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Adobe to add a new bit of software to it’s line o’ products? w00t, something else to learn!

Adobe is rumored to be unveiling a new application to its signature suite of services this April. At least this is what a digital printing conference in Texas is telling us. Amongst all that is listed at their site, you can find under the Design heading a presentation by Adobe. It’s being titled as an “Adobe Technology Review.”

Whatever this new application is supposed to be, they are saying it will surprise even the biggest Adobe fanboy. We can only speculate if this is going to be an addition to the Creative Suite line, and we can’t really say what it’ll feature. Adobe has given us a few peaks into what CS5 might contain, one being a Painter-Style Paint system, and also After Effects-inspired Puppet tool to Photoshop.

Who knows what this new application will be, or even if it is going to fall under the Creative Suite Umbrella. Although, it is about time we see a new CS release, since it has been well over a year since CS4 was debuted.

We’ll definitely be here to let you know what comes about this April.

Macworld

Power strips are cool again: The Power Strip Ejector series (Ejector-strip). [Concept]

Green this, hug a tree that. It seems that all we ever hear about concerning heavy gadget usage is how terrible it is for the planet. That very well may be, but at least progress is being made, wouldn’t you say? If any doubt still remains, simply take a look at this innovative and downright cool power strip concept designed by “Soon Mo Kang”.

Similar in design to the Leech Plug, the “Ejector-strip” (self-titled — copyright eleventy billion years with) is so basic yet so complex at the same time. The easy side of things is how it, like any other power strip, plugs into a wall and shuttles electrons from port A to prong B. The real magic is how it handles such things in it’s modular design. By going modular, not only to end users save money on not having to pay for outlets they don’t need, but also in not having unused outlets constantly sucking power (albeit tiny amounts) at home. Further adding to it’s love-a-tree mentality, less packaging is used and trashed as a result. It’s a win-win for everyone.

The other lust worthy feature is the very thing that sparked my naming idea — the ejectable nature of the plugs by way of a simple finger click freeing it from it’s 3 holed prison. Like the Leech Plug, the easy removal of the plugs is by no means revolutionary or a major feature that will save the world. But it’s cool tech plain and simple.

Yes, I’m getting all excited over a concept power strip…