On January 25th 2015, at Winter NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants), Avid announced the up coming release of two new products, Pro Tools 12 and Pro Tools First. With Pro Tools 12, Avid makes its transition to the could, while Pro Tools First will allow those new to Pro Tools to get a fully functional copy of the software for free.
Pro Tools First comes with a set of plug-ins that are a subset of the original version. There are 21 effects total. There are instrument plug-ins available that will allow users to start creating right away. However, there is no support for extra tracks, score editing, or video playback. Avid is giving new users cloud storage for three tracks, but they can export their tracks for free. No hardware is needed to use Pro Tools First.
Pro Tools 12 is featuring a new set of music collaborating tools that will allow users to make and store their music in the cloud. Features like built-in text/video chat and Avid Marketplace Artist Community will allow users to either invite other artists to collaborate on a session or find someone to collaborate with.
What's also new with Pro Tools 12 is the new flexible licensing plans. Users can get a monthly subscription to Pro Tools 12 for $29.99 a month, while an annual subscription is $299 a year. A software upgrade with a year of updates can be purchased for $199, and a perpetual license plus a year of updates cost $899. Those who are interested in Pro Tools 12's availability can leave their information at Avid.com.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
A Large Asteroid To Pass By Earth
NASA announced on January 14 2015, that they expect a large asteroid to safely pass by the earth on January 26 2015. The asteroid, dubbed 2004 BL86 will pass by the earth at a distance of 745,000 miles or about 3 times the distance between the earth and the moon. 2004 BL86's pass by will be the closest of any large object of its size until the appearance of asteroid 1999 AN10 which is expected to pass by the earth in 2027.
Although asteroid 2004 BL86 is about 1,800 feet, or a third of a mile in diameter, NASA has reassured us that it will pose no threat to the earth. Astronomers will be using dish antennas at NASA's Deep Space Network in Goldstone, California and Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico to track the asteroid. Astronomers at JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratories) hope to use the fly by to get their first detailed images of 2004 BL86, as not much is known about the asteroid.
Those wishing to get a glimpse of 2004 BL86 can do so with either a small telescope or a pair of large binoculars, while looking at the constellation Cancer on January 26th 2015. The asteroid will have a magnitude of 9, which is about the brightness of a faint star using a telescope with an aperture of 10 centimeters. Those using large binoculars are encouraged to use a steady mount. Maximum brightness is estimated to occur between 11:07 and 11:52 pm.
Although asteroid 2004 BL86 is about 1,800 feet, or a third of a mile in diameter, NASA has reassured us that it will pose no threat to the earth. Astronomers will be using dish antennas at NASA's Deep Space Network in Goldstone, California and Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico to track the asteroid. Astronomers at JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratories) hope to use the fly by to get their first detailed images of 2004 BL86, as not much is known about the asteroid.
Those wishing to get a glimpse of 2004 BL86 can do so with either a small telescope or a pair of large binoculars, while looking at the constellation Cancer on January 26th 2015. The asteroid will have a magnitude of 9, which is about the brightness of a faint star using a telescope with an aperture of 10 centimeters. Those using large binoculars are encouraged to use a steady mount. Maximum brightness is estimated to occur between 11:07 and 11:52 pm.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Super Cookies Maybe Tracking You
On January 2 2015, Sam GreenHalgh of the UK based RadicalResearch, posted a blog about Super Cookies and how they can track internet users, even if their browsers are in privacy mode. Cookies have been used by websites for years to help them identify users whenever they return to a site. As more internet users have gone mobile, Microsoft and Google began looking for a way to track users' preferences across multiple devices.
Super Cookies were designed to do what Cookies do, remember a user's browsing history, etc, but they are intended to reside on your computer permanently. And, they can persist even when you are browsing in incognito mode. They do this by exploiting HTTP Strict Transport Security or HSTS. HSTS is a web feature that tells a website that it should only communicate with a user in HTTPS or an encrypted connection.
HSTS allows your browser to store the secure connection information from every secure website that a user might visit. Most browsers maintain HSTS, and because it is a security feature, they do so whether the browser is in normal or private mode. Though HSTS is not intended to be used for tracking, the data can be manipulated to fingerprint a prospective internet user and track their movements around the web.
Chrome, Firefox, and Opera all erase cookies and HSTS flags so that any stored data will be cleared. Apple iPads and iPhone, which use the Safari browser, have no way to clear HSTS flags. Internet Explorer doesn't support HSTS and is not vulnerable. At this time it is not clear if any websites are using HSTS to track users.
Super Cookies were designed to do what Cookies do, remember a user's browsing history, etc, but they are intended to reside on your computer permanently. And, they can persist even when you are browsing in incognito mode. They do this by exploiting HTTP Strict Transport Security or HSTS. HSTS is a web feature that tells a website that it should only communicate with a user in HTTPS or an encrypted connection.
HSTS allows your browser to store the secure connection information from every secure website that a user might visit. Most browsers maintain HSTS, and because it is a security feature, they do so whether the browser is in normal or private mode. Though HSTS is not intended to be used for tracking, the data can be manipulated to fingerprint a prospective internet user and track their movements around the web.
Chrome, Firefox, and Opera all erase cookies and HSTS flags so that any stored data will be cleared. Apple iPads and iPhone, which use the Safari browser, have no way to clear HSTS flags. Internet Explorer doesn't support HSTS and is not vulnerable. At this time it is not clear if any websites are using HSTS to track users.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Neil Young's Pono Player Comes To Stores
It was announced on January 7th 2015, that Neil Young's Pono high resolution digital music player will hit store shelves on Monday, January 12, 2015. The Pono music player was first brought to the public when Young gave a demonstration on David Letterman in September of 2012. After a very successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $6 million, Young's vison of a return to high quality audio has finally come to fruition.
The Pono player comes with 128GB of storage with another 64GB available via a memory card slot and removable storage cards. It has a 2.5 inch color touch screen for control and navigation. The price for the unit is as promised. $399 gets audiophiles there ticket to music paradise. High resolution music files can be purchased at the Pono music store which is already up and running in advance of the player's release.
The Pono player can play back digital files with a resolution that extends up to 192kHz/24 bits. Single tracks are expected to sell for between $1.99 and $2.99 and are encoded as FLAC files. Albums are expected to sell for about $24. The selection of music at the Pono music store feature both old and new releases. The Pono player will be made available to consumers at 80 locations including Fry's
The Pono player comes with 128GB of storage with another 64GB available via a memory card slot and removable storage cards. It has a 2.5 inch color touch screen for control and navigation. The price for the unit is as promised. $399 gets audiophiles there ticket to music paradise. High resolution music files can be purchased at the Pono music store which is already up and running in advance of the player's release.
The Pono player can play back digital files with a resolution that extends up to 192kHz/24 bits. Single tracks are expected to sell for between $1.99 and $2.99 and are encoded as FLAC files. Albums are expected to sell for about $24. The selection of music at the Pono music store feature both old and new releases. The Pono player will be made available to consumers at 80 locations including Fry's
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Microsoft's New Browser For Windows 10
It was announced on December 19th 2014, that Microsoft is building a new browser for the release of Windows 10. Code named, Spartan, the new browser is expected to have a new interface that will resemble Firefox and Chrome and it will support extensions. It has also been reported that the new browser will not be IE 12.
The new Spartan browser will still make use of Microsoft's Chakra JavaScript and Trident rendering engines. Spartan will be lightweight and more user friendly, allowing add-ons via extensions. This move is viewed as Microsoft's attempt to lay to rest the stigma that has surrounded Internet Explorer for some time.
A possible first look at Spartan may come on January 21st 2015, when Microsoft plans to reveal its next set of features for Windows 10. Microsoft will ship both Spartan and IE 11 with Windows 10 and Spartan will be available for both desktop and mobile. Spartan is only a code name. The real name of the new browser is not expected to be revealed until later in 2015, with the release of Windows 10.
The new Spartan browser will still make use of Microsoft's Chakra JavaScript and Trident rendering engines. Spartan will be lightweight and more user friendly, allowing add-ons via extensions. This move is viewed as Microsoft's attempt to lay to rest the stigma that has surrounded Internet Explorer for some time.
A possible first look at Spartan may come on January 21st 2015, when Microsoft plans to reveal its next set of features for Windows 10. Microsoft will ship both Spartan and IE 11 with Windows 10 and Spartan will be available for both desktop and mobile. Spartan is only a code name. The real name of the new browser is not expected to be revealed until later in 2015, with the release of Windows 10.
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