Monday, December 30, 2013

Court blocks hospital from disconnecting Jahi McMath from life support

<p>(CNN) -- [Breaking news update at 7:56 p.m. Monday]

A judge has extended a temporary restraining order in the case of 13-year-old Jahi McMath. The move means the hospital is now not permitted to disconnect the girl from life support until January 7.

[Original story, posted at 7:28 p.m. Monday]Jahi McMath's family asks court to block hospital from disconnecting life support

They thought the tonsil surgery would help her. She feared she'd never wake up.

Now, a 13-year-old girl once known for smiling, giggling and dropping off her sister every day at kindergarten lies motionless in a California hospital bed, hooked up to machines that doctors say are the only thing keeping her heart beating.

There have been days of prayers and protests for Jahi McMath. There was a fierce court battle as a devastated family fought to keep her on life support and doctors argued she had already died. The case drew national attention and fueled debate.

Doctors and a judge have declared her brain dead and said there's no chance Jahi will come back to life.

Family works to move brain dead teen

Family members say they're hoping for a miracle as a deadline looms. A judge has said the hospital can disconnect the machines after 5 p.m. (8 p.m. ET) Monday.

Just about an hour before that deadline, the girl's family told reporters they have located a facility in New York willing to take Jahi. The hospital, however, will not allow them to move her, said Jahi's uncle, Omari Sealey.

So attorneys for the family are filing a new complaint in federal court requesting a temporary restraining order and an injunction to prevent the hospital from disconnecting Jahi from life support, he said.

They are also requesting an extension of the order already in place and filing an appeal with California appellate courts.

"We are hopeful that one of these actions will forestall the hospital's rush to extinguish Jahi's chance at life," Sealey said.

It's unclear what will happen next.

But one thing is certain, an official told reporters on Monday.

"There are no winners in this very tragic case," Children's Hospital Oakland spokesman Sam Singer said.

Bleeding, cardiac arrest and brain death

Family members say the 8th grader was alert and talking after doctors removed her tonsils, adenoids and extra sinus tissue in a surgery earlier this month.

Doctors had recommended the surgery to treat pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, a condition which made her stop breathing in her sleep and caused other medical problems.

Before the surgery, Jahi said she was worried that she would never wake up, according to her uncle. She seemed fine after the surgery, but asked for a Popsicle because her throat hurt.

It wasn't long before something went terribly wrong.

In the intensive care unit, the girl began bleeding profusely -- an image her mother told CNN would be forever seared in her mind.

According to family members, Jahi went into cardiac arrest. Days later, she was declared brain dead.

Hospital officials have said privacy laws prevent them from discussing details of the case.

In court documents and public comments, they've maintained that there's no doubt that McMath is brain dead, describing the condition as irreversible. An independent doctor and a judge supported that conclusion last week.

"No amount of prayer, no amount of hope, no amount of any type of medical procedure will bring her back," Singer said Monday. "The medical situation here in this case is that Jahi McMath died several weeks ago."

Family raises money, searches for answers

But Jahi's family members maintain that they're hoping for a miracle and want to transfer the girl from Children's Hospital Oakland to another facility.

Jahi's family told CNN affiliate KGO that it spent Sunday working the phones, trying to line up another option.

"We are optimistic but are feeling ever anxious as the deadline of 5:00 on Monday approaches," family members said in a statement Saturday provided to KGO.

"We are working every minute to preserve our rights and Jahi's existence," the family said.

Media reports suggest one treatment location option has fallen through. The attorney representing Jahi's family has not responded to requests from CNN for comment on the matter.

So far the family has raised more than $25,000 on GoFundMe.com to move her. According to the site, more than 700 people have donated money in three days.

When 'life support' is really 'death support'

"To our knowledge, they (the family) do not have a facility to move the body to," Singer told reporters earlier Monday.

Asked by reporters what the hospital would do at 5 p.m. Monday, Singer declined to comment.

"The court has said at 5 p.m. today that the hospital will be allowed to unplug the ventilator, which is the only thing that is keeping Jahi McMath's heart beating," he said.

Medical ethicists, meanwhile, say the high-profile case fuels a misperception: that "brain death" is somehow not as final as cardiac death, even though, by definition, it is. The case is "giving the impression that dead people can come back to life," Arthur Caplan, director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, told CNN last week

CNN has obtained a copy of a medical report, contained in a court filing, that lays out in extensive detail the testing that supports the hospital's conclusion that McMath has no hope of recovery.

The report was prepared by Dr. Paul Fisher, Chief of Pediatric Neurology at Stanford University, who was appointed by Alameda Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo to examine the girl and report his findings to the court.

Fisher found that the girl's pupils were fully dilated and unresponsive to light and that she did not respond to a variety of intense stimuli.

His report also says McMath showed no sign of breathing on her own when a ventilator was removed: "Patient failed apnea test." While the family has referred to Jahi's heart beating, the report says it is only beating because of the mechanical ventilator.

In addition, an imaging test showed no blood flow to Jahi's brain, while another showed no sign of electrical activity.

Fisher's conclusion: "Overall, unfortunate circumstances in 13-year-old with known, irreversible brain injury and now complete absence of cerebral function and complete absence of brainstem function, child meets all criteria for brain death, by professional societies and state of California."

Family criticizes hospital

Jahi's family has criticized the hospital's handling of the matter, accusing doctors of pressuring them to disconnect life support.

"We wish to acknowledge that Jahi's case, and our stance regarding her right to life, and her mother's right to make decisions regarding her child, has stirred a vibrant, sometimes polarizing, national debate. This was never our intention," the family's statement said. "We have our strong religious convictions and set of beliefs and we believe that, in this country, a parent has the right to make decisions concerning the existence of their child: not a doctor who looks only at lines on a paper, or reads the cold black and white words on a law that says 'brain dead' and definitely not a doctor who runs the facility that caused the brain death in the first place."

Singer, the hospital spokesman, described the situation Monday as tragic "by every measure of the word."

"There has been some limited conversation between the hospital's attorney and the family's attorney, but that's a privileged communication and I have no update on behalf of the hospital at this moment," he said, "other than to say our hearts, our sympathy, go out to this family and the young woman's body on the respirator at this hospital."

When routine surgeries go wrong

CNN's Mayra Cuevas, Cristy Lenz, Janet DiGiacomo, Elizabeth Landau, Dana Ford, Dan Simon, Michael Martinez and Carma Hassan contributed to this report.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Girls Basketball: Old Mill hangs on for fourth straight win

<old navy locationsp>Posted:

Posted in High school sports, Game story, High school on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 8:44 pm.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading CapitalGazette.com, the best source of local news in the area. If you are a print subscriber, click here to activate your online access, which is included with your subscription. If you are not a subscriber, ensure uninterrupted viewing of our award-winning local coverage by signing up today for a print or digital-only subscription. Nonsubscribers may enjoy up to 10 free stories every 30 days.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading CapitalGazette.com, the best source of local news in the area. If you are a print subscriber, click here to activate your online access, which is included with your subscription. If you are not a subscriber, ensure uninterrupted viewing of our award-winning local coverage by signing up today for a print or digital-only subscription. Nonsubscribers may enjoy up to 10 free stories every 30 days and will be asked to complete a free registration process after viewing 5 stories. Currently, you have (%remaining_sub%) stories remaining.

(%remaining%) Remaining We hope you enjoy this free story on CapitalGazette.com. If you are a print subscriber, click here to activate your online access, which is included with your subscription. If you are not a subscriber, ensure uninterrupted viewing of our award-winning local coverage by signing up today for a print or digital-only subscription. Nonsubscribers may enjoy up to 10 free stories every 30 days and will be asked to complete a free registration process after viewing 5 stories. Currently, you have (%remaining_sub%) stories remaining.

(%remaining%) Remaining We hope you enjoy this free story on CapitalGazette.com. If you are a print subscriber, click here to activate your online access, which is included with your subscription. If you are not a subscriber, ensure uninterrupted viewing of our award-winning local coverage by signing up today for a print or digital-only subscription. Nonsubscribers may enjoy up to 10 free stories every 30 days and will be asked to complete a free registration process after viewing 5 stories. Currently, you have (%remaining_reg%) stories remaining before being asked to register and (%remaining_sub%) stories remaining before being asked to subscribe.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading CapitalGazette.com. You have viewed 5 of your 10 free stories in 30 days. You must log in or register at this time to enjoy the next (%remaining_sub%) stories free of charge. If you are a print subscriber, go to www.capitalgazette.com/activate to activate your online access, which is included with your subscription. If you are not a subscriber, ensure uninterrupted viewing of our award-winning local coverage by signing up today for a print or digital-only subscription.

(%remaining%) Remaining Because you have already viewed this story, you may view it again as many times as you wish without subtracting from your remaining free story views. If you are a print subscriber, click here to activate your online access, which is included with your subscription. If you are not a subscriber, ensure uninterrupted viewing of CapitalGazette.com's award-winning local coverage by signing up today for a print or digital-only subscription.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for registering with CapitalGazette.com. If you are a print subscriber, click here to activate your online access, which is included with your subscription. If you are not a subscriber, ensure uninterrupted viewing of our award-winning local coverage by signing up today for a print or digital-only subscription. Nonsubscribers may enjoy up to 10 free stories every 30 days. Currently, you have (%remaining_sub%) stories remaining.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading CapitalGazette.com. If you are a print subscriber, click here to activate your online access, which is included with your subscription. If you are not a subscriber, ensure uninterrupted viewing of our award-winning local coverage by signing up today for a print or digital-only subscription. Nonsubscribers may enjoy up to 10 free stories every 30 days. Currently, you have (%remaining_sub%) stories remaining.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading CapitalGazette.com. If you are a print subscriber, click here to activate your online access, which is included with your subscription. If you are not a subscriber, ensure uninterrupted viewing of our award-winning local coverage by signing up today for a print or digital-only subscription. Nonsubscribers may enjoy up to 10 free stories every 30 days. Currently, you have (%remaining_sub%) stories remaining.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading CapitalGazette.com. As a nonsubscriber, this is your last free story for the current period. Click here to become a subscriber today and continue enjoying our award-winning local coverage. If you are a print subscriber, click here to activate your online access, which is included with your subscription.

(%remaining%) Remaining Thank you for reading 10 free articles on our site. You can come back at the end of your 30-day period for another 10 free articles, or you can purchase a subscription at this time and continue to enjoy valuable local news and information. If you need help, please contact our office at 410-268-5000.

Monday, December 2, 2013

DxO's distortion-correcting ViewPoint app now supports Nikon D610 DSLR, Coolpix P7800 compact

<Nikon D5300 Dealsp>by Mike Tomkins

If you're shooting with the Nikon D610 digital SLR or Coolpix P7800 premium compact, and you want to tame the distortion and perspective issues in your photos, there's good news from French software company DxO Labs. They've just updated DxO ViewPoint, their tool for correcting various common image defects, and it now supports both cameras.

DxO ViewPoint 2.1.1 is available immediately, and just like previous releases, it can function either standalone or as a plugin for Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, or Photoshop Lightroom, as well as for Apple Aperture. ViewPoint can fix barrel, pincushion, or fisheye lens distortion, volume deformation from wide-angle lenses, and complex perspective problems. It can also straighten horizons, and crop your images automatically to account for the corrections you've made.

The Nikon D610 started shipping last October in the US market. It's a lightly-upgraded variant of the D600 with improved burst shooting rate and a fix for the oil-on-sensor problem of its predecessor. In our just-posted review, we described it as a "fantastic, budget-conscious, full-frame camera that's packed with features and produces outstanding image quality". Read our Nikon D610 review if you're interested in learning more.

The Nikon P7800, meanwhile, hit stores in September 2013. The company's latest flagship, small-sensor enthusiast compact has a new electronic viewfinder, updated LCD monitor, Wi-Fi wireless networking connectivity, and a reconfigured body design. We've not yet finalized our Nikon P7800 review, but if you click the link, you'll find plenty more details and sample photos shot with the camera.

As for DxO ViewPoint 2, it too was launched last September. It's priced at around US$80 / €80 / £60. Special pricing of US$50 / €50 / £40 runs through Christmas day. All customers who've purchased the original Viewpoint since August 1st 2013 receive the current release free of charge. A one-month fully-functional trial can be found on the DxO website.


Source: Imaging-resource

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

UPDATE: Sigma has released firmware to fix compatibility problems with Nikon D5300

<Nikon D5300 Cyber Monday Dealp>You can now download firmware for a number of Sigma lenses that should correct the problems Nikon D5300 users may experience with its lenses

UPDATE 22/11/13:

Sigma has released firmware to fix the problems with the following lenses:

・35mm F1.4 DG HSM A012 NIKON
・17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM C013 NIKON
・30mm F1.4 DC HSM A013 NIKON
・18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM A013 NIKON
・120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM S013 NIKON

The update should make these lenses fully functional with the Nikon D5300. See here for more information and the download link.

ORIGINAL STORY 19/11/13:

In a statement on its website, Sigma has said that the current firmware of its Nikon-fit interchangeable lenses 'may not work properly with the Nikon D5300's OS and Live View Auto Focus functions'.

Though it hasn't released specific details, Sigma has said that the problem occurs specifically with Nikon-fit interchangable lenses that incorporate an internal motor.

Sigma will be releasing a free firmware update tomorrow (November 20) that it says should correct the problem. You can contact your nearest Sigma dealer in order to receive the update; Sigma provides a full list here.

See Sigma's website for the full statement.

--

We recently completed the What Digital Camera review of the Nikon D5300


Source: Whatdigitalcamera

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Camera Deals of the Day: Refurb Nikon D7100 $919; Refurb Nikon D3200 $349; Refurb Canon 60D $451; Canon EOS M bundle $420 and much more!

<Nikon D5300 Black Friday Dealp>by William Brawley

Oh yeah, we've got a bunch of awesome camera deals this morning! If you're looking to score some big discounts and don't mind refurbished cameras, then today's your day. We've come across some great savings on refurbished cameras from Nikon and Canon. There's also another great bundle deal on the Canon EOS M. Lastly, there are a couple deals on Canon PowerShot compact cameras. Ok, that's all folks! We'll be back tomorrow with a new selection of deals and discounts!


Source: Imaging-resource

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Round 2: Nikon Releases Another Teaser for Its Upcoming Retro Full-Frame

<Nikon D5300 Buy Cheapp>

Whether or not the camera will live up to the hype, we won't know until we've gotten our hands on it. But if there's one thing Nikon is doing right regarding the soon-to-be-released retro-styled full-frame, it's building a crap load of hype.

We've already had one teaser trailer (which you can watch here), and now, Nikon has released another, this one giving us tantalizing split-second glances of the camera that we didn't see at all in the previous ad.

Here are a couple of shots of the camera - supposedly named the "Nikon DF," not D4H as previously reported - we pulled out of the video (click the photos for higher resolution):

This obviously isn't the first teaser, and if the description is to be believed it won't be the last either. The video is described as another chapter in "a series of short movies depicting a photographer roaming through Scotland with a camera as his only companion."

It goes on to talk about a journey of self-discovery, but if we're being honest, the most compelling part of the ad (at least for most people) seems to be the slow journey of discovering the Nikon DF on the way to its rumored November 6th release. So stay tuned, chances are we'll be seeing more sneak peeks like this over the course of this week.

To see a list of rumored specs for the upcoming shooter, check out our previous coverage by clicking here. And if you want to see the first teaser, click here.

(via Nikon Rumors)


Source: Petapixel

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Nikon Coolpix S6600 review

<Nikon D5300 Discountp>What's great?
The vari-angle screen, photo filters and glamour effects make it seriously fun to use.


Gesture control doesn't work, it's a bit slow to process effects and image quality is not top priority.

The bottom line:
Not a camera for enthusiasts but as fun as your mobile and better at photography.

Nikon Coolpix S6600: Review

The concept of the selfie photograph has become so huge in today's world of social networking profiles that the word made it into the Oxford English Dictionary in August 2013. So then, it should be of little surprise that imaging company Nikon has dreamed up a compact to perfect the art of the digital self-portrait.

This is the Nikon Coolpix S6600. It's a device with a £199 price tag that buys you a 16MP image sensor and a 12x optical zoom lens. More importantly, though, its 2.7-inch LCD screen is a full, flip-out vari-angle display which you can turn all the way back on itself to the point where you can be looking straight at the lens and also at the shot that's about to be taken at exactly the same time. Throw in eight glamour retouch features and built-in Wi-Fi for photo sharing, and you've got a compact born and bred for parties and social networking. Sounds good on paper, so how does it fare in real life?

Nikon Coolpix S6600: Pocket camera

That screen aside, there's very little either noteworthy or novel about the Nikon S6600. It's small and light. It weighs just 165g and measures 97 x 57 x 27mm. So, it's something like the size of a stubby mobile phone and, just as one would hope and expect, it fits in your pocket nicely enough with the added bonus that you can turn the screen around and when you stow it so that your keys and coins won't scratch the display.

In the aesthetics department, it's certainly classy enough. The plastic finish of the front face is smooth and modern, and the back has a matte metal look. There's nothing freakish or awkward about the position of the battery, memory card slot or the basic controls on the back but it does take a little getting used to that both the scene selector and the playback mode controls are on the top of the camera next to the shutter release, power and zoom.

There's only two things that would make this compact easier to use. The first is a video record button on the top. The vari-angle screen means that you end up shooting from the hip and even lower quite a lot and the switch on the rear isn't always easy to find. The other modification is that the S6600 is screaming out to be touchscreen controlled. All the retouching functions would work fantastically well. It's just a pity that it would probably end up pricing this device out of the market if Nikon had ended up including one.

Nikon Coolpix S6600: Selfie style

The flip-out, full spinning, 2.7-inch LCD screen on the Nikon S6600 absolutely makes this camera. It's a worthy and welcome inclusion in a compact and far from typical in these kinds of models. Even at its most basic, it's superb for taking to parties or grabbing a two-shot of you and your buddy out and about wherever you are without having to ask some random to grab the pic for you. This screen means that you can compose it just the way you want and capture a moment while it's still there. Given that much of photography is about trying to do just that, it's not something that we credit lightly.

The fun begins when you decide you wish to take things a bit further. The S6600 has eight beauty effects to make any one or more of your subjects even prettier than they already are. You can whiten teeth, whiten eyes, widen eyes, remove bags, smooth skin, make cheeks rosier, brighten faces and make faces smaller too. You can take any one of these to the extreme or, more effective is just to select one or two of them at their lower settings. Ultimately, none of these will turn you into Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie but they're highly effective at removing the odd flushed face, smoothing out a bad skin day or making a 6am snap look a little less wired.

Finally, there's also a gesture control mode that Nikon has squeezed in to help out with those times when you want to prop your camera up on a wall but would rather not have to make the self-timer dash. Instead, the idea is that you raise you palm and then tell the device whether you want to take the shot or zoom in or out a bit first by moving your hand around to select some on-screen options. It's a really nice idea but sadly it doesn't work. It's quite good at sensing your palm but not much cop at any functions beyond that. It's a pity but certainly not an experience-ruiner.

Nikon Coolpix S6600: Effects and filters

Everyone loves a bit of post-production these days with preset filters all the rage over the more laborious and painstaking boredom of spending your life in Photoshop. Like all good camera manufacturers, Nikon has shown its customers that effects aren't just for mobile phones and there's a very healthy selection indeed available inside the S6600. It's all the usuals from Pop Art, Cross Process and Toy Camera all the way to colour selections, Fisheye and Miniature mode too. You can even set the camera to offer up these settings straight after you've captured each shot just like Instagram although that does slow things down a bit.

Speaking of which, that's one of the major issues we have with this compact camera. Yes, it's great to have all these fun features, filters and beautifying effects but the image processor insides isn't quite up to the task. It can do the job but it takes half a second or two too long. If only Nikon had put a more powerful computer inside to crunch those graphical numbers, then this would be a very impressive compact indeed.

Finally, there is one mode that will offer hours of fun and it's not one we've come across before. Hidden between the high and low key options is Mirror which captures a symmetrical image. You can get lost in patterns and funny faces for quite some time.

Nikon Coolpix S6600: Picture quality and video

If you're used to using a CSC, DSLR or even a high end compact camera, then the results from the S6600 are a bit disappointing. The colours are well handled and, when sharp, photos look excellent but the reality is devices like this one are more about the fun than they are about pure image quality. They're simply not built with big enough image sensors and the manual settings to ensure that your snaps are perfect every time.

Things are mostly good outdoors but, as soon as you get into artificial light situations, you really need the flash to get anything that's neither too noisy nor too blurred to use. It's also not that good at keeping up with your subject when in motion in daylight either. In the majority of the family snaps that we grabbed, the young kids tended not to come out as clean as they could, and that's pity. Our advice would be to shoot in Sports mode where possible to avoid this kind of problem rather than rely on the Smart Scene selector to do it for you. Ultimately, though, one shouldn't expect the Earth in terms of image quality from a device like this one.

That said, we would like to give a quick nod to the video at this point which was largely excellent. The sound recording is a bit tiny, naturally, but footage was always well focused and the vari-angle screen makes it really good to use.

Nikon Coolpix S6600: Wi-Fi and uploads

As with just about every camera we're seeing this year, the Nikon S6600 comes with a Wi-Fi module built in. You can't use it to hop onto your home network or any other local loop out there. It's all about broadcasting a mini-system of its own. The idea is that you can then set your tablet or smartphone to hook up with it and use the Nikon Wireless Mobility app to transfer images, take remote control pictures or add a geotag from your device's GPS.

As ever, it's a nice touch but perhaps not vital. The best uses are for sharing pictures with others while out and about as well as uploading to Facebook and Twitter. It would be nice to have the facility in the app to go straight to these social networks but that's not the case. You need to transfer the pics first and then go to your mobile or tablet's image library and take it from there. It's not super smooth but it certainly works.

Nikon Coolpix S6600: Verdict

Photography purists should stay well away from the Nikon Coolpix S6600 but then photography purists have no business in the the mid-to-low-end compact market. This is a party camera, a people's camera and a self-portrait camera and of that there should be no mistake. The image quality could be better and it really needs to process the funky effects a lot quicker but, if you're after something to take on a night out, touch up and then post to Facebook while you're still revelling, then the S6600 is a really good option.


Source: Msn

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Kodak wins in patent dispute with Ricoh, and Nikon goes after Polaroid

<Nikon D5300 Black Friday Dealp>by Tim Barribeau

The world of legal battles between camera companies is a murky one. Between technology patents, similar looking and sounding cameras, and all sorts of licensing, it can be difficult to keep track of who owns what, and who owes what to whom. But recently, a number of companies have become involved in courtroom battles for an array of technologies.

According to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Ricoh has agreed to pay Kodak $76 million in a patent battle. Kodak alleged that when Ricoh purchased Pentax in 2011, they owed back royalties since Pentax had never licensed the imaging technology from Kodak. Ricoh said there was no evidence of Pentax having violated Kodak copyright. However, it seems that now Ricoh has agreed to pay out $75.8 million over the issue. A Kodak spokesperson talked to Amateur Photographer, and said "'Kodak is gratified that both the judge and jury have validated our contract claim. These decisions certainly also demonstrate the value of the technology that Kodak created.'

While that lawsuit is ending, another is just getting under way. Remember the unexpected (and slightly bizarre) Polaroid mirrorless camera, the iM1836 manufactured by Sakar? Nikon is filing a lawsuit "for design patent and trade dress infringement". The company alleges that the Sakar/Polaroid camera for looking too similar to Nikon products. And looking at the comparison below (via Engadget), you have to admit it's a dead ringer for the Nikon J1. According to the press release, "Nikon seeks injunctive relief against Sakar in the lawsuit to prevent them from manufacturing and selling their Polaroid brand digital still camera, "Polaroid iM1836"." The iM1836 has popped up on Amazon recently, where it's being widely disparaged, despite not yet having shipped.


Source: Imaging-resource

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Nikon Unveils D5300 D-SLR With Wi-Fi

Nikon D5300 Black Friday Deal-d5300.jpg?thumb=y">

Nikon didn't wait very long to update its excellent D5200 digital SLR. That camera, announced internationally last November, didn't make its U.S. debut until CES in January, and less than a year later we have its successor.

On the exterior the new D5300 is pretty much the same as its predecessor-the only notable change is an LCD that's a bit larger (3.2 inches) and sharper (1,037k dots) than the 3-inch, 921k-dot vari-angle display found on the D5200.

Despite boasting the same 24-megapixel resolution as its predecessor, the D5300's image sensor is a different design. It's the same one that is found in the D7100. That means that it omits the optical low-pass filter (OLPF). Professional medium format digital cameras have long done away with the OLPF, which saps up a bit of detail in order to eliminate the possibility of color moire appearing in images. Over the past couple years, more and more smaller format cameras have dropped the OLPF, including Nikon's own D800E and the Pentax K-5 IIs. But the D5300 is the first camera we've seen that is squarely aimed at the consumer market to take this approach.

The EXPEED 4 image processor is also new to the D5300, replacing the EXPEED 3 chip that powered the D5200. This is the first Nikon camera with this image processor, but the company promises that it will deliver improved performance in low light and faster operation overall. The native ISO range is ISO 100 through 12800, with 25600 available as an expanded option. The metering and focus systems are the same as the D5200-that gives the camera a 2,016-pixel RGB sensor for scene recognition and 39 selectable autofocus. Like its predecessor, the D5300 is rated to shoot at 5 frames per second.

The other big internal upgrade is the addition of built-in Wi-Fi. Previously Nikon D-SLR owners had to purchase the WU-1a adapter to add wireless connectivity to their cameras. This feature is built into the D5300, so you can transfer photos wirelessly to an iOS or Android device without the need for an add-on. A GPS module is also built into the camera, so your location is added to photo metadata automatically. You'll be able to look at shots on a map when using software like iPhoto or Picasa, or sharing online via a hosting service that includes a map view, like Smugmug.

The D5300 will be available in black, red, or dark gray. It's priced at $799.95 as a body only, or $1,099.95 with an 18-140mm lens. It will be available to purchase in mid-November.

This announcement comes on the heels of news of the D610, a very minor update to the full-frame D600. It's essentially the same camera, but with an improved shutter that allows for a 6fps continuous shooting rate. Many D600 owners reported that the camera has a tendency to pick up dust on the sensor after extended use. It wasn't something we saw with our review unit, and sensor dust is a common issue with all interchangeable lens cameras, but the noise that D600 owners made indicated that it was something beyond what is normally expected.

Nikon issued a service advisory for the D600 relating to the dust issue. The company is not saying that the new shutter is there to reduce the instances of dust accumulation; rather, the official line is that it improves the burst shooting rate and also introduces a new 3fps quiet continuous mode.

The D610 comes in at a $100 less than its predecessor; it's priced at $1,999.95 as a body only, and can be purchased in a kit with the 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 lens for $2,599.95.

Rounding out the Nikon announcements is a new high-end prime lens. The AF-S Nikkor 58mm f/1.4G matches the focal length of the classic Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2, but its aperture isn't quite as ambitious. The new lens features the latest nanocrystal coatings, ED and aspherical elements, and an internal SWM focus motor. It's priced at $1,699.95 and will be available at the end of October.


Source: Pcmag

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Nikon D5300 DSLR Unveiled, 24.2MP Successor to the D5200

Posted on 18. Oct, 2013 by Steve in Digital Cameras

Nikon D5300 Buy Cheap-with-18-140mm-Nikkor-lens.jpg">Nikon has unveiled the successor to the popular Nikon D5200 digital SLR, which the company launched almost one year ago, the new model is named Nikon D5300. The new Nikon D5300 will start to ship early next month with a retail price that is just under $800 for the camera body. The D5300 and the D5200 both share a similar body design, but there are minor differences or improvements that the D5300 has to offer buyers.

The improvements list is short and consists of features that enhance the photographic abilities of the camera and a feature that brings the camera up-to-date with a new digital camera market trend.

Improvements that will help the overall performance of the new Nikon D5300 over the now-old D5200 include a newly designed and higher resolution CMOS image sensor along with a brand new image processor.

Between the Nikon D5200 and the new Nikon D5300, the 24.2 megapixel D5300 has just 0.1 megapixels more resolution than the 24.1 megapixel D5200, however the D5300′s sensor has no built-in OLPF (optical low pass filter) and Nikon say's that will help with image clarity, both the old D5200 and new D5300 use similarly sized DX-format CMOS image sensors.

Nikon D5300 digital SLR gallery:

The new image processor that you will be getting with the upcoming Nikon D5300 is Nikon's newly developed EXPEED 4 image processor. According to Nikon, the new EXPEED 4 offers fast performance while 'maximizing energy efficiency, reducing image noise and delivering true-to-life colors'. The D5200 digital SLR features the EXPEED 3 image processing engine.

After the new image sensor and processor the only other major new feature included with the new Nikon D5300 digital SLR is Wi-Fi. The camera will be shipped with Wi-Fi capabilities built-in that don't need any external accessories like the Nikon WU-1a. The built-in Wi-Fi will let you pair your D5300 to your mobile devices iOS or Android after you install the Nikon Wireless Mobile Utility free app. Also the Wi-Fi working with the cameras built-in GPS can geo-tag files all without external accessories.

However, with the Nikon Wireless Mobile Utility app you will be able to complete functions like remote shooting where you can use your mobile device as a live view enabled wireless remote for snapping photos, wireless transferring of photo and video files, manual file upload for sending files to your mobile device even when you're not paired to the device (the image just downloads later when you are paired).

After you consider all of those differences the Nikon D5300 isn't really a radically new camera compared to the out-going Nikon D5200. However nobody should have expected a totally different camera given the very short gap between the two cameras launches, the D5200 was launched November of last year.

Some big similarities include Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps, continuous Shooting up to 5 fps, expandable ISO from 100-25600, 39-Point auto-focusing system, active D-Lighting and built-in HDR, Nikon F mount support, and an at eye-level pentamirror optical viewfinder.

From an exterior design perspective you can really see the lack of a re-design in the D5300 compared to the D5200. The only difference in looks is the vari-angle LCD is now 3.2-inches with the D5300 instead of 3.1-inches. Even with the color options the new Nikon D5300 is much like the D5200, the new camera will be offered in Black, Red or Grey colors.

Camera seller B&H Photo Video is offering pre-orders for the Nikon D5300 body at $796.95 (same price for each color) and they are offering a body+14-140mm telephoto zoom lens kit (pictured first above) for $1,396.95. With this particular retailer you can expect your pre-ordered D5300 camera to ship on November 14, 2013 according to notice put on each listing.

Tags: 1080p, 3.2-inch Vari-Angle LCD, 720p hd, active D-Lighting, auto-focus system, cmos sensor, digital camera, dslr, DX-format DSLR, full hd, FullHD, gps, hd, hdmi, hdr, image stabilization system, interchangeable lens, memory card, Nikon, Nikon D5300, Nikon dslr, Nikon Expeed 4, Nikon F mount, Nikon Wireless Mobile Utility, optical low pass filter, optical viewfinder, pentamirror optical viewfinder, sd memory card, sdhc memory card, sdxc memory card, tilt LCD, Video, wi-fi


Source: Digital-cameras-planet

Monday, October 14, 2013

Two Weeks Of Government Shutdown Have Helped Erase Two Years Of Consumer Confidence Gains

<promotionalp>Gallup's latest reading of its daily economic confidence index is at -41, down 40 points from a peak of -1 reached in late May.

Half of the drop from May's peak to today's levels has happened in just the past two weeks, since the government shutdown started on October 1.

At -41, the index is at the lowest level since December 12, 2011 - almost two years ago. In other words, two weeks of government shutdown has helped erase two years of gains in consumer confidence.

Only 28% of those polled by Gallup say the economic outlook is getting better, whereas 67% say it's getting worse.

Gallup
Source: Businessinsider

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Supreme Court Has Deep Docket in Its New Term

WASHINGTON - After back-to-back terms ending in historic rulings that riveted the nation, the Supreme Court might have been expected to return to its usual diet of routine 5s iphone cases american academy for girls kuwait that rarely engage the public.

Instead, the court's new term, which starts Monday, will feature an extraordinary series of cases on consequential constitutional issues, including campaign contributions, abortion rights, affirmative action, public prayer and presidential power.

"This term is deeper in important cases than either of the prior two terms," said Irving L. Gornstein, the executive director of the Supreme Court Institute at Georgetown University.

An unusually large number of the new cases put important precedents at risk, many in areas of the law the court has been rapidly revising since the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. She was at the court's ideological center, and her moderate instincts played a crucial role in shaping the court's jurisprudence on abortion, race, religion and the role of money in politics.

Justice O'Connor was succeeded in 2006 by the more conservative Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., and the impact of that switch is likely to be felt in new cases in all four of those areas, with the court revisiting and perhaps replacing precedents from earlier courts in all of them.

In the last term, the court grappled with the nature of equality - in college admissions, in the voting booth and at the altar. The new term will include a run of cases on the structure of the political process, including ones on the balance of power between the branches of government and the role of money in politics.

One case, National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning, No. 12-1281, is a test of President Obama's ability to bypass the Senate by making recess appointments. It has partisan overtones reminiscent of the clash over the constitutionality of his health care law.

"Canning seems to me the most important case on the court's docket to date," said Gregory G. Garre, a lawyer with Latham & Watkins who served as solicitor general in the administration of President George W. Bush. "Once again, the court and the president seem destined to face off, with potentially huge stakes for both institutions."

A second case continues a signature project of the court, led by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., which has been subjecting campaign finance laws to skeptical scrutiny in a half-dozen decisions, including Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which in 2010 freed corporations and unions to spend without limit in candidate elections. The new case moves the court's focus from such independent spending to caps on direct contributions from individuals to candidates and political parties.

That case, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, No. 12-536, may imperil a foundational 1976 campaign finance precedent, Buckley v. Valeo.

The Buckley decision is not the only major precedent at risk this term. The court has been asked to overrule an unusually large number of major decisions, including ones on free speech, religious liberty and property rights.

The court has two cases concerning abortion on its docket. One of them, McCullen v. Coakley, No. 12-1168, is a challenge to a Massachusetts law that restricted protests near reproductive health care facilities. The court upheld a similar Colorado law in 2000 in Hill v. Colorado.

"This is probably the most likely precedent to be overruled," said Kannon K. Shanmugam, a lawyer with Williams & Connolly.

The second one concerns whether states may limit the use of abortion-inducing drugs. The case, Cline v. Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice, No. 12-1094, has taken a detour to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which has been asked for a clarification.

When the case returns, the Supreme Court may well modify its understanding of one of Justice O'Connor's central legacies, Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992. That decision reaffirmed the core of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion, and prohibited laws placing an "undue burden" on women's access to abortion.

It remains to be seen whether any one of the new cases captures the public imagination in the same way some of the recent blockbusters did. By comparison to the usual term, though, there will be plenty of excitement.

"We got used to 10 cups of coffee a day," said Andrew J. Pincus, a lawyer with Mayer Brown. "Now we are having only three."

There is more strong coffee coming.

The justices will soon decide whether to hear a new challenge to Mr. Obama's health care law. The cases concern the law's requirement that employers provide insurance coverage for contraception.

Some corporations object, saying the requirement violates their right to religious freedom. They cite Citizens United, which recognized corporations' free speech rights.

"The chances of the court taking this case up this term are somewhere between 99 and 100 percent," said Paul D. Clement, who served as United States solicitor general in the George W. Bush administration and represented 26 states in the last health care case.

The justices are also quite likely to agree to hear a case on whether the police may search the phones of people they arrest.

The term will get off to a fast start, with the court hearing the campaign finance case on Tuesday.

A week later, in Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, No. 12-682, the court will return to the subject of race-conscious college admissions plans. In June, it considered the question of whether the Constitution permits them at public universities and largely ducked the issue, returning the case to a lower court.

The new case flips the inquiry, now asking whether Michigan voters were entitled to ban the use of race in selecting students. A pair of Supreme Court precedents struck down similar measures on the ground that they had unfairly recast the political ground rules. Those decisions may be at risk in the new case.

In November, the justices will consider whether and when town officials may open their public meetings with prayer. The case, Town of Greece v. Galloway, No. 12-696, came from Greece, N.Y., a town near Rochester. Starting in 1999, the town board has begun its public meetings with a prayer from a "chaplain of the month." That chaplain has almost always been a Christian. Town officials said that members of all faiths, and atheists, were welcome to give the opening prayer.

Some residents have been offended by the prayers, and they said the practice violated the First Amendment's prohibition of government establishment of religion.

In 1983, in Marsh v. Chambers, the Supreme Court upheld the Nebraska Legislature's practice of opening its legislative sessions with an invocation from a paid Presbyterian minister, saying that such ceremonies were "deeply embedded in the history and tradition of this country."

This will be the ninth term for Chief Justice Roberts and the fourth featuring the court's current membership. The court is always a work in progress, of course, but the current one has matured into an assertive force at the center of American life.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy remains the court's ideological fulcrum. When the court's more conservative members capture his vote, they can take bold action, as when the court struck down part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in a 5-to-4 ruling on the next-to-last day of the term in June. A day later, when Justice Kennedy joined the court's liberals, the court struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act in another 5-to-4 decision.

The coming term may not conclude in June with quite the same fireworks as the last two. But it has the potential to reshape American politics and individual liberties in profound ways.


Source: Nytimes

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Budget battle heats up, despite pause over car chase

<plugsp>

The battle over the budget impasse got intensely personal Thursday on Capitol Hill, though a chaotic car chase which ended in gunfire temporarily sidelined the debate later in the day.

Police described the car chase as an "isolated incident." The chase started at the White House and ended near the Capitol building, putting Capitol Hill on lockdown just as debate over a pair of small spending bills was getting underway.

But by late afternoon, lawmakers returned. The tone more somber than before, they approved a bill to fund the Veterans Affairs Department, after voting to fund the National Guard and Reserve earlier in the day.

The late-day political truce is unlikely to last. House Republicans plan to push a series of mini-spending bills in the coming days, to fund everything from FEMA to intelligence officers, in a bid to pressure Democrats. And before the car chase, Democrats had been sharpening their rhetoric and applying pressure directly to House Speaker John Boehner, blaming him for the impasse and claiming he's caved to the "anarchists" in his party.

After congressional leaders tried, unsuccessfully, to talk out their differences a day earlier during a private White House meeting, lawmakers appeared to be bracing for a protracted fight. Republicans stood by demands that Democrats negotiate with them over anti-ObamaCare riders to a budget bill. Democrats stood by the position that they will not -- under any circumstances -- meet that demand.

"There will be no negotiations over this," President Obama vowed, during a rally in Rockville, Md.

But Democrats' approach took a turn Thursday, as leaders shifted from blaming Tea Party Republicans to blaming Boehner. Their argument is that Boehner could allow for the government to re-open by bringing a "clean" budget bill to the floor and letting it pass with majority Democratic support. Obama said Boehner won't do that "because he doesn't want to anger the extremists in his party."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reserved caustic words for the speaker during a briefing with reporters.

"We can't perform the most basic functions of government because (Boehner) doesn't have the courage to stand up to that small band of anarchists," Reid said.

Reid taunted Boehner during the same press conference. "Some recent stories have even suggested that the speaker is keeping the government shut down because I hurt his feelings. If that's true, I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings," Reid said.

Perhaps it was no coincidence that while Obama and Reid were implicating the speaker, the hashtag #BoehnerShutdown began trending on Twitter.

Republicans, though, have their own approach. They are casting Democrats as stubborn and uncompromising, and have proceeded to pass a series of small spending bills, effectively daring Democrats to oppose them.

"Republicans have sent bill after bill after bill to the Senate to keep the government open, and Democrats have rejected every one of them - refusing to even talk about our differences," Boehner said in a statement. "We want to resolve this dispute as soon as possible, but that will require Washington Democrats to realize neither side gets everything it wants."

House Republican Leader Eric Cantor, in a memo to Republicans, argued that Obama and Reid are to blame for the impasse.

"This shutdown is a result of President Obama and Majority Leader Reid refusing to reach across the aisle in a divided government, a problem that has sadly been a hallmark of this Administration," Cantor wrote. "One can only speculate as to why President Obama and Congressional Democrats are not only refusing to negotiate but now refusing to support or provide the American people with relief from the government shutdown. But I firmly believe their position is untenable."

But Democrats were trying to get under Boehner's skin, suggesting that he's not truly in control, but catering to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and his Tea Party allies.

"Senator Cruz is now joint speaker," Reid said. A day earlier, Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., on the floor of the House, asked whether John Boehner or Ted Cruz was speaker of the House.

Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., also went on a tirade from the floor accusing Republicans of having waged "jihad" on Americans with opposition to the health care bill.

Moments later, Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, said he was "disgusted" by Miller's comments.

Republicans, though, offered Democrats some low-hanging fruit after Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., told the Washington Examiner in an interview that: "We have to get something out of this. And I don't know what that even is."

Democrats, including Obama, ridiculed the remark. Stutzman later issued a statement saying "I carelessly misrepresented the ongoing budget debate."

"Despite my remarks it's clear that the American people want both parties to come to the table to reopen the government, tackle this nation's debt crisis, and stop ObamaCare's pain," he said.


Source: Foxnews

Virgin selling iPhone 5s, 5c at $100 discount

Buyers interested in the iPhone 5c or the iPhone 5s iphone cases otterbox pink iphone may want to give Virgin Mobile another look. As we mentioned last week, the low-cost Sprint-owned carrier is offering the new models as of Tuesday, but they're doing so at a cheaper price than you'll find elsewhere.

Virgin tends to sell phones for the full unlocked cost, but in this case it's offering $100 off that unsubsidized price. That means if you're looking for an iPhone 5s, you can pick one up for $550, $650, and $750 for 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB, respectively. An iPhone 5c, likewise, goes for $450 for 16GB and $550 for 32GB. All that on top of Virgin's generally cheaper monthly plans, which start at $35, offer unlimited data and text messaging, and do not require a contract.

Of course, Virgin is one of the smaller carriers in the U.S. and it relies on Sprint's network, which is somewhat smaller than those offered by AT&T and Verizon. It's also worth keeping in mind, however, that the Sprint version of the iPhone 5c and 5s used by Virgin are not compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon (though they do work with several smaller carriers), so your switching options are limited.


Source: Macworld

Lunatik TAKTIK cases for iPhone 5s: Extreme peace of mind

Summary: Lunatik has issued updated versions of its ultra-protective, extreme lifestyle 5s iphone cases otterbox black and gray defender interactive case cover with holster for att htc one x for the iPhone 5s.

Anyone who follows this blog knows that I am a huge fan of protective cases for mobile devices. Recently, I looked at OtterBox's latest Defender case designs for the iPhone 5s and 5c.

While I still believe that OtterBox is one of the better cases on the market, recent design changes in the product to accommodate the Touch ID sensor in the new iPhone 5s may have reduced the effectiveness of some of its protection.

So if you really want to add a little bit more fudge factor to your active lifestyle and increase your peace of mind when carrying these expensive devices, there's another solution on the market: The Lunatik TAKTIK.

Lunatik has two cases on the market to address active as well as extreme lifestyles. The TAKTIK Strike, for both iPhone 5s and iPhone 5, is a multi-layered, machine screw-sealed and thick "sarcophagus" enclosure for your mobile device.

The bezels are made out of an impact-resistant polymer, which is surrounded by a silicone, 9mm-thick impact truss, accompanied by PVD-coated steel hardware with aluminum port covers. This is a case designed to take the rigors of daily use and abuse and then some.

What I most like about the case is the tight fit from screwing the enclosure shut, as well as the high elevation of the bezel from the screen area, which is critical for protecting the screen from damage if it happens to fall flat towards the display area. At $60 for both the white or black versions, I happen to think the price is right for what you are getting, which is a lot of peace of mind for an otherwise fragile and slippery device.

Unlike the OtterBox Defender, the TAKTIK Strike does not have a permanent screen protector, but I don't think this is a major deficiency in the product's design.

For those of you with "extreme" lifestyles, there is the TAKTIK Extreme for the iPhone 5s and 5, which adds a secondary layer of Corning Gorilla Glass. This doubles the price of the case ($124) and it also, in the case of the 5s, completely covers the Touch ID sensor, leaving it usable as a home button only and thus requiring the traditional pin-code screen unlock and password entry for App Store purchases.

However, my guess is that anyone wanting to use this case on a 5s probably doesn't care about this issue.

Have you pre-ordered your TAKTIK Strike or Extreme for your iPhone 5s? Talk back and let me know.
Source: Zdnet

Otterbox releases the Defender Series case for iPhone 5s

Protection, protection is one of the greatest needs of human. Not just from the malicious intent of other people that might cause harm to them. Well, dying is the worst result without it and it's really frightening. Other than that, we need protection from natural disaster, you know, something that happen naturally like it can't be helped to be harm if you're not being careful in an accident. To put into a scenario, it's like driving a motorcycle on a rainy day and on the wet road without a helmet or a police diving into a bank robbery scene alone without a bulletproof vest, yes it's suicidal. Well, danger is only right there (please don't ask where. >.<) and all we can do is to be more careful, sharp and use materials for protection and safety assuring devices. Right, protection is something you, me, and everyone needs.

But in this world, we are not the only ones that need protection. Of course, even plants and animals need it. And on the other side, even "Things" need it. Like your beloved PC or laptops, you install an anti-virus into it in able to avoid the incoming information with harmful data in your computer. That is to avoid harming the system or the parts of your CPU, or corruption of files and many other annoying results that a virus can bring to your life.

Now, let me tell you the main story of this article. You probably know it already by now. Yes, I want to tell you guys that even your precious iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c is still in danger. Talking about inevitability, we can't help sometimes to experience that, "whoops!" and then found your iPhone 5s lying on the floor, with a crack on its screen then you give the final roar, "OMG !!!" Yes, that's how it is.

OtterBox

So let me introduce you the Otterbox, a company with the innovation of protective solution for the leading global handheld manufacturers, wireless carriers and distributors, they've got technology covered! Yes, they also produce a tough case to provide protection from any accident that might face by your precious smartphones. OtterBox is also known for its 5s iphone cases otterbox camo quilt with the capability of handling rugged conditions, protecting iPhone owners from drops with three layers of material. It's a huge case, but many swear to it.

Defender Series

They already release the Defender Series for iPhone 5s days after the Apple released their latest mobile to the public. This three layers in Defender Series can be found on its screen protectors, carbonate inner layer, and a silicone outer layer that handles the protection you need. Other than this Defender series are Commuter series, Reflexive series and Prefix Series for iPhone 5s.

Commuter Series

As the Defender series has three layers. The Commuter Series possess with only two layers, they made it for user who needs protection but they don't like the size of the natural case so OtterBox deduct one layer to make its physical appearance smaller than a three layer.

Reflexive Series

It is the lightest case among the four cases released by OtterBox.

Prefix Series

Prefix series is like what they had done to commuter series. This series offer only one layer for protection.

And this is the OtterBox. It provides protection for your smartphones. I hope you discover a new way to protect your devices. As for others who know it already. Thumbs up for OtterBox.


Source: Thebitbag

Sunday, September 29, 2013

13 Ways to Make a Halloween Countdown

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. We get to celebrate and decorate for the entire month with Halloween landing on the 31st! That's 31 days of witches, bats, and ghosts, oh my!

With so many great ways to how to make halloween props a fright all throughout the month of October, what fun it would be to make a Halloween countdown? I've found 13 fantastically frightful ways to count down, making for a spooktacular Halloween!

Disney Online Mom & Family Portfolio

The Walt Disney Company supports Babble as a platform dedicated to honest, engaged, informed, intelligent and open conversation about parenting. However, the opinions expressed on this site are those of individual parents/writers and do not reflect the views of Disney. In addition, content provided on this site is for entertainment or informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or safety advice.


Source: Babble

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Journées du patrimoine : 30e édition ce week-end

Quelque 12 millions de visiteurs sont attendus pour ce grand rendez-vous de septembre lors duquel 16.000 monuments et sites publics ou privés sont à découvrir en métropole et Outre-mer. Pas moins de 22.000 animations sont proposées pour attiser l'appétit déjà grand des Français pour le patrimoine.


En choisissant pour thème "1913-2013: cent ans de protection", la nouvelle édition des Journées du patrimoine rend hommage à la loi du 31 décembre 1913, pilier de la protection des monuments historiques en France. Grâce à elle, la France compte plus de 43.000 immeubles protégés au titre des monuments historiques, dont 14.000 classés et 29.000 inscrits. Quelque 260.000 objets sont également classés ou inscrits.

La Mairie de Paris présente ses richesses et les artisans qui les protègent...


Des manuscrits de Proust et Dreyfus
Samedi matin, la ministre de la Culture Aurélie Filippetti a donné le coup d'envoi de ces Journées du patrimoine, en accueillant rue de Valois les visiteurs. Dans les salons du ministère, le public doit découvrir le manuscrit de "Du côté de chez Swann", que Marcel Proust a publié à compte d'auteur il y a cent ans, faute d'avoir trouvé un éditeur (prêt de la Bibliothèque nationale de France). Il pourra aussi se pencher sur le manuscrit des "Souvenirs" d'Alfred Dreyfus, dont le petit-fils du Capitaine a fait don à la BnF en juillet.

Le succès garanti des hauts lieux de pouvoir
Comme tous les ans, l'Elysée, Matignon, l'Assemblée nationale et le Sénat attirent les foules, et ce, malgré la pluie ! À l'Elysée, le public peut voir pour la première fois une trentaine de présents offerts au président de la République par des chefs d'Etat étrangers. Les visiteurs pourront également approcher du collier de Grand-maître de la Légion d'honneur, prêté par la Grande Chancellerie. Une Berliet C2 et une Rochet-Schneider type 9000 Torpedo, très proches des véhicules utilisés par le Président Poincaré en 1913 seront montrées, tout comme une Citroën DS 5 hybride utilisée lors de l'investiture du Président François Hollande.


François Hollande salue des visiteurs au palais de l'Élysée, lors des Journées du patrimoine (14 septembre 2013)


François Hollande à la rencontre des visiteurs de l'Élysée
Samedi matin, le chef de l'Etat est venu saluer les visiteurs de la présidence avec sa compagne Valérie Trierweiler. "La moindre des choses, c'est de venir à la rencontre de celles et ceux qui ont mis trois heures, parfois davantage, pour visiter, avec une météo qui n'est pas la meilleure", a-t-il confié sur BFMTV.

Versailles ouvre certaines galeries pour l'occasion
Le château de Versailles ouvre exceptionnellement au public l'intégralité des galeries historiques de l'Aile du Midi, en visite libre. Ces salles ne sont accessibles que rarement, avec des conférenciers. De l'escalier de Provence à l'Attique, en passant par la galerie des Batailles et les salles Empire, le public pourra défiler devant les oeuvres rassemblées par Napoléon et Louis-Philippe et qui racontent l'histoire de France.

À l'occasion de ces Journées, le Premier ministre Jean-Marc Ayrault a souhaité qu'une très belle lanterne de 1784 installée dans l'escalier d'honneur de l'Hôtel de Matignon depuis 1935 rejoigne le château de Versailles pour être vue du plus grand nombre. Réalisée pour le cabinet intérieur de Louis XVI à Compiègne, cette lanterne de provenance royale sera accrochée dans les appartements de Mesdames, filles de Louis XV, au rez-de-chaussée du château de Versailles. En échange, une lanterne d'époque Empire du Château de Versailles éclaire désormais l'escalier d'honneur de l'Hôtel de Matignon.

Tunnel sous la Manche : plus de 1.100 inscrits
Plus de 1.100 personnes se sont inscrites pour arpenter le tunnel sous la Manche ce week-end, avec pour la première fois un accès au tunnel de service et aux installations britanniques, a indiqué la société Eurotunnel. Le tunnel de service, qui passe entre les deux tunnels ferroviaires avec des entrées tous les 375 mètres, sert en temps normal à la maintenance et aux équipes de sécurité pour patrouiller.

Toutes les visites guidées, effectuées à bord d'autocars et présentées par des employés d'Eurotunnel, étaient pleines samedi côté français. Les visites au départ côté anglais sont programmées dimanche. Cette voie ferroviaire voit passer près de 400 trains par jour, qui relie Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais) à Folkestone (Kent) en 35 minutes. Le nombre de visites est en hausse, s'est réjoui le gestionnaire. L'an passé, environ 700 personnes avaient fait le déplacement.


Visiteurs dans le tunnel sous la Manche (14 septembre 2013)


Ailleurs dans les régions...
De nombreux lieux ayant échappé de peu à la destruction grâce à un classement sont à découvrir dans toute la France. À Roubaix, la Villa Cavrois réalisée en 1932 par l'architecte Robert Mallet-Stevens et rachetée en 2001 par l'Etat est ouverte exceptionnellement (jusqu'au 29 septembre). Elle est actuellement fermée pour restauration.

À Lyon, la prison Montluc, ancien lieu de tortures et d'exécutions durant l'Occupation allemande, où fut détenu Jean Moulin, ouvre pour la première fois ses caves - deux cellules de 8 m2 éclairées par un soupirail. C'est là qu'étaient incarcérés le temps d'une nuit des prisonniers que les gardiens voulaient isoler à leur arrivée ou après les épreuves des interrogatoires. Plusieurs rescapés, dont la résistante Hélène Berthaud, membre du mouvement Combat, torturée et condamnée à mort avant d'être sauvée à la Libération, doivent témoigner durant le week-end.

L'ancien camp de concentration du Struthof (Bas-Rhin), en cours de restauration, ouvre exceptionnellement les vestiaires où les déportés devaient se déshabiller, ainsi qu'une partie de la sinistre baraque crématoire.

À Bordeaux, au lieu de marcher, on peut traverser la ville à bord de véhicules anciens, à raison de 35 euros par véhicule. Un circuit est également proposé dimanche à bord d'un autobus datant de 1935.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence présente son patrimoine


À Nancy, la banque CIC-Est ouvre sa salle des coffres à la visite guidée... Gare aux braqueurs en herbe...

À Labry (Meurthe-et-Moselle), des passionnés de la Grande Guerre ont reconstitué un bivouac de poilus, tandis qu'au château de Pange, près de Metz, les visiteurs sont accueillis par des acteurs en costume de l'époque napoléonienne...

Par ailleurs, toute une série de sémaphores sont ouverts, dont celui de Ploumanac'h (Côte-d'Armor) sur la côte de granit rose, ou encore celui du Rosédo à Bréhat, haut de 32 mètres, dans le même département.

Quant au MuCem (Musée des civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée), à Marseille, il prévoit d'accueillir ce week-end son millionième visiteur sur son vaste site. Une réussite pour ce musée qui a été inauguré le 4 juin par François Hollande, il y a un peu plus de trois mois.

Les villes de France et d'outre mer s'essayent au "teaser" pour présenter leur patrimoine : ici, Saint-Denis de la Réunion


Source: Francetvinfo

Monday, September 23, 2013

SHRIBMAN OPINION | Cold Weather Coming

And yet in a political system designed to be forever new -- the regular rotation of House members in biennial elections, the immutable four-year rhythms of a presidential term -- there is something new but deeply unsettling about the capital as summer melts into autumn this month. It is as if the center of gravity of the political system has shifted, or as if a system of exquisite balance has been disrupted.

It isn't any one thing but an accumulation of factors that have contributed to the word that dare not speak its name -- the word (malaise) that Jimmy Carter never actually uttered in a 1979 speech remembered in presidential infamy.

In its modern incarnation it has robbed Barack Obama's second term of its new-car smell, added a dreary sense of deja vu to the looming budget showdown, stolen away in the night with America's reputation as the indispensable nation and transformed the last remaining shreds of contemplation into mere contention. Here are some of the symptoms:

-- The president has lost his gyroscope.

Even in the most discouraging moments of his first term, President Obama knew where he was going and had a sure notion of how to get there. No more, and the Syria episode, now being celebrated by some as an example of the president's shrewdness (the end of Syrian chemical weapons without the start of American bombing!), is the principal example. The president's moral outrage was appropriate after last month's gas attacks, and the nation shared his sense of shock even as Americans were not in awe of his response, which was changeable if not inscrutable.

Still unanswered: the real timetable for the elimination of Syria's chemical weapons, the real motive of Vladimir Putin and the resolution of Obama's vow that Bashar Assad should pay a price for his actions.

-- The country has lost, at least in the short term, its pre-eminence in world diplomacy.

For two generations, the American narrative -- this was decidedly not the Soviet narrative, nor, after 1989, the Russian narrative -- was that the United States continually had to respond to Moscow's nefarious gambits: 1956 in Hungary, 1968 in Czechoslovakia, 1980 in Afghanistan, along with shady episodes of agitation in Nicaragua and Africa and support for rebellions in Korea and Vietnam.

In all those situations, at least in their renderings in the West, Moscow wore the black hat or hid one in the top drawer or back closet. Now, Putin, no exemplar of democratic values, has upended the narrative. He's taken the initiative in Syria, and in the United Nations, too, and he's the one wearing the white hat. "The greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker," the president whose style most resembles Putin's, Richard M. Nixon, said in his 1969 inaugural address. Putin is luxuriating in that title.

-- The president has lost his influence on Capitol Hill.

Obama plainly could not carry his own party on Syria, which is one reason reasonable people might wonder why he decided in the first place -- no, it was actually the second place -- to kick the Syria can up to Capitol Hill. In doing so he only increased the specific gravity of an extremely unlikely coalition of liberals and libertarian conservatives that was drawn together by concerns over the growth of government surveillance and now comprises an unwieldy peacenik-isolationist caucus that could be dangerous to Obama in the coming years.

Not that the president has the customary prerogatives granted to chief executives, such as the benefit of the doubt among members of his own party on important appointments. Only a day before Lawrence H. Summers withdrew from consideration as chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank, three members of the Senate Banking Committee, including a reliable ally, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, indicated they would not back the president's choice.

-- The president has little reason for hope for the way forward.

New tax, spending and debt-ceiling confrontations are just around a dangerous corner. The president has to be admired for his patience, commitment and resilience as he bounces from one economic crisis to another, but there is little hope he will get his way, or even get a reprieve from House Republicans, who are not inclined or motivated to compromise with him.

Instead, these House Republicans took heart from last week's Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll underlining the deep skepticism Americans still feel about the health care law that has become known as Obamacare. (Ronald Reagan once marveled that the opponents who described his economic policies as Reaganomics abandoned the name once it seemed his policies were working. Obama no doubt harbors the same hope.)

That opinion poll showed that less than a third of Americans thought the measure was a good idea, as opposed to 44 percent who condemned it. This was accompanied by poll findings showing that two-thirds of those polled acknowledged they didn't understand the law very well or only partially -- not a good sign for the president nor testimony to his marketing acumen.

The House Republicans no doubt will vote to repeal Obamacare a few dozen more times, a meaningless gesture except that it reinforces their determination to frustrate the president. Until the Summers withdrawal, the president was pinning his hopes on gaining GOP support for his Fed choice in the Senate (which, unlike the House, has confirmation powers). The president cannot count on Republican support for anything in the House.

The result is a season of frustration for Obama and few prospects for improvements in the political atmosphere for the remainder of the year. Then comes winter. All signs point to a cold one.

Copyright 2013 WDRB News. All rights reserved.

Source: Wdrb

Sunday, September 22, 2013

If it's Friday then it must be time for Distribution Watch, our weekly wrap of distribution-related news and information. This week we're training our eyes on D&H Distributing, Ingram Micro (IM) and Avnet (AVT), so don't blink or you'll miss out.

D&H Distributing: Secure broadband networking, Internet access, connected home and routing products from zyxel.com/us/en/homepage.shtml">ZyXEL Communications are now being offered by D&H in Canada and the United States.

D&H will focus on ZyXEL's broad line of business class offerings, including firewalls, switches and business-class Access Points. ZyXEL's carrier-grade Ethernet switches include managed, smart web-managed and unmanaged Fast, Gigabit and 10G switches.

D&H also will distribute ZyXEL's enterprise wireless devices including indoor and outdoor access points, WLAN controllers and Wi-Fi hotspots, as well as ZyXEL's network security products including high-throughput firewall appliances and award-winning Unified Threat Management devices.

Ingram Micro: The distribution behemoth announced the addition of several new vendors to Promark's General Services Administration (GSA) schedule including Panasonic, Falconstor, Jabra and Whiptail.

The recent GSA schedule additions focus on in-demand technology categories such as communications, data protection, networking, ruggedized computing, storage and virtualization. Earlier this year, Ingram Micro announced Cisco Systems' portfolio of channel-friendly technology products and solutions were now featured as part of Promark's GSA schedule.

Ingram Micro acquired Promark, a value-added distributor with a core technology focus on data storage, data management and electronic document imaging products and services, in 2012.

Avnet: The distributor's Avnet Technology Solutions division has received the Polycom RealPresence Services Specialization (RPSS) designation and will now offer technical assistance center services including Level 1 and Level 2 support from Avnet's Polycom Video Conferencing Engineers (PCVE) certified technicians. These experts can assist with technical support and failure determination, and will be able to access a working lab to help with issues resolution.

The technical assistance center services are available to channel partners in the United States and Canada through Avnet Services. Avnet's RPSS designation will enable partners to provide value-added technical assistance center services for their unified communications customers without needing to develop these capabilities in house.

And so ends another edition of Distribution Watch. But never fear, we'll be back next week with more distribution-related news. Until then, stay safe.


Source: Thevarguy

We all like to live in the here and now. What is here and definitely now is patriots/">New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman. He is coming off a very nice game against the Buffalo Bills: seven receptions, 79 yards and two touchdowns. Despite those numbers, it is not smart to think Edelman can continue to produce like this.

First off, Julian Edelman was a quarterback at Kent State University. Bill Belichick drafted Edelman because he saw the potential for Edelman to become a slot receiver in the . So Edelman has always been in transition from QB to wide receiver, which has shown from time to time.

Edelman's best production has come as a punt returner. He has returned three punts for touchdowns, and is a consistent return threat. His game was at its best when he was a young backup to veteran slot receiver Wes Welker. That way, the pressure wasn't on Edelman to produce on offense.

Speaking of production on offense, Edelman hasn't had much of it. His best season was his rookie year, in which Edelman caught 37 passes for 359 yards and one touchdown. That was when Wes Welker missed a couple of games due to injury. Even then, Edelman was not able to make Patriots fans forget about Welker (though that is hard to do).

Edelman could not even make Belichick forget about wide receiver Deion Branch. After wide receiver Randy Moss was traded in 2010, Branch came back and immediately started opposite of Welker. For a season-and-a-half, Edelman was unable to wrench the No. 2 receiver job away from Branch. That isn't good considering that Branch was old and on the decline.

There was even a brief period in 2012 where Edelman was playing ahead of Welker. For some reason, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels thought that Edelman would be an upgrade over Welker. That clearly was not the case, and McDaniels soon promoted Welker back into the starting lineup.

So Edelman has had several opportunities to secure a starting wide receiver spot, and he has failed. He has proven time and again that he should be a backup slot receiver that should only play if the starting slot receiver is injured. That is the case for now, as Danny Amendola is nursing a groin injury. But once Amendola gets healthy, he should regain his job, pushing Edelman to fourth or fifth on the depth chart.

Philip Alexander is a New England Patriots writer for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @steely0906, "like" him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. Related: Julian Edelman Looks To Breakout in Amendola's Absence

Source: Rantsports

Nobody is really expecting to be the next Oprah Winfrey because that's not going to happen, not even for Ms. Winfrey. But this fall, new aspirants are jostling for a perch on daytime television, and they seek a talk show less to cap a career than to expand their marketing horizons.

Like a cookbook, a perfume or a clothing label, the daily talk show has become the latest form of brand extension: product placement of the persona.

"The Queen Latifah Show" made its debut on Monday. bethenny Frankel, an alumna of "The Real Housewives of New York City," made her debut on Sept 9. Kris Jenner, mother of the Kardashian brood, ended a trial run last month.

New faces are popping up on even the oldest shows. "Today" introduced Carson Daly as a co-host on Monday, though he was partially eclipsed by the show's new blindingly bright orange set. Jenny McCarthy, an actress and former Playboy model who is better known these days as a champion of controversial alternative medical treatments, has joined "The View" as a host.

At the start-up end of the spectrum, Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain, began an on-the-road talk show on Saturday, called "Raising McCain," on Pivot, a new cable channel.

Back in the days of Mike Douglas, Dinah Shore and Phil Donahue, a talk show was a goal in itself, either as a second act for older stars or as the apex to years of climbing the show business ladder. Now it's added currency in the 24-hour-a-day business of being famous.

The field is crowded. Some of the most seasoned and popular television personalities - Anderson Cooper, Jeff Probst and Ricki Lake - recently tried to host their own talk shows and flopped. Katie Couric's show has held on, but the ratings are weaker than expected. At the moment, "Ellen" and "Dr. Phil" still lead the pack, but newer faces, including Wendy Williams and Steve Harvey, are holding their own. Like buying a lottery ticket, producing a talk show doesn't cost much, and somewhere, sometime, someone is going to win big.

What's striking about the newcomers is that their celebrity rests as much on commercial savvy as on conventional artistic talent. Even Queen Latifah, an accomplished movie actress and singer, has her own one-woman enterprise, with a line of CoverGirl cosmetics and two perfumes (Queen and Queen of Hearts). She is the star of an ad for Zyrtec, the allergy medication. She has also, despite the apparent contradiction, been a spokeswoman for both Pizza Hut and Jenny Craig.

For her debut, Queen Latifah chose to go old school. She asked one of Ms. Winfrey's favorite guests, John Travolta, to help kick off her talk show, and brought in Will Smith, an executive producer of her show, on Tuesday. Like Ms. Winfrey, she mingled celebrities and inspirational segments about deserving unknowns: she made over a classroom for a high school music teacher and his students, and helped war widows experience adventure travel. Tuesday's show was more animated than the premiere, but still surprisingly sluggish. The more dynamic moments were glossy CoverGirl ads that star the host and punctuate the show.

Ms. Frankel doesn't sing, dance or act, but she has parlayed her popularity on reality shows into an emporium of Skinnygirl products, from best-selling diet and advice books to her own Skinnygirl label of low-calorie wines, spirits and cocktails, which was bought by Beam, the company better known for bourbon.

Alternately brash, tearful, empathetic, zany, bossy and boastful, Ms. Frankel is a multipolar television personality. " Bethenny " is a dizzying carnival of girl-power news you can use and too much information, including where and how much Ms. Frankel waxes: she makes "Ellen" look like the "PBS NewsHour."

And Ms. Frankel seems to view her latest venture as a commitment she makes time for, not the pinnacle of her career. She said last week that she took a moment before each show to regroup, because, "I really want to be here for you, I want it to be kind of an hour that we just spend together, and I am focused and I am not thinking about anything else."

Ms. Jenner's trial run is over, and it seems unlikely that her show, " Kris," will be picked up. It turns out that without her boisterous Kardashian daughters, Ms. Jenner is poised, pleasant and about as exciting as a Sunday afternoon nap. Even an interview with her daughter Kim's famous boyfriend, Kanye West, couldn't liven up the show. The Kardashian brand may be golden on the E! channel, but it's a package deal.

"Brand" is an overused word, but it is so imprinted on the ethos of entertainment that those who have one no longer distinguish between a private label and a personal identity. When Mr. West made his star turn on "Kris," he didn't say that he and his girlfriend were from different worlds; he told Ms. Jenner that they are different "brands." He also said that he benefited from Kim Kardashian's lifestyle and personality, or, as he put it, "That's what I love about her brand."

Mr. West, like Mr. Darcy before him, was perhaps a little too candid about the downside of brand mixing, noting that love made him overlook warnings that dating Ms. Kardashian would damage his "credibility as an artist and a designer." Her mother didn't flinch, possibly because Mr. West publicly unveiled the first baby pictures of her granddaughter, North West, on her show.

Ms. McCain, a blogger who comes across as a Republican Party party animal, has an MTV-like show on Pivot, a channel with its own contradictions: it caters to younger viewers, the ones who don't watch conventional television. Ms. McCain poses as a bubbleheaded kook in grunge clothing who examines serious issues in a Holly Golightly manner. Her producers and film crew are all part of her on-camera inner circle, "TMZ"-style.

To her credit, Ms. McCain explores subjects like feminism and Internet privacy, not fashion or fads. But the effort to be both edifying and hip is a little strained, like recipes for kids that sneak spinach into brownies.

There are no rules to determine what works as a talk show. But increasingly, a talk show is something to be worked.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: September 17, 2013

An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to the child of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. North West is a girl, not a boy.


Source: Nytimes

Clayton Kershaw struck out 10 in seven dominant innings, Yasiel Puig and A.J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night.

Kershaw (15-9) lowered his major league-leading ERA to 1.88. He leads the NL with 224 strikeouts.

Kershaw held San Diego in check on three hits after losing to the Padres in three other starts this season.

The left-hander is trying to become the first pitcher to lead the majors in ERA in three consecutive seasons since Atlanta's Greg Maddux from 1993-95.

Ellis homered in the fourth off rookie Burch Smith (1-2).

Puig then connected on a shot to center field off Tim Stauffer in the seventh that was estimated at 457 feet. Kershaw reached on a bunt single to lead off the inning.

Kershaw retired 14 of his last 15 batters. He was 0-3 with a 4.67 ERA in his first three starts against the Padres, while going 14-6 with a 1.71 ERA in his other starts.

Kershaw skipped his last scheduled start on Wednesday as the Dodgers attempt to give him rest heading into the postseason.

Relievers Ronald Belisario and Brian Wilson each pitched a perfect inning for the Dodgers.

Los Angeles played all of its starters, except shortstop Hanley Ramirez. The Dodgers held out all of their regulars in a 2-0 loss to the Padres on Friday night, one day after clinching their first division title since 2009.

Smith gave up two runs on three hits in six innings. The rookie struck out six and walked a career-high five.

NOTES: Dodgers manager Don Mattingly is resting Ramirez to help him recover from back and hamstring injuries that have plagued him throughout the season. Ramirez is expected to see limited playing time before the postseason. ... Dodgers OF Andre Ethier (sprained left ankle) missed his eighth straight game. Ethier, who took batting practice and did running drills before the game, could return when the Dodgers start a three-game series at San Francisco on Tuesday. ... Smith's third-inning single was his first major league hit. ... Dodgers RHP Zack Greinke (15-3, 2.75 ERA) will pitch at Petco Park for the first time since he sustained a broken left collarbone on April 11 during a brawl with Carlos Quentin, who was hit with a pitch and charged the mound. Quentin, who recently had knee surgery, is out of the season. ... RHP Andrew Cashner (10-8, 3.21) pitches for San Diego on Sunday.


Source: Go

Flipboard for Blackberry showed up on Blackberry Appworld earlier this month. The application was later pulled off from Blackberry World saying that it will be released soon for devices running BB OS 10. The application is live again in Blackberry Appworld, but there is a catch; the application requires BB OS 10.2 or higher. In short, it only works with Blackberry Z30.

The system requirements section of the application clearly states that it requires BB OS 10.2 or higher, which means that you must own a Blackberry Z30 that was announced earlier this week. Oh! Wait, the device is expected to launch next week in UK and Middle East. Currently, the handset is up for pre-orders of Selfridges and Carphone Warehouse in the UK with an expected shipment date of end-September. This means that there is hardly any user who owns a Z30 at this point.

Currently, there are only four BB10 devices including Z30, Z10, Q10 and Q5. Out of these four, three are running operating system lower than BB OS 10.2; however, all these devices are expected to get Blackberry 10.2 update by mid-October. It could be delayed due to carrier testing so you should expect the update to hit your device sometime in November, or maybe earlier if you're lucky.

Source: Flipboard for Blackberry, Crackberry


Source: Geeky-gadgets

Saturday, September 21, 2013

The full list of fixes and additions has been revealed for the TU13 patch of minecraft-xbox-360-edition-tu13-patch-list-of-fixes-and-additions-revealed">"Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition." According to a message from the official Twitter page of 4J Studios on Sept. 20, the development of the latest title update is now finished. As a result, the TU13 patch has been passed on to Microsoft for certification testing.

To commemorate the completion of the title update, 4J Studios released a big list of fixes and additions for the newest version of " Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition." The TU13 patch mainly focuses on fixing several issues with the Xbox 360 port although some new contents were also introduced.

Some of the fixes involve a few of the items that were added to "Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition" with the TU12 patch: Ocelot, Iron Golem, Jungle biome in addition to the mash-up pack support. Several of the new additions include the ability to hide the aforementioned mash-up pack from the save list, adding real currency value to the digital store and more.

You can check out some screenshots of the open-world sandbox video game running on Microsoft's current-generation console in the slideshow near the top of this article and the full list of the TU13 change log below (courtesy of the Minecraft Forum):

  • Fix to generate Experience Orbs when breeding animals.
  • Fix for Zombie AI when in a house with the door closed.
  • Fix for Ocelot and Chicken AI problem causing heads to spin around.
  • Fix for Ocelot tooltips not properly showing the actions available.
  • Added sounds for hitting Ocelots.
  • Fix for graphical glitch with Fences.
  • Fix for graphical issue with upside down Pistons.
  • Fixed water in a Cauldron to be still, not flowing.
  • Fixed world generation problems with some seeds (e.g 'journey').
  • Added message saying you can't spawn enemies in Peaceful mode.
  • Raw Fish is no longer removed from the player's inventory when trying to tame an Ocelot in Creative mode.
  • Water will no longer be removed from a Water Bucket when filling a Cauldron in Creative Mode.
  • Fix for missing text in the message when a player is killed by an Iron Golem.
  • Fix for player shadow being displayed in the Inventory menu.
  • Fixed some lighting issues.
  • Fixed an issue with light and fire remaining after a lightning strike.
  • Made Jungle Wood Stairs flammable.
  • Fixed Silk Touch not working on Glass Blocks.
  • Fix for underwater filter when camera collides with blocks.
  • Added an option to hide a Mash-up Pack Themed World in the saves list, and an option to unhide all in the Settings menu.
  • Increased Minecart speed to double the normal speed.
  • Fixed some Redstone Lamp issues.
  • Chests won't open now if a Cat is sitting on them.
  • Added a limit to the number of Villagers spawned by breeding.
  • Added the hearts display when Villagers enter 'Love Mode'.
  • Fixed a problem with the rain sound not playing in some biomes.
  • Fix for re-appearing ores, lava and water after mining, if they are within five blocks from the world edge.
  • Fixed spawn positions in a saved Mash-up Pack world.
  • Fixed issue with a map placed in an item frame revealing the position of all players despite 'In-Game Gamertags' having been disabled.
  • Minecraft Store now displays the prices in the local currency, rather than Microsoft Points.

The TU13 patch of "Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition" will be released if it can manage to pass the certification process at Microsoft.


Source: Examiner