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Catalyst 5.7 Drivers: Memory Limited Performance Improvementsby Josh Venning on 8/13/2005 12:05 AM EST
- Posted in
- GPUs
23 Comments
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nserra - Tuesday, August 16, 2005 - linkWhy no one see if Ati claims are true?
Well Why not test with the 6X AA....
Maybe enabling AF will not make the same difference as not enabling it....
Also I don't understand the deal with always 4X AA.
I play almost all games with no AA, or 2X AA with Temporal AA enabled and 4X AF or 8X. Some times I lower Mipmap Detail Level option to Quality because almost all games give 0% image quality difference. I do that with DOOM3 and got almost 5% performance increase. Reply
Jeff7181 - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link... memory optimizations help most when the memory is the limit. Nice to get some free performance... too bad you have to have a crappy card with crappy frame rates to begin with in order to see that free performance. Reply
Rand - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkIt would have been nice had you tested how this impacted AGP and PCI-E graphics cards respectively, you commented that it should of course provide a greater benefit over PCI-E.
Assuming you don't have any motherboards natively supporting PCI-E and AGP (Not the neutered AGP over PCI) you could have used an nForce 3 and nForce 4 board, given they perform quite similarly.
Any chance of doing any such tests?
On another note- what system did you test the cards on anyway?
I don't believe you made any mention of the system configuration, it's always beneficial to know the system specifications. Reply
OvErHeAtInG - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkI did some extensive comparison benching with HL2 with 5.6 and 5.7 drivers. I run a 128MB 9800 Pro, 430/370, on a 4x AGP mobo, P4 2.85, 1GB DDR400 SC.
I can second what they said about the 9700 Pro, as I had similar results. I play HL2 at 1280x1024, no AA. The only performance increases (as ATI specifies) come at that res and above WITH AA/AF enabled - which you do NOT play at with a 9800 pro.
So, in other words, certain res/settings go from "unplayable" to "almost playable." Which is VERY impressive, but useless. I did see a 35-82% increase in frames (much larger than what AT got):
HardwareOC Coast at 12x10, 4x8x:
Catalyst 5.6: 36.3 fps
Catalyst 5.7: 52.1 fps
HardwareOC d13c17 at 12x10, 4x8x:
Catalyst 5.6: 20.8 fps
Catalyst 5.7: 37.9 fps
At playable settings, we get a SLIGHT decrease in performance:
Guru3d Demo4 12x10 noAAnoAF
Catalyst 5.6: 103.3 fps
Catalyst 5.7: 100.3 fps Reply
Shadowmage - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - linkOf course, this depends on what you call "playable" and "unplayable".
For me, anything above 40fps is considered extremely playable. Reply
OvErHeAtInG - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - linkYes... if it stays above 40 fps :p Reply
JarredWalton - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkStrange... I took almost no performance hit when enabling 4xAF on my old 9800Pro with HL2. (I don't have it anymore, sorry - no new benches.) Going from 1024x768 to 4xAA brought less than a 5% decrease in FPS, while 1280x1024 was about a 30% performance decrease. Enabling 4xAA at 1280x1024 was another 5 to 10% loss. Of course, that was last year with 4.10 or so Cats, so I don't know what happened in the intervening time. Reply
OvErHeAtInG - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - link4xAF only? Never tried it. Probably keeps it playable.
I was using the HardwareOC benches at the time which seem to get held back by my CPU (which is weird), that's why I was running 12x10 4x8x to stress the card.
At 10x7, one can run AA AF on this card, but not 12x10... if it's still smooth enough for you, different strokes different folks Reply
pxc - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkPerformance went up on my XPRESS 200M 128MB w/HM laptop when I disabled the HyperMemory in the registry. :p I got rid of it before Cat 5.7 came out, so maybe the HM performance problems were fixed. Reply
AlexWade - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkATI has had final 64-bit drivers for a while. Is it possible to benchmark those compared to the same 32-bit? Reply
xtknight - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkNo. Reply
bupkus - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkWhere can I download the 5.6?
I have a new ATI X800np w/ 256MB and I downloaded and installed this last Tuesday. I notice a small drop in 3DMarks2001 but just shrugged it off as the result of solar flares or whatever. It would be nice if ATI warehoused their older drivers and made them available. Reply
nserra - Tuesday, August 16, 2005 - linkDid you look even look?
At Ati site
Drivers and Software
+Windows XP
Previous Drivers and Software
They are all there since Catalyst 2.1 or even older. Reply
JarredWalton - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkTry http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?id=18">Guru3D - you can get practically every past driver version for ATI and NVIDIA cards there. Reply
JustAnAverageGuy - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkI'm still running the 4.6 drivers because 4.7 makes the textures in Battlefield 2 go crazy with my 9800 Pro. Reply
Gamingphreek - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkWhere in the world are they pulling these framerate increases from??
They have had 3 years to perfect these drivers, why all of a sudden are we seeing 0-10fps increases. Is ATI using shader replacement on more games? Did IQ suffer at all.
It just seems hard to believe that these drivers based on the exact same architecture since the 9700 still have gains of 10fps left in them.
-Kevin Reply
Shadowmage - Sunday, August 14, 2005 - linkDid you even READ the article? ATI implements HyperMemory on ALL cards with 128MB and less of memory.
ecvs85 - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkI have a question, since this hypermemory is a software based memory management software that makes use of the system ram, what about the AGP aperture settings in the bios? (well for agp boards)
I got 1GB of ram and when I set the AGP aperture to 256MB I don't have much issue running games that need more that 128MB of video ram (which I have 9800pro). So is the hypermemory smooths things out, having less stuttering and results in higher overall framerates? If that is the case then I don't need to upgrade to this driver :P Reply
MrSmurf - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkATI's drivers have been going downhill lately. I don't care about gaining a few fps especially when they cause more bugs than they fix.
I still use the 4.12's. Reply
ElJefe - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkdang yo'z.
i never had an issue this past year with ati's drivers.
besides my all in wonder not playing DVD correctly. no freakin idea why or how. reloaded all of it 2x and it stil doesnt work right. Cyberlink PowerDVD is what i use now, a shame though as ati's was very nice and integrated. I have a 9800 PRO AIW.
I dont knock ati, i mean, that whole intelligent CLI thing i have running actually works really well for games, i think everyone forgot about that. Works for new and old, i see lag on startup from it as it "thinks" for an older game, runs great though.
I still want to go nvidia myself for new system if I cant manage to run ATI allinwonder x800 XT on a linux system.
What's up with ati not putting out faster/better gaming Linux based drivers like nvidia does? that's a tad self defeating for such a giant in the industry.
I mean nvidia doesnt even make graphics cards! its not the big of a company! (only chips and chipsets and designs) Reply
Slaimus - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkTime to load them onto my Moblity X300 64MB Reply
GameTraveler - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkThe drivers seemed to be great! That is until I decided to do 'old school' action in Quake 3 Arena, CTF style. After a round or two, Q3a crashed to the desktop with an error in ATIOGL.DLL Go figure! ATI techsupport suggested to roll back to a previous version of the driver--I only had 5.3 at the time; but it's worked flawlessly ever since. I suppose I'll update again later, but not until the OpenGL error is fixed. Reply
Zoomer - Saturday, August 13, 2005 - linkDrop the old dll into your q3 directory and see if it helps. :) Reply


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107 Comments
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jjj - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkWay bulky and heavy at a poor pricing, they could have fitted an 8.8 inch screen in that body. Reply
sherlockwing - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkAnd lose the dual front facing speaker in the process. Reply
ams23 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkShield tablet has a weight and depth that is within 10% of the Xiaomi Mi Pad, so very reasonable. At only 5.0" wide (ie. 126mm wide) and with front-firing stereo speakers, there is no way that they could fit an 8.8" screen. And don't forget that this is one of the world's fastest Android tablets (along with the Mi Pad) with [second gen] stylus included all for $299, which is a fair price. Reply
jjj - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkSo i don't have the device to properly measure volume, there are rounded corners and don't really know how curved the back is but we can look at the dimensions comparing a very compact tablet with this one.
Shield Tablet 221 x 126 x 9.2mm 390 grams , 5197 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6 mm 294 grams , 4900mAh
So very rough volume approximation based just on dimensions so excludes any curves - if anyone has real volume numbers, i would be very curious to see them.
Sheild Tablet is 256 k cubic mm
Tab S is 176 k cubic mm
So the Shield is 45% bigger, might not look like it at first glance but it is. If that is not bulky then what is?
To make things funnier the Shield tab has a smaller screen, 8 inch vs 8.4 inch and if you look at the screen area per volume (of the device) ratio it gets even worse because the screen area is 10% bigger for the Samsung - someone will point out that it's not 10% because the diagonal is just 5 % bigger but area really is 10% bigger so in volume per screen area it gets even bulkier.
Sure Shield has a slightly bigger battery, likely more ports and likely bigger speakers but something is way off and wasting the volume budget. Reply
sherlockwing - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - linkIt is the magnesium thermal shield Nvidia put in to keep the K1 SOC cool during extended gaming sessions, that explains the massive difference in thickness. The length difference comes from the massive front facing speakers, the same reason as why the HTC One M7/M8 are longer than GS4/5 even though they have smaller screens. Reply
Krysto - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - linkTab S is the thinnest tablet there is now, even thinner and lighter than iPad Mini. You can't seriously compare this gaming tablet with Tab S. Tab S has 3x LESS GPU performance. Reply
johnhiggin - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkHow is the pricing poor? The 16gb Nexus 7 is $230 and this has better performance, a bigger screen, the hdmi out and the microsd slot so you can add 128 gig to the storage and all that for only $70 more. Looks like it is well priced for what it offers.
This seems like it'll be a great tablet. Reply
Valis - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkYeah, I agree, totally. But also the Nexus 7 is a year old, to date. Can't wait for the Shield 2 tablet or the 3, for that matter. :) Reply
Krysto - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - linkMe too, but only because I can't wait to see the combination of Denver and Maxwell at 16nm FinFET. Reply
ArthurG - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkpoor pricing ? in what world are you living ? please name me a more powerful tablet at this price. even at twice the price... Reply
jimjamjamie - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkIt's a good price for the power and features it offers and is no bulkier/heavier than a Kindle Fire HD. Reply
Morawka - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkobvious troll, move along now. Reply
Ian Cutress - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkDDR3L-1866 is very interesting indeed. I wonder what the sub-timings are. I'm hoping for something better than 11-11-11. Reply
nathanddrews - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI wonder what battery life will be like? Reply
kron123456789 - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkWell, Xiaomi MiPad can ~5 hours of gameplay with max display brightness. Shield Tablet have smaller battery, but it also have lower resolution. Reply
romrunning - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkHmm.... Shield tablet or PS4 for a little more .... hmmm....
That flip cover should have been included with the tablet. All these manufacturers are trying to eke out every little bit of money for the accessories. But when you're launching (again) a new design & interface different from your competitors, then you need to provide some value from the beginning. Charging $39 for a flip cover is not the way to do so, nor is charging the same price for your controller as a regular PS/Xbox controller. You're trying to break into the market - you're not an equal yet. Reply
ArthurG - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkhow dare you compare a living room console to a portable tablet ? apples vs oranges at the best Reply
Wolfpup - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkTotally different products. If you want an android tablet, then this is probably one of the better ones. If you want a game system, obviously the PS4 destroys this in every possible way (save for portability of course). Reply
jimjamjamie - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI can't remember seeing a screen on the PS4... Reply
mkozakewich - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkA lot of these OEMs are trying to make the hardware as cheap as possible, especially when bunches of people are complaining that $300 is expensive. The profits are all in the peripherals.
If they included the flip cover and a controller with the product, they'd probably be selling it at $400 each. Reply
Morawka - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkhmm shield tablet for $300 with games included or PS4 for $350 + $200 tv + $60 Game + $50 online card + another $30-$60 for every other game you want to play. Reply
chizow - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkLooks great, nice specs and price point but I've found myself moving away from Android/iOS devices lately. Toy mobile OSes are just too limited compared to full blown x86 Windows, but this device has a chance to do well with its gaming focus.
Mainly need to see:
1) Better game support on Android OS. More PC/console titles ported to Android will help this device bridge the gap. I imagine Nvidia will ultimately try to make this their console competitor, but it has a LONG way to go to catch up, and it will still ultimately be limited in what it can do due to hardware relative to current "next-gen" consoles. I believe Nvidia is claiming TK1 performs similarly to "last-gen" consoles (360/PS3).
2) More PC/GRID streaming options. I want to eventually be able to stream from my PC remotely anywhere that has a low-latency connection. Basically the inverse of GRID with my PC being the GRID server.
I may pick one up if they offer them in a GeForce bundle with Maxwell this fall, but overall I'm done waiting on Android to catch up with the functionality I need in small mobile devices like this, so I ended up building a i3 NUC and picked up a Surface Pro 3. They cost more than their Android/iOS counterparts, but they also offer functionality only available with Windows on x86. Reply
Valis - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkAll in all, the best and fastest tablet to date, sure there are things that could be better, but next gen. is around the corner with 64 bit Denver K1 AND next year Erista will have Denver with Maxwell GPU cores. Now THAT's something I'd like to see in a 8" tablet. Reply
rampantarmadillo - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkThis device has the best perf, and perf/$, in the market, and you're still banging on about Surface Pro..
Shill. Reply
jimjamjamie - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI think that's a blind accusation - chizow makes valid points. Reply
chizow - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkWho cares what kind of graphics/gaming performance it has when it doesn't satisfy specific functions that require an x86 ISA Windows-based platform? You don't seem to get it (like most who still haven't gotten over the whole Android/iOS novelty), for business, entertainment, productivity, and content creation you still need x86 Windows plain and simple, otherwise you are left with a hodgepodge of half-working, half-solutions spread across dozens of apps. In gaming terms, its like trying to navigate a maze of floaty platforms, some lead somewhere, most to nowhere.....half fall out from underneath your feet. Reply
savagemike - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - link"Toy OS", "Novelty"...
As MS itself recently said - the world used to be all desktop and they owned 90+% of that market. Now, taking into account all computing devices, they own 14%.
You can throw around terms like 'content creation' as you like and make vague pointless claims about somehow needing Windows for business use or 'productivity'. Sit comfortably using MS Office with the rest of the aging passengers while the band plays on and the ship sinks further and further. I'm confident the last words we hear as you gulp for air above the waves will be to chide us about not being able to do anything on these other toy and novelty OSs - which everyone else is using quite effectively now and only continue to improve. Reply
chizow - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkYes and as Microsoft also recently acknowledged, Office is their most important product and drives all of their business lines. They know what sells their OS and keeps it relevant, along with Enterprise Active Directory in the business space.
What's vague and pointless about the ability to VPN into secure networks requiring RSA or PIV authentication into a Windows AD Enterprise domain? The ability to remote into secure domain servers and perform typing-intensive work that requires a competent keyboard? The ability to quickly author and mock-up notes or presentations and distribute them quickly over a secure enterprise network? The ability to secure your data on a mobile device with integrated BitLocker? The ability to map and connect basically any peripheral, media or data source on the planet? On the entertainment side, how about being able to handle encrypted premium cablecard content? Run any specialized software that runs on Windows with seamless support. Windows does this, Android and iOS don't.
All of these things are handled seamlessly, and you still get everything iOS/Android devices provide as well, Netflix, Pandora, eBooks, banking apps, simple browser games, random apps, web browsing. Basically, random distractions. But like I said, this isn't about what Windows can do when it comes to computing because it does everything, its really about what iOS and Android CAN'T do. The sooner you come to this realization, the better, or maybe you just have simple needs that are easily satisfied. Reply
PEJUman - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI overclock my PCs, have windows based nas. I also have custom rom on my android phone & tablets. and also have to support iOS (wife's ipad and iphone). each are a tool optimized for different roles. In case you're thinking I am biased. I am a big proponent of the 'right tool for the job'
Windows 8.1 is really really trying to push me into Android and iOS, "handled seamlessly" is not an expression I would use on getting cable card equipped ethernet based silicondust tuner to work with my 5 windows 8.1 devices. I also wouldn't use that expression for on getting my work & private VPN to work without crashing (Citrix & OpenVPN). Bitlocker is so so, I prefer truecrypt for secure container. that one is seamless...
Ultimately, I finally warming up on using android for large PDFs on the fly (i.e. when I am on my feet), Office are passable, but laptop is better. Android for emails with pictures & videos are awesome (work or not.. if you get that one). It also have better (more reliable) bluetooth management, compared to windows. I use it extensively for music streams. I can access samba, VPN, file shares, dropbox/skydrive/gdrive easily. for these use, androids are on par than my 4.7GHz i7 with gigabit & 4.0 bluetooth from broadcom.
iOS is dropping off, apple is not very good at playing commodity market. I think they need to come up with groundbreaking wearables soon.
Ultimately, just want to say that android earned it's place as a handheld interface ala star-trek. it does not replace laptop. they complement each other. maybe 2-5 years from now, we'll get a unified solution... but for now, tablet/phablet & laptop is the word. Not one or the other. Reply
chizow - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkHuh? So your Android devices can handle your encrypted cablecard tuner content? Oh right, they don't handle that at all, actually one of my primary reasons I don't use Android for the only thing its really even decent at, media playback. There's an "app" that is just as I said, a half-assed solution that doesn't handle premium encrypted content, Windows is the only option. Why? Because Microsoft spent the time and resources to handle the necessary behind-the scene encryption and DRM to satisfy the CableCos. This is the same story with virtually everything Windows handles that Android doesn't.
Crashing VPN? Try using a reliable VPN client, ie. Cisco AnyConnect VPN like every enterprise I've ever worked with. Works great on any Windows-based client, flakey on Android and iOS but still better than Citrix and OpenVPN. Why? Because Windows-based clients are Cisco's bread and butter.
And TrueEncrypt is better than BitLocker? No, I can recover a BitLocker token MUCH easier than any other encryption method (online account-based via MS), especially in an enterprise environment where a BitLocker key authenticates via AD account on a separate BitLocker server.....
And how does Android handle PDFs on the fly much better when you have access to FULL Adobe Acrobat Pro on a Windows tablet with more capable hardware?
More reliable Bluetooth management? LMAO. Android isn't even compatible with most BT devices without another "app" and even then pairing BT with Android is its own adventure. Meanwhile, Windows provides its own universal BT stack that will at least recognize and pair the device as long as it is compatible with Windows.
Samba...lol you're just an endless flow of bad ideas and bad implementations aren't you? Accessing fileshares via Samba are just as slow on Android as Mac OS X. It'll be awesome when Samba one day allows you to access a secure fileshare without having to type your username and password in plaintext....Skydrive is BUILT into Windows 8 and dropbox/gdrive are certainly easier to use on Windows as well due to better access to your device's contents.
Tablet/phablet & laptop was the word last year, the new "words" are Surface Pro, 2-in-1 or even Bay Trail-based tablet because they do everything Android devices do, only better. Reply
PEJUman - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI want whatever you're smoking. seems nice... Reply
chizow - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkYeah it's called reality, maybe you should stick it in your pipe and try it sometime. Reply
rampantarmadillo - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkReality is:
#1 You're a shill. There's zero reason to bring Surface (Pro or otherwise) up in this comment thread.
#2 Microsoft's stranglehold on the industry is gone. They'll adapt or continue to lose market share. Regardless of your diatribe. Reply
chizow - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkReality is, you're ignorant. I've been hugely critical of the Surface Pro 1/2 (just read the review comments), especially on pricing, and even more critical of the RT variants as being worst than Android/iOS for the SAME reasons they all fail compared to x86 Windows alternatives.
I've also listed the very real use cases that have brought me to my conclusions. Why lug around a $300 tablet and $800 laptop when a $1000 device handles both use cases as good, or better? I think the market will continue to move in this direction, especially on the low-end where you can get cheap Atom-based alternatives with a full version of Windows (non-Pro) for the same price as Android options, and cheaper than iOS options.
The reality is, Android is still limited as a platform, sure this tablet differentiates itself with the gaming aspect, but as a pure gaming platform it has to contend with other options as well, like the next-gen consoles. Many others have come to the same conclusion if you bother to read the rest of the comments, I guess they are all console shills too huh? Reply
rampantarmadillo - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - link"sure this tablet differentiates itself with the gaming aspect, but as a pure gaming platform it has to contend with other options as well, like the next-gen consoles. Many others have come to the same conclusion if you bother to read the rest of the comments, I guess they are all console shills too huh?"
No. Their comments have relevance; this tablet aims at the gaming sector, so it's expected that folk would discuss the relative merits of consoles vs this device.
Your comments are obvious Microsoft propaganda.
Stock up on supplies, and dig in, because the future does not look good for you guys. Reply
chizow - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkHuh? And how are my comments any less relevant? If someone buys this, it will be solely for gaming because chances are they already have 2-3 Android/iOS devices that handle the non-gaming aspects just as good as this device ever will.
If someone wants more than a gaming device, there are better options. Anyone buying this expecting more is going to be disappointed, as I have been for the last 3-4 years in the evolution of Android/iOS, so if you buy this, the gaming aspect needs to justify the $400 total price tag (with accessories) putting it into direct contention with the next-gen consoles. That's a much harder sell at that point.
My comments about Windows/Surface just re-emphasize the fact these toy OSes like Android/iOS are just that, toys that are probably best-suited for gaming, just don't expect it to be a full-featured platform like a Windows x86 based tablet that can do everything. No need to get all butthurt crying about propaganda, when in reality, its the truth. Reply
rampantarmadillo - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkI've posted a couple of tiny comments, focused on your lack of objectivity.. How am I "butthurt"?
The market will decide (actually, lots of folk believe it already did). Reply
chizow - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkLack of objectivity, lmao, from someone who can't even acknowledge the very obvious shortcomings of toy OSes like Android and iOS. I simply stated this tablet, like every other Android product before it, will never be as full-featured a solution as a Windows tablet for the reasons I've outlined in more detail when challenged on it.
The market has begun to decide, based on the exact devices I was referring to:
And ads like these hitting my inbox from major etailers further illustrating the shift in consumer/retailer focus:
Full-featured Win8.1 tablets for $150-$380, who in their right mind would pick an Android device over one of these at the same price points? Sure Shield Tablet has more of a gaming focus, but you better make sure you know what you are getting and why if you pull that trigger, or you'll just end up being disappointed. Reply
rampantarmadillo - Thursday, July 24, 2014 - linkLinks to competitor devices? Seriously?
Shill. Reply
chizow - Thursday, July 24, 2014 - linklmao, keep burying head in sand, idiot. Yes competitor devices that further prove my point. Reply
betam4x - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - linkbro, while i'm not necessarily in agreement with anyone else...however you are the clueless guy. Android = Linux. Linux has a far greater hardware/software following than Windows. Just because *you* can't make it work doesn't mean it doesn't work. Just saying. Reply
lmcd - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - linkAndroid == Linux but Android !===Linux
there's a reason tons of work was needed to bring real Linux C/C++ libraries in
there's a reason there's an Android Graphics Extensions
there's a reason kernels are all custom
Linux sucks for mobile hardware, and likely will for a while. Reply
Ktracho - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI, too, bought a Surface Pro 3 for my daughter who is going to college in the fall. So how much did yours cost? How well does it do when you play your favorite games on it? Reply
chizow - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkNice! I'm sure your daughter will love it. I actually bought mine mainly for my wife who is also going back to school this fall. We originally got her an Asus T100 for the task, but it wasn't quite polished or fast enough for her to be fully satisfied with it. The stylus was the kicker in that respect, but the typepad is also better overall than the T100's mini-keyboard. OneNote and PowerPoint with the Stylus is an absolute game-changer for taking notes, I wish this tech was available when I was in school!
I actually haven't tried playing any games on it, but I've read the SP3 handles gaming decently. I'd probably only run Diablo 3 on it to 2-box since that's what I've played the most recently, and I had read the i5 HD4400 runs that with no problems at all. We paid $900 (price matched to Microsoft store) + add'l 10% back in rewards from Best Buy for the i5/128GB variant. Staples also had a 15% off tech coupon this weekend that worked on Surface Pro 3 with an additional 10% rewards from BoA. It is definitely more costly than anything in the Android space, but it also is capable of a ton more too. Very happy with the device, price point is still a bit high, but Microsoft addressed my main gripes about SPro 1/2 (battery life, thickness, screen size). Reply
nevertell - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkWell, streaming from a home pc to WAN will never be a mainstream option, as rarely anyone has a static IP, especially gamers who would actually buy a tablet like this. You could make a case for having a dyndns-like service provided by Nvidia, but the fact is, most ISP's in the States and in most of the financially developed countries in Europe are utter crap. Reply
chizow - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - link@Nevertell, this is probably in response to my request to have streaming enabled from my PC to WAN, it's actually not an issue as long as you have software/firmware on both ends to dynamically handle IPs/hostnames. My Home NAS handles this seamlessly and only uses a web-based authentication system which handles all the IP/hostname handshaking. Reply
nevertell - Friday, July 25, 2014 - linkBut you won't get a stable uplink from your regular consumer ISP, especially if you do not live right next to a junction box or you have loads of other clients sitting on the same line. Reply
Morawka - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkThe Technology for streaming your pc games to a tablet is already here. We've been capable of this for over 2 years now, it's just america's horrible internet that holds everything back. And it's not going to get better anytime soon.
A optimistic estimate would be 15 years from now. Sure nvidia could make datacenters closer, but we need internet that's capable of 5 Mbps UP AND DOWN and quite simply, only 3-4% of people have a 5 Mbps Upload capability. Reply
chizow - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkWell it would obviously be limited to QoS/Bandwidth requirements dependent on ISP, same as GRID being limited to certain markets, or GameStream requiring 5GHz, but yes the underlying tech has been there, it just hasn't been enabled. This would be the game-changer imo for Shield and really differentiate it from consoles and handhelds.
I've had access to 5Mbps upstream for nearly a decade and my current ISP (FiOS) has me at at 75/50. Many public WiFi hotspots in my area (Panera, Starbucks etc.) also have at least 15Mbps up and 5GHz WiFi, although I'm not sure they would sustain those speeds when shared among multiple users. Reply
Morawka - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - linkcell sites offer fast speed but price per GB is outrageus. $15 per GB.
The LTE speeds severely break down when there are over 50 people pegging their network.
that is, unless you live in a over populated, area full of smog, noise and light pollution. Reply
Johnny_k - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - link1) They have started with half life 2, portal, trine 2, warthunder
2) you can already do this. See: http://shield.nvidia.com/gaming-tablet/
>GameStream gaming outside of your home Wi-Fi network is a BETA feature and requires minimum upload and download bandwidth speeds of 5Mbps. Streaming experience may vary depending on the quality of your Internet. Reply
chizow - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkWow, that's awesome!!! It is a very obscure footnote so hopefully more attention/testing is made of this when the reviews go live, presumably next week. *IF* this support spreads to more games and handles the latency decently well, I will definitely be picking one of these up. Probably not at release, but I will probably wait until the new Maxwell GPUs are released and see if they do a Shield bundle like they did last Holiday season.
This really has some endless possibilities, maybe one day you could use your Shield tablet/portable as a thin client you could bring to LAN parties, gaming events, meet-ups, trade-shows and leave your PC as a server at home. Throw an ethernet to USB dongle on there for even more reliable internet. Obviously not something for pro/competitive gamers, but this would certainly be appealing to more casual/social gamers. Reply
Drumsticks - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI like it. I don't think it's enough to replace my Nexus 7, but I'll wait for the full review. I'll need to pick up an Nvidia GPU again, but I was planning on doing that soonish anyways. Reply
smorebuds - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkIf going from Adreno 320 to K1, and having Nvidia streaming features, isn't enough for you, then I guess go ahead and stick with your Nexus 7. Reply
dabotsonline - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - link"In addition to the stylus features, Nvidia is advertising 1080p Netflix support. Normally, due to the DRM restrictions associated with high bitrate streaming, most Android devices only support low resolution streams. Nvidia has done all of the necessary work to satisfy these DRM requirements, so it supports the highest bitrate available to mobile devices. Of course, this feature will be disabled with an unlocked bootloader, but it's a good feature to have for mobile streaming."
Josh, do you have a link to the Netflix support pages that confirm all of this? All I can find is:
"Netflix HD playback is only available on the new Nexus 7 tablet."
https://help.netflix.com/en/node/237 Reply
JoshHo - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkIt's likely that the Netflix support pages are out of date. Nvidia stated that they satisfy the DRM requirements multiple times during the briefing. Reply
dabotsonline - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkThanks, JoshHo. The Greenbot review said something similar:
"There aren't a lot of Android devices that will stream Netflix in 1080p. Google's Nexus 7 (2013 model) and the new Samsung Galaxy Tab S are notable exceptions. Nvidia now joins that elite club with the Shield Tablet, though I suspect 1080p Netflix streaming will be pretty common in the coming year."
It is true that there are no phones that support 1080p Netflix? Last October, with the release of Netflix 5.0, the iPhone only supported 720p Netflix:
"Also, for those fixated on resolution, we checked with the company and confirmed the streams max out at 720p on the iPhone / iPod touch and 1080p on the iPad."
Netflix 6.0 was launched on iOS last month. What I think will be interesting is if the iPhone 6 does indeed come in a 5.5" variant with a 1080p+ screen then, unless Netflix change, a 720p stream will be visibly inferior to a 1080p stream on even a 7" tablet.
Josh, you also said, "Of course, this feature will be disabled with an unlocked bootloader... " Does you have a reference for this specifically?
When you write your review of the SHIELD Tablet, can you please try to unlock the bootlader, install Hangouts and Google Dialer (the 4.4.2 version by TKRuzze, not the newer 4.4.3 version), relock the bootloader and see if it functions as a massive phone? In the full specs for the SHIELD Tablet, it says that a few country models of the EU variant will support voice calling by default, but this could be a hacky approach for those who don't have those models if they wish to have a giant, all-in-one media streaming and communication device. Thanks. Reply
TerdFerguson - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkUntil Android security gets beefed up, I'm absolutely uninterested in an Android gaming tablet - especially one featuring a couple of cameras, networking, and cellular connectivity. I certainly wouldn't be interested in spending $500, including accessories, for a gaming device that is clearly much worse in every significant regard than competing consoles. Reply
ams23 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkShield tablet is simply a really fast pure Android tablet (with stylus) that has an optional accessory for gaming (wireless controller). This is not something that should be used exclusively for gaming! Think of this as a very improved version of the Tegra Note 7 (with larger and higher res screen, much faster and more modern GPU, improved second gen stylus, improved Wifi + connectivity, improved build quality, improved heat dissipation capability). Reply
chizow - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkAs a standalone gaming machine, I would agree, it is still far behind the similarly priced "next-gen" consoles, but it does offer extra value for some as a "PC extender" console with its GameStream functionality. If you look at it that way, you would get a console experience that is better than competing consoles in most regards since you would be leveraging the power and library of your PC.
While the GameStream technology is somewhat interesting to me, I would not pay $300 for a PC-extender, the gaming aspect needs to stand on its own to make this purchase worthwhile, and currently, the Android market isn't interesting enough to me until they start getting more console/PC franchise games. There is also another usage group that this device satisfies as an emulator, but that doesn't really interest me either. Reply
smorebuds - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkTrue, currently the Android gaming market isn't full enough yet. But consoles are no longer the target platform for game developers like they used to be. There is more money to be made with Android/iOS, and it's probably only a matter of time (when mobile hardware truly allows for an Android gaming ecosystem) before the AAA developers start aiming for Android/iOS first--or at least equal to Windows. Reply
chizow - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkNot sure if that's really the case given current Android games run from $7 to $10 max, most others are free and charge for microtransactions. That's quite a gap from the $50-60 that most big budget AAA titles charge. You're going to have to sell a ton of Android games to close the gap on some of the big sellers you see like GTA5, Watch_Dogs, Call of Duty etc.
I think Android's best shot at success is the approach Nvidia is taking with full OpenGL support while closing the hardware gap and porting PC favorites (HL2, Portal etc). If they can slot in where the handhelds left off, with watered down Wii-like ports or 1-gen back ports of popular titles, I think they have a chance to grow the Android gaming platform, but as it is now, there's really nothing compelling that would interest me in strictly Android gaming platform as a user or developer.
At least with the traditional handhelds, you have popular 1st-party franchises or 3rd-party releases and remixes that you would expect on a handheld platform and still hold up well. Reply
smorebuds - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkYes, currently those $7-$10 games are relatively simple and likewise cheaper to produce since the majority of Android gaming is done on phones/tablets. Touch screen gaming can only get so complicated, so what we have now are games tailored toward casual gamers. It's only a matter of time before hardware catches up and Android console gaming (or mouse/keyboard gaming) starts to take off. Or maybe console gaming won't ever make a comeback. Just because those "biggest sellers" cost $50-$60 does not mean they are more profitable, or even better games. And they are becoming few and far between now... I mean, not 5 years ago each quarter would have a slew of new AAA titles to get excited about. Now I can count an entire year's worth on my fingers... My point is that Android gaming is where the money is, and that's always been the most compelling reason for developers' choices of platforms. So it's only natural that once it becomes feasible, you can bet developers will be aiming for Android (and iOS) first. And in the case of small-medium companies/developers that don't have the resources to develop for all platforms... you can already see that decision being made.
And don't think I'm anti-MS or anything... I actually like Win8.1 and finding myself defending it against idiots that write off the whole OS because they can't/don't want to adapt to for whatever reason. But unfortunately that has played a role in this whole consumer movement away from desktops and Windows in general. And I hate when people make arbitrary doomsday predictions, but it would seem that if this trend continues, Windows will eventually become just the OS for running legacy applications. Reply
chizow - Thursday, July 24, 2014 - linkSorry, that just doesn't add up, Gartner estimated Video Game revenues of $100 Billion for 2014. Nvidia says Google Play sees revenues of $250M last quarter (90% games), annualized you are looking at maybe 1.5-2B at best extrapolating growth rates. Singular titles are making more than that in any given year. In any case, there's a long way to go to bridge that gap.
I'm also not sure about the number of exciting games decreasing, it seems to me there's so many to choose from I don't even feel compelled to buy more than 1-2 at release because I know they'll just go on sale by the time I am ready to play them.
Anyways, doesn't really have anything to do with Windows in this context, as a gaming machine Shield Portable will really be up against next-gen consoles first (same price point) and against handhelds second (loses here due to weak Android library and lack of compelling 1st/3rd party titles). If anything Nvidia is hoping to piggy-back on the PC market with their various GameStream technologies until Android gaming is strong enought to stand on its own. Reply
TheJian - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - linkhttps://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2614915
Gartner says mobile gaming revenue was 13.2B. Epic games has said they made more from the Infinity Blade series than ALL of the Gears of War series per man hour invested and it only runs on Apple.
"Mobile games are the fastest-growing segment of the market, with revenue set to nearly double between 2013 and 2015 from $13.2 billion to $22 billion (see Table 1)"
Shield's competition is Vita/3DS/Xbox360/ps3. Of course as titles evolve on android and they shrink to 20/14nm yeah then REAL competition for consoles from ALL of mobile. Consoles aren't really portable, and you can't do tablet stuff at all on them (stylus, camera stuff etc, browsing etc, a kid can do some homework etc on these). Many uses past gaming. I expect a DIRECT console box after AndroidL +64bit chips hit and a 125w PSU box ships to directly compete.
Lack of compelling android titles? I'm pretty much ignoring sports/adventure types below (I tend to play strategy/rpg/action) as I am looking forward to playing others below first. I could go on but look at some of these on googleplay and you should get the point. Top paid apps have even more not listed here. Also note 50% of devs at GDC this year (60% last year leading the way) are MAKING games for mobile. Contrast that to consoles all with <20 (and only PS4) making stuff and you see where this is going. PC Now 52% and #1 just above mobile. It's clear even with $2-20 games the 1.2B unit per year sales on mobile is too large to ignore.
World at Arms (check this game out! WOW)
Modern Combat 5: Blackout (again, freaking WOW, android at it's best just hit july 23rd!)
Dungeon Hunter 3 + 4 (gameloft is an awesome DEV, looks like xbox360 games)
Captain America TWS
Rival Knights
Ravensword Shadowlonds (excellent)
Edge of Tomorrow (check out the graphics)
Injustice: Gods Among Us (check out the gameplay, multiplayer too)
Stilland War HD (adventure rpg, June 30 2014)
Asphalt 8
Amazing Spiderman
RPG Spectral Souls (large tactical RPG)
Need for Speed Most Wanted
Six Guns
Dead Trigger 2
Gangstar City
GT Racing 2
SoulCraft 2
Brothers in Arms 2
300 Seize Your Glory
Wild Blood (excellent)
Order & Chaos ONline
Eternity Warriors 2 (millions of installs)
Blazing Souls Accelate
Chaos Rings 1 & 2
Real Boxing
Gangstar Vegas
Bloodsword (very nice!)
ChoplifterHD fron inexile
TaintedKeep (for those adventure rpg types)
Riptide GP2
Gun Bros 2
Modern Combat 1-4
Iron Man 3 (impressive to say the least)
Frontline Commando
Nova 3 (nova 1 & 2 aren't bad either)
Dark Knight Rises:
Shadowgun (still think tablets gaming sucks?)
Gangstar Rio
Bard's Tale (hey, isn't this a CONSOLE game...LOL)
ArmA2: Firing Range (not as impressive, but this was 2011...LOL)
Renaissance Blood
Zombie Driver THD (just updated Aug1 specifically for shield)
Final Fantasy 3
Final Fantasy 6
Asphalt 7
COD Black Ops Zombie game...Who knew?
Great Battles Medieval THD (optimized for Tegra2...still looks good) Reply
smorebuds - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - linkYou forgot XCOM (unless I missed it). Just started playing it and it's like the perfect game for phones and tablets (though Pokemon would take that title if it ever happens). Reply
fivefeet8 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI wonder how they are accessing the Full OpenGL spec on Android as I don't believe the new Android extensions even do that. Opens the door for a fully capable Dolphin emulator to run on it though. Reply
ArthurG - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI believe Nvidia replaced the default Android OpenGL ES driver by their own full OpenGL version. Reply
JoshHo - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkIt still runs OpenGL ES, there is clear evidence that the driver for OpenGL is only loaded on application request. Reply
kron123456789 - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkSo, it actually can working with full OpenGL? I don't think that there is any android device that can do it. Reply
Friendly0Fire - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI'm really looking forward to a review from AT as I'm extremely interested by this thing. A vanilla Android experience with stylus support and gaming focus is right up my alley. Reply
fivefeet8 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkThere is a video on Youtube where it shows there is a track pad on the controller on top of the volume controls. That's interesting as that would help with navigating menus. Reply
Hrel - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkSo all it has is a controller that plugs in like a console controller? That's stupid. IT's not a portable gaming machine if it's not all integrated into one unit. They should design some snap ons like Razer made so it can actually be a portable gaming device.
If it's a good controller though I could see using it on PC at home for certain games. Reply
fivefeet8 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkThe controller is wireless. You can also use whatever snap on BT controller available out there that fits the size. Reply
smorebuds - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkYeah the pic is a bit confusing. That wire goes from controller to headset, as stated in the article. Reply
cashnmillions - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkIf I was in the market for a tablet I would definitely go with this. Hopefully they come out with better games for tablets, I haven't really been impressed with any lately. I wonder how well it would do in emulating PS2. Imagine Shadow of the Colossus on a mobile platform like this. Reply
hahmed330 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI would love to see some Trine 2 action please.... Reply
fivefeet8 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkThere's quite a few videos on Youtube already with various games including Trine2 running on the new tablet. Reply
kron123456789 - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkAnd not only this tablet. There are few videos with Trine 2 gameplay on Xiaomi MiPad. Reply
Wolfpup - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI wonder what clock speed the GPU cores run at... The clocks are probably much lower, but if they weren't, this would be basically half as powerful (for GPU) as my Asus gaming notebook from a few years ago. As it is it's probably more like 1/4, but still.
It's GOT to be more powerful (in terms of GPU) than the last gen consoles, right? Kind of cool...of course moot point since they're far better for games.
Wish this thing ran...anything other than Android. Reply
Wolfpup - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkWow, didn't notice the price. While it's certainly fair, even if I wanted a mobile OS as a gaming device (NOT a good choice...) I'd pick an iPad at that price. Reply
Alexey291 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkdo find me a similar specced ipad at that price o.O Reply
kron123456789 - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkI think it's running on full clock speed, that is 950MHz. Reply
Ikefu - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI can't help by think this is another bad attempt at a gaming tablet for the same reason all others have failed. No built in controller. If I have a nice table to sit at and can pull a controller out then why am I on a tablet and not a laptop or console? I would love a gaming tablet with dual thumbsticks, ABXY buttons, and shoulder triggers. That I would get. But this seems like just another tabet in a giant sea of them with some extra software loaded on it. I say this mostly because I am disappointed. I want the next gameboy/vita replacement to be a tablet style device with actual gaming input. I really thought NVidia might do it but I've been let down again. Maybe Nintendo or Sony will catch on to this next go around Reply
ams23 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkA built-in controller, unless removeable, would limit the appeal of Shield tablet as a tablet!
If you want to use a controller attached to the tablet, see here: http://gamegrip-stgone.com/en/index.php Reply
savagemike - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI think you are on a tablet and not a laptop or console because you didn't want to carry a laptop or console around or perhaps you don't own one. And you hardly need a table. No reason this couldn't sit on the floor in front of where you are sitting on the floor, or sit on the dashboard of a car or hang from the headrest of a car seat for use in the backseat.
More to the point if you didn't feel like gaming in any of those situations you could also read an an e-book or do any of the other myriad of things tablets work well for. Reply
smorebuds - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkOr play your touch-based games when it's too awkward, and controller-based games when you have access to a table. Since when is being more versatile a bad thing? Reply
barleyguy - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI'm probably getting one of these.
The sim I want to use is a full size T-Mobile sim (on the $30 5 Gigabyte plan). I can't use a different sim or I'll lose the deal.
So I guess I need to go back and read the article about sim card punchers, and hope I don't screw it up.
So on that note, I really wish the LTE version had a full size sim card. There is definitely room for it, and it's easier to convert up in size than down. Reply
aamir147 - Thursday, July 24, 2014 - linkunlimited lte on tmobile is $30 why wouldn't you wanna lose your deal and get the new one? Reply
savagemike - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI am wondering how this will work with Android "L" and also how, if at all, it will relate to "Android TV". It has all the hardware in place to function very well as an "Android TV" box.
If software updates bring that capability (to chose between mirroring or Nvidia 'console' mode or 'Android TV' mode when I plug it in via hdmi) then I could see this coming home with me.
Would also very much like to know how the stylus experience compares with the Samsung models. Reply
wintermute000 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkThe screen is 1920x1200 so unless you have a 16:10 monitor you'll get black bars. I have this same issue with my Sony XTZ2. Reply
NZtechfreak - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkIt switches output to 1080p when connected to an external monitor in console mode according to what I've read elsewhere. Reply
baii9 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkDoes this thing play LOL or hearthstone? Reply
Astral Abyss - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkBoth. Reply
Willhouse - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI apparently am in the minority, but is there going to be a 10 inch version of this thing or a 10 inch anything with the K1? I don't understand why 7-8" is the hot thing now. Reply
barleyguy - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkI agree with you. I currently have a 10" Asus Transformer, and that's about the right size in my opinion. With Asus going 100% Intel (as far as I can tell), someone else needs to make a 10-inch K1 tablet with a keyboard dock. Reply
ams23 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkAsus still sells the Transformer Pad Infinity (with Tegra 4 inside), but any future plans (if any) with Tegra K1 are unclear and unknown at this time.
That said, there are rumors that suggest the next 64-bit Nexus tablet will be 8.9" and powered by TK1. Reply
Alexey291 - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkgiven the price of this tablet my guess is that they are failing to get oem wins... again... Reply
sonicmerlin - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkWhat I wouldn't give for a Tegra K1 paired with an x86 processor and Windows 8. Reply
sonicmerlin - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkGiven you can run Deus Ex Revolutions on an Intel HD 4000, a Tegra K1 would let you play almost every modern PC game smoothly at low settings. Reply
chizow - Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - linkCompletely agree, a Haswell ULV or even Bay Trail-M based CPU with K1 GPU running full Windows 8.1 in a mobile device would be amazing. It won't happen anytime soon though, but there is the vehicle for it with Nvidia's announcement last year that it would license its GPU IP. We'd need an announcement by Intel followed by at least 2-3 years to integrate it into Intel mobile designs. Reply
Valis - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkNext year Nvidia is said to come out with Maxwell in a SoC like this, with Denver CPU cores, the Erista, but sure x86_64 would have have been the best combo to date. Can't get everything you want, I reckon. Maybe in 2016 or so. Reply
sonicmerlin - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - linkAMD would have been in a perfect position to take advantage of this segment. Instead they're floundering about doing absolutely nothing. It amazes me how such a horribly run company manages to avoid bankruptcy. Reply
gyuri79 - Thursday, July 24, 2014 - linkVery cool. I am also playing Android games on my tablet and an Xbox One controller with Utorcase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRDNHSrUas0 Reply
davendrak - Thursday, July 24, 2014 - linkI really dont know what all the bad comments are about. This tablet has the best bang for buck. Where else do u get:
2Gb Ram
Tegra K1 class processor
Dual Front Facing speakers
Full HD display
Timely updates
Stock android
Great design
at $299 in mass market? huh
Not to mention
5mp front and rear AOHDR Camera (1080p Video, Twitch streaming)
Direct Stylus
Game streaming
Full modern graphic software stack compatibility
And best looking mobile graphics
This tablet should be a big seller on the mainstream. Not just for gamers. This tablet really is the best tablet at that cost and probably the best tablet at any cost. Reply
LetsGo - Friday, July 25, 2014 - linkAgree with you.
They have covered all the bases.
I will pick one up just to program the GPU I wonder if the driver has the same Nvidia extensions as its desktop counterparts.
So its this or the Mi Pad or the rumoured Nexus 2014 Tab. Eagerly waiting for Anandtech's detailed reviews. Reply
NZtechfreak - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - linkAlso agree, people might have different opinions about the merits of this on a purely gaming basis, or in relation to how well it might bridge the gap between desktop and mobile gaming, but I think many aren't giving this its due as a very good Android tablet in its own right (and for a reasonable asking price). Looked at from that perspective, and with the other stuff viewed as additions to a fundamentally sound tablet, I think it's hard to be too critical of Nvidia here. Reply


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Britney Spears Gossip
Britney Spears gossip, latest news, photos, and video.
Smutty Social Media, June 17, 2016
RB/ Bauergriffin.com/ Splash News
Ben Mendelsohn is loved by Ryan Gosling and Mindy Kaling, and married to Emma Forrest. He's winning life, basically. My favorite actor and all around rock solid dude Ben Mendelsohn on @JimmyKimmelLive tonight. #Mendelvision Full Story
Smutty Social Media, June 3, 2016
Donato Sardella/ Getty Images
Britney's dancers look like they are wearing Kanye West's clothing line. Day one: ✔ Full Story
Justin Bieber, misanthrope?
Kevin Winter /JB Lacroix /Getty Images
Britney Spears opened the Billboard Awards last night. Halfway through the show Justin Bieber performed. Full Story
Britney's bests, minus 2
Jeff Kravitz /Kevin Winter /JB Lacroix /John Shearer /Todd Williamson /Jeffrey Meyer /Getty Images
I received an email last night from a very enthusiastic Britney Spears fan. (Hi M!) She's 27 years old. She grew up on Britney. And she and 12 of her friends got together last night to watch Britney's Millennium Award performance at the Billboards. Full Story
Dear Gossips,
The read of the day yesterday was definitely the New York Times article on Britney Spears titled: Is Britney Spears Ready To Stand On Her Own? CLICK! Immediately! Britney has been showing more and more personality on social media over the last few months. Read Full Intro
Smutty Social Media, April 4, 2016
It's so hard to get mad/stay mad at a dog. Do you think they know that you are trying not to laugh? Of course they do, the sneaky buggers. I tried to use my low, serious voice like I was taught. But while my husband and I listened lazily in the other room (thinking she couldn't do THAT much damage, plus she doesn't eat stuffing whenever a toy meets its end), this is what Moxie did to her dog bed. When I finally went to see what she had done, I found it so hilariously disastrous that I had trouble being mad. #WhatDidYouDo #ParentingInPJs Full Story
What it means to "Leo"
It's April Fools' Day. So all kinds of pranks are showing up on the internet. Oxford Dictionaries is getting in on it too. Most of them are kind of lame. But then there's this one, a new verb: Leo, verb to achieve something after years of trying: "I feel like I've Leoed this morning; I finally passed my driving test. Full Story
Gossip Nostalgia by Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez
Jeff Kravitz/ Getty Images
Is there a time standard for Gossip Nostalgia? Are we allowed to be nostalgic about it even though it only happened five minutes ago? It's been almost 15 years since Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake Full Story
Smutty Social Media, February 26, 2016
This must have been a very busy week for dermatologists in LA. Last chance to get those tweaks in so they settle nicely before Sunday. Somehow this looks like an attempt at #Vermeer #pearlearring A little #Metime with @colbert_md❤ #triad facial thank you!!! Preparation for the #oscars Good luck Liev!! #spotlight Full Story
Smutty Social Media, February 11, 2016
Can you imagine this getting made now? It would never happen. Same with Dirty Dancing. Don and I when I was shooting Nightmoves... I was 16, he was 24😎 1973 Full Story
Britney's dance teases
Britney Spears posted 3 dance clips of herself on Instagram yesterday. She looks great. As fit as she's been in years. And some of that old energy in her eyes. Check it out: A video posted by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) Full Story


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Sports & Recreation, ProfessionalFollow
The Football Ramble emerged from London towards the end of 2007 as a genuinely refreshing football voice, and quickly established itself as one of the most influential and entertaining shows about the world's most popular sport. It is now the largest independent football brand in the UK and a must-listen for any discerning fan that enjoys the more entertaining side of the game. From sold out live shows to broadcasting from major tournaments, The Football Ramble has it covered. Join them every week.
November 4th, 2014
Episode 351 of 585 episodes
The doofuses from Ramble HQ return, droning on about drones and that.
You'll need to sign in to write a comment.
Welcome to the Brain Training Podcast, the daily audio workout for your head. In this podcast we have two games for you, each with three rounds which get progressively harder. To enjoy the full experience, relax, and avoid distractions whilst you listen.


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A MOTOR neurone disease sufferer with a fundraising target of £1million will host a charity swimathon today.
Alan Hedges, 67, announced last month he wanted to raise the huge sum towards finding a cure for the disease, which attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord and can affect how sufferers walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.
And today, eight friends of Alan and his wife, Wendy, of Leyburn Road, Blackburn, will swim a mile each between 1pm and 3pm at Darwen Leisure Centre.
Wendy said: "We would like supporters to come down and cheer the participants on.
"All money raised will go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association."
Alan, who has lost the ability to speak and communicates by writing or using his iPad, will be there to watch the swimmers in action.


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As a valued member of the Erie Federal Credit Union, we're here to help you make your home buying and selling experience as easy as possible.


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Meet the Staff: Farewell, Courtney! EditionDecember 22, 2009 • No Comments • category: At Home with Algonquin
Welcome back to Meet the Staff, where we learn a little more about the lovely people with whom we work! This month, we are saying farewell to a very valued member of the publicity team, Courtney Wilson, as she heads back to school.
How long have you worked for Algonquin?
Since before I graduated from college, technically – I interned here and then started working right when I graduated! So total…I guess three-and-a-half years?
What is your favorite part about your job here?
I love the wide range of personalities – it's such an eclectic place to work, and there's rarely a dull moment. If there is, I can always look forward to Craig yelling something out from his office.
So, why on earth are you leaving Algonquin? And how do you plan to adjust in the absence of "Wednesday Bagel Day?"
I graduated only a few years ago, but I've already decided to get back into the classroom. I'm returning to my alma mater, UNC Chapel Hill (go Heels!) for nursing school. I'm so excited for a new adventure, but I'll miss this place loads. I'm sure I will have to work a lot less to keep my weight down without my weekly 600-calorie bread breakfast.
You're getting married in May. Congrats! What 3 songs top your "do-not-play" list?
Thanks! We're having the wedding at our house in our backyard out in the country, so it's a little nontraditional….as such, I refuse to have the wedding march played. I also do not want to hear the Electric Slide or the Cha Cha Slide.
What are your top 5 favorite foods?
Oh that is not a fair question! I love almost every food on the face of the planet, and eating lots of everything. My favorite foods change every day! The first is easy – cupcakes. But from there…hmmmm….
1) Cupcakes
2) Fresh steamed or sauteed veggies
3) Sushi
4) Anything with a potato
5) Sandwiches (that's broad enough to include a ton of options!)
To make sure that our representation of Courtney is well-rounded, here are some other fun facts, straight from her co-workers (who would never lie).
- She can eat her weight in reindeer mix.
- Courtney has another life as a blogger about what she makes for dinner (www.dumpstersbuffet.com) She isn't scared to try anything! And she's a little bit unhealthily obsessed with cupcakes.
- Despite this obsession with food, she is a mean cyclist, even with a bad knee. "I've drafted off of her many a day," says Kathy, "or watched her recede into the distance ahead of me."
- Christina remembers the time she sent a cheer-up email with an animated bacon .gif
- Courtney is reportedly a bit of a coffee snob
- She turned Christina onto tomato-basil Wheat Thins … and arm warmers
- And, from Kathy: "I've never known anyone who pushes through the pain like Courtney, no matter the injury. These last two weeks, we've watched her hobble around on her knee after surgery, smiling through it all. I think this might be why she will transition easily from a publicist to a nurse. We will miss her like crazy here."


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It would be a volte-face to prompt an angry backlash from the right. But there are a few smoke signals emerging from above 10 Downing Street that a rethink of the immigration cap could be underway.
David Cameron's spokesman insisted this morning that no decision had been made over the cap, which applies to the number of visitors from outside the EU. (The vast majority come from inside the free market and thus cannot be halted). Read more


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Pain au chocolat: buttery, flaky, chocolatey, and full of despair, as illustrated by The Sadness of Pain au Chocolat by Ben Horsley. When you eat a pain au chocolat, you're doing it the favor of putting it out of its misery.
Thanks to Ben, I can't stop seeing faces in pains au chocolat. My world of breakfast pastries will never be the same.
[via @lia, @edyong209]
About the author: Robyn Lee is the editor of A Hamburger Today and takes many of the photos for Serious Eats. She'll also doodle cute stuff when necessary. Read more from Robyn at her personal food blog, The Girl Who Ate Everything.


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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - HBO, the network behind television polygamy drama "Big Love," apologized on Tuesday for any offense to Mormons in a depiction of a sacred ritual but made clear it would air the controversial episode as planned.
The HBO network's program about a non-Mormon polygamous family has stirred up a hornet's nest of complaints over an episode to be broadcast on Sunday showing its version of an endowment ceremony within a Mormon temple.
It is thought to be the first time the ritual, in which participants move to a higher level of understanding of their religion, will be shown on TV.
News of the episode prompted calls and e-mails for cancellation or an HBO boycott by angry members of the Mormon Church, officially known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).
The Church itself has not officially called for a boycott.
"Big Love," which first aired in 2006, stars Bill Paxton as a member of a fictional breakaway Mormon sect who has three wives and eight children.
HBO said on Tuesday the writers had gone to great lengths "to be respectful and accurate" in the ceremony's portrayal.
"Obviously, it was not our intention to do anything disrespectful to the church, but to those who may be offended, we offer our sincere apology," the network said in a statement. In a separate statement, the creators of the series said they "took great pains to depict the ceremony with the dignity and reverence it is due."
The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, based in Utah, has some 13.5 million members around the world. It officially banned polygamy in 1890, sixty years after it was founded, but the practice continues in some breakaway sects.
The furor reflected the dilemma faced by Mormons as the growing Church takes its place in mainstream society.
"This is a very sacred event in the lives of LDS church members. To have it splashed all over television for entertainment purposes (and ultimately for monetary gain) is just offensive," wrote a poster called "nanberg" on HBO's official "Big Love" message board on Tuesday.
The Church refrained from calling for a boycott of HBO, or sister companies owned by corporate parent Time Warner Inc, such as Internet service provider AOL. But the Church did recognize that individual members might do so.
"Certainly Church members are offended when their most sacred practices are misrepresented or presented without context or understanding," LDS said in a statement on Monday.
"Individual Latter-day Saints have the right to take such actions if they choose. The Church ... as an institution does not call for boycotts. Such a step would simply generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end would increase audiences for the series," it added.
The LDS statement said that, despite assurances three years ago from HBO and the creators of "Big Love" that the show was not about Mormons, Mormon themes and increasingly unsympathetic characters were being woven into the show.
The Church was thrust into the spotlight last year for supporting a ban on gay marriage in California and during the removal of more than 400 children from a Texas polygamist ranch in response to an abuse complaint.
The LDS statement urged followers to behave with dignity, saying there was no evidence that extreme misrepresentations "have any long-term negative effect on the Church."
Editing by Eric Walsh


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If you love to eat and do not have a lot of time or money to spend on cooking then I can help. My way of cooking is so easy that the basic technique is to chop it up, chuck it in the pot and cook it. No skills required. All the ingredients used in my recipes are found easily from your local supermarket. This means not only do you get to save dollars but you save time. Most of my recipes can be frozen so you don't waste food and are so quick to make they take less time then going out for pizza.
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Human Rights Watch Film Festival Opening Night: "The New Black"
01.23.2014 7:00 pm
6:00pm reception, 7pm Film screening w/ discussion, and 9pm dessert reception.
Q&A with filmmaker Yoruba Richen, and Samantha Masters, film subject
Yoruba Richen, 2013, 82 min.
The New Black tells the story of how the African American community is grappling with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in light of the marriage equality movement and the fight over civil rights.
Ticket information: $4 MOPA Members, $6 Students/Seniors/Military, $8 General. Festival passes: $15 MOPA Members, $25 Students/Seniors/ Military, $35 General. (Festival passes cover admission to all six festival screenings)
Online ticket sales are no longer available. There are still tickets available at the door.


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When it comes to preventing the spread of PEDV, strict biosecurity must extend beyond the farm gate—and go all the way to the packing plant. Some new data from research funded by the Pork Checkoff, the National Pork Producers Council and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, makes this clear as it shows that PEDV can be spread by contamination during transport of pigs to markets.
The objective of the study was to assess the risk that pig-collection points such as packing plants have in promoting an initial outbreak of a novel disease organism such as PEDV in the United States. To do this, researchers estimated the rate of contamination of trailers with PEDV during the unloading process. They collected samples pre- and post-delivery from 669 livestock trailers at seven packing plants.
Specifically, the study found that:
- 17% of trailers were contaminated with PEDV before unloading the pigs
- 11% of trailers that were not contaminated with PEDV on arrival were subsequently contaminated during unloading
PEDV was confirmed for the first time in U.S. swine herds in mid-May.The most recently available report indicates there are 378 confirmed cases of PEDV in 15 states, with most of those in Iowa and Oklahoma.* (See most recent states/cases by clicking here and then on Number of New Cases Reported).
Source: National Pork Board


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Winter Landscape, Giverny
Paul Cézanne, French, 1839 - 1906
Made in France, Europe
Oil on canvasDimensions:
25 5/8 x 31 7/8 inches (65.1 x 81 cm)Curatorial Department:
European Painting
1966-68-3Credit Line:
Gift of Frank and Alice Osborn, 1966
Made in France, Europe
Oil on canvasDimensions:
25 5/8 x 31 7/8 inches (65.1 x 81 cm)Curatorial Department:
European Painting
* Gallery 157, European Art 1850-1900, first floorAccession Number:
1966-68-3Credit Line:
Gift of Frank and Alice Osborn, 1966
Social Tags [?]unfinished cezanne [x]
[Add Your Own Tags]
Explore the Collections
ProvenanceGift from the artist to Mme. Baudy, Giverny, 1894 [1]. Frank C. Osborn (1887-1948), Dobbs Ferry, New York, possibly before 1934 [2]; by inheritance to his wife Alice Newton Osborn (1888-1965), Manchester, Vermont, until d. 1965 [3]; bequest to PMA, 1966. 1. Owner of an inn at Giverny where Cézanne stayed between September 7-30, 1894. The painting was given to her as compensation, and she is reported to have sold it (see Vienna, Kunstforum, "Cézanne: Finished-Unfinished," exh. cat., January 20-April 25, 2000, no. 86, p. 294). Rivière, Le Maître Paul Cezanne, 1923, p. 206, and Cézanne: le peintre solitaire, 1933, p. 178, listed the painting as "coll. Pellerin" (i.e., Auguste Pellerin, 1852-1929), apparently in error. 2. The date of acquisition is unknown; however, a label on the back of the painting states that it is the property of Frank Osborn and gives his address as Dobbs Ferry, NY. Since Osborn moved permanently to Manchester, VT, c. 1933 (see letter to Carl Zigrosser, July 26, 1933, in registrar file), he probably purchased the painting around or prior to that date. 3. The painting was on loan at the museum from 1959 onward, according to PMA Bulletin, Summer 1966, p. 81.
* Works in the collection are moved off view for many different reasons. Although gallery locations on the website are updated regularly, there is no guarantee that this object will be on display on the day of your visit.


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Barnet travel to Cheltenham Town tomorrow looking to claim just their second away win of the season.
The Bees secured a point after coming from behind to claim a 2-2 draw with Oxford United last time out.
However, despite the draw, Barnet are back at the bottom of the table after Wycombe Wanderers and Aldershot Town recorded victories.
But there are now just three points covering the bottom six sides in the division and Bees joint head coach Edgar Davids stated he is "not really worried" about the battle at the bottom of the table.
The Champions League winner said: "It is going to be a little dance (at the bottom). But the progression is good and we could have won the game (against Oxford).
I saw a lot of positive things in the system we played and the things we did. So I'm not really worried."
Davids is back from his suspension after missing the draw against Oxford United while new loan signings Andy Iro and George Barker could feature.
John Oster and Collins John are unlikely to feature while long-term absentees Steve Kabba and Ismeal Kamara remain injured.
The two sides faced each other on three occasions last season but the Bees failed to record a victory.
In their last meeting the Robins claimed a 2-0 win through goals from Kaid Mohamed and James Spencer.


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click to enlarge!
One of my favorite decor and design blogs, Design*Sponge, had a great post today about using vintage trunks and luggage in the home. Not only are old trunks beautiful, but they are also extremely practical as storage or side tables. Classic monogram Louis Vuitton, like in the image above, matches nearly any color scheme, but Goyard is another great choice if you want to incorporate a pop of color.
Definitely click through to the post to get tons of inspiration. Is this a look you would ever try in your own home?
LOUIS VUITTON Antique Monogram Steamer Trunk + Tray Insert
Image from From Sneak Peek: Andrew and Gemma of Ingalls Photo


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5 Ingredients: Chia Puddingby Dana Angelo White in 5-Ingredient Recipes, April 4, 2013
Love chia seeds? This easy-to-make, creamy pudding is bursting with fiber, omega-3 fat and tropical flavors.
What is Chia Pudding?
One of the most magical characteristics of tiny chia seeds is how they can act as an thickening agent. When introduced to liquid such as milk, soy milk, almond milk or coconut milk, the seeds expand and soften, creating a pudding-like concoction. Create a mixture of your favorite flavors and after a few hours in the fridge, indulge in the velvety goodness.
Tropical Chia Pudding
Serves: 4
2 ¼ cups vanilla coconut milk
1 tablespoon honey
½ cup white chia seeds
½ cup chopped fruit (suggestions: pineapple and mango)
2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
Equipment: 4 (4-ounce) ramekins (optional)
In a large bowl, combine coconut milk, honey and chia seeds; whisk well. Transfer mixture to 4 ramekins (if using) and transfer to the refrigerator to set for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve topped with fruit and pumpkin seeds.
Nutrition Info Per Serving
Calories: 151; Total Fat: 7 grams; Saturated Fat: 2 grams; Total Carbohydrate: 21 grams Sugars: 11 grams; Protein: 4 grams; Sodium: 9 milligrams; Cholesterol: 0 milligrams Fiber: 7 grams


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This is a book about all of the dangerous situations in the world, using the traits of common mythical monsters.
The idea came when Cole, a former speech pathologist and university professor, was working with his martial arts teacher, Owens, to create handouts for a self-defense class that Owens was teaching.
There are a lot of safety books out there, but often, they're full of statistics about all of the ways you could be in danger. Cole was inspired by the show "1,000 Ways to Die" and its ability to mix content and entertainment.
A lot of the existing materials were highly technical and dealt with people who were already in dangerous situations, said Owens, a master martial arts teacher who also works in emergency management and business emergency consulting. He wanted to create something that would teach people to avoid trouble. It's also a manual to help you keep a clear head and get out of a bad situation once you're already in it, he said.
Owens was excited about putting the book together. He handled a lot of the format and content of the book, calling on his martial arts background.
About four years ago, Cole and Owens began writing the book, focusing on marketing the information to high school students and young adults. The book is something that parents or grandparents can give to younger kids, Cole said. Some parents are giving it to their middle school-aged children, but Cole said to use your discretion because the book does cover serious topics like date-rape drugs. Cole got feedback from his sons and other younger people to make sure the content and references would fit that age group.
Appealing to younger readers
Incorporating monsters was a way to appeal to that younger audience, but it was also a way to allude to all of the negative traits that bad guys have. In the book, vampires are sexual offenders who are sneaky and charming, while "modern gremlins know how to dig in your recycling and steal your identity."
To Owens, the monsters are representations of bad situations. People can't always point out a bad person, but it's much easier to identify a harmful situation, he said. The book incorporates wit and humor to keep the message entertaining.
"The idea is real information in a flippant way so the Millennials and [other] people will like it," Cole said.
Cole and Owens co-wrote the book together, inspired by real-life incidents where people they knew got in trouble when they shouldn't have.
There are a few main takeaways from the book, Cole said: Trust your gut, stay away from places where there's trouble, use common sense, give up your belongings to robbers and always hit with your palm.
The book incorporates some practical fighting tips, calling on Owens' expertise.
"Every day, people have the opportunity to make themselves safe," Owens said.
Once people make themselves safer, that spills out to their family and greater community. Owens believes that each person has the ability to make the world a safer place.
Common sense is a big theme in the book. Everyone has a sixth sense, Owens said, but they often ignore it and think they can handle a situation. People can be oblivious, Cole said, in part because they are inherently nice and assume everyone else is like them.
Even on Queen Anne, there's an assumption that it's safe.
"Even [here] you have to be safe," he said.
Promoting the book
The book published in March and is available on Amazon, although Cole hopes to sell it in local bookstores like the Queen Anne Book Co. Cole, who designed and printed the book through Amazon's Createspace, a self-publishing company, said he learned to have a thick skin going through many edits and having friends and family give the book a read through.
For Cole, who had only published professional articles before this, "it was a really different experience — it was fun."
The response has been positive, Cole said. He has given away about 200 copies and sold some through Amazon and book signings.
Owens has been doing book signings, including one in his hometown of Denver, and did an impromptu one over a guys' weekend in Pony, Mont. He started talking about the book, and people started buying copies.
"That was pretty intense," he said. "In a place where they believe in guns and the Second Amendment, they still saw the value in the book."
Now that the book is done, Cole hopes to create new versions of the same book for different audiences, from nurses to teachers and speech pathologists.
Nurses are the group he's focusing on next. He's collecting information and anecdotes now to see what kind of training out there. So far, he's discovered that there's a lot of information for nurses about medical safety but not as much for personal safety. Nurses encounter a lot of aggression, particularly working in close proximity to sick and stressed people, their families and people on drugs, Cole said.
Cole plans to begin working on the nurse version of this safety book and publishing it within two years.
Writing his current book and focusing on safety has made him a safer and more aware person, too. "You can always be more aware, but you shouldn't walk around being scared all of the time, either," he said.
Owens is having a fantastic time promoting the book and said whatever Cole plans to do, he'll do, too.
"This guy is phenomenal; he's the brightest guy I know," Owens said of Cole. "I tell people Kevin is the brains; I'm just there to facilitate how things are put together."
For information on book signings or self-defense classes, email Vernon Owens at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Pregnancy & Cruising: What To Expect If You Are Expecting
The Washington Post published an interesting article about what pregnant women should expect when they go on a cruise. Written by Christopher Elliott, the article is entitled "What to Expect if You're Expecting to Cruise."
Different cruise lines have different policies when it comes to when a pregnant woman is no longer welcome on a cruise ship. Some cruise lines prohibit women who are 24 weeks pregnant to cruise. The theory, I suppose, is that the risk of something going wrong with the pregnancy, such as premature birth, increases once the pregnancy enters her third trimester?
As Mr. Elliott points out, just two weeks a go a pregnant woman aboard a Disney cruise ship had to be medevaced after developing complications shortly after the ship left Galveston. You can watch the dramatic hoisting of the passenger up to the Coast Guard helicopter here.
Of course neither cruise lines nor pregnant passengers want to have to summons the Coast Guard to conduct a rescue on the high seas late at night. Once the ship is a few hundred miles away from port, no helicopter will arrive to save the day.
So everyone seems to be on the same page that cruise pregnancy policies are a good idea. But the problem is - what happens when a pregnant customer does not read the fine print buried in the cruise ticket and is a few days past the cruise line's deadline? What rights does the cruise consumer have in this situation?
None, it seems. The Washington Post article correctly points out that the terms of the ticket control. Unfortunately, the cruise line is likely to block a "too pregnant" passenger from boarding while keeping the passenger's cruise fare. No refund. No exceptions. No future credit.
That's a harsh approach, particularly because some people buy cruises up to a eight months to a year in advance. If a baby is conceived after the cruise is purchased, you'd think that the cruise lines would say congratulations and be reasonable. They're not. Cruise lines seem to take advantage of the situation.
Mr. Elliott writes that it is almost like the cruise lines want to make an example by barring pregnant women who don't comply with the policy as a motivation for the public to purchase travel insurance which, not coincidentally, is also sold by many of the cruise lines.
The newspaper quoted me, for what that's worth; Here's my take:
"I don't think it's unreasonable for the cruise lines to adopt pregnancy policies, particularly given the limited nature of the medical facilities on cruise ships and the absence of doctors who are experienced in obstetrics and gynecology," says James Walker . . . specializing in maritime law. "The problem arises when there is a good-faith misunderstanding by the pregnant passenger, and the cruise line takes a rigid attitude and pockets the consumer's money."
Photo credit: SheKnows.com


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SUPERMARINE passed over the penultimate hurdle as they close in on the finishing line of the Dorset & Wilts North title race with a 34-5 home win against Devizes II.
Marine's visitors are one of only three teams to have beaten Marine this year, coming out ahead in a narrow 7-6 victory back in September.
After the hosts weathered the first 20 minutes of Devizes pressure the South Marston side unleashed their rugby. Marine ran in two before the break and four in the second-half, Matty Dickens getting two, as well as scores for Alex Robinson, James Aston, Stuart Doughty and Macauley Reynolds - the colt whose appearance cost Marine five points for being incorrectly registered.
The win sees Marine return to top spot in the league going into Saturday's crucial final game at Trowbridge. Marine head coach Sean Millwaters was pleased with his side's performance.
"It was a good game, a hard game, if we didn't get a bonus point win then that's it, over, end of," Millwaters told the Advertiser.
"As a performance it was good, bearing in mind that pressure, against a team that beat us earlier in the season, it would be wrong to be hypercritical.
"I think we took control, their heads went when we ran in a couple of tries. To be fair to Devizes they gave us a tough old game they're a decent side, they've got a couple of good players. In the end we had the fitness and the game plan.
"That's the semi-final done, final to go."
Millwaters was also pleased for Reynolds, the player unfortunately placed in the middle of Marine's points deduction.
"It wasn't his fault in anyway shape or form. He came off the bench last week and did alright and came of the bench this week and scored a nice try, that's first first team try.
"It was a typical forwards score, got himself on the end of four or five phases of good play and smashed through two lads to get over the line."
Marine have recovered well from the position they were in a couple of weeks ago after the points deduction and losing to Bradford-upon-Avon at home. Though it was always possible for them to reclaim top spot Marine had to claim bonus point wins in four of their five fixtures this month. Though second-placed Bradford have beaten them twice Marine are the division's top points scorers and boast the meanest defence.


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Avril Lavigne spits on paparazzi
Just in case you didn't already want to punch Avril Lavigne in the face, she was caught two times in the past two nights acting like a douchebag and spitting on the paparazzi.
After celebrating her 22nd birthday at Hyde, the wannabe punk-rocker unleashed a torrent of "f*** yous" to the paparazzi and autograph seekers, even signing the pleasant greeting on some pictures. Avril and her entourage then made their way to the safety of their SUV, where she rolled the window down and loaded up a liquid projectile in her mouth. Moments later, she displayed her masterful sharpspitting skills by hitting one photographer in the face while laughing hysterically and screaming, "bitch!"
And proving that dumbassery is contagious, her husband Deryck Whibley joined in the spitting frenzy and hit a photographer in the glasses with a loogie last night at the grand opening of Area nightclub in Hollywood. Make sure you're alone when you watch the video because I gaurantee afterwards you'll be filled with a lust to murder. And God forbid there are any infants around, because the sound of her voice will drive you to punch them.
NOTE: Free Slurpee to anybody who gets the reference.


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You are here: Home → Forum Home → Bumblebee forums → Bumblebee Identification → Thread
28 April 2014 09:27 PM
Having searched the website and come to a conclusion that this large bumble bee is probably a female Bombus sylvestris, please could someone confirm this, if it is possible to do so from the photo. Yes a good ID book on site is ideal, we are only just getting into bee identification.
14 May 2014 11:43 AM #1
Gorgeous photo.
You are absolutely right about her being a cuckoo bumblebee.
The size and dark wings are a giveaway and her hairy narrow hind legs- cuckoo females don't have a pollen basket as they don't do any work for the colony!
It is difficult at times to ID cuckoo species from photos.
It is difficult to see the colour of the tail very well- if there is some yellow present in the tail then she could be a Bombus bohemicus or a Bombus vestalis.
If the tail is clean white with a obvious V-shaped notch in the top of it then she is likely to be a Forest cuckoo Bombus sylvestris as you have suggested.
The Forest cuckoo bees are fairly common and tend to attack the nest of Bombus pratorum (Early bumblebee).
So sorry for all the 'hedging my bets'- it's just the nature of photos really. In the hand it would be easier.
I hope someone else can be more definitive,
19 May 2014 07:34 PM #2
19 May 2014 09:33 PM #3
Another great photo.
Better view of the tail. You can see the strong yellow flash at the top of the white tail.
Most likely to be a Southern cuckoo bee Bombus vestalis.
Well done.
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Things to Consider When Investing in a Rangefinder for Golf:
here are many things to consider when choosing the very best rangefinder. Different features might trigger different results with respect to the player, the gear or the course. These aspects might include things such as range, optics, construct, cost and the model's brand. Read the following golf rangefinder reviews and you will get a crystal clear conception about golf rangefinder.
The particular device's capability to figure out distances is provided in its range. Many units can gauge distances close plus considerably. The maximum variety necessary for most golf players is just about 550 back yards. When measuring the length it really is helpful in the event that the machine can differentiate the target from other items.
The unit's screen shall present all the important info for distance readings. Some rangefinders shall include a background with a color tint or with crimson data. The glass found in the unit's zoom lens will also regulate how crystal clear the picture is perfect for the target as well as the precision of the information.
The construction from the rangefinder is really as essential as various other functions. A perfect rangefinder with be produced to resist various types of damage durably. It will include soft components on its exterior to facilitate gripping furthermore. The form and size of the machine will affect comfort as well based on how it will be held.
When on a tighter spending budget the cost of the rangefinder will end up being a substantial factor to make one last choice. Although it should not be considered a primary worry considering how important high quality is for this kind of gadget, it will be important for many still. Many effective rangefinders can be bought for about $300 or much less, however, many will definitely cost more than $500.
Some brands have much better reputations for creating dependable items. A person is had by these manufacturers satisfaction that leads customers toward suggesting the rangefinders a lot more than any other models. They could feature signature technologies that set them aside from competing brands also.
Forms of Hunting Rangefinders:
Rangefinders can usually end up being split into 2 categories: the ones that are usually allowed for competition make use of and the ones which are not.
Those that are believed legal only give a distance based on type of sight alone usually. Various other rangefinders that make up for the position from the shot or suggest which kind of night clubs to utilize aren't permitted for used in competitions.
Even though these regular legal rangefinders are just meant to give a type of sight distance they are able to also feature various other technologies that help out with acquiring a reading through.
Those that look at the angle or trajectory of a go, suggest clubs or element in the user's personal choices and environment are believed legal just beyond tournament make use of. Both tournament lawful and non-tournament golfing rangefinders come with sufficient features to provide the ball player the information she or he requirements.


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PHILADELPHIA - While celebrations on Franklin Field, Rhodes Field and inside The Palestra ended months ago, the student-athletes, coaches and staff of the football, sprint football, volleyball and women's soccer teams were reminded of their accomplishments this week as they began receiving their championship rings.
Designed by the teams in conjunction with Jostens, each ring features Penn's logo prominently on the face of the ring, with the football team changing out the usualy Red and Blue for a "Split P" made up entirely of stones. On the sides of each ring are varying markings highlighting undefeated seasons, championship games won, positions played and other important moments in the seasons.
The football, women's soccer and volleyball teams have begun receiving their rings already while sprint football will receive theirs Saturday night in a ceremony following the men's basketball game against Cornell.


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WASHINGTON About 30 years ago as a young reporter in Florida, I was assigned a series on gun control in response to gun violence, which had peaked in the U.S. in 1980.
I began the series with profiles of three gun users, including a woman who had killed her would-be rapist, the owner of a sport shooting club and a convicted murderer on death row at the Florida State Prison in Starke.
Most dramatic was the woman, who was attacked as she entered her apartment after work one evening. She had just moved in and boxes were stacked floor-to-ceiling, nary a broom nor a pot to use in self-defense.