Geek News

Logitech is making a big purchase to secure a foothold in high-end audio recording. Tonight, the company announced that it's acquiring Blue Microphones for $117 million. The all-cash transaction will result in Blue, known for USB condenser microphones including the Snowball and Yeti, joining Logitech's existing portfolio of brands. Aside from Logitech and Logitech G, the company also owns Astro Gaming, Jaybird, and Ultimate Ears. Yeah, it's putting together quite the roster. "For Logitech, this is a new space," the company wrote in its blog post announcing the deal . "But, at the same time, it's not at all. Gamers are already using our Logitech G webcams to stream. People are video calling with friends and family thanks to Logitech every... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts https://ift.tt/2mVa7rP ...

As the market for equipment needed by podcasters, streamers and other content creators grows, Blue Microphones has become a trusted and well-known name. Now Logitech has stepped in to acquire the company for about $117 million in cash. Both companies make headsets, but adding the microphones to Logitech's set of cameras is a natural fit. Said Blue CEO John Maier: "So here's the deal: all of us here at Blue will keep creating cool stuff for professional musicians, gamers, podcasters, YouTubers, and streamers; Logitech will help us conquer the world. It's a great partnership full of possibilities." As usual, the promises are that everything will be good, better and best, but we will have to wait and see if all of the products involved continue to maintain the quality customers (and listeners/viewers) have become accustomer to. Sou...

The Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle has been a long time coming. First announced as Project LiveWire back in 2014, the bike has gone through some design changes as well as becoming only one of the electric bikes the company plans to release over the next few years. Finally, though, it looks as if the LiveWire will be available next year. The news comes as part of Harley-Davidson's self-described accelerated strategy to inspire the next generation of bikers with its products. The LiveWire is being hailed as "the first in a broad, no-clutch 'twist and go' portfolio of electric two-wheelers designed to establish the company as the leader in the electrification of the sport," wrote the company in a press release. The image in the release is only a prototype and has the typical disclaimers saying that it's not for sale yet, might have di...

While Marvel takes a break before releasing its next comic book movie, the first part of its Avengers vs. Thanos battle arrives via video on-demand services packing two hours of extras. Starting tonight you'll be able to stream Avengers: Infinity War via iTunes, Vudu and all the rest before the Ultra HD Blu-ray version is released. Gamers can give Chasm's 2D action RPG stylings a try, Starz kicks off its Jay-Z-produced Trayvon Martin series and on Netflix there's Kelsey Grammer and Kristen Bell starring in Like Father . Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, includ ing trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed). Blu-ray & Games & Streaming Avengers: Infinity War (VOD) Overboard Mr. Destiny G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (4K) Counterpart (S1) Dark Crimes Star Wars Rebels (S4)...

WhatsApp teased that its messaging app would add a long-awaited group video calling feature several weeks ago, and it's finally here . Both Android and iOS users can now hold audio and video conversations with up to four people. You'll have to start a one-on-one call before you can add the other two people, but it's otherwise straightforward. WhatsApp reiterated that calls are "end-to-end encrypted" like its other chats, and promised that they should work in less-than-stellar netwo rk conditions. The addition gives WhatsApp an answer to rivals that have had the option for a while, like Skype . And it's arguably overdue. Over 1.5 billion people use WhatsApp every month, with some of them relying on it as their primary means of phone-based communication. This opens the door to group video calls for a significant chunk of that group, ...

Back at Facebook's F8 developer conference in May, WhatsApp announced that it would be bringing group calling with both voice and video support later on this year. Now, WhatsApp says the feature is live for users around the globe on iOS and Android starting today. The group calling feature supports up to four people simultaneously, regardless of where those people are. The company says it engineered the feature to work under less-than-stellar network conditions, so you can video chat a friend or family member from a far-flung locale so long as you can get yourself online. Calls are also end-to-end encrypted, like all chats on the platform. Image: WhatsApp Earlier this year, WhatsApp announced that it has 1.5... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts https://ift.tt/2uZPz66 ...

Google isn't holding back with its latest Chromebook commercial. The minute-long ad blasts you with Windows and macOS error messages, virus warnings, and blue screens of death all in an effort to demonstrate the simplicity of Chrome OS. Google's message is that its Chromebooks come with virus protection, automatic updates, all-day battery life, and a variety of Android apps. It's Google's first clear shot at both Windows and Mac laptops, and it comes nearly five years after Microsoft launched its own attacks at Chromebooks . Most of Google's criticisms of Windows and macOS would have made more sense years ago, though, as both Microsoft and Apple have addressed many of the infamous problems Google has chosen to highlight. Windows 10 ships... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts https://ift.tt/2LJJXX9 ...

The fight to keep 3D-printed gun designs off of the web continues as a number of states said on Monday that they would be jointly suing the Trump administration, Reuters reports. In a press release , Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said today that the states have requested an injunction to block online publication of the designs and have filed a lawsuit. Joining Washington in the endeavor are New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Oregon, Maryland and Washington, DC. The controversy centers on Defense Distributed, a firm that began publishing gun designs in 2013, but was told to stop soon thereafter by the US State Department. The agency said that the company's 3D-printed pistol designs were a violation of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. But in 2015, Defense Distributed, along with Second Amendment Foundation, filed a law...

Mozilla is redesigning the Firefox logo, with a little help from the rest of us. This time around, though, the plan isn't just to create one new icon for the flagship browser, but to design an entire series of icons to fit the brand's different ventures — from mobile and VR browsers, to screenshot and file sharing tools. Mozilla's already uploaded some possible takes , and now wants users to comment on its blog for feedback about what the icons should look like. "As an icon, that fast fox with a flaming tail doesn't offer enough design tools to represent this entire product family," Mozilla designers wrote in a blog post. That means looking past recoloring the logo or making the fox sleeker: Mozilla is starting from square one with many... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts https://ift.tt/2mTNfsJ ...

MoviePass' financial and technical problems keep getting worse . According to a Business Insider source , company chief Mitch Lowe not only told staffers that the service wouldn't offer tickets for the next two major movie releases this summer ( Christopher Robin and The Meg ), but hinted that this would be the pol icy for other movies in the near future. Viewers couldn't order tickets for Mission: Impossible - Fallout this past weekend, for that matter. A spokesperson wouldn't directly comment on the report, but did point to an open letter from Lowe that said "certain movies may not always be available in every theater." The decision may revolve around the cost of those tickets. MoviePass has to pay full price for each admission no matter how many screenings you attend, and that's particularly expensive when subscribers flock to ...