Windows 8.1 Update 1 coming March 11?

Windows 8.1 Update 1 could include some under-the-hood changes to reduce memory and disk space requirements for cheaper tablets.

There's nothing like ending the week with a few fresh Windows rumors.

First up, the target release date for Windows 8.1 Update 1 -- the relatively minor update coming to Windows 8.1 this spring -- is allegedly March 11, according to one of my accurate and trusted sources. Yes, that's a Patch Tuesday. Given that Microsoft will likely deliver Update 1 to Windows 8.1 users via Windows Update, this seems pretty believable to me.

Windows leaker WZor previously indicated that Windows 8.1 Update 1 would likely be released to manufacturing in March, but didn't provide a specific date.

Your questions answered: additive manufacturing

Will we ever be able to 3D print an aircraft wing? Our panel of experts answers your questions on what additive manufacturing can and can’t do.

Additive manufacturing (AM) or “3D printing” (3DP) is now frequently referred to as a revolutionary technology that is changing the way products are designed and made. But what exactly is AM capable of beyond producing plastic models and bespoke dental implants?

Apple Said To Be Working On Apple TV Hardware Update, Native Game Support

Apple is rumored to be working on an Apple TV successor, planned for release in the first half of this year according to 9to5Mac. The update would be a set-top box just like its existing model, but with improvements to the new OS and additional content types, the report claims. A separate report out today from iLounge says that Apple will introduce native gaming support to the Apple TV, along with direct support for game controllers, which currently only work via connected iOS devices.

Opera’s Former CEO Launches Vivaldi, A New Community Site And Email Service

After Jon von Tetzchner left Opera in 2011, things went quiet around the company’s former CEO and Opera itself quickly went into a different direction under its new leadership. As part of that change, the company decided to shut down its My Opera community by March 1, 2014.

My Opera launched in 2001 as a support forum and a few years later, it morphed into a very active community site, with built-in blogs, photo sharing and other services that were often also integrated in the browser. While it’s mostly been under the radar of the tech press, the service still has close to 10 million users who will now be looking for a new place to call their online home.

Design of iPhone 6 'locked down,' claims analyst

Cowen and Company says the design of the iPhone 6 is decided. The investment firm also has something to say about the rumored 13-inch iPad.

How large will the iPhone 6's display be? It's a done deal at 4.8 inches, says Cowen and Company.

A consensus of analyst speculation is building for an iPhone that's not quite 5 inches.

After a spate of recent speculation about Apple's next iPhone, Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri has chimed in, claiming an iPhone 6 with a 4.8 inch display is locked down, as reported by AppleInsider. 

ANIMATRONICS

DEFINITION OF ANIMATRONICS

Animatronics is a field that uses sculpture, electronics, mechanics, and computer engineering to develop real-size dynamic creatures for films and theme parks.

They can be compared to puppets; only much smarter, much scarier and of great sizes. Film makers today, prefer having their creatures ‘live’ on the set so the human actors have a real co-star to act along with rather than using computer graphics at post production. Famous movie animatronics stars include the great dragon in Merlin and the gigantic Spinosaurus in Jurassic Park III.

How are these amazing effects created? Let’s go through few steps.

Delicious computing

Imagine being able to pick up an ordinary apple or banana and use it as a phone.

That’s part of the vision of ‘involved computing’, which is being developed by Japanese researchers. Many of the computers in our lives are camouflaged. Smartphones are more than phones, after all – but invoked computing would mean that computers would be everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

The idea is that in the future, computer systems could monitor an entire environment, watching your movements. Whenever you wanted to interact with a computer, you would just need to make a gesture. For example, if you picked up an apple, and connect your earphone to it or a banana and hold one end to your ear and the other to your mouth, the computer would guess that you wanted to use the phone. It would then use a fancy speaker system to direct the sound, so you would even hear the phone call as though it were coming from the apple or the banana.