Technology Updateas From All Around The World: November 2013

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Ryse: Son of Rome preview

What is it? Ryse takes a trip to ancient Rome for some beautiful, bloodthirsty, hack-and-slash-action. What’s it on? Xbox One. When’s it out? 22 November 2013. Let’s state the obvious first: Xbox One’s poster child, Ryse: Son of Rome, looks absolutely stunning. Which is just as well really; if you’re going to spend USD $500 on a new, next-gen console, you want your games to positively sparkle. But, as the old mantra goes, graphics aren’t everything - and so we recently sat down with Ryse’s bloody, hack-and-slash action to see if it’s more than just a pretty face. How does it fare? Read on to find out. Please click on the image above to view the rest of the story

at the Xbox One from a technological standpoint, but what about those games? Here, for your reading pleasure, we’ve worked our way through the entire Xbox One launch line-up, bringing you our thoughts on those titles jostling for your wallet on day one. Want to know more? Then read on. Please click on the image above to view the rest of the story
It’s finally here: the biggest month in gaming since, ooh, ages. Yes, after one very long wait, the next generation of consoles is upon us. First Sony’s behemoth PlayStation 4 bursts onto the scene, before the

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh- In case you hadn't noticed, the Xbox One has launched and to celebrate it going on sale, Microsoft threw a number of big launch parties and events around the world. Here, Emanuel Jumatate from Chicago hugs his newest Xbox One after he purchased it at a Best Buy in Evanston. The Xbox One, which includes an updated Kinect motion sensor, cost $694/€514. Microsoft is billing it as an all-in-one entertainment system rather than just a gaming console. Click the image for more launch photos, including plenty of zombie action

where we learned all about the “all-in-one” box that has its sights set on your living room. We've also been playing one pretty much non-stop for the last couple of weeks - check out our full review for more details. Here’s all you need to know about Microsoft's new baby - direct from the people who’ve spent the last eight years making the new Xbox a reality…

Valve engineer Ben Krasnow has apparently confirmed that the company's PC-based gaming console called Steambox will release this year. German site Golem.de scooped up the important bits during a conference attended by Krasnow.

Krasnow confirmed that, as expected, the Steambox will be Linux-based. Valve CEO Gabe Newell previously said that despite being hosted on an open-source operating system, the console itself will be closed.

At CES 2013, NVIDIA unveiled its first venture into the gaming handheld market with Project Shield, 5-inch 'pure' Android gaming device that can not only play Android games but also stream any PC game to it.
Boasting a 'console-grade' game controller and an impressive 5-10 hour battery life, Project Shield can push 720p graphics, as well as 4K video and games straight to an external display. Project Shield will

Valve and computer-manufacturer Xi3 today announced a partnership to build the oft-rumored 'Steam Box'.
At CES today, Xi3 said that it has received 'an investment from Valve Corportation' to design and develop a 'new computer game system', and is on showcase at both Xi3 and Valve booths at the electronics show. The computer is optimized for game play on high-definition displays, and is specifically designed to support both Steam and Big Picture mode.

Previously only a prototype known as Project Fiona, Razer today at CES unveiled the final name and specifications of its power-packed tablet.

It's called Razer Edge and the company claims it's the 'most powerful tablet in the world'. It's not an exaggeration, either. Razer Edge will come in two varieties: Edge and Edge Pro. The Edge will come with Intel Core i5 processor, NVIDIA GT640 LE graphics card, 4GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD, while the Edge Pro will use an Intel Core i7, NVIDIA Gt640 LE, 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB SSD.

Cooler Master’s CM Storm line of products are designed for competitive PC gaming, with a lot of focus on LAN tournaments, so apart from having good hardware, it’s important to have some level of portability as well. And with the Quick Fire TK, Cooler Master sets out to do just that.
Size

With built-in screen and controls, the ability to play Android games AND stream games from your gaming PC / laptop, and its hookability to your tube set, Nvidia's Project Shield wowed us when we examined it at the company's booth at CES 2013.

In our Best of CES 2013 roundup, we'd probably pick the Oculus Rift as best of the show, but this comes at a close second. Teaser video below...

The trusty DualShock PlayStation controller may be on the way out. Reports on Friday suggest the PS4 will debut with a completely new controller with a touchscreen and biometric sensors.
Sony's DualShock controller has been one of the most iconic accessories of the console era, but the Japanese giant may be planning to put it out to stud when the PlayStation 4 arrives, potentially in the next few weeks.

The sequel to Temple Run, one of most successful and addictive games for iOS and Android, has been let loose on the App Store today, with a bunch of new features in toe.

With over 170 million downloads Temple Run is well and truly one of the best ways to waste time. If youre not familiar with the game, you control an explorer who is escaping from a temple while being chased by a gang of vicious monkeys

Microsoft's next iteration of its motion-sensing camera, Kinect 2.0, will be able to recognize more natural queries like Siri, according to source at The Verge. When paired with the next Xbox, users can power on the console by simply saying, 'Xbox on', or view their friends list by asking 'what are my friends playing?'.
Kinect 2.0 will also be able to produce specific results, and even suggest user-specific data when a user comes into view.

Real Racing 3, 1001 Attempts, The Silent Age, and 8 Ball Pool are this week's most exciting iOS games.
App Frenzy Friday will be coming to you every Friday to give you a sample of the iOS games we think you should be downloading right now. Youre guaranteed to get the most bang for your buck with these new weekly releases.
Real Racing 3 (FREE, Universal, 716MB)

Just days after tech specs for the next-gen Xbox console appeared online, it seems that PlayStation fans are able to get a taster of what to expect from Sony's next console. Videogames websiteKotakuhave published a story containing information they claim from official Orbis documentation about specs for the next-generation PlayStation.
The gaming site claims the files were shared with the site with SuperDae, an individual who attempted to sell next-gen Xbox dev kits on eBay last year, and who posted images online that appearedto show Kinect 2's ability to map clothes and fingerson his twitterfeed.

NVIDIA has announced that it's PC gaming optimization tool, GeForce Experience, is now available to public as an open beta.
The GeForce Experience uses hardware detection and a cloud database to find and set 'ideal' performance setting for your games. The software supports a total of 41 games, with the latest release adding support for FarCry 3, Mechwarrior Online, and Hawken. NVIDIA says it will continue adding more games with new releases.

For many, Gears of War was the reason they bought an Xbox. The game boasted amazing graphics, an eye-catching cast and third-person cover mechanics quite unlike anything else. Now, on the eve of the Xbox 360's demise, the Gears gang has returned for one last fling.
Just like with the PS3 and God of War: Ascension, the new Gears sort of ran out of storyline at the end of the last game. This means Judgment takes the prologue approach when it comes to story. But does it end things with a bang? We took charge of some massive ladies and gentlemen to find out.

Rockstar has released a whole stack of new screengrabs from its forthcoming fifth instalment (well, technically, 10th not including DLC and add-on packs) of the Grand Theft Auto franchise and while they won't make the rescheduled game release date come any faster, they may reveal a few clues.

Game of Thrones returned to UK screens on Monday night, US on Sunday, for its third season and so is bound to top Sky Atlantic's viewing charts for several weeks. It will also undoubtedly top another, less salubrious chart, aping former seasons' "honours" of being the most pirated TV shows globally.
However, the programming president of HBO doesn't care. In fact, he considers it a compliment.

The Doctor's space (and time) ship is a marvellous thing, celebrated by science-fiction fans worldwide - we have two of them on our desks here at Pocket-lint - but it's not real is it? It can't really fly? You can't take one for a spin.

Well, it will be able to soon, as a toy manufacturer in the US has had the cunning idea of taking the iconic police box and strapping two helicopter blades to the top, turning it into a remote-controlled flying TARDIS. One that zips through the air like the real (fictional) thing. Sort of.

Call of Duty is bringing E3 to its fans early. Join hosts Geoff Keighley and Justine Ezarik this Sunday for Call of Duty: Ghosts – All-Access, a live, 30-minute broadcast featuring an exclusive first look at gameplay levels from the title, as well as exclusive behind the scenes footage, interviews with the Infinity Ward team, and more.

Tune into Callofduty.com and other online destinations across the web or watch it on the Machinima app on Xbox 360, available in 41 countries, on Sunday, June 9th, at 11 am PT / 2 pm ET. Additional broadcast outlets to be announced.

The open-world hacking title Watch Dogs has been on many a gamer’s radar ever since it was announced at Ubisoft’s press conference at E3 last year. Before the start of this year’s expo, a new trailer for the title was leaked, displaying what could be the best game of the year.
While there will be a plethora of other titles unveiled, announced and demonstrated at E3 this year, which officially kicks off later today, Watch Dogs is one of the few new Intellectual Properties raising a number of eyebrows – and all for the right reasons.

DICE, a studio of Electronic Arts and developer of the Battlefield franchise, announced that the reboot to fan-favourite Mirror’s Edge is in early stages of development.

Mirror’s Edge was first introduced in 2008 and fans quickly elevated the game’s heroine Faith into a videogame icon. Gamers and critics worldwide praised its unique characters, highly stylized world and fresh take on first person action adventure.

Xbox One maker Microsoft today confirmed that there will be no need for a constant internet connection in order to play games on the new video games console.

When news emerged during this year’s E3 that gamers will have to verify games online once every 24 hours, the gaming community reacted with anger, causing many users to potentially jump ship to Sony and their PlayStation 4.

With the imminent release of Microsoft’s Xbox One gaming console, the company released a video in which Head of Programming Larry Hryb (Major Nelson) unpacks one of the first retail versions of the console. The video provides the first glimpse of what users will get in the retail box.
“Our own Major Nelson has created a special surprise and we couldn’t be more pumped to share this video with you. It’s kind of like opening that Christmas gift you’ve been eyeing under the tree, or the birthday surprise you’ve been awaiting. That’s right – we present to you – the

With the impending release of the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One in November, electronics company Nintendo announced a 2D version of their 3D handheld gaming console. The Nintendo 2DS is set to go on sale on 12 October.
The new device will be made available in red and blue and will retail for $129.99 in the American market. While there has been complaints from gamers that the 3D effect on the 3DS is too strong, Nintendo confirmed that all 3DS games will be compatible with the 2DS.

Users waiting Electronic Arts’ (EA) highly-anticipated first person shooter Battlefield 4, scheduled to launch on 29 October, will be able to get a first glimpse of the title when the game opens its doors to an open beta.

EA’s CEO Peter Moore wrote in a blog post that users will be able to download the beta on 1 October, and in doing so, will be able to learn the maps and plan routes before the title gets released on next-gen consoles such as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Rockstar Games is very proud to announce that Grand Theft Auto V is now available worldwide for the PlayStation3 and the Xbox 360, and also available for digital download from the PlayStation Network.
“Grand Theft Auto V was a massive undertaking for us, I’m so proud of what the team created,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “We cannot wait for people to finally play it.”

The Rockstar-developed Grand Theft Auto V title has entered the record books as the fastest-selling video game of all time. The title has achieved more than $1 billion during its first three days on sale, which equates to 12 million units in its first day (including pre-orders) and 16.5 million units in three days.

Grand Theft Auto V may have made over $1 billion in just three days but Rockstar is looking at the long game by introducing micro transactions
GTA Online will feature micro transactions after Rockstar released a blog post confirming that the multiplayer aspect of GTA V would allow players to spend real money on in-game currency.

In the third and final announcement of Valve's big week, the company has revealed the all-new Steam Controller for release in 2014
Valve has been making some big announcements this week and to round it all off the company has revealed the Steam Controller, a new gamepad for 2014.
The news coincides with Valve's previous announcements this week of SteamOS, a new Linux-based operating system for big screen gaming, and Steam Machines, a new line of consoles for release in 2014.

Games developer Rockstar has been struggling for the last month to rectify the online issues that have been plaguing their latest title, Grand Theft Auto Online. While the company is actively trying to correct the problems, they issued a statement on the progress of stimulus package and the free DLC pack that is due later next month.

Sony has released an unboxing video for the PlayStation 4 that spoofs the video for Daft Punk's Random Access Memories Unboxed

In case you haven't heard, the next generation of video game consoles is on the horizon and it's safe to say that both Sony and Microsoft are going to make every effort to ensure their consoles are on every gamer's wishlist.

The world of Grand Theft Auto Online gets even deeper with the Beach Bum update, now available on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

In order to keep GTA Online flexible and constantly evolving, the game is built to receive new content in a variety of ways including major paid expansions at specific points across the year, dropping additional content via regular title updates, and even the instant and seamless addition of jobs via the Rockstar Social Club.

Steadily and relentlessly, a feeling of anxiety spread among the four Pak sisters as they tried in vain to call their 80-year-old father, Song Pak.
"We were really starting to worry, because our mom was visiting us and he was alone," says Suzy Pak, 43, a financial consultant from San Francisco, whose siblings also live far from their childhood home near Santa Barbara. "Just before we called the police, he finally called us. He'd been gardening all day in the yard. So we decided we had to do something."

(EDITOR'S NOTE: In this guest opinion, Andrew Reid, president of online-community management company Vision Critical, explains what businesses must do to keep customers happy in the digital age.)
VANCOUVER -- Marketing has grown so important for businesses that brands are thinking solely with their marketer hats on, purely to meet customer needs.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A new SpaceX rocket will attempt its "toughest" mission Monday with a twilight launch of a type of satellite rarely seen around here anymore — one not owned by the U.S. government.
The planned 5:37 p.m. liftoff would be the company's first of an upgraded Falcon 9 rocket from Florida, after a test launch in California, and the first launch of a commercial communications satellite from Cape Canaveral, Fla., in four years.

(Editor's note: In this guest essay, Rajiv Gupta, founder and CEO of Skyhigh Networks, explains why layers of security are vital to protecting Internet cloud services.)
The digital universe containing our photos, videos, movies, banking data, health data, tax statements and more is doubling roughly every two years.

When we want to convey uncertainty or confusion, we often lean on words and phrases that make us sound like TV weathercasters — our outlook is hazy, it is obscured by mist, it is lost in the fog. Which makes it curious that vast swaths of the technology world these days are obsessed with marketing themselves as savvy about "cloud computing" — because nothing is cloudier than what the phrase itself means, or which companies are best poised to exploit it.

BlackBerry's chief operating and chief marketing officers are leaving, the latest shakeup in management following the company's decision to take itself off the market.
Kristian Tear, BlackBerry's COO, and chief marketing officer Frank Boulben will step down, while James Yersh will take over as chief financial officer. Former CFO Brian Bidulka will stay on as a special advisor to CEO John Chen until the end of the fiscal year.

Following a hot start after the launch of its initial public offering, Twitter shares have dipped below $40 as stocks in social media companies are plunging in Monday trading.
Twitter is down nearly 5% to $39.05 in midday trading. Facebook shares have sunk 4%, while recommendations service Yelp has dropped 8%.
Monday's decline in social stocks arrives as the Nasdaq broke through the 4000 mark for the first time since September 2000. Companies such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Yelp trade on the Nasdaq, while Twitter trades on the New York Stock Exchange.

Guides for making the switch from the iPhone to Android smartphones can be found with a quick Web search. But it's not often readers will spot one from the chairman of Google.
Eric Schmidt is using his Google+ profile to promote the company's popular operating system through a four-step guide for transitioning away from the iPhone.

If you thought dinosaurs were extinct, wait until you see all the mischief they are making during Dinovember! Refe and Susan Tuma
are using the reptiles to encourage their kids' wonder and imagination. Check out the cool photos in the video.

Whether you're doing all the holiday party prep on your own or family's pitching-in, prepping the perfect holiday get-together can push you right to the brink. Here are some of the top high tech kitchen tools to save the day – and your sanity.

The United States and Canada aren't the only places that celebrate Thanksgiving. While technically not a country, the International Space Station also joins us in celebrating the holiday.
Over 200 miles above the ground and traveling at about 17,000 mph, the ISS crew gives thanks with an out-of-this-world feast of their own. What could be better than regular Turkey Day?

Carl Icahn says we're in a bubble. Larry Summers says we're not. Financial media have debated the topic in recent weeks, and both sides have offered some seemingly irrefutable points. Low interest rates would tend to drive up asset prices; however, high unemployment would tend to hold them back. Stocks aren't historically overvalued, but then again the economy is historically weak. Corporate leverage is now at 2008 levels, and the picture is even worse overseas, but cash holdings are at record highs.

Amazon, rivals adapt to shorter holiday shopping season

SAN FRANCISCO -- This holiday shopping season will be the shortest in at least a decade, forcing e-commerce companies, including Amazon.com and eBay, to think up new tactics to grab as much festive spending as possible.
There are 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, compared to 32 last year. That presents risks and opportunities for online retailers and marketplaces.

(Editor's note: In this guest essay, Timothy R. Sample, Vice President, Special Programs Organization,
Battelle Memorial Institute, outlines why the U.S. needs to establish a clear policy on things cyber.)
How will the United States lead in this new era of cyber technologies?
U.S. foreign policy and national security must now take into account the cyber dimension. At the moment, there is a lack of clarity. We do not know what we want to achieve through cyberwarfare.

Well-known and well-loved, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones tend to be aimed toward fashion-conscious consumers more than serious audiophiles. With this year's update to their Studio over-ear headphones (MSRP $299.95), Beats managed to deliver noise cancellation with bass-forward beats and style to spare.
As with the rest of the Beats line, the Studios are image-obsessed, and the spiffy design is largely what you're paying for here. The glossy plastic bands come in black, red, orange, and white varieties; the removable, tangle-resistant red cables are made with quality materials; the three-

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Sony has released an unboxing video for the PlayStation 4 that spoofs the video for Daft Punk's Random Access Memories Unboxed

Monday, 25 November 2013