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Engadget News |
- Mad Catz anticipates Wii U launch with line of gaming peripherals
- Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video)
- Virgin Mobile may be next up for pay-as-you-go iPhone parade on July 1st
- Turtle Beach unveiling more headsets at E3, Black Ops II and Wii U licensed gear in tow
- Apple possibly held back by Google for years on iOS' Maps features, might bring turn-by-turn nav to WWDC
- Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3
- Nintendo confirms Wii U shipping 'this holiday'
- Engadget pre-event broadcast from E3 - Nintendo
- Windows Phone Marketplace surpasses 100,000 app submissions
- Nintendo: two Wii U Gamepads will work on one system (update 2: but at a cost - and now with video)
- Nintendo Wii U will offer Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and Amazon Video, second-screen experiences promised
- Google acquires Quickoffice, expands cloud-based app suite for enterprise
- OnLive's E3 blowout includes new games, easy in-browser access, MultiView and LG's Google TV
- Live from Nintendo's E3 2012 keynote!
- $99 Xbox 360 and Kinect bundle rolling out to Best Buy and GameStop this month
- Nintendo's black Wii U, first eyes-on
- Peter Molyneux reveals first game from his new studio: Curiosity coming to iOS and PC
- SanDisk's new iNAND Extreme flash storage forms part of Tegra 3 'reference designs'
- Gaikai-powered cloud gaming coming to Samsung Smart TVs
- AverMedia rolls out AverTV box PVR, likely targeting budget-minded ad-skippers
- GoPro's WiFi BacPac and Remote available for helmets and wrists everywhere (video)
- AT&T officially acknowledges Samsung Exhilarate's existence, will be available on June 10th for $50
- We're liveblogging Nintendo's E3 2012 keynote at 12PM ET!
- Belkin upgrades its Thunderbolt Express Dock even before it's available
- Nyko's Power Grip Pro gets cozy with the Nintendo 3DS, comfortably extends mobile gaming sessions
- Dell unveils Inspiron 14z Ultrabook, multimedia-friendly Inspiron 15R and 17R
- Alienware M17x and M18x land new NVIDIA GTX680M graphics option
- Google Fiber GFHD100 'IP set-top box' breezes through the FCC, doesn't say where it's headed
- Toshiba refreshes its Portege and Tecra lines, prices start at $1,179
- Toshiba updates Portege Z835 Ultrabook with Ivy Bridge, renames it the Z935
- Toshiba intros 14-inch Satellite U845 Ultrabook, prices start at $699
- SimCity Social finds a home on Facebook, destiny winks in approving fashion
- Blindsquare uses Foursquare data to guide the visually impaired
- NTT DoCoMo's augmented 3D chat system lets you have your virtual cake
- Possibly fake MacBook Pro spec sheet: USB 3.0, Ivy Bridge and no Retina Display
- Garmin outs motorcycle-centric zumo 350LM
- Intel shows off wireless keyboard that re-juices via inductive charging (video)
- Intel demos Bluetooth-based anti-theft alarm for Ultrabooks, we go hands-on (video)
- NASA gets two 'Hubble-class' military telescopes, fist-pumps with joy
- Scientists use bilayer graphene to develop extra-sensitive photodetector
| Mad Catz anticipates Wii U launch with line of gaming peripherals Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:33 AM PDT Mad Catz is, quite literally, gearing up for the Wii U's impending holiday launch. Aligned neatly with Nintendo's keynote at E3 today, the accessory maker's outing a host of peripherals intended to play nicely with the gaming titan's next gen, tablet-y splash. Prospective early adopters eyeing what the Big N's selling can look forward to a pair of Wiimote- and Wii U GamePad-compatible Power Up ChargeDocks, a FlipStand protective cover and a TRITTON Kunai headset which will also work across Sony's current gaming platforms. There's no pricing available yet for this add-on kit, but the lineup should make its market bow in step with the console's looming launch. Hit up the break to peruse the official pressers. Mad Catz® Announces New Range of Wii U™ Products San Diego – June 5, 2012 – Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. ("Mad Catz") (NYSE MKT: MCZ) announced today a full range of products compatible with the forthcoming Wii U console from Nintendo. The full line-up of Wii U compatible products is expected to ship in time for the launch of the console and includes the TRITTON Kunai™ Stereo Gaming Headset, PowerUp™ ChargeDock and the FlipStand™ Protective Cover. "We're excited to supporting Wii U with a full range of accessories including our new headset," said Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. "The new range is part of our strategy to bring innovative products to passionate consumers." Additional information available at: www.madcatz.com/wiiu Mad Catz® Announces New Range of TRITTON™ Kunai™ Stereo Gaming Headsets San Diego – June 05, 2012 – Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. ("Mad Catz") (NYSE MKT: MCZ) announced today the Kunai range of stereo gaming headsets being released under the Company's TRITTON audio brand. The Kunai headset is expected to be available this Holiday on the Wii U™ console from Nintendo, the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system, the PlayStation® Vita portable entertainment system, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system from Sony. Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. stated, "The release of the Kunai range expands our TRITTON gaming headsets to all major hand-held, console, and PC gaming platforms." Additional information available at: www.madcatz.com/kunai |
| Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video) Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:15 AM PDT Nintendo's pre-E3 media briefing has wrapped up and the doors have opened, doors containing the latest and final revision of the Wii U hardware. Reggie & Co. failed to give us any concrete launch details beyond "holiday" this year, so we can't quite be sure of a date or a price or, really, much of anything. But, we do know about more of the launch titles. NintendoLand is, apparently, the premiere title, a sort of touchscreen-friendly version of Wii Sports that digs up many of the company's storied brands and squeezes them into mini-game format. How does it play? And, how is the new, refined Wii U controller? Join us after the break to find out! Hardware The Wii U controller is subtly different than we saw last year. As unveiled in the pre-show briefing with Iwata-san the hardware's had some subtle tweaks made. Biggest among them is the change from circle sliders to proper analog joysticks for each thumb, a change that might help to improve precision to some degree, but doesn't result in a drastically different feel. Speaking of feel, the controller is still very light, something we noted last year and immediately noticed this year as well. Since all the controllers are tethered we have to imagine they lack the onboard battery packs that will increase heft, but if you were worried that waving around a giant tablet will get tiring, well, don't sweat it. Nintendo did confirm that you'll be able to use two of the things with the Wii U console, answering a question that we've had for the past year now and assuaging concerns that wireless bandwidth wouldn't be sufficient to support two wireless displays. How much extra controllers will cost, and how many developers will write games that expect players to have made that extra investment, remains to be seen. Some of the buttons have been moved as well, notably Select and Start, which previously flanked the Home button. They've now moved to the side, beneath the main face buttons. A "TV" button has been added to the left of the power button and the triggers are slightly wider and more pronounced. The stylus moved too, how situated on the back-right rather than the left. Like most Nintendo controllers, the Wii U gamepad is comfortable to hold in the hand and feels quite durable. Lengthy gaming sessions should be no problem. NintendoLand and other softwareThere will be 12 total games for NintendoLand, but Nintendo's only showing off a subset of them for now. Why? Partly for the intrigue, but we're also guessing that some of them simply aren't done yet. The majority of these games are extremely simple affairs, titles that will entertain immediately but will live or die by their replayability. Again, it's just like Wii Sports, a mish-mash of games that somehow managed to be fresh even after hundreds of playings. Will these games feel as fresh? Luigi's Ghost MansionThis is the game that was given a very, very lengthy demo in Nintendo's briefing and threatened to put nearly everyone in the Nokia Theater asleep. Fear not: it's a heck of a lot more fun to play than it is to watch. It borrows heavily from the Luigi's Mansion games but mixes that with Pac-Man-style gameplay for a multiplayer-match that is fun -- at least for a few minutes. Up to four players can take Wiimotes and control multi-colored Luigis. These guys have only their flashlights and their wits to find the ghost. The ghost is, naturally, invisible unless illuminated by one of the players' flashlights -- flashlights that, naturally, have crummy batteries that die after about 30 seconds of use. The players are otherwise blind and have to work together, communicating verbally to chase down the ghost through the maze. Meanwhile, the cunning ghost player, who has a Wii U gamepad, can see the entire board. He's trying to avoid the flashlights and sneak up on the human players to capture them. If he captures them he wins -- if he gets captured, the human players win. If it sounds like fun, it is, and it doesn't hurt that the ghost is dressed up like Pac-Man. Will it stand up after a couple-dozen plays? That remains to be seen. PanoramaViewNintendo was showing off a feature by the name of PanaromaView, as well. Turn it on and the control pad will give you a list of locales you can choose from -- things like a double-decker bus and a tour of the cherry blossom trees of Japan. We opted for the latter, scrolled down with the d-pad and selected with the A button. Once fired up, the controller showed a trip down a river, with cherry blossoms in full bloom. The key here is that you can move the controller around to get a full 360-degree picture. Imagine the Wii U controller as a window that you're looking through, move it up, down, left or right and you'll get a view of the image in the corresponding place. The video itself was crisp, though there were a few blurry spots, primarily toward the ground -- a similar effect to the one you get from Google Maps stitching. The company's rep was careful to point out that this is an "experience," not a game, which is to say the the company was just showing off the technology's potential, rather than a title the system will actually ship with the console. It's a feature that will be incorporated into titles to give players the full immersive experience. More game impressions to come... Wrap-up A year later, the Wii U looks and feels much like it did when we played with it last year. Still we've only had time with a selection of mini-games and still we don't know how much it'll cost or when it'll ship. With no proper guidance on those fronts it's hard to make a prediction on just how much of a must-buy the console is this holiday season, but surely by now most Nintendo fans will have already made up their minds on that front. |
| Virgin Mobile may be next up for pay-as-you-go iPhone parade on July 1st Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:10 AM PDT It might be that Cricket's iPhone deal is just the tip of the prepaid iceberg: insiders reportedly say that Sprint's pay-as-you-go brand Virgin Mobile will be taking the Apple plunge as well. Details of what it will cost are still very much unknown, although we'd look to Cricket's $500 unsubsidized iPhone 4S and $35 monthly plan as strong clues. If the WSJ's connections are accurate, though, we could see a Virgin iPhone for the US as soon as its northern neighbor Canada blows out the birthday candles, on July 1st. At this rate, the only American carrier of any kind without an iPhone will be T-Mobile, and it's clear that this glaring exception is eager to hop onboard. |
| Turtle Beach unveiling more headsets at E3, Black Ops II and Wii U licensed gear in tow Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT If you thought Turtle Beach was only announcing its MLG-approved gaming headsets at E3, let us tell you that those are only a sliver of everything it plans to offer this fall. As per usual with most Call of Duty releases, you can expect a barrage of Black Ops II headsets from the company when it hits shelves, including the Ear Force Earbuds, Tango, Sierra, X-ray and Kilo and priced $80 to $300. You can expect LED lights, Bluetooth functionality, and virtual surround sound on some of the more expensive models. Moving along, TB has partnered with Nintendo to created licensed headsets for the Wii U that'll also work for the 3DS, and a we're told prototype model will be on display at the show floor. As if that weren't enough, a new series of smaller "La" ear-blasters have also been detailed. You'll have choice between the USB-powered PLa (PS3) XLa (Xbox) which feature 40mm drivers, independent game and chat controls, microphone monitoring and bass boost functionality for when you need more wub. A computer version dubbed XLa will also be available, stripping away most of the aforementioned features in favor of 4-pole 3.5mm jack for easy compatibility between your devices. Lastly, the M7 has been added to the company's lifestyle lineup, featuring 50mm drivers, an inline remote / mic, a faux-leather headband and memory foam earcup pads for noise isolation. There's no word on pricing or availability for the LA and M-series headsets -- nor are any images available yet for the Black Ops II headsets -- but you'll find more details on everything mentioned in the press release after the break. We'll be sure to update you with more info when we have it. TURTLE BEACH STORMS E3 WITH NEW AND ADVANCED LINE-UP OF Audio Technology Experts Feature Theater Experience, Tournament Area and New Products VALHALLA, N.Y. & LOS ANGELES – June 5, 2012 – Turtle Beach, pioneers and market-leaders of the gaming headset category, is pleased to unveil its new fall lineup at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Turtle Beach has created a 6,000 square foot both that will showcase new products and a dedicated theater showcase featuring an immersive audio experience. In addition, Turtle Beach will also underscore its commitment to competitive gaming by offering attendees a tournament showcase. The tournament area, theater experience and full line of gaming audio products are available via its E3 booth; Los Angeles The Turtle Beach Ear Force theater experience offers E3 attendees a unique and innovative audio presentation to demonstrate the importance of audio in the gaming experience. Through a custom system utilizing a 270-degree screen, three projectors and headset integration the presentation highlights Turtle Beach's advanced audio. Products debuting at E3 2012 from Turtle Beach include: Ear Force M7: The latest in the M-series line of headsets designed for mobile gaming, the M7 The M7 also provides the option to customize its look and feel with interchangeable speaker Ear Force ZLa: A PC Gaming Headset, compatible with Windows and Mac systems, featuring Ear Force PLa & XLa: These amplified gaming headsets are designed for PlayStation 3 and The MSRP and availability date for the Ear Force ZLa, PLa, XLa and M7 will be announced in the coming months. In addition to these products, Turtle Beach has also announced a comprehensive product and marketing partnership with Major League Gaming and Activision, as well as a licensing agreement with Nintendo. Licensed gaming headsets for Nintendo's Wii U™ Limited Edition Call of Duty®: Black Ops® II Gaming Headsets Comprehensive Major League Gaming Partnership To learn more about Turtle Beach, visit its booth at E3 in Los Angeles from June 5-7 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, #2447, or visit its website at http://www.turtlebeach.com.
TURTLE BEACH ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH NINTENDO TO DEVELOP OFFICIALLY LICENSED HEADSETS FOR Wii U™ AND NINTENDO 3DS™
Turtle Beach Brings Premium Stereo Sound Quality and Crystal Clear Built-In Chat to Nintendo's Newest Console VALHALLA, N.Y. & LOS ANGELES – June 5, 2012 – Turtle Beach, pioneers and market-leaders of the gaming headset category, today announce an agreement with Nintendo, worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, for an officially licensed line of Wii U™ gaming headsets in anticipation of the new console. "We are very excited to be working with Turtle Beach to launch new gaming headsets for Wii U," said Steve Singer, Vice President of Licensing, Nintendo of America Inc. "The Wii U launch will be one of the biggest new game console events of the year and we couldn't be more excited to support Wii U with a line of headsets," said Bob Picunko, Chief Marketing Officer of Turtle Beach. "The advanced capabilities of the upcoming Wii U allow us to take full advantage of the technology we've developed and deliver gamers the kind of quality they fully expect from both Turtle Beach and Nintendo." To learn more about Turtle Beach, visit its booth at E3 in Los Angeles from June 5-7 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, #2447, or visit its website at http://www.turtlebeach.com.
TURTLE BEACH TO DEBUT LIMITED EDITION CALL OF DUTY®: BLACK OPS II GAMING HEADSETS Turtle Beach, Activision Publishing, Inc. and award-winning game developer Treyarch are collaborating on every facet of the line, from design to the unique features of each model, offering select compatibility across most major platforms. As with last year's highly successful launch of Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 headset models, Turtle Beach will work with Activision to deploy an extensive mix of marketing, media and retail initiatives to support the new line. "Turtle Beach is honored to be working with Treyarch and Activision on a line of new headsets for the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops II," said Bob Picunko, Chief Marketing Officer at Turtle Beach. "Whether you are a hardcore multiplayer gamer or a casual mobile player, the goal in the development of these new headsets is to allow the player to hear the game the way the developer intended." The Call of Duty®: Black Ops II Ear Force lineup is built with the latest in video game audio technology and is comprised of five products; Ear Force TANGO, Ear Force SIERRA, Ear Force X-RAY, Ear Force KILO and Ear Force EARBUDS. Each limited edition model contains a unique feature set, special packages, bonus content and a price point suitable for casual gamers to serious competitors. These models are specifically designed to enhance the audio experience across each scenario within the epic gameplay of Call of Duty®: Black Ops II, while placing the technology of the future in gamer's hands today. Ear Force TANGO – The top of the line Tango headset offers Call of Duty: Black Ops II fans a sleek, premium design combined with Bluetooth, Wireless Dolby Surround Sound and programmable presets for the ultimate audio experience across the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The Tango can be loaded with unique Call of Duty: Black Ops II voice prompts and exclusive audio presets custom-created with Treyarch to create a signature game experience. Players also have the option of configuring personalized presets to customize game, chat and mic audio for different gaming scenarios. In addition, the Tango's wireless radio features Turtle Beach's new dual band Wi-Fi technology and operates via a rechargeable battery for up to 15 hours of uninterrupted gameplay. MSRP: $299.99 Ear Force EARBUDS – The Ear Force Earbuds are the ideal audio solution for gamers looking to display their dedication to Call of Duty: Black Ops II and enjoy premium quality audio while gaming, talking or listening to music, on their mobile phones or tablets. Its inline microphone provides crystal-clear communication for hands-free calling or chatting during online game play, while its ear gels and design are optimized to eradicate ambient noise and provide optimal comfort. MSRP: $69.99 |
| Posted: 05 Jun 2012 10:40 AM PDT The tales of Apple possibly dumping Google Maps as the backend for iOS 6's Maps app are gathering steam, but we're now learning just how much forethought may have gone into the split. According to the WSJ's favorite tipsters, "people familiar with the matter," Apple isn't just hoping to spurn Android -- it's reacting to push-back it got years earlier. Google supposedly delayed Street View, and blocked Google Maps Navigation outright, as it wasn't getting the limelight for branding and couldn't push in social tracking services that tend to make a privacy-sensitive Apple jittery, like Latitude. The August 2009 buyout of Placebase was ground zero for Apple's shift, which saw subsequent deals for Poly9 and C3 Technologies flesh out the project. As for the end results? They supposedly include turn-by-turn navigation that mimics an "in-car GPS device," and regular mapping should now be free to integrate with other apps: Calendar might warn you if a traffic jam on Interstate 280 will affect that appointment at 1 Infinite Loop, as an example. We might not have long to wait for the truth behind the new tips and earlier leaked shots, as the contacts believe Apple could show its Maps overhaul when WWDC starts next week. |
| Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3 Posted: 05 Jun 2012 10:32 AM PDT Every June, Nyko outs all sorts of gaming peripherals at E3, and this year is no different. It's latest is the ambidextrous Free Fighter arcade-style joystick for PS3 that can be set up for either left- or right-handed gamers. It can be further customized to suit button-mashers of all styles with two variable-speed turbo keys and four programmable macros to let you perform complex combos with a single press. Plus, every button's backlit, and the whole thing comes with a detachable, expandable base to keep it from sliding around in your lap while you're hurling hadoukens and slinging sonic booms. It'll hit store shelves in September with $180 price tag, but if you can't wait until then, check the gallery of press pics below and stay tuned for our hands-on from the E3 show floor. Nyko Introduces Android Tablet Controllers and Arcade-Quality PlayStation®3 Fight Stick at E3 Diversified Product Lineup for Expanded Game Audiences LOS ANGELES – June 5, 2012 –Nyko Technologies®, the leading gaming peripherals manufacturer, unveiled their latest products at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). A stalwart exhibitor at the game industry's headline event, Nyko this year announced a bold new product line designed to enhance our experience with the evolving range of consoles, handhelds and mobile devices that today's gamers enjoy. "With the tablet evolving into a dedicated gaming platform, it becomes our duty to supply the gamer embracing these devices with the controls and functionality they are accustomed to," said Chris Arbogast, director of marketing, Nyko Technologies. "At the same time we have introduced our Free Fighter arcade stick that caters to the fans of fighting games who need precision control and customization options." Nyko's E3 2012 product line-up includes: The PlayPad Pro is Nyko's full-sized wireless Bluetooth® gaming controller for Android tablet devices. The controller features dual analog sticks, a d-pad, face buttons and shoulder bumpers for a console-style control experience on Android devices. The PlayPad's utilizes a new standard HID protocol supported by today's leading Android developers and hardware manufacturers. Nyko's complementary Playground app will offer backwards compatibility for other Android games and a variety of button-mapping features, including customized controller layout. The PlayPad Pro will be available at select retail stores nationwide Holiday 2012. The PlayPad is a travel-sized tablet controller with dual analog sliders, and includes a collapsible tablet stand and carrying case for console-like precision gaming on the go. Like the PlayPad Pro, the PlayPad controller utilizes the new HID protocol, Nyko's Playground app and works with any Bluetooth-enabled device running Android 3.0 or higher. The PlayPad will be available at select retail stores nationwide Holiday 2012. The Free Fighter for PlayStation®3 is an arcade-quality fight stick with eight face buttons, and a unique ambidextrous design for right or left-handed use. Compatible with all standard fighting games, the Free Fighter is made with authentic Japanese Sanwa® Denshi arcade-quality parts and includes an expandable base for comfort and security during lap-top use. The Free Fighter includes four fully customizable macro buttons for quick access to combos, as well as two variable speed turbo buttons for fast, slow or user-created tap speed. The Free Fighter will be available at select retail stores nationwide in September 2012 and will retail for an MSRP of $179.99. The Power Grip Pro for the Nintendo 3DS is an analog slider controller case with extended battery. The hard protective case helps to prevent scratches and dings, and the ergonomic design provides optimal comfort and control. Gamers will enjoy the added control and functionality of the analog slider as well as triple the playtime. The Power Grip Pro for Nintendo 3DS will be available at select retail stores nationwide in October 2012. The Power Grip for the PlayStation® Vita is an ergonomic grip with built-in rechargeable battery that enables a better hold on the Vita with controller-like grips and up to three times the battery life. The device snaps over the back of the Vita while allowing access to all buttons and the rear touch panel. The Power Grip for the Vita will be available at select retail stores nationwide in August 2012 and will retail for an MSRP of $29.99. Nyko will also be showing off the latest versions of upcoming items in their Yo Gabba Gabba! product line including Muno Time – the singing, dancing alarm clock charging dock, and the Brobee Hip Pack, a fuzzy, soft carrying case for your handheld or mobile devices. Muno Time will be available at select retail stores nationwide in September 2012 and will retail for an MSRP for $129.99. The Brobee Hip Pack will be available September 2012 and will retail for an MSRP of $29.99. All of these products will be on display at Nyko's E3 booth located in the LA Convention Center, West Hall, #5000.
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| Nintendo confirms Wii U shipping 'this holiday' Posted: 05 Jun 2012 10:13 AM PDT Nintendo has just confirmed what we've expected all along. Its next generation console, the Wii U, will be launching this holiday. As Nintendo mentioned earlier, there's no definitive word on pricing, quite yet. The company did confirm, however, that the touchscreen-friendly console will launch with the new multi-player NintendoLand title. |
| Engadget pre-event broadcast from E3 - Nintendo Posted: 05 Jun 2012 09:45 AM PDT We've made it to the last of the big three pre-show events -- it's Nintendo's turn. As our liveblogging juggernaut stirs to action, ready to spit out news nuggets as fast as Nintendo can fire, why not reacquaint yourself with what we reckon the gentle Japanese giant's going to show us. Our pre-event broadcast is uploaded and ready for consumption, right after the break.
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| Windows Phone Marketplace surpasses 100,000 app submissions Posted: 05 Jun 2012 09:42 AM PDT Hitting the big six digits is no small feat for an app store, so it's definitely worth celebrating. Taking just over five months to double its numbers, the Windows Phone Marketplace has now seen 100,000 applications submitted since its humble beginnings, and now enjoys an average daily submission count of 313 apps. As a disclaimer, this doesn't mean we currently have access to all hundred-thousand apps -- just over 10,000 of them are no longer available, which translates into 88,371 apps being live somewhere in the world. Still, the milestone is an important one because only two other app stores have made it this far (we bet you can guess which ones). The Marketplace reached this mark five months faster than the Android Market, but three months slower than the iOS App Store. Given the popularity of both competitors, we'd say that developer growth has been strong and steady for Windows Phone -- and with an exciting 'sneak peek' of the OS's future (Apollo) coming up in a couple weeks, the trend is likely to continue increasing at an exponential pace. |
| Nintendo: two Wii U Gamepads will work on one system (update 2: but at a cost - and now with video) Posted: 05 Jun 2012 09:26 AM PDT Nintendo broke a few hearts when it initially said the Wii U would only support one of its unique Gamepads. Much to our delight, the company just said in its live keynote that the final console will support two. As such, it'll be possible to have truly equal two-player games instead of relegating a friend to the old-fashioned Wii remote and Nunchuk. Of course, how much that extra Gamepad will cost we have yet to know -- along with whether or not it'll be possible to have strictly Gamepad-to-Gamepad titles that skip the TV entirely. We expect to find out soon. Update: In a follow-up, Nintendo Japan has posted on Twitter that there's a price to pay if two Gamepads are active. Frame rates drop to about 30 fps if two are active; any games that really want that extra controller won't be quite as glass-smooth. On the upside, it's possible to switch one off with a smooth transition; there won't be a need for theatrics just to switch to a solo game. Update 2: Nintendo has put out a video tour of the Gamepad that you can check out after the break. |
| Posted: 05 Jun 2012 09:22 AM PDT Nintendo President Satoru Iwata himself may have dropped word of Netflix support on the Wii U last year, but the company's now fully confirmed that and a whole lot more during its E3 keynote today. In addition to Netflix, the console's streaming video options will include Hulu, YouTube and Amazon Video. Unfortunately, the company didn't delve much into specifics beyond that, but it did confirm in a press release that it's working with those companies on video services that will "take advantage of the integrated second-screen experience." It's also clear that Nintendo is putting a much bigger emphasis on video and entertainment on the Wii U than it did on the original Wii -- "Games, Social, Entertainment" are the key words, as it puts it. |
| Google acquires Quickoffice, expands cloud-based app suite for enterprise Posted: 05 Jun 2012 09:16 AM PDT What's a search giant with nigh endless cash reserves to do? Acquire, acquire, acquire -- that's what. In keeping with its recent track record, Google's taken yet another company under its ever expansive wing with the purchase of Quickoffice. The move, no doubt positioned to further the company's reach in enterprise cloud services, should enhance its existing portoflio of GApps and, by logical extension, Docs. It's safe to say that the company just bought itself an existing suit-and-tie user base and a mobile future filled with even more native productivity applications. Check out the source below for Mountain View's official release. |
| OnLive's E3 blowout includes new games, easy in-browser access, MultiView and LG's Google TV Posted: 05 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT OnLive launched in the summer of 2010 streaming games to PCs or Macs, and now two years later it has returned to E3 feeling pretty good about the state of cloud gaming and its place in it. Among a series of announcements going out are news that it will be demonstrating gaming on smart TVs for the first time on LG's G2 Google TVs with support for up to four universal OnLive controllers at once. The Google TV viewer app has been out, although OnLive gaming has been closely tied to Vizio's upcoming Google TV models in the past while LG showed off Gaikai access at CES. It's not available on retail units yet, but is expected to be added in a software update, with an eye towards adding support for Cinema 3D gaming later on. At the same time it's rolling out an update to its in-browser gaming clients that lets publishers and retailers launch players into games without creating a login. Finally, we've got the new OnLive MultiView feature that lets players see the video stream of another player without exiting their own session. As suggested in the press release (all are included after the break), it can let you check in on a friend's game as it happens, or even see from a teammate's perspective during a co-op match. That feature is currently in closed beta and is set to launch later this year, read on for all the details about what OnLive is up to and a list of games coming soon that includes Darksiders II, Civilization V: Gods and Kings and more. OnLive Showcases Exclusive Game Previews at E3 Previews of Darksiders II, Sid Meier's Civilization® V: Gods & Kings, London 2012 and Ravaged Playable at OnLive's E3 Booth Los Angeles, Calif. (E3 Expo, 2012) - June 5, 2012 - OnLive, Inc., the pioneer of on-demand cloud gaming, announced today that it will add a slew of new video games and innovative social capabilities to its cloud gaming platform this year, many of which can be experienced for the first time ever at OnLive's Booth #535, South Hall at the Electronic Entertainment Expo from June 5-7 in Los Angeles. In addition to exclusive previews of the highly anticipated titles London 2012™ and Ravaged, OnLive will demonstrate next-generation social features such as OnLive MultiView, which will transform the way people play by empowering gamers to spectate multiple live games while playing a game. Exclusive Previews of the Hottest Games A comprehensive list of coming soon games, including exciting additions such as Hitman™: Absolution, Metro: Last Light and Aliens™: Colonial Marines is included at the end of this release. "OnLive continues to pioneer exciting new experiences that are instantly and easily accessible for everyone," said Steve Perlman, OnLive Founder and CEO. "OnLive cloud technology is the future, and we are thrilled to continue to bring its unique capabilities to light to a broader audience." New Releases Coming to the OnLive Game Service • Aliens: Colonial Marines For a complete list of current OnLive titles or to find out more about OnLive, visit www.onlive.com or www.onlive.co.uk. OnLive Cloud Gaming Demonstrated on LG Smart TVs with Google TV Hundreds of Top-tier Games Playable Instantly On-Demand with No Console Needed; Los Angeles, Calif. (E3 Expo, 2012) - June 5, 2012 - OnLive, Inc., the pioneer of on-demand cloud gaming, is demonstrating the OnLive® Game Service on the next-generation LG Smart TV with Google TV (G2 Series) from LG Electronics at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) here this week. Capitalizing on the power of LG's L9 dual-core processor, the service would make hundreds of top-tier video games from more than 60 publishers playable on-demand, without a console or PC. When the service becomes available, LG G2 TV owners will also enjoy free instant access to exclusive OnLive social features such as worldwide massive spectating, the brand-new OnLive MultiView spectating capability, Brag Clip™ video recording and Facebook sharing. Previews of the OnLive LG TV experience will be shown publicly for the first time at OnLive Booth #535, South Hall at the Electronic Entertainment Expo from June 5-7 in Los Angeles. Select 3D games, using the popular LG CINEMA 3D glasses, are planned for a future software update. With just a few taps of the Universal OnLive Wireless Controller or any compatible game controller, LG G2 TV owners will be able to jump in and play OnLive's growing library of hundreds of top-tier, console-class video games on-demand. Instant demos are available for nearly every game-from eagerly anticipated indie titles like Ravaged to hot blockbusters such as the upcoming Darksiders® II-so players can experience up to 30 minutes of each game free before deciding what to buy, and then continue playing where the demo left off. Games can be purchased a la carte, or players can subscribe to OnLive's revolutionary PlayPack subscription service for unlimited on-demand play of more than 220 games, with more titles added weekly. When players are away from their OnLive LG TV, all of their OnLive games are available-with full game saves and achievements-on almost any PC or Mac®, tablet or smart phone wherever there is broadband, whether in a different room in the house, or in a different country in the world. In addition to instant-action gameplay, an OnLive Game Service account enables users to watch millions of gamers from around the world play live in the massive spectating Arena, voice chat with other players and spectators, capture Brag Clip videos of their best and worst gameplay and share their gaming exploits with friends on Facebook. Exclusive to OnLive, users can now even spectate and chat with friends and teammates in OnLive's new MultiView mode while continuing to play their own game, adding an engaging new social dimension to OnLive gaming. With MultiView, gamers will not only be able to take co-operative tactics to all-new levels by virtually looking over their teammates' shoulders as they play, but also keep tabs on friends in any single player or multiplayer game in play on the service. "LG Google TV's superior performance, coupled with OnLive's innovative games-on-demand service, unleashes powerful new entertainment possibilities for gaming enthusiasts," said Georg Rasinski, Director of Home Entertainment Brand Management, LG Electronics USA. "Cloud gaming complements the virtually limitless content options already available through our exciting G2 series TVs." "It's always been our mission to make top-quality gaming accessible to everyone, everywhere," said Steve Perlman, Founder and CEO, OnLive. "OnLive adds no cost to LG Smart TVs, but delivers a full console-class experience. We're excited to make on-demand top-tier gaming an integral part of the living room entertainment system on LG's state-of-the-art TVs." The LG G2 Series, which combines the power of the Google TV platform with the speed of LG's new L9 dual-core chipset and a user-friendly interface, is expected be the first LG Smart TV with Google TV model to make OnLive on-demand gameplay an integral part of the consumer experience. The first LG G2 TV, featuring Full HD 3D and the OnLive Game Service pre-installed, is anticipated in a future software update. To preview the experience firsthand, come by OnLive Booth #535, South Hall at the Electronic Entertainment Expo from June 5-7 in Los Angeles. To find out more about OnLive, visit www.onlive.com or www.onlive.co.uk. OnLive Offers One-Click In-Browser Cloud Gaming Instant Play of Hundreds of OnLive Library or Publisher Titles-No Login Required Los Angeles, Calif. (E3 Expo, 2012) - June 5, 2012 - OnLive, Inc., the pioneer of on-demand cloud gaming, released today a major update to its In-Browser Gaming capabilities, enabling publishers/retailers to offer one-click, instant play of hundreds of games from OnLive's top-tier library or any partner-provided game, in nearly any PC or Mac® browser, and soon, from browsers of OnLive-enabled TVs, tablets or phones. No signup or login necessary: In just one click, gamers jump into a white-label gaming experience completely defined by the retailer or publisher's website, from startup to return dialogs to window skinning, utilizing any OnLive features, including OnLive MultiView in-game live spectating, multiplayer, voice chat, touch support and secure transaction interfaces. OnLive In-Browser Gaming is live today in North America, Europe and soon worldwide. Check out any game trial in OnLive's game catalog at www.onlive.com/games/featuredgames to see OnLive's In-Browser Gaming service in action, skinned with a simple interface to showcase base functionality. OnLive In-Browser Gaming was designed for easy integration into any Web destination, such as partner websites, Facebook pages, tweets or fan sites. Using standard HTML or Flash, the partner website both skins and controls the flow of the entire experience. A simple URL launches any game, whether from OnLive's library of hundreds of top-tier titles or partner-provided. Upon completion of gameplay, the website can decide whether the user returns to the web page for download, for a disc upsell to specific platforms, to purchase the game for continued play through OnLive on the device they are using, or any combination of these choices. No more lost sales (and disappointment) to users who can play a cloud demo on their device, but lack a high-end PC or platform that can play the game. Plus, OnLive opens up new opportunities to sell games for OnLive-enabled TVs, tablets and phones. "One-click OnLive In-Browser Cloud Gaming finally gives publishers and retailers a full-featured gaming and transaction solution, together with complete control of the user experience," said Steve Perlman, OnLive Founder and CEO. "A single click instantly launches a user through a partner-defined interface into any of the hundreds of games in OnLive's top-tier library or into any partner-provided game via almost any PC or Mac browser, and soon via OnLive-enabled TVs, tablets and phones. Gamers enjoy a full gameplay experience with multiplayer, voice chat and even OnLive-exclusive features such as MultiView in-game live spectating, with seamless instant-purchase opportunities." In addition to adding unique social dimension to OnLive gaming, OnLive's exclusive MultiView in-game live spectating provides an unprecedented marketing vehicle. OnLive MultiView can be used to showcase experienced players at more advanced levels of a game, to provide context for multiplayer games through voice chat, or to show promotional videos or upsell other games during demo play. OnLive In-Browser Cloud Gaming is virtually friction-free for PCs and Macs. First launch delivers one-click instant play for any of the millions of gamers who have ever used OnLive, or two-click on first launch if the gamer has Java, and one-click thereafter. For all others, on first launch the tiny OnLive client installs in just a few seconds (no Java needed). Fast and easy, OnLive delivers instant gratification with zero or minimal overhead. OnLive In-Browser Cloud Gaming is structured within OnLive overall partner relationships as a potential revenue source, rather than as a demo expense, making it a sensible choice not only in terms of features, but in economics. OnLive's two-year track record of 100% uptime and meeting the reliability and security requirements of purchased games gives partners the confidence to not just demo cloud games, but convert them into cloud sales if they choose to. And, OnLive has a proven track record of delivering a great experience across all devices with commercial-grade reliability over both wired and wireless networks, supporting gamepads, keyboards/mice and touch, and offering the exclusive OnLive Universal Wireless Controller for TVs, tablets and phones, as well as PCs and Macs. OnLive In-Browser Cloud Gaming is backed by hundreds of patents and patents pending worldwide. For more information about partnership opportunities, contact bizdev@onlive.com. Breakthrough OnLive MultiView Enables Exclusive Multiscreen Spectating and Chat While Playing any Game Los Angeles, Calif. (E3 Expo, 2012) - June 5, 2012 - OnLive, Inc., the pioneer of on-demand cloud gaming, has just announced the next revolution in social gameplay, OnLive MultiView. Leveraging OnLive's exclusive massive spectating technology, OnLive MultiView empowers players for the first time ever to both spectate and voice chat with other gamers while playing their own game. Whether activated in co-op or multiplayer games to coordinate tactics with other teammates, or in single-player games to keep tabs on friends, OnLive MultiView delivers a unique social gaming experience that not only is engaging, but adds a new dimension to gaming never before possible. Like all OnLive social features, OnLive MultiView is available with OnLive's One-Click In-Browser Cloud Gaming, enabling retailers and publishers to showcase live gameplay of advanced levels and to provide context to multiplayer demos through voice chat. OnLive's massive spectating Arena already empowers users to spectate and chat with other gamers, but with new MultiView spectating, gamers can pursue their own game while at the same time having a 3-window "picture-in-picture" experience spectating other OnLive games in play with voice and text chat. Co-op or multiplayer games take on an entirely new dimension as players can virtually look over teammates' shoulders to witness the exact same visual experience, no longer limited to describing scenes through chat. Teammates automatically appear as soon as OnLive MultiView is activated, updating as players come and go, taking cooperative tactics to completely new levels. OnLive MultiView even transports single player gaming into a new realm. Spectate and chat with friends in other games while you continue playing your own, regardless of the type of game being played-single player, multiplayer, puzzle, action, racing, shooter, etc. Race friends through single player levels, compete to unlock achievements or just sit back and spectate what your friends are up to while conquering your own game. All MultiView features activate instantly and automatically, exclusively on the OnLive Game Service. "Gaming is increasingly social, and OnLive MultiView builds upon OnLive's exclusive massive spectating Arena to bring spectating right into your own gameplay, whether multiplayer or single player, with teammates or friends," said Steve Perlman, OnLive Founder and CEO. "What's more, because of the power of the OnLive Game Service platform, game developers have no additional work to enable their games for this unique and exciting capability." Players can activate OnLive MultiView with a simple hotkey, augmenting their gameplay to spectate three auto-populated live games. The live games are intelligently selected to show co-op or multiplayer teammates when available, or can be customized to show friends or other interesting games. Multiplayer competitive match-style game spectating is suppressed to not reveal positions, and as always, privacy settings allow players to choose whether or not their gameplay will be viewable. The OnLive MultiView feature will be available for preview at OnLive Booth # 535, South Hall at the Electronic Entertainment Expo from June 5-7 in Los Angeles, and is currently available in closed beta. Release is slated for later in 2012. To find out more about OnLive, visit www.onlive.com or www.onlive.co.uk. |
| Live from Nintendo's E3 2012 keynote! Posted: 05 Jun 2012 08:45 AM PDT |
| $99 Xbox 360 and Kinect bundle rolling out to Best Buy and GameStop this month Posted: 05 Jun 2012 08:40 AM PDT Microsoft's canny subscription-based Xbox scheme launched last month, but was , at that point, limited to its own stores. Looks like it's been deemed a success though, as Microsoft has decided to expand the deal to all Best Buy and selected GameStop stores later this month. The $99 deal ties you into a two-year subscription at $14.99 per month and includes a 4GB Xbox 360, Kinect unit and Xbox Live Gold. According to Microsoft, this is only the next stage of the "pilot period", with limited numbers and dates. No specifics just yet on those exact numbers and which stores will be offering the deal. But even if SmartGlass didn't grab you the first time round, this makes it even harder to say no. Your turn, Nintendo. |
| Nintendo's black Wii U, first eyes-on Posted: 05 Jun 2012 08:40 AM PDT Here's a little treat while we wait for the Nintendo Keynote to kick in: the gaming giant carted out the black version of its upcoming console, placing it on a column at the front of the stage for all to see as we file in for the event. The black Wii U console made an extremely quick cameo on Sunday night's pre-pre-E3 press conference, and we expect to see a good deal more of it in the days to come. In the meantime, however, you can enjoy it in the gallery below. Billy Steele contributed to this report. |
| Peter Molyneux reveals first game from his new studio: Curiosity coming to iOS and PC Posted: 05 Jun 2012 08:32 AM PDT Peter Molyneux has revealed what he's been up to since he left Lionhead. At E3, he paid a visit to Spike TV, bringing with him several screens from his upcoming title, Curiosity. He didn't give away much on what we can expect from 22 Cans' first effort, although we'd hazard a guess at something "conceptual." It's set to arrive on PC and iOS in around six weeks and Molyneux was showing off those stills from his iPad. Hit up the source for the full -- but brief -- interview. |
| SanDisk's new iNAND Extreme flash storage forms part of Tegra 3 'reference designs' Posted: 05 Jun 2012 08:22 AM PDT SANDISK USES WORLD'S MOST ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE FAST, HIGH-CAPACITY MEMORY FOR TABLETS, SMARTPHONES iNAND Extreme provides up to 128GB of storage in industry-leading small packaging COMPUTEX, TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 5, 2012 - SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced it is using the world's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing process to produce SanDisk's highest performing embedded memory products. iNAND Extreme™ is now being built on SanDisk's 19 nanometer (nm)* process technology to enable the large-capacity, high-performance embedded NAND flash memory products that are ideally suited for high-end tablets and smartphones. Products running the Android operating system as well as the upcoming Microsoft Windows® RT version of the Windows® 8 operating system can benefit from iNAND Extreme capacity, performance and small size. iNAND Extreme embedded flash memory can significantly improve performance for multitasking, web browsing, file transfer and image capture performance to produce a more enjoyable experience for smartphone and tablet users. iNAND Extreme comes in capacities ranging from 16GB to 128GB**. 128GB of memory is enough to store several HD movies and thousands of songs and photos. At 19nm, the manufacturing technology used to build circuitry in the iNAND Extreme is incredibly small. For comparative purposes, the width of a sheet of paper is about 0.1mm or about 100,000nm, meaning that more than 5000 objects 19nm in size could fit across the edge of a sheet of paper. iNAND Extreme will be used on reference designs for the NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 4-Plus-1™ quad-core processor as a recommended high performance storage device for high-end tablet and mobile devices using the latest operating systems. "SanDisk is a key partner for us in showcasing Tegra 3's capabilities," said Rene Haas, general manager, Notebook Products, NVIDIA. "Just as Tegra delivers great performance and battery life in a wide range of mobile devices, iNAND Extreme provides a high performance memory solution to help create a world-class user experience for tablets and mobile devices." "SanDisk's technology and manufacturing expertise allow us to provide our OEM customers with the high-capacity storage that generates tangible benefits for consumers," said Dan Inbar, senior vice president and general manager, OEM Business. "We also work with leading software makers to optimize our memory for next generation operating systems, file systems and typical usage patterns. This adds to our ability to help mobile equipment makers build products that provide an outstanding user experience." SanDisk's 128GB iNAND Extreme product comes in a highly competitive 12mm by 16mm package. The product conforms to the new e.MMC™ 4.5 specification and can achieve up to 45 megabyte per second (MB/sec) sequential write and 100 MB/sec read speeds***. The new generation of iNAND Extreme also more than doubles the random write performance of previous generations and significantly improves random read performance***. It has also been designed for optimal integration with file systems used by current and future generations of tablet and smartphone devices. Samples of the latest version of iNAND Extreme will be available to customers this month with general availability this summer. The SanDisk iNAND product family includes an embedded storage solution for every performance segment and capacity point in the mobile market. SanDisk iNAND™ family includes iNAND™, iNAND Ultra™ and iNAND Extreme products. About SanDisk SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States. For more information, visit www.sandisk.com. aaa SANDISK LAUNCHES PCI EXPRESS-BASED PRODUCTS THAT DELIVER FAST, PREDICTABLE AND BALANCED PERFORMANCE FOR ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS COMPUTEX, TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 5, 2012-SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today introduced Lightning® PCI Express (PCIe) Solid State Accelerator (SSA) cards designed to boost the performance of workstations and servers used in data centers, server farms and cloud computing environments. The new SanDisk® Lightning PCIe SSA products can be added to workstations and servers to provide balanced, predictable performance for enterprise applications, delivering the ideal combination of speed, reliability and cost-savings. The cards provide rapid access to the most frequently used data and applications in order to more effectively manage heavy workloads. They are part of SanDisk's growing portfolio of solid state drive (SSD) solutions for the enterprise. The new PCIe products from SanDisk address a wide variety of uses - from financial institutions analyzing and processing massive amounts of information around the clock; to social media and website providers whose customers demand a nearly instant response with every click of a mouse; to media content creators editing high-definition videos. "SanDisk PCIe SSAs deliver balanced performance, speeding access to critical data in a simple and cost-effective way," said Greg Goelz, vice president and general manager, Enterprise Storage Solutions, SanDisk. "Enterprise businesses can now leverage a PCIe acceleration solution that combines SanDisk's leading NAND flash memory technology and its innovative controller design to offer the enterprise-grade reliability and scalability that our customers depend on." Lightning PCIe SSAs offer SanDisk's proven enterprise SSD technology and feature an advanced controller using a parallel processing architecture to manage essential data protection and input/output (I/O) functions. This results in balanced performance as data is accessed, with little impact on central processor (CPU) loading and no need for additional, costly DRAM memory. In addition to their enterprise-class reliability, the Lightning PCIe SSAs feature low power requirements and include an industry-standard driver that requires no additional software or system modification. The cards can easily be added to almost any computing system to deliver a simple, quick solution for performance acceleration. Several innovative companies have already sampled SanDisk's PCIe cards and experienced the benefits they can deliver. "The new Lightning Enterprise PCIe solid state accelerators from SanDisk provide us with the application acceleration we need to create more efficient workflows for a fraction of the cost of previously deployed solutions," said Ramy Katrib, Founder and CEO of DigitalFilm Tree. DigitalFilm Tree is an industry leader in defining and applying emerging "data centric" technologies to creative workflows. A caching option is available for Windows operating systems by using SanDisk FlashSoft™ data caching software, which can be purchased separately. Data centers can support large server workloads by combining the Lightning PCIe SSA as an additional storage tier in conjunction with SanDisk FlashSoft data caching software. Based on the next-generation PCIe 2.0 interface, Lightning PCIe SSAs are easily installed into any four lane (x4) or greater PCIe slot, delivering enterprise-class performance and reliability for demanding data center and cloud computing applications that are needed around-the-clock. Incorporating an advanced SanDisk controller, they offer low power requirements, a two million hour MTBF (mean time between failures) rate and an industry-leading five year warranty. SanDisk Lightning PCIe SSAs are available in 200 gigabyte (GB)1 and 400GB capacities. Up to five cards may be installed into a single system to provide up to two terabytes (TB)1 of capacity. Additional Detail and Features Fast Response Times: Lightning PCIe products offer 245 microsecond average response times and sub-30 millisecond maximum response times reflecting dramatic performance gains in real-world applications running heavy workloads. Pricing and Availability: SanDisk Solid State Drives OEM products include the SanDisk U100 SSD for cost-effective performance and customizable form factors, the SanDisk X100 SSD featuring the utmost in performance and storage capacity for desktop and notebook PC manufacturers, and the SanDisk iSSD™ integrated storage device for an embedded micro SSD SATA form factor. All models are available as standalone SSDs or dual drive caching solutions. For the enterprise channel, in addition to PCIe products announced today, Lightning® SAS-based SSDs provide the industry's widest array of flexible cloud and data center system design solutions. The drives deliver dramatic I/O performance, predictable performance and superior reliability over competing SSD technology. |
| Gaikai-powered cloud gaming coming to Samsung Smart TVs Posted: 05 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT At this point, most people (in the tech world, at least) are quite familiar with Gaikai's cloud gaming platform, which lets users have a not-quite-console quality gaming experience on any device. The technology has found its way onto Facebook and in LG TVs, and now Gaikai's bringing gaming to Samsung TVs, too. Called Samsung Cloud Gaming (SCG), it'll be available via the Smart Hub on Samsung 7000 series and up Smart TVs in the US this summer. The technology powering SCG is the same as what's behind LG's service, but Sammy's customized the UI to suit its sensibilities. We got a chance to speak with Gaikai CEO David Perry about his company's latest partnership, so join us after the break for more. Turns out that the Gaikai/Samsung alliance has been in the works for nine months, and that Gaikai's had its sights set on the Korean tech giant for longer than that. Perry told us that Samsung's status as the largest electronics manufacturer on earth made it the best way to grant large swaths of people access to Gaikai-powered gaming, so naturally, this coupling was always a part of his plans. The arrangement is fairly simple. Samsung's buying dedicated bandwidth from Gaikai's 24 data centers on a per-device basis, with Gaikai handling overflow traffic while it builds out its network to meet increased demand as needed. Still looking for more? You'll find all you can handle in the PR after the break. SAMSUNG AND GAIKAI TO STREAM AAA-QUALITY VIDEO GAMES DIRECTLY TO SAMSUNG SMART TVS WITHOUT THE NEED OF ADDITIONAL HARDWARE LOS ANGELES, CA – June 5, 2012 - Gaikai Inc., the innovative cloud gaming service, and Samsung, the world's largest television manufacturer, today unveiled the next generation in video games: Samsung Cloud Gaming. Samsung Cloud Gaming will open millions of consumers to an exciting new service that makes video games playable through Samsung Smart TVs. Connected via the Internet, Samsung Cloud Gaming utilizes Gaikai's cloud-based streaming technology to deliver video games instantaneously to game players without the hassle of long download times, unsightly hardware or untidy wiring. Samsung will soon begin accepting signups for the beta of Samsung Cloud Gaming for Samsung Smart TVs in the United States. "Our vision is to provide the same access to video games that consumers enjoy with TV shows, movies and music. Our research made Samsung the obvious partner to turn this vision into a reality," said David Perry, CEO of Gaikai Inc. "Samsung is the largest TV manufacturer in the world and Gaikai is the industry-recognized fastest cloud-based streaming service for video games. Together, we will turn Samsung Smart TVs into a console-like experience capable of delivering the best-selling video games and other content instantly to consumers – no downloads, no extra hardware, no trips to the store." "One of Samsung's key strengths lies in bringing brand new technology and entertainment products to our consumers, and adding Gaikai to our Smart TVs delivers both," said Kyung-shik Lee, Vice President, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. "Working together we are proud to bring the biggest blockbuster video games straight onto Samsung televisions, significantly adding to the value of the Smart TV platform, as well as giving digital consumers an entirely new way to try and buy video games from the convenience of their living rooms." Samsung will utilize Gaikai's open cloud platform to launch game titles directly from the Samsung Smart Hub environment featured in high-end 2012 Smart TVs, beginning with the Samsung 7000 series and up 2012 LED Smart TVs. A diverse selection of AAA content appealing to both families and gamers alike will be available to instantly play using game controllers in combination with the Samsung Smart TV. Gaikai has spent over three years designing and building the fastest cloud-based streaming service in the world, instantly capable of delivering cutting-edge games without the need for any extra custom hardware or software. Coupled with relationships with the top video game and development partners around the world, Gaikai is capable of delivering a broad catalog of the world's most exciting games straight to consumers across the web, including social networks like Facebook, or on any Internet-connected device, including televisions, set-top boxes and tablets. |
| AverMedia rolls out AverTV box PVR, likely targeting budget-minded ad-skippers Posted: 05 Jun 2012 07:47 AM PDT AverMedia generally doesn't boggle us with cutting edge products, but they have their niche with those for whom money is an object. Though pricing hasn't been announced, the AverTV Box PVR announced at Computex seems to fit that mold, offering set-top recording and time-shifting, but foregoing niceties like network connectivity, HDMI output or even HD for that matter. The box can record to separate USB devices and output with analog VGA or RCA composite to a monitor or TV. While it appears to be SD-only, if your 20-year old Zenith wants to get in on some PVR time-shifting, it might have found a new best friend. Check the PR for more info. AVerMedia Announced the Standalone TV Recording Box Used with TV Set or PC Monitor Taipei, Taiwan-June 4 ,2012 The hardware and function design of the AVerTV Box PVR satisfies all the demands for live TV recording. Its inputs of TV antenna and composite video allow users to capture analog cable TV, as well as TV content from satellite/cable TV set-up-box. Due to its compatibility of both TV set and PC monitor, the product stands out from general TV boxes for PCTV to bring this delightful TV experiences to the living room. With only one press, the AVerTV Box PVR records your favorite variety shows, drama series, football games, and sitcoms to an external USB hard drive. Moreover, the device provides multiple recording options to ensure your ultimate TV entertainment. Besides real-time recording while watching TV programs, it is capable of cyclic scheduled recording with auto power on and off, which means capturing the whole TV series with one-time setting to save your trouble and electricity expense when you are away from home. Even better, its TimeShift function enables pause, fast-forward and rewind live TV clips so that no prime moments will be missed because of any sudden interruption, and those breath-taken moments can be re-played. What's more valued, the AVerTV Box PVR adopts the NEC chipset with advanced 3D Y/C separation technology, which helps to present higher video quality from analog TV signal due to the powerful noise reduction and color separation capabilities. |
| GoPro's WiFi BacPac and Remote available for helmets and wrists everywhere (video) Posted: 05 Jun 2012 07:02 AM PDT We all know how annoying it is when you're trying to land a tre flip, and trigger your GoPro at the same time. That's no doubt why they came up with the WiFi BacPac and remote combo we saw at CES. Well, they are finally out in retailers in the US, Europe and internationally online. So double-corkers and megaloopers alike can finally control their favorite helmet cam, literally, on the fly. Not only will you get the remote convenience for $99, but smart-phone (Android and iOS) viewfinder capabilities too. A new software update will also let you stream directly to the web. Kickflip over the break to see three-times X Games skateboarding gold medalist Ryan Sheckler put the kit to the test, in a way most of us never will.
GoPro® Celebrates Launch of Wi-Fi BacPac™ and Wi-Fi Remote with Short Film: "New York City" HALF MOON BAY, CA (June 4, 2012) /PRNewswire/ - GoPro, maker of the world's most versatile cameras and producer of some of today's most engaging online programming, has just made it easier for people to capture professional quality content during any activity. The company officially released its much-anticipated Wi-Fi BacPac™ + Wi-Fi Remote Combo Kit, allowing people to control multiple GoPro cameras at a time using either a smartphone, tablet, or the included waterproof Wi-Fi Remote. Additional features include live streaming video from GoPro cameras to smartphones, tablets and directly to the web via a soon-to-be-released software update. The Wi-Fi BacPac attaches to the back of GoPro cameras to Wi-Fi enable them. The waterproof and wearable Wi-Fi Remote can control up to 50 GoPro cameras at a time from a range of 600' (180m). "GoPro makes it easy for people to capture immersive and engaging footage of themselves during their favorite activities," said Nicholas Woodman, GoPro's founder and CEO. "The professional quality content our customers are capturing is inspiring them to use several GoPros at a time to document their experiences from multiple perspectives...something you'd normally see only on professional production shoots. A new era of 'personal production' has begun and Wi-Fi-enabling our cameras gives GoPro customers even more creative control to capture some of the most meaningful content in the world: their lives. Plus, live streaming video from your GoPro to your smartphone or the web is extremely cool and opens up so many new ways to use a GoPro." When considering how to celebrate its new product launch, GoPro asked its team of sponsored athletes for their idea of a dream video production that would involve them controlling all of the cameras on the shoot. World-renowned skateboarder Ryan Sheckler had the idea to skate an area of New York City that he'd always dreamt about, documenting his experience using the new Wi-Fi Remote to control 50 GoPro cameras positioned along his path. The resulting short film, "New York City", documents a "day-in-the-life" skate from the top of the Manhattan Bridge through Chinatown, finishing at the entrance to the storied Lower East Side skate park – considered by many to be the mecca of street skating. Along the way Sheckler captures not only his inspired skating but also the sites, sounds and color that are NYC. As with all GoPro releases, the film was shot entirely on GoPro cameras. "This is something I've always wanted to do," said Ryan Scheckler. "To skate through a part of New York City that thousands of people ride through every week, feeling the energy of one of the original stomping grounds of street skating. That I finally got to do it and document it with the support of GoPro is awesome. I'm already thinking of my next project and hopefully this inspires other people to realize and document their own creative ideas." The Wi-Fi BacPac + Wi-Fi Remote Combo Kit is now available for $99.99 on GoPro.com and at retailers across the U.S. and Europe with availability expanding globally. A future software update will enable live video streaming to the web directly from a GoPro camera. Additionally, a free, soon-to-be-released GoPro App will enable GoPro cameras to live video stream to – as well as be controlled by – iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. |
| Posted: 05 Jun 2012 06:43 AM PDT It's alive! The budget-friendly Samsung Exhilarate was announced alongside several other LTE phones at the AT&T Developer Summit in January, and we never heard about it since. Pricing, availability and most other major details were left out of the conversation, but it turns out this isn't another case of the Skyrocket HD (a phone that was announced at the same time but was eventually cancelled). The Exhilarate will finally arrive on June 10th and can be yours for $50. So what about the missing details AT&T's kept tight-lipped about for the last five months? The Exhilarate sports a 4-inch Super AMOLED panel, Android 2.3 (as far as we can tell from the press images), 1.2GHz dual-core Scorpion CPU, LTE connectivity, 5MP rear camera capable of taking 720p video, a 1.3MP front-facing cam and UL Platinum certification. Essentially, this particular status from Underwriters Laboratories means the phone passed a set of minimum requirements and can now be considered "environmentally preferable." The rear casing is made from 80 percent recycled material, and the device itself is slated to undergo AT&T's new eco-rating system which will launch later this summer. We can't imagine that too many people will exemplify the feeling portrayed in the device's name, but we're glad this one didn't mysteriously disappear.
AT&T to Launch its First LTE Smartphone with Environmentally Conscious Features, the Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate Dallas, Texas, June 05, 2012 AT&T customers have access to the nation's largest 4G network, covering more than 260 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you're on a much slower 3G network. The Exhilarate features a rear casing made from 80 percent recycled (post-consumer waste) material and is packaged with a low-load, energy-efficient charger that alerts customers when the device is fully charged. The device also boasts a 4-inch touchscreen Super AMOLED display, a dual core 1.2 GHz Scorpion processor, voice recognition and access to AT&T U-verse® Live TV. It also features a 5-megapixel auto-focus rear-facing camera that lets you record videos in 720p HD and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. In addition, the Exhilarate is the first 4G LTE smartphone to receive platinum certification from UL Environment, a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories). Since 2011, AT&T has joined UL Environment and other sustainability stakeholders in working towards the development of requirements to identify leading mobile phones from an environmental and human health perspective. UL Environment sets minimum requirements for "environmentally preferable" mobile devices by measuring environmentally sensitive materials, energy management, manufacturing and operations, impact to health and environment, product performance, packaging and product stewardship. AT&T will also offer two custom case options by Incipio. These ECO ® SILICRYLIC® cases are made from a combination of biodegradable and recycled materials. Composed of two parts, an inner silicone rubber made of recycled silicone regrind material, and an outer bio resin plastic shell, ECO SILICRYLIC complements the environmentally conscious features of the smartphone it protects. "AT&T is committed to developing and supporting products, like the Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate, that enable consumers to reduce their environmental impact without sacrificing features or the ability to enjoy a world-class smartphone experience," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility. "We're working hard every day to empower consumer choice and provide consumers with more options in-store as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability." |
| We're liveblogging Nintendo's E3 2012 keynote at 12PM ET! Posted: 05 Jun 2012 06:30 AM PDT This is it, the last of the big three -- and, quite arguably, the most eagerly anticipated. After all, while Microsoft and Sony had next to nothing to show us in the way of hardware, Nintendo is slated to go into depth about its forthcoming Wii U console. And while the sentiment that this event is a total make or break for the company is couched in a bit of hyperbole, Nintendo's certainly got a lot to lose coming off of a fairly rough year. This party gets started at noon ET, and you can follow along right here. June 5, 2012 12:00 PM EDT |
| Belkin upgrades its Thunderbolt Express Dock even before it's available Posted: 05 Jun 2012 06:14 AM PDT At $399, this is a lot pricier than the $249 Matrox DS1 Thunderbolt dock we saw yesterday. That said, it brings superior connectivity -- not least since Belkin has improved on the design it previously showed off at CES. There's Thunderbolt in and out to allow full 10Gbps daisy-chaining of further peripherals, alongside FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, Mini DisplayPort (with included HDMI adapter) and audio in and out. As of the update, eSATA and three USB 3.0 ports have also been added to that healthy list. The Express Dock should reach "select" retailers and Belkin's own online store in July, with worldwide availability pegged for a couple of months after that. Belkin Unveils Upgraded New Thunderbolt™ Express Dock and Thunderbolt Cable at 2012 Computex TAIPEI - June 4, 2012- Belkin today announced new upgrades to its upcoming Thunderbolt Express Dock, as well as a new Thunderbolt cable for both Mac and PC users. Belkin's new Thunderbolt offerings will be on display at the Intel Exhibition Showcase, Booth M410, at Computex, June 5-9, 2012. The Thunderbolt Express Dock is a first-of-its-kind docking solution for both PC and Mac users that enables instant access to up to nine desktop peripherals with one cable, and provides an easy transition from a desktop workstation to a mobile device. Upgrades to the latest version of the dock include the addition of three USB 3.0 ports, instead of USB 2.0 ports, as well as an eSata port. Both the dock and Belkin's new one-meter Thunderbolt cable take advantage of Thunderbolt's 10 gigabits-per-second, bidirectional speeds, and enable users to transfer full HD movies in 30 seconds and view online content at Gigabit Ethernet speeds. They also allow for daisy-chaining of up to six additional Thunderbolt enabled products and support high-resolution displays. "As more hardware companies announce plans to incorporate Intel's Thunderbolt technology into their products, we aim to create quality accessories that take advantage of Thunderbolt's blazing fast speeds and other benefits," said Martin Avilla, general manager of Belkin's core business unit. "Over the past few months, we have really listened to our end users and created a one-meter cable and refined the dock to make it an even better desktop solution, which we believe will make Belkin a go-to provider for Thunderbolt accessories when they launch in the summer and fall." "Thunderbolt delivers unparalleled performance, flexibility, and simplicity to personal computing," said Jason Ziller, Intel's director of Thunderbolt marketing. "Products like Belkin's Thunderbolt Express Dock and cable help highlight what Thunderbolt makes possible." AVAILABILITY The Belkin Thunderbolt Cable will be available in July 2012 at select retailers worldwide and on Belkin.com. The Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock will be available worldwide in September 2012. Instant access to up to 9 desktop devices with one cable Belkin Thunderbolt™ Cable (F2CD031-1M) - $44.99 Convenient 3ft/1m length |
| Nyko's Power Grip Pro gets cozy with the Nintendo 3DS, comfortably extends mobile gaming sessions Posted: 05 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT
Looking to get a bit more longevity out of your 3DS gaming sessions before needing to recharge? If so, Nyko is looking to oblige with its Power Grip Pro case for the aforementioned Nintendo handheld. The outfit boasts that the peripheral will triple your battery life alongside the added functionality of an analog slider control. As you might expect, the unit sports a comfy ergonomic design that should keep you and your device quite cozy. Of course, we'll be the judge of that ourselves when we give the Power Grip Pro the hands-on treatment later this week. No word on pricing yet, but the accessory is slated hit shelves this October -- in plenty of time to snag one for the holiday season. For a look at the kit when from another angle (closed for transport), head on past the break. Nyko Introduces Android Tablet Controllers and Arcade-Quality PlayStation®3 Fight Stick at E3 LOS ANGELES – June 5, 2012 – Nyko Technologies®, the leading gaming peripherals manufacturer, unveiled their latest products at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). A stalwart exhibitor at the game industry's headline event, Nyko this year announced a bold new product line designed to enhance our experience with the evolving range of consoles, handhelds and mobile devices that today's gamers enjoy. "With the tablet evolving into a dedicated gaming platform, it becomes our duty to supply the gamer embracing these devices with the controls and functionality they are accustomed to," said Chris Arbogast, director of marketing, Nyko Technologies. "At the same time we have introduced our Free Fighter arcade stick that caters to the fans of fighting games who need precision control and customization options." Nyko's E3 2012 product line-up includes: The PlayPad Pro is Nyko's full-sized wireless Bluetooth® gaming controller for Android tablet devices. The controller features dual analog sticks, a d-pad, face buttons and shoulder bumpers for a console-style control experience on Android devices. The PlayPad's utilizes a new standard HID protocol supported by today's leading Android developers and hardware manufacturers. Nyko's complementary Playground app will offer backwards compatibility for other Android games and a variety of button-mapping features, including customized controller layout. The PlayPad Pro will be available at select retail stores nationwide Holiday 2012. The PlayPad is a travel-sized tablet controller with dual analog sliders, and includes a collapsible tablet stand and carrying case for console-like precision gaming on the go. Like the PlayPad Pro, the PlayPad controller utilizes the new HID protocol, Nyko's Playground app and works with any Bluetooth-enabled device running Android 3.0 or higher. The PlayPad will be available at select retail stores nationwide Holiday 2012. The Free Fighter for PlayStation®3 is an arcade-quality fight stick with eight face buttons, and a unique ambidextrous design for right or left-handed use. Compatible with all standard fighting games, the Free Fighter is made with authentic Japanese Sanwa® Denshi arcade-quality parts and includes an expandable base for comfort and security during lap-top use. The Free Fighter includes four fully customizable macro buttons for quick access to combos, as well as two variable speed turbo buttons for fast, slow or user-created tap speed. The Free Fighter will be available at select retail stores nationwide in September 2012 and will retail for an MSRP of $179.99. The Power Grip Pro for the Nintendo 3DS is an analog slider controller case with extended battery. The hard protective case helps to prevent scratches and dings, and the ergonomic design provides optimal comfort and control. Gamers will enjoy the added control and functionality of the analog slider as well as triple the playtime. The Power Grip Pro for Nintendo 3DS will be available at select retail stores nationwide in October 2012. The Power Grip for the PlayStation® Vita is an ergonomic grip with built-in rechargeable battery that enables a better hold on the Vita with controller-like grips and up to three times the battery life. The device snaps over the back of the Vita while allowing access to all buttons and the rear touch panel. The Power Grip for the Vita will be available at select retail stores nationwide in August 2012 and will retail for an MSRP of $29.99. Nyko will also be showing off the latest versions of upcoming items in their Yo Gabba Gabba! product line including Muno Time – the singing, dancing alarm clock charging dock, and the Brobee Hip Pack, a fuzzy, soft carrying case for your handheld or mobile devices. Muno Time will be available at select retail stores nationwide in September 2012 and will retail for an MSRP for $129.99. The Brobee Hip Pack will be available September 2012 and will retail for an MSRP of $29.99. |
| Dell unveils Inspiron 14z Ultrabook, multimedia-friendly Inspiron 15R and 17R Posted: 05 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT It's the season of the student-friendly Ultrabook, and Dell is no exception to the rule. The company may have released an Inspiron 14z last year, but it's now repurposing that name for its first Inspiron Ultrabook. The new Inspiron 14z starts at $700 and comes standard with a second-gen Core i3 processor, though Core i5 and Core i7 Ivy Bridge options are available. It weighs a sturdy 4.1 pounds, which is far from light for an Ultrabook, but optical media fans will be happy to know that the design includes a disc drive. Storage options range from a 320GB drive up to 500GB with a 32GB SSD. In addition to the new 14z, Dell is offering 13-inch version. The 3.8-pound Inspiron 13z will go for $600, and like the 14z it includes both Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge CPU options, along with the same storage configurations. Dell also has four new Inspiron R models to introduce. The R, to jog your memory, stands for performance, and these are clearly multimedia-centric machines. Starting at $550, the Inspiron 15R comes standard with an Intel second-gen processor (Ivy Bridge configurations are available), Waves MaxxAudio 3 technology and up to 1TB of storage. The $600 Inspiron 17R offers the same CPU options, plus a gigantic 17.3-inch display with a 1600 x 900 resolution. Dell is complementing those two systems with higher-end Special Edition versions. The Inspiron 15R Special Edition features an anodized aluminum lid, a Core i5 or Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor and an optical drive for the higher price of $900. And then there's the whopping Inspiron 17R Special Edition ($1,100), which features discrete graphics, boasts a backlit keyboard and is available with a 3D display. All the new Inspiron notebooks will be available starting June 19th. For now, you can check out our hands-on shots below the break.
Dell Unveils Ultimate Technology for Back-to-School with Redesigned Inspiron Laptop Family · Dell's expands Ultrabook offering with the Inspiron 14z, a thin, light, versatile laptop for highly mobile users. Dell's first Inspiron Ultrabook, the Inspiron 14z, will be hot on any student's graduation gift wish list with its ultraportable design, great performance and fast response time. The 14z is Dell's second Ultrabook offering, joining the successful XPS 13, and blends Intel Rapid Start Technology for fast boot and resume and up to seven hours of battery life. With a premium brushed aluminum finish in two color choices, Moon Silver and, coming later this summer, Fire Red, the Inspiron 14z is a well-built, well-specified Ultrabook at a great value for student budgets. Starting at 4.12 pounds (1.87kg), and 0.83-inches (21mm) at its thickest point, it's light and easy to carry in a backpack or tote. The Inspiron 15R and Inspiron 17R are fashionable, full-featured laptops for smart everyday computing. The high-definition display, advanced audio with Waves MaxxAudio 3 technology, full connectivity, and a variety of processor, memory and hard drive options, make them great all-round family entertainment laptops. The optional color SWITCH lids make the laptops easily customizable to reflect one's personality or favorite color. Whether video-chatting with family across the country, doing homework, balancing the family budget, or watching videos via Intel Wireless Display to a 1080p / 5.1 surround-compliant home theatre, users will find the Inspiron R to be an essential part of the family. The new Inspiron Special Edition series provides robust performance and premium features for immersive entertainment and multimedia activities previously unavailable under the Inspiron brand. An expansion of Dell's Inspiron portfolio, the Inspiron 15R Special Edition and 17R Special Edition allow customers to enjoy advanced audio and graphics for multimedia entertainment including studio-quality Waves MaxxAudio 4 audio suite and Skullcandy speakers, and standard discrete graphics from AMD (Inspiron 15R Special Edition) and NVIDIA (Inspiron 17R Special Edition). Inspiron 14z: Available today in select countries in Asia, June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, and in select countries in Europe and Latin America later this summer, starting at $699.99 USD. Inspiron 13z: Available today in select countries in Asia, and June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, starting at $599.99 USD. Inspiron 15R: Available today in select countries in Europe and Asia, and June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, starting at $549.99 USD. Inspiron 17R: Available today in select countries in Europe, and June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, starting at $599.99 USD. Inspiron 15R Special Edition: Available today in select countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America, and June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, starting at $899.99 USD. Inspiron 17R Special Edition: Available today in select countries in Europe and Asia, and June 19 in the U.S. and Canada, starting at $1,099.99 USD ($1,299.99 with 3D). |
| Alienware M17x and M18x land new NVIDIA GTX680M graphics option Posted: 05 Jun 2012 05:41 AM PDT Never one to let high-powered mobile gaming hardware pass it by, Alienware has announced that its endlessly-tweaked M17x and M18x will both get the chance to dance with NVIDIA's latest GPU belle. The refreshed M17x can be augmented with the GeForce GTX 680M alongside an option for NVIDIA 3D Vision, while the M18x can sample the same Kepler delights in either single or dual-card SLI configurations. Both customization options are promised to arrive before the end of the month -- ready for all those games we've just seen at E3. |
| Google Fiber GFHD100 'IP set-top box' breezes through the FCC, doesn't say where it's headed Posted: 05 Jun 2012 05:19 AM PDT The future of Google as a hardware manufacturer (beyond its purchase of Motorola) continues to be shrouded in rumor and mystery, but the GFHD100 box that just popped up in the FCC's database is very much a fact. As seen in the pictures, it's sporting a Google Fiber label which suggests it's a part of rolling out video services to the Kansas Cities, and also reveals it's being built for Google by Humax. The MAC address shown in the picture is registered to Google directly, while the test report calls it an IP-set top box, equipped with WiFi, IR, USB, Ethernet, HDMI input and output and an Ethernet / coax (we assume MoCA?) bridge, which sounds similar to the boxes favored by Verizon's FiOS. Unfortunately our only view of the device itself is from underneath so there's not much else to glean about its abilities or possible relation to the hardware Google has reportedly been testing around the country, but you can hit the source link below to dig through the documents yourself or check a close up of the label (we tried the QR code, it appears to be for registration but it didn't work) after the break. |
| Toshiba refreshes its Portege and Tecra lines, prices start at $1,179 Posted: 05 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT We've been hearing a ton about budget- and student-friendly Ivy Bridge laptops, but business notebooks are most definitely getting a refresh too. Today Toshiba unveiled its latest systems from the Portege and Tecra lines, all of which feature Intel's third-gen processors along with security features like a fingerprint reader and Toshiba Smart Client Manager for remotely keeping track of laptops on a network. On the Portege side of things, we have the Z930 Ultrabook and the R930 (read more about the Ultrabook here). The R930 sports a 13.3-inch screen and weighs 3 pounds, which is substantial enough to allow for an optical drive. Toshiba will offer the notebook with Core i5 and Core i7 Ivy Bridge CPUs, and the extended battery is rated for up to 14 hours. The base configuration of this Portege will go for $1,399, and it's available as of today. Toshiba's new Tecra systems are slightly larger, which the company says is preferred in the corporate world. The $1,199 Tecra R940 has a 14-inch display and a 2MP webcam, and it also offers discrete graphics. The notebook ships with either a Core i5 or Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor. The $1,179 Tecra R50 is quite similar in specs, the main difference being a larger 15-inch screen and a full 10-key keypad. Along with the Portege R930, these two laptops are on the market starting today.
NEW TOSHIBA BUSINESS-CLASS LAPTOPS TAKE POWER AND PATCH MANAGMENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL New Portégé and Tecra Business-class Laptops Feature Toshiba Smart Client Manager Powered by Tivoli from IBM for Security, Patch and Power Management IRVINE, Calif. - June 5, 2012 - Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced its enhanced business laptops product line with 3rd generation Intel® CoreTM processors and new technology developed with IBM that enables IT professionals to better control the security and power management across enterprise deployments. The new models include the Portégé® Z930 UltrabookTM and the Portégé R930 ultraportable, as well as upgrades to its Tecra® line of laptops, business workhorses with enhanced durability, security and reliability. "Today's IT professionals must be more agile and ingenious than ever, deploying smart, reliable and secure enterprise-level technology to power an increasingly mobile workforce," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "By teaming with renowned technology leader IBM, we have created more secure and energy efficient laptops that also take advantage of the latest processing technology from Intel." Toshiba Smart Client Manager Powered by Tivoli from IBM Toshiba's new business laptops now come standard equipped with Toshiba Smart Client Manager, which helps IT professionals reduce expense and complexity, and more easily manage the laptops on a network. Toshiba Power Management grants IT the ability to distribute and optimize power management settings down to each deployed PC, including settings for peak hours of power consumption. The ability to monitor consumption and adjust accordingly results in better energy efficiency gains. Toshiba Patch Management provides a streamlined solution for patch compliance that reduces business risks and complexity. From a single management console, a system administrator can easily provide up-to-date patch visibility, control the deployment of patches and resolve problems from previously applied patches. And finally, Toshiba Security allows system administrators to control access by preventing a PC from starting up, logging on and being unlocked unless the PC is authenticated by the management server. Enhanced security features also allow administrators to restrict access to a number of external and network devices. Portégé Z930 Ultrabook: The World's Lightest 13-Inch Ultrabook The next generation of Toshiba's business Ultrabook now supports new 3rd generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors with vPro and AMT technology. With a slim 0.63-inch (15.9 mm) profile and weighing less than 2.5 pounds, the Portégé Z930 was designed specifically for doing business on the go. The Portégé Z930 includes a full complement of ports for easy connectivity to other devices, along with a battery life rating of more than eight hours. Equipped with a solid state drive, the Portégé Z930 delivers an extremely responsive experience. To further protect the user's sensitive information, the Portégé Z930 comes equipped with a fingerprint reader and is built with a durable magnesium alloy casing reinforced with a Honeycomb Rib design that provides shock absorption and increased rigidity. The Portégé Z930 will be available for purchase on June 5, 2012 starting at $1,249.00 MSRP. Portégé R930: Ultrathin and Ultrafast 13-inch Laptop with a DVD Drive The Portégé R930 continues to be the world's lightest 13.3-inch full-performance ultraportable business laptop with an integrated DVD drive. With a starting weight of just three pounds and just one inch thin, the Portégé R930 now comes equipped with 3rd generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 full-voltage processors, making the award-winning ultraportable even more attractive. The Portégé R930 laptops also are equipped with two USB 3.0 ports and Bluetooth® 3.0 and can be configured with a standard hard drive or solid state drive. The business models of the Portégé R930 will be available for purchase on June 5, 2012 starting at $1,399.00 MSRP. Tecra R940 and R950: Thin, Light and Powerful Weighing less than 4.5 pounds, measuring just one inch thin and available with 14.0- and 15.6-inch diagonal LED-backlit widescreen HD displays respectively, the Tecra R940 and Tecra R950 are the ultimate in full-featured business laptops for users who want durability and mobility at an affordable price. Available with 3rd generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, the Tecra R940 and R950 now come equipped with more memory and improved graphics, along with a new 2.0MP HD webcam, making virtual business meetings crisper than ever before. The Tecra laptops also come equipped with a spill resistant keyboard, a fingerprint reader, Toshiba's USB Sleep & Charge technology, and a thin-and- light design, making them some of the most reliable and portable business laptops on the market. Both the Tecra R940 andTecra R950 will be available for purchase on June 5, 2012 with prices starting at $1,199.00 MSRP and $1,179.00 MSRP, respectively. Toshiba's new Portégé and Tecra business laptops will be available through select Toshiba Preferred Partner Program resellers, e-tailers and directly at toshibadirect.com. |
| Toshiba updates Portege Z835 Ultrabook with Ivy Bridge, renames it the Z935 Posted: 05 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT Toshiba's getting the most attention today for announcing two new laptops (including one with a bonkers 21:9 aspect ratio), but it's also getting some extra mileage out of its first Ultrabook, the Portege Z835. The company just announced it's refreshing the system with a Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor, and that it shall henceforth be known as the Portege Z935. Other than that, the chassis and other key specs are expected to remain the same. Look for it on shelves starting June 24th, and don't be surprised by a bump in price: it now starts at $900, up from $800 when it had Sandy Bridge. TOSHIBA UNVEILS NEW ULTRABOOKS DESIGNED FOR HOME, MOBILITY AND ENTERTAINMENT Growing Family of Ultrabooks Now Includes the Satellite U845W, the World's First Ultrabook with an Ultra-wide 21:9 Cinematic Display and the Everyday-Sensible Satellite U845. IRVINE, Calif. - June 5, 2012 - Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the growth of its UltrabookTM product line with the introduction of the Satellite® U series. New models include the Satellite U845W, the world's first Ultrabook offering a 21:9 cinematic display, and the Satellite U845, an affordably-priced everyday Ultrabook. The new Satellite U series joins Toshiba's successful Portégé® Z series Ultrabook, which will now offer new 3rd generation Intel® Core processors. "Toshiba is setting the pace in the Ultrabook category, building on our more than 25-year heritage building thin and light mobile computing products," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "For the first time, consumers can get the performance benefits of an Ultrabook in thin and light designs that cater to their needs whether it's price-to-performance value, entertainment or supreme mobility." "The ability to wake up in a flash, offer a more secure computing experience and deliver great battery life are just some of the key attributes Toshiba has built into its new line of Ultrabook systems," said Kirk Skaugen, Intel vice president and general manager of the PC Client Group. "The innovative and stylish designs of the Satellite U series coupled with the new 3rd generation Intel Core processors delivers a great choice for people looking for a compelling Ultrabook." Satellite U845W: The World's First Ultrabook with an Ultra-Wide 21:9 Cinematic Display The entertainment-optimized Satellite U845W offers premium features and design in an ultra-slim form factor. Designed with movie enthusiasts and productivity power users in mind, the Satellite U845W is the first Ultrabook of its kind to feature a 14.4-inch diagonal ultrawide-HD TruBriteTM display2 with a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio. This display is ideally suited for movie buffs looking to enjoy 2.35:1 movies in their original format – without black bars commonly seen on most laptop displays. The distinctive display is also ideal for multitasking, providing more space for better split-screen viewing of Office apps, streaming video, social networking, browsing and IM. To make it easy for consumers to utilize the extra display space, the new Toshiba Split Screen Utility offers pre-configured and custom viewpoint grids, supporting multiple windows on the display. The Satellite U845W is thin and light, yet sturdy and elegant. Precisely constructed of machined aluminum with luxurious soft-touch trim, the Satellite U845W delivers sophisticated styling, while a lightweight design and less-than-an-inch profile make it comfortable to carry. An LED backlit raised tile keyboard and ClickPad on the inside round out the refined design. Key Specs: 3rd generation Intel Core processor Satellite U845: An Affordably-priced Everyday Ultrabook An Ultrabook designed for everyday productivity and entertainment, the Satellite U845 delivers an ideal mix of portability, features and performance – at a more affordable price, starting at $749.99 MSRP9. With a thin and light design, the Satellite U845 stands at under an inch thin, weighs four pounds7 and is constructed of durable aluminum in Ice Blue. Featuring a 14-inch diagonal HD TruBrite display2, the Satellite U845 delivers more room to work and play, plus a generous 500GB hard drive with Flash Memory technology3, giving it a speed boost over standard hard drives. The Satellite U845 also includes stereo speakers with SRS Premium Sound 3D, an HD webcam and an optional LED backlit keyboard. Key Specs: 3rd generation Intel Core processor Portégé Z935: Still the World's Lightest 13.3-inch Ultrabook The next generation of Toshiba's pioneering Ultrabook now supports new 3rd generation Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors1. Designed for supreme portability and durability, the Portégé Z935 provides the performance needed for work and play, while featuring a slim 0.63-inch (15.9 mm) profile and weighing less than 2.5 pounds7. Offering essential features with visibly smart style, the Portégé Z935 includes a full complement of ports for easy connectivity to other devices, plus long battery life rating of 8 hours. Equipped with a solid state drive, the Portégé Z935 delivers an extremely responsive experience. The Portégé Z935 is built with a light, yet durable magnesium alloy casing reinforced with a Honeycomb Rib design that provides shock absorption and increased rigidity. Pricing and Availability The Satellite U845W will be available for purchase on July 15, 2012 starting at $999.99 MSRP8. The Satellite U845 will be available for purchase on June 24, 2012 2012 starting at $749.99 MSRP8. The Portégé Z935 will be available for purchase on June 24, 2012 starting at $899.99 MSRP8. These Ultrabook systems will be available at major retailers, e-tailers and direct from Toshiba at ToshibaDirect.com. |
| Toshiba intros 14-inch Satellite U845 Ultrabook, prices start at $699 Posted: 05 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT Remember that 14-inch ultraportable Toshiba teased at CES? At the time it was something of a novelty, this big-screened thing being marketed an Ultrabook, and the lack of any details only added to the mystery. Well, it's back, and it even has a name. Behold: the Satellite U845. This is actually one of two consumer-grade Ultrabooks Toshiba announced today, and it's clearly the lower-end model, given the $699 starting price. For the money, you get a 1366 x 768 display and a 500GB hard drive coupled with a 16GB solid-state drive for faster boot-ups. (You can also upgrade to a 32GB SSD.) We're told the entry-level configuration runs off a Sandy Bridge Core i3 CPU, but Ivy Bridge processors will also be available. Toshiba is shying away from revealing the exact weight, saying only that it's "just under four pounds." Whatever the exact spec, it meets Intel's revised Ultrabook specifications, and also makes room for a refreshing selection of ports: Ethernet, HDMI, VGA, two USB 2.0 sockets and one powered USB 3.0 connection. It's expected to go on sale June 24th, but if you're curious we've got hands-on photos for you to check out right now. |
| SimCity Social finds a home on Facebook, destiny winks in approving fashion Posted: 05 Jun 2012 04:33 AM PDT Given that "City" is in the name, SimCity has always felt like a title in need of a social platform. Fast forward a score or so since its inception, and fate seems to have finally played out. SimCity Social was just announced at E3 today, bringing the heralded city-building simulator to a social network that's pushing a billion residents. The new game is being delivered courtesy of "a close collaboration between many talented people at Maxis and Playfish," and anxious gamers are told to expect "no set linear paths to follow." You'll be dealing with things like fires, crime and pollution, and will be able to make calls to help virtual cities take shape. You can hit the source link to get in-game items at launch -- or, you know, strive to become an actual mayor and make actual improvements in your community. No pressure. SimCity Social Breaks Ground on Facebook The Critically-Acclaimed Simulation Franchise That Launched The City-Building Genre Stakes Claim On Facebook LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--There's a new mayor in town with SimCity™ Social! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) today announced that SimCity, the world-renowned city-building simulator from Maxis that pioneered the genre, is coming to the largest social network in the world. A close collaboration between many talented people at Maxis and Playfish, SimCity Social brings the real city-building simulation to the masses, giving players the freedom to create sprawling cities that come to life as a result of player-driven choice. Launching globally on Facebook soon and currently in closed beta, SimCity Social is introducing groundbreaking innovations that change the landscape for social city-building. "SimCity Social is a great addition, and we look forward to another high quality game becoming available to the hundreds of millions of people who play games on Facebook each month." "Facebook gamers have been waiting a long time for the original and best city-building game to come to the platform," said Jami Laes, Vice President of Global Studios for Playfish. "This isn't your typical drag and drop city-building game. Players don't just build a city – they choose the kind of city they want and watch its soul come to life as it grows and reacts to their decisions. With SimCity Social, we've taken the best in social gaming design and married it with unprecedented depth to create an all-new deeply social experience." "Over the years EA has continued to bring major brands such as The Sims to Facebook," said Sean Ryan, Director of Games Partnerships, Facebook. "SimCity Social is a great addition, and we look forward to another high quality game becoming available to the hundreds of millions of people who play games on Facebook each month." In SimCity Social, there are no set linear paths to follow; cities evolve as a direct result of player-driven choice allowing for more creative freedom. As mayor, players will deal with unforeseen issues like fires, crime and pollution, and will make crucial decisions that will help them discover how their cities take shape. Social interactions in SimCity Social go far beyond just visiting friends' cities or using them as resources to complete tasks. Players can choose to build friendly relationships with other cities or form an intense rivalry through a dynamic and ever-evolving friend and foe system. With multiple options for city growth, unexpected gameplay events that shape the destiny of the city, and city-to-city relationships, players will see recognizable changes that bring forth aesthetic and gameplay alterations based on the decisions made in the game – for better or for worse. SimCity fans can visit www.facebook.com/simcitysocial to view trailers and sneak a peek at content. "Like" us on Facebook to get in-game items at launch. |
| Blindsquare uses Foursquare data to guide the visually impaired Posted: 05 Jun 2012 04:01 AM PDT Blindsquare is giving guidance systems for the visually disabled a new twist with user-generated Foursquare data, text-to-speech, GPS and some OpenStreetMap mojo. While users are out and about, the app narrates their trip via headphones with information about nearby places, intersections or guidance to their destination. One shake of the iPhone or iPad gives users their current location and a second shake checks them in on Foursquare. The app can also be controlled via a Bluetooth remote while the device sits in a pocket or backpack. After going from concept to completion in six months, it's now out of beta and available on the App Store for $14.99. Sonar gauntlets won't let you check-in to your haunts? Hit the source link to step up that location-based social networking. |
| NTT DoCoMo's augmented 3D chat system lets you have your virtual cake Posted: 05 Jun 2012 03:32 AM PDT Google's Project Glass has garnered lots of attention among Earthlings and Saiyans on the augmented reality front. Now NTT DoCoMo is serving up its take on the subject -- a tablet-based interface it calls the "Live 3D Communication System." An augmented version of video chat, the system lets users create virtual objects via speech and also check out 360-degree views of virtual environments by moving their tablet around. Use of a special range-imaging camera also allows the software to add people within virtual spaces. The technology is a prototype so it's still a bit rough around the edges. For folks pining for a future with holodecks, however, this is the kind of baby step that's likely needed to make such dreams a reality (though, to be honest, you'll probably be long dead before a real holodeck comes to fruition). Folks whose appetites aren't quite satiated by the video from the Wireless Japan 2012 show can also check the official Japanese promo in all its cake-filled, cheesy glory after the break. |
| Possibly fake MacBook Pro spec sheet: USB 3.0, Ivy Bridge and no Retina Display Posted: 05 Jun 2012 03:08 AM PDT It's hard not to drown in Apple rumors right now, but here comes another one to help things along. As a counterweight to recent reports of MacBook Airs getting Retina Displays, the label above hints that the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro could be stuck with plain-Jane 1280 x 800. There's nothing to say that this bit of paper didn't derive from an inkjet hooked up to someone's imagination, but some of the other new specs have been rumored already from separate sources: notably the HD 4000 graphics reflecting the presence of Ivy Bridge, plus Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 co-starring on the I/O front. Those hypothetical additions would be great for productivity, but if there's nothing resolutionary about the new Pros then Apple had better find something else to console us with at WWDC. |
| Garmin outs motorcycle-centric zumo 350LM Posted: 05 Jun 2012 03:01 AM PDT Garmin's torn the wraps off its zumo 350LM for those of you who prefer to zip around on two wheels. Though its 4.3-inch glove-friendly touchscreen is encased in a waterproof exterior to withstand a beating from the elements and "fuel sprays," it'll happily sit inside your car with an included mount and built-in speaker. Those sticking to motorcycles, however, can pipe turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation through the sunlight-readable device to compatible Bluetooth headsets or helmets. Stat-happy bikers can record their chopper's maintenance work with the service history log feature and use Garmin's Basecamp utility to plan out trips beforehand. The zumo's expected to ring up at $699.99 -- as pricey as its older siblings -- and roll out in the third quarter of 2012. |
| Intel shows off wireless keyboard that re-juices via inductive charging (video) Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:47 AM PDT Imagine this: Intel hosts an event with dozens of Ultrabooks arranged on tables. All the tech writers in attendance rush past them, and instead swarm around... a keyboard. That was the scene at one of Intel's Computex press events today, where the company demoed an interesting use of inductive charging using a concept all-in-one PC and wireless keyboard. As you'll see in our walk-through video, the 'board starts charging as soon as you press it against the base of the PC. Now, we know, we know: wireless charging is hardly new, but what impressed us here was that the presenters didn't even need to rest the keyboard flat on top of something else; even making contact from the side was enough. According to an Intel rep staffing the event, the company has considered porting this technology over to other accessories. No word on how soon you'll be able to try any of this at home, but for now we've got photos below, along with that video we mentioned.
Zach Honig and Myriam Joire contributed to this report. |
| Intel demos Bluetooth-based anti-theft alarm for Ultrabooks, we go hands-on (video) Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:45 AM PDT We interrupt our wall-to-wall laptop and Windows 8 coverage to bring you some news about... chips. Specifically, Intel's latest ultra low voltage chips, and new features they'll bring to Ultrabooks, in particular. Here at Chipzilla's Computex keynote, we just got a demo of a new security feature that causes an alarm to go off on your PC if a stranger attempts to move it. Using Bluetooth 4.0 and a custom Android app, you designate your PC as the one that needs protection, and then you set a threshold for when the alarm should go off (the range is customizable, but doesn't go beyond five feet). If someone tries to burgle your laptop, he or she will have to enter a password to silence the wailing. It's all worth a look in our demo video below, but we can think of a couple caveats. For one, in order to receive an alert on your phone, letting you know someone picked up your PC, you'd have to be within Bluetooth range, which means if you're covering a tradeshow in Taipei and someone robs your apartment in New York, you'll be none the wiser. Second, the technology isn't yet integrated with Intel's other security features, such as identity protection or its "poison pill" that prevents the PC from even booting. On that front, then, best to keep it up with those unguessable passwords.
Zach Honig and Myriam Joire contributed to this report. |
| NASA gets two 'Hubble-class' military telescopes, fist-pumps with joy Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:26 AM PDT Imagine all you wanted for Christmas was a telescope. As you frantically peel off layer after layer of wrapping, there it is -- your brother's old one. Well, okay, if your brother was the National Reconnaissance Office (and you were NASA) this might not seem quite as unjust. Thankfully so, as that's effectively what's just happened. The NRO has given NASA two 2.4-meter "space qualified" telescopes and satellite casings for it to play with. The gifts -- which can observe about 100 times the area of the Hubble telescope -- could complement existing projects and provide much-needed resources at the space agency. As there is currently no funded mission for them, however, they'll remain firmly on the ground for now, but at least this implies they're not needed elsewhere -- hinting at improved international relations. Unless the NRO just got an upgrade? |
| Scientists use bilayer graphene to develop extra-sensitive photodetector Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:02 AM PDT |
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