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April 2nd, 2014, 01:01 Posted By: wraggster
concertina226 (2447056) writes with this excerpt from IBTimes:"Apple has been granted a patent for interchangeable camera lenses — which could be used on the up-coming iPhone 6. The application was granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office in remarkably quick time, according to Patently Apple. Patent No. 8,687,299 has been granted to Apple today for 'Bayonet attachment mechanisms,' i.e. a bayonet mount that is able to securely attach lenses to an iOS device, such as an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. A bayonet mount is a fastening mechanism which is typically seen on cameras, used to attach lenses to the camera body. At the moment, there is no adjustable camera lens system in existence for smartphones, although there are lots of third party macro lens products that consumers can buy to clip onto their smartphone."
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/14/0...-camera-lenses
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April 2nd, 2014, 01:40 Posted By: wraggster
A new report claims that smartphone gaming now account for around 50 per cent of Japan’s total video games market.
Serkantoto says that data from CyberZ says that of the total $10.8bn annual Japanese games spend in 2013, around $5.4bn of this was spent on mobile games.
Furthermore, that’s up from $3bn in 2012. And the market is predicted to reach $6.5bn in 2014 with growth likely to persist until 2016, where it will peak at $8.1bn.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/mobil...oubles/0130475
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April 2nd, 2014, 23:40 Posted By: wraggster
Windows Phone 8.1 will add Halo's Cortana to the mobile phone operating system.
Cortana, the artificial intelligence who became Master Chief's constant companion across the Halo series, serves as the equivalent of iOS' Siri personal assistant. Powered by Bing, Cortana will replace previous versions' "Search" function.
 The new digital assistant can respond to natural user speech to set reminders, read text messages, conduct searches, place calls via phone line or Skype, and more, Microsoft said at a media event. With user permission, it can extend its services into third-party apps.
Cortana appears as a pulsing circle instead of a holographic woman on Windows Phone, but is still voiced by veteran Halo voice actor Jen Taylor.
Corporate VP of operating systems group Joe Belfiore introduced the virtual personal assistant, asking her whether she likes her name and her appearance, to which the circular "AI" replied that she resembles, among other things, "a halo."
Belfiore joked that Cortana "won't give away the answer to the storyline of the next Halo game."
Windows Phone 8.1 will also add a new Action Center to keep users aware of their phone's current status and a customizable Start screen.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...es-siri-rival/
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April 3rd, 2014, 01:31 Posted By: wraggster
Anyone who's played Halo, the iconic first-person shooter based 500 years in the future, knows where Microsoft came up with the name of Cortana, its new voice recognition program on Windows Phone 8.1. Master Chief might be the star of the video game series, but Cortana is the heroic digital sidekick that saves his behind in almost every level. Granted, the Windows Phone version may not help you explore an alien planet or teach you how to defeat the bad guys, but it's still capable of some great stuff.
Just press the search button on the bottom of every Windows Phone device (as long as it uses 8.1, of course) and Cortana pops up, ready to listen and obey your commands. What kinds of things can she do? You can tell her to call someone, send a text, set reminders, take notes and hook you up with all sorts of information that you might need throughout the course of any given day. And since it's powered by Bing, the engine working behind the scenes has a solid amount of oomph.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/02/w...tana-hands-on/
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April 3rd, 2014, 01:40 Posted By: wraggster
Nokia's had a rough time with its high-end Windows Phones over the years, but it's excelled with its cheaper handsets that cater to emerging markets and anyone interested in a budget smartphone. Announced today at Build, the Lumia 630 and 635 focus on expanding the latter category. The new devices come with Windows Phone 8.1 onboard, and while the 635 includes speedy LTE data, the 3G-only 630 will also come in a dual-SIM variant. They'll be available in five colors with changeable shells, and even offer features like fitness tracking with an integrated low-power chip called SensorCore.
They'll arrive in May as the first Lumia devices with Windows 8.1, running on quad-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processors. As one would expect, these will ship in Asia first before spreading out worldwide, with a US release planned for July andT-Mobile / MetroPCS already announced as a carrier. Off-contract, the Lumia 630 will cost $159 / $169 for the single- or dual-SIM versions, while the 635 will be $189. We should know more about these and get hands-on experience in a few hours when Nokia holds its own press conference, so check back then for more details.
http://investor.t-mobile.com/file.as...5&FID=23001908
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April 3rd, 2014, 11:21 Posted By: wraggster
Now that the Windows Phone 8.1 and Cortana announcements are out of the way, Skype's spilling the details on its upcoming app refresh for Microsoft's new mobile platform. The upgraded Skype app for WP 8.1 will feature a new button that you can press to turn a regular phone call into a Skype video chat. It's similar to that FaceTime option iOS users see when they make calls, though obviously, Skype's version will only work if you have the other person's account details.
That's not all, though -- Skype will now also come with Cortana (the platform's Siri-like voice assistant) integration. This gives you the power to instantly launch convos by hitting the search icon and saying: "Skype, get [someone's name] on video." Other than that, the Microsoft-owned outfit is updating its Windows 8.1 and RT app, as well, so you can finally pin it to the taskbar and make it accessible on both Start and desktop screens. Unfortunately, the updated app might not be available as soon as WP 8.1 launches, but Skype says it should be out in the coming months.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/03/s...ne-8-1-update/
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April 3rd, 2014, 11:24 Posted By: wraggster
Nokia may not be an official part of Microsoft yet -- that should finally happen later this month, if you ask either company -- but that doesn't stop the phone maker from cranking out more devices at the software giant's developer conference. This morning at Build, Stephen Elop announced three new Lumia devices, although two of them are about as close to twins as you can possibly get: the Lumia 630, which is a 3G device that comes in single- and dual-SIM flavors, and the 635, which adds LTE. Both are sub-$200 smartphones aimed squarely at both emerging markets and anyone else who just wants a Windows Phone 8.1device without spending a lot of money in the process.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/02/n...-635-hands-on/
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April 3rd, 2014, 11:27 Posted By: wraggster
Tired of having to slog through web portals on your Windows Phone just to sign on to a coffee shop's WiFi? That won't be a problem once Windows Phone 8.1arrives. Its Wi-Fi Sense feature can automatically accept the terms of use for networks that are both free and trustworthy, getting you online much faster than usual. You also won't have to verbally share login details for your own WiFi network. You can securely share your router's password with contacts in Facebook, Outlook.com and Skype, giving friends an internet connection (but not full network access) without setting up a guest mode. If you're the sort who sometimes avoids WiFi because of the hassles involved, you may want to give Microsoft's mobile OS a closer look.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/02/w...-1-wifi-sense/
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April 3rd, 2014, 11:32 Posted By: wraggster
After months of treading water, Android 4.4 KitKat is finally taking off. Googlereports that 5.3 percent of Android users are running the newer OS version as of early April; that's more than twice the 2.5 percent that it claimed one month earlier. There's no official explanation for the jump, but it's most likely thanks to a wave of KitKat upgrades from HTC, LG and Samsung. Most older versions lost share as a result. It could be a long, long time before KitKat overtakes Jelly Bean (which dipped to 61.4 percent), but the transition is under way -- and it's only likely to accelerate now that flagships like the Galaxy S5 and new One are reaching store shelves.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/02/k...droid-doubles/
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April 3rd, 2014, 11:36 Posted By: wraggster
 How does Viber celebrate being acquired for a ton of money? By bringing one of its most popular features, Viber Out, to Windows Phone 8 -- that's how. In second thought, we're probably way off. Still, the Skype rival has indeed updated its WP8 application, celebration or not, allowing users to now make calls to any phone number thanks to Viber Out. This new version also lets you send video messages and multiple photos at a time, while added Bluetooth support should make it easier for you to enjoy some hands-free action. As usual, you can grab the updatefrom the Windows Phone Store -- and feel free to share your Viber 4.1 impressions with us in the comments below.
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April 3rd, 2014, 11:40 Posted By: wraggster
By the looks of it, BlackBerry chief John Chen wasn't appeased by T-Mobile'sattempt to make peace -- in fact, things have only escalated: T-Mobile will no longer carry any BlackBerry device. In a press release today, the company formerly known as RIM announced that it has chosen not to renew T-Mobile's license to sell its products when it expires on April 25th, 2014.
Chen says: BlackBerry has had a positive relationship with T-Mobile for many years. Regretfully, at this time, our strategies are not complementary and we must act in the best interest of our BlackBerry customers. We hope to work with T-Mobile again in the future when our business strategies are aligned
If you're wondering what exactly happened between the two companies, it all started when T-Mobile encouraged BlackBerry-toting customers to switch to the iPhone. Obviously, that didn't sit well with Chen, so the magenta network launched a promo for existing BB owners, giving them $200 if they trade in their BlackBerry phones for any other device, or $250 if they upgrade to anotherBlackBerry phone. Those who decided to do so need not worry, though: the two promise not to let this nasty divorce get in the way of supporting their current customers.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/01/t...berry-devices/
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April 3rd, 2014, 11:44 Posted By: wraggster
Though the FCC already ruined the surprise, Samsung has just launched three new lower-tier Galaxy Tab 4 tablets. The series consists of the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 4 7.0, 8-inch Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 and -- wait for it -- the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 4 10.1. The design has changed substantially from the Galaxy Tab 3, instead following the lead of the Galaxy Tab Pro series with thinner bezels and less weight. Unlike the high end range, though, the Tab 4's specs are squarely aimed at the mainstream: a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, 1,200 x 800 WXGA graphics, Android 4.4 KitKat, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of memory, a MicroSD slot and 3/1.3-megapixel front/back cameras on all models. All three will launch with LTE Cat 4 capability from the get-go, along with Samsung services like Link and WatchOn. They're set to arrive this quarter in black and white colors, with no pricing yet -- but we'd figure on around the same as last year's $300 Galaxy Tab3 8.0.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/01/s...r-and-lighter/
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April 3rd, 2014, 11:45 Posted By: wraggster
Samsung's ATIV SE hasn't been a terribly well-kept secret, but we've heard precious little about the Verizon-bound Windows Phone beyond its use of a 5-inch, 1080p display. However, tipsters have given The Verge hardware specs that will seem very familiar. If the leak is accurate, the ATIV SE will be a higher-end Galaxy S 4 variant with Microsoft's OS slapped on top -- you should see the same Snapdragon 800 processor, 13-megapixel rear camera, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. Those specs could still make it a potent device, but they hint that Samsung is once again recycling an Android design. If you don't mind the reused components, you'll be glad to hear that the ATIV SE could be coming very soon. The smartphone is reportedly launching on Verizon in April (minus Windows Phone 8.1), pitting it directly against Nokia's similarly specified Lumia Icon.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/31/s...d-launch-leak/
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April 3rd, 2014, 11:46 Posted By: wraggster
Amazon's new Fire TV may or may not have any real impact on the core console gaming market, but it sure does seem to fall in the same space as Ouya. "The only one who should be worried is Ouya, since it is essentially the same device from a games perspective, but it does more because it accesses movie streaming," Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said. IHS' Piers Harding-Rolls agreed: "This announcement will have smaller Android console players looking over their shoulders." For its part, however, Ouya isn't fretting.
"Just as Amazon blazed a trail for a new way of selling online, Ouya invented a new way to think about console games. But for us, games are not simply an 'added bonus' - they're the whole point. Ouya is solely dedicated to the devs creating games, and the players who play them. Their ideal experience is all we think about," Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman told GamesIndustry International.
While Fire TV, as the name implies, is all about video, Ouya has never tried to be anything but a game machine, and the controller is part of the package. "We have more than 700 titles - many award winning -- from over 34,000 registered developers on the platform," stressed Uhrman.
About a month ago, Ouya made a fundamental change to its business - gamers no longer necessarily had to own the hardware to enjoy Ouya. Ouya became anembeddable software platform, one that other Android-based systems could implement. With that in mind, would Ouya consider embedding its platform in Amazon's Fire TV? Uhrman wouldn't say. "Ouya Everywhere, bringing Ouya to other devices, has already been announced for Madcatz's M.O.J.O device. We'll be announcing other partners soon," she said.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...d-bonus-for-us
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April 4th, 2014, 00:04 Posted By: wraggster
Apple's just announced that its annual developer conference, WWDC, will commence on June 2nd and run through June 6th. In a departure from its traditional application process, the company has already opened ticket sales on its website, but will now select attendees randomly instead of a first-come-first-served basis. That means we're no longer likely to see the super-quick ticket selloutswe've witnessed in previous years, but a lottery will ensure there's a fairer chance for all. We can expect to see all of the latest iOS and OS X developments, and anything else the company might have up its sleeve in a few short months.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/03/apple-wwdc-june-2nd/
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April 4th, 2014, 00:07 Posted By: wraggster
Not to be caught cold by recent price cuts from AT&T, and to keep up with T-Mobile's relentless UnCarrier marketing blitz, Verizon has slightly tweaked its More Everything plan to reward its more data-thirsty customers. As of now, subscribers to the company's Edge early-upgrade program who sign up for 10GB or more of data can add additional smartphones to their plan for $15. That's $5 less than the $20 it originally charged. On top of that, Big Red has also slashed the cost of its monthly access fee from $40 to $25, meaning a family of four will pay $160 a month for 10GB of data and unlimited calls and texts. That puts Verizon on a completely level playing field with AT&T, while keeping T-Mobile directly in its crosshairs. You will, of course, need be part of Edge to benefit from these discounts, but it means you'll also be able to upgrade your phone as quickly (or as slowly) as you'd like.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/wcms/...ices/edge.html
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April 4th, 2014, 22:46 Posted By: wraggster
There are already quite a few Chromecast-savvy apps out there, but João Dias' newly completed AutoCast may be one of the most flexible. The Tasker add-on for Android lets you send a wide range of content to Google's media stick in your choice of layout, including multiple things at once -- you can get notifications while you're watching video, or play music while browsing video. You can also create custom home screens that show useful info like battery levels or weather, and it's possible for multiple users to share control over a single Chromecast app, such as an image editor. AutoCast won't address every possible function you might want, but it covers a surprising amount of ground by itself.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/04/autocast-plugin/
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April 4th, 2014, 22:48 Posted By: wraggster
Verizon often takes its sweet time getting the latest phones, and Samsung's new alpha dog, the Galaxy S5, is no exception -- AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint all nabbed it first. However, at least Big Red's sweetening the pot on the 5.1-inch, Full HD, Snapdragon 801-equipped handset. While it's now on pre-order at $200 for a two year deal or $600 sans contract, you can get a second GS5 (or other select models) for "free." The only catch is that you'll need to sign up for another two-year plan, so the phone is essentially half-price with two contracts. Still, you'd be able to chuckle at your Windows Phone-using pals, who'd pay the same price for essentially last year's model.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/s...edPhoneId=7891
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April 4th, 2014, 22:49 Posted By: wraggster
With Windows Phone 8.1 now free, we may start seeing more announcements like this: Verizon's just put the Samsung ATIV SE handset up for pre-order. As we saw in an earlier leak, it's essentially a high-spec Galaxy S4 with Windows Phone 8 (not 8.1) instead of Android. Though that's been superceded by the Galaxy S5 on Android, the internals are still not too shabby, especially for a WP8 handset: a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core CPU, LTE, 2GB of RAM, a 16 13-megapixel camera and a 2,600mAh battery. Naturally, Samsung's also thrown in its own goodies whether you want them or not -- though some, like the TV remote control app, actually look useful. Verizon says it'll ship them out by April 12th at the latest and, if you go for one at $200 on a two-year contract, you'll even get a second for free.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/04/s...izon-preorder/
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April 6th, 2014, 01:13 Posted By: wraggster
Frustrated that you've had to sign up to T-Mobile just to pick up an Xperia Z1 variant with completely US-native LTE? That won't be a problem after this week. Sony has released an unlocked version of the Z1 that can take advantage of 4G speeds on AT&T, T-Mobile and their virtual network partners. The flagship Android phone should also support LTE on bigger Canadian carriers, if you're inclined to travel. You won't get anything else special for the $620 you'll spend on the unlocked model, but it may scratch the itch if you're unwilling to wait for stateside releases of newer hardware like the Z2 or Z1 Compact.
http://store.sony.com/xperia-z1-lte-...lorCode=42315D
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April 6th, 2014, 21:21 Posted By: wraggster
Windows Phone 8.1 includes many, many upgrades, not the least of which isMiracast media sharing; it should be easier than ever to send content to your TV and other gadgets. However, it's now very likely that you'll have to upgrade to anewer phone to get that convenience -- Microsoft's Joe Belfiore says that most existing Windows Phone 8 devices can't handle Miracast. A recent flagship like theLumia 1520 might cut the mustard, but the executive isn't certain that it will work. The limitations are no doubt unfortunate if you were hoping to unlock Miracast through a software update, but they'll at least give you a good excuse to upgrade an older handset.
Update: While Belfiore's statements are still noteworthy for how they apply to the larger ecosystem, Nokia has mentioned that the Lumia 1520, 930 and Icon will support Miracast.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/06/w...t-limitations/
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April 7th, 2014, 20:38 Posted By: wraggster
2002-launched Novauris was actually acquired on the quiet in 2013.
Apple Maps was a fail, prompting the company to acquire multiple location startups to strengthen the native service throughout last year.
Seemingly in hope Siri won't fall to such harsh criticism, Apple has bought UK speech recognition company Novauris – the Latin for "new ear" or "new hearing" – according to TechCrunch.
NovaSearch is its flagship product, which identifies complete phrases against an inventory that can run on devices or servers, boasting access to 245 million items.
Apple confirmed the acquisition but nothing more, while Novauris co-founder Melvyn Hunt revealed he and the team now work for Apple, and that the company is no longer active.
Self-described as a 'speech access company, Novauris "believes that voice will become the interface of choice for consumer applications of all types."
http://www.mobile-ent.biz/industry/m...ce-siri/043353
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April 7th, 2014, 20:42 Posted By: wraggster
Google is encouraging developers to build ‘extremely simple’ apps for its new Android set-top-box.
The Verge claims to have obtained documents from Google revealing that the company is about to launch its rumoured Android TV.
"Android TV is an entertainment interface, not a computing platform," read the Google document.
"It’s all about finding and enjoying content with the least amount of friction." It will be "cinematic, fun, fluid, and fast."
The document suggests that Google is asking selected developers to create apps and games for Android TV which all have consistent interfaces, with an emphasis on simplicity.
In other living room tech news, there have been more rumours about Apple’s iTV.
The Korea Herald suggests that Apple is currently testing 65-inch display panels. According to the report, around two million Apple iTVs with 65-inch and 77-inch liquid crystal displays were expected to be released in the second half of 2014, however plans have been delayed to next year.
Last week, an email between late Apple CEO Steve Jobs and the company’s top executives emerged.
In the email, the former boss talked about lodging a ‘holy war’ with Google and admitted that Apple needed to catch up with Google’s cloud services as well as its notifications, tethering and speech technology.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...latform/033727
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April 7th, 2014, 21:54 Posted By: wraggster
Thought Will.i.am's dubious wearable was the only SIM-toting smartwatch in production? Samsung's apparently building one too. According to the Korea Herald, the company's fourth Gear smartwatch will feature an embedded SIM -- meaning it will be able to make and receive phone calls without syncing to a fully fledged smartphone. The Korean Intellectual Property Office told the paper that the device will be monikered the Samsung Gear Solo, appropriately alluding to its independence. The Herald says the device will be coming to SK Telecom initially, but could land in international markets later on. Samsung refused to comment on the report, stating that it didn't want to contribute to "rumors or speculation." Either way, it's still probably more real than Will.i.am's beat-dropping wrist-watch.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/07/samsung-gear-solo/
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April 7th, 2014, 22:23 Posted By: wraggster
The ongoing Apple-Samsung trial is unearthing some interesting behind-closed-door secrets on both sides. Something we hadn't seen in the preceding legal tussles however, and presented by Recode, was a handful of slides from an Apple internal meeting in April 2013 regarding its plans for 2014. Alongside the slowing growth of iPhone sales, the research noted that overall smartphone growth was from cheap and large (well, larger than the current iPhone) devices -- both of which Apple had nothing to compete with. As the slide put it: "Consumers want what we don't have."
The slide also includes some other reasons for concern, including the carriers' "strong interest in capping iPhone" sales because of its already-high market share, a tough subsidy premium and some (not mentioned) "unfriendly" policies -- consider that lack of carrier-sanctioned bloatware on your iPhone. Apple also admitted that the mobile competition had also "drastically improved their hardware and in some cases their ecosystems," while at the same time, some Android phone-makers were spending "obscene" sums on advertising or carriers to gain traction. Now, which company could Apple possibly mean?
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/06/a...-we-dont-have/
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April 9th, 2014, 23:00 Posted By: wraggster
Minecraft Pocket Edition has sold more than 21 million copies, developer Jens Bergensten says in a tweet. To celebrate this ridiculously large number, theMinecraft mobile team will host a live panel broadcast from Mojang offices on Monday, April 14, allowing fans to ask them anything. Whether they'll answeranything is up to them.
Players can submit questions to this reddit thread. Mojang will pick the best ones and address them live online – there's no specific time for the stream yet, but it will be archived. Mojang says to check the site for more info as it comes in.
"We're extremely grateful to all players for your dedication and creativity," Mojang writes. "Without that, Minecraft wouldn't be anywhere near as significant as it is today."
Minecraft recently passed 12 million sales on Xbox 360 and 14 million on PC. In its first month on PS3, Minecraft hit 1 million sales. In total, Minecraft has sold roughly 576 squidillion copies across all platforms.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/09/mi...illion-copies/
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April 9th, 2014, 23:16 Posted By: wraggster
Disruptor Beam, the developers behind Game of Thrones: Ascent, announced the development of Star Trek Timelines today. Published by CBS, Star Trek Timelines is a story-driven strategy RPG for iOS, Android and browsers in which players explore galaxies and resolve conflicts through diplomacy, combat and science. Players will build a starship and crew and go on missions with characters from the many series of Star Trek TV shows and movies.
The studio's CEO, Jon Radoff wrote a blog on the developer's site detailing its vision for the multiplayer game, comparing it to Game of Thrones: Ascent. While Radoff said the game will be familiar to Game of Thrones players, Star Trek Timelines will feature a "more immersive exploration system" as well as "a more detailed tactical system" for conflict resolution. Disruptor Beam currently doesn't have a release schedule for the game.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/08/ga...c-mobile-star/
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April 10th, 2014, 14:28 Posted By: wraggster
Two-thirds of mobile gamers put down a game and never pick it up again after the first 24 hours, according to a new survey.
 The data collected by app testing firm Swrve comes from a report by tech news site Re/code. Swrve said its survey accounted for the behavior of more than 10 million players over a 90 day period starting in November.
Swrve CEO Hugh Reynolds said that the results mean mobile games have to make a very strong first impression to stand a chance at retaining users longer than just a day.
"It's a bit like a first date," Reynolds said. "If it's going to be effective, it needs to be effective quick."
For users who did stick around, 53 percent of their total spending was done in their first week with the game. That said, the survey found that only 2.2 percent of users spend any money in mobile games, and that a tenth of those accounted for 46 percent of spending.
Those figures line up closely with another survey published by Swrve in February, which found 50 percent of cash from in-app purchases came from 0.15 percent of players.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...rs-leave-fast/
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April 10th, 2014, 23:37 Posted By: wraggster
Greg Christie may have played a key role in developing the first iPhone, but he won't be hanging around Apple for much longer. The company has partlyconfirmed a 9to5 Mac report that the high-profile interface designer is leaving the company later this year after nearly two decades of working at 1 Infinite Loop. Just why he's hanging up his badge isn't certain. The 9to5 story contends that Christie and senior design VP Jony Ive had a "falling out" over iOS 7's design direction, prompting Christie to head for the exit. An Apple spokesperson, however, says that the executive has been "planning to retire" and notes that he "worked closely with Jony for many years." If there are any sour grapes involved, it's not apparent from Cupertino's official position.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/09/g...-leaves-apple/
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April 11th, 2014, 22:13 Posted By: wraggster
 While fans may never forgive EA for the disastrous launch of SimCity, those would-be city planners devoted to OS X will be happy to hear that the fan-favorite SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition is making a return to Apple hardware.
This new version of SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition has been designed from the ground-up for modern Apple hardware. It requires OS X Mountain Lion or a more recent Apple operating system, but alongside this shift into the modern, Aspyr claims the game boasts new bug fixes, performance improvements and native resolution support – a huge boon for anyone who'd rather not playSimCity 4 at a muddy, pixelated 1024x768. Otherwise, this is the same SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition that so many players have spent so many hundreds of hours immersed within.
Best of all, you Apple devotees need not wait for this game's launch. As of this morning, SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition is available on the OS X App Store at a price of $20.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/10/si...-digital-rele/
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April 11th, 2014, 22:23 Posted By: wraggster
More than 60 per cent of Amazon Appstore downloads in February were games
Games continue to be the most downloaded category on Apple, Google and Amazon’s mobile stores, a new report by Distimo suggests.
The mobile research firm reports that approximately 41 per cent of worldwide downloads/installs last month on both Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store were apps categorised as games.
During the same period, 61.3 per cent of all apps downloaded from the Amazon Appstore were games.
Distimo’s report intended to discover which app categories are most popular with publishers. In its estimation, 74 per cent of all revenue generated on the Apple App Store and 90 per cent of all Google Play revenue came from ‘Games’ during February 2014.
All of which adds fuel to the claim that games continue to be the strongest moneymakers on mobile.
The analysis in the report were based on data extracted during February 2014 from Distimo AppIQ, a tool that collects publicly available data such as rankings and prices, among other things, and transactional data such as revenue or downloads from developers who opt into the Distimo App Analytics service.
Thus, it should be taken in context. For instance, Distimo points out that Sports and Finance apps also had a strong month, thanks to the tax return season in the US and the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
http://www.develop-online.net/news/r...-games/0191695
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April 11th, 2014, 22:50 Posted By: wraggster
Tiny devices from Amazon, Google and Apple will infiltrate countless living rooms this year - but will gaming really be on the menu?
With Amazon's Fire TV device the first out the door, the second wave of microconsoles has just kicked off. Amazon's device will be joined in reasonably short order by one from Google, with an app-capable update of the Apple TV device also likely in the works. Who else will join the party is unclear; Sony's Vita TV, quietly soft-launched in Japan last year, remains a potentially fascinating contender if it had the right messaging and services behind it, but for now it's out of the race. One thing seems certain, though; at least this time we're actually going to have a party.
"Second wave", you see, rather implies the existence of a first wave of microconsoles, but last time out the party was disappointing, to say the least. In fact, if you missed the first wave, don't feel too bad; you're in good company. Despite enthusiasm, Kickstarter dollars and lofty predictions, the first wave of microconsole devices tanked. Ouya, Gamestick and their ilk just turned out to be something few people actually wanted or needed. Somewhat dodgy controllers and weak selections of a sub-set of Android's game library merely compounded the basic problem - they weren't sufficiently cheap or appealing compared to the consoles reaching their end-of-life and armed with a vast back catalogue of excellent, cheap AAA software.
"The second wave microconsoles will enjoy all the advantages their predecessors did not. They'll be backed by significant money, marketing and development effort, and will have a major presence at retail"
That was always the reality which deflated the most puffed-up "microconsoles will kill consoles" argument; the last wave of microconsoles sucked compared to consoles, not just for the core AAA gamer but for just about everyone else as well. Their hardware was poor, their controllers uncomfortable, their software libraries anaemic and their much-vaunted cost savings resulting from mobile game pricing rather than console game pricing tended to ignore the actual behaviour of non-core console gamers - who rarely buy day-one software and as a result get remarkably good value for money from their console gaming experiences. Comparing mobile game pricing or F2P models to $60 console games is a pretty dishonest exercise if you know perfectly well that most of the consumers you're targeting wouldn't dream of spending $60 on a console game, and never have to.
Why is the second wave of microconsoles going to be different? Three words: Amazon, Google, Apple. Perhaps Sony; perhaps even Samsung or Microsoft, if the wind blows the right direction for those firms (a Samsung microconsole, sold separately and also bundled into the firm's TVs, as Sony will probably do with Vita TV in future Bravia televisions, would make particular sense). Every major player in the tech industry has a keen interest in controlling the channel through which media is consumed in the living room. Just as Sony and Microsoft originally entered the games business with a "trojan horse" strategy for controlling living rooms, Amazon and Google now recognise games as being a useful way to pursue the same objective. Thus, unlike the plucky but poorly conceived efforts of the small companies who launched the first wave of microconsoles, the second wave is backed by the most powerful tech giants in the world, whose titanic struggle with each other for control of the means of media distribution means their devices will have enormous backing.
To that end, Amazon has created its own game studios, focusing their efforts on the elusive mid-range between casual mobile games and core console games. Other microconsole vendors may take a different approach, creating schemes to appeal to third-party developers rather than building in-house studios (Apple, at least, is almost guaranteed to go down this path; Google could yet surprise us by pursuing in-house development for key exclusive titles). Either way, the investment in software will come. The second wave of microconsoles will not be "boxes that let you play phone games on your TV"; at least not entirely. Rather, they will enjoy dedicated software support from companies who understand that a hit exclusive game would be a powerful way to drive installed base and usage.
Moreover, this wave of microconsoles will enjoy significant retail support. Fire TV's edge is obvious; Amazon is the world's largest and most successful online retailer, and it will give Fire TV prime billing on its various sites. The power of being promoted strongly by Amazon is not to be underestimated. Kindle Fire devices may still be eclipsed by the astonishing strength of the iPad in the tablet market, but they're effectively the only non-iPad devices in the running, in sales terms, largely because Amazon has thrown its weight as a retailer behind them. Apple, meanwhile, is no laggard at retail, operating a network of the world's most profitable stores to sell its own goods, while Google, although the runt of the litter in this regard, has done a solid job of balancing direct sales of its Nexus handsets with carrier and retail sales, work which it could bring to bear effectively on a microconsole offering.
In short, the second wave microconsoles will enjoy all the advantages their predecessors did not. They'll be backed by significant money, marketing and development effort, and will have a major presence at retail. Moreover, they'll be "trojan horse" devices in more ways than one, since their primary purpose will be as media devices, streaming content from Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Hulu, Netflix and so on, while also serving as solid gaming devices in their own right. Here, then, is the convergence that microconsole advocates (and the rather less credible advocates of Smart TV) have been predicting all along; a tiny box that will stream all your media off the network and also build in enough gaming capability to satisfy the mainstream of consumers. Between the microconsole under the TV and the phone in your pocket, that's gaming all sewn up, they reckon; just as a smartphone camera is good enough for almost everyone, leaving digital SLRs and their ilk to the devoted hobbyist, the professional and the poseur, a microconsole and a smartphone will be more than enough gaming for almost everyone, leaving dedicated consoles and gaming PCs to a commercially irrelevant hardcore fringe.
There are, I think, two problems with that assessment. The first is the notion that the "hardcore fringe" who will use dedicated gaming hardware is small enough to be commercially irrelevant; I've pointed out before that the strong growth of a new casual gaming market does not have to come at the cost of growth in the core market, and may even support it by providing a new stream of interested consumers. This is not a zero-sum game, and will not be a zero-sum game until we reach a point where there are no more non-gaming consumers out there to introduce to our medium. Microconsoles might do very well and still cause not the slightest headache to PlayStation, Xbox or Steam.
The second problem with the assessment is a problem with the microconsoles themselves - a problem which the Fire TV suffers from very seriously, and which will likely be replicated by subsequent devices. The problem is control.
Games are an interactive experience. Having a box which can run graphically intensive games is only one side of the equation - it is, arguably, the less important side of the equation. The other side is the controller, the device through which the player interacts with the game world. The most powerful graphics hardware in the world would be meaningless without some enjoyable, comfortable, well-designed method of interaction for players; and out of the box, Fire TV doesn't have that.
"This is the Achilles' Heel of the second generation of micro consoles... the giant unsolved question remains; how will these games be controlled?"
Sure, you can control games (some of them, anyway) with the default remote control, but that's going to be a terrible experience. I'm reminded of terribly earnest people ten years ago trying to convince me that you could have fun controlling complex games on pre-smartphone phones, or on TV remote controls linked up to cable boxes; valiant efforts ultimately doomed not only by a non-existent business ecosystem but by a terrible, terrible user experience. Smartphones heralded a gaming revolution not just because of the App Store ecosystem, but because it turned out that a sensitive multi-touch screen isn't a bad way of controlling quite a lot of games. It still doesn't work for many types of game; a lot of traditional game genres are designed around control mechanisms that simply can't be shoehorned onto a smartphone. By and large, though, developers have come to grips with the possibilities and limitations of the touchscreen as a controller, and are making some solid, fun experiences with it.
With Fire TV, and I expect with whatever offering Google and Apple end up making, the controller is an afterthought - both figuratively and literally. You have to buy it separately, which keeps down the cost of the basic box but makes it highly unlikely that the average purchaser will be able to have a good game experience on the device. The controller itself doesn't look great, which doesn't help much, but simply being bundled with the box would make a bold statement about Fire TV's gaming ambitions. As it is, this is not a gaming device. It's a device that can play games if you buy an add-on; the notion that a box is a "gaming device" just because its internal chips can process game software, even if it doesn't have the external hardware required to adequately control the experience, is the kind of notion only held by people who don't play or understand games.
This is the Achilles' Heel of the second generation of microconsoles. They offer a great deal - the backing of the tech giants, potentially huge investment and enormous retail presence. They could, with the right wind in their sales, help to bring "sofa gaming" to the same immense, casual audience that presently enjoys "pocket gaming". Yet the giant unsolved question remains; how will these games be controlled? A Fire TV owner, a potential casual gamer, who tries to play a game using his remote control and finds the experience frustrating and unpleasant won't go off and buy a controller to make things better; he'll shrug and return to the Hulu app, dismissing the Games panel of the device as being a pointless irrelevance.
The answer doesn't have to be "bundle a joypad". Perhaps it'll be "tether to a smartphone", a decision which would demand a whole new approach to interaction design (which would be rather exciting, actually). Perhaps a simple Wiimote style wand could double as a remote control and a great motion controller or pointer. Perhaps (though I acknowledge this as deeply unlikely) a motion sensor like a "Kinect Lite" could be the solution. Many compelling approaches exist which deserve to be tried out; but one thing is absolutely certain. While the second generation of microconsoles are going to do very well in sales terms, they will primarily be bought as media streaming boxes - and will never be an important games platform until the question of control gets a good answer.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-for-round-two
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April 11th, 2014, 23:12 Posted By: wraggster
Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone, along with its new range of wearable tech devices, has launched in the UK today.
The Galaxy S5 smartphone, Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo smartwatches, and the Gear Fit fitness band are all available to buy now from all major retails in store and online.
The products will also be available in Samsung’s newly launched Experience Stores up and down the country.
The Galaxy S5 features a 16MP camera with 4K video capabilities, 5.1-inch display, 2.5GHz Quad-Core processor, 2GB of RAM and a battery that can last 20 per cent longer than the Galaxy S4’s.
The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo are the first wearable devices to be powered by Tizen.
The Gear Fit is designed to act more like a fitness tracking band rather than a smartwatch. The display curves around your wrist and is lighter and more compact than the Gear 2. While it doesn’t have a camera, it does tell the time and have pedometer and heart rate monitor apps.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...ds=Galaxy%20S5
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April 12th, 2014, 00:48 Posted By: wraggster
Marat Fayzullin has updated the port of its Spectrum emulator Speccy for Android.
Quote:
Speccy-Android 3.0.4, my Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator, is now available at Google Play.
Among other things, this release adds slow-motion mode, fixes multitouch input wherever it failed to work, and removes scanline effects interference with Debugger and Advanced Settings. Furthermore, for those Kitkat users who got their external SD cards disabled, I have added a workaround that lets you store your Spectrum files on these SD cards. All saves will then go to /sdcard/Speccy, or Speccy´s private directory on the SD card. See below for the complete list of changes.
- Added slow-motion mode, combined with fast-forward mode.
- Fixed multitouch input in cases where it didn´t work.
- Fixed scanline effects in Debugger, etc.
- Made a work-around for external SD card use on KitKat!
- If can´t write to external SD card, saving states to /storage/sdcard0/Speccy.
- If Speccy folder doesn´t exist, saving states to /storage/sdcard1/Android/data/com.fms.speccy/files.
- Fixed screen decorations covering ZX Spectrum screen with OpenGLES disabled.
- Fixed sections navigation in the File Selector.
- Fixed recognition of multiple file extensions.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...com.fms.speccy (free version)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....speccy.deluxe (full version)
via http://www.aep-emu.de/
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April 12th, 2014, 00:49 Posted By: wraggster
via http://www.aep-emu.de/
Marat Fayzullin has released another version of its GameBoy Advance emulator VGBA-Android.
Quote:
This update fixes the ARM V flag computation on x86 Android, adds the often requested slow-motion mode, and extends Cheatopedia with more Pokemon Fire Red cheats, submitted by users.
More importantly, Android Kitkat users should now be able to run games from their SD cards. As you know, Kitkat restricts third-party apps from creating or modifying files on the external SD card. Because of this limitation, if you store your games on an SD card, VGBA will save your gameplay and screenshots to the "VGBA" folder in the internal storage. If this folder does not exist, VGBA will save to the app-specific SD card folder, where it is permitted to write. Please note that all app-specific folders are deleted when you uninstall the app, so you may want to manually create that "VGBA" folder, or simply keep all your GBA games in the internal storage, avoiding Google´s draconian restrictions.
- Fixed startup crash
- Fixed ARM V-flag computation after subtraction (Caravan Heart works).
- Added slow-motion mode, combined with fast-forward mode.
- Added more Pokemon Fire Red cheats to the Cheatopedia.
- Made a work-around for external SD card use on KitKat!
- If can´t write to external SD card, saving states to /storage/sdcard0/VGBA.
- If VGBA folder doesn´t exist, saving states to /storage/sdcard1/Android/data/com.fms.vgba/files.
- Fixed a crash in Cheatopedia, when displaying the list.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...d=com.fms.vgba
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April 12th, 2014, 00:49 Posted By: wraggster
via http://www.aep-emu.de/
Marat Fayzullin has updated his (commercial) GameBoy emulator VGB-Android.
Quote:
The new VGB-Android fixes line-match interrupts (so that Street Fighter 2 and a few other games run with no glitches), makes scanline effects work properly when running Super GameBoy games, and adds support for external SD cards on Kitkat. There is also a bunch of other fixes, covered below. Finally, I removed the MENU button off the screen, to avoid accidentally entering the Advanced Settings menu. These settings can still be accessed via "Advanced | Settings" Android menu.
- Fixed line-match interrupts to occur on LYC writes (Street Fighter 2).
- Fixed scanline effects in Super GameBoy mode.
- Made a work-around for external SD card use on KitKat!
- If can´t write to external SD card, saving states to /storage/sdcard0/VGB.
- If VGB folder doesn´t exist, saving states to /storage/sdcard1/Android/data/com.fms.vgb/files.
- Removed the MENU button from the screen (use "Advanced | Settings" instead).
- Fixed sections navigation in the File Selector.
- Fixed a crash in Cheatopedia, when displaying the list.
- Fixed rare crashes in gesture detection.
- Fixed recognition of multiple file extensions.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...id=com.fms.vgb
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April 12th, 2014, 00:50 Posted By: wraggster
via http://www.aep-emu.de/
Marat Fayzullin has updated the port of his ColecoVision emulator ColEm to the Android platform.
Quote:
The new release adds the slow-motion and audible keypad clicks. It also fixes the screen artifacts that sometimes showed up in the accelerated mode, makes keypad more sensitive, and gets rid of random multitouch problems that some users experienced.
Most importantly, if you are an Android Kitkat user, the new ColEm will let you keep your games on an external SD card. As Kitkat prohibits third-party apps from writing to the SD card, ColEm will save your gameplay states in the "ColEm/" title="zur Homepage von Marat Fayzullin" target="_blank">ColEm/" title="zur Homepage von Marat Fayzullin" target="_blank">ColEm/" title="zur Homepage von Marat Fayzullin" target="_blank">ColEm" folder on the internal storage (if present) or the private app folder on the SD card. Please note that Android will *delete* all private app folders when you uninstall the app. To avoid losing your saved states, I suggest you manually create the "/sdcard/ColEm/" title="zur Homepage von Marat Fayzullin" target="_blank">ColEm/" title="zur Homepage von Marat Fayzullin" target="_blank">ColEm/" title="zur Homepage von Marat Fayzullin" target="_blank">ColEm" folder in the internal storage: it will not be deleted.
- Added slow-motion mode, combined with fast-forward mode.
- Added optional click sound to the virtual keypad.
- Fixed left/top edge artifacts with accelerated video enabled.
- Made a work-around for external SD card use on KitKat!
- If can´t write to external SD card, saving states to /storage/sdcard0/ColEm/" title="zur Homepage von Marat Fayzullin" target="_blank">ColEm/" title="zur Homepage von Marat Fayzullin" target="_blank">ColEm/" title="zur Homepage von Marat Fayzullin" target="_blank">ColEm.
- If ColEm folder doesn´t exist, saving states to /storage/sdcard1/Android/data/com.fms.colem/files.
- Fixed multitouch input in cases when it didn´t work.
- Fixed keypad input sensitivity.
- Fixed fast-forwarding in automatic frame rate mode.
- Fixed rare crashes in gesture detection.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...s.colem.deluxe (full version)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...=com.fms.colem (free version)
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April 12th, 2014, 00:51 Posted By: wraggster
via http://www.aep-emu.de/
Marat Fayzullin has updated his MasterSystem, GameGear, SG-1000, SC-3000 and SF-7000 emulator MasterGear for Android.
Quote:
The new version has got the slow-motion mode (combined with the fast-forward mode in the Settings) and a variety of fixes. More importantly, I have started adding workarounds for external SD card restrictions imposed by Android KitKat. If you are a KitKat user, the new MasterGear will let you keep your games on the external SD card, saving your gameplay states to /sdcard/MasterGear folder or the app-specific SD card folder, as KitKat prohibits third-party apps from writing arbitrary SD card folders. No, I do not know why Google made this restriction. I guess their Nexus devices simply do not have SD cards, so they never tested. - Added slow-motion mode, combined with fast-forward mode.
- Fixed multitouch input in cases when it didn´t work.
- Made a work-around for external SD card use on KitKat!
- If can´t write to external SD card, saving states to /storage/sdcard0/MasterGear.
- If MasterGear folder doesn´t exist, saving states to /storage/sdcard1/Android/data/com.fms.mg/files.
- Fixed fast-forwarding in automatic frame rate mode.
- Fixed a crash in Cheatopedia, when displaying the list.
- Fixed rare crashes in gesture detection.
KITKAT NOTE:
The /storage/sdcard1/Android/data/com.fms.mg/files folder is deleted when you uninstall the app. To avoid losing your saved states when storing games on the external SD card, manually create the /storage/sdcard0/MasterGear folder in your internal storage.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...?id=com.fms.mg
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April 12th, 2014, 00:54 Posted By: wraggster
via http://www.emulation64.com/
PPSSPP can run your PSP games on your PC in full HD resolution, and play them on Android too. It can even upscale textures that would otherwise be too blurry as they were made for the small screen of the original PSP.
Here's changelog for 0.9.8 release:
|
+ OpenGL ES 3 detection bug on Xperia devices fixed, graphics work again.
+ More accurate audio mixing and emulation
+ Software rendering and display list performance improvements
+ Workaround for timing issue hanging Crash Tag Team Racing
+ Galician language
+ Built-in ARM disassembler improvements (dev feature)
+ Fix for immersive mode volume key issue on Android Kitkat
+ And more minor tweaks and fixes as always. |
Visit Official homepage for for further information and latest build of emulator
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April 12th, 2014, 01:01 Posted By: wraggster
via http://emu-russia.net/en/
ZX Spectrum emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Added slow-motion mode, combined with fast-forward mode.
- Fixed multitouch input in cases where it didn't work.
- Fixed scanline effects in Debugger, etc.
- Made a work-around for external SD card use on Kitkat!
- If can't write to external SD card, saving states to /storage/sdcard0/Speccy or /storage/sdcard1/Android/data/com.fms.speccy/files.
- Fixed screen decorations covering Spectrum screen.
- Fixed sections navigation in the File Selector.
- Fixed recognition of multiple file extensions.
News source: https://play.google.com
News source: https://play.google.com
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April 13th, 2014, 21:49 Posted By: wraggster
Windows Phone and Windows RT, the Microsoft operating systems for the company's smartphones and tablets respectively, could be getting a little more ... epic in the future. Epic Games co-founder and CEO Tim Sweeney told forum-goers that the company is working on implementing its Unreal Engine 4 on mobile Microsoft platforms.
"We have been doing some work in this direction (implementing various levels of WinRT API support) and we want to have Windows Phone support eventually, but we're a very long way from having a ship-quality implementation," Sweeneywrote on the Epic forums. "Right now our mobile efforts are really focused on iOS and Android based on their huge market sizes. We have a lot of work to do on these platforms before expanding to other mobile platforms such as WP."
In other words, while we might see Unreal Engine 4 support on Windows Phone and Windows RT in the future, for now it's still more likely to hear or read "coming soon to iOS and Android" than it is "coming soon to Windows Phone."
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/12/ep...phone-windows/
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April 13th, 2014, 22:06 Posted By: wraggster
Given Apple's status as the world's most valuable company and its enormous cash hoard, the refusal to offer even meager support to open source and industry groups is puzzling. From the article: 'Apple bundles software from the Apache Software Foundation with its OS X operating system, but does not financially support the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) in any way. That is in contrast to Google and Microsoft, Apple's two chief competitors, which are both Platinum sponsors of ASF — signifying a contribution of $100,000 annually to the Foundation. Sponsorships range as low as $5,000 a year (Bronze), said Sally Khudairi, ASF's Director of Marketing and Public Relations. The ASF is vendor-neutral and all code contributions to the Foundation are done on an individual basis. Apple employees are frequent, individual contributors to Apache. However, their employer is not, Khudairi noted. The company has been a sponsor of ApacheCon, a for-profit conference that runs separately from the Foundation — but not in the last 10 years. "We were told they didn't have the budget," she said of efforts to get Apple's support for ApacheCon in 2004, a year in which the company reported net income of $276 million on revenue of $8.28 billion.'
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/14/0...-tech-industry
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April 13th, 2014, 23:00 Posted By: wraggster
via http://emu-russia.net/en/
NES emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Added decorative background in portrait mode.
- Added COIN button to insert "coins" into VS System.
- Added DISK button to flip Famicom DiskSystem disks.
- Now resetting FDS to side A on startup.
- Fixed scanline effects in Debugger, etc.
- Made a work-around for external SD card use on Kitkat!
- If can't write to external SD card, saving states to /sdcard/iNES or to the app-specific SD card folder.
- Removed the MENU button from the screen.
- Fixed sections navigation in the File Selector.
News source: https://play.google.com
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April 14th, 2014, 00:01 Posted By: wraggster
via http://www.emucr.com/
DraStic v2.2.1.1a for Android is released. DraStic is a fast Nintendo DS emulator for Android. In addition to being able to play Nintendo DS games full speed on many Android devices it has the following features:
- Customize the placement and size of the DS screens, for portrait and landscape modes
- Fully supports add-on controllers, and physical controls in devices like nVidia Shield and Xperia Play
- Save and resume your progress anywhere with save states
- Tweak your gaming experience with a database of thousands of cheat codes
- Synchronize your save games with your online Google Drive space
- Increase emulation speed with fast-forward
DraStic v2.2.1.1a for Android Changelog:
- Added ability to specify RTC start time instead of using system time
- Changed sound handling during fast-forward
- Fixed problems with certain archives
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....dsemu.drastic
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April 14th, 2014, 20:54 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft's unveiled a new Age of Empires game for mobile devices, called Age of Empires: World Domination.Due this summer (on iOS, Android and Windows Phone), World Domination slims the real-time strategy formula into something that looks simpler and something that's free-to-play.There are Vikings, Celts, Franks and Huns factions to choose between, and you can build structures as well as direct units in battle. There's not much else to go on for the time being, except for a trailer and a few screenshots.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...tion-announced
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April 14th, 2014, 21:12 Posted By: wraggster
Android, iOS, Windows Phone. Each of these mobile platforms had to start somewhere, and none were anywhere near perfect on the first try. Fortunately, each OS gets better with every iteration until, at some point, it all just clicks. Arguably, Windows Phone just came of age with its latest update, version 8.1.
Even before today, Windows Phone only had a few big holes remaining and indeed, 8.1 appears to fill those gaps. In particular, the OS now has a fancy notification center in addition to those signature Live Tiles; the keyboard now allows for swipe gestures; and last but not least, it now has Cortana, a virtual assistant to take on Siri, Google Now and Samsung's S Voice. The 8.1 update is a fairly significant one, and I got the opportunity to take it for a spin ahead of the official developer preview's launch. It may not be perfect yet, but it's clear Windows Phone has finally grown up.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/14/windows-phone-8-1/
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April 14th, 2014, 21:15 Posted By: wraggster
Ahead of Apple revealing its first smartphone, Google's plans for Android back in 2006 involved physical keys for control and no touchscreen input support. Revealed in court documents from the ensuing Apple-Samsung legal fray, the early specification says that "the product [Android] was designed with the presence of discrete physical buttons as an assumption. However, there is nothing fundamental in the product's architecture that prevents the support of touchscreen in the future." (The above render is from Google's initial SDK, but by then, touchscreen integration was now part of the official spec.)
In this 2006 documentation, many of the Android staples (both in software and hardware) get a mention, including removable storage, third-party application support, widgets, notifications and all those Google services. Between the announcement of the iPhone and finalizing Android's software requirements, touchscreen input was not only supported -- multi-input touch was required, and our phones were never the same again.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/13/a...creen-support/
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April 15th, 2014, 00:22 Posted By: wraggster
The classic theme park building game is now available on mobile.
Atari’s globally recognised RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 has been launched for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Build the greatest theme park, with the greatest rides, attractions and restaurants to entertain the very demanding thrill seeking public that are queuing to get through the gates.
Customise every single ride, and grow the park as much as you can – then share it with friends online.
Compare parks, exchange gifts and help each other design coasters through Facebook and the Game Centre to make it a truly interactive and social title.
Fred Chesnais, chief executive officer at Atari, commented: “RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 Mobile brings the series to new platforms to fully take advantage of mobile and social features.â€
A co-op PC version is currently in production.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 Mobile is available now from the App Store for $2.99 and comes with $5 of pre-loaded in-game currency.
http://www.mobile-ent.biz/apps/app-o...-mobile/043390
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April 16th, 2014, 00:15 Posted By: wraggster
A new report says that total Google Play downloads are currently tracking ahead of the Apple App Store in terms of volume.
Google Play downloads lead the App Store by 45 per cent in Q1 2014, up from 35 per cent in Q4 2013.
However, App Annie’s Q1 2014 Market Index says that iOS still generates in the region of 85 per cent more revenue than its Android rival, although the gap is narrowing.
China is helping iOS maintain its revenue lead, however, with revenues in the country climbing 70 per cent quarter over quarter. Mexico and Turkey, meanwhile, have provided good growth for Google Play, jumping by 75 per cent.
The UK remains the fourth largest iOS downloader in terms of both units and revenue. It also ranks fifth in the Google Play revenue table but doesn’t feature in the units top five.
Games remains the top performing category in all respects across Google Play and iOS.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/googl...-store/0131202
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April 16th, 2014, 00:29 Posted By: wraggster
The night before Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) division was supposed to show off the one and only functional Project Ara prototype to a room full of eager developers, someone dropped the phone and broke the display. Atany other product reveal, this worst-case scenario would be a nightmare come true. Not to Google: the company made lemonade out of a lemon by turning it into a selling point for the modular smartphone. A year from now, painful situations like this can be easily fixed by simply buying a new display and swapping out the broken one.
Not that last night's fiasco would've made much of a difference. Attendees at this week's Project Ara developer conference wouldn't have been able to boot up the prototype and play around with it like any typical smartphone -- in this case, "functional" is not the same as "functioning" -- but at least it would've made for a better presentation. Regardless of how it looked, however, we were able to briefly handle the Project Ara prototype and some of its first modules. To be clear, this is an extremely early model and there's a long way to go before seeing the light of day, but it at least allows us to get a good glimpse of what's to come over the next year as Ara continues to prepare for launch.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/15/p...ar-smartphone/
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April 16th, 2014, 00:42 Posted By: wraggster
 Grab the Kindle Fire HD 7", HD Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB for $129.99 (Save $40) at Amazon! Experience movies, TV, and games, and more on a stunning HD display (216 ppi / 1280x800)
Fast 1.5GHz dual-core processor—apps launch quickly, games and videos play smoothly
Create profiles and set time limits for children with Kindle FreeTime. Easy-to-use parental controls let everyone enjoy, worry-free
Ultra-fast web browsing over built-in Wi-Fi, plus updated e-mail and calendar support for Gmail, Outlook, and more
Instant
Check it out: Amazon - Kindle Fire HD 7", HD Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB
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April 17th, 2014, 00:09 Posted By: wraggster
While we'd seen rumblings that it was in beta testing, Google's Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android made its official debut today. This means that those who fancy Mountain View's mobile OS can take a gander at files that reside on aWindows or Mac machine that's safely docked in the office. The Remote Desktopapp has been available on the desktop for quite some time, and now the same access is available through Chrome on Android smartphones and tablets. For those who prefer Apple's devices, an iOS version of the software should be on the way soon.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/16/g...sktop-android/
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April 17th, 2014, 00:17 Posted By: wraggster
Apple and Samsung are duking it out in court yet again, but there's at least one thing they (and a host of their smartphone making rivals) agree on: users shouldn't be helpless when their phones are stolen. That's why, starting in July 2015, all of the smartphones those companies sell in the United States will come with an anti-theft tool meant to help keep your data out of the wrong hands. The full list of backers includes the usual heavyweights: besides Apple and Samsung, there's Google, HTC, Huawei, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, along with the country's biggest wireless carriers. Those parties in total represent a tremendous chunk of the American wireless industry, so your next (or next next) smartphone will almost certainly let you stick it to the sticky-fingered.
And what, pray tell, would such tools do? According to the CTIA, users will be able to remotely wipe and restore their devices (say, from a cloud backup), and prevent them from being reactivated or used by unsavory types. That seemingly simple move wouldn't just save us all anguish, it could save us a collective total of $2.5 billion a year in replacement costs and insurance fees. It sure sounds like a win for consumers, but some -- like Senator Mark Leno, who sponsored a bill to create akill-switch for connected gadgets in the Golden State -- think such tools should be on by default rather than requiring users to opt-in. He's probably on to something, but at least all these companies have a few months to iron out the details.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/15/s...ft-commitment/
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April 17th, 2014, 00:43 Posted By: wraggster
Not content with the recent launch of three new wearable devices and the Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone, the firm has announced that a smartphone running Tizen OS is also on the way.
Senior vice president Yoon Han-kil has told Reuters that Samsung will launch at least two smartphones running the Linux-based mobile operating system before August 2014.
Yoon said that although Android "still needs to be our main business", Tizen will be used for markets that Android could not address.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy Glass, the firm’s upcoming Google Glass rival, has been unveiled by a patent filing.
The patent shows what has been described as an ‘earphone’, although it appears to be a headset with a single display in front of the wearer’s right eye – monocle style.
The ‘earphone’ reference becomes a little clearer once you see the mock up of the device being worn. Rather than standard eyewear arms, it has a single earpiece to hold it in place.
According to the patent filing, the display will be constructed from a transparent synthetic resin material and will offer wearable augmented reality and a “real life experience of being able to listen to a variety of sourcesâ€.
In addition to this, Samsung has also trademarked ‘Gear Clock’. The name suggests that the product will be another addition to its smartwatch range.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...r-clock/033785
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April 17th, 2014, 00:44 Posted By: wraggster
Intel has revealed that up to 90 per cent of its tablet processors are for Android devices.
Discussing the firm’s Q1 earnings during a conference call, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said that out of the five million tablet processors shipped by Intel, only 10 to 20 per cent were for Windows.
Krzanich also added that the majority of tablets sold cost between $125 (£75) and $250 (£149).
The news comes as Intel pledges to invest more heavily in the tablet sector, predicting tablet shipments of 40 million during 2014.
Maurits Tichelman, GM of the worldwide reseller channel for Intel, said that a 'significant change' in Intel tablets would support the firm’s increased presence in the tablet market.
"We were late [to the tablet market] but a lot has changed [since then]," he said.
"We want to go after 40 million units this year. Of that 40 million, we expect a third to flow through the channel."
Christian Morales, VP and GM, EMEA, added that EMEA represented 43 per cent of Intel tablets sold in 2013, with the region previously responsible for around a third.
Intel CFO Stacy Smith said that one way in which Intel planned to boost sales was by increasing contra revenue – decreasing profits to increase sales numbers.
"As we ramp tablets [we] see the associated contra revenue dollars for tablets,†she said.
“We saw some of that in Q1 and we'll see a bit more in Q2.â€
The chip maker will also push further into the tablet market with several new products, including a quad-core version of the Intel SoFIA chip in 2015, which will be aimed at budget smartphones and tablet devices.
As part of the financials report, Intel announced revenue of $12.8 billion (£7.65 billion), operating income of $2.5 billion (£1.49 billion), net income of $1.9 billion (£1.13 billion) – down five per cent year-on-year – and EPS of 38 cents (23p), also down five per cent compared to 2012.
The company generated approximately $3.5 billion (£2.09 billion) in cash from operations, paid dividends of $1.1 billion (£0.66 billion), and used $545 million (£326 million) to repurchase 22 million shares of stock.
"In the first quarter we saw solid growth in the data center, signs of improvement in the PC business, and we shipped five million tablet processors, making strong progress on our goal of 40 million tablets for 2014," said Krzanich of the results.
"Additionally, we demonstrated our further commitment to grow in the enterprise with a strategic technology and business collaboration with Cloudera, we introduced our second-generation LTE platform with CAT6 and other advanced features, and we shipped our first Quark products for the Internet of Things."
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...android/033783
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April 17th, 2014, 00:45 Posted By: wraggster
Tesco will launch a second Hudl tablet device later this year, after the original passed the 500,000 unit sales mark.
The supermarket revealed its plans today in its 'preliminary results 2013/14' financial report, which shows that group trading profits fell six per cent year-on-year to £3.3 billion during the year ending February 22nd 2014.
Hudl launched in September 2013 and went on to sell 300,000 units by the start of December, and some 400,000 by January 2014.
"This [financial] year we launched the Hudl, our very own tablet," said Tesco in a statement. "It was recently named winner of the ‘ReThink Retail Technology Initiative of the Year’ and we plan to launch a second device later this year.
"In the year we sold more than 500,000 Hudls, our first tablet.
"Blinkbox services also continue to grow and we launched Blinkbox books last month with hundreds of thousands of books now available to download."
Although Tesco has its own tablet and still stocks some consumer electronics in certain stores, itwithdrew from computing last year.
Philip Clarke, Tesco Chief Executive, said: "We are transforming Tesco through a relentless focus on providing the most compelling offer for our customers. Our results today reflect the challenges we face in a trading environment which is changing more rapidly than ever before. We are determined to lead the industry in this period of change.
"During the year, we have maintained our focus on cash and capital discipline. We have significantly reduced our new investment in Europe, focusing the majority of our overseas capital on targeted, high-returning investments in Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. We have completed our exit from the US and established partnerships with CRE in China and Tata in India which provide continued access to two of the world’s most exciting markets, consistent with a sustainable level of future investment.â€
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...ccessor/033780
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April 18th, 2014, 00:12 Posted By: wraggster
Documents unearthed as part of a US legal battle between Apple and Samsung have revealed the distasteful truth underpinning some corporate strategy.
Cnet reports that Samsung America’s former head of national sales Michael Pennington saw the death of Apple boss Steve Jobs in 2011 as an opportunity for the company to further its own smartphone aspirations.
"Unfortunately, Steve Jobs’ passing has led to a huge wave of press coverage of Apple's and iPhone's 'superiority,' all created by the 'passionate, tireless, perfectionist...'†he wrote.
“The point here is that there is an unintended benefit for Apple, since the external messages by third parties are all highlighting and/or supporting the consumer perception that Apple products are superior, since Jobs' was such a visionary and perfectionist. What consumer wouldn't feel great about purchasing a device developed by such a person.
"Sorry to continue to push this issue, but I have seen this far too long and I know this is our best opportunity to attack iPhone. If there is no consensus on the approach I initially proposed, I will stop pushing, but I would like to better understand our strategy so I can align with that."
Pennington left Samsung earlier this year.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/samsu...iphone/0131295
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April 18th, 2014, 00:22 Posted By: wraggster
Go ahead and dust off your OUYAs, friends -- it's updatin' time. The little Android game console that could wasn't exactly the runaway hit its creators were hoping for, but some fresh features found in the new Chupacabra update help this thing stand a bit taller. As far as the team is concerned, the biggest draw is the addition of AC3, DTS and AAS audio passthrough support for the exceedingly popular XBMC media center app. The OUYA itself doesn't have the proper licenses to play certain bits of audio (say, a movie's surround sound audio track), but now it can pass them over to a user's home theater receiver that does have the licenses. In short, those of you using your tiny Android consoles as media centers can finally play some of the trickier videos in your collection.
Also tucked away in the update: a cleaner view at game information, a download manager and the ability to set certain games as favorites for easy access. Alas, it's not all sunshine and rainbows here -- OUYA said it would remove its free-to-try requirement, and that change has finally taken hold. Granted, the move basically neuters one of the most gamer-friendly parts about owning an OUYA (who doesn't love free game demos?), but we suppose the company's gotta do what it has to in order to keep those game developers happy.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/17/ouya-chupacabra/
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April 18th, 2014, 00:25 Posted By: wraggster
Nokia has issued a product advisory for certain Lumia 2520 chargers and has temporarily suspended sales of the Windows tablet in the UK and parts of Europe. The notice applies to its Europe- and UK-only AC-300 charger, along with the 2520 travel charger accessory, which is also available in the US. Use of those products should be discontinued immediately due to a shock hazard, though Nokia said that no incidents have been reported yet. 30,000 chargers are affected in total, but only 600 of the travel accessories were sold in the US. That means you're free to use the tablet stateside (without the travel charger, of course). But if you're located in the UK and certain other European countries, your Lumia 2520 will have to go on ice pending a fix. More information and updates are available from Nokia right here.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/17/n...-shock-hazard/
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April 19th, 2014, 23:47 Posted By: wraggster
BioWare's classic PC role-playing game, Baldur's Gate, is now available for Android devices in an enhanced port developed by Beamdog studio division Overhaul Games.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition adopted a variety of enhancements and new features during its transition to mobile platforms, and originally launched for iOS platforms in 2012. Enhanced Edition includes all content from the original 1998 Baldur's Gate and its expansion Tales of the Sword Coast, along with The Black Pits arena mode and other new quests available via in-app purchases.
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition is priced at $9.99.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/18/ba...ow-on-android/
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April 21st, 2014, 20:38 Posted By: wraggster
Let the wedding bells ring! Microsoft announced this morning that it finally has something we've been curious about since September: the actual date the company will complete its proposed acquisition of Nokia's devices and services business. In a blog post, Microsoft's General Counsel Brad Smith explained that all of the legal hurdles have been cleared and that the merger will officially take place this Friday, April 25th. "We look forward to introducing the next billion customers to Microsoft services via Nokia mobile phones," Smith said.
Microsoft will manage the Nokia.com domain and the company's social media presence for up to a year, and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop will be in charge of Microsoft's devices group, reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella. Aside from this, Microsoft has been pretty tight-lipped on details about what the post-acquisition world will be like, mainly due to legal restrictions. After this Friday, however, we hope the company will open up a bit more about what we can expect going forward.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/21/m...-nokia-merger/
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April 21st, 2014, 20:49 Posted By: wraggster
Here's an interesting look at the battle for mobile video game money between Google and Apple. 'Last August, for the launch of "Plants Vs. Zombies 2," a highly anticipated sequel to a popular zombie-survival strategy game, publisher Electronic Arts Inc.struck a deal with Apple, which promoted the game prominently in its App Store, according to people familiar with the matter. In exchange, one of these people said, EA agreed to give Apple about a two-month window of exclusivity for the title, which wasn't released on Google's Android software until October
http://games.slashdot.org/story/14/0...me-exclusivity
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April 21st, 2014, 21:33 Posted By: wraggster
via http://emu-russia.net/en/
Sega Genesis/Megadrive emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Finally added support for devices with virtual buttons!!!
- Owners of devices with virtual buttons can display the Action Bar with the "Back" button.
- Users having devices with real buttons can show the Action Bar with the "Back" button, and also with the "Menu" button, if there is one on the device.
So every device can now reach "Save" and "Load" actions!!!
- New version also introduces new Smart banners from Google.
News source: https://play.google.com
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April 21st, 2014, 21:34 Posted By: wraggster
via http://emu-russia.net/en/
ZX Spectrum emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Spectaculator now speaks Spanish!
- Spectrum +3 emulation
- Add artwork for custom games
- Cloud saves (via Dropbox). Gives the possibility of saving on one device (e.g. Phone) and continue playing on another device (e.g. Tablet or PC)
- Moga Pocket and Moga Pro (mode A) controller support.
- iCade support
- Gametel controller support
- Support for USR0 modes. (Long press model selection to get USR0 options)
- Added Impossamole, Super Scramble Simulator and Super Cars to Gremlin packs
News source: https://play.google.com
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April 21st, 2014, 21:36 Posted By: wraggster
via http://emu-russia.net/en/
Nintendo GameBoy Advance emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Fixed Cheatopedia and IPS patches on Kitkat, when running games from SD card.
- Added "Analog Joystick Blind Radius" setting for Moga and other analog joysticks.
- Added "Show File Selector Toolbar" option to the File Selector.
- Added "Settings" menu option to the File Selector.
- Fixed a File Selector crash, when deleting a file.
- Fixed auxillary files display in the File Selector.
- Fixed sections navigation in the File Selector.
- Fixed scanline effects with OpenGLES enabled.
News source: https://play.google.com
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April 21st, 2014, 21:37 Posted By: wraggster
via http://emu-russia.net/en/
MSX emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Added decorative background in portrait mode.
- Added slow-motion mode, combined with fast-forward mode.
- Added "Analog Joystick Blind Radius" setting for Moga and other analog joysticks.
- Added "Show File Selector Toolbar" option to the File Selector.
- Added "Settings" menu option to the File Selector.
- Made a work-around for external SD card use on KitKat!
- Fixed multitouch input in cases where it didn't work.
- Fixed File Selector crash when deleting a file.
- Fixed scanline effects.
News source: https://play.google.com
News source: https://play.google.com
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April 23rd, 2014, 00:49 Posted By: wraggster
Leaked documents suggest Nokia will sell off its devices and services business to Microsoft by 25th April.
Documents found by NokiaPowerUser are sent by Nokia, addressing its device and service business suppliers, according to Mashable.
It states that the name of Nokia Corporation / Nokia Oyi will change to Microsoft Mobile Oy. The sale is expected to be finalised by 25th April.
The Finnish company assures its partners that all current agreements will remain in place under the new name.
It stated: “Under the new terms of sale, Microsoft will assume all rights, benefits and obligations of the Nokia Devices and Services business… The current terms and conditions that you have with the Devices and Services business will not change.â€
Nokia’s mobile business was acquired by the US company back in November for $7.2 billion, however there was no previous mention of a name change.
http://www.mobile-ent.biz/devices/no...-mobile/043427
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April 23rd, 2014, 00:51 Posted By: wraggster
Apple is to offer free in-store recycling for all of its products.
Previously, Apple’s recycling programme was limited to iPhone and iPod products only, with gift cards offered in exchange for old devices.
Now, all of the firm’s products, including Mac computers, Macbooks and iPads, will be eligible for exchange at no extra cost.
Products that are deemed to have little or no resale value will not earn in-store credit.
The announcement was made to coincide with Earth Day (April 22nd), which aims to generate interest and action regarding environment awareness.
"What the company wants to do is use all our innovation and all of our expertise to make the planet more secure and make the environment better," said Lisa Jackson, VP of environmental initiatives at Apple.
Apple was said by Greenpeace to be the "most innovative and most aggressive in pursuing its commitment to be 100 percent renewably powered", when compared to 18 other global companies in a recent report exploring the technology industry’s environmental efforts.
The company previously pledged in 2010 to achieve a recycling rate of 70 per cent of the total weight of its products sold, claiming to have since ‘consistently’ reached 85 per cent since.
Apple is also said to be looking to expand into the mobile payments market, according to Re/code, interviewing senior executives in the market as part of its preparation to enter the market occupied by firms such as Paypal.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...roducts/033817
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April 23rd, 2014, 23:01 Posted By: wraggster
The Nvidia Shield may be yet to hit UK shelves – but the Android handheld console’s successor is already stirring rumours.
Reportedly popular among US users, the original Shield has been confirmed for a UK release by Nvidia.
However, it may instead be the Nvidia Shield 2 that ultimately ends up on UK retailers’ shelves first, as benchmark specs for the improved device are already creeping out into the light.
AnTuTu (via G4Games) appears to have got its hands on a test model of the Shield sequel, revealing an Android 4.2.2-powered model with Nvidia’s Tegra K1 2.5GHz quad-core system-on-chip and 4GB of RAM providing the performance push.
Presumably due to the boosted hardware, the Shield 2 will run at a resolution of 1440x900 – although as the physical screen size remains unannounced, it is hard to note how much of an improvement this will provide over the original Shield’s five-inch 1280x720 display.
A front-facing 0.3-megapixel camera and 16GB of internal storage capacity were also detailed in the benchmark.
Nvidia is yet to officially confirm the Shield 2, but previous rumours suggested that the device will receive a launch later this year.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...eatured/033825
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April 23rd, 2014, 23:03 Posted By: wraggster
The first removable screen privacy filters for the Apple iPad, iPad Air and iPad Mini will be shown off by 3M next week.
The 3M Easy-On Privacy for iPads will be showcased at Earl's Court's Infosecurity Europe 2014 next week at stand D74.
They feature adhesive corner pads which let users apply and remove the filter over and over again. The products are available for iPad Gen 2/3/4 in landscape and portrait, iPad Air in landscape and portrait, and iPad Mini in portrait. They come with a storage folder, have washable corners and are scratch and scuff resistant.
“Our new privacy offering gives tablet users the option to have security in seconds – a must have precautionary measure when viewing private or confidential data in public spaces such as trains or coffee shops,†said Ben Rooney, Marketing Executive, Specialty Display Business at 3M.
“They fit to Apple devices without any bubbles and, just as they can be easily applied, they can be removed in an instant so users can share content with colleagues, friends or family.â€
Other similar 3M products include Gold and Black Privacy Filters for standard laptops, Apple MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, as well as screen protectors for iPhone 5 and Black Privacy Filters for desktop monitors.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...-launch/033824
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April 23rd, 2014, 23:06 Posted By: wraggster
Spec-wise, OnePlus One will go toe-to-toe with the latest flagship phones like the Galaxy S5, HTC One (M8), and Sony Xperia Z2. In some areas, it even surpasses them, and at a price point of $300. The One has the same 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC SoC as the Samsung Galaxy S5, build quality similar to the HTC One (M8), and the large 3000+ mAh battery and Sony camera of the Xperia Z2. It also runs CyanogenMod 11S, which is based on Android 4.4."
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/14/...mod-smartphone
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April 23rd, 2014, 23:13 Posted By: wraggster
Apple is making a billion dollar bet on sapphire as a strategic material for mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad and perhaps an iWatch. Exactly what the company plans to do with the scratch-resistant crystal – and when – is still the subject of debate. Apple is creating its own supply chain devoted to producing and finishing synthetic sapphire crystal in unprecedented quantities. The new Mesa, Arizona plant, in a partnership with sapphire furnace maker GT Advanced Technologies, will make Apple one of the world's largest sapphire producers when it reaches full capacity, probably in late 2014. By doing so, Apple is assured of a very large amount of sapphire and insulates itself from the ups and downs of sapphire material pricing in the global market."
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/14/0...t-will-pay-off
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April 24th, 2014, 00:51 Posted By: wraggster
It's that time again: Apple has just posted its Q2 2014 financials, and there are some interesting device sales numbers to peep at. Apple saw a big year-over-year jump in the number of iPhones sold (43.7 million this time vs. 37.4 million in the same quarter last year), thanks at least in part to a deal that brought the 5s and 5c to China Mobile -- a carrier that has over 750 million subscribers. Alas, Apple never breaks down its sales figures between models, so how many people opted for the colorful (and cheaper) 5c instead of the 5s is still a mystery. It didn't warrant a mention in the earnings release, but the company's moved 20 million Apple TVs (the hobby days are well behind it) and Mac sales surged slightly, too. The iPod did about as well as we thought... which is to say not well at all. The company sold fewer than half this quarter than it did during the same time last year, but it's no secret the venerable music players were slowly falling by the wayside.
But then there's the iPad.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/23/apple-q2-2014-ipad/
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April 24th, 2014, 00:54 Posted By: wraggster
Americans no longer have to splurge on the high-end Galaxy Tab Pro or Note Proif they want a modern Samsung tablet -- the more affordable Galaxy Tab 4 range is headed to the US. WiFi versions of the Tab 4 7.0, 8.0 and 10.1 should hit shelves on May 1st at respective prices of $200, $270 and $350. Travelers craving cellular data can expect LTE variants from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon sometime this summer. Pricing hasn't surfaced for these 4G models, but it's safe to presume that they'll carry a premium over their WiFi-only counterparts.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/23/s...-coming-to-us/
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April 24th, 2014, 23:59 Posted By: wraggster
Chances are your phone doesn't have a built-in projector -- and it never will. But there's at least a small subset of the Chinese market that apparently has a need for an entry-level smartphone capable of projecting dim videos and presentation slides onto a flat surface. The Galaxy Beam 2 sports a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1 gig of RAM and an underwhelming 800x480-pixel 4.66-inch display. The battery tops out at 2,600 mAh of juice, so if you're thinking of planning a smartphone movie marathon you might want to bring the charger along. It launched today on China Mobile's 3G network (with pricing TBA), and while Samsung has yet to detail an international release, it's unlikely that we'll ever see the second-generationBeam on this end of the Pacific.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/24/china-galaxy-beam-2/
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April 25th, 2014, 00:09 Posted By: wraggster
While Apple’s iPhone continues to grow its sales, its iPad tablets are failing to do the same.
The firm sold 16.4m iPads during Q2 2014, compared to 20m sales in Q2 2013. iPhone sales during the quarter hit 43.7 million – an increase of over five million compared to the 37.4 million sold in the same period last year.
During the period, which ended on March 29th, the firm saw quarterly revenue of $45.6bn (£27.16bn) and quarterly net profit of $10.2bn (£6.08bn) compared to revenue of $43.6bn (£25.97bn) and net profit of $9.5bn (£5.66bn) last year.
“We’re very proud of our quarterly results, especially our strong iPhone sales and record revenue from services,†said Cook of the results. "We’re eagerly looking forward to introducing more new products and services that only Apple could bring to market. We've sold over 210 million [iPads in total], which is more than we or anyone thought was possible."
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ipad-...tinues/0131543
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April 25th, 2014, 00:15 Posted By: wraggster
Christina Bonnington reports that the public is not gobbling up iPads like they used to. Analysts had projected iPad sales would reach 19.7 million but Apple sold 16.35 million iPads, a drop of roughly 16.4 percent since last year. 'For many, the iPad they have is good enough–unlike a phone, with significant new features like Touch ID, or a better camera, the iPad's improvements over the past few years have been more subtle,' writes Bonnington. 'The latest iterations feature a better Retina display, a slimmer design, and faster processing. Improvements, yes, but enough to justify a near thousand dollar purchase? Others seem to be finding that their smartphone can do the job that their tablet used to do just as well, especially on those larger screened phablets.'
While the continued success of the iPad may be up in the air, another formerly popular member of Apple's product line is definitely on its way to the grave. The iPod, once Apple's crown jewel, posted a sales drop of 51 percent since last year. Only 2.76 million units were sold, a far cry from its heyday of almost 23 million back in 2008. 'Apple's past growth has been driven mostly by entering entirely new product categories, like it did when it introduced the iPod in 2001, the iPhone in 2007, and the iPad in 2010,' says Andrew Cunningham. 'The most persistent rumors involve TV (whether a new Apple TV set-top box or an entire television set) and wearable computing devices (the perennially imminent "iWatch"), but calls for larger and cheaper iPhones also continue.
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/14/0...cially-cooling
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April 25th, 2014, 00:18 Posted By: wraggster
The app has had 2.5 million downloads since its launch on iOS and Android last year.
The Pokémon Company has announced that it has released its Pokémon TV app on the Kindle Fire.
The app is updated weekly from a library of more than 700 episodes across 16 seasons. Fans can hunt through their favourite episodes as well as access special features, trailers, and Pokémon movie events.
The launch of Pokémon TV on Kindle Fire comes after the app hit a whopping 2.5 million downloads since its launch on iOS and Android.
Fans of Ash and Pikachu can also watch episodes on Netflix, and at Pokémon.com.
The App is available to download from the Amazon AppStore, the Apple App Store and Google Play.
http://www.mobile-ent.biz/apps/gotta...le-fire/043434
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April 25th, 2014, 00:19 Posted By: wraggster
Sega's franchise-spanning mascot racer Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformedis now available as a free download on iOS and Android following its latest update.
Released earlier this year at $4.99, the mobile version of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed adapts a majority of its content from the game's previously released console and PC ports, and launched with Shenmue's Ryo as a playable character. The game retains its microtransaction-based approach to progression after its free-to-play shift, with additional characters, tracks, and higher difficulties available as in-app purchases.
The newly updated mobile version of All-Stars Racing Transformed improves Bluetooth controller support and overall stability, and introduces replay-sharing via Everyplay. The next update, due to launch on April 29, will add Disney's Wreck-It Ralph and Metal Sonic as playable characters.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/24/so...n-ios-android/
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April 25th, 2014, 20:49 Posted By: wraggster
 For a mobile adaptation of a hit fighting game, the iOS version of Injustice: Gods Among Us has always lacked one crucial component: multiplayer combat. Now, one year after the game's debut, that flaw has been amended.
Keep in mind, this multiplayer addition isn't quite what you'd expect from a one-on-one fighter. Instead of real-time combat, Injustice players will send teams of their favorite Heroes and Villains to battle other people in the form of AI-controlled opponents. The winner of the match is awarded Multiplayer Points which are then tallied at the end of each "Weekly Leaderboard Season." The players with the highest point totals will then be awarded "tiered rewards," though neither Warner Bros. nor developer Netherrealm Studios has revealed what those rewards might be.
Alongside the multiplayer mode, this update also adds additional gold characters, new missions, and increases each character's level cap. Those playing Injustice on Android devices won't entirely be left out, but will be waiting until sometime in May to receive this new content.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/25/ce...player-combat/
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April 25th, 2014, 20:55 Posted By: wraggster
Sega's franchise-spanning mascot racer Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformedis now available as a free download on iOS and Android following its latest update.
Released earlier this year at $4.99, the mobile version of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed adapts a majority of its content from the game's previously released console and PC ports, and launched with Shenmue's Ryo as a playable character. The game retains its microtransaction-based approach to progression after its free-to-play shift, with additional characters, tracks, and higher difficulties available as in-app purchases.
The newly updated mobile version of All-Stars Racing Transformed improves Bluetooth controller support and overall stability, and introduces replay-sharing via Everyplay. The next update, due to launch on April 29, will add Disney's Wreck-It Ralph and Metal Sonic as playable characters.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/24/so...n-ios-android/
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April 25th, 2014, 21:01 Posted By: wraggster
Samsung has unveiled a new smartphone that comes with a built-in projector.
The Galaxy Beam 2 is a mid-range Android 4.2 device with a 4.66-inch display, 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM and a tiny WVGA resolution projector.
The smartphone will be available in China. No international availability has been announced yet.
Samsung has announced something globally though. The firm will be holding a worldwide challenge for Gear 2 smartwatch app developers.
The prizes for the challenge amount to over $1.25 million, including a $100,000 cash prize, which will be awarded to the first place winner.
Developers can apply for the challenge by registering apps developed with Samsung’s free SDK from May 8th. More info can be found at the Samsung Developer Site.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...etition/033847
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April 25th, 2014, 21:07 Posted By: wraggster
Tablet computers were the top-selling product in John Lewis' 2013-14 financial year, beating over 300,000 other products.
Sales in the department store chain rose 7.5 per cent year-on-year to £3.3 billion, while operating profit increased 4.3 per cent to £226.1 million.
John Lewis stocks over 350,000 separate lines in its 40 department stores, from home to fashion and beauty, giftware and electricals, with more than 250,000 products online.
"We’re a market leader in the electronics and home technology sector, so it’s fitting that 2013/14’s best selling products were tablets," said John Lewis in a statement.
Online sales grew 19.2 per cent year-on-year, meaning the online share of John Lewis' overall sales now stands at 28.1 per cent.
Additionally, in the final pre-Christmas week (ending 21st December), John Lewis broke the £160m barrier for the first time with sales of £164m, and the first day of 'clearance' was the largest ever for both its shops and website.
For the first time this year, traffic from tablets and mobile phones to johnlewis.com overtook visits from desktops, making up 76 per cent of total traffic on Christmas Day.
The retailer's latest financial report also revealed that 57 per cent of John Lewis Click & Collect orders are picked up at Waitrose branches. Plus, 64 per cent of its customers are 'omni-channel' (they shop using multiple channels including in-store and online/mobile), while 20 per cent shop in stores only and 16 per cent buy using the website only.
Furthermore, John Lewis' new £97 million distribution centre will begin operations in 2015, alongside its existing Magna Park site in Milton Keynes, in a bid to boost its fulfilment capability.
Sir Charlie Mayfield, Chairman at the John Lewis Partnership, said: "This has been another good year for the Partnership. Both Waitrose and John Lewis increased market share for the fifth consecutive year, profit before exceptionals has grown by almost 10 per cent and, for the first time, we have achieved sales of over £10 billion.
"As a result of our performance, I am delighted that 91,000 Partners received a bonus of 15 per cent, equivalent to nearly eight weeks’ pay. The Bonus reflects the balance of a strong trading year, but also the increased costs of pension provision. The exceptional cost of £47 million, relating to holiday pay premiums (announced in August 2013), did not affect the bonus percentage."
http://www.johnlewis.com/
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April 26th, 2014, 02:02 Posted By: wraggster
Last September Microsoft announced it would be purchasing Nokia's Devices and Services business. The terms have been worked out, the shareholders gave approval, and the regulatory issues were hurdled. As of today, it's official: Nokia's phone business is now Microsoft Mobile. The final price is around $7.5 billion, and 30,000 employees are transferring to Microsoft. "The purchase of the unprofitable division makes Microsoft the world’s second-largest maker of mobile phones with about 14 percent of the market, according to researcher IDC." Here's Nokia's official statement, and a rather more personal one from an employee. According to The Verge, "Nokia's Android handsets are the most intriguing part of the deal, as they shed some light on how Microsoft might approach the messy and complex nature of shipping devices that don't run the company's Windows software. The Nokia X introduces a new "forked" version of Android that’s akin to what Amazon does with its Kindle Fire line, but it also includes a Windows Phone-like UI and an Android store that's separate to Google Play. Microsoft has the chance to control another app store, but also a solid opportunity to push its own cloud-based services." One interesting note: Nokia's phone manufacturing plant in India is not part of the deal because of an ongoing tax dispute. Nokia will continue to operate it as a contract manufacturing unit for Microsoft.
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/14/...ia-deal-closes
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April 27th, 2014, 21:33 Posted By: wraggster
The US government has entered its reply brief in the US vs. Wurie case and its argument in favor of warrantless searches of arrestees' cell phones contains some truly terrible suppositions. The government argues that impartial technological advancements somehow favor criminals. As it sees it, the path to the recovery of evidence should not be slowed by encryption or wiping or even the minimal effort needed to obtain a warrant. From the article: 'The government agrees that times are changing but counterintuitively argues that only law enforcement is being negatively affected by this. Every argument in favor of warrantless searches contains some sort of lamentation about how tech-savvy criminals will be able to cover up or destroy evidence contained on their phones before the police can crack open these new-fangled address books and copy everything down.
http://news.slashdot.org/story/14/04...-mobile-phones
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April 27th, 2014, 21:58 Posted By: wraggster
If you've noticed that your iPhone 5's sleep/wake button isn't working reliably, you're not alone -- and you'll be glad to hear that Apple is doing something about it. The company has started a free program in Canada and the US (worldwide on May 2nd) that will replace buttons on phones made through March 2013. Should you qualify, you'll get your phone back four to six days after it reaches an Apple repair center; there will be a loaner on hand if you can't afford to be incommunicado for that long. We're sure that some would have liked the program to start earlier, but it's no doubt a relief if you otherwise faced paying for an out-of-warranty repair.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/25/i...-replacements/
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April 27th, 2014, 21:59 Posted By: wraggster
With countless (well, a lot of) Gear 2 watch straps and just under eight wearables -- a mix of Gear 2s, Gear 2 Neos and Gear Fits -- on the table in front of us during our interview with Samsung designers, the impression is that the company taking its wearables very seriously. There were just six months between it announcing the original Galaxy Gear and its sequel; that's a pretty short lifespan.
To make matters more... interesting, Android announced its own wearable platform, months after Samsung's Gear announcements. (For those not keeping notes, these Gears run on Tizen, a new mobile OS that hasn't yet appeared on a mobile.) Min Cho, Samsung's marketing director, explained that its wearables wouldn't be limited to the green OS. "We'll continue to work on the best solutions for our customers, including collaborating with Google and Android," he says. He slows his voice and looks at me: "We are working on it." Samsung already confirmed that it's got plans for Android Wear, but what about the current crop of wearables? What did Samsung learn after half a year of the Galaxy Gear?
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/25/s...ign-wearables/
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April 28th, 2014, 20:33 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft's quest for smartphone market share is hitting a few roadblocks, it seems. Kantar estimates that Windows Phone is still gaining ground in Europe, where it's up year-over-year to 8.1 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2014. However, it's taking a bruising in other areas. In the US, Windows swung fromincreases this fall to a slight dip in the winter; while it's still doing relatively well at 5.3 percent of US share, it's not posing much of a threat to Android or iOS right now. The platform also took a drubbing in China, where its share was nearly cut in half to exactly one percent thanks to the rise of budget Android handsets.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/28/k...share-q1-2014/
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April 28th, 2014, 20:34 Posted By: wraggster
Android on laptops is normally reserved for hybrid devices or units no bigger than10 inches. If this leaked video is correct, however, then HP is planning to launch an Android laptop with a 14-inch display. The clip, found by Notebook Italia, shows a Slatebook 14 with a 1080p display, controlled by a quad-core NVIDIA chip and running a recent build of Google's mobile OS. The video also shows that the Android soft keys will remain on the bottom of the screen, as well as adding them to the keyboard where you'd normally find the Esc and Windows keys. There's not much more than that to go on right now, but we've pinged HP to find out if this is really coming, or just the hopeful fantasy of someone who really hatesChromebooks.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/28/h...-with-android/
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April 28th, 2014, 21:53 Posted By: wraggster
Microconsole's killer app performed better when updated for PS4 and PC, has grossed more than $500,000
The critically acclaimed Towerfall was hyped as the Ouya's "killer app" in the days before launch, but it wouldn't make a killing until a new version of the game was released on the PlayStation 4 and PC. Speaking with Eurogamer, Towerfall developer Matt Thorson estimated the original Ouya version of the game has only sold about 7,000 copies since its June 2013 launch.
"Being the best game on Ouya isn't a huge deal, but it is nice. It still sells on there," Thorson said.
However, Thorson released a modified version of the game as Towerfall Ascension on PC and PlayStation 4 last month, and the returns have been both swifter and more significant. The game has now grossed more than $500,000 in total, with the console edition outperforming its PC counterpart. Regardless of the platform, Towerfall sells for $15, which would put the game's total sales above 33,000, barring any discounts.
"It's actually doing better on PS4, but it's still doing well on PC," Thorson said. "It's doing definitely well enough for me to support myself for quite a while. That's really encouraging."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...d-around-7-000
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April 29th, 2014, 00:03 Posted By: wraggster
Just weeks after the launch of Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone, a number of owners have complained of a major flaw with the device’s camera.
Verizon Wireless models in particular have seen the device’s 16MP camera rendered completely useless.
Owners have complained about a ‘camera failure’ error randomly popping up, which in turn causes the camera hardware to become permanently disabled.
At the moment there doesn’t seem to be a fix. Restarting and factory resetting the Galaxy S5 won't solve the issue.
Samsung has confirmed that it is aware of the reports, with the company releasing the following statement to The Verge: "We have learned that a limited number of Galaxy S5 devices may have an issue that causes 'Camera Failure' pop-up error message."
Owners of faulty devices have been asked to contact Samsung to arrange an exchange under the firm’s warranty.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...a-error/033854
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April 30th, 2014, 23:51 Posted By: wraggster
We’ve seen a few of [Downing]‘s portabalized console builds before, but this one is his first build in over two years. That’s a lot of time, and since then he’s picked up a lot of great fabrication techniques, making this one of the best looking portables we’ve ever seen. It’s a repackaging of an Ouya, but we won’t hold that against him, it’s still an amazing piece of work.
In the build log, [Downing] started off this build by using a 3D printed enclosure, carefully milled, filled, and painted to become one of the best one-off console repackagings we’ve ever seen. The speaker and button cutouts were milled out, and an amazing backlit Ouya logo completes the front.
Stuffing the Ouya controller inside a case with a screen, battery, and the console itself presented a challenge: there is no wired Ouya controller. Everything is over Bluetooth. Luckily, the Bluetooth module inside each controller can be desoldered, and slapped on a small breakout board that’s stuffed in the case.
It’s a great build, and in [Downing]‘s defense, the Ouya is kinda a cool idea. An idea much better suited to a handheld device, anyway. Videos below.
http://hackaday.com/2014/04/30/a-mas...-with-an-ouya/
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May 1st, 2014, 00:10 Posted By: wraggster
We can't say that the future of Ubuntu for Android ever looked particularly bright, but we were enamored with the concept. You'd walk around by day with a standard-issue Android phone in your pocket, but when you docked it to a keyboard, mouse and monitor, you were greeted with a full Ubuntu desktop experience. Well, Canonical has decided to put the project out to pastureapparently. Buried away in a recent bug report (now hidden from public view) was the fact that "Ubuntu for Android is no longer in development," and thus its landing page should be taken offline. Though some responses from the Canonical team appear to muddy the story, the take away is the same -- active development on Ubuntu for Android has come to a halt. It's not surprising considering that the company has invested heavily in its own smartphone OS, which already has a fewOEMs signed on. Without a launch partner, the dual-boot solution never had a chance to take off, and Canonical clearly has other priorities now. Still, we mourn slightly for its passing. Here's hoping the concept lives on as an all-Ubuntu solution.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/30/r...u-for-android/
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