Wednesday 24 July 2013
Sony Rumoured to be Starting Production on Gran Turismo Film
With a Need for Speed film in the works and The Fast and the Furious franchise continuing to mint money, it’s no wonder that car movies are a thing. Apparently Sony has greenlit a feature film adaptation of the Gran Turismo series, developed by Polyphony Digital, according to TheWrap. Elizabeth Cantillon, DeVon Franklin and Hannah Minghella of Sony will apparently be overseeing the project.
But before your cautious optimism comes full circle, here’s some food for thought: the action film will be handled by producers Mike De Luca and Dana Brunetti who are in charge of the “Fifty Shades of Grey” film.
Yes, the one based on those books. There is a hope that the Gran Turismo name will help the movie differentiate itself from competitors in the same genre. That would be infinity better than openly advertising that the producers of “Fifty Shades of Grey” are on-board.
In gaming news, Gran Turismo 6 will be releasing on the PlayStation 3 by Q4 2013.
SimCity Inspired Developer to Make The Sims 4 Offline
EA labels president Frank Gibeau recently spoke to VentureBeat about the decision to make The Sims 4 offline which – you guessed right – was due to the debacle that the recent SimCity became.
“In the last few months, we have started making changes to the business practices that gamers clearly don’t like. In the spring, we dropped our online pass program for consoles – both next-generation and current-generation. We listened to the feedback on SimCity and decided that The Sims 4 would be built as a single-player, offline experience. We announced some new intellectual properties at E3 and will unveil more new games in the months ahead.”
SimCity did sell two million copies though, and as Gibeau revealed, “the number of people logging in and playing is holding steady. SimCity is a success. However, underestimating demand in the first month was a major miss. We hope that the game and the service we’ve provided since then meets the fans’ high standards.”
The Sims 4 will reportedly be shown off at next month’s Gamescom, happening from August 21st to 25th.
FIFA 14 Ultimate Team Mode Supports Cross-Generation Transfer
EA Sports has announced that Ultimate Team mode stats, currency and other information for the upcoming FIFA 14 can now be transferred between current and next-gen console releases.
FIFA 14 will be releasing for Xbox 360 and PS3 this September, but next gen console versions of the game won’t be out till at least November which is when the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are due to release (with the latter still billed for the Holiday season). This means you can effectively start playing on the current generation, then transfer your stats on to the next generation consoles and pick up where you left off.
Senior vice president and general manager of the group in EA Sports Matt Bilbey has stated that, “Our fans spend a lot of time and energy to FIFA Ultimate Team by creating their own unique teams and it was essential for us to pay tribute to this investment. We will ensure that there is no loss of time and users are rewarded for their involvement from the start of the season on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and for their transition to the new consoles.”
FIFA 14 is releases on current gen consoles including the Wii, Nintendo 3DS, PSP, PS Vita, Xbox 360, PC and PS3 on September 24th in North America and on September 27th in Europe.
HP Z Displays revealed for Full HD on four-way adjustable stands
This week HP is bringing on the full collection of workhorse-ready workstations for the public, hitting the image side of things with three high-powered Z Displays. These displays go by the names HP Z22i, Z23i, and Z24i, bringing with them maneuverability and power savings over their previous generation entries by a cool 26 percent. Each of them is specifically tuned to be top-notch in the sRGB color space as well, offering between 95 and 99 percent coverage as well as a wide spread of viewing angles for future-aimed workspaces.
With the Z22i, HP delivers a 21.50inch IPS display with 97% sRGB color space coverage with its IPS Gen 2 panel. This unit works with 1920 x 1020 Full HD resolution and 250 cd/m2 brightness with what HP describes as an 8ms response time. On this machine’s back are access with DisplayPort 1.2, DVI, VGA, a lovely USB hub for good measure. This unit works with mercury-free LED backlight and arsenic-free display glass, if you were wondering.
The Z24i gets a bit of an upgrade with a 23-inch IPS Gen 2 panel, working here with 1920 x 1080 pixel coverage once again. This device also works with the same ports for video input, a USB hub, and the same ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Gold qualifications that spread across the whole Z Display series.
In the Z24i display you’ve got a 24-inch panel with 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, this time with IPS Gen 2 coming around again, this time – as with the others – bringing HP’s “Black Stretch” technology for the enhancement of dark regions to see even the smallest details at all times. This unit also works with the same 4-way adjustable stand that’s delivered with the whole Z Display line.
This stand works with adjustments that meet the TCO Certified Edge “designation for innovative products at the forefront of environmental and ergonomic stand design.” In short – it can bend every which way and allows you so much adjustment you wont know what to do with it all.
The Z22i will ring in at $239 USD while the Z23i and the Z24i will cost $259 and $399, respectively. These units are all made to be paired with HP’s new Z Workstations, but they’ll be your solution for low-cost next-generation workspace monitor reliability no matter what machine you hook them up to.
Bentley SUV confirmed for 2016 arrival, 570 HP engine
Bentley may be known for its over-luxurious cars, but the company has confirmed plans that they’ll be producing their first-ever SUV, and will be the fourth model that the car company produces. However, they’re not just stopping there. Bentley wants their new SUV to be the most powerful SUV on the market, so their dropping in a 570 HP engine.
This means that the yet-to-be-named SUV will be more powerful than Mercede‘s AMG SUVs, as well asPorsche‘s Cayenne Turbo S, both of which top out at 550 horsepower. Bentley expects the SUV to go on sale starting on 2016, meaning that the model year of the new vehicle will most likely be a 2017.
We’ve heard of Bentley’s SUV plans in the past, but it was merely just a concept at that point, called the EXP 9 F. We doubt that will be its official name, and the company even said it hasn’t decided on a name yet for the new vehicle.
Bentley says that customer response to an SUV has been high, and they company is going all-in on the new vehicle, creating over 1,000 jobs in the UK, as well as investing over £800 million over the next three years at the company’s Crewe headquarters for future development of new vehicle models.
The engine that Bentley plans to use in their new SUV is the 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W-12 engine that’s also equipped in several of the company’s other models. This will produce 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. As for price, Bentley didn’t say, but it’ll likely cost a couple hundred thousand dollars.
VIA: NYT
SOURCE: Bentley
Kobo N514 ereader images surface showing new device
Kobo debuted its limited edition Aura HD ebook reader back in April, and we got our hands on it shortly after. Now a new device from the company has surfaced in a batch of leaked images, and though we don’t know the final name of it yet, it is similar in design to the Aura from the front. While not much is known about it, some details have surfaced via an FCC filing.
You can see the full gallery of images below, which gives us a pretty good look at the slate from all sides. They first surfaced over at the German website Lesen, which refers to the device as the Kobo N514, which is likely not its final name. By the looks of it, this will be a follow up to its Kobo Glo ereader, though in terms of design they differ greatly.
Netronix, maker of the device, reportedly requested that the documentation related to the Kobo device be kept on the down low until August 30th so that “sensitive business information” was kept from the market, so – pending any more leaks – it’ll be awhile before we get certain additional information on the slate. There are some specs, however, that were revealed by the FCC filing.
Reportedly, the Kobo N514 will feature a 6-inch display, possibly with a resolution of 1024 x 758 pixels, which would put it in line with the Kobo Glo. Likewise, the ereader is said to offer wireless connectivity in the form of 802.11 WiFi, and to feature a 1500mAh battery, which is a jump from the Glo’s 1000mAh offering.
Based on this information, users won’t find much difference between this and its predecessor. However, keep in mind that there’s reportedly an embargo in place on information, and so this could change once we know more about what the slate offers. Until then, you can check out some of Kobo’s other offerings in our Kobo tag portal.
Moto X screenshots show Lost Phone Tracking, Connect Chrome Extension and more
The Moto X has been leaked extensively, and with the DROID handsets being revealed, we saw some of those leaked features make an appearance, likely confirming what we can expect with the Moto X. Following up with that, however, has been a rather extensive leak of screenshots over at Android Policeshowing some of the features the Moto X will be offering users, among them being a Motorola Connect Chrome extension and Lost Phone Tracking.
First up is Motorola Assist, which you can see the screenshots for in the image above. This will reportedly be the alternative to the Smart Actions with the DROID handsets, and will serve functions like automatically putting the Moto X into hands-free mode when the user is driving, and silencing the handset during a meeting.
There’s also Motorola Migrate, which makes it easy to migrate data from a previous handset over the Moto X. Touchless Control and Launch Phrase, meanwhile, further confirm that the device will have voice control capabilities. One of the screenshots show the training page for the launch phrase, and advises users to “Move to a quiet room. Like, seriously silent.”
The Lost Phone Tracking feature is what it sounds like – an integrated way to track the handset if it is lost, with one of the screenshots under “Motorola Device ID” detailing the Google account being used for, among other things, “Lost Phone Web Portal,” as well as the Motorola Connect feature. The Motorola Connect Chrome Extension will allow users to sync text messages and calls with Chrome.
Rounding it all out is Active Display and Active Notifications, with the former working to conserve battery life by fading notifications in and out and selectively lighting the pixels needed to show the display. These won’t appear, according to the screenshot, if the phone is in your pocket, if it is placed facedown, or if the user is currently on a call. Active Notifications, meanwhile, give users extensive control over the notification settings.
SOURCE: Android Police
AOC 16-inch portable monitor arrives with USB 3.0
A lot of us could use a second display nowadays, but if you travel a lot and rely on your laptop to get a lot of work done, not only are you limited to a small screen, but it’s hard to take a second display around with you. However, AOC just outed a new 16-inch monitor that is powered by only a single USB 3.0 cable.
The AOC E1659FWU, as it’s officially called aims to be the portable monitor to cater towards road warriors while still providing a large enough display to get work done. Sadly, it only has a 1366×768 resolution, which is pretty poor for a 15.6-inch viewable monitor, but we’re guessing AOC wanted to keep the price down, seeing as how it only costs $129.
At 16 inches, the monitor will be able to fit into most carrying bags, and it even comes with its own protective case, so there’s no worries about scratching the display while you’re toting it around, or worrying about having to find a cloth to wrap around it.
Since the monitor is powered by USB, as well as used for the video transmission, there’s no battery that users will have to keep charging. The monitor only pulls seven watts of power, but you’ll have to make sure your laptop has USB 3.0 before you go out buy this new display, as it won’t work over USB 2.0.
The new display is available for pre-order right now on Amazon, but if you’re looking to save a little bit of cash, AOC also still has the previous-generation display up on Amazon, which only costs $89 and is available now. The new monitor isn’t shipping until August 5.
Prince Of Persia Classic Sequel 'The Shadow And The Flame' Hits Google Play For $2.99
No one can keep the Prince of Persia down. The franchise has been around for over two decades, and the original entry was one of gaming's most influential releases. Now the Prince is back on Android in Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame, and this title picks up right where Prince of Persia Classic left off.
This is a full-blown 2.5D platformer with fourteen fully-rendered levels set around five different environments. Like any Prince of Persia game worth its salt, the Shadow and the Flame introduces a new combat system that guides our nimble hero as he faces off with multiple enemies at once. He learns new combos over time and acquires more powerful weapons. Players can choose to play the entire game using gesture-based controls or settling for a virtual joystick.
Considering this is a title popular enough to sell on the weight of its brand alone, it's nice to see Ubisoft take the time to give the Prince an adventure more substantive than another endless runner or Infinity Blade clone. If you just can't get enough of running through the scorching sands of Iran, then this experience can be yours for just $2.99 below.
Popular JRPG 'Doom & Destiny' Now In The Pay-What-You-Want IndieGala Bundle, Along With Other Non-Android Games
Doom & Destiny is a highly-rated JRPG ported to Android from the PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone. It's currently available as part of the IndieGala, a pay-what-you-want bundle of games not all that unlike the immensely well-known Humble Indie Bundle. If you're familiar with one, then you know how the other works. Consumers get to set their own price for a good selection of games, but the full bundle is only available to those who pay higher than the average. Right now you can get a full fourteen games for under $7. Just note that only Doom & Destiny is the only Android game offered in the current bundle.
So let's get down to the nitty gritty about why you want this game. It contains over twenty hours of plot-driven gameplay and many more hours of side-quests. There are over 200 special powers to acquire, over 300 enemies to slay, and over 500 items to discover. If that is not enough, there are zero - count them - zero in-app purchases to be found here. If you've wanted a JRPG experience and have grown tired of Kemco's reliable onslaught of releases, then this is the game for you.
If the $2.99 asking price is too steep, the IndieGala makes this title as cheap as you need it to be. Doom & Destiny will be yours regardless of if you pay more than the average or not.
Anyone who isn't interested in getting all of those extra PC titles can still snatch up the title from Google Play below.
Finished photos leaked LG G2 factory line
Finished the first production line appears to have been leaked on August 7 Global announced the 2700 singularity battery is down to 2610 points
Samsung makes first 20nm 3GB RAM chip for smartphones
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More RAM means more apps open at one and the same time, faster loading times, especially for games, gapless video playback and other general niceties. Not to mention the marketing talk that we'll pour out of Samsung when it launches "the first smartphone with 3 GB of RAM". Samsung says the chip's footprint is very small, leaving more place for battery and other internals.
We are starting bets in the office whether this will be Note 3, or something further down the road, but mass production start means it will be sooner rather than later.
source: Samsung
Samsung shows 10 hidden Galaxy S4 features
1. Access Quick Setting Panel with two fingers
Have you ever tried pulling down the status bar with two fingers? If you haven’t, you will be amazed by how convenient it is. You will be able to access the full Quick Setting panel for a complete overview of all options directly instead of seeing only five icons like you would if you had only used one finger. Also, by tapping and holding the Quick Setting panel icon, you can directly access the settings. You can rearrange the order of the icons within the panel by long-tapping the icon you wish to change in the notification panel settings and dragging it to the place you want it to be located. Now you don’t have to swipe through the panel to find what you are looking for!
2. Add your TV remote control to the notification panel
Can’t remember where you left your TV remote control? Don’t worry, since you can turn on your TV wherever you are if you have your GALAXY S4 with you. The WatchON application will allow you to use your phone as a real-time TV guide and TV remote for a TV synced to the device. You can also easily add this function to the notification panel. When your phone and TV are synced to each other, go to the Application screen, tap WatchON, then Settings, and then you’ll see the remote control on the notification panel. It’s as simple as that. Another interesting perk is that the GALAXY S4’s infrared LED sensor can also be used as a remote control for other media devices, including DVD, Blu-ray players, and Home Theater Systems.
3. Multitasking with pop-up keyboard
Do you dislike how cumbersome multitasking can be on a smartphone? If you want to check the location of where you and your friend are meeting, at the same time as sending your friend a message, you can in fact do this with GALAXY S4! GALAXY S4 offers a pop-up keyboard function that allows you to move the keyboard anywhere you want, especially when you’re using Multi Window applications. For instance, once you press new message, tap the setting icon of the QWERTY keyboard, which is next to the space bar. Then select the pop-up keyboard icon, which has a plus on the keyboard icon. Now you can do two things at once!
4. Blocking mode for when you do not wish to be disturbed
We have all lost a little sleep when our phones unexpectedly chime or ring in the middle of the night – or even more embarrassingly, in an important meeting. Well, you don’t have to be frustrated anymore as you can block notifications with your GALAXY S4. You can turn on the Blocking mode just by tapping Settings, then my device, and then blocking mode. You can block notifications from selected features such as phone calls and text messages during chosen periods, such as when you are in class, at work, or asleep. Worried if you might miss an important call? You don’t have to since you can still receive urgent calls from contacts you add to the Allowed list. Now you can sleep well!
5. Wi-Fi Timer for efficient data usage
Were you one of the users who always used up all the data before your next month’s bill? You shouldn’t have to pay an additional amount for more data anymore since you can save your data usage with the Wi-Fi Timer on your GALAXY S4. By tapping Settings, then Connections, then Wi-Fi, then Advanced, and then Wi-Fi Timer, you can adjust the starting and ending time of your usage. You will be able to enjoy free data usage by using stored networks such as those at work, home, or friends’ houses. Now you don’t have to worry about going over your data limit and then therefore you can watch high-definition videos, log onto social networks, and surf the Web comfortably.
6. Adapt Sound optimizes sound quality
Couldn’t hear properly when listening to your favorite song through your earphones? You don’t have to increase the sound volume and risk hurting your ears anymore. With the Adapt Sound function, which Samsung developed to accommodate differences in users’ hearing abilities and the difference in the hearing ability of the left and right ear, you can optimize music and in-call audio quality. Once you connect your earphones or headphones to your phone, tap Settings, then My device, then Sound, and then Adapt Sound to activate the function. When you select Start, you will hear a series of beeps that resemble a hearing test. You will be asked to confirm if you can hear a sound for each of the 20 tests. After you complete the tests, a graph that analyzed your left and right ear hearing ability will appear. By doing this, your phone will be able to calibrate the appropriate levels of volume for you.
7. Optimizing in-call audio clarity
Did you used to have trouble hearing the person on the other end of the phone when you were outside on the street, or in a busy shopping center? Well, in fact, you can personalize the sound of an incoming or outgoing call by selecting an audio equalizer setting such as Soft or Clear sound while you are on the phone. You can also increase the volume by tapping the on-screen Extra volume bottom, which is above the end call icon. The call quality can also be improved by suppressing surrounding noises by turning on the Noise reduction mode, which will help the person who’s trying to hear your voice above all else. Just to remind you, these options can be adjusted by going to Call in My device and Settings.
8. An easier way to enjoy video content
We have great news for those of you who have been annoyed due to the dark smartphone screen and tiny subtitles when watching your favorite movie! Did you know that you could enlarge and shrink the image on the screen while watching a YouTube video clip? Thanks to the pinch-to-zoom feature of GALAXY S4, users can get a closer look of a particular part of the image by widening your two fingers on the screen and zoom out by closing them. Also, if you think your screen is too dark, you can adjust the brightness by using the up-and-down scroll bar on the left hand side of the screen. You can also control the volume by using the scroll bar on the right hand side. Wondering where the scroll bar is? If you simply put your finger on either the left or the right hand side of the screen, it will appear like magic.
9. Access the camera from lock screen
Did you ever have a time where you missed the chance to take the best picture due to the time it takes to activate the camera? If you had known about this feature, you would have been able to take a perfect of him or her. In fact, you can take an amazing picture easily, accessing the camera from the lock screen on your GALAXY S4. How do you get this access? Just by tapping Settings, then My device, then Lock screen, then Lock screen widgets, and then selecting camera, you can launch the camera as you swipe to the left on the lock screen. But you should note that this shortcut does not work if you have set the lock screen as a pattern or PIN.
10. Change lock screen message
The last “hidden” feature we are going to explain is the way you can add your personality to your smartphone by changing the font and color of the lock screen message. There are two ways. If you have set your lock screen with a pattern or PIN code, you can activate this option by going to Settings, then My device, Lock screen, Lock screen widgets, and selecting Edit personal information. Another way is to tap and hold the lock screen message line and drag it down from the lock screen. A pencil icon will appear, allowing you to change the text by tapping it. Now you can personalize your screen with a funny, cute, or friendly message!
Hope these “hidden” features will help you use your GALAXY S4 more easily. If there are any features you’ve uncovered that we missed, please tell us in the comments below.
Intel readies first fanless Haswell processor for tablets and convertibles, can we say Surface 2
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The fourth generation Core iX processor will consume just 4.5 watts of power, compared to the lowest powerenvelope of 6 watts that the most frugal current member of the Haswell family has, and come without the need for fan cooling, making it the fist Core line CPU to do that.
This will put Intel's CPUs right up the alley of ARM-based processors, offering long battery life and fanless design, but with much more powerful performance, and the ability to run full-blown Windows 8. Needless to say the 4.5 watts fanless Haswell is destined for tablets and convertibles, and something tells us we might see it in the second Microsoft Surface generation, as Intel said it will be available in limited quantities later this year.
Given what Samsung and other are already doing with breathtaking convertibles like the ATIV Q we reviewed recently, which still sports a Haswell with a fan, we can only imagine the thin and light devices with Win 8 that will come out when the fanless Haswell hits the conveyor belts.
via CNET
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