Archivi giornalieri: 18/01/2012
Max Payne 3 Launch Delayed Until May
Rockstar Games has today announced that the launch of their new Max Payne 3 game, scheduled for March, has now unfortunately been delayed until May 2012.
Max Payne 3 is an upcoming third-person shooter video game in the Max Payne franchise published by Rockstar Games for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and is the first game in the series not to be developed by Finnish game developer Remedy Entertainment.
The popular bullet-time in action sequences will make a return in Max Payne 3, and will also feature over-the-shoulder zoom aiming and cover mechanics. Max will also be able to stay grounded after a dive, enabling him to shoot 360 degrees around him.
Rockstar’s Sam Houser explains: “This is Max as we’ve never seen him before, a few years older, more world-weary and cynical than ever.”
Max Payne 3 was originally set to launch back in late 2009 but it was then pushed back to 2010 alongside several other Take-Two Interactive franchises in order to “benefit from having more development time.”
In June 2010, the game was again pushed back to 2011 and now is set for launch in May 2012. Lets hope it not becoming a Duke Nukem 2 and the launch of the game doesn’t get pushed back even further. Youie can watch the debut trailer for the new Max Payne 3 game here.
Source: Joystiq
Samsung Galaxy S II HD Headed To The UK?
Samsung has launched a HD version of their Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone in other countries around the world, we are yet to see one launch here in the UK although that may be about to change.
One online retailer, MobiCity has a listing on their website for a Samsung Galaxy S II HD, it looks like the listing has now been removed, but you can see the second photo below which was taken from their website by the guys from MoDaCo.
Sony USB 3.0 MicroVault Mach Flash Drives Launched
Sony has unveiled its new range of MicroVault Mach Flash Drives this month at CES, which are now equipped with the fastest USB 3.0 connections. Providing super fast transfers when connected to computers equipped with USB 3.0 ports, and are backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports.
The new flash drives provide read speeds of up to 120 Mbps and write speeds of 90Mbps, for all models above the 8 GB storage capacity. Each MicroVault Mach Flash Drive is encased in a solid aluminium body that has been designed to provide your data with protection from everyday knocks and bumps.
The new Sony range of MicroVault Mach flash drives will start shipping later this month, and will be available in the following sizes 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. No official prices for the new MicroVault Mach Flash Drives have been released as yet by Sony.
Windows 8 Tablet Hardware Requirements Revealed
We are expecting the first Windows 8 tablets to be launched some time later this year, and now details have been revealed on the hardware requirements that manufacturers will have to use to produce Windows 8 tablets.
The news comes from the guys over at Within Windows who have been analyzing the recently released Windows 8 hardware documentation to find out what the requirements will be.
Microsoft will require all Windows 8 tablet devices to use digitizers that support a minimum of 5 touch points, so I guess we know that Windows 8 will come with multi-touch.
Other requirements include NFC enabled PCs or tablets include ‘touch marks’, basically NFC enabled tablet will have to display where the NFC chip is located on the device.
Microsoft has also said that the Windows 8 tablets will need to have a total of five physical buttons, these buttons include power, rotation lock, a Windows key, a volume up button and a volume down button.
It looks like there wont be any getting away from CTRL + ALT + Delete in Windows 8 on tablets, as the tablets will be required to perform this option with a press of the power key and the Windows key.
It looks like all of the Windows 8 tablets will at be able to support HD video in 720p, as the minimum resolution requirement for devices in 1366 x 768, and they will also need to support HD video recording with a minimum camera resolution of 720p.
You can find out more details about all of the hardware requirements that Microsoft will need manufacturers to use in their new Windows 8 tablets over at Within Windows.
Source The Verge
Facebook Open Graph Actions To Be Officially Announced Tomorrow?
Facebook has already officially rolled out its new Timeline and Ticker as part of its Open Graph revamp. Now it looks possible that Facebook may be unveiling its new Open Graph Actions feature, that it will be adding to its new re-design according to the AllThingsD website.
The announcement by Facebook may be made as early as tomorrow, with Facebook unveiling their new service which enables apps made by outside developers, to “frictionlessly” and continuously share Facebook users’ actions. Once a user has given permission to the application to do so.
Developers have been busy coding their new applications since last September, and have been waiting for Facebook to make the announcement and officially launch their new Open Graph Actions service. Enabling developers to then make their new applications available to Facebook users.
Facebook has already organised an event which will take place tomorrow and has even issued press invitations so lets hope its something exciting to report. Even though it’s not 100% guaranteed that Facebook will make the announcement, tomorrow night in San Francisco, the timing of the event is similar to that of other similar announcements.
As more information becomes available from the announcement in San Francisco tomorrow, we will keep you updated on events as always.
Source: AllThingsD
Syndicate Co-op Demo Arriving This Month (video)
Gamers looking to give Syndicate’s Co-op mode a play, will be pleased to learn that today EA has announced they will be launching a Syndicate Co-op demo. That will be arriving at the end of this month on both PSN and Xbox Live.
The new demo will allow four players to join forces and enjoy an early taste of the new Syndicate game which is currently being developed by Starbreeze Studios. Unfortunately for gamers in Australia the demo will not be available, due to the Syndicate game being refused classification by the Australian Classification Board.
After The Australian Classification Board was especially critical of what it considered as the game’s excessive violence, complaining about explicit depictions of dismemberment, decapitation, exposed flesh and bone from injuries, and copious blood spray. EA Australia has announced that they won’t be appealing the decision or changing Syndicate’s gameplay to meet the Board’s concerns.
Syndicate’s plot:
“2069: No longer governed by politicians, the developed world is divided up into regions controlled by mega-corporations known as syndicates. These syndicates have revolutionized how the consumer interacts with the digital world. Since the consumer requires a device to access the world’s data and control technology, they can do this in the blink of an eye via neural chip implant.”
Source: Joystiq
Google Adds Fun New Meme Text Feature To Google+
Today Google has rolled out a new fun feature to its Google+ social network that now allows users to add text to images. Enabling them to create their very own Memes directly within Google+.
Google has made it extremely easy to add text to a images. Simply drop an image in to the “Sharebox” on Google+, then click the “Add text” and your away. If you a Google+ user brace yourself for a tidal wave of images covered in text trying to be the next global meme.
Google explains:
“Adding a few words can turn a silly photo into a ROFL, or draw attention to what you find most interesting. Today we’re rolling out a feature that makes it easier to add big, bold text on top of your photos.
To try it out, drop a photo into the sharebox on Google+, then click the “Add text” button underneath the photo. Type in something funny, then share and enjoy.”
So don’t delay head over to your Google+ account now and start create your very own Meme’s using Google’s new image text feature. If its not enabled on your account already, be patient as Google has said that the new feature will be rolling out to all Google+ users over the next few days. Enjoy!
Lexar Outs Speedy USB 3.0 Flash Drive
Lexar has unveiled a slick new flash drive for those of you needing to move large files around and need speed. The new flash drives plug into the USB 3.0 port and have very fast write times. The flash drives come in three capacities.
The capacities include 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The family is called the JumpDrive Triton and boast up to 155MB/s read and 150MB/s write speeds. The flash drives are $69.99 for the 16GB and $109.99 for the 32GB version.
The price of the 64GB version isn’t offered. The drives are all in metal alloy cases and have retractable USB ports so there’s no cap to lose. If you back up large files to a flash drive and have a USB 3.0 port, this is the drive for you.
via EverythingUSB
Wikipedia, Reddit, Craigslist And More Protest Against SOPA
Wikipedia and many other sites, which include Reddit, Boing Boing and many other sites around the web are today protesting against the controversial proposed SOPA and PIPA anit-piracy bills, which if passed could basically ruin the Internet.
Wikipedia has blacked out its English language site today and will continue to do so for 24 hours, Reddit will black out their site for 12 hours and many more website are also following throughout the day, a full list of sites can be found at SOPAstrike.
Samsung Promises All Day Battery Life For Its 2012 Smartphones
Many of the latest smartphones, with their larger higher resolution displays, faster processors and high end specifications don’t exactly have the best battery life and if you are a heavy user on some devices your battery may not last all day.
Samsung has announced that they intend to change this with their 2012 smartphones, and have promised to deliver new devices with batteries that are capable of lasting all day.
In a recent interview with Cnet, Samsung’s VP of product innovation, Kevin Packingham has announced that Samsung intends to improve the battery life of their new smartphones that are release this year.
“When you wake up to when you go to bed, we don’t want you feeling anxiety about your battery life,”
Samsung intend to solve the problem by including larger capacity batteries in new devices, but they will also work to optimize different aspects of their new smartphones, to ensure that they give better battery life.
Some of the things Samsung are looking into to improve battery life include the way a smartphone will search for WiFi, how often it powers up the 4G LTE radio and more.
It is good to see that Samsung are addressing the issue, and it will be interesting to see just how good battery performance is on their new 2012 smartphones.
Source Cnet
Motorola Xoom WiFi Gets Android ICS Update
It looks like owners of the Motorola Xoom WiFi are getting an update to the latest version of Google mobile OS, Android Ice Cream Sandwich, and the update is Android 4.0.3.
A number of users are reporting that they have received the Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Motorola Xoom WiFi as an OTA update, although it does appear that the update is being rolled out in stages.
If you haven;t received the Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich update for your Motorola Xoom WiFi as yet, you can check if it is available by going to Setting > About Tablet > System updates.
Android 4.0.3 brings a wide range of new features to the Motorola Xoom WiFi, which include a new user interface, re-sizable widgets, new lock screen actions and much more.
You can find out more details on all the new features available in Android Ice Cream Sandwich over at Google’s Android homepage.
Source The Verge
Canon EOS 300 cinema cam gets pre-order status, ships at month’s end for $16,000
Alienware announces X51 small form factor gaming PC, starting at $699
Alienware may have just upgraded its Aurora gaming rig, but that’s not to keep the company from giving more diminutive form factors some love. Just this evening, the subsidiary of Dell announced the X51, a slim gaming PC that’s designed to orient itself either vertically or horizontally on the desktop — complete with an Alienware logo that properly rotates depending on positioning. The system includes both Core i3 and i5 options, and features a slot-loading optical drive with an option for Blu-ray. While it’s no shocker, the X51 can be upgraded to 8GB of RAM and a full 1TB of storage. Further, the case accommodates a single, full size NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 graphics card, (with the GTX 555 available as an upgrade), and features an external power supply that’s available in 240W or 330W versions. Users can also expect HDMI 1.4, on-board WiFi, USB 3.0 and digital 7.1 surround sound. As a nifty trick, the computer’s accent colors can be conveniently modified with the Alienware Command Center software. Touting immediate availability, customers can place orders for the X51 right away, with configurations starting as low as $699. For the complete set of specs that make up this Mini-ITX gamer, just follow the break.
LG makes Optimus Pad LTE official, 8.9-inch IPS tablet coming first to South Korea
You’ve already seen this little guy in the wild, but LG has gone ahead and made its first LTE tablet very official — ladies and gentlemen, meet the Optimus Pad LTE. The 9.3mm thin slate packs a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm CPU and an 8.9-inch 1280 x 768 IPS display, along with an 8 megapixel camera on the rear and a 2 megapixel option up front. Users can expect an SD card slot that supports modules up to 32GB, and there’s also HDMI connectivity and DLNA certification for good measure. It’s powered by a 6,800mAh battery, but out of the gate, it’ll ship with Android 3.2 — no word on when the latest Pad hopes to grab a bite of Ice Cream Sandwich. The Optimus Pad LTE’s scheduled to arrive first in LG’s home territory of South Korea, but for those interested in a more complete rundown, be sure to check the PR after the break.
