LG plans a worldwide rollout for the Optimus G after solid sales

LG has announced that it will launch its Optimus G smartphone in 50 more nations this month.

It looks like LG is going global with its Optimus G smartphone. The electronics maker officially announced that the Android-powered device will make its way to more than 50 countries this month.

“As 4G LTE availability expands on a global scale, we will leverage our strong LTE technology and expertise to offer consumers the best 4G experience through our devices,” Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company said in a statement. “With the latest Jelly Bean OS and improved software, Optimus G will make a strong case for the title of ultimate premium 4G LTE smartphone.”

LG has not unveiled any formal plans specific to any country, but Gizmodo Australia reports that the smartphone will arrive in the continent “down under” this March. However, it will be exclusive to Telstra upon launch.

The 4.7-inch device made its official debut in the United States, South Korea and Europe this past fall, and it will soon expand around the globe. LG appears to be touting its 4G capabilities as the flagship feature of its Optimus G.

“LG’s long history of LTE know-how is evident in the DNA of the Optimus G,” Dr. Park also said. “As such, we hope consumers will take a deep, hard look at Optimus G when deciding which smartphone will give them the best 4G experience.”

This news comes just as excitement begins to mount for the Optimus G’s rumored successor - simply dubbed the Optimus G Pro. Just last week, a tipster sent Engadget what appears to be images and a potential specifications list for the Optimus G Pro. The forthcoming LG device is expected to come with a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels and a 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. Other rumored specs worth mentioning include a whopping 3,000mAh battery, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of memory and 4G LTE connectivity.

The LG Optimus G marked a significant step for LTE, seeing as it was the first device to incorporate this speedier connectivity with the Snapdragon S4 Pro processing unit. Check out our review of the handset here.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

THQ Mega Pack demonstrates positives of bankruptcy, offers 19 games for $25 total

Saints Row The Third

THQ’s attempts to rebuild itself after a catastrophic financial collapse prove a positive for players as almost everything the company has published over the last decade can now be yours for only $25.

We’ve been reporting on the financial difficulties of publisher THQ for months now. Most recently, the games publisher had its bankruptcy plan rejected by a judge who saw the scheme as willfully attempting to bamboozle firms and individuals who might otherwise opt to enter a bid for THQ’s assets. For the most part, our record of THQ’s fall has been naught but doom and gloom. Though the company is not yet dead, it’s certainly on life support. Even those gamers with a focused fetish for schadenfreude are growing depressed at watching the once-mighty publisher gradually dissipate. Fortunately, there is a bright spot among all this darkness, and it’s particularly luminous for those looking to pick up a ton of quality games on the cheap.

If you pay a quick visit to Amazon, you’ll notice a listing for an item titled the “THQ Mega Pack.” Given the publisher’s dire financial straits and the contents of the Pack we have to assume this is an attempt at scrounging up some extra, last minute cash, and oh, what an attempt it is! For a mere $25 those of you with functional gaming PCs can download every single game listed below:

  • Company of Heroes – Tales of Valor
  • Company of Heroes Game of the Year
  • Darksiders II
  • Darksiders
  • Homefront
  • MX vs ATV Reflex
  • Metro 2033
  • Nexuiz 
  • Red Faction Armageddon
  • Red Faction Guerrilla
  • Saints Row 2
  • Saints Row: The Third
  • Supreme Commander
  • Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
  • Titan Quest Gold
  • Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II – Gold Edition
  • Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
  • Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War Gold
  • Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War II Retribution
Notably absent from this list of THQ games are any of the company’s licensed wrestling titles, likely owing to whatever licensing deal THQ has established with the WWE. Beyond that though, this roster of games reads like a list of the best releases THQ has published since the dawn of the millennium. Saints Row The Third by itself is easily worth that $25 price tag, and then getting an extra 18 games (the vast majority of which are objectively good to excellent) is a deal that we have to recommend to anyone with the necessary hardware. Most relatively modern gaming PCs should be able to run these games with little issue, but if you’re worried that your title of choice won’t function on your computer, you should pay a visit to THQ’s official website. If system requirements aren’t listed there (as is likely with some of the older games), then a quick Google search should sort things out.
 
While we hate to bear witness to THQ’s slow fall, we do appreciate that the company is pulling out all the stops in its rebuilding efforts. Whether or not THQ again rises to prominence is anyone’s guess, but now at least fans of the publisher can dry their tears with almost 20 triple-A PC releases that, in total, cost less than a quality steak.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

BlackBerry 10 rumors: N-Series may debut alongside L-Series, price and video of Z10 leak online

Recent rumors have indicated that RIM could launch the N-Series of its BlackBerry 10 phones this month in addition to the L-Series.

Research In Motion is gearing up to make its comeback with BlackBerry 10 at the end of this month, and anticipation is clearly building among the tech community. While we’re largely certain that RIM will unveil the BlackBerry Z10 L-Series on January 30, recent rumors indicate that another line of new devices will premiere on that same day.

The BlackBerry X10 N-Series may make an appearance at RIM’s New York City event this month, according to BlackBerry news blog N4BB. Furthermore, RIM will announce two flavors of the L-Series BlackBerry phones – 3G and LTE models. The blog didn’t cite any specific sources to back this claim, but BlackBerry fans will have to wait until the end of the month to see what RIM has in store.

No specific pricing information has been released, but we’ve heard whispers that RIM could be targeting value smartphone buyers with at least one of its devices. The company is allegedly planning to launch the BlackBerry Z10 at a price point below its standard $200, an inside source reportedly told BGR on Monday. We’re expecting this to fall into the $150 cost range, but this information has yet to be confirmed.

These rumors come amidst a string of BlackBerry 10 clues that have mounted in recent weeks. Last week Verizon allegedly leaked the product page for the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone before quickly removing the listing. Just before that, a video surfaced online showcasing a detailed walkthrough of the new touch-centric BlackBerry 10 OS. Now, that same website has posted footage of the Z10 battling head-to-head with Apple’s iPhone 5.

The video, which was initially posted on telekom-presse.at, showcases features such as voice command and social notifications. The German clip’s narrator gave both devices the same task via voice control at the same time, and BlackBerry’s variant smoked Apple’s offering. In addition, the Z10 seemed to beat the iPhone 5 when it comes to checking notifications, receiving text messages, switching between apps, and more.

The size difference between the two competing phones was also evident in the video. The narrator places Apple’s iPhone 5 on top of BlackBerry’s handset, outlining the discrepancy in length and width between the two smartphones. To no surprise, the purported BlackBerry Z10 was the larger contender here.

It’s clear that the video is partial to BlackBerry, but we’ll be looking forward to what RIM has to offer this month. Take a look at the video below to see for yourself. 


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Sony 13 For ’13 Sale begins Tuesday, offers quarter-priced game downloads

Jet Set Radio

The PlayStation Network is about to host another big sale, and this time both major games and films can be had for up to 75 percent off of their regular retail price.

Come Tuesday, January 22, the PlayStation Network will play host to Sony’s latest promotional: The aptly-named “13 for ’13 Sale.” Now that we’re all living in the year 2013, Sony feels that it should somehow commemorate the event and has decided to do so by discounting one video game and one film each day for the next 13 days. See how that’s almost clever wordplay? It would have made far more sense to kick off this sale on New Year’s Day, but who are we to stare this gift horse in the mouth?

The list of games going on sale over the next two weeks isn’t necessarily a roll call of blockbuster hits from the previous year, but it does offer a little something for everyone. Take a look at the handy, conveniently organized list Sony put together for the official PlayStation.blog:

  • LittleBigPlanet Karting – Regular $39.99, Sale $19.99, PS Plus $10.00
  • The Unfinished Swan – Regular $14.99, Sale $7.49, PS Plus $3.75
  • Ratchet & Clank – Regular $14.99, Sale $7.49, PS Plus $3.75
  • Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy – Regular $7.99, Sale $3.99, PS Plus $2.00
  • Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds Complete Collection – Regular $24.99, Sale $12.49, PS Plus $6.25
  • Warp – Regular $9.99, Sale $4.99, PS Plus $2.50
  • Shank 2 – Regular $9.99, Sale $4.99, PS Plus $2.50
  • NiGHTS into dreams… – Regular $9.99, Sale $4.99, PS Plus $2.50
  • Jet Set Radio – Regular $9.99, Sale $4.99, PS Plus $2.50
  • The House of the Dead: OVERKILL Extended Cut – Regular $19.99, Sale $9.99, PS Plus $5.00
  • Psychonauts – Regular $9.99, Sale $4.99, PS Plus $2.50
  • Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 – Regular $39.99, Sale $19.99, PS Plus $10.00
  • Machinarium – Regular $9.99, Sale $4.99, PS Plus $2.50
You’ll notice both “Sale” prices and “PS Plus” prices listed for all of those games. As with most recent PlayStation Network sales, this indicates that while all PlayStation 3 owners will be able to download, say, Jet Set Radio for only $5, those who have active PlayStation Plus memberships will be able to pick up Sega’s criminally under-loved graffiti simulator for only $2.50. A 50-percent discount on anything is pretty sizable, but if you’d rather enjoy the three-quarters off provided by a PS Plus membership, you can currently sign up for a one year subscription for $50. Three month hitches are also available for $18, but the annual scheme is clearly the better deal — especially considering the rolling roster of free retail games the service offers to owners of both the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita handheld.
 
As for the cinematic offerings of this sale, the PlayStation.blog also offers a compehensive list of what Sony describes as the “hottest, most critically acclaimed films of the previous year.” Have a look:
  • Ted – Regular (SD) $14.99, Sale (SD) $12.99, Regular (HD) $19.99, Sale (HD) $17.99
  • Pitch Perfect – Regular (SD) $14.99, Sale (SD) $12.99, Regular (HD) $19.99, Sale (HD) $17.99
  • The Cabin in the Woods – Regular (SD) $14.99, Sale (SD) $9.99, Regular (HD) $19.99, Sale (HD) $12.99
  • Total Recall – Regular (SD) $14.99, Sale (SD) $12.99, Regular (HD) $17.99, Sale (HD) $12.99
  • Beasts of the Southern Wild – Regular (HD) $14.99, Sale (HD) $12.99
  • The Raid: Redemption (Unrated) – Regular (SD) $14.99, Sale (SD) $12.99, Regular (HD) $17.99, Sale (HD) $12.99
  • Safety Not Guaranteed – Regular (SD) $14.99, Sale (SD) $12.99, Regular (HD) $17.99, Sale (HD) $12.99
  • Arthur Christmas – Regular (SD) $14.99, Sale (SD) $12.99, Regular (HD) $17.99, Sale (HD) $12.99
  • Pirates! Band of Misfits – Regular (SD) $14.99, Sale (SD) $12.99, Regular (HD) $17.99, Sale (HD) $12.99
  • Safe – Regular (SD) $14.99, Sale (SD) $9.99, Regular (HD) $19.99, Sale (HD) $12.99
  • Margaret – Regular (SD) $12.99, Sale (SD) $10.99, Regular (HD) $15.99, Sale (HD) $10.99
  • The Do-Deca Pentathalon – Regular (SD) $12.99, Sale (SD) $10.99, Regular (HD) $14.99, Sale (HD) $10.99
  • Bernie – Regular (SD) $14.99, Sale (SD) $7.99, Regular (HD) $19.99, Sale (HD) $9.99
There are no special PlayStation Plus discounts to be had here, but that’s almost for the best as this half of the sale leaves us pretty cold. These are the hottest films of 2012? Really? We could see Beasts of the Southern Wild earning that disctinction. Cabin in the Woods too. Maybe even The Raid: Redemption and Pitch Perfect. The rest are largely the kind of filler pabulum that exists to occupy space in America’s megaplexes between major blockbusters and clever indie hits that only remain widely notable for a few weeks at most. If you’re a huge fan of Seth MacFarlane’s gimmicky schtick then by all means pick up Ted, but we see scant few reasons to explore the Hollwood side of Sony’s 13 for ’13 Sale.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

King of the Iron Flush: Namco Bandai announces Tekken Card Tournament

Tekken Card Tournament

In the newly-revealed Tekken Card Tournament, Namco Bandai’s flagship pugilists will once again trade in kicks and punches for a stack of playing cards.

Namco Bandai’s public relations team is having a very productive day. This morning, they offered word that the Namco Bandai/Sega/Capcom crossover roleplaying game Project X Zone will receive a welcome, if unexpected, release here in America. Then, a short time later, they made another announcement: The first public revelation of Tekken Card Tournament.

As the name might suggest, Tekken Card Tournament is a title focused on turn-based virtual card games. The Tekken element, though not explicitly stated, is expected to mirror the gameplay seen in games like SNK Vs Capcom: Card Fighter’s Clash. If that doesn’t ring a bell, basically it boils down to characters and situations commonly seen in a fighting franchise being transformed into cards of varying power levels that then serve to effectively simulate the action of a fighting match. Think: Magic the Gathering, only in place of creatures blatantly swiped from Gygax and Tolkien, your card-based forces consist of sixteen members of the extended Mishima family.

Those who’ve played the aforementioned SNK Vs Capcom: Card Fighter’s Clash are no doubt aware of how addictive this formula can prove to be, but the selling points preferred by Namco Bandai all revolve around the modern gimmicks the company has added to this recipe. Unfortunately, these modern gimmicks also include a rather insidious revenue scheme. Courtesy today’s official announcement:

The physical game booster packs available at retailers later this year can be played as a standalone card game, or added in players’ virtual game card deck by unique QR Code scanning. Scanning the game cards will give upgrades to online game characters or add a new character to the roster. In addition, an Augmented Reality feature lets TEKKEN characters populate the real world simply by pointing a smartphone or tablet camera at the game cards.

The digital game can also be played as a standalone, allowing players to enter the King of Iron Fist tournament by competing in this unique free-to-play game set in the TEKKEN universe. The digital game will offer a unique gameplay experience but also amazing visuals on all devices. Strategically prepare your card deck and compete against players across all platforms anytime and everywhere.

While we appreciate that the game is scheduled to launch on “mobile, tablet, and web browsers” at some point this Spring, and that the game itself is technically “free to play,” we’re unsure about the rest of the feature set listed above. Yes, Tekken Card Tournament itself won’t cost you any money to download and fire up, but a card game quickly becomes useless without any cards. This would seemingly necessitate the purchase of those “physical game booster packs.” We don’t expect these to be expensive, but we’re sure Namco Bandai has a plan that pushes players toward buying as many packs as they can afford/justify to their significant others.

Further, while augmented reality sounds neat, we’ve been burned by such promises so many times in the past that AR as a concept is a warning flag. Do we want to fill our meatspace reality with fictional martial artists? Sure, who wouldn’t? But that said, we have little faith in Namco Bandai’s (or anyone’s) ability to make Tekken Card Tournament AR features anything more than a useless extra that players glance at for a few moments before forgetting they exist.

Expect more information to emerge from Namco Bandai on Tekken Card Tournament very soon.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Best free Microsoft Office alternatives

Best Microsoft Office alternatives

Looking to put Microsoft Office behind you? Here are our picks for the five best, free alternatives that will leave you wondering why you waited so long to make the switch.

Microsoft Office was once the go-to source and industry standard for office productivity applications. As the office suite landscape continues to change and evolve, we’re seeing more and more open source software springing up that lack little in the way of features and provide free alternatives to the productivity king that dominated the market for years on end. 

Whether you’re at home or on the road with your mobile device, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and more are now all accessible anywhere you have an Internet connection. It’s been a long time coming, but the reign of Microsoft Office is drawing to a close.

If you’re looking for a way to do your basic office tasks without paying a cent, we’ve rounded up five of our top picks for some of the best free Microsoft Office alternatives. These resources will make it easy to continue hammering out those word docs, spreadsheets, and presentations while keeping your wallet at bay.

Google Docs

Google Docs is at the forefront of open office software for many reasons. It has all the basic perks of Microsoft Office – word processor, spreadsheets, and presentation capabilities – but it’s completely free and accessible online through Google’s cloud-based storage service, Google Drive. It provides a nice, central hub for all your documents, and the sheer potential for collaboration makes the software a stand out among the rest. You can create, share, and edit documents with anyone, regardless of whether they have a Google account. Also, the ability to view document changes in real time – even those made by several people at once in the same document –  has its advantages.

Google Docs Example

From Microsoft Word documents to PDFs, Google Docs supports a wide array of file types, all of which can be downloaded for offline use. Added perks include image editor Google Drawings, and online form creator Google Forms. Plus, Google Docs works well with other Google services like Google+, Gmail, and Google Calendar for greater integration capabilities and convenience. Although the program is free, you can upgrade from the allotted 5GB of space for a mere $2.50 a month.

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OpenOffice Logo

OpenOffice

OpenOffice is one of the more renowned pieces of open source software on the market and has been so for more than 10 years. The bundle contains tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases, and a slew of other capabilities. The software can be downloaded and used completely free of any licensing fees and stores your data in an international open standard format. It can also read and save Microsoft Word documents so you don’t have to sweat over any compatibility issues.

OpenOffice Screenshot

The current version of OpenOffice offers a treasure trove of developer extensions and supports most common operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and GNU/Linux. It’s not as advanced for collaboration as Google Docs, but the package offers a solid line of productivity tools that are frequently updated with new features.

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LibreOffice

LibreOffice Logo

LibreOffice is essentially an open office suite that parted ways with Apache OpenOffice back in 2010. It uses the same underlying source code under the hood, features the same basic productivity tools as OpenOffice, and even works in a similar manner. The major difference between the two is the increased amount of development the Document Foundation has poured into the LibreOffice software over the years. LibreOffice showcases a few more advanced features, such as a Wiki publisher, and offers greater functionality given the available extensions and customization options. It’s fairly intuitive, simple to use, and dons a modern design that comes up just short of Microsoft Office.

LibreOffice Screenshot

The current version of LibreOffice supports most common operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and GNU/Linux. The software can even be installed on a portable drive or SD card so you can throw it in your pocket before you head out. A mobile app for Android and Apple devices is also in the works.

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Kingsoft Office Logo

Kingsoft Office

If Kingsoft Office often seems like a Chinese knock-off of Microsoft Office, that’s because it essentially is. The software, developed out of Hong Kong, runs like a stripped version of Microsoft’s program and houses the three basic Microsoft Office counterparts for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Although its features and interface almost seem to directly reflect Microsoft Office at times, there are enough variations and customization options for it to stand on its own. The software is quick, compact, and compatible with a laundry list of file formats. Aside from the basic features, it also includes a PDF converter and tools for adding watermarks to documents. However, you will have to look elsewhere for some of the more robust features such as note taking and publishing.

Kingsoft Office Screenshot

The current version of Kingsoft Office only supports Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, and 8. There is also a fantastic mobile version of the software available exclusively for Android devices.

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Zoho Logo

Zoho Docs

Zoho Docs is another Web-based office suit that follows in the footsteps of Google Docs. Its basic package offers 1GB of free online storage, a word processor, and tools for creating spreadsheets and presentations. Secure sharing and real-time editing between users and groups is a plus, but the software often feels a bit cumbersome and not as user-friendly as it boasts. However, it serves as another great cloud-based storage opportunity should you decide to bypass Google Docs or somehow manage to utilize all 5GB of space.

 

Zoho Screenshot

The Web-based suite can be accessed from any common browser including Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, but you will need to sign up for the software before you can use it. There is also a mobile app for both Android and Apple devices.

What do you think of our list of the best Microsoft Office alternatives? Did we miss a great alternative? Let us know in the comments below.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Next-gen PlayStation 4, Xbox 720 hardware specifications leaked

We’re just a few months away from what many believe will be a huge Electronics Entertainment Expo for the console market. While neither camp has made any official statement (unless you count recent comments from Sony’s Hiroshi Sakamoto), pretty much everyone is expecting to see Microsoft unveil the next generation Xbox alongside Sony’s new PlayStation 4.

And now as we inch close to those reveals, we’re starting to hear some serious chatter with regards to system specifications. According to sources as reported by Eurogamer, both consoles will be powered by an eight-core processor clocked at 1.6GHz built using AMD’s Jaguar architecture. This type of CPU is typically used for low-power notebooks but will have double the number of cores found in portables as well as a few other customizations.

We are further told that Orbis, the codename for Sony’s PlayStation 4, will ship with Radeon HD graphics. Specifically, we can expect to see the Radeon 7970M clocked at 800MHz with 18 Graphics Core Next compute units. This is expected to produce 1.84 teraflops, according to data recently published by VG24/7.

Not much is known about the GPU behind Durango but sources told the publication just after CES that Microsoft’s new console will be able to achieve 1.23 teraflops – significantly less than the PS4. The Xbox, however, is expected to have double the amount of system RAM which will no doubt help it compete in the performance department.

Eurogamer has published a lengthy write-up on the subject if you are interested in delving deeper into the hardware aspect of each console.


Source : techspot[dot]com

Out of credits, Atari files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Foundational video game maker Atari has struggled for decades to find the financial footing that made it an industry trailblazer in the 1970s, but after a period of consolidation, the company plans to sell its assets after filing for bankruptcy.

Atari is the Lynard Skynard of video game companies, a group with a recognizable name that started in the 1970s but whose modern incarnation bears little to resemblance to the original. The company has merged with and been sold to other companies so frequently over the last forty years, that it’s hard to keep up. In almost every case, Atari has joined with other companies in order to survive rather than grow. Most recently, Atari parent game publisher Infogrames changed the name of its entire operating to the old brand, part of a consolidation movement after a decade of massive losses. It’s over, though. Atari will now be sold off to yet another band that will take up the mantle, as Atari Inc. has declared bankruptcy.

Atari Inc., the video game-developer and Western publisher subsidiary of Atari SA, filed for Chapter 11 reorganization with US Bankruptcy Court in New York on Sunday according to a report in The Los Angeles Times. Atari has actually been recovering since consolidating four years ago, releasing mobile games based on its most recognized properties like Pong and licensing out its iconic corporate logo for clothing and other products. The company’s survival, however, was reliant on a UK financial company called BlueBay Assets. Atari’s $28 million credit facility with BlueBay lapsed in December, leaving it with almost no cash and crippling their ability to release new products.

Atari SA will now look for something to either buy Atari Inc. in full or look for a buyer for its myriad classic gaming properties like Asteroids, Defender, and others. Even now, Greatest Hits compilations as well as plug-in-and-play Atari machines are reliable sellers. The logo also, as previously mentioned, has quite a bit of value. According to the Times report, Atari relied on logo licensing for 17 percent of its revenue.

From the beginning, the foundational video game company started by Nolan Bushnell has been plagued by bad business decisions and worse luck. Starting with Warner Communications’ (today known as Time Warner) acquisition of Atari in 1976, the Atari name gave the video game industry its first boom before all but collapsing it in the United States by 1983. Since then, Atari’s gone through various shapes. It survived as a console maker until the mid-90s, putting out failed machines like the portable Lynx and Nintendo 64 competitor Jaguar, before it was acquired by Hasbro. Infogrames purchased the company in 2000, and despite publishing some decent titles in the decade since like Ghostbusters: The Video Game, it has been little more than a money sink.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Blackberry Z10 appears side-by-side with iPhone 5 in comparison video

Blackberry Z10 appears side-by-side with iPhone 5 in comparison video

The Z10 gets its first look at its soon-to-be nemesis

RIM's yet-to-be-announced BlackBerry Z10 handset has come face-to-face with the iPhone 5 in a new comparison video.

The all-touchscreen BB10, which is all set for a grand unveiling at the end of January, has been leaked more times than we care to remember, but never in this much deal and never next to its chief nemesis.

German blog telekon-presse.ak has provided a hands-on with what is all-but-certain to be the Z10, comparing design, build, software and features with Apple's latest and greatest mobile handset.

According to the hands-on comparison, the BB10 voice control system does a better job than Siri during a request to send a message. It was more accurate and faster on the Z10 than the iPhone 5.

What's left to see?

The video also shows how the respective operating system deals with incoming text messages and offers a neat look at BB10's Peak View feature, which gives users a quick look at items in the BlackBerry Hub.

Other highlights include a look at the different ways multitasking is handled by the OS, and how app icons are presented while it also shows how to kill active apps and offers a look at the respective Twitter apps.

You can check out the interesting video comparison below. At this rate RIM will have nothing left to reveal on January 30, when it holds launch events around the world.

What do you think? On that evidence can the Z10 challenge the iPhone 5 on a level playing field? Let us know in the comments section below.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Leaked manuals show off redesigns of the Lenovo ThinkPad T431 and X230

Leaked images give us an advanced look at the 2013 models of two Lenovo laptops. Take a look at the comparisons below.

Lenovo has started the new year running. From a new touch-screen monitor to its first Chromebook, the company has been busy announcing new projects all around the computing sphere. The latest news from Lenovo isn’t an official announcement, but a sneak peak at a pair of familiar gadgets. The user manuals for two revamped ThinkPad computers – the T431 and X230 – were leaked and posted to Lenovo’s Chinese website. The manuals for the ThinkPad T431 and  ThinkPad X230 are still online if you want to get a look at the illustrations yourself. Be prepared, though; all the text is in Chinese.

Unfortunately, there’s no information available yet about the technical specs, but thanks to the manuals, we now know some of the design changes for the T431 and X230 laptops. According to Engadget, both machines have removed the dedicated TrackPoint buttons and integrated them into a larger trackpad. It’s a design similar to the upcoming Lenovo ThinkPad Helix and Edge notebooks. The function keys also harken back to the Helix, with those buttons now serving as the secondary use of hotkeys for controlling brightness and audio. 

The leaked images also show alterations to the hinges of both models. Again, they are falling in line with the rest of Lenovo’s upcoming launches with the use of hinges that will set the screen panel behind the body of the computer when it is open. This is a change from the 2012 versions of the T431 and X230, but looks similar to the Helix as well as the X1 Carbon. The screen sizes and basic resolutions for both computers appear unchanged; the X230 still has a 12.5-inch 1,366 x 768 resolution panel, and the T431 has 1,600 x 900 resolution for its 14-inch screen. 

There are no formal release dates yet for either of the laptops, but, according to Electronista, Lenovo is expected to launch the new models in late spring or summer. In the meantime, we’ll be waiting for the official word from the company with the hardware rundown.

Image via Acid Pix


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Nokia Releases Two Cases for the Lumia 920

For all you Nokia Lumia owners, we have some great news. Nokia has released an official case for your phone so you aren’t forced to purchase a third party aftermarket case.

Nokia has two different cases available for the Lumia 920. One is a soft case that leaves your screen uncovered. The other is a leather flip cover that not only will protect your screen but also will prop your phone up on its side for landscape viewing of websites or watching movies. You will be able to get the soft cases in a variety of different colors, however red and cyan are the only versions ready to ship at this time. The rest are expected to follow very soon.

So how much will these set you back? They are marked at a reasonable $16.99 a piece. For the leather flip cover, it is ready to ship and will cost you $27.99.



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Atari files for bankruptcy in the US, selling iconic logo and assets

Video games pioneer Atari has filed for bankruptcy in the US and plans to sell all its assets in the next three to four months. But the iconic firm is likely to live on. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, the move is intended to break the American business free from its debt-laden French parent Atari SA. The latter took over Atari in 2008 and has seen its share price drop 50% over the past year.

An unnamed "knowledgeable person" says that the plan is to develop Atari's US operations into a business based on digital and mobile platforms. The company has increased its focus on iOS and Android as gaming platforms since 2010, developing games based on well-known properties, among them a successful "greatest hits" compilation of arcade titles and an updated version of Pong.

Under the current company structure, Atari Inc. relies on London financial company BlueBay Asset Management for cash, but a $28-million credit facility with them expired as 2012 closed, leaving Atari without the resources to release games currently in the works, including a real-money gambling title titled "Atari Casino."

The company is said to have locked down a debtor-in-possession investment of $5.25 million from Tenor Capital Management in order to continue its operations during the bankruptcy.

If Atari Inc.'s filing goes through, then the company will reportedly seek a private buyer, though with the company planning to sell defining franchises such as Pong and Asteroids and even its logo to raise cash, it's unclear who might step up to buy what's left of the 40 year-old video games legend.


Source : techspot[dot]com

LG Overtakes Apple in U.S. Handset Market Sales

When it comes to United States smartphone sales, Apple is clearly king controlling a record 53 % of US smartphone market.

Looking at the bigger picture of all handset sales (feature and smartphone combined), Apple has solidly kept in second place ever since the release of the iPhone 4S– until now. A new report suggests that LG has taken the 2nd place spot, knocking Apple to third overall.

The report released by Hong Kong’s Counterpoint Research on Sunday said that LG had captured 13 % of the U.S. phone market sales last month, while Apple recorded only 12 %. Both LG and Apple are trailing big time however to longtime leader Samsung with a 33 % share of the market in December.

So what’s going on to push LG over Apple overall? While their feature phone marketshare probably hasn’t changed a whole lot,  LG just recently had announced 1 millions Optimus G units sold worldwide, and that coupled with sales of the Nexus 4 added to the rise in total sales last month.

Still, holding 3rd place in all feature/smartphone sales in the United States is pretty impressive for Apple nonetheless, when you consider that Apple only sells smartphones. What do you think of this market leader change, does it surprise you or not?



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Rumoured HTC M7 leaked again ahead of expected MWC launch

Rumoured HTC M7 leaked again ahead of expected MWC launch

HTC M7 leaks are coming thick and fast ahead of MWC

Two separate leaks on Monday reportedly gave smartphone fanciers another look at what's expected to be HTC's next flagship phone.

The HTC M7, with Android Jelly Bean and the new Sense 5.0 UI, is tipped to arrive at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, in late February.

Firstly, Pocket Now has picked up a new render of the purported device, very different to the one that appeared last week, which, according to two HTC sources who've seen the device, is "spot on."

The new render appears to look a little like the HTC Windows Phone 8X handset, although the M7 is expected to be slightly smaller, with a 4.7-inch 1080p display.

The real deal?

Following the leaked render on Monday, the Android Police site joined the party, claiming to have laid its paws on snaps of the real thing.

Both leaks seem to show a very similar handset, although the 'real' hardware photo, doesn't appear to be as complete as the elaborate render.

It is possible, that the picture is of an earlier version of the handset, while the render shows what will be the finished article.

Other specs are said to include a 1.7GHz quad-core processor and a 13-megapixel camera. It looks like we'll find out for sure at MWC in a month's time.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Intel celebrates Stephen Hawking’s birthday with personalized silicon wafer

Intel gave Stephen Hawking a very special birthday present and is also working on a project that could help him communicate faster.

Legendary physicist Stephen Hawking celebrated his 70th birthday last January. At the State of the Universe symposium, Intel promised Hawking a special present in honor of his momentous birthday. A year later, Intel has completed its ambitious gift. Presented by Martin Curley, Intel vice president and director of Intel Labs Europe, Hawking received a special 300mm silicon wafer.

The wafer, which would normally be used to produce Intel chips, is inscribed with the words “Happy Birthday Stephen Hawking” hundreds of times by nano-scale copper lines. The width of each letter is about ten microns, or ten times smaller than the width of a human hair. 

The ceremony took place at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology in Cambridge, UK, where Hawking is the founder and director of research. The research base features the COSMOS Mk IX supercomputer, which runs on 1,856 of Intel’s Xeon E5 processors cores and 31 of the company’s Xeon Phi coprocessors. The combined processors give the supercomputer a theoretical top performance of about 75 TFLOPS (one trillion floating-point operations per second). Right now, the COSMOS Mk will dedicate its significant power to investigating the origins of our universe, possibly unravelling the first few moments of the Big Bang. Intel announced that it will sponsor 2013′s annual Conference on Particle Physics and Cosmology (COSMO) in Cambridge this September. 

According to  Slashgear, the birthday present isn’t all that Intel’s working on for Hawking these days. As Hawking’s degenerative motor neuron disease progresses, the physicist has lost control over more of his muscles, which makes it harder for him to communicate. With Hawking’s current system, he uses twitches of his cheek to control a cursor that spells out words one letter at a time. He can only speak about one word each minute. Intel Chief Technology Officer Justin Rattner said that since Hawking is still able to control a few other features, he may be able to communicate more quickly through Morse code in a system that responds to multiple facial cues. Intel is working on a new setup for Hawking that would allow him to speak faster by registering inputs from his eyebrow and mouth movements as well as movements in his cheek. 


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Ryu vs. Space Channel 5: Project X Zone for Nintendo 3DS gets an unlikely US release

Sega, Namco, and Capcom’s mascot smorgasbord RPG for Nintendo 3DS, Project X Zone, is making the trip from Japan to the world market this summer, letting people from all over the world make Mega Man fight the cast of Virtua Fighter.

Bringing video games from Japan to the United States has never been an easy process. Even at the apex of the Nintendo DS’ popularity at the end of last decade, when publishers like Atlus were localizing niche titles like Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: The Endless Frontier, just because a game existed in Japan didn’t mean it would be translated for the US and Europe. Plenty of excellent games like 7th Dragon, an RPG by the creator of Phantasy Star, have languished in the language they were written in rather than get the worldwide exposure they deserve.

Project X Zone for Nintendo 3DS looked like it would be one of those games when it released in fall 2012. Not only was it a Japanese strategy RPG, but it’s also a crossover between Namco, Capcom, and Sega, making it a niche title that’s also a licensing nightmare for IP holders. Project X Zone is beating the odds, though. Namco Bandai announced the game for a worldwide release on Monday.

Project X Zone is the first title to ever combine such a large cast of characters from a varied list of game franchises into one grand adventure,” said Namco’s VP of marketing Carlson Choi. His enthusiasm for the game is appreciated, since it means that Namco Bandai has decided that there’s enough of an audience for the game outside Japan to justify its release.

Zone isn’t technically the first game to feature this sort of massive IP crossover, though. It’s not even the first in the series. Namco and Capcom have collaborated on a number of the X (which stands for cross) games, including last year’s Street Fighter X Tekken. Project X Zone’s progenitor, though, was an excellent PlayStation 2 RPG called Namco X Capcom, that pitted characters as disparate as Klonoa and Morrigan against each other. The only RPG in the series to make it to the US before now was Cross Edge, a PS3 exclusive that featured characters from Darkstalkers and more obscure RPGs like Disgaea and Maha Khemia.

Project X Zone features characters from franchises both popular and deeply obscure. Ryu from Street Fighter appearing alongside Ulala from Sega’s Space Channel 5? Strange, but fantastic.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Digital Blend: Disney Infinity takes to the sky(landers) and The Cave gets a release date

Welcome to Digital Blend, your one-stop shop for coverage and recommendations of all things relating to mobile gaming, digital marketplaces, and indie titles (for the week ending January 20).

Happy new year! Welcome back to Digital Blend, our weekly look at the world of downloadable video gaming that exists at the fringes of the mainstream. That means we look at the hottest new mobile game releases, downloadable content drops on consoles and PCs, indie darlings that deserve your love and attention, and the best gaming values out there for under $20.

Keep your comments and feedback coming. We want to hear from you! Did you try something you read about here and enjoy it? Is there a particular game you think we’ve overlooked or news you want to share? Any questions you are dying to ask? Let us know! Your thoughts, feedback, suggestions and (constructive!) criticism are welcome, either in the comments section below or directed at yours truly on Twitter, @geminibros.

Making headlines…

* Starting next week, on January 22, 2013, CCP Games will swing the doors wide on the free-to-play PlayStation 3 FPS, Dust 514, with the launch of its open beta. The game’s EVE Online universe setting only recently hooked into CCP’s actual sci-fi MMO, which plays out on a single “shard” unlike other multi-server MMOs. This creates a unique cross-game dynamic, with players on the FPS side taking contracts from and being aided by players on the MMO side. The launch of the open beta is great news for fans who have been waiting to take the F2P action for a spin.

* Disney made a lot of noise earlier this week with the announcement of Disney Infinity, an upcoming game that sounds like it’s equal parts SkylandersLittleBigPlanet, and Minecraft. There’s quite a lot to it, so your best bet is to check out Anthony’s preview. While you’re at it, take a peek at our chat with Avalanche Studios CEO John Blackburn. Avalanche is handling development of Infinity and Blackburn offers up a lot of useful information about how the game works and what some of the future plans involve.

* The National Rifle Association made the questionable move earlier this week of releasing the NRA: Practice Range reference app, an info resource for the organization that also includes a shooting range mode that allows users to fire a variety of guns — with others available as microtransactions — at virtual paper targets. The release turned heads because of NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre’s recent skewering of violent entertainment forms as one of the elements that led to Adam Lanza’s horrendous actions in Sandy Hook, Conn. Yes, there’s a world of difference between a game about shooting paper targets and a game about shooting people. Speaking as an ardent supporter of our Second Amendment rights, I still think it’s in poor taste that this shooting range wasn’t removed from the NRA app.

The Cave arrives next week! That’s right, Double Fine fans: Ron Gilbert’s Sega-published, side-scrolling adventure game is coming to a video game platform near you on January 22, 2013. PlayStation Network and Wii U eShop come first, followed on January 23 by an Xbox Live Arcade release. Not caught up on what’s happening with The Cave? Check out our 2012 interview with Gilbert!

* The Behemoth is back. Castle Crashers was first released for Xbox 360 back in 2008, and while the game has since been ported to a number of other platforms, we’ve seen little from the developer beyond a couple of iOS offerings. That all changes next month. Starting at some undetermined point in February 2013, a select group of players will be able take The Behemoth’s upcoming Battleblock Theater out for a spin, compliments of a beta test. You can sign up now, and you probably should since only 10,000 candidates will be selected. Check out Anthony’s report for a rundown of participation requirements and a link to the sign-up page.

Top buys for the week…

Borderlands 2 – Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt DLC :: PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360 / PC :: $9.99 / 800 MS Points

very light week for Digital Blend-y releases is highlighted by the Xbox 360 launch of Gearbox Software’s latest Borderlands 2 DLC pack, Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt. Travel to the Pandoran continent of Aegrus where you’ll hunt all manner of big game, take on a devoted Handsome Jack fan, and have your ass handed to you by a pair of new raid bosses. It’s glorious, and an easy choice for pick of the week. Just check out our review.

Temple Run 2 :: iOS :: FREE

Second verse, same as the first. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the fact that Temple Run 2 largely amounts to “more Temple Run,” though it’s hard not to be a little disappointed at the lack of evolution here. There are new characters and new character-specific abilities, along with some new environments, but one has to wonder why all of this content justified the sequel treatment. Oh, what’s that? Temple Run 2 is free-to-play and uses a microtransaction-based pricing model that allows players to spend money rather than time on content unlocks? There you go. Sequel justified.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

New Samsung BYOD Advertisement Pokes Fun of RIM Blackberry Devices

Recently Samsung has been gearing up to move into the business world in a big way. The company has mentioned in the past that it sees strong potential in the BYOD model, and believes that its products could be perfect in these situations.

Now Samsung has a new commercial out that promotes the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 in a business. For a change, this ad isn’t pitted against Apple’s iPhone, but the formula is pretty similar – this time going after RIM.

The ad follows a game development studio that has now switched to a BYOD policy. It shows how some users are clinging to their Blackberry devices but Samsung shows how their devices can do more. The ad indicates not only a shift by Samsung into business targeting, but it also shows that RIM is truly back on the radar, in large part due to the upcoming Blackberry 10.

What do you think of the new commercial? Would you (or do you already) use a Samsung device for business or do you think that Blackberry is still the better solution? Additionally, what do you think of BB10, excited or not?



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Why Microsoft should have copied Google's mobile model

Why Microsoft should have copied Google's mobile model

Google's combination of hardware and services are what Microsoft still lacks

Microsoft has a lot of catching up to do. While there's no doubting the company's might, it seems increasingly ossified and unimaginative compared to its rivals.

Last November, it posted a 22 per cent fall in profit. Although that still left a not-inconsiderable profit of $4,47bn, the question remains: can Microsoft change its strategy before it's completely eclipsed by Google?

When Google launched its first own-brand mobile device, the HTC-made T-Mobile G1, there was a lot of scepticism about the search giant's ability to build a competitive smartphone.

However, as Android matured, improved devices such as the Nexus One began to present a serious challenge to the iPhone at a time when Apple offered one of the few viable smartphone options.

Up until recently, Google has only had limited success in selling hardware directly on the Play Store, as most of the vanilla Android-bearing Nexus phones had only really appealed to the Android army or app developers.

Nexus 7 has changed that. Delivered by Asus with an astoundingly low price-tag and excellent specs, it's really caught on with those seeking a more affordable alternative to the dominating iPad. More recently, Google's LG Nexus 4 has been almost permanantly sold out - as you'd expect for a very desirable phone at half the price of the iPhone 5.

Through all of these devices, there has been one constant principle: Nexus devices are fully approved by Google and sold directly as well as through network partners. By taking this route Google has shown itself equal to the only other major phone manufacturer to sell its devices directlto the consumer - Apple.

Microsoft plays it safe

So what has Microsoft been up to while Google has built a solid foothold in the smartphone market? Not as much as you'd think - tentatively allowing established partners to develop phones with their fledgling software on board, and then allowing networks and retailers to do as they like with them.

When it re-imagined Windows Mobile with Windows Phone, MS had the perfect chance to launch its own phones or tablets and go for broke. But for reason it has never disclosed, Microsoft failed to take control of its own product range.

Instead of putting the Microsoft name on the hardware, it looked to long-term partners HTC and Samsung to help deliver new Windows Phone-powered handsets to market.

Although many were excited by the new design direction of Windows Phone 7 (which has continued with Windows Phone 8), the initial hardware selection was truly uninspired. Microsoft languished behind the competition.

As far as tablets were concerned, Microsoft was still trying (and failing) to convince people that the traditional desktop experience was really usable on a smaller touch-screen.

Unfortunately, most of the equipment manufacturers were doing little to help Microsoft, with silly ridiculous price-tags attached to hot, heavy disappointments.

With the arrival of the Microsoft Surface RT tablet and Windows 8 however, Microsoft has taken a step in the same direction as Google and started selling the devices directly. But MS has not been able to match the success of the Nexus devices, and the Surface has had only modest sales in its first month on sale, with projections for a million units shipped in Q4 2012.

Contrast this with the Nexus 7, which is said to be topping a million sales per month. While it may not be as profitable as the Surface, at this stage Google is happy to do all it can to gain market share safe in the knowledge it has a well established store and advert model.

Where does Microsoft go from here?

So why is Microsoft still flagging? Firstly, because MS doesn't really offer anything exclusive on its Surface Tablet that couldn't be done by other manufacturers such as Dell or HP.

Sure, the keyboard options are innovative, but not really ground-breaking considering what Asus was doing with its Transformer tablets 18 months previously.

There aren't any software exclusives to draw in the early adopters, and so it's left having to convince people that it has made a great piece of hardware as the main selling point.

And while many will agree that the Surface is indeed a great bit of hardware, it's not accompanied by a smartphone sibling that would give MS the unified range of devices it so sorely needs to compete directly with Google.

It must be said there are some excellent Nokia Lumia and HTC Windows Phone 8 handsets out there, such as the HTC Windows Phone 8X. But without MS branding on the devices, it is yet again relying on third-parties to deliver the results, and MS isn't directly benefiting from any of it.

All about the ecosystem

For the mainstream to jump ship and embrace the Surface as well as Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8, Microsoft needs to offer an ecosystem that's recognisable across multiple devices, much like Google's.

With Microsoft, it's hard to know where to start. Hotmail is still a hugely successful webmail service (although Gmail finally overtook it last year), but Microsoft has been trying to rebrand it as Outlook in order to tie it in more closely to Windows 8.

Cloud service SkyDrive is also a distinctly average affair - possibly deliberately so in order to protect Office. And as for media, it's hard to know exactly what is on offer.

The only exciting thing MS has up its sleeve at the moment is SmartGlass integration with Xbox. If implemented properly, this could be a really attractive feature for Windows Phone and Surface users, acting as a second screen and user interface extension for the hugely popular Xbox Live gaming platform.

Microsoft are still a long way from offering a consumer-friendly cloud service that unifies files, settings and other stuff across all Windows devices. Windows Phone 8 takes further strides towards this - and alongside Windows 8 certainly lays some of the groundwork for a brighter mobile future - but you can't help feeling that Microsoft is trailing in Google's wake.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Samsung boss lets slip the Galaxy Note 8.0 will debut at Mobile World Congress

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Review android home

A Samsung executive has apparently confirmed the rumored Galaxy Note 8.0 will be announced during Mobile World Congress. The tablet is the latest S-Pen equipped device from the manufacturer, and was initially expected to arrive at CES.

Samsung’s mobile division boss, JK Shin, has apparently confirmed the existence of the Galaxy Note 8.0, and that it will make its official debut at Mobile World Congress. Initially rumored for CES 2013, the latest addition to the Galaxy Note family was a no-show in Vegas, but provided Shin has been accurately quoted, the new tablet will be with us next month.

The news comes from Korean website inews24, which as you’d expect is written in Korean, so some of the details are a little hard to follow once Google Translate has worked its magic. However, it’s clear the Galaxy Note 8.0 is one of the devices which Samsung will unveil at the Barcelona show. There is some discussion of the Galaxy S4 too, and as far as we can make out, the highly anticipated phone won’t be making an appearance at MWC.

As for the Galaxy Note 8.0, previous leaks have hinted at two models, one with Wi-Fi and the other with cellular connectivity, and that the tablet will have an 8-inch screen and a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution. Of course, the headline feature of Samsung’s Galaxy Note devices is the S-Pen stylus, which has improved considerably since its release with the original Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet hybrid.

The Note 8.0 has been linked to a set of benchmark figures for a device with the model number GT-N5100. The Galaxy Note, Note 2 and Note 10.1 all have N series model numbers, so this is logical, and if it’s correct, the Note 8.0 will probably use a 1.6GHz Exynos 4 Quad processor. Google Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was installed on the benchmarked machine, leading us to wonder if the Note 8.0 will come with the Premium Suite of features recently added to the Galaxy Note 10.1.

It’s all still speculation on the specs, but thanks to JK Shin, it looks like we can put a tick in the box next to the Galaxy Note 8.0 arriving during Mobile World Congress.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Real life Mario Kart with RFID bananas takes you to a literal Rainbow Road

Come all ye road ragers and Nintendo gamers: Waterloo Labs have outfitted a race kart course with RFID tags so you can play Mario Kart in real life – power-ups and all.

True fact: Mario Kart will always be one of the best Nintendo 64 games of all time. It’s just not disputable. It’s so awesome that a bunch of robotics nerds at Austin-based Waterloo Labs decided to outfit race karts with RFID tags so they could play real life Mario Kart. I know where I’m having my next birthday party.

The modded race karts run on a RFID Wi-Fi system that helps each player communicate with new items picked up and their usage over the air. During the race course, players could pick up power-up boxes suspended over the track and receive a randomized item. With RFID, the individual karts can read which item was picked up, and gives each kart a new ability to use any time the player desires.

When the players use their selected item, the race karts can recognize the actions of each power-up, such as accelerating the kart to 100 of its throttle power when a mushroom is used, spinning other karts and slowing their motors when they run into a banana, or temporarily induce brakes on all players at the use of a lightning bolt. We could only imagine the scene of an 8-person race when everyone is running away from the ever-ferocious Chomp.

In addition to power-ups, players can also physically launch attack items (such as green and red turtle shells) by stuffing the power-ups inside a cannon attached to their vehicles. Let’s hope the drivers go slow at this process, as it could get dangerous to drive fast while multi-tasking. Who knew Mario Kart would make such a complicated real-life game? All the lengthy and technical details, including the source code, are discussed at the Waterloo website, meaning you can build your own if you so incline. But since we’re no technical geniuses (and are rather lazy), we’re just gonna sit here and wait for someone to figure out how to put this all in a nearby amusement park. It will be the best use of RFID general consumers have ever witnessed.

Watch the video below to see the Waterloo Labs real-life Mario Kart in action.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Hands on: BlackBerry 10 review

Hands on: BlackBerry 10 review

Update: BlackBerry 10 (or BB10) is still under development and not yet a finished product, but we've checked out an almost-final version of the user interface, which is pretty close to perfection, according to RIM - but we'll let you be the judge by checking out our findings below.

Delayed until early 2013, the first BB10 devices should land in January– although we're now hearing it could be as late as March and RIM is now saying it will arrive during the first quarter of the year.

We saw the near-final version of BlackBerry 10 running on the new Dev Alpha B handset, building on the other test units and newer devices we've seen in the past.

The Dev Alpha B handset has been seeded to select BlackBerry developers, to aid them in their quest to produce applications for the new platform.

RIM has already handed out over 5,000 of the original Dev Alpha devices, and we wouldn't be surprised if the new handset gets the same sort of circulation.

BlackBerry 10 review

We've also heard about the first Dev handset to sport RIM's famous Qwerty keyboard. Known as the Dev Alpha C, this will be the first handset with physical keyboard to run BlackBerry 10.

1,500 Dev Alpha C handsets will be winging their way to the hardcore BB10 developers before the official launch on January 31, so apps can be tweaked to work on the smaller screened phone.

BB 10 sees the implementation of a whole new user interface, with RIM doing away with the familiar BlackBerry system we're all used to, in favour of something which resembles the likes of Android and iOS, although with its own unique features.

With BlackBerry 10, RIM has merged homescreens, widgets, app lists and a unified inbox into one slick interface, offering up an easy-to-navigate user experience.

Lock screen

BlackBerry 10 review

The lock screen shows notifications for alarms and unread messages on the left plus your upcoming meetings as well as the date and time, with a button to launch the camera straight from the lock screen to grab a quick snap.

You unlock the phone by sliding your thumb up the screen and from there slide from anywhere on screen and the handset starts to draw in around where you slide so if you just want a quick peek at the information in one area of the screen, you can just drag to show it and then let go – with the device remaining locked (more on that in 'Peek' mode below).

BlackBerry 10 review

Home screen

The main homescreen comprises of 'Active Frames', technically mini-applications, which give you an overview of information from a particular app and launch the full version when tapped.

BlackBerry 10 review

Users can select up to eight of these active frames, which arrange themselves in order of most recently used, with the latest app appearing in the top left position.

BlackBerry 10 review

A maximum of four frames are shown on the screen at any one time, and if you scroll down and you'll be able to view the others – the display in order of use allows you to jump quickly between your recent applications.

RIM tell us that any application, even third party ones, will be able to appear as an 'Active Frame' on the BB10 homescreen, which is excellent news for anyone left frustrated by the limited widget options on Android or live tiles on Windows Phone.

For those of you who may be concerned that these 'Active Frames' could be both data and battery intensive, Research in Motion assures us that this is not the case, with the QNX core of BlackBerry 10 providing efficient power management, and the frames only downloading the minimum amount of data required for them to update.

Interface

Swiping from right to left will take you to the app list, with 16 apps on the screen at any one time – if you have more than 16 apps additional pages are added and can be accessed by swiping the same way again – familiar territory for iOS and Android users.

BlackBerry 10 review

At the bottom of both the homescreen and app list you'll notice a shortcut bar, with quick links to the phone, search and camera applications – allowing you to quickly jump to these regularly used features.

There's a pleasant fading animation as you flick between pages, and you'll see the previous page of apps fade away to the side of the screen, to be replaced by the new page.

BlackBerry 10 review

The idea behind BB 10 is that it Flows... which is the phrase RIM is using mercilessly to describe the new OS.

Further screenshots of the BlackBerry 10 interface have appeared online, showing off official social networking apps from all of the big players, plus a voice control feature which will likely challenge Apple's Siri and Google Voice on Android.

Notifications

The whole Flow concept really comes to life when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen – this minimises the current app/screen you're viewing and shows new notifications counts down the left hand side, including new emails, BBMs, texts and social media messages.

BlackBerry 10 review

If you continue the slide to the right, the unified 'Hub' application can be previewed – allowing you to 'peek' at your messages.

Complete the slide and you'll open the hub fully, otherwise you'll be returned to the page you were viewing before the little red light on your handset started to flash.

BlackBerry 10 review

This means you can easily see who has just messaged you without having to close down your current application, and knowing who it's from allows you to make a decision on whether or not to answer them straight away or continue with what you were doing originally.

BlackBerry Hub

When we say all, we mean all, as the unified inbox, or the 'Hub' as RIM likes to refer to it as, can deal with multiple email accounts, text messages, BBM, call history, third party messaging apps such as Whats App and a whole host of social networks including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

BlackBerry 10 review

Of course, with so many accounts feeding into the handset, the more popular among us will be quickly inundated with notifications from various different channels, and this is where the peek idea makes it easy to see when you've got anything new to look at.

BlackBerry 10 review

To make the reams of messages easier to manage place your finger on the title in the bottom left corner of the message centre and pull across to reveal a list of all the accounts you have linked up and then select the one you're interested in – this will then populate the Hub which notifications from just that source.

There are also various options which can be selected for a particular message, hold down on the communication in question and a slim column of tools will pop up to the right for you to choose from, including reply, forward and delete.

BlackBerry 10 review

Drag down from the top of the message centre and the Hub will automatically pull in your calendar events for that day in the top half of the screen, allowing you to quickly see what you've got on without having to launch the full calendar app.

Peek

BB10 review

Peek works much better when you get your head around all the gestures - however it may prove to be overly complex for some users, although RIM will be providing video tutorials on its BB10 handsets during the initial set up phase when you switch the phone on for the first time.

Having the 'peek' idea work the same way in so many applications helps you get used to it as well (though we don't yet know how well third-party applications will be able to do the same thing, although RIM has said it's developed nearly every API asked for when it comes to developers, and they have full access to the Peek code).

When you do get into a message or an appointment, you can see more information about the people involved in a way that will be familiar to BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 users; you can see who you know in common, what messages you've exchanged or recent social network updates.

BlackBerry 10 review

It's a new look for the 'flow' between different apps and information sources that BlackBerry has always been good at, but with a fresh modern look on a much larger screens.

Personal and Work modes

Sweep down on the home screen or an app list page and you'll see Personal and Work buttons that let you switch between the two BlackBerry Balance modes.

In Personal, you can install any apps you want, send any email, save any file and so on, working in a partition that's encrypted for privacy but not locked down in any way.

BlackBerry 10 review

If you use your BlackBerry for work though, you'll also have a Work partition that's also encrypted but completely separate and can be locked down if that's what the company wants.

Drag down on the screen, pick Work mode and all your personal apps disappear – so you can't accidentally copy a work file into your personal cloud storage account.

Your company can have complete control of this work section, giving you as much, or as little freedom within this area as they see fit – and everything in Work mode is fully secured, with remote wipe available just it case your handset goes astray.

However work won't be able see what files you have on your personal area when they're managing it, because your personal partition is encrypted.

BB 10 BlackBerry Hub
BB10 in work and personal modes

Select Work mode and you'll be prompted to enter a password before gaining access to your protected area, which means prying eyes won't be able to steal a glimpse at all your company secrets. Phew.

Work mode still features the same UI as found in Personal mode, with all the flow and peek activity present, allowing you to perform some slick, one-handed operations.

Other apps use the swipe-down motion in a different way, allowing to function like a menu key - for instance the mapping app allows you to change accounts or settings with a quick finger flick.

BlackBerry 10 review

Cascades

Then there's Cascades, a new navigation system cooked up by RIM especially for BB10, allowing for quick multitasking from within applications.

BlackBerry 10 review

The example we've seen is in the messaging app - open an email it will display full screen, but drag your finger from left to right and the message will slide with you, revealing the inbox below.

This means if you get a new message in the middle of reading an email, you can check who it's from without having to close the application – similar to the notification bar on Android and also now iOS.

If you were to open an attachment from the email, a PDF document in the case of our demo, pulling to the side to view the cascade will show the app's layers stacked up – a more visual paper trail, if you will.

It's certainly an intuitive feature that we found to work smoothly on the development handset – but it will be interesting to see how this feature is embedded into other applications and if it will have the same pleasing results.

New App world

BB10 review

BlackBerry App World is also getting a makeover with a cleaner, more intuitive design ready to show off all the apps RIM is pushing developers so hard to make in time for launch.

As well as offering applications, the new App World will also provide music and videos to purchase and download – allowing BlackBerry 10 handsets the chance to compete with the likes of Google Play, iTunes and the Apple App Store.

There's a sperate version of BlackBerry AppWorld where your company can offer specific work apps – like an app that uses the NFC chip in your BlackBerry to unlock the door to the office, as well as locking out applications they don't deem suitable for using while at work.

Keyboard

BlackBerry handsets are famous for their physical boards and RIM is keen to bring this typing experience to its BB10 touchscreen smartphones with its own offering.

Visually the keyboard looks similar to the stock Android offering, but each row of keys is separated with a silver line, or 'fret' – which is supposed to reflect the metal strips between buttons on the Bold range, such as the Bold 9790 and Bold 9900.

BlackBerry 10 review

Next word prediction, auto-correct and spell check are all common features on smartphones today and RIM has spent some time developing its own system to offer an efficient typing experience.

It sees next-word suggestions appear above the character the word begins with, and if it's the word you want to use, you just need to swipe up over the word and it will be added to your sentence.

As with many offerings these days, the keyboard will learn your style of writing, meaning it will be able to suggest better words the more you use your phone.

BlackBerry 10 review

RIM reckons that heavy users will quickly see a marked improvement once they start using the keyboard, as BlackBerry 10 will only take a couple of days to learn their style of writing.

Another interesting feature is that the keyboard can support up to three languages at any one time, so if you're writing in English it will offer up English words as suggestions, but suddenly switch to tapping out French, even in the same message, and the BB10 board can detect the change in tongue and adjust its recommendations accordingly - smart.

We found the keyboard to be fairly accurate and relatively well spaced, but for those of you used to the physical buttons of a traditional BlackBerry it will take some getting used to.

Camera

RIM is making a big song and dance about its BB 10 camera application as well, especially the 'Time Shift' feature, which allows you to select the perfect smile of your subject after taking the photo.

Fire up the camera app (from the lock screen if you so wish), which was relatively quick to open on the Dev Alpha B device, select 'Time Shift' mode and snap your subject, and the app will then search for faces in the image.

BlackBerry 10 review

Once a face is located in a photo, you can tap it and literally roll back time to find the point at which your friend had their eyes open and the perfect grin.

If there are multiple people in your snap, you can individually adjust each person, however during our demo we found 'Time Shift' struggled in lower lighting conditions, subjects face's need to be illuminated well for the camera to detect their mugs.

BlackBerry 10 review

'Time Shift' did take several seconds after the photo was taken to detect faces and offer us the chance to tweak the image, but this could be down to the fact it's running on a development build of the BB10 software, and speed could be improved in the final product.

Of course the camera can take standard photos and record video alongside the 'Time Shift' function, which itself is an impressive function, but we wonder how much we'd actually use it day to day.

Browser

The BlackBerry browser has also had a refresh for BB10, bringing it in line with the minimalist style of current offerings on other devices, and the location of the URL bar at the bottom of the page is reminiscent of Internet Explorer on Windows Phone.

BlackBerry 10 review

Even though Adobe has already ditched future support and upgrades of its Flash platform, RIM has made sure it's built in support for the dying format, allowing you to access all your favourite Flash built sites and videos of Korean men dancing on invisible horses.

There seems to be a partnership with a particular search engine, allowing you to search via the URL bar, as well as pulling info into other applications, but RIM are currently not in the position to disclose whether they've opted for Google, Bing or something a little more left field.

Sweep from left to right while in the browser and the 'peek' functionality comes into play again, this time showing various internet-centric options such as History, Bookmarks, New Tab and currently opened tabs.

There's also a Reader mode built into the new browser, which lifts article text and images from a web page and displays it in a more manageable and easy to read format, stripping out fancy ads, menu bars and any other clutter which gets in the way of actually reading something.

Comparison tests have shown the BlackBerry 10 web browser to be faster than its equivalent on Apple's iOS 6 and the new version of Windows Phone - we'll reserve proper judgement until we have a final handset in our sweaty palm, but at least this is a positive sign.

Battery life

As we've mentioned briefly earlier on, RIM is promising that BlackBerry 10 will help to deliver decent battery life, even with the big touchscreen and those lovely 'Active Frames'.

RIM has even gone as far to say that's its two BB 10 launch devices, one fully-touchscreen and the other sporting the famous Qwerty keyboard, will offer up a full days battery life, thanks to a lot of hard work by the QNX team on power management in the core of the BlackBerry 10 platform.

Obviously we were unable to put this claim to the test during our brief hands on viewing, but we'll be sure to push the new BB10 devices to their limits once we get our review units in.

BlackBerry 10 review

Early verdict

Although the BlackBerry 10 operating system is in development, we must say that we were impressed with how smooth and slick the interface felt under out fingers – seamlessly zipping around without fuss.

BlackBerry assured us that is smooth experience would still be present in the final product, thanks to the clever integration of the HTML 5 system, which optimises the performance of the software. We certainly hope they're right.

There are plenty of features of BB 10 that are exciting - the gestures work very, very well after a few minutes, the powerful messaging ecosystem is still there and even the on screen keyboard is great.

What does strike you about the new OS is how the phone is so integrated - Facebook, Twitter, Email are all available, connected to your friends or easy to share to throughout the phone.

It's a much more complex OS than iOS or Windows Phone, but there are only so many ways to re-invent the smartphone wheel; in the case of BB 10, RIM has gone for usable power over rows of easy to use icons.

It's a bold move, and one technophiles will love. If the hardware is decent too, there may be enough BB fans out there willing to use the finger-flicking platform... but with so many things to learn, it will take some serious and quick eduction to get users up to speed.


Source : techradar[dot]com

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