Rovio are developing a new adventure Angry Birds game
Angry Birds put Rovio on the map in 2009 – in fact, they were battling financial issues right before a developer came up with a simple idea of catapulting angry looking birds at pigs. The rest is history and saw Rovio and Angry Birds prevail as one of the top mobile games.
Angry Birds has since evolved and the principle ported to many different variants of the same concept, but now Rovio have teased that they are working on a new Angry Birds game which it is classing as a big adventure.
Big adventure with new birds coming soon! #NewAngryBirds pic.twitter.com/DWdZ7fBrXq
— Angry Birds (@AngryBirds) February 12, 2014
Whilst the tweet doesn’t give too much away, it does suggest that Rovio are taking the Angry Birds game to the next level, and it won’t be just a simple reinvention of the original we’ve known to grow and love.
Expect the game mechanics to remain relatively similar to stay consistent with the theme Rovio bring with Angry Birds, but it seems a big adventure is just round the corner for the franchise.
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Higher data, lower prices: Verizon now offering MORE Everything
Verizon Wireless today rolled out new rate plans as somewhat of a response to what other carriers have been doing as of late. Effective immediately, the “MORE Everything Plan” is a combination of lower pricing and higher data allotments. Existing Share Everything customers will be automatically migrated to a More Everything plan and can take advantage of the new goodies.
According to Verizon, a number of standout features include
- Data: Simplified monthly data allowances that fit their family’s wireless needs. Some customers will see their data allowance doubled for the same monthly price they paid previously.
- Verizon Edge: MORE Everything customers who choose Verizon Edge will also be eligible for $10 off monthly smartphone access for data allowances up to 8 GB, and $20 off monthly smartphone access on plans of 10 GB and higher.
- Messaging: Unlimited international messaging will be added to unlimited domestic text, picture and video messaging.
- Storage: Each MORE Everything line can use up to 25 GB (or up to 250 GB on a 10 line account) of cloud storage from Verizon Wireless, which means customers never lose a contact’s number, cherished photos of the once-in-a-lifetime vacation, or video from a school recital. Cloud storage also means important information is easily available whether devices are upgraded tomorrow or in two years.
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LG debuts 5.9-inch G Pro 2
LG on Thursday announced its latest smartphone, the G Pro 2, a 5.9-inch successor to last year’s big Mobile World Congress device (G Pro). Details include a 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB RAM, 16/32GB internal storage capacities, and a 3200mAh battery. The rear camera is 13-megapixels and can record video at 120 frames per second (slo-mo) as well as 4K Ultra HD. As is the case with other LG smartphones, the G Pro 2 offers features such as KnockOn, Magic Focus for the camera, Content Lock, Mini View, and Dual Browser.
LG has not announced pricing or availability for the G Pro 2 but could reveal more at Mobile World Congress. The annual conference takes place in roughly two week’s time. If history is an indicator then we could see at least one or two U.S. carriers add this one to their roster.
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Rovio Announces New Female-Themed ‘Angry Birds Stella’ [iOS Blog]
Rovio today announced a new version of its popular Angry Birds game after hinting about it yesterday on Twitter. The upcoming Angry Birds Stella features the “fierce and feisty” female lead character, Stella, along with her “friends and (fr)enemies.”
Angry Birds Stella will open a door to a part of the Angry Birds universe you’ve never seen before! There will be plenty of fun and adventure, but the bunch of passionate pals will also have to deal with some serious issues in order to protect their friendship and the environment they live in. Luckily, Stella and her friends are good at finding creative solutions!
Angry Birds Stella is expected to launch sometime this fall on iOS, as Rovio is also expected to tie-in animations, books, toys and more with its new title.
Rovio has rocketed to success on the back of the original Angry Birds title for the iPhone, bringing the game to other platforms and producing a line of Angry Birds-branded merchandising.
Besides Angry Birds, Rovio has also released other titles such as Bad Piggies [Direct Link] and Amazing Alex [Direct Link] games.
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Amazon executive gets a taste of his own medicine in heated trademark dispute
Whoever said that revenge was sweet probably wasn’t thinking about the smell, but that can be sweet too. UK soap and cosmetics company Lush has decided to get its own back on Christopher North, the head of Amazon’s UK division, after some fisticuffs concerning the latter’s search practices. Currently, Lush doesn’t sell its wares via Amazon, but search for the name and you’ll be directed to misleadingly similar products — a move that even the UK’s High Court has frowned upon. Despite the ruling, however, Amazon has refused to change, prompting Lush co-founder Mark Constantine to trademark “Christopher North” for a new line of cosmetics. It’s not available on shelves just yet, giving Amazon a chance to back down, but it’s possible that we could soon be showering in a product that’s wittily described as “rich, thick and full of it.”
Via: The Guardian
Source: IPO
Verizon’s More Everything plan takes on T-Mobile with increased data, unlimited international messaging from the US
Yesterday Verizon hinted that something “More” was coming, and that’s just what the carrier detailed this morning. Its new More Everything plans will replace current Share Everything plans, offering some users reduced monthly fees and throwing in some extras to lure customers attracted by T-Mobile’s Uncarrier policies.
As reported yesterday, the new plans offer reduced monthly fees for those who participate in Verizon’s Edge early-upgrade program. If your data plan has 8 gigs or less, you’ll get $10 off, while those with 10GB or more will get a $20 break. For customers with multiple lines, each smartphone will get this discount. Admittedly, this is the new More Everything plan’s real value proposition, so if you aren’t part of Edge, you won’t benefit from these discounts. (Head past the break for a chart that breaks down the price differences.) Additionally, as promised, some plans will also see doubled data caps for no additional charge, though this will only apply to the lowest-tier options including 500MB and 1GB.
Apart from reducing plan costs for Edge customers, some other new features seem like direct responses to T-Mobile’s Uncarrier strategy. While John Legere introduced a Simple Choice international texting plan, for instance, Verizon is now offering More Everything customers unlimited texting to anywhere in the world — from the US, that is. Verizon is throwing in a few extras, too; each More Everything line will get 25GB of Verizon Cloud storage. And, finally, one tidbit we didn’t know about: for an extra $5 a month, you can add a security feature called Family Base. The same goes for a new International Long Distance Value Plan, with rates from $0.01 per minute. The carrier will be walking through the news on a call this morning — we’ll be back with any additional info as we hear it.
Filed under: Cellphones, Networking, Mobile, Verizon
Source: Verizon Wireless
StreamNation copies all your cloud media into a central hub
Joining multiple cloud services is great for maxing out your storage, but keeping on top of all them can be a chore. StreamNation‘s latest update may help you untangle all that by allowing you to copy your media from Dropbox, Flickr, Instagram, Google Drive and others into its own app. Content can be directly uploaded from those programs straight through their APIs without tying up your connection. Once copied over, you can stream or share those files with anyone who’s also signed up to the service or even lend them out. To fit all of those files in, StreamNation will give you 5GB of storage for free, or more if you’re willing to invite your contacts to join and jump through other hoops. Otherwise, you plans start at $4 a month for 100GB, and go up to $19 month for unlimited storage.
We tried the iOS and web versions of StreamNation ourselves, and found it a breeze to add local files or media from services like Google+ or Dropbox. However, since it creates a second copy of your cloud files, you may need as much space on StreamNation as all your other services combined. That likely fits well with the company’s plans to sign you up to a paid service, but may be a non-starter if you’re looking for free storage. Still, if the convenience of being able to share any file from a central location outweighs those drawbacks, you can now sign up at the source.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Source: StreamNation
Canon’s burly PowerShot G1 X Mark II is a pleasure to use (hands-on)
This week, we met Canon’s G1 X Mark II. Judging by its nomenclature, we expected a straightforward update to 2012′s PowerShot flagship. Instead, this year’s model is only like its predecessor when it comes to size — the camera’s specifications and design have been refined significantly. There’s no longer an optical viewfinder and the 3-inch touchscreen tilts up and down instead of out to the side, but otherwise, the camera’s been modified for the better, with a more powerful 24-120mm f/2-3.9 zoom lens, a new 1.5-inch sensor and a faster DIGIC 6 processor. That powerful combo yields a much more capable point-and-shoot — with the Mark II, the G1 X can finally justify its $800 price.
We caught up with the Mark II at the annual CP+ trade show in Yokohama, Japan, and while we weren’t entirely convinced of the camera’s practicality based on press photos and a spec sheet, a few minutes of shooting helped seal the deal. This G1 X refresh was comfortable to use and very responsive, from the speedy zoom toggle to the super-fast focusing. The LCD was quite sharp and bright, and while we missed having an optical viewfinder to play with, the boosted functionality in other departments made the tradeoff worthwhile. (Canon’s also planning to offer an external electronic viewfinder — pictured above — which seems like a reasonable compromise.) We did struggle with focusing in macro mode, just as we did with the original X, but the lens performed quite nicely with subjects a bit more in the distance, so if you’re not planning to shoot close-ups of flowers, you should be fine. Video shooters beware: while there is support for 1080/30p captures, there’s no microphone input or headphone jack.
In this price range, we’re still inclined to recommend Sony’s RX100 Mark II, despite its slightly smaller 1-inch sensor. We haven’t had a chance to review full-res images from the Canon, but based on the Sony camera’s superior focusing and compact size, it’s likely the better choice for many photographers. That model’s available now for $700, while the $800 G1 X is expected in stores this April. Check out our hands-on video for a closer look.
Mat Smith contributed to this report.
Images of Apple’s First Brazilian Retail Store Surface Ahead of Opening [Mac Blog]
Photos of Apple’s first Brazilian retail store in Rio de Janeiro have surfaced by way of website MacMagazine [Google Translate]. The store, which is located at the VillageMall luxury shopping center, is notable for taking on a unique “pavilion” look with a single floor and a curved glass exterior. Unlike most Apple Stores, the location is based on the concept of having two large separate spaces, with one side dedicated entirely to product testing and the other focusing on accessory sales and services.
The store’s opening was first announced by Apple on its website last week, as Brazilian news site The Globe [Google Translate] also interviewed Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer about the location. Oppenheimer stated during the interview that Brazil is an “increasingly important market” for the company and that Apple was aiming to open its first Brazilian store ahead of the FIFA World Cup being held in Rio during the months of June and July.
Oppenheimer also confirmed plans for more stores in the country eventually, stating that Apple sees “great opportunity” in the region. Brazil has been a tough market for the company as prices on iOS devices in the country have been steep due to high import taxes on electronics. Apple cut the price of the iPhone 4 and 4s in Brazil back in early 2013, and just recently announced plans to continue selling the low-cost iPhone 4.
The first Brazilian Apple Store will open on Saturday, February 15 at 11 A.M.
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Verizon Launches New ‘More Everything’ Plans with Doubled Monthly Data, 25GB of Cloud Storage [iOS Blog]
Verizon today introduced its new “MORE Everything” plans, which offers up to double the monthly data for customers while also implementing doubled bandwidth, a complimentary 25GB of cloud storage, and unlimited international messaging.
The carrier is also offering discounts for customers enrolled in its Verizon Edge early upgrade program, as those with monthly data plans of 8GB of data or less receiving a line discount of $10, while others will receive a $20 line discount if their plans include 10GB of data or more.
The move comes in the midst of a marketing war between U.S. cellular carriers. Recently, AT&T launched lower-cost Mobile Share Value Plans for families and announced a new promotion to offer up to $450 in credits to customers that switch to it from T-Mobile. Meanwhile, T-Mobile launched its own program offering up to $350 in credits to customers that switch to its network.
Verizon also posted its results for Q4 2013 last month, stating that it had activated 8.8 million smartphones, down from 9.8 million smartphones in the year ago quarter. Notably, Verizon failed to announce sales numbers for the iPhone on its network, marking the first time that the carrier has done so since it began selling Apple’s device in February 2011.
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