Japanese cable provider launches on-demand gaming service, will stream Sonic and PES titles
Sony’s PlayStation Now streaming game service is still months away from launch, but Japanese cable company KDDI is testing the idea with the app-based GameNow service, through cable. It’s the same company responsible for LG’s Smart TV game service, although judging from the title lineup, J:Com and JCN cable subscribers might not see games at the level of Devil May Cry 4 and Dead Rising 2, at least to start with. Temper that enthusiasm a little, and expect several puzzle games and sports titles, including PES, WRC3 and Sonic Adventure DX. KDDI’s Smart TV Box launched in 2012, but its new gaming service will go live at the start of March. And hey, know where you could play Sonic over cable, just over 20 years ago? The Sega Channel, that’s where.
Source: KDDI
Game makers can now start their own Steam sales, to your wallet’s chagrin
If you’re like many of the PC gamers we know, you wait eagerly for Valve’s Steam sales; they’re chances to stock up on games that were previously unaffordable. Thanks to a new Steamworks update, you won’t necessarily have to be so patient. Game makers can now start their own Steam sales, determining both the size of the discount and its duration. If they opt into one of Valve’s week-long campaigns, they can still determine the pricing. The move doesn’t address complaints that the game industry leans too heavily on price cuts for competition. However, it should prove a big boost for indie developers and players alike. Creators will have more opportunities to stand out in a crowded field, and customers may have more chances to splurge… even if their bank accounts suggest otherwise.
Source: Reddit
Tip: How to hide the notification bar on Nova Launcher
Installing Nova Launcher opens up a whole load of customisation possibilities for your Android device; first we explained how to use Nova Launcher gestures to quickly activate Google Now, and now you’ll see how to hide the notification bar.
Hiding the notification pane on your device can change the look of your home screen entirely, for the better – not only do you get more screen space, but you don’t have a solid black bar spoiling your nice new minimal wallpaper.
The requirement is that you’ll need to be on KitKat 4.4, or any phone that supports transparency in the navigation bar, of which includes:
- Samsung Galaxy S3 (on Android 4.3)
- Samsung Galaxy S4
- Sony Xperia Z
- Motorola Moto X
- HTC One (rooted)
- Any Android 4.4 device ( Nexus 5)
You’ll also need the Beta release of Nova Launcher to get the option to hide the notification bar. To get the Beta, simply join this Google+ community, then head here to opt-in to the beta.
Then to activate the transparent notification bar, head into Settings -> Look and Feel -> Transparent Notification Bar.
And that’s all there is to it. Enjoy.
The post Tip: How to hide the notification bar on Nova Launcher appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple explains how the iPhone’s fingerprint sensor keeps your info secure
If you’ve ever wanted to know how the iPhone 5s’ Touch ID fingerprint security works beyond a basic overview, you’ll be glad to hear Apple has just delivered a motherlode of new details. An updated version of its iOS Security white paper (PDF) explains much of what happens to your finger data after you touch the sensor. In short, your information may be more hack-resistant than it seems at first glance. Each A7 chip has a unique secure space that neither the A7 nor Apple can read, and every authentication session is encrypted end-to-end. The company is also offering a deeper explanation of what it does with your fingerprint image, noting that the print only lasts in memory until it’s turned into a decryption key. As we’ve known for a while, there are safeguards that wipe out that key after 48 hours of inactivity, a reboot or five failed login attempts. While the new insights will only have so much usefulness when developers can’t use Touch ID for their own apps, they suggest that there’s little to no chance of fingerprint theft or a large-scale data breach.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Apple (PDF)
Monsanto pushes Big Data-driven planting but farmers are skeptical
Some farmers are worried that with the latest push from seed manufacturers, their planting techniques could be used against them. Monsanto and DuPont (two of the largest seed providers in the world) are urging farmers to implement data-driven “prescriptive planting” tech that suggests how densely rows of seeds should be planted and at what depth. It also gives detailed information about a farm’s soil, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Some modern farming equipment already collects the above information for the farmer’s personal use, but this new tech would upload it to seed-providers who will analyze the aggregated data and feed optimized planting info directly to the iPads or other tablet inside a tractor’s cab. As Monsanto tells it, this could increase corn crop yields by as much as five to ten bushels per acre — and with mass adoption, that number would rise.
Critics, however, aren’t nearly as optimistic. The American Farm Bureau Federation (a farming trade-group) has pointed out that seed companies have an implicit interest in higher crop returns and planting denser fields: Monsanto and its ilk stand to profit from the cost of their services as well as increased seed sales. Farmers fret that the shared data could lead to increased competition and higher seed prices, too. What’s more, they’re worried about a drop in the profits made from futures contracts and a possible fight related to who owns their crop data. Given Monsanto’s history regarding ownership, though, the farmers’ hesitation could be warranted. For the full story, be sure to hit the source link.
[Image credit: Vampire Bear/Flickr]
Filed under: Science
Via: The Verge
Source: Wall Street Journal
Nintendo Japan: Wii and DS internet multiplayer services will shut down, Video for 3DS too
Nintendo Japan is putting internet-connected services for some of its older consoles out to pasture, although it’s not clear when or if these plans could impact the US. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection that served the original Wii and DS units is scheduled to turn off internet multiplayer gaming and many other (but not all) services May 20th (English Nintendo Australia release here), while the free Video app that launched for the 3DS in 2011 will be unplugged at the end of March. Services that will keep working on the DS after May include the DSi Shop, DS Browser, DSi Browser, while the Wii keeps Hulu, Wii Shop Channel, Internet Channel, Delivery Channel and YouTube.
A similar notice has appeared on the Nintendo Australia site as well, and we’re checking with Nintendo America to find out if the shutdown is worldwide. Newer Nintendo Network games that arrived around the 3DS and local multiplayer apparently keep on chugging, but if you have a long-distance score to settle in Mario Kart DS, we’d suggest scheduling a match now.
Source: Nintendo Japan (1), (2), Nintendo Australia
NimbleBit and Milkbag Games’ Collaboration ‘Disco Zoo’ Now Available for Download [iOS Blog]
NimbleBit, the developer behind freemium hits like Pocket Trains, Tiny Tower, and Pocket Planes, has teamed up with Milkbag Games‘ Matt Rix, creator of Trainyard and Owen Goss, who did Landformer and Finger Tied, for an all new animal-based game called Disco Zoo, which is now available for download from the App Store.
In Disco Zoo, players will take on the management of a zoo filled with creatures from the mundane to the fanciful, collecting animals ranging from pigs and sheep to unicorns and gryphons.
Animals are collected via simple matching puzzles, where tiles on a board are flipped to reveal coins, Discobux, or animals. Earning an animal requires matching up between two and five animal tiles and each animal has a different tile configuration on the board that players must discern.
When an animal is successfully uncovered on the board, it can then be added to the zoo, where it earns coins for the player for a set number of minutes before it falls asleep and must be woken up with a tap. The mechanic is similar to the restocking of shops within NimbleBit’s Tiny Tower, and each additional animal of the same type added to the zoo will increase earning potential by lengthening the amount of time an animal type is awake.
Coins are then used on expeditions to obtain more animals, and the goal of the game is to continue earning ever more exotic and difficult-to-catch creatures while maintaining the zoo’s coin income. Every expedition gives players 10 attempts to recover one or more animals, but players can earn more attempts using Discobux (the premium currency) or by watching a short video.
Discobux are also used to initiate the disco parties that give the game its name, and during this period, animals generate twice as many coins and stay awake. Discobux can be purchased with real money, but are also earned through gameplay and are not essential to complete the game, making in-app purchases entirely optional.
As with other NimbleBit games, Disco Zoo has a simple pixelated art style and offers other in-game quirks like funny animal phrases, quips from zoo guests, collectible statues, awards to earn, and more.
Disco Zoo can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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HTC Teases the All New One in a Pretty Funny Video
HTC might not be too brilliant when it comes to marketing their devices, but a new video that landed today might steer them in the right direction. A new video segment called ” Technical Translation” hit their YouTube channel today, and it featured probably the best thing about the phone. BoomSound.
The video shows a smart scientist type guy, seeking the aid of a normal dense minded human being. Put them together and you got a recipe for success. What is great about it though is that they tease the “All New One” and do so in a very funny way. So check it out and let us know what you think of it.
Volvo announces new ‘human machine interface’ and it looks a lot like a tablet (video)
Tesla isn’t the only automaker with a tablet-like center console. Volvo’s latest “human machine interface” will debut at next week’s Geneva Motor Show — however, it could be a bit simpler than what we’ve seen from the competition. The screen is divided into tiles, with navigation, media and vehicle info up top and secondary features including phone and climate controls further down. As Volvo tells it, this reduces visual noise, keeps typical controls where you would expect them to be and makes using them while driving safer as a result. Climate control remains the default screen but should you select another function, you’ll still have access to it onscreen. In fact this goes for all functions: when another tile is selected, it expands to cover a bigger area, but other controls remain accessible on a smaller scale. The outfit says the tech will arrive in its XC90 crossover SUV this fall.
Filed under: Tablets, Transportation
Daily Roundup: a Galaxy S5 knock-off, dual-lens mobile imaging and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Elife S5.5 hands-on
Gionee’s latest smartphone, the Elife S5.5, features a 1.7GHz octa-core chipset, 2,300mAh battery and a 13-megapixel rear shooter, all in an astoundingly thin 5.5mm aluminum package. Read on for our hands-on impressions and photos.
The Goophone S5
It’s only been two days since Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S5 at MWC, yet Goophone’s already managed to whip up a knock-off. And yes, it’s called the Goophone S5. At $300, this eerily similar look-alike packs 32GB of storage, a 2,800mAh battery and 2GB of RAM.
Corephotonics dual-lens smartphone camera
Aside from obvious 3D implications, what sort of imaging features can dual-lens smartphones bring to the table? We sat down with a startup called Corephotonics to find out.
Google Now launcher hits the Play Store
Google’s popular Now launcher that debuted on the Nexus 5 finally arrived in the Play Store. Though, for now, it’s only available to those with a Nexus or Play Edition handset that runs KitKat.
Filed under: Misc
AIVAnet 