Amazon quietly adds Metacritic review scores to video game listings
Amazon’s own product rating system is fine and all, but subjective reviews aren’t always as relevant as we might like, even when there’s an overwhelming consensus. Whether browsing for games online, or scanning shelves in a second-hand store, this editor always has Metacritic handy on one device or another — the well-regarded review aggregator basically has to score titles fairly by design. If you find yourself doing the same, then don’t worry about tab-hopping while walking the virtual isles of Amazon anymore, as the retailer’s quietly integrated Metacritic scores into its video game listings. It’s great for those wanting more professional guidance, but we’re only seeing on Amazon.com right now, so hopefully it’ll roll out to other regions later. New rule of thumb: avoid anything with a red box.
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Amazon
Via: Polygon
Source: Amazon.com
Spotify for iOS Updated with Redesign, Revamped Browse and Playlist Features [iOS Blog]
Streaming music service Spotify today updated its app for iOS, bringing a major user interface redesign that emphasizes album arts with a darker theme, along with the addition of newer fonts and icons. The app’s new look is meant be in line with the design of the desktop and web versions of Spotify, which marks the first time the service has seen a visual overhaul since it first launched in 2008.
Speaking to The Next Web, Spotify’s Director of Product Development Michelle Kadir said the following about the service’s new look on iOS and other platforms:
We thought it was time for us to make a change… What we felt the past year is that we’ve kept innovating — we’ve shipped a lot of new features, we’ve launched in new markets, and we’ve also shipped on many new platforms. But what we haven’t done is to take a step back and just redo the design so that we feel like it’s new, it’s fresh — but also so that it really works across all platforms.
In addition to an overhauled user interface, the app also now includes a revamped Playlists section that allows users to save and organize music in a variety of ways, along with an updated Browse feature that contains enhanced smart playlist functionality and improved context-aware suggestions.
Spotify launched its free streaming tier for iOS devices last December, and integrated its Browse playlist curation feature last August as it has attempted to keep up with the likes of rival music streaming services such as Pandora and iTunes Radio. A report from Edison Research last month noted that Spotify was the fourth most popular service in the United States, making up for 6% of all listeners behind Pandora, iHeartRadio, and iTunes Radio.
Spotify is a free download for iOS devices and can be downloaded through App Store. [Direct Link]
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Samsung’s Smart Home service ready to control new wave of TVs and appliances
Samsung has just taken a big step in its home automation plans by launching its Smart Home service in the US and Korea. That means you can now download an Android app that, in conjunction with Samsung’s cloud service, will give you control over certain (crazy expensive) Samsung smart appliances. In the US, those include Samsung’s T9000 Smart French Door refrigerator, the WF457 smart front loading washing machine, all 2014 Smart TVs and, later in the year, the Smart Bulb, Gear Fit and Smart Ovens. On top of an app for any Android 4.0 or later device, a Tizen app will soon arrive to Samsung’s Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch, as well. Once all that’s installed and connected, you’ll be able to fully control a wash cycle, check the temperature of the fridge or even say “good night” to the TV remote to shut down all connected devices. Samsung has promised that all of this is encrypted and secure, so let’s hope that’s the case — all this is just the beginning of its “grand plan” to enhance your home.
Filed under: Household, Peripherals, Software, Samsung
Source: Samsung
NASA’s game collaboration lets you steer asteroids without leaving home
Kerbal Space Program is the closest you’ll get to running a space agency. The game lets you build and launch everything from orbital stations to interplanetary explorers, all in the name of collecting scientific data. It’s only fitting, then, that the studio behind the title has teamed up with NASA to release its Asteroid Redirect Mission add-on. The patch gives you both equipment based on the Space Launch System as well as enough giant rocks to let you either mimic potential real-world missions or live out your Armageddon dreams. The KSP upgrade isn’t a completely faithful simulation by any means, but it’s realistic enough that it could help you appreciate the challenges of steering asteroids. If you’d like to see the software in action, you can check out the second video at about the 57-minute mark.
Filed under: Gaming, Science, Software
Source: Kerbal Space Program
Japan looks to next-gen 3D printers for a return to manufacturing success
American 3D printer manufacturers have stolen a lead on the competition, but a Japan-based alliance is looking to fight back… it’ll take a year or two, is all. The group includes universities, 27 companies including the likes of Panasonic, Nissan and Kawasaki, as well as the Japanese government. Rather than cheerfully-colored figurines and trinkets, the group plans to use titanium-based materials to craft complicated components like airplane parts and artificial joints for medical use.
For the government’s part, it’s promising 3.8 billion yen ($36.5 million) this year, with each member organization adding another 500,000 yen per year to the research group. According to the Nikkei, work will focus on advanced tech that will allow 3D-printed components through (awesome-sounding) “molten metal powders.” The aim is to have prototype machines by 2015, with some 3D printers ready for sale as commercial products. Final finished machines for making medical equipment and aircraft manufacturers will apparently take another four years to perfect.
Source: Nikkei
Sky’s new ‘Buy & Keep’ movie store ties a DVD to every download
After years serving only movie rentals, Sky is to finally let Sky Store customers download and keep films in its catalog. Following an earlier expansion that saw it open the marketplace to everyone in the UK, the media giant today confirmed the launch of its “Buy & Keep” streaming service, complete with a physical twist. Differentiating itself from Amazon Instant Video, which offers the opposite service the US, the company will let Sky TV subscribers not only retain copies of 200+ digital movies on offer, it’ll also send the original disc through the post too. The DVD (not Blu-ray) will be included in the original price, which will range from £7.99 to £13.99 at launch. Customers with connected Sky+HD boxes will be the first to take advantage of the new service when it goes live in the “coming weeks,” rolling out to smartphones and tablets later in the year. Sky says it will also expand “Buy & Keep” to those without a subscription in the future, launching a multi-pronged attack against its UK rivals when it does.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Via: Sky Press
Source: Sky Store
Nest’s Learning Thermostat lands in the UK for £179
Nest officially entered the UK market last year with the launch of its smoke and carbon monoxide detector Protect, but curiously, the Learning Thermostat the company’s known for remained exclusive to North America. That changes today, however, with immediate availability of the clever thermostat across the UK. The now Google-owned Nest actually starting working towards the launch over a year ago, but unlike the US and Canada where temperature control systems are fairly standardized and digital thermostats extremely common, Brits have an eclectic mix of boiler setups, and analog/digital thermostats. Making the Learning Thermostat compatible with all these arrangements meant Nest had to conjure up some additional hardware in the form of Heat Link: a box that jacks directly into your boiler and takes orders from the thermostat. You can use existing wall wiring to directly connect the two, but they can just as easily communicate over WiFi all the same.
An optional, £29 stand for the thermostat is also exclusive to the UK market, if mounting isn’t appropriate. Otherwise, the thermostat is equipped with all the same fancy features and learning capabilities that Nest believes elevates its product above UK competitors like British Gas’ Hive Active Heating or Honeywell’s evohome. You can pick up a Learning Thermostat for £179 today from Nest’s own website and Amazon, or online and in-store at Apple, John Lewis and B&Q. Professional installation is highly recommended, and for any purchases before April 8th, it’s free as long as you redeem the offer within 10 days (Nest can put you in touch with over 200 certified installers across the UK) — a thermostat plus installation will set you back £249 if you can’t take advantage of that deal, or decide you’d rather hold off until winter. Nest has also established a partnership with energy provider npower, which will begin offering thermostat packages in the near future. Furthermore, Nest plans to release a whitepaper later this week detailing how much money its Learning Thermostat can save Brits, and how it arrived at those figures. The UK is just the first step outside of North America for Nest, but certainly not its last, as plans to “aggressively expand” across Europe are under way.
Intel aims at China with its speedy LTE Cat 6 solution, shipping in Q2 this year
Marking Intel’s 29th year in China, CEO Brian Krzanich took the stage at IDF Shenzhen with a little surprise: his company will be shipping its first Cat 6 multi-mode LTE solution, the XMM 7260, in Q2 this year. This follows the XMM 7160 that started shipping with Cat 4 LTE and half the number of basebands last October. The new solution has added support for China’s popular TD-SCDMA plus TD-LTE networks, along with the usual 2G GSM, WCDMA plus FDD-LTE around the world. With Cat 6 LTE’s carrier aggregation mode, the XMM 7260 can reach a top theoretical speed of 300Mbps, which is twice that of Cat 4 LTE.
There’s no word on who will be shipping the first mobile devices featuring Intel’s speedy modem, but Krzanich did use a development device to make a live Skype video call over LTE with Lenovo’s CEO Yang Yuanqing in Hong Kong, so we’ll take that as a hint. But of course, this doesn’t mean that Lenovo will be ditching its good friend MediaTek, who will be catching up with its own LTE solution very soon.
New Photo Shows Striking All Glass Exterior of Apple’s First Turkish Retail Store [Mac Blog]
New photos taken by Instagram user orbaygumus (via ifoAppleStore’s Gary Allen) have revealed the unique exterior and interior of Apple’s first Turkish retail store in Istanbul that is set to open this Saturday, April 5.
The store, which is located in the upscale Zorlu Center Shopping Center, features a unique cubic design complete with a glass ceiling and glass sides that occupy approximately 20,000 square feet.
Photo by orbaygumus
As previously reported, the interior of the store features a host of areas dedicated to services such as a dedicated “Family Room” floor and dual Genius Bars. Photos of the store last week revealed the structure to be hidden behind barricades, but it now appears that Apple is ready to hold its launch event that may feature Apple CEO Tim Cook and Turkish President Abdullah Gül.
Apple’s Zorlu Center store is the first of several retail stores planned for Turkey, with the company looking to expand its growth in the region. Apple also met with Turkish government officials over the prospect of equipping Turkish school children with 10.6 million iPads, however that bid was eventually awarded to Turkish company Teipa.
The Apple Retail Store at the Zorlu Center is set to open at 10:00 AM this Saturday, April 5.
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