Xbox One July update brings help for Achievements and ‘Likes’ on recordings
Microsoft gave viewers a peek at the continuing evolution of the Xbox One just ahead of its E3 press conference, but everyone should get to try out the new Snap mode for Achievements next month. That’s because the feature is a part of the July update about to start testing, along with a few other tweaks. In case you missed the E3 preview, there’s a video demo of the multitasking-ready new Achievements mode after the break, showing how it lets players track their progress while staying in the game, and even search for help on how to reach their goals.
Another change is helpful to gamers rocking a Kinect-less Xbox One, as double tapping the home button will pull up the Snap menu (since they clearly can’t say “Xbox, Snap (insert app here)” and choose an app to run in the side bar. Double tapping already served to switch back and forth between running apps, but now it has another use. There’s also a tweak to let people choose which language model their Xbox One responds to, even if it doesn’t match the country they live in, and support for game publishers to sell digital bundles and sic compilations in the future. Last but not least, the activity feed and Game DVR are getting some post-MySpace style social features. You can “like” your favorite recorded clips, or notes that pop up in the activity feed while you’re using the SmartGlass remote app. We wonder if those likes will ever cross over into other social networks or apps like YouTube and Twitter, but we’ll have to wait for the full release next month to know how everything works for sure.
Achievement Snap Mode and more coming to Xbox One in July http://t.co/F1hKHKADbZ
– Larry Hryb (@majornelson) June 13, 2014
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: Xbox Wire, Xbox (YouTube)
Android 4.4 update for the Huawei Ascend P6 released in Europe
Way back in March, the Android 4.4 update for the Huawei Ascend P6 was spotted rolling out in Huawei’s native China. We expected the update to roll out shortly after that to the rest of the regions, however from the comments you have made on that post, it appears that hadn’t happened. Thankfully though, the update has been officially announced for Europe and has been seen rolling out in Western Europe as of just a few days ago. I would say that this is good news and that other regions can expect the update soon, however considering that it’s been 3 months since the update rolled out in China, I’m not going to suggest getting too excited yet.
The update comes in at a pretty hefty 789MB, so make sure you’re on Wi-Fi when you’re updating. That size is to be expected, particularly seeing as the Ascend P6 is being updated from Android 4.2 to Android 4.4.2 and its heavily skinned Emotion UI is also being updated from version 1.6 to 2.3. The list of new features and optimizations pictured in the screenshot looks suspiciously short considering this is a pretty significant software jump, but you can probably be sure that all the Kit Kat goodness is in there.
Are you happy that the Huawei Ascend P6 is finally getting its Android 4.4 update? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Source: Huawei News, Twitter via Jelly Bean Android
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
Nissan’s ZEOD RC prototype racer completes first all-electric lap at Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans (check after the break for details on how to watch, for free) hasn’t even started yet and already history has been made. During warmups, Nissan wheeled its ZEOD RC prototype race car around the 8.47-mile Circuit de la Sarthe track running only on battery power, a first. ZEOD stands for “Zero Emissions On Demand” and the car squeezes a 1.5-liter three cylinder engine that produces 400hp plus two electric motors and the regenerative breaking of a Leaf RC into the frame similar to the older DeltaWing prototype racer. Did we mention that it has no rear-view mirrors? Ray Harroun would be appalled.
It’s now achieved two of the team’s three goals for Le Mans 2014 — an all-electric lap and hitting 300 km/h (192MPH) running just on the electric motor — and now just needs to record a gas-powered lap at a speed matching the LMP2 cars racing on the course. In the US, the race broadcast will kick off at 8:30AM ET on Fox Sports 1, before switching back and forth on Fox Sports 2 during the 24-hour span. You can stream the entire thing on mobiles via the Fox Sports Go app — if you have cable TV — but if you’re on a PC, the entire thing will be streamed on 24h-lemans.com for free.
#LM24 HISTORY MADE AT LE MANS @WolfgangReip just recorded the first all electric lap of Le Mans in the warm-up #eatsleeepRACErepeat
– Nissan ZEOD RC (@NissanZEODRC) June 14, 2014
First all electric lap, first to hit 300km/h at Le Mans on electric. And the experts said we were crazy when we launched the @NissanLEAF
– Andy Palmer (@NissanAndy) June 14, 2014
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Nissan ZEOD RC (Twitter)
Whatcha Playing? Minecraft PE by Mojang
Plenty of times it has been proven that a game does not need to have fancy graphics; sometimes it just needs a good story, or fun mechanics i.e. how the game plays. One great example of this is Minecraft. With very simple graphics, no story, and a choose-your-own way of playing, this game rose to the number 1 sold app in the Google Play Store. This one game proved that even indie games can be on the same level as major labels like EA or Activision. This video game inspired even the greatest of video game creatures to branch off and make indie games.
What The Game Is About:
Nothing really. No joke you play as a character you can name and one day soon with an update change the way it looks, and just do what you desire in this game. This game has two modes of play styles. One for the creative type and the other for those who like to survive. In creative mode you are given every block in the game to create what you can imagine and with each update, it is like adding extra colors on your pallette. The other mode of play is survival. This is not for the faint hearted. Your are randomly placed with nothing and have to live however you want. Want to build a house, you have to gather the materials needed. Need to fight off monsters you need to create a sword to kill monsters faster. Want to play survival without the monsters? You can, there is an option for peaceful mode so no monsters will spawn.
Who Is This Game For?
Anyone who loves Lego toys. I can not explain it any clearer. I a full grown adult that still to this day plays with Lego toys. It is a good thing I have kids because it gives me an excuse to buy them. However they are expensive and create a big mess. Minecraft PE however is a digital version of this so the only thing that you have to worry about is battery life.
Final Thoughts:
I bought this game when it first released on the Android Market, now called Google Play Store. There is no other game that I have ever played in my life that would come close to the hours spent playing this game. The best part is once I get bored with the game it would get an update that adds more fun features to the game. One of the things I also enjoy about this is the local multiplayer. I can play with my kids and be amazed each time of what they build.
In conclusion, this is a great game that every once and a while gets better. Even though it is a mobile version it inches closer to the original PC version. Right now would be a good time to get into the game with the newest update coming soon, bringing plenty of goodies along with it. Even though it is an expensive game, it is one that is hard to put down once you start.
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
What do children’s books have to do with the new Amazon smartphone? Ask Jeff Bezos
You may have heard that Amazon is set to announce a new Amazon smartphone with June 18th seemingly being the consensus as the day this is going to happen. With the 18th a mere few days away, Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, has started sending out some things to media outlets, however they aren’t quite your conventional invites. Mashable is reporting that they have received a package from Amazon that contains the children’s book Mr. Pine’s Purple House accompanied by a note that says:
“We’re excited that you’ll be joining us next week in Seattle. Enclosed is my favorite childhood book — Mr. Pine’s Purple House. I think you’ll agree that the world is a better place when things are a little bit different. See you soon — Jeff Bezos.”
Looks like next week in Seattle is definitely going to be the site of a big announcement for Amazon. While sending out children’s books is definitely something “a little bit different”, that in itself is not what Jeff Bezos is referring to; the story of Mr. Pine’s Purple House, in a nutshell, is that Mr. Pine lived in a street of houses that were all painted white, making it extremely difficult to differentiate which one was his. [Warning: spoiler is ahead] As you can probably deduce, painting it purple naturally made it stand out from the rest, and perhaps there is an underlying moral of not being afraid to be different. If we extrapolate this story to Amazon and what we already know about the new Amazon smartphone, including its variable 3D display, then it seems almost inevitable that Amazon will be announcing this device come June 18th. Very thought provoking, Mr. Bezos.
What do you think about Jeff Bezos’ ‘invite’ to Amazon’s event next week? Are you interested in getting the new Amazon smartphone? Let us know your opinion.
Source: Mashable
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
Photos of 4.7-Inch and 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 Model
A couple of new model photos of the rumored iPhone 6 have been posted to Twitter by SonnyDickson. The new images depict the 4.7″ and 5.5″ iPhone 6 side by side — both front and back.
The images show what we have already seen about the iPhone 6, including the rounded case edges and larger form factors. Apple is expected to release the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 around September of 2014, while the 5.5-inch version may come later.
Photos of iPhone 6 dummy models have been floating around for months, making even more frequent appearances in recent weeks.
Twitter puts tweets inside your tweets on iOS and Android
If you think retweeting’s so 2013, then you may want to update your Twitter app now. As The Next Web notes, the latest version gives you the option to embed tweets in your tweets (credit Xzibit or Inception), so long as you’re using either an iOS or an Android device. Take note, though, that embedding’s a bit more troublesome than straight out retweeting. You’ll have to copy the link to someone’s tweet and then paste it into your Twitter app’s text box (on a phone or a tablet, which means exerting double the effort). Also, you’ll have to click and view each tweet individually to see the embedded boxes like in the image above — they show up as ordinary links on the timeline, and your followers won’t even see them as embeds on the web interface.
Still think it’s worth the download? You can get the latest Twitter app from iTunes and Google Play now, and even if the feature isn’t even listed in the What’s New sections, it should be bundled with the most recent updates for both platforms. Since it hasn’t been officially announced, though, this could just be an experimental rollout and not a permanent addition to the apps.
Via: The Next Web
Source: iTunes, Google Play
LG launches a trio of LG G Pad tablets to rival Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Line
While Samsung was happy to announce its Galaxy Tab S devices as the main event on June 12th, LG was content to release a trio of tablets that same day but in a slightly different league. These three tablets are LG’s new LG G Pad series featuring 7-inch, 8-inch and 10.1-inch versions, and if those dimensions look familiar, that’s because they are the same size offerings of the Samsung Galaxy Tab devices. While LG’s G Pad 8.3 was surely a very solid device, it was losing market share in the tablet market without matching offerings at 7 and 10.1-inches, and so we arrive now at June 12th with this announcement.
Much like the Galaxy Tab tablets, the LG G Pad series compromises between price and performance, all housing quadcore 1.2GHz processors, 1GB RAM and 1280×800 IPS displays. Add to that availability in Black, White, Red, Luminous Orange and Luminous Blue, and you have an extremely vibrant range of devices. A nice addition that LG has made to these tablets is the introduction of QPair 2.0 which allows Android smartphones to sync with Android tablets over Bluetooth, enabling the tablet to receive calls and messages. While they won’t set the world on fire with their performance, it’s clear that there is a big market in this range of tablets and we’ll see if the LG G Pad series can work wonders for LG.
What do you think of LG’s new LG G Pad tablets? Are you interested in any of these devices? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: LG Blog UK
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
Android 5.0 Outed?! Moto 360 Looking a Bit Pricey! – The ManDroid Show
It is Friday Android folks. Time to talk some Android with you. Android 5.0 might have been outed by Google. Most likely it wasn’t an accident, because we know that Google loves to toy with us. The Moto 360 might have a price tag in Europe, but if you convert to US dollars, it is a little pricey. I guess we will see what Motorola does. Enjoy the show!
Android News
Android 5.0 outed?
Moto 360 price tag
More Galaxy F photos
Angry Birds Epic now in the Play Store
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
Samsung officially launches its Samsung Galaxy Tab S tablets; Super AMOLED displays for All
We’ve been hearing lots about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S tablets even before they were officially announced, but they now that they have been, we can laud at them for what they really are. Samsung announced a pair of Tab S devices at its Tab into Color event on June 12th, available in 10.5-inch and 8.4-inch variants. If you’re wondering why Samsung is launching yet more tablets, CEO and President of their IT & Mobile Division, JK Shin, elaborates: “The tablet is becoming a popular personal viewing device for enjoying content, which makes the quality of the display a critical feature.” And sure enough, both of the Tab S tablets are equipped with striking 2560×1600 resolution Super AMOLED displays.
These tablets don’t just have a pretty face however; both tablets are available with either a Samsung Exynos 5 Octa or Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor (depending on your region), come with 3GB RAM, and either 16 or 32GB storage versions. The 8.4-inch version comes with a very respectable 4,900mAh battery and the 10.5-inch variant gets a massive 7,900mAh battery. All of this you might think makes the Tab S devices quite thick; quite the contrary, in fact as both the tablets measure just 6.6mm thick, only a hair thicker than the also slim Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet. Both versions are available in either Titanium Bronze or Dazzling White and will become available in certain markets next month.
And if you were hoping to catch the whole Tab into Color event because you missed it on the day, you can catch the whole event recorded below:
What do you think about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S? Are you interested in either one of these tablets? Let us know what your thoughts are in the comments.
Source: Samsung Tomorrow
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
AIVAnet 