EA Announces ‘The Sims 4’ Will Launch on Mac in February [Mac Blog]
EA today announced via Twitter that the newest game in The Sims franchise, The Sims 4, will be coming to the Mac in February. The Sims 4 was first launched on the PC in September and EA initially promised a 2014 Mac launch for the game, but was unable to meet that target.
As with other games in the franchise, The Sims 4 invites players to create and control the lives of virtual characters, establishing relationships, building homes, and helping them advance through their careers. The Sims 4 has received some criticism for gameplay changes and features that were stripped from the previous game, but EA has pledged to return at least some of that former functionality to the game in the future.
The Sims 4 has received several content updates since its September launch, adding in ghosts, pools, and holiday decor. The game’s first “Game Pack” expansion, The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat will launch next week, adding new objects, features, and gameplay options.
Mac users who may have already purchased the PC version of The Sims 4 will be able to download the Mac version of the game at no additional cost. Though EA says the game will launch “next month,” there is no specific release date specified at this time.
Verizon Vehicle: a network connection for any car, even yours
Today at the North American International Auto Show, Verizon announced Verizon Vehicle, a way to bring connected features to any car on the road. A lot of cars sold now have LTE or other connections built-in, but what about the millions that don’t? The new subscription service includes a device that plugs into a car’s OBD-II port to scan for any potential issues (even before you notice a problem), track the vehicle via GPS and communicates with the driver via its app or a Bluetooth speaker that clips onto your visor. You can talk to a support rep or request a tow-truck just by voice, and it’s already tagged to your car and location. The same goes for communicating with a mechanic and even getting a quote, all without even getting out of the car.
It sounds a lot like what Chevrolet is doing with OnStar, but you can get it on any car. There’s no hotspot or anything that gets your other devices online, and there’s no word on what kind of bandwidth the connection has either. A specific list of features is available after the break plus a picture of the setup, and we’ll be asking execs detailed questions like “so how much does it cost?” a little later.
Summary of Features
The subscription-based service will include:
- GPS-directed pinpoint Roadside Assistance for breakdowns, flat tires, overheating, a dead battery – anything that might require towing or immediate repair. Dispatches are made to the exact location of a disabled vehicle.
- Automatic Urgent Incident Alert System places a call to the Verizon Vehicle Member Care Center in the event of a suspected accident. Help is immediately dispatched to the location if an accident is confirmed or there is no response from the driver. The time saved can potentially save lives by delivering critical emergency assistance when a person may not be able to call for help.
- One-Button SOS Assistance immediately connects the driver to a live agent for emergency aid.
- Auto Health System with Predictive Diagnostics translates most “Check Engine” light occurrences into real terms, including the description and severity of the matter, the probable solutions for the problem – and the appropriate cost for the repairs. The system is also designed to provide early warnings relating to some vehicle functions, even before a warning light comes on, to help keep you off the side of the road.
- Mechanic’s Hotline is staffed with A.S.E. Certified Mechanics providing members access to immediate and unbiased information related to their vehicles, and a professional analysis of trouble they may be experiencing.
- Parking & Meter Tools help drivers find where they left their vehicle – using the Verizon Vehicle smartphone app – while also keeping track of how much time is left on the meter.
- Maintenance Alerts inform vehicle owners when scheduled maintenance is required. No more guesswork as to when to rotate those tires or change the oil.
- Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance guides drivers when reporting a theft and helps authorities recover the stolen vehicle.
- Travel & Repair Savings – Verizon Vehicle members will be entitled to substantial discounts on hotels, vehicle rentals, auto maintenance, repairs and related travel expenses.
Filed under: Transportation, Verizon
Source: Verizon
HTC One (M8) Developer and Unlocked Edition now receiving Lollipop update
HTC’s Vice President of Product Management, Mo Versi, has taken to Twitter to announce that the Taiwanese company has just received approval from Google and is now rolling out the long-awaited Lollipop update to all Developer and Unlocked variants of the One (M8).
We have a full changelog for you after the break.
- Android 5.0 Lollipop update
- Lock screen and notification: New Lollipop UI style with enhanced privacy features
- Recent apps: Supporting multiple pages
- Addition of search function within settings
Versi claims that the update will start rolling out “tonight”, but we’ve already received it on our Unlocked handset, so checking for the update now is definitely worth a try. To do this, head into ‘Settings’, ‘About Device’, then tap ‘Check for Updates’ to manually scan for it.
Source: Twitter
Come comment on this article: HTC One (M8) Developer and Unlocked Edition now receiving Lollipop update
Dell Venue 8 7840: The first 5 things you need to know
Dell’s long-awaited Atom-powered tablet is finally available, and we’re giving it a first look
Might 2015 finally be the year we see Dell and Intel make waves in the Android space? If the Dell Venue 8 7840 is any indication, both companies could have a lot to say in the coming months.
The awkwardly named tablet — which you might also see written occasionally as “Dell Venue 8 7000 series” — is a thin little slice of heaven (all of 6mm), running Android 4.4.4 and powered by an Intel Atom processor. It’s got a high-resolution display at 8.4 inches that looks incredible.
Piqued your interest yet? It’s time to do our thing on this sexy little tablet. And we’ll start with the first five things you need to know about it.
Be productive in 2015: get 1-year of premium Evernote, Wunderlist, LastPass, and Pocket for just $60
Cat videos are awesome. They hardly pay the bills however (but if they do, kudos to you, my friend). If your New Year resolution was to wean yourself off cat vids and celebrity gossip, and actually be productive, this limited offer deal may be just what you need.
Evernote, Wunderlist, LastPass, and Pocket have teamed up for a one of a kind promo that makes available one year of each of these services’ premium options for just $59.99. That’s less than a third of the $185 you’d pay if you were to buy subscriptions individually. As a bonus, the deal gives you a free 8-week trial to the New York Times premium service.
I know what you’re thinking – I don’t need all of these services… Well, you may not need them, but I am pretty sure that almost anyone can benefit from signing up for these services. Here’s the skinny:
- Evernote: the gold standard of note taking and research services, Evernote lets you easily save, organize, and explore information, both online and offline, on your computer of smartphone. Premium: $45/year
- Wunderlist: to-do lists, errands, shopping lists, reminders – there are many apps and services that let you do all that, but few do it as well as Wunderlist. Premium: $44.99/year
- LastPass: this writer’s favorite password management tool, LastPass lets you forget most of your passwords, because it will fill them out for you across the web. No more duplicates, “forgot password” emails, and inconvenient lists. Premium: $12 /year
- Pocket: how many times you found something cool online, but had to put it away – usually forever – because you couldn’t read it or watch it right away? Pocket lets you save for later just about any website. Premium: $44.99/year
To get the deal, head over to the Productive Year page. The offer is valid for a “limited time”, and once you sign up for it, you have until March 13 to redeem your codes. If you’re already subscribed to one of the premium services, getting the pack will extend your current subscription by a year.
HTC Nexus 9 now offered in Sand color option
Just a quick note for those of you who were considering picking up the HTC Nexus 9. You can now pick the latest Google tablet up in a new color option, Sand.
Head to the Google Play Store today and you’ll find the device offered in the 32GB Wi-Fi configuration. As of right now there’s no LTE option or 16GB storage capacity to choose from.
Powered by Android 5.0 Lollipop, the Nexus 9 boasts a 8.9-inch 2048×1536 display, 2.3GHz dual-core 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor, 2GB RAM, and 6700mAh battery. Over on the camera front we find an 8-megapixel rear and 1.6-megapixel front-facing combination.
The post HTC Nexus 9 now offered in Sand color option appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AllCast Lands on iOS With Streaming Media Support for Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, and Fire TV [iOS Blog]
The popular Android-only AllCast media streaming app has now made its way to the iOS App Store. The app allows users to stream media to a variety of smart TVs and standalone set-top devices such as the Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, and Amazon Fire TV.
The app uses DLNA to stream media and requires only minimal configuration before users can stream to any media device on the same wireless network as their iPhone or iPad. The setup varies with each device — Xbox 360 owners must enable the “Play To” option in the settings, while Fire TV owners must install the AllCast app for the Fire TV. Once configured, users can open the AllCast app for iOS, select their media, and choose the connected streaming media device to start playback.
AllCast is similar to Apple’s AirPlay technology, an Apple-developed streaming system that allows Apple owners to wirelessly stream content on their iOS devices and Macs to their HDTVs and speakers. Unlike AllCast, AirPlay also supports mirroring that uses an Apple TV to display a Mac or iOS device screen on an HDTV.
The AllCast app is available for free in the iOS App Store and is compatible with both the iPhone and iPad. A $4.99 in-app purchase unlocks a premium version that removes all advertisements and allows for the playback of longer video streams. [Direct Link]
You can now get the Nexus 9 in ‘Sand Gold’ from the Play Store
The HTC Nexus 9 was originally announced in three color configurations – Lunar White, Indigo Black and Sand. While the first two color variants have been extensively available for purchase, the third one has eluded the market for quite some time now. However, that changes today with the Play Store finally listing the Sand version of the Nexus 9.
As of now, this particular color variant is only available in the 32GB WiFi-only configuration, so if you wanted a 16GB WiFi or 32GB LTE model, you’re out of luck.
It is likely that Google is currently testing the waters with this variant by only releasing it in one configuration, so we can’t write off the launch of other variants somewhere down the line. Pricing for the tablet remains stagnant at $479, so nothing has changed in that regard.
If you’ve been wanting to get your hands on a gold finish Nexus 9, your wait has finally ended. Head over to the Play Store from the link provided below for more details.
Source: Google Play Store
Come comment on this article: You can now get the Nexus 9 in ‘Sand Gold’ from the Play Store
Sand version of Nexus 9 available for first time in Play Store (32GB only)
When the Nexus 9 first landed in the Play Store on November 3, the Sand version was listed as “Coming soon.” It took Google more than two months to make “soon” happen, but now the tan Nexus 9 can finally be yours.
Only the 32GB storage option of the Sand Nexus 9 is available as of right now, with a price tag of $479 and a 1 to 2-day shipping window. This goes for the WiFi-only model, as the LTE-enabled model is still only available in Indigo Black.
The Sand Nexus 9 features a light brown back and black margins, while the front is black, like on all versions. All the differences are skin-deep: inside the device ticks the same Tegra K1 CPU clocked at 2.3GHz, backed by 2GB of RAM and a 6700mAh battery, with a nice 2048×1536 LDC display on the front. Check out review of the HTC-made tablet for more insight.
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There’s no telling when, if ever, Google will release the 16GB Sand model in the Play Store, though considering the lack of expandable storage, going the 32GB route is a sound investment anyway.
Save 34% today on this HTC One M8 Windows wallet flip case
Krusell’s Malmo FlipCase for the HTC One (M8) combines a smooth, textured exterior with a classic design that provides storage for personal items and protection against damage. It opens like a book and features a slot on the inside, perfect for carrying a credit card, business card or cash. Get yours today for only $22.95!
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