Watch gameplay from HTC and Valve’s “The Gallery” virtual reality game
HTC and Valve showed off some gameplay from their upcoming virtual reality game called The Gallery: Six Elements. The game features full VR controls with the Vive headset, and although it’s hard to get a feel for that in a YouTube video, you can at least see how everything looks inside that headset.
If you can get past the floating, dismembered hands in the video, it’s still very cool to see how the headset tracks where you’re looking and how players will be able to interact with a virtual environment. It’s not perfect, but this is a major step forward for virtual reality gaming.
Let us know what you think of the video.
source: Polygon
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Watch gameplay from HTC and Valve’s “The Gallery” virtual reality game
Yahoo explains how you’ll watch ‘Community’ season six
We’re just days away from the debut of the new season of Community, but the move from NBC to Yahoo changes some things. In the US, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia you’ll be able to watch on Yahoo Screen via PC, or apps (US only) on Apple TV, Roku and Xbox 360. So far broadcasters have also been announced for the UK (SET) and Australia (Stan), but there’s no word on other countries. Of course, if you’re at SXSW, Yahoo will be premiering the first episode a couple of days early on Saturday night. If there’s still any confusion — or if you’re just getting ready for Seinfeld – check after the break for the Community trailer, and a quick how-to from Gillian Jacobs (trust us, she doesn’t Britta it) ahead of the premiere March 17th.
https://screen.yahoo.com/community-season-six-trailer-premiere-175500821.html?format=embed
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Source: Gillian Jacobs (Instagram)
Sprint covering all costs for you to become a customer
Switching carriers is a costly decision for consumers. Between all of the fees and charges, hundreds of dollars can be spent. That is why taking advantage of a carrier’s offer to pay some of those fees is so valuable. Some carriers will handle a new customer’s early termination fee from their previous carrier but not much else beyond that. Sprint wants to really help those choosing to switch by covering both early termination fees and installment plan payments. Simply take an existing number and device to Sprint along with the final bill and the carrier will cover the costs. Sprint then hands over the credit in the form of an American Express Reward Card.
Hit the break for the full press release.
Sprint Will Reimburse All Your Costs to Switch – Join Sprint’s 56 Million Customers Today
Still owe on your iPhone installment plan? We’ll pay it.
Want an easy out from you current wireless contract? We’ll cover the termination fee, too.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 13, 2015 – Sprint (NYSE: S) is taking it up a notch for customers in search of greater-value from their wireless carrier. Beginning today, Sprint is making it easy for U.S. wireless consumers to join Sprint’s 56 million customers by reimbursing all of the costs to switch, including early termination fees and remaining payments on phone installment plans – no matter what is owed.
With this new offer, Sprint is inviting all wireless consumers to discover Sprint and see what tens of millions Sprint customers already know:
- Sprint offers the Best Value in Wireless with great rate plans including Cut Your Bill in Half and device purchasing options such as iPhone for Life Plan.
- The Sprint network provides significantly better call quality and faster data speeds in more places than before. According to independent mobile analytics firm RootMetrics®, results for second half 2014 show Sprint with the highest net gain in first-place or shared first-place RootScore® and network award wins in Overall Performance, Reliability, Call and Text performance.1
Customers simply need to switch to Sprint and turn in their current phone. Sprint will refund the switching costs within approximately 15 days of successfully completing the online registration and providing a bill that shows the early termination charge or device balance due.
How it Works
- Bring your number from any other carrier with an early termination fee or phone installment plan balance.
- Activate a device on Sprint Easy Pay, iPhone for Life Plan, Sprint Lease or pay full retail price with a new line of service2.
- Complete an online registration http://www.sprint.com/joinsprint and upload a bill that shows applicable charges for reimbursement within 60 days of activation.
- Customers are required to turn in competitor phones (in good working condition) tied to the bill they submitted. To make this simple and hassle free, customers will receive a prepaid return kit in the mail.
- Award is paid via American Express® Reward Card after online registration.
“Sprint is dedicated to its customers,” said Tom Roberts, senior vice president-Marketing, Sprint. “We have invested millions of dollars in our network and offer the most competitive rate plans in the industry. And, now we are making it easy to see what Sprint is all about by paying your costs to switch including early termination fees. We want all U.S. wireless consumers to find out what our 56 million customers already know – Sprint offers the best value in wireless.”
About Sprint
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served nearly 56 million connections as of Dec. 31, 2014, and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the past four years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at http://www.sprint.com or http://www.facebook.com/sprint and http://www.twitter.com/sprint.
1RootMetrics award rankings based on RootMetrics 2H 2014 US National and 125 Metro RootScore Reports (July – December 2014) for mobile performance as tested on best available plans and devices on 4 mobile networks across all available network types. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of Sprint. Your results may vary. See rootmetrics.com for details.
2Subject to credit.
Come comment on this article: Sprint covering all costs for you to become a customer
Android Central 227: Five Point One Of Us …
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It’s Friday the 13th, which for some folks is a day of doom and gloom. But we have so many days like that we figured with turn things on their head and break down the latest with the release of Android 5.1 Lollipop, rap a bit about the new devices we’ve still got coming our way, Russell nerds out on some 3D printing — and, yes, we’ll devote precisely 270 seconds to the damned Apple Watch.
OK, maybe a little more than that. Enjoy!
This week’s sponsor
- Igloo Software: Get a free trial of an intranet that your employees will actually want to use.
Microsoft details how Cortana can help you stay on top of your workouts
We’ve already seen Cortana’s new Fitness Tracking support start to roll out under the new Lifestyle interest category, and now Microsoft has detailed how you can use it to stay on top of your workouts.
The fitness tracking feature allows Cortana to track when you usually head out to the gym, remind you beforehand, and even schedule make-up days if you happen to slack on your commitment.
John Gruber: Apple Invented USB Type C
During its Spring Forward Apple media event, Apple announced that the new 12-inch MacBook would adopt the new USB standard USB Type C, which is a multifaceted port that can do multiple things like video and charging. In the newest episode of his podcast The Talk Show, John Gruber mentioned that Apple may have invented the new standard.
I have heard, can’t say who, but let’s call them “informed little birdies”, that USB-C is an Apple invention and that they gave it to the standard bodies. And that the politics of such is that they can’t really say that. They’re not going to come out in public and say it, but they did. It is an Apple invention and they do want it to become a standard.
Gruber’s comment comes at the 54 minute mark of the podcast, with TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino saying that Apple inventing USB-C and giving it to the standard bodies wouldn’t surprise him. Gruber goes on to note that there are some contexts in which Apple wants users to have a standard port, but that there are other contexts in which they want users to have proprietary ports.
However, Gruber says he does not know whether Apple will adopt USB-C in other devices like iPhones and iPads. Currently, the new USB standard will be only be available for the new 12-inch MacBook. Recently, Google announced that its new Chromebook Pixel would also adopt the standard.
Top 5 puzzle games for Android [March 2015]
Everybody loves playing puzzle oriented games when there’s spare time. While it’s hard to get into such games, it’s equally hard to get out of them once you’re deeply invested. We have decided to list five such apps that are currently available on the Play Store, which will ensure that you remain glued to your smartphone or tablet.
Two Dots: Hands down one of the best puzzle games available for free (also featured on our list from February), this game will ensure that you’re glued to your screen. It follows a simple pattern where the users have to connect two or more dots in a straight or horizontal line. And that’s pretty much it. It gets tougher when there aren’t enough colors left for you to swipe.
The goal ultimately is to exhaust your quota of colors that are available during the start of the game. This comes highly recommended for those that don’t mind a bit of brain exercise and also love puzzlers. If you run out of credits, you can wait a few hours for it to get replenished. However, if you don’t want to wait long and want to continue playing, you can make an in-app purchase to buy credits. This means that you don’t necessarily have to shell out money to keep playing the game, but on the other hand, waiting around kind of stinks. However, this tactic hasn’t slowed the success of this very popular game.
Compatible with: Android 4.0 and up
Price: Free with in app purchases
Click here to view the embedded video.
Laserbreak: This is yet another highly addictive puzzle game which promises to grab your attention right from the start. It’s slightly unconventional in its approach and doesn’t mimic most puzzle games that are available today.
The game has a free and a paid version, with the free version packing 30 playable levels. And only if you like the game beyond those levels, you can choose to invest in a pro license. The game follows a simple strategy which involves users having to break the target by any means necessary. To make destroying the target easier, there are add-ons like TNTs, dominoes, magnets, ice cubes etc.
I personally like the premise that users don’t have to shell out big bucks for continuity. And even if you do plan on getting the pro license eventually, it will only set you back $0.99.
Compatible with: Android 2.3.3 and up
Price: Free and $0.99 (Pro version)
Click here to view the embedded video.
Monument Valley: Critically acclaimed by users all over the world (and also by Frank Underwood on House of Cards), Monument Valley is certainly right up there with the best games to have launched in the past year. It received the top honors at the IMGA (International Mobile Gaming Awards), which speaks volumes about the game’s credentials.
But as with most good games, Monument Valley doesn’t come for free and will require you to shell out some money to play. Users have complained that this is asking for a lot when the developers are only offering a handful of levels. To solve this, the developers recently launched a new add-on called Forgotten Shores, which can be purchased directly from the app rather than being available as a separate game. It will set you back by an additional $1.99.
For those unaware, Monument Valley revolves around a princess looking for answers to some intriguing questions of life. You have to navigate her to the right path, with some amazing visuals in between. It’s certainly worth a try if you’re a fan of symmetry. Difficulty is not at its highest here, which makes it playable for all.
Compatible with: Android 2.3.3 and up
Price: $3.99
The Room Two: Sequel to the BAFTA award winning game, The Room, this game follows the lead of the predecessor and improves upon it in most areas. The premise is pretty much the same here and will keep you hooked for long intervals. The Room Two is very hard to put down, so try it at your own risk.
Since it’s a puzzle game, it requires you to work your brain a little bit. The developers have cleverly tailored the soundtrack and audio to go with the gameplay (which can be quite frightening at times, mind you). The detailing of the objects is very intricate as well, which makes Room 2 one of the must haves for puzzle game lovers.
One neat feature that I personally love about this game is the ability to pick up where you left off across multiple devices, thanks to cloud saving. So if you were to start the game on your tablet, you can sink into your bed and finish the level on your smartphone. The original Room can be had for just $0.99 now while the Room Two will set you back by $2.99. But you can be assured that it’s money well spent considering that it has a consistent 5 star rating from over 100,000 users.
Compatible with: Android 2.3 and up
Price: $2.99
Click here to view the embedded video.
Super Hexagon: This one’s for the geometry fans. It’s not everyday you come across games like these which both challenge your skills and keep you hooked.
While the design of the game has been praised, it’s quite difficult to master, which is the perfect blend for a puzzle game. The idea here is to avoid the lines coming towards your hexagons. It’s speed oriented and can be very tricky. There isn’t much in terms of a tutorial when you first start up the game, with only options to pick from hard, harder and hardest.
It’s very simplistic in that sense, yet very unnerving. The user has to keep rotating the hexagons to keep them from the lines that come from all directions. It’s fundamentally very simple in its approach, which makes it one of the more intriguing puzzle games available out there.
Compatible with: Android 2.2 and up
Price: $2.99
Click here to view the embedded video.
And those are my top 5 puzzle games for Android. I know there are tons more available in Google Play so let me know your favorite(s) in the comments.
Come comment on this article: Top 5 puzzle games for Android [March 2015]
Get the Windows Central Ninja Cat t-shirt while it’s hot!
The Microsoft Ninja Cat is all the rage with the kids right now but we’ve got something even better than a sticker for your laptop. Presenting the Windows Central special edition Ninja Cat t-shirt! This is the ultimate version of the Ninja Cat with about as much Microsoft on it as you could imagine. Microsoft Band, HoloLens, Windows Phone, it’s all there, as is some pretty hot Windows Central fire!
Oh, and this shirt definitely “seems faster.” If you want one, grab it while it’s hot!
Dungeon Hunter 5 lands on Windows and Windows Phone as a universal app
Fans of the Dungeon Hunter series rejoice: Dungeon Hunter 5 has officially landed on both Windows Phone and Windows as a universal app.
Though it’s a day later than originally announced, the latest iteration of the insanely popular Dungeon Hunter series brings players a brand new multiplayer mode and a new evolution system for gear.
Google VPN service spotted hidden within Android 5.1
Android 5.1 features a number of tweaks and changes to Lollipop, but a whole new Google service has also been spotted lurking within the operating system running on a Nexus 6. Although not functional right now, Google appears to be working on a VPN (virtual private network) service.
If you have Android 5.1 installed on your own Nexus 6, you should be able to spot a new system application called “Google Connectivity Services”, located in the list of apps installed on your handset. I won’t go through all the steps of discovery, you can check out the source link for that, but eventually getting it to run reveals that this is a Google VPN application, designed to protect users connected up to an open Wi-Fi network. You can go all the way through to a setup screen, however connections don’t seem to be working at this time.
This could all be linked to Google’s wireless carrier service, which is said to rely heavily on open Wi-Fi connections when cellular services from T-Mobile and Sprint are not available. Keeping your personal data secure when connected to an open-WiFi network is quite an important feature, which is where the Google VPN service likely comes into play.
On the other hand, there’s also the possibility that this is a left-over feature that may never launch. Interesting though.
AIVAnet 