Tesla gets ready for its ‘Gigafactory’ by tripling its Nevada land
Tesla’s battery-focused “Gigafactory” isn’t even finished yet, but that isn’t stopping the electric car maker from expanding its plant’s territory. The company just confirmed that it has nearly tripled its Nevada land purchases, adding 1,893 acres to the 1,000 it got back in 2014. Not that Tesla is planning to grow the factory itself in the near future. A spokesperson tells the Wall Street Journal that most of the new turf is a buffer space — Tesla could put solar farms in this area to power the factory, but it won’t add manufacturing capacity in the short term. Elon Musk and crew have the option of buying thousands of more acres, though, and there’s a real chance that they’ll need the extra headroom if the Model 3 and Powerwall take off.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Wall Street Journal
Purchases on Google – helping you buy products straight from search results
Google is one of the most dominant adventurers in technology. Their reach extends to nearly every market, but the business still revolves around our beloved search engine… and the advertising within it. In an effort to make shopping more convenient for consumers and increase ad revenue, the Mountain View-based company will soon enable retailers to offer their products for online purchase straight from Google’s search results.
The new service is currently undergoing testing, but we know it goes by the name of Purchases on Google. Essentially, it will work as follows: users will be able to search for any product and get shopping results in the form of Google-styled cards. The customer can than choose to buy the suggested items using Google’s pre-stored payment credentials (Google Wallet, Android Pay and the like), all without ever leaving the search results.
Google claims they have seen a 115% increase in shopping searches on the past year alone. It’s only sensible that they see this as a natural progression to their business model. And they won’t only offer shopping results for direct purchase searches. Reports suggest these shopping cards will also appear after searching relevant information on products, such as reviews.
Of course, you would still be doing business with the original merchant; Google would just act as the mediator and charge companies per click. The service would also take into account all the usual factors, including location, nearby stores and pricing options.
As mentioned above, Google is still testing this. Some believe Purchases with Google should be arriving just in time for back-to-school season, but those are only assumptions. All we really know is it should be launching “later this year”.
I am having a hard time trying to figure out whether this is good or bad. There’s no denying getting actionable shopping results on mobile searches will make buying anything a breeze, but this could also bring negative effects (and not only because we will be more likely to spend all our cash). Google is already jam-packed with advertising! Do we need more? Sound off in the comments to let us know how you feel about Purchases on Google.
Wartime survival game This War of Mine is now available for Android tablets
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8150504804865896″
data-ad-slot=”8461248232″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
I first played This War of Mine on PC during its preview stage on Steam. If you haven’t heard about This War of Mine, it’s a wartime survival game which puts you in control of some survivors who are living in a besieged city. The objective: to keep them alive as long as possible. It’s an emotional and harrowing experience, a story not often travelled by video games which addresses the other side of the coin during war and how that affects everyday people like you and me – and This War of Mine does a spectacular job of conveying these stories. This War of Mine has just this last week been released to Android tablets, and I couldn’t recommend picking it up more. Check out the tablet launch trailer here:
This War of Mine is created by 11 bit studios, and if that name sounds familiar, that’s because they’re the crew behind the hugely successful Anomaly franchise that made the tower offense genre mainstream. If This War of Mine is the kind of game you are interested in (and you really should be), you can get it for $9.99 USD at the Google Play Store for its first week only – links are below:
What do you think about This War of Mine? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Press Release
This War of Mine Available Today for iOS and Android
July 15, 2015 – This War of Mine, 11 bit studios’ provocative and award-winning strategy game of wartime survival, is available today for iOS and Android tablets.
Launch Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYOFI6d0IK0In war, not everyone is a soldier. This War of Mine captures war as experienced by the civilians trying to survive in a besieged city. Scavenge amid the shadows, make conscience-driven choices of life and death, and do what you must to live another day. During war, there are no good or bad decisions; there is only survival.
11 bit studios has been a proactive supporter of War Child; an organization dedicated to protecting, educating, and giving voice to the children affected by conflict. With the generous aid of the gaming community, 11 bit studios recently presented War Child with a donation of $65,000.
This War of Mine is available today on iOS and Android tablets for $9.99 during the first week ($14.99 normally).
The post Wartime survival game This War of Mine is now available for Android tablets appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
This 50-million-year-old worm sperm is a scientific treasure
Scientists in Antarctica have come across one of the rarest specimens on record: ancient, fossilized worm sperm. “Because sperm cells are so short-lived and fragile, they are vanishingly rare in the fossil record,” explains Benjamin Bomfleur, one of the palaeontologists who discovered the preserved cells. In fact, the find itself was an accident: Bomfleur’s college, Thomas Mörs, came across the ancient sperm while examining a fossilized worm cocoon.
According to the a paper published in the latest edition of Biology Letters, the preserved sperm is very similar to the sperm of modern-day crayfish worms, but its location suggests that the prehistoric animal lived in a wider geographic area than its modern counterpart. Perhaps more important than this specific find itself is where it was found–in an annelid cocoon that takes several days to harden. The team believes this environment is ideal for trapping micro-organisms, and hopes to find more rare specimens by specifically targeting similarly fossilized cocoons.
[Image credit: Swedish Museum of Natural History]
Filed under: Science
Source: National Geographic
Philips’ Hue lights sync up with an Xbox One game
You can get Philips’ Hue lights to change color when you’re watching movies, so it only makes sense that they should also put on a show when you’re playing games, right? Frima certainly thinks so. The studio has just added Hue syncing to its Xbox One platformer Chariot, adding an extra level of atmosphere to your adventures. When enemies attack, your bulbs will turn red; when you wander by blooming plants, the living room might go green. This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen Hue gaming experiences, and it’s definitely not a cheap trick when a starter Hue kit typically costs $200. However, this is probably the easiest way to ramp up the atmospheric effects while you play. Here’s hoping that more games experiment with lighting in the future.
Filed under: Gaming, Household
Source: Philips
Fruit Attacks is the adorable first mobile game from En Masse Entertainment, coming July 30th
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8150504804865896″
data-ad-slot=”8461248232″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
Many people will know the name of publisher En Masse Entertainment from their successful MMORPG PC game, TERA. As it turns out, the publisher’s next game is a slight change of pace – a mobile game coming to Android and Amazon Kindle Fire by the name of Fruit Attacks. In the style of old arcade shooters, Fruit Attacks adds its own cute art style and unique “hook shot” mechanic to bring the tried and true genre to mobile devices. Check out a trailer which shows some of the gameplay:
In the game, you will take control of a SATI, “a friendly amplifier creature” which uses sound attacks to destroy things – as you progress through the game, you’ll unlock other SATIs, helpers and power-ups as well. From what we can tell, Fruit Attacks appears to be pretty well put together which is always good considering it’s going to be a free-to-play game – our only hope is that it isn’t affected too much by the additions of inevitable in-app purchases. Fruit Attacks will be available on the Google Play Store and Amazon App Store on July 30th – we’ll post up links as soon as we have them.
What do you think about Fruit Attacks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Press Release
Incoming! Fruit Attacks Takes Aim at iOS, Android and Amazon Devices
En Masse Entertainment Announces Mobile Debut with Unique “Hook Shot” Arcade Shooter Game
SEATTLE — July 15, 2015 — En Masse Entertainment, publisher of TERA—the most-played MMORPG on Steam—announces the imminent release of its first mobile game, Fruit Attacks. Scheduled to land on July 30 to iOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle Fire devices across North America and Europe, Fruit Attacks is a vibrant game where players defend Earth from an alien fruit invasion. Featuring a unique “hook-shot” mechanic, Fruit Attackspromises a refreshing take on the traditional arcade shooter.
“We are juiced about jumping into mobile gaming with our first title, Fruit Attacks, because it delivers unique and entertaining gameplay,” said Chris Lee, En Masse CEO and CFS (Chief Fruit Smasher). “Not only does this game quench your thirst for fun, it hits the mark of high quality that we strive for in all our games. We’re also committed to supporting Fruit Attacks with a host of updates, because at En Masse, our players come first.”
Fruit has never been so rotten! Players must battle waves of angry strawberries, apples, bananas and other fruit as they descend upon Earth with a vengeance. With an intuitive two-finger control system, players can easily take rapid shots or test their skills with more advanced arcing hook shots when the invasion intensifies with stronger and more challenging enemies, including giant fruit bosses. Shaking the device also adds special full-screen attacks to help seize victory. By learning to vary strategies on the fly, players will crush hordes of enemies into fruit juice as they master powerful combos, time-based attacks, defense-mode stages, and boss battles.
Players start with a basic SATI—a friendly amplifier creature that projects devastating sound attacks—but may eventually acquire six different SATIs and dozens of pet-like mini-SATI helpers. Players can earn, combine, and utilize different bonuses—including mini-SATI options and power-ups—to build customized teams to suit their unique play styles. With 180 total stages across three episodes, and frequent updates coming in the future, Fruit Attacks will challenge fans with its tasty and delicious offerings.
Fruit Attacks will be free-to-download on the App Store, Google Play Store, and Amazon App Store on July 30. For more information please visit the official Fruit Attacks product page.
The post Fruit Attacks is the adorable first mobile game from En Masse Entertainment, coming July 30th appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
T-Mobile set to launch the HTC Desire 626s, Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime, and Core Prime on July 22
When it comes to affordable, low-to-mid range phones, many OEMs tend to skip the more developed markets like North America, and instead focus on key Asian territories. Indeed countries like India and China have become the new battleground of sorts, with everyone trying to expand their sphere of influence. Still, devices such as the Moto E have proven that keen shopping need-not apply exclusively to any one region or territory: everyone appreciates a good deal, especially when it entails solid offerings from respected manufacturers. T-Mobile is aware of this, and has plans to introduce three new phones on July 22nd:
The Galaxy Grand Prime
The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime, originally released in October of last year and currently available on Sprint, features a 5-inch qHD (540X960) screen, a Snapdragon 410 SoC, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel wide-angle front camera set-up. The device is currently running Android 4.4.4 however it is expected to receive Lollipop eventually, at least with respect to international models. The Grand Prime will retail for just $189.
The Galaxy Core Prime
Another Samsung product soon-to-be-released, the Galaxy Core Prime, was originally released last November and currently sold in the USA from both Verizon Wireless and Sprint, features a 4.5 inch (480X800) display, Snapdragon 410 SoC, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and 2-megapixel front-facing module. The international model has been updated to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop however it is currently unknown as to if -or when- it will be updated beyond its Android 4.4.4 build in the USA, or if T-Mobile itself will ship it with Lollipop. The device will retail for $139.
The Desire 626s
T-Mobile will also launch the HTC Desire 626s, which has just been announced globally. It features a 5-inch HD (720p) display, 1.1 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 210 SoC, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of on-board storage, 8-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The 626s will also include HTC’s BoomSound speaker design, a 2,000 mAh battery, and ship with Android Lollipop 5.1. It will retail for $169.
As specified earlier, all three devices will launch on the 22nd of this month, and coincide nicely T-Mobile’s new Family Plan deal that offers 4 lines of service, each with 10GB of LTE data, for the price of $120. Given the cost-efficient nature of this trio of offerings, they would make great choices for small children or even parents or grandparents that aren’t interested in the spec-wars. Will you be purchasing one (or all) of these devices? Let us known which and for whom in the comments below!
HTC Desire 626s coming to Sprint Prepaid on July 19th
HTC announced a new Desire line-up headed to the USA. These affordable handsets will be great for casual users across the country, offering a set of modest specs in a body that is worthy of admiration. The only caveat is we had no idea when these new smartphones would be released, or exactly how affordably they would be priced.
We have good news for you! The Taiwanese manufacturer didn’t take too long to spill the beans, nor are they delaying the actual launch of at least one of these phones. The HTC Desire 626s is set to hit Sprint Prepaid this Sunday, July 19th. Priced at only $129, it is in direct competition with handsets like the Moto E, Samsung Galaxy Core Prime and even one of its predecessors, the HTC Desire 510.
For those who need a reminder, the HTC Desire 626s is not a bad deal at this price point. It sports a Snapdragon 210 processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal storage and a 5-inch 720p display. There’s also 8MP and 2 MP cameras in the front and back, as well as a 2000 mAh battery packed inside, which should offer plenty of battery life considering the specs the phone touts.
What makes this phone really stand out from the competition is the design and build quality, though. The phone offers a smooth soft-touch material that is pleasing to the eye. Like any other HTC handset, the Desire 626s happens to be built with some of the highest standards in mind. The phone is solid and doesn’t feel like it’s really made of cheap material, even if it has no metal surrounding it.
By the way, signing up for Sprint Prepaid won’t be expensive. The plans are pretty straight forward. They all offer unlimited talk and text, with the only differentiation being the amount of data the customer gets. You can pay $35 for 1 GB, $45 for 3 GB or $55 for 6 GB. Easy as pie!
So there you have it – the HTC Desire 626s is only a few days away for those on Sprint Prepaid. More news on these phones are sure to come relatively soon, so keep it tuned to Android Authority to see when new versions of the Desire series are hitting other carriers. Are any of you buying the HTC Desire 626s now that you know the price and release date?
The HTC Desire 626s from Sprint Prepaid priced at $129.99 (plus tax) will be available July 19 in Marshmallow White.
HTC Desire 626s features include:
•Android 5.1 Lollipop OS
•5.0-inch HD touchscreen display
•8MP rear-facing camera and 2MP front-facing camera
•3G/4G LTE/Enhanced LTE
•8GB ROM/1.5GB RAM
•200GB microSDHC card compatible
•2,000mAH battery
•1.1GHz quad-core processor
Visit www.sprint.com/prepaid <http://www.sprint.com/prepaid> and http://www.htc.com/us/smartphones/htc-desire-626 <http://www.htc.com/us/smartphones/htc-desire-626> for more information.
‘Goat Simulator’ headbutting its way to PS4 and PS3 August 11th
Your wildest caprine fantasies are about to come true, PlayStation owners. How’s that? On August 11th, Goat Simulator hits PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. From the sounds of it all the irreverence from the PC and Xbox One versions will be present (wild glitches, taking to the skies, head-butting all the things) as well as something developer Coffee Stain Studios calls GoatVR. It’s dubbed “the most authentic simulated GoatVR experience” and it apparently doesn’t require Project Morpheus. A post on the PlayStation Blog notes that the team “still needs to do that part where it connects to an actual headset” but it isn’t actually required for the version present in the game. We’ve reached out to Coffee Stain for some clarification and to see if it’s just another example of their absurdist humor; we’ll update this post should we hear back.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Sony
Source: PlayStation Blog
Join us for Engadget Live in Boston this Friday!
We’re kicking off our Engadget Live series this Friday, July 17th in one of our favorite cities; Boston! At 7PM, we’re taking over the Royale Nightclub on Tremont Street where we’ll bring together gadget lovers and awesome tech brands. Sound good? First, grab your free tickets and then read on to find out what you can expect at our fun, free event.
You’ll get to sit inside a 2016 Ford Escape and experience the new SYNC 3 system in the car or in standalone screens set up around the venue. Ford’s SYNC 3 is equipped with voice-activated technology and a fresh interface.
Back at CES 2015 (and then on the streets of New York) we checked out Boosted Boards Dual+ electric skateboard and were quite impressed. Now it’s your turn, as the skateboard will be ready and waiting for you to try it out at Engadget Live Boston!
You’ll also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Black Hat Oculus Rift game, navigate an obstacle course with drones equipped with Panoptes Systems anti-collision tech, and try out Lenovo’s latest tablets — all while you enjoy drinks generously provided by Drizly!
Get your free tickets and we’ll see you this Friday. And while you’re there, be sure to share your pictures with the #EngadgetLive hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. Not in Boston? We’re also headed to Los Angeles on August 21st and Austin on October 16th.
Filed under: Announcements
AIVAnet 