‘XCOM 2’ delayed until February 2016
XCOM 2 was supposed to launch in November, but apparently planet-wide alien invasions are tricky to schedule. Firaxis has pushed XCOM 2‘s release date back to February 5, 2016, noting that the game isn’t up to the studio’s standards quite yet.
“We’ve set a high bar for the sequel and the entire team has been working hard to make sure we deliver a great follow-up to Enemy Unknown,” a short blog post reads. “We just need a little more time to make it the best possible game.”
Firaxis wants XCOM 2 to have “more depth, more replayability and more investment in your soldiers,” the post continues. XCOM 2 is a sequel to 2012’s widely acclaimed strategy game, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and it’s a continuation of the strategy franchise that began in 1993. In XCOM 2, Earth is overrun by hostile alien forces and players are part of a guerrilla resistance squad attempting to take back the planet. There’s still no word on a console or mobile launch for the new game.
Delays are a common sight in the video game universe, and just this week we asked one developer why his game was pushed back two whole years after receiving a ton of early attention. The short answer? “It’s complicated.”
Source:
XCOM
Tags: Delay, firaxis, Firaxis-Games, hdpostcross, TakeTwo, XCom, XCOM2
‘Mighty No. 9’ team aims to calm angry backers with exclusive demo
Kickstarter backers of Keiji Inafune’s Mighty No. 9 are feeling a little burned. When its Spring release came due, Comcept pushed the release back to fall; when that September launch came on the horizon, the game was delayed until 2016. “We feel bad,” producer Nick Yu told us earlier this month. “Really, really bad.” The company knows its messed up, and agrees that backers deserve something for their patience. So they’re getting something — on September 15th, the game’s second launch date, Kickstarter backers will get access to an exclusive demo of the Mighty No. 9’s single player campaign.
The backer-exclusive trial version will include four playable, complete stages from the final version of the game — with all of the story-mode cutscenes intact — six challenge mode stages and the option to enable an 8-bit soundtrack mode in the options menu. Players will also be able to pick from the game’s full set of language options, including Japanese and English voice overs and subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Italian.
Finally, Comcept will be handing out Steam codes for Mighty Gunvolt, an 8-bit Inafune-style platformer starring characters from Mighty No. 9, Gal Gun and Azure Striker Gunvolt, to all Kickstarter backers on September 29th. It’s not the full game backers may have been hoping for, but at least it’s something. Does it quell your frustration? Let us know in the comments below and sit tight: Comcept says codes will land in backers’ inboxes next month.
Filed under:
Gaming
Source:
Kickstarter
Tags: comcept, delay, gaming, inafune, KeijiInafune, kickstarter, megaman, mightyno.9, mightyno9, videogames
The best WiFi router (for most people)
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy.
Read the original full article below at TheWirecutter.com
After spending a total of 200 hours researching and testing over 20 WiFi routers, plus analyzing reader comments and feedback, the $100 TP-Link Archer C7 (v2) is the router we recommend for most people right now. This dual-band, three-stream wireless-ac router usually costs between $80 and $100 — the same price as many older, slower routers. But unlike those slower routers, the C7 supports the fastest connections of every major device you can buy today.
We compared the Archer C7 against 21 different routers over a 10-month testing period. On most of our tests, the Archer C7 was the fastest — outperforming routers that cost twice as much. You won’t find a better-performing router than the Archer C7 for less, and you’ll have to spend a lot more money to get a better one.
How we picked
The six routers we tested.
Wireless-ac, or IEEE 802.11ac, is the latest mainstream WiFi version, and your new router should have wireless-ac. It’s the new standard in many laptops, smartphones, and tablets from 2013 and later, including many of our recommendations at the Wirecutter. New MacBooks and high-end Windows laptops have wireless-ac, and so do almost all flagship smartphones from the past year: the iPhone 6, HTC One, Moto X, Samsung Galaxy S5, and more. Unless you go very cheap, your next gadget with WiFi will probably have wireless-ac.
Our Wi-Fi router pick is dual-band, which means it supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals—giving you a way to escape 2.4GHz wireless interference from your neighbors’ WiFi networks and giving you access to the much faster speeds of 5GHz wireless-ac. The vast majority of laptops, phones and tablets support one or two streams, but high-end laptops like the MacBook Pro support three. A three-stream wireless-ac router ensures that you’re going to get the fastest connection on any device you own — or plan to buy in the near future.
Any router you buy should be dual-band: a 2.4GHz band for wireless-n and earlier, and a 5GHz band for wireless-n and -ac (5GHz faster, but it can have worse range than 2.4GHz and not every device supports it).
How we tested
The original four finalists for our best Wi-Fi router article.
We evaluated our finalists’ the short- and long-range performance on their 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. To test, we put each router in the same location and set up four client testing spots in a 2,577-square foot, one-story house. We set up two locations within sight of the router (at 11 feet and 43 feet), and two test stations blocked by walls, rooms, and other objects (at 13 feet and 43 feet).
Our pick
We wish TP-Link included a USB 3.0 port in the Archer C7. Otherwise, its physical connections are pretty standard and easy to access.
The TP-Link Archer C7 (v2) emerged from our tests as the best router for most people. We’ve tested the Archer C7 against different combinations of routers, at different times, using different setups, for almost an entire year In each testing arrangement, the Archer C7 was the top-performing router across most of our individual tests, often by a lot. The C7 has the performance and range of routers that cost $200 or more, but it usually costs $100 and can often be found for less.
In our most recent tests, we pitted the Archer C7 against two AC1900 routers — T-Mobile’s Personal Cellspot (a modified Asus RT-AC68U, which is normally around $185) and Netgear’s $200 R7000 –as well as the $115 Archer C8, TP-Link’s more-expensive followup to the C7. The C7 beat them all on our short-range tests for 2.4GHz and 5GHz. It wasn’t as fast as any of them on 2.4GHz at long range (surprising to us, since the C7 was usually the fastest router on other versions of this test), but it beat them all again on 5GHz.
Its long-range 2.4GHz signal was still over 22Mbps — faster than most peoples’ home internet connections and seven times faster than a 1080p Netflix stream. And the strength of its long-range 5GHz performance is critical; you’re more likely to pick this band and stick with it, since your wireless-ac devices will only get wireless-ac speeds on 5GHz.
In closing
The TP-Link Archer C7 can’t be beaten for the price. It’s the router we’d recommend to anyone who needs the best performance across the greatest distance. The Archer C7 is also one of the cheapest three-stream routers you can buy — any device you own, or will buy in the near future, will get the fastest wireless connection it can handle.
This guide may have been updated. To see the current recommendation please go to The Wirecutter.com
Filed under:
Networking
Tags: netgear, router, thewirecutter, TP-Link, wifi, wirecutter
LifeCable enables direct charging from an Android or iPhone
We’ve all been in that situation when we’re running out of battery, and there’s nothing you can do but run in circles flailing your arms (or simply plug it in the wall). Well, LifeCable is attempting to make that inconvenience a bit lighter by introducing a cable that allows you to charge your phone from another phone. Yes, that’s nothing new, but what is new is that they claim it will be the first to be able to utilize both iPhone and Android connections.
Put shortly, you can charge your Android with MicroUSB (Sorry, OnePlus Two users) with an iProduct that has the Lightning port, and vice versa. When can you get it? Well, it’s about to launch soon on Indiegogo for backers, so give their website a visit to get reminded for when it goes live.
The post LifeCable enables direct charging from an Android or iPhone appeared first on AndroidGuys.
[Deal] Tronsmart Quick Charge 2.0 devices on sale at Newegg
If you have purchased a new smartphone this year, there is a good chance your device supports Qualcomm’s new Quick Charge 2.0 technology that helps decrease the amount of time it takes to juice up your device. There is also a good chance that your smartphone manufacturer only shipped a regular charger to you instead of a Quick Charge 2.0 charger. If you want to take advantage of some Quick Charge capabilities or just want a good, beefy charger, Newegg is holding a flash sale through Monday for a pair of devices from Tronsmart.
For users on the go, The Tronsmart Quick Charge 2.0 2 port car charger is available for $8.99. This unit provides a total of 30W to 2 ports, one of which is a Quick Charge 2.0 compatible port. The other charger on sale, for $8.35, is the Tronsmart Quick Charge 2.0 18W wall charger. This unit only has one USB port available, but it does include a 6-foot long cable.
In addition to support for Quick Charge 2.0, the Tronsmart chargers use VoltIQ technology and a variety of safeguards to help make sure your devices are protected against charging mishaps. In our hands on testing, we found the Tronsmart chargers to be very well made with a nice quality feel to them and they functioned as expected.
If you want to grab one of these devices, hit the source links below.
source: Newegg (Tronsmart car charger), Newegg (Tronsmart wall charger)
Come comment on this article: [Deal] Tronsmart Quick Charge 2.0 devices on sale at Newegg
[TA Deals] Build a foundation for JavaScript with these free lessons
Programming language JavaScript is used across the web to give webpages their own behavior. So it can actually be pretty useful to have even the slightest bit of knowledge in JavaScript. Through Talk Android Deals, you can get the Zenva ‘Programming for Entrepreneurs’ JavaScript Course and learn how to make interactive web pages and apps.
Here is what the course offers:
- Jump into 38 lectures spanning over 2.5 hours
- Master the building blocks of JavaScript code, namely variables, operations, strings & functions
- Learn to fine-tune your scripts w/ conditional statements & loops
- Complete live coding exercises to practice your newly acquired skills
- Consolidate all your knowledge by completing a final app building project
- Go through lessons at your own pace & on your own schedule
Don’t worry about paying a single penny for this course as it is currently available for free.
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Build a foundation for JavaScript with these free lessons
‘Hunger Games,’ ‘Twilight’ studio is doing a ‘Borderlands’ movie
Lionsgate and two long-time Marvel producers are working on a Borderlands movie and, no, it’s not called Mad Max. Lionsgate is the production company behind Twilight, The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, Warm Bodies and tons of other mainstream flicks, while producers Ari and Avi Arad have worked on the Iron Man, X-Men, Spider-Man and Amazing Spider-Man franchises. Borderlands is a massively popular sci-fi action series that debuted in 2009 under the direction of Gearbox Software and Take-Two Interactive. It takes place on Pandora, an abandoned mining planet, and the games involve crass humor, alien beasts, a class-based RPG system a ridiculous number of guns (16 million, in fact).
In May 2014, Lionsgate hired former Nerdist Industries CEO Peter Levin as president of interactive ventures and games, and he’s one reason the Borderlands deal was greenlit, Lionsgate Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger say in a statement obtained by Vanity Fair. They also offer a hint as to the direction of the Borderlands film:
“The Borderlands games don’t pull any punches, and we’ll make the movie with the same in-your-face attitude that has made the series a blockbuster mega-franchise.”
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick echoes the in-your-face vibes fueling this movie, calling it “a bold, provocative, no-holds-barred motion picture phenomenon.” There’s no word on a release window for the Borderlands film.
Lionsgate is also working on an interactive TV series based on Telltale’s The Walking Dead franchise. Of course, there already is a TV show called The Walking Dead, plus a prequel show called Fear the Walking Dead, and both are rooted in the same source material as Telltale’s games, but there’s always room for improvement.
It’s official. #Borderlands is getting a movie! Details: http://t.co/KW1CCzR7Rt pic.twitter.com/DGrmt5Fte4
— Borderlands (@Borderlands) August 28, 2015
Source:
Vanity Fair
Tags: borderlands, film, hdpostcross, lionsgate+films, movie, movies
Virginia teen gets 11 years for ISIS support on Twitter
17-year-old Ali Shukri Amin from Virginia will spend the next 11 years and 4 months in a federal penitentiary for his role in running the powerful pro-ISIS Twitter account, @Amreekiwitness. This account collected and disseminated ISIS propaganda to more than 4,000 followers and shared instructions for using Bitcoin to secretly fund the terrorist organization. Amin also admitted to helping one of the account’s followers to travel to Syria and join the group. That follower has since been arrested and is facing federal prosecution as well on a conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism charge.
Andrew G. McCabe (R), Assistant Director of the FBI’s Washington Field Office speaks while flanked by Dana J. Boente (L), US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, after a hearing in federal court – Image Credit: Getty Images
This conviction is part of the DoJ’s aggressive push to help control the spread of ISIS influence here in the US, especially through social media. The group “continues to use social media to send their violent and hateful message around the world in an attempt to radicalize, recruit and incite youth and others to support their cause,” John Carlin, Justice Department assistant attorney general for national security, said in a statement. “The Department of Justice will continue to use all tools to disrupt the threats that ISIL poses, and our efforts will be furthered by parents and other members of our community willing to take action to confront and deter this threat wherever it may surface.” To that end, federal authorities state that they’ve arrested more than a dozen individuals over the last few months on charges that they supported terrorist activity.
[Image Credit: Hindustan Times via Getty Images]
Via:
The Hill
Source:
Department of Justice
Tags: Amin, departmentofjustice, FBI, ISIL, ISIS, SocialMedia, syria, terrorism, twitter, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virgini, UnitedStatesAttorney, Virginia
Babolat and PIQ team up for a pair of wrist-worn tennis wearables
The market for connected tennis wearables hasn’t exactly been around for very long, yet equipment maker Babolat has already established itself as something of a veteran in the space with its Play series line of sensor-equipped rackets. But that meant if you wanted the company’s stat-tracking sensor and its easy-to-use app, you also had to buy one of its popular (and pricey) rackets — since the sensor is hardwired to the handle. Babolat’s latest entry, though, doesn’t require quite as much brand loyalty. Today, the French company unveiled the Babolat Pop: a $90 connected tennis wristband that lets players track their groundstrokes, serves and other stats with any racket they want — and, yes, that means other brands as well.Slideshow-315983
In addition to the usual stats (shot type, spin, power, etc.), the Pop can also track other metrics, like your overall playtime and your longest rally. As with its Play series rackets, Babolat touts the Pop’s social skills, which allow you to share your favorite matches with friends and compare yourself to other users and — if you’re up for it — actual pros. If you want to see how you stack up against Babolat-sponsored players like Rafael Nadal or Caroline Wozniacki, here’s your chance. You can also design and issue challenges — if, say, you’re rather proud of a particularly long rally and you’re curious if your friends can top it.
The $179 “Babolat and PIQ” wearable
Babolat and its development partner PIQ (which specializes in sports sensors) expect the Pop to ship in the US this fall for $90. In addition to the tennis-specific Pop, PIQ also announced the $179 “Babolat and PIQ” — a more advanced model that uses the latter company’s multisport sensor. Like the Pop, the “Babolat and PIQ” comes in the form of a wristband-mounted sensor that records your stats in real time. PIQ says its multisport offering tracks data using 13 different axes and includes NFC, Bluetooth Low Energy and a built-in display. Despite the differences in price and features, PIQ says both models will share the same user community.Slideshow-315985
I’ve spent some on-court time with Babolat’s Play series rackets in the past and came away impressed by both the stat-tracking and the app’s social and gamification features. Hopefully I can get some hands-on time with the Pop as well as the “Babolat and PIQ” model. If the wrist-based sensors can offer a similar level of data in a cheaper and brand-agnostic package, Babolat and PIQ may have some winners on their hands.
[Image credits: Babolat (Babolat Pop wearable); PIQ (“Babolat and PIQ” wearable)]
Tags: Babolat, Babolat Play, Nadal, PIQ, Tennis, Wearables
Intel’s Skylake Processor Lineup for Retina MacBook Revealed
Following a closer look at Intel’s upcoming Skylake processor lineup for the MacBook Air, CPU World has shared new details about sixth-generation Core M chips appropriate for the 12-inch Retina MacBook. Intel reportedly may brand the low-power Skylake-Y chips as Core m3, Core m5 and Core m7 based on performance.
The low-end Core m3 6Y30 has a 900 MHz dual-core processor with Turbo Boost up to 2.2 GHz. The chip has 4MB of L3 cache, HD 515 graphics, a maximum GPU frequency of 850 MHz and 4.5 watt thermal design power (TDP). This chip would likely be suited for the base model 12-inch MacBook sold for $1,299.
The mid-tier Core m5 6Y54 and Core m5 6Y57 are similar chips with 1.1 GHz dual-core processors and Turbo Boost up to 2.7 GHz and 2.8 GHz respectively, 4MB of L3 cache, HD 515 graphics, a maximum GPU frequency of 900 MHz and 4.5 watt TDP. These chips would likely be suited for the high-end stock model 12-inch MacBook sold for $1,599.
The high-end Core m5 6Y75 is a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz, 4MB of L3 cache, HD 515 graphics, a maximum GPU frequency of 1 GHz and 4.5 watt TDP. This chip would be suited for the top of the line 12-inch MacBook model that carries a $150 premium over systems with the high-end stock chip.
CPU World shared further details about the processor specifications, noting that Core M chips can be run at 7 watts to allow for higher CPU clock speeds. Apple boosted the 900 MHz 5Y31 chip to 1.1 GHz, 1.1 GHz 5Y51 chip to 1.2 GHz and 1.2 GHz 5Y71 chip to 1.3 GHz for the current 12-inch MacBook lineup.
All chips have up to 2 SATA 6Gb/s ports, 10 lanes of PCI-Express interface, 6 USB2/USB3 ports and eMMC 5.0 interface. They support USB OTG and Rapid Storage Technology 14. The Core m microprocessors work with DDR3L-1600 and LPDDR3-1866 memory, and they are rated at 4.5 watt TDP and 3 watt SDP. They can also run at higher 7 watt TDP if needed.
Last month, a leaked Intel slide deck revealed that “Y” series Skylake processors appropriate for the 12-inch Retina MacBook will have up to 17% faster CPU performance, up to 41% faster Intel HD graphics and up to 1.4 hours longer battery life compared to current-generation Core M architecture.
Intel’s sixth-generation Core M processors are expected to launch next month, possibly at the IFA Berlin trade show this September 4-9.
AIVAnet 