Hearthstone’s The Grand Tournament opens on August 24th
Last month Blizzard Entertainment revealed they were preparing a new expansion for their Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft title called The Grand Tournament. They originally indicated the new contest would launch some time in August and now the date has been revealed as August 24th.
When The Grand Tournament opens, players will find 132 new cards available and an all-new game board. In addition, a new game mechanic called Inspire will be available for players to use to rally their minions. You can check out the trailer for The Grand Tournament below while you wait for Monday, August 24th to roll around.
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: Blizzard Entertainment
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Google’s Project Fi app now lets you manage your account from any device running Android 5.1+
Google’s new Project Fi cellular service still only works on unlocked Nexus 6 smartphones, but today the official Project Fi Android app is getting an update that will make managing your account much easier.
If you happen to be a current Project Fi subscriber and own multiple Android devices, you’re probably aware that you can only manage your Project Fi account from your unlocked Nexus 6. That’s changing today with this new update, which now allows users to manage their accounts from any device running Android 5.1 and above.
Project Fi allows subscribers to utilize the service on any device with Google Hangouts installed, but up until now, account management needed to be done solely on the Nexus 6. And to clarify, this doesn’t mean Google is getting ready to expand the service to other devices, it just means users’ accounts will now be much easier to manage.
See also: Google’s wireless service is official, dubbed Project Fi (Update: app hits Google Play)
In addition to these account management features, the update also brings an improved international roaming experience as well as activation and connectivity improvements. Check out the full changelog below for more details:
- Account management from devices other than your Nexus 6! The app now works on any phone or tablet running Android 5.1 and up. More info here: https://goo.gl/9FR6UH
- Improved international roaming experience – more reliable country detection for a better Project Fi experience when you’re traveling!
- Improvements to activation and connectivity experience
If you’re a Fi subscriber and would like the latest version of the app, head to the link below for the download.
BlackPhone 2 available for pre-order; shipping in September
The security-focused Blackphone 2 is now available for pre-order for all the privacy conscious users out there who want a solid phone that offers enterprise-level security.
The company says that the Android-based Silent OS it uses, combined with its own curated apps, ensures encrypted and private communications. With end-to-end encryption for video, audio, and text messaging, the Blackphone 2 can provide up to 100MB of secure file transfers and users can have their own permissions configured.
With a 5.5-inch display, a 64-bit 1.7GHz Octa-Core processor and a generous 3GB RAM, the Blackphone 2 offers a secure solution with top specs.
The Blackphone 2 is being aimed at enterprise customers so as such pricing is yet to be revealed, but the previous model came in at $629.
Would you buy a security focused Android device such as the Blackphone 2?
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7 real-life cyborg implants
By Cat DiStasio
Medical technology advances faster than the speed of light, or at least that’s the way it seems sometimes. These days, there are implants to treat all sorts of afflictions, and researchers are developing new medical devices that can help a person become a little more human than human. You can implant a bionic lens to get superhuman eyesight, get a tattoo to manage diabetes and — someday soon, hopefully — use a wireless device to control fertility. Read on for more amazing medical implants that can enhance your life in ways you never thought possible.Slideshow-313706
Tags: cyborg, cyborgs, inhabitat, partner, syndicated
US Open exhibit pits you against Maria Sharapova in VR
From real-time match updates to performance analytics and the Hawk-Eye, the US Open has been upping its technology quotient over the last few years. This year the two-week grand slam tournament is opening its hard courts to virtual reality with the “You vs. Sharapova” experience. If you have a ticket to watch the live action at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, you can swing by one of the three VR stations and strap on an HTC Vive to be Maria Sharapova’s opponent.
It’s all part of American Express’ consumer slash fan experience at the tournament. Instead of passively watching or standing still, as is the case with most VR experiences, you get to swing a racket in an attempt to return Sharapova’s 100MPH simulated serve on the court. The CGI-version of the world no 2 athlete was reportedly created in a California VR studio over nine hours. “I think our sport has grown so much because we as players have been able to get closer to the fans, especially through social media,” Sharapova told ESPN.com. “This takes it to another level.”
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1
[Image credit: Clive Brunskill via Getty Images]
Tags: HTCVive, MariaSharapova, tennis, TennisVR, USOpen, VirtualReality
DirecTV’s first 4K set-top box works with any screen
DirecTV only kinda-sorta launched 4K programming last year. You had to own both a specific DVR and a compatible Samsung TV to watch those extra-crispy documentaries and movies, which left many 4K TV owners ‘stuck’ with 1080p. It’s going to be a lot easier after today, though — the newly AT&T-owned provider has trotted out its first 4K set-top box, the 4K Genie Mini. The tiny device (roughly the size of a paperback) will deliver 4K to any set that can handle the higher resolution, not just DirecTV 4K Ready models. It’ll handle Dolby Digital Plus audio, too, if you happen to have an eligible surround sound setup. This is still a long, long way from watching regular TV in 4K, but it should give you more to watch on that super-sharp display than the occasional Amazon or Netflix show.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, HD, AT&T
Source:
AT&T
Tags: 4k, 4kgeniemini, att, directv, geniemini, hdpostcross, satellite, set-topbox, settopbox, television, tv, ultrahd
Intel’s Skylake Chips Will Drive Three 4K Monitors at 60Hz
Intel has shared new details about its faster, more power-efficient Skylake processors at IDF 2015 in San Francisco. PCWorld reports that Intel engineers have suggested the sixth-generation Core processors could launch in around “two weeks,” setting the stage for a possible announcement of new chips appropriate for Macs at the IFA Berlin trade show on September 4-9.
Skylake processors will feature improved Iris Pro integrated graphics capable of driving up to three 4K monitors at 60Hz, whereas Haswell architecture could drive a single 4K monitor at 30Hz and Broadwell architecture could handle a single 4K monitor at 60Hz. Skylake will also have fixed-function support for 4K video processing in hardware and support for the latest APIs: DirectX 12, OpenCL 2 and OpenGL 4.4.
Intel’s six generations of processor graphics (Image: Ars Technica)
PC World:
That means Intel has dedicated transistors directly to the job of decoding and encoding 4K. In one demonstration showing playback of a 4K RAW video stream from a Canon video camera, playback was smooth using the Skylake graphics chip, while using just the CPU, it would constantly drop frames.
Skylake architecture is also more power efficient thanks to a new power-saving feature called Speed Shift, which allows the CPU to intelligently adjust its power state for extended battery life. Skylake CPUs are also more efficient overall and feature eDRAM+, which can cache information, for increased performance.
In June, Intel introduced Thunderbolt 3 with a USB Type-C connector and support for USB 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2 and PCI Express 3.0. The new spec, rumored to launch alongside Intel’s next-generation Skylake chips, is capable of driving up to two 4K external displays at 60Hz or a single 5K display at 60Hz running off a single cable.
Last month, a leaked Intel slide deck revealed that Skylake processors will provide a 10%-20% CPU performance boost in single and multi-threaded applications, with lower power consumption, and 30% faster Intel HD integrated graphics performance on average compared to current-generation Broadwell processors. The improved energy efficiency will also result in up to 30% longer battery life.
Intel’s Skylake processors appropriate for the MacBook Air were also leaked last week.
Google News adding seven new languages over the next few days
Google has announced that its Google News app will be receiving an upgrade for support of an additional seven languages. Google News already supports 28 languages over 45 countries, and Google is looking to add more to its arsenal.
The change won’t happen right away. It’ll come over the next few days with Romanian first on Google’s list. Followed is Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali, Bulgarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Thai.
Google says the languages will roll out in that order, so it shouldn’t be long before you can read Google News in a few more countries as well as languages.
These new language editions should let a little over an additional 260 million people be able to read Google News worldwide. Additionally, Google says more languages are on there way, and to be on the look out for them over the coming months.
Google wants to provide Google News in many languages as possible. How long will it be before Google can provide a service where its News app is available in every tongue?
source: Google
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Square Enix’s Lara Croft GO launching August 27 in an app store near you
Square Enix today announced that Lara Croft GO will launch on Android, iOS, and Windows Phone on August 27. Mobile took the stage at this years E3 2015 convention, and Lara Croft GO was one of many mobile titles announced to launch this year.
Lara Croft GO will primarily be a turn-based puzzle game and will run users $4.99 to pick it up from their respective app stores.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Much like Square Enix’s Hitman GO, Lara Croft GO seems to be a fairly impressive game as far as mobile graphics and gameplay go.
Only one more week until the game launches. Anyone plan on picking it up come August 27?
source: Square Enix
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Pocket Casts’ new Nearby tab shows what others are listening to
Pocket Casts, one of the best podcast apps available, has received an update that allows you to see what others are listening to. Now you’ll never be left out of a conversation because you know exactly which podcasts are popular among those around you.
The Discover section now has a Nearby tab that displays what friends, classmates, co-workers, or anyone else nearby is streaming on Pocket Casts. It also shows how many people are listening to a specific podcast.
Shifty Jelly describes the new feature:
We live life in the fast lane. Not just us, you too Fred, and you, Sally. When was the last time you stopped to smell the roses, or made time to connect with someone? Introducing, Nearby for Pocket Casts Android.
You can now open up the Nearby tab in Discover to find nearby Android Pocket Casts users (get them to do the same), and see what they’re listening to, easily subscribe and share your own subscriptions. It’s never been easier to discover great new podcasts and spread the word.
Source: Shifty Jelly
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AIVAnet 