‘Mafia III’ looks like the 1968 version of ‘True Detective’
The first trailer for Mafia III takes us down to the American bayou in 1968, tied up and bloodied in the backseat of a car while Vietnam veteran Lincoln Clay menacingly espouses the true meaning of “family.” Clay is Mafia III‘s main character and he represents a shift away from the snappily dressed, mainly white mobsters of previous Mafia games. Clay is an orphan who finds his family in the black mob of New Orleans, and when the Italian mob slaughters his new kin, Clay vows revenge and turns the city’s organized-crime power structure on its head. Mafia III is due to hit Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC in 2016.Slideshow-309721
Mafia III is helmed by a new 2K studio, Hangar 13, which is in turn led by award-winning Star Wars: The Force Unleashed writer Haden Blackman. The game offers players a choice in how to run Clay’s burgeoning crime empire, whether via violent, brute force, or through stealth and deception.
“In Mafia III, we are introducing players to an unexpected new anti-hero and an iconic city to explore, all within a hard-boiled drama set during one of the most turbulent years in American history,” Blackman says in a press release.
MAFIA III worldwide announce trailer! Hangar 13’s first game. So proud to be part of this… https://t.co/IW1F6THGHo
— Haden Blackman (@HadenBlackman) August 5, 2015
Tags: 2k, Hangar13, hdpostcross, Mafia3, MafiaIII
Windows 10 has a $15 DVD player app that you shouldn’t buy
Microsoft may have inadvertently made a good case for embracing movie downloads and streams. The company has released an official DVD Player app that lets you play old-school disc-based movies in Windows 10. Sounds convenient, right? It is, but there’s one big problem: it’s $15. Yes, if you got your Windows 10 upgrade for free, it’ll cost you more to play that dusty copy of Armageddon in DVD Player than it did to get an entire operating system.
It wouldn’t be surprising if DVD licensing costs are a factor behind the pricing, as the patents behind the technology still aren’t cheap. However, you don’t really need to pay anything to watch these titles — free apps like VLC will not only play DVDs, but many of the formats that Windows 10 can’t handle out of the box. And did we mention that the official software doesn’t do Blu-ray movies? Unless you’re holding on to a large DVD collection and insist on first-party programs for your PC-based viewing, you’ll probably better off either using an alternative app or signing up for a streaming video subscription.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, Software, HD, Microsoft
Via:
Windows Central
Source:
Microsoft Store
Tags: dvd, dvdplayer, hdpostcross, microsoft, software, windows, windows10, windowsdvdplayer
New Nintendo smartphone concept by CURVED/labs teases us once again
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It seems like there are some talented designers out there who have taken the rumour of a Nintendo smartphone and run with it, despite the face that Nintendo has officially denied the rumours. After the Smart Boy concept that surfaced last month, CURVED/labs have tried their hand at a Nintendo smartphone concept, and we have to say, it’s even better than the last one. Unlike the Smart Boy, which was influenced the ancient Nintendo Game Boy, this Nintendo smartphone concept takes its essence from a much more recent console, the Wii-U. With the badge “Wii-M”, the smartphone appears to have been imagined much like the tablet-like controller of the Wii-U, and even has retro and current controller add-ons available. Check out some images below:
Concepts like this really make you wish that Nintendo would consider making a Nintendo smartphone – if they aren’t already and just aren’t telling us. As listed on the CURVED website, here are the full specs of the Nintendo smartphone concept:
- 4.5-inch display with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass
- Dimensions: 67mm x 126mm x 9mm (with open Pad: 67mm x 196mm x 9mm)
- LTE, NFC, GPS, Wireless Charging
- Slider gamepad, which extends at your fingertips
- Button design either in classic or modern NES Wii controller look
- Control over gamepad and sensors possible
- illuminated Home button
- 64 gigabytes of internal memory for games
- physical buttons for volume and power
- Rear camera with 8 megapixels, front camera with five megapixels
- customized Android with its own Wii Menu. Games can be streamed from the Wii and WiiU on smartphone and further gamble seamlessly.
- Seamless Play with Wii and WiiU consoles via Nintendo Network
- Available as “classic” or “modern” version available in black and white
- Wireless Charging
What do you think about this Nintendo smartphone concept? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post New Nintendo smartphone concept by CURVED/labs teases us once again appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google Fiber: next stop, San Antonio
We haven’t heard much from Google Fiber since last January, when 4 new markets were added to the list, but this doesn’t mean the team is slowing down. The Search Giant has just announced a new market will get its super fast gigabit internet – San Antonio, Texas.
This is not much to celebrate for the vast majority of us, but our fellow San Antonio techies will be glad to hear this. This market holds 1.4 million residents and is said to be one of the largest and fastest growing cities in the country. Google aims to push the industry further by offering its internet/TV services, which are both outstanding and amazingly affordable. It’s actually free for some, and even if you don’t opt for the 5 Mbps, $70 a month for 1 Gbps is insanely cheap!
Regardless, it will still be a while before we see Google Fiber actually launching in San Antonio, as they have yet to enter the design phases.
“We’ll work closely with city leaders over the next several months to plan the layout of over 4,000 miles of fiber-optic cables—enough to stretch to Canada and back—across the metro area.” -Mark Strama, Head of Google Fiber, Texas
Today we can honestly say Texans are very lucky. One of the first markets to get access to Google’s internet services was Austin, and now its neighbor is being blessed by what could be the best internet provider in the country. Meanwhile, California, Google’s home state, is still struggling to get in on the action! I suppose we can’t do anything but continue to wait. Interested in learning about the markets where Google Fiber is available? Here’s a neat map with all the details.
So – are any of you looking to get Google Fiber once it becomes available in San Antonio? How many of you have already been enjoying it? Hit the comments and share your thoughts with us!
How is Google fixing the Stagefright vulnerability that affects 95% of all Android phones?
The Stagefright vulnerability is likely the biggest Android security scare we have seen in a years. And of course, this exploit leaves 95% of all Android users susceptible to attacks, which could easily be triggered by using a simple MMS message.
We know Google is working hard to keep Android and all its services as secure as possible. Google’s lead Android security engineer Adrian Ludwig reminded us of a few ways the Search Giant keeps us safe from hackers, just some days ago. He then took the stage at cybersecurity conference BlackHat, where he specified what Google is doing to fix this specific weakness in the Android ecosystem. Let’s dig into the details!
Security updates pushing out today!
Ludwig mentions the MountanView-based company has started sending out security fixes to Nexus devices this Wednesday, something we reported on today. In addition, these improvements have been sent out to all partners, allowing manufacturers to send out their necessary OTA updates.
It shouldn’t take long before all major smartphones get the highly anticipated upgrade. Google states most popular phones should be ready in August. This would include devices like the “Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge, the HTC One M7, One M8, and One M9, the LG G2, G3, and G4, Sony Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, Xperia Z4, and Xperia Z3 Compact as well as all Android One devices.”
In addition, Nexus devices will get security updates every single month. Samsung is doing the same.
Android Messenger app also being improved
The main issue about the Stagefright exploit is that it required no user interaction. An attacker could gain control of your device without you viewing, downloading or interacting with the handset. Hell, you didn’t even need to pull it out of your pocket! This raised immense security concerns, of course, and Google has decided to do something about this, as well.
While it’s convenient to have MMS files automatically downloaded and displayed, such is never the safest route. In wake of these risks, Google’s official Messenger app is being updated and stripped of the ability to automatically download video files from MMS messages. Now the user will have to to click on a video in order to view it.
Wrapping up
Of course, Ludwig goes on to talk about his awesome ASLR technology, which is said to protect 90% of all Android users from vulnerabilities like Stagefright. Regardless, it was important for these issues to be addressed, and we are glad Google took things seriously and fixed everything in a timely fashion. Now we can all take a breath and continue getting those memes from our friends!
More photos of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 emerge, show us the device with the screen on
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This latest Galaxy Note from Samsung appears to be its worst-kept secret yet – case in point, we’ve got more photos of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 to look at, and they even show us what part of the user interface is going to look like. The pictured device looks like it should be very nearly the finished product, and gives us a great tour of the device’s curves in fully lit photos.
As expected, the back of the device is curved, giving it the appearance of a back-to-front Galaxy S6 Edge, and should result in a better feel in the hand. Droid-life has also apparently been told that the S-Pen is going to be spring-loaded, which explains why the S-Pen appears to be flush with the bottom of the Note 5 in all the images we’ve seen.
We also get a look at the UI of the Note 5 which shows us that abstract Samsung wallpaper we’ve all be expecting as well as what looks like an updated Air Command, which will give S-Pen users even more options to play with. The source of these photos also says that the Note 5 will not have a microSD slot and will have a 3,000mAh non-removable battery. We doubt this is going to be the last we see of the Note 5 before its announcement event on August 13th.
What do you think about the photos of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Droid-life
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Microsoft and Netflix help diversity by offering more parental leave
There are a few ways to increase the number of women working at tech companies. Intel is offering referral bonuses, for example, while other firms are trying more inclusive hiring policies. However, many companies don’t do much to accommodate motherhood — how are you supposed to feel welcome when you might have to take unpaid time off (or worse, quit) just to raise your newborn child? Microsoft and Netflix are clearly aware of that problem, though, as they’re boosting the level of paid parental leave offered to both mothers and fathers.
As of November 1st, Microsoft will up the amount of paid parental leave from 8 weeks to 12, with mothers getting both an additional 8 weeks after birth as well as more opportunities to use short-term disability benefits near their due dates. You can split that 12-week period into two, and return to work on a “half-time” basis if you’re not yet ready to jump in with both feet. Netflix, meanwhile, is promising “unlimited” parental leave in the first year after birth or an adoption. You can not only take off as much time as you need, but dictate your schedule. Want a brief stint of full-time work, or a few months part-time? You’re set.
It’s too soon to tell how well these measures will help an industry where women face numerous other challenges, such as an educational culture that tends to discourage women engineers. With that said, the moves should help mitigate (and sometimes eliminate) the child-or-career dilemma that frequently crops up in the tech world, where the relentless pace and frequent overtime can make it very hard to have a family life. This doesn’t do much to create time for your kid later on, but it at least gives you a chance to settle in to your parental role before making big decisions about your working hours.
[Image credit: Alamy]
Source:
Official Microsoft Blog, Netflix Blog
Tags: children, diversity, maternityleave, microsoft, netflix, parentalleave, parents, paternityleave, women
Adidas buys Runtastic to boost its fitness tech
Adidas is no stranger to technology by any means, but it clearly feels that it needs a leg up — the fitness equipment maker has bought fitness tech firm Runtastic for just shy of $240 million. Both companies are wonderfully vague about what the deal entails, beyond extolling the virtues of a “perfect match” and helping Adidas “unleash its knowledge of sport.” However, you’ll be glad to hear that this isn’t likely to deprive you of those all-important apps or wearables. Runtastic will live as a separate entity within Adidas, and it doesn’t expect much to change on a day-to-day basis. For the most part, this means more cash and technical possibilities.
The deal could help Adidas keep pace with a fitness industry where having a good app is as important as a high-performance pair of athletic shoes. Runtastic got its start in activity-tracking software, and it could help fend off Nike and other competitors that have a strong track record with apps. Also, the smaller company has experience with technology that Adidas hasn’t really explored, like virtual reality — this gives Adidas some know-how that it would otherwise have to develop from scratch.
Filed under:
Wearables, Software
Tags: acquisition, adidas, fitness, health, runtastic, software, sports, wearable
Moto X Pure Edition (2015) gets new options in MotoMaker
MotoMaker will have new customization options for the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition (2015).
This new Moto X, which is scheduled to appear in September of this year with a minimum $399.99 price-point, can be stylized with Anodized AL frames. Colors for the frames include Champagne, Dark Gray, and Silver. Keep in mind that Motorola may have more exclusive choices for the device planned.
Also, expect the current range of options available to the regular Moto X. These include accents in colors such as Metallic Orange, Metallic Lemone, Metallic Blue, and Metallic Red, a White or Black front, four choices for leather panels, and four choices for wood panels.
With MotoMaker, Motorola easily could have given less options, and still, it would have been seen as unique and pro-consumer. And yet, the company’s willingness to give more customizations with each year also shows its commitment to stay relevant in an industry where even smartphones by one manufacturer can look similar to that of a competitor.
Source: Android Community via Droid-Life
The post Moto X Pure Edition (2015) gets new options in MotoMaker appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung puts an end to Boxee’s secret project, lays off dozens of employees
The plan for Samsung to develop a dedicated media tablet to replace the television remote has come to an end. The team working on the project, largely Boxee employees that transferred to Samsung in 2013, have been laid off as a result. The project, known internally as Perfect Experience, would have competed with Chromecast and other streaming devices while being unique.
Variety, the publication that learned of PX’s cancellation, describes what Samsung was working on:
At the center of PX, which had been in development for around two years, was a dedicated media tablet that aimed to replace the traditional TV remote. The tablet was supposed to give users access to a unified guide with listings of live TV and streaming content with a custom-built user interface that looked unlike any traditional multi-purpose mobile device, according to multiple sources familiar with the project.
Content from streaming services and television providers were among the partnerships Samsung was seeking out. Other than that, PX probably would have operated like Android TV does today. The only difference would have been the hardware and software controlling everything. Samsung likely would have had an advantage by bundling the tablet with its high-end televisions.
A debut was initially pegged for CES 2015, but delays pushed the launch to late 2015. Following even more delays, a release was forced into 2016. Variety reports that content providers were balking at Samsung’s desire to have content embedded into PX’s guide; therefore, users would have been able to skip apps entirely. Organizational conflict was also mentioned as a possibility leading to the project’s end.
Former Boxee CEO Aver Ronen was working with Samsung, too, and is among the employees that have left Samsung.
A Samsung representative commented on the report: “It is our policy to not comment on rumors, speculation or personnel matters.” The rep went on to note that the company will continue investing in areas that “enhance the Samsung experience” for consumers.
Come comment on this article: Samsung puts an end to Boxee’s secret project, lays off dozens of employees
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