‘Myst’-inspired game ‘The Witness’ hits PS4 and PC in January
The Witness has been cloaked in a fair bit of mystery since Jonathan Blow started working on it in 2009, right after the rabid success of his first game, Braid. Now, we finally have some concrete information: The Witness will launch on PlayStation 4 and PC on January 26th, 2016. Blow and his team announced the release date in a new (4K, 60fps) trailer that shows off the game’s latest graphics and a bit of puzzle-based gameplay.
The Witness takes place on a gorgeous 3D island that appears to be packed with secrets and an odd mix of technology and ruins. It’s a big, dense game with 677 puzzles at last count. The Witness is visually reminiscent of The Talos Principle — a brilliant 3D, first-person puzzle game from Croteam — but Blow says that’s where the similarities end.
“I think these two games are ultimately about very different subjects, and were made for very different reasons, and you feel the differences when you play,” he told Engadget in February. “That said, it is likely that someone interested in one game may be interested in the other game.”
Blow definitely hopes plenty of people are interested in The Witness — over the past six years, he’s poured all of the money he made from Braid (millions of dollars) into his second game.
Source:
Jonathan Blow (YouTube)
Tags: hdpostcross, JonathanBlow, pc, ps4, STEAM, TheWitness
The Wirecutter’s best deals: a rugged Panasonic camera and more
This post was created in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
Panasonic DMC-TS6D Camera
Street Price: $280; MSRP: $300; Deal Price: $240
This deal is at Amazon, through the third party Adorama, and beats the lowest price we’ve seen on this model by almost $40. Interestingly enough, it’s $5 more at Adorama’s site, so it’s a better bet to buy it through Amazon. This price currently applies to all 4 models available, orange, blue, red, and camouflage.
The Panasonic DMC-TS6D is our runner-up pick for best waterproof camera. Brent Rose said, “If our main pick is unavailable, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS6 is a good alternative. Autofocus doesn’t work as quickly and macro doesn’t turn out so well, but the photos it takes can be just as bright and poppy (use the Happy color profile). Its video is smoother, with more detail.”
Tronsmart’s Quick Charge 2.0 42W Travel Charger
Street Price: $20; MSRP: $40; Deal Price: $12 with code JANQXRAX
This is the best price we’ve seen on this Tronsmart charger. You have to use the code JANQXRAX to knock it down to $12, and it comes with free shipping with Amazon Prime.
The is one of our recommended picks for a Quick Charge 2.0 multiport USB charger.Nick Guy wrote, “Tronsmart’s Quick Charge 2.0 42W 3 Port Wall Travel Charger ($20) and Aukey’s Quick Charge 2.0 42W 3 Ports USB Desktop Charging Station ($23) are three-port chargers that are essentially identical to each other and work equally well. Each includes one Quick Charge port, along with two others that provide up to 2.4 Amps each, so you should buy whichever happens to be less expensive.”
Anova Precision Cooker WiFi Pre-Order
Street Price: $180; MSRP: $200; Deal Price: $150 with code WIFI
This is a pre-order so you won’t get the device until it ships in October, and you might consider waiting to see if they do any bigger discounts over the holidays.
Anova loves their coupon codes, but we haven’t seen one since the beginning of summer. This code is for their new version that includes support for both WiFi and Bluetooth (instead of just Bluetooth like the older version). While the discount is not nearly as big as the one on Father’s Day (down to $130), it’s still $30 cheaper than the current price of the Bluetooth version.
The Precision Cooker is our favorite piece of sous vide gear. Tim Barribeau said he likes it because “It’s one of the cheapest ways to get into sous vide cooking, and thanks to an innovative adjustable attachment system, the new Anova works with a much smaller volume of water than the previous iteration did.” He added that it “improves on the old design with a simpler, scroll wheel-based interface, which is preferable to the slow-to-adjust touchscreen on the original Anova.”
TomTom Runner Cardio
Street Price: $220; MSRP: $230; Deal Price: $175
This is the best price we’ve seen on this GPS running watch by about $25 and quite a bit under the current street price. Woot has a mandatory $5 shipping charge, so we’ve included that in the deal price.
The TomTom Runner Cardio is our pick for the best GPS running watch guide that has heart-rate tracking without a chest strap. Jim McDannald wrote, “Compared to the Adidas Smart Run, the TomTom Runner Cardio features a much longer battery life and is priced more modestly at $230. Besides a thicker band and new sensor, the overall design and menus are almost identical to our current budget GPS running watch pick, the TomTom Runner.”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.
Filed under:
Cameras, Misc, Household, Peripherals, Wearables
Tags: anova, anovaprecisioncooker, dmc-ts6d, panasonic, partner, runnercardio, syndicated, thewirecutter, tomtom, tomtomrunnercardio, tronsmart, wirecutter
T-Mobile expands its international coverage to 20 more countries
T-Mobile announced on Thursday that it is expanding its international coverage by adding 20 countries and locations to its Simple Global plan. This program gives subscribers unlimited data and text (plus $.20/minute calls) in 145 countries. The expansion incorporates the Bahamas and Haiti as well as nine European nations. According to a T-Mobile release, the Simple Global plan covers “more than 90 percent of the trips Americans take abroad each year,” including all of Europe and South America.
“We’ve just made your traveling even easier in 20 more destinations around the world, expanding Simple Global to cover all of Europe and all of South America,” John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile, said in a statement. “The carriers have made billions overcharging consumers who just want to stay connected overseas, and we’ve changed all that! Today, we made it even simpler to text, search or keep up on social media in a total of 145 countries and destinations, all at no extra cost!”
[Image Credit: top – AFP/Getty Images, inline – T-Mobile]
Filed under:
Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
Source:
T-Mobile
Tags: Europe, Haiti, mobilepostcross, SimpleGlobal, South America, T-Mobile, The Bahamas
MyFord Mobile now lets you check up on your electric vehicle with Android Wear
Ford has just released an update to its MyFord Mobile application for Android that brings support for Android Wear smartwatches. This means owners can now check their battery charge level, determine driving range before a trip, and even locate where their vehicle is parked – all from their wrists.
Designed by Ford engineers with both round and square watches in mind, the app works with Ford electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Specifically, the app is geared towards owners of the Ford C-MAX Energi, Ford Focus Electric and Ford Fusion Energi. The Android Wear version of the app was built to compliment the smartphone version, which launched on Android back in 2012. In addition to the features listed above, here are some other things you’ll be able to accomplish from your wrist:
- Range and charge status for battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles
- Capability to initiate preconditioning of vehicle cabin remotel
- Locking/unlocking capability
- Vehicle mileage summary
- Last trip summary includes personal driving score, percentage of electric vehicle miles
- Vehicle location provides walking or driving directions back to your parked car
Also included in this big update is support for pinch/zoom functionality in Google Maps within the smartphone version of the app, which will help to better provide availability of nearby charging stations.
To get a better look at what this app can do with Android Wear, check out the promotional video below.
The update is now live in the Google Play Store. If you’re the owner of one of the vehicles listed above, follow the link below for the download.
Verizon version of Nextbit Robin coming to Kickstarter tomorrow
Earlier this week we learned that Nextbit was working to possibly bring its Robin phone to the Verizon and Sprint networks, and now it’s official, at least in regards to Big Red. Nextbit has informed us that the Verizon version of the Robin will go on sale tomorrow, September 18th.
This CDMA model will be available for $299 for the first 300 devices, and after that the Kickstarter price will raise to $349. Aside from the band changes, the phone should still offer all the same specs as the standard GSM version.
As a refresher, that means you get a Snapdragon 808 processor with 3 GB of RAM, a 5.2-inch 1080p display, 32 GB of internal storage, 100 GB of cloud storage, a 13 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front cam, dual front-facing speakers, and a 2680 mAh battery. For more details, check out our first quick look.
There are still some unknowns here, such as whether Nextbit has directly reached an agreement with Verizon or simply is using compatible bands that “should” work with the network. All we know is that activating unlocked devices to Verizon often causes headaches, even when it shouldn’t from a compatibility standpoint. Hopefully Nexbit will have better luck in this area.
It is also important to note that Nextbit hasn’t mentioned Sprint just yet. That means that they are probably still working to obtain capability (and/or a partnership) with the Now Network, though hopefully an announcement towards that end isn’t too far off.
What do you think, any Verizon customers out there interested in the Robin? Are you excited to see more unlocked devices getting support for Big Red in the wake of the death of contracts, even if activation hurdles still haven’t completely subsided? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
How to recover deleted SMS messages on Android
You never get used to that gut-wrenching moment when one realizes a very important SMS message or thread has just been deleted. What do you do now? Desperate users will go through anything to save those crucial messages if the trashed information is important enough. Recovering deleted messages is no easy feat, but jumping some hoops will definitely get you somewhere. There are some chances you can get those precious text messages back, and we can help you get to them!
Did you ever hear people say that files don’t necessarily disappear from your computer when you delete them? This is definitely true. All those files are hidden somewhere in the hard drive, waiting to be retrieved… or replaced. This is exactly what happens with Android phones as well. Everything we delete, including SMS messages, sticks around until enough time passes by and/or the space is needed to store other data.
A little about how deletion works
You may still be wondering how this is even possible. It’s actually not a very complicated concept once we understand how deletion works. In most cases, trashing a file (in this case an SMS or MMS message) doesn’t really erase it from the system; or at least it doesn’t do it right away.
Your device will simply mark this file as inactive. In other words, it is made invisible and replaceable. As you continue using your device and adding new files, these start replacing “deleted” content. In other words, it is best that you stop using your phone if you really need to recover that text message, because it may get permanently wiped out after some time.
Carriers often have all your texts stored
This is not necessarily a solution, but it is still information that may be helpful in some cases. As it turns out, many wireless providers store your text messaging records and other data for extended periods of time (here is a chart with carrier data retention periods). The only problem is they will likely not release that information to you simply because you accidentally deleted something.
However, some carriers may cooperate with the police if necessary. These companies have also been known to help users facing legal complications, as these messages could serve as evidence in a court of law. This won’t help most of us, though, so let’s move on to what you can do to actually obtain results.
Use data recovery software
So it’s all lost and you really, really want that text message. It may be possible to obtain it by using data recovery software, which can scan your phone for “deleted” content and retrieve whatever may still be in existence.
Doing a simple Google search will show you plenty of data recovery tools for Android devices. Some are free, some are not, but many of the paid ones still offer a free trial period. Some of the most popular ones are Android Data Recovery, Dr. Fone, Coolmuster Android SMS+Contacts Recovery and FonePaw Android Data Recovery.
After you have the software, the process is pretty straight forward. Just install the program on your PC and run it. The only trick is that you will need to turn USB Debugging on. This option is under Developer Tools, in your Android Settings app.
Each software has its own specific steps. Some will require you to use an Android app to load everything to the computer, while other services can have the PC software do all the heavy lifting. Just make sure you follow instructions for your specific program.
After you let the program do its thing, you should be presented with all the files you can recover.
Making sure this doesn’t happen again
You just realized this whole retrieving deleted text messages isn’t exactly an easy feat. And it shouldn’t really be… you just got rid of the darn thing! You just happen to be lucky computing devices work a certain way. Regardless, the best way to solve something is to prevent it. There’s many apps that can help you backup your text messages, as well as other content. Let’s take a look at some of them.
SMS Backup & Restore
This is among the most popular backup apps of its kind, with over 5 million downloads and a 4.5-star rating. And it’s no wonder the service managed to get such a good reputation – it is free to download and happens to have a pretty full set of features.
For starters, this application can store your text messages in XML format. It’s also very convenient that the software can save your data both locally and in the cloud. It supports Email, Google Drive and Dropbox (through an add-on app). To make matters even more exciting, users can even schedule automatic updates, making sure you don’t forget to store your SMS messages manually.
Easy Backup & Restore
Need something that covers a bit more than SMS messages? Easy Backup & Restore does very well for being a free app. This is a full-fledged backup solution that can store your SMS, MMS, call logs, calendar, bookmarks, dictionary contacts and apps.
It also happens to support SD cards, Gmail, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box and even OneDrive. And yes, you can also schedule your automatic updates. And if you have root access, Easy Backup & Restore can also handle apps and app data.
Download Easy Backup & Restore
Conclusion
Sadly, there’s not much else we can do, unless you want to pay very hefty amounts of cash to data specialists so they can take your phone into a lab and dissect it. These tips should keep you pretty well covered, though. Just be sure to be a bit more careful next time, and use the preventive applications we told you about!
Don’t head out just yet! Join the conversation and let us know if you have ever needed to recover a deleted message (or any other file). How did you solve this issue? Have you used any of the above-mentioned methods before?
Gameloft’s ‘Order & Chaos 2: Redemption’ now available in Play Store
Following last month’s news that Gameloft was preparing a sequel to their Order & Chaos title, interested MMORPG fans can now grab Order & Chaos 2: Redemption from the Google Play Store and immerse themselves in this new world. Order & Chaos 2 gives users options to choose from one of five races – orc, human, elf, mendel and kratan – as well as from five different classes including blood knight, ranger, mage, warrior and monk, when creating their new character.
Order & Chaos 2 provides players with plenty of opportunities to join with other on-line players to complete quests and battle bosses along the way. Players who prefer a more solitary experience can jump into Dream Dungeons for some solo action or they can challenge any other player in the game for a quick one-on-one duel.
Check out the official trailer and some images from the game below and then hit the Play Store download link if you want to get in on the Order & Chaos 2: Redemption action.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Gameloft’s ‘Order & Chaos 2: Redemption’ now available in Play Store
AMC Security: Redefining the user experience (App Review)
First off, I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of apps that claim to boost speeds and improve performance. The majority of the time all they do is bog down the system even more. However, the AMC Security app changed my view on that completely.
Setup
After a brief introduction to the features, you proceed straight to the main screen. There’s a sign-in feature that is recommended for long-term users, and for those planning to use a premium subscription.
A premium subscription will unlock extra features, but comes as a pricey extra
Features
The purpose of the app is to mainly clear out excessive storage hogs, offer an anti-virus and boost your phone speed. As the proud owner of a LG G4, I saw no difference in speed and the user interface, and can only assume that features like this are designed for people who have budget-orientated phones. The same goes for the feature that cleans out your storage and cache. While I had 3GB in excess files, this was really just a fraction of my total space available.
But perhaps AMC’s strongest point is the wide variety of things you can use it for. Anti-theft, battery saver, app manager, privacy locker, call blocker and a wide variety of handy features mean that it’s really go your back. Of course you’ll need a premium subscription though.
Overall, AMC provided a decent experience. The fact that it’s not in-your-face with annoying pop-ups and that it actually works means that it is a worthy competitor against the other Play Store apps.
Is it for me?
Unless you are rocking a flagship phone, it’s likely you’ll find AMC of some use. The extra features will certainly come in handy at least some of the time, and you might just forget it’s there with the enjoyable lack of notifications.
What we liked:
- No excessive notifications
- Wide range of features
- Clean UI
And not so much…
- Pricey premium pricing
AMC Security is certainly a handy app that is targeted at users who use budget-orientated phones. The minimal notifications are something of a joy and the large range of things that you get from it are certainly a treat.
The post AMC Security: Redefining the user experience (App Review) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Appeals Court Rules Apple Was Entitled to Sales Ban on Samsung Products in Earlier Trial
A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that Apple was entitled to an injunction on multiple Samsung products that a lower court ruled to be infringing on the iPhone maker’s patented technologies in an early 2014 trial.
As noted by Bloomberg, the ruling sets an important precedent, since it could have an impact on how damages are awarded in future trials involving patented inventions from large technology companies such as Apple, Samsung and Google.
The decision could have far-reaching consequences in how disputes are resolved when it comes to complex devices. The ability to block use of an invention is a powerful tool that increases the price tag when negotiating settlements.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington echoed that in its ruling:
“The right to exclude competitors from using one’s property rights is important,” the Federal Circuit ruled in a 2-1 decision. “And the right to maintain exclusivity — a hallmark and crucial guarantee of patent rights deriving from the Constitution itself -— is likewise important.”
In May 2014, a jury in the lower court Apple vs. Samsung trial found that Samsung willfully infringed on three of the five patents involved in the lawsuit, related to technologies including slide to unlock and data syncing. Samsung was ordered to pay Apple a settlement of $119.6 million.
Samsung informed the appeals court in March that only one of its products currently for sale infringes upon a single Apple patent, so any potential injunction would not have much of an impact on the South Korean company’s bottom line. Nevertheless, Samsung is in the process of appealing the lower court decision before the U.S. Federal Circuit.
Apple Seeds First OS X 10.11.1 El Capitan Beta to Developers
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming OS X El Capitan update to developers, two weeks before OS X El Capitan will be released to the public on September 30.
The new beta, build 15B17c, is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store and through the Apple Developer center.
It is not clear what improvements the first update to OS X El Capitan will bring, but it’s likely to include bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that have been encountered following the operating system’s official release.
AIVAnet 