Live ‘League of Legends’ coverage is coming to BBC Three
The BBC will tap into the popular world of eSports next week by offering live coverage of the League of Legends World Championships for the first time. From October 15th, BBC Three will deliver action from all four days of the quarter finals at Wembley, with Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin hosting proceedings. He’ll be joined by gaming casters Leigh ‘Deman’ Smith and James ‘Stress’ O’Leary, who will offer additional context on the action as it unfolds.
League of Legends is a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) game that pits two teams of between three and five players against each other. They start opposite sides of a map and are tasked with destroying their opponents’ “Nexus.” More than 27 million gamers play it every day and the BBC says over 70 million hours of last year’s championships watched by fans from all over the world.
The broadcaster will use a system normally reserved for live sporting events and Glastonbury coverage to deliver live and pre-recorded video, text updates, audio and social updates. If you’ve ever followed Premier League updates on the BBC Sport website then you’ll know what to expect.
In March, we posited that 2015 would be the breakout year for eSports. In the past six months alone, league organiser Gfinity opened its first dedicated venue in London, video game retailer GAME acquired Multiplay and has begun hosting tournaments in stores and even major bookmakers are taking bets on major eSports events. With the BBC behind it, the movement looks set to become even more mainstream, and that can only be a good thing.
Source: BBC Media Centre
Video game voice actors vote a resounding ‘yes’ to strike
Last month the Screen Actor’s Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists started the process to strike in an effort to be better compensated. Now, the union members have voted and over 96 percent feel that a strike is in order to protect themselves. As a refresher, the organized voice actors are asking for royalties on games they performed in that sell over two million copies, stunt pay for particularly stressful roles (those sustained screams and yells can do damage) and stunt coordinators for certain situations, among other things. Where do the actors like the cast of The Last of Us up above go from here? Back to the collective bargaining table. This vote doesn’t mean that the union will strike, but it gives them the option to do so if negotiations fall apart.
[Image credit: Imeh Akpanudosen via Getty Images]
Via: IGN
Source: Screen Actors Guild
Facebook to start testing “Reactions” in Ireland and Spain, adds emotion to “likes”
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
Last month, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made some comments at a Q&A session that were construed to mean that Facebook was looking into something akin to a “dislike” button – the polar opposite of the iconic Facebook “like”. As it turns out, Zuckerberg was actually referring to something slightly different – something is known as “reactions”. According to engadget, Facebook is already ready to start testing “reactions” and could do so in Ireland and Spain as early as this week.
How it appears to work is that when you “like” something, you can give it the standard thumbs up, or you can choose from an assortment of “reactions” which change the emotion of your “like” – options like sadness or anger are probably the most interesting given how far they are from the natural implication of a “like”. While the reactions will all show up as “likes” on each post, the poster will be able to see a breakdown of which reactions people have been using. It’s definitely an interesting concept, and perhaps a less controversial one than introducing a dedicated “dislike” button.
What do you think about Facebook’s “reactions” concept? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: engadget.es via engadget
The post Facebook to start testing “Reactions” in Ireland and Spain, adds emotion to “likes” appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
AT&T variant of the giant Samsung Galaxy View tablet gets spotted at the FCC
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
Ever since Samsung hinted that it would be launching a new tablet called the Samsung Galaxy View, we’ve been intrigued by its alleged enormous 18.6-inch frame. As it turns out, its existence and quite a few details about the Galaxy View have been revealed thanks to a FCC listing of the AT&T variant of the device. According to the documents, the Galaxy View indeed does have a 18.6-inch display, and it’s clear from an accompanying diagram that the device will have dual speakers on its back.
The details of the device, named the SM-T667A, also include LTE support with standard wireless connectivity options like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The LTE support is a curious addition given how large the tablet is, though we can’t exactly blame Samsung for covering all bases. We do, however, expect that the Galaxy View will be more of a hit at home and office, maybe even in schools, as its large display and touchscreen should make for an effective productivity tool.
What do you think about the Samsung Galaxy View? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post AT&T variant of the giant Samsung Galaxy View tablet gets spotted at the FCC appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
LG G4 dbrand skins review: Perfect fit
The good guys at dbrand were willing to send us a few skins to try out on the LG G4. It’s likely you’ve heard of dbrand before, but if you haven’t, they specialize in making skins for your phone. These can be easily applied and removed with perfect precision. Different themes and color combinations can be used for different areas of the phone, and you can even order a custom sticker if you’re really in the mood for customization. Go have a peek at their website if you’re still confused.
In the box
All dbrand skins come in a desirable plastic sleeve, stuck onto the specialized 3M paper (more on that later). Simple, compact and effective, I could marvel at the packaging the whole day. Yes, it’s that… appealing. You’ll understand if you’re that type of guy that keeps his packaging.
Application
Ignoring the big bold text that recommended to firstly watch the video on how to apply the skin, I went straight ahead and applied it without prior knowledge of what I’m doing. Thankfully, my first application worked out just fine, my only problems were that the skin was slightly misaligned with the speaker grid and that the edges were sticking out a bit.
After then watching the video, I learnt that you have to use a hair dryer to push down the edges and bits that stick up a bit. This stretches it a little bit and activates the stickiness a bit more, meaning the entire skin is flush with the device and that you won’t have pokey corners, instead it’ll curve round the edges more consistently.
dbrand have confidently said that their skins are the most precise on the market. While I have not had experience with other brands, I can certainly back them up here and, barring the speaker cutout, say that every millimeter is on point.
On that point, on the three skins that I had, only one aligned perfectly with the speaker grill, making me think that the problem is not within the skin itself, but rather how it is applied by the user. Perhaps I just need to jack up on my skills.
With the front stickers, you have the option to either have two separate skins for the top and bottom bezel, or have one skin which joins the top and bottom parts with the side bezels. These were the easiest to apply, and aligned perfectly with all the components at the top.
If you want to remove them, you simply pull up a corner somewhere and pull gently. Thanks to the high quality 3M paper that dbrand uses, you won’t find any glue or residual marks left behind. You also may be wondering if it’s possible to reuse skins, and the answer is yes, at least with the G4. You will, however, have to pull it off gently in a way that does not excessively stretch or create tears. Unfortunately, I could not reuse my carbon fibre skin:
Now is also a good time to mention that you cannot apply a skin to a leather back, only the plastic version.
The skins are approximately 0,23mm thick, but provide reasonable protection against scratches and the elements. Their high quality is the epitome of dbrand’s good workmanship.
In case you’re wondering what color to get, I’ll highly recommend the mahogany wood back. It looks better without the accents, though.
Overall, dbrand certainly has some quality products up their sleeves. The excellent customer service, range of skins and product quality is testament to their success in the field.
You can head over here if you want to take a look at G4 skins, or here if you want to go to their main page.
The post LG G4 dbrand skins review: Perfect fit appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Harry Potter Enhanced Editions Now Available Exclusively on iBooks
Apple today announced that enhanced editions of all seven books in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling are now available exclusively through the iBooks Store around the world for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac.
Harry Potter Enhanced Editions are available in English for $9.99 each in 32 countries, while pre-orders begin today for French, German and Spanish versions, which will be available on November 9 in 18 additional countries.
“I’m thrilled to see the Harry Potter books so beautifully realised on iBooks for the digital world; the artwork and animations in these enhanced editions bring the stories alive in a delightful new way,” said J.K. Rowling.
“Harry Potter fans are going to love how their favorite stories come to life,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “J.K. Rowling’s legendary series is perfect for enjoying on your iPad or iPhone and we’re thrilled to offer them exclusively on the iBooks Store.”
Harry Potter digital books were previously only available for purchase through the Pottermore shop that J.K. Rowling developed in partnership with Sony.
Gionee launches the 6-inch Elife E8 exclusively via Snapdeal in India for Rs. 34,999
Here we have the China-based Gionee launching its Elife E8 flagship device in India, exclusively via the Indian online retailer, Snapdeal. Priced at Rs. 34,999 ($537), the gold 6-inch Elife E8 boasts some impressive specifications, join us after the break for the rundown.
As you can probably tell from the image above, the Elife E8 is not a small, dainty phone. Instead, it sports a big 6-inch display, and Gionee are quick to point out the Elife E8’s prowess for taking pictures with that 24MP rear camera. More on that, and the handset’s similarity to the BLU Pure XL a little later. Let’s deal with the nitty-gritty first.
Specifications:
- Android 5.1 Lollipop running Amigo 3.1 custom interface
- 6-Inch Super AMOLED display with WQHD (2560 x 1440) 490ppi
- MediaTek MT6795 octa-core Helio X10 @ 2GHz
- PowerVR G6200 GPU
- 3GB RAM
- 64GB Internal storage
- MicroSD card support (up to 64GB)
- 24MP Rear camera with OIS, lossless zoom up to 3X, 4K video and Phase Detection AutoFocus (PDAF) and a dual-tone flash
- 8MP Front camera
- Dedicated camera shutter button
- Fingerprint sensor on the rear
- Dual speakers on rear
- Micro-SIM/Dual-SIM/Dual LTE mode
- WiFi 2.4GHz & 5GHz
- Bluetooth 4.0/ NFC/GPS
- Battery: 3,500mAh
- Dimensions: 164 x 82.28 x 9.6mm
- Weight: 210 grams
The 24MP rear snapper can stitch images together, resulting in an image with up to 120MP resolution. Gionee also states that the camera can focus on an image in just 0.08 seconds, which is pretty quick.
Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that the Gionee Elife E8 is a dead-ringer for the BLU Pure XL that launched in the US last month for $349 via Amazon. In case you were wondering which device is the original, apparently the BLU Pure XL is the rebranded device, or doppelgänger if you will. It isn’t the first time that a Gionee handset has been rebranded for sale in a different country.
Pricewise, the BLU Pure XL is retailing for almost $200 less than the Gionee Elife E8’s Indian Recommended Retail Price (RRP) of Rs. 34,999 ($537). It’s still a lot of phone for the money, but it’s a hefty markup all the same. If you are in the market for a 6-inch smartphone or phablet (sorry Justin), does the Gionee Elife E8 tick the box for you?
Full Press Release:
NEW DELHI, India, Oct. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Gionee, a leading global provider of mobile devices, announced the launch of its much awaited flagship ELIFE E8 in India with an exclusive deal with the largest online shopping website Snapdeal.com. ELIFE E8 will mark Gionee’s debut in the e-commerce space boosting its already existing offline distribution across the country.
ELIFE E8 comes packed with 24 MP rear camera, which will be able to produce photographs up to 1200 Mpxl in resolution. E8 is the first Android smartphone to offer Lossless zoom that maintains image quality even at 3X zoom along with host of enhanced camera features for producing a professional level images on the go. Some of the key features of the ELIFE E8 include One dedicated shooting button, 8 MP front camera, magic focus among others.
The Gionee E8 offers android 5.1 out of the box, Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 Chipset and Octa Core 2.0 GHz CPU. Along with Biological (Fingerprint) recognition system it also offers Dual SIM 4G, 6.0inch WQHD Super AMOLED Display, 64GB ROM+3GB RAM, NFC, Dual Speaker , HIFI Sound, 3500 mAh Battery and fast charging.
Arvind.R.Vohra, Country CEO & MD, Gionee India said, “E8 is the flagship for Gionee India and is one of the best camera phone if not the best in the market .We are very excited to find a great strategic partner as Snapdeal for Gionee ELIFE E8.”
William Lu, President Gionee added, “Gionee’s ELIFE E8 is going to be one of the finest offering to the Indian smartphone market with its cutting edge technology and design element. Built to perform like a professional camera for today’s user, the E8 offers every aspect and dimension of a professional camera.”
Key Specs of the ELIFE E8
- 24Mpx Camera
- 1200 Mpx
- Amigo 3.1, Android 5.1
- Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10
- Octa Core 2.0 GHz CPU
- Biological (fingerprint) recognition system
- Dual SIM 4G
- 6.0inch WQHD Super AMOLED Display
- 64GB ROM+3GB RAM
- NFC
- Dual Speaker , HIFI Sound
- 3500mAh Battery
The ELIFE E8 will be available in India @ MOP of INR 34,999
About Gionee
Established in 2002, Gionee Communication Equipment Co., Ltd. is a hi-tech company engaging in mobile device designing, R&D, manufacturing, sales in global markets, and mobile internet application services.
Come comment on this article: Gionee launches the 6-inch Elife E8 exclusively via Snapdeal in India for Rs. 34,999
Amazon launches a Handmade rival to Etsy
If you’ve been looking for for a hand-sculpted Gothic dragon weathervane, you now have a new way to find it: Amazon’s Handmade online store. As rumored earlier, the new venture has arrived in response to the success of Etsy, the artisan-goods company that just went public with a massive $3.5 billion valuation. The store is divided into seven categories, including jewelry, home decor, artwork and furniture. That’ll give you a chance to find some one-of-a-kind paintings, along with items like leather magnetic cuffs, walnut rocking chairs and a beer growler holder.
Amazon has 80,000 items in the store already from artisans in over 60 countries around the world. The company told the NYT that “you can think of it as a factory-free zone… we’re going to launch with an experience that’s very different.” The retail giant has promised that every item is genuinely handmade, and every artisan has a profile on the site so you can see how they make their items. Meanwhile, Etsy recently allowed vendors to outsource manufacturing, and has faced questions over counterfeit goods on its site.
However, artisans have expressed concerns over the higher fees that Amazon charges, and think that the corporate vibe doesn’t mesh with craft culture. Either way, Etsy will be in tough against Amazon, which is the largest retailer in world and has over 10 times the customers of its artisan rival.
Source: Amazon
The Big Picture: Mars’ fractured surface underneath the dunes
The dune images Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter sends back to Earth helps NASA study erosion, wind, weather and movement of materials on the red planet. But this image taken by the orbiter’s High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on July 30th shows the fractured surface underneath sand dunes more prominently. According to the agency, the textured ground could be bedrock that has cracks all over due to extreme temperature changes. Or, it could be a sedimentary layer that developed fractured after it dried up. Either way, NASA can use this photo (among the others that HiRISE took) to take a closer look at the planet’s surface.
Source: NASA
Google for iOS can play GIFs in search results, show maps in-app
Google has released an update for its iOS app to add a fun feature and make it even more useful after upgrading its “Ok, Google” voice prompt. Now, when you search for an address, you’ll get map results within the app. You can also leave reviews of your (most and least) favorite establishments: simply search for a place’s name and click the right link that shows up at the top of the results page. It’ll take you to a section where you can rate the restaurant/brewery/concert hall/et cetera, write up a short review and even upload photos of the location. Finally — and for some people, most importantly — the app can now play animated GIFs in the Image results tab, so long as you click and enlarge them.
Source: iTunes
AIVAnet 