Playdate: A (probably terrifying) chat with ‘SOMA’ dev Ian Thomas
Well, the chat may not be terrifying, but the game certainly will be. Today on Playdate, we’re diving into two horrifying, Halloween-worthy games, SOMA and PT. SOMA is the creepy underwater game from Amnesia: The Dark Descent studio Frictional Games, and PT is Konami’s once-promising haunted-house exploration teaser for a game that’s sadly not going to be made. While we’re playing SOMA, we’ll conduct a live interview with Ian Thomas, Frictional’s level scripter and gameplay programmer. Let’s find out what makes a master of digital horror tick. Playdate kicks off at 6PM Eastern/3PM Pacific and you can watch live right in this post, on the Engadget Gaming homepage or on Twitch.tv/Joystiq.
Facebook changes ‘Real Name’ policy rules after public outcry
Facebook announced Friday that it is modifying the terms of its oft-criticised “real name” policy which demands users go by their “authentic name” when on the social network rather than a pseudonym. The trans and Native American communities have repeatedly protested the policy, citing its use by trolls as a weapon of harassment. Today’s announcement comes in response to an open letter penned by advocacy groups including the EFF and ACLU.
Via: Buzzfeed
Source: Facebook (scribd)
Walmart Selling 16GB iPad Mini 2 for $199 Starting Tomorrow
Beginning tomorrow, November 1, Walmart will begin offering Apple’s 16GB Wi-Fi only iPad mini 2 at a significant discount, selling it for $199 instead of $268. $199 is a solid deal and one of the lowest prices we’ve seen on the iPad mini 2, which was the first of Apple’s iPad mini line to ship with a Retina display.
Compared to the current-generation iPad mini 4, the iPad mini 2 has a slower processor, less RAM, and it lacks Touch ID, but it’s still a very capable device with an A7 processor, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera. It’s also thicker and heavier than the newest iPad mini.
We’ll likely see similar deals on the iPad mini 2 during the month of November due to Black Friday, but for now, Walmart’s discount is one of the best deals to be had. Walmart will be selling the 16GB iPad mini 2 for $199 for approximately 90 days, the standard amount of time Walmart price rollbacks generally last.
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How to Use 3D Touch on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
Apple’s iPhone 6s and 6s Plus has been selling strongly since its launch last month, thanks in part to a number of new features including 3D Touch. With it, users can access Quick Actions from the home screen and Peek and Pop from within a variety of stock and third-party apps.
If you’re wondering about what all of the hubbub is about, or want to know how to make it work better for you, we’ve put together this handy guide for 3D Touch.
If you are still trying to decide whether to upgrade to the iPhone 6s model, why not stop into an Apple Retail store and test out 3D Touch (along with the device’s other great features) for yourself on one of the many demo units.
Quick Actions
You can only use Quick Actions on an app’s icon, and it works as shortcut to specific features within the app. For example, the Pinterest app includes direct access to trending pins, the search function, and board creation. Instagram’s Quick Action lets you create a new post, view your activity, search, or send a direct message.
To trigger Quick Actions, give a firm press on an app’s icon. When the menu appears, drag your finger to the shortcut you would like to use. The app will open directly to that feature. If you don’t press hard enough to pop up the shortcuts and feel a bit of haptic feedback, your phone will instead register a long press that allows you to enter the familiar mode where you can rearrange and delete apps on the home screen.
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