‘Kirby’ returns to your hands in June with ‘Planet Robobot’

Everyone’s favorite spherical pink vacuum cleaner is back in Kirby: Planet Robobot for 3DS. It uses a 2.5D perspective where you can jump between different depth planes in the sidescroller. What’s more, when you suck up an enemy you’ll gain access to a version of their specific abilities, including one that has you donning a robot suit. Amiibo support is planned as well, with each of Nintendo’s plastic figurines granting Kirby with a different ability. Tapping Mario onto your 3DS will grant Kirby a fire ability, while Link unlocks a sword, for example. Nintendo’s Bill Trinen says that each amiibo will unlock something different of some sort.

A special line of new Kirby amiibo are en route for June as well, including Kirby itself, King Dedede, Meta Knight and Waddle Dee. Tapping the new Kirby to the handheld will unlock a UFO-like ability where you can fly around stages.

There’s also a multiplayer mode, dubbed “Team Kirby Clash.” You and three buddies (or computer controlled partners) will face off against bosses in arena battles. And there’s an RPG element to this as well, with victories unlocking experience points (a series first) that allow you to upgrade your character to take on bigger and more powerful enemies. If your friends don’t own the game but you do, it offers Download Play so they can join in without shelling out any cash of their own.

When can you bring this adorable puffball and its line of amiibo out of your browser window and into your life? June 10th.

New #amiibo figures for Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight & Waddle Dee will launch alongside Kirby: Planet Robobot. pic.twitter.com/9eTsKD5cEa

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

The Wirecutter’s best deals: TCL’s 50-inch Roku TV and more!

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. 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.

TCL 50FS3800 50-Inch TV

Street price: $420; MSRP: $600; deal price: $350

This TV has seen a gradual decline for some time now. It dropped to $420 in January, and we thought it was worth posting when it finally hit $400. Since then it has actually dropped down to $350, its lowest price ever. And since you already have streaming video built into this one, you save money due to not requiring a separate streaming device.

The TCL 50FS3800 is our streaming content pick for the best TV around $500. Chris Heinonen said, “The 50-inch TCL 50FS3800 offers an image that is worse than the other models we tested but does include complete Roku functionality. This gives it access to far more streaming apps and services than any other TV and an interface that’s clean and easy to use. Setup is simple and easier than any other TV, and the remote is sparse but functional. For the person that places ease-of-use and streaming above picture quality, the TCL can be compelling.”

Netgear EX6200 Wi-Fi Extender

Street price: $105; MSRP: $150; deal price: $90

This is the first good sale we’ve seen on this Wi-Fi extender and a new low by $10. This extender tends to bounce between $100 and $110, so while this isn’t a huge savings, it’s a nice discount.

The Netgear EX6200 is our pick for the best Wi-Fi extender<. David Murphy said, “The Netgear EX6200 is the best wireless extender for most people. It was the only extender we tested that hit speeds above 30 Mbps from 63 feet away—faster than most home Internet plans in the US—and delivered a flawless 4K YouTube stream at that distance. It’s expensive, but the extender’s great speed and range, multiple operating modes, and Gigabit Ethernet ports make it the best choice for people who need a good signal for all of their faraway Wi-Fi (and wired) devices.”

Refurbished Nikon COOLPIX S6900 Camera

Street price: $170 (new); MSRP: $190 (new); deal price: $100

This refurbished deal is a huge discount off of the best price we’ve ever seen on this camera. We previously featured a deal on a new model at $170, and that has since become the street price. This particular deal drops a whopping $70 below that, has been refurbished by Nikon, and comes with a 90 day warranty. It’s also available on eBay through BuyDig.

The Nikon COOLPIX S6900 Camera is our runner-up pick for the best cheap compact camera. Amadou Diallo said, “It has a tilting and touch-sensitive rear screen for both easier use in direct sunlight and a faster method of setting the autofocus point. A fast full-resolution burst mode of 9 fps means you’re more likely to capture the perfect moment when shooting moving subjects.It also comes with a neat built-in stand that lets you prop the camera up in a stable portrait-shooting position. There’s a screen that tilts up to face forward and a shutter button on the front of the camera, all perfect for taking selfies.”

Motorola Moto G 16GB Smartphone

Street price: $220; MSRP: $220; deal price: $200

Here’s a solid deal on this budget Motorola smartphone. This is the first official price drop on the 2015 model of this product. If Amazon runs out of stock, the deal is also available from Motorola until March 7.

The Motorola Moto G is our pick for the best budget Android phone. Ryan Whitwam said, “The Moto G offers the perfect mix of price and features for a budget smartphone, with a clean, feature-rich version of Android that’s better than what you’ll find on most flagship phones, above-average battery life, and best-in-class build quality with IPX7 water resistance.”

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.

The SkyWall 100 is a net-launching anti-drone bazooka

A group of English engineers have developed a new device for downing quadcopters that stray into restricted airspace: the SkyWall 100. This shoulder-mounted net launcher weighs 22 pounds and runs on compressed gas but does reportedly offer a 100-meter range with an 8-second reload time. What’s more, the system uses a “smart scope” that automatically calculates the drone’s distance and vector, informing the operator exactly where to aim. The netting will also deploy a small parachute once it wraps up the UAV — certainly a more gentle alternative to using radio waves or 50mm Bushmasters. There’s no word on price or availability yet, beyond assurances by the group that the first models will be available by the end of the year.

Via: Business Insider

Source: Open Works (YouTube)

Nintendo Direct roundup: ‘Mario Maker,’ ‘Splatoon’ and more

Today’s Nintendo Direct featured a light feast of sci-fi adventures and fantasy tales, including a new Star Fox game, the return of classic Super Nintendo games (exclusive to the New 3DS handheld), a new Kirby game and the announcement of Monster Hunter Generations for Western audiences. Phew. But that wasn’t everything — we’ve collected the best trailers and tweets from today’s Nintendo Direct below. Feast on this:

Splatoon

Prepare your paint guns for two free Splatoon updates. The first, which drops on March 8th, balances some of the game’s gear and improves the matchmaking system. The second update adds new weapon combinations. That one doesn’t have a release date just yet.

A later #Splatoon update will add new weapon combos under the name “Sheldon’s Picks.” #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/ro1sl2xVRB

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Super Mario Maker

Super Mario Maker gets an update on March 9th that adds new items to mess around with, including a key and a locked door. It also throws in a Super Expert mode in the 100-Mario Challenge.

More than 6.2 million #SuperMarioMaker courses have been uploaded. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/yAnoHfyFKS

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE

This one is a new RPG from the studio behind the Persona and Megami Tensei series. It’s due to hit the Wii U on June 24th.

#TokyoMirageSessions #FE launches exclusively for #WiiU on 6/24. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/gurn7mLVgY

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Lost Reavers

Lost Reavers is an online multiplayer zombie-fighting and puzzle-solving adventure game from Bandai Namco. The open beta starts on April 14th and the game lands on April 28th.

Paper Mario Color Splash

Wii U players can add a little color to their lives later this year, Nintendo promises.

Paper Mario must bring color back to Prism Island with his new paint hammer! #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/RVjrPSWazl

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Pocket Card Jockey

Pokémon studio Game Freak has a new title called Pocket Card Jockey, and it’s precisely what it sounds like — solitaire mixed with horse racing. The faster you solve the solitaire puzzles, the quicker your horse. This one drops for the 3DS in May.

The wild and unique Pocket Card Jockey launches exclusively in the #eShop on #3DS in May. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/k8TWhx1CsA

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Azure Striker Gunvolt 2

Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 hits the 3DS eShop in the summer, and the original game is on sale through June 1st.

Hyrule Warriors Legends

This lovely little 3DS game drops on March 25th, complete with four DLC packs. Nintendo will sell a Season Pass that nets customers all of the add-on content (plus a bonus costume for Ganondorf).

A new character is heading to #HyruleWarriorsLegends as DLC: Medli from #Zelda The Wind Waker! #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/2eMVeNACaJ

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Bravely Second: End Layer

End Layer launched in Japan last year and it’s finally coming stateside on April 15th. It’s an RPG and the sequel to Bravely Default, which happens to be a thoroughly enjoyable game if you’re into Japanese levels of grinding and difficulty. A demo for End Layer hits the 3DS on March 10th.

Dragon Quest 7

We’ll let Nintendo break this one down for you:

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past launches for #3DS later in 2016. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/VH9z1UvnB2

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force

Federation Force is the next official installment in the Metroid series, and it’s an online, multiplayer, quasi-RPG. It has a singleplayer option, as well. Players can customize their characters, focusing on traits like healing or weapons, for example.

Metroid Prime: Federation Force, the next chapter in the Metroid Prime saga, launches in late spring 2016. pic.twitter.com/cxHwQBakAp

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Rhythm Heaven Megamix

And finally:

Tap! Tap! TAP! #RhythmHeaven Megamix launches for #3DS later this year. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/qO1liHsssc

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Speck MightyPack review

As someone who is able to work from practically any laptop or computer, I am fortunate in that I can call just about any room my “office”. While I do have

AKG N60 NC review – CNET

The Good The AKG N60 NC is a compact, comfortable, well-designed on-ear headphone that sounds really good for a model with active noise cancellation. The rechargeable battery offers 30 hours of listening time.

The Bad Charging cable isn’t the standard Micro-USB variety; single-button remote lacks volume controls.

The Bottom Line Despite a few small downsides, AKG’s $250 on-ear active noise-canceling headphone sounds great and is a worthy alternative to Bose’s top-selling QuietComfort 25.

If you’re in the market for a premium noise-canceling headphone, chances are you’re looking at one of the Bose models, the QuietComfort 25 (around-ear) or QuietComfort 20. We gave high ratings to those products and — in terms of noise-canceling headphones — they’re leaders in the category.

So why get the AKG N60 NC over the Bose QC25? Well, for starters it takes up a little less room in your bag. This is a smaller, on-ear headphone (it’s better suited to smaller heads) and folds up and flat to fit in an included neoprene carrying case, weighing 6.3 ounces or 179 grams without the cord connected. Also, at $250 (£220, AU$350), it’s a little less expensive.

The compact headphones fold flat to fit in an included carrying neoprene pouch.

Sarah Tew/CNET

While it may not be quite as comfortable as the Bose, it’s very comfortable for an on-ear headphone, with soft leather-covered earcups, and well built-in, too. It even has a bit of aluminum accenting its design.

But really the main reason is that it sounds better than the Bose. It’s a cleaner-sounding headphone with more detail and tighter bass and decent openness for an on-ear headphone.

Small downsides

The Bose QC25 is powered by a single AAA battery. This AKG has an integrated rechargeable battery that offers a solid 30 hours of active noise canceling and — if the battery runs out — you can listen in passive mode without the headphone being powered.

To be sure, the noise canceling isn’t quite as effective as Bose’s and there’s a very faint hiss when it’s engaged. That said, I thought it was quite good overall (relatively speaking) and worked well muffling sound in CNET’s New York office, on a plane, the subway, and walking the streets of New York. And remember: this, like those Bose models, is a wired headphone. There is no Bluetooth.

Unfortunately, the charging cable is not a standard Micro-USB charging cable.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The cons are small, but they are cons. Instead of the standard micro USB charger you’d use to charge your phone, you have to charge the battery via the headphone jack with a 2.5mm sub-mini plug to USB cable. Lose that charging cord and you can’t charge the headphone anymore and will have to seek a replacement. I’d be less concerned about that if there was an interior storage poach inside the carrying case to stow the cord, but the carrying case is very basic; you basically have to shove everything inside, headphones plus the two cables.

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) review

Samsung refreshed the Galaxy A series of smartphones late last year, and as was the case with the original line, the lineup covers a variety of smartphones across the size, specifications, and price spectrum. Starting with the Galaxy S6, Samsung certainly seems to have found its path with regards to design and build quality, wand these carriers over to the the mid-range Galaxy A line, which all feature premium metal and glass unibody constructions. We’ve already given the full review treatment to the two more high-end smartphones of the series, and we now take a closer look at the most entry-level of the trio in this in-depth Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) review!

See also:

• Samsung Galaxy A9 review
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) review

Buy the Galaxy A5 (2016) now

Design

While the design language of all the Galaxy A smartphones is borrowed heavily from the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy A5 (2016) is also the closest in terms of size, with it featuring a 5.2-inch display. The premium metal and glass unibody construction returns, and the device looks and feels very familiar, if only a touch more angular in its design when compared to its flagship counterpart.

The Galaxy A5 is thicker than the Galaxy S6, but not significantly so, and the extra thickness actually helps in making the camera protrusion on the back be a lot more flush with the body of the phone. With a hefty weight to it, the smartphone feels substantial in the hand, and the use of glass feels great, even though it does prove to be a fingerprint magnet. All the ports, buttons, and speaker are in their typical positions as well, as seen with the current crop of Samsung devices. As you might expect thanks to its relatively compact size, the Galaxy A5 also offers a great handling experience, with its thin bezels along the sides of the display allowing for comfortable one-handed use.

The idea behind the current Galaxy A series is to provide users with a premium design and build quality but at a lower cost when compared to their flagship counterparts, and that is exactly what you get here. If you loved the look of the Galaxy S6, you won’t find anything to complain about with the Galaxy A5 (2016).

Display

The Galaxy A5 comes with a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 424 ppi. This display may not feature the Quad HD resolution seen with Samsung’s high-end smartphones, but the bump down is understandable given the more budget-friendly nature of the Galaxy A5. However, Samsung’s display prowess shines through once again regardless of the lower resolution, with the vibrant, saturated colors, deep, inky blacks, and great viewing angles and brightness all available here. Full HD proves to be more than enough in this case, and you can certainly look forward to a fantastic display experience when you pick up this phone.

Performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy A5 (2016) comes with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, clocked at 1.5 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 405 GPU and 2 GB of RAM, but depending on the market, there is also an iteration that is powered by the octa-core Exynos 7580 processor, and backed by the Mali-T720MP2 GPU. This particular review unit features the Qualcomm processing package, and given that this was the 2015 mid-range standard, the performance available is as expected.

Everyday tasks like opening, closing, and switching between apps remain smooth and fast enough to not disrupt the workflow. The performance is reliable throughout, with the only instances of stutter noticeable when moving to the TouchWiz Briefing screen, which is more of an issue with the software optimization rather than the fault of the processor. The device handles gaming very well also, and while some dropped frames may be seen on occasion, the overall experience remains pretty good. The benchmark scores of the Galaxy A5 aren’t going to amaze, but as far as real world performance is concerned, it is certainly reliable.

Hardware

16 GB of on-board storage is the only option available here, which is why users will definitely appreciate the vaunted return of expandable storage with the Galaxy A series, via microSD card, for up to an additional 128 GB. With the single SIM versions of the device, the second slot on the SIM tray serves as the microSD card slot, but there are some iterations of the phone, once again depending on the market, which come with dual-SIM capabilities, leaving it up to the users to make the choice between dual-SIM features or expandable storage.

The single speaker unit is located on the right side at the bottom, and, as is the case with most bottom-mounted speakers, the placement isn’t great, with the sound directed away from you, and makes for a speaker that is also very easy to cover up when holding the phone in the landscape orientation. The audio quality on offer is quite decent however, but there are a slew of other mid-range smartphones out there that offer a better audio experience.

Also returning is a fingerprint scanner embedded into the tactile home button up front. The implementation is the same as seen with the Samsung flagships, and this scanner proves to be as reliable and accurate. It may not be as fast as the scanner found with devices like the Galaxy Note 5, but the difference isn’t significant enough to be an issue.

The Galaxy A5 comes with a large 2,900 mAh battery, and combined with the more energy efficient Full HD display, the device offers really good battery life. The screen on-time reaches the 4.5 hour mark on most days, and should provide most users with a full day of use comfortably. Even if you do run out of battery, the device comes with fast charging capabilities, to help you get up and running in a short amount of time.

Camera

The Galaxy A5 comes with a 13 MP rear camera with a f/1.9 aperture and optical image stabilization, but the camera quality doesn’t live up to the standards set by its flagship counterparts, which isn’t really that surprising. Images don’t look bad, with some extra sharpening happening in post processing that makes for better looking shots.

The big problem with this camera is its tendency to overexpose a lot, and HDR doesn’t do a lot with addressing this issue, only creating a brighter image instead. When this issue doesn’t show up however, the pictures do look good, with vibrant colors and a decent amount of detail. Another point of note is the fact that 4:3 is the aspect ratio you will be shooting in if you’re looking to take advantage of the full 13 MP. Image quality worsens significantly in low-light conditions, with pictures appearing dull, and with a lot of noise.

The front-facing 5 MP camera creates some very soft looking images, with not much sharpness to them. However, if you are as bright as the background, you will end up with a decent enough shot. That said, this is something that is difficult to do, and magnifies the overexposure issue seen with the rear camera. The cameras of the Galaxy A5 aren’t bad, and you can work to get a good shot, but there are better smartphone cameras out there that fall in this price range.

Software

On the software side of things, the Galaxy A5 (2016) is running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out of the box, which is very disappointing to see, given how long ago Android 6.0 Marshmallow was released. An official update to the latest version of Android is in the works, but even that might be out-dated soon enough, with the launch of Android N just around the corner.

With the older version of Android and TouchWiz on-board, the software experience remains identical to what was seen with Samsung smartphones in 2015. While things remain largely familiar aesthetically, Samsung has toned things down in terms of extra, often unnecessary, software features. Returning features include multi-window, which is nice to have, but might not be particularly useful on this relatively smaller display, and the Briefing screen, which does display all the articles and information in a nice way, but the lag is significant, making this difficult to use. The best part about this software package is the robust Theme engine, which allows you to cater the look and feel of the user interface to exactly how you may like it.

Specifications

Gallery

Pricing and final thoughts

The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) isn’t officially offered in the US but the international model can be found for around $350, with the available color options being black and rose gold.

So there you have it for this closer look at the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)! The Galaxy A5 is essentially the Galaxy S6 with mid-range specifications, and poorer camera, but does actually offer more than its flagship counterpart in other areas, such as improved battery life, and the return of expandable storage. The disappointing camera may be a let down for some, but if you loved the Galaxy S6 but wished that it was cheaper, significantly so in this case, the Galaxy A5 (2016) is the device for you.

Buy the Galaxy A5 (2016) now

A day with the HTC Vive

Virtual reality in your home is finally … well, real. And I’m not just referring to VR-lite experiences like Google Cardboard or Samsung’s Gear VR. I’m talking about graphically rich, forget where you are, so genuine you can almost touch it, virtual reality. After dreaming about the possibilities of VR for decades and following its most recent wave closely, it’s hard to believe it’s finally here. That sentiment hit me with the force of a virtual tidal wave when the HTC Vive Pre arrived at my apartment yesterday.

While I was certainly excited to have some alone time with the HTC Vive — it’s consistently wowed us with demos over the past year — I wasn’t expecting such an emotional response. I’ve had the Oculus DK2 for a year now, so diving into VR at home isn’t very novel for me. I’ve also tested out plenty of Google Cardboard and Gear VR demos at home, and I’ve gone through more Oculus and Vive demos at press events than I can count.

But I quickly realized why the Vive Pre evoked such a different response: It’s not just a dev kit — it’s the closest we’ve got to a polished VR experience that anyone will be able to buy. HTC just opened up preorders for the consumer version of the Vive this week, which will run you $799 and ship in April. That’s pretty much the same hardware as the Vive Pre dev kit, save for a slightly more ergonomic head strap.

I won’t be reviewing the Vive Pre, since it’s not consumer-ready hardware. And, frankly, there isn’t much finished VR software out there yet. Instead, I’ll offer up a series of dispatches around living with the HTC Vive.

Once the exaltation of the Vive’s arrival wore off, I took stock of all the hardware. Spread across three boxes were the Vive Pre headset, a link box (which plugs into your computer), two base stations, two motion controllers and all of their accompanying cables and power adapters. There weren’t really any surprises, but this being my first chance to fondle the Vive’s hardware for longer than a few minutes, I was able to appreciate its build quality a bit more.

The motion controllers look large, but they’re relatively light and fit into your hands well. They sport touchpads on top, along with menu and system buttons; a trigger button that sits right below your index finger; and two “grip” buttons around the sides. The controllers charge via micro-USB slots, and, naturally, they also have wrist straps to keep them from flying out of your hands. The large round portion of the controller up top is mainly used to communicate motion data the Vive base stations — it’s not something you ever have to touch. The base stations are simple cubes, but HTC wisely included threaded mounting slots on the bottom so that they can be attached to a wide variety of stands.

The big takeaway from all of the hardware: Everything simply feels good. HTC has had a rough going for the past few years, but the Vive is a reminder that it can still build some solid gadgetry. Of course, it also had some assistance from Valve for this endeavor (which makes me think Valve would also be the perfect suitor if HTC’s business continues to tank).

Valve’s setup instructions for Steam VR devices (the Vive is just the first of potentially many) are fairly straightforward. First, install the base stations on two high points on opposite corners of your room (I also received wall and ceiling mounts to make that process easier). Next, synchronize the base stations (I won’t go too deeply into that process, since Valve says it’s revamping it entirely for the consumer Vive setup). Then plug the link box into USB, HDMI ports on your computer, as well as a power outlet, and plug the Vive headset into the other side of the link box. Finally, install the SteamVR tool on Steam (Valve’s gaming store) and turn on the motion controllers (they were instantly recognized by my computer).

With everything up and running, I went through the SteamVR setup for room-scale VR. That simply involved taking one of the motion controllers and tracing the border of open space in my home office. I received a few warnings saying my space wasn’t big enough with my first few tries, but eventually SteamVR registered enough open space. You can also run the Vive in sitting or standing modes, if you don’t have much space (but then you won’t be able to take advantage of some of the more immersive VR experiences).

Next up, I installed a collection of sample VR software Valve is giving away to developers. That includes some demos Valve and HTC have been showing off for some time, like the underwater set piece “theBlue: Encounter,” as well as the 3D drawing app Tilt Brush (which legendary Disney animator Glen Keane recently used to recreate some of his iconic characters in VR).

So how does the Vive actually work at home? In a word: Magnificently. Once I adjusted the headset so it fit comfortably over my glasses, I was presented with the smoothest VR experience I’ve had at home. Sure, it’s still a large, HR Giger-esque headset attached to lengthy cables, but it’s far more comfortable to wear than the Oculus DK2. I also had the advantage of some powerful hardware powering the Vive experience: My desktop is running a 4 GHz Intel Core i7-4790K CPU, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, a 512GB Crucial MX100 SSD and an AMD Radeon R9 Fury X graphic card.

While I’m still waiting for that breakthrough, truly killer VR experience, the demos Valve bundled offer a glimpse into where we’re headed. Ninja Trainer lets you reenact Fruit Ninja in the best way possible, with the Vive motion controller accurately recreating hacking and slashing with a katana. Space Pirate Trainer VR lets you relive your Han Solo fantasies by having you shoot down aliens. Jeeboman has a similar gameplay element, but it gives you a larger selection of weapons (and a nifty teleporting mechanic) to keep an alien invasion at bay.

Strange to say, the most enveloping VR experience I’ve had with the Vive so far came from a golf game. Cloudlands: VR Minigolf presents you with a selection of fantastical courses, but what really sells it is the surprisingly accurate motion tracking with the Vive’s controller. It was easy to shift between soft and harder swings, more so than any motion-tracked golf game I’ve seen yet. The environments were also rich with detail — I had a lot of fun simply looking around them.

After awhile, I started to forget I was actually just standing in my office with a weird looking contraption strapped to my head. That’s the sort of presence every VR experience strives for, and I’m looking forward to unearthing similar gems as I continue to test out the Vive.

‘Star Fox Guard’ is bundled with ‘Zero’ April 22nd

Slippy Toad has a chance to shine come on April 22nd this year. But more than just playing a support role the game you already knew about, Star Fox Zero, there’s more action in the form of Star Fox Guard. It’s a game that sounds an awful lot like a tower defense title. It stars Slippy and his uncle Grippy and you’re managing cameras to battle foes, and, well, it sounds like there’s a quasi-Super Mario Maker element of sharing your creations online, too. This might look familiar if you paid attention to Nintendo’s E3 presentation a few years back as Project Guard.

It’ll come bundled with the physical version of Star Fox Zero, which is sporting a co-op mode wherein one player pilots the Arwing and another controls its guns. If you’re buying digitally you can opt to not grab Guard, or you can grab a bundle. It’s up to you!

Introducing Star Fox Guard, a new game in the Star Fox universe. #NintendoDirectNA pic.twitter.com/MFEQuaM0km

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 3, 2016

Twitter, eBay, Airbnb, Reddit and More Officially Supporting Apple in FBI Fight

Sixteen technology companies today teamed up to officially support Apple in its ongoing encryption dispute with the FBI, a copy of which has been shared by Apple. Twitter, Airbnb, eBay, LinkedIn, Square, Atlassian, Auttomatic, Cloudflare, GitHub, Kickstarter, Mapbox, Meetup, Reddit, Squarespace, Twilio, and Wickr filed an amicus brief [PDF] backing Apple’s assertion that the FBI’s use of the All Writs Act to force Apple to help the government unlock the iPhone used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook is both unprecedented and dangerous.

The government’s demand here, at its core, is unbound by any legal limits. It would set a dangerous precedent, in which the government could sidestep established legal procedures authorized by thorough, nuanced statutes to obtain users’ data in ways not contemplated by lawmakers.”

The filing, which urges the court to vacate the government’s motion to compel Apple to unlock the phone, argues that handling user data in a “safe, secure, and transparent manner” that protects privacy is of the “utmost importance” to protect consumers from hackers and other wrongdoers,” while also recognizing the government’s “important work” in law enforcement and national security. It says the companies oppose forced backdoors, but will continue to comply with “proper and reasonable” requests for data.

Dozens of technology companies, industry trade groups, and encryption experts have been submitting documents to support Apple, all catalogued on Apple’s website. AT&T, Intel, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation filed separate amicus briefs this morning, as did the Consumer Technology Association in partnership with the Business Software Alliance [PDF], a group that includes Microsoft, Salesforce, Oracle, IBM, and Autodesk.

Other amicus briefs have come from Access Now and the Wickr Foundation, ACT/The App Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and a group of cryptography experts including Jonathan Zdziarski.

More amicus briefs are expected to be filed throughout the day, including one from a consortium that includes Google, Nest Labs, Facebook, WhatsApp, Evernote, Snapchat, and Mozilla.

All “Friend of the court” or amicus briefs supporting Apple are due by Thursday evening to give Sheri Pym, the judge presiding over the case, time to read through them before a court hearing. Apple is set to face off against the FBI in court on Tuesday, March 22.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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