‘Street Fighter V’ gets two much-needed updates this month

When Street Fighter V launched last month, it was criticised by the press and fans alike for its lack of in-game content. The engine and mechanics were solid, but it lacked the story mode, tutorials and several online features present in Street Fighter IV. While not a complete fix, a free patch dropping on March 28th should add some of the worst omissions. A new Challenge Mode, for instance, will add “demonstration” tutorials aimed at beginner, intermediate and advanced players. These will culminate in “trials” designed to test your knowledge of basic and pro combos.

While the story mode remains threadbare, Capcom is working to improve its online multiplayer system. The new DLC will add eight-person lobbies that also support match spectating so you can scout your opponents and pick up new techniques. After playing a ranked or casual match, you’ll also have the option of turning it into a two or three-round set. Both players will need to agree in order to lock in the rematch scenario, however.

On March 30th, a second update will add Alex as a playable character. The fan favorite was introduced in Street Fighter III, but didn’t make the roster in Street Fighter IV. He’ll be available from the in-game shop and unlockable using the Fight Money system. In the future, you’ll be able to purchase characters and other content using Zenny, or real money, but this mechanism won’t be ready for the March update. An awful lot of Fight Money is needed to unlock characters, so Alex will be accessible to everyone as a “trial” until the Zenny system is implemented.

Capcom wants to repair the damage inflicted by Street Fighter V’s lightweight launch offering. Updates are on the way, including a new and improved story mode, but it’ll take a lot to remove the bitter taste left by its initial release. At the moment, it feels very much like a game in Early Access, not one commanding a $60 price tag.

Source: Capcom Unity

Google makes Nik photo-editing tools free to download

When Google snapped up Nik Software, it acquired not just Snapseed, but also the company’s photo-editing plug-ins for Photoshop and Apple Aperture. Now, the company is making those plug-ins completely free to download. The Nik Collection, a suite of seven editing tools that used to cost $150, can mimic the look of classic photography, turn images into dramatic black-and-white photos, adjust colors with filters, tweak HDR images and more.

They can make editing a lot easier for photographers, but keep in mind that among the seven, only HDR Efex Pro can fully run as a standalone program. Also, it’s very much possible that Google won’t continue developing the suite. In its announcement post, the big G says it’s making the collection free, because it’s focusing on mobile photography apps, including Photos and Snapseed. If you already paid for the plug-ins earlier this year, though, you can expect a refund notice to hit your inbox soon.

Via: Lifehacker

Source: Nik Collection, (Google+)

‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ as 569 GIFs tests fair use limits

If there was a grand prize for “Most Work Done to Prove a Point” (and “Fanciest Name Ever”) Jean-Baptiste Henri Franck Cyrille Marie Le Divelec would be a contender. For 2001: A Gif Odyssey, the ad agency creator painstakingly chopped Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey into 569 tiny GIFs to find the breaking point of the so-called fair use doctrine. Fair use, as a reminder, is a legal principal that allows people to use copyrighted material for commentary, criticism, news reporting, scholarship or research. At the same time, it also serves as an “affirmative defense” to protect artists.

A court recently ruled that creators must confirm fair use before sending takedown notices, but GIFs are normally too short to bother anyone. However, rights holders like the NFL have recently tried to shut down GIFs posted on Twitter by Deadspin and others. Le Divelec made it technically possible view 2001, albeit in an extremely inefficient way. Individually, each GIF would arguably fit into fair use as criticism, but what about all 569 as a whole? In the trailer below, Le Divelec asks, “Will this page get shut down? Will the fair use doctrine prevail? Will it break the internet? Only time will tell.”

For now, the GIFs are mute (with subtitles) and hosted on Giphy, but Le Divelec hopes to create his own site and add the score, which is free of any copyright. He told The Creators Project that his legitimate usage defense rests on artistic freedom. “I am trying to see where we can go in GIF-making while keeping GIF limitations. The fact that GIFs are soundless or contain only 256 colors gives me a little ‘buffer’ against some pure copyright infringement arguments.”

Source: A GIF Odyssey

Oculus Rift pre-orders are now shipping

The Oculus Rift is now shipping to pre-ordered customers, with deliveries scheduled to arrive starting March 28. With the first version of the Rift going up on Kickstarter all the way back in 2012, it is a momentous occasion for the Facebook-owned company as it finally starts delivering retail headsets to consumers.

Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe tweeted the following image of a boxed Rift bundle:

The first Oculus Rift has shipped, deliveries begin Monday 3.28.2016. pic.twitter.com/C0MMKmezun

— Brendan Iribe (@brendaniribe) March 24, 2016

If you missed out on pre-ordering the headset in January, you can go to Oculus and order the Rift right now for $599, but you’ll have to wait until July to get your hands on the headset. At launch, the VR headset will offer access to 30 games, with pre-ordered customers receiving EVE: Valkyrie and Lucky’s Tale for free.

See at Oculus

Google’s state-sponsored hacking alerts have been vastly improved

There are parties out there who simply wish to access your account in any way possible, governments included. Now Google will clearly alert you as to when the company detects that accounts may be in danger from state-funded hackers.

The search giant first kicked off the alert system back in 2012, but the message to notify consumers was a simple bar just under the top navigation menu. This will be replaced by a new alert.

The new banner will not only present a clearer message, it will also provide details as to how consumers can better protect their accounts, including setting up two-factor authentication. It’s a positive change and one we’re sure those who may be affected should be able to notice when browsing online.

Sprint offers 30-day guarantee that you’ll love the network

Sprint has announced a new 30-day satisfaction guarantee. The company is so sure you’ll love the U.S. carrier’s network that it will refund you the cost of the smartphone (once returned) and service if you’re not completely satisfied. Available for a limited time only, this guarantee can be applied to new customer accounts, as well as eligible businesses who activate a line.

But fear not if you’re already a customer as the guarantee will be tied to any new lines you add. It’s an interesting way to lure new customers, but if you’re looking to make a switch you may want to check out Sprint to see if you’ll be happy with its network. As an added bonus, Sprint will offer up to $650 to cover the cost of switching for a competitor network.

Press Release

VERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 25, 2016 – The Sprint (NYSE: S) network really is faster and it’s more reliable, with better coverage than ever. Starting today, Sprint will offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee – the industry’s best consumer satisfaction guarantee. If customers aren’t completely satisfied within 30 days, Sprint will refund the cost of the device and service charges.

The Sprint satisfaction guarantee is available for a limited time to new customers and eligible small business customers who activate a line of service at a Sprint company-owned store or preferred retailer, by calling 1-800-SPRINT1 or online at sprint.com. The guarantee also is available to current customers adding new lines of service in a Sprint store, online at sprint.com or by calling 1-800-SPRINT1.

“As I talk with wireless consumers across the country, they tell me over and over that a reliable network is the make-or-break factor in their buying decision,” said Marcelo Claure, Sprint CEO. “Sprint’s 30-day satisfaction guarantee is giving consumers the opportunity to try us out worry-free and experience everything Sprint has to offer – our award-winning, super-fast LTE Plus Network, the best price for unlimited plans, and so much more. No gimmicks, it’s that simple. And AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile customers can still save 50 percent off most standard rate plans when they switch to Sprint.”

Faster, More Reliable Network

In the second half of 2015 Sprint achieved a total of 212 first-place (outright or shared) RootMetrics® RootScore Awards for overall, reliability, speed, data, call, or text network performance in 125 metro markets, compared to 135 awards in 2H14 and 27 awards in 1H14.

In addition, Sprint’s analysis of Nielsen Mobile Performance Data shows the Sprint LTE and super-fast LTE Plus Network beat Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile by delivering faster download speeds.

Sprint LTE Plus, available today in more than 150 U.S. markets, takes advantage of Sprint’s rich triband spectrum portfolio and uses some of the world’s most advanced technologies in wireless, such as two-channel carrier aggregation and antenna beamforming. With LTE Plus, Sprint customers with compatible devices can experience peak download speeds in excess of 100 Mbps.

Switch to Sprint

Consumers continue to have the opportunity to save 50 percent off most AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon standard rate plans when they switch to Sprint. In addition, Sprint will cover switching fees up to $650 per line

Sony’s original TV show ‘Powers’ returns on May 31st

Sony’s first PlayStation TV show landed with a bit of a thud. Based on the comic book series by Brian Michael Bendis, Powers struggled to stand out against its superhero peers, especially those on rival streaming networks. The show does have a following, however, which was enough for Sony to commission a second season last May. Almost a year later, the company has announced that the first three episodes will debut in the US and Canada on May 31st, with free access for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

A new trailer shows the mess that homicide detectives Christian Walker (Sharlto Copley) and Deena Pilgrim (Susan Heyward) will be trying to untangle this time around. The world’s most famous superhero, Retro Girl, is murdered and the pair are told to investigate doing “whatever you need to do.” Mayhem ensues, with superpowers and explosions galore.

Around the launch of the PS4 and Xbox One, both Microsoft and Sony had grand ambitions for console-branded TV shows. Microsoft eventually abandoned its plans, however, after unbundling the Kinect and refocusing on video games. The TV-specific Xbox Entertainment Studios was closed, although a few shows did sneak through, such as the Atari: Game Over documentary and Halo: Nightfall. Sony was more cautious, green-lighting Powers — a safe bet, given the interest in superhero adaptations at the moment — and waiting for the reaction from PlayStation fans. Season two is probably its last chance to prove the concept is worth persevering with.

Source: PlayStation Blog

HTC Vive developer explains how to livestream ‘mixed reality’

Mixed reality games — which combine VR and AR — are about to become very mainstream when the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets ship in just a few days. For Twitch streamers who want to do justice to the first wave of such games, there are myriad new technical challenges (and costs). Luckily, the team that brought the us the delightful mixed reality building game Fantastic Contraption has put together a guide on streaming in the new format.

To let viewers see you interacting with the game, you’re going to need a green screen and at least an 8×12 foot space. To film with a couch, as shown above, you’ll need a larger free area around 15×12 feet. Equipment-wise, you’ll need a greenscreen, 1080p/60fps camera (preferably not a webcam), some lights, and a microphone (the instructions include a complete list).

After your studio is ready, you’ll need to set up the game, install and configure the OBS (open broadcasting software), sync the real-world to the game camera and program the director controls. With the latter functions, you’ll be able to switch between the player’s POV, a free camera to view levels and contraptions, and the mixed-reality camera. A lot of work? Sure, but if you like tinkering with cameras and computers to do some very cool Hololens-style mixed-reality streaming (as shown above), you’ll have a lot of fun, too.

Source: Northway Games

ICYMI: Multi-headed 3D printer, robo plant grafting and more

Today on In Case You Missed It: Autodesk built a 3D printing assembly line that gives different jobs to several print heads, allowing them to work collaboratively and quickly spit out a finished project. Clemson University used a Korean robot to graft up to 3,000 plants an hour. And a Kickstarter project for an augmented reality shirt is designed to teach kids and interested adults all about the internal organs.

The Milky Way is looking stunning in newly released photos from the APEX telescope. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.

Apple Website Gains ‘Mix and Match’ Apple Watch Gallery

Apple this week updated the Apple Watch section of its website to make it easier for customers to try out different watch styles and find the look they want.

Cult of Mac notes that Apple has replaced the old basic scrolling Gallery section of the site with a more flexible one consisting of three tabs that enable users to mix and match Cases, Bands, and Faces.

Visitors to the Gallery can now click back and forth between the various options to experiment with different styles. Existing Apple Watch owners may also find the updated section more useful should they want to buy additional bands for their wearable.

At its media event this week, Apple introduced new color options to pre-existing bands like the Modern Buckle, Classic Buckle, and Sport Band, along with an entirely new offering in the Woven Nylon band. MacRumors has put together a breakdown of all of the new collections available to purchase on the Apple online store that you can view here.

Apart from the new Apple Watch collections, Apple introduced the iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro during its “Let Us Loop You In” event on Monday. Catch up with the news in the MacRumors Event Recap and read more about various interesting details from the keynote.

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