Downloading ‘Dark Souls 3’ early makes the game even harder

Star Wars: The Force Awakens isn’t the only thing hitting the internet ahead of its official release this week: The latest entry in FromSoftware’s absolutely punishing Dark Souls series has as well. But rather than going to your torrent site of choice, all you need to do to access it is make a dummy account for your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One with Japan as its home region — Dark Souls 3 launched there on the 24th. You’ll still have to drop cash on the game, so if you were hoping for some nefariousness you’re out of luck here.

However, accessing this game via a loophole — DualShockers has a walkthrough — that’s oddly been open since early last console generation will work against you in a few ways. For starters, because you’re downloading the game from the Japanese digital store of your choice, it looks like menu text will be in Japanese. Thankfully, NeoGAF is already bustling with activity to help with any translation questions you might have.

The other problem will resolve itself once the game officially releases. Publisher Bandai Namco says that as of now the multiplayer bits of the game’s international version aren’t up and running yet. So, leaving trollish notes or trying to help someone out with a particularly brutal boss fight isn’t possible for now.

More than that, the game is getting a (sadly commonplace) day one patch that will “deliver further optimization” to the game. That’ll happen April 12th when the wider world has access. Need something to kill the time until then? That’s what the new trailer embedded above is for.

Source: DualShockers, NeoGAF, Bandai Namco (YouTube)

Apple Temporarily Pulls iOS 9.3 Update for Older iOS Devices

Apple has temporarily stopped offering the iOS 9.3 update for older devices like the iPad Air and earlier and the iPhone 5s and earlier due to installation issues some users have experienced. On older devices, iOS 9.3 requires users to input the Apple ID and password originally used to set up the device, which can lead to the device becoming stuck at the Activation Lock screen if the original account information can’t be recalled.

In a statement given to iMore, Apple says it is working on a fix and plans to issue a new version of iOS 9.3 in the next few days. Customers with an affected device who attempt to download iOS 9.3 during this time will not be able to install the update as Apple has stopped signing it.

Updating some iOS devices (iPhone 5s and earlier and iPad Air and earlier) to iOS 9.3 can require entering the Apple ID and password used to set up the device in order to complete the software update,” an Apple spokesperson told iMore. “In some cases, if customers do not recall their password, their device will remain in an inactivated state until they can recover or reset their password. For these older devices, we have temporarily pulled back the update and will release an updated version of iOS 9.3 in the next few days that does not require this step.”

For customers who have already installed iOS 9.3 and have gotten stuck at the Activation Lock, Apple has published a support document with steps on how to solve the issue. Apple recommends removing Activation Lock via iCloud or attempting to enter an Apple ID or password through iTunes.

Related Roundup: iOS 9
Tag: iOS 9.3
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Apple Music for Android Gains Home Screen Widget in New Update

The Apple Music app for Android devices was updated today, adding a new home screen widget that gives Android users the ability to control Apple Music playback without needing to open the Apple Music app.

The widget lets users view what’s playing, and quickly pause, skip, rewind, and favorite songs. Today’s update also lets Android users add songs directly to playlists without first needing to add them to the Apple Music, offers a way to redeem iTunes credit for membership renewal, and includes several other useful interface tweaks that should be a welcome change for Android Apple Music users.

Image via PocketNow

Now you can add songs from the Apple Music catalog to playlists without having to add it to your library. You can also:
– Control playback with a widget you can add to your home screen
– Redeem gift cards in Settings to renew your membership using iTunes credit
– See what’s playing on Beats 1 directly from the Radio tab — without having to tune in
– Tap the name of the currently playing song in Now Playing to go to the album
– See which songs are most popular on albums in the Apple Music catalog

Apple Music for Android can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store.

Tag: Apple Music
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Vizio M series (2016) Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Vizio

The successor to CNET’s favorite LCD TV of 2015, Vizio’s M series, is getting improved image quality chops and a revamped smart TV system that includes a tablet remote in the box.

The 2016 version of the M series appeared on the company’s website recently without any fanfare or pricing information. No, we don’t know when it’s coming out yet (the site says “soon”) and we don’t even know which sizes it will arrive in.

Vizio’s representatives declined to give us any additional information beyond what’s on the web site now.

According to the site, the new M series will pack many of the same features as the P series, which was announced Wednesday and starts shipping March 27. We suspect the M series will be cheaper, in the area of $1,500 for the 65-inch size. Here’s what we know.

Vizio M series features

• Full-array local dimming with 64 zones
• HDR compatible with Dolby Vision support
• 4K resolution
• Includes free Android tablet remote (6-inch screen)
• Google Cast compatible

Those are some pretty impressive image-quality specifications. The M series halves the number of local dimming zones on the P series, but 64 is still an impressive number (more zones generally leads to improved image quality), and twice as many as the M had last year.

HDR is another high-end picture enhancement new for 2016, although it remains to be seen how Vizio will handle support for Dolby Vision’s competitor, the HDR10 format found, among other sources, on 4K Blu-ray discs. One difference between the P and the M, judging from the website, is that the M series doesn’t get the “Ultra Color Spectrum” feature, so I doubt its coverage of the P3 color space used for HDR will equal the P series’ 96 percent.

The Vizio site indicates in a couple places that the tablet included with the M series has a 720p resolution screen (compared with a 1080p screen on the P series), but in another table on the site all of the M series tablet specs are listed as “coming soon.”

Just like the P series, the M does away with a traditional onscreen menu system in favor of the Google Cast feature and the Vizio SmartCast app.

See my write-up of the P series for more details.

Vizio’s site also lists a new 2016 version of the less expensive E series. Here’s how the series break down:

Vizio’s 2016 4K TV lineup

When we find out more information, we’ll update this article.

One of Apple’s first TV shows will be about apps

Apple’s foray in to the world of original programming doesn’t stray from the company’s skill sets. Today it announced that it was teaming up with TV executives Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens, and rapper Will.i.am to produce a show about the app economy.

Don’t expect a wacky sitcom revolving around hilarious developers. The show will be unscripted and sounds more like a documentary than the HBO show Silicon Valley. It’s not the first show to come out of Cupertino. The company is also working with Vice on a six-part documentary called The Score.

Apple’ senior vice president of Internet software and services Eddie Cue told The New York Times, Silverman brought the idea to Apple. No word how Will.i.am will be part of the show, but the entertainer has long been interested in technology and launching smartwatches and he’s lent his voice to animated movies and TV shows including Rio 2 and The Cleveland Show.

Apple didn’t share any information about the show’s production schedule, where it’ll be available to watch or when it’ll actually launch. Cue made sure to note that Apple won’t become a production company anytime soon which might squelch some of the rumors about Dr. Dre appearing in a scripted show produced by the iPhone maker.

Source: The New York Times

Shazam for iOS Can Now Add Songs to Apple Music Playlists

Popular music discovery app Shazam has been updated to version 9.4.1, gaining the ability to add songs to an Apple Music playlist. With the new version of the app, Shazam can connect to Apple Music and add songs that are discovered right to an Apple Music playlist without leaving the Shazam app.

For those unfamiliar with Shazam, it is a popular app that is able to identify music that is playing, offering up song titles, music videos, and more.

The new feature requires iOS 9.3, as the update enabled the ability for third-party apps to access Apple Music playlists. To use the feature, Shazam will need to be given permission to access and connect to Apple Music through the settings section of the app.

Once authorized, a song recognized by Shazam can be added to a playlist by tapping the “+” symbol in the upper right of the app. Songs can also be played in Apple Music, used to start a radio station, or opened in iTunes. Songs added to Apple Music are listed under a “My Shazam Tracks” playlist. Today’s update also gives Apple Music subscribers the ability to listen to a song in full without leaving the app.

The new version of Apple Music is here – and it makes for an even better Shazam experience! Once you’ve upgraded to iOS 9.3, connect to Apple Music in Shazam settings and you’ll be able to:

– Add any Shazam track to any of your Apple Music playlists.
– Find all your Shazams conveniently saved to a ‘My Shazam Tracks’ playlist in Apple Music.
– Listen to any song in FULL, without leaving Shazam!

Shazam can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Shazam
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What’s the cheapest way into virtual reality: PlayStation VR, Oculus, Vive, or Gear VR?

Is virtual reality going to break your wallet?

Obviously the cheapest way to get into VR is through Google Cardboard, but if you want a look at what else can be done with virtual reality you’re going to be shelling out some cash. Last week we showed you guys a quick specs-comparison for all the major VR headsets that are hitting shelves this year. Today, it’s time to break down the price of each device just so you’ll know exactly how much you’ll need to save up!

Breaking down the price for each headset is no easy task, especially with the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive running off of a separate PC — you can buy one, build one, or upgrade your current computer’s hardware, so costs there can vary widely.

So to make this a little easier, we’re addressing this price comparison from someone who wants to take the easiest/cheapest route into virtual reality. So for the Rift and Vive, we are going to consider their ‘console’ to be the cheapest compatible PC that the headset makers mention on their sites.

As expected, Oculus and HTC’s headsets will cost you well over a thousand dollars if you don’t already have a powerful enough PC. That being said, if you have a decent PC you may be able to swap out a few of the components to meet the minimum system requirements.

It’s worth noting that the HTC Vive is more expensive than the competition because it comes bundled with a pair of infrared laser lighthouses for 3D positioning and dual motion sensitive hand controllers. As for the Oculus Rift, you’ll have to play strictly with a gamepad until they announce how much and when the Oculus Touch controllers will be released.

What’s most surprsing about this table, though, is that the PlayStation VR with a PlayStation 4 is actually cheaper than a Galaxy S7 Edge with Gear VR in both its standalone and bundle packages. One thing is clear, though: no matter the platform, getting into virtual reality isn’t going to be cheap.

Does this table sway you towards one headset over the other? If so let us know in the comments!

• Buy Samsung Gear VR
• Pre-order HTC Vive
• Pre-order Oculus Rift
• Pre-order PlayStation VR

Google OnHub, three months later

Fast and reliable network speeds make the OnHub router great. The ease of use makes it worth the price tag.

I’ve been enjoying a Google OnHub router — the ASUS SRT-AC1900 model — for about three months now. And I’m not alone when it comes to the enjoying part. While it probably isn’t one of the highest-selling routers out there (thanks in part to the hefty $200 price tag) the people who bought it all seem to love it. That’s usually a mark of a great product.

I mostly agreed during my initial use period for the detailed review. Three months later I’m convinced that this thing is one of the best routers you can buy and worth every penny.

Let’s have a look why.

There’s not really a lot you can say about a router. Ideally, you want to set it up once, tuck it away in the corner and forget about it. What makes the OnHub a conversation starter are the style, the price, the ease of use and its future potential.

Both OnHub routers — the ASUS model and the TP-LINK version — don’t look like a router. They’re cylindrical, and words like sculpture or vase have been thrown around to describe them. I won’t go that far. Yes, it looks like a vase, but a vase that’s just there and has a blue light emitting from the bottom. My wife has called it “that smokestack thing” when we talked about how it would look in the living room. Sure, it looks much better than a “normal” router with antennas and blinking lights and wires (OnHub also has a minimum of two wires to use it), but it’s not particularly attractive. At least that’s the consensus in my house.

No, it’s not ugly. I actually find the shape interesting, and could imagine it on the end table in my futuristic bachelor pad, complete with egg chairs and a wall made of monitors. But there’s no way anyone will ever look at it and not assume it’s some sort of electronic gizmo. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s not going to fit into every decor. It sits on a table in my office, beside a wireless Samsung printer that El Captian refuses to support but I refuse to throw away. It’s the best looking thing on that table, though.

The ASUS model comes with a motion sensor built into the top. The idea is that you can wave your hand over the router to set up which device is put into what Google calls “priority mode”. That means that when two or more connected devices are trying to do things at the same time, the device — whether it be a TV streamer box or a phone or a computer or anything else — gets priority and is taken care of first. This is handy when you want to do things like watch Netflix while someone else on the network is trying to play Call of Duty, and you want to make sure they die as many times as possible. Sorry, Wayne. Not really. But you can also set the priority device and the time it has that priority from the Android app, which means I don’t need to walk over to the router itself. In addition, I’ve found it handles the various connections so well that you can get away without even bothering to set a device as the network kingpin. It’s still a nice feature to have, and being able to do it with a wave of the hand isn’t a bad thing — just a feature I haven’t found much use for.

I could have skipped the wired connection to my TV stand, because the WiFi on this thing is that good.

A sticking point for some (including myself) is that you have but one LAN port. Now, every time I mention this a few people always like to remind me that most users don’t need more than one LAN port. And they are right. But nerds are people too, and plenty of us like everything else about the OnHub.

The OnHub is not marketed as a power-user networking appliance. That’s good, because it’s not. If you’re like me and have multiple wired network interfaces in multiple places, you may need to buy additional hardware. That’s not the worst thing that could happen — I love getting boxes from Amazon filled with hubs or switches or cables — but it can be an issue for people who don’t want or can’t run a Cat 6 cable through their home. In the end, I ran one network cable out to the TV stand, and switched the gear in my office to wireless. I could have skipped the wired connection to the entertainment center, because the wireless connection on this thing is good. Damn good. While the wireless network isn’t as fast as Gigabit ethernet, it’s faster than my connection to the Internet.

That’s one of the areas where the OnHub shines. It has multiple antennas and is one of the best wireless routers I’ve used. Seriously — like as good as an enterprise-grade wireless AP when it comes to stability and speed. Anywhere in or around my home that I’d want to use a connected device has a good wireless signal. Both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks are fast, and everything I’ve connected to it was happy. More importantly (to me anyway) I’ve never had to reset the connection. That’s something you can’t say about most routers in a residential environment, and makes it worth the $200 asking price in my opinion.

Also on the plus side, the setup and administration process is dead simple. You do everything through the Google On app on your phone or tablet, and you don’t need to do anything besides think up a network name and password to make everything work. If you want to get under the hood and set all the settings, you’ll find basic settings like custom DNS, static IPs and port forwarding. You won’t find features like a DLNA server available, which takes us back to the part where OnHub isn’t exactly designed for a networking power-user.

Part of what drew me to the OnHub is the prospect of what Google might do with it in the future. While we’ve seen an update that enables a guest network (that works really well, too) I’m talking about more.

OnHub supports networking protocols that Internet of Things devices like to use. 802.15.4 wireless is supported, as are Smart Bluetooth LE (low energy) and Weave. I am hoping that the folks behind the Nest are working on products that directly connect using these protocols and things like smart locks or robot vacuums can be supported through one central interface — the Google On app. There’s no reason that OnHub can’t become both a wireless router and access point and a smart hub, all controlled by your phone. All we need is the software.

The OnHub has the hardware to become both a router and a smart hub, all controlled by your phone.

Yes, I want to be able to open my door so my robot vacuum can go outside and check my automated sprinklers, and do it all from my bed. OK Google, tell Jeeves (yes he has to be named Jeeves) to go outside and get the mail. Bring on that future.

Of course, nothing of the sort has happened and it may never happen. I didn’t want an OnHub router just because of what it might be able to do one day. Google promised me fast speeds and an easy setup, in a package that doesn’t need assembled or look like Voltron. And they delivered.

If you want a simple and easy to set up router for your home that’s fast and reliable, I can say that the OnHub is for you. It’s one of the fastest and most stable wireless routers I’ve used, and I think it’s worth the high asking price. If Google or any other arm of Alphabet gets creative and brings more functionality to the device, it may turn out to be a bargain. That’s an upgrade over my initial assessment of “maybe” when asked the question of should you buy one. I’ve found it to work so well that I was willing to rework my home office network setup so that I can continue to use it instead of going back to my old gear. It has earned its Android Central Choice Award, even for this power user.

See it at Amazon

Google OnHub Wi-Fi router

• Google introduces new OnHub routers
• How to set a priority device with OnHub
• The latest Google OnHub news

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Verizon updates LG G3 and G4 with March security patch

Verizon is now pushing out a fresh set of updates to the LG G3 and LG G4, bringing along the latest Android Platform Security patch and more. Once updated, Verizon LG G3 and G4 owners should find their Android security patch version to be current with the March 1 patches. Verizon’s patch notes for both the G3 and G4 also indicate the smartphones should respond faster when waking up from a sleep state:

This update provides faster display response from a sleep state, and the latest Android security updates.

As for software versions, we’re looking at a bump up to version VS98547A for the G3 and VS98625A for the G4. Since the updates only just began rolling out, they may take some time to land for everyone.

AI-written novel passes first round of a literary competition

Researchers from the Future University in Hakodate have announced that a short-form novel co-written by an artificial intelligence also developed by the team was accepted by a Japanese story competition, the Hoshi Shinichi Literary Award. Though the story didn’t eventually win the competition, its acceptance does suggest that AI systems are quickly becoming capable of emulating human-like creativity.

The team, led by computer science professor Hitoshi Matsubara, collaborated closely with their digital construct during the writing process. The humans first assigned a gender to the protagonist and developed a rudimentary outline of the plot. They also assembled a list of words, phrases, and sentences to be included in the story. It was the AI’s job to assemble these distinct assets into a unified text that wasn’t just intelligible but compelling as well. The result was a novel entitled Konpyuta ga shosetsu wo kaku hi, or “The Day a Computer Writes a Novel”, about an AI that abandons its responsibilities to humanity after recognizes its own talent for writing.

This is the first year that the Hoshi Shinichi Literary Award has allowed submissions from machines. Of the 1,450 novels received for this year’s competition, 11 were human/AI collaborations like Future U’s. Interestingly, judges throughout the competition’s four rounds are never told which stories are written by computers or humans. Though the team’s story did make it past the first round, it was eventually eliminated because, as sci-fi novelist and award judge, Satoshi Hase, explained, the story lacked sufficient character development despite being well-structured. Welp, there’s always the X-Prize.

Via: Motherboard

Source: The Japan News