Square Enix Releases ‘Mobius Final Fantasy’ for Free on iOS App Store

Developer Square Enix recently launched a new game called Mobius Final Fantasy, which the company said is “custom-tailored for mobile platforms,” and is now available on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Some of the team behind the game includes producer Yoshinori Kitase and writer Kazushige Nojima, who penned both Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X.

Mobius Final Fantasy lets players play the entire game with just one hand
Like with most games in the series, Mobius Final Fantasy is an RPG with in-depth character customization options and a turn-based battle system “specifically designed for mobile devices.” The company said that the game’s character personalization options come from the “job system,” a mechanic seen in previous Final Fantasy entries, which lets players specialize in a specific area of expertise to combo different classes with “specialized elemental abilities” and gain an advantage over enemies in battle.

According to Square Enix, the game will see upcoming releases debuted in “chapters,” which will bring new in-game events, playable content, and avatar items, although it was left unclear if these will be locked behind a paywall. In its App Store page, the main source of in-app purchases centers around “Magicite,” which is the game’s version of in-world currency that lets users pay real money to get slightly ahead if their in-game monetary intake is drying up.

Unlike most titles from Square Enix on the App Store, like the recently released $8.99 Apple Watch game Cosmos Rings, Mobius Final Fantasy is a free-to-play entry in the series, so players interested can download the game and try it out without having to pay. In addition, anyone who starts up the game before August 31 will have a chance to gain special items related to past titles in the series, including Tidus’s signature weapon from Final Fantasy X, and other various ability boosters and consumable tokens.

You can download Mobius Final Fantasy from the iOS App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tags: Square Enix, Final Fantasy
Discuss this article in our forums

Xiaomi’s VR headset is now official in China

Xiaomi has unveiled its first VR headset in China. The device features a zipper design that ensures the phone inside the housing does not fall out, and is made out of a combination of EVA and Lycra. Xiaomi says that the materials were chosen to prevent discomfort when using the headset for an extended duration of time.

The VR headset measures 201 x 107 x 91mm and comes in at 208.7g. It can accommodate phones with screen sizes of 4.7 inches to 5.7 inches, and will be available in a variety of colors and customizable designs. There’s also a standalone app that lets users view 360-degree content and play VR games designed for the headset.

Xiaomi is currently taking registrations for beta testers, and while there’s no information on retail pricing, it is estimated to be under $10.

Check out the product at Xiaomi’s website.

Google’s latest game lets kids explore the Himalayas

Google has leveraged Maps’ 3D imagery to build a kids game that lets them explore the Himalayas as a 500-foot Yeti called Verne. The game — built using the Unity game engine — is meant to be educational, teaching kids about the tallest mountain range in the world as they hike and fly around.

Verne can scale “Mt. Everest in seconds, skate across icy lakes, chase yaks, discover bits of information, ride a jetpack, play traditional Himalayan instruments, and more.”

Interested? You can grab Verne: The Himalayas for free from the Play Store.

Best cases you can buy today for Moto Z Droid

What’s the best case for the Moto Z?

The ultra-thin Moto Z Droid and its mods aren’t even out yet, but there are already some cases available, which is a good thing, because, like we said, it’s really thin. Really thin means it really needs a case – like, it really does. Here are our picks for right now.

• Moto Style Shells
• SoGa Wallet case
• OEAGO Defender case
• Tudia TPU Bumper Shock Absorption case
• Cimo Grip

Moto Style Shells

Moto Style Shells are basically just interchangeable magnetic backs for the Moto Z Droid — all you have to do is pop out the current back on your device and stick a new one on. The magnets will hold it in place until the next time you want to swap it out. Pretty cool, right?

As of this writing, the shells come in three textures: fabric, faux wood, and leather, with six varieties to choose from, including crimson ballistic fabric, washed oak, black leather, and more. Right now, they appear to be out of stock, but keep checking back for updates.

The main thing to be aware of with these shells is that they don’t cover the edges of the phone, so they don’t provide much, if any protection. They just look really nice and may help dissipate some of the heat coming off the back of the device.

At minimum, you’re going to want one of the Style Shells — the Moto Z Droid is way too thin completely naked; however, we recommend adding something like either the Cimo or Tudia case in the clear variety for extra protection around the edges and some additional grip.

See at Motorola

SoGa Wallet case

The SoGa Wallet case for the Moto Z Droid lets you ditch your wallet and gives you some protection for your phone at the same time.

Made of faux leather, it comes in several styles, from colorful patterns and designs to plain brown or black leather. Its magnetic closure is easy to open and close and keeps your phone, along with your money and credit cards, securely tucked away.

If you’re tired of digging through your purse to find your phone or you don’t have room in there for a wallet and a phone, then the SoGa Wallet case is for you.

See at Amazon

OEAGO Defender case

The Moto Z Droid is very thin — just 5.19mm — that means that drops can be especially deadly. So, if you’re prone to dropping your phone, you need a more protective case than just one of the Style Shells, or even one of the thinner clear varieties.

Right now, we’re recommending that you go with the OEAGO Defender because it’s thicker and gives you a better grip on your device. Made with a polycarbonate outer layer and a soft silicone inner layer, it buffers your phone from impacts and shocks — we don’t recommend dropping your Moto Z Droid at all — but if you do, you might still have a working phone afterward.

For the accident-prone, the OEAGO Defender case is the one to get for the thin and fragile Moto Z Droid.

See at Amazon

Tudia TPU Bumper Shock Absorption case

The Tudia TPU Bumper Shock Absorption case is good for adding extra grip and some light protection to the Moto Z Droid.

It’s not going to give you much protection from drops, but its flexible TPU composition will give you something to hold on to. The Moto Z Droid is an exceptionally thin phone, and a case that wraps around its edges, like the Tudia, is a must-have for at least the most minimal protection.

Additionally, its raised bezel around the screen and the camera protect these vulnerable areas from scratches; this is especially important since the camera sticks out from the back of the phone a bit.

It comes in clear, as well as several other colors, so whether you just want some extra protection that you can wrap around one of the Moto Style Shells or you want a different look, you have options.

If you want minimal protection and/or you want a clear case that shows off your Moto Z Droid Style Shell, try the Tudia TPU Bumper Shock Absorption case.

See at Amazon

Cimo Grip

The Cimo Grip case for the Moto Z Droid offers some protection, while remaining minimal and unobtrusive.

It’s composed of a TPU shell that snaps onto the Moto Z Droid and wraps around its edges. It has a raised bezel all around the screen and also around the camera lens in the back.

The dot pattern on the inside helps to minimize fingerprints and watermarks to keep your phone looking sharp. It comes in a few colors, as well as clear, so you can show off a Moto Style Shell if you have one.

If you want a case that will protect your Moto Z Droid from the everyday perils of life and gives you the option to display those awesome Moto Style Shells, then the Cimo Grip is the case you want.

See at Amazon

What about you?

Are you excited for the Moto Z Droid’s release? Will you be getting a case or just rocking it with a Moto Style Shell? Let us know in the comments below!

Need more information? Check out our Moto Z Droid review.

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

• Our Moto Z review!
• Moto Z specs
• Moto Mods custom backs
• Moto Z and Moto Z Force will be Verizon exclusives until the fall of 2016
• The latest Moto Z news
• Discuss in our Moto Z forums

Motorola
Verizon

Watch the Olympics like never before, BBC Sport 360 VR app puts you in the heart of the action

The BBC will be broadcasting much of the Olympics in an all-new format. As well as conventional TV broadcasts it will be screening  many sports in 360-degree video, for users of virtual reality headsets.

A BBC Sport 360 service will start with the opening ceremony for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from midnight Friday 5 August. It will then feature live 360-degree presentations of beach volleyball, boxing, gymnastics, athletics and other sports, all the way through to the closing ceremony on Monday 22 August.

It has released a dedicated BBC Sport 360 app for Android and iOS, which is also available through the Samsung Gear VR store. In addition, the footage will be available through its BBC Taster website online.

“This is a hugely exciting next step in our 360 and virtual reality experiments,” said Will Saunders, editorial lead for BBC Taster.

“There’s huge potential for immersive video in sport coverage, as well as many other genres, and we want to explore that potential directly with audiences. That’s why we experiment out in the open, so people can tell us what works, what doesn’t and whether there’s an appetite for more. We can’t wait to hear what people think.”

• Best VR headsets to buy in 2016, whatever your budget
• 5 reasons why the new Samsung Gear VR (2016) is the best mobile headset by far

The app will work with Samsung Gear VR and other mobile headsets compatible with Android and iPhone.

This is the full schedule of live 360-degree content to expect throughout the games and the UK screening times:

• Friday 5 August: 00:00-03:30 – Opening Ceremony
• Saturday 6 August: 14:00-17:50, 19:30-20:20, 01:00-04:50 – Beach Volleyball
• Sunday 7 August: 14:00-17:50, 19:30-20:20, 01:00-04:50 – Beach Volleyball
• Monday 8 August: 15:00-18:00, 21:00-00:00 – Boxing
• Tuesday 9 August: 15:00-18:00, 21:00-00:00 – Boxing
• Wednesday 10 August 10: 20:00-22:45 – Artistic Gymnastics
• Thursday 11 August: 20:00-22:10 – Artistic Gymnastics
• Friday 12 August: 13:00-19:30, 21:00-23:50 – Fencing
• Saturday 13 August: 13:30-16:50 & 00:00-03:15 – Athletics
• Sunday 14 August: 00:20-02:30 – Athletics
• Monday 15 August: 13:30-16:10 & 00:15-02:50 – Athletics
• Tuesday 16 August: 13:30-16:40 & 00:15-02:50 – Athletics
• Wednesday 17 August: 02:00-05:05 – Beach Volleyball
• Thursday 18 August: 02:00-05:05 – Beach Volleyball
• Friday 19 August: 19:30-21:30 – Basketball (Men’s SFs)
• Saturday 20 August: 15:00-16:50 & 19:30-22:00 – Diving
• Sunday 21 August: 15:30-17:30 & 19:45-22:05 – Basketball (Men’s Finals)
• Monday 22 August: 00:00-03:30 – Closing Ceremony

There’s a mini Master Chief hidden in your Xbox One S

The Xbox One S has been critically revered since its release on 2 August and that might have prompted you to buy one. But did you know that as well as get the most powerful console and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player currently available, you also adopted a tiny Master Chief?

During a technical teardown of the new machine, iFixit discovered an Easter egg hidden away inside.

Etched into the optical disc drive bracket are the words “Xbox One” and a small, cartoon Master Chief, the incredibly popular lead of the Halo game franchise.

As there’s a danger that you could invalidate the warranty by pulling apart the machine, the image is more than likely intended as a little surprise for Microsoft’s own technical support team, but you can at least see it in iFixit’s pictures above.

Now you don’t need to hack away at your own swanky new console to see it for yourself.

During its exploration of inside components, iFixit also found a SATA III hard drive rather than SATA II, although it couldn’t determine whether it was using a different interface so that might not have any bearing on performance. It is also a 5400 RPM model rather than 7200 RPM, so technically no quicker in operation.

The site also warns that replacing the drive will definitely render your warranty void. In addition, it isn’t easy to hack a new one to work. However, the Xbox One works well with external USB 3.0 HDDs, which can be used to store games and more, so there’s really not much call to do so.

• How to upgrade your Xbox One storage by 2TB and more: That’s up to 100 additional games
• Xbox One S review: Best console and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player out there

Intel scientist teases depth-sensing ‘horn’ for HTC Vive

Intel scientist Dimitri Diakopoulos revealed a sneak peek of an interesting depth sensing camera that attaches to HTC’s Vive headset. “I felt that VR needed a solid unicorn peripheral with six additional cameras,” he tweeted. The device, presumably based on Intel’s RealSense tech, may be designed to track your hands or keep you from bumping into things. He mentioned that each camera weighs 10 grams (0.35 ounces), and said the design maintains the headset’s original balance point.

It looks more like a finished product than a prototype and Diakopoulos said the team “nailed” the design. It’s unknown, however, whether it’ll be for consumers or developers. Both the Oculus Rift and Vive use external motion tracking devices and have pass-through cameras. However neither can track your hands (they both use controllers), and only the Vive has an obstacle detection system that the user must set up. In another tweet, Diakopoulos, added “I predict it’ll be rare to buy any HMD in 2018 without additional vision sensors integrated.”

The original tweets have since been deleted, so the reveal may have been premature, but we’ll apparently hear more about it during the Intel Developer Forum from August 16-18 in San Francisco.

Source: Tom’s Hardware

‘Strava’ Running and Cycling App Updated With Real-Time Safety Feature

The developers of popular running and cycling app Strava have announced a new safety feature for premium members that lets users broadcast their location in real time to friends and family.

The new feature, called Beacon, means runners and cyclists can now share their whereabouts with select contacts, who can then easily locate them if they don’t return from their workout when expected or in the event of an emergency, for example.

“Let’s say it’s 3:30, you said you’d be home at 3:00 and you’re not moving towards home,” said Ethan Hollinshead, Senior Product Manager on Strava’s blog. “That’s a good indication that they should reach out to you and see what’s up. Maybe you stopped for a coffee, or maybe you got a flat tire. Where it’s really designed to help the cyclist or runner is in that peace of mind scenario – to keep people from unnecessarily worrying about you.”

According to Strava, selected contacts don’t need to be users of the app. Rather, the app sends a text message to the contacts that includes a secure web link showing the user’s location on a map, allowing them to track the user’s progress in real time.

Once premium users have updated the app, the Beacon feature will appear in the lower right of the New Run or Ride screen. A tap of the Beacon icon lets users choose up to three safety contacts who will receive their location when they confirm to send the text.

Strava Running and Cycling is a free download available for iPhone and iPad on the App Store. [Direct Link] A premium Strava membership costs $6 per month.

Tag: Strava
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple’s Huge Investment in Didi Chuxing Was Behind Uber China Deal

Over the weekend we reported that Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing had agreed to acquire the Chinese operations of rival Uber in a deal worth $35 billion.

In a Reuters story filed yesterday, sources close to both companies revealed that Apple’s $1 billion investment in Didi Chuxing was the driving factor in Uber’s decision to agree to the deal, in return for a one-fifth stake in a bigger Didi.

“The Apple investment is one of the factors that influenced the decision,” a person close to the companies told Reuters on condition of anonymity. “Both sides raised enormous amounts of capital. They were probably thinking this was going to escalate to nuclear warfare, which raised the question: do we really want to assure mutual destruction?”

According to the sources, Didi raised far more money than Uber China, which was forced to subsidize its operations in the country using profits it had made in the U.S., Canada, and about 100 cities elsewhere. The company’s relinquishment of its independence in China marks the first failure in Uber’s strategy of outspending its biggest competitors.

In June, Didi secured $7.3 billion in funding from investors including Apple, China Life Insurance Co Ltd, Ant Financial and other new shareholders, giving the company a $28 billion valuation that made it the world’s third highest-valued start-up.

The company says it now has $10.5 billion in available funds, thanks to backing from Chinese Internet giants Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings.

“Apple’s investment in Didi likely spurred Uber to think harder about doing some kind of deal here,” said Jan Dawson, an Uber analyst at Jackdaw Research. “Uber and Apple have been partners in other markets, so for Apple to side with Didi must have been something of a red flag that things weren’t going to go Uber’s way.”

According to Hans Tung, a managing partner at GGVCapital (which backed Didi), Uber is eager to secure a wider partnership with Apple beyond its current relationships, such as Uber passengers’ use of Apple Pay to pay drivers who use iPhones provided by Uber. Opportunities may open up for such a partnership, said Tung, now that Uber has agreed the deal with Didi.

Tags: China, Uber, Didi Chuxing
Discuss this article in our forums