‘No Man’s Sky’ cleared in false advertising investigation
No Man’s Sky developer Hello Games has emerged from a marketing investigation unscathed. The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has spent the last two months examining claims that the game’s steam page is misleading. Disgruntled players had taken issue with screenshots, videos and text which, in their opinion, showed the game with better visuals, performance and planetary exploration. These covered warping, ship battles and the complexity of extraterrestrial life. The ASA disagreed, however, concluding that the materials were largely representative of the final product and “unlikely to mislead” consumers.
To assess the claims, the regulator examined the game’s Steam store page and footage provided by Hello Games. Investigators also played the game to check whether the features could be easily replicated, or experienced within the confines of an average playthrough. Regarding large-scale space battles, Hello Games admitted these “were more unusual” but provided footage of a similar conflict occurring in the game. “In relation to these features, we considered that the ad did not depict gameplay that differed materially from the footage provided by Hello Games, and that it was therefore unlikely to mislead,” the ASA said.
The regulator did, however, notice some differences between the trailers and the final game. It couldn’t reproduce a shot, for instance, of a ship flying underneath a rock formation. Investigators also noted differences in animal behavior — one clip showed some large creatures moving large trees — but decided this was a “fleeting and incidental scene” and ultimately “not misleading.” Complainants had taken issue with the game’s graphical performance, but the ASA stressed that the experience would differ depending on the user’s PC. While a couple of screenshots showed water “in higher fidelity than we had seen in the footage or during gameplay,” it was not deemed to be significant.
In its ruling, the ASA said it acknowledged Hello Games had tried to show No Man’s Sky “in the best light.” The materials were taken from game footage (even if certain elements, such as the interface, had been “amended” prior to release) and showed what was possible in the procedurally generated universe. As such, it believes “the overall impression of the ad was consistent with gameplay and the footage provided, both in terms of that captured by Hello Games and by third parties, and that it did not exaggerate the expected player experience of the game.” Hello Games has, in short, been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The decision will come as a relief to the small British video game developer. No Man’s Sky was a hugely anticipated release that failed to meet fan expectations. Trailers showed beautiful worlds that could be explored and mined at the player’s leisure. But the gameplay loop felt shallow to many players, devolving into little more than a resource collectathon. Players were angry and Hello Games went silent, preferring to work on updates than deal with the community’s wrath. Earlier this week it released a new “Foundation Update” which adds base-building and two additional gameplay modes, Creative and Survival. While not enough to save the game’s tarnished reputation, it’s a considerable improvement that could win back a slither of the public’s trust.
Via: Eurogamer
Source: ASA
DirecTV Now is a good start for AT&T, but nothing truly original
If you’ve seen Sling TV or PlayStation Vue in action, AT&T’s DirecTV Now streaming service won’t offer up many surprises. Like the competition, it’ll let you stream live TV and on-demand content across a wide variety of devices — all you need is an internet connection. But right now, on the day of DirecTV Now’s launch, that’s pretty much all it is. There’s no cloud DVR functionality, which Vue has had for a while and Sling will soon start beta testing. And, strangely, there’s no support for Roku devices yet, which leaves out a significant chunk of its potential audience.
Despite those issues, there’s a good chance DirecTV Now will find some footing in the newfangled streaming TV ecosystem. It has the full backing of AT&T, after all, which is positioning the service as the start of an entirely new video platform (alongside its mobile Fullscreen and FreeVIEW services). The company plans to push DirecTV Now in all of its retail locations, which gives it more exposure to mainstream consumers than Sling. It’s tempting subscribers with deals featuring the new Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick and LeeCo TVs. And it won’t count DirecTV Now streams against AT&T wireless customers’ data caps, which is a direct affront to net neutrality. DirecTV Now might just be too big to fail.
I had a chance to take an early look at the service’s Apple TV app, and for the most part it delivered a solid streaming TV experience. I didn’t go through the entire setup process (it came pre-installed on an Apple TV from AT&T), but upon launching it for the first time, it loaded up New York City’s ABC station in under a second. Moving to other live shows via the channel guide generally took two seconds at the most. It’s not as instant as some TV services, but it’s a lot better than the performance I saw at last night’s launch event.
DirecTV Now’s video quality looked good for the most part, though I noticed some artifacts in scenes that were very dark or featured fast motion. Those are generally areas where most streaming services fall flat, though. As a test, I compared a few episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown via CNN’s on demand selection against their iTunes counterparts. (What can I say? I’m a fan.) The iTunes files were clearly superior, thanks to a significantly higher bitrate. But DirecTV Now’s version still looked decent on my 4K OLED TV, and notably they looked on-par with what I’ve seen on Sling TV.
Swiping down on the Apple TV’s remote brings up the app’s top menu, which points you to the search feature, channel guide and settings. By swiping up, you can reach what’s airing live, the list of shows available on demand, movies on demand, or the channel guide. You certainly won’t be lacking ways to find bingewatching options. DirecTV Now’s interface might take some time to learn, but it’s a lot less clunky than Sling TV’s UI, which sometimes feels baffling. Another plus, it seems like DirecTV Now also has more on-demand offerings than Sling, at least based on what I’ve seen available on CNN, HGTV and FX.
While AT&T executives made a big deal about their content deals during DirecTV Now’s launch event, you can expect the same sort of channel limitations as you would on Vue or Sling. Some channels might prevent fast forwarding and rewinding of content, for example. And whenever AT&T implements cloud DVR, you can also expect similar limitations to affect that feature, as it does on competing services. DirecTV Now also doesn’t have CBS or Showtime aboard yet, though AT&T says it’s “actively” working to sign them on. And unfortunately, there’s no support for NFL Sunday Ticket either.
Aside from the baffling choice to launch without Roku support, the most disappointing aspect of DirecTV Now is that it’s pricing is nowhere near as aggressive as AT&T originally implied (execs were floating the figure as last month). Sure, for now you can lock in over 100 channels for $35 a month as a promotional offer, but the company was very clear to point out that’s just temporary. Future subscribers will get 60 channels for that price, while the 100 channel option will go for $60 a month. PlayStation Vue, in comparison, starts at $30 a month for around 45 channels (depending on your market, it might be more), while Sling TV starts at $20 a month with fewer channels.
For now, AT&T has basically proven it can build a decent streaming TV service. But with Vue and Sling already having a head start, and similar services supposedly in the works from Apple and Google, it’s looking like there will be plenty of competition ahead. AT&T will probably find some sort of toe-hold through sheer force of marketing alone, but it’s unclear if DirecTV Now will be able to thrive, or just survive.
Steam will tell you what games work with OSVR
Steam has added an official badge to games on the platform that will work with Razer’s OSVR headset. Much like the visual designation for titles compatible with Oculus Rift and the company’s own HTC Vive headsets, it’s a simple icon. In this case it looks like a rounded square set inside a bigger square (below). Valve says that you’ll find it next to some 200 games at the moment, and that while OSVR is the first headset it’s slapped a compatibility badge on since this spring, it won’t be the last.
“As the industry keeps growing, changing and experimenting, Steam will be there to help you experience the latest VR content on whatever device you choose,” the post on Steam Community reads. This type of openness will only help VR grow, versus trying to operate the PC like a closed platform. Ahem, Oculus.
Source: Steam Community, Steam
Yahoo Answers Now is a standalone app for iOS
Yahoo Answers has been the butt of many jokes for a long time now. But if you enjoy browsing through all the amusing questions people submit and tend to reply to some yourself, you’ll love the latest update out of the company’s HQ: Yahoo Answers now has a standalone iOS app. According to TechCrunch, it was previously known as Yahoo Hive, which has been lying low on the App Store since the summer. Its launch is likely an attempt to challenge newer, shinier Answer rivals like Quora. It’s also the latest in the list of mobile apps Yahoo released this year.
Yahoo launched quite a few standalone applications these past few months, including the Newsroom, a travel search engine called Radar and a dedicated Esports app for Android. This one is only available for iOS devices, though, so you’ll have to stick to Answers’ website if you’re using another platform. Marissa Mayer was hoping that Yahoo’s mobile efforts could help solve its many problems. Since that didn’t quite work out, Verizon is now buying up the company for $4.38 billion. That said, Yahoo’s woes still aren’t over: the carrier is reportedly seeking a $1 billion discount after it came to light that Yahoo suffered a huge email breach that affected 500 million users.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: iTunes
Yahoo Answers Comes to iOS With New App
Yahoo recently debuted Yahoo Answers Now, a native app version of its popular Q&A site. The app has secretly been in the App Store for months under a different name, according to TechCrunch.
The app allows Yahoo Answers users to post and answer questions on the go. They’ll also be able to more easily craft rich media responses to questions and get matched up with questions they might be able to answer. Like the website, users can build followings based on their answers.
Answers Now secretly made its way onto the App Store as “Yahoo Hive” in June, giving the company a way to tweak the app in relative quiet. The app is part of Yahoo’s larger goal to translate its popular websites, like Yahoo Finance, Fantasy Football, and Yahoo Weather, into apps.
Yahoo also updated the app yesterday with new features, adding the ability to search for questions and answers, search the web for links to source answers, edit questions, answers and profile information, and click on hyperlinks.
Yahoo Answers Now currently requires an invite code to use. Those interested in using the app can request an invite code by emailing yan-invites@yahoo-inc.com.
Yahoo Answers Now is available in the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Tag: Yahoo Answers
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New 10.9-inch Apple iPad might ditch Home button, have slim bezels
Apple is thought to be working on a new iPad Pro, or maybe updating its iPad range for early next year, and a new report has indicated the new tablet will ditch the Home button.
Ah, that old rumour. It seems like for the last couple years we have heard every few months or so that Apple is considering removing its Home button from various devices. But now Japanese site Makotakara, which is often reliable, has claimed that a new 10.9-inch iPad is coming in early 2017, and it will have the same footprint as the current 9.7-inch iPad Pro but will lack the Home Button.
Remember, Apple is rumoured to be drastically overhauling the next iPhone, likely called iPhone 8, with a Home button that’ll be embedded in the display, which may or may not be OLED and possibly curved. You can read our rumour round-up on that device here. As for the new iPad, it’s supposed to have reduced bezels, with the top bezel containing a FaceTime camera. And it’ll be thicker.
- Apple iPad Pro 10.5 tipped for early 2017, could have A10X processor
The thickness of the new model will be increased to 7.5mm, which is the same thickness as the iPad Air. If you’re doubting the legitimacy of these rumours, keep in mind we first heard in August from KGI that a 10.5-inch iPad was coming, and then again from Digitimes last week, which said Apple is preparing an all-new 10.5-inch size for its iPad Pro line for the first quarter of 2017.
That means both a 10.9-inch screen and a 10.5-inch screen have been previously rumored. At present, Apple has the 7.9-inch iPad Mini 4, plus 9.7- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets. The 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 is also still sold.
A 10.5-inch model, whether it’s a Pro or standard iPad, would bridge the size gap. And if it ditches the Home button, it might attract new customers to Apple. But that’s a whole lot of ifs and mights and unknowns.
PowerPoint brings real-time collaboration to your slides
It’s not much fun to plug away at a presentation, but Microsoft might have found a way to make the experience more bearable for Office 365 subscribers. It’s updating the Windows version of PowerPoint with real-time collaboration that helps you share the workload. You can see who’s editing specific slides, and see typing as it happens. You’ll need to be part of the Office Insider program to use this right away, but don’t be surprised if it’s available more broadly in the near future.
Microsoft’s updates will also let you know what’s going on when you’re away from your desk. Both Android and iOS users are getting notifications that let you know when someone is offering or working on a shared Excel, PowerPoint or Word file. Ideally, you won’t be caught off-guard when a coworker starts editing a team report. You’ll have to be patient if you think these would be useful, however. You need to be an Office Insider to get these notifications on Android at the moment, and you’ll have to wait for the December updates before they show up on iOS.
Source: Office Blogs
Google timelapses offer a 32-year look at Earth’s history
As static as it may seem, Earth is a lively planet that changes almost constantly — and Google just offered a clever way to see that development with your own eyes. In a partnership with Time, it’s introducing a dramatically improved version of Google Earth Timelapse that provides animated satellite imagery covering 32 years, going back to 1984 (4 years earlier than before). It uses the higher-resolution maps you saw in June to provide a look that’s both more detailed and more seamless than before, with fewer abrupt changes in color and quality. There’s also more to look at in the first place thanks to both added legacy satellite data and info from newer orbiters.
The resulting views help illustrate activity on Earth in a way that isn’t apparent just by staring at static maps. You can see glaciers retreat in Antarctica, rivers reroute in Tibet, and tar sand mining expand in Canada. It’s easy to see cities grow, too. Is this pure eye candy for most people? You bet. However, the hope is that this could also shine a light on environmental issues like climate change and urban sprawl. If you can witness humanity’s long-term effect on Earth in a matter of seconds, you might be more inclined to do something about it.
Source: Google Earth Blog, Time
FDA approves new trials using MDMA to help treat PTSD
MDMA, the pure form of Ecstasy, is usually only mentioned when partygoers get busted for holding the Schedule 1 restricted drug. But medical researchers have been quietly testing its potential medical applications, like treating terminally ill patients and assisting patient therapy for PTSD. The results from the latter have been promising enough for the FDA to commission Phase 3 trials, which is the last step before MDMA’s possible approval as a prescription drug.
Initial studies had patients under 12 weeks of psychotherapy along with three 8-hour sessions in which they took MDMA. After taking the drug, they lay on a futon surrounded by candles and flowers while soothing music played in the background — a calming environment amid the euphoric effects of the substance.
This combination of drug-assisted sessions mixed into scheduled therapy could help PTSD patients who have not been helped by current methods used to treat the illness. Other researchers wrapped up the first MDMA treatment trials in Canada days ago and found the drug to have a significant impact on the study’s six patients.
“The biggest thing was there was a very increased level of trust,” Dr. Ingrid Pacey, the study’s principal investigator, told the Toronto Metro News. “They were really able to talk about painful material from the past that they were never able talk about before in their life — they’d been so frightened they’d block it. With the MDMA, they’d be distressed and crying, but they could talk it through and come to understand it in a way they couldn’t before. The trauma became a more manageable part of their history and they could go forward with their lives.”
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a nonprofit that’s advocated for medical use of psychedelics since 1985, funded six Phase 2 studies of PTSD treatment using MDMA. It will also help pay for Phase 3, which will include up to 230 patients.
There are, of course, members of the medical community concerned that federal approval of treatment would cause users to acquire the drug illegally and self-medicate, as many have done recently with opioids. But the Phase 3 trial researchers are optimistic enough to apply for breakthrough therapy status, which would accelerate FDA review. If approved, the drug could be available by 2021.
Source: The New York Times
Apple Music Student Pricing Expands to 25 More Countries Around the World
Apple today began offering Apple Music Student Memberships in 25 additional countries around the world, cutting the cost of an Apple Music subscription by approximately 50 percent for students enrolled in a college or university. The discounts provided to students vary based on country.
Apple Music Student Membership plans appear to be available as of today in Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Finland, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
Student pricing was already available in the United States, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom following the May 2016 debut of the student program. Student Memberships are now available for Apple Music subscribers in a total of 32 countries.
Apple Music student pricing in France
Student Memberships are validated using UNiDAYS, a student validation service. UNiDAYS confirms that Apple Music subscribers are enrolled in a degree-granting college or university before allowing customers to get the discounted subscription price.
Customers who subscribe to Apple Music with a student subscription will need to confirm their status on a regular basis through UNiDAYS. Subscribers who are no longer students or who have had student pricing for 48 months will be switched over to a full price individual Apple Music subscription.
Tag: Apple Music
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