Action-RPG ‘Code Vein’ hits Xbox One, PS4 and PCs next year

Bandai Namco released the first trailer for its upcoming action-RPG game Code Vein just last month, but it couldn’t exactly let E3 come and go without spilling a few more beans now, could it? We’re no closer to a concrete release date, with 2018 still as definitive as it gets, but we do now know what platforms the third-person, anime-esque title will be available on. Bandai Namco previously said Code Vein would be hitting “major home consoles” next year, but it’s now clarified the title is headed to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PCs too, via Steam.

The Code Vein trailer for E3 is more or less a shorter version of the one we’ve already seen. Most of the in-game footage has simply been reordered and recycled, but there are a few new frames highlighting an armor-clad character you’d imagine will be key to the story. If you’re catching up, Code Vein is set in a cityscape ravaged by “a mysterious disaster.” It appears anything and everything now has a “thirst for blood,” even those seeking “an exit out of this new demented reality.” But don’t call them vampires, because Bandai Namco doesn’t ever call them vampires.

In terms of gameplay, the action-RPG basically looks like a more cartoony version of Dark Souls, with methodical, almost puzzle-like combat that should both delight and infuriate. There’s a player-selected “companion” element to the game too, so at least you’ll have a partner in tow to mourn your many, many deaths.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Via: Rock Paper Shotgun

Source: Bandai Namco

Google gives its Local Guides more perks and higher levels

Google’s Local Guides program has grown to more than 30 million members in the three years since its inception. Participants earn points towards rewards from the company for leaving Yelp-like reviews at their favorite local spots. But like any online multiplayer game, given enough time, players will reach their level cap. That’s why Google announced on Tuesday that it is offering a new points system with new ways to earn them and a higher level cap with different perks.

Players level 2 and up will continue to earn occasional perks from Google, like early access to new features. But those level 4 and above will receive a free three-month Google Play Music subscription and 75 percent off Play Movies rentals. The company is also boosting the level cap from 5 to 10 and giving higher-level Guides unique badges that better reflect their contributions. These gameplay improvements are slated to roll out to users over the next few days.

Source: Google

Apple Releases Updates for Pages, Numbers, and Keynote on iOS and Mac

Apple today released updates for its suite of iWork apps on iOS and Mac, introducing new features for Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. All of the apps have access to a new library that includes more than 500 professionally drawn shapes, and there’s a new feature that allows users to reply to comments and join threaded conversations.

Apple is also introducing new auto-correction and text replacement options that are designed to save users time when typing, and these new features are available in Keynote, Pages, and Numbers across both iOS and Mac.

Pages for iOS and Mac now support linked text boxes, and there’s a feature allowing users to export documents as fixed layout ePub books. When collaborating with other users on a document, there are new options for changing margins, headers, footers, and paper size in both apps, and in Pages for iOS specifically, there’s a new page thumbnail view for better navigation.

In Pages for Mac, Stock and Currency functions will now return data from the previous market day’s close.

The same Stock and Currency update is coming to Keynote for Mac, and there’s also a new option to edit notes while displaying slides in Light Table view. Also new to the Mac version of Keynote are new pan and zoom options. Light Table view is expanding to Keynote for iOS, and there’s an option to edit presenter notes when viewing slides.

Both versions of Numbers are being updated with support for print preview when working on collaborative spreadsheets, and the Insert Stock Quote feature and the Stock and Currency functions now use data from the previous market day’s close.

All of Apple’s iWork apps are available from the iOS App Store and Mac App Store for free. The apps have been fully free for download since April of 2017.

– Pages for Mac – [Mac App Store]
– Keynote for Mac – [Mac App Store]
– Numbers for Mac – [Mac App Store]

– Pages for iOS – [App Store]
– Keynote for iOS – [App Store]
– Numbers for iOS – [App Store]

Tags: iWork, Pages, Keynote, Numbers
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Sprint Offering Free Year of Unlimited Service to Switchers

Sprint today announced that customers of Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or any other postpaid carrier who bring their eligible iPhone or Android-based smartphone to Sprint will receive one free year of unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data. The offer is available for up to five lines per new account opened.

The term “unlimited” has some limitations, including a max of 1080p for streaming video, 1.5 Mbps for streaming music, and 8 Mbps for games. Data de-prioritization applies during times of congestion, and customers that exceed 23GB of data in any billing cycle may be throttled until the next billing cycle.

Unlimited talk includes long distance calls within the United States and Sprint Global Roaming, which includes 2G data and text messaging in over 165 countries for no charge, plus calling for $0.20 per minute. 10GB of high-speed data per line is included to use toward Personal Hotspot, VPN, and Peer-2-Peer usage.

Eligible smartphones must be unlocked and compatible with Sprint’s network and SIM card, including the following iPhone models. An asterisk indicates only the Verizon model of that particular iPhone works on Sprint due to CDMA compatibility. Tablets and Personal Hotspot devices are ineligible.

• iPhone 5c*
• iPhone 5s*
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone 7*
• iPhone 7 Plus*
• iPhone SE

As to be expected, the offer has some fine print, but there really are no significant catches or anything that should be considered a deal breaker.

• New customers only: The offer is not available to customers that already have an active Sprint account.
• No annual contract: After July 31, 2018, the free plan will convert to Sprint’s standard Unlimited Freedom plan starting at $60 per month with AutoPay. Customers don’t appear to be under any obligation to continue paying for that plan and may cancel after the first year of free service if desired.
• Keep the same phone number: Port-in from postpaid carrier required.
• SIM card purchase required: $2.99 + $10 shipping + taxes online. Also available at Sprint stores. SIM card must be activated prior to port-in.
• Activation fee rebated: A $30 activation fee will appear on the first bill and an equal credit will appear within 2 bills.
• AutoPay and eBilling required: If AutoPay and/or eBill are removed, up to a $7.99 per month charge will apply.
• Taxes and fees: A standard $1.99 admin fee, $0.40 regulatory fee, state and local taxes, and other surcharges may apply each month.
• No device upgrade allowed during first 120 days: Any upgrades prior to October 1, 2017 will require a plan change to Unlimited Freedom, and the customer will lose the remaining free months in his or her year of free service.

Sprint said this limited time offer is available until June 30. To switch, customers must purchase a SIM card from Sprint’s website or stores, activate it, and port their phone number over.

Tag: Sprint
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Eero’s new hub has twice the range and speed of its predecessor

Why it matters to you

Eero’s new hub and Beacon are designed to take on competition from Google, Samsung TP-Link, and others.

Dead zones are constant thorn in the side of anyone tasked with setting up a Wi-Fi system. Not every home is alike, and some — especially those with winding hallways and thick walls — present a real challenge for conventional routers.

One solution — mesh networking — has exploded in popularity. Over the past few months, Samsung, Netgear, Linksys, TP-Link, and Google have released systems that strengthen home Wi-Fi coverage by linking multiple wireless nodes together. And now Eero, a pioneer in the field, is launching a new one of its own.

The upgraded Eero hub is twice as powerful as its predecessor, thanks to an upgraded processor, beefier antenna, and upgraded TrueMesh, the mesh algorithm that allows Eero hubs to automatically connect to each other. It delivers double the speed and range of the original Eero, the company says, but without compromising compactness — it’s the same size and form factor as before.

The new Eero hub is stuffed to the brim with technologies like tri-band radio (as opposed to the first model’s dual-band radio), which can broadcast on three wireless bands at the same time. Eero says that all three are reserved for sending and receiving data — unlike the Linksys Velop and Netgear Orbi, the new Eero doesn’t reserve one of the three bands for inter-unit communication.

The updated Eero hub is also the first to support Thread, the smart home protocol for connected devices. It competes with well-established competitors like ZigBee and Z-Wave, but Eero’s betting its ease of use will win over customers — Thread-enabled devices like connected lights, locks, and doorbells automatically connect to the Eero, and let you control devices with the Eero’s companion app and Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.

Eero’s also introducing new hardware alongside the upgraded hubs: The Eero Beacon. It’s not as powerful as a full-blown hub, but it’s small enough to plug into a wall outlet, and designed to extend the range and coverage of your Wi-Fi network in hard-to-reach places like kitchens, hallways, and bathrooms. But despite its diminutive size, it’s no slouch — the Beacon provides 20 to 30 percent better performance than the first-generation Eero and packs an LED nightlight that flips on at night automatically.

Finally, Eero’s rolling out Eero Plus, a new premium security service that defends against malware and malicious third-party devices. For $100 a year (or $10 a month), Eero will prevent smartphones and laptops from “accidentally accessing sites associated with harmful content, like malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.” It comes with enhanced parental controls, too, and VIP technical support with a direct line to Eero’s customer service representatives.

Despite all the new gear, Eero isn’t leaving existing owners out in the cold. Both the new Eero hub and the Beacon are backward compatible with existing systems, so hubs and Beacons added to legacy networks will work just as well as they would in new environments. And the Eero ships with a companion app that helps you decide where to position the hubs and Beacons, and sends automatic alerts when something’s wrong with the network.

The new Eero kit with one Eero hub and one Beacon is $300. A $400 package includes the hub and two Beacons, and a $500 Pro system comes with three Eero hubs. They’re available to order starting Tuesday, June 13, and begin shipping in a few weeks.

Google hires Apple veteran to design custom smartphone chips

Why it matters to you

Google’s future Pixel smartphones may pack processors custom designed by a former Apple engineer.

Google is reportedly designing chips that will power the next generation of Pixel-branded smartphones, and it has recruited a veteran hardware engineer from Apple to spearhead the effort. On Tuesday, Variety reported that Manu Gulati, who led the iPhone maker’s chip division for close to eight years, has been hired as Google’s Lead SoC (system-on-a-chip) architect.

The current generation of Pixel phones — the Pixel and Pixel XL — pack chips optimized by Google but supplied by Qualcomm, which produces silicon for HTC, LG, Asus, Lenovo, and other smartphone competitors.

Google has reportedly long desired to break free of the chipmaker’s monopolistic grip. In 2015, The Information reported that Google had conversations with chip manufacturers about fabricating its own chips. And in an interview with Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh, Bloomberg reported that planned that the company was planning Pixel devices powered by proprietary processors and other hardware components.

Gulati could be the man for the job. The Cupertino, California-based computer maker began working at Apple in 2009, and led the company’s effort to build custom chips for the iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV. He helped to design the architecture of the A4 chip in 2010, the first Apple-designed chip to power one of the company’s products. And he’s credited as an inventor on 15 of Apple’s chip-related patents, including a hardware-based system for Apple Pay that securely stores a user’s fingerprint on the iPhone.

Google’s efforts appear to be accelerating. Variety notes that the search giant has posted job offers for chip-related design positions, including one for a “mobile SoC CPU architect” and a “mobile SoC architect,” who will “help define the architecture of future generations of phone and tablet” chips.

Ultimately, Google wants to exert greater control over the microchips that power its Pixel devices; Apple’s custom approach makes it possible to optimize processors for both performance and energy consumption. It has already made overtures — In May 2016, Google unveiled a custom chip — a Tensor Processing Unit, or TPU — designed to accelerate machine learning and artificial intelligence applications. Google says that TPUs, which were implemented in the company’s data centers last year, have helped to improved the accuracy of map and navigation aids in Street View and the relevancy of Google search results.

But the search giant’s smartphone chip plans might not come to fruition this year. Rumor it that Google’s next Pixel smartphones, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2B, sport processors from Qualcomm, Intel, or a combination of the two.

5 updates coming to Adobe Stock, including content from Reuters

Why it matters to you

Adobe Stock users now have even more photos and better ways to find them, including AI search filters and PowerPoint plug-in.

Two years after launching, Adobe Stock is now 90 million images strong and continuing to grow. With that much content available, Adobe announced two new features will make it easier to sift through: an artificial intelligence-based search filters and a Microsoft PowerPoint plug-in. The company is also expanding its editorial collection, through partnerships with Reuters and USA Today Sports. And, Stocksy’s collection will also join Adobe Stock as a premium collection.

As Adobe Stock’s number of images continues to grow, Sensei, the company’s artificial intelligence system, is powering more ways to find the right shot. With the new Aesthetic Filters, users can now filter images by both the depth of field (the amount of background blur) and the amount of color. The search filters, now in public beta testing, allows users to adjust sliders for sorting out images to better match the look they are going for.

“When an image is uploaded, Adobe Stock uses machine learning to return images with similar visual and semantic characteristics, which can be further refined with keywords,” Adobe says.

The depth of field slider allows users to choose more blur for added drama, while images with the least amount of blur tend to include more people in them.

The “vivid color” search parameter allows users to choose whether they are looking for a shot with a more muted look or an image with bright colors. The brighter side of the slider doesn’t dig up colors that are artificially saturated, Adobe says, but includes objects and surroundings that are more bright naturally.

The features, for now, are only live on the web-based version of Adobe Stock. Adobe expects to bring the features directly into the search function within Adobe Creative Cloud applications, which allows users to find stock photos without leaving programs like Photoshop. Additional atheistic filters are also in the works.

The new search parameters will come in handy since the Adobe Stock collection is getting even bigger, thanks to newly added editorial and premium content from Reuters, USA Today Sports, and Stocksy. The Reuters collaboration brings the news service’s editorial content starting today, while sports photography will launch shortly with the USA Today Sports partnership.

“Stock content is mainly models, people you don’t know,” Claude Alexander, the vice president of Adobe Stock, told Digital Trends. “Editorial is strictly the opposite, real people in real places doing real things.”

Since the editorial images are geared toward different users than the stock and commercial images, the collections will remain separate. Search filters allow users to include or exclude editorial images – editorial is excluded from the search by default. Adobe plans on adding the ability to narrow searches inside the editorial collection by date, but the feature isn’t part of today’s launch.

Reuters is the largest global news organization in the world and the new partnership brings 12 million new images and 300,000 video clips to the platform. Today’s announcement finalizes an earlier agreement that gradually added 12 million Reuters archives over the first-half of 2017. Now, new content will be added daily, covering a range of topics from events to celebrities. When the USA Today Sports collection becomes active, it will cover 10,000 events a year, including all major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.

Stocksy is the third new partnership announced, bringing a “distinctive, beautiful and highly-usable” set of images to the Premium Collection, Adobe says. The collection brings about 400,000 new stock photos.

One of the biggest reasons current customers like using Adobe Stock, Adobe says, is the direct integration with a number of Adobe platforms, making it easier to buy – and even sell – without leaving the program. That capability is now extending outside the Adobe Creative Cloud family with the launch of a plug-in for Microsoft PowerPoint, for both Mac and Windows. Users can find the plug-in by accessing the store from the Insert tab. Prices for PowerPoint users are the same as stock prices for CC users. Search tools are also similar, with the ability to search by text or by uploading an image.

The new partnership will bring Adobe Stock’s total images to well over 100 million, with daily additions expected for the editorial collection.

Sneaky Android virus can inject itself into system files and cover its tracks

Why it matters to you

New mobile malware pops up all the time, and it’s as important as ever to be wary of the apps you download.

Every week or so, there’s a new form of Android malware discovered that works in a unique way from what’s come before. Fortunately, in most cases, Google and third-party security experts identify the offenders before they do any serious damage. Kaspersky has just discovered one such Trojan, called Dvmap, located in an unassuming game on the Google Play Store called Colourblock with an unprecedented tactic — it injects code into the Android system library.

According to Kaspersky, this is the first example of malware on the operating system with that capability. Colourblock has reportedly been downloaded over 50,000 times, though Google took the game down after Kaspersky brought it to the company’s attention.

The danger of malware that overwrites contents in the system library in this particular instance is that it can disable Android’s Verify Apps function, allowing free, unchecked installation of downloaded software without the user’s knowledge or approval. By replacing the library, the Dvmap Trojan also eliminates key services that many apps rely on to operate properly. This means normally stable apps could very well start crashing your device.

Dvmap even deletes root access to cover its tracks. That’s particularly dangerous for apps dealing with sensitive information that rely on root detection to operate securely, like banking apps.

Kaspersky’s Roman Unuchek noted in his analysis that although the Trojan possessed the ability to download and execute files, it never received any commands during his investigation. This could mean that the developers are still expanding their reach and testing their methods before launching the full attack.

Interestingly, Colourblock has been able to sidestep action from Google and remain under the radar because the developers have been regularly “updating” the app by releasing a mix of clean and malicious versions. The first release was clean, but was then replaced with another containing Dvmap after a short period of time. That version was switched out with another clean app, and then again with an infected one. Kaspersky says the developers had performed the switcheroo at least five times between April and May.

Google’s new ‘Android Excellence’ program highlights best Android apps

Why it matters to you

Want to make sure you’re not downloading buggy apps? Google’s new Android Excellence program will help you do just that.

Google is looking for new ways to promote and show off apps and games that deliver a top-quality Android experience, and to that end the company has taken the wraps off of Android Excellence, a new program aimed at showcasing those great apps.

The apps on show have to meet a number of important criteria. Not only do they have to be generally good apps, but they also have to follow Google’s Android best practices, have a great design, perform technically well under the hood, and optimize well for whatever device they’re on.

“Every day developers around the world are hard at work creating high quality apps and games on Android,” Google developer marketing head said Kacey Fahey in a blog post. “Striving to deliver amazing experiences for an ever growing diverse user base, we’ve seen a significant increase in the level of polish and quality of apps and games on Google Play.”

Initially, there’s quite a list of apps and games that make the Android Excellence cut, including the likes of Evernote, HotelTonight, Runtastic, and Riptide GO: Renegade. You can check out the full list for yourself here. Not only that, but the list will be refreshed quarterly — so you can check in every few months to see what Google considers the latest and greatest Android apps. The apps can be found on the revamped Editor’s Choice section of the Google Play Store.

It’s nice to see Google highlighting apps that perform well on Android. It’s all too easy to look for an app, only to download it and find that it’s either badly designed, or buggy and doesn’t work well on your device. Hopefully, if you download from Google’s Android Excellence list, that issue should be a thing of the past. Even if you’re not looking for a particular app, the new list should be a great way to discover something new.

Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note 7 R: News and rumors

Why it matters to you

The Note 7 isn’t dead yet. Samsung is considering selling refurbished units of the ill-fated phone in select markets later this year.

Update: Added ETNews report regarding an early July launch in South Korea.

Samsung is not one to let recalled phones go to waste — even fire-prone ones. The smartphone maker announced it is investigating ways to recycle the Galaxy Note 7 in an environmentally conscious way, which may include selling refurbished versions of the previously recalled device. Here is everything we have heard about the plan.

Where and when will it be sold?

Samsung hasn’t stated where it wants to release a refurbished Note 7, but we would be willing to bet the answer is something like, “Anywhere that will take them.” Rumors have covered a potential release in South Korea, India, and Vietnam. A spokesperson for Samsung India denied the reports a refurbished Note 7 would be sold there.

According to a report from ETNews by way of Android Authority, Samsung is planning a July 7 release for the refurbished Note 7 in South Korea and will call the device the Galaxy Note FE. The phablet will reportedly also feature Bixby, the company’s new virtual assistant. ETNews says Samsung was planning a late June release but wanted to increase production substantially, pushing launch into early July.

South Korea may be Samsung’s test market for the re-released Note 7 and for refurbished phones in general, ETNews previously reported. It would be the first time Samsung has sold a refurbished phone in its home country, and the report states it doesn’t require government approval to do so. However, it would still need to pass safety checks with authorities.

A June release in South Korea is possible, helping Samsung bridge the gap between the release of the Galaxy S8 and any subsequent release of the rumored Galaxy Note 8, likely to come in September or soon afterwards. The period is traditionally quiet for smartphone sales in South Korea, according to ETNews.

Before this, South Korea’s Electronic Times said Samsung will begin selling refurbished Note 7 phones in its home country in July or August, and aims to sell between 400,000 and 500,000.

What will change?

If Samsung is to sell the Note 7 again, the most obvious change it will have to make is to stop it catching fire. To do this, the battery will be reduced in capacity from 3,500mAh to 3,200mAh, according to a report from ETNews. It echoes previous information leaked in April, when images of a Galaxy Note 7 phone with a smaller battery were published online. The Note 7’s battery was squeezed into the original device, which was one of the primary causes of the fires, so a smaller cell should avoid this.

The name may be changed to the Galaxy Note 7 R, with the R presumably standing for refurbished (or recall, if we’re feeling sarcastic), says ETNews and several other sources. The same report, which initially said the Note 7 R will go on sale in South Korea this June, also added the device will cost the local equivalent of $620. That’s at least $200 less than the Note 7 cost when it first went on sale. It’s also less than the newly released Galaxy S8.

Samsung statement

Rumors had previously spread about the plan, but Samsung confirmed its intention in a statement released at the end of March 2017. It said some of its existing Note 7s would be “considered to be used as refurbished or rental phones,” while others would be subjected to recycling processes that will extract metals like copper, nickel, gold, and silver from the phone’s components. “The objective of introducing refurbished devices is solely to reduce and minimize any environmental impact,” the company said.

It’s not about to unleash millions of refurbished phones immediately though. Samsung says it will work with local authorities and carriers in markets where it intends to sell the devices, ensuring not only that there is demand, but also the new Note 7 phones pass regulatory checks. This is time consuming, and will affect any eventual release date.

Environmentalists

Environmental activists have urged Samsung to recycle the millions of Note 7 devices consumers returned after the recall. It’s a hot enough topic that members of Greenpeace interrupted a Samsung news conference at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to get the message across.

In a statement, the activist group said it welcomed Samsung’s decision to recycle some phones, and urged the company to carry out its plans in a “verifiable” manner. “Samsung’s announcement is the first step to show its effort to set a new path for recycling smartphones starting with Note 7s,” Greenpeace wrote in a blog post. “Greenpeace will make sure Samsung takes into account the voice of millions of our supporters and abides by its commitment.”

The Galaxy Note 7 R, or any refurbished model of the Note 7 phone, hasn’t been officially announced. We’ll keep you updated here regarding rumors and news.