2D Game Development Engine ‘GameMaker Studio 2’ Debuts on macOS

YoYo games launched GameMaker Studio 2 on macOS this week, bringing the popular multiplatform 2D game development engine to the Mac for the first time. To date, the GameMaker Studio family of products has been downloaded more than 10 million times since 2012 and currently has 200,000 monthly active users, according to the developers.

The Scotland-based outfit originally launched GameMaker Studio 2 on the PC in March and has since been working hard to bring the game creation suite to a wider subset of developers, ensuring every major upgrade and feature addition is preserved in the macOS version.

“We worked tirelessly to ensure GameMaker Studio 2’s Mac debut would coincide with the needs of game developers that prefer to use platforms outside of Windows and home consoles,” said James Cox, general manager, YoYo Games. “After months carefully considering the feedback we received from beta testing and direct community outreach, we’re confident that developers who prefer Mac can now feasibly create games on the often-ignored platform. We’re always looking for ways to expand game creation to as many developers as possible, and we know Mac users will make some stand-out games with these resources.”

The new, fully customizable Mac Integrated Development Environment (IDE) includes an object editor for structuring workflow, a tabbed script editor, drag and drop features to enable game creation without going near code, an extensive library of events and actions, and code preview tools for those who want to take their games to the next level using the GameMaker programming language (based on C).

The suite also features a room editor where layers and tile brushes are on hand to control objects and sprites, and a new brush-based image editor with animation support for creating new assets for games.

Elsewhere, there’s built-in support for the industry recognized Box2D physics engine or Google’s LiquidFun particle physics engine, support for Esoteric Software’s 2D animation software that bring games to life through integrated animation, and integrated cross-platform shader support.

Timed with the macOS launch, GameMaker Studio 2 is also receiving a comprehensive update with new features and quality-of-life improvements. The 2.1 version update introduces code-folding features that allow users to hide and expand sections of code for easier editing, a new integrated debugger, customizable workspace layouts, and multi-touch support for coding on the go on Mac laptops.

While GameMaker 2 has a very high skill ceiling, Cox claimed the product is for all levels of developer, being used in schools and purchased by children as young as eight who use the drag and drop features to turn their ideas into playable games.

GameMaker Studio is a 2D game design platform, but what makes it different is its breadth of application. The drag and drop design features provide beginners with a way into game design without having to become coders first, so the passion that got them into game design isn’t extinguished under a mountain of programming learning; that can come later. The drag and drop approach, creates real code that gives granular control, in our C based GameMaker Language (GML), to more experienced developers. For more established Indies and Studios, our workflow is what sets up apart. It’s really quick to get results with GameMaker, as we remove the repetition, and they can turn their games into amazing audio-visual experiences with our advanced graphic design and sound-mixing functionality.

GameMaker Studio 2 can be purchased for Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu for $100 on the YoYo Games website. 
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Nintendo and Western Digital bring branded SD cards to Switch

Nintendo has partnered with Western Digital on a line of officially official SanDisk microSDXC cards for its Switch console. What makes them so different? Well, Mario and Link are on the packaging and the 64-and-128 gigabyte cards have Nintendo branding printed on them. Nope, no 400GB cards featuring Wario just yet. And that’s the extent of it. The cards will be available starting next month at “select retail outlets.” If anything, this will make it easier for parents and family members to grab the right storage card when buying gifts come the holiday season.

Source: Nintendo

Harman now has smart speakers for Alexa, Cortana and Google Assistant

When you’re looking for a smart home speaker, you might think you’re stuck with those made by Amazon, Apple or Google in order to use the specific intelligent assistants from the respective companies. Now, however, you can pick up a speaker that works with Alexa or Google Assistant, in addition to the one that already supports Microsoft’s Cortana. The Samsung-owned Harman International just announced three new JBL Link speakers at IFA, each a voice activated speaker with Google Assistant built in. The company also revealed the Harman Kardon Allure, an Alexa-enabled smart speaker with 360-degree sound.

The Link speakers come in two portable sizes as well as a larger design, can be linked together for multi-room listening and also have Chromecast built in. The Allure will retail for $250, starting in winter of 2017, while the Link speakers will debut in the UK this fall at €170, €200 and €300, respectively.

Both Google and Amazon have been putting their respective assistants on more devices, lately. Google has plans to bring Assistant to upcoming Anker and Panasonic speakers and LG washing machines while Amazon has already linked up with Ultimate Ears’ line of Bluetooth speakers as well.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

Source: Harman Kardon, Harman Kardon

Hackers tried selling celebrity info stolen from Instagram

News that someone exploited an Instagram security hole to steal info from some of its most popular accounts got worse when they began selling it. The Verge reports this dark web service is no longer available, but The Daily Beast chatted with operators of the “Doxagram” database who provided a sample of the info that included addresses and numbers for about 1,000 accounts. The info did not appear to be from previous leaks, and some owners confirmed their entries were valid.

In another statement, Instagram again confirmed the bug, saying that while no passwords were revealed, the bug did allow access to phone numbers and email addresses even if they weren’t public. The hackers were selling access to the database at a price of $10 for each query, and told Ars Technica today that they had made at least $500 already. According to them, an automated process could steal info from up to one million accounts per hour, and Instagram didn’t close the hole until 12 hours after their attack started and he had accessed 6 million accounts.

Initially, Instagram’s alert said that “high-profile” users may have had information revealed, but even with 700 million or so active users, there may be more people who need to know their information is out there.

Source: The Daily Beast, Instagram

Classic board game ‘Catan’ is coming to VR, of all places

If you’ve ever thrilled to a hot game of Catan on your table before, you’ll love that you’ll be able to experience the classic territory-building board game in virtual reality. Created by VR developer Experiment 7, with the collaboration of the Catan company and publisher Asmodee Digital, Catan VR is set to release on Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear this holiday season.

This new virtual reality version of Catan will play just like the original, only in your VR goggles. It sounds like there will be online multiplayer and cross-play functionality. Experiment 7 has VR experience as the developer of both Magic Table Chess and Dungeon Chess, where you play the classic strategy game with D&D monsters. “The first time I saw Catan on the Magic Table, I was fascinated by what VR has to offer,” said Catan creator Klaus Teuber in a statement. “The game I made in our living room with my family 25 years ago in Virtual Reality? It’s incredible. I never imagined actually stepping into the world of Catan when we first started making cut-outs and dreaming about exploring new lands.”

Source: Experiment 7

Sony’s new ‘Crystal’ DualShock 4s are red, white and blue

DualShock controllers for PlayStation 3 and 4 have both had a translucent option as far back as 2013. The top case of the “crystal” controller lets you see through to the inner workings of the wireless gaming device, which for some reason is pretty darn cool. Sony is making a play for that nostalgia with three new crystal colors — red, blue and clear — for its DualShock 4 wireless controllers.

The new colors will show up in stores and online later this month, but only at specific retailers. If you want a Crystal DualShock 4, you’ll need to head to GameStop. If Blue Crystal is your jam, head to Walmart, and you’ll have to go to Best Buy to grab the Red Crystal style. You’ll pay a little more for the style, though; the Crystal controller at GameStop retails for $65, while the traditional black one is still $60. The new colors are ready for pre-order right now at the three outlets.

Source: PlayStation Blog

Light-controlled nanoscale buzz saws kill cancer cells by drilling holes in them

Why it matters to you

Tiny nanoscale buzzsaws could be used to help fight diseases like cancer.

Rice University scientists broke records in 2005 when they constructed the world’s smallest car, a single-molecule “nanocar” boasting a chassis, axles, and four wheels. More than a decade later, the same research lab is still working at the nanoscale level — although its latest project could provide a whole lot more benefit than just nanoscale car races. With help from researchers in the U.K. and at North Carolina State University, what Rice scientists have developed are tiny nanoscale motorized molecules that are designed to drill holes in the membrane of individual cells. Depending on whether these cells are bad or good, it can then kill them or, potentially, deliver healing drugs.

“In [our work], we showed that these molecular machines can selectively kill cancer cells,” Gufeng Wang, an assistant professor in analytical chemistry at N.C. State, told Digital Trends. “We expect that molecular machines could also be used in vivo to cure diseases. In general, this technology can be used as a highly efficient, highly specific drug-delivery method, or, simply as a way to kill cells directly by disrupting their material exchange with the environment.”

Wang hypothesizes that skin cancer is one condition that could be treated using the tiny molecular machines to kill its associated malignant cells. The molecular machines are activated using ultraviolet (UV) light to control their movements through fiber optics. Like tiny buzz saws, they are then able to spin at an astonishing 2 million to 3 million rotations per second to slice open the cell membranes.

At present, there are still limitations for the diminutive technology. For one thing, the shallow penetration depth of UV light means that currently only cells at the surface of tissues can be treated — limiting it to areas like skin. There are also concerns about potential overuse of the technology since overexposure to UV light is harmful.

“We are working on two directions to make this new method more viable,” Wang said. “The first is that we are developing visible light or even near infrared (IR) light-activated motors. The second is that we are trying to activate the same motor using near IR light through a process called multiphoton excitation. In this process, the motor will absorb two photons simultaneously, and get enough energy to start the rotor. If we are able to use red to near IR light to actuate the molecular machines, we are no longer limited to the surface of the tissue.”

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Nature.

This camera may look like a Polaroid but it spits out moving photos

Why it matters to you

Whether you have to know-how to build your own or not, this GIF-printing camera is pretty slick.

Sure, Polaroid cameras have been spitting out instant photos for years, but what about GIFs, those moving photos that fill up social media feeds? That is exactly what Abhishek Singh, a developer, asked when he set out on his latest project, the InstaGif NextStep that spits out an instant photo that moves.

The InsaGif looks a lot like a Polaroid OneStep Camera and at first glance, works a lot like one too. While the work that went into creating the GIF camera appears anything but simple, taking a GIF is just as simple as using a classic Polaroid: Composing the shot, pressing the shutter, and grabbing the “photo” from the camera.

So how does it work? Instead of spitting out a piece of paper, the InstaGif spits out a cartridge — which is essentially a mini computer, albeit one that is designed to look like a classic Polaroid with that characteristic white frame. The GIF even slowly fades in, just like waiting for that instant film to develop.

The cartridge is designed from a modified Raspberry Pi LCD screen and USB ports, from the organization that creates low-cost computer parts in order to teach coding and development. The cartridge also includes homemade circuits and a rechargeable battery.

An altered Raspberry Pi 3 computer module computer sits inside the camera, along with another screen at the back to see what the camera sees. A  wide-angle lens cut from acrylic also sits in front of a Raspberry Pi camera module. The two Rasberry Pi computers communicate through an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network.

Using the software that Singh developed, the camera records a three-second GIF when the shutter button is pressed. That GIF is then compressed and sent to the cartridge through that Wi-Fi network.

Singh created the body of the cartridge as well as the body of the camera through 3D printing with a ProJet 7000 SLA. When he shared the project on Imgur, Singh said he ran into several challenges, including the mechanism for popping the cartridge out of the camera in that classic Polaroid way. Creating a small cartridge (in order to avoid an extra large camera) was also a challenge.

Singh shared the code and the process to create the camera so other developers can also try building the GIF camera — because who doesn’t want to hold a photo that moves?

Looking to buy Motorola? Here’s our ultimate guide to all 2017 Moto smartphones

If you’re looking for a well-rounded device running a close to pure version of Android — and Google’s Pixel is more phone than you really need — Motorola may be your best bet. Trouble is, the company has produced many new models in the past year and the lineup can be quite confusing at times, even for seasoned veterans. Our guide to Motorola’s 2017 smartphones take you through the hierarchy, starting with the $130 Moto E4 Plus, all the way up to the range-topping modular Moto Z2 Force.

Moto E4

Pricing: $130, $100 (Amazon Prime Exclusive with ads)

Who it’s for: Someone who needs a basic smartphone and nothing more

In terms of specs and price, the Moto E4 is the bare minimum the company offers. That said, you still get a respectable handset for the money, and depending on your usage, it could be enough to satisfy your needs. The E4 comes with Qualcomm’s low-end Snapdragon 425 system-on-chip (Sprint buyers get a slightly more powerful 427 processor), 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. There is also a MicroSD card slot if you need additional space for apps and media. The display is a 5-inch LCD with a 1,280 x 720 resolution, and the main camera is rated at 8 megapixels. It proved average in our photography tests, which isn’t particularly surprising given the low, low price of the hardware. You do still get a front-mounted fingerprint sensor for your troubles though, a welcome inclusion.

Moto E4 Review

Moto E4 Plus

Pricing: $180 (16GB); $200 (32GB); $140/$160 (Amazon Prime Exclusive with ads)

Who it’s for: Someone who wants the best battery life, and doesn’t need a powerful phone

We called the Moto E4 Plus the best smartphone under $200 when we reviewed it earlier in the summer, and that’s mostly down to one standout feature: The almost un-killable battery. Motorola stuffed a 5,000mAh unit into the E4 Plus’ 5.5-inch chassis. Coupled with the phone’s frugal Snapdragon 427 processor and 720p display, the E4 delivers incredible longevity on a charge. It crushes two days without breaking a sweat, and three is certainly doable. We say if you have the extra $50 to burn, spring for the Plus over the standard E4 — you’ll have a budget phone that does something even the four-times more expensive Apple iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S8, and Google Pixel can’t match.

Moto E4 Plus Review

Moto G5 and G5S

Pricing: 230 euros (G5); 250 euros (G5S); U.S. Moto G5S pricing TBA

Who it’s for: Someone who wants a full HD display in a compact package

Here’s where things get a little confusing. The standard Moto G5 is not sold in the U.S., but the slightly improved Moto G5S soon will be. These phones both sport Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 430 processor, though the G5S features a slightly improved battery — 3,000mAh versus 2,800mAh — as well as a 16-megapixel rear camera to replace the regular model’s 13-megapixel shooter, and metal construction instead of plastic. Otherwise, they’re the same; each has a 5.2-inch 1080p display and 2GB of RAM.

To be honest, there’s little reason to go with the G5 or G5S considering the rest of Motorola’s lineup. Between the excellent value of the E4 Plus and better all-around performance of the G5 Plus, neither device makes a whole lot of sense. The processors aren’t noticeably faster, nor are the designs markedly different. The batteries are substantially less than what the E4 Plus offers, and the cameras deliver similarly average photos. We say go lower or go higher.

Moto G5 Plus and G5S Plus

Pricing: $230 (G5 Plus, 32GB/2GB); $280 (G5 Plus, 64GB/4GB); U.S. Moto G5S Plus pricing TBA

Who it’s for: Someone who wants a jack-of-all-trades midrange phone under $300

The Moto G5S Plus isn’t available in the U.S. yet, but Moto G5 Plus is, and it’s our favorite budget smartphone. For $230, you get a Snapdragon 625 processor — a significant step up from the 430 found in the regular G5 and G5S — as well as a 5.2-inch 1080p display and 2GB of RAM. If you spend $50 more, you can have double the storage and RAM, making the G5 Plus one of the best values under the $300 mark.

But what of the G5S Plus? This phone is slated to go on sale soon, and we don’t yet have pricing data for it. It claims some pretty noteworthy upgrades. The G5S Plus is slightly bigger than the regular G5 Plus, with a 5.5-inch display at the same resolution. It’s also got dual cameras, both rated at 13-megapixels, replacing the G5 Plus’ single 12-megapixel shooter. The base model of the G5S Plus receives an extra gigabyte of RAM for a total of 3GB, though 4GB is again an option.

Moto G5 Plus Review

Moto X4

Pricing: 399 euros (64GB); U.S. Moto X pricing TBA

Who it’s for: Someone who wants flagship-quality dual cameras in an otherwise midrange device

Once upon a time, the Moto X was billed as Motorola’s flagship. That designation has shifted to the modular Moto Z in recent years, but now the company is reviving the Moto X as a midrange product. From the outside, it looks nothing like the previous versions: You’ll find chunky bezels, super-reflective glass construction, and dual cameras.

On the other hand, in terms of specs, it may be too similar to the Moto G5 Plus to really make a splash. The processor is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 630, the chip maker’s newest midrange silicon. It should only offer a negligible bump in day-to-day performance over the outgoing 625. Alongside are 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

Motorola has not yet announced pricing for the Moto X in the U.S., though we expect it to slide in between $400 and $450. It does boast a couple notable upgrades over the G5S Plus, like IP68 water resistance, and an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens serving as one of the dual cameras. Either way, you won’t be able to get your hands on one until the fall.

Moto X4 Hands-On Review

Moto Z2 Play

Pricing: $408 (32GB, Verizon exclusive); $500 (64GB)

Who it’s for: Someone who wants a modular phone at the cheapest price

The Moto Z2 Play brings the modular capabilities of the company’s Moto Mods platform down to an affordable cost. With a Snapdragon 626 processor alongside 3GB of RAM, it’s not necessarily more powerful than the G5 Plus, but it certainly is longer-lasting despite only a 3,000mAh battery. The system Motorola has devised for its Moto Mods is incredibly user friendly — they simply snap onto the back magnetically. Some are a bit too expensive, especially the Hasselblad TrueZoom camera mod and InstaShare projector. But if the idea truly speaks to you, and you don’t need a device with the fastest processor, the Z2 Play is a solid choice. If you want to learn about more Moto Mods, here’s a list of our favorites.

Moto Z2 Play Review

Moto Z2 Force

Pricing: $720

Who it’s for: Someone who wants a modular phone with flagship performance

Though they may mostly share the same name, the Moto Z2 Force is a very different beast from the Z2 Play. The latter is a midrange handset at heart,  but the Moto Z2 Force is Motorola’s flagship. It features Qualcomm’s most powerful system-on-chip, the Snapdragon 835, and 4GB of RAM. The only similarity between them is they both support Moto Mods.

The Z2 Force features a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440. It’s a remarkably thin device, though Motorola has protected the screen from inevitable mishaps with its proprietary ShatterShield layered technology. Unfortunately, that slimmer profile has resulted in a significant reduction in battery capacity compared to last year’s model. If you want better battery life, the Z2 Play is a better option. Or you can grab a battery Moto Mod to extend the Z2 Force’s life.

The Z2 Force does, however, feature a better camera, and it has two lenses. Both have 12 megapixels, but one is purely monochrome, allowing you to achieve true black and white photography. Bear in mind, though, that for all the Z2 Force’s bells and whistles, it starts at $720 — over $200 more than an unlocked Z2 Play.

Moto Z2 Force Review

New, more durable solar cells inspired by honeycomb design of insect eyes

Why it matters to you

A new solar cell design inspired by the honeycomb pattern of insects’ eyes makes the material perovskite far more durable.

Biomimicry is the imitation of models or systems found in the natural world with the goal of solving human problems. It’s something that’s been covered a fair bit as applied to robotics, with researchers borrowing inspiration from types of naturally occurring locomotion or materials. Investigators from Stanford University are doing something similar with a new photovoltaics project — except in this case, they’re using the design of an insect’s eye to inspire a new generation of solar cells.

Their work involves replicating the compound eye of an insect by packing multiple tiny solar cells, made of a photovoltaic material called perovskite, together in a hexagonal scaffold. Packing them together in this way makes them more durable when the cells come into contact with heat, moisture, or mechanical stress.

These are things that regular solar panels are able to deal with without incident. However, perovskite is an extremely sensitive material that’s liable to break extremely easily. By using a dense honeycomb pattern, that effect is mitigated. It also means that, should one segment of the solar cell break, hundreds more will still operate.

Dauskardt Lab/Stanford University

In tests, the researchers found that their material could survive temperatures of 185 Fahrenheit and relative humidity of 85 percent for a period of six weeks, without any negative effects.

The reason why perovskite is a desirable material to use, despite its weakness, is that it is cheap and easy to produce, while its efficiency has greatly improved over the eight years since it was introduced. “We got nearly the same power-conversion efficiencies out of each little perovskite cell that we would get from a planar solar cell,” said Reinhold Dauskardt, professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford, and senior author of the study. “So we achieved a huge increase in fracture resistance with no penalty for efficiency.”

We’ll have to wait and see if this solar cell concept catches on, but it’s certainly an intriguing proof of concept. Between this and other similarly intriguing “invisible” solar panel projects, there’s certainly no shortage of innovative work being done in the photovoltaics field right now.

A research paper describing this project was recently published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.