Roku OS 8.1 adds free live news and private listening for multiple people

The Streaming Stick+ is also coming to Canada in May.

Roku, one of the biggest players in the home streaming market, is getting a significant upgrade this May with its Roku OS 8.1 update. The new software was announced on April 24, and while everything looks the same, there are two big things you’ll want to keep an eye out for.

First up, live news streams are being added to the Roku Channel. The Roku Channel launched in September 2017 as a way for users to quickly find free, curated content, and Roku OS 8.1 will add 24/7 access to Cheddar News, People TV, and act as the exclusive platform for ABC News Live. In addition to live streams, you’ll also be able to view on-demand/linear news content.

Along with news, Roku Channel is also getting Continue Watching and Collections pages to help you more easily find exactly what you’re looking for.

Also included with Roku OS 8.1 is an upgrade for private listening. Roku’s allowed folks to pump audio from their Roku player to a pair of headphones for a few years at this point as to not disturb those around you, but the 8.1 update will allow you to send your Roku’s audio to multiple headphones/earbuds.

Private listening for more than one person will be handled via the Roku mobile app, and it’ll allow up to four people to privately listen to a show at once.

Last but not least, May will also see the Roku Streaming Stick+ makes its way to Canada. The Streaming Stick+ supports 4K and HDR streams thanks to its quad-core processor, allows you to control your TV’s audio using the remote’s volume buttons, and has an “advanced wireless receiver” for improved Wi-Fi performance.

The Streaming Stick+ will be available for CAD 89.99 at Walmart and other retailers across the country.

Android TV vs. Roku: Which smart TV platform is right for you?

The Best PlayStation Exclusives

• Best Horror
• Best Adventure
• Best Action RPG
• Best Story
• Best Action

Best Horror

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

See at Amazon

There is a reason that Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice received so many nominations at the 2017 Game Awards. Ninja Theory put out a game that is nothing short of stunning. With stellar voice acting a motion captured performances it takes elements of Norse mythology and weaves a fantastic narrative exploring the nature of psychosis.

The game blends hack and slash combat elements, horror, and puzzles in a way that provides excellent gameplay all on its own. When you add the surprisingly moving performances from first-time actor Melina Juergens, the powerful score, and tight writing you end up with a game that edges dangerously close to the realm of art.

Bottom line. Do yourself a favor and give this game a spin. I think it does a fantastic job of pushing the envelope of what a video game can be. It is to gaming what art films are to blockbuster cinema.

One more thing Play it with headphones. The clever use of binaural audio design gives you a small taste of psychosis and only serves to deepen the experience.

Best adventure game

Yakuza 0

See at PlayStation Store

The Yakuza series has been quietly plugging away at the construction of a vast gaming world since 2005. With a release nearly every year since its inception one might think that the series has done everything possible within its framework. However, Yakuza 0 released in Japan in 2015 and slipped onto western shores in 2017 and there is plenty of new stuff to keep you busy.

Yakuza 0 acts as a prequel to the Yakuza series. Set in the late 80’s you will follow Goro Majima and Kazuma Kirya as they find themselves wrapped up in a battle between various nefarious underworld entities for control of a small piece of property. This seemingly small issue is just a jumping off point for a winding and interesting plot which boasts all the earmarks of a great Yakuza film.

There is absolutely no dearth of things to keep you busy in the world of Yakuza 0. Aside from the quests directly related to the main storyline, there are plenty of fun and goofy side quests and a boatload of genuinely fun mini-games which have the potential to keep a player busy for hours.

Bottom line. Yakuza 0 has a ton to offer and makes for a fantastic addition to any PS4 library. If you are a fan of the series it is not to be missed.

One more thing. If you have ever wanted to run a cabaret club or own an ever-expanding real estate empire then Yakuza 0 is definitely the place to be.

Best Action RPG

Bloodborne

See at PlayStation Store

Thus far, From Software has done one thing and done it quite well. They have managed to relentlessly brutalize gamers and leave them begging for more. Bloodborne is not a sequel to the “Souls” series but more of a spiritual successor… Or blood successor if you will. Infused with a Lovecraftian-cum-Bram Stoker vibe Bloodborne feels similar to the “Souls” series but switches things up in a number of ways.

You will hack and slash your ways through the streets of Yharnam, a gothic analog for a 19th-century European city, which has been infested by a plague. As you battle your way deep into the city you will have to make strategic use of your wits and your arsenal. You will also die. A lot.

Bottom line. If you love a game that doesn’t hold your hand and rewards you for patience, persistence, and precision then you are going to have a great time in the world of Bloodborne.

One more thing. Bring a snack, those load times are brutal.

Best Story

Horizon Zero Dawn

See at Amazon

If you want a beautiful looking game with a great story, you should look no further than Horizon Zero Dawn. It is chock full of gorgeous visuals and the combat mechanics are intuitive while also managing to be incredibly satisfying. Guerilla Games managed to make a game that had me want to find every unexplored corner of its lush world.

Aside from being fun to play and really good looking they also managed to tell a rip-roaring story. The way the story plays out had me wanting to know more throughout my entire playthrough. As you progress through the game, the story builds and the world deepens. The universe of Horizon Zero dawn seems to be ripe for sequels but it also can stand up all on its own as an example of stellar storytelling and world building.

Bottom line. Horizon Zero Dawn has a lot going for it. It totally justifiably made a ton of 2017’s best-of list. It’s exclusives like this that can draw gamers to specific consoles.

One more thing. The main character is one of the best examples I have experienced in recent years of a well rounded, powerful female lead. I hope to see lots more characters like Aloy in the future.

Best Action

God of War 4

See at Amazon

The wait for the newest entry in the God of War franchise is finally over and it’s a real stunner. Eight games into the series and one might think that it’s gone a bit long in the tooth. However, developer, Santa Monica Games has managed to breathe a whole new life into the series.

Aside from some mechanics and camera changes, one of the biggest adjustments in God of War 4 is in the character of Kratos himself. Santa Monica Games actually managed to humanize a god and that is a herculean feat in and of itself. The humanity of Kratos is expressed in the very real feeling relationship with his son. Kratos intends to lead a normal life with his son. However, just like another famous father once said, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

Bottom line. It is still relatively early in 2018 and there are a lot of games on the schedule for the rest of the year, but you can be certain that God of War 4 will be making a few best of 2018 lists.

One more thing. I spoke a lot about characters in God of War 4. If you’re concerned that I didn’t mention combat and buckets of blood, rest easy. You will be hacking and slashing your way to glory and by the time you’re done, you will be absolutely coated in the viscera of anyone who stood in your way.

Conclusion

There are plenty of exclusive games on PlayStation, and these are just some of the best. As we move forward there are more excellent exclusives coming to the fore. As you begin to explore these games and the many others that can only be played on PlayStation there will be laughs, tears, and furious curses waiting for you. Is there a PlayStation exclusive that should have made our list? Are any of your favorites here? Be sure to leave us a comment and let us know about it!

Update, April 2018: Updated to inlclude God of War 4!

Amazon will now leave your packages safely in your car

Free for Prime members with modern cars.

Amazon just announced a new service for Prime members that lets Amazon Key delivery drivers drop your packages off inside the trunk of your car.

When Amazon Key first released, the idea was to appeal to customers who regularly ordered from Amazon and found their packages getting stolen off their front lawns. It was for people who lived in urban neighborhoods with no place to hide or conceal the package until they came home. With Amazon Key, the delivery driver could slip the package into your apartment where it would be safe. Giving a complete stranger access to their homes didn’t really seem to appeal to a lot of people, though, no matter how many precautions Amazon took. Since then, the service has evolved to be so much more than that, but the basic premise remains.

In-car delivery is a free service and requires no additional purchase, like the Amazon Key Home Kit. As long as you meet the necessary prerequisites you are eligible to begin as soon as you want. Much like the original service, in-car delivery only works with Prime members living within 37 select cities and the surrounding areas. You also need to have a compatible 2015 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac with an active On-Star account or a 2015 Volvo with a Volvo On Call account.

The reason for all these prerequisites is that Amazon Key incorporates the smart system on these vehicles with the Amazon Key app. Customers can get notifications every time an Amazon delivery driver accesses the car. Delivery drivers get no keys or special codes as the whole process is done remotely. When a driver requests access to the car, Amazon can verify there’s an authorized driver near the customer’s car carrying the right package for the delivery. After the package is delivered, the car is locked again. This process is meant to give the customer peace of mind, and given the delivery drivers won’t have access to their front doors, it should.

For the customer, all they have to do is make sure the car is parked in a publicly available space within range of the delivery location during the four-hour delivery time window. The Amazon Key app can verify that, and it also keeps customers up-to-date with the status of the package, when it’s on the way and when it has been delivered. The app activity feed will tell them when the car is unlocked and locked.

You can read more about the in-car delivery service on Amazon. Look for Step 1 to see if you’re eligible based on your address and vehicle.

See on Amazon

Best Cases for Moto G6

These are the first batch of quality cases released for the Moto G6!

Motorola latest entries in the Moto G lineup have been announced with the flagship Moto G6 arriving in the US in late May.

But it’s never too early to start thinking about accessories, with some brands quick to get their cases out there well ahead of the phone’s actual release. Even if you’re not planning to buy a case so far ahead of the phone’s release, it’s good to window shop a bit and see how the phone will look in different styles of cases.

We’ll be continuing to update this article with more options as they become available.

• MoKo Slim Fit Case
• MAIKEZI Slim Folio Wallet Case
• Cimo Slim Grip Clear Case
• Cimo Armor Case
• Spigen Rugged Armor Case
• Poetic Karbon Shield Case

Moko Slim Fit Case

We’ll start with a slim, one-piece case from Moko. This is a sleek and affordable case made from flexible TPU that features a simple design that protects the Moto G6 and offers a nice soft touch finish without adding unnecessary bulk to the phone. This case also features a web-like structure on the interior of the case that’s designed to help dissipate heat as you use your phone.

It is available in both black and indigo starting at just $8, so this is a good option if you’re a thrifty accessory shopper.

See at Amazon

MAIKEZI Slim Folio Wallet Case

We expect to see more wallet-style cases coming out for the Moto G6 in the coming weeks, but for now, we’ll recommend this option from MAIKEZI.

This is a classic folio-style design that features a single card slot on the inside along with a pocket for storing cash and reciepts. The front flap is made of a leather exterior, a thin plate of steel for extreme protection, and a microfiber finish on the interior to protect the display. And of course, you can fold the case over to create a kickstand for hand-free media viewing.

Available in both black and brown leather finishes, you can get this case for about $10.

See at Amazon

Cimo Slim Grip Clear Case

For those who prefer a case that still lets you show off the design of your brand new phone, consider this clear case from Cimo.

It’s a grippy case made of flexible TPU that designed to keep your phone protected with raised bezels around the screen and around the camera bump on the back.

We’ve highlighted the clear case option here, but you can also get this case style in opaque black, or semi-transparent purple — your choice for just $8.

See at Amazon

Cimo Armor Case

If you know you’re the type who needs a more rugged case, Cimo has you covered with this Armor case.

This dual-layer case features a silicone body and a polycarbonate bumper that offers heavy duty protection for the Moto G6. The backside also features a pattern of raised bumps to help with grip — because the best way to avoid drop damage is to avoid dropping your phone in the first place.

You can get this case for just $8 with three color styles available.

See at Amazon

Spigen Rugged Armor Case

Spigen’s Rugged Armor case is my go-to case style for any new phone, so we’ll definitely recommend it here for the Moto G6.

It’s got that carbon fiber look at the top and bottom with a matte finish elsewhere, along with Spigen’s air cushion technology in the corners to help absorb impacts.

You can check this one-piece case out direct from Spigen for $20.

See at Spigen

Poetic Karbon Shield Case

Another great rugged option for the Moto G6 comes from Poetic. The Karbon Shield case is lightweight and slim with a carbon fiber-style finish on the back that’s both stylish and functional.

Poetic is currently accepting pre-orders for this case. You can order yours for just $10.

See at Poetic

What’s your preferred case style?

Are you a clear case connoisseur or a fan of folio cases? Require rugged protection or something slim? Let us know in the comments!

‘Starcraft II’ finally gets a store for player-made maps

Newer Blizzard titles like Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm are free to play, but they do offer as many paid extras as you can shake a stick at. That’s normal these days, of course, but StarCraft II was first released in 2010 — a simpler time when you tended to just buy a video game and play it. There have been many paid expansions and cosmetics added over the years, but Blizzard originally promised a marketplace through which the community could sell custom-made maps and take a cut of the revenue. This feature was first mentioned way back in 2009, before StarCraft II even launched, and nine years later it’s finally debuting in the impending 4.3.0 update.

Weird and wonderful maps that offer all kinds of different game types and training grounds are a staple of the Starcraft II multiplayer experience, thanks to Blizzard including a map editor with the game. There’s an ‘Arcade’ section dedicated to these community creations already, but a new premium category is being added to showcase the new, paid custom maps.

Only two will be available at launch, including “ARK Star,” a turn-based RPG set in the StarCraft universe that looks like a game in and of itself. Joining that will be “Direct Strike,” which is an evolution of an existing, popular custom map called “Desert Strike HotS.” This game has players picking different unit compositions to send out in waves with the hope of besting the enemy’s army and pushing through to their base.

Because people are already playing Direct Strike under a different name, it’ll be free. It will, however, include a number of special modes you have to pay to unlock. Both custom maps will sell for $5, with an unspecified share of that going to the creators.

In late 2017, Blizzard decided to make StarCraft II‘s first campaign and all multiplayer elements free, ahead of the game’s 20th anniversary this year. Though the custom map marketplace is many, many years late, it does give Blizzard an opportunity to cash in on any new players it’s attracted over the past few months. Blizzard probably wishes it came up with something like this back in the Warcraft III days, though. Remember that Dota started out as a custom Warcraft III map before becoming more popular than the RTS game it was based on, and spawning the entire MOBA genre.

Source: Blizzard

Viacom perseveres with Snapchat-exclusive TV shows

Even though Instagram’s Snapchat-like Stories has more users than Snapchat itself, the original ephemeral app’s longtime partner Viacom remains immune to its charms. The media conglomerate (which you might be more familiar with as MTV’s and Comedy Central’s parent company) has expanded its global deal with Snap, committing to develop and produce new shows and more Our Stories for the app’s Discover page. One of the projects it’s currently working on is the second season of Cribs, a shortened version of the MTV classic featuring celebrity homes. Snapchat will air its new episodes this summer and fall.

Viacom is also producing another season of comedy show Girl Code, another short-form version of an old MTV title featuring female actresses, musicians and stand-up comics. Snapchat is launching season 2 in March and will air the rest of the 12-episode series in May. In addition to these two returning properties, Viacom is also producing a Snap version of Promposal, which showcases the grandest and craziest prom-proposals ever recorded.

You can also expect to see more Our Stores on Snapchat’s Discover page whenever Viacom holds one of its major events, which include Kids Choice Awards, the VMAs, MTV TV & Movie Awards, CMT Awards and the BET Awards. Viacom said in its announcement:

“This partnership builds on our great work together: Snap’s growing efforts to bring original shows to its platform, and Viacom’s accelerated push to create original digital programming for a new generation of mobile-first audiences through Viacom Digital Studios.”

Hackers find an ‘unpatchable’ way to breach the Nintendo Switch

Security researchers from ReSwitched have discovered a Nintendo Switch vulnerability that could let hackers run arbitrary code on all current consoles. Dubbed “Fusée Gelée” (“Frozen Rocket”) it exploits buggy code in the NVIDIA Tegra X1’s USB recovery mode, bypassing software that would normally protect the critical bootROM. Most worrisome for Nintendo is that the bug appears to be unpatchable and could allow users to eventually run pirated games.

The exploit involves kicking the Switch into USB recovery mode by shorting a pin on the right-hand Joy-Con connector. A payload is then sent at a crucial point during a USB check, forcing the system to “request up to 65,535 bytes per control request,” much more than it can handle. That causes a DMA buffer overflow in the bootROM, giving hackers access to the normally-protected application stack. From there, they can run whatever code they want.

Unfortunately, unlike the one in your PC, the Tegra X1 bootROM on the Switch is hardcoded and can’t be changed once it leaves the factory. That would be fine if it were secure, but unfortunately, it has the bad length error built in, so there’s nothing that NVIDIA or Nintendo can do to fix the 14.8 million Switch systems already shipped, according to ReSwitched.

Well, it is 73F in Denver, today: so I guess it’s as good a time as ever to acknowledge: https://t.co/UGqtMeHR13.

Writeup: https://t.co/W07AUWPd9u
Sample payload: https://t.co/d5nCLNa7E5

Guides and information so you can use it too are forthcoming. 🙂

— Kate Temkin (@ktemkin) April 23, 2018

By exposing secret code in the Application stack, the exploit might allow hackers to reverse engineer application security and run pirated or emulated software. It could also be useful for less dodgy functions, like finally giving users the ability to backup game saves in case their Switch is stolen or broken. “Fusée Gelée isn’t a perfect, ‘holy grail’ exploit—though in some cases it can be pretty damned close,” said ReSwitched’s Kate Temkin.

As Ars Technica points out, Nintendo does have some options, as it might be able to detect hacked systems and lock them out of online play. It’s also not a given that games can be hacked just because the system has been exposed, as they have their own encrypted DRM built in.

ReSwitched decided to reveal the exploit in a limited way, but will release further details and guides on how to use it by June 15th. Other groups are also apparently on the job, too. Fail0verflow teased a Dolphin emulator running Legend of Zelda: Wind Walker on a Switch earlier, and has now released its own “shofel2” Tegra X1 bootROM exploit and Nintendo Switch Linux loader.

If you want to try one of the hacks, Fail0verflow does have a warning, though. “If your Switch catches fire or turns into an Ouya, it’s not our fault,” its Github post states. “It’s stupidly easy to blow up embedded platforms like this with bad software (e.g. all voltages are software-controlled). We already caused temporary damage to one LCD panel with bad power sequencing code. Seriously, do not complain if something goes wrong.”

Via: Ars Technica

Source: Kate Tempkin (Github)

Selfie-snapping monkey loses copyright infringement case (again)

The copyright battle over who owns that famous toothy selfie taken by a macaque monkey in Indonesia apparently didn’t end when the parties involved reached a settlement last year. On Monday, an appeals court has affirmed the lower court’s decision that Naruto, the seven-year-old crested macaque in the selfie, can’t file a copyright claim for the photo. “[W]e conclude that this monkey — and all animals, since they are not human — lacks statutory standing under the Copyright Act,” Judge N. Randy Smith wrote in the ruling.

Naruto took the selfie way back in 2011 using a camera owned by photographer David Slater when he visited Tangkoko reserve on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Since it was the monkey who snapped the self-photo, the incident sparked a debate on whether animals can own the copyright to a photograph. The US Copyright Office even had to issue a notice on what kinds of work can’t be copyrighted, listing “photographs taken by a monkey” as an example. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals then filed a lawsuit against Slater as Naruto’s “next friend” and sought to take any revenue the selfies bring in (which Slater once said was “embarrassingly low”).

When they talked settlement last year, Slater agreed to donate 25 percent of future revenue to habitats that protect Naruto’s species. While a settlement might sound like a good thing when it comes to lawsuits, Judge Smith believes PETA settled before the Court of Appeals could hand down its verdict to protect itself from a “possible negative, precedential ruling.” He said the move led him to believe PETA’s “real motivation in this case was to advance its own interests, not Naruto’s.”

The court also wrote in the ruling that PETA failed to prove that its relationship with Naruto is “any more significant than its relationship with any other animal.” As for PETA, the organization’s general counsel told the WSJ that the ruling “emphasizes what PETA has argued all along — that [Naruto] is discriminated against simply because he’s a nonhuman animal.”

Source: Ars Technica

Ford’s electric GoBikes have arrived in San Francisco

Bike-sharing company Motivate is expanding its San Francisco offering to include electric versions of Ford’s GoBikes. They’ll be available at no extra cost in the same way as Ford’s regular GoBikes, which can be unlocked with the accompanying app or via the Clipper card. The roll out will initially include 250 bikes, which are designed to give riders an added boost while pedalling — up to 18mph in fact — so you’ll still be able to ride in bike lanes.

These pedal-assist bikes aren’t new in San Francisco. Uber-owned Jump has been kicking around for a while. Unlike Jump bikes, however, Ford’s electric GoBikes have removable batteries, so Motivate can swap them in and out on the streets, rather than taking the bikes away for charging, depleting the stock available on the roads. Eventually, though, Motivate imagines bikes will charge via their docking stations.

There are currently 262 Ford GoBike stations across the San Francisco Bay Area, with some 2,600 bikes total. Come the end of the year Motivate envisions more than 540 stations with 7,000 bikes, which would make it the second-largest bike-sharing program in North America. If they roll out the electric bikes to New York’s Citi Bikes initiative though — which seems likely given the city’s current focus on creating an e-bike framework — it might not be too long before it takes the top spot.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Ford

‘Wolfenstein II’ blasts its way to the Switch on June 29th

It’s been a long time in coming, but the Nintendo Switch adaptation of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is (almost) here. Bethesda has announced that the Nazi-punching sequel will be available on June 29th for $60. You’ll generally know what to expect, and that’s likely to be a good thing. Panic Button’s conversion appears to be on par with its well-received Doom port, with Switch-friendly motion controls and the kind of rich graphics detail you wouldn’t expect from a portable console.

And in case you’re wondering, Bethesda is vowing that this release is complete and uncensored. If you’ve seen even a sliver of the game, you know what that means. It also shows just how far Nintendo has come in terms of its attitude toward games, for that matter. Nintendo demanded heavy censorship of the SNES version of Wolfenstein 3D back in 1994, when it insisted that games be as family-friendly as possible. Now, it’s allowing a Wolfenstein title that could be considered risqué even by the standards of jaded gamers. While it’s been clear for a while that Nintendo is happy to court adults, this serves as the ultimate proof.

Source: YouTube