Xbox One June update arrives so you can drop the nickname and add storage
Whether or not we love the update process, we’re quickly getting used to the rapid pace of improvements coming to Microsoft’s Xbox One. After the usual beta period, the promised June update is here, and brings several features we’ve been waiting for since launch. Old school automatic logins are once again an option, so even if your Kinect is unplugged (or nonexistent) all saves and settings will be available right away without any extra clicks. There’s also support for up to two external hard drives, as long as they’re USB 3.0 and at least 256GB. That’s a boon not only for the extra storage space, but for speed too — some beta testers reported faster loading times after adding 7200RPM drives that outpace the standard laptop option Microsoft put inside the XB1. The Xbox One version of Games for Gold and a new VIP section are here too, letting subscribers nab Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Halo: Spartan Assault without spending another dime or try out Hulu Plus free for three months.
The latest Xbox One system update begins rolling out tonight – external storage, real names & more http://t.co/haJVqLNmDA
– Larry Hryb (@majornelson) June 4, 2014
After the update is applied, those external drives can even follow you to a friend’s console, so you don’t have to install Titanfall all over again. Just as promised, the Xbox One will now let you reveal your real name to friends, just in case your Sufjan Stevens tribute screenname is no longer memorable. You can toggle between leaking what’s on your ID to everyone, friends of your friends, just friends, a particular subset of friends, or no one at all if that’s what you prefer. The store “twist” is redesigned, the SmartGlass second screen app can control your DVR or reorder the pins on your dashboard HDMI passthrough TV guide support has gone international to Canada, UK, France, Germany, Spain (which still has an actual king, did anyone know that?) and Italy, and the IR blaster has learned a bunch of new command codes. It’s a hefty list, but you can get the update right now by punching the button conveniently located in your settings menu, or just get a quick recap with this video from the Xbox team.
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Source: Major Nelson, Xbox Support
Razer’s Junglecat looks like an Xperia Play gamepad for the iPhone
Apple’s iOS gamepad protocols have spawned some solid mobile button solutions, but they all have the same fundamental problem: portability. The appeal of mobile games is mobility — it’s not fun to lug around a spare controller on the off chance you might pick up a quick game on your phone. Razer’s first mobile game controller embraces this problem by aping one of the strangest smartphones of the last decade: the Xperia Play.
Like the Xperia Play, the Razer Junglecat gamepad hides underneath your smartphone, sliding in and out like a QWERTY keyboard. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as robust — the Play’s touch-sensitive dual thumb pads aren’t represented here, just the standard four-way d-pad, two bumpers and A, X, B and Y buttons. At least it features Razer’s flair for customization: a companion app will allow users to fully remap all of the controller’s functions, and also serves as a portal for compatible games. It’s also an iPhone exclusive controller. Interested in trading 20mm of pocket space and $99 for a portable gamepad? Check out the source link below.
Acer shows off the first 4K monitor with NVIDIA’s stutter-reducing G-Sync tech
It’s been nearly eight months since NVIDIA unveiled G-Sync, a new technology for game monitors that reduces lag, stuttering and screen tearing. In that time, none of these displays has been widely available, though we have been treated to an in-person demo or two. Finally, though, Acer is on the verge of releasing a G-Sync monitor, and it appears to be the first with 4K resolution, to boot. The XB280HK (pictured above) is a 28-inch display with a 3,840 x 2,160 TN panel — a big improvement over the Philips 1080p model we saw back at CES. Separately, ASUS just announced the ROG Swift PG278Q, here at Computex; that’s a 27-inch G-Sync monitor with 2,560 x 1,440 resolution. See? They don’t all have to be capped at 1,920 x 1,080.
Like other G-Sync displays, both of these match your GPU’s refresh rate with the monitor’s as a way of eliminating the sort of bumpiness you’d normally get if you extended your gameplay onto a bigger screen. The in-person demo we got today reminded us how effective the technology is, especially in side-by-side comparisons with older monitors. But don’t take our word for it — the demo video embedded below does a better job capturing the benefits than any hands-on walk-through we could put together. Even if you’re already aware of how the technology works, you might want to check it out; it’s the clearest demonstration of the technology we’ve seen yet. As for the question of “when can I buy these?”, well, we’re not actually sure yet. No word on when either of these will arrive or how much they’ll cost, but the Acer model, at least, is slated to ship in Q2, which means it should go on sale very soon.
ASUS crams 4K gaming into sleek and distinctive laptop
What should a company do immediately after unveiling an incredible 4K laptop that’s only 19 mm thick? Why, repeat the feat while throwing in some gamer-level GFX from NVIDIA on the way. You might have heard that we were particularly impressed with ASUS’ Zenbook NX500: Besides the specifications, it was quite the looker too. However, if brushed-metallic finishes aren’t your thing, maybe the moody black and red undertones of the ROG GX500 will be more to your liking. Has the Razer Blade finally got competition in the slimline gaming laptop market? We prodded and poked ASUS ROG’s new beast earlier today, and we reckon it’s a yes.
Back to that screen. Yes, it’s 4K and that’s incredible in its own right, but ASUS is also ensuring it delivers on color reproduction to, with 100 percent of NTSC’s color gamut, and 106 percent of Adobe’s RGB. In the flesh, the display is astoundingly crisp, while the fact that it’s IPS means it’s probably going to be Netflix-friendly too — especially when that 4K content starts rolling.
Streaming only video would be a gross underuse of the GX500, however, which crams in a powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M GPU for gaming muscle, while still weighing just shy of five pounds. The burning question remains: How do games run? We wish we could tell you, but unfortunately ASUS’s ROG launch event was mostly showcasing on-the-rails gaming footage, and the throng of pro gamers and reporters made gaming pretty much impossible. At least for now, early impressions are that it’s yet another impressive laptop screen from ASUS, while the keyboard felt far more responsive than we thought it would, given the shallow frame of the GX500. We’re also hoping it’s just the next step in a gaming rig design revolution.
Intel’s ‘Devil’s Canyon’ chip will break the 4GHz barrier for $339
Sure, we’ve seen 4GHz base clock speeds before, but never in an Intel chip. Such a part is just weeks away, however, in the form of the refreshed Haswell Core i7-4790K, codenamed “Devil’s Canyon.” The new chip shifts from 4GHz up to 4.4GHz in turbo mode, with the only downside being a slight increase in wattage from 84W to 88W — a change that might be partly mitigated by Intel’s use of a better thermal interface material underneath the lid of the CPU. The $339 price tag is identical to what you’d pay for the existing Core i7-4770K on Newegg (base clock: 3.5GHz), so it’s definitely worth holding onto your cash until the end of the month. There’s also a Core i5-4690K to look out for, priced at $242, which notches base and turbo speeds up by 100MHz compared to the current product — not a huge gain, but enough to send a message that Intel isn’t entirely preoccupied with Broadwell and ultra-portables. Meanwhile, here’s some useful coverage of the latest overclock-friendly Z97 motherboards, just in case you’re looking to accessorize.
Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Intel
Source: Anandtech
The next Batman game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 just got delayed to 2015
Remember when we told you that the next big Batman game was arriving on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC in 2014? That was apparently a stone cold lie. Well, at the time it wasn’t, but as of today, we’re in the wrong — Batman: Arkham Knight is now heading to the aforementioned game playing devices in 2015. When in 2015? That remains shrouded in darkness, like so much of The Dark Knight’s life. But when it does arrive, it’ll come with a tank-like virtual Batmobile (pictured above). And apparently the game has a tank mode? Find out whatever that means in the trailer below.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Sony, Microsoft
Source: Joystiq
Sony retires the decade-old PSP in Japan to make way for the Vita
It had a good run, but Sony has decided to bring the curtain down on the PlayStation Portable. The company has announced that June’s shipment of the hardware will be the last in Japan, and local users looking to upgrade to the PS Vita can earn a $30 or $40 trade-in discount across the summer. The Verge is reporting that the handheld was quietly discontinued in North America back in January, and we’d assume that European sales of the ten-tear-old device will be next to face the chop. It looks as if Sony is now doing its best to push buyers toward the newly-resurgent PS Vita, which has ridden a wave of success kickstarted by indie titles like Hotline Miami.
Via: The Verge, Dengekionline
Source: Sony Japan
Microsoft is getting the Xbox One ready for World Cup action
The World Cup 2014 is one of the hottest topics there is at the moment. Whether you’re looking for in-depth coverage or streaming live games, it looks as if everyone has something special planned for the tournament. And, not surprisingly, this includes Microsoft. To go along with the recent announcement of ESPN FC World Cup Essentials, the Redmond-based company has now revealed Destination Brazil, a hub for the Xbox that’s set to feature nothing but World Cup content. There will be, among other things, an app dubbed Brazil Now and an original series titled Every Street United.
Brazil Now can utilize the Xbox One’s TV features to display useful info while you’re watching matches; it’s also able to notify you when a game is about to start and share score updates, right on your screen, similar to the existing NFL app. Every Street United, on the other hand, is a show which follows football legends Thierry Henry and Edgar Davids as they go around the globe trying to find new talents.
When it launches on June 12th, just in time for the start of the World Cup, Destination Brazil is going to be available on both the Xbox One and Xbox 360. That said, some features, like Brazil Now, will only be compatible with Microsoft’s newest console. For now, you can watch the trailer for Every Street United below and, perhaps, get more pumped ahead of the football craze that’s about to take place down in South America.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: Xbox
Wii U’s quick-boot update is finally here, takes you straight to the games
If you’re planning to play Mario Kart 8 in the near future, you may have a wait ahead of you thanks to the latest Wii U update. Ironically enough, though, this should speed up the process of playing games from here on out. The patch (version 5.0.0 U) most notably adds a quick start menu to the GamePad that gives access to a handful of recently played or installed software — something the company showed off back in January. What’s more, as Kotaku spotted, you can now download and install updates while the system is in standby, and Nintendo’s gargantuan controller can even receive push notifications from the system when it’s in its low-power state. Exactly what those will entail is anyone’s guess, though. If you’d like a preview of how the rapid-boot menu works ahead of using it for yourself, we’ve embedded a clip after the break.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Nintendo
Via: Kotaku
Source: Nintendo
ASUS’ GX500 gaming laptop has a 4K screen and is just 19mm thick
Remember the ASUS NX500, that super-thin, MacBook Pro-inspired laptop we saw yesterday? (Now you do.) Well, then: This right here is its macho, gaming-obsessed cousin, the GX500, which just made its debut here at Computex. Like the NX500, it’s a 15.6-inch notebook coming in at just 19mm (0.75 inch) thick and 2.2kg (4.85 pounds). Spec-wise, too, it packs a Core i7 processor and a 3,840 x 2,160 display that covers 100 percent of the NTSC color gamut. The difference? It purrs along with heavier-duty NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M graphics. Oh, and the chassis is black with industrial red accents, making it less of a MacBook clone. No word yet on how much it will cost or when it will be available, but it seems to us this should make for a compelling Razer Blade competitor. Hopefully we can review one soon enough and decide for ourselves.
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