Oculus Rift teams up with Xbox for game streaming, controller
Gamers picking up the first consumer Oculus Rift virtual reality headset will notice a very familiar controller scheme — the company just announced it will ship with an Xbox One wireless controller and adapter packed in. Although it doesn’t support plugging into game consoles directly, Oculus and Microsoft announced that the headset will support the new Xbox-to-Windows game streaming in a VR environment. Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear to include plans for full VR games like the PS4 and Project Morpheus, as what we saw during the presentation amounted to a virtual living room setup watching the game on a big screen. Aside from the Oculus Cinema gaming setup, the Rift is said to work “seamlessly” with Windows 10, so we’ll see what kind of combinations come from the two in the future.
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Gmail adds OAuth support for Microsoft and Yahoo email accounts
Google is improving security for non-Google email accounts used with the Gmail Android app.
Support for third-party email services arrived to Gmail for Android back in March, making it possible to access all your email accounts in one place and rendering the old Email app redundant in the process. Now Google is enhancing the security of said third-party accounts with the addition of OAuth support, starting with Microsoft (Outlook.com) and Yahoo.
OAuth is an open authentication standard widely used on the web, that makes it possible to grant an app “secure delegated access” to a server, without actually transmitting the credentials. According to the Gmail team, using OAuth makes authentication more secure and enables some extra features, like two-step verification and account recovery.
No word for now on OAuth support coming for other email providers.
The feature is part of an update currently hitting Gmail – you can check for an update on the Play Store, but as usual Google has not provided a changelog that reveals other modifications brought to the app. Also as usual, “several bug fixes and performance improvements” are promised for the new version.
‘Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons’ coming to PS4, Xbox One and mobile
At this point in the PlayStation 4’s and Xbox One’s lifecycle, they almost seem more like “in case you missed it” machines than those offering brand new experiences. That isn’t always a bad thing though, and especially not where the excellent Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is concerned. Starbreeze Studio’s heartbreaking indie hits Microsoft and Sony’s latest consoles “this holiday season” according to a press release. Furthermore, IGN reports that it’ll feature a few new additions as well, including a director’s commentary track, a concept art gallery and a soundtrack. And if you’ve heard your console-owning pals raving about the game but don’t own one (or a PC) yourself, Brothers will hit the App Store and Google Play later this year as well. Just make sure you’re not playing in public toward the end — trust us.
[The screenshot above is from the game’s Xbox 360 version]
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile, Sony, Microsoft
Source: IGN
Gmail app gets Oauth support for Yahoo! and Microsoft mail accounts
Google’s Gmail app for Android has gotten some extra new security features that will be very important for those of you using a Yahoo! or Microsoft account. The new update brings Oauth support for both accounts, bringing the security of using those email addresses closer to what you’ll typically experience with Gmail.
Oauth allows users to take advantage of two-step authentication and Google’s account recovery process, both of which are staple security features in 2015. If you use either a Yahoo! or Microsoft mail account in your Gmail app, keep an eye out for this update over the next few days.
source: Gmail (Google+)
Come comment on this article: Gmail app gets Oauth support for Yahoo! and Microsoft mail accounts
JXE Streams: Come revisit ‘Fallout 3’ after the ‘Fallout 4’ bomb
When the Fallout 4 trailer dropped on the world last week, irradiating ravenous explorers anxious to return to the series’ wastes with fresh hope, it drove something home: Fallout 3 was awesome. Has it really been seven years since Bethesda reimagined the post-apocalyptic satire as a modern, first-person adventure? Has it been so long since Liam Neeson raised us in a post-nuclear war underground vault? Most importantly: does it still hold up? In order to answer that final question, we’re streaming Fallout 3 today at 3:30PM ET/12:30PM PT.
Tune into this post or Engadget.com/gaming to watch the whole shebang. Speaking of things that go bang, if you watch over at Twitch.tv/Joystiq you can help us decide in the chat whether or not to blow up the town of Megaton in the game!
Enjoy our streams? Make sure to follow us on Twitch.
[We’re streaming a retail copy of Fallout 3 on Xbox 360 at 720p through an Elgato HD via OBS.]
Microsoft’s Surface Hub pen display costs from $6,999 to $19,999
You’d be forgiven if you forgot what the Surface Hub is. After all, Microsoft announced it the same day as its futuristic HoloLens headset — arguably the more interesting of the two products. Even so, though, the Hub is a compelling device in its own right: a big pen display designed for conference rooms, making it easier for employees to brainstorm, even if some people are tuning in remotely. We took one for a brief spin back in January, but at the time it was unclear when it would be available or how much it would cost. Today, Microsoft clarified that the 4K, 84-inch version we tried will cost $19,999 and go on sale in July, right around the time Windows 10 comes out. In addition, there will be a smaller, 55-inch version available for a much lower price of $6,999. (For the money, you get 1080p resolution on that one, which is just fine considering how relatively small the screen is.) Both should ship in early September.
We know, we know: That sounds like a lot of money for what appears to just be a display. But keep in mind that the Surface Hub is actually a fully functioning Windows 10 PC, capable of running any app that would run on any other Windows machine. Also, Microsoft claims the price is competitive compared to traditional video-teleconference systems (the company estimates, for instance, that outfitting a room for 8 to 12 people would otherwise cost upwards of $38,000, nearly twice the price of the 84-inch model).
If nothing else, the Hub will be easier to use. Without logging into it, you can just walk up to the screen and start writing. The display comes with two pressure-sensitive pens, each of which attach magnetically to the side of the Hub and charge there, too. And because the display supports 100 simultaneous touch points, you can have multiple people writing at once, or doing things like holding and dragging elements across the screen. In our time with it, both at the launch event and a recent behind-closed-doors meeting, everything from writing to pinch-to-zoom felt smooth and controlled on the display. We’re also fans of the display’s matte, slightly textured finish: It doesn’t feel slippery like other touchscreens, and it makes writing feel a little more natural as well.
Throughout, too, you can loop in remote coworkers via a built-in Skype app, as well as use any Miracast-enabled device (say, an Android phone or tablet) to wirelessly mirror the presentation. From there, you can “write back” notes from the Hub to these various devices, and anyone tuning in remotely will see the notes drawn in real-time, as if they were there in person. When you’re finished with your meeting, you can press an “I’m done” button, have the device email you the notes, at which point it’ll wipe itself before someone else uses the conference room. Can your current video-teleconference setup do that?
For the most part, it’ll be corporate IT departments buying the Hub, and luckily for them, they can buy it through the same channels as, say, the Surface Pro. (Microsoft says it was important that businesses be able to purchase the Hub the same way they would traditional A/V gear.) Even if you’re just a regular consumer, though, you might get your chance to play with the Hub after all: It will eventually be on display in Microsoft Stores, meaning anyone who walks in will be able to have some playtime.
Use your Xbox One gamepad wirelessly with your PC this fall
Microsoft didn’t have just a 1TB Xbox One in store today. The company has also revealed that a wireless PC adapter for the Xbox One’s controller will be available this fall, both by itself ($25) or bundled with a gamepad ($80). The add-on will give you that familiar, console-like input on any Windows 10 device with a spare USB port, including stereo audio and voice chat. That’s a while to wait just to get that Xbox One feel on your computer without plugging in a cable. However, the adapter could make all the difference if you’re using a laptop or tablet and want to get rid of as many cords as possible.
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Microsoft
Source: Major Nelson
Microsoft officially launches 1TB Xbox One console
As rumored, Microsoft has officially launched an Xbox One with double the storage of the standard model and a new matte finish. It comes with the controller we glimpsed earlier that packs a 3.5mm stereo jack so you can use any headset (the new console ships with a chat headset, though). Microsoft is also throwing in a copy of Halo: The Master Chief Collection for a limited time. The 1TB console will start shipping on June 16th in the US, UK and other “select markets” for $399 (£349 in the UK). Better still, the standard 500GB Xbox One’s price has dropped permanently to $349 (£299).
To throw in a Jobs-esque “one more thing,” Microsoft also revealed an Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10 coming this fall for $24.99, or bundled with a Wireless Controller for $79.95 in the US. As a reminder, that’ll let you use the Xbox One’s controller wirelessly on a Windows 10 PC, laptop or tablet, avoiding the USB cable futz you need to do now.
Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
‘Forza’ finally gets some Porsche love
There’s been a Porsche-sized hole in the Forza roster for quite awhile, but that changes tomorrow. The German automaker’s coming to Forza Horizon 2‘s open world with 10 models, according to our sister site Autoblog. The pack’s $9.99 and comes with a handful of new Bucket List challenges, Rivals events and over a dozen new achievements for the Gamerscore hungry. Rides hit a wide swath of Porsche’s history, with the 1970 914/6, 1987 959 all the way up to a 2015 Macan Turbo on offer. Apparently gaming giant Electronic Arts had to sign off on the deal because of its exclusive agreement for Porsche cars to appear in the likes of the Need for Speed and Real Racing franchises. Whether or not that means we’ll see any of the German sports cars in the upcoming Forza Motorsport 6 isn’t exactly clear, but the E3 trade show is only a week away.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: Autoblog
Skype Translator is heading to the desktop app this summer
Last month, Microsoft removed the sign-up requirement for folks to give Skype’s live translation chops a try. Now, a preview version of the multi-language tool is heading to the desktop. Skype Translator is scheduled to roll out inside the chat-focused app’s desktop software at the end of the summer, delivering real-time translation for voice/video calls and instant messaging. Right now, the speech function supports English, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin, but if you’re conversing via IM, there are 50 more languages added to the list. Windows 10 arrives at this summer too, and real-time translating is sure to come in handy when chatting it up on a 84-inch Surface Hub.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Microsoft
Source: Skype
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