VIDEO: Heavy Rain Creator's Early Cinematic Game, "Indigo Prophecy", Gets Remastered

If you Missed Out on the Cult Classic "Indigo Prophecy" ("Fahrenheit" in Europe), the 1st Stab at a Pseudo-Cinematic Game from Heavy Rain Developer, Quantic Dream, you've Now Got a Good Reason to Give it a Spin. A Revamped Version of the Title has just Landed on iOS and Steam (with Support for Windows, Mac and Linux) for $10, Sporting Better Graphics and No Censoring (Nudity and Sex Scenes were Cut from the Original US Import). While it's Not the 1st Game to Combine a Detective Story with Supernatural Elements, "Indigo Prophecy" Won Plenty of Praise for its Mixture of Interactive Elements and Movie-Like Style. That's Something its Director, David Cage, would Later Refine with Heavy Rain on the PlayStation 3 -- though the Less Said about his Most Recent Title, Beyond: Two Souls, the Better. An Android Version of this Shiny New Version of "Indigo Prophecy" is in the Works but, Aspyr Media, the Developer Handling the Port, Doesn't Have a Release Date in Mind Yet.




Info Sources:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fahrenheit-indigo-prophecy/id915049333?mt=8

http://store.steampowered.com/app/312840

http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/29/fahrenheit-indigo-prophecy-remastered-for-steam-ios/?ncid=rss_truncated

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ6C0LtHXVM

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"Quake Live" Having a Hard Time with Another DDoS Attack During Various Hours **UPDATES**

From Quake Live's Twitter Account, Comes the Message from id Software:

https://twitter.com/quakelive/status/560943050483335168


"QL is experiencing a DDoS attack and may be down intermittently while we seek to address the problem. We apologize for the inconvenience."




When we Have News about the Stablishing Network of Both Website and QL Game Servers and the Posterior Launch of the QuakeLive.exe, which Isn't Executable for the Moment, we Should Say Something about it, in this Post, Stay Tuned !

**UPDATE**


The DDoS Warning was actually Posted Last Night but, Users on the Quake Live Forums are still Complaining about Difficulty Connecting to the Game and according to Blue's, the Quake Live Website itself has also been Forced Offline at Times. I'm Compelled to Take a Moment to Note that, a DDoS Attack — Distributed Denial of Service — is the Lowest Form of "Hack" that, a Person Can Undertake, essentially the Digital Equivalent of Setting a Bag of Dog Poop on Fire and Leaving it on Someone's Front Porch. Worse, actually, because at least the Poop is Only Going to be Stomped on by One Particular Person, Who's presumably Caused you Some Sort of Irritation; a DDoS Attack is Tedious, Indiscriminate Jerkery that Accomplishes Nothing. Ok, Got that Off my Chest. No Other Information about the Attack has been Released but, I've had Trouble Reaching the Quake Live Site Myself this Afternoon: Sometimes it will Load and Sometimes the Connection Simply Times Out. A Bethesda Rep Echoed the Message Posted on the Quake Live Website, Saying, "The game will be down intermittently as we address the DDoS attack" but, Offered No Suggestion as to When the Matter Might be Resolved.




We'll Let you Know if and When we Hear More.




Info Source:

http://www.bluesnews.com/s/158658/quake-live-ddos




**UPDATE** #2


id Software Says that, "QL is back up, we are monitoring it for further attacks. If you have problems connecting, you may need to flush your DNS cache on your router and computer".




An Interesting Thing to Read about, to Check if the Game Runs for You:

http://www.quakelive.com/forum/showthread.php?39899-If-Quake-Live-Still-Won-t-Load-For-You..




**UPDATE** #3


Just to Say Folks, that the Game Appears to be Good, Now. But, if Any of You Have Any Doubts or Need Some Help to Know About the Stability of the Game, Visit the Official #QuakeLive Channel for the Game by Going to irc.Quakenet.org. Thanks.

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"DiRT 3" for OSX Arrives

"DiRT 3 Complete Edition" for OSX is Now Available, Allowing Mac Gamers to Get Behind the Wheel with the Latest Installment in CodeMasters' Rally Racing Series. Feral Interactive has Details on the Release, which, as the Name Implies, includes All the DLC already Released for the Game on Other Platforms. There May be Reason to Wait on this, however, as Word is the Version of the Game Coming Soon to Steam will Include Cross-Platform Multiplayer Support with the Windows Edition, which is Not Part of the Version currently Offered on the Mac App Store.





Here's Word:


"DiRT 3 Complete Edition draws on the greatest cars from over 50 years of rallying to capture the intense thrill of off-road racing. Players can test their speed, skill and nerve in a globe-trotting series of electrifying events as they race to mud-spattered glory in the hazardous world of all-terrain motorsport. Featuring six high-octane disciplines including Rally, Rallycross and Gymkhana, a freestyle event hosted by rally star and YouTube phenomenon Ken Block, DiRT 3 Complete Edition comes with all the available add-on content, including 18 additional cars and 12 new routes at two locations set at the iconic Monte Carlo region and an X-Games Asia event featuring multi-car Rallycross racing in downtown Tokyo. The Steam version of DiRT 3 Complete Edition will also offer Mac vs PC online multiplayer for up to eight players, featuring multiplayer versions of all race modes and open-stage party games. “DiRT 3 Complete Edition combines masterful production values with exhilarating, edge-of-control racing”, said David Stephen, Managing Director of Feral Interactive. “The handling is expertly implemented to give all players a true taste of the messiest motorsport going.”"




Info Sources:

http://www.feralinteractive.com/en/mac-games/dirt3

http://www.steampowered.com

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dirt-3-complete-edition/id910949621

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Your Chance to Watch that Star Wars Trailer in Neon

You've Watched the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Trailer a Few Times, Seen it Analyzed to Death, Maybe Witnessed it Recreated in Stop-Motion Breakfast Cereal Homage. Now, you Can Experience it All Over Again in Glorious '80s-Style Neon. The Format Takes a Little Time to Show its True Colors but, Once the Spaceships and that Light Saber Appear, you're Hot to Trot.




Info Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKTMlGGhk2w#t=68

http://www.blastr.com/2015-1-28/slip-your-shades-star-wars-force-awakens-teaser-aglow-neon

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"Battlefield Hardline" Open Beta Next Week + Trailer

Electronic Arts Announces the Promised Open Beta Test of "Battlefield Hardline" will Run from February 3-8*, Offering All Interested Gamers Access to Visceral Games' Law Enforcement Shooter on Windows via Origin, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, XBox One and XBox 360. "There’s nothing more valuable to our team than the relationship we have with our community. Their passion feeds our passion and their feedback has definitely helped make Hardline a better game", Said Steve Papoutsis, General Manager of Visceral Games and Executive Producer of Battlefield Hardline. "We want them to play the hell out of the beta next week and trust that they’ll keep that feedback coming so, we can continue to fine tune the game."




They Offer a Look at the Game and Some Exhaustive Exposition in a New Beta Trailer and here's Word on Next Month's Testing:


"Battlefield Hardline builds on the foundation of the franchise’s signature multiplayer experience focused on team play and strategy and adds a new dimension of speed, making it the fastest Battlefield game ever. The open beta will feature three different maps and modes highlighting this cops and criminals fantasy world. The all-new Hotwire mode brings high-speed chases to the battlefield, as the criminals attempt to steal a list of marked cars while the cops try to repossess them. Available on two maps in the beta, Downtown and Dust Bowl, success in Hotwire will be predicated on teamwork and precision driving. Players can also experience the Battlefield franchise’s signature mode Conquest in Dust Bowl, with epic battles for up to 64 players**.

And finally, the beta will also feature Heist, another new mode being introduced in Battlefield Hardline. Playable on the map Bank Job, the mode will pit criminals trying to pull off that big score and break into a bank vault, securing their take at drop off points in the map while a squad of cops work together to stop them. The Battlefield Hardline beta will also provide access to the full breadth of multiplayer progression in the game, which features fresh new weapons, vehicles, gadgets and gear. Players will have to create new strategies on the battlefield with faster getaway methods like the zipline and muscle cars, or new entry tactics with the grappling hook and non-lethal takedown options like arrests, interrogations and stun guns. On top of all this, the beta will give the first look at another game mode called Hacker. This takes surveillance to the next level as one player on each side can hack the battlefield in different ways including hacking into security cameras, spotting enemies and specifying areas for their team to attack or defend.

Hacker mode will be playable on all modes in the beta. Battlefield Hardline brings the awe-inspiring, only-in-Battlefield destruction moments to LA and Miami in chaotic urban warfare. Powered by the Frostbite™ 3 game engine, Battlefield Hardline delivers an episodic single player campaign that follows rookie Miami Police Detective, Nick Mendoza, through a story of crime and revenge. This is brought to life by a veteran cast of Hollywood acting and writing talent, including Alexandra Daddario from True Detective, Wendy Calhoun from Justified, and Benito Martinez from The Shield. * The beta will be available February 4-8 in Japan on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. ** Conquest mode is available for 64 players on PlayStation 4, XBox One and PC. Conquest mode will have a player cap of 24 on PlayStation 3 and XBox 360."




Check Out the Beta Trailer for the Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuY3xNa8PBY

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VIDEO: Google is Making Fake Human Skin, to Test its Cancer-Detecting Nanoparticles

Last October, Google Announced that, it was Working on Magnetic Nanoparticles that Would Seek Out Cancer Cells in the Bloodstream and Report Back to a Smart Wristband. Now, if this Didn't Sound Bizarre Enough, it Turns Out the Search Giant is also Using Synthetic Skin to Develop the Technology. When Google 1st Announced the Project they Didn't Discuss How the Nanoparticles would Relay their Findings. But, in a Video from The Atlantic, Employees Explain that they'll be Using Light Signals to Talk to the Wristband through the Superficial Veins on the Underside of the Wrist.


Of Course, Shining Lights through the Skin Means Factoring in a Range of Skin Types and Colors and so, Google's Scientists Have Built Fake Arms with "the same autofluoresecence and biochemical components of real arms". Thus the Fake Skin. The Video itself is Well Worth a Watch and Offers a Tantalizing Glimpse into the Goings-On at Google X. Andrew Conrad, the Head of Google's Life Sciences Department, also has a Good Response to those Who Might Object that it's Weird Having Nanoparticles Floating through your Body Constantly Tracking you. "It's way weirder", Says Conrad, "to have cancer cells floating through your body that are constantly trying to kill you".




Info Sources:

http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/384922/why-is-google-making-human-skin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dzI_azZEGI

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The Super Bowl Spot and New Poster for "Terminator Genisys"

Paramount Pictures has Released the Super Bowl Spot for the upcoming "Terminator Genisys" along with a Brand New Poster (Check Above) for the Sequel. When 'John Connor' (Jason Clarke), Leader of the Human Resistance, Sends 'Sgt. Kyle Reese' (Jai Courtney) Back to 1984 to Protect 'Sarah Connor' (Emilia Clarke) and Safeguard the Future, an Unexpected Turn of Events Creates a Fractured Timeline. Now, 'Sgt. Reese' Finds Himself in a New and Unfamiliar Version of the Past, Where he is Faced with Unlikely Allies, including the 'Guardian' (Arnold Schwarzenegger), Dangerous New Enemies and an Unexpected New Mission: To Reset the Future… Also Starring J.K. Simmons, Dayo Okeniyi, Matthew Smith, Courtney B. Vance and Byung-Hun Lee, "Terminator Genisys" is Directed by Thor: The Dark World‘s Alan Taylor from a Screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier.




It will Hit Cinemas on July 1, 2015 and is the 1st in a Planned Trilogy of Films.




Here's the New TV Spot for "Terminator Genisys" :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4zhBQfqVCc

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"GHOST", a Critical Linux Security Hole, is Revealed

Researchers at Cloud Security Company, Qualys, Have Discovered a Major Security Hole, "GHOST" (CVE-2015-0235), in the Linux GNU C Library (glibc). This Vulnerability Enables Hackers to Remotely Take Control of Systems without Even Knowing any System IDs or Passwords. Qualys Alerted the Major Linux Distributors about the Security Hole Quickly and Most Have Now Released Patches for it. Josh Bressers, Manager of the Red Hat Product Security Team Said in an Interview that, "Red Hat got word of this about a week ago. Updates to fix GHOST on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5, 6 and 7 are now available via the Red Hat Network". This Hole Exists in any Linux System that was Built with glibc-2.2, which was Released on November 10, 2000. Qualys Found that, the Bug had actually been Patched with a Minor Bug Fix Released on May 21, 2013 between the Releases of glibc-2.17 and glibc-2.18. However, this Fix Wasn't Classified as a Security Problem and as a Result, Many Stable and Long-Term-Support Distributions are Wide Open Today.


Linux Systems that are Liable to Attack include Debian 7 (Wheezy), RHEL 5, 6 and 7, CentOS 6 and 7 and Ubuntu 12.04. Besides Red Hat's Fix, Debian is currently Repairing its Core Distributions, Ubuntu has Patched the Bug Both for 12.04 and the Older 10.04 and I'm Told the Patches are on their Way for CentOS. The Security Hole Can be Triggered by Exploiting glibc's gethostbyname Functions. This Function is Used on Almost All Networked Linux Computers, When the Computer is Called on to Access Another Networked Computer either by Using the /etc/hosts Files or, More Commonly, by Resolving an Internet Domain Name with Domain Name System (DNS). To Exploit this Vulnerability, All an Attacker Needs to do, is Trigger a Buffer Overflow by Using an Invalid Hostname Argument to an Application that Performs a DNS Resolution. This Vulnerability then Enables a Remote Attacker to Execute Arbitrary Code with the Permissions of the User Running DNS. In Short, Once an Attacker has Exploited "GHOST", they May be Capable of Taking over the System. "GHOST poses a remote code execution risk that makes it incredibly easy for an attacker to exploit a machine. For example, an attacker could send a simple email on a Linux-based system and automatically get complete access to that machine", Said Wolfgang Kandek, Qualys's CTO in a Statement. "Given the sheer number of systems based on glibc, we believe this is a high severity vulnerability and should be addressed immediately. The best course of action to mitigate the risk is to apply a patch from your Linux vendor."


Unlike Some Security Announcements, Kandek is Not Crying Wolf. Qualys has Developed a Proof-of-Concept in which Simply Sending a Specially Created Email to a Mail Server Enabled them to Create a Remote Shell to the Linux Machine. According to Qualys, "This bypasses all existing protections (like ASLR, PIE and NX) on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems". My Advice to you is to Now, Not Later Today, Now, Update your Linux System as Soon as Possible. After Patching it, you Should then Reboot the System. I Know for Linux it's Rarely Needed to Reboot but, since gethostbyname is Called on by so Many Core Processes, such as auditd, dbus-daem, dhclient, init, master, mysqld, rsyslogd, sshd, udevd and xinetd, you Want to Make Absolutely Sure that, All your System's Running Programs are Using the Patched Code.




Info Sources:

https://www.qualys.com

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/01/27/9

https://access.redhat.com/articles/1332213

https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=776391

http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-2485-1

http://www.gnu.org/software/libc/manual/html_node/Host-Names.html

https://community.qualys.com/blogs/laws-of-vulnerabilities/2015/01/27/the-ghost-vulnerability

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"Metroid Prime Trilogy" is $10 on the Wii U Right Now, Go Buy it

"Metroid Prime Trilogy", which Includes the Acclaimed GameCube Originals Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, as well as, Wii Classic Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, is currently 50% Off. The Offer is Good Today until February 5 at 8:59 a.m. PT so, if you're Craving Spacey First-Person Action, Get on this Now. The Compilation was Originally Released on the Wii in 2009, but, it was Discontinued Less than 6 Months after Release so, the Game has Always been in Short Supply. It Added Wii Remote Controls to the Original GameCube Games, as well as, 16:9 Support. One Caveat, if you Can Call it that — you'll Need a Wii Remote and Nunchuck to Play the Game. Sadly, there's No Wii U GamePad Support.




Info Source:

http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/NI0L4GZFgly0lMBWZGpD30Si5pLEmEHd

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VIDEO: Drones Infected with Malware, Can Drop from the Sky or Be Hijacked for Surveillance

You’re Minding your Own Business, When Something in the Sky Snags your Attention. Is it a Bird or a Plane ? Nope, it’s a Drone Falling Out of the Sky because, it’s Infected with Malware. Yeppers, “you read that right”, Wrote Security Engineer, Rahul Sasi, regarding the Title of his Post Describing “Maldrone — the first backdoor for drones”. Although he Shows Off the Malware by Infecting a Parrot AR.Drone within Wireless Range, Making it “drop like a brick”, Theoretically an Attacker could also Take Control of any Drone with an ARM Processor and Linux-Based Operating System and then Use it for Surveillance. Peachy. Sashi Plans to Present “Drone Attacks: How I hijacked a drone” on February 6 at Nullcon in India. “Once my program kills the actual drone controllers, it causes the motors to stop and the drone falls off like a brick”, Sasi Said. “But, my backdoor instantly takes control so, if the drone is really high in the air the motors can start again and Maldrone can prevent it from crashing.” Sasi Suggested SkyJack and Maldrone Could be Good Buddies. The Difference is that “SkyJack is an exploit” for the Parrot AR Drone and “Maldrone is the payload”. So, Once you Exploit a Vulnerability to Hack a Drone, that’s When you “install Maldrone as a backdoor”. He Added that, his “backdoor kills the autopilot and takes control”. Oh and the Maldrone “backdoor is persistent across resets”, Meaning that, Resetting the Drone to Factory Defaults Won't Remove the Malware Infection.


The Only Way to Get Rid of the Backdoor, according to Sasi, is to Reinstall the Drone’s Original Software. Sasi’s Backdoor Can be Silently Installed on the “drone remotely, over a wireless connection, without the operator knowing. Once in place, an attacker can take control of the drone, perform remote surveillance using the drone's video camera and possibly even spread itself to other drones, too”. A Drone Infected with Maldrone Can “intercept and modify data on the fly”. It Can also Connect to a “botserver and make it available for a botmaster”. It Certainly Sounds Alarming that a Botmaster Can Remotely Take Away Control from the Drone Owner and then Use that Drone for Something Sinister like Remote Surveillance. It Really Makes you Think When you Consider that Sasi Added, “There are over 70 nations building remotely controllable drones. Most of these drones are capable of making autonomous decisions”. Sasi is Interested in Making his Malware Generic Enough that, it Could be "cross-compatible with other drones" ; he’s also Working on Infecting a DJI Phantom. It's Not the 1st Time a Drone has been Infected as James Halliday ("Substack") Created a “virus-copter”. He Managed to Take 1st Place in the 2012 Drone Games Held in San Francisco after he “wrote an insane virus that infects AR Drones, which then infect other AR Drones and causes them all to be p0wned and run amok”. Also in 2012, for Larger-Scale Drones, Researchers Warned that, Civilian Drones were Vulnerable to Hackers, Could be Hijacked and Used as Missiles. In 2013, Security Researcher, Samy Kamkar, Came Up with SkyJack, “a drone engineered to autonomously seek out, hack and wirelessly take over other drones within Wi-Fi distance, creating an army of zombie drones under your control”.


Last Month at Code Blue Cybersecurity Conference in Tokyo, Dongcheol Hong, Hacker and CTO at SEWORKS Mobile Security Company, Demonstrated “how to ultimately compromise a drone by using drone's convenient features”. He Added, “My malware, also known as HSDrone, enables itself to spread from one device to another and takes over privileges to compromise and control them”. That Bit of News Flew Completely Under my Radar, the Same as the 2-Pound, 2-Foot Drone Flew Under a White House Radar System, Crashed into a Tree on the South Lawn and Caused a Lockdown. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Employee’s Drunk Flying of a DJI Phantom 2 Quadcopter Prompted President Obama to Call for More Regulations. “The drone that landed in the White House you buy in Radio Shack", he Said before Referencing Amazon’s Desire to Use Small Drones to Deliver Packages in about 30 Minutes. Hopefully Amazon would Use a Quadcopter Manufacturer that Applied Security so that, the Software Couldn't be Replaced or Infected with Maldrone. After its Drone Breached White House Security, DJI, Who Makes the Quadcopter Said, it Plans to Release a Mandatory Firmware Update that, will Disable its Devices from Flying within 15.5 Miles in All Directions from the Center of Washington DC; this Serves as an Extension of DJI’s No Fly Zone System, which Uses the Drone’s GPS Location, to Prohibit Flight Near 10,000 Airports, “sensitive locations and to prevent flight across national borders”.




Info Source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SlWdl4ZuAI

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"Vivaldi" - Opera Team Builds a Better Browser but, is There Room for it ?

Opera was One of the Original Internet Browser Companies and the Only One that is still Alive — and Independent — from that Era. Jon Von Tetzchner was a Co-Founder of Opera and his New Company, Vivaldi Technologies, has just Launched a Technical Preview of its New Browser. Von Tetzchner has Said that, the Purpose of Vivaldi is to Build a Browser for Sophisticated Users and to Bring Back the Community, which was a Key Differentiator for the Opera Browser Platform. Competing in the Browser Market is No Mean Feat. Today it is a Fundamental Piece of Every Operating System Platform — that’s the Reason Microsoft, Google and Apple All Have Integrated Browsers in their Desktop and Mobile Offerings. The Browser is also a Very Important Piece of Tying an End User Closer into the Platform. Thankfully, Browsers Have Become Increasingly Better at Supporting Standards like HTML5, Making it Easier to Build Sites and Web Apps that Work Consistently across Browsers. Compare that to Mobile Applications, Where Apps are Clearly Tied to iOS, Android, Windows, or Blackberry. While Browsers are Critically Important, because of Great Standards Support it’s Becoming Harder to Differentiate the Feature Set.


Is there Room for Yet Another Browser in the Market ? Mozilla, despite Losing Some Ground of Late to the OS Browsers, has Proven that, there has Always been Room for an Independent Choice. With its Newest Version, the Team has Picked Up Market Share and Branched into Mobile and Smart TV Platforms. Opera has Survived as well; Innovating in Embedded Platforms and Mobile with its Opera Mini Browser that Uses Proxy Servers and Compression to Speed Up Performance on Less Powerful Devices. Vivaldi Aims to Differentiate around a Few Key Areas. A Strong Feature Set, Says Tetzchner, Minimizes the Need for Extensions and thus Maintains Better Stability and Security. Though Not in the Current Tech Preview, that Feature Set will include an Email Client in the Future. An Innovative but, Not Entirely New, Feature is Notes Tied to Webpages, Where you Can Write Next to Pages and they will be Connected to them in the Browser. Google had Something Similar Years Ago in Chrome, which it Killed and eventually Replaced with Google Keep. While Useful, Applications like Evernote and OneNote Offer that Kind of Functionality with Much More Power. There are Some Nice UI Touches like a Tab Preview When you Hover over it (Safari Team, Please Take Note) and Tab Stacking, a Way to Organize Tabs Better which has also Been Around in Somewhat Similar Forms in Firefox and Internet Explorer. An Extensive Set of Quick Commands, or Keyboard Shortcuts a la Apple Spotlight or Alfred on the Mac, Help Power Users Navigate More Quickly.


It Should be Mentioned however that, these Exist in Chrome. Overall, the UI Could Use Some Work on the Mac (Where I'm Running the Preview), as it Doesn't Look as Polished as Safari or Chrome. One Area Where it is Not Differentiating — for Now at Least — is the Underlying Browser Engine. Vivaldi Went with Chromium, which at this Point has the Highest Market Share in Terms of Users. As a Startup, Writing its Own Engine would Likely Not Have been Feasible and Might Not Add that Much Value. Can Vivaldi Succeed against Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox and Even Opera ? It May Carve Out a Niche if the Company Can Differentiate the User Experience and Build the Community but, Integration is an Issue. Increasingly the Connection between Desktop, Mobile, Wearables, Cars and Other Connected Devices will Become More Important. The Other Browser Platforms are Tying History, Bookmarks, Passwords, Auto-Fill and Other Pieces of Information from Browsers as Part of What they Sync within their Users’ Device Environment, Tied to an Apple, Microsoft, Google, or Other Popular ID. This Type of Integration is Where a Lot of Differentiation in Browsers has been Going. Email and Note Taking are Important Pieces of that Environment too so, it’s a Good Sign that Vivaldi Recognizes that and will Look to Innovate on that for its Community. But, as we Increasingly Use Other Devices to Access the Web, the Team will Need to be Able to Offer Many of those Capabilities Beyond the Desktop to Build a Significant User Base. All that Said, it’s Nice to Have Another Choice and to See a Small Company Not Shying Away from the Challenge of Competing in this Space.

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VALVe Paid $57 Million to Users Who Make and Sell Content on Steam

Just How Lucrative Could it be to Create and Sell Virtual Items for Free Games like VALVe's Team Fortress 2 ? Very, it Turns Out. VALVe's Recently Announced that, since 2011, it's Paid Out over $57 Million to Folks Participating in its Steam Workshop Program -- the Service that Facilitates the Creation and Sale of User-Generated Items (Think: Virtual Hats). That Tally Encompasses some 1,500 Content Makers 3D Modeling Items for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, DOTA 2 and Team Fortress 2 across 75 Countries -- Roughly $38,000 per Person.


If What Held you Back from Making and Selling your Own Custom Gear is a White-Hot Burning Hatred for First-Person Shooters and MOBAs, well, Gabe Newell and Co. Have News for you, too: Curated Workshops are Opening for Dungeon Defenders: Eternity and First-Person Slasher, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare. And to Give you a Better Idea of What Hats of Yours are Most Popular with Purchasers, there's a New Set of Analytic and Real-Time Measurement Tools Coming Down the Pike. None of this, however, will Get us Any More Information on Half-Life 3 but, it Could be your Foot in the Door for a Game Development Job.




Info Source:

http://steamcommunity.com/games/SteamWorkshop/announcements/detail/154581565731694927

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Here's What Sony's "PlayStation Vue" TV Service is Like in Real Life

When Sony Unveiled its "PlayStation Vue" Streaming Service, it Painted a Rosy Picture of What you'll Get: Tons of Channels ! You'll Never Look at TV the Same Way Again ! But, What's it Like to Use in the Real World ? You Won't Have to Wait until the Formal Launch to Find Out, apparently. One Early User has Shared Impressions with GigaOM and the Early Signs suggest that, it Might just Beat Dish's Sling TV...in Certain Circumstances, anyway. The Interface is Polished and Speedy and your Viewing Rights are Much More Consistent than What Sling TV Delivers. As a Rule, you Can Assume that, you'll Have the Promised 28-Day Window to Watch Saved Shows from a Cloud DVR.


The Main Catch, at least in "Vue's" Pre-Release State, is the Channel Selection. Sony Clearly Chose Quantity over Quality. You Get the Big 4 Networks (Disney/ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC) and Some Other Majors but, you also Get a Ton of Associated Niche Channels you'll Likely Never Watch -- No, Sony, we Weren't Dying to Stream Exits or Palladia on our PlayStation 4s. And while you do Get Some Sports Options, ESPN Isn't Among Them. Even so, this is a Promising Peek at What "Vue" will Offer When it Goes Live Early 2015. Let's just Hope that, the Price Stays Down to Earth.




Info Source:

https://gigaom.com/2015/01/28/a-sneak-peek-at-sonys-playstation-vue-internet-tv-service

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Bill Gates Doesn't Get Why We're Not Worried About Super Intelligent AI

Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking Have Brought Up the Potential Dangers of Super Intelligent AI Several Times Over the Past Few Years (Musk Even Donated $10 Million toward Cautious AI Research) but Now, Bill Gates is also Getting into the Mix. In his Reddit "AmA" Q&A Session Today, Gates Made it Clear that, he Agrees with Musk's Stance, which Basically Amounts to Being Very Careful about How we Approach the Rise of Intelligent Machines:


"I am in the camp that is concerned about super intelligence. First the machines will do a lot of jobs for us and not be super intelligent. That should be positive if we manage it well. A few decades after that though, the intelligence is strong enough to be a concern. I agree with Elon Musk and some others on this and don't understand why some people are not concerned."




In an Interview with Backchannel Last Week, Gates Noted he's Not Trying to "stop things or slow things down". Instead, it Seems like he's just Trying to Raise Awareness for 2 Potential Issues: AI Replacing Jobs that Humans are Adapted to -- "the jobs that give you a sense of purpose and worth" -- and Stronger AI that Could End Up "conflicting with the goals of human systems".




Info Source:

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2tzjp7/hi_reddit_im_bill_gates_and_im_back_for_my_third

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Samsung to Be the Main Processor Supplier for Apple's Next iPhone

South Korea's Samsung Electronics will be the Main Supplier of Processors Powering Apple's Next iPhone, Maeil Business Newspaper Reported on Monday, Citing Unidentified Sources in the Semiconductor Industry. Samsung will be Responsible for around 75% of the Chip Production for the Next iPhone, the South Korean Newspaper Said. The Newspaper Didn't Say How Much the Contract is Worth and What Other Company will be Supplying Apple. Samsung will Make the Chips from its Factory in Austin, Texas, according to the Report.


A Samsung Spokeswoman Said, the Company does Not Comment on Market Speculation. Apple Couldn't be Immediately Reached for Comment.

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"The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" Gameplay Video + Previews

As Noted on The Witcher Website, the Other Day GOG.com had a Livestream Session Showing Off Gameplay from "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt", the upcoming RPG Sequel. The Recording of that Session is Now Available, Running a Little under 15 Minutes. Word is this Shows Off Segments from the Game Prologue and Skellige Islands. This was Accompanied by a Fan Q&A and the Answers from this are Summarized on GameInformer.com. CD Projekt RED also Recently Held a Global Hands-On Preview Event for the Game and this Video Explains More About that.

http://thewitcher.com/news/view/939

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgJUL3nN4iI

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2015/01/26/cd-projekt-red-answers-fans-burning-witcher-3-questions.aspx




This Resulted in a Delicate Smattering of Hands-On Previews that Can be Found on ComingSoon.net, The Escapist, Flickering Myth, GameSpot, God is a Geek, The Independent, Kotaku, Metro News, NZGamer.com, Only Single Player, Paste, PCWorld, PlayStation Life, PlayStation Universe, Pocket-lint, Shacknews and XBoxAchievements.com:

http://www.comingsoon.net/games/features/402865-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-hands-on-preview#/slide/1

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/previews/12901-CD-Projekt-Red-The-Witcher-3-The-Wild-Hunt-Preview

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/01/video-game-preview-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt.html

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-and-the-call-of-the-sirens/1100-6424859

http://www.godisageek.com/2015/01/the-witcher-3-hands-on-preview

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/gaming/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-preview-it-could-define-2015-for-roleplaying-gamers-10003147.html

http://kotaku.com/i-played-the-witcher-3-and-i-still-have-some-doubts-1681751334

http://metro.co.uk/2015/01/26/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-hands-on-preview-and-interview-we-are-raising-the-bar-as-high-as-its-possible-5036498

http://nzgamer.com/previews/1230/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-hands-on.html

http://www.onlysp.com/witcher-3-wild-hunt-hands-preview

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/01/hands-on-with-the-witcher-3-the-naked-truth.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2875097/witcher-3-wild-hunt-hands-on-four-hours-with-the-most-anticipated-rpg-of-the-year.html

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/01/26/the-witcher-3-preview-hands-on-true-dark-fantasy/#/slide/1

http://www.psu.com/preview/25675/The-Witcher-3-Preview--We-played-the-first-four-hours

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/132419-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-preview-four-hours-playing-the-fantasy-rpg-epic

http://www.shacknews.com/article/87847/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-preview---man-vs-beast

http://www.xboxachievements.com/news/news-20309-The-Witcher-3--Wild-Hunt-Gameplay-Preview---11-Minutes-of-Brand-New-Beast-Slaying-and-Exploration-Footage.html

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Microsoft Ships 6.6 Million XBox Consoles During Last Quarter

During Yesterday's Earnings Call, Microsoft Announced its XBox Sales for the Quarter Ending December 31, 2014. During this Span, the Company Shipped 6.6 Million Units across Both XBox One and XBox 360. When Compared with the 2.4 Million XBox Units Shipped in the Quarter Prior to that, Microsoft Showed Significant Improvements. This Most Recent Quarter includes the Holiday Season, the XBox One Price Cut and Aggressive Bundling. The Year Prior to that, on the Heels of the XBox One Launch, Microsoft Shipped 7.4 Million Consoles in the Corresponding Quarter. Most Recent Shipment Figures, Put XBox One at 10 Million in Mid-November, though we Suspect that Number to be Quite a Bit Higher Now. XBox One Outsold PlayStation 4 for Only the 2nd Time in November 2014 and Followed that Up in December. We Won't Know How Sony Fared during the Same Quarter for a Little While. The Company has Delayed its Quarterly Earnings Report, Citing the Sony Pictures Hack that Took Place in November of Last Year as the Reason.




Info Source:

http://www.microsoft.com/investor/EarningsAndFinancials/Earnings/PressReleaseAndWebcast/FY15/Q2/default.aspx

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Chris Boyd: "The Malware Threat to Online Games is Growing"

Chris Boyd, Malware Intelligence Analyst at Malwarebytes, Reveals the Latest Tactics being Adopted by Cyber Criminals in their Attempts to Steal from Gamers,  Gaming Accounts, are One of the Hottest Targets for Black Hats as we Roll into 2015. Any Form of Financial Investment in Gaming – from Paid Memberships to Rare In-Game Items – Make Consumers a Prime Target for Hackers and Scammers. Even if they’re Locked Down Tight, Criminals Can still Make Use of Personal Information by Going after Platform Holders and Developers and Stealing from the Source. Although you Won’t See Malware [Hostile and Intrusive Software] Running on the Latest Consoles Anytime Soon, it Works on PC and the Higher Profile of Purchasable In-Game Items on Steam has Greatly Increased the Likelihood of Attacks. We Used to See Many Attacks Take Place In-Game, such as Mods being Used in Modern Warfare 2 on XBox 360 to Send Fake Message of the Day Links to Phish Scams.


Over the Last Few Years, we’ve Seen the Growth of In-Game Items and Microtransactions and Hackers are Seeing those as the Path of Least Resistance to Obtaining Stolen Accounts and Items. In Fact, Some of the Smartest Social Engineering Tricks we’ve Seen Recently Have been Aimed at Gamers. Fake EA Customer Support Twitter Accounts would Monitor Conversations between Gamers Having Problems and Direct the Victim to Origin Phishing Pages - All Achieved with just a Friendly Tweet. They’re also Targeting Twitch Users, with Bots Sending Links in Chat Channels to Account Stealing Malware. There are Some Recent Positive Security Stories, though they’re Something of a Mixed Bag. While Major Titles such as Guild Wars 2 have Adopted 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) Login and Steam Continues to Promote its Steam Guard Tool, a Number of Platforms and Online Titles currently Show No Sign of Using Similar Account Verification.


Even Steam Guard will Only be Enabled Once a User Verifies their Email Address and a Look at the Forums Suggests Many Account Holders Don’t Bother. Worse, Scammers are Actively Targeting those Same Security Safeguards, Often Luring Victims in, with Promises of Rare Items then Having them Download Fake Steam Guard Programs. These then Dig Out the SSFN File on the Victim’s PC which is Tied to Steam Guard Verification, Upload it to the Attacker and Let them Login Unhindered. As we Continue to Tie More Games to our (Many) Online Gaming Accounts, they will Only Increase in Value to Anybody Wanting to Turn a Fast Profit. It’s Up to Console Makers and Digital Download Service Providers to Step Up and Look at Ways they Can Increase the Security of their Customer’s Accounts. They’re Starting to Make Progress but, it’s on the Slow Side – and the Number of People Clamouring for the Customer’s Account, Show No Sign of Slowdown.

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Apple Announces April Ship Date for the "Apple Watch"

Today Apple Announced their Earnings and Sales for the Holiday Quarter of 2014. The Company Sold 74.5 Million iPhones and Had Strong Earnings which were Fueled by the Newly Released iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. While the Information about Apple's Financial Situation is Interesting for Investors and Analysts, it's Really of No Consequence to General Consumers. However, Apple CEO, Tim Cook, Made a Statement during Today's Earnings Call that, is of Great Significance to Anyone Interested in Apple's upcoming Smartwatch, the "Apple Watch". Like the iPhone, the "Apple Watch" was Announced Several Months Prior to its Shipping Date.


Until Today, the Only Information about When "Apple Watch" would be Available, was that, it was Coming in Early 2015. While there's still No Specific Launch Date, Cook Stated that, the Development for the "Apple Watch" was Proceeding according to Schedule and that, the Company Expected to Begin Shipping it, in April. Unfortunately, Concrete Information about the Price of All the Different Models and the Battery Life of "Apple Watch" is still Unknown. It will be Interesting to See if More Details Get Confirmed in the upcoming Weeks and Months, as we Get Closer to April.




Info Source:

http://www.macrumors.com/2015/01/27/tim-cook-apple-watch-on-schedule-to-ship-in-april

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Unreal Engine 4 Arrives on Ouya

Unreal Developers, Take Note -- You Can Now Build Unreal Engine 4 Games for the Ouya Microconsole, Thanks to a New Branch of the UE4 Source Code. According to an Unreal Engine Blog Post, the New Branch is a Fork of Unreal Engine 4.6 Source Code that, Supports the Ouya SDK. That Means Unreal Engine Developers Can Now Access APIs for Ouya Controllers, Ouya In-App Purchases and the Like. If you're an Unreal Engine Subscriber Interested in Checking Out the New Tools, the Folks at Ouya Have Compiled a Set of Guides on How to Get Started.




Info Sources:

https://www.unrealengine.com/blog/ouya-and-unreal-engine

https://devs.ouya.tv/developers/docs/unreal

https://devs.ouya.tv/developers/docs/ouya-everywhere

http://forums.ouya.tv/categories/unreal-on-ouya

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"WRC 5" Announced + Reveal Trailer

The WRC Website Announces "WRC 5", Saying the 5th Installment in the FIA World Rally Championship Series will be Released this Fall for Windows and Current-Generation Consoles. A Reveal Trailer Shows Off Some Environments and here's Word (for the Record, Kylotonn is the Correct Spelling Out of the Two) :


"After 4 episodes on the previous generation of consoles, WRC reaches a new step toward history. This year, Bigben Interactive and Kylotton Games are proud to announce that WRC 5 will also be available on new generation consoles ! The WRC game series is taking a new shift with the introduction of Kylotonn and will benefit from new development tools and experienced European developers and many surprises are planned for fans in the game.“We are very proud and excited to work on a title dedicated to one of the most challenging and spectacular forms of motor sport”, says Diego Sartori, Creative Director at Kylotonn Games.

Bigben Interactive is also proud to introduce Sébastien Chardonnet as one of the game’s Ambassadors. Sébastien is the 2013 FIA WRC 3 champion who is graduating to the top level of WRC in 2015 in Monte Carlo – after a first attempt in 2012 in France. He has been involved with the concept and planning for WRC 5 since early on in the project. “It’s exciting to help Kylotonn to make the best WRC game ever seen. Combining my driver and gamer experience with their technical point of view is something interesting when you are trying to do the most realistic game possible”, declares Chardonnet. Moutains, valleys, snow, rain… That is a long and winding road to get to the WRC title. Will you have what it takes to unleash the driver that lies in you ?"




Info Source:

http://www.wrcthegame.com/wrc-5-announced


Reveal Trailer for "WRC 5" :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSOxuA_OESo

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"PlanetSide 2" Sets FPS Record

Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) Announces "PlanetSide 2" has Set a New Record for Most Players Online in a Single First-Person Shooter Battle. This Record was Previously Held by Browser-Based Shooter, Man vs. Machine, which Fell One Player Short of a 1000 Player Goal in 2012 and Word is that, "PlanetSide 2" has Now Surpassed that, by a Good Margin after 1,158 Players Participated in a Single Battle on One Server instance Over the Weekend. This Record is Official, as it is Fully Sanctioned by the People Who Make the Stout and the Record Books: "This amazing achievement shows not only how truly massive the PlanetSide 2 universe is but also, how inclusive its online community is", Said Annie Nguyen, Video Games Records Manager at Guinness World Records. "This title truly embodies the international, record-breaking spirit of Guinness World Records."




Info Source:

https://www.planetside2.com

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"Dying Light" Launch Trailer

Here's a Launch Trailer for "Dying Light", Techland's Zombie Game that will be Released Worldwide Tomorrow via Digital Distribution. Here's the Slightly Premature Word from the Description: "Dying Light is finally here ! Experience an all-new story of survival set in a city devastated by a mysterious infection. Play as Kyle Crane, an undercover operative sent to the quarantine zone with the mission to locate a high-ranking military officer gone missing. As you mission goes sour almost instantly, you soon find yourself caught in the midst of a desperate fight for survival".




Check the Launch Trailer for the Game, here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VkS3beywvk

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Sony Closing "Music Unlimited" in Favor of Spotify-Powered Service

Sony Today Revealed "PlayStation Music", a New Spotify-Powered Music Service Coming to PlayStation 3, 4 and "Xperia Smartphones and Tablets" this Spring. The Service will Outright Replace "Music Unlimited", the Service that Sony Previously Implemented across Devices, Powered by its Own Enormous Music Catalog. The News Marks the 1st Time Spotify has Come to any Game Console and is a Major Coup for Sony's PlayStation Group in the Battle for Major Home Entertainment Apps on Game Consoles (XBox One Notoriously Got HBO Go, First). "PlayStation Music" will Require a Spotify Paid Subscription (the "Premium" Membership) and Enables Both Playback on the Aforementioned Devices and the Ability to Listen to Music in the Background during Games.


When the Service Launches at Some Point in Spring 2015, it'll be Available in "41 Markets Around the World". There are No Images / Video of the Service in Action just Yet, Nor is there News of Exactly How Pricing will Work. We do Know the Exact Date that, "Music Unlimited" will Go Away, though: March 29, 2015. Sony Says that, Paid Users Who are still Signed Up as of February 28, will Receive Free Access through the End of the Run. It's Not Clear How, or if, their Accounts will Transfer over to "PlayStation Music" but, we'd Bet they Won't Given the Tie to Spotify's Accounting System. In Case it Weren't Clear, this is Great News: "Music Unlimited" is, to Put it Politely, Hot Garbage.




Here's What we Said about it, in our Review of the PlayStation 4:


"Music Unlimited is, unbelievably, the only option for playing music on the PlayStation 4. You can't set up a media server, or play MP3s or audio CDs. There's a free 30-day trial to the subscription service as part of buying a PS4 but, it's a cumbersome hassle if you're not already a member. And why can't we play our own music on this super-powerful PC-esque game console ? Sony says more options are coming but, at launch this is your only option. Music Unlimited takes a shockingly long time to load and navigation within the app is similarly sluggish. When you've finally located music you'd like to listen to, you can thankfully push the Home button and keep listening to it on a system level. Jump into a game and turn off the game's music track -- voila ! It's pretty slick but, that same feature existed in a smarter form on the XBox 360. And on the 360, we could load our own music onto the box."




That was One of the Few Massive Negatives in an Otherwise Overtly Positive Console Review. Glad to See it's been Sorted ! We'll Have More Coverage of "PlayStation Music" as the Year Rolls on.




Info Sources:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/01/28/playstation-meet-spotify

https://news.spotify.com/us/2015/01/28/hello-playstation-spotify-here

http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2015/01/28/playstation-meet-spotify

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Justice Department is Reportedly Spying on Millions of US Cars

While Law Enforcement has been Using License Plate Readers to Track Vehicles for a while, they Never Formed into a Unified Network. In Fact, the Department of Homeland Security Posted a 29-Page Document about a Vehicle-Tracking Network but, the Idea Didn't Go Any Further. Until Now, that is. The Justice Department has apparently Crafted a Nationwide Database to Track Vehicle Movement across States. While the Main Aim of License Plate Tracking is to Assist the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Seizing Cars and Other Assets while Tackling Drug Trafficking, according to a Government Document Seen by the WSJ, this will Expand to Encompass the Search for Vehicles that Have been Associated with Other Crimes, including Killings and Rape Cases.


Many Law Enforcement Agencies are Accessing this Vehicle Database, which Can Track Cars in Real-Time, When they're on Major Roadways, with Obvious Concerns with Exactly How Far the US Government Should be Allowed to Monitor Vehicle Movement. A Spokesman for the Justice Department, which includes the DEA Said, the Program Complies with Federal Law. "It is not new that the DEA uses the license-plate reader program to arrest criminals and stop the flow of drugs in areas of high trafficking intensity", he Told the WSJ. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, a Request through Freedom of Information Act Revealed that, there's at least 100 License Plate Readers across the US. According to an Undated Slide, there are at least 343 Million Records on the Database Already.




Quote:


"A FOIA request revealed that there's at least 100 license plate readers across the US. According to an undated slide, there are at least 343 million records on the database."




The Program Collects Vehicle Movement Data, including Time, Direction and Location from Cameras on Major Highways. These Cameras Can also Capture Images of Drives and Passenger -- Images that are Reportedly Clear Enough for Authorities to Confirm Identities. If you're Looking for Some Background Reading on Concerns of the Tracking System, we'd Advise a Visit to Both the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.




Info Sources:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/02/national-license-plate-recognition-database-what-it-and-why-its-bad-idea

http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-spies-on-millions-of-cars-1422314779

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"WeChat" Finally Arrives on the Desktop for Windows Users

"WeChat" has Finally Launched a Version of its Desktop Client for Windows PC Users, Nearly a Year after the Introduction of its Client for Macs. Just like the WhatsApp Web Client Launched Last Week, in Order to Get Up and Running with "WeChat" for PC, you’ll Need to Scan a QR Code from within the Mobile App. Once your Phone is Linked to your Computer, Messages will be Mirrored across Both Devices but, Alerts will Only Show on your Computer. For Now, it’s Only Available in Chinese. If Downloading Another Program to your Computer just Feels like Too Much Effort, you Can of Course, still Use the Web-Based "WeChat" Client from any Operating System.




Info Sources:

http://weixin.qq.com/cgi-bin/readtemplate?t=win_weixin&lang=zh_CN

https://www.techinasia.com/desktop-version-wechat-windows-pc-year-mac

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"Facebook Lite" Uses Less Data for Developing Areas, Low-End Phones

Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has been Hard at Work Connecting the World with Not Only his Social Network but, with Basic Internet Access, too. In Another Step towards Doing so in Developing Areas, the Folks in Menlo Park are Rolling Out "Facebook Lite" : a Version of its Android App that's Meant to Use Less Data and Work Well regardless of Network Speeds. In Fact, it's Specifically Designed for Browsing on 2G Networks and in Locales Where Connectivity is Extremely Limited. At Less than 1MB, the Software Makes for a Quick Install to Wrangle Messaging, Status Updates and Other Core Features that Facebook Users Employ. According to TechCrunch, "Facebook Lite" is in the Testing Phase and it's Only Available in Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zimbabwe for the Time Being. However, the App Requires Android 2.2, Making it an Option for Most Users -- Even those Wielding Low-End Devices.




Info Sources:

http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/01/26/apk-download-facebook-launches-facebook-lite-android-app-for-low-power-devices-and-developing-markets

http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/25/facebook-lite-rides-again

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.lite

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Nintendo to Introduce Feature to Allow Streaming of Wii U Games to New 3DS ?

Hackers Have Found Out that, the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL include a Video Decoder that Supports H264, which is the Same Video Format Used to Stream Wii U Content to the GamePad. Based on this, Some are Speculating that, Nintendo will Eventually Introduce a Feature that will Allow the New Handheld Devices to Stream Wii U Games. New 3DS XL will Launch in North America on February 13th.




Info Source:

http://playeressence.com/will-wii-u-games-be-streamed-to-the-new-nintendo-3ds-in-the-future

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Your PS Vita is About to Get Slightly Less Useful

If you Regularly Use the Maps and YouTube Apps on your PlayStation Vita, Please Raise a Hand. If you'd be Mightily Disappointed if those were to Disappear from the Portable Console, Keep your Hand Up and Someone will Bring you a Tissue. That's because, Unfortunately, Sony has Announced that Both Features will be Going the Way of All Things Very Shortly. Maps is Getting Erased from History with the March Software Update, which will, Naturally, also Kill the Geographic Elements of the Near Social Gaming App. YouTube, meanwhile, will Stop Working on April 20, although the App itself is Being Pulled from the PLAYSTATION Store from Today. The Company does, however, Point Out that you Can still Access YouTube via your Browser but, Let's be Honest - it's at that Point you probably just Pull Out your Smartphone.




Info Sources:

https://twitter.com/PlayStation/status/560347553724919808

https://support.us.playstation.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5431

https://support.us.playstation.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5432

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YouTube Defaults to HTML5 on the Web

If you've been Hoping for YouTube to Drop the Notoriously Buggy Flash Video Format as its Default Player, well, Good News. Nearly 5 Years after the Streaming Giant Started Supporting the HTML5 Standard for its Videos, it's Finally Now its Player of Choice. That Means from Now on, YouTube will Use the HTML5 Format by Default in Most Modern Browsers -- that includes Chrome, IE 11, Safari 8 and Beta Versions of Firefox. Why the Wait ? Well, YouTube Says in a Blog Post that, it was Waiting for HTML5 to Mature and Improve -- it was still Fairly Experimental back then. Now, however, the Standard is Widely Adopted and has Plenty Going for it, like the Support for Live Broadcasts and a More Immersive Fullscreen View. Seeing as HTML5 is Not just in Browsers but, Smart TVs and Other Streaming Boxes too, this News has been a Long Time Coming. Which Makes us Wonder, How Long Flash has Left before it's Gone Altogether.




Info Source:

http://youtube-eng.blogspot.com/2015/01/youtube-now-defaults-to-html5_27.html

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WikiLeaks Furious at Google, for Keeping Government Data Request a Secret

Google is Catching Some Heat from WikiLeaks after the Company Revealed that, it Handed over Emails and Other Data on 3 WikiLeaks Employees to the US Government. Obviously, that in and of itself would be Enough to Ruffle the Feathers of the Activist Group. But, to Make Matters Worse, Mountain View Handed over the Data in the Spring of 2012. That's Right, Google Waited over 2 and a Half Years to Tell Wikileaks about the Government Request. The Warrants, which were Served by the FBI in March of 2012, Asked for the Contents of All Emails -- Sent, Received and Draft -- as well as, their Destination or Origin, IP Addresses and Even the Credit Cards Associated with the Accounts. How Much of that Information Google Ultimately Delivered is Not Known but, WikiLeaks has Asked the Internet Giant for Some Insight.


In a Letter Written by One of the Organization's Lawyers, Michael Ratner of the Center For Constitutional Rights, WikiLeaks Says that, it is "Astonished and Disturbed" that it's just Learning about this Information Request Now. In Particular its Upset that, the 3 Staffers in Question, Sarah Harrison, Kristinn Hrafnsson and Joseph Farrell Weren't Able to Prepare a Legal Defense that May Have Prevented their Information from Being Shared. Google has Said that, it Couldn't Reveal the Requests Earlier Due to a Court Imposed Gag Order, though it's Not Clear When that Order Lifted. That's Hardly the Only Question, though. WikiLeaks and its Employees still Want to Know What Exactly was Given to the Government, When it was Handed Over, Why it was Requested and Whether or Not Google Pushed back. Mountain View has a Spotty History regarding Transparency and Government Requests for Information but, this Incident is still Somewhat Shocking.




Info Sources:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/25/wikileaks-google-staff-emails-us-government

http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/technology-and-gaming/google-kept-wikileaks-data-handover-secret-for-two-years-309025.html

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Study: Complaining on Twitter Correlates with Heart Disease Risks

This Past Week, a Study was Released by Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania that Found a Surprising Correlation When Studying 2 Kinds of Maps: those that Mapped the County-Level Frequency of Cardiac Disease and those that Mapped the Emotional State of an Area's Twitter Posts. In All, Researchers Sifted through over 826 Million Tweets, Made Available by Twitter's Research-Friendly "Garden Hose" Server Access, then Narrowed those Down to Roughly 146 Million Tweets that had been Posted with Geolocation Data from over 1,300 Counties (Each County Needed to Have at least 50,000 Tweets to Sift through to Qualify). The Team then Measured an Individual County's Expected "Health" Level Based on Frequency of Certain Phrases, Using Dictionaries that had been Put through Scrutiny over their Application to Emotional States. Negative Statements about Health, Jobs and Attractiveness — Along with a Bump in Curse Words — Would Put a County in the "Risk" Camp, while Words like "Opportunities", "Overcome" and "Weekend" Added More Points to a County's "Protective" Rating.


Not Only did this Measure Correlate Strongly with Age-Adjusted Heart Disease Rate Data, it Turned Out to be a More Efficient Predictor of Higher or Lower Disease Likelihood than "Ten Classical Predictors" Combined, including Education, Obesity and Smoking. Twitter Beat that Data by a Rate of 42% to 36%. The Study Acknowledged the Age Issues with Such Data — Namely because the Average Twitter User's Age When the Study was Conducted (Between June 2009 and March 2010) was about 31 Years Old, which is Quite a Few Years Younger than the Average Sufferer of Heart Disease. “The people tweeting are not the people dying", the Study's Authors Wrote. "However, the tweets of younger adults may disclose characteristics of their community, reflecting a shared economic, physical and psychological environment.” Ultimately, the Study's Authors Stated their Data Reinforces the Long-Assumed Health Benefits of Being an Active Participant in your Community, Whether that Happens at Community Centers or among your Best Twitter Friends. "The combined psychological character of the community is more informative for predicting risk than are the self-reports of any one individual", they Added.

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"Dying Light" in VR is Terrifying but, Also Unfinished and Unpolished

"Dying Light" Played in Virtual Reality is a Glimpse into What the Future May Bring but, the Present Isn't Quite There Yet. It's One of the Few AAA Games that Supports the Oculus Rift — Alien Isolation is Another — so, there's Something Amazing in Being Able to Look Around such a Well-Constructed Environment. Being Inside a World Torn Apart by Zombies, Isn't for the Faint of Heart and in Virtual Reality you Can't Look Away. You Look Up and See the Sky. You Down and See the Ground. You Look Around and Things are Trying to Kill you. It's an Interesting and Slightly Panic-Inducing, Way to Play the Game. The Game also Earns Points by Being Simple to Set Up in Virtual Reality. You Simply Launch the Game in Steam with your Rift Turned on and the Rest is Done through Auto-Detection, at least in the Beta Version I was Playing. We're Used to Fiddling with Virtual Reality Demos for an Extended Period of Time to Get them to Work, which Makes this Plug-and-Play Approach Very Welcome.


It's also Unfinished. Many Things in a Game Need to be Adjusted for the VR Experience to Work Well and Right Now the Menus and Display on "Dying Light" are Nearly Impossible to See When you're Wearing the Rift, which Makes Button Cues and Subtitles, All but Worthless. There are also Moments Where the Game Takes Control of your View, which Caused my Stomach to Flip and Turn while in Virtual Reality. I Reached Out to Techland to Share these Concerns and they're Aware of the Work that Needs to be Done. "As for now we’ll publish the game as it is. You'll be able to play it on Rift but, there are areas where the VR experience obviously requires more polish. We do plan to work on this further and we have quite ambitious plans going forward", they Told »XoZeN«. "We hope to technologically fully support Rift  and not only Rift but, generally VR, when devices from this segment hit the mass market."


So, it's Fun and Interesting but, it's Not Where it Needs to be for the Game to Offer a Comfortable Experience for Long Playing Sessions. This Sort of Support is Likely Something you'll See More of as Developers Play Around with Virtual Reality while Waiting to See When the Retail Models of Hardware like the Rift will be Released to the Public. Developers like Techland Who Have already Begun Implementation Testing and Support, will be at a Great Advantage if VR Headsets Sell in Wide Numbers and Players Ask for Support. For Now ? I'd Suggest those with a Rift in their Gaming Set-Up, to Play in Short Sessions and Maybe Keep a Bucket Handy.

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"Mission Impossible 5" Will Be Released this July

"Mission Impossible 5" just had its Release Date Moved Way Up. The Film will Now be Coming Out this Summer, on July 31, instead of on Christmas Day. The Hollywood Reporter Suggests that Paramount may Have Wanted to Shift its Release Date to Move "MI5" Away from the Next James Bond Film, which is Due Out on November 6, as well as, the New Star Wars, which Comes Out December 18th. "MI5" is also an Action Blockbuster, which is the Type of Picture that Tends to do Very Well in the Summer. The New Mission Impossible is Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, Who Last Directed, Jack Reacher. Jack Reacher Didn't Have the Greatest Critical Reception but, McQuarrie has Found More Success as a Writer, being the Name behind The Usual Suspects and Edge of Tomorrow. There's Not a Lot of Other Detail about the Film Right Now, though All you Really Need to Know is that, Tom Cruise is Back on Board to Star.




Info Source:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paramount-shifts-mission-impossible-5-767313

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VIDEO: This Apartment Built in Unreal Engine 4, is Nicer than Any I Will Ever Live In

If you'd Like to Visit a Fabulous, Exotic Locale Today, Look No Further than this Downloadable Pet Project — a Virtual Tour of an Apartment Built in Unreal Engine 4 — from CG Generalist and Level Designer, Dereau Benoit. "Unreal Paris" Isn't Interested in Exploring Crazy Worlds but, just a Single Home. The Video Crawls through a Lavish Apartment, Taking Time to Pay Attention to the Little Details: Towels on a Shelf, or Intricate Lamps along the Walls. That May Not Sound Impressive at First but, the Demo is of Dazzlingly High Quality. As our Colleagues over at The Verge Put it, it's "a better Unreal 4 demo than Epic's own trailers". It's Virtual Apartment Porn of the Highest Order. Sure, the Sky's the Limit When you're Building a Virtual Apartment but, that Doesn't Make the Sting any Less. I Mean, are you Seeing those Hardwood Floors and High Ceilings ? That Stuff would Cost a Fortune. And Please, Don't Get me Started on the Immaculate State of that Furniture. Somebody Upgraded from IKEA.




Info Sources:

http://www.benoitdereau.com/unrealparis.html

http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/27/7920883/unreal-paris-apartment-3d-rendering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf045VYP3z4

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Symantec Data Center Security Software, Has Security Holes

Security Bod, Stefan Viehböck, has Detailed Holes in Symantec's Data Center Security Platforms that, the Company Plugged this Past Week because, they Allowed Hackers to Gain Privilege Access to Management Servers. The Patches Fix Holes in the Management Server for Symantec Critical System Protection (SCSP) 5.2.9 and its Predecessor Data Center Security: Server Advanced (SDCS:SA) 6.0.x and 6.0 MP1. SEC Consult Researcher, Stefan Viehböck, Who Found the Flaws, Said the Products Shouldn't be Used until a Full Security Audit was Conducted. "Attackers are able to completely compromise the SDCS:SA Server as they can gain access at the system and database level", Viehböck Wrote in an Advisory. "Furthermore attackers can manage all clients and their policies. It is highly recommended by SEC Consult not to use this software until a thorough security review (SDCS:SA Server, SDCS:SA Client Policies) has been performed by security professionals and all identified issues have been resolved." Hackers with Access to the SDCS:SA Server, Could Potentially Pivot within the Corporate Network and Could Bypass Client Protections.


Four Flaws were Reported including an Unauthenticated SQL Injection (CVE-2014-7289), Granting Attackers Read and Write Access to Database Records and SYSTEM Code Execution Privileges. A Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (CVE-2014-9224) was Dug Up Allowing Attackers to Steal Other Users' Sessions and Gain Access to the Admin Interface. Information Disclosure (CVE-2014-9225) was Possible with a Script that Spewed Internal Server Application Data without Requiring Authentication, including File Paths on the Web Server and Version Information (OS, Java). Multiple Default Security Protection Policy Bypasses were Discovered that, were Tempered by the Requirement for Administrator Permissions. These included Persistent Code Execution via Windows Services; Remote Code Execution via Remote Procedure Call; Extraction of Windows Passwords and Hashes; Privilege Elevation via Windows Installer and Privilege Elevation and Code Execution via Windows Management Instrumentation. Proof of Concept Code was Published to Exploit the Respective Vulnerabilities, Giving Urgency to the Need for Customers to Apply Patches and Work-Arounds for those Flaws Yet Unfixed. Viehböck 1st Tipped Symantec Off to the Holes in November under a Disclosure Time Line that, Appeared to Run Smoothly between Bug Hunter and Vendor.

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