Google Trying New Strategy to Fix Fragmentation

July 1st, 2012, 23:37 Posted By: wraggster

Google announced a new version of Android this week with some impressive new features, but it's unclear if it's done enough to solve a problem that has dogged its mobile OS: fragmentation. Even as it announced the imminent launch of Android 4.1, or Jelly Bean, the majority of users are still running Gingerbread, which is three major releases behind. According to Google's own figures, just 7 percent are running the current version, Ice Cream Sandwich, which launched last October. That means apps that tap into the latest innovations in the OS aren't available to most Android users. It also means developers, the lifeblood of the platform, are forced to test their apps across multiple devices and multiple versions of the OS. So when Google's Hugo Barra announced a Platform Developer Kit during the opening keynote at I/O this week, the news was greeted with applause. The PDK will provide Android phone makers with a preview version of upcoming Android releases, making it easier for them to get the latest software in their new phones. But is the PDK enough to secure for developers the single user experience for big numbers of Android users that developers crave? In a 'fireside chat' with the Android team, the packed house of developers had more questions about OS fragmentation than Google had answers.

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/12/07...-fragmentation

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Virgin Mobile to carry iPhone from today, Sir Richard does his best Fonz impression

July 2nd, 2012, 01:06 Posted By: wraggster

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Nexus Q hacked to run Android games in under 24 hours

July 2nd, 2012, 01:12 Posted By: wraggster

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iCade Mobile now at Think Geek for $70

July 2nd, 2012, 01:37 Posted By: wraggster

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Gamestop taking pre-orders for Google's Nexus 7 tablet

July 2nd, 2012, 01:42 Posted By: wraggster

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Final Fantasy 3 now on Android

July 2nd, 2012, 01:46 Posted By: wraggster

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Support grows for Firefox mobile OS

July 2nd, 2012, 20:26 Posted By: wraggster

Manufacturers and operators line up for HTML5-based system
Support is building for Mozilla’s plans to launch a new open mobile OS based on HTML5 and carrying the Firefox brand.
Device manufacturers TCL Communication Technology (under the Alcatel One Touch brand) and ZTE have announced their intentions to produce the first Firefox devices, while operators including Deutsche Telekom, Telecom Italia, Etisalat, Smart, Sprint, Telenor and Telefónica are backing the open OS.
The Firefox OS for mobile devices is built on Mozilla’s Boot to Gecko project, which unlocks many of the limitations of web development on mobile, allowing HTML5 applications to access the underlying capabilities of a phone, previously only available to native applications.
Matthew Key, Chairman & CEO of Telefónica Digital commented, “Firefox OS will deliver a higher performance than current low cost smartphones can achieve, enabling more people to benefit from a better experience. This is crucial for us to accelerate the adoption of smartphones in developing markets.
"The breadth of support for this initiative across the industry makes it clear that there is an opportunity in the market for a new, open mobile ecosystem.”

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...bile-os/018480

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One-fifth of Brit men use mobiles in the bog

July 2nd, 2012, 20:27 Posted By: wraggster

The study from UK supermarket Asda shows that 18 per cent of phone owners use their phone while on the toilet, generating the trend known as 'throne calls', which dips slightly to 11 per cent for women.
Meanwhile, one per cent of gentlemen use the tech during 'intimate moments'.
In all, 98 per cent of Brits own a mobile phone, with one in 50 users checking their phone at least every five minutes per day, equivalent to a staggering 73,000 phone moments each year.
This is largely dominated by teens, with 60 per cent checking their phones every 15 minutes, compared to 48 per cent of over 60s that only use their phone when it rings.
41 per cent use the devices in queues and waiting rooms the most, while second-screen use is demonstrated as 37 per cent do so when watching films and TV at home.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...the-bog/018478

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Apple settles iPad dispute with Proview

July 2nd, 2012, 20:29 Posted By: wraggster

Pays $60m to Chinese firm. Now free to develop the world's largest territory.
Apple has ended its trademark dispute with Proview Technology (Shenzhen), paying the Chinese firm $60m for the iPad trademark.
The lawsuit had caused a delay to the launch of the latest iPad and damaged sales in some Chinese provinces.
Proview Technology was also seeking an export ban on all iPads manufactured in China – a move that would have severely diminished Apple's global sales.
It began when Apple bought ownership of the iPad trademark from Proview in 2009.
However, the Chinese company argued the US firm dealt with only one unit of Proview and did not include the Chinese mainland and a Chinese court ruled that Proview Technology (Shenzhen) owned the name in China.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...proview/018474

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Mini Projector for iPhone 4s, 4 & 3GS Released

July 2nd, 2012, 20:53 Posted By: wraggster

Our friends over at Chinavision have released a new Iphone Mini Projector, heres the release details:



Project movies from your iPhone up to 40 inches diagonally with this high performance iPhone projector.

You have hours of your favorite videos stored on your iPhone but need a more convenient way of enjoying them. You want to share them with friends but watching them on a tiny iPhone screen with weak speakers just doesn’t cut it for you. If this describes you then the E158 is just what you need.

This powerful little projector gives you a bright and clear image up to 40 inches on any flat surface. There is even a built in 1 watt speaker so you can entertain the whole group. The built in battery provides up to 120 minutes of continuous play, or use the included power supply for unlimited use.

This projector is not limited to iPhone use either. With the included A/V cables you can connect anything from portable gaming systems to portable DVD players with ease. Whether you’re camping, giving a presentation or simply traveling, this is the most convenient way to enjoy your media on the go. The best part? There is even a SD slot to access media such as: AVI, RM, RMVB, 3G, MPG, MP4 and more- everywhere you go.

At a Glance...

• Pocket-sized mini projector for iPhone4/3GS and more
• Comes with SD card slot and A/V input
• Comes with built-in stand and 1700mAh internal battery
• Built in media player for videos and music
• Ideal for business meetings and presentations
• About the same size as an iPhone
• Loud built-in speaker

Heres a screenshot of it in action:



Interested then they are retailing for £77 at Chinavision:

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Analyst predicts iPad mini launch this October

July 2nd, 2012, 22:33 Posted By: wraggster

Apple with this October launch an iPad Mini to rival Google’s new Nexus 7, a US analyst has predicted.
The new device, Pacific Crest analyst Andy Hargreaves told CNet, will boast a 7.85 inch screen, carry 8GB of internal storage and retail for $299.
Hargreaves predicts sales of 10m in the last quarter of 2012 and 35.2m unit sales in FY 2013.
He also predicts that sales of the ‘regular’ 9.7 inch iPad would be cannibalised by around 25 per cent, with overall iPad sales growth increasing by over 25m in FY 2013 as a result of the launch.
IDC's research director of Mobile Connected Devices’s Tom Mainelli added of the rumours: "If Apple launches a sub-$300, 7-inch product into the market later this year as rumoured, we expect the company's grip on this market to become even stronger."
Google last week revealed its $199 Nexus 7 tablet, complete with seven-inch screen. It is expected to be released in July.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/analy...october/098864

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ComScore: iOS and Android market share continues to climb, RIM and Motorola continue

July 2nd, 2012, 22:53 Posted By: wraggster

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Official VLC app now out for Android: only an unstable beta, but it works

July 2nd, 2012, 22:56 Posted By: wraggster

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Ex-Visceral team's first iOS title, Catch the Ark, is suspiciously happy

July 3rd, 2012, 01:18 Posted By: wraggster

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Swift Stitch collects shinies on iOS this week via Nicalis

July 3rd, 2012, 01:18 Posted By: wraggster

Continuing its partnerships with interesting indies (Studio Pixel, Nifflas, etc.), developer and publisher Nicalis is bringing Sophie Houlden's vector-style racing/puzzle/maze game Swift Stitch to iOS on July 5.

It's difficult to explain the mechanics – hold a button to turn, hit certain barriers to flip horizontal or vertical direction – so instead allow us to direct you to this browser-based demo. The simple one-button controls seem perfectly matched to touchscreen devices, though maybe our brains aren't perfectly matched to the game, as our frequent and sudden meetings with walls would suggest.

The iOS version will be free to download, with ten levels available in the initial version. The full game is available as an in-app purchase for .99, or $1.99 after launch week.

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/sw...k-via-nicalis/

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US consumers spent $1.38 billion on digital gaming in Q1

July 4th, 2012, 01:22 Posted By: wraggster

European figures are equally impressive, totalling $959 million.
US consumers $1.38 billion spent on digital game content in the first quarter of 2012.

On top of the $1.5 billion spent on new physical video and PC game software, The NPD Group has found that US consumers spent a further $1.38billion on digital content.

This includes full games and add-ons, subscriptions, mobile games and social network games.

Anita Frazier (pictured), industry analyst at The NPD Group, said: “The declines in the physical market for new physical software are well documented…. While the growth in digital format sales does not yet offset the declines in physical format sales, clearly the changes occurring within the industry are reflected in the trends we are seeing in the research."

Similar research in the UK, France and Germany shows that digital format sales in those three countries generated an additional $959 million in sales during Q1 2012. Outside of new physical retail, sales totalled $300m.

Frazier said: “Relative to the spend in the US, we find that the consumer spend on mobile games is still developing in the three European countries we are covering, while the spend on full game and add-on content digital downloads and subscriptions is more highly developed.”

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...g-in-q1/018503

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Google wades into Samsung/Apple patent battle

July 4th, 2012, 01:25 Posted By: wraggster

The ongoing patent dispute between Samsung and Apple has stepped up a level as Google has entered the fray.

Last week, the US District Court for Northern California granted Apple an injunction against Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus, which appears to have been the catalyst for Google’s involvement

A Samsung insider was reported as saying: ““It’s too early to comment on our game plan [with Google] in the legal battle; but we will do our best to get more royalties from Apple, which has benefited from our technology”

Samsung is demanding Apple pay 2.4 per cent of the retail price of iPhones and iPads to use its technology. However, the Cupertino-based company claims the rate is excessive.

Apple is also seeking injunctions against Samsung’s products for copying the design of the iPhone and iPad.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-battle/018499

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Ouya: $99 Android game console

July 4th, 2012, 01:30 Posted By: wraggster

Concept device is “built to be hacked”.
Start-up company Ouya has got some serious weight behind its Android-powered games console device.
While the gadget was designed by Yves Behar of Jawbone Jamboxand One Laptop Per Child fame, the project's advisors include Ed Fries of Xbox fame and IGN’s Julie Uhrman is listed as founder and CEO.
The company’s AngelList page says:

• Open, accessible game console for the biggest market in games: TV.
• Any developer can publish games, just like mobile or social games today (but like no other console game platform). Orders of magnitude less expensive to develop.
• Inexpensive enough for every consumer to buy, $99, and all the games are free to play. Every console is a dev kit; build peripherals, root the system – built to be hacked.
• Built with Android as embedded OS.
• http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...console/018494

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Ice Cream Sandwich is now on 10.7 per cent of Android devices

July 4th, 2012, 01:33 Posted By: wraggster

Ice Cream Sandwich was the most recent Android update to hit the market. It rolled out on the Galaxy Nexus in November 2011, reaching just one per cent of Android devices by February.
Five months later, and Android's developer team says the figure has swollen to 10.7 per cent, though it still has some work to do to catch up to Gingerbread, which is installed on 64 per cent of devices.
Jelly Bean is the successor to ICS, but the latter will still have some time to build its user base. Jelly Bean is making its debut as aGoogle Nexus 7 exclusive in coming weeks, restricting access to third-parties until at least November.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...devices/018493

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Siri is wrong a third of the time

July 4th, 2012, 01:37 Posted By: wraggster

A study has found that Apple’s Siri assistant gives the wrong answer over 30 per cent of the time.
According to Digital Trends, the study was conducted by Piper Jaffray, who asked a total of 1600 questions in both a crowded Minneapolis street and a quiet room.
According to the results, Siri was capable of understanding 83 per cent of the questions on the street and 89 per cent of questions in the quiet room. However, it was with the results that the software faltered, showing just 62 per cent accuracy on the street and 68 per cent accuracy in the quiet room.
In contrast, Google’s voice assistant operated with around 86 per cent accuracy.
Apparently the discrepancy lies in the way that Siri retrieves its search results – mainly through Google but with a little extra help from the review site Yelp and the Wolfram Alpha search engine.
Overall the study awaded Apple’s voice assistant a D, while Google’s received a B+.
“In order to become a viable mobile search alternative, Siri must match or surpass Google's accuracy of B+ and move from a grade D to a B or higher,” commented Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...he-time/028615

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RIM CEO: 'There's Nothing Wrong With the Company'

July 4th, 2012, 01:47 Posted By: wraggster

Research In Motion is in trouble. The BlackBerry maker has been suffering from an identity crisis for the last six months, which has resulted in mass layoffs, lots of job shuffling, dramatic drop-offs in market share and a quickly decaying portfolio for investors. But not according to Thorsten Heins! The newly-appointed CEO published an op-ed in the Toronto Globe and Mail on Tuesday, and also appeared on a radio program the same morning, to deliver one message: 'There's nothing wrong with the company as it exists right now.'"

http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/07...th-the-company

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Nike and O2 team up to offer Priority Sports hub: Nike+ running Android app becomes O

July 4th, 2012, 13:18 Posted By: wraggster

Get your fill of freebies and discounts from O2's exclusive Priority Moments service? Then you might be interested in where the UK carrier's headed next -- the running track. Nike's decided to team-up with the operator and, with its Nike+ tech, offer a new app hub that ties into the UK's very hectic summer of sport.Priority Sports was announced today in Nike Town, London, replete with the likes of marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe ready to talk up the new service which lands in August. The app will offer up videos, fitness advice and even more Nike-centric editorial content. Accessible on iPhone and Android, there will be priority access to new Nike products -- including the odd exclusive trainer -- and free entry to exclusive events tied into the scheme.Perhaps more importantly, the Nike+ GPS running app for Android (alongside companion services) will launch exclusively on O2 in the UK, starting today. The app will remain O2-only until the end of the year. Meanwhile, Priority Sports will launch next month and will include training sessions alongside Nike-sponsored athletes. The whole app also throws in embedded social network connectivity to Facebook. The app hasn't gone live just yet on Google Play, but should go live later today.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/04/n...iority-sports/

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Design firm's video offers a glimpse of the touchscreen webOS phone that never was

July 4th, 2012, 13:23 Posted By: wraggster

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HTC Flyer 16GB Android Tablet 32% off on Ebay Daily Deal

July 4th, 2012, 14:00 Posted By: wraggster

Over at Ebay UK they are doing 32%off the price of the HTC Flyer 16GB Android Tablet for today only, heres the details:

HTC Flyer Tablet 1.5 GHz Processor, 1 GB Ram, 16 GB - 7" Screen 1024 x 600 , Android, Cam 5 Megapixel rear + 1.3 Megapixel front Meet the HTC Flyer, its compact and powerful with a bright 7" touchscreen and a HTC Scribe Pen for editing pretty much anything. From creating masterpieces with the stroke of a paintbrush, to taking multimedia notes and signing digital documents the HTC Tablet puts it all at your fingertips.
A 7" WSVGA LCD screen provides a rich and vibrant viewing experience in your hands, with a HDMI connection allowing the sharing of content to your high definition TV. Experience exclusive animated widgets with HTC Sense, and enjoy a full library of Hollywood blockbusters at your fingertips with HTC Watch, by just making your selection and begin watching the show seconds into the download. The HTC Flyer offers an amazing, immersive experience, feeling the sun’s rays or wiping away rain droplets while you check the weather, and have a richer Internet involvement with multi-window browsing and a quick lookup tool, taking you to Wikipedia, YouTube or the dictionary in an instant.
This smart and portable tablet also comes with a 5 megapixel camera and HD camcorder for capturing those precious moments in glorious detail, while a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera offers video calling and portrait images. A 16GB hard drive capacity allows for the storage of all your content you download, with easy operation of the Flyer thanks to the Android 2.3.3 operating system. It’s designed for everyone, with a safe Kids mode, simple, intuitive controls and a fast web browser enhanced by the 1.5GHz processor.

• Size:195.4mm x 122mm x 13.2mm
• Weight:420 grams (14.82 ounces) with battery
• Display:7 inch touch-sensitive screen 1024 x 600 resolution
• Processor: 1.5 GHz for superfast browsing
• Operating System: Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread upgradeable to Honeycomb 3.2 Via installed software
• Internal storage: 16GB
• Ram: 1GB
• Expansion: microSD memory card
• Camera: 5 megapixel color camera with auto focus and 1.3Megapixel Front Camera
• Wifi: EEE 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth: Yes

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3rd Generation Apple iPad £369 on Ebay Daily Deals

July 4th, 2012, 14:02 Posted By: wraggster

Another item posted on Ebays Daily Deals with a 30 pounds saving:



Apple iPad, A5X Dual Core CPU, 16GB Flash, 9.7" MultiTouch, Wifi, Bluetooth
- A5X Dual Core CPU
- 16GB Flash
- 9.7" MultiTouch Retina Display
- 5mp iSight Cam + Wifi + BT
- iOS 5

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2809110206...m=280911020659

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Apple to murder Google Nexus 7 with an eight-inch iPad?

July 4th, 2012, 22:26 Posted By: wraggster

Rumours of an iPad Mini have been rife for sometime, though Apple has continued to produce 9.7-inch tablets only.
Now, Bloomberg reckons Apple is gearing up to release a rival with a seven to eight-inch screen.
This would be a direct hit against the Nexus, which it seems Apple is treating with concern even though other tablets have failed to offer much of a threat.
Apple's latest iPad came sporting a Retina-display, but it's thought to be ditching that for the mini model.
Presumably the decision was made to cut costs and bring pricing in line with the high-spec low-priced models like the $199 Kindle Fire.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...ch-ipad/018516

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App Of The Day: The Official Top 40 Chart

July 4th, 2012, 22:29 Posted By: wraggster

The exclusive Samsung Galaxy app will offer users unlimited playback of the UK's hottest tracks.
Samsung has already thrown itself into the mosh pit of mobile music streaming with the Music Hub, and it's continuing the rock star movement with the launch of The Official Top 40 Chart app.
White label mobile music solutions firm MusicQubed powers the app, which is an exclusive to Samsung's Galaxy smartphones. It will debut on the Ace II.
Users will be treated to unlimited streaming for all 40 of the songs found in the charts, as compiled by the Official Charts Company.
The memory is cached when the app isn't in use, eliminating the buffering process, while the chart is updated daily to provide the latest playlists.
A celebrity news update feature can be found on the platform too, while social network connectivity allows listeners to share and comment on their latest musical choices.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...0-chart/018514

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150m grey handsets could ship in 2013

July 4th, 2012, 22:31 Posted By: wraggster

Makers of grey handsets copy popular devices like the iPhone andSamsung Galaxy, and ship products at between $60 and $120. Since their entry into the handset market in 2005, they have steadily gained traction.

Now, ARC predicts that the grey market will grow over the next two years, eventually peaking in 2013 at nearly 150 million shipments.

Part of the appeal of grey handsets is how they are often first to introduce features that legitimate phones do not have, such as dual SIM functionality, but at a greatly reduced cost.

As a result, grey handsets have considerable penetration levels, accounting for a much as 14 per cent of the overall handset market in several Asia Pacific markets and a worldwide average of seven per cent

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...in-2013/018512

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FPse for Android v0.11.28 - Playstation Emulator for Android Released

July 5th, 2012, 16:14 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.aep-emu.de/


FPse for Android is a commercial port of the Playstation emulator FPseCE to Android.

Quote:
FPse 0.11.28 changes:
- Fixed loadstate crash
FPse 0.11.27 changes:
- Fixed timing, smoother & better sound.
- added shortcut feature.
- Fixed eject problem.
- added reset settings option
- added manual load opengl plugin
- fixed garbage bands on opengl and qualcomm cpu
- added New Dynamic interpreter for mali400 and opengl.
- added psx exe support
- fixed Mali OpenGL filtering
for more details on changes and changes history:
http://www.fpsece.net/forum2/viewtop...p=24904#p24904

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GBA.emu v1.4.30 - Gameboy Advance Emulator for Android Released

July 5th, 2012, 16:15 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.aep-emu.de/

GBA.emu is a commercial Android port of the Game Boy Advance emulator VBA-M by Robert Broglia.

Quote:
What´s in this version:
* Fixed Sonic Advance 1 & 2
* Fixed Classic Nintendo & Famicom Mini games
* Fixed a possible memory corruption bug in the sound code

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VGBA for Android v3.8.26 - Gameboy Advance Emulator for Android

July 5th, 2012, 16:16 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.aep-emu.de/

Marat Fayzullin has ported his (commercial) GameBoy Advance emulator VGBA to the Android platform: VGBA for Android

Quote:
What´s in this version:
* Enabled exporting VBA-formatted .SAV files via Advanced Settings menu.
* Added x4 scaling factor, for 1280x800 and larger screens.
* Added disclaimers when entering Cheatopedia or Cheat Editor.
* Removed "Quit" option from the VGBA Advanced Settings.
* Audio no longer skips and stutters when exiting emulation.
* Enabled ability to press several virtual buttons at once.
* Added Shining Soul, Shining Soul 2, Fire Emblem, Metroid Fusion, and Italian Pokemon Emerald entries to the Cheatopedia.

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Spark 360 Android version 5.10 now out

July 5th, 2012, 16:19 Posted By: wraggster

This version primarily fixes a handful of bugs, and adds something that I feel is fairly overdue – beacon notifications. You can now be notified when one or more friends begin playing games that you have marked with beacons.



Google Play

http://0xff.akop.org/

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DroidEmu v2.4.07

July 5th, 2012, 16:56 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

DroidEmu v2.4.07 is released. DroidEmu is a game system to play SNES, NES, GameBoy Advanced, GameBoy/Color, SEGA GameGear, SEGA Genesis games on your Android phone. It runs thousands of games at full speed.


DroidEmu Features include:
1. Multi emulator for android - Play SNES, NES, GameBoy Advanced, GameBoy/Color, SEGA GameGear, SEGA Genesis games on Android phone.
2. Run thousands of games(Need ROM).
3. Integrated link to ROM download manager - Download ROM directly from Internet.
4. Multi-type virtual keypad skin.
5. Save and load game states.

DroidEmu v2.4.07 Changelog:
1. Support Rocker with virtualpad rocker skin
2. Support USB gamepad with virtualpad USB gamepad skin

http://droidemu.org/product/1/droidemu

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unreal speccy portable v0.0.36 for Android

July 5th, 2012, 16:57 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

unreal speccy portable v0.0.36 for Android is released. unreal speccy portable is a Portable ZX-Spectrum emulator.unreal speccy portable supports Z80 128K (Pentagon) AY/YM, Beeper, Beta Disk, Tape, Kempston Joystick/Mouse, Snapshots. Created to be ported to many platforms such as Windows/Linux/Symbian/WinMobile/Dingoo/...

unreal speccy portable v0.0.36 for Android Changelog:
+ sound lag minimized
+ video filtering option added
+ sync by timer option added (smoother playback on devices with huge min. sound buffers)
+ A, B, X, Y keys binded (JXD s5110 support)
+ bugfix with cursor joystick (CAPS releasing when > 1 key pressed)

http://www.mediafire.com/?235c28orbyrw1zz

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Neo.emu v1.4.29

July 5th, 2012, 17:26 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Neo.emu v1.4.29 is released. NEO.emu is a Neogeo arcade and home system emulator based on Gngeo 0.8-svn (GPL), designed and tested on the original Droid/Milestone, Xoom, and Xperia Play, but works on many devices with similar specs (performance is better than previously released Neogeo apps from personal testing). It requires user-supplied romsets from MAME 0.145 or similar for correct operation (neogeo.zip, etc).

Neo.emu Features include:
* Memory card and save state support, auto-save and ten manual slots for save states (some audio state isn't saved yet)
* Universe Bios or MVS support (Unibios recommended, named uni-bios_2_3.rom)
* Direct editing of Unibios region and mode settings without having to enter its boot menu
* Configurable on-screen multi-touch controls in addition to keyboard controls (needs Android 2.1+ for multi-touch, up to 3 touches supported at once), and an Xperia Play optimized button layout
* Multiplayer-capable Wiimote + Classic Controller, iControlPad, and Zeemote JS1 support (no need to purchase a separate app, see website for full instructions)

Neo.emu v1.4.29 Changelog:
* Fixed crash on Samsung Galaxy Y (for 1.4.29)
* Fixed a crash on some devices if buttons were held down when launching the app
* Improved multi-touch code (works with Xperia Play screen and others)
* Re-added trackball support
* Other fixes and optimizations

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...usalpha.NeoEmu

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2600.emu for Android v1.4.29

July 5th, 2012, 17:27 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/


2600.emu for Android v1.4.29 is released. 2600.emu is a commercial Android port of the Atari 2600 emulator Stella 3.4.2-svn.

2600.emu Features include:
* Save state support, auto-save and ten manual slots for save states.
* Supports ROMs in .a26 and .bin formats, optionally in ZIP files
* Configurable on-screen multi-touch controls in addition to keyboard controls (needs Android 2.1+ for multi-touch, up to 3 touches supported at once)
* Multiplayer-capable Wiimote + Classic Controller, iControlPad, and Zeemote JS1 support (no need to purchase a separate app, see website for full instructions/compatibility)
* Portrait/Landscape auto-orientation support

2600.emu for Android v1.4.29 Changelog:
* Fixed crash on Samsung Galaxy Y (for 1.4.29)
* Updated core to Stella 3.6.1, with ARM Thumb emulation
* Fixed a crash on some devices if buttons were held down when launching the app
* Improved multi-touch code (works with Xperia Play screen and others)
* Re-added trackball support
* Other fixes and optimizations

https://market.android.com/details?i...alpha.A2600Emu

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PCE.emu for Android v1.4.29

July 5th, 2012, 17:28 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

PCE.emu v1.4.29 for Android is released. PCE.emu is a free Android port of the PC-Engine emulator Mednafen. PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 (TG16) emulator based on Mednafen (GPL), designed and tested on the original Droid/Milestone and the Xoom, but works on many devices with similar specs.

Features:
* Accurate emulation and high compatibility rate (Note: Data swapped TG16 roms are not supported, see known issues on website for a fix if you're getting a black screen on load)
* Backup memory and save state support, auto-save and ten manual slots for save states
* Supports ROM-based games in .pce and .sgx formats, optionally in .zip files
* CD emulation via loading CUE or TOC+BIN files, select a system card rom in the options
* CUE files support external audio tracks in Ogg Vorbis & Wav (PCM, ADPCM, etc) formats
* Configurable on-screen multi-touch controls & keyboard support (needs Android 2.1+ for multi-touch, up to 3 touches supported at once)
* Multiplayer-capable Wiimote + Classic Controller and iControlPad support (no need to purchase a separate app, see website for full instructions)
* Portrait/Landscape auto-orientation support
* No user activation or other nonsense

Note:
No ROMs are included with this app and must be supplied by the user. A number of public domain games/demos are available at www.pdroms.de. Transfer games anywhere to your SD card and browse to them from within the app (default SD card directory is /mnt/sdcard). Enable the Direct Texture option if supported by your device to increase performance. On fast devices with 60hz displays like the Xoom, set frameskip to 0.
Visit the homepage at explusalpha.com for more info, ports for other platforms, and my other apps. Please report any crashes or device-specific problems via email (include your device name and OS version) so future updates continue to run on as many devices as possible.

PCE.emu for Android v1.4.29 Changelog:
* Fixed crash on Samsung Galaxy Y (for 1.4.29)
* Updated to Mednafen 0.9.22-wip with some minor fixes and better CD error detection
* Fixed uneven scanline overlay effects
* Fixed a crash on some devices if buttons were held down when launching the app
* Improved multi-touch code (works with Xperia Play screen and others)
* Re-added trackball support
* Other fixes and optimizations

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.PceEmu

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NGP.emu for Android v1.4.29

July 5th, 2012, 17:29 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

NGP.emu for Android v1.4.29 is released. NGP.emu is a commercial Android port of the Neo Geo Pocket emulator Neopop (SDL).

Features include:
* PSG Sound support (DAC will be added in an update)
* English/Japanese game language switch support
* Backup memory and save state support, auto-save and ten manual slots for save states.
* Zip file support
* Configurable on-screen multi-touch controls in addition to keyboard controls (needs Android 2.1+ for multi-touch, up to 3 touches supported at once)
* Wiimote + Classic Controller, iControlPad, and Zeemote JS1 support (no need to purchase a separate app, see website for full instructions)

NGP.emu for Android v1.4.29 Changelog:
* Fixed crash on Samsung Galaxy Y (for 1.4.29)
* Fixed a crash on some devices if buttons were held down when launching the app
* Improved multi-touch code (works with Xperia Play screen and others)
* Re-added trackball support
* Other fixes and optimizations

https://market.android.com/details?i...usalpha.NgpEmu

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GBC.emu for Android v1.4.29

July 5th, 2012, 17:30 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

GBC.emu for Android v1.4.29 is released. GBC.emu is a commercial port of the Game Boy / Game Boy Color emulator Gambatte for Android. Gameboy (Color) emulator based on Gambatte (GPL), designed and tested on the original Droid/Milestone and the Xoom, but works on many devices with similar specs.

Features:
* Accurate emulation and high compatibility rate, similar compatibility to Gambatte 0.4.1 for PCs
* Selectable color palettes when playing original GB games
* Backup memory and save state support, auto-save and ten manual slots for save states. State files from Gambatte should work on GBC.emu and vice-versa.
* Supports games in .gb and .gbc formats, optionally in .zip files
* Configurable on-screen multi-touch controls & keyboard support (needs Android 2.1+ for multi-touch, up to 3 touches supported at once)
* Wiimote + Classic Controller and iControlPad support (no need to purchase a separate app, see website for full instructions)
* Portrait/Landscape auto-orientation support

Note:
No ROMs are included with this app and must be supplied by the user. A number of public domain games/demos are available at www.pdroms.de. Transfer games anywhere to your SD card and browse to them from within the app (default SD card directory is /mnt/sdcard). Enable the Direct Texture option if supported by your device to increase performance. On fast devices with 60hz displays like the Xoom, set frameskip to 0.
Visit the homepage at explusalpha.com for more info, ports for other platforms, and my other apps. Please report any crashes or device-specific problems via email (include your device name and OS version) so future updates continue to run on as many devices as possible.

GBC.emu for Android v1.4.29 Changelog:
* Fixed crash on Samsung Galaxy Y (for 1.4.29)
* Fixed a crash on some devices if buttons were held down when launching the app
* Improved multi-touch code (works with Xperia Play screen and others)
* Re-added trackball support
* Other fixes and optimizations

https://market.android.com/details?i...usalpha.GbcEmu

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iPhone spontaneously combusts in owner's pocket

July 5th, 2012, 23:21 Posted By: wraggster

Finnish owner threw the device to the ground in apparent fear of flaming buttocks.
17-year-old Henri Helminen was caught on CCTV throwing his iPhone to the floor, 9To5Mac reports, as the device appeared to ignite in his pocket.
The feeling is that the scenario could have been staged, given that it took place on Nokia's Finnish soil.
However, an iPhone threw a similar hissy fit last year, when the device starting glowing red and producing thick smoke.
Meanwhile, a Galaxy S III recently exploded in the user's car while charging, producing white flames.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-pocket/018533

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iOS developers claim faulty App Store updates are damaging their apps

July 5th, 2012, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster

Angry Birds Space HD Free and reading app Instapaper started crashing immediately at launch.
A number of iOS and Mac developers have reported that Apple's App Store updates are having an adverse effect on their apps, according to The Verge.
One complaint comes from Instapaper, which says its 4.2.3 update crashed instantly, even though Apple had given it the green light to be rolled out.
Maker of the app, Marco Arment, contacted fellow developers to find that they had experienced similar problems, while Apple quietly corrected the error behind the scenes without providing him with an explanation.
Angry Birds Space HD Free was also hit by the glitch, and Arment reckons the only way to resolve the issue without Apple's phantom assistance is to delete the corrupt app and install a clean version.
Meanwhile, the GoodReader app team reported the same fault for their past two updates, and claims it's an App Store error which refuses to read certain coding.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...ir-apps/018526

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Google's Android hijacked by illegal botnet

July 5th, 2012, 23:28 Posted By: wraggster

A Microsoft researcher has claimed that smartphones running Google's Android software have been hacked by an illegal botnet.
Whilst Microsoft's own operating software - Windows Phone, is a key competitor to Android, researcher Terry Zink make the claim, stating there was evidence of spam being sent from Yahoo mail servers used by Android devices.
The claims are another blow to Google and its platform which has had to deal with a number of issue recently, including a number of malware infected apps.
The software's official app store - Google Play - has suffered from a number of issues such as an influx of fake apps, which are commonly pirated versions of popular paid products including Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, which are distributed for free.
Mr Zink wrote in a blog post: "A spammer has control of a bonnet that lives on Android devices."
"These devices login to the user's Yahoo Mail account and send spam." the post continues.
When questioned by the BBC on the issue, Google stressed it was working to improve security on the Android platform.
"We are committed to providing a secure experience for consumers in Google Play, and in fact our data shows between the first and second halves of 2011, we saw a 40% decrease in the number of potentially malicious downloads from Google Play," said a spokesperson.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...-botnet/028632

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'Mobile can innovate where consoles cannot'

July 5th, 2012, 23:30 Posted By: wraggster

There is a huge amount of innovation occuring on the App Store whilst many of the top console titles have grown stagnant, claims David Darling.
In his latest blog, the Kwalee CEO and Codemasters co-founder said that whilst apps on mobile had been exploring new ideas for gameplay, console titles were increasingly offering little difference between each other.

He added that iOS and Android could also offer extra features such as GPS, touchscreens, accelerometers and mobility, stating consoles needed to adapt to stay relevant.
“There is an immense amount of innovation on the App Store compared to recent console games,” said Darling.
“Big sellers on console like FIFA and Call of Duty change very little each year, whereas many apps are exploring entirely new realms of gameplay.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...onsoles-cannot

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Another Death in the Cloud As Apple Kills Off iWork

July 5th, 2012, 23:39 Posted By: wraggster

Google is retiring the iGoogle page, but on a much shorter time scale, Apple is shutting down an iService of its own: the cloud-storage site iWork.com (linked to Apple's office apps suite iWork) is slated to go offline at the end of this month. Says the article, over at SlashCloud: "As of that date, 'you will no longer be able to access your documents on the iWork.com site or view them on the Web,' reads Apple’s note on the matter, followed by a recommendation that anyone with documents on iWork download them to the desktop." Both of these announcements remind me why I covet local storage for documents and the ability to set my own GUI prefs.

http://it.slashdot.org/story/12/07/0...ills-off-iwork

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First iOS Malware Discovered In Apple's App Store

July 5th, 2012, 23:40 Posted By: wraggster

Security experts have discovered what is claimed to be the first ever piece of malware to be found in the Apple App Store. While Android is well known for malware, Apple has prided itself on being free from malicious apps ... until now. The app steals your contact data and uploads it to a remote server before sending spam SMS messages to all your contacts, but the messages look like they are coming from you.
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/0...ples-app-store

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Credible Reports of a 7.85 Inch iPad Mini Emerge

July 5th, 2012, 23:42 Posted By: wraggster

For months now, rumors of an iPad with a 7.85-inch screen have been circulating through the blogosphere. And though Steve Jobs once said that 7-inch tablets are 'dead on arrival,' the relative success of the Amazon Kindle Fire and other smaller tablets suggests that consumers are more than willing to accept a smaller screen size in exchange for a cheaper buy-in point. Indeed, you might remember that Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said that Apple saw a tremendous uptick in overall iPad sales once it lowered the price of the iPad 2 down to $399. That said, a chorus of credible reports over the past few days have all claimed that Apple is currently working on a slimmed down iPad and that it may be set for release as early as this Fall.

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/0...ad-mini-emerge

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'Full' Moshi Monsters iPad app coming soon

July 6th, 2012, 00:29 Posted By: wraggster

Mind Candy believes that tablets are the future of gaming – and it wants to make the most of it by brining a ‘full’ Moshi Monsters app to iPad.
With over 60m registered users, the desktop version has already been joined by some spin-off iOS apps, as well as DS title Moshi Monsters: Moshlings.
But Mindy Candy’s chief executive Michael Acton-Smith wants to ensure his company is ready for the future.
"We're hopefully going to launch Pocket Moshi or Moshi-on-the-Move or whatever it's called in the next few months," he told The Guardian.
"We're going to make it free, and hopefully have millions of kids playing it. 18 months ago, we were saying like most people 'are kids really going to have mobiles? Are parents going to buy £500 iPads for their kids? And the answer is absolutely yes.”
"We really firmly believe at Mind Candy that the tablet device is going to be the dominant form of entertainment for kids over the next few years. If we just focused on desktop, in the next year or two we'd be a dinosaur."
The company’s tablet aspirations span wider than this, however. Acton-Smith wants to see the company evolve into a content provider for third parties, with the idea being that it would be a safe, reliable source that parents can have confidence in.
"This could be a great opportunity for promoting new apps that third parties have developed," he added. "We're almost thinking of Mind Candy as a publisher curating apps that we'd like to promote to our audience.
"Until recently, great ideas could get lucky and bubble up. We've seen Angry Birds and Talking Tom and a host great stuff, but that's getting harder and harder.
“That's where we see potential for us to come along as a publisher… We can curate new apps and say 'this is fantastic', and present it to our audience."

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/full-...ng-soon/099068

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Apple aware of corrupt apps issue, working on a fix

July 6th, 2012, 00:42 Posted By: wraggster

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8" Android 4 Tablet With Capacitive Multi-Touch Screen Released

July 6th, 2012, 11:06 Posted By: wraggster

Just seen this new Android 4 Tablet on Ebay:

RRP: £199.97 Our Price: £99.99 You Save£99.98 Cortex A8 1GHz 512MB DDR3 RAM 8GB Flash 8" Capacitive Screen with 3D Output Wifi + HDMI Flash 11 Webcam + Android 4 TAB.CAPA.8.8GB Tablo is a 8-inch capacitive and multi-touch screen tablet pc that offers a raft of features that enables you to do a variety of tasks such as internet browsing, social networking, play games, watch movies and install unlimited amount of apps such as Gmail, Facebook, Twitter and many more. One of the distinctive features of this tablet is its ability to showcase smooth 3D and 1080p HD output through your television or computer screen via an HDMI cable. Processor - A10 Cortex A8 1.0Ghz, Multi-Core (CPU Core + Graphics Core) Operating System - Android 4.0 IceCream Sandwich Memory - 512MB Storage - 8GB NAND Flash Graphics - Dual Mali-400 2D/3D Core Expansion - 1X min USB port (OTG), TF (micro SD) Card reader, support 32GB max, Mini HDMI Socket Version 1.4 Integrated Webcam - Webcam (Front - VGA Camera) Wireless LAN - Wireless (802.11b/g Wireless) Audio - 3.5mm Ear Jack & Speaker Speakers - Integrated Speaker Weight - 360g Battery Life - Up To 5 Hours Warranty - 12 Months Return to Base Battery - 3.7V/3600mAh More info --> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1209444193...m=120944419350

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Sony 'Xperia Unleashed' campaign kicks off on Monday

July 6th, 2012, 21:45 Posted By: wraggster

In the months following its split from Ericsson, Sony has embarked on an unrelenting marketing drive by launching numerous Xperia devices.
And the firm continues to promote its flagship brand with the 'Xperia Unleashed' campaign, which invites people to hunt down 'Xperiabots' in London and Manchester to win prizes.
These can be found in both physical and print forms across train stations etc, with location clues churned up by the 'Leader Bot' on the @xperiaunleashed Twitter account and #xperiaunleashed hashtag.
By uploading alpha numeric/QR codes to the Sony Facebook page, competitors have the chance to win Xperia NXT handsets, movie premieres, DJ sessions and gig tickets.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-monday/018546

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iOS App Store stung by malware for first time in history

July 6th, 2012, 21:52 Posted By: wraggster

For the first time ever, malware has successfully made its way into an available app on the iOS App Store.

Wired has reported that a Russian-language app called Find and Call contained a Trojan virus that uploaded users’ address books to a remote server. The virus also spammed all phone and email contacts with links to the app and logged the handset’s GPS coordinates.

Wired reported: "It should be noted that the app does, in a way, seek permission to access the user's address book by asking if the user wants to 'find friends in a phone book.' But when the user agrees, the app surreptitiously swipes the contact data and then uses it to send out spam to the user's contacts while making it appear that the spam is coming from the user so that it looks to the recipient like it's coming from someone he or she knows. The spam message includes a link for the recipient to download the Find and Call app.

The rogue app's theft of contact information appears to have been limited to Russian iOS users, but the issue raises serious questions about the safety of the App Store and its claims of invulnerability.

It has now been removed from the App Store.

The app was also released on the Google Play Store (no stranger to dodgy downloads), but has since been removed.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...history/018539

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Nokia and Namco Bandai add retro games to Asha Touch

July 6th, 2012, 21:55 Posted By: wraggster

Pac Man, Final Fantasy and Ridge Racer amongst 22 titles to hit the smartphone range.
The Nokia Store has supported more than 5bn app downloads, which has been driven by 411 developers each reaching the 1m mark, while India Games, Pico Bros, and Inode have collectively accounted for more than 100 million downloads.
In an attempt to build on the figures, the Finnish OEM has partnered with games publisher Namco Bandai to offer 22 retro arcade games to users of its Symbian-powered touchscreen Asha devices.
The Asha phones were launched just last month, and are targeted towards 'urban youngsters', most of which will likely be unfamiliar with the classic titles on offer like Pac-Man, Final Fantasy, and Ridge Racer.
The games will be priced between 99c and $2.99, and will be available to over 52 countries.
James Kucera, head of mobile for Namco Bandai Games America, said: "Our partnership with Nokia perfectly illustrates the strengths of our brand's experience and leadership in the mobile games industry and fits our mutual resolve to bring games to all mobile users worldwide."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...a-touch/018536

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Eight per cent of UK population now own a tablet

July 6th, 2012, 21:57 Posted By: wraggster

More than 70 per cent of those are iPads.
According to YouGov's latest quarterly Tablet Tracker report, in May 2012, eight per cent of the UK population owned a tablet - that's about three million owners in the UK.
The data showed that Apple's iPad is still dominant, with more than 70 per cent of tablet owners having one, and the new iPad alone has managed to capture 11 per cent of the market since its release earlier in the year.
Since the last quarter, Apple's overall share has slipped four percentage points due to the growing competition from the likes of Samsung (seven per cent share in the market).
In news that will please Samsung and Google, nearly half of current tablet owners (45 per cent) are considering switching their devices, with many citing price as the main reason.
John Gilbert, consulting director of YouGov's technology and telecoms sector, says: "While Apple continue to set the standards of tablet quality, Samsung and other manufacturers are fast approaching and exceeding Apple on price metrics.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-tablet/018534

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Activision Leeds developing Call of Duty for mobile

July 6th, 2012, 21:58 Posted By: wraggster

New Yorkshire-based developer to bring franchise to iOS and handheld platforms, claims UKIE chairman

Activision Leeds is developing a new Call of Duty mobile game, claims UKIE chairman Andy Payne.
Speaking to VideoGamer, Payne said that the new Yorkshire-based studio would be responsible for all handheld and iOS games in the blockbuster franchise going forward.

He said that some of the assets used throughout the franchise by the likes of Infinity Ward and Treyarch would again be used by the Leeds team for its upcoming titles.
Payne however refused to state whether the mobile studio was working on upcoming Vita game Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified.
"Activision are like a machine," said Payne. "I have to be careful what I say about these guys because I know them so well and they'll cane me.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...of-Duty-mobile

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Samsung finds exploding Galaxy S III was due to 'external source', owner says it was

July 7th, 2012, 11:10 Posted By: wraggster

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Samsung Galaxy Beam with built-in projector now up for grabs: £395 sim-free in the UK

July 7th, 2012, 11:16 Posted By: wraggster

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KeyPoint's Adaptxt keyboard enters beta for Android tablets, adds handwriting for tha

July 7th, 2012, 11:20 Posted By: wraggster

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22Cans' Curiosity is coming to PC, Android, and iOS in August

July 7th, 2012, 11:22 Posted By: wraggster

During his session at the Rezzed event in Brighton, 22Cans founder Peter Molyneux announced an August 22 release date for the studio's first title, Curiosity. The game will be coming to PC, Android, and iOS.
Curiosity will involve players dismantling a cube comprised of 60 million smaller cubes in order to find out what's at the center. The game supports up to a million players chipping away at the cube at one time, with additional pickaxes sold via microtransactions. The game's diamond pickaxe will cost players $50,000, a move Molyneux believes is "nothing to be ashamed of."
What at the center of the cube?
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...die-game-dated

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Android controlled monitor stand uses marbles as ball bearings

July 7th, 2012, 11:26 Posted By: wraggster


[mobile_earth_explorer] sent in an Instructable he put together documenting an Android-controlled rotating monitor stand he built.
The stand itself is three disks turned on a lathe out of a 18mm thick board. After turning these disks, [mobile_earth_explorer] hopped over to his bench grinder and made a semicircular tool to carve out the track for the ball bearings.
Once the disks could rotate freely on each other, the only thing left was to carve out a space for the servo, Arduino, a pair of pots, and the wiring. The pots control the maximum speed of the monitor stand as well as provide a manual rotation control for when your phone is across the room.
[mobile_earth_explorer] wrote the Android app so up to five of these swiveling monitors can be controlled by just one Arduino; yes, that might be overkill for home or office use, but we’re sure it would be highly useful for some sort of presentation.
You can check out a few videos going over the conception and construction of [mobile_earth_explorer]‘s monitor stands after the break.
http://hackaday.com/2012/07/06/andro...ball-bearings/

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Ex-Nokia Staff To Build MeeGo-based Smartphones

July 7th, 2012, 22:54 Posted By: wraggster

A group of ex-Nokia staff and MeeGo enthusiasts has formed Jolla (Finnish for 'dinghy'), a mobile startup with the aim of bringing new MeeGo devices to the market. According to its LinkedIn page, Jolla consists of directors and core professionals from Nokia's MeeGo N9 organization, together with some of the best minds working on MeeGo in the communities.

http://linux.slashdot.org/story/12/0...ed-smartphones

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Apple Forces Google To Degrade Android Features

July 7th, 2012, 22:56 Posted By: wraggster

The latest in the ridiculous saga of the patent dispute between Apple and Samsung, which has resulted in Samsung phones and tablets being banned from sale in the U.S. is that Samsung, with the help of Google, has been pushing out an over-the-air software update to make its phones worse. Yes, the OTA update is designed to take away a feature, in an effort to convince the judge that the phones no longer violate Apple's patents. The feature in question? The ability to do a single search that covers both the local device and the internet."

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/07/...droid-features

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After Android Trial, Google Demands $4M From Oracle

July 7th, 2012, 23:00 Posted By: wraggster

Google is seeking $4 million from Oracle to cover the costs it incurred during this spring's epic legal battle over the Android mobile operating system, reports Caleb Garling. In a brief filed in federal court on Thursday night, Google lead counsel Robert Van Nest argued that Oracle is required to pay his company's legal costs because judge and jury ruled in favor of Google on almost every issue during the six-week trial. 'Google prevailed on a substantial part of the litigation,' read Google's brief. '[Oracle] recovered none of the relief it sought in this litigation. Accordingly, Google is the prevailing party and is entitled to recover costs.' Google has not publicly revealed an itemized list of its expenses, but the total bill included $2.9 million spent copying and organizing documents. According to the brief, the company juggled a mind-boggled 97 million documents during the case."

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/07/...4m-from-oracle

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iOS sequel's teaser puts your big-budget trailer to shame

July 7th, 2012, 23:04 Posted By: wraggster

The sequel to smartphone hit Tiny Wings lands on July 12th - and one-man-studio Andrew Illiger has released a trailer to celebrate.
In an age of glossy CG trailers or promo footage that features actors trying to capture the feel of a triple-A game, this teaser cuts through with charm.
Scroll down to see the trailer.
Footage shows a Tiny Wings level hand drawn and run through a music box, with a puppet-like bird soaring across the game.
Illiger has revealed nothing about gameplay - indeed, the video itself seems to refer back to the first game's content.
Tiny Wings was named game of the year by Apple Europe at the end of 2011.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/video...o-shame/099201

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Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ up for sale again at Google Play store, ships in '2-3 weeks'

July 7th, 2012, 23:06 Posted By: wraggster

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RIM marks three billion BlackBerry app downloads, wants to set the record straight

July 8th, 2012, 22:28 Posted By: wraggster

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Spark 360 for Android also now Free; on latest authentication errors

July 8th, 2012, 23:36 Posted By: wraggster

In version 5.18, I added an improved cookie handler to mitigate the tons of warnings spewed out by the Apache HTTP stack as a result of Live’s usage of non-standard expiration dates. The change worked great on just about every emulator and device, but as I found out later, it failed spectacularly on all non-US devices, preventing log-ins for basically everyone outside the States.
With help, I was able to finally narrow down the problem to a localization issue, and 2 releases later, 5.21 fixes log-ins on non-US devices.
The other news is that Spark 360 is now free on Google Play; though it may be a short while until the pricing change propagates.

http://0xff.akop.org/2012/07/08/spar...cation-errors/

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Smartphones overtake feature phones in China

July 9th, 2012, 17:42 Posted By: wraggster

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has declared that smartphones shipments are exceeding those of feature phones.
In a report from China’s Sina Tech (via Tech In Asia) China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) revealed that, over the last three months, smartphones have accounted for 56.9 percent of the phones shipped to retailers in the country.
This figure is going to cause concern for phone manufacturers as feature phones continue to die out. Of the 2,099 new phone models that hit the Chinese market in the last six months, only 822 were smartphones. Of those smartphones, 801 (more than 97 percent) were Android-based.
It has been predicted by Nikko Partners that the number of active smartphones in China will pass 200 million by the end of 2012.
http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...n-china/018558

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Exploding Samsung Galaxy S III was microwaved

July 9th, 2012, 17:44 Posted By: wraggster

Remember that story about the Samsung Galaxy SIII that blew up? Well, ignore it - an investigation by Samsung has proved that it didn't happen.
The phone's owner had originally claimed on a forum that white flames shot out of the device while he was driving, damaging his car and destroying the phone. Samsung, understandably concerned, vowed to investigate, and investigate they did.
After bringing in Fire Investigations UK (FIUK) it seems that the fire was not caused by the device itself, but by an "external energy."
Investigator Peter Mansi wrote: "The heat damage does not appear to have been from an external heat flux, such as a naked flame
The investigation also stated: "The only way it was possible to produce [the] damage...was to place the device or component parts within a domestic microwave."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...rowaved/018557

lesson to be learned i think, dont try to take the piss with big firms or youll be made to look an arse :P

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'Kindle Fire 2' to sport a souped-up screen and built-in camera?

July 9th, 2012, 17:46 Posted By: wraggster

Developers are being asked to design apps for 1280 x 800 pixel resolution.
Rumours are circulating around the Amazon tech jungle, with talks of a ten-inch Kindle Fire, and a Kindle smartphone in the pipeline.
And now, AllThingsD reckons the next Kindle Fire will come equipped with an improved screen, a move that Apple recently made with its Retina display-enabled iPad 3.
Third-party developers are being asked to prepare apps for a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, rather than the 1024 x 600 used on the present Fire.
Additionally, the next-gen design will likely come with a camera, a must have for all tech-savvy consumers, as photo-sharing platforms like Instagram and Scalado are snapped up by giants like Facebook and Nokia.
The Fire news comes following whispers of an iPad Mini, and the unveiling of the Google Nexus 7.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-camera/018552

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TrustGo warns of new Android malware MMarketPay.A

July 9th, 2012, 17:52 Posted By: wraggster

The new malware has infected over 100,000 devices so far.
Last week security researchers TrustGo discovered the MMarketPay.A Trojan, which can download paid apps and contents from China Mobile’s Mobile Market.
So far, the malware has been placed in nine different third part Android app markets in China. Experts are warning users to only download Android apps from trusted app stores and recommend having a security scanner installed on devices.
Once the Trojan is downloaded onto an Android device it can automatically place orders for paid content and apps without informing the user. It has also been reported that it can even fill in CAPTCHA’s.
TrustGo has published the malware’s repackaged application names along with the current list of infected app markets, the list can be found here.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...etpay-a/028638

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Chinese Company Sues Apple Over Siri

July 9th, 2012, 18:01 Posted By: wraggster

Shanghai Zhizhen Network Technology is suing Apple in China, claiming Siri infringes its voice technology patent. Zhizhen claims to have 100 million users for its Xiao iRobot software which responds to voice questions and commands. From the article: 'The move came only days after Apple Inc paid $60 million to Proview Technology (Shenzhen) to end a protracted legal dispute over the iPad trademark in China. Zhizhen's patent covers "a type of instant messaging chat robot system", according to the database of the country's State Intellectual Property Office. It was filed on Aug 13, 2004, and got approved on Feb 15, 2006.

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/0...pple-over-siri

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Molyneux's first iOS title Curiosity gets release date

July 9th, 2012, 23:30 Posted By: wraggster

The first release from Peter Molyneux’s new indie development studio 22 Cans will be released on August 22^nd.
Eurogamer reports that Curiosity will get a simultaneous release on iOS, Android and PC.
A few more details about the game were also revealed. It will see up to 1m players collectively chiselling away at a cube formed of 60m smaller cubes with the aim of attempting to reach the mysterious prize hidden at the centre.
And in typical style, Molyneux isn’t shy about hyping up the suspense.
"[It is] is so valuable, and so life-changingly important,” he insisted. "It's so amazing I think it will appear on news reports. It's not a dead cat, by the way."
The game hit the headlines in June when Molyneux revealed that amongst its DLC options will be a £50,000 download available only once. That gets you a diamond chisel, which has 100,000 times the power of the player’s default tool.
"It's an insane amount of money," he said of the DLC. "This is not a money-making exercise; it is a test about the psychology of monetisation."
Curiosity is Molyneux’s first title since he quit both his own studio Lionhead and its owner Microsoft back in March.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/molyn...se-date/099217

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Apple reportedly shutting down unauthorized third-party beta sales, restricts iOS 6 t

July 9th, 2012, 23:42 Posted By: wraggster

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Myst gets Real on iPad

July 10th, 2012, 00:04 Posted By: wraggster

There is now yet another way for you to buy Myst. You may already have Myst on your iPhone or iPad, but now you can get an iPad version of RealMyst, the 2000 remake of the adventure game that presents the world in realtime 3D.

The new mobile version uses a new interface designed for the platform. "Instead of trying to awkwardly shoehorn a computer mouse interface or game console controller into the new touch environment - we were driven to design a simple touch interface that anyone could use." said producer Karl Johnson in the announcement. "The resulting interface allows the player to explore a 3D world with the ease of 'exploring' a 2D document on the iPad."

RealMyst is on the App Store now for iPad 2 and 3, at a promotional price of $6.99. At an unspecified future date, it'll go up to a permanent $9.99 price point.

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/09/my...-real-on-ipad/

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Mobile content market expected to hit $18 billion by 2017

July 10th, 2012, 22:25 Posted By: wraggster

Mobile games are expected to be the largest market segment at $11.4 billion.
A new market report by Transparency Market Research says that the global mobile content market will almost treble in size in the next five years.
The global mobile content market was worth $6.5 billion in 2011, but its stunning growth means the sector is forecast to be worth $18.6 billion in 2017.
In the overall global market, the US mobile content market was the largest regional market with a revenue share of 30.3 per cent in 2011. Moreover, faster adoption of mobile content in the region will significantly increase the market share of the US to 41 per cent in 2017.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...by-2017/018581

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Samsung launches app developer competition * - $4m to be won

July 10th, 2012, 22:28 Posted By: wraggster

Bumper cash and marketing support on offer in Smart App Challenge 2012
Samsung is looking for innovative smart apps for the Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab, with a total prize fund of $4.08 million in cash prizes for winning developers as well as promotion for the most innovative apps chosen.
The prize fund will be divided among 80 winning apps in a variety of categories, including best game and best use of the Samsung S Pen in app development, with the grand prizes in the consumer judging and panel selection categories set at $200,000.
To take part, developers should register onwww.smartappchallenge.com and then upload the app to the Samsung app store. Winners are judged by number of downloads, and for the S Pen category, put to a panel of specialist judges who will select the winners.
Simon Stanford, VP, telecommunications and networks, Samsung UK and Ireland said: "The Samsung Smart App Challenge 2012 is a real opportunity for both established and budding app developers to secure funding and marketing support.
"It's an exciting project and we¹re looking forward to seeing what these developers create."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-be-won/018578

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RIM: BB10 delay is a good thing

July 10th, 2012, 22:29 Posted By: wraggster

RIM recently dished out its latest helping of bad news; 5,000 job cuts, and a delayed BlackBerry 10 OS – its secret weapon to battle against Android and iOS.
However, RIM marketing chief Frank Boulben has stepped up to tellReuters that the firm's postponed lifeboat is for the best.
He said: "The short delay is not detrimental if the quality is there when we launch early next year. We will have much more attention and focus and ability to leverage our carriers."
The claim echoes CEO Thorsten Heins' sentiment that there's nothing wrong with the company, simply that it's going through a transition.
However, said 'transition' has seen sales fall by more than two million units quarter-on-quarter, while revenue dropped by 43 per cent.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...d-thing/018577

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Hackable console Ouya begins $1m Kickstarter campaign

July 10th, 2012, 22:43 Posted By: wraggster

All games in Android-based system to offer form of free play

Ouya has launched an $950,000 Kickstarter campaign in a bid to urge consumers to back the hackable console.
The $99 android-based system, which plugs into the TV, is being backed by the likes of Xbox co-creator Ed Fries, Jawbone Jambox designer Yves Behar and VP of business development at IGN Julie Uhrman.

Games on the platform will all be required to offer some sort of free play, whether that be in the form of a demo or the free-to-play model.
The console is powered by a Tegra 3 Quad core processor, and features HDMI connection at 1080p HD, 8GB on-board flash and 1GB of RAM.
The controller will feature two analogue sticks, ten buttons and a touch screen, allowing developers to create both gesture controlled and more traditional titles.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...arter-campaign

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Ouya Android console raises $950k Kickstarter goal in eight hours

July 10th, 2012, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster

A proposed $99 console built on Google's Android operating system has hit its $950,000 fund-raising target in just eight hours on crowd-funding site Kickstarter.
The campaign went live earlier today and has so far attracted around 8,000 financial pledges.
The Ouya console – which carries a proposed release date of March 2013 – will run free-to-play software that any developer is free to upload. Furthermore, buyers will be provided with software that enables the 'hacking' of the console.
Backers include former Xbox exec Ed Fries and One Laptop Per Child designer Yves Behar.
UPDATE: Shortly after publication Ouya had attracted $1,015,652 with a total of 8,155 backers.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ouya-...t-hours/099305

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Autodesk launching Scaleform for iOS, Android

July 11th, 2012, 00:27 Posted By: wraggster

The user interface middleware will be available for mobile game development
[h=3]Autodesk[/h]Autodesk, Inc., is the world's leading supplier of advanced 2D and 3D design, digital content creation,...

www.autodesk.com


Autodesk announced today that its Scaleform UI middleware is being extended to mobile game development. New versions of the middleware will offer an Adobe Flash-based gaming and application platform, as well as a new Unity game engine plug-in.
There are three methods in all to develop mobile games and apps with the new releases of Scaleform. One leverages the Unity Game Engine and enables Unity developers to create triple-A quality game UI and menu screens using Flash. A second is the Scaleform software development kit (SDK), which can be easily integrated into a variety of third-party and proprietary mobile engines. And the third is a Standalone Development Platform, using Scaleform middleware's cross-platform, optimized Flash playback capabilities.
"These new versions of Scaleform were created to address growing interest from outside of the triple-A games market. Inspired by innovative use cases of the technology, we first expanded the middleware's mobile game toolsets and tutorials, and are now making Scaleform accessible to more developers," said Marc Petit, Autodesk senior vice president, Media & Entertainment.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...or-ios-android

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Google+ for iPad hits the App Store, invites you to Hangout with your Apple slate

July 11th, 2012, 00:32 Posted By: wraggster

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Apple launches new iPad in China on July 20th

July 11th, 2012, 00:34 Posted By: wraggster

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Android 4.1 Jelly Bean source code now available

July 11th, 2012, 00:37 Posted By: wraggster

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Android bags half of smartphone sales across Europe, Australia and US

July 11th, 2012, 19:49 Posted By: wraggster

Market share is as high as 84 per cent in Spain.
Android has, for the first time, taken at least half of all smartphone sales across Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and the US.
The sales were recorded over the last 12 weeks that ended June 10.
In Australia, 56.9 per cent of smartphone sales were of Android devices, while in Spain, that figure was a huge 84.1 per cent.
The data published by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech says that the figures are largely driven by first-time smartphone buyers flocking to Android because of the platform's accessibility and relative affordability of devices.
Dominic Sunnebo, consumer insight director, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, said: “We are seeing much of the Android sales growth being driven by consumers trading up from feature phones to smartphones. Android handsets currently offer an easier platform to enable these consumers to upgrade, as many first time smartphone consumers state ‘price of handset’ and ‘multimedia capabilities’ as their main reason for choosing an Android device.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-and-us/018601

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New iPad to land in China on July 20th

July 11th, 2012, 19:52 Posted By: wraggster

Gets the all clear following trademark battle over the 'iPad' name.
Apple has received the green light to launch the new iPad in China, four months after it was revealed to the rest of the world.
It follows a $60m lawsuit with Chinese firm Proview Technology, which retained the rights to the 'iPad' name in its home country when Apple originally sought ownership of the trademark in 2009.
But now, the Retina display-enabled quad-core device will hit the world's largest mobile phone market on Friday, July 20th.
It's a move that will likely reinvigorate sales, given that the Chinese love Apple products.
Beijing-based shoppers went feral when the iPhone 4S was released in January, taking to streets to riot and egg stores when Apple staff refused to sell the phones for fear of overcrowding.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...ly-20th/018591

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Google Jelly Bean is now open to third party developers

July 11th, 2012, 19:52 Posted By: wraggster

Android coders can make modifications to OS for Nexus devices.
Google unveiled its new Jelly Bean Android update last month. This prompted Carphone Warehouse to claim the OS would be anexclusive Nexus 7 property until November, which isn't entirely true.
Jean-Baptiste Queru, Android software engineer at Google, saysJelly Bean binaries are now available for third party developers, allowing them to modify apps and the like for Nexus devices.
This will immediately include the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Nexus, while code for the Nexus S and Xoom is set to tie in with Jelly Bean's 'consumer release' in the next couple of weeks.
Improvements have been made to the OS around voice search, keyboard UI, Android Beam and more.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...elopers/018587

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Motosmart: Motorola's new budget Android smartphone

July 11th, 2012, 19:56 Posted By: wraggster

Motorola’s latest smartphone will cost just £100.
Available in the UK from T-Mobile, Motosmart focuses on creating a ‘stress free life’.
It features the latest version of MotoSwitch – software that learns which songs you love, who you talk to the most and which apps you use throughout your day. MotoSwitch then places all this information on your home screen for easy access.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...rtphone/028671

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Latest Apple TV will incorporate iPad mini

July 11th, 2012, 20:00 Posted By: wraggster

The new Apple TV slated for release at the end of the year is rumoured to be controlled by a new ultra-thin iPad mini.
A source in Asia has reportedly told SmartHouse that the new tablet device will be half the size of the regular iPad and will allow users to access TV programs, music and movies through a number of included applications, as well as manage their own content.
It will also incorporate Apple's app store, meaning users will be able to use the device to watch videos and play games, as well as read their favourite books and publications.
Described as wafer thin, the device was recently rumoured to measure in at just 7.2mm by Japanese blog Macotakara - making the device slimmer than both Amazon's Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus 7 tablets.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...ad-mini/028665

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An Android Tablet Victory May Be Problematic For Free Software

July 11th, 2012, 21:27 Posted By: wraggster

Glyn Moody writes at The H that Google's Nexus 7 tablet seems to be in a good position to shake up the market and pave the way for serious Android competition to the iPad. That said, he's worried about the potential downsides to a market full of mostly 'open' devices: 'Such customised systems are likely to be as locked down as they can be – the last thing either manufacturers or companies want is for users to start fiddling with the settings or installing their own software. As a result, the apps that run on such systems are likely to be closed source, since that's the way vertical markets tend to work. Such systems will also expose a persistent problem with the open source development methodology. While big and general projects find it relatively easy to attract interested developers, smaller, more targeted solutions tend not to thrive as free software.'
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/12/...-free-software

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Android grabs smartphone majority in key markets

July 11th, 2012, 21:42 Posted By: wraggster

For the first time ever, Android has accounted for over half of the overall smartphone sales in key global markets over a 12 week period.
Kantar Worldpanel ComTech says that Android’s OS accounted for over 50 per cent of the sector in Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, US and Australia.
In some regions the win was by an even greater margin – in Spain it claimed 84.1 per cent, in Germany it was 68.5 per cent and in Britain 57.2 per cent.
“We are seeing much of the Android sales growth being driven by consumers trading up from feature phones to smartphones,” Kantar’s consumer insight director Dominic Sunnebo stated.
“Android handsets currently offer an easier platform to enable these consumers to upgrade, as many first time smartphone consumers state ‘price of handset’ and ‘multimedia capabilities’ as their main reason for choosing an Android device.
“Our data shows that Android has a higher share of those consumers spending under £50 on buying their handset across the vast majority of countries we cover.
“Smartphone consumers are much more loyal to their brand of handset and carrier than feature phone consumers, highlighting the importance of capturing feature phone owners when they are starting to look to change their handset.
“It’s also interesting to note that although Android’s share is high in the USA market, it has decreased by 6.8% points over the year. This trend contrasts Apple’s growth, which is a reflection of a successful iPhone 4S release and the first time availability of the iPhone 4 and 4S on Sprint.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/andro...markets/099369

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Facebook SDK 3.0 Beta for iOS now available to download, includes tight integration p

July 11th, 2012, 22:29 Posted By: wraggster

Slide over, Twitter -- after this fall, you won't be the only social network in town with OS-level integration on the iPod touch, iPad and iPhone. As announced back at WWDC in June, Facebook will be on a level playing fieldwith the launch of iOS 6, and the outfit's new SDK 3.0 Beta is exactly what developers need to get there. Among other things, the new code promises superior user session management, ready-to-use native UI views, bolstered Facebook API support and an iOS Developer Center to get folks grounded on "key concepts." After iOS 6 launches en masse, this SDK will "automatically use the native Facebook Login in iOS 6 when available," providing a similar experience to Twitter in terms of seamless logins. Ready to get cranking? Get your download on in the source link below.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/11/f...e-to-download/

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Ouya nears $4m on Kickstarter

July 13th, 2012, 00:41 Posted By: wraggster

Console newcomer Ouya is possibly just hours away from passing the $4,000,000 funding mark on Kickstarter.
At the time of writing the project has attracted $3,934,714 in pledges from 30,542 backers.
Interestingly, in the process of writing this story (which took about 15 minutes) the project attracted 54 backers contributing $66,595 between them. That equates to an average of $1,233 each.
Those who back the project to the tune of $10 or more are promised the chance to reserve their Ouya username ahead of the machine’s launch in 2013. Pledge $25 and you’ll get a Founder Emblem permanently attached to your user name.
Step up to $95 and you’ll get a free console and controller when the console finally arrives, subject to availability. $99 will guarantee you a pre-launch machine.
$225 gets a console and two controllers with your name etched on them while the $699 offer is more developer focused with early SDK access and free promotion of any game uploaded to the service for one year.
$1,337 adds a direct email hotline the console’s developers and an invite to the launch party and for $5,000 you’ll get a free day trip to San Francisco to hang out with creator Yves Behar.
The top tier of $10,000 will see your username and backer number engraved onto the entire first production run of the machine.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ouya-...starter/099454

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Ouya console will be "as big as iPhone"

July 13th, 2012, 01:00 Posted By: wraggster

Industry veteran Mark Friedler sees the console business being "unleashed and democratized"
A freight train plowed into the console games business on July 11th, forever changing the console games landscape, unleashing user democracy and elevating Kickstarter to the new kingmaker of the games business. Of course, I'm talking about Yves Behar'sOuya Android-powered game console which has raised over $4 million in the first 48 hours.
I was blown away by the conversation with Behar during the GamesBeat/MobileBeat conference in San Francisco where he said the game console will be rebooted.
I believe this announcement will go down in history as something as big as the launch of the iPhone five years ago. The amazing outpouring of 25,000 pre-orders of the console in 24 hours shows gamers want the TV experience to be democratized.

I spoke with Brian Fargo of InXile (who raised $900,000 for Wasteland 2 on Kickstarter in March) and he believes customers are frustrated with traditional game publishers and are demanding more creative products instead of the endless sequels released by the leaders. In 48 hours, the console business has been turned on its head by a sub $100 open console whose mission is to make games less expensive and free to play. It is the Apple 1984 commercial equivalent to the games business () - their revolutionary sounding Kickstarter description is below.
"The immediate loser in this battle will be Nintendo that has failed to create a meaningful online business"
Mark Friedler

Let's open this sucker up! It's time we brought back innovation, experimentation, and creativity to the big screen. Let's make the games less expensive to make, and less expensive to buy. With all our technological advancements, shouldn't costs be going down? Gaming could be cheaper!
We're handing the reins over to the developer with only one condition: at least some gameplay has to be free. We borrowed the free-to-play model from games like League of Legends, Team Fortress 2, Triple Town, and many others. Developers can offer a free demo with a full-game upgrade, in-game items or powers, or ask you to subscribe.
The Ouya can be seen as a descendant of the Sega Dreamcast and much malignedPhantom console whose vision of a download only game console was debuted at E3 in 2004 - I was a member of the advisory board of the company whose vision was accurate to where the industry was going but failed to execute on delivering the product.
Ouya has taken advantage of the perfect storm of excellent design, a stable and free Android OS, a shift of developers from console to mobile and tablet development and the winning business model of freemium and free-to-play gaming.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-big-as-iphone

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iPhone game marketing costs keep rising to "insane" levels

July 13th, 2012, 01:09 Posted By: wraggster

Smaller iOS developers fear being pushed out of a crowded market
At a panel at VentureBeat's GamesBeat 2012 moderated by GamesIndustry International's Steve Peterson, iOS developers shared their woes in marketing their games in a crowded app store. User acquisition costs are rising to the point that many free-to-play titles will spend more on marketing than they'll make in lifetime revenue. The panel was attended by SkyVu Entertainment founder Ben Vu, Machine Zone chief executive officer Gabe Leydon, mobile consultant A.J. Yeakel, and W3i cofounder Rob Weber.
Vu explained that cross-promoting other developers' games via services like Chartboost was his primary method of reaching users, but the rising costs are a big problem.
"This mismatch is insane," Vu said. "You have to pay attention to this, down to the hour or the minute."
Leydon cited costs as high as $7 for acquiring users, up from 50 cents a year ago. He sees a number of "billionaries" coming into the market with large brands to sell, with Asian mobile developers close behind. Weber backed up Leydon's claims, explaining that it's difficult to find the top-end of user acquisition costs.
"The pressure on prices will shoot upward and not slow down until more ad inventory comes online," Leydon said. "There's billionaires in the market who want to win. They are willing to spend $7 a download. This is going to be a long, tough fight."
"You can't predict how the bigger companies will spend," said Weber. "But it's about finding the right volume and the right level of profitability for a game and doing it on a large scale. It's a huge, full-time job."
Great content pushes games through word-of-mouth, but social networks like Twitter and Facebook also helps keep acquisition costs lower according to Leydon. Vu said he was also looking to improve the branding on his Battle Bears game by licensing the IP for a possible toyline and television show.
"We are working on the core product and the core brand and making it freakin' awesome," Vu said.
While Apple App Store is the most lucrative mobile market, that is beginning to come with its own set of issues, many of which don't exist on the Android-based Google Play Store and Amazon AppStore. Microsoft will also be entering the race with its Windows Store this morning. Unfortunately, on the Apple App Store itself, there seems to be no cure-all in sight.
"That's just more things to worry about," Vu said. "I'm pulling my hair out."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-insane-levels

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New 2012 iPhone body reportedly leaks, gives the glass front its time to shine

July 13th, 2012, 01:13 Posted By: wraggster

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Russian Hacker Sidesteps Apple iOS In-App Purchases

July 13th, 2012, 23:11 Posted By: wraggster

An anonymous reader tips news that a Russian developer has posted a video showing how in-app purchases for some iOS software can be acquired without payment. The hack does't require the device to be jailbroken, and can be accomplished even by users who aren't technically proficient. The method involves three steps: "The installation of CA certificate, the installation of in-appstore.com certificate, and the changing of DNS record in Wi-Fi settings. After the quick process, users are presented with the message pictured above when installing in-app purchases, opposed to Apple’s usual purchase confirmation dialog." 9to5mac notes that this doesn't affect all apps, since some of them make use of Apple's method for validating receipts.
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/0...-app-purchases

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Android Forums Hacked: 1 Million User Credentials Stolen

July 13th, 2012, 23:17 Posted By: wraggster

Phandroid's AndroidForums.com has been hacked. The database that powers the site was compromised and more than one million user account details were stolen. If you use the forum, make sure to change your password ASAP. From the article: 'Phandroid has revealed that its Android Forums website was hacked this week using a known exploit. The data that was accessed includes usernames, e-mail addresses, hashed passwords, registration IP addresses, and other less-critical forum-related information. At the time of writing, the forum listed 1,034,235 members.'"

http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/07...entials-stolen

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CyanogenMod developers slap Jelly Bean on an Optimus 4X HD, tease CM10

July 13th, 2012, 23:33 Posted By: wraggster

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Half of US women view movie clips on their mobile phones

July 14th, 2012, 22:41 Posted By: wraggster

Probably dribbling over topless footage of Ryan Gosling.
New data from mobile video service Vuclip shows that 78 per cent of US women reckon they're spending more and more time viewing mobile content.
In fact, 55 per cent spend more than 30 minutes a day viewing mobile videos, while 60 per cent use the tech primarily for entertainment.
Specifically, 50 per cent are watching movie clips, the most popular form of content ahead of news, sports and celebrity gossip.
Judith Coley, VP of marketing, Vuclip, said: "Today's woman is busy, engaged and full of life. She wants to make the most of every moment and when she takes a break, she's increasingly turning to her mobile phone for entertainment."
In comparison, 70 per cent of men turn to entertainment, with movies and sports at the top of the mind.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-phones/018627

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XBMC Ported To Android

July 14th, 2012, 22:49 Posted By: wraggster

New submitter TheUni writes with news that XBMC has been announced for Android. Quoting:"Not a remote, not a thin client; the real deal. No root or jailbreak required. XBMC can be launched as an application on your set-top-box, tablet, phone, or wherever else Android may be found. The feature-set on Android is the same that you have come to expect from XBMC, no different from its cousin on the desktop. Running your favorite media-center software on small, cheap, embedded hardware is about to become a hassle-free reality. And as Android-based set-top-boxes are becoming more and more ubiquitous, it couldn't be a better time. ... We will begin releasing apks for interested beta testers in the coming weeks. But for those who are up to the task, as you would expect from XBMC, the source code is available. We have decided not to push to Google Play until we are satisfied that users with all kinds of devices get the same great XBMC experience."

http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/07...ted-to-android

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Apple Tells Retailers To Stop Selling Certain Samsung Devices

July 14th, 2012, 22:51 Posted By: wraggster

walterbyrd writes with news that Apple has been sending out letters to carriers and retailers who sell the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Galaxy Nexus, informing them of a court-mandated ban on sales and warning them against continuing to market the devices. The court order for the patent case on the Galaxy Tab says Samsung and "those acting in concert" with them are enjoined from selling the devices, and Apple has used the letters to point this out. Samsung, of course, disagrees: "Apple’s menacing letters greatly overreach, incorrectly claiming that third-party retailers are subject to the prohibitions of the preliminary injunction, which they clearly are not."
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/0...amsung-devices

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Android oscilloscope built from parts just laying around

July 14th, 2012, 22:58 Posted By: wraggster


So you need to debug a circuit and you don’t have an oscilloscope. That’s not a problem thanks to [retronics] $0 Android oscilloscope, made with parts he just happened to have lying around.
The heart of every modern oscilloscope is the ADC – the chip that takes analog input and outputs a digital signal. Every Android device has one of these converters connected to the microphone port. All [retronics] needed to do was solder up a 3mm headphone jack, wire in a few resistors, and attach a pair of alligator clips. After installing an oscilloscope app, [retronics] had a half decent ‘scope.
Yes, this is truly a poor man’s oscilloscope, and [retronics] probably won’t be debugging high frequency RF circuits with his Android microphone jack anytime soon. Low frequency stuff such as audio is where this ‘scope really excels; even more so if a small preamp is thrown into the mix.
You can check out [retronics]‘ build after the break. Sure, it’s not something for precise and calibrated measurement, but sometimes you only need a tool that will do the job.

http://hackaday.com/2012/07/14/andro...laying-around/

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Ouya: Panacea For Console Biz or The Next Phantom?

July 15th, 2012, 18:51 Posted By: wraggster

Veteran journalist Chris Morris tackles the major reasons why Ouya could be a revolution or a mere footnote
Any time a start-up makes $4.5 million in four days through crowdsourcing, it's bound to raise a few eyebrows. And Ouya has certainly done that.
Enthusiasts are dreaming of a dark horse console that will bring gaming back to its roots, ending the cycle of sequel-itis and injecting some fresh new game mechanics into the industry. Skeptics, meanwhile, say those Kickstarter supporters could be throwing their money away on a product that will never find a significant audience.
Ironically, they could both be right.
Ouya will be a case study in marketing and PR in the years to come. The campaign has been orchestrated to perfection, with opinion maker- and mass media coverage of the system hitting the day the Kickstarter launched. It preached to the choir on Reddit. And it had a number of respected industry names lending their support (though some a bit less enthusiastically than it initially appeared).
It's a system that currently straddles the lines of potential greatness and historical footnote. And which way it will go is anyone's guess. Here are a few arguments for both sides:
Why Ouya could work
Magical price point: Price matters - especially when it comes to gaming systems. (Don't believe me? Ask Nintendo to tell you the story of the 3DS.) And when it comes to the sweet spot with consumers, you can't do much better than $99.
"Wii U hasn't energized the base yet... Ouya's plans to launch in the first quarter of 2013 give it a pretty clear field for at least six months"

Sub-$100 is a level where the mainstream is willing to take a chance, even if a system is unproven. If Ouya can hit its goal of a $99 console - especially one with a robust series of offerings (including the standard Netflix, Hulu, etc. applications), it could rope in people from the mainstream world, which would go a long way to achieving sustainability.
Indie love: Independent game makers rarely seek the spotlight, but that doesn't mean they don't want their work to be recognized. Ouya might be a perfect showcase for their games - and there's a growing contingent of gamers who are eager to check those titles out.
Indie games are typically niche products - and would never stand a chance when pitted against major franchises. There have, of course, been exceptions (and Ouya's eager to get them on board), but you don't have to look too far beyond Xbox Live sales numbers to see that most smaller games don't make a mint.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...e-next-phantom

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Raising Expectations for Ouya

July 15th, 2012, 18:52 Posted By: wraggster

Few projects have seized the Kickstarter zeitgeist as effectively as Ouya - but it's destined to disappoint
This time last week, nobody had heard of Ouya; we might have guessed that it was an approximation of the sound of a polite grandmother dropping a hammer on her toe, or the carnal grunt of an Old Etonian. Seven days later, it's soared past its funding target on Kickstarter and has become one of the hottest topics in the industry. Yet it's been fascinating to speak to a variety of different people about the proposed console and gauge the reasons for their support, because doing so has revealed vast fractures in terms of what people actually expect from this console.
For most - especially those at the lower end of the pledging scale, I expect - their support is a reflection of pent-up demand for a smart TV device. An all-digital console with the same development philosophy as mobile and tablet games is seen as filling the gap which has been created, conspicuously, by years of talking about a Google, Apple or even Valve led Smart TV revolution which has thus far failed to materialise. Ouya hitches a lift on a variety of related trends in a pretty overt way - the rise of indie (and of the superstar indie developer - witness the quotes from the likes of Mojang and Jenova Chen on the Kickstarter page), the rise of crowdfunding, the sense of inevitability about mobile and tablet gaming making an impact on the TV screen.
"Ouya hitches a lift on a variety of related trends - the rise of indie, the rise of crowdfunding, the sense of inevitability about mobile and tablets making an impact on the TV screen"

Then there's the controller - a conventional joypad. No touch screen, no movement controls. Among the traditional gamers who have voiced hatred of such things for years, not a dry eye in the house. Could it be? Could this be the device that's going to reclaim these brave new worlds of gaming - F2P, mobile, tablet, digital - from the hordes of arm-waving, song-singing, touchscreen-molesting not-proper-gamers who have infested them? Shut up and take my money!
If you're detecting a hint of cynicism here - well, I think that's natural. Here we have a device which clambers atop a rickety tower of trends and waves its arms for attention. Think about it - it's an open platform, for indie developers, crowdfunded, all-digital, "disruptive" (maybe), hacker-friendly, free-to-play... It's painfully hip, like a console built after a brainstorming session consisting exclusively of words cut out from the headlines of Boing Boing posts. This console wears heavy non-prescription glasses and patterned cardigans, has a dreadful beard, drinks chai lattes outside pop-up cafes in Shoreditch and listens to the latest unreleased music demos on an old tape walkman "ironically". It couldn't have been more guaranteed the Kickstarter success it has ultimately achieved.
I don't begrudge it that. It has played to a crowd beautifully - perhaps even unconsciously - and indeed, it's a thing of beauty in many ways. Like the trends which have birthed it, the Ouya is a lovely idea. Cheap, open, hackable, filled with content from talented indie developers. It's a beautiful idea and in fact, it has the potential to become a beautiful little community - a creative incubator filled with new ideas being tested and trialled, welcoming fledgling developers to dip in and show what they can do, while giving more established developers a platform on which to trial new ideas. (Of course, PC advocates might point out that Windows and indeed OSX have been doing exactly that for years, but while there's substance to that argument, the point remains that console gaming and hence console development is intrinsically more attractive for some players, so there is theoretically room for an "open console" of sorts.)
The real problem is one of expectation. Ouya's creators asked for $950,000 and at the time that I'm writing this, they're hovering around the $4 million mark. Exceeding their target by such a margin has created immense excitement around the platform, and that's led to a lot of the fractures in terms of expectation that I alluded to earlier. Some people (outspoken Android advocates, mostly, which can't be an easy position to take and thus deserves our sympathy) view this as a final piece of the puzzle for Android, completing a platform comprising mobile, tablet and now console offerings and thus ushering in an era of dominance for their chosen OS. Others, more sanely but equally questionably, view it as a full-scale introduction of F2P mechanisms to the console space which will prove disruptive to the console business at large.
"What we've seen so far is a sliver of a fraction of a niche, not a workable market and not an indication of guaranteed success"

Those two are marginal viewpoints, certainly - but they can be found easily enough within many discussions around Ouya this week. Much more common is the viewpoint that this has just become a major battleground between "open" and "closed". Consoles are, unquestionably, "closed" - it's insanely expensive to develop a title for the Xbox 360 or the PS3 and you need permission from a platform holder, probably via an equally restrictive publisher, to do so. At the other end of the spectrum, Ouya is open; buy one, build something, release it. (In the middle, you get all manner of things being labelled "open" or "closed" based on rhetorical convenience rather than any truly useful definition - witness iOS and WP7 being labelled "closed" despite occupying a space at the "open" end of the spectrum so close to Android's own policies that most consumers couldn't make a meaningful distinction between them.)
So poor Ouya, now, is going to be a stalking horse for the hopes and dreams of the "open" crowd. This beautiful, well-intentioned, achingly hip piece of technology is going to go out into the world with the expectation of actually winning over a meaningful audience of consumers who will knowingly choose an "open" platform over the "closed" ones currently on offer - who will buy into the Ouya vision of a future where entertainment exists without gatekeepers or curators.
Let's put this in a little bit of perspective. First, hard numbers. Ouya, as I write, has raised $4 million from around 31,000 people. That's a big number of consumers to some people. If I wrote a book on Kindle and sold it to 31,000 people for a fiver each, I'd be very happy. For a console with an F2P business model, though, it's barely even a test market, let alone a viable consumer base. Remember that even the most successful console games rarely sell to 10% of the console installed base (misfits like Wii Fit aside) - even if we assume that F2P ensures a wider group will sample the game, remember that only around 1 in 20 people who play F2P games actually pay (the figures fluctuate and are tough to pin down, but that's not a bad ballpark). Now, Ouya will hopefully sell to a lot more than the 31,000 people who backed it, but the point remains - what we've seen so far is a sliver of a fraction of a niche, not a workable market and not an indication of guaranteed success.
Secondly, a brief exploration of why consumers buy consoles. One word - games. Consumers buy consoles because those consoles have games they want to play. A handful buy consoles due to platform loyalty, and go on to make a lot of noise about them on the internet, but they're not an important market overall (even Nintendo's consoles sell, ultimately, because of Nintendo's games, not because of the Nintendo name itself). I doubt that any human being in history has ever walked into a games store and bought a console because they like the market philosophy behind it ("an Xbox 360 and a copy of Atlas Shrugged if you would please, shopkeep!"), although if someone has, I'm sure they'll pop up in the comments below to prove both my wrongness and their own loneliness in the world. On mobile, a handful of noisy Internet types choose Android specifically because of the open/closed debate, but again, they're not a particularly important market segment - one of Android's greatest problems is that most people who choose Android phones do so simply because they're cheap, and go on to spend no money whatsoever in the Google Play store.
"Those creating huge expectations for the console are going to be disappointed; the internet opinion machine will take that disappointment and turn it into failure"

This is the reality facing Ouya. You convince consumers to buy a console by having top-flight software available for it. You convince developers to create top-flight software by either paying them (first party), or by convincing them that there are going to be tons of consumers around to buy their software at launch. The way you achieve the latter is by injecting enormous amounts of money into both first party software and launch marketing. Ouya, which is launching a console on a budget less than that of most console software releases, let alone hardware launches, cannot afford to do that - and all the Boing Boing posts and Kickstarter magic dust in the world doesn't change that.
To me, the saddest thing about this situation is that Ouya is brilliant. It's a great idea, and I think it's going to do something really interesting in terms of creating a community that's very small, very rough and tumble but utterly buzzing with creativity. I've backed it (not least because in a week when people seem to have decided that throwing money at an existing, profitable publication through Kickstarter is a reasonable use of the site, giving some money to an actually innovative, creative project seemed like the best riposte) and I'll buy one, and I'm intrigued to see what comes of it. But it's sad, because Ouya is going to be judged a failure. Those creating huge expectations for the console are going to be disappointed; the internet opinion machine will take that disappointment and turn it into failure. Ouya will do some great stuff, but it's not going to disrupt the console business (which is already pretty disrupted already) or initiate a revolution against closed platforms. I fear that the hype will make it impossible to enjoy the platform for what it is - an idea that's simply too lovely to survive in the real world.


http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...tions-for-ouya

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Verizon brings GameTanium subscription to Android devices

July 15th, 2012, 18:53 Posted By: wraggster

Verizon and Exent add an all-you-can-play subscription for certain Android games
Verizon Wireless has launched Exent's GameTanium, an exclusive subscription service for Android-powered devices on Verizon's network. The service will provide 100 smartphone titles and 50 tablet-enabled games, including Fruit Ninja and World of Goo, for a $5.99 fee per month.
"GameTanium provides our Android customers with unlimited access to more than 100 games at a great value," said Kristi Crum, executive director of marketing, Verizon Wireless. "Working with Exent has enabled us to immerse customers into the mobile gaming frontier and ultimately bring high-quality gaming options powered by 4G LTE."
"We are excited to bring the launch of the GameTanium smartphone and tablet service to Verizon Wireless' customer base," says Zvi Levgoren, founder and chief executive officer, Exent. "The speed and power of Verizon Wireless' network allows for a rich mobile gaming experience for Verizon Wireless customers to enjoy."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ndroid-devices

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Ouya could be a "black hole of losses"

July 15th, 2012, 19:01 Posted By: wraggster

The creator of the Pandora explains why the Ouya could fall on its face
As the Ouya Kickstarter passes $4.2 million, people are beginning to express doubts about how revolutionary the console will truly be. Pandora co-founder Craig Rothwell has dealt with a launch when his team released their portable in 2010, four years after the initial announcement. Rothwell casts doubt on whether Ouya's creators can hit their ambitious targets.
"You simply cannot make a quality console and controller for $99, no matter how low you go in China," Rothwell told PocketGamer UK. "Even a Chinese semi-slave production line won't hit $99 at that spec, as the big name parts they are talking about are a set cost. "
"My feelings are that at that price - and remember you have to take off the Kickstarter fees, which brings the console and touchpad-equipped controller in at less than $99 - they will be making a loss on each unit sold."
The Pandora ran into a ton of delays before finally launching and Rothwell believes the same could happen to the Ouya if their numbers aren't solid.
"We worked out all costs and had quotes which we went public with, and even then everything which could go wrong did go wrong. We survived by the skin of our teeth and via some very, very kind customers and developers," said Rothwell.
"Now we have been though that baptism of fire, and know everything that is involved, it's clear that a race to the lowest possible price isn't how you succeed. That's generally how things can go majorly wrong; when trying to come to market with a rock bottom price, one error, one contractor messing up, and it's curtains," he added.
"Because Ouya is already being sold at that rock bottom price before going to production, there is no way for them to adjust for error. I hope they have a big secret pile of cash they can call on if they need it."
Rothwell expects the Ouya team to turn to alternate methods other than console sales to pull in revenue. He also wonders if developers will want to create games for another fork of Android with a small userbase.
"My guess is that you will have to pay some kind of subscription to use the console, and that is where they plan to claw back some money," he began. "What's the point in doing all that work for their comparatively tiny audience when you can get a better deal releasing on iOS or 'normal' Android via Google's popular Play Store?"
"When all the hype dies down, this machine could well be DOA, and Ouya could be looking at a giant black hole of losses."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...hole-of-losses

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Google posts Android 4.1 Jelly Bean's changelog, explores its latest dessert in detai

July 15th, 2012, 23:08 Posted By: wraggster

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The £50 Android Tablet Experience

July 16th, 2012, 19:49 Posted By: wraggster

While Apple is content to keep the price of its iPad range reasonably high, the open nature of Google's Android operating system has resulted in a deluge of low-cost slates from the technological sweat shops of the Far East. It would be easy to dismiss such devices as cheap and nasty, but with many selling for less than your average pay-as-you-go mobile phone, this is surely a sector of the market which demands further investigation. Three weeks ago, pricing reached a new all-time low: a capacitive screen tablet, running Android 4.0, was available for just £50 - and we just had to find out what kind of experience you got for the money.Shopping in this area is a minefield, largely due to the anonymous nature of the products themselves; it's not uncommon to find the exact same tablet branded with several different monikers and retailed by multiple distributors - just like the Scroll Extreme slate we reviewed back in April. However, in general, most of the 7-inch variants tend to share a common bond in the fact that they utilise the ARM-based "AllWinner" chipset, a low-cost alternative to the more expensive offerings from the likes of NVIDIA and Qualcomm. Our test model was no different.Our tablet is known as the NATPC M009S RTB - although it comes in generic box with generic instructions, and features no branding whatsoever - and it's available from Amazon supplier Wendy Lou, who supplied us with a review unit. Other variants - each with slightly different specifications - exist at higher RRPs, and it may pay to shop around. The review unit that actually turned up is closer to the £70 model. This is identical to what was then the £50 offering, with the additional bonus of a 25 per cent larger battery, more RAM and HDMI output. However, the CPU runs with lower clocks.Clearly the market value of these tablets is influenced by the ebb and flow of production, with specs seemingly changing with the tides. The price of the base model has risen since we received our review unit, but keep a look out on the bargain forums and they'll be sure to drop again.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/df...oid-experience

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Japanese firm to transmit data using visible light

July 16th, 2012, 19:52 Posted By: wraggster

Claims to have developed practical use for much vaunted tech.
While visible light data transmission has been available for some time, there hasn't yet been a widespread real world use for it.
Japanese firm Outstanding Technology is aiming to change that with the Commulight system, which uses visible light communications to send info to smartphones and tablets via a receiver.
The device can be plugged in using a USB or (as many gadgets do not have full-size sockets) there's another version that plugs into the 3.5mm jack.
Both operate in the same way, however; collecting information from an overhead data-transmitting LED.
Outstanding Technology thinks Commulight is ideal for guiding users around galleries and museums, offering new information at each exhibit.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...e-light/018645

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If Microsoft bought RIM....

July 16th, 2012, 19:53 Posted By: wraggster

What would a BlackBerry look like?
Rumours of all sorts are circling RIM, but one of the more persistent ones is the idea that Microsoft could buy it out.
Concept smartphone professional Michal Bonikowski has run with the idea and mocked-up a Blackberry/Microsoft hybrid.
We think it looks pretty slick, but what about you? Could this be a contender?
Scroll down for more shots.


http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...ght-rim/018642

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Valve could be bringing non-gaming apps to Steam

July 16th, 2012, 19:55 Posted By: wraggster

Steam's Android app has added a selection of new non-gaming categories, according to Engadget.
There are ten additional categories, all of which are currently empty.
The new categories include Accounting, Animation & Modelling and Design & Illustration.
Having just released the beta of Source Filmmaker it seems likely that Valve could move into distributing illustration and animation software. Valve already offers books and movies through its online store, so what's to stop Steam becoming a real App Store contender and releasing content for pretty much everything?
With Valve already allowing its community to vote which games it should distribute through Steam Greenlight, consumer may get a say in what other kinds of apps they would like to purchase through the site.
Steam's summer sale began last week and runs until July 22nd. Many fans are hoping that Valve's generous discounts will eventually extend to software…95 per cent off Photoshop perhaps? That would be lovely.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...o-steam/028700

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Apple investigating IAP payments breach

July 16th, 2012, 21:12 Posted By: wraggster

First major work-around of in-app purchasing system sees over 30,000 purchases made for free.
9to5mac first revealed that Russian hacker Alexey V. Borodin created an online service called In-Appstore.com to facilitate free transitions. The system isn't strictly speaking a hack, but a method for bypassing Apple’s authentication servers.
It works by re-directing requests to Borodin’s service, which then fools the app into thinking that it has ‘purchased’ the content by delivering back a single legitimate purchase receipt, which was donated by Borodin himself.
This makes the breach pretty insidious because it cannot be prevented by simply validating App Store receipts.
There are two possible fixes for Apple: making each purchase receipt unique using a securely encrypted receipt, or ensuring that the verification process is talking directly to Apple and not some third party server.
Apparently Borodin has now ceded control of his site to a third party to avoid further trouble.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-breach/018640

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Plextek adds Android integration to in-car entertainment units

July 16th, 2012, 21:13 Posted By: wraggster

Google-powered device owners now able to make calls and play audio via Bluetooth when driving.
Traditionally, in-car entertainment (ICE) manufacturers power their services with Linux or Windows.
But that's all change, as UK-based product innovator Plextek integrates the Android OS into its series of head-units.
This is set to offer seamless connectivity with those running on Google-based smartphones and tablets, allowing wireless calls, data access and audio playback while driving.
However, Plextek found the 30 second plus load time of an Android device posed a threat to the drain of a vehicle's battery, which was overcome by re-ordering loading tasks, and minimising standby times.
Nicholas Hill, project manager, Plextek, said: "Android is the most popular mobile OS in the world, and with so much talk about the ‘connected car’ many of its features are ideally suited for automotive applications.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...t-units/018638

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RIM: Developers are "amazed" by BB10

July 16th, 2012, 21:13 Posted By: wraggster

BlackBerry maker hits back at reports that app makers are deserting the platform.
RIM's next-gen OS BlackBerry 10 reeks of false starts. It was forced to unceremoniously ditch the BBX name following a trademark battle, while the platform remains something of a myth due to continued delays.
And last week, Baird Equity Research stirred the pot by reporting developers are losing faith in BB10.
The negative press prompted RIM's head of developer relations Alec Saunders to slay the claims in a blog.
He says he was "shocked by the findings" because the numbers don't correlate with what RIM is seeing and hearing in the real world from its developer community.
"I have been receiving a lot of feedback from developers personally and I can tell you that I am hearing again and again that [almost 5,000] developers are amazed by how easy it is to work with the BlackBerry 10 tools," he said.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...by-bb10/018636

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Android takes over half the the UK smartphone market for the first time

July 16th, 2012, 21:16 Posted By: wraggster

Kantar data shows that Android took 57.2 per cent of the smartphone market in the UK during a 12 week sampling period.
The latest data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech shows that Android's share ranges from 49.6 per cent to 84.1 per cent in various countries around the world.
Android beat iOS, RIM and all other smartphone Operating Systems in every country that featured in the sampling period, which spanned 12 weeks ending on June 10th 2012. it took at least half of smartphone sales in Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, US and Australia.
Android saw an increase in market share in every country, apart from the US, compared to the same period in 2011. Although there was a decrease, Android still beat Apple's iOS to the top spot with 50.2 per cent of the market.
Dominic Sunnebo, consumer insight director, explains: “We are seeing much of the Android sales growth being driven by consumers trading up from feature phones to smartphones. Android handsets currently offer an easier platform to enable these consumers to upgrade, as many first time smartphone consumers state ‘price of handset’ and ‘multimedia capabilities’ as their main reason for choosing an Android device.
"Our data shows that Android has a higher share of those consumers spending under £50 on buying their handset across the vast majority of countries we cover.”
The time of the sampling period meant that the report captured some of the Samsung Galaxy S3 surge along with the Samsung Galaxy Ace and Y, both of which are aimed at first-time smartphone owners.
Although iOS was second in every country, Android's figures dwarfed Apple's OS market share.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...st-time/028693

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Report: iPhone 5 set for August release

July 16th, 2012, 21:17 Posted By: wraggster

Rumours claim latest Apple smartphone to feature 4-inch retina display with a 16:9 aspect ratio

Reports suggest the iPhone 5 could be with us within weeks.
knowyourmobile.com has reported that a 'reliable industry source' has revealed to the site that Apple will launch the iPhone 5 via a keynote speech on August 7th.

This comes after numerous reports from Asia that the new phone is already in production, with Japanese
blog Macotakara posting photos claiming to be the iPhone 5's back panel, showing it to be made up of both aluminium and glass.
It is widely reported that the iPhone 5 will feature a 4-inch retina display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. If true, this will be 0.5-inches bigger than previous models.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...August-release

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Price of Lumia slashed in the US

July 16th, 2012, 23:49 Posted By: wraggster

Goes from $99 to $49 with a two year contract on AT&T.
The Finnish phone maker claims the drop is not unusual for a phone that is now over three months into its lifecycle. But inevitably, many will see this as a further indication of Nokia's failure to meet the challenge presented by rivals like iPhone, Galaxy S, HTC One et al.
As of April, Lumia has sold just over two million units since its launch last December.
The move comes a few days ahead of Nokia's 2Q results, which are expected to show more dramatic losses.
Last month, Nokia said it would cut 10,000 jobs to reduce costs and address its dwindling revenues. This followed a 1Q loss of €1.34 billion operating loss.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-the-us/018630

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Apple Releases iOS 6 Beta 3 For Developers

July 16th, 2012, 23:55 Posted By: wraggster

Developers of iOS apps have been blessed with another update to iOS 6 around 21 days after an update of the iOS 5 successor was doled out and it contains quite a few new features. The 3rd update, dubbed iOS 6 Beta 3, can now be applied to the existing iOS on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch and full downloads are available from Apple's developer portal. MacRumours notes that this update doesn't come with any change list and developers seeing the over the air update get the message that iOS 6 Beta 3 contains some 'bug fixes and improvement.' The latest build contains new options under the Settings application for Apple's latest Maps software. The beta allows developers to customize certain aspects like the volume of turn-by-turn navigation, and whether to measure distances in miles or kilometers, notes Apple Insider."

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/0...for-developers

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Ouya talks Tegra 3 with NVIDIA, 'might consider' early developer access to console's

July 17th, 2012, 00:57 Posted By: wraggster

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400k in-app iOS purchases bypassed by Russian hacker

July 17th, 2012, 01:03 Posted By: wraggster

New service allows iOS users to bypass Apple servers for premium content, reports huge popularity in first 24 hours
A Russian hacker has launched a service that allows users to access premium iOS content for free.
According to a report on Ars Technica, the service re-directs payment requests for in-app purchases away from Apple's servers to one operated by the hacker, Alexey V. Borodin, with no need for jail-breaking.
Ars Technica notes that use of the service grants Borodin access to Apple IDs, passwords and other sensitive data, though the hacker responded that he doesn't use, log or monitor that information.
Borodin claims that the service hosted more than 400,000 transactions in the 24 hours following the launch of In-Appstore.com, and the security crackdown appears to have started already. In its first day, two IP addresses used by the replacement DNS server were blocked, though Borodin claims to be unsure whether Apple is responsible.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...russian-hacker

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N64 4 DroiD v1.0.0

July 17th, 2012, 11:23 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

N64 4 DroiD v1.0.0 is released. N64 4 DroiD is a Nintendo 64 emulator optimized for Android devices. Licensed under Gpl2. Play all your favourite N64 Games on your Android devices and reach a new level of gaming experience. It´s designed by the famous Mupen64 Project.

N64 4 DroiD v1.0.0 Changelog:
-New Menu Layout
-Better Compability
-Better Speed
-Controller Layout
-More Options
-Increased Graphics
-Much More

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...zx.n644droidv4

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NES-FC v1.0.7 for Android

July 17th, 2012, 11:24 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

NES-FC v1.0.7 for Android is released. NES-FC is the high quality and fast NES&FC emulator. Play almost all your NES/FC games.

NES-FC Features:
+ Hardware keyboard support
+ On-screen virtual gamepad with optional viberation feedback
+ Support trackball
+ Ten manual slots for save states with previews
+ Game Genie support!
+ FDS support!
+ Multi-touch for 2.1+
+ Zapper/Light gun support, touch screen to fire, need to disable virtual gamepad!
+ Fast Forward
+ Screenshots
+ Wiimote support
+ Nes, fds, zip files support
+ Turbo buttons

NES-FC v1.0.7 for Android Changelog:
- Update buttons

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...m.clzman.nesfc

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John NES v1.44 for Android

July 17th, 2012, 11:25 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

John NES v1.44 for Android is released. John NES is a NES/Famicom emulator for android 2.2+. This app does not work without your own ROM files. Please try John NES lite before purchasing.


John NES Features:
- Original NES engine
- High quality rendering
- Very fast
- Search ROM files in SDCard & Internal storage
- Virtual On-screen keypad
- Zipped ROM support
- Save States (with previews)
- Customizable keys
- Turbo buttons
- Screenshot
- Honeycomb tablet UI
- X2 Speed play
- Cheats (Game Genie/PAR)
- No ADs
- No initernet connection

John NES v1.44 for Android Changelog:
-added new UI for Android 4.0

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...lators.johnnes

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DroidEmu v2.5.0

July 17th, 2012, 11:34 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

DroidEmu v2.5.0 is released. DroidEmu is a game system to play SNES, NES, GameBoy Advanced, GameBoy/Color, SEGA GameGear, SEGA Genesis games on your Android phone. It runs thousands of games at full speed.


DroidEmu Features include:
1. Multi emulator for android - Play SNES, NES, GameBoy Advanced, GameBoy/Color, SEGA GameGear, SEGA Genesis games on Android phone.
2. Run thousands of games(Need ROM).
3. Integrated link to ROM download manager - Download ROM directly from Internet.
4. Multi-type virtual keypad skin.
5. Save and load game states.

DroidEmu v2.5.0 Changelog:
1. Support enable/disable auto load/save game states in full version
2. Fix GBA load rom issue to support more games
3. Support Xperia Play Button with virtualpad Xperia Play skin
4. Support Rocker with virtualpad rocker skin
5. Support USB gamepad with virtualpad USB gamepad skin

http://droidemu.org/product/1/droidemu

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iPhone 5 will use in-cell tech for thinner screen

July 17th, 2012, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster

And if it's thinner, it could also be larger.
The Wall Street Journal has added to the iPhone 5 rumour mill by reporting that Apple is expected to use in-cell touch display technology for the new device.
Using in-cell will reduce the thickness of the device while ensuring it remains lightweight - perhaps paving the way for an increased screen size.
The technology integrates touch sensors into the LCD, making it unnecessary to have a separate touch-screen layer. The absence of the layer, usually about half a millimetre thick, not only makes the whole screen thinner, but the quality of displayed images would improve.
For Apple, the new technology would also simplify the supply chain and help cut costs as it would no longer have to buy touch panels and LCD panels from separate suppliers.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-screen/018667

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Motorola Xoom doesn't violate Apple iPad patent, says German court

July 17th, 2012, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster

It's a victory for Motorola as a German court has ruled that the Xoom tablet doesn't infringe on Apple's patented design for the iPad.
Apple filed the lawsuit last summer and requested that the Xoom be banned throughout the European Union.
This comes after a previous defeat for Apple in the courtroom earlier this month, in which it accused Motorola of a similar patent infringement in the US.
The Motorola Xoom has hardly made an impact on iPad sales since its launch last year, but this may have just been an attempt at payback after Motorola successfully sued Apple back in 2012 for alleged infringement on a range of wireless communication parts.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...n-court/028715

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Firefox OS Will Win Big With Developers - Mozilla

July 17th, 2012, 23:42 Posted By: wraggster

Mozilla's mobile operating system Firefox OS will win overwhelming support from developers because it dropped XUL in favour of HTML5, says the head of Mozilla Europe in an interview. Firefox OS is more open than iOS and Android, and 75 percent of apps are already written in HTML5.

http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/07...pers---mozilla

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It Costs $450 In Marketing To Make Someone Buy a $49 Nokia Lumia

July 17th, 2012, 23:46 Posted By: wraggster

According to market-share estimations compared to marketing dollars, it costs nearly ten times as much to sell the Windows Phone-based Nokia Lumia as it does to buy one. Other analysts agree with the low sales numbers."
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/12/...49-nokia-lumia

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Android Jelly Bean Much Harder To Hack

July 17th, 2012, 23:49 Posted By: wraggster

New submitter SternisheFan tips this quote from an article at Ars:"The latest release of Google's Android mobile operating system has finally been properly fortified with an industry-standard defense. It's designed to protect end users against hack attacks that install malware on handsets. In an analysis published Monday, security researcher Jon Oberheide said Android version 4.1, aka Jelly Bean, is the first version of the Google-developed OS to properly implement a protection known as address space layout randomization. ASLR, as it's more often referred to, randomizes the memory locations for the library, stack, heap, and most other OS data structures. As a result, hackers who exploit memory corruption bugs that inevitably crop up in complex pieces of code are unable to know in advance where their malicious payloads will be loaded. When combined with a separate defense known as data execution prevention, ASLR can effectively neutralize such attacks."

http://it.slashdot.org/story/12/07/1...harder-to-hack

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Ouya denies fundraising claims as project hits $5m

July 17th, 2012, 23:54 Posted By: wraggster

High-profile console startup Ouya has once again denied that it is seeking funding from venture capitalists in conjunction with its Kickstarter campaign.
This latest development comes almost precisely as Ouya prepares to pass the $5m funding goal on Kickstarter.
MCV reported yesterday that founder Julie Uhrman said in an interview with Develop that the company was “looking for additional funds of money but wanted to take it to Kickstarter regardless”.
These comments were then denied in a separate interview.
Now the company has issued a new statement that further outlines its position.
"Let me be clear, Ouya is not seeking additional funding outside of Kickstarter,” a statement from the company issued to MCV and Develop reads. “Our priority now is to continue to focus on building a great game console while engaging in our ongoing Kickstarter campaign.
"Our intent in going to Kickstarter was to raise money that would take us from functional prototype to product on the market."
"With respect to our funding, we have been candid in disclosing an early round raised through friends and family that included backing from investors like Digg founder Jay Adelson, Flixster founder Joe Greenstein, and Jawbone founder Hosain Rahman.
"We do not intend to engage in any conversations related to funding while we are on Kickstarter. And, it's not like we are going to start speed dialing VCs as soon as the Kickstarter campaign ends. Once our Kickstarter campaign closes funding our priority will be getting Ouya to market, and delivering the best game experience possible. Fundraising will not be top of the list.
"Unfortunately, I think this rumor sprung from a misunderstood answer during an interview and we are trying to contact the reporter to clarify."
The reporter in question is sitting just across the room from this author right now, with his dictaphone in hand. Ouya made successful contact regarding the issue last night. Having listened to the answer given it’s hard to understand from where the “misunderstanding” arose.
It becomes even harder to grasp when the PR representative sitting in on the interview chips in with “tell them about your conversations with venture capitalists”, although this could conceivably be referencing discussions that took place prior to Kickstarter funding.
UPDATE: Ouya has contacted MCV to say that the VC discussions mentioned did indeed take place prior to Ouya's listing on Kickstarter.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ouya-...hits-5m/099710