| Rumor: Xbox 720 to be Based on ‘Core’ Windows 8 Posted: 25 Apr 2013 08:36 PM PDT 
Will allegedly hit the market in November The long wait for the terribly long-in-the-tooth Xbox 360's successor is set to end on May 21, when Microsoft says it will finally lift the curtain on its eighth-generation console at a special event. Despite Microsoft's formal announcement of the Xbox 720 curtain-raiser event, the rumor mill hasn't stopped buzzing. With Xbox 720 rumors thus far running the gamut from the unlikely to the unreasonable, no one can blame you for thinking that you have heard it all. But have you? The latest Xbox 720 rumors worthy of your attention come from a rather credible source; someone renowned for breaking Microsoft-related stories ahead of everyone else. If you haven't guessed it already, we are talking about Paul Thurrott, who last month revealed May 21 to be the date of the Xbox 720's unveiling — nearly a month before the official announcement in this regard. According to Thurrott, among the many things that he knows about the next Xbox is the fact that it will be based on "Core" version of Windows 8 and that it will, as a consequence, have a similar, if not the same, apps platform as Windows 8. Other Xbox 720 details that he claims to know include the presence of a Blu-ray optical drive and the need of an active Internet connection in order for the console to be usable. Thurrott claims that when the console hits the market later this year — November if he is to be believed — it will be available either as "a standalone version for $499 and a $299 version that requires a two-year Xbox LIVE Gold commitment at an expected price of $10 per month." Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
| Smartphones, Tablets Will Account for 64 Billion Game Downloads by 2017 Posted: 25 Apr 2013 12:36 PM PDT  Free-to-play games proving popular on mobile devices.
Mobile gaming is already popular, but if new data from Juniper Research proves accurate, the number of game app downloads will steadily rise to more than 64.1 billion over the next four years. That would mark a greater than three-fold increase over the 21 billion game downloads that occurred in 2012, and it's thanks to a combination of free-to-play games, more capable devices, and a growing number of smartphones around the world. As mobile devices become more sophisticated, so too are the games that are being played on them. Juniper Research also expects to see a rise in multi-platform game play through the use of cloud technology, though there are other reasons why smartphones and tablets are such popular gaming devices. "Tablet games are growing so much because they are such an accessible way for all consumer segments to access games. In particular mid-core gamers, who previously spent a lot of money and time playing games but now have jobs, families or other commitments, are driving this trend," says Siân Rowlands, author of Juniper's Mobile & Tablet Games: Discovery, In-App Purchases & Advertising report. "These people are really embracing the tablet form factor, and innovative game play devices such as the mobile based Ouya console, really appeal to them." What does this mean for dedicated handheld game consoles? Juniper Research believes there will still be a market for them, though it's clearly shrinking, as evidenced by Nintendo recently cutting its sales forecast for 3DS devices by 14 percent. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Corsair Launches Obsidian Series 350D Case for Micro ATX and Mini ITX Builds Posted: 25 Apr 2013 11:37 AM PDT  Size matters, which is precisely why Corsair went small with its latest computer case.
It's not the size of your computer case that matters, but how you use it, right? Well, not exactly. If you're building a small form factor system and don't want to waste a ton of space, size is most certainly a factor, followed closely by features. Corsair hopes to impress on both fronts with its new Obsidian Series 350D case. Like its larger Obsidian brothers, the 350D is made from black, brushed aluminum and has an optional side window, but is intended for micro ATX and mini ITX motherboards, the two sizes it supports. Despite is small size focus, Corsair says there's plenty of interior space for liquid CPU cooling, multiple drives, and dual full-length graphics cards up to 380mm (14.96 inches). More specifically, it supports up to two 2.5-inch drives (via a removable SSD cage), up to two 3.5-inch drives, and up to two 5.25-inch optical drives. Cooling duties are handled by up to five case fans, including two 120mm or 140mm fans in the front, two more on the top, and a single 120mm fan in the rear. There are also radiator mounts on the top (240mm or 280mm) and bottom (240mm). "The Obsidian 350D's versatile expansion options give builders the ability to pack a lot of performance into a smaller form factor," said Thi La, Senior VP & GM of Memory and Enthusiast Component Products at Corsair. "Its stylish, compact design makes it a perfect high-performance PC case for smaller living spaces or for gaming LAN parties." You'll find a pair of USB 3.0 ports, headphone output, and microphone input on the top I/O panel. The Corsair Obsidian 350D is available now for $100 without a side window or $110 with a side window. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| DisplayMate Shootout Compares Samsung Galaxy S4 to S III and iPhone 5 Posted: 25 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT  Samsung's Galaxy S4 brings a 5-inch Full HD PenTile OLED panel to a display fight.
DisplayMate Technologies president Dr. Raymond M. Soneira managed to sweet talk Samsung into giving him an early production unit of its upcoming Galaxy S4 smartphone to test and analyze for its Display Technology Shoot-Out article, the results of which are now live. In it, Dr. Soneira compares the Galaxy S4's upgraded 5-inch Full HD 1080p PenTile OLED display with that of that of its predecessor, the Galaxy S III, and Apple's iPhone 5. How did it fare? "Impressively" to the point of being able to challenge the best LCD displays, according to Dr. Soneira. What he found most interesting, however, is the inclusion of a Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) display in a 5.5-inch or smaller screen (in this case, it's 5 inches), noting that it's the same resolution found on most large screen HDTVs. "The Galaxy S4 continues the rapid and impressive improvement in OLED displays and technology. The first notable OLED smartphone, the Google Nexus One, came in decidedly last place in our 2010 Smartphone Display Shoot-Out. In a span of just three years OLED display technology is now challenging the performance of the best LCDs," Dr. Soneira said. In addition to picture quality, which consistently fared well during Dr. Soneira's testing, he also noted a 20 percent improvement in power efficacy between the Galaxy S4 and S III despite a 25 percent increase in brightness. This is something that bodes well for the future of OLED displays. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Ubuntu 13.04 (Raring Ringtail) Now Available to Download Posted: 25 Apr 2013 08:06 AM PDT  The newest version of Ubuntu promises dramatic graphical performance enhancements.
Canonical's pretty good about keeping its Ubuntu Linux distro up to date with frequent releases, the latest of which is Ubuntu 13.04, otherwise known as Raring Ringtail. Now available to download to desktops and servers, version 13.04 is being billed as the "fastest and most visually polished" build to date. Canonical said it particularly focused its attention on fine tuning performance on lightweight systems as it gets ready to launch Ubuntu to a range of mobile devices. The benefit for all users is that Canonical's focus on lightweight systems means faster response times in casual use and a reduced memory footprint anyone can appreciate, regardless of system specs. "This release also illustrates Ubuntu's ongoing commitment to quality and dependability. Our kaizen approach to development as well as community engagement result in a high quality alternative for people worldwide," said Jane Silber, CEO at Canonical. "This release, our 17th on a regular cadence, meets the needs of enterprises, organizations, governments and communities looking for a secure and intuitive computing experience." Developers who want to test out MIR, which is Canonical's next generation display server, can optionally do so. MIR is what will make it possible to offer a streamlined Ubuntu experience across different devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and PCs. Not sure if you want to commit to downloading and installing Ubuntu 13.04? Feel free to give it a test drive in your browser. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Asus VivoBook Touchscreen Ultrabook, Sapphire Radeon HD 7850, and More Posted: 25 Apr 2013 07:03 AM PDT |
