| 16 of the Best Free to Play MMOs Posted: 11 Oct 2013 03:58 PM PDT 
We show you which MMOs will save you money and are worth your time It wasn't that many years ago when a paid-for subscription was the only way you could get your hands on a decent MMO experience. World of Warcraft dominated the online gaming landscape, and its success lead many other companies into the same monthly premium path. The dawn of the free-to-play model slowly started to change this formula, however, with titles such as Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online allowing gamers to play certain areas, and make micro-transactions in order to progress further. Since then, monthly subscriptions are becoming more rare, with companies switching over to free-to-play models. But now with so many free-to-play MMOs out there, a big problem is deciding which game to choose playing. That's why we're here to sort out 16 of the best F2P MMOs! Do you have a favorite F2P MMO that you would like to recommend? Let us know in the comments below! |
| Lenovo IdeaPad A10 is an Entry Level Android Laptop Posted: 11 Oct 2013 12:39 PM PDT  Secret laptop confirmed
Lenovo hadn't intended to reveal its upcoming IdeaPad A10 just yet, but after some user manuals leaked online, the world's No. 1 PC maker decided it would go ahead and confirm the device, since the cat was out of the bag anyway. What makes the IdeaPad A10 laptop unique is that it's running Android, a mobile operating system that's usually found on smartphone and tablet devices. In this case, it's a full-fledged laptop with a 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display. It opens all the way up to 300 degrees so that users can rest the keyboard face down and read on the device. You'll also find dedicated Android keys for the "home screen," "previous," and "apps screen" on the IdeaPad A10. "This product has not been canceled. It will be going to market," Lenovo spokesman Chris Millward confirmed to PCWorld. The IdeaPad A10 won't win over any power users with its spec sheet. It's a relatively toned down notebook with an ARM-based quad-core processor clocked at 1.6GHz, 1GB or 2GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, 0.3MP webcam, microSD card slot, and HDMI output. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Have a Look at Valve's Steam Controller in Action Posted: 11 Oct 2013 12:14 PM PDT  This is how you'll game on a Steam Machine
Valve wrapped up its trio of announcements a couple of weeks ago by unveiling its Stream Controller, a unique gamepad designed to play with upcoming Steam Machines running Steam OS, the company's other two big reveals. The Steam Controller represents a move away from the traditional keyboard and mouse combo that have been so dominant on the PC platform, but according to Valve, this isn't like other controllers on the market. To prove it, Valve posted a video demonstrating the Steam Controller. What's supposed to be the awesomesauce component of the Steam Controller is the use of dual high-resolution trackpads as its base. The trackpads are also clickable, so you can use the entire surface as a button. The Steam Controller uses a new generation of super-precise haptic feedback with dual linear resonant actuators. They consist of small, strong, and weighted electro-magnets attached to each of the trackpads. The idea is to replicate the precise movements of a keyboard and mouse, but within a gamepad that allows playing games more comfortably on the living room couch. In the following video, Valve demonstrates the Steam Controller in a few different titles, including Counter Strike: Global Offensive without any kind of auto-aim turned on. Check it out and let us know what you think. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Google Under the Microscope in Brazil for Possible Antitrust Violations Posted: 11 Oct 2013 11:22 AM PDT  Brazil thinks Google may be up to no good
Another day, another antitrust suit. Granted, not all of them are focused on Google -- Microsoft's had its fair share of antitrust lawsuits, too -- though this one is, and it's coming from Brazil. Over in Brazil, Google is under investigation for alleged anticompetitive practices involving the use of rivals' content, discouraging their advertisers, and favoring its own product listings in its search results. Microsoft was first to cry foul, according to a statement by Brazilian antitrust watchdog Cade, Reuters reports. However, Microsoft isn't the only one calling shenanigans. Buscapé and Bondfardo, a pair of comparison shopping sites in Brazil, have accused Google of "scraping," or reproducing product reviews from their users. The two sites also allege that Google plays favorites to Google Shopping on its general web search by making it the only price comparison tool that includes photos, prices, and evaluations. Google said it is cooperating with Brazilian regulators in the investigation. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Facebook Changes Privacy Policy, Makes Nearly Everyone Searchable Posted: 11 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT 
Opting out of search is now impossible—unless you're a minor At one point in time, it was possible to keep your Facebook profile nearly invisible. Using a now defunct setting called "Who can look up your Timeline by name?" users were able to remove their name from search results. The feature's been gone for people who weren't using it, but it'll be permanently removed for everyone in the next few weeks. In an official blog post, Facebook's Chief Privacy Officer Michael Richter says "the setting made Facebook's search feature feel broken at times. For example, people told us that they found it confusing when they tried looking for someone who they knew personally and couldn't find them in search results." 
If you've been using the feature, you should be seeing a notice on your homepage reminding you about the change. For everyone else, it's yet another privacy feature that we can't make use of. What do you think about the change? Is it enough to make you quit Facebook? Tell us in the comments. Follow Ben on Twitter. |
| Grand Theft Auto V May Join the Glorious PC Platform Early Next Year Posted: 11 Oct 2013 08:43 AM PDT  Early 2014 can't come quick enough
PC gamers sometimes have a love/hate relationship with Rockstar Games. A recent example is the release of Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. PC gamers will inevitably love the title once it's ported over to the superior gaming platform, especially if Rockstar Games takes advantage of the hardware that's out there, but at the same time, they hate having to wait. And wait, and wait, and wait. Hopefully, the wait will soon be over. According to Eurogamer and the "multiple industry sources" it spoke with, GTA V is set to debut on PCs in the first quarter of 2014. The gaming site didn't call out its sources, nor has Rockstar Games made an official announcement, so we'll file this one under O.H. for "Optimistically Hopeful." Back in August, it was hoped that GTA V would arrive on PCs in the fall, as indicated by a statement Nvidia made at the time. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a slip-up on Nvidia's part, though Rockstar Games could still end up surprising folks by releasing the game to PC before the end of the year. More recently, Intel's Chris R. Silva stated he thinks GTA V won't remain a console exclusive very long, though he wasn't speaking with any inside information. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| BlackBerry Co-Founders Consider Buying Back the Struggling Smartphone Maker Posted: 11 Oct 2013 07:39 AM PDT  Questions surround the future of BlackBerry
BlackBerry, or the company formerly known as Research In Motion (RIM), if you prefer, is quickly finding itself the odd smartphone maker out. Dreams of catching up to Android or iOS in market share now seem farfetched, but on a global scale, BlackBerry has even taken a backseat to Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, a relative newcomer to mobile. Something has to change, and apparently that begins on the ownership side. Company co-founders Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin are currently deciding whether or not to make a joint bid to buy out BlackBerry, it was revealed during a regulatory posting this week, CNN reports. Financial details of the potential deal are not known, nor is it clear if the duo have secured financing for such an acquisition. What we do know is that both Lazardis and Fregin each own around 8 percent of the company. They aren't the only ones thinking about a buyout. Fairfax Financial, a Canadian insurance company that happens to be BlackBerry's largest shareholder, stated it wanted to buy the company for $4.7 billion. However, Fairfax Financial never secured financing, leading some to wonder if the company was only trying to draw interest to a takeover before cashing out its shares. In addition, it's been rumored that Google, Cisco, SAP, Intel, LG, Samsung, and Cerberus Capital all have shown varying amounts of interest in buying all or part of BlackBerry. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Mega Motherboard Sale (and a PSU for Good Measure)! Posted: 11 Oct 2013 07:10 AM PDT |
