| Epic Games Releases Unreal Engine 4.5 with Major Updates Posted: 14 Oct 2014 05:09 PM PDT  Over 40 new features and a new tutorial system
Good news for all of the aspiring video game developers out there. Epic Games has released Unreal Engine 4.5, a massive update for the game engine that includes over 40 new features, contributed by developers outside of Epic, along with a new tutorial system, game templates, and better support for mobile platforms and consoles. One of the newest, and biggest, features is automatic C++ hot reloading. Unreal Engine 4.5 will automatically apply the necessary C++ changes after a programmer has compiled the gameplay code from Visual Studio or Xcode. Additional new features include ray-traced shadows, a new dynamic shadowing method that traces a ray through mesh distance fields straight to the light, and screen-space subsurface scattering that allow programmers to create realistic skin materials and other effects. Upgrades to the engine's UI and animation systems have also been made. A couple of templates have been added to the game engine as well. There is an advanced vehicle template, that can work with a VR headset, which shows a vehicle with double wishbone suspension and comes with a test track replete with terrain, ramps, and loops. For those who wish to program their game for controller support, Epic Games added in a new twin stick shooter blueprint template to help create fast-paced, top-down shooter games. The Unreal Engine's tutorial system has also gone through an overhaul. The overhaul has done away with popup windows, features unobtrusive text bubbles over the editor to help walk a person through the interface elements and engine's various features, and the editor will even alert a user about tutorials that haven't been tried. For those of you who are interested, Epic Games has posted the full list of changes and additions that comes with Unreal Engine 4.5 on its forums. Follow Sean on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Samsung 840 Evo 500GB SSD, Asus Maximus VII Hero Mobo, and More! Posted: 14 Oct 2014 10:21 AM PDT |
| Asus and AMD Get Cozy, Look to Expand Partnership in Desktop Arena Posted: 14 Oct 2014 10:03 AM PDT  Did we just become best friends? Yup! - Step Brothers
We're always hearing about Intel and Microsoft working with system vendors to promote cheaper systems, but what about AMD? Well, if the chatty heads entrenched in the upstream supply chain know what they're talking about, then AMD and Asus are fast becoming BFFs in the desktop space. AMD is even said to be using the name "Zen" for its next-generation desktop APU platform. According to Digitimes and its sources, the decision to roll with "Zen" is not a coincidence -- it's a branding that Asus has used on past products and a sign that the two companies are expanding their relationship. The sources also say that AMD has been offering Asus special discounts for its CPUs. Those same sources believe that AMD is trying to expand its desktop APU sales by cooperating with Asus and wants to bump its overall market share to above 30 percent, which is about where it's at now. However, AMD has to walk a fine line so as not to drive companies like Gigabyte and MSI towards the competition. Take all this with a grain of salt. One thing to keep in mind is that AMD has a new CEO in Dr. Lisa Su, who just last week replaced Rory Read as head of the company. Given how recently this happened, it's a bit too early to know what kind of strategy Dr. Su will put into place. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Google Express Same Day Delivery Service Gets a $95 Annual Subscription Plan Posted: 14 Oct 2014 09:36 AM PDT  Now available in more cities
Say goodbye to Google Shopping Express and hello to Google Express, the new (and shorter) name for Google's same-day delivery service. In addition to the slight name change, Google added three more cities to the fold -- Boston, Chicago, and Washington D.C. -- and 16 new merchants, such as Nine West, PetSmart, SportsAuthority, and more. And if you live in Bay Area, you can now order alcohol, provided you're at least 21-years-old. Google also rolled out a new annual membership option that runs $95 per year (paid up front) or $10 per month. Alternately, those in serviced areas can still pay $4.99 per eligible order. If you're not sure, Google offers a free three-month trial to test out the service. The annual price undercuts Amazon's Prime membership by $4 and includes same-day or overnight delivery on eligible orders of $15 or more. Those who subscribe also get "first dibs on delivery windows" and can share a membership with a household member. According to Google, more than 7 million people now have access to its same-day delivery service, and in Northern California, nearly 12 million can use its next-day service. However, there are still a lot of uncovered areas, as it's only available in a small handful of major cities. If you're interested, head over to the Google Express website to learn more. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Microsoft Windows Boss Elaborates on Decision to Skip Windows 9 Posted: 14 Oct 2014 08:41 AM PDT  Toe the company line
Somewhere out there is a hidden warehouse filled with missing software. In it you'll find such titles as Leisure Suit Larry 4: The Missing Floppies, Ultima X: Odyssey, and Windows 9. The location will remain a mystery until the end of time, though the decision to fill it with certain pieces of software is more readily known. With regards to Windows 9, Microsoft's Tony Prophet shared some additional details about the decision to skip it and go straight to Windows 10. Quoting Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Prophet took to the stage at the Dreamforce conference in San Francisco and said simply, "It came and it went." That's really the only explanation anyone needs, though Prophet offered up some additional insight into the matter. "Windows 10 is not going to be an incremental step from Window 8.1," Prophet said, according to The Times of India. "Windows 10 is going to be a material step. We're trying to create one platform, one eco-system that unites as many of the devices from the small embedded Internet of Things, through tablets, through phones, through PCs and, ultimately, into the Xbox." Microsoft doesn't want anyone associating Windows 10 with Windows 8/8.1. One of the keys to getting it right this time around is allowing users to try out the OS much earlier in the development process than before. The stated goal of the Windows 10 Technical Preview is to collect feedback. "The reason we're doing that is so we can listen to our customers," Prophet says, adding that Microsoft is especially interested in what enterprise customers have to say. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Fractal Design Announces Edison M Line of Modular Power Supplies Posted: 14 Oct 2014 07:43 AM PDT  New PSUs from Fractal Design range in wattage from 450W to 750W
Fractal Design is perhaps best known for its line of cases, like the Define XL or Core 3000. However, that's not all the company is into. Fractal Design just rolled out a new family of modular power supplies dubbed Edison M. They're available in a variety of wattages, including 450W, 550W, 650W, and 750W, each with modular cables and 80 Plus Gold efficiency certification. Each unit sports a temperature controlled FDB-bearing 120mm fan, Japanese electrolytic capacitors, over-temperature protection, short circuit protection, and other safeguards that are relatively standard fare in today's power supplies. One area where the Edison M may stand out is by having an "extra-long" ATX 12V cable to accommodate cases with bottom-mounted PSU positions -- the 4+4 pin measures 700mm and the ATX 20+4 pin measures 550mm. The Edison M utilizes a single +12V rail design, with 37A available on the 450W model, 45A on the 550W, 54A on the 650W, and 72A on the 750W. Compared to other PSUs that appear to be in the same class, Fractal Design's Edison M Series seems to run a little high. MSRPs are $85 for 450W, $95 for 550W, $105 for 650W, and $120 for 750W. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
