Latest News - Page 2536

The HK4 series from Toshiba has been solely aimed at improving storage in the enterprise market, offering a new read-intensive HK4R Series of SSDs that pack up to 1.92TB in capacity and the HK4E value drives that will be released up to 1.6TB.

With the option to be packed with Trusted Computing Group enterprise encryption and Toshiba's Quadruple Swing-By Code error-correction technology, these drives are built to last in a data-intensive environment. As solid state drives reach more popularity as storage for server solutions, Toshiba America's vice president of SSD, Jeremy Werner, says that these new models are "designed to meet the needs of our customers who are looking for a SATA SSD with low operating power, excellent quality of service, high capacity and with encryption."

While the features and storage capacities sound great, there has unfortunately been no mention of release pricing just yet. With the release date set for April 2016, we will have to wait and see how badly these will hurt the wallet.

Have you ever had the inclination to ride a beaver? Perhaps even tame and mount a giant beaver to help do your bidding to survive a hostile and difficult environment? Studio Wildcard thinks you do and they've added the Castoroides Feliconcisor into the now massive catalog of species in the game.

The Giant Beaver of the real-world grew up to 2.2m in length and weighed about 90Kg according to fossil records. And they've modeled it near perfectly here, complete with the snarling, pointed teeth used to carve out their dam habitats. And they'll actually go about building those in-game as well, which you can come across while hunting for the mighty giant beaver. The cuddly beaver also acts as a sort-of mobile crafting station.

Train and make the beaver your friend, and mount, so it can be used as a wood gatherer, which it's fantastic at. And if you ever happen to come across any pesky destructive humans that want to steal your beavers, that you just must take captive, you can actually do it the right way, with the new in-game handcuffs. I'm sure these will be used for more "creative" diversions, but that's what makes this game so fascinating. All the wonderful different ways in which you c an approach the game.

Suitable for those wanting to game on a Microsoft Windows PC, Sony PlayStation 4, or Xbox One, Corsair has today announced its VOID Surround headset - adding a wired version to the previously all-wireless product range.

"Most gamers don't play on just one platform, so we wanted to build a headset that can be used anywhere" said Corsair's headset product manager, Joshua LaTendresse, with this headset adding the same sound quality and comfort enjoyed in our VOID 7.1 RGB wireless review. Made with a cast aluminum construction and microfiber ear cups, lovers of leather should look elsewhere.

This headset functions with Dolby 7.1 functions only when plugged in through USB, as we're not being offered a 'true surround-sound' experience here - but as my reviews go to show, that's not really a bad thing. Being released with an MSRP of $79.99 compared to the newly-announced wireless RGB white model at $129.99, this product is available for purchase immediately.

For the cool price of $18.00 per share for a total equity value of $5.9 billion, Activision Blizzard has completely acquired the makers of Candy Crush Saga, King.

With this takeover comes a massive influx of users, with CEO of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, stating that "We now reach over 500 million users across almost every country, making us the largest game network in the world. We see great opportunities to create new ways for audiences to experience their favorite franchises." This massive user base comes partly thanks to the relatively new addition of Battle.net and the continued long-term service of World of WarCraft.

This takeover means that King will still be lead by the original team, with a recently issued press release stating that Candy Crush and other king games will be commanded by "Chief Executive Officer Riccardo Zacconi, Chief Creative Officer Sebastian Knutsson, and Chief Operating Officer Stephane Kurgan and operate as an independent unit of Activision Blizzard."

Comic book fans have waited for years to witness Batman and Superman duke it out, and there's only one thing that could make it even better - see the comic book violence truly come to life. Now, later this year they'll get their wish.

While the PG-13 theatrical cut is due to hit screens in just a few weeks, the MPAA have confirmed that Warner Bros. have submitted an 'ultimate cut' of the film for classification, which the board has granted a restricted rating. The board have even specifically made note that this is an "EDITED VERSION. CONTENT IS DIFFERENT FROM PG-13 VERSION".

For mainstream fans who want to see it as soon as possible, 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' will be released in 3D and 2D cinemas as well as IMAX screens on March 25th 2016 worldwide.

Here we go again... Half-Life 3 is being teased by Valve, with the game showing up in their new SteamVR Performance Tool that was released just a couple of days ago. Half-Life 3 is referenced multiple times, as you can see below:

But the Half-Life 3 fun doesn't stop there, as Reddit member 'DuckyDays' took a peek inside the SteamVR Performance Tool, and found the following mentions from Half-Life 3:

MWC 2016 - Most high-end smartphones can have their 2500-3000mAh batteries charged in around 1-1.5 hours, but how about 15 minutes? That's what Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo is teasing at Mobile World Congress.

The new technology is called Super VOOC, and can charge an empty smartphone battery in only 15 minutes. Oppo's impressive technology is still in the prototyping stage, but the company says that its smartphones coming out later this year and early 2017 will feature the super fast-charging batteries. At MWC 2016, Oppo showed off a reference smartphone with a 2500mAh battery that went from empty to 85% charge in just 7 minutes, which is damn impressive.

Qualcomm's competing technology, Quick Charge 3.0, can get a smartphone from 0-80% in around 35 minutes, so Oppo has something impressive right now - but is only at the prototype stage. While Qualcomm's QC3.0 is slower, it's here right now.

After promising it earlier and delays because of issues with the update, Android 6.0 has arrived on the Tegra X1-powered NVIDIA Shield. NVIDIA Shield is the company's 4K-capable Android TV-based device, which you can read all about here in our review.

The new update doesn't just include Google's latest mobile OS, but it also includes the next generation Vulkan API. With support for Vulkan, the NVIDIA Shield becomes the first consumer product based on Android to support the next-gen API. The new Android 6.0 update for Shield doesn't just include Android 6.0 and Vulkan, here's the full update log:

With the final episode in the much hyped 'X-Files' revival airing yesterday in the United States, to what can only be described as a cliffhanger, speculation has naturally moved to whether or not there'll be more 'X-Files' episodes in the future. And according to creator Chris Carter, there probably will be.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Carter confirmed that while there isn't any current plans to return, he's waiting for the call from Fox to assemble the gang. "They're going to ask for more. The ratings were very good. They were happy with the show. I talked to Dana Walden [Fox TV CEO] today. She said they'd very much like more, but nothing's being negotiated yet ... there's an appetite for more in the future, it's just a matter of figuring out how to get it done. The last negotiations took about five months, so it could be a while before we figure out how to do this." Carter has also previously revealed he has a third 'X-Files' movie script ready to go.

The six episode limited run returned to very mixed reviews, with most agreeing that the third, comedic episode was the highlight - and the opening and closing episodes the most disappointing.

Sony is holding a special invite-only press event at GDC 2016 where it may reveal the release date of its PlayStation VR headset.

Now that we know the Oculus Rift is $599 and ships in March and HTC's Vive is $799 for a release in April, there's only one missing link to the VR puzzle: Sony's PlayStation VR. The Japanese console-maker is expected to follow its competitors by announcing pricing and launch info at its exclusive GDC event next month.

Past speculation hints the PlayStation VR could cost anywhere from $400-600, with Sony saying that the PSVR will be "priced as a new gaming platform". Gamers are hoping that the PSVR will be as low as $299, but that seems like an especially low estimate, especially considering the headset's cutting-edge OLED displays.

MWC 2016 - Sandisk has just unveiled their latest microSD UHS-II card, with Sandisk's new Extreme PRO microSD card capable of read speeds of 275MB/sec.

The new UHS-II capable microSD card is considerably faster than its predecessor, which could only transfer data at 90MB/sec. The write speeds on the new microSD card hit around 100MB/sec, and don't let its size deceive you - as this new microSD card is capable of 275MB/sec, while the full-sized Extreme PRO SD cards tap out at 280MB/sec.

Sandisk is pushing their new Extreme Pro microSD UHS-II card is shockproof, temperature-proof, waterproof and even X-ray-proof. These new class 10 cards only arrive in two capacities: 64GB and 128GB. Sandisk is aiming these new cards at the professionals, with the 64GB version priced at $179.99 and the 128GB priced at $299.99.

Last week, Facebook joined the ranks of Google, Twitter, and Apple in publicly supporting one's right to smartphone encryption amidst the San Bernardino terrorist case. This left some to wonder where Microsoft was in all of this, so we inquired with the tech giant, who pointed us to a tweet by Microsoft President and CLO Brad Smith (retweeted by CEO Satya Nadella), indicating it does indeed support encryption (via the Reform Government Surveillance coalition).

The full statement reads as follows: "Reform Government Surveillance companies believe it is extremely important to deter terrorists and criminals and to help law enforcement by processing legal orders for information in order to keep us all safe. But technology companies should not be required to build in backdoors to the technologies that keep their users' information secure. RGS companies remain committed to providing law enforcement with the help it needs while protecting the security of their customers and their customers' information."

After lots of teases, Bethesda has finally revealed a concrete roadmap for Fallout 4's console mod integration. According to Todd Howard, Xbox One owners will get a month's head start over PS4, and beta testing is already underway.

"Our goal [for mods] is between the first two DLCs. It'll go up at that time on PC. In April, all of that stuff will go up on PC. People are beta testing it. There'll be a lag on consoles. We want to get it up on PC and have it work. It'll probably be a good month before it hits Xbox One, and another month for PlayStation 4," Howard said in a recent interview with Game Informer.

So there you have it--Xbox One gamers may get mod support as early as May, with PlayStation 4 following up in June. Remember that both the PS4 and Xbox One will depend on PC modders, as console mods must be created on a PC.

Development on Gears of War: Ultimate Edition has been slow going, but we finally have some juicy news for you today, as the system requirements have been posted to the Windows Store.

Great as the game looks, they're likely beefier than you expected: 16GB RAM (8GB minimum); an AMD FX 8-core CPU, and a GeForce GTX 970 (Recommended) / 980 Ti ("Ideal") or Radeon R9 290X (Recommended) / 390X ("Ideal"). Likely, "Ideal" specs are for those that want to do 4K gaming.

See the full specifications below.

Google is shutting down another service that you've probably never heard of but sounds great: Google Compare (also known as Google Advisor). The website allows you to obtain quotes from a variety of companies on car insurance, travel insurance, credit cards, and mortgages.

"Despite people turning to Google for financial services information, the Google Compare service itself hasn't driven the success we hoped for," Google wrote in an e-mail sent to partners yesterday. "After a lot of careful consideration, we've decided that focusing more intently on AdWords and future innovations will enable us to provide fresh, comprehensive answers to Google users, and to provide our financial services partners with the best return on investment."

Google explained it had difficulty attracting advertisers to the service, in part due to limited availability of products in the US and UK.

Bethesda's Todd Howard revealed some amazing news today for Fallout 4 PC modders: the team plans to release the official GECK modding suite sometime in April, after the first Automatron DLC launches. Soon PC players will gain access to limitless possibilities, and just about every mod on the Nexus will become ten times better.

In a recent interview with Game Informer, Bethesda game director Todd Howard talked about future plans for the GECK and console mods, all of which are being beta tested at the moment. "Our goal is between the first two DLCs. It'll go up at that time on PC. In April. All of that stuff will go up on PC. People are beta testing it. There'll be a lag on consoles. We want to get it up on PC and have it work," he said.

As we covered in the past, Fallout 4's GECK tools will be the same software that Bethesda used to build the game. Modders will have access to a huge array of options and content, opening the door to truly amazing new additions. Although Fallout 4 mods are already pretty extensive, opening the door to the GECK will unlock the whole enchilada, and everyone from PC to console gamers will benefit.

Killer Instinct was never a bad looking game, per-se, but since it was one of the launch titles of the Xbox One it was definitely looking a little long in the tooth. The newest season, three, brings not only a new competitive fighting season but also a tremendous upgrade to the graphics and lighting system.

Upgraded graphics

The developers want the living world's to feel more vivid and engrossing, as befitting a fighting game whose backgrounds are more than just a static image setting the stage. They're intimate parts of the game. A new dynamic lighting system, reflection technology and upgraded textures and models to makes things look much better, more believable and far more entertaining than it did when it originally released in 2013. Surprisingly, the underlying game engine has stayed the same.

The cyber-punk RPG, The Technomancer, from Focus Home Interactive has a new cinematic trailer that shows how harsh life can be on a terraformed Mars.

Even though we might presume that starting a colony on Mars could lead to a better life for Earth and for those on Mars, it clearly isn't the truth in The Technomancer. The dystopian trailer shows off a wild-west type atmosphere replete with downtrodden folk in saloons and gigantic alien monster creatures that don't look like pets.

Though it's only a cinematic trailer showing off the graphical prowess and giving a glimpse into the storied backdrop, it looks good thus far. If this upcoming RPG manages to check enough open-world boxes and has a narrative to match, it could be a very interesting contender. A good story and well designed RPG systems are a must, however. Thus far they purport that they'll have a dynamic dialogue system, in-depth crafting system and a progressive story that changes with each of your dialogue choices along the way.

Final Fantasy XIV's newest update 3.2, The Gears of Change, is now officially ready to be consumed by those that're romping around Hydaelyn.

The Gears of Change is a content update as much as it still continues to root out latent bugs that might plague the game, after all these years. Crucially, it adds new story quests, beast tribe quests and plenty of class adjustments to help better balance the game. There are 11 new quests in total, with 9 of them complete mysteries until you successfully complete the main scenario first. And they're adding in a lot more content than just that, too. New high-level dungeons, continued side-story quests from the Hildibrand Adventures and a new "Primal Battle" to challenge the highest levels of players.

This update also introduces options for new players to quickly acquaint themselves with the game with the Hall of the Novice. There, the novice can embark on specialized tutorial quests that ultimately help them to understand the techniques of playing in online groups. It's a way to ease non-MMO players into the particulars of the genre.

AMD is doubling down on their embedded G-Series SoC's, tiny APU's designed with industrial applications in mind. The newest members of the family are the 3rd generation of their embedded platform, putting Excavator based cores in the high-end and Jaguar-based cores in the low-end, and they're completely pin compatible with earlier iterations of the G series (and R for the high-end chips being announced), allowing easier upgrading for customers on older hardware.

The new G-Series LX fills in the low-end with two Jaguar cores with GCN and AMD's ARM-based security co-processor. It operates at a very low 6-15W and can withstand far harsher conditions than the typical desktop processor. Available in March, this new SoC is designed for the point-of-sale market and even arcade gaming market. With their ARM co-processor it might even make a good companion to industrial automation in the connected age.

The high-end G-Series marries two Excavator cores with four GCN compute units that allow for a much better compute load if OpenCL is used. AMD is targeting similar industries that need higher compute load at a low 6-15W TDP. They expect that it'll be a good fit for the digital signage and even set-top boxes, despite that arena being dominated by ARM. This too has an integrated ARM-based security co-processor.This new processor is actually pin compatible with the higher-end R series of SoC's letting customers choose between what sort of power-envelope they want.