Latest News - Page 2947

The US Department of Justice has its hands busy with paperwork regarding Microsoft and its possible involvement with bribing foreign government officials into accepting software contracts in both Russia and Pakistan.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting on the story, and according to the Journal's sources, "in Pakistana a tipster alleged that Microsoft authorized a consulting firm to pay for a five-day trip to Egypt for a government official and his wife in order to win a tender."

Moving onto Russia, the tipster said that "resellers of its software allegedly funneled kickbacks to executives of a state-owned company to win a deal." Microsoft is cooperating with the investigation, but why? Just give the DoJ some Windows-based PCs filled with security holes so that the NSA can send the e-mails back and forth.

It looks like Tesla Motors' Model S electric car is about to sell a bunch more vehicles, after it received five stars for all of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's tests.

There were four tests involved: front, side, pole and rollover. The Model S from Tesla scored five stars in every single test, which is somewhat of a record considering most safe cars score five stars on the frontal crash protection test, and four stars for side impact protection. Tesla adds in its announcement that during a previous roof crush test used during validation, the machine failed when applying more than 4 G's of pressure.

This pressure is the same as stacking four of the Model S cars on top of each other, all without the roof breaking - quite incredible. The NHTSA has said that the total scores made up of five stars for all tests, is one of the highest on record for a production vehicle, but how did Tesla do it?

Omate has just popped up onto the tech industry radar with TrueSmart, which is a "truly standalone water-resistant smartwatch." Omate has taken to Kickstarter to fund the wearable device, which is capable of working independently from your smartphone, as it features 3G capabilities, as well as voice and gesture controls.

The biggest ticket is that the TrueSmart smartwatch is water-resistant, which is perfect for those who would be in the rain, or would wear the watch in the shower for example. It has more functions than most smartwatches, such as a watch, phone, camera, GPS, notifications, Android apps, LBS tracker, SOS device, monitoring and much more.

The Omate SmartWatch will cost around $179 by the looks of its Kickstarter page, and required a goal of $100,000 worth of funding. They've smashed through this with 1,123 backers at the time of writing, and $218,477 in funding so far with a huge 28 days to go.

Many years ago when I first got involved in the RepRap 3D Printer project, one of the goals all of us had was to one day develop an affordable, home-sized 3-D scanner. Over the years, several design concepts have popped up and a few working examples were hacked together in basements and workshops, but no commercially viable option ever came to fruition. That is until now. Today, MakerBot announced that it has started accepting pre-orders for its MakerBot Digitizer.

The MakerBot Ditigizer is a desktop-sized 3-D scanner that is able to scan objects up to 8 inches tall and 8 inches wide that weigh no more than 6.6 pounds. The way it works is the digitizer fires two lasers at the object being scanned that are then reflected back into an imaging sensor. Software then takes that information and creates a 3-D digital file that can be printed on the company's Replicator 2 3D printer.

The company says that the Digitizer is not for everyone and that "the MakerBot Digitizer is for early adopters, experimenters, and visionaries who want to be pioneers in Desktop 3D Scanning. This includes, but is not limited to, architects, designers, creative hobbyists, educators, and artists." Pricing starts at $1400 with an $150 tossed in for the company's MakerCare warranty.

Earlier today, SteelSeries introduced the world to its latest flagship headset, the Siberia Elite Gaming Headset. SteelSeries says that the new Siberia Elite features the high-quality audio drivers and is equipped with Dolby technology that creates a realistic 7.1 virtual surround sound. The headset will be available for pre-order in September and will retail for $199.99.

The new headset's design features a self-adjusting suspension system that is anchored to a still arc. The headset's ear cups feature RGB illuminated dials that are capable of reproducing 16.8 million color options. These dials control the Siberia Elite's audio and microphone, while the company's SteelSeries Engine 3 software ushers in new levels of customization and profile generation.

"First introduced in 2004, SteelSeries' Siberia headset brought together amazing audio quality with first-ever features like a self-adjusting suspension design and circumaural earcups to the market. The headset quickly became popular amongst gamers with its outstanding quality and performance as well as caught the attention of DJ's and musicians, appearing in popular videos and in places that expanded even beyond our core gaming audience," said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. "Siberia is recognized today as one of the fastest growing and highly rated line of headsets by consumers from around the globe. Expanding upon this legacy, today we introduce the next level of Siberia audio combining the acclaimed features, which makes the Siberia brand successful, with the newest and highest-quality audio technology and software that can truly be categorized as Elite."

Today, Creative Technology announced the launch of its newest Sound Blaster gaming headsets set dubbed the Tactic3D Fury. Creative says that the Tactic3D Fury is compatible with both PC and Mac thanks to the dual-mode USB adapter. A 3.5mm headphone jack is also present, which allows the end-user to connect the headset to a mobile phone, allowing them to receive calls during intense gaming sessions.

"Riding on the positive momentum of our Sound Blaster Tactic3D range of gaming headsets, we designed the Sound Blaster Tactic3D Fury with a sleeker, even more comfortable ear cup design than the headsets that inspired it. With this great-looking, comfortable design and our completely customizable suite of sound and voice technologies, we're unleashing the Fury as the best combination of gaming performance and value for the mass market," said Long Chye Low, general manager of audio at Creative.

Included with the headset is Creative's Sound Blaster Tactic3D Control Panel software that enables gamers to customize settings and tailor the sound output to their specific taste . This provides an immersive and accurate 3-D acoustic environment that is unlike any other. The Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Fury gaming headset is expected to arrive on store shelves sometime in October 2013 and will retail at a price point of $59.99.

Today, TRENDnet announced that it has began shipping its new TPE-1620WS 16-Port Gigabit Web Smart PoE+ Switch. The company says that this all metal, rack-mountable, managed PoE switch features 16 Gigabit PoE+ ports and two shared SFP slots.

Each of the 16 ports automatically support PoE+ (30 Watts) and PoE (15 Watts) power-connected devices. Featuring the company's GREENnet technology, the TPE-1620WS is capable of powering down the ports when they're not in use, which offers up to a 70 percent increase in power savings. TRENDnet says that the TPE-1620WS is available online and from participating retail partners at an MSRP of $529.99.

I've just woken up this morning (it's 7am here in my part of Australia) to the news of a three-hour shutdown of NASDAQ. Yes, a three-hour shutdown to trading in NASDAQ securities, which is massive news.

NASDAQ pegged the issue on an 'unexplained technological problem' and resumed trading at 3:25pm EDT, after a 3-hour, 11-minute shutdown of trading in US companies' stocks. The shutdown is the largest in recent history. Sal Arnuk, co-head of equity trading at Themis Trading in Chatnam, New Jersey said: "Any brokerage firm gets paid by executing orders. So yes, we are frustrated, and this hurts us, it hurts the market and it hurts public confidence."

The exchange blamed the issue with distributing stock price quotes for the shutdown, with a source close to the matter describing the problem as a "data feed issue" reports Reuters. Ok, now let's talk serious for a little bit, because a "technical issue", in my opinion, doesn't just happen to NASDAQ.

Today, Logitech announced that it has released a special edition of its popular Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400. The special edition boasts all of the same features that already make the original Logitech K400 so great, except now it is available in what the company is calling a "stylish, fresh white, to fit your clean and modern living space."

For those of you not familiar with the K400, it is a wireless QWERTY keyboard from Logitech that includes a notebook-style touchpad and mouse buttons. The keyboard features all the standard media keys as well as a few extras that enhance your computing experience.

The company says that this keyboard has been optimized for the living-room environment and its new white façade allows it to fit in with any modern home theater environment. The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 White edition is expected to be available in the US and Europe beginning next month and will retail at a pricing point of $39.99. Head over to Source #1 to check it out!

Earlier today, avast! Software announced the release of its new premium mobile security platform called avast! Mobile Premium. The company says that this premier version of its award-winning mobile security app for Android smartphones and tablets offers customers new superior anti-theft and backup technologies. The company claims that the new software will help owners recover lost or stolen phones by using a new technology called "Geofencing."

Geofencing creates a virtual perimeter around the device and sounds a loud alarm if someone attempts to take the device beyond a user set distance. This new anti-theft feature, when combined with avast's mobile backup, ensures that in the event that a phone is stolen, both the hardware and data are easily recoverable. The backup technology allows you to backup important documents such as photos, contacts, and even financial information.

"More than half the people in the US own a smartphone and consumers are growing more concerned by the day about the security of the information on their mobile devices," said Vincent Steckler, Chief Executive Officer at AVAST. "avast! Mobile Premium easily fills the rapidly growing need for on-the-go security and protection." Check out the full release at Source #1 below. You can pick up the avast! Mobile Premium app from the Google Play Store at Source #2.

According to ZeniMax Online Studios' general manager, Matt Firor, The Elder Scrolls Online will require a $14.99 monthly subscription fee. Firor added: "We'll talk about further discounts, etc. later, but for now, we are very happy to finally announce our model. It's very simple - you pay once per month after the first 30 days and the entire game is available to you."

Firor did say that ZeniMax would offer up discounts if gamers purchase multiple months at a time, and the developer will be supporting game time cards. The ZeniMax GM also said that the decision to require a "flat fee for continued, unlimited access" would allow the developer to remove "sacrifices" that other pricing models would've forced them to do. Firor continued:

The Elder Scrolls Online is destined for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows and *gasp* Mac OS X sometime in the future.

We all know HTC is going through troubled times, but at the same time they've seen some decent success with some of its latest smartphones. The Taiwanese company has even enlisted the help of Robert Downey Jr, or Iron Man, in its latest advertising campaign.

But, the company still has issues. Reuters has an interesting interview lineup, where they've interviewed over a dozen of former, and current HTC executives, who talked about HTC's CEO, Peter Chou. They said they Chou was a quick decision maker with an attention to detail, which stop HTC from climbing higher up the smartphone success ladder.

Chou's traits have, however, helped the company over the last few years, as Chou could quickly make a decision on a product, or quickly snap together a concept for a new device. Reuters did talk of an offsite meeting two years ago where the HTC CEO sketched his plans for the design, price and launch date of the Sensation XL a mere three months before its launch.

If you've been waiting for the first expansion to Diablo III to drop, Gamescom 2013 is the time for the announcement. The first expansion for Diablo III has been dubbed "Reaper of Souls."

Reaper of Souls will introduce a bunch of new content, including a new act, a new character, two new games modes (Nephalem trials and Loot runs) and a continuation of Diablo III's story arc that goes deeper into Diablo's mythos. Reaper of Souls chronicles the twisted fate of Malthael, who is an Archangel who fell from his position as the Archangel of Wisdom from the Angiris Council, who is a powerful sect that rules the high heavens.

The new character in Reaper of Souls is the Crusader, which looks like a mix between Diablo II's Paladin and Diablo III's Barbarian classes. The Crusaders are heavily armed and have stacks of armor, and should come with some nifty abilities. The description of the Crusader states they will reap "heavy, heavy damage."

Crytek has announced a next-gen CryEngine, which is an evolution of their top-tier graphics engine. Crytek has taken this launch with a different attitude, offering commercial game licensees with up-to-date access to the latest features that CryEngine has to offer.

The new CryEngine has support for current and next generation platforms, including the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC and the most surprising of all: Nintendo's Wii U. This is a surprising move, considering EA won't be releasing any Frostbite-powered games on Nintendo's 'next-gen' console. Hopefully Wii U-based developers will jump onto using the new CryEngine, and fast.

Microsoft is committing to pushing Kinect down the throats, or living rooms, of every single Xbox One owner, where corporate VP Phil Harrison telling CVG during an interview that Microsoft's upcoming next-gen console will never be sold without Kinect.

Harrison went as far as stating that the Xbox One "is Kinect", adding that "they are not separate systems." Harrison said he currently owns the NSA spy box gaming console, saying that it's a "very magical experience" to power up the console through a voice command and load his profile. He added: "They are not separate systems. An Xbox One has chips, it has memory, it has Blu-ray, it has Kinect, it has a controller. These are all part of the platform ecosystem."

He continued: "It makes you think about your relationship with technology in a slightly different way. It's personal. It makes you think, I wish more devices would do this."

Well, LG, where did this come from, eh? The South Korean giant has just announced that it's developed a new 5.5-inch display that crams in an insane 538 pixels per inch.

This sets a new record for pixel density in smartphones, with the closest panel in something like the HTC One having 'just' (we can say that now) 468 PPI, and the iPhone 5 having a now dismal 326 PPI. LG has also said that the new 5.5-inch high-pixel panel is "only 1.21 millimeters thin with a 1.2 millimeter bezel measured in LCD modules."

This achievement makes it thinner than any other display... in the world. 538 PPI on a 5.5-inch panel gives us a resolution of 2560x1440, on a mobile phone, which is the same resolution of the monitor I'm writing this news on. Crazy stuff. Life must be Good at LG right now.

Something that just hit my inbox minutes ago is from Riot Games, announcing that they've had their US-based servers hacked. The attack didn't hit all of its servers, but just a 'portion' of its US servers.

The hackers were able to access usernames, e-mail addresses, salted password hashes, and some first and last names. Riot Games is also investigating that approximately 120,000 transaction records from 2011 that contained hashed and salted credit card numbers has been accessed. The League of Legends developer is contacting these players to alert them.

In order to hopefully escape more issues, Riot Games will require players in the US to change their passwords within the next 24 hours. Once this time hits, you'll be automatically prompted to change your password anyway.

Today, Mad Catz announced the launch of its new Force Feedback Racing Wheel designed to work exclusively on Microsoft's upcoming Xbox One gaming console. Mad Catz says that the wheel has been specifically designed to offer the most authentic driving experience one can possibly have on an Xbox One.

The steering wheel has been CNC machined out of aluminum and then wrapped in genuine suede leather to provide a solid yet comfortable experience. Furthermore, the wheel is packed full of technology, including dual next-generation force feedback motors and high precision buttons, to ensure the highest performance possible. If that wasn't enough, the entire steering wheel is removable in the event the user wishes to upgrade in the future.

"As we approach the Holiday season, excitement continues to mount for Xbox One and we're pleased to announce our second premium product for the console" said Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. "We have previously commented on how the enhanced performance of Xbox One opens up additional scope for innovation and believe that the precision engineering and customization of the Force Feedback Racing Wheel will appeal to the passionate racing gamer."

During the Gamescom event being held in Germany this week, ROCCAT Studios announced the addition of a new high-quality gaming headset to its lineup of gaming peripherals. The new ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 digital gaming headset is the successor to ROCCAT's Kave 5.1.

The company says that the new Kave XTD is based on community and customer feedback and that the new headset builds on foundations laid by the original headset by improving existing features and integrating completely new innovations of its own. The headset features a fully-equipped desktop remote that integrates a built-in premium 5.1 sound card. Additionally, ROCCAT Smart Link technology is built-in. This technology lets the user pair their smartphone to the remote via Bluetooth. This new feature allows users to make and receive calls through the headset while gaming.

The remote also features built-in 5.1 speaker ports, which allow users to hook up their existing sound systems and easily toggle between the headset and speaker output without having to change settings in the PC software controls. ROCCAT says that the Kave XTD 5.1 provides a true, rich 5.1 surround sound. The headset features three driver units per ear cup, which are aligned at a 12 degree angle. This allows the headset to deliver an immersive and crisp sound while weighing 25 percent less than its predecessor.

This week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the formation of a new initiative whose goal is to make the Internet available to every person on the planet. The announcement was kicked off with the launching of a new website, Internet.org, which also happens to be the name of the initiative.

Internet.org's aim is to conquer three specific challenges: affordability, data efficiency, and developing business models that will provide incentives for companies to help bring cheaper, more plentiful Internet access to emerging markets around the globe.

"Everything Facebook has done has been about giving all people around the world the power to connect," Zuckerberg said. "There are huge barriers in developing countries to connecting and joining the knowledge economy. Internet.org brings together a global partnership that will work to overcome these challenges, including making internet access available to those who cannot currently afford it."