Crysis 3 gameplay trailer released, graphics look incredible

Trace Hagan | Gaming | Apr 24, 2012 5:17 PM CDT

EA has graced us with another Crysis trailer. This one is much longer than the teaser that was released last week and has actual gameplay included in it. We also learn some more of the backstory with this trailer and get to see that the graphics are as incredible as one would expect from the Crysis series.

As previously reported, the game will take place in New York City just like Crysis 2 did. However, this time the city has been covered by a Nanodome created by the now-corrupt Cell Corporation. Because of this Nanodome, the city will feature 7 unique districts which are called the Seven Wonders. Each will provide a different, treacherous environment.

Watch the video above and start to get excited like I am. I love the first Crysis game, so I'm excited to see it, at least somewhat, return to the jungle. Prophet will have an updated Nanosuit, composite bow, and alien tech to help him in his quest. The game will be released sometime in 2013 and be available on PC, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3.

Continue reading: Crysis 3 gameplay trailer released, graphics look incredible (full post)

Google Drive debuts after much speculation, details finally known

We've been anticipating the launch of Google Drive for a couple of weeks now, with the occasional rumor drifting about regarding when it was going to launch, pricing, etc. Well, today it has finally launched and the details are now fully known and available for me to report to you, just in case you hadn't seen it.

Google drive is now available at drive.google.com and you can visit there now to "get started with 5GB free." This brings me to the features presented by Google Drive. You get 5GB free which is comparable to Apple's iCloud and better than Dropbox's 2GB. Microsoft offers 7GB, or 25GB if you signed up before Monday.

Of course, Google offers additional storage for a cost and surprisingly, at least to me, it seems more expensive than the competitors. For 20GB annually, Google charges you $29.88. iCloud costs $40 and SkyDrive costs only $10. Dropbox doesn't offer 20GB annually. For 100GB, Google charges $59.88 annually. SkyDrive costs $50 and Dropbox, $199. iCloud doesn't offer 100GB annually.

Continue reading: Google Drive debuts after much speculation, details finally known (full post)

Building turned Tetris in case of hack as high art

Trace Hagan | Current Affairs | Apr 24, 2012 2:26 PM CDT

Those damn college kids are always doing some prank or another, and this time they have done something really cool that isn't destructive! The kids over at MIT, one of the leading technology colleges in the United States, have turned an entire building's windows into a playable Tetris game with different colors and difficulty levels!

Was this some mischievousness plan to take over the college or just some work of public art? The building in question is the Earth and Planetary Science departments' building. It has long been the target of many of MIT students' pranks. The grid layout of the windows made this building the best choice for this particular prank.

The video is pretty awesome. As a fan of Tetris, I'm tempted to see about doing this at my house. Better yet, if I ever get a big corporation in NY, I'm going to specifically design the side of the building as a giant Tetris game. Then everyone will want to come work for me! What are your thoughts? Good prank or no?

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Samsung phone and tablet owners rejoice- you can now see if you will be getting an ICS update

Trace Hagan | Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones | Apr 24, 2012 1:31 PM CDT

Thanks to a new page put up by Samsung, everyone can see which Android-powered phones and tablets are set to receive an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich. The support page breaks down the phone models by carrier but does not give specific dates to expect the updates by. The page, available here, at least gives hope to the owners of listed phones that they will eventually get the update.

For Verizon, owners of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 or the Galaxy Tab 7.7 tablet are destined for Ice Cream Sandwich.

For AT&T, the Galaxy S II, Galaxy S II Skyrocket, Captivate Glide, Nexus S, Galaxy Tab 8.9, and Galaxy Note is on the list.

Continue reading: Samsung phone and tablet owners rejoice- you can now see if you will be getting an ICS update (full post)

Norton releases cloud-based password manager Identity Safe

Trace Hagan | Software & Apps | Apr 24, 2012 12:28 PM CDT

Quite honestly, I had completely forgotten about Norton. I mean, who still uses their anti-virus software when there are free alternatives such as AVG or Avast? Perhaps this new cloud-based password manager will help bring users back. Identity Safe is the new password manager and is compatible with Windows, iOS, and Android.

A startling statistic says that 70% of web surfers have forgotten a password in the last month. Wow. Norton hopes to gain users to the service by putting an end to it. By doing so, they are going head-to-head with LastPast and others who are already in the market place for this type of software.

Identity Safe can manage and generate new passwords for the user as well as use its pedigree of anti-virus software to warn you of malicious sites. The service will remember your passwords and other login credentials and automatically fill them in when you visit a site you have saved them for. It will additionally act like RoboForm and remember non-login data like addresses, credit card numbers, frequent flyer numbers and more.

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Netflix comes to Sony Bravia Blu-ray and Blu-ray players

Trace Hagan | Internet & Websites | Apr 24, 2012 10:28 AM CDT

Netflix and Sony have announced today that the Netflix app is now available on the Sony Entertainment Network for any 2012 Bravia Blu-Ray or Blu-Ray player made by Sony. This new app will allow users to stream any video or television show they would like, straight to their Blu-Ray player. This joins the numerous other apps that Sony already provides on the Sony Entertainment Network.

This new announcement comes at an interesting time for Netflix. Wall Street investors aren't exactly in love with Netflix right now, even though they had a good first quarter. Investors are remembering 2011 instead of looking at Q1 2012 results. Additionally, analysts are predicting only a 200,000 subscriber increase for the second quarter compared to the 1.3 million of the first.

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G.SKILL announces new TridentX DDR3 memory kit for Ivy Bridge and Z77

Trace Hagan | RAM | Apr 24, 2012 9:09 AM CDT

With the launch of Ivy Bridge successfully completed, other companies now get to launch their new equipment that compliments the features of Ivy Bridge. One of the first up in the RAM department is G.SKILL. G.SKILL is no noob when it comes to high performance RAM, so these new sticks are expected to amaze.

And, they do! The modules feature some innovative features such as removable heat spreaders and are overclocking headroom, even with their already high stock speed. The new modules range from from 2400MHz 8GB to 2800MHz 16GB. According to the release, "the TridentX 2800MHz 16GB kit has successfully achieved DDR3 3320MHz speed," so these modules are no slouches.

The full press release can be seen below:

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Near-final "release preview" version of Windows 8 is due in early-June

Anthony Garreffa | Software & Apps | Apr 24, 2012 5:24 AM CDT

Microsoft have confirmed that a near-final "release preview" of Windows 8 is expected to drop in early-June, says Windows unit president Steven Sinofsky, where he made the announcement at at Windows Developer Days event held in Japan earlier this week.

This should mean the release could arrive at the time of Computex, which would be a perfectly timed show off period for the Redmond-based company. All eyes will be on the releases as they hit as Microsoft push Windows in a new direction.

Windows 8 should be quite the all-in for Microsoft, as they're not only trying to keep desktop-based customers happy, but notebooks, newly-arrived Ultrabooks, and then tablets and smartphones. Microsoft want to combat Apple's iPad, but right now have nothing to even compete with. Windows 8 will change all of this.

Continue reading: Near-final "release preview" version of Windows 8 is due in early-June (full post)

AMD gives notebook GPUs an injection of performance, intros the Radeon HD 7900M series

Anthony Garreffa | Video Cards & GPUs | Apr 24, 2012 4:34 AM CDT

Never settle. That's AMD's motto for their new Radeon HD 7900M series of GPUs for notebooks. In terms of specs, the Radeon HD 7970M nearly meets what the desktop Radeon HD 7870 GPU, except for slightly lower GPU core clock speeds.

The HD 7970M sports 1280 Graphics CoreNext stream processors, 80 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and a 256-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface which features 2GB of memory. Core clocks are at 850MHz, with 1200MHz (4.8GHz effective) GDDR5 memory clocks which push out 153.6GB/sec memory bandwidth.

The Radeon HD 7970M also features something called AMD Enduro Technology which "seamlessly powers down" the GPU when it's not required, to below even 1W. The HD 7970M should be seen baked into notebooks over the coming days.

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Batman: Arkham City DLC gets confirmed, will be The Harley Quinn's Revenge DLC

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Apr 24, 2012 3:24 AM CDT

Batman: Arkham City has not only been popular with shipping numbers, but it now has confirmed DLC. Warner Bros. have confirmed that the Harley Quinn's Revenge DLC will add more than two hours of completely new gameplay to the campaign.

Also included on the disc are all five previously released DLC packs. Warner also added that anyone who already owns the game can download the Harley Quinn's Revenge Pack which will be available to all international markets starting on April 30 from the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Marketplace.

Warner Bros. also confirmed a Game of the Year Edition of Batman: Arkham City, which will sport:

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