Google has just made a big photo buy—it has acquired Nik Software, a.k.a the company behind iOS app Snapseed and other image software. It’s a big boost to Google’s picture editing capabilities, though Facebook and Instagram are probably not freaking out so much as definitely listening to this news. More »
It’s been a long time coming, but Microsoft has finally sent out the invites for its Windows 8 launch event. As you can see, Redmond’s new multi-faceted OS will be officially revealed in Gotham on October 25th. Microsoft isn’t giving us any details about the celebration itself, but rest assured, we’ll be bringing all the action to you live when the Win 8 party gets poppin’.
Filed under: Software
Microsoft sends out a Save the Date for Windows 8, all to be revealed in NYC on October 25th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung has been very successful with its new smartphone the Galaxy S III and it has sold tons of the device. If you happen to be the owner of one of these smartphones looking for a case to protect it and need some extra battery life, you might want to check out this case.
The PowerSkin case adds an extra battery which has 1500 mAh of power, giving your phone up to 170 extra minutes of talk time or 97 extra hours on standby. Bright blue LEDs on the back to indicate how much power is left in the battery, and it also has smart technology inside to turn off when the smartphone is fully-charged to prevent wasted power.
The case also uses special technology to ensure that the Galaxy SIII’s NFC wireless transmissions pass through the silicone material, allowing the smartphone to communicate with other devices placed close to it using magnetic field induction.
The PowerSkin case is available right now for $79.99 (USD). As an added bonus people to buy one before September 19th also get a free portable speaker.
In an attempt to reduce alcohol-related learning disabilities and birth defects, Pub 500—a bar in Minnesota—has installed a pregnancy test vending machine so patrons can make sure they’re not expecting before they get completely wasted. Think of it as a logical extension of the more traditional condom dispensers found in the restrooms. More »
The folks at Rovio have been hard at work on a sequel for the mega-popular Angry Birds franchise, here turning the whole world upside-down with Bad Piggies. This sequel to the Angry Birds original will have the mechanics of the game changed just a bit, with the Pigs being the center of attention instead of the Birds whom, up until now, where the ones you were tossing at the enemies – those being the Pigs. Here Rovio is letting details loose in bits in pieces in videos and comics to tease you ’til the final release.
The first set of clues you’re going to want to take a look at is here in a series of videos. What this playlist will show you is a set of science-related sequences that may very well lead up to the pigs bringing on their own inventions for the final game. What we’re seeing here is building – lots of building – and fire – lots of fire. Could the Piggies be racing soon?
They note that “gasoline should never be brought indoors”, this letting us know that there’s almost certainly going to be some explosions happening here in the next chapter. There’s a woodsman cutting down a tree, several airplanes taking off, and a bunch of balloons being left to fly straight upward. There’s a video showing the bottom of a shopping cart, and great amounts of creation.
There are also a couple of comics up made by a couple of talented artists (the massively talented duo of writer Jukka Heiskanem and illustrator Giorgio Cavazzano) who are showing off quite clearly what at least one part of the game will be about. The first of two comics has a young Pig creating a cart that quickly smashes into the ground. The second has a more seasoned Piggie helping the smaller Pig with a new cart, this time working with dynamite jets and an umbrella up top to keep him afloat.
The key here is the phrase “I’m afraid your design is not going to work.” This leads us to believe that this game will be all about building, physics, and crashing – or flying, by the looks of it. Stay tuned as Bad Piggies gets its first big release on the 27th of September – coming up quick!
UPDATE: Right on time – or right after time, rather, Rovio and Yahoo have teamed up to release this “exclusive” video showing off some in-game action. Check the Pig building superstars go at it very much how it appeared they would!
[via Rovio]
Angry Birds sequel Bad Piggies brings wave of video clues [UPDATE: Gameplay!] is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
The folks at Rovio have been hard at work on a sequel for the mega-popular Angry Birds franchise, here turning the whole world upside-down with Bad Piggies. This sequel to the Angry Birds original will have the mechanics of the game changed just a bit, with the Pigs being the center of attention instead of the Birds whom, up until now, where the ones you were tossing at the enemies – those being the Pigs. Here Rovio is letting details loose in bits in pieces in videos and comics to tease you ’til the final release.
The first set of clues you’re going to want to take a look at is here in a series of videos. What this playlist will show you is a set of science-related sequences that may very well lead up to the pigs bringing on their own inventions for the final game. What we’re seeing here is building – lots of building – and fire – lots of fire. Could the Piggies be racing soon?
They note that “gasoline should never be brought indoors”, this letting us know that there’s almost certainly going to be some explosions happening here in the next chapter. There’s a woodsman cutting down a tree, several airplanes taking off, and a bunch of balloons being left to fly straight upward. There’s a video showing the bottom of a shopping cart, and great amounts of creation.
There are also a couple of comics up made by a couple of talented artists (the massively talented duo of writer Jukka Heiskanem and illustrator Giorgio Cavazzano) who are showing off quite clearly what at least one part of the game will be about. The first of two comics has a young Pig creating a cart that quickly smashes into the ground. The second has a more seasoned Piggie helping the smaller Pig with a new cart, this time working with dynamite jets and an umbrella up top to keep him afloat.
The key here is the phrase “I’m afraid your design is not going to work.” This leads us to believe that this game will be all about building, physics, and crashing – or flying, by the looks of it. Stay tuned as Bad Piggies gets its first big release on the 27th of September – coming up quick!
[via Rovio]
Angry Birds sequel Bad Piggies brings wave of video clues is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
TomTom has been continually upping its navigation game, what with its partnership with Apple in iOS 6 and the HD Traffic 6.0 upgrade and requisite Android app announced this summer. Far be it from the Dutch service to rest on its mapping laurels, though: it’s now poised to take on Uber and other players in the taxi-hailing world. Last week, The Next Web reported that the company acquired the taxi-fetching app maker TXXI in an effort to roll out a TomTom cab-booking service, and today the site reports that the theory is now confirmed. Speaking with TNW, TomTom said it indeed bought TXXI to “help develop tools to support the taxi market,” with initial efforts focusing on Amsterdam. Last month, the company began a trial program in that city to let restaurant and hotel guests order a taxi from a mini-kiosk called the Taxi Butler. On the cab side, there’s the so-called Taxi Assistant, a TomTom-branded device which alerts drivers to incoming requests. No word on whether the company will eventually introduce mobile apps, but we’d say it’s a pretty safe bet.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software
TomTom confirms new taxi-ordering service, beginning trial rollout in Amsterdam originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Google has snapped up Instagram-rival Snapseed, part of the apps and services portfolio of Nik Software, with the team responsible for the photo editing app apparently being integrated into Google+. Terms of the deal have not been announced, but according to insiders it’s Snapseed – currently available for iOS, PC and Mac, and with an Android version in the pipeline too – that was the main target, The Verge reports, rather than the company’s other image processing software.
Google+ already has a reasonably comprehensive photo editing toolkit, added back in October 2011, and the search giant has been tweaking its photo sharing tools since then, including adding a meme-creation wizard earlier this year. It also has a useful auto-upload system tied into the mobile apps, which automatically sends photos and video taken on a user’s smartphone or tablet up to a gallery – initially private – on the social site.
“For nearly 17 years, we’ve been guided by our motto, “photography first”, as we worked to build world class digital image editing tools” Nik Software’s Laurie Rubin wrote in a statement today. “We’ve always aspired to share our passion for photography with everyone, and with Google’s support we hope to be able to help many millions more people create awesome pictures.”
Whether this developer acquisition marks Google’s greater intentions to the mobile photography segment remains to be seen, though it’s worth noting that rivals and Android OEMs alike haven’t been standing still in the segment. Facebook snatched up Instagram for $1bn earlier this year, and Samsung recently announced the Galaxy Camera, an Android-based point-and-shoot which prioritizes instant sharing of newly-shot media.
Google grabs Snapseed for Google+ Instagram retort is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
The Kindle Fire HD is out now, and it’s plenty great. But given the choice between Amazon’s latest and greatest and the power packed Nexus 7, which should you choose? Here’s your guide for picking the cheap-but-awesome tablet you should get. More »
Sure the SX160 is a bit of a bulky superzoom, but it’s got nothing on Canon’s beefy PowerShot SX50 HS. As with the similarly named SX500 IS, the SX50’s got a big, protruding lens and flash, though the added girth make it look a bit more like a DSLR. Part of its width can no doubt be chalked up to its 2.8-inch vari-angle LCD, which can be swiveled away from the body of the camera to help vary viewing angles. Also, like the SX50, the SX500 has a devoted button for Zoom Framing Assist, which does a quick zoom out to help you reframe subjects on the fly.
Above the display you’ll find a play button and a cushioned viewfinder. To its right, you’ve got the Record, Display, Menu and access to settings like Macro and ISO. You’ll find the rest to the settings — plus ON / OFF and access to that big 50x zooming to the right of the flash. The PowerShot SX50 HS will run you $480 when it drops next month.
Gallery: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS hands-on
Filed under: Cameras
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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