Hasta La Gadget!

Who doesn’t enjoy drawing with their fingers? And such an ability becomes essential in the absence of a stylus, whether because you need to dash out something very quickly and don’t have one on you or misplace it when you need it most. Such an ability was requested by many users for OneNote on their touch-enabled Windows 8 and RT devices, which is now possible thanks to an update Microsoft pushed out.

With this update, OneNote users will see an addition to the radial menu called “Draw,” which opens up a new round of options, including multiple pens of different colors (black, blue, green, and red), as well as an eraser and an Undo tool. The pens can be customized with, for example, different thicknesses. And a welcomed feature is that you can save a customized pen as a favorite.

In addition, those using it on a device that does not have a touch screen can still use the feature via a mouse or USB drawing tablet, although Microsoft advises that users will best experience the feature when using a pen. Those who want to update can do so by heading into the Windows Store and then tapping “Updates” located on the right.

For those unfamiliar, OneNote allows users to take notes and have them synced with the cloud for extra security. Microsoft says that it has “reimagined” OneNote for Windows 8 and RT devices, making it easier to use in conjunction with touch controls, such as swiping. Users can toggle between different paper types for various notes, snap them to the side of the screen for use alongside a browser for research or other activities, and more.

[via OneNote]

OneNote updated with finger painting in Windows Store is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The ProLite E2773HS-2 is iiyama’s latest Full HD monitor for the mass market. Adopting a TN panel, this new 27-inch LED-backlight monitor provides 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution, 1200:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m2 brightness and 3.4ms response time (1ms GTG). In addition, it also comes with two built-in 2W speakers and has D-Sub, DVI-D and HDMI connectors. The ProLite E2773HS-2 will go on sale from mid-May for 29,800 Yen (about $304). [Product Page]

Here we have another budget-friendly 5000mAh USB Power Bank External Battery Charger for you to grab. This travel-friendly device is equipped with a 4 stage battery level indicator LED light, one USB 5V 1A output port, a micro-USB charging port and a high-capacity 5000mAh Li-ion battery. Grab yours now for just $21.99. [Product Page]

Rumor has it Respawn Entertainment is working on a science fiction online shooter mech game that will be an Xbox 360 and Xbox 720 exclusive. The project is said to have been underway for some time now, and a teaser image has been released, which you can check out in all its blurry wonder after the jump. This information comes from multiple sources that spoke to Kotaku.

The sources who spoke to Kotaku said that the game is a “battle of Davids and Goliaths,” with the Davids being foot soldiers decked out in heavy armor and the Goliaths being huge exoskeltons called Titans, which are piloted by the soldiers. Reportedly, the Titans are more agile than similar offerings found in Steel Battalions and Mechwarrior.

To keep the Titans from pummeling everything and everyone into the dirt, the game maps keep the number of them allowed in game play to a limited amount and foot soldiers are equipped with weapons that allow them to destroy the mech machines. Such a rumor follows in line with some recent trademarks that Respawn Entertainment has nabbed, including things like “Titan” and “Titanfall.”

The sources went on to say that the game will allow for 16-player matches, and that it will run on the Valve Source Engine. A gamer’s own progress is implemented into an “overall balance of power” via the utilization of a faction system. While nothing official has been said and no hard dates were given, word has it the game will be, at the least, playable by next year.

[via OXM]

Xbox 720 integration tipped for TITAN mech exclusive is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

At the beginning of this month, NASA enacted a communications moratorium with its spacecraft on Mars, an event that had been planned as a safety precaution against possible corrupted commands caused by the sun during particular planetary alignment. The moratorium has come to an end, revealing the rover Opportunity put itself into standby at some point during a routine camera check.

The discovery was made on April 27, and NASA prepared a new set of commands yesterday that will pull the rover back into a regular functioning mode, something it has been waiting for since going into the specific type of standby mode. It wasn’t down long, however, having reverted to that mode last week on April 22. Unlike Curiosity, Opportunity has called Mars its home for nearly a decade.

NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager John Callas said: “Our current suspicion is that Opportunity rebooted its flight software, possibly while the cameras on the mast were imaging the sun. We found the rover in a standby state called automode, in which it maintains power balance and communication schedules, but waits for instructions from the ground. We crafted our solar conjunction plan to be resilient to this kind of rover reset, if it were to occur.”

Although the communications moratorium came to its end for Opportunity, it is still in effect for the Curiosity rover, which is set to resume its communications with the ground tomorrow. NASA says that thus far information received from the rover shows that it has made it through its mini vacation without incident, and as such is slated to receive its first set of commands on May 1.

[via NASA]

NASA’s Opportunity rover found in standby mode as communications moratorium ends is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.