Hasta La Gadget!

OS X folks that don’t mind dealing with the occasional software bug may want to check out today’s Skype 5.11 beta release. Inside this new version, early adopters will find the ability to sign in and send / receive instant messages using a Microsoft account (Messenger, Xbox, Hotmail or Outlook), as well as being able to log in with Facebook credentials — essentially this eliminates the need to first create a Skype account. Additionally, users now have the option to link up their Microsoft and Facebook accounts with the VoIP service, which would bring all of your beloved friends list into one simple hub. There are other minor tidbits included in Skype 5.11 (read: redesigned emoticons) that can be put to the test now, all you have to do is hit the source link below and download a copy for yourself.

Filed under: Internet, Software

Skype 5.11 beta for Mac adds instant messaging features, enhanced Facebook integration originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can’t wait to use Steam’s forthcoming Big Picture mode to game from the comfort of your couch? Well, you’re in luck, because it might be ready for a test drive tomorrow. According to The New York Times, the living room-friendly user interface is getting the public beta treatment starting Monday. Gabe Newell let loose last month that both the TV-geared view and Steam for Linux betas would be “out there fairly quickly,” but there’s still no word on when the Ubuntu-bound preview will land. In the meantime, we’ll keep busy by gawking at Valve’s augmented reality headset, which the NYT got a glimpse of during a trip to the firm’s headquarters, at the source link below.

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

NYT: Steam’s Big Picture public beta begins Monday originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We took a good look at the AcerCloud service early this year and its companion Android handset, the award-winning CloudMobile phone. Now, Acer has launched a beta service in Europe, so buyers of the company’s new laptops and desktop machines over there will be able to try it out for themselves. To get it working, you can install the portal app onto your Android device and Acer PC, allowing you to download images and other files between the pair. You can also send files back to your computer for backup, expanding the storage of your smartphone or slate through your own mini-cloud. Everything will be synced through the service, which will store the data if your home machine isn’t fired up — and transfer everything when it’s alive again. There’s no word on when users will be able to partake stateside, but if you’re across the pond, hit the source link for the mobile app.

Continue reading AcerCloud blows into Europe, bringing remote access to your (Acer) laptop

Filed under: Cellphones, Storage, Internet

AcerCloud blows into Europe, bringing remote access to your (Acer) laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Firefox 15 is barely fresh off the vine, and we’re already looking at a beta version 16 for both desktop platforms and Android. Mozilla’s test release builds in the first support for web apps that play nicely with the Mozilla Marketplace; as long as titles have a slight amount of extra formatting, they can slot into Firefox without hiccups. More treats exist if you’re running certain platforms: the Android crowd receives a Safari-style Reader Mode that strips out the fluff from pages, while Mac users see the once test-only VoiceOver support flipped on by default to improve accessibility. Even developers get a little something special through a quick-access toolbar and more readily accessible CSS4 scripting. If any of this sounds tempting, there’s a pair of source links waiting for your attention.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software

Firefox 16 beta arrives with web app hooks, Reader Mode for Android and VoiceOver for Macs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask any PC gamer what makes the platform so great, and (after bragging about the hardware in their rig) mods are bound to come up at one point or another. After the immense success of The Witcher 2, CD Projekt Red is ready to open the game to modders, giving players the opportunity to create their own adventures set within the Witcher universe. It’s an exciting prospect to be sure, and if you’re interested in CDP’s REDKit, you may be pleased to know that you can now sign-up for the beta.

Yes, unfortunately CD Projekt Red won’t just be unleashing REDKit and letting modders go nuts, as it has to make sure it has a good platform to offer modders first. That’s where you come in: if you’re a modder, CD Projekt Red wants you to sign up for this beta and help it develop a better set of tools to eventually offer to everyone. Beta sign-ups start today and run through September 30, so make sure you get your application in before then.

In a statement today, CDP studio head Adam Badowski explained what makes REDKit so great. “We have our own vision for RPGs, they should present an exciting story and give players lots of choices that really matter,” he said. “The REDkit is designed to create adventures that way – mature, non-linear and engrossing stories set in vivid worlds filled with believable characters.”

The Witcher 2 is already an amazing game on its own, but with modders constantly providing new content, it stands to become even better. We don’t know when CD Projekt is planning to wrap up this closed beta, and for that matter, we’re not sure when the studio will be releasing the finished toolkit. When it finally does, however, it’ll be big, so be sure to keep an ear to SlashGear for more information!

Beta sign-up for The Witcher 2 modding tools now live is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
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