Apple

Epic Games unveils Unreal Engine 4: OS X support, subscription-based, full code access

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 19, 2014

Epic Games' Unreal Engine powers some of the most graphics-intensive games on consoles, desktop computers and mobile devices, like the Gears of War and Mass Effect franchises, or the iOS-exclusive Infinity Blade series, for example.

During a press event at the Game Developers Conference this morning, Epic's chief Tim Sweeney announced the latest version, Unreal Engine 4.

The software was built by a team of over 100 engineers, artists and designers around the world and is designed to scale from PC and console to mobile and the web. The announcement is significant in ways more than one.

For starters, for the first time ever Epic is making available the whole widget - including Unreal Engine's full source code, the editor, everything - on a subscriptions basis, for as low as just nineteen bucks per month. Yup, you read that right, just $19 per month.

That's just scratching the surface so read on for the full reveal...

Leo’s Fortune, arguably the most gorgeous iOS platformer, is coming real soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 19, 2014

I'm a huge, huge fan of both physics-based and platform games (especially side-scrolling ones), dating back to the golden Amiga days and home consoles. The App Store has some really nice platformers, but the upcoming Leo's Fortune by looks like it could top them all with unbelievable graphics, novel gameplay and butter smooth execution.

Co-developed by two Swedish game developers, Leo's Fortune has you controlling a green puff thing named Leopold, tasked with hunting down the thief that stole his gold. He can inflate himself to float which - coupled with physics-based concept and puzzle elements - adds a bit of variety to the otherwise oversaturated genre.

I'll let the video do the talking so jump past the fold and have a look...

Sony looking to mainstream virtual reality gaming with Project Morpheus head-mounted display

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 19, 2014

The Game Developers Conference is running this week in San Francisco, where the Japanese consumer electronics giant Sony showed off a cool virtual reality headset.

Code-named Project Morpheus, the futuristic looking head-mounted accessory has a built-in five-inch LCD screen with full HD resolution (1,920-by-1,080) with a 90-degree field of view.

Three years in the making, Project Morpheus is packed with sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes, works with the PlayStation 4 console and even lets players simultaneously use Sony's DualShock 4 and PlayStation Move controllers...

Apple named most valuable ‘billion dollar brand’ in the US

Cody Lee ∙ March 19, 2014

A new report was released yesterday by brand consulting agency Brand Finance, naming the top "billion dollar brands" in the United States. The list was compiled estimating the royalty rate that would be charged to use a company's brand and combing that with expected future revenue.

Unsurprisingly, Apple was ranked number one by a long shot, with a value of $104.7 billion. The iPad-maker is the most valuable company in the world in terms of market cap, and has taken the top spot several times in other brand value lists. Google came in second place at $68.6 billion...

Cook on Yukari’s anti-Apple book: ‘nonsense’ that fails to capture Apple or Steve Jobs

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2014

There isn't much to like about a new book on post-Jobs Apple by the former Wall Street Journal writer Yukari Iwatani Kane.

Conveniently titled Haunted Empire ($14.99 in the iBooks Store), it could have as well been named 'Apple Is Doomed' due to her pre-conceived conclusion that Apple's best days are behind.

The author claims to have based the material on about 200 interviews with current and former Apple executives, none of them named. This type of ill-conceived journalism is just sad: the hearsay is supposed to factualize that Apple's is in a disarray, declining and amid the "perils and opportunities an iconic company faces when it loses its visionary leader".

In one passage, the author describes Apple's current boss as a "machine" and "riveting," blasting him in another over a supposed “disastrous” AllThingsD appearance and questioning his leadership abilities because he's seemingly too demanding while also being too lax.

The scathing portrayal of post-Jobs Apple wasn't lost on the current CEO Tim Cook, who took to CNBC today to describe Haunted Empire as a nonsense attempt that "fails to capture" the essence of the company and its visionary founder Steve Jobs. Also, Kane responded back in an email statement to Re/code. Grab your popcorn...

Google Voice reportedly getting axed soon in favor of VoIP-to-phones Hangouts integration

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2014

Have you even wondered why it's been nearly six months since Google last refreshed the free Google Voice for iPhone application (it still lacks iOS 7 styling)? After all, isn't Google Voice supposed to be a priority for the Internet giant?

For those unfamiliar with it, Google Voice is a telephony service that offers a bunch of nice features such as voicemail, free text messaging, call history, conference calling, call screening, call routing, blocking of unwanted calls and voice transcription to text of voicemail messages, to name a few.

According to a new report, Google could be looking to retire the standalone Voice app for iOS and Android and instead fold its functionality into the native Hangouts app, which was released in the App Store in May of 2013...

Apple: 8GB iPhone 5c is for mid-tier markets where ‘LTE is becoming more established’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Today's release of a new, cheaper iPhone 5c model with a rather paltry eight gigabytes of storage has prompted many writers to postulate as to why Apple may have limited the handset's distribution to only a few markets, namely the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and China.

According to Apple itself, that device is meant to target the mid-tier smartphone market where the iPhone has been under lots of pressure from an avalanche of rather affordable and pretty capable Android handsets. Although Apple could have rolled out the 8GB iPhone 5c across all of its markets, they've chosen to go only with a few countries where "LTE is becoming more established"...

Beta version of iTunes 11.1.6 restores local contact and calendar sync

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple has seeded a new beta of OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 to some of its employees today. The release comes one week after Apple released the second beta of 10.9.3 to devs, which included few noticeable changes.

The new beta build is not yet available to registered Mac developers, but should be via the Software Update tab in the Mac App Store soon, or as a download via the Mac section of Apple’s developer portal…

Motorola shows off its Android Wear smartwatch, Moto 360, coming this summer

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2014

Google has just announced its brand new Android Wear platform for powering wearable devices like smartwatches and handset maker Motorola is already showing off its first Android Wear-driven device, a smartwatch dubbed Moto 360.

Billed as a "modern timepiece," the device indeed is designed much like classic timepieces and sports high-grade finish that oozes premium quality.

The Moto 360, of course, runs Android Wear and includes Google Now integration, Android notifications, apps like weather, sports scores and more. It does gestures, too. "With just a twist of the wrist," Motorola writes, you can see who’s emailing or calling, what time your next meeting is or a friend’s latest social post...

Google extends Android to wearables: introducing Android Wear

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2014

Wearable computing is set to take off in a big way as the Internet giant Google on Tuesday introduced Android Wear, as previously promised.

Android Wear, as the name suggests, is meant to put Android on wearable devices such as smartwatches.

The company will be releasing soon the official Android Wear APIs to device vendors who want to put the power of Android in their health and fitness bands, smartwatches and other wearable gizmos.

Wearable devices driven by Android Wear include 'OK, Google' functionality and Android's rich notification system. Moreover, they can show users timely information and suggestions akin to Google Now.

Health and fitness functions are supported as well: users can get their fitness summaries and set their goals with reminders. Fitness apps taking advantage of the Android Wear APIs can give users information such as real-time speed, distance and time for their run, cycle or walk.

Perhaps the most interesting bit is the ability of Android Wear devices to relay your voice commands to other devices such as smartphones, tablets or Chrome devices. Starting today, programmers can download a Developer Preview to tailor their existing app notifications for watches powered by Android Wear.

The company said that first Android-powered wearables are coming later this year. Jump past the fold for more information and a pair of pretty good promotional videos...

8GB iPhone 5c only available in UK, France, Germany, Australia and China

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2014

Apple's newly launched cheaper iPhone 5c model with eight gigabytes of storage is only available in select few markets, a spokesperson for the company confirmed Tuesday. The device is available in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and China. It is not, however, on sale in the United States, for the time being.

By comparison, the relaunched fourth-generation iPad with Retina display is available across all territories because that device is a replacement for the company's phased-out iPad 2 and now represents the new entry-level, full-size iPad offering. The introduction of the entry-level 8GB iPhone 5c is largely viewed as an effort to help boost the device's lagging sales...

Pegatron reportedly gearing up to start iPhone 6 production in Q2

Cody Lee ∙ March 18, 2014

According to a new report from the Commercial Times, Apple supplier Pegatron is gearing up to start mass-producing the iPhone 6. The production is expected to kick off in the second quarter of this year at its Kunshan, China-based plant.

The newspaper says that the manufacturer has already begun recruiting workers in China, and has even opened up a new factory space, in an effort to prepare for large orders from Apple. The new handset is expected to debut later this year...