AfterDawn: Tech news

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AfterDawn: News

GTA V online video and information coming this week

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Aug 2013 3:42

GTA V online video and information coming this week Rockstar Games will spill details on Grand Theft Auto V's online mode this week with the release of a gameplay video and more information.

The developer teased GTA fans with its previous trailer for the game, which ended with dozens of players roaming around the city of Los Santos. This led to a lot of speculation on what Rockstar has in store for GTA V online services.

Rockstar announced that it will provide a new gameplay video and information for the Online Mode on Thursday, August 15. The game is scheduled to be released in about a month, and will no doubt sell in massive numbers from launch day. Analysts are predicting up to 20 million copies sold before the end of March 2014.

It will be released for the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles, and a petition to bring the game to PC has reached over 200,000 signatures.

The recently released trailers and videos from the game were rendered with the PlayStation 3 console.




AfterDawn: News

LG sorry for injuries at LG G2 event

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Aug 2013 3:35

LG sorry for injuries at LG G2 event LG has apologized and taken full responsibility for twenty injuries at an event where a promotional stunt went wrong.

The electronics giant released 100 helium balloons at the "G in the Cloud" event in Seoul, Korea, each with a free smartphone voucher. If you got a voucher, then you would receive one of the devices for free.

In order to attempt to get a voucher, event goers showed up with BB guns and knives attached to sticks. What could possibly go wrong?

After the balloons were released, customers charged forward and opened fire (so to speak), resulting in injuries to twenty people. LG has called off further similar events and taken responsibility for what local media dubbed "World War G".

"LG Electronics deeply regrets that a number of Korean participants were injured during an outdoor promotional event in Seoul, Korea," a statement from the firm said.

"We can confirm that seven participants were hospitalised and, although none of the injuries were serious, LG takes full responsibility for the unfortunate situation and has offered to cover all related medical expenses. LG is investigating the incident to ensure that such an occurrence can be avoided in the future."




AfterDawn: News

Xbox One controller will be PC compatible in 2014

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Aug 2013 3:26

Xbox One controller will be PC compatible in 2014 Microsoft has revealed that its new Xbox One controller will be compatible PC games in 2014.

Penny Arcade Report asked a Microsoft spokesman to comment on whether the Xbox One controller will be able to play games that the Xbox 360 controller works with on PC.

The Microsoft spokesperson said: "There is also some work that we need to do to make sure that existing PC games that support the Xbox 360 controller, will work with the Xbox One controller. While it seems trivial, it's actually quite a bit of dedicated work for all that to be seamless for the user. We know people want to use the Xbox One controller on their PC, and we do too – we expect to have the functionality available in 2014."

Being able to use the controller with existing games would be useful for anyone planning on buying an Xbox One.




AfterDawn: News

PirateBrowser gets 100,000 downloads in three days

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Aug 2013 3:22

PirateBrowser gets 100,000 downloads in three days The new browser provided by the Pirate Bay to beat censorship and web site blocking has been downloaded over 100,000 times in three days.

The PirateBrowser works by taking advantage of the TOR network, which can be used to get around censorship and web tracking by routing traffic through the network before eventually connecting to the remote location via an exit node. If the exit node is not subject to any such censorship, then it will have no problem downloading and relaying data from the remote website back to the user.

This would come in handy for anyone who finds that their ISP has blocked access to a website. In Ireland, for example, the two main service providers (UPC and Eircom) have been forced by the High Court to block access to the Pirate Bay website, meaning users who attempt to go to the site will get a message explaining the court's decision instead.

By using the TOR network correctly, this block can be easily overcome.

However, you should remember not to confuse the PirateBrowser with the TOR Browser Bundle. The PirateBrowser is not intended to provide anonymity and it should not be used for regular browsing unless its absolutely necessary. Even though both browsers will stop a remote website from seeing your real IP address if configured and working correctly, it is important to know that any unencrypted communication with the remote site could be easily viewed by the operator of an exit node. Therefore, do not use either browser to login to any Internet-based service, unless you are sure that HTTPS is in use at least.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Xbox One will work without Kinect switched on

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Aug 2013 3:10

Xbox One will work without Kinect switched on Microsoft has revealed that the Xbox One console will not require the Kinect device to be switched on at all times to function, seemingly going back on another requirement that was very unpopular among gamers.

The news that the Xbox One console would require the Kinect to be switched on and gathering data at all times sparked some cries over privacy fears from gamers. At the same time, limits on the usage of pre-owned games and other details were met with a cold response from the community.

Microsoft eventually backtracked on its pre-owned games limitations, and now appears to have done the same for any requirement for Kinect to be on all the time.

"Like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn't plugged in," Xbox One platform architect Marc Whitten, told IGN. "Although you won't be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly uses the sensor."

"You have the ability to completely turn the sensor off in your settings. When in this mode, the sensor is not collecting any information. Any functionality that relies on voice, video, gesture or more won't work. We still support using it for IR blasting in this mode. You can turn the sensor back on at any time through settings, and if you enter into a required Kinect experience (like Kinect Sports Rivals for instance), you'll get a message asking if you want to turn the sensor back on in order to continue."




AfterDawn: News

Skype for iPad/iPhone adds HD video calling

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Aug 2013 3:04

Skype for iPad/iPhone adds HD video calling The latest version of the Skype app for Apple's iPad and iPhone 5 devices has added support for HD video calling.

A HD front camera was added to the iPad with the released of the fourth generation model of the Apple tablet, but up until now the mega-popular Skype app only included support for standard definition video calls.

Now the Skype for iPad 4.1 update adds support for HD video calling, as does Skype for iPhone 4.1, if you have an iPhone 5.

The only other changes in the apps for the iOS devices include general improvements to call quality and stability.




AfterDawn: News

ZTE Open with Firefox OS to sell on eBay

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Aug 2013 2:59

ZTE Open with Firefox OS to sell on eBay ZTE has announced that it will begin selling unlocked versions of its Firefox OS-packing ZTE Open on eBay US and UK, starting soon.

The low-cost device has launched with Telefónica in Spain, Venezuela and Colombia, Soon the ZTE Open will now be available for the first time in Orange priced at $79.99 (£59.99) and will be unlocked to allow use on all mobile networks.

"It is great honor to launch the ZTE Open Firefox OS phone worldwide through eBay. ZTE is devoted to providing more options for customers globally and enabling them to live better lives via advanced technology," said Mr. Dai Wenhong, VP of ZTE Corporation.

"The ZTE Open offers customers a smartphone experience at an incredible price point, making it ideal for cost conscious consumers or those looking to upgrade to a smartphone for the first time."

The ZTE Open offers all the functions expected from a smartphone – calls, messaging, email, camera – plus additional experiences that people really want, such as built-in social integration with Facebook and Twitter, location-based services like Nokia HERE maps which include local transit and traffic information and much-loved features like the Firefox Web browser and the Firefox Marketplace.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Android flaw puts Bitcoin wallets at risk

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Aug 2013 2:55

Android flaw puts Bitcoin wallets at risk A flaw in an Android feature has put Bitcoin wallets at risk, according to security alerts published ahead of vital updates.

The problem lies in a component of Android responsible for generating secure random numbers, which has been found to contain a critical weakness. Given that the problem lies with Android itself, it could affect you if you have a wallet generated by any Android app. Such affected apps include Bitcoin Wallet, blockchain.info wallet, BitcoinSpinner and Mycelium Wallet.

Updates have already been issued for BitCoin Wallet (v3.15), BitcoinSpinner (0.8.3b), Mycelium Bitcoin Wallet (0.7.0) and blockchain.info (3.54).

"In order to re-secure existing wallets, key rotation is necessary. This involves generating a new address with a repaired random number generator and then sending all the money in your wallet back to yourself," a Bitcoin security advisory suggests.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Windows 8.1 coming in October

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Aug 2013 12:08

Windows 8.1 coming in October According to sources, Microsoft will release the final version of Windows 8.1 to the public in October.

The company is said to be testing near-RTM versions of the operating system and in fact, many of the newer builds have leaked recently. Those builds, however, remain quite buggy.

Partners and OEMs will receive the RTM later this month, and the delay until October will give them enough time to work on drivers and testing compatibility with existing and new systems.

The highly-anticipated update to the operating system is said to also be launching alongside new 7 and 8-inch tablets




AfterDawn: News

LG models new LED TV after retro 70s design

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Aug 2013 11:30

LG models new LED TV after retro 70s design LG has unveiled their latest LCD TV, designed after the old-school 70s CRT television sets.

The 32LN630R, aka "Classic TV" is a 32-inch device that includes two rotary dials (volume and channels), three buttons (power, etc) and a retro-styled speaker right on the front.

On the hardware side, the TV has a 1080p IPS display, multiple HDMI, MHL and USB inputs and will work with standard remotes.

Available only in Korea for the time being, the looks of the "Classic TV" will not come cheap. The set costs 840,000 Won, or the equivalent of $750 USD.

LG says the looks are "important for customers looking for something trendy and special."




AfterDawn: News

BlackBerry shares jump as it confirms the company is up for sale

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Aug 2013 11:12

BlackBerry shares jump as it confirms the company is up for sale BlackBerry's shares jumped over 10 percent today after the company confirmed rumors that it is exploring any possibility to keep itself alive, including selling the company and going private.

The company has now created a special committee to look into "strategic alternatives."

Outside of an outright sale, BlackBerry said it would also be willing to consider a joint venture, partnerships, licensing, and more.

The company hopes a new deal would help them sell more BlackBerry 10 devices. The operating system was unveiled in January after a year of delays, and the flagship Z10 and Q10 phones have not sold well since launch.

Currently, BlackBerry's most important assets are its enterprise contracts and its large patent collection. The patents alone are likely to attract suitors, but there is unlikely any company willing to take the floundering hardware business.




AfterDawn: News

Nokia to announce Windows 8 tablet, Lumia phablet this year

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Aug 2013 10:55

Nokia to announce Windows 8 tablet, Lumia phablet this year As has been rumored for months now, a leaked roadmap claims Nokia will be launching a Windows tablet in September and then a Lumia phablet in November.

Says the tipster:

Nokia Tablet for AT&T will be announced in last week of September. He is unsure as it is Win8.1 or WinRT 8.1 tablet but says chances of Win8.1 is more as Nokia is not confident of WinRT success (Old news). Also, somehow contrary to what our sources indicated tipster says, the Phablet may see an announcement in November 1st week only. According to him dual-sim Lumias are scheduled to arrive in October and that From now till Decemeber 2013 every month Nokia will launch something new.

The tablet will be a welcome relief in the Windows 8 tablet market, which has seen flops across the board including Microsoft's own Surface tablet. Our recently reviewed Acer W3, was one of the worst tablets I've had the displeasure of using.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Report: Upcoming Galaxy Note III specs leaked

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Aug 2013 7:18

Report: Upcoming Galaxy Note III specs leaked Via trusted sources, SamMobile has posted the full specs for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note III.

The device is expected to launch before October, and there will be two versions, codenamed SM-N900 & SM-N9005. The specs:

DISPLAY
SM-N900: 5.68 inch Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080) display
SM-N9005: 5.68 inch Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080) display

CPU
SM-N900: 1.8GHz Octa-core Exynos 5420
SM-N9005: CPU UNCONFIRMED

GPU
SM-N900: ARM Mali-T628 MP6
SM-N9005: GPU UNCONFIRMED

RAM
SM-N900: RAM UNCONFIRMED
SM-N9005: 3GB LPDDR3 RAM

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

HTC starts new, massive marketing campaign with Robert Downey Jr.

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Aug 2013 6:34

HTC starts new, massive marketing campaign with Robert Downey Jr. HTC has unveiled their largest marketing campaign to date, showing off the "Change" brand platform and its lead spokesperson, blockbuster actor Robert Downey Jr.

Downey signed a two-year deal with HTC and will appear in all ads for the brand, many of which will first debut on YouTube and then on TV.

Additionally, the actor worked with the company "to shape the creative direction, putting change at the core of HTC's brand by offering a variety of unique interpretations of the HTC acronym."

The company says the campaign will roll out in three phases, with the first phase "highlighting HTC's brand with a playful take on what it means to different people." The next phase "will feature executions which highlight how HTC innovations--like BlinkFeed, Video Highlights and BoomSound--have changed the face of the mobile industry." Finally, the third phase "will focus on how HTC products empower individuals to drive change in their own lives."

Ben Ho, CMO of HTC comments, "HTC's innovation, authenticity and boldness have made us the change-makers in the mobile industry and led us to launch what influencers regard as the best phone in the world, the HTC One. Our original and playful Change platform is different to anything else out there and aligns our brand with the same qualities our phones are already known for. With this campaign, we are affirming what HTC's role is in the mobile market which is to define change and to lead the industry in developing the newest and most innovative technologies."

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Apple to unveil new iPhone at event on September 10th

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 11 Aug 2013 10:56

Apple to unveil new iPhone at event on September 10th According to ATD, Apple is planning a media event for September 10th to unveil the new iPhone.

The biggest question remains whether Apple will only unveil the iPhone 5S or if they will also show off the oft-rumored cheaper, plastic model of the iPhone 5, as well.

Apple is not expected to make any major updates to the iPhone, but there has been lots of talk of a fingerprint sensor being added to the home button. Additionally, the phone's main camera could be upgraded to a 12MP sensor.

Additionally, the company will give a final release date for the overhauled iOS 7 operating system.





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