Verizon Accepting Pre Orders on Windows Phones Starting Friday

Jim McCarthy
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Verizon Accepting Pre Orders on Windows Phones Starting Friday

Verizon will begin accepting pre-orders on the Nokia Lumia 822 and HTC 8X Windows Phone 8 devices this Friday at 1am eastern time.  Read on for details.

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Verizon will begin accepting pre-orders for the Nokia Lumia 822 ($99.99 after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year contract) and the HTC 8X ($199.99).  Pre-orders will be available starting Friday 9 November at 1am eastern time.  Here is the Verizon press release:

Verizon Wireless to Expand 4G LTE Line Up With Windows Phone 8 (update)

Windows Phones available for pre-order starting Friday.

UPDATE: The Windows Phone 8X by HTC and the Nokia Lumia 822 will be available for pre-order starting tomorrow, November 9, at 1am ET.

There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to mobile operating systems (OS) and the announcement by Microsoft of Windows Phone 8 will soon give customers another choice when shopping for a new Verizon Wireless smartphone.

This new OS brings new features to explore and new ways to further personalize your smartphone. Windows Phone 8 will debut on a number of new smartphones, which means you never need to relearn the OS when moving from one smartphone to another.

The Start screen is always the most personal screen and Live Tiles on Windows Phone 8 makes that personalization possible. Live Tiles let you create a Start screen that’s exactly right for you by letting you not only pin apps but also people, bookmarks and more all on one screen to view at a glance. The Live Tiles and Apps pinned on the Start screen animate and update as notifications come in so you see which apps are calling for your attention. The tunes that you rock out to and the games that keep you busy go where you go with Xbox Music and Xbox Games. All of this together is what makes the phone, you.

Managing data use on a Windows Phone 8 from Verizon Wireless is just as simple and helps relieve the stress of data use. The Data Sense app, exclusive for a limited time, tells you how much data you have used in a given time period. It also allows you to set data limits and even reports how much data each app has used. Data Sense doesn’t stop there, as it has a suite of features like Wi-Fi mapping to find hotspots and compressing images and HTML while browsing the Web to help reduce data usage.

Work and play don’t need to be separated with Windows Phone 8. Having Microsoft Office Mobile built-in means using Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote from your phone to create, edit and view documents. Windows Phone 8 takes the mobile office farther with SkyDrive integration, including 7 GB of free space, for storing pictures, files and data on the cloud and built-in support for Office 365 for email and SharePoint access.

A brand new OS needs a powerful network to run on, and with 4G LTE coverage in more than 410 markets across the United States, Windows Phone 8 customers will be browsing and streaming at blazing speeds. That same Verizon Wireless advantage also includes access to the exclusive apps like VZ Navigator for turn-by-turn navigation and maps with millions points of interest, Backup Assistant Plus to store your contacts and sports apps including one for football aficionado.

Verizon Wireless will soon have three 4G LTE smartphones running Windows Phone 8, two of which will be available in the coming weeks.

  • Windows Phone 8X by HTC – available by Thanksgiving in Blue, Red or Black color models for $199.99 with a new two year contract. The Red and Black color models are Verizon Wireless exclusives.
  • Nokia Lumia 822 – Exclusive to Verizon Wireless and will be available by Thanksgiving in Black, White and Grey color models for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and with a new two year contract
  • Samsung ATIV Odyssey – Exclusive to Verizon Wireless and will be available by the end of the year. More information soon to come.

My daughter will be happy to hear this as she’s getting a Lumia 822.  How about you?  Are you ordering a new Windows 8 phone from Verizon?

Verizon Starts WP8 Preordering

Angry Birds StarWars Released (With Links iOS/Andoid/WP8)

Chris Hare
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Angry Birds StarWars Released (With Links iOS/Andoid/WP8)

Today Angry Birds StarWars was released, I was very excited to see Star Wars Angry Birds come to mobile devices and today it launched on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. You can now purchase and download Angry Birds Star Wars for the iPhone (iTunes link) for 69p/99 cents and for the iPad for £1.99/$2.99 (iTunes link). It is also on the Google Play Store in HD format for £1.99/$2.99 and regular format for free (with ads). Also released on Windows Phone 8 today aswell the Windows Phone version costs £0.79.

  • HOURS AND HOURS OF ENGAGING GAMEPLAY – Explore more than 80 levels in iconic locations like Tatooine and the Pig Star. Can you dodge Imperial pigs, laser turrets, Tusken Raider pigs, and the dark side of the Force to get all three stars?
  • NEW GAMEPLAY MECHANICS – Use lightsabers, Blasters and Jedi powers to wreak havoc on the Imperial Pigs!
  • LEVEL UP YOUR BIRDS – Keep playing and level up your birds to improve their skills!
  • SECRETS AND HIDDEN GOODIES – Can you unlock all the R2-D2 and C-3PO bonus levels?
  • FREE UPDATES – This is only the beginning of the epic saga!
  • THE MIGHTY FALCON – Stuck on a tricky level? Earn stars and call the Mighty Falcon to rain down the destruction. New goals, achievements and gameplay!
  • PATH OF THE JEDI – The ultimate training ground for a Young Jedi, this in-app purchase unlocks 40 Dagobah Challenge Levels with Jedi Master Yoda! Master the Path of the Jedi to unlock the ultimate lightsaber!

Introducing Mass Effect 3: Omega DLC and interview

Andrew Edney
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Introducing Mass Effect 3: Omega DLC and interview

Recently we got to play on the new Mass Effect 3: Omega DLC and we also got to talk to Fabrice Condominas who is the producer.

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Mass Effect 3: Omega expands upon the events of Mass Effect 3, with gripping and emotional storytelling, compelling new characters, powerful weapons and unique upgrades. In the new story-based single player DLC, the station of Omega has fallen to Cerberus and Aria T’Loak is plotting her revenge. To reclaim her domain, she must team up with Commander Shepard and take down Cerberus’ most accomplished and brilliant agent and land a devastating blow to the Illusive Man’s plans.

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And here is the interview with Fabrice:

Mass Effect 3: Omega is out this month and if you are a Mass Effect fan then you will want this!

Are you going to get it? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Ubisoft release The Story trailer for Far Cry 3

Andrew Edney
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Ubisoft release The Story trailer for Far Cry 3

Ubisoft have released a new trailer for Far Cry 3 – this one is Story!

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In the all-new Story trailer, journey into the heart of insanity. While vacationing on a beautiful tropical island, you and your friends are taken captive and held for ransom. Your only hope of surviving and rescuing your companions is to embrace the dark secrets of the island and its twisted characters. How far will you go to get your friends back?

Far Cry 3 will be released at the end of November, and if you pre-order now you get some cool bonus items.

  

Are you going to order the game? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Exclusive Far Cry 3 Single Player and Multiplayer gameplay footage Exclusive Far Cry 3 Interview with Dan Hay and Jamie Kean

Updated Kindle just £69

Dan James
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Updated Kindle just £69
Kindles Old and New
Older Kindle (left) New Kindle (right)

Deja Vu?

They look identical, but the newer Kindle, on the right of the image, is subtly more refined than its elder sibling on the left.  The incredibly lightweight electronic book reader from Amazon, with its paper-like unlit screen and display that uses ink particles for a realistic and easy-to-read look, has had an update.

What’s New?

The features include:

  • Just £69 from Amazon.co.uk
  • Only 170 grams in weight
  • More advanced electronic ink display (see below)
  • 15% faster page turns
  • One month battery life (I can vouch for this on the older model)
  • Space for 1,400 books
  • Over 1,000,000 books in the UK Kindle Store (many of which are available free, such as the classics)
  • Free wireless delivery allowing you to purchase and read within seconds (less than ten seconds in my experience)

The New Display

These images show the old and new electronic ink displays in extreme close-up (excuse the dust on my older model).  The new display has much smoother fonts.  Up close like this, you can see that the newer Kindle has a less pixelated appearance to the lettering.  You can’t see the pixels on either model, but the new one is definitely clearer.  The paper background is also whiter, giving higher contrast and making it easier to read.

Kindle Font Old
Old Kindle Display
Kindle Font New
New Kindle Display

Page Turns

The other noticeable difference is the page turn speed.  Flicking through the dictionary on both devices at once to find a page for the close-ups, the page turns on the new model are noticeably faster.  The older model changes through a black screen before displaying the new page.  The newer model morphs more quickly from the text of one page to the text of the next.

Ideal Christmas Present

Any avid reader will easily make the transition to the Kindle from paper books, even if they are sceptical at first.  The sheer ease with which you can carry several books with you on holiday or on a long journey makes the Kindle a must-have for readers.  With its affordable price, it’s sure to be on many a Christmas list again this year.  The new Kindle gets a CDW Gold Award for making a brilliant device that little bit better.

Ubisoft announces the Assassin’s Creed Antholoy

Andrew Edney
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Ubisoft announces the Assassin’s Creed Antholoy

Today, Ubisoft announced Assassin’s Creed Anthology, a unique collection containing every Assassin’s Creed game ever released for the Xbox 360and PlayStation 3, available exclusively at Amazon in the UK from November 30, 2012 for £119.99.

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Assassin’s Creed Anthology is a prestige collector’s edition which includes all expansion packs and downloadable content for the Assassin’s Creed games, including the Season Pass for Assassin’s Creed III, which provides full access to all forthcoming downloadable content, the first of which will be available mid-December.  The Anthology Edition also includes five exclusive lithographs, an exclusive steel book and a collector’s box.

Assassin’s Creed Anthology includes:

Assassin’s Creed

Experience the power of an Assassin in Jerusalem, 1191 AD during the brutal times of the third Crusades.

Assassin’s Creed II

Assassin’s Creed II introduces you to Ezio, a new assassin carrying on the deadly lineage of his forebears. Confront an epic tale of power and corruption as you hone your assassin’s art, wielding weapons and instruments designed by the legendary Leonardo da Vinci himself in this gripping and deadly sequel.

Also includes:

Sequence 12: Battle of Forlì DLC and Sequence 13: Bonfire of the Vanities DLC.

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood – The Da Vinci Edition

Ezio must journey into Italy’s greatest city, Rome, center of power, greed and corruption to strike at the heart of the enemy. Defeating the corrupt tyrants entrenched there will require not only strength, but leadership, as Ezio commands an entire brotherhood of assassins who will rally to his side. Only by working together can the assassins defeat their mortal enemies and prevent the extinction of their order.

Also includes:

The Da Vinci Disappearance: 1 single player story Mission

2 Additional Solo Missions: Trajan Market and the Aqueducts

New Multiplayer features: 1 Map + 6 Characters + 2 new modes

Assassin’s Creed Revelations – The Ottoman Edition

Ezio Auditore must leave his life behind in search of answers, in search of the truth. In Assassin’s Creed® Revelations, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of the legendary mentor Altaïr, on a journey of discovery and revelation. It is a perilous path — one that will take Ezio to Constantinople, the heart of the Ottoman Empire, where a growing army of Templars threatens to destabilize the region.

Also includes:

The lost archive: 1 single player story Mission

New Singleplayer Features: 3 Skins, Capacity upgrades + 1 Additional Mission: Vlad the Impaler’s Prison

New Multiplayer Features: 6 Maps + 7 Characters + Customisation Items

Assassin’s Creed III

Assassin’s Creed III invites players to experience the untold story of the American Revolution through the eyes of a new Assassin, Connor.  Designed from the ground up over more than two years, Assassin’s Creed III takes one of gaming’s most beloved franchises to new heights.

Also includes:

The Season Pass, providing instant access to all forthcoming Assassin’s Creed III downloadable game content packs, the first of which is available from mid-December 2012.

  

Angry Birds Star Wars out tomorrow

Andrew Edney
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Angry Birds Star Wars out tomorrow

Angry Birds Star Wars is released tomorrow and there is a new trailer!

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Check out the trailer below:

Are you going to play it? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Live opens in London

Andrew Edney
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Call of Duty: Black Ops II Live opens in London

With the biggest entertainment launch of the year, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2,  just around the corner, Activision has revealed an exclusive Black Ops 2 Live destination space is set to open in London, from 10th – 12th November, at Bloomsbury Ballroom.

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Black Ops 2 Live will be a dedicated e-sports experience giving fans the chance to play the game before its release at midnight on November 13th. Turning the traditional sports bar experience on its head, Black Ops 2 Live will enable thousands of fans the opportunity of playing new content for the very first time, bringing to life some of the key features of Multiplayer and e-sports.

Bloomsbury Ballroom has been transformed into the ultimate Call of Duty® destination, complete with an e-sports arena, zombie inspired diner and sports bar to watch all the action live on big screens, keeping visitors entertained when not playing.

To sign up for an exclusive session please visit http://www.blackops2live.co.uk. Guaranteed entry will only apply to those that have a ticket confirmation.

Further announcements will be made this week and keep an eye out for #blackops2live.

Location:

Bloomsbury Ballroom, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, Holborn, London, WC1B 4DA

Call of Duty: Black Ops II will be released worldwide on November 13 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, and shortly afterwards on Wii U!

        

Sony Playstation 3 System Software Update 4.31 out now

Andrew Edney
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Sony Playstation 3 System Software Update 4.31 out now

Sony has released an update to the Playstation 3 system software, taking it to version 4.31.

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This is what is included in the update:

This is not a mandatory update. However, we suggest you keep your systems updated with the latest firmware, as these updates further improve overall system stability and help provide you with the best online entertainment experience possible.

Remember that some games and applications force you to have the new update before you can play them so make sure you update now instead of having to sit around and wait when you really want to use it!

Norton decodes 007’s latest enemy in Skyfall – Cyberterrorism

Andrew Edney
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Norton decodes 007’s latest enemy in Skyfall – Cyberterrorism

From Golden Eye to the Golden Gun, Bond has faced some truly out of this world weaponry but in his latest outing, Skyfall, England’s most famous spy is pitted against a real and present danger grounded in the modern world – cyberterrorism. Here, Kevin Haley, Norton’s Director of Security Technology and Response, explains how Skyfall sees Bond battle an authentic global threat.

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1. The villain’s lair

Raoul Silva (played by Javier Bardem) launches his cyber-attacks from a deserted island in the Far East, surrounded by rows of computers and servers with just a few henchmen. It’s a scene that bears some truth in reality, says Kevin. “Cybercriminals are known to base some of their operations out of less developed countries that are more lax on policing online security. With their servers protected by “bullet-proof” hosting in these countries, the attackers are free to operate from anywhere in the world.”

2. The new tech authority

32 year-old Ben Whishaw becomes the new tech boffin “Q” in Skyfall, just weeks after the British government launched its search for the next generation of cyber spies. “It’s a brave new world for national security where many  of the new players are barely out of their teen years. Casting a young programmer as the new Q reflects the sorts of characters we may now find on the frontline of cyber wars,” Kevin says.

3. Infiltrating infrastructure

Cyberterrorist Raoul Silva boasts to Bond of his abilities to control and disrupt national infrastructure at the push of button. “Not quite the push of a button,” Kevin says. “Although computer worms like Stuxnet have already demonstrated their power to disrupt on an industrial scale. In 2010, hackers got into an Iranian uranium enrichment facility and were able to cause it to malfunction. They programmed the cylinders within the facility to spin so fast that they cracked and broke. This case of cybersabotage will have taken months or maybe years to implement.”

4. Money, money, money

Skyfall’s villain has access to some impressive resources including helicopters, millions of dollars and well-armed henchmen – all of which can be funded through the type of low-scale fraud employed by hackers across the world. “Unfortunately hacking can be very profitable,” Kevin says. “Take mobile malware for example. Fraudsters make money by creating trojan mobile apps that on the surface seem like harmless games or tools but once downloaded, they secretly send premium SMS messages. The victim only discovers the trojan app when they’re handed a hefty mobile bill at the end of the month.”

Borderlands 2 on Xbox 360 gets an update

Andrew Edney
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Borderlands 2 on Xbox 360 gets an update

Borderlands 2 on the Xbox 360 just got an update, and there was also a recent one you may have missed.

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11/6/12 Update

  • Added security to prevent data loss tied to malicious violations of the Xbox Live Code of Conduct through an unsupported third-party program.

10/22/12 Update

  • Fixed player first-person arms appearing too far up or down the screen when in horizontal/vertical split mode.
  • Fixed players losing ammo when reloading a savegame with max ammo and a stockpile relic equipped.
  • Fixed the vendor UI sometimes showing a count of 1 less item in the player’s backpack than is actually there.
  • Fixed fast travel stations from downloadable content sometimes disappearing when loading a saved game.
  • Fixed players getting stuck in a white box when two people try to travel at once and one is in a vehicle.
  • Allowed players to trade with each other when at maximum backpack capacity if they’re trading the same number of items with each other.
  • Fixed clients sometimes losing access to fast travel stations unlocked during co-op progression.
  • Fixed the favorite/trash icons on inventory items sometimes disappearing when scrolling the inventory list.
  • Added safeguards against the game getting stuck on a ‘Saving…’ prompt when a client with a splitscreen player saves and quits the game under specific rare circumstances.
  • Fixed the “has abandoned your struggle!” message sometimes appearing with no player name.
  • Fixed mini-map fog-of-war sometimes not uncovering correctly when first loading a saved game as a client.
  • Fixed co-op players sometimes spawning at different places after a level transition.
  • Fixed an error that could sometimes occur when trying to join a game where the host had recently returned from a downloadable content area.
  • Fixed an error where clients would sometimes see certain weapons firing in incorrect directions.
  • Fixed a blocker in the “Do No Harm” mission and repaired users already affected by the bug.
  • Fixed an issue with savegames sometimes causing the game to stutter / freeze and repaired saves already affected by the bug.
  • Made the user’s inventory not jump to the top of the list when using a customization item.
  • Fixed a bug with shields that reduce the player’s maximum health not displaying the amount of health reduced on the item card.
  • Fixed a bug where some challenges would sometimes re-complete levels 1 through 5 over and over again, granting the user additional ranks and tokens.
  • Enemies affected by a Siren’s Thoughtlock ability may now be damaged by other players.
  • Fixed an issue where players could sometimes lose their third and fourth weapon slots. Characters who have already lost these slots will be repaired the next time they are loaded.
  • Fixed an issue where players were sometimes unable to pick items up after another player had bulk-picked-up a nearby item.
  • Fixed an issue where players could occasionally be unable to connect to one another if one of them had recently been in DLC that the other doesn’t have.

Updates are done automatically, so just load up the game and wait.

SkyDrive app for Windows Phone 8 released

Andrew Edney
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SkyDrive app for Windows Phone 8 released

Microsoft has just released SkyDrive as an app for Windows Phone 8.

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SkyDrive is the place to store your files so you can access them from virtually any device. Windows Phone has built-in access to SkyDrive right from the Office and Pictures hubs.

It can also automatically upload pictures that you take to SkyDrive for easy access.

Now the SkyDrive app for Windows Phone makes it even easier to manage and share files—all in one place.

Features:

• Access all of your SkyDrive content including files shared with you.

• View recently used documents.

• Upload photos or videos from your phone.

• Share your files and photos—send a link in email or get a link you can copy and paste.

• Manage your files—move, delete, rename, or create new folders.

• Search your SkyDrive files and folders.

New in version 3.0:

• Search your SkyDrive files and folders

• New settings for photo upload and download size

• Support for Windows Phone 8

• Updated app icons and visuals

Download SkyDrive now

Xbox SmartGlass app now available for iOS

Andrew Edney
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Xbox SmartGlass app now available for iOS

A few weeks ago Microsoft introduced Xbox SmartGlass, including an Android app. Now they have released the iOS app.

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Use Xbox SmartGlass to enhance your entertainment on Xbox 360.

Xbox SmartGlass lets your device work with your Xbox 360 console to bring rich, interactive experiences and unique content about what you’re watching or playing, right to the device that’s already in your hand. Interact with your favorite TV shows, movies, music, sports, and games, and bring remote control to a whole new level.

You can also connect with your Xbox friends, track and compare your achievements, and change up your 3D avatar.

What’s New in Version 2.0

Xbox SmartGlass lets you:
• Navigate your Xbox 360 with swipe and tap
• Use your phone’s keyboard to type to your Xbox 360
• Browse the Internet on your Xbox 360 with full keyboard and zooming
• Play, pause, fast forward, rewind, and stop videos and music on your Xbox 360
• Search the full Xbox catalog of music, video, and games
• Enjoy rich, interactive experiences from select game and entertainment content creators
• Track and compare your achievements with your Xbox friends
• Change up your 3D avatar
• Message your Xbox friends
• Edit your Xbox profile

Download now from the Apple App Store

App Update: Netflix for iOS Updated to Version 2.4.2

Andrew Edney
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App Update: Netflix for iOS Updated to Version 2.4.2

The Netflix app for the iPhone and the iPad has been updated to version 2.4.2.

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Just download this free app and you can instantly watch TV shows & movies streaming from Netflix.

* It’s part of your Netflix unlimited membership. Not a Netflix member? Start your FREE trial today.
* Watch as often as you want
* Resume watching where you left off on your TV or computer
* Browse movies right from your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad

Note: Video out is supported on the iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPod Touch 4G

What’s New in Version 2.4.2

– Many improvements throughout the app that make the playback better
– Bug fixes

Download from the Apple App Store
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