Events

Pure Jongo S3 portable wireless speaker now available

Andrew Edney

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Apr 10, 2013

Pure has announced the availability of Jongo S3, a portable wireless speaker with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 360° sound.

Jongo S3 is the first product in Pure’s new Jongo multiroom music system and works with the free companion Pure Connect iOS app (iPhone and iPad) which is also available to download today. Music fans can enjoy a 30 day free trial of Pure Music, Pure’s on demand music service with the app. Pure Connect offers an unparalleled combination of the best of radio and music in one place and takes the user on a journey of discovery with recommendations based on listening patterns and a selection of curated content from a range of trusted partners.

The Pure Jongo S3 portable, rechargeable wireless speaker (SRP £169.99) can be used on its own or grouped together with other Jongo speakers to deliver the most flexible and accessible multiroom audio system on the market today. Jongo products use Wi-Fi to stream perfectly synchronised audio within a single or multiroom environment, while Bluetooth allows users to stream content from any audio app on their smartphone or tablet, including locally stored music, to a single Jongo product. Users can simply add extra Jongo speakers or adapters on the same Wi-Fi network to build their multiroom system.

The compact Pure Jongo S3 offers rich, detailed and vibrant sound and comes with four tweeters for 360° audio, and an upward-firing subwoofer for powerful bass. Thanks to its five speakers and individual power amplifiers, Jongo has surprisingly punchy audio and with a simple press of the “audio” button on the rear of the unit, the user can select flexible audio profiles to make the most of any environment including 360° sound for community listening (stereo or mono); forward facing stereo or outdoor boost.

A rechargeable battery pack is included as standard and provides up to ten hours of listening per charge. Jongo S3 comes in black, or piano (white with black speaker grilles), and has optional user-fit coloured grille packs in burnt orange, lime green, mango or white (from SRP £12.99).

The Pure Jongo S3 is available at all good electrical retailers including John Lewis and Amazon.

Sony announces Invizimals: The Alliance and Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

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Apr 10, 2013

0

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has announced that the much loved Invizimals series will be coming to PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3 for the first time later this year. Invizimals: The Alliance for PS Vita and Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom for PS3, will deliver fantastic new adventures that will challenge all young monster hunters to find and capture Invizimals in our world and in theirs!

For fans of the PSP games created by Novarama Technology, Invizimals, Invizimals: Shadow Zone, and Invizimals: The Lost Tribes the brand new PS Vita game, Invizimals: The Alliance uses augmented reality gameplay to merge the real world with the virtual, turning everywhere into a place where lots of unique Invizimals can be found. And for those curious to explore the magical world of the Invizimals, they now can for the first time in the PS3 action adventure Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom.

Both fantastic individual adventures with challenging gameplay and fun minigames, together the titles can deliver completely exclusive Cross-platform experiences. For the first time players of Invizimals: The Alliance will be able through Cross-platform play, to link up with players of Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom on PS3 – staging frantic four-player battles or sending and receiving bonus game items through co-op play.

Invizimals: The Alliance (PS Vita)

Tiny and mysterious, the Invizimals live all around us but only your PS Vita can see them. In this exciting new PS Vita game, players will have to guide the Invizimals to a new safe-haven following the arrival of a dangerous new enemy. Using the intuitive controls of the PS Vita, players will have to help the Invizimals construct a new village and defeat their evil new foe. As well as being able to utilise the PS Vita features such as the touch screen, rear touch pad, motion sensor and the rear camera, Invizimals: The Alliance also features state of the art augmented reality technology that is used to hunt and capture the Invizimals.

Complete with new capture minigames, Invizimals: The Alliance delivers a magical experience like no other and with the ability to evolve your Invizimals to boost their capabilities and build a collection of 150 of the unique creatures that you hunt, capture and battle on your PS Vita there really is no end to the fun!

Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom (PS3)

For fans of action adventure, Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom is a brand new game which allows young explorers to enter the world of the Invizimals for the very first time. Developed exclusively for the PS3 by Magenta Software, players will discover The Lost Kingdom through the eyes of Hiro, a young explorer who uncovers a magical portal that teleports you into a fantastical new world.

With the opportunity to transform into one of your all-time favourite Invizimals, players must use the Invizimals unique abilities to defeat a powerful robot army that is attacking The Lost Kingdom and solve puzzles as you journey across six exotic worlds by land, air and sea.

Cross-play functionality

Whether you’re helping out the Invizimals on the PS Vita version or exploring their magical world on the PS3, you can still link up with friends and transfer your evolving characters between the two platforms, PS Vita and PS3.

Have up to four players battle it out in the multiplayer mode and send your PS Vita Invizimals to the PS3 to take part in the action. When you’re done, transfer them back to your PS Vita, and use them to battle with your friends.

Invizimals franchise

And the hunt for Invizimals is set to get bigger than ever! A 26-episode animated TV show is in production, alongside new trading cards and an app that brings the Invizimals to life on your PS Vita or mobile device.

Panini – which publishes the monthly magazine Invizimals in Spain and Portugal has launched several ranges of stickers and collectables.

Skype for Windows 8/RT updated again with more fixes

Andrew Edney

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Apr 10, 2013

0

Skype for Windows 8 has been updated again, although the release notes are the same as the previous version.

This update contains:

– Greater control over your contacts with the option to block
– Performance improvements
– General fixes

Download Skype from the Windows Store

Fitbit launches Windows 8 app to track your activity

Andrew Edney

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Apr 10, 2013

0

Fitbit has today revealed that the Fitbit One and Fitbit Zip wireless activity and sleep trackers now offer Windows 8 users the ability to track physical activity with a new app.

The app is compatible over numerous devices and provides Windows users increased flexibility in tracking and monitoring their Fitbit activity stats.

With apps for iPhone and Android smartphone users, the latest Windows app offering means that Fitbit now provide the only wireless activity trackers on the market to offer apps for iOS, Android and Windows platforms.

The Windows app enables you to view graphs of your activity levels, sleep and weight and gives you a clear picture of your health and fitness trends.

The app also offers weight, body fat and BMI trend graphs and allows you to see your nightly sleep patterns, enabling you to see how you measure up against Fitbit friends and discover who is the most active.

If you use Fitbit let us know how you get on by leaving a comment below.

Halo Week: Drop Shock Extra XP Challenges

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

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Apr 10, 2013

0

Microsoft and 343 Industries this week announced “Halo Week: Drop Shock”, a concentrated supply of new “Halo 4” content, giveaway opportunities, promotional pricing, DLC sales, and availability of Volume 2 of the original soundtrack. And for today its Extra XP Challenges.

343 Industries will turn up the heat with new “Extra XP” challenges throughout “Halo Week”, allowing you and your friends to rank up your Spartan faster by playing online.

With 14 daily and six weekly challenges, players will have the opportunity for extra Experience Points by competing in any “Halo 4” mode, be it War Games, Spartan Ops, or Campaign. These challenges were created specifically for “Halo Week: Drop Shock,” designed to reward more XP than standard challenges for players of all skill levels.

For challenge details, please visit Halo Waypoint.

Check back tomorrow to find out what Day Four brings.

App Update: Chrome browser for iPhone and iPad version 26.0.1410.50

Apple

Andrew Edney

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Apr 9, 2013

2

If you are fan of Google’s Chrome browser you can now get it as an app for both the iPhone and iPad and it’s just been updated to version 26.0.1410.50 .

Browse fast with Chrome, now available on your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Sign in to sync your personalized Chrome experience from your computer, and bring it with you anywhere you go.

What’s New in Version 26.0.1410.50

Fullscreen for iPhone and iPod touch
• Scroll the toolbar off the screen to enjoy the full page of content.
• Quickly re-access the omnibox by scrolling back down.
Printing
• Print web pages with Google Cloud Print or AirPrint.
• Save any page as a PDF to Google Drive
Stability / security improvements and bug fixes

Have you tried it yet? Be sure and let us know by leaving a comment below.

Download Google Chrome for iOS now

PS Vita System Software Update v.2.10 out now

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

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Apr 9, 2013

0

The next PS Vita System Software Update (v.2.10) is out now.

Here’s a look at some of the new enhancements you can expect with software update v.2.10:

Create folders to more easily manage your favourite application icons on the home screen, with up to 10 icons in each folder and a maximum of 100 on the home screen (including icons inside the folders).
Verify which PS Vita card you are using by looking at the home screen’s info bar. You can also save the layout of your home screen icons in the memory card.
Added video support allows you to play videos within the browser (memory card required; some videos are not supported).
New email enhancements allows you to view HTML messages, add multiple email addresses to your contacts, and easily search your messages using the new search feature.
PlayStation Plus members will be able to automatically update PlayStation Mobile format software and upload game save data onto online storage using 3G connection.
New “Mute Automatically” option will mute your PS Vita speakers when your headset is unplugged and pause your music when using the music app.

Have you got a PS Vita? Let us know what you think of it.

Google Play marketplace App Redesign Unveiled

Chris Hare

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Apr 9, 2013

0

Google Play marketplace App Redesign Unveiled

Google’s Android store has undergone a radical transformation on tablets and smartphones. The overhauled Google Play application is being distributed to tablets and smartphones running Android 2.2 and above from today.

The new-look storefront sports a similar design to the Google Now personal assistant, with larger images set in cards against a lighter background.

User recommendations have been tweaked so that recommended content is grouped together more prominently, and the checkout process has been streamlined.

Rumours of a Google Play overhaul emerged earlier this week when several sources published leaked screenshots of its new design.

The new Google Play app will be distributed over the air to users with compatible tablets and smartphones from today.

Batman – Arkham Origins Gets New Developer, 25th October Release Date

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Apr 9, 2013

0

Batman – Arkham Origins Gets New Developer, 25th October Release Date

Picture from GameInformer

Batman: Arkham Origins will be developed by Warner Bros. Montreal and released in October, it has been revealed. The new Batman game, which will be unveiled in next month’s issue of Game Informer, will launch for PS3, Xbox 360, PC and Wii U on 25th October.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d0geMX4nWA%5D

Prior to the events of Arkham City and Asylum, it sees eight of the world’s best assassins come together to eliminate Batman.

Featuring enemies such as Deathstroke, it will take place on the “functional” streets of Gotham City on a cold Christmas Eve.

It will be directed by Eric Holmes, whose previous credits include The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction and Prototype.

Its release will coincide with the launch of a handheld title, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate.

Taking place after the events of Arkham Origins, Blackgate will feature 2.5D “Metroidvania” gameplay and release for the 3DS and Vita.

Time Warner confirmed plans to release a new game in the Arkham series during a financial report in February.

EE Pledges to Double Speed and Capacity of 4G network

Chris Hare

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Apr 9, 2013

0

EE has announced plans to double the speed and capacity of its 4G mobile broadband service. The Orange and T-Mobile merger has informed customers that they can expect to reach average speeds of more than 20Mbps and headline speeds of 80Mbps plus when the measures are in place.

Increasing the 1800MHz spectrum bandwidth dedicated to 4G from 10Mbps to 20Mbps will future-proof the network and help it cope with the predicted surge in 4G adoption, EE claims. Olaf Swantee, Chief Executive Officer, EE, said:“We are ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of the digital revolution. Having already pioneered 4G here, we’re now advancing the country’s infrastructure again with an even faster, even higher-capacity network, and at no extra cost to our customers”.

Enhanced 4G boosts headline speeds to 80Mbps and doubles current average speeds to 20Mbps, for new and existing subscribers.
Double-speed 4G to be introduced to ten cities by summer: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Sheffield.
Doubling of 4G network capacity ensures UK’s fastest mobile network is future-proofed to meet needs of data hungry consumers and businesses, with EE forecasting network traffic to increase by 750% in next three years alone.
EE targeting more than one million 4G users by Christmas, states ambition to stay one step ahead and always offer the fastest network in the UK.