Events

Heroes and Villains DLC packs for LEGO Batman 2 now available

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 12, 2012

Heroes and Villains DLC packs for LEGO Batman 2 now available

Warner Bros announced two new downloadable content (DLC) packs for LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, the UK All Formats chart-topping videogame.

Available for purchase beginning today at £1.36 each on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, the Heroes and the Villains DLC packs unlock exciting new sets of characters to play in Freeplay mode.
Heroes Pack DLC:

Nightwing, Katana, Shazam, Zatanna, plus the brand-new Robin (Bruce Wayne’s son, Damian Wayne)

Villains Pack DLC:

Bizzaro, Captain Cold, Black Adam, Black Manta, Gorilla Grodd

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is the perfect way to bring the blockbuster Batman franchise home for the entire family to enjoy together! Now available in stores everywhere, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes introduces an original LEGO adventure filled with action and humor as gamers of all ages explore, solve puzzles and help put an end to the evil plans of the notorious villains Lex Luthor and The Joker.

I’m really enjoying playing LEGO Batman 2 – expect our review soon.

Have you played LEGO Batman 2? Have you got the DLC packs? Let us know what you think of the game by leaving a comment below.

Netflix “Just for Kids” Arrives on Xbox 360

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 12, 2012

5

Netflix “Just for Kids” Arrives on Xbox 360

This week, Netflix announced the addition of “Just for Kids” to its popular app on Xbox 360*, allowing current Xbox LIVE Gold and Netflix subscribers to enter an experience designed exclusively for children 12 and under.

Netflix “Just for Kids” makes it easier for families to browse and watch a large selection of kid-friendly content. Kids can click and instantly watch their favourite characters, including many they’ll recognise from their favourite TV shows and movies. “Just for Kids” displays rows of titles organised by easy-to-understand genres, like superheroes, princesses, dinosaurs and girl power, featuring clear and simple descriptions of the plot of each title. Unique Netflix technology provides each member with a personalised “Just for Kids” experience based on taste and favourites. And with Kinect for Xbox 360, all of your favourite entertainment on Netflix can be found by simply using your voice.

Xbox 360 owners can download the updated app today in all markets where Netflix on Xbox LIVE is currently available.

For more information on the Netflix service in the UK and Ireland, visit the blog here.

Have you tried “Just for Kids” yet? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Two minute review of Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover for the iPhone 4S

Andrew Edney

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Aug 12, 2012

0

Two minute review of Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover for the iPhone 4S

It’s time for another one of our “two minute reviews” – this time is the Metalix snap-on cover for the iPhone 4S from Qmadix.

The Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover adds style, sophistication and protection to your device. The durable but lightweight, textured polycarbonate border helps to keep a firm grip on your device. Aluminum alloy accents enhance the look of your device without adding bulk or unwanted weight.

Features

• Form-fitted design allows access to all buttons,
cameras and ports
• Protects from scratches and bumps
• Easy to install
• Available in a variety of colors

Who are Qmdaix

From their website:

Qmadix Inc. is the leader in tech gadgets and accessories. Founded by a team of dedicated leaders with over 20 years of success in the accessory industry, our long-standing commitment to providing quality products and innovative solutions has always been, and remains, the cornerstone of the Qmadix philosophy.

The Qmadix brand offers a level of quality and attention to detail that is unmatched in the industry. Being a true manufacturer that designs and tools its own products has enabled us to be the leader in first-to-market accessories for new handset launches, as well as offering contract manufacturing to the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). We service a multitude of channels, including Mobile Network Operators, Authorized Agents, Distributors, National Retailers, and e-tailers. With a deep understanding of each one of these sectors of the market, Qmadix has the solution.

We continue to evolve with new ideas in technology, products, and services, reinventing solutions for the accessory industry by proposing new custom programs, competitive pricing, and quality products backed by outstanding customer care.

The Qmadix headquarters and distribution center is located approximately 20 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California. Our sales and fulfillment specialists provide full-service accessory solutions, including value-added options, to fulfill all of your requirements.

What’s in the Box?

The box contains the cover.

A Closer Look

Using the Cover

Final Thoughts

The case is available in a variety of colours – in our case we went for the black with grey metalix.

Putting your iPhone into the cover is easy – it just clicks straight in. However, getting it out again is no easy task, so if you need to constantly take your iPhone out of the cover for whatever reason keep that in mind.

The cover retails for $29.99, so it’s a bargain to protect your expensive iPhone 4S and believe me having dropped it a few times, with no damage whatsoever, I am very happy to have it on my iPhone.

Learn more from the Qmadix website

Q&A with Dan Sochan, Producer on Sleeping Dogs

Andrew Edney

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Aug 11, 2012

0

Q&A with Dan Sochan, Producer on Sleeping Dogs

This week we got to go to the launch party for the new Square Enix game Sleeping Dogs, where we managed to grab one of the producers, Dan Sochan, for a quick Q&A.

Sleeping Dogs catapults players into the role of undercover cop Wei Shen, tasked with taking down one of the world’s most fearsome criminal organisations from the inside… the Hong Kong Triads. As players explore the bustling and crowded Hong Kong island, through its neon-lit side streets and sprawling street markets, an incredible story unfolds of loyalty and betrayal, where Wei begins to question his own motives as he is sucked in deeper than he could ever imagine.

Here is Dan’s bio:

Dan was drawn into the industry in 1999, with a passion for combining the best of both worlds: creative and technical. He joined United Front Games in 2007, as the Producer for ModNation Racers, and has since brought his expertise to Sleeping Dogs. Prior to UFG, Dan was with Backbone Entertainment, helping to grow the studio from a mobile-only developer to console gaming, while producing Monster Lab and Shadow-Born. Dan has also worked at Blackbox/EA, on titles such as NHL 2005, NHL 2004, NHL Hitz 20-03, Sega Soccer Slam and Nascar 2000.

Here is the video (apologies about the darkness, we were hiding out)!

Sleeping Dogs will be available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PCs from 14^th August, 2012, in North America and from 17^th August, 2012, in Europe and other PAL territories. For more information about the game, visit www.sleepingdogs.net

Check out our hands-on preview of Sleeping Dogs Check out some of the vocal talent in the game

Sleeping Dogs launch trailer released, game out next week

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 11, 2012

0

Sleeping Dogs launch trailer released, game out next week

What makes a good man? In Hong Kong it will take more than doing the right thing. It will take loyalty and honour, no matter which side of the law you are on. But when you are undercover and playing for both sides, loyalty and honour become words you should use carefully. Next week sees the release of Sleeping Dogs, the highly anticipated undercover cop drama from United Front Games and Square Enix London Studios.

Here is the launch trailer:

I am really impressed with the game and can’t stop playing it! Watch out for a review shortly.

I was at the UK launch party this week and got to speak to Dan Sochan who is a producer on the game, so stay tuned for that soon.

Sleeping Dogs will be available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PCs from 14^th August, 2012, in North America and from 17^th August, 2012, in Europe and other PAL territories. For more information about the game, visit www.sleepingdogs.net

Check out our hands-on preview of Sleeping Dogs Check out some of the vocal talent in the game

HTC One X gets update to Android 4.0.4

Andrew Edney

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Aug 11, 2012

6

Yesterday HTC announced that it’s HTC One X smartphone was getting the Android 4.0.4 update, plus some other improvements.

This is what HTC said:

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensure customers are receiving software updates that improve their user experience, we are pleased to announce our next upgrade for the HTC One X will be released on August 10th.

The primary update will include an upgrade to Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), in addition to an improved Sense experience which will: enable the ability to map menu function to the ‘recent app’ key (improving visual presentation in non ICS apps like Facebook); improve tab management in the browser with a dedicated tab switching button and enhance camera capabilities such as white balance and continuous autofocus. Furthermore, customers can expect enhancements to memory, platform stability and the overall browsing experience.

Other improvements include a Single Sign-On for Facebook allowing user access across applications and browsers and upgrades to Beats audio, which reflect our dedication to providing an authentic sound experience.

From a developer perspective, we are expanding SDK support for Media Link and providing a framework for video call applications to achieve improved performance and quality.

Have you got an HTC One X? Have you updated yet? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

App Update: My Movies for Mac OS X Updated to version 1.22

News

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 10, 2012

2

As you may know, I am a huge fan of My Movies, and now Brian has released an update to My Movies for Mac OS X – taking it to version 1.22.

Introduction

My Movies for Mac OS X allows you to catalog your entire movie collection from our high quality online data service containing data for more than 475,000 DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD titles from various countries. The application supports Mac OS X 10.6 and higher.

Notice! The application is currently in Pre Release, and is freely available to everyone during this Pre Release period. The Pre Release distributions contains a time bomb functionality, allowing to function typically for one month from the release date.

My Movies for Mac OS X requires you to create a user account, or log on to an existing My Movies account to be able to use the program. Your collection will follow your user account through our online servers, allowing you to switch between different clients without ever loosing your data. If you log in to an existing My Movies account, your current collection will automatically be synchronized to My Movies for Mac OS X. Users of My Movies for iPhone, iPad or Android will automatically have their collection synchronized between My Movies for Mac OS X and your movie devices.

Availability

My Movies for Mac OS X is available in two different versions; an unlimited “Pro” application, available for purchase through the Mac App Store, and a “Free” application which is identical to the “Pro” version, but limited to 50 titles, a limitation that can be lifted either through contribution points or purchased points.

The Pro application can be purchased by clicking here.

The free application is at this time not available through the App Store, but instead available as a direct download on this page. This is due to Apple not allowing for trial software on the App Store.

The Free application can be downloaded by clicking here.

My Movies for Mac OS X and My Movies for Windows

My Movies for Mac OS X is a standalone software, synchronizing with the My Movies WebService.

The application is not a client for My Movies for Windows servers, such as My Movies for Windows Home Server and My Movies Collection Management functioning as server. This means that you cannot connect it to the My Movies Windows based solutions.

It is not planned that for the software to function as a client to the My Movies Windows software package at any point. The internal structure and functionality of the application differs in many ways to how the Windows software packages function. Depending on user feedback, it may be that this at some point will change, and while we would like the requests as feedback, it is not something users should expect.

Interface Overview

Below is an overview of the interface of My Movies for Mac OS X, allowing you to see the functionality of buttons and interface areas. You can click the image to view it in a larger version.

What’s New in Version 1.22

fixes an issue where the login screen was inactive under Mac OS X 10.6

App Update: Podcasts app for iPhone, iPod and iPad updated to version 1.0.2

Apple
News

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 10, 2012

2

App Update: Podcasts app for iPhone, iPod and iPad updated to version 1.0.2

Apple has released an update to its standalone app for listening to and subscribing to podcasts.

Features:

• Enjoy all of your audio and video podcasts in a single app
• Explore hundreds of thousands of podcasts including shows in over 40 languages
• Try the innovative new Top Stations feature to find new podcast series in a variety of topics, including arts, business, comedy, music, news, sports, and more.
• Browse by Audio or Video podcasts, or see what’s most popular in Top Charts
• Tap subscribe for your favorites and automatically receive new episodes for free as they become available
• Stream episodes or download to listen while offline
• Skip forward and back using simple playback controls
• Turn on Sleep Timer to automatically stop playing a podcast while listening in bed
• Share your favorite episodes with friends using Twitter, Messages and Mail
• Optionally sync your favorite episodes from iTunes on your Mac or PC
• Sync your episode playback for seamless transition between devices

What’s New in Version 1.0.2

performance and stability improvements, including addressing an issue that may cause Podcasts to quit unexpectedly on launch.

Download Podcasts from the Apple App Store

I have tested the app and it’s very simple to use and now means I don’t have to sync podcasts through iTunes before syncing them to my device.

Have your tried it yet? Let us know what you think of it.

PC version of Sleeping Dogs to include a host of added extras

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 9, 2012

2

PC version of Sleeping Dogs to include a host of added extras

Launching day and date with the Xbox 360 and PS3 releases, Sleeping Dogs for Windows PCs is set to ship with a stunning set of PC-specific features to bring Hong Kong island to life. With an array of advanced graphical features on-board, the Windows PC release gives gamers with the hardware bandwidth a host of graphical enhancements, hardware optimisations and support for the latest AMD and Nvidia features.

The high-resolution texture pack updates the game to a new level, bringing eye-watering detail and crisp clear rendering to everything from city skyscrapers to crumbling ancient temples. Another layer of depth is added for gamers running at higher resolutions using increased small object detail to render smaller items of the world from a far greater distance to give an incredible sense of scale and detail. In-game shadows receive a significant upgrade with support for high-resolution shadow textures, high quality shadow filters and support for Screen Space Ambient Occlusion. Sleeping Dogs features performance enhancements for both dual and quad core PC setups, enhanced performance for Nvidia SLI and AMD Crossfire, support for keyboard and mouse setup (including key mapping) and optimisations for both 3D and multi monitors on both AMD and Nvidia hardware.

For Team Fortress 2 players a special bonus awaits. Pre-order the game on Steam and players will get access to eight new items in the Team Fortress 2 Triad Pack. There’s something for every class: pyros will conk enemies over the head with a neon sign, heavies will breathe fire, scouts will get chopping with a comically oversized cleaver and spies will do what they do best, but even more covertly. And with all the new hats, swag and tattoos, you’ll fit right in on the new battlefield: a King of the Hill map inspired by the streets of Hong Kong!

I was at the UK launch party last night and got to speak to Dan Sochan who is a producer on the game, so stay tuned for that soon.

Sleeping Dogs will be available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PCs from 14^th August, 2012, in North America and from 17^th August, 2012, in Europe and other PAL territories. For more information about the game, visit www.sleepingdogs.net

Check out our hands-on preview of Sleeping Dogs

Discover the Weapons of Halo 4: UNSC Weaponry

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 9, 2012

0

Discover the Weapons of Halo 4: UNSC Weaponry

Beginning a series of looks at Halo 4’s new, returning, and revised weapons, Halo Waypoint kicks off the sequence with a video examining the familiar, and occasionally surprising, human weapons used by the Master Chief and the rest of the UNSC.

Take a look at the huge arsenal of UNSC weapons at your disposal in Halo 4. Fans should recognize a few favourites plus some brand new tools of destruction, like the Sticky Detonator!

Set almost five years after the events of Halo 3, Halo 4 takes the series in a bold new direction and sets the stage for an epic new sci-fi saga, in which the Master Chief returns to confront his destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. In addition to a rich story and campaign, Halo 4 introduces a ground-breaking new multiplayer offering, called Halo Infinity Multiplayer, that builds off of the Halo franchise’s rich multiplayer history and promises to continue to innovate and redefine the way people think about storytelling and multiplayer experiences.