ASUSTOR Launches AS 3 Series NAS

Jim McCarthy
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ASUSTOR Launches AS 3 Series NAS

ASUSTOR has launched a new line of NAS units, aimed at SOHO/SMB customers, featuring powerful multimedia applications.  Read on for details.

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ASUSTOR has launched a new line of NAS units, aimed at SOHO/SMB customers, featuring powerful multimedia applications.  This is the first NAS in its class sporting a dual core 1.6 GHz Atom processor, an HDMI jack, an infrared receiver and a 3.5mm audio jack, allowing you to directly integrate these units into your home theater system.  Here is the press release:

ASUSTOR Launches AS 3 Series NAS Featuring Powerful Multimedia Applications

Optimal storage and multimedia platform for Home and SOHO, only devices in its class equipped with Intel® Atom™ 1.6 GHz dual-core processors, HDMI interface, infrared receiver and audio jack; Comes with the ADM 2.0 operating system, industry-first features Searchlight search engine and Mission Mode backup; App Central NAS App library includes exclusive Apps such as FTP Explorer, XBMC multimedia player, SoundsGood Web music player; Launch of 2 new mobile apps AiMaster and AiData

Taipei, Taiwan, July 15th, 2013 –ASUSTOR Inc., a leading innovator and provider of network storage solutions, has announced the launch of its brand new AS 3 Series Network Attached Storage (NAS). The AS 3 Series NAS devices feature powerful multimedia applications including support for 1080p high definition video playback and are the first devices in its class to come equipped with Intel® Atom™ 1.6 GHz dual-core processors along with 1GB of DDR3 memory. The devices in this new series consist of the 2-bay AS-302T model and the 4-bay AS-304T model. All devices boast a wealth of power saving features including internal and external disk hibernation, Night Mode and System Sleep Mode (S3). During System Sleep Mode, only 0.8 W of power is consumed, helping users to save a significant amount of energy.

With respect to hardware, the AS 3 Series was designed with multimedia and home cloud server applications in mind. In addition to its HDMI interface inherited from ASUSTOR’s AS 6 Series, the AS 3 Series features an infrared receiver and 3.5 mm audio jack giving users added convenience and flexibility for multimedia applications. After installing the XBMC multimedia player App from ASUSTOR’s App Central, users will be able to use the HDMI interface to play audio and video from the NAS directly to any HDMI ready display. Further pairing XBMC with the ASUSTOR remote control (optional purchase) will allow users to freely and conveniently control all multimedia playback from their NAS. Additionally, users are also free to play the music they have stored on their NAS by connecting it to USB speakers, utilizing the audio jack or connecting the NAS to an amplifier via HDMI.

“The AS 3 Series devices provides users with one of the top price-to-performance ratios in its class and are the only devices in the segment to feature high performance Intel dual-core processors and audio jacks,” said Johnny Chen, Product Manager at ASUSTOR. “With its combination of storage, backup, file sharing and powerful multimedia applications along with an array of industry-first features, the AS 3 Series is sure to meet the diverse demands of the market while bringing users exceptional value for their money.”

All models in the series come with the ADM 2.0 (ASUSTOR Data Master) operating system, which features ASUSTOR’s newly optimized NAS user interface that gives users the freedom to customize their desktop background and pin their favorite applications to the taskbar for easy access. With ADM 2.0, ASUSTOR has added some exclusive new features that have never been seen before in the NAS industry. The SearchlightTM search engine supports fuzzy searches and allows users to instantly find any files, folders or Apps on the NAS. Newly added Mission Mode backup ensures that backup jobs will not be stopped because of any connection problems. It combines with ASUSTOR’s exclusive 2-way backup functionality to provide users with an unprecedented level of flexibility when configuring backup jobs.

Additionally, ADM 2.0 also features FTP Explorer, the first FTP Client in the world designed exclusively for use on NAS devices. FTP Explorer allows users to connect and browse any FTP sites from within the ADM user interface and execute drag and drop file transfers. FTP Explorer is available via ASUSTOR’s App Central V2 App Library which features over 95 unique apps along with a newly redesigned and substantially optimized interface. With ADM 2.0, ASUSTOR will also be launching two new mobile apps, AiMaster and AiData which allows users to manage and access all data on their NAS from the convenience of their mobile devices.

Key Features for the AS 3 Series:

  • Easy installation and graphical user interface
  • Equipped with the new ADM 2.0 operating system
  • SearchlightTM search engine (an industry first)
  • Customizable desktop wallpaper
  • Pin frequently used applications to the taskbar
  • Newly added Mission Mode backup
  • Encrypted VPN connections with support for commonly used OpenVPN and PPTP protocols
  • App Central V2 NAS App repository
  • FTP Explorer – The world’s first FTP client designed for use on a NAS
  • Downloadable XBMC multimedia player(Beta)
  • Newly added NAS App – SoundsGood Web music player
  • Exclusive Cloud ConnectTM technology for easy access to the NAS
  • Supports file sharing across Windows, Mac OS X and Unix-like operating systems
  • Rsync, FTP, cloud, external and One Touch backup with 2-way transfer support
  • Military grade AES 256-bit encryption for individual shared folders
  • Internal and external disk hibernation

Key Specifications for the AS 3 Series:

  • Intel® Atom™ 1.6 GHz Dual-Core CPU
  • 1GB DDR3 RAM
  • Maximum supported capacity of hard disks: 8TB (2-bay) and 16TB (4-bay)
  • USB 3.0 (5 Gb/s)
  • Audio jack (line-out)
  • HDMI output
  • Infrared receiver
  • Hard drive hot swapping
  • Support for online RAID level migration and capacity expansion
  • Supported volume types: single disk, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10

For more product information please visit: http://www.asustor.com

Keep your eyes open for the AS-304 and AS-302 if you are in the market for a NAS unit.

Who is the Face of FIFA 14 for the UK?

Chris Hare
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Who is the Face of FIFA 14 for the UK?

Ok who did join Messi on the FIFA 14 UK cover? The answer is GARETH BALE  for the new football superstar when the UK cover was revealed today Monday (15 July at 5pm UK time).

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Fifa 14 Final Cover UK

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PVUCTrmrug?feature=player_embedded%5D

GARETH BALE Interview : FIFA 14 Cover Reveal

Gareth do you play FIFA? 

Yeah I play a lot with my friends from home and we have big tournaments when they come to my house and I also play online. So yes, I play a lot.

Do you play as yourself on the game? Are you happy with your stats?

I’ve played as myself a few times, the stats are good – but obviously everyone wants them to be a bit better. But it’s a great game, I enjoy playing it.

What’s it like now to be on the cover of a game that you have played since you were a kid?

To be on the front cover of a game is obviously a massive honour, particularly when you look at the people who have been on there. The players that have been on the front cover since I was a kid have obviously been legends of the game and true professionals. It’s a great honour for me and I’m very proud of it.

How did you enjoy your time at Southampton and how important was it for your development?

My time at Southampton was amazing, it’s been a big part of what has made me the footballer I am today. We had a great coaching staff, a great team and a great set-up. It was massive in my development and I think it has shown in recent years with the amount of players that Southampton have produced and who have gone onto bigger things. It’s a great club and I hope that they can keep producing the players.

Who was your football hero when growing up?

Growing up my hero was Ryan Giggs. He’s from Wales, left footed and played left wing – the same as me. It was an obvious choice, and watching him play over the years, he’s an unbelievable player and a true legend of football.

Who would you say has had the biggest influence on your career?

I would probably say it’s my Dad. Since I was 3 I have dragged him out into the park to practice and he used to take me from Southampton to Cardiff twice a week. With training and a game at the weekend. He’s given up pretty much most of his life for me and has been a massive influence and still is to this day.

You were voted double footballer of the year can you still improve?

Of course I can definitely still improve. I want to get better every year, that’s the target for every player, we want to keep improving and keep getting better and the thing you have to do is to improve on last year and keep growing as a player. Plus as you get older the experience will help you as well.

You’re now being mentioned in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo, do you look at those players and still try and learn from them?

I’m flattered, and definitely yes. I think you see the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, and what they’re doing week-in and week-out and they are on a different level to everyone else. What they are doing is very special and everybody looks at them playing to see what they can do and try to learn from them.

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What’s the best thing about being Gareth Bale?

The best thing is being involved in FIFA 14, playing football in front of big crowds and doing what you love which is playing football. I feel privileged.

Was there any movement in particular, like your free kick, one of your shots or one of your signature moves, that you really enjoyed getting down? 
The things I liked to see most were the free kick technique I use, and the way I take penalties etc. It’s all interesting stuff, and to see it on the game makes it more realistic.

If you could emulate the movement of any player, past or present, who would it be? 
I’d probably say Ryan Giggs or Maradona. Someone who can weave through players with no effort at all.

When you play FIFA what celebration do you usually do in the game?

I try and do the heart, but I can’t always do it. If I can click the buttons quickly enough though I try and use it.

Could you tell us about the celebrations you captured today? 
I did my trademark celebration, the heart. We did a few shots of that and a couple of others which I’ve done during games last season. It’s great to see them back on the screen, and it will be brilliant to see them on the game.
Could you describe some of the other celebrations that were captured?

Mainly all the celebrations I did last season, such as jumping up and pumping my fist. Also running with my arms out like a plane.

Based on your experience today, how realistic do you think FIFA 14 will be next year?
I think FIFA 14 is going to be very authentic, I think it will have that ‘wow’ factor and will be more realistic than ever and I think that’s the main aim – to make it as realistic as possible. This year it’s improved again, and it will be a great game.

What do you think of your in-game likeness for 14 compared to last year?

Every year it’s improving, I think this year it’s unbelievable how realistic it is which is great to see, as everyone likes to see the game becoming more realistic and it’s certainly happening.
When you’re on the pitch, how do you anticipate what the defender is going to do?

The way I anticipate a defender reacting to what I’m going to do is by setting up a trick, dummying them going one way, and you go the other. I think they usually show me onto my right foot, so I know they’ll be on my left side, so I tend to cut inside and try and get a shot away or make some positive impact on the game.

Has Mad Max Gone Mad in the Gameplay Trailer

Chris Hare
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0
Has Mad Max Gone Mad in the Gameplay Trailer

Watch the World Premiere of the “Official Mad Max Gameplay Reveal Trailer – Soul of a Man” now, released today by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Avalanche Studios. Coming out for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS 3 and PS 4 and the PC in 2014.

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cym9KaH_hO8?feature=player_embedded%5D

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Are you Ready to join the Pork Side

Chris Hare
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0
Are you Ready to join the Pork Side

Today Rovio Entertainment Ltd and Lucasfilm Ltd announced a continued collaboration on the Angry Birds Star Wars franchise with Angry Birds Star Wars II, launching 19th September in app stores worldwide for iPhone and iPad.

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Angry Birds Star Wars II will follow the story of the three prequel Star Wars movies, including the introduction of never-before-seen Angry Birds Star Wars characters. For the first time in history, players can choose to “Join the Pork Side” and play as one of the villainous pigs.

“Angry Birds Star Wars was a blockbuster hit for us and Lucasfilm with over 100 million downloads since its release. We are thrilled to be able to introduce the exciting next chapter in the Angry Birds Star Wars saga to our fans around the world,” said Jami Laes, Executive Vice President of Games at Rovio Entertainment. “Some of the most amazing character additions are versions of young Anakin, Mace Windu and Darth Maul. Hasbro’s TELEPODS technology also provides a great way to extend the experience beyond the app and bring a whole new dimension to the gameplay.”

The TELEPODS line from Hasbro brings an additional interactive layer of gameplay and content to Angry Birds Star Wars II. In addition to the vast amount of content readily available in the game, new characters and super powers can be unlocked for players by placing one of the collectible TELEPODS physical characters from the Hasbro line on the phone or tablet camera and scanning it into the game. For the first time ever, players can choose which character they want to use in the app by “teleporting” their physical character into the game. Over thirty figures will be available at launch in September.

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“Hasbro worked closely with both Rovio and Lucasfilm to deliver a fully integrated TELEPODS experience with the new ANGRY BIRDS STAR WARS II app. Now fans can enjoy unprecedented and seamless dual play in both physical and digital ANGRY BIRDS experiences,” said John Frascotti, Chief Marketing Officer, Hasbro, Inc.

With the launch of Angry Bird Star Wars II on 19th September on the iPhone and iPad, a new line of merchandise will be introduced to coincide with the game including a complete line of toys, apparel, accessories, books and plush from best in class licensing partners.  Hasbro TELEPODS will arrive in retail by September for the game launch and be presented to the public for the first time at San Diego Comic-con in July.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DKNKI27GdA?feature=player_detailpage%5D

 

Ultimate Warrior Coming Back for WWE 2k14

Chris Hare
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Ultimate Warrior Coming Back for WWE 2k14

2K today announced the emphatic return of Ultimate Warrior to the ring – virtually – in WWE 2K14, the forthcoming instalment in the flagship WWE video game franchise.  Making his long-awaited arrival from Parts Unknown, the self-professed “Founding Father of Life Intensity” will be an exclusive playable character for those who pre-order the game at any participating retailer for the Xbox 360 and the PS3.

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“Immortality is inspiration, pure and simple. An example to others that they, too, can do things larger than the life they are actually living, and Ultimate Warrior was the pure embodiment of this belief, in what has proven to be a very attention-getting and inspiring way,” said Warrior. “It was my good fortune to be his creator and performer, and I am humbled by all those fans who’ve not only kept his legacy alive, but deepened it over time. In WWE 2K14, Ultimate Warrior’s creed, ‘Always Believe,’ lives on.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX8jqD3YyJo?feature=player_detailpage%5D

Making his WWE debut in 1987, Ultimate Warrior garnered worldwide attention and became a pop-culture phenomenon for his iconic music and ring entrance, zealous personality, boundless energy and dominant in-ring prowess.  Though he faced many rivals throughout his career, including Honky Tonk Man, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, Sgt. Slaughter, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Undertaker, perhaps his most celebrated match was against Hulk Hogan in “The Ultimate Challenge” at WrestleMania VI on 1st April , 1990.  Warrior defeated Hogan that day to unify the WWE Championship and Intercontinental Championship, becoming the first WWE Superstar ever to hold both titles simultaneously.

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“There has never been another WWE Superstar quite like the Ultimate Warrior – his intensity and energy is unmatched, and his legacy is undeniable,” said Chris Snyder, Senior Director of Marketing at 2K. “Fans love him, opponents fear him and everyone can agree that he’s one of the most iconic Legends in WWE history. Pre-ordering WWE 2K14 is the only way we mere mortals will ever have a glimpse into the greatness that is Ultimate Warrior.”

Become Immortal – 2K’s lineup of premier sports simulation titles expands with the company’s upcoming release in the renowned WWE video game franchise, WWE 2K14.  Developed by Yukes for the Xbox 360 and PS 3, WWE 2K14 is positioned to be the most electrifying, authentic and comprehensive WWE video game experience to date.   WWE 2K14 is not yet rated by PEGI. Players who pre-order WWE 2K14 will receive Ultimate Warrior at no extra cost on launch day on 29th October, 2013 in North America and 1st November, 2013 internationally.

Einstein Enigma Out for iOS and Amazon App Store with Google Play Very Soon

Chris Hare
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1
Einstein Enigma Out for iOS and Amazon App Store with Google Play Very Soon

BBG Entertainment, a leading producer and publisher of digital entertainment products, announced today the worldwide release of Einstein Enigma for the Apple iPhone/iPad on the Apple iTunes App Store℠ and for Android phones/tablets on Amazon App Store priced at £ 1.49. Google Play availability will be added later.

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Einstein Enigma allows players to challenge their brain in a playful, motivating way. The player has to solve more than 100 tricky levels. The basic principle of the game is to rotate six different coloured wheels to match the different colour templates of each level. The degree of difficulty is increasing step by step, more and more elements including coloured wheels, cogwheels and more appear level by level. Einstein Enigma is inspired by the famous Enigma rotor cipher machine, which is also based on rotating wheels. The character of revered physicist Albert Einstein assists players in-game, guiding them through a tutorial. All levels and graphics of the game were individually designed with high levels of creativity, making this truly unique brain puzzle game a blast to play.

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Einstein Enigma is completely localized into English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Dutch, Czech, Turkish, Japanese, Chinese and Korean language.

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Einstein Enigma Features:

  • More than 100 puzzles and combinations with increasing degree of difficulty
  • Principle of six different coloured rotating wheels which have to be rotated by the player to match different colour templates
  • Lots of elements and tricky combinations like wheels, cogwheels,… increase the complexity and fun
  • Intuitive to use and easy to understand 5 second intro for the first level
  • Difficulty for each puzzle determines star rating
  • Coaching by the likeness of Albert Einstein

Get your paintbrush and meet Mickey Mouse in his Clubhouse

Chris Hare
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Get your paintbrush and meet Mickey Mouse in his Clubhouse

The new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Paint and Play (£2.99 / $4.99) iPad app allows kids to paint everything they see – even Mickey and Minnie!

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Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Paint and Play is a magical 3D colouring book that inspires creativity and interactive play. The app includes unlimited combinations of tools, colours, patterns, and stickers for kids to create their own stories. With numerous animated 3D scenes and characters, kids will learn about colour mixing, textures, symmetry, and more.

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Additional features include:

  • A magic wand to transform user’s paintings into fully-animated 3D characters
  • Texture creation using the in-app camera
  • Experiment with colour whilst making cupcakes for the bake sale
  • Play and create music with the Mousekemusic Player
  • Learn about colours, 2D, 3D, line, form, textures and symmetry
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Martain Manhunter and the Original Green Lantern .. John Stewart Coming to Injustice

Chris Hare
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2
Martain Manhunter and the Original Green Lantern .. John Stewart Coming to Injustice

Warner Brothers has revealed Martian Manhunter at the new DLC for Injustice – God Among Us, also with an alternate skin for Green Lantern… John Stewart is here!

Martian Manhunter

Martain Manhunter

John Stewart Injustice

John Stewart was the original Green Lantern in the comic series.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe0nMmj3AAA?feature=player_detailpage%5D

 

Not only was the alien revealed, but so was an alternate skin for Green Lantern… John is here!

Are you ready for MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT? Watch the walkthrough to find out

Chris Hare
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0
Are you ready for MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT? Watch the walkthrough to find out

MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT has released a 25 minute walkthrough of the game and has impressed the world’s media with its new take on the action/adventure genre, challenging players to solve possibly the hardest case of all… their own murder.

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MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT offers a whole new realm of mystery where the case is personal and the clues just out of reach. Players take the role of detective Ronan O’Connor whose life is brought to an untimely end by a brutal and relentless killer. Unable to move on and stuck in the limbo world of Dusk, he won’t find peace until he can bring his killer to justice from the afterlife. Using his new-found supernatural abilities, Ronan is free to explore the town of Salem, Massachusetts, from his shadowy afterlife. Unable to communicate with the detectives on his case, Ronan must read the minds of the living, influencing their thoughts and actions, piecing together the puzzle, while battling demonic spirits to save his soul and uncover the shocking truth about who is responsible for his death.

MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT will be available early 2014 for the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3  and the PC.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4gpZkjmVDw?feature=player_detailpage%5D

EXCLUSIVE Puppeteer Interview with Gavin Moore from Japan Studio

Andrew Edney
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EXCLUSIVE Puppeteer Interview with Gavin Moore from Japan Studio

Puppeteer was announced to the world at Gamescom last year, and I recently had the chance to play it, and talk with it’s Creative Director, Gavin Moore.

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Puppeteer is a brand new franchise developed exclusively for PlayStation 3 by SCE Japan Studio. Set in a magical puppeteer’s theatre, the game will introduce you to a strange and fantastic world, where the environment is constantly changing. Players will enjoy a rich, dark fairy-tale where surprises lurk around every corner.

One dark moonlit night, a young boy named Kutaro was carried away by the maleficent Moon Bear King to a black castle where the unlucky lad was transformed into a puppet.

Kutaro displeased the terrible tyrant, who devoured the boy’s wooden head and cast away his body.

But the headless hero was not alone, for he had discovered a very special pair of scissors to help him on his harrowing adventure to find his head, and his way home.

Gavin Moore is a Creative Director for Sony Computer Entertainments Japan Studio.

He has spent 20 years honing his craft in video games. Prior to joining Sony, Gavin cut his teeth as a pixel artist and animator at Mindscape, working on classic games machines such as the Amiga, SNES, Megadrive and original Gameboy. He joined SCEE in 1998, where he worked on the hugely successful The Getaway, which sold over 4 million units worldwide. Gavin currently lives and works in Japan, where he has spent the last 9 years immersing himself in Japanese culture and video game creation.

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So over to Gavin:

Thank you to Gavin for taking the time to not only talk to me about Puppeteer, but also playing the game with me, which was a lot of fun.

I really enjoyed my time playing Puppeteer, so stay tuned for a preview soon.

Puppeteer will be released on the 11th September 2013 here in the UK and on the 10th September in North America.

What do you think of Puppeteer? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Review of the Bennett Leather Laptop Bag by Jill-e Designs

Andrew Edney
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2
Review of the Bennett Leather Laptop Bag by Jill-e Designs

An Apple Store exclusive for the 15” MacBook Pro, the Bennett Leather Laptop Bag from Jill-e Designs let’s you carry your MacBook in style, and here is our review.

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The Bennett bag by Jill-e Designs offers just the right blend of rugged fashion, organisation and access, all while protecting your MacBook from the elements. Created for Apple this padded messenger bag is roomy enough for all your Apple devices, as well as your personal belongings.

Who are Jill-E Designs?

From their website:

Jill-e Designs got its start in 2007, right around the time increasing numbers of women were taking up photography as a career. We became an advocate for every female photographer who’d ever had to put up with the male-oriented look and feel of professional-level camera bags. Soon after, we realized style transcends gender – the male photography lover was trapped in that same stale canvas and nylon world of black and shades of black. So we introduced Jack bags for men.

As personal electronic devices became widespread, Jill-e Designs broadened its view. Today we offer stylish, secure, high-performance bags for today’s tech-driven, mobile lifestyle – great-looking bags for a variety of contemporary uses that meet the high standards for form and function we adopted to satisfy the demanding photo professional. We use the finest materials – top-grade leathers and fabrics, dependable hardware, durable padding and lining – blending them with our “future classic” styling and a little common sense to produce smart, protective, fashion-conscious, quality bags.

Today Jill-e Designs, headquartered in Orlando, Fla., is a multimillion-dollar company whose bags are sold and enjoyed the world over. We’ve changed how modern, on-the-go people think about the role and possibilities of their carry bag – whether for e-gear, career, photo, college, travel or everyday. They’re no longer a utilitarian device for the storage and transport of today’s ubiquitous electronic devices, personal belongings and lifestyle essentials. Bags by Jill-e Designs are “statements” that help establish the user’s unique image and creative credentials, while delivering professional-grade quality and performance.

We understand the power of style – it’s more than a simple indulgence. We capture that power in every one of our bags. Each of our creative designs helps the customer make an extraordinary first impression, while each bag’s construction and features take the customer as far as she or he would like to go. Jill-e Designs offers function on the inside, fashion on the outside, in a lush, durable leather bag that’s hard to beat. So people can look their best while they do their best. And who wouldn’t want that?

Features

  • Fully padded exterior walls and interior compartments
  • Carry over the shoulder or at your side
  • Adjustable shoulder strap with comfort pad
  • Durable top carry handle
  • Separate pockets for 15” MacBook Pro, iPad and iPhone
  • Detachable matching holder for ID and credit cards
  • Convenient front flap magnetic tab closures
  • Side zippered pocket on front flap
  • Tailored interior pockets for all your Apple devices
  • Zippered interior security pocket
  • Available in brown and black

Specifications

Description

  • Messenger-style tech / laptop bag

Materials

  • Premium leather exterior, fabric interior
  • Gun metal closures, zippers, fixtures
  • Precision stitching

Dimensions

  • Height: 31 cm / 12.2 in.
  • Length: 40.6 cm / 15.9 in.
  • Width: 10.4 cm / 4.1 in.
  • Weight: 1.59 kg / 3.5 lbs.

What’s in the Box?

  • Jill-e Designs Bennett Leather Messenger Bag
  • Cloth dust cover bag

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A Closer Look

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Final Thoughts

The first thing I noticed about the Bennett bag was just how well it was packaged. It was wrapped in plastic and in a sturdy box to keep it protected. Most laptop bags either come in plastic or nothing at all, and that usually means that at some point after leaving wherever it has been manufactured and before it gets to you that there is a good chance it may have sustained a little damage. Often it’s only a scuff mark, so nothing too serious, and after all its going to get marked when you use it, but when you are paying the sort of money you are paying for the Bennett you want it to be perfect – and it is! I was also impressed that they included a cloth bag inside as well so that you can store the Bennett when not in use. That was a nice touch.

The Bennett itself looks (and smells) amazing – so much so that like me, you will probably treat it with kid gloves for the first few times you use it.

The front flap with magnetic tab closure provides convenient access to the inside of the bag and it really is easy to open and close in seconds, whilst at the same time keeping the contents of the bag safe and secure. There is also a zip on the front for access to some additional storage.

The inside of the bag looks just as good as the outside with various pockets and areas for storing your MacBook and other stuff. In fact, Jill-e Designs have even embroidered little images on each area to show you what you can store there, such as the laptop and even your sunglasses.

Carrying around various items in the bag felt secure and I was happy with the amount of space I had in – I could carry around everything I needed for the day. It was also very comfortable to carry around, and the strap in adjustable to suit anyone.

There is even a luggage tag provided which is all part of Jill-e Designs’ Registration & Recovery Service, so do take the time to complete that, as it might end up being very useful to you!

Overall it is a very impressive bag, with just the right mixture of fantastic quality, and looking great whilst at the same time protecting your expensive possessions. If you want that mixture of style and protection then look no further than the Bennett bag from Jill-e Designs.

The Bennett is an exclusive creation for Apple and you can only buy it from an Apple Store, and as a result of this fact, and the high quality of the materials used, the Bennett is not cheap. You might want to sit down for the next part – the Bennett will set you back £269.95, so it’s not for the faint hearted, but you do get what you pay for, and if you have that sort of money to spend then the Bennett is certainly a great investment.

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God of War: Ascension 1.09 update out includes new Bout of Honor more

Andrew Edney
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0
God of War: Ascension 1.09 update out includes new Bout of Honor more

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Santa Monica Studio have released a new update to God of War: Ascension taking it to version 1.09.

In Bout of Honor two warriors will put their lives and reputations on the line to achieve the best of seven rounds in this strictly 1v1 Mode. Bout of Honor is a true contest of skill with no chests, fountains, or world weapons to aid you. This mode also disables relics and allows for a Champion’s Magic to regenerate over time. Beware, my brothers in arms, Magic generates slowly over time so use it sparingly. If you are careless you may end up like the Prophet Castor with your head underneath another Warrior’s boot.

OVERALL FEATURE ENHANCEMENTS

New 1v1 Mode – Bout of Honor!
Kill your enemy or spill the most blood before the sands of time run out in our new free 1v1 Mode. Fight one-on-one matches in 4 new levels designed specifically like a traditional fighting game. There are also 5 new Feats for you to accomplish. Match-up against a friend, or challenge your skills against all opponents online.

  • 4 New Maps
    • Canyons of Kirra
    • Streets of Sparta
    • Chamber of the Flame
    • Landing at Delos
  • 5 New Feats
    • Perfection: Win round without taking damage
    • Invincible: Win 3 rounds without taking damage
    • Dominator: Win 3 rounds without losing a round
    • Tide Turner: Win a round when you are 3 rounds behind
    • Unwavering: Win 3 rounds when you are 3 rounds behind

New 4 Player Map – Whirlpool of Alecto!
Supporting 4 player Match of Champions and Team Favor of the Gods, beware the whirlpool of chaos and monstrous Leviathan lurking within this map.

COMBAT BALANCE UPDATES & FIXES

All / Misc Spears

  • Air triangle move has had its range and timing slightly improved. It should now be more viable from a distance, and also air to ground.
  • The spear delay square attack has had its ranged appropriately increased so it should be a more viable mix up option for a quick/go-to unblockable, especially in 1v1 play.

Blade of Poseidon

  • Fixed a bug where the air version of the triangle special would occasionally play no effect but still hit opponents (occasionally recovery could also be unfairly cancelled.)

Blade of Zeus

  • The start-up time of the L1 triangle in the air is now closer to its ground counterpart

Juggles, Hit Reactions / Misc

  • The frames where players were allowed to cancel and recover from hit-stun during certain extended combos have been adjusted to allow players to escape as intended.
  • This was also the existing functionality, however in certain occasions of lag or low performance, that window was extended which would allow both players to combo when they shouldn’t have, and for players to escape when they should be getting combo’d. This has been adjusted to be consistent across the board.
  • A bug has also been fixed where players would appear to glow white / invulnerable, but they were not technically invulnerable/ in a recovery state yet. The visuals now match the functionality.

Infinite / 1 –hit Combos

  • Several 1-hit combos have been adjusted to prevent “re-juggling” of opponents mid combo string. The hits themselves will stand land, however they will cause a reset-hit rather than a re-juggle. This only affects a handful of weapons, and specific combos.

Poseidon Hammer Stats

  • Adjusted the stats slightly of the Poseidon armor. It was giving slightly too much physical resist

Don’t forget to check out our God of War: Ascension review and also our exclusive interview with Santa Monica Studio.

Are you playing God of War: Ascension? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

DEAD OR ALIVE 5 ULTIMATE Preorder bonus packs revealed

Andrew Edney
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DEAD OR ALIVE 5 ULTIMATE Preorder bonus packs revealed

Tecmo Koei Europe have announced three exclusive pre-order bonus packs for their upcoming fighting title DEAD OR ALIVE 5 ULTIMATE.

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To celebrate this Ultimate instalment of the fan-favourite title, Game will offer fans who pre-order the game  a colourful pack with costumes for Kokoro, Leifang, Hitomi and Mila.

Additionally, Fighters who pre-order from Amazon, will receive two costumes for the fierce and beautiful ninjas Kasumi and Ayane, while a third pack with six sexy costumes for Christie, Helena, Tina, Lisa and new comers Momiji and Rachel will be available to independent retailers through CentreSoft Group.

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DEAD OR ALIVE 5 ULTIMATE is the best 3D fighting experience to date, where novice and expert fighters alike can improve on their skills with the tutorial or the “Move Details Plus” modes before they join the online fight against fighters from all over the world.

Boasting realistic and sensual graphics and a dream line up of fighters, both returning and new to the franchise, as well as a great number of breath-taking, dynamic and interactive stages DEAD OR ALIVE 5 ULTIMATE delivers an enhanced experience for new and returning fans!

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DEAD OR ALIVE 5 ULTIMATE will be released in September on PlayStation3 and Xbox 360.

Preview of The Raven – Legacy of a Master Thief from Nordic Games

Andrew Edney
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Preview of The Raven – Legacy of a Master Thief from Nordic Games

Nordic Games will be releasing its three chapter adventure game The Raven – Legacy of a Master Thief shortly, and we had the chance to preview episode one.

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Set across 1960’s Europe, The Raven – Legacy of a Master Thief is a fast-paced point and click adventure journeying through thrilling and dense atmospheres with the aim of catching the art burglar, the raven. Players follow the Raven’s trademark black feather clues to capture the thief and to protect a legendary sapphire, the “Eye of the Sphinx” on its journey from Switzerland to Egypt. This criminal tale – full of twists and turns – immerses the player in both sides of the story, the investigators’, as well as the thief’s, thereby combining elements of ‘Whodunit’ with a Heist story.

In a nutshell The Raven is a point and click adventure story where you get to choose what happens by clicking on one of the various options given to you.

Throughout the chapters are a large number of cut-scenes which explain to the player what is going on, and sets up the next part of the adventure – you can click through them if you want, however you will miss vital clues!

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One thing I really liked is that when my character picked something up, other characters around him were aware of what he had in his hand, also the game deals very well with other objects – there is no putting a large object in your pocket when in reality you couldn’t do it!

The Raven is also aimed at different types of players. If you are a seasoned player you can take on optional puzzles, where as if you are a novice you get a notebook and a lot of help, so don’t worry, there is something for everyone.

The plot moved along very quickly, I didn’t feel that there was any real filler, so there is a lot to do, and you shouldn’t feel bored.

The music works very well in the game, helping to create an atmosphere that instantly makes you think of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.

There is also an Interactive Graphic Novel which is available now so for those who can’t wait for chapter one to be released you can play this free to play game right now. It is essentially a prequel to the main game and allows you to discover the back story to the bitter rivalry between The Raven and his pursuer detective Legrand.

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If you want to give it a go, and it’s worth it, visit the Interactive Graphic Novel here.

In the preview build of chapter one there were a few minor bugs, however I am assured that all these will be sorted in time for the release later this month, so no drama there!

I enjoyed playing chapter one, it had a very interesting story and really drew me in, I look forward to chapter two! Check back soon for our full review of the first chapter.

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The first chapter will be released for download on the 23rd July via steam for PC, Mac and even Linux. It will be available via Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network a little later in the summer, so if you would prefer to play it on a console then you shouldn’t have too long to wait.  The second chapter is due for release on the 27th August and the third and final chapter is due on the 24th September. There is also a boxed edition with all three chapter due for release on the 24th October.

For more information on The Raven – Legacy of a Master Thief, visit the website.

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