In an “Awesome” announcement on the 6th of July, 2011, Mark Zuckerberg announced several new items for their popular social networking site. The first item was Group Chat, the next was a New Design, and the most “Awesome” of the three is Facebook working with Skype for video calling. This move was seen by many chatters in the livestream room at http://www.facebook.com/FacebookLive where the announcement was streamed live. Mark noted that they were excited about announcing one item at a time instead of doing it like “Companies that focus will always do better than ones that try to do a million things.” Sound like anyone you know?
Group Chat
Inside group chat you’ll also find the “New Design” announced today for Facebook, a design that incorporates the ability to adjust for browser size. You’ll be able to see a list of people online at any given time (a feature currently in a smaller window in your bottom bar,) and the entire chat interface will be revamped for ease of use AND so that you’ll be able to have more than one person in a chat window. The Chat Sidebar and the ability to simply add several people into a single chat is what Facebook meant for you to take away from this announcement, it was quite clear.
Video Calling with Skype
There will be a brand new Call button on Facebook rolling out today if not soon for all Facebook users. You’ll be able to Facebook chat to a friend, see if they’d like to have a nice video chat, and connect to them with the Call button. You’ll have to download an applet to your browser to make Video Calling work, and it SHOULD work within 30 seconds.
“No separate accounts, no separate connections, on a network that already has all your friends on it.”
Philip Su, Software Engineer, Facebook.
Tony Bates CEO of Skype came to the stage and noted that they wanted and still want to be ubiquitous as possible. Bates noted that they wanted a long-term collaboration with a big group, and Facebook is it. They’ve got a lot of business sense going on here, he said, and it will grow to pay services in the future.
How this will compare to Google+’s Hangouts is asked by Mashable in the Q and A session. In response to the question “and what do you think about Google+”, Zuckerberg notes that he feels that Google+ social dip is sort of “validation” that the way he and the Facebook team sees the social future is truly the way it’ll be. No worries!
“As far as the Google stuff goes, I’m not going to say a lot. The next 5 years are about building apps. A lot of companies that haven’t been social in the past, not just Google, will be building social apps. In some cases they’ll build on existing infrastructure, in some they’ll build their own. Facebook’s job is to stay focused.” – Zuckerberg
Will all of this affect how Microsoft continues to invest in Skype? At the time the announcements were made, the only feature instantly live was group chat. We’ll see how this all plays out once all these services (including the other ominous gigantic social network of which we’ve been speaking) are fully up and running.
Game developers, Apps Genius Corp, recently released a new game called Angry Turds available now at the App Store. No joke, you get to be a monkey flinging poop, bananas, and coconuts at island invaders.
In advance of Google’s Honeycomb deep dive scheduled for this Wednesday February 2, I wanted to do a quick analysis of what Honeycomb means for the tablet market. I’ve been working with a number of the current Android tablets in the 7-inch range and have reached several conclusions about the form factor which I will provide more insight to in a later analysis.
One conclusion, however, that may seem completely obvious but which, from a software standpoint, has not historically been obvious for makers of hardware, is that some form-factors require software created specifically for that form-factor.
This was, to a degree, the observation made by Jeff Hawkins when he started Palm and brought to market the first Palm Pilot. Many of the products competing for handheld computers at the time were mini clamshell devices running either Windows CE or some proprietary OS.
Many of these devices were attempting to be very small versions of their notebook counterparts. Jeff Hawkins’ vision was that computing could take place in the palm of your hand and a new form factor as well as a new operating system was necessary to make that vision a reality.
The same is true in the tablet / touch computing market. These devices are not phones, nor are they clamshell PCs with a physical keyboard and mouse. Smartphone apps are built to work on a small screen. Clamshell notebooks and desktop software were made to work with a mouse and keyboard. This is why, for the tablet market to succeed, it will depend on an operating system and suite of applications that are purpose-built for a larger screen touch computer.
Honeycomb is Android built for tablets from the ground up. Not just the OS but the apps represent optimized versions for the larger touch screen. I pointed this out when the iPad first launched and I’ll point it out again for Android app developers. Apps need to be re-created not re-purposed for Honeycomb. For the Honeycomb software ecosystem to be successful it will require software that is not just optimized but specifically created for larger touch screens. More simply put, develop apps like it was your first app and the 10-inch screen is the only screen.
Nearly every major consumer products vendor I speak with on a regular basis wants a piece of the tablet market. They have very high hopes and to some degree are betting heavily on Android and in this case Honeycomb. We will see if Honeycomb delivers when we get to actually use a functioning version of the OS on Wednesday.
Honeycomb represents a real opportunity for vendors to compete in this space with the 800lb gorilla that is Apple. If Honeycomb does not deliver it could set vendors back again another six to eight months. All will be revealed on Wednesday and we will be there to report it. Check back on Wednesday for my first impressions and analysis of Honeycomb.
So you’ve got a love for tech, right? And you might just happen to also have a love for that big giant game at the end of the American football season, right? The one that the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be going head-to-head in, the one whose name we’re not allowed to speak because of legal ramifications? That one. You’ll be watching that one, and you’ll want something gigantic to watch it on. How about a big fat Toshiba television? We just happen to have one to give away. Would you like one?
Contest begins at 8:01 a.m. PT on Monday, January 31, 2011 and end at 11:59 p.m. PT on Thursday, February 3, 2011 (“Entry Period”). Winners will be announced on Friday, February, 4, 2011.
2. Follow @ToshibaTV and @SlashGear on Twitter and twitpic an original photo (with @ToshibaTV and @SlashGear in your tweet) that demonstrates his or her football team spirit using the #toshball hashtag.
Limit one (1) entry per person.
PRIZE: One (1) Toshiba 46WX800U Cinema Series 3D LCD NetTV. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $1,470.49. ARV – Basically a 46” 3D TV.
Be sure to read the huge PDF file of the official rules to make sure you’ve got all your legal business in order. Win this TV, and have an awesome time watching all kinds of football then use it to play all kinds of video games: SlashGear-com-Toshiba-TV-Sweepstakes-v-1-28-111.pdf
First, let’s talk about what Macworld is briefly – it’s a trade show where all sorts of Apple enthusiasts can show off their wares in an almost completely non-fruit-free environment. This used to be where Steve Jobs set up shop to show off Apple’s newest wares until 2009 when they began hosting their own events (which we basically always attend.) This convention has been going on since 1985 and is generally accepted as being sort of “past it’s prime” but is still going relatively strong. This year’s Macworld took place January 25th through the 29th, and dismissed the idea that no Apple keynote means no Macworld FOREVER!
One of the main things of note at this year’s convention is, of course, the amount of iPad cases on the floor. The amount of cases for iDevices of all sorts – iPod Touch and iPhone included, are essentially countless, in color, design, shape, and function. In previous years, giant amounts of iPhone cases and earlier on iPod cases reigned supreme.
There’s also Mac stuff, too, incase you forgot that Apple produced laptops and desktops, sellers slinging Time Machine backups, document and video converters of all kinds, and even Windows virtualization were there to remind you. Third-party devices were also in attendance, especially those working with speaker systems, hardware for storage, and basically everything else you’d find in an Apple store, but from other brands more than likely hoping to find their way in.
Amongst the winners of the treasured Best In Show award were the following:
• Awind McTiVia acts as an intermediary between your Mac and your HDTV in a way the Apple TV SHOULD.
• BusyMac BusyToDo is a to-do list that works with iCal (already installed on your Mac) and MobileMe and syncs them all in real-time. Thus, when an item is marked as done on your iOS device, it’s marked in iCal at the same time.
• Dane Elec myDitto Key Working with myDitto Server, this USB key allows you access to your server files from any computer, anywhere. No software need be installed on the computer to make this work.
• Global Delight Boom App which turns your Mac’s volume up to 11. Works with streaming videos, video conferencing, iTunes music, and basically anything else on your Mac.
• OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express Solid State Drive Made specifically for the folks who purchased a MacBook Air who are now wishing they had more flash storage. Go for 180GB ($500), 240GB ($580), or 360GB ($1,180) for a massive upgrade.
• Rain Design iRest for iPad Both foam cushions for resting the stand on your lap as well as a torque hinge that lets you adjust the angle so you might have as comfortable an experience as possible sitting on the ground, your bed, or your coutch with your iPad.
• Scosche myTrek Pulse Monitor and iOS app Two LEDs and an optical sensor measure variances in blood density while Bluetooth sends data to your iPhone. App helps manage your training to stay fit.
• TenOne Design Fling Joystick to attach with suction cups to your iPad screen to play virtual joystick games. No more infititely painful thumb for you.
• Web Information Solutions Pocket Informant 2.0 Personal information manager [App] for iOS with a fresh interface, calendaring, appointments, and task features to keep you on task all day, every day.
• Zagg ZaggMate with keyboard iPad case with a built-in Bluetooth keyboard, turning your iPad into what’s basically a laptop. Shut the case and your device is protected from harm.
These were the top items, the greatest of the great – that were chosen. Of course there were hundreds if not thousands of other items that deserved recognition, and certainly we hope they’ll get what they deserve in the coming weeks via press releases, underground message spreading, and good old fashion tweeting, but do take a look at the winners as they represent the atmosphere of the show this year.
Another note that’s important to make here is that last year there appeared to have been a general air of “is this it?” This was because it was the first year Apple did not plan on attending with an official booth or a fabulous keynote speech and release of items. What the atmosphere this year was like, in contrast, was “hooray, we’re still here, let’s do this!” Indeed it even seemed to some people to be a better event than ever because the people in attendance weren’t just there to see Steve, they were there to see everyone. Let’s hope this is the dawn of a new era for the Macworld trade show – on into the future!
One of my favorite cities in the US is New Orleans. I was originally introduced to this city when I had to go there on business some 20 years ago and fell in love with its people, food and culture. I take two weeks each year and designate them as eating holidays and, while one week may take place in Asia or Europe, the other week almost exclusively is in New Orleans. This city is known for its wonderful food scene with great dishes like Oyster Po Boys, red beans and rice, gumbo, jambalaya and the mufaletta and my favorite, a N’awlins crawfish feed.
It is also the home of Paul Prudhomme, who put Cajun cooking on the map after he left New Orelans most famous restaurant, Commanders Palace. His replacement, Emeril Lagasse has gone on to become one of the most famous chefs in America thanks to the Food Network, and his great restaurants in New Orleans have helped refine that region’s cuisine.
But what New Orleans is most known for is the Birth of Jazz. As a kid I was always drawn to the TV when Louis Armstrong was playing or when I heard Billy Holiday or Mahalia Jackson singing. But I did not really get a serious appreciation of the history of Jazz and the contribution Armstrong and a legion of early Jazz greats like Scott Joplin, Sidney Bechet, Fats Waller, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Miles Davis and a multitude of others have had on every type of music from the blues to modern day rock and even rap.
That appreciation came when I watched Ken Burns’ PBS special on Jazz and then bought the DVD collection of this special for myself to go back to and watch on my own time. This is a wonderful labor of love that PBS and Burns have given us and anyone interested in music history should watch it sometime in their lifetime.
Now there is a new application for the iPad called the History of Jazz [iTunes link], an Interactive Timeline that takes full advantage of the iPad’s full media capabilities and shows how the iPad and tablets can deliver a completely new way to interact with content. The program is laid out so that there are dates tied to each phase of Jazz’ history starting with Scott Joplin and Buddy Bolden in the 1890’s. In this section you learn that ragtime began as a dance and was the music of the red light districts of America. It highlights these Jazz pioneers and then links you to You Tube videos that either highlight the music of that time, or in the case of later stages where video of these Jazz greats exist, show them actually performing some of their greatest hits. I especially loved watching Louis Armstrong doing “When the Saints Go Marching In” or Fats Waller doing “Your Feet’s Too Big”.
Each timeline segment of Jazz is highlighted by great examples of the musicians and music that defined each period covered. It even has a section on what they call Future Jazz greats and highlights Joshua Redman doing “Jazz Crimes” and a performance of Sherik’s Syncopated Taint Septet’ “ Live @ Easy Street.”
And at $9.99 it is a steal. This is not in any way trying to be a comprehensive history of Jazz. But you do get a wonderful short history of Jazz and some of the iconic music performances helps the history of Jazz come alive and gives people a better appreciation of the impact Jazz has had on the music scene around the world.
Video games are more like movies than ever before. Studios are spending boatloads of cash to get epic games on store shelves, and along the way, they’re making stories more engaging and dramatic. A key component in a developer’s ability to create a more cinematic experience is the use of cutscenes. Just about every game nowadays starts out with a cutscene to break gamers into the title and ends with a cutscene to close out the story. Most titles also have scenes sprinkled throughout to add a bit more color.
I’ve always been fond of cutscenes. I enjoy the opportunity to learn more about characters than I otherwise would without cutscenes, and I typically find them useful for relaxing my hands or running to the kitchen to get a drink between the action.
But there is a limit to what I’m comfortable sitting through.
As anyone who has played Metal Gear Solid titles knows, cutscenes can be a nightmare. Games in that franchise make you sit for an inordinate chunk of time listening to characters interact on topics you just don’t care about in most cases.
I’m fine with the few seconds, and can even live with a cutscene that lasts a few minutes. But once a game hits the 10-minute threshold, I’ve checked out. And I’m left wondering why I didn’t just watch the shows I had DVR’d rather than sit through the typically boring cutscene.
Realizing that, I wasn’t too happy to hear that Dragon Age 2 might be overrun with cutscenes. In fact, the BBFC in the UK revealed this week that the title will have 103 minutes of cutscenes when it launches.
Maybe it’s just me, but having 103 minutes of cutscenes in a video game sounds excessive.
When I play a game, I’ve made the conscious decision to not watch a movie or television show. I’ve decided I want to do something active while I sit on the couch rather than shovel popcorn into my mouth. I don’t want to think that I’ll have the opportunity to actually play Dragon Age 2 and then get stuck sitting through several cutscenes as the finite amount of time I have each night to play a video game ticks and tocks away.
If Dragon Age 2 had about 30 to 40 minutes of scenes, I’d be happy. But once a title hits over an hour and goes to nearly two hours, I’m annoyed.
Believe it or not, I’m not impatient. I simply feel that nearly two hours of cinematic content over the course of the several hours the game lasts will take me out of the experience of playing the title. Worst of all, so much cutscene content could make the game feel choppy.
So, let’s hope Dragon Age 2 offers the ability to skip scenes. If not, I doubt I’ll complete it.
It’s obviously the day for unannounced smartphones to get caught in the wild. After a duo of HTC devices were spotted, it’s the turn of Sony Ericsson’s well-leaked XPERIA Play – aka the PlayStation Phone – which is currently considered a lock-in for MWC 2011 next month. A SlashGear tipster sent in this shot of Sony Ericsson’s gaming handheld being thumbed on the Tube.
According to the tipster, the XPERIA Play was being publicly manhandled in London; they were too coy to interrupt and ask for some playtime of their own, but they did snap a sneaky photo of the sliding smartphone. The handset has a 4-inch 854 x 480 resolution touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread; we’ve also heard separately that it will launch on Orange UK, though we don’t know if it will be a carrier exclusive or not.
After today’s Sony NGP launch, meanwhile, we also know that the XPERIA Play – while seemingly not getting PlayStation branding – will get access to the PlayStation Suite, Sony’s new gaming platform and PS Store for titles that run on Android phones. That’s expected to be populated with PSOne classics initially, though Sony is also inviting Android game developers to have their titles certified and included in the on-device download store.
The Sony NGP isn’t the company’s only gaming announcement; there’s also the PlayStation Suite, a new download store and licensing program that promises to bring PlayStation gaming to Android devices. The PS Suite combines a new PlayStation Store for Android 2.3 devices and above – and which will be initially populated with PSOne classic titles – and a development program for coders to produce their own titles for inclusion in that store.
The NGP will also be able to access the PS Store and use the same games as Android devices. While Sony isn’t announcing any specific titles or handsets that will use it, we’re assuming that the PlayStation Phone aka XPERIA Play will make its official debut at MWC 2011 next month, and be the first Android 2.3 device to get access once it launches.
There’ll also be a PlayStation Certified licensing scheme for hardware manufacturers, which presumably will apply not only to smartphones themselves but to accessories; after all, not all devices will come with the XPERIA Play’s slide-out gaming control pad. More details at MWC 2011.
Sony Computer Entertainment to Unveil ‘PlayStation®Suite,’ Delivering the World of PlayStation® to Android™ Based Portable Devices
Simultaneously Launching “PlayStation®Certified” License Program to Provide PlayStation® Content and Development Support for Android™ Based Portable Devices
TOKYO, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today unveiled “PlayStation®Suite” (PS Suite), delivering the PlayStation® experience to Android™ based portable devices*(1). Through this entirely new initiative, users will be able to enjoy PlayStation content on an open operating system for the first time in PlayStation history.
In the dramatically evolving and diversifying mobile market, the number of users who enjoy games casually on a variety of devices including mobile phones, smart-phones and tablet PCs, has been increasing significantly. By offering “PlayStation quality” content to this rapidly growing market, SCE will not only deliver the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users around the globe, but will also be able to offer game developers and publishers the potential to further expand their business opportunities to these devices.
In providing the PlayStation experience on Android based portable devices, SCE will commence a “PlayStation®Certified” license program for hardware manufacturers. Through this program, SCE will offer necessary support, including development support as well as logo licensing, to ensure the delivery of PlayStation quality experience across various devices.
On the software front, SCE plans to provide PS Suite content within this calendar year, starting with original PlayStation games*(2) (PS one® classics) that will allow users to enjoy “PlayStation quality” gameplay on their Android based portable devices. SCE also plans to open PlayStation®Store where users will be able to download content in an easy to use environment, directly via the Android based portable devices. Moreover, SCE will provide a new game development environment in an effort to ensure new and compelling content is delivered on PS Suite, which will also offer opportunities for a wider base of developers and publishers to further expand their business on various portable devices.
Newly developed content for PS Suite can also be enjoyed on the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP), which SCE announced today. Users who have never experienced PlayStation content can get a taste of the PlayStation experience through PS Suite and from there, they can enjoy the ultimate portable entertainment experience that is only possible on NGP.
SCE will vigorously enhance the entertainment world, delivering the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users.
*(1) Android™ 2.3 or beyond is required.
*(2) PS one game console software title. We will announce the titles when ready.
As expected, Sony has outed its “PSP2“, currently codenamed the Sony next generation portable entertainment system or NGP, and expected to go on sale at the end of 2011. Based on a quad-core ARM Cortex A9 processor and Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX543MP4+ GPU, the NGP has a 5-inch OLED 960 x 544 multitouch-capable touchscreen on the front and a multitouch pad on the back, for what Sony describes as “touch, grab, trace, push and pull” gestures in gameplay.
There are also two cameras, one front and one rear, and a suite of sensors including six-axis motion-sensing (pairing gyroscope and accelerometer), a three-axis digital compass, GPS and WiFi. There’s also 3G, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with support for A2DP stereo headphones. Sony is now using a flash memory card to store games, but there’ll also be access to the new PlayStation Suite, also announced today, which offers titles for the NGP and for Android smartphones.
As with the 3DS‘ StreetPass feature, the Sony NGP will use a new service called Near, part of the PlayStation Network, to flag up gamers in the vicinity and show what they’re playing now or having been playing recently. There’ll also be wireless multiplayer support. Each NGP game will LiveArea access, with a log of activity and other information.
The whole thing measures in at 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5 mm and has dual analog sticks, the usual directional buttons, action buttons and shoulder controls. No word on pricing; that won’t be revealed until closer to launch at the end of the year.
Press Release:
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES
ITS NEXT GENERATION PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
Ultimate Portable Entertainment System Makes Its Debut This Year,
Further Expanding the PlayStation® Business in the Portable Gaming Market
Tokyo, January 27, 2011– Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced its next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP), which delivers the ultimate portable entertainment experience. NGP will make its debut at the end of the year 2011.
NGP is designed to offer unparalleled interactive entertainment that is only possible on PlayStation®. This new system offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context, made possible by leveraging SCE’s experience from both PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®3 (PS3®) entertainment systems.
Deep and immersive gaming is at the core of PlayStation’s DNA, and NGP is the latest embodiment of this vision. By having both Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity, together with various applications, NGP will enable infinite possibilities for users to “encounter,” “connect,” “discover,” “share” and “play” with friends wherever they are. Within the device are a range of features that provide a genuinely cutting-edge, next generation ultimate portable entertainment experience.
?Stunning OLED and Revolutionary User Interface
NGP incorporates a beautiful multi-touch 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED) as the front display. A high-performance CPU / GPU combined with OLED enables rich, visually striking graphics never seen before on a portable entertainment system, for both games and other digital entertainment content. The new system also incorporates a unique multi-touch pad on the rear, and together with the front touch display, NGP offers new game play allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through “touch, grab, trace, push and pull” moves of the fingers.
?Super Oval Design and Dual Analog Sticks
While succeeding the basic design philosophy of PSP, NGP adopts the Super Oval Design form factor, created to fit comfortably in users’ hands. For the first time, a portable entertainment system will feature two analog sticks, which enable a wider range of game genres to be brought into the portable experience.
?LiveArea™
Every game title for NGP will be provided with a space called “LiveArea™” where users can share the fun and excitement with other players. Users will have access to the latest information of games provided from SCE and 3rd party developers and publishers through PlayStation®Network. Additionally, NGP users will be able to view an “Activity” log that is constantly updated with accomplishments from users who are playing the same game, which in turn can trigger active real-time communication among users.
?Near
SCE will also provide location-based services on NGP as part of the basic features utilizing PlayStation Network. The new application called “Near,” developed specifically for this service and the network, will be pre-installed in the system to let users find out what their friends in the vicinity are playing now or what they were playing recently. Users can meet their friends and new players virtually, regardless of what games they are playing, simply by sharing their game information across different dimensions of time and distance.
?New Game Medium
NGP adopts a new game medium, a small flash memory based card, dedicated for NGP software titles. Taking advantage of the flash memory feature, this innovative card can store the full software titles plus add-on game content or the game save data directly on to the card. By adopting flash memory based card, SCE will be able to provide game cards with higher capacity in the future, allowing developers to store more game data to deliver rich and immersive games.
NGP will also come equipped with two cameras on its front and rear, as well as three motion sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer and electronic compass, all of which are designed to enable users to enjoy the world of entertainment that is linked with real life experiences.
PlayStation®Suite (PS Suite), announced today, will also closely coordinate with NGP. The newly developed and released game content for Android™ based portable devices can also be enjoyed on NGP. As a result, users will have access to not only the most leading-edge content, but also some of the more casual experiences that typify the mobile market place.
SCE will vigorously promote NGP towards the launch as the next generation portable entertainment platform and deploy various measures to further expand the portable gaming market.
