Armed and Loaded » Gadgets

Ubisoft to take mobile gaming seriously?

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:05 +0000

If domain name registrations are to be an indication of a company’s future direction, it looks like Ubisoft is about to look at mobile gaming seriously. The company recently registered two domain names related to mobile – Ubisoftmobile.com and Ubisoft-mobile.com. At the moment both URLs lead to parked websites and nothing related to Ubisoft, so we can’t say for sure. But if Ubisoft didn’t purchase the domain names just to prevent any future cyber-squatting, it looks like the game publisher/developer could be focusing its efforts on creating mobile games in the future. Maybe through a new division called Ubisoft Mobile in the future? What do you think?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Assassin’s Creed 3 to take place during the America Revolution? [Rumor], Ubisoft looking for player input on next Assassin’s Creed location,

Ubisoft to take mobile gaming seriously? via http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/02/ubisoft-to-take-mobile-gaming-seriously/ UberGizmo

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LG-P700 and LG-P880 surface before MWC 2012

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:06 +0000

The Mobile World Congress is in a few weeks time, and it looks like the upcoming devices from phone manufacturers are making the usual early appearances. Latest to join the party is a pair of devices from LG – the LG-P700 and LG-P880. Not much is known about the devices, but here is what we know so far: the LG-P700 will run Ice Cream Sandwich and will have a 640 x 480 display, which is a pretty unique choice for an Android phone – assuming the reported numbers are correct. Other than that, nothing has been revealed.

The LG-P880 is said to be a high-end device, featuring a 720p HD display. It is a likely candidate for the rumored quad-core LG X3 which was leaked previously – a Tegra 3-packing, 4.7″ display, 8-megapixel rear camera and 16GB storage Android phone. As usual, we can’t say for sure until the devices have been officially revealed, so stay tuned for more details during MWC 2012 at the end of the month.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: LG P880 and P700 to be announced at MWC, runs on Ice Cream Sandwich, Samsung Ice Cream Sandwich phone press shot faked?,

LG-P700 and LG-P880 surface before MWC 2012 via http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/02/lg-p700-and-lg-p880-surface-before-mwc-2012/ UberGizmo

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Gary Marshall: Tablets are no longer just idiot toys

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:07 +0000

From time to time even jaded tech hacks get a "wow!" moment. I had one last night when I saw that Avid had launched an iPad app.

Avid? The high-end video and ProTools firm? An iPad app? Yep, yep and yep.

Avid reckons the iPad makes a great wee video editor, and its Avid Studio plays happily with the firm’s high-end desktop software. It’s right, and it’s not the only firm thinking along the same lines. Apple, of course, already does Garageband and iMovie, Adobe has Photoshop Touch, and there are stacks of digital audio products such as Auria and the tasty-looking Bitwig music studio.

Not bad for toys, eh?

Getting better all the time

What’s really great about this is that we’re still in the very early stages, both in terms of technology – we’ve gone from single core to dual core to quad core tablets already; imagine what horsepower tablets will have in five years – and in terms of what’s possible for our tablets to do.

Take music, for example. You can use your tablet as a quick and dirty composition device, or as a controller for a desktop music production program, or as a fully-fledged studio, or you can slot it into another bit of hardware such as Behringer’s utterly brilliant/completely demented iAxe or its faintly frightening iPad mixers.

This isn’t about whether tablets are better than PCs or vice-versa; it’s about people, and what they can do, and the ever-expanding universe of possibilities today’s technology delivers and tomorrow’s promises.

We’ve only had iPad-y tablets for two years. What on earth will we be doing with them in ten?

Gary Marshall: Tablets are no longer just idiot toys via http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/portable-devices-news/~3/cQCO2DvcoJk/story01.htm”> TechRadar Portable Devices

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Sony Ericsson Xperia NX up for pre-order next week

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:05 +0000

Remember the Sony Xperia S that was launched during CES 2012 last month? The phone was reported to be arriving sometime in March in the UK, but it looks like it’ll be arriving in Japan a month earlier. According to reports online, the phone (known as the Xperia NX in Japan) will go up for pre-order on February 10th and will be arriving on NTT DoCoMo on February 24^th – about a week earlier than the UK release. Since the dates aren’t too far apart, we can only hope that it will be the same for the US version as well.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia NX/S will feature a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 4.3″ 1280 x 720 display with Reality Display and Mobile Bravia Engine, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and a 12-megapixel camera with Exmor R photo sensor. Anybody looking forward to pick up this device?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Sony Xperia arco HD and Xperia NX announced for Japan, Sony Xperia S shipping this month in the UK?,

Sony Ericsson Xperia NX up for pre-order next week via http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/02/sony-ericsson-xperia-nx-up-for-pre-order-next-week/ UberGizmo

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Next iOS may feature real-time, ‘competitive’ fitness app

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:13 +0000

Apple is plotting a souped-up Nike+ style application for future versions of iOS, which would allow athletes to compete against each other in real-time, according to a recent patent filing.

The application would link up with specific pieces of gym equipment to write data to an iOS device in real-time and then upload the results to provide a competitive real-time environment.

So, for example, if you’re running on a treadmill in London, you could race against a bloke doing the same thing in San Francisco as if you were on the same running track.

iOS devices would link up with each other and display stats like time, distance, heart-rate, calories burned and even blood oxygen levels.

Providing a competitive environment

The filing, entitled Interfacing Portable Media Devices and Sports Equipment says that information would be communicated between users via a third party website.

The abstract for the filing at the US Patent Office reads: "Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow sports or other equipment, such as gym or other cardio equipment, to write data to a media player.

"Examples further provide the uploading of this data to a computer and third-party website. To monitor progress, the third-party website can be used to track workout data over time. The third party-website can also collect data from other users, which is particularly useful for providing a competitive environment.

"This data can then be graphically displayed in various ways to provide encouragement."

Nike+ in real-time

Apple has featured the Nike+ software, in various guises, on iPhone and iPad models down the years, but the suggestion here is that Apple thinks it can perhaps do better and turn iOS devices into essential fitness gadgets.

Nike+ currently uploads your workout data after you’ve finished exercising, but this innovation would allow head-to-head competition in real-time.

The app would, of course, require gyms to upgrade their machinery to be compatible with such a system which is probably more of a reach than Apple creating the software in the first place.

You can read the full USPTO filing here.

Worms Ultimate Mayhem arrives on Valentine’s Day

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:12 +0000

Worms has come a long way from its early days of being a simple 2D turn-based game, but the essence of the franchise still remains the same: worms, humor and plenty of destruction. So for those of you who haven’t picked up the game in awhile and are looking for some tactical turn-based gameplay, the upcoming Worms Ultimate Mayhem could be just for you.
(more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: PlayStation Network downloads to be limited to two devices, Sony’s PSN Pass may not sit too well with secondhand game buyers,

Worms Ultimate Mayhem arrives on Valentine’s Day via http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/02/worms-ultimate-mayhem-valentines-day/ UberGizmo

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Google Docs for Android updated

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:05 +0000

If you use Google Docs on your Android phone, you’ll be glad to know that the app has been updated today. Google announced that the latest version of Google Docs for Android now works offline. Users can save documents to work on them without an internet connection, and then only update the files online when they’re connected to the internet. In addition to the improved offline mode, Google Docs for tablets now lets users view high-resolution versions of documents, making it easier and more pleasant to read files on larger display devices. The latest version of Google Docs is available on the Android Market now and can be downloaded for free.

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Google Docs for Android updated via http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/02/google-docs-for-android-updated/ UberGizmo

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Google watches now available

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:05 +0000

If you’re a fan of Google and you want to show your love for the search engine or its Android operating system – you now get a chance to do it with some accessories. Google recently worked together with Modify Watches to come up with a bunch of watches featuring Google-inspired designs. Available in three designs, you can choose between a Chrome watch, an Android watch or a regular Google watch.

The watches feature analog faces that have interchangeable color bands, so depending on your mood – you can dress up your wrist in the color of your choice. Google is even selling an alternate green watch strap to complement the colored bands that initially come with the watch. They’re a bit pricey at $59.95 a set, while the green straps alone cost $12.90 but if you’re interested in picking them up, just head over to the Google Store.

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Google watches now available via http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/01/google-watches-now-available/ UberGizmo

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Upgraded Galaxy Nexus spotted in benchmarks?

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:05 +0000

Benchmark websites like NenaMark are great places to discover new, unannounced devices and this week it looks like we’ve got an upgraded version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. According to reports online, the phone was spotted on NenaMark’s benchmark listings; however instead of the TI OMAP 4460 with a PowerVR SGX 540 GPU found in the current Galaxy Nexus, it was listed as packing a PowerVR SGX 544 GPU – one that is found in the TI OMAP 4470 processor.

Now, there’s no way for us to confirm that it really is an upgraded Galaxy Nexus – it is possible to spoof the names of the GPU or the device (though why anybody would want to do that is another story). But with Sprint getting the Galaxy Nexus LTE later this year, there’s a chance that it could feature upgraded internals as well: after all, they’ve got to give folks a reason to pick up an older device. What do you think?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung Galaxy Nexus i9250 has extended capacity battery, Seidio releases 3,800mAh battery for the Galaxy Nexus,

Upgraded Galaxy Nexus spotted in benchmarks? via http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/01/upgraded-galaxy-nexus-spotted-in-benchmarks/ UberGizmo

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Wii U name might be rebranded

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:05 +0000

The Bard once said, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet – and while I agree with that statement in a general manner, surely a console name like the Nintendo Wii U would affect a small minority out there that would only purchase a console based on the coolness level of its name? Word on the street from a Nintendo insider has it that the Japanese company is considering a rebadging of their upcoming Wii U console, and might just call it something else. Right now, we will just have to make do with the Wii U as a frame of reference, and the Japanese gaming company certainly needs a hit in the next console, so perhaps maximizing its chances by giving it a decent name which appeals to the masses might just do the trick? Should Nintendo rename their upcoming console, what would you like to have Nintendo call it?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nintendo Wii U will see a end of year launch in time for the holiday season, Nintendo Wii U might be getting an app store of its own,

Wii U name might be rebranded via http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/01/wii-u-name-might-be-rebranded/ UberGizmo

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