V IIENW TCERCUHI S+E GRAE M G FROM WWW.PRODUCT-REVIEWS.NET
MARCH 2015
Tech + Gaming Update - March 2015 5 Industry News 7 Bugatti Sells The Last Veyron 9 Events Preview 10 Featured Review 12 Hacking 14 Game DLC 16 Key Gaming Releases 17 Kickstarter Projects 19 Popular Apps This Month 21 Recalls 23 Mobile and Tablet 25 Wearable Tech
Publishing Director Daniel Chubb 01843 601539 web@dansway.info Editor-in-chief | Product Reviews Alan Ng alan@product-reviews.net Senior Associate Editor | Product Reviews Peter Chubb peter@product-reviews.net
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Tech Industry News Music, Entertainment and Mobile Come Together at the MMIX at GSMA Mobile World Congress 2015 The MMIX (Mobile.Music.Innovation.eXperience) is a brandnew series of events at this year’s Mobile World Congress, bringing together a host of industry-leading CEOs and ecosystem players from the music, entertainment and mobile industries. The MMIX represents a collaboration between global music marketing specialists Popshop, leading brand experience agency Momentum Worldwide and the GSMA, the organisation representing mobile operators worldwide and organiser of the Mobile World Congress. Designed as a forum for leading figures across mobile, technology, music and content, The MMIX kicks off at Mobile World Congress on Monday, 2nd March with a high-powered CEO panel exploring the topical issues and challenges of driving, distributing, monetising and growing mobile consumption of entertainment content. The panel, which will be held in the main auditorium in the Hall 4 Conference Village at Fira Gran Via, features speakers including: Philipp Humm, CEO, Vodafone Europe David Hose, CEO Rhapsody Rich Riley, CEO Shazam will.i.am, Global Music Artist, Entrepreneur and Founder and Chairman of i.am+ Tickets at www.themmix.com now.
Samsung Announces Mass Production of Industry’s First 14nm FinFET Mobile Application Processor
Samsung Electronics announced that it has begun mass production of industry’s first mobile application processor using the advanced 14-nanometer (nm) FinFET process technology. “Samsung’s advanced 14nm FinFET process technology is undoubtedly the most advanced logic process technology in the industry,” said Gabsoo Han, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, System LSI Business, Samsung Electronics. “We expect the production of our 14nm mobile application processor to positively impact the growth of the mobile industry by enabling further performance improvements for cutting-edge smartphones.”
As the most advanced technology available today, 14nm FinFET process is able to achieve the highest levels of efficiency, performance and productivity. When compared to Samsung’s 20nm process technology, this newest process enables up to 20 percent faster speed, 35 percent less power consumption and 30 percent productivity gain. Samsung’s leading-edge14nm FinFET process will be adopted by its Exynos 7 Octa, then expanded to other products throughout the year.
AlcoHoot Smartphone Breathalyzer with Fuel Cell technology AlcoDigital, who supply police-approved drug and alcohol testing equipment, has a simple solution to measure how much alcohol you are consuming of an evening and has just launched an exciting new app – the AlcoHoot. The new AlcoHoot app is designed to help people understand alcohol levels in the body as, while there are legal limits for driving, alcohol affects everyone in different ways. The AlcoHoot Breathalyzer app uses fuel cell technology (the same as used by the police) and is compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Downloading the app and plugging the mouthpiece into a smartphone allows you to measure your breath alcohol accurately and the ‘Morning Quiz’ can help you to learn your drinking trends and adjust your habits. There is even a taxi app section, should you need it, to ensure you arrive home safely that evening, or the morning after. According to figures from the Department for Transport*, 290 people were killed in
the UK in 2012 from drink driving, with a further 6,680 driving incidents linked to alcohol consumption. Suzannah Robin, AlcoDigital Sales and Training Director, says: “Everyone is affected by alcohol levels differently, depending on many factors, such as body mass, mood and how much food they have eaten. The legal levels of drinking related to driving are there for safety reasons on the road. However, alcohol can damage the body in many other ways. Knowing how much you drink, and monitoring the levels is vital for your safety and your health. “We all know that alcohol can damage your liver. But drinking in excess on a regular basis (for example, binge drinking every Friday and Saturday night) can also cause issues for your heart, blood pressure, swelling of blood vessels that could lead to various cancers, a weakened immune system and old, grey looking, wrinkly skin. “But it’s not only your own health which could be at risk - Brake, the road safety charity, stated that an estimated 65 deaths
per year are caused by drivers who have had a drink but are under the legal limit**. If you kill someone driving, it’s not just their life that will be over or the family’s life devastated; so will yours – prison, no job, no licence, you could lose your family, never see your children again - the list is endless. Checking breath alcohol levels before driving will help to save lives.”
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Tech Industry News
Tim Cook confirms Apple Watch release month During Apple’s Q1 2015 earnings call, Tim Cook confirmed the exact release month for Apple Watch. This is a little better than the, “early 2015” message given before. “I’m using it every day, and love it, and I can’t live without it,” Cook said on the earnings call. He also reiterated the April timeframe as within Apple’s defined “early 2015” timeframe. Apple Watch represents a new chapter in the relationship people have with technology. It’s the most personal product they’ve ever made, because it’s the first one designed to be worn. Every aspect of Apple Watch is designed for precisely when you use it and where you wear it — on your wrist. Tech + Gaming magazine and our product-reviews.net website will be reviewing the Apple Watch in April 2015. Make sure you follow the digital magazine, and also the website to see how good that battery life really is in real world tests.
Apple to Invest €1.7 Billion in New European Data Centres Apple announced on Feb 23 a €1.7 billion plan to build and operate two data centres in Europe, each powered by 100 percent renewable energy. The facilities, located in County Galway, Ireland, and Denmark’s central Jutland, will power Apple’s online services including the iTunes Store, the App Store, iMessage, Maps and Siri for customers across Europe.
sale of apps and in-app purchases. Apple now directly employs 18,300 people across 19 European countries and has added over 2,000 jobs in the last 12 months alone. Last year, Apple spent more than €7.8 billion with European companies and suppliers helping build Apple products and support operations around the world.
“We are grateful for Apple’s continued success in Europe and proud that our investment supports communities across the continent,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “This significant new investment represents Apple’s biggest project in Europe to date. We’re thrilled to be expanding our operations, creating hundreds of local jobs and introducing some of our most advanced green building designs yet.”
Like all Apple data centres, the new facilities will run entirely on clean, renewable energy sources from day one. Apple will also work with local partners to develop additional renewable energy projects from wind or other sources to provide power in the future. These facilities will have the lowest environmental impact yet for an Apple data centre.
Apple supports nearly 672,000 European jobs, including 530,000 jobs directly related to the development of iOS apps. Since the App Store’s debut in 2008, developers across Europe have earned more than €6.6 billion through the worldwide
“We believe that innovation is about leaving the world better than we found it, and that the time for tackling climate change is now,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environmental Initiatives. “We’re excited to spur green indus-
try growth in Ireland and Denmark and develop energy systems that take advantage of their strong wind resources. Our commitment to environmental responsibility is good for the planet, good for our business and good for the European economy.” The two data centres, each measuring 166,000 square metres, are expected to begin operations in 2017 and include designs with additional benefits for their communities. For the project in Athenry, Ireland, Apple will recover land previously used for growing and harvesting nonnative trees and restore native trees to Derrydonnell Forest. The project will also provide an outdoor education space for local schools, as well as a walking trail for the community. In Viborg, Denmark, Apple will eliminate the need for additional generators by locating the data centre adjacent to one of Denmark’s largest electrical substations.
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Auto Industry News
Bugatti sells the last Veyron Bugatti has sold the 450th and last Veyron. 16 cylinders, 1,200 PS, a maximum torque of 1,500 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and a world record speed of 431.072 km/h – these are the figures that describe the magic and uniqueness of the ultimate supercar of the modern era. The Veyron has caused a sensation across the world ever since its launch ten years ago. The Veyron is limited to 450 units: 300 long since sold-out coupés – the Veyron 16.4 delivering 1,001 PS and the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport delivering 1,200 PS – and 150 roadsters – the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport with 1,001 PS and the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse with 1,200 PS. The final roadster has now been sold. Bugatti will be exhibiting the Veyron with chassis number 450, the Grand Sport Vitesse “La Finale”, at the Geneva Motor Show (5 to 15 March 2015) as a world première.
automobile connoisseurs as investments.” Including options, the average price of the vehicles sold recently amounted to 2.3 million euros. Bugatti will fittingly celebrate the icon that is the Veyron at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The Alsace-based super sports car manufacturer will present the 450th vehicle as a world première – alongside the Veyron with chassis number 1 that left the Atelier in Molsheim ten years ago. A customer from the Middle East has secured number 450, the Grand Sport Vitesse “La Finale”, for himself. This vehicle will represent a collector’s item of particular value. The Geneva Motor Show will take place from 5 to 15 March 2015 at the Palexpo exhibition centre in Geneva. The Bugatti exhibit is in hall 1.
“In the Veyron, Bugatti has created an automobile icon and established itself as the world’s most exclusive supercar brand,” says Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. “So far no other carmaker has managed to successfully market a product that stands for unique top-class technical performance and pure luxury in a comparable price/volume range. An unprecedented chapter in automobile history has reached its climax.” The development of the Bugatti Veyron represented one of the greatest technical challenges ever in the automotive industry. The Bugatti developers were given four goals in the specifications for the supercar: it should transfer more than 1,000 PS onto the road, drive faster than 400 km/h, accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds and – the biggest challenge – in this configuration still be suitable for driving ‘to the opera’ in comfort and style. The Veyron 16.4 was presented in 2005 – the rest is history and a major success story. The open-top version, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, followed in 2008. In 2010, the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport with increased power was launched and was then joined by the roadster version, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, in 2012. “The Veyron is unique in many respects even ten years after its launch,” says Dürheimer. In addition to its unequalled technical and dynamic characteristics, the Veyron features a timeless design. The supercar is the modern interpretation of Bugatti’s brand values “Art, Forme, Technique” and its striking lines and details continue the design DNA of the French luxury brand without compromise. Confirms Dürheimer: “The Veyron is not just a masterpiece of modern automobile design, it is more an automotive piece of art.” “Besides the certainty of owning the world’s fastest production super sports car with a high degree of individual exclusivity, Bugatti customers appreciate that, upon purchasing a Veyron, they become part of the history of an automobile brand that is steeped in tradition,” says the Bugatti president. “Many of the cars find their place in private collections and are purchased by product-reviews.net
www.withings.com
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Events Preview
All Tech Events in March and April 2015 Mar 1
HTC press event
Barcelona, Spain
Mar 1
Samsung press event
Barcelona, Spain
Mar 2-4
LAUNCH Festival
San Francisco
Mar 2-5
Mobile World Congress
Barcelona, Spain
Mar 2-6
Game Developers Conference
San Francisco
Mar 10-11
ad:tech Australia
Sydney
Mar 10-11
Wearable Technology Show
London
Mar 10-11
The Montgomery Summit
Santa Monica, CA
Mar 13-17
SXSW Interactive
Austin
Mar 16-19
Microsoft Convergence
Atlanta
Mar 16-20
CeBIT
Hannover, Germany
Mar 18-19
Gigaom Structure Data
New York
Mar 25-26
F8: Facebook Developer Conference
San Francisco
Apr 13-15
LendIt USA
New York
Apr 14-17
ISC West
Las Vegas
Apr 16
Programmatic I/O
San Francisco
Apr 20-24
RSA Conference
San Francisco
Apr 22
Box Dev 2015
San Francisco
Apr 23-24
TNW Europe
Amsterdam
Apr 27-28
Sales 2.0 Conference
San Francisco
Apr 27-May 1
Interop Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Apr 28-29
3D Printing Live 2015
Berlin
Apr 28-29
Internet of Things Summit
San Jose, CA
Apr 29-May 1
Microsoft Build
San Francisco
Apr 30-May 1
99U Conference
New York
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Featured Review
Polk Striker ZX Headset for Xbox One
The Polk Striker ZX is made for the Xbox One, although PS4 owners will find another version for their choice of gaming system. The price for the Xbox One headset is £65, and so this might be a little higher than some gamers want to pay. When it comes to the amount of features found on the Polk Striker ZX and balancing this with price, we feel the headset hits a good price point with a lot of value for money. With that said, this Polk headset for the Xbox One isn’t perfect. During testing, our editor found a few things they didn’t like but these were minor. While some people have been complaining about the lead getting in the way from the ear cup, we would like to point out this is around 40-inches and offers more than enough length to keep you gaming. Striker ZX is lightweight, has a molded headband with a thick cushion and two-way pivoting ear cups with Protein
Leather padding, which enables the Striker headset to conform to your head. The 40mm drivers have been created using Polk’s patented Dynamic Balance driver design process. This helps eliminate resonances and creates the Striker’s impressive high-quality sound, although at times during the review some crackle had been evident. This could be related to networking issues, although we cannot confirm if this was the case.
of your Xbox One controller and comes with a mute key on the bottom, and on one side you can turn the master volume up and down. The other buttons control the audio chat and in-game audio volume. While the Polk Striker ZX is designed for gaming, it is much more and can be used to watch your favorite movies, music and TV shows.
There’s a chat loop feature that listens into your mic and lets you hear your voice in the headset to avoid shouting. You should find the retractable Omnidirectional boom microphone, with a 7cm extension, more than enough. It’s flexible, so it conforms to the way you like to chat and slides neatly into the ear cup when you’re done. You can even take calls with it if you are connected to your phone. The control pad connects to the bottom
You can read a full review with hands-on photos on Product Reviews Net
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Hacking
Gemalto presents the findings of its investigations into the alleged hacking of SIM card encryption keys Following the release of a report by a news website on February 19, 2015, Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), has conducted a thorough investigation, based in particular on two elements: the purported NSA and GCHQ documents which were made public by this website, and internal monitoring tools and their past records of attempts of attacks. Here is the press release by Gemalto - All comments in this publication assume that the published documents are real and refer accurately to events that occurred during 2010 and 2011. Our publication here below does not aim at confirming partially or entirely nor at providing elements to refute partially or entirely the contents of those website published documents. As a digital security company, people try to hack Gemalto on a regular basis. These intrusion attempts are more or less sophisticated and we are used to dealing with them. Most are not successful while only a few penetrate the outer level of our highly secure network architecture. If we look back at the period covered by the documents from the NSA and GCHQ, we can confirm that we experienced many attacks. In particular, in 2010 and 2011, we detected two particularly sophisticated intrusions which could be related to the operation. In June 2010, we noticed suspicious activity in one of our French sites where a third party was trying to spy on the office network. By office network we mean the one used by employees to communicate with each other and the outside world. Action was immediately taken to counter the threat. In July 2010, a second incident was identified by our Security Team. This involved fake emails sent to one of our mobile operator customers spoofing legitimate Gemalto email addresses. The fake emails contained an attachment that could download malicious code. We immediately informed the customer and also notified the relevant authorities both of the incident itself and the type of malware used. During the same period, we also detected several attempts to access the PCs of Gemalto employees who had regular contact with customers. At the time we were unable to identify the perpetrators but we now think that they could be related to the NSA and GCHQ operation. These intrusions only affected the outer parts of our networks - our office networks - which are in contact with the outside world. The SIM encryption keys and other customer data in general, are not stored on these networks. It is important to understand that our network architecture is designed like a cross between an onion and an orange; it has multiple layers and segments which help to cluster and isolate data. While the intrusions described above were serious, sophisticated attacks, nothing was detected in other parts of our network. No breaches were found in the infrastructure running our SIM activity or in other parts of the secure network which manage our other products such as banking cards, ID cards or electronic passports. Each of these networks is isolated from one another and they are not connected to external networks. It is extremely difficult to remotely attack a large number of SIM cards on an individual basis. This fact, combined with the complex architecture of our networks explains why the intelligence services instead, chose to target the data as it was transmitted between suppliers and mobile operators as explained in the documents. The risk of the data being intercepted as it was shared with our customers was greatly reduced with the generalization of highly secure exchange processes that we had put in place well before 2010. The report indicates that attacks were targeted at mobile operators in Afghanistan, Yemen, India, Serbia, Iran, Iceland, Somalia, Pakistan and Tajikistan. It also states that when operators used secure data exchange methods the interception technique did not work. In particular it “.failed to produce results against Pakistani networks�. We can confirm that the transmission of data between Pakistani operators and Gemalto used the highly secure exchange process at that time. In 2010 though, these data transmission methods were not universally used and certain operators and suppliers had opted not to use them. In Gemalto’s case, the secure transfer system was standard practice and its non-use would only occur in exceptional circumstances. The analysis of the documents shows that the NSA and GCHQ targeted numerous parties beyond Gemalto. As the leader in the market, Gemalto may have been the target of choice for the intelligence services in order to reach the highest number of mobile phones. However, we can see in the document that many aspects do not relate to Gemalto, for example: Continues on page 13.
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Hacking • • •
Gemalto has never sold SIM cards to four of the twelve operators listed in the documents, in particular to the Somali carrier where a reported 300,000 keys were stolen. A list claiming to represent the locations of our personalization centers shows SIM card personalization centers in Japan, Colombia and Italy. However, we did not operate personalization centers in these countries at the time. Table 2 indicates that only 2% of the exchanges of encryption keys (38/1719) came from SIM suppliers and states that the use of strong encryption methods by SIM suppliers means that the other groups (98%) are much more vulnerable to these types of attacks.
In 2010-2011 most operators in the targeted countries were still using 2G networks. The security level of this second generation technology was initially developed in the 1980s and was already considered weak and outdated by 2010. If the 2G SIM card encryption keys were to be intercepted by the intelligence services, it would be technically possible for them to spy on communications when the SIM card was in use in a mobile phone. This is a known weakness of the old 2G technology and for many years we have recommended that operators deploy extra security mechanisms. However, even if the encryption keys were intercepted by the Intelligence services they would have been of limited use. This is because most 2G SIMs in service at that time in these countries were prepaid cards which have a very short life cycle, typically between 3 and 6 months. This known weakness in the original 2G standards was removed with the introduction of proprietary algorithms, which are still used as an extra level of security by major network operators. The security level was further increased with the arrival of 3G and 4G technologies which have additional encryption. If someone intercepted the encryption keys used in 3G or 4G SIMs they would not be able to connect to the networks and consequently would be unable to spy on communications. Therefore, 3G and 4G cards could not be affected by the described attack. However, though backward compatible with 2G, these newer products are not used everywhere around the world as they are a bit more expensive and sometimes operators base their purchasing decision on price alone. Digital security is not static. Today’s state of the art technologies lose their effectiveness over time as new research and increasing processing power make innovative attacks possible. All reputable security products must be re-designed and upgraded on a regular basis. SIM cards are no different and they have evolved over time. In particular, the technology was massively re-developed for 3G and 4G networks. Security is even higher for mobile operators who work with Gemalto to embed custom algorithms in their SIM cards. The variety and fragmentation of algorithmic technologies used by our customers increases the complexity and cost to deploy massive global surveillance systems. This is one of the reasons why we are opposed to alternative technologies which would limit operators’ ability to customize their security mechanisms. Such technology would make it much simpler to organize mass surveillance should the technology unfortunately be compromised or fail. Gemalto would like to reiterate its commitment to providing the best security levels for civilian applications. Our security products, infrastructure and processes are designed to ensure the highest degree of security in a global, open, and commercial environment. These are regularly audited and certified by third-party private and public organizations. Nevertheless, we are conscious that the most eminent state agencies, especially when they work together, have resources and legal support that go far beyond that of typical hackers and criminal organizations. And, we are concerned that they could be involved in such indiscriminate operations against private companies with no grounds for suspicion. In light of the recent events our main focus is our customers. Our teams have particularly appreciated the support that they have shown us in the past few days. These events inspire our people to work even closer with our customers and the industry to build even more sophisticated solutions to serve the needs of end users. In today’s world, any organization could be subject to a cyber-attack. Therefore, it has never been more important to follow security best practices and adopt the most recent technologies. These include advanced data encryption, so that even if networks are breached, third parties cannot access any of the stolen information. Gemalto will continue to monitor its networks and improve its processes. We do not plan to communicate further on this matter unless a significant development occurs. For more information visit www.gemalto.com.
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Game DLC
Call of Duty Advanced Warfare Havoc DLC comes to PS4 with gun update Sony’s PS4 platform received the first DLC pack for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare around one month later than Xbox owners. The Havoc DLC arrives with a gun update following shortly after, which will rebalance weapons after player feedback. There are 15 base weapons getting rebalanced, according to Studio Head, Michael Condrey. The SN6 sub-machine gun is one of the weapons getting a tweak. Most COD fans know all about the new multiplayer maps and zombies inclusion, although some insight can be read below. Core: Deploy to the Gobi desert where the ravaged ruins of a nuclear fusion plant set the stage for a high-octane warzone. Take down enemies through the wreckage in long-range combat or get up-close and personal in the tunnels surrounding the central turbine. Activate decontamination drones using the map-based scorestreak to help clean out the competition. Urban: Prepare yourself for brutal, high-speed combat in Dallas Ward 3, a future mega structure, funnelling players into a close-quarters free-for-all. This modular compound’s verticality unleashes the exoskeleton’s capabilities. Stay focused during the timed event as blast doors alter the map’s flow and sightlines. Sideshow: In the shadow of Devil’s Tower, Wyoming, this abandoned inn’s open layout amplifies its creep factor. Blast your way through the clown inn with close-quarters battles or use long-range site-lines from the mining facilities and natural terrain. Use the map-based scorestreak to activate the lights, music and magic of the clown marquee and rain down a barrage of rainbow smoke-trailed cannonballs. Drift: An idyllic ski resort high in the Rocky Mountains is transformed into a festive high-altitude playground, perfect for an all-out firefight. Make your way to the highly contested over watch in the glass observation deck or take a ride on the carousel to deliver 360 degrees of carnage. Players can use the map-altering timed event to their advantage as an avalanche of snow and debris disorients players, intensifying the battle. A NEW BREED OF ZOMBIES - Following a failed evacuation, four survivors, un-trained and underprepared, must face the most vicious mutations ever unleashed. The unique Exo Zombies co-op experience is all-new to Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare DLC. This new mode brings the movements, abilities, and weapons of the exoskeleton into battle against the undead.
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Game DLC
Heists are coming to Grand Theft Auto Online on March 10th The latest release date update for Grand Theft Auto Online Heists was shared at the end of Feb 2015. This came with some new screenshots on the official newswire, also some details on the PC GTA V release date were offered. Online Heists - Rockstar were excited to announce that the launch of Heists for GTA Online is scheduled for March 10th. Most gamers know what a wait this has been, and Rockstar said they “appreciate your patience”. Heists will bring a brand new 4-player cooperative gameplay experience to GTA Online, giving players the chance to team up to pull off a string of intense, multi-part raids and robberies across Los Santos and Blaine County. Leading up to the DLC release date, Rockstar will have more information about the launch of Heists and about other new features that we will release with it. GTA V for PC - This version will be arriving on April 14th at retail and as a digital download. Rockstar offered their apologies to PC gamers worldwide, especially considering the delay in getting the PC version released. More time was needed to ensure that the game is as polished as possible, and to make certain that both Heists and the GTA Online experience are ready to roll out on day one for PC. As a gesture of thanks for gamer understanding, Rockstar will grant anyone who has pre-ordered the game an additional $200,000 in-game cash for use in GTA Online. The GTA PC community was asked for understanding and assistance in helping to report any concerns during the early days of launch when those inevitable initial teething issues arise on the new platform. If you experience issues, then Rockstar ask for players to visit Rockstar Games Support and send feedback to GTAOnline@rockstargames.com – they’ll be closely monitoring the situation and addressing any hitches as quickly as they can. The PC version of Grand Theft Auto V is the most graphically and technically advanced version yet, and this is something PC players will expect. The game is fully optimized to support a broad range of current hardware and features a host of PC-specific enhancements, which include greater levels of detail, deep configuration options and ultra-high-definition support – as well as the powerful new Rockstar Editor for recording, staging and editing original custom videos. We will be featuring more on both the PC version, and Heists in the April Edition of Tech + Gaming by product-reviews.net.
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Key Gaming Releases
New Games Releasing in March 2015 Mar 3
White Night
PS4
Mar 3-6
Screamride
Xbox 360, Xbox One
Mar 5-20
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
Wii U
Mar 6
Zombie Army Trilogy
PC, PS4, Xbox One
Mar 10
Cities: Skylines
PC, Mac, Linux
Mar 10
DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition
PS4, Xbox One
Mar 11
Ori and the Blind Forest
Xbox One, PC
Mar 17-19
Battlefield Hardline
All
Mar 17-20
Bladestorm: Nightmare
PC, Xbox One, PS4/3
Mar 17-20
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD
PS4, Xbox One
Mar 19
Worlds of Magic
PC, Mac
Mar 20-21
Mario Party 10
Wii U
Mar 20
Ride
All
Mar 24-27
Bloodborne
PS4
Mar 26
Pillars of Eternity
PC, Mac
Gaming News www.product-reviews.net
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Kickstarter Projects Tixxii: Protect Your Vehicle From Tickets/Tows/Accidents
Limited Edition smart watch charger takes aim on Kickstarter
Most people use apps to play games. Tixxii revolutionized the driving world…creating an ingenious new app that prevents expensive parking tickets, tows, and other costly situations for your vehicle before they ever even occur.
Watchit! is a product design that is a derivative or “spin off” design from a larger parent design project called USDCS. The goal of this Kickstarter project is to raise funds for the proper development of the USDCS smart technology design project.
How’s that possible? Tixxii is the global watchdog app that lets users send each other instant and anonymous alerts when their vehicles are at risk of being ticketed, towed, have been involved in an accident and much more without knowing ANY personal contact info about other Tixxii users! Best of all, Tixxii is 100% FREE to use and can even send alerts across all phone operating systems so everyone around the world can save time, money, and major headaches.
This Kickstarter project provides for a One Time, Limited Edition production run of Watchit!’s. The project has been scaled to deliver 1000 - 10,000 Watchit!’s in of a variety of configurations. 1500 additional units are being made available as a “stretch goal”. Each configuration has an EarlyBird option. The EarlyBird option provides a savings of $5 and guarantees delivery within 90 days from arrival of funds.
Tixxii was founded and created by Abel Jones, a graduate of UC Berkeley and a southern California native. After observing the significant global need for the Tixxii app, Abel invested his own time, expertise, and money into the Tixxii app to bring it to fruition. Learn more about Tixxii on Kickstarter at kck. st/1Do7Wk9.
How Universal is Watchit!? All smart technology designs byVinzant seek to provide a universal fit to various technology platforms; from PC to Tablet to Smart Phone to Smart Watch. Watchit! works with any Smart Watch or Fitness Band that has the power connection on the side or on the back of the device.
Cuberox – six-screen waterproof linux-powered computer Cuberox is a computer, that has six 16x16 pixel displays. When turned off it looks like just a simple cube, but it actually hides a full-fledged computer inside. Cuberox is powered by Linux operating system that allows users to run different applications on each side of the cube, and developers to write their own applications with almost unlimited possibilities, thanks to API written on JavaScript. This cube is not afraid of water, because its body has not a single hole and it even is wirelessly charged. You can control what you see on a screen by changing cube’s position - for example, you might be looking at the weather in Los Angeles on one of the screens, but should you rotate the cube in a certain direction you will see the weather in New York. Cuberox also boasts a wireless station that extends the functionality that cuberox could be missing. The station has embedded speakers and a multicolor smart back light, which also is used by applications to notify users of upcoming events. Visit this project on Kickstarter. product-reviews.net
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Popular Apps This Month ZigZag for iOS and Android Stay on the wall and do as many zigzags as you can! Just tap the screen to change the direction of the ball. Try not to fall off the edges! How far can you go? ZigZag is a simple app with well over 1 million installs on Android already, and thousands on iOS as well.
Marble Heroes on Android Play your way to ultimate victory in a vast mythical world filled with endless journeys and challenging quests along the way! Team up with people just like you to overcome the peril of deadly dungeons! Use your magic to summon legendary Heroes and mighty Monsters to fight for you while you topple armies of fearsome foes!
Jewel Raiders for TANGO on Google Play / Jewel Raiders Legends of the Lost Treasures for Tango on iOS
Inspired by movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Mummy, Jewel Raiders is an exciting match 3 puzzle game where you match three or more jewels and explore your way through over 140 levels filled with temples, mummies, gold, and epic treasures! If you are a fan of traditional match 3 puzzle games like Bejeweled Blitz, Bubble Witch Saga, Diamond Digger Saga or Jewel Star 2, you’ll love this free to play treasure hunting puzzle game!
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Jewel Raiders takes you on a quest to find all the lost riches of the world. Search through tombs, journey through ancient ruins, outwit ancient guardians and overcome all the obstacles in your way! Compare to other match 3 type of puzzle games, you will challenge your match three skills as you:
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EXPLORE tons of mummy maze levels with your brave character. FIND hidden underground treasures with your match three skill. WHIP to kill the approaching mummy troops formed by mummies, skeletons or Sphinx. UNLEASH your gizmos, e.g. monkey storm or jewerdozer, to clear the way powerfully. UNLOCK new maps by either call helps from friends or finish each level with 3 star score!
As you continue your match 3 quest for hidden ancient treasure, track you and your friend’s progress and compete against each other to prove you’re the best treasure hunter out there! product-reviews.net
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Popular Apps This Month
Bus Simulator 2015 with incredible locations for iOS and Android
Bus Simulator 2015 is the latest simulation game that will offer you the chance to become a real Bus Driver! Realistic maps, incredible vehicles, wonderful interiors will make you feel like driving a real bus! It’s time to get on board and drive the bus to complete all the routes! Next-gen graphics including people animations, articulated, double and school buses will make this bus game the best on the market! Get Bus Simulator 2015 now! The latest update on Android and iOS took the app to version 1.20. This delivered new maps and camera modes, as well as improved performance with bug fixes on both platforms. The main features for Bus Simulator 2015 include: • Realistic Maps (Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Alaska, etc...) • 15 Buses (articulated, double-decker, school, etc...) • Open/Close Doors button • Animated people entering/exiting the bus • Custom weather conditions in Free Ride mode • Locations of any kind: city, countryside, mountain, desert and snow • Realistic visual damage • Steering Wheel, Buttons or Tilting controls • Detailed Interiors • Intelligent Traffic System • Challenge your friends with online rankings
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Recalls Jaguar - Passenger Air Bag May Be Disabled Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Land Rover Range Rover vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to February 5, 2015, and 2014-2015 Range Rover Sport vehicles manufactured June 16, 2013, to February 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, a light weight adult front seat passenger may be improperly classified by the occupant classification system (OCS) and, as a result, the front seat passenger air bag may be disabled. If the front passenger air bag is disabled during a vehicle crash, there is an increased risk of injury. Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 17, 2015. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover’s number for this recall is P059.
Toyota - Intermediate Steering Shaft Weld may Fail Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 FJ Cruiser vehicles manufactured August 7, 2013, to August 20, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the intermediate steering shaft which connects the steering wheel and the steering gear box may have an inadequate weld. Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 17, 2015. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover’s number for this recall is P059. If the intermediate steering shaft weld fails, there would be a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the intermediate steering shaft, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Mercedes-Benz - Rubber Seal may Dislodge and Contact Exhaust Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 E350 Sedan, E350 4Matic Sedan, E350 4Matic Station Wagon, E400 Hybrid Sedan, CLS 550 CGI, and CLS550 4Matic, 2013-2014 E550 4Matic Sedan, 2013 E63 Sedan, E63 Station Wagon and CLS63, 2014-2015 CLS63 4Matic, E63 4Matic Sedan, E63 4Matic Sedan “S”, and E63 4Matic Station Wagon, 2015 CLS400, 2015 E400 Sedan, E400 4Matic Sedan and CLS400 4Matic and 2014 CLS63 “S”. The affected vehicles have a rubber seal at the back of the engine bay that may temporarily stick to the hood when it is opened and then may fall into the engine bay when the hood is closed. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will attach four additional retaining clips to the rubber seal, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by mid-March 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-201-573-5339. MBUSA’s number for this recall is 2015020001.
Forest River, Inc. - Risk of Fire due to Contact with Heating Element Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain model year 2014 Rockwood and Flagstaff recreational vehicles manufactured June 26, 2014, to October 9, 2014, and equipped with the Chill Chaser option. In the affected vehicles, excessive foam insulation and/or loose wiring may touch the Chill Chaser heating element. If the foam insulation or loose wiring contacts the heating element, there is an increased risk of fire. Forest River will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the foam insulation and wiring, making any necessary repair, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on, or about, March 9, 2015. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-642-2640. Forest River’s number for this recall is SB111014.
Cosco Recalls Convertible Hand Trucks Due to Injury Hazard This recall involves Cosco Home & Office Products 3-in-1 convertible aluminum hand trucks. The handles can be moved to allow the hand truck to be used in a vertical or horizontal position. Recalled hand trucks have model numbers 12-301 ABL and 12-301 ABL1 and were manufactured from January 2009 to October 2011. The model number and manufacture date are on the Cosco label on the rear side of the bottom cross member. Cosco has received 10 reports of wheel hubs separating or breaking and ejecting pieces including four reports of bruises and lacerations. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled hand trucks and contact Cosco for a free repair kit. About 273,000 units are involved within this recall. Useful recall sources: cpsc.gov/en/Recalls | www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchCurrentMonthRecall
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Mobile and Tablet
Samsung Teases Galaxy S6 and Appears To Confirm Metal and Curved Design Samsung has been building up to their Galaxy UNPACKED 2015 event with teasers in the form of graphics and videos. The latest came towards the end of February, which included a graphic stating, “What’s Next” and saying, “The Next Galaxy”. This is almost certainly in regard to Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S6 smartphone, which will become the new flagship for their phone line. The 45-second video and graphic seemed to confirm a few leaked details. You will see a metallic wallpaper background theme that hints at an all-metal design, and another teaser on Instagram hints at a curved design for the Galaxy S6.
SAMSUNG Galaxy UNPACKED 2015 Date March 1st (Sun) Venue Address CCIB(Center de Concencions Internacional de Barcelona) Placa de Willy Brandt, 11-14, 08019 Barcelona, Spain Time Doors Open 17:30 CET / Presentation starts at 18:30 CET Live At www.youtube.com/SamsungMobile
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Mobile and Tablet
MWC 2015: What to expect One of the biggest mobile events takes place at the start of March, Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This will be home to the latest mobile gadgets from the world’s biggest manufacturers. We have already touched on what Samsung might be planning on the previous page, and this is thanks to some teases for their Unpacked event. It’s almost certain that the Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone will be revealed in an all-metal design with a curved display. HTC - The Taiwanese firm is also holding an event on March 1, much like Samsung, and it is widely expected the company will launch their HTC One M9 smartphone. Sony – Fans of this consumer brand will be hoping for the Sony Xperia Z4 at Mobile World Congress, although this is unlikely. The bigger launch is expected at a dedicated event towards the event of 2015. With that said, Sony will have a booth at MWC and be showing other mobile devices like the Sony Smartwatch 3 and Xperia Z2 tablet. LG – The move towards solo events is one that LG likes as well, so you can expect to see a dedicated press conference for LG at the end of 2015. You will still get to see LG showcase at MWC, but the biggest mobile launch will be saved for a later date. While nothing has been confirmed, it’s unlikely we will see the LG G4 revealed at Mobile World Congress 2015. With Apple about to launch their smartwatch, you
can be sure LG will be pushing their Watch Urbane at the show along with some midrange smartphones. The range of LG phones to be displayed will be mostly aimed at budget buyers, so expect Android devices like Joy, Leon, Spirit, and LG Magna. Microsoft – Taking over from Nokia, MWC will see Microsoft stream their press conference live on Monday, March 2, which will feature new Lumia devices. There’s a lot of speculation and the rumors are vast. While we are not expecting the Nokia Lumia 930 to be replaced just yet, the 1020 could see another big-screen phone steal its limelight. Huawei - This Chinese smartphone maker
has been growing in popularity with each event, and you can expect to see some new devices from Huawei at their event on March 1. The Huawei Ascend P8 will launch at a dedicated event on April 15, so don’t expect the flagship at MWC. There are hints towards a new smartwatch from Huawei that will run on Google’s Android Wear platform. Again, it’s clear the smartwatch market is heating up and Apple will only help other brands if the smartwatch market gains popularity further by Apple. Huawei did tease, “next is here” within their MWC 2015 teaser, and the 4G LTE logo on the invite could hint at a smartwatch with 4G LTE.
This is the Xperia Z2 tablet that’s super-slim and ultralight. You can enjoy the best of Sony’s TV and audio technologies in a 10.1-inch package. While we don’t expect the Xperia Z4 phone at MWC, you will get a closer look at the Xperia Z2 tablet.
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Wearable Tech
Sony SmartWatch 3 SWR50 - Powered by Android Wear At CES 2015 Sony introduced new products, partners and experiences to its evolving SmartWear range – a sleek stainless steel edition of SmartWatch 3, new Lifelog collaborations, and concept wearable devices, including a multi-sensor, waterproof headset prototype, from Sony Corporation, designed for optimising performance and providing real time insight on the running track. “Our approach to smart, wearable technology is based on the fundamentals of building depth and variety in user experiences, and providing choice with beautiful, functional products,” said Kaz Tajima, Senior Vice President, Head of UX Creative Design and Planning at Sony Mobile Communications. “The expansion of Lifelog – both in terms of its open API and our vision for new wearable concepts – will allow creative partners to integrate their apps and services to our platform – giving our users access to the richest, most varied wearable ecosystem.”
Designing for modular technology, with SmartBand SWR10 - At CES last year, Sony first showcased SmartBand SWR10 – a 24/7 wearable device; fully waterproof1 (rated IP58) despite its exposed microUSB port. A light, unobtrusive wearable that first featured Sony’s modular approach – the independent “core concept” – it allowed the technology to be worn in different colours and styles, to suit individual taste and personality. Over the past year, Sony Mobile has worked with creatives and brands from across the lifestyle, fashion, and design spectrum to explore custom apparel, establishing collections for Sony SmartWear from the likes of Jack Vartanian, ALTEWAISAOME, and Ted Baker – and most recently, the popular women’s lifestyle brand, ROXY. An elegant creative approach – SmartWatch 3, now in stainless steel - After launching in partnership this past Autumn with Google, SmartWatch 3 is Sony’s latest generation “SmartWatch”. Sony unveiled the new stainless steel edition of SmartWatch 3, rolling out globally from next month. SmartWatch 3 in beautiful stainless steel
matches contemporary with timeless aestheticism for a premium look and feel. It features a 1.6” 320×320 TFT LCD Transflective display for visibility in bright sunlight, and is of course water protected2, rated IP68 – it charges via a standard microUSB port. To further broaden the range of wearing styles available, Sony also unveiled a new SmartWatch 3 holder, allowing users and partners alike to customise SmartWatch 3 with any standard 24mm watch strap; available from the early part of 2015. Even without your Android smartphone, SmartWatch 3 is a fun and useful accessory with impressive standalone functionality – featuring native music playback, intelligent sensor technology and a unique inbuilt GPS sensor. Golfshot and iFit are two developers already creating Android Wear experiences with SmartWatch 3′s standalone capability, for both performance on the course and track respectively – from January, every SmartWatch 3 user will have exclusive access to the premium Golfshot and iFit apps out of the box3. Sony also announced a new collaboration with Virgin Atlantic – to explore
SmartWear initiatives together, to develop unique solutions using Sony’s SmartWear products to support operational activities and enhance the customer service experience for Virgin Atlantic customers. More news will follow over the coming months. Lifelog – inspiration through insight, for any Android user - Downloadable from the Google Play Store, Lifelog is the popular Android app built to help you set personal goals, monitor progress, get to know yourself better and make smarter choices about your health, entertainment, and more. Users can now access Lifelog through their browser at lifelog.sonymobile.com. It’s a new web interface that uses the open API functionality and latest HTML5 technologies, for a more visual experience. The site will work with any screen size, from your smartphone to your tablet to your TV – all you’ll have to do is log in using your Sony Entertainment Network4 account. The new feature reflects Sony’s strategy to regularly bring new functionality and features to Lifelog, to keep the experiences as current as they possibly can be. www.sonymobile.com. product-reviews.net