Full Android Desktop OS That Works on Windows and OS X Machines? It’s Here!

Users can run Android apps on their computers using various methods, however, it is hard to find a solution that gives you Android in the right way. While App Runtime for Chrome (ARC) lets you use apps on your computers, it’s only the apps on top of the Mac or Windows interface. A team of ex-Googlers and founders of Jide have introduced Remix OS 2.0 – a full multi-window desktop operating system that runs Android apps on your computer.

Remix OS bringing Android to x86 systems:

With Remix OS, Jide wants to bring Android to your Macs and PCs. Instead of simply working as an application inside a window in your current operating system, Remix OS gives you a similar experience that you get on an Android tablet, replacing Windows or OS X. Giving familiar looks of a desktop, the OS features a Start menu where you can access all the apps, notification tray that you can swipe, task bar, and other such features taken from Android, Windows and Chrome OS.

Remix OS is basically a customized fork of the software that aims to give you a desktop feel (with an ability to right-click!) where you can run apps in fullscreen. Built on Android-x86, Remix OS works on most of the Mac and Windows computers. Jide has also built a Remix Mini device for $70 that can run this operating system on any screen with a HDMI input.

Powered by Remix OS, Remix Mini allows you to work and play with the entire Android app ecosystem while taking full advantage of intuitive PC features such as a taskbar, multiple window multi-tasking, mouse and keyboard support.

However, if you don’t want to buy the device, you can download a system image on a USB stick, or you can create a partition on your computer for a more permanent solution. It comes for free and takes less than two minutes to boot up. Jide has also promised to send OTA updates to improve the Remix OS 2.0 in the future.

Users will be able to download Remix OS on January 12 from jide.com.

Survival Horror Outlast 2 Gets Its First Gruesome Visual; Shows Weapon

First-Person Survival Horror Outlast 2, has received its first high quality visual, and its rather terrifying.

Developer of the sequel to the original Outlast, Red Barrels Games, released the image recently. Red Barrels released a teaser for the sequel last October, other than that, not much is known about the title. Check out the teaser from October, below.

“We’re in full control of what we ship and when we ship it,” says Red Barrels President Philippe Morin. “For the first Outlast, we were in a rush to release the game before running out of money. Because more than 3.5 million players have played the first game, we’re now in a position to make decisions based on our ambitions.”, according to an article on Polygon.

The gruesome Outlast 2 visual which shows a terrifying weapon

Weapons might well be useable in Outlast 2

Judging from the visual released, using weaponry might very well be possible.

Outlast 2 is scheduled for a release Fall 2016 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. For more info, check out the game’s Steam page.

Outlast 2 is the sequel to the acclaimed survival horror game Outlast. Set in the same universe as the first game, but with different characters and a different setting, Outlast 2 is a twisted new journey into the depths of the human mind and its dark secrets.

No conflict is ever black and white. But once the dust has settled, the victors get to decide who was right and who was wrong. Who is good and who is evil. Human nature pushes us to extremes of violence and depravity, which we then justify by divine inspiration and a promise of paradise to come. Horror rises from desperation and blind faith. OUTLAST 2 will test your faith, pushing players to a place where going mad is the only sane thing to do.

PSVR Attracted A Lot Of Support From Third Party Developers, Over 100 Games Now In Development

There’s been a lot of Virtual Reality headsets talk in the past few days during CES 2016, with Oculus Rift getting detailed in full and finally been made available for pre-order. While full details on another highly anticipated VR headset, the PSVR headset, have yet to be revealed, Sony President and CEO Kazuo Hirai talked about one of the most important regarding the headset: developers support.

During CES 2016, Kazuo Hirai has talked with the BBC about the PSVR games and developer support. According to Mr. Hirai, there are currently 100 or more titles currently in the works for the PSVR. Mr. Hirai also added that the PlayStation VR has attracted a lot of support from third party developers so it seems like those who feared about the headset not getting support and games can put their fears to rest.

With Oculus Rift finally getting detailed in full during CES 2016, many thought that Sony would also take advantage of the event to talk more about the PlayStation VR. This, unfortunately, hasn’t happened, but analysts from SuperData Research have released their own analysis of the virtual reality market, with a big focus on the PSVR possible price and more.

The PlayStation VR headset has been originally revealed as Project Morpheus. The headset is designed to be fully functional with the PlayStation 4 console and it will feature an OLED 1920×1080 pixel display, FOV of 100°, 6DOF head-tracking and stereoscopic 3D.

Put yourself at the centre of new worlds by slipping on a visor-style virtual reality headset, currently in development by Sony Computer Entertainment.

Get other players involved. PlayStation VR creates two sets of images: one for the headset and one for a TV, so everyone can join in.

The PlayStation VR headset has yet to receive a final release date for all regions. More on the matter is surely going to come in the near future, so stay tuned for all the latest news.

Now an App to Replace Your Selfie Stick

A US-based developer has developed a camera app that lets a user take selfie or groupfie by just tilting his/her head and without a physical selfie stick.

Named as "Selfie Stick", the app is designed by San Diego-based iOS developer Ford Davis who reckons that the need to carry an extra bit of kit just to snap a selfie could be reduced with better self-timer software, TechCrunch reported on Tuesday.

"Selfie Stick is a virtual selfie stick that lets you take photos without using your hands, and without the need for a physical selfie stick, bluetooth trigger or headphone jack by using face detection magic," the app details on Apple store.

Davis's app has a free face-detecting feature that starts the timer as soon as a user tilts the head.

To take a photo, the user has to tilt his/her head till a green circle is fully drawn on the screen.

After the face is locked in, the green colour of the circle starts changing through orange to red to show the user how much time is left before the shot will be taken.

The app is a little glitchy at the introductory version (v1.0) as it requires extensive head tilting to trigger the timer.

Davis admitted that the app is not flawless.

"I am not funded, I do not have a company or any employees so I'm not technically even a startup, just a guy with a Macbook and some crazy ideas," he said.

Also, if the user is not holding the phone in his/her hand, it has to be "mounted on a tri-pod or leaned against something".

This may not persuade selfie stick loyalists to switch to this app.

The physical selfie stick follows other software self-timer apps that have voice-triggered options, and apps that snap a shot when you smile.

Asus Unveils 'First USB Type-C Portable Monitor' at CES 2016

USB Type-C is still in its nascent stages, what with its current presence on a handful of smartphones and notebooks. Asus clearly thinks it has seen the future, and it's betting on it with a USB Type-C upgrade to its portable monitor in the MB169C+ first showcased at CES 2016 in Las Vegas.

Asus is calling it the world's first companion monitor with USB Type-C, and it's hard to argue when there are such few players in the market. The MB169C+ is a 15.6-inch portable display with full-HD resolution to boot, and does away with the TN panel on its earlier model for IPS which should definitely help with improving colour accuracy and increasing viewing angles.

The latter should be helpful if your friends decide to crowd around for the latest Adele video, although we feel the addition of stereo speakers couldn't have hurt. To be fair, it would have certainly affected the ultra-slim profile of MB169C+ which comes in at a thickness of 8.5mm and weighs just 800 grams.

Speaking to The Verge, Asus said the monitor will work with essentially any USB Type-C device, starting from one of the earliest ones in the Nokia N1 tablet, the 2015 Apple MacBook, and the second iteration of Google's Chromebook Pixel.

The Taiwanese manufacturer also dropped two new desktop displays in its Designo lineup at CES: the curved 34-inch MX Series and 4K 27-inch MX27UQ. The former has an ultra-wide QHD resolution of 3840x1440 pixel with an aspect ratio of 21:9. The latter has a standard 4K screen and comes in a gold finish. Both incorporate IPS panels and speakers that are developed with Bang and Olufsen technology. To top it off, the base of the curved monitor can act as a wireless charger for your smartphone.

There isn't any word from Asus on how much any of the three will cost or when they will be available.

4-Inch iPhone 6c Leaked in 3D Renders and Live Images

A new set of leaked renders have surfaced claiming to show the 4-inch iPhone 6c. Additionally, the long-rumoured handset for the first time has been purportedly spotted in live images.

A report claims that the iPhone 6c may sport colour models similar to what we've already seen on iPod touch, while maintaining the physical design of the iPhone 6 (and iPhone 6s). 9to5mac has shared a bunch of mocked-up renders claiming to show the unannounced iPhone 6c in various colour variants.

In a separate leak, Steve Hemmerstoffer of Nowhereelse.fr has shared few live images purportedly showing the iPhone 6c. In the leaked images, the handset is seen sporting circular edges similar to the current generation iPhone models while sporting a smaller screen size. The rear panel of the iPhone 6c looks identical to the one seen on the iPhone 6. The rear camera bump is also visible in the leaked images. The front panel images purportedly show that the iPhone 6c will retain the signature iPhone design and will sport a circular home button which will most likely hold the fingerprint scanner.

Apple in 2016 is said to break away from September launch cycle which saw iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launch in 2014, and iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus launch in 2015. The Cupertino-based company is said to launch the iPhone 6c in April, which was recently corroborated with a leaked China Mobile 2016 phone roadmap. The April launch time-frame is also in line with a previous rumour that indicated a mid-2016 launch of the 4-inch iPhone.

Some of the specifications tipped for the smaller iPhone 6c include a 1642mAh battery, which if comes out to be true will be bigger than the battery seen on previous 4-inch iPhone 5c. Other details rumoured for the iPhone 6c include an A9 processor, 16GB of inbuilt storage, Touch ID, and 2GB of RAM.

Nikon KeyMission 360 Rugged Action Camera Launched at CES 2016

Apart from launching its flagship DSLR cameras, the D5 and D500, Nikon marked its debut in the action camera segment with the launch of the KeyMission 360. We don't have any pricing or availability details just yet but we expect that announcement to happen pretty soon.

The KeyMission 360 is a rugged action camera, similar to GoPro, except for the fact that it has two lenses for full 360-degree video. What's more, it can shoot up to 4K resolution, which is quite impressive. The camera is waterproof up to 100ft/30m, can withstand dust, shock and even low temperatures. It also supports an electronic vibration reduction feature to reduce the effects of camera shake. This can enabled through Nikon's app during video playback. The camera itself looks like a small cube and packs in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC for connectivity with your smartphone or tablet.

With virtual reality (VR) all set to make a big splash this year, the average user still lacks the means to create meaningful content suitable for VR. The 360-degree video space is still at its nascent stages with not many manufacturers offering devices to capture such content. Ricoh is one of the few companies who have such devices already in the market, like the recently launched Theta S. It was only a matter of time before bigger players like Nikon entered this space and we should see many more following suit in the months to come.

CES 2016: LG Unveils Refrigerator That Automatically Opens When You're Near

LG at CES 2016 showcased a new four-door refrigerator that is part of a select bunch of products being touted as the best of what LG has to offer in terms of both technology and design, the LG Signature home appliances.

First and foremost is a huge see-through panel on the right top door which lights up when "knocked on". LG is calling this Knock-on Door-in-Door - duh - and it is built to help you see what's inside your fridge without having to bother opening the door or the freshness of the contents therein. Door-in-Door was LG's idea to allow opening a section of the fridge and not lose complete cooling, and Knock-on takes it even further.

For what it's worth, Samsung has already gone a step ahead and stuck three cameras to the inside of its own CES 2016 flagship fridge, and a huge 21.5-inch Tizen-powered tablet in portrait mode on the outside. It will let you have a peek from anywhere (because Internet), which is extremely helpful when you're out shopping for eggs.

But it looks like LG is ready to go toe-to-toe with the top 0.1 percent of the refrigerator market. The second innovation of the Signature-line fridge from LG is its 'Auto Door Open' feature. It detects your presence with a step-activated smart sensor fitted at the bottom and automatically opens the door when you approach the refrigerator.

In doing so, LG has made sure of two things: that a) people with babies in their arms will have an easier time and b) a new sideshow for all sci-fi movies from now on. Best of all, LG claims the door knows when a baby or pet is walking nearby and the door doesn't automatically swing open.

LG will offer a 10-year warranty on your purchase, which for the time being will be "soon after CES" in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia at an unspecified price.

Intel Compute Stick Second Generation With Core M Chips Launched at CES 2016

Intel at CES 2016 took the wraps off the next generation Compute Stick. The chipmaker is finally giving its miniature, dongle-shaped pocket computer a refresh, stuffing more processing muscle into it while also improving the aesthetics. The new version, is available in two variants powered by Intel Core M processors, starting at $399. The company has also quietly unveiled two low-end variants, powered by Intel Atom processors.

For the new generation Compute Stick, Intel is fixing all of the shortcomings that crippled the original flash drive-shaped device's performance. The new version comes with three ports as opposed to just one port in the original Compute Stick. One port forced users to use a USB-hub to connect multiple devices such as a keyboard, mouse and hard drive at once, which as you could imagine, also created performance issues.

As for other specifications, the new Intel Compute Stick is powered by Intel Core M processor (either Core m5-6Y57 vPro or Core m3-6Y30 Skylake CPUs) and 4GB of RAM, while sporting 64GB of inbuilt storage that's expandable via microSDXC card (up to 128GB). The Intel Compute Stick supports Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265, HDMI 1.4b, Bluetooth 4.1. It ships with one USB 3.0 port on the dongle, and two USB 2.0 ports on the power adapter.

On the software front, it runs Windows 10 out-of-the-box. The company is also offering a variant with the same hardware specifications but without any operating system. The model (STK2M3W64CC) with Intel Core m3 processor and Windows 10 is priced at $399 (roughly Rs. 26,692), whereas the Intel Core m5 vPro-specced variant (STK2MV64CC) with no operating system is priced at $499 (roughly Rs. 33,382). A Core m3 variant (STK2M364CC) will also be available without operating system, but pricing has not yet been detailed. The Core m5 vPro variant is meant to serve as a business thin client, as is the Core m3 variant without an operating system. The company claims that both the variants are capable of handling 4K content.

The company has also unveiled two more models - STK1AW32SC and STK1A32C - that feature lower-powered Intel Atom x5-Z8300 Cherry Trail processor. Both the variants will be available to purchase in the first quarter of 2016. The STKAW32SC model comes with Windows 10, while the STK1A32SC will ship sans operating system.

As for the specifications, both the Cherry Trail models feature 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of inbuilt storage. Both the variants come with two USB ports (one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0), and supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0. Other features include expandable storage support up to 128GB via microSDXC card, and an HDMI 1.4b connector. Both the variants are likely to cost around $159 (roughly Rs. 10,637).

Oculus Remote Unveiled at CES 2016, Ships With Oculus Rift VR Headset

The Oculus Rift is now available for pre-order at $599 and a new controller that had not been announced before-hand, called the Oculus Remote, will ship with it. This is a very basic controller with just a touchpad, four buttons - home, back, plus, minus - and it's tiny too. 

The idea is simple - the Oculus Remote gives you an easy way to browse through different VR experiences without having to take off your headset. 

This sounds like a small thing, but actually, if you've spent any amount of time using VR headsets, you'll quickly realise that this is a pretty big deal. Until now, the only convenient way to move from one VR experience to the next was to completely remove the headset, find the next experience on your PC, and then launch it and put the headset back on. 

This is obviously inconvenient but when you can't see the keyboard or need to make inputs or choose different buttons, then it's the only option at hand. ​

The new Oculus Remote could enable users to simply keep it in their pocket when not in use, and quickly and easily click buttons, navigate menus, and get around launching different VR experiences without having to take the headset at all.

CES 2016: Sennheiser Announces 3D Audio Technology for Virtual Reality

At CES 2016, Sennheiser announced Ambeo, a 3D audio technology that could be used to improve positional audio in virtual reality. Given the growing interest in VR at the moment, this is an important development - pinpointing the sounds you hear in VR goes a long way in making the experience feel real, and as of now, the best way to accomplish this is a rather old technique called binaural recording which uses two microphones at a slight offset, to replicate the difference between how your two ears pick up sounds.

Sennheisers Ambeo 3D technology creates a more immersive mix, and it has been used in the creation of a VR game called Eden as well.

"3D audio is the new frontier of excellence, set to transform the listening experience for users across a broad range of applications, from virtual reality gaming to audio recording and broadcasting," announced co-CEOs Daniel Sennheiser and Dr. Andreas Sennheiser. "We have been active in this area for some time with 9.1 mixing and recording and the audio design for high-profile exhibitions. We are now increasing our efforts considerably to introduce this amazing sound quality into new products and applications, enabling users to experience and shape the future of audio."

Composer, producer, and musician Simon Franglen, well known for his work on the films Titanic, Avatar, and most recently Spectre, commented: "Every time I do an immersive mix, I notice how much more clearly I can hear what's going on within a track. The extra playback area allows individual voices and instruments room to breathe in a way that the flat plane of a stereo mix can never hope to accomplish. 3D audio gives a completely new experience to the listener. Not only are they inside the music, but they get the opportunity to really hear the detail and the arrangement that the musicians, arrangers and producers put into the recordings. Even as a professional, I have listened to tracks that I have thought I knew intimately to discover so much more than the stereo or mono mix was able to give me. Once you hear this, music changes forever."

As we mentioned, Sennheiser's Ambeo technology is also being used in a VR game called Eden, which takes place entirely in an imaginary landscape. "The Sennheiser 3D sound rendering engine used in Eden allows a smooth transition between real-life sounds and virtual audio sources," explained Andreas Sennheiser. "Such an engine will be the future of 3D sound in augmented reality applications."

Sennheiser also announced a new virtual reality mic that captures audio in four quadrants, that it believes will enhance audio capture for live action VR.

An interesting development from Sennheiser is venue modelling software - unlike other reverb tools, the venue modelling technology can very accurately model the room characteristics, to make it sound like you're really listening to the audio in another location. Sennheiser says that this will allow DJs to listen to their sets as if they were in the middle of the audience at a club, and thus tweak their performances for the best results. This is likely to be available by mid-2016, while Sennheiser's VR mic will be launching in the third quarter of 2016.

Razer Unveils the Nabu Watch at CES 2016

Gaming peripheral maker Razer has, from time to time, made products that aren't just for the sort who spend hours on end sitting in front of a computer playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or Dota 2. Unveiled at CES 2016, the Nabu Watch is one of them. If the same sounds familiar, it's because it shares some common features with the Nabu and Nabu X - two fitness bands that were also made by Razer.

The Nabu Watch though, looks more like something that would not be out of place in Casio's G-Shock range of digital watches. Distinguishing factors are a smaller, secondary screen and Razer's penchant for neon green accents.

Nonetheless it has activity tracking, notifications for your Android or iOS smartphone, and shake-to-share features as well. And while it does appear to tick off all the boxes that classify it as a smartwatch, Razer is positioning it as a "digital watch with smart functions."

Along with this is a bespoke downloadable companion app to ensure all your data is in one place and grants you access to features like Phone Remote Control.

In terms of battery life, Razer claims the Nabu Watch will keep ticking along for a year. It uses a coin cell replaceable battery while its secondary screen is powered by a rechargeable battery that needs to be charged every week.

The Nabu Watch will ship internationally in January. It costs $150 (approximately Rs. 10,000) for the standard edition and $200 (around Rs. 13,350) for the Forged Edition that has stainless steel buttons. As for India? Considering the Nabu and Nabu X didn't make it here, you can safely assume the same of the Nabu Watch.

Doom To Release This June, According To Amazon France

Doom, the new entry of the classic first person series created by id Software, has been in development for quite some time, but now that 2016 has come, fans of this classic series can finally start getting excited for the game. A final release date has yet to be revealed by Bethesda, but it seems like the game is going to be released sometime this June, at least according to a popular online retailer.

Amazon France has recently started listing Doom with a June 30th release date for all formats. This specific release may not be the actual release day, as June 30th is a Thursday, but it’s more than likely that the game will finally be released during June 2016, considering Amazon France revealed the correct release dates for Rise of the Tomb Raider and Forza 6 last year before the official announcement.

Doom was originally known as Doom 4 and it’s a reboot of the Doom series created by id Software. The game has been in development for years with almost no news from the team and development was restarted completely in 2011, with Bethesda now handling publishing duties.

The new entry of the series will come with plenty of interesting features that fans of the classic Doom games will surely appreciate like a huge arsenal, hordes of horrifying demons and a fast paced gameplay experience. Many enemies from the original games will be making a glorious comeback, with some of them also getting a new design.

There is no taking cover or stopping to regenerate health as you beat back Hell’s raging demon hordes. Combine your arsenal of futuristic and iconic guns, upgrades, movement and an advanced melee system to knock-down, slash, stomp, crush, and blow apart demons in creative and violent ways.

Doom will be released sometime this year in all regions on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. More on the game’s final release date will surely be coming in soon, so stay tuned for all the latest news.

Sharp Introduces 25 TVs For 2016 – 4K, Quantum Dot, and HDR-Enabled

After Hisense licensed Sharp’s brand name for use in the North America, many speculated if the new management will be able to keep up the loyalty that Sharp had built. CES 2016 has turned all those speculations to trash as Sharp has announced 25 new TVs at the event, utilizing both Sharp and Hisense technologies which means bringing the best to the consumers.

Sharp 4K TV at the CES 2016 with app store, 4K and Quantum Dot on-board:

The third biggest seller of TVs in 2015, Hisense/Sharp will launch 25 new TVs this year, between 32- and 75-inches, and priced from $189 up to $3,299. Introducing SPECTROS Quantum Dot technology, the flagship 4K Aquos N9000 line will sport high dynamic range (HDR) and a curved panel. Both Quantum Dot and HDR technologies are a first for a Sharp TV. The flagship 70-inch flat Sharp 4K TV will retail for $3,299, while the smaller curved 65-inch Sharp 4K TV with identical specs will be priced at $2,999. The Sharp N9000 series will be shipping in mid-2016.

If you want to go for a lower price tag, you will have to miss the Quantum Dot technology and go for Sharp N8000 and N7000 series. Both these lines are also HDR enabled, and feature same specs, including AquoMotion and AquoDimming along with smart TV functionality that the flagship series is equipped with. The Sharp N8000 line is offered in both 75- and 70-inch models that will cost you $3,000 and $2,300, respectively. The N7000 line starts for $500 for the 43-inch TV up to $2,000 for the 70-inch screen.

The third category of TVs is Aquos N6000 which will offer “entry-level 4K and smart capabilities” to the users. Bringing the price tag to a more affordable level than the above lines, N6000 compromises on local dimming but keeps other features like HDR support and AquoMotion. Smart TV apps are still included and the cost starts from $450 up to $750 for 43- to 55-inch TVs.

Sharp and Hisense are introducing a new user interface with the TVs launching in 2016 bringing a complete app store designed by Hisense. This app store will be available on all the 4K TVs, including the N6000 series. The even more affordable Sharp Aquos N5000, N4000 and N3000 will forgo 4K, but will keep the Smart TV apps. The prices of these lines will start from $190 going up to $1,000 for larger screen sizes.

Dell Announces Business Class Latitude 12 7000 2-in-1 and a 13-inch Ultrabook

Focusing on its business class products, Dell has unveiled its thinnest and lightest 12.5-inch two-in-one device, bringing some style to the Latitude 7000 series. A cheaper 2-in-1 and a sleek 13-inch Ultrabook were also announced today.

Dell refreshes Latitude 7000 Series with USB Type-C:

Bringing style to its existing lineup, Dell’s brand new Latitude 7000 Series includes two new 2-in-1 tablets. Announced today at CES 2016, one of these two devices offers a 4K UHD display. Featuring “innovative magnetic connection,” the latest series allows you to seamlessly switch between a laptop and a tablet mode and both bring USB Type-C onboard.

The new Latitude 12 7000 Series 2-in-1 features an innovative design, all the latest industry-leading features and is surrounded by purpose-built accessories for ultra-mobile productivity.

The Latitude 12 7000 is a beautifully designed 12.5 inch 2-in-1 tablet weighing under one kilogram. Only over 8mm thick, the device features a UltraSharp 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 display, including Corning Gorilla Glass. The high-end 2-in-1 is built with premium materials like magnesium alloy, giving it quite a sleek look. Dell has featured an 8-megapixel shooter on the back and a 5-megapixel camera on the front. The device comes with a lot of choices. Users can choose to power it with Core M3, M5 or M7 processing chips and run either Windows 10 or Windows 8 on it. Those who want can also have a full HD version of the Dell 12 7000 Series. Latitude 12 has two USB 3.1 Type-C/Thunderbolt ports along with an SD card reader and a micro SIM slot. The 12-inch Latitude 12 7000 costs $1,049 and will come with a keyboard.

Dell also announced a second 2-in-1 device which is the Latitude 11 5000, an 11-inch device sporting a full HD screen and a bit thicker design. Coming with one USB Type-C port, one USB 3.0 port, a micro SIM slot and a SD card reader. Buyers can choose to power it with Intel’s Core M3 or M5 processors. Dell has priced this model at $749.

The third product and possibly one that will be loved by many, Latitude 13 7000 Series Ultrabook features an InfinityEdge display with a very thin bezel, Thunderbolt jacks, card reader, fingerprint reader, an RFID reader, and a USB Type-C port. The impressive-looking device is powered by a 6th generation Core M processor and is available with a non-touch FHD 1920 x 1080 anti-glare display or a QHD+ 3200 x 1800 touch display with Gorilla Glass. Weighing at 2.48 pounds, it surely looks to be competing against Lenovo’s ThinkPad series. The device will start selling at $1,299.

Oculus Rift is Available to Pre-Order For $599/£500/€700

After years of waiting, Oculus Rift is now available to pre-order. The VR sensation will come with a microphone, sensor, headset, Oculus remote and Xbox One controller bundled in a rather stylish box. You’ll be the talk of the town, if only because you’ll need to sell your family to get one.

Americans can expect to throw down $599 for the set, while buyers in the UK will be paying £499 and Europeans will be set back €700.

The headset will be available in March, with select retailers stocking a limited selection of the set from April. Expect more details as time draws nearer.

From the official website:

We’re excited to announce that Rift is now available to pre-order for $599 USD on Oculus.com and it will ship to 20 countries starting March 28. People have been dreaming about immersive high-end VR for decades, and we’re thrilled to share Rift with you this March.

Rift will also be available in limited locations at select retailers starting in April.

Pre-order and you’ll get access to two made-for-VR titles, including EVE: Valkyrie and Lucky’s Tale.

To use Oculus Rift, your PC will need the following recommended specs or better:

• Graphics Card:: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD R9 290 equivalent or greater
• Processor: Intel i5-4590 equivalent or greater
• Memory: 8GB+ RAM
• Output: Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output
• Input: 3x USB 3.0 ports plus 1x USB 2.0 port
• Operating system: Windows 7 SP1 64 bit or newer

As of writing, the estimated shipping date is May 2016 – a few months later than it was when pre-ordering opened. Presumably this will continue to slip as pre-orders build, so if you’re desperate for one this side of Christmas, you should put your money down sooner rather than later.

PSVR To Be Priced At $400-600, To Sell 1.9M In 2016 According To Market Research

Many expected Sony to announce critical PSVR details such as pricing and release date at CES 2016, but that didn’t happen. However, market research companies have already analyzed the growing virtual reality market and recently started sharing their results.

For example, according to SuperData Research PSVR should be priced between $400 and $600; given today’s shocking announcement of the Oculus Rift price ($599), this doesn’t seem far fetched at all, and Sony did hint that the device would be priced like a console. The company also conducted customer surveys and according to their results, PSVR will sell approximately 1.9 million units by 2016 with 5% of the market share.

This would be the smallest market share, with PC VR (counting both Oculus Rift and HTC Vive) estimated at 17% or 6.6 million units. By far the largest share would be the mobile one, though, mainly because of the low entry barrier (GearVR only costs $100 and Google Cardboard even less).

There’s more interesting data from the report, anyway. For example, 829 VR games are estimated to be in development with indie studios more eager to jump on the virtual reality boat while AAA companies are somewhat reluctant. Moreover, US gamers’ interest in VR games has been ranked by action, action/adventure, adventure, FPS and RPG in this order.

According to another slide, console gamers would also be more likely to spend over $400 on VR than PC users (19% against 10%). Hardcore gamers are also deemed willing to spend more than casual gamers ($304 against $236), though that’s hardly a surprise.

In case you’re curious about the metodology used by SuperData Research in this analysis, here’s their explanation:

Market estimates in this report were compiled based on transaction-level data collected by SuperData Research from a consortium of providers, including developers, publishers and payment service providers, totaling 48 million unique digital gamers. This information was complemented by a variety of publicly available sources as well as interviews conducted by SuperData’s analysts with key figures in the Virtual and Augmented Reality industry.
Player behavior and sentiment data was assessed using a survey of 557 qualified respondents in the period of November and December, 2015.
This panel profile includes video game users who are 13+ years old, played a video game at least once within a month of taking the survey, expressed at least some interest in Virtual Reality, and live in the United States.

EVE: Valkyrie Testing Begins This Month, New Screens Released

The developers behind VR game EVE: Valkyrie will open their consumer testing programme later this month.

On the heels of the Oculus Rift pre-orders, CCP Games announced that players will be able to get into the alpha phase from January 18th. New players will be admitted in waves at some point before the first test.

EVE: Valkyrie will put you in the cockpit of a spaceship in an intense multiplayer dogfight. The developers have built it from scratch with VR in the mind, and no doubt the level of their success will be all over the internet in the coming months.

Owners of the Oculus Rift DK2 headset will be able to register their interest in the testing program here.

Access to EVE: Valkyrie will be bundled with all pre-orders of Oculus Rift, so take out that mortgage now if you fancy taking control of your very own space vehicle. The consumer version of the device will cost $599 USD and willl also include an Xbox One controller, an Oculus remote, a mic, a sensor and a copy of Lucky’s Tale.

Console owners will be happy to know that EVE: Valkyrie is also set to be a launch title for PlayStation VR.

To celebrate the announcement, the developers released a handful of new screenshots to show how close you’ll be to the action.

• 
• 
  
• 
  

NVIDIA’s VXAO To Be Featured In Rise of the Tomb Raider: Here’s What We Know

Yesterday, some press releases (including the one reported by Xbox Wire) mentioned that NVIDIA’s VXAO technology will be featured for the first time in Rise of the Tomb Raider for PC, due on January 28.

This made many wonder about VXAO itself, so we reached out to NVIDIA about getting more specifics. Here’s the reply we got:

VXAO is an unreleased technology which was mistakenly listed in select news releases. We will provide details as soon as they’re available.

It seems like NVIDIA didn’t really intend to publicly divulge this yet, which explains why only a few press releases had the information. Still, that doesn’t mean that we can’t speculate ahead of the official reveal.

The name itself is already quite telling: we’re most assuredly talking about voxel based ambient occlusion here. We did some research and as it turns out, NVIDIA did talk about this technique a little, though it wasn’t labeled VXAO yet.

Specifically, NVIDIA’s Alexey Panteleev (Developer Technology Engineer) talked about it as part of his speech on VXGI during the GPU Technology Conference 2015, held last March in Silicon Valley. You can find the full slides in PDF form here, and the video presentation here.

Let’s take a closer look at VXAO, then.

According to the slide, this technique’s tracing is approximately three times cheaper than full fledged Global Illumination.

When compared to SSAO, this kind of Ambient Occlusion also provides a more stable effect throughout the rendered world. In Panteleev’s own words from the video presentation:

The results of SSAO are not always correct. For example, when geometry comes near the screen edge or when a far objects is close to a near object in the screen space. Voxel based ambient occlusion has no such problem.

The next slide provides a rendering comparison of SSAO versus VXAO.

That’s the extent of what is publicly available about this technique. Though of course, there’s the question of what happens now to HBAO+, NVIDIA’s prized ambient occlusion technique which was finally getting widespread adoption in games. Is VXAO supposed to replace it outright, or will these be alternative and competing techniques to be chosen by developers on a case by case basis?

Obviously, we’ll be sure to report the official details when NVIDIA will be ready to divulge them.

Read more: http://wccftech.com/nvidias-vxao-to-be-featured-in-rise-of-the-tomb-raider-heres-what-we-know/#ixzz3wYN6xMIQ

Leaked iPhone 7 Image Shows Relocated 3D Touch Chip and Flex Cables

As the new year has started, we expect to see a lot more leaks and rumors surrounding the expected flagship smartphones of the year. Samsung’s Galaxy S line and iPhones always take the lead being at the center of the rumor mill. Today, we are looking at some leaked iPhone 7 images that are showing the backlight assembly of the upcoming smartphone.

Leaked iPhone 7 image shows relocated 3D Touch and Flex cables:

Taiwanese website Apple.club.tw has posted a leaked iPhone 7 image of what is reportedly the display backlight of the smartphone. The image looks similar to last year’s iPhone 6s, however, there are some noticeable differences in the placement of the key components of the upcoming flagship. The purported display backlight assembly shows that the 3D Touch chip and LCD flex cables have been relocated on the upcoming handset. However, the website explains that there is no confirmation if this image belongs to an iPhone 7 as it could very well be representing backlight assembly of the 4-inch so-called iPhone 6c, which is slated for a March release.

iPhone 6s assembly

iPhone 7 backlight assembly

Previous rumors had suggested that the smaller iPhone will not carry 3D Touch technology and as mentioned by MacRumors, the size of the backlight assembly and flex cables suggest a device larger than a 4-inch smartphone. These images seem to be fitting more with the iPhone 7 than the smaller iPhone 6c as their size suggests. The Taiwanese website has a considerably fair record of sharing leaks surrounding Apple products. However, it is still only a leak which means it needs to be taken with some usually recommended suspicion.

Earlier rumors suggested that Apple may remove the 3.5mm headphone jack on the upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus for the favor of an all-in-one Lightning connector. The source of this particular rumor, MacOtakara claimed that Apple might also release Lightning-equipped EarPods to support the future iPhones.

iPhone 7 is expected to be waterproof with an “antenna concealing” design technology. The upcoming smartphone duo is also expected to bring a faster A10 processing chip on-board along with a non-metallic casing and a larger 3,100 mAh battery pack.