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    Project Zomboid promises zombies, survival and your death

    Gadgets Team
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    Project Zomboid promises zombies, survival and your death

    One of the things I really liked about ANC’s The Walking Dead was the whole inescapable reality of the zombie apocalypse – it’s more about survival and the human condition rather than the zombies that threatened the character’s lives. There was no chosen one, no cure and no escape – just constant death and the struggle to survive. That portrayal of the zombie apocalypse has been absent from games – until I stumbled into Project Zomboid. The game is different in that death is inescapable – you ARE going to die sooner or later – its the things you do before your death that matters. Right now the game is in it’s alpha stages and will be released Minecraft style , meaning it’s not complete, and the developers are still planning and implementing a lot of features as the days and months roll by.

    The graphics are a throwback to isometric games of old (like XCOM if any of you guys can remember that far back) and puts a big emphasis on survival and not combat. But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be a lot of combat – this wouldn’t be a proper zombie game if you couldn’t bash a few zack skulls, after all – it just means that you’ll have to be very selective of who, and when, you fight. There’s a good crafting system in place, as well as a day/night and hunger cycle. There’s a playable demo available that paints a pretty good picture of where the game is going, and we’ve linked it below so you guys can try the game out. If you like the game, you can support the devs by ponying up the £5.00 (Php 352) for it.

    Source: Project Zomboid

     

     

    Background check company stores public social data up to seven years

    Gadgets Team
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    Background check company stores public social data up to seven years

    Kids these days post all kinds of things on their Facebook accounts. While it might be hilarious to post funny but politically incorrect pictures or go on racist rants for the benefit of your friends, these actions may have some very real consequences down the line, like you not being able to get a job. The FCC just gave the green light to a background check company that screens job applicants based on their internet postings, including all relevant social media (Twitter, Facebook and the like). The difference is that once researched, the company stores that data for seven years. Admittedly, Social Intelligence, the company that does the check, will not make the information available other than to the company that requests for the background check. What that means is that every time a potential employer asks for a background check, the company will start from scratch – so if you’ve managed to delete the offending content associated to your account, you’re free and clear.

    We’ve always thought that what you post on the internet is an extension of who you are, and companies like Social Intelligence is proving just that. While all of this is happening on the other side of the world, it’s not far-fetched to think that this kind of background check will happen here – who is to say that the multinational company that hires you won’t be using a service like this? So the next time you post that politically incorrect rant about whatever, take a deep breath and think it through. It may be the reason why you’re turned down in the future.

    Source: Forbes

    Scientists expands rat’s brains, might lead to a cure for neural degenerative diseases

    Gadgets Team
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    Scientists expands rat’s brains, might lead to a cure for neural degenerative diseases

    Wouldn’t it be cool if we could just insert a chip in our heads that suddenly allowed us to pilot a helicopter like Trinity did in the Matrix? Well, that’s not a far-off possibility. Scientists have now developed a prosthetic chip that allows rats to suddenly learn a specific behavior with a mere flick of a switch. All of this extremely fascinating (and slightly disturbing) experiments is the work of Theodore Berger of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. According to him, it’s pretty straightforward. “Flip the switch on, and the rats remember. Flip it off, and the rats forget.” The chip allows rats to enhance and expand their learning abilities, and stores all of this learned actions in the device. Aside from the possibility of creating devices that allow humans to learn, stuff, on the fly, the work being done by Berger and his team may lead to cures for people who have Alzheimers, suffered strokes and other diseases that affect the brain.

    Via: Gizmodo

    Source: PR Newswire

     

    Nokia N9 launched, touted as the world’s first pure touchscreen phone

    Gadgets Team
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    Nokia N9 launched, touted as the world’s first pure touchscreen phone

    Nokia has just unveiled the N9 smartphone at its yearly Connections event in Singapore. Dubbed as the world’s first “pure touchscreen phone” by the Finnish manufacturer, the N9 is powered by MeeGo 1.2, and does away with physical keys entirely, save for the volume rocker and camera shortcut key. This 3.9-inch slab of pure AMOLED screen goodness emphasizes three things: using apps, getting notifications and switching between different activities. Users unlock the phone by tapping on the screen twice, and there’s a strong emphasis on gestures when it comes to navigating the device.

    The device’s unibody construction and 116.45- x 61.2- x 7.6-12.1mm dimensions make it an extremely sexy device. Like most hi-end N devices that Nokia makes, the N9 has a very nice camera – it uses a 8MP auto focus camera with Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash and super wide 28mm lens to take pictures and video.

    Its hardware is pretty impressive too – ARM Cortex-A8 OMAP3630 1Ghz processor and a PowerVR SGX530 for graphics, aside from your typical 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless connectivity, Near Field Communication technology and 3.5mm jack for headphones. We’ve embedded a video of the device below to get you guys salivating.

    Source: Nokia Conversations

    And the winner is…

    Gadgets Team
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    And the winner is…

     

    Congratulations to Janus Paul Dela Cruz for being the lucky guy who won the Gainward GTX 560 Phantom! The Gainward GTX 560 phantom is an awesome videocard  that can play all the newest games seamlessly. Read our review here.

    Stay tuned for for more #GadgetsGiveaway items! We have so much in store for our loyal fans :D

    Pregnancy suit for men (and the curious)

    Gadgets Team
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    Pregnancy suit for men (and the curious)


    For expectant mothers, being pregnant may seem a rather lonely and isolating experience especially when the father can never fully understand, empathize, or appreciate the miracle (as well as the hardship) moving about and growing inside of them. But now, would-be fathers and even young girls who are simply curious can also share in mommy’s 9-month endeavor… all in just 2-minutes.

    Takuya Iwamoto from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology created a virtual pregnancy outfit that simulates the interior kicking and wriggling experienced by expectant mothers. It also has an interactive feature that shows the virtual fetus on a video screen responding when the wearer’s tummy is stroked. The dress can replicate the nine-month pregnancy experience in a span of two minutes. The tool simulates the weight, temperature, movement and heartbeat of a fetus.

    To mimic the fetus, it contains a 4-litre bag filled with warm water. Kicking movement is recreated with a lining of 45 balloons that expand and contract. It also has an interactive feature that shows the virtual fetus on a video screen responding when the wearer’s tummy is stroked.

    Source: Neatorama

    Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tabs launched; we go hands-on

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tabs launched; we go hands-on

    We’ve just come from the A-Venue hall in Makati for Samsung’s launch of the Galaxy S II. While we’ve seen the Galaxy S II several times before, this is the first time we’ve managed to hold and use the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9.

    The Galaxy S II is a 4.3-inch Android 2.3 smartphone that uses a dual-core 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor. The display is a Super AMOLED plus deal that’s extremely bright and nice to use. The Galaxy S II is slimmer than its predecessor clocking in at 8.49mm. Samsung’s touting the voice recognition tech that’s inside the Galaxy S II, but until we’ve used it ourselves (the venue was pretty noisy during the event, so testing it was a bit difficult) we’re going to remain skeptical . The whole thing is extremely responsive and quick, which to be honest isn’t much of a surprise – this is a Samsung device after all. And if Globe is to be believed, the Galaxy S II is able to use the telco’s newly minted HSPA+ network, meaning it’s able to surf the web significantly faster than current smartphones. Naturally, Samsung’s TouchWiz UI overlay makes an appearance, which isn’t surprising at this point.

    The Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9 is the company’s latest foray into the tablet scene. Both sport Android Honeycomb 3.1, and both uses dual-core NVIDIA Tegra processors.

    Samsung’s TouchWiz makes an appearance here, although at this point we’re not sure if an entirely new overlay, or just a new theme with a couple of widgets thrown in for good measure, though we’re leaning on the latter. The devices feel light without feeling cheap, and build quality is spot on.

    There will be keyboards available for both the 10.1 and the 8.9. Speaking of keyboards, there apparently will be two types – one is designed for your desk, while the other doubles as a nice carrying case.

    There’s a 3-megapixel camera on the back, along with a 2-megapixel camera on the front for some sweet, video chat action.

    We asked Samsung about their plans for an LTE offering of the Galaxy S II (there is a version of the S II for LTE out in the wild, after all) – alas the Samsung execs were pretty tight lipped about their partnership with Smart, though they haven’t ruled anything out.

    Try as we might, there’s still no official word on the prices of the Galaxy Tabs, or when it’s officially going to be available. The Samsung Galaxy S II is already heading to the hands of Globe customers and the unlocked, retail versions will retail for Php 29,990. Samsung is giving discounts to people who preorder the unit – hit up this link. Hopefully we’ll be able to snag units for our own review.

    Cinemagraphs: Pictures that [literally] move

    Gadgets Team
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    Cinemagraphs: Pictures that [literally] move

    A colleague of mine recently asked me to look at his desktop picture once. But he didn’t want me to just look at it (as I figured it was probably just another hot picture of Chuck Bass of Gossip Girl), he asked me to stare at it for awhile. And then, it moved. And I thought that was the coolest thing and strangest thing ever.

    Now they say that a picture can be worth a thousand words. But if the picture “moved,” perhaps it’s safe to say that that picture can be worth millions. NYC-based innovators Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg might have realized this themselves as they turn their fashion photography into what they’ve dubbed as “cinemagraphs.”

    Working with high-fashion names such as Tiffany’s and Christian Louboutin, Jamie and Kevin have created a whole new style of art for digital ads. By creating sensations in movement and subtlety, they are able to achieve and elicit a somewhat measure of awe and surprise that goes beyond the viewer’s first look.

    Source: Tumblr

    Panasonic unveils new MFT system

    Gadgets Team
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    Panasonic unveils new MFT system

     

    CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

    Gadgets Magazine is proud to be an invited guest to Panasonic Asia Pacific’s Lumix G Seminar. The upcoming micro system cameras, the G3 and GF3, were unveiled and we were able to experience its power and quality first-hand during our day one of our shooting tour.

    Stay tuned as more information will come. So far, we are absolutely amazed.

    Microsoft works with modders, offers unlocked WP7 via ChevronWP7 labs

    Gadgets Team
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    Microsoft works with modders, offers unlocked WP7 via ChevronWP7 labs

    Sony and Apple, listen up. This is how you score massive street cred with developers. Microsoft has thrown its weight to support ChevronWP7, group of programmers that essentially jailbreak Windows Phone 7, allowing other users to load homebrewed applications with Microsoft’s approval. The only cost is a minimal fee via PayPal. It comes as no surprise as Microsoft has traditionally been very accommodating with hackers and modders that play with their hardware, judging from the variety of Kinect hacks in the wild. Kudos to you, Microsoft.

    Source: ChevronWP7 labs

     

     

    Samsung is the Smart TV for Europe, so says consumer groups

    Gadgets Team
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    Samsung is the Smart TV for Europe, so says consumer groups

    Seems like consumer electronic giant Samsung has picked up another feather for their hat, as their Full HD 3D Smart TV has been chosen as the No.1 product by multiple consumer groups in Europe. Which?—the largest and most trusted consumer group in the UK, which has a circulation of  550,000 their Which? Magazine — posted the review results of 2011 TV models conducted between April and May, in which (haha, get it?) the Samsung 55-inch D8000 and 46-inch D7000 received 76 and 75 scores respectively, compared to other TVs that were only given scores in the 60 range. Meanwhile, a French consumer union, UFC (Union Federale des Consommateurs), highly commended Samsung TV’s top-class quality as well in its official consumer guide magazine, Que Choisir. Finally, Consumentenbond highly praised their Smart TV and 3D features, wide viewing angles, built-in HD tuner, ease of use, and functionality. Of course, Samsung was understandably stoked about the accolades. “It has a significant meaning that Samsung TV’s superiority is recognized by consumer groups in Europe where consumer interests are always put first,” said Ilkyung Simon Sung, Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics.

    Defiance blends PC and console MMO experience with TV show

    Gadgets Team
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    Defiance blends PC and console MMO experience with TV show

    The upcoming PC/console game Defiance is a mash-up of ideas. It’s a third person shooter MMO that will also come with it’s own TV show courtesy of SyFy. The whole thing is extremely ambitious, and we’re excited to see it all come together. Created in collaboration with the SyFy network, the idea is that events in the game will influence the show and vice-versa. Both the game and the TV show will be set in a post-apocalyptic version of earth, with the game itself being set in the city of San Francisco, while the show will take place in St. Louis. Arstechnica has the whole lowdown on the ambitious project, and the gamer in us really wants this project to take off and succeed. Read more about the game in the link below.

    Source: Arstechnica

    Father creates adventure game with daughter, is unbearably adorable

    Gadgets Team
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    Father creates adventure game with daughter, is unbearably adorable

    Here’s an awesome story to cap off your father’s day weekend – an indie game developer took his daughter to TOJam, a three-day Toronto independent game jam to make a game with him. The result was a cute adventure game called Sissy’s Magical Ponycorn Adventure. While the father, Ryan Henson Creighton did all the coding for the game, his daughter Cassie, wrote all the titles, and recorded the voice of the main character. She also designed some of the puzzles and created the NPCs for the game. Ryan actually talks about the whole creative process in his blog post, and to be hones it was pretty damn cool of him to do something like this for his daughter. I mean, don’t we all wish we could have made a game when we were five years old? We’ve linked the game below if you’d want to try it for yourself.

    Source: Untold Entertainment, Ponycorns.com

    PlayStation Chief: “no discussion of a next generation PlayStation for quite some time”

    Gadgets Team
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    PlayStation Chief: “no discussion of a next generation PlayStation for quite some time”

    It seems that the PS3 will have to soldier on before it’s successor is announced. In an interview with Forbes, Sony PlayStation head honcho Jack Tretton stated that gamers will not likely see the next iteration of the PlayStation. The PlayStation Chief says that “PlayStation 3 is really just hitting its stride. And technologically, I don’t think it’s possible to provide any advancement beyond what we have. What we’ve seen from the competition is trying to add features that already exist in PlayStation 3.” That last quip may have been directed at the Nintendo and the recently launched Wii U,which some believe will be more powerful than the existing PS3. He also adds that, “We invested heavily in that, we rolled a very heavy rock up a steep hill, through the launch period. But now I think that all pays off, and we’ve got a long run way behind it.”

    It’ll be interesting to see this play out, as Sony’s longtime console rival, Microsoft, is rumored to be planning to release the successor to the XBOX360 at next year’s E3.

    Source: Forbes

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