Noctua IndustrialPPC and Redux Fan Roundup Review
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Cooler Master Hyper D92 Review
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After a Tough Quarter, AMD Plans to Lay Off Over 700 Employees
Things are not looking too good for AMD right about now. The company has a new CEO, Lisa Su, but she's already facing a tough decision due to AMD's recent market struggles. Overall revenue dropped 2% from last year, but the Computer and Graphics division saw revenue drop 16% in the same time. That division also saw an operating loss of $17 million, which is a fair bit more than the $6 million loss in the last quarter. The news isn't all bad for AMD, however, as its Enterprise, Embedded, and Semi-Custom division saw a revenue increase of 21%. Still, as a result of all this, AMD is restructuring and laying off 710 employees worldwide; roughly a 7% reduction in workforce. There's no telling if the layoffs will affect people across all divisions or only certain ones (or just one), but hopefully it can help get AMD back on track. It's never easy seeing so many people lose their jobs, and probably is not how the new CEO wanted to kick off her rule.
Source: Bright Side of News
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Giant Killer Robots and Ancient Tentacled Creatures Battle it Out in Uber Entertainment's Human ...
After a highly successful Kickstarter campaign came to an end on September 14, 2012, Planetary Annihilation exited Steam Early Access and officially launched on September 5, 2014. Now developer Uber Entertainment is back on Kickstarter with yet another real-time strategy game, but one that bears little resemblance to Planetary Annihilation, except maybe the robots. Human Resources is a real-time strategy game exclusively for PC "that puts you in command of apocalyptic factions vying to conquer the drifting remains of a shattered Earth." Those factions include ancient squid monsters from another dimension and giant killer robots. There's no human faction because, well, they're your resource.
The story behind Human Resources is quite unique. As the human race is wont to do in any sci-fi story, they are responsible for the apocalypse that has befallen them. It all began when newly-sentient automated factories started churning out waves of giant robots known as Machines, hell-bent on dismantling and recylcing all of mankind. In a last-ditch effort to save themselves from the Machines, humans decide to invoke the tentacled Ancient Ones. What could possibly go wrong? Oh wait, I know – the Ancient Ones now compete with the Machines to consume the last remains of Earth. It's a lose-lose situation for mankind. Don't think that these will be the only two factions in the game though – Uber plans on adding more asymmetric factions based on community feedback during development.
While the premise alone sounds pretty sweet, I think I'm actually more impressed by the game's visual style. This may be a post-apocalyptic game, but it's as far from gray and drab as can be. Using a unique cel-shaded, comic-style aesthetic, Human Resources is colorful and gorgeous.
Uber Entertainment is seeking $1,400,000 in its Kickstarter Campaign, which is actually $500,000 more than the initial goal for Planetary Annihilation, but still shy of its eventual pull of $2.2+ million. According to Uber, the higher goal is simply because Human Resources requires a lot more content – "more animation, more effects, more organic art, more everything!" And for those Planetary Annihilation fans who may be worried that Uber is moving on from that game, no need to fret – Human Resources is being built by a separate team than the one that is currently working on and will continue to work on Planetary Annihilation.
If you're interested in backing Human Resources, the lowest tier is a mere $20. Beta access can be had at the $40 tier, which also comes with $50 in-game credit for Uber's Super Monday Night Combat. Alpha access requires a mininum pledge of $90, but not only comes with that same SMNC in-game credit, but also a copy of Planetery Annihilation. If you're interested in various physical rewards, you'll have to fork over a minimum of $125, with Uber's reasoning being that fulfillment and shipping costs would be too cost prohibitive below that point. Of course, there are several other tiers in-between and after, so check out the Kickstarter page below to find one that best suits your desires. The Kickstarter Campaign ends on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at 4:00PM EDT. It's still over $1 million away from its goal, so get cracking and help spread the word!
Source: Kickstarter
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Microsoft Announces Halo: Spartan Strike, Exclusively for Windows 8 Devices on December 12
Microsoft Studios and 343 Industries, in conjunction with Vanguard Games, have announced top-down shooter Halo: Spartan Strike, the spiritual successor to Halo: Spartan Assault. The game takes place during the events of Halo 2, but features "an all-new story that will take you from New Mobasa on Earth to the enigmatic Gamma Halo located at the edge of charted space." During the game's 30 challenging missions, you'll get to use new weapons (Suppressor, Scatter Shot, Binary Rifle, and Incineration Cannon) and new armor abilities (Proximity Mine, Bubble Shield, Teleport, Shock Chain, and Airstrike), as well as drive various vehicles, like the iconic Warthog. There will also be weekly challenges with leaderboards, and players can earn Xbox achievements that unlock content for Xbox One's upcoming Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
Source: Press Release and Xbox News
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webOS Support to End Next Year
Hewlett-Packard has announced plans to end support for webOS cloud services on January 15, 2015 as "the user count has dwindled to the point where it is no longer viable to keep the services running." The end of support won't cause webOS powered devices to stop working, but will disable several device features including cloud backup. Users will also be prevented from new app purchases through the HP App Catalog, and only apps purchased by November 1 will be available for download up to the shutdown date. Another key feature that will no longer be available is password recovery and HP is encouraging users to keep their passwords "in a safe location or turn off the device locking function."
Source: IGN
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New Magnetic Mirror Created
Mirrors are fairly common and useful objects, but do you know how they work? When light, electromagnetic radiation strikes a mirror, it interacts with the electrical component, causing the reflection to have the reverse electric field. Though not possible naturally, metamaterials can allow for magnetic mirrors that reflect the magnetic component, and, as reported in The Optical Society's Optica journal, a new design has been developed.
The reason metamaterials are required for a magnetic mirror has to do with the fact that magnetic fields interact with charged particles, but light has no charge. The first metamaterials to achieve magnetic mirroring only worked on long microwave frequencies. More recent designs using 'fish-scale' shaped metallic components allow for shorter wavelengths, but have considerable signal loss and are very dependent on the components' particular shapes. The new design addresses these issues by using a 2D array of non-metallic dielectric resonators. These resonators interact strongly with the magnetic component of light and, being made out of tellurium, have a low signal loss compared to their metallic counterparts.
Among the reasons magnetic mirrors would be useful is that traditional mirrors reversing the electric components of light, causes that component to cancel out, at the surface. This prevents nanoscale antennas and quantum dots from interacting with the light. By preserving the electric component, a magnetic mirror would allow for the maximum absorption of the light, and new technologies.
Source: The Optical Society
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Rdio Converts Its Music Library to AAC
Rdio, an online music service that is currently available in 60 countries across the world, has converted its entire music library to AAC. The file format is generally more data efficient and offers better sound quality than a MP3 digital music file, and is available immediately through the audio quality settings menu within Rdio. In addition, the online music service now offers 320kbps streaming across web, Android, and iOS applications. Rdio previously defaulted to 96kbps MP3 streaming, but users can now choose streaming bitrates of 64kbps, 96kbps, and 320kbps, though Rdio Unlimited subscribers are the only ones who can access the 320kbps streaming bitrate.
This news comes roughly six months after Rdio announced a joint venture with Bob Weir that was aimed at improving audio quality while sparking discussions about the unfairness of streaming audio quality.
Source: CNET
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CBS Launches Its Own Digital Subscription Service
CBS is looking to steal market share from other video streaming services, as it has just launched its own digital subscription service known as CBS All Access. The new service offers on demand video and live streaming content that consists of CBS Television's current lineup, previous seasons, and classic shows. Primetime shows will be available the day after they air, and past seasons and more than 5,000 episodes of CBS Classics are available on demand. Users of CBS All Access can also stream local CBS Television stations live in 14 of the largest United States markets. President and CEO of CBS Corporation, Leslie Moonves, noted that "CBS All Access is another key step in the Company's long-standing strategy of monetizing our local and national content in the ways that viewers want it."
CBS All Access currently costs $5.99 per month and can be accessed through the CBS website and through the CBS App, which is available on Android and iOS devices.
Source: CBS News
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Google Play Games Now Supports Nearby Multiplayer
Google has publically revealed through a tweet on its official Android Developers account that Google Play Games now supports Nearby Multiplayer. The technology enables two players to be synced together within the same game as long as they are physically near one another. Support for Nearby Multiplayer allows developers to create local competitive and cooperative experiences between two Android players that are close by each other, paving the way for mobile games to plant themselves as substantial offerings in the video game market. The feature is built into the Google Play Games API and is immediately available to developers who wish to take advantage of it.
Source: TechHive
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Free-to-Play Mobile Strategy-TD Hybrid The Bod Squad: Puzzle Battles Now Available
Ubisoft has officially launched The Bot Squad: Puzzle Battles, a free-to-play strategy, tower defense hybrid for iOS and Android devices. The game features both offensive and defensive levels, with offense requiring you to maneuver your robot units around traps and blockers, while defense plays out like your typical tower defense game. There are dozens of robots to check out and you can level them up to build a stronger army. At launch, the game features a whopping 180 stages to complete, while Ubisoft has said post-launch support will continuously add additional stages, along with more puzzle modes and units.
Source: UbiBlog
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World's Thinnest Electric Generator Created
More many modern technologies, thin is in, but this example may be a bit extreme. Researchers at Columbia University and the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered a 2D material that exhibits the piezoelectric effect. This effect links mechanical deformation to the creation of electrical voltages.
Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is part of a family of materials known as transition metal dichalcogenides, which are 2D semiconductors. In theory, they can all be piezoelectric because they all break central symmetry, but this is the first time one has been successfully tested. While MoS2 did demonstrate the effect though, it does not always. As a bulk material, it does not, but even when working with atomically-thin sheets, it does not always. There must be an odd number of layers to generate any electricity, because with an even number the layers' output voltages will actually cancel each other out. Also electricity was only generated when the material was deformed in a specific direction.
Even with all of these conditions, this is still an important discovery, as it suggests other piezoelectric materials that can be just atoms thick. Being so thin, the materials will be naturally flexible, making it possible to use these generators to power wearable devices.
Source: Columbia University
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Latest PlayStation 4 Firmware Adds Exciting New Features
System software update 2.0, the latest firmware for the PlayStation 4, is set to bring exciting new features to owners of the Sony video gaming console. Firmware version 2.0 will offer a redesigned content area, improved filter and sort functions within the library, enhanced voice commands, the ability to change the background color of the home screen, and an 'Add to Library' button that allows games to be added to a player’s library without downloading them. The latest system software update will also usher in a USB music player, live broadcasting enhancements, SharePlay and YouTube support, additional themes, and a friend suggesting feature known as Players You May Know.
Scott McCarthy, the director of product planning and software innovation at Sony Computer Entertainment America, has revealed that more features surrounding version 2.0 of the PlayStation 4 firmware, which will be released this fall, have yet to be announced.
Source: PlayStation Blog
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Killing Floor Receives Halloween Horror Update
The yearly Halloween event for Killing Floor is Halloween Horror and is now available to play on Steam. Two new maps, Club Clandestine and Devil's Dollhouse, will be available and are filled with Halloween themed Zeds, including the new Toy Master mod. Players will be able to earn new achievements as well as achievements from previous Halloween events. Tripwire will be offering a number of special DLC bundles and will also offer reduced prices on all DLC. Killing Floor is free to play for the weekend as part of the Steam Free Weekend Weekend and is also on sale for $4.99.
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Google Applies for Wireless Spectrum Testing
Google has submitted an application to the US Federal Communications Commission to conduct tests in California across a number of wireless frequencies. One of the frequencies is a "rarely-used millimetre frequency capable of transmitting large amounts of data," and could potentially be used as a wireless extension of the Google Fiber service. Is was not revealed exactly what the tests would be for, but this is a logical explanation according to some experts. Wireless engineer and consultant Stephen Crowley said, "You could look at it as a possible wireless extension of their Google Fiber wireless network, as a way to more economically serve homes. Put up a pole in a neighbourhood, instead of having to run fibre to each home."
Source: Reuters
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Meet the Cast of Assassin's Creed Unity
Ubisoft has posted a new video for Assassin's Creed Unity that introduces us to the various characters in the game and their voice actors. In order of appearance, there's Dan Jeanotte as protagonist Arno Dorian, Catherine Bérubé as Elise de la Serre, Alex Ivanovici as Marquis de Sade, Brent Skagford as Napoleon Bonaparte, and Bruce Dinsmore as Maximilien de Robespierre.
Source: Press Release and UbiBlog
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