Chick-fil-A restaurant rolls out mobile payment app for customers
Chick-fil-A has rolled out mobile ordering and mobile payments, so customers can pay for meals without the need for cash or debit and credit cards. Once the free app has been downloaded, customers can preload funds, providing them with more flexibility. Mobile ordering allows customers to choose entrees, side items, sauces and beverages - with full customization allowed.
"This literally puts the ordering process in the customers' hands," said Khalilah Cooper, Chick-fil-A digital order strategy leader. "Mobile ordering is all about giving customers the flexibility and choice to order what they want, when they want it, and how they want it. It's perfect for any customer who is short on time, and it's also convenient for families with children who want to customize a large order and avoid standing in line at the front counter."
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The Samsung Gear VR headset is now available for $200
Samsung's Gear VR headset is now available for purchase in the US, for $199. The Gear VR had Samsung and Oculus VR, the makers of the Oculus Rift, collaborating together. One thing that the Gear VR does differently, is that it requires Samsung's flagship Galaxy Note 4 smartphone in order to work.
Last seen at IFA 2014, news outlets reported very positively of this new device besides the fact that it needs a Note 4 for operation. It's a little disappointing that you need to tie this up with another Samsung product for use, especially when compared with the Oculus or 3D HEAD that are both said to be operable without any added features.
What are your initial thoughts on Samsung's new VR technology? Does the need for a Note 4 add-on ruin any chances of you testing this product out, or are you happy to make the switch just to be able to use this highly-regarded VR device?
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Logitech unveils the new Graffiti Fetish Edition UE BOOM speaker
Logitech has just unveiled the latest member in its ever-growing UE BOOM range of portable speakers, the new Graffiti Fetish Edition UE BOOM. This is the fifth version of the UE BOOM where Logitech has collaborated with artists for a custom-look on its speaker.
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Google offers $20 Play Store credit and Hulu+ with Chromecast
Still not sure whether you should take the plunge into the wide world of Chromecast or not? In a bid to tip you over the edge, Google are offering up $20 of Play Store credit with every purchase of their device.
This special is only available between the 7th and 21st of December and select major retailers. Alongside this, Google are said to be providing two full months of Hulu+ with the Chromecast purchase, which is valued at $14. Doing the simple math shows that you're getting $34 worth of 'freebies' for a $32 Chromecast purchase - if you're likely to be a heavy user of his device, now is the time to pounce.
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Vimeo now lets you download 4K videos, but you can't stream them
4K is where it's at when it comes to the ultimate in video resolution, with Vimeo standing right on the edge of Ultra HD with its latest announcement.
This is why the company is now letting you download the videos, but not stream them just yet. It's better than nothing though, right?
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Fly high in our Planes: Fire and Rescue Blu-ray giveaway
Christmas is nearly upon us, but what to get for the littlest members of the family? Thanks to our friends at Disney Home Entertainment, we have three copies of Disney's 'Planes: Fire and Rescue' to giveaway which would be a great stocking stuffer this holiday season.
The heart-pumping comedy-adventure features a dynamic crew of elite aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from raging wildfires. When world-famous air racer Dusty learns that he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting. Dusty joins forces with a team of veteran firefighters; together, they battle a massive fire, and Dusty learns what it takes to be a true hero.
Name the 'Planes: Fire and Rescue' voice artist who also starred in 1996's 'The Rock'.
To enter, simply 'like' this post and share via Facebook or Twitter and send your answers, along with your postal address to ben at TweakTown dot com before the competition closes on December 13.
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Elite: Dangerous played on 3D screens, touch panels and head tracking
Markus Boesen has built himself a dream PC gaming setup, the kind that you see on fan websites photo-shopped up as someones dream. Set to provide himself with the best gaming experience possible, Boesen has taken these ideas and brought them to reality.
Elite: Dangerous is the current game of choice, giving a full life-like experience to the gamer - thanks to all of the extras that have been added. The only thing missing here is a seat that pivots and turns with the game play action, but I daresay that it might start to make you sick.
We'll link you another video below, alongside a picture of his amazing setup. There's nothing else to say other than - enjoy!
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Freescale promises 15W of wireless charging technology for devices
Freescale Semiconductor is teasing some very impressive next-gen wireless charging technology, which is capable of delivering up to three times the power that current wireless charging standards provide.
Freescale's 15W wireless charging solution will be made available in Q1 2015, but it will be up to device manufacturers whether they support Freescale solutions in their upcoming products.
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The Apple iPod Classic is now becoming an expensive collector item
A few months ago, Apple had sneakily removed their Apple iPod Classic devices off their online stores - bringing a silent end to its longstanding history and reign as the first legitimately useful flash portable music listening device.
Confirmed by CEO Steve Cook as "a declining business" the iPod Classic saw a swift removal from all online portals. But now they're becoming a bit of a rarity, seeing fans paying up to four times the originally listed price. This is said to be not only just due to their limited nature, but the capacity that they hold.
Providing up to double the size of current iPod models, don't be surprised to see the 160GB classic listed on Amazon for as high as $1,000. We've seen reports that even the refurbished editions of these devices are being auctioned off for $350 - mirroring the brand new release pricing for these devices.
Could this be some 14 year old in their mums basement rattling off credit-card purchased iPod's in a box? Likely so. Don't get us wrong, we'd possibly do it too if we had the foresight. Will we see Apple bring back their Classic officially to have a hand in this money making? It's not likely.
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Growing reliance on smartphones, tablets over PCs, laptops
The shift from desktop PCs and laptops to smartphones and tablets isn't necessarily new, and will only continue in the future. More than 50 percent of users will turn to their smartphone or tablet for online activity instead of a laptop or PC, according to the Gartner research group.
"The use pattern that has emerged for nearly all consumers [including workers], based on device accessibility, is the smartphone first as a device that is carried when mobile, followed by the tablet that is used in longer sessions, with the PC increasingly reserved for more complex tasks," said Van Baker, Gartner research vice president.
It's an ironic time for the report, because the PC industry - which has been in a downward spiral - has saw shipment decline slowdown in recent quarters.
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Live video broadcasting to be new 'selfie' by 2017, Gartner predicts
The use of live video broadcasting could potentially transition itself to become the new "selfie" by 2017, according to the Gartner research group. Business workers and home users will transition from traditional static photos to video, and live video will become even more popular. It's not uncommon for workers to use Skype, Microsoft Lync, and other services to conduct video calls and conferences - and that trend should only accelerate further.
Live video technology will become more accessible and will become commonly used on smartphones and tablets to desktop applications used for customer support services.
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Marvell releases world's first DRAM-less NVMe SSD controller
The keys to the future of SSDs revolve around the NVMe interface, TLC NAND, 3D NAND, and low power consumption. The 88NV1140 supports both NVMe 1.1b and AHCI through a x1 PCIe 3.0 interface. The controller supports TLC NAND and 3D NAND, along with other types of NAND. This new controller is targeted for the mobile market, such as Chromebooks, laptops, and 2-in-1 devices.
Both controllers are built on a 28nm process and come in a 8x8mm package, allowing for ultra-dense applications such as M.2 2230 designs (30 mm in length). Both controllers use Marvell's NANDEdge LDPC error correction to boost longevity, and it supports 15/16nm TLC and 3D NAND. The controllers have already passed strenuous in-house validation and third-party operating system and platform compatibility testing. The new controllers support development of NVMe BGA or SATA BGA SSDs running on embedded SRAM through multiple-chip-package integration with NAND.
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Sony's hacking woes increase as PlayStation store suffers attack
Things just don't seem to be getting better for Sony. Hot on the heels of a shocking data theft at Sony Pictures, a new attack occurred today on the PlayStation store. Suspicions are centered around North Korea for the Sony Pictures hack, and the custom malware designed for that hack is now on the loose, threatening the world at large with a devastating over-write malware.
Lizard Squad also claimed responsibility for a recent attack on the PlayStation network earlier this year. This attack was another denial-of-service attack that shuttered the large PlayStation network. The PlayStation network has been the constant target of attacks, in 2011 more than 70 million user accounts were compromised, and the associated data was stolen. Sony has since invested an untold amount of money on reducing their vulnerabilities, but from the looks of it that effort isn't going well.
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New Google Glass patents reveal four new slim designs
The initial Google Glass model was loved by all for its functionality and refreshing new take on mobile computing, but many also complained about the clunky design and poor battery life. The original version was more of a proof-of-concept design than anything, and technological advances are already in the works. The slim new design eliminates most of the sidebar and the box that hangs behind the ear.
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Ralf Baer 'the father of video games' passes away, aged 92
Ralf Baer was the driving force behind the development of the first commercial gaming console as a lead engineer and inventor, he passed away today aged 92 years.
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Under the wing of Sanders Associates Inc. Baer worked on the first concepts for a device that would allow consumers to play a video game on their home television, working with his colleagues Bill Harrison and Bill Rusch. Baer spearheaded prototypes of his device throughout 1967 until 1969, producing the "Brown Box" - a product designed to allow players to play ping-pong and shoot targets with a hand-held pistol. Later released as the Odyssey in 1972, Baer sold his license to Magnavox and a legend was born.
Said to hold more than 150 U.S. and foreign patents, Baer also worked on the games Simon, Maniac and Computer perfection. All of this came about after his service to the U.S. Army throughout World War II and a long-standing career in Sanders Associates - joining in 1956 as a staff engineer to manage the equipment design division.
Baer's prototypes were donated in 2006 to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, seeing him later receive the National Medal of Technology for his previous creations - truly a legend indeed.
We tip our hat to you today Ralf Baer and out thoughts are with your family.
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Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 3D V-NAND SSD Review
Introduction
New flash is paired with the new controller. The 850 EVO uses the same 3D V-NAND technology that first appeared in the 850 Pro, at least on the consumer SSD side. You can find a detailed overview of Samsung's 32-layer vertically stacked NAND in this article. What makes the 850 EVO's V-NAND different from the 850 Pro's V-NAND is the number of bits held in each cell. The 850 EVO stores three bits per cell, one more bit than the 850 Pro's two bits per cell. Of course, what we are talking about is the difference between multi-level cell (MLC), and triple-level cell (TLC) technology.
Specifications, Pricing, and Availability
Samsung's product specifications show us that the 250GB 850 EVO is capable of delivering up to 540 MB/s sequential read and 520 MB/s sequential write speeds. 4K random read performance is quoted at 97K IOPS, and 4K random write performance is up to 88K IOPS. Samsung is one of the few SSD makers unafraid of publishing random read QD1 performance data. With over 10K random read IOPS at QD1, we are not surprised since this is the tipping point that separates good SSDs from great SSDs.
The random write performance also changes slightly in and out of TurboWrite. Inside the buffer zone, the 850 EVO 250GB writes 4K random data at 88K IOPS. Once the buffer is full, and the drive is forced to write to the TLC area of the flash, the performance drops to 70K IOPS.
All 850 EVO capacities support AES 256-bit full disk encryption, and work with eDrive, Waves, and other SED software suites. The 850 EVO also supports DEVSLP, a technology that lowers power consumption when the drive is idle, and increases notebook battery life. RAPID Mode also gets an update, and Samsung tells us to look for a near 2x performance increase in Windows start up, and application loading. Magician will update to version 4.5. You can see an overview of Magician 4.4 here. Samsung also includes Data Migration software that allows users to clone an existing drive to a Samsung SSD easily and quickly.
... Read the rest in your browser!
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Dragon Age: Inquisition Xbox One Game Review
The game begins with the peace between the Magi and Templar factions being shattered by a large explosion which takes out members of the chantry who had brokered the peace deal. The land of Thedas is again on the verge of civil war with those who seek revenge and / or power able to now execute their plans. You play a Herald, a chosen character who builds a team of warriors known as the 'Inquisition'. Who you add to your party is entirely up to you and decisions you make directly affect this world as you play through the game with a number of crucial decision points present throughout.
When it comes to the gameplay as per most Bioware games, there are primarily three sections; combat, narrative, and overall universe management. This is very much a game that mixes the combat up with some interesting narrative sections to play through. For example, without spoiling too much, there is a section where you need to perform a dance to impress a royal family. At times, when you think the combat is dragging on a bit, Bioware mixes it up with something new. Along with this, there is also a War Council that you need to convince to explore new areas, take on new missions, and find new mission objectives. To do this, you gain power by completing side quests or performing particularly well in conversation with key NPCs.
The combat itself can be played in two modes; either real-time or in a more tactical view. Which mode you take on is of course personal preference, but there are times in the game where the challenge is such that the tactical view becomes a must. In the tactical view, you can give commands to your non-player controlled characters (you can switch to these characters whilst the gameplay is frozen) that can lead to more co-ordinated attacks.
In the real-time mode, you can also do this, but it's a bit more frantic with less time to think. This is one area where Bioware has managed to meld the best of each of the previous games into something that should please everyone. One thing which really frustrated us and in some ways made no sense was the inability to get to the manage character screen during combat to change weapons - a small thing, but frustrating nonetheless.
The world the game is set in is massive. There are numerous areas to explore and more are found when performing tasks with the War Council. The opening area, the Hinterlands, has enough content for around ten hours of gameplay and that represents only a small area of the game. You will visit huge castles, forests, snow covered areas, and others before the epic story of the game wraps up. This is a game that if you do not rush, will take you around fifty to sixty hours to complete. And aside from the opening section if you get bored in one area, there will generally be many others to explore, gaining power and building the prestige of the Inquisition.
The game also features multiplayer, and as you would expect, it's quite a bit different to the single player mode. Played with friends via co-op, the multiplayer mode puts a number of limitations on you as a character to ensure that you need to work together as a team for success. For example, you will have limited access to weapons and potions, and along with this, you can only succumb to the enemy three times before its game over - in single player, other NPC characters can revive you.
PRICING: You can find Dragon Age Inquisition - Xbox One for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: Dragon Age Inquisition - Xbox One retails for $59.99 at Amazon.
Canada: Dragon Age Inquisition - Xbox One retails for CDN$67.99 at Amazon Canada.
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