Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Confirmed by Ubisoft

Ubisoft has confirmed to IGN the title of the next Assassin's Creed game.

A purported GameStop reservation placeholder card for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood has been leaked early by an employee. Ubisoft said the image below is authentic and that they'll have more information next week.

The game will be released this fall for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The details listed on the back of the card align with what Ubisoft has already confirmed, such as the inclusion of Ezio and the location, Rome.

"Live and breathe as Ezio, now a legendary master assassin, in his struggle against the Templar order. Lead your own brotherhood of Assassins and strike at the heart of the enemy. Rome," the card says, according to Kotaku.

"And for the first time, take part in an innovative multiplayer layer allowing you to embody an assassin of your choosing and define their killing style. A never-before-seen online multiplayer experience. Lead your own brotherhood of assassins, as Ezio, and conquer Rome."

Pre-ordering the game at GameStop will give you an exclusive multiplayer character. No details on who that might be. It's expected Ubisoft will announce its fiscal quarterly results later this month.


Via IGN

Mass Effect 2 Announced

We all knew this was coming ever since we got to know that BioWare decided to give Mass Effect the trilogy treatment but now it’s official and here’s what you can expect from this upcoming sci-fi action RPG:

In this dark second chapter, Saren’s evil army of Geth soldiers has just been defeated, and humans, still struggling to make their mark on the galactic stage, are now faced with an even greater peril...
Information seems a bit scarce right now but you can head on over to the official site for a teaser trailer.
Mass Effect 2 will release for the Xbox360 and PC in 2010

Cisco to Buy Maker of Flip Video for $590M

Cisco Systems Inc. said Thursday it plans to buy Pure Digital, the company behind the popular Flip Video camcorder, for about $590 million in stock.

The deal is part of Cisco's aggressive expansion beyond its core business of making computer networking gear. On Monday, the San Jose, California-based company announced that it would start selling servers for the first time, to compete for a broader share of the money that big organizations spend on the "data centers" that run their computing operations.
Like several other technology companies, Cisco has a large cash hoard - $29.5 billion in its last quarterly update - and is well set to expand during the recession. Chief Executive John Chambers has said a weak economy is an opportunity to invest.
"The acquisition of Pure Digital is key to Cisco's strategy to expand our momentum in the media-enabled home and to capture the consumer market transition to visual networking," said Ned Hooper, senior vice president of Cisco's Corporate Development and Consumer Groups, in a statement.
For San Francisco-based Pure Digital Technologies Inc., the acquisition is a big payday. The privately held company sold its first camera less than two years ago, quickly drawing accolades for its ease of use. A signature feature of the Flip Video is that a USB connector flips out of the case, letting the user connect the camera directly to a computer. Editing software contained on the camera then starts up on the computer.
Pure Digital said it has sold more than 2 million cameras. They cost between $130 and $230.
The deal is expected to close in Cisco's fiscal fourth quarter, which ends in July. Pure Digital's chairman and CEO, Jonathan Kaplan, will become the head of Cisco's Consumer Business Group, which mainly sells under the Linksys brand. Home routers are its main products, but it also launched a wireless home audio system this year.
Investors in Pure Digital have included Sequoia Capital, Benchmark Capital, Focus Ventures, Crescendo Ventures, Steamboat Ventures, VantagePoint Venture Partners, Samsung Ventures, AllianceBernstein L.P., Morgan Stanley Principal Investments and Heights Capital Management Inc.
As part of the deal, Cisco says it will also provide up to $15 million in stock incentives for Pure Digital employees who stay with the company

Microsoft: Lots to turn off in Windows 7

Microsoft noted that, with Windows 7, customers will have the option of disabling a number of features of the operating system, should they so choose.Testers had noticed that users of recent Windows 7 builds could turn off the Web browser, in addition to many other things that were already part of a “Windows Features” dialog box. However, in its blog, Microsoft noted that there are a number of things that users could not turn off in Windows Vista, but will be able to in the final version of Windows 7. Among the new options, users will now be able to turn off things such as Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, Windows Search, the XPS Viewer and several others.

“If a feature is deselected, it is not available for use,” Microsoft said in the blog. “This means the files (binaries and data) are not loaded by the operating system (for security-conscious customers) and not available to users on the computer. These same files are staged so that the features can easily be added back to the running OS without additional media. This staging is important feedback we have received from customers who definitely do not like to dig up the installation DVD.”

Microsoft declined to comment on what role, if any, antitrust and regulatory issues played in the decision to expand the number of Windows components that can be disabled. However, a number of the programs on the list are things that have drawn regulatory ire, such as the browser and media player, as well as the XPS technology which has been seen as a rival to Adobe’s PDF.

With Windows 7, Microsoft has also stripped several programs out of the operating system entirely. The photo gallery, e-mail, and movie-making programs that had been part of Windows will now be available only as separate Windows Live downloads. With Windows Vista, Microsoft included a version in the operating system, but then offered for download an optional Windows Live service-connected version.

Source: cnet

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Google Updates Chrome to Boost Speeds

Google released a new version of its Chrome Web browser on Tuesday, as the search giant continues its efforts to get a foothold in a market dominated by Microsoft Corp.
The new Chrome represents the first major update of the software aimed at the general public since Google entered the browser business six months ago. It offers Web surfers faster performance and a handful of new features, such as auto-filling of personal information on online forms and a new way for users to drag around tabs of different Web pages within the browser window.
Google was a distant No. 4 in the browser market, with 1.2 percent share of the worldwide market in February, according to market research firm Net Applications. Microsoft's Internet Explorer dominates the market, with a 67. 4 percent market share in February, while the Mozilla foundation's Firefox browser had a roughly 22 percent share. Apple's Safari browser had an 8 percent share. Last month, Google officially joined the European Union's antitrust case against Microsoft, describing the browser market as "largely uncompetitive." The EU has charged Microsoft with abusing its dominant market position by bundling its Internet Explorer Web browser with its Windows personal computer operating system.
According to a post on Google's blog on Tuesday, the new Chrome beta loads certain types of Web pages 25 percent to 35 percent faster than the current version of the browser. The new features were previously available to programmers using the "developer" version of Chrome, but Google has now packaged all the updates together into a more reliable beta test version that is available for download. Google also has a more polished, so-called stable version of Chrome, based on the older beta version.

Microsoft: Lots to turn off in Windows 7

Microsoft noted that, with Windows 7, customers will have the option of disabling a number of features of the operating system, should they so choose.Testers had noticed that users of recent Windows 7 builds could turn off the Web browser, in addition to many other things that were already part of a “Windows Features” dialog box. However, in its blog, Microsoft noted that there are a number of things that users could not turn off in Windows Vista, but will be able to in the final version of Windows 7. Among the new options, users will now be able to turn off things such as Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, Windows Search, the XPS Viewer and several others.

“If a feature is deselected, it is not available for use,” Microsoft said in the blog. “This means the files (binaries and data) are not loaded by the operating system (for security-conscious customers) and not available to users on the computer. These same files are staged so that the features can easily be added back to the running OS without additional media. This staging is important feedback we have received from customers who definitely do not like to dig up the installation DVD.”

Microsoft declined to comment on what role, if any, antitrust and regulatory issues played in the decision to expand the number of Windows components that can be disabled. However, a number of the programs on the list are things that have drawn regulatory ire, such as the browser and media player, as well as the XPS technology which has been seen as a rival to Adobe’s PDF.

With Windows 7, Microsoft has also stripped several programs out of the operating system entirely. The photo gallery, e-mail, and movie-making programs that had been part of Windows will now be available only as separate Windows Live downloads. With Windows Vista, Microsoft included a version in the operating system, but then offered for download an optional Windows Live service-connected version.

Source: cnet

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Plantronics Voyager 855 Stereo BT Headset

It’s been a while since a Plantronics Bluetooth headset made its way to our test tables. Plantronics Voyager 855, their Stereo Bluetooth headset that won Bluetooth SIG’s (Special Interest Group) Best of CES last year, is what I tested recently and here’s my opinion on whether or not it’s worth its hefty price tag of Rs. 6, 799.
Form Factor
The 855 is very unlike most A2DP headsets that I’ve tested so far at least when it comes to its design. It can be used as just a singular, regular Bluetooth handsfree by simply replacing the over-the-ear earpiece connector with a regular loop. The loop connector connect to the secondary earpiece via a thin cable that’s encased in a fine cord for protection and durability thereby providing a stereo effect.

On the main earpiece is a micro USB port for charging (can be charged via PC as well). A small Mute button, volume keys and of course, the main Answer key that doubles up as the power/pairing button are present. The earpiece itself is sleek and slim with a smooth slide out feature that extends the mic and can also be used to answer and end calls.
I’m not at all a fan of the in-ear earphones. They make me disoriented and frankly, as Gagan put it and I agreed, are like a ‘violation’ of my ears, if you get my meaning. The design is however very innovative and will be perfect for those users who don’t mind the vacuum and are used to the in-ear styling. 

Performance
The Voyager is extremely easy to pair with Plantronics QuickPair technology. Then again I haven’t found a headset that was a problem when it came to pairing with any supported device. Once it’s paired with a mobile handset or a player that supports a Stereo Bluetooth profile you’re ready to get started.
Calls
Like I said, I’m not personally a fan of the in-ear design but I had a few friends who wore it to give me some feedback. The consensus was that the loop was a minor issue with most of them who had smaller ears as compared to those with average or larger ears. You can’t win ‘em all. On an average the headset was fairly comfortable to use and since it weighs in at just 15 grams, it’s not a weight you can’t bear even for long durations.

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Website For The Blind Launched in Delhi

A website to create awareness among the blind and people with low vision has been launched in Delhi. The NGO, which took the initiative, claims that the portal is the first of its kind in the country.
The website www.eyeway.org provides information on eye disorders, services, education, rehabilitation, parenting, legal provisions, recreation and career guidance to the blind people.
"The website has been specially designed to create awareness among the visually-impaired people on issues related to them. The problem with the blind people is not their blindness, but the thinking and attitude of their families, the society and of themselves," said George Abraham, head of the NGO Score Foundation, during the launch of the website here Wednesday.
The portal is dynamic and has special accessibility features such as choice of background, font colour, text only options and dynamic search functions. It has three sections - informs, inspires and includes, for the wholesome information requirements of the blind.
The website enables the user to navigate with the help of magnification and talking software. The software has been bought at a cost of $800 from the US.
"We are continuously researching for information that is inspirational and empowering visually impaired people, besides looking for opportunities of reaching out to more and more people," said Abraham, who is also the chairman of Association for Cricket for the Blind in India.
The NGO also runs a radio program in Hindi, which is broadcast from 30 stations of All India Radio. There is also a helpdesk at the foundation that receives calls related to various issues that concern the blind people.
There are over 16 million blind people in the country and a further 28 million are with low vision.

Cover Flow won't show in Safari 4 sans DirectX

As those of you with older PCs may have noticed the hard way, some of the new features in Apple's Safari 4 beta for Windows require a graphics card with at least 64MB of on-board RAM that supports at least DirectX 9. This makes it the first browser I've heard of with an explicit graphics card requirement, but is this really a big deal?



Missing from next to the Bookmark icon is the toggle for Top Sites.

(Credit: Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)

DirectX 9 has been around since 2004, and you can pick up a card for your desktop that supports it for around 20 bucks. This isn't quite analogous to Windows requiring a massive hardware upgrade for Vista, although it is definitely annoying.

What is strange is that Cover Flow on iTunes will work on these older machines, including the main Windows XP computer I use at work. The graphics card is older, yet, as you can see in the screenshots, Cover Flow works in iTunes and doesn't in Safari 4. This leads to my other complaint about the beta: Safari offers no notification when your graphics card is not compliant. Top Sites and Cover Flow merely don't appear. So if the browser must require an upgrade, when iTunes doesn't, the least Apple could do is include some kind of warning.

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Facebook Lets Users Comment On New Terms of Service

Facebook Inc is asking its members to help shape its governance policies after drawing their ire for a policy change that many perceived as being overbearing and potentially compromising privacy.
From now on, the social networking site will be guided by a set of principles that reflect its dedication to transparency and openness in communication, Facebook said on Thursday. Two draft documents are being put to test under what Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg called a "new model of governance." The "Facebook Principles" lay out the startup company's philosophy on privacy and control of information, while the "Statement of Rights and Responsibilities" are operating guidelines based on its big-picture stance. Any Facebook member can access these proposals on the site and opine on them over the next few days.
The networking site will incorporate people's reviews when firming up governance policies. Future policy changes will follow the same democratic model, the company said. "It's a big statement that we trust users and we want their involvement in the process," Zuckerberg said in an interview.
The move comes after thousands of people reacted angrily to a revision in Facebook's terms of service earlier this month that suggested it was asserting permanent control over people's personal information even after they quit the site. Facebook responded to the controversy last week by reverting to its old terms of service for the short term, as it solicited feedback from members and figured out how to create a new user agreement.
The new proposals make it clear that Facebook users have ultimate control over their information, including messages and photographs. One of the 10 principles states that people should own their information and have the freedom to take it with them wherever they go, including removing it from Facebook. The "Statement of Rights and Responsibilities," which replaces the old terms of use, translates the principles into specific rules. Simon Davis, director of Privacy International, a watchdog organization, said it was a "bold move" on Facebook's part. "The devil will be in the detail, but, overall, we applaud these positive steps," he said.

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World of Warcraft is as addictive as cocaine

The computer game World of Warcraft is the most dangerous game on the market with a high risk of addiction, according to a new report from a Swedish youth organization

The Youth Care Foundation (Stiftelsen Ungdomsvård), which works to advocate active alternatives to gaming, described the game as "the cocaine of the computer games world".
The foundation's report is as yet unpublished and is based on the experiences of gamers and their parents who have been in contact with the group.
"There is not a single case of game addiction that we have worked with in which World of Warcraft has not played a part," according to Sven Rollenhagen at the foundation to the newspaper Metro.
World of Warcraft is an online fantasy game, which according to the Game Over treatment centre in Linköping in central Sweden are the types of games which carry the highest risk of addiction.
The Local reported in November 2008 that a boy in Laholm, southern Sweden had been admitted to hospital after collapsing following a 20-hour World of Warcraft binge.
The foundation, founded in 1991, works with all types of addiction and since 2007 this has included computer games. The group runs the help website spelfritt.se.
Of the 2,000 calls received by the foundation in 2007, 170 concerned computer games, Metro reports.

 

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Need For Speed: World Online Interface Revealed

Here is a preview screen shot from Need For Speed: World Online. Also, there is a bit more info from the producer of NFSWO.

Click to enlarge

“Key to the concept of NFS World Online is the user interface which has been built from the ground up to take advantage of the PC architecture. Instead of a traditional console view of a game, we’re using a user-selectable gadget interface designed specifically for the PC. The system allows the gamer to choose which components of the interface they want to add to their game. The gadgets are really flexible and offer a wide range of display options: docked/undocked, floating in the game window or just sitting outside of the game space.

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Hitachi L32S02A LCD TV

It's been a while since we reviewed a straight up 32-inch LCD - something for the entry level consumers in the HDTV market. The last time we covered Hitachi, it was for their Ultra Thin series, which was superb but pricey. Now we have a no frills 32 incher by them, called the Hitachi L32S02A LCD TV.

Design and Features
It seems Hitachi has cordoned off all their design ideas and fancies to their UT series, as this model is quite a basic looking piece, and could use a bit of pizzazz. It’s got a gloss black bezel, with a old fashioned speaker grille on the bottom panel. This is something that should have been concealed better. There is a silver strip outlining this grille, plus we have the Hitachi logo etched bang on center, also in silver. The stand is oval and of the same gloss black finish.

The back panel is bare, with the input terminal window facing downwards, another iffy for me. Though it's not such a big deal, a little bending backwards doesn’t hurt. Speaking of inputs, we have 2 HDMIs, one VGA in (mini D-SUB) for PC, 2 component ins and a couple of composite video inputs. There is a set of input on the left panel too: a headphone out and a composite video in. The model might be new, but the design sure seems old.
As for rated specifications, we have native contrast at 1000:1, with a 500 cd/m2 brightness. Response time is 5 ms, and the main thing with Hitachi LCDs that is advertised in bold: an S-IPS panel. This technology boasts very good viewing angles, and they actually do have good angles, though backlight bleed can be an issue, something we have observed in past reviews.

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Apple sued over screen rendering technology in iPhone

Apple is facing another iPhone lawsuit, this time focusing on the screen rendering technology Apple uses in the iPhone and iPod touch.

In the suit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Picsel Technologies claims that the rendering process Apple uses on the iPhone violates Piscel's patents. Specifically, Picsel said its technology accelerates the process of updating the display on a device.

In the lawsuit filed by Nixon Peabody LLP on behalf of Picsel, lawyers said users would experience long screen update delays if it weren’t for the use of the patented technology. Zooming and panning documents, Web sites, and images would not work on the iPhone as fluidly, according to the lawsuit.

Picsel says its technology has been included in more than 250 million units worldwide. The company counts KDDI, Motorola, Nokia, NTT DoCoMo, Palm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Sharp as customers.

Picsel is asking the court to order Apple to compensate Piscel for devices already sold with treble damages.

 

Via-yahoo news

30-year-old seen for first time in 3,000 years

The beautiful singer was about 30 years old when the world forgot about her. But now we know what she looks like for the first time in nearly 3,000 years.

It's all thanks to one of the most sophisticated CT scanners in the world. Without even cracking open the Egyptian casket, you can now see the smallest details of the woman's features. Her skin, muscles and bones are intact.

"Her eyes are set far apart, and she has a very full mouth and high cheek bones. You know, I think I could recognize this individual if I saw her in life," said Michael Vannier, a radiologist at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

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Cell Phone Use Linked to Brain Tumours

A leading Russian scientist has said, citing a Swedish study, that the use of cell phones from an early age could lead to brain tumors.
"We have a very cautious attitude as regards children, our future generation. There is data suggesting that brain tumors could develop," Yury Grigoryev, a leading scientist at the Burnazyan medical biophysical centre said Thursday.Grigoryev cited Swedish research data, which he said showed that if a child uses a cell phone from 8 to 12 years, then the risk of developing a brain tumor by the age of 21 increases fivefold.He also said that every person in Russia is subject to electromagnetic radiation from cellular base stations. He said people use mobile phones too often, which means the dose of radiation they get is comparable to that received by workers whose profession involves dealing with radiolocation equipment and transmitters.Grigoryev said there is as yet no reliable Russian research proving cell phones are harmful to health. However, he said that according to the World Health Organisation, Alzheimer's disease, depression and a greater risk of epileptic reactions could be the possible consequences of mobile phone usage.The head of the medical centre's radiobiology and non-ionizing radiation hygiene lab, Oleg Grigoryev, said that in line with Russian sanitary norms, the use of cell phones is not recommended for minors."The brand or price of a cell phone doesn't matter. The dose of radiation is defined by the network operation mode and phone use intensity," he said.
Oleg Grigoryev also said that a wire or wireless headset would make the distance from a person's head to the phone over 0.5 meters, a distance believed to be safe. He also advised cutting down on calls.

Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition Launches Today

The launch of Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer Edition is upon us, as Guinness World Records today release this year’s edition of the highly respected publication.

To celebrate the UK launch of the new edition, motoring inventor Edd China will unveil his latest creation on four wheels - the Fastest Mobile Gaming Rig on 11th February. Complete with all three Current-Generation consoles and monitors, this unique piece of mobile furniture will tour the streets of London with three gamers onboard after setting a speed record on the A40. 

Also in celebration of launch, the world's Youngest Professional Gamer, Lil Poison (aka Victor De Leon III), is due to visit London for the very first time on 9th February. 10-year old, Long Island (NY) native, Lil Poison, claimed the title after signing with MLG recruiters as a Pro Gamer at the age of six.

Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than one-hundred countries and twenty-five languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than three million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of videogaming and High Score record achievements, and this year’s edition couldn’t come with any higher recommendation.

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Japan's Panasonic to cut 15,000 jobs, shut plants

Panasonic Corp., sinking into its first annual loss in six years, said Wednesday it was slashing about 15,000 jobs and shuttering 27 plants worldwide, joining a string of Japanese companies making deep cuts as they cope with the global slowdown.

Plunging consumer demand, lower gadget prices and the soaring yen, which erodes overseas income, are battering Panasonic, the the world's largest maker of plasma display TVs. It racked up a 63.1 billion yen ($709 million) net loss for the fiscal third quarter compared to a 115.2 billion yen profit the same quarter the previous year.

The Osaka-based manufacturer of cell phones, batteries and camcorders also slashed its forecast for the fiscal year through March to a net loss of 380 billion yen ($4.2 billion), its first annual net loss in six years.

The last time Panasonic reported an annual loss was for the fiscal year ended March 2002, when a global electronics slump and massive restructuring costs contributed to 431 billion yen in red ink.

 

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Obama 'Resignation' E-mail Sends Trojan Malware

Criminals wasted no time in integrating US President Barack Obama's inauguration into the latest wave of spam mail seeking to lure hapless surfers.

The latest scam e-mail messages claim to bear news of Obama's resignation. But the messages are, in fact, intended solely to lure users to websites infected with malware, warns antivirus laboratory Sophos. Under no circumstances should you click on any link in such a message.
The links redirect you to a site that looks deceptively similar to the official Obama website. It also sneaks a Trojan horse (Mal/WaledJs-A) onto your computer. The malware then downloads additional executable files onto the infected computer.
This is not the first time that cyber-criminals have tried to take advantage of Obama's popularity, Sophos reports. In November 2008, shortly after the presidential election, a Trojan-laced video (Mal/Behav-027) was sent into circulation as well.

Life on Mars? The red planet may not be a dead planet

New Delhi: Believe in aliens? Chances are you might soon. There could be life on Mars.

Scientists in NASA have found fresh evidence of methane on MARS, which according to Professor of Geological Science at Indiana University Lisa Pratt means, “Methane can be a waste product from microbes that are methane-generating, but methane can also be a food for microbes that are methane consumers, so, in either way, this is exciting because we have evidence that we need to think about in terms of the possibilities of life on Mars."

Presence of methane is the strongest evidence ever about life on Mars although there is no direct evidence yet.

Professor of Atmospheric and Space Science at University of Michigan Sushil Atreya said, “There are two possibilities again. Either it is geology, in which case it's the reaction between water and rock that's producing the methane, or it's biology, in which case the microbes are producing the methane."

A NASA video shows the exact region where methane was found on Mars and the red spots are the areas from where the gas seeped out the most.

Earlier in 2008, NASA had confirmed presence of water on Mars. Now with the presence of methane signs of life are getting even stronger.