A new startup is offering a new kind of retail experience. Instead of humans handling cash, it’s all apps, smartphones, sensors, and computer vision.
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Author: Adam Rogers
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Self-Driving Cars Should Look Down, Not Just Ahead
A Boston-based startup wants to equip AVs with ground penetrating radar, which they can use to identify exactly where they are.
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Author: Jack Stewart
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Philips’ latest Hue lights project color onto the walls around your TV
Signify is introducing two new Philips Hue lights today that are designed to project color onto your walls. The first are new Hue Signe lamps that can be easily positioned next to a TV against a wall. These lamps are available in a table version or traditional floor lamp, and will fire colorful light onto nearby walls to create ambient lighting that can brighten up the dark areas near a TV. You can even sync with the Hue Sync app to mirror content from a PC or Mac. Signify is also releasing a new Hue Play light bar that can be positioned horizontally or vertically next to or behind a TV. It’s ideal for ambient lighting, especially if you’ve mounted your TV on a wall as it’s small enough to slot behind.
While you can use either products…
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Author: Tom Warren
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Building Stratolaunch, the Most Audacious Flying Machine Ever
Here’s how alt-aviation wizard Burt Rutan and Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen set out to build a dual-fuselage beast that could haul rockets to the edge of space.
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Author: Steven Levy
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This tilting kettle will make your coffee-loving friends livid
I’m a geek about a whole bunch of things, though coffee isn’t one of them. But, boy, do passions run hot when coffee preparation becomes the subject of a discussion. Take this recent Kickstarter, called The Automatica, as a good example. What I see is a cute gadget with a really appealing promo video. Set to a minimalist soundtrack of guitar strumming and engine rumbling, the video treats us to a view of the Salt Lake City skyline at sunset before moving on to pleasing closeups of bubbles foaming up as the coffee is filtered through the machine. The narration is calming and friendly. I kind of want to hang out with the makers of this gadget, they seem like good, chilled-out people.
Coffee-loving gadget nerds, though, they…
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Author: Vlad Savov
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Dying Light’s New Battle Royale-Style Mode, Bad Blood, Release Window Announced
Dying Light developer Techland has announced a release window for the series’ new battle royale-style mode, Bad Blood. The mode will launch as a standalone game on PC via Steam Early Access this September, with its Global Playtest beta kicking off later this week.
Players will be able to jump into the Early Access version of Bad Blood by purchasing the $19.90 Founder’s Pack, which includes access to the game along with 1,000 Blood Bucks (Bad Blood’s in-game currency) and a handful of exclusive items. Among them is a Legendary mask and the Founder’s Pass, which will grant players three Legendary skins over the course of three months.
Billed as a “brutal royale game,” Dying Light: Bad Blood mixes PvP and PvE elements with Dying Light’s signature style of gameplay. 12 players enter a zombie-infested map and must scrounge for resources, weapons, and blood samples from the infected. The latter are particularly vital, as players will have to collect enough samples to secure a seat on the evac chopper. However, only one player will be able to board the chopper, making the mode an intense race for survival.
Following Bad Blood’s Early Access release, Techland says it will continue to support the game with a stream of additional free content in the form of new maps, modes, and items. The developer also says the game will transition to a free-to-play model once it leaves Early Access and officially launches for PC and consoles.
In the meantime, some players will have a chance to try Bad Blood ahead of its Early Access release via the upcoming closed Global Playtest. The first phase of the beta kicks off at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET on August 25 and runs until 9 PM PT on August 26 (12 AM ET on August 27). This session will only be open to select players who registered for access on the game’s website. The second phase will follow on September 1 and be open to all players who signed up. Steam keys for the initial phase of the Global Playtest will be sent out beginning August 22.
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Author: Kevin Knezevic
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Apple removes 25,000 ‘illegal’ apps from App Store in China
Apple has reportedly pulled more than 25,000 apps from its App Store in China that were deemed to fall foul of Chinese regulations. At least 4,000 of these apps were tagged with the word “gambling,” according to Bloomberg, while the 25,000 figure comes from state broadcaster CCTV.
“Gambling apps are illegal and not allowed on the App Store in China,” Apple said in an statement sent to Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal. “We have already removed many apps and developers for trying to distribute illegal gambling apps on our App Store, and we are vigilant in our efforts to find these and stop them from being on the App Store.”
“Apple itself has set up the rules on how to…
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Author: Sam Byford
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Netflix Witcher TV Show: Casting Scripts Leak, Showrunner Responds
Some of the casting scripts for Netflix’s upcoming TV show based on The Witcher have leaked, though you shouldn’t get too excited. The scripts that leaked are for the purposes of casting, so the dialogue is unlikely to be featured in the actual show. These scripts, called “Sides” in the TV casting parlance, are given to potential actors to see what they’re capable of. The casting scripts that leaked involve a pair of scenes with Geralt and Yennefer. These may be lines and scenarios that won’t be in the final TV show, but this is the first time we’re getting an understanding of the show’s writing style and more.
Some took issue with the way in which Geralt speaks to Yennefer. Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich defended the writing, saying on Twitter, “We write scenes to evoke specific emotional reactions in actors. Ego, jealousy, confidence, pain, pleasure. We need to see the full spectrum.”
And again, she pointed out that what is written for the casting scripts is not what you’ll see and hear on the show itself. Hissrich also said she expected the casting scripts to leak. “It happened. As we knew it would. Don’t worry. All is okay in the Witcher world,” she said.
You can read the casting scripts here on Reddit (via IGN).
Remember when I said that casting sides would leak and not to worry because they are not real scenes or scenarios or even storylines from the show?
It happened. As we knew it would. Don’t worry. All is okay in the #Witcher world.— Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) August 15, 2018
It’s fascinating to watch the PASSIONATE debate about Geralt’s and Yen’s thoughts/emotions/intentions on the casting sides. Everything from “this reads like canon” to “Geralt would NEVER say that word.” I only hope #Witcher fans are as invested in the, you know, actual series.😊
— Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) August 16, 2018
Netflix’s Witcher series, which was announced in May, is based on the novel series by Andrzej Sapkowski, not the games from Polish developer CD Projekt Red. There is no word yet on which actors have come in to read for roles, but Superman actor Henry Cavill says he would like to play Geralt.
Hissrich said previously that the Witcher show is expected to premiere in 2020. “We’re moving quickly ahead with everything–like, my head is spinning around Exorcist-style, except with enthusiasm, not evil possession–but one thing is certain: quality comes before speed,” she said.
The latest instalment in the Witcher video game series was 2015’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. No new projects in the series have been announced. CD Projekt Red is currently working on the much-anticipated Cyberpunk 2077; and more Witcher games could follow after that.
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Author: Eddie Makuch
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Logitech’s MX Vertical turns the company’s best mouse on its head
Logitech’s latest mouse doesn’t quite flip the idea of a mouse upside-down, but at a 57-degree angle off a desk, it’s certainly closer than most. The MX Vertical takes the same design and performance cues as the rest of Logitech’s MX line, but puts it in a more ergonomic, vertical mouse form factor.
The entire design of the MX Vertical is meant to reduce strain and movement. According to Logitech, the tilted shape can reduce muscular activity by up to 10 percent compared to a regular mouse, and the sensor supports up to 4,000 DPI to negate the need to physically move the mouse as much. There’s also a dedicated button on top of the MX Vertical that allows users to easily adjust between higher and lower DPI settings with a single press,…
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Author: Chaim Gartenberg
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PC Launch Helps Monster Hunter: World Pass 10 Million Units Shipped
Monster Hunter World has now shipped more than 10 million units, including digitally delivered units. The new sales milestone comes shortly after the game’s release on PC in early August. This is up from the 7.9 million unit shipment tally that Capcom announced in May.
Capcom also confirmed that the entire Monster Hunter franchise has now sold more than 50 million combined units as of August 20. The franchise debuted in 2004.
Monster Hunter: World is the “best-selling title” in Capcom’s history. While the PC launch helped the game pass 10 million units, Capcom said the title continues to see “robust sales” on console. It is also available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, having launched on console in January.
For more on Monster Hunter: World, check out GameSpot’s guide to help you learn about the game’s armor, co-op, weapons, and a lot more. What’s more, you can see all of our most important Monster Hunter content here, including our Monster Hunter World review. We also have a guide on how to capture monsters.
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Author: Eddie Makuch
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