Reporter: Jonathan Charles
OS / Software
The release date of Windows Phone 8 remains elusive, though rumors expect it to be confirmed at the Sept. 5 event Microsoft and Nokia will hold in New York. ZDNet reports, however, that the launch date is October 29.
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OS / Software
Rumors suggested that Samsung could release the latest version of Android, 4.1 Jelly Bean alongside the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 at its Aug. 29 conference. However, Samsung only said that Jelly Bean will arrive "very soon" and did not specify a date.
Jonathan CharlesGadgets
Nintendo held a Nintendo Direct video conference on Aug. 29, announcing multiple new Nintendo 3DS titles as the handheld gaming system continues to build for a busy year. CEO and President Satoru Iwata also said on Aug. 29 via Twitter that the upcoming September conference will not reveal a release date for Wii U in Japan (translated). Iwata revealed that a release date announcement "is planned in a way not involving the conference."
Jonathan CharlesWhat's Hot
Halo 4's multiplayer mode will be put through its paces a week before the game launches in Dallas, Texas, as professional players compete. Developers 343 Industries allowed the professionals to play Halo 4 in private sessions at E3 2012 to gain feedback. The tournament takes place Nov. 2-4 and is part of Major League Gaming's (MLG's) Fall championship. Games including Starcraft 2 will also be streamed live.
Jonathan CharlesWhat's Hot
Gamers heading to PAX Prime this weekend will be able to play Wii U, Nintendo's next-generation console, and the full roster of games available to play at the event for the console is now known. For users heading to the Wii U Experience events, the lineup is probably familiar.
Jonathan CharlesMobile
The Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone launched on May 29 in two colors: Pebble Blue and Marble White. Four new colors will now be available, according to the company: Amber Brown, Garnet Red, Sapphire Black, and Titanium Grey.
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Microsoft announced via a blog post that it is launching an app for its cloud storage service SkyDrive for Android. The update brings the new Metro UI to Android, following in the footsteps of Xbox Live for iOS.
Jonathan CharlesOS / Software
Reports recently suggested that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates for the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus were delayed, seemingly on the carrier's end. The issues may be resolved, however, as a user over at the XDA-Developers forum posted on a photo of the update.
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim developer Bethesda confirmed that the second wave of downloadable content for the role-playing game is arriving. Called Hearthfire, the theme of the upcoming content seems to be a laid back approach compared to the physically-altering choices in Dawnguard.
Jonathan CharlesGadgets
At a GameStop managers' conference in Texas on Aug. 27, accessory-maker PDP let slip that the Wii U will launch on Nov. 18. While the company quickly followed with clarification that it does not know the release date, a November launch is expected.
Jonathan CharlesMobile
Samsung's August 29 event is expected to reveal the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, and a Seoul newspaper recently leaked information on the device.
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Telltale Games confirmed to IGN that the third episode of its multi-part video game based on The Walking Dead comic series and TV show will arrive on Aug. 28 for PlayStation Network and Aug. 29 for Xbox Live Arcade, PC, and Mac. The game is a five-part series with episodes released monthly, leading up to October. The third episode is subtitled "The Long Road Ahead."
Jonathan CharlesWhat's Hot
Although the Headstart weekend begins on Saturday, ArenaNet's much-hyped MMORPG Guild Wars 2 does not officially launch until Aug. 28. Users who want to get into the game as quickly as possible should read the tips below.
Jonathan Charles