Articles by Jonathan Charles
Windows 8 Receiving Unity 4 Engine Support
The Unity game development engine is often praised for its flexibility in development and used for building mobile titles. Unity confirmed recently that the release of Unity 4 will also support Microsoft's upcoming operating system, Windows 8.
Guild Wars 2: ArenaNet Actively Working on Optimization, Big Changes in Effect
Throughout the Beta Weekend Events run by Guild Wars 2 developers as the launch approaches, users have seen fluctuating performance. The issues were due to the game being strictly CPU-bound, though ArenaNet says performance is improving.
Skype for iPhone and iPad Brings Photo Sharing, Available Now
Skype announced in a blog post that it is introducing photo sharing for its iOS apps, available to download now for iPhone and iPad. Skype is also introducing other improvements to the app.
Xbox Live Dashboard Beta: Second Wave of Registrations Now Live
Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb of Microsoft announced earlier in July that beta tester applications were open for the latest version of the Xbox Live dashboard. Hryb recently announced that applications are again open.
Verizon, Windows Phone 8 to Combine From Sept. 5 Conference
Microsoft's launch of Windows Phone 8 could arrive in 2012; a Sept. 5 conference between Microsoft and Nokia is expected to reveal the next-generation of Windows Phone 8 devices. According to a source speaking to Bloomberg, the devices could arrive on mobile carrier Verizon.
Angry Birds Become Green Day With Envy For Facebook
Angry Birds is Rovio's biggest product, by far, so it is natural to see the company pushing the brand in multiple directions. One direction includes the band Green Day and the Facebook Angry Birds Friends game.
Windows 8 $14.99 Upgrade Offer: What, When, How, and Why
Microsoft recently announced a deal offering a $14.99 Windows 8 upgrade to users buying PCs from June 2, 2012 through Jan. 1, 2013. Here are the details.
Windows 8 is Available to Try For 90 Days For Free
If the public envies TechNet users who already have Windows 8, a solution is at hand: the Windows 8 Enterprise Edition. It can be downloaded for 90 days, but it is non-upgradeable, and Microsoft is not offering tech support.
Get a Free Xbox 360, When You Buy a PC For $699
In case the release of Halo 4 or Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 this November does not encourage enough gamers to buy the Xbox 360, Microsoft is now offering a free Xbox 360 for students who buy a $699 PC from participating retailers.
Windows Phone To Charge Ahead To Third Place by 2012 End
iOS and Android may be leading the way in app activity, but Microsoft and RIM are battling for third place. Microsoft is expected to take the third spot just before the end of 2012, displacing RIM, according to released projections.
Diablo 3 Level Cap Raised as Paragon Update Aims to Give Users Lasting End-Game Content
A section of gamers have criticized the lack of end-game content in Diablo 3. After reaching the maximum level of 60, players simply replay the same content on a harder difficulty, which means that players reach the maximum level before completing all the difficulties. That changed recently, as Blizzard announced a new "Paragon" system in the 1.04 update.
HTC Loses $40 Million as OnLive Restructures to Avoid Bankruptcy
News broke over the weekend of OnLive's plan to restructure and look for a new buyer in the process laying off employees. When an anonymous buyer appeared, HTC's investment into the company returned a loss of $40 million.
iOS App Store to Hit 1 Million by Year End, Beating Android
Google Play, the Android app store, experienced surprisingly fast growth despite launching after the iPhone's app store. While reports have variously claimed that both app stores are outpacing the other, a recent report suggests that the Apple App Store could boast of 1 million apps by the end of 2012 -- just ahead of the pace of Android's Google Play store.
Diablo 3 'Very Different' Game According to Creator, Blizzards Calls Him 'Loser'
Despite the initial anticipation for Diablo 3, issues have periodically surfaced since its release. Speaking to IncGamer at Gamescom, the series' creator -- David Brevik -- said that the third entry in the franchise is "very different" than the game he would have created.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Tester Confirms Wii U Version
Treyarch is looking to November with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Nintendo's Wii U console, perhaps releasing during a similar period, could host Black Ops 2, according to a QA tester's LinkedIn profile.
Windows 8: Top Problems on the Desktop
For TechNet subscribers and developers, Windows 8's releaseito-manufacturing build has arrived. While the desktop environment is very similar to Windows 7, criticism came quickly for the Modern UI (formerly "Metro") side of the operating system.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Images Leak Again, All But Confirm August 29 Launch
Recent images of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 suggested that it would launch at Samsung's Aug. 29 event. Additional images reveal the "phablet" again, bearing a strong resemblance to the UK-bound Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Samsung Galaxy S3 Black Arrives October in UK Just After iPhone 5 Launch
Samsung posted photos of a black version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 in a tube station on its official Olympics page earlier in August, and now phone retailer Clove says that the device will arrive in the UK during October. The launch of the black Samsung Galaxy S3 could be around the time the next iPhone goes on sale.
Grifball Creators Ask 343 Industries About Forge
Grifball is an e-sport in Halo 4 where players have to carry a ball - in the form of a bomb - and score by detonating said bomb. Forge spawned the sport, and the creators interviewed developers 343 Industries on the map creator.
Microsoft Kinect Helps Stroke Victims Recover by Monitoring Hand Movements
While the Kinect gaming console has sold over 10 million units, its software is used for practical purposes in the real world. The latest real-world use for Kinect is remote tracking of stroke victims in recovery.
LG's Latest Tweet Confirms Optimus 2X is Getting Ice Cream Sandwich
Finding out whether a device is getting updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich can be a daunting task. In 2011, LG said that it would bring Ice Cream Sandwich to the Optimus 2X; the update was then delayed, and LG Canada claimed that it was cancelled. However, a recent tweet from LG Korea claims the update is in development and seems destined for the Optimus 2X.
55 Percent of iOS Users ‘Disappointed’ With Non-YouTube iOS 6: The Details
News of the lack of a native YouTube iOS app received a lukewarm reaction from consumers. The removal of the long-running iOS YouTube app is due to the end of a deal between Apple and Google, the same reason Apple also launched its map service "Maps" to replace Google Maps.
HTC Memo Urges Employees to Ignore Market Negativity
HTC admitted that it needs to be innovative to regain ground from Apple and Android smartphone manufacturers. An internal memo seen by The Wall Street Journal calls on the company's more than 16,700 employees to ignore the negativity from the market.
Halo 4: War Games Map Pack Season Pass to Cost 2,000 Microsoft Points
Halo 4's Limited Edition includes the War Games Map Pass, a season pass-esque subscription to map packs released for the shooter. The War Games Map Pack Access includes 9 maps and "three future competitive multiplayer maps" which players cannot download immediately, Microsoft said. War Games refers to the umbrella covering Halo's multiplayer modes: Spartan Ops and traditional multiplayer.
Wii U GamePad Could Remove Split-Screen When 2 Players Are Together
Split screens when playing video games with friends may become a thing of the past with Wii U, Nintendo's next-generation gaming console, as the GamePad controller's screen allows players to have individual screens.
Samsung Galaxy S3 Gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Officially
The Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the Samsung Galaxy S3 is approaching. It could be released alongside the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on August 29. A video from YouTube shows the update in detail.
Pinterest Gets Major iOS, Android Updates: The Details
On Wednesday, Pinterest launched a major update across iPad, iPhone, and Android devices. User experiences on the smartphone and tablet versions of the Pinterest app are quite different.
