In what is sure to be treated as a huge “it’s about time!” moment, the popular video subscription provider Netflix has announced their new Netflix App that is now live, and available for the iPod Touch, the iPad, and the iPhone 4. The Netflix App allows members to access their Netflix Instant Queues for easy video streaming through their iPhone 4s, and has smart-technology to pick up right in the middle of the video even if you stopped watching it on a computer, PS3, Xbox 360, or Wii.
The iPhone 4 Netflix debut comes on the heels of the service being offered to iPad users for months now, so many iPhone 4 users who have yet to make their next purchase in Apple’s growing portable home entertainment market can thank themselves for by downloading the free Netflix App today. You’re required to have the iPhone OS 3.1.3 or later, so that’s bad news to people that have jailbroken their iPhone (as the exploit won’t work on newer OS’s, and they’ll ultimately have to choose between that and the Netflix App). If you aren’t a big fan of the jailbreaking scene, then go ahead and start watching your favorite TV shows and films on the small screen right now!
Netflix, Inc. now announced an availability of the free Netflix App for the iPhone and the iPod touch, and allowing Netflix members on the plans starting at $8.99 every month to watch a wide range of the TV episodes & movies streamed to the iPhone and iPod touch without any additional cost. iPad. With 9.7″ touch screen and amazing new apps, and it does things that no netbook, tablet PC, or else e-reader can. “Apple has also changed game for the mobile devices.
The upcoming iOS (iPhone Operating System) 4.1 update, the 3rd overall update for iOS 4 since the June release of the iPhone 4, is being speculated as the major software upgrade that will address many of the more public issues with the Apple mobile device. The infamous ‘antenna scandal’ that rocked Apple with numerous complaints about the iPhone 4 suddenly losing signal and functionality when held a certain way is not directly addressed with the 4.1 update, but several factors that resulted from the panel Apple put together to address ‘antenna scandal’ concerns could be.
The other big issue with iPhone 4 (other than the antenna which arguably is a non-issue as long as the mobile phone is held correctly) is the often-malfunctioning iPhone 4 proximity sensor. The way the sensor is supposed to work, is that during a call the sensor should disable the display as your face is close to (or in most cases touching) the touchscreen view so that you don’t accidentally drop the call, mute it, put it on speakerphone, or any number of other possibilities. In short, the sensor is not preventing these things from happening correctly, and the 4.1 update is said to make “marked improvements” in this very issue, indirectly thanks to the negative publicity from the ‘antenna scandal’ hoopla.
iOS SDK 4.1 Beta & iOS 4.1 Beta are now available for the download to the registered iPhone developers. Also, it includes a few new features, which includes new modem firmware program. Update appears to get packed with more interesting features that might be why they have decided to name that 4.1 instead of the 4.0.1 (that is generally reserved for the minor updates & bug fixes). New signal algorithm that will make the “better” calculation of iPhone’s signal strength that is showing new & taller bars on phone.
SEGA, the makers of timeless video game franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog and Ecco the Dolphin, have announced the release of the second in their classic RPG (role-playing game) series originally for the SEGA Genesis 16-bit console—Phantasy Star 2. Launching in the App store for a $2.99 sale price ($4.99 normally), Phantasy Star 2 initiates the first of several SEGA game price reductions that will trickle down to longest-available title (Streets of Rage at a mere $0.99).
Often compared to the Square-Enix classic RPG series ‘Final Fantasy’, Phantasy Star 2 shares more than a similar name, but also a high-quality storytelling knack and a long and rich history of exciting turn-based strategy. In Phantasy Star 2 for the iPhone 4, players are taken on an intergalactic journey throughout the Algol Star System with a team of warriors as they struggle to save the galaxy from a vast computer network system gone haywire, and the embodiment of evil itself. The game is constantly found in various ‘Greatest Games of All Time’ lists, and is a great App for iPhone 4 owners looking for some retro action.
In case, name Phantasy Star doesn’t mean anything to you, then there is actually little reason to keep reading the review. It is the hardcore, classic style and role playing game from SEGA Genesis time. It is the dense play, with the sprawling narrative regarding ridding galaxy of evil, and thick menus of weapons and magic, and many turn based battles. Thus really, till you have the hankering to try arguably the great RPGs, why not to check out this review No, Human, the super cool new iPhone puzzler. So now it is us dorks, let us get down to the bidness and it is the pixel perfect port of the Phantasy StarII for iPhone, and it is three bucks.
If you haven’t already had your fill with the announcements of Metal Gear Solid Rising, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and Metal Gear Solid Arcade, Konami has one more surprise in store. The company announced today that it will be releasing the original PS1 Metal Gear Solid to the PlayStation Network on June 18, for $9.99.
http://www.gametab.com/news/3007623/
On the gaming industry calendar few occasions match the digital opulence of the annual geek banquet, E3. Running for three days, wrapping up on June 4th, E3 gives the industry’s heavy hitters a unique chance to show off their biggest and boldest offerings of the coming year. 2009 was the first time the event had been re-opened to the public after smaller scale expos in years previous, and the ephemeral hype was definitely restored to mythic levels of old.
In recent times there has been a mounting ambivalence towards gaming’s centrepiece expo, on behalf of the press and public alike. With the industry rapidly evolving on multiple fronts it seemed the old-model hype machine was struggling to hold the interest of dedicated fans or catch the attention of new audiences. 2009 saw a dedicated attempt to remedy that apathy, to put on a real song and dance that would satiate the curmudgeonly hardcore and bedazzle the flighty causal crowd.
In some ways E3 2009 succeeded in its aim, the larger public format alone meant the swelling event would capture the gaze of mainstream press in the way that only large volumes of money packed tightly into a single space can. As for what the expo actually brought to light, specifically care of the ‘Big Three ‘, the case for success is a little greyer. There were some big blows dealt, but just how thrilling the outcome is will depend heavily on expectations and needs.
Microsoft
As the first of the big showboating press releases, Microsoft were charged with ever-important first impressions of E3 09, and on that score they did admirably.
The company’s biggest reveal was the Natal, a motion-sensing input that will purportedly make the traditional controller obsolete. As well as sensing movement in 3D to an infinitesimally accurate degree, the Natal will also recognize player’s face and voice.
A slick promotional video for Project Natal showed the device being used to control racing games, fighting games, and sporting games, all with movements of the body. Anyone with even brief experience of Nintendo’s Wii knows the intoxicating allure of motion-sensing controls, but with just a little more experience they doubtlessly also know the frustration that comes with the technology’s limitations. Only time will tell if Microsoft’s one-up attempt fullfills its promise.
Further expanding the online entertainment abilities of the Xbox 360, Microsoft will deliver a host of set-top box functions in the future. On-demand, high quality movies, TV shows, and music care of a Netflix partnership (and SKY TV in the UK). Additionally the console will be making a foray into the social networking world, integrating with both Facebook and Twitter. This will hopefully make for a more easily managed online Friends feature, but will also exponentially expand the amount of free time sucked into the black hole of social networking sites.
As far as actual gaming announcements went, Microsoft was eager to show off newfound support from the Japanese development community. Traditionally weak in Japan, the Xbox 360 will in the future see its first Final fantasy game by undermining the PS3 exclusivity of Final Fantasy XIII, as well as its first instance of the Metal Gear Solid series, Metal Gear Solid Rising, a sequel to Metal Gear Solid 2 starring much-aligned character Raiden.
Microsoft really did seem to have something for everyone. The possibilities the Natal control brings to the table are intriguing, even if the idea doesn’t exactly bleed originality. More robust online features seem like a clear path into the future for the console market, as well as a great way to entice that juicy casual audience. And hardcore gamers can’t be too disappointed with the announcement of two of the biggest gaming franchises coming to the Xbox 360.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/entertainment/e3-2009-postmortem-gamings-biggest-night-out/255/15452
