Ken Kutaragi now External Director at Marvelous AQL originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Bored of Words with Friends? How about a word game created by band (and internet neutrality advocates) OK Go instead of a floundering corporation? Believe it or not, the Grammy-winners have just released a free game for iOS and Android called Say the Same Thing, which actually has nothing to do with the group or its music. It lets you play with a friend or random partner as you try arrive at the same word, by each choosing a new word in common with your previous choices. We gave it a shot, and it's actually rather fun -- yours truly and random internet guy Jason H. each arrived at "Caddyshack" from "Bill Murray" and "movies" after four rounds. You can even play with one of the band members, though there was quite a queue when we tried -- see how they roll in the video after the break, or grab the app at the sources.
Source Filmmaker strikes again with fan-created Futurama fun times originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Yousef AlnafjanGood deal. The game is good, but not great.
Grab Hitman: Absolution PC for $7.49 at Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The Economist put together the excellent chart above, making it clear just how impressive Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements at Manchester United were and how many managers Europe's other top clubs have gone through in their attempts to achieve what he has. The most stunning visual is that of the one little manager symbol beside Man United's name at the top. No other club (the highest earners in the 2011/12 season) has had less than six since 1992 and Real Madrid have the most at 20. Twenty!
Ferguson won more domestic league titles than all the others and, along with Bayern Munich's 15 managers, won 31 percent of the trophies available during his tenure. There aren't enough accolades for figures like that, but on the flip side, you have to wonder what will happen now in English football with that silverware clog finally gone.
Only one manager besides Ferguson has won back to back titles in the Premier League era and that's Jose Mourinho. Perhaps with his likely return to the league, he will become the trophy hoarder that Sir Alex has been. Or maybe Arsene Wenger will finally get the chance to end his eight-year drought. Whatever happens, change is coming and it should have a rejuvenating effect on the league.
Joysticks could be a thing of the past: Virtuix will soon debut an omni-directional treadmill that can track gamers as they run, walk, and jump in every direction. The device — aptly dubbed the Omni — can be used on its own to replace traditional video game movement controls, or it can be used alongside other virtual reality hardware, including the Oculus Rift, for a more encompassing VR experience. The company has shown off support for games including Crysis Warhead, Team Fortress 2, and Skyrim in a series of YouTube videos, but we're told that the device will work with all PC games when it's released.
Virtuix is aiming to launch a Kickstarter campaign for the Omni around the end of May or the beginning of June, and it's targeting a price of $400-600 for the device, a company representative told The Verge. The Omni does not appear to use a moving belt like a traditional treadmill, and instead looks to employ a slick, sloped surface that users slide down as they take steps forward.
Virtuix has also demonstrated integration with the Oculus Rift, which allows players to use the Omni in 360-degrees. The treadmill integration could resolve a virtual reality gaming issue that Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus VR, discussed during this year's SXSW Interactive. Quick movement can become disorienting while using the Oculus Rift, and Luckey pointed out that an omni-directional treadmill could solve that. "With a little bit of prediction and misdirection you can make people feel like they’re in an infinite space," he said.
نبدأ الحلقة بالحديث عن إطلاق Google Now على آيفون وآيباد رسمياً بعد أن كان ميزة حصرية لأندرويد، وعن غزو خدمات جوجل لنظام iOS بشكل عام ومن عدة جهات. أيضاً نناقش تقارير تتحدث عن أجهزة Surface مصغرة ستعلنها مايكروسوفت الشهر القادم، وميزة تحديث إنستاجرام الجديد، وتحول برامج أدوبي التصميمية (على رأسها فوتوشوب) إلى خدمات ذات اشتراك شهري فقط. أيضاً نجيب على أسئلتكم التي وصلتنا، والمزيد!
Yousef Alnafjan"Your own mild surprise when Balotelli interrupts the match by doing donuts on the pitch in a go-kart while dressed as Toad from Mario Kart before driving back to Italy"
Perhaps anticipating a less than entertaining match, Manchester City published an FA Cup final bingo board on their official website to help keep viewers alert as they play Wigan. The club enlisted the proprietor of Football Cliches to put the board together (which has become something of an Internet cliche itself) and the result is a cross-section of the familiar moments and phrases that will inevitably play out.
Have a look...
You should be able to complete the entire board within the first 30 minutes of the game, so here are a few other things to watch/listen for:
-More references to Sir Alex Ferguson retiring than to Wigan.
-"David versus Goliath."
-Roberto Martinez job speculation.
-Roberto Mancini job speculation.
-"Two Robertos!"
-Your own inner thoughts on how much you wish Mario Balotelli was taking part in the match.
-Your own mild surprise when Balotelli interrupts the match by doing donuts on the pitch in a go-kart while dressed as Toad from Mario Kart before driving back to Italy.
-Reference to Liverpool's cream-colored 1996 FA Cup final suits.
-"Noisy neighbors."
-Disinterested royals.
-Suggestions that Kate Middleton's baby should be named after Maynor Figueroa.
-David Moyes.
-Carlos Tevez looking constipated.
We don't always see what Microsoft's marketing teams are cooking up around the world, but whoever filmed these insane, absurdist Asian promo videos deserves a raise. It's possible that the trio of clips below (titled Windows 8 Training Camp) weren't meant for public release, but they're still some of the most memorable, engaging, and on-message 30-second spots we’ve seen featuring the new touch-based operating system since it was released last October. According to a company spokesperson, the videos were made for Asian markets and posted to Microsoft’s general channel by mistake, where they were discovered by the rest of the internet. Just imagine what they could do on purpose.
Stress vs. Time whilst playing Snake
Ahhhh wrestling.
Whether you were a fan back in the 80′s and 90′s when ‘Hulkamaina was runnin’ wild brutha!’ or if you tuned in start the start of the millennium, it’s fair to say you were witness to some of the most amusing pantomime and comedy sketches in living memory. The ratings wars between WWF (which became WWE), WCW and ECW played out night after night as headline matches jostled for the biggest audiences. In short, at it’s peak – the sport was almost universally loved.
If we talked about all the characters (many of them now sadly deceased) like Andre The Giant, Macho Man Randy Savage, British Bulldog, The Big Boss Man, Legion Of Doom and Ultimate Warrior through to stalwarts and big hitters like The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and more recently John Cena – we would be here all day. Now that UFC is the fighting sport of choice, viewership and the swell of public support for wrestling has dwindled somewhat, what hasn’t changed is just how downright fun it all is.
Here’s 14 ridiculously amusing GIFs featuring some of the most memorable moments in the sport.
Tearing down an Ouya: iFixit finds it to be easily repairable originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to retire as manager of Manchester United at the end of this season after 26 years in charge of the club. Now 71 years old, the most successful manager in English football history has already won the Premier League title this season, his 13th with the club and 38th trophy overall since taking over in 1986, but he will not leave Man United entirely. Instead, he will stay on as "both director and ambassador for the club."
His statement (via the Guardian):
"The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time. It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long- term future of the club remains a bright one.
"Our training facilities are amongst the finest in global sport and our home Old Trafford is rightfully regarded as one of the leading venues in the world. Going forward, I am delighted to take on the roles of both director and ambassador for the club. With these activities, along with my many other interests, I am looking forward to the future. I must pay tribute to my family, their love and support has been essential. My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career, providing a bedrock of both stability and encouragement. Words are not enough to express what this has meant to me.
"As for my players and staff, past and present, I would like to thank them all for a staggering level of professional conduct and dedication that has helped to deliver so many memorable triumphs. Without their contribution the history of this great club would not be as rich. In my early years, the backing of the board, and Sir Bobby Charlton in particular, gave me the confidence and time to build a football club, rather than just a football team.
"Over the past decade, the Glazer family have provided me with the platform to manage Manchester United to the best of my ability and I have been extremely fortunate to have worked with a talented and trustworthy Chief Executive in David Gill. I am truly grateful to all of them.
"To the fans, thank you. The support you have provided over the years has been truly humbling. It has been an honour and an enormous privilege to have had the opportunity to lead your club and I have treasured my time as manager of Manchester United."
Ferguson previously announced he would retire afte the 2001/02 season before labeling the decision "an absolute disaster" and changing his mind midway through the campaign. Just last weekend, after it was reported that he would undergo hip surgery this summer, he wrote in his program notes ahead of Man United's 1-0 loss to Chelsea:
"This team of champions is not going away - we are here for the long ride.
"We will get better and if we apply ourselves in our normal fashion I see our 20th league title as nothing but the start of another decade of success.
"Whether I will be here to oversee another decade of success remains to be seen, but I certainly don't have any plans at the moment to walk away from what I believe will be something special and worth being around to see."
With Ferguson stepping down, the current favorite to replace him remains Everton manager David Moyes, who has a barren trophy cabinet compared to the three Scottish league titles, four Scottish Cups, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup Ferguson won with Aberdeen before going to Man United. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has also long been rumored to be a candidate for the job, but the possibility of him returning to Chelsea has become a foregone conclusion in recent weeks.
Whoever Ferguson's replacement is will have a monumental task ahead of him. Even if Ferguson were completely stepping away from the club, his legendary accomplishments have set a near impossible standard to live up to. When Sir Matt Busby, another all-time great Man United manager, quit the club for the first time in 1969, it started a period that saw the club go through five managers in 17 years (including the brief return of Busby) before Ferguson was given the job in '86. Throughout that span, Manchester United did not win a single league title. Busby won his last title in 1967 and Ferguson didn't end the drought until 1993 — seven years into his tenure. A grace period his replacement is unlikely to get in the modern age with patience in short supply and so much more money at stake.
Any slip-ups and calls for Ferguson to return will be as inevitable as said slip-ups. But such a thought just shows how impressive Ferguson's reign was. Twenty six years in charge of one of the biggest clubs in the world and with a trophy haul that most other clubs couldn't match in their entire history. His opponents won't miss his greatness nor his dominance. His new roles could prevent Man United supporters from missing him, though those who work under Ferguson just might wish everyone would forget him. He might not be violently chomping his gum and berating referees from the touchline anymore, but his enormous and intense presence will be felt for some time to come.
Related content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Sir Alex Ferguson leaves legacy that will be impossible to match
• David Beckham praises 'father figure' Alex Ferguson
• Is David Moyes taking over for Fergie?
Yousef Alnafjan3 years too late
Rovio's games — particularly the Angry Birds series — have propagated across a wide variety of mobile devices, but unfortunately there's no way to keep your progress in sync. If you're an iPad and iPhone user, what you do on one device isn't reflected on the other, but Rovio's hoping to change that with the introduction of Rovio Accounts. It's a simple service that only requires an email address to sign up for, and once you've done so your progress will be synced across devices after signing in with that account. Rovio Accounts will also let multiple users save their progress on a shared device, something that'll certainly be useful for families with only one tablet.
It's a much-requested and potentially useful feature, but right now it is severely limited — Rovio Accounts work with The Croods globally and on the original Angry Birds in Finland and Poland. That's it — no Angry Birds Space or Bad Piggies syncing just yet. The company says it intends to continue rolling out this feature to other countries and games, but for now only players of The Croods will really be able to benefit from Rovio accounts.
Yousef AlnafjanNo kidding
Microsoft dropped the biggest hint at the return of a Start button to Windows 8 today. Speaking at the Wired Business Conference in New York, Windows chief Julie Larson-Green reiterated that Microsoft is looking to change certain elements of its upcoming Windows 8 update, codenamed "Blue," in response to user feedback. "Some of it is about not just about time on task or how quickly they learn it … some of it is just in the comfort level that people have."
That comfort level has left some confused, and others calling for the return of the Start button to Windows 8. Third-party apps that specialize in providing a button UI have soared in popularity since Windows 8's release. In early January, Pokki revealed that its Start button replacement app had been downloaded 1.5 million times since the Windows 8 release in October. Although there is a tiny Start button-like UI element in the lower left of Windows 8, Larson-Green admitted it wasn't ideal for everyone. "It's hidden, so some people like the comfort of having it show up on the screen all the time, so they just know their home place and where to go."
"The button might be helpful to have on the screen for some people."
Having it show up on the screen as a traditional button is something that Microsoft has "been thinking about" according to Larson-Green. "There has been discussion, there has been meaningful discussion," she confirmed in response to a question over its rumored return. Despite fully backing the Start Screen as a better way to launch apps in Windows 8, Larson-Green admitted that "the button might be helpful to have on the screen for some people," noting that there's added user comfort of having it on display. "We're principled in the direction we're heading, but we're not going to be stubborn," Larson-Green says. "We'll continue to refine, it's a big big change."
Larson-Green also confirmed that Microsoft will ship a public preview release of its Windows 8.1 "Blue" update in June. The eventual release of Windows 8.1 is expected to include a Start button and a new boot-to-desktop option for users to avoid the Start Screen. Microsoft is promising more information on Windows 8.1 in the coming weeks, while a final version will be delivered via the Windows Store in time for the holiday season later this year.
Yousef AlnafjanDespicable.
Entire countries can go offline. Syria's done it before, and now it appears that the troubled nation has dropped its web connection again, according to Google's Transparency Report and other online sources. The outage appears to have begun just before 3PM ET, according to Google's report, and has yet to be resolved nearly three hours later. It's not entirely clear what's caused the outage, but based on educated speculation surrounding previous incidents, it wouldn't be out of the question to conclude that the government was behind this latest interruption. For now, the country remains in the dark -- we'll update this post just as soon as that's resolved.
Filed under: Internet
Via: Google+
Source: Google Transparency Report
Yousef AlnafjanA convoluted way to do it, but still good for iOS users. Google is serious about taking over iOS with its services.
Now if Apple would let Google use Chrome's actual rendering engine instead of Safari's..
If you're jealous of Gmail's newfound talent of opening links directly in Chrome on iOS, Google's released some code that'll help you bake that functionality into your own apps for Apple's mobile OS. By implementing the new OpenInChromeController class with x-callback, devs can have in-app links open in Chrome and let users return to their application with a back button. Developers can even choose if the link opens a new tab in Mountain View's browser. Of course, the feature will only work if Chrome happens to be installed on the iDevice in question. To grab the code and read up on the documentation, click the second source link below.
Filed under: Misc, Software, Mobile, Google
Via: Google Chrome Developers (Google+)
Source: Chromium Blog, Google Developers
Yousef AlnafjanA new Deus Ex remix album by OCRemix:
http://augment.ocremix.org
Chelsea's 1-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday has been overshadowed by David Luiz smiling after getting kicked by Rafael in the final minutes of the match. The Man United defender was sent off for the blatant offense and Luiz was accused of nefarious play acting all because of his grin. In the days since, it has been reported that Luiz said he was actually laughing at Man United fans mocking him with the usual Sideshow Bob jibes. When asked about The Simpsons character to whom Luiz is so often compared, Chelsea interim manager refused to divulge any knowledge of him.
From PA Sport:
Asked if he was aware who Sideshow Bob is, Benitez said: "I'm aware David Luiz is one of the best players in the Premier League, by miles - miles away from a lot of players. He's one of the best, without doubt.
"If we're talking about that, we're not talking about Chelsea beating United, doing much better in three games - two in Old Trafford.
"We did really well. The substitution of Fernando (Torres) was an offensive player on the pitch. Mind games. Nobody was talking about mind games after the game. Then we start talking about this.
"I don't agree. David Luiz was laughing because the fans were abusing him. After was the red card (for Rafael). It was very clear, the timing.
According to the Telegraph's Ben Rumsby a Sky Sports reporter even produced a picture of Sideshow Bob to show Benitez, which is just a bit weird. Prior to Benitez's arrival at Chelsea, the comparisons and jokes were being made within the club as Luiz's birthday cake last year even featured a depiction of Sideshow Bob in a Chelsea kit.
We can only hope that now that even Benitez has been made aware of the joke, it will finally be put to rest.
Believing it could be the next step in the evolution of cars, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed he has been in talks with Google to bring driverless technology to its vehicles. According to Bloomberg, Musk believes autonomous driving is the next logical step in the evolution of cars, but believes Google's technology — which currently utilizes sensors over an optical system — is "too expensive," adding that Tesla is "not focused on autopilot right now [but] we will be in the future."
Admitting that Tesla has engaged in technical discussions with Google, Musk also told Bloomberg that Tesla will likely develop its own autopilot system, which could incorporate a more cost-effective camera-based alternative that uses software to detect and position a vehicle. However, he didn't rule out the possibility that Tesla could "do something jointly with Google" in the future.
"Autopilot is a good thing to have in planes, and we should have it in cars."
Google has previously said that it expects to release its self-driving car technology in the next three to five years. Using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) laser technology, the company has already logged over 300,000 test miles on the road with its Toyota Prius hybrids, and has reportedly been in talks with other automobile manufacturers to get self-driving cars out of its labs and into consumers' hands. Google has admitted it still doesn't know what form its driverless technology will take when it is released, but even if it is road-worthy, it's likely to face a number of complex legal issues surrounding the use of autonomous vehicles on US roads.
Update: Elon Musk took to his Twitter account shortly after this post was published to push back on Bloomberg's report, saying that while Tesla was considering driverless tech for its cars, it isn't yet a "top priority," nor is any potential partnership with Google on that front. As Musk tweeted:
Creating an autopilot for cars at Tesla is an important, but not yet top priority. Still a few years from production.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 7, 2013
Tesla priority is electrification of cars, so priority is Model S, Model X, then mass market third gen vehicle & truck
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 7, 2013
Am a fan of Larry, Sergey & Google in general, but self-driving cars comments to Bloomberg were just off-the-cuff. No big announcement here
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 7, 2013
Along with claiming more than 200 million users worldwide, Viber's also taking this day to announce what it is referring to as the biggest update to the service yet. For starters, the Viber for Android and iOS applications have both been on the receiving end of a pretty meaningful refresh, following the recent introduction of VoIP calling on older versions of BlackBerry OS. An all-new desktop app will, as of today, also be available to Viber users on a Mac or PC (Linux coming soon, we're told), packing in most of the features the service is well-known for but in a less-mobile form.
Folks using Viber's iOS and Android apps will see many changes to the overall user experience in version 3.0, including added support for video messages, a novel voice engine to help improve call quality, the ability to check contacts' online status and a completely redesigned interface. Meanwhile, the newly minted Viber Desktop features video calling and seamlessly integrates / syncs with the mobile offerings -- which makes things like being able to transfer ongoing voice calls between devices possible. While chatting with the company's CEO, Talmon Marco, he told us development for BlackBerry 10 is in its "advanced stages," adding that the latest Viber apps were built from the ground up and are all part of the goal to "be better and avoid the same mistake" as other similar platforms.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Source: Viber
well this is rEALLY FUCKING CUTE.
IT’S THE CUTEST FUCKING THING I’VE EVER SEEN.
Yousef AlnafjanOh yeah
A newly published study out of the University of New South Wales concludes that men and women find bearded faces more attractive than shaven ones. WHO'S THE DISAPPOINTMENT NOW, MOTHER?
    
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Sure, it's cool when a talented musician makes an album paying tribute to video game music. But what about when a whole bunch of composers assemble, locking their various musical tics and tricks in place for a single grand collection? That's more or less what's happened with World 1-2, a video game tribute album featuring compositions by video-game greats like Mega Man's Manami Matsumae, Journey's Austin Wintory, and Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka.
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Yousef AlnafjanYeah Google, how dare you embolden those stupid Palestinians into thinking that they have the right to have their own independent nation?
Israel has asked Google to reconsider its decision to list Palestine among its selection of localized search pages, accusing the company of implicitly recognizing a Palestinian state. In a letter to Google CEO Larry Page, deputy foreign minister Ze’ev Elkin said the search giant's move could undermine efforts for peace in the region.
The company's Google.ps search page had previously been labeled "Palestinian territories," but was changed to read "Palestine" on May 1st. Israel's foreign ministry had expressed concerns over the nomenclature, saying it "raises questions" about Google's intent. As the Jerusalem Post reports, Elkin has now adopted a more openly critical stance.
A threat to peace in the Middle East
"Such a decision is in my opinion not only mistaken but could also negatively impinge on the efforts of my government to bring about direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority," the minister wrote, adding that the move would embolden Palestinians to "further their political aims through one-sided actions rather than through negotiating and mutual agreement." Elkin asked Google to reconsider its decision, while urging Page to discuss the matter with Israeli representatives.
In an interview with the BBC last week, Google spokesperson Nathan Tyler said the company decided to change the listing after consulting "a number of sources and authorities."
"In this case, we are following the lead of the UN, ICANN [the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers], ISO [International Organisation for Standardisation] and other international organisations," Tyler said. The UN sent shockwaves across Israel late last year, when, by a vote of 138 to 9, it designated Palestine as a non-member observer state. Israel and the US were among those in opposition to the move, with an additional 41 countries abstaining from the vote altogether.
The Palestinian authority last week welcomed Google's name change, describing it as "a step in the right direction," but Elkin says the shift runs counter to the company's ethos of openness and communication.
"Google has brought about so many positive changes in the world by promoting connections between people and between peoples," he wrote. "This decision, however, is in contradiction to such aims, and distances the parties from real dialogue."
