lee goo

Hands-On With Assassin's Creed 3

I’m a big fan of Assassin’s Creed 2; it’s one of my favorite games of this console generation, which probably had something to do with my excitement level after seeing the reveal of Assassin’s Creed 3 back in March. It looks like classic Assassin's Creed gameplay, and that’s worth celebrating. It isn’t focused on tower defense or anything like that; it’s simple and doesn’t require all that fluff.

As excited as I was with that small taste of footage, seeing the naval battles in Assassin's Creed 3 at Sony’s E3 press conference immediately dashed my hopes. I was afraid you wouldn’t have full control, that it would just be another gimmick; rest assured, I got some hands-on time with the naval battle sequences and they are just as good as they look. Earlier this month, Ubisoft flew me down to their offices in San Francisco for a look at how the ship-to-ship combat in Assassin's Creed 3 is shaping up.
It isn’t often that you find something in games so outstandingly beautiful that you can’t do anything but stare and soak it all in. That’s exactly what happened as soon as I took the wheel of a ship in Assassin’s Creed 3. I couldn’t help it; as I took cannon fire from nearby enemy ships, I watched the waves and how the ship reacted to them. It’s truly remarkable. It was hard to believe that it was running on anything current-gen, let alone just a PlayStation 3.

As waves crashed over the side of the ship, water spilled onto the deck, shipmates slipping as they tried to reload their cannons and move about the deck. Cannons fired from the enemy ships, sending cannonballs flying my way. As I braced for impact, they struck the ship. Particles of wood splintered from the mast and railing, leaving fire where they once stood, fires that were soon doused by the pounding waves.

As much as I wanted to stand there and watch the ship slowly fall to pieces until it finally sunk, I pulled myself out of it and turned the wheel. After bringing the sails from half-sail to full sail, the ship sped to life, tearing toward the enemy ships. This is where things got interesting, as I had to plan out my course of attack, making sure that the side of my ship would be facing the broadside of the enemy vessel at the exact right moment. It became almost a game of chicken (if extremely slow-moving chicken). When the enemy fired upon my ship, I almost felt the need to duck. The vision of dozens of cannonballs flying at you is terrifying; if I would have been on a real ship when this was happening, I would have jumped off and taken my chances swimming to shore.

I lined up my shot and took aim. Dozens of cannonballs shot from the size of my ship, making contact with the enemy ship. I pulled up the weapon select wheel and selected Heat Shot. I wasn't really sure what was different about it, but when it hit the other ship it caught fire much quicker, wreaking havoc on their ship's sails. Then there's the coolest weapon of all, the chain shot, that sent two balls chained together hurling toward the enemy masts. Instead of destroying them it wrapped around them, leaving them unable to gain air and rendering the enemy vessel handicapped. It was an interesting tactic that worked surprisingly well and allowed us to get up close and board them.

While we didn’t get to go aboard the ship ourselves, we did get to see what it looked like as Connor climbed aboard the enemy ship, signature tomahawk in hand. He was able to move swiftly, using the ropes and masts to swing toward his enemies. He even used a rope shot ability to hang an enemy soldier from the mast. Not content to leave anything standing, he shot a pile of explosives and started running toward the edge of the ship, managing to jump off just in time and escape off into the sunset. It worked extremely well and looks just as smooth as land combat does, which is very impressive.

It didn’t matter how much time I spent looking at my ship navigating between the beautiful islands, I was in awe. That feeling carried over to the combat, and I can’t wait to see more than this slice of gameplay. It feels genuine, and the sense of scale is massive; if this short sequence that we played is any indication, it’s safe to say that we can expect great things from Assassin’s Creed 3. We’ll have more coverage as we approach its October 30th release date.

Windows 8 RTM: What You Need to Know

Microsoft has put the final touches on Windows 8, and has released the RTM version of the operating system to device makers, developers, and IT pros.

That doesn't mean you can go out and buy Windows 8 right now, but it does mean there won't be any more changes to the operating system from now until its October 26 ship date. Here's what you need to know about the latest release, and what it means for the finished product:

What's New in Windows 8 RTM?

Most of the major changes for the final version of Windows 8 were revealed weeks or months ago. There's no more Aero interface, there are some new background pattern options for the Start screen, and that the desktop has received some new features, including a File History backup application and updates to the Movie Maker and Photo Gallery programs.

Engadget also notes that there's a Bing app in the final version of Windows 8, which shows search results as a horizontally-scrolling list of tiles. (This is separate from Windows 8's master search function, which looks through apps and local files as well.)

Most of the other changes are minor interface tweaks or under-the-hood improvements.

Has Access to Windows 8 RTM?
 
For now, Windows 8 is only available to third-party developers through the Microsoft Developer Network, to IT professionals through TechNet for evaluation purposes, and of course to device makers who are finalizing their Windows 8 PCs. Over the next couple weeks, it'll go out to businesses who need volume licensing, and to resellers and solution providers in the Microsoft Partner Network. Starting October 26, consumers will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 from Windows XP or higher for $40.

Is There Any Way to Try the Final Version Now?

Sort of. Microsoft is currently offering a 90-day trial of Windows 8 Enterprise, which has all the features of the final version, plus some additional tools for IT pros. It's not really meant for consumers, and there's no way to upgrade from the trial version without a clean installation, but if you want to try it, there's nothing stopping you. Alternatively, you can still try the Windows 8 Release Preview, which doesn't have all the changes listed above.

What Are the Early Reviews Saying?
 
Microsoft has provided copies of Windows 8 RTM to some members of the press (including PCWorld), so a few reviews are starting to roll in.

Naturally, Microsoft's hybrid desktop-tablet approach has some detractors. Computerworld's Preston Gralla, for example, thinks Windows 8 is an "excellent operating system" for tablets, but that it "doesn't work nearly so well" for desktops.

Our own Lloyd Case, however, didn't seem as bothered by that approach. "The user interface is easier to navigate than I'd feared, and the whole affair seems to hang together pretty well," he wrote.

Still, even RTM reviews feel a bit like early impressions, since no final Windows 8 hardware is available. The true test will come once devices like Microsoft's Surface tablet hit the mark

pcworld

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1: What You Need to Know Before Buying

Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet is now available at major national retailers starting at $500. So far, reviews of the new Samsung slate have been mixed. Critics such as PCWorld’s Melissa Perenson call the Note 10.1 a “solid performer with wide-reaching appeal.” However, others have called the device “disappointing” and a tablet overstuffed with features.
If you’re in the market for a new tablet that’s not the iPad, then the Note 10.1 might be the tablet for you. But before you run down to your local Best Buy or login to Amazon to get one, here are a few things you should know about Samsung’s latest tablet.

The Specs

Samsung’s new Note tablet features a 10.1 WXGA display with 1280-by-800 resolution, a 1.4GHz quad-core Samsung Exynos processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB onboard storage, microSD card slot (supports up to 32GB), 5 megapixel rear-facing and 1.9MP front-facing cameras, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0 port, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and an IR blaster. The Galaxy Note 10.1 is running Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich and comes with a Samsung S Pen stylus. Samsung says an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upgrade is in the works.

Preloaded Apps and Deals

The Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with a free copy of Adobe PhotoShop Touch ($10 on Google Play), 50GB of free Dropbox storage for two years, Polaris Office, Kno e-textbook platform, and the Barnes & Noble Nook reading app.

Pricing and Availability

At launch, you will be able to buy the tablet from Amazon, Best Buy, BrandSmart, CDW, Conn’s, Fry’s, HH Gregg, and Tiger Direct. The 16GB version will set you back $500, while the 32GB model costs $550.

The S Pen

Apple may have set back the idea of adding a stylus to a touchscreen, but Samsung is slowly helping the lowly pen input make a comeback.
A stylus may not make much sense on a smartphone screen, but a stylus for drawing and note taking is a popular option for tablets, even on the iPad. You can use the S Pen for taking notes via the S Note app or editing images on PhotoShop Touch. And most critics, even those who didn’t like the Note 10.1, are saying the stylus is very responsive.
Samsung first included an S Pen with the 5-inch Galaxy Note “phablet"” released in the U.S. in February.

Multiscreen functionality

You don’t have to fill up the new tablet’s 10.1-inch screen with just one app, Samsung has added a Windows Snap-like functionality, called Multiscreen, that lets you see two apps side-by-side. The downside, however, is that it only works with a limited number of apps including the Web browser, S Note, Video Player, e-mail, Gallery, and Polaris Office. So you can use the new feature to copy and paste data between apps, or do research in the browser and take notes with S Note.
The Note 10.1’s video player also has “always on top” functionality called Pop Up Play that you can overlay anywhere on the screen.

Battery Life

PCWorld’s tests were able to squeeze 8 hours 24 minutes out of the device during video playback with a brightness of 200 candelas.

Hardware

The Note 10.1 is fairly thin and light given its size, especially compared to the iPad. Samsung’s new tablet weighs about 1.32 pounds and is just 0.35-inches thin, compared to the iPad’s 0.37-inch profile and 1.44-pound heft. But that thinness comes at a price, PCWorld’s review dinged the 10.1 for a plastic chassis that felt “inexpensively made.” Both The Verge and The New York Times said the plastic back flexes when you hold it. And the Times’ David Pogue even said he could feel the back flex against the tablet’s circuit board. Bottom line: you might want to see how this thing feels when you hold it before making a purchase.
Samsung’s new Note tablet sounds like it may have a few downsides, but overall, it’s at least worth checking out if you want a new tablet that’s not the iPad.

Microsoft Surface Could Be a Huge Hit at $199

$199? An anonymous “inside source” told Engadget that the Microsoft Surface RT tablet will sell for the amazingly low price of only $199. It would be out of character for Microsoft, but if the pricing is truly that aggressive the Windows tablet could quickly claim significant market share.

Onuora Amobi of Windows8Update.com writes, “I am skeptical of this story for one reason and one reason only--it would be so brilliant that it would be inconsistent with the moves Microsoft have been making.”

Amobi adds, “At $199, it would be sold out on day one and would create huge Windows 8 buzz on day one. It would get Windows 8 into the homes of millions of adults, children and students immediately.”

Would it upset Microsoft’s OEM partners? Probably. Asus, Dell, and others don’t have Microsoft’s cash and probably can’t sell the device at a loss like Microsoft can. However, it may be beneficial for all parties if Microsoft can claim some tablet market share for Windows 8 out of the gate.

A larger audience would fuel developer interest. More apps, more functional apps, and better quality apps will help drive adoption by businesses and consumers. Rinse and repeat. Without an audience, developers will quickly lose interest.

At $199 the tablet would be almost too good to pass up, and would almost definitely be a huge sales success. The problem might be that once Microsoft sets the bar at $199 customers may balk at higher prices down the road, which could be an issue for both Microsoft and its partners.

It may not drive sales right out of the gate, and it seems to upset many customers, but perhaps the Apple strategy is better? The iPhone originally retailed for $599. Two months later Apple slashed the price to $399.

Now, it has been available for $199 with a two-year contract for years, and Apple is selling millions of them.
If you start at $600, $200 becomes a steal. If you start at $200 and you later try to raise the price, customers just feel like they’re being ripped off.

I can say this much. At $1000 I would not buy a Microsoft Surface tablet. At $600 I’d consider it. At $200 it would be a no-brainer. I might buy two.

NASA Updates Us on Curiosity's Progress

It's been more than a week since NASA's Mars rover, dubbed "Curiosity," landed on the red planet. In that time, mission controllers at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., have been checking Curiosity's 10 instruments and updating software for its two-year mission to look for evidence of microbial life on the planet. NASA held a news conference Tuesday to talk about Curiosity's progress so far.

Incredible Photos

Mars mission leaders showed magnificent images that have come in from Curiosity so far.

For instance, in this photo taken from one of the Rover's navigation cameras, you can see part of Curiosity's deck and power supply on the left, as well as both its low-gain and high-gain antennas which allow for communications between Curiosity, orbiting spacecraft and Earth. Farther out you can see the rim of Gale Crater. On the right, close to the rover, NASA says you can see where the descent stage's rocket engines blasted the ground before it disengaged and flew off to a crash landing.

If you were actually standing on Mars looking at this scene it would appear much different, NASA says. The sky there is red, and the dusty air and surface would make the view seem much blander. To make it easier for scientists to know what they're looking at, NASA has "white balanced" the colors to mimic what the rover would see if it were illuminated with Earth sunlight.
Next Steps
Over the next few days more images will come in from Curiosity, including better ones of Mount Sharp, which is where the rover is ultimately headed. According to Mars Mission Manager Mike Watkins, the panoramic images the rover has captured so far haven't shown a full sweep of Mount Sharp because, imaging sequences were pre-planned.
"We couldn't be sure that it would be safe to point [cameras] at the sun," Watkins said.
Starting today, weather instruments will start taking 24-hour measurements, although, because of the winds in the crater, it will take a while to sort it out the data.
In a couple of days NASA will begin testing steering actuators and will take Curiosity out for a short first drive--probably only about a few meters.
While NASA had already used data from the HIRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to identify about a half dozen of the best routes to Mount Sharp, now that the rover is on the ground it will be easier to determine which of those routes will be the safest to traverse in terms of rock size, sand depth, and inclines.
While Curiosity is capable of climbing rocks about a meter high and terrain that's sloped up to 50 degrees, Watkins said they will try to avoid going over high rocks or traveling on slopes angled more than 10 degrees.
NASA said it has commissioned all of Curiosity's instruments except the arm and drill, which will be done in about a week. After that, it will check out the arm joints—essentially doing some wake-up exercises--and even some drilling. So while "final characterization" is probably a month away, NASA says after next week Curiosity will have a lot of capability.

The Road To Mount Sharp

Getting to Mount Sharp, where Curiosity will be doing the bulk of its work, will take some time.
NASA says even though Curiosity's main goal is to study the lower sedimentary layers of Mount Sharp, it's important to understand the context around the area and, as such, will take two or three samples along the way there. Each time the Rover performs sampling it means a few weeks of activity in terms of finding the sample, deploying the arm, acquiring the sample and processing it in the lab.
Curiosity also has to contend with distance constraints. While Mount Sharp is only about 8km away from Curiosity's landing site as the crow flies, NASA says the rover will actually travel a few kilometers more because it will have to drive around obstacles.
The rover can only travel about 100 yards, or the length of a football field, each day. That means it will take around 100 days for the rover to get to Mount Sharp, sampling stops notwithstanding.

High Tech Avionics Were a Big Challenge

Curiosity got a "brain transplant" this weekend in which it received a new version of flight software that's better suited for working on the surface of Mars, such as driving and using Curiosity's powerful robotic arm and drill. It also gives the rover better image processing ability so it can avoid obstacles while driving as well as go on longer drives.
"I like to think of it as an intellectual upgrade, since the brain remains the same," said Avionics Systems Lead Jim Donaldson, who spent several minutes giving a jargon-filled description of what Curiosity's avionics do.
While no doubt an overgeneralization for a complicated piece of technology such as Curiosity, the avionics basically provide interfaces to instruments, radios, motors, and sensors. One of the biggest challenges engineers had to tackle, Donaldson said, involved "the scalability of existing design practices."
Translation: The Mars mission involves technology that is more complex than any other NASA has used.

A photo of Gale CraterHow to Keep up with Curiosity

NASA has dedicated an entire section of its website to its Mars mission and really everything you'd want to know about it is right there.
Otherwise, PCWorld's Ian Paul has put together a thorough guide on how to track the Mars rover using a plethora of online tools. Check out Mars Rover Curiosity: A Complete Guide to Tagging Along Online.

London 2012 Olympics close with spectacular ceremony

The London 2012 Olympics have ended with a spectacular musical closing ceremony and the official handover to the next host city, Rio de Janeiro.

The three-hour show featured some of the biggest names of British pop from decades past, including the Spice Girls, George Michael and Elbow.

Games chief Lord Coe said: "When our time came - Britain, we did it right."

The official Games flag was handed to the mayor of Rio before the flame at the Olympic Stadium was extinguished.

President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, who declared the Games of the 30th Olympiad closed just before midnight, said: "We will never forget the smiles, the kindness and the support of the wonderful volunteers, the much-needed heroes of these Games.

"You, the spectators and the public, provided the soundtrack for these Games.

"Your enthusiastic cheers energised its competitors and brought a festive spirit to every Olympic venue."

Best of British At the close of the ceremony, watched by 10,000 athletes and 80,000 spectators in the stadium along with 26 million TV viewers, the flame was extinguished in dramatic fashion.

Each nation will receive one of the cauldron's 204 petals.

In other developments:

• Nadzeya Ostapchuck, of Belarus, has been stripped of the gold medal in women's shot put after failing a drugs test. New Zealand's Valerie Adams has been promoted to first place
•  
• London airports expect to handle the departure of about 200,000 people a day this week as visitors leave following the Games. Some 120,000 are expected to leave Heathrow each day, with a further 70,000 set to fly from Gatwick
•  
• Private security firm G4S has donated £2.5m to the armed forces after troops had to stand in for its absent staff during the Olympics
•  
• Commentators from around the world have begun to reflect on the success of the Games, as have British observers.

On Sunday, at the closing ceremony, fireworks went off above the east London stadium, the Who performed My Generation and the venue was transformed into a sea of red, white and blue confetti.

The finale, which began with Big Ben chiming, paid tribute to UK music, fashion and culture.

Prince Harry represented the Queen at the ceremony, which took place on top of a stage in the shape of a union jack and saw a volunteer cast of 3,500.

The show saw the Spice Girls re-form to sing Spice Up Your Life from the top of five London taxis, and a surprise performance from Take That, who sang their hit Rule the World. It had been thought they would not appear because Gary Barlow was mourning the loss of his daughter who was delivered stillborn last Saturday.

Artistic Director Kim Gavin also brought together household names, including George Michael, Jessie J, Emeli Sande, Madness, the Pet Shop Boys, One Direction, Ray Davies and Liam Gallagher, as the best of British music went on show to the world.

During the ceremonial part of the show, the Olympic flag was waved aloft by London Mayor Boris Johnson and passed by Mr Rogge into the hands of the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes.

The Brazilian national anthem rang out and the stadium was transformed into the green and yellow colours of Brazil's flag.

'Lit up the world' London 2012 chairman Lord Coe told the audience: "Today sees the closing of a wonderful Games in a wonderful city.

"We lit the flame and lit up the world."

The official handover also saw a celebration of Rio's mix of cultures, music and dance, bringing a carnival atmosphere to the proceedings.

Earlier, there was a riot of colour as the athletes entered the stadium, with four-time Olympic gold medallist sailor Ben Ainslie carrying the British flag and leading out Team GB.

The smiling athletes filled each section of the floor of the stadium, to the sound of Elbow playing their atmospheric hit, One Day Like This.

As is traditional during the closing ceremony, the final medals of the 2012 Olympics were handed out. On this occasion they went to the athletes in the men's marathon, which was won by Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich.

The 70,000 Games Maker volunteers were also thanked for their hard work during the 16 days of competition.

Home-grown fashion was celebrated with appearances from models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, both wearing the creations of the late Alexander McQueen, while British eccentricity also featured, with comedian Russell Brand singing the Beatles' I am the Walrus from the top of a psychedelic bus.

Comedian Eric Idle drew much laughter when he performed a typically quirky version of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, and Muse rocked the stadium with the official anthem of the Games, Survival.

The Games ended with the US topping the final medal table with 46 golds, followed by China with 38 golds. GB came third with 29 golds - their best tally since 1908.

The Queen earlier said Team GB's "outstanding" performance had "inspired" the country.

The last day saw a final - and 29th gold - for Team GB, with boxer Anthony Joshua winning his super-heavyweight bout.

In all, 44 world records have been set during London 2012, and 117 Olympic records broken.

Among those to have set new world bests included Kenyan David Rudisha in the men's 800m and the Jamaican sprint relay team, which included 100m and 200m gold medallist Usain Bolt.

US swimmer Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian in history while cyclist Sir Chris Hoy's two gold medals meant he became the most successful British Olympian of all time.

Earlier, US President Barack Obama telephoned Prime Minister David Cameron to offer his congratulations for a "brilliant" London Olympics, Downing Street said.

On Sunday, crowds also packed London's Hyde Park to watch the sporting action on big screens and enjoy a farewell concert headlined by Blur.

The Paralympics is set to start on 29 August, with the revamped 560-acre (227-hectare) Olympic Park site - to be known as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - then set to reopen from the first anniversary of the opening of the Games, on 27 July 2013.

bbc