Every week when our writers actually have internet access, WoW Insider brings you Shifting Perspectives for cat, bear, restoration and balance druids. This Tuesday, jewelcrafters are still the 1%.Oh, how I adore the new version of Travel Form. I don’t care if it’s slower than a mount, for I shall use it forever, and it shall be mine, and it shall be my Travel Form.As with its guardian counterpart, I’ll be fixing up the 101 guide to the restoration spec after things settle down a little. Raid testing is still ongoing on the beta, and Blizzard may also reevaluate their approach to the spec after the Mists of Pandaria content patch hits the live servers. However, if I had to guess, I would venture that resto is a bit more stable than the guardian at this point, if only because early tank balance is always an extremely sensitive issue. But I’d watch whatever Blizzard is going to do to Wild Mushrooms, because our ‘shrooms are pretty weak after the recent nerf. As in, take them off your bars and sob quietly in a corner weak.Editors here at WoW Insider have also asked us to write short guides to the specs in order to get players up to speed as quickly as possible, so a bare-bones piece on rotations, stat priorities, and such-like will hit the site at some point before MoP goes live.All right, druids! Who’s ready to spend their savings account into an inescapable black hole? Tentative enchant and item modification listThis bears repeating: Early enchants will be expensive enchants because people won’t be sitting on a lot of Sha Crystals for at least a month or two. The situation will be somewhat alleviated by enchanters’ ability to combine three Ethereal Shards into a crystal, but equipping a character for early raiding is still going to be a horribly expensive proposition.As with the article on a shopping list for guardian druids, I’ve assembled this list assuming that Blizzard has yet to do a final pass-through on resto and that stat priorities may change, so there will be a few possibilities listed here in order to reflect that. Early raiders also have to worry more about regen and longevity than later and better equipped raiders, so use your best judgment.Resto enchants are generally more straightforward than their bear counterparts, unless there’s a whole mess of them out there that I don’t know about.Head Gone! Head enchants are no longer anything to worry about.Neck N/A.Shoulders Scribes have now taken over the shoulder enchant market, which is good news if you’re a scribe and bad news if you’re anyone else. The top-of-the-line shoulder enchant will be the Greater Crane Wing Inscription. The regular Crane Wing Inscription will be the cheaper option. Scribes will have access to the Secret Crane Wing Inscription and also the Secret Serpent Pearl Inscription, a spirit option, which may very well be the more compelling of the two.Cloak Enchant Cloak — Superior Intellect will be the go-to pick. Fortunately, it doesn’t look very expensive.Chest Glorious Stats and Mighty Spirit are your two options. Spirit is shaping up to be extremely useful, which is good because Glorious Stats will require taking the in-game equivalent of a second mortgage.Bracers Super Intellect.Gloves Your choices will be Superior Mastery or Greater Haste. Haste is only likely to be the better of the two if it pushes you past a break point.Belt The Living Steel Buckle will be the MoP equivalent of present belt buckles.Legs Tailors will be able to create the Greater Pearlescent Spellthread.Boots Pandaren’s Step is going to win here unless Greater Haste pushes you past a break point.Rings If you’re an enchanter, you’ll be able to slap Greater Intellect on both rings.Weapon Your two choices will be Jade Spirit or Windsong. The interesting thing here is that you can’t control which proc you actually get out of Windsong, or at least you couldn’t as of the last time I looked at it. Jade Spirit will be the better of the two enchants — but again, second mortgage.New alchemy flasks and potionsAlchemists will want to make an Alchemist’s Flask for themselves.Don’t forget to stock up on Master Mana Potions for dungeons and raids.Flask of Falling LeavesFlask of the Warm SunIf you’re willing to spend your potion cooldown on a throughput boost rather than chugging a mana pot (and I’m not), Jade Serpent is your option.New jewelcrafting gemsSecond. Mortgage.So glad I finally knuckled down and leveled jewelcrafting on an alt.Meta choices will be the Burning Primal Diamond, the Ember Primal Diamond, or the Revitalizing Primal Diamond. Without knowing what final stat priorities will look like, I’m hesitant to say now which one you’re going to want, but it’s likely to be a fight between the Ember and the Revitalizing.Pure intellect and spirit options will be the Brilliant Primordial Ruby and Sparkling River’s Heart respectively. Mixed gems will include the Artful Vermilion Onyx, Purified Imperial Amethyst, and Reckless Vermilion Onyx. Once we have a firm grip on stat priorities, we’ll discuss which of these you’ll be gemming more.Jewelcrafters will want to create their Serpent’s Eye gems (intellect and spirit) for themselves.New cooking recipesThe Pandaren Banquet and Great Pandaren Banquet are the MoP equivalents to the Seafood Magnifique. For stamina and agility, I don’t think all of the pandaren recipes are on Wowhead yet, but the Steamed Crab Surprise and Mogu Fish Stew seem to be the terminal recipes for spirit and intellect respectively.Shifting Perspectives: Bear and Resto Edition takes a peek at healer balance in Dragon Soul, discov
ers why bears and PvP gear are a pretty good mix, lends advice on gearing up to hit the Raid Finder, and helps you level a druid in the Cataclysm era.
Month: October 2019
TomTom bringing its navigation app to Android in October, keeping mum on the details
Following the release of its smartphone hands-free car kit, TomTom is previewing its new navigation app for Android handsets at Teutonic trade show IFA. When it arrives in October, it’ll offer navigation, traffic and IQ routes to tempt users away from Google’s bundled navigation applications and onto the company’s paid service. The terse teaser is bundled after the break, but until the GPS maven opens up about its new platform, we’ll just have to be patient. Show full PR text TomTom previews navigation application for Android ~ New app set for October release ~ IFA, Berlin, 29 August 2012 – TomTom previews its new navigation application for Android at IFA today. TomTom navigation, map and traffic technologies will be incorporated into the new app. TomTom’s on-board maps, IQ Routes and HD Traffic will give Android u
sers the freshest map, the fastest routes and the most accurate arrival times. The application is set for release in October 2012. “We aim to make TomTom content and services available to as many devices and platforms as we can,” says Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director at TomTom. “Bringing TomTom navigation to Android smartphones is, therefore, a significant milestone for us.” This announcement follows the recent release of the TomTom Hands-free Car Kit for Smartphones. The kit allows users to charge their phone and mount it in clear view. An in-built speaker then delivers the highest quality audio for loud and clear navigation instructions and calls. More details, pricing and availability will be announced closer to the launch date.
Samsung Galaxy Camera accessories include flashes, wireless charging pad, barn doors (eyes-on)
Samsung’s going all out with its Galaxy Camera accessory lineup. In addition to the cases and Flip Covers we saw at Unpacked earlier this week, the company had some external flashes and professional-looking holsters on hand at its IFA booth, including a grip-mounted adjustable strobe, a ring light set and a sophisticated carrying rig, complete with hinged barn doors to block out unwanted glare. There were also hard covers in multiple dark colors, a handful of soft rubber-looking covers in light colors like aqua and lime green, along with an oversized wireless charging pad mock-up. In typical IFA fashion, booth attendants were unable to provide any information whatsoever, so it’s anyone’s guess what any of these gadgets cost, or if they’ll even make it to market. It’s also unclear whether or not any of the accessories are functional at this point, or simply mock-ups of add-ons under consideration. In the meantime, you can take a closer look in the gallery below. Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Camera accessories hand
s-on | 14 Photos 14 +10
Adobe Revel 1.5 released with new UI, text captions and auto-syncing albums
Adobe’s cloud-based photo storage and editing app has been enjoying its new name since it hopped off the Carousel, and now it’s appreciating a feature bump too. Version 1.5 has just hit the virtual shelves of the Mac and iTunes stores, complete with a new UI and the option to log in using Facebook or Google accounts. Functionality wise, the update adds text captioning for your snaps and the ability to create albums which auto-sync across your devices and can be shared with others via the web. Alright, so the update isn’t revolutionizing the service, but we’re sure those that currently subscribe are reveling in it. Show full PR text Adobe Revel 1.5 Now Available New Album and Captions Capabilities keep photo libraries organized on Mac, iPad and iPhone Adobe today announced the immediate availability of Adobe Revel 1.5. Available in the Mac App Store and the iTunes App Store, Adobe Revel is a photography app that marries powerful and intuitive organizing and editing tools with a cloud technology uniquely designed for photos. With Revel users have one place for all their photos, which they can access using their iPad, iPhone, and Mac. And thanks to automatic syncing of everything a user does – importing and editing photos, creating albums – Revel is the only app that allows consumers to access and manage one photo library on virtually any iOS device or Mac computer. “My favorite things about Revel are having my whole photo library always with me and automated syncing,” said Gayle Vehar, blogger at Mom and Camera. “I love being able to make adjustments and manage photos on
-the-go without having to manually sync when I get home-Revel just handles all of that for me. Revel is the perfect photo app for families because we’ll never miss a moment.” New features available in Adobe Revel 1.5 include: · Albums to organize photos – Create an album on one device and it is automatically updated and accessible everywhere · Sharing albums on the Web – Share private albums with friends and family via AdobeRevel.com · Captions – Add context to memories with text descriptions · An updated all new UI makes the app more intuitive and easier to navigate · Library grid view – Browse photos in track or grid view · Sign in with Facebook or Google IDs – Eliminate the hassle of remembering another password by logging in with a Facebook or Google ID and password Revel helps users keep their photo library organized with the ability to create albums and apply event tags. In addition, Revel makes it easy to create better-looking photos – users can crop, apply Looks (filters) or use sliders that control lighting, color and clarity. With effortless syncing and no limits to the number of photos that can be imported, consumers now have the freedom to use any device of their choice to play with all their photos anytime. Important information about Trials Users with an expired trial as of August 21, 2012 will have another 30 days to try the new version. To start another 30-day complimentary subscription, users need to login with their existing Adobe Revel ID. Users will not be automatically charged at the end of their complimentary subscription; this applies to all users of the Adobe Revel 30-day complimentary subscription. Pricing and Availability The Adobe Revel 1.5 desktop app for Mac is immediately available in the Mac App Store and the apps for iPhone and iPad is on the iTunes App Store. Upgrading these apps is free for all existing customers. Subscription pricing for an Adobe Revel account is available for $5.99/month.
US presidential campaign trail winds its way to Xbox Live on August 27th with Election 2012 Hub
Can’t get enough coverage of the US presidential race even with YouTube in the mix? Microsoft’s Election 2012 Hub for Xbox Live may be able to satisfy your inner political junkie. Redmond’s initiative will provide video of town hall events at both the Democratic and Republican national conventions, daily content from NBC and full coverage of results as ballots are cast and counted on November 6th. Throughout live streams of the debates, users will be able to rate the performances of public office hopefuls and see what marks other viewers give them in real-time. Information on voter registration, politicians and their take on issues will also be included. According to Microsoft, roughly 40 percent of Xbox-owning voters surveyed aren’t concretely committed to a candidate running for the Oval Office, placing them in the highly-prized swing voter category. The service won’t launch until the Grand Old Party’s pow-wow kicks off on August 27th, but we hear there’s plenty of relevant reading to keep you busy until then. Show full PR text Microsoft to Launch “Election 2012 Hub on Xbox LIVE” Aug 23, 2012 Alongside NBCNews.com, Rock the Vote, YouGov and Face the Facts USA, Xbox will deliver a first-of-its-kind way to interact with the election and make your voice heard. REDMOND, Wash. – Aug. 23, 2012 – Microsoft Corp. today announced “Election 2012 on Xbox LIVE,” a unique opportunity for Xbox 360 owners to watch and interact with live election coverage of the presidential debates, learn the facts about the candidates and issues from Face the Facts USA, register to vote through Rock the Vote, and participate in live daily polling from YouGov. NBCNews.com will deliver daily election programming to keep users up-to-date on the latest news and analysis about the election and the candidates. All these experiences will be featured on a brand new Election 2012 Hub on Xbox LIVE. Members will be able to fully access the first wave of content, which will focus on convention-related news, beginning Monday, Aug. 27. Through this innovative platform, U.S.-based Xbox LIVE* members – part of a large, diverse and actively engaged audience of more than 40 million members worldwide – will be able to interact in real time throughout the three scheduled presidential debates, as well as enjoy live feeds from the Republican and Democratic national conventions. Xbox LIVE members will also be able to voice their opinions by responding to poll questions throughout live programming of the debates and other unique election events hosted on Xbox LIVE throughout the campaign season. “We want to provide our passionate Xbox LIVE community with a great way to experience the election process with TV that makes them participants – and not just viewers,” said Marc Whitten, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “This is a great example of how our Xbox capabilities are making the promise of interactive television a reality.” “As a leader in digital and broadcast news, NBC News is always looking for more places to deliver its high-quality multimedia content, particularly in this critical campaign year. This relationship with Xbox LIVE is a unique opportunity to expand our reach on a really innovative platform,” said Vivian Schiller, senior vice president and chief digital officer at NBC News. Additional original programming will be featured through the Election Hub on Xbox LIVE with the “Conversations with the Next Generation” youth town halls in Tampa, Fla., Aug. 29 and Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 5. National Journal, The Atlantic and Microsoft are working together on these one-of-a-kind events at the Republican and Democratic national conventions to engage with younger Ame
ricans and students in a dialogue about issues facing their generation. The event moderators, including NBC’s Chuck Todd and Chelsea Clinton, will lead keynote interviews, panel discussions and audience Q&A with unique perspectives on the youth vote, education and the future of America’s economy. Participants such as George P. Bush; Kal Penn; Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill.; MTV’s Andrew Jenks; Michelle Rhee; OUR TIME’s Matthew Segal; and the national presidents of both the Young Democrats of America and the Young Republican National Federation will further explore ways in which people can empower youths to get involved in the political process and make their voices heard. “Technology has been a transformative force in politics during recent years,” said Fred Humphries, vice president of government affairs at Microsoft. “The launch of the Election 2012 Hub on Xbox LIVE marks another exciting moment of change. This platform will innovate how some voters engage in the political process, and it provides greater access to valuable information such as the perspectives of youth at our town halls, newscasts and voter registrations. By bringing the elections directly into the home through this Xbox platform, we hope to encourage greater participation in the democratic process this fall.” As part of Election 2012 coverage, Xbox LIVE is joining with Face the Facts USA, a nonpartisan, independently funded research initiative supported by The George Washington University and backed by “Americans who believe facts should come first in the national debate.” Thanks to this initiative, Xbox LIVE members will have access to videos that will help them more accurately understand the major issues surrounding the election and the candidates involved. Frank Sesno, former CNN correspondent, anchor and Washington bureau chief and director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University, will host this important video content. Microsoft has also teamed up with Rock the Vote to encourage and facilitate voter registration. Rock the Vote will deliver information and programming directly into the Election 2012 Hub on Xbox LIVE, while also providing local voter information and the ability to register to vote through http://www.xbox.com/election2012. Rock the Vote will also make available exclusive musical content to be streamed directly to the Xbox LIVE community. Xbox and Rock the Vote previously worked together in 2008, successfully driving tens of thousands of citizens to register to vote and become active participants in the election process. “We are thrilled to be working with Xbox again to deliver important election and voter registration content to millions of voters through this truly unique and impressive Xbox LIVE platform,” said Chrissy Faessen, vice president of Marketing and Communications at Rock the Vote. “There’s a growing audience of individuals getting their election information solely from online platforms; Microsoft has set itself apart by providing for its users a level of content and interactivity that’s second to none.” Underlying this entire experience will be daily polling of the Xbox LIVE community aligned with relevant happenings on the campaign trail. Working with YouGov, the daily results will be weighed to reflect both the Xbox community and likely voters. Further, timely polling will provide quick feedback from the Xbox community during major campaign events this fall. To understand more about the political attitudes, behaviors and issue priorities of Xbox LIVE members, Xbox commissioned StrategyOne to conduct a survey of 1,678 Xbox LIVE households. The survey, which was conducted June 19 to July 3, 2012, found that 40 percent are Xbox Swing Voters – those who are not firmly committed to a presidential candidate. Xbox Swing Voters say the most important issues facing the country are unemployment and jobs (39 percent), healthcare (29 percent) and taxes (22 percent). Xbox Swing Voters say they follow politics and public policy matters in the news at least once per week, including 23 percent who follow these issues daily. Thirty-nine percent say they often watch information about the presidential election with other people in their household. “A large, engaged but uncommitted audience, Xbox Swing Voters are a technically savvy and passionate voting bloc,” said Douglas Rivers, YouGov’s chief innovations officer. “We’re proud to be working with Microsoft and its game-changing, interactive Xbox LIVE platform to provide meaningful insights that are shaping the current election landscape.”
PWI: Reflections update coming August 8
Perfect World International players will have a whole new zone and oodles of features to explore when the Reflections update launches tomorrow.In addition to the new Realm of Reflections zone and new seasonal quests, new rewards have been added for the Nine Trials, and a weekly PvP event is now featured in the high-level Morai zone. But the new content update isn’t just giving new toys to the big kids. Changes are also being made to mid-level quests, the newbie-le
vel experience is being streamlined, and a new way to gain XP is getting tossed into the mix.Check out the gallery below for some previews of what awaits you in Reflections.[Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release] Gallery: PWI: Reflections | 5 Photos 5 +1
Sony quietly drops new HMZ-T2 Personal 3D viewer at IFA
Sony almost sneaked this one by us at today’s IFA press event. In fact, it was never mentioned on stage and practically buried in the day’s flood of PR. The HMZ-T2 is the company’s next generation wearable 3D display. Aesthetically it doesn’t appear very different from last year’s T1 and, spec-wise, things seem largely the same as well. Put the head-mounted unit on and you’ll be presented with a pair of 0.7-inch OLED monitors that deliver 45 degrees of three-dimensional entertainment. There’s also the same Virtualphones tech baked in, that create the illusion of a 360-degree 5.1 surround sound system. The T2 distinguishes itself primarily through a refined design that makes it lighter and more comfortable (without resorting to shape-shifting liquid metal, either). For more, check out the PR below. Gallery: Sony HMZ-T2 Personal 3D Viewer | 10 Photos 10 +6 Show full PR text The all-new, totally enhanced cinema and gaming experience–the Personal 3D Viewer 29 August 2012 Sharper display, improved sound and superior comfort with the new HMZ-T2 · Play 2D & 3D movies and games in vivid High Definition · Enjoy smooth, comfortable viewing with bright, clear OLED screens and a lighter, more adjustable headset · Get the full atmosphere with virtual 5.1 surround sound Totally immersive gaming and movies Now even more light and comfortable, the all-new Personal 3D Viewer from Sony is a head-mounted, High Definition 2D and 3D personal display with virtual 5.1 surround sound. It’s perfect for movies and gaming, with twin OLED screens that display vivid, super-sharp images (with zero cross-talk interference) to absorb you in a truly personal experience. Clear, smooth, cinematic 3D viewing The Personal 3D Viewer features dedicated, high response Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) screens for each eye, which reproduces deep, vivid colour tones with sharp contrast and no blurring. And with a 45° field of vision, you’ll feel completely immersed in a widescreen cinema experience. The HMZ-T2 also has a set of detachable and adjustable light shields for greater privacy and total involvement in your viewing experience. These flexible light shields simply clip on or off the Personal 3D Viewer, and are completely unobtrusive to the headset comfort and design. Viewing perfection for film fans or gamers The Personal 3D Viewer is made for both film enthusiasts and solid gamers. 24p True Cinema mode shows films exactly as the director intended for the big screen, at 24 frames per second. Or, if you’re a keen gamer, select the Clear mode for smooth fast-action sequences. Whatever you select, Auto Colour Temperature adjustment gradually lowers image tone intensity from blue to red hues so that you can watch or play your favourite movies/games comfortably for longer hours. Lose yourself in 5.1 surround sound With a choice of sound modes, the Personal 3D Viewer features Virtualphones™ technology to create a 360º natural sound field, just as though you’re listening to true 5.1 channel surround sound. There’s also Harmonic Equalizer technology built in, which restores audio compression losses in the d
igital waveform for a fuller, more spacious sound. Lighter and more adjustable for wearing comfort Weighing just 330g, the Personal 3D Viewer is 20% lighter than previous models, with greater options for wearing comfort. It has a highly adjustable headband and forehead support for a secure, gentle fit with positional screen lenses for relaxed and clear 3D viewing. You can also use your own favourite wired or wireless headphones or inner-ear phones to enjoy immersive surround sound. “Everything about the HMZ-T2 Personal 3D Viewer is designed for comfort and total immersion,” says Naoto Yoshioka, Home Audio Video Senior Product Manager at Sony Europe, “so once you’re watching a film or playing a game, you’re totally absorbed in the thrilling action and forget you’re even wearing the headset.” Notes to editors HMZ-T2Personal 3D Viewer Your personal, cinematic home entertainment experience · Immersive Full HD 2D and 3D – enjoy a 45° full cinematic widescreen picture · Smooth 3D viewing – dedicated, high response OLED screens for each eye smoothly display 2D and 3D images without the blurring of image crosstalk · Virtual 5.1 channel sound – crisp, clear 360º audio with ambient sound, also Harmonic Equalizer audio enhancement and a choice of listening modes · Vivid clarity and high contrast picture – a TruBlack display creates a clear visual experience · Watch comfortably for hours – Auto Colour Temperature adjustment lowers image tone intensity for longer play with less eye fatigue · Adjustable supports for enhanced performance – for optimum comfort, headband and forehead supports are fully adaptable, with adjustable screen lenses for precise 3D viewing · Use your favourite headphones– make it more personal by using your own wired or wireless headphones or inner-ear phones · Detachable light shields etacable lwersg mode you select, you’dset[stipeirnce for different kinds of play. for greater privacy– fully detachable and adjustable light shields for total involvement in your viewing experience · Wireless remote controls– adjust sound and vision, and access the menu wirelessly without breaking from the action · Play while others watch TV – a dual output switcher means other people can watch TV or films while the wearer plays games (or the other way around)
Greg Zeschuk not leaving BioWare, just General Manager position [Updated]
According to a rumor circulating at German games site GamersGlobal, one of the founders of BioWare, Greg Zeschuk, may be leaving the studio he helped create.Word of his possible departure has been rumored since the May layoffs, but an EA representative reportedly confirmed to GamersGlobal that Zeschuk “outlined his plan to return to his family in Edmonton for a much deserved vacation.” The site also suggested that Zeschuk has been absent from the studio for several weeks, and there were fears within the Austin studio that both Zeschuk and co-founder Ray Muzyka were planning to leave.The rep went on to clarify: “Greg also announced the new GM of BioWare Austin and Old Republic, Matt Bromberg. Greg is still with EA. He’s now back in Canada, taking time off and thinking about new projects. No change with Ray Muzyka.”As this is still a rumor at this point, we must note that official confirmation from EA hasn’t been made on this report. We will update with any news as it’s made available.[Update: Gamasutra reports that Zeschuk is not leaving BioWa
re completely; he did leave his General Manager role back in May.]
Sony announces PlayMemories camera apps, will arrive on the NEX-5R first
On top of the NEX-5R announcement, Sony has unveiled new camera apps that will grace the rear screen of the aforementioned WiFi-enabled shooter first when it arrives in October. PlayMemories will feature downloadable software that can be installed on your Sony kit after purchase, offering new functionality for the device. The set of applications will feature the following options at launch: Picture Effect+, Bracket Pro, Multi Frame NR, Smart Remote Control and Direct Upload. The outfit plans add Photo Retouch alongside the Time-lapse and Cinematic Photo apps mentioned in today’s presser sometime after the initial offerings roll out. When paired with PlayMemories Online, Mobile or Studio, you can view and transfer captured photos and videos on compatible TVs, smartphones, tablets and PS3 consoles. If more information is what you’re after, consult the PR below to gather some more details. Show full PR text More ways to enjoy the memories: 29 August 2012 PlayMemories family of apps and services from Sony gains exciting new features PlayMemories from Sony keeps growing with a series of exciting new possibilities to enhance your digital imaging experience, before and after shooting. PlayMemories is an easy-to-use family of services and applications that lets you enjoy photo and video memories across multiple devices – from cameras, smartphones and tablets to PlayStation®3 and compatible BRAVIA TVs. PlayMemories Camera Apps PlayMemories Camera Apps is the world’s first application download service （*for interchangeable-lens digital cameras as of August 2012）that lets you install new functions on demand to boost the capabilities of your camera. PlayMemories Camera Apps offers a variety of applications that expand 
camera functionality, personalising your photographic experience and enhancing your network connectivity. Just download the applications onto your camera and start enjoying even richer photographic expression. PlayMemories Camera Apps is initially supported by the new NEX-5R interchangeable lens compact system camera. From launch, there’s a range of imaging apps to broaden your creative options and utilities. “Picture Effect+” expands the range of artistic treatments available in the camera’s standard Picture Effect mode. “Bracket Pro” automatically shoots a rapid burst of three images at different ‘bracketed’ settings – for shutter speed, aperture or focus – allowing you to choose the best shot. “Multi Frame NR” captures a series of images in rapid succession. They are automatically superimposed by the camera to create one low-noise photo at the selected ISO speed. It’s ideal for capturing atmospheric night-time scenes, or shooting in dark conditions without using flash. “Photo Retouch” adds a generous palette of adjustments like brightness, saturation and contrast plus Soft Skin, re-size and other post-shooting effects. Also available is the Auto Portrait Framing feature which detects the faces in images captured and intelligently applies the recommended composition afterwards. Sony also plans to introduce more new apps, including “Time-lapse” and “Cinematic Photo”. “Time-lapse” automatically captures a series of still pictures at adjustable intervals. These images are automatically combined by the camera, and can be replayed like a video clip. “Cinematic Photo” captures a series of frames, creating fun animated picture effects where part of a static image appears to move. Downloadable utilities include “Smart Remote Control”: remotely check the image on screen, adjust exposure and release the shutter of the NEX-5R with your smartphone1 or tablet (such as the Xperia™ Smartphone and Xperia™ Tablet). Captured pictures are also sent automatically to your smartphone or tablet. “Direct Upload” lets you upload images directly from the camera to PlayMemories Online and Facebook. New PlayMemories Camera Apps will be initially available from October 2012 in 17 countries2. PlayMemories Online From this August, Sony’s compatible BRAVIA TVs will become able to view photos and video posted on PlayMemories Online directly, broadening the width of devices capable of enjoying the service. (*Availability of PlayMemories Online varies according to country or region) PlayMemories Mobile This Android/iOS app simplifies video and photo transfers to smartphones or tablet devices from the Wi-Fi enabled cameras such as the NEX-5R compact system camera. As detailed above, the app now lets you remotely control the NEX-5R and the HDR-AS15 Action Cam using your smartphone: it’s great for family group shots where you want to be in the picture, too. (“Smart Remote Control” app needs to be installed to the NEX-5R to use this feature.) PlayMemories Studio PlayMemories Studio makes organizing, editing and viewing videos and photos on your PlayStation®3 (PS3®) as easy and intuitive as playing a game. PlayMemories Studio3 evolves with the brand-new ability to output images on Sony’s 4K TVs. 4K displays contain around four times more detail than Full HD. You can enjoy high resolution images taken by current digital cameras on Sony’s new 4K-enabled BRAVIA KD-84X9005. Other enhancements include easy content uploads to YouTube and PlayMemories Online. For further information on PlayMemories Camera apps, please visit: www.sony.net/pmca 1 Requires download and installation of PlayMemories Mobile™ app on Android smartphones and tablets as well as iPhone and iPad. 2 PlayMemories Camera Apps will be available in United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Actual start date will vary by country region. 3 Available starting during current fiscal year ending March 2013
Levine: ‘I’m not going to stop people’ from leaving Irrational
Art director Nate Wells worked at Irrational Games for 13 years, beginning in September 1999 and the company’s System Shock 2 days. Yesterday we discovered Wells and a handful of other people working on BioShock Infinite were no longer with Irrational, and Wells’ Twitter briefly teased a job change before being deleted. While the bulk of people leaving Irrational can be chalked up to industry turnover, Wells’ departure stands out for the public and Irrational Games founder Ken Levine.”In a company of 200 people you’re going to have turnover,” Levine tells Kotaku. “We never like to see a guy like Nate leave because he’s been he
re for a long time, but it’s been 13 years and I think sometimes people want to spread their wings. I’m not going to stop people. We love Nate and I think we all remain friends. After 13 years he sort of finished his work on BioShock Infinite, as you will be able to tell when you see the game again… I think Nate’s moving on to something else.”Replacing Wells is Scott Sinclair, the art director for the first BioShock. This rounds out the core BioShock team that has stuck with the franchise – which is an achievement all on its own, Levine says:”As far as the team itself, the lead artist, the art director, the creative director, the lead effects artist, the senior sound guy, the lead programer and the lead AI programmer from BioShock 1 are all on BioShock Infinite. I don’t think there’s a single senior BioShock team member that isn’t here, which I think is amazing and a testament to their commitment to the studio.”