The role-playing video game, published by Square Enix , is designed for the Xbox360, PC, OnLive and the PlayStation 3, and is being praised by critics worldwide for its superior augmentation of reality and the sheer number of in-game user options that are offered to players, the game being  one of the rare hybrids which have first-person shooter, stealth, espionage and role-playing all rolled into one.

The third installment to the Deus Ex series, ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’ is a prequel to Deus Ex which was released in 2000. The much-awaited game has been applauded by gamers looking for a conspiracy-laden plot with cyber-punk inspired theme. It also has a few special features, such as elbow grenades, which were missing from the first two in the series.

Set in 2027, the game’s plot revolves around Adam Jenson (played by you), an ex-Swat specialist, who is a security expert for Sarif Industries, a biotechnology corporation working on human augmentation. On the verge of a breakthrough, the company’s headquarters are ransacked, leaving Adam for dead. Adam is mechanically augmented by Sarif which saves him and Adam sets out on his quest for revenge.

Ars Technica’s game reviewer, Ben Kuchera described the game, “This game doesn’t reward multiple playthroughs, it all but demands them.  This is the Deus Ex game we’ve been waiting for.”

Kevin VanOrd of GameSpot was of a similar opinion, stating, “The longer you play, the more the story grabs you and the more you appreciate the customizability of the game”.

Tom Price of GamePro has further praised the game, “Human Revolution’s strong points come from the gameplay, and are the basis for why you should play the game. The consistent mental challenge of tackling each mission is what makes it so captivating, relying on strategy over spectacle.”
Information Source: SDEntertainer.com and CNET.com

Image Source: GameRant.com

Deus Ex: Human Revolution: Available In Stores Now is a post from: Localized USA: Your Local News Source

Over the past couple of weeks, HP’s seen a lot of ups and downs. Last week, in an announcement which rocked the tech world, the company confirmed its decision to discontinue their recently launched WebOS line of products, particularly the HP Veer smartphones and the TouchPad tablet series, after their dismal sales from the time they hit the market. This announcement had everyone wondering about the future of WebOS, especially the consumers who had just bought the new series.

Shortly after this astonishing revelation, in an even more surprising turn of events, the two month old products took the world by storm in a fire sale, the likes of which had never been seen before and which left stores and competitors reeling in shock. It also had HP rethinking its stance on shutting shop with respect to WebOS hardware.

In a recent interview with AllThingsD, DeWitt, disclosed with utter optimism that, “the company is continuing to invest in the software even as it stops making WebOS tablets and phones.”

While the company is keeping its options open and talks are continuing about the sale of the WebOS and HP’s proposed spin-off of its PC business, plans to release WebOS-equipped printers and PCs are in the making, even though no details have been divulged so far.

HP is also continuing with its launch of the Pre 3, though the US market will not see the official release. The company will be releasing the Pre 3 in limited quantities to certain “limited markets”. They have already launched the products in the UK and certain parts of Europe.

Information Source: PalmInfoCenter.com and AllThingsD

Image Source: TrendSetters.com

HP To Continue Veer, TouchPad Sales And Support is a post from: Localized USA: Your Local News Source

With over 20 million users who signed up within the first 21 days, Google+ got off to a pretty good start and they have declared to keep the platform clean of spammers and scammers. Google is cracking down on pseudonyms and anonymous or fake profiles of celebrities as well as the average Joe, by deleting profiles first and asking questions later.

While this has been a controversial issue that scandalized many and caused shock waves amongst the social networking community, Google is sticking by its stand on deleting profiles that do not have real, verified names and singular, real faces behind them.

“We’re starting to roll out verification badges on profiles so you can be sure the person you’re adding to a circle is who they claim to be,” streamed Google’s Wen-Ai Yu via Google+. “For now, we’re focused on verifying public figures, celebrities, and people who have been added to a large number of Circles, but we’re working on expanding this to more folks.”

Along with taking a potshot at their main competitor, Facebook, Wen-Ai Yu also said “This is what Facebook is missing. No wonder they have so many user, when there are thousands of fake celebrity profiles. I’m looking forward, for everyone to verify. I always like to know that the person I talk to is really that person.”

This means that bloggers, advertisers, marketing companies etc who were looking forward towards using Google+ for marketing campaigns and garnering publicity, have had their ambitions canned, because Google+ is determines to keep them out.

Information Source: ibtimes.com

Image Source: Increaserss.com

Google+ Takes Profile Verification A Step Further is a post from: Localized USA: Your Local News Source

As per a recent survey conducted by the business-to-business division of Staples, Inc, Staples Advantage, over 60 percent employees use their tablets to maintain their work-life balance by logging into their office networks after hours and during vacations.

According to the survey results, over 60 percent said their productivity has improved drastically, with 75 percent stating that they use their tablets to check office mails and get work done while on the go, during out-of-office hours. More than 80 percent of employees find that their work-life balance has improved because of the ability to work extended hours without having to stay back at the office. Another 40 percent stated that their main motivation to purchase the tablet was improved communication and being able to stay connected with clients and colleagues.

Evidently, the effortless portability of the tablet has made it a huge hit with workers whose number one priority is convenience. As per the Staples survey, over 95 percent people use the tablet as a supplement to their desktops and notebooks, even though 65 percent consumers say that they use their tablets as their primary device now. The ease-of-use plays such an important role that over 78 percent of the survey respondents admitted to using the tablet in bed, 35 percent in the bathroom and over 30 percent in cafes and restaurants.

As per the VP and GM of Staples Technology Solutions, Ed Ludwigson,  ”Tablets offer fantastic convenience and a better work/life balance, making it easy for employees to keep information with them and utilize business apps, no matter where they go. For employers, the benefit is having a more productive workforce that’s always connected to what’s happening at the office”.

With the influx of several new tablet models in the market this year, potential owners have more choice than ever to look forward to when shopping for a tablet PC.

Information Source: MarketWatch.com

Image Source: AppleiPad.co.in

Staples Survey: Tablets Increase Productivity is a post from: Localized USA: Your Local News Source

While nothing has been officially confirmed, undisclosed sources have confirmed that Sprint will start selling the iPhone 5 in mid-October this year. The rumor has already given Sprint a boost in the stock market, with the share prices increasing steadily since the news was leaked.

And Sprint is apparently not the only one gearing up for an October release. A “high-level” contact at AT&T reportedly told BGR that the company’s VP has notified a handful of staff to begin preparing for the launch as the new Apple Smartphone will indeed be available from early October.

Verizon too, had confirmed in July, that they were expecting to start selling the new Apple phone in fall.

The fact that earlier this month, iPhone 5s were actually sent to carriers for testing, has further added to the crazed rumor mill. Also, keeping in mind that Apple product launches have been like clockwork in the past, with most iPhone releases being scheduled for the summer. Being October, although not exactly summer, it is extremely close to a late summer release date.

What will the new iPhone bring? Although not officially announced, with the help of several blurry camera shots and rumors that have been circulating, there are speculations that the iPhone 5 will feature a design similar to the iPhone 4 and will also feature a new bezel on the back. Not only that, it will most likely feature the A5 chip transferred over from the iPad 2 giving it more processing power than ever before.

Going by the release of any other iPhone, companies expect the launch to extremely hectic. Considering how crazed people get when they hear the phrase “new iPhone” and “release” in the same sentence, they have sufficient cause for concern.

Information Source: Msnbc.msn.com and TheNextWeb.com

Image Source: iDeviceNews.org

Rumors Rife: iPhone 5 Coming In Early October is a post from: Localized USA: Your Local News Source

Logitech recently released the new Mac-compatible version of the Logitech K750 Solar Keyboard which was previously only available for Windows PCs. The keyboard, which has been on the market for a few months now, has received rave reviews from users. Amazon users have praised it highly with overall feedback and ratings for this little marvel being consistently high since the time Logitech released it.

During it’s Windows run, the key selling point of this sleek, slim and extremely portable keyboard was that once charged, it can go for up to three whole months without needing to be recharged. This brilliant feature holds good for the new Macintosh version as well. While the keyboard has a standard layout, the keys are concaved for greater typing comfort and is compatible with all Macs, OS X 10.4 and above. Overall, it looks extremely stylish and is available in five different colors, including pink, green and blue.

Logitech has now started taking pre-orders for the Mac-compatible solar-powered keyboard. While the original price tag says $79.99 for the PC version, the company is selling the first release of the Macintosh version at a $20 discount, bringing the price down to a fantastic $59.99. It may still seem a little steep when compared to other keyboards, but for the eco-friendly mac-geek, it’s money well spent.

Information & Image Source: GadgetLite

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A new patent win in Cupertino, California by Apple will enable them to integrate cellular antennas underneath MacBook and iMac keyboard keys. Patently Apple stated this is Apple’s fourth cellular-based patent for the MacBook series over the past year, along with it being the second one that deals with disguising a cellular antenna.

So far, MacBook users have had a tough run with Bluetooth accessories because of the positioning of the antenna in the notebook. A classic example is the Magic Mouse. Not too long back, a prototype of the 2007 MacBook Pro, along with a 3G antenna was selling like hotcakes on an eBay auction, until the authorities caught up and ended the auction.

Placing the antennas under certain keyboard keys will help improve reception and transmission proficiency of the antennas, in the new patent. Also, as per the diagrams of the proposed keyboards, developers are going to place multiple, individual antennas under different keys to enable the device to acquire real-time information and use the antenna with the strongest signal.

The patent, however, doesn’t specify which kind of antenna Apple is going to use. There are speculations that the for the iMac, Bluetooth antennas are most likely, while for the MacBook, the antenna will be used for Wi-Fi or data/cellular services with 3G or 4G reception.

This would definitely be a leap for the next-generation Mac-designs, as they would be the first to integrate 3G and 4G into their notebooks. With rumors rife that Apple is planning on launching a whole new line of the MacBook Pro series, with solid state drives and jettisoning optical disc drives, akin to the MacAir, this will be another feather in Apple’s cap.

Information Source: Wired.Com and AppleInsider.com

Image Source: TechXplosion.net

Could We Have 3G MacBooks In The Near Future? is a post from: Localized USA: Your Local News Source

Based on several believably-legitimate, leaked screen-shots of their roadmap, the Windows team has referred to the App Store as a “high quality, uncomplicated” product that should definitely become a part of the Windows platform, and that they are moving along with it.

Two months ago, an analyst with the NPD Group, had predicted the launch of the Windows App Store. Steven Baker was reported to having said, “It’s clear that Microsoft will on some level go to an app store in Windows 8.”

Going by the fact that Sinofsky has launched the new Windows 8 blog exactly 3 years after the Win7, there are rumors abound that the new OS will be released along a similar timetable, which would mean that users can expect a launch sometime in October 2012.

While the company has its lips sealed about the official release date, there are plans to reveal more about the new Microsoft OS at its Build Conference which is scheduled to be held on September 13 in Anaheim, California. There are speculations that the MS may even release a preview version of Windows at the time.

With this move, Windows is hoping to make the problems of purchasing and downloading their apps a thing of the past for customers, as well as improving their design, and increasing productivity meters, not to mention giving Apple’s Mac a run for it’s money. Leaked previews of the Windows 8 Application Store feature brightly colored sections and beautiful graphics to go along with it.

Information Source: ComputerWorld.com

Image Source: Windows8Themes.org

Windows 8 App Store Confirmed is a post from: Localized USA: Your Local News Source

The HP Touchpad tablet, which Hewitt Packard discontinued just last week during the end of quarter financial reports press release, saw a massive drop in sale prices – from the original price of $399 to a mere $99 for the 16GB model causing a frenzy amongst online shoppers.

In view of the spiraling prices of tablet PCs in the market at this current moment, it was a steal, and consumers devoured the HP tablets, leaving online stores dusting their sold-out boards and empty shelves in delight. All except Barnes & Noble, who have been receiving a lot of flak from consumers.

Evidently, Barnes & Noble, one of the few sites selling the HP tablet at the $99 discount sale, reneged on a large number of orders after consumers had placed their orders. They claimed to have over-sold the tablet in the e-mails sent to customers.

A CNET reader received the following letter from the company:

“Due to unexpected customer demand for this item, our inventory was depleted prior to your order being processed so we are unable to fulfill this item as requested. Consequently, we have canceled your order and you will not be billed for this amount. “

The news has set the Twitter Cloud ablaze with people tweeting about it constantly. While, it is not clear how many orders had been deprived of a spanking new Touchpad, going by the number of complaints posted by unhappy buyers on micro-social networking sites like Twitter, it is a fairly large figure.

Image Source: PCWorld.com

Barnes and Noble Facing Flak From Unhappy Buyers is a post from: Localized USA: Your Local News Source

HP Touchpad

In a surprising turn of events, just two years after an investment of a whopping $1.8 billion dollars on Palm’s webOS software that was to help the company regain its stature in the PC hardware business, Hewlett-Packard has decided to pull the plug on their webOS hardware, even as the new tablet series began to earn the grudging respect of critics.

On Thursday, much to the consternation of thousands of consumers who’ve purchased the tablet since its launch less than two months ago, HP announced that it was discontinuing its line of HP TouchPad tablet PCs and Smartphone products. HP has written this off in its inventory as a $100 million loss in its quarterly earnings report.

What was not surprising was the fact that since its much-hyped US launch in the beginning of July this year, the new tablet barely made a dent in the iPad market in spite of all the aggressive marketing. While the HP TouchPad is a nifty little device with delightful tweaks and an intuitive UI, the webOS is an underdog in today’s mobile tech space. Also, the TouchPad’s hardware lacks the sleek polished exterior of the iPad. Of the 270,000 units that were shipped to Best Buy, only 25,000 units were sold, the figure not including the ones that were returned. Clearly, the product, priced almost as much as the iPad, did not impress the people that mattered – the consumers.

After this huge setback, and its recent acquisition of Autonomy Corp., it is likely that HP will step out of the PC hardware business, including their range of desktop and notebook product lines, altogether, leaving the playing field wide open for Apple.

Image Source: Foxreal.com

iPad Annihilates TouchPad is a post from: Localized USA: Your Local News Source

Many people underestimate the power of augmented reality. The advancement is 3D technology has reached the point that you can turn your real surroundings into a three-dimensional game room. The newly launched Ball Invasion, by the computer vision, Stockholm-based 13th Lab, for the iPad 2 is just the game to prove that.

Ball Invasion By 13th Lab

13th Lab is a fairly new start-up that specializes in developing 3D game technology. Ball Invasion is their first product. “Hopefully, this will spur a lot more innovation in computer vision,” says Petter Ivmark, the founder of 13th Lab. “We strongly believe that as computer vision and artificial intelligence evolve the camera will take over from GPS as the device’s most important sensor to understand, interpret and navigate the world.”

Ball Invasion maps out the playing field for you, and tasks you to shoot some “malicious and cunning balls hiding in the real world,” in fun, creative ways. Download the app, hold up your iPad to the best playing scene, and you’re ready to shoot some balls.

But, what makes this game so unique is not that it can just be called “augmented reality,” it’s much more than that. It takes strides much farther than that.

The game is capable of creating an alternate 3D reality that makes the game possible without needing players to place “markers. “It lets you very accurately position your iPad 2 in 3D space and overlay stuff on reality without any known or printed visual markers, as is required in other solutions,” explains Ivmark.

Players can really feel the power of the iPad’s background technology through the 3D mapping, but also the power of the iPad 2’s camera as the base of the augmented reality. It allows users to even take pictures of the balls surrounding the room during play.

As per 13th Lab, players who’ve beaten Balls Invasion still have a whole lot to look forward to in the near future. They plan to created apps that will make technological breakthroughs in not only gaming, but artificial intelligence and computer vision as well. Gamers who enjoy 3D game play are already waiting eagerly for the company’s next release!

Image Source: Technoodling.net

Information Source: Mashable.com

iPad 2 App Can Turn Your Room Into A 3D Game is a post from: Localized USA: Your Local News Source