Minecraft: Education Edition launches Nov. 1, includes lesson plans

You know what I played on the computers in the computer lab when I was a kid? Number Munchers. Odell Lake. Oregon Trail. Kids today? They’ll be playing Minecraft.

Microsoft has announced the launch date and a few details for Minecraft: Education Edition. The game will be available on November 1, 2016. The game is already in Early Access form, and it’s seen over 35,000 students and teachers give it a shot.

Educators can try out the early access version of Minecraft: Education Edition before buying by heading to the site that will host all resources for your needs, education.minecraft.net. That includes lesson plans for specific age groups, too.

Teachers will have access to Classroom Mode, a companion app “that enables educators to manage world settings, communicate with students, give items and teleport students in the Minecraft world.”

What about cost? Well, with education software, you’re typically going to look at a price per user per year, and that’s what Microsoft has done with Minecraft: Education Edition. Don’t worry, it’s not too bad. “Minecraft: Education Edition will be available for purchase later this fall and will cost between $1 and $5 per user, per year depending on the size of your school and qualification for volume licensing,” Microsoft said.

Man, I wish I had a Minecraft class.

SOURCE MICROSOFT

Amazon now offers a photo printing service

Photo printing services are a dime a dozen but that hasn’t stopped Amazon from jumping into the crowded market. Launched this week, the new service is a perk for Prime users looking to print photo books (hardcover with glossy paper or hardcover with matte paper) or a collection of images, say from a family event or vacation. Standard shipping is free for a limited time.

The service is pretty straightforward and barebones. Prime members can choose between 4×6 prints, 5×7 prints, and 8×10 prints, ranging in prices from 9 cents up to $1.79 for each 8×10 print. So far as I can tell, there’s no limit on how many photos users are required to order, which means you can do as few as one or more. (For what it’s worth, I ordered a single 8×10 and it went through just fine.) It doesn’t make sense to do just one 4×6 at 9 cents, but ordering a single family portrait at $1.79 (plus tax) is understandable.

Photo books are a little more complicated and there are a few different options depending on how much money you’re willing to spend. You can get an 8×11 hardcover photo book for $19.99 or an 8×11 premium lay flat option that uses thicker paper and essentially eliminates the spine of the book in order to best showcase your photos.

Here’s where it gets a little tricky. The printing service ties into Amazon’s Cloud Drive, which is free for Prime members ($100 a year). However, if you aren’t a Prime member, a Cloud Drive membership is required, which goes for $60 per year if you don’t want to shell out for Prime. Whichever option you choose, you get unlimited storage for photos, which can then easily be printed out through Amazon’s new service.

In addition to photos and photo books, the printing service will soon offer stationary cards and wall calendars, making it a well-rounded one-stop-shop for all your printing needs, especially with the holidays on the horizon. If you already have a Prime membership, it sure beats a trip to Walgreens and fussing with those self-checkout machines.

SOURCE BLOOMBERG

Look at this real-life full-size Transformer (is it real?)

Dreams really do come true, at least if your dream is to own a working Transformer. Turkish company Letvision says it’s developed a robot that can actually transform into a full-sized car.

Each robot features a BMW-inspired design and comes with a remote controller you can use to drive it around or start the transformation. Once the Letron is in robot form it can move its head, arms and fingers thanks to internal hydraulics. It can also talk using a built-in speaker. The company is offering a full robot lineup with options in red, blue, orange, white and gray.

Of course, it’s possible this could just be a clever hoax, but videos of the robot look pretty convincing. Whether the company can turn its prototype into a polished final product remains to be seen. For now, we’re pretty happy just watching this demo on repeat.

SOURCE LETRONS

List of Pokémon GO buddies tells you how far you’ll need to walk to get a candy

Candy is the ultimate goal of Pokémon GO. Without it, your beasts will never grow stronger and you’ll forever dangle in mediocrity knowing you never got over the edge to get that Gyadaros.

The new buddy system is looking to ease the burden of collecting candy by allowing you to generate it on your own. Selecting a favorite Pokémon and having him walk alongside you enables this new skill, and the further you walk with your companion, the more candy of hihs type you’ll get.

Naturally, the stronger Pokémon will generate candy at a much less frequent rate, similar to egg rarity. Here is a list from Pokémon GO Hub that spells out how far you’ll need to walk for each Pokémon. The website also breaks down which are the best economically to use.

Pokemon Go: 1km per Candy Buddy Pokemon

• Caterpie
• Metapod
• Butterfree
• Weedle
• Kakuna
• Beedrill
• Pidgey
• Pidgeotto
• Pidgeot
• Rattata
• Raticate
• Spearow
• Fearow
• Pikachu
• Raichu
• Clefairy
• Clefable
• Jigglypuff
• Wigglytuff
• Zubat
• Golbat
• Geodude
• Graveler
• Golem
• Magikarp
• Gyarados

Pokemon Go: 3km per Candy Buddy Pokemon

• Bulbasaur
• Ivysaur
• Venusaur
• Charmander
• Charmeleon
• Charizard
• Squirtle
• Wartortle
• Blastoise
• Ekans
• Abrok
• Sandshrew
• Sandslash
• Nidron (F)
• Nidorina
• Nidoqueen
• Nidoran (M)
• Nidorino
• Nidoking
• Vulpix
• Ninetales
• Oddish
• Gloom
• Vileplume
• Paras
• Parasect
• Venonat
• Venomoth
• Diglett
• Dugtrio
• Meowth
• Persian
• Psyduck
• Golduck
• Mankey
• Primeape
• Growlithe
• Arcanine
• Poliwag
• Poliwhirl
• Poliwrath
• Abra
• Kadabra
• Alakazam
• Machop
• Machoke
• Machamp
• Bellsprout
• Weepinbell
• Victreebel
• Tentacool
• Tentacruel
• Ponyta
• Rapidash
• Slowpoke
• Slowbro
• Magnemite
• Mangeton
• Farfetch’d
• Doduo
• Dodrio
• Seel
• Dewgong
• Grimer
• Muk
• Shellder
• Cloyster
• Gastly
• Haunter
• Gengar
• Drowzee
• Hypno
• Krabby
• Kingler
• Voltorb
• Electrode
• Exeggcute
• Exeggutor
• Cubone
• Marowak
• Lickitung
• Koffing
• Weezing
• Rhyhorn
• Rhydon
• Tangela
• Kangaskhan
• Horsea
• Seadra
• Goldeen
• Seaking
• Staryu
• Starmie
• Tauros
• Porygon

Pokemon Go: 5km per Candy Buddy Pokemon

• Onyx
• Hitmonlee
• Hitmonchan
• Chansey
• Mr. Mime
• Scyther
• Jynx
• Electabuzz
• Magmar
• Pinsir
• Lapras
• Eevee
• Vaporeon
• Jolteon
• Flareon
• Omanyte
• Omastar
• Kabuto
• Kabutops
• Aerodactyl
• Snorlax
• Dratini
• Dragonair
• Dragonite

Pokemon Go: Unknown Buddy Pokemon Candy Distances

• Ditto
• Articuno
• Zapdos
• Moltres
• Mewtwo
• Mew

Pokémon GO’s update has been sent in for approval, and it should turn up on iOS and Android very soon.

SOURCE POKÉMON GO HUB

Super Mario Run will be free-to-start, just like Rusty’s Real Deal Baseball

When Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto took the stage at Apple’s iPhone 7 reveal last week, he announced that Super Mario Run would come to the App Store at a set price.

Well, sort of, as we’ve learned.

Nintendo’s taking the same approach with Super Mario Run that they did with games likeRusty’s Real Deal Baseball (which I adored) on the Nintendo 3DS. It’ll be free-to-start.

Super Mario Run will be free to download, as Shigeru Miyamoto explained this to IGN. But what you get when you snag the free version isn’t the full game.

“The basic goal is to give people a sample of what the gameplay will be so that they can get a sense of what they’ll experience when they get the full game…”

Once you sample those levels, you’ll have the option to buy the full game at a single price through an in-app-purchase. Here’s Miyamoto on that decision.

“But of course one of the reasons that we want to offer the game for a set price is so that parents who are buying it for their kids can know that ‘I’ve bought the game and now my kids can play it as much as they want and there’s not going to be additional costs associated with that.’ But obviously I think between the world tour single player mode and clearing all those levels, plus the kingdom mode, plus the battle mode, you’re going to want the full experience because it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Remember: just because you see that free download button for Super Mario Run, the whole game isn’t free. If you want to take the plumber on his first full mobile adventure, you’ll have to cough up some coins. The good news is that you’ll only cough them up once. At least, that’s the case for now.

SOURCE IGN

The PS4 Pro was created to keep players from migrating to PC, says Sony boss

After the official reveal of the PlayStation 4 Pro last week in New York, gaming and tech sites around the world have been asking sort of the same question: who was this system made for?

It sounds like a loaded question that suggests the PS4 Pro is pointless. It isn’t. We understand what it does and recognize that the games look good on it if the proper display is in place. It’s just such a minor bump in capabilities that one has to wonder who, exactly, Sony had in mind when they created the machine.

We have an answer! At least, it’s the public answer that Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Andrew House was willing to share with The Guardian. Sony’s created the PS4 Pro to serve pre-existing PS4 owners. Here’s House.

“There’s a dip mid-console lifecycle where the players who want the very best graphical experience will start to migrate to PC, because that’s obviously where it’s to be had…

…We wanted to keep those people within our eco-system by giving them the very best and very highest [performance quality].”

It’s the PS4 “Please Don’t Leave, We’ll Do Better,” basically. Doesn’t have as nice a ring to it as PS4 Pro, does it?

Will the PS4 Pro be enough to keep you Sony-exclusive, dear gamer?

SOURCE THE GUARDIAN

VIA POLYGON

Pokémon GO buddy update is on the way, Niantic details latest patch

Niantic has submitted the latest update for Pokémon GO, version 1.7.0 on iOS and 0.37.0 on Android. This update will deliver the highly anticipated Buddy system which will allow players to get candies and improve a favorite Pokémon faster than others.

The Buddy system and other details for the patch are now available, via Niantic.

Pokémon GO is in the process of being updated to version 0.37.0 for Android and 1.7.0 for iOS devices. Below are some release notes and comments from our development team.

• Implemented Buddy Pokémon: Trainers will now be able to choose one of their Pokémon to be their buddy. A Trainer can earn Candy for their Buddy Pokémon by walking a certain distance.

• Made it easier to select smaller Pokémon on the screen.

• Fixed an issue where Eggs would sometimes hatch without displaying the animation.

• Improved performance reliability when a device switches networks to no longer cause the application to hang or stop updating.

• Pokémon GO Plus support

• Minor text fixes.

We continue to focus on eliminating bots and scrapers from Pokémon GO. Rooted or jailbroken devices are not supported by Pokémon GO. Remember to download Pokémon GO from the official Google Play Store or iTunes App Store only.

No specific date has been set for this Pokémon GO update, but keep an eye out for it before the end of the week.

source SILICONERA

Kickstart this genius electric keyboard with a modular design

There are modular smartphones, modular smartwatches and even modular powerstrips. So why not a modular keyboard? Now there is one, or at least there could be if this Kickstarter project succeeds.

Kombos isn’t just a modular keyboard. It’s the ultimate portable keyboard, offering a unique adaptable design and a few other perks that could make it a must-have product for tech-savvy musicians.

Kombos was developed by a group of music enthusiasts in Atlanta, Georgia determined to make a portable electric keyboard that didn’t come with any sacrifices. Normally, musicians have to choose between a tiny limited keyboard that fits in your bag or a full keyboard that’s a pain to lug around. With Kombos they get the best of both worlds.

In its simplest form, Kombos comes in two pieces, there’s one module with 12 keys and a second with 13. They connect using a smart pin design that easily snaps into place to create a 25-key keyboard. From there you can add additional 12-key modules, sliding them in between the base units to expand the setup. Kombos supports a few different combinations, maxing out at 61 keys total.

The base modules feature the extra controls and outputs you’d expect so you’re not missing out on other features for the sake of modularity. Kombos is compatible with desktop computers and Android/iOS devices. It offers Bluetooth support for connecting directly to your wireless headphones or speaker. It also packs a rechargeable 8-hour battery so you can use it wherever you go.

You can pre-order that basic 25-key setup for as little as $139 on Kickstarter (down from the planned $199 market price). If you want more modules you can also pay $199 for 37 keys in three modules, $249 for 49 keys in four modules, or $299 for 61 keys in five modules. All orders should be ready to ship by March 2017, though delays are always possible when you decide to support a crowd-funded gadget.

                                

SOURCE KICKSTARTER

Amazon’s VR plans could include movies and games, job listing reveals

Rumor has it Amazon is gearing up for a push into virtual reality, and a new job listing reveals just how ambitious the company’s plans may be. It looks like the internet giant could be eyeing VR gaming and even augmented reality, along with more straightforward immersive videos.

The job listing, which was spotted by Variety, details a new position titled “Virtual Reality Experience Development Executive.” Amazon is looking for a highly qualified candidate with experience in filmmaking or video game development, suggesting the company could be interested in creating VR video games. It also mentions plans to create “innovative mixed reality experiences,” which could potentially run on augmented reality devices like the Microsoft HoloLens.

Variety previously reported that Amazon is working on a virtual reality app similar to the one launched by Hulu, which lets you watch both traditional and 360-degree videos in an immersive environment. The company’s also allegedly working to secure VR content ahead of an official launch, but that may just be the tip of the iceberg. Whatever Amazon is planning it still appears to be staffing up for the new endeavor, so it could be a while before we see anything officially announced.

SOURCE AMAZON JOB LISTING (LINKEDIN)

Pokémon GO pulls in over $200 million in its first month, seven times Candy Crush Soda Saga

 

For all the flack that Pokémon GO has been getting recently, it’s still doing exceptionally well on the mobile market. Analytics firm Sensor Tower has put the games’ earnings at a staggering $200 million in its first month of availability.

That $200 million dominates other popular free-to-play games, including Candy CrushSoda Saga, which brought in $30 million in its first month. Supercell’s Clash Royale, the previous record holder for fastest app to reach 10 million downloads, made roughly $125 million in its first month.

The two were neck and neck until Pokémon GO was released in Japan. As you’ll clearly see in the graph below, the country is still in love with this franchise.

The sky’s the limit with Pokémon GO. Keep on climbin’!

SOURCE SENSOR TOWER

Resident Evil Zero Remaster is a success at 1.1 million copies sold

While busily trying to get its Resident Evil franchise back on its feet and recreate in the footsteps that Silent Hills was supposed to take, Capcom has trained up its latest squad of developers by having them remaster some of the franchise’s most popular titles. Financial success dedicated to holding the company over was another big part of it, too.

Resident Evil Zero Remaster has repeated the success of the previous remaster, becoming a decent sized success in its own right. Capcom has confirmed that the remaster released in January has sold 1.1 million copies to date, just shy of the Resident Evil Remaster which sold 1.25 million.

However, Resident Evil Zero was a game that many had forgotten about or neglected to mention over the years. Stuck on the Nintendo GameCube, it passed out of all knowledge and legend while the franchise took on another direction to follow Resident Evil 4. To see it see such a resurgence with a new audience, even though I’m not that big a fan of it, pleases me.

I’m glad that those who enjoy a franchise will still seek out the older entries and see where its roots come from.

Resident Evil Zero Remaster is available through the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC.

source:  GEMATSU