Nokia still loves Windows Phone 7, announces the Lumia 510 to prove it

Nokia considers Windows Phone 7 to be ideal for entry-level smartphones, bridging the gap between Symbian and Windows Phone 8, and has announced the competitively priced Lumia 510 to prove it.

Next month, phones running Windows Phone 8 should finally hit store shelves, following the official release of Microsoft’s new smartphone OS on October 29. Some may think this means the end of Windows Phone 7, the OS that preceded it, however Nokia thinks it still has legs and has announced a new phone to prove it.

The Lumia 510 is an entry-level phone using Windows Phone 7.5 as its operating system, and although its model number suggests it slips into Nokia’s range below the Lumia 610, the 510’s spec trumps it in one key area — the screen size.

Nokia has given the 510 a 4-inch display with the same 480 x 800 pixel resolution as the 610, although that device has a smaller 3.7-inch screen. The processor is listed as a Snapdragon S1, which could be the same MSM7227A chip found in the 610, where it runs at 800Mhz. Phonearena.com’s spec list indicates that this is indeed the case.

There’s 256MB of RAM, which will mean some apps won’t operate on the phone, 4GB of internal storage memory and 7GB of free cloud space with Microsoft’s SkyDrive. Mounted in the center of the colorful rear panel is a 5-megapixel camera, which can also shoot VGA video.

The spec list continues with GPS along with Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive, an FM radio, Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi, a 3.5mm headphone socket and a 1300mAh battery.

Designed to sit in-between its Symbian smartphones and the latest Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8 handsets, the Lumia 510 is an affordable introduction to Microsoft’s still-growing OS.

Nokia will initially release the phone in India and China during November, then bring it to South America and other countries soon afterwards. Available in white, black, red, yellow and cyan, Nokia has priced the Lumia 510 at $199.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

China’s Wingsuit Flying World Championship

Jumping off a cliff 4,593 above sea level is all a part of the game for the men and women participating in this year’s Wingsuit Flying World Championship in Zhangjiajie, China.

Using only a special jumpsuit called a wingsuit as a flying mechanism, fifteen of the world’s best competed in the championships over the past two days, jumping from the Tianmen Mountain in central China’s Hunan Province.

The suits have fabric between the arms and legs to increase the surface area and make gliding possible. A parachute is also attached to the suit, but may only be used for landing.

The participants were required to complete a looping flight in the valley and glide across a designated area before deploying their parachutes and landing at the finish line. The competitor with the fastest time took home the prize.

This year, South African flyer Julian Boulle won first place with a world record of 23.41 seconds. A Norwegian, Espen Fadnes, came in a close second at 23.55 seconds and British competitor James Boole took third place with a time of 23.84 seconds.

Wingsuit flying is one of the most challenging of the world’s extreme sports. Eight flyers participated in the final day of the World Championships today and no more than 20 wingsuit flyers are qualified to participate in the competition worldwide, according to the Associated Press.

Source : abcnews[dot]go[dot]com

A starter guide to the world Dishonored: Navigating the mean streets of Dunwall

A guide to help you get the hang of how to navigate Dunwall's sandbox in Arkane Studios' Dishonored.

Dishonored is a sandbox. Don’t let the level-driven narrative focus fool you. Once Corvo Attano is handed a mission and unleashed in the dirty, plague-ridden streets of Dunwall, the methods you use to complete that task are entirely your own to decide. This level of freedom can be daunting though. That’s why I want to take some time today to run through some of the less clearly defined game systems and offer some tips for making the most of your time in Dunwall. 

Save Early, Save Often

The old PC game adage “save early, save often” should be your mantra while playing Dishonored, especially if you are attempting a non-lethal and/or ghost run through a mission. Get into the mindset of manually saving your game whenever you overcome a particularly challenging obstacle. There are checkpoint locations that autosave for you, but they are relatively few and far between. Dishonored is the rare game that allows you to save anywhere, at virtually any time, and there’s a reason for that. ‘Take advantage.

Don’t Fear the Reaper

Most video games are built around the idea of having you learn as you proceed. Come to a nasty boss fight and you might die a few times, but each new attempt brings added knowledge of patterns to watch for and weaknesses to exploit. Dishonored doesn’t feature any boss fights, but it rewards trial-and-error play. Don’t be afraid to run out into the open — after saving, of course — and seeing what sort of trouble you stir up. You might be intentionally dooming yourself, but you also might catch sight of an access point that you hadn’t noticed before.

Also be sure to take advantage of the no-strings-attached tutorial mission that amounts to Corvo’s escape from prison. Achievement/Trophy hunters take special note here: most of the game-spanning goals do not apply during this mission. Take advantage of that to experiment. Learn how Dishonored’s stealth system works. Get the hang of blocking and countering in open combat situations. You can do this anywhere in the game, of course, but the first mission is there specifically to train you… so take advantage.

The Path of Which Resistance

Once you’ve got a handle on how Dishonored works mechanically, it’s worth spending some time figuring out how you want to play it. Will you ghost your way through the game, quietly avenging the Empress’s murder from the shadows? Would you prefer a more merciful path, never once allowing your blade to taste the enemy’s blood? Or will you stalk the streets of the city openly and brazenly, meting out justice as an unstoppable angel of death that strikes fear into the hearts of one and all?

Whether you sneak quietly or go loud, your choices have repercussions as the game unfolds. The attention that you draw to yourself and the death — or lack thereof — that you leave in your wake contributes to the city’s overall Chaos level. This determines what sort of resistance that you’ll be facing with each new task handed to you. At the end of each mission, you will be given your chaos ranking, but it is about more than just killing, there are certain objectives you can do if you want to raise it that may not be clear. For example, in one mission you are given a non-lethal way to take down a key figure.  You could always just kill the target, but for the best chaos boost, complete the non-lethal method, then as others are coming for him, kill him as others look on. Watch the shocked guards then proceed to freak out.  

In broad terms, the city becomes increasingly hostile as your Chaos level rises. Conversations with your allies and those overheard will reflect that, and the story is slightly modified to match. Leave too many bodies and alerted guards behind you, and you can expect to encounter a heavier enemy presence during future assignments. Not just town guards either. Your handiwork also quickens the spread of the plague, since there’s more rotting meat for the rats to feast on and less guards to enforce the quarantines. This means that you can expect to deal with additional rat swarms and Weepers as well when you have a high Chaos rating.

Of course, maybe that’s the challenge you’re looking for. There’s nothing inherently bad about having a high Chaos rating, especially if you’re going lethal and loud all the way. The endgame reflects this, and the final mission will play out much differently. The story’s conclusion won’t be quite as happy if you choose to bloody your blade too frequently, but the only real “penalty” for a high Chaos rating is stiffer resistance.

Blink Or You’ll Miss It

If you are into achievements/trophies and have seen a list of all the available rewards, you may have noticed that there is one for completing the game without unlocking any of Corvo’s supernatural abilities. Thankfully, Blink is excluded from that, and for good reason. You’re forced to unlock it, sure, but the game is also virtually unplayable without it. Blink allows you to move a short distance (its range can be upgraded) in any direction without anyone noticing, and it’s hard to overvalue Blink’s usefulness.

You can use it to slip past guards in an open space where they might otherwise catch you. Or locate hard-to-reach access points. Or zip around the battlefield to flank behind an enemy before he realizes what’s going on. If you are falling to your death, you can even use it to teleport closer to the ground and drop without taking damage, and if you Blink to within a step of an enemy, you can instantly take out that guard from behind. It is, by far the most flexible ability in Corvo’s toolbox. Use it, abuse it, learn it, love it.

Vengeance Can Wait

Take your time in each mission. Dishonored might be a level-based game, but you’re not ever following a linear set of corridors from point A to point B. There’s a lot of ground to cover in Dunwall, with an assortment of nooks and crannies hiding all of the best gear. Take the time to find them.

The first thing that you should do whenever a new chunk of map loads is pull out your Heart. You receive this item early on in the game, and it points out the location of each Rune (used for upgrading you skills) and Bone Charm (offers passive bonuses) on any given map. Use it when you arrive in a new location to get a sense of what’s out there. It is also worth equipping it and using it like an ability now and then. If you do it while pointing at a guard, it will tell you things about them. Doing so when facing a key target will give you a more complete picture of life in Dunwall, and the role they play. If you use the heart without a target in sight, it will tell you a bit about the area you are currently in.  

Make finding the Runes a priority before proceeding with your mission. Not only will you gather useful items, you’ll also inevitably find other goodies hidden away as well — things like gear, upgrade blueprints, valuable collectibles, and cash-money. Quest-givers too. Keep an eye out for secondary tasks during each mission. Often you’ll find that helping someone else unlocks additional access points or offers non-lethal options for neutralizing your primary targets. There are even instances where helping a character at one point will open up other missions later on, while ignoring them, or even killing them will close that thread for good.  

Blink is essential for exploration. In planning out your skill upgrades, it’s best to prioritize Blink and then at least level one of Agility — which more than doubles your jump height — to aid in your Dunwall wanderings. The first level of Possession helps too, since ratholes sometimes provide access to areas that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach. If you intend to remain non-lethal, the Dark Vision and Bend Time abilities are handy as well; if you choose to take the bloody path, offensive abilities like Devouring Swarm and Blood Thirsty should be your focus.  

Victory Through Experimentation

The city of Dunwall is extremely well designed with regards to offering multiple approaches to most situations, but it’s Corvo’s toolbox of skills and gear that really allow you to embrace Dishonored‘s sandbox. Be sure to read the “tips” section for each skill, but it’s equally important to simply mess around and see what works. There’s not an in-game reward for engineering creative kills, but there’s a personal sense of triumph that comes from exploiting the tools laid before you in unexpected ways.

Did you know, for example, that you can rig a rat with a springrazor trap? Try doing that, then using Possession on the rat and walking it right into the middle of a group of enemies. Use Bend Time at the right moment and you can snatch projectiles and grenades right out of the air, adding them to your stock or directing them right back to their sender. Want to get really cute? Use Bend Time to stop a bullet in midair then possess the person that fired it and walk him in front of his own shot.

The possibilities are endless, especially since you can use thrown objects or fired crossbow bolts to direct an enemy’s attention in one direction or another. Why distract someone when you can instead draw them over to a location where you’ve set a trap or used a rewire tool to turn a piece of machinery into your own agent of death? You’ve got that save anywhere feature, so take advantage of it and experiment to see what sort of inventive tactics you can engineer.

For more on Dishonored, check out our roundup that includes interviews, videos, and our full review here.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

How much will iOS 6 change App Store rank?

As if optimizing for the App Store couldn't be more of a puzzle, the iOS 6 makeover adds a new level of confusion.

App Store rank is make-or-break for new apps. If you don’t crack the top 25 or get yourself featured – and fast – it could quickly be game over. Developers are well aware, and have spent time and energy trying to crack Apple’s App Store code, which has proved difficult thanks to Apple’s secrecy and issues with spambot-boosted rankings.

The latest iteration of iOS has also put a new spin on the algorithm. The App Store has received a significant makeover: Gone is the listing interface, and in its place are visual cards that prompt you to horizontally swipe through your app options. Genius, the suggestion mechanism Apple has used for iTunes music discovery, has also (finally) been turned on in the App Store. How the main hubs are organized has been revamped as well, although much of what’s happening here appears to be mostly aesthetic.

But is it? There is one obvious drawback to the very visual reorganization, and that’s that top billing via search matters more than ever. Instead of a list that shows the five top 10 apps when you search for something, you now see one app that gets the whole screen all to itself. Search options are showing up as identical between iOS 5 and iOS 6. But being on the top spot obviously now carries more weight – and being number six or seven is now that much worse. One flick in the iOS 5 App Store and you’d be looking at those options; now it takes that many more swipes. This might sound inconsequential, but it’s not: The time that it takes for an app to be found is incredibly important to developers.

New Releases are now being reshuffled under New and Noteworthy, a curated section whose algorithm, suffice it to say, is completely unknown (entirely made by editors? How much do downloads play in? Or release dates?). Formerly, you could search any subcategory and look for the top paid, top free, and new releases in that section – but that’s now gone. New and Northworthy consumes the New Releases hub, which could add some confusion for developers. It was formerly a really nice feature for smaller apps to get their name out there, and now it’s gone.

“Everything has changed with the new iOS 6 app store. I’m sure we’ll see a hit in our daily downloads count but not sure the severity just yet,” says app search alternative Crosswa.lk co-founder Patrick Johnson. “Developers can no longer rely on the initial bump of being featured in the ‘new’ section, which was historically the best way to get tons of eyes on your app for free. I think with the new changes the best path for a user discovering your app is to optimize where you appear in search. This is going to take time considering Apple doesn’t publicize their algorithm and updating search keywords requires a new app submission or update. With all the new changes I think we’ll see developers utilizing other methods for promoting their apps like optimizing/buying placement in 3rd party app directories, in-app cross promotion, and pay-per-install.”

The changes might seem tedious and looks-based, but to developers, they matter. The main argument here is being summarized as Apple giving unfair advantage and attention to already-popular apps, something users should also take issue with. App discovery has been mediocre at best, and while the App Store now has Genius in working order and is inarguably easier on the eyes, its pure function leaves a whole lot to be desired – for those building for it and those consuming it. 

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Canon announces EOS 6D full-frame DSLR along with PowerShot G15, S110 and SX50 HS point and shoot cameras

Few days ago we saw Nikon announce their smallest and lightest entry level full-frame camera, the D600, at the $2100 price point. Now, Canon has announced a rival in the form of the EOS 6D, their own smallest and lightest entry-level full-frame DSLR selling for the exact same price.

The Canon 6D uses a 36 x 24mm CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20.2 megapixels. It’s lower than the 24.3 megapixels on the D600 sensor but since the sensors are of the same size, it should theoretically give the Canon an advantage in low light situations, as the individual pixels are larger and thus will collect more light.

The autofocus system on the 6D has 11 points, way lower than the 39 points on the D600. Having said that, Canon claims their AF system on the 6D offers the strongest low-light performance of any of their AF systems till date. Canon trumps the Nikon in the max ISO department, where it can go up to ISO 25,600 whereas the Nikon can only go up to 6,400. Both offer the option to go beyond that limit using software tricks, at which point the 6D goes up to ISO 102,400 and the D600 up to ISO 25,600. It remains to be seen how good the images actually are at those sensitivities, however.

Where the Canon really shines is in having GPS and Wi-Fi built into the camera, whereas on the Nikon you would need to buy separate accessories. It’s also the first Canon EOS to include these features. The 6D also has a slightly better 3.2-inch 1024k dot display, compared to the 3.2-inch 921k dot display. Neither displays, however, swivel or have touchscreen functionalities.

The Canon EOS 6D will sell for $2,099 body-only and for $2,899 with the 24-105mm F/4 L lens. Unlike the D600, though, that launches this week, you’ll have to wait until December to get your hands on the 6D.

The next one is PowerShot G15, part of Canon’s G-series of enthusiast point and shoot cameras that offer the settings and manual modes of a DSLR in a compact body. The G15 has a 12 megapixel, 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor and a 28-140mm, f/1.8-2.8 lens. The 3.0-inch display has a higher resolution, 920k dot panel compared to the previous G12 but loses the swivel functionality. As before, it has a front dial and full manual control, along with RAW and HDR shooting modes. The G15 can also record 1080p videos.

The PowerShot G15 will go on sale in October for $499.

The PowerShot S110 is the successor to the S100, a point and shoot camera designed for those who don’t want a lot of control options but still expect high quality photos from their camera. The S110 has a slightly updated 12 megapixel sensor from the S100, along with the same 24-100mm, f2.0-5.9 lens and the GPS functionality. What’s new is Wi-Fi and a touchscreen functionality for the 3.0-inch, 461k dot display.

The PowerShot S110 will go on sale in October for $499 and will be sold in black and white.

Lastly, we have the PowerShot SX50 HS, a super zoom camera with a mind-boggling 50x optical zoom. The lens in question is a 24-1200mm equivalent with f3.4-6.5 aperture. Behind this lens sits a 1/2.3-inch, 12.1 megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor. The SX50 HS has a 4.5-stop optical image stabilizer, 1080p video recording with HDMI out, 2.8-inch, 461k dot LCD, as well as manual and RAW shooting modes.

The PowerShot SX50 HS will go on sale in October for $479.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

2012 Acura TSX Special Edition review

With so many cars making up the entry-level luxury scene it’s hard to know which one is right for you. Thankfully, our review of the 2012 Acura TSX is here to find out if affordable luxury actually exists.

Cars can mean many different things to people. They can serve as a source of freedom, an extension of your personality, or — as is often the case with luxury nameplates – signify your “status” in this crazy mixed up world. But whatever a car may mean to you, ultimately we all want the same thing: to buy the best one possible for the money we’re spending.

Enter Acura. The Japanese luxury automaker is looking to draw in first-time luxury shoppers with its entry-level offerings, and it begins with the 2012 TSX. And while the Acura nameplate may carry the distinction of being the first luxury Japanese automotive brand, it has seen its popularity wax and wane throughout the years, with fellow Japanese brands like Infiniti and Lexus enjoying more influence in the luxury sphere. That being said, the image of Acura as a serious luxury brand is slowly starting to revive and evolve once again, and what better way to draw consumers in than with an eye-catching, entry-level luxury sedan?

With luxury rivals from Europe and Japan vying for dominance, how does the 2012 Acura TSX stack up? Let’s find out.

Less sharp design, but in a good way

There is something about the recent Acura design language that has truly failed to resonate with us. We’re not exactly sure what it is — well that’s not true. In fact, many of the recent Acura designs refuse to utilize a look that is even remotely curvaceous, preferring the harsh lines and rakish angles found in a geometry diagram. Which is why we were pleasantly surprised at the 2012 TSX’s lessened triangular tone.

Don’t get us wrong: there are more angles to work here than a politician at a town hall meeting, but the 2012 TSX is much more bearable, dare we say likeable, than other designs past, current, and we’re guessing future.

A beginner’s guide to luxury

When it comes to the interior of the 2012 TSX, there isn’t much to complain about. From a design perspective Acura have done an excellent job putting together a cabin that encompasses varying degrees of comfort, luxury, and space. While it might not espouse the same feelings of luxury you would find from a comparable Lexus, Audi, or BMW, the Acura TSX features a smartly designed cabin with a great deal of amenities one would expect. Honda, and by extension Acura, have garnered a reputation based on build quality for years now and the 2012 TSX happily carries on that tradition. The material quality in the TSX looks and feels great; rich leathers and firm plastics never drag the interior’s luxurious atmosphere down.

And while there’s no doubt the 2012 TSX earns a lot of style points, we do have to call out Acura is with its execution. Both the three-spoke steering wheel and center console are filled with an excessive amount of buttons, more so the center console. It’s not necessarily a deal breaker, and after out week-long loan we had gotten accustomed to it, but the buttons for controlling the Bluetooth calling features and for selecting the different audio sources are either too thinly positioned or at an awkward angle that simply make placing a call more of chore than it needs to be. We also found the shifter in our review model to be on the dainty side, which isn’t a huge deal but again takes some getting used to. Standard interior features in the 2012 Acura TSX include leather upholstery, eight-way power driver seat with memory, four-way power passenger seat, heated front seats, a tilt and telescoping steering column, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and 60/40-split-folding rear seat, to name a few. Our TSX Special Edition included little touches like aluminum pedals and red interior stitching that helps lend a greater degree of sportiness and personality to an already excellent cabin.

Tech troubles

Despite the fact that the 2012 TSX is Acura’s entry-level model, we should be willing to cut it a little slack when it comes to its in-car tech. But with an MSRP of $32,310 we’re simply not. Standard features include a USB audio input for connecting and charging your smartphone, an AUX output for MP3 playback, Bluetooth audio and HandsFreeLink for wireless calling, as well as Acura’s seven-speaker premium sound system and XM Satellite radio with three month’s free subscription. An option tech package adds a rearview camera, hard drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic and weather forecasting, in addition to an upgraded 10-speaker Acura/ELS surround sound system.

Sadly our review unit excluded the tech package, and what the TSX is packing isn’t remarkable in any way. In fact, if we are going to be honest –and we are — while the 2012 TSX sports a decent amount of standard tech features, we were left pretty disappointed by them. Pairing your smartphone with HandsFreeLink’s voice feature is dreadfully slow, and only after six voice tutorials were we able to figure out how to actually pair our phone. When we did finally get our phone paired, making calls was easy, but again the voice recognition software suffered under our non-regional diction (really!?).

Once paired streaming music via various apps like Pandora and Spotify is easy, but Acura’s interface is rather limited in the standard TSX model, with no cover art or detailed title information given in the digital display above the instrument panel.

Adequate power, disappointing fuel economy

The 2012 Acura TSX is available in two different engine choices: A 2.4-liter four-cylinder producing 201 horsepower 201 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque when mated to a six-speed manual (as opposed to 170 with a five-speed automatic transmission), and a 3.5-liter V6 capable of spitting out 280 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque.

Our review unit consisted of the former and offered up a respectable amount of power when pressed out of the gate. Truth be told though, the 2012 Acura TSX offers up nowhere near as thrilling a ride as you’d expect from some of its European counterparts, namely the BMW 3-Series or Audi A4. Instead, the 2012 TSX prefers to operate in a more subdued and calculated manner. It’s not going to excite you like a German sport sedan, and it’s not the most engaging luxury sedan, but it won’t make you regret your decision for choosing Japanese poise over German power… too much. Still, those yearning for more gas-guzzling gravitas will want to opt for the V6.

Unfortunately, where the Acura fails to meet our expectations comes by way of its fuel economy. For the size of the TSX’s engine the EPA-awarded fuel economy is disappointingly low at 21 mpg in city, 29 on the highway, and 24 combined. Factor that this is with premium gasoline and a six-speed manual and the 2012 TSX ultimately drops the ball. For comparison, a 2012 Audi A4 with quattro all-wheel-drive and a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder with six-speed manual transmission is capable of pumping out 211 hp, 258 lb-ft of torque, and returning an EPA estimated 21/31/25.

A true street sweeper

While power, or lack thereof, might restrict the 2012 TSX on the track, out on the road it’s a different story. For all its faults the TSX exhibits excellent road manners and cornering, maintaining excellent grip on the road when tasked with keeping ready and rigid. Entering corners at higher than recommended speeds doesn’t pose too much of a problem and the TSX manages to get the most out of its double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear. Enthusiasts will argue that it lacks a certain dynamism other entry-level luxury sedan’s possess, but for the vast majority the TSX provides plenty of pavement pounding pizazz.

Finish Line

When it comes down to it, the 2012 Acura TSX is a four-star vehicle living in a five-star world. Overall it’s a very solid choice for people wanting to enter the luxury sphere, but not exactly enamored or impressed with the power and prestige on offer from some of the more established brands like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the 2012 TSX exhibits a calm, distinguished ride character all of its own, and possesses one of the most buttery smooth and forgiving clutches we have ever dealt with – period.

Ultimately it comes down to what you value most. If you value your tech and smart features, and want them done right, the TSX has trouble delivering. While we certainly appreciate the amount of standard features packed in, the exclusion of navigation, the convoluted button layout, and the glitchy Bluetooth streaming system remind us that Acura still has a ways to go before it can truly be mentioned in the same breath as Lexus, Infiniti, and the like. However, if an upscale Honda, with improved driving dynamics, more comfort, and increased social recognition is what you’re after then we see no reason why you shouldn’t seriously consider the 2012 Acura TSX.

Highs

• Impressive list of standard tech features
• Spacious and comfortable interior
• Top-shelf build and material quality

Lows

• Poor tech execution
• Some questionable design choices
• Slightly anemic powertrain
• Fuel economy is less than stellar

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com