Microsoft said to be working on a 7-inch Xbox Surface tablet

After announcing the 10-inch Surface tablets based on Windows 8 and Windows RT, Microsoft is now reportedly working on a 7-inch model. Except, this one is more purpose-built, with the purpose being gaming.

According to The Verge, Microsoft is said to be working on a 7-inch Xbox Surface tablet designed for gaming. The device is said to include an ARM processor with high-bandwidth RAM but the specifications could be altered for an unannounced Intel SoC. This device will neither be running on Windows 8 nor Windows RT, but rather a custom Windows kernel, similar to the current Xbox console.

It is being said that the Xbox Surface will be manufactured in the same factory as the Surface and is being developed in Microsoft’s offices in Silicon Valley. This is not the ‘Xbox 720′ or the next generation of Xbox console that we have heard about before and will be a different product altogether.

While the presence of the Xbox name makes it sound interesting at first, at the end of the day, this device will be like any other 7-inch tablet out there. The success of this device will be decided by the kind of games Microsoft will have at launch. Meanwhile, Apple and Google already have a massive lead in this department, to the point where they even make the recently launched PS Vita seem irrelevant.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Top 7 Press Release Writing Services For Your Website

The main purpose of an effective press release is to alert media outlets like television, radio and newspaper journalists of an upcoming, newsworthy event. A factually sound, well written, press release is vital to growing your business, and sending press releases to online media outlets is the new way of doing business. Press release services gather and distribute press releases to a wide variety of outlets in addition to optimizing the language in your press release for search engine optimization. One click can expose your story to millions of people. When choosing a press release writing service, there are some things that separate average companies from the ones that really get the word out. Here are seven services that connect with the media better than the others.

1. Content POZ – established in 1983, their professional writers will revise your release until it conveys the facts in a way that is in keeping with the image you want to project. With access to over 160,000 media outlets, they take the time to conduct a personal phone interview with you to get first hand instructions on making your release the best it can be.

2. Send2Press – the most attractive thing about Send2Press is an extremely clear, detailed pricing plan. With no surprise fees impeding your progress, you can begin working with professional writers to write a fresh release, or help you refine a previously written release for maximum effect. A short two to three day turnaround helps you meet deadlines without the stress of settling for a release that doesn’t meet your needs.

3. eReleases – if you’re looking for a service that specializes in writing releases from scratch, eRelease is perfect. Their content specific team of authors are experienced in creating a strong first impression. You can choose how involved you want to be in the writing process, and your article will not be made public until you are completely satisfied.

4. RYP Marketing – the first step for RYP Marketing is to work with you to establish an angle for your press release. They realize that each story has a target market, and by crafting a release that communicates the subtleties of the story, they can greatly improve the credibility of your business.

5. Press Release Monkey – a humorous name with a serious commitment to quality writing. You can begin by submitting an idea for your release and let the writers at Press Release Monkey do the rest. Their claim to fame is the number of media outlets at their disposal, including Google and Yahoo.

6. Press Release Point- with relationships established in over nine countries, Press Release Point gives your release wider distribution than most companies. They also have pledged to provide low cost services to small businesses, and will even refund the fee if you’re not satisfied.

7. E WorldWire - this is a service that realizes the importance of spending time with their clients. Their phone consultations come without a time limit, and they will also research your competitors to give you as much of an advantage as possible.

Tags: Press Release, Press Release Services, Press Release Websites

Source : techtalkafrica[dot]com

Fishing net with emergency exits wins design competition

A fishing net that lets fish out? What's that all about?

A fishing net that lets fish escape initially sounds like a ridiculous idea. But when you discover that its purpose is to keep the fish you want, and lose the fish you don’t, thinks start to make sense.

The SafetyNet system, designed by Glasgow School of Art graduate Dan Watson, has just been chosen as this year’s UK winner in the prestigious James Dyson international student design competition.

The net is designed to make commercial fishing more sustainable by reducing the number of non-target and juvenile fish picked up by trawlers, many of which are returned to the sea dead.

To set up the system, special rings are first fitted to a regular net. Unlike normal holes in a net, the rings don’t close up during the trawling process, leaving a way out for the smaller fish. Inside the rim of these so-called Escape Rings are light rings, which act as a kind of ‘emergency exit’ sign for the fish.

“The devices fit into trawl nets and they cut down on the bycatch of juvenile fish and also the wrong species of fish,” Watson explained to the BBC.

“The rings fit into the ‘cod-end’ of the net – the part where all the fish are kept – and they basically exploit fish behaviour and their physical size to guide some to safety while keeping the other ones in.”

The light rings obtain energy from their own motion as they are dragged through the water, and activate automatically once they reach a certain depth. This means that once fitted, those working on the boat can pretty much forget about them.

Watson explained to the BBC that about 20 rings are needed per net, costing a total of around $790 (£500).

In the final stage of the competition, the Brit will face designers from 17 other countries, all hoping to win the James Dyson Award with their various design-based ideas. The winner will be announced in November.

Regardless of whether his net takes the top prize in the competition, Watson plans to commercialize his SafetyNet system in the near future.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Adding up GoSum, an educational tool disguised as a game [Interview]

Some games serve a greater purpose than just entertainment. We interview the creator of GoSum, a game that turns math into a competition.

Have you ever picked up a game and started playing only to stop midway through the experience to think, “Wait a second, am I learning something from this?” That’s the goal of GoSum, a math-centric mental challenge that hit iOS devices this month. The game was developed by Colin Thompson as a way to help tutor his sons in the early 90s. 20 years later and the title is being brought back to life on Retina screens.

After sitting down and digging into GoSum, a few things are clear: The game does a good job of making you really think and occasionally shaming you for math knowledge you clearly should possess, and Colin’s kids are probably very smart. The board will conjure up thoughts of Scrabble, but there are no triple word scores here–though there are triple numbers. This game is based solely off math equations. 

You start out the game by creating a simple equation, eventually branching off across the board. The more intricate the numerical sentences you create, the more points you’ll net. It’s a game that mathletes the world over will sure to find appreciation for. The game can be purchased from the App Store for $1 on the iPhone or $3 on the iPad. You can even give it a shot for free, which is less than $3 for those of you who aren’t strong with numbers.

We sat down with Colin Thompson, the game’s creator, to talk about the release of his long-time tutoring game on to iOS devices.

Question: How long did the actual board game take to reach the form that we see today?

Colin Thompson: The board game was first created in the late 80′s to help teach my 2 young children math and times tables. It then took two more years to make it the app that it is today. 

What was the reason you decided to turn the game into an app?

To be honest, I didn’t know what an app was when I first heard about them a few years ago. After becoming more familiar with them, I saw the potential for GoSum as an app. Math transcends language barriers, making it the perfect fit for the mobile world. We now have players in China with no English language skills, already expertly playing others around the globe, which is truly amazing.

Was creating the app a completely hands-on project for you, bringing your game to life on iOS?

It certainly was an amazing learning experience. Fortunately, my skills as a Tool designer along with my fastidious attention to detail stood me in good stead. 27,000 lines of programming with 14+ million permeatations was not without its headaches.

GoSum is obviously a game, but a learning tool as well. Do you think apps like GoSum have a future in educational settings like class rooms?

I have had tons of comments regarding its educational benefits, and I think the following Apple reviewer sums it up quite well:

“Never thought I would see the day my 10yr old was wanting to do sums. Brilliant app!!!” -Apple review by Liam on Aug 09 – 2012

You also have a physical board game version of GoSum coming out. Is there a different experience that is had on the the board as opposed to on the screen?

Not everyone has or can afford an iPhone or iPad in this world, so we still believe that there is a place for the traditional family board game and will pursue this over the coming year in an effort to have GoSum reach everyone.

Any plans to add a single-player vs. computer element to the game?

As a small independent developer, we had to prioritize our resources, and with the added support from the full version we would like next to release the wifi/bluetooth version. These we hope will proceed the release of a further 3 games, already under design.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Archos 101 XS is out in November, along with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update

Archos has announced the 101 XS tablet, which comes complete with a dual-purpose keyboard/cover, and will soon be upgraded to Android 4.1.

Archos has announced a new tablet, the 101 XS, which will go on sale in the coming months. In addition to a large screen and a dual-core processor, the 101 XS has a keyboard dock reminiscent of both Asus’s Transformer range and Microsoft’s recently revealed Surface slates.

The 101 XS — which at 8mm thick, lives up to the “extra slim” boast that Archos says the XS in its name stands for — has a 10.1-inch touchscreen with a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, while inside is a TI OMAP 4470 dual-core chip with a clock speed of 1.5Ghz, and 1GB of RAM.

There’s 16GB of internal memory, but this can be increased by another 64GB using the microSD card slot, plus there’s a 1.3-megapixel forward facing camera, but no rear camera.

Other features include Bluetooth 4.0, a microUSB port and a mini HDMI, Wi-Fi, a wide array of pre-installed apps such as the full version of Office Suite Pro 6 and Angry Birds, plus access to the Google Play store.

So, fairly standard so far, but there are a few points that make the Archos 101 XS stand out in a very crowded space. The first is the Android operating system, which is 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich right now, but will become 4.1 Jelly Bean before November this year. Archos has also taken the sensible decision not to cover Android in a custom skin, but to leave it as naked and free as Google intended.

As is the current fashion, the Archos 101 XS will come with a keyboard dock inside the box, but rather than be an extra component to carry around, it clips over the tablet when not in use and acts as protective cover. Called the Coverboard, it uses magnets and a folding stand to secure the tablet in place, and only adds 5mm to the overall thickness when covering the screen.

Archos will put the 101 XS on sale by the end of next month in the UK, then in the USA by November, when it will cost £299 and $399 respectively. With a November release date penciled in for the US, it could arrive with Jelly Bean already installed too.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com