App Store Update: August 6
Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Spider: Rite of the Shrouded Moon – ($4.99)
The Spider series continues with this new sequel in which your intrepid arachnid explores a mysterious haunted mansion and uncovers the truth of what happened within its walls.
Toy Story TV-Movie Coming to Blu-ray
Pixar completists, rejoice! Toy Story That Time Forgot -- last year's ABC special that sprung from the events of Toy Story 3 -- is getting a home video release on November 3. The set will include the full 22-minute special on Blu-ray, DVD and in Digital HD, along with a commentary, deleted scenes, sing-alongs (oh yes), and a slew of other extras.
Check out the exclusive trailer for the Toy Story That Time Forgot home video release below:
And just so you know what you're getting, here's a detailed breakdown of the extras on the set:
Blu-ray, Digital HD*, Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA)
- Reptillus! - In this behind-the-scenes look at Toy Story That Time Forgot, the filmmakers share a peek at the origins of the Battlesaurs world and culture, and explain the character design and development of its greatest hero, Reptillus Maximus.
Google Fiber Network Expanding to San Antonio
Google announced today that it's bringing its Google Fiber network to San Antonio, Texas.
In the announcement post, Head of Google Fiber in Texas, Mark Strama, stated that implementing their fiber network in San Antonio will make it "the largest fiber city to date," due in part to the 1.4 million people currently living there.
There's no set date as to when Google Fiber will be fully operational in the city, but the design phase will begin "soon." According to KSAT, Strama also noted that it would be a few years before work was completed.
Daily Deals: Wii U Discount, Chromecast and Apple TV Deals, Alienware Alpha
It's back, save $40 on a brand new Wii U.
Save $50 On A PlayStation 4, Get Borderlands: The Handsome Collection For Free
A $350 PS4 Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is the best PS4 deal I've seen in a while.
Is a 4K iMac Coming Soon?
Code found in the latest beta version of El Capitan, OS X 10.11, hints that Apple is working on new iMac computers with 4k monitors.
As discovered by 9 to 5 Mac, the OS includes metadata for an iMac screen with a native resolution of 4096x2304.
Apple doesn't currently have any devices with such a resolution - suggesting that one is on the way.
ZDnet speculates that Apple's likely 4k product will be a refreshed version of the 21.5-inch iMac, since Apple's larger 27" desktop computer already comes with a 5k Retina display.
FOX Negotiating X-Men TV Series With Marvel
An X-Men TV series is looking closer than ever, according to FOX.
"We're in negotiations with Marvel," FOX's network co-chairman Dana Walden confirmed today to reporters at the TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour, as reported by TVLine. She further noted that the project is being developed as a "long-running series" as opposed to a limited series.
"We’re hopeful that we'll be able to announce something soon. It's something we're definitely pursuing."
When asked about potential conflict with Marvel, Walden clarified: "The characters from the X-Men franchise are with Fox on the feature
Angry Birds 2 Hits 20 Million Downloads in First Week
Angry Birds 2 has flown to the top of the download charts on iOS and Android, hitting 20 million downloads in its first week of release.
According to Rovio's creative director Patrick Liu, it took nine months for the first Angry Birds game to reach as many players - something helped along by the fact that Angry Birds 2 eschews the original's paid app model in favour of free-to-play.
Rovio adds that over 1.4 billion hapless birds have been launched in Angry Birds 2 so far, with over 300 million levels cleared.
This first full Angry Birds sequel was announced last month. In IGN's review of Angry Birds 2, we said that the birds and pigs looked better than ever but found the gameplay "a pale shadow" of that found in the original. The series nevertheless remains popular, with even an Angry Birds movie on the way.
This Week in the Nintendo eShop
It's an update-filled week on the eShop as the two biggest things aren't even new games. Last week, a new Super Smash Bros. update came out that added new levels, costumes, and modes. This week, Splatoon was updated with a higher level cap, new weapons, and custom games. Aside from that, the biggest releases this week are the 3DS RPG Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold and the pair of Wii U Virtual Console games, Golden Sun: The Lost Age and Onimusha Tactics. The latter two games kick off a month in which Nintendo will release "hard-core" games on Virtual Console. Let's hope they release Contra: Hard Corps, because that game is rad.
Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight ($39.99)
Warcraft 3-Inspired Mode Likely Hitting Heroes of the Storm
Blizzard has revealed it's keen to take the tools and characters it's developed in Heroes of the Storm to create a mode reminiscent of the game that started the MOBA phenomenon.
Speaking to IGN during Gamescom 2015, we asked game director Dustin Browder if he'd considered reverse-engineering Blizzard's MOBA, and instead taking it back so there was a Story Mode or some form of gameplay similar to RTS title Warcraft III. Judging by his reply, there's every reason to be optimistic.
"Yes," he said when asked if it had been discussed internally. "We've definitely thought about it. It's not being worked on today, but it is cool.
"We'd love to do it - we have the tools, we have the technology, we have a team that's very passionate about that type of content. I've certainly heard it mentioned around the office many, many times. No one's coding today, though. I don't want to overpromise and say it's imminent - it's not imminent. But it's something we definitely want to do."
Darth Vader Finds His Sherlock Holmes
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Darth Vader #8!
The newest issue of Marvel's Star Wars: Darth Vader comic has introduced another new player into Vader's world, an Imperial officer named Inspector Thanoth. If you thought Vader was the type to work alone, this comic is proving you wrong.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #8 Review
What makes Thanoth stand out is the fact that he's clearly modeled after Sherlock Holmes. Thanoth's first interaction with Vader involves the Inspector deducing Vader's recent travels simply by examining the residue of ionized dust on his armor. Plus, he sports a monocle, a cane and some truly 19th Century-worthy facial hair.