Microsoft’s New Web Browser Gets a Name
During the Build 2015 conference, Microsoft showed off details of its new web browser, previously known as Project Spartan. The new browser will officially be known as Microsoft Edge.
The all new replacement for Microsoft's much-maligned Explorer browser promises to "blur lines between creation and consumption." Originally announced during a Windows 10 Live Event in January, the new Windows 10 web browser was code-named Project Spartan.
Web extensions were also touted during the presentation, with the ability for developers to work in Edge illustrated through the use of a version of Reddit Enhancement Suite modified to work natively within Microsoft's new browser.
Windows 10 Could Bring Android Apps to Windows Phone
During its annual Build 2015 conference, Microsoft revealed a new way for developers to bring Android apps over to Windows Phone with the help of the Windows 10 platform. Essentially, this could prove potentially big for Windows Phone users who have felt left out by previously Android-exclusive apps.
"Windows Phones will include an Android subsystem," said Microsoft's executive vice president of operating systems, Terry Myerson. "There, an app can be written that takes advantage of the Android code, but also the extensions you would write in the Windows platform to really delight the Windows user."
Adventure Time Meets LittleBigPlanet 3 in New Level Kit
Fans of Adventure Time can soon create their own adventures in the Land of Ooo using LittleBigPlanet 3's newest level kit.
Accorind to the PlayStation Blog, the pack includes:
- 16 Materials, 4 Objects, 25 Decorations, 81 Stickers to design with!
- 2 Original Music tracks (“A Blip and a Bubble”, “Manlorette Party”), 1 Interactive Music track (“Zombie Loop”) and 3 Cinematic Stingers (“Tragedy of Jake”, “Level 1″ and “Distortion Dirge”) by original Adventure Time composer, Tim Kiefer.
- Land of Ooo Level Background
- A Bonus Fionna Costume
Additionally, several Adventure Time costumes for LittleBigPlanet 3 characters are also available for purchase. For $6, the costume pack includes Jake, Finn, Ice King, Gunter, and Cosmic Owl. These can also be purchased separately for $2 each.
Microsoft Expects Windows 10 to Be on 1 Billion Devices
During the Build 2015 keynote today, Microsoft's VP of operating systems Terry Myerson said the company's goal is to have Windows 10 on 1 billion devices.
Myerson said Android KitKat is currently on around half that many devices, while iOS is "less."
Windows 10 is built to work on every piece of hardware supported by Microsoft, from Windows Phone to PCs to its upcoming Hololens. The claim of 1 billion devices when put up against operating systems currently only running on mobile hardware is a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison.
Currently iOS accounts for 23% of the smartphone market and 66% of the world's tablets. Overall Android activation has exceeded 900 million. Windows will get a boost from the simple fact that the OS covers so many different devices.
This Season’s Must-See Movies
It's that magical time of year again, when Hollywood lets their buckets of blockbusters rain down upon us in all of their glory. To help you suss out which movies should be on your list over the impending summer, we showcase these must-see flicks of summer 2015.
Release Date: May 1 (US), Already Release (UK, AU)
When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron (James Spader) emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision.
Batman: Arkham Knight’s Season Pass is Absurd
I don’t believe that the existence of DLC content will necessarily diminish the quality of the $60 version of Batman: Arkham Knight. After WB’s recent announcement of a season pass, it remains one of my most hotly anticipated games of 2015, and I intend to play the hell out of it. That said: what the hell is this?
For $40, Warner Bros and Rocksteady promise us the following:
“This season pass for Batman: Arkham Knight delivers new content every month for 6 months, featuring new story missions, more supervillains invading Gotham City, new legendary Batmobiles, advanced challenge maps, alternative character skins, and new drivable race tracks.”
PlayStation Plus May 2015 Games Revealed
Sony has revealed the six new games free for PlayStation Plus subscribers in May.
Check out the full list below:
- Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (PS4)
- Ether One (PS4)
- The Unfinished Swan (PS4, PS3, Vita)
- Race the Sun (PS4, PS3, Vita)
- Hohokum (PS4, PS3, Vita)
- Murasaki Baby (Vita)
First up is Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition, a 2D brawler and platformer with a helping of Mexican folklore. STCE includes the El Inferno DLC add-on pack that includes a series of challenge rooms. Read our Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition review.
Games with Gold Revealed for May
Microsoft has revealed which games Xbox Live Gold members will be able to download for free throughout the month of May.
For the entirety of the month, Xbox One owners can download 2D physics-based structure destruction/tower defense brawler CastleStorm: Definitive Edition, as well as Pool Nation FX, which was also part of last month's Games with Gold offerings.
Meanwhile, 360 owners will get Mafia II from May 1 through May 15. On May 16, Mafia II will be replaced by Codemasters' Formula One racing sim, F1 2013. Check out IGN's Mafia II and F1 2013 reviews to learn more.
Ending The Witcher 3 ‘With a Bang’
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the final Witcher game with Geralt of Rivia at center stage, and CDProjekt Red Senior Writer Jakub Szamałek told IGN, “we felt that we owed Geralt a proper goodbye, and decided to part ways with a boom.”
Szamałek continued, “I think good stories must have an ending. You cannot extend them indefinitely, and we felt that Geralt has had such an amazing adventure, and his saga is already so long and complex that this seemed like a good point to think about an appropriate finale for the story.”
Geralt “has reached the end of his journey,” but this doesn’t mean it’s the end of The Witcher universe in video games. “The Witcher universe is a very big place with a lot of NPCs, a lot of characters, a lot of places we haven’t shown yet,” Szamałek said. “So, we might return to it at some point…but we think that this is a good place to let Geralt enjoy his retirement and try something new."
Hulu Gets Streaming Rights to Fear the Walking Dead
Hulu has just closed a deal with AMC Networks for the exclusive streaming rights to several drama and comedy series, including Fear the Walking Dead, the upcoming spinoff/companion series to AMC's The Walking Dead.
Through this multi-year deal, Hulu will become the exclusive hub of new and upcoming scripted programs from AMC, as well as future series from BBC America, IFC, WE tv and SundanceTV. AMC content will be available to watch on Hulu before each subsequent season's network premiere.
“AMC Networks has an incredible reputation and track record in producing captivating storytelling across a variety of genres for true connoisseurs of television,” said Mike Hopkins, Chief Executive Officer at Hulu. “This huge partnership guarantees that Hulu viewers will soon be able to enjoy the newest slate of premium programming from some of the top cable networks.”